Compatibility checking between instruments, operations and protocols in electronic commerce

A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for performing an operation in electronic commerce, comprising:

• receiving a request for the operation;
• checking compatibility between the operation and available protocols for the operation to determine a set of compatible protocols;
• checking compatibility between the set of compatible protocols and available instruments for the operation to determine a set of compatible instruments;
• wherein a given instrument can be configured to operate with more than one protocol;
• and
• if the set of compatible instruments includes at least one instrument,
• selecting a compatible protocol and a compatible instrument,
• and performing the operation using the compatible protocol and compatible instrument.

A method for determining compatibility between operations, protocols and instruments involved in electronic commerce transactions, comprising:

• receiving an object;
• if the object represents a protocol,
• determining compatibility between the protocol and a set of available instruments,
• determining compatibility between the protocol and a set of available operations, and
• recording any determined compatibilities in a lookup structure;
• and
• if the object represents an operation,
• determining compatibility between the operation and a set of available protocols,
• and recording any determined compatibilities in a lookup structure;
• wherein a given instrument can be configured to operate with more than one protocol.

An apparatus that performs an operation in electronic commerce, comprising:

• a receiving mechanism that receives a request for the operation;
• a compatibility checking mechanism, coupled to the receiving mechanism that checks compatibility between the operation and available protocols for the operation to determine a set of compatible protocols, and that checks compatibility between the set of compatible protocols and available instruments for the operation to determine a set of compatible instruments;
• wherein a given instrument can be configured to operate with more than one protocol;
• a selection mechanism, coupled to the compatibility checking mechanism, that selects a compatible protocol and a compatible instrument;
• and
• an execution mechanism, coupled to the selection mechanism, that executes the operation using the compatible protocol and compatible instrument for the operation.

An apparatus that performs an operation in electronic commerce, comprising:

• a receiving means for receiving a request for the operation;
• a compatibility checking means, coupled to the receiving means, for checking compatibility between the operation and available protocols for the operation to determine a set of compatible protocols, and for checking compatibility between the set of compatible protocols and available instruments for the operation to determine a set of compatible instruments;
• wherein a given instrument can be configured to operate with more than one protocol;
• a selection means, coupled to the compatibility checking means, for selecting a compatible protocol and a compatible instrument;
• and
• an execution means, coupled to the selection means, that executes the operation using the compatible protocol and compatible instrument for the operation.

A computer readable storage medium containing a data structure for storing compatibility information between instruments, operations and protocols involved in electronic commerce transactions, the data structure comprising:

• a computer-readable storage medium:
• a data storage area within the computer-readable storage medium for storing information on compatibility between instruments, protocols and operations involved in electronic commerce operations;
• an indexing structure within the computer-readable storage medium into the data storage area that receives an operation and looks up compatible protocols based upon the operation;
• and
• an indexing structure within the computer-readable storage medium into the data storage area that receives a protocol and looks up compatible instruments based upon the protocol;
• wherein a given instrument can be configured to operate with more than one protocol.