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Claims  |
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I claim:
1. A method for updating a database using an on-line network including a
user terminal, a host terminal, an alternate host terminal, and a
communications channel, the user terminal having a display, a data port,
and a user-terminal memory for storing user modules of grouped information
in a modules folder and in an alternate modules folder, each
user-terminal-stored module including a plurality of user-module blocks,
the host terminal having a host-terminal memory for storing modules of
grouped information, each host-terminal-stored module including a
plurality of host-module blocks, and the alternate host terminal having an
alternate-host-terminal memory for storing modules of grouped information,
each alternate-host-terminal-stored module including a plurality of
alternate-host-module blocks, comprising the steps of:
activating the user terminal;
scanning, with the user terminal, the modules folder in the user-terminal
memory for stored modules;
locating, in the user-terminal memory and responsive to scanning the
modules folder, a first user-terminal-stored module having a first user
origin date;
scanning, with the user terminal, the data port for the host terminal;
locating the host terminal on the data port;
connecting, through the communications channel, the user terminal to the
host terminal;
scanning, with the user terminal, the host-terminal memory for stored
modules;
locating a host-terminal-stored module, corresponding to the first
user-terminal-stored-module, having a host origin date;
retrieving the first user origin date of the first user-terminal-stored
module;
comparing, by the user terminal, the first user origin date to the host
origin date;
scanning, responsive to the host origin date being more recent than the
first user origin date, a first plurality of user-module blocks for a
respective first plurality of user-module-block origin dates;
scanning the plurality of host-module blocks for a respective plurality of
host-module-block origin dates;
comparing the first plurality of user-module-block origin dates to the
plurality of host-module-block origin dates, respectively;
identifying a first host-module-block origin date, associated with a first
host-module block within the first plurality of host-module blocks, more
recent than a respective first user-module-block origin date, associated
with a first user-module block within the plurality of user-module blocks;
downloading, over the communications channel, the first host-module block
into the user-terminal memory as a host updated block;
updating, responsive to the host updated block, only the first user-module
block within the first user-terminal-stored module;
scanning, with the user terminal, the alternate modules folder in the
user-terminal memory for stored modules;
locating, in the user-terminal memory and responsive to scanning the
alternate modules folder, a second user-terminal-stored module having a
second user origin date;
scanning, with the user terminal, the data port for the alternate host
terminal;
locating the alternate host terminal on the data port;
connecting, through the communications channel, the user terminal to the
alternate host terminal;
scanning, with the user terminal, the alternate-host-terminal memory for
stored modules;
locating an alternate-host-terminal-stored module, corresponding to the
second user-terminal-stored-module, having an alternate host origin date;
retrieving the second user origin date of the second user-terminal-stored
module;
comparing, by the user terminal, the second user origin date to the
alternate host origin date;
scanning, responsive to the alternate host origin date being more recent
than the second user origin date, a second plurality of user-module blocks
for a respective second plurality of user-module-block origin dates;
scanning the plurality of alternate-host-module blocks for a respective
plurality of alternate-host-module-block origin dates;
comparing the second plurality of user-module-block origin dates to the
plurality of alternate-host-module-block origin dates, respectively;
identifying a first alternate-host-module-block origin date, associated
with a first alternate-host-module block within the plurality of
alternate-host-module blocks, more recent than a respective second
user-module-block origin date, associated with a second user-module block
within the second plurality of user-module blocks;
downloading, over the communications channel, the first
alternate-host-module block into the user-terminal memory as an
alternate-host updated block; and
updating, responsive to the alternate-host updated block, only the second
user-module block within the second user-terminal-stored module.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising, after the step of
identifying a first host-module-block origin date, the steps of:
identifying a second host-module-block origin date, associated with a
second host-module block within the plurality of host-module blocks, more
recent than a respective third user-module-block origin date, associated
with a third user-module block within the first plurality of user-module
blocks;
downloading, over the communications channel, the first host-module block
and the second host-module block into the user-terminal memory as host
updated blocks; and
updating, responsive to said host updated blocks, corresponding user-module
blocks within the user-terminal-stored module.
3. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising, after the step
of comparing the first plurality of user-module block origin dates to the
plurality of host-module block origin dates, for each of the first
plurality of user-module blocks, the steps of:
identifying an n.sup.th host-module-block origin date, associated with an
n.sup.th host-module block within the plurality of host-module blocks,
more recent than a respective n.sup.th user-module-block origin date,
associated with an n.sup.th user-module block within the first plurality
of user-module blocks;
downloading the n.sup.th host-module block into the user-terminal memory as
an n.sup.th host updated block; and
updating, responsive to and using the n.sup.th host updated block, only the
n.sup.th user-module block within the first plurality of user-module
blocks of the first user-terminal stored module.
4. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising, after the step
of comparing the second plurality of user-module block origin dates to the
plurality of alternate-host-module block origin dates, for each of the
second plurality of user-module blocks, the steps of:
identifying an n.sup.th alternate-host-module-block origin date, associated
with an n.sup.th alternate-host-module block within the plurality of
alternate-host-module blocks, more recent than a respective n.sup.th
user-module-block origin date, associated with an n.sup.th user-module
block within the second plurality of user-module blocks;
downloading the n.sup.th alternate host-module block into the user-terminal
memory as an n.sup.th alternate-host updated block; and
updating, responsive to and using the n.sup.th alternate-host updated
block, only the n.sup.th user-module block within the second plurality of
user-module blocks of the second user-terminal stored module.
5. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising, after the step of
identifying a first host-module-block origin date, the steps of:
identifying a new host-module block within the plurality of host-module
blocks, the new host-module block having no corresponding user module
block within the first plurality of user-module blocks;
downloading, over the communications channel, the first host-module block
and the new host-module block into the user-terminal memory as host
updated blocks; and
updating the first user-terminal-stored module with the host updated
blocks.
6. A method of updating a user database using an on-line network including
a user terminal, a plurality of host terminals, and a communications
channel, the user terminal having a display, a data port, and a
user-terminal memory for storing modules of grouped information in a
modules folder, each user-terminal-stored module including a plurality of
user-module blocks, each host terminal of the plurality of host terminals
having a host-terminal memory for storing modules of grouped information,
each host-terminal-stored module including a plurality of host-module
blocks, comprising the steps of:
starting up, responsive to user initiation, the user terminal;
scanning the modules folder of the user terminal for stored modules;
locating a user-terminal-stored module having a user origin date;
scanning the data port for a host terminal;
locating a host terminal on the data port;
connecting, through the communications channel, the user terminal to the
host terminal;
scanning, by the user terminal, the host-terminal memory for stored
modules;
locating a host-terminal-stored module, corresponding to the
user-terminal-stored-module, having a host origin date;
retrieving the user origin date of the user-terminal-stored module;
comparing, by the user terminal, the user origin date to the host origin
date;
scanning, responsive to the host origin date being more recent than the
user origin date, a plurality of user-module blocks within the
user-terminal-stored module for a respective plurality of
user-module-block origin dates;
scanning a plurality of host-module blocks within the host-terminal
stored-module for a respective plurality of host-module-block origin
dates;
comparing a first user-module-block origin date to a corresponding first
host-module-block origin date;
comparing a second user-module-block origin date to a corresponding second
host-module-block origin date;
comparing an n.sup.th user-module-block origin date to a corresponding
n.sup.th host-module-block origin date;
identifying a host-module-block origin date more recent than a respective
user-module-block-origin date as a newer origin date;
downloading, over the communications channel, only a host-module block
associated with the newer origin date into the user-terminal memory as an
updated block;
replacing, with the updated block, only a user-module-block corresponding
to the updated block; and
updating the user origin date.
7. The method as set forth in claim 6, further comprising, after the step
of updating the user origin date, the steps of:
disconnecting the user terminal from the host terminal;
locating an n.sup.th host terminal of the plurality of host terminals on
the data port;
connecting, through the communications channel, the user terminal to the
n.sup.th host terminal;
scanning, by the user terminal, an n.sup.th host-memory for stored modules;
locating an n.sup.th -host-terminal-stored module, corresponding to the
user-terminal-stored module, having an n.sup.th -host origin date;
retrieving, from the user terminal, the user origin date of the
user-terminal-stored module;
comparing, by the user terminal, the user origin date to the n.sup.th -host
origin date;
scanning, responsive to the n.sup.th -host origin date being more recent
than the user origin date, the plurality of user-module blocks for the
respective plurality of user-module-block origin dates;
scanning a plurality of n.sup.th -host-module blocks for a respective
plurality of n.sup.th -host-module-block origin dates;
comparing the plurality of user-module block origin dates to the plurality
of n.sup.th -host-module-block origin dates, respectively;
identifying an n.sup.th -host-module-block origin date, associated with an
n.sup.th -host-module block within the n.sup.th -host-terminal-stored
module, more recent in time than a respective user-module-block origin
date associated with a user-module block within said user-terminal-stored
module;
downloading, over the communications channel, only the nth-host-module
block into the user-terminal memory as a downloaded updated block;
replacing only the user-module block within said user-terminal-stored
module corresponding with the downloaded updated block; and
updating the user origin date of said user-terminal-stored module.
8. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the host-module block
associated with the newer origin date corresponds to a first
user-module-block having the first user-module-block origin date.
9. The method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising, after the step
of updating the user origin date, the steps of:
disconnecting the user terminal from the host terminal;
locating an n.sup.th host terminal of the plurality of host terminals on
the data port;
connecting, through the communications channel, the user terminal to the
n.sup.th host terminal;
scanning, by the user terminal, an n.sup.th host-memory for stored modules;
locating an n.sup.th -host-terminal-stored module, corresponding to the
user-terminal-stored module, having an n.sup.th -host origin date;
retrieving, from the user terminal, the user origin date of the
user-terminal-stored module;
comparing, by the user terminal, the user origin date to the n.sup.th -host
origin date;
scanning, responsive to the n.sup.th -host origin date being more recent
than the user origin date, the plurality of user-module blocks for the
respective plurality of user-module-block origin dates;
scanning a plurality of n.sup.th -host-module blocks for a respective
plurality of n.sup.th -host-module-block origin dates;
comparing the plurality of user-module block origin dates to the plurality
of n.sup.th -host-module-block origin dates, respectively;
identifying an n.sup.th -host-module-block origin date, associated with an
n.sup.th -host-module block within the n.sup.th -host-terminal-stored
module, more recent in time than a respective user-module-block origin
date associated with a user-module block within said user-terminal-stored
module;
downloading, over the communications channel, only the n.sup.th
-host-module block into the user-terminal memory as a downloaded updated
block;
replacing only the user-module block within said user-terminal-stored
module corresponding with the downloaded updated block; and
updating the user origin date of said user-terminal-stored module.
10. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the n.sup.th -host-module
block corresponds to the first user-module-block.
11. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the n.sup.th -host-module
block corresponds to a second user-module-block having the second
user-module-block origin date.
12. A method of updating databases using an on-line network including a
user terminal, a host terminal, and a communications channel, the user
terminal having a display, a data port, and a user-terminal memory for
storing modules of grouped information in a modules folder, each
user-terminal-stored module including a plurality of user-module blocks,
the host terminal having a host-terminal memory for storing modules of
grouped information, each host-terminal-stored module including a
plurality of host-module blocks, comprising the steps of:
starting up the user terminal;
scanning the modules folder for stored modules;
locating a user-terminal-stored module having a user origin date;
scanning the data port for the host terminal;
locating the host terminal on the data port;
connecting, through the communications channel, the user terminal to the
host terminal;
scanning, by the user terminal, the host-terminal memory for stored
modules;
locating a host-terminal-stored module, corresponding to the
user-terminal-stored-module, having a host origin date;
retrieving the user origin date of the user-terminal-stored module;
comparing, by the user terminal, the user origin date to the host origin
date;
scanning, responsive to the host origin date being more recent than the
user origin date, the plurality of user-module blocks for a respective
plurality of user-module-block origin dates;
scanning the plurality of host-module blocks for a respective plurality of
host-module-block origin dates;
comparing a first user-module-block origin date to a corresponding first
host-module-block origin date;
comparing a second user-module-block origin date to a corresponding second
host-module-block origin date;
comparing an n.sup.th user-module-block origin date to a corresponding
n.sup.th host-module-block origin date;
identifying host-module-block origin dates more recent than respective
corresponding user-module-origin dates as replacement origin dates;
downloading, over the communications channel, responsive to the first
host-module-block-origin date being more recent than the first
user-module-block origin date, a first-host-module block associated with
the first host-module-block-origin date into the user-terminal memory;
downloading, over the communications channel, responsive to the second
host-module-block-origin date being more recent than the second
user-module-block origin date, a second-host-module block associated with
the second host-module-block-origin date into the user-terminal memory;
downloading, over the communications channel, responsive to the n.sup.th
host-module-block-origin date being more recent than the n.sup.th
user-module-block origin date, an n.sup.th -host-module block associated
with the n.sup.th host-module-block-origin date into the user-terminal
memory; and
updating only those user-module blocks within the user-terminal-stored
module corresponding with the first host-module-block, the
second-host-module block, and the n.sup.th -host-module block.
13. A communications network for selectively updating a plurality of user
module blocks of information, said communications network comprising:
a communications channel;
a user terminal, operatively coupled to said communications channel, for
retrieving updated module blocks of information through said
communications channel, said user terminal including,
a user memory for storing a plurality of user modules, each of said
plurality of user modules having a plurality of user module blocks of
information;
a user processor for scanning said user memory for a user module and,
responsive to locating a user module, for accessing said communications
channel; and
a host terminal, operatively coupled to said user terminal through said
communications channel, for sending host module blocks of information to
said user terminal, said host terminal including,
a host memory for storing a plurality of host modules, each of said
plurality of host modules having a plurality of host module blocks of
information;
a host processor, responsive to a first host module block of information
being more recent than a corresponding first user module block of
information, for sending, over said communications channel, the first host
module block of information; and
an alternate host terminal, operatively coupled to said user terminal
through said communications channel, for sending alternate host module
blocks of information to said user terminal, said alternate host terminal
including,
an alternate host memory for storing a plurality of alternate host modules,
each of said plurality of alternate host modules having a plurality of
alternate host module blocks of information; and
an alternate host processor, responsive to a first alternate host module
block of information being more recent than a corresponding user module
block of information for sending, over said communications channel, the
first alternate host module block of information.
14. The communications network as set forth in claim 13, said alternate
host terminal further comprising an alternate host input device for
inputting data to said alternate host terminal.
15. The communications network as set forth in claim 13, with the plurality
of module blocks of information stored in said alternate host memory
including at least one of a non-updated-alternate-host-module block of
information and an updated-alternate-host-module block of information.
16. A communications network as set forth in claim 13, with said user
processor, responsive to receiving the origin date for the alternate host
module block of information, for comparing the origin date for the
alternate host module block of information to a corresponding
user-module-block-of-information origin date and, responsive to
determining the origin date for the alternate host module block of
information to be more recent than the corresponding
user-module-block-of-information origin date, for downloading the
alternate host module block of information to said user memory.
17. The communications network as set forth in claim 13, said host terminal
further comprising a host input device for inputting data to said host
terminal.
18. A method of updating a plurality of user module blocks within a user
module using a network, the network including a user terminal, a plurality
of host terminals, and a communications channel, the user terminal having
a user memory for storing user modules, each stored user module including
a plurality of user-module blocks, each host terminal of the plurality of
host terminals having a host memory for storing host modules, each stored
host module including a plurality of host-module blocks, comprising the
steps of:
scanning the user memory for a stored user module;
locating a user module, the user module having a user module origin date;
locating a first host terminal of the plurality of host terminals on the
communications channel;
connecting, through the communications channel, the user terminal to the
first host terminal;
scanning a first host memory for a stored host module;
locating a stored host module, corresponding to the user module, the stored
host module having a host module origin date;
comparing the user module origin date to the host module origin date;
scanning, responsive to the host module origin date being more recent than
the user module origin date, a plurality of user-module blocks within said
user module for a respective plurality of user-module-block origin dates;
scanning a plurality of host-module blocks within said stored host module
for a respective plurality of host-module-block origin dates;
comparing the plurality of user-module-block origin dates to the plurality
of host-module-block origin dates, respectively;
identifying a first host-module-block origin date, associated with a first
host-module block within the plurality of host-module blocks, more recent
in time than a respective first user-module-block origin date, associated
with a first user-module block within the plurality of user-module blocks;
downloading over the communications channel, the first host-module block
into the user-terminal memory as a downloaded updated block;
replacing the first user-module block with the downloaded updated block;
updating the user module origin date and the user-module-block origin date;
disconnecting the user terminal from the first host terminal;
locating a second host terminal of the plurality of host terminals on the
communications channel;
connecting, through the communications channel, the user terminal to the
second host terminal;
scanning a second-host-memory for a stored second-host module;
locating a stored second-host module, corresponding to the user module,
having a second-host-module origin date;
comparing the user module origin date to the second-host-module origin
date;
scanning, responsive to the second-host-module origin date being more
recent than the user module origin date, the plurality of user-module
blocks for a respective plurality of user-module-block origin dates;
scanning a plurality of second-host-module blocks for a respective
plurality of second-host-module-block origin dates;
comparing the plurality of user-module-block origin dates to the plurality
of second-host-module-block origin dates, respectively;
identifying a first second-host-module-block origin date, associated with a
first second-host-module block within the stored second-host module, more
recent in time than a respective second user-module-block origin date,
associated with a second user-module block within said user module;
downloading, over the communications channel, the first second-host-module
block into the user-terminal memory as a downloaded updated block;
replacing the second user-module block within said user module with the
downloaded updated block; and
updating the user module origin date and the second user-module-block
origin date.
