Data acquisition and retrieval system with wireless handheld user interface
DCFirst Claim
1. A multi-tiered computing system comprising:
- a first computing tier having a master server computer, the master server coupled to a master database of master data records;
a second computing tier having a plurality of input computers, each input computer coupled to a respective local database of local data records, each local database replicated from the master database; and
a third computing tier having a remote portable computer, the portable computer being in communication with a select input computer for accessing local data records, the portable computer comprising;
a CPU for controlling operation of the portable computer;
an interface memory for storing software to control the CPU and to store temporarily at least one data set each data set having multiple data fields for storing data values; and
a touch sensitive display screen for displaying at least a data I/O screen and for sensing contact by a user, the CPU defining multiple virtual regions upon the data I/O screen, each corresponding to a data field, the display screen sensing and informing the CPU of contact by the user within a virtual region, the display screen displaying within each virtual region a data value for the associated data field from a current data set for a current matter, the CPU identifying a virtual region contacted by the user and effecting an interface control associated therewith and wherein the user modifies data values within a correspond active data field by pressing the associated virtual region.
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Abstract
A data retrieval and acquisition system having a wireless handheld interface for data entry by the user. The system includes a communication server for communicating, such as through IR signals, with the handheld interfaces. The communications server communicates with multiple command servers and with a master server and/or other communication servers through a communications bus. The handheld interface includes touch screen which is operated through an event driven architecture. The user is allowed to enter data through virtual rolling keys, a scroll bar, virtual key pad, bar code reader, and the like. The system minimized the transmission time by minimizing the necessary information transmitted and by synchronizing the operation of the handheld interfaces with the corresponding communications server. The communications server transmits information to the handheld through a first unique protocal and to the command server through a second unique protocal. Data transmission is further reduces by using shorthand command codes for constants, such as for commands, user names, and the like.
292 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A multi-tiered computing system comprising:
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a first computing tier having a master server computer, the master server coupled to a master database of master data records; a second computing tier having a plurality of input computers, each input computer coupled to a respective local database of local data records, each local database replicated from the master database; and a third computing tier having a remote portable computer, the portable computer being in communication with a select input computer for accessing local data records, the portable computer comprising; a CPU for controlling operation of the portable computer; an interface memory for storing software to control the CPU and to store temporarily at least one data set each data set having multiple data fields for storing data values; and a touch sensitive display screen for displaying at least a data I/O screen and for sensing contact by a user, the CPU defining multiple virtual regions upon the data I/O screen, each corresponding to a data field, the display screen sensing and informing the CPU of contact by the user within a virtual region, the display screen displaying within each virtual region a data value for the associated data field from a current data set for a current matter, the CPU identifying a virtual region contacted by the user and effecting an interface control associated therewith and wherein the user modifies data values within a correspond active data field by pressing the associated virtual region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. In a data acquisition and retrieval system, a method for entering and retrieving a plurality of data sets through a wireless handheld user interface, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) defining virtual regions within a display screen along with corresponding event identifiers; b) drawing a main menu with multiple, virtual menu selections, each of which correspond to a virtual region; c) sensing an event denoting contact by a user; d) determining whether the sensed event is in a defined virtual region, and if so, obtaining a unique identifier corresponding to the sensed event; e) performing a processing sequence associated with the unique identifier and waiting for a return identifier upon completion of the processing sequence; f) performing a new processing sequence associated with the return identifier if the return identifier does not correspond to the main menu, and waiting for a return identifier upon completion of the new processing sequence; g) repeating steps a) through f) when said return identifier corresponds to said main menu; h) repeating step f) and g) so long as said return identifier does not correspond to said main menu; i) determining whether a list of data set headers, corresponding to a currently logged-in user, is stored within the interface; j) when the list is absent, performing steps j1 through j3 as follows; j1) requesting the list from a remote communications server connected to the system; j2) setting up a data structure within the interface based upon an expected structure of the list; j3) storing a returned list received from the communications server; and k) displaying a portion of the list.
