Multi-tiered computing system having at least one portable computer with a touch sensitive display device and graphical user interface for touch input in communication with an input computer coupled to a database
First Claim
1. A multi-tiered computing system comprising:
- a first computing tier having a master server computer, the master server coupled to a master database of master data records;
a second computing tier having a plurality of input computers, each input computer coupled to a respective local database of local data records, each local database replicated to the master database; and
a third computing tier having a remote portable computer, the portable computer being in communication with a select input computer for accessing and updating the local data records of the respective local database coupled thereto, the portable computer comprising;
a CPU for controlling operation of the portable computer;
an interface memory for storing software to control the CPU and to store temporarily at least one data set, each data set having multiple data fields for storing data values; and
a touch sensitive display device for displaying at least a data I/O screen and for sensing contact by a user, the CPU defining multiple virtual regions upon the data I/O screen, each virtual region corresponding to a data field, the touch sensitive display device sensing contact by the user within a virtual region, the touch sensitive display device displaying within each virtual region a data value for the associated data field from a current data set, the CPU identifying a virtual region contacted by the user and effecting an interface control associated therewith and wherein the user modifies data values within a correspond active data field by pressing the associated virtual region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-tiered computing system having a touch-screen-enabled handheld interface for data entry by the user. The system includes an input computing platform that is coupled to a local database and that communicates to the hand-held interface over a communication channel, such a wireless communication channel (for example, carrying IR signals). The input computing platform communicates with other input computing platforms and a master server through a communications network. The handheld interface includes a touch screen which is preferably operated through an event driven architecture. The user is preferably allowed to enter data through virtual rolling keys, a scroll bar, virtual key pad, bar code reader, and the like. The system preferably minimizes transmission time by minimizing the necessary information transmitted and by synchronizing the operation of the handheld interfaces with the corresponding input computing platform. The input computing platform preferably includes a communication server (which preferably transmits information to the handheld interface through a first unique protocol) and a command server (which preferably communicates with the corresponding communication server through a second unique protocol). Data transmission is preferably further reduced by using shorthand command codes for constants, such as for commands, user names, and the like.
15 Citations
58 Claims
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1. A multi-tiered computing system comprising:
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a first computing tier having a master server computer, the master server coupled to a master database of master data records;
a second computing tier having a plurality of input computers, each input computer coupled to a respective local database of local data records, each local database replicated to the master database; and
a third computing tier having a remote portable computer, the portable computer being in communication with a select input computer for accessing and updating the local data records of the respective local database coupled thereto, the portable computer comprising;
a CPU for controlling operation of the portable computer;
an interface memory for storing software to control the CPU and to store temporarily at least one data set, each data set having multiple data fields for storing data values; and
a touch sensitive display device for displaying at least a data I/O screen and for sensing contact by a user, the CPU defining multiple virtual regions upon the data I/O screen, each virtual region corresponding to a data field, the touch sensitive display device sensing contact by the user within a virtual region, the touch sensitive display device displaying within each virtual region a data value for the associated data field from a current data set, the CPU identifying a virtual region contacted by the user and effecting an interface control associated therewith and wherein the user modifies data values within a correspond active data field by pressing the associated virtual region.
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2. The multi-tiered system of claim 2, wherein the input computer comprises:
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a command server for managing the local database; and
a communications server for receiving and transmitting packets of information to and from the portable computer, the packets being constructed in a first format having a header and a data segment, the communications server converting the packets to a second format and constructing a message therefrom, the communications server transmitting the message to the command server which returns a message list, the communications server converting the returned message list to the first format and transmitting a packet of information to the portable computer. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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8. The multi-tiered system of claim 8, wherein the user adjusts a current data value of an activated data field by contacting a virtual region corresponding to a displayed key within the set of displayed keys associated with the active data field.
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31. In a data acquisition and retrieval system, a method for entering and retrieving a plurality of data sets through a wireless handheld user interface, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) defining virtual regions within a display screen along with corresponding event identifiers;
b) drawing a main menu with multiple, virtual menu selections, each of which correspond to a virtual region;
c) sensing an event denoting contact by a user;
d) determining whether the sensed event is in a defined virtual region, and if so, obtaining a unique identifier corresponding to the sensed event;
e) performing a processing sequence associated with the unique identifier and waiting for a return identifier upon completion of the processing sequence;
f) performing a new processing sequence associated with the return identifier if the return identifier does not correspond to the main menu, and waiting for a return identifier upon completion of the new processing sequence;
g) repeating steps a) through f) when said return identifier corresponds to said main menu;
h) repeating step f) and g) so long as said return identifier does not correspond to said main menu;
i) determining whether a list of data set headers, corresponding to a currently logged-in user, is stored within the wireless handheld user interface;
j) when the list of data set headers is absent, performing steps j1 through j3 as follows;
j1) requesting the list of data set headers from a remote communications server connected to the wireless handheld user interface over a wireless communication channel;
j2) setting up a data structure within the wireless handheld user interface based upon an expected structure of the list of data set headers;
j3) storing the list of data set headers received from the remote communications server over a wireless communication channel; and
k) displaying a portion of the list of data set headers.
