Data entry systems

• US 8,290,538 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DataQuill Limited (Dataquill BVI Limited)
• Original Assignee: DataQuill Limited (Dataquill BVI Limited)
• Inventors: Callaghan, Francis John, Doran, Paul Marshall, Robb, Gary Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Application Number:
  US13/036,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20110246336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422.1, 455/412.1, 455/414.1, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/462, 455/465, 455/554.1, 455/554.2, 455/555, 379/100.02, 379/100.12, 379/93.12, 379/93.25, 235/462.46, 235/472.02, 235/375, 235/380
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10772 Moved readers, e.g. pen, wand
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/18 Input circuits, e.g. for coupling to an antenna or a transmission line coupling networks between antennas or lines and receivers independent of the nature of the receiver H03H
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03

Abstract

A data entry system includes a hand held data entry unit having a reading sensor for sensing commands and/or data, rewritable storage for storing information relating to selectable items, a controller (a microprocessor or other processing circuitry) and a display screen for displaying a user readable representation of the commands and/or stored information for a selected item, and a telecommunication interface for the telephonic transmission of information relating to a selected item or items from the storage to a remote processing center and for the telephonic information relating to selectable items from the remote processing center to the storage. Preferably a telecommunications interface is provided in the hand held unit for cellular or other wireless telephony systems. The hand held unit can be configured to combine the data entry functions with those of audio telephony.

Claims

1. A hand held data entry unit operable for use in a data entry system, said hand held unit comprising:

(A) a speaker and a microphone permitting said hand held unit to be used as a wireless telephone handset;

(B) a sensor operable to sense commands and/or data, and in response to said sensed commands and/or data operable to produce input signals for said hand held unit;

(C) rewritable storage made of solid state memory, wherein said storage is remotely programmable with;

a plurality of user selectable items, via downloading said user selectable items for said rewritable storage for later user access from said storage; and

wherein said plurality of user selectable items are downloadable from a remote source which is publicly accessible by other users of other hand held units;

(D) an antenna;

(E) a plurality of mechanical switches operable by a user;

(F) a rechargeable power supply;

(G) a display screen operable to display information for user selectable items, wherein further said display screen is operable to display a selected language of a number of languages to assist a user in operating said hand held unit, wherein said selected language is selectable by a user via operation of said sensor, and said number of languages includes English and at least one language other than English;

(I) a telecommunications interface operable for;

transmission of information corresponding to a selected item or items of said plurality of user selectable items from said storage via said antenna and at least a telecommunications network, and reception of information corresponding to one or more of said plurality of user selectable items for said storage via said antenna and at least a telecommunications network; and

(j) wherein said hand held unit additionally is operable for a user to make a shopping selection and to order a merchandisable item available for purchase, wherein;

(i) by utilizing said antenna and at least a telecommunications network said hand held unit is operable;

to receive at least a plurality of user selectable items which correspond to merchandisable items available for purchase by a user, wherein said receiving is subsequent to entry of one or more user inputs to said hand held unit,

(ii) wherein subsequent to said hand held unit receiving said plurality of user selectable items which correspond to merchandisable items, said display screen is operable to display one or more of said plurality of user selectable items which correspond to merchandisable items,

(iii) by utilizing said antenna and at least a telecommunications network said hand held unit is operable to transmit data from said hand held unit corresponding to a selected user selectable item of said plurality of user selectable items which correspond to merchandisable items to enable a user to order a merchandisable item corresponding to said selected item,

(iv) wherein via operation of said sensor and/or one or more of said mechanical switches said selected item is individually selectable by a user from said plurality of user selectable items which correspond to merchandisable items, and

(v) in response to a said transmission said hand held unit is operable to receive information about a said order to display on said display screen.

6. A hand held data entry unit according to claim 1, wherein a said sensor is a touch sensitive screen device, a roller ball device operable to sense user input, or a scanning device.

11. A hand held data entry unit according to claim 1, wherein said display screen includes reconfigurable areas displayed on the display screen, associated with data displayed on the display screen, wherein one or more of said areas are selectable by a user for inputting commands into said hand held unit and for selecting one or more items displayed on said display screen.

