MXPA99008215A - Electronic communications system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for communicating data between a computer (20) and a unit remote (22) from the computer (22) is provided, comprising receiving input information from a user in the remote unit (22) and for producing data signals corresponding to the input information, producing error corrected message signals from the data signals, generating acoustical tones corresponding to the error corrected message signals, communicating said acoustical tones over a first communications link (24), said first communications link (24) being bi-directional so that the remote unit (22) communicates data with the computer (20), and receiving acoustic tones over said first communications link (24) from the computer (20), the acoustical tones being adjusted for the conditions of the first communication link (24) prior to transmission to the remote unit (22). The remote unit (22) may also receive data from the computer (20) over a second communications link (36), which is independent of the first communications link (24) so that the remote unit receives data from two different communications links.

Description

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND METHOD Related Request "3. This application is a continuation request in part of the United States of America patent application serial number 08 / 588,165, filed on January 18, 1996. a» * A * 10 Background of the Invention This invention relates generally to a system and method for communicating electronic data, and in particular to a system and method for communicating electronic data in which a portable electronic device 15 transmits data through a line. telephone to a central message distribution system. The system can also communicate electronic data using either a one-way communications protocol, or a two-way communications protocol, and the portable device can receive data from many different sources. i - l Before the proliferation of computers, people communicated store-and-forward style messages Í% V (that is, messages that are first stored in some way, and then sent later) using facsimile machines and 25 direct data-computer-to-computer connections through existing and leased telephone lines. Made to measure 4 F - *, that computers became cheaper and easier to use, people started using more advanced facsimile machines, computer facsimile modems, and direct computer-to-computer modem connections to transfer information between ones and others More recently, people started using commercial online services to communicate large amounts of store-and-send style information (ie, email) to each other. Now, a new means of communication, the Internet, is gaining general public popularity. In the last five years, the number of people connected to the Internet has increased because the • The Internet allows users who have an Internet account, a modem, and a computer to communicate large amounts of information with each other, regardless of the method of each party to access the Internet, or the geographical location of your point of access to the Internet, at a minimal cost. For example, for the cost of a local phone call, a person in California can send a email (e-mail) long to a friend (who must also have access to the Internet) anywhere in the world. Due in large part to the Internet, the popularity of electronic messaging has increased exponentially. • store-and-send, such as email. 25 Initially, due to the large size of the computers, people typically accessed the Internet only from an office computer. Subsequently, as the size and weight of computers decreased, notebook-type office computers to 5-pocket microcomputers, people can take their computer with them wherever they go and access their email accounts from any location where they can locate a telephone receptacle to connect, through the modem, to the Internet. 10 At the same time as e-mail increased in popularity, paging technology also increased in popularity. Many people carry locators to ensure that others can easily find them 4 any time. In addition, a new category 15 of personal computer product, known as a personal digital assistant (PDA), was introduced. Personal digital assistants are basically very small handheld computers (many of which offer limited messaging capabilities, such as * r paging or email) that are valued very high (that is, in excess of $ 500) for the average consumer to buy them, and they do not offer good communication characteristics suitable for the average user's user needs. -i Currently, many attendees are in the market digital personal. A good personal digital assistant known has a small touch screen, controlled by means of special user interface software. This personal digital assistant also has a modem that allows a user to communicate with a network of 5 computers, and send emails, facsimiles, and pager messages. This personal digital assistant and its accessories, however, are very expensive, and require the user to locate a telephone receptacle for the transmission and reception of messages. In these systems of current personal digital assistant well known in the market today, all messages are transmitted and received to ^ J through the same communication link, which requires an expensive modem, and extensive link establishment time - ^ between the modem in the personal digital assistant and the modem at which the personal digital assistant connects. A second well-known personal digital assistant is a cell phone with a backlit, touch-sensitive visual display that acts like a keyboard. This second personal digital assistant has the ability to send facsimiles, communicate with commercial online services, and «Faith you * manage a user's schedule with an integrated time management system. This second personal digital assistant, however, is also very expensive and too large and too heavy to carry in a person's pocket. user. In addition, due to communications switched by or' % * rM * ** circuits of this personal digital assistant, the costs can "2 is very high because it can only communicate through more expensive cellular telephone systems, instead of using less expensive landline telephones and "1 5 protocol of data transmission by short burst packet In addition, because this personal digital assistant depends only on cellular communications, it has a relatively high power consumption, which leads to a very long battery life. 10 All known messaging systems that allow a user to both send and receive multiple types of electronic messages (ie, facsimile, pager, and email) are too large, too expensive, too inconvenient (ie, they require telephone connectivity through an RJ-11 telephone receptacle) or consume a battery too quickly. In addition, these known systems can not reliably send a message through a public normal telephone line for payment or many cell links, due to problems of occasional noise in the line that can not be corrected by known systems, and due to a lack of more convenient telephony coupling technology (ie, appropriate acoustics). In addition, none of these known systems provides an inexpensive way to command different types of messages, and neither provide the user an audible reception acknowledgment signal from the receiving computer, indicating whether the message was sent correctly or not. These known systems also do not offer two different communication protocols for communicating data, or two different systems for receiving messages. In this way, there is a need for an electronic messaging system that is economical and that transmits different types of electronic messages through any type of communication link. There is also the need of an electronic messaging system having a system for sending an audible acknowledgment signal back to the user, and a system for performing multiple levels of error detection and correction. Therefore, there is a need for an electronic messaging system and method that transmit electronic data to a central server through ¥ a telephone line and to avoid these and other problems of the conventional systems and methods of electronic messaging, and it is for this purpose that the invention is directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a portable, inexpensive electronic messaging system and method that can be easily acoustically coupled to a communication link, such as a combined telephone handset per payment. This can send any type of messages electronic communications through a first communication link. He ? The electronic messaging system may also receive incoming messages through the first communications link, or from a second communications link 5 that is separated from the first communication link. The electronic messaging system can also send email, facsimiles, and pager messages using a communications protocol in a single I address through the same first communication link, through a computer; and allows a user to receive immediate audible feedback (ie, acknowledgment of H audible reception of the reception of the transmitted data) through the first communication link from the * computer. The electronic messaging system can also sending messages using a two-way communications protocol in which each packet of data transmitted or received can be recognized electronically. The electronic messaging system of the invention can also have a scheme for early correction of errors, which increases the reliability of the transmission of • Í i 'message through a noisy communications link. The error correction scheme can include multiple J levels of detection and correction of errors to further increase the reliability of message transmission.

Error correction levels may include correction « -of errors at the data packet level, send back packets of contaminated data in response to a signal from -J? - acknowledgment of reception of the contaminated data packet from a central computer, and correction of errors at the bit level. The electronic messaging system and method of the invention may comprise a computer and a hand-held remote unit to the computer, to communicate data between the computer and the computer.

