Wearable communication system

• US 6,853,293 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2002
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Hetfield, Margaret L., Sharony, Jacob, Connelly, James, Poloniewicz, Paul R., Ramputi, Michael A., Shellhammer, Stephen J., Katz, Joseph, Slutsky, Michael, Beach, Robert E., Bard, Simon, Swartz, Jerome
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US10/253,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20030020629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.92, 235/462.15, 235/462.44, 235/462.45, 235/375, 235/472.02, 235/472.01, 200/61.01
• US Class Current: 340/5.92
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266

Abstract

A portable data input or computer system includes an input/output device such as a keyboard and a display, another data input device such as an optical bar code scanner, and a data processor module. To scan bar code type indicia, the operator points the scanner at the bar code and triggers the scanner to read the indicia. All the system components are distributed on an operator'"'"'s body and together form a personal area system (PAS). Components may include a scanner or imager, a wrist unit, a headpiece including an eyepiece display, speaker and a microphone. Components within a particular PAS communicate with each other over a personal area network (PAN). Individual PASs may be combined into a network of PASs called a PAS cluster. PASs in a particular PAS cluster can communicate with each other over another wireless communication channel. Individual PAS can gain access to a Local Area Network (LAN) and/or a Wide Area Network (WAN) via an access point. Individual PASs can use devices, such as servers and PCs situated either on the LAN or the WAN to retrieve and exchange information. Individual PAS components can provide automatic speech and image recognition. PAS components may also act a telephone, a pager, or any other communication device having access to a LAN or a WAN. Transmission of digitized voice and/or video data can be achieved over an Internet link.

Claims

1. A personal communication system adapted to be distributed on a user'"'"'s body, said system comprising:

an input device having keys for entering user inputs into said system d a display for providing user outputs from said system, said input device having an indicia reading device;

a ring member adapted to be worn on the user'"'"'s finger, said ring member having a trigger button, a battery designed to fit around a portion of the user'"'"'s finger, and wireless communication circuitry for communicating with said input device;

a central processing unit in communication with said input device,

wherein communication between said central processing unit and said input device is accomplished over a wireless communication channel.

2. The personal communication system of claim 1, further comprising a peripheral device in communication with said central processing unit.

3. The personal communication system of claim 1, wherein said indicia reading device is a laser scanner.

4. The personal communication system of claim 3, wherein said indicia reading device is a CCD scanner.

5. The personal communication system of claim 4, wherein said indicia reading device is a two-dimensional CCD scanner.

6. The personal communication system of claim 1, wherein said indicia reading device is a solid state imager.

7. The personal communication system of claim 6, wherein said solid state imager is a CMOS imager.

8. The personal communication system of claim 6, wherein said solid state imager is a CCD imager.

9. The personal communication system of claim 1, wherein said input device enables entry of voice commands.

10. The personal communication system of claim 9, further including a remote server in communication with said central processing unit for enabling automatic speech recognition of said voice commands entered into said input device.

11. The personal communication system of claim 10, wherein communication between said server and said central processing unit is accomplished using an internet communication protocol.

12. The personal communication system of claim 1, further including a remote server in communication with said central processing unit over an internet communication network for enabling speech recognition of a set of user'"'"'s voice commands.

16. A personal communication system adapted to be distributed on a user'"'"'s body, said system comprising:

a controller configured to be worn on the arm of the user, said controller including

i) an input unit having a touch screen display for accepting entry of user input data and providing user output data;

ii) an indicia reading device for detecting optical information;

iii) a processor for processing said user input and output data and for associating said indicia reading device with said controller; and

a ring member adapted to be worn on the user'"'"'s finger, said ring member having a trigger, a battery designed to fit around a portion of the user'"'"'s finger, and wireless communication circuitry for communicating with said controller.

13. The personal communication system of claim 16, further including a server in communication with said central processing unit over an internet communication network for enabling speech recognition of user'"'"'s voice commands.

14. The personal communication system of claim 16, wherein said indicia reading device and said controller are distributed on the same hand of the user.

15. The personal communication system of claim 16, wherein said controller is adapted to be worn on the user'"'"'s forearm.

17. The personal communication system of claim 16, further comprising a peripheral device in communication with said controller.

18. The personal communication system of claim 16, wherein said indicia reading device is a laser scanner.

19. The personal communication system of claim 18, wherein said indicia reading device is a CCD scanner.

20. The personal communication system of claim 18, wherein said indicia reading device is a two-dimensional CCD scanner.

21. The personal communication system of claim 16, wherein said indicia reading device is a solid state imager.

22. The personal communication system of claim 21, wherein said solid state imager is a CMOS imager.

23. The personal communication system of claim 21, wherein said solid state imager is a CCD imager.

24. The personal communication system of claim 16, wherein said controller enables entry of voice commands.

25. The personal communication system of claim 24, further including a server in communication with said central processing unit for enabling automatic speech recognition of said voice commands entered into said controller.

26. The personal communication system of claim 25, wherein communication between said server and said central processing unit is accomplished using an internet communication protocol.