Automation system and method
A computer-implemented method, computer program product and computing system for defining a data description model and a function description model for one or more of a plurality of machine-accessible supply-chain computing platforms; processing a complex supply-chain task to define a plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks each having a discrete goal; and executing the plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks on the plurality of machine-accessible supply-chain computing platforms.
1. A computer-implemented method, executed on a computing device, comprising:
defining a data description model and a function description model for one or more of a plurality of machine-accessible supply-chain computing platforms, wherein the plurality of machine-accessible supply-chain computing platforms include a plurality of websites, wherein the data description model includes a description of a plurality of spatial regions of a respective machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform and how to navigate between the plurality of spatial regions of the respective machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform, wherein the function description model includes one or more actions that are performable on the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform,
wherein defining the function description model includes:
providing a user interface on a machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform as a user interacts with the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform;
enabling the user to review the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform to visually identify one or more spatial regions of the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform;
detecting one or more user interactions on the one or more spatial regions of the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform; and
associating the one or more user interactions on the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform with one or more functions of the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform based upon, at least in part, the one or more user interactions on the one or more spatial regions of the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform;
processing a complex supply-chain task to define a plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks each having a discrete goal, wherein the complex supply-chain task concerns obtaining a predefined quantity of a product;
executing a first discrete supply-chain task on a first machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform to obtain the predefined quantity of the product;
determining that the first discrete supply-chain task fails to achieve its discrete goal of obtaining all of the predefined quantity of the product, wherein the first discrete supply-chain task is executed to obtain a first portion of the predefined quantity of the product;
defining at least a second discrete supply-chain task on at least a second machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform to obtain at least a second portion of the predefined quantity of the product, wherein the at least a second portion of the predefined quantity of the product includes a remainder of the predefined quantity of the product;
executing the at least a second discrete supply-chain task on the at least a second machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform to obtain the at least a second portion of the predefined quantity of the product, wherein executing each of the first discrete supply-chain task and the at least a second discrete supply-chain task on the plurality of machine-accessible supply-chain computing platforms using the data description model and the function description model corresponding to the respective machine-accessible supply-chain computing platforms, includes executing each of the first discrete supply-chain task and the at least a second discrete supply-chain task on the plurality of machine-accessible supply-chain computing platforms without human intervention using one or more machine actors, the data description model, and the function description model corresponding to the respective machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform, wherein executing the at least a second discrete supply-chain task on the at least a second machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform includes transforming raw information from the at least a second machine-accessible supply chain computing platform to corresponding information from the first machine-accessible supply chain computing platform by processing an ontology associated with the first machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:
determining if any of the at least a second discrete supply-chain tasks failed to achieve its discrete goal; and
if a specific discrete supply-chain task failed to achieve its discrete goal, defining a substitute discrete supply-chain task having a substitute discrete goal.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 further comprising:
executing the substitute discrete supply-chain task.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 wherein failing to achieve its discrete goal include one or more of:
an immediate total failure of the discrete goal;
an immediate partial failure of the discrete goal;
a retroactive total failure of the discrete goal; and
a retroactive partial failure of the discrete goal.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 wherein processing the complex supply-chain task to define a plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks each having a discrete goal includes:
gathering information concerning the complex supply-chain task;
gathering information concerning the plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks; and
optimizing the plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 wherein the plurality of machine-accessible supply-chain computing platforms includes:
a plurality of ecommerce computing platforms coupled to the internet.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 wherein processing the complex supply-chain task to define a plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks each having a discrete goal includes one or more of:
processing the complex supply-chain task to define a plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks each having a discrete goal via one or more predefined rules;
processing the complex supply-chain task to define a plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks each having a discrete goal via one or more machine learning-defined; and
processing the complex supply-chain task to define a plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks based, at least in part, upon human intervention.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 wherein the complex supply-chain task is based upon a defined goal.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 wherein the complex supply-chain task further concerns one or more of:
tracking a shipping status of the product; and
processing one or more invoices.
