Data collection system having EIR terminal interface node

• US 8,297,508 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2011
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Kosecki, James, Caballero, Aldo Mario
• Primary Examiner(s): Haupt, Kristy A
• Application Number:
  US13/233,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20120000984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.14, 235/462.15, 340/539.11, 340/539.19
• US Class Current: 235/449
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/01 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A network accessible node that facilitates management of a fleet of portable communication devices (EIR terminal), including portable data terminals and/or barcode readers, by directing performance of software upgrade and/or configuration update actions by one or more members of the fleet of EIR terminals.

Claims

1. A method for reprogramming one or more encoded information reading (EIR) terminals by a terminal interface node, said method comprising the steps of:

said terminal interface node selecting at least one EIR terminal satisfying a reprogramming condition;

said terminal interface node selecting a reprogramming file and a priority level corresponding to said reprogramming condition;

said terminal interface node transmitting said reprogramming file and said priority level to said at least one EIR terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said reprogramming condition includes at least two statements joined by a logical operation.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of said terminal interface node selecting said reprogramming condition by querying a database, preceding said step of selecting at least one EIR terminal.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of said terminal interface node ascertaining completion of higher priority operations, preceding said step of transmitting said reprogramming file.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said reprogramming file is provided by one of:

a binary file, a data file, a script file.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting said reprogramming file is performed responsive to said at least one EIR terminal establishing a communication with said terminal interface node.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting said reprogramming file is performed responsive to said at least one EIR terminal establishing a communication with said terminal interface node upon engaging to a docking station.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

said terminal interface node querying a docked EIR terminal for a list of active communication interfaces;

said docked EIR terminal transmitting a list of active interfaces, said list of active interfaces including interface types and IP addresses; and

responsive to receiving from said docked EIR terminal said list of active interfaces, said terminal interface node performing further communication with said EIR terminal over a communication interface selected from said list of active interfaces,

preceding said step of transmitting said reprogramming file.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

said terminal interface node querying a docked EIR terminal for a list of active communication interfaces;

said docked EIR terminal transmitting a list of active interfaces, said list of active interfaces including interface types and IP addresses; and

responsive to receiving from said docked EIR terminal said list of active interfaces, said terminal interface node performing further communication with said EIR terminal over a communication interface selected from said list of active interfaces, said communication interface not associated with a docking station to which said at least one EIR terminal is currently engaged,

preceding said step of transmitting said reprogramming file.

10. The method of 1, further comprising the step of said terminal interface node designating a corresponding reprogramming operation as completed responsive to receiving from said at least one EIR terminal a terminal status message confirming completion of said reprogramming operation.