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`US 200201 4TSSUA1
`
`(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2002/0147850 A1
`Richards ct al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Oct. 10, 2002
`
`(54) ELECTRONIC SURVEY T001. ANI)
`DYNAMIC WORKFLOW TOOL
`
`(76)
`
`Inventors: Gregory W. Richards, Broomlield, CO
`(US); Joseph James Hildebrand.
`Littlelon, CO (US); Kristofer 1). Luke
`Syverstad. Aurora. CO (US); Scott
`Alien Daub, Littleton, CO (US)
`
`CorreSpondence Address:
`HOGAN & HARTSON LLP
`ONE TABOR CENTER, SUITE 1500
`1200 SEV PZN'I‘PZPZN'I‘H S'l‘
`DENVER, CO 80202 (US)
`
`(21) AppI.No.:
`
`«9327,3113
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Apr. 5, 2001
`
`Publication Classification
`
`Int. CI.’ .................................................... G061? lsrié
`(5|)
`(52) U.S. c1.
`.............................................................. 7091248
`
`ABS’I‘RAC'!‘
`(57)
`Disclosed is a method and system for knowledge and
`information sharing. Disclosed embodiments include a cen-
`tral electronic information network and a plurality of por-
`table client devices for tlse by mobile personnel in the field.
`The electronic information network has a central database
`that contains data objects in the form ot‘ logic trees repre-
`senting the cumulative knowledge and information regard-
`ing a pluralil)r ot‘silualiorts that are expected to he encoun-
`tered by the mobile personnel while in the lield. These logic
`trees represent diagnosing algorithms, surVey questions.
`andfor troubleshooting instructions that can be given to help
`lield personnel recognize appropriate question sets to use in
`a particular situation and how to ask those questions in a
`logical manner. To provide access to the logic trees when-
`ever necessary, logic tree data objects are also stored elec-
`tronically on each of the portable client devices. Intermit-
`tenlly and preferably wirelessly, such as whenever a given
`client device connects to the central network for any reason.
`each client device synchronizes its logic tree data objects
`with those in the central database.
`in this manner, recent
`updates to the cumulative knowledge or information owned
`by a particular organization and stored in the central data-
`base can be reflected in all field personnel‘s client devices
`during offline sessions without
`the need for a wire-line
`communication connection or a manual synchronization.
`
`301
`
`
` Disconnect
`
`Client Device
`
`wireless
`initiates wireless
`
`connection
`connection
`
`
`
`309
`
`302
`
`
`
`
`Wait for
`
`termination of
`
`
`ield Appliance
`Sewer identifies
`other Client Device
`
`
`
`and authenticates
`communication
`
`
`
`Client Device
`processes
`
`
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`
`308
`
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`__________ t
`
`RPX-1014
`RPX-t 01 4
`Page 1 of 11
`Page 1 of 11
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`Field Appliance
`
`erver checks for
`
`outdated data
`
`objects on Client
`
`Serve new data
`
`
`Client Device
`objects from
`stores new data
`
`
`Database system
`
`to Client Device
`
`
`
`
`
`Upload any survey
`information from
`
`Client Device
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Oct. 10, 2002 Sheet 1 of 3
`
`US 2002/0147850 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Oct. 10, 2002 Sheet 3 of 3
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`US 2002/0147850 A1
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`Page 4 of 11
`Page 4 of 11
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`
`Disconnect
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`connection
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`Wait for
`
`termination of
`
`other Client Device
`communication
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`processes
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`Client Device
`
`Client Device
`stores new data
`
`301
`
`302
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`Client Device
`
`initiates wireless
`
`connection
`
`ield Appliance
`Server identifies
`and authenticates
`
`Client Device
`
`Field Appliance
`erver checks for
`
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`
`
`

`

`US 2002/0147850 A1
`
`Oct. 10, 2002
`
`ELECTRONIC SURVEY TOOL AND DYNAMIC
`WORKFLOW TOOL
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVEN'I'EON
`
`[0001]
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`[0002] The present invention relates to electronic tools for
`providing information resources to and obtaining feedback
`from a mobile remote workforce. More particularly,
`the
`present invention relates to a method and system for pro-
`viding up to date information resources to each member of
`a remote workforce, and also for obtaining response infor-
`mation from the workforce wherein relevant data is trans-
`ferred wirelessly in a manner that can approximate real time
`data access.
