Telecommunication system for automatic switching between voice and visual data communications using forms

• US 5,583,922 A
• Filed: 04/05/1995
• Issued: 12/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rocket Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Radio Communications System Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Richard A., Brittain, Anthony J., Davis, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US08/417,201
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90, 379/91, 379/93, 379/96-98, 379/100, 379/201, 379/207, 375/222, 348/14, 348/15, 348/17, 348/18
• US Class Current: 379/93.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/085 using a television receiver, e.g. viewdata system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/527 Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/90 using coding techniques not provided for in groups H04N19/10-H04N19/85, e.g. fractals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13072 Sequence circuits for call signaling, ACD systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13376 Information service, downloading of information, 0800/0900 services

Abstract

A telecommunication system provides voice and data communications over a conventional telephone line between a server station and a client station using visual forms. The client station includes a processor, display, telephone, and data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE) for data communications. The server station includes a processor, DCE, and either a telephone or a voice card for audio communications. Each DCE includes a modem, a start signal generator for transmitting a start signal over the telephone line prior to transmission of data by the modem, a start signal detector, and a switch that automatically switches the DCE from voice mode to data mode while data is being communicated. The client processor also includes a definition of a visual form having a number of controls with predetermined properties, including properties defining permissible actions that can be taken with respect to each control and instructions to be executed in response to specified actions. The client employs a mouse, keyboard, or the like to select a control in the visual form and to perform an action on the selected control. At least some of the controls include a property directing the client processor to switch the DCE to data mode, transmit data identifying the action, and then return to voice mode. The server processor is programmed to execute steps in response to the actions received from said client station. The visual forms at both stations can be linked so that they are automatically updated to reflect actions at the other station.

Claims

1. A telecommunication system for providing voice and data communications via a telephone line comprising:

a client station having;

(a) a modem for data communications over said telephone line;

(b) a telephone for audio communications over said telephone line;

(c) a client processor controlling said modem, said client processor also including a definition of a visual form having at least one control with predetermined properties, including properties defining permissible actions that can be taken with respect to each control and instructions to be executed by said client processor in response to said actions;

(d) a display controlled by said client processor for displaying said visual form; and

(e) input means in communication with said client processor for selecting a control in said visual form and performing an action on said selected control;

wherein at least one of said controls includes a property directing said client processor in response to a predetermined action to direct said modem to transmit data identifying said action; and

a server station in communication with said client station over said telephone line, said server station having;

(a) means for audio communications over said telephone line;

(b) a modem for data communications over said telephone line; and

(c) a server processor in communication with said modem and including programmed instructions to be executed by said server processor in response to said actions received from said client station, said server processor also including a definition of a form having at least some controls in common with said client station visual form that are updated by said server processor to reflect actions received from said client station.

2. The telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein said means for audio communication for said server station comprise a telephone set for use by a live operator, and wherein said server station further comprises a display controlled by said server processor for displaying said server form.

3. The telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein said means for audio communications for said server station comprise a voice card controlled by said processor for transmitting prerecorded audio messages over said telephone line, and wherein said server processor directs said voice card to transmit selected audio messages in response to said actions received from said client station.

4. The telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein said control comprises a field for entry of data.

5. The telecommunication system of claim 4 wherein said control properties comprise instructions for validating data entered in said field.

6. The telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein said control comprises a push button.

7. The telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein said control comprises a list containing a plurality of options that can be selected by said input means.

8. The telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein said control comprises a field displaying specified text.

9. The telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein said control comprises a field displaying a specified image.

10. The telecommunication system of claim 1 wherein said definition of said visual form used by said client station is transmitted by said server station over said telephone line to said client station.

11. A telecommunication system for providing voice and data communications via a telephone line comprising:

a client station having;

(a) a modem for data communications over said telephone line;

(b) a telephone for audio communications over said telephone line;

(c) switching means for selectively connecting said telephone to said telephone line in a voice mode, and for disconnecting said telephone and connecting said modem to said telephone line in a data mode;

(d) a client processor controlling said switching means and modem to automatically switch from said voice mode to said data mode prior to communicating data over said telephone line;

said client processor also including a definition of a visual form having at least one control with predetermined properties, including properties defining permissible actions that can be taken with respect to each control and instructions to be executed by said client processor in response to said actions;

(e) a display controlled by said client processor for displaying said visual form; and

(f) input means in communication with said client processor for selecting a control in said visual form and performing an action on said selected control;

wherein at least one of said controls includes a property directing said client processor to execute the following steps in response to a predetermined action;

(1) direct said switching means to switch to said data mode; and

(2) direct said modem to transmit data identifying said action; and

a server station in communication with said client station over said telephone line, said server station having;

(a) means for audio communications over said telephone line;

(b) a modem for data communications over said telephone line; and

(c) a server processor in communication with said modem and including programmed instructions to be executed by said server processor in response to said actions received from said client station, said server processor also including a definition of a form having at least some controls in common with said client station visual form that are updated by said server processor to reflect actions received from said client station.

12. The telecommunication system of claim 11 wherein said means for audio communication for said server station comprise a telephone set for use by a live operator, and wherein said server station further comprises a display controlled by said processor for displaying said server form.

13. The telecommunication system of claim 11 wherein said means for audio communications for said server station comprise a voice card controlled by said processor for transmitting prerecorded audio messages over said telephone line, and wherein said server processor directs said voice card to transmit selected audio messages in response to said actions received from said client station.

14. The telecommunication system of claim 11 wherein said control comprises a field for entry of data.

15. The telecommunication system of claim 14 wherein said control properties comprise instructions for validating data entered in said field.

16. The telecommunication system of claim 11 wherein said control comprises a push button.

17. The telecommunication system of claim 11 wherein said control comprises a list containing a plurality of options that can be selected by said input means.

18. The telecommunication system of claim 11 wherein said control comprises a field displaying specified text.

19. The telecommunication system of claim 11 wherein said control comprises a field displaying a specified image.

20. The telecommunication system of claim 11 wherein said definition of said visual form used by said client station is transmitted by said server station over said telephone line to said client station.

21. A telecommunication system for providing voice and visual data communications via a telephone line comprising:

a client station having;

(a) a telephone;

(b) data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE) having;

(1) a modem for providing data communications over said telephone

(2) start signal generating means for transmitting a start signal over said telephone line prior to transmission of data by said modem;

(3) start signal detecting means for detecting said start signal received over said telephone line; and

(4) switching means for selectively connecting said telephone to said telephone line in a voice mode, and for disconnecting said telephone and connecting said modem to said telephone line in a data mode;

(c) a client processor controlling said DCE to automatically switch from said voice mode to said data mode when data is being received or transmitted over said telephone line;

said client processor also including a definition of a visual form having at least one control with predetermined properties, including properties defining permissible actions that can be taken with respect to each control and instructions to be executed by said client processor in response to said actions;

(d) a display controlled by said client processor for displaying said visual form; and

(e) input means in communication with said client processor for selecting a control in said visual form and performing an action on said selected control;

wherein at least one of said controls includes a property causing said client processor to direct said DCE to switch to data mode, transmit data identifying said action, and return to voice mode; and

a server station in communication with said client station over said telephone line, said server station having;

(a) voice transmitting means for transmitting recorded voice messages over said telephone line;

(b) a DCE; and

(c) a server processor controlling said voice transmitting means and said DCE to automatically provide voice and data communications over said telephone line with said client station in accordance with programmed instructions in response to actions received from said client station, said server processor also including a definition of a form having at least some controls in common with said client station visual form that are updated by said server processor to reflect actions received from said client station.

