GB2265030A

GB2265030A - Supplementing cd-rom databases.

Info

Publication number: GB2265030A
Application number: GB9205129A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Richard Benson
Original assignee: TRIDENT TRADE AND MANAGEMENT S
Current assignee: TRIDENT TRADE AND MANAGEMENT S
Priority date: 1992-03-10
Filing date: 1992-03-10
Publication date: 1993-09-15
Also published as: GB9205129D0

Abstract

A data bank update system updates the data banks of a plurality of remote computers (30), which are mainly CD-ROM data banks. The remote computers hold supplementary data banks on read/write memory eg: hard disks, which are updated by data alteration messages sent from an administration centre (10) to electronic mail boxes (20) for the remote computers, and then retrieved by those computers. <IMAGE>

Description

Data Bank Update System This invention relates to a system for updating the data held in data banks.

It is known to distribute a data bank, to individual users, on CD-ROM (compact disc read-only-memory) for the individual users to access the data bank on their personal computers. However, the data bank carried by the CD-ROM cannot be updated (and this becomes out-of-date almost immediately) until replaced by a fresh disc.

We have now devised a system which enables the users of data banks on CD-ROM to have access to up-dated data.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a data bank update system for updating the data banks of a plurality of remote computers, the data bank being held by each computer mainly on CD-ROM, the system comprising a central administration centre arranged to communicate data-alteration messages to electronic mail boxes for the respective remote computers, and each remote computer being arranged to access a data bank held on CD-ROM and further arranged to retrieve any data update message from its electronic mail box and automatically update a supplementary data bank held in a readwrite memory of the computer.

In use of each remote computer, the computer accesses the main data bank on CD-ROM and further accesses the supplementary data bank in the read/write memory (typically the hard disc of the computer) for any relevant data which has been written into that memory from the data alteration messages.

Typically each remote computer may comprise a microcomputer or personal computer with monitor and keyboard and any data item in the combined data bank (main data bank on CD-ROM and supplementary on read/write memory) can be called to the monitor screen by actuation of the keyboard according to conventional principles. Any data-altering message may be stored in the user's electronic mail box until the user calls for any such message stored for him to be forwarded: alternatively each remote computer may automatically call its electronic mail box at periodic intervals of time for any stored messages to be forwarded.

Upon receipt of a data-altering message, the message is acted upon automatically under a control program of the remote computer, to update accordingly the supplementary part of the data bank held in its read/write memory.

Preferably the remote users cannot alter their own supplementary part of the data bank directly themselves: thus the control program for updating this part of the data bank preferably responds only to the data-altering messages received from the electronic mail box.

Also in accordance with this invention, there is provided a computer arranged to access a data bank held on CD ROM and further arranged to access any updates to the data bank held on a read/write memory of the computer.

Preferably each individual user's computer is arranged to compile and store statistics related to the usage of the data bank. Preferably then each time the computer retrieves a data-altering message from its electronic mail box, it automatically transmit the stored usage statistics to the electronic mail box, for retrieval by the administration centre. This enables the administration centre to monitor the usage of the data bank by the individual users, and to charge them accordingly.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, the single figure of which is a schematic diagram of a system in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a data bank update system which comprises a central administration centre 10, a store and forward unit 20 and a plurality of remote microcomputers 30, 30a, 30b in the premises of individual users. Each microcomputer 30 typically includes a monitor 31, a keyboard 32, a printer 33, a modem 34 and a CD-ROM through the mail, the CD-ROM holding a data bank, the contents of which are then accessible by the user on a read-only basis by actuating the keyboard according to conventional principles.

Thus any item of data held by the data bank can be called to the monitor and/or printed.

The administration centre prepares data alteration messages and transmits these to the electronic mail boxes of the users of the respective data bank. The message is stored in the user's electronic mail box until the user calls his main box for any message stored for him to the forwarded. Any message forwarded in this manner is processed by the user's computer and written to its hard disc, for example. Then when the user accesses the data bank, the computer accesses the main part of the data bank (held on CD-ROM) and also accesses the supplementary part of the data bank (i.e. the updates held on hard disc), for presentation to the user.

As also mentioned above, each individual computer generates and stores statistics related to the usage of the data bank. Then when the computer retrieves any message from its mail box, the computer also transmits the stored statistics, for retrieval and analysis by the administration centre.

Claims

1. A data bank update system for updating the data banks of a plurality of remote computers, the data bank being held by each computer mainly on CD-ROM, the system comprising a central administration centre, a plurality of remote computers each having a main data bank on CD-ROM and a read/write memory with a supplementary data bank, and a store-and-forward unit having storage locations for the respective remote computers, the administration centre being arranged to communicate data alteration messages to said storage locations for the respective remote computers, and each remote computer being arranged to access its main data bank held on CD-ROM and its supplementary data bank and further arranged to retrieve any data alteration message from its location in the store-andforward unit and automatically update its supplementary data bank.

2. A data bank update system as claimed in claim 1, arranged for data alteration messages to be held in said storage locations of the respective remote computers until called forward by the respective users.

3. A data bank update system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which each remote computer is arranged automatically to call its storage location at periodic intervals of time, to call forward any stored data alteration message.

4. A data bank update system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said read/write memory of each remote computer is inaccessible by the respective user for alteration of the respective supplementary data bank.

5. A computer having a main data bank on CD-ROM and a read/write memory holding a supplementary data bank, the computer having means to update the supplementary data bank in accordance with data alteration messages retrieved from a store-and-forward unit, and the computer further having means to access its said main data bank and its said supplementary data bank.

6. A data bank update system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.