Patent ID: 6601065
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: G06F,H04L,Y10S

Abstract:
A method, comprising the steps of:providing a network through which can be transmitted message units that contain information in a digital form; transmitting from a client through said network a message which is in the form of at least one message unit and which contains a request directed to a repository, said request being in a first format conforming to a public network communication protocol; receiving said request from said network; thereafter converting said request from said first format to a second format compatible with a protocol of said repository; using said request in said second format to access said repository and obtain from said repository a response to said request, said response being in said second format; converting said response from said second format to said first format; and transmitting through said network to said client a further message which is in the form of at least one message unit and which contains said response in said second format; including the step of providing said repository within a group of repositories which handle requests according to respective different protocols; wherein said request from said client includes an identification of a selected one of said repositories; and wherein said step of converting said request includes the steps of selecting as said second format the protocol of said selected repository, and then effecting the conversion of said request from said first format to said second format.