Untitled record

p00001Package-based telephone management

Field of the Invention

p00002The present invention relates to packet-based telephony, which includes the Internet and other telephony based on a computer network. In particular, the invention relates to the management of packet-based telephone services provided to users by one or more packet-based telephone service providers ("PBTSP").

Background of the invention

p00003Many of the online service providers seek to provide users with features with which users can make phone calls from their computer devices, using computer devices as equivalent to manual phones. Instead of supporting this PC-to-phone functionality directly, an online service provider may instead rely on an outside provider (ie a PBTSP) to support this service.

p00004In a known implementation, all packet-based telephony calls initiated by users of an online service provider are automatically routed, by the client software, directly to an external PBTSP selected by the service provider. In essence, the online service provider represents a referral service for the outside provider, referring all its users who want the packet-based telephony service to the outside provider. This implementation suffers from certain disadvantages.

p00005A disadvantage is that an entry is not provided to users in the selection of their PBTSP. Therefore, although other PBTSPs can provide superior service, offer better prices, etc., users must in any case employ the external supplier selected by the service provider or renounce the packet-based telephone service.

p00006Another disadvantage relates to the relative inability of the online service provider to manage or control the telephone service provided by its users by the external provider. This can be particularly problematic in the event that the external supplier fails to provide users with an appropriate level of service, which may poorly reflect on the service provider that sends it or in the event that a contractual relationship between the supplier of services and the external supplier ends.

p00007In view of the foregoing, the inventors have recognized the need for a system that allows service providers to more efficiently manage packet-based telephone services provided to their users by outside suppliers and a system that allows users to choose between The multiple PBTSP. A telephone information system on the Internet is disclosed in WO 01 / 63862A.

Summary of the invention

p00008An aspect of the present invention is a system for the management and support of packet-based telephony. The system includes a user database and an account server for receiving data from a packet-based telephony server that indicates that a user has registered with him. The account server also stores data in the user database indicating that the user is registered with the packet-based telephone service provider. The system also includes a configuration server for determining, by accessing the user database, that the user is registered with the packet-based telephone service provider and for sending data to a computer device. associated with the user that allows the computer device to exchange data related to the packet-based telephone call with the packet-based telephone service provider. An intermediation server is provided for receiving signaling data for the telephone call from the computer device and for sending the received signaling data to the packet-based telephone service provider.

p00009Another aspect of the invention is a method for assisting a user in the selection of a PBTSP from a group of PBTSP and in the registration of the user with the selected PBTSP. Therefore, users can select their PBTSP based on the parameters important to them, such as the reputations of the PBTSP, the geographic regions served, the supported languages, prices, etc. The selection of a particular PBTSP by a user can be stored in a database and this stored information may indicate that the user's registration with the selected PBTSP is pending. Upon receipt of the information from the PBTSP indicating that the user is registered, the stored information can be modified to indicate that the user registration with the selected PBTSP has taken place. The stored information can be used to enable (or not enable) the user to exchange phone call data with one of the PBTSPs.

p00010Another aspect of the invention is a procedure for the management and support of packet-based telephone services. The procedure receives data from a computer device associated with a user. The data received refers to the packet-based telephone service for the user. The procedure determines whether the user is registered with one of multiple PBTSPs and, if so, transmits data to the user's computer device allowing the computer device to exchange phone call data with one of the multiple PBTSPs.

p00011A further aspect of the invention is a method of supporting a packet-based telephone call initiated by a user through a computer device. The procedure receives the data of the telephone call from the computer device through a computer network, accesses from a contact information database for a PBTSP and transmits the data of the telephone call received to the PBTSP through a network computers that use the contact information that has been accessed.

p00012Additional aspects of the invention include means that a computer can read for the implementation of the systems and procedures described herein and for the implementation of functions of the user's computer devices.

p00013While some of the main features and advantages of the invention have been described above, a greater and more comprehensive understanding of the invention will be obtained by reference to the drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments below.

Brief description of the drawings

p00014Figure 1 is a block diagram of the system and a computer device for the management and support of packet based telephony in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 illustrates a telephone dialer user interface requesting a user to enroll in a packet based telephone service. Figure 3 illustrates a web page that asks a user to select one of multiple providers of packet based telephone service. Figure 4 illustrates a telephone dialer user interface enabled by the system of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a block diagram of an example computer device for use with the present invention

p00015The corresponding reference characters indicate characteristics that correspond through the various views of the drawings.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

p00016A system and a computer device for packet-based telephone management and support according to an embodiment of the present invention are illustrated in Figure 1 and are generally indicated by reference characters 100 and 112, respectively. As shown in Figure 1, the system 100 includes a reference server 102, a configuration server 104, an account server 106, an intermediation server 108 and a user database 110. As described more fully below, the servers 102-108 exchange data with the user database 110 and with the computer device 112 through a packet-based computer network 114, to manage and support the service of packet-based telephony for a user associated with the computer device 112. The account server 106 and the intermediation server 108 also exchange data with various packet-based telephony service providers ("PBTSP") 116, 118, 120 through a packet-based computer network 122, as further described in continuation.

p00017The packet-based computer networks 114, 122 shown in Figure 1 may each (or together) represent a single private or public computer network (which includes, for example, a virtual private network) or multiple private networks and / or public. In one embodiment, the packet-based computer network 114 represents a local area network (LAN) connected to the Internet via a gateway, the packet-based computer network 122 represents the Internet and PBTSP 116-120 are the Internet telephone service providers.

p00018While only one computer device 112 is shown in Figure 1, it will be understood that the system 100 can support and exchange data with a large number of such devices so that it manages and supports the packet-based telephone service for a large Number of users. In the same way, although three PBTSP 116-120 are shown in Figure 1 for illustrative purposes, it should be understood that the system 100 can be used with a much larger number of PBTSP, or as few as only one PBTSP. System 100 may also employ servers and databases in addition to those shown illustratively in Figure 1.

p00019In the particular embodiment that is being explained, after the user is successfully registered in the system 100, the computer device 112 consults the configuration server 104 to determine if the user is registered with one of the PBTSP 116-120. In response, the configuration server accesses a record for the user from the user database 110. If the user registration indicates that the user is registered with one of the PBTSP 116-120, the configuration server transmits data to the computer device 112 that allows the computer device to exchange phone call data with the user's PBTSP in one way. described below. In the particular embodiment that is being explained, the data provided to the computer device 112 enables a telephone dialer user interface in the computer device 102, which the user can use to make phone calls. The configuration server 104 may provide the computer device 112 with a set of web browser-style links (for example URLs) specific to the user's PBTSP, including, for example, a link to a graphic image that identifies the PBTSP of the user, a link to the user's account information, a link with call status information, etc. If the user is not registered in one of the PBTSPs, the configuration server 104 provides data to the computer device 112 indicative of the unregistered state of the user.

p00020When the user indicates a desire to make a telephone call using the computer device 112 (for example by selecting the "call" function from a toolbar displayed by the computer device), the computer device 112 displays an interface of dialer user. If the user is not yet registered with one of the PBTSP 116-120, the computer device 112 displays the telephone dialer user interface 202 shown in Figure 2. The telephone dialer user interface 202 asks the user to select a button Registration 204 (or, alternatively, a hyperlink) for registration in a telephone service. Because the user is not yet registered with one of the PBTSPs, the computer device 112 has not yet received data from the configuration server 104 that enables the telephone dialer user interface 202. Accordingly, a radio button is disabled. Dial 206 on the telephone dialer user interface 202, as shown (in dots) in Figure 2, thereby preventing the user from making the telephone call through the computer device 112.

p00021The selection of the enrollment button 204 asks the computer device 102 to open a web browser application and send data to the reference server 102 indicating the user's desire to register for the telephone service. In response, the reference server 102 serves a web page 302, illustratively shown in Figure 3, to the computer device 112. The web page 302 provides a list of the PBTSPs available to the user. The particular PBTSPs listed on the website 302 can be selected by the system 100 according to the information previously obtained about the user, such as the user's geographic region and spoken language. The website 302 must also allow the user to receive a list of suppliers in other countries. In any case, the providers available to the user can be listed according to a random order, in accordance with a weighting scheme (for example, based on the contractual agreements that ensure a prominent place for particular service providers), of according to a hybrid of these two approaches, or in another way.

p00022If the user selects one of the PBTSPs listed (for example, by clicking on a “sign up now” hyperlink for one of the PBTSPs, as shown in Figure 3), indicative data of the user's selection is sent by the device. computer 112 to the reference server 102.

p00023For the purpose of explanation, it is assumed that the user selected the PBTSP 120 of Figure 1 of the example web page 302 shown in Figure 3. In response to the data received indicative of this selection, the reference server 102 modifies the registration of the user stored in the user database 110 to indicate that the user registration with the PBTSP 120 is pending. The reference server 102 then assists the user in registering with the PBTSP 120. In the particular embodiment that is being explained, the reference server 102 directs a web browser application on the computer device 112 to a website of the PBTSP 120, in which the user can register online with the PBTSP 120 for the telephone service.

p00024Once the user has completed the online registration process, the PBTSP 120 sends data to the account server 106 indicating that the user has registered with him. In response, the account server 106 accesses the user database 110 to confirm that the user's registration with the PBTSP 120 was pending. If the account server 106 is unable to confirm this, the account server 106 will send an error message to the PBTSP 120. In response, PBTSP 120 may notify the user that he was unable to successfully register the user for the service and may also request the user to contact a system administrator 100 for further assistance. If the account server confirms that the user registration with the PBTSP 120 was pending, the account server 106 updates the user registration in the user database 110 to indicate that the status of the user with the PBTSP 120 has changed from pending to registered. Account server 106 also sends a success message to PBTSP 120. These communications between account server 106 and PBTSP 120 are represented by arrow 124 of Figure 1. Upon receipt of the success message, the PBTSP 120 can notify the user that it has successfully registered with the telephone service and can also notify the user when such service is activated, if it is not immediately.

p00025Although system 100 has been described above as assisting the user in registering with a single service provider, it can also be configured to assist the user in registering with multiple service providers, if desired.

p00026Once registered, when the user indicates a desire to make a telephone call through the computer device 112, the computer device 112 consults the configuration server 104 to determine if the user is registered with one of the PBTSP 116-120 ( unless this process has already taken place, such as when the user was recognized in system 100). In response, the configuration server 104 accesses the user registry of the user database 110 indicating, in this example, that the user is registered with the PBTSP 120. The configuration server 104 therefore provides data to the device 112 that allow the computer device to display the telephone dialer user interface 402 illustrated in Figure 4. As shown therein, interface 402 includes a graphic image 404 (for example a corporate logo) that identifies PBTSP 120 and a hyperlink 406 to user account information. In the case where the user registers with multiple service providers, the telephone dialer interface can ask the user to indicate which of the user's PBTSPs should be used to service a particular call.

p00027Through the interface 402 shown in Figure 4, the user can make a phone call by selecting the dial button 408 after entering a phone number in field 410. The "telephone number" entered by the user in field 410 may be an alphanumeric character string to direct a telephone device through a computer network and / or a public switched telephone network ("PSTN"), which includes but it is not limited to a 10-digit telephone number following the convention used in North America.

p00028In response to the user's selection of the dial button 408 after the introduction of a telephone number in field 410, the computer device 112 sends signaling data for the telephone call to the intermediation server 108, as indicated by the arrow 126 in Figure 1. Upon receipt of the call signaling data, the intermediation server 108 accesses the user database 110 to retrieve the contact information for the user's PBTSP (for example an IP address for, in this example, a server 125 associated with PBTSP 120), as indicated by arrow 128 in Figure 1. The intermediation server 108 then directs the signaling data to the PBTSP 120 as indicated by arrow 132 in Figure 1, using the retrieved contact information. Alternatively, the contact information used by the intermediation server 108 to direct the signaling data can first be retrieved from the user database 110 by the configuration server 104, provided to the computer device 112 by the configuration server 104 (for example, together with or as the data that enables the telephone dialer user interface) and then provided by the computer device 112 to the intermediate server 108 together with the signaling data. This alternative approach (which would not require arrow 128 of Figure 1) would allow intermediation server 108 to immediately direct the signaling data to the user's PBTSP without first having to access the contact information of the user database 110, which could potentially create waiting problems. It should be noted that by requiring the introduction by the user prior to registering the user with a PBTSP and then routing the call signaling data only to a PBTSP with which the user is registered, the system 100 prevents it from “pushing " to user. That is, it protects the user from being registered with or served by a PBTSP without the user's knowledge or consent. While the call signaling data is routed from the computer device 112 to the system 100 for sending to the PBTSP 120, as mentioned above, the computer device 112 sends data on the content of the call (e.g., traffic from media) to PBTSP 120 directly, as indicated by arrow 130 in Figure 1. In one embodiment, this is done using the contact information for the PBTSP 120 (for example, the IP address of the server 125) provided to the computer device 112 by the intermediation server 108 in response to the reception of the signaling data.

