Abstract: One implementation provides a method for providing display information that represents a quantity of received email messages that have been held for processing by a specific entity for a predefined time period in an electronic mail (email) response management system. In this implementation, the method includes determining a first value associated with a first quantity of received email messages that have been held for processing by the specific entity for a first predefined time period, wherein each email message has been sent from one end user. Upon determination of the first value, the method further includes causing to be displayed in a graphical user interface (GUI) a first representation of the first value in spatial relation to representations of the specific entity and the first predefined time period.

Abstract: Obtaining an earned value includes storing a simulation version of a project baseline. The project baseline includes tasks that define a project associated with the project baseline. The simulation version is copied to create an operative version of the project baseline. The simulation version is augmented with an additional task such that the simulation version maintains separate baselines for the additional task and for pre-existing tasks. The additional task is mapped from the simulation version to the operative version such that the operative version incorporates the additional task and the pre-existing task into a single baseline. The earned value is obtained for the project using the operative version.

Abstract: A method of providing an application with a resource of a computer system includes storing a set of rules for assigning resources of the computer system, identifying an event, and assigning the resource to the application based on the event and at least rule in the set of rules. The method may also include receiving an event message that corresponds to the event, where the event is identified from the event message.

Abstract: A method of classifying retail products and services includes providing a listing of groupings of at least one of retail products and services in a computerized system, and providing a listing of price level groups defined within the computerized system. The method also includes receiving a user selection of groupings of at least one of retail products and services from the listing of groupings of at least one of retail products and services and a user-selected price level group from the listing of price level groups. The method also includes and assigning the user-selected price level group to the user selection of groupings.

Abstract: A system receives output geographic information en masse from a server. The output geographic information corresponds to input geographic information provided to the server en masse. The system builds a database that indexes at least some of the output geographic information to at least some of the input geographic information, attempts to locate specific output geographic information in the database, and determines the specific output geographic information by calculation if the specific output geographic information cannot be located in the database.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a system for simulating the loading of a shipment of a set of products. The shipment may be loaded into a set of transports. The simulation may include attempts to fill each transport. The simulation may include evaluating a set of constraints on the shipment. The constraints may include a complex logical statement.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a system and method for service parts planning in a network having one or more service parts. For at least a subset of the one or more service parts, a calculation is performed to determine a location within the network at which allocating the service part provides the greatest gain in system availability per item cost. In an embodiment, the calculations are based, at least in part on machine-specific information. In one embodiment, inventory position is determined based, at least in part, on a unique identifier associated with a service part.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for generic device integration within an auto-id system. The system includes an auto-id node operable to collect data emitted by one or more automatic data acquisition devices, process the data, and make the data available to one or more enterprise applications, user interfaces, or other auto-id nodes. The auto-id node includes a device integration layer that is operable to handle communication between the auto-id node and different types of automatic data acquisition devices, device controllers, or device management systems.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for enabling the user to guide the synchronization of a source data structure with a target data structure. The guided synchronization stores the operations defined by the user and reapplies them to future synchronizations.

Abstract: A trust look-up protocol is described that allows a meta-trusted third party, or trust directory, to mediate between parties of potential business collaborations and trusted third parties that are counted on to authorize or otherwise validate the business collaborations. The trust directory receives a trust request for a collaboration from one or more parties, and, based on the request, determines a specialty of a trusted third party that is suited to the request and the collaboration. The trust directory then obtains interface information for the trusted third party for forwarding to the requesting party. In this way, the trusted third party may make a determination as to whether the requesting party should proceed in the business collaboration. Afterwards, the trust directory may monitor communications that take place as part of the collaboration, for use in evaluating future requests and collaborations.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for performing automated transactions are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a script-engine associated with a particular server receives a request to execute a script. The script-engine executes a script and prompts a user to enter critical data directly related to the goal sought to be achieved by the script. After receiving the critical data related to the transaction, the script automatically executes and communicates commands to a server. The script automatically communicates the critical data to the server upon request by the server. In addition, the script retrieves and enters non-critical data without user interaction. The server performs operations according to the commands received from the script-engine to automatically carry out the transaction.

Abstract: A system and method for performing assortment definition is provided. The method comprises inputting information regarding a plurality of stores into an assortment definition engine, and performing a matching process to identify at least one group of stores for assignment to the assortment. An automated system for defining an assortment and a program product for defining an assortment are also provided.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for the automated structuring of data representing a tangible system. The method includes receiving first item information describing a first tangible item of the system, receiving first item position information describing a position of the first item, receiving second item information describing a second tangible item of the system, receiving second item position information describing a position of the second item, and characterizing a relationship between the first item and the second item based at least in part upon the first item position information and the second item position information.

Abstract: A computer program, method, and systems for monitoring inbound documents. Each of these inbound documents, which concerns the delivery of inbound merchandise to a processing center, itemizes one or more available products included in the inbound merchandise. Outbound documents, each of which concerns the shipping of outbound merchandise from the processing center, are also monitored. These outbound documents each itemize one or more needed products to be included in the outbound merchandise. The available products itemized in one or more inbound documents are compared to the needed products itemized in one or more outbound documents to determine if a match occurs. If such a match occurs, the matched available and needed products are linked, such that an outstanding order for a needed product is fulfilled with an available product.

Abstract: An auto-identification system is described that includes a plurality of distributed auto-id nodes that are operable to track physical objects as they move through an operation of an enterprise, such as, for example, a supply chain network or a sales network. The auto-id nodes are distributed across sites of the network, and are in communication with enterprise application systems and/or data acquisition systems such as RFID readers or sensor devices. By focusing on their respective sites, the auto-id nodes minimize the amount of data tracked by their respective enterprise applications. Further, a distributed management service may be in communication with all of the auto-id nodes, so as to distribute rules governing the operation of the enterprise to at least one of the auto-id nodes.

Abstract: A method for planning an assortment including a store comprises receiving a hierarchical list of articles including a plurality of nodes, and assigning a first node in the hierarchical list to the store to define a first group of articles that are assignable to the assortment. A system and program product for planning an assortment including a store are also provided.

Abstract: A system, method and program product are provided for performing assortment definition/planning (i.e., matching the right articles with the right stores at the right times). The method comprises assigning a first article to the assortment via a first intermediate link, and assigning a first validity period to the first intermediate link to determine a first time period during which the first article is in the assortment.

Abstract: One implementation provides a method for providing a solution to a problem durring an interaction. In this implementation, the method includes displaying to the user a first question and possible answers to the first question in a graphical user interface (GUI) upon identification of the problem. Each possible answer to the first question is associated with an electronic document stored in a first knowledge base. The method further includes receiving input from the user selecting one of the displayed answers to the first question during the interaction. In response to receiving this input, a name of the electronic document is displayed within the GUI. The electronic document whose name is displayed is associated with the selected answer to the first question and that provides a solution to the problem.

Abstract: A method for reporting one or more results that occur based on a price change includes receiving price planning input including at least one price change from at least one of an automated pricing engine and a manual pricing engine. The method further includes generating at least one result that will occur based on the price planning input and reporting the at least one result along with the at least one price change.

Abstract: A method and system to increase the security of messages transmitted over an otherwise unsecured network. A secure channel is established in a normal manner over the network. A demodularization module on the sender sends a demodularization method to the intended receiver over the secure channel. The sender encodes a message definition and message data separately consistent with the demodularization method. The message definition and message key is sent over the secure channel as one transmission and the message data with the message key is sent as separate transmissions over the secure channel. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.