Automated selection of a protocol by a communicating entity to match the protocol of a communications network

摘要

A client application (121) is automatically adapted to communicate between its corresponding terminal (107-109) and a server (101) via any communications network (102-104) that supports any of the protocols that the client application supports. The client application is administered (135) during installation to support a plurality of protocols one of which is designated (225) as being preferred. The application first attempts (300-310) to establish a communications channel by using the preferred protocol. If that fails, the application attempts (315-325) to establish the communications channel by using another supported protocol. Success of either attempt leads the application to determine (340) if another channel is needed, and if so, to attempt to establish it by using the successful protocol. Failure of this last attempt leads the application to repeat the first attempt.