Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
O91/09368 PCT/US90/07334
2071~ d
~T~OD ~ND AP~RAT~ PO~ ~TORT~ aN~ TI~G ~XD
~B~ $~ GR~P~IC~ ~ND T~B~haR DATA
Related ~plicati~ns.and Cla~m of Priority
Thi~ application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
5 Serial No. 494,115 filed March 14, i990-which- is itself a
continuation-in-part of U.S. Serial No. 450,606, fi~ed DecembPr
13, 1989, and U.S Serial No. 521,714, filed ~ay 9, 1990, and
U.S. Serial No. 544,826 entitled ~ethod and Apparatus ~or ~ulti-
Optional Proce sing, Storing, Transmitting and Retrieving
10 Graphical And Tabular Data In ~ ~obile Transportation
Distributable and/or Networkable Communications and/or Data
Processing 5ystem ~iled June 27, 1930. This application is
further related to a co-pending application entitled VCR Based
Presentation Selection system ~iled December 13, 1990, (no
15 serial numberl which is incorporated herein by reference as if
sPt forth herein in full.
,
~ he present invention is related in general to
20 interactive loca~- and distributed database graphic5 dlsplay and
textual ln~ormation Aystems. In partic~lar, the pr~sent
~nvention is directed to i~proved methods and apparatus for
providing rapid retrieval and di~play of such information on any
given node, within local area networks, and within wide area
25 networks and~or on a l mked database engine driven display
device.
~ .
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WO91/09368 ~ 2 PCT/US90/07334
~ Backqround of the Invention
Existing single user or network systems which utilize
a central host or server computer connected via conventional
telephone link-up cannot be practically upgraded to provide
5 efficient distributed large volume graphics~ The implementation
of a practical GRDB (graphical relational database) and a GUI
(graphical user inter~ace) on a conventional network, relying on
a communication link over existing conventional telephone lines,
is presently impractical due to the volume of data and limited
lO data transmission rates. The highest transmission rate
currently practical over conventional telephone lines is less
than 150,000 bits per second. Under the present most widely
distributed modem technology (which transmits at rates of 1200
to 9600 baud over standard telecommunication lines),
15 approximately two minutes or more-is required to transmit a-
standard 300 dpi (dots per inch) scan of a photograph via
standard communication lines. Also, the frequent screen updates
required by a GUI based graphical database would strain this
type of data transmission. A potential bottlenecX is thus
20 created because the graphics data is not stored on-site, but
rather must be transmitted via conventional telephone
transmission lines from a remote location.
The personal computer market has long had a need for
a system incorporating graphical data within a distributed and
25 "on demand" database. A graphically oriented user interface for
multi-distributed, interactive local use combined with
coordination and distribution p~ovided by an interactive host
and/or network system would be a major advancement, and would
greatly improve the ef~iciency of end users by providing them
30 with a considerable advantage over users who do not implement
such a system.
The system of the present invention makes feasible
both single user and network implementation incorporating a GUI
and GRDB in spite o~ the natural limitations posed by
35 conventional telephone transmission lines. ~he bulk of the
required data (typically twenty megabytes to over one gigabyte
of graphics data), especially, if benefitting from data
compression, including pictorial representations (both
stationary and animated) and tabular data is stored locally.
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WO91/09368 2 ~ 7 ~ ~ 1 d PCT/US9o/o733~
-- 3 --
The present invention provides an improved method and
apparatus for the rapid search and co-display of graphics and
ta~ular data for both local and distributed computer systems.
The apparatus and method of the present invention rapidly
5 selects and displays related graphical and textual information
via a Graphical User Interface (GUI) from both a Graphical
Relational Database (GRDB) and tabular database.
An operator enters a query ox option request in which
previously encoded and stored graphics elements are selected,
lo via a control program, from a local mass storage device and
displayed with related textual information on a local display.
The remote host, subsequently or simultaneously, procssses the
locally generated query. Incremental, additional or updated
.. . . .. .
data at the remote host may then be rapidly accessed and
15 transmitted back ~rom the host to the local user.
The present invention thus effectively creates two
linked databases, both of which are necessary, updatable and/or
expandable. The database (or the majority of the database) is
stored on-site so as to provide instantaneous graphics
20 responsive to the character based ~abular data and/or commands
which are easy to quickly transmit via conventional
communication lines. Additional data or updated data is stored
at the remote host and can be rapidly transmitted. The present
invention has numerous applications including the dissemination
25 or real estate information, medical image processing and data r
management, and the dissemination of architectural and business
plans.
The present invention is particularly suited to be
utilized in a system which incorporates a RVAD (i.e. a raster
30 vector attribute database) based display system in which one of
the parameters of the search re4uest is, for example, geographic
data. The present invention may ~urther incorporate state of
the art optical character recognition (OCR) technology for
database entry and system updatability.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a system which incorporates a GUI for selecting
Wosl/09368 2 0 7 1 8 1 4 PCT/US90/07334
~ 4 -
updata~le database options processed simultaneously or
sequentially by a local computer and remote host computer.
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide a system which incorporates transmitted tabular data in
5 conjunction with a locally stored graphics database.
It is still a further object of the present invention
to provide a system which can selectively transmit a database
query to a remote host or which can process a command locally to
locate data within a locally stored tabular and graphics
10 database.
It is still yet a further object of the present
invention to provide a system in which a remote host computer
`processes a query from a local comp'-ter system, transmits a
selection command to the local computer, which then selects both
15 tabular and graphical data from its local database responsive to
the address command.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to
provide a distributed database system which can be utilized in
local, wide and regional area networ~s.
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide interlinkability and expandability of a local, wide and
regional network.
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide a distributed database which utilizes an RVAD based
25 database selection format. It is a further object of the
present invention to provide a system which utilized symmetric
and/or asymmetric loosely coupled multi-processors.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an improved
combination of components for a pr~sentation and selection
system used in applications such as real estate documentation,
information and selection service, medi~al image retrieval and
manipulation and the selection of medical records. The
35 invention combines computer hardware and software with an
additional graphic oriented user interface, and co~bines
.
.. . . ..
WO91/09368 2 ~ 7 ~ 8 ~ ~ PCT/US9o/~7334
multiple large tabular and ~raphic databases and computer hosts
and/or servers with a rapid, combined system search and display
capability for selected and related data from at least two
databases (i.e. one local and one located at the host or
5 server). Output generated by a query search and display r~quest
is displayed on a linked end-user computer such as a personal
computer via a graphical user interface.
In accordance with the present invention, apparatus
for displaying graphical and tabular data is disclosed. The
lO invention comprises local computer means having CRT (or flat
panel) display means and containing at least one application
program. The local computer means further contains a control
program for facilitating the processing of a database query
formulated at the local computer station. The local computer
15 includes a graphical user interface to formulate a database
query for processing both at the local end user station and at
a remote area center. Communication means including a modem
transmit the guery to the host computer means for simultaneous
or subsequent processing. The host computer means contains a
20 control program which simultaneously processes the query and
selects responsive yraphical and tabular data. The data
transmitted by the host computer may supplement the data
identified in the local database. I
The host computer means transmits the selected data by
25 the transmission means to the local computer means wherein the
data may be displayed on the CRT display means by said graphical
user interface. A graphical r~lational database means situated
at both the local station and host stores graphical data and
transmits graphical data responsive to the query directly to
30 the CRT display means in response to a command from said
graphical user interface program.
The present invention further provides a method for
controlling the transmission and/or retrieval of tabular and/or
graphical data as recited in the following steps: formulating
35 a query relating to a database selection on a local computer;
locally processing and/or transmitting said selected query to a
,
wosl/ns36s PCT/US90/0733~
remote host computer, selecting graphical and tabular data using
local computer and/or host r~sponsive to said query; selecting
a graphical presentation from a locally stored graphics database
responsive to said query; and displaying said selected graphical
5 and tabular presentation on a display associated with the local
computer.
DescriPtion of_the Drawinqs
Figure 1 is a block diagram representation of the
10 database selection and retrieval apparatus of the present
invention.
Figures 2-3 are time sequence charts which illustrate
the flow of the control programs of the local user station and
areà center.~~ ~ ~ ~
Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating the steps for
a database search using an RYAD database.
Fi~ure 5 is a block diagram of the control program for
the RVAD of the present invention.
Figure 6 is an illustration of a raster/vector space
20 as actually shown on a CRT display.
Fiqure 7A illustrates the display of RVAD attributes
on a CRT display.
~ Figure 7B illustrat~s a map of the state of Georgia
from which the RVAD overlay map of Fulton County of Figure 6 was
25 derived.
Figure 7C is an enhanced view of a multitasked RVAD
based display system which illustrates interactive maps and
tabular windows for the tri-state (Del., NoJ~ and PA)
Philadelphia metropolitan area.
Figure 8 is a block diagram of a wide area network in
accordance with the present invention linking several counties
or an entire regionO
Figure ~ is a block diagram of a national network in
accordance with the present invention for linking up to four
35 major regions via a public value added communica~ions networkO
... . ..
2~7~8~
WO91/09368 PCT/US90/07334
Figure lo is a block diagram of the national network
of Figure 9 incorporating a dedicated private communications
network.
Figure 11 illustrates a multiprocessing based system
5 utilized in the present invention.
Figure 12 illustrates the use o~ the present invention
in a global network which can be r0motely accessed.
Figure 13A and 13B illustrate typical system-wide data
traffic flow and in footnotes discuss related details and/or
10 characteristics.
Figure 14A and 14B illustra~e typical system-wide data
storage allocation for a single application and in ~ootnotes
discuss related characteristics and/or details particularly
suited to an updating and transaction oriented environment, such
15 as the described real estate information service.
Detailed DescriPtion of ~he Invention
The present invention is dPscribed with reference to
the enclosed Figures wherein the same numbers are utilized where
20 applicable. Figure 1 illustrates the basic em~odiment of the
- present invention as utilized in both a single user and LAN/WAN
(local area network/wide area network) configuration. The
system comprises a local station 10 and area service center 20
(with in respective hashed lined) linked by a conventional
25 telephone link 15. The local station 10 and area center 20
comprise elements of a linked database for one or more
applications such as the selection of real estate information,
medical image processing and the dissemination of architectural
and structural designs. For purposes of explaining the
30 operation of the present invention, it will be assumed that the
local user station 10 is located within a real estate ~rokerage
company and the area center is located at a remote location. In
this example, the local station 10 is utilized to proc~ss
database queries pertinent to real estate information such as
3~ housing prices, number of bedrooms, sguare ~ootage and to
display tabular, graphical and pictorial representations of the
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WO9~t0936~ PCT/US90/07334
2~7~4
~ 8 -
selected information.
Referring l:o Figure 1, the local user lo station
comprises a computerized system including a display device 12
having a graphic monochrome or high resolution color CRT or flat
5 panel display 12. Display device 12 displays information and
selected tabular and graphics data pertinent to selected
information to the operator. The system lO also includes a
keyboard 14 and most preferably a mouse 14 which the operator
may use to enter information, including both commands and data
lO into the system via a graphical user interface (GUI) 16.
Microsoft Windows 3.X is the preferred GUI 16 for the
present invention because it is the most widely accepted
graphical user interface for the IBM PC compatible family of
c`omputers. However, other comparable GUI programs may be used
15 in the present invention. Examples of other currently available
GUIls are OS/2 PM (Presentation Manager), PM/X, CXI, Motif, DEC-
Windows, and Open Loop.
The GUI 16 and system 10 are utilized in association
with one or more application programs 23 (real estate in this
20 example) which can be written in "C" or an object oriented
programming language such as Actor. The individual application
program defines the search criteria. As will be discussed
below, the application program interfaces with the graphical
user interface 16.
The local user system 10 is thus used to collect the
information to be used for specifying the search criteria or
modifying the data'oase. When the information is collected, the
user interface originates a function call to the control program
to originate the query. An external printer 18 provides hard
30 copy output of real estate (or other application) data output
selected by the operatorO The system may can also include an
internal fax board which can be utilized to send facsimile
transmissions and/or multi-media features 21.
The local user system 10 is utilixed in association
35 with a mass storage database residing on a storage medium such
as a WORM (Write Once Read Many) drive 22 which stores encoded
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WO 91tO9368 2 ~ 7 ~ 8 ~ ~ PCT/US90/0733~
_ g
Graphics Relational Database GRDB and tabular records pertaining
to individual real estate in~ormation within the database. For
the purposes of this disclosure, the term graphics refers
exclusively to pictorial representations such as a raster image.
WORM 22 is preferably a large transparent mass storage
device which supports random access to data stored on the
device. In addition, the present invention can utilize any
magnetic, optical, CD, or magneto-optical mass storage system r
and/or plasma etched storage systems as the database storage
10 means 22. The mass storage device 22 may ~urther comprise an
optical tape storage system such as that manufactured by Creo
products. One square millimeter of etched optical tape can hold
store 100,000 bits of information.
~ The interface from the computer to the WORM 22 is
15 preferably an SCSI (Small Computer Serial Interface) interface
(no~ shown), which is controlled by an intelligent interface
attached to the computer bus. The SCSI interface supports a
high data transfer rate of at least twice that o~ the "standard"
ST506 inter~ace used in typical fixed disk and other computer
20 peripherals. Creation of the WORM for distribution to end users
and for updates o~ the GRDB, allows optimized placement of data
on the WORM 50 as to further speed and access to the data~
The microprocessor in the local user station with
associated hardware and operating system includes a
25 microprocessor 24 such as an Intel 80286l ~0386, 80486, 80X86 or
Motorola 68030, 68040 microprocessor or more powerful, that will
typically operate under the DOS, UNIX or XENIX opPra~ing
systems. A RISC based CPU (e.g as produced by Sun Micro
Systems) may also be used. The latter two operating systems are
30 multi-user and multi-tasking systems.
The system also includes communications software 25
and encryption system. Modem 26 transmits commands via standard
voice grade communications lines 1~, to interconnect the area
center 20, which stores the master tabular database and a host
35 control program~
The local user system is utilized in association with
, , . ; . . ,
WO gl/09368 PC~/US90/0733
2~7~81~- 10 -
a database en~ine 28 such as Wintrieve or DBVista III by Raima
Corporation. The database engine per~orms the database
searching and saving ~unctions based upon commands of the
applications program and control program.
The area center 20 contains ~ host processor 31 which
will typically contain an Intel 80486 or more powerful
microprocessor operating under the Unix or Xenix multi-user,
multitas~ing operating system. The host computer of the Area
Center 20 will service a number o~ applications (e.g. Real
10 Estate, Medical Image Processing) and will be linked to one or
more local user centers 10. ~he area center 20 will contain a
central control program ll which serves to route query requests
to one or more service package programs 33 residing within the
area center computer. Each servi~e package application services
15 a particular application, e.g. real estate, medical image
pro~essing, etc. Like the local user system, the area center 20
contains a WO~M 32 which stores a tabular and graphic database
which is accessed by a area center database engine. One or more
local user stations can be connected to an Area Center via
20 direct dial telephone link-up.
The ~ystem of the present invention includes control
programs which reside at both the local user station lo and area
center 20. ~The control program (CP) performs two major
functions- table driven dispatching; and as a library of
25 ~unction calls which accommodate the operating system, database
engine, communications system and applications program.
In operation, the user initiates transactions through
the GUIo The~e transactions are dispatched through to an
appropriate handler, i.e., the local database engine, graphical
30 database, or a remote databa~e via communications program 250
For purposes o~ the disclosure, the term handler refers to a
function or set of functions which perform a requested
operation. Responses are returned to the GUI 16 for
presentation to the user.
All CP ll actions originate with a transaction ~rom
the G~I 16 in the form of a ~unction call to the CP 11. The CP
- wosl/09368 2~ 7~ ~1 4 PcT/USsO/07334
-- 11 --
using application program 23 unique transaction tables, converts
the transaction data to a format required by the DBE, and makes
a function call to the DBE 28. The DBE 28 performs the r
requested action(s), and returns a response to the CP, which may
5 be ju5t a completion code or one or more messages. If the
transaction requires further action, the control program
initiates the additional transactions. Upon completion the CP
converts the response to the forma~ required by the GUI 16, and
returns it to the GUI.
The processing of a transaction includes the following
major steps:
o converting application data formats to DBE
formats
o invoke handler
o converting a handler response to application data
format
o return to application
A transaction-control table will contain references to
determine the identity of the handler, the format of the
20 parameters passed by the GUI to the CP, the format o~ the
parameters required by the handler, as well as the format of
handler responses and their disposition, as described below.
Each transaction passed to the control program shall
include a transaction code The control program locates the
25 code in a transaction-control database table. If not found, the
control program will return to the application GUI with an error
indication. If found, the control program will identify the
handler to be used. It will then test whether or not the
handler is currently available. If the handler is unavailable
30 because it was not loaded, the control program will request the
operating system to load it. If unavailability is due to a
concurrent task not having been initiated (e~g., the WinTrieve
ISAM engine in the MS-Windows environment), the control pro~ram
will request the operating system to start it. If the handler
35 is still unavailable, the CP will report the error condition to
the GUI.
A transaction-control table speci~ies the table
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WO9l/09368 PCT/US90/07
- 12 ~
describing the structure of the in~ormation passed by the GUI to
the control program, the table describing the information
required by the transaction handler, and the tahle specifying
the correspondence between them. The control program will build
5 the data structures required by the handler according to these
tables.
A transaction-control table will similarly specify the
tables required to convert handler responses to the GUI format,
permitting the CP to per~orm the reverse conversions as needed.
