Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for facilitating education operations. A portable processor-based apparatus is provided which is used by a student and his or her parents. The portable device is adapted to releasably couple with a cradle which is maintained at least in the school environment. The portable unit may be coupled through the cradle to a school network. The portable unit may be utilized by the student, parents, and teacher to perform a number of specific school related activities including a presentation of course materials; the assignment, completion and return of homework assignments; the maintenance of school records; and digital communication between or among the student, teacher, and parents. The device preferably includes biometric security systems which limit the access to both the device and data maintained in the device or in the school network.

Abstract: A system is provided for sharing data among cooperating but independently-operating data-gathering contributors. Each contributor maintains a database with information therein which pertains to monitored entities. The information is arranged in data fields. In each database, a contributor-specific subset of the data fields is identified which contains information about the monitored entities which is uniquely associated with a particular one of the cooperating but independently-operating data-gathering contributors. For each database, a monitored-entity subset of data fields is identified which contains information about the monitored entities which is not uniquely associated with one of the cooperating but independently-operating data-gathering contributors, and which appears in the databases. A viewing prioritization rule set is derived for each of the cooperating but independently-operating data-gathering contributors. A record management program is provided which is executed by a data processing system.

Abstract: A system is provided for inventorying a plurality of items in a supply. The items include a plurality of subgroupings of similar "item types" which are distributed in a selected pattern among a plurality of known locations. The inventory process is done by a plurality of known inventory entities. The system includes a plurality of type identifiers, each carrying machine readable data specific to an item type, for distinguishing a particular item type from other item types. A plurality of sequential item identifiers are also provided for carrying machine readable data. A unique item identifier is applied to each item in the supply without regard to item type, for distinguishing each item from other items within and without a particular item type subgrouping. A device is provided for reading and storing machine readable data from the type identifiers and item identifiers.