Method for switching protocols transparently in multi-user applications

A computer readable medium having am application programming interface program comprising:

• a remote connection function operable to receive a function call from an application program specifying a connectivity address, and in response, operable to send a system message with the connectivity address to a compatible version of the device-independent application programming interface executing on a remote computer by using a first service provider program that implements a first communication protocol to send the system message, where the system message with the connectivity address is operable to cause the compatible application programming interface to switch from the first communication protocol to a second protocol identified in the connectivity address;
• programming code for queuing messages from the compatible version of the application programming interface on a remote computer;
• programming code operable to retrieve queued messages;
• and
• programming code operable to switch from the first communication protocol to another communication protocol in response to retrieving a queued system message with a connectivity address by launching a second service provider program identified in the connectivity address.

A computer readable medium having an application programming interface program comprising:

• a remote connection function operable to receive a function call from an application program specifying a connectivity address, and in response, operable to send a system message with the connectivity address to a compatible version of the device-independent application programming interface executing on a remote computer by using a first service provider program that implements a first communication protocol to send the system message, where the system message with the connectivity address is operable to cause the compatible application programming interface to switch from the first communication protocol to a second protocol identified in the connectivity address;
• programming code for queuing messages from the compatible version of the application programming interface on a remote computer;
• programming code operable to retrieve queued messages;
• programming code operable to switch from the first communication protocol to another communication protocol in response to retrieving a queued system message with a connectivity address by launching a second service provider program identified in the connectivity address.
• programming code for storing state information about previous connections with remote computers;
• a restore connection function operable to receive a restore connection function call from an application program to restore a connection of a remote computer with another computer, the restore connection function operable to send a system message to a compatible version of the device-independent application programming interface executing on a remote computer by using a selected service provider program that implements a selected communication protocol to send the system message, where the system message is operable to cause the compatible application programming interface to restore state of a previous connection on the remote computer;
• and
• programming code operable to restore state of a previous connection in response to retrieving a queued system message by launching a service provider program identified in the stored state information.