DATA COLLECTION DEVICE HAVING DYNAMIC ACCESS TO MULTIPLE WIRELESS NETWORKS
First Claim
1. A method of providing network connectivity within a data collection system comprising a server, an access point communicatively coupled to said server over a wired connection, and a portable data collection device residing outside of a communication range of said access point, said method comprising the steps of:
- introducing a new communication device within a communication range of said portable data collection device, said new communication device comprising a dynamic access module enabling said new communication device to receive data packets from said portable data collection device and route payload data of said data packets to said access point if said new communication device determines that it is in range of both of said access point and said portable data collection device; and
said portable data collection device establishing network communications with said server responsive to detecting a presence of said new communication device within a communication range of said portable data collection device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is described a data collection device that can incorporate an encoded information reading unit than can operate within a system including an access point that is wireline connected to a server. The encoded information reading unit can include at least one of a bar code reading unit, an RFID tag reading unit and a credit/debit card reading unit. Further incorporated in the data collection device can be dynamic access module. The dynamic access communication module enables the data collection device to participate in a self organized network that supports multi-hop data packet transmissions between data collection devices and which further enables the device to transmit data received from a peer device to the system access point.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of providing network connectivity within a data collection system comprising a server, an access point communicatively coupled to said server over a wired connection, and a portable data collection device residing outside of a communication range of said access point, said method comprising the steps of:
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introducing a new communication device within a communication range of said portable data collection device, said new communication device comprising a dynamic access module enabling said new communication device to receive data packets from said portable data collection device and route payload data of said data packets to said access point if said new communication device determines that it is in range of both of said access point and said portable data collection device; and said portable data collection device establishing network communications with said server responsive to detecting a presence of said new communication device within a communication range of said portable data collection device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A data collection system comprising:
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a server; an access point communicatively coupled to said server over a wired connection; a portable data collection device residing outside of a communication range of said access point; wherein said portable data collection device is configured to establish network communications with said server responsive to detecting a presence of a new communication device within a communication range of said portable data collection device; wherein said new communication device comprises a dynamic access module enabling said new communication device to receive data packets from said portable data collection device and route payload data of said data packets to said access point if said new communication device determines that it is in range of both of said access point and said portable data collection device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A data collection system comprising:
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a server; an access point communicatively coupled to said server over a wired connection; a first portable data collection device in communication with said access point; a second portable data collection device residing outside of communication ranges of both said first portable data collection device and said access point; wherein said second portable data collection device is configured to establish network communications with said server responsive to detecting a presence of a new communication device within a communication range of said second portable data collection device; wherein said new communication device comprises a dynamic access module enabling said new communication device to receive data packets from said second portable data collection device and route payload data of said data packets to said access point if said new communication device determines that it is in range of both of said access point and said second portable data collection device, said dynamic access module further enabling said new communication device to receive data packets from said second portable data collection device and route payload data of said data packets to said first portable data collection device if said new communication device determines that it is in range of both of said first portable data collection device and said second portable data collection device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification