Abstract: A system and method are described for displaying battery condition information on a display of a portable computer. After powering on the portable computer, battery condition information of a battery of the portable computer is retrieved. The retrieved battery condition information is displayed on the display of the portable computer and operating system (OS) loaded into an executable memory of the portable computer is executed.

Abstract: A virtual device residing on a terminal in a host terminal environment is provided. The terminal is in communication with a device. The virtual device comprises a processing module operable to execute at least one action and to process information returned from at the least one executed action, a transformation module operable to transform a command into the at least one action to be executed by the processing module, and a response module operable to form a response to the command to be sent to the host based on the processed information.

Abstract: A multi-field antenna able to receive a signal over one field selected from a plurality of different fields of the antenna includes an interface to connect the antenna to a signal processing device, such as an RFID reader, to receive and process the signal. The antenna includes a first magnetic loop configured to be tuned by a first tuner to provide a first volume field for reading data; a second magnetic loop configured to be tuned by a second tuner to provide a second volume field for reading data, the second volume field being smaller than the first volume field; and a switch to configure the first tuner and the second tuner to select the one field from the plurality of fields. The multi-field antenna can have a wide volume field selected to detect items within a large area and then the multi-field antenna can be switched to select a smaller volume field to detect items within a substantially smaller area.

Abstract: A network communication card is provided for facilitating ultra high frequency (UHF) radio communication between a terminal and a base station, the network communication card being in communication with an antenna and comprising a double-sided multilayer printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB comprises a digital interface, a receiver and a transmitter. The digital interface provides communication between the PCB and the terminal. The receiver receives incoming radio signals from the base station and processes the received signals for communication to the terminal via the digital interface. The transmitter transmits outgoing radio signals from the terminal via the digital interface to the base station and includes the following components. A digital synthesizer provides a highly accurate modulated carrier signal. An upconversion circuit increases the frequency of the carrier signal. A filter filters spurious content from the carrier signal.

Abstract: A handle for a portable terminal having a user interface configured for interaction with a stylus. The handle comprises a handle body having the grip portion shaped for grasping by a hand of the user of the portable terminal, a proximal end of the grip portion for coupling to a housing of the portable computer, and a distal end of the grip portion. The handle has a receptacle connected to the handle body and located in the interior of the handle body, such that the receptacle is adapted for releasably retaining the stylus in the interior of the handle body. The handle body 21 has an aperture for facilitating access of the stylus into the receptacle. The receptacle has at least one arm having a first shaped feature (e.g. protrusion and/or notch/groove) adapted for engaging a second shaped feature (e.g. corresponding notch/groove and/or protrusion) of the stylus for providing the releasable retaining of the stylus when resident in the receptacle.

Abstract: A distributed license management system and method for managing software licenses are provided. The disturbed license management system comprises a repository for storing workstation information, a message interceptor for intercepting a message call coming from a workstation to a server, a workstation identification module for determining if a workstation identifier associated with the message call is defined in the repository, and a device verification module for allowing access to the server if a device identifier of a workstation is associated with the workstation identifier. The method comprises the steps of storing workstation information, intercepting a message call coming from a workstation to a server, determining if a workstation identifier associated with the message call is defined in stored workstation information, and allowing access to the server if a device identifier of the workstation is associated with the workstation identifier.

Abstract: An expansion system for portable electronic devices is provided. A portable electronic device includes a main logic board and a battery component. The device includes a package for enclosing components of the device that is sealed to prevent ingress of foreign material from the surrounding environment. A mounting interface is provided that extends into the internal space of the package. The mounting interface mounts an expansion component that expands functionality of the device so that it is physically and mechanically spaced from the main logic board. The device may include an expansion interface mounted on the main logic board for logical communication between the main logic board and the expansion component.

Abstract: A novel capacitive sensing keyboard allows for keypads to be easily changed for repair or reconfiguration purposes. The keypads can be made of a deformable and resilient material, such as an elastomer, which can provide tactile feedback to a user and which are relatively inexpensive to manufacture. An array of overlying pairs of driver elements and sense elements are located adjacent the keypad and changes in the dielectric value of materials about the driver/sense element pairs are detected when a key on the keypad is pressed by a user. These detected changes are processed in view of a defined key map to determine which key or keys have been pressed by the user.

