Patent ID: 7885995

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for processing service requests in a distributed environment, comprising: routing a type of service request to a first service provider in said distributed environment, said first service provider having a commitment level for handling said type of service request; detecting a second service provider in said distributed environment capable of handling said type of service request; determining a commitment level of said second service provider to handle said type of service request; calculating a score for each of said first and second service providers using a respective one of said commitment levels and a degree of said first or second service provider matching a criteria; determining if said score of said second service provider exceeds said score of said first service provider; and responsive to a determination that said score of said second service provider exceeds said score of said first service provider, routing said type of service request to said second service provider, wherein said commitment levels of said first and said second service providers specify a relative preference of each of said first and said second service providers for handling said type of service request.