Patent ID: 7788157

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for doing business between a first and second trading partner using a trading partner collaboration system, the method including maintaining a trading partner server, separate from the first and second trading partners, as primary controller of said trading partner collaboration system, storing a first profile and a second profile at said trading partner server, the first profile being associated with the first trading partner and the second profile being associated with the second trading partner, the first profile comprising a first communication protocol for communicating with the first trading partner and business rules data for conducting business with the first trading partner, the second profile comprising a second communication protocol for communicating with the second trading partner; receiving a request at said trading partner server for communication between the first trading partner and the second trading partner; providing a response by the second trading partner to the request from the first trading partner via the trading partner server, wherein the response accepts or rejects the request; and configuring a communications channel for business communications at said trading partner server from said first trading partner to said second trading partner, wherein the communication channel is configured using elements from said second profile; wherein said configuring includes receiving a business communication from said first trading partner at said trading partner server by way of an interface at said trading partner server, wherein said business communication is directed at said second trading partner; processing said business communication; and delivering said business communication to said second trading partner by way of a second interface at said trading partner server; and automatically updating the communication channel if the first trading partner updates the first profile or the second trading partner updates the second profile; wherein the first communication protocol is different from the second communication protocol, and said communications channel enables the first trading partner to communicate with the second trading partner using the first protocol, and the second trading partner to communicate with the first trading partner using the second protocol.