# US 11,308,109 B2 · Transfer between different combinations of source and destination nodes

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- Number: US 11,308,109 B2
- Document ID: US11308109B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/158,555
- Filed: 2018-10-12
- Published: 2020-04-16
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2018-10-12
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation
- Inventors: Jin Leem
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11308109B2

## CPC

- G06F 16/248: Presentation of query results
- G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
- G06F 9/542: {Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications}
- G06F 16/23: Updating
- G06F 16/9535: Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
- G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
- G06Q 10/08744: {by distributed inventory management}
- G06Q 10/0877: {by inventory control or reporting using inventory tracking or counting}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

According to a present invention embodiment, items are transferred between source and destination nodes. A search is performed for one or more source nodes and one or more destination nodes based on search criteria. Graphical representations of the source and destination nodes resulting from the search are generated and presented on a user interface. A graphical connector is manipulated to connect a first quantity of source nodes to a second quantity of destination nodes on the user interface, wherein at least one from a group of the first quantity and the second quantity represent a plurality of nodes from the user interface. One or more items are transferred from the first quantity of source nodes to the second quantity of destination nodes based on connections indicated by the graphical connector.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of transferring items between source and destination nodes comprising:
performing, via a processor, a search for items based on an item category and selecting an item from the search and characteristics for the item;
performing, via a processor, a search for one or more source nodes and one or more destination nodes based on search criteria, wherein the search criteria include an amount of the item with the selected characteristics at the source nodes and the destination nodes;
generating, via a processor, a graphical object of each of the source and destination nodes resulting from the search based on the search criteria and presenting the graphical object of each of the source and destination nodes on a user interface;
manipulating, via a processor, a graphical connector to form connections between graphical objects of a first quantity of source nodes and a second quantity of destination nodes on the user interface to specify plural transfers between the first quantity of source nodes and the second quantity of destination nodes, wherein the plural transfers include transfers from plural source nodes to a same destination node, wherein a status indicator and a quantity actuator are disposed within the graphical object of each destination node of the second quantity on the user interface for each corresponding source node with a graphical object connected to the graphical object of that destination node, and wherein the quantity actuator includes increment and decrement actuators to specify a quantity of items for transfer;
manipulating, via a processor, one or more of the increment and decrement actuators of the quantity actuator of the graphical object of each destination node of the second quantity to specify the quantity of items for transfer to that destination node from each corresponding source node, wherein a plurality of first fields are disposed within the graphical object of each source node of the first quantity on the user interface to indicate a quantity of items at that source node and a quantity of items to transfer from that source node to each corresponding destination node, and wherein a second field is disposed within the graphical object of each destination node of the second quantity on the user interface to indicate a quantity of items at that destination node;
validating, via a processor, the plural transfers based on rules indicating quantities, nodes, and periods for transfer; and
transferring from the first quantity of source nodes to each destination node of the second quantity for the plural transfers the quantity of items for transfer specified by the quantity actuator of the graphical object of that destination node based on the validating, wherein transferring includes:
updating a corresponding status indicator of the graphical object of each destination node of the second quantity based on monitored progress of a corresponding transfer of the plural transfers for that destination node;
updating, in the plurality of first fields of the graphical object of each source node of the first quantity, the quantity of items at that source node based on the quantity of items for transfer specified by the quantity actuator of a corresponding destination node; and
updating, in the second field of the graphical object of each destination node of the second quantity, the quantity of items at that destination node based on the quantity of items for transfer specified by the quantity actuator of that destination node.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical connector connects graphical objects of a plurality of source nodes to a graphical object of a destination node to specify transfers of the plural transfers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical connector connects a graphical object of a source node to graphical objects of a plurality of destination nodes to specify transfers of the plural transfers.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical connector connects graphical objects of a plurality of source nodes to graphical objects of a plurality of destination nodes to specify transfers of the plural transfers.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
monitoring, via sensing devices, progress of transfers between the first quantity of source nodes and the second quantity of destination nodes.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
removing a graphical connector between a graphical object of a source node and a graphical object of a destination node on the user interface to cancel a corresponding transfer.

