Diagnostic display terminal system

• US 4,425,625 A
• Filed: 06/12/1979
• Issued: 01/10/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Data General Corp. (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Data General Corp. (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Seligman, Lawrence, Perron, Ralph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Heckler, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US06/047,751
• Time in Patent Office: 1,673 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 364/120, 371/16, 371/17, 179/2 DP, 179/2 AS, 179/2 TV, 358/85, 358/903, 358/84
• US Class Current: 379/93.31
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/153 using cathode-ray tubes

Abstract

A diagnostic display terminal system for remotely troubleshooting hardware, software and operational malfunctions in a computer over telephone lines includes a user-site diagnostic display terminal assembly and a support-site diagnostic display terminal assembly. Each diagnostic display terminal assembly includes a microprocessor controlled display terminal, a telephone instrument and a split baud rate modem, the modem serving to interface the display terminal and the telephone instrument to a telephone line. The system provides alternate voice and data communication between the user-site and the support-site and permits almost instantaneous change-over between voice and data. The telephone link effectively merges the two display terminals together in that each display terminal can monitor the actions of the other and that each display terminal can run all programs executable at the user-site display terminal. When not being used for diagnostic purposes, the display terminal at the user-site functions as a conventional display terminal.

Claims

1. A display terminal system comprising:

(a) a user-site display terminal assembly, said user-site display terminal assembly including;

(i) a microprocessor controlled display terminal, said display terminal having an alpha-numeric keyboard, a micro CPU, a video monitor, a first port for connecting said display terminal to a computer and a second port,

(ii) a telephone instrument, and

(iii) a modem coupled to said second port of said display terminal and said telephone instrument for interfacing said display terminal and said telephone instrument to a telephone line, and

(b) a support-site display terminal assembly, said support-site display terminal assembly including;

(i) a microprocessor controlled display terminal having an alpha-numeric keyboard, a port, a micro CPU, and a video monitor,

(ii) a telephone instrument, and

(iii) a modem coupled to said display terminal through said port and said telephone instrument for interfacing said microprocessor controlled display terminal and said telephone instrument to said same telephone line,

(c) said modems being split baud rate modems and being constructed so as to enable switching between voice and data modes of operation and such that inputs entered by either display terminal appear on both display terminals when a telephone link is established between said terminal assemblies over said telephone line, said modem in said user-site dislay terminal assembly including a 2400 baud transmitter and a 0-150 baud receiver and said modem in said support-site display terminal assembly including a 0-150 baud transmitter and a 2400 baud receiver.