Abstract: A requirements matching broker is provided for use in a requirements matching system. The broker receives messages from users or from other brokers, conveying a statement of requirements, via a communications network interface. The broker includes a store and means to store predetermined rules for routing received messages. A rule includes a statement of requirements and the identity of a corresponding destination. On receipt of a message, the broker performs a comparison of a statement of requirements conveyed by the message with a statement of requirements contained within a stored routing rule. On finding a match, the broker identifies, from the matching routing rule, the identity of a destination for routing the received message and transmits the message to the identified destination via the network interface.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing data for use in displaying diagrams comprises a computer and a file server. Each diagram includes boxes and flow lines connecting the boxes. The software includes a database and a main program which is responsible for storing and retrieving diagram data as well as performing predetermined operations on the data. In the database, data describing a box is stored as an instance of a first software object class, data describing a flow line is stored as an instance of a second software object class, general data relating to a diagram is stored as an instance of a third software object class, and data describing the location of each entity (box or flow line) on a diagram is stored as an instance of a fourth software object class.