System and method for performing distributed asynchronous calculations in a networked environment

1. A method for performing calculations in a distributed networked environment, comprising:

updating a source element on a first computer;

sending a calculate update signal which is a message communicated through a message queuing system in response to the updating, specifically directed to a target calculated element for updating on a target element computer that may be the first computer or a second computer connected to the first computer that uses the source element in a calculation;

obtaining the updated source element by a process on the target element computer associated with the target calculated element in response to the sending; and

performing a calculation to update the target calculated element using the obtained updated source element;

wherein each element comprises:

a value;

a local revision number that is updated at least each time the value changes; and

a global revision number that is updatable independent of the local revision number, and is usable to identify a state of the element with specific states of other elements.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

storing an older archive copy of an element when at least one of the global and local revision numbers change.

3. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising:

loading one or more archived source elements;

performing a reconstruction calculation to update a target element using the one or more loaded elements.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the loading of the one or more archived source elements is a loading of elements having a common global revision number.

5. A method for performing calculations in a distributed networked environment, comprising:

updating a source element on a first computer;

sending a calculate update signal which is a message communicated through a message queuing system in response to the updating, specifically directed to a target calculated element for updating on a target element computer that may be the first computer or a second computer connected to the first computer that uses the source element in a calculation;

obtaining the updated source element by a process on the target element computer associated with the target calculated element in response to the sending;

performing a calculation to update the target calculated element using the obtained updated source element;

providing a second source element;

providing a certification indicator associated with each of a first source element, which is the source element, the second source element, and the target element, wherein the target element uses both the first and second source elements;

modifying a state of at least one of the certification indicators as certified based upon a predefined criteria; and

modifying the target element certification indicator as certified only after the first and second source element certification indicators are certified.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the certification indicator is a flag that is set when the element is certified.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein the certification indicator is a message to the target element.

8. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the predefined criteria is an authenticated manual or electronic signature.

9. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the target element further requires either a manual or electronic signature to modify the target element certification indicator as certified.

10. The method according to claim 5 , wherein certifying of the target element takes place independently of the performing the calculation to update.