Remote terminal operation

• US 5,812,777 A
• Filed: 12/28/1995
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Data Quill Limited
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Leigh, Kevin B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Geckil, Mehmet B.
• Application Number:
  US08/580,170
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.6, 395/200.68, 395/200.57, 395/200.5, 395/200.47
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/387 for adaptation of different data processing systems to different peripheral devices, e.g. protocol converters for incompatible systems, open system

Abstract

A PC system uses two different kinds of terminals both of which having different architecture from a traditional PC. A first kind of terminal receives and transmits high resolution information based on a relatively low resolution transmission link. This requires that software and intelligence be distributed between the PC and the terminal itself. A second kind of terminal device receives and transmits low bandwidth information, communicating with the PC or another terminal device, within a confined wireless network, or across another confined wreless network via a wired network. The device can be used within nanocells of coverage, and can move between the covered cells.

Claims

1. A method of communicating among a computer running a program, a graphics terminal device, and a character terminal device, the method comprising:

the computer program cooperating with a program running on the graphics terminal device to process higher resolution information;

the computer program transmitting lower resolution information to the character terminal device, the information content of the transmitted information being similar to the information content presented to a user by the character terminal device; and

the computer program performing actions requested by the character terminal device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting data on a low bandwidth link to the graphics terminal device, the low bandwidth link carrying less information content than an information content processed by the graphics terminal device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the character terminal device includes a low resolution text only display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the character terminal device includes an audio device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the computer program transmitting low resolution information to a second character terminal device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

the computer program controlling the first and second character terminal devices to enable direct communication between the first and second character terminal devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphics terminal device includes a high quality audio device.

8. A network system, comprising:

a base computer running a first program;

a legacy device connected to the base computer over a first link and having a processor on which a second program is stored, the first program cooperating with the second program to perform tasks in the legacy device; and

a character terminal connected over a second link to the base computer, the character terminal receiving lower resolution information over the second link from the base computer, the character terminal also capable of sending action requests to the base computer over the second link.

9. The network system of claim 8, wherein the character terminal includes a low resolution text only display.

10. The network system of claim 8, wherein the character terminal includes an audio device.

11. The network system of claim 8, further comprising:

a second character terminal connected to the base computer.

12. The network system of claim 11, wherein the first character terminal can communicate directly with the second character terminal.

13. The network system of claim 8, wherein the legacy device includes a high resolution display.

14. The network system of claim 13, wherein the legacy device includes a high resolution audio device.

15. The network system of claim 8, wherein the first link is a low bandwidth link carrying less information than information processed by the legacy device.

16. The network system of claim 15, wherein the legacy device includes a display, and wherein the low bandwidth link carries less information than information displayed on the display.

17. A network system, comprising:

a first cell area including a first computer, a first graphics device connected to the first computer for processing high resolution data, and a first character terminal connected to the first computer for receiving low resolution data; and

a second cell area including a second computer, wherein the first character terminal is moveable between the first and second cell areas, the first character terminal receiving data from the first computer while in the first cell area and from the second computer while in the second cell area.

18. The network system of claim 17, wherein the first cell area further includes a terminal device coupled by a communications link to at least one of the first computer, first graphics device, and first character terminal.

19. The network system of claim 17, wherein the second cell area further includes a terminal device coupled to the second computer.

20. The network system of claim 19, further comprising a communication channel between the first and second computers.

21. The network system of claim 20, wherein the first and second computers communicate a device handoff protocol over the interface unit to allow the first character terminal to move between the first and second cell areas.

22. A computer system comprising:

a graphics terminal device configured to process higher resolution information, the device having an interface for a low bandwidth signal that carries less information content than an information content to be displayed on the graphics terminal device;

a character terminal configured to present information at a lower resolution and to receive information content at a rate similar to the rate at which information content is to be presented; and

a base computer that provides pre-processed low resolution information to the character terminal and communicates with the graphics terminal device via the low bandwidth signal interface to assist the graphics terminal device to process the higher resolution information.

23. A computer system as in claim 22, wherein said character terminal comprises a low resolution text only display.

24. A computer system as in claim 22, wherein said character terminal comprises a lower quality audio device.

25. A computer system as in claim 22, wherein said low bandwidth signal is transmitted over a wireless interface to a cell area, and wherein said graphics and character terminal devices can be located anywhere within said cell area.

26. A computer system as in claim 25, wherein first and second terminal devices are located in said cell area.

27. A computer system as in claim 26, further comprising a second computer forming a second interface with a second cell area, said second computer connected to communicate with said base computer.

28. A computer system as in claim 27, further comprising a communication channel, wherein the base and second computers communicate according to a device handoff protocol over the communication channel to allow a terminal device to move between cell areas.

29. A computer system as in claim 26, wherein said first and second terminal devices share communicating time by passing a token therebetween.

30. A computer system as in claim 26, wherein said first and second terminal devices are both character terminals, and communication among said character terminals and said base and second computers enables a communication sequence in which said first and second terminal devices can communicate directly with one another.