Method and device for data transmission between a central unit and a data terminal

• US 6,430,555 B1
• Filed: 04/16/1999
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sirius XM Connected Vehicle Services Inc. (Liberty Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann AG (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Inventors: Gill, Thorsten, Meyer, Derk, Schulz, Werner, Kolb, Ralf
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAM V
• Application Number:
  US09/284,594
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104, 707/103, 707/4, 707/5, 707/9, 707/10, 707/102, 379/211, 711/152, 701/201-213
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2448 for particular applications; for extensibility, e.g. user defined types
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096894 where input is assisted by the navigation device, i.e. the user does not type the complete name of the destination, e.g. using zip codes, telephone numbers, progressively selecting from initial letters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for data exchange via a communications channel between a central unit, which processes, stores and provides data, and a data terminal device. Initially, a permanently unchanged application-independent query structure (general query structure) is stored both in the central unit and in the data terminal device, as are a small number of permanently unchanged application-independent response formats. For each application, the specific query structure is defined on the basis of the general query structure and is stored in the central unit in the form of a parameter set. As needed, the data terminal device requests from the center unit, via the communications channel, a specific query structure not yet stored in the data terminal device and receives and stores the applicable parameter set. To implement a query functionality, the applicable specific query structure is created in the data terminal device from the general query structure on the basis of the applicable parameter set and, after being at least partially filled out with values by the user, is transmitted to the central unit. The data terminal device makes responses transmitted from the central unit in response to queries available to the user based on one of the stored response formats, which is designated in the particular response.

Claims

1. A process for transmitting data between a central unit for processing, storing and providing data and a data terminal device, wherein application related queries (query functionalities) having a specific query structure corresponding to a given application are directed from the data terminal device to the central unit where they are stored, and wherein responses of the central unit are transmitted to the data terminal device with a specific response structure corresponding to the given application, the process comprising the steps of:

initially storing a permanently unchanged application-independent query structure (general query structure) and a small number of application independent response formats in both the central unit and the data terminal device;

providing at least two specific response structures;

defining, for each application, the specific query structure on the basis of the application-independent query structure;

storing the defined specific query structure in the central unit in the form of a parameter set;

requesting, as needed, a specific query structure not yet stored in the data terminal device from the central unit via a communication channel;

receiving and storing, at me terminal device, a parameter set transmitted from the central unit corresponding to the requested specific query structure, and displaying the specific query structure to the user in the data terminal device in the form of an input mask for receiving entry of at least some of the parameters of a query;

implementing a query functionality by forming the applicable specific query structure in the data terminal device from the application-independent query structure on the basis of the received and stored applicable parameter set;

transmitting the applicable specific query structure to the central unit after it has been at least partially filed out with values by the user; and

making available to the user, at the data terminal device, responses transmitted from the central unit based on one of the stored response formats designated in the particular response.

2. The process set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of providing the application-independent query structure (general query structure) with an identification of the given query functionality, a list of query parameters, and a list of data types of the query parameters.

3. The process as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of providing the specific response structure with at least one data set and a selection list of data sets.

4. The process as set forth in claim 1, including providing no more than ten (10) specific response structures.

5. The process as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

upon introduction of a new query functionality, storing an associated specific query structure in the central unit;

displaying, by the terminal device, the new query functionality within a list of all currently available query functionalities; and

requesting, as needed by the data terminal device, the specific query structure of the new query functionality.

6. The process as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the specific query structures in the data terminal for a predetermined long period of time.

7. The process as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting a current specific query structure from the central unit to the data terminal device when a query has been undertaken on the basis of a specific query structure that is stored in the data terminal device and which no longer corresponds to the current status.

8. The process as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of automatically filling out at least one query parameter with a value by the data terminal device.

9. The process as set forth in claim 8, wherein the at least one query parameter automatically filled-out comprises a description of the current geographic position of the data terminal device when said data terminal device is a mobile data terminal device.

10. The process as set forth in claim 9, wherein said mobile terminal device is disposed within a vehicle.

11. The process as set forth in claim 1, wherein data exchange performed during said steps of requesting, receiving and storing, and transmitting are performed by wireless communication transmission.

12. The process as set forth in claim 11, further comprising the step of coding the data exchange information using a cellular mobile telephone.

13. The process as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

storing information relating to traffic and points of interest to tourists in the central unit; and

requesting, by the data terminal, geographic coordinates of selected points of interest stored in the central unit.

14. An apparatus for data transmission comprising:

a central unit for processing, storing and providing data;

at least one data terminal device having devices for data input and data output and being operably connected to the central unit via a communications channel for exchanging data between the central unit and data terminal device in a framework of various applications;

a permanently unchanged application-independent query structure (general query structure) and a small number of permanently unchanged application-independent response formats stored in both said unit and said at least one data terminal device for implementing data queries at the central unit for particular applications (query functionalities);

a parameter set stored in the central unit representing, for each application, a specific query structure that is defined on the basis of the stored application-independent query structure, wherein, as needed, a specific query structure not yet available in the data terminal device is requested by the data terminal device via the communications channel and can be transmitted from the central unit via the communications channel in the form of a parameter set and stored in the data terminal device, the specific query structure being displayed to the user in the form of an input mask; and

an interpreter in the data terminal device for forming a particular parameter set, wherein after being at least partially filled out with values by the user, the particular parameter set can be transmitted via a communication channel to the central unit;

wherein responses transmitted from the central unit in response to the queries can be presented for the user by the data terminal device based on one of the stored response formats, which is designated in the response.

15. The apparatus for data transmission in accordance with claim 14, wherein said application-independent query structure contains an identification of the given query functionality, a list of query parameters, and a list of data types of the query parameters.

16. The apparatus for data transmission in accordance with claim 14, wherein said stored predefined response formats comprise at least one individual data set and a selection list of data sets.

17. The apparatus for data transmission in accordance with claim 14, wherein the query functionalities currently available at the central unit can be requested by the data terminal device and displayed by the data terminal device in the form of a list for selection of a desired query functionality.

18. The apparatus for data transmission in accordance with claim 14, further comprising a write-protected memory within said data terminal device for storing the application-independent query structure and the predefined response formats.

19. The apparatus for data transmission in accordance with claim 14, wherein said data terminal device comprises an input keyboard and a display device for optical data output.

20. The apparatus for data transmission in accordance with claim 19, wherein said data terminal device further comprises a device for voice data output.

21. The apparatus for data transmission in accordance with claim 14, wherein said data terminal device is a mobile device capable of being carried in a motor vehicle.

22. The apparatus for data transmission in accordance with claim 21, further comprising a geographic position indicating device connected to the data terminal device for automatically determining the geographic position of the data terminal device, and wherein upon queries to the central unit, current geographic position data of the data terminal device is automatically transmitted to the central unit.

23. The apparatus for data transmission in accordance with claim 14, wherein the communication channel comprises a wireless communication connection.