Method, system and apparatus for exchanging stored information between a server and customer premises equipment

• US 6,282,564 B1
• Filed: 09/23/1997
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Anthony Hamilton, Bleile, Leonard George
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YUAN, ALMARI ROMERO
• Application Number:
  US08/933,753
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/228, 709/230, 709/237, 340/825.44, 379/88.15, 379/93.24, 455/426, 455/462, 455/466
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00

Abstract

An apparatus for communicating information. The apparatus comprises memory and a transmitter. The memory stores information in a data record having pre-defined information fragments and identification fields associated with respective information fragments for identifying respective information fragments. The transmitter transmits the information fragments and identifications of the information fragments in respective messages. A receiver operable to receive the messages transmitted by the transmitter reconstructs the data record.

Claims

1. A method of communicating information comprising:

a) storing said information as information fragments in a data record, each fragment having an associated identifier; and

b) transmitting a plurality of messages to a receiver, each message having an information fragments and its associated identifier from said data record;

c) wherein at least one of said messages if transmitted in compliance with at least one ADSI protocol extension.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising transmitting a query message to query whether or not a receiving device is ready to receive said messages.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising transmitted a query message to query whether or not said receiving device is compliant with an ADSI protocol extension.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising receiving an acknowledgement signal and initiating the transmission of said messages in response to said acknowledgement signal.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising receiving an acknowledgement signal before transmitted a subsequent message.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising storing said identifiers in said data record in identification fields corresponding to respective information fragments.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 further comprising maintaining a table of predefined action codes and including at least one of said action codes in each of said messages, said at least one of said action codes acting as said identifier associated with said information fragment.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising transmitting said messages containing said information fragments, in a predefined order.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising storing an electronic mail message in said data record.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising storing a page message in said data record.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising transmitting said messages on a public telephone network.

12. A method of communicating information comprising:

a) receiving a message having an information fragment and an associated identifier; and

b) storing said information fragment in a field of a data record identified by its associated identifier;

c) wherein said received message is in compliance with at least one ADSI protocol extension.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising transmitting a dual tone multi-frequency signal in response to receipt of said message.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising receiving said message at customer premises equipment in a public telephone network.

15. A method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising receiving a download complete message confirming that the information fragments received comprise all information fragments of said data record and transmitting a pre-defined response signal in response thereto.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 further comprising storing a record containing said information fragments in non-volatile memory.

17. A method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising transmitting a signal when said message meets a pre-defined criteria.

18. A method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising enabling an editor in response to a pre-defined message.

19. A method of communication information of at least one of e-mail and paging information types to customer premises equipment (CPE), the method comprising:

a) storing said information as information in a data record, each fragment having an associated identifier;

b) transmitting a plurality of messages to said CPE, each message having an information fragment and its associated identifier from said data record;

c) receiving said messages at said CPE; and

d) regenerating said data record at said CPE from said information fragments and said identifiers received in said messages;

e) wherein at least one of said messages is transmitted in compliance with at least one ADSI protocol extension.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising:

a) storing other said information at said CPE as information fragments in a CPE data record, each fragment having an associated identifier;

b) transmitting a plurality of messages to a stored program computer system, each message having an information fragment and its associated identifier from said CPE data record;

c) receiving said messages at said stored program computer system; and

d) regenerating said CPE data record at said stored program computer system from said information fragments and said identifiers received in said messages at said stored program computer system.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein transmitting to said CPE and transmitting to said stored program computer system comprise transmitting on a public telephone network.

22. A method as claimed in claim 20 further comprising transmitting an acknowledgement signal from said CPE to said stored program computer system in response to successful receipt of said message by said CPE.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein transmitting said acknowledgement signal comprises transmitting a dual tone multi-frequency signal as said acknowledgement signal.

24. An apparatus for communicating information, the apparatus comprising:

a) a memory for storing said information as information fragments in a data record, each fragment having an associated identifier; and

b) a transmitter operable to produce and transmit to a receiver a plurality of messages, each message having an information fragment and its associated identifier from said data record;

c) wherein said transmitter is operable to transmit at leas tone of said messages in compliance with at least one ADSI protocol extension.

25. An apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein said transmitter is operable to transmit a query message to query whether or not said receiver is ready to receive said messages.

26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25 wherein said transmitter is operable to transmit a query message to query whether or not said receiver is compliant with an ADSI protocol extension.

27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 26 further comprising an acknowledgement signal receiver operable to receive an acknowledgement signal and wherein said transmitter is operable to transmit said messages in response to said acknowledgement signal.

28. An apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein said acknowledgement signal receiver is operable to receive an acknowledgement signal before enabling said transmitter to transmit a subsequent message.

29. An apparatus as claimed in claim 27 further comprising a processor programmed to store said identifiers in said data record in identification fields corresponding to respective information fragments.

30. An apparatus as claimed in claim 29 wherein said processor is programmed to maintain a table of predefined action codes and to include at least one of said action codes in each of said messages, said at least one of said action codes acting as said identifier associated with said information fragment.

31. An apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein said processor is programmed to direct said transmitter to transmit said messages containing said information fragments, in a predefined order.

32. An apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein said memory is operable to store an electronic mail message in said data record.

33. An apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein said memory is operable to store a page message in said data record.

34. An apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein said transmitter is operable to transmit said message on a public telephone network.

35. An apparatus for communicating information, the apparatus comprising:

a) a receiver for receiving a message having an information fragment and an association identifier; and

b) a memory in communication with said receiver for storing said information fragment in a field of a data record identified by its associated identifier.

36. An apparatus as claimed in claim 35 further comprising a transmitter for transmitting a dual tone multi-frequency signal in response to receipt of said message.

37. An apparatus as claimed in claim 36 wherein said transmitter is operable to transmit information in transmit messages in response to receipt of a pre-defined receive message, each of said transmit messages having an information fragment and an associated identifier.

38. An apparatus as claimed in claim 37 wherein said receiver is operable to receive said receive messages in a first pre-defined communications protocol.

39. An apparatus as claimed in claim 38 wherein said transmitter is operable to transmit said transmit messages in accordance with a communications protocol other than the protocol in which said receive message was received.

40. An apparatus as claimed in claim 35 wherein said receiver is operable to receive messages at customer premises equipment in a public telephone network.

41. An apparatus as claimed in claim 35 further comprising non-volatile memory for storing a data record containing said information fragments.

42. An apparatus as claimed in claim 36 wherein said transmitter is operable to transmit a signal when said message meets a pre-defined criterion.

43. An apparatus as claimed in claim 35 further comprising an editor enabled in response to a pre-defined receive message.

44. An apparatus for communicating information of a least one of e-mail and paging information types to customer premises equipment (CPE), the apparatus comprising:

a) a memory for storing said information as information fragments in a data record, each fragment having an associated identifier;

b) a transmitter operable to transmit a plurality of messages to said CPE, each message having an information fragment and its associated identifier from said data record;

c) a receiver at said CPE for receiving said messages; and

d) a processor in communication with said receiver for regenerating said data record at said CPE from said information fragments and their identifiers received in said messages;

e) wherein said transmitter is operable to transmit at least one of said messages in compliance with at least one ADSI protocol extension.

45. An apparatus as claimed in claim 44 further comprising:

a) a memory at said CPE for storing other said information at said CPE as information fragments in a CPE data record, each fragment having an associated identifier;

b) a transmitter at said CPE for transmitting a plurality of messages to a stored program computer system, each message having an information fragment and its associated identifier from said CPE data record;

c) a receiver at said stored program computer system for receiving said messages; and

d) a processor in communication with said receiver at said stored program computer system for regenerating said CPE data record at said stored program computer system from said information fragments and said identifiers received in said messages at said stored program computer system.

46. An apparatus as claimed in claim 45 wherein said transmitters are operable to transmit said messages on a public telephone network.

47. An apparatus as claimed in claim 45 wherein said transmitter at said CPE is operable to transmit an acknowledgement signal from said CPE to said stored program computer system in response to successful receipt of said data record.

48. An apparatus as claimed in claim 47 wherein said transmitter at said CPE is operable to transmit a dual tone multi-frequency signal as said acknowledgement signal.