Abstract: A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to an individual material bill of material and/or an order tracking view business object.

Abstract: A database system and method is presented that updates a retail transaction database for each transaction by extracting a name from a payment mechanism. Associations already made between the customer records, the transactions database, and the payment account database are used in conjunction with the extracted name to create additional associations between customers and transactions and between customers and payment accounts. In addition, new customer records can be created by searching demographic databases using the reverse append name and data associated with the transaction already in the database.

Abstract: A technique for effecting electronic commerce using a data network is described. The data network includes a plurality of subsystems which, together, form an integrated system for receiving customer orders for selected items via a data network, fulfilling the customer orders, and delivering the ordered products to the customers. Moreover, according to a specific embodiment, the integrated nature of the system architecture of the present invention allows the on-line merchant to provide a guarantee to the customer that the ordered items will be available to be delivered to the customer at the specified delivery date, time, and location.

Abstract: A method of transacting objects is provided. Each object comprises an identifier identifying an object identity. The method comprises, in a computer system, the steps of: (a) receiving transaction data from a data reader, the transaction data identifying the object identity; (b) identifying a transaction history for the object identity; (c) determining whether the object identity has been transacted in a previous transaction; and either: (i) allowing the transaction and updating the transaction history in the event that the object identity has not been previously transacted, or (ii) sending transaction history data to the data reader in the event that the object identity has been previously transacted.

Abstract: Generating an order plan is disclosed. Data describing priority levels including at least one item request is accessed. Data describing a supply chain network including network components that supply one or more items to satisfy an item request is accessed. For each priority level, and for each item request of a priority level, an order for an item request of a current priority level is planned according to recorded unplannable network components that are unable to satisfy an item request, and the unplannable network components for the current priority level are determined. For each priority level, the unplannable network components are validated for the current priority level, and the validated unplannable network components for the current priority level are recorded. An order plan including the orders planned for the item requests at each priority level is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated global shipment system that provides end-to-end visibility of the movement of a package. The integrated global shipment system employs a shipment consolidating application for integrating one or more freight tracking systems with one or more end-delivery systems. As a result, shippers are provided with complete visibility of the movement of their shipments of goods from an origin country to a destination country and till the final consignees. In addition, the integrated shipment system significantly decreases the cost of managing inventories by providing a virtual inventory solution. Under this virtual inventory solution, suppliers are able to bypass distribution centers and delay allocation of goods until after the importation of goods into a destination country.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a construction payment process. One method embodying the invention can include generating a budget for a construction project, receiving an invoice amount from at least one participant in the construction project, generating at least one of an automated invoice and an automated sworn statement based on the invoice amount and the budget, generating at least one automated lien waiver based on at least one of the automated invoice and the automated sworn statement, and electronically executing at least one of the automated invoice, the automated sworn statement, and the at least one automated lien waiver to create at least one of a legally-binding invoice, a legally-binding sworn statement, and a legally-binding lien waiver.

Abstract: A method of obtaining payer authorization for a purchase instrument transaction with a customer includes using a wireless device of a merchant to contact a virtual terminal service to process the transaction, entering transaction information into the wireless device, which transaction information includes an account identifier relating to the purchase instrument of the customer, forwarding the transaction information from the wireless device to the virtual terminal service, receiving at the wireless device a request from the virtual terminal service to receive payer authorization information from the customer, receiving the payer authorization directly from the customer into the wireless device of the merchant, forwarding the payer authorization from the wireless device to the virtual terminal service, and receiving an approval message from the virtual terminal service at the wireless device of the merchant.

Abstract: A remote ordering system is provided using an electronic menu having a series of input devices corresponding to various menu items aligned with the input devices, and a wireless transmitter to send selected menu items to a receiving device for processing. A display to show selected menu items, an alpha-numeric keyboard, a non-cash payment device, and a printer for receipts are also contemplated for increased functionality.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for intelligent inventory applications and services. A purchase request to purchase a product is received that has a product number to be purchased, an account number to process for payment, and a purchaser's inventory information that identifies the purchaser's inventory database to update with the product number. The account number is communicated for payment authorization. When payment is authorized, the product number is communicated to the purchaser's inventory database to reflect the purchase of the product.

