Open network system for I/O operation including a common gateway interface and an extended open network protocol with non-standard I/O devices utilizing device and identifier for operation to be performed with device

US 20020032810A1
Filed: 07/17/2001
Published: 03/14/2002
Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1995
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1. A system for supporting communication between processing systems and non-standard I/O devices over an open network comprising:

a server that processes extended open network statements, said server being communicatively coupled to an open network;

a first non-standard I/O device communicatively coupled to said open network; and

a client program for processing extended open network statements so that said first non-standard I/O device may communicate with said server.

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Abstract

An open network system for supporting input/output (I/O) operations for non-standard I/O devices are disclosed. The system includes a server coupled to a plurality of I/O devices through an open network and an extended open system protocol that supports communication with devices that are not personal computers (PCs). These devices include magnetic stripe readers, check readers, smart card readers, credit card terminals, screen phone terminals, PIN pads, printers, and the like. The extended open network protocol includes tags which identify device and input operations and attributes which identify the location, data exchange method, and data variable names for the retrieval, acquisition, and submission of data between the server and I/O devices. Preferably, the open network protocol is implemented in a Hyper Text Transport Protocol (HTTP). Preferably, the system includes a common gateway interface (CGI) at the server which converts protocol statements communicated between the server and I/O devices to application language statements for providing data to an application program coupled to the server. Most preferably, the application statements and protocol statements are constructed in integrated statements with an editor. The editor ensures that data identifiers in the application and protocol statements are compatible. The integrated statements are then parsed by the editor to segregate the protocol statements from the application statements. The protocol statements are downloaded in a file to a client program at an I/O device for processing. The application statements are stored in a file for use by the application. In this manner, generation of the files for client and application processing are automatically done without the user ensuring the correlation of the data fields in the two files.

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110 Claims

1. A system for supporting communication between processing systems and non-standard I/O devices over an open network comprising:
- a server that processes extended open network statements, said server being communicatively coupled to an open network;
  
  a first non-standard I/O device communicatively coupled to said open network; and
  