16. A hand held data entry unit according to claim 1, additionally comprising:

a camera, wherein said camera is operable for use to capture a plurality of data for storage by said solid state memory for later user access, wherein said data is an image or a representation of an image, and whether or not said unit or camera is configured to recognize content of an image.

20. A hand held data entry unit according to claim 1, wherein said unit is operable to process code which includes visible user readable text and is associated with a item;

wherein after selection of visible text of a said code by use of said sensor a said code is processed, and wherein after processing a said code, said display screen displays content or one or more images relating to said item associated with a said code.

2. A data entry system comprising:

a self-contained, hand held data entry unit which is a cellular telephone handset, said hand held unit comprising;

(A) a sensor for sensing commands and/or data and for producing input signals in response to said sensed commands and/or data;

(B) an antenna;

(C) a plurality of mechanical switches operable by a user;

(D) a speaker and a microphone, wherein said sensor or one or more of said mechanical switches are operable by a user to select or deselect a mode permitting said hand held unit to be used as a telephone handset for voice communication;

(E) rewritable storage made of solid state memory and programmable with user selectable items, wherein each of a plurality of said user selectable items are receivable to said storage via said antenna and are for retention by said storage for later user access and user selection via operation of a said sensor;

(F) a display screen for displaying a user readable representation of commands, and for displaying one or more user selectable items retrieved from retention in said storage;

(G) a wireless interface coupled to said storage, wherein said interface is configured to establish a link to a device separate from said hand held unit to permit transfer of data from said storage to said separate device, wherein said link is a wireless link of short range radio signals; and

(H) a telecommunications interface for transmission of information retrieved from said storage relating to each of a selected item or items of said plurality of user selectable items via said antenna and a telecommunications network and for reception of description information corresponding to each of one or more of said plurality of user selectable items to said storage via said antenna and a telecommunications network, wherein said received description information is for retention in said storage for later user access;

(I) wherein said telecommunications interface is a cellular telecommunications interface;

(J) wherein said display screen, telecommunications interface, and antenna are operable to permit a user to select and place an order for one or more user selectable merchandisable items for a user, wherein

(i) said hand held unit is operable in response to user input to receive via said antenna a plurality of user selectable merchandisable items,

(ii) said display screen is operable to display a plurality, of user selectable merchandisable items, and each of said one or more merchandisable items is individually selectable for ordering from said display screen from said plurality of user selectable merchandisable items via operation of a said sensor, and

(ii) said one or more selections are transmitted via said antenna, and wherein subsequent to a said transmission said hand held device is operable to receive via said antenna information corresponding to a said order to display on said display screen.

7. A hand held data entry unit according to claim 2, wherein a said sensor is a touch sensitive screen device, a roller ball device operable to sense user input, or a scanning device.

12. A hand held data entry unit according to claim 2, wherein said display screen includes reconfigurable areas displayed on the display screen, associated with data displayed on the display screen, wherein one or more of said areas are selectable by a user for inputting commands into said hand held unit and for selecting one or more items displayed on said display screen.

17. A hand held data entry unit according to claim 2, additionally comprising:

a camera, wherein said camera is operable for use to capture a plurality of data for storage by said solid state memory for later user access, wherein said data is an image or a representation of an image, and whether or not said unit or camera is configured to recognize content of an image.

21. A hand held data entry unit according to claim 2, wherein said unit is operable to process code which includes visible user readable text and is associated with a item;

wherein after selection of visible text of a said code by use of said sensor a said code is processed, and wherein after processing a said code;

said display screen displays content or one or more images relating to said item associated with a said code.

3. A merchandising system comprising:

a portable data entry unit operable for use in and away from a user'"'"'s home;

said data entry unit comprising;

(A) a sensor operable by a user to input commands and/or information for said data entry unit; and

(B) in addition to said sensor one or more mechanical switches operable by a user to input or select information in said data entry unit;

(C) a speaker;

(D) an antenna;

(E) a rechargeable power supply;

(F) said sensor coupled to a wireless communications interface operable to transmit command and/or data signals, said wireless communications interface being coupled to said antenna and operable to connect said data entry unit to a telecommunications network via said antenna; and

