System and method for a wireless feature pack

A method of operating a coordinate measurement device, comprising:

• receiving coordinate data based on measured positions of an articulated arm;
• receiving add-on device data packets that can be transmitted over a network from an add-on device assembly coupled to the articulated arm, wherein the add-on device data packets are received in response to trigger signals provided to the add-on device assembly that indicate times at which positions of the articulated arm are measured, and wherein the add-on device data packets comprise measurement data of the add-on device assembly;
• inserting portions of the received coordinate data into packets to produce packetized coordinate data that can be transmitted over a network;
• and
• transmitting wirelessly the packetized coordinate data and the add-on device data packets to a base station.

A base station, comprising:

• one or more processors configured to:
• receive wirelessly over a network packetized coordinate data and an add-on device data packet, wherein the packetized coordinate data comprises coordinate data derived from a measured position of an articulated arm, and wherein the add-on device data packet comprises measurement data of the add-on device assembly, and
• extract coordinate data from the packetized coordinate data and to extract add-on device measurement data from the add-on device data packet, and
• synchronize the extracted coordinate data with the extracted add-on device measurement data for further processing, wherein said synchronization is based on a timestamp of the packetized coordinate data and a timestamp of the add-on device data packet.

A method of operating a base station, comprising:

• receiving wirelessly over a network packetized coordinate data and an add-on device data packet, wherein the packetized coordinate data comprises coordinate data based on a measured position of an articulated arm, and wherein the add-on device data packet comprises measurement data of the add-on device assembly;
• extracting coordinate data from the packetized coordinate data and extracting add-on device measurement data from the add-on device data packet;
• and
• associating the extracted coordinate data with the extracted add-on device measurement data for further processing, wherein the association is based on a timestamp of the packetized coordinate data and a timestamp of the add-on device data packet.