DATA TRANSMISSION ARRANGEMENT

Abstract: An improved data transmission system (2) which uses the telephone system (4) for transmitting information between data transmitting/receiving devices (16, 18) via a process intermediary (6) is taught wherein at least some of the data transmitting/receiving devices (18) can be actuated by a non-telephone actuation signal controlled by the process intermediary (6). Telephone number addresses (10) are obtained by the process intermediary (6) and assigned to uniquely identify non-telephone actuatable data transmitting/receiving devices (18). The telephone number addresses (10) when used to transmit data to the assigned data transmitting/receiving device (18) results in the transmitted data being received by the process intermediary (6) and forwarded to the appropriate data transmitting/receiving device (18) by actuating the device (18) by means of a non-telephone actuation signal. This actuation signal causes the device (18) to initiate a telephone communication with the process intermediary (6) and thereby receive the transmitted data. In this way, the transmission of data to the data transmitting/receiving device (18) identified by a telephone number address (10) is essentially transparent to the originating data transmitting/receiving device (16, 18).

Description: - - - TITLE: DATA TRANSMISSION ARRANGEMENT FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to data transmission systems and, in particular, to data transmission systems involving public switched telephone networks and transmission of data from an originating αata transmitting/receiving αevice to a destined data transmitting/receiving device via a process intermediary. 10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Apparatus ana various methods for transmitting data between an originating transmitting/receiving αevice and a destined transmitting/receiving device are taugnt in 15 United States Patent 4,713,837. According to the structure of the patent, the destined transmitting/ receiving device does not require a dedicated telephone line, as a non-telephone actuation signal is transmitted by the process intermediary to the destined transmitting/ -- receiving device causing the destined transmitting/ receiving device to complete a telephone communication with the process intermediary for the delivery of αata. Although this system eliminates the need for a dedicated line, there remains a problem, as the 25 transmission of data to the destined transmitting/receiving device does not occur in the manner of data transmissions between data transmitting/receiving devices having dedicated lines. It would be desirable to have a system where the data is transmitted, from the originating - transmitting/receiving device to the process intermediary and subsequently to the destined transmitting/receiving device, in a manner which appears to be identical to transmissions using dedicated lines. 5 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the process intermediary leases or otherwise obtains from the public switched telephone network a plurality of telephone number addresses which are separately allocated to particular data transmitting/receiving terminals, preferably facsimile machines. These telephone number addresses will be used as a unique address for each of the subscribing data transmitting/receiving devices, however, when this telephone number address is used, the data will be routeα from the originating transmitting/receiving αevice to the process intermediary. The process intermediary then, based on the telephone number address, creates a non-telephone signal to actuate or otherwise aovise the destined transmitting/receiving device of the receipt of an addressed data message. Once actuated, the αestineα transmitting/receiving device forms a telephone communication between the process intermeαiary ana the destined device for delivery of the data. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a representation of the αata transmission system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The data transmission system generally shown as 2 is obviously much more complex in that it is capable of communicating with other telephone networks. Generally, data transmission systems involve public switched telephone networks A from which the process intermediary 6, having local nodes 8, purchases or leases a block of telephone .number addresses (TNA's) 10. These telephone number addresses are connecteα to the local node 8 by a number of trunk lines, generally indicated as 12. The telephone number address numbers 10 are sometimes referred to as DID numbers in the case of a private company leasing such addresses with DID standing for "direct in-ciai" numbers. In any event, these numbers do not represent dedicated telephone lines, but merely telephone aαdresses which when used, result in a communication with the local node given that a trunk line is available. The cost associated with reserving a TNA number is much less than the charge for a dedicated telephone line. In this way, the local node 8 can have many subscribers with each of these subscribers having a unique TNA number with a significantly less number of trunk lines for servicing of these subscribers. Thus, the cost to the local node, to ' assign a telephone number adαress to a facsimile machine or other data transmitting/receiving device, is much less than the cost for a dedicatee telephone line. The local node 8 is connected to a digital data network 14 whereby the data, transmitted from one transmitting/receiving device to another, can be transmitted between local noαes 8 of the digital αata network. In this way, long distance charges associated with a conventional telephone communication are replaceα by a significantly reduced expense incurred for transmitting over the digital data network. Other advantages flow from the use of the digital αata network, " such as higher speeα, improved accuracy, better quality control, etc. The term Digital data network, as useα in the present application, refers to digital data networks designed for tne efficient communication of electronic messages between electronic data terminals, and this term does not include networks capable of transmitting real time continuous voice communications. Therefore, conventional public switched telephone networks are not digital data networks as used in the present application. In order to more fully understand the data transmission system, consider that facsimile machine 16, the originating transmitting/receiving device, is abcut to send a data transmission to the destined transmitting/ receiving device, facsimile machine 18. The αestined facsimile machine 18 has a unique TNA number assigned thereto. Facsimile machine 16 then transmits the αata in the traditional manner, however, in transmitting this data it uses the TNA number which effectively connects facsimile machine 16 with the local node 8 as the call is received on one of the trunk lines 12. The telephone number address is communicated to, and noted by, the local node 8 upon receipt of the call at a trunk line 12. Preferably, an actuation signal is immediately sent out over the local broaαcast facility inαicateα as 22 with the computer logic 30, which includes broadcast receiving capability, of the facsimile machine 18 effectively listening for an actuation signal receiveα by the associated antenna 20 connected thereto. This arrangement is described in U.S. Patent 4,713,837 incorporateα herein by reference. Upon recognizing its actuation signal, tne computer logic 30, which can be integral with or connected to the facsimile machine 18, completes a telephone communication with the local node 8 over the shareα direct ' line 28 having the associated private telephone exchange 26. Once connected, the data which was received from the facsimile machine 16 by the local node can be transmitteα to facsimile machine 18. In some cases, the actuation will occur almost simultaneously whereby the facsimile machine 16 will directly connect with facsimile machine 18, although the signal is being processed through the local node 8. Thus, the facsimile machine 18 has a unique and conventional telephone number adαress without a dedicated telephone line, however, the telephone number address of facsimile machine 18, when used, results in a telephone communication being established between the originating data transmitting/receiving device anc tne local node 8. The local node 8 then routes the αata appropriately to the facsimile machine 18. A further advantage of this arrangement is that simultaneous transmissions for the αestined transmitting/ receiving device can be received by the process intermeαiary for eventual transmission to the αestineα transmitting/receiving device and similarly, transmissions can be received by the process intermediary for the destined transmitting/receiving device when it is transmitting data. Therefore, this arrangement increases the momentary capacity of the receiving αevice while reducing the requirements thereof, thereby ensuring that originating transmitting/receiving devices dd not experience busy signals when the destined transmitting/ receiving device is in use as lcng as the capacity of the process intermediary has not been exceeded. In the case of long distance communications, the signal would be processed within the digital data network from one local node 8 to a local node in close proximity to the destined transmitting/receiving device. Thus, long distance data transmissions are transmitteα over the more efficient digital data network. Non-long distance communications are generally routeα through the public switcheα telephone network. It is more -appropriate to use the public switched network for local calls as there is no additional cost and the quality of the connection between one data transmitting/receiving device and the otner is relatively high. In the case of long distance telephone communications, the channel quality is often suspect, particularly for data transmissions, and therefore it is more appropriate to use the efficient αigital αata network which is specifically designed for the transmission of data whereby higher quality ana lower costs can be realized. With the present invention, it is possible to allow people to select a different form of data transmission or facsimile service which involves the process intermediary while the general public cannot distinguish between this facsimile service and that of a dedicated line. This is obviously preferred as the originator will not experience any difficulty in completing the transmission as it is initiated in an identical manner to standard data dr facsimile transmissions. The local area node can have a very sophisticated capability for receiving diverse αata transmission signals and can also have the capability for translating these signals into an appropriate format which can be received by the data transmitting/receiving αevice for which the infor atidn is destined. For example, the data could originate in a personal computer ano be transmitted to the local node which would recognize that particular format and translate it into an appropriate format for the destined data transmitting/receiving terminal 18. It would also be useful for the process intermediary to be able to modify one αata transmission, for example a data transmission αeveiopeα on an IBM TM personal computer into an appropriate format for the Apple TM personal computer, or between different worα processors, or between computers and facsimile machines, or other combinations requiring conversion or processing. In this way, users who recognize that they have incompatible data transmitting/receiving αevices couiα route the data transmission through the process intermediary which would effectively translate tne αata transmission into an appropriate format and transmit it to the destined transmitting/receiving device. The process intermediary obviously could have very sophisticateα hardware and software to carry this out, while the cost for this service could be relatively inexpensive due to the sharing of this capability over a large number of users. Although various preferred emdoαiments of tne present