(G) a display screen coupled to said sensor to display a plurality of user selectable items in response to input to said data entry unit via said sensor, and wherein said display screen, sensor, antenna, one or more mechanical switches, speaker, antenna, power supply, and wireless communications interface are part of a unitary assembly; and

wherein;

(I) said data entry unit is configured for a user to make a shopping selection and to request a product available for purchase, wherein;

(i) by utilizing said wireless communications interface, said data entry unit is operable in response to user input;

to receive via said antenna and a telecommunications network a plurality of user selectable items which correspond to products available for purchase by a user,

(ii) wherein subsequent to said data entry unit receiving said plurality of user selectable items which correspond to products, said display screen is operable to display user selectable items which correspond to products,

(iii) wherein an item is individually selectable from said plurality of user selectable items which correspond to products via said sensor sensing a location selected, wherein said location is;

a location of multiple locations selectable from said display screen, and said location corresponds to an individually selectable item which is displayed along with other user selectable items,

(iv) by utilizing said wireless communications interface, said data entry unit is operable to transmit, via said antenna, data for a selection of an item of said plurality of user selectable items which correspond to products, wherein a said transmission is to request a product corresponding to said selected item, and

(v) subsequent to a said transmission said data entry unit is operable to receive via said antenna information relating to a said request to display on said display screen; and

(J) wherein further said data entry unit is configured to receive input of characters, including alphabetic characters, via user input, wherein

(i) said display screen is operable to display a plurality of characters in response to user input;

(ii) said data entry unit is configured to receive via user input a sequence of characters in order to build up text which includes a plurality of alphabetic characters, wherein said display screen is operable to display said built up text; and

(iii) said built up text makes up a code which corresponds to a user selectable item, which code said data entry unit is configured to utilize to retrieve information for said corresponding user selectable item to display on said display screen.

8. A portable data entry unit according to claim 3, wherein a said sensor is a touch sensitive screen device, a roller hall device operable to sense user input, or a scanning device.

13. A portable data entry unit according to claim 3, wherein said display screen includes reconfigurable areas displayed on the display screen, associated with data displayed on the display screen, wherein one or more of said areas are selectable by a user via operation of said sensor for inputting commands into said hand held unit and for selecting one or more items displayed on said display screen.

4. A wireless telephone comprising, as an integral and-holdable unit:

(A) a sensor to sense commands and/or data, and for producing input signals for said hand-holdable unit in response to said sensed commands and/or data;

(B) a plurality mechanical switches operable by a user, and wherein said sensor is a touch sensitive screen device;

(B) rewritable storage made of solid state memory and programmable to store a database of information relating to user selectable items, said storage being programmable by downloading information to said storage in response to one or more transmitted instructions;

(C) an antenna;

(D) a display screen operable to display a user understandable representation of commands, and to display information from said storage for one or more selected items,

(E) a microphone for conversion of user speech into voice signals for transmission, and as speaker for conversion of received voice signals into audio signals, to permit said hand-holdable unit to be used as a telephone handset; and

(F) a wireless telecommunications interface, wherein said interface is configured to permit

(i) transmission and reception of voice signals via said antenna and a wireless telecommunications network,

(ii) transmission of information retrieved from said storage relating to an item or items selected from said database via said antenna and a wireless telecommunications network, wherein said item or items are individually selected from said display screen from a display of one or more of said user selectable items, and

(iii) reception of information relating to selectable items to said database via said antenna and a wireless telecommunications network;

said hand-holdable unit comprising further limitations, wherein

(I) said display screen, sensor, wireless telecommunications interface, and antenna are configured to permit said hand-holdable unit additionally to be operable by a user;

(i) to receive via said antenna a plurality of user selectable items which correspond to a plurality of products available for purchase by a user of said hand-holdable unit,

(ii) to make a shopping selection of a product available for purchase by a user, wherein each shopping selection is made via individual selection of an item from said display screen from a plurality of user selectable items which correspond to a plurality of products available for purchase, via user operation of said sensor, wherein a individually selected item corresponds to a product available for purchase, and

(iii) to transmit via said antenna data corresponding to a said shopping selection, wherein in response to a said transmission said hand-holdable unit is operable to receive via said antenna information to display on said display screen.

