DATA RECORDING TECHNIQUE AND APPARATUS THEREFOR

Abstract: Data recording technique and portable apparatus therefor. Investigations such as market surveys etc. have hitherto involved the manual recording collected data. Thereafter a large amount of time and costly manual effort is involved in transmitting such sheets to a processing center where the collected data is copied, checked, sorted, and eventually encoded into a computer language before the data is able to be entered into the computer for analysis. The object of the invention is to remove such time and expense, which objective is met by a data recording technique comprising recording, in an electronic memory of a portable apparatus, data obtained in the field, the operator entering the data, in an encoded, computer readable form, as data becomes progressively available to the operator, the portable apparatus comprising an electronic storage device; a user definable input means whereby data is entered into the electronic storage device; means to transfer electronically data held in the storage device to an external electronic computer; and electronic circuitry and software to manage operation of the apparatus.

Description: DATA RECORDING TECI.I.I' UE AI.D APPARATUS- THEREFOR This invention relates to a data recording technique for "in the field" data recording and to portable apparatus for performing the technique, in circumstances whore the data is subsequently to be subjected to computer analysis. Investigations such as market surveys, opinion polls, consumer surv ys, product esting, flow studies in transport enquiries and a wide range of behavioural studies and data collections, in both commercial and gover mental situations, invol e the collection of data usually rom randomly selected subjects e.g. when effecting consumer surveys, opinion polls etc., or from observation, e.g. when conducting traffic flow surveys, and conventionally such data is initially- recorded manually e.g. on a questionnaire type form. Thereafter a large amount of time and costly- manual effort is involved in trans itting such sheets to a processing centre where the coll cted data is copied, checked, sorted an eve tually encoded into a computer language before the data is able to be entered into the computer for analysis. According to a first aspect of the present inventio , a data recording technique compri es recording, in an electronic memory cf a portable apparatus, data obtained in the field,- the operator entering the data, in an encoded, computer readable form, as data become pro ressively available to t e op ra or. As a i ly a v a n t a ' .g e o u s development of the above, there is the step of subsequently transfer ing electro icall the recorded data from t e apparatus to an electronic computer, via a communication port or a detachable odul e. A further u ique aspect of this system is that the detachable module may consist of the type of memory normally used to store computer software, According to a second aspect of the present invention, portable apparatus for carrying out the above-defined method comprise s:- an electronic storage device; a user efinable input means whe eby data is entered into the electronic storage device; means to tra sfer electronically data eld in the storage de ice to an e er al electronic computer; and electronic circuitry and so ft wa re to manage operation of the apparatus. Thus, considering for example questionnaire type data, the conventional, labour intensive BAD ORIGINAL _l J - technique of transmission, copying, checking, sorting and encoding are completely eliminated, for encoding into a computer readable form is effected in the field, by the operator entering data into the apparatus, hich data can bo readily transferred to a computer, through a suitable interface, for subsequent analysis and hence there is provided the possibility of virtual instantaneous data sorting and analytical procedures being effected by the computer. Hence the method and apparatus of the invention eliminate a major labour ' intens ive and hence costly aspect of data collection, whilst si ultaneously providing for the speedy availability of analysis results. Preferably, the means of electronic storage is a solid state device, alt ou h it is not inconceivable that in some applications another medium tape e.g. magnetic tape, may be employed. The means to enter data into the storage device conveniently consists of a plurality of keys, ith the si nifica ce ascribe to t e operator activation of any particular key or key sequence being previously defined by t e party initiating the data collection so t t, the apparatus is infinite as to its ability to effect differently formatted data collection surveys'etc. _- * . -. The means to extract data may * in principle take one of three alternative forms. Firstly the apparatus may be so constructed that the storage device may readily be physically removed from the apparatus and replaced by a fresh storage device, the removed storage device being transported to a computer or ter inal of a computer. Secondly, the apparat s may ave an access soc et for t e transfer of data via the interface apparatus, from the storage device to the computer. Thirdly, the apparatus may incorporate an attachment ..'hereby data may be transferred from 'the storage device to a remote computer via a telephone link. In detail, the apparatus may incorporate liquid crystal displays (LCDs) indicating the data selection and, in a mode where questio naire type data is to be recorded, the question nu ber. Additional circuitry and software is required to interface the memory, display, keys and manage the protocol of the apparatus, and con e i ntl key switches e.g. located on a front panel of the apparatus, are provided for operation, in any combine tio n, by t e operator. Still considering the mode in which questionnaire type data is. to be recorded, the first words of each memory file are for record identification e.g. questionnaire" type (format), location, day or na ionality of interviewee. Upon s itching the apparatus OK the question number indicator remains blank until an identification word has been entered. A display corresponding to each data switch is illuminated upon its activation. In the questionnaire mode, a n s w e r s ill nor ally ta e the for of co binatorial selections to multiple choice questions, thus each indicator and switch will usually correspond to a given multiple choice ans er. Stora e of is data is fecte by pressing a "record" key. Data entered in error may be corrected prior to the activation of the "record" key by depressing a "clear" key. Each session of data acquisition is termi ated by switching off the apparatus. Switching on the apparatus resets the question number indicator, and partitions the memory (divides, e.g., individual questionnaire sessions) by inserting an initiation byte FF. This is an optional facility and if desired the initiation byte can be omitted or manually inserted. The latter may be advantageous in certain circ stances such as to allow the operator to insert additional data concerning the respondent, test etc. at the end of an individual session/interview. Question boundaries may be BAD ORIGINAL OMPI marked by a ter ination bit. Although the question/ans er scheme is almost infinitely variable one convenient configuration for the information format is to arrange for selections to comprise of multiples of seven; thus when combined with a question ter ination bit it is directly compatible to byte - wide memory. The memory device used may have a storage capacity of 8192 bits for example, while an LCD may be used to indicate when the storage capacity of the device is exhausted. In accordance with another feature, storage devices may be readily changed to augment the storage capacity as required. Further ore it is convenient if the apparatus in accordance with the invention is used in conjunction with a test and support means which may be a separate unit, and which has the tasks of charging the batteries of the apparatus and/or resetting the memory pointers, and/or providing an interface between the apparatus and interrogating computer and/or monitoring the data and address bus to aid fault diagnosis. S ch a test :Hd support u it oe connected to the rear of the apparatus by removing a field connector and substituting a corresoonding test set connector. The test and support urrit is BAD ORIGINAL switched on by pressing an "OK" button- which lights an adjacent neon- to confi m this status. Depressing a button marked "charge" connects the batteries to a constant current charger and circuitry of the apparatus to a constant voltage source. The data and address buses of the memory de ice, can be connected to either the interrogating computer or the apparatus, by rotating either of the relevant knobs. The latter mode can be selected by an appropriate setting of a pro gram/ re ad switch. Depressing initializatio button switches enables the memory usage vectors to be reset by pressing an address counter reset button followed by the program address button, completing this cycle by returning the initialization switch to normal. E PRO., may be erased by depressing an erase button with the initialization mode selected. One embodiment of the invention will now be escribed b ay of exa ple only, i a questionnaire-type format, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Figure 1 is a block diagram representing the data recordi technique of the invention and the processing of that data; Figure 2 is a plan view of a portable' data BAD ORI recording unit according to the invention; and Figure 3 is a block diagram of the circuit of t e data recording unit of Figure 2 and its support unit, indicating additionally the mo ' des of transfer of information to an analysing computer. As is represented in Figure 1, the data recording technique of t e invention involves the recordal of the data to be analysed in an encoded, computer readable form, its transmission, copying, checking, sorting and input into an analysing computer being effected electro ically. By directly recording the data-in an encoded form, there is the complete elimination of any time consuming and costly copying of manually recorded data, checking, sorting, and eventually encoding it into computer language before it is able to be entered into an anlaysing computer. In Figure 2 a portable data recording unit 1 comprises a housing 2 for the circuitry of the recording unit and the batteries, e.g., rechargable nickel/cadmium batteries (not shown), there being, on the front face of the housing, a keyboard 3, a display 4 indicating the question number to be answered, displays 5 and δ for, respectively, indicating data status and memory full, an OK/OFF switch 7 and a button 8 to record the information. Within the housing, as is shown by Figure 3, there is the recording unit 9 having a management and encoding circuit 10 to which the keyboard 3 is connected, the circuit 10 ' being connected to the display *-. , a storage device of memory 11 and a communication port 12. At the onset of a particular survey, the unit is switched OK, and the operative enters an identification word or code for record identification of, e.g., the questionnaire type (format), and when the question number indicator is illuminated to show that question Ho. 1 is to be . answered. Thus, with the op rative ar ed with multiple choice answers to each of the number of questions involved, the interviewee selects an answer. The operative then utilises the keyboard to instruct the management and encoding circuit as to the selected answ.er and the selected answer passed to the storage device or memory in an encoded form capable of subsequent direct transmission to an analysing computer. To guard against storage of incorrect answers, the answer entered is indicated on the data status display, and only passed to the memory en activating a "record" key on the keyboard. Once all the answers of a required number of interviewees have been