Data acquisition and retrieval system with wireless handheld user interface

In a data acquisition and retrieval system, a method for entering and retrieving a plurality of data sets through a wireless handheld user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) defining virtual regions within a display screen along with corresponding event identifiers;
• b) drawing a main menu with multiple, virtual menu selections, each of which correspond to a virtual region;
• c) sensing an event denoting contact by a user;
• d) determining whether the sensed event is in a defined virtual region, and if so, obtaining a unique identifier corresponding to the sensed event;
• e) performing a processing sequence associated with the unique identifier and waiting for a return identifier upon completion of the processing sequence;
• f) performing a new processing sequence associated with the return identifier if the return identifier does not correspond to the main menu, and waiting for a return identifier upon completion of the new processing sequence;
• g) repeating steps a) through f) when said return identifier corresponds to said main menu;
• h) repeating step f) and g) so long as said return identifier does not correspond to said main menu;
• i) determining whether a list of data set headers, corresponding to a currently logged-in user, is stored within the interface;
• j) when the list is absent, performing steps j1 through j3 as follows:
• j1) requesting the list from a remote communications server connected to the system;
• j2) setting up a data structure within the interface based upon an expected structure of the list;
• j3) storing a returned list received from the communications server;
• and
• k) displaying a portion of the list.

A multi-tiered computing system comprising:

• a first computing tier having a master server computer, the master server coupled to a master database of master data records;
• a second computing tier having a plurality of input computers, each input computer coupled to a respective local database of local data records, each local database replicated from the master database;
• and
• a third computing tier having a remote portable computer, the portable computer being in communication with a select input computer for accessing local data records, the portable computer comprising:
• a CPU for controlling operation of the portable computer;
• an interface memory for storing software to control the CPU and to store temporarily at least one data set each data set having multiple data fields for storing data values;
• and
• a touch sensitive display screen for displaying at least a data I/O screen and for sensing contact by a user, the CPU defining multiple virtual regions upon the data I/O screen, each corresponding to a data field, the display screen sensing and informing the CPU of contact by the user within a virtual region, the display screen displaying within each virtual region a data value for the associated data field from a current data set for a current matter, the CPU identifying a virtual region contacted by the user and effecting an interface control associated therewith, and wherein the portable computer includes a temporary buffer for storing incoming and outgoing data sets transmitted to, and received from, a remote communications server.

A multi-tiered computing system comprising:

• a first computing tier having a master server computer, the master server coupled to a master database of master data records;
• a second computing tier having a plurality of input computers, each input computer coupled to a respective local database of local data records, each local database replicated from the master database;
• and
• a third computing tier having a remote portable computer, the portable computer being in communication with a select input computer for accessing local data records, the portable computer comprising:
• a CPU for controlling operation of the portable computer;
• an interface memory for storing software to control the CPU and to store temporarily at least one data set each data set having multiple data fields for storing data values;
• and
• a touch sensitive display screen for displaying at least a data I/O screen and for sensing contact by a user, the CPU defining multiple virtual regions upon the data I/O screen, each corresponding to a data field, the display screen sensing and informing the CPU of contact by the user within a virtual region, the display screen displaying within each virtual region a data value for the associated data field from a current data set for a current matter, the CPU identifying a virtual region contacted by the user and effecting an interface control associated therewith, and wherein the display screen illustrates the current data set in at least one of a scroll bar format and a rolling key format.

A multi-tiered computing system comprising:

• a first computing tier having a master server computer, the master server coupled to a master database of master data records;
• a second computing tier having a plurality of input computers, each input computer coupled to a respective local database of local data records, each local database replicated from the master database;
• and
• a third computing tier having a remote portable computer, the portable computer being in communication with a select input computer for accessing local data records, the portable computer comprising:
• a CPU for controlling operation of the portable computer;
• an interface memory for storing software to control the CPU and to store temporarily at least one data set each data set having multiple data fields for storing data values;
• and
• a touch sensitive display screen for displaying at least a data I/O screen and for sensing contact by a user, the CPU defining multiple virtual regions upon the data I/O screen, each corresponding to a data field, the display screen sensing and informing the CPU of contact by the user within a virtual region, the display screen displaying within each virtual region a data value for the associated data field from a current data set for a current matter, the CPU identifying a virtual region contacted by the user and effecting an interface control associated therewith, and wherein each virtual region corresponds to a predefined processing sequence which is initiated by the user by contacting the associated virtual region.

A multi-tiered computing system comprising:

• a first computing tier having a master server computer, the master server coupled to a master database of master data records;
• a second computing tier having a plurality of input computers, each input computer coupled to a respective local database of local data records, each local database replicated from the master database;
• and
• a third computing tier having a remote portable computer, the portable computer being in communication with a select input computer for accessing local data records, the portable computer comprising:
• a CPU for controlling operation of the portable computer;
• an interface memory for storing software to control the CPU and to store temporarily at least one data set each data set having multiple data fields for storing data values;
• and
• a touch sensitive display screen for displaying at least a data I/O screen and for sensing contact by a user, the CPU defining multiple virtual regions upon the data I/O screen, each corresponding to a data field, the display screen sensing and informing the CPU of contact by the user within a virtual region, the display screen displaying within each virtual region a data value for the associated data field from a current data set for a current matter, the CPU identifying a virtual region contacted by the user and effecting an interface control associated therewith, and wherein the data I/O screen further displays multiple icons, each being uniquely associated with a data field.