Patent ID: 6957253

Claim:
A uniform and generalized transaction modelling computer system operable with a separate client system and adapted to perform negotiation and decision functions related to a transaction, the system comprising a processor and a computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium providing locations for a plurality of entities, the entities being accessible to the processor, and the entities including at least one entity of each of the following forms: a first entity (Thing entity) having the properties of identifying a client system and uniquely identifying using a client system reference an object in that client system; a second entity (Proposal entity) created by the client system for defining a transaction, the second entity being subordinate directly or indirectly to a first entity and having the properties of identifying at least one external agent to carry out a transformation in relation to the first entity and of identifying at least one counter-party to the transaction; and a third entity (Decision entity) capable of communicating with a second entity and having the properties of defining the types of decision that may be made including at least a decision to accept and a decision to decline the transaction, and determining the responses in relation to those decisions.