WO1997020418A1

WO1997020418A1 - Communications terminal

Info

Publication number: WO1997020418A1
Application number: PCT/EP1996/005278
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ali Hassan Al-Khaja
Original assignee: W+S Wagner+Schärfl Mess- U. Datentechnik Gmbh & Co.
Priority date: 1995-11-30
Filing date: 1996-11-28
Publication date: 1997-06-05
Also published as: EP0864217A1; DE19544766A1; DE19544766C2

Abstract

To transmit data from a transmitter (1) to a number of portable terminals (7) with a telecommunications system, the terminals (7) have no more than four operating keys (15, 16, 17). The electronic system in the terminals comprises only a processor board (23) with operating memory, a graphics processor (27), a modem (8), a mass store (26) and a power supply (21). The terminals (7) are in addition provided with a reading unit (25) for reading a user's authorisation ID.

Description

Communication device

The invention relates to a terminal with a modem and a screen for communication via a telecommunication system with a transmitting device.

The transfer of open and encrypted data from a PC with a modem over the telephone network to another PC equipped with a modem is common today. If a data record is to be sent to several PCs, this is possible serially and takes a corresponding amount of time.

With a correspondingly large amount of hardware and software, you can also work in parallel, and some such systems are also available. The peculiarity of the parallel data transmission, which requires only a small amount of time, is, however, that the transmitting device and the end devices must be adjusted to one another in terms of hardware and software. This means that the end device must be technically of the same high quality as the transmitter.

In business and many other areas, however, there is a need to be able to send current data in coded form from a transmitter via existing telecommunication systems to a large number of terminal devices at the same time, if possible worldwide, for example stock exchange or exchange rates, weather information and the like that need to be constantly updated.

As the worldwide wood stocks decrease more and more, on the other hand the newspaper and magazine publishers pay to the largest wood consumers, there are also efforts to find all printed material that is for single use only is intended to be prohibited and replaced by electronic newspapers, magazines and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide an easy-to-use and simply constructed, compact, lightweight terminal for a data transmission system with which current data records can be transmitted from a transmitting device to a multiplicity of terminals.

This is achieved according to the invention with the terminal specified in claim 1. In the claims 2 to 20 advantageous embodiments of the terminal according to the invention are shown, and in claim 21 a preferred use of the same.

The terminal according to the invention has only a very few, preferably only a maximum of four, keys for its operation. These buttons can be a page-up and a page-down button for scrolling up and down to move the text on the screen up or down line by line. The four keys can also be formed by a page-up and page-down key for moving the text up and down and by a page-right and a page-left key for moving the text to the right and left.

If necessary, it is also possible to get by with only three keys, namely only one scroll key, since by simultaneously pressing the page-up key and the page-down key and the scroll key, one can move the line up or down Can receive text on the screen, or only with two buttons for page-up and page-down, which change their function by the time the button is pressed.

In addition to these buttons, an on / off switch can also be provided for the power supply of the terminal. The operation of the terminal according to the invention is therefore extremely simple. At the same time, the weight and size of the terminal device, as well as the manufacturing costs, are significantly reduced compared to a notebook with a keyboard, for example.

The terminal according to the invention has a simple, for example box-shaped, flat housing. The buttons for operating the terminal, ie for moving the text on the screen, are attached to the housing. In addition, only a few simple modules are provided in the housing.

The electronics of the end device consist of only a processor board with a memory module, i.e. a RAM module as working memory, which saves a plug connection, furthermore a modem, a power supply module, a data mass storage module and a graphics module that can optionally be combined with an Internet reception chip.

The mass storage module is used to record the received data and is required for the operating system. The mass storage module can be formed, for example, by a flash disc or a hard disc. The size of the mass storage module is optional. The graphics processor can be arranged on the processor board. The processor board then contains the graphics card and the controller.

The modem can be formed by a plug-in module in the housing of the terminal, or it can be an external modem that can be connected to the terminal via an interface module.

The built-in modem module can be a wired modem, for example an analog modem for the telephone network or a digital ISDN modem or a television cable modem. The modem module can also be a radio terminal modem, for example a GSM-capable modem or a pocketradio modem in the VHF frequency range. The modem modules are interchangeable, which ensures a high degree of flexibility with regard to the communication options of the terminal.

The data interface for the external modem connection can be a standard RS 422 or RS 232 interface, which can be designed for satellite reception or as an interface for short-range radio. An IR interface can also be provided.

The telecommunication system which is used for data transmission can be, for example, the public telephone network or GSM network or via satellite or VHF radio or the Internet (worldwide net) or a private telephone network.

For the power supply, the terminal can have a power supply power pack or rechargeable batteries in the housing, which can be charged with an external charger with a transformer. The supply of power can also be through a solar cell ge ^¬ forms.

The power supply, in particular when using rechargeable batteries or rechargeable batteries, is monitored, the operator of the terminal, ie the end user, being warned by an acoustic or optical signal below a critical voltage. The capacity of the batteries in Aktivmo ^¬ dus "receiver" is intended to provide operation over several hours sicher¬. Is not operated over a Endgerates be ^¬ agreed period of time, for example, of more than ten minutes, made, the terminal automatically goes back to "sleep mode" in order to save electricity.

If the on / off switch is switched to "off", only the current that is required for maintaining the memory function of the main memory flows.

The terminal can also have a track ball or a glide pad. Likewise, a mouse can optionally be connected externally.

Furthermore, the display of the terminal can be provided with a device onto which alphanumeric characters can be written by hand, the alphanumeric characters handwritten on the device being recognized by a corresponding recognition software and simultaneously displayed on the screen. The characters reproduced on the screen can be used like the characters on a keyboard, that is to say, for example, stored and further processed like a text document. Thus Endgerat the invention for e-mail communication or to enter Tele ^¬ can be used num- bers.

The device which can be written on by hand can be a touch screen, i.e. a film on the screen with a fine electrical network in the form of X and Y coordinates. Furthermore, it can be a metal foil behind the screen, which can be written on with a magnetic pen, as described in Taiwanese Patent No. 69692. Compared to a touch screen, this device is much more wear-resistant.

In addition to the simple keyboard and the simple electronics, a reading device for an authorization card is built into the terminal. This reading device is an essential reason for the fact that the terminal device according to the invention manages with so few operating buttons. With the authorization badge reading device, the dialogue with the sending device of the data provider is carried out, for which a keyboard was previously required.

The authorization card can be, for example, an authorization card (ID card) with a personal identification number, for example a plastic card with a magnetic strip or a microprocessor or an infrared card.

In particular, the authorization card can be a plastic card with a microprocessor (chip), with which an identification number, a password and / or the telephone number of the end user can be entered. This card serves for access to the transmission device.

A second card (address card) is formed by a WWW (worldwide web) card. It can be used to select data sets that you want to buy from the data provider. The ID card and address card can also be combined in one card.

Furthermore, the reading device can be designed to read credit cards with a microprocessor and / or magnetic strip for the transmission of data records which are subject to a charge. In addition, it is also possible to design the reading device to read a personal identity card.

As will be explained in more detail below, the terminal device according to the invention serves in particular as an electronic newspaper. The authorization card with the identification number and the address card can be used by the end user when subscribing to certain newspapers and magazines of the data provider are handed over. Electronic journals that are not covered by the subscription can then be obtained using the credit card. It is also possible to issue a separate authorization card for each newspaper.

A read-write device can also be designed for so-called cash cards, which are provided with a memory chip onto which a sum of money is loaded by the bank. Each time the newspaper is purchased, a certain amount can then be debited from the cash card.

Cash cards can be used to purchase any product. With the terminal device according to the invention, there is also the possibility of loading cash cards. This requires a cash card with a magnetic stripe next to the memory chip on which the account number, bank sort code, date, computer access data and the like are stored. In addition, the reading device of the terminal must be designed as a reading and writing device for the chip and the magnetic stripe of the keycard.

The bank computer can then be dialed with the identification card, for example over the telephone. The cash card is then placed in the reading and writing device. Then the PIN number can or must be entered, for example by using the cursor with the mentioned track ball or glide pad on a mask with virtual numbers on the screen to select the corresponding numbers and then using one of the Buttons of the terminal are confirmed. The loading of the card with money is thus secured three times.

The modem of the terminal according to the invention can therefore be designed for duplex operation. This allows the end user for example also carry out a selective data download, for example in order to request only a certain part from a newspaper, for example the sports news.

A newspaper with, for example, 100 pages can have a data volume of several 100 megabytes. However, the transmission of such a newspaper should take place as quickly as possible, because apart from the telephone costs, which are usually not time-dependent but data-dependent, the probability of data transmission errors increases with the transmission time. Accordingly, the terminal device according to the invention should have a high data transfer reception rate of at least 128 Kbaud, better at least 1 MB / s. For example, a modem module for the ISM band in the range of approx. 2.4 GHz with a data transfer rate of 2-4 MB / s, for which an omnidirectional transmitter system exists. Data transfer rates of approx. 1-10MB can also be received from satellites via a video channel.

In contrast, from the Endgerat example, when Le ^¬ sen of entitlement to the data provider only Da¬ tensatze sent with little data. The data transfer transmission rate of the modem of the terminal therefore does not need to be over 64,000 baud (ISDN, 1 channel: B).

Its simple structure Endgerat the invention correspondingly small dimensions and a entspre ^¬ has accordingly light in weight. In addition, it is shockproof and its energy consumption is low. Therefore, it can be virtually anywhere there ^¬ uses are, where newspapers are read today, such as the train, as well as in bed.

The Endgerat invention may additionally comprise at least a serial or parallel interface to the outside world aufwei sen ^¬, for example, for a serial printer, a ZIP Drive as a mass storage device, for a floppy disk drive, and an output for a monitor, a mouse and / or a keyboard. A CD-ROM module can also be installed in the terminal.

The parallel or serial interface can therefore form an input / output unit for a wide variety of information end devices and / or sources. The interface for digital data HDD / Zip can be, for example, an RS 232, R 422 or V-24 connector, or an IR interface.

If the terminal has, for example, a GSM cell phone, a PCMCIA interface can be provided for the modem.

The GSM cell phone can also be built into the terminal. The special feature here is that the mobile phone (data transmission and reception device) does not require any buttons or a display, rather it is controlled via the screen of the terminal. A dialing of a telephone number on the part of the terminal is normally not necessary, but it was possible by means of the abovementioned. Keys take place within the framework of a program sublevel or with the help of the track ball or glide pad together with a mask with virtual numbers on the screen, or with a keycard.

A computer can also be connected to the interface for the transmission of further data. It also serves for testing and service purposes of the end device.

A dongle may also be plugged into the serial or parallel interface, which makes Since th the encoding / decoding of the ^¬. The dongle is owned by the person who is authorized to use the end device. The terminal according to the invention also has a screen (LCD) controlled by the graphics processor and / or a connection to an external screen. In addition to an LCD, the external screen can also be a VGA monitor or a television set. The graphics processor can also drive multiple screens.

Furthermore, for example, a table of contents can be displayed on the screen of the terminal and then a certain data record can be clicked on with the track ball or glide pad, for example the sports section of a newspaper. This avoids time-consuming leafing through the newspaper.

The screen can be built into the housing of the Endgerates that houses the control buttons, the electronics, the power supply and the reading means for the supply, justifying ^¬ ID card.

Furthermore, it is possible to form the housing in two parts, namely from a part which, for example, only accommodates the electronics, the modem, the power supply and reading device for the authorization card, and a second part connected to it via a cable, which connects the screen and picks up the keys.

Furthermore, it is possible to design the terminal according to the invention with two screens, it being possible, for example, to display the table of contents of a drawing on one of the two screens, as described above.

If two screens are provided, the terminal preferably has two housing parts which are hinged to one another, for example, but also with a cable from For example, 1 to 3 m long and separated by an electronic connection, for example a ribbon cable. The terminal can thus be constructed like a notebook. The two screens are arranged on one or the other housing part of the terminal. One screen can be provided, for example, for graphical representations and have a higher resolution than the other screen, which can only be intended for text, for example.

The brightness and the contrast of the or both screens can be regulated by a potentiometer or by combined key operation, for example pressing the scroll key and then switching on the terminal with the Em / Aus switch. Furthermore, automatic regulation of the brightness and contrast of the screen is possible by means of a photo transistor and possibly a temperature sensor.

The system according to the invention has a PC as the transmission device, which is preferably IBM-compatible. A standard keyboard and a standard screen are connected to the PC. A directory of the terminal devices to which the data records are to be transferred is stored in the storage software, i. H. z. B. their phone numbers. The PC also has transmission software and software coding in order to transmit the data records in a packed form. The transmitting device can be fixed or mobile.

For the simultaneous, ie parallel or quasi-parallel transmission of the respective data set to the terminals selected according to the directory, a data distribution device is connected to the PC, which has a modem for each of the terminals. The data distribution device can also be located in the PC itself. The PC has software for the choice of telephone numbers, possible delay times and data transmission.

The transmitting device and terminal devices work with one another in such a way that they mutually acknowledge the start and the end. Depending on the length of the software and the design of the checking and communication software, the data transmission is checked at short intervals to ensure that the data transmission is correct. The transmitting device and the terminal also share this information with one another.

The transferred data set is automatically loaded into the memory by the terminal, where it is unpacked and decoded. The end devices receive the data record, decode it and display it on the screen at the same time that it arrives.

The data are stored in the mass storage device, preferably in the event of a power failure. The mass storage device of the terminal can also be designed as a display repetition memory.

That e.g. ready-to-receive terminal plugged into the telephone socket automatically receives when the transmitting device has dialed the relevant telephone number. Then, after a corresponding test procedure - also with regard to the line quality and the transmission rate - the data set is transmitted. If this has arrived at the end devices without errors, the old data record which was stored in the memory is then deleted, provided the software has been set up in this way.

The memory of the terminal is therefore preferably det so ausgebil ^¬ that the data are always cleared when a new record is received, is to be stored. The received decoded data is displayed on the screen. The data records can consist of a text and / or graphic representations. The graphical representation can be fixed or movable, for example a diagram with a line extending in a certain direction.

With the system according to the invention, data records can therefore be sent in short time intervals in succession at the same time in coded form via existing telecommunication systems to a large number of end devices worldwide. For this purpose, the transmitting device transmits the relevant data via the data distribution device and the modems connected to it in parallel or quasi parallel to the terminals selected according to the terminal directory, in contrast to the previous serial data transmission using telecommunication systems, typically when the Absen¬ is a PC, the terminal must also be a PC.

With the system according to the invention, parallel or quasi-parallel and thus fast data transmission with extremely simple end devices is possible.

If the end device configuration is selected so that only simplex operation is possible, it can be selected with an appropriately programmed address keycard, with an internal timer, e.g. the new daily newspaper is automatically "downloaded" every day at a specific time.

The main purpose of using the terminal device according to the invention is the transmission of information in text form and graphics (photos), then also in color, as can be found, for example, in a daily newspaper or is offered by other text providers. So it's a ongoing data transmission of current information in a paperless manner, for example via a telephone connection to the end user, ie the reader. With the system according to the invention, environmentally friendly data transmission (no wood consumption) is possible with low energy consumption compared to text on paper.

In the commercial and media markets, data transmission by telephone is already possible directly on the PC for storage. For example, weather data can be continuously received as a picture via satellite.

The special feature of the system according to the invention, however, is the wide range of use for the general end user, which differs from the data transmission used in commerce and industry in that the financial means and technical resources are very limited, but it does ¬ on the other hand on text providers, as a newspaper is dependent.

An essential property of the terminal device according to the invention is the great simplification of handling and operation, the significant cost reduction compared to a conventional computer and the extremely easy operability, which does not require any computer knowledge.

The Endgerat is accordingly based on the fact that no more control skills are required, as for example, to make phone calls, and that the transmission reliability th Da ^¬ exactly sure how gen in the large commercial Anla¬ or as a computer modem or a professional data circuit-terminating equipment with PC.

For example, if someone no longer wanted to read their daily newspaper on paper but as an electronic newspaper, they could use the system according to the invention Take out a subscription with the publisher in question, who will then send him the latest ms Haus information. When he reads it doesn't matter. You have been saved; the old information content has been deleted.

As mentioned, the terminal device according to the invention has a reading device for an authorization card. This reading device can also be designed as a writing and reading device. With this, the end user can e.g. when changing his telephone number, correct the authorization ID accordingly. If an identity card is used as an authorization card, the reading device can consist of a scanner.

