A data capture system is disclosed as comprising a plurality of client data collection terminals, and a server station. Each terminal including a mechanism for collecting data, a dynamic addressable memory and a first controller operating on data formatted in a first style. The server station comprises mass memory, which is larger than the dynamic addressable memory of a terminal for storing data to be used by the data collection terminals, an addresser responsive to a memory altering request for addressing the mass memory and a second controller operating on data formatted in a second style different from said first style. The data stored in the dynamic addressable memory is formatted in the second style. A communication system interconnects the server station and each of the plurality of client data collection terminals. The first controller of each client data collection terminal is responsive to a need for further data to generate a memory altering request and for actuating the communication system to transmit the generated request to the server station. The request is generated to identify its terminal and the particular needed data. The second controller of the server station is responsive to the transmitted request to address and retrieve the needed data from the mass memory before actuating the communication system to transmit the needed data back to the requesting terminal as identified by the request.

A data collection system performs data transmission from a portable information collection-transmission unit 1 to a central data reception unit 7 over a telephone line 6. The information collection-transmission unit 1 has a terminal 2 which temporarily stores data and a unidirectional acoustic coupler 3 which converts the data held in said terminal 2 into binary codes of frequencies used for the transmission on the telephone line, and it sends the data over the telephone line 6. The data reception unit 7 has a modem 8 which converts the data signal on the telephone line into a usable digital data signal and a work station 9 which stores the output of the modem, and it is further provided with a voice synthesizer 10 which outputs a prescribed low-frequency audible signal to the telephone line 6 in response to the instruction from the work station 9. After a call from the data collection-transmission unit 1 has been established, the voice synthesizer responds to the instruction from the work station 9 and issues a low-frequency audible signal for the acknowledgement of call establishment to the data collection-transmission unit 1 so that data transmission is commenced.

A system for collecting data from at least one remote site and transmitting the collected data to a main information center. The system has information distributed throughout and is divided into first, second, and third portions. The system includes at least one portable terminal for collecting data at the remote site. The terminal comprises a first memory for storing the first information portion. The terminal operates by a programmed computer to sense the need for information for its use to generate an information call identifying the needed information, and to respond to the information call for searching its first memory for the presence or absence of that needed information. If that needed information is available in the first memory of the terminal, it is supplied for use by the portable terminal. The system further comprises a first mobile server to be transported to various locations with respect to the main information center and the remote site. The first mobile server comprises a second memory for storing the second information portion, and responds to the information call for searching the second memory for presence or absence of that needed information. The system further includes a second server at the main information center which comprises a third memory for storing the third information portion, and operates to search the third memory for the presence or absence of that needed information.

A personal financial assistant computer method includes customer terminals at financial institution branch offices or other locations. Each customer terminal stores financial information for the particular financial services (such as insurance, annuities, bonds, mortgages or loans) sold at that terminal. A display is also provided at each terminal for displaying selected information. At least one representative terminal is provided at a central location and includes a display and keyboard. A telephone link is also provided between the customer terminals and the representative terminals for voice communication. According to the invention, a representative at the representative terminal controls the customer terminal in response to commands initiated from the input device, thereby displaying financial service information at the customer terminal under control of the representative terminal. All display of information at the customer terminal is controlled by the representative in response to one-on-one conversations between the representative and a customer over the telephone line.

A data collecting system is divided into first, second, and third information portions and includes at least one portable terminal for collecting data at a remote site. The terminal comprises a device for collecting data and a first memory for storing the first information portion. The terminal operates to sense the need for information for its use to generate an information call identifying the information and to respond to the information call for searching its memory for the information. If the information is available it is supplied for use by the portable terminal. The system further comprises a first mobile server which comprises a second memory for storing the second information portion, and responds to the information call for searching the second memory for the information. The system further includes a second server at a main information center. The second server comprises a third memory for storing the third information portion, and searches the third memory for the information. The data collection terminal is responsive to the absence of the information within the first memory for transmitting from the calling terminal the information call via a first communication link to the first mobile server. The mobile server responds to the receipt of the information call to search the second memory for the information and, if present, accessing the information from the second memory and transmitting it via the first communication link for use by the calling terminal.