[Patents] EPO patent on terminal-to-multiple-hosts interfacing

[Bernard Lang Bernard.Lang@inria.fr]

I cannot read that ... what is supposed to be the invention ?

Bernard


On Wed, Nov 08, 2000 at 01:56:30AM +0100, PILCH Hartmut wrote:
> EP0529915 
> Voice processing interface for a computer
> IBM (US)
> 
> 
>    Claims
>    
>    1. A method for operating an interface processor to provide access to
>    applications running on a plurality of host processors, each said host
>    processor communicating with said interface processor by providing
>    screens to said interface processor, comprising the steps of:
>    (a) establishing at least one virtual terminal session with each said
>    host processor and initializing said applications running on said host
>    processor to ready them for further commands;
>    (b) responding to a user request that requires a process to be
>    performed by an application, by accessing a virtual terminal session
>    with a host processor on which said application is running, entering
>    user data in a stored screen from said application and transmitting
>    said data to said host processor, whereby said host processor
>    immediately processes said data; and
>    (c) receiving a screen from said host processor containing data for
>    said user, and transmitting said data to said user, whereby said
>    interface processor enables a plurality of host processors to rapidly
>    respond to user-supplied data without requiring modification of host
>    processor-controlling software.
> 
> This claim seems to cover almost any form of interfacing between a
> terminal and multiple hosts that run on independent systems.
> The following subclaims are more specific, but still don't teach how to
> solve problems but rather serve to occupy whole problems, as more
> than 90% of all EPO software patent claims seem to do.
> 
>    2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein step (b) includes the
>    further steps of: creating a table of host application/virtual
>    terminal sessions; updating said table to indicate available host
>    application/virtual terminal sessions; and choosing from said table,
>    an available host application/virtual terminal session in response to
>    said user data, whereby said user data may be directed to an available
>    host application virtual terminal session that is not already busy.
>    3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, responsive to the
>    provision by said user in step (b) of a plurality of input data that
>    require a plurality of applications, including the further steps of:
>    accessing a plurality of virtual terminal sessions, one for each said
>    user-supplied input data, and wherein step (c) extracts data from
>    screens returned by said each application and provides said data to
>    the user in response to said user data inputs.
>    4. A method as claimed in Claim 3 wherein said input data is received
>    by telephone in the form of multiple data inputs in a single call,
>    said multiple data inputs requiring multiple applications for
>    response.
>    5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim including the further
>    step of: providing a refresh input to each said virtual terminal
>    session and connected host processor, whereby a said application on
>    said processor is maintained in an initialized state.
>    6. An interface processor for processing user telephone inquiries by
>    accessing applications running on a plurality of connected host
>    processors, each host processor communicating with said interface
>    processor through provided screens, said interface processor
>    comprising: channel process means for interacting with said user,
>    receiving a said user input, and providing a voice response to said
>    user; virtual terminal means for establishing a plurality of virtual
>    terminal sessions, at least one session with each said host processor,
>    initializing an application on each said host processor, and storing
>    an initial screen from each said application; and executor means
>    responsive to a user input from a said channel process means, to
>    operate over an available virtual terminal session and communicate
>    with an initialized application and to provide screen data that
>    includes user data, to a said application, and for receiving a screen
>    with user data from said application in response and to provide said
>    user data to said channel process means, whereby said channel process
>    means responds to said user with said user data.
>    7. A processor as claimed in Claim 6 further comprising: table means
>    including a listing of host application/virtual terminal sessions; and
>    control means for examining said table means and assigning an
>    available virtual terminal session in response to a user inquiry.
>    8. A processor as claimed in Claim 7 wherein said control means
>    provides periodic inputs to said virtual terminal sessions to maintain
>    said applications on said host processors in their initialized state
>    in the event any said application is not accessed by a user inquiry
>    within a predetermined time period.
>    9. A processor as claimed in Claim 8 wherein said channel process
>    means includes voice response capability that orally responds to user
>    initiated telephone inquiries.
>    10. A processor as claimed in Claim 9 wherein said executor means
>    responds to a user input requiring a plurality of applications, by
>    assigning to said user input a plurality of virtual terminal sessions
>    with applications required to respond to said multiple inquiries.
>    11. A processor as claimed in Claim 8 wherein said executor means
>    executes a stored script and transfers data received in a screen from
>    a host processor over one virtual terminal session, into a screen for
>    transmission to a host processor over another virtual terminal
>    session.
>      _________________________________________________________________
>    
>    Data supplied from the esp@cenet database - l2
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Patents maillist  -  Patents@liberte.aful.org
> http://liberte.aful.org/mailman/listinfo/patents

-- 
         Non aux Brevets Logiciels  -  No to Software Patents
           SIGNEZ    http://petition.eurolinux.org/    SIGN

Bernard.Lang@inria.fr             ,_  /\o    \o/    Tel  +33 1 3963 5644
http://pauillac.inria.fr/~lang/  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  Fax  +33 1 3963 5469
            INRIA / B.P. 105 / 78153 Le Chesnay CEDEX / France
         Je n'exprime que mon opinion - I express only my opinion
                 CAGED BEHIND WINDOWS or FREE WITH LINUX