System and method for triggering actions at a host computer by telephone
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of triggering a program stored at a host computer system using a telephone ring signal, wherein the host system includes a ring detection circuit connected to a phone line, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) dialing the telephone number of the phone line connected to the host system, thereby generating a ring signal on the phone line;
(b) detecting the ring signal on the phone line using a ring detection circuit, and then generating a trigger signal to the host system indicating a phone call has been detected; and
(c) the host system receiving the trigger signal and executing a predetermined program stored at the host system, wherein the predetermined program executed by the host system creates a connection between the host system and the Internet using a communication device connected to the host system.
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Litigations
2 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for remotely triggering a predetermined program at a host computer system using a telephone ring signal is disclosed. The host computer system includes a ring detection and triggering circuit, a control monitor program, and at least one activation script, wherein the activation script could be a series of commands which create a connection between the host system and the Internet. A ring signal on a phone line connected to the host system is detected by the ring detection circuitry, and subsequently a trigger signal is generated by a trigger circuit which is detected by the control monitor program running on the host system. The control monitor program responds to the trigger signal and executes the activation script, thereby causing a connection to be established between the host system and the Internet. Other features, such as multiple activation scripts, remote user authentication, and feedback validation tones are also disclosed. Further disclosed is a method of operating an ISP server computer for detecting whether a connection is being requested of a customer'"'"'s host computer system, of determining whether the host computer system is presently connected to the Internet, and if the host system is not connected, of dialing a phone number which triggers an activation program stored at the host system, thereby causing the host system to connect to the Internet so that it can be accessed.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of triggering a program stored at a host computer system using a telephone ring signal, wherein the host system includes a ring detection circuit connected to a phone line, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) dialing the telephone number of the phone line connected to the host system, thereby generating a ring signal on the phone line; (b) detecting the ring signal on the phone line using a ring detection circuit, and then generating a trigger signal to the host system indicating a phone call has been detected; and (c) the host system receiving the trigger signal and executing a predetermined program stored at the host system, wherein the predetermined program executed by the host system creates a connection between the host system and the Internet using a communication device connected to the host system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for triggering a host computer system to connect to the Internet upon detection of an incoming telephone call, the system comprising:
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(a) a host computer system including; (1) a communications device connected between the host computer system and a communications network; (2) at least one activation program stored at the host computer system, wherein the at least one activation program includes a script of commands that causes the host computer system to connect to the Internet using the communications device; and (3) a control signal monitor program that detects a trigger signal and then causes the at least one activation program to be executed by the host computer system; and (b) a ring detection and triggering circuit connected between the host computer system and a phone line, the circuit including a ring detector that detects a ring signal on the phone line and a trigger circuit for generating the trigger signal to the host computer system when the ring signal is detected, thereby triggering execution of the at least one activation program stored at the host computer system. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for triggering at least one program stored at a host computer system connected to a communications network using a ring signal, comprising:
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means for detecting the ring signal on the communications network; means for generating a trigger signal to the host computer system indicating that a phone call has been detected; means for receiving the trigger signal at the host system; and means for executing the program stored at the host system when the trigger signal is received, wherein the program stored at the host system comprises a series of commands that cause the host system to connect to the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification