Abstract: A communication system in which client and server communication systems are coupled over a data network. A request to communicate with one of the server communication systems is accepted and based on an identification of the server communication system in the request, one of a set of transport layer protocols is selected for communication between the client and server systems. The set of transport layer protocols can be determined by retrieving information from a directory service computer, such as an Internet Domain Name Server (DNS), where the address of the directory service computer is related to the identification of the server communication system. In addition, the server communication system can include an address translation table that associates a network address provided by a client communication system with local network addresses of server computers.

Abstract: A communication system in which client and server communication systems are coupled over a data network. A request to communicate with one of the server communication systems is accepted and based on an identification of the server communication system in the request, one of a set of transport layer protocols is selected for communication between the client and server systems. The set of transport layer protocols can be determined by retrieving information from a directory service computer, such as an Internet Domain Name Server (DNS), where the address of the directory service computer is related to the identification of the server communication system. In addition, the server communication system can include an address translation table that associates a network address provided by a client communication system with local network addresses of server computers.

Abstract: A communication system for improving communication over a data network between an application and remote systems where each of the remote systems is configured to communicate using at least one of multiple transport layer communication protocols. The communication system accepts a request from the application to communicate with one of the remote systems, selects a transport layer communication protocols for communicating with the requested remote system, and communicates using the selected transport protocol with the requested system. In addition, the system may select one of multiple network layer communication protocols to communicate with the requested remote system. The application may be configured to communicate using a first of the transport protocols and request to communicate with a remote system using that first protocol, while the selected protocol may be another protocol.

Abstract: When establishing a communication path between a client system and a server system which are coupled over a data network, the client system accesses distributed directory information in order to determine whether a communication path to the server computer can use an enhanced communication approach, such as an enhanced transport or application layer protocol, and to obtain an address of a second server system which will provide communication services needed to communicate using the enhanced communication approach. By using distributed information, and in particular by distributing the information at the server systems themselves, the invention reduces or eliminates the reliance on critical points of failure or congestion, such as a Internet Domain Name Server (DNS) or a centralized repository of information related to the enhanced communication.