Method, apparatus and system for merchandizing related applications

A database software system operating on a computer system for creating and managing merchandising data, the software system comprising:

• a product editor including means for accepting product data relating to one or more product characteristics and having one or more database tables representing one or more product characteristic hierarchies, the product characteristic hierarchies being undated by the product editor in response to new data relating to product characteristics;
• and
• a line editor for automatically building a product line list;
• wherein the line editor comprises means for querying one or more database tables of the product editor, means for accepting input data representing product data, one or more database tables representing the product line list, the product line list being automatically updated by the line editor in response to new data representing new product data and wherein the product line list establishes a data foundation for merchandising applications to plan and report on product lines.

A database software system operating on a computer system for creating and managing merchandising data for one or more product lines, sold through one or more sales channels, classified using one or more classification hierarchies, across one or more time horizons, the software system comprising:

• a product editor including means for accepting product data relating to one or more product characteristics and having one or more database tables representing one or more product characteristic hierarchies, the product characteristic hierarchies being updated by the product editor in response to new data relating to product characteristics;
• a channel editor including means for accepting channel data relating to sales channel information and having one or more database tables representing one or more channel hierarchies, the channel hierarchies being updated by the channel editor in response to new data relating to sales channel information;
• a classification editor including means for accepting classification data relating to classifying products and having one or more database tables representing one or more classification hierarchies, the classification hierarchies being updated by the classification editor in response to new classification data;
• a horizon editor including means for accepting time horizon data relating to a time horizon for products and having one or more database tables representing one or more time horizons or calendars, the time horizons being updated by the horizon editor in response to new horizon data;
• and
• a line editor for automatically building a product line list, the line editor including means for querying one or more database tables of the product editor, the channel editor, the classification editor and the horizon editor, means for accepting input data representing relationships between product data, channel data, classification data and horizon data, and one or more database tables representing the product line list, the product line list being automatically updated by the line editor in response to new data representing relationships between product data, channel data, classification data and horizon data, new product data, new channel data, new classification data or new horizon data;
• wherein the product line list establishes a data foundation for merchandising applications to plan and report on product lines sold through one or more sales channels, classified using one or more classification hierarchies, across one or more time horizons.

A database software system operating on a computer system for creating and managing merchandising data for one or more product lines, sold through multiple sales channels, classified using one or more classification hierarchies, across one or more time horizons, the software system comprising:

• a product editor including means for accepting product data relating to one or more product characteristics and having one or more database tables representing one or more product characteristic hierarchies, the product characteristic hierarchies being updated by the product editor in response to new data relating to product characteristics;
• a channel editor including means for accepting channel data relating to sales channel information from multiple sale channels and having one or more database tables representing one or more channel hierarchies, the channel hierarchies being updated by the channel editor in response to new data relating to sales channel information from the multiple sale channels;
• a classification editor including means for accepting classification data relating to classifying products and having one or more database tables representing one or more classification hierarchies, the classification hierarchies being updated by the classification editor in response to new classification data;
• a horizon editor including means for accepting time horizon data relating to a time horizon for products and having one or more database tables representing one or more time horizons or calendars, the time horizons being updated by the horizon editor in response to new horizon data;
• and
• a line editor for automatically building a product line list, the line editor including means for querying one or more database tables of the product editor, the channel editor, the classification editor and the horizon editor, means for accepting input data representing relationships between product data, channel data, classification data and horizon data, and one or more database tables representing the product line list, the product line list being automatically updated by the line editor in response to new data representing relationships between product data, channel data, classification data and horizon data, new product data, new channel data, new classification data or new horizon data;
• wherein the product line list establishes a data foundation for merchandising applications to plan and report on product lines sold through the multiple sales channels, classified using one or more classification hierarchies, across one or more time horizons.