Abstract: A configuration builder useful in configuring software-containing hardware units which are serviced by a center which services a multiplicity of similar units having a plurality of different configurations, the configuration builder including: functionality enabling configuration of at least one software-containing hardware unit by a configurer; and functionality operative automatically in response to configuration of the at least one software-containing hardware unit for correspondingly configuring the center, thereby to enable the center to interface with the at least one software-containing hardware unit. Methodologies and point of sale systems employing the configuration building functionality are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic circuit assembly including a plurality of printed circuit boards including electrical circuits and electronic components mounted on at least one of the plurality of printed circuit boards in electrical communication with the electrical circuits, wherein at least some of the plurality of printed circuit boards define an anti-tamper enclosure for at least some of the electronic components.

Abstract: An electronic circuit assembly including a plurality of printed circuit boards including electrical circuits and electronic components mounted on at least one of the plurality of printed circuit boards in electrical communication with the electrical circuits, wherein at least some of the plurality of printed circuit boards define an anti-tamper enclosure for at least some of the electronic components.

Abstract: A wireless point of sale terminal including an operator interface, point of sale circuitry coupled to the operator interface, a printer coupled to the point of sale circuitry, a wireless transceiver coupled to the point of sale circuitry and a flexible antenna coupled to the wireless transceiver.

Abstract: A wireless point of sale terminal including an operator interface, point of sale circuitry coupled to the operator interface, a printer coupled to the point of sale circuitry, a wireless transceiver coupled to the point of sale circuitry and a flexible antenna coupled to the wireless transceiver.

Abstract: This invention relates to communications apparatus, such as remote data/control apparatus. A first unit (10) and a second unit (11) are arranged to exchange messages over a communication channel. To avoid collision between responses between different remote units, the first unit has device for requesting a response from the second unit and circuit for communicating to the second unit a value (23) representing a time delay and the second unit has device for monitoring the channel, determining when the channel becomes free and transmitting its response to the first unit delayed by that time delay after the channel becomes free.

Abstract: This invention relates to a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system in which a central station (10) sends control information to, and acquires information from remote stations (11, 12) over a wire, radio or other link. Each station comprises a tabular memory (15-18) comprising storage locations in an `x` direction for storing data relating to different elements of the second system and storage locations in a `y` direction for storing data relating to different parameters of those elements. Transmitting means are provided for transmitting a message from one unit to the other unit, said message comprising an `x` part, a `y` part and a qualifier, for reading from and writing to storage locations in the tabular memory of the other unit depending on the result of a logical operation defined by the qualifier. The tabular memory can equally be considered to have a tree-like structure.

Abstract: A supervisory control system for interrogating a large number of remote units. A pseudorandom sequence of bits are generated by central control in cycles and received by the remote units. Each remote unit is provided with a pseudorandom bit sequence generator. Upon coincidence of the pseudorandom bit sequence from the central control and the remote unit and upon detection of the address of remote unit and of the specific point in that remote unit, the remote unit sends back to the central control the status information of the selected point during the next succeeding bit time interval. In this manner the statuses of entire set of remote units are interrogated and reported. In accordance with a further aspect of the present control system, the control system commands the remote units for action and the remote units send back command acknowledge signals.

Abstract: An automatic supervisory control system is arranged to provide monitoring and supervisory functions in a noisy electrical environment over communication channels which are also noisy and generally highly congested. The system includes a central control station linked to a plurality of status stations by a single dedicated or shared radio channel, a plurality of telephone wire lines, or a combination of both. A coded signal is used to communicate status signals and command signals between the central control station and the status stations. The central control station includes the status display elements, the memory elements, an audible alarm indicator, printed status and command reports, a keyboard for data entry and a computer for controlling system operation.

Abstract: An automatic supervisory control system is arranged to provide monitoring and supervisory functions in a noisy electrical environment over communication channels which are also noisy and generally highly congested. The system includes a central control station linked to a plurality of status stations by a single dedicated or shared radio channel, a plurality of telephone wire lines, or a combination of both. A coded signal is used to communicate status signals and command signals between the central control station and the status stations. The central control station includes the status display elements, the memory elements, an audible alarm indicator, printed status and command reports, a keyboard for data entry and a computer for controlling system operation.

Abstract: A irrigation system for automatically irrigating an agricultural area having a plurality of fields for producing various crops includes a central station and a plurality of remote stations located in the fields. A computer with associated peripherals in the central station is loaded with an irrigation program defining a predetermined schedule for delivery of pre-established quantities of water to each field, the delivery of water can further be dependent on environmental conditions such as wind speed, temperature, humidity, and other factors. The computer via a communication path, such as a radio channel or three-wire circuit, sends coded command messages to selected remote stations for activating valves and pumps for delivering the pre-established quantities of water to the respective fields and continuously interrogates the remote stations for flow meter, water-pressure meter, environmental conditions and alarm information to diagnose proper operation and to monitor the delivery of water.

Abstract: An automatic supervisory control system is arranged to provide monitoring and supervisory functions in a noisy electrical environment over communication channels which are also noisy and generally highly congested.The system includes a central control station linked to a plurality of status stations by a single dedicated or shared radio channel, a plurality of telephone wire lines, or a combination of both. A coded signal is used to communicate status signals and command signals between the central control station and the status stations. The central control station includes the status display elements, the memory elements, an audible alarm indicator, printed status and command reports, a keyboard for data entry and a computer for controlling system operation.