A Group Exchange Port (GXP) is disclosed which provides an organized technique for passing control of live objects (e.g.; a telephone call, a robotic arm, flying aircraft, etc.) from a first application operating on and processing the object to a second such application. In accordance with the invention, a Group Exchange Port is provided where buyer applications register there willingness to accept control of the system and sellers may "advertise" an object for sale. When a suitable buyer (i.e.; one that has the proper resources for servicing and controlling the active system) is found, control of the object is passed from the seller to the buyer. Importantly, the GXP requires that control of the object always be maintained by one and only one application, that control not be passed to an application which cannot properly service and/or control the system, and that an application presently controlling the system does not relinquish such control until a new application accepts such control. The technique allows loosely coupled applications to work with the same object.