Patent ID: 8554187

Claim:
An interface device for providing communications between a first communications network and a device associated with a second communications network, the interface device comprising: an input for receiving data in a first format from the first communications network; a processor; memory storing a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising identifying the device associated with the second communications network for receiving the data, testing functionality of the second communications network to determine whether the second communications network is functioning properly, wherein testing the functionality of the second communications network comprises sending a ping to the second communications network, in response to determining that the second communications network is functioning properly, identifying a second format compatible with the second communications network, and translating the data to the second format, in response to determining that the second communications network is not functioning properly, identifying a device associated with a third communications network for receiving the data, identifying a third format compatible with the third communications network, and translating the data from the first format to the third format; and an output for transmitting the data translated to the second format to the device associated with the second communications network if the second communications network is determined to be functioning properly and for transmitting the data translated to the third format to the device associated with the third communications network if the second communications network is determined not to be functioning properly.