Patent ID: 7715413

Claim:
A multi-network exchange bridge apparatus in communication with a first type network and at least one second type network for facilitating transfer of electronic information signals to an access device in communication with a remote node of one of at least one second type network from said first network, said multi-network exchange bridge comprising: a first portal in communication with said first type network; at least one second portal in communication with said second type network; a protocol control device in communication with said first portal, and second portal, for interpretation and formatting of said electronic information signals between protocols and command structures of the first type network and protocols and command structures of the second type network for transfer of said electronic information signals between said first type network and said second type network; a fixed address translation device in communication with the protocol control device for conversion of a first address describing a node of said first type network through which said multi-network exchange bridge apparatus communicates to said first network to a second address describing a node of said second type network through which said second portal communicates with said second network; and at least one multi-network instantiation device in communication with the protocol control device to transfer said electronic information signals to the remote node in communication with the second type network connected to a portable access device on said second type network; wherein said first address is fixedly defined for said first type network and said translation is virtually defined for said second address; wherein the fixed address translation device virtually defines a third address equivalent to said second address with an extension indicating that said portable access device communicating through said multi-network instantiation device is associated with said multi-network exchange bridge apparatus and may communicate directly with said multi-network exchange bridge apparatus from the remote node of the second address.