FR2805111A1 - Internet fax/mobile telephone electronic message reception having multi task server network accessed with message request execution center passed and mail box placed with real time alert. - Google Patents

Abstract

The task execution method has a multi task server (3) forming part of an information network (100) receiving request from a telephone terminal. The message request passes to a task request execution center placing a message response in an electronic mail box (38) and alerting the terminal in real time to recover the message.

Description

Some telephone terminals (fax machines, cell phones, etc.) have Internet capabilities that allow them to connect to the Internet, typically by telephone connection to an ISP, and to send and receive e-mail messages.

For cost reasons, the telephone terminals have limited power and memory capacity and, as a result, also limited Internet capabilities. As a result, they can not benefit from all the resources of the Internet. For example, these terminals may be devoid of Internet browsers, to repatriate and display HTML pages of websites, and / or capacities to create or read files, for example, attachments of messages, of various formats.

In short, for cost reasons, the telephone terminals do not make full use of the Internet, and more generally any computer network of this type. The present invention aims to allow these terminals to still benefit from the resources of the Internet.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a method for the execution of a task by a multitasking server of a computer network, on request of a telephone terminal, in which the terminal connects to the computer network, sends a message of query to execute said task to the server, through the computer network, the server executes the requested task, deposits a response message in a mailbox and warns the terminal in real time to retrieve the response message in the mail box.

The terminal does not execute the task itself, but has it run by the multitasking server, capable of performing different types of tasks. Thus, with the help of a standard telephone terminal, having limited own capacity, one can benefit from a multitude of functionalities, deported on a multitasking server. The server can evolve and offer new features to the terminal, without it evolves itself.

In a preferred implementation of the invention, the terminal communicates directly and in real time with the server and it is during the same communication that it sends the request message and retrieves the response message.

With this, the terminal requires the execution of the task and retrieves the response from the server in a very fast time. Preferably, the terminal and the server use at least one messaging protocol to communicate directly and in real time with each other.

Thanks to this, it is not necessary to provide a specific communication protocol between the terminal and the server. They communicate directly and in real time using an existing messaging protocol.

In a preferred embodiment, the server deposits the response message in a local mailbox, assigned to the requesting terminal. Advantageously, the terminal inserts into the request message control data to execute said task, and the server interprets the message, in order to determine the required task, by automatic recognition of the control data.

Preferably, said communication comprises a message sending session and at least one message retrieval session.

More preferably, between the two sending and polling sessions, the terminal triggers the execution of a succession of communication sessions with the server, to avoid interrupting the communication with the server during the execution of the message. task.

Advantageously, the sessions of the succession of communication sessions between the terminal and the server are mailbox polling sessions.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description of a particular embodiment of the method of the invention, with reference to the appended drawing in which: FIG. 1 represents a diagram of the terminal of a telephone network and the multitasking server of the Internet; FIG. 2 represents a functional block diagram of the terminal; FIG. 3 represents a functional block diagram of the multitasking server; and FIG. 4 represents a flowchart representing the different steps of the method of the invention.

The method of the invention allows the execution of a task, by a multitasking computer server 3, on request of a telephone terminal 1. In the particular example of the description, the telephone terminal 1 is a fax machine of a telephone network <B> 101, </ B> here the network PSTN (Switched Telephone Network), having access to a computer network, here the Internet 100, and a mail service, provided by a server 2 .

The terminal 1 comprises, in a conventional manner, an interface 11 for linking to the telephone network 101, a block 12 for sending and receiving facsimiles, a printing block 13 and a scanner unit 14.

The block 12 allows the terminal 1 to send and receive faxes, through the telephone network 101, using a fax transmission protocol, here the T30 protocol.

The terminal 1 further comprises an Internet connection block 15 and an Internet messaging block 16.

The Internet connection block 15 is intended to connect the terminal 1 to the Internet 100, by telephone connection, through the telephone network 101, to the server 2.

The Internet messaging block 16 is intended to create electronic messages. It also allows sending and receiving messages across the Internet 100, using Internet messaging protocols, here the SMTP and POP3 protocols.

It is recalled here that a message transmitted through the Internet 100, includes a header, a message body and possibly one or more attachments. The header contains the e-mail Internet address of the sender, in a field of origin, and the e-mail Internet address of the receiver, in a destination field. The body of the message includes the message itself. Attachments are data files that can be of very different types (sound, image, text, video, etc.) and formats (wav, jpeg, doc, etc.).

The server 2 hosts a mailbox 21, assigned to the terminal 1, in which the messages, addressed to the terminal 1, are temporarily stored, until they are downloaded to the terminal 1, upon request thereof. An Internet mail computer address is assigned to this mailbox 21.

To raise its mailbox 21, the terminal 1 establishes with the server 2 a communication session, relay mailbox, using the POP3 protocol. If the mailbox 21 of the terminal 1 contains at least one message, the server 2 indicates it to the terminal and optionally transmits it to him, on request.

To send a message through the Internet 100, the terminal 1 establishes a communication session, sending message, with the server 2, using the SMTP protocol, and, during this sending session, transmits the message to the server 2 which sends it through the Internet 100 to the e-mail address of the destination of the message.

Subsequently, a "POP3 session" will be referred to as a mailbox message poll session, using the POP3 protocol, and "SMTP session" as a message sending session, using the SMTP protocol. It will be noted here that a POP3 session includes a phase of identification of the terminal by the mail server, whereas the SMTP protocol does not provide for identification.

The terminal 1 further comprises a block 17 for sending a request message to the multitasking server 3, by which the terminal 1 requests the server 3 to execute a given task, and to retrieve a response message from the server multitask 3. The block 17 is arranged to implement the method of the invention, described below. It stores a list of Web pages and their URLs (Uniform Resource Location) on the Internet 100.

It is recalled here that a "Web" page is an information page of an information website, or "Web" site. Each web page has a URL for the location on the Internet 100.

The terminal 1 also comprises human-machine interface means 18, comprising a keyboard, a screen and a management application of a graphical interface comprising menus of functions and selectable commands.

Finally, the facsimile machine 1 comprises a central control unit 19, to which all the elements described above are connected, for controlling the operation of the facsimile machine.

In the particular example of the description, the multitasking server 3 offers a file translation service and a web page delivery service. The server 3 comprises a POP mail server module 31, a message receiving module, a SMTP mail server module 32, a message sending module 33, a web page delivery block 34, a request message interpreting block 35, a task control block 36, a request message receiving mailbox 37, a plurality of mailboxes 38 allocated to client telephone terminals, and a block 39 message creation.

The server 3 is further connected to a customer database 4. This database 4 lists a plurality of terminals, customers of the multitasking server 3, having access to the services offered by this server 3. For each client terminal, the database of data 4 contains identification data of the terminal, here comprising an identifier and a password, and the e-mail address of the mailbox 38 of this terminal, hosted by the server 3. The terminal 1 is listed in the database 4 and a mailbox 38, with an e-mail Internet address, is assigned to it.

The client terminals of the server 3 can establish POP3 sessions, of their mailbox 38, with the POP31 server module. During the identification phase of the POP3 session, the client terminal transmits to the server module POP 31 its identifier and password, the module 31 verifies these identification data, by comparison with those contained in the database 4, to allow or refuse the succession, by the terminal, of its box. letters 38.

The client terminals can establish with the SMTP server module 32 SMTP sessions, sending message.

The interpretation block 35, connected to the mailbox 37 and to the task control block 36, is intended to analyze, to process each received request message, in order to determine the required task or tasks, by automatic data recognition. command contained in the message. After having defined the required task, the interpretation block 35 is intended to provide the task control block 36 with the information necessary for the execution of the task in question.

The task control block 36, connected to the blocks 33 and 34, provided for controlling, controlling the execution of a task.

When the execution of the task required by a client terminal is completed, under the control of the control block 36, the server 3 is intended to transmit to the terminal an end of task indication, to create a response message containing the translation. required or the required web page, using block 39, and to drop this message into the local mailbox 38 of the terminal, as will be explained later.

The mailbox 37 and the mailboxes of the client terminals 38 each have an Internet mail address.

Translation block 33 is intended to convert, or translate, file of a given format into another format.

The block 34 for delivering web pages is intended to fetch a web page from an Internet website and possibly to have it translated by the translation block 33.

In addition, the server 3 comprises a control block, not shown, to which all the elements of the server 3 are connected and intended to control the operation of the server 3.

After the structural and functional description of the telephone terminal 1 and the server 3, the method for requesting, using the terminal 1, the execution of a task by the multitasking server 3 will now be described.

We will first describe the translation of an illegible attachment attached to a message received by the terminal 1.

The terminal 1 connects to the Internet 100, by telephone connection to its access provider server 2, retrieves its mailbox 21, receives the message containing the illegible attachment, F1 format, and disconnects from the Internet 100.

Since the terminal 1 does not have the necessary capacities to read the attachment of format F1, a user orders the terminal 1 to acquire a translation of the attachment, using the human-machine interface means 18.

The following steps, aimed at acquiring the translation of the attachment, are executed by the terminal 1 automatically, ie without the intervention of the user, under the control of the block 17.

The terminal 1 creates a translation request message of the illegible attachment, using the Internet mail block 16 (step 50). The request message includes a header, a message body, and the unreadable attachment. The header contains, in the field of origin, the e-mail address of the mailbox 38 of the terminal 1, hosted by the server 3, and, in the destination field, the e-mail address of the box. The terminal 1 inserts into the body of the message the capabilities of the terminal 1, and in particular the formats usable by the terminal 1, and a translation control word of the attachment, here <I> "conversion ", </ I> known to the server 3.

In addition, the terminal 1 connects to the Internet 100 (step 51) and establishes a direct and real-time communication with the server 3.

This communication between the terminal 1 and the server 3 comprises a first POP3 session. During the identification phase of this POP3 session (step 52), the terminal 1 transmits to the POP server module 31 its identifier and its password. Using these identification data, the module 31 checks whether the terminal 1 is listed in the customer database 4. During the first POP3 session, after the identification phase, the terminal 1 establishes an SMTP session with the SMTP server module 32, during which it transmits to it the translation request message of the illegible attachment (step 53). After the SMTP session for sending the request message, the terminal 1 terminates the first POP3 session (step 54).

It will be noted here that the SMTP session sending the request message is included in the first message polling session POP3, which is executed for the sole purpose of enabling the identification of the terminal 1 by the server 3.

The SMTP server module 32 receives the request message and, the destination address of this message being that of the mailbox 37, it deposits it in it.

Then, using the interpretation block 35, the server 3 interprets the request message, by automatic recognition of the control word <I> "conversion" </ I> it contains, in order to determine the required task (step 55). In this case, the server 3 determines that the required task is the translation of the attachment, attached to the request message, in one of the formats usable by the requesting terminal 1 and indicated the request message. The interpretation block 35 then supplies the control block 36 with the information necessary to perform the required translation.

Under control of the control block 36, the block 33 translates, converts the attachment (step 56) into a format F2, usable by the terminal 1, then the block 39 creates a response message (step 57). The response message contains a header and, as an attachment, the translation of the unreadable attachment. The header contains, in the field of origin, the e-mail address of the mailbox 37 and, in the destination field, the address contained in the field of origin of the message of the request of the terminal 1, to know the address of the local mailbox 38 of the terminal 1.

After the first session POP3, during the execution of the required task, the terminal 1 executes a succession of sessions POP3 (step 58), in order to avoid interrupting the communication with the server 3.

It will be noted here that during mailbox polling sessions POP3, the server 3 does not have access to the mailbox 38 of the terminal 1 and can not therefore file the response message containing the required translation.

At the end of each POP3 session, the terminal 1 sends the server a "QUIT" command, marking the end of the session. When it has completed the required translation, the server 3 sends the terminal 1 an end-of-task "END" indication, in response to the "QUIT" command of the terminal 1, indicating the end of the current POP3 session (step 59 ). The server 3 thus warns in real time the terminal 1 of the end of the task, so that the terminal 1 retrieves the response message.

On reception of the "END" indication of the end of the task, the terminal 1 interrupts the succession of POP3 sessions and remains silent for a short buffer period, during which the server 3 deposits the response message in the mailbox. 38 of the terminal 1 (step 60). The terminal 1 then launches a last POP3 session, in order to pick up the response message in its mailbox 38 (step 61).

After receiving the response message, the terminal 1 interrupts the connection to the Internet 100 and thus terminates the communication with the server 3 (step 62).

It will be emphasized here that the terminal 1 communicates directly and in real time with the server 3, using the SMTP and POP3 messaging protocols, and that it is during the same communication with the server 3 that the terminal 1 sends the query message and retrieve the response message.

Alternatively, the terminal 1 could pick up in its mailbox 21 the message containing the unreadable attachment, automatically detect that the attachment is unreadable and immediately return that attachment, attached to a translation request message, to the multitasking server 3, during the same connection to the Internet 100.

Terminal 1 could also require the translation of any files.

