METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ROUNDING WITH AVAILABILITY CHECK

1 . A computer-implemented method for optimizing the result of an availability check of a required quantity of products, wherein a plurality of rounding algorithms are provided, the computer-implemented method comprising steps, prepared by a computer, of:

rounding, according to at least one predetermined rounding algorithm implemented by the computer, the required quantity of products;

checking, by the computer, the availability of the rounded quantity of products; and

rounding down, according to the at least one predetermined rounding algorithm implemented by the computer, the available quantity of products when the available quantity of products is lower than the rounded required quantity of products, wherein the at least one predetermined rounding algorithm comprises at least one packaging specification, the packaging specification comprising:

at least one rounding rule;

a plurality of different package sizes; and

tolerance values defining an interval around the package size of a package unit.

2 - 3 . (canceled)

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising creating a remaining requirement of products when the difference between the rounded required quantity of products and the rounded available quantity of products is larger than the smallest package size given by the packaging specification, whereby the remaining quantity is given by the difference between the required quantity of products and the rounded available quantity of products.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the rounding comprises at least a package-rounding-process and a tolerance-rounding-process, whereby the package-rounding-process comprises rounding the required quantity to a multiple of the smallest package size, and whereby the tolerance-rounding-process comprises rounding the required quantity to a predetermined package size.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein tolerance intervals define upper and lower bounds around the package sizes for packages larger than the smallest package.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the tolerance-rounding-process is performed when the packaging specification comprises valid tolerance values and the required quantity is within one of the tolerance intervals defined by the tolerance values.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the package-rounding-process is performed when the predetermined packaging specification comprises invalid tolerance values.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the package-rounding-process is performed when the predetermined packaging specification comprises valid tolerances and the given quantity is out of the tolerance intervals defined by the tolerance values.

10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one rounding rule comprises at least one of a rounding down rule, a rounding up rule, and a rounding to the nearest rule.

11 - 12 . (canceled)

13 . A system comprising:

a data storage device which stores a plurality of rounding algorithms;

means for rounding, according to at least one rounding algorithm, a required quantity of products;

means for checking availability of a rounded quantity of products; and

means for rounding down, according to the plurality of rounding algorithms, the available quantity of products when the available quantity of products is lower than the rounded required quantity of products, wherein the plurality of rounding algorithms comprise at least one packaging specification, the packaging specification comprising:

at least one rounding rule;

a plurality of different package sizes; and

tolerance values defining an interval around the package size of a package unit.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the means for rounding a required quantity of products and for performing an availability check are further adapted to perform the following steps:

determining a valid packaging specification;

determining tolerance values from the packaging specification;

evaluating whether the determined tolerance values are valid;

determining the tolerance intervals given by the determined tolerance values, when the determined tolerance values are valid; and

checking whether the required quantity is within one of the determined tolerance intervals.

15 . A computer-readable medium including program instructions for performing, when executed by a processor, a method for optimizing the result of an availability check of a required quantity of products, wherein a plurality of rounding algorithms are provided, the method comprising:

rounding, according to at least one predetermined rounding algorithm, the required quantity of products;

checking availability of the rounded quantity of products; and

rounding down, according to the at least one predetermined rounding algorithm, the available quantity of products when the available quantity of products is lower than the rounded required quantity of products, wherein the at least one predetermined rounding algorithm comprises at least one packaging specification, the packaging specification comprises

at least one rounding rule;

a plurality of different package sizes; and

tolerance values defining an interval around the package size of a package unit.

16 - 17 . (canceled)

18 . The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising creating a remaining requirement of products when the difference between the rounded required quantity of products and the rounded available quantity of products is larger than the smallest package size given by the packaging specification, whereby the remaining quantity is given by the difference between the required quantity of products and the rounded available quantity of products.

19 . The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the rounding comprises at least a package-rounding-process and a tolerance-rounding-process, whereby the package-rounding-process comprises rounding the required quantity to a multiple of the smallest package size, and whereby the tolerance-rounding-process comprises rounding the required quantity to a predetermined package size.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein tolerance intervals define upper and lower bounds around the package sizes for packages larger than the smallest package.