10 The transaction control table is unique for each application.
It is sorted by transaction codes. The table contains
information describing the format of the parameters passed by
the caller.
When the application is loaded, it will specify the
15 name of the first-level table which enumerates the application
data tables it utilizes. The contents of that database table
will be loaded by the control program into its internal table-
list. Another first-level table, column-format, will be coded
as part of the database sngine interface (i.e., a unique version
20 may be needed for each database enqine to be used with the CP).
It will enumerate the format of the columns to be read into
column-description. These two tables together (one application-
unique and one database engine-dependent) specify whàt
information is to be read ~rom the database into the second-
25 level table column-description and how it i5 for~atted.
The second level table column-description will be
shared by all applications available in the machine. It will
describe the name and characteristics of each column of each
table used by any of the applications.
Another category of control tables are used for
interfacing to remote databases. All the in~ormation for each
remote database access request will be assembled by the control
program, under the control of these tables, to be passed to the
communication program as a single message. These tables will
35 control whether or not in~ormation will be translated from its
local format to another format be~ore ~ransmission, and if so,
,
WO 91/09368 2 ~ 7 ~ PCI/US90/0733
-- 13 --
how. The tables will similarly contrs:)l what, if any,
translation is re~uired before remote database responses are
delivered to the application. The tables will similarly control
what, if any, translation is required before remote database
5 responses are delivered to the application. The tables will
also control how the response is to be bro~en into smaller units
when required.
It is to be noted that the local user system 10 of the
present invention may also be utilized as a stand-alone
10 prototype which operates under DOS running under Microso~t
Windows version 3Ø As with the interactive system, a
preferred database engine on the stand-alone system is
Wintrieve, and the application program will be written in object
oriented Actor ~'C". In~using the stand alone version database
15 records are initially generated. Once the list o~ records is
generated, gueries can be generated. The query searches all the
records and presents the records which fit the field
specifications of the query. The records previously saved to
disk are then called up.
The implementation of the present invention using the
GUI will pre~erably incorporate a raster/vector/attribute
- graphic database (~VAD) used to obtain specific selection sets
based upon data criteria such as geography. RVAD is a method of
overlaying a raster image, such as a map, visible to a person
25 viewing a computer screen, over a vector space (part of which is
the screen viewed by the local user). The vectors may be
displayed or may also be transparent. The vector space is
virtual, and the raster image is a "window" looking at a portion
of the vector space which is composed of four elements, points,
30 lines, faces, and attributes. Each point, linR, or face in the
vector space can have multiple associated attributes.
The local user would select either vector points,
lines or faces from the raster overlay on the vector space, such
as a map on the screen. That is, the user selects a portion o~
35 the raster image with transparent vector components becoming
part of the selection set. The vector space is preferably bit
. .
WO 9l/0~368 PCr/U~i90/0733"
207~8~ 14-
or overlay mapped in order to provicle backgrourld images as shown
in Figure 7C . The selection may be an area, individual obj ect,
or a point on the screen. The area may be selected by clicking
on a point, or "boxing" an area on the screen with a pointing
5 device (mouse or digitizer) or the keyboard (arrow keys). The
selec:ted area of the RVAD map can then be enlarged and/or
manipulated .
The selected area would then define the user database
query, with the control program using ~he locations within the ;~
10 sel~cted for the host database selection criteria. The RVAD can
be implemented utilizing a vector and MVP card. An MVP card is
a processor device which is capable of masterizing images on a
filing recorder at 2000 or 4000 lines of resolution. It is to
be noted that the implementation of an RVAD based system can
15 utilize "off-the-shelf" software such as CAD overlay ESP (Edit,
Save, Plot) and DRAFIX CAD Overlay, a program which allows a
raster image to serve as a template on the scr~en so that vector
data can ~e traced over it. Terminal Emulators such as the
EM320, 4010, and 4105 manuactured by Diversified Computer
20 Systems are particularly suited for RVAD applications.
The operation and advantages of an RVAD based system
in the context of the present invention is explained by the
following examp~le and with reference to Figures 1-6C. Referring
to Figure 5, the RVAD vector space may cover several counties
25 in, for example, the state of Georgia (Figure 7B). Each of the
counties contain a plurality of real estate information, each of
which is identified by a point. In total, there may be up to
10,000 points within the total vector space of the county (not
completely shown). A window 51 may cover a portion of one of
30 the counties tFulton County 48) of Georgia which contains, for
example, 20 points. The pot2ntial home buyer or realtor would
then select type in other desired options, criteria or
attributes such as price (e.g. less than $200,000), size (e.g.
four bedrooms), etc. ~ .
Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the query and twenty
points defined within the window of Figure 6 are processed via
WO91/0936~ 2 0 7 ~ PCT/~S9OtO733
- 15 -
the real estate applications software situated at the local
station. Pursuant to the applications program residing in Act
the local control program transmits the X-Y coordinates of the
window to the da~abase engine. The application program may
5 initially determines how many of the 20 homes defined by each
point possess one or more of the desired attributes or criteria
defined by the query. The application program them calls up the
data. The data will typically comprise in~ormation such as the
address of the information, the as~ing price, and the age of the
10 information.
Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the anatomy of a sample
transaction utilizing both the local user station and the area
center on RVA~ input meansi and local and area control programs.
This sample transaction assiumes that the user is interested in
15 reviewing real estate related records at, for example, a real
esti~te brokerage. Initially, the user selects the geographic
area of interest via the RVAD interface. The application
program builds and sends to the control program a geographic
area retrieval request. Next, via the application program, the
20 user selects his price range. Concurrently, the control program
passes the geographic area of retrieval request to the
communications programs. The control program then activates the
database engine. Concurrently with this step, the communication
so~tware passes the geographic area retrieval request to the
25 arPa center. Next, the control program passes geographic area
retrieval request to the database engine.
