Abstract: A method of and system for collecting, storing, and retrieving data in a data base management system. The database management system includes a master database server (4), at least one workgroup server (315), and a plurality of workgroup user clients (310). The workgroup server (315) is interposed between the master database server (4) and said workgroup user clients (310). The method creating a transaction in a local database resident on one of the workgroup user clients (310), entering the transaction into a transaction log resident on the workgroup user client (310), and creating a transaction file corresponding to the transaction in an outbox of said workgroup user client (310). Next, the transaction file is copied to an inbox identified to the workgroup user client (310) and updating the transaction file into a workgroup database (305) resident on the workgroup server (315). The workgroup database (305) includes a transaction log.

Abstract: A handheld device performs a data update process to synchronize locally stored data with data from another device, which may be stored in different formats. The handheld device gets the size of the data from the other device. The handheld device applies a scaling factor to the size. The handheld device compares the scaled size to the amount of free memory in the handheld device available for the data update process. The handheld device receives the update data if there is sufficient memory available. Otherwise, the handheld device does not receive the update data in order to conserve power in the handheld device. The handheld device can also perform an error routine to notify the user of the insufficient memory condition and to allow the user to make more memory available.

Abstract: A method and system for analyzing natural language text to identify a set of categories of data in a knowledge base associated with the natural language text and selecting a category from the set of categories is provided. The method and system further provides automatically providing a single category if the set of categories only contains the single category. The method and system also provides that each category in the knowledge base is associated with a stored text representation of a sample natural language text and a score for the text representation-category combination, wherein the score is representative of a relative relevance of the text representation-category combination. The method and system further provide for modifying the score associated with the text representation-category combination of a selected category using feedback provided upon the selection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus system for generating a configurator. According to one embodiment of the invention, a customizable product class is created. The customizable product class includes a set of one or more attributes to define the customizable product class. A component product class is added to the customizable product class, where the component product class is a subclass of the customizable product. A customizable UI is mapped to the customizable product class, where the customizable UI provides access structure to the configurator.

Abstract: A user interface for a computerized complex order processing system presents a list of products and services associated with an account, a list of quotes associated with the account, a list of orders associated with the account, and several user-selectable options. The options allow the user to transfer a service profile by defaulting the existing services at an old location to a new location; add, modify, and disconnect products and services the service profile, quotes, and orders associated with a selected account. The options further allow the user to accept a quote, convert the quote to a sales order, update the amount of revenue to be generated by a quote, approve an order, and submit the order for provisioning.

Abstract: A method and system for client applications to invoke the services of server applications. A business service system allows a user of a client application to specify the provider of a business service and to specify the communications protocols and transport mechanisms to be used when invoking such business services. The business service system provides a business service proxy that is invoked by client applications when using a business service. The business service proxy uses a mapping of web service to business service to send a request to the server application, which implements the business service in an appropriate format and using an appropriate transport mechanism. The mapping may be customized to point to a different implementation of the business service. The mapping may point to a business service that executes remotely from or locally to the client application.

Abstract: A data adapter including method and apparatus is presented. In one embodiment, the data adapter is a method. The method includes finding a set of records of a relational database matching an object instance of an object type. The method further includes updating the set of records of the relational database based on a first set of instances of components of the object instance, the instances of components of the first set corresponding to the records of the set of records. The method further includes inserting new records in the relational database corresponding to a second set of instances of components of the object instance, the instances of components of the second set not matching records of the set of records. The method also includes recursively repeating the finding, updating and inserting with respect to child components of the components.

Abstract: A method to convert data between a relational format and an XML document, by creating a set of XML Mapping Definition from metadata; selecting relational data from a relational application database, and converting the relational data to the XML document using the set of XML Mapping Definition.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for translating application strings between entities using a semantical (definition-based) translation scheme. Embodiments of the invention provide the ability to design and create an application user interface that can be reliably and efficiently localized. For one embodiment, each string is semantically defined and the definition is used to determine a corresponding display value for each entity (e.g., human language) of interest. Additionally, for one embodiment, a sparse-matrix data structure is employed to reduce the associated metadata.