22. The telecommunication system of claim 21 wherein said client station and said server station communicate form definition files as data over said telephone line, each form definition file comprising a series of elements defining controls in said visual form and commands to be executed by the receiving station with regard to said visual form.

23. The telecommunication system of claim 22 wherein said server station transmits a form definition file to said client station to initially define said visual form for said client station.

24. The telecommunication system of claim 22 wherein said client station transmits a form definition file to said server station to reflect actions on said visual form at said client station.

25. The telecommunication system of claim 21 wherein said server station further comprises:

a telephone for audio communication with a live operator; and

a display controlled by said server processor for displaying said server form.

26. A telecommunication system for providing voice and visual data communications between a first station and a second station via a telephone line, wherein each station comprises:

a telephone;

data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE) having;

(a) a modem for providing data communications over said telephone;

(b) start signal generating means for transmitting a start signal over said telephone line prior to transmission of data by said modem;

(c) start signal detecting means for detecting said start signal received over said telephone line; and

(d) switching means for selectively connecting said telephone to said telephone line in a voice mode, and for disconnecting said telephone and connecting said modem to said telephone line in a data mode;

a processor controlling said DCE to automatically switch from said voice mode to said data mode when data is being received or transmitted over said telephone line;

said processor also including a definition of a visual form having at least one control with predetermined properties, including properties defining permissible actions that can be taken with respect to each control;

a display controlled by said processor for displaying said visual form; and

input means in communication with said processor for selecting a control in said visual form and performing an action on said selected control;

wherein each station uses a visual form having at least some controls in common among the visual form of the other station; and

wherein both stations communicate data over said telephone line and update said common controls to reflect actions on any of said common controls at the other station.

27. The telecommunication system of claim 26 wherein said stations communicate form definition files as data over said telephone line, each form definition file comprising a series of elements defining controls in said visual form and commands to be executed with regard to said visual form.

28. The telecommunication system of claim 27 wherein said first station transmits a form definition file to said second station to initially define said visual form for said second station.

29. The telecommunication system of claim 27 wherein said second station transmits a form definition file to said first station to reflect actions on said visual form at said second station.

30. A telecommunication system for providing voice and visual data communications between a first station and a second station via a telephone line, wherein each station comprises:

means for audio communications over said telephone line;

data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE) having;

(a) a modem for providing data communications over said telephone;

(b) start signal generating means for transmitting a start signal over said telephone line prior to transmission of data by said modem;

(c) start signal detecting means for detecting said start signal received over said telephone line; and

(d) switching means for selectively connecting said audio communications means to said telephone line in a voice mode, and for disconnecting said audio communications means and connecting said modem to said telephone line in a data mode;

a display;

a processor controlling said DCE to automatically switch from said voice mode to said data mode when data is being received or transmitted over said telephone line;

said processor also including;

(a) means for controlling said display to display a visual form having at least one control with predetermined properties, including properties defining permissible actions that can be taken with respect to each control; and

wherein said visual form has at least some controls in common with the visual form of the other station that are automatically updated to reflect actions on any of said common controls at the other station; and

(b) means for controlling said DCE to communicate form definition files as data over said telephone line with the other station, said form definition file including a series of elements defining controls in said visual form and commands to be executed with regard to said visual form; and

input means in communication with said processor for selecting a control in said visual form and performing an action on said selected control.

31. The telecommunication system of claim 30 wherein said form definition file comprises a command instructing said processor to open a specified visual form.

32. The telecommunication system of claim 30 wherein said form definition file comprises a command instructing said processor to close a specified visual form.

33. The telecommunication system of claim 30 wherein said form definition file comprises data for specified controls in said visual form and said form definition file further comprises a command instructing said processor to merge said specified controls into said visual form.

34. The telecommunication system of claim 30 wherein said form definition file comprises a command instructing said processor to close the current visual form and then open a specified visual form.

35. The telecommunication system of claim 30 wherein said form definition file comprises a command instructing said processor to execute specified steps.