Patent ID: 7302489

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of messaging in a computer network, the computer network comprising a plurality of at least two computer-based participant systems communicating through asynchronous exchange of messages, a first one of the participant systems maintaining one or more data objects, the first participant system arranged to send messages to at least one other participant system to notify said other participant system of modifications of said one or more data object entered through the first participant system, the method comprising the steps of: providing a status object in relation to each data object, the status object comprising one or more status fields for storing information representative of at least one of a delta value applied to the respective data object as a result of one or more modifications and a total value of that data object after application of the one or more modifications; providing a modification status flag in relation to each data object; providing a communication status flag in relation to each data object; each time a modification of a respective data object is entered, updating the respective status object so as to reflect the modification, and checking the respective modification status flag; if it is determined that the modification status flag indicates a first modification status, setting the modification status flag to a second modification status; in response to setting the modification status flag to the second modification status, checking the respective communication status flag; if it is determined that the communication status flag indicates a first communication status, retrieving the respective status object and sending a notification message containing the retrieved status object from the first participant system to the other participant system; upon sending of the notification message, setting the respective communication status flag to a second communication status and resetting the respective modification status flag to the first modification status; and upon receipt of a confirmation message from the other participant system by the first participant system, resetting the respective communication status flag to the first communication status, the confirmation message confirming receipt of the notification message by the other participant system.