| 摘要 |
<p>An interactive computer system provides multi-protocol capability for communicating between a number of I/O platforms (1704, 1706, 1708, 1716, 1712, 1718, 1720, 1722, 1726) having different protocols and a variety of applications (1728a-1728i) for servicing the data and, in particular, requests input from the I/O platforms. A routing computer (1732) receives and transmits information from and to the I/O platforms via a plurality of generic I/O interfaces (1734a-1734g). The generic I/O interfaces translate the various I/O data streams into a generic I/O data stream. Similarly, the routing computer (1732) communicates with the various application programs via generic application interfaces (1738a-1738e). The generic application interfaces translate between the protocols sent or expected by the various applications and a generic application protocol. This configuration provides for reduced development time and effort, easy accommodation of new technologies and consistency of user interfaces across I/O platforms and across applications. Preferably, the routing computer (1732) has access to information to permit it to route user requests to the most appropriate or best application program, without the need for the user to expressly request such routing. Application programs can be used to provide services such as classified advertisement and/or purchase services, individualized electronic or printed or faxed catalogues of products or services, automatic shopping, coupon processing and providing, store or resource locators, estimated time of arrival information and the like.</p> |
