Portable electronic terminal and data processing system
First Claim
1. A personal shopping system for combined use in both a home of a user and at least one shopping establishment, said system comprising:
- a host computer;
a host modem coupled to said host computer, at least one shopping establishment kiosk cradle coupled to said host computer, said at least one shopping establishment kiosk cradle in turn comprising;
a kiosk portable terminal-receiving station; and
a kiosk data interface associated with said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station;
a home cradle associated with the home of the user, said home cradle in turn comprising;
a home portable terminal-receiving station;
a home data interface associated with said home portable terminal-receiving station; and
a home data transfer circuit, said home data transfer circuit being coupled to said home data interface for data exchange therewith, said home data transfer circuit being configured for data exchange with said host modem; and
a portable terminal, said portable terminal in turn comprising;
a memory for storing data associated with bar codes which are in turn associated with items related to shopping; and
a two-way terminal data interface coupled to said memory, said terminal data interface being configured for data exchange with said kiosk data interface when said portable terminal is received in said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, said terminal data interface being configured for data exchange with said home data interface when said portable terminal is received in said home portable terminal-receiving station, said terminal data interface being configured for reading the bar codes associated with the items related to shopping;
wherein;
said home data transfer circuit supplies said host computer with the data associated with the bar codes when said portable terminal is received in said home portable terminal-receiving station;
said shopping establishment kiosk cradle accepts the data associated with the bar codes from said portable terminal through said kiosk data interface and said terminal data interface when said portable terminal is received in said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, and then downloads the data associated with the bar codes to said host computer; and
said host computer receives the data associated with the bar codes and stores the data in a shopping list database.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a personal shopping system for combined use in both the home of a user and a shopping establishment. The system includes a host computer which is coupled to a host modem and, optionally, to at least one wireless multi-access point. At least one shopping establishment kiosk cradle is employed to interface with a portable terminal which is also part of the system. The portable terminal can be used in both the shopping establishment and the home of the user. It is configured to read bar codes associated with items related to shopping, and includes a memory, a bar code reader, a wireless transceiver, and a data interface. The data interface of the terminal communicates with a data interface of the shopping establishment kiosk cradle. A home cradle for the portable terminal is also provided and is adapted to remain in the home of the user. It includes a home portable terminal-receiving station and a home data interface to communicate with the data interface of the portable terminal. A home data transfer circuit is also included to permit data exchange between the home data interface and the modem coupled to the host computer. The portable terminal can be provided with unique identifying indicia so that the terminal can serve as a form of identification for a user of the system. Database management of shopping lists for multiple establishments, including customer preferences, can be performed.
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Citations
67 Claims
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1. A personal shopping system for combined use in both a home of a user and at least one shopping establishment, said system comprising:
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a host computer;
a host modem coupled to said host computer, at least one shopping establishment kiosk cradle coupled to said host computer, said at least one shopping establishment kiosk cradle in turn comprising;
a kiosk portable terminal-receiving station; and
a kiosk data interface associated with said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station;
a home cradle associated with the home of the user, said home cradle in turn comprising;
a home portable terminal-receiving station;
a home data interface associated with said home portable terminal-receiving station; and
a home data transfer circuit, said home data transfer circuit being coupled to said home data interface for data exchange therewith, said home data transfer circuit being configured for data exchange with said host modem; and
a portable terminal, said portable terminal in turn comprising;
a memory for storing data associated with bar codes which are in turn associated with items related to shopping; and
a two-way terminal data interface coupled to said memory, said terminal data interface being configured for data exchange with said kiosk data interface when said portable terminal is received in said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, said terminal data interface being configured for data exchange with said home data interface when said portable terminal is received in said home portable terminal-receiving station, said terminal data interface being configured for reading the bar codes associated with the items related to shopping;
wherein;
said home data transfer circuit supplies said host computer with the data associated with the bar codes when said portable terminal is received in said home portable terminal-receiving station;
said shopping establishment kiosk cradle accepts the data associated with the bar codes from said portable terminal through said kiosk data interface and said terminal data interface when said portable terminal is received in said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, and then downloads the data associated with the bar codes to said host computer; and
said host computer receives the data associated with the bar codes and stores the data in a shopping list database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 56, 57, 58, 60, 61)
a display for displaying information to the user; and
a plurality of control keys for permitting the user to interact with the display.
