Scheduled data Transmission system, scheduled data transmission method, and transmission server

• US 6,263,201 B1
• Filed: 12/24/1997
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Uniden Corporation (Cornwall Capital Management LP)
• Original Assignee: Uniden Corporation (Cornwall Capital Management LP)
• Inventors: Okazaki, Isao, Hashimoto, Hideki, Seki, Kazuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Congvan
• Application Number:
  US08/997,672
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 455/18, 455/412, 455/414, 455/422, 455/403, 455/31.1, 455/3.1, 455/450, 455/509, 455/515, 370/351, 370/401, 370/463, 370/345, 370/329, 370/442, 370/437, 370/348, 370/343
• US Class Current: 455/403
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/022 One-way selective calling networks, e.g. wide area paging

Abstract

This invention makes it possible to link separately employed pagers, PHS, and other data terminals with computer networks such as the Internet, and to schedule transfer of data to the data terminals. In a system for transferring message to pagers from user terminals connected to the Internet, a user terminal indicates to a transmission server the time for message transfer, and the transmission server, using a code conversion table, converts the message to the code adapted to the particular pager service provider and pager terminal, and transmits the message to the pager terminal at the indicated time.

Claims

1. A scheduled data transmission system, comprising user terminals connected to a communications network, wireless calling equipment for transmitting data for execution of prescribed processes to wireless terminals on the basis of instructions from said user terminals and from transmission servers, wherein

said user terminals transmit to said transmission servers scheduling information for transmitting said data to said wireless terminals at designated time;

said transmission servers transmit said data to said wireless calling equipment at the designated times on the basis of said scheduling information so that prescribed processes are executed with respect to said wireless terminals;

said communications network is Internet; and

wherein

said scheduling information for execution of said prescribed processes which is transmitted by said user terminals includes a transmission message, transmission time information, call number of receiving wireless terminal, model information for receiving wireless terminal, and information about said wireless calling equipment to which the receiving wireless terminal subscribed; and

said transmission servers convert said transmission messages on the basis of said model information and said information about said wireless calling equipment, and transmit the converted messages to said wireless terminals at times corresponding to said transmission time information.

2. A scheduled data transmission system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmission servers comprises code conversion tables for performing code conversions for each service provider and wireless terminal model;

and the transmission servers convert said transmission messages into decimal data strings on the basis of said code conversion tables.

3. A scheduled data transmission system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmission servers comprises predetermined standard text tables for each service provider and wireless terminal model;

and said transmission servers convert said transmission messages into decimal data strings on the basis of said tables.

4. A scheduled data transmission system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scheduling information which is transmitted by said user terminals for said prescribed processes included e-mail receipt information indicating that an e-mail has reached said terminal, transmission time information, call number of said receiving wireless terminal, model information for said receiving wireless terminal, and information about said wireless calling equipment to which said receiving wireless terminal subscribes;

and

said transmission servers transmit said e-mail receipt information to said wireless terminals at times corresponding to said transmission time information.

5. A scheduled data transmission system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scheduling information which is transmitted by said user terminals for said prescribed processes includes registration location switching time information, as well as first location information and second location information for said wireless terminal;

and

said transmission servers transmit to said wireless calling equipment information for switching said wireless terminal registration location from said first location to said second location at a time corresponding to said registration location switching time information.

6. A scheduled data transmission system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said transmission servers transmit to said wireless terminals an attached message pertaining to switching when transmitting information for switching a registration location.

7. A scheduled data transmission system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said transmission servers transmit messages to both said first location and said second location.

8. A scheduled data transmission system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scheduling information which is transmitted by said user terminals for said prescribed processes includes password switching time information and password information for setting up or canceling a password, and

said transmission servers transmit to said wireless calling equipment information for changing said wireless terminal password status on the basis of said password information at a time corresponding to said password switching time information.

9. A scheduled data transmission system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said transmission servers transmit to said wireless terminals an attached message pertaining to change in password status when transmitting information for changing password status.

10. A scheduled data transmission system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said transmission server comprises an Internet protocol router.

11. A scheduled data transmission system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said transmission servers comprises a Point-to-Point Protocol server.

12. A transmission server for transmitting to wireless calling equipment, on the basis of instructions from user terminals connected to a communications network, data for execution of prescribed processes with respect to wireless terminals, comprising:

reception means for receiving scheduling information form said user terminals;

a scheduling information database for storing said scheduling information;

a code conversion database for converting said scheduling information so as to be compatible with said wireless terminals and wireless calling equipment;

a processor for converting said scheduling information on the basis of said code conversion database and for outputting converted scheduling information at designated times on the basis of said scheduling information; and

transmission means for transmitting scheduling formation that has been converted by said processor to said wireless calling equipment over communications network;

wherein said communications network is Internet, said reception means includes IP (Internet Protocol) routers and PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) severs; and

said processor includes WWW (World Wide Web) servers for setting scheduling data from the user terminals and call servers for receiving call commands from the WWW servers and executing processes.

13. A scheduled data transmission system comprising registered user terminals that have been previously registered, wireless call equipment for transmitting data for execution of prescribed process with respect wireless terminals on the basis of instructions from the registered user terminals, and transmission servers.

wherein, in the event of a request for prescribed process from said registered user terminal, said transmission server executes said prescribed process;

and in the event the request for the prescribed process has been made by unregistered user terminal, said transmission server executes said prescribed process in response to the request from said unregistered user terminal with the scope of prescribed restricting conditions;

wherein said transmission server counts the number of accesses by said unregistered user terminal and executes said prescribed process if the number of accesses is within a predetermined range; and

wherein said transmission server suspends said prescribed process when the number of accesses exceeds a predetermined range, as well as notifying said unregistered user terminal information that the process has been suspended and providing information pertaining to user terminal registration.

15. A scheduled data transmission system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said transmission server, after suspending said prescribed process, re-enables said prescribed process for said unregistered user terminal after a prescribed period of time has elapsed.

14. A scheduled data transmission system comprising registered user terminals that have been previously registered, wireless call equipment for transmitting data for execution of prescribed process with respect to wireless terminals on the basis of instructions from the registered user terminals, and transmission servers,

wherein, in the event of a request for prescribed process from said registered user terminal, said transmission server executes said prescribed process;

and in the event the request for the prescribed process has been made by unregistered user terminal, said transmission server executes said prescribed process in response to the request from said unregistered user terminal with the scope of prescribed restricting conditions;

wherein said transmission server counts the number of accesses by said unregistered user terminal and executes said prescribed process if the number of accesses is within a predetermined range; and

wherein said transmission server, in the event that requests for prescribed processes have been made by a plurality of unregistered user terminals, transmits a message urging user registration to said unregistered user terminal with the higher frequency of access.

16. A scheduled data transmission method for transmitting data for execution of prescribed process with respect to wireless terminals on the basis of instructions from a registered user terminal that has been previously registered, comprising:

a first step in which a determination is made as to whether there has been a request from said registered user terminal;

a second step in which, in the event of request from said registered user terminal, data for execution of said prescribed process is transmitted;

a third step in which, in the event of a request from unregistered user terminal, the number of accesses by this terminal are counted;

a fourth step in which, where the count value falls between first value and second value data for execution of said prescribed process in response to the request from said unregistered user terminal is transmitted;

a fifth step in which, where the count value exceeds the second value, transmission of data for execution of said prescribed process in response to the request from said unregistered user terminal is suspended;

a sixth step in which, after suspending transmission, said unregistered user terminal is notified of the suspension, and information pertaining to terminal registration process is provided; and

a seventh step in which, once a prescribed time interval has elapsed, the count value is set to a value below the second value.