10. A computer program product residing on a non-transitory computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
defining a data description model and a function description model for one or more of a plurality of machine-accessible supply-chain computing platforms, wherein the plurality of machine-accessible supply-chain computing platforms include a plurality of websites, wherein the data description model includes a description of a plurality of spatial regions of a respective machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform and how to navigate between the plurality of spatial regions of the respective machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform, wherein the function description model includes one or more actions that are performable on the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform, wherein defining the function description model includes:
providing a user interface on a machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform as a user interacts with the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform;
enabling the user to review the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform to visually identify one or more spatial regions of the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform;
detecting one or more user interactions on the one or more spatial regions of the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform; and
associating the one or more user interactions on the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform with one or more functions of the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform based upon, at least in part, the one or more user interactions on the one or more spatial regions of the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform;
processing a complex supply-chain task to define a plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks each having a discrete goal, wherein the complex supply-chain task concerns obtaining a predefined quantity of a product;
executing a first discrete supply-chain task on a first machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform to obtain the predefined quantity of the product;
determining that the first discrete supply-chain task fails to achieve its discrete goal of obtaining all of the predefined quantity of the product, wherein the first discrete supply-chain task is executed to obtain a first portion of the predefined quantity of the product;
defining at least a second discrete supply-chain task on at least a second machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform to obtain at least a second portion of the predefined quantity of the product, wherein the at least a second portion of the predefined quantity of the product includes a remainder of the predefined quantity of the product; and
executing the at least a second discrete supply-chain task on the at least a second machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform to obtain the at least a second portion of the predefined quantity of the product, wherein executing each of the first discrete supply-chain task and the at least a second discrete supply-chain task on the plurality of machine-accessible supply-chain computing platforms using the data description model and the function description model corresponding to the respective machine-accessible supply-chain computing platforms includes executing each of the first discrete supply-chain task and the at least a second discrete supply-chain task on the plurality of machine-accessible supply-chain computing platforms without human intervention using one or more machine actors, the data description model, and the function description model corresponding to the respective machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform, wherein executing the at least a second discrete supply-chain task on the at least a second machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform includes transforming raw information from the at least a second machine-accessible supply chain computing platform to corresponding information from the first machine-accessible supply chain computing platform by processing an ontology associated with the first machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform.
11. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising:
determining if any of the at least a second discrete supply-chain tasks failed to achieve its discrete goal; and
if a specific discrete supply-chain task failed to achieve its discrete goal, defining a substitute discrete supply-chain task having a substitute discrete goal.
12. The computer program product of claim 11 further comprising:
executing the substitute discrete supply-chain task.
13. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein failing to achieve its discrete goal include one or more of:
an immediate total failure of the discrete goal;
an immediate partial failure of the discrete goal;
a retroactive total failure of the discrete goal; and
a retroactive partial failure of the discrete goal.
14. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein processing the complex supply-chain task to define a plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks each having a discrete goal includes:
gathering information concerning the complex supply-chain task;
gathering information concerning the plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks; and
optimizing the plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks.
15. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the plurality of machine-accessible supply-chain computing platforms includes:
a plurality of ecommerce computing platforms coupled to the internet.
16. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein processing the complex supply-chain task to define a plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks each having a discrete goal includes one or more of:
processing the complex supply-chain task to define a plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks each having a discrete goal via one or more predefined rules;
processing the complex supply-chain task to define a plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks each having a discrete goal via one or more machine learning-defined; and
processing the complex supply-chain task to define a plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks based, at least in part, upon human intervention.
17. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the complex supply-chain task is based upon a defined goal.
18. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the complex supply-chain task further concerns one or more of:
tracking a shipping status of the product; and
processing one or more invoices.
