Abstract: An electronic hand-held device and method for inputting and sending requests and for receiving and outputting responses to the requests. The electronic hand-held device is a coupled to a telecommunications link over which requests are sent and responses are received. The electronic hand-held device can input request data in any number of different information media, including audio tones and voice signals, mechanical input to a keypad, printed bar codes, magnetic data stored in credit cards, and electronic data stored in electronic smart cards. The electronic hand-held device can output responses through an audio speaker, a visual LCD display device, and, optionally, through other output devices including printers. The electronic hand-held device is especially well suited for order entry and acquisition of product information.

Abstract: An electronic hand-held device and method for inputting and sending requests and for receiving and outputting responses to the requests. The electronic hand-held device is a coupled to a telecommunications link over which requests are sent and responses are received. The electronic hand-held device can input request data in any number of different information media, including audio tones and voice signals, mechanical input to a keypad, printed bar codes, magnetic data stored in credit cards, and electronic data stored in electronic smart cards. The electronic hand-held device can output responses through an audio speaker, a visual LCD display device, and, optionally, through other output devices including printers. The electronic hand-held device is especially well suited for order entry and acquisition of product information.

Abstract: An electronic hand-held device and method for inputting and sending requests and for receiving and outputting responses to the requests. The electronic hand-held device is a coupled to a telecommunications link over which requests are sent and responses are received. The electronic hand-held device derives sufficient electrical power from the telecommunications link in order to power the internal components of the electronic hand-held device that input request data, format requests, send requests, receive responses, and output responses. The electronic hand-held device can input request data in any number of different information media, including audio tones and voice signals, mechanical input to a keypad, printed barcodes, magnetic data stored in credit cards, and electronic data stored in electronic smart cards. The electronic hand-held device can output responses through an audio speaker, a visual LCD display device, and, optionally, through other output devices including printers.

Abstract: An interactive bi-directional telecommunication method using a handheld low power user device to access a host computer server along a telecommunication path, and to command the host computer server to transmit audio and/or visual reports to the user device. A system for host computer ordering of consumer products and services using the telecommunications method and handheld low power user device.

Abstract: A handheld low power user device for accessing and controlling interactive bidirectional real time telecommunications with a host server over a telecommunication path, the handheld low power user device having a low power sleep mode and components including a communication transceiver, a microprocessor, a power supply interface and an operator interface selected from among a keypad, a bar code reader, an audio system comprising a speaker, a display screen and a microphone; wherein, the communication transceiver includes a low power voice and data modem, and a DTMF or an MF tone generator; the audio system includes a dual power system; the bar code reader includes a bar code media proximity detector; the microprocessor includes less than about 128 Kbytes of PROM, a protected memory, and RAM; the power supply interface is connected with a telephone line, a cellular or wireless telephone battery, or a PBX line; and the handheld low power user device operates on less than about 300 milliwatts of power when off ho