Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Remote data accessing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-08
2001-02-20
Lim, Krisna (Department: 2153)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Remote data accessing
C709S227000, C370S310000, C235S472010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192400
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to a computerized system for managing freight or the like which is picked up at various points and delivered to other various destinations, and more particularly to such a system which utilizes hand-held terminals, scanners and printers which are linked together by a micro link radio to each other and by a wide area network radio link to a main area station which can receive and transmit information to a plurality of sets of terminals, printers and the like for managing an overall freight system.
BACKGROUND ART
In the freight business, a common freight managing system will utilize a terminal which permits the keying in of information, a portable printer to which this device can be attached and a hand-held scanner which can be attached to the terminal. Consequently, when freight is received at a loading dock or by a driver who picks up freight, the critical information about the freight is entered into the terminal such as its size, weight, origin, and destination, etc. A bar code can be generated by the terminal and printer which then can be secured to the freight. A problem arises when the user is required to take the terminal and printer to the package of freight rather than when the freight itself is brought to the place where the terminal and printer is located. Especially for large or multiple packages of freight it is very difficult for the user to move the freight and the terminal/printer to where they need to be moved.
Similarly, in the delivery system, when packages are to be delivered it is often necessary to take the terminal, the printer and the scanner to the package or packages and then move not only the freight packages themselves but also these three components so that the bar code can be read by the scanner, entered into the terminal and the information printed out or read out on a display screen so the user can route it to the proper place or put it into a container destined for a certain location.
Consequently, there is a need for a computerized delivery system which eliminates the aforementioned problems.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a computerized system for managing freight or the like which is picked up at various points and delivered to other various destinations, and more particularly to such a system which utilizes hand-held terminals, scanners and printers which are linked together by a micro link radio to each other and by a wide area network radio link to a main area station which can receive and transmit information to a plurality of sets of terminals, printers and the like for managing an overall freight system.
According to one aspect of the invention, a data system includes at least a data collection terminal device and a printer terminal device which data collection and printer terminal devices are communicatively coupled to each other by a low level, low power transmission link.
According to the invention and according to one particular feature thereof, data collection and processing devices, such as a data collection terminal including a keyboard and a display, a scanner, scales or linear measuring devices, and a printer may be communicatively coupled to interactively function as components of a common data entry system.
According to another particular feature of the invention, data collection and processing devices or components, such as a portable printer may be communicatively coupled by a low level, low power RF communication link to a data collection terminal to enter item identifiers and print shipping labels and invoices for items in shipping and transfer operations.
The low level communication links for such operations have been found to be particularly advantageous in simplifying shipping operations of articles packed in crates and packages which are relatively large and heavy in comparison to parcels which may readily picked up and carried about. Larger items, such as shipping crates, may need to be weighed and measured. Advantageously, the measurements and determined weights are then recorded on bar code labels which may readily be attached to the boxes or shipping crates. Shipping data are recorded at the local level by being communicated over the low power or low level communication link to a hand-held data collection terminal. The low level communication links minimize interference problems with other more remote systems to permit a great number of similar or identical systems to function simultaneously at sufficiently removed operating sites so as not to interfere with each other.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved computerized system for managing the freight business.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved computerized freight system with a wireless link between a portable printer and a terminal whereby once the user has the printer nearby, the user does not need to carry the printer with him while entering and receiving data into an out from the terminal.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved computerized freight system which is compact so that it does not interfere with moving freight packages or moving from one freight package to another.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved computerized freight system which provides a complete freight control system which is portable from truck to truck and does not need to be permanently installed therein.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved computerized freight system which has backup communication systems in case the radio frequency wireless links fail or are temporarily inoperative.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 4916441 (1990-04-01), Gombrich
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patent: WO 88/08649 (1988-11-01), None
patent: WO 92/02084 (1992-02-01), None
Bunte Alan G.
Cargin Keith K.
Danielson Arvin D.
Hanson George E.
Koenck Steven E.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld L.L.P.
Intermec IP Corp.
Lim Krisna
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