Abstract: A system and method for storing related data is disclosed, which receives a number of concepts related to the data to be stored, forms a number of relationships linking the concepts together, and which then represents the data in a way reflecting both the concepts and the relationships between the concepts. The relationships formed by the disclosed system include a number of independent aspects which add useful levels of meaning to the way the information is organized. One aspect of the relationships formed between concepts reflects predetermined application specific meanings that may be applied to individual relationships. Accordingly, the relationships provided in any specific embodiment of the disclosed system are defined to reflect a specific application of the system, such as, for example, a catalog service for receiving, storing, and publishing product-related information.

Abstract: A process for distributing items, especially industrial maintenance repair and operating (MRO) parts and supplies. The process includes as a first step providing a plurality of vendors for selling the item. Next, an information network by which each vendor can communicate to the other vendors a current inventory quantity and a current price of the item each of the vendors has for sale.

Abstract: A process for distributing items, especially industrial maintenance repair and operating (MRO) parts and supplies. The process includes as a first step providing a plurality of vendors for selling the item. Next, an information network by which each vendor can communicate to the other vendors a current inventory quantity and a current price of the item each of the vendors has for sale.