Processing Transactions in Connection with a Physical Supply Chain

A computer readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions configured to cause a computing device to perform:

• receiving an electronic notification of a first event in a physical supply chain, wherein the first event is related to a party and comprises a first change in physical status of a unit of physical goods along the physical supply chain;
• automatically transmitting a first signal to transfer a first portion of an agreed-upon payment to the party, in response to the notification;
• receiving, a second electronic notification of a second event in the physical supply chain, wherein the second event is related to the party and to the first event and comprises a second change in physical status of the unit of physical goods along the physical supply chain;
• and
• automatically transferring a second portion of the agreed-upon payment to the party in response to the second notification,
• wherein at least one of the first and second events is selected from a limited list of different events.

A computer-assisted method comprising:

• receiving input, by a computing device, to provide control to create a first rule for automatic transfer of funds to a party in response to receiving a first notification of a first specified event that comprises a first change in physical status of a unit of physical goods in a physical supply chain, and to create a second rule for automatic transfer of funds to the party in response to receiving a second notification of a second specified event that comprises a second change in physical status of the unit of physical goods in the physical supply chain, the first specified event and the second specified event being related to the party, wherein the input is received via a form made available by the computing device for access, and wherein the input includes a selection of the first specified event and the second specified event from a limited list of different events;
• automatically transmitting a first signal, by the computing device, to transfer a first portion of the funds to the party in response to receiving the first notification, according to the first rule;
• and
• automatically transmitting a second signal, by the computing device, to transfer a second portion of the funds to the party in response to receiving the second notification, according to the second rule.

A computer readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions configured to cause a computing device to perform:

• providing for creation of a first rule for automatic transfer of funds to a party, in response to receiving a first notification of a first specified event that comprises a first change in physical status of a unit of physical goods in a physical supply chain, and for creation of a second rule for automatic transfer of funds to the party in response to receiving a second notification of a second specified event that comprises a second change in physical status of the unit of physical goods in the physical supply chain, wherein the creation of the first and second rules is controllable via a form made available by the computing device for access, and wherein the creation of the first and second rules includes a selection of the first and second specified events from a limited list of different events;
• automatically transmitting a first signal to transfer a first portion of the funds to the party in response to receiving the first notification, according to the first rule;
• and
• automatically transmitting a second signal to transfer a second portion of the funds to the party in response to receiving the second notification, according to the second rule.

A computer-assisted method comprising:

• storing, in memory, a database containing a plurality of rules relating to a plurality of parties, the rules comprising a first rule for automatic transfer of funds in response to receiving a first notification of a first event in a first physical supply chain, the first event being related to a first party, and a second rule for taking a specified action other than transfer of funds, in response to receiving a second notification of a second event in a second physical supply chain, the second event being related to a second party;
• receiving, by a computing device in communication with the memory, the first notification of the first event in the first physical supply chain;
• automatically transferring funds related to the first party, by the computing device, in response to the second notification, according to the first rule;
• receiving, by the computing device, the second notification of the second event in the second physical supply chain;
• and
• automatically transmitting a signal to initiate the specified action, by the computing device, in response to the second notification, according to the first rule.