Process for data communications and a data communications system for carrying out the process

• US 6,023,498 A
• Filed: 01/27/1999
• Issued: 02/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bernd Schneider
• Original Assignee: Bernd Schneider
• Inventors: Schneider, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US09/142,523
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.01-93.08, 379/93.14, 379/93.24-93.32, 379/93.37, 379/100.01, 379/100.02, 379/90.01, 379/110.01
• US Class Current: 379/93.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes

Abstract

A process for data communications whereby an acquisition device is used to gather information data through a transmitter-user, these data then being provided with appropriate address data and made available to an authorized receiver-user in a host computer for issuing the same. A data communications system comprising a transportable data carrier, a data acquisition device for collecting and storing data on the data carrier, a data read-out device for reading the data carrier and a data output device. During a configuration operation preceding data communication, a transportable data carrier is provided with data carrier-specific and/or user-specific identification data. The transportable data carrier is used at least by the receiver-user in such a way that these identification data are read out from the data carrier to determine authorization. Where there is agreement, at least one reception signal is issued to the receiver-user to characterize available information data. A number of spatially separated communications devices are provided and contain at least the data read device and the data output device. These communications devices are provided with a link, via a leased line, selectable telephone line or radio data line, to a host computer. Non-alterable data carrier-specific identifying data are stored on said data carrier. User-specific identification data and input-capable receiver-specific address data and information data can be stored via the data acquisition device.

Claims

1. A data communication method, for which, by means of data acquisition equipment, informational data is acquired by a sender user and, provided with the appropriate address data, made available to an authorized recipient user in a host computer for output of the data, a comparison being made between the identification data and the address data for the purpose of establishing authorization, during a configuration preceding the data configuration, a portable data carrier being provided with data carrier-specific and/or user-specific identification data, which is used at least by the recipient user in such a manner, that this identification is read from the data carrier to determine authorization and, in the event that there is agreement, at least one receiving signal is put out to the recipient user in order to characterize the informational data present, characterized in that a chip card with a read and write nv memory and a ROM memory are used as data carrier, that during the configuration at least the data carrier-specific identification data is stored so that it cannot be changed.

2. The method of communication of claim 1, characterized in that the receiving signal is transmitted over a separate transmission channel to the recipient user.

3. The method of data communication of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the informational data and/or address data, which is to be sent, is stored at one time on the chip card and, at a later time, is read from the chip card for entering the data into the host computer.

4. The method of data communication of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the authorization data consists of an identification, which can be entered in such a manner that, before the comparison with the authorization data by the user, the identification, with which the personal identification stored in the portable data carrier is compared, is entered.

5. The method of data communication of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the authorization data is stored in the host computer.

6. The method of data communication of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, when sending informational data, after the identification of the sender user, which must be entered before sending, is found to be identical with personal identification stored in the memory, the permanent identification can be read from the memory as sender information of the sender user.

7. The method of data communication of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, after agreement of an identification of the sender user, which must be entered before the sending, with the personal identification stored in the memory, the personal identification in the memory can be changed.

8. The method of data communication of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, by means of the address data or an additional service identification, the informational data can be passed on to the recipient with the interposing of other networks.

9. The method of data communication of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that fee information, corresponding to informational data transmitted, is generated by the host computer and stored on the chip card.

10. The method of data communication of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an accounting identification is stored on the chip card and fee information, corresponding to the informational data transmitted, is generated by the host computer and that this fee information is passed on to a computer, corresponding to the accounting identification, for further processing.

11. A data communication system with a portable data carrier, a device for acquiring and storing data on the data carrier, a data reader for reading the data carrier, a data output device, several communication devices, which are separated spatially from one another and contain at least the data reader, and a connection over a leased line, a discretionary telephone line or a data radio line to a host computer, characterized in that the data carrier consists of a chip card with a read and write nv memory and a ROM memory, on which data carrier-specific identification data, which cannot be changed, is stored and user-specific identification data, recipient-specific address data and informational data, which can be entered over the data acquisition device, can be altered and stored and in that a chip card reader is provided, which can be connected to or integrated in the data acquisition and/or output device.

12. The data communication system of claim 11, characterized in that the data communication equipment is constructed as a data acquisition and output device in such a manner, that the data acquisition device, the data reader and the data output device are integrated in one device.

13. The data communication system of claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the host computer is provided with addressable connections to other networks.