Data entry systems
First Claim
1. A data entry system comprising a hand held data entry unit, said hand held unit comprising:
- a reading sensor for sensing commands and/or data and for producing input signals in response to said sensed commands and/or data;
rewritable storage programmable with information relating to selectable items;
a controller connected to receive and process said input signals from said sensor, said controller being arranged to respond to said commands to control said hand held unit and to said data to select a said item;
a display screen for displaying a user readable representation of said commands and said stored information for said selected item; and
a telecommunications interface for telephonic transmission of information relating to a selected item or items from said storage to a remote processing center via a telecommunications network and for telephonic reception of information relating to said selectable items from said remote processing center to said storage via said telecommunications network, wherein said telecommunications interface is a telecommunications line interface integral to said hand held unit and directly connects said hand-held unit to said telecommunications network;
wherein said hand held unit includes a speaker and/or microphone and switching means permitting said hand held unit to be used as a telephone handset.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A data entry system includes a hand held data entry unit having a reading sensor for sensing commands and/or data, rewritable storage for storing information relating to selectable items, a controller (a microprocessor or other processing circuitry) and a display screen for displaying a user readable representation of the commands and/or stored information for a selected item, and a telecommunication interface for the telephonic transmission of information relating to a selected item or items from the storage to a remote processing center and for the telephonic information relating to selectable items from the remote processing center to the storage. Preferably a telecommunications interface is provided in the hand held unit for cellular or other wireless telephony systems. The hand held unit can be configured to combine the data entry functions with those of audio telephony.
-
Citations
64 Claims
-
1. A data entry system comprising a hand held data entry unit, said hand held unit comprising:
-
a reading sensor for sensing commands and/or data and for producing input signals in response to said sensed commands and/or data;
rewritable storage programmable with information relating to selectable items;
a controller connected to receive and process said input signals from said sensor, said controller being arranged to respond to said commands to control said hand held unit and to said data to select a said item;
a display screen for displaying a user readable representation of said commands and said stored information for said selected item; and
a telecommunications interface for telephonic transmission of information relating to a selected item or items from said storage to a remote processing center via a telecommunications network and for telephonic reception of information relating to said selectable items from said remote processing center to said storage via said telecommunications network, wherein said telecommunications interface is a telecommunications line interface integral to said hand held unit and directly connects said hand-held unit to said telecommunications network;
wherein said hand held unit includes a speaker and/or microphone and switching means permitting said hand held unit to be used as a telephone handset.
-
-
2. A data entry system comprising a hand held data entry unit, said hand held unit comprising:
-
a reading sensor for sensing commands and/or data and for producing input signals in response to said sensed commands and/or data;
rewritable storage programmable with information relating to selectable items;
a controller connected to receive and process said input signals from said sensor, said controller being arranged to respond to said commands to control said hand held unit and to said data to select a said item;
a display screen for displaying a user readable representation of said commands and said stored information for said selected item; and
a telecommunications interface for telephonic transmission of information relating to a selected item or items from said storage to a remote processing center via a telecommunications network and for telephonic reception of information relating to said selectable items from said remote processing center to said storage via said telecommunications network, wherein said telecommunications interface is a telecommunications line interface integral to said hand held unit and directly connects said hand-held unit to said telecommunications network;
wherein said reading sensor is located in a reading head which is releasably attached to said hand held unit.