Abstract: A method and system for direct server synchronization with a computing device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises synchronizing directly a handheld device and an enterprise server, which comprises retrieving a record extraction sequence from the server; and extracting records stored on a database according to the record extraction sequence, wherein the extracted records are not already stored on the computing device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for maintaining data for multi-channel communication queuing associated with different media formats such as telephone, email, and fax. A list of agent data includes information related to types of communication media an agent can access. The data can further include information related to an agent's skills, a list of media routes, statistics for communication channels of specified media types, statistics for an agent, and journals for work items. Priority values for the media routes, the maximum number of queued items for the media routes, and times for escalating a work item can also be included.

Abstract: One or more third party channel drivers interface with a centralized communication application server. An aggregate channel driver (ACD) is included in a channel driver to implement commands and command parameters that are supported by a particular core channel driver (CCD), but not by the communication server. The ACD can also implement events and event parameters that are supported by a particular communication server, but not by the CCD. A customer can thus include the ACD to extend and/or overwrite the functionality of a channel driver without rewriting or modifying the CCD.

Abstract: Techniques to support modification of certain data in a database during an upgrade to a new version. In one method, objects in an original database are marked as either modifiable or read-only, with changes being allowed for modifiable objects during the upgrade. An upgraded database of objects is generated based on objects in the original database (e.g., by copying objects in the original database and upgrading the copied objects to new schema and binaries). Changes to modifiable objects in the original database (e.g., after these objects have been copied) are logged. After the upgraded database has been created, objects in this database may be updated (e.g., individually or all at once) by identifying modifiable objects in the original database having changes not yet incorporated into the upgraded database and updating objects in the upgraded database based on the modified objects in the original database.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for routing work items to agents, wherein the work items can be of one of two or more different communication media types from one of two or more different communication channels. A queuing engine includes a list of routes and each route is associated with one or more properties. The list of routes can further include information related to one or more escalation rules for each route; the type of communication media available along the route for handling one or more of the work items; whether the route is active; the priority of the route; whether work items can be handled real-time; the service level for work items handled on the route; and the number of work items that can be assigned to the route.

Abstract: Text strings from computer-based applications are converted from multiple external formats into an internal format. The text strings are stored in a terminology database. Translations for the test strings are also stored in the terminology database and associated with the corresponding text strings. In one aspect, text strings are converted into a export format for translation into one or more target languages. The translations are converted into the appropriate external formats and output to the applications that supplied the text strings. In another aspect, the terminology database is queried for an appropriate translation for each newly converted text string. In still another aspect, metadata for the text strings is created and associated with the text strings in the terminology database, and used as query criteria to determine the appropriate translation. The metadata may be exported in conjunction with the text strings.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method of sending change information from a first database to a second database. The method includes managing a set of transactions to produce a first message. The method also includes transforming the first message into a second message. The method further includes converting the second message into a transmittable message.

Abstract: Techniques to automatically generate invoices for contracts, each of which may include any number of line items. Each contract line item may be associated with (1) a particular invoice plan that defines one or more applicable billing types (e.g., for non-recurring, recurring, and use charges) and any adjustments to the total billed amount, (2) a particular invoicing schedule that defines the timing for the invoice generation, (3) a particular account to which invoices are addressed, and (4) a flag to selectively enable automatic invoice generation. An invoice engine automatically generates invoices for a set of one or more contracts by processing each enabled line item of each contract based on the associated invoice plan and invoicing schedule to generate a set of one or more invoice line items for the contract line item. All invoice line items for each account are aggregated into an invoice for the account.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a method includes receiving a search category and a search keyword entered by a user. The method also includes performing a single search on at least one database and at least one attached document for data records matching the search category and the search keyword. The method further includes generating search results comprising of the data records matching the search category and the search keyword.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products are provided that can allow users to obtain information about, and participate in, auctions being conducted at a plurality of on-line auction sites. A Web site of an intermediary maintains information about items being auctioned at a plurality of remotely located auction sites in communication with a computer network, such as the Internet. Auction information is displayable to users accessing the intermediary web site via clients, such as Web browsers, via the computer network. Potential buyers accessing an intermediary Web site can search for and place bids for items being auctioned at remote, on-line auctions. In addition, sellers can utilize an intermediary Web site to locate on-line auctions within which to list items for sale.

Abstract: Enterprise management information in a first format for use by a first computerized system is transformed into an intermediate format to readily make the stored enterprise management information available for use in a second computerized system that utilizes a second format. The intermediate format includes a plurality of custom data type elements that are adapted for capturing unique customer information that are relevant to the customer's business systems.