Remote telephone data access and display

• US 6,041,111 A
• Filed: 12/01/1997
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Corporation
• Inventors: Shelton, Brian R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/980,762
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/219, 379/220, 379/207, 379/93.24, 379/100.01, 379/100.02, 379/93.25, 379/229, 379/230, 379/93.17, 379/102.02, 379/102.01, 370/352, 370/351
• US Class Current: 379/201.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2471 Configurable and interactive telephone terminals with subscriber controlled features modifications, e.g. with ADSI capability [Analog Display Services Interface] systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers H04M3/42; administration or customization of services H04M3/42136; by downloading data to substation equipment H04M3/42178
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00

Abstract

A method and apparatus for accessing data stored in a local telephone terminal from a remote terminal and displaying or storing it on the remote terminal. An ADSI or JAVA script or readable message is sent to the local telephone terminal, providing it with instructions about how to transmit and translate the data for use by the remote terminal. The method allows for password protection of the date and non-ringing of the local telephone terminal.

Claims

1. For a communications network, a method for displaying on a remote telephone terminal information stored at a local telephone terminal comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a request for information at a remote telephone terminal;

(b) transmitting said request to a network element;

(c) transmitting a script from said network element to a local telephone terminal in response to said request;

(d) transmitting information from said local telephone terminal to said remote telephone terminal in response to said script; and

(e) displaying said information at said remote telephone terminal.

2. The method claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

responding to said request with a password query to said remote telephone terminal; and

proceeding if response to said password query is correct.

3. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said script contains an instruction to prevent said local telephone terminal from ringing.

4. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said script is an ADSI script.

5. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said script is a JAVA script.

6. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said script is a JAVA-readable message.

7. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said script is at least one JAVA class.

8. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said script is an ADSI-readable message.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing said information at said remote telephone terminal prior to said displaying.

10. A method for displaying on a remote telephone terminal information stored at a local telephone terminal comprising the steps:

(a) generating a request for information to be displayed at a remote telephone terminal,

said request including a script;

(b) transmitting said request to a local telephone terminal;

(c) transmitting information from said local telephone terminal to said remote telephone terminal in response to said script; and

(d) displaying said information at said remote telephone terminal.

11. The method claimed in claim 10 further comprising the steps:

responding to said request with a password query to said remote telephone terminal; and

proceeding if response to said password query is correct.

12. The method claimed in claim 10 wherein said script contains an instruction to prevent said local telephone terminal from ringing.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of storing said information at said remote telephone terminal prior to said displaying.

14. A network element adapted to receive queries for information from a remote telephone terminal comprising:

(a) a receiver for receiving a query from said remote telephone terminal at said network element;

(b) a script generator for composing a request for information from a local memory of a local telephone terminal based on said query; and

,

(c) a transmitter, for transmitting said request to said local telephone terminal,

said request causing selected content of said local memory to be transmitted from said local telephone terminal for said remote telephone terminal.

15. A communications system for displaying on a remote telephone terminal information stored at a local telephone terminal comprising:

(a) means for generating a request for information at a remote telephone terminal;

(b) means for transmitting said request to a network element;

(c) means for transmitting a script from said nework element to a local telephone terminal in response to said request;

(d) means for transmitting information from said local telephone terminal to said remote telephone terminal in response to said script; and

(e) means for displaying said information at said remote telephone terminal.

16. A communications system for displaying on a remote telephone terminal information stored at a local telephone terminal comprising:

(a) means for generating a request for information to be displaced at a remote telephone terminal,

said request including a script;

(b) means for transmitting said request to a local telephone terminal;

(c) means for transmitting information from said local telephone terminal to said remote telephone terminal in response to said script; and

(d) means for displaying said information at said remote telephone terminal.