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

A method of communicating on a network that supports a plurality of communications protocols, comprising the steps of:

• (A) a first device firstly attempting to communicate on the network with a second device by using a preferred one of the plurality of protocols;
• (B) in response to success of the first attempting, the first device continuing to communicate with the second device in the preferred protocol on a first communications channel established by successful said first attempting;
• (C) in response to failure of the first attempting, the first device secondly attempting to communicate on the network with the second device by using another one of the plurality of protocols;
• (D) in response to success of the second attempting, the first device continuing to communicate with the second device in the other protocol on the first communications channel established by successful said second attempting;
• (E) the first device attempting to establish a second communications channel by thirdly attempting to communicate on the network with the second device by using the protocol of the successful first or second attempting, while communicating with the second device on the first communications channel in the protocol of the successful first or second attempting;
• (F) in response to failure of the third attempting, the first device attempting to establish the second communications channel by fourthly attempting to communicate on the network with the second device by using one of the plurality of protocols other than the protocol of the successful first or second attempting, while communicating with the second device on the first communications channel in the protocol of the successful first or second attempting;
• and
• (G) in response to success of the fourth attempting the first device continuing to communicate with the second device in the one protocol other than the protocol of the successful first or seconed attempting on the second communications channel established by successful said fourth attempting, while communicating with the second device on the first communications channel in the protocol of the successful first or second attempting.

A first device capable of communicating on a communications network in any of a plurality of communications protocols, the first device being configured for firstly attempting to communicate with a second device by using a preferred one of the plurality of protocols, responsive to failure of the first attempt by secondly attempting to communicate with the second device by using another one of the plurality of protocols, and responsive to success of the first or the second attempt by continuing to communicate with the second device on a first communications channel established by the successful first or second attempt in the protocol of the successful first or second attempt, the first device being further configured for thirdly attempting to establish a second communications channel with the second device by using the protocol of the successful first or second attempt while communicating with the second device on the first channel in the protocol of the first or second successful attempt, responsive to failure of the third attempt by fourthly attempting to establish the second communications channel by using a protocol other than the protocol of the successful first or second attempt while communicating with the second device on the first channel in the protocol of the successful first or second attempt, and responsive to success of the fourth attempt by continuing to communicate with the second device in the protocol of the fourth attempt on the second communications channel established by the fourth attempt while communicating with the second device on the first channel in the protocol of the successful first or second attempt.