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7. The personal shopping system of claim 1, wherein:
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said kiosk data interface is a kiosk data interface;
said home data interface is a home data interface;
said two-way terminal data interface is a two-way terminal data interface; and
said portable terminal further comprises an elongate pen-shaping housing having an end with an optically transparent passage therethrough, said memory and said two-way terminal data interface being arranged in said housing with said two-way terminal data interface positioned for data communication through said transparent passage.
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8. The personal shopping system of claim 1, further comprising at least one wireless multi-access point associated with the shopping establishment and coupled to said host computer, wherein said portable terminal further comprises:
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a wireless transceiver coupled to said memory and configured for wireless communication with said at least one wireless multi-access point; and
a position-sensing module which senses position of the user within the shopping establishment and which enables communication with the user when the user has deviated from an optimal shopping path in the shopping establishment.
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56. The personal shopping system according to claim 1, 9 or 16, further comprising a shopping list derived from one or more recipes that is provided to said kiosk cradle and said portable terminal from said host computer.
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57. The personal shopping system of claim 56, wherein said shopping list can be modified by said user.
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58. The personal shopping system of claim 56, wherein said shopping list includes a server multiplier for adjusting said shopping list according to a desired number of servings.
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60. The personal shopping system of claim 58, wherein said shopping list can be modified by said user.
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61. The personal shopping system of claim 58, wherein said shopping list includes a server multiplier for adjusting said shopping list according to a desired number of servings.
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9. A personal shopping system home station adapted for use with a personal shopping system which is in turn adapted for use in both a home of a user and at least one shopping establishment, the personal shopping system including a host computer coupled to a host modem, the personal shopping system also including a shopping establishment kiosk cradle having a kiosk portable terminal-receiving station and a kiosk data interface, said home station comprising:
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a home cradle associated with the home of the user and adapted to remain therein, said home cradle in turn comprising;
a home portable terminal-receiving station;
a home data interface associated with said home portable terminal-receiving station; and
a home data transfer circuit, said home data transfer circuit being coupled to said home data interface for data exchange therewith, said home data transfer circuit being configured for data exchange with the host modem; and
a portable terminal which is portable between the home of the user and the at least one shopping establishment, said portable terminal in turn comprising;
a memory for storing data associated with bar codes which are in turn associated with items related to shopping; and
a two-way terminal data interface coupled to said memory, said terminal data interface being configured for data exchange with said kiosk data interface when said portable terminal is received in said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, said terminal data interface being configured for data exchange with said home data interface when said portable terminal is received in said home portable terminal-receiving station, said terminal data interface being configured for reading the bar codes associated with the items related to shopping;
wherein;
said home data transfer circuit supplies the host computer with the data associated with the bar codes when said portable terminal is received in said home portable terminal-receiving station;
the shopping establishment kiosk cradle accepts the data associated with the bar codes from said portable terminal through the kiosk data interface and said terminal data interface when said portable terminal is received in the kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, and then downloads the data associated with the bar codes to the host computer; and
the host computer receives the data associated with the bar codes and stores the data in a shopping list database. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 59)
a display for displaying information to the user; and
a plurality of control keys for permitting the user to interact with the display.
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14. The personal shopping system home station of claim 9, wherein:
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the kiosk data interface is a kiosk data interface;
said home data interface is a home data interface;
said two-way terminal data interface is a two-way terminal data interface; and
said portable terminal further comprises an elongate pen-shaping housing having an end with an optically transparent passage therethrough, said memory and said two-way terminal data interface being arranged in said housing with said two-way terminal data interface positioned for data communication through said transparent passage.
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15. The personal shopping system home station of claim 9, adapted for use with a personal shopping system which has at least one wireless multi-access point associated with the shopping establishment and coupled to the host computer, wherein said portable terminal further comprises:
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a wireless transceiver coupled to said memory and configured for wireless communication with the at least one wireless multi-access point; and
a position-sensing module which senses position of the user within the shopping establishment and which enables communication with the user when the user has deviated from an optimal shopping path in the shopping establishment.
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59. The personal shopping system according to claim 4 or 11, further comprising a shopping list derived from one or more recipes that is provided to said kiosk cradle and said portable terminal from said home personal computer.
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16. A personal shopping system portable terminal adapted for use with a personal shopping system which is in turn adapted for use in both a home of a user and at least one shopping establishment, the personal shopping system including a host computer coupled to a host modem, the personal shopping system also including a shopping establishment kiosk cradle coupled to the host computer and having a kiosk portable terminal-receiving station and a kiosk data interface, the personal shopping system further including a home cradle having a home portable terminal-receiving station and a home data interface, said personal shopping system portable terminal comprising:
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a memory for storing data associated with bar codes which are in turn associated with items related to shopping;
a two-way terminal data interface coupled to said memory, said terminal data interface being configured for data exchange with said kiosk data interface when said portable terminal is received in said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, said terminal data interface being configured for data exchange with said home data interface when said portable terminal is received in said home portable terminal-receiving station, said terminal data interface being configured for reading the bar codes associated with the items related to shopping; and
intrinsic identifying indicia, contained in said portable terminal, to identify the user to the host computer;
wherein;
said home data transfer circuit supplies the host computer with the data associated with the bar codes when said portable terminal is received in the home portable terminal-receiving station;
the shopping establishment kiosk cradle accepts the data associated with the bar codes from said portable terminal through the kiosk data interface and said terminal data interface when said portable terminal is received in the kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, and then downloads the data associated with the bar codes to the host computer; and
the host computer receives the data associated with the bar codes and stores the data in a shopping list database. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
a display for displaying information to the user; and
a plurality of control keys for permitting the user to interact with the display.
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19. The personal shopping system portable terminal of claim 16, wherein:
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the kiosk data interface is a kiosk data interface;
the home data interface is a home data interface;
said two-way terminal data interface is a two-way terminal data interface; and
said portable terminal further comprises an elongate pen-shaping housing having an end with an optically transparent passage therethrough, said memory and said two-way terminal data interface being arranged in said housing with said two-way terminal optical interface positioned for optical communication through said transparent passage.
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20. The personal shopping system portable terminal of claim 16, adapted for use with a personal shopping system which has at least one wireless multi-access point associated with the shopping establishment and coupled to the host computer, said portable terminal further comprising:
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a wireless transceiver coupled to said memory and configured for wireless communication with the at least one wireless multi-access point; and
a position-sensing module which senses position of the user within the shopping establishment and which enables communication with the user when the user has deviated from an optimal shopping path in the shopping establishment.
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21. A method of placing an order for items including at least one of goods and services, said method comprising the steps of:
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reading bar codes associated with the items with a two-way terminal data interface of a portable terminal;
storing data associated with the bar codes in a memory of said portable terminal;
transferring the data associated with the bar codes to a host computer for storage in a shopping list database, said transferring step including the sub-steps of;
transferring the data associated with the bar codes from said memory of said portable terminal to said two-way terminal data interface of said portable terminal;
transferring the data associated with the bar codes from said two-way terminal data interface to a data interface of one of;
a kiosk portable terminal-receiving station of a shopping establishment kiosk cradle which is coupled to said host computer; and
a home portable terminal-receiving station of a home cradle associated with a home of a user, said home cradle being coupled to said host computer; and
then transferring the data to said host computer; and
transmitting identifying indicia to said host computer to identify the user to the host computer. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 62, 63, 64)
reading a bar code associated with a shopping establishment with said two-way terminal data interface of said portable terminal; and
automatically contacting the shopping establishment when said portable terminal is placed in said home portable terminal-receiving station of said home cradle, on the basis of information encoded in the bar code associated with the shopping establishment.
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24. The method of claim 21, further comprising the additional step of displaying relevant portions of said shopping list database on a display of said portable terminal.
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25. The method of claim 21, wherein the data associated with the bar codes is transferred to said data interface of said home portable terminal-receiving station, further comprising the additional step of sending at least one verification query from said host computer to said home cradle to verify at least one of correctness and validity of an order which is based on said shopping list database.
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26. The method of claim 25, wherein said step of sending said verification query includes sending said verification query as a human language audible query to a telephone which is coupled to said home cradle.
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27. The method of claim 25, wherein said step of sending said verification query includes sending said verification query as a signal which triggers visual display of verification information on said portable terminal.
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28. The method of claim 25, wherein said step of sending said verification query includes verifying caller ID of a telephone number associated with said home portable terminal-receiving station.
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29. The method of claim 21, wherein:
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the data associated with the bar codes is transferred to said data interface of said home portable terminal-receiving station; and
the data associated with the bar codes is transferred from said home portable terminal-receiving station, through an interface card, to a separate home personal computer of the user, and then through a home modem to said host computer;
said method further comprising the additional steps of;
sending at least one verification query from said host computer to the separate home computer; and
responding to said at least one verification query with at least one response emanating from the separate home computer.
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30. The method of claim 21, wherein the data associated with the bar codes is transferred to said data interface of said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, said method further comprising the additional step of printing a hard copy shopping list from said kiosk cradle in response to the data associated with the bar codes.
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31. The method of claim 21, wherein the data associated with the bar codes is transferred to said data interface of said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, said method further comprising the additional steps of:
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scanning new items required to be purchased, in the shopping establishment, with said portable terminal; and
updating an electronic list in said memory of said portable terminal to indicate that a given one of the new items has been obtained.
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32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the additional step of periodically replacing said portable terminal in said kiosk portable-terminal receiving station of the shopping establishment in order to check said updated electronic list.
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33. The method of claim 21, wherein the data associated with the bar codes is transferred to said data interface of said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, said method further comprising the additional step of producing an optimized shopping list for the user in response to:
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said shopping list database; and
information, contained in said host computer, about locations of the items within the shopping establishment;
said optimized shopping list being ordered to direct the user through the shopping establishment in an efficient path.
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34. The method of claim 21, further comprising the additional steps of:
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generating an optimized shopping list which is ordered to direct the user through the shopping establishment in an efficient path;
sensing location of said portable terminal, and thus of the user, within the shopping establishment; and
communicating a message to the user when the user has deviated from the efficient path.
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35. The method of claim 21, wherein said storing step includes storing data pertaining to a given shopping establishment, further comprising the additional steps of:
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repeating said reading step for items associated with another given shopping establishment; and
repeating said storing step for said items associated with said another given shopping establishment;
whereby multiple lists of items for at least two different shopping establishments are stored in said portable terminal.
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62. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:
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generating a shopping list derived from one or more recipes; and
providing said list to said kiosk cradle and said portable terminal.
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63. The method of claim 62, further comprising the step of modifying said shopping list by said user.
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64. The method of claim 62, further comprising the step of adjusting said shopping list according to a servings multiplier.
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36. A system for ordering and supplying selected goods and services, comprising:
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a host computer having a host computer memory for providing centrally stored data;
one or more stackable cradle assemblies coupled to and in communication with said host computer, each of said cradle assemblies in turn comprising;
a plurality of docking stations each having a corresponding cradle data interface;
a data transfer circuit coupled to said cradle data interface for exchanging said centrally stored data and newly entered personnel management data therewith, said data transfer circuit being configured for exchanging said centrally stored and newly entered data with said host computer; and
a plurality of portable terminals for displaying said centrally stored data and for providing said newly entered data to said host computer, each of said portable terminals in turn comprising;
a memory for storing said centrally stored and newly entered personnel management data; and
a terminal data interface coupled to said memory, said terminal data interface being configured for exchanging said centrally stored and newly entered data with said cradle data interface when said portable terminal is docked within said corresponding one of said cradle docking stations;
wherein said cradle data transfer circuit supplies said host computer with said newly entered data when said portable terminal is docked within said corresponding one of said cradle docking stations, and said host computer receives said newly entered data and stores said newly entered data in said host computer memory. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
a plurality of said cradle assemblies; and
a plurality of stacking elements connected to said cradle assemblies for interconnecting said plurality of said cradle assemblies in a stacked configuration.
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38. The system of claim 37, wherein said stacked configuration comprises an arrangement of n cradles, wherein the bottommost cradle is the first cradle and the topmost cradle is the n-th cradle, and wherein each cradle i for i=1 to n requires n-i sets of said stacking elements attached to the backside of thereof, and wherein each cradle i for i=1 to n requires i−
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39. The system of claim 36, wherein said data transfer circuit provides serial data communications between each of said portable terminals and said host computer.
