US 5,844,893 A · System for coupling host computer meanswith base transceiver units on a local area network

Abstract

Improved apparatus for a radio communication system having a multiplicity of mobile transceiver units selectively in communication with a plurality of base transceiver units which communicate with one or two host computers for storage and manipulation of data collected by bar code scanners or other collection means associated with the mobile transceiver units. A network controller provides selective interface means to be employed between the host computers and the base transceivers whereby low data rate base transceivers may be utilized with the network controller while spread spectrum or high data rate networked base transceivers may be also utilized. The network controller may allow selection of interface means for three of its ports from its front panel with use of three input keys. The network controller is entirely external to the host computer or computers, and can couple to a variety of commonly encountered host ports. Most preferable one- or two-network controller ports can each be software configured to match any needed host port, so that the host computer(s) need not be adapted to a radio network protocol accommodating the multiple base transceiver units.

Claims14

Dependent claims

In a data communication network having a plurality of mobile transceiver units selectively communicative with a plurality of base transceiver units, a method of automatically configuring the data communication network, executable by a network controller having a plurality of communication ports, comprising:

attempting communication on each of the plurality of communication ports;
determining what type of communication protocol is being utilized by devices or network channels connected to each of the plurality of communication ports;
automatically configuring the plurality of communication ports to be communicatively compatible, according to the determined communication protocol, with devices or network channels connected to each of the plurality of communication ports;
transmitting over a network channel connected to one of the plurality of communication ports an inquiry message to the plurality of base transceiver units;
receiving from the plurality of base transceiver units a response message indicating an identification of each of the plurality of base transceiver units;
transmitting to each of the plurality of base transceiver units auto-configure commands instructing the base transceiver units to determine what devices such as peripherals and router bases are within range of each of the plurality of base transceiver units;
and
receiving from each of the plurality of base transceiver units a report of the devices such as peripherals and router bases that are within range of each of the plurality of base transceiver units.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System for coupling host computer meanswith base transceiver units on a local area network

Life of this patent

System for coupling host computer meanswith base transceiver units on a local area network

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14