The IMS™ Assist module is a subroutine, called from an IMS MPP (server) that translates conventional IMS communication calls into the corresponding socket calls. Its use is optional. Its purpose is to shield the programmer from having to understand TCP/IP programming. To exchange data with the client, the server program issues traditional IMS message queue calls (GU, GN, ISRT). These calls are intercepted by the Assist module, which issues the appropriate socket calls.