Abstract: A method and apparatus for a first service processing system receiving and responding to a service request using a time context of a service time protocol is described. The method may include receiving a network based message associated with a service. The method may also include determining whether a service time context has been passed to the first service processing system from a second service processing system in the request. Furthermore, the method can include when no service time context is determined to have been passed to the first service processing system in the request, generating a current service time from a combination of a current physical time of the first service processing system and an initial counter time, performing a task associated with the service, and transmitting a second network based message that comprises the current service time as time context metadata associated with the performance of the task to a second service processing system.

Abstract: A clock data structure is introduced. An instance of the clock data structure can be attached to a billing data structure, such as a billing data structure that corresponds to a recurring payment. The instance of the clock data structure has a value that represents a frozen time—i.e., a specific time that does not change unless instructed to. The billing data structures to which the clock data structure is attached operate as if the real time is the frozen time on the clock. Since the time is frozen, users wishing to test the billing data structure can update their system configurations at specific times, and subsequently advance the time in the clock data structure instance to see the effects on those configurations, as well as on other parts of the system, including asynchronous messaging and processing, and processes that involve other entities.

Abstract: A dock data structure is introduced. An instance of the clock data structure can be attached to a billing data structure, such as a billing data structure that corresponds to a recurring payment. The instance of the clock data structure has a value that represents a frozen time—i.e., a specific time that does not change unless instructed to. The billing data structures to which the clock data structure is attached operate as if the real time is the frozen time on the clock. Since the time is frozen, users wishing to test the billing data structure can update their system configurations at specific times, and subsequently advance the time in the clock data structure instance to see the effects on those configurations, as well as on other parts of the system, including asynchronous messaging and processing, and processes that involve other entities.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a first service processing system receiving and responding to a service request using a time context of a service time protocol is described. The method may include receiving a network based message associated with a service. The method may also include determining whether a service time context has been passed to the first service processing system from a second service processing system in the request. Furthermore, the method can include when no service time context is determined to have been passed to the first service processing system in the request, generating a current service time from a combination of a current physical time of the first service processing system and an initial counter time, performing a task associated with the service, and transmitting a second network based message that comprises the current service time as time context metadata associated with the performance of the task to a second service processing system.