US5053883A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Terminal polling method
Assignee: Tech 5 Sas
•
Filing: 1989-04-20
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Granted: 1991-10-01
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Expires: 2009-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A method of transferring data from a plurality of remote terminals to a central location over a communication network is disclosed. First random numbers are respectively generated for each of the remote terminals. A mask value is then determined. The random numbers associated with the remote terminals are compared with the mask value to determine whether a respective terminal attempts to transfer data to the central location. In a disclosed embodiment the method is used to locate new terminals in a hotel or hospital system.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee R. Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 18:14
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/40; H04L12/403; H04N21/20; H04N21/21; H04N21/214; H04N21/2143; H04N21/60; H04N21/63; H04N21/64; H04N21/6402; H04N7/00; H04N7/08; H04N7/087; H04N7/088; H04N7/0888; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/165; H04N7/167; H04N7/1675; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17318; H04L12/407; H04L12/413; H04N21/478
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of controlling the transfer of data from a plurality of remote terminals to a central location over a communication network, said method comprising the steps of: generating random numbers respectively associated with each of said plurality of remote terminals; determining a mask value at the central location; prompting said remote terminals by said central location; and comparing the random numbers associated with each remote terminal with said mask value to determine whether a respective terminal should transfer data to said central location based on the result of the comparison when said remote terminals are prompted by said central location.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of controlling the transfer of data from a plurality of remote terminals to a central location over a communication network, said method comprising the steps of: generating random numbers respectively associated with each of said plurality of remote terminals; determining a mask value at the central location; prompting said remote terminals by said central location; and comparing the random numbers associated with each remote terminal with said mask value to determine whether a respective terminal should transfer data to said central location based on the result of the comparison when said remote terminals are prompted by said central location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of: incrementing the random number associated with each remote terminal by a predetermined value if data is not transferred to said central location when said remote terminals are prompted by said central location.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method according to claim 2 further comprising the steps of: monitoring the number of times the remote terminals are prompted to transfer data to said central location; generating new random numbers associated with each remote terminal when the monitored number of times has a predetermined relationship with said mask value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 3 wherein new random numbers associated with each remote terminal are generated when the monitored number of times equals the mask value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein the random number is increased by a predetermined value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 5 wherein the predetermined value is one.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein the random number is decreased by a predetermined value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein the predetermined value is one.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the random numbers associated with each remote terminal are generated by a counter associated with each terminal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the mask value is determined in accordance with the number of remote terminals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the comparing step comprises logically comparing the random numbers with the mask value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 11 wherein the random numbers are ANDed with the mask value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said communication network comprises a telephone network.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of automatically identifying a plurality of remote terminals each having a unique identifier from a central location, said method comprising the steps of: generating random numbers respectively associated with each of said plurality of remote terminals; determining a mask value at the central location; transmitting commands to said remote terminals by said central location; and comparing the random numbers associated with each remote terminal with said mask value to determine whether a respective terminal should transfer the identifier to said central location in response to the commands transmitted by said central location.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of automatically identifying a plurality of remote terminals each having a unique identifier from a central location, said method comprising the steps of: generating random numbers respectively associated with each of said plurality of remote terminals; determining a mask value at the central location; transmitting commands to said remote terminals by said central location; and comparing the random numbers associated with each remote terminal with said mask value to determine whether a respective terminal should transfer the identifier to said central location in response to the commands transmitted by said central location.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method according to claim 14 wherein the central location has a list of stored identifiers, the method further comprising the step of: comparing an identifier transferred to said central location with the list of stored identifiers to determine whether the transferred identifier is contained in the list of stored identifiers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method according to claim 15 wherein if the transferred identifier is contained in the list of stored identifiers, the method further comprising the steps of: conditioning the remote terminal associated with the transferred identifier to not attempt to transfer the associated unique identifier to said central location in response to commands transmitted by said central location.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method according to claim 15 wherein if the transferred identifier is not contained in the list of stored identifiers, the method further comprising the steps of: adding the transferred identifier to the list of stored identifiers; conditioning the remote terminal associated with the transferred identifier to not attempt to transfer the associated unique identifier to said central location in response to commands transmitted by said central location.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for controlling the transfer of data to a central location over a communication network, the central location determining a mask value and transmitting commands, said apparatus comprising: random number generating means for generating a random number; comparison means for comparing the random number with the mask value determined by said central location to determine whether the apparatus should transfer data to said central location in response to the commands transmitted by said central location based on the result of the comparison.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for controlling the transfer of data to a central location over a communication network, the central location determining a mask value and transmitting commands, said apparatus comprising: random number generating means for generating a random number; comparison means for comparing the random number with the mask value determined by said central location to determine whether the apparatus should transfer data to said central location in response to the commands transmitted by said central location based on the result of the comparison.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said apparatus is adapted to transfer data over a telephone network.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said random number generating means comprises a counter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said comparison means comprises an arrangement of logic gates.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said logic gates comprise AND gates.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
101 words
Control apparatus for controlling the transfer of stored data to a central location from a plurality of remote terminals over a communication network, each terminal having a random number generator, said control apparatus comprising: prompt means at the central location for prompting each of the remote terminals to generate a respective random number; mask means at the central location for determining a mask value; compare means for comparing the random numbers respectively generated in the remote terminals with the mask value to determine whether a respective terminal should transfer data to said central location based on the result of the comparison.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