`
`[0003]
`
`2. Discussion of the Related Art
`
`[0004] Various organizations and occupations rely heavily
`upon the ability of a particular person or persons to gather
`relevant facts or data pertaining to a particular situation and
`then to apply a series of rules, algorithms or troubleshooting
`processes to those facts and data on the spot
`in order to
`identify a solution for achieving a particular goal. As tasks
`become more and more complex, as is increasingly the case
`in high technology industries,
`it however becomes more
`dillicu It for such persons to remember completely what facts
`and data are relevant to a particular situation, and what to do
`once the relevant data is identified. For example. a computer
`field engineer who travels to a client site to fix a problem on
`the client’s computer system must be able to ask the appro-
`priate diagostic questions,
`identify what
`the problem is
`from the answers to the diagnostic questions (and any
`necessary follow-up questions), and then apply appropriate
`remedial actions to correct
`the problem. While this may
`appear to be a simple task, as will be readily appreciated by
`those skilled in the art, it is very difficult for such persons,
`such as field engineers, to remember how to diagnose and
`respond to every potential situation.
`
`technicians, and
`field engineers,
`[0005] Traditionally,
`other persons performing similar troubleshooting functions
`relied heavily upon their prior experiences and training to be
`able to properly identify and remedy problems in such
`situations. I-IoWever, one cannot expect field personnel to
`retain the information for all potential scenarios simulta—
`neously. Frequently, to assist lield personnel in having the
`most up to date knowledge, each such person therefore
`would be issued a field manual containing technical infor-
`mation and descriptions of potential solutions frequently
`encountered situations. Such field manuals were often
`updated on a periodic basis or as significant new information
`or situations were identified. In order to keep field manuals
`small and portable {and thus able to be brought to client
`sites), often they by necessity do not contain information for
`all potential situations. Furthermore, since each person’s
`field manual must be updated individually, often a slow and
`laborious process
`typically entailing circulating paper
`notices (or alternatively circulating soft copies of the update
`such as copy encoded on a CD—ROM) to all field personnel,
`the manual may contain inaccurate or outdated information
`and thus does not provide tleld personnel with the benefit of
`their organization’s current knowledge and newest informa-
`tion.
`
`[0006] Thus, traditional mechanisms are lacking in their
`ability to keep field personnel apprised of all, and especially
`
`newer. potential situations because they still rely heavily
`upon each person’s individual ability to retain any necessary
`information and recall and apply the information on the spot
`at
`the appropriate time.
`In some applications,
`the use of
`distributed computer networks [including the Internet and
`World Wide Web} and centralized information databases has
`helped to alleviate this problem. First, a central computer-
`ized database of information is relatively easy to update and,
`using contemporary computer networking technologies
`known in the art, many individuals can simultaneously be
`given electronic access via networked computers. Thus, the
`knowledge and information accessible by each individual
`person is always complete and up to date whenever they are
`consulted by personnel (unlike field manuals). In essence,
`each member of the organization has their own constructive
`copy of the information contained in the central database so
`long as they have access to a computer networked to their
`organization's network system.
`
`[0007] Unfortunately, this contemporary centralized data-
`base and distributed computer network approach to knowlv
`edge and information sharing among members of an orga-
`nization has heretofore not been adequately adapted for use
`by mobile field personnel. Predominantly, distributed com-
`puter networks require each user to have a client computing
`device with an electronic wire-line communication connec-
`
`tion (such as a local LAN, Ethernet, ISDN, or telephone
`modem) to a central network server. Current mobile com-
`puting devices, such as notebook computers, are highly
`powerful, portable, and thus generally suitable for use as
`client computing devices on central networks in most situ-
`ations. However. the requirement for each client computing
`device to be tethered to a wire-line communication connec—
`tion has proven problematic for organizations that
`rely
`heavily upon mobile field personnel. In many situations, it is
`simply not plausible or convenient for field personnel
`to
`have access to a wire-line communication connection while
`they are performing their duties.
