Abstract: The present invention describes a method and system for creating and exposing order status within a supply chain of trading partners having disparate systems. A trading partner exchange (TPE) interfaces with each of the disparate systems and gathers information pertaining to a particular transaction. The information can be made available to an access platform through an access platform interface. Initially, a transaction is reported to the TPE where it is assigned a unique identifier. Subsequent activities pertaining to the transaction which are reported to the TPE by the trading partners can be linked to the unique identifier. By using the access platform, a customer or any trading partner can acquire the status of a particular order from the TPE.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and system for creating and exposing order status within a supply chain of trading partners having disparate systems. A trading partner exchange (TPE) interfaces with each of the disparate systems and gathers information pertaining to a particular transaction. The information can be made available to an access platform through an access platform interface. Initially, a transaction is reported to the TPE where it is assigned a unique identifier. Subsequent activities pertaining to the transaction which are reported to the TPE by the trading partners can be linked to the unique identifier. By using the access platform, a customer or any trading partner can acquire the status of a particular order from the TPE.

Abstract: A method of scheduling meetings within a calendaring system can include receiving a meeting request specifying a meeting time, at least one participant, and a supplemental meeting service to be scheduled concurrently with the meeting. A determination can be made that a supplemental meeting system is not available. Accordingly, participants can be notified of the meeting time and that supplemental meeting service information has not been determined. The method also can include attempting to obtain the supplemental meeting service information from the supplemental meeting system until a predetermined time prior to the meeting time. If the supplemental meeting service information is obtained before the predetermined time prior to the meeting time, the participants can be notified of the supplemental meeting service information.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and system for creating and exposing order status within a supply chain of trading partners having disparate systems. A trading partner exchange (TPE) interfaces with each of the disparate systems and gathers information pertaining to a particular transaction. The information can be made available to an access platform through an access platform interface. Initially, a transaction is reported to the TPE where it is assigned a unique identifier. Subsequent activities pertaining to the transaction which are reported to the TPE by the trading partners can be linked to the unique identifier. By using the access platform, a customer or any trading partner can acquire the status of a particular order from the TPE.

Abstract: A method for providing information to requestors that includes the step of receiving a request from a remotely located information requestor. The request can be associated with an information controller and with a designated purpose. A transaction can be initiated to handle the request and to deliver a result to an information receiver. A record store can be queried for information associated with the information controller and associated with the designated purpose. The information requestor and the information receiver may not be authorized to directly access content of the record store. At least one request result can be generated based at least in part upon information returned from the querying step. Each request result can correspond to each information receiver and be tailored for information privileges of the information receiver. The information privileges can be established by the information controller. The request result can be conveyed to the information receiver.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a method to automate the replenishment of one or more items on a shopping list.

Abstract: A method of associating multiple files with an electronic document can include receiving a request to attach at least two files to an electronic document and attaching the at least two files to the electronic document. A visual identifier can be included within the electronic document indicating that more than one file is attached to the electronic document.

Abstract: A method of detaching at least one file attached to an electronic document can include identifying a location where the attached file is to be stored responsive to a user command. The location can be associated with the attached file. A detached file can be generated from the attached file. The detached file can be stored at the associated location.

Abstract: A method produces a shopping list consisting of one or more items, wherein at least one item in the shopping list is a perishable item. The method operates in an e-commerce site and includes the steps of: storing one or more consumer shopping lists of respective consumers at the e-commerce site; storing a list of items previously purchased by one or more consumers from the e-commerce site; receiving a request from a consumer for at least one consumer shopping list; and determining if the request from the consumer is from a consumer that has previously purchased one or more perishable items from the e-commerce site. If the consumer has previously purchased one or more perishable items from the e-commerce site, then the method performs the sub-steps of: reviewing if any items previously purchased are perishable items with expiration dates; and adding to the at least one consumer shopping list one or more perishable items that have exceeded a predefined expiration date range.

Abstract: A method for producing a shopping list consisting of one or more items, wherein at least one item in the shopping list is a consumable item. The method on an e-commerce site comprising the storing data representing an inventory of items for sale at the e-commerce site. The purchase history of the items purchased by the consumers at the e-commerce site is stored along with the shopping list. A predetermined useful life of at least one item purchased in the purchase history by scanning a product code during the previous delivery of consumable items. The product code includes a date embedded therein. A useful life is predicted based on the rate of consumption by the plurality of consumers is stored. When a request is received from a consumer for a shopping lists to build an active shopping list the purchase history for the consumer to determine if a consumable item previously purchased from the purchase history has exceeded the predetermined useful life is reviewed.

Abstract: A method of associating multiple files with an electronic document can include receiving a request to attach at least two files to an electronic document and attaching the at least two files to the electronic document. A visual identifier can be included within the electronic document indicating that more than one file is attached to the electronic document.

Abstract: Within an electronic calendaring system, a method of scheduling private resources for use with meetings can include, from a client of the meeting notification system, defining a set of private resources for use with meetings. The set of private resources can be available only to a predefined class of users. The method further can include receiving a request to schedule a meeting from a client within the class of users, presenting the set of private resources, and receiving a user selection indicating selected ones of the set of private resources to be used during the meeting. The meeting can be scheduled in the electronic meeting notification system and the selected ones of the set of private resources can be associated with the scheduled meeting.

Abstract: Within an electronic meeting notification system, a method of scheduling meetings can include storing meeting attribute information within a user profile of the meeting notification system and receiving a user request to schedule a meeting. A user can be prompted whether to automatically include at least a portion of the meeting attribute information within a meeting notification to be distributed to meeting participants.

Abstract: A method of scheduling meetings within a calendaring system can include receiving a meeting request specifying a meeting time, at least one participant, and a supplemental meeting service to be scheduled concurrently with the meeting. A determination can be made that a supplemental meeting system is not available. Accordingly, participants can be notified of the meeting time and that supplemental meeting service information has not been determined. The method also can include attempting to obtain the supplemental meeting service information from the supplemental meeting system until a predetermined time prior to the meeting time. If the supplemental meeting service information is obtained before the predetermined time prior to the meeting time, the participants can be notified of the supplemental meeting service information.

Abstract: A method of updating a file attached to an electronic document can include attaching a file to an electronic document and storing a reference to the attached file. The reference can specify a location from which the attached file was obtained. Responsive to a user input, the attached file can be replaced with a file specified by the reference. The attached file also can be updated from newly specified locations.

Abstract: A method of detaching at least one file attached to an electronic document can include identifying a location where the attached file is to be stored responsive to a user command. The location can be associated with the attached file. A detached file can be generated from the attached file. The detached file can be stored at the associated location.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and system for creating and exposing order status within a supply chain of trading partners having disparate systems. A trading partner exchange (TPE) interfaces with each of the disparate systems and gathers information pertaining to a particular transaction. The information can be made available to an access platform through an access platform interface. Initially, a transaction is reported to the TPE where it is assigned a unique identifier. Subsequent activities pertaining to the transaction which are reported to the TPE by the trading partners can be linked to the unique identifier. By using the access platform, a customer or any trading partner can acquire the status of a particular order from the TPE.

Abstract: In an electronic commerce system, a method of offering an enticement to a consumer during a purchase transaction can include identifying a first item having been selected for purchase by the consumer from an electronic commerce site. Enticement rules, which can specify one or more enticements can be consulted. The method further can include determining one of the enticements based upon the enticement rules and the first item. The enticement can provide the consumer with a buying opportunity relating to a second item associated with the first item. Also, the enticement can be presented to the consumer.

Abstract: A method of negotiating an electronic commerce (e-commerce) transaction for the sale of a selected good can include identifying an asking price for the selected good and retrieving from memory merchant business objectives (MBOs) and consumer privacy rules (CPRs). The MBOs can specify incentive information corresponding to a proposed exchange of consumer information and the CPRs can specify asking prices corresponding to the proposed exchange of consumer information. The MBOs can be compared to the CPRs to determine if an agreement can be reached for the sale of the selected good with an incentive based upon the proposed exchange of consumer information. The e-commerce transaction for the sale of the selected good with the incentive can be consummated if in the comparing step it is determined that an agreement can be reached.

Abstract: A method and a system for providing promotional material to consumers can include a series of steps. The steps can include establishing a computer communications session between a merchant computer system and a remote computer system and reading consumer purchase information from the merchant computer system. The consumer purchase information can include consumer identifying information and product information. The step of identifying one or more consumers in need of one or more products based on the consumer purchase information can be included. The method further can include the step of associating the promotional material corresponding to the one or more products with the identified consumers in the remote computer system. Additionally, the step of making the promotional material available to the identified consumers using a promotional material delivery system can be included.