Abstract: Generally discussed herein are systems, apparatuses, and software for mobile collaborative workforce scheduling. An apparatus can include at least one processor and a storage device, a work schedule saved to the storage device, a communications module operable to communicate the work schedule to a plurality of mobile devices and receive a request to change the work schedule from the mobile devices, and a user interface module to execute on the processor and to provide authorized personnel access to operations performed by the at least one processor, the operations including approving and denying the request to change the work schedule.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, supplier management is performed first by defining one or more social media metrics pertaining to a supplier brand of interest, with the one or more social media metrics being based on data gathered from social media. These metrics may then be used to analyze values from one or more social media websites. Weights can be assigned to the values, and a score for the supplier brand of interest can be determined, based on the weighted values for the one or more social metrics and based on weighted values for one or more other metrics. The score can then be presented to a user via a graphical user interface.

Abstract: In a business automation software system, a specifier setting a reminder is added to a business object to provide a arbitrary reminder to the user adding the reminder. Prior to forwarding a business object from a sender to a recipient, a specifier is added to the business object indicating a threshold time limit for a reminder to be sent to the sender. If the threshold time limit specified in the business object is determined to have expired, the reminder is automatically sent to the sender.

Abstract: A muffler for an internal combustion engine featuring two flowpaths for exhaust through the muffler. A first serpentine pathway is substantially longer than a second pathway through the muffler, thereby providing increased sound attenuation. Temperature activated internal valves operate to change the exhaust flowpath from the first flowpath to the second flowpath through the muffler as exhaust gasses warm the muffler and the temperature actuated valves.

Abstract: In a reimbursement request workflow system and method, a processor may generate a reimbursement request by converting at least a selected portion of a purchase order request into the reimbursement request or by retrieving content provided by an external catalogue, extracting data from the retrieved content, and populating fields of a copy of a reimbursement request template copy with the extracted data or a portion thereof.

Abstract: A muffler for an internal combustion engine featuring two flowpaths for exhaust through the muffler. A first serpentine pathway is substantially longer than a second pathway through the muffler, thereby providing increased sound attenuation. Temperature activated internal valves operate to change the exhaust flowpath from the first flowpath to the second flowpath through the muffler as exhaust gasses warm the muffler and the temperature actuated valves.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for optimizing a purchase order. While generating a purchase order, a purchasing agent may aggregate a company's purchasing requirements into a single purchase order, receive notification of a supplier's offers for discounts to determine whether it would be advantageous to modify a purchase request, or view evaluations of a supplier's past performance. Upon receipt of a purchase request, potential suppliers are identified to fulfill the request. A purchasing agent may then see whether a purchase request may be aggregated with other purchase requests or whether conditions are present that may trigger other opportunities to optimize the purchase order. As a result, a purchase order is generated that has been optimized to reduce costs as well as take advantage of other benefits that the purchaser may be interested in.

Abstract: In a computing system, an identification of a traveler, a destination, a departure date, and one or more activity indicators is received from a user. One or more predefined tasks to be executed in preparation for travel by the traveler based on the received information are generated. Each of the one or more received activity indicators is used to generate a task. A travel plan that includes the one or more tasks to be executed is displayed.

Abstract: An analytical tool for provides an organized view of user appointment data from a groupware application. The work center organizes the appointment data by categorizations that typically are most significant to the user to whom the account belongs. The work center provides views across selectable time scales. Significantly, the work center need not store or create appointment data of its own. Instead, the data of individual appointments are created, maintained and managed by the groupware application. The work center provides an analytical tool through which operators (either the manager himself or the manager's assistant) may generate organized views into the data maintained by the groupware application.

Abstract: In a procurement system and method, a processor may receive a plurality of purchase order (P.O.) requests, extract data from fields of each of the P.O. requests, based on the extracted data, assign each of the P.O. requests to a corresponding priority category, and output a list of the P.O. requests and data indicating their corresponding priority categories.

Abstract: In a reimbursement request workflow system and method, a processor may generate a reimbursement request by converting at least a selected portion of a purchase order request into the reimbursement request or by retrieving content provided by an external catalogue, extracting data from the retrieved content, and populating fields of a copy of a reimbursement request template copy with the extracted data or a portion thereof.

Abstract: In a purchase order management system, with each purchase order request, a user can indicate to the computer to send a purchase order request to a supplier. A conventional groupware e-mail editor pops up with the data of the purchase order already embedded as text. The purchaser can add or change some data and send it to the designated supplier. The system may also extract the e-mail recipient destination address from the purchase order request record, or by comparing information in the order with address information in a database, automatically filling in the “to” and “subject” fields of the e-mail. The salutation and signature of the e-mail may also be automatically generated.

Abstract: In a business automation software system, a specifier setting a reminder is added to a business object to provide a arbitrary reminder to the user adding the reminder. Prior to forwarding a business object from a sender to a recipient, a specifier is added to the business object indicating a threshold time limit for a reminder to be sent to the sender. If the threshold time limit specified in the business object is determined to have expired, the reminder is automatically sent to the sender.

Abstract: Order collaboration forms include encoding providing comment fields associated with individual term fields. The comment fields are provided in secondary displays, typically in a floating window display. The window is activated based on the location of a position indicator, such as a cursor or a highlight window. In the floating window, the comment field is therein visible. In one embodiment, when the position indicator is relative to a data field, the comment field becomes visible. A comment field indicator may used to provide the user with a directly visible indicator of whether a data field has a comment field, as the comment field is not directly visible until activated. Furthermore, in response to a user input command, the comment field becomes an active input field allowing a user to directly input comments specifically associated and physically designated with the individual term field.

Abstract: Exporting data from a database to a spreadsheet application is performed without losing the spreadsheet formatting by having the data in the spreadsheet application, the tabular data, locally formatted. In accessing a database through a portal application, data is retrieved therefrom. This data is formatted in accordance with database itself and includes formatting codes for translating the database data into a spreadsheet application. A local spreadsheet application resident with the portal application generates the tabular data displayed in the local spreadsheet application. As this tabular data is locally formatted, selected portions of the tabular data may be selected and exported to an external spreadsheet application. As this data export is between two spreadsheet applications running on the same processing device, the spreadsheet formatting of the tabular data is not lost.

Abstract: Document processing may be effectively automated using OCR software in conjunction with varying processing elements. Incoming documents are received through one or more central locations. The documents are then retrieved from this central location and examined using OCR software, extracting the contents of the document. If the accuracy of the document is verified and all elements are found to be legible, the data and original document may be provided to a database access device. The database access device is in operative communication with a database containing reference information associated with the users operations. Along with the information, the original document, in electronic format, is also archived and associated with the proper file. This information, being stored in the database, is accessible by a data management system, such as a data processing application for using the data originally disposed in electronic format on the incoming document.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for optimizing a purchase order. While generating a purchase order, a purchasing agent may aggregate a company's purchasing requirements into a single purchase order, receive notification of a supplier's offers for discounts to determine whether it would be advantageous to modify a purchase request, or view evaluations of a supplier's past performance. Upon receipt of a purchase request, potential suppliers are identified to fulfill the request. A purchasing agent may then see whether a purchase request may be aggregated with other purchase requests or whether conditions are present that may trigger other opportunities to optimize the purchase order. As a result, a purchase order is generated that has been optimized to reduce costs as well as take advantage of other benefits that the purchaser may be interested in.