A requirements matching broker is provided for use in a requirements matching
system.
The broker receives messages from users or from other brokers, conveying a statement
of requirements, via a communications network interface. The broker includes a
store and means to store predetermined rules for routing received messages. A rule
includes a statement of requirements and the identity of a corresponding destination.
On receipt of a message, the broker performs a comparison of a statement of requirements
conveyed by the message with a statement of requirements contained within a stored
routing rule. On finding a match, the broker identifies, from the matching routing
rule, the identity of a destination for routing the received message and transmits
the message to the identified destination via the network interface.
