Transaction control system including portable data terminal and mobile customer service station
First Claim
1. A communication system comprising:
- a first wireless network;
a mobile service vehicle, the mobile service vehicle having a power supply associated therewith;
a plurality of network devices wirelessly communicating with one another to form a second wireless network operating as a subnetwork in the first wireless network; and
at least a first network device of the plurality of network devices being adapted to receive power from the power supply associated with the mobile service vehicle, and participating on the first wireless network to provide access for a second network device of the plurality of network devices to the first wireless network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system including a battery powered mobile service station is used to provide transactional support within a premises. The mobile service station includes a plurality of network devices that operate on a second wireless network, where at least one of the plurality of network devices participates on a first wireless network. In one embodiment, a network device participates as a slave device on the first wireless network and participates as a master device in the second wireless network. In another embodiment, a mobile service station includes a mobile network device that simultaneously operates over a wireless premises network and a wireless peripheral sub-network having a relatively shorter range than the wireless premises network. One or more peripheral devices communicate with the mobile network device in the peripheral sub-network. The mobile service station includes a battery power supply and may further include a peripheral device coupled to the battery. The mobile network device mounts to the service station and has access to the battery. The service station houses a number of peripheral devices which are used in merchandising operations to conclude customer purchase transactions. The peripheral devices may include a printer, a magnetic card reader and a cash drawer, and may wirelessly communicate with the mobile network device.
115 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A communication system comprising:
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a first wireless network;
a mobile service vehicle, the mobile service vehicle having a power supply associated therewith;
a plurality of network devices wirelessly communicating with one another to form a second wireless network operating as a subnetwork in the first wireless network; and
at least a first network device of the plurality of network devices being adapted to receive power from the power supply associated with the mobile service vehicle, and participating on the first wireless network to provide access for a second network device of the plurality of network devices to the first wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A communication system comprising:
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a wireless premises network;
a wireless peripheral subnetwork comprising a plurality of network devices, each having a relatively shorter range than the wireless premises network;
a mobile network device capable of communicating with the wireless premises network and the wireless peripheral subnetwork; and
a mobile service vehicle having a power supply associated with the vehicle, the mobile service vehicle configured to receive the mobile network device in mounting relation therewith, thereby providing the mobile network device access to the power supply associated with the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
a network device independent of the mobile network device;
the network device identifying a range value indicative of the distance between the network device and the mobile network device;
the network device transmitting the range value to the mobile network device; and
the mobile network device, upon receipt of the range value, identifying an appropriate data rate for subsequent transmission to the network device.
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15. The communication system of claim 7 further comprising:
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a network device independent of the mobile network device;
the network device identifying a range value indicative of the distance between the network device and the mobile network device; and
the network device indicating to the mobile network device an appropriate rate for subsequent data transmission to the network device.
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16. The communication system of claim 7 further comprising:
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a premises network device independent of the mobile network device;
the premises network device identifying a range value indicative of the distance between the premises network device and the mobile network device;
the premises network device transmitting the range value to the mobile network device;
the mobile network device identifying battery parameter information; and
the mobile network device, based on the received range value and battery parameter information, identifying an appropriate data rate and power level for subsequent transmission to the premises network device.
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17. A communication system used in merchandising operations, comprising:
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a wireless premises network;
a mobile network device used to conclude customer purchase transactions and capable of communicating with the wireless premises network;
a mobile service vehicle comprising a power supply associated with the vehicle and a peripheral device coupled to the power supply associated with the vehicle, wherein the mobile network device and the peripheral device communicate wirelessly; and
the mobile service vehicle being configured to receive the mobile network device in mounting relation therewith, thereby providing the mobile network device access to the power supply associated with the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A communication system comprising:
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a first wireless network;
a mobile service vehicle, the mobile service vehicle having a battery power supply;
a plurality of network data communication devices together forming a second wireless network operating as a subnetwork in the first wireless network; and
at least a first data communication network device of the plurality of data communication network devices participating on the first wireless network to provide access for a second data communication network device of the plurality of data communication network devices to the first wireless network.
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Specification