Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
In an offer matching system comprising a host station, a plurality of client stations respectively connected to the host station by a communication link, a timer device at one of these stations, means for acknowledging messages received at said one station, the timer device being started in response to a first message at said one station and stopped in response to a second message at said one station and an alarm at said one station responsive to the timer device continuing beyond a predetermined time, the improvement comprising a said timer device located at each client station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the first message is a message received from another station in response to an offer made from said one station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the first message is a message from said one station acknowledging a message received from another station.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
25 words
A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the first message is sent to said host station on said link.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
44 words
A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the second message is an acknowledgement from said other station of receipt from said first station of said first message or of a message sent in response to said first message.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
53 words
A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the client station comprises a status indicator, the status indicator being responsive to the timing out of the timer device to indicate 'unconfirmed' status and being set to 'confirmed' status by the receipt of said second message at said station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the client station comprises an alarm operable in response to the unconfirmed status.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
31 words
A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the client station comprises a store and print device to store and print received messages and their status.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
37 words
A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the client station comprises a store to store an initial message, said acknowledgement means being arranged to acknowledge said initial message after storage thereof.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
43 words
A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the host station comprises a timer operable in response to a message received from a client station and re-settable in response to a message received from an associated client station.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as claimed in claim 10 comprising an alarm at the host station operable in response to timing out of the timer.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
54 words
A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the host station comprises a status indicator, settable to an unconfirmed status when a first acknowledgement message is received from a client station and settable to a confirmed status when a second acknowledgement message is received from an associated client station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as claimed in claim 12 comprising means responsive to the confirmed status to reset the timer.