FR2623678A1 - Device for exchanging information with a server centre telephonically - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for exchanging information with a server centre telephonically, of the type comprising: - an information transmission or transmission/reception system A; - a server interface B, characterized: - in that the transmission or transmission/reception system is composed of a board comprising at least one touch-sensitive keypad; a coding unit; a piezoelectric vibrator or loudspeaker; an electrical power source; - in that the server interface comprises a microprocessor 21; a set of RAM and EPROM or ROM memories 26, 27; a speech synthesiser 38; at least one system 32-37 for encoding and decoding the frequencies used on the telephone network; a system for detecting communication set-up 28 and hang-up 30, all these various elements being connected to the microprocessor 21.

Description

INFORMATION EXCHANGE DEVICE WITH A CENTER
SERVER BY TELEPHONE
The present invention relates to a device for the exchange of information by telephone with a server center, and in particular with a computer.
A device is known for exchanging a multitude of information with numerous server centers, which uses the switched telephone network, for example that known under the trademark 11MINITEL "
This device includes
- on the one hand, an information transmission-reception system comprising a tactile keyboard, intended for typing the desired information, associated with a cathode-ray tube screen, making it possible to display the requested information;
- on the other hand, an interface intended to allow conversion between telephone signals and the server
This device operates in the following manner, the user dials on his telephone dial the number corresponding to the desired server center, the transmission-reception system being switched on. When the desired server center is connected, the user then types the access code to the desired database on the touchscreen keyboard of said transmission system in order to obtain the information of his choice, via menus and questions and answers.

 This device, although very interesting from the point of view of saving time and travel, and called for a bright future, however has the drawback of requiring bulky equipment, which prohibits the user from traveling with such a system. In addition, the storage of information is not possible directly.

The invention aims to overcome these drawbacks. It offers a device for exchanging information with a server center, by telephone, of the type comprising
- an information transmission or transmission-reception system
- an interface device with the server, intended to allow dialogue with this server;
The invention is characterized in that
- the transmission or transmission-reception system
consists of a card including
. at least one touch keyboard
. at least one coding unit, intended for
transform information from cla
in frequencies included in a spectrum
audible,
. at least one piezoelectric or high vibrator
speaker, intended to transmit in the form of
acoustic signals frequencies from
said coding unit,
. at least one source of electrical energy
in order to supply the entire device - ;;
- the server interface device comprises at least
. a microprocessor
. a set of RAM and EPROM or ROM memories,
intended to store the information received
and the program of said server interface
. a speech synthesizer
. a set of encoding and decoding of
frequencies used on the telephone network
fuck
. a communication detector set
tion and hung up
. an electrical power source
In other words, the invention is characterized in that each server is provided with at least one server interface, in order to make possible telephone communication between a requester using a transmission or transmission-reception card. , pocket-sized, therefore portable, and a host center
Advantageously, in practice
- the transmission-reception card also includes
. a processing and storage unit for
information
. a microphone capable of picking up information
from the server interface, and which tran
sit by telephone line
- the transmission-reception card is associated with a display member, in particular with liquid crystal
- the memory of the transmission or reception-reception card includes a consumption credit meter intended to be debited when the said card is used in connection with "paying" server centers
- The server interface includes a coupling device capable of anonymously connecting at least two users connected to the same server center.

The manner in which the invention can be implemented and the advantages which ensue therefrom will emerge more clearly from the example of embodiment which follows, given by way of non-limiting example, in support of the appended figures
Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the various elements within an embodiment of the emission card
Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a more advanced embodiment of said emission card
Figure 3 is also a schematic representation of an even more advanced embodiment of the transceiver card.
Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the server interface card
One of the aims of the present invention is to reduce as much as possible the congestion generated by the transmission or transmission-reception system, in particular to allow the user to be able to question a server center whatever the where it is, and in particular from a telephone booth. The use of a telephone handset necessarily implies the presence within said system, of a device generating acoustic signals
According to the invention, this transmission or transmission-reception system is in the form of a card, credit card format (in the least advanced version). This card basically comprises a piezoelectric vibrator (1) connected to an encoder (2) using one of the coding systems currently used by telecommunications, for example, frequency modulation coding, commonly called FSK, and coding by numbering with voice frequency, commonly called
DTMF, or even other types of transmission. This encoder (2) is in fact an integrated circuit, which transforms the analog signal emitted when pressing one of the keys on the touch keyboard t3), also present in the card, in frequency corresponding to the coding system used. It should be noted that the encoder (2) is also connected to a quartz (4) making it possible to generate the correct frequencies. The various components of the card are electrically powered by conventional batteries (5).

 When the user wishes to connect with a server center, it is enough for him to dial the telephone number of said center, and to type on the keyboard (3) of the card the information, the card being pressed against the microphone of the handset telephone.

 The user then receives information directly via the speech synthesizer integrated into the server interface. The card therefore allows interrogation, consultation and recording of information remotely.

 In a more advanced version (see FIG. 2) of the card, it comprises a miniaturized processing unit (6) comprising a certain number of memories of the RAM and ROM type. Its purpose is to manage the information coming from the keyboard (3), as well as that coming from a microcomputer, insofar as the card includes an interface connectable to a microcomputer (7). It should be noted that a usage counter can be integrated within the card. The latter is intended to be used for applications to which we have access only a number of times defined to the same service, by dialing a code. The card somehow becomes a credit card for the given host. The usage counter automatically debits units when the corresponding host center is connected.

When the usage credit has been used up, the counter can be recharged at a connector.

Thus, in addition to the applications offered by the previous card, this advanced version also allows the memorization of a code, or even a message. It also allows the storage of telephone numbers
It should be noted that the two elements (2) and (6) can be integrated within the same circuit.

In another version, even more advanced, the card comprises a display means (9), in particular with liquid crystals, allowing the visualization of the information I1 is also possible to integrate within said card, a calculator, providing it thus a possibility of additional use. It is also possible to add an external RAM type memory (12) to the card, in particular in order to increase the size of the data memory. The card can therefore be used as a real miniature electronic agenda. It is also possible to transmit a previously memorized text via the telephone handset to a personal computer with a server interface (described later) memorizing the messages to be communicated.
Finally, in the most advanced version of the transceiver card, a microphone (in) is integrated, connected to an FSK signal demodulator (11), itself connected to the miniaturized processing unit (6) . Advantageously, the microphone and the vibrator are one in particular in order to reduce the size. In addition, the card includes an encoder for each of the codes, i.e., an FSK encoder and a DTMF encoder, in order to make it possible to transmit information to any server center. This card integrates all the functions previously mentioned cards, and also allows you to store messages sent by a server center in memory. In a way, it allows a real dialogue with a host center. Messages from the said host center (s) are then played back on the liquid crystal screen (9). To do this, when the user issues his code, as well as the message previously memorized on his card, he presses the latter against the microphone of the telephone handset. Then, when the server center in turn sends a message or information of any kind, the user then places his card against the earpiece-handset, in order to memorize the said message, which will be reproduced later on the display means (9), at the request of the user. Also, the user can stay in permanent contact with a server center, which can, for example be located at his workplace, his card personal being used while traveling. Thus it can take cognizance of any information previously recorded at the level of the server center, without having to go through an intermediary and with a significant saving of time, insofar as the transition of the information is effected by means of acoustic electrical signals, and not by voice, synthetic or not, hence an appreciable advantage compared to automatic answering machines, which can be interrogated remotely by telephone. In addition, the investment in the card is much lower
Another example of application may consist of a house equipped with a server, capable of receiving orders by the use of said card, said orders consisting in the switching on / off of various household electrical appliances, or the server sending back to the card information concerning the progress of a washing program, the internal and external temperature of the house or even the state of the alarms
It is also possible with such a card to store, at the level of the miniaturized processing unit (6), an encryption algorithm, making it possible to use the card as an advanced access key. The possibilities of such a card are the same as those of a traditional smart card (memory card), without requiring specific reading equipment for the user, but with a simple telephone.
I1 will now be described in more detail with the server-side interface. The purpose of installing the server-interface is to open a computer system, in this case a database, a server center, or even a simple microcomputer no longer to another system, but directly to non-specialist users, allowing quick access through it to information, without being expensive, from anywhere. This server interface is the compulsory complement to the transmission or transmission-reception card presented previously. The combination of these two elements enables dialogue between a user and a computer system to be carried out via the telecommunications network.

 The server interface therefore constitutes an intelligent peripheral of a computer with which it communicates, for example in serial link, and it manages one or more telephone lines.

The server interface can operate in different modes, depending on the transmission or transmission-reception card used, namely
- autonomous use of the server interface which "picks up" and responds directly by voice synthesis, the message being fixed
- autonomous use of the server interface which "picks up" and responds by voice synthesis according to the codes entered by the user, the messages being simple
- use in connection with a computer which has the leisure to download sentences to be sent, and therefore to respond according to the codes entered by the user
- use of the server interface as
MODEM and can dialogue in communication standard both in DTMF and FSK coding
The server interface can be connected on the one hand to a computer via a serial link, of the type known as RS 232, or any other link, and on the other hand to the telephone network by via a telephone contactor (20).

The entire server-interface is governed by a microprocessor (21), which is the element processing the information in relation, on the one hand, with the computer, whose input and output are materialized by the references (22) and (23) respectively, and on the other hand with the telephone line (s) via interface circuits (24), and controlling the transmission of data either by voice synthesis or as standard communication
As already said, the RS 232 interface (25) constitutes the entity allowing the microprocessor to exchange information with the computer as standard for serial communication or by direct link with the micro-computer.

In a way, the server interface can be broken down into three fundamental parts I, II and III, corresponding respectively to the computer part, the interface part proper, and the telephone part.
Part I mainly comprises the RS 232 interface (25), the microprocessor (21) as well as a certain number of working memory (26) of RAM type, which stores the sentences or the messages downloaded by the computer before their transmission or the messages before their retransmission to said computer, as well as a certain number of memory (27), of EPROM type, containing the program of the interface-server card. Advantageously, this part also includes, connected to the microprocessor (21) an interface (41) compatible with a large number of microcomputers
Part III, or telephone part, comprises in addition to the telephone contactor (20) which is connected to the network on the one hand, and to the telephone interface (24) on the other hand, a line socket (28) controlled by the microprocessor (21) upon detection of a ringing or off-hook command emanating from the computer.

It also includes a ring detector (29), which informs the microprocessor of a request on one of the lines, a hang-up detector (30), which informs the microprocessor (21) that the interlocutor has hung up and which immediately releases the corresponding telephone line. Throughout the telephone section, the telephone interface (24) is responsible for adapting the acoustic signals emanating from the line in impedance. Advantageously, the telephone part comprises a looping device (31) situated in series between the contactor (20) and the ring detector (29), and intended to put in anonymous connection two interlocutors. By anonymous, we mean the impossibility for each of the two interlocutors to know the telephone references of the other
The interface part II comprises a series of modulators and demodulators, in particular of FSK signals,
DTMF, and decimal numbering, corresponding to the different signals used by telecommunications, thus allowing the use of the transceiver card from any telephone set.

These different modulators and demodulators bear the references (32) to, (37). These various elements are located in series between the telephone interface (24) and the microprocessor (21). This part It further comprises a speech synthesizer (38) in serial link, on the one hand with a speech memory (39) of RAM type and / or
EPROM, which stores the data constituting the sentences capable of being downloaded from the computer or put into non-volatile memory, and a set (40) of filters and amplifiers correctly adapting the sounds before they pass to the telephone interface ( 24).

In addition to the applications already mentioned of the server-interface card, we can also cite all cases where there are communication problems with a computer system.
Thus, the assembly constituted by the transceiver card and the server-interface card has many advantages compared to devices known to date and having the same applications as their purpose. We can cite
- a significant reduction in the size of the transceiver system
- a significant reduction in costs and the prior investment;
- a saving of time due to the transmission of information by means of acoustic and non-vocal signals.

Claims (6)

 1 / Device for exchanging information with a server center, by telephone, of the type comprising  - a system for transmitting or transmitting / receiving information A;  - a server interface B, intended to communicate with a computer system, and to manage a characterized telephone line  - in that the transmission or transmission-reception system is composed of a card comprising at least  a touch keyboard (3) ;;  a coding unit (2), intended for trans  form the information given by the cla  frequency, and connected in series with  the touch keyboard (3)  . a piezoelectric vibrator or speaker  (1) intended to transmit as  acoustic channels frequencies from  said coding unit (2)  . a source of electrical energy (5) so  to feed the whole;  - in that the server interface includes  . a microprocessor (21),  . a set of RAM and EPROM or ROM memories  (26,27) intended to store information  received and the program of said interface  server  . a speech synthesizer (38)  . at least one set of encoding and decoration  range (32-37) of the frequencies used on the  telephone network  . a communication detector set  tion (28) and on-hook (30),  all of these different elements being  connected to the microprocessor (21)  2 / information exchange device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission or transmission-reception card further comprises  . a processing and storage unit for  information (6),  . a microphone or buzzer (10) capable of picking up  information from the interface  server, and that pass by the TV line  phonic.  3 / Information exchange device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the transmission-reception card is associated with a display member (9), in particular with liquid crystals  4 / information exchange device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the memory of the transmission-reception card comprises a consumption credit meter, intended to be debited during use of said card in connection with paying server centers  5 / device for exchanging information according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the server interface card comprises a coupling device (31) capable of bringing anonymous contact to at least two connected users on the same host center.  6 / information exchange device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the vibrator (1) is used as a microphone.