Intelligent media reader and label printer

• US 6,776,343 B1
• Filed: 09/20/2001
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Gold, Stephen, Crighton, Ian Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US09/937,021
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472.01, 235/385, 235/383, 235/462.13, 235/462.45, 235/462.46, 235/472.02
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• 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: G11B 15/07 on containers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/65 wherein solid state memory is used for storing indexing information or metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/08714 Auxiliary features sensing such features G11B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/40 Identifying or analogous means applied to or incorporated in the record carrier and not intended for visual display simultaneously with the playing-back of the record carrier, e.g. label, leader, photograph
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 25/063 using tape inside container
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

A hand-held portable reader and labeling device for interrogating data storage cartridges of the type containing an in-built memory chip having information stored describing details of data contained on the data storage medium is disclosed. The reader-labeling device comprises a processor, random access memory, printer, display, keypad, operating system, transponder, receiver and battery power supply. By scrolling a menu display, key parameters describing a data cartridge can be accessed quickly and efficiently without the need to access the data storage medium itself. A cartridge media specific label may be rapidly printed for attachment to a data storage cartridge.

Claims

1. A hand holdable portable reader device capable of reading data stored in a memory device attached to a cartridge having data storage device therein, said reader device comprising:

a signal receiver means capable of receiving data signals emitted from said memory device;

a memory means capable of storing said data signals received by said receiver means;

a printer device configured to print human readable indicia determined by at least some of said data signals received by the printer device from said receiver means onto a print media; and

a processor device operable to control said printer device to print said indicia on said print media, said processor device being configured to select a predetermined selection of information items describing said data storage device from said data received from said memory device, and to control said printer device to print said predetermined set of information items onto a said print media in a predetermined format.

2. The reader device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said printer device is configured for printing a label having a size and shape suitable for direct attachment to a said data storage cartridge.

3. The reader device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processor device is operable under control of a dedicated operating system stored in a read only memory device.

4. The reader device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an interface means for interfacing with an external processor.

5. The reader device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reader device comprises a display means, and said processor device is arranged to operate under control of said an operating system and a keypad data entry means to display a selection of user selectable menu items on said display means.

6. The reader device as claimed in claim 1, having a keypad device comprising a print key wherein said processor is arranged to (a) operate to receive a print signal produced by activation of said print key, and (b) send a print signal to said printer for printing data items input via said receiver means.

7. The reader device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a port adapted to receive said cartridge and said receiver means is located within said port such that when a said cartridge is inserted into said port, the memory device of said cartridge lies in close physical proximity to said receiver means.

8. The reader device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a housing for accepting a roll of blank labels.

9. The reader device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a port adapted to receive said cartridge type data storage device, said port comprising a recess specifically shaped and formed to receive said tape data storage device.

10. The reader device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a port adapted to locate said cartridge type data storage device, said port comprising a surface against which said data storage device is adapted to be placed in close proximity to said surface, for enabling the receiver means to detect signals transmitted by said data storage device.

11. A hand holdable portable reader device capable of reading data stored in a memory device attached to a cartridge having data storage device therein, said reader device comprising:

a signal receiver means capable of receiving data signals emitted from said memory device;

a memory means capable of storing said data signals received by said receiver means;

a printer device configured to print human readable indicia determined by at least some of said data signals received by the printer device from said receiver means onto a print media; and

a processor device operable to control said printer device to print said indicia on said print media, a keypad control means, and a display device, said keypad control means being finger operable for inputting user commands to said processor, for controlling said display device to scan through data items stored in the memory means in response to the memory storing the data signals, the data items describing said data storage structure, said data items retrieved from said memory means.

12. A hand holdable portable reader device capable of reading data stored in a memory device attached to a cartridge having data storage device therein, said reader device comprising:

a signal receiver means capable of receiving data signals emitted from said memory device;

a memory means capable of storing said data signals received by said receiver means;

a printer device configured to print human readable indicia determined by at least some of said data signals received by the printer device from said receiver means onto a print media; and

a processor device operable to control said printer device to print said indicia on said print media, a keypad control means configured for operating such that upon a user activating a key of said keypad control means, said printer device operates to print a predetermined selection of data items describing said data storage device, onto said print media.

