Multi-function terminal
First Claim
1. A multiplexing terminal coupleable to a host computer, comprising:
- a microprocessor operable to communicate with the host computer and with a plurality of peripheral components coupled to the microprocessor, said peripheral components including;
a keyboard having a plurality of keys grouped into at least one block;
a means for reading encoded information;
means for decoding the encoded information;
driving means for driving an LED display;
a cash drawer port and means for driving an electrical signal through said port to open a cash drawer upon command from the microprocessor;
a line driver enabling coupling of the terminal to a remote host computer; and
,an interchangeable video monitor driving circuit for driving a remote video monitor, and wherein the microprocessor is arranged to control and communicate with the peripherals for obtaining, processing and displaying data respecting a retail transaction, under control of the host computer.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-function terminal having a built-in microprocessor for use as a point of sale station in a retail goods or services facility. The terminal has a membrane keyboard with arrays of keys for data entry, arranged in key blocks. The individual key blocks preferably relate to particular attributes of the goods or services as well as processing costs. A particular designation of the keys can be changed by substituting a replaceable overlay. The overlays are sized to cover individual key blocks. The terminal also has a magnetic strip and bar code reader and decoder. The terminal can drive two printers through parallel ports. The terminal also has circuitry for driving an LED display and facilities for accepting various types of monitor drivers for driving a video monitor. The terminal interfaces with a host computer which controls operating parameters such as the mapping of characters to particular keys and the decoding convention used by the bar code and magnetic stripe decoders. The terminal further controls a cash drawer. Battery backup is provided to retain during a power failure the operating parameter set by the host computer.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A multiplexing terminal coupleable to a host computer, comprising:
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a microprocessor operable to communicate with the host computer and with a plurality of peripheral components coupled to the microprocessor, said peripheral components including; a keyboard having a plurality of keys grouped into at least one block; a means for reading encoded information; means for decoding the encoded information; driving means for driving an LED display; a cash drawer port and means for driving an electrical signal through said port to open a cash drawer upon command from the microprocessor; a line driver enabling coupling of the terminal to a remote host computer; and
,an interchangeable video monitor driving circuit for driving a remote video monitor, and wherein the microprocessor is arranged to control and communicate with the peripherals for obtaining, processing and displaying data respecting a retail transaction, under control of the host computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A mutiplexing terminal coupleable to a host computer, comprising:
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a microprocessor operable to communicate with the host computer and with a plurality of peripheral components coupled to the microprocessor, said peripheral components including; a keyboard having a plurality of keys grouped into at least one block, an individual key outputting an ASCII character upon depression, the terminal programmable by the host computer to selectively vary the ASCII character output by the individual key; insertable key overlays insertable over said at least one key block for changing a descriptive designation of a plurality of keys in said key block; a magnetic stripe reader disposed adjacent a read slot in the terminal, said read slot accepting an encoded information carrier; a bar code reader disposed adjacent said read slot; magnetic stripe decoding means; bar code decoding means a bar code scanning and reading wand coupled to said bar code decoding means; driving means for driving an LED display; a cash drawer port and means for driving a D.C. signal level through said port upon command from said microprocessor to open a cash drawer; a line driver enabling coupling of the terminal to a remote host computer; an interchangeable video monitor driving circuit for driving a video monitor; and
,a plurality of parallel printer driving ports. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A multi-user system coupleable to a host computer, comprising:
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a plurality of multiplexing terminals, each of said terminals having a microprocessor operable to communicate with the host computer, said microprocessors each able to communicate with a plurality of peripheral components coupled to said microprocessors, said peripheral components including; keyboards having a plurality of keys grouped into one block; means for reading encoded information; means for decoding the encoded information; driving means for driving LED displays; cash drawer ports and means for driving an electrical signal through said ports to open cash drawers upon command from a microprocessor coupled to said cash drawer port; line drivers enabling coupling of said terminals to a remote host computer; an interchangeable video monitor driving circuit in each of said terminals for driving a plurality of remote video monitors, each of said video monitor driving circuits of the type present in the host computer wherein the multi-user system is interfaced to a plurality of video monitors of like convention and wherein the microprocessors are arranged to control and communicate with peripherals for obtaining, processing and displaying data respecting a retail transaction occurring at any of a plurality of remote locations, under control of the host computer. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification