Data collection device and network having radio signal responsive mode switching

• US 7,712,670 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adam Edward Meggitt, Brian Roman Dobeck, James T. Sauerwein Jr, Sven M.A. Powilleit, William H. Havens
• Original Assignee: Adam Edward Meggitt, Brian Roman Dobeck, James T. Sauerwein Jr, Sven M.A. Powilleit, William H. Havens
• Inventors: Powilleit, Sven M. A., Dobeck, Brian Roman, Meggitt, Adam Edward, Sauerwein, James T. Jr., Havens, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Seung H
• Application Number:
  US11/370,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20070069030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,527 Days
• Field of Search: 23547201-47203, 235383-385, 235/462.46
• US Class Current: 235/472.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping

Abstract

A data collection device is configured so that the device receives and processes various radio signals and automatically changes an operating mode of the data collection device in response to the processing of the radio signals or in response to the presence or absence of radio signals without manually inputting any commands with use of a user interface. By configuring the data collection device to automatically change an operating mode in response to sensed radio signals, operating modes are presented to an operator that may be tailored to the preferences of the present operator and/or tailored to the particular requirements of the device at present location of the device. With highly featurized operating modes being automatically and selectively presented to operators under specific circumstances, an operator is relieved of a variety of burdensome and time consuming exercises that are typically associated with learning how to access particular functions of a highly featurized electronic device.

Claims

1. A computer device comprising:

(a) a display;

(b) a control circuit in communication with said display;

(c) an RFID reader unit disposed in communication with said control circuit, said RFID reader unit having an RF oscillator and receiver circuit and a data decode circuit, wherein said control circuit operates said RFID reader unit in a continuous read mode, wherein said RFID reader unit continuously broadcasts a radio signal in an attempt to activate an RFID tag brought into proximity with said computer device;

(d) a browser program, a file system and multiple user operating system incorporated into said computer device, said multiple user operating system supporting a plurality of different present user settings, wherein multiple user supporting operating system configures said computer device so that at least one of files including executable programs that can be accessed, registry settings and browser settings are differentiated on the basis of said present user setting;

(e) wherein said computer device is configured to operate in a mode in which said control circuit monitors data output by said RFID reader unit to confirm that a presently logged in user corresponding to said present user setting remains in a vicinity of said computer device; and

(f) wherein said computer device automatically logs off said presently logged in user if said computer device determines that said presently logged in user has vacated a vicinity of said computer device.

2. A computer device comprising:

(a) a display;

(b) a control circuit in communication with said display;

(c) an RFID reader unit disposed in communication with said control circuit, said RFID reader unit having an RF oscillator and receiver circuit and a data decode circuit, wherein said control circuit operates said RFID reader unit in a continuous read mode, wherein said RFID reader unit continuously broadcasts a radio signal in an attempt to activate an RFID tag brought into proximity with said computer device;

(d) a browser program, a file system and multiple user operating system incorporated into said computer device, said multiple user operating system supporting a plurality of different present user settings, wherein multiple user supporting operating system configures said computer device so that at least one of files including executable programs that can be accessed, registry settings and browser settings are differentiated on the basis of said present user setting;

(e) wherein said computer device is configured to operate in a mode in which said control circuit monitors data output by said RFID reader unit to determine whether a new user has entered a vicinity of said computer device, and automatically sets a present user setting of said computer device to a present user setting corresponding to said new user if said computer device determines that a new user has entered a vicinity of said computer device.

3. The computer device of claim 2, wherein said computer device is configured so that said computer device enters said operating mode in which said control circuit determines whether a new user has entered a vicinity of said computer device if said computer device determines that there is no presently logged in user of said computer device.

4. The computer device of claim 2, wherein said computer device is in communication with a lookup table correlating users with user classifications and wherein said present user setting of said computer device is a user classification setting.

5. The computer device of claim 2, wherein said control circuit and said RFID reader unit are commonly housed.

6. A system for automatically controlling operation of at least one computer device at a facility, said system comprising:

(a) a first computer device including a display, a control circuit in communication with said display, an RFID reader unit disposed in communication with said control circuit, a browser program, a file system and multiple user operating system incorporated into said computer device, said multiple user operating system supporting a plurality of different present user settings, wherein multiple user supporting operating system configures said computer device so that at least one of files including executable programs that can be accessed, registry settings and browser settings are differentiated on the basis of which of said present user settings is presently set;

wherein said control circuit of said first computer device monitors data generated by said RFID reader unit to read decoded RFID data from RFID tags carried by workers at said facility entering a vicinity of its respective computer device, said first computer device being selected from the group consisting of a laptop personal computer having said display integrated therein, a desk top personal computer, a hand held device having said display integrated therein, and a transaction terminal having said display integrated therein;

(b) a second computer device including a display, a control circuit in communication with said display, an RFID reader unit disposed in communication with said control circuit, a browser program, a file system and multiple user operating system incorporated into said computer device, said multiple user operating system supporting a plurality of different present user settings, wherein multiple user supporting operating system configures said computer device so that at least one of files including executable programs that can be accessed, registry settings and browser settings are differentiated on the basis of which of said present user settings is presently set;

wherein said control circuit of said second computer device monitors data generated by said RFID reader unit to read decoded RFID data from RFID tags carried by workers at said facility entering a vicinity of its respective computer device, said second computer device being selected from the group consisting of a laptop personal computer having said display integrated therein, a desk top personal computer, a hand held device having said display integrated therein, and a transaction terminal having said display integrated therein;

(c) a server spaced apart from said computer devices, and being in communication with each said first and second computer devices;

(d) a lookup table incorporated in said system correlating identifications for individuals working at said facility with user classifications for said individuals working at said facility;

(e) wherein said first computer device is configured to operate in a mode in which said first computer device reads a decoded RFID message to determine an identification of an individual in a vicinity of said first computer device and further determines a user classification corresponding to said identification utilizing said lookup table;

(f) wherein said first computer device is further configured to set said present user setting of said first computer device in a manner that is responsive to said determination of user classification.

7. A bar code reading data collection device comprising:

(a) a hand held housing;

(b) an imaging assembly supported by said hand held housing 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 and keyboard for entering data into said data collection device and for selecting between modes of operation of said device;

(e) a control circuit communicatively coupled with said imaging assembly and said user interface, said control circuit being configured to operate in a mode in which said control circuit captures an electronic image representation and decodes a bar code symbol represented in said captured electronic image representation in response to receipt of a bar code reading trigger signal;

(f) a location determination circuit enabling said data collection device to receive location information indicating a present location of said data collection device;

(g) an RFID reader unit disposed in communication with said control circuit, said RFID reader unit having an RFID oscillator and receiver circuit and a data decode circuit, wherein said control circuit operates said RFID reader unit in a pair of user selectable operating modes, the pair of user-selectable operating modes being a continuous read mode, wherein said RFID reader unit continuously broadcasts a radio signal in an attempt to activate an RFID tag brought into proximity with said housing, and a selective activation mode in which said RFID reader unit is normally idle but is responsive to a trigger signal to drive said RFID reader unit into an active reading state, said RFID reader unit in said active reading state broadcasting a radio signal in an attempt to activate an RFID tag brought into proximity with said housing;

(h) wherein said bar code reading data collection device is configured to operate in an operating mode in which said control circuit, with said RFID unit in said selective activation mode (i) monitors said location information received by said detection circuit; and

(ii) generates a trigger signal to drive said RFID reader unit from an idle state to an active reading state if said location information coincides with predetermined location information.

8. A bar code reading data collection device for operation in a system including a plurality of networks and a remote server incorporated into one of said networks, for use in assisting record keeping associated with a delivery of an article from a supplier location to a delivery location, said data collection device comprising:

(a) a hand held housing;

(b) an article ID reading unit including at least one of an imaging assembly for capturing images for use in bar code decoding processing, and an RFID reader unit;

(c) a display disposed in said housing;

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

(e) a memory;

(f) a control circuit in communication with said article ID reading unit, wherein said control circuit in response to receipt of a trigger signal activates said article ID reading unit and receives in response thereto article identification data wherein said bar code reading data collection device is configured so that said control circuit receives location information respecting a present location of said device, and wherein said bar code reading data collection device is configured to operate in a form assisted mode of operation in which said control circuit displays a data entry screen for assisting an operator in entering article identification data into said device; and

(g) wherein said bar code reading data collection device is configured to receive from said remote server information respecting a delivery destination of said device;

(h) wherein said device is configured so that when operating in said form assisted data entry mode, said control circuit stamps a present location value on article identification data collected by data collection device when operating in said form assisted data collection mode of operation; and

(i) wherein said device is configured to operate in a mode in which said device uploads to said remote server article identification data associated with said present location value so that a location of said device when collecting said article identification data can be extracted.

9. A method for operating a data collection network of claim 8, wherein the article ID reading unit includes an imaging assembly.

10. A method for operating a data collection network of claim 8, wherein the article ID reading unit includes an RFID reading unit.

11. A method for operating a data collection network comprising a portable data collection device and a remote server, said portable data collection device having an identification unit comprising of at least one of a bar code reading unit and an RFID reader unit, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) sending from said remote server to said portable data collection device route data including a location of a destination of said portable data collection device;

(b) monitoring a present location of said portable data collection device;

(c) comparing a current location of said portable data collection device to said destination location;

(d) generating a trigger signal to actuate said identification unit if said current location of said device matches said destination;

(e) decoding an encoded identification message utilizing said identification unit activated in step (d); and

(f) outputting said decoded message decoded in step (e).

12. A method for operating a data collection network of claim 11, wherein the identification unit is a bar code reading unit.

13. A method for operating a data collection network of claim 11, wherein the identification unit is an RFID reading unit.

14. A system comprising:

a portable data collection device;

a remote server;

wherein the portable data collection device includes an identification unit comprising at least one of a bar code reading unit and an RFID reader unit;

wherein the remote server is operative to send to said portable data collection device route data including a location of a destination of said portable data collection device;

wherein the system is operative to monitor a present location of said portable data collection device;

wherein the system is operative to compare a current location of said portable data collection device to said destination location;

wherein the system is operative to generate a trigger signal to activate said identification unit if said current location of said device matches said destination;

wherein the portable data collection device is operative to decode an encoded identification message utilizing said identification unit; and

wherein the portable data collection device is operative to output said decoded message.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the identification unit is a bar code reading unit.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the identification unit is an RFID reading unit.