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32. A multi-tiered computing system comprising:
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a first computing tier having a master server computer, the master server coupled to a master database of master data records;
a second computing tier having a plurality of input computers, each input computer coupled to a respective local database of local data records, each local database replicated to the master database; and
a third computing tier having a remote portable computer, the portable computer being in communication with a select input computer for accessing and updating the local data records of the respective local database coupled thereto, the portable computer comprising;
a CPU for controlling operation of the portable computer;
an interface memory for storing software to control the CPU and to store temporarily at least one data set, each data set having multiple data fields for storing data values; and
a touch sensitive display device for displaying at least a data I/O screen and for sensing contact by a user, the CPU defining multiple virtual regions upon the data I/O screen, each virtual region corresponding to a data field, the touch sensitive display device sensing contact by the user within a virtual region, the touch sensitive display device displaying within each virtual region a data value for the associated data field from a current data set, the CPU identifying a virtual region contacted by the user and effecting an interface control associated therewith, and wherein the portable computer includes a temporary buffer for storing incoming and outgoing data sets transmitted to, and received from, the select input computer.
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33. The multi-tiered system of claim 33, wherein the input computer comprises:
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a command server for managing the local database; and
a communications server for receiving and transmitting packets of information to and from the portable computer, the packets being constructed in a first format having a header and a data segment, the communications server converting the packets to a second format and constructing a message therefrom, the communications server transmitting the message to the command server which returns a message list, the communications server converting the returned message list to the first format and transmitting a packet of information to the portable computer. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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48. A multi-tiered computing system comprising:
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a first computing tier having a master server computer, the master server coupled to a master database of master data records;
a second computing tier having a plurality of input computers, each input computer coupled to a respective local database of local data records, each local database replicated to the master database; and
a third computing tier having a remote portable computer, the portable computer being in communication with a select input computer for accessing and updating the local data records of the respective local database coupled thereto, the portable computer comprising;
a CPU for controlling operation of the portable computer;
an interface memory for storing software to control the CPU and to store temporarily at least one data set each data set having multiple data fields for storing data values; and
a touch sensitive display device for displaying at least a data I/O screen and for sensing contact by a user, the CPU defining multiple virtual regions upon the data I/O screen, each virtual region corresponding to a data field, the touch sensitive display device sensing contact by the user within a virtual region, the touch sensitive display device displaying within each virtual region a data value for the associated data field from a current data set, the CPU identifying a virtual region contacted by the user and effecting an interface control associated therewith, and wherein the touch sensitive display device illustrates the current data set in at least one of a scroll bar format and a rolling key format.
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53. A multi-tiered computing system comprising:
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a first computing tier having a master server computer, the master server coupled to a master database of master data records;
a second computing tier having a plurality of input computers, each input computer coupled to a respective local database of local data records, each local database replicated to the master database; and
a third computing tier having a remote portable computer, the portable computer being in communication with a select input computer for accessing and updating the local data records of the local database coupled thereto, the portable computer comprising;
a CPU for controlling operation of the portable computer;
an interface memory for storing software to control the CPU and to store temporarily at least one data set each data set having multiple data fields for storing data values; and
a touch sensitive display device for displaying at least a data I/O screen and for sensing contact by a user, the CPU defining multiple virtual regions upon the data I/O screen, each virtual region corresponding to a data field, the touch sensitive display device sensing contact by the user within a virtual region, the touch sensitive display device displaying within each virtual region a data value for the associated data field from a current data set, the CPU identifying a virtual region contacted by the user and effecting an interface control associated therewith, and wherein each virtual region corresponds to a predefined processing sequence which is initiated by the user by contacting the associated virtual region.
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54. A multi-tiered computing system comprising:
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a first computing tier having a master server computer, the master server coupled to a master database of master data records;
a second computing tier having a plurality of input computers, each input computer coupled to a respective local database of local data records, each local database replicated to the master database; and
a third computing tier having a remote portable computer, the portable computer being in communication with a select input computer for accessing and updating the local data records of the local database coupled thereto, the portable computer comprising;
a CPU for controlling operation of the portable computer;
an interface memory for storing software to control the CPU and to store temporarily at least one data set each data set having multiple data fields for storing data values; and
a touch sensitive display device for displaying at least a data I/O screen and for sensing contact by a user, the CPU defining multiple virtual regions upon the data I/O screen, each virtual region corresponding to a data field, the touch sensitive display device sensing contact by the user within a virtual region, the touch sensitive display device displaying within each virtual region a data value for the associated data field from a current data set, the CPU identifying a virtual region contacted by the user and effecting an interface control associated therewith, and wherein the data I/O screen further displays multiple icons, each being uniquely associated with a data field.
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55. The multi-tiered system of claim 55, wherein the second computing tier comprises:
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a plurality of command servers for managing local databases coupled thereto;
a plurality of communications servers for receiving and transmitting packets of information to and from portable computers, wherein a given communication server selectively communicates with portable computers located within a predefined region proximate thereto;
wherein the plurality of command servers and the plurality of communication servers communicate with one another via a communications network. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58)
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Specification