Extended manufacturing environment
OwnerEdward R. Priceinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An extended manufacturing environment can receive, at a manufacturer's server, a communication from a customer of the manufacturer, automatically process the communication, and automatically transmit an order for supplies to a supplier of the supplies. The supplies, which are needed by the manufacturer to manufacture at least one product for the customer, can be directly ordered by the customer, without the customer having to wait for the manufacturer's approval.
Claims17
A method for providing an extended manufacturing environment, comprising:
- receiving, at a manufacturer's server, a communication from a customer of the manufacturer;
- automatically processing the communication at the manufacturer's server;
- and
- automatically transmitting an order for supplies from the manufacturer's server to a supplier of the supplies, the supplies needed by the manufacturer to manufacture at least one product for the customer.
A system for providing an extended manufacturing environment, comprising:
- a manufacturing interface module configured to receive a communication from a customer of a manufacturer, automatically process the communication, and automatically pass control to an ordering module;
- and
- the ordering module configured to automatically transmit an order for supplies to a supplier of the supplies, the supplies needed by the manufacturer to manufacture at least one product for the customer.
An article of manufacture having computer-readable program means embodied therein for providing an extended manufacturing environment, comprising:
- computer-readable program means for receiving, at a manufacturer's server, a communication from a customer of the manufacturer;
- computer-readable program means for automatically processing the communication at the manufacturer's server;
- and
- computer-readable program means for automatically transmitting an order for supplies from the manufacturer's server to a supplier of the supplies, the supplies needed by the manufacturer to manufacture at least one product for the customer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.