System and method for performing a business process in a multi-enterprise, collaborating network
View Patent ↗A system for performing a business process includes a first version of a business application executed by a first client to perform a particular business process and a second version of the business application executed by a second client to perform the business process, wherein the first client is coupled to the second client using a communication link. The first version of the business application is identified using a first version identifier and the second version of the business application is identified using a second version identifier. One of the first version of the business application and the second version of the business application is selected to initiate the business process based upon the first version identifier and the second version identifier.
1. A multi-enterprise collaborating network comprising:
one or more client computers programmed to perform a business process between one or more other client computers via one or more communication links;
a business application associated with each of the one or more client computers, the business application comprising:
a version identifier associated with a version of the business application;
a business process module stored in the one or more client computers and programmed to generate one or more business messages associated with performing the business process;
an identification module stored in the one or more client computers and programmed to determine, based on the version identifier associated the version of the business application used by each of the one or more client computers:
a client computer of the one or more client computers that maintains a higher level version of the business application, and
a client computer of the one or more client computers that maintains a lower level version of the business application; and
instructions stored in the one or more client computers for selecting the client computer of the one or more client computers that maintains a higher level version of the business application to execute the business process in a manner supported by the lower level version of the business application.
2. The network of claim 1 , wherein the business messages comprise messages selected from the group consisting of request messages and response messages.
3. The network of claim 1 , wherein the identification module generates an identification request for communication with the one or more client computers via the one or more communication links.
4. The network of claim 3 , wherein the identification request comprises a request for information identifying a particular business application.
5. The network of claim 1 , wherein the business application further comprises a status message module stored in the one or more client computers and programmed to generate a status message for communication with the one or more client computers, the status message comprising information indicating the presence of a business message associated with the business process.
6. The network of claim 1 , wherein the business process is a business process in the consumer goods manufacturing industry.
7. The network of claim 6 , wherein the business process is selected from the group consisting of:
order purchasing;
accounting;
procurement;
shipping;
delivery;
replenishment;
inventory management;
marketing automation; and
supply chain distribution.
8. The network of claim 1 , wherein the business process is a business process in the distribution industry.
9. The network of claim 8 , wherein the business process is selected from the group consisting of:
tracking;
shipping; and
routing.
10. The network of claim 1 , wherein the business process is a business process in the financial industry.
11. The network of claim 10 , wherein the business process is selected from the group consisting of:
electronic funds transfer;
electronic payment systems; and
security systems.
12. A computer-implemented method for performing a business process, the method comprising:
performing, by one or more client computers, a business process between one or more other client computers via one or more communication links;
assigning, by the one or more client computers, a version identifier associated with a version of a business application used to perform the business process;
generating, by the one or more client computers, one or more business messages associated with performing the business process;
determining, by the one or more client computers, based on the version identifier associated the version of the business application used by each of the one or more client computers:
a client computer of the one or more client computers that maintains a higher level version of the business application, and
a client computer of the one or more client computers that maintains a lower level version of the business application; and
selecting, by the one or more client computers, the client computer of the one or more client computers that maintains the higher level version of the business application to execute the business process in a manner supported by the lower level version of the business application.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the business messages comprise messages selected from the group consisting of request messages and response messages.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
generating an identification request for communication with the one or more client computers via the one or more communication links.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the identification request comprises a request for information identifying a particular business application.
16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
generating, by the one or more client computers, a status message; and
communicating, by the one or more client computers, the status message to the one or more other client computers,
wherein the status message comprises information indicating the presence of a business message associated with the business process.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the business process is a business process in the consumer goods manufacturing industry.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the business process is selected from the group consisting of:
order purchasing;
accounting;
procurement;
shipping;
delivery;
replenishment;
inventory management;
marketing automation; and
supply chain distribution.
19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the business process is a business process in the distribution industry.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the business process is selected from the group consisting of:
tracking;
shipping; and
routing.
21. The method of claim 12 , wherein the business process is a business process in the financial industry.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the business process is selected from the group consisting of:
electronic funds transfer;
electronic payment systems; and
security systems.
23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodied with software that performs a business process, the software when executed using one or more computers is configured to:
perform a business process between one or more other client computers via one or more communication links;
assign a version identifier associated with a version of a business application used to perform the business process;
generate one or more business messages associated with performing the business process;
determine, based on the version identifier associated the version of the business application used by each of the one or more client computers:
a client computer of the one or more client computers that maintains a higher level version of the business application, and
a client computer of the one or more client computers that maintains a lower level version of the business application; and
select the client computer of the one or more client computers that maintains the higher level version of the business application to execute the business process in a manner supported by the lower level version of the business application.
24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the business messages comprise messages selected from the group consisting of request messages and response messages.
25. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , further configured to:
generate an identification request;
communicate the identification request with the one or more client computers via the one or more communication links.
26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25 , wherein the identification request comprises a request for information identifying a particular business application.
27. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the software, when executed using one or more computers is further configured to:
generate a status message; and
communicate the status message to the one or more other client computers,
wherein the status message comprises information indicating the presence of a business message associated with the business process.
28. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the business process is a business process in the consumer goods manufacturing industry.
29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28 , wherein the business process is selected from the group consisting of:
order purchasing;
accounting;
procurement;
shipping;
delivery;
replenishment;
inventory management;
marketing automation; and
supply chain distribution.
30. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the business process is a business process in the distribution industry.
31. The computer-readable medium of claim 30 , wherein the business process is selected from the group consisting of:
tracking;
shipping; and
routing.
32. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the business process is a business process in the financial industry.
33. The computer-readable medium of claim 32 , wherein the business process is selected from the group consisting of:
electronic funds transfer;
electronic payment systems; and
security systems.