Abstract: In one aspect, a method for comparing suppliers includes sending survey questions for receipt by supplier computer systems. Programming instructions are also sent for receipt and execution by the supplier computer systems. The programming instructions are for causing the supplier computer systems to return supplier survey answers to a server. The answers are included in responding documents and are defined in a certain format as data elements included in the responding documents. The data elements are then parsed from the responding documents responsive to predetermined programming instructions and evaluated the data elements responsive to a predetermined set of rules.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for comparing suppliers includes sending survey questions for receipt by supplier computer systems. Programming instructions are also sent for receipt and execution by the supplier computer systems, The programming instructions are for causing the supplier computer systems to return supplier survey answers to a server. The answers are included in responding documents and are defined in a certain format as data elements included in the responding documents. The data elements are then parsed from the responding documents responsive to predetermined programming instructions and evaluated the data elements responsive to a predetermined set of rules.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for comparing suppliers includes sending survey questions for receipt by supplier computer systems. Programming instructions are also sent for receipt and execution by the supplier computer systems, The programming instructions are for causing the supplier computer systems to return supplier survey answers to a server. The answers are included in responding documents and are defined in a certain format as data elements included in the responding documents. The data elements are then parsed from the responding documents responsive to predetermined programming instructions and evaluated the data elements responsive to a predetermined set of rules.

Abstract: A method and implementing system are provided in which specific byte requests made by a functional unit within a computer system effect the return of a word containing the requested byte to a register device within a CPU. The returned word is stored "as is" and without alignment, together with mask and alignment data indicative of the location of the requested byte within the stored word. Alignment relative to the requested byte is thereafter accomplished using the mask and alignment data just before use of the requested byte by the functional unit. The alignment function is thereby accomplished outside of the processor critical path which obviates the typical memory-processor mismatch delay inherent in prior art data alignment networks and substantially shortens the critical path in the memory access stage of the processor's pipeline.