Bar-code-driven data acquisition and management system
First Claim
2. A bar-code-driven data acquisition and management system comprising:
- at least two input computers, operably coupled via a communication link, each coupled to a respective local database of data records; and
at least two portable computing devices, each operably coupled to one of the two input computers via a wireless communication channel for accessing and updating the data records of the local databases of the at least two input computers, wherein each portable computing device comprises;
a CPU for controlling operation of the portable computing device;
memory storing at least one data set, each data set having multiple data fields storing data values;
a touch sensitive display device for displaying at least a data I/O screen and for sensing contact by a user, the CPU defining multiple virtual regions upon the data I/O screen, each corresponding to a data field, the display device sensing contact by the user within a virtual region, the display device displaying within each virtual region a data value for the associated data field from a current data set, the CPU identifying a virtual region contacted by the user and effecting an interface control associated therewith; and
an optical scanning device for reading bar codes encoding data values for data fields corresponding to at least one virtual region displayed upon the display I/O screen and displaying such data values thereupon.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data retrieval and acquisition system having a wireless handheld interface for data entry by the user. The system includes a communication server for communicating, such as through IR signals, with the handheld interfaces. The communications server communicates with multiple command servers and with a master server and/or other communication servers through a communications bus. The handheld interface includes touch screen which is operated through an event driven architecture. The user is allowed to enter data through virtual rolling keys, a scroll bar, virtual key pad, bar code reader, and the like. The system minimizes the transmission time by minimizing the necessary information transmitted and by synchronizing the operation of the handheld interfaces with the corresponding communications server. The communications server transmits information to the handheld through a first unique protocol and to the command server through a second unique protocol. Data transmission is further reduced by using shorthand command codes for constants, such as for commands, user names, and the like.
15 Citations
26 Claims
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2. A bar-code-driven data acquisition and management system comprising:
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at least two input computers, operably coupled via a communication link, each coupled to a respective local database of data records; and
at least two portable computing devices, each operably coupled to one of the two input computers via a wireless communication channel for accessing and updating the data records of the local databases of the at least two input computers, wherein each portable computing device comprises;
a CPU for controlling operation of the portable computing device;
memory storing at least one data set, each data set having multiple data fields storing data values;
a touch sensitive display device for displaying at least a data I/O screen and for sensing contact by a user, the CPU defining multiple virtual regions upon the data I/O screen, each corresponding to a data field, the display device sensing contact by the user within a virtual region, the display device displaying within each virtual region a data value for the associated data field from a current data set, the CPU identifying a virtual region contacted by the user and effecting an interface control associated therewith; and
an optical scanning device for reading bar codes encoding data values for data fields corresponding to at least one virtual region displayed upon the display I/O screen and displaying such data values thereupon. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification