| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080274731 | MODULAR, PORTABLE DATA PROCESSING TERMINAL FOR USE IN A RADIO FREQUENCY COMMUNICATION NETWORK - Modular, portable data collection terminals are disclosed for use in mixed wireless and hard-wired RF communication networks, wherein various radio transmitter modules and associated antennas may be selectively added to a base terminal unit to solve networking problems associated with specific types of business environments. Modularity exists in both the hardware (splitting data collection and processing control circuitry from radio transceiver control circuitry) and software (splitting transceiver-specific, lower level communication protocol from generic, higher level communication protocol). The control circuitry, including associated microprocessors devices, interact to selectively activate communication circuits to perform necessary communication or data processing functions and enter and remain in a power-saving dormant state during other times. To support such dormant or “sleeping” states, a series of communication protocols provide for channel access to the communication network. The disclosed modular design also provides for automatic selection from a variety of available built-in and externally mounted antennas based on the particular type of radio transceiver(s) selected. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20090054099 | RADIO TRANSCEIVER COMMUNICATING IN A PLURALITY OF FREQUENCY BANDS - A computer apparatus for receiving a removable communication card such as a radio card or a modem card. A radio or modem is self-contained inside a housing of the communication card and has an electrical interface for communicating information to and from the computer apparatus. The computer apparatus receives the communication card such that it engages the electrical interface. These contacts automatically connect the communication card to an appropriate antenna, telephone or telephone line. A radio communication card is connected to the appropriate antenna for the type and frequency of the radio. A modem card is connected to a standard telephone line, a cellular phone, or an antenna for a cellular phone if the cellular phone is also disposed within the housing of the modem communication card. Additionally, a switching matrix can be used to connect one set of contacts on a radio card or a modem card to one or more of a plurality of antennas and telephone lines. A computer device utilizing an antenna cap which covers the opening into which the radio has been inserted is also shown. Antenna contacts are disposed on the cap to engage the antenna contacts positioned on the end of the radio card. At least one antenna is operably connected to the radio card through the cap. A band is used to attach the cap to the housing of the computer device. The antenna or antennas are embedded in the cap, in the band, or embedded in or attached to the housing of the computer device. Positioning two similar antennas in different position creates an antenna diversity scheme. Shielding can be added to the cap to help reduce the escape of electronic noise. A micro shield ribbon can be used to connect the antenna and the antenna contacts on the cap. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090175318 | MULTI-LEVEL HIERARCHICAL RADIO-FREQUENCY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - Portable measuring devices which communicate by low power transceivers through a communication controller with a printer device collect weight and size data on articles to be shipped. The collected weight and size data are combined with origin and destination data, and labels are printed bearing pertinent shipping and routing information in machine readable format. The labels are attached to the articles to be shipped and accompany the articles to their respective destinations. At transfer points the labels are read by scanner devices which also communicate by low power transceiver links with the communication controller. The wireless linking of the scanner devices promotes human safety by the absence of cords which could cause entanglement of an operator in mechanized conveying equipment. The communication controllers at each stage of the shipping process have the capability of transferring received and updated status information on the shipped articles to a central data station. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090247241 | NETWORK SUPPORTING ROAMING, SLEEPING TERMINALS - Improved apparatus for a radio communication system having a multiplicity of mobile transceiver units selectively in communication with a plurality of base transceiver units which, in turn, communicate with one or more host computers for storage and manipulation of data collected by bar code scanners or other collection means associated with the mobile transceiver units. A network controller and an adapter which has a simulcast and sequential mode provide selective interface between host computers and base transceivers. A scheme for routing data through the communication system is also disclosed wherein the intermediate base stations are organized into an optimal spanning-tree network to control the routing of data to and from the RF terminals and the host computer efficiently and dynamically. Additionally, redundant network and communication protocol is disclosed wherein the network utilizes a polling communication protocol which, under heavy loaded conditions, requires that a roaming terminal wishing to initiate communication must first determine that the channel is truly clear by listing for an entire interpoll gap time. In a further embodiment, a criterion used by the roaming terminals for attaching to a given base station reduces conflicts in the overlapping RF regions of adjacent base stations. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20100282852 | MODULAR, PORTABLE DATA PROCESSING TERMINAL FOR USE IN A RADIO FREQUENCY COMMUNICATION - Modular, portable data collection terminals are disclosed for use in mixed wireless and hard-wired RF communication networks, wherein various radio transmitter modules and associated antennas may be selectively added to a base terminal unit to solve networking problems associated with specific types of business environments. Modularity exists in both the hardware (splitting data collection and processing control circuitry from radio transceiver control circuitry) and software (splitting transceiver-specific, lower level communication protocol from generic, higher level communication protocol). The control circuitry, including associated microprocessors devices, interact to selectively activate communication circuits to perform necessary communication or data processing functions and enter and remain in a power-saving dormant state during other times. To support such dormant or “sleeping” states, a series of communication protocols provide for channel access to the communication network. The disclosed modular design also provides for automatic selection from a variety of available built-in and externally mounted antennas based on the particular type of radio transceiver(s) selected. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20110037681 | RADIO TRANSCEIVER COMMUNICATING IN A PLURALITY OF FREQUENCY BANDS - A computer apparatus for receiving a removable communication card such as a radio card or a modem card. A radio or modem is self-contained inside a housing of the communication card and has an electrical interface for communicating information to and from the computer apparatus. The computer apparatus receives the communication card such that it engages the electrical interface. These contacts automatically connect the communication card to an appropriate antenna, telephone or telephone line. A radio communication card is connected to the appropriate antenna for the type and frequency of the radio. A modem card is connected to a standard telephone line, a cellular phone, or an antenna for a cellular phone if the cellular phone is also disposed within the housing of the modem communication card. Additionally, a switching matrix can be used to connect one set of contacts on a radio card or a modem card to one or more of a plurality of antennas and telephone lines. A computer device utilizing an antenna cap which covers the opening into which the radio has been inserted is also shown. Antenna contacts are disposed on the cap to engage the antenna contacts positioned on the end of the radio card. At least one antenna is operably connected to the radio card through the cap. A band is used to attach the cap to the housing of the computer device. The antenna or antennas are embedded in the cap, in the band, or embedded in or attached to the housing of the computer device. Positioning two similar antennas in different position creates an antenna diversity scheme. Shielding can be added to the cap to help reduce the escape of electronic noise. A micro shield ribbon can be used to connect the antenna and the antenna contacts on the cap. | 02-17-2011 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20090080398 | Hierarchical Communication System Providing Intelligent Data, Program and Processing Migration - A hierarchical communication system, arranged in a spanning tree configuration, is described in which wired and wireless communication networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed in an overall scheme to link portable or mobile computing devices. Copies of data, program code and processing resources are migrated from their source toward requesting destinations based on request frequency, communication link costs and available local storage and/or processing resources. Each appropriately configured network device acts as an active participant in network migration. In addition, portable two-dimensional (2-D) code reading terminals are configured to wirelessly communicate compressed 2-D images toward stationary access servers that identify the code image through decoding and through comparison with a database of images that have previously been decoded and stored. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090252136 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EFFICIENTLY ROUTING INFORMATION - A hierarchical communication system is described in which two wireless local area networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed to link inherently portable or mobile computer devices. A series of radio base stations make up a infrastructure network. The infrastructure network and at least one portable computer device make up the first local area network. The communication on the first local area network is accomplished by spread spectrum frequency hopping communication A second local area network allows for radio communication between a portable computer device and peripheral devices with built-in transceivers utilized by the portable computer device. The communication in each local area network is controlled by a reservation access communication protocol. The communication protocol facilitates frequency hopping synchronization and supports adaptive data rate selection based upon the quality of communication on the communication channel. The communication protocol prevents interference between communication on the first local area network and communication on the second local area network. In a premises LAN, a series of radio base stations and a backbone LAN make up an infrastructure network. The infrastructure network and at least one mobile computing device make up a higher-power LAN, utilizing a frequency hopping protocol. A lower-power LAN allows for radio communication between a mobile computing device and peripheral devices, utilizing a single-frequency spread spectrum protocol. A vehicular LAN provides for short-range communication between a vehicle terminal and a portable terminal. When out of direct RF range of the premises LAN, the vehicle terminal maintains indirect communication when necessary with the premises LAN via one of several alternate RF channels. A microprocessor, located inside radio units which participate in multiple LAN's, selects the appropriate protocol, frequency band and power level for communicating through the network. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20100329166 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING COMMUNICATION IN A MULTI-NETWORK ENVIRONMENT - A hierarchical communication system, arranged in a spanning tree configuration, is described in which wired and wireless communication networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed in an overall scheme to link portable or mobile computing devices. Copies of data, program code and processing resources are migrated from their source toward requesting destinations based on request frequency, communication link costs and available local storage and/or processing resources. Each appropriately configured network device acts as an active participant in network migration. In addition, portable two-dimensional (2-D) code reading terminals are configured to wirelessly communicate compressed 2-D images toward stationary access servers that identify the code image through decoding and through comparison with a database of images that have previously been decoded and stored. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110007724 | HIERARCHICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM PROVIDING INTELLIGENT DATA, PROGRAM AND PROCESSING MIGRATION - A hierarchical communication system, arranged in a spanning tree configuration, is described in which wired and wireless communication networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed in an overall scheme to link portable or mobile computing devices. Copies of data, program code and processing resources are migrated from their source toward requesting destinations based on request frequency, communication link costs and available local storage and/or processing resources. Each appropriately configured network device acts as an active participant in network migration. In addition, portable two-dimensional (2-D) code reading terminals are configured to wirelessly communicate compressed 2-D images toward stationary access servers that identify the code image through decoding and through comparison with a database of images that have previously been decoded and stored. | 01-13-2011 |
