Abstract: A method and system is provided for configurable articulation of criteria for period archival, deletion, or movement of data from one data storage system to another. A consistent method for executing programs which manage specific data uses criteria articulated to identify sets of data and the rules associated with the data entities being process by the programs. Data entities may have different controlling rules and policies such as required by different countries, companies, or contractual arrangements. Data entities are associated with rules and policies that define durations for storage, frequency of archival, retention periods, or the like. As a result a consistent process may be achieved that captures an organization's retention policy and that be administered over a variety of application systems.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and system for establishing a session, via the Internet, between a user and an application. The method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of instances of the application, each of the instances having a respective Internet address; and the user accessing one of said instances, via the Internet, by means of the Internet address of said one instance. That accessed one instance selects one of the instances, according to a defined procedure, for a session with the user, and sends to the user an identifier, such as an URL, for accessing said selected one instance. The user accesses the selected one instance, via the Internet, by using said identifier.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and system for providing information about a requisition order. In the method an automated agent is provided for receiving and identifying a set of inquiries, and for each identified inquiry, preparing an associated response. A user transmits to the agent one of said set of inquiries, and the agent identifies the transmitted inquiry and prepares the associated response. An instant messaging system is used to send said associated response from the agent to the user. The preferred embodiment of the invention may be used to provide to the end user a status of orders and other information about their order quickly and concisely.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and framework for mapping data from a data source to a data destination. The method comprises the step of providing a plurality of components for performing defined functions to map the data from the source to the destination. These plurality of components perform the steps of (i) reading data from the source, (ii) processing the read data according to a set of rules, and (iii) loading the processed data into the destination. Preferably the plurality of components perform the further steps of (iv) verifying the integrity of the read data, and (v) logging results into a file. Each of the components operates independently of the other of the components.

Abstract: An electronic requisition processing method and system are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of preparing an electronic requisition including a requisition proposal; establishing an electronic list of approvers for the requisition; and at defined times, electronically recalculating the list. Preferably, this list is recalculated after each of at least some of the approvers act on the requisition; and the list is recalculated according to a given set of rules. Also, in the preferred system, the approval process is synchronous, whereby upon submission of the requisition, the requisition is immediately available for approval. Additionally, preferably, when each approver approves, the list is dynamically recalculated to take into account the availability of approvers further down in the list.