METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING INTER-APPLICATION PROGRAM COMMUNICATION USING A COMMON VIEW AND METADATA

An approach for providing communication between sub-applications in a vertical application involves exchanging messages between sub-applications in a predetermined common message format referred to herein as a "common view." Messages transmitted by sub-applications in message formats supported by the sub-applications are translated to produce messages in the common view. Messages to be received by sub-applications in the common view are translated to produce messages in the formats supported by the sub-applications. An adapter may be attached to each sub-application. The adapter provides for the translation of messages between a message format supported by the sub-application to which it is attached and the common view. An agent/broker architecture may be used in which agents are configured with metadata.