`
`In order to free network users from the need for
`[0008]
`wire-line connections when using portable client computing
`devices like laptop computers and personal digital assistants
`("PDAs"), technologies such as cellular modems and micro-
`cellular data networks are often employed. Using these
`technologies, network connections can be made using cel-
`lular telephony and other radio frequency (“RF") network
`technology such that users are thus provided with mobile
`wireless access to certain types of information on their
`central networks. While these technologies are improving
`daily and are providing a potential alternative to wire-line
`connections in certain situations,
`they still have several
`drawbacks. The low bandwidth constraints imposed by
`current cellular voice network technology inherently limits
`the type of wireless data transfers that can use that technol-
`ogy. Additionally, with respect to digital wireless data net-
`works such as cellular digital packet data (“CDPD”) net-
`works, while these networks now offer data transfer rates up
`to 19.2 Kbps, their effective service areas are limited, indoor
`reception is poor, and often there is not reliable quality of
`service within those limited service areas. Thus, these tech—
`nologies still do not allow organizations that have mobile
`field personnel
`to benefit
`from centralized data because
`current mobile wireless client computing devices cannot
`provide consistent data access since it is difficult or impos-
`
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`US 2002/0147850 A1
`
`Oct. 10, 2002
`
`sible for the device to remain online and provide real—time
`access to knowledge or information stored in the central
`electronic database.
`
`Periodic synchronization, or “synching,” of data
`[0009]
`stored on a mobile client device with information stored in
`a non-mobile computer database is another approach for
`distributing information electronically to mobile computing
`devices or collecting information from them.
`In this
`approach, users carry electronically stored information of
`interest on their mobile devices and update the information
`from another electronic source. Synching is predominantly
`employed with PDAs and other mobile computing devices
`and entails periodically, such as once daily, connecting the
`mobile device to a centralized database (such as one located
`the hard drive of a personal computer) with a cradle. After
`this connection is established, only any new information on
`either the mobile device or computer is automatically trans-
`ferred to the other device. Titus, a duplicate copy of desired
`information or data is stored on each device, and the mobile
`device is always up to date, or “synchronized," as of the last
`time mobile device and centralized database Were con-
`nected.
`
`[0010] Some organizations have adopted synching-based
`approaches to help obtain information from their workforce.
`In particular, shipping companies use hand-held electronic
`devices having barcode scanners to read and record the
`status or location of particular items within their shipping
`chains. Whenever these hand~held scanning devices are
`synched by dropping it in a storage cradle at the end of a
`shift, the devices upload and update the current location of
`in transit items within a central searchable database.
`
`is not readily
`[0011] The synching approach, however,
`adaptable to use for providing up to date information
`resources to remote members of a mobile workforce. Nota-
`bly, the synching of mobile devices is largely a manual task
`that mobile personnel often either forget or don’t have the
`opportunity to do regularly. The realization of up to date
`knowledge and information sharing is not achieved without
`this manual process. Thus, there is a significant chance that
`mobile field personnel will not have electronic access to the
`most current knowledge or newest information available to
`their organization when that information is needed.
`
`for an
`there remains a need in the art
`[0012] Thus,
`improved system and method for providing information
`resources to and obtaining feedback from a mobile remote
`workforce that overcomes the above-described and other
`disadvantages inherent in the prior art.
`
`SUMMARY 01" THE INVENTION
`
`[0013] Accordingly, the present invention is an improve—
`ment over prior art systems and methods for providing up to
`date information resources to remote members of a mobile
`workforce.
`
`In light of the above and other drawbacks inherent
`[0014]
`in the prior art,
`it is an object of the present invention to
`provide an electronic information and knowledge sharing
`system and tool for use with a mobile workforce wherein the
`system and tool automatically provide electronic access to
`near real-time information and knowledge stored in a central
`database in an omine mode without the need for manual
`
`updating.
`
`Further, it is an object of the present invention to
`[0015]
`provide an electronic computing tool
`that
`is adapted to
`receive frequent updates of information from a central
`database and to use that
`information in assisting field
`personnel in gathering data regarding, diagnosing and cor-
`recting a variety of potential situations.
`
`[0016] Additionally, it is an object of the present invention
`to provide an electronic survey tool that is adapted to receive
`intermittent updates of instructions wirelessly from a central
`database and to interpret
`those instructions to generate
`appropriate inquiries for field personnel to use in gathering
`data regarding, diagnosing and acting appropriately in
`response to a variety of potential situations.
`
`[0017] Additional objects, features and advantages of the
`invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and
`in part will be apparent from the description, or may be
`learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and
`other advantages of the invention will be realized and
`attained by the exemplary embodiments particularly pointed
`out in the written description and claims hereof as well as in
`the appended drawings.
