Interactive data entry apparatus

Claim 2

A data collection, analysis, and recording apparatus for simultaneously producing a written and a computer data record comprising: a data entry form having data entry spaces; a processor for receiving and recording a description of said form and commands for manipulating data collection, analysis, and recording; a digitizer for retrieving said description of said form, for generating a data entry area having data entry locations corresponding to said data entry spaces and command selection locations, and for receiving and recording in said processor, entries made at said data entry locations; a clip attached to said digitizer, such that said clip can to hold said form against said data entry area, whereby said data entry spaces are aligned with said data entry locations, and comprising an overlay having holes therethrough, such that when said clip holds said form against said data entry area, said holes are aligned with said command selection locations; a template, mounted on said clip, for identifying said command selection locations; and a stylus for selecting said commands by inserting said stylus in said holes and for simultaneously entering data in said spaces and at said data entry locations.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clip is pivotally attached to said digitizer, such that said clip can be pivoted to hold said form against said data entry area.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one electronic communication port for linking said apparatus with external devices.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising an access limiting means connected to said digitizer to permit said processor to receive and record said entries made at said data entry locations.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a display pivotally mounted on said digitizer.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein optically readable identifying information is encoded on said form and said template and said clip further comprises an optical reader for reading and decoding said information and transmitting said information to said digitizer.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a display pivotally mounted on said digitizer.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein optically readable identifying information is encoded on said form and said template and said clip further comprises an optical reader for reading and decoding said information and transmitting said information to said digitizer.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein optically readable identifying information is encoded on said form and said template and said clip further comprises an optical reader for reading and decoding said information and transmitting said information to said digitizer.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said digitizer is fitted with two or more form orienting posts and said form has holes therethrough corresponding to said posts for accurately positioning said form.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an access limiting means connected to said digitizer to permit said processor to receive and record said entries made at said data entry locations.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a display pivotally mounted on said digitizer.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a scroll control for visually reviewing entered data.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein optically readable identifying information is encoded on said form and said template and said clip further comprises an optical reader for reading and decoding said information and transmitting said information to said digitizer.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising an audio reproduction device connected to said digitizer for recording audio feedback to and retrieving audio feedback from said processor.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a scroll control for aurally reviewing entered dam.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a display pivotally mounted on said digitizer.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein optically readable identifying information is encoded on said form and said template and said clip further comprises an optical reader for reading and decoding said information and transmitting said information to said digitizer.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a scroll control for visually reviewing entered data.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein optically readable identifying information is encoded on said form and said template and said clip further comprises an optical reader for reading and decoding said information and transmitting said information to said digitizer.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said digitizer is fitted with two or more form orienting posts and said form has holes therethrough corresponding to said posts for accurately positioning said form.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said digitizer is fitted with two or more form orienting posts and said form has holes therethrough corresponding to said posts for accurately positioning said form.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a central processor and wireless communication means for transferring said commands and said entered data between said processor and said central processor.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an audio reproduction device connected to said digitizer for recording audio feedback to and retrieving audio feedback from said processor.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a scroll control for aurally reviewing entered data.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a central processor and wireless communication means for transferring said commands and said entered data between said processor and said central processor.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each recording position in the processor is assigned to said locations on said data entry area.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said digitizer further comprises means for recognizing hand-printed characters.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said digitizer further comprises means for recognizing hand-printed characters.

Claim 31

A data collection, analysis, and recording apparatus for simultaneously producing a written and a magnetic data record comprising: a data entry form having data entry spaces; a local processor for receiving and recording a description of said form and commands for manipulating data collection, analysis, and recording; a digitizer for retrieving said description of said form, for generating a data entry area having data entry locations corresponding to said data entry spaces and command selection locations, and for receiving and recording in said processor, data entered at said data entry locations; a clip attached to said digitizer, such that said clip can hold said form against said data entry area, whereby said data entry spaces are aligned with said data entry locations, and comprising an overlay having holes therethrough, such that when said clip holds said form against said data entry area, said holes are aligned with said command selection locations; a template, mounted on said clip, for identifying said command selection locations; a stylus for selecting said commands by inserting said stylus in said holes and for simultaneously entering data in said spaces and at said data entry locations; a central processor; and means for transferring said commands and said entered data between said local processor and said central processor.

