Patent Application
20050137987
The present invention generally relates to obtaining data from an identification card, and more particularly relates to verifying an individual's age utilizing a magnetic card reader and/or bar code scanner.
Several existing products available to consumers require a buyer's age to equal or exceed an age established by a local, state, or federal government. For instance, alcoholic beverages require a consumer to be at least twenty-one years of age for legal purchase. Similarly, tobacco products, lottery tickets, and various other products and/or services require a potential purchaser to be a particular age to enable legal obtainment of such products and/or services. Conventional identification cards (e.g., driver's licenses, military identification cards, . . . ) include a photograph of an individual that a particular card identifies as well as date of birth or other information that can be utilized to determine the individual's age. Thus, prior to selling an age-restricted item to a prospective buyer, a seller of such item can ensure that the buyer looks substantially similar to the photograph on the identification card, and thereafter review the age information to determine whether the buyer meets a requisite age.
This manner of verifying age, however, has proven problematic. For instance, identification cards can be forged and/or altered, wherein the forged and/or altered card looks substantially similar to a legitimate card to a naked human eye. Furthermore, a seller of such goods can become hurried in light of high customer traffic and not review a photograph and/or age identification information adequately, thus enabling an underage person to obtain age-restricted goods and/or services. Also, human error in calculating an individual's age can result in illegal sale and purchase of age-restricted goods and/or services. Compounding issues related to selling age-restricted goods and/or services is legal liability that a seller can incur from selling age-restricted goods and/or services to a buyer who does not meet a requisite age. For example, a seller can be subject to monetary punishment from a governing body and/or a loss of a license to sell particular age-restricted goods and/or services.
To help mitigate these aforementioned issues relating to age verification, governmental bodies issuing identification cards have placed a magnetic stripes and/or bar codes that include age information on such identification cards. Thus, via utilizing a device that can extract data encoded within the magnetic stripes and/or bar codes, a seller of age-restricted goods and/or services can verify that a prospective buyer meets an age required to purchase such goods and/or services. Presently, there exists two types of systems that are capable of extracting age-related data from an identification card and alerting a seller of age-restricted goods that a buyer does or does not meet a requisite age for buying a product. A first type is a stand-alone system that includes an audio and/or visual feedback, wherein the system is dedicated for age-verification purposes. Such systems, however, tend to be expensive and can add clutter and confusion in a buying/selling environment. A second type of system includes a point-of-sale (POS) system and a bar code scanner and/or a magnetic stripe reader. Typically, a reader and/or scanner will decode data on an identification card to a host POS system, and specialized software on the POS system processes the decoded data to facilitate display of age information. Many POS systems, however, do not have an ability to receive age-related data from a bar code scanner and/or magnetic stripe reader originating from a symbol. For instance, a substantial number of host POS systems cannot receive identification card/device data in a portable-data-file (PDF) barcode.
In view of at least the above, there exists a strong need in the art for a system and/or methodology that enables transfer of decoded data from a barcode and/or magnetic stripe reader to a host POS system.
The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the invention nor delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The present invention facilitates age verification without requiring an expensive stand-alone system that is solely dedicated to age verification. The present invention also does not require a separate software application to be integrated within an existing point-of-sale or point-of-service (POS) system. The present invention effectuates age verification on a reader side, and then relays age-related information to a POS system in a format that is readily compatible and utilized by the POS system. As described supra, a substantial number of identification cards include a barcode symbol and, magnetic stripe, and/or other machine-readable technology that contains encoded data related to an individual (e.g., birth date, address, name, . . . ). While barcode scanners and magnetic stripe readers are referred to as examples throughout, it is to be understood that any machine-readable technology device can be employed and is contemplated by the present invention. For instance, a machine-readable technology device that can read contactless and/or contact integrated circuit technology is contemplated by the present invention and intended to fall within the scope of the hereto-appended claims.
A machine-readable technology device (e.g., a barcode scanner and/or a magnetic stripe reader) reads the encoded data relating to an individual from the identification card that identifies such individual. For example, such identification cards can be drivers' licenses, credit cards, military identifications, or any other card that includes encoded data relating to an individual's age. After the encoded data has been read, it can be decoded and information relating to the individual's age can be isolated from data not related to an individual's age and thereby extracted.