13. A hand holdable portable reader for reading data stored in a memory structure attached to a housing having a data storage structure and an emitter of data signals including information indicative of at least one of the housing and data stored in the memory structure, said reader comprising:

a hand holdable portable casing including;

(a) a port for receiving the housing;

(b) a signal receiver for receiving the emitted data signals only while the housing is received in the port;

(c) a memory for storing the data signals received by said receiver;

(d) a printer for printing onto a print medium at least some of said information in human readable form;

(f) a processor for selectively causing the memory to couple at least one of the received and stored data signals to the printer; and

(g) a battery power supply compartment with connections for powering the signal receiver, memory, printer and processor.

14. The reader of claim 13 wherein said printer is arranged for printing a label having a size and shape for direct attachment to said housing for the data storage structure.

15. The reader of claim 13 wherein said processor is arranged for causing the memory to couple a plurality of the received and stored data signals to the printer, said printer being arranged for printing in human readable form the information in the plural received and stored data signals on a label having a size and shape for direct attachment to said housing for the data storage structure.

16. The reader of claim 15 wherein the casing further comprises a display and a key pad adapted to be tactile operated by a user, said processor being arranged for causing the memory to couple the plurality of the received and stored data signals to the display and for causing the key pad to selectively couple commands resulting from tactile operation of the key pad to the display and printer, the display being arranged to respond to the plurality of the received and stored data signals for displaying in human readable form the information in the plural received and stored data signals coupled to the display.

17. The reader of claim 16 wherein the casing further comprises a dedicated operating system for the processor.

18. The reader of claim 17 wherein the printer comprises a receptacle for receiving a roll of blank labels adapted to have printed thereon by the printer the information in human readable form in the plural received and stored data signals, the blank labels having a size and shape for direct attachment to said housing for the data storage structure.

19. The reader of claim 18 wherein said port has a surface, said housing and casing being arranged so said housing is adapted to be placed in close proximity to, and spaced from, said surface for enabling the receiver to detect the emitted data signals.

20. The reader of claim 13 wherein the casing further comprises a display and a key pad adapted to be tactile operated by a user, said processor being arranged for causing the memory to couple a plurality of the received and stored data signals to the display and for causing the key pad to selectively couple commands resulting from tactile operation of the key pad to the display and printer, the display being arranged to respond to the plurality of the received and stored data signals for displaying in human readable form the information in the plural received and stored data signals coupled to the display.

21. The reader of claim 13 wherein the casing further comprises a dedicated operating system for the processor.

22. The reader of claim 13 wherein the printer comprises a receptacle for receiving a roll of blank labels adapted to have printed thereon by the printer the information in human readable form in a plurality of the received and stored data signals, the blank labels having a size and shape for direct attachment to said housing for the data storage structure.

23. The reader of claim 13 wherein said port has a surface, said housing and casing being arranged so said housing is adapted to be placed in close proximity to, and spaced from, said surface for enabling the receiver to detect the emitted data signals.

24. A hand holdable portable reader for reading data from a memory structure on a data storage structure in a housing, said reader comprising:

a casing having;

(a) a port for accepting the data storage structure;

(b) a reader for reading data from the memory structure, the reader being located in the port and arranged to read the data from the memory structure only while the data storage structure is in the port;

(c) a processor for controlling said reader and for accepting data signals received by said reader;

(d) an operating system for controlling said processor in response to a sequence of command signals adapted to be derived by the operating system;

(e) a display for displaying in user readable format information included in said data received by said reader;

(f) a key pad for receiving user input commands for activation of menu items in said operating system; and

(g) a printer adapted to be operated under control of said processor for printing a label adapted to be attached to the housing in response to a user input command supplied to the key pad, said printer being adapted to be activated so said label includes in user readable format information included in at least some of the data read from the memory structure.