Patent ID: 7073178

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for processing a transaction, comprising: providing a set of applications, wherein each application is configured to implement the transaction and wherein the transaction comprises a set of ordered stages; providing a set of modules for each of the ordered stages, wherein each set of modules is capable of implementing functionality associated with one ordered stage; and providing a shared set of resources, wherein the resources are each operable to be utilized by the modules, wherein each application comprises modules from one or more of the sets of modules, wherein each application is configured for use with a request in a protocol, wherein one of the ordered stages is a request reception stage, and each module within the set of modules for the request reception stage is configured for use with a protocol, wherein each module within the set of modules for the request reception stage is operable to convert the request into a generic format, wherein each application includes a module from the set of modules for the request reception stage; the module and the application are configured for use with the same protocol; and the other modules comprising the application are configured for use with the generic format.