Data communication system with communicating and recharging docking apparatus for hand-held data terminal
First Claim
1. A system for transmitting data to and from a plurality of portable data entry terminals, said system comprising:
- a) local area network including control means and a common data communication link interconnecting a plurality of data transfer points for transmitting data between each of said plurality of data transfer points and said local area network over shared portions of said common data communication links, each data transfer point adapted to be coupled to any one of the plurality of portable data entry terminals for data transfer via said common data communication link;
b) a plurality of docking units, one for each of said plurality of data transfer points, each one of said plurality of docking units having receptacle means constructed to receive and retain therein any one of the plurality of portable data entry terminals and data coupling means connected to that one data transfer point corresponding to said one docking unit and arranged for coupling with any one of the plurality of portable data entry terminals upon being received therein such that data transfer with said local area network is carried out via said coupled data transfer point and said common signal communication link; and
c) said control means coupled with said common signal communication link for controlling data transfer between said local area network and any one of the plurality of portable data entry terminals when received by said corresponding one docking unit and one data transfer point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an exemplary embodiment, portable data devices can be coupled with a local area network at any of a multiplicity of points and integrated into the system on a dynamic basis. The preferred system is highly flexible and closely adaptable to changing needs of an individual user. For example, unitary multiple docking devices each receiving a plurality of handheld computerized data terminals may be chained in a series to a single primary controller which may have a further LAN channel including an auxiliary unit which may supply charging power to a further series of multiple docking devices, added to the system as needed. A preferred auxiliary unit is capable of handling two-way communication without the provision of a direction control line in the channel. A preferred LAN system may have unitary printed circuit boards or other rigid network pathways provided with multiple docking receptacles. The control for the LAN system will automatically establish identities for randomly added devices.
206 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system for transmitting data to and from a plurality of portable data entry terminals, said system comprising:
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a) local area network including control means and a common data communication link interconnecting a plurality of data transfer points for transmitting data between each of said plurality of data transfer points and said local area network over shared portions of said common data communication links, each data transfer point adapted to be coupled to any one of the plurality of portable data entry terminals for data transfer via said common data communication link; b) a plurality of docking units, one for each of said plurality of data transfer points, each one of said plurality of docking units having receptacle means constructed to receive and retain therein any one of the plurality of portable data entry terminals and data coupling means connected to that one data transfer point corresponding to said one docking unit and arranged for coupling with any one of the plurality of portable data entry terminals upon being received therein such that data transfer with said local area network is carried out via said coupled data transfer point and said common signal communication link; and c) said control means coupled with said common signal communication link for controlling data transfer between said local area network and any one of the plurality of portable data entry terminals when received by said corresponding one docking unit and one data transfer point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A data communication system comprising:
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a) a plurality of portable data entry terminals, b) a local area network including a plurality of data transfer points and a common data path interconnecting each of said plurality of data transfer points for transmitting data between each of said plurality of data transfer points and said local area network via said common data path; and c) network control means coupled with said common data path and responsive to data transmission between said local area network and any one of said plurality of portable data entry terminals when coupled to one of said plurality data transfer points for assigning a unique address to said coupled portable data entry terminal. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for transmitting data to and from a plurality of portable data entry terminals, each one of the plurality of portable data entry terminals includes external surface contact means, the plurality of the portable data entry terminals is received by corresponding ones of said plurality of docking units, said system comprising:
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a) local area network including control means and a common data path interconnecting a plurality of data transfer points for transmitting data between each of said plurality of data transfer points and said local area network only via said common data path, each data transfer point adapted to be coupled to any one of the plurality of portable data entry terminals for data transfer via said common data path; b) a plurality of docking units, one for each of said plurality of data transfer points, each one of said plurality of docking units having receptacle means constructed to receive and retain therein any one of the plurality of portable data entry terminals and data coupling means connected to that one data transfer point corresponding to said one docking unit and arranged for coupling with any one of the plurality of portable data entry terminals upon being received therein such that data transfer with said local area network is carried out via said coupled data transfer point and said common signal path, said data coupling means of each one of said plurality of docking units disposed to engage the surface contact means of the corresponding one portable data entry terminal retained within said one corresponding docking unit and comprising an array of resilient contact means disposed for pressure engagement with the external surface contact means of the data entry terminal retained within said docking unit; and c) said control means coupled with said common signal path for controlling data transfer between said local area network and any one of the plurality portable data entry terminals when received by said corresponding one docking unit and one data transfer point, said control means being responsive to data transmission between said local area network and the received ones of the portable data entry terminals for assigning respective addresses to the respective, received ones of the portable data entry terminals.
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Specification