Patent ID: 8332473

Claim:
A method of handling messages, the method comprising: receiving a first message from a first source with a message handling system, the first message having a first message format and a header, the message handling system comprising a first node, the first node comprising a microprocessor and a first memory operably coupled thereto; wherein the first message is to be sent to a destination application with which a second message format is associated, the destination application comprising a second node, the second node comprising a second memory; and wherein the first message format is incompatible with the second message format and thus the first message is incompatible with, and is unable to be received by, the destination application; placing the first message on a first queue stored in the first node; creating a second message with the first node so that the second message is associated with the second message format and thus the second message is compatible with, and is able to be received by, the destination application, wherein creating the second message comprises: processing the first message with an inbound message handler stored in the first node and operably coupled to the first queue, comprising: accessing a routing and formatting table stored in the first node and operably coupled to the inbound message handler; gathering routing and formatting information from the routing and formatting table; and placing the routing and formatting information in the header of the first message; and transforming the first message with a message transformation engine stored in the first node and operably coupled to the inbound message handler, comprising: inspecting the header of the first message; accessing a format rules repository stored in the first node and operably coupled to the message transformation engine; gathering at least one format rule defining the second message format from the format rules repository, the at least one format rule being dependent upon at least the routing and formatting information in the header of the first message, the routing and formatting information in the header of the first message indicating the at least one format rule and thus the second message format necessary for compatibility with the destination application; and transforming the first message in accordance with the at least one format rule to thereby create the second message, the second message having the second message format that is defined by the at least one format rule and thus by the routing and formatting information in the header of the first message so that the second message is compatible with, and is able to be received by, the destination application; placing the second message on a second queue stored in the first node and operably coupled to the message transformation engine; and sending the second message to the destination application.