Vehicular data system for communicating with remote host

• US 5,694,318 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 12/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Norand Corporation (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: Cargin, Keith K. Jr., Kubler, Joseph J., Hanson, George E., Miller, Phillip, Koenck, Steven E., Kunert, Steven R., Walter, Jerry L., Schultz, Darald R., Davis, Patrick H.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZANELLI, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US08/480,587
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 364/403, 364/464.03, 364/483, 364/424.01, 364/550, 364/405, 364/709.04, 364/423.098, 364/424.045, 235/375, 235/462, 235/472, 235/454, 235/487, 235/485, 340/825.52, 340/825.03-825.08, 455/89, 395/200.02, 370/85.1
• US Class Current: 455/575.9
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10574 Multiple sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10584 Source control
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10702 Particularities of propagating elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors G06K7/10831 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 Focalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10841 Particularities of the light-sensitive elements semiconductor devices H01L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10851 Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device basic electronic circuitry H03
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 : constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/12 : using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 : Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 : wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 : Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 : Waterproofing of transmission device
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 : Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0032 : Without explicit signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1671 : the supervisory signal being transmitted together with control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1685 : the supervisory signal being transmitted in response to a specific request, e.g. to a polling signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A vehicle for transport, fork lift or delivery route operations, for example, includes on-board peripherals which are coupled through a Local Area Network (LAN) into a data system. A LAN data bus provides selective access to the peripherals or data devices such as, for example, a large area display, a keyboard, a printer and a data terminal. The data system controls or provides data on tasks executed by or in connection with the operation of the vehicle. To increase the versatility of the vehicle, the data terminal, multiple data terminals, or any of the other data devices may be removably coupled to the LAN to be operable externally of the vehicle. A mobile mount adapter provides a secure electrical connection of a respective data terminal to the LAN to removably incorporate the data terminal into the data system, and provide a common supply of both data and power to the data device.

Claims

1. A vehicle data system for operating away from premises of a remote host computer system, said remote host computer system storing delivery information for use by said vehicle data system in the delivery of goods and services, said vehicle data system comprising:

(a) a vehicle data path system for conveying data within a vehicle;

(b) a vehicle computer system comprising a portable data device, a peripheral device in data communication with said vehicle data path system, and a mobile mount adapter for receiving and retaining said portable data device in a docked mode wherein said data device is in data communication with said vehicle data path system to receive the delivery information from the remote host computer and for releasing said portable data device to operate in a portable mode for delivery operations;

(c) said portable data device when retained by said mobile mount adapter in its docked mode being automatically coupled with said vehicle data path system for selective data interchange with said peripheral device;

(d) a vehicle radio communication system for wireless coupling with the remote host computer system so that collected data from said portable data device may be delivered to said remote host computer system as needed, and so that the delivery information stored by the remote host computer system may be received by said vehicle computer system as needed on a timely basis without having to return to premises of the remote host computer system; and

(e) a vehicle communication control system for managing communication of data and the delivery information between said vehicle computer system and said remote host computer system.

2. The vehicle data system according to claim 1, further comprising a memory system for storing data received by said vehicle radio communication system from the remote host computer system.

3. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said vehicle data system further includes means responsive to the uncoupling of said data device to operate in its portable mode for enabling said memory system to store the delivery information received by said vehicle radio communication system from the remote host computer system.

4. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said responsive means is responsive to the coupling of said data device to operate in its docked mode for causing delivery of said delivery information stored in said memory to said data device received in said mobile mount adapter.

5. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is included a vehicle power source for energizing said data device when said data device is in its docked mode and a data device power source carried portably by said data device for energizing said data device when in its portable mode.

6. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 5, wherein there is included means responsive to the coupling of said data device to said vehicle data path system for enabling said vehicle power source to energize said data device in its docked mode and responsive to the uncoupling of said data device from said vehicle data path system for enabling said data device power source to energize said data device in its portable mode.

7. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data device includes means for sensing and inputting data to be downloaded to said vehicle data path system when said data device is in its docked mode.

8. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said data device includes said vehicle communication control system, said vehicle communication control system further controlling the downloading of sensed data from said data device to said vehicle data path system when said data device is in its docked mode.

9. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said vehicle communication control system controls the transmission of data between said data device and said vehicle data path system when said data device is in its docked mode.

10. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said peripheral device also includes said vehicle communication control system.

11. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said vehicle communication control system included within said data device operates as the primary controller with respect to said communication control system included within said peripheral device when said data device is in its docked mode.

12. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said vehicle communication control system includes a computer and a memory included within said data device.

13. A vehicle data system for operating away from a remote host computer system, said vehicle data system comprising:

(a) a vehicle data path system for conveying data within a vehicle;

(b) a vehicle computer system comprising a peripheral device in data communication with said vehicle data path system, and a mobile mount adapter for receiving and retaining a portable data device in a docked mode wherein said data device is in data communication with said vehicle data path system and for releasing said portable data device to operate in a portable mode;

(c) said portable data device when retained by said mobile mount adapter in its docked mode being automatically coupled with said vehicle data path system for data interchange with said peripheral device via said vehicle data path system;

(d) a vehicle radio communication system for wireless coupling with the remote host computer system and coupled with said vehicle data path system so that data from said vehicle computer system may be supplied to said vehicle radio communication system, and so that data wirelessly received from the remote host computer system by said vehicle radio communication system may be supplied to said vehicle computer system;

(e) a vehicle communication control system for controlling communication of data between said vehicle computer system and said vehicle radio communication system via said vehicle data path system, such that the vehicle when remote from said remote host computer system can receive current information from said remote host computer on a timely basis without physically returning thereto;

(f) a vehicle power source for energizing said data device when said data device is in its docked mode and a data device power source carried portably by said data device for energizing said data device when in its portable mode; and

(g) means responsive to the coupling of said data device to said vehicle data path system for enabling said vehicle power source to energize said data device in its docked mode and responsive to the uncoupling of said data device from said vehicle data path system for enabling said data device power source to energize said data device in its portable mode, said coupling/uncoupling responsive means disabling operation of said vehicle communication control system when said data device is in its portable mode.

14. A vehicle data system for operating away from a remote host computer system, said vehicle data system comprising:

(a) a vehicle data path system for conveying data within a vehicle;

(b) a vehicle computer system comprising a peripheral device in data communication with said vehicle data path system, and a mobile mount adapter for receiving and retaining a portable data device in a docked mode wherein said data device is in data communication with said vehicle data path system and for releasing said portable data device to operate in a portable mode, said data device including means for sensing and inputting data to be downloaded to said vehicle data path system when said data device is in its docked mode;

(c) said portable data device when retained by said mobile mount adapter in its docked mode being automatically coupled with said vehicle data path system for data interchange with said peripheral device via said vehicle data path system;

(d) a vehicle radio communication system for wireless coupling with the remote host computer system and coupled with said vehicle data path system so that data from said vehicle computer system may be supplied to said vehicle radio communication system, and so that data wirelessly received from the remote host computer system by said vehicle radio communication system may be supplied to said vehicle computer system; and

(e) said data device including a vehicle communication control system comprising a memory with programming stored therein for controlling the communication of data between said vehicle computer system and said vehicle radio communication system via said vehicle data path system such that said vehicle communication control system, when remote from said remote host computer system, can receive current information from said remote host computer system on a timely basis without physically returning thereto, a computer and means responsive to said data device being loaded in said mobile mount adapter to call said programming and to enable said computer to execute said program when said data device is in its docked mode, said vehicle communication control system further controlling the downloading of sensed data from said data device to said vehicle data path system when said data device is in its docked mode.

15. A vehicle data system for operating away from a remote host computer system, said vehicle data system comprising:

(a) a vehicle data path system for conveying data within a vehicle;

(b) a vehicle computer system comprising a peripheral device in data communication with said vehicle data path system and a plurality of mobile mount adapters, each for receiving and retaining a corresponding portable data device in a docked mode wherein said corresponding portable data device is in data communication with said vehicle data path system and for releasing said corresponding portable data device to operate in a portable mode;

(c) said portable data device when retained by said mobile mount adapter in its docked mode being automatically coupled with said vehicle data path system for data interchange with said peripheral device via said vehicle data path system;

(d) a vehicle radio communication system for wireless coupling with the remote host computer system and coupled with said vehicle data path system so that data from said vehicle computer system may be supplied to said vehicle radio communication system, and so that data wirelessly received from the remote host computer system by said vehicle radio communication system may be supplied to said vehicle computer system; and

(e) a vehicle communication control system for controlling communication of data between said vehicle computer system and said vehicle radio communication system via said vehicle data path system, such that the vehicle when remote from said remote host computer system can receive current information from said remote host computer system on a timely basis without physically returning thereto.

16. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said vehicle communication control system controls the transmission of data via said vehicle data path between those data devices disposed in their docked modes.

17. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said vehicle communication control system controls the transmission of data via said vehicle data path system and said vehicle radio communication system between at least one data device disposed in its docked mode and the remote host computer system.

18. A vehicle data system for operating away from a remote host computer system, said vehicle data system comprising:

(a) a vehicle data path system for conveying data within a vehicle;

(b) a vehicle computer system comprising a peripheral device in data communication with said vehicle data path system, and a mobile mount adapter for receiving and retaining a portable data device in a docked mode wherein said data device is in data communication with said vehicle data path system and for releasing said portable data device to operate in a portable mode;

(c) said portable data device when retained by said mobile mount adapter in its docked mode being automatically coupled with said vehicle data path system for data interchange with said peripheral device via said vehicle data path system;

(d) a vehicle radio communication system for wireless coupling with the remote host computer system and coupled with said vehicle data path system so that data from said vehicle computer system may be supplied to said vehicle radio communication system, and so that data wirelessly received from the remote host computer system by said vehicle radio communication system may be supplied to said vehicle computer system;

(e) a vehicle communication control system for controlling communication of data between said vehicle computer system and said vehicle radio communication system via said vehicle data path system, such that the vehicle when remote from said remote host computer system can receive current information from said remote host computer system on a timely basis without physically returning thereto; and

(f) a second data path system for conveying data there across, said second data path system being coupled in data communication with the host computer system, a second mobile mount adapter for receiving and retaining said data device in a docked mode wherein said data device is in data communication with said second data path system and for releasing said data device therefrom to operate in its portable mode, and a second communication control system for controlling communication data via second data path system between said data device when received in said second mobile mount adapter in its docked mode and the host computer system.

19. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said data device includes said vehicle communication control system, said vehicle communication control system further controlling the downloading of sensed data from said data device to said vehicle data path system and the transmission of data between said data device and said vehicle data path system when said data device is in its docked mode.

20. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said peripheral device also includes said vehicle communication control system.

21. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 20, wherein said vehicle communication control system included within said data device operates as the primary controller with respect to said communication control system included within said peripheral device when said data device is in its docked mode.

22. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said second control system operates as the primary controller for transmitting data via said second data path system with respect to said communication control system included with said data device when said data device is received in said second mobile mount adapter in its docking mode.

23. A vehicle data system for operating away from a remote host computer system, said vehicle data system comprising:

(a) a vehicle data path system for conveying data within a vehicle;

(b) a vehicle computer system comprising a peripheral device in data communication with said vehicle data path system, and a mobile mount adapter for receiving and retaining a portable data device in a docked mode wherein said data device is in data communication with said vehicle data path system and for releasing said portable data device to operate in a portable mode, said peripheral device including means for inputting data and applying said inputted data to said vehicle data path system, said vehicle communication control system controls the transmission of said inputted data from said peripheral device to said vehicle radio communication system via said vehicle data path system;

(c) said portable data device when retained by said mobile mount adapter in its docked mode being automatically coupled with said vehicle data path system for data interchange with said peripheral device via said vehicle data path system;

(d) a vehicle radio communication system for wireless coupling with the remote host computer system and coupled with said vehicle data path system so that data from said vehicle computer system may be supplied to said vehicle radio communication system, and so that data wirelessly received from the remote host computer system by said vehicle radio communication system may be supplied to said vehicle computer system; and

(e) a vehicle communication control system for controlling communication of data between said vehicle computer system and said vehicle radio communication system via said vehicle data path system, such that the vehicle when remote from said remote host computer system can receive current information from said remote host computer system on a timely basis without physically returning thereto.

24. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said inputting means measures an operating parameter of the vehicle.

25. A vehicle data system for operating away from a remote host computer system, said vehicle data system comprising:

(a) a vehicle data path system for conveying data within a vehicle;

(b) a vehicle computer system comprising a peripheral device in data communication with said vehicle data path system, and a mobile mount adapter for receiving and retaining a portable data device in a docked mode wherein said data device is in data communication with said vehicle data path system and for releasing said portable data device to operate in a portable mode;

(c) said portable data device when retained by said mobile mount adapter in its docked mode being automatically coupled with said vehicle data path system for data interchange with said peripheral device via said vehicle data path system;

(d) a vehicle radio communication system for wireless coupling with the remote host computer and coupled with said vehicle data path system so that data from said vehicle computer system may be supplied to said vehicle radio communication system, and so that data wirelessly received from the remote host computer system by said vehicle radio communication system may be supplied to said vehicle computer system;

(e) a vehicle communication control system for controlling communication of data between said vehicle computer system and said vehicle radio communication system via said vehicle data path system, such that the vehicle when remote from said remote host computer system can receive current information from said remote host computer system on a timely basis without physically returning thereto; and

(f) address assigning means coupled to said vehicle data path system for assigning a unique address to said data device when received in said mobile mount adapter.

26. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 25, wherein there is included a plurality of said mobile mount adapters, each for randomly receiving said data device whereby said address assigning means assigns an unique address to said data device.

27. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 26, wherein said data device includes a memory for storing said uniquely assigned address to said data device.

28. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 27, wherein said data device further includes means responsive to the assignment of an unique address thereto for defeating the assignment of a further address thereto.

29. A vehicle data system for operating away from a remote host computer system, said vehicle data system comprising:

(a) a vehicle data path system for conveying data within a vehicle;

(b) a vehicle computer system comprising a peripheral device in data communication with said vehicle data path system, and a mobile mount adapter for receiving and retaining a portable data device in a docked mode wherein said data device is in data communication with said vehicle data path system and for releasing said portable data device to operate in a portable mode;

(c) said portable data device when retained by said mobile mount adapter in its docked mode being automatically coupled with said vehicle data path system for data interchange with said peripheral device via said vehicle data path system;

(d) a vehicle radio communication system for wireless coupling with the remote host computer system and coupled with said vehicle data path system so that data from said vehicle computer system may be supplied to said vehicle radio communication system, and so that data wirelessly received from the remote host computer system by said vehicle radio communication system may be supplied to said vehicle computer system; and

(e) a vehicle communication control system for controlling communication of data between said vehicle computer system and said vehicle radio communication system via said vehicle data path system, such that the vehicle when remote from said remote host computer system can receive current information from said remote host computer system on a timely basis without physically returning thereto;

(f) a vehicle electrical power source and a vehicle power path system coupled to said vehicle electrical power source for applying electrical power to said peripheral device and to said mobile mount adapter; and

(g) said data device includes a device power source carried therewith and control means responsive to said mobile mount adapter receiving said data device for coupling the components of said data device to said vehicle power path system to be energized by said vehicle power source when said data device is in its docking mode and responsive to said mobile mount adapter releasing said data device for uncoupling the components of said data device from said vehicle power path system whereby said data device is energized by said device power source when said data device is in its portable mode, said control means including a driver/receiver circuit to enable data communication to and from said vehicle data path system, a power switch activatable to apply power from said vehicle power source via said vehicle power path system to said driver/receiver circuit and a data controller for controlling the inputting and outputting of data to and from said data device, said data controller activating said power switch to apply power from said vehicle power source to said driver receiver upon the transmission of data from said data device to said vehicle data path system.

30. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 29, wherein said vehicle data path system is of a relatively low impedance to establish a relatively fast data transmission rate.

31. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 30, wherein said vehicle data path system has an impedance in the order of 120 ohms.

32. The vehicle data system as claimed in claim 30, wherein said driver/receiver circuit is capable of outputting a sufficiently high current to receive and output data to said low impedance vehicle data path system.