Patent ID: 8160908

Claim:
An automated supply chain management system comprising: an interface to a first transactional system of a trading partner, wherein the first transactional system of the trading party receives a request for installation of a network service; at least one computer implementing the interface, wherein the first transactional system and the at least one computer resides on a first computer network; a first gateway interface to the first transactional system of the trading partner, wherein the first gateway interface provides electronic communications between a participant in a supply chain used in installing the network service and the trading partner, the electronic communications being provided to the trading partner in a first format used by the first transactional system of the trading partner; a second gateway interface to a second transactional system of the participant, wherein the second gateway interface provides electronic communications between the trading partner and the participant, the electronic communications being provided to the participant in a second format used by the second transactional system of the participant, wherein the second transactional system resides on a second computer network and the first gateway interface converts the electronic communications from a first language in the first format used by the first transactional system to a common language and format used by the first gateway interface and the second gateway interface, wherein the second gateway interface converts the electronic communications from the common language and format used by the first gateway interface and the second gateway interface to a second language in the second format used by the second transactional system, the electronic communications comprising at least automated messages providing a current progress of the supply chain, wherein an operation performed by the first transactional system of the trading partner cascades with an operation automatically performed by the second transactional system of the participant, a cascading operation corresponding to an event which is designated to occur upon completion of an earlier operation, wherein the interface to the first transactional system of the trading partner generates a testing signal to test successful installation of at least a portion of the network service installed by the participant, wherein completion of the network service by the trading partner is contingent on the successful installation by the participant, wherein in response to a successful testing of the installation, the trading partner is automatically notified by the first transactional system to bill the customer for completion of the network service requested, wherein in response to a failed testing of the installation, the participant is automatically notified by the first transactional system of the trading partner to fix the installation of at least the portion of the network installed by the participant.