Interactive market management system

A system for interactive electronic communications and processing of business transactions between a plurality of different types of independent users including at least a plurality of sellers and a plurality of buyers, and at least one of a financial institution and a freight service provider, wherein each user communicates with the system, the system comprising:

• a central resident data base for storage of user information;
• access means for providing selective access to the resident data base user information by users from remote terminals on communication links and for providing for periodic exchange of information files between a user's remote terminal and the system;
• validation means responsive to the access means for selectively limiting access to the system based upon at least one password;
• processing means responsive to the access means and the validation means for on-line interactive processing of business transactions between a user and a plurality of other users during an interactive business transaction session comprising a plurality of different types of business transactions from a remote terminal;
• and,
• means responsive to the processing means for providing access to the data base by sellers from a remote terminal during an interactive business transaction session with a buyer.