Abstract: A computer-implemented database system, method, and computer program product are provided. the database system comprises a plurality of nodes, each node including a data storage device having memory and a server; and a database system controller coupled to each of the plurality of nodes and having a processor and software program code for directing the database system to perform the following function of defining, for a user, a node group including at least one of the plurality of nodes, upon which the user's data is to be stored in a user database; wherein the user database is defined in terms of time-partitioned tables residing on the nodes of the node group, and wherein each time-partitioned table is further defined in terms of shards of the user's data, the shards corresponding with respective ones of the time partitions.

Abstract: A method for transferring a structured document between a server and a software package, in accordance with the present invention, includes providing a structured document including entered information from a server and translating the structured document into a format understandable to a software package resident on a personal computer. The software package supports entering and extracting required information using only a user interface in the software package. The translated structured document is integrated into the software package by employing a program or applet for directly entering and extracting information to and from the software package without human intervention. The program includes operating system commands for mimicking input device actions for automatically interacting with the user interface.

Abstract: A method for allowing flexible creation and alteration of business processes within a commerce system includes using state machines to describe the actions that can be taken by particular roles at particular points in a process. The state machines are used by a commerce system to enforce validity of user actions, to track the execution of actions within an instance of the business process, to provide the user interface with a list of actions available to a user working on an instance of the business process, to provide coordination between state machines, and to allow different organizations to have varied business processes.