Abstract: A system for determining travel deductions includes a city rate table identifying allowed per diem expense rates for each city. Cities visited, durations of stay and expense reimbursements received from the taxpayer's employer are input to the system. The system calculates a total of all per diem expenses and for offsets reimbursements received against the total to determine an incidental expense allowance. For use with merchant sailors, a ship location table with city rate codes for each day of a tax year for a plurality of ships is compared with the sailor's input ship names and starting and ending dates for work on each of the ships. A system for truckers and bus drivers includes a GPS tracking system that continuously provides vehicle locations to the system for calculation of per diem expense allowances when coupled with a daily vehicle use table and receiver code and vehicle number correlation table.

Abstract: A system that can determine shortage costs in a repeatable and sustainable manner. In certain embodiments, the system takes into account different shortage costs that impact different organizations and weight those shortage costs against the costs to expedite material in to cover those shortages. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the system can continue to be updated based on changing needs of the business and to reflect a true impact of unit shortages so accurate expedite decisions can continue to be made and accounted for that are of the most economic benefit to a manufacturer.

Abstract: A method for providing audit support including displaying sample letter images, where each of the sample letter images is associated with one of a number of audit categories. The method further includes receiving a selection of one of the sample letter images from a user, in response to the selection, displaying a detailed sample letter image and a first confirmation question corresponding to the selected sample letter image, and receiving a first response to the first confirmation question from the user, where the first response confirms the user's selection. The method further includes displaying a first audit category description corresponding to the audit category associated with the user's selection, and displaying an action item list associated with the user's selection, where the action item list includes at least one action for the user to take to resolve the audit described by the first audit category description.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method, system and computer program for collecting inventory data about a group of machines at an office. This method comprises the steps of running an inventory tool on each of the machines, and the tool presenting dialogue displays on each of the machines, filling in or changing data in the dialogues presented by the tool, and submitting the collected information to a server. Also disclosed are a method, system and computer program for customizing an inventory data collection tool for a plurality of logical groups of users. Each of the logical groups of users is provided with a copy of the inventory data collection tool and with a first copy of a common control file. Each of the groups of users uses the first copy of the common control file to customize the tool for the group of users.

Abstract: A mobile inventory robot system generates an inventory map of a store and a product database when a mobile inventory robot is manually navigated through the store to identify items on shelves, a location for each of the items on the shelves, and a barcode for each of the items. The system performs inventory of the items by navigating through the store via the inventory map, capturing a shelf image, decoding a product barcode from the captured shelf image, retrieving a product image for the decoded product barcode from the product database, segmenting the captured shelf image to detect an image of an item on the shelves, determining whether the detected image matches the retrieved image and, if not, setting an out-of-stock flag for an the item.

Abstract: A self-checkout system for processing an article with an security tag attached thereto includes a self-checkout station, a product code input device, a deactivation device and a prompting system to provide instructions to a user. The system can automatically prompt a user to pass an article within a deactivation region generated by the deactivation device to deactivate an anti-theft tag.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus to electronically tabulate items marked with a bar code. The system may optionally operate to manage, control and tabulate inventory, produce vendor-correct purchase orders, manage multiple locations, multiple buildings, multiple clients and multiple stores to facilitate efficiency for a wholesaler or retailer or alternatively for a distributor, broker or sales agent. The system may alternatively be used to manage inventory for a manufacturing environment or for tracking evidence or items in a chain of custody environment useful for governmental and scientific functions.

Abstract: A security system-related marketing system includes a retail environment receptive of walk-in traffic and adapted to market goods and services to consumers. A security system-compliant device adapted to operate as a component of a security system is physically disposed in the retail environment, thereby permitting a purchaser to take physical possession of the device during a purchasing process. A security system component package is also marketed in the retail environment to purchasers of the device, thereby permitting a purchaser of the device to obtain rights to a predetermined set of security system components in the retail environment that substantially provide the security system. Security system services are further marketed in the retail environment to purchasers of the security system component package, thereby permitting a purchaser of the package to obtain rights to security system services in the retail environment.

Abstract: A display accessory for use with a video monitor capable of displaying representations of portions of pizzas of different size which may be ordered by a customer where the representation is displayed true-to-size. Indicia comprising a plurality of concentric shapes is disposed on the display panel corresponding to the sizes of different pizzas available for order. The display panel is attached to the video monitor so that displayed representations of portions of pizza align with at least one concentric shape providing to the customer an indication of the actual size of the pizza.

Abstract: A random weight item transaction system include a scale with label RIFD tag functionality, service person RFID tag functionality and customer RFID tag functionality. A slicer in proximity to the scale may include service person and bulk food product RFID functionalities. The scale may make weigh transaction data available to a computerized checkout system via a communications link or via writing the information to the label RFID tag.