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28. A multi-tiered computing system comprising:
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a first computing tier having a master server computer, the master server coupled to a master database of master data records; a second computing tier having a plurality of input computers, each input computer coupled to a respective local database of local data records, each local database replicated from the master database; and a third computing tier having a remote portable computer, the portable computer being in communication with a select input computer for accessing local data records, the portable computer comprising; a CPU for controlling operation of the portable computer; an interface memory for storing software to control the CPU and to store temporarily at least one data set each data set having multiple data fields for storing data values; and a touch sensitive display screen for displaying at least a data I/O screen and for sensing contact by a user, the CPU defining multiple virtual regions upon the data I/O screen, each corresponding to a data field, the display screen sensing and informing the CPU of contact by the user within a virtual region, the display screen displaying within each virtual region a data value for the associated data field from a current data set for a current matter, the CPU identifying a virtual region contacted by the user and effecting an interface control associated therewith, and wherein the portable computer includes a temporary buffer for storing incoming and outgoing data sets transmitted to, and received from, a remote communications server. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A multi-tiered computing system comprising:
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a first computing tier having a master server computer, the master server coupled to a master database of master data records; a second computing tier having a plurality of input computers, each input computer coupled to a respective local database of local data records, each local database replicated from the master database; and a third computing tier having a remote portable computer, the portable computer being in communication with a select input computer for accessing local data records, the portable computer comprising; a CPU for controlling operation of the portable computer; an interface memory for storing software to control the CPU and to store temporarily at least one data set each data set having multiple data fields for storing data values; and a touch sensitive display screen for displaying at least a data I/O screen and for sensing contact by a user, the CPU defining multiple virtual regions upon the data I/O screen, each corresponding to a data field, the display screen sensing and informing the CPU of contact by the user within a virtual region, the display screen displaying within each virtual region a data value for the associated data field from a current data set for a current matter, the CPU identifying a virtual region contacted by the user and effecting an interface control associated therewith, and wherein the display screen illustrates the current data set in at least one of a scroll bar format and a rolling key format.
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41. A multi-tiered computing system comprising:
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a first computing tier having a master server computer, the master server coupled to a master database of master data records; a second computing tier having a plurality of input computers, each input computer coupled to a respective local database of local data records, each local database replicated from the master database; and a third computing tier having a remote portable computer, the portable computer being in communication with a select input computer for accessing local data records, the portable computer comprising; a CPU for controlling operation of the portable computer; an interface memory for storing software to control the CPU and to store temporarily at least one data set each data set having multiple data fields for storing data values; and a touch sensitive display screen for displaying at least a data I/O screen and for sensing contact by a user, the CPU defining multiple virtual regions upon the data I/O screen, each corresponding to a data field, the display screen sensing and informing the CPU of contact by the user within a virtual region, the display screen displaying within each virtual region a data value for the associated data field from a current data set for a current matter, the CPU identifying a virtual region contacted by the user and effecting an interface control associated therewith, and wherein each virtual region corresponds to a predefined processing sequence which is initiated by the user by contacting the associated virtual region.
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42. A multi-tiered computing system comprising:
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a first computing tier having a master server computer, the master server coupled to a master database of master data records; a second computing tier having a plurality of input computers, each input computer coupled to a respective local database of local data records, each local database replicated from the master database; and a third computing tier having a remote portable computer, the portable computer being in communication with a select input computer for accessing local data records, the portable computer comprising; a CPU for controlling operation of the portable computer; an interface memory for storing software to control the CPU and to store temporarily at least one data set each data set having multiple data fields for storing data values; and a touch sensitive display screen for displaying at least a data I/O screen and for sensing contact by a user, the CPU defining multiple virtual regions upon the data I/O screen, each corresponding to a data field, the display screen sensing and informing the CPU of contact by the user within a virtual region, the display screen displaying within each virtual region a data value for the associated data field from a current data set for a current matter, the CPU identifying a virtual region contacted by the user and effecting an interface control associated therewith, and wherein the data I/O screen further displays multiple icons, each being uniquely associated with a data field.
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Specification