Claim 32

A data collection, analysis, and recording apparatus for simultaneously producing a written and a magnetic data record comprising: a data entry form having data entry spaces; a local processor for receiving and recording a description of said form and commands for manipulating data collection, analysis, and recording; a digitizer for retrieving said description of said form, for generating a data entry area having data entry locations corresponding to said data entry spaces and command selection locations, and for receiving and recording in said processor, data entered at said data entry locations; a clip attached to said digitizer, such that said clip can hold said form against said data entry area, whereby said data entry spaces are aligned with said data entry locations, and comprising an overlay having holes therethrough, such that when said clip holds said form against said data entry area, said holes are aligned with said command selection locations; a template, mounted on said clip, for identifying said command selection locations; a stylus for selecting said commands by inserting said stylus in said holes and for simultaneously entering data in said spaces and at said data entry locations; a central processor; and means for transferring said commands and said entered data between said local processor and said central processor.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said clip is pivotally attached to said digitizer, such that said clip can be pivoted to hold said form against said data entry area,

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising at least one electronic communication port for linking said apparatus with external devices.

Claim 35

The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising an access limiting means connected to said digitizer to permit at least one of said processors to receive and record said entries made at said data entry locations.

Claim 36

The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising a display pivotally mounted on said digitizer.

Claim 37

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein optically readable identifying information is encoded on said form and said template and said clip further comprises an optical reader for reading and decoding said information and transmitting said information to said digitizer.

Claim 38

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said digitizer is fitted with two or more form orienting posts and said form has holes therethrough corresponding to said posts for accurately positioning said form.

Claim 39

The apparatus of claim 30 wherein each storage position in the processor is assigned to said locations on said data entry area.

Claim 40

The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said digitizer further comprises means for recognizing hand-printed characters.

Claim 41

A data collection, analysis, and recording apparatus for simultaneously producing a written and a magnetic data record comprising: a data entry form having data entry spaces and optically readable identifying information is encoded on said form; a microprocessor for receiving and recording a description of said form and commands for manipulating data collection, analysis, and recording; a digitizer for retrieving said description of said form, for generating a data entry area having data entry locations corresponding to said data entry spaces and command selection locations, and for receiving and recording in said microprocessor, entries made at said data entry locations; a clip pivotally attached to said digitizer, such that said clip can be pivoted to hold said form against said data entry area, whereby said data entry spaces are aligned with said data entry locations, and comprising an overlay having holes therethrough, such that when said clip holds said form against said data entry area, said holes are aligned with said command selection locations and wherein each of said holes is fitted with a ferrule; a template, mounted on said clip, for identifying said command selection locations and having optically readable identifying information encoded on said template; an optical reader, mounted on said clip, for reading and decoding said optically readable information encoded on said form and said clip and transmitting said information to said digitizer; at least one communication port for linking said apparatus with external devices; a stylus with a replaceable ink cartridge for selecting said commands by inserting said stylus in said holes and for simultaneously entering data in said spaces and at said data entry locations; a holder for storing said stylus and a cable for securing said stylus to said apparatus.

Claim 42

A data collection, analysis, and recording apparatus for simultaneously producing a written and a magnetic data record comprising: a data entry form having data entry spaces and optically readable identifying information is encoded on said form; a microprocessor for receiving and recording a description of said form and commands for manipulating data collection, analysis, and recording; a digitizer for retrieving said description of said form, for generating a data entry area having data entry locations corresponding to said data entry spaces and command selection locations, and for receiving and recording in said microprocessor, entries made at said data entry locations; a clip pivotally attached to said digitizer, such that said clip can be pivoted to hold said form against said data entry area, whereby said data entry spaces are aligned with said data entry locations, and comprising an overlay having holes therethrough, such that when said clip holds said form against said data entry area, said holes are aligned with said command selection locations and wherein each of said holes is fitted with a ferrule; a template, mounted on said clip, for identifying said command selection locations and having optically readable identifying information encoded on said template; an optical reader, mounted on said clip, for reading and decoding said optically readable information encoded on said form and said clip and transmitting said information to said digitizer; at least one communication port for linking said apparatus with external devices; a stylus with a replaceable ink cartridge for selecting said commands by inserting said stylus in said holes and for simultaneously entering data in said spaces and at said data entry locations; a holder for storing said stylus and a cable for securing said stylus to said apparatus.

Claim 43

The apparatus of claim 39 further comprising a central processor and wireless communication means for transferring said commands and said entered data between said microprocessor and said central processor.

Claim 44

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said audio reproduction device includes at least one speaker, a microphone, and sound recordation means, for tailoring audio feedback.

Claim 45

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said audio reproduction device includes at least one speaker, a microphone, and sound recordation means, for tailoring audio feedback.

Claim 46

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said data entry form has bar coded information and further comprising a bar code wand to capture said bar coded information and at least one input port for placing said wand in communication with said processor.

Claim 47

The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said data entry form has bar coded information and further comprising a bar code wand to capture said bar coded information and at least one input port for placing said wand in communication with said processor.