invention have been described herein in detail, it- will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims: THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS: 1. A data transmission system (2) having a host of data transmitting and receiving devices ( 16 , 18) and a process intermediary unit (6) for sending data at least partially by a telephone system (4) between an originating data transmitting/receiving device (16, 18) anc the destined data transmitting/receiving device via a process intermediary unit (6); . at least some of said data transmitting/receiving devices (18) including means for receiving a non-telephone actuation signal ana means for initiating a telephone communication with the process intermediary unit (6) upon receipt of the actuation signal; characterized in that said process intermeαiary unit (6). includes a) means (8, 10, 14) for receiving communications destined for one of said data transmitting/receiving αevices (18) identified by a telephone number or telephone number address (10), and b) means (8, 22) for producing and transmitting an appropriate non-telephone actuation signal when a communication is received and the identified data transmitting/receiving device (18) is one of said data transmitting/ receiving devices (18) capable of being actuated by said non-telephone actuation signal; a nd wherein said process intermediary unit (6) includes a plurality of allocated telephone number addresses (10) which are individually assigned to αata transmitting/receiving devices (18) to be useα for receiving data and wherein each of the individual αata transmitting/receiving devices (18) having an assigned telephone number address is capable of being actuated by means of the non-telephdne actuaticn signal whereby data sent to an individual data transmitting/receiving device (18) having a telephone number address is received by the process intermediary unit (6) ana subsequently delivered by the process intermediary unit (6) to the particular data transmitting/receiving device (18) to which the telephone number address (10) has been assignee, the process intermediary unit (6) delivering the data by actuating the individual data transmitting/receiving device via the non-telephone actuation signal and the actuated data transmitting/receiving device (18) initiating a telephone communication with said process intermediary unit (6) through which the data is delivered to the transmitting/receiving device (18). 2. " A data transmission system (2) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said process intermediary unit (6) includes information associated with each data transmitting/receiving device (18) naving an assigneα telephone number address whereby data dεstineα for a particular data transmitting/receiving device (18) in a format which cannot be received by said particular data transmitting/receiving device (18) is appropriately translated by the process intermediary unit (6) and transmitted to said particular data transmitting/receiving device (18) in an appropriate format. 3. A data transmission system (2) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the data transmitting/receiving devices (18) having assigned telephone number addresses are facsimile machines (18) 4. A data transmission system (2) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the process intermediary unit (6) can receive and store both the telephone number address (10) and the data to be received by the destined facsimile machine (18). 5. In long distance transmission of data between transmitting/receiving devices (16, 18) via a prccess - - intermediary unit (6) wherein the transmission of data uses an existing public switched telephone network (4) for transmitting data from an originating transmitting/ receiving device (16, 18) to the process intermeαiary unit (6) and from the process intermediary unit (6) to a destined transmitting/receiving device (18), the improvement comprising said process intermediary unit (6) including a number of local noαes (8) which are interconnected by a digital data transmission network (14) by means of which data, to be transmitteα a long αistance,- received by the process intermediary unit (6) at a local node (8) is transmitted to another appropriate local noαe (8), and wherein at least some of said data transmitting/ receiving devices associateα with the process intermeαiary unit (6) each have a unique telephone number address (10) which when used results in a telephone connection with said process intermediary unit (6) with saio telephone number address being recorded and used by the process intermediary unit to identify the receiving device (18) for which the data is destined. 6. A plurality of data transmitting/receiving terminals (18), each terminal having a non-telephone actuation means (20, 30) which when actuated causes said data transmitting/receiving terminal (18) to complete a telephone connection with a process intermediary unit (6) by means of existing telephone networks (4), characterized in that said process intermediary unit (6) has a host of telephone number addresses (10) which are assigned to uniquely identify each of said data transmitting/receiving terminals (18) and when any of the telephone number • addresses are used a telephone connection is maαe with the process intermediary unit (6), wherein said process intermeαiary unit (6) upon receipt of a communication for a particular telephone number address (10) transmits a non-telephone actuation signal which is receiveα by a destineα transmitting/ receiving terminal (18) identified by the telephone number address which actuates said αestined transmitting/receiving terminal (18) to effect a telephone connection with the process intermediary unit (6) and by means of which αata destineα for the receiving terminal (i8) is transmitteα thereto by the process intermediary unit (6).

Inventors: GORDON ALASTAIR T, REICHMANN MICHAEL J, GORDON, ALASTAIR, T., REICHMANN, MICHAEL, J.
Applicants: ALPHANET TELECOM INC, ALPHANET TELECOM INC.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: H04M11
IPC codes: H04M7, H04M11, H04N1