At this point, the database engine starts up and
initializes. It then retrieves and delivers to the control
program the first matching record. The area center verifies
30 user authorization. It then builds a buffer of geographically
matching records which are not in the local database. Next, the
user selects a bedroom count via the graphical user interface.
The control program builds a buf~er for local matches, buffers
the first record and requests the next record. The database
35 engine at this point, retrieves the next geographic match. This
process is repeated until all record matches which satisfy the
WO91/09368 2 9 ~ ~ 8 1 ~ PCT/US90/07334
- 16 -
geographic areas defined by the RVAD are located.
The user then activates the search via the application
program. The control program buffers the next record and
delivers the first record to the application program. The
5 application program checks if the first record i~ a complete
match (all criteria) and then displays the first match. The
database engine continues to retrieve the next geographic match.
This process i5 repeated until all matches satisfying the
requested criteria are identified and displayed.
Referring to the lower portion of Figure 2, the
application program will then make a determination as to whether
a su~ficient number of local matches were found. The
application program will then request area center ma~ches.
Initially, a request is passed from the application program to
15 the communication system. The control program builds a buffer
area for records which are passed via the communications system
to the area center. The CommUniCatiQn system then passes area
center records to the local control program which buffers. The
control program then delivers the first area center record to
20 the applications program. The application program then checks
to see that the first area center record is complete and then
displays the first match via the GUI. The control pr~gram then
delivers the nDx~ area center record to the application program
and t~e process is repeated.
Figure 3 illustrates a sample transaction from the
standpoint of the area center. In this figure, the
communication program passes the user access request to the
control program residing in the area center. The geographic
area retrieYal request is similarly forwarded to the area center
30 control programO The control program residing at the area
center verifies the user authorization and passes a geographical
area retrieval request and user ID to the specific service
package. The service package builds a buffer for matches and
passes geographic area retrieval request to the database engine.
35 The database engine then retrieves and delivers to the service
package the first matching record. The service package checks
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Wosl/09368 2 ~ 71 -81 ~ PcT/US9O/07334
- 17 -
if the record is known to the local user. It then buf~ers the
next area center-only record and requests the next record. The
database engine then retrieves and delivers to the service
package the next matching record and the process is repeated.
The lower porti~n of Figure 3 illustrates the
transmittal of records from the area center to the local userO
Initially, the communication program passes a local user
delivery request to the control program. The control program
then passes the delivery request to ~he service package. ~he
10 specific service package for real estate would then build a
message of all area center-only records and passes them to the
control program. The control program passes ~he service package
message to the communications program and the communications
program delivers~all rècords to~the local user.
It is to be stressed that because the c~nfiguration of
the local computer has been identified to the application
software, the address pointer o~ the GRDB will be selected to
conform to the limitations and operating system of the local
system. For example, if the local system utilizes a monochrome
20 printer and the information corresponding to choice number 4 has
three graphical configurations (monochrome, color, and
animation)-, the host will select the monochrome address.
Utilizing specialized programs such as ~ydxa, the user could
perform "walk-throughs" or ~ly-by's of the selected records.
A further aspect o~ the system of the present
invention and one which is particularly applicable to an RV~
based system, is the facilitation of the entry of new data
entries (e.g. graphic and/or tabular) to the system. In the
real estate example, discussed above, the hypothetical end user
30 (e.g., a real estate office) would ~nter a nPw entry such as a
real estate information containing the query criteria of
location, asking price, size etc., and transmit to the area
center via the communications system.
In a pre~erred RVAD based system, the computer at the
35 area center 20 would place the new information on the vector
space with respect to previously ent~red entry points and then
"
: - :: , : , . . . ..
- .,. . , , . , ;
W~9~/09368 2 ~ 7 ~ 8 1 4 PCT/US90/07334
- 18 -
transmit back to the local user. Other end users could
periodically receive the new information, either through
periodic updat~s (e.g. nightly, weekly) or updates ~ould be
periodically piggybacked during each query. Two or more area
5 centers may be linked in interactive operation thereby
increasing the area and/or number of local stations serviced.
In applications such as computer aided design (CAD), two clients
may be interlinked via this system, fuxther via at leas~ one
area server and preferably at least one other communications
10 means such as fax, voice, etc. A key feature of the invention
is that there is no dir~ct linkage between local user stations.
Any local user station (i.e. peer) to local user station (peer)
communication must go through an area center 20. Moreover,
~ while the area center 2-b is principa~ly accessed via network of
15 local area centers 20, as shown in Fiqure 12, a local area
center (e.g. US3) may be accessed via, for example, toll ~ree
number by local user stations situated anywhere in the world.
~e.g. T-Tokyo, Japan and V=Vienna, Austria-being-also super-
regional (Continental) Centers, and B, L, M, P, R being major
20 European capital cities as recited in U. S. Serial No. 544,826.
The system of the present invention can utilize
optical character recognition (OCR) technology for data entry
and system updatabili~ty. OCR is a process for converting
printed text into computer readable files, e.g., ASCII,
25 WordPerfect, Graphical, e~c. The present invention can utilize
portable hand held OCR image scanners such as t~e AS-8000P and
Image 72 and Image 256 painting scanners manufactured by A4SCAN.
State of the art portable scanners such as the AS-8000P provide
graphics resolutions up to 400 dpi. The present invention can
30 further utilize Desktop Scanner technology such as the Apple
Scanner, Bell ~ Howell ~'3etscanl', and Xerox "Datacopy" line of
scanners.
Through the use of OCR technology, system upgrades
could be rapidly and e~ficiently entered at the local end-user
35 station. In the example of a real estate qraphic information
service, a local realtor on the system could photograph a new
. : : . ,: '::
WO91/09368 2 0 7 ~ 81 ~ PCT/us9o/o733~
-- 19 --
information. The photograph could be scanned using local (on-
site) OCR technology and entered into the GRDB. The newly
entered GRDB entry could then be transmitted to the host during
periodic system updates. From the host, the new entry could be
5 distributed to other subscribers of the system.
While the present invention has been described in the
context of a real estate list in service, there are alternative
applications for the present invention. In the area
architectural and structural design, for example, there are
10 often many portions of an imaye which do not undergo
modification. For example, in the design of a multi-story
structure, the details and location of external walls, support
structures, etc. are often identical from one level to the next.
~ If the graphical data related to such common elements is stor~d
15 in a distributed database as described in this invention, then
two~designers in remote locations can make changes by merely
sending commands to each other's computers in order to change or
update details in the local graphical displays. As before, the
entire contents of the graphical image need not be transmitted,
20 thus effecting a great savings in time and convenience.
One of the great inconveniences in industrial design
is the constant need for referring to and updating of blueprints
by persons at remote lo¢ations from each other. In a typical
application, specifications and drawings are sent to a machine
25 shop which contracts to perform certain machining tasks. If the
machine shop is especially well equipped, the design may be sent
on a computer readable magnetic tape or diskette.
In the case of any necessary changes, two people must
communicate the exact location and type of change. In most
30 complex designs this requires a personal meeting. By use of the
methods of the present invention such changes can be ~ade easily
by command updates of the local databases and both designers can
view the changed images at the same time. Upon agreement, the
new design data can be stored. In addition, the altered data
35 segments can also be stored as a running record of the
engineering changes which have been made, together with the date
.~ . : ~ ; - ~ , , , , . : : :; - , .
::: . - . :.: . ~ , . .
WO91J09368 2 ~ 7 ~ 8 1 ~ PCT/~S90/0733
- 20 -
and the persons involved. Such a continuous - and au~omatically
logged - record of engineering changes (EC) is valuable ~or
design integrity and se~urity. The changes can also be
communicated, in a similar fashion, to manufacturing personnel
5 so that the production line works with the most up to date
design data.
Modern medical practice requires a number of diyital
images. These include radioscopic X-ray, CAT (Computed Axial
Tomography) Scan, NMR (Nuclear Maynetic Resonance), and PET
10 (Positron Emission Tomography) images. In addition, numerous
analog images are often acquired for diagnostic purposes. These
include ordinary x-ray film, ultrasound displays and endoscopic
images (which are often recorded on video tape). Conversion of
analog images to digital ~orm is~ increasingly ~used. For
15 example, DuPont has a method of scanning x-ray film and
con~erting it to a high-resolution digital image. Conventional
digital signal processing techniques can then be used on ~uch
images to enhance certain features by varying the contrast,
removing background noise, etc.
The apparatus for the acquisition of high-resolution
medical images is extremely expensive and only available at
large medical centers. Thus, the images are not readily
available to physicians in remote locations. The diagnosis is
often made at the medical center and a l'single-slice" hard copy
25 sent to the local physician. The local physician currently has
no opportunity to view cross-sections at will.
However, with the use of the methods of the present
invention, the physician's local database could be updated with
an express delivery of the data (for example on magnetic and/or
30 optical tape media). He co-lld then view the image in any way
desired merely by sending commands to an area center located at
a medical center ~or at another location having a host and
compatible software) for recalculation of the image
("r~construction"). This would enable him to have the "look and
35 feel" of working w1th the actual imaging system.
., : : : , :",. :.. - .. ,. , ::
Wog~/09368 ~ ~ 7 ~ 8 ~ ~ PCT/U~90/07334
- 21 -
The availability o~ patient records to a number of
medical practitioners is often necessary. This may be the case
for a patient seeing various specialists. AlternatiVely, a
patient who has moved sometimes needs portions o~ his medical
5 record from a distant family physician. The present invention
is applicable to these cases, especially as it relates to
graphical information. For example, a radiologist may follow
the development of a tumor by having a graphics data base stored
locally and updating over the phone any changes as new x-rays
10 are taken. Another example involves the monitoring by CAT scan
and NMR of certain chemic~l deposits which have been correlat~d
with Alzheimer's disease.
Doctor's notes may also ~e transferred in both
graphical form (especially if they include sketches) as well as
15 ASCII characters. In this case graphical images have the
dis~dvanta~e that they cannot be re~dily text edited.
~ he system of the present invention can further be
configured to utilize an image storage and retrieval system such
as that manufactured by Recognition Equipment Corp. In
20 addition, the present invention could further utilize a
sophisticated image processing system. SUch a system could
utilize the Image Plus High Yerformance Transaction system which
requires an IBM 3090 mainframe computerO The IBM system
captures 2400 documents per minute. The use of image proc~ssing
25 technology could be particularly applicable ~or medical database
applications.
A key feature of the embodiments of Figures 1 and 8-lO
is of multiprocessing (SLCMP) by the local and regional hosts.
Symmetric ~oosely Coupled Multiprocessors (SLCMPs) are best
30 described as a group of cooperating computers. The term multi-
processing describes the ability of a computer system to utilize
more than one Central Processing Unit (CPU) concurrently.
Unequally distributed co-processors associated with co-operatin~
computers create assymetric multiprocessing. Microprocessing
35 is available on hardware con~igurations such as the Sequ~nt and
Convex "minicomputers", and the Compaq SystemPro. Operating
. : ,. . ~, ,
WO91/09368 2Q7~ PCT/US90/07334
- 22 -
systems which utilize multiple processors optimize input/output
from the system, and permit the simultaneous use o~ more than
one application on the system. In a multiprocessor based
system, each computer will typically have its own peripherals
5 (disks, LANs, terminals, etc.) along with a dedicated
interprocessor communications channel ~IPC).
The major advantage of SLCMP as applied in the present
invention i that processing capacity can be added easily and
system per~ormance can scale proportionally to ~he capacity of
lO the discrete components (i.e. the local and stations, local
hosts 63 and regional host 64). In a possible configuration, a
Compaq SystemPro could be used to control the processing for
multiple databases simultaneously accessed by different hosts.
Thus, the SystemPro could simultaneously process ~or example,
15 Real Estate and Medical applications emanating from different
net~orks. As those skilled in the art will recogni2e, there is
a synergism when multiple processing is utilized. Figure ll
illustrates the use of multiprocessing in the present invention.
