Multimedia interface device and method
First Claim
1. A method for providing data from one of a pluality of media reader devices, said plurality of media reader devices including a bar code wand, bar code slot reader, laser scanner, CCD scanner and magnetic slot reader, to a host comprising the steps of:
- providing an interface device between said media devices and said host;
providing first and second input ports to said interface device, each input port having three input lines for receiving one data and two control signals, respectively, from a connected media device, wherein said laser scanner and CCD scanner are connectable only to said first port, said control signals for said first port include signals for timing and a trigger, said magnetic slot reader is connectable only to said second port, and said control signals for said second port include signals for clock and badge-in-slot;
providing a line for an enable signal from said interface device to a media device connected to said first port, said enable signal being effective for activating either said laser scanner or CCD scanner;
selecting one or two of said media devices and connecting it or them to one or respective ones of said input ports;
identifying the type of media device connected to said first port by;
sampling said timing signal to determine if the media device is a CCD scanner;
transmitting said enable signal and sampling said timing signal to determine if the media device is a laser scanner; and
sampling said trigger signal or said data signal to determine if the media device is a bar code wand or bar code slot reader;
identifying the type of media device connected to said second port by;
sampling said clock or badge-in-slot signal to determine is the media device is a magnetic slot reader; and
sampling said data signal to determine if the media device is a bar code wand or bar code slot reader;
determining when an identified media device is active by sampling control or data signals from each port that has an identified media device connected thereto;
transferring data signals from said active media device into said interface device for processing; and
transferring said processed signals to said host.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interface device between, and a method for providing data from, one of a plurality of optical or magnetic media reader devices to a host is disclosed. The interface device comprises first and second input ports, each port being connectable to a selected media device. The device also comprises means for automatically identifying the type of media device connected to each of the ports by sequentially sampling control or data signals therefrom. It also includes means for determining when an identified media device is active by sampling control or data signals from each port that has an identified media device connected thereto.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method for providing data from one of a pluality of media reader devices, said plurality of media reader devices including a bar code wand, bar code slot reader, laser scanner, CCD scanner and magnetic slot reader, to a host comprising the steps of:
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providing an interface device between said media devices and said host; providing first and second input ports to said interface device, each input port having three input lines for receiving one data and two control signals, respectively, from a connected media device, wherein said laser scanner and CCD scanner are connectable only to said first port, said control signals for said first port include signals for timing and a trigger, said magnetic slot reader is connectable only to said second port, and said control signals for said second port include signals for clock and badge-in-slot; providing a line for an enable signal from said interface device to a media device connected to said first port, said enable signal being effective for activating either said laser scanner or CCD scanner; selecting one or two of said media devices and connecting it or them to one or respective ones of said input ports; identifying the type of media device connected to said first port by; sampling said timing signal to determine if the media device is a CCD scanner; transmitting said enable signal and sampling said timing signal to determine if the media device is a laser scanner; and sampling said trigger signal or said data signal to determine if the media device is a bar code wand or bar code slot reader; identifying the type of media device connected to said second port by; sampling said clock or badge-in-slot signal to determine is the media device is a magnetic slot reader; and sampling said data signal to determine if the media device is a bar code wand or bar code slot reader; determining when an identified media device is active by sampling control or data signals from each port that has an identified media device connected thereto; transferring data signals from said active media device into said interface device for processing; and transferring said processed signals to said host. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification