DATA COLLECTION DEVICE AND NETWORK HAVING RADIO SIGNAL RESPONSIVE OPERATION

• US 20100217723A1
• Filed: 05/06/2010
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Powilleit, Sven M.A., Havens, William H., Sauerwein, James T. JR., Dobeck, Brian Roman, Meggitt, Adam Edward
• Granted Patent: US 8,157,168 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/337
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping

Abstract

A data collection device can include at least one of a bar code reader unit, an RFID reader unit, and a card reader unit. A data collection device can be operative to receive and process radio signals. A data collection device can be configured so that operation of the data collection device is responsive to radio signals.

Claims

1. A data collection system for implementation in an item delivery system wherein deliveries are made by delivery vehicles which travel along delivery routes that originate at a supplier facility, pass through one or more delivery locations and terminate at said supplier facility, said data collection system comprising:

(a) a network disposed at said supplier facility, said network having an access point and an addressable printer in communication with said access point, said access point wirelessly transmitting a network identifier of said network;

(b) a data collection device carried by said vehicle, said data collection device having an encoded information reading unit and incorporating a radio transceiver capable of communication with said access point;

(c) a confirmation module included in said data collection device processing data to determine whether said data collection device is returning to said supplier facility;

(d) wherein said data collection device is configured to automatically address a print command to said printer to automatically print data collected during execution of said route when receiving said network identifier from said network, provided that an output of said confirmation module indicates that said data collection device is returning to said supplier facility.

2. The data collection system of claim 1, wherein said wirelessly transmitted network identifier of said network is selected from the group consisting of an SSID, a Cell ID and an IP address.

3. The data collection system of claim 1, wherein said data collection device is configured to receive location information indicating a location of said data collection device, and wherein said data collection device, prior to automatically addressing said print command to said printer confirms that said data collection device is traveling in a direction toward said supplier facility utilizing said location information.

4. The data collection system of claim 1, wherein said data collection data receives said location data from an on-board location data detection unit that is in communication with orbiting satellites.

5. The data collection device of claim 1, wherein said data collection device receives said location data from a network.

6. A bar code reading data collection device for operation in a system having a plurality of networks, and a remote server incorporated in one of said networks, said data collection device comprising:

(a) a hand held housing;

(b) an imaging assembly supported by said hand held housing, the imaging assembly including at least one of (i) a combination of a solid state image sensor and an imaging lens focusing an image onto an active surface of said solid state image sensor, and (ii) a laser scan engine;

(c) a display disposed in said housing;

(d) a user interface including a trigger and at least one of a touch screen or keyboard for entering data into said data collection device and for selecting between modes of operation of said device;

(e) a first location determination circuit comprising a location detection unit incorporated into said housing, said location detection unit including a radio transceiver configured to receive radio signals from series of satellites, said location detection unit producing location information indicating a location of said device;

(f) a second location determination circuit enabling said data collection device to receive location information without processing of signals from orbiting satellites;

(g) a plurality of location determining routine modules, wherein each of the location determining routine modules, when active, causes said bar code reading data collection device to output a location value based upon information generated by one or more of said first and second location determination routines, and wherein each of the location determining routines outputs a location value with a different degree of accuracy,

(h) wherein said bar code reading data collection device is configured so that a location determining routine which is active is responsive to a presently sensed location of said bar code reading data collection device.

7. The bar code reading data collection device of claim 6, wherein said bar code reading data collection device, when a first of said location determining routine modules is active, does not process an output from said first location determining circuit, and wherein said bar code reading data collection device, when a second of location determining routines is active, process an output from said first location determination circuit.