System and method for database queries

A method comprising:

• receiving via a user application at a store computer claim information including item identifying information, an impact and a quantity;
• automatically creating a time/date stamp for the claim information;
• automatically determining a location for the claim information;
• creating a claim record in a claim database, the claim record including the item identifying information, the impact, the quantity, the time/date stamp and the location;
• querying an item database to locate item information corresponding to the item identifying information;
• merging the claim record with the item information from the item database to obtain first merged data;
• determining an item number from the merged data;
• querying an invoice database to locate invoice information corresponding to the item number;
• retrieving the invoice information from the invoice database;
• notifying store when the invoice information is not found;
• merging the invoice information with the first merged data into one data record;
• storing the data record in a database;
• determining a search timeframe for the invoice database;
• searching the invoice database within the search timeframe;
• requerying the invoice database periodically based on the search timeframe;
• and
• determining that the item was not shipped when the invoice is not found.

A system, comprising:

• an item database storing an item record including an item, item description, item number;
• an invoice database storing an invoice record including item number, quantity, price, date shipped, invoice number, and trailer ID;
• a store computer having a store user application;
• distribution center computer having a user application;
• a server;
• and
• the claims database, the item database, the invoice database, the store computer, the distribution center computer, and the server connected to a network,
• the server:
• receiving via a user application claim information including item identifying information;
• querying the item database to locate item information corresponding to the item identifying information;
• merging the item identifying information with the item information from the item database to obtain first merged data;
• temporarily storing the merged data;
• determining an item number from the merged information;
• querying the invoice database to retrieve invoice information corresponding to the item number;
• merging the invoice information with the first merged data to obtain second merged data;
• and
• storing the second merged data as a single record for the item in a claims database;
• determining a search timeframe for the invoice database;
• searching the invoice database within the search timeframe;
• requerying the invoice database periodically based on the search timeframe;
• determining that the item was not shipped when the invoice is not found;
• and
• the distribution center computer presenting the single data record on a display.