Appendix. QuickReturns Ltd.

QuickReturns Ltd. is the sample company we use throughout this book to explain the concepts of the Windows Communication Foundation. This appendix contains the high-level architecture that we created.

The following is a simplified model of an equity trading market and participants. We have combined some of the roles in order to simplify the perspective. This model is not meant to replicate the real interorganizational structure; it's just a basic representation for demonstration needs.

The following are the primary participants along with a general description of what services they provide or expect from other participants:

Asset Manager

This is an individual providing portfolio management and issuing trades to buy or sell stock through a market. Asset Managers make decisions about what specific securities to buy or sell in order to establish a portfolio thatmeets their client's needs.

Market Maker

This is an individual providing execution and market-making activities on a set of stocks listed on an exchange. Market Makers provide orderly market monitoring by maintaining two-sided displayed quotes, ensuring the quote is not inverted in the spread. They provide liquidity needs for investors. They clear and settle transactions through the Depository.

Exchange

This is an entity that provides an organized forum for Market Makers to publish market prices on listed securities. The Exchange provides execution services and systems that match, capture, record, and track security transactions amongst market participants.

Depository/Securities Processing System

This is an entity that keeps track of open positions for all market participants on the listed securities. Generally, each participant would have their own securities-processing system or subscribe to a corresponding service from another participant. However, for this example, the model is simplified, and the Depository provides all the necessary needs.