Method and videotex apparatus for fast access of remotely located information

• US 4,814,972 A
• Filed: 11/04/1986
• Issued: 03/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keycom Electronic Publishing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Keycom Electronic Publishing Incorporated
• Inventors: Ray, Thomas R., Winter, Peter M., Burkhardt, Mary E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zache, Raulfe B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Application Number:
  US06/926,986
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS FIle, 358/86, 358/84, 358/147, 379/95, 379/96, 379/97, 379/98
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/085 using a television receiver, e.g. viewdata system

Abstract

The method and apparatus enables a terminal to access a computer located at a distance therefrom by an uncomplicated, easy-to-understand, log-on procedure. The system includes a group of terminals which are each able to access a host computer. If desired, the host computer is, in turn, adapted to extend the communication path from the terminal, through the host computer, to the remotely located service computer. The user can establish the communication path to the host computer by a single activation of a terminal key. By activating a single other key, the path is then extended from the host computer to the service computer. The activation of a single further key causes the execution of a selected program.

Claims

1. An information retrieval system, comprising;

a group of terminals;

each one of said terminals including a set of user-actuable individual input command devices, for initiating or terminating the use of the terminal;

each one of said terminals further including a set of user-actuable individual input service devices, for enabling a user of the terminal to initiate selected service functions;

a remotely located host computer for processing information received from the terminals;

each one of said terminals further including control means for establishing a communication path from the terminal to said host computer by the actuation of a single one of said input command devices;

a plurality of remotely located service computers;

said host computer having means for extending a gateway path from said communication path via said host computer to a selected one of said service computers by the actuation of a single one of said input service devices;

said control means including means for causing terminal identification information to be sent over the established communication path to said host computer to enable said host computer to identify a calling one of said terminals;

said control means further including means for causing identification information indicative of a selected one of said service computers to be transferred via said communication path to said host computer, for enabling said host computer to cause the establishment of said gateway path; and

wherein said communication path and said gateway path comprise a continuous uninterrupted path extending between a given one of said terminals and a selected one of said service computer so that said terminal and said service computer can interactively communicate with one another via said communication path and said gateway path.

2. An information retrieval system according to claim 1, wherein each one of said terminals has a second single input device and second control means responsive to activation of the second input single device for causing call processing information to be sent from the terminal on the established communication path to the host computer.

3. An information retrieval system according to claim 2, wherein eachone of said terminals farther includes a plurality of manaul input devices wherein the activation of a single one of which causing a special page request message to be sent to the host computer, said special page request message causing the hose computer to call said special page information stored in the host computer and containing a mark information for causing the host computer to call a special program stored in the host computer, said host computer being responsive thereto to transfer said special page information to the terminal requesting it and to activate the corresponding special program stored in the host computer to enable it to interact with the terminal via the established communication path.

4. An information retrieval system according to claim 3, wherein said control means includes a microprocessor.

5. An information retrieval system, comprising:

a group of terminals;

a plurality of remotely located service computers to be communicated with from the terminals; and

a remotely located host computer for processing information received from the terminals via selectively established communication paths, said host computer having means for extending a gateway path from such a selectively established communication path via said host computer to a selected one of said service computers so that a terminal can interactively communicate with a selected one of the service computers;

each one of said terminals having at least one single input device and control means responsive to activation of the input device for being activated to cause a page request message to be sent to the host computer, said page request message causing the host computer to call a page information stored in the host computer and containing a mark information for causing the host computer to call a special program stored in the host computer, said host computer being responsive thereto to transfer said page information to the terminal requesting it and to activate the special program stored in the host computer to enable the host computer to interact with the terminal via the established communication path.

6. An information retrieval system according to claim 5, wherein said control means includes a microprocessor.

7. A method of retrieving information comprising the steps of:

using a group of videotex terminals, wherein each one of said videotex terminals includes a set of user-actuable individual input command devices and input service devices;

initiating selected command functions;

initiating selected service functions;

using a remotely located housed computer;

establishing a communication path from a selected one of said videotex terminals to said host computer by the actuation of a single input command device;

using a plurality of remotely located service computers;

extending a gateway path from said communication path via said host computer to a selected one of said service computers, by the actuation of a single input service device;

sending videotex terminal identification information via said established communication path to said host computer, in response to the activation of said single device of the videotex terminal; and

extending a gateway communication path from said host computer to a selected service computer in response to said videotex terminal identification information so that the videotex terminal can communicate with the selected one of said service computers.