Data acquisition system having selective communication capability

• US 5,442,344 A
• Filed: 09/28/1994
• Issued: 08/15/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Ochsner, Douglas A., Merkle, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Application Number:
  US08/315,127
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.35, 340/825.54, 340/825.55, 340/825.72, 340/825.06, 340/870.02, 340/870.28, 340/505, 340/539, 364/403, 364/404, 364/478, 364/479
• US Class Current: 705/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/08 Counting total of coins inserted
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/14 Calling by using pulses

Abstract

A data acquisition system having selective communication capability to enable the data acquisition system to communicate with other data acquisition systems. The probe of the present invention initiates communication with a data acquisition unit located in an appliance. The data acquisition unit maintains a collection record which indicates the current setup and counts of the appliances. When the probe communicates with the data unit, it identifies itself and based upon this identification, the data unit responds with a particular collection record which is compatible with the probe communicating with the data unit. In addition, if the probe is used to setup a data unit, the probe decides what type of setup record to send based upon the collection record received from the data unit.

Claims

1. A configuration setup system for use with one or more appliances of the type which provide services for money received, the configuration set-up system comprising:

a data probe for storing a set-up record defining operational parameters of an appliance in at least a first format and a second format, the first format being different from the second format, the data probe having a transceiver for transmitting a setup record in the first format or in the second format; and

individual and separate data acquisition units resident in a plurality of appliances for storing a setup record, the data acquisition unit having a transceiver for receiving the setup record wherein the data probe interrogates the data acquisition t nit and receives the identification information from the data acquisition unit in is communicating with and transmits a setup record in the first format or in the second format depending upon the identification information received from the data acquisition unit.

2. A configuration setup system according to claim 1 wherein the transceiver of the data acquisition unit and data probe each include an optical transmitter and an optical detector.

3. A configuration setup system according to claim 1 wherein the setup record is transmitted electro-optically.

4. A configuration setup system according to claim 1 wherein the setup record includes a plurality of fields and an action code which define which of the plurality of fields of the setup record will be adopted by the data acquisition unit.

5. A configuration setup system according to claim 1 wherein the data probe comprise a hand-held, portable device.

6. A method for configuring the setup of one or more appliances of the type which provide services for money received, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a data probe for storing a setup record defining operational parameters of an appliance in at least a first format and a second format, the first format being different from the second format, the data probe having a transceiver for transmitting a setup record in the first format or in the second format;

providing individual and separate data acquisition units resident in a plurality of appliances for storing a setup record, the data acquisition unit having a transceiver for receiving the setup record;

using the data probe to interrogate a data acquisition unit by transmitting an interrogation signal,

receiving the interrogation signal in a data acquisition unit through the data a aquisition unit'"'"'s transceiver;

responding to the interrogation signal by transmitting a response signal, the response signal including identification information about the data acquisition unit receiving the interrogation signal;

receiving the response signal in the data probe through the data probe'"'"'s transceiver; and

responding to the response signal by selecting and transmitting a setup record in the first format or the second format depending upon the identification information received from the data acquisition unit.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the steps of transmitting the interrogation signal and the response signal are performed electro-optically.

8. A method according to claim 6 wherein the setup record in the first format or the second format includes a plurality of fields and an action code which determine which particular fields of the setup record will be adopted by the data acquisition unit.

9. A method according to claim 6 wherein the probe is portable and wherein communication between the data probe and a data acquisition unit is achieved by aiming the transceiver of the data probe at the transceiver of the data acquisition unit.

10. A method for configuring he setup of one or more appliances of the type which provide services for money received, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a data probe for storing a setup record defining operational parameters of an appliance in at least a first format and a second format, the first format being different from the second format, the data probe having a transceiver for transmitting a setup record in the first format or the second format;

providing individual and separate data acquisition Units resident in a plurality of appliances for storing a setup record, each data acquisition unit having a transceiver for receiving the setup record;

interrogating a data acquisition unit by transmitting an interrogation signal from the transceiver of the data probe;

detecting the interrogation signal at the transceiver of the data acquisition unit;

responding to the interrogation signal by transmitting a collection record from the transceiver of the data acquisition unit, the collection record having an identification code which identifies the data acquisition unit;

detecting the collection record at the transceiver of the data probe;

responding to the collection record by transmitting a setup record in the first format or the second format from the transceiver of the data probe depending upon the identification code of the collection record transmitted by the data acquisition unit;

detecting the setup record at the transceiver of the data acquisition unit; and

storing a plurality of fields defined by the appliance in which the data acquisition unit is resident.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the steps of transmitting and detecting are performed electro-optically.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein the setup record in the first format or the second format includes an action code which the determines which of the plurality of fields of the setup record will be adopted by the data acquisition unit.

13. A method according to claim 10 wherein the data probe is portable and wherein communication between the data probe and a data acquisition unit is achieved by aiming the transceiver of the data probe at the transceiver of the data acquisition unit.