interwork

Interwork, or interworking, is the practice of enabling different systems, networks, or technologies to operate together. It refers to the processes, standards, and architectures that allow data, services, or functions to be exchanged and understood across otherwise incompatible platforms.

In telecommunications, interworking describes bridging networks that use different signaling and media protocols. This often involves interworking gateways or protocol translators that convert messages and media formats so that calls, messaging, or other services can traverse disparate networks, such as traditional PSTN systems and IP-based networks, or different mobile core networks and the Internet.

In computing and information technology, interworking emphasizes software interoperability and the ability of applications to communicate through common interfaces. Middleware, service-oriented architectures, and standardized data formats (for example, XML or JSON) enable applications from different vendors to integrate and share functions and data.

In the Internet of Things, interworking enables devices and platforms from multiple manufacturers to exchange data and coordinate actions, despite differing device protocols, data models, and security requirements.

Common mechanisms include gateways and mediating components that perform protocol translation, data transformation, and mapping between schemas or vocabularies. Standards bodies such as ITU-T, IETF, 3GPP, and IEEE develop guidelines to facilitate interworking, along with associated protocols like SIP, SS7, MAP, and Diameter.

Benefits of interworking include broader service reach, vendor neutrality, and increased reuse of existing components. Challenges involve maintaining compatibility across versions, managing latency, and addressing security and privacy risks.