Transaction control system including portable data terminal and mobile customer service station
First Claim
1. A communication system comprising:
- a first wireless network;
a mobile service station, the mobile service station comprising a plurality of network devices and a battery power supply;
the plurality of network devices together forming a second wireless network operating as a subnetwork in the first wireless network; and
at least one of the plurality of network devices participating on the first wireless network to provide access for others of the plurality of network devices to the first wireless network.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile customer service station operating within a wireless multi-hop communication network includes a console on a wheeled chassis. The console carries and houses a number of components which are used in merchandising operations to conclude customer purchase transactions. The items supported externally on the console are a printer for printing purchase receipts, customer credit charge agreements and records of transactions, and a magnetic card reader for reading information from a magnetic stripe of a customer'"'"'s credit card. In one embodiment, the operation of the printer, credit card reader and the cash drawer is controlled by a multi-function control unit located within an enclosure of the console. The control unit is electrically powered by a self-contained power source which is preferably a deep cycle rechargeable battery. The console also houses a transceiver unit which under the control of the control unit is capable of interactive communication with a premises network. In another embodiment, the mobile service station comprises an access device which participates with a variety of peripherals at the station in a lower power communication LAN, while providing higher power communication to other network devices via a premises network with routing via a wireless spanning tree configuration.
122 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A communication system comprising:
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a first wireless network;
a mobile service station, the mobile service station comprising a plurality of network devices and a battery power supply;
the plurality of network devices together forming a second wireless network operating as a subnetwork in the first wireless network; and
at least one of the plurality of network devices participating on the first wireless network to provide access for others of the plurality of network devices to the first wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A communication system comprising:
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a wireless premises network;
a wireless peripheral subnetwork having a relatively shorter range than the wireless premises network;
a mobile network device capable of communicating with the wireless premises network and the wireless peripheral subnetwork; and
a mobile service station having a battery power supply, the mobile service station configured to receive the mobile network device in mounting relation therewith, thereby providing the mobile network device access to the battery power supply. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A communication system to facilitate a transaction, the communication system comprising:
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a first communication network comprising a first network device for capturing transaction information, and for generating therefrom code information representative of the transaction information;
said first communication network further comprising a code printer for printing the code information in printed code form; and
a second communication network comprising a service station, the service station comprising a second network device for reading the printed code and for accessing therefrom the captured transaction information.
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Specification