Abstract: A supply chain network where customers, suppliers, logistics providers, carriers, and financial institutions are all connected to a centralized supply chain server. The server receives forecasts from the customers detailing the orders that the customers desire. These forecasts are analyzed by the supply chain server to ensure that they conform to contractual agreements and do not contain errors. The forecasts are also used to warn the suppliers of future demands so that the suppliers can anticipate demands and plan inventory accordingly. The supply chain server checks with the suppliers to determine whether the forecasts can fulfilled by the suppliers. If the forecasts cannot be fulfilled by the suppliers, the supply chain server contacts customers and suppliers and attempts to either redistribute the customers' demands to different suppliers or request that customers alter their demands.

Abstract: A supply chain network where customers, suppliers, logistics providers, carriers, and financial institutions are all connected to a centralized supply chain server. The server receives forecasts from the customers detailing the orders that the customers desire. These forecasts are analyzed by the supply chain server to ensure that they conform to contractual agreements and do not contain errors. The forecasts are also used to warn the suppliers of future demands so that the suppliers can anticipate demands and plan inventory accordingly. Once supplier demand issues are resolved, the forecasts are sent to the suppliers in groups so that the suppliers prepare a smaller number of large orders. The supply chain server also controls the processes involved in distributing the product from the suppliers to the customers including the generation and payment of invoices. A form of financing the customers' purchases, made possible by the supply chain architecture, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A supply chain network (70) in which customers (72), suppliers (76), logistics providers (78), carriers, and financial institutions are all connected to a centralized supply chain server (74). The supply chain server (74) is central to a many-to-many relationship. Accordingly, the server (74) handles various management activities for each member of the supply chain, such as negotiating prices, terms and conditions, managing supply and demand, and maintaining transaction information. In the process, the supply chain server, (74) gathers significant amounts of relevant data and becomes a central repository for such information. Consequently, the supply chain server (74) is in a unique position to utilize the data for the benefit of the members of the supply chain and others.

Abstract: A supply chain network where customers, suppliers, logistics providers, carriers, and financial institutions are all connected to a centralized supply chain server. The server receives forecasts for direct material procurement from the customers detailing the orders that the customers desire. These forecasts are analyzed by the supply chain server to ensure that they conform to contractual agreements and do not contain errors. The supply chain server sends the forecasted demands to at least one supplier after determining the forecasts are valid. The supply chain server controls the processes involved in distributing the product from the suppliers to the customers including the generation and payment of invoices. A form of financing the customers' purchases, made possible by the novel supply chain architecture, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A supply chain network where customers, suppliers, logistics providers, carriers, and financial institutions are all connected to a centralized supply chain server. The server receives forecasts from the customers detailing the orders that the customers desire. These forecasts are analyzed by the supply chain server to ensure that they conform to contractual agreements and do not contain errors. The forecasts are also used to warn the suppliers of future demands so that the suppliers can anticipate demands and plan inventory accordingly. The supply chain server checks with the suppliers to determine whether the forecasts can fulfilled by the suppliers. If the forecasts cannot be fulfilled by the suppliers, the supply chain server contacts customers and suppliers and attempts to either redistribute the customers' demands to different suppliers or request that customers alter their demands.

Abstract: A supply chain network where customers, suppliers, logistics providers, carriers, and financial institutions are all connected to a centralized supply chain server. The server receives forecasts from the customers detailing the orders that the customers desire. These forecasts are analyzed by the supply chain server to ensure that they conform to contractual agreements and do not contain errors. The forecasts are also used to warn the suppliers of future demands so that the suppliers can anticipate demands and plan inventory accordingly. The supply chain server checks with the suppliers to determine whether the forecasts can fulfilled by the suppliers. If the forecasts cannot be fulfilled by the suppliers, the supply chain server contacts customers and suppliers and attempts to either redistribute the customers' demands to different suppliers or request that customers alter their demands.

Abstract: A supply chain network where customers, suppliers, logistics providers, carriers, and financial institutions are all connected to a centralized supply chain server. The server receives forecasts from the customers detailing the orders that the customers desire. These forecasts are analyzed by the supply chain server to ensure that they conform to contractual agreements and do not contain errors. The forecasts are also used to warn the suppliers of future demands so that the suppliers can anticipate demands and plan inventory accordingly. The supply chain server checks with the suppliers to determine whether the forecasts can fulfilled by the suppliers. If the forecasts cannot be fulfilled by the suppliers, the supply chain server contacts customers and suppliers and attempts to either redistribute the customers' demands to different suppliers or request that customers alter their demands.

Abstract: A supply chain network where customers, suppliers, logistics providers, carriers, and financial institutions are all connected to a centralized supply chain server. The server receives forecasts from the customers detailing the orders that the customers desire. These forecasts are analyzed by the supply chain server to ensure that they conform to contractual agreements and do not contain errors. The forecasts are also used to warn the suppliers of future demands so that the suppliers can anticipate demands and plan inventory accordingly. The supply chain server checks with the suppliers to determine whether the forecasts can fulfilled by the suppliers. If the forecasts cannot be fulfilled by the suppliers, the supply chain server contacts customers and suppliers and attempts to either redistribute the customers' demands to different suppliers or request that customers alter their demands.

Abstract: A wake-up alarm is set to ring in some time interval. One or more physical characteristics of the sleeping subject, including brain wave activity, pulse rate, REM activity, muscle tension, body temperature, hearing acuity, positional changes and the like are monitored to determine whether the subject is in a deep or shallow-sleep phase. If the subject is in the deep-sleep phase throughout the alarm time interval, the alarm is inhibited until the end of the alarm interval. The inhibiting of the alarm ends as soon as the subject goes into a shallow-sleep phase.