Multiple client field device data acquisition and storage

• US 20050021597A1
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conduent Business Services, LLC (Conduent, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ACS State & Local Solutions Incorporated (Conduent, Inc.)
• Inventors: Parrella, Robert, Derasmo, Anthony, Zolnoski, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,617,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system is provided for acquiring and storing field information, comprising field devices operable to gather field information and receive updated file information. The field devices may be placed in cradles, which facilitate the transfer of the field and file information. A network is provided for receiving the field information from the field devices and transferring the field information to field devices located in the cradles. The system also provides a server operable to receive the field information from the network, store the field information in data tables assigned to at least one client, and transmit updated field information to the network.

Claims

1. A system for acquiring and storing field information, comprising:

a plurality of field devices operable to gather field information and receive updated file information;

a cradle comprising a socket to mechanically and electrically connect to the field devices and a communication circuit for transmitting and receiving field and file information;

a network coupled to the communication circuit, receiving the field information from the field devices, and transferring the updated file information to field devices connected in the cradle; and

a server operable to receive the field information from the network, store the field information in data tables assigned to at least one client, and transmit updated field information to the network.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising a database for accessing the data tables based on the at least one client assigned to the data tables.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the data tables are assigned to the at least one client and at least one agency.

4. The system of claim 3, comprising a database accessing the data tables based on the at least one client and the at least one agency assigned to the data tables.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the data tables include at least one table including violation codes assigned based on the at least one client.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the data tables include at least one table of violation codes assigned based on the at least one client and at least one agency.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the violation code data tables are grouped in at least one category.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the data tables include at least one table of information defining the field devices.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one data table defining the field devices includes field device identifiers.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one data table defining the field devices includes manufacturer configuration and equipment history information.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the data tables include at least one table of citation information.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one data table of citation information includes images of an officer or violator signature.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the field information includes timed parking information used in the issuance of citations.

14. A system for acquiring and storing field information, comprising:

a plurality of field devices operable to gather field information and receive updated file information;

a wireless communication network coupled to the field devices and operable to receive field information from the field devices and transfer updated file information to the field devices;

a network for receiving the field information from the wireless communication network and transferring updated file information to the wireless communication network; and

a server operable to receive the field information from the network, store the field information in data tables assigned to at least one client, and transmit updated file information to the network.

15. The system of claim 14, comprising a database for accessing data tables based on the at least one client assigned to the data tables.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the data tables are assigned to the at least one client and at least one agency.

17. The system of claim 16, comprising a database for accessing data tables based on the at least one client and the at least one agency assigned to the data tables.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the data tables include at least one table including violation codes assigned based on the at least one client.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the data tables include at least one table of violation codes assigned based on the at least one client and at least one agency.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the violation code data tables are grouped in at least one category.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the data tables include at least one table of information defining the field devices.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one data table defining the field devices includes field device identifiers.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one data table defining the field devices includes manufacturer configuration and equipment history information.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the data tables include at least one table of citation information.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the at least one data table of citation information include images of an officer or violator signature.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the field information includes timed parking information used in the issuance of citations.

27. A method for acquiring and storing field information, comprising:

receiving field information from a user and updated file information from a network, in a field device;

transferring field information from the field device to a network;

receiving the field information in a server from the network,

storing the field information in data tables assigned to at least one client;

transmitting updated file information to the network;

receiving updated file information at the network; and

transferring the updated file information from the network to the field device.

28. The method of claim 27, further including accessing the data tables based on the at least one client assigned to the data tables.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein assigning the data tables includes assigning the data tables based on the at least one client and at least one agency.

30. The method of claim 29, further including accessing the data tables based on the at least one client and the at least one agency assigned to the data tables.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein storing the field information further includes storing violation codes to the data tables based on the at least one client.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein storing the field information further includes storing violation codes to the data tables based on the at least one client and at least one agency.

33. The method of claim 31, further including grouping the violation code data tables into at least one category.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein storing the field information further includes storing field device information in the data tables.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein storing the field device information further includes storing field device identifiers.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein storing the field device information further includes storing manufacturer configuration and equipment history information.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein storing field device information further includes storing citation information in the data tables.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein storing the citation information further includes storing images of an officer or violator signature.

39. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a set of instructions for receiving field information and transmitting updated file information, which when executed perform the stages of:

receiving the field information from a network;

storing the field information in data tables assigned to at least one client; and

transmitting updated file information to the network.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, further including instructions to access the data tables based on the at least one client assigned to the data tables.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein assigning the data tables includes assigning the data tables based on the at least one client and at least one agency.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 41, further including accessing the data tables based on the at least one client and the at least one agency assigned to the data tables.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein storing the field information further includes storing violation codes to the data tables based on the at least one client.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein storing the field information further includes storing violation codes to the data tables based on the at least one client and at least one agency.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 44, further including grouping the violation code data tables into at least one category.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein storing the field information further includes storing field device information in the data tables.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 46, wherein storing the field device information further includes storing field device identifiers.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 46, wherein storing the field device information further includes storing manufacturer configuration and equipment history information.

49. A method for receiving field information and transmitting updated file information, comprising:

receiving the field information from a network;

storing the field information in data tables assigned to at least one client; and

transmitting updated file information to the network.

50. The method of claim 49, further including accessing the data tables based on the at least one client assigned to the data tables.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein assigning the data tables includes assigning the data tables based on the at least one client and at least one agency.

52. The method of claim 51, further including accessing the data tables based on the at least one client and the at least one agency assigned to the data tables.

53. The method of claim 49, wherein storing the field information further includes storing violation codes to the data tables based on the at least one client.

54. The method of claim 49, wherein storing the field information further includes storing violation codes to the data tables based on the at least one client and at least one agency.

55. The method of claim 54, further including grouping the violation code data tables into at least one category.

56. The method of claim 49, wherein storing the field information further includes storing field device information in the data tables.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein storing the field device information further includes storing field device identifiers.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein storing the field device information further includes storing manufacturer configuration and equipment history information.

59. The method of claim 49, wherein storing field device information further includes storing citation information in the data tables.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein storing the citation information further includes storing images of an officer or violator signature.

61. A method for acquiring information, comprising:

receiving field information from a user at a field device;

transferring the field information from the field device to a cradle via a communication link; and

receiving at the field device updated file information from the cradle via the communication link.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein receiving the field information includes receiving vehicle identification and location information.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein receiving the field information includes receiving timed parking information for issuing citations.

64. The method of claim 62, wherein receiving the field information further includes receiving user identification information.

65. The method of claim 62, wherein receiving the vehicle identification information further includes checking the vehicle identification information against a scofflaw list.

66. The method of claim 61, wherein receiving the field information further includes receiving equipment identification information.

67. The method of claim 61, wherein receiving the field information includes receiving citation information.

68. The method of claim 61, wherein receiving updated file information includes receiving new versions of application software.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein receiving the new versions includes receiving new data tables.

70. The method of claim 61, further including receiving login information and based on the login information loading data tables used for data entry.

71. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a set of instructions for acquiring information, which when executed perform the stages of:

receiving field information from a user at a field device;

transferring the field information from the field device to a cradle via a communication link; and

receiving at the field device updated file information from the cradle via the communication link.

72. The computer-readable medium of claim 71, wherein receiving the field information includes receiving vehicle identification and location information.

73. The computer-readable medium of claim 72, wherein receiving the field information includes receiving timed parking information for issuing citations.

74. The computer-readable medium of claim 72, wherein receiving the field information further includes receiving user identification information.

75. The computer-readable medium of claim 72, wherein receiving the vehicle identification information further includes checking the vehicle identification information against a scofflaw list.

76. The computer-readable medium of claim 71, wherein receiving the field information further includes receiving equipment identification information.

77. The computer-readable medium of claim 71, wherein receiving the field information includes receiving citation information.

78. The computer-readable medium of claim 71, wherein receiving updated file information includes receiving new versions of application software.

79. The computer-readable medium of claim 78, wherein receiving the new versions includes receiving new data tables.

80. The computer-readable medium of claim 71, further including receiving login information and based on the login information loading data tables used for data entry.