* # F computer and remote hand unit. The remote unit may have a system for receiving input from a user, and to produce electrical signals that correspond to the input data. The input data that is converted to electrical signals can also include data that only * '1 identify the particular remote unit and the user for the computer, in such a way that the computer can determine A 15 which user is sending the input data. Unit #? Remote can also have a system to produce error-corrected data based on electrical signals, and to produce acoustic tones that correspond to data corrected for errors. The remote unit can also have a system for coupling the acoustic tones to a first communication link for transmission to the computer. The remote unit can also receive acoustic data in a two-way communication protocol. The computer can have a system to detect and correct errors in the data represented by the • acoustic tones, and a system to send a signal back to the user of the remote unit, through the first communication link to recognize the reception of the acoustic tones. The remote unit, in addition, may have a system 5 for receiving data from the computer, through a second communication link. The electronic messaging system can also have a method of error detection and correction of data in the computer, which includes the verification of the packages to see if they have errors, re-send any data in which any data packets contain any errors, compare the data packets with the data packets that are sent back, and compare each bit in the data packets with every bit in the packages of data that are sent back, to determine a bit % \ Right. The method can generate an integrity flag, r for each data packet, that indicates errors inside each data packet. The electronic messaging system can also Transmit data to the server in a communications protocol in a single address or in two directions, and the hand unit can have a system to automatically determine what type of communications protocol is being used. The electronic messaging system can also have an I i 25 handheld unit that can balance the load on the CPU to 4 ' maximize CPU productivity, and a system to vary at the sampling rate of the receiver, depending on the • activity of the receiver. The electronic messaging system may also allow a user to, during a single telephone call session, communicate by voice, for example, by responding to voice mails and communicating electronic data, using the hand-held unit, through the line • t. telephone, during a single communications session. 1 4, In accordance with the invention, a system for communicating data between a computer and a remote unit of the computer, which comprises receiving information from 4 input from a user in a remote unit, and to produce data signals corresponding to the input information, produce message signals corrected for errors from the data signals, generate acoustic tones corresponding to the error-corrected message signals, communicate those acoustic tones through a first communications link, 3- the first communication link being bi-directional, in such a way that the remote unit communicates data with the computer, jj 20 and receive acoustic tones through that first communications link from the computer, and receive acoustic tones through the first communication link from the computer, the acoustic tones being adjusted for the conditions of the first communications link, before its transmission to the remote unit. -i A system is also provided to communicate data between a computer and a remote unit from the \ $. computer, which comprises receiving input information in the remote unit from a user, and to produce m 5 data signals corresponding to the input information, produce message signals corrected for errors from the data signals, generate acoustic tones that correspond to error-corrected message signals, communicate those acoustic tones through a first communication link, the first communication link being bidirectional, in such a way that the remote unit communicates data with the computer, and receives data from the computer through a second communication link, which is independent of the first * communications link, such that the remote unit receives data from two different communication links. A system is also provided to communicate a plurality of different types of data between a user and a computer, during a single session of acoustic data, comprising receiving an incoming call from a user, receiving i 20 acoustic tones from the user, and switching between a plurality of acoustic sessions on the basis of to the acoustic tones received during a single acoustic data session, the plurality of acoustic sessions comprising a voice mail session and a data communications session electronic, in such a way that the user can communicate A- 4 voice data and electronic data acoustically to a computer during a single data session. In addition, a device is provided to acoustically communicate data ? electronic devices with a computer, comprising: a case 5 having an open position and a closed position, an input device, exposed when the case is open, to allow a user to enter data, and a visual display device, exposed when the case is open, to visually display data to a user. He The device may also include a communication system located on an outer surface of the case, for communicating electronic data with the computer, a system for activating the communication system when the case is closed, a system for determining a period of time for that electronic data communication session, and a '? system on the outer surface of the case to indicate the time period of the communication session, in such a way i. that the user can initiate and complete the communications session with the case in the closed position. Unit Remote can also include an audio transducer that generates a sound that is emitted during a data communication session, so that the user can verify that the communications session is occurring even if there is strong background noise. 25 Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a modality of a global system and method for communicating electronic data between a handheld unit and a server, through a telephone line 5 in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating a plurality of hand-held units that communicate data with a server according to the invention. Figure 3 is a top view of a hand unit according to the invention, in a closed position. Figure 4 is a side view of a closed hand unit according to the invention. Figure 5 is an end view of a closed hand unit according to the invention. Figure 6 is a bottom view of a closed hand unit according to the invention. Figure 7 is a top view of a hand unit according to the invention, in an open position. Figure 8 is a more detailed diagram of the hand-held unit 20 according to the invention. Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating a communication system located on the server for communication with the hand unit. Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating a system 25 for determining the mode of communication inside the unit hand Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating a mode of i communication in one direction. Figure 12 is a diagram illustrating a mode of communication in two directions. ? Figure 13 is a diagram illustrating an interleaving method that can be used in combination with the error correction method. Figure 14 is a flow chart of a method of early error correction in accordance with the invention. Figure 15 is a diagram of an integrity check of the data packet according to the invention. Figure 16 is a flowchart illustrating a method of detecting and correcting errors in accordance with the invention. Figure 17 is a diagram illustrating a method of ? vote of majority of bits in accordance with the invention. Figure 18 is a flow chart illustrating a one-way transmission method in accordance with the invention. Figure 19 is a flow diagram of a one-way transmission protocol in accordance with the invention. t - Figure 20 is a flowchart of a two-way protocol in accordance with the invention. Figure 21 is a diagram illustrating a summary of the message according to the invention. Figure 22 is a diagram of the signal conditioning system inside the server system. Üh Figure 23 is a diagram of a secure channel of To data inside the server, in accordance with the invention. Figure 24 is a diagram of a user performing operations of voice mail and data communications with the - ** handheld unit, during a single telephone call in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention is particularly applicable to a system and method for communicating electronic data between a handheld unit and a server, through an ordinary telephone line. It is in this context that the invention will be described. It will be noted, however, that the system and method of the invention has greater utility. The electronic messaging system in accordance with the present invention may include a computer, and a hand-held, portable, battery-powered unit. The unit can be remotely located from the computer and can Generate, transmit and / or receive electronic messages, such as locator, facsimile, and email messages, through a first communication link to the computer, and can also receive incoming messages from the computer, through a second communication link. The remote unit can also have a visual display device and an input device to create and view messages. In addition, the remote unit may have an acoustic coupling system, such that the signals from the remote unit can be acoustically coupled to, and communicated through, the first communications link. The electronic messaging system computer can receive incoming electronic messages from the remote unit, can detect and correct errors in the remote unit's signals, and can transmit an audible signal or electronic signal back to the user of the remote unit, to through the first communications link, indicating the reception of the signals from the remote unit. The computer can also transmit the different types of electronic messages from the remote unit (ie email, pager, and facsimile) through different appropriate outputs, and can transmit messages back to the remote unit through a second link of communications. The remote unit can communicate with the computer using either a one-way communications protocol or a two-way communication protocol addresses, and the computer can automatically determine which communications protocol will be used. During the one-way protocol, the remote unit can transmit data to the computer, and the computer, at the end of an entire communications session, can send a signal I audible back to the user, acknowledging receipt of messages, or requesting that messages be sent again. During the two-way protocol, the remote unit and the computer can communicate electronically with each other, in such a way that the remote unit can transmit each data packet, and the computer can 9 recognize each data packet, or request that the data packet be sent again. Any protocol can be used, depending on the conditions of the telephone line or the alignment of the remote unit with the telephone set, as described below.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a multi-function electronic messaging system 18, encompassing the invention. As shown, the messaging system 18 electronics may include a computer 20, and a portable unit 22, remote to the computer. A first communication link 24, such as an ordinary telephone line, can connect the remote unit 22 to the computer 20, to allow communication of messages from the remote unit to the remote unit. computer, using a communications protocol either in one direction or two directions. The remote unit preferably generates acoustic tone patterns (V.23 CCITT source station modem tone frequencies to indicate a current of 1/0 bits in series), which represent different types of electronic messages created by a user. In the one-way protocol, the acoustic tones can be output by means of an output device 26, such as a speaker, and transmitted through the first communication link to the computer, which interprets the tones from the remote unit, using a modem 28 data receiver, which is described later in more detail. The computer can detect and correct errors in the data, as described below, sent to it by means of the remote unit, and can generate an audible signal that is sent back to the user of the remote unit, through the first link of the unit. communications. The signal may indicate a sufficiently error-free data transmission, or may indicate that the data should be sent again because the transmission is not sufficiently error-free. In the two-way protocol, a microphone (not shown) can also be attached to the remote unit, so that the computer can transmit acoustic tones back to the remote unit to acknowledge receipt of each data packet. The computer can separate the individual types to the output facsimile system 82, which may have a facsimile machine 92 or server attached thereto to send outgoing facsimile messages. If some of the data received by the incoming message system is a message from. Outgoing electronic mail (e-mail), the errors of the message can be detected and corrected and the message routed to the email system 84, and then through a ~ t * e-mail channel, such as the Internet. For an incoming email message to the user of the remote unit, the email message is received by the email system and routed in a one-way protocol to the locator system 86, which sends the message to the remote unit through a location transmitter and terminal 70, in the form of a locator message. In a two-way protocol, the incoming message can be communicated through the first communication link to the remote unit. In this way, there are two different ways to transmit messages to the remote unit. If some of the data received by the incoming message system is an output locator message, then the message can be routed - • '$,' - 7 to the system 8 * 6 locator that is connected to the location transmitter and terminal 70.? The billing, messaging and user profile system 88 can store all the necessary information to maintain the billing path, the use of messages, later. The location of the microphone is adjustable to suit different telephone sets. The lower part of the hand unit may also have a battery compartment 124. Figure 7 is a diagram of the hand unit 100 when the case is open. As shown, when the case is closed, the upper case 114 can protect a visual display 126 and a keyboard 128. The hand-held unit will now be described in more detail. Figure 8 is a more detailed block diagram 10 of the hand unit 100, in accordance with the invention. The handheld unit may include a central processor unit (CPU) 130, a communications unit 132, a unit 134 of i? locator, a memory unit 136, a unit 138 of 1, battery, a mode selector 140, a length indicator 142 'tt. 15 of the communications, a visual display system 144, and a keyboard 146. The CPU can control the various other parts of the hand unit. The communications unit can allow the CPU and the user to send and / or receive data user data, such as addresses, appointments and the like. The battery system can provide power to the electronic messaging system, and ensure that a portion of the memory always receives power, in order to avoid losing the user's data, for example, when the batteries have to be changed. The mode selector can allow the user to select a command-only mode or send / receive mode. The communication length indicators allow the user to quickly determine the time needed to download the messages through the telephone line. The communications length indicator may also indicate to the user that this may break the communication link with the server, as described below, without any permanent loss of data. As soon as the communications length indicator has been illuminated, a summary has been received of all the messages that will be sent to "the hand unit, in such a way that if the communication link is broken before it is All messages have been transferred to the handheld unit, the handheld unit can later request the messages that were not sent based on the summary.The visual display system visually displays the data for the user to see, and the keypad allows the user to enter data within the handheld unit.The keyboard can be replaced with a touch screen and handwriting recognition software. to the mouth part of the telephone set. The system of The communication can also receive FEC encoded data to f through the telephone line, using a microphone 154 and a converter 156 A / D. To receive data through the line coupled to the conformity transmit as through the locator receiver Locator receiver 134 provides a second way in which data can be transmitted to the unit * C handy. The locator receiver can receive transmissions of locator using a locator antenna 158, and a locator module 160, which converts the received locator frequency signals to data that can be routed to the CPU. In this way, with the hand unit the * -k user can receive data using the protocol in two addresses, through the telephone line or through the locator frequency, depending on the structuring selected by the user. For example, the user may select to receive a summary of their incoming messages through the pager, such as a paging message, such as way you can review and select the messages that will be downloaded to you through the telephone line, which can reduce the time needed to download the message. The user can also select to download only critical messages. The user can also select to receive their pager messages through the first link of communications (that is, the telephone link), which provides support to the pager receiver in the event that the pager receiver is not operational. The user can also select to receive their messages through the 5 locator, instead of the telephone link, which provides backup to the telephone link. The hand unit can also be operated without a locator module. In operation, the server can scan the messages received through the locator, in such a way that they can be re-transmit any lost locator messages, through the locator or through the telephone link. For example, the server can send a plurality of pager messages to the handheld unit, and each of these pager messages can be marked with a identifier. As the hand unit receives the pager messages, it can record the identifiers, so that it can determine if a message was lost. For example, the hand unit may determine that it received pager messages 1-4 and 6-10, but not the locator message 5. At some later time when the handheld unit connects to the server, through "the telephone link, the handheld unit can request that the server send back the pager message 5, based on the identifiers. In this way, the system can travel incoming pager messages and request retransmission i 34 'l of the lost locator messages. When a pager message is transmitted to the handheld unit, a long pager message may be divided into many smaller pager messages. For example, a message of one thousand characters can be divided into five messages of 200 characters, because the maximum message size of a typical location system can be two hundred characters. In a typical locator system, the message can be divided into many smaller messages, but the message is not put back together in the long message, so that the user must read each part of the message as a separate message. The computer, in accordance with the invention, can divide a long message into many smaller message segments, and can also attach a flag to each message segment. When the hand unit has received all the parts, the hand unit can, using the flags attached to each segment, reconstruct the long pager message, so that the user can read the entire long message, without reading the many segments of the message The flags appended to each message segment may also allow the hand unit to determine that a portion of the longer message was contaminated, or was not received, and request retransmission of the contaminated message segment. The memory and battery systems of the unit will now be described of hand.

(ROM) 162, a programmable, electrically erasable read-only memory (EEPROM) 163, and a direct access memory (RAM) 164. The memory 136 may also have a flash memory card (not shown) that is You can add to the handheld unit to increase the storage capacity of the handheld device. The ROM can store «^ applications, such as the message organizer, the directory application, and the calendar, which are stored permanently inside the hand unit. The EEPROM can store data that can be changed once in the factory, such as a serial number of the handheld unit that the server can use to identify each handheld unit. RAM can store the change data of a user, such as directory data, sent messages, appointments and the like. Since the RAM is volatile and its contents will be lost if the power to the RAM is lost, the battery system 138 provides constant power to the RAM. To avoid losing your data completely, a user can make a backing up all your data for the server and then, if you actually lose your data, you can download your previously stored data from the server, and reconstruct your data in your handheld unit. The battery system 138 can provide power to the CPU and the rest of the system, but especially to provides power to the RAM. The battery system can n can be ema 138 can be include a pair of alkaline 172 cells, which are not used unless the non-rechargeable cells of the hand-held unit have been spent or removed. A switch 174 can switch between the non-rechargeable cells 166 and the alkaline cells 172, to ensure that the power to the RAM is maintained. Now I know will describe the mode selection system 140 and the communication length indicator system 142. The mode selection system 140, as described above, allows a user to select either a single send mode for a message transfer faster, or a send / receive mode. To select any mode, the user can press a button 176, 178 for the command mode or the send / receive mode, and a light emitting diode 180, 182 associated with each button will illuminate to indicate the mode of operation selected by the user. As described above, the buttons and LED's may be located on the outside of the hand unit, such that it can be operated without opening the case. The transmission length indicator system 142, as described above, may comprise a plurality of LED's 184-192 that indicate the time lapse required - 37 to receive messages from the server. As shown, * it can be indicated that the lapse is 30 seconds, one minute, two minutes, three minutes or more than three minutes. The LED's also .1 may indicate a percentage of time remaining in the 5 communications session, such as 75 percent, 50 percent, and 25 ** t percent. In addition, once one of the LED's has been illuminated, the hand-held unit has received a condensed summary of '4 the messages that the hand-held unit will receive, as described later. This way, if the link breaks of communications before receiving all the messages, the user can later request the transmission of those messages not sent, based on the summary of the messages, in such a way that the user can break the communication link with the server, after that the -i 15 summary, without permanently losing any of the messages. Now the visual display and the keyboard will be described. "Ufe * Visual display 144 may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) 194, a 196- • and electroluminescent (EL) backlight and a 198 EL controller. The EL backlighting can backlight the LCD, so that * the LCD can be easily seen during low light conditions. The keyboard 146 can be a QWERTY layout keyboard. Now the operation of the hand unit will be described. In operation, a user can either transmit messages to the server, or receive messages from the server.

To transmit messages, a user can generate a message f using a keyboard, and the message can be stored in RAM. Then the user can establish a telephone link with the server. The user can then hold the horn and / or the microphone of the hand-held unit above the telephone apparatus. Then the server can determine if the communication is in one direction (ie, the unit of & f hand sends data and the server sends voice prompts back to the user) or in two directions (that is, the unit • fr 10 handheld or the server sends / receives data packets and the handheld unit or the server can acknowledge receipt of each packet. Subsequently, the communication mode will be described in more detail in one direction and in two directions. Either in one-way or two-way mode addresses, data can be transmitted from the unit, hand, through the telephone line, to the server. The user can then hang up the phone, once the message transfer is complete. To receive data from the server, the user can either receive data through the telephone line, if the send / receive mode of operation has been selected, or through the pager receiver. For the receiver '^ i-. - ^ locator, the user can receive pager messages -4 Í £ at any time. To receive messages through the telephone line, the user must initiate a call I * s will be downloaded. How can you send a message summarizing the messages incoming, so that the user can select 5 download only certain messages. Now the communication system located on the server for communication with the hand unit will be described. Figure 9 is a detailed block diagram of T t & the telecommunication interface 74 that is part of the modem 28 data receiver shown in Figure 1. The modem may include a CPU 210 of the modem, a memory unit 212, a i transmitter-receiver 214 of messages, and an interface 216 of the incoming message system. The modem CPU can have a first port 218 UART that communicates with the interface of the incoming message system, such as an RS232 level changer 220 for communicating data back and forth between the server of the incoming remote unit and the modem of the data receiver. A second port 222 UART on the CPU is connected "to the message transceiver to receive data (acoustic tones) of the remote receiving unit, transmitting a signal acknowledging receipt of the data from the remote unit back to the user of the remote unit, through the first communication link, and transmitting messages in the remote unit. form of acoustic tones from the server return to the hand unit. t "" 1 * • The memory unit 212 can have a RAM 224 that can act as a buffer zone for incoming electronic messages, and can temporarily store program and variable information, such as the information established for each particular remote unit. The memory unit can also have a ROM 226 for »" "£ *. * Store software programs that work on the CPU of the "modem: the incoming data from the remote unit, and the w> output signals of acknowledgment to the user of the unit Remote are going through the message transceiver which may include a telecommunications interface 227, a first and second amplifiers 228, 230, and a data demodulator 232. Incoming data from the remote unit can be carried through the first communication link (not shows) to another communication network, such as a Public Switched Telephone Network PSTN) 234, or the first communication link itself can be the PSTN. The incoming tones are converted to electrical signals by means of the telecommunication interface 227, amplified by means of the first amplifier 228, demodulated by means of the data demodulator 232, and enter the modem CPU through the UART port. For the reception acknowledgment output signals that are sent through the PSTN, and any other first communication link, the modem CPU indicates to another subsystem (not shown) inside the computer, that generates a signal, such as an audio message synthesized or recorded previously. The modem CPU also controls this signal by controlling the enable signal of the second amplifier 230. In this way, the signal is fed into the second amplifier, through the telecommunications interface, and transmitted through the transmitter. PSTN 234, or any other first communication link, back to the user of the remote unit. The telecommunication interface 227 is controlled by a signal from HANGED / DISPLAYED (the telephone line is switched between hanging and unhooked conditions) generated by means of the modem CPU. An incoming ringer condition from the PSTN generates a ringer detection signal that is fed into the modem's CPU, causing the modem's CPU to activate the telecommunication interface. For an output message from the server to the handheld unit, the CPU 210 can generate the appropriate electrical signals that can be modulated by means of a data modulator 236, and can be amplified by means of an amplifier 238. The amplified acoustic tones can then be routed through the telecommunication inferium 227, and sent through the PSTN 234 to the hand unit. Now we will describe the communications protocol in one direction and in two directions, between the handheld unit and the server. 25 Figure 10 is a block diagram illustrating an A J¡¡ system 240 to determine the mode of communication (ie, in one direction or in two directions) that may occur between the server and the handheld unit over the telephone line. One-way communication occurs when the hand-held unit transmits data to the server, using the speaker that is acoustically coupled to the mouth portion of the telephone set, and the server provides a voice indication, at the end of the message, to the user, indicating the acceptance of the message. The handheld unit can not receive data through of the telephone line during the communications protocol in a single address. Two-way communication, on the other hand, is when the hand-held unit transmits data packets, using the speaker that is acoustically coupled to the mouth part of the telephone set, and the server can transmitting an acknowledgment signal after each data packet to the hand-held unit, through the microphone that is acoustically coupled to the receiver of the telephone set. The server can also transmit data to the remote unit, and the remote unit can acknowledge reception of the receipt of each data packet in the two-way protocol. A portion of this system can be software applications that the CPU is running. For example, Yes transmitters and receivers are based on software. The system may include the communication system 132 described i- «t 4 above, and a decision system 242. The decision system may include a first switch 244 connected to the microphone 154 and a detector 246 of a single direction / two directions. To detect if communication is possible in two directions, the one-way / two-way detector 246 can generate a signal that is transmitted through the speaker to the server. The server then transmits a 1; Answer signal through the telephone line, which can pick up the microphone, if the microphone is acoustically coupled to the receiver of the telephone set. In this way, if the microphone detects a signal, it can be fed back to the detector 246, which detects the signal and determines that communication in two directions can occur. If no response signal is received, detector 246 is decided by default in the one-way communications mode. In this way, the detector can automatically determine, when a user connects to the server, if communication will occur in one direction or in two directions. For example, if the user is not holding the microphone close enough to the device receiver telephone, for acoustic coupling, then the communication mode will be selected in only one direction, and the user will receive voice prompts from the server. If a communication is occurring in two i 25 directions, then the first switch 244 can be closed f which electrically connects a data receiver 248 to the microphone, to receive reception acknowledgments from the server, or to receive messages from the server in the form of acoustic tones. Received messages or acknowledgment signals can be taken through a line DATA_FIT a. Go the CPU of the handheld unit. The data receiver can be implemented as a software application that the CPU is running. If communication occurs in only one direction, ÍF then the receiver is not connected to the microphone. One second switch 250 can electrically connect either a • transmitter software 252 of 1200 bits per second, or a software transmitter of 2400 bits per second to the speaker, depending on the conditions of the telephone line. The determination system can select the speed of possible higher transmission, given the conditions of the - • f.1 telephone line, in order to send data from a line DAT0S_ADENTR0. In this way, the system 240 can select either one-way communications or two-way communications, and also the transmission of 1200 baud or 2400 baud transmission. The details of the one-way and two-way communications mode will now be described. f 'Figures 11 and 12 are block diagrams that illustrate communication modes in a single direction and in Two directions, in accordance with the invention. How is f * 'V shown in Figure 11, during one-way communication, speaker 152 can generate audio signals that are transmitted through a telephone line 24 to server 20, and microphone 154 is inactive. In this way, once 5 the data have been transmitted by means of the unit 100 of ~ * $ hand, the server 20 will generate a voice prompt, which can be heard by the user through the receiver 40 of the telephone set, indicating that the messages were received, or -fc. f requesting retransmission. The messages may not be received through the telephone line by the hand unit in the protocol in one direction only. As shown in the Figure 12, during communications in two directions, the - horn 152 and microphone 154 can be acoustically coupled to the mouth part and receiver of the apparatus 40 , respectively, in such a way that the data packets can be generated by the speaker and transmitted to the 3 - . 3 -5f > server, and the server can transmit backward acknowledgment signals, after each packet, which the hand unit 100 receives, through the microphone 154. In addition, the The server can transmit messages to the hand-held unit using the microphone, and the hand-held unit can acknowledge receipt of each data packet using the speaker. Now we will describe a method for interleaving the reported data, to increase the efficiency of error correction. Figure 13 is a diagram illustrating a method of interleaving that may be used in conjunction with the error correction method, described below with reference to Figure 14, to increase the efficiency of error correction in bursts of the communications system. In particular, the bits of a plurality of data streams can be interleaved together, in such a way that the last error correction of these bits is increased. As an example, a four-way interleaving with four data streams will be described. As shown, * i * 10 a first data stream 260 includes the bits ak, a second stream 262 of data includes the bits 1-v, a third stream 264 of data includes the bits w-gg, and a fourth stream 266 of data includes the bits hh-rr. A method of anticipated error correction, as described Later, you can correct up to two bits of every sixteen bits. In this way, only two bits can be corrected in each of the data streams 260-266. A resulting interleaved data stream 268 is shown in which, for example, bits a-d of the first data stream can be located in bits 1, 5, 9, and 13 of the interleaved data stream. The first sixteen bits of the interleaved data stream are shown. If the first eight bits of the interleaved data stream are lost or contaminated, each data stream has only two contaminated bits, and these two contaminated bits can be corrected, as describe later. In this way, the stream of interleaved data can increase the ability to correct errors in bursts of the system. Now, an error correction system according to the invention will be described. 4 5 Figure 14 is a flow diagram showing the error detection and correction method used in the electronic messaging system of the present invention. The error correction method of the present invention is performed within the system 76 of incoming messages that are shows in Figure 2. The coding of the data stream (the data downloaded from the remote unit to the Computer, by means of the incoming message system and its modems) using the error correction method of the present invention takes place inside the remote unit. In % 15 300, the error correction method begins, which can be an early error correction system of Bose, Chaudhuri, Hocquenghem (BCH), the re-sending of messages, and the correction of errors of overlap of the error package . In 302, the incoming message system receives the stream of ~ # 20 encoded error correction data from the remote unit. The CPU in the remote unit first encodes the data stream from the remote unit, using a method of early error correction, such as a code of BCH information (15.7.2). The method of early correction of errors can also use a BCH code (26,21,1), similar to a Hamming code, which can correct an error. With the BCH code (15,7,2), the original data from the remote unit is segmented into seven (7) bits, an extra parity bit (parity / non standard parity) is calculated and concatenated at the end of the fifteen encoded bits, to generate a sixteen-bit word that is easier to use for standard computer peripherals. The data is sent from the remote unit to the incoming message system, sixteen bits at a time. In this way, all data from the remote unit to the incoming message system is sent in packets of sixteen (16) bits, including fifteen bits of BCH code and one (1) parity bit. The fifteen bits of code BCH contain seven (7) bits of real data and eight (8-) bits of code generated BCH. This BCH code can detect or correct up to two (2) random errors within each sixteen-bit data packet. In addition, the BCH error correction system can also detect more than two errors per packet, but can not correct for them. In practice, up to four (4) sequential bit errors can be corrected in a data stream, if those errors are equally divided between two packets (that is, if two errors occur at the end of the N packet, and two errors occur at the end of packet N). beginning of package N + l). In 304, the incoming message system determines whether some BCH error occurred inside each package. If there were no errors inside any of the sixteen-bit packets sent from the remote unit, then at 306 the error correction method is completed. Similarly, if a 5 packet had two or fewer BCH errors, then the BCH error correction method can correct for those errors at 308, and at 310 the method is completed. If any data packet had more than two bit errors, the error correction method BCH detects the errors, and the message system i. 10 incomers will request, through an audible tone or a voice message, that the user of the remote unit send the data back to 312. After the data is sent back to 312, the incoming message system determines if they are present some errors within any data packet in step 314. If there are 0, 1, or 2 errors inside a packet of Í = data of the data stream that was sent again, then the error correction ends in 316. An error packet overlap correction can be used, in 318, if There are still errors in any of the data packages. Subsequently, with reference to Figure 15, the overlap error correction method of the error pack will be described more fully. At 320, it is determined if there are still some errors left after the correction of overlaying error pack. If the correction of error packet overlay has corrected all the * errors, then the method ends at 322. If there are still incorrigible errors inside some data packet, after the overlap correction of the 5-error packet then, in step 324, it is determined if the data has been sent more than three times. If the data has been sent less than three times, then the process returns to 312, where the data is sent again, and the overlap correction of the error package is conducted. If the data have been sent three or more times then, in 326, an error correction method can be invoked by majority of bits per pack vote, described later in more detail, with reference to Figure 13. In 328, it is determined if there are some errors left or not, after the majority vote of bits per pack. If there is no error present, then the method ends at 330. If there is still * "t present errors after majority vote of bits per packet, then the process returns to 312 where the data is sent again.

The errors of the present invention provide three separate levels of error correction, which ensures that the incoming message system receives an error-free data stream. Figure 15 is a schematic diagram showing the method of correcting overlap errors of the package -of errors. As the incoming message system receives a stream of data, each 16-bit BCH packet * $ * has an integrity flag attached to it through the incoming message system that identifies the package as a good package (errors less than or equal to two) or as a bad package (errors greater than two). In this description, the BCH code (26,21,1) is described, but the same concept can also be applied to the BCH code (15,7,2) with some minor modifications. In particular, for the error BCH (26,21,1) the correction can 4 correct an "error" bit (ie, the bit is wrong and its value must be changed, such as from "0" to "1" or vice versa) or two "delete" bits (ie bits that are probably wrong since the value of the bits for a first and * í 15 second stream of data are different). To label the packages with good or bad integrity flags, it is reviewed '4- each bit inside the package. When only one stream of data has been transmitted, each packet with only one error bit can have an integrity flag good, since only one bit of error can be corrected in each packet. Once the data stream has been re-sent due to bad integrity flags, in - 1 addition to label bits as "error" bits, bits can also be labeled as "delete" bits. One bit is label as a "delete" bit if the bit has a value in - í A the first data stream, but then the other value in the second data stream. A data packet with two "erase" bits can be labeled with a good integrity flag. Then the "erased" bits in the packet can be corrected, as described later. If there is at least one bad packet in the data stream, then all the data stream is sent again. As given above, the data stream can be re-sent up to N times, producing N data streams (data_crops_l, datastream_2, and so on, up to datastream_N) that are stored temporarily. As shown, the integrity flags for each packet are also stored along with each individual data packet. A memory 352 is used temp_zone_memoryintermediate to store the results of the J error correction method of error packet overlap that is established in Figure 13. In the example, shown in Figure 15, each of the data streams can have a data packet A, a data pack B, a data packet C and a data packet D. As shown, for packet A, the packet from data stream l is stored in the temporary buffer zone because it has a good integrity flag. Similarly, for package B, the package from data stream2 or the data stream_N can be stored in the memory area t temporary intermediate because both have good integrity flags. For packet C, since all data streams have bad integrity flags, the error correction method i is driven by majority of bits per packet. Finally, for package D, any of the packets can be used from the three data streams, because all integrity flags are good. Figure 16 is a flow chart showing the operation of the overlay error correction method error packet and when the error correction method is conducted by majority vote. The method starts at 360. At 362, integrity flags (banderal, flag2 flagM) of a particular data packet (1.2, .... M) are compared for each data stream, some with the others. For example, as shown in Figure 12, for the good data packet A, the integrity flag (flag2) of the data stream2 is bad, and the integrity flag (flagM) of the data stream_N is bad. In 364, it is determined if all integrity flags are good or no. At 366, if all the integrity flags for a particular data packet are good, then the data packet with fewer errors is stored, inside memory 352 temp_zoneintermediated memory. At 368, it is determined if all integrity flags are bad. If all the flags of integrity are bad, then in 370 a vote of # < "fa- Most bits per pack, as long as at least three streams of data are present. If the integrity flags are not all bad, then in 366 the package with fewer errors is selected. Once data packet 5 is selected with a good integrity flag and fewer errors in 366, any errors in the data packet are corrected.

For up to two "delete" bits in the selected data packet, the "delete" bit can be corrected in a conventional binary deletion technique. In the next book of text, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes an example of a binary erasure technique: Error - * - Control System for Digital Communications and Storacre, Stephen B. Wicker, Prentice Hall, 1995, p. 229. The method of voting of most bits per packet will now be described. 15 Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of the method of «. majority vote of bits per packet that is part of the error detection and correction method shown in Figure 14. Each bit is chosen within the data packet to match the majority (more than fifty percent) of the bits that are being compared (that is, the chosen value is the same as the value of 2 of 3 bits that are compared). For example, as shown in Figure 14, the bit_one 400 in each data stream is 1.1, ... 0 respectively for each data stream, so that most (more than fifty percent) of the bits are equal to "1". From In accordance with the above, bit-one is set to "1". Once the new packet values are determined by the majority-bit method, the newly armed data packets are checked for errors, using a conventional checksum method and the BCH method, and then stored. in memory temp_zonadememoriaintermedia. In this way, all data packets are determined within the data stream, so that the incoming message system can then process the data stream. In this way, using this multi-level error detection and correction system, according to the invention, the data transmitted from the remote unit to the computer will be substantially free of errors. For most transmissions, data may need to be re-sent only once, and the method of overlaying the error pack will detect and correct any errors in the data. This multi-level error detection and correction system increases the reliability of message transmission. In addition, this correction and error detection system is fast, in such a way that the user will receive a reception acknowledgment signal very quickly. This rapid error detection and correction allows the user and the remote unit to stay connected to the computer as little time as possible. possible, without sacrificing the integrity of the message transmission. Figure 18 is a flow chart showing the operation that the incoming message system 76 takes, shown in Figure 2, to process an incoming message from the remote unit. At 440, the user's telephone call with the remote unit is answered by the incoming message system and, at 442, the incoming message system reproduces an audible message, such as a synthesized voice message, previously recorded, giving instructions to the user for "Send data now" by holding the remote unit to the microphone side of the telephone set, and pressing the Send button. The voice message that reproduces the incoming message system can be stored in the database, which is shown in Figure 2. Next, in step 444, the incoming message system receives data from the remote unit, including any data of outgoing messages, any criteria for selecting e-mail, and a record of pager messages received by the remote unit since the last communication with the incoming message system. The e-mail selection criteria allow the computer to automatically select the e-mail messages finally destined for the user of the remote unit. For example, you can select outward messages that are sent from a person that the user of the remote unit considers particularly troublesome. The pager message record is used to ensure that the user of the remote unit receives all its incoming pager messages, and to cause the computer to retransmit any lost pager messages. After the correction and detection of errors is made in 445, in 446 it is determined whether all the data received from the remote unit is sufficiently error-free or not. The detection and correction of errors occurring in the incoming message system when a message is received was previously described, with reference to Figures 14-17. If the data contains too many errors, then the control returns to 442, where the incoming message system plays an audible message, requesting that the data be re-sent. However, if the data is sufficiently error-free, then at 448 the incoming message system reproduces another audible message that tells the user that the data was clearly received. Messages that the incoming message system plays can be stored in the database, which is shown in Figure 2. After the received data message is played, the incoming message system hangs the phone at 450. After Hang up the phone with the user, start (452) further processing of the incoming data stream. The incoming data is separated in the email selection criteria, as described previously, the incoming messages (each being separated 5 in accordance with its last destination), and the registration of previously received locator messages, as described earlier. Then the registration of the previously sent locator messages is analyzed (454) and -fe compares with the registration of pager messages previously received, and it is determined if all the location messages that were sent to the user's remote unit were received properly, since the user last loaded the data into the incoming message system (456). If the user's remote unit has not received appropriately all previously sent pager messages, then the incoming message system locates the missing / missing pager messages of the user in the database (458), which is shown in Figure 2, and uploads them to the paging system , which is shown in the Figure 2, for retransmission to the remote unit. Once any missing pager messages have been retransmitted, or once all previously sent pager messages have been confirmed as received, then the message system entrants, in 460, send any changes in the criteria of selecting email to a database of user records, stored in the database shown in Figure 2. Then, at 462, any outgoing messages are sent to a batch of outgoing messages, and now the control in the computer is transferred, in 464, to the individual systems that handle the different types of output messages. For example, if the outbound messages contained an e-mail message and a facsimile message, then the control would go to the facsimile system and the e-mail system. The different message systems in the computer can also operate simultaneously and independently, and process many different messages simultaneously. Figure 19 is a schematic diagram showing the transfer communication protocol between the remote unit and the computer, during data transfer. The transfer protocol provides a way to identify the remote unit to the computer, a method to verify that the data has been received correctly, and a way to request that the data be re-sent if the data were not received. As shown, there may be six phases of a data transfer between the remote unit and the computer, including a dialing phase 470, a connection phase 472, a preamble transmission phase 474, a data transmission phase 476, a phase 478 of acknowledgment of reception, and a final phase 480. In dialing phase 470 and connection phase 472, a connection is established through a first communication link, such as a telephone line, between the user of the remote unit and the computer. The computer can generate an audio tone, or synthesized voice welcome message that instructs the user to start sending the data. Once connected, the user holds the horn of the remote unit near the microphone of the telephone set, and press the SEND button of the remote unit, to start the preamble phase of the communication protocol between the remote unit and the computer. In preamble phase 474, the remote unit sends preamble data to the computer. The preamble data may include a synchronization part, a remote unit identification number, feature data, a time and date stamp, error correction type data, modulation selection data, size selection data of the package, a sum of verification, and extension data for any additional information. The feature data notifies the computer of the particular characteristics of the particular remote unit in use at that time, such as the type of acknowledgment signal, if a cellular telephone connection is being used, if the data is placed on key, and if the acknowledgment of receipt from the computer to the user of the remote unit must occur at the end of each data packet transmission, or at the end of all data packet transmissions (ie, after the entire 5 data stream containing the plurality of data packets). The preferred reception acknowledgment signal may be generated after all the data stream has been transferred, as described above. The error correction data specifies the type of anticipated error correction that is is using for data transmission. The size data I- of the packet allow the size of the data packets (ie the number of bytes between the acknowledgment signals) to be varied between 1 byte and 256 bytes. The checksum data is transmitted in the preamble to allow the computer that verifies the integrity of the data in the preamble. The remote unit can also allow the user to select one of many transfer modes, before the data is transferred from the remote unit to the computer.

Changes in the transfer mode that can be selected by the user can effect changes in the values of the data sent inside the preamble, including the type of anticipated error correction that is being used, the type of modulation that is being used, and the number of times that will send the data again. The transfer mode that can selecting the user can allow the user to choose between a cellular mode, a telephone mode per payment (a pay phone typically has more noise problems than a normal telephone line), and a normal telephone line mode. Each of these modes that the user can select configures the transfer protocol differently, to optimize the transmission of the remote unit for each particular environment. For example, for a cellular connection, which is generally extremely noisy and difficult to communicate through, the amount of anticipated error correction can be increased, the modulation can be changed, and the number of times that can be returned increases. to send the data. In this way, a user is able to select a transfer protocol that is optimized for a particular type of first communication link, and the remote unit can provide data formatted in that optimized transfer protocol to the computer. Once the preamble is received and the computer has configured itself to receive the formatted data in accordance with the transfer protocol that can be selected by the user, the remote unit transfers the data containing the different electronic messages, and sends the electronic messages corrected for errors in transmission phase 476. Once the transmission of the data is In full, the computer checks all data packets inside the data to see if they have errors, as described later. In the reception acknowledgment stage 478, the computer transmits a reception acknowledgment signal which can either inform the user that the data was received without incorrigible errors, or inform the user that the data must be resent due to errors inside. of the data packages. Once the data has been correctly received, the computer generates a closing message for the user, during the final phase 480, and closes the telephone connection with the user and the remote unit. The transfer protocol provides a system where the user of the remote unit can select a different transfer protocol, depending on the communication link to be used, in order to optimize the transfer, as described above. The transfer protocol can also allow the user to receive an audible acknowledgment signal from the computer. This acknowledgment signal allows the user to know that the data has been received without errors, or that it must be sent again immediately after the transmission of the data, in such a way that the user can send the data again, without have to re-establish another connection through the first communication link.

Subsequently, a preferred error detection and correction scheme will be described, but many different error detection and correction schemes, such as a checksum scheme, can be used in the encoding of data to be sent by means of the system of the remote unit. Figure 20 is a diagram of a two-way communications protocol 500 in accordance with the invention. As shown, the start of a communication session starts at the top of the figure in step 502, in which the user of a handheld unit dials the server's telephone number. An audible greeting message is then sent back to the user in a connection step 504. The user starts a session by pressing the Send or Send / Receive key on the hand unit. All data exchange is bidirectional alternative. A preamble 506, which contains the user's date, can then be sent from the handheld unit to the server. The server can then send a reception acknowledgment 508 in the form of an audio tone that the microphone receives, and process the CPU in the hand unit. Then, during a link establishment step 510, information about the current configuration of the hand-held unit is transmitted to the server, and the server can perform some conditioning of the line. The server can send a receipt acknowledgment.

Then, during a data transmission step 512, the hand-held unit transmits the data packets to the server, and the server can acknowledge receipt of each data packet, or request that the data packet be retransmitted. Once all messages have been transmitted, a reception phase 514 begins, and the hand unit transmits a ready receiver signal tone 516, and the server can start transmitting any incoming messages to the hand unit. The hand unit can acknowledge receipt of each data packet, or request that it be sent again. Once all messages have been received, the server can generate a voice prompt, indicating that the transmission session is complete, and hang up the telephone line. The operation of the message summary and the light emitting diodes will now be described. Figure 21 is a diagram illustrating a summary of messages in accordance with the invention. At the beginning of a transfer of incoming messages, the light-emitting diodes in the case, as shown in Figure 4, are off, indicating that no transfer has yet occurred. The first information packet to be transmitted from the server to the hand unit may be a summary block 520, which may include a summary of each incoming message for a user. The summary provides enough information, in such a way that a user can review the summary and determine which messages you want to download. Once the summary block has been successfully received, one of the light emitting diodes can be illuminated, which indicates that the transmission of messages 522 is now beginning, and the estimated total time of message download. In addition to providing the user with a summary of the messages, the termination of the summary also ensures that, if the user breaks the telephone connection at any time during the transmission of messages, the lost messages can easily be retransmitted because the summary contains a record of incoming messages that should have been received. In this way, if a user is in a hurry, he can download the summary, see that a light emitting diode is illuminated, and then finish the connection, without any loss of summary data. The summary can also be transmitted periodically through the locator frequency, in such a way that a user can review the summary and then simply download the messages selected by the user, which can significantly reduce the transmission time of the messages. For example, the user may be subscribed to a listserv mailing list, and may determine that he does not need to see those listserv messages immediately. Now we will describe a system that can be located on the server, to condition the signal based on the condition of the line telephone Figure 22 is a diagram illustrating a telephone line signal conditioning system 530, according to the invention, which may be located on the server. The telephone line signal conditioning system can be asymmetric in the sense that the adjustment of the signals due to the conditions of the line is carried out completely by the server. In a conventional modem connection, the modems at each end of the telephone line can communicate with each other, and jointly adjust the signal based on the conditions of the line. The telephone line signal conditioning system may include a receiver 532 of incoming signals, a data receiver 534 attached to the signal receiver, a signal conditioner 536 connected to the signal receiver and a signal transmitter 538, and a transmitter 540 of data connected to the signal transmitter. Briefly, in operation, signals can be received from the hand-held unit through the telephone line, by means of the receiver of incoming signals, and the signals can be transmitted, through the telephone line, to the hand-held unit, using the signal transmitter. As a signal is received from the handheld unit, the signals enter the signal receiver. The signal conditioner can detect a plurality of signal characteristics that could indicate the current conditions of the line telephone For example, the signal conditioner can detect a change in phase, a change in frequency, and / or fluctuation of the stopwatch, by comparing the signal with what the signal would suppose to be a perfect transmission link. The signal conditioner can provide some adjustment to the signal to take into account errors, such as changes in phase or frequency. The signal conditioner can also adjust the signal to take into account the fluctuation of the stopwatch, which causes the location of the start of a data packet to vary slightly. In this way, the hand-held unit can have a more economical, less accurate chronometer, and the fluctuation caused by the most economic stopwatch would not adversely affect the transmission or reception of messages. Once the appropriate settings have been determined, the signal conditioner can adjust the received signal by means of the signal receiver, and the corrected signal can be passed to the data receiver which performs the decoding of the data corrected in advance of errors. The settings based on the incoming signal can also be used to adjust the signal transmitter 538, so that the data being transmitted to the hand unit can be pre-adjusted for the conditions of the line. In this way, the signals that the handheld unit receives from the server must appear unaltered by the conditions of the line, since the signals for the line conditions have been previously adjusted. In this way, the server can perform the line conditioning based on the received signal, and the hand unit does not perform any line conditioning. This reduces the complexity of the software modem located in the hand-held unit, and does not adversely affect the quality of communications between the server and the hand-held unit. Now we will describe a secure communication channel inside the server. Figure 23 is a diagram of a secure data channel inside the server, according to the invention. As shown, the server 20 may comprise an incoming server 550, which may have an IT communications link 552 connected thereto, such that the user can connect to the incoming server using the IT link. The data received by the incoming server may include data intended for a user data base 554, such as billing information or user preferences for the system, and message data to be transmitted by means of an exit 556 system. . All received data can be pre-corrected for errors, and can be transferred to a dispatcher 558 that can separate the data from the user database from the message data. The message data can be sent to the output system 556, where the messages can be transmitted, for example, by means of of an electronic mail system 560, a facsimile system 562, or a locator system 564, depending on the type of message. Dispatcher 558 can encrypt the user database, using any known key-setting system, such as a public-key encryption system, and transmit it via a communication link 566 to a computer 568 user's database, which can be linked to the user's database. The user's database server can decrypt the user's database and perform the appropriate functions using the data. The only access to the user's database computer and the user's database is through the communications link. The only data that can be entered into the user's database computer is the encrypted data. In this way, the deciphering of the data prevents an intruder from having access to the user's database or the user's database computer, and increases the security of the system. Figure 24 is a diagram illustrating an integrated communications session in accordance with the invention. The user of a hand-held unit 100 can establish a communication link with the server 20 and, as shown, the hand-held unit 100 can be acoustically coupled to a telephone apparatus 40 in a communications