HAND-HELD DATA COLLECTOR WITH DETACHABLE SCANNER

• US 20140326788A1
• Filed: 07/17/2014
• Published: 11/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Retail Services WIS Corporation
• Original Assignee: Retail Services WIS Corporation
• Inventors: Henry, Todd, Whitehouse, David, Davoren, Sean, Grant, Scott, Johnston, Bob, Lupfer, Thomas H., West, David N.
• Application Number:
  US14/333,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20140326788A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0216 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of a keyboard for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1664
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1091 means to wake up the scanner from a sleep mode, e.g. using an acceleration sensor indicating that the scanner is being picked up by a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F

Abstract

Disclosed is a data collection apparatus for hand use. The apparatus comprises a body having: a central portion adapted to be and gripped in the manner of a joystick; a switch positioned on the central portion and positioned in the manner of a pistol trigger, for finger actuation; a first data entry portion to which the central portion extends, the first data entry portion having at least a 10-digit numeric keypad, each key of said keypad being adapted for and actuable in use by the thumb of said hand; and a second data entry portion from which the central portion extends. The apparatus also comprises circuitry contained within the body that is adapted to couple the apparatus to the Internet and that is adapted to permit the apparatus to be used to communicate by text messaging when connected to the Internet.

Claims

1. An apparatus for collecting data and for use with a hand, said apparatus comprising:

a body having;

a central portion adapted to be and gripped in use by said hand in the manner of a joystick;

a switch positioned on the central portion and positioned in the manner of a pistol trigger, for actuation in use by a finger of said hand selected from index finger and middle finger;

a first data entry portion to which the central portion extends, the first data entry portion having at least a 10-digit numeric keypad, each key of said keypad being adapted for and actuable in use by the thumb of said hand; and

a second data entry portion from which the central portion extends, the second data entry portion including a touch screen; and

circuitry contained within the body that is adapted to couple the apparatus to the Internet and that is adapted to permit the apparatus to be used to communicate by text messaging when connected to the Internet.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a port and circuit that permit the apparatus to be connected to the Internet via a cellular network or a land line.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the port is selected from the group consisting of USB port and SD flash drive.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the text messaging is SMS text messaging.

5. A system for use with an Internet connection, the system comprising:

a wireless hub coupled to the Internet connection in use; and

an apparatus for collecting data and for use with a hand, said apparatus comprising;

a body having;

a central portion adapted to be and gripped in use by said hand in the manner of a joystick;

a switch positioned on the central portion and positioned in the manner of a pistol trigger, for actuation in use by a finger of said hand selected from index finger and middle finger;

a first data entry portion to which the central portion extends, the first data entry portion having at least a 10-digit numeric keypad, each key of said keypad being adapted for and actuable in use by the thumb of said hand; and

a second data entry portion from which the central portion extends, the second data entry portion including a touch screen; and

circuitry contained within the body that is adapted to couple the apparatus to the Internet via the wireless hub and that is adapted to permit the apparatus to be used to communicate by text messaging when connected to the Internet.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the text messaging is SMS text messaging.

7. An improved method for training in the field of inventory data collection, the method being wherein trainees are exposed to pre-recorded audio-visual training materials, the improvement comprising:

displaying the training materials on an apparatus for collecting data, the apparatus including;

a body having;

a portion adapted to be and gripped in use by said hand in the manner of a joystick;

a switch positioned on the central portion and positioned in the manner of a pistol trigger, for actuation in use by a finger of said hand selected from index finger and middle finger;

a data entry portion having a touch video screen for display of the materials; and

a speaker or headphone jack for audible review of the materials.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus further comprises a microphone and wireless circuitry enabling the device to operate as a wireless phone.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein trainers are made available to operators by wireless phone to answer questions about the training materials.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the training materials are displayed automatically on the apparatus in response to inventory data collected via the apparatus.