Transaction control system including portable data terminal and mobile customer service station
First Claim
1. A communication system comprising:
- a first wireless network;
a vehicle having a power supply associated therewith;
a plurality of network devices operable to wirelessly communicate 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 operable to receive power from the power supply associated with the vehicle, and operable to participate 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 mobile customer service station operating within a wireless multi-hop communication network includes a console on a wheeled chassis. The console carries and houses a number of components which are used in merchandising operations to conclude customer purchase transactions. The items supported externally on the console are a printer for printing purchase receipts, customer credit charge agreements and records of transactions, and a magnetic card reader for reading information from a magnetic stripe of a customer'"'"'s credit card. In one embodiment, the operation of the printer, credit card reader and the cash drawer is controlled by a multi-function control unit located within an enclosure of the console. The control unit is electrically powered by a self-contained power source which is preferably a deep cycle rechargeable battery. The console also houses a transceiver unit which under the control of the control unit is capable of interactive communication with a premises network. In another embodiment, the mobile service station comprises an access device which participates with a variety of peripherals at the station in a lower power communication LAN, while providing higher power communication to other network devices via a premises network with routing via a wireless spanning tree configuration.
131 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A communication system comprising:
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a first wireless network; a vehicle having a power supply associated therewith; a plurality of network devices operable to wirelessly communicate 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 operable to receive power from the power supply associated with the vehicle, and operable to participate 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 operable to communicate with the wireless premises network and the wireless peripheral subnetwork; and a vehicle having a power supply associated with the vehicle, the 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)
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17. A communication system, comprising:
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a wireless premises network; a mobile network device operable to communicate with the wireless premises network; a 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 are operable to communicate wirelessly; and the 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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Specification