TRANSACTION CONTROL SYSTEM INCLUDING PORTABLE DATA TERMINAL AND MOBILE CUSTOMER SERVICE STATION
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
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.
11 Citations
47 Claims
-
1-17. -17. (canceled)
-
18. A vehicle communication device comprising:
-
at least one transceiver operable to participate on a first wireless network, the at least one transceiver being further operable to participate on a second wireless network; and a power interface configured to couple the vehicle communication device to receive power from a power supply of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 37, 38, 39)
-
-
33. A method for communicating within in a vehicle, the method comprising:
-
providing a vehicle communication device having at least one transceiver operable to participate on a first wireless network, the at least one transceiver being further operable to participate on a second wireless network; and supplying power to the vehicle communication device from a power supply of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
-
Specification