protocol either in a single direction or in two directions, as described previously. The telephone set may be linked to a PSTN 72 which may be connected to a switch 580 located, for example, inside the server. With the acoustically coupled hand unit and its voice, a user can either communicate data acoustically through the telephone line to the server, or communicate voice messages. For example, switch 580 can be electrically connected to a voice mail system 582, a long-distance calling card system 584, and an electronic messaging system 586 that can communicate with the hand-held unit. The switch allows a user to move between these systems quickly, and withterminating the phone call. In this way, with a telephone signal call, a user can verify their voicemail and respond to any voicemail, can establish long distance telephone calls and / or can use the handheld unit to transmit data to / from the server. This allows the user to quickly and easily access different communication systems. In addition, during a single communication session, a user can conduct voice communications, as well as data communications at any time during the session, due to the acoustic communication protocol of the hand-held unit. The switch can be an electronic switch that is responsive to audio tones and that can switch between different systems, such as the voice mail system, the messaging system, or a calling card system. It can be switched to each of the systems in response to a different audio tone. The different audio tones can be generated by a user pressing different numeric keys on a telephone keyboard, as is well known. In this way, the switch can detect the different audio tones generated because a user presses a key on the keypad of the telephone set, and switch the user to the selected system, withdisconnecting the telephone line. Although the foregoing has been with reference to a particular embodiment of the invention, those skilled in the art will note that changes can be made in this embodiment, withdeparting from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by means of appended claims.

Claims (47)

1. CLAIMS 1. A system for communicating data between a computer and a remote unit to the computer, comprising: an element in the unit for receiving input information from a user, and for producing data signals corresponding to the input information; an element in the remote unit to generate acoustic tones corresponding to the input information; an element to communicate the acoustic tones through an acoustic communications link to the computer; the communication element further comprising an element for determining, based on previously determined criteria, whether a bidirectional communication channel has been established through the acoustic communication link between said computer and the remote unit; and a receiving element in the remote unit to receive data from the computer, through a second communication link, which is independent of the acoustic communications link, in such a way that the remote unit receives data from the computer through Two different communications links.
2. 2. The system of Claim 1, wherein the The acoustic communication element comprises an element, if the bidirectional communication channel between the computer and the remote unit has not been established, to couple the acoustic tones to the acoustic communication link for unidirectional transmission from the remote unit to the computer, and a element, in the remote unit, to receive a voice indication from the computer, after the data has been transmitted, to acknowledge receipt of the acoustic tones. The system of Claim 1, wherein the communication element also comprises an element, if a bidirectional communication path between the remote unit and the computer is established, to transmit the acoustic tones through the acoustic communication link to the computer, and an element to receive the acoustic tones from the computer through the acoustic communications link, to acknowledge receipt of the acoustic tones. The system of Claim 1, wherein the acoustic communication link comprises a telephone link, and wherein the second communication link comprises a wireless link, and the element for receiving data from the second communication link comprises a receiver of radio locator. 5. The system of Claim 2, wherein the The computer also comprises an element for receiving data packets from the remote unit, each data packet comprising a plurality of bits, an element for verifying of errors the data packets in the computer, an element for communicating to the user of the remote unit from the computer, to re-send all the data packets, when there are errors present in any data packet, an element to compare the data packets sent first with the corresponding ones of the data packets that are sent again, to determine the presence of errors, and an element to select a bit value that is present in more than half of the data packets. The system of Claim 5, wherein the resending element comprises an element for generating a voice prompt that instructs the user to resend the data packets if a bidirectional communication path has not been established. between the remote unit and the computer, and wherein said sending element comprises an element for transmitting an acoustic tone to the remote unit, to request that the data packets be sent again when a bidirectional communications path has been established. . The system of Claim 1, wherein the computer comprises an element, if a communication path has been established, bidirectional between the unit remote and the computer, to adjust the acoustic tones transmitted to the remote unit, through said acoustic communication link from the computer, the acoustic tones being adjusted for the conditions of the acoustic communication link, before transmission to the remote unit . The system of Claim 7, wherein the adjustment element also comprises an element for receiving the acoustic tones from the remote unit, an element for determining the errors in the condition of the line of received acoustic tones, an element for correct the acoustic tones received for errors in the condition of the line, and an element, if a bidirectional communication path has been established, to transmit acoustic tones to the remote unit, the acoustic tones being corrected based on the errors in the condition of the line in the received acoustic tones. The system of Claim 8, wherein the element for determining the errors in the condition of the line comprises an element for detecting phase errors in the received acoustic tones, an element for detecting errors in the frequency in the acoustic tones received, and an element to detect errors in the chronometer inside the acoustic tones received from the remote unit. 10. The system of Claim 1, wherein the The remote unit also includes an element to determine the time lapse for the transmission of the acoustic data sent from the computer to the remote unit, before the transmission of the acoustic data, and an element to indicate the time lapse of the transmission of the acoustic data. the acoustic data. The system of Claim 10, wherein the time-lapse determining element comprises a preamble message that is transmitted from the computer to the remote unit, before the transmission of a plurality of messages, the preamble message containing a summary of each message to be transmitted to the remote unit, and a time lapse for each message transmission. The system of Claim 10, wherein the lapse-indicating element of the transmission comprises an element to indicate to the user of the remote unit that breaking the acoustic communications link would not result in the loss of message data. . The system of Claim 1, wherein the remote unit also comprises an element for generating a command message containing commands for the computer and user preferences, the command message being a first message transmitted to the computer when establishes a communication link between the remote unit and the computer. 14. The system of Claim 1, wherein the The computer also comprises an element for establishing a communication session between said remote unit and the computer, through the acoustic communications link, and an element for switching between a plurality of different messaging sessions, based on the acoustic tones received during the communication session, the plurality of messaging sessions comprising an acoustic voice data session for receiving voice mail messages, and an acoustic electronic data communications session for communicating acoustic electronic data between the remote unit and the computer, such so that the user can communicate voice data and electronic data acoustically to the computer, during a single communication session. 15. A device for communicating electronic data with a remote computer system, the device comprising: an element for receiving input information from a user, and for producing data signals corresponding to the input information, - an element for generating tones acoustics that correspond to the input information; an element to communicate the acoustic tones through an acoustic communications link to the remote computer, the acoustic communications link being able to establish a communication path unidirectional or bidirectional between the device and said remote computer; and a receiving element for receiving data from the computer, through a second communication link, which is independent of the first communication link, in such a way that the remote unit receives data from the computer through two communication links different The device of Claim 15, wherein the acoustic communication element comprises an element for receiving acknowledgment information through the acoustic communication link from the remote computer. The device of Claim 16, wherein the acknowledgment information comprises a voice indication from the computer, after the data has been transmitted, to acknowledge receiving the acoustic tones, when has established a unidirectional path of acoustic communications between the device and the computer, and wherein the acknowledgment information comprises acoustic tones that acknowledge receipt of the acoustic tones when a bidirectional path of acoustic communications has been established between the device and the computer. 18. The device of Claim 15, wherein the acoustic communication link comprises a link telephone, and the second communication link comprises a wireless link, and the element for receiving data from the second communication link comprises a radio locator receiver. The device of Claim 15, characterized in that it also comprises an element for receiving a request from the computer to send the data packets again. The device of Claim 15, wherein the remote unit comprises an element, if the bidirectional communication path through the acoustic communication link between the remote unit and the computer has been established, to receive acoustic tones through the link of acoustic communications from the computer, the acoustic tones being adjusted for the conditions of the acoustic communication link before transmission to the remote unit. The device of Claim 15, wherein the remote unit also comprises an element for determining the time lapse for the transmission of the acoustic data sent from the computer to the remote unit, before the transmission of the acoustic data, and an element to indicate the time lapse of the transmission of acoustic data. 22. The device of Claim 21, wherein the time lapse determining element comprises a - preamble message that is transmitted from the computer to the remote unit, before the transmission of the message data, the preamble message containing a summary of the message data to be transmitted to the remote unit, and a lapse of time for the transmission of messages. The device of Claim 21, wherein the transmission lapse indicating element comprises an element to indicate to the user of the remote unit that the breaking of the acoustic communication link would not result in the loss of the message data. . The device of Claim 15, wherein the remote unit also comprises an element for generating a command message containing commands for the computer and the user's preferences, the command message being the first message transmitted to the computer when establishes a communication link between the remote unit and the computer. 25. The device of Claim 15, wherein the computer also comprises an element for establishing a communication session between said remote unit and the computer, through the acoustic communication link, and an element for switching between a plurality of different sessions. of messaging, based on the acoustic tones received during the communication session, the plurality of messaging sessions comprising an acoustic voice data session to receive voice mail messages, and a session of acoustic electronic data communications to communicate acoustic electronic data between the remote unit and the computer, in such a way that the user can communicate voice data and electronic data acoustically to the computer, during a single communications session. 26. A device for acoustically communicating electronic data with a remote computer, the device comprising: a case having an open position and a closed position; an input device, exposed when the case is in the open position, to allow a user to enter data within the device; a visual display device, exposed when the case is in the open position, to visually display data; a communication system to acoustically communicate electronic data with the computer, during a communications session; an element to activate the communication system when the case is closed; an item in the remote unit to receive a message indicating a total time lapse to transmit the messages to the remote unit during a session communications; and an element, on the external surface of the case, to indicate the period of time of the communications session, in such a way that the user can initiate and complete the communication session with said case in the closed position. 27. A computer to communicate data between the computer and a remote unit of the computer, the computer comprising: an element for establishing a communication session with the remote unit, an element for receiving acoustic tones from the remote unit, through a acoustic communications link; the acoustic communication link further comprising an element for determining, based on previously determined criteria, whether a bi-directional communication channel has been established through the acoustic communication link between the computer and the remote unit; and an element for transmitting data to the remote unit, through a second communication link, which is independent of the first communication link, in such a way that the remote unit receives data from the computer through two different communications links. . 28. The computer of Claim 27, characterized in that it also comprises an element, if the bidirectional communications path has not been established, to receive acoustic tones through the acoustic communication link from the remote unit, and an element to transmit a voice indication to the remote unit, after the data has been transmitted, to acknowledge receiving the acoustic tones. 29. The computer of Claim 28, wherein the communication element also comprises an element, if the bidirectional communications path between the remote unit and the computer is established, to transmit the acoustic tones through the acoustic communication link to the computer, and an element to receive the acoustic tones from the computer, through the acoustic communications link, to acknowledge receipt of the acoustic tones. The computer of Claim 27, wherein the acoustic communication link comprises a telephone link, the second communication link comprises a wireless link, and the element for receiving data from the second communication link comprises a radio paging receiver . The computer of Claim 28, characterized in that it also comprises an element for receiving data packets from the remote unit to the computer, the data packets each comprising a plurality of bits, an element for error checking of the data packets, an element for communication with the user of the remote unit from the computer, to resend all data packets when there are errors present in any data packet, an element to compare the data packets sent first with the corresponding ones of the data packets that are sent again, to determine the presence of errors , and an element for comparing the corresponding bits of each data packet that is sent first and each data packet that is sent again, to select a bit value that is present in more than half of the data packets. The computer of Claim 31, wherein the resending element comprises an element for generating a voice prompt that instructs the user to resend the data packets if a bidirectional communication path has not been established. between the remote unit and the computer, and wherein said sending element comprises an element for transmitting an acoustic tone to the remote unit, when a bidirectional communications path has been established, to request that the packets be sent again data. 33. The computer of Claim 27, characterized in that it also comprises an element, if the bidirectional communication path between the remote unit and the computer has been established, to adjust the acoustic tones transmitted through the acoustic communication link to the remote unit for the conditions of the acoustic communication link, before transmission to the remote unit. The computer of Claim 33, wherein the adjustment element also comprises an element for receiving the acoustic tones from the remote unit, an element for determining the errors in the condition of the line of the received acoustic tones, an element for correct the acoustic tones received for errors in the condition of the line, and an element, if a bidirectional communication path has been established, to transmit acoustic tones to the remote unit, the acoustic tones being corrected based on the errors in the condition of the line in the received acoustic tones. 35. The computer of Claim 34, wherein the element for determining the errors in the condition of the line comprises an element for detecting phase errors in said received acoustic tones, an element for detecting errors in the frequency in said acoustic tones. received, and an element to detect errors in the chronometer inside the acoustic tones received from the remote unit. 36. The computer of Claim 27, characterized in that it also comprises an element for establishing a communication session between the remote unit and the computer, through the acoustic communication link, and an element for switching between a plurality of different messaging sessions, in based on the acoustic tones received during the communications session, the plurality of messaging sessions comprising an acoustic voice data session to receive voice mail messages, and an acoustic electronic data communications session to communicate acoustic electronic data between the remote unit and the computer, in such a way that the user can communicate voice data and electronic data acoustically to the computer, during a single communications session. 37. A method for communication between a remote unit and a computer, the method comprising: receiving in the remote unit input information from a user, and to produce data signals corresponding to the input information; generate in the remote unit acoustic tones corresponding to the input information; communicate said acoustic tones through an acoustic communications link to the remote computer, the acoustic communications link being able to establish a unidirectional communication path or Bidirectional between the device and the remote computer; and receive data from the computer, through a second communication link, which is independent of the first communication link, in such a way that the remote unit receives data from the computer through two different communication links. 38. The method of Claim 37, wherein the acoustic communications comprises receiving acknowledgment information through the acoustic communication link from the remote computer. 39. The method of Claim 38, wherein the acknowledgment information comprises a voice indication from the computer, after the data has been transmitted, to acknowledge receiving the acoustic tones, when has established a unidirectional acoustic communications path between the device and the computer, and wherein said reception acknowledgment information comprises acoustic tones that give acknowledgment of reception of the acoustic tones, when a bidirectional acoustic communication path has been established. between the device and the computer. to 40. The method of Claim 37, wherein the acoustic communication link comprises a telephone link, the second communication link comprises a wireless link, and the element for receiving data from the The second communication link comprises a radio locator receiver. 41. The method of Claim 37, characterized in that it also comprises receiving a request from the computer to resend the data packets. 42. The method of Claim 37, characterized in that it also comprises receiving, if the bidirectional communication path between the remote unit and the computer has been established, acoustic tones through the link through said acoustic communications link from the computer. , the acoustic tones being adjusted for the conditions of the acoustic communication link, before transmission to the remote unit. 43. The method of claim 37, characterized in that it also comprises determining the time lapse for the transmission of the acoustic data sent from the computer to the remote unit, before the transmission of the acoustic data, and indicating the time lapse of the transmission of the acoustic data. 44. The method of Claim 43, wherein determining the time span comprises using a preamble message that is transmitted from the computer to the remote unit, before transmission of additional messages, the preamble message containing a summary of each message that will be transmitted to the remote unit, and a time lapse for each message transmission. 45. The method of Claim 43, wherein the indication of the transmission delay comprises indicating to the user of the remote unit when the breaking of the acoustic communication link would not result in the loss of the message data. 46. The method of Claim 37, characterized in that it also comprises generating a command message containing commands for the computer and the user's preferences, said command message being a first message transmitted to the computer when a communication link is established between the remote unit and the computer. 47. The method of Claim 37, characterized in that it also comprises establishing a communication session between the remote unit and the computer, through the acoustic communication link, and switching between a plurality of different messaging sessions, based on the tones acoustic received during the communication session, said plurality of messaging sessions comprising an acoustic voice data session to receive voice mail messages, and an acoustic electronic data communication session to communicate acoustic electronic data between the remote unit and the computer, in such a way that the user can communicate voice data and electronic data acoustically to the computer, during a single session of communications.