p00029Although PBTSPs 116, 118, 120 are shown in Figure 1 as having an associated server 121, 123, 125, respectively, it should be understood that each PBTSP can employ multiple servers, including one more servers for data management of data. Call signaling and one more additional servers for handling call content data. Therefore, the contact information provided to the computer device 112 for routing the call content data may differ from the contact information used by the intermediate server 108 for routing the call signaling data.

p00030Depending on whether the telephone number entered by user in field 410 of Figure 4 is mapped to a conventional telephone device, the PBTSP 120 can walk the received signaling data and the call content data to a gateway of a PSTN or through an appropriate computer network in which the telephone device being called is connected. Therefore, it should be understood that the computer device 112 can be used to call virtually any type of telephone device, including conventional telephone devices, computer devices capable of receiving packet-based telephone calls through the computer network, etc. .

p00031In the specific embodiment that is being explained, the protocol used between the computer device 112 and the configuration server 104 and between the PBTSP and the account server 106, is a Hypertext Transfer Protocol ("HTTP"). The protocol used between the computer device 112 of the reference server 102 is HTTP. The protocols used to transmit the call signaling data and the call content data are the Session Initiation Protocol ("SIP") and the Real Time Protocol ("RTP"), respectively. As should be apparent, however, other suitable protocols can be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

p00032In Figure 1, arrows 134-140 (shown of points) represent communications between system 100, PBTSP 116, and PBTSP 118 to manage and support packet-based telephony for registered users with PBTSP 116 and PBTSP 118.

p00033While the system 100 and the computer device 112 have been described above in the context of an outgoing call made by a user through the computer device 112, the user can also receive incoming phone calls through the device Computer 112. For example, as part of its registration with PBTSP 120, PBTSP 120 can provide a telephone number to the user for receiving telephone calls and store contact information (for example a DNS name) for the intermediation server of the user 108 . Subsequently, when the PBTSP 120 receives the telephone call made for the user's telephone number, the PBTSP 120 attempts to complete the call with the computer device 112 by routing the signaling data of the incoming call to the intermediation server 108 . In response, the intermediation server 108 accesses the user database 110 to confirm that the user is registered with the PBTSP 120 (as well as, in one embodiment, to map the telephone number provided to a device associated with the user, such as a computer device 112). If so, the intermediation server 108 may attempt to direct the received signaling data to the computer device.

p00034112 If the signaling data is received by computer device 112, the computer device presents an incoming call user interface (not shown) to the user. If the user is present in the computer device and chooses to accept the call via the incoming call user interface, the computer device 112 sends an appropriate acknowledgment (for example a SIP acknowledgment) to the intermediate server 108, which then sends the acknowledgment to the PBTSP 120 together with the contact information (for example, an IP address) for the computer device 112. The PBTSP 120 then completes the call by sending the call content data (ie, media traffic) to the computer device 112 directly using the contact information for the computer device 112 received from the intermediation server 108.

p00035Instead of choosing to accept the call through the incoming call user interface, the user can enter a phone number (or select it from a drop-down list, a directory of phone numbers, etc.) to which the call should be routed. incoming call. In response, the computer device 112 transmits the appropriate signaling information (ie, call forwarding) to the PBTSP 120 via the intermediation server 108. PBTSP 120 then sends the incoming call to the telephone number specified by the user.

p00036In one example, the intermediation server 108 is configured to monitor the presence of the user in computer device 112 (and / or in the computer network 114). For example, when the user registers in the computer device 112, the computer device sends a "registration" message to the intermediate server, indicating that the user is now present in the computer device 112. Subsequently, the computer device periodically sends (for example every ten minutes) messages to the intermediation server 108 to refresh that record while the user remains present in the computer device 112. If the intermediation server 108 does not receive such a message from the computer device for a predetermined amount of time, the intermediation server interprets this as an indication that the user is no longer present in the computer device 112 (and / or in computer network 114). The intermediation server 108 uses this presence information to determine how to respond from the user upon receipt of the call signaling data from the user's PBTSP 120. If the user has a presence in the computer device 112 when the signaling data is received for an incoming call from an intermediation server 108, the intermediation server directs the signaling data to the computer device 112 and the computer device 112 responds by displaying the incoming call user interface. The user can then accept the call or choose to send the call to another device, as explained above. If the user does not respond on time through the incoming call user interface or if the user responds by choosing not to accept the call or if the user does not have a presence on the computer device 112 when the signaling data of An incoming call is received by intermediation server 108, intermediation server 180 sends information that signals the unavailability of the user to PBTSP 120. In response, the PBTSP 120 may itself accept the incoming call and notify the caller (for example, using a spoken message synthesized or previously registered) that the user is currently unavailable. Alternatively, the intermediation server 108 may send signaling information to the PBTSP 120 which directs the PBTSP for sending the incoming call to another device, such as the user's mobile phone, a voicemail system, etc., in accordance with predefined rules or user selections.

p00037Figure 5 shows an example of a general purpose computer device in the form of a computer

p00038500 In one embodiment of the invention, a computer such as computer 500 is suitable for use as any of servers 102-108 and / or computer device 112 using in Figure 1. However, it should be understood that computer device 112 does not need to be a conventional personal computer and can be any device that has voice capabilities and is configured to communicate with a packet switching network using packet switching protocols, including telephones IP, portable devices, mobile phones, mini browsers and other similar. Additionally, it should be understood that a user can use the same service configuration on multiple devices, thereby implementing a form of user roaming. In other words, because the user's settings are stored in system 100, these settings can be used by the user to make calls from any suitable computer device 112 accessible to the user at any given time. Conversely, multiple users can use a single computer device (one at a time) and their corresponding settings stored in the system 100, to make packet-based phone calls in accordance with the present invention.

p00039A single computer (such as computer 500 of Figure 5) that has one or more processors can be used to implement several of the servers 102-108 used in Figure 1, as should be evident. As illustrated in Figure 5, a computer 500 has one or more processors or processing units 502 and a system memory 504. A system bus 506 connects several system components, including system memory 504, to the processors 502 Bus 506 represents one or more of any of the various types of bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, a graphic accelerator port and a local processor or bus that uses any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example and not limitation, such architectures include the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, the Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, the Enhanced ISA bus (EISA), the local Association of Standards Association bus Electronic and Video (VESA) and the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus also known as the Mezzanine bus.

p00040Computer 500 typically has at least some form of media that a computer can read. The media that a computer can read, which includes both volatile and non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media, can be any available media that can be accessed by a 500 computer. By way of example and not limitation, the media that Can read a computer includes computer storage media and media. Computer storage media include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storing information such as instructions that a computer, data structures, program modules or other data can read. For example, the computer storage medium includes RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD) or other storage of optical discs, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tapes, storage in magnetic disks or other magnetic storage devices or any other means that can be used to store the desired information and that can be accessed by the computer 500. The media typically includes instructions that a computer, data structures, program modules or other data can read in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism that includes any means of providing information. Those skilled in the art will be familiar with the modulated data signal, which has one or more of its characteristics adjusted or changed such that they encode the information in the signal. Wired media, such as a wired network or direct wiring connection and wireless media, such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media, are examples of media. Also included are combinations of any of the above within the scope of the media that a computer can read.