9. An integral hand-holdable unit according to claim 4, wherein a said sensor is a touch sensitive screen device, a roller ball device operable to sense user input, or a scanning device.

18. An integral hand-holdable unit according to claim 4, additionally comprising:

a camera, wherein said camera is operable for use to capture a plurality of data for storage by said solid state memory for later user access, wherein said data is an image or a representation of an image, and whether or not said unit or camera is configured to recognize content of an image.

5. A merchandising system comprising:

a cellular telephone;

wherein said telephone is an integral hand held unit comprising;

(A) a sensor to sense commands and/or data and for producing input signals in response to said sensed commands and/or data;

(B) an antenna;

(C) rewritable storage made of solid state ,memory, wherein said storage;

(i) is programmable with a database of user selectable items, said storage being programmable via receiving user selectable items via said antenna to said storage for later user access from said storage; and

(ii) wherein said user selectable items receivable via said antenna include a plurality of items available from one or more remotely located catalogues of merchandisable or other items;

(D) a display screen coupled to said rewritable storage, wherein said display screen is operable;

(i) to display user understandable representations of commands, and to display information, and

(ii) to display a selected language of a number of languages to assist a user in operating said hand held unit, wherein a user is able to select a said language via operation of said sensor, and said number of languages includes English and at least one language other than English;

(E) a microphone for conversion of user speech into voice signals for transmission, and a speaker for conversion of received voice signals into audio signals, permitting said hand ,held unit to he used as a handset; and

(F) a cellular telecommunications interface operable to directly and wirelessly connect said hand held unit to a cellular telecommunications network via said antenna, and configured to permit;

(i) transmission of information retrieved from said storage corresponding to an item or items selected from said database of user selectable items via said antenna, wherein each of said item or items selected is individually selectable from said database of said user selectable items from said display screen via operation of said sensor, and

(iii) reception of information corresponding to one or more of said selectable items to said database via said antenna;

(G) wherein further said hand held unit is configured to receive input of characters, including alphabetic characters, via user input, wherein

(i) said display screen is operable to display a plurality of characters in response to user input;

(ii) said hand held unit is configured to receive via user input a sequence of characters in order to build up text which includes a plurality of alphabetic characters wherein said display screen is operable to display said built up text; and

(iii) said built up text makes up a code which corresponds to a user selectable item, which code said data entry unit is configured to utilize to retrieve information for said corresponding user selectable item for display on said display screen.

10. An integral hand held unit according to claim 5, wherein a said sensor is a touch sensitive screen device, a roller ball device operable to sense user input, or a scanning device.

14. An integral hand held unit according to claim 5, wherein said display screen includes reconfigurable areas displayed on the display screen, associated with data displayed on the display screen, wherein one or more of said areas are selectable by a user for inputting commands into said hand held unit and for selecting one or more items displayed on said display screen.

15. An integral hand held unit according to claim 5, further comprising:

a wireless connector coupled to said solid state memory, operable to establish a wireless link with a peripheral device via short range radio signals; and

a plurality of mechanical switches operable by a user.

19. An integral hand held unit according to claim 5, additionally comprising:

a camera, wherein said camera is operable for use to capture a plurality of data for storage by said solid state memory for later user access, wherein said data is an image or a representation of an image, and whether or not said unit or camera is configured to recognize content of an image.

22. An integral hand held unit according to claim 5, wherein said unit is operable to process code which includes visible user readable text and is associated with a item;

wherein after selection of visible text of a said code by use of said sensor a said code is processed, and wherein after processing a said code, said display screen displays content or one or more images relating to said item associated with a said code.

23. An integral hand held unit according to claim 5, wherein further:

(H) said sensor, display screen, cellular telecommunications interface, and antenna are operable to permit a user to shop for and order one or more merchandisable items for a user, wherein

(i) said display screen is operable to display a plurality of user selectable items corresponding to merchandisable items available for purchase for a user, and

(ii) each of said one or more selected items which correspond to merchandisable items is individually selectable for ordering by selecting from a location on said display screen associated with a selected item via operation of a said sensor, and

(iii) said one or more selections are transmitted via said antenna, and wherein subsequent to a said transmission said telephone is operable to receive via said antenna information relating to a said order to display on said display screen.