A METHOD AND SYSTEM OF TRANSMITTING STRUCTURED INFORMATION

Abstract: A method for transmitting structured information via radio data communication. The method is mainly characterized in that configuration data is transmitted by radio data communication between a computer system for configuring an application program to a specific application by means of which application information can be structured. The invention also relates to a system for carrying out the method.

Description: A Method and System of Transmitting Strxictured Information The present invention relates to a method pertaining to the transmission of structured information via radio data cxsmminication. Ihe invention also relates to a system for carrying out the method. A large part of the information exchanged in, for instance, military transport management and hospital transport management, purchase orders, debit order, position reporting, various orders, etc., is of the kind vrtiich corresponds to the filling-in of forms, in diich a predetermined format, structure, of information is applied. When practicing present-day techni¬ ques, this inplies a large flow of information which is to be exchanged, this information ∞rx-erning information to be entered onto a form and the information entered on the form. Ihe present invention relates to a method .and to a system which afford a high degree of flexibility with regard to applications and which greatly reduce the amount of information exchanged. The present invention thus relates to a method pertaining to the trans¬ mission of formatted information via radio data cxaraπunication. The method is mainly characterized by transferring configuration data with radio data cαπmunication between a computer system for configuring a generally applicable program to a specific application, by means of which application information can be structured. The invention also relates to a system for transferring structured informa¬ tion via radio data cαrπmunication. The system is mainly characterized by means for transferring configuration data between cαrputer systems with radio data communication for con iguring a general application program to a specific application intended for structuring information. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an exeπplifying embodiment thereof and with reference to the acxxstpanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a schematic, principle illustration of a first embodiment of an inventive system for carrying out the inventive method. Figure 1 illustrates a -ransmitting cαrpiter system 1 which includes a cαnputer unit 2, such as a smaller -cαnputer unit in the form of a personal •cαπpiter, PC, and a radio unit 3 c is connected to the ccmputer unit 2 -and τ- ch is intended for radio data c πmunication, including both trans¬ mission and reception. The illustrated system also includes a receiving computer system 4 which cαiprises a terminal unit 5 and a radio unit 6 connected to the terminal unit 5 and intended for radio data communication. The reference numeral 7 identifies a system of conductors, which may be of different kinds, and which may comprise, for instance, a data-processing ADB-system. The transmitting computer system 1 is intended to initiate and transmit configuration data to a receiving c- puter system having radio data cαπmuni- cation, this configuration data being intended for the configuration of a general application program of the receiving unit 4 and/or the xinductor system 7 to a specific application 8, a data structure, intended for struc¬ turing information. Thus, in the receiving cσπpiter system, generated structures are intended to be fill-ad-in with information by coitputer and/or operator, wherein the receiving system.is intended to transmit the thus structured information in data readable posts or packets to at least one coiiputer system by means of radio data cOTtraiunication. The information is processed in a desired, suitable manner, for instance is transmitted to and shewn on a terminal screen 2* .and/or is transferred to a computer processing system 7* , ADB- system 7', such .as an ADB-system of a conductor centre 7. When applicable, the structured information is sent to the transmitting system 1, from which configuration data has been transmitted. According to one embc- iinent, the receiving computer system 4 to which configuration data is intended to be sent is -comprised of mobile terminals viiich are constructed to transmit structured information to at least one cαrπputer system, for instance a transmitting computer system 1. Thus, the aforesaid specific application is intended to be generated with the application program, which is normally of a considerably general nature, and it will be understood that this specific application need not be a form which has been structurized for the insertion of information, but may have the nature of some other applications, such as algorithms and the like. The inventive method -and the manner in which the inventive system operates will be vinderstood in all essentials frcm the aforegoing. Specific appli¬ cations can be defined with a transmitting ccarputer system 1 with the aid of a general application progr.am by means of configuration data. Such specific applications of receiving computer systems can be generated by transmitting to a receiving ccarputer system, by means of radio data ccm- munication, configuration data, e.g. data in the form of simple instruc¬ tions, digital codes or the like, this configuration data containing essentially a more limited amount of information than the application as such. This information can be delivered in the receiving system to the -application or the like, which is generated in accordance with the applica- tion concerned. Delivered information is sent to a desired computer system structured in accordance with the application concerned. As will be seen from the -aforegoing, the invention .affords considerable advantages. The invention thus provides in a simple way a highly flexible system with regard to applications. Highly limited .and only useful informa¬ tion is txansmitted, exchanged, via radio data cxaiiπunication. This enables the system to operate at high speeds. According to the invention, the system can be rapidly adapted to different fields of use, such .as placing of orders, debit order, position reporting, various orders, etc. Adaptation to existing ADB-systems is relatively simple. For example, adaptation to existing ADB-systems is facilitated for instance by generating an EDI- syntax, while opening the way, at the same time, for handling well-specified EDIFACT-messages, such as custom documents. Although the invention has been described above with reference to <an exemplifying embodiment thereof, it will be understood that other embodi¬ ments are conceivable and that "minor modifications can be made within the scope of the inventive ∞ncept.