p00041System memory 504 includes computer storage media in the form of removable and / or non-removable, volatile and / or non-volatile memory. In the example computer 500 illustrated in Figure 5, system memory 504 includes read-only memory (ROM) 508 and random access memory (RAM) 510. A basic input / output system 512 (BIOS), which contains the basic routines that help transfer information between the elements within the computer 500, such as during startup, is typically stored in ROM 508. RAM 510 typically contains data and / or program modules that are immediately accessible to and / or are currently being operated by the 502 processing unit. By way of example and not limitation, Figure 5 illustrates the operating system 514, application programs 516, other program modules 518 and program data 520. The computer 500 may also include other removable / non-removable computer storage media , volatile / non volatile. For example, Figure 5 illustrates a hard disk drive 522 that reads from or writes on a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic medium. Figure 5 also shows a magnetic disk drive 524 that reads from or writes on a removable nonvolatile magnetic disk 526 and an optical disk drive 528 that reads from or writes on a removable nonvolatile optical disk 530 such as a CD-ROM or other optical medium. Other removable / non-removable, volatile / non-volatile computer storage media that can be used in the example operating environment includes, but is not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile disk, digital video tapes , Solid state RAM, solid state ROM and other similar. The hard disk drive 522, the magnetic disk drive 524 and the optical disk drive 528 are typically connected to the system bus 506 via a non-volatile memory interface, such as interface 532.

p00042The units or other mass storage devices and their associated computer storage media discussed above and illustrated in Figure 5, provide storage of instructions, data structures, program modules and other data that a computer can read to the computer. 500 In Figure 5, for example, a hard disk drive 522 is illustrated as the storage of the operating system 540, application programs 532, other program modules 534 and program data 536. Note that these components may either be the same. or different from the operating system 514, application programs 516, other program modules 518 and program data 520. Operating system 540, application programs 532, other program modules 534 and program data 536 are given different numbers here to illustrate that at least they are different copies.

p00043A user can enter commands and information in the computer 500 through the input devices such as the keyboard 548 and a signaling device 550 (for example, a mouse, a ball, pen or touch pad). Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, game lever, game console, satellite parable, scanner or similar. These and other input devices are connected to the processing unit 502 through a user input interface 552 that connects to the system bus 506, but can be connected via another interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port , game port or a universal serial bus (USB). A monitor 544 or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus 506 via an interface, such as a video interface 556. In addition to monitor 554, computers often include other peripheral output devices (not shown) such as a printer and speakers, which can be connected through an output peripheral interface (not shown).

p00044The computer 500 can operate in a network environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer 558. The remote computer 558 can be a personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a device even or another common network node and typically includes many other elements described above in relation to the computer 500. The logical connections represented in Figure 5 include the local area network (LAN) 560 and a large area network (WAN) 562, but may also include other networks. Such network environments are common forms in offices, large enterprise computer networks, intranets and global computer networks (for example the Internet).

p00045When used in a local area network connection environment, computer 500 connects to LAN 560 through a network interface or adapter 564. When used in a large area network environment, computer 500 includes typically a 566 modem or other means for establishing communications through WAN 562, such as the Internet. The modem 566, which can be internal or external, is connected to the system bus 506 via the user input interface 552 or other appropriate mechanism. In a network connection environment, the program modules represented in relation to the computer 500, or parts thereof, can be stored in a remote memory storage device (not shown). By way of example and not limitation, Figure 5 illustrates remote application programs 568 as residents in a memory device. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing communication links between computers can be used.

p00046In general, the data processors of the computer 500 are programmed by means of instructions stored at different times in the various storage media of the computer that a computer can read. Programs and operating systems are typically distributed, for example, on floppy disks or CD-ROM. From here, they are installed or loaded in the secondary memory of the computer. During execution, they are loaded at least partially in the primary electronic memory of the computer. The invention described herein includes these and several other types of storage media that a computer can read when such media contain instructions or programs for the implementation of the functions described above in conjunction with a microprocessor or other data processor. The invention also includes the computer itself when programmed in accordance with the procedures and techniques described herein.

p00047For purposes of illustration, the programs and other executable program components, such as the operating system, are illustrated in Figure 5 as discrete blocks. It is recognized, however, that such programs and components reside at various times in different computer storage components and are executed by the computer's data processor or processors.

p00048When elements of the present invention or preferred embodiments thereof are introduced, the articles "a", "a", "the" and "said" are intended to indicate that there is one or more of the elements, the terms " understanding "," including "and" having "is intended to be inclusive and mean that there are additional elements other than the listed elements.

p00049Since several changes could be made to the previous constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all the material contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.