Platform independent data communication system and method

Claim 1

In a method of accomplishing data communications in a system which is portable to a plurality of computer operating environments, said system including a manager for controlling the passage of a datacomm message within said system and a plurality of communication paths, a method of dynamically configuring a communication path by a user, said method comprising the steps of: a) requesting said manager to configure said communication path by a user; b) said manager acquiring a list of protocol modifier programs and protocol interface programs that comprise said communication path; c) said manager storing said list of protocol modifier programs and protocol interface programs as part of the path configuration; d) said manager calling a next program configured in said list of protocol modifier programs and protocol interface programs with a configuration request; e) said next program executing a sequence of configuration steps; f) said next program notifying said manager when said configuration steps are complete; g) repeating said steps c, d, and e until all programs configured in said communication path have been called whereby a configured communication path is provided for inter-process communication between a plurality of application programs; and h) generating a key to identify said configured communication path.