System and method for providing high-speed communications using a public terminal
First Claim
1. A communications interface, comprising:
- a first interface connected to a switched communications network, for allowing a user to interactively communicate with the switched communications network; and
a second interface for connecting at least one portable data application device to a high-speed communications network, the second interface coupled to the first interface through a remote data server interface, the high-speed communications network providing data access through the second interface upon activation via a user interactive communication through the first interface to the remote data server interface for data transmission at the second interface.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method that enables high-speed communications access from a fixed location public terminal. A fixed location public terminal includes a high-speed communications interface. The high-speed communications interface is coupled to one or more data servers via a high-speed communications network. The high-speed communications interface includes one or more data ports enabling one or more data application devices to be connected to the fixed location public terminal. The fixed location public terminal operates as an interface that initiates high-speed communications between the one or more data servers and one or more data application devices. A user places a telephone call to a high-speed data communications provider. The telephone call terminates at a data server that determines a data port address of the fixed location public terminal according to a plain-old-telephone system (POTS) number assigned to the fixed location public terminal. The data server also authorizes payment for the high-speed data communications and enables high-speed communications access using the high-speed communications interface.
83 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A communications interface, comprising:
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a first interface connected to a switched communications network, for allowing a user to interactively communicate with the switched communications network; and
a second interface for connecting at least one portable data application device to a high-speed communications network, the second interface coupled to the first interface through a remote data server interface, the high-speed communications network providing data access through the second interface upon activation via a user interactive communication through the first interface to the remote data server interface for data transmission at the second interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A communications interface, comprising:
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switched communications network interface means for interfacing to a switched communications network for allowing a user to interactively communicate with the switched communications network; and
high-speed communications network interface means for interfacing to a high-speed communications network, the high-speed communications network interface means coupled to the switched communication network means through a remote data server interface means, the high-speed communications network providing data access through the high-speed communications network interface means to at least one portable data application device upon activation via a user interactive communication through the switched communications network interface means to the remote data server interface means for data transmission at the high-speed communications network interface means. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A communications method, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a fixed location public terminal having a first interface connected to a switched communications network for allowing a user to interactively communicate with the switched communications network;
b) coupling to the fixed location public terminal a second interface for connecting at least one portable data application device to a high-speed communications interface, the second interface coupled to the first interface through a remote data server interface; and
c) activating access to the high-speed communications network via a user interactive communication through the first interface to the remote data server interface for data transmission at the second interface. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A high-speed communications system, comprising:
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a fixed location public terminal;
a switched network coupled to the fixed location public terminal for allowing a user to interactively communicate with the switched communications network;
a high-speed communications interface coupled to the fixed location public terminal;
a high-speed communications network coupled to the high-speed communications interface, where the high-speed interface connects at least one portable data application to the high-speed communications network and is activated via a user interactive communication through the communications interface-to a remote data server interface; and
at least one data resource coupled to the high-speed communications network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A communications interface system, comprising:
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a public terminal having a first interface and a second interface;
a plurality of data servers storing data; and
a data server interface remote from the public terminal and operatively connected to the first interface, the second interface and the plurality of data servers, where the data server interface activates access to a high-speed communications network at the second interface in response to a request from the first interface. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for activating a communications interface system, comprising the steps of:
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providing a fixed location public terminal having a first interface operatively connected to a data server interface, where the data server interface is remote from the fixed location public terminal;
coupling a second interface to the fixed location public terminal, where the second interface is operatively connected to a high-speed communication network and to the data server interface; and
activating access to the high-speed communications in response to a request received at the data server interface from the first interface. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification