Interactive terminal for the access of remote database information

What is claimed is:

1. A telecommunications device for creating an interactive terminal for accessing information from a remote computerized database using a communication exchange, wherein said interactive terminal is coupled to a home television receiver for displaying information retrieved from said computerized database, said television receiver having an input port, and to a telephone coupled to said communication exchange, said telephone having one or more keys for generating selective DTMF output signals, wherein said interactive terminal comprises:

interface means coupled to said telephone and to said communication exchange for communicating and receiving communication signals including carrier based signals over said communication exchange,

said interface means responsive to receiving said selective DTMF output signals generated by said telephone for selectively uncoupling said telephone from said communication exchange and allowing a user to locally manipulate said information contained in said interactive terminal after it is retrieved from said remote database;

modem means coupled to said interface means for retrieving and converting said carrier based signals corresponding to said information from said remote database into digitally encoded data signals, and for converting digitally encoded data signals into carrier based signals for transmission via said communication exchange to said remote database;

control means coupled to said modem means for operating said telecommunications device, said control means responsive to said digitally encoded data signals from said modem means;

said control means further comprising programmable memory means for storing said digitally encoded data signals; and

video signal processing means coupled to said control means for converting said digitally encoded data signals into corresponding video data signals for transmitting to said television receiver said video data signal.

2. A telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein said interface means includes a switching means for switching said telephone onto and off of said communications exchange such that said selective output signals are still received by said control means when said telephone is switched off of said communications exchange.

3. A telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein said database employs control software responsive to said carrier based signals transmitted by said modem means via said communication exchange.

4. A telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein said programmable memory means includes a first memory storage having control signals programmably alterable under the control of said computerized database.

5. A telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes a keyboard.

6. A telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes a disk storage device.

7. A telecommunications device according to claim 1 wherein said control means includes a printing device.

8. A telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes a second memory storage for storing a coded signal corresponding to an individual identification of said telecommunications device for controlling access to said computerized database.

9. A telecommunications device according to claim 8 wherein said control means includes mans for programmably altering contents of said second memory storage under the control of said computerized database.

10. A telecommunications device according to claim 1, further including a radio frequency modulating means coupled to said video processing means for receiving and modulating said video data signals over a carrier frequency, said radio frequency modulating means having a tuning circuit for tuning said modulated video signal across various frequencies; and a switching means coupled to said video processing means, to a broadcast/cable exchange, and to said input port of said display device wherein said switching means is controlled by said control means and is responsive to said video data signal for transmitting to said display device said modulated video signal or broadcast signals received from said broadcast/cable exchange.

11. A telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein said selective output signal is a multi-frequency signal.

12. A telecommunications device for creating an interactive terminal for accessing information from a remote computerized database using a communication exchange, wherein said interactive terminal is coupled to a television receiver for displaying information retrieved from said computerized database, said television receiver having an input port; said interactive terminal comprising:

a telephone keypad having a plurality of keys for generating output signals corresponding to said keys when selected;

interface means coupled to said telephone keypad and to said communication exchange for communicating and receiving communication signals including carrier based signals over said communication exchange,

said interface means responsive to receiving said output signals generated by said keypad means for selectively uncoupling said keypad from said communication exchange and allowing a user to manipulate said information after it is retrieved from said database;

modem means coupled to said interface means for retrieving and converting said carrier based signals corresponding to said information from said remote database into digitally encoded data signals, and for converting digitally encoded data signals into carrier based signals for transmission via said communication exchange to said database;

control means coupled to said modem means for operating said telecommunications device, said control means having a plurality of peripheral interfaces for supporting input/output devices, said control means responsive to said digitally encoded data signals;

programmable memory means coupled to said control means for storing said digitally encoded signals;

video signal processing means coupled to said control means for converting said digitally encoded data signals into corresponding video data signals including character generation; radio frequency modulating means coupled to said video processing means for receiving and modulating said video data signals over a carrier frequency, said radio frequency modulating means having a tuning circuit for tuning said modulating video signal across various frequencies; and

switching means coupled to a broadcast/cable exchange, to said input port of said television receiver and to said radio frequency modulating means, wherein said switching means is controlled by said control means and is responsive to said modulated video signal for transmitting to said television receiver said modulated video signal or broadcast signals received from said broadcast/cable exchange.

13. A telecommunications device according to claim 12, wherein said database employs control software responsive to said carrier based signals transmitted by said modem means via said communication exchange.

14. A telecommunications device according to claim 12, wherein said programmable memory means includes a first memory storage having control signals programmably alterable under the control of said computerized database.

15. A communications device according to claim 12, wherein said modem means includes means for implementing amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, and phase modulation.

16. A telecommunications device according to claim 12 wherein said control means includes a second memory storage for storing a coded signal corresponding to an individual identification of said telecommunications device for controlling access to said computerized database.

17. A telecommunications device according to claim 16 wherein said control means includes means for programmably altering the contents of said second memory storage under the control of said computerized database.

18. A telecommunication device according to claim 12, wherein said keypad means is a keypad of a telephone coupled to said interactive terminal.

Description Submit all comments and votes

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention broadly relates to a low cost terminal for the interactive access of information from computerized host databases, and more particularly, to a low cost telecommunications terminal having a telephone interface to access information over telephone lines, which uses a telephone keypad to control the terminal, and a display device to display the information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, there has been a marked surge in the popularity of numerous commercial database systems, such as the Prodigy.RTM. data retrieval service. These database services provide various information and popular services that may be sought by the public-at-large, such as travel information, news retrieval, or stock quotation indices. The computerized databases are designed to be accessed by end-users from the home or office.

In a typical database system, the desired information is accumulated at a host computer system or network, in which the information is stored in databases or files that may be accessed by the end-user. In order to access this information or to use the services provided by the host computer network, a retrieval terminal or some other means to access information from the remote host database is required by the end-user.

Systems have been previously developed for accessing computerized databases through a telephone communication network by an apparatus that implements telephone functions and displays the requested data on a display monitor. As an example, Sargent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,662) discloses a system for displaying information retrieved over a telephone network on a terminal apparatus. Bendig (U.S. Pat. No. 4,451,701) similarly proposes a system for providing interactive communication with a remote database over a telephone exchange, which utilizes a television receiver to display the data retrieved. Schussler et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,254) also relates to another system for displaying information received from a remote data bank via a telephone exchange, on a user's television receiver.

However, the above-mentioned systems suffer a number of drawbacks. All of these systems require an additional peripheral device (and its associated cost) in order to utilize and control the operation of the device. The prior systems that utilize the telephone keypad as a control means do so only to establish connection to a remote database. Consequently, the necessary addition of a peripheral keyboard or keypad to control the terminals inevitably increases the expense of these known systems.

Furthermore, in several of the prior systems, and specifically the Sargent and Schussler et al. systems, the display device that is utilized does not comprise a readily available component (for example, a conventional television receiver) but rather entails a modified or specifically equipped display device. The use of such a specialized display device inevitably increases the cost of the overall system to the consumer/user.

An additional drawback of the previously-known systems is that they lack a reprogrammable memory capability. A system without such a feature pocesses significant limitations. For example, any required future enhancements, repairs or modifications to the units must be serviced by field personnel, or recalled from the consumer marketplace back to the manufacturer for such changes. Such a costly servicing of the prior systems may be avoided, in many cases, if a reprogrammable memory capability had been available, which would allow modifications to be easily implemented from a remote location. Thus, the lack of programmable memory leaves the systems wanting in expansibility due to their inflexibility.

Finally, these known systems are not designed to be used principally with existing accessory devices already possessed by the consumer, such as a telephone and television receiver. This would advantageously serve to render the device inexpensive.

As is known, home personal computers are often employed as a database access means By connecting the personal computer to an external modem, the end-user is able to telephonically access information located in the host computer database. In fact, the recent popularity and increased use of personal home computers by the public-at-large has fueled the development and expanded use of commercial database systems.

Although providing a feasible way for accessing the stored information, the home computer/modem/monitor combination presents a number of significant drawbacks. For example, although the cost of home computers has significantly decreased over the years, the purchase price of most computers may be a deterrent for the average consumer who might consider subscribing to a commercial host database system. Moreover, there are occasions when the potential end-user of the host database system has no need or desire to purchase a personal computer other than for accessing the database system. The purchase of a home computer is thereby rendered impracticable for such an end-user.

Additionally, certain required peripherals, such as an external modem and display monitor, must be purchased separately from the computer. These additional components are necessary to enable the computer to access and display the information retrieved from the host database. Thus, the cost to the consumer is further increased.

The above described cost barrier presents significant problems for host database operators, in that the potential market for end-users of the database system is significantly reduced. Because host database operators have had a somewhat limited market for offering their information or system database services, subscription costs to the end-users currently subscribing to such services has remained at an inflated level. Thus, many potential subscribers who would normally subscribe to a commercial database service will not do so because of the cost of using the service.

There are other concerns related to using personal computers as the access terminal. It would be advantageous for the host database operator to prevent unauthorized end-users from accessing the database. Also, it would be more cost efficient if host operators could vary the advertising viewed by the end-user each time the end-user logs onto the database system. Although achievable with current personal computers, it is necessary to include extra components with the system, which further adds to the cost to the end-user.

Apart from the stated concerns directed towards the access of information stored in remotely located commercial host database systems, it has become typical of businesses or other organizations to create "in-house" information databases. Typically, the database is stored at a centralized computer location. The stored information is shared or accessed by the direct connection of personal computers to the central computer. This is exemplified, for example, by a "LAN" network.

However, in order for the individual employees to make the most effective use of the information found in those centralized computers, corporations must invest significant capital to purchase a sufficient number of access terminals. This is often cost prohibitive to the business. Thus, the corporate database may not be used at its maximum efficiency, thereby placing an added financial burden onto the corporation.

Because of the size or bulkiness of most home personal computers, host database systems are not currently accessible to the end-user in certain desirable locations. For example, in the limited space environment of commercial airliners, automobiles, or even pleasure boats, there may be occasions when a passenger or occupant wishes to access information from host databases. However, space limitations aboard those craft prohibit the placement of a personal computer or similar unit.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that is not complex in its use in order to facilitate the interactive access of information from computerized host databases for the ordinary consumer/user.

A more specific object of the present invention to provide a apparatus for the interactive access of information from computerized host databases that employs conventional embodiments such as a telephone and television for accessing and displaying the information retrieved.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for the interactive access of information from remote computerized databases that is compact in its size so as to not require much additional space.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which is capable of operating in a stand alone manner for interactively accessing and manipulating information from a computerized database.

Yet another object of the current invention is to provide a apparatus which may be programmably controlled and modified by a host database operator for interactively altering the accessing of information from a computerized database.

The foregoing objects and advantages of the invention are illustrative of those which can be achieved by the present invention and are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the possible advantages which can be realized. Thus, these and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description herein or can be learned from practicing the invention, both as embodied herein or as modified in view of any variations which may be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the present invention resides in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above and other objects according to the invention is accomplished by providing a telecommunication terminal which utilizes technology presently available and commonly used. In one embodiment of the terminal according to the invention, the cost of achieving these objects is kept to a minimal level through the utilization of the end-user's own conventional television receiver and a push-button telephone as the display device and the communication link, respectively, connecting the terminal to the host database system The terminal may include a telephone interface for connecting to a push button telephone and for connecting the terminal to a communications exchange, a modem device, a central processing unit, a video signal generator, and a RF modulator, thereby providing display of information on the screen of an unmodified television receiver by simply connecting the output of the terminal to the cable/antenna terminals of the television receiver. In this regard, the elimination of a separate keyboard and video monitor constitutes a significant cost savings to the end-user.

Connection with a remote database, program selection and overall control of the terminal is accomplished through the simple use of the keypad of the telephone attached to the terminal, replacing the need for an expensive accessory keyboard. The invention, which contains the necessary logic circuitry, can communicate with a host computer base through a telephone line. Control software located at the host database is responsive to signals received from the keypad, allowing the end-user to control operation of the device and display the information and services offered by the database service.

Additionally, the device may include control software so as to program the terminal's registers and memory while the terminal is communicating with the host database, thereby allowing for future modification of the device. Communication between the terminal and the host database is further enhanced by the use of data compression and error detection/correction techniques.

In another embodiment, the terminal is directly connected to an in-house data storage location, providing a cost efficient means for retrieving information stored therein. It should be noted that because of the invention's compact size, it requires very little additional space, regardless of its application. Furthermore, when integrated with a mini-screen and push button telephone circuitry, the terminal can become a stand-alone device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be further described by way of reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the interconnection of the terminal, according to the invention, to external components so as to create an interactive work station; and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the primary components of one embodiment of the communications terminal according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like components, there is disclosed in FIG. 1 a block diagram related to the general arrangement of the components comprising the various embodiments of a low cost telecommunications terminal 17 ("terminal" or "LCT") according to the invention.

The terminal 17 may include, for example, a telephone 2 having, but not limited to, a twelve key keypad 16 with appropriate tone addressing circuitry. The telephone 2 may be connected by an acoustic coupler to a telephone interface 3, or alternatively it may be connected serially or in parallel by wire to a telephone interface 3. Because the terminal 17 may function when the telephone 2 is connected either in a serial or in a parallel mode, it is not required that the telephone 2 be connected directly to the telephone interface 3 of the terminal 17 to operate (as in a serial mode), but only that the telephone 2 be connected to any telephone jack of the subscriber's telephone line 1 to which the terminal 17 is connected (as in a parallel mode). For example, in serial mode, the telephone 2 may be connected directly to the terminal 17 which in turn is connected to a telephone jack of the subscriber's telephone line 1. Alternatively, in parallel mode, the terminal 17 may be placed in a separate location from the telephone 2, as long as both the terminal 17 and the telephone 2 are connected to the same subscriber telephone line 1, whereby the terminal 17 would still be coupled to the telephone 2.

Advantageously, the telephone keypad 16 serves as a keyboard for allowing the end-user of the database system to selectively control the operation of the terminal 17. Alternatively, a keypad individually adapted for use with the terminal 17 may also be employed. For example, one may use a tone generating keypad (not shown) in lieu of, or in addition to, the telephone keypad 16. The keypad 16 m