Messaging interchange system

1. A method of processing a machine readable code to perform a desired function comprising:

a) reading with a client device a machine-readable code to obtain code data;

b) transmitting the code data from the client device to a home messaging system;

c) processing the code data at the home messaging system to determine if the code data is native to the home messaging system;

d) if the code data is native to the home messaging system, then the home messaging system further processing the code data by performing a function in accordance with the code data; and

e) if the code data is not native to the home messaging system, then:

i) the home messaging system transmitting a resolution request message to a messaging interchange system, the resolution request message comprising said code data;

ii) the messaging interchange system processing the resolution request message to determine routing information to a destination messaging system, wherein the code data is native to the destination messaging system;

iii) the messaging interchange system enabling transmission of the resolution request message to the destination messaging system;

iv) the destination messaging system analyzing the code data from the resolution request message and providing resolution response message for the home messaging system; and

v) the home messaging system receiving the resolution response message and performing a function in accordance therewith;

wherein the messaging interchange system enables transmission of the resolution request message to the destination messaging system by determining path information from the resolution request message, said path information indicating whether (A) the routing information should be returned to the home messaging system, or (B) the routing information should be used by the messaging interchange system for forwarding the resolution request message to the destination messaging system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein if the path information indicates that (A) the routing information should be returned to the home messaging system, then

i) the messaging interchange system transmitting a response message to the home messaging system, said response message comprising the routing information for the destination messaging system,

ii) the home messaging system using the routing information for the destination messaging system to send the resolution request message to the destination messaging system; and

iii) the destination messaging system providing a resolution response message for the home messaging system by transmitting the resolution response message directly to the home messaging system or client device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein if the path information indicates that (B) the routing information should be used by the messaging interchange system for forwarding the resolution request message to the destination messaging system, then

i) the messaging interchange system using the routing information for the destination messaging system to forward the resolution request message to the destination messaging system; and

ii) the destination messaging system provides a resolution response message for the home messaging system by transmitting the resolution response message to the messaging interchange system, and the messaging interchange system forwards the resolution response message to the home messaging system.

4. A method for a messaging interchange system to manage a plurality of independent messaging systems comprising:

a) receiving a resolution request message from a home messaging system, the resolution request message comprising code data obtained from a machine-readable code;

b) processing the resolution request message to determine:

i) routing information to a destination messaging system, wherein the code data is native to the destination messaging system, and

ii) path information indicating whether (A) the routing information should be returned to the home messaging system, or (B) the routing information should be used by the messaging interchange system for forwarding the resolution request message to the destination messaging system;

c) if the path information indicates that (A) the routing information should be returned to the home messaging system, then

(i) the messaging interchange system transmitting a response message to the home messaging system, said response message comprising the routing information for the destination messaging system, or

d) if the path information indicates that (B) the routing information should be used by the messaging interchange system for forwarding the resolution request message to the destination messaging system, then

(i) the messaging interchange system using the routing information for the destination messaging system to forward the resolution request message to the destination messaging system,

(ii) the messaging interchange system receiving a resolution response message from the destination messaging system, and

(iii) the messaging interchange system forwarding the resolution response message to the home messaging system or client device.

5. A system for processing a machine readable code to perform a desired function comprising a client device in communication with a home messaging system, a messaging interchange system in networked communication with the home messaging system, and a destination messaging system in networked communication with either or both of the home messaging system and the messaging interchange system; wherein:

a) the client device comprises input circuitry for reading a machine-readable code; and processing circuitry programmed for:

i) obtaining code data from said machine-readable code; and

ii) transmitting the code data to a home messaging system;

b) the home messaging system comprises processing circuitry programmed for:

i) analyzing the code data to determine if the code data is native to the home messaging system,

ii) performing a function in accordance with the code data if the code data is native, to the home messaging system;

iii) it the code data is not native to the home messaging system, then transmitting a resolution request message to a messaging interchange system, the resolution request message comprising said code data;

c) the messaging interchange system comprises processing circuitry programmed for:

i) analyzing the resolution request message to determine routing information to a destination messaging system, wherein the code data is native to the destination messaging system; and

ii) enabling transmission of the resolution request message to the destination messaging system;

d) the destination messaging system comprises processing circuit programmed for:

i) analyzing the code data from the resolution request message and providing a resolution response message for the home messaging system; and

e) the processing circuitry of the home messaging system is further programmed for receiving the resolution response message and performing a function in accordance therewith;

wherein the processing circuitry of the messaging interchange system is programmed for enabling transmission of the resolution request message to the destination messaging system by determining path information from the resolution request message, said path information indicating whether (A) the routing information should be returned to the home messaging system, or (B) the routing information should be used by the messaging interchange system for forwarding the resolution request message to the destination messaging system.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein

the processing circuitry of the messaging interchange system is further programmed to, if the path information indicates that (A) the routing information should be returned to the home messaging system, transmit a response message to the home messaging system, said response message comprising the routing information for the destination messaging system;

the processing circuitry of the home messaging system is further programmed to use the routing information for the destination messaging system to send the resolution request message to the destination messaging system; and

the processing circuitry of the destination messaging system is programmed for providing a resolution response message for the home messaging system by transmitting the resolution response message directly to the home messaging system or client device.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein:

the processing circuitry of the messaging interchange system is further programmed to, if the path information indicates that (B) the routing information should be used by the messaging interchange system for forwarding the resolution request message to the destination messaging system, then using the routing information for the destination messaging system to forward the resolution request message to the destination messaging system; and

the processing circuitry of the destination messaging system is programmed for providing a resolution response message for the home messaging system by transmitting the resolution response message to the messaging interchange system, and the messaging interchange system forwards the resolution response message to the home messaging system.

8. A messaging interchange system for managing a plurality of independent messaging systems, comprising processing circuitry programmed for:

a) determining, from a resolution request message received from a home messaging system and comprising code data obtained from a machine-readable code,

i) routing information to a destination messaging system, wherein the code data is native to the destination messaging system, and

ii) path information indicating whether (A) the routing information should be returned to the home messaging system, or (B) the routing information should be used by the messaging interchange system for forwarding the resolution request message to the destination messaging system;

b) if the path information indicates that (A) the routing information should be returned to the home messaging system, then

i) transmitting a response message to the home messaging system, said response message comprising the routing information for the destination messaging system, or

c) if the path information indicates that (B) the routing information should be used by the messaging interchange system for forwarding the resolution request message to the destination messaging system, then

i) using the routing information for the destination messaging system to forward the resolution request message to the destination messaging system,

ii) receiving a resolution response message from the destination messaging system, and

iii) forwarding the resolution response message to the home messaging system or client device.