The machine-readable technology device includes a real-time clock that can determine a current date. Thereafter the age-related information can be compared with the current date as determined by the real-time clock to effectuate calculation of the individual's age. For example, the age-related information can include a date of birth, which can then be compared to the current date to determine the individual's age. Upon determining an individual's age, a string that can be received by a POS system is generated and relayed to the POS system. For instance, POS systems utilize strings that identify products scanned by a barcode scanner to determine a price of the product. More particularly, upon scanning an item a barcode scanner can relay a string that identifies that item (e.g., a string ITEM1 corresponds to a particular item). While examples of strings supra illustrate alphanumerical characters, it is possible that a POS system only accepts numerical data. In such an instance, the term “string” as utilized in connection with the present invention includes a number or series of numbers (with no letters) that are utilized to identify a product or age. Thus, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the barcode scanner can generate a string, such as UNDER 18, to the POS system. A lookup table can be provided that indexes the received string to commands/information relating to that string (e.g., in a substantially similar manner that prices and/or commands are indexed to a scanned barcode). In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the strings identifying age or range of ages of a buyer are utilized as an index to the price lookup table of the POS system, thereby rendering the present invention easy to implement with POS systems currently in use.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a buyer can be automatically prohibited from purchasing age-restricted goods and/or services when the system and/or methodology of the present invention determines that the buyer does not meet the requisite age for such goods. For instance, upon determining that a buyer is less than eighteen years of age, age-restricted items that require the buyer to be at least eighteen years old will be flagged within the POS price lookup table. Thereafter if one of the flagged items is scanned, an alert will be relayed to the seller informing such seller that the buyer is not legally able to purchase the goods and/or services scanned. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the barcode scanner and/or magnetic stripe reader will refuse to scan and/or read age-restricted goods and/or services to a buyer who does not meet a requisite age. Furthermore, utilizing one particular aspect of the present invention, an authoritative body can be automatically contacted during an instance that an underage purchaser illegally attempts to buy age-restricted items. Likewise, a report can be automatically generated during an instance that an underage purchaser illegally attempts to purchase age-restricted goods.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects of the invention. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed and the present invention is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The present invention is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It may be evident, however, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the present invention.
As used in this application, the terms “component,” “handler,” “model,” “system,” and the like are intended to refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a server and the server can be a component. One or more components may reside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component may be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. Also, these components can execute from various computer readable media having various data structures stored thereon. The components may communicate via local and/or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., data from one component interacting with another component in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a network such as the Internet with other systems via the signal).
Turning now to
The system 100 includes an identification card 102 that has encoded age-related data 104 associated therewith. For example, the identification card 102 can include a magnetic stripe, barcode symbol, contact integrated circuit technology, contactless integrated circuit technology, and/or other mechanism(s) that can include the encoded data 104. Bar codes symbols are graphical objects that encode information as alternating dark and light portions (e.g., alternating regions of different light reflectivity, having particular relative heights and/or widths). If a barcode symbol is utilized, such barcode symbol can be a linear symbol (one-dimensional) and/or a two-dimensional symbol, wherein both height and width of marks within the symbol are utilized to represent data. Examples of two-dimensional symboligies that are contemplated by the present invention are PDF417 symbols, Code 49 symbols, etc. In particular, PDF417 symbols can comprise a substantial amount of data, and such symbols are extremely difficult to alter while inexpensive to print on an identification card. Still other symbologies have been developed in which the symbol is comprised of a matrix array made up of hexagonal, square, polygonal and/or other geometric shapes. Furthermore, all suitable linear bar codes symbologies, such as UPC/EAN, Code 39, Code 128, Codeabar, and Interleaved 2 of 5, etc. are also contemplated by the present invention. The encoded data 104 can be obtained via utilizing a machine data reader 106 (e.g., a barcode scanner/magnetic stripe reader) as is known in the art. Magnetic stripes on cards have data encoded thereon in magnetic form that can be extracted via a magnetic card reader. Thus, utilizing the machine data reader 106, the encoded data 104 on the identification card 102 can be obtained. Moreover, it is to be understood that the machine data reader 106 can include a plurality of devices that can read the encoded data 104 from the identification card 102. For instance, a barcode scanner and a magnetic stripe reader, both capable of reading the encoded data 104, can be integrated into a single unit with a single connection to a POS system, wherein the machine data reader 106 encompasses the integrated devices alone or in combination.
Upon obtaining the encoded data 104 from the identification card 102, the machine data reader 106 utilizes a decoder/verifier 108 to verify a person's age. The decoder/verifier 108 facilitates decoding the encoded data 104, extracting age information from the encoded data 104, and verifying a person's age based upon the age information. For example, software can be employed within the machine data reader 106 that facilitates locating and extracting age information that was included within the encoded data 104. Furthermore, the decoder/verifier 108 can include a real-time clock that is utilized to compare a data of birth or other age-related date within the encoded data 104 to a current date. Thus, after the encoded data 104 has been decoded by the decoder/verifier 108, age data can be extracted from such data and compared to a current date to verify age within the machine data reader 106. While the previous description discusses age verification occurring within the machine data reader 106, such verification can occur in a device that is physically distinct from the machine data reader 106. For example, the machine data reader 106 can decode the data and thereafter relay such data to a separate attached component that verifies age. After age verification has occurred, the decoder/verifier 108 can generate data strings that are compatible with a POS system 110 that receives the strings. For instance, the decoder/verifier 108 can generate a string that is substantially similar to strings generated when a barcode relating to a product is scanned. More particularly, if the encoded data 104 has information that renders a person identified by the identification card 102 twenty-seven years old, a string that the POS system 110 receives could be utilized to indicate that such individual is twenty-seven years old (e.g., TWENTY_SEVEN). In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a string could be relayed to the POS system 110 indicating a range of ages. For example, all ages under 18, ages 18-20, and 21 and over could be strings generated by the decoder/verifier 108 to indicate a particular age range of an individual. The strings can be relayed from the machine data reader 106 via any suitable means (e.g., wireless network, cable connection, . . . ).
After the strings are generated, they can be indexed to a lookup table 112 resident on the POS system 110. The lookup table 112 will have commands and/or data corresponding to the known strings, and the POS system 110 will act accordingly. For instance, if a string “OVER21” is received by the POS system 110 and indexed to the lookup table 112, a command corresponding to that string within the lookup table 112 can cause graphics to be shown on a display unit 114 indicating to a seller that an individual is of legal age to purchase alcohol. Furthermore, an audio signal or other means (visual or otherwise) of informing the seller of the individual's age is contemplated by the present invention.
Now referring to
Thereafter, the magnetic stripe reader 208 can include software that converts computed age or range of age to a format that can be received by electronic components within the housing 202. For instance, age related data can be converted to a format that corresponds to a format utilized by the POS system 200 to interpret standard barcode information (e.g., information obtained when scanning a product by a barcode scanner). Furthermore, the POS system 200 can be associated with a barcode scanner 212, which extracts age-related data from a barcode symbol that is printed on an identification card. The barcode on the identification card can be linear, two-dimensional, or otherwise. Like the magnetic stripe reader 208, the barcode scanner 212 includes software that can locate and extract age-related data from a symbol, and compare such age related data with a current date/time via employing an internal real-time clock. Thereafter, data can be converted to a format acceptable by the POS system 200, and relayed to such system 200. A lookup table can be utilized to index data received from the barcode scanner 212 with an appropriate response from the POS system 200. For instance, the barcode scanner 212 can relay age-related data in known strings, wherein the strings are indexed with corresponding commands and/or information within the lookup table. More particularly, a string such as “UNDER18” can be generated within the barcode scanner 212 and relayed to the lookup table where such string has a pre-defined indexation to a command and/or information. For example, the POS system 200 includes a display 214 that can display information to a seller. Utilizing the previous example of a string “UNDER18”, a command corresponding to such string in the lookup table can cause the display 214 to generate graphics that inform a seller that the purchaser cannot purchase tobacco products or alcohol. Commands can also cause speakers, alone or in combination with a graphical display, to output information informing the seller of age information of a buyer. It is to be understood that other suitable manners of informing a seller of age information extracted from an identification card are contemplated by the present invention and intended to fall within the scope of the hereto-appended claims.
The POS system 200 can also include a display 216 that informs a purchaser of a status of purchase. In connection with age information, the display 216 can illustrate to a buyer that his identification card contains information stating that he/she is a particular age. The POS system 200 can also include a printer 218 for printing a receipt of sale 220 to a purchaser, and can include an age determined utilizing the present invention. While
Now referring to
The POS system 310 includes a lookup table 312 that enables the string to be associated with commands relating to such string. For instance, a string of “26 YEARS” can be relayed to the POS system 310 and indexed with a particular position within the lookup table 312. Commands corresponding to the position within the lookup table 312 can cause graphical display of age information on a display 314, audio alerts of age information, or other similar communication to a seller of goods regarding a user's age. The POS system 310 can also include a sale prohibitor component 316 that can prohibit sale of particular items given an individual's age. For instance, the sale prohibitor 316 would prevent processing and sale of a proposed purchase of tobacco to an individual whose age is under a requisite age. More particularly, data relating to age-restricted goods within the lookup table 312 can be marked or flagged. Upon obtaining age-related information from the machine data reader 306, the sale prohibitor 316 can prevent processing and sale of age-restricted goods desirably purchased by an underage buyer. The sale prohibitor 316 thus mitigates human error that can occur when selling age-restricted goods.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the sale prohibitor 316 can operate in connection with a communications device 318 that informs a department manager, security guard, or police station of an individual attempting to purchase age-restricted goods who is not of legal age to purchase such goods. For instance, the sale prohibitor 316 can be connected to a network, thus facilitating automatic communication to a relevant person upon an illegal attempted purchase of age-restricted goods. The communication device 318 can be a cellular phone, computer, pager, etc. Such an embodiment would thus further mitigate illegal attempted purchases of age-restricted goods.
Furthermore, the system 300 can include a report generator 320 that is coupled to the machine data reader 306. The report generator 320 can automatically generate a report relating to an individual who is illegally attempting to purchase age-restricted goods. For example, the sale prohibitor 316 can determine that a buyer is illegally attempting to obtain age-restricted goods and/or services, and can inform the machine data reader 306 of such illegal attempted purchase. The machine data reader 306 can include enough memory to temporarily store user information that is encoded onto the identification card 302, and employ such information in generating a report. Thus, a report can be generated that includes an individual's name, address, and age as encoded on the identification card, together with an identification of a good that the individual attempted to purchase. Furthermore, the report generator 320 can operate in connection with a network (not shown) that facilitates automatically relaying such message to a relevant authority. Such an embodiment would mitigate human errors that can occur in selling age-restricted goods, and further operate as a deterrent to underage purchasers of age-restricted goods.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, data extracted from the encoded data 104 can be utilized in connection with attempting to locate particular individuals that a local, state, federal, and/or international authoritative body is searching for. For instance, the POS system 310, the machine data reader 306, and/or an external database that can be accessed by the POS system 310 and/or the machine data reader 306 can include a listing of such individuals and data associated with the individuals (e.g., name, height, weight, birth date, . . . ). Upon obtaining the encoded data and verifying the individual's age, the list of individuals can be searched. For example, the list of “wanted” individuals can be searched based on current age. If the list does not include a person with the verified age, then the purchaser can buy items normally. Alternatively, in an instance the list of individuals does include a person with an age substantially similar to the verified age, then a more robust search can be completed (e.g., based on an individual's name, height, weight). If the encoded data substantially matches data corresponding to a person on the “wanted” list, then the communications device 318 can be utilized to immediately contact an authority. Similarly, the report generator 320 can be employed to generate a report and, if desirable, automatically relay the report to an appropriate authority.
Referring now to
At 402, a machine data reader is provided. For example, the machine data reader can be a barcode scanner, magnetic stripe reader, or other suitable device that can read encoded data from an identification card. For example, if the machine data reader is a barcode scanner, the barcode scanner can be attached to a POS system or can be physically independent from a POS system (e.g., the barcode scanner can be a hand-held scanner operable via a trigger). Furthermore, the barcode scanner can be physically integrated with another device that can read encoded data and connected to a POS system via a single connection. Alternatively, the barcode scanner can be integrated with a POS system. For instance, the barcode scanner can be positioned under a window, as is typical in a retail or grocery store setting, and appear to be physically coupled to the POS system.
At 404, encoded data is extracted from an identification card. Typically, identification cards such as drivers' licenses include a barcode, magnetic stripe, and/or other suitable mechanisms for enabling encoded data to be resident on the identification card whereby such mechanisms comprise data related to the individual that the identification card purports to identify. Such information can include date of birth, address, name, and other information related to an individual. For instance, to extract the encoded data, a barcode scanner can be employed to scan a barcode on an identification card. In another example, the identification card can be inserted and removed from a magnetic stripe reader to enable extraction of encoded data.
At 406, age of an individual identified by the identification card is verified. The machine data reader can include a component that locates age-related data extracts such data from other data encoded into the identification card. The machine data reader also includes a real-time clock. Thus, date of birth information contained within the data encoded into the identification card can be compared with a current date, thereby verifying an individual's age.
At 408, the verified age data is converted into a format that is compatible with the POS system that will receive the data. For instance, typical POS systems do not have capabilities of receiving a high-density PDF file. However, POS systems can receive data in conventional linear barcode format. Thus, the age-related data is converted into a string that can be accepted by a POS system. For example, a string of “18 TO21” would be acceptable by the POS system and would indicate that an individual is between ages 18 and 21.
At 410, age related data is provided to the POS system. A wireless or wireline connection can be employed to facilitate transfer of such data between the barcode scanner and/or magnetic stripe reader and the POS system. At 412, the age-related data is indexed to a lookup table. The lookup table facilitates indexing age-related data to corresponding information and/or commands. For example, if the age-related data indicated that an individual is over twenty-one years of age, a command to inform a seller of goods that the individual can legally obtain alcohol could be automatically initiated.
Turning now to
At 506, age information is relayed to a POS system in a format that is compatible with the POS system. For example, a string that is formatted similarly to a linear bar code can be generated within the machine data reader and relayed to the POS system. Thereafter such age information can be indexed to a lookup table and corresponding information and/or commands related to such age information (e.g., indexing age information to the lookup table can cause an audio and/or video notification of the individual's age to a seller of goods). At 508 an item is scanned as is conventional in retail and grocery settings. At 510 a determination is made regarding whether the scanned item is an age-restricted item. If the item is not an age-restricted item, another item is scanned at 508. If the desirably purchased goods are age-restricted, a determination is made at 512 regarding whether the individual meets a requisite age requirement (e.g., a buyer must be 18 to purchase alcohol). If the buyer meets the requisite age, another item can be scanned at 508. If the buyer does not meet the requisite age, then a report is automatically generated and/or a proper authority is notified of an illegal attempted purchase of age-restricted goods. If a report is generated, it can be automatically delivered to an appropriate authority via email, text message, or other suitable messaging technique. Similarly, any suitable method of notifying a relevant party that an illegal attempted purchase of age-restricted goods has occurred is contemplated by the present invention (e.g., audio notification, visual notification, vibration of a pager, . . . ). Furthermore, while the methodology 500 illustrates that age information is obtained prior to scanning items, it is understood that age information can be obtained after items have been scanned. For example, scanned items can be placed in memory of the POS. After age information has been verified within the barcode scanner and relayed to the POS system, the scanned items within memory can be reviewed to determine whether any of such items are age-restricted items.
Now referring to
Now referring to
Referring now to
The data collection device 800 includes a housing 812 defining an interior region for containing various mechanical and electrical components as described herein. The housing 812 includes a gripping portion 814 sized to be grasped in the hand of an operator. Coupled to the housing 812 is a data form reading trigger switch or actuator 816. The data form reading trigger switch 816 is positioned to be depressed by an index finger of the operator while the gripping portion 814 of the housing 812 is held in the operator's hand. Also supported within the housing 812 is a power source 818 such as a rechargeable battery for supplying operating power to the portable data collection device 800.
The housing 812 also includes a small opening through which a portion of an indicator light emitting diode (LED) 820 is visible. The indicator LED 820 alternates between three colors. The color green is displayed by the indicator LED 820 when the device 800 is on standby, ready for use. The color orange is displayed with the device 800 has successfully completed an operation such as decoding a target data form. The color red is displayed when the device 800 is not ready to perform an operation. Device 800 may alternatively or in combination include a speaker or other audio enunciator (not shown) by which a user may be signaled that a successful data form scan operation has been completed.
The scan engine 802 is disposed within a top portion of the housing 812 and includes the lens (not shown), mirror assembly 822, photo sensor array 810 and illumination assembly (not shown). In the present embodiment of the invention, the illumination assembly is an array of LEDs, however, it will be appreciated that various other illumination sources such as a laser assembly could alternatively be used. The scan engine 802 derives electrical power from the power source 818 via electrical connections (not shown) passing through a host interface board 824. Interface board 824 may further include the data form reading trigger switch 816 and associated circuitry (not shown), an audio speaker to indicate to a user that a successful scan has occurred, a power detector component (not shown), and a communications transceiver.
Referring now to
A memory 904 connected to the processor 902 serves to store program code executed by the processor 902, and also serves as a storage means for storing information such as receipt transaction information and the like. The memory 904 may be a non-volatile memory suitably adapted to store at least a complete set of the information that is displayed. Thus the memory 904 may include a RAM memory for high-speed access by the processor 902 and/or a mass storage memory, e.g., a micro drive capable of storing gigabytes of data that comprises text, images, audio, and video content. According to one aspect, the memory 904 has sufficient storage capacity to store multiple sets of information, and the processor 902 could include a program for alternating or cycling between various sets of display information.
A display 906 is coupled to the processor 902 via a display driver system 908. The display 906 may be a color liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like. In this example, the display 906 is a ¼ VGA display with sixteen levels of gray scale. The display 906 functions to present data, graphics, or other information content. For example, the display 906 may display a set of customer information, which is displayed to the operator and may be transmitted over a system backbone (not shown). Additionally, the display 906 may display a variety of functions that control the execution of the device 900. The display 906 is capable of displaying both alphanumeric and graphical characters.
Power is provided to the processor 902 and other components forming the hand-held device 900 by an onboard battery system 910. In the event that the battery system 910 fails or becomes disconnected from the device 900, a supplemental power source 912 can be employed to provide power to the processor 902 and to charge the battery system 910. The processor 902 of the mobile device 900 induces a sleep mode to reduce the current draw upon detection of an anticipated battery failure.
The mobile terminal 900 includes a communication subsystem 914 that includes a data communication port 916, which is employed to interface the processor 902 with a remote computer. The port 916 includes at least the USB and IEEE 1394 serial communications capabilities described hereinabove. Other technologies may also be included, for example, infrared communication utilizing an IrDA port.
The mobile device 900 also includes an RF transceiver section 918 in operative communication with the processor 902. The RF section 918 includes an RF receiver 920, which receives RF signals from a remote device via an antenna 922 and demodulates the signal to obtain digital information modulated therein. The RF section 918 also includes an RF transmitter 924 for transmitting information to a remote device, for example, in response to manual user input via a user input device 926 (e.g., a keypad) or automatically in response to the completion of a transaction or other predetermined and programmed criteria. The transceiver section 918 facilitates communication with a transponder system, either passive or active, that is in use with product or item RF tags. The processor 902 signals (or pulses) the remote transponder system via the transceiver 918, and detects the return signal in order to read the contents of the tag memory. The RF section 918 further facilitates telephone communications using the device 900. In furtherance thereof, an audio I/O section 928 is provided as controlled by the processor 902 to process voice input from a microphone (or similar audio input device) and audio output signals (from a speaker or similar audio output device). In further support thereof, the device 900 may provide voice recognition capabilities such that when the device 900 is used simply as a voice recorder, the processor 902 may facilitate high-speed conversion of the voice signals into text content for local editing and review, and/or later download to a remote system, such as a computer word processor. Similarly, the converted voice signals may be used to control the device 900 instead of using manual entry via the keypad.
Onboard peripheral devices, such as a printer 930, signature and/or biometric input pad 932, and a magnetic stripe reader 934 can also be provided within the housing of the device 900 or accommodated externally through one or more of the external port interfaces 916.
The device 900 also includes an image capture system 936 such that the user may take pictures and/or short movies for storage by the device 900 and presentation by the display 906. Additionally, a data form reading system 938 is included for scanning data forms associated with articles of commerce. It is to be appreciated that these imaging systems (936 and 938) may be a single system capable of performing both functions.
In order to provide additional context for various aspects of the present invention,
With reference to
The system bus 1018 can be any of several types of bus structure including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of conventional bus architectures such as PCI, VESA, Microchannel, ISA, and EISA, to name a few. The system memory 1016 includes read only memory (ROM) 1020 and random access memory (RAM) 1022. A basic input/output system (BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the computer 1012, such as during start-up, is stored in ROM 1020.
The computer 1012 further includes a hard disk drive 1024, a magnetic disk drive 1026 to read from or write to, for example, a removable disk 1028, and an optical disk drive 1030 for reading, for example, from a CD-ROM disk 1032 or to read from or write to other optical media. The hard disk drive 1024, magnetic disk drive 1026, and optical disk drive 1030 are connected to the system bus 1018 by a hard disk drive interface 1034, a magnetic disk drive interface 1036, and an optical drive interface 1038, respectively. The drives and their associated computer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executable instructions, etc. for the computer 1012, including for the storage of broadcast programming in a suitable digital format. Although the description of computer-readable media above refers to a hard disk, a removable magnetic disk and a CD, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of media which are readable by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks, Bernoulli cartridges, and the like, may also be used in the exemplary operating environment, and further that any such media may contain computer-executable instructions for performing the methods of the present invention.
A number of program modules may be stored in the drives and RAM 1022, including an operating system 1040, one or more application programs 1042, other program modules 1044, and program data 1046. The operating system 1040 in the illustrated computer is, for example, the “Microsoft® Windows® NT” operating system, although it is to be appreciated that the present invention may be implemented with other operating systems or combinations of operating systems, such as UNIX®, LINUX®, etc.
A user may enter commands and information into the computer 1012 through a keyboard 1048 and a pointing device, such as a mouse 1050. Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, an IR remote control, a joystick, a game pad, a satellite dish, a scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit 1014 through a serial port interface 1052 that is coupled to the system bus 1018, but may be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, a game port, a universal serial bus (“USB”), an IR interface, etc. A monitor 1054 or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus 1018 via an interface, such as a video adapter 1056. In addition to the monitor, a computer typically includes other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers, printers etc.
The computer 1012 may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer(s) 1058. The remote computer(s) 1058 may be a workstation, a server computer, a router, a personal computer, microprocessor based entertainment appliance (e.g., a WEBTV® client system), a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described relative to the computer 1012, although, for purposes of brevity, only a memory storage device 1060 is illustrated. The logical connections depicted include a local area network (LAN) 1062 and a wide area network (WAN) 1064. Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the Internet.
When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 1012 is connected to the local network 1062 through a network interface or adapter 1066. When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 1012 typically includes a modem 1068, or is connected to a communications server on the LAN, or has other means for establishing communications over the WAN 1064, such as the Internet. The modem 1068, which may be internal or external, is connected to the system bus 1018 via the serial port interface 1052 to enable communications, for example, via POTS. The modem 1068 may also, in an alternative embodiment, be connected to the network adaptor 1066 to enable communications, for example, via DSL or cable. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer 1012, or portions thereof, will be stored in the remote memory storage device 1060. It may be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers may be used.
What has been described above includes examples of the present invention. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the present invention, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the present invention are possible. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