101 words
Control apparatus for controlling the transfer of stored data to a central location from a plurality of remote terminals over a communication network, each terminal having a random number generator, said control apparatus comprising: prompt means at the central location for prompting each of the remote terminals to generate a respective random number; mask means at the central location for determining a mask value; compare means for comparing the random numbers respectively generated in the remote terminals with the mask value to determine whether a respective terminal should transfer data to said central location based on the result of the comparison.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of controlling the transfer of data from a plurality of remote terminals to a central location over a communication network, said method comprising the steps of: generating random numbers respectively associated with each of said plurality of remote terminals; determining a mask value; prompting said remote terminals by said central location; comparing the random numbers associated with each remote terminal with said mask value to determine whether a respective terminal should transfer data to said central location based on the result of the comparison when said remote terminals are prompted by said central location; incrementing the random number associated with each remote terminal by a predetermined value if data is not transferred to said central location when said remote terminals are prompted by said central location; monitoring the number of times the remote terminals are prompted to transfer data to said central location; and generating new random numbers associated with each remote terminal when the monitored number of times has a predetermined relationship with said mask value.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of controlling the transfer of data from a plurality of remote terminals to a central location over a communication network, said method comprising the steps of: generating random numbers respectively associated with each of said plurality of remote terminals; determining a mask value; prompting said remote terminals by said central location; comparing the random numbers associated with each remote terminal with said mask value to determine whether a respective terminal should transfer data to said central location based on the result of the comparison when said remote terminals are prompted by said central location; incrementing the random number associated with each remote terminal by a predetermined value if data is not transferred to said central location when said remote terminals are prompted by said central location; monitoring the number of times the remote terminals are prompted to transfer data to said central location; and generating new random numbers associated with each remote terminal when the monitored number of times has a predetermined relationship with said mask value.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 24 wherein new random numbers associated with each remote terminal are generated when the monitored number of times equals the mask value.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of automatically identifying a plurality of remote terminals each having a unique identifier from a central location, the central location having a list of stored identifiers, said method comprising the steps of: generating random numbers respectively associated with each of said plurality of remote terminals; determining a mask value; transmitting commands to said remote terminals by said central location; comparing the random numbers associated with each remote terminal with said mask value to determine whether a respective terminal should transfer the identifier to said central location in response to the commands transmitted by said central location; and comparing an identifier transferred to said central location with the list of stored identifiers to determine whether the transferred identifier is contained in the list of stored identifiers.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of automatically identifying a plurality of remote terminals each having a unique identifier from a central location, the central location having a list of stored identifiers, said method comprising the steps of: generating random numbers respectively associated with each of said plurality of remote terminals; determining a mask value; transmitting commands to said remote terminals by said central location; comparing the random numbers associated with each remote terminal with said mask value to determine whether a respective terminal should transfer the identifier to said central location in response to the commands transmitted by said central location; and comparing an identifier transferred to said central location with the list of stored identifiers to determine whether the transferred identifier is contained in the list of stored identifiers.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method according to claim 26 wherein if the transferred identifier is contained in the list of stored identifiers, the method further comprising the steps of: conditioning the remote terminal associated with the transferred identifier to not attempt to transfer the associated unique identifier to said central location in response to commands transmitted by said central location.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method according to claim 27 wherein if the transferred identifier is not contained in the list of stored identifiers, the method further comprising the steps of: adding the transferred identifier to the list of stored identifiers; conditioning the remote terminal associated with the transferred identifier to not attempt to transfer the associated unique identifier to said central location in response to commands transmitted by said central location.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of controlling a plurality of remote terminals which transmit data to a central location over a communication network in response to commands from said central location, said method comprising the steps of: generating random numbers in said remote terminals in response to a first command; setting a predetermined number in said remote terminals to fix a frequency at which said remote terminals respond to a second command; comparing the random numbers in said remote terminals with the predetermined number; and transmitting data from said remote terminals over said communication network in accordance with the comparisons of the random numbers with the predetermined number.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of controlling a plurality of remote terminals which transmit data to a central location over a communication network in response to commands from said central location, said method comprising the steps of: generating random numbers in said remote terminals in response to a first command; setting a predetermined number in said remote terminals to fix a frequency at which said remote terminals respond to a second command; comparing the random numbers in said remote terminals with the predetermined number; and transmitting data from said remote terminals over said communication network in accordance with the comparisons of the random numbers with the predetermined number.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 29 wherein said communication network comprises an RF data channel.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 29 wherein said method further comprises the step of: transmitting an acknowledgment from said central location to remote terminals transmitting data which is received by said central location.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method according to claim 31 further comprising the step of: incrementing the random numbers in unacknowledged remote terminals to generate new random numbers in said unacknowledged remote terminals; comparing the new random numbers in said unacknowledged remote terminals with the predetermined number; and transmitting the data from said unacknowledged remote terminals over said communication network in accordance with the comparisons of the new random numbers with the predetermined number.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 32 wherein the steps of claim 32 are repeated until said central location transmits an acknowledgment to each of said remote terminals.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 29 wherein the step of generating random numbers comprises reading a counter respectively associated with each of said remote terminals.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 29 wherein the step of setting the predetermined number comprises transmitting the predetermined number from said central location to said remote terminals.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-09-30 | 1995-04-01 | 1995-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-30 | 1999-04-01 | 1999-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-30 | 2003-04-01 | 2003-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |