Patent ID: 7051072
Filing Date: 2006-05-23
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for providing real-time electronic conversations among trading partners using multiple business protocols, comprising: storing the role of each trading partner and the rules for multiple concurrent conversations in a collaboration space, wherein said collaboration space is installed on a central collaboration hub location, and wherein said collaboration space stores the messages of a conversation for delivery to and from the trading partners as part of that conversation; providing a plurality of business protocol handlers, each of which are configured to use a different business protocol, and which is used by a trading partner to participate in a conversation, wherein each collaboration space and business protocol combination is identified by a unique uniform resource locator (URL); allowing the trading partners to send and receive messages in a conversation using an extensible data protocol, in accordance with the rules and roles stored in said collaboration space, wherein said extensible data protocol provides an ability to specify both a routing information and a business protocol for that conversation, wherein the routing information is specified by the trading partner in a header of the extensible data protocol, and wherein the business protocol is specified by the URL used by the trading partner to communicate with said collaboration space, thereby allowing said collaboration space to use multiple URL's to support multiple business protocols; and managing the conversation with conversation management software installed on the central collaboration hub.