Patent ID: 7756751

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for conducting an electronic commerce transaction involving two or more discrete business entities and/or business applications comprising the steps of: configuring a computer system including at least one processor and at least one storage medium by loading onto the storage medium a computer program having a plurality of code sections, the code sections executable by the processor for causing the computer to perform: initializing the electronic commerce transaction involving the two or more discrete business entities and/or business applications, the electronic commerce transaction including a plurality of electronic commerce actions; inputting commerce data into an electronic document; converting the commerce data from a format of the electronic document to a format of an adaptive document using a data adaptor, wherein the adaptive document is a semi-autonomous software unit that encapsulates business data and exhibits variable behavior based upon different processing states, and wherein the data adapter reconciles data formats so that data can be exchanged between different applications; inputting the converted commerce data into the adaptive document, wherein electronic commerce actions performed on the adaptive document are dependent upon a state of said adaptive document; initializing a transport adaptor to determine a messaging protocol between a current location of the adaptive document and a destination location of the adaptive document, wherein the transport adaptor translates messages between messaging protocols used by different applications; establishing a communication link between the current location of the adaptive document and the destination location of the adaptive document; conveying said adaptive document to the destination location via the communication link; and performing at least one electronic commerce action upon said adaptive document, wherein said electronic commerce action utilizes application independent algorithms.