### Claim 7

A system for transferring items between source and destination nodes comprising:
at least one processor configured to:
perform a search for items based on an item category and select an item from the search and characteristics for the item;
perform a search for one or more source nodes and one or more destination nodes based on search criteria, wherein the search criteria include an amount of the item with the selected characteristics at the source nodes and the destination nodes;
generate a graphical object of each of the source and destination nodes resulting from the search based on the search criteria and present the graphical object of each of the source and destination nodes on a user interface;
manipulate a graphical connector to form connections between graphical objects of a first quantity of source nodes and a second quantity of destination nodes on the user interface to specify plural transfers between the first quantity of source nodes and the second quantity of destination nodes, wherein the plural transfers include transfers from plural source nodes to a same destination node, wherein a status indicator and a quantity actuator are disposed within the graphical object of each destination node of the second quantity on the user interface for each corresponding source node with a graphical object connected to the graphical object of that destination node, and wherein the quantity actuator includes increment and decrement actuators to specify a quantity of items for transfer;
manipulate one or more of the increment and decrement actuators of the quantity actuator of the graphical object of each destination node of the second quantity to specify the quantity of items for transfer to that destination node from each corresponding source node, wherein a plurality of first fields are disposed within the graphical object of each source node of the first quantity on the user interface to indicate a quantity of items at that source node and a quantity of items to transfer from that source node to each corresponding destination node, and wherein a second field is disposed within the graphical object of each destination node of the second quantity on the user interface to indicate a quantity of items at that destination node;
validate the plural transfers based on rules indicating quantities, nodes, and periods for transfer; and
initiate transfer from the first quantity of source nodes to each destination node of the second quantity for the plural transfers the quantity of items for transfer specified by the quantity actuator of the graphical object of that destination node based on the validating, wherein initiating transfer includes:
updating a corresponding status indicator of the graphical object of each destination node of the second quantity based on monitored progress of a corresponding transfer of the plural transfers for that destination node;
updating, in the plurality of first fields of the graphical object of each source node of the first quantity, the quantity of items at that source node based on the quantity of items for transfer specified by the quantity actuator of a corresponding destination node; and
updating, in the second field of the graphical object of each destination node of the second quantity, the quantity of items at that destination node based on the quantity of items for transfer specified by the quantity actuator of that destination node.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the graphical connector connects graphical objects of a plurality of source nodes to a graphical object of a destination node to specify transfers of the plural transfers.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the graphical connector connects a graphical object of a source node to graphical objects of a plurality of destination nodes to specify transfers of the plural transfers.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the graphical connector connects graphical objects of a plurality of source nodes to graphical objects of a plurality of destination nodes to specify transfers of the plural transfers.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, further comprising sensing devices, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
monitor, via the sensing devices, progress of transfers between the first quantity of source nodes and the second quantity of destination nodes.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
remove a graphical connector between a graphical object of a source node and a graphical object of a destination node on the user interface to cancel a corresponding transfer.

### Claim 13

A computer program product for transferring items between source and destination nodes, the computer program product comprising one or more computer readable storage media collectively having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to:
perform a search for items based on an item category and select an item from the search and characteristics for the item;
perform a search for one or more source nodes and one or more destination nodes based on search criteria, wherein the search criteria include an amount of the item with the selected characteristics at the source nodes and the destination nodes;
generate a graphical object of each of the source and destination nodes resulting from the search based on the search criteria and present the graphical object of each of the source and destination nodes on a user interface;
manipulate a graphical connector to form connections between graphical objects of a first quantity of source nodes and a second quantity of destination nodes on the user interface to specify plural transfers between the first quantity of source nodes and the second quantity of destination nodes, wherein the plural transfers include transfers from plural source nodes to a same destination node, wherein a status indicator and a quantity actuator are disposed within the graphical object of each destination node of the second quantity on the user interface for each corresponding source node with a graphical object connected to the graphical object of that destination node, and wherein the quantity actuator includes increment and decrement actuators to specify a quantity of items for transfer;
manipulate one or more of the increment and decrement actuators of the quantity actuator of the graphical object of each destination node of the second quantity to specify the quantity of items for transfer to that destination node from each corresponding source node, wherein a plurality of first fields are disposed within the graphical object of each source node of the first quantity on the user interface to indicate a quantity of items at that source node and a quantity of items to transfer from that source node to each corresponding destination node, and wherein a second field is disposed within the graphical object of each destination node of the second quantity on the user interface to indicate a quantity of items at that destination node;
validate the plural transfers based on rules indicating quantities, nodes, and periods for transfer; and
initiate transfer from the first quantity of source nodes to each destination node of the second quantity for the plural transfers the quantity of items for transfer specified by the quantity actuator of the graphical object of that destination node based on the validating, wherein initiating transfer includes:
updating a corresponding status indicator of the graphical object of each destination node of the second quantity based on monitored progress of a corresponding transfer of the plural transfers for that destination node;
updating, in the plurality of first fields of the graphical object of each source node of the first quantity, the quantity of items at that source node based on the quantity of items for transfer specified by the quantity actuator of a corresponding destination node; and
updating, in the second field of the graphical object of each destination node of the second quantity, the quantity of items at that destination node based on the quantity of items for transfer specified by the quantity actuator of that destination node.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the graphical connector connects graphical objects of a plurality of source nodes to a graphical object of a destination node to specify transfers of the plural transfers.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the graphical connector connects a graphical object of a source node to graphical objects of a plurality of destination nodes to specify transfers of the plural transfers.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the graphical connector connects graphical objects of a plurality of source nodes to graphical objects of a plurality of destination nodes to specify transfers of the plural transfers.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the program instructions further cause the processor to:
monitor, via sensing devices, progress of transfers between the first quantity of source nodes and the second quantity of destination nodes.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the program instructions further cause the processor to:
remove a graphical connector between a graphical object of a source node and a graphical object of a destination node on the user interface to cancel a corresponding transfer.