Data collection and RF communications system and method of developing applications for same

A radio frequency ("RF") data communications system for collecting data from a remote data collection apparatus, the RF data communications system comprising:

• a first computer including at least a first microprocessor for processing data, a first screen display positioned in electrical communication with said first microprocessor for displaying data, a first user interface positioned in electrical communication with said first microprocessor and adjacent said first screen display, said first user interface being responsive to interaction with a user thereof, a modifiable first data screen file positioned in electrical communication with said first microprocessor and representing a first predetermined screen display format having a plurality of predetermined data fields, said plurality of predetermined data fields of said first predetermined screen format defining at least a first application form, and means positioned in electrical communication with said first processor and said first data screen file for modifying said first data screen file;
• a first RF data transceiver positioned in electrical communication with said first microprocessor of said first computer for transmitting and receiving RF data;
• a second RF data transceiver positioned remote from said first RF data transceiver and said first computer for transmitting RF data to and receiving RF data from said first RF data transceiver;
• a second portable computer positioned in electrical communication with said second RF data transceiver and remote from said first computer, said second computer being arranged for collecting data remote from said first computer and including at least a data sensor for sensing data, a second microprocessor positioned in electrical communication with said data sensor for processing sensed data, a second screen display positioned in electrical communication with said second microprocessor for displaying data, and a second data screen file positioned in electrical communication with said second microprocessor and representing a second predetermined screen display format having a plurality of predetermined data fields, said plurality of predetermined data fields of said second predetermined screen format defining a second application form substantially corresponding to said first application form so that modifications to said first data screen file are responsively made to said first application form and to said second data screen file which responsively displays the modifications as said second application form on said second screen display in said first screen display format to a user thereof
• wherein data sensed by said data sensor of said second computer fills at least one of said plurality of data fields of both said first and second application forms,
• and wherein said RF data communications system further comprises a data field validator positioned in electrical communication with said first microprocessor of said first computer for responsively validating data filling at least one of said plurality of data fields of said second computer including data sensed by said data sensor of said second computer.

A method of developing a radio frequency ("RF") data collection application, the method comprising:

• generating a first data screen file representing a first predetermined screen display format having a plurality of predetermined data fields in a first computer which includes a first screen display for displaying data and the first data screen file positioned in electrical communication with the first screen display;
• modifying the first data screen file so that the first data screen file responsively modifies the first data screen format;
• transmitting the modifications made to the first data screen file to a second computer by RF communications;
• receiving the modifications made to the first data screen file from the first computer by RF communications;
• modifying a second data screen file of the second computer in response to the modifications received by the second computer so that the modifications made to the first data screen file are correspondingly and responsively displayed on a second screen display in the second computer positioned remote from and in RF communication with the first computer and arranged for collecting data remote from the first computer, the second computer including a data sensor for sensing data, the second screen display for displaying sensed data, and the second data screen file positioned in electrical communication with the second screen display and representing a second predetermined screen display format having a plurality of predetermined data fields, the second data screen file substantially corresponding to the first data screen file;
• sensing data with the data sensor of the second computer;
• and
• filling at least one of the predetermined data fields of both the first and second predetermined screen display formats defined by the first and second data screen files, respectively.

A method of developing a radio frequency ("RF") data collection application, the method comprising:

• modifying a first data screen file representing a first data screen format of a first computer so that the first data screen file responsively modifies the first data screen format;
• transmitting updating information relating to modifications of the first data screen file to a second remote portable computer;
• determining if the first data screen file is different than a second data screen file maintained by the second remote portable computer based upon the updating information;
• transmitting the modifications made to the first data screen file to the second remote portable computer by RF communications if the first data screen file is different than the second data screen file maintained by the second remote portable computer;
• receiving the modifications made to the first data screen file from the first computer by RF communications;
• and
• modifying the second data screen file representing a second data screen format responsive to the modifications received by the second remote portable computer so that the modifications made to the first data screen file are correspondingly and responsively displayed on a second screen display to a user of the second computer.