Portable personal terminal for use in a system for handling transactions
DCFirst Claim
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1. A data handling device comprising:
- a panel;
a plurality of discrete display elements arranged relative to said panel to present, when selectively energized, user instructions and key information to a user of said device;
said discrete display elements being small in size to enable said user instructions and key information to be presented over substantially all of said panel;
a plurality of discrete switches for entering data when actuated;
said discrete display elements and said discrete switches being positioned in overlapping relationship relative to said panel to enable said switches to be actuated from said panel;
control means for controlling the operation of said device including said discrete display elements and said discrete switches so as to facilitate the displaying and entry of data;
said control means comprising;
means for storing data and a plurality of machine instructions; and
means for executing said machine instructions including means for selectively energizing said display elements so as to present on said panel that key information and those of said user instructions which are associated with those of said discrete switches which are to be used in association with said machine instructions being executed so as to present to said user a variable user instruction format and a variable key format which are a function of said machine instructions being executed as said machine instructions are executed so as to facilitate the entry of data; and
said device also including means for transferring data between said device and a second data handling device.
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Abstract
A system including a portable personal terminal which may be used for handling a wide variety of financial, shopping, and other transactions. The personal terminal is credit-card sized, is intelligent, includes a plurality of transaction totals and is constructed to be user friendly. An interface module is used to couple the terminal to other systems for on line uses.
431 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A data handling device comprising:
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a panel; a plurality of discrete display elements arranged relative to said panel to present, when selectively energized, user instructions and key information to a user of said device;
said discrete display elements being small in size to enable said user instructions and key information to be presented over substantially all of said panel;a plurality of discrete switches for entering data when actuated; said discrete display elements and said discrete switches being positioned in overlapping relationship relative to said panel to enable said switches to be actuated from said panel; control means for controlling the operation of said device including said discrete display elements and said discrete switches so as to facilitate the displaying and entry of data; said control means comprising; means for storing data and a plurality of machine instructions; and means for executing said machine instructions including means for selectively energizing said display elements so as to present on said panel that key information and those of said user instructions which are associated with those of said discrete switches which are to be used in association with said machine instructions being executed so as to present to said user a variable user instruction format and a variable key format which are a function of said machine instructions being executed as said machine instructions are executed so as to facilitate the entry of data; and said device also including means for transferring data between said device and a second data handling device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A portable, intelligent, data handling device comprising:
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means for storing data and machine instructions; means for executing said machine instructions; a panel; means for displaying data to a user of said device; means for entering data on said device; said displaying means and said entering means being in overlapping relationship relative to said panel and extending over substantially all of said panel; said executing means including means for energizing said displaying means so as to present on said displaying means a variable key format and a variable user instruction format which are a function of said machine instructions being executed as said machine instructions are executed so as to facilitate the entry of data; and said device also including light coupling means for transferring data between said device and a second data handling device. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification