Data entry system

A data entry device for use in a data entry system, said data entry device comprising:

• a reading sensor responsive to commands and/or sensed commands and data to produce input signals;
• a controller coupled to said reading sensor to receive and process said input signals;
• said controller coupled to a communications inter-face to selectively control transmission over said communications interface of command and/or data signals as determined by said input signals processed by said controller;
• said communications interface being operable directly to connect said data entry device to a wireless telecommunications network;
• and
• a display coupled to said controller to display commands and/or information under control of said input signals processed by said controller;
• wherein said reading sensor, controller and display comprise a unitary assembly and said communications interface is a cellular telephone network interface and said wireless telecommunications network is a cellular telephone network and said data entry device is integral with a cellular telephone, and wherein said controller is responsive to a said command to cause downloading of information from a remote processing center as required for updating information previously stored in said data entry device.

A data entry device for use in a data entry system, said data entry device comprising:

• a reading sensor responsive to commands and/or sensed commands and data to produce input signals;
• a controller coupled to said reading sensor to receive and process said input signals;
• said controller coupled to a communications inter-face to selectively control transmission over said communications interface of command and/or data signals as determined by said input signals processed by said controller;
• said communications interface being operable directly to connect said data entry device to a wireless telecommunications network;
• and
• a display coupled to said controller to display commands and/or information under control of said input signals processed by said controller;
• wherein said reading sensor, controller and display comprise a unitary assembly and said communications interface is a satellite interface and said wireless telecommunications network is a satellite telecommunications network, and wherein said controller is responsive to a said command to cause downloading of information from a remote processing center as required for updating information previously stored in said data entry device.

A data entry system comprising a hand holdable data entry unit, said hand holdable unit comprising:

• a reading sensor for sensing commands and/or data and for producing input signals in response to said sensed commands and/or data;
• rewritable storage programmable with information relating to a plurality of items, user selectable by means of said reading sensor;
• a controller connected to receive and process said input signals from said sensor, said controller being arranged to respond to commands and/or sensed commands to control said hand holdable unit and to said data to select a said item;
• and
• a display screen for displaying a user readable representation of said commands and said stored information for said selected item;
• and said system further comprising:
• a telecommunications interface for telephonic transmission of information relating to a selected item or items from said storage to a remote processing center via a telecommunications network and for telephonic reception of information relating to selectable items from said remote processing center to said storage via said telecommunications network, said controller being responsive to a said command to cause downloading of information from said remote processing center as required for updating information previously stored in said rewritable storage for one or more of said selectable items, wherein said hand holdable unit includes a speaker and a microphone permitting said hand holdable unit to be used as a telephone handset.

A data entry system comprising a hand holdable data entry unit, said hand holdable unit comprising:

• a reading sensor for sensing commands and/or data and for producing input signals in response to said sensed commands and/or data;
• rewritable storage programmable with information relating to selectable items;
• a controller connected to receive and process said input signals from said sensor, said controller being arranged to respond to commands and/or sensed commands to control said hand holdable unit and to said data to select a said item;
• a display screen for displaying a user readable representation of said commands and said stored information for said selected item;
• and
• a telecommunications interface for telephonic transmission of information relating to a selected item or items from said storage to a remote processing center via a telecommunications network and for telephonic reception of information relating to said selectable items from said remote processing center to said storage via said telecommunications network, wherein said telecommunications interface is a telecommunications line interface integral to said hand holdable unit and directly connects said hand-holdable unit to said telecommunications network, and wherein said hand holdable unit includes a speaker and a microphone permitting said hand holdable unit to be used as a telephone handset.

A data entry system comprising a hand holdable data entry unit, said hand holdable unit comprising:

• a reading sensor for sensing commands and/or data and for producing input signals in response to said sensed commands and/or data;
• rewritable storage programmable with information relating to selectable items;
• a controller connected to receive and process said input signals from said sensor, said controller being arranged to respond to commands and/or sensed commands to control said hand holdable unit and to said data to select a said item;
• a display screen for displaying a user readable representation of said commands and said stored information for said selected item;
• and
• a telecommunications interface for telephonic transmission of information relating to a selected item or items from said storage to a remote processing center via a wireless telecommunications network and for telephonic reception of information relating to said selectable items from said remote processing center to said storage via said wireless telecommunications network, wherein said telecommunications interface is a telecommunications line interface integral to said hand holdable unit and directly connects said hand-holdable unit to said wireless telecommunications network.

A data entry system comprising a hand holdable data entry unit, said hand holdable unit comprising:

• a reading sensor for sensing commands and/or data and for producing input signals in response to said sensed commands and/or data;
• rewritable storage programmable with information relating to a plurality of items, user selectable by means of said reading sensor;
• a controller connected to receive and process said input signals from said sensor, said controller being arranged to respond to commands and/or sensed commands to control said hand holdable unit and to said data to select a said item;
• and
• a display screen for displaying a user readable representation of said commands and said stored information for said selected item;
• and said system further comprising:
• a telecommunications interface for telephonic transmission of information relating to a selected item or items from said storage to a remote processing center via a telecommunications network and for telephonic reception of information relating to selectable items from said remote processing center to said storage via said telecommunications network, said controller being responsive to either a said command or a said sensed command to cause downloading of information from said remote processing center as required for updating information previously stored in said rewritable storage for one or more of said selectable items, and wherein said system further comprises a carrier for a plurality of data and/or command codes for association with means for displaying a plurality of said selectable items, wherein said carrier carries a plurality of codes, each for a respective one of a plurality of natural language and/or numeric characters and a plurality of commands for controlling operation of said data entry system or a merchandising system, each code being associated with a visual representation of the corresponding natural language or numeric character or command and/or of a graphical representation thereof.

A data entry system comprising a hand holdable data entry unit, said hand holdable unit comprising:

• a reading sensor for sensing commands and/or data and for producing input signals in response to said sensed commands and/or data;
• rewritable storage programmable with information relating to selectable items;
• a controller connected to receive and process said input signals from said sensor, said controller being arranged to respond to commands and/or sensed commands to control said hand holdable unit and to said data to select a said item;
• a display screen for displaying a user readable representation of said commands and said stored information for said selected item;
• and
• a telecommunications interface for telephonic transmission of information relating to a selected item or items from said storage to a remote processing center via a telecommunications network and for telephonic reception of information relating to said selectable items from said remote processing center to said storage via said telecommunications network, wherein said telecommunications interface is a telecommunications line interface integral to said hand holdable unit and directly connects said hand-holdable unit to said telecommunications network, and wherein said data entry system further comprises a carrier for a plurality of data and/or command codes for association with means for displaying a plurality of said selectable items, wherein said carrier carries a plurality of codes, each for a respective one of a plurality of natural language and/or numeric characters and a plurality of commands for controlling operation of said data entry system or a merchandising system, each code being associated with a visual representation of the corresponding natural language or numeric character or command and/or of a graphical representation thereof.

A data entry system comprising a hand holdable data entry unit, said hand holdable unit comprising:

• a reading sensor for sensing commands and/or data and for producing input signals in response to said sensed commands and/or data;
• rewritable storage programmable with information relating to selectable items;
• a controller connected to receive and process said input signals from said sensor, said controller being arranged to respond to commands and/or sensed commands to control said hand holdable unit and to said data to select a said item;
• a display screen for displaying a user readable representation of said commands and said stored information for said selected item;
• and
• a telecommunications interface for telephonic transmission of information relating to a selected item or items from said storage to a remote processing center via a telecommunications network and for telephonic reception of information relating to said selectable items from said remote processing center to said storage via said telecommunications network, wherein said telecommunications interface is a telecommunications line interface integral to said hand holdable unit and directly connects said hand-holdable unit to said telecommunications network, and wherein said reading sensor is located in a reading head which is releasably attached to said hand holdable unit.

A data entry device for use in a data entry system, said data entry device comprising:

• a reading sensor responsive to commands and/or sensed commands and data to produce input signals;
• a controller coupled to said reading sensor to receive and process said input signals;
• said controller coupled to a communications inter-face to selectively control transmission over said communications interface of command and/or data signals as determined by said input signals processed by said controller;
• said communications interface being operable directly to connect said data entry device to a wireless telecommunications network;
• and
• a display coupled to said controller to display commands and/or information under control of said input signals processed by said controller;
• wherein said reading sensor, controller and display comprise a unitary assembly and said communications interface is a cellular telephone network interface and said wireless telecommunications network is a cellular telephone network;
• and wherein said display screen comprises a touch sensitive screen forming said reading sensor, said controller being arranged to be responsive to a location at which said screen is touched for user input.

A data entry device for use in a data entry system, said data entry device comprising:

• a reading sensor responsive to commands and/or sensed commands and data to produce input signals;
• a controller coupled to said reading sensor to receive and process said input signals;
• said controller coupled to a communications inter-face to selectively control transmission over said communications interface of command and/or data signals as determined by said input signals processed by said controller;
• said communications interface being operable directly to connect said data entry device to a wireless telecommunications network;
• and
• a display coupled to said controller to display commands and/or information under control of said input signals processed by said controller;
• wherein said reading sensor, controller and display comprise a unitary assembly and said communications interface is a cellular telephone network interface and said wireless telecommunications network is a cellular telephone network and said data entry device is integral with a cellular telephone;
• and wherein said display screen comprises a touch sensitive screen forming said reading sensor, said controller being arranged to be responsive to a location at which said screen is touched for user input.

A data entry device for use in a data entry system, said data entry device comprising:

• a reading sensor responsive to commands and/or sensed commands and data to produce input signals;
• a controller coupled to said reading sensor to receive and process said input signals;
• said controller coupled to a communications inter-face to selectively control transmission over said communications interface of command and/or data signals as determined by said input signals processed by said controller;
• said communications interface being operable directly to connect said data entry device to a wireless telecommunications network;
• and
• a display coupled to said controller to display commands and/or information under control of said input signals processed by said controller;
• wherein said reading sensor, controller and display comprise a unitary assembly and said communications interface is a satellite interface and said wireless telecommunications network is a satellite telecommunications network;
• and wherein said display screen comprises a touch sensitive screen forming said reading sensor, said controller being arranged to be responsive to a location at which said screen is touched for user input.