Abstract: A data retrieval and acquisition system having a wireless handheld interface for data entry by the user. The system includes a communiation server for communicating, such as through IR signals, with the handheld interfaces. The communications server communicates with multiple command servers and with a master server and/or other communication servers through a communications bus. The handheld interface includes touch screen which is operated through an event driven architecture. The user is allowed to enter data through virtual rolling keys, a scroll bar, virtual key pad, bar code reader, and the like. The system minimized the transmission time by minimizing the necessary information transmitted and by synchronizing the operation of the handheld interfaces with the corresponding communications server. The communications server transmits information to the handheld through a first unique protocal and to the command server through a second unique protocal.

Abstract: A graphical user interface for use in a handheld portable data terminal including a display screen and touch screen for sensing location of user contact. The graphical user interface includes a display sequence that displays multiple virtual regions on the display screen, wherein each virtual region corresponds to an event identifier. An event handler identifies one of the virtual regions that corresponds to the location of user contact sensed by the touch screen, determines a specific event identifier corresponding to the identified virtual region, and processes a predetermined sequence for the specific event identifier. The multiple virtual regions displayed on the display screen by the display routine preferably includes one of a virtual keypad for entering symbols associated with keys of the keypad, at least one scroll bar, at least one rolling key, multiple icons, a menu screen and a graphing screen.

Abstract: A multi-tiered computing system having a touch-screen-enabled handheld interface for data entry by the user. The system includes an input computing platform that is coupled to a local database and that communicates to the hand-held interface over a communication channel, such a wireless communication channel (for example, carrying IR signals). The input computing platform communicates with other input computing platforms and a master server through a communications network. The handheld interface includes a touch screen which is preferably operated through an event driven architecture. The user is preferably allowed to enter data through virtual rolling keys, a scroll bar, virtual key pad, bar code reader, and the like. The system preferably minimizes transmission time by minimizing the necessary information transmitted and by synchronizing the operation of the handheld interfaces with the corresponding input computing platform.

Abstract: A bar-code-driven data acquisition and management system includes at least two input computers, operably coupled via a communication link, each coupled to a respective local database of data records. The system includes at least two portable computing devices, each operably coupled to one of the two input computers via a wireless communication channel for accessing the data records of the local databases of the at least two input computers. Each portable computing device comprises a CPU, memory, and a touch sensitive display device that cooperate to display multiple virtual regions (which comprise on a data I/O screen and sense location of contact by a user in these virtual regions to thereby provide for user input. These multiple virtual regions preferably include one of a virtual keypad for entering symbols associated with keys of the keypad, at least one scroll bar, at least one rolling key, multiple icons, a menu screen and a graphing screen.

Abstract: Ac wireless packet data communication network that enables wireless communication among a plurality of users within a work environment having one or more regions. The network includes a plurality of database command servers each controlling access to one of a plurality of databases. A plurality of communication servers (each being located in a different region of the work environment) are interfaced by way of a communication bus. A plurality of wireless handheld bar code driven data terminals are interfaced with the communication servers by way of a plurality of wireless communication channels. Each wireless handheld bar code driven data terminal has a graphical user interface including a touch-sensitive display device, an integral bar code symbol reader, and a wireless communication interface device for enabling wireless data packet communication between the wireless handheld bar code driven data terminal and one communication server.

Abstract: A multi-tiered data acquisition and management system including at least two input computers, operably coupled via a communication link, each coupled to a respective local database of data records. The system includes at least two portable computing devices, each operably coupled to one of the two input computers via a wireless communication channel for accessing the data records of the local databases of the input computers. Each portable computing device comprises a CPU, memory, and a touch sensitive display device that cooperate to display multiple virtual regions (which comprise on a data I/O screen and sense location of contact by a user in these virtual regions to thereby provide for user input). These multiple virtual regions preferably include one of a virtual keypad for entering symbols associated with keys of the keypad, at least one scroll bar, at least one rolling key, multiple icons, a menu screen and a graphing screen.

Abstract: A packet-based communication protocol for communicating messages between computing devices over a communication link therebetween (such as between a communication server and hand-held data acquisition device over a wireless link therebetween), each message comprising a plurality of equal length information packets. A first information packet in each message is constructed with a first format including a long header and a data segment. All information packets subsequent to the first information packet in each message are constructed with a second format including a short header and a data segment. The data segments from the plurality of information packets within each message form a single data set related to a single matter. The use of the short header in the second format information packets maximizes the amount of information contained in such information packets and thus provides for improved information throughput.

Abstract: A data retrieval and acquisition system having a wireless handheld interface for data entry by the user. The system includes a communiation server for communicating, such as throuhg IR signals, with the handheld interfaces. The communications server communicates with multiple command servers and with a master server and/or other communication servers through a communications bus. The handheld interface includes touch screen which is operated through an event driven architecture. The user is allowed to enter data through virtual rolling keys, a scroll bar, virtual key pad, bar code reader, and the like. The system minimized the transmission time by minimizing the necessary information transmitted and by synchronizing the operation of the handheld interfaces with the corresponding communications server. The communications server transmits information to the handheld through a first unique protocal and to the command server through a second unique protocal.