Claims: Claims 1. A method pertaining to the transmission of structured information via radio data cxxπmunication, ch a r a c t e r i z e d by transπάtting configuration data with radio data cαnraunication beween a computer system (1, 4) for configuration of an application program to a specific application (8) , by means of which application information can be structured. 2. A method according to Claim 1, ch a r a c t e r i z e d by for¬ matting the information with the aid of data structure (8) generated with configuration data in a receiving computer system (4) , said configuration data being transferred by radio data cxxπtπunication. 3. A method according to Claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by filling- in a data structure (8) generated in a receiving cxaπputer system (4) with information transmitted via radio data communication from the receiving computer system (4) to at least one computer system (1, 7) . 4. A method according to Claim 3, ch a r a c t e r i z e d by trans¬ ferring thus filled-in transmitted and received information to, for in¬ stance, a "termiral screen (2 1 ), ADB-system (7') or the like. 5. A method according to Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, ch a r a c t e r i z e d by transferring configuration data to mobile terminals (4) from which structured information is transmitted. 6. A system for transmitting structured information via radio communica¬ tion, ch a r a c t e r i z e d by means (1) for transferring configura- tion data between computer systems having radio data communication for configuring a general application program to a specific application (8) arranged for the structurization of information. 7. A system according to Claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by means (1, 4) for generating data structures (8) intended for the formatting of information in a receiving ccarputer system, by means of configuration data transmitted by radio data communication. 8. A system according to Claim 7, character ized by means for f illing-in with information a data structure generated in a receiving computer system (4) , -and means for transmitting, via radio data cαπmunica- tion, the information structured in accordance with .said structure (8) to at least one ccBtputer system (1, 7) . 9. A system according to Claim 8, characterized by means (4) for transmitting thus filled-in, transπάtted and received information to, e.g. , a terminal screen (2 ' ) , ADB-system (7) or the like in accord- ance with the data structure according to which the information is struc¬ tured. 10. A system acxording to Claim 7, 8 or 9, characteriz ed in that receiving -computer systems (4) to which configuration data is intended to be sent are comrise of mobile terminals (4) ∞nst"ructed to transmit structured information to at least one coatpiter system (1, 7) . 11. A system according to Claim 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10, character i z e d in that transmitting computer systems (1) include a smaller computer uni * c in the form of a so-called PC (2) , personal cxxπputer, -and a radio unit (3) connected to the computer unit (2) for radio ccmmunication.

Inventors: SWENMAN PEDER HARALD RUNE, SWENMAN, PEDER, HARALD, RUNE
Applicants: COMMUNICATOR INFOTECH AB
Application year: 1992
Main classification: H04L29
IPC codes: H04L29