Intra-company Stock Transfer Software Architecture via Segmented Process Components

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large and complex enterprise software systems require a scalable and cost-effective architecture for intra-company stock transfer, with existing solutions struggling to efficiently manage interactions between distributed components across different hardware platforms.

Innovation Solution

A software architecture design for intra-company stock transfer applications, structured as multiple process components interacting through service operations, including Supply and Demand Matching, Customer Requirement Processing, Logistics Execution Control, and Inventory Processing, allowing for scalable deployment across separate hardware platforms and effective reuse of software units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If enterprise software systems are structured as large and complex monolithic systems, then they can provide comprehensive functionality, but they become difficult to deploy, maintain, and scale across different hardware platforms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployability across hardware platformsVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the enterprise software system into multiple independent process components (PCs), each encapsulating specific business processes. These PCs are organized into deployment units that can be independently deployed across different hardware platforms, resolving the contradiction between comprehensive functionality and deployability by modularizing the system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal deployment unit structure that can accommodate multiple process components and function across various hardware platforms. The standardized interface definitions enable the same deployment unit architecture to serve multiple purposes and platforms, enhancing adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If software components are distributed across multiple hardware platforms, then system scalability is improved, but managing interactions between components becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem scalabilityVSAvoidcomponent interaction management

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces standardized service interfaces as intermediaries between distributed process components. These interfaces define explicit contracts for component interactions, mediating communication between components across different hardware platforms and simplifying the management of distributed system complexity while maintaining scalability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent standardizes interaction parameters through defined service interfaces, transforming the variable and complex nature of distributed component interactions into controlled, parameterized communication patterns. This allows scalability across platforms while managing interaction complexity through consistent interface definitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If process components are reused across multiple deployment units, then development cost is reduced, but ensuring reliable interactions between components becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware development costVSAvoidcomponent interaction reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs process components with universal interfaces that enable reuse across multiple deployment units while maintaining reliable interactions. The standardized service interfaces ensure that reused components communicate consistently regardless of their deployment context, allowing cost-effective reuse without sacrificing interaction reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements explicit interface definitions that provide feedback mechanisms for component interactions. These standardized interfaces ensure that reused components maintain reliable communication by defining clear contracts for data exchange and interaction protocols, enabling verification and consistent behavior across different deployment scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8311904B2Architectural design for intra-company stock transfer application software

Publication Date: 2012.11.13 SAP SE

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing intra-company stock transfer of physical inventory. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service operations, each implemented for a respective process component. The process components include a Supply and Demand Matching process, a Customer Requirement Processing process component, a Logistics Execution Control process component, a Site Logistics Processing process component, an Outbound Delivery Processing process component, an Inbound Delivery Processing process component, an Inventory Processing process component, a Production and Site Logistics Auxiliaries process component and a Freight Documents Processing process component.