19. A computing system including a processor and memory configured to perform operations comprising:
defining a data description model and a function description model for one or more of a plurality of machine-accessible supply-chain computing platforms, wherein the plurality of machine-accessible supply-chain computing platforms include a plurality of websites, wherein the data description model includes a description of a plurality of spatial regions of a respective machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform and how to navigate between the plurality of spatial regions of the respective machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform, wherein the function description model includes one or more actions that are performable on the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform, wherein defining the function description model includes:
providing a user interface on a machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform as a user interacts with the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform;
enabling the user to review the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform to visually identify one or more spatial regions of the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform;
detecting one or more user interactions on the one or more spatial regions of the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform; and
associating the one or more user interactions on the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform with one or more functions of the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform based upon, at least in part, the one or more user interactions on the one or more spatial regions of the machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform;
processing a complex supply-chain task to define a plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks each having a discrete goal, wherein the complex supply-chain task concerns obtaining a predefined quantity of a product;
executing a first discrete supply-chain task on a first machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform to obtain the predefined quantity of the product;
determining that the first discrete supply-chain task fails to achieve its discrete goal of obtaining all of the predefined quantity of the product, wherein the first discrete supply-chain task is executed to obtain a first portion of the predefined quantity of the product;
defining at least a second discrete supply-chain task on at least a second machine-accessible supply-chain computing platforms to obtain at least a second portion of the predefined quantity of the product, wherein the at least a second portion of the predefined quantity of the product includes a remainder of the predefined quantity of the product; and
executing the at least a second discrete supply-chain task on the at least a second machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform to obtain the at least a second portion of the predefined quantity of the product, wherein executing each of the first discrete supply-chain task and the at least a second discrete supply-chain task on the plurality of machine-accessible supply-chain computing platforms using the data description model and the function description model corresponding to the respective machine-accessible supply-chain computing platforms includes executing each of the first discrete supply-chain task and the at least a second discrete supply-chain task on the plurality of machine-accessible supply-chain computing platforms without human intervention using one or more machine actors, the data description model, and the function description model corresponding to the respective machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform, wherein executing the at least a second discrete supply-chain task on the at least a second machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform includes transforming raw information from the at least a second machine-accessible supply chain computing platform to corresponding information from the first machine-accessible supply chain computing platform by processing an ontology associated with the first machine-accessible supply-chain computing platform.
20. The computing system of claim 19 further comprising:
determining if any of the at least a second discrete supply-chain tasks failed to achieve its discrete goal; and
if a specific discrete supply-chain task failed to achieve its discrete goal, defining a substitute discrete supply-chain task having a substitute discrete goal.
21. The computing system of claim 20 further comprising:
executing the substitute discrete supply-chain task.
22. The computing system of claim 21 wherein failing to achieve its discrete goal include one or more of:
an immediate total failure of the discrete goal;
an immediate partial failure of the discrete goal;
a retroactive total failure of the discrete goal; and
a retroactive partial failure of the discrete goal.
23. The computing system of claim 21 wherein processing the complex supply-chain task to define a plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks each having a discrete goal includes:
gathering information concerning the complex supply-chain task;
gathering information concerning the plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks; and
optimizing the plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks.
24. The computing system of claim 21 wherein the plurality of machine-accessible supply-chain computing platforms includes:
a plurality of ecommerce computing platforms coupled to the internet.
25. The computing system of claim 21 wherein processing the complex supply-chain task to define a plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks each having a discrete goal includes one or more of:
processing the complex supply-chain task to define a plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks each having a discrete goal via one or more predefined rules;
processing the complex supply-chain task to define a plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks each having a discrete goal via one or more machine learning-defined; and
processing the complex supply-chain task to define a plurality of discrete supply-chain tasks based, at least in part, upon human intervention.
26. The computing system of claim 21 wherein the complex supply-chain task is based upon a defined goal.
27. The computing system of claim 21 wherein the complex supply-chain task further concerns one or more of:
tracking a shipping status of the product; and
processing one or more invoices.