Abstract: A commerce exchange system manages contracts between manufacturers, distributors, and purchasers, and is accessible by all of the contracting parties over the Internet. Group purchasing organizations can access the system to place orders for distribution to various end users. The system stores data representing information regarding all of the parties in the contracting process. The system also stores data describing all of the products and services available from the seller, including dates of availability, sizes, prices, and other such information. The system also stores and updates all of the contract terms, product shipments, payments made, rebates due and chargeback payments.

Abstract: A user calls a directory assistance service provider to search for a desired telephone number and be connected to a party at the desired number. In one such connection, the user is afforded enhanced directory assistance upon a user command in the form of an out-of-band signaling message, e.g., SS7 signaling message. For example, the user may be afforded further operator assistance by pressing on the user telephone a predetermined key (e.g., “*” key), which is detectable by the directory assistance service provider as an SS7 signaling message.