Universal connectivity for non-universal devices

• US 9,332,531 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2014
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Pettinelli, John, Izzo, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Deng, Anna
• Application Number:
  US14/566,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20150099557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 717/168, 717/171
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10386 the interrogation device being of the portable or hand-handheld type, e.g. incorporated in ubiquitous hand-held devices such as PDA or mobile phone, or in the form of a portable dedicated RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10712 Fixed beam scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A system includes at least one data collection device, each connected to a corresponding data terminal via a primary communication channel; and a central connectivity point connected to each data collection device via a wireless secondary communication channel so as to communicate with the at least one data collection device without disrupting communication between the at least data collection device and the corresponding data terminal via the primary communication channel and to permit remote administration of each data collection device.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a plurality of data collection devices, each data collection device comprising a processor and connected to a corresponding data terminal via a primary communication channel; and

a central connectivity point connected to each data collection device via a wireless secondary communication channel to communicate, via the wireless secondary communication channel, with a first data collection device from the plurality of data collection devices without disrupting communication between the first data collection device and the first data collection device'"'"'s corresponding data terminal via the primary communication channel;

wherein the central connectivity point remotely administers the first data collection device via the wireless secondary communication channel while the first data collection device is communicating with the corresponding data terminal via the primary communication; and

wherein the central connectivity point transmits a real-time license to the first data collection device, the real-time license enabling use of at least one feature of the first data collection device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless secondary communication channel is a two-way communication channel.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the central connectivity point monitors a status of the first data collection device via the wireless secondary communication channel.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the central connectivity point updates the first data collection device via the wireless secondary communication channel.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the central connectivity point communicates with the plurality of data collection devices so as to remotely administer the plurality of data collection devices substantially simultaneously.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of data collection devices comprises a single communication interface for handling communications via the primary communication channel and the secondary communication channel.

7. A system, comprising:

a plurality of data collection devices, each data collection device comprising a processor and connected to a corresponding data terminal via a primary communication channel; and

a central connectivity point connected to each data collection device via a wireless secondary communication channel to communicate, via the wireless secondary communication channel, with a first data collection device from the plurality of data collection devices without disrupting communication between the first data collection device and the first data collection device'"'"'s corresponding data terminal via the primary communication channel;

wherein the central connectivity point remotely administers the first data collection device via the wireless secondary communication channel while the first data collection device is communicating with the corresponding data terminal via the primary communication; and

wherein the secondary communication channel of the first data collection device connects another data collection device of the plurality of data collection devices that is beyond the range of the central connectivity point to the central connectivity point.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the wireless secondary communication channel is a ZigBee network.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the central connectivity point monitors a status of the first data collection device via the wireless secondary communication channel.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the central connectivity point updates the first data collection device via the wireless secondary communication channel.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the central connectivity point communicates with the plurality of data collection devices so as to remotely administer the plurality of data collection devices substantially simultaneously.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of data collection devices comprises a single communication interface for handling communications via the primary communication channel and the secondary communication channel.

13. A system, comprising:

a plurality of data collection devices, each data collection device comprising a processor and connected to a corresponding data terminal via a primary communication channel; and

a central connectivity point connected to each data collection device via a wireless secondary communication channel to communicate, via the wireless secondary communication channel, with a first data collection device from the plurality of data collection devices without disrupting communication between the first data collection device and the first data collection device'"'"'s corresponding data terminal via the primary communication channel;

wherein the central connectivity point remotely administers the first data collection device via the wireless secondary communication channel while the first data collection device is communicating with the corresponding data terminal via the primary communication; and

wherein the central connectivity point compiles usage statistics and/or tracks unauthorized usage statistics regarding the first data collection device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the central connectivity point monitors a status of the first data collection device via the wireless secondary communication channel.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the central connectivity point updates the first data collection device via the wireless secondary communication channel.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the central connectivity point communicates with the plurality of data collection devices so as to remotely administer the plurality of data collection devices substantially simultaneously.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of data collection devices comprises a single communication interface for handling communications via the primary communication channel and the secondary communication channel.