MXPA98010826A - Portable data collection device mounted in a shopping cart with integr data format reader - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable collection device (10) adapted to be mounted on a shopping cart (18). The device (10) includes a housing (12) having a mounting assembly for releasably holding the housing (12) to a push bar of a shopping cart (18). The housing (12) defines an interior region that supports the electronic parts of the device. The device (10) further includes an interactive, touch-sensitive display screen (14) and an integrated, retractable data format reader (22) releasably mounted on the housing (12). When mounted on the housing (12), an imaging assembly and lighting assembly of the reader (22) are continuously driven to read a data format (30) presented to the reader (22). When it is removed from the housing (12), the reader (22) is activated by pressing an activated on the reader (22). The device (10) also includes a magnetic stripe reader assembly and communication circuits that include a radio transceiver module.

Description

- PORTABLE DATA COLLECTION DEVICE MOUNTED IN A SHOPPING CART WITH INTEGRATED DATA FORMAT READER Field of the Invention This invention relates to a portable data collection device adapted to be mounted on a shopping cart and, more particularly, to a portable data collection device adapted to be mounted on a shopping cart and which includes a reader of data format selectable, integrated, retractable, linked to a housing of the portable data collection device.

Background of the Invention 15 In a retail store or grocery store, a customer will typically push a shopping cart through aisles by selecting goods. When the buyer finishes, he or she goes to a cash register / data terminal in an area of warehouse verification. The cash register / data terminal typically includes a reader assembly and data format decoder manual and / or fixed mounted X data format reader ".) If a fixed mounted data format reader is used, a warehouse clerk presents each barcode data format from article to reader xr - of the data format, ie, that the data format is moved along a top surface of a glass window under which the data format reader is mounted. If a manual data format reader is used, the employee "points" the reader to each data format of the article when the article moves along the terminal. In each case, a "" reading and decoding "" signal will be activated after each reading and successful decoding of the data format for notify the employee that the data format of the article was read and decoded successfully. The signal can be an "audible" tone or buzz, if the "hum" is not heard, the employee will repeat the reading process of the article until it is successful. 15 Each data format of the article includes a product identifier, which is used to retrieve the description and price of the product of the article from a remote database. A visual representation of the terminal displays the description and price of the product of the article for each article after reading and decoding the data format. When all items that are being purchased by a customer have been presented to the reader, the terminal provides the total price of all the customer's items and prints a registration receipt that lists the product description • *? For each item and its price, a subtotal of all items, a tax and the total amount owed. The quantity delivered by the customer is fed by the employee using the numeric keypad of a terminal. The quantity delivered and the change due are also printed on the receipt of the registration. The employee collects the customer's payment and gives his change. A number of problems associated with such a cash register / data terminal system include: (1) the inconvenience of customers waiting on long check lines; (2) the use of valuable floor space for the verification area when a number of cash registers / data terminals are used, and (3) the prices of the products have to be imprecise on fixed labels on each item or marked on the adjacent shelves, to the shelf space of the product of • way that the customer knows the price of a selected item. In a proposed alternative system, the client is presented with a portable manual data terminal that includes a manual data format reader when. { He or she enters the store. The customer uses the reader to read a barcode data format on each item before or at the same time you place the item in your shopping cart. A memory in the data terminal Laptop stores a description and price recovered from the product taken for each selected item. In the verification area, the warehouse employee only prints a registration receipt based on the data stored in the reader of the data format and collects the customer's payment. There are a number of disadvantages associated with this proposed alternative portable data terminal system. First, the customer must transport the data collection device during the shopping session. The device represents another item that must be handled by the customer in addition to the shopping cart, the items that are purchased and possibly children. This inconvenience for the customer can not lead to the device being damaged or being dropped by a rushed customer. Second, the retailer must dedicate floor space to the entrance area where the devices are presented and collected to the users. Third, the device is susceptible to being stolen. What is needed is a more convenient system to provide customers with a portable data collection device that includes a data format lectox that can be used by a user to read article data formats. selected to be purchased during a shopping session.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A portable data collection device is described that includes a manual data format reader. The device includes a housing having a clamping mechanism for securely holding the housing to a push bar of a shopping cart. The housing defines an interior region in which the electrical circuits of the device are deposited. The device further includes a manual data format reader, which is provided with a retractable electrical cable to the housing. The reader operates in two modes; a presentation mode and a manual mode. When the data format reader is placed in an aperture in the housing, the imaging and illumination assemblies of the reader are continuously driven to read a data format of an article presented to the reader. This is known as the presentation mode. In the manual mode of operation, the reader is removed from the opening in the housing. When the reader is removed away from the housing, the imaging and lighting assemblies are deactivated. The client moves the reader to point "this to a format of data of the selected articles. A trigger is pressed on the reader to drive the imaging and lighting assemblies of the reader. The lighting assembly includes a sight glass assembly to help point the reader to the target data format. When the imaging assembly generates a decoded image of the data format, the encoder circuit placed in the housing decodes the data format of the formed image. When the data format is read and decoded successfully, a loudspeaker mounted in the housing emits an audible "buzz" tone to indicate to the customer that the data format of the item has been read and decoded, the reader is then returned to its position The cable connecting the reader and the electrical circuit in the housing is automatically rewound by a rewind mechanism in the housing The reader includes the lighting assembly to illuminate a data format of the selected article with a plurality of LED lighting and also includes peephole LEDs, which generate a "cross-hair" pattern to properly aim the device at the target data format.The size of the cross-hair pattern corresponds substantially to the visual field or target area of the mounting formation of images. lighting also includes a lens array to properly focus the light emitted by the illumination LEDs and the peephole over an area substantially corresponding to the field of view of the target area of the imaging assembly. The imaging assembly is preferably an imaging assembly of a two-dimensional device coupled to the load that includes an on-board camera assembly with a two-dimensional photosensor array. The imaging assembly further includes a printed circuit board and decoder board on which is mounted the circuit that includes a microprocessor to control the operations of the device and a processor and decoder circuit for processing and decoding the image of the device. data format of a composite analog video signal generated by the onboard camera assembly. The imaging assembly of the present invention can be used to read uni and two-dimensional bar code data formats., as well as matrix data formats (MaxiCode, Data Matrix, Code I, etc.).

