Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for creating an open services module that operates in a computer system to novelly form and manage a contract for open services in a computer-based electronic commerce environment. An open service is a meaningful set of capabilities that may be freely offered in a computer-based environment by a buyer or a seller. The open service may be performed in exchange for value and the functionality of the open service may be described, including the value of the open service per each associated transaction. The present embodiment novelly introduces electronic business transaction phases that distinguish between offer creation, offer advertising and discovery, pre-contractual negotiation, contract formation, and contract performance.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for enabling exchange of an open service for value in an electronic commerce system. The present embodiment creates an open service description and an open service contract view application programming interface (API) that enable operation of an open service instance in an electronic commerce system. The open service contract view enables message passing between open service instances by mapping programming language code to an open service instance. That is, the present embodiment includes an interface to convert code, such as object-based technology or linguistic communication technology, such as agent software, or code written to comply with an Interface Definition Language (IDL), into an open service instance. The present embodiment also includes information that enables charging and billing associated with performance of the open service.