Method and apparatus for transferring data to a remote workstation using communications established as a background function at time workstation

• US 5,724,574 A
• Filed: 04/02/1996
• Issued: 03/03/1998
• 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, Wang Software N.Y., Inc.
• Inventors: Yien, Richard S., Stratigos, William N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Homere, Jean Raymond
• Application Number:
  US08/630,042
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 395/610, 395/612, 395/200.12, 395/200.01, 395/200.08, 395/841, 364/DIG. 1, 370/118, 370/195, 379/89, 379/93
• US Class Current: 709/217
• 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 communications method established as a background function of a remote workstation to which a plurality of discrete data files are transferred from a central location while data processing is enabled in the foreground, said communications method comprising the steps of:

initiating, according to predetermined criteria, a connection over the communication lines from the remote workstation to the central location without user intervention as a background function;

identifying a group of data files on which the user is to perform data processing in the foreground;

transmitting the group of data files to the remote workstation as a background function; and

terminating the telephone connection after the transfer is complete.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the criteria involves the time of day.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the criteria involves the day of the week.

4. The method of claim 1 further including the step of monitoring the volume of unprocessed data files available on the remote workstation.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of initiating is made when the volume of unprocessed data files is at or below a particular level.

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

means at the workstation for coordinating access to data files at the central location without user intervention as a background function while the workstation is enabled to perform a foreground process, said coordinating means including;

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

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

means for causing a received file to be available for processing;

means for monitoring a volume of unprocessed data files at the workstation; and

means for controlling said means for requesting files so that a request is made in response to an indication from said monitoring means that the volume is below a particular level.

7. A communications method established as a background function of a remote workstation to which a plurality of discrete data files are transferred from a central location while data processing is enabled in the foreground, said communications method comprising the steps of:

initiating, according to predetermined criteria, a connection over the communication lines from the remote workstation to the central location without user intervention as a background function;

indicating to the central location that the remote station is ready to receive data files on which the user is to perform data processing in the foreground;

transmitting a group of data files to the remote workstation as a background function; and

terminating the telephone connection after the transfer is complete.

8. The method of claim 7 further including the step of monitoring the volume of unprocessed data files available on the remote workstation.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of initiating is made when the volume of unprocessed data files is at or below a particular level.