  a client program for processing extended open network statements so that said first non-standard I/O device may communicate with said server.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43)
- - 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said client program executes within said first non-standard I/O devices so that said first non-standard I/O device may communicate with said server.
  - 3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
    - a computer communicatively coupled to said open network and said first non-standard I/O device being coupled to said open network through said computer.
  - 4. The system of claim 3 wherein said client executes in said computer so said non-standard I/O device may communicate with said server over said open network.
  - 5. The system of claim 3 wherein said client executes in said non-standard I/O device so said non-standard I/O device may communicate with said server over said open network through said computer.
  - 6. The system of claim 3 wherein said non-standard I/O device is communicatively coupled to said computer through a non-standard I/O port.
  - 7. The system of claim 6 wherein said non-standard I/O device is communicatively coupled to said computer through one of a COMM1 and a COMM2 port.
  - 8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
    - a second non-standard I/O device communicatively coupled to said open network and said first non-standard I/O device being communicatively coupled to said open network through said second non-standard I/O device.
  - 9. The system of claim 8 wherein said first non-standard I/O device is communicatively coupled to said second non-standard I/O device through a non-standard I/O port.
  - 10. The system of claim 9 wherein said first non-standard I/O device is communicatively coupled to said second non-standard I/O device through a RS-232C port.
  - 11. The system of claim 3 wherein said first non-standard I/O device is one of a screen phone, personal digital assistant, a smart card reader, a personal identification number (PIN) pad, a magnetic swipe reader, a bar code wand, a check magnetic code reader, and a printer.
  - 12. The system of claim 8 wherein said second non-standard I/O device is one of a screen phone, personal digital assistant, a smart card reader, a personal identification number (PIN) pad, a magnetic swipe reader, and a printer.
  - 14. The client of claim 13 wherein said means for processing extended open network protocol statements executes in a computer communicatively coupled to said open network;
    - and a non-standard I/O device is communicatively coupled to said computer.
  - 15. The client of claim 13 wherein said means for processing extended open network protocol statements executes in a non-standard I/O device communicatively coupled to said open network.
  - 16. The client of claim 13 further comprising:
    - a non-standard I/O device being communicatively coupled to said computer and said means for processing extended open network protocol statements executes in said non-standard I/O device.
  - 17. The client of claim 14 wherein said non-standard I/O device is communicatively coupled to said computer through a non-standard I/O port.
  - 18. The client of claim 17 wherein said non-standard I/O device is communicatively coupled to said computer through one of a COMM1 and a COMM2 port.
  - 19. The client of claim 14 wherein said computer is a consumer'"'"'s terminal.
  - 20. The client of claim 14 wherein said computer is a merchant'"'"'s terminal.
  - 21. The client of claim 14 wherein said means for processing extended open network protocol statements is co-resident in a memory of said computer with a bank card application program.
  - 22. The client of claim 21 wherein said means for processing extended open network protocol statements processes an extended open network command to transfer communication between said bank card application program and a transaction processor to a communication network other than said open network over which said means for processing extended network protocol statements and said server are communicating.
  - 23. The client of claim 21 wherein said means for processing extended open network protocol statements in response to a command within an extended open network protocol statement provides said bank card application program with consumer account information for transaction processing.
  - 24. The client of claim 23 wherein said means for processing extended open network protocol statements obtains said consumer account information from a non-standard I/O device.
  - 25. The client of claim 14 wherein said non-standard I/O device is one of a screen phone, personal digital assistant, a smart card reader, a personal identification number (PIN) pad, a magnetic swipe reader, a bar code wand, a check magnetic code reader, and a printer.
  - 26. The client of claim 24 wherein said non-standard I/O device is one of a screen phone, personal digital assistant, a smart card reader, a personal identification number (PIN) pad, a magnetic swipe reader, a bar code wand, a check magnetic code reader, and a printer.
  - 27. The client of claim 13 wherein said means for processing extended open network protocol statements is co-resident in a memory of said consumer'"'"'s terminal with a bank card application program.
  - 28. The client of claim 27 wherein said means for processing extended open network protocol statements in response to a command within an extended open network protocol statement provides said bank card application program with consumer account information for transaction processing.
  - 29. The client of claim 28 wherein said means for processing extended open network protocol statements obtains said consumer account information from a non-standard I/O device.
  - 30. The client of claim 28 wherein said means for processing extended open network protocol statements obtains a portion of said consumer account information from a standard I/O device;
    - and said means for processing extended protocol statements obtains a second portion of said consumer account information from a non-standard I/O device.
  - 31. The client of claim 29 wherein said non-standard I/O device is one of a screen phone, personal digital assistant, a smart card reader, a personal identification number (PIN) pad, a magnetic swipe reader, a bar code wand, a check magnetic code reader, and a printer.
  - 32. The client of claim 30 wherein said non-standard I/O device is one of a screen phone, personal digital assistant, a smart card reader, a personal identification number (PIN) pad, a magnetic swipe reader, a bar code wand, a check magnetic code reader, and a printer.
  - 33. The client of claim 30 wherein said consumer'"'"'s terminal is a personal computer (PC).
  - 34. The client of claim 14 wherein said means for processing extended open network protocol statements is co-resident in a memory of said merchant'"'"'s terminal with a bank card application program.
  - 35. The client of claim 34 wherein said means for processing extended open network protocol statements in response to a command within an extended open network protocol statement provides said bank card application program with consumer account information for transaction processing.
  - 36. The client of claim 35 wherein said means for processing extended open network protocol statements obtains said consumer account information from a non-standard I/O device.
  - 37. The client of claim 35 wherein said means for processing extended open network protocol statements obtains a portion of said consumer account information from a standard I/O device;
    - and said means for processing extended protocol statements obtains a second portion of said consumer account information from a non-standard I/O device.
  - 38. The client of claim 35 wherein said merchant'"'"'s terminal is a credit card terminal.
  - 40. The server of claim 39 wherein said means for processing extended open network protocol statements provides data from said extended open network protocol statements to application programs communicatively coupled to said server.
  - 41. The server of claim 40 wherein said means for processing extended open network protocol statements provides said data to said application programs in database commands.
  - 42. The server of claim 40 wherein said means for processing extended open network protocol statements provides data from said application programs to said client in extended open network protocol statements.
  - 43. The server of claim 41 wherein said means for processing extended open network protocol statements returns records to said client containing a response to said database commands.

13. A client that provides communication between a processing system and a non-standard I/O device via an open network comprising:
- means for processing open network protocol statements; and
  
  means for processing extended open network protocol statements to support communication between a non-standard input/output (I/O) device communicatively coupled to an open network and a server communicatively communicatively coupled to said open network.

39. A server that provides communication between a processing system and a non-standard I/O device via an open network comprising:
- means for processing open network protocol statements within forms submitted by a client communicatively coupled to an open network to which said means for processing form is communicatively coupled; and
  
  means for processing extended open network protocol statements within said forms submitted by said client.

44. A client program for processing extended open network protocol statements so a non-standard I/O device may communicate with a processing system over an open network comprising:
- means for receiving extended open network protocol statements over an open network; and
  
  means for processing said received extended open network protocol statements to control operations associated with a non-standard I/O device.
- View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
- - 45. The client program of claim 44 further comprising:
    - means for activating a function associated with a hot key of said non-standard I/O device; and
      
      means for processing extended open network protocol statements contained in a local file associated with said activated function.
  - 46. The client program of claim 45 further comprising:
    - means for generating a link between a hot key and a file.
  - 47. The client program of claim 46 wherein said file containing extended open network protocol statements is an HTML form.
  - 48. The client program of claim 44 further comprising:
    - means for processing keypad input data received from a keypad of said non-standard I/O device.
  - 49. The client program of claim 48 wherein said means for processing keypad input data includes a data mask for interpreting data received through said keypad.
  - 50. The client program of claim 49 wherein said data mask identifies the received data as a monetary amount having a predetermined number of characters with only two of said characters following a decimal point.
  - 51. The client program of claim 49 wherein said data mask identifies the received data as an integer value within a predetermined range.
  - 52. The client program of claim 44 further comprising:
    - means for processing extended open network protocol printer statements to direct output data to a printer communicatively coupled to said non-standard I/O device.
  - 53. The client program of claim 52 wherein said means for processing printer statements directs a purchase agreement to said printer for a consumer transaction.
  - 54. The client program of claim 44 further comprising:
    - means for processing local variable commands in said extended open network protocol statements so that data is obtained from a local variable.
  - 55. The client program of claim 44 further comprising:
    - means for returning a form to a server communicatively coupled to said open network in response to said means for processing extended open network protocol statements processing an extended open network protocol statement to automatically submit the form.
  - 57. The method of claim 56 further comprising:
    - performing said extended open network protocol statement processing in a computer communicatively coupled to said open network; and
      
      coupling a non-standard I/O device to said computer.
  - 58. The method of claim 56 further comprising:
    - performing said extended open network protocol statement processing in a non-standard I/O device communicatively coupled to said open network.
  - 59. The method of claim 56 further comprising:
    - coupling a non-standard I/O device to said computer; and
      
      performing said extended open network protocol statement processing in said non-standard I/O device communicatively coupled to said computer.
  - 60. The method of claim 57 wherein said coupling of said non-standard I/O device to said computer is through a non-standard I/O port.
  - 61. The method of claim 60 wherein said coupling of said non-standard I/O device to said computer is through one of a COMM1 and a COMM2 port.
  - 62. The method of claim 56 wherein said extended open network protocol statement processing is performed in a consumer'"'"'s terminal.
  - 63. The method of claim 56 wherein said extended open network protocol statement processing is performed in a merchant'"'"'s terminal.
  - 64. The method of claim 57 further comprising:
    - communicating with a bank card application program resident in a memory of said computer.
  - 65. The method of claim 64 further comprising:
    - activating said bank card application program to communicate with a transaction processor over a communication network other than said open network in response to a command within an extended open network protocol statement.
  - 66. The method of claim 65 further comprising:
    - providing said bank card application program with consumer account information for transaction processing in response to a command within an extended open network protocol statement.
  - 67. The method of claim 66 further comprising:
    - obtaining said consumer account information from a non-standard I/O device.
  - 68. The method of claim 61 wherein said consumer account information is obtained from one of a screen phone, personal digital assistant, a smart card reader, a personal identification number (PIN) pad, a magnetic swipe reader, a bar code wand, a check magnetic code reader, and a printer.
  - 69. The method of claim 57 further comprising:
    - communicating with a bank card application program resident in a memory of said consumer'"'"'s terminal with a bank card application program.
  - 70. The method of claim 69 further comprising:
    - providing said bank card application program with consumer account information for transaction processing in response to a command within an extended open network protocol statement.
  - 71. The method of claim 70 wherein said consumer account information is obtained from a non-standard I/O device.
  - 72. The method of claim 64 further comprising:
    - providing said bank card application program a portion of consumer account information from a standard I/O device; and
      
      providing a second portion of said consumer account information from a non-standard I/O device.
  - 73. The method of claim 71 wherein said consumer account information is obtained from one of a screen phone, personal digital assistant, a smart card reader, a personal identification number (PIN) pad, a magnetic swipe reader, a bar code wand, a check magnetic code reader, and a printer.
  - 74. The method of claim 72 wherein said second portion of said consumer account information is obtained from one of a screen phone, personal digital assistant, a smart card reader, a personal identification number (PIN) pad, a magnetic swipe reader, a bar code wand, a check magnetic code reader, and a printer.
  - 75. The method of claim 62 further comprising:
    - implementing said consumer'"'"'s terminal with a personal computer (PC).
  - 76. The method of claim 62 further comprising:
    - communicating with a bank card application program resident in a memory of said merchant'"'"'s terminal with a bank card application program.
  - 77. The method of claim 76 further comprising:
    - providing said bank card application program with consumer account information for transaction processing in response to a command within an extended open network protocol statement.
  - 78. The method of claim 77 wherein said consumer account information is obtained from a non-standard I/O device.
  - 79. The method of claim 76 further comprising:
    - providing said bank card application program a portion of consumer account information from a standard I/O device; and
      
      providing a second portion of said consumer account information from a non-standard I/O device.
  - 80. The method of claim 78 wherein said consumer account information is obtained from one of a screen phone, personal digital assistant, a smart card reader, a personal identification number (PIN) pad, a magnetic swipe reader, a bar code wand, a check magnetic code reader, and a printer.
  - 81. The method of claim 79 wherein said second portion of said consumer account information is obtained from one of a screen phone, personal digital assistant, a smart card reader, a personal identification number (PIN) pad, a magnetic swipe reader, a bar code wand, a check magnetic code reader, and a printer.
  - 82. The method of claim 63 further comprising:
    - implementing said merchant'"'"'s terminal with a credit card terminal.

56. A method for providing communication between a processing system and a non-standard I/O device via an open network comprising:
- receiving extended open network protocol statements; and
  
  processing extended open network protocol statements to support communication between a non-standard input/output (I/O) device communicatively coupled to an open network and a server communicatively coupled to said open network.

83. A method for providing communication between a processing system and a non-standard I/O device via an open network comprising:
- processing open network protocol statements within forms submitted by a client communicatively coupled to an open network to which said means for processing form is communicatively coupled; and
  
  processing extended open network protocol statements within said forms submitted by said client.
- View Dependent Claims (84, 85, 86, 87, 93, 94, 96, 97, 98)
- - 84. The method of claim 83 further comprising:
    - providing data from said extended open network protocol statements to application programs communicatively coupled to said server.
  - 85. The method of claim 84 wherein said data provision includes providing said data to said application programs in database commands.
  - 86. The method of claim 84 wherein said data provision from said application programs to said client is in extended open network protocol statements.
  - 87. The method of claim 85 further comprising:
    - returning records to said client containing a response to said database commands.
  - 93. The method of claim 83 further comprising:
    - coupling said first non-standard I/O device to said computer through a non-standard I/O port.
  - 94. The method of claim 93 wherein said coupling of said first non-standard I/O device to said computer is through one of a COMM1 and a COMM2 port.
  - 96. The method of claim 87 further comprising:
    - coupling said first non-standard I/O device to said second non-standard I/O device through a non-standard I/O port.
  - 97. The method of claim 87 further comprising:
    - coupling said first non-standard I/O device to said second non-standard I/O device through a RS-232C port.
  - 98. The method of claim 96 wherein said coupling is of one of a screen phone, personal digital assistant, a smart card reader, a personal identification number (PIN) pad, a magnetic swipe reader, and a printer to one of screen phone, personal digital assistant, a smart card reader, a personal identification number (PIN) pad, a magnetic swipe reader, a bar code wand, a check magnetic code reader, and a printer.

