Patent ID: 8230029

Claim:
A system, comprising: a first messaging network having at least a first client device Within the first messaging network; a second messaging network having at least a second client device within the second messaging network; and a clearing house server device that is configured to manage at least one communication between the first client device and the second client device by performing actions, including: receiving a message from the first client device, the message being determined to be destined to the second client device; when it is determined that the message employs at least one of a message protocol or message format that is incompatible with another message protocol or message format in use by the second messaging network: attempting to translate the message into a message protocol or message format that is compatible with the other message protocol or message format in use by the second messaging network; and if the attempt is successful, forwarding the translated message towards the second client device; otherwise, sending an error message to the first client device indicating which message feature or message protocol is at error; and when the message protocol and format are determined to compatible, establishing a trust relationship between the first message network and the second message network such that a subsequent message between the first client device and the second client device is communicated between the first messaging network and the second messaging network rather than through the clearing house server device; wherein the first messaging network and the second messaging network each include a gateway server device establishing the trust relationship between each of the gateway server devices, such that the subsequent message is transmitted between the gateway server devices absent a protocol or format translation.