Methods and systems consistent with the present invention track assets by collecting information from assets. Information for tracking assets is collected based on a query. The person creating the query specifies a lifetime, a scope, and one or more parameters for collecting the information. The lifetime indicates a period of time for maintaining the results of the query in storage. When the lifetime expires, the results of the query are removed from the storage. When a query is created, a server updates a query index and creates temporary storage space for the query's results. Periodically, the client polls the server and accesses the query index to determine whether any queries are pending for that client. The client collects the information from the appropriate assets and provides the results to the server. The server then stores the results in the temporary storage space.

A system dynamically maps (and translates) codes and identifier values of any type to corresponding codes and identifiers of other entities. A method for determining a specific identifier code for an object associated with a plurality of identifier codes by a corresponding plurality of entities involves receiving a first message including at least a first identifier code identifying an object. The first identifier code is extracted from the received first message and a second message is generated incorporating the extracted first identifier code. The second message is used for initiating a search of an identifier code database mapping an identifier code associated with a first entity to a corresponding identifier code associated with a second entity. A second identifier code corresponding to the first identifier code is received in response to communicating the second message for initiating a search of the identifier code database. The second message initiates a remote procedure for mapping the first identifier code to a corresponding second identifier code.