A one-dimensional barcode comprises a line , horizontal of vertically oriented, alternating black and white bars, of various widths, for example, the UPC bar code, while a bar code Two-dimensional consists of a plurality of horizontal lines of the barcode, for example, PDF-417, Supercode, etc. ~~ As noted above, the electrical circuit of the portable data collection device includes the microprocessor to control the operations of the device. The circuit also includes the processor and decoder circuit for decoding the data format read by the data format reader and the communication circuit for sending data to and receiving data from remote devices. The housing also supports a visual display screen with a superimposed touch-sensitive layer that provides the user with an interface or interconnection with the microprocessor. When the data format of an article is read, the price and product description of the article is retrieved from a remote database and displayed on the display of the visual representation device. The communication circuit, which includes a radio frequency (rf) transceiver module, retrieves the price and the product description of the article via a cellular communication network of which the device is a part. At the end of a shopping session, a list of all items and their product descriptions and prices is displayed on the screen and a receipt is printed at customer by means of a print assembly placed in the housing. The display screen of the device presents a number of screen menus and response blocks and / or touch-sensitive virtual numeric keypads and associated keypads that can be used to feed data and commands to the device. The options given by the menu presented to a customer include selecting recipes for an article whose data format was read and ordering prepared items from the deli, meat department, etc. The communication circuit allows to verify the location of the device for security purposes. These and other advantages and features of the invention will be clearly understood through the consideration of the following detailed description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable data collection device of the present invention, mounted on a shopping cart, with a data format reader of the device being used in the manual mode; Figure 2 is another perspective view of the portable data collection device of the Figure 1, mounted on the shopping cart, with the data format reader of the device being used in a presentation mode; Figure 3 is a view, partly in section and partially in elevation, of the portable data collection device of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a partially cutaway and partially plan view of the retractable, attached data format reader of the portable data collection device of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the selected electronic modules and circuits of the portable data collection device of the Figure 1; Figure 6 is a flowchart representing the processing steps of the portable data collection device of Figure 1, in relation to the shopping session in a retail warehouse using the device; Figure 7 is a representative welcome message presented on a touch-sensitive display screen of the portable data collection device of Figure 1; Figure 8 is a representative introductory menu presented on the touch-sensitive display screen of the portable data collection device of Figure 1, in connection with a shopping session; Figure 9 is a representative menu presented on the touch-sensitive display screen of the portable data collection device of the Figure 1, after the barcode data format of the item has been read; Figure 10 is a flowchart depicting the processing steps of the portable data collection device of Figure 2 in relation to a routine for verifying selected items for purchase; Figure 11 is a diagram of the representative screen presented on the touch-sensitive display screen of the portable data collection device of Figure 1, in relation to a routine for verifying selected items for purchase; Figure 12 is a flowchart representing the processing steps of the portable data collection device of Figure 1, in relation to a help routine to help a user find a desired item; Figure 13 is a diagram of a representative screen presented on the touch-sensitive display screen of the portable data collection device of Figure 1, in relation to a help routine to help a user find a desired item; Figure 14 is a flowchart representing the processing steps of the portable data collection device of Figure 1, in relation to a routine for providing a recipe using a selected food item; Figure 15 is a diagram of a representative screen presented on the touch-sensitive display screen of the portable data collection device of Figure 1, in relation to a routine for providing a recipe using a selected food item; Figure 16 is a flow chart depicting the processing steps of the portable data collection device of Figure 1, in relation to a routine for presenting a retail store diagram in the portable data collection device of the Figure 1 in use; Figure 17 is a flow chart depicting the processing steps of the device portable data collection of Figure 1, in relation to a routine to allow a customer to order an item prepared during a shopping session; Figure 18 is a diagram of a representative screen presented on the touch-sensitive display screen of the portable data collection device of Figure 1, in connection with a routine to allow a customer to order an item prepared during a shopping session; Figure 19 is a schematic representation of communication cells of a cellular communications system used by means of an extended spectrum communications circuit of the portable data collection device of Figure 1; Figure 20 is a flow chart depicting the processing steps of the portable data collection device of Figure 1, in relation to a routine for providing customer assistance and verifying the location of the shopping cart; Figure 21 is an alternative embodiment of a portable data collection device of the present invention, mounted on a shopping cart; and Figure 22 is another alternative embodiment of a portable data collection device of the present invention, mounted on a shopping cart.

Detailed Description A portable data collection device of the present invention is shown generally in Figures 1 and 2. The device 10 includes a housing 12 that supports an interactive, touch sensitive display screen 14. The housing 12 is it is mounted on the push barrier 16 of a shopping cart 18. The interactive touch-sensitive display screen 14 is mounted to be seen through an opening in an inclined front surface 20 of the housing 12. The screen display 14 is at an appropriate angle to be easily seen by a customer having his or her hands on the handle of the shopping cart 16. The data format reader assembly includes a manual 22-bar code data reader attached retractable or attached to the housing 12 with an electrical cable 24. The cable 24 includes a plurality of conductors 140 (Figure 4) for its minister energy to the reader 22, by coupling a composite analog video signal 28 (Figure 5), which represents the data format of the bar code 30 (shown in shaded form in Figure 1 and in plan form in Figure 4) to a processor 32 mounted on a board of printed circuit boards and decoder 33 (Figure 3 and schematically in Figure 5) in the housing 12. The circuit in the decoder control board 33 and the data format reader 22 comprises a data format decoder reader assembly. The data format reader 22 operates in two modes: a) a manual mode; and b) a mode of presentation. The manual mode of operation is depicted in Figure 1 where the reader 22 is removed by the customer from an opening 36 in a side 38 of the housing 12. When it is supported in the opening 36, the reader 22 extends slightly beyond the side 38, so that the customer can easily hold a front portion of the reader and slide it out of the opening. The customer moves the reader 22 to a data format 30 of an item that the customer wants to buy or know its price. The client presses the trigger 40 to operate an imaging assembly 42 and a lighting assembly 44 of the reader 22. The illumination assembly 44 provides a uniform illumination pattern corresponding to an image forming area or visual field 46 of the image forming assembly 42, and additionally generates a more intense cross-flaring pattern 48 to assist the client in positioning the reader 22, so that the data format 30 of an article 50 is appropriately within the area of image formation of the reader. The uniform lighting pattern and the cross-hair pattern for aiming alternate rapidly between the off and on states, so that one is off while the other is on. This alternation of the lighting pattern avoids the difficulty of having to decode an image of captured data format that has an intense cross-lighting pattern imposed on it. The alternation of the lighting and the cross-hair patterns is fast enough, so that the client feels that the cross-hair pattern for pointing is continuously on. While the trigger 40 is held down, the customer should point the cross-hair pattern 48 to the center of the data format 30. The client moves the reader 22 towards the article 50 until a tone or buzzing "audible by a speaker 130 is emitted. , indicating that the data format 30 has been successfully heard and decoded.The price and name or description and product size of the item will appear on the display 14 (see Figure 9 and block 222). buzzing ", the reader 22 is returned to opening 36 by sliding in it. In the presentation operation mode, the reader 22 is connected to the housing opening 36, the client reads a fixed data format 52 in the article 54 by moving the article towards the reader 22. While the reader 22 remains in the opening of the housing 36, a magnetic switch 158 (Figure 4) is enclosed in a rear portion of the modular housing 142 of reader 22, is powered by a magnet 160 placed in opening 36 when the reader is in the opening. The actuation of the magnetic switch 158 causes the imaging assembly 42 and the lighting assembly 44 to be driven. In this way, the reader 22 is ready to continuously read data formats when placed in the opening 36. When a "buzzing" is heard, the customer knows that the data format 52 has been successfully captured and decoded. the lighting pattern is continuously on and the cross-light pattern is deactivated, since it is not necessary to point at the reader 23. Manual mode is advantageously used when an article on a shelf is too large or too large. difficult to move from the shelf, or if the user wants to verify the price without removing the item from the shelf. The presentation mode is advantageously used when the selected article is smaller and can be handled more easily.

A magnetic stripe reader 60 is molded on an upper surface 125 of the housing 12. The magnetic stripe reader 60 includes a slotted opening 61a in the upper surface and includes a magnetic stripe detector and reader 61b (FIG. 3) positioned at He left the opening. The appropriate magnetic stripe decoder circuit (Figure 5) is mounted on the control board and decoder 33. The magnetic stripe reader 60 is used in connection with a customer identification subroutine to be discussed later. The housing 12 also supports a thermal printing assembly 62 (Figure 3), which functions to print a paper receipt 63 for the customer upon completion of the shopping session or a receipt for an item. The print assembly 62 unloads the receipt or receipt printing through a slit-like opening 64 in a straight front surface 66 of the housing 12. A help request button 68 that extends through an opening in the The inclined front surface 20 of the housing 12 is activated by a buyer to request assistance from the warehouse personnel, as will be discussed below in connection with Figure 20. The device 10 also includes a high capacity battery 70 (Figure 2), the which is mounted on a case placed in a lower support 72 of the shopping cart 18. The battery 70 preferably uses lead-acid technology due to its low cost, high energy capacity and absence of memory effect. The weight associated with a lead-acid battery is not a concern because it is mounted on the car 18. A typical three-cell, 6-volt lead-acid battery, such as the type used in a motole, it has a sufficient energy capacity to power the device 10 for a period of time of more than 24 hours. A power cord 74 connects the battery 70 to a supply circuit 76 (shown schematically in Figure 5) in the housing 12. Figure 3 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the housing 12. The device 10 is secured to the handle of the shopping cart 16 by means of a clamping assembly, which holds the housing 12 to the push handle of the carriage 16. The clamping assembly includes the adjustable clamp 80 and an arcuate clamping surface 82 of the housing 12. Two sets of two threaded screws 84, 86 (only one set of two threaded screws can be seen in Figure 3) extend between the fastener 82 and the threaded openings in the housing 12 to secure the adjustable fastener 82 to the housing 12 .

When the two sets of threaded screws 84, 86 are tightened, the housing 12 is secured to the push handle 16 of the carriage 18. The assembly of the thermal printer 62 includes a thermal print head 90 and an opposing plate 92 for positioning the printer. paper 63 against the print head 90. An engine 94 drives a feed roller 96. The feed roller 96 operates in conjunction with a tension roller 98 to pull the paper 63 of a paper roll 100 along the head of printing 90 and feeding the receipt or receipt print 63 out of the slot-like opening 64 in the housing 12. The drive circuit of the printer 101 for operating the components of the printer assembly is mounted on the circuit board control forms and decoder 33 placed in the housing 12. At least a portion of the circuit 101 can be incorporated into the code stored in a memory 106 represented by a my integrated circuit of memory on the printed circuit board of control and decoder 33 and i executed by the processor 32, both on the printed circuit board 102. The interactive display screen 14 includes a liquid crystal display panel (LCD) ) 110 and a strong contact panel, touch sensitive, superimposed, 112. The circuit for operating the screen 14 and panel 112 includes an LCD driver circuit 114 and a contact panel drive circuit 116. Additionally, circuit 114, 116 for operating the device LCD display and contact panels 110, 112, may, at least in part, be implemented in the program stored in memory 106 and executed by processor 32. The extended spectrum radio communication circuit 118 may be incorporated in one or more integrated TC microcircuits mounted on the printed circuit board 33. Alternatively, the extended spectrum communications circuit 18 may be implemented on a separate printed circuit board with a PCMCIA interface and secured to the printed circuit board 102 a through a PCMCIA standard slot interface or connection. An antenna cable 122 connects the communications circuit to the mast of an antenna 102 which extends through an opening in the upper surface 125 of the housing 12. Alternatively, the antenna mast could be placed within the housing. The communication circuit 118 includes a radio frequency radio transceiver module (fr), which communicates the decoded bar code data to a central computer 1260 (shown schematically in FIG.

Figure 19) using an extended spectrum cellular radio network (also shown schematically in Figure 19). The decoded data includes a product identifier encoded in the product data format. In turn, the transceiver module receives data related to the article of the central computer 1260, for example, the name or description of a product for the article, the price of the article, etc. The central computer 1260 retrieves the data from a database containing product information, which includes the product identifier as a search key. As discussed above, the energy to operate the device 10 is supplied by the battery 70 placed in the lower support 72 of the shopping cart 18. The power cable 74 interconnects the battery 70 to the power supply circuit 76 mounted on the board decoder control 33 within the housing 12. The housing 12 also includes a power supply gate 128, wherein an external power source can be connected to charge the battery 70. The power supply circuit 76 controls the load and controls the conversion of the battery power supply to the appropriate electrical parameters to be used by various circuits and electronic modules of the device 10.

The housing 12 also supports the horn 130, which is mounted behind a grate opening 132 in the housing 12. The horn 130 is activated by the audio indicator activating circuit 134, mounted on the control board and decoder 33 and provides audio feedback in the form of a "1/2 second" buzz to the customer, to indicate the reading and decoding of the successful barcode data format, Figure 4 is a sectional view of the reader 22 and a portion of the device 10 in the region of the opening 32, which shows the details of a cable retraction mechanism rewinder 138 of the data format reader 22. The reader 22 is connected to the housing 12 by the cable 24. The cable 24 includes a plurality of conductors 140 for: a) coupling the operating power 26 to the reader 22, b) coupling the composite video signal 28 of the reader 22 to the processor 32, and c) coupling the processor control signals 32 to the reader 22. The cable 24 is secured to a housing 142 of the reader with a holding ring 144 to prevent the reader 22 from being physically separated from the cable 24. The reader housing 142 is a modular unit that includes an upper half and a similar lower half. Only the lower half of the housing of the The reader is shown in Figure 4, so that the internal components of the reader 22 are visible in the Figure. To further secure the reader 22 to the cable 24, a knot (not shown) may be tied to the cable within the reader housing 142. The plurality of conductors 140 are electrically coupled to a printed circuit board 146 within the reader housing 142 by a connector 148. Within the housing 12, the cable 24 is wound around a rewind reel 150. The rewind reel 150 rotates about a central pin 152 of the reel. The bolt 152 is a hollow cylinder, so that the cable 24 can be inserted through the bolt 152 and connected to the circuit inside the housing 12. A spirally wound deflection spring 154 is secured to the bolt 152 in the center of the spool 152. rewinding 150 and the spring tab 156 on the perimeter of the rewind reel 150, to deflect the reel in a counter-clockwise direction (as seen in Figure 4). This arrangement keeps the cable 24 under tension when the reader 22 is removed from the opening of the housing 20. As discussed above, the reader 22 includes a user trigger 40 (shown in Figure 1) which is depressed by the customer for log in Bar code reading when the reader is being used in manual mode. The trigger 40 prevents reading of unintended data formats. When the reader 22 is being moved towards and pointed towards a desired data format. When the reader 22 is placed in the opening of the housing 36 of the console housing 12, the trigger 40 is not accessible. In addition, because the reader 22 is intended to be used to read a data format of any article presented to the reader, a manually activated read button is impractical. Therefore, a magnetic switch 158 in the reader housing 142 is X fired "to a state ignited by the magnet 160 mounted within the wall of the housing 162 defining the opening 36, when the reader 22 is placed in the opening. The magnetic switch 158 causes the imaging assembly 42 and the illumination assembly 44 of the reader 22 to be driven.The edge formed by the wall of the housing 162 and the side wall 38 is rounded (Figure 4) to prevent wear of an outer surface of the cable 28. The reader 22 preferably utilizes a two-dimensional imaging assembly.The imaging assembly 42 includes a two-dimensional photosensor array 170 (Figure 4) and an optical mount supported on a lens housing or housing 172. to focus a image of the data format 30 in the target area 46 on the photosensor array 170. The circuit on the printed circuit board 174, 176 and 146 operates to read sequentially the charges that build up on the photosensors of the photosensor array 104 and generates the signal of composite analog video 28 representative of consecutive frames of the formed image of the data format 30. The video signal 28 is decoupled to the image processing circuit 178 placed on the printed circuit board and decoder board 33, which converts a portion of the composite video signal representing an image frame captured in a series of gray scale values, whose magnitudes represent the relative reflectivity of portions of the formed image of the data format 30. The image processing circuit 178 effects then the cell extraction analysis to reconfigure the formed image of the data format in the memory 106. The The decoder 34 then decodes the representation of the formed image of the data format in the memory 106. At least a portion of the image processor and decoder circuit may be implemented in the code executed by the processor 32. The illumination assembly 44 of the reader 22 includes four groups of four LED lighting mounting of the surface 180, placed on a printed circuit board 182 (only two groups of the four groups of LEDs of lighting are seen in Figure 4). The illumination LEDs direct illumination through the corresponding aligned lens 181 of a lens assembly 184 toward the objective imaging area 46. Two objective LEDs 186, 188 operate to direct illumination through the aligned lens 189 in the lens array 184 and generate the filar cross illumination pattern in the objective area 46 to assist the operator to relatively position the reader 22 and the data format 30. As noted above, the filar cross illumination pattern is generated only when the reader 22 is used in manual mode. In this way, the objective LEDs 186, 188 are not energized when the reader 22 is used in the presentation mode. The openings aligned in the board 182 allow the illumination of the target LEDs to be directed through the lens 189. A more detailed description of the components of a two-dimensional imaging assembly suitable for a manual data format reader and its operation, can be found in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08 / 609,344, filed on March 1, 1996, and entitled ^ PORT TIL DATA COLLECTION DEVICE WITH LED LIGHT SELECTION AND LIGHTING ASSEMBLY ", the content of which is incorporated here as a reference in its entirety. Figure 6 is a flowchart of an operating routine of the portable data collection device 10 according to the present invention. When the shopping cart 18 is unoccupied in the front of the warehouse, an introductory message 200 is displayed on the screen 14. A typical introductory message is shown in Figure 7. As indicated in step 300 in Figure 6, the message 200 includes a brief welcome message, which could include a promotional advertisement, and instructions for entering a customer identification number. The customer identification number can be entered by touching the interactive touch-sensitive display screen 14, in the appropriate areas or blocks of the screen, where a virtual numeric keypad 210 is displayed on the screen. Alternatively, the customer identification number can be entered into the device using the data format reader 22 to read a bar code data format on a customer ID card (not shown) or by scanning the magnetic stripe of the customer ID card through the magnetic stripe reader 60. After enter the customer identification number, the customer will be asked to enter a personal identification number (PIN number). After the client has entered a 5 ID number and a PIN number, the identification routine proceeds to step 302, where the customer's ID and PIN numbers are validated. The validation includes transmitting the customer ID and PIN number to the central computer 1260 using the communication circuit 118, where the • 10 numbers are compared with a list of valid numbers. The central computer 1260 transmits a valid or invalid signal back to the device 10. The customer's ID number and PIN number can be encrypted using standard encryption techniques to prevent unauthorized parties obtain the numbers intercepting the transmissions of fr. • After the processor of the device 32 has received a validation signal, a menu menu screen of available services 202 is presented on the display device 14 in step 304. The menu 202 of offered services is shown in Figure 8. The menu includes a message 204 which indicates to the client that he can read a barcode data format of an article to select the item to buy or remove a previously selected item of total purchases performed by the user, stored in the memory 106. Additionally, a menu 202 lists several other services available to the operator. To select one of these services, the operator can press an area of the screen 14 corresponding to the appropriate virtual buttons 206, 208, 210, 212, 214 on the display device 14. Step 306 of Figure 6 represents the client reading a barcode data format associated with an item or selecting a service. If the client reads a barcode data format, the routine proceeds to step 308 where a confirmation screen 202 is presented to the client. A confirmation screen shows 220 is shown in Figure 9. The confirmation screen 220 includes an information area 222, in which the name or description of a product, product size, and product price of the article are presented whose data They were read. This information associated with the article is obtained from a database to which the central computer 1260 has access. The data format of the article includes an identifier or identification number of the product. After decoding the data format of the article, the processor 32, in cooperation with the radio transceiver module of the communication circuit and using a cellular communication system of extended spectrum, causes the product identifier to be transmitted via communications from fr to the central computer 1260, which also has a transceiver and is part of the cellular communications system. The central computer 1260 accesses a database (not shown) to find the name of a product, product size, and price associated with the product identifier. The central computer 1260 transmits the recovered data associated with the item in packets together with the control, error verification and protocol data. The radio transceiver module of the device 10 receives the transmission of the retrieved data and the processor 32 causes some or all of the recovered data to be presented in the information area 222. Based on the information presented in the information area 222, the The customer can confirm if he or she wants to buy the item by pressing an area on the screen 14 that corresponds to the virtual button 224 (the name of the item's product is inserted in the space marked * PRODUCT X "on the button 224). client does not want to buy the article whose data format was read, the customer presses an area of the screen 14 that corresponds to the virtual button 226 (assuming that the item has been previously selected for purchase.) If the client wishes to simply ignore the reading newly completed data format, touches an area on screen 14 that corresponds to virtual button 228. Confirmation screen 220 may also include a message area 230, where other information about the product may be presented. For example, if the product is a tobacco product, the warning of the Secretary of Health may be presented. If the product contains alcohol, the message area may indicate that the buyer's age should be confirmed before leaving the warehouse. In addition, confirmation screen 220 may advantageously include a menu that lists the categories of information available to the customer. For example, if there is a coupon or rebate offered by the store for a particular product, a menu selection will be represented by the virtual selection button 232, if an area of the screen 14 corresponding to the button 232 is touched, it will be the print assembly prints the coupon or rebate. If the store has alternative products and wishes to give the customer a larger selection, the display device 220 can provide an optional menu selection which, if an area of the screen 14 corresponding to the button 234 is touched, will cause the screen to present a list of alternative products, a description of each and the price per unit of each.

The confirmation screen 220 may also provide an optional menu selection which, if an area of the screen 14 corresponding to a virtual button 236 is touched, will cause the display 14 to present additional information, such as nutritional information for the selected product. . Another optional menu selection of the display device 22 is shown as the virtual button 238, which provides the customer with recipes for using the selected product. If the virtual selection button 238 is selected, the display device 14 would display the names of all the recipes in the store recipe database which use the product and one or more recipes can be selected to be printed by the assembly 62. As indicated in Figure 6 in step 310, if a menu selection button 232, 234, 236, 238 is selected, the program for the block will be executed by the processor 32 as a separate subroutine in the step 312 and, when complete, will return the user to confirmation screen 220 in step 308. If a subroutine is not selected, the routine waits for operator confirmation in step 314. If the customer selects to purchase the item by pressing the button virtual 224 to buy the item, the routine proceeds from step 314 to step 316, where the item is added to the total list of purchases made by the customer stored in memory 106. The routine then returns to the menu of services available in step 304. If the customer You want to delete the item whose data format was previously read and confirmed to be purchased, an area of the screen 14 that corresponds to the virtual button 226 is touched and the routine proceeds from step 314 to step 318. This option is chosen where the item was previously confirmed for purchase using the virtual button 224 at the beginning of the shopping session and later in the session when the customer has changed his decision about buying the item and wanted to return the item to the shelf and delete the item from the list of purchases in progress in memory 106. In step 318, the item is removed from the customer's ongoing shopping list. After deletion, the routine returns to the menu of services available in step 304. If the customer has not previously confirmed the purchase of the item and does not wish to purchase the item, an area of the screen corresponding to the virtual button 228 is pressed, causing the routine to discard or ignore the reading of the data format. In this case, the routine of the step 314 returns to the service menu 202 in step 304. If in step 306, the client did not read a bar code data format, the routine advances to step 320, where it verifies if the client has selected the verification routine. If an area of the screen 14 corresponding to the virtual button 214 has been pressed, the selected service is verified and the routine proceeds to step 322, where the verification routines are performed (Figure 10) and then the process is completed. If the verification routine has not been selected in step 320, the routine proceeds to step 324, where it determines whether another routine corresponds to virtual buttons 206 (help in finding an article subroutine-Figure 12), 208 (presentation from the subroutine of the warehouse map-Figure 16), 210 (obtaining a recipe subroutine-Figure 14); 212 (request a prepared article subroutine-Figure 7). If another subroutine has not been selected, the subroutine cycle returns to step 304, where the diagram on screen 202 of the services menu is presented to the client. However, if in step 324, a subroutine has been selected, the routine proceeds to step 326, where the service subroutine is performed. After completing the subroutine, the routine returns again to step 304, where the service menu diagram of the menu 202 is presented. verification subroutine is shown in Figure 10. In first step 400, subroutine presents a customer verification screen. Figure 11 is an exemplary display-visual display device 250 for verification. display device 250 includes a reception area 252, where an image of customer receipt appears. Two virtual advance arrows 254, 256 are used by user to advance a receipt along. When client has finished reviewing receipt, he or she must confirm verification by pressing an area on screen 14 that corresponds to a virtual confirmation button 258 and select a payment method in step 402. A payment method is selected touching an area of screen 14 that corresponds to a virtual cash payment button 260, a virtual payment button with debit card 262, a virtual payment button with credit card 264, a virtual payment button with check 264 At step 404, a receipt print is printed by print assembly 62 and verification subroutine ends. Figure 12 is a flowchart of subroutine for finding help, associated with block 206 of introductory menu 202 (Figure 8). In first step 500, a customer help screen is presented. A screen display device shows 270 is shown in Figure 13. An alphabetical list of products is presented in an advance frame 272. In step 502, virtual arrow buttons 274, 276 are used to advance a highlight bar 178 through list. Alternatively, virtual keyboard 280 can be used to enter name of a product by sequentially pressing areas of screen 14 to spell product number. When product number is spelled, printed letters will appear in block 281 and advance list will move towards products that conform to partially described description. After client has placed highlight bar 278 on desired article, a virtual selection button 282 is used to confirm highlighted choice, subroutine to find help advances to step 504, where location of article is presented. selected, to client. Figure 14 is subroutine to find a recipe associated with a product. first step 600 presents a recipe screen 790 (shown in Figure 15) to customer. client uses a virtual keyboard 792 to enter a search word, which appears in block 794. Alternatively, reader 22 may be used to read a data format of an article, after decoding data format of article. article, the Article name will be automatically entered in block 794 as search term. Once entered, user will use virtual keys 796, 698 to select to search for word entered in block 794 by title (virtual key 794) or by ingredient (virtual key 796). search word entered by client is represented by step 702. In step 704 list of equal products is shown in advance box 800. Virtual scroll arrows 802, 804 are used to move highlight bar 806 over list. When highlight bar 806 is on a desired article, a virtual selection button 808 is used to select a recipe. selection of an item desired by customer with highlight bar 806 and selection key 808 is indicated by step 706. In step 708, selected recipe is printed by print assembly 62. Figure 16 is a flow diagram of subroutine to present a map of warehouse. This routine is associated with block 208 of introductory menu 202. subroutine has only a single step 900, which is presentation of a store map of display screen 14.

Figure 17 is a flow diagram for a subroutine, which allows the buyer to order prepared foods such as a ready-made item or a cake during the course of the buying session. This routine is associated with the selection of block 212 of the diagram of the screen of the introductory menu 202. In step 1000, a screen menu request 1100 is presented on the display screen 14. The menu 1100 includes virtual buttons corresponding to a list of departments from which the items ordered by the customer can be ordered. The departments that produce items ordered by the customer include the bakery department (virtual button 1102), the florist department (virtual button 1104), the deli department (virtual button 1106) and the butchery or meat department (virtual button 1108) ). Step 1002 of the subroutine represents obtaining the buyer's entry. This may represent simply selecting an item from a selection screen (not shown, but similar to the advance box 272, except that items would be limited to items ordered by the customer, available from the selected department). Or, if the desired item requires personalization such as a birthday cake, step 1002 may represent electronic paging through several screens to select a cake and design of appropriate whipped cream and enter the name and age of the recipient. Once the article is entered, the routine proceeds to step 1004, where the order is confirmed. When the warehouse has the item ready, the customer can be alerted by a tone issued from the speaker 130 or a message (not shown) issued on the display screen 14 alerting the customer that the item ordered by the customer can be picked up from the customer. appropriate department. Figure 19 is a schematic diagram of the coverage of the access point of the extended spectrum cellular communication network in a parking lot 1200. As noted above, the communication circuit of the device 118 utilizes the extended spectrum cellular communication network. to communicate with the central computer 1260. The access points 1238, 1340 and 1242 represent interior access points of the network. The interior access points have omnidirectional antennas and therefore, communication coverage areas or cells will be approximately circular. The access points 1244, 1246, 1248 and 1250 are the access points of the perimeter of the network. Each one has an antenna directed to form areas or cells of coverage according to what is indicated by the two ellipses drawn around each of the points.

The portable data collection device 10 mounted on the shopping cart 18 which is pushed towards a customer's car in the parking lot of the shopping center 1200, can travel from cell to cell and maintain radio contact with the central computer 1260, which also functions as an access point and has a coverage area substantially equal to the limits of the store 1202. Therefore, the device 10 provides a help call and an anti-theft routine. Figure 20 is an operation flow diagram of the help call and the anti-theft subroutine. In step 1300, the subroutine checks whether the help button 68 has been pressed. If the button has been depressed, the device 10 emits a loud buzzing noise from the horn 130 in step 1302 and the warehouse personnel is notified through a message presented on a visual display screen of the central computer 1260 in step 1304. The message includes the location of the cell in which the car is located. 18. The appropriate store personnel can then help the customer. Alternatively, if in step 1300, the help button 68 is depressed, the subroutine, in step 1306, checks if the carriage 18 has been pushed out of the range of its current cell, if the carriage 18 is within its current cell, the subroutine determines, in step 1308, whether it can re-register the communication circuit of the device 118 with another access point. If the car 18 has been moved out of the range of the current cell of the device and can not be re-registered with another access point, then the shopping cart 18 has left the limits of the warehouse and the parking lot. In step 1310, the horn 130 in the car continuously sounds and continuously displays a message on the display 14, which requests that the car 18 be returned to the warehouse. In step 1314, an appropriate message is displayed on the display screen of central computer 1260, to alert store personnel that car 18 has been removed from the warehouse property and provides information about the last cell in which it is stored. was car 18. An appropriate wireless local area network system that includes access points and communication circuits for the device is available from Aironet Wireless Communications, Inc. of Akron, Ohio under the "Arlan System" brand. Suitable cellular network networks would be those that meet the value of the IEEE 802 standard. The details of an extended spectrum cellular communications network are set forth in US Patent Application No. 08 / 523,942, filed 6 of September, 1995, and entitled CELLULAR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITH PARAMETERS OF TRANSMISSION OF DYNAMICLY MODIFIED DATA, the content of which is hereby incorporated as a reference in its entirety. Figure 21 is an alternative embodiment of the portable data collection device of the present invention. The device 1400 includes a housing 1410, which has a "__" shape inverted in the cross section and releasably mounted on a push handle 1416 of a shopping cart 1414. A larger portion of the housing 1410 extends below the push handle 1416 of the housing of the first embodiment. A clamping mechanism similar to that described in the first embodiment, secures the housing to the carriage handle 1416. The battery (not shown) supported in a case on the lower support of the carriage feeds the electrical circuit of the device and modulates it as in FIG. first modality. The device 1400 includes the electrical circuit in the housing 1410 and a retractable data format reader 1422, which is similar to the circuit described in relation to the device 10 described in the first embodiment and includes a display 1414 with an interactive coating sensitive to touch, similar to the display screen 14 in the first embodiment. He device 1400 further includes the retractable data format reader 1422, which is similar to the reader 22 described in the first embodiment and includes a cable rewind mechanism, which is similar to the cable rewind mechanism 138 described in the first embodiment . A front surface 1490 of the housing includes four external squeeze buttons 1491, 1492, 1493, 1494 surrounding a central squeeze button 1495. The upper and lower buttons 1491, 1492 function as directional advance keys upward and downward when one is displaced. highlight bar on display screen 1414 and right and left buttons 1493, 1494 function as right and left directional arrow keys when moving a cursor over the display screen. Figure 22 is another alternative embodiment of the portable data collection device of the present invention. The device 1500 includes a housing 1510, which is "L" shaped in its cross section and is releasably mounted on a push handle 1516 of a shopping cart 1514. A larger portion of the housing 1510 extends below the push handle 1516 the housing of the first embodiment A clamping mechanism similar to that described in the first embodiment secures the housing to the handle of the first embodiment. carriage 1516. A battery (not shown) supported in a case in a lower carriage support feeds the electrical circuit of the device and modulates it as in the first embodiment. The device 1500 includes the electrical circuit placed in the housing 1510 and a retractable data format reader 1422, which has an electrical circuit, which is similar to the electrical circuit described in the first embodiment and includes a display 1514 with a Interactive touch-sensitive coating, similar to the display 14 in the first embodiment. The device 10 further includes a retractable data format reader 1522, which is similar to the reader 22 described in the first embodiment and includes a cable rewind mechanism similar to the cable rewind mechanism 138 described in the first embodiment. A front surface 1590 of the housing includes a numeric keypad 1591 comprising a plurality of squeeze keys. The keys of the numeric keypad function to allow numerical input to the processor of the device, instead of presenting the virtual numeric keypad in the display screen 14 exposed in the first mode. Although the present invention has been described with a degree of particularity, it is intended that the invention include all modifications and alterations of the described design that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (27)

