Translating switch and method

A method of translating information in a data unit, the method comprising:

• receiving from a terminal a first data unit with payload information;
• identifying, from within the payload information of the first data unit, attribute information that relates to information processing operations to be performed before reaching a destination processor;
• and
• translating the first data unit into a translated data unit that includes an attribute portion with layer three addressing information and having information corresponding to the attribute information identified from within the payload information of the first data unit.

A translating switch comprising:

• means for receiving from a terminal a first data unit with payload information;
• means for identifying, from within the payload information of the first data unit, attribute information that relates to information processing operations to be performed before reaching a destination processor;
• and
• means for translating the first data unit into a translated data unit that includes an attribute portion with layer three addressing information and having information corresponding to the attribute information identified from within the payload information of the first data unit.

A method of processing information related to electronic mail, the method comprising:

• receiving a request in a first data unit from a user on a terminal relating to a user's access to a mail message;
• identifying, from within payload information of the first data unit, mail message information that relates to mail processing operations to be performed before reaching a destination processor;
• translating the first data unit into a translated data unit that includes an attribute portion with layer three addressing information and having information corresponding to the mail message information;
• performing one or more mail processing operations by transmitting the translated data unit to the destination processor running a mail application;
• receiving a response to the translated data unit;
• reverse translating the response to the translated data unit into a reverse translated response so that the terminal recognizes the response to the first data unit;
• and
• transmitting the reverse translated data unit to the terminal.

A translating switch comprising:

• a first communications interface structured and arranged to receive from a terminal a first data unit with payload information;
• a first translating table structured and arranged to identify, from within the payload information, attribute information that relates to information processing operations to be performed before reaching a destination processor;
• a first translating processor structured and arranged to:
• translate the first data unit into a translated data unit that includes an attribute portion with layer three addressing information having information corresponding to the attribute information identified from within the payload information, and
• reverse translate the response to the translated data unit into a reverse translated response so that the terminal recognizes the response to the first data unit;
• a second communications interface structured and arranged to transmit the translated data unit to a host;
• and
• a third communications interface structured and arranged to receive a response to the translated data unit.

A method of translating information in a data unit, the method comprising:

• receiving from a terminal a first data unit with payload information;
• identifying, from within the payload information of the first data unit, attribute information that relates to information processing operations to be performed before reaching a destination processor;
• translating the first data unit into a translated data unit that includes an attribute portion with layer three addressing information and having information corresponding to the attribute information identified from within the payload information of the first data unit;
• transmitting the translated data unit to a host;
• receiving a response to the translated data unit;
• and
• reverse translating the response to the translated data unit into a reverse translated response so that the terminal recognizes the response to the first data unit.

A translating switch comprising:

• means for receiving from a terminal a first data unit with payload information;
• means for identifying, from within the payload information of the first data unit, attribute information that relates to information processing operations to be performed before reaching a destination processor;
• means for translating the first data unit into a translated data unit that includes an attribute portion with layer three addressing information and having information corresponding to the attribute information identified from within the payload information of the first data unit;
• means for transmitting the translated data unit to a host;
• means for receiving a response to the translated data unit;
• and
• means for reverse translating the response to the translated data unit into a reverse translated response so that the terminal recognizes the response to the first data unit.