US 6,181,736 B2Granted

Network communication system

AssigneeNXi Communications, Inc.

InventorsThomas J. McLaughlin, James E. Messinger, Ronald J. Nelson

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Abstract

A network communications system containing one or more nodes includes an ITU/TDD/VOICE modem in electrical communication with a local computer. A remote device connecting to the ITU/TDD/VOICE modem is able to converse in real time using textual characters with the local computer user. Once connected to the ITU/TDD/VOICE modem, the remote device is recognized by the network as an additional node. If the remote device wishes to textually communicate with a node on the network, the local computer formats the data into a network compatible format for transmission to the node. The local computer transmits the data to the node while communication between the ITU/TDD/VOICE modem and the remote device is maintained. Once the remote device is connected to the network, the network may treat the remote device as an additional node. Thus, the remote device may be privileged to some or all of the network services. Furthermore, the remote device may be allowed to utilize a network modem for connection to a second remote device.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A network communication system for transferring a text call to a node user from a local user to thereby allow communication between a remote user of a remote modem and the node user, the network communication system comprising:

an automated local modem for establishing a modem carrier connection with the remote modem;
an automated computer in electrical communication with the automated local modem;
a local computer in electrical communication with the automated computer and having an output device for displaying textual characters;
a node in electrical communication with the local computer and comprising an output device for displaying textual characters;
and
a network server in electrical communication with the automated computer, local computer, and the node to regulate data transfer, wherein the automated local modem establishes a modem carrier connection with the remote modem to receive data comprising textual characters, wherein the automated local modem converts the data into a format suitable for the automated computer, wherein the automated computer transmits the data to the local computer while the modem carrier connection between the automated local modem and the remote modem is maintained, wherein the local computer selects a node and data is transferred to the node, wherein the node generates and transmits response data comprising textual characters to the automated computer and to the automated local modem for transmission of the response data from the automated local modem to the remote modem to thereby enable real time communication between the node and the remote modem.

3 more elements

A method for transferring a remote modem text call from a first node on a network to a second node on the network to thereby enable a remote modem user to communicate with a second node user, the method comprising:

establishing a modem carrier connection between the remote modem and an automated station comprising a local modem;
transmitting data comprising textual characters from the remote modem to the automated station;
reformatting the data for compatible transmission of the data from the automated station to a first node across the network;
transmitting the data from the automated station to the first node while maintaining the modem carrier connection between the remote modem and the local modem;
selecting the second node and transmitting the data to the second node;
displaying the textual characters on an output device in electrical communication with the second node;
the second node generating and transmitting response data comprising textual characters to the automated station;
and
the automated station transmitting the response data to the remote modem to provide real time communication between the second node and the remote modem.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/040,916Filed 18 Mar 1998 · us provisional application
Priority: 25 Mar 1997
Granted: 30 Jan 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

H04M 1/2473
Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use: telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer,…
H04L 5/16
Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex: half-duplex systems; Simplex/duplex switching; Transmission of break signals…
H04M 3/465
Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained: arrangements for simultaneously calling…
H04M 11/066
Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors: telephone sets adapted for data transmision