Portable data acquisition and management system and associated device and method

A portable data acquisition device for manipulating data, said device comprising:

• at least one data input device for receiving data;
• a WWAN data radio adapted to transmit the data to a discrete, remotely located mainframe data repository;
• and
• a memory for storing the data, the memory comprising a FLASH memory module, a DRAM memory module, and an NVDRAM memory module.

A portable data acquisition device for manipulating data, said device comprising:

• at least one data input device for receiving data;
• a memory for storing the data;
• and
• a WWAN data radio and a WLAN data radio, each data radio being adapted at least one of transmit the stored data to a remotely located mainframe data repository and receive data.

A portable data acquisition device for manipulating data, said device comprising:

• at least one data input device for receiving data;
• a memory for storing the data;
• and
• a WWAN data radio and a WPAN data radio, each data radio being adapted to at least one of transmit the stored data to a remotely located mainframe data repository and communicate with a peripheral device.

A portable data acquisition device for manipulating data, said device comprising:

• at least one data input device for receiving data;
• a memory for storing the data;
• and
• a WWAN data radio, a WLAN data radio, and a WPAN data radio, each data radio being adapted to at least one of transmit the stored data to a remotely located mainframe data repository, communicate with a peripheral device, and receive data.

A data collection and transmission method, comprising:

• collecting and storing information on a portable data acquisition device, the portable data acquisition device including a WPAN data radio;
• transmitting the information from the portable data acquisition device to an intermediate transmission device via the WPAN data radio, the intermediate transmission device being connected to a wide area network;
• and
• transmitting the information from the intermediate transmission device to a host system via the wide area network.

A data collection and transmission method, comprising:

• collecting and storing data on a portable data acquisition device, the portable data acquisition device including a WPAN data radio;
• transmitting the data from the portable data acquisition device to a cellular phone via the WPAN data radio, the cellular phone being connected to a cellular network;
• and
• transmitting the data from the cellular phone to a host system via the cellular network.

A data collection and transmission method, comprising:

• collecting and storing data on a portable data acquisition device, the portable data acquisition device including a WPAN data radio;
• transmitting the data from the portable data acquisition device to a satellite transceiver via the WPAN data radio, wherein the satellite transceiver is connected to a satellite wide area network;
• and
• transmitting the data from the satellite transceiver to a host system via the satellite wide area network.

A data collection and transmission system, comprising:

• a portable data acquisition device for collecting and storing data, the portable data acquisition device including at least one of a WWAN communication port, a WLAN communication port, and a WPAN communication port;
• at least one peripheral device including a WLAN communication port for receiving at least one communication from the portable data acquisition device and for performing an operation in response thereto;
• and
• a central storage system capable of communicating with the portable data acquisition device via the at least one of the WWAN communication port, the WLAN communication port, and the WPAN communication port, the central storage system being configured to receive the collected and stored data from the portable data acquisition device and to form and maintain a database of the collected and stored data.

A data collection and transmission system, comprising:

• a portable data acquisition device for collecting and storing data;
• a transceiver device operably engaged with the portable data acquisition device and including at least one of a WWAN communication port, a WLAN communication port, and a WPAN communication port;
• at least one peripheral device including a WLAN communication port for receiving at least one communication from the portable data acquisition device and for performing an operation in response thereto;
• and
• a central storage system capable of communicating with the portable data acquisition device via the transceiver device and the at least one of the WWAN communication port, the WLAN communication port, and the WPAN communication port, the central storage system being configured to receive the collected and stored data from the portable data acquisition device via the transceiver device and to form and maintain a database of the collected and stored data.

A method of identifying an inaccuracy in a delivery of an item, said method comprising:

• directing a destination address of the item and a destination GPS position associated with the destination address to a data acquisition device, the data acquisition device including a GPS sensor;
• transporting the item to a location according to the destination address;
• determining an actual GPS position of the location;
• comparing the actual GPS position of the location to the destination GPS position associated with the destination address;
• and
• providing an alert for the inaccuracy in the delivery if the comparison exceeds a selected threshold.

A system for collecting delivery data, the delivery data including at least one of time study statistics and work measurement statistics, associated with a driver of a delivery vehicle for a carrier, said system comprising:

• a data acquisition device including a GPS sensor configured to determine GPS data;
• at least one sensor operably engaged with the delivery vehicle and configured to determine particular data;
• and
• an application residing on the data acquisition device, the application being configured to selectively direct, in real time, reception and recordation of the GPS data from the GPS sensor and reception and recordation of the particular data from the at least one sensor.

A method of delivering an item from an original address to a destination address, comprising:

• directing delivery information associated with the item to a data acquisition device, the data acquisition device including a GPS sensor, the delivery information including the destination address of the item and a GPS position associated with the destination address and provided by the GPS sensor;
• transporting the item to a location;
• capturing, from the item, an identifier associated with the item;
• determining, from the identifier, the delivery information associated with the item;
• determining an actual GPS position of the location;
• comparing the GPS position associated with the destination address to the actual GPS position of the location so as to determine a position differential;
• and
• providing an alert if the position differential exceeds a threshold.

A method of delivering an item sent by a sender from an original address to a receiver at a destination address, said method comprising:

• directing delivery information associated with the item from a server to a portable data acquisition device, the portable data acquisition device including a GPS sensor and at least one of a WLAN data radio and a WWAN data radio configured to receive the delivery information, the delivery information including the destination address of the item and a GPS position associated with the destination address;
• delivering the item to a location according to the delivery information;
• determining actual GPS data associated with the location with the GPS sensor, the actual GPS data including a time of delivery and a physical location of delivery;
• and
• directing at least one of the time of delivery and the physical location of delivery to the carrier server via at least one of the WLAN data radio and the WWAN data radio.

A method of delivering an item from a sender to a consignee, comprising:

• directing delivery information associated with the item from a carrier server to a portable data acquisition device, the portable data acquisition device including a WPAN data radio, an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) communication port, and at least one of a WLAN data radio and a WWAN data radio for receiving the delivery information;
• delivering the item to the consignee according to the delivery information;
• collecting data associated with the delivery of the item to the consignee;
• and
• directing the data associated with the delivery of the item via at least one of the WPAN data radio and the IrDA communication port to a computer associated with the consignee.

A portable data acquisition device adapted to interact with a user, comprising

• a GPS sensor configured to determine a geographic location of the user;
• a signature capture window display configured to receive a signature of the user;
• and
• a processor configured to compare the signature of the user to a list of authorized signatures for the geographic location of the user so as to verify a signature authority of the user.

A system for a portable electronic device implementing a Windows™ CE operating system, the system for protecting data entries into the portable electronic device, said system comprising:

• a random access memory module for temporarily storing the data entries;
• a permanent memory module in communication with the random access memory module and configured to permanently store selected ones of the data entries;
• and
• an intermediate memory module in communication with the random access memory module and the permanent memory module, the intermediate memory module being configured to be non-volatile and capable of permanently storing the data entries.

A method of protecting data entries associated with an event and received by a portable electronic device implementing a Windows™ CE operating system, said method comprising:

• receiving the data entries in a random access memory module operably engaged with the portable electronic device;
• receiving the data entries in an intermediate memory module operably engaged with the portable electronic device;
• and
• transferring selected ones of the data entries, upon completion of the event, from at least one of the random access memory module and the intermediate memory module to a permanent memory module operably engaged with the portable electronic device for permanent storage thereof.

A method of selecting a data radio from a wireless local area network (WLAN) data radio, a wireless personal area network (WPAN) data radio, and a wireless wide area network (WWAN) data radio operably engaged with a portable electronic device, said method comprising:

• determining a task to be performed by the portable electronic device;
• associating the task with one of the data radios according to a matching criteria;
• and
• actuating the data radio associated with the task.

A method of regulating a battery pack for a portable electronic device having at least one of an application program interface (API) and software capable of directing interaction with the battery pack, said method comprising:

• monitoring a condition of the battery pack having a charge of power;
• allocating the power from the battery pack so as to optimize usage of the charge;
• and
• directing recharging of the battery pack independently of instructional input from an external recharging station.

A method of determining a capacity of a battery for a portable electronic device, said method comprising:

• analyzing data associated with typical operational conditions of the portable electronic device during a shift;
• developing a task-specific battery power usage profile for the portable electronic device during the shift;
• and
• optimizing the battery capacity according to the power usage profile, the battery capacity corresponding to power required by the electronic device during the shift.

A portable data acquisition device, comprising:

• a data input device;
• a memory;
• a data storage device;
• a data transmission device;
• an actuator;
• and
• a casing for containing the data input device, the memory, the data storage device, and the data transmission device, the casing being configured to be substantially resistant to moisture intrusion and comprising a continuous membrane defining at least one opening configured to receive the actuator, the membrane being configured to operably engage the actuator so as to substantially prevent moisture intrusion into the casing about the actuator.

