Practitioner's Docket No. 57442/03-533
`
`PATENT
`
`Preliminary Classification:
`
`Proposed Class:
`
`l\O=
`o.-~
`... a.n=
`a..ftftsrw:i
`,.:•. -~~
`:i~=-°'
`l\Q,::::::::::
`Subclass:
`.._~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~an ....... ~mo
`u:oe<=>
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`==
`
`,..,...-~
`0
`
`Mail Stop Patent Application
`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria VA 22313-1450
`
`NEW APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL
`
`Transmitted herewith for filing is the patent application of
`
`Inventor(s):
`
`J. David PAYNE
`
`For (title): SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DATA MANAGEMENT
`
`1.
`
`Type of Application
`
`This application is for an original (nonprovisional).
`
`2.
`
`Papers Enclosed
`
`A. Required for filing date under 37 C.F.R. § 1.53(b) (Regular) or 37 C.F.R. § 1.153 (Design) ·
`Application
`
`-12..... Page( s) of Specification
`
`EXPRESS MAILING UNDER 37 C.F.R. § 1.10*
`(Express Mail label number is mandatory.)
`(Express Mail certification is optional.)
`
`I hereby certify that this paper, along with any document referred to, is being deposited with the United States Postal Service in an envelope addressed
`to the Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450 as "Express Mail Post Office to Addressee" Mailing label No.
`EL795732285US on:
`
`Date: August 19, 2003
`
`NANCY J. MOORE
`Type or print name of person mailing paper
`
`WARNING: Certificate of mailing (first class) or facsimile transmission procedures of 37 C.F.R. /.8 cannot be used to obtain a date of mailing
`or transmission for this correspondence.
`
`*WARNING: Each paper or fee filed by "Express Mail" must have the number of the "Express Mail" mailing label placed thereon prior to
`mailing. 37 C.F.R. J.JO(b).
`"Since the filing of correspondence under§ I .10 without the Express Mail mailing label thereon is an oversight that can be avoided by the exercise
`of reasonable care, requests for waiver of this requirement will not be granted on petition. "Notice of Oct. 24, 1996, 60 Fed. Reg. 5 6, 43 9, at 5 6, 44 2.
`
`New Application Transmittal-page 1 of 4
`
`Unified Patents
`Exhibit 1003
`Page 1 of 481
`
`

`

`....
`
`r
`
`Page( s) of Claims
`__&.. Sheet(s) of Drawing(s)--Formal
`
`B. Other Papers Enclosed
`
`_2_ Page(s) of declaration and power of attorney
`Page(s) of abstract
`_L Page(s) of Application Data Sheet
`
`3.
`
`Declaration or Oath
`
`Enclosed.
`
`Executed by:
`
`*
`
`inventor.
`
`4.
`
`lnventorship Statement
`
`The inventorship for all the claims in this application is the same.
`
`5.
`
`Language
`
`English
`
`6.
`
`Assignment
`
`An assignment of the invention to MACROSOL VE, INC. is attached. A separate "COVER
`SHEET FOR ASSIGNMENT (DOCUMENT) ACCOMPANYING NEW PATENT APPLICATION"
`is also attached.
`
`7.
`
`Fee Calculation (37 C.F.R. § 1.16)
`
`Regular Application
`
`CLAIMS AS FILED
`
`Number Filed
`
`Number Extra
`
`Rate
`
`Total
`Claims (37 C.F.R.
`§ 1.16(c))
`
`Independent
`Claims (37 C.F.R
`§ l.16(b))
`
`11
`
`20
`
`0
`
`x $
`
`18.00
`
`3
`
`3 =
`
`0
`
`x $
`
`84.00
`
`Multiple Dependent Claim(s),
`if any (37 C.F.R. § 1.16(d))
`
`+ $
`
`280.00
`
`Basic Fee
`37 C.F.R. § 1.16(a)
`750.00
`
`$
`
`$
`
`$
`
`0.00
`
`0.00
`
`0.00
`
`New Application Transmittal-page 2 of 4
`
`Unified Patents
`Exhibit 1003
`Page 2 of 481
`
`

`

`Filing Fee Calculation
`
`$750.00
`
`8. Assertion of Small Entity Status
`
`Applicant hereby asserts status as a small entity under 37 C.F.R. § 1.27.
`
`Filing Fee Calculation (50% of above Filing Fee Calculation)
`
`$375.00
`
`9.
`
`Fee Payment Being Made at This Time
`
`Enclosed
`
`Filing Fee
`
`Recording assignment ($40; 3 7 C.F .R. §
`l.21(h)) (See attached "COVER SHEET FOR ASSIGNMENT
`ACCOMPANYING NEW APPLICATION".)
`
`Total Fees Enclosed
`
`10. Method of Payment of Fees
`
`$375.00
`
`$40.00
`
`$415.00
`
`Authorization is hereby made to charge the amount of $415 .00 to Deposit Account No. 06-0540.
`
`Charge any additional fees required by this paper or credit any overpayment in the manner authorized
`above.
`
`A duplicate of this paper