# US 2007/0156675 A1 · Method for sourcing replacement parts > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2007/0156675 A1 - Document ID: US20070156675A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/649,518 - Filed: 2007-01-03 - Published: 2007-07-05 - Earliest claimed: 2005-12-30 - Assignees: PartsSource, LLC - Inventors: A. Dalton; Dan Betting - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20070156675A1 ## CPC - G06Q 10/20: Administration of product repair or maintenance - G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders - G06Q 10/0872: {using inventory planning} - G06Q 30/0601: Electronic shopping [e-shopping] - 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 A method of sourcing a piece of equipment or a replacement part includes preparing a part request record, providing a part source database, searching part source records in the database according to one or more search parameters associated with the part, part requestor or part source, creating a prospective part source list, and prioritizing the part source list by one or more indexing fields, to identify sources predicted to have the part at the best combination of quality, price, and other similar factors. A method of updating the indexing fields is also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of sourcing a part, the method comprising the steps of: providing a sourcing database of part source records, wherein the part source records includes at least first and second indexing fields; searching the sourcing database according to at least a first search parameter to create a list of prospective part sources; and prioritizing the list of prospective part sources based on at least one of the indexing fields. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first indexing field is a contact field and wherein the second indexing field is selected from the group consisting of at least a first modality field and at least a first manufacturer field. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the part source record comprises at least a third indexing field, wherein the third indexing field is selected from the group consisting of at least a first preferred variable field and at least a first quality assurance field. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the part source record comprises at least a fourth indexing field, wherein the fourth indexing field is selected from the group consisting of the at least a first part ID field, the at least a first part type field, the at least a first preferred variable field, and the at least a first quality assurance field. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the step of prioritizing the list of prospective part sources comprises the step of prioritizing the list of prospective part sources based on at least two of the indexing fields. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the step of prioritizing the list of prospective part sources comprises the steps of: prioritizing the prospective part sources based on the part type or part ID indexing field; then further prioritizing the prospective part sources based on the at least a first preferred variable indexing field; and then further prioritizing the prospective part sources based on a quality assurance rating, wherein the quality assurance rating is measured with respect to at least the first quality assurance field. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the quality assurance rating is measured with respect to the at least the first quality assurance field and at least a second quality assurance field. ### Claim 8 A method of sourcing a medical part, the method comprising the steps of: providing a sourcing database of part source records, wherein the part source records includes at least first, second, third and fourth indexing fields, wherein the first indexing field is a contact field, wherein the second indexing field is selected from the group consisting of at least a first modality ID field and at least a first manufacturer field, wherein the third and fourth indexing fields are selected from the group consisting of at least a first preferred variable field and at least a first quality assurance field; searching the part source records according to at least a first search parameter, wherein the at least a first search parameter is a parameter selected from the group consisting of part model number, part serial number, part manufacturer, equipment model number, equipment serial number and equipment manufacturer, to create a list of prospective part sources; and prioritizing the list of prospective part sources based on at least two of the indexing fields. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the step of prioritizing the list of prospective part sources involves the steps of: prioritizing the prospective part sources based on the part type indexing field; then prioritizing the prospective part sources based on the at least a first preferred variable indexing field; and then prioritizing the prospective part sources based on a quality assurance rating, wherein the quality assurance rating is measured with respect to at least the first quality assurance indexing field. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the calculation of the quality assurance rating includes an average of field compliance factors calculated with respect to at least first and second quality assurance indexing fields. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of contacting at least a first part source from the list of prospective part sources to order the part. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein, following the step of contacting the at least a first part source, the field compliance factors are updated. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the at least a first and second quality assurance indexing fields are selected from the group consisting of part availability, part pricing, timeliness, part accuracy, and part quality. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the calculation of the field compliance factor includes a number of positive transactions with the part source and a total number of transactions with the part source. ### Claim 15 A method of sourcing a medical part, the method comprising the steps of: creating a part request record, wherein the part request record includes at least a first parameter selected from the group consisting of part model number, part serial number, part manufacturer, equipment model number, equipment serial number and equipment manufacturer; providing a sourcing database of part source records, wherein the part source records includes at least first, second, third and fourth indexing fields, wherein the first indexing field is a contact field, wherein the second indexing field is selected from the group consisting of at least a first part ID field and at least a first part type field, wherein the third and fourth indexing fields are selected from the group consisting of at least a first preferred variable field and at least a first quality assurance field; searching the part source records according to the at least a first search parameter; prioritizing the list of prospective part sources based on at least two of the indexing fields; contacting at least a first part source from the list of prospective part sources to order the part; and selectively updating the indexing fields of the part source record of the at least a first part source contacted. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein, following the step of creating a part request, the method further includes: providing a parts inventory; and searching the parts inventory according to the at least a first parameter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the step of prioritizing the list of prospective part sources involves the steps of: prioritizing the prospective part sources based on the part type or part ID indexing field; then further prioritizing the prospective part sources based on the at least a first preferred variable indexing field; and then further prioritizing the prospective part sources based on a quality assurance rating, wherein the quality assurance rating is measured with respect to at least the first quality assurance field. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the step of selectively updating the indexing fields of the part source record of the at least a first part source contacted involves the step of updating the quality assurance rating of the at least a first quality assurance field. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the part request record is remotely, electronically accessible to an associated purchaser.