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.

Abstract: Techniques to track and publish changes to object instances. For an “outbound process” to publish object instances, a list of object instances is initially received. For each received object instance, a determination is made whether or not the object instance has changed since its last publication. For each changed object instance, a delta snapshot is generated and includes data indicative of changes between the current and last published versions of the object instance. Delta snapshots for all changed object instances are then published. For an “inbound process” to receive object instances, the published delta snapshots are initially received. For each received delta snapshot, the corresponding object instance is retrieved and updated with the changes included in the delta snapshot. A new snapshot is also generated for each updated object instance such that the received changes are not published, and unpublished changes made locally are noted for subsequent publication.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture for transferring data from a defined source business component to a defined destination business component and/or between user-specified fields associated with the defined business components are disclosed herein. Embodiments of the invention enable a user to populate data fields of a first user interface display with data previously entered in data fields of a second user interface display by mapping the location of the data within a database, to the data fields of the first user interface display.

Abstract: Techniques to track and publish changes to object instances. For an “outbound process” to publish object instances, a list of object instances is initially received. For each received object instance, a determination is made whether or not the object instance has changed since its last publication. For each changed object instance, a delta snapshot is generated and includes data indicative of changes between the current and last published versions of the object instance. Delta snapshots for all changed object instances are then published. For an “inbound process” to receive object instances, the published delta snapshots are initially received. For each received delta snapshot, the corresponding object instance is retrieved and updated with the changes included in the delta snapshot. A new snapshot is also generated for each updated object instance such that the received changes are not published, and unpublished changes made locally are noted for subsequent publication.

Abstract: Techniques to provide dynamic multi-lingual support for software applications such as analytics, which typically rely on two different types of data, underlying data and metadata, to generate reports. The metadata defines the underlying data and a presentation layer displays the reports, which may be generated using presentation and metadata layer objects. Each such object may be defined by a language independent representation, which may in turn be associated with multiple display or language dependent representations (i.e., translations or translated strings) for multiple supported languages. One of the languages may be selected for use in a given session, and the display representations for the selected language are then bound to the language independent representations. The binding may be dynamically performed and is session-specific.

Abstract: An enhanced enterprise system integrates enterprise application functionality of a conventional enterprise system and collaboration functionality of a conventional collaboration system to provide a centralized project or team space for managing and capturing the collaborative activity that is inherent in the enterprise application processes. For example, the enhanced enterprise system allows a user to access an enterprise application object and to create a shared team space for the enterprise application object. This causes the enhanced enterprise system to provision a collaborative site or team space within the integrated collaboration system, and associate the team space to the enterprise application object through which the team space was provisioned.

Abstract: Techniques to dynamically select data sources for users and to direct queries for the users to the proper data sources. Initially, user information (e.g., user name) for each user is received and used to determine a data source designated for the user. The designated data source may be determined via a look-up table or by running a query with the user information to obtain the identity (e.g., the logical name) of the data source. A data source variable for each user can then be set to the identity of the designated data source. Thereafter, queries for each user are directed to the user's designated data source by determining database connection information for the designated data source based on the data source variable and using this information to direct the queries.

Abstract: Techniques to facilitate the creation of contracts and to automatically instantiate entitlements into contracts. A number of entitlement templates may be created for various entitlements. Each entitlement template is typically defined to include certain specifically defined entitlements. The entitlement templates may further be associated with products. A contract may thereafter be formed having any number of line items for one or more products and/or assets. Upon execution of the contract, an agreement is formed and the entitlements (if any) for each product/asset included in the contract may be instantiated (e.g., via a button on a screen). Upon instantiation of the entitlements into the contract, the covered products/assets become entitled and can thereafter receive the entitlements defined in the templates associated with the products/assets.

Abstract: Techniques to facilitate assignment and scheduling of activities. In accordance with a method, a chart showing a calendar of schedule for a number of available resources is provided in a first frame (or window) in a user interface menu, and a number of objects representative of a number of unplanned activities are provided in a second frame. A selection for an unplanned activity in the second frame (or a planned activity in the first frame) is received and, in response, selected ones of a number of objects in the chart are highlighted based on the selected activity. A request to assign the selected activity to a selected resource and to schedule the selected activity for a particular time duration is thereafter received. The requested assignment and scheduling may be accepted or rejected based on the requirements of the selected activity and the capabilities of the selected resource.

Abstract: Techniques to generate data models for an item master having a number of items. Each item is associated with a number of attributes and each attribute is associated with a set of values. In one method, the items in the item master are initially classified into a number of pagesets, with each pageset being defined by a unique combination of values for a first set of (classification) attributes. For each pageset, a second set of (selectable) attributes is determined to uniquely identify the items in the pageset. The selectable attributes may be selected from a list of candidate attributes, which may include mandatory attributes designated to be used as selectable attributes and optional attributes that may be selected for use. Data models are generated for each pageset based in part on the selectable attributes, and include a set of tables descriptive of the items in the pageset.

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: Techniques to generate invoices for “events” (e.g., activities, orders, and so on) and taking into account applicable entitlements. The events are for actions and/or transactions to be performed, and may be related to contracts having entitlements that may specify special pricing for the events. An entitlement may define what event items are covered (e.g., time, expenses, parts), and the amount that is covered and the applicable discounts for each event item. To generate invoices for the events, contracts applicable to the events are initially determined and any entitlements that cover the events are identified. An original invoice amount for each event may be initially determined based on a standard pricing scheme (e.g., based on standard Price and/or Rate Lists) for this type of event. A revised invoice amount and discounts (if any) may then be determined for the event based on the applicable entitlements (if any).

Abstract: Techniques to improve query caching performance by efficiently selecting queries stored in a cache for evaluation and increasing the cache hit rate by allowing for inexact matches. A list of candidate queries stored in the cache that potentially could be used to answer a new query is first determined. This list may include all cached queries, cached queries containing exact matches for select list items, or cached queries containing exact and/or inexact matches. Each of at least one candidate query is then evaluated to determine whether or not there is a cache hit, which indicates that the candidate query could be used to answer the new query. The evaluation is performed using a set of rules that allows for inexact matches of aggregates, if any, in the new query. A query plan is generated for the new query based on a specific candidate query with a cache hit.

Abstract: Techniques to schedule activities. In one method, a request to book an appointment for an activity in a particular schedule is initially received. In response, time slots available in the schedule for booking the activity are determined, and a set (all or a subset) of the time slots is provided as possible appointment choices. The time slots in the set are temporarily locked. A next set of time slots or more time slots may be requested (if the time slots provided are not acceptable or desirable), in which case additional time slots may be provided. Thereafter, a selection for one of the time slots is received. In response, the activity is booked in the selected time slot and previously locked time slots are released. The locked time slots may also be released if no selection is received after a particular amount of time.

Abstract: A feature centric method of and system for monitoring the development and release process of a product, monitoring the development and release of a product, where the product is characterized by having a plurality of features is described. The method steps, which the system is configured to carry out, include enumerating features to be included in the product, enumerating tasks, task milestones, and task milestone completions identified to the features; enumerating required task approvals and feature approvals and completed task approvals and feature approvals, and enumerating required associated activities and completed associated activities. The enumeration preferably includes information to show linkages, associations, priorities, milestones, and missed milestones.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable medium for using competency-related information for individuals to provide a variety of benefits is described. In some situations, a history of changes that occur in individuals' competencies is tracked, such as new competencies that are attained by the individuals and/or changes in skill levels for existing competencies. A variety of additional information related to such competency changes may also be determined and tracked, such as times at which the changes occurred and/or a basis for each of the competency changes. The competency change history information can then be used to more accurately identify individuals of interest and/or to compare such individuals.

Abstract: A method and system for collecting, storing, and processing automatic identification code information includes receiving automatic identification code information and parsing it based on stored definitions for automatic identification codes and/or automatic identification code standards. Various data configurations may be used to store definitions and to facilitate parsing of raw automatic identification code data. For example, a first component may be used for generally defining one or more automatic identification code standards and a second component may be used for detailed information regarding code definitions, such as information relating to code segments. In addition, the system may facilitate further processing of parsed automatic identification code information, such as for cycle counting or parts movement of inventory.