The invention provides for the connection of a plurality of remote
applications with a data source, to maximize the speed and reliability of
data transfer. An interface module interfaces with a remote application
such as a web browser. A port module interfaces between interface module
and a data source. A connection manager facilitates the interface between
the interface module and the port module. The connection manager
establishes a direct connection between the interface module and the port
module by determining which port modules are associated with each data
source and storing a data source identifier in a data structure. The
connection manager also identifies each port module by a port module
identifier and storing the port module identifier in a data structure.
The connection manager returns a port module identifier for an available
port module to the interface module for directly connecting the interface
module and the port module and thus the data source.