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Fw: [Patents] EPO patent on terminal-to-multiple-hosts interfacing



Je ne résiste pas à ce forward... Bientôt un brevet sur le cri du
gorille disparu d'Angola.  Faites vos jeux, vote fin novembre.

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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.
     _________________________________________________________________
   
   Data supplied from the esp@cenet database - l2


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