Signaling arrangement for and method of signaling in a wireless local area network

• US 6,764,012 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2001
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Wild, Robert, Sackett, William, Curry, Daniel, Ryder, Michael, Boccuzzi, Frank, Biuso, Anthony, Cordes, Ellen, Poloniewicz, Paul, Shellhammer, Stephen J., Connolly, Sean, Willins, Bruce A., Hamilton, Alistair R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US09/898,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20020017567A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462-4-4, 235/472-1-4, 235/462.43, 235/462.01
• US Class Current: 235/462.45
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/00 Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece clockwork cases for special purposes G04B37/12; clocks with magnifying glass built in the face G04B39/00; time-pieces in which parts or cases produce special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects, G04B45/00, particularly with inscriptions or pictures moved by hand G04B45/003, with specially shaped cases or parts G04B45/0069; combination of writing or drawing implements with devices for indicating time B43K29/087; combined with cameras, projectors, or photographic printing apparatus G03B29/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10653 using flexible or piezoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/109 adaptations to make the hand-held scanner useable as a fixed scanner

Abstract

A signaling arrangement and method for use in a wireless local area network managed by a system manager include a reader for electro-optically reading bar code symbols. The system manager verifies that a symbol has been successfully read and sends an acknowledgment signal by wireless, radio frequency transmission to a remote indicator operative for generating an alert signal noticeable to a user.

Claims

1. A signaling arrangement for use in a wireless local area network, comprising:

a) a scanner operable by a user for electro-optically scanning indicia to be read, and for generating an indicia signal indicative of the indicia, the scanner having a wireless, radio frequency transmitter;

b) a system manager having a radio frequency receiver in wireless communication with the transmitter of the scanner for receiving the indicia signal transmitted by the transmitter, for processing the indicia signal, and for generating an acknowledgment signal indicative that the indicia signal has been processed, the system manager being separate and physically remote from the scanner and having a wireless, radio frequency transmitter; and

c) an indicator being separate and physically remote from the scanner and the system manager and having a radio frequency receiver in wireless communication with one of the transmitters for receiving the acknowledgment signal, and the indicator being positionable independently of the scanner for generating an alert signal noticeable to the user upon receipt of the acknowledgment signal.

2. The signaling arrangement of claim 1, wherein the scanner includes a light source for directing a light beam at the indicia for reflection therefrom, a light detector having a field of view and operative for detecting light reflected from the indicia, and a scanning means for scanning at least one of the light beam and the field of view.

3. The signaling arrangement of claim 1, wherein each transmitter operates under a low power communications protocol.

4. The signaling arrangement of claim 1, wherein the system manager is operatively connected to a database in which a look-up table is accessed during processing of the indicia signal.

5. The signaling arrangement of claim 1, wherein the indicator includes a light that is illuminated upon receipt of the acknowledgment signal.

6. The signaling arrangement of claim 1, wherein the indicator includes a speaker that generates audible sound upon receipt of the acknowledgment signal.

7. The signaling arrangement of claim 1, wherein the indicator is remotely located from the scanner.

8. The signaling arrangement of claim 1, wherein the system manager generates the acknowledgment signal by processing the indicia signal to verify that the indicia has been successfully read, and wherein the alert signal advises the user that the indicia was successfully read and prompts that another action be performed.

9. The signaling arrangement of claim 8, wherein the other action includes having the user aim the scanner at another indicia to be read.

10. The signaling arrangement of claim 8, wherein the other action includes moving an object bearing the indicia to a destination.

11. The signaling arrangement of claim 1, wherein the scanner includes a housing hand-held by the user and wherein the indicator is supported by the user remotely from the housing of the scanner.

12. The signaling arrangement of claim 11, wherein the indicator is supported by clothing worn by the user.

13. A signaling method for use in a wireless local area network, comprising the steps of:

a) electro-optically scanning indicia to be read by user operation of a scanner, and generating an indicia signal indicative of the indicia;

b) transmitting and receiving the indicia signal by wireless, radio frequency communication to and at a system manager for processing the indicia signal, the system manager being located separate and physically remote from the scanner;

c) generating an acknowledgment signal indicative that the indicia signal has been processed; and

d) transmitting and receiving the acknowledgment signal by wireless, radio frequency communication to and at an indicator located separate and physically remote from the scanner and the system manager, and independently positioning the indicator relative to the scanner for generating an alert signal noticeable to the user.

14. The signaling method of claim 13, wherein the scanning step is performed by directing a light beam at the indicia for reflection therefrom, detecting light reflected from the indicia over a field of view, and scanning at least one of the light beam and the field of view.

15. The signaling method of claim 13, wherein the generating of the alert signal is performed by illuminating a light.

16. The signaling method of claim 13, wherein the generating of the alert signal is performed by generating an audible sound.

17. The signaling method of claim 13, wherein the acknowledgment signal is generated upon verification that the indicia has been successfully read, and wherein the generating of the alert signal prompts the performance of another action.

18. The signaling method of claim 17, wherein the other action includes the step of having the user initiate the scanning of another indicia to be read.

19. The signaling method of claim 17, wherein the other action includes the step of moving an object bearing the indicia to a destination.

20. The signaling method of claim 17, wherein the other action includes the step of sorting an object bearing the indicia to one of a plurality of destinations.