Voice processing interface unit employing virtual screen communications for accessing a plurality of primed applications

Claim 1

A method for enabling rapid access from an interface processor to applications running on a plurality of host processors, each said host processor communicating with said interface processor by providing screens to said interface processor, a screen comprising a block of data which if provided to a display terminal would be displayed for user viewing, said method performed by said interface processor and comprising the steps of: (a) establishing at least one virtual terminal session with each said host processor and initializing said applications running on said host processor to a ready state to ready said applications for further commands; (b) responding to user input data that is interpreted as requiring a process to be performed by an application, by accessing a virtual terminal session with a host processor on which said application is running, entering user input data in a stored block of data comprising a screen from said application, and transmitting at least said user-input data to said host processor, whereby said host processor immediately processes said user input data; and (c) receiving in response to said user input data transmitted to said host processor in step b, a screen from said host processor containing reply data for said user, and transmitting said reply data to said user, whereby said interface processor enables a plurality of host processors to rapidly respond to user input data without requiring modification of host processor-controlling software.

Claim 2

A method for enabling rapid access from an interface processor to applications running on a plurality of host processors, each said host processor communicating with said interface processor by providing screens to said interface processor, a screen comprising a block of data which if provided to a display terminal would be displayed for user viewing, said method performed by said interface processor and comprising the steps of: (a) establishing at least one virtual terminal session with each said host processor and initializing said applications running on said host processor to a ready state to ready said applications for further commands; (b) responding to user input data that is interpreted as requiring a process to be performed by an application, by accessing a virtual terminal session with a host processor on which said application is running, entering user input data in a stored block of data comprising a screen from said application, and transmitting at least said user-input data to said host processor, whereby said host processor immediately processes said user input data; and (c) receiving in response to said user input data transmitted to said host processor in step b, a screen from said host processor containing reply data for said user, and transmitting said reply data to said user, whereby said interface processor enables a plurality of host processors to rapidly respond to user input data without requiring modification of host processor-controlling software.

Claim 6

A system for enabling rapid response to user telephone inquiries, said inquiries placed with an interface processor which, in turn, accesses applications running on a plurality of connected host processors, each host processor communicating with said interface processor through provided to a display terminal would be displayed for user viewing, said interface processor comprising: channel process means for interacting with said user, for receiving user input and for providing a voice response to said user; virtual terminal means for establishing a plurality of virtual terminal sessions, at least one session with each said host processor, for initializing an application on each said host processor to a ready state, and for storing at least an initial screen from each said application; and executor means responsive to user input data from said channel process means, to operate over an available virtual terminal session and to communicate with an initialized application on a host processor, said executor means providing user input data requested by a stored screen to said initialized application on said host processor, and for receiving a screen with reply data from said application on said host processor in response, and to provide said reply data to said channel process means, whereby said channel process means responds to said user with said reply data.

Claim 7

A system for enabling rapid response to user telephone inquiries, said inquiries placed with an interface processor which, in turn, accesses applications running on a plurality of connected host processors, each host processor communicating with said interface processor through provided to a display terminal would be displayed for user viewing, said interface processor comprising: channel process means for interacting with said user, for receiving user input and for providing a voice response to said user; virtual terminal means for establishing a plurality of virtual terminal sessions, at least one session with each said host processor, for initializing an application on each said host processor to a ready state, and for storing at least an initial screen from each said application; and executor means responsive to user input data from said channel process means, to operate over an available virtual terminal session and to communicate with an initialized application on a host processor, said executor means providing user input data requested by a stored screen to said initialized application on said host processor, and for receiving a screen with reply data from said application on said host processor in response, and to provide said reply data to said channel process means, whereby said channel process means responds to said user with said reply data.