Communications: electrical – Selective – Intelligence comparison for controlling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-10
2003-10-14
Zimmerman, Brian (Department: 2735)
Communications: electrical
Selective
Intelligence comparison for controlling
C340S005610, C434S353000, C382S115000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06633223
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to a system and method for improving control over transmission of information in an environment, such as a school or other logistically challenged environment. More particularly, the present transmitting invention generally relates to a data processing telecommunication network capable of receiving and processing wireless transmissions from mobile stations which may be used in academic institutions permitting, for example, real time tracking of attendance and personnel movement, real time monitoring and modification of student records, improved security with respect to institutional access and test session admission, improved grading of student exams and improved monitoring of student outstanding credits and debits. More particularly, a preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to an academic data processing telecommunication network capable of communicating with a mobile electro-optical reader for electro-optically reading and/or analyzing encoded indicia. Although in a preferred embodiment described herein involves information exchange in a scholastic environment, the present invention is applicable to a much broader class of environments, including, for example, manufacturing, trading, military institutions, hospitals, government buildings and retail.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Local area networks (“LANs”) are data processing telecommunication networks which allow a number of data processing units to communicate with each other and with a network server through dedicated channels. Typically a LAN encompasses a limited distance, usually one building or several buildings in close proximity. Conventionally, data processing units in a LAN have been interconnected by means of either electrical line or optical fiber. Portable data processing units traditionally have been given access to the LAN by means of one or more plug-in connectors interconnected to the LAN, and positioned at fixed points at data processing stations. As is known in the art, such conventional cabled interconnection entails considerable expense in requiring new cabling each time a new plug-in connector is desired.
Because of the numerous disadvantages associated with entirely physically-cabled data processing telecommunication networks, so-called “wireless” data processing telecommunication networks, such as the “wireless LAN”, have developed. Such “wireless” data processing telecommunication networks have at least a part of the network communicating with another part of the network by aerial transmission. Such wireless data processing telecommunication networks frequently employ infrared light or radio wave propagation as the transmission system.
In a conventional wireless LAN, information is typically transmitted from wireless stations, having one or more antennas for transmitting and receiving messages, to an access point (or base station), which provides access to the infrastructure network, such as an Ethernet. In a typical wireless LAN, information which is to flow between the wireless stations must first be received at the access point and then re-transmitted to the wireless station that needs the information. Wireless systems exist, however, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,531, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference, wherein wireless stations may transmit signals directly to one another when the destination station is in the same service area and the communication link quality is reasonable. The access point may be connected by cable to a backbone LAN, connected to other devices and/or networks which stations in the LAN may communicate, or may communicate with the LAN by wireless transmission. The access point typically has one or more antennas for transmitting and receiving messages over the wireless communication channel. Each wireless station may be assigned an address which is consistent with other LAN addresses on the backbone LAN.
A conventional wireless LAN of the prior art is depicted in FIG.
1
. Mobile stations
18
-
1
,
18
-
2
,
18
-
3
and
18
-
4
, having antennas
24
-
1
,
24
-
2
,
24
-
3
and
24
-
4
, respectively, transmit aerially a signal to one or more access points,
14
-
1
,
14
-
2
and
16
, which may be physically cabled,
14
-
1
and
14
-
2
, to backbone LAN
10
, or un-cabled,
16
, to backbone LAN
10
. Access points,
14
-
1
,
14
-
2
and
16
, have antennas
22
-
1
,
22
-
2
,
22
-
3
, respectively, for transmitting and receiving messages in the aerial transmission. Cabled access points,
14
-
1
and
14
-
2
, and non-cabled access point,
16
, serve as base stations permitting communication by aerial transmission between backbone LAN
10
and mobile stations
18
-
1
,
18
-
2
,
18
-
3
and
18
-
4
, such that backbone LAN
10
may receive data from, and communicate data to, mobile stations
18
-
1
,
18
-
2
,
18
-
3
and
18
-
4
. The signal sent by one mobile station,
18
-
1
,
18
-
2
,
18
-
3
and
18
-
4
, may be forwarded by an access point,
14
-
1
and
14
-
2
, receiving the signal, to another mobile station,
18
-
1
,
18
-
2
,
18
-
3
and
18
-
4
. Mobile stations,
18
-
1
,
18
-
2
,
18
-
3
and
18
-
4
, signals may alternatively be transmitted directly to another mobile station. Each mobile station,
18
-
1
,
18
-
2
,
18
-
3
and
18
-
4
, may be assigned an address which is consistent with other LAN addresses on backbone LAN
10
. Thereby, messages may be transmitted to any mobile station,
18
-
1
,
18
-
2
,
18
-
3
and
18
-
4
, by broadcasting it on backbone LAN
10
.
For example, access point
14
-
2
may broadcast a message on backbone LAN
10
having an address destined for mobile station
18
-
4
. When access point
14
-
2
receives the message, it recognizes the address of mobile station
18
-
4
as one of the stations in its service area, and transmits the message to mobile station
18
-
4
. As the other access point,
14
-
1
, on backbone LAN
10
does not have mobile station
18
-
4
listed in its service area, it does not respond to the message intended for mobile station
18
-
4
. For example, access point
14
-
1
may broadcast a message to mobile station
18
-
2
. Backbone LAN
10
may be combined also with peripherals (not depicted), such as printers, modems, etc. As would be appreciated by one of skill in the art, wireless communication between the mobile stations and other data processing telecommunication networks, such as PBX, and other network topologies, such as a token ring, may be employed in the present invention.
Because of their great flexibility and the lack of need for expensive cabling, wireless LANs have found widespread employment since their. inception. For example, transactions on many of the stock exchanges are now frequently carried out by using hand-held computers in a wireless LAN environment rather than the system of complex hand signals that were but only a few years ago common place on trading floors. Similarly, many medical centers now employ hand-held computers linked by wireless transmissions to their LAN to allow health care professionals to instantly access patient records for bedside critical care. Retail stores have also begun linking their registers by wireless communications to their store computer via the LAN to permit point-in-time updating of sales information and stock re-ordering.
While wireless LANs have found widespread use in commercial settings, they have only more recently been employed in academic settings.
Many schools, laboratories and class rooms were built prior to the widespread use of computers. As such they lack the wiring necessary for a institution-wide conventional LAN. Initially many of these schools opted for stand-alone computers for class room use, and a separate more circumscribed LAN environment for administrative use. However, the not infrequently seen incremental increase in the cost of software site licenses for stand-alone computers, as compared to network licenses, frustration with bottlenecking information access and infor
Fluharty Michael
Schenker Andrew J.
Swartz Jerome
Kirschstein et al.
Symbol Technologies Inc.
Zimmerman Brian
LandOfFree
Wireless LAN scholastic tracking system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Wireless LAN scholastic tracking system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Wireless LAN scholastic tracking system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3159613