Bandwidth Trading Engine

A core engine for enabling bandwidth-trading among a plurality of entities, the core engine comprising:

• a seller interface
• a buyer interface;
• a database;
• a processing unit which, in response to executing the steps of a program module, is operative to:
• receive data representing a plurality of bandwidth-commodities, for each of the plurality of bandwidth-commodities, the data identifying a bandwidth capacity, two of a plurality of end points, a period of time, and being received from one or more bandwidth selling entities by means of the seller interface;
• store the data representing the plurality of bandwidth-commodities into the database;
• receive a bandwidth purchase request, the bandwidth purchase request identifying a desired bandwidth capacity between a first end point and a second end point for a desired time period and being received from a bandwidth buying entity by means of the buyer interface;
• search the database to identify a compatible bandwidth-commodity of the plurality of bandwidth-commodities that meets the desired bandwidth capacity between the first end point and the second end point for the desired time period;
• and
• upon identifying a compatible bandwidth-commodity, execute a trade in which the ownership of the compatible bandwidth-commodity is transferred to the bandwidth buying entity.

A system for enabling bandwidth-trading among a plurality of entities, the system comprising:

• a resource entity interface;
• a trading entity interface;
• a database;
• a processing unit which, in response to executing the steps of a program module, is operative to:
• receive data representing a plurality of bandwidth-commodities, the data being received from one or more bandwidth resource entities by means of the resource entity interface;
• store the data representing the plurality of bandwidth-commodities into the database;
• receive a bandwidth purchase request from a trading entity by means of the trading entity interface;
• and
• search the database to identify a compatible bandwidth-commodity of the plurality of bandwidth-commodities that satisfies the bandwidth purchase request.

A system for enabling commodity-trading among a plurality of entities, the system comprising:

• a resource entity interface;
• an enabling entity interface;
• a trading entity interface;
• a database;
• a processing unit which, in response to executing the steps of a program module, is operative to:
• receive data representing a plurality of commodities, the data being received from one or more resource entities by means of the resource entity interface;
• share the data representing the plurality of commodities with an enabling entity by means of the enabling entity interface;
• receive a purchase request from a trading entity by means of the trading entity interface;
• and
• provide the purchase request to an enabling entity by means of the enabling entity interface;
• and
• each enabling entity being operative interface with one or more resource entities and the processing unit to accumulate information regarding the commodities and to serve as a neutral pooling point for the commodities;
• and
• in response to receiving a purchase request, being operative to determine if a commodity is available to satisfy the purchase request.

A method for trading bandwidth as a commodity, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving data representing a plurality of bandwidth-commodities from one or more resource entities;
• receiving a request for a bandwidth-commodity trade from a buying entity;
• if the request is for a commodity purchase, searching the data representing the plurality of bandwidth-commodities to identify a particular bandwidth-commodity that satisfies the purchase and initiate the execution of the purchase;
• and
• if the request is for a commodity sale, searching the data representing the plurality of bandwidth-commodities to identify if there is a need for the commodity and initiate the execution of the sale.

A core engine for enabling bandwidth-trading among a plurality of entities, the core engine comprising:

• a seller interface
• a buyer interface;
• a database;
• a processing unit which, in response to executing the steps of a program module, is operative to:
• receive data representing a particular bandwidth-commodity, the data identifying a bandwidth capacity, a first end point and a second end point, and being received from a bandwidth selling entity by means of the seller interface;
• store the data representing the particular bandwidth-commodity into the database;
• receive a bandwidth sell request, the bandwidth sell request identifying a bandwidth capacity between two end points and being received from a bandwidth buying entity by means of the buyer interface;
• and
• execute a trade and update the database.