-
-
3. A data entry system comprising a hand held data entry unit, said hand held unit comprising:
-
a reading sensor for sensing commands and/or data and for producing input signals in response to said sensed commands and/or data;
rewritable storage programmable with information relating to selectable items;
a controller connected to receive and process said input signals from said sensor, said controller being arranged to respond to said commands to control said hand held unit and to said data to select a said item;
a display screen for displaying a user readable representation of said commands and said stored information for said selected item;
a telecommunications interface for telephonic transmission of information relating to a selected item or items from said storage to a remote processing center via a telecommunications network and for telephonic reception of information relating to said selectable items from said remote processing center to said storage via said telecommunications network, wherein said telecommunications interface is a telecommunications line interface integral to said hand held unit and directly connects said hand-held unit to said telecommunications network; and
a carrier for a plurality of data and/or command codes for association with means for displaying a plurality of selectable items, wherein said carrier carries a plurality of codes, each for a respective one of a plurality of natural language and/or numeric characters and a plurality of commands for controlling operation of said data entry or merchandising system, each code being associated with a visual representation of the corresponding natural language or numeric character or command and/or of a graphical representation thereof. - View Dependent Claims (4)
-
-
5. A portable hand held computer, wherein said hand held computer is capable of use by a user as a data entry device and as a portable wireless telephone for voice transmission and reception, said hand held computer comprising:
-
memory, wherein said memory is operable for retaining information input by the user, operable for retaining downloaded information, and operable for retaining information for updating downloaded information previously retained in said memory;
a manually operable key switch for input of information;
a display interface comprising a touch sensitive screen, wherein said display interface is operable to display user commands, operable to display information retained by said memory, and operable to display a list of user selectable items comprising merchandisable items, and to selectively display information relating to one or more of said items;
an antenna;
a rechargeable power supply;
a sensor operable to sense and capture data wherein said sensor is a camera;
a wireless telecommunications interface operable directly to connect said hand held computer via said antenna to a wireless telecommunications network and operable for transmission and reception of voice, data, and information, wherein said wireless telecommunications interface is operable to transmit data captured by said sensor;
an optical interface operable to establish an optical datalink for the transmission and reception of information from and to said hand held computer;
a controller coupled to said display interface, key switch, memory, rechargeable power supply, optical interface, sensor, and wireless telecommunications interface; and
a speaker and a microphone configuring said hand held computer for use as a telephone handset;
wherein said display interface, antenna, key switch, rechargeable power supply, wireless telecommunications interface, memory, controller, optical interface, sensor, speaker, and microphone comprise a self-contained assembly; and
, wherein said hand held computer is operable;
to download from a remote processing center via said antenna and at least said wireless telecommunications network information relating to one or more merchandisable items for retention in said memory;
to transmit data relating to one or more of said merchandisable items from said memory to said remote processing center via said antenna and at least said wireless telecommunications network, and to download information relating to one or more of said merchandisable items from said remote processing center via said antenna and at least said wireless telecommunications network in response to a said transmission of data;
to download, via said antenna and at least said wireless telecommunications network in response to entry of a user command, information from said remote processing center for retention in said memory to update information previously retained in said memory for one or more of said merchandisable items; and
as a portable wireless telephone for voice reception and transmission. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
-
34. A portable hand held computer, wherein said hand held computer is capable of use by a user as a data entry device and configured to be held in one hand for operable use as a portable wireless telephone for voice transmission and reception, said hand held computer comprising:
-
memory, wherein said memory is operable for retaining information in response to input by the user, operable for retaining downloaded information, and operable for retaining information for updating downloaded information previously retained in said memory;
a manually operable key switch for input of information;
a display interface comprising a touch sensitive screen, wherein said display interface is operable to display user commands, operable to display information retained by said memory, and operable to display a list of user selectable items comprising merchandisable items, and to selectively display information relating to one or more of said items;
an antenna;
a rechargeable power supply;
a wireless telecommunications interface operable directly to connect via said antenna to a wireless telecommunications network and operable for transmission and reception of voice, data, and information;
a controller coupled to said display interface, key switch, memory, rechargeable power supply, and wireless telecommunications interface;
a speaker and a microphone permitting said hand held computer to be used as a telephone handset;
wherein said display interface, antenna, key switch, rechargeable power supply, wireless telecommunications interface, memory, controller, speaker, and microphone comprise a self-contained assembly; and
wherein said hand held computer is operable;
to download from a remote processing center via said antenna and at least said wireless telecommunications network information relating to one or more merchandisable items for retention in said memory;
to transmit data relating to one or more of said merchandisable items from said memory to said remote processing center via said antenna and at least said wireless telecommunications network, and to download information relating to one or more said merchandisable items from said remote processing center in response to a said transmission of data;
to receive a request from said remote processing center to the user to input user identification information for utilization by said remote processing center; and
as a portable wireless telephone for voice reception and transmission. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
-
-
49. A portable hand held computer, wherein said hand held computer is capable of use by a user as a data entry device and configured to be held in one hand for operable use as a portable wireless telephone for voice transmission and reception, said hand held computer comprising:
-
memory, wherein said memory is operable for retaining data or information in response to input by the user, operable for retaining downloaded information, and operable for retaining information for updating downloaded information previously retained in said memory;
a manually operable key switch for input of information;
a display interface, wherein said display interface is operable to display user commands, operable to display information retained by said memory, and operable to display a list of user selectable items comprising merchandisable items, and to selectively display information relating to one or more of said items;
an antenna;
a rechargeable power supply;
a sensor operable for sensing user commands or data;
a wireless telecommunications interface operable directly to connect via said antenna to a wireless telecommunications network and operable for transmission and reception of voice or data, wherein said wireless telecommunications interface is operable to transmit data captured by said sensor;
a controller coupled to said display interface, key switch, memory, rechargeable power supply, sensor, and wireless telecommunications interface; and
,a speaker and a microphone permitting said hand held computer to be used as a telephone handset;
wherein said display interface, antenna, key switch, rechargeable power supply, connector interface, wireless telecommunications interface, memory, controller, sensor, speaker, and microphone comprise a self-contained assembly; and
wherein said hand held computer is operable;
to download from a remote processing center via said antenna and at least said wireless telecommunications network information relating to one or more merchandisable items for retention in said memory;
to transmit data relating to one or more of said merchandisable items from said memory to said remote processing center via said antenna and at least said wireless telecommunications network, and to download information relating to one or more of said merchandisable items from said remote processing center via said antenna and at least said wireless telecommunications network in response to a said transmission of data;
to receive a request from said remote processing center to the user to input user identification information for utilization by said remote processing center; and
as a portable wireless telephone for voice reception and transmission. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
-
-
63. A portable hand held computer, wherein said hand held computer is capable of use by a user as a data entry device and configured to be held in one hand for operable use as a portable cellular telephone for voice transmission and reception, said hand held computer comprising:
-
memory, wherein said memory is operable for retaining data or information in response to input by the user, operable for retaining downloaded information, and operable for retaining information for updating downloaded information previously retained in said memory;
a manually operable key switch for input of information;
a display interface, wherein said display interface is operable to display user commands, operable to display information retained by said memory, and operable to display a list of user selectable items comprising merchandisable items, and to selectively display information relating to one or more of said items;
an antenna;
a rechargeable power supply;
a sensor operable for sensing user commands or data;
a wireless telecommunications interface operable directly to connect via said antenna to a wireless telecommunications network and operable for transmission and reception of voice or data, wherein said wireless telecommunications interface is operable to transmit data captured by said sensor, and is a cellular telephone interface;
a controller coupled to said display interface, key switch, memory, rechargeable power supply, sensor, and wireless telecommunications interface; and
,a speaker and a microphone permitting said hand held computer to be used as a telephone handset;
wherein said display interface, antenna, key switch, rechargeable power supply, connector interface, wireless telecommunications interface, memory, controller, optical interface, sensor, speaker, and microphone comprise a self-contained assembly; and
wherein said hand held computer is operable;
to download from a remote processing center via said antenna and at least said wireless telecommunications network information relating to one or more merchandisable items for retention in said memory;
to transmit data relating to one or more of said merchandisable items from said memory to said remote processing center via said antenna and at least said wireless telecommunications network, and to download information relating to one or more of said merchandisable items from said remote processing center via said antenna and at least said wireless telecommunications network in response to a said transmission of data;
to download, via said antenna and at least said wireless telecommunications network in response to entry of a user command, information from said remote processing center for retention in said memory to update information previously retained in said memory for one or more of said merchandisable items;
to receive a request from said remote processing center to the user to input user identification information for utilization by said remote processing center; and
as a portable cellular telephone for voice reception and transmission.
-
-
64. A portable hand held computer operable as a data entry device and a portable wireless telephone by a user, comprising:
-
memory, wherein said memory is operable for retaining data or information in response to input by the user, operable for retaining downloaded data or information, and operable for retaining data or information for updating downloaded data or information previously retained in said memory;
a manually operable key switch for input of information;
a display interface, wherein said display interface is operable to display user commands, operable to display information retained by said memory, and operable to display a list of user selectable items comprising merchandisable items, and to selectively display information relating to one or more of said items;
an antenna;
a rechargeable power supply;
a sensor operable to sense and capture data wherein said sensor is a camera;
a wireless telecommunications interface operable directly to connect via said antenna to a wireless telecommunications network and operable for transmission and reception of voice or data, wherein said wireless telecommunications interface is operable to transmit data captured by said sensor via said antenna;
a controller coupled to said display interface, key switch, memory, connector interface, rechargeable power supply, optical interface, sensor, and wireless telecommunications interface;
wherein said hand held computer is operable using said wireless telecommunications interface to download from a remote processing center information relating to one or more of said items for retention in said memory by utilizing at least said wireless telecommunications network, said hand held computer is operable using said wireless telecommunications interface to transmit data or information relating to one or more of said items from said memory to said remote processing center and to download information relating to one or more of said items from said remote processing center in response to a said transmission, said hand held computer using said wireless telecommunications interface also is operable in response to entry of a user command to download information from said remote processing center for retention in said memory to update information previously retained in said memory for one or more of said items, and said hand held computer is operable as a portable wireless telephone;
wherein said display interface, antenna, key switch, rechargeable power supply, wireless telecommunications interface, memory, controller, optical interface, and sensor comprise a self-contained assembly; and
wherein said assembly includes a speaker and a microphone permitting said hand held computer to be used as a telephone handset.
-
Specification