Patent ID: 6880012
Filing Date: 2005-04-12
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A method for establishing communication between a master computer system and a particular one of a plurality of slave computer systems all coupled to a common communication channel, said method comprising: each of the plurality of slave computer systems receiving a session request from a master computer system on the common communication channel; in response to receipt of the session request, each of the plurality of slave computer systems changing from a receive mode to an answer mode in which all of plurality of slave computer systems are in communication with the master computer system via the common communication channel; the plurality of stave computer systems thereafter receiving via the common communication channel a second request containing a unique identifier of a particular slave computer system among the plurality of slave computer systems; in response to the second request, the particular slave computer system maintaining communication with the master computer system in the answer mode and each other slave computer system not identified by the unique identifier in the second request disconnecting from communication with the master computer system and returning to the receive mode.