Patent ID: 7219149

Claim:
A terminal adapter interworking at least one point of sale terminal comprising a card reader with a network comprising: at least one terminal interface capable of connecting the point of sale terminal and receiving a first transaction request message generated in response to the card reader obtaining data from a card; a processor capable of receiving the first transaction message and determining the contents of the first transaction message, formulating a second transaction message that is encrypted and incorporating transaction synchronization information, wherein the processor transfers the second transaction message using either a first or second communication path according to information contained in a communication path status table wherein the processor previously determined the information contained in the communication path status table based on processing of previously received messages, wherein if the processing determines an error at the financial transaction protocol layer, the information in the communication path status table is set to indicate the secondary communication path should be used; associated with a transaction memory capable of storing the communication path status table indicating the operational status of the first communication path; and a first network interface connecting the terminal adapter to the network and establishing the first communication path that is used to send the second transaction message.