Abstract: A transaction routing system that includes a communication gateway is provided. The communication gateway receives transaction data from at least one transaction terminal and determines whether to route the transaction data to an international host server or to a local host server. The decision is based on a capability of the communication gateway to route the transaction data to the international host server.

Abstract: A transaction routing system is described. The system includes a communication gateway linked to at least one transaction terminal and at least one host server. The communication gateway determines whether to perform an authentication procedure during a call session. Based on a result of the authentication procedure, at least one proceeding step is determined. A method for ensuring enhanced security during transaction routing is also provided.

Abstract: A secure transaction routing system, which includes a transaction terminal for generating a routing type based on a message received from a transaction instrument, is provided. Many host servers that link to the transaction terminal through one or more communication gateways are also included. The communication gateways route a call session to at least one of the many host servers based on the routing type.

Abstract: A method for transaction routing is provided. The method begins by initiating a call session at a transaction terminal and routing the call session from the transaction terminal to a first communication gateway over a secure public network. A routing condition is determined at the first communication gateway. Based on the routing condition, the call session is routed to a second communication gateway or is conducted at the first communication gateway. A transaction routing system operating on the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for providing a persistent network session is disclosed. The method includes conducting a first session between a terminal and a server via a communication gateway. The first session includes a session between the communication gateway and the server. The method also includes issuing a notification to the communication gateway to continue a session between the terminal and the communication gateway upon closure of the first session.

Abstract: Upon receiving (101) an OCSP response as corresponds to a remote-location Internet Protocol-based authorization terminal to use with respect to a secure connection with the remote-location Internet Protocol-based authorization terminal, one automatically caches (102) the OCSP response in a cache and thereby renders the OCSP response available to use when facilitating a subsequent secure connection with the remote-location Internet Protocol-based authorization terminal.

Abstract: A transaction data processing node (200) can determine (101) that an opportunity to resume a secure connection with a remote-location Internet Protocol-based authorization terminal (204) is at least about to conclude and then automatically initiate (102) a new secure connection with the remote-location Internet Protocol-based authorization terminal notwithstanding that no current communication needs for such a connection exist. So configured, a new secure connection will more likely be available should the remote-location Internet Protocol-based authorization terminal have a corresponding need for such a secure connection.

Abstract: A platform (200) having a default password and a presently used password stored therein receives (101) data from a portable physical data carrier and extracts (102) information comprising a unique code and a count as correspond to the platform. When a comparison (104) of the code and the count with corresponding information in the platform is favorable, the platform then resets (106) the presently used password to the default password. To facilitate the provision of such a portable physical data carrier, upon detecting (301) a need to reset this presently assigned password at a remotely located platform to a default password, the aforesaid unique code and count are recovered (302, 303) and placed (305) on the portable physical data carrier along with an instruction regarding resetting of the presently used password. That portable physical data carrier can then be physically forwarded (306) to that platform to facilitate the foregoing steps.

Abstract: An Internet Protocol-compatible network element (100) provides PIN encryption key information to a PIN enabled device (102) and then receives from that PIN enabled device a message that comprises both information regarding a transaction to be authorized as well as encrypted information that comprises a corresponding PIN that has been encrypted using the PIN encryption key information. The Internet Protocol-compatible network element then decrypts the encrypted information to provide a recovered PIN and forwards the information regarding the transaction along with the recovered PIN to a transaction authorization host (103) that comprises a discrete network element with respect to the Internet Protocol-compatible network element.

Abstract: Generally speaking, pursuant to these various embodiments, a network element (such as, but not limited to, a gateway) can use (101) a first communication resource to support an application communication session with a first communication platform. By one approach this application communication session is not native to the first communication resource. The network element then uses (102) a second communication resource to at least attempt to extend the application communication session to a second communication platform. By these teachings, when this attempt fails, the network element nevertheless automatically provides (104) a second communication platform application communication session-compatible message to the first communication platform as though the attempt to extend the application communication session to the second communication platform had succeeded.

Abstract: In a packet-based communications network, where proxy servers guide the routing of requests and responses between destinations to aid in establishing the flow of voice or other media streams between the destinations, and where at least some destinations are assigned an IP or other network address and a telephone number or other symbolic address, a system for establishing the routing of the media streams that comprises at least one directory database associating at least some destination network addresses with symbolic addresses and, in at least some cases, also with media type and format or CODEC capability information combined with at least one proxy server connecting to the directory database. Programs within the proxy server cause the proxy server, in response to receiving a given request which contains a symbolic address, to route the given received request to a destination whose network address the directory database associates with the symbolic address contained in the given received request.

Abstract: A plurality of socket connections (comprising, at least in part, Layer 3 Internet Protocol connections) are established (101) and the aggregated (102) with respect to those Layer 3 Internet Protocol connections. In a preferred approach this does not comprise aggregating the socket connections with respect to any corresponding Layer 2 connections. Also in a preferred approach this aggregation comprises translating any of a variety of differing transaction protocols as are employed by various point-of-service terminals into a host-compatible transaction protocol.

Abstract: An apparatus (50), such as a transaction gateway, receives (11) a communication that corresponds to one or more transactions. This communication comprises at least one data packet that may comprise either a single data frame or a plurality of data frames as correspond to such a transaction. When the data packet comprises only a single data frame, a first course of action is taken (13). When the data packet comprises a plurality of data frames, a second course of action is taken (14). In a preferred approach, the second course of action comprises, at least in part, converting (33) the data packet into a plurality of data packets that each comprise only an individual data frame.

Abstract: An initial call is setup by a universal port user agent by sending an invitation to the proxy server. The proxy server performs a directory lookup from a back end server to obtain route information to a destination. The route information is passed to the universal port user agent in response and is stored in the universal port user agent. When subsequent calls to the same destination are requested, the subsequent calls can be setup using the stored route information. A universal port user agent performs these call setups. The route information memory is managed based on a number of routes stored and the age of the stored routes. In certain embodiments the calls are setup using the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

Abstract: Unicast delivery of media to multiple recipients is achieved. An originating client issues call setup request. A list of addresses of multiple recipient clients is obtained from the call setup request. A connection is then made with the plurality of recipient clients and the media is delivered from the originating client to the plurality of recipient clients. A universal user port agent receives the list of addresses from the originating client and makes the connection with the plurality of recipient clients. When an originating client receives a reply message that a recipient client is unavailable, it may be built with the capability to search for alternate addresses and send a new call setup request.