Abstract: In one aspect, a method of sampling soil is provided and includes determining a soil sampling location in a land area of interest by using, at least in part, an electronic device, displaying a first visual image associated with the soil sampling location on a display of the electronic device, navigating to the soil sampling location with the electronic device, sampling soil at the soil sampling location with a soil tester, and displaying a second visual image on the display of the electronic device associated with a result obtained from the soil sample. In one aspect, the electronic device may be a mobile electronic communication device.

Abstract: A computing device that includes at least one input/output device automatically configures itself based on acquired data the represents a geographic position of the computing device. The computing device acquires environment identification data and performs at least one of a configuration command and a power state command on the input/output device based on the acquired environment identification data.

Abstract: A computer accesses data that may be stored on a network with which the computer is in communication, the network including at least one server. The data may be an application program, a memory overlay or application specific data. It is first determined whether the data is stored in the computer, and if it is, the data is executed on the computer. If the data is not stored in the computer, a request for data is transmitted from the computer to the server, which accesses the data and transmits the data requested to the computer for execution.

Abstract: A data collecting system is divided into first, second, and third information portions and includes at least one portable terminal for collecting data at a remote site. The terminal comprises a device for collecting data and a first memory for storing the first information portion. The terminal operates to sense the need for information for its use to generate an information call identifying the information and to respond to the information call for searching its memory for the information. If the information is available it is supplied for use by the portable terminal. The system further comprises a first mobile server which comprises a second memory for storing the second information portion, and responds to the information call for searching the second memory for the information. The system further includes a second server at a main information center. The second server comprises a third memory for storing the third information portion, and searches the third memory for the information.

Abstract: A data collection and dissemination system, in which one or more portable data terminals enter or disseminate data through a wireless access point to which they are communicatively coupled. The wireless access point is also coupled to a portable server for storing and retrieving the information requested by the portable data terminals. The portable server maintains a database for the purposes of storing data from and retrieving data for the portable data terminals. The portable data terminals initiate a transaction with the portable server via communication with the wireless access point. The portable data servers formulate a request to retrieve or store data using a database query. The database query is transmitted to the wireless access point, from which the query is directed to the portable server, which then stores or transmits the requested data.

Abstract: A data capture system is disclosed as comprising a plurality of client data collection terminals, and a server station. Each terminal including a mechanism for collecting data, a dynamic addressable memory and a first controller operating on data formatted in a first style. The server station comprises mass memory, which is larger than the dynamic addressable memory of a terminal for storing data to be used by the data collection terminals, an addresser responsive to a memory altering request for addressing the mass memory and a second controller operating on data formatted in a second style different from said first style. The data stored in the dynamic addressable memory is formatted in the second style. A communication system interconnects the server station and each of the plurality of client data collection terminals.

Abstract: A system for collecting data from at least one remote site and transmitting the collected data to a main information center. The system has information distributed throughout and is divided into first, second, and third portions. The system includes at least one portable terminal for collecting data at the remote site. The terminal comprises a first memory for storing the first information portion. The terminal operates by a programmed computer to sense the need for information for its use to generate an information call identifying the needed information, and to respond to the information call for searching its first memory for the presence or absence of that needed information. If that needed information is available in the first memory of the terminal, it is supplied for use by the portable terminal. The system further comprises a first mobile server to be transported to various locations with respect to the main information center and the remote site.

Abstract: A data capture system is disclosed as comprising a plurality of client data collection terminals, and a server station. Each terminal including a mechanism for collecting data, a dynamic addressable memory and a first controller operating on data formatted in a first style. The server station comprises mass memory, which is larger than the dynamic addressable memory of a terminal for storing data to be used by the data collection terminals, an addresser responsive to a memory altering request for addressing the mass memory and a second controller operating on data formatted in a second style different from said first style. The data stored in the dynamic addressable memory is formatted in the second style. A communication system interconnects the server station and each of the plurality of client data collection terminals.

Abstract: A data capture system is disclosed as comprising a plurality of client data collection terminals, and a server station. Each terminal including a mechanism for collecting data, a dynamic addressable memory and a first controller operating on data formatted in a first style. The server station comprises mass memory, which is larger than the dynamic addressable memory of a terminal for storing data to be used by the data collection terminals, an addresser responsive to a memory altering request for addressing the mass memory and a second controller operating on data formatted in a second style different from said first style. The data stored in the dynamic addressable memory is formatted in the second style. A communication system interconnects the server station and each of the plurality of client data collection terminals.