System and method for providing to multiple user computers concurrent telephonic access to multiple remote devices
First Claim
1. For communication between a plurality of user computers and a plurality of devices, the plurality of user computers being communicatively linked to a computer network, each of the plurality of devices being communicatively linked to a telephone system by a modem coupled to a telephone connection, each modem having a modem telephone number, each of the plurality of devices being not directly connected to the computer network, a method comprising:
- receiving a user identification of a first computer user who is using a first user computer communicatively linked to the computer network;
verifying, from the provided user identification for the first computer user, that the first computer user is authorized and if so, establishing a first user-host communication link between the first user computer and a host computer via the computer network;
determining a first set of the devices that the first computer user is authorized to access, the first set comprising a plurality, if not all, of the plurality of devices;
using device access information, including the modem telephone number of each of the first set of the devices, from a directory located on a computer other than any of the plurality of user computers to direct a modem pool coupled to the telephone system to establish first host-device communication links via the telephone system with the first set of the devices, with the first host-device communication links being concurrent with the first user-host communication link and providing simultaneous access for the first user computer to the first set of devices via the first user-host communication link;
receiving a user identification of a second computer user who is using a second user computer that is communicatively linked to the computer network;
verifying, from the provided user identification for the second computer user, that the second computer user is authorized and if so, establishing a second user-host communication link between the second user computer and the host computer via the computer network, the second user-host communication link being coincident with the first user-host communication link;
determining a second set of the devices that the second computer user is authorized to access, the second set comprising a plurality, if not all, of the plurality of devices; and
using device access information, including the modem telephone number of each of the second set of the devices, from a directory located on a computer other than any of the plurality of user computers to direct the modem pool coupled to the telephone system to establish second host-device communication links via the telephone system with the second set of the devices, with the second host-device communication links being concurrent with the second user-host communication link and providing access for the second user computer to the second set of devices via the second user-host communication link, and the second host-device communication links being concurrent with the first host-device communication links.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for acquiring and managing data from multiple remote devices. A server is programmed to automatically dial and connect to remote devices that are connected to standard phone lines. The invention allows multiple remote user computers to concurrently control and access data supplied by the remote devices over combined computer network and telephone systems.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. For communication between a plurality of user computers and a plurality of devices, the plurality of user computers being communicatively linked to a computer network, each of the plurality of devices being communicatively linked to a telephone system by a modem coupled to a telephone connection, each modem having a modem telephone number, each of the plurality of devices being not directly connected to the computer network, a method comprising:
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receiving a user identification of a first computer user who is using a first user computer communicatively linked to the computer network; verifying, from the provided user identification for the first computer user, that the first computer user is authorized and if so, establishing a first user-host communication link between the first user computer and a host computer via the computer network; determining a first set of the devices that the first computer user is authorized to access, the first set comprising a plurality, if not all, of the plurality of devices; using device access information, including the modem telephone number of each of the first set of the devices, from a directory located on a computer other than any of the plurality of user computers to direct a modem pool coupled to the telephone system to establish first host-device communication links via the telephone system with the first set of the devices, with the first host-device communication links being concurrent with the first user-host communication link and providing simultaneous access for the first user computer to the first set of devices via the first user-host communication link; receiving a user identification of a second computer user who is using a second user computer that is communicatively linked to the computer network; verifying, from the provided user identification for the second computer user, that the second computer user is authorized and if so, establishing a second user-host communication link between the second user computer and the host computer via the computer network, the second user-host communication link being coincident with the first user-host communication link; determining a second set of the devices that the second computer user is authorized to access, the second set comprising a plurality, if not all, of the plurality of devices; and using device access information, including the modem telephone number of each of the second set of the devices, from a directory located on a computer other than any of the plurality of user computers to direct the modem pool coupled to the telephone system to establish second host-device communication links via the telephone system with the second set of the devices, with the second host-device communication links being concurrent with the second user-host communication link and providing access for the second user computer to the second set of devices via the second user-host communication link, and the second host-device communication links being concurrent with the first host-device communication links. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer recordable medium whose contents cause a host computer to support communication between a plurality of user computers and a plurality of devices, the plurality of user computers being communicatively linked to a computer network, the plurality of devices being communicatively linked to a telephone system, by:
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coupling a separate modem to each of the plurality of devices, the separate modem being coupled to a separate telephone connection with the telephone system, each modem having a modem telephone number, each of the plurality of devices being not directly connected to the computer network; receiving a user identification of a first computer user who is using a first user computer communicatively linked to the computer network; verifying, from the provided user identification for the first computer user, that the first computer user is authorized and if so, establishing a first user-host communication link between the first user computer and the host computer via the computer network; determining a first set of the devices that the first computer user is authorized to access, the first set comprising a plurality, if not all, of the plurality of devices; using device access information, including the modem telephone number of each of the first set of the devices, from a directory located on a computer other than any of the plurality of user computers to direct a modem pool coupled to the telephone system to establish first host-device communication links via the telephone system with the first set of the devices, with the first host-device communication links being concurrent with the first user-host communication link and providing simultaneous access for the first user computer to the first set of devices via the first user-host communication link; receiving a user identification of a second computer user who is using a second user computer that is communicatively linked to the computer network; verifying, from the provided user identification for the second computer user, that the second computer user is authorized and if so, establishing a second user-host communication link between the second user computer and the host computer via the computer network, the second user-host communication link being coincident with the first user-host communication link; determining a second set of the devices that the second computer user is authorized to access, the second set comprising a plurality, if not all, of the plurality of devices; and using device access information, including the modem telephone number of each of the second set of the devices, from a directory located on other than any of the plurality of user computers to direct the modem pool coupled to the telephone system to establish second host-device communication links via the telephone system with the second set of the devices, with the second host-device communication links being concurrent with the second user-host communication link and providing access for the second user computer to the second set of devices via the second user-host communication link, and the second host-device communication links being concurrent with the first host-device communication links. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification