K-theory for finite covariant systems

LetA be a real or complex Banach algebra and assume that is an action of a finite groupG onA by means of continuous automorphisms. To such a finite covariant system (A, G, ), we associate an Abelian groupK(A, G, ). We obtain some classical exact sequences for an algebraA and a closed invariant idealI. We also compute the group in a few important special cases. Doing so, we relate our new invariant to the classicalK ₀ andK ₁ of a Banach algebra and to theK-theory of ₂-graded Banach algebras. Finally, we obtain a result that gives a close relationship of our groupK(A, G, ) with theK-theory of the crossed productA G. In particular, we prove a six-term exact sequence involving our groupK(A, G, ) and theK-groups ofA G. In this way, we hope to contribute to the well-known problem of finding theK-theory of the crossed productA G in the case of an action of a finite group.