Data collection and dissemination system

• US 6,694,359 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2000
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intermec (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Unova Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Morris, Michael D., Zumbach, Lyle L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Heckler, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/519,921
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/219
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0003 by switching between different modulation schemes
• 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 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A data collecting system is divided into first, second, and third information portions and includes at least one portable terminal for collecting data at a remote site. The terminal comprises a device for collecting data and a first memory for storing the first information portion. The terminal operates to sense the need for information for its use to generate an information call identifying the information and to respond to the information call for searching its memory for the information. If the information is available it is supplied for use by the portable terminal. The system further comprises a first mobile server which comprises a second memory for storing the second information portion, and responds to the information call for searching the second memory for the information. The system further includes a second server at a main information center. The second server comprises a third memory for storing the third information portion, and searches the third memory for the information. The data collection terminal is responsive to the absence of the information within the first memory for transmitting from the calling terminal the information call via a first communication link to the first mobile server. The mobile server responds to the receipt of the information call to search the second memory for the information and, if present, accessing the information from the second memory and transmitting it via the first communication link for use by the calling terminal.

Claims

1. A data collection and dissemination system comprising:

at least one data collection device operable to collect data and to transmit information related to the data collected;

a mobile server communicatively coupled to the at least one data collection device, the mobile server being operable to receive the information transmitted by the at least one data collection device and to transmit information to the at least one data collection device;

a communication network communicatively coupled to the mobile server, the communication network being operable to receive the information transmitted by the mobile server and to transmit information to the at least one data collection device;

wherein application data employed by the at least one data collection device is stored in memory located in any of the at least one data collection device, the mobile server and the communication network, and is accessible to the at least one data collection device.

2. The data collection and dissemination system of claim 1, wherein the communication network includes a host computer.

3. The data collection and dissemination system of claim 1, wherein the mobile server is in wireless communication with the at least one data collection device.

4. The data collection and dissemination system of claim 1, wherein a gateway of the communication network is communicatively coupled to the mobile server by a leased line.

5. The data collection and dissemination system of claim 1, wherein the communication network is in wireless communication with the mobile server.

6. The data collection and dissemination system of claim 1, wherein the mobile server serves as a gateway to a plurality of databases.

7. The data collection and dissemination system of claim 1, wherein the information transmitted from the mobile server to the at least one data collection device includes at least one of an executable file and a program overlay.

8. A data communication system comprising:

an information storage and retrieval system having addressably stored data; and

an access server communicatively coupled to the information storage system, the access server having a first memory for storing data and comprising;

a transceiving system operable to receive a request for data, to transmit a request for data to the information storage and retrieval system, to receive data from the information storage and retrieval system, and to transmit data; and

a processor operable to identify whether data requested is stored in the first memory, to control the transceiver to transmit a request for data to the information storage and retrieval system upon identification that the data requested is not stored in the first memory, to control the transceiving system to receive data from the information storage and retrieval system that corresponds to the request for data, and to control the transceiving system to transmit the data requested; and

at least one data collection device having a second memory for storing data, the at least one data collection device comprising;

a data collection mechanism operable to retrieve information pertaining to an item according to an application program;

a processor operable to control the data collection mechanism according to the application program and to identify whether data required by the application program is stored in the second memory; and

a transceiver operable to transmit a request for data to the access server upon identification by the processor that data requested by the application program is not stored in the second memory, and operable to receive data transmitted by the access server that corresponds to the request for data.

9. The data communication system of claim 8, wherein the information storage and retrieval system includes a host computer.

10. The data communication system of claim 8, wherein the request for data transmitted by the transceiver of the at least one data collection device includes a request for application program information.

11. The data communication system of claim 10, wherein the data transmitted by the access server to the at least one data collection device includes at least one of an executable file and a program overlay.

12. The data communication system of claim 8, wherein the mobile server is in wireless communication with the at least one data collection device via the transceiving system of the access server and the transceiver of the at least one data collection device.

13. The data communication system of claim 8, wherein the information storage and retrieval system includes a gateway that is communicatively coupled to the access server by a leased line.

14. The data communication system of claim 8, wherein the transceiving system of the access server is in wireless communication with the information storage and retrieval system.

15. The data communication system of claim 8, wherein the access server serves as a gateway to a plurality of databases.

16. A method of operating a portable data collection terminal to retrieve data, comprising:

collecting data identifying an item;

requesting information related to the item, the information being in the form of at least one of an application program, a memory overlay and application specific data, the step of requesting information comprising;

determining whether the information related to the item is stored in the portable data collection terminal; and

transmitting a request for data to a server that is communicatively coupled to an information storage system if the information related to the item is not stored in the portable data collection terminal;

processing the requested information related to the item.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the information storage system includes a host computer.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein transmitting the request for data to the server is performed by wireless communication between the portable data collection terminal and the server.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the information storage system includes a gateway that is communicatively coupled to the server by a leased line.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the server is in wireless communication with the information storage system.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the server serves as a gateway to a plurality of databases.