Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing real-time, two-way transactional capabilities on the network. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention discloses a configurable value-added network switch for enabling real-time transactions on the network. The configurable value added network switch comprises means for switching to a transactional application in response to a user specification from a network application, means for transmitting a transaction request from the transactional application, and means for processing the transaction request. Additionally, a method for enabling object routing is disclosed, comprising the steps of creating a virtual information store containing information entries and attributes associating each of the information entries and the attributes with an object identity, and assigning a unique network address to each of the object identities.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing real-time, two-way transactional capabilities on the network. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention discloses a configurable value-added network switch for enabling real-time transactions on the network. The configurable value added network switch comprises means for switching to a transactional application in response to a user specification from a network application, means for transmitting a transaction request from the transactional application, and means for processing the transaction request. Additionally, a method for enabling object routing is disclosed, comprising the steps of creating a virtual information store containing information entries and attributes associating each of the information entries and the attributes with an object identity, and assigning a unique network address to each of the object identities.