Adaptive communication system enabling dissimilar devices to exchange information over a network

In a network involving a plurality of devices, a method of providing secure and reliable communications between a device A and a device B, comprising the steps of:

• providing a verification server;
• seeking permission to send a communication signal from device A to device B by sending a request send authorization signal from device A to the verification server;
• determining whether device A may communicate with device B and, if authorized to do so, transmitting a send authorization signal to device A;
• receiving the send authorization signal at device A, and transmitting a communication signal to device B to establish communications therewith;
• seeking permission to receive the communication signal at device B by sending a request receive authorization signal from device B to the verification server;
• determining whether device B may communicate with device A and, if authorized to do so, transmitting a receive authorization signal to device B from the verification server;
• and
• receiving the receive authorization signal at device B and processing the communication signal transmitted by device A.

An adaptive communication system enabling dissimilar devices to exchange information through a verification server, comprising:

• means enabling a first device to generate a "request send authorization signal";
• means for the verification server, in response to the receipt of the "request send authorization signal", to compare said "request send authorization signal" with a predetermined database of permissible recipient and sending devices, and for generating a "send authorization signal" whenever said "request send authorization signal" is within said database;
• means for causing the first device, in response to the receipt of the "send authorization signal," to send a "communication signal" to a second device;
• means for causing the second device, in response to the arrival of communication signal from the first device to generate a "request receive authorization signal";
• means for causing the verification server, in response to the receipt of the "request receive authorization signal", to compare the "request receive authorization signal" with the database, and to generate a "receive authorization signal" whenever the "request receive authorization signal" is within the database;
• and
• means for causing the second device, in response to the "receive authorization signal," to receive the communication signal from the first device.

In a distributed communications environment comprising at least one server device and a plurality of network devices wherein the network devices and server are linked together by a communications network, a method of communications, comprising the steps of:

• storing a capabilities data structure on the server device including, for each network device, protocols, transmit allowance, receive allowance, and translation capabilities;
• generating, by a first network device, a request to allow transmission of a message to a second network device;
• transmitting the request to a server device;
• receiving the request by the server device;
• comparing the capabilities of the first network device to the capabilities device of the second network device to determine whether the request should be granted;
• transmitting a response to the first network device;
• and
• transmitting the message from the first network device to the second network device if the response from the server device indicates that the capabilities of the first network device are compatible with the capabilities of the second network device.