Electronic mail remote data transfer system
First Claim
1. For use with a computer having a modem for providing data transfer over a telephone line medium, apparatus for providing file data transfer comprising:
- means responsive to a telephone line ring signal providing an answer mode after a selected number of rings and providing a telephone line connection in said answer mode;
means responsive to a password signal from said telephone line communication providing a control signal upon receipt of a selected password;
means for providing power to said computer in response to said control signal; and
means responsive to said control signal to provide a local ringing signal to said modem in response to said control signal, whereinsaid modem becomes operable to receive data via said telephone line connection, upon modem answer of said local ringing signal, andsaid computer is adapted to provide a local data file and enable a file data transfer upon receipt of a selected alphanumeric caller ID and password combination.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus connecting and establishing a communication link between a local and a remote computer to provide transfer of data wherein the remote computer is activated by a control unit, identification and protocol established and data transferred, as may be applied to provide personal electronic mail service. The preferred embodiment interposes the control unit between a non-dedicated telephone line and a remotely located personal computer having a modem therein, wherein a computer power-switching relay is connected to the control unit and is energized upon recognition of a selected protocol as provided by selected program control of the originating computer, and the communications link established via program responses of the remote computer and programmed signal initialization and responses of both computers according to firmware in the controller. Thus, according to the present invention mail transfers to or from an unattended remotely controlled computer is provided by activating an unattended remote computer or interruption of ongoing remote computer operations, such as word processing at the remote computer. Furthermore, according to the present invention, two levels of access security are provided by the control unit without further encumbering the sequence and process of data transfer.
193 Citations
33 Claims
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1. For use with a computer having a modem for providing data transfer over a telephone line medium, apparatus for providing file data transfer comprising:
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means responsive to a telephone line ring signal providing an answer mode after a selected number of rings and providing a telephone line connection in said answer mode; means responsive to a password signal from said telephone line communication providing a control signal upon receipt of a selected password; means for providing power to said computer in response to said control signal; and means responsive to said control signal to provide a local ringing signal to said modem in response to said control signal, wherein said modem becomes operable to receive data via said telephone line connection, upon modem answer of said local ringing signal, and said computer is adapted to provide a local data file and enable a file data transfer upon receipt of a selected alphanumeric caller ID and password combination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Apparatus for providing remote initiation of a data transfer with a local computer via a communications line, comprising:
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means for sensing a ringing signal on communication line; means responsive to said sensed ringing signal for providing an answer condition after a selected number of rings wherein the ringing signal terminates and said communication line is in condition to transfer data thereon; a password decoder for providing an enable signal upon receipt of a selected password comprising a first data sequence; a local ringing signal generated for providing a local ringing signal to said local computer in response to said enable signal; and a power switch adapted to cause said local computer to become powered in response to said enable signal, wherein said local computer includes means responsive to said local ringing signal for providing an answer condition, said local ringing signal generator terminates said local ringing signal, when said means responsive to said local ringing signal answers so as to provide data transfer between said local computer and said communications line. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of providing data transfer between a local computer and a remote computer, comprising the steps of:
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establishing communications between said local computer and a remote computer control unit; transmitting a selected password from said local computer to said remote computer control unit; providing power to said remote computer upon receipt of said selected password; providing a local ringing signal to said remote computer from said remote computer control unit; answering said local ringing signal; executing a selected program in said remote computer to service said communications between said local computer and said remote computer upon answer of local ringing signal; respectively providing a selected alphanumeric ID password from said local computer after a carrier link is established and a prompt is issued by said remote computer; and providing a transfer of data between said local computer and said remote computer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of determining the status of a remotely located computer via a communication link, comprising the steps of:
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establishing communications with a remotely located computer control unit via said communications link; signalling said remotely located computer control unit with a selected password; signalling said remotely located computer control unit with a selected inquiry code; and returning a status signal in response to said selected inquiry code by said remotely located computer control unit, wherein the step of signaling comprises the step of signaling an interactive-mode password comprising on of a status and a command. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A signalling protocol for establishing a data route between a data sender and a data receiver via a communication path, comprising the steps of:
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providing a ringing signal from a first one of said data sender and said data receiver to a second one of said data sender and said data receiver; answering said ringing signal by said second one of said data sender and said data receiver; sending a selected password from said first one to said second one; responding to said selected password by a control unit at said second one by generating a ringing signal voltage and by sending an audible ringback signal to said first one; answering said ringing signal at said second one; sending an identification request prompt from said second one to said first one; responding to said prompt with a selected alphanumeric ID and password combination sent by said first one; and transferring data between said first one and said second one of said data sender and said data source.
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23. A method of providing selective signal transfer of data between a first and second computer, comprising the steps of:
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operating said first computer according to a data transfer initiate program; operating said second computer according to a data transfer response program; and installing a programmed controller between said first and second computers, wherein said programmed controller is responsive to signals provided by said first computer produced by said data initiate program, and said programmed controller provides access control in response to said signals produced by said data transfer initiate program by sending selective signals and power control to said second computer. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. For use with a computer having a modem for providing data transfer over a telephone line medium, apparatus for providing file data transfer comprising:
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means responsive to a telephone line ring signal providing an answer mode after a selected number of rings and providing a telephone line connection in said answer mode; means responsive to a password signal from said telephone line communication providing a control signal upon receipt of a selected password; and means responsive to said control signal to provide a local ringing signal to said modem in response to said control signal, wherein said modem becomes operable to receive data via said telephone line connection, upon modem answer of said local ringing signal, and said computer is adapted to provide a local data file and enable a file data transfer upon receipt of a selected alphanumeric ID and password combination.
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31. For use with a stored program computer having a modem for providing data transfer over a telephone line medium, apparatus for providing data transfer, comprising:
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means for providing a ring signal to said modem said ring signal having a cadence selectable according to a plurality of data transfer modes, wherein said cadence comprises selected durations of AC ring voltages present and absent; and means responsive to said cadence for providing computer control of data transfer according to said cadence. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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Specification