Abstract: A system and method for creating and using custom activities in a process flow is disclosed. A process flow may include a plurality of default activities that are internal to a process manager. Methods and systems consistent with features of the present invention enable custom activities to be created and used by the process manager to allow data or programming logic located outside of the process manager to be used. A custom activity may be created by: writing and compiling a Java™ class that implements a particular interface; defining an XML description file; (3) packaging the Java class and XML description file into an archive file; and (4) associating the archive file with a custom activity that may be brought into the process flow managed by the process manager.

Abstract: A system and method for performing XML integration strategies in an server based system is disclosed. A requesting entity generates a request message for information managed by a server system. The request message is passed to a communications servlet operating within the server system. The servlet ensures the request message is in XML format and includes a transformer tag that designates the type of corresponding response message required. The XML servlet validates the request message to ensure it conforms to a particular document type definition. If so, the request message is parsed into an object model, and transferred to a manager process for processing the request. Then, the manager process produces a response message corresponding to the request massage. The response message is eventually passed to a transformer where the transformer tag is checked to determine what type of response message is required by the requesting entity.

Abstract: A system and method for performing Electronic Invoice Presentment and Payment (EIPP) dispute resolution processing with line item granularity is disclosed. A server makes available to a purchasing entity one or more invoices that each contain one or more line items that have been provided by a providing entity. A designated approver associated with the purchasing entity approves or rejects the line items and submits these decisions to the server. In response to disputed line items, the server initiates a dispute resolution process that includes making an indication of the disputed line items available to the providing entity, facilitating a provider resolution process whereby resolvers associated with the provider may dispute or approve the disputed line items reflected in the indication, and making the results of the provider resolution process available to the purchasing entity.

Abstract: A system and method for performing Electronic Invoice Presentment and Payment (EIPP) processing at a line item granularity is disclosed. A server enables a purchasing entity to designate approvers for selected departments within the purchasing entity. The server receives from a providing entity invoices that each include one or more line items. The server processes the invoices and stores line item data associated with each line item in a database. Using the line items included in the invoices, the server determines departments that each line item is associated with and whether each department has a designated approver. In response to a notification message from the server, an approver may request access to invoice information associated with their department. The server accesses the database and makes available only information associated with line items included in the invoices that are associated with the approver's corresponding department.