Abstract: A system for retrieving messages of a supply process in a supply chain and methods for making and using the same. The system may bind a message received from a player of the supply chain with existing related messages, build a binding message set based on bound messages and retrieve the messages based on the binding message set. Messages issued by the player may follow frameworks generated between the player and other players of the supply chain. In accordance to a specific framework, a message between two players may have a common data element and may follow rules proscribed within the framework. Global standards or common data elements is not required, thereby permitting each participant in the supply chain to transmit messages in their preferred format.

Abstract: A method of determining availability of a plurality of loading points for an appointment to be scheduled, wherein the availability of each loading point is variably constrained based upon attributes of the appointment and availability of other resources. The preferred method comprises determining a plurality of constraints related to the loading point and to the attributes of the appointment to be scheduled, deriving, from the plurality of constraints related to the loading point and to the attributes of the appointment to be scheduled, a plurality of binary temporal constraint masks, and combining the masks of the plurality of binary temporal constraint masks to create a binary temporal availability mask. The method may present availability of at least one loading point of the plurality of loading points, wherein the presented availability of the loading point is derived from the binary temporal availability mask for the loading point.

Abstract: A system for retrieving messages of a supply process in a supply chain and methods for making and using the same. The system may bind a message received from a player of the supply chain with existing related messages, build a binding message set based on bound messages and retrieve the messages based on the binding message set. Messages issued by the player may follow frameworks generated between the player and other players of the supply chain. In accordance to a specific framework, a message between two players may have a common data element and may follow rules proscribed within the framework. Global standards or common data elements is not required, thereby permitting each participant in the supply chain to transmit messages in their preferred format.

Abstract: A method of adapting a message translation system includes receiving a message from a sender; selecting a configuration set from a stored plurality of configuration sets based on at least two of: information regarding the sender of the message, information regarding a recipient of the message, and information regarding the message type; processing the message in accordance with information derived from the selected configuration set; identifying an issue with the processing of the message in accordance with information derived from the selected configuration set; determining a resolution for the identified issue with the processing of the message in accordance with information derived from the selected configuration set; updating the selected configuration set based upon the determined resolution; reprocessing the message in accordance with information derived from the updated configuration set; and transmitting the message reprocessed in accordance with information derived from the updated configuration set

Abstract: A method of adapting a message translation system includes receiving a message from a sender; selecting a configuration set from a stored plurality of configuration sets based on at least two of: information regarding the sender of the message, information regarding a recipient of the message, and information regarding the message type; processing the message in accordance with information derived from the selected configuration set; identifying an issue with the processing of the message in accordance with information derived from the selected configuration set; determining a resolution for the identified issue with the processing of the message in accordance with information derived from the selected configuration set; updating the selected configuration set based upon the determined resolution; reprocessing the message in accordance with information derived from the updated configuration set; and transmitting the message reprocessed in accordance with information derived from the updated configuration set

Abstract: A method of determining availability of a plurality of loading points for an appointment to be scheduled, wherein the availability of each loading point is variably constrained based upon attributes of the appointment and availability of other resources. The preferred method comprises determining a plurality of constraints related to the loading point and to the attributes of the appointment to be scheduled, deriving, from the plurality of constraints related to the loading point and to the attributes of the appointment to be scheduled, a plurality of binary temporal constraint masks, and combining the masks of the plurality of binary temporal constraint masks to create a binary temporal availability mask. The method may present availability of at least one loading point of the plurality of loading points, wherein the presented availability of the loading point is derived from the binary temporal availability mask for the loading point.

Abstract: A preferred method of managing logistics sourcing decisions including shipping rates in a network involves transmitting a shipping bid, receiving a plurality of bid responses from a plurality of carriers including a first bid having a first shipping rate and a first expiration date from the first carrier, receiving a shipping constraint, determining whether the plurality of bid responses meet the shipping constraint to identify a rejected bid and a plurality of accepted bids, storing a plurality of accepted bids until at least their respective expiration dates, receiving a selected bid of the plurality of accepted bids of step, wherein the accepted bid is the first bid, transmitting a booking request to the first carrier and receiving tracking information related to the freight being shipped including a ship date when the freight is received by the first carrier and a receipt date when the freight is delivered to the consignee.