`
`[0018] To achieve these and other advantages and in
`accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as
`embodied and broadly described, electronic systems for
`knowledge and information sharing include a central elec-
`tronic information network having a central database and a
`plurality of portable client devices for use by a mobile
`personnel
`in the field. The central database contains data
`objects in the form of logic trees that represent the cumu-
`lative knowledge and information regarding a plurality of
`situations that are expected to be encountered by the mobile
`personnel while in the field. These logic trees represent
`diagnosing algorithms, survey questions, andlor trouble—
`shooting instructions that can be given to help field person-
`nel recognize appropriate question sets to use in a particular
`situation and how to ask those questions in a logical manner.
`To provide access to the logic trees whenever necessary,
`logic tree data objects are also stored electronically on each
`of the portable client devices. Intermittently and preferably
`wirelessly, such as whenever a given client device connects
`to the central network for any reason, each client device
`synchronizes its logic tree data objects with those in the
`central database. In this manner, updates to the cumulative
`knowledge or information owned by a particular organiza-
`tion and stored in the central database is reflected in sub-
`stantially all
`field personnel’s client devices without the
`need for a online communication connection or a manual
`synching,
`
`[0019] Additionally, the logic tree data objects can instruct
`the client device to store any information or data obtained
`and entered by the field personnel in response to prompting
`by a particular logic tree. Later, when the client device is
`synchronizing with the central
`information network,
`this
`data can be uploaded to the central information network and
`electronically stored for data tracking and later analysis.
`research or other suitable uses. In this manner, not only is the
`cumulative knowledge of an organization pushed down to
`individual field personnel in a rapid manner, but information
`flow is also provided back in the opposite direction for use
`by the organization as a whole.
`
`Portable client devices according to the present
`[0020]
`invention are portable electronic communication devices
`
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`

`US 2002/0147850 A1
`
`Oct. 10, 2002
`
`LA
`
`that include software for storing and interpreting logic tree
`data objects and processing various inputs as defined by the
`data objects, visual display means for providing appropriate
`information to personnel, manual input means for accepting
`data from the personnel, and communication means for
`connecting to and synchronizing with the central network.
`Preferably. the portable client devices are PDA—type com-
`puting devices having at least a touchscreen display for input
`and output
`to and from field personnel and a wireless
`communication modem for transferring data to and from the
`central network on an intermittent basis. More preferably,
`these FDA client devices further include a wire—line modem,
`an optical barcode scanner. and additional software adapted
`to provide standard I’DA business functions as is known in
`the art including email, web browsing, and electronic orga-
`nizer capabilities.
`
`invention can
`the
`In preferred embodiments,
`[0021]
`include the use of client devices having automatic diagnostic
`capabilities. These preferred client devices would obtain
`relevant information using a local connection to an external
`electronic device or computer network. Preferably, the local
`connection allows a user to download configuration inforv
`mation of the external electronic device to his or her portable
`client device. This configuration information is then ana-
`lyzed, recognized and processed automatically on the client
`device using the latest version of the logic trees resident
`therein. After this automatic diagnostic is complete, appro-
`priate follow—up questions andi’or
`remedial
`instructions
`could be Provided to the field personnel.
`
`[0022] Additionally, in other preferred embodiments, local
`connections to such external electronic devices can be used
`to pass information from the central network to the external
`electronic device via the client device.
`
`is to be understood that both the foregoing
`It
`[0023]
`general description and the following detailed description
`are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide
`further explanation of the invention as claimed.
`BRIEIT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0024] The accompanying drawings, which are included
`to provide a further understanding of the invention and are
`incorporated in and constitute a pan of this specification,
`illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with
`the description, serve to explain the principles of the inven-
`tion. In the drawings:
`[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram depicting the ele-
`ments and relationship of the central network and the remote
`client devices according to embodimean of the present
`invention; and
`
`[0026] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a portable client
`device in the form of a PDA-type field information appli-
`ance according to preferred embodiments of the present
`invention; and
`
`[0027] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram depicting the process
`whereby a portable client device synchronizes its locally
`stored information with that
`information stored on the
`central network according to embodiments of the present
`invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`[0028] Reference will now be made in detail to the pre-
`ferred embodiment of the present invention, examples of
`
`which are illustrated in the drawings. While the present
`invention has various applications to many different orga-
`nization types, it will be readily appreciated by one skilled
`in the art that it has particularly useful applications for use
`by a workforce of field engineers, and specifically in the
`high technology industry by computer technicians, who
`spend a great deal of time performing complex tasks away
`from a standard office setting. The use herein of the terms
`"field engineer,”"computer
`technician,""lield personnel,
`““user” and the like are intended to merely illustrate opera-
`tion of the present
`invention in connection with certain
`exemplary users and do not limit the present invention to
`particular fields of use.
`
`[0029] FIG. 1 schematically depicts an electronic system
`for knowledge and information sharing according to one
`embodiment of the present
`invention. As shown in the
`figure, the system includes a central electronic information
`network 100 having a database system 101, and a plurality
`of client devices 104 and 105 for use by mobile field
`engineers. The central database contains data objects in the
`form of logic trees that represent the cumulative knowledge
`and information regarding a plurality of situations that are
`expected to be encountered by any field engineer. These
`logic trees cncode diagnosing algorithms, survey questions
`and troubleshooting instructions that can be given to help
`field personnel recognize appropriate question sets to use
`and how to ask those questions in a logical manner.
`
`[0030] All knowledge and information is organized in the
`central database system 101 logically into a series of cas—
`cading questions that are arranged to provide intelligent
`navigation to the appropriate diagnostic steps and actions
`that should be taken by the field engineer. The use of logic
`trees, as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, allows
`for navigation rules to be stored and organized in a logical
`manner whereby potential answers to an initial question
`automatically direct the user to one or more other follow-up
`or related questions until a diagnosis is made. This thereby
`enables intelligent navigation to the appropriate stored infor-
`mation or knowledge for many circumstances. For example,
`a field engineer is first asked to identify and input the part
`number for the item that he is servicing. After receiving the
`part number, the client device software progresses down the
`logic tree to identify several questions relating to that part
`type.
`
`[0031] To provide access to the logic trees whenever
`necessary, logic tree data objecLs are also stored electroni-
`cally on each of the portable client devices. Intermittently,
`such as whenever a given client device connects to the
`central network for any reason, and preferably with a
`portable client device wirelessly via a wireless data network
`106 (i.e., as a wireless client 104), each client device
`synchronizes its logic tree data objects with those in the
`central database. In this manner. updates to the cumulative
`knowledge or in formation owned by a particular organiza-
`tion and stored in the central database system 101 is reflected
`in field personnel’s client devices in near real—time without
`the need for a wire-line communication connection or a
`manual synching. In operation, a field engineer encounters a
`particular situation and starts the logic tree interpretation
`software on his or her client device, the software loads a
`wake up process, obtains initial diagnosing data from the
`field engineer after some directed prompting from initial-
`ization logic {or automatically as described below}, and
`
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`US 2002/0147850 A1
`
`Oct. 10, 2002
`
`locates any appropriate logic trees for the encountered
`situation. As is known in the art of object based program-
`ming, any logic tree data object according to the present
`invention can internally refer to another data object such as
`by passing values to a second root node, i.e., the root node
`of another logic tree, whereby one tree can essentially be
`represented as a sub-tree of another.
`
`[0032] Example 1 below describes a scenario employing
`intermittent updating of wireless clients according to
`embodiments of the present invention.
`
`EXAMPLE 1
`
`[0033] Through the combined experience of many field
`engineers and resulting laboratory experiments, an electron-
`ics servicing company learns that
`if a repair technician
`pushes on a particular corner of a connector (part number
`11432} during assembly, the connector pins will break and
`produce a faulty electronic connection. The logic tree data
`object for part number 11432 is then updated in the central
`database. The updated data object contains a flag that issues
`a warning to field engineers whenever the logic tree for part
`number 11432 is invoked instructing them to not push on the
`corner for fear of bending the connector pins. Additionally,
`if a faulty connection is identified as a symptom in response
`to diagnostic questions the logic tree will instruct the field
`engineers to check each number 11432 connector to see if
`the pins are broken. Any altered data objects will then be
`downloaded to each portable client device the next time they
`connect
`to the central network for any reason, and this
`information will thereby be shared with all members of the
`work force in near real-time.
`
`[0034] As detailed in the above example, only data objects
`that have been changed since the device’s last synchroniza—
`tion (i.e., are different than the objects stored locally on the
`client device) are transferred to the client. One skilled in the
`art will readily appreciate that this methodology is especially
`suitable for wireless communications because the transfer of
`only those discrete Objects that have been altered minimizes
`the connection time and traffic required for each session.
`
`In embodiments of the present invention, the logic
`[0035]
`tree data objects not only provide instruction via the client
`device to a field engineer regarding knowledge or informaw
`tion stored in the central database system 101. One or more
`logic trees can serve as a surveying mechanism that can
`beneficially request and obtain information or data from
`field engineers whenever certain situations are encountered.
