US3723974A — Data collection apparatus and method

Claim 1

Independent Claim 280 words

A data collection terminal comprising: a data storage unit for storing digital data, said device having a data input and a data output; means coupled with the data input of the storage device for directing digital data thereinto; a first commandresponsive device coupled with said directing means for controlling the amount of digital data directed into the storage unit; a second command-responsive device coupled with the first device for controlling the rate at which digital data is directed to the storage unit; a third command-responsive device coupled with the storage unit for controlling the locations thereof into which the incoming data are directed; and a control unit having a command input adapted to be coupled with a source of commands, a command output coupled to said command-responsive devices, a data input coupled with the storage unit, and a data output adapted to be coupled with a data processing unit, said control unit including means between the command input and command output thereof for receiving and deserializing a number of commanddefining characters received at said command input thereof from said command source, only when the command-defining characters are preceded by a code-defining character, said control unit further including means between the data input and data output thereof for receiving and serializing data from the storage unit; means coupling said command output of said control unit with said device, whereby any one of a number of commands can be selectively directed to a command-responsive device; and means coupling the data output of said storage unit to the data input of said control unit, whereby data can be directed through said receiving and serializing means to said data output of the control unit.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 280 words

A data collection terminal comprising: a data storage unit for storing digital data, said device having a data input and a data output; means coupled with the data input of the storage device for directing digital data thereinto; a first commandresponsive device coupled with said directing means for controlling the amount of digital data directed into the storage unit; a second command-responsive device coupled with the first device for controlling the rate at which digital data is directed to the storage unit; a third command-responsive device coupled with the storage unit for controlling the locations thereof into which the incoming data are directed; and a control unit having a command input adapted to be coupled with a source of commands, a command output coupled to said command-responsive devices, a data input coupled with the storage unit, and a data output adapted to be coupled with a data processing unit, said control unit including means between the command input and command output thereof for receiving and deserializing a number of commanddefining characters received at said command input thereof from said command source, only when the command-defining characters are preceded by a code-defining character, said control unit further including means between the data input and data output thereof for receiving and serializing data from the storage unit; means coupling said command output of said control unit with said device, whereby any one of a number of commands can be selectively directed to a command-responsive device; and means coupling the data output of said storage unit to the data input of said control unit, whereby data can be directed through said receiving and serializing means to said data output of the control unit.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 125 words

A data collection terminal as set forth in claim 1, wherein said receiving and deserializing means includes a shift register coupled with said command input, and a buffer coupled to the shift register for receiving successive characters therefrom after the predetermined code has been received by the shift register, actuatable means coupled with the shift register for clocking a command character into the buffer, means responsive to the presence of a character in said shift register for actuating said clocking means, means coupled with said clocking means for disabling said clocking means after a predetermined number of characters have been received in said buffer, and means for coupling the buffer with the command-responsive devices, whereby said devices can selectively receive commands from said control unit.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 59 words

A data collection terminal as set forth in claim 2, wherein said buffer includes a plurality of buffer sections coupled in series to successively receive command-defining characters, said means for coupling the buffer with saiD devices including a decoder connected to one of the buffer sections, said decoder having a number of command signal outputs coupled with respective devices.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 75 words

A data collection terminal as set forth in claim 2, wherein said buffer comprises a number of buffer sections coupled in series to successively receive command-defining characters, certain of the buffer sections being operable to receive the numerical characters of a command, and gate means enabled by a command signal from the decoder for coupling said certain buffer sections to a command-responsive device corresponding to said command signal for readout of said numerical characters thereto.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 57 words

A data collection terminal as set forth in claim 3, wherein is included a second decoder coupled with a second of said buffer sections and to a command signal output of the first-mentioned decoder, the second decoder being operable to provide internal commands to said command-responsive devices in response to a character in said other buffer section.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 92 words

A data collection terminal as set forth in claim 1, wherein said data receiving and serializing means includes a buffer, a data control device for generating an enabling signal in response to the availability of data-receiving space in said buffer, said storage unit being coupled to the signal generating means and being operable to read data into the buffer in response to the generation of said enabling signal, and means coupling said buffer with said data output of the control unit for serially reading data in the buffer to said data output.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 95 words

A data collection terminal as set forth in claim 6, wherein said buffer includes a number of buffer sections coupled in series to successively receive command-defining characters, and gate means coupled with certain of said buffer sections for parallel readout of data from said storage unit to said certain buffer sections in response to said enabling signal, said means coupling the buffer with said data output including a shift register for successively receiving characters from the buffer, and means for clocking the shift register as a function of the availability of data receiving space therein.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 35 words

A data collection terminal as set forth in claim 6, wherein is included a decoder for actuating said data control device in response to the presence of a number of command characters in the buffer.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 61 words

A data collection terminal as set forth in claim 1, wherein is included a typewriter terminal, a computer in communication with the typewriter terminal, said control unit being coupled to the typewriter terminal and the computer, the typewriter terminal being coupled to the computer in bypassing relationship to the control unit unless said predetermined code is received by the control unit.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 58 words

A data collection terminal as set forth in claim 1, wherein said directing means includes a first input device having means for sensing analog data and provided with an analog-to-digital converter, a second input device having means for sensing digital data, and a multiplexor for successively coupling the input devices with the data input of said storage unit.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 33 words

A data collection terminal as set forth in claim 1, wherein is included output means coupled with the data output of the storage unit for display of data received from the storage unit.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-03-26	1976-09-25	1977-03-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-03-26	1980-09-25	1981-03-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-03-26	1984-09-25	1985-03-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Data collection apparatus and method

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