Patent ID: 7610404

Claim:
A computer implemented method of routing application information, comprising: receiving application information in a proprietary application protocol format over a network wherein the application information and the proprietary application protocol are associated with at least one application selected from a set of applications within an application network of applications that initially cannot exchange and use application data with each other; converting the application information in the proprietary application protocol format into a neutral protocol format compatible with one or more application router devices on the network utilizing meta-data also provided by the one or more application router devices describing one of structures, interfaces and proprietary application protocols used by the one application selected form the set of applications within the application network of applications; and forwarding the converted application information in the neutral protocol format along with state information describing the status of processing the application information to one or more application router devices on the network wherein the state information keeps the application router devices from losing track of information and status of the processing of the application information as it moves between the application router devices; converting further application information in the neutral protocol format back into the proprietary application protocol when communicating the further application information back to the at least one application selected from the set of applications within the application network thereby facilitating the exchange and use of application data between the set of applications.