A portable electronic device and holder assembly, comprising:

• a holder adapted to be attached to a user, the holder comprising:
• a first end;
• an elongate arm extending from the first end to an opposing second end;
• a hook operably engaged with the second end of the arm, the hook having a tine separated from the arm by a span;
• and
• a gate having a hinged end rotatably engaged with a pair of rails spaced inward from the second end and a free end extending across the span to the tine, the free end being biased toward the tine by a biasing device operably engaged between the arm and the gate;
• a pin configured to be received within the span and secured between the arm, the tine, and the gate, the pin spanning a channel defined by the portable electronic device, so as to secure the portable electronic device to the holder;
• and
• a pair of shoulders on an edge of a casing of the portable electronic device defining the channel and having the pin operably engaged therebetween, the shoulders being configured with respect to the edge of the casing such that the gate is urged away from the tine and toward the arm when the portable electronic device is rotated about the pin and over the tine, toward the first end of the holder, the pin thereby being removable from the span so as to disengage the portable electronic device from the holder.

A holder adapted to be attached to a user and capable of being operably engaged with a portable electronic device, the device including a pair of shoulders on an edge of a casing thereof, the shoulders cooperating to define a channel and having a pin operably engaged therebetween, said holder comprising:

• a first end;
• an elongate arm extending from the first end to an opposing second end;
• a hook operably engaged with the second end of the arm, the hook having a tine separated from the arm by a span;
• and
• a gate having a hinged end rotatably engaged with a pair of rails spaced inward from the second end and a free end extending across the span to the tine, the free end being biased toward the tine by a biasing device operably engaged between the arm and the gate, the span being configured to receive the pin therein, the pin being securable between the arm, the tine, and the gate so as to secure the portable electronic device to the holder, the shoulders being configured with respect to the edge of the casing so as to urge the gate away from the tine and toward the arm when the portable electronic device is rotated about the pin and over the tine, toward the first end of the holder, the pin thereby being removable from the span so as to disengage the portable electronic device from the holder.

A portable electronic device, comprising:

• an elongate stylus having an actuation end, a medial portion, and a distal end, the medial portion defining a circumferential groove;
• a casing defining a recess configured to receive and house the actuation end of the stylus, the recess extending to a channel defined by the casing and configured to receive the medial portion of the stylus, the recess and the channel being configured to cooperate to receive the stylus such that the distal end extends from the groove and outwardly of the casing;
• and
• a retaining mechanism operably engaged with the channel in correspondence with the circumferential groove defined by the medial portion of the stylus, the retaining mechanism being configured to operably engage the circumferential groove so as to removably secure the stylus to the casing.

A portable electronic device defining a longitudinal axis generally adapted to be directed at a user and adapted to be grasped and operated by the user's hands, said portable electronic device comprising:

• a casing for containing a data input device, a memory, a data storage device, and a data transmission device, the casing being configured to be substantially resistant to moisture intrusion and comprising a substantially continuous membrane defining at least one opening;
• an actuator adapted to receive input from an index finger of a hand while the hand is grasping the device, the actuator being disposed on a bottom face of the casing, in the at least one opening, so as to be naturally accessible by the index finger, the actuator being configured to operably engage the membrane so as to substantially prevent moisture intrusion into the casing about the actuator;
• a main display having a major dimension and a minor dimension, the main display being operably engaged with a top face of the casing such that the major dimension is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the case;
• and
• a keypad including a plurality of keys disposed on a top face of the casing so as to be capable of being engaged with a thumb of each hand when the casing is grasped by the user's hands.

A portable data acquisition device capable of collecting, storing and transmitting data, said device comprising:

• a casing;
• a wireless local area network (WLAN) data radio, a wireless personal area network (WPAN) data radio, and a wireless wide area network (WWAN) data radio housed by the casing;
• and
• at least one of a processor, a real-time clock, a memory, a keypad, a touch screen, a graphic digitizer, a scanner, an audio capturing device, a video capturing device, a receiver, a transmitter, a sensor, a switch, a display, a speaker, an indicator, an alert device, an acoustic modem and dialer, a cellular telephone, a hard copy printing device, a stylus, a battery charging indicator, a battery, a battery interface, a battery charger, a battery tester, a battery charging indicator, a battery level indicator, a power management processor, an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) communication port, a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, an operating system, a diagnostic system, an application software loader, a systems software loader, a database, a database manager, and an application program interface (API), operably engaged with the casing.