Custom Application Builder for Supply Chain Management

Abstract

Supply chain management is performed by building a user-defined custom application that uses supply chain data. The supply chain data is returned for display and/or use in the custom application based on metadata stored in a database that is arranged to store supply chain data. The metadata specifies a stored procedure that when called based on parameters in a request generated in response to a user selecting a custom application, returns the supply chain data that may be used in whole or in part in the custom application.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for customizing a display of supply chain data, comprising:
 authenticating a user based on stored permissions, wherein the stored permissions determine a type of the supply chain data that can be accessed by the user;   receiving a request from the user at a server to access a type of web-based application, wherein the request further comprises a request for supply chain data stored in a database and at least one parameter of the web-based application;   generating and rendering a display in response to the request;   customizing the display of the supply chain data in response to the at least one parameter being changed by the user; and   receiving input by the user to modify or change the displayed supply chain data according to the stored permissions corresponding to the user.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the supply chain data further comprises at least one type of supply chain data of the following types of supply chain data:
 purchase order data, inventory data, forecasting data, invoice data, or management data.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein access to the modified or changed supply chain data is granted according to the stored permissions. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the supply chain data is retrieved from the database via the server through a network connection. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4 , wherein the supply chain data stored in the database is updated based on activities in a supply chain associated with the database. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter to customize the display of the supply chain data is selected from a group consisting of:
 a selection of columns to display and one or more user-defined column names, user-defined column widths and alignments, a selection of default sort criteria and sort direction, a selection of search criteria, user selected action buttons and an ability to rename and rearrange actions, and an ability to assign another custom display to an action button.   
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein the search criteria further comprises:
 searching of data in a displayed column of data; or   a user-defined custom search.   
     
     
         8 . A system comprising a supply chain management server and one or more end user systems, the supply chain management server further comprising a database and a web service, the server further configured to:
 authenticate a user based on stored permissions, wherein the stored permissions determine a type of supply chain data that can be accessed by the user;   receive a request from the user at a server to access a type of web-based application, wherein the request further comprises a request for supply chain data stored in a database and at least one parameter of the web-based application;   generate and render a display in response to the request;   customize the display of the supply chain data in response to the at least one parameter being changed by the user; and   receive input by the user to modify or change the displayed supply chain data according to the stored permissions corresponding to the user.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the supply chain data further comprises at least one type of supply chain data of the following types of supply chain data:
 purchase order data, inventory data, forecasting data, invoice data, or management data.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein access to the modified or changed supply chain data is granted according to the stored permissions. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the supply chain data is retrieved from the database via the server through a network connection. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the supply chain data stored in the database is updated based on activities in a supply chain associated with the database. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one parameter to customize the display of the supply chain data is selected from a group consisting of:
 a selection of columns to display and one or more user defined column names, user-defined column widths and alignments, a selection of default sort criteria and sort direction, a selection of search criteria, user selected action buttons and an ability to rename and rearrange actions, and an ability to assign another custom display to an action button.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the search criteria further comprises:
 searching of data in a displayed column of data; or   a user-defined custom search.   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium embodied with software, the software when executed by a server is configured to:
 authenticate a user based on stored permissions, wherein the stored permissions determine a type of supply chain data that can be accessed by the user;   receive a request from the user at a server to access a type of web-based application, wherein the request further comprises a request for supply chain data stored in a database and at least one parameter of the web-based application;   generate and render a display in response to the request;   customize the display of the supply chain data in response to the at least one parameter being changed by the user; and   receive input by the user to modify or change the displayed supply chain data according to the stored permissions corresponding to the user.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the supply chain data further comprises at least one type of supply chain data of the following types of supply chain data:
 purchase order data, inventory data, forecasting data, invoice data, or management data.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein access to the modified or changed supply chain data is granted according to the stored permissions. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the supply chain data is retrieved from the database via the server through a network connection. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the supply chain data stored in the database is updated based on activities in a supply chain associated with the database. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one parameter to customize the display of the supply chain data is selected from a group consisting of:
 a selection of columns to display and one or more user-defined column names, user-defined column widths and alignments, a selection of default sort criteria and sort direction, a selection of search criteria, user-selected action buttons and an ability to rename and rearrange actions, and an ability to assign another custom display to an action button.