Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer conferencing – Demand based messaging
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-19
2001-04-10
Vu, Viet D. (Department: 2758)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer conferencing
Demand based messaging
C709S217000, C709S227000, C709S241000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216156
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to communicators specifically configured for global network applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, personal computers have become common fixtures in many offices and homes. With the advent of widespread consumer access to the Internet and other global networks, the personal computer has become inter alia a communicator.
Nevertheless, there remains a substantial portion of the general population which could benefit from access to the Internet and which does not have access to a personal computer or for whom the use of a personal computer is not convenient or necessary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide a global network communicator which avoids limitations inherent in general purpose computers useful inter alia for this purpose.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a global network communicator including an application-specific communications device suitable substantially only for global network communications and comprising:
a global network application specific user interface;
network protocol processing circuitry operative for communication with the global network and for formatting data to a required protocol employed by the global network and for translating data received from the global network to a format acceptable to the user interface;
a communication line interface interconnecting the network protocol processing circuitry to the global network and including logical and physical interface apparatus; and
network access activation circuitry for initiating communication between the communicator and the global network.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the communication line interface may include modulation and demodulation apparatus for information transmitted to the global network and information received from the global network respectively.
The term “global network” as used herein is intended to refer to networks such as Internet, Compuserve and the like and to similar networks which may come into existence in the future.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the global network communicator may comprise apparatus for automatically operating the network access activation circuitry at predetermined times.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an automatic dedicated network communications downloader comprising:
communications circuitry including a network port arranged to be coupled to a network and a hard copy output port arranged to be coupled to a hard copy output device, the communications circuitry including:
polling apparatus for automatically polling a network via the network port to determine the presence of an incoming message for a user, and
output apparatus for automatically downloading an incoming message and outputting the incoming message via the hard copy output port to the hard copy output device.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a communications system comprising:
a network having a plurality of user ports;
a plurality of user stations; and
a hard copy output device;
at least one of the plurality of user stations comprising an automatic dedicated network communications downloader comprising:
communications circuitry including a network port arranged to be coupled to the network via a user port and a hard copy output port arranged to be coupled to the hard copy output device, the communications circuitry including:
polling apparatus for automatically polling a network via the network port to determine the presence of an incoming message for a user, and
output apparatus for automatically downloading an incoming message and outputting the incoming message via the hard copy output port to the hard copy output device.
There is additionally provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an automatic dedicated network communications downloading method comprising:
providing communications circuitry including a network port arranged to be coupled to a network and a hard copy output port arranged to be coupled to a hard copy output device;
automatically polling a network via the network port to determine the presence of an incoming message for a user, and
automatically downloading an incoming message and outputting the incoming message via the hard copy output port to the hard copy output device.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a communications method comprising:
providing a network having a plurality of user ports;
providing a plurality of user stations at least one of which having associated therewith a hard copy output device and an automatic dedicated network communications downloader comprising communications circuitry including a network port arranged to be coupled to the network via a user port and a hard copy output port arranged to be coupled to the hard copy output device;
automatically polling a network via the network port to determine the presence of an incoming message for a user, and
automatically downloading an incoming message and outputting the incoming message via the hard copy output port to the hard copy output device.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the automatic polling includes establishing communication with the network via a predetermined service provider.
There is further provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a communications system comprising:
a network having a plurality of user ports; and
a facsimile machine connected to one of the plurality of user ports,
an automatic dedicated network communications downloader associated with the facsimile machine and comprising:
communications circuitry including a network port arranged to be coupled to the network via the user port connected to the facsimile machine and a hard copy output port coupled to the facsimile machine, the communications circuitry including output apparatus for automatically downloading an incoming message and outputting the incoming message via the hard copy output port to the facsimile machine.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the downloader may also include polling apparatus for automatically polling a network via the network port to determine the presence of an incoming message for a user.
There is additionally provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an automatic dedicated network communications downloading method comprising:
providing communications circuitry including a network port arranged to be coupled to a network and via a user port connected to a facsimile machine and a hard copy output port coupled to the facsimile machine; and
automatically downloading an incoming message and outputting the incoming message via the hard copy output port to the facsimile machine.
The method may also include the step of automatically polling a network via the network port to determine the presence of an incoming message for a user.
There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a communications method comprising:
providing a network having a plurality of user ports;
providing a plurality of user stations at least one of which having associated therewith a facsimile machine and an automatic dedicated network communications downloader comprising communications circuitry including a network port coupled to the network via a user port and a hard copy output port coupled to the facsimile machine; and
automatically downloading an incoming message and outputting the incoming message via the hard copy output port to the facsimile machine.
The method may also include automatically polling a network via the network port to determine the presence of an incoming message for a user.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the automatic polling includes establishing commun
Connect One Ltd.
Darby & Darby
Vu Viet D.
LandOfFree
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