Patent ID: 7660788

Claim:
A method for translating a document that includes a set of proprietary part numbers over a network, including steps of: receiving a first document including a first set of proprietary part numbers from a client workstation, said first set of proprietary part numbers provided by a user of said client workstation to engage in supply chain management, design collaboration, or the purchase or sale of services or fungible goods; translating said first set of proprietary part numbers into a set of universal part numbers, wherein said set of universal part numbers is associated with other numbers than the first set of proprietary part numbers, and said other numbers are associated with different suppliers or manufacturers; determining availability of one or more parts associated with said set of universal part numbers wherein said one or more parts are identified by one or more of said other numbers; storing in a first database a record of said other numbers and amounts of parts ordered or backordered; translating said other numbers into at least part of the proprietary part numbers originally provided by the user; and generating shipping papers or electronic records using the at least part of the proprietary part numbers originally provided by the user translated from the other numbers that summarizes a transaction involving the one or more parts.