Telephonic communications – Telephone line or system combined with diverse electrical... – Having transmission of a digital message signal over a...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-25
2001-05-15
Kuntz, Curtis (Department: 2643)
Telephonic communications
Telephone line or system combined with diverse electrical...
Having transmission of a digital message signal over a...
C379S093050, C379S093020
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233321
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This patent application discloses subject matter that is disclosed and may be claimed in copending U.S. patent applications having Ser. Nos. 09/160,871; 09/160,959; 09/161,110; 09/160,749 all filed on even date herewith.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a system for exchanging data between a terminal and access means via a telephone network, which terminal comprises
a line-interface to be coupled to said telephone network,
a processor coupled to said line-interface, and
a terminal-memory coupled to said processor, which access means comprise
at least one access point to be coupled to said telephone network, and
at least one server to be coupled to said access point via a data connection.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Such a system, with said terminal for example being a personal computer, with said access means for example being formed by an access provider and a service provider, and with said telephone network being for example an analog or an ISDN network, is of common general knowledge. Said line-interface comprises for example a modem card or an ISDN board, and said terminal-memory comprises for example a harddisk drive and/or a floppydisk drive. In case a user wants new information, he must contact for example INTERNET, and if he needs further or new software, he must contact said server.
This system is disadvantageous, inter alia, because of requiring a high skill level from the user.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is an object of the invention, inter alia, to provide a system as defined in the preamble, which does not require such a high skill level from the user.
Thereto, the system according to the invention is characterized in that the system is provided with a self-triggering mechanism for triggering said system for exchanging data via a connection between said terminal and said access means.
By using the self-triggering mechanism, the system itself can establish that for example new information has arrived or new software should be installed, and then for example make said connection and exchange the data.
The invention is based on the insight, inter alia, that both said terminal and said access means comprise processors, with which automatic actions are possible.
The invention solves the problem, inter alia, of reducing the user's skill level necessary for using the system by introducing the self-triggering mechanism.
A first embodiment of the system according to the invention is characterized in that said self-triggering mechanism is located in said terminal (pulling).
By locating the self-triggering mechanism in the terminal, the terminal decides when action will take place, thereby avoiding the situation that the server tries to contact a terminal which is busy.
A second embodiment of the system according to the invention is characterized in said self-triggering mechanism is located in said access means (pushing).
By locating the self-triggering mechanism in the access means, the access means, which have access to all information and usually have more processor capacity, decide when action will take place.
A third embodiment of the system according to the invention is characterized in that said access means comprise generation means coupled to said self-triggering mechanism for generating an indication signal to be supplied to said telephone network for transmission to said terminal via a signalling signal.
In this case the terminal can be informed in a very efficient way via said signalling signal, which in case of a public switch telephone network (PSTN) for example is in the form of so-called calling line identification (to be transmitted after the first ring and before a possible second ring) and which in case of ISDN for example is transmitted via the so-called D-channel.
A fourth embodiment of the system according to the invention is characterized in that said data to be exchanged comprises information.
In this case information about for example the weather forecast is exchanged, for example each twelve hours.
A fifth embodiment of the system according to the invention is characterized in that said data to be exchanged comprises software.
In this case for example new software for updating old software is exchanged, for example each month, or when ready.
The invention further relates to a terminal for exchanging data with access means via a telephone network, which terminal comprises
a line-interface to be coupled to said telephone network,
a processor coupled to said line-interface, and
a terminal-memory coupled to said processor, which access means comprise
at least one access point to be coupled to said telephone network, and
at least one server to be coupled to said access point via a data connection.
The terminal according to the invention is characterized in that the terminal comprises a self-triggering mechanism for triggering said system for exchanging data via a connection between said terminal and said access means.
A first embodiment of the terminal according to the invention is characterized in that said self-triggering mechanism comprises a clock.
By installing a clock function into said terminal the triggering becomes dependent upon time.
A second embodiment of the terminal according to the invention is characterized in that said self-triggering mechanism comprises a comparator.
By installing a comparator function into said terminal the triggering becomes dependent upon a comparison of for example a code associated with software installed in said terminal (indicating a software-version) and a code originating from said access means which is associated with software present in said access means (and indicating a software-version).
The invention yet further relates to access means for exchanging data with a terminal via a telephone network, which terminal comprises
a line-interface to be coupled to said telephone network,
a processor coupled to said line-interface, and
a terminal-memory coupled to said processor, which access means comprise
at least one access point to be coupled to said telephone network, and
at least one server to be coupled to said access point via a data connection.
The access means according to the invention are characterized in that the access means comprise comprises a self-triggering mechanism for triggering said system for exchanging data via a connection between said terminal and said access means.
A first embodiment of the access means according to the invention is characterized in that said access means comprise generation means coupled to said self-triggering mechanism for generating an indication signal to be supplied to said telephone network for transmission to said terminal via a signalling signal.
A second embodiment of the access means according to the invention is characterized in that said self-triggering mechanism comprises a clock.
A third embodiment of the access means according to the invention is characterized in that said self-triggering mechanism comprises a comparator.
All references including further references cited with respect to and/or inside said references are considered to be incorporated in this patent application.
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Guichard Pascal
Maier Denise
Alcatel
Kuntz Curtis
Ramakrishnaiah Melur
LandOfFree
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