19. A method for updating a plurality of user modules stored in a memory of
a user terminal, the user terminal being coupled to a host terminal and to
an alternate host terminal via a communications channel, the host terminal
having a host memory storing a plurality of host modules, the alternate
host terminal having an alternate host memory storing a plurality of
alternate host modules, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) locating in the user terminal memory a first user module;
(b) locating in the host memory a host module corresponding to the first
user module;
(c) comparing the first user module to the host module and, responsive to
the host module being more recent than the first user module:
(i) scanning a first plurality of user-module blocks within the first user
module;
(ii) scanning a plurality of host-module blocks within the host module;
(iii) identifying a first host-module block within the host module, more
recent than a respective first user-module block within the first user
module;
(iv) downloading, over the communications channel, the first host-module
block into the user memory as a host updated block; and
(v) updating, responsive to the host updated block, the first user-module
block within the first user module;
(d) identifying in the user terminal memory a second user module;
(e) identifying in the alternate host memory an alternate-host module
corresponding to the second user module; and
(f) comparing the second user module to the alternate-host module and,
responsive to the alternate-host module being more recent than the second
user module:
(i) scanning a second plurality of user-module blocks within the second
user module;
(ii) scanning a plurality of alternate-host-module blocks within the
alternate host module;
(iii) identifying a first alternate-host-module block within the
alternate-host module, more recent than a respective second user-module
block within the second user module;
(iv) downloading, over the communications channel, the first
alternate-host-module block into the user terminal memory as an
alternate-host updated block; and
(v) updating, responsive to the alternate-host updated block, the second
user-module block within the second user module.
20. A method of updating a plurality of user-module blocks of information
using a network including a user terminal and a plurality of host
terminals connected by a communications channel, the user terminal having
a user-terminal memory for storing a plurality of user modules, each
user-terminal-stored module including a plurality of user-module blocks,
each host terminal of the plurality of host terminals having a
host-terminal memory for storing host modules, each host-terminal-stored
stored module including a plurality of host-module blocks, comprising the
steps of:
scanning the user-terminal memory for a stored user module;
locating a user-terminal-stored module;
scanning the host-terminal memory for a stored host module;
locating a host-terminal-stored module corresponding to the
user-terminal-stored-module;
comparing, responsive to the host-terminal-stored module being more recent
than the user-terminal-stored module, a plurality of user-module blocks
within the user-terminal-stored module and a plurality of host-module
blocks within the host-terminal stored-module;
downloading, over the communications channel, responsive to a first
host-module block being more recent than a corresponding first user-module
block, the first host-module block into the user-terminal memory;
downloading, over the communications channel, responsive to a second
host-module block being more recent than a corresponding second
user-module block, the second host-module block into the user-terminal
memory;
downloading, over the communications channel, responsive to an n.sup.th
host-module block being more recent than a corresponding n.sup.th
user-module block, the n.sup.th host-module block into the user-terminal
memory; and
updating the first user-module block, the second user-module block, and the
n.sup.th user-module block with the first host-module block, the second
host-module block, and the n.sup.th host-module block, respectively.
21. A method of updating a plurality of user module blocks using a network
including a user terminal and a host terminal connected by a
communications channel, the user terminal having a user-terminal memory
for storing user modules, each user module including a plurality of
user-module blocks, the host terminal having a host-terminal memory for
storing host modules, each host module including a plurality of
host-module blocks, comprising the steps of:
identifying in the user-terminal memory a user module;
identifying in the host-terminal memory a host module corresponding to the
user module;
comparing, responsive to the host module being more recent than the user
module, a plurality of user-module blocks within the user module and a
plurality of host-module blocks within the host module;
identifying a first host-module block corresponding to a first user-module
block;
downloading, over the communications channel, responsive to the first
host-module block being more recent than the first user-module block, the
first host-module block into the user-terminal memory;
identifying a second host-module block corresponding to a second
user-module block;
downloading, over the communications channel, responsive to the second
host-module block being more recent than the second user-module block, the
second host-module block into the user-terminal memory;
identifying an n.sup.th host-module block corresponding to an n.sup.th
user-module block;
downloading, over the communications channel, responsive to the n.sup.th
host-module block being more recent than the n.sup.th user-module block,
the n.sup.th host-module block into the user-terminal memory; and
updating the first user-module block, the second user-module block and the
n.sup.th user-module block within the user module with the first
host-module block, the second host-module block, and the n.sup.th
host-module block, respectively. |
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Claims |
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