Cooperative software application architecture

A bridging system for bridging between an e-commerce application and an e-commerce agent application, the system comprising:

• a plurality of c-commerce application servers;
• a bridging server in communication with said e-commerce application servers, said bridging server comprising:
• a hosting application;
• and
• an application component operative to execute a plurality of ordered processing operations,
• wherein said hosting application is operative to effect a first call to said component, thereby invoking operation of said component,
• wherein said component is operative to execute any of said ordered processing operations in response to said first call until a suspense condition is met, whereupon said component is operative to suspend its operation, maintain execution state information, and return execution control to said hosting application,
• wherein said hosting application is operative to resolve said suspense condition and effect a second call to said component, and
• wherein said component is operative to determine whether said suspense is condition is resolved and, if so, resume execution of said ordered processing operations from the point of suspension in response to said second call;
• an e-commerce agent server in communication with said bridging server;
• and
• a client computer in communication with said e-commerce agent server,
• wherein said client computer is operative to transmit purchase data to said e-commerce agent server,
• wherein said e-commerce agent server is operative to transmit said purchase data to said bridging server,
• wherein said bridging server is operative to cause said hosting application to invoke said component and execute said ordered processing operations, and
• wherein said ordered processing operations are operative to effect a purchase via said e-commerce application using said purchase data.

In an application environment including a hosting application and an application component operative to execute a plurality of ordered processing operations, a method of operation comprising the steps of:

• said hosting application first calling said component, thereby invoking operation of said component;
• said component executing any of said ordered processing operations in response to said first call until a suspense condition is met;
• suspending operation of said component;
• maintaining execution state information of said component;
• returning execution control to said hosting application;
• resolving said suspense condition;
• said hosting application second calling said component;
• determining whether said suspense condition is resolved;
• and, if so
• resuming execution of said ordered processing operations from the point of suspension in response to said second calling.

In a system including a plurality of c-commerce application servers, an e-commerce agent server, and a client computer in communication with said c-commerce agent server, a method for bridging between an e-commerce application and an e-commerce agent application, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a bridging server in communication with said e-commerce application servers, said bridging server comprising:
• a hosting application;
• and
• an application component operative to execute a plurality of ordered processing operations,
• wherein said hosting application is operative to effect a first call to said component, thereby invoking operation of said component,
• wherein said component is operative to execute any of said ordered processing operations in response to said first call until a suspense condition is met, whereupon said component is operative to suspend its operation, maintain execution state information, and return execution control to said hosting application,
• wherein said hosting application is operative to resolve said suspense condition and effect a second call to said component, and
• wherein said component is operative to determine whether said suspense condition is resolved and, if so, resume execution of said ordered processing operations from the point of suspension in response to said second call;
• placing said e-commerce agent server in communication with said bridging server;
• transmitting purchase data from said client computer to said e-commerce agent server;
• transmitting said purchase data from said e-commerce agent server to said bridging server;
• causing said hosting application to invoke said component and execute a script of said ordered processing operations, thereby effecting a purchase via said e-commerce application using said purchase data.