Apparatus for downloading macro programs and executing a downloaded macro program responding to activation of a single key

• US 4,935,870 A
• Filed: 08/03/1988
• Issued: 06/19/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Keycom Electronic Publishing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Keycom Electronic Publishing Incorporated
• Inventors: Fries, Christopher, Winter, Peter M., Burk, J. Robert Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Application Number:
  US07/227,792
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200, 364/900, 370/58, 340/365 VL, 340/712
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/085 using a television receiver, e.g. viewdata system

Abstract

Apparatus for downloading videotex information via a host computer includes a group of local terminals installed at a variety of locations. The terminals receive and store macro programs from the host computer. The local terminal then activates the macro programs via a set of function input devices, which generate macro program activating signals.

Claims

1. An information retrieval videotex system, comprising:

a host computer;

terminal means including a group of terminals and communication means for connecting selectively the group of terminals to said host computer via communication paths;

a group of service computers located remotely to the host computer, said host computer having sitching means for extending selectively the communication paths from the terminals via gateway paths to selected ones of the service computers;

each one of said terminals having means for requesting macro programs to be downloaded from said host computer to the terminal via a selected communication path for storage therein;

each one of said terminals having memory means for storing requested macro programs downloaded thereto from the host computer via said selected communication path;

each one of said terminals having means responsive to the storing of downloaded macro programs received via said selected communication path from said host computer for disconnecting selectively the terminal from said selected communication path;

each one of said terminals having processing means;

each one of said terminals having a group of individual function input devices for activating said stored macro programs so that one of said macro programs is executed by said processing means in response to a macro activating input signal generated by the activation of a single one of said input devices without further input communication from said host computer;

each one of said terminals having means responsive to the activation of one of the stored macro programs for reconnecting selectively terminal to be selectively reconnected to said host computer via a selected communication path; and

each one of said terminals having means responsive to the reconnection of the terminal for sending information generated by the activated macro program to a selected service computer via the gateway path established by said host computer.

2. An information retrieval videotex system according to claim 1, wherein said each one of terminals further includes logic means responsive to said input signals for displaying page information.

3. An information retrieval videotex system according to claim 2, wherein said logic means sends program activation information to the host computer in response to the absence of a macro program in said memory means.

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

5. An information retrieval videotex system according to claim 4, wherein said input means includes keys.