US 5,694,318 A · Vehicular data system for communicating with remote host · patentgrep

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Abstract

A vehicle for transport, fork lift or delivery route operations, for example, includes on-board peripherals which are coupled through a Local Area Network (LAN) into a data system. A LAN data bus provides selective access to the peripherals or data devices such as, for example, a large area display, a keyboard, a printer and a data terminal. The data system controls or provides data on tasks executed by or in connection with the operation of the vehicle. To increase the versatility of the vehicle, the data terminal, multiple data terminals, or any of the other data devices may be removably coupled to the LAN to be operable externally of the vehicle. A mobile mount adapter provides a secure electrical connection of a respective data terminal to the LAN to removably incorporate the data terminal into the data system, and provide a common supply of both data and power to the data device.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A vehicle data system for operating away from premises of a remote host computer system, said remote host computer system storing delivery information for use by said vehicle data system in the delivery of goods and services, said vehicle data system comprising:

(a) a vehicle data path system for conveying data within a vehicle;
(b) a vehicle computer system comprising a portable data device, a peripheral device in data communication with said vehicle data path system, and a mobile mount adapter for receiving and retaining said portable data device in a docked mode wherein said data device is in data communication with said vehicle data path system to receive the delivery information from the remote host computer and for releasing said portable data device to operate in a portable mode for delivery operations;
(c) said portable data device when retained by said mobile mount adapter in its docked mode being automatically coupled with said vehicle data path system for selective data interchange with said peripheral device;
(d) a vehicle radio communication system for wireless coupling with the remote host computer system so that collected data from said portable data device may be delivered to said remote host computer system as needed, and so that the delivery information stored by the remote host computer system may be received by said vehicle computer system as needed on a timely basis without having to return to premises of the remote host computer system;
and
(e) a vehicle communication control system for managing communication of data and the delivery information between said vehicle computer system and said remote host computer system.

3 more elements

A vehicle data system for operating away from a remote host computer system, said vehicle data system comprising:

(a) a vehicle data path system for conveying data within a vehicle;
(b) a vehicle computer system comprising a peripheral device in data communication with said vehicle data path system, and a mobile mount adapter for receiving and retaining a portable data device in a docked mode wherein said data device is in data communication with said vehicle data path system and for releasing said portable data device to operate in a portable mode;
(c) said portable data device when retained by said mobile mount adapter in its docked mode being automatically coupled with said vehicle data path system for data interchange with said peripheral device via said vehicle data path system;
(d) a vehicle radio communication system for wireless coupling with the remote host computer system and coupled with said vehicle data path system so that data from said vehicle computer system may be supplied to said vehicle radio communication system, and so that data wirelessly received from the remote host computer system by said vehicle radio communication system may be supplied to said vehicle computer system;
(e) a vehicle communication control system for controlling communication of data between said vehicle computer system and said vehicle radio communication system via said vehicle data path system, such that the vehicle when remote from said remote host computer system can receive current information from said remote host computer on a timely basis without physically returning thereto;
(f) a vehicle power source for energizing said data device when said data device is in its docked mode and a data device power source carried portably by said data device for energizing said data device when in its portable mode;
and
(g) means responsive to the coupling of said data device to said vehicle data path system for enabling said vehicle power source to energize said data device in its docked mode and responsive to the uncoupling of said data device from said vehicle data path system for enabling said data device power source to energize said data device in its portable mode, said coupling/uncoupling responsive means disabling operation of said vehicle communication control system when said data device is in its portable mode.

5 more elements

A vehicle data system for operating away from a remote host computer system, said vehicle data system comprising:

(a) a vehicle data path system for conveying data within a vehicle;
(b) a vehicle computer system comprising a peripheral device in data communication with said vehicle data path system, and a mobile mount adapter for receiving and retaining a portable data device in a docked mode wherein said data device is in data communication with said vehicle data path system and for releasing said portable data device to operate in a portable mode, said data device including means for sensing and inputting data to be downloaded to said vehicle data path system when said data device is in its docked mode;
(c) said portable data device when retained by said mobile mount adapter in its docked mode being automatically coupled with said vehicle data path system for data interchange with said peripheral device via said vehicle data path system;
(d) a vehicle radio communication system for wireless coupling with the remote host computer system and coupled with said vehicle data path system so that data from said vehicle computer system may be supplied to said vehicle radio communication system, and so that data wirelessly received from the remote host computer system by said vehicle radio communication system may be supplied to said vehicle computer system;
and
(e) said data device including a vehicle communication control system comprising a memory with programming stored therein for controlling the communication of data between said vehicle computer system and said vehicle radio communication system via said vehicle data path system such that said vehicle communication control system, when remote from said remote host computer system, can receive current information from said remote host computer system on a timely basis without physically returning thereto, a computer and means responsive to said data device being loaded in said mobile mount adapter to call said programming and to enable said computer to execute said program when said data device is in its docked mode, said vehicle communication control system further controlling the downloading of sensed data from said data device to said vehicle data path system when said data device is in its docked mode.

3 more elements

A vehicle data system for operating away from a remote host computer system, said vehicle data system comprising:

(a) a vehicle data path system for conveying data within a vehicle;
(b) a vehicle computer system comprising a peripheral device in data communication with said vehicle data path system and a plurality of mobile mount adapters, each for receiving and retaining a corresponding portable data device in a docked mode wherein said corresponding portable data device is in data communication with said vehicle data path system and for releasing said corresponding portable data device to operate in a portable mode;
(c) said portable data device when retained by said mobile mount adapter in its docked mode being automatically coupled with said vehicle data path system for data interchange with said peripheral device via said vehicle data path system;
(d) a vehicle radio communication system for wireless coupling with the remote host computer system and coupled with said vehicle data path system so that data from said vehicle computer system may be supplied to said vehicle radio communication system, and so that data wirelessly received from the remote host computer system by said vehicle radio communication system may be supplied to said vehicle computer system;
and
(e) a vehicle communication control system for controlling communication of data between said vehicle computer system and said vehicle radio communication system via said vehicle data path system, such that the vehicle when remote from said remote host computer system can receive current information from said remote host computer system on a timely basis without physically returning thereto.

3 more elements

A vehicle data system for operating away from a remote host computer system, said vehicle data system comprising:

(a) a vehicle data path system for conveying data within a vehicle;
(b) a vehicle computer system comprising a peripheral device in data communication with said vehicle data path system, and a mobile mount adapter for receiving and retaining a portable data device in a docked mode wherein said data device is in data communication with said vehicle data path system and for releasing said portable data device to operate in a portable mode;
(c) said portable data device when retained by said mobile mount adapter in its docked mode being automatically coupled with said vehicle data path system for data interchange with said peripheral device via said vehicle data path system;
(d) a vehicle radio communication system for wireless coupling with the remote host computer system and coupled with said vehicle data path system so that data from said vehicle computer system may be supplied to said vehicle radio communication system, and so that data wirelessly received from the remote host computer system by said vehicle radio communication system may be supplied to said vehicle computer system;
(e) a vehicle communication control system for controlling communication of data between said vehicle computer system and said vehicle radio communication system via said vehicle data path system, such that the vehicle when remote from said remote host computer system can receive current information from said remote host computer system on a timely basis without physically returning thereto;
and
(f) a second data path system for conveying data there across, said second data path system being coupled in data communication with the host computer system, a second mobile mount adapter for receiving and retaining said data device in a docked mode wherein said data device is in data communication with said second data path system and for releasing said data device therefrom to operate in its portable mode, and a second communication control system for controlling communication data via second data path system between said data device when received in said second mobile mount adapter in its docked mode and the host computer system.

4 more elements

A vehicle data system for operating away from a remote host computer system, said vehicle data system comprising:

(a) a vehicle data path system for conveying data within a vehicle;
(b) a vehicle computer system comprising a peripheral device in data communication with said vehicle data path system, and a mobile mount adapter for receiving and retaining a portable data device in a docked mode wherein said data device is in data communication with said vehicle data path system and for releasing said portable data device to operate in a portable mode, said peripheral device including means for inputting data and applying said inputted data to said vehicle data path system, said vehicle communication control system controls the transmission of said inputted data from said peripheral device to said vehicle radio communication system via said vehicle data path system;
(c) said portable data device when retained by said mobile mount adapter in its docked mode being automatically coupled with said vehicle data path system for data interchange with said peripheral device via said vehicle data path system;
(d) a vehicle radio communication system for wireless coupling with the remote host computer system and coupled with said vehicle data path system so that data from said vehicle computer system may be supplied to said vehicle radio communication system, and so that data wirelessly received from the remote host computer system by said vehicle radio communication system may be supplied to said vehicle computer system;
and
(e) a vehicle communication control system for controlling communication of data between said vehicle computer system and said vehicle radio communication system via said vehicle data path system, such that the vehicle when remote from said remote host computer system can receive current information from said remote host computer system on a timely basis without physically returning thereto.

