Method and apparatus for processing data received at a remote workstation

• US 5,568,489 A
• Filed: 04/17/1995
• Issued: 10/22/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Remote Systems Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Remote Systems Company LLC
• Inventors: Stratigos, William N., Yien, Richard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOMERE, JEAN RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US08/424,152
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 395/600, 395/200.01, 370/110.1, 370/94.1, 370/85.13, 364/DIG. 2, 379/89, 379/93
• US Class Current: 709/247
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/904 Integrated Services Digital Network, ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/922 Communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

A method and apparatus for processing at a remote workstation, data files that are compressed and collected into groups on a local area network at a central location. The files of a group are transferred to the workstation over an ISDN switched telephone network in response to an automatic requests from the workstations. The workstation requests depend on the inventory of unprocessed files at the workstation as well as the time and date, in order to reduce the connection time. When files are received at the workstation the first is immediately decompressed and presented to the operator. In the meantime the next file which the operated is expected to need is decompressed in the background and is ready for processing as soon as the operator finishes with the first. When the operator switches to the next file the processing results are automatically saved and a further file is decompressed an held in a que for the operator.

Claims

1. A method of remotely processing data arranged into digital data files at a remote workstation over telephone lines, comprising the steps of:

digitally compressing the data into compressed data files at a central location;

selecting, according to first predetermined criteria, a group of said compressed data files;

transferring said group of compressed data files from said central location to the remote workstation;

receiving the group of compressed data files in digital form at the remote workstation and storing at least some of said compressed data files at the remote workstation;

decompressing a first of said compressed data files in the group at the remote workstation, based on second predetermined criteria, while receiving and storing other compressed data files; and

decompressing a second of said compressed data files in the group at the remote workstation, based on the second predetermined criteria, while the first uncompressed file is available for a user at the remote workstation to perform work related to it.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the work to be performed by the user related to the data files includes entering data into the workstation.

3. A method of processing compressed data files at a remote workstation, comprising the steps of:

receiving the compressed data files at the remote workstation;

storing at least part of the compressed data files at the remote workstation;

decompressing the first and second compressed data files in order as received without user intervention while other compressed data files are being stored at the remote workstation;

presenting the first decompressed file in a format to be processed while the second file is being decompressed;

subsequently a compressing and processing files according to a predefined criteria.

4. A system for processing at a remote workstation, data arranged into digital files at a central location, comprising:

means at the central location for digitally compressing the data into compressed data files;

selecting means at the central location for grouping the data files according to first predetermined criteria into a plurality of groups;

transfer means for transferring at least one of said groups of data files to the remote workstation in response to a request from the remote workstation;

first storing means for storing the compressed data files at the remote workstation; and

decompression means at the remote workstation for decompressing the compressed data files in the group transferred to the remote workstation in a sequence based on a second predetermined criteria, said decompression means causing a first decompressed file to be available for processing while at least one other data file is being decompressed and other data files are being transferred.

5. A workstation remote from a central location at which compressed data files are located, comprising:

means for requesting at least one group of compressed data files from the central location;

means for receiving a group of data files transferred in response to the request;

means for storing the compressed data files at the remote workstation; and

means for decompressing data files without user intervention in the group of transferred files in a sequence based on predetermined criteria, said decompressing means causing a first decompressed file to be available for processing while at least one other data file is being decompressed and other data files are being transferred.