Abstract: A system is disclosed for establishing an interconnection between trading networks. The system receives an access establishment request communicated from a home user subscribed to a home trading network and not subscribed to a foreign trading network, the access establishment request including a request to access a desired application, the desired application associated with the foreign trading network. The system further communicates the access establishment request to a foreign operator computer system and receives an approval of the access establishment request communicated from the foreign operator computer system.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for establishing an interconnection between trading networks. The system receives an access establishment request communicated from a home user subscribed to a home trading network and not subscribed to a foreign trading network, the access establishment request including a request to access a desired application, the desired application associated with the foreign trading network. The system further communicates the access establishment request to a foreign operator computer system and receives an approval of the access establishment request communicated from the foreign operator computer system.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for establishing an interconnection between trading networks. The system receives an access establishment request communicated from a home user subscribed to a home trading network and not subscribed to a foreign trading network, the access establishment request including a request to access a desired application, the desired application associated with the foreign trading network. The system further communicates the access establishment request to a foreign operator computer system and receives an approval of the access establishment request communicated from the foreign operator computer system.

Abstract: A method of establishing an interconnection between trading networks may include receiving at a home operator of a home trading network an access establishment request communicated from a home user. The access establishment request may include a request to establish access to a desired application. The desired application may be associated with a foreign trading network coupled to the home trading network via a computer network. The method may further include communicating the access establishment request from the home operator to a foreign operator of the foreign trading network; receiving at the home operator an approval of the access establishment request communicated from the foreign operator, if appropriate; establishing an application access allowing the home user to use the desired application; and communicating a transaction communication to the desired application. The transaction communication may relate to a business transaction.

Abstract: A global content directory (42) includes a directory structure (44) that includes a plurality of product classes organized in a hierarchy. Each product class categorizes a plurality of products and defines one or more attributes of the products categorized in the product class. The directory (42) also includes one or more pointers that are associated with each product class. Each pointer identifies a seller database (32) in which product data enabling a product transaction is stored for products that are associated with the product class. The directory (42) also includes a search interface (45) that communicates, in response to a selection of a product class by a user (20) of the global content directory (42), a search query for product data to one or more seller databases (32) identified by the one or more pointers associated with the selected product class.

Abstract: A product that is uniquely identifiable according to a globally unique identifier (GUID)(100) includes a class identifier (CID)(110) that uniquely identifies at least one product class in which the product is categorized (along with a plurality of other products) within a class hierarchy of a global content directory (42). The product class defines one or more attributes of the products categorized in the class. The product also includes a product identifier (PID)(120) that uniquely identifies the particular product from among the plurality of products categorized in the product class uniquely identified by the CID (110). The CID (110) and PID (120) collectively provide the GUID (100), which may be specified or determined to facilitate a commercial transaction involving the product.

Abstract: A product that is uniquely identifiable according to a globally unique identifier (GUID) (100) includes a class identifier (CID) (110) that uniquely identifies at least one product class in which the product is categorized (along with a plurality of other products) within a class hierarchy of a global content directory (42). The product class defines one or more attributes of the products categorized in the class. The product also includes a product identifier (PID) (120) that uniquely identifies the particular product from among the plurality of products categorized in the product class uniquely identified by the CID (110). The CID (110) and PID (120) collectively provide the GUID (100), which may be specified or determined to facilitate a commercial transaction involving the product.

Abstract: A method for selectively indexing a database (32) includes selecting a set of fields (156) in the database (32). The selected fields (156) are located in one column (152) of a table (150) in the database (32). The method also includes determining the total time required for reading data from the fields (156) during a selected time period if the fields (156) are indexed and determining the total time required for reading data from the fields (156) during the selected time period if the fields (156) are not indexed. The method further includes determining the total time required for writing data to the fields (156) during the selected time period if the fields (156) are indexed and determining the total time required for writing data to the fields (156) during the selected time period if the fields (156) are not indexed. In addition, the method includes evaluating the total times required for reading and writing data to the fields to determine whether the fields (156) should be indexed.

Abstract: A product that is uniquely identifiable according to a globally unique identifier (GUID) (100) includes a class identifier (CID) (110) that uniquely identifies at least one product class in which the product is categorized (along with a plurality of other products) within a class hierarchy of a global content directory (42). The product class defines one or more attributes of the products categorized in the class. The product also includes a product identifier (PID) (120) that uniquely identifies the particular product from among the plurality of products categorized in the product class uniquely identified by the CID (110). The CID (110) and PID (120) collectively provide the GUID (100), which may be specified or determined to facilitate a commercial transaction involving the product.

Abstract: A method for selectively indexing a database (32) includes selecting a set of fields (156) in the database (32). The selected fields (156) are located in one column (152) of a table (150) in the database (32). The method also includes determining the total time required for reading data from the fields (156) during a selected time period if the fields (156) are indexed and determining the total time required for reading data from the fields (156) during the selected time period if the fields (156) are not indexed. The method further includes determining the total time required for writing data to the fields (156) during the selected time period if the fields (156) are indexed and determining the total time required for writing data to the fields (156) during the selected time period if the fields (156) are not indexed. In addition, the method includes evaluating the total times required for reading and writing data to the fields to determine whether the fields (156) should be indexed.

Abstract: A global content directory (42) includes a directory structure (44) that includes a plurality of product classes organized in a hierarchy. Each product class categorizes a plurality of products and defines one or more attributes of the products categorized in the product class. The directory (42) also includes one or more pointers that are associated with each product class. Each pointer identifies a seller database (32) in which product data enabling a product transaction is stored for products that are associated with the product class. The directory (42) also includes a search interface (45) that communicates, in response to a selection of a product class by a user (20) of the global content directory (42), a search query for product data to one or more seller databases (32) identified by the one or more pointers associated with the selected product class.