As mentioned, the terminal device according to the invention can primarily be used for an electronic newspaper.

However, it can also be used, for example, for electronic books for distance learning (telelearning), furthermore, for example, for police tasks, e.g. for personal checks with determination of personal data, or in the hospital for accessing the medical record at the patient's bed and for ordering or logging medication prescriptions.

The terminal according to the invention is suitable for duplex operation, but can also be used for simplex operation. For example, the authorization card can be designed in such a way that it only allows a certain number of data records to be transmitted, for example one newspaper per day, within a certain period of time. In such a case, the authorization card has, for example, a chip for waiting with date.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing, for example. In it show: Fig. 1 shows schematically an embodiment of a terminal;

2 shows an embodiment of a terminal in the unfolded state in perspective reproduction;

2a shows a variant of the terminal according to FIG. 2;

Fig. 3 is a timing diagram illustrating the selection and transmission of a data set, and

Fig. 4 em block diagram of the electronics of the terminal.

According to FIG. 1, the terminal has a transmission device 1 with a PC 2 and a data distribution device 3 connected to the PC 2. A standard keyboard 4 (with 102 keys) and a monitor 5 are connected to the PC 2. The software of the PC 2 comprises a telephone directory 6. The software between the PC 2 and the data distribution device 3 also creates a log of the connections which have been established, the broken connections, over-occupied connections, which, for. B. with one or two redials then led to data transmission and those dialed connections that had to be terminated without result after these three redials.

With the transmitting device 1, a data record can be transmitted to up to x terminals 7, each with a modem 8 at the same time. The Datenverteilemrichtung 3 has for each Endge ^¬ rat 7 a modem 9, for a total x modem. The modem 8 at each Endgerat 7 is direction to the modem 9 of Datenverteilem¬ 3 via the telephone network or other system connected Telekommuni ^¬ cation. The data record to be transmitted to the terminal 7 can be entered using the keyboard 4, for example. Furthermore, from the telephone directory 6 z. B. up to x devices to which the data record is to be transferred.

Finally, the software can also select and select end devices according to a specific hierarchy that has been specified once. The purpose of this is also to fill up the percentage of the transmission processes with further transmissions that could not be carried out or completed due to technical reasons or because of “occupied” or “terminal not connected”.

The x terminal devices 7 are selected simultaneously with the data distribution device 3. The respective modem 9 of the data distribution device 3 communicates with the relevant modem 8 of the terminal device 7 only when the modem 8 of the terminal device 7 signals readiness to receive, that is, the modem 9 of the data distribution device 3 Data reception begins. If no connection is established with one of the terminal devices 7, the data distribution device 3 sends a corresponding error message to the PC 2.

According to FIG. 2, the terminal 7 consists of two rectangular housing parts 10, 11 which are hinged to one another with a hinge 12 and connected to one another by a flat cable 12 '. Each housing half 10, 11 has an LCD screen 13, 14. The one screen 13 can be provided for text reproduction and the screen 14 for graphics reproduction. The text screen 13 can have a relatively large resolution, for example 400 x 600 pixels, and the graphic screen 14 can have a finer resolution, for example 1,024 x 1,248 pixels. The screens 13, 14 can be black and white or color screens.

4, a power supply 21 is provided in the housing 10 of the terminal 7, which is connected to the electrical components of the terminal 7 via a plurality of lines 22a to 22x. Furthermore, a processor board 23 with working memory is installed in the housing 10, to which the modem 8 and the track ball 24 as well as three buttons are connected, namely a page-up button 15, a page-down button 16 and one Scroll button 17.

The processor board 23 is also connected to a read module 25 or read and write module, a mass memory 26 and a graphics processor 27, the graphics processor 27 driving one or more screens 13, 14.

The power supply 21 in the housing 10 consists of a rechargeable battery which can be connected to an external power supply 28 with a transformer and charging circuit, the external power supply 28 being connectable to the power supply system or, if appropriate, to the vehicle electrical system or the like

The graphics processor with RAM can be designed as an "Internet processor" at the same time, in particular for Internet operation. The graphic data are immediately transformed by HTML for display on the LCD.

Thus, the electronics of the receiver unit 7 be ^¬ invention is only from the battery 21, the processor board 23 with the memory, the mass memory 26, the GPU 27, the modem 8 and the reading means 25 and a reading and writing device. 2 and 2a, the page-up key 15, the page-down key 16, the scroll key 17 of the device 7 and an on / off switch 18 can also be seen, as well as an RS232 plug connection 19 and the input 20 for the reading and writing device 25 for an authorization card. The terminal 7 is thus distinguished by an extremely simple, compact structure. In contrast to a PC, for example, it has no drive or other moving parts and no complex keyboard and no complex software.

The terminal 7 has no software other than that for data management. This means that - apart from the management and display of data, text or graphics - you cannot do any other PC-related services such as B. possible under Windows or under DOS - achieve. However, a simple operating system must be implemented for receiving and acknowledging the operation between the transmitting device 1 and the terminal 7. For cost reasons, this can be an operating version of MS-DOS.

The writing / reading software can be individual software, with multilingual browsers simplifying handling and comprehensibility in Internet operation.

For the two LCD displays 13, 14 it is possible to work with two different control processors which are controlled by the processor of the terminal 7 using special software.

The terminal 7 according to FIG. 2a differs from that of FIG. 2 essentially in that it has a book form. It is also provided with a plug connection 21 for the power supply (mains or battery). In addition, it has an antenna 22 when used as a GSM mobile phone is trained. Furthermore, it can be provided with a telephone number keypad 23.

One of the screens 13, 14 or both can optionally be replaced by other technical supplementary devices, for example by the loudspeaker and the operating elements of a sound, in particular a voice output device and inputs with corresponding memory elements, in particular for the visually impaired to whom z. B. a "speaking" newspaper can be made available.

According to FIG. 3, the loading of the modems 9 at tru begins with the different telephone numbers for the x final rate 7 according to FIG. 1, for example. Curve A illustrates the dialing and transmission process for most terminals 7, in which the connection is established immediately. At t _e the transfer of the data set is completed. Curves B and C show the dialing and transmission process for those terminals 7 in which the connection is dialed only after the second or third call, ie at t ₂ or t ₃ . According to curve D, no connection is made even after dialing three times. The dialing process is then canceled. This means that the election process is only repeated a certain number of times. In Figure 3, ti, t ₂ , t ₃ and t _{e are shown} as short periods of time. In fact, the PC 2 gives the individual telephone numbers from the directory 6 to the modem 9 serially. However, this time span is considerably shorter than the time for the dialing process. The data record is thus transmitted after successful selection to the relevant end devices 7, that is to say in parallel or quasi-parallel. If a new data record is transmitted at t _o2 , the stored data are deleted in the terminal devices 7. The stored data of the respective end devices 7 can only be deleted if if the new data transfer could be carried out successfully, ie without errors.

It can also be erased in blocks. That is, if a certain number of bytes, e.g. B. 100 bytes have been transferred without errors, then only part, just a block of the old text is deleted. This helps save space.

This means that the first exchange of receipts between the transmitting device 1 and the terminal 7 does not have to result in all data of the terminal 7 being deleted. All old data can be deleted in the terminal 7, but only a fraction of it. The advantage lies in the fact that, in the event of a surprising data interruption, at least some of the old data can still be recognized in the terminal device 7 and the portion of the new data transmitted without errors.

The modems 9 of the transmitting device 1 can also be controlled in the same way as the networking of PCs. The network card and the modem can be combined into a single unit. The transfer utility ^¬ he knows the respective modem on the network, whether it has been addressed and whether data are available for storing and spateren transmission.

Networking or the use of a bus is a variant of the communication distribution device described above.

An industrial bus system can also be used. A coax cable or a ribbon cable with only a few wires can be used here as a distribution line, the integrated bus-capable modem always having its own, but simple, microprocessor for processing the command and identification. has onsignals. The actual data transmission takes place according to standardized rules. This also applies to the official election process, which is relatively uniform internationally. If necessary, the transmitting device 1 is adapted to the peculiarities of the election process of the respective country depending on the location.

The terminals 7 can optionally comprise an electronic flat module, which contains the modem and a GSM cell phone telephone module, but without the usual operating and selection buttons and without an LCD display. The existing facility can be used for the simplified, i.e. H. reproduced functions can be used with.

If a simple LCD reception device with a GSM network telephone is integrated into the terminal, there is constant availability, even in areas in which there is no wired telephone line. In addition to the GSM network available worldwide, other network services such as B. in Germany the C-networks or D-networks or E-networks or similar radio services may be used via satellite.

The power supply to the end devices 7 can also take place with solar cells. The solar cells can be arranged on the outside of the housing 10, 11 of the terminal 7. This means that a solar cell power supply is sufficient for the terminal device according to the invention, which is designed as a notebook and can easily be accommodated on the housing or the cover 10 of the notebook 7, since no power-consuming drives, fans and the like are provided are.

Claims

claims

1. Terminal with modem and screen for communication with a transmitter via a Telekommunikati¬ on system, characterized in that the electronics of the terminal (7) from a processor board (23) with memory, a graphics processor (27), egg mass storage (26) and a power supply (21) and the terminal (7) is provided with a reading device (25) for an authorization card.

2. Terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that a maximum of four keys (15, 16, 17) are provided for its operation.

3. Terminal according to claim 1 or 2, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the modem (8) in the terminal (7) is designed as an interchangeable module and either em wired modem or em radio receiver modem

4. Terminal according to claim 3, characterized in that the wired modem is an analog or a digital modem for the telephone network and the radio receiver modem is a GSM-capable modem or a pocket radio modem.

5. Terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the terminal (7) has at least one parallel and / or serial interface (19).

6. Endgerat according to claim 1 and 5, characterized in ^¬ net, that the interface (19) for connecting a Modems for satellite reception, short-range radio and / or IR transmission is formed.

7. Terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the modem (8) has a data transfer rate of at most 64,000 baud and a data transfer rate of at least 1 MB / s.

8. Terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a CD-ROM module.

9. Terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the power supply by a battery in the terminal

(7) is formed and the terminal (7) is provided with a connection (21) for an external charger with transformer.

10. Terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a track ball (24) or a glide pad.

11. Terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the screen (13, 14) is installed in the terminal (7) or the terminal (7) has a connection for an external screen.

12. Terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a housing consisting of two parts (10, 11) which are articulated to one another and by an electronic connection

(12 ') are interconnected.

13. Terminal according to claim 12, characterized in that it has two screens (13, 14) which are arranged in one or the other housing part (10, 11) smd.

14. Terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the reading device (25) is designed to read an authorization card with an identification number and / or an address card and / or a credit card and / or a cash card and / or an identity card.

15. Terminal according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a hand-writable with alphanumeric characters that display the characters simultaneously.

16. Terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the reading device (25) is designed as a writing and reading device.

17. Terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the data stored in the mass memory of a data record are completely or partially deleted when a new data record is received, insofar as the transmission has taken place without errors.

18. Terminal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a connection for a dongle for decoding the data.

19. Terminal according to one of the preceding claims, da¬ characterized in that it comprises a GSM cell phone.

20. Terminal according to one of the preceding claims, da¬ characterized in that it has a sound output and / or a sound input device.

21. Use of the terminal according to one of the preceding claims as an electronic newspaper.

CHANGED REQUIREMENTS

[Received at the International Office on March 24, 1997 (March 24, 1997), original claims 1 and 2 changed; all other claims unchanged (1 page)]

1. Terminal with modem and screen for communication with a transmitting device via a telecommunication system, the electronics of the terminal (7) comprising a processor board (23) with a working memory, a graphics processor (27), a mass memory (26) and one Power supply (21) exists, characterized in that the terminal (7) is provided with a reading device (25) for an authorization card and has at most three buttons (15, 16, 17) for its operation.

2. Terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that a maximum of two buttons are provided for its operation.

3. Terminal according to claim 1 or 2, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the modem (8) in the terminal (7) is designed as an interchangeable module and is either a wired modem or a radio receiver modem.

4. Terminal according to claim 3, characterized in that the wired modem is an analog or a Digi¬ tal-Modern for the telephone network and the radio receiver modem is a GSM-capable modem or a pocket radio modem.

6. Endgerat according to claim 1 and 5, characterized in ^¬ net, that the interface (19) for connecting a