`Example 2 below details how such a surveying mechanism
`would operate.
`
`EXAMPLE 2
`
`[0036] Upon studying a series of failures in the field for a
`particular memory chip configuration.
`the research and
`development
`team for an organization postulates that the
`chip is failing due to high operating temperatures caused by
`poor ventilation. The team updates the logic tree data object
`stored in the central database system that pertains to the
`memory chip in question. The new logic tree. once down-
`loaded onto a client device and implemented, asks each field
`engineer that encounters such a memory chip on a work site
`to report the operational status. of the chip and the type of
`ventilation to which the chip has been exposed. After
`receiving some data back from the field engineers,
`the
`
`research and development team concludes that heat venti-
`lation has not been a problem, so they change the logic tree
`data object to have field engineers collect data to test a new
`postulation (such as faulty connectors, humidity, etc}.
`
`[0037] As shown above in the example, the data sharing
`features of the present invention allows organizations to
`instruct lield engineers regarding the collection of data from
`the field in near real-time. Portable wireless client devices
`104 store any relevant information or data entered by the
`field engineer as prompted by the logic trees, and this data
`from the field engineer is later uploaded to the central
`information network 100 during the next connection to the
`network 100 and the resulting synchronization session.
`Here, the data is electronically stored in database system 101
`for data tracking and later analysis, research or other suitable
`USES.
`
`[0038] Suitable client devices according to the present
`invention
`include
`portable
`electronic
`communication
`devices that comprise software for storing and interpreting
`logic tree data objects and processing various inputs as
`defined by the data objects, visual display means for pro-
`viding appropriate information to personnel, manual input
`means for accepting data from the personnel, and commu-
`nication means for connecting to and synchronizing with the
`central network. Preferably, these portable communication
`devices are in the form of an integrated FDA-type comput-
`ing device referred to herein as a field information appliance
`("F "). Depending upon how a portable client device
`connects to the netwurk 100, the FIA is depicted generally
`in FIG. I as a wireless client 104 or a web browser client
`
`105. FIG. 2 provides a schematic diagram ofa preferred FIA
`200 that can be used advantageously in embodiments of the
`present invention.
`
`II‘IA 200 has a touchscreen display 201 for input
`[0039]
`and output to and from the user 210 and a wireless com-
`munication modem 202 for transferring data to and from the
`central network on an intermittent basis. Depending upon
`the type of wireless data service utilized.
`this wireless
`modem can be adapted to work according to any wireless
`network 106 standard including CDPD, GSM, GPRS.
`CDMA, W—CDMA and l-mode as well as wireless LANs.
`While not required, each FIA additionally includes a tradi-
`tional high-speed wire-line modern 203 such that the central
`network 100 can be contacted via a traditional telephone line
`dial-up. Not only does the inclusion ofwire-line modem 203
`serve as a backup communication and synchronization
`mechanism over a wire-line network 107 (such as a the
`Internet via a dial—up ISI’) whenever wireless network 106
`service is unavailable, but
`this also allows the FIA,
`if
`equipped with web browsing functionality, to operate in an
`online mode as a web browser client 105 (see FIG. 1) as
`described in detail below. Additionally, preferably FIA 200
`further includes an optical barcode scanner 204 for reading
`barcoded input (such as from a product number label 211 on
`a piece of equipment being serviced), a "QWERTY" detachn
`able keyboard 206 for accepting alphanumeric input from a
`user 210, and an [RDA standard infrared data port 205 for
`transferring data to and from other [RDA port equipped
`electronic devices 212.
`
`[0040] Each FIA 200 includes a digital processor that
`interacts with the above-described input and output devices,
`a memory 208 and storage 209 (which may include remov-
`
`RPX-1014
`RPX-1014
`Page 8 of 11
`Page 8 of 11
`
`

`

`US 2002/0147850 A1
`
`Oct. 10, 2002
`
`flash cards“
`able storage such as PCMCIA and compact
`drives or the like} with an operating system suitable for
`supporting networking and interface applications as herein
`described and business applications as are commonly found
`on PDAs as is known in the art, such as those that provide
`email, web browsing, electronic organizer programs, etc. In
`most preferred embodiments of the present invention, the
`FIA200 has a Linux operating system that supports a Java®
`based user interface. This Java interface,
`in turn, accepts
`extensible markup language (“XML”) data objects from t