Abstract: A data retrieval and acquisition system having a wireless handheld interface for data entry by the user. The system includes a communiation server for communicating, such as throuhg IR signals, with the handheld interfaces. The communications server communicates with multiple command servers and with a master server and/or other communication servers through a communications bus. The handheld interface includes touch screen which is operated through an event driven architecture. The user is allowed to enter data through virtual rolling keys, a scroll bar, virtual key pad, bar code reader, and the like. The system minimized the transmission time by minimizing the necessary information transmitted and by synchronizing the operation of the handheld interfaces with the corresponding communications server. The communications server transmits information to the handheld through a first unique protocal and to the command server through a second unique protocal.

Abstract: A data retrieval and acquisition system having a wireless handheld interface for data entry by the user. The system includes a communication server for communicating, such as through IR signals, with the handheld interfaces. The communications server communicates with multiple command servers and with a master server and/or other communication servers through a communications bus. The handheld interface includes touch screen which is operated through an event driven architecture. The user is allowed to enter data through virtual rolling keys, a scroll bar, virtual key pad, bar code reader, and the like. The system minimizes the transmission time by minimizing the necessary information transmitted and by synchronizing the operation of the handheld interfaces with the corresponding communications server. The communications server transmits information to the handheld through a first unique protocol and to the command server through a second unique protocol.

Abstract: A multi-tiered computing system having a touch-screen-enabled handheld interface for data entry by the user. The system includes an input computing platform that is coupled to a local database and that communicates to the hand-held interface over a communication channel, such a wireless communication channel (for example, carrying IR signals). The input computing platform communicates with other input computing platforms and a master server through a communications network. The handheld interface includes a touch screen which is preferably operated through an event driven architecture. The user is preferably allowed to enter data through virtual rolling keys, a scroll bar, virtual key pad, bar code reader, and the like. The system preferably minimizes transmission time by minimizing the necessary information transmitted and by synchronizing the operation of the handheld interfaces with the corresponding input computing platform.

Abstract: A portable wireless data terminal, operably coupled to a computer and database via a wireless communication channel, having local memory storing information loaded from the database via the wireless communication channel and an event-driven touch-screen enabled graphical user interface for interacting with a user to enter user-supplied information. The user-supplied information is communicated to the computer over the wireless communication channel for storage in the database. The user-supplied information preferably includes product information, information identifying a medical patient, or information related a medical patient (such as personal information gathered upon admittance for care, information related to past medical history of the medical patient, and information related to vital statistics of the medical patient). The touch-screen enabled graphical user interface may include virtual rolling keys, a scroll bar, virtual key pad, and the like.

Abstract: A multi-tiered data acquisition and management system includes at least two input computers, operably coupled via a communication link, each coupled to a respective local database of data records. The system includes at least two portable computing devices, each operably coupled to one of the two input computers via a wireless communication channel for accessing the data records of the local databases of the at least two input computers. Each portable computing device comprises a CPU, memory, and a touch sensitive display device that cooperate to display multiple virtual regions (which comprise on a data I/O screen and sense location of contact by a user in these virtual regions to thereby provide for user input. These multiple virtual regions preferably include one of a virtual keypad for entering symbols associated with keys of the keypad, at least one scroll bar, at least one rolling key, multiple icons, a menu screen and a graphing screen.

Abstract: A handheld portable data terminal having an integrated code reader (for example, optical bar-code reader) for data entry and a touch-screen enabled graphical user interface (which may include virtual rolling keys, a scroll bar, virtual key pad, and the like) for interacting with a user to enter user-supplied information. In addition, the data terminal preferably includes a wireless communication interface for data communication with a remote computing device over a wireless communication channel. The data read by the integrated code reader (and possibly communicated to the remote computing device over the wireless communication interface) preferably includes product information, information identifying a medical patient, or information related a medical patient (such as personal information gathered upon admittance for care, information related to past medical history of the medical patient, and information related to vital statistics of the medical patient).

Abstract: A wireless packet data communication network that enables wireless communication among a plurality of users within a work environment having one or more regions. The network includes a plurality of database command servers each controlling access to one of a plurality of databases. A plurality of communication servers (each being located in a different region of the work environment) are interfaced by way of a communication bus. A plurality of wireless handheld bar code driven data terminals are interfaced with the communication servers by way of a plurality of wireless communication channels. Each wireless handheld bar code driven data terminal has a graphical user interface including a touch-sensitive display device, an integral bar code symbol reader, and a wireless communication interface device for enabling wireless data packet communication between the wireless handheld bar code driven data terminal and one communication server.

Abstract: A data retrieval and acquisition system having a wireless handheld interface for data entry by the user. The system includes a communication server for communicating, such as through IR signals, with the handheld interfaces. The communications server communicates with multiple command servers and with a master server and/or other communication servers through a communications bus. The handheld interface includes touch screen which is operated through an event driven architecture. The user is allowed to enter data through virtual rolling keys, a scroll bar, virtual key pad, bar code reader, and the like. The system minimized the transmission time by minimizing the necessary information transmitted and by synchronizing the operation of the handheld interfaces with the corresponding communications server. The communications server transmits information to the handheld through a first unique protocal and to the command server through a second unique protocal.