Shopping cart mounted portable data collection device with tethered dataform reader

A method of consumer product data information display comprising the steps of:

• selectively receiving queries into at least one portable data terminal;
• generating position data representative of a relative position of the at least one portable data terminal relative to a distribution facility;
• receiving queries, into a base unit, from the at least one portable data terminal;
• selectively accessing product data from a data storage in accordance with at least one of received query data and position data;
• communicating product data accessed as a result of received query data from the base unit to the at least one portable data terminal associated with such query data;
• and
• selectively displaying product data on a video display of the at least one portable data terminal.

A consumer product data information display unit comprising:

• communicator means adapted for remote data interchange with at least an associated base unit;
• a user interface adapted for selectively receiving queries and displaying product data;
• means for selectively receiving product identification information associated with a particular product type;
• means for selectively forming queries in accordance with received product identification information;
• means for communicating queries with the associated base unit;
• means for receiving product data accessed relating to a communicated query data from the associated base unit as a result of received query data;
• and
• means adapted for communicating position data to the base unit, which position data is representative of a location of the data information display unit relative to a distribution facility.

A consumer product data information search and retrieval system comprising:

• base communicator means adapted for remote data interchange with at least one associated portable data terminal, the remote data including at least one of query data and product data;
• a data storage adapted for storing product data, which product data includes information corresponding to a plurality of products;
• means for receiving query data from the at least one associated portable data terminal;
• means for selectively accessing product data from the data storage in accordance with received query data;
• means for communicating product data accessed as a result of received query data to the at least one associated portable data terminal associated with such query data;
• and
• means adapted for communicating position data to a base unit, which position data is representative of a location of the at least one associated portable data terminal relative to a distribution facility.

A consumer product data information search and retrieval system comprising:

• base communicator means adapted for remote data interchange with at least one associated portable data terminal, the remote data including at least one of query data and product data;
• a data storage adapted for storing product data, which product data includes information corresponding to a plurality of products;
• means for receiving query data from the at least one associated portable data terminal;
• means for selectively accessing product data from the data storage in accordance with received query data;
• means for communicating product data accessed as a result of received query data to the at least one associated portable data terminal associated with such query data;
• and
• means for storing the product data in hypertext mark-up language format.