Telephone/Transaction Entry Device and System for Entering Transaction Data into Databases

Abstract

A data transaction processing system in which transaction data is entered by the user in response to prompts in a template which is tailored to each user application. The template and entered data are accumulated into data transactions which are immediately transmitted upon completion to an external database server for processing and storage. The data transactions are not locally stored for processing, and no conventional operating system is necessary. No local processing needs to be provided, and the only local storage is a flash PROM which stored the control firmware, a flash memory which stores the data streams making up the forms and menus, and a small RAM which operates as an input/output transaction buffer for storing the data streams of the template and the user replies to the prompts during assembly of a data transaction. The data transaction is received via standard protocols at a database server which, depending upon the application, stores the entire data transaction, explodes the data transaction to produce ancillary records which are then stored, and/or forwards the data transaction or some or all of the ancillary records to other database servers for updating other databases associated with those database servers. Also, in response to requests from the transaction entry device, the database server may return data streams for use in completing the fields in the data transaction or in presenting a menu on the display which was read in from the database server or a remote phone mail system. The transaction entry device is integrated with a telephone and is accessed via a touch screen, an optional keyboard, a magnetic card reader, voice entry, a modem, and the like.

1 . A method, comprising: 
 initiating a data transaction from a terminal by allowing a user to enter information on to the terminal, said information including information about a state of a household appliance;    using said information to create data transaction information;    sending said data transaction information over a channel to a server that controls the household device.    
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said data transaction uses a form.  
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein the form includes prompts for turning on and off said household devices.  
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein said device includes an alarm system.  
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein said device includes a coffee maker.  
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein said device includes an alarm system.  
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein said device includes an answering machine.  
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein said terminal is a portable telephone.  
     
     
         9 . A method, comprising: 
 initiating a data transaction from a terminal by allowing a user to enter information on to the terminal into a form, wherein the form includes prompts for different fields of an airline ticket reservation system;    using said information to create data transaction information;    sending said data transaction information over a channel to a server that creates an airline ticket reservation.    
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 9 , wherein said terminal is a portable telephone.  
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising: 
 receiving information indicative of a form that has parts that allow displaying information, from a remote server, said form indicative of navigation through a voicemail system;    accepting information to navigate through options of the voice system; and    responsive to said accepting information, receiving a voicemail message.    
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein said receiving comprises receiving a list of possible values that can complete at least one value within the form.  
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising: 
 receiving information indicative of a form that has parts that require data entry, from a remote server;    accepting transaction information as said data entry into said form;    sending the transaction information to at least one specified server using information in the form; and    maintaining an audit trail on said server indicative of all actions that have occurred on said server.    
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising: 
 receiving information indicative of a form that has parts that require data entry, from a remote server;    accepting transaction information as said data entry into said form;    sending the transaction information to at least one specified server using information in the form; and    receiving both of text and sound from the remote server, based on information in the form.    
     
     
         15 . A method as in  claim 14 , wherein there are multiple remote servers, which receive different parts of the information from the form.