Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-25
2001-12-04
Frech, Karl D. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
C235S383000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325283
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The source code for the NYTBridge (the scanner program and the graphical user interface) as a computer program listing appendix has been submitted on compact disk. The material on the compact disk is hereby incorporated by reference. Two identical compact disks have been submitted. Each compact disk contains two files:
91
) bridge.ccp (28,292 bytes); and (2) GUI Source Code.txt (132,648 bytes). The disks were created on Jun. 12 and 14, 2001, respectively.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most companies in the inventory management field require the services of computer programmers familiar with both database and procedural programming languages. The programmers are required to complete a series of complicated steps in order to enable a client company to collect data and update an existing database with the collected data. The programmers must be familiar with the language of the specified database and run queries to access pertinent information in the database. The programmers then have to convert the pertinent information from the database into an ASCII text file or other readable file. The programmers then write a low-level program for a scanning device that incorporates the converted database information. The program must also be capable of creating an output file for collected data. Finally, the programmer must process and transfer the collected data from the scanner into the database. Performing these complex steps is very time intensive, since the programmers are required to essentially develop a custom program for each client company. This customization is required due to the many different database programs, the large number of ways inventory systems can be set up, and the different types of information that can be stored in databases. As a result, inventory management is very expensive due to the costs associated with hiring highly skilled programmers for long periods of time to preform these steps.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, called the “NYTBridge”, allows a user who is unskilled in database or procedural programming to access an existing database, create a format file that will customize a unique data collection/verification program (scanner program) for use with a scanning device, and update the existing database with data collected by the scanning device running the data collection program. The NYTBridge comprises two main software components to bridge the gap between data stored in a relational database and data collected by a hand held scanning device.
The two main software components are a graphical user interface, which will have access to the relational database, and a scanner program, which will operate on the hand held scanner device. The graphical user interface will allow the user to view and analyze a specified database. The user may then select data fields, such as columns or tables, from the database to be used by the scanning program for data collection/verification. The graphical user interface will also allow the user to update the relational database with the information collected using the scanner program. The user will select a specific data file (scanner file) created by the scanner program and the graphical user interface will read the information from the scanner file and update the relational database. The information may be transferred between the relational database and the scanner based hand held device via PCMCIA cards, serial port communication, communication dock tethering, etc.
The scanner program will be able to take the data set created by the user with the graphical user interface and allow them to collect/verify the information specified in the data set with the hand held scanning device. The scanner program can be transferred to the hand held scanner along with the data set created by the graphical user interface. When the scanner program runs on the scanning device, it will accept the parameters specified in the format file and create a scanner file for the collected data. This scanner file will then be used by the graphical user interface to update the relational database.
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Chu Edward
Chu Soy
Lin Steven
Frech Karl D.
Nowlin April A.
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
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