Importance

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Abstract

An interactive information delivery system server delivering text or other visual data to a display unit is accessed by a user by means of his own telephone, through an interface unit. The interface unit interprets key pad presses and/or voice commands, and in response to these it controls the server. This allows the expensive and vulnerable hardware (which may be a conventional PC and modem) to be positioned in a secure location, but still be usable by members of the public. As the location of the display unit (which may be a conventional PC and modem) may make audio output impractical, the interface unit may pass an audio channel from the server to the user's telephone. In response to appropriate commands from the telephone, it can also divert the call to a predefined call centre. The server application scripts and control programs largely follow normal WWW Internet practice, except that the output from the server is to be transmitted to a destination (display unit) other than that from which the instructions arrive (the interface). The display unit, when in idle mode, displays a page or pages in the idle state, including a telephone number to dial in order to access information. This number will be specific to the display unit, allowing the interface unit to identify which display unit the user wishes to use.

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First Claim