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- To: patents@aful.org
- Subject: [Patents] EPO patent on terminal-to-multiple-hosts interfacing
- From: PILCH Hartmut <phm@a2e.de>
- Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2000 01:56:30 +0100 (CET)
- Message-id: <Pine.LNX.4.21.0011080152360.6931-100000@wtao97.oas.a2e.de>
EP0529915
Voice processing interface for a computer
IBM (US)
Claims
1. A method for operating an interface processor to provide access to
applications running on a plurality of host processors, each said host
processor communicating with said interface processor by providing
screens to said interface processor, comprising the steps of:
(a) establishing at least one virtual terminal session with each said
host processor and initializing said applications running on said host
processor to ready them for further commands;
(b) responding to a user request that requires a process to be
performed by an application, by accessing a virtual terminal session
with a host processor on which said application is running, entering
user data in a stored screen from said application and transmitting
said data to said host processor, whereby said host processor
immediately processes said data; and
(c) receiving a screen from said host processor containing data for
said user, and transmitting said data to said user, whereby said
interface processor enables a plurality of host processors to rapidly
respond to user-supplied data without requiring modification of host
processor-controlling software.
This claim seems to cover almost any form of interfacing between a
terminal and multiple hosts that run on independent systems.
The following subclaims are more specific, but still don't teach how to
solve problems but rather serve to occupy whole problems, as more
than 90% of all EPO software patent claims seem to do.
2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein step (b) includes the
further steps of: creating a table of host application/virtual
terminal sessions; updating said table to indicate available host
application/virtual terminal sessions; and choosing from said table,
an available host application/virtual terminal session in response to
said user data, whereby said user data may be directed to an available
host application virtual terminal session that is not already busy.
3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, responsive to the
provision by said user in step (b) of a plurality of input data that
require a plurality of applications, including the further steps of:
accessing a plurality of virtual terminal sessions, one for each said
user-supplied input data, and wherein step (c) extracts data from
screens returned by said each application and provides said data to
the user in response to said user data inputs.
4. A method as claimed in Claim 3 wherein said input data is received
by telephone in the form of multiple data inputs in a single call,
said multiple data inputs requiring multiple applications for
response.
5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim including the further
step of: providing a refresh input to each said virtual terminal
session and connected host processor, whereby a said application on
said processor is maintained in an initialized state.
6. An interface processor for processing user telephone inquiries by
accessing applications running on a plurality of connected host
processors, each host processor communicating with said interface
processor through provided screens, said interface processor
comprising: channel process means for interacting with said user,
receiving a said user input, and providing a voice response to said
user; virtual terminal means for establishing a plurality of virtual
terminal sessions, at least one session with each said host processor,
initializing an application on each said host processor, and storing
an initial screen from each said application; and executor means
responsive to a user input from a said channel process means, to
operate over an available virtual terminal session and communicate
with an initialized application and to provide screen data that
includes user data, to a said application, and for receiving a screen
with user data from said application in response and to provide said
user data to said channel process means, whereby said channel process
means responds to said user with said user data.
7. A processor as claimed in Claim 6 further comprising: table means
including a listing of host application/virtual terminal sessions; and
control means for examining said table means and assigning an
available virtual terminal session in response to a user inquiry.
8. A processor as claimed in Claim 7 wherein said control means
provides periodic inputs to said virtual terminal sessions to maintain
said applications on said host processors in their initialized state
in the event any said application is not accessed by a user inquiry
within a predetermined time period.
9. A processor as claimed in Claim 8 wherein said channel process
means includes voice response capability that orally responds to user
initiated telephone inquiries.
10. A processor as claimed in Claim 9 wherein said executor means
responds to a user input requiring a plurality of applications, by
assigning to said user input a plurality of virtual terminal sessions
with applications required to respond to said multiple inquiries.
11. A processor as claimed in Claim 8 wherein said executor means
executes a stored script and transfers data received in a screen from
a host processor over one virtual terminal session, into a screen for
transmission to a host processor over another virtual terminal
session.
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Data supplied from the esp@cenet database - l2
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