Method of performing transactions in an information technology network

摘要

Commercial objects sought in the course of transactions within an information technology network are identified using a reference identifier which is unique within the network. The identifier may additionally be used to locate a provider of such a commercial object within the network. The identifier is stored in an e-services layer of computing capability which is distributed across the network, and which provides language independence as well as database functions to enable searching for providers of goods or services available via the network. The identifier migrates with the object, and information representative of the object (representative information), yet does not itself change upon object metamorphosis. The identifier may be duplicated where each instance of the identifier is equivalent vis a vis the object, but may not be re-used to identify a different object