Universal connectivity for non-universal devices

{
  "publication_number": "US2015099557A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Universal connectivity for non-universal devices",
  "abstract": "A system includes at least one data collection device, each connected to a corresponding data terminal via a primary communication channel; and a central connectivity point connected to each data collection device via a wireless secondary communication channel so as to communicate with the at least one data collection device without disrupting communication between the at least data collection device and the corresponding data terminal via the primary communication channel and to permit remote administration of each data collection device.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system, comprising: a plurality of data collection devices, each data collection device connected to a corresponding data terminal via a primary communication channel; and a central connectivity point connected to each data collection device via a wireless secondary communication channel to communicate, via the secondary communication channel, with a first data collection device from the plurality of data collection devices without disrupting communication between the first data collection device and the first data collection device's corresponding data terminal via the primary communication channel; wherein the central connectivity point remotely administers the first data collection device via the secondary communication channel; and wherein the central connectivity point transmits a license to the first data collection device, the license enabling use of at least one feature of the first data collection device. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless secondary communication channel is a two-way communication channel. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the central connectivity point communicates with the first data collection device via the wireless secondary communication channel while the first data collection device is communicating with the corresponding data terminal via the primary communication channel. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the central connectivity point monitors a status of the first data collection device via the wireless secondary communication channel. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the central connectivity point updates the first data collection device via the wireless secondary communication channel. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the central connectivity point communicates with the plurality of data collection devices so as to remotely administer the plurality of data collection devices substantially simultaneously. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of data collection devices comprises a single communication interface for handling communications via the primary communication channel and the secondary communication channel. 8. A system, comprising: a plurality of data collection devices, each data collection device connected to a corresponding data terminal via a primary communication channel; and a central connectivity point connected to each data collection device via a wireless secondary communication channel to communicate, via the secondary communication channel, with a first data collection device from the plurality of data collection devices without disrupting communication between the first data collection device and the first data collection device's corresponding data terminal via the primary communication channel; wherein the central connectivity point remotely administers the first data collection device via the secondary communication channel; and wherein the secondary communication channel of the first data collection device connects another data collection device that is beyond the range of the central connectivity point to the central connectivity point. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the wireless secondary communication channel is a ZigBee network. 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the central connectivity point communicates with the first data collection device via the wireless secondary communication channel while the first data collection device is communicating with the corresponding data terminal via the primary communication channel. 11. The system of claim 8, wherein the central connectivity point monitors a status of the first data collection device via the wireless secondary communication channel. 12. The system of claim 8, wherein the central connectivity point updates the first data collection device via the wireless secondary communication channel. 13. The system of claim 8, wherein the central connectivity point communicates with the plurality of data collection devices so as to remotely administer the plurality of data collection devices substantially simultaneously. 14. The system of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of data collection devices comprises a single communication interface for handling communications via the primary communication channel and the secondary communication channel 15. A system, comprising: a plurality of data collection devices, each data collection device connected to a corresponding data terminal via a primary communication channel; and a central connectivity point connected to each data collection device via a wireless secondary communication channel to communicate, via the secondary communication channel, with a first data collection device from the plurality of data collection devices without disrupting communication between the first data collection device and the first data collection device's corresponding data terminal via the primary communication channel; wherein the central connectivity point remotely administers the first data collection device via the secondary communication channel; and wherein the central connectivity point compiles usage statistics and/or tracks unauthorized usage statistics regarding the plurality of data collection devices. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the central connectivity point communicates with the first data collection device via the wireless secondary communication channel while the first data collection device is communicating with the corresponding data terminal via the primary communication channel. 17. The system of claim 15, wherein the central connectivity point monitors a status of the first data collection device via the wireless secondary communication channel. 18. The system of claim 15, wherein the central connectivity point updates the first data collection device via the wireless secondary communication channel. 19. The system of claim 15, wherein the central connectivity point communicates with the plurality of data collection devices so as to remotely administer the plurality of data collection devices substantially simultaneously. 20. The system of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of data collection devices comprises a single communication interface for handling communications via the primary communication channel and the secondary communication channel."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Data collection devices are a class of device used to collect, process, and transfer data to a data processing system. Data collection devices may be provisioned with one or more of a variety of data collection sub-systems including: imager, laser scanner, RFID scanner, and magnetic media scanner. Such sub-systems generally scan some data bearing device such as dataforms (e.g. barcodes), magnetic stripes, and RFID tags. The collected data is processed within the data collection device by a processor and associated circuits. The type and amount of processing may vary depending on the class of device, but usually includes, at a minimum, decoding the output of the data collection sub-system to generate a string of data corresponding to the encoded data contained within the data bearing device. The decoded data is then generally transferred to a terminal device (such as a cash register) using a primary communication path. This communication path may be one of any number of wired and wireless communication paths, such as 802.11, cellular, IrDA, USB, serial and parallel paths.\n\nAlthough the conventional data transfer process outlined above is sufficient for normal day-to-day operation of the data collection device, difficulties arise when the process is extended to grant additional functionality to the data collection devices. In several implementations, the primary communication path is one-way - data can be transferred from the data collection device to the terminal device, but not from the terminal device to the data collection device.",
  "cpc": [
    "G06F 8/65",
    "G06K 7/10336",
    "G06K 7/10386",
    "G06K 7/10712",
    "H04L 67/125",
    "H04L 67/34",
    "H04W 4/80",
    "H04W 72/04",
    "H04W 72/0453",
    "H04W 88/06"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "H04W 4/80",
    "H04W 72/04",
    "G06F 9/44",
    "G06K 7/10"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Hand Held Products Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "John Pettinelli",
    "John Izzo"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2014-12-10",
  "publication_date": "2015-04-09",
  "priority_date": "2009-07-01",
  "application_number": "US-201414566070-A",
  "family_id": "43087016",
  "cited_by_count": 428,
  "citations": [
    "US20050001036A1",
    "US20090064128A1",
    "US20050272505A1",
    "US20110042898A1",
    "US20100235921A1",
    "US20070284441A1"
  ]
}