Supply-chain side assistance

#An embodiment provides a computer-implemented method. The method includes identifying an item having a presence within a geographic locale in response to a signal indicative of the item. Also, obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source and obtaining a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a second source. The method further includes aggregating the first supply-chain assistance and the second supply-chain assistance. The method may include enabling a supply-chain user to request at least one instance of supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item. The method may include broadcasting the aggregated first supply-chain assistance and the second supply-chain assistance. The method may include causing the first supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item to be obtained from the first source and the second supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item to be obtained from the second source. In addition to the foregoing, other method embodiments are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.

#Another embodiment provides a computer-implemented method. The method includes receiving a signal indicative of an item having a presence within a geographic locale, and requesting an information corresponding to the item over a computer network from at least two independent sources. The method also includes providing the information. In addition to the foregoing, other method embodiments are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.

#A further embodiment provides a computer-implemented method. The method includes receiving a signal indicative of an item having a presence within a geographic locale, and enabling a supply-chain user to request a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the item having a presence within a geographic locale. The method may also include, in response to a received supply-chain user request for a supply-chain assistance, obtaining a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the item from a first source and obtaining a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the item from a second source. Further, the method may include aggregating the first supply-chain assistance and the second supply-chain assistance, and broadcasting the aggregated supply-chain assistance. In addition to the foregoing, other method embodiments are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.

#FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system in which embodiments may be implemented, including a general-purpose computing device;

#FIG. 2 illustrates an operational flow representing exemplary operations that obtain an assistance corresponding to an item having a presence within a geographic locale;

#FIG. 3 illustrates another operational flow representing exemplary operations that obtain an assistance corresponding to an item having presence within a geographic locale;

#In the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the several figures, like referenced numerals identify like elements. The detailed description and the drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the claimed subject matter is defined by the appended claims.

#FIG. 1 and the following discussion are intended to provide a brief, general description of an environment in which embodiments may be implemented. FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary electronic device that may correspond in whole or part to a general-purpose computing device, and is shown as a computing system environment 100. Components of the computing system environment 100 may include, but are not limited to, a computing device 110 having a processing unit 120, a system memory 130, and a system bus 121 that couples various system components including the system memory to the processing unit 120. The system bus 121 may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, also known as Mezzanine bus.

#The computing system environment 100 typically includes a variety of computer-readable media products. Computer-readable media may include any media that can be accessed by the computing device 110 and include both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not of limitation, computer-readable media may include computer storage media and communications media. Computer storage media includes both volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Computer storage media include, but are not limited to, random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD), or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the computing device 110. Communications media typically embody computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and include any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communications media include wired media such as a wired network and a direct-wired connection and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, optical, and infrared media. Combinations of the any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.