RE IVIND ICACIONE S

1. A portable data collection device, characterized in that it comprises: a) a housing that defines an interior region for the electrical circuit of a device, the housing is adapted to be fixed to a shopping cart; b) a manual data format reader for reading a fixed data format in an article, the reader is releasably positioned on the housing and is continuously driven when it is placed on the housing and selectively actuated when it is removed from the housing. accommodation; c) the electronic circuit is supported within the inner region of the housing and electrically coupled to the reader, the electronic circuit is operatively coupled to a printer to print at least one of: a coupon, a recipe and a receipt, the electronic circuit it includes: i) a processor to control the operations of the electronic circuit and the data format reader; ii) the decoder circuit to decode the reading of the data format by the reader of data format to generate decoded data related to the article; iii) communication circuits that respond to the decoder circuit to transmit a portion of the data format data decoded by the remote device and receive data related to the remote device article; iv) an electronic memory for storing at least a portion of the decoded data format data and at least a portion of the data received from the remote device; d) a visual display screen supported by the housing to present in human recognizable form, at least a portion of the data of the decoded data format and at least a portion of the data retrieved from the remote device; and e) input means supported by the housing to interconnect with the processor.

2. The portable data collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing includes a clamping mechanism for releasably fixing the device to a shopping cart.

3. The portable data collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the data format reader is releasably coupled to the housing with a retractable electrical cable.

4. The portable data collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the display screen includes a touch sensitive panel, which functions as the input means.

5. The portable data collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic circuit is electrically coupled to a power source separated from the housing.

6. The portable data collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the retrieved data includes the price and product name of the article whose data format was read and decoded.

7. The portable data collection device according to claim 6, characterized in that the price and product name of the article are represented on the visual representation screen.

8. The portable data collection device according to claim 7, characterized in that the device is used to read and decode fixed data formats in a plurality of articles and, for each article, the price and name of the article are retrieved from the remote device and presented in the visual representation screen and the processor additionally presents the total sum of the prices of all articles whose data formats were read and decoded.

9. The portable data collection device according to claim 7, characterized in that the receipt includes the price and name of the product for each article whose data format was read and decoded.

10. The portable data collection device according to claim 4, characterized in that the display screen presents a screen diagram including a virtual keyboard comprised of a plurality of alphabetic keys and wherein the user of the device sequentially plays a series of alphabetic keys to feed data or commands to the processor.

11. The portable data collection device for confounding with claim 4, characterized in that the display screen presents a screen diagram including blocks that they contain indications and where a user of the device touches a selected block to enter an order to the processor.

The portable data collection device according to claim 4, characterized in that the display screen has a screen diagram that includes a virtual keyboard comprised of a plurality of alphabetic keys and where a user of the device sequentially touches a series of alphabetic keys to obtain additional data associated with the article.

The portable data collection device according to claim 4, characterized in that the display screen has a screen diagram including blocks containing -and indications. wherein a user of the device touches a selected block to obtain additional data associated with the article.

14. The portable data collection device according to claim 13, characterized in that at least one of the blocks, when touched, causes the receipt of an article on the display screen to be presented.

15. The portable data collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic circuit further includes a magnetic stripe reader and decoder module and the housing includes an aperture adapted to receive a portion of the magnetic stripe of a credit card passed through the aperture and the magnetic stripe module includes a magnetic stripe reader placed near the aperture to read a magnetic stripe passed through the aperture.

16. A portable data collection device, characterized in that it comprises: a) a housing defining an interior region for the electrical circuit of the device operably coupled to a printer to print at least one of: a coupon, a recipe and a voucher, the accommodation is adapted to be fixed to a shopping cart; b) a data format reader assembly coupled to the electrical circuit and including a camera assembly placed in a modular camera housing, the camera assembly is supported by the housing and can be removed from it, the reader assembly includes circuits to generate a decoded representation of a bar code associated with an article, the camera assembly is selectively operable when removed from the housing; c) the communications circuit that includes a radio frequency transceiver module placed, at least in part, within the housing, the transceiver module transmits at least a portion of the decoded representation to a remote data device and receives data associated with the article of the remote device; and d) a display screen for presenting at least a portion of the data associated with the article received from the remote device.

17. The portable data collection device according to claim 16, characterized in that it also includes a clamping mechanism for releasably fixing the terminal to a shopping cart.

18. The portable data collection device according to claim 16, characterized in that the electrical circuit is electrically coupled to a power supply separate from the housing and supported by the shopping cart.

19. The portable data collection device according to claim 16, characterized in that it also includes a touch sensitive panel superimposed on at least a portion of the visual display to feed orders to the electric circuit ^

20. The portable data collection device according to claim 16, characterized in that it includes a magnetic strip reader assembly that includes a slotted portion of the housing for receiving a portion of the magnetic stripe of a card and a magnetic stripe reader positioned adjacent to the magnetic strip. the slotted portion of the housing for reading the magnetic stripe portion of a card inserted in the slotted portion of the housing.

21. The portable data collection device according to claim 16, characterized in that the visual representation device comprises a liquid crystal display screen.

22. The portable data collection device according to claim 16, characterized in that the data retrieved from the remote device includes a price and an article name.

23. The portable data collection device according to claim 16, characterized in that the camera assembly is electrically coupled to the electrical circuit of the device placed in a housing by an electric cable.

24. The portable data collection device according to claim 23, characterized in that the rewinding mechanism is supported in the housing and functions to distribute the wound cable around a spool of the rewinding mechanism when the camera assembly is moved away from the housing and to retract the cable and wind the cable around the spool when the Camera assembly is moved towards the housing.

25. The portable data collection device according to claim 16, characterized in that the housing includes an aperture sized to receive at least a portion of the camera assembly.

26. The portable data collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the printer is located away from the shopping cart.

27. The portable data collection device according to claim 16, characterized in that the printer is located away from the shopping cart.