Method and apparatus for remote data telemetry and point of sale method and apparatus

• US 6,388,561 B1
• Filed: 04/30/1998
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Tuttle, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/071,130
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825, 340/54, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.8, 340/572, 340/10.1, 340/10.5, 340/5.9, 340/570, 705/1, 371/37.1, 342/50, 342/42, 709/253, 709/231, 709/103, 222/651, 725/24, 235/22
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/206 comprising security or operator identification provisions, e.g. password entry
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0018 Constructional details, e.g. of drawer, printing means, input means
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00

Abstract

A remote data telemetry device comprising a wireless identification device; a tactile input device; and a decoder coupled to the tactile input device and the wireless identification device, the wireless identification device being configured to transmit data input into the tactile input device. A method of manufacturing a point of sale terminal, the method comprising coupling a radio frequency identification device to a keyboard and configuring the radio frequency identification device to transmit, by radio frequency, data entered into the keyboard.

Claims

1. A point of sale device for use with an interrogator configured to transmit a command to the point of sale device and thereafter transmit a continuous wave, the point of sale device comprising:

an RFID defined by a single integrated circuit and including a backscatter modulator, and an active transmitter and being configured to transmit using a selectable one of the backscatter modulator and the active transmitter;

a tactile input device;

a decoder coupled to the tactile input device and the wireless identification device, the wireless identification device being configured to receive data input into the tactile input device and to transmit the data by selectively reflecting or not reflecting the continuous wave generated by the interrogator when using the backscatter modulator; and

a selectively openable cash drawer coupled to the tactile input device, the tactile input device being configured to selectively send a signal to the cash drawer, and the cash drawer being configured to open in response to the signal from the tactile input device.

2. A point of sale device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the tactile input device comprises a keyboard, and wherein the decoder comprises a keyboard decoder.

3. A point of sale device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the wireless identification device comprises an integrated circuit including a receiver, a modulator, and a microprocessor in communication with the receiver and modulator.

4. A point of sale device in accordance with claim 1 and wherein the wireless identification device and the decoder are defined by a single integrated circuit.

5. A point of sale device comprising:

a keyboard;

a keyboard decoder coupled to the keyboard;

a radio frequency identification device coupled to the keyboard, the radio frequency identification device including a backscatter modulator and an active transmitter and being configured to transmit, by radio frequency, data entered into the keyboard, using a selectable one of the backscatter modulator and the active transmitter; and

a selectively openable cash drawer coupled to the keyboard, the keyboard being configured to selectively send a signal to the cash drawer, and the cash drawer being configured to open in response to the signal from the keyboard.

6. A point of sale device in accordance with claim 5 wherein the radio frequency identification device further includes a memory configured to store a unique identification number, and wherein the radio frequency identification device is configured to transmit the unique identification number as well as the data input into the keyboard.

7. A point of sale device in accordance with claim 5 wherein the radio frequency identification device is an active radio frequency identification device.

8. A point of sale device in accordance with claim 5 wherein the keyboard comprises keys that are programmable to represent items that can be purchased.

9. A point of sale device in accordance with claim 5 wherein the radio frequency identification device is defined by an integrated circuit.

10. A point of sale device in accordance with claim 5 wherein the radio frequency identification device and the keyboard decoder are defined by a single integrated circuit.

11. A method of remote data telemetry comprising:

providing an interrogator;

providing a point of sale device including a wireless identification device defined by a single integrated circuit and including a backscatter modulator, and an active transmitter and being configured to transmit using a selectable one of the backscatter modulator and the active transmitter, a data input device, a decoder coupled to the data input device and the wireless identification device, and a selectively openable cash drawer coupled to the data input device, the wireless identification device being configured to transmit data that has been input into the data input device to the interrogator, the cash drawer being configured to open in response to a signal from the data input device;

providing a second point of sale device including a second wireless identification device defined by a single integrated circuit and including a backscatter modulator, and an active transmitter and being configured to transmit using a selectable one of the backscatter modulator and the active transmitter, a second data input device, a second decoder coupled to the second data input device and the second wireless identification device, and a second selectively openable cash drawer coupled to the second data input device, the second wireless identification device being configured to transmit data that has been input into the second data input device to the interrogator, the second cash drawer being configured to open in response to a signal from the second data input device, the interrogator being configured to distinguish data transmitted by the second point of sale device from data transmitted by the first point of sale device;

entering data into the first data input device and effecting wireless transmission of the data from the first point of sale device to the interrogator;

entering data into the second data input device and effecting wireless transmission of the data from the second point of sale device to the interrogator;

coupling the first wireless identification device and the first data input device to a common power source; and

coupling the second wireless identification device and the second data input device to a second common power source.

12. A method of remote data telemetry in accordance with claim 11 wherein the first wireless identification device includes memory configured to store first identification indicia, wherein the second wireless identification device includes memory configured to store second identification indicia different from the first identification indicia, the method further comprising effecting transmission of the first identification indicia to the interrogator from the first wireless identification device, and effecting transmission of the second identification indicia to the interrogator from the second wireless identification device.

13. A point of sale device comprising:

a keyboard, wherein the keyboard comprises keys that are programmable to represent items that can be purchased;

a keyboard decoder coupled to the keyboard;

a radio frequency identification device defined by a single integrated circuit and including a backscatter modulator, and an active transmitter and being configured to transmit using a selectable one of the backscatter modulator and the active transmitter, the radio frequency identification device being configured to be coupled to the keyboard, the radio frequency identification device being configured to transmit, by radio frequency, data entered into the keyboard; and

a selectively openable cash drawer coupled to the keyboard, the keyboard being configured to selectively send a signal to the cash drawer, and the cash drawer being configured to open in response to the signal from the keyboard.

14. A point of sale device in accordance with claim 13 wherein the radio frequency identification device further includes a memory configured to store a unique identification number, and wherein the radio frequency identification device is configured to transmit the unique identification number as well as the data input into the keyboard.

15. A point of sale device in accordance with claim 13 wherein the radio frequency identification device is an active radio frequency identification device.

16. A point of sale device in accordance with claim 13 wherein the radio frequency identification device and the keyboard decoder are defined by a single integrated circuit.

17. A point of sale device in accordance with claim 13 wherein the radio frequency identification device and the keyboard decoder are defined by a single integrated circuit.

18. A point of sale device comprising:

a keyboard;

a keyboard decoder coupled to the keyboard;

a radio frequency identification device coupled to the keyboard, the radio frequency identification device being configured to transmit, by radio frequency, data entered into the keyboard; and

a selectively openable cash drawer coupled to the keyboard, the keyboard being configured to selectively send a signal to the cash drawer, and the cash drawer being configured to open in response to the signal from the keyboard, wherein the radio frequency identification device is defined by a single integrated circuit and includes a backscatter modulator and an active transmitter and is configured to transmit using a selectable one of the backscatter modulator and the active transmitter.