Shopping cart mounted portable data collection device with tethered dataform reader

• US 6,119,935 A
• Filed: 12/19/1996
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Telxon Corporation (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Jelen, William M., O'Hagan, Timothy P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien Minh
• Application Number:
  US08/770,690
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/375, 235/378, 235/385, 235/472, 235/462, 235/432, 364/401, 364/403, 364/405
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1408 Display devices mounted on it, e.g. advertisement displays
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1416 mounted on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1424 Electronic display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious 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 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/084 sensing magnetic material by relative movement detecting flux changes without altering its magnetised state
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0081 the reader being a portable scanner or data reader G07G1/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A system for acquiring shopping list information includes a user terminal and a base unit in selective data communication via a wide-area network, such as the global Internet, common data carrier or a modulated wave propagating over a public utility. The user terminal includes a bar code scanner for getting Uniform Product Code information from a product container or from a manufacturer'"'"'s coupon. The user compiles, via the user terminal, a shopping list database by scanning previously obtained products, manufacturers coupons, or using direct user input via an interface such as a keyboard or mouse. Once compiled, the database is selectively transmitted to a base unit situated at a retailer via the wide-area network.

Claims

1. A system for building shopping list information comprising:

a remote communicator means adapted for remote data interchange with an associated base unit;

a remote processor means for communicating product data to the base unit;

a user interface adapted for selectively receiving product data representative of a product selected for purchase;

a memory adapted for storing product data received by the user interface; and

a wide-area network adapted to carry product data between the remote communicator and the associated base unit.

2. The system for building shopping list information of claim 1 wherein the product data includes data derived from indicia associated with at least one product.

3. The system for building shopping list information of claim 2 wherein the product data includes data derived from an associated bar code reader.

4. The system for building shopping list information of claim 3 further comprising database means for forming a database from the product data, and wherein the memory is further adapted for storing the database.

5. The system for building shopping list information of claim 4 wherein the product data further includes at least one of package data associated with a product package and coupon data associated with a product coupon.

6. The system for building shopping list information of claim 5 wherein the database means further includes:

means for adapted for forming a coupon file portion of the database from coupon data; and

means adapted for forming a package file portion of the database from the package data.

7. The system for building shopping list information of claim 6 further comprising:

a hand-held terminal case securedly containing each of the remote communicator, remote processor, the user interface, a bar code reader, and the memory.

8. The system for building shopping list information of claim 1 wherein the wide-area network is comprised of the Internet.

9. The system for building shopping list information of claim 8 wherein the wide-area network is comprised of an alternating current power distribution grid, and wherein the remote communicator includes means for modulating the product data at a frequency higher than that of power being distributed through the alternating current power distribution grid.

10. A method of building shopping list information comprising:

selectively completing remote data interchange of product data between a remote communicator and an associated, distant base unit;

selectively receiving product data representative of a product selected for purchase;

storing product data received in an associated memory; and

communicating product data between the remote communicator and the associated base unit via a wide-area network.

11. The method of building shopping list information of claim 10 wherein the product data includes data derived from indicia associated with at least one product.

12. The method of building shopping list information of claim 11 wherein the product data includes data derived from an associated bar code reader.

13. The method of building shopping list information of claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

forming a database from the product data; and

storing the database in the associated memory.

14. The method of building shopping list information of claim 13 wherein the product data further includes at least one of package data associated with a product package and coupon data associated with a product coupon.

15. The method of building shopping list information of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

forming a coupon file portion of the database from coupon data; and

forming a package file portion of the database from the package data.

16. The system for building shopping list information of claim 10 wherein the wide-area network is comprised of the Internet.

17. The method of building shopping list information of claim 16 wherein the wide-area network is comprised of an alternating current power distribution grid, and wherein the remote communicator includes means for modulating the product data at a frequency higher than that of power being distributed through the alternating current power distribution grid.

18. A system for building shopping list information comprising:

a portable data terminal including,

a remote communicator means adapted for remote data interchange with an associated base unit,

a remote processor means for communicating product data to the base unit,

a user interface, including a bar code scanner, adapted for selectively receiving product data, inclusive of at least one of package data and coupon data, representative of a product selected for purchase, and

a memory adapted for storing product data received by the user interface,

means for forming a database inclusive of the product data; and

a base unit adapted to receive product data from the remote communicator via a wide-area network.

19. The system for building shopping list information of claim 18 wherein the wide-area network is comprised of the Internet.

20. The method of building shopping list information of claim 18 wherein the wide-area network is comprised of an alternating current power distribution grid, and wherein the remote communicator includes means for modulating the product data at a frequency higher than that of power being distributed through the alternating current power distribution grid.