As shown, two or more workstations connect to a local regional
20 host. The existence of several CPUs on the host coupled with
multiprocessing software permits the host/server to simultaneous
process a plurality of queries.
Figures 8-lO illustrate further examples how the
system of the present invention could be incorporated as part of
25 a local, regional, national or continental network. Figure 8
illustrates a host/server which would typically service a region
such as Buc~s County, PA. The host will service a plurality of
system subscribers located within a single county for
applications ranging from graphic real estate information to
30 medical image processing. Users outside of the system can
access the system via phone or modem. Figure 9 illustrates a
regional network (e.g. the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area)
which lin~s the hosts of several counties. The hosts may be
linked by a fiber optic network capable of transmitting data at
35 rates of up to 40,000 baud. The fiber optic link would permit
the local computers in the region to access all other computers
. .
WO91/09368 2 ~ 7 ~ 8 ~ ~ PCT/US9oto733~
- 23 -
which are par~ of the network ~hrough ~he use of "store and
forward" of data or by passing control program pacXets thr~ugh
intermediate host connections. Data may be fur~her transmitted
via conventional phone lines. Figure 10 illustrates a national
5 network interlinked and supported by a nationwide value-added
fiber-optic network such as Sprint or Compuserve.
Communication between the local station(s) and
host/server(s) will be performed via modems such as the PEP
modem by Telebit Corporation. This modem splits the bandwidth
10 of voice grade telephone communications into 524 virtual
circuits. Intelligence within the modem dynamically contracts
vr expands the number of circuits used to communications between
PEP modems based on thP quality of the circuit. The local
computer or terminal attached to the modem maintains a constant
15 interface speed with t~e modem and the connected modems
arb~trate the line speed. PEP technology also supports 32 bit
error correction and compression of data and supporks special
protocols such as W CP (for UNIX based computers)j Kermit and
YMODEM file transfer protocols that tak~ advantage of the modem
20 based ~low control for the transfer of binary data hetween
computer systems.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art
that a typical 9.6 Rbaud data circuit can support multiplexing
of the circuit to support multiple connections across the same
2S circuit. Use of a multiplexer such as those produced by
MultiTeck allows sharing of a single 9600 bps to 19,200 bps data
line among se~eral systems, thus increasing the output and
economy of the system.
Sprint and other current communications vendors
30 support various means for the sharing of public networks, and
provide transmission speeds up to 40,000 baud. Sprint has an
X.25 network with connections to most cities within the United
S~ates and most maior i~erna~ional cities. Da~a is collected
in packets at high speeds (up to 9600 baud) and routed through
35 the network to the remote address specified by the connectlon.
Multiple computers attached to this network can exchange data
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.:. .-., :, - , . ::~ , ,:
- :. :.: ., . . : : ::: .
. . . . . , , . .. ,,: .. , . "
WO91/09368 2 0 7 1 ~ ~ 4 PCT/US90/0733~
- 24 -
based on unique addresses within the system. This type of
network is also supportable by CompuServe and other Value Added
Network providers.
Figure lo discloses a private national networ~ that
5 can consist of dial-up connections via high speed modems (e.g.
Telebit T2500 or equivalent). This network can also utilize a
combination of dial-up modems and dedicated data lines. The
addition of multiplexers in this configuration allows dedicated
data lines to be split into multiple data lines to support
10 multiple hosts or concurrent queries from a single host. This
maximizes the greater bandwidth of the dedicated data connection
and improves utilization of the data line.
A further benefit o~ the present invention manifests
itself in it unexpected efficiency for linking national and/or
15 continental networks containing in their regions a variety of
cir,cuit switching and/or packet switching technologies into an
efficient international and/or inter-continental (i.e. global)
network. As a result of system-wide data traffic flow and data
storage allocation profile characteristics, bulk WAN data
20 expansion and/or update information can be provided by
tran~-ported (non-electronically transmitted) system compatible
and recombinable data storage means (M) for most local and
regional purposes~ All presently available switching and
packeting technologies can co-exist in the networks of the
25 present invention. Using transparent and/or translata~le data
storage means, the greatly reduced long distance traffic flow
particularly in combination with RVAD and/or P~A features of the
present invention provides for practical and/or repeated re-
switching and/or repacketing applicability. This may also
30 include cell-relay and/or frame relay packet switching combined
with circuit switchin~.
A further aspect of the invention is the use o~
encoded VCR tape means such as that disclosed in co-pending VC~
Based Presentation Selection Means for data storage.
The present invention has been described in the
context of systems in which the end user will pose a query which
WO91/09368 2 0 7 ~ 8 ~ 4 Pcr/~sgo/07334
~ 25 -
will be processed yielding tabular and graphical data at a local
workstation. The present invention thus serves as a means to
optimize system-wide data traffic flow and storage allocation.
Figures 13A, 13B and 14A, 14B illustrate said system-wide data
5 traffic and storage allocation profiles for an
intercontinentally linkable system with respect to said data
profile parameter with some notable characteristics (e.g. there
is no communication between local user (peer to peer stations)).
Greater than sixty-seven percent of the data tra~fic (D) will
10 flow between the local station and the area center. Less then
5% of the data traffic flows between the regional area centers
and even less data traffic flows nationally. Media means (M)
transportation can range widely from local user and drops
.
rapidly to local user from local area servers to distant servers
15 in a large national netwoxk. Details are discussed in Figurss
13~ and 14B.