Abstract: A system and a method for determining the location of an RFID reader is provided. The system includes a plurality of transmitters which have a known reference point. Each transmitter includes a circuit for transmitting a sequence of unique RFID pseudo tag signals. Each unique RFID pseudo signal in the sequence has a unique range of transmission. Each unique RFID pseudo tag in the sequence has a tag identification indicating the range of transmission of the pseudo tag signal and a transmitter identification value indicating the transmitter from which the pseudo tag signal was transmitted. An RFID reader receives the unique RFID pseudo tag signals and distinguishes between each received unique RFID pseudo tag signal. A location calculator calculates the location of the RFID reader based on the information received.

Abstract: A barcode decoding system and method for compensating for motion of between an image sensor and a barcode to improve decoding of the barcode. The barcode decoding system includes an imager for capturing an image of the barcode, a motion sensor for collecting acceleration data and a processor that is configured to determine a velocity of the image sensor during the exposure period based on the acceleration data and a periodic motion model. The determined velocity is used to adjust the edge detection algorithm used to detect the barcode features in order to decode the barcode. The orientation of the captured barcode can also be determined in order to determine the velocity in a direction perpendicular to the barcode features.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for using an access list stored on a memory of a first computing device, the access list for controlling communication between the first computing device and a plurality of computing devices in a Bluetooth communication network.

Abstract: Described herein is a molded printed circuit board. The printed circuit board may be placed inside of a mold and a material is injected therein. The material hardens in the mold around the printed circuit board thereby forming an overmolded printed circuit board. The overmolded material may have apertures in it to allow access to the leads on the printed circuit board so that components to be connected to it. The overmolded printed circuit boards may allow a plurality of electrical components to selectively and removably attach to it. Further, the printed circuit board may be attached in a housing which may itself removably and selectively connect to components.

Abstract: A method and system for a server-client communication in a network, is provided. The method includes, at a server: (1) requesting a client to establish an initial connection for discovery, including: generating a discovery beacon for requesting the initial connection, and transmitting the discovery beacon in the network; and (2) requesting the discovered client to establish a further connection for updates, including: generating at least one of an update beacon for requesting the further connection and an event for triggering the further connection, and transmitting the at least one of the update beacon and the event in the network.

Abstract: A system for providing backup power supply to a device is provided. The system includes a supercapacitor and a single circuit for charging and discharging of a supercapacitor. The single circuit operates with an inductor to provide for charging and discharging of the supercapacitor.

Abstract: A multi-portion housing for a portable terminal having a proximal end, a distal end, a bottom surface, and a top surface, the top surface configured for mounting a user interface between the proximal and distal ends. The multi-portion housing comprises a central housing portion providing a rigid body extending between the proximal and distal ends for facilitating rigidity of the multi-portion housing to inhibit deformation of the multi-portion housing, the central housing portion having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface. A second housing portion is secured to the central housing portion and has a first resilient seal positioned between a first mating surface of the second housing portion and a corresponding mating surface of the central housing portion, the corresponding mating surface of the central housing portion extending only partway between the proximal and distal ends and being positioned on either the upper or the lower surface. A third housing portion (e.g.

Abstract: An RFID system for determining the location of a vehicle or mobile object that passes thereover is presented. The system comprises a tag arrangement having at least one tag where the arrangement having a width of between approximately 0.5 m and 2 m.

Abstract: A computing device and method for reading a barcode captured with a color image sensor is disclosed. The barcode can have features and background that have equal brightness and a substantially low chromacity deviation such that the barcode could not be easily perceptible and decoded with known greyscale decoding techniques. The method for reading the barcode includes receiving color image values for each pixel of a captured image of a target barcode from a color image sensor, determining chrominance values for each pixel from the color image values, detecting edges based on the chrominance values to generate an edge-detected image that is provided to a greyscale barcode decoder to decode the information in the target barcode. The chrominance values can be based on the blue and red difference components from the YUV image format, and the U and V values can be combined using color temperature information.

Abstract: A portable terminal, handheld computer and handle are provided. The portable terminal includes a handheld computer operable as a stand-alone device, including operational components having a display and a scanner, and an expansion connector capable of detachably coupling to a peripheral. The peripheral includes at least a handle held by an operator of the portable terminal. The handheld computer is electrically and mechanically coupled to the handle so that the angle between the viewing area of the display and a scanner beam from the scanner is optimized without tilting the viewing area of the display. The portable terminal includes: a handheld device operable as a stand-alone device, including: one or more operational components; and an expansion connector being capable of detachably coupling to a peripheral directly or via an external device connectable to the peripheral, the handheld device being electrically coupled to the peripheral via the expansion connector and identifies the peripheral.