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40. The system of claim 36, wherein said data transfer circuit provides Ethernet-based data communications between each of said portable terminals and said host computer.
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41. The system of claim 36, further comprising a plurality of said stackable cradle assemblies daisy chained to one another.
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42. The system of claim 41, wherein at least one of said stackable cradle assemblies comprises a data transfer circuit for providing serial data communications between each of said portable terminals and said host computer.
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43. The system of claim 41, wherein at least one of said stackable cradle assemblies comprises a data transfer circuit for providing Ethernet-based data communications between each of said portable terminals and said host computer.
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44. The system of claim 36, wherein each of said stackable cradle assemblies comprises a plurality of visual indicators for displaying the operational status of said portable terminals.
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45. The system of claim 36, further comprising:
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means for detecting the presence and status of said portable terminals connected to said docking stations and corresponding cradle data interfaces;
means for automatically synchronizing said portable terminals with said host computer.
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46. The system of claim 36, wherein each of said portable terminals further comprise means for performing diagnostic tests.
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47. The system of claim 36, wherein said centrally stored personnel management data comprises bar code data associated with items related to shopping.
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48. The system of claim 36, wherein said portable terminal further comprises:
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a display for displaying information to the user; and
a plurality of control keys for permitting the user to interact with the display.
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49. The system of claim 36, wherein said system is adapted for use as a personal shopping system.
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50. A system for ordering and supplying selected goods and services, comprising:
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a host computer;
a host modem coupled to said host computer;
at least one centrally located kiosk cradle coupled to said host computer, said at least one kiosk cradle in turn comprising;
a kiosk portable terminal-receiving station; and
a kiosk data interface associated with said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station;
a home cradle associated with the home of the user, said home cradle in turn comprising;
a home portable terminal-receiving station;
a home data interface associated with said home portable terminal-receiving station; and
a home data transfer circuit, said home data transfer circuit being coupled to said home data interface for data exchange therewith, said home data transfer circuit being configured for data exchange with said host modem; and
a portable terminal, said portable terminal in turn comprising;
a memory for storing data associated with bar codes; and
a two-way terminal data interface coupled to said memory, said terminal data interface being configured for data exchange with said kiosk data interface when said portable terminal is received in said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, said terminal data interface being configured for data exchange with said home data interface when said portable terminal is received in said home portable terminal-receiving station, said terminal data interface being configured for reading the bar codes;
wherein;
said home data transfer circuit supplies said host computer with the data associated with the bar codes when said portable terminal is received in said home portable terminal-receiving station;
said kiosk cradle accepts the data associated with the bar codes from said portable terminal through said kiosk data interface and said terminal data interface when said portable terminal is received in said kiosk portable terminal-receiving station, and then downloads the data associated with the bar codes to said host computer; and
said host computer receives the data associated with the bar codes and stores the data in a database. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
a display for displaying information to the user; and
a plurality of control keys for permitting the user to interact with the display.
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54. The system of claim 50, wherein said portable terminal further comprises an elongate pen-shaping housing having an end with an optically transparent passage therethrough, said memory and said two-way terminal data interface being arranged in said housing with said two-way terminal data interface positioned for data communication through said transparent passage.
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55. The system of claim 50, further comprising at least one wireless multi-access point coupled to said host computer, wherein said portable terminal further comprises:
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a wireless transceiver coupled to said memory and configured for wireless communication with said at least one wireless multi-access point; and
a position-sensing module which senses position of the user and which enables communication with the user.
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65. In an information system having a host computer and at least one portable terminal having a bar code reader, a shopping method comprising:
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storing one or more recipes in said host computer, said recipes each includes a list of ingredients;
generating bar codes corresponding to said list;
forwarding said bar codes and list to said portable terminal;
displaying said list at said portable terminal;
scanning, as required, goods corresponding to said ingredients until all goods corresponding to said ingredients have been individually acquired;
logging said scanning of goods to verify complete scanning of said goods corresponding to said ingredients. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67)
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Specification