Collection of messages from data terminals using different protocols and formats
First Claim
1. In a polling system wherein each of a plurality of terminals (102, 103) is sequentially selected to communicate with a common station (104) in response to selection signals, the station including means (201, 203) for determining the terminal to be selected and signaling and signal responsive means (206, 207, 106) for transmitting the selection signals to select the determined terminal and for communicating with the terminal thus selected,characterized in thatthe common station further includes memory means (202) for storing instructions defining a first and second communication procedure individually used for selecting different ones of the terminals, means (201) responsive to the determining means for accessing the memory means to obtain the instructions defining the procedure individual to the terminal to be selected, and means (201, 206, 207) responsive to the accessed instructions for controlling the signaling and signal responsive means to transmit the selection signals in accordance with the communication procedure defined thereby.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A central controller (104) for a multipoint polling system arranged to collect inquiry messages from data terminals (102a-n, 103a-n) for processing by a data base (101) and for distributing response messages to the terminals, the several terminals using different communication protocols. The controller includes a RAM memory (203) which stores a list of items, each item identifying a terminal and the type of protocol used thereby, a ROM memory (202) which stores an instruction set for each protocol type and a microprocessor (201) which sequentially accesses each item on the list to poll the associated terminal and accesses the instruction set identified in the item to control sending and receiving equipment to query and intercommunicate with the selected terminal in accordance with the accessed instructions.
68 Citations
15 Claims
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1. In a polling system wherein each of a plurality of terminals (102, 103) is sequentially selected to communicate with a common station (104) in response to selection signals, the station including means (201, 203) for determining the terminal to be selected and signaling and signal responsive means (206, 207, 106) for transmitting the selection signals to select the determined terminal and for communicating with the terminal thus selected,
characterized in that the common station further includes memory means (202) for storing instructions defining a first and second communication procedure individually used for selecting different ones of the terminals, means (201) responsive to the determining means for accessing the memory means to obtain the instructions defining the procedure individual to the terminal to be selected, and means (201, 206, 207) responsive to the accessed instructions for controlling the signaling and signal responsive means to transmit the selection signals in accordance with the communication procedure defined thereby.
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13. In a polling system including a plurality of data terminals and a common station including signaling and signal responsive means for communicating with the terminals, a method of sequentially selecting each terminal for communication therewith alternatively using a first and second communication procedure appropriate for the terminal, comprising the steps of:
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storing a list of items, each item identifying an individual one of the terminals to be selected; storing a first and second set of instructions individually defining the communication procedure appropriate for the signaling and signal responsive means to communicate with a terminal using the first and second communication procedure; sequentially accessing each item of the stored list and determining the terminal to be selected for communication; accessing the stored instructions to obtain the set defining the communication procedure appropriate to communicate with the selected terminal; and controlling the signaling and signal responsive means to communicate selection signals for individually selecting the terminal determined by the accessed stored item in accordance with the communication procedure defined by the accessed set of instructions. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification