System for coordinating information transfer and retrieval

• US 5,829,002 A
• Filed: 12/08/1995
• Issued: 10/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Priest W. Curtiss
• Original Assignee: Priest W. Curtiss
• Inventors: Priest, W. Curtiss
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choules, Jack M.
• Application Number:
  US08/816,206
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 395/200.31
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A system for coordinating information transfer, storage and retrieval between and among local processors in a group utilizes a controlled vocabulary of terms which can be modified by various ones of the processors in the group. The controlled vocabulary is utilized in connection with group and local processor functions of storage/retrieval, telecommunications and decision support. The controlled vocabulary can be modified or updated by a remote user by way of a communications channel.

Claims

1. A computer system for use by human operators, the computer system comprising:

a plurality of processors, wherein each human operator has control of one of said processors in said plurality of processors,

at least one of said processors being connected to at least one other one of said processors via a communications channel,

an input/output device coupled with each of said processors for communication of signals and symbols between said processor and a corresponding human operator, and for communication of commands from a human operator and a corresponding processor,

a memory element dedicated to each of said processors,

a controlled vocabulary dictionary including a plurality of dictionary items of said controlled vocabulary dictionary stored in said memory element dedicated to each said processor,

a plurality of database information items indexed by each of said dictionary items of said controlled vocabulary dictionary for each one of said processors, whereby a set of said database information items is uniquely indexed by each of said dictionary items,

editing elements adapted to receive commands from an operator and responsive to such commands to alter said controlled vocabulary dictionary whereby dictionary items may be edited, added, or deleted,

the editing elements including remote transfer elements adapted to transmit, via said communications channel, changes to the controlled vocabulary dictionary,

telecommunication processing elements responsive to commands from an operator to select one of said database information items, indexed by a selected one of said dictionary items, for delivery via a telecommunications message with said selected dictionary item embedded therein to a destination selected by said operator whereby said operator may deliver said database information item to another processor,

storage control elements adapted to store telecommunicated messages received by one of said processors as a database information item indexed by one of said dictionary items, by matching said embedded dictionary item in said message with a corresponding item in said controlled vocabulary dictionary stored in the memory of the receiving processor.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said remote transfer elements are responsive to commands from an operator in control of a selected processor to transmit, via said communications channel, changes to the controlled vocabulary dictionary of another processor.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein

said controlled vocabulary dictionary includes sets of dictionary items, and

said editing elements are adapted to receive commands from an operator to add to or delete items from an existing set of dictionary items, add a new set of dictionary items or delete an existing set of dictionary items.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein

said controlled vocabulary dictionary includes a list of purchase items or action items for marketing and sales purposes including direct mail and telemarketing.