Patent ID: 6507868
Filing Date: 2003-01-14
Classification: G06F,G16H

Abstract:
A wireless packet data communication network for enabling wireless communication among a plurality of users within a work environment having one or more regions, wherein each said user is provided with a wireless handheld bar code driven data terminal that can be carried about within said work environment, said packet data communication network comprising:a plurality of databases, each said database containing information accessible by users working in said work environment; a plurality of database command servers, each said database command server controlling access to one of said plurality of databases; a plurality of communication servers, each said communication server being located in a different region of said work environment and interfaced with said command servers, and a plurality of wireless handheld bar code driven data terminals interfaced with said communication servers by way of a plurality of wireless communication channels, each said wireless handheld bar code driven data terminal having: a graphical user interface for enabling a user to enter and display data into said wireless handheld bar code driven data terminal using graphical indicia, said graphical user interface including a touch-sensitive display device for enabling manual data entry by a user and visual display of data to the user; a bar code symbol reader integrated within said wireless handheld bar code driven data terminal for reading bar code symbols on objects within said work environment so as to gather information pertaining to said objects; a wireless communication interface device for enabling wireless data packet communication between said wireless handheld bar code driven data terminal and one said communication server over one said wireless communication channel by transmitting and receiving data packets by way of electromagnetic signal transmission and reception; a master database for maintaining a backup copy of each said database; a master information server for controlling access to said master database and supporting communication with said plurality of database command servers; and a communication network realized within said work environment, for (i) enabling data packet communication between a first one of said plurality of wireless handheld bar code driven data terminals and a second one of said plurality of wireless handheld bar code driven data terminal using a pair of said plurality of communication servers so that the users of said first and second wireless handheld bar code driven data terminals can communicate within said work environment while having access to their respective databases, and (ii) enabling data packet communication between said master information server and said plurality of database command servers so that said master information server can communicate with each said database command server and make a backup copy of each database within said master database.