3 more elements

A vehicle data system for operating away from a remote host computer system, said vehicle data system comprising:

(a) a vehicle data path system for conveying data within a vehicle;
(b) a vehicle computer system comprising a peripheral device in data communication with said vehicle data path system, and a mobile mount adapter for receiving and retaining a portable data device in a docked mode wherein said data device is in data communication with said vehicle data path system and for releasing said portable data device to operate in a portable mode;
(c) said portable data device when retained by said mobile mount adapter in its docked mode being automatically coupled with said vehicle data path system for data interchange with said peripheral device via said vehicle data path system;
(d) a vehicle radio communication system for wireless coupling with the remote host computer and coupled with said vehicle data path system so that data from said vehicle computer system may be supplied to said vehicle radio communication system, and so that data wirelessly received from the remote host computer system by said vehicle radio communication system may be supplied to said vehicle computer system;
(e) a vehicle communication control system for controlling communication of data between said vehicle computer system and said vehicle radio communication system via said vehicle data path system, such that the vehicle when remote from said remote host computer system can receive current information from said remote host computer system on a timely basis without physically returning thereto;
and
(f) address assigning means coupled to said vehicle data path system for assigning a unique address to said data device when received in said mobile mount adapter.

4 more elements

A vehicle data system for operating away from a remote host computer system, said vehicle data system comprising:

(a) a vehicle data path system for conveying data within a vehicle;
(b) a vehicle computer system comprising a peripheral device in data communication with said vehicle data path system, and a mobile mount adapter for receiving and retaining a portable data device in a docked mode wherein said data device is in data communication with said vehicle data path system and for releasing said portable data device to operate in a portable mode;
(c) said portable data device when retained by said mobile mount adapter in its docked mode being automatically coupled with said vehicle data path system for data interchange with said peripheral device via said vehicle data path system;
(d) a vehicle radio communication system for wireless coupling with the remote host computer system and coupled with said vehicle data path system so that data from said vehicle computer system may be supplied to said vehicle radio communication system, and so that data wirelessly received from the remote host computer system by said vehicle radio communication system may be supplied to said vehicle computer system;
and
(e) a vehicle communication control system for controlling communication of data between said vehicle computer system and said vehicle radio communication system via said vehicle data path system, such that the vehicle when remote from said remote host computer system can receive current information from said remote host computer system on a timely basis without physically returning thereto;
(f) a vehicle electrical power source and a vehicle power path system coupled to said vehicle electrical power source for applying electrical power to said peripheral device and to said mobile mount adapter;
and
(g) said data device includes a device power source carried therewith and control means responsive to said mobile mount adapter receiving said data device for coupling the components of said data device to said vehicle power path system to be energized by said vehicle power source when said data device is in its docking mode and responsive to said mobile mount adapter releasing said data device for uncoupling the components of said data device from said vehicle power path system whereby said data device is energized by said device power source when said data device is in its portable mode, said control means including a driver/receiver circuit to enable data communication to and from said vehicle data path system, a power switch activatable to apply power from said vehicle power source via said vehicle power path system to said driver/receiver circuit and a data controller for controlling the inputting and outputting of data to and from said data device, said data controller activating said power switch to apply power from said vehicle power source to said driver receiver upon the transmission of data from said data device to said vehicle data path system.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/480,587Filed 7 Jun 1995 · continuation
Priority: 3 Oct 1986
Granted: 2 Dec 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification42 codes

B60R 11/02
Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for: for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement…
B60R 11/0241
For radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof: for telephones
B60R 16/0231
For transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems: circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle
B60R 16/0315
For supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for: using multiplexing techniques

Family

Serial915,023Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 3 Oct 1986
Serial928,916Parent of this continuation · filed 7 Nov 1986
Serial212,435Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 28 Jun 1988
Serial305,302Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 31 Jan 1989
Serial347,602Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 3 May 1989
US 5,023,823 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 11 Jun 1991
Serial947,820Parent of this continuation · filed 18 Sep 1992
US 5,457,629 AParent of this continuation · filed 10 Oct 1995
US 5,694,318 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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