Internally unique referencing for correlation

Abstract

A method of identifying transactions in a value chain involves representing multiple business documents associated with a value chain with unique internal representations. In one embodiment, a contract is represented with a first unique internal representation, a purchase order is represented with a second unique internal representation, and an invoice is represented with a third unique internal representation. In a further embodiment, business partner communications are correlated to one of the internal representations to identify a corresponding value chain.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustration of a value chain with prima nota and single point inventory objects according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating updating of inventory objects according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating component operations in a value chain of components according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating cancellation of a transaction according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating identification of a value chain by the use of multiple internal unique reference numbers according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a general method of matching payments with outstanding invoices according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating the use of a string search on concatenated data according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an invoice database and corresponding concatenated data with example search string according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a computer system for implementing methods of the present invention according to an example embodiment.

Claims

1. A method of identifying transactions in a value chain, the method comprising: representing a contract with a first unique internal representation;representing a purchase order with a second unique internal representation; andrepresenting an invoice with a third unique internal representation.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising correlating business partner communications to one of the internal representations.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the business partner communication comprises a payment.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the business partner communication comprises a shipment received from the business partner.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein multiple invoices may be linked to a single contract.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein multiple payments may be linked to a single invoice.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the order comprises a purchase order, and where multiple purchase orders may be linked to a single contract.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein fuzzy logic is used to correlate the business partner communications to one of the internal representations.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the unique internal representation comprises a globally unique identification.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein communications to a business partner does not contain a unique internal representation.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the contract, order and invoice are linked.

12. The method of claim 11 and further comprising performing a search on information in communications from a business partner to correlate them to at least one of the contract, order and invoice.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the search comprises a fuzzy search.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the contract, order and invoice comprise prima nota.

15. A computer readable medium having instructions for causing a computer to execute a method of identifying transactions in a value chain, the method comprising: representing a contract with a first unique internal representation;representing a purchase order with a second unique internal representation; andrepresenting an invoice with a third unique internal representation.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises correlating business partner communications to one of the internal representations.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the business partner communication comprises a payment.

18. A system that identifies transactions in a value chain, the system comprising: a representation of a contract with a first unique internal reference;a representation of an order with a second unique internal reference; anda representation of an invoice with a third unique internal reference.

19. The system of claim 18 and further comprising means for correlating business partner communications to one of the internal representations.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the business partner communication comprises a payment.