A final aspect o~ the present invention is the
provision of a mechanism which facilitates the practical pre-
storage of preselected presentation format ~component(s)) which
20 may be shown on displays associated with local presentation
means but which cannot themselves generate such output in real
time operation. For example, three dimensional animated
graphical presentation outputs incorporating "walk throughs" and
"fly-bys" generated using, for example, a 386 or 486 host,
25 cannot be generated within a practical (egoleodline 48 hours)
environment by a local station operating with a 286 AT
processor. Such output presentations can be usually generated
at a particularly slow rate using a 386/486 Host. However, a
pre-defined, preprocessed, appropriately re-formatted (e~g. for
30 the 16 bit 286 A~ processor~ and stored in local GRDB in toto to
be merely displayed (presented) at a local (e.g. AT) station can
provide a practical real time "preprocessed query answer'l (PQA)
~omponent with real time and/or zoom features (for a local
workstation customer presentation. An example of useful
35 combination would be to use AutoCAD (from Autodesk) at a host
server to create CAD ~possibly with RVAD application) output
.. - . . . . . :. . : .
- . . ~ :. : ............ ~ . :: . , . .. ,...... . ..... :
. : . .
:. . , ,. : . :;,: :.. . , .. : .
WO91/09368 PCT/US90/07334
2~7~ 26 -
under UNIX which can be predistributed to local databases,
retrieved and manipulated under a simpler version of a
compatible software program such as Autos~etch (from Autodesk).
A query structure system (QSS) probably would subsequently
5 select, from locally stored substantially pre-processed,
predistributed query answer(s) (PQA) component(s) at least one
animated and/or zoomed segment of a query answer upon an
appropriate workstation query.
Pregenerated PQA's can be stored as interactive
10 recombinable components, pre~erably for an 8086, 8088, 80286 ~r
higher power local workstation and/or at least a dual window
graphic multiprocessed output which can be stored in toto for
s~archable redisplay upon command in a database of relatively
lower (end-user) power (end-user3 local workstation, such as an
15 IBM, PC, XT, AT, a low-end 386 based compatible and/or a
comparable Motovola 6800 microprocessor chip (LPV) based unit
with adequate local database storage capacity and retrieval gate
speed. In general, the storing and/or retrieval of single
and/or at least dual-window PQA's, particularly involving
~0 animation (e.g. including zoom) andjor color is a particularly
important ef~iciency improving feature of this invention (e.g.
using an IBM XT._ AT, OS2 or comPatible).
In designing PQA' 5, limited~(e.g. Menu) choices are
preferably presented for query selection to end-users increasing
25 the use-probability of said PQA's and thereby the PQA
utilization efficiencies of the system. Using a relational
- database engine such as Ingres with SC0 open Desktop, a user
interface is constructed from pre-defined forms such as
SQLWindows produced by Gupta Technologies. This form would be
30 used to Query the database (Query by Example), and for display
of the extracted information.
Pre-Designing the ~orm is typical of RDBE
applications, and a typical application would be designed with
indexes on specific fields of the database tables to assure sub
3S second (or 1-5 second) response times for the application. This
would be possible in part ko the ~act that we are extracting in
- . ., .. , . -. .,. ., .: ,..... ,, ~ .,,
, ' ; , , ,~ . " , ~ .: . , , " . .
WO 91/09368 2 ~ Pcr/us~o/07334
-- 27 --
most cases, when using conventional dialable phone line query
limitation data only, not working in a transaction based
environment ~such as an airlin~) where data would be entered as
well as extracted. The use of PQA's will facilitate the
5 indexing of output formats such that outputs can be standardized
regardless of the written and/or spoken language (or i~s local
versions) of the user, (e.g. Chinese, Japanese, Spanish,
English, French, German or a Slavic). This has also
applicability in higher transmission ratP capability host/server
10 connection applications within the invention (such as financial
transactional, travel service). A preferred system would
provide intelligent PQA capability (as a preferred upgrade
option) for any portable unit from related LAN's upon hook-up in
any other regional (e.g. diversified continent based WAN in
15 En~lish further in at least one more regionally dominant
lan~uage and/or a local language. Such service, can be provided
from regional "super" hosts and would be available as a location
limited upgrade option to selected minimum 386 power W/S's.
Designing the workstation/PC application to take
20 advantage of background processing using Windows or UNIX based
software will improve the functionality o~ the application by
suppor~ing concurrent display of data to the end user while
processing the transfer of graphic images into a ~isk or memory
buffer. This enhanced capability would require that the Pc be
25 configured with two to sixteen or higher megabytes of R~M to
take advantage of background processing capabilities of Windows
and other multitasking or background processing software. An
alternative for enhanced local service would incorporate network
PC's through local UNIX hosts using a Network File System (NFS)
30 and would allow the PC's to transparently use a unified
integratable database. The NFS allows many PC's to share a
large, common database located on a mor~ powerful host system,
thus speeding access and local capacity for data. The i~vention
thus provides improved and expanded graphical and combined
35 presentation capabilities within a time constraint (i.e. on
line, overnight, 48 hour service) environment. The PQA system
WO91/09368 PCT/US90/07334
2a7~
- 28 -
according to the invention by using the combination of a w/s
query, a high capacity PQA host associated with a relative large
(and preferably pre-processable) database for at leas~ the most
desired or probably anticipated query answer components and
5 menus of getting the PQA's from the host to the W/S within the
practically set operational (technical) standards. An exampl~
of such a sequence of PQA's can be separate short, walk through
segments o~ PQA's for several house models not yet built and
~tored in combin`ation with changing other descriptive, financial
10 and related community traffic pattern information for a large
new development. The updatable marketing information seyment is
advantageous by recombinable with the WORM graphics.
~ hile the present invention has been described in the
context of a multi-entry real estate information and transaction
15 monitoring presentation application, it is to ~e appreciated
tha,t numerous applications fall within the spirit and scope of
the present invention and that the present invention may be
utilized in any application requiring interactive communications
between a local query initiation and a host computer and/or the
20 presentation of tabular search data with graphics. In transit
use, transportability QP local database segments or locally
generated information data and reintegratability of any other PC
end user server providing global system capability and unlimited
database means storage capacity is also an essential feature of
25 the present invention. It is to be further appreciated that
other embodiments fall within the spirit and scope of the
present invention and that the true nature and scope of the
present invention is to be determined with reference to the
claims appended hereto.
- :: ; "