88. A method for supporting communication between processing systems and non-standard I/O devices over an open network comprising:
- processing extended open network statements at a server communicatively coupled to an open network;
  
  communicatively coupling a first non-standard I/O device to said open network; and
  
  processing extended open network statements with a client program so that said first non-standard I/O device may communicate with said server.
- View Dependent Claims (89, 90, 91, 92, 95)
- - 89. The method of claim 88 further comprising:
    - executing said client program within said first non-standard I/O devices so that said first non-standard I/O device may communicate with said server.
  - 90. The method of claim 88 further comprising:
    - coupling a computer to said open network; and
      
      coupling said first non-standard I/O device to said open network through said computer.
  - 91. The method of claim 90 further comprising:
    - executing said client program in said computer so said first non-standard I/O device may communicate with said server over said open network.
  - 92. The method of claim 90 further comprising:
    - executing said client program in said first non-standard I/O device so said non-standard I/O device may communicate with said server over said open network through said computer.
  - 95. The method of claim 88 further comprising:
    - coupling a second non-standard I/O device to said open network; and
      
      coupling said first non-standard I/O device to said open network through said second non-standard I/O device.

99. A method for processing extended open network protocol statements so a non-standard I/O device may communicate with a processing system over an open network comprising:
- receiving extended open network protocol statements over an open network; and
  
  processing said received extended open network protocol statements to control an operation associated with a non-standard I/O device.
- View Dependent Claims (100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110)
- - 100. The method of claim 99 further comprising:
    - activating a function associated with a hot key of said non-standard I/O device; and
      
      implementing said activated function by processing extended open network protocol statements contained in a local file associated with said activated function.
  - 101. The method of claim 100 further comprising:
    - generating a link between a hot key and a file containing extended open network protocol statements; and
      
      storing said file.
  - 102. The method of claim 101 further comprising storing said extended open network protocol statements contained in said file in an HTML form.
  - 103. The method of claim 99 further comprising:
    - processing keypad input data received from a keypad of said non-standard I/O device.
  - 104. The method of claim 103 further comprising:
    - interpreting data received through said keypad with a data mask.
  - 105. The method of claim 104 further comprising:
    - identifying the received data with the data mask as a monetary amount having a predetermined number of characters with only two of said characters following a decimal point.
  - 106. The method of claim 104 further comprising:
    - identifying the received data with the data mask as an integer value within a predetermined range.
  - 107. The method of claim 99 further comprising:
    - processing extended open network protocol printer statements to direct output data to a printer communicatively coupled to said non-standard I/O device.
  - 108. The method of claim 107 further comprising:
    - directing a purchase agreement to said printer for a consumer transaction.
  - 109. The method of claim 99 further comprising:
    - processing local variable commands in said extended open network protocol statements so that data is obtained from a local variable.
  - 110. The method of claim 99 further comprising:
    - returning a form to a server communicatively coupled to said open network in response to said processing of an extended open network protocol command to automatically submit the form.

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Current Assignee
Wi-LAN Technologies Inc. (Wi-LAN Inc.)
Original Assignee
Datascape Incorporated
Inventors
Wagner, Richard Hiers

Granted Patent

US 6,745,259 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

710/33
CPC Class Codes

G06F 8/33   Intelligent editors

G06Q 20/10   specially adapted for elect...

G06Q 20/105   involving programming of a ...

G06Q 20/108   Remote banking, e.g. home b...

G06Q 20/382   insuring higher security of...

G06Q 30/00   Commerce

G06Q 30/0601   Electronic shopping [e-shop...

H04L 67/02   based on web technology, e....

H04L 69/03   Protocol definition or spec...

H04L 69/08   Protocols for interworking;...

H04L 69/18   Multiprotocol handlers, e.g...

H04L 69/329   in the application layer [O...

H04L 9/40   Network security protocols

Open network system for I/O operation including a common gateway interface and an extended open network protocol with non-standard I/O devices utilizing device and identifier for operation to be performed with device

First Claim

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Abstract

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110 Claims

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Open network system for I/O operation including a common gateway interface and an extended open network protocol with non-standard I/O devices utilizing device and identifier for operation to be performed with device

First Claim

4 Assignments

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0 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

84 Citations

110 Claims

Specification

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