We will now describe the delivery of a web page.

Using the human-machine interface means 18, the user selects the desired web page from the list of web pages stored by the block 17 and controls the acquisition of this page. The following steps, aimed at acquiring the selected web page, are performed by the terminal 1 automatically, under the control of block 17. These steps are similar to steps 50 to 62, described above, except that the The task required by the terminal 1 and executed by the server 3 is the delivery of a web page (and not the translation of an attachment).

The request message, delivery of the web page, includes a header, identical to that of the translation request message, and a message body including the capabilities of the terminal 1, and in particular the formats that can be used by the terminal 1, a delivery order word of a web page, here "web", known to the server 3, and the URL of the required web page.

After receiving the request message, the server 3 interprets it (step 55) and thus determines that the required task is the delivery of the web page, whose URL is contained in the request message, by automatic recognition of the request message. command word "web".

To perform the required task (step 56), the server 3 retrieves the required web page, using its URL. The page here being of HTML format, unreadable by the terminal 1, the server 3 translates the Web page into one of the formats that can be used by the terminal 1 and specified in the request message.

Finally, the response message of the server 3 contains a header identical to that previously described and, as an attachment, the translation of the required web page.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the server 3 offers a fax transmission service through the Internet 100. The method for transmitting a fax over the Internet 100 to a receiving terminal of the telephone network 101, at the request of a sending fax machine, client of the server 3, includes steps similar to the steps 50-62 previously described, with the difference that the required task is the transmission of a fax.

The request message, sent by the transmitting terminal to the multitask server 3, contains the telephone number of the receiving fax machine, the fax and a transmission control word of the fax over the Internet 100, known to the server 3.

After receiving and interpreting the request message, the server 3 transmits the fax, attached to a message, over the Internet 100, to a gateway between the Internet <B> 100 </ B> and the telephone network <B > 101, </ B> near the receiving fax machine. The gateway receives the fax, then calls the receiving fax machine, through the telephone network 101, to relay the fax to it via a local telephone call and therefore inexpensive.

After transmitting the fax to the receiving fax machine via the gateway, the server 3 creates a reply message, indicating that the fax has been successfully transmitted, and places it in the local mailbox 38 of the sending fax machine.

The multitasking server could of course offer other services.

 In the foregoing description the telephone terminal is a fax machine, but the invention applies to any telephone terminal, including telephones, wired or cellular.

Claims (1)

 CLAIMS 1- A method for executing a task by a multitasking server (3) of a computer network (100), on request from a telephone terminal (1), in which the terminal (1) connects (51) ) to the computer network (100), sends (53) a request message to execute said task to the server (3), through the computer network (100), the server (3) performs the required task (56), drops a response message (60) in a mailbox (38) and warns the terminal (1) in real time to retrieve the response message in the mailbox (38). 2- Method according to claim 1, wherein the terminal (1) communicates directly and in real time with the server (3) and it is during the same communication that it sends (53) the request message and retrieves (61) the response message. The method of claim 2, wherein the terminal (1) and the server (3) use a messaging protocol to communicate directly and in real time with each other. 4- Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the server (3) deposits the response message in a local mailbox (38), assigned to the requesting terminal (1). 5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the terminal (1) inserts into the request message control data to perform said task, and the server (3) interprets the message to determine the task. required by automatic recognition of order data. The method according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein said communication comprises a message sending session (53) and at least one message polling session (61). 7- Method according to claim 6, wherein between the two sending sessions (53) and message relay (61), the terminal triggers the execution of a succession of sessions (58) of communication with the server (3), to avoid interrupting the communication with the server (3) during the execution of the task. The method of claim 7, wherein the sessions (58) of the succession of communication sessions between the terminal (1) and the server (3) are mailbox polling sessions. 9- Method according to one of claims 7 and 8, wherein, when the execution of the required task is completed, the server (3) transmits to the terminal (1) an end of task indication (59) so as to it interrupts successive communication sessions. 10- The method of claim 9, wherein the server (3) transmits to the terminal (1) end of task indication at the end of a session of communication of the succession of sessions (58). 11- Method according to one of claims 6 to 10, wherein said communication begins with a first message polling session (52) including a terminal identification phase (1). The method of claim 11, wherein the message sending session (53) is included in the message polling session (52). 13- Method according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the server (3) executes (56) one of the tasks of the group comprising the translation, the delivery of a page of a computer site of information d a file and the transmission of a fax through the computer network.