Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at separate stations – Plural transmitters or receivers
Reexamination Certificate
1997-08-05
2002-06-11
Trost, William (Department: 2683)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at separate stations
Plural transmitters or receivers
C455S552100, C455S553100, C455S554100, C455S426100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06405049
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a portable data device or terminal and a terminal docking mounting device or cradle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional portable data terminals comprise a data display, data input means such as a keyboard and data storage and processing means. A wide range of applications are now available on such terminals including word-processing, spread-sheeting, data base applications and so forth. Much of the development work in known portable data terminals is centred on increasing the data storage and processing capabilities. This has led to increases in cost and size/weight (and the corresponding need to subsequently miniaturise components) together with increased complexity leading to increased potential for defect or breakdown.
In another aspect, U.S. Pat. No. 5,410,326 relates to a programmable remote control device for interacting with a plurality of remotely controlled devices. The remote control device is configured to control a variety of devices and carries pictorial icons representing the different functions for selection by the user. The device is further configured to receive and display advertising messages, and operate various other functions such as electronic mail and order-out meal delivery. The system is, however, complex and cumbersome and of limited adaptability.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,370 relates to a hand-held portable data capture terminal for example for warehousing, which is mountable in a terminal mount for data communication with a host computer and/or battery recharging. The specification is directed to a data interface between the terminal and the terminal mount comprising abutting electrical contact pads. The terminal is arranged only to communicate with the terminal mount when it is docked therein. The terminal carries a processor and memory system serving as a communication controller and can be arranged to act as network controllers when docked. A difficulty with such a system is that a considerable processing and memory capability is included in the hand-held terminal and that data is only downloaded when the terminal is docked in terminal mount.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,621 relates to a control system for a personal computer. In conventional personal computers a system control processor provided an interface between the host processor and peripheral such as a keyboard. System performance was limited because of the slow communication rate between the system control processor and the keyboard, and was further degraded when the system control processor handled additional control burdens such as battery power management, external bus expansion control and so forth. According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,621 it is proposed to introduce microcontrollers to provide communication between respective peripheral devices and the system control processor, freeing the system control processor to do other tasks improving the overall system performance.
The question of power management in portable devices has been addressed in various manners conventionally. U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,294 relates to monitoring the voltage discharge of a battery power supply in which the user is issued warnings at various depletion levels allowing memory back-up, avoidance of over-depletion and so forth. U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,413 recites a battery charging system including feedback input allowing minimisation of overhead voltage levels, and connection of a recharging device to a peripheral device via a port at the recharger. U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,181 refers to power minimisation providing a main processor and a lower power processor which allows the main processor to “sleep” except when required. The lower power processor carries out various minor functions allowing the main processor to sleep as far as possible whilst being awoken as soon as required. U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,205 relates power management in a portable pen-based notebook computer. The system has a plurality of independently controllable power planes selectively powerable to ensure that a particular task is performed with minimum power consumption. In addition separate CPU's operate synchronously in relation to one another reducing the amount of processing time the main CPU is required to dedicate to the power management function.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to overcome or mitigate problems or disadvantages with prior art arrangements.
A particular object of the invention is to provide a simple and reliable portable data terminal.
A further object of the invention is to provide a simple reliable cradle for co-operation with a portable data terminal.
A further object of the invention is to provide a user interface between a portable data terminal that is simple to use and adapt dependent on the desired implementations.
Features of the Invention
According to the one aspect the invention relates to a data processing system comprising a portable terminal and a terminal mount wherein the mount includes a terminal interface and processor capability for processing data received from the terminal and the terminal includes a user interface, a mount interface and processor capability sufficient only to relay user input to the mount for processing and data from the mount to the user interface. Thus an ultra thin client is provided at the terminal, the mount carrying out the majority of the computing functions.
In another aspect the invention relates to a data processing system comprising a stand-alone data terminal, docking means for docking the terminal and a host network, the terminal including a user input and docking means interface arranged to relay user input to the mount and the mount including a terminal interface and a host interface arranged to relay the user input to the host, for processing and a method of relaying data between a portable terminal and a base station comprising the steps of inputting data to the terminal, relaying the data to the base station with minimal processing and processing the data at the base station. Optionally, therefore, the majority of the processing power can be maintained at the host, allowing a thin docking means or cradle.
According to another aspect the invention provides a product information retrieval system comprising a portable terminal arranged to receive data from one or more data output points in a product access zone in which the terminal is arranged to display an image of a product to be accessed in response to data received from the data output point and a method of retrieving product information in which a portable terminal is provided in a product access zone and receives data from one or more data output points, and in which the terminal displays an image of a product to be accessed in response to data received from a data output point, and a portable data terminal for operation in an operation zone having one or more physical items located at predetermined positions in the zone wherein the data terminal comprises a communications receiver and/or transmitter and a display arranged to display icon's representative of the physical item and/or its position in the operation zone. This icon based system allows a highly user-friendly, efficient and human-error free file system to be implemented.
According to another aspect there is provided a terminal mount for mounting a portable data terminal, the mount being adapted for wireless communication with the data terminal, wherein the mount is arranged to receive or derive display format information for a terminal to be mounted thereon and configure data to be displayed at the terminal according to the display format.
According to another aspect there is provided a data communications system comprising a portable data communication device and a device mount arranged to releasably receive the device, in which the device mount includes a user identification information input and a device lock arranged to release the device on input of approved user identification information and a method of monitoring access to
Bard Simon
Herrod Allan
Klein John
Vesuna Sarosh
Kirschstein et al.
Symbol Technologies Inc.
Tran Congvan
Trost William
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