Abstract: A method for enhancing a commercial transaction via a communications network includes maintaining synchronized updates to databases at different business entities to facilitate accurate transactions between the business entities. A change in configuration data stored in a first configuration database is detected in accordance with a real-time detection procedure. Revision data is transmitted to a second configuration database within a maximum time interval after detection of the change in the configuration data. A second configuration database is updated in accordance with the revision data, such that the configuration data of the first configuration database mirrors configuration data of the second configuration database with respect to at least one commercial transaction.

Abstract: A method for facilitating the navigation of application specific data on a data page, i.e. web page, during use of a data browser, i.e. Netscape™, MS Explorer™, etc. Included on the data page are a plurality of links each corresponding to data. In use, the data may be retrieved upon selection of the corresponding link. To facilitate the navigation of the data, the links are displayed each as a component of an indicia such as a pointer or chevron to imply a relationship between the data.

Abstract: A method for effectively collecting and disseminating information. In use, data is retrieved from multiple users in a plurality of categories. To disseminate the information, access is provided to the data via an interface which lists the data categories. By selecting a category in the interface, the user can subscribe to a data category and access the data therein.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for life cycle network asset management in a network based supply chain. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the supply chain network is monitored, and events from network assets are received, filtered, and correlated, whereby problems with network assets are further isolated. The filtered and isolated events problems are then translated into a standard object format for facilitating the determination of the life cycle of problem network assets, wherein the events are translated by a comprehensive library of all possible message types provided by the custom software interfaces. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the network assets include both packet-switched and circuit-switched network assets, and the events are received by custom software interfaces which communicate directly with the network assets.

Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture are provided for organizing an transaction-related dimension of tax-related data for generating fact details to facilitate payment of taxes. First, an transaction-related dimension of tax-related data is provided along with a plurality of attributes for the transaction-related dimension. Such attributes include a transaction line item determined based on a transaction identifier, a transaction type, a tax type, a customer account identifier, a sold to location geographic code, a ship to location geographic code, a contract number, a purchase order number, a vendor account identifier, and a vendor zip code. Next, a plurality of entries are received which are associated with the attributes of the transaction-related dimension. A plurality of fact details are then generated using the entries of a predetermined set of the attributes of the transaction-related dimension. Thereafter, the fact details are outputted.

Abstract: A display navigation system is presented in which indicia for a first target category and a second target category are presented to a user on a display, where the indicia are associated with keywords and the keywords are assigned weight. The user then performs various interactions and the user's interactions are detected. Additional indicia are presented to the user in response to the interactions, where the additional indicia represent additional target categories that are similar or dissimilar to the first and second target catergories depending on the interactions and weight of the keywords. Finally, additional indicia are displayed.

Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture are provided for managing information in a development architecture framework. Common information that is used by a plurality of components of a system is allowed to be accessed in a single, shared repository. Unique information that is unique to the components of the system is stored in corresponding designated folders. Media content communicated in the system is managed based on metadata thereof.

Abstract: A method for translating to and from an hierarchical information system, comprises identifying a non-hierarchical information system containing information stored in a non-hierarchical manner; developing a translation map that identifies organizational and content based rules for translating the non-hierarchical information into an hierarchical information system; and translating the non-hierarchical information for storage into the hierarchical information system according to the rules for translating.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for batching logical requests for reducing network traffic. A group of business objects necessary for a transaction are provided and managed in a logical unit of work. Logically-related requests received from the logical unit of work are grouped into a first single network message, and update and retrieval transactions are grouped into a second single network message. The first and second messages are stored, and the first message is sent upon receiving an order to send the first message and the second message is sent upon receiving an order to send the second message.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for implementing presentation services patterns. Non-presentation logic executed on a client is assigned to an activity for allowing reuse of the non-presentation logic across multiple, volatile user interfaces. A view is assigned to the activity. Validation rules are also structured for validating user data across the multiple user interfaces.

Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture provide for an activity module. A server and a presentation interface of a client are interfaced to permit the receipt of requests for service from the presentation interface of the client. A portion of the requests are handled on the client. Another portion of the requests are forwarded to the server for further handling purposes and changes are effected in the presentation interface.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for assigning a view to an activity. Notification is received that a startup event of an activity has occurred. A reference to a first instance of an object created by the startup event of the activity is also received. A view to launch is determined in response to the receipt of the notification and the reference. The view is based on predetermined criteria. The view is associated with the activity and displayed.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for initializing a database used with an issue tracker. The issue tracker receives information relating to a plurality of issues from a plurality of users, displays the information relating to the issues, and allows the browsing of the information relating to each of the issues. To initialize the database, the information relating to the issues is stored in a first database. A second database is also provided that stores tables including: a plurality of user interfaces; and/or application logic for accessing the information in the first database. The tables of the second database are reconfigured upon migrating the first database from a first folder to a second folder.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for account settlement utilizing a network. First, a buyer is allowed to select from a group of options in order to settle an account utilizing a network. The options include settling a minimum balance, partially settling, settling a full balance, and applying for an import loan on payment due date. The selected option is then received utilizing the network. Finance interest may then be booked against the buyer for an unpaid portion of the account if the selected option includes either settling a minimum balance or partially settling. If the selected option includes settling a full balance, the account may be reconciled. On the other hand, if the selected option includes applying for an import loan on payment due date, an import loan may be booked and a credit line may be transferred to a trade loan line.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture for the management of data during activation of local telecommunication service. More particularly to an on-line transaction controller that provides predetermined network information, the information residing in a storage medium. Requests are generated by one of a plurality of modules that are received by the controller. The requests provide transactional information. The transactional information is compared to the predetermined network information. The comparison bases decisions on the business rules. The transactional information is manipulated upon detection of a discrepancy relative to the predetermined network information.

Abstract: An abstraction factory pattern in a client/server architecture receives and transforms data into a plurality of concrete objects. Each of the concrete objects is associated with an abstract interface. A map of the association between the concrete objects and the abstract interface is created. When a request is received from the client (which includes an identifier for one of the concrete objects and an identifier for the abstract interface) the map on the server is consulted to locate the concrete object that has been identified. Then, an abstract object is created that corresponds to the located concrete object such that the abstract object serves as a handle, generically manipulable by the client/server architecture. The invention represents a way to encapsulate diversity such that only those parts of the system that need to understand the difference between two objects have to deal with those differences.

Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture are provided for efficiently retrieving data. A total amount of data required for an application executed by a client is determined. In a single call, the total amount of data from a server is requested over a network. All of the data is bundled into a data structure by the server in response to the single call. The bundled data structure is sent to the client over the network and the data of the data structure is cached on the client. The cached data of the data structure is used as needed during execution of the application on the client.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for prioritizing components of an existing network framework. First, a plurality of components required for implementation of a predetermined technology using an existing network framework are provided. Next, a priority listing of the components is complied such that the relative position of the components on the priority listing corresponds to a temporal priority among the components. The existing network framework and the components are pictorially represented. Next, a first component of the existing network framework is indicia coded in order to indicate that the first component must be installed first based on the component's position on the priority listing. Thereafter, a second component and any remaining components of the existing network framework is indicia encoded in order to indicate that the second component and any remaining components must be installed after the first component based on the second component's position on the priority listing.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for implementing a hybrid network. Orders for network capacity are issued based on a forecasted demand in order to develop a hybrid network. The hybrid network is analyzed o identify network problems. Then, the hybrid network is provisioned in accordance with the network problems and service requests. Usage of the hybrid network is determined and network usage control functions are initiated based on the determined usage.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for maintaining application consistency. First, a table of codes and associated text phrases are provided. Such table of codes is stored on a local storage medium within an e-commerce computer architecture. Next, the table of codes is accessed on the local storage medium within the e-commerce computer architecture. One of the text phrases is subsequently retrieved by selecting a corresponding one of the codes of the table. During operation, modification of the text phrases associated with each of the codes of the table is permitted. A plurality of services are executed, including retrieving a single one of the text phrases, retrieving all of the text phrases in response to a single command, updating a single code and text phrase combination, updating all of the code and text phrase combinations, naming the table, adding a new code and text phrase combination, removing one of the code and text phrase combination, and adding another table.