IP Library › Patent Application 14725471
Patent Application
App. No. 14/725,471

Methods and Apparatus for Processing Catalog Spot Buys

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
14/725,471
Abstract

In one embodiment, a method comprises: receiving a procurement request for an item; determining whether the item is in a contracted catalog; processing the procurement request per a first set of procurement rules if the item is in the contract catalog; and processing the procurement request per a second set of procurement rules if the item is not in the contract catalog. The second set of procurement rules include procurement rules that are in the first set of procurement rules. In some embodiments, the method further comprises tracking the procurement requests for items not in the contract catalog. In some embodiments, the method further comprises analyzing the tracked procurement requests; and adding a tracked item to the contracted catalog based on the tracked procurement requests meeting a first set of criteria.

Claims (64)

1 . A method comprising:

receiving a procurement request for an item;

determining whether the item is in a contracted catalog;

processing the procurement request per a first set of procurement rules if the item is in the contract catalog; and

processing the procurement request per a second set of procurement rules if the item is not in the contract catalog.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the second set of procurement rules include procurement rules that are in the first set of procurement rules.

3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising tracking the procurement requests for items not in the contract catalog.

4 . The method of claim 3 further comprising:

analyzing the tracked procurement requests; and

adding a tracked item to the contracted catalog based on the tracked procurement requests meeting a first set of criteria.

5 . The method of claim 3 further comprising:

analyzing the tracked procurement requests;

determining categories of items based on the tracked procurement request; and

adding a tracked item to the contracted catalog based on the tracked procurement requests meeting criteria.

6 . The method of claim 3 further comprising:

analyzing the tracked procurement requests; and

adding a tracked item to the contracted catalog based on the tracked procurement requests meeting a first set of criteria.

7 . The method of claim 3 further comprising:

analyzing the tracked procurement requests;

receiving a search query for a spot buy item; and

adjusting the search results based on the analyzed tracked procurement requests.

8 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions, that when executed, control a computer system to be configured for:

receiving a procurement request for an item;

determining whether the item is in a contracted catalog;

processing the procurement request per a first set of procurement rules if the item is in the contract catalog; and

processing the procurement request per a second set of procurement rules if the item is not in the contract catalog.

9 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the computer system is configured for tracking the procurement requests for items not in the contract catalog.

10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein the computer system is configured for:

analyzing the tracked procurement requests; and

adding a tracked item to the contracted catalog based on the tracked procurement requests meeting a first set of criteria.

11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein the computer system is configured for:

analyzing the tracked procurement requests;

determining categories of items based on the tracked procurement request; and

adding a tracked item to the contracted catalog based on the tracked procurement requests meeting criteria.

12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein the computer system is configured for:

analyzing the tracked procurement requests; and

adding a tracked item to the contracted catalog based on the tracked procurement requests meeting a first set of criteria.

13 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein the computer system is configured for:

analyzing the tracked procurement requests;

receiving a search query for a spot buy item; and

adjusting the search results based on the analyzed tracked procurement requests.

14 . A computer implemented system, comprising:

one or more computer processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, that when executed, control the one or more computer processors to be configured for:

receiving a procurement request for an item;

determining whether the item is in a contracted catalog;

processing the procurement request per a first set of procurement rules if the item is in the contract catalog; and

processing the procurement request per a second set of procurement rules if the item is not in the contract.

15 . The computer implemented system of claim 14 wherein the second set of procurement rules include procurement rules that are in the first set of procurement rules.

16 . The computer implemented system of claim 14 wherein the one or more computer processors are configured for tracking the procurement requests for items not in the contract catalog.

17 . The computer implemented system of claim 15 wherein the one or more computer processors are configured for:

analyzing the tracked procurement requests; and

adding a tracked item to the contracted catalog based on the tracked procurement requests meeting a first set of criteria.

18 . The computer implemented system of claim 15 wherein the one or more computer processors are configured for:

analyzing the tracked procurement requests;

determining categories of items based on the tracked procurement request; and

adding a tracked item to the contracted catalog based on the tracked procurement requests meeting criteria.

19 . The computer implemented system of claim 15 wherein the one or more computer processors are configured for:

analyzing the tracked procurement requests; and

adding a tracked item to the contracted catalog based on the tracked procurement requests meeting a first set of criteria.

20 . The computer implemented system of claim 15 wherein the one or more computer processors are configured for:

analyzing the tracked procurement requests;

receiving a search query for a spot buy item; and

adjusting the search results based on the analyzed tracked procurement requests.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2016
From: BHOJWANI, SUDHIR; MONDKAR, SANISH; FOX, JOE; TUNG, YUAN
To: ARIBA, INC.
Reel/Frame 039033/0031 →