Supply-chain side assistance

Abstract

A computing system can receive a plurality of signals from a plurality of independent sources along a supply chain. Each signal indicates a respective item being identified at a particular location along the supply chain and includes a timestamp. Based on the received signals, the system stores associated information for each item which includes the time and date of each signal for the item. The system can receive a supply chain assistance request with respect to a respective item from a computing device of a requesting user. In response, the system can display the associated information corresponding to the respective item on a user interface for the requesting user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computing system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a memory storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 receive, over one or more networks, a plurality of signals from a plurality of independent sources, each independent source of the plurality of independent sources corresponding to at least one of a plurality of locations along a supply chain, wherein each signal of the plurality of signals indicates (i) a respective item of a plurality of items being identified at a particular location along the supply chain, and (ii) a time and date of the signal; 
 based on the received signals, store associated information for each respective item of the plurality of items from the independent sources, the associated information comprising at least the time and date of the signal identifying the respective item at each location along the supply chain for the respective item; 
 receive, over the one or more networks, a supply chain assistance request with respect to the respective item from a computing device of a requesting user; and 
 in response to receiving the supply chain assistance request, display the associated information corresponding to the respective item on a user interface for the requesting user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of items comprises at least one of a product, a raw material, or a manufactured good in the supply chain. 
     
     
         3 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the particular location along the supply chain comprises a distribution center premises, a retail store storage premises, or a warehouse premises. 
     
     
         4 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the particular location along the supply chain corresponds to a location of at least one of a seagoing vessel, a surface vehicle, or an aircraft. 
     
     
         5 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of independent source comprises an independent domain. 
     
     
         6 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the supply chain assistance request corresponds to at least one of security interest information, commercial interest information, product recall information, sales promotion information, retail coupon information, a retail rebate information, a retail pricing information, retail merchandising information, grey market status information, stolen property status information, advertising campaign information, transportation information, storage information, or handling information. 
     
     
         7 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the associated information comprises storage information of the respective item. 
     
     
         8 . The computing system of  claim 7 , wherein the storage information corresponds to at least one of warehouse storage information, conveyance storage information, or a retail space storage information. 
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 receive, over one or more networks, a plurality of signals from a plurality of independent sources, each independent source of the plurality of independent sources corresponding to at least one of a plurality of locations along a supply chain, wherein each signal of the plurality of signals indicates (i) a respective item of a plurality of items being identified at a particular location along the supply chain, and (ii) a time and date of the signal;   based on the received signals, store associated information for each respective item of the plurality of items from the independent sources, the associated information comprising at least the time and date of the signal identifying the respective item at each location along the supply chain for the respective item;   receive, over the one or more networks, a supply chain assistance request with respect to the respective item from a computing device of a requesting user; and   in response to receiving the supply chain assistance request, display the associated information corresponding to the respective item on a user interface for the requesting user.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of items comprises at least one of a product, a raw material, or a manufactured good in the supply chain. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the particular location along the supply chain comprises a distribution center premises, a retail store storage premises, or a warehouse premises. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the particular location along the supply chain corresponds to a location of at least one of a seagoing vessel, a surface vehicle, or an aircraft. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of independent source comprises an independent domain. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the supply chain assistance request corresponds to at least one of security interest information, commercial interest information, product recall information, sales promotion information, retail coupon information, a retail rebate information, a retail pricing information, retail merchandising information, grey market status information, stolen property status information, advertising campaign information, transportation information, storage information, or handling information. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the associated information comprises storage information of the respective item. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the storage information corresponds to at least one of warehouse storage information, conveyance storage information, or a retail space storage information. 
     
     
         17 . A computer-implemented method of providing supply chain assistance, the method being performed by one or more processors and comprising:
 receiving, over one or more networks, a plurality of signals from a plurality of independent sources, each independent source of the plurality of independent sources corresponding to at least one of a plurality of locations along a supply chain, wherein each signal of the plurality of signals indicates (i) a respective item of a plurality of items being identified at a particular location along the supply chain, and (ii) a time and date of the signal;   based on the received signals, storing associated information for each respective item of the plurality of items from the independent sources, the associated information comprising at least the time and date of the signal identifying the respective item at each location along the supply chain for the respective item;   receiving, over the one or more networks, a supply chain assistance request with respect to the respective item from a computing device of a requesting user; and   in response to receiving the supply chain assistance request, displaying the associated information corresponding to the respective item on a user interface for the requesting user.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of items comprises at least one of a product, a raw material, or a manufactured good in the supply chain. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the particular location along the supply chain comprises a distribution center premises, a retail store storage premises, or a warehouse premises. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the particular location along the supply chain corresponds to a location of at least one of a seagoing vessel, a surface vehicle, or an aircraft.