Patent ID: 8595802

Claim:
An interoperability network configured to facilitate messaging and mediate policy differences among a plurality of independent applications and users having associated client machines, the interoperability network comprising one or more computing devices configured to: receive a request for a first application to perform a particular task involving a second application on behalf of a first user, wherein the first and second applications are in communication with an interoperability network and are provided by least one service provider; determine whether a first user has provided a first set of credentials that defines access information for the second application, the first set of credentials being included among a plurality of sets of credentials stored on one or more storage media accessible through the interoperability network; determine whether the first application is authorized to act on behalf of the first user with respect to the second application with reference to one or more of a plurality of permissions stored on the one or more storage media; and where the first user has provided the first set of credentials, and where the first application is authorized to act on behalf of the first user with respect to the second application, authorizing the first application to perform the particular task involving the second application on behalf of the first user.