entered in encoded' form BAD ORIGINAL O PI in the memory, or the memory full display is illuminated, the information in the memory is passed to an analysing computer 13. Thus, as is indicated in Figure 3, the storage device or ' memory 11 can physically be removed from the housing and taken to the computer, or the storage device or memory connected to the computer either directly or via a modem through the communication port 12. In either circumstance, and with the recording unit and the computer being compatible, the information in the memory, being in an encoded form, can be put directly into the computer- without any further attention from the operative. The apparatus is conveni n ly battery powered from one or more batteries, e.g., rechargeable nickel cadmium, and is provided with a power on/off switch under the control of the operator . As is further shown in Figure 3, a test and support unit 14 can be provided, and w ich comprises a power supply 15, a test circuit 16 and associated visual display 17, a keyboard 18 and a - personality adaptor 19. Thus, the support unit can be connected to the rear of the recording unit by removing a field connector and substituting a corresponding test set connector. After switching "5* _.*-*. f| -. li ¬ on the support u it, th appropriate." charge" key on the keyboard 17 can be pressed to cause the power supply 15 to recharge the batteries in the recording unit at constant current and constant voltage. In addition, the test circuit of the support unit can be utilised to aid fault diagnosis and for re-setting the pointers in the storage device or memory. A further function of the support unit is in its provision of the personality adaptor 19 which can serve the two-fold function of being connected to the com unication port- of the recording unit thereby allowing the information in the storage device or memory to be passed directly to any main frame computer, and connecting the data and address buses of the storage device or memory to an interrogating computer again to aid fault diagnosis. Examples of electrical specifications are : Supply Voltage 5V ilemory Capacity 8192 bits Me ory Type EPToii, Ξ 2 PRO;;, CAROM, I.Λ._ Word Size 1 Byte Battery Life 4 memory cycles, or not more than 2 weeks, Battery Charge Period 10 hours. BAD

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A data recording technique compising recording, in an electronic memory of a portable apparatus, data obtained in the field, the op ' erator entering the data, in an encoded, computer readable form, as data becomes progressively available to the operator. 2. A data recording technique as in Claim 1, wherein there is the step of subsequently transferring electronically the recorded data from the apparatus to an electronic computer, via a communication port or a detachable module. 3. A data recording technique as in Claim 2, wherein the detachable module consists of th type of memory normally used to store computer software, e.g., EPR0HS. 4. Portable appartatus for . carrying out the method of Claim 1, comprising an electronic storage de ice; a user definable input eans whereby data is entered into the electronic storage device; means to transfer electronically data held in the storage device to an external electronic computer; and electronic circuitry and software to manage operation cf the apparatus. 5.. A portable apparatus as in Claim 4, wherein the means of electronic storage is a "solid BAD ORIGINAL OMPI - 1 state device. 6. A por-table apparatus as in Claim 4, herein the means of electronic storage is a magnetic tape. 7. A portable apparatus as in any of Claims 4 to β, v. herein the eans to nter data into the storage device consists of a plurality of keys, with the significance ascribed to the operator activation of any particular key or key sequence being previously defined by the party initiating the data collection. 8. A portable apparatus as in any of Claims 4 to 7, wherein the storage device is physically removable and replaceable and whereby the storage device can be transported to a computer or computer terminal. 9. A portable app rat s as in a y of Claims 1 to 7, wherein an access socket for the transfer of data via the interface apparatus, from the storage device to the computer is provided. 10. A portable apparatus as in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein an attachment is provided whereby data may be transferred from t storage device to a remote computer via a telephone link. 11. A portable apparatus as in any of Claims 4 to 10, wherein the apparatus incorporates BAD liquid crystal displays (LCDs) indicating the data selection and, in a mode where questionnaire type data is to be recorded, the question number. 12. A portable apparatus as in any of Claims 4 to 11, wherein the apparatus incorporates a liquid crystal display to indicate when the storage capacity of the device is exhausted. 13. A portable apparatus as in any of Claims 4 to 12, wherein test and support means are provided. 14. A portable apparatus as in Claim 13, wherein the test and support means is a separate unit incorporating means for charging the batteries of the apparatus and/or resetting the memory-, pointers, and/or providing an interface between the apparatus and interrogating computer and/or monitoring the data and address b s to aid. fault diagnosis. 15. A data recordin tec nique substantiall as hereinb fore escribed 'with reference to the accompanying drawings. 16. Portable apparatus for carrying out - the method cf Claim 1 and sub tantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. BAD ORIGINAL Xfi~ OMH ty. IPO

Inventors: BARKER KEITH, CALLAGHAN VICTOR LAURENCE, ROWLEY GWYN, BARKER, KEITH, CALLAGHAN, VICTOR, LAURENCE, ROWLEY, GWYN
Applicants: BARKER KEITH, CALLAGHAN VICTOR LAURENCE, ROWLEY GWYN, UNIV SHEFFIELD, BARKER, KEITH, CALLAGHAN, VICTOR, LAURENCE, ROWLEY, GWYN, THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
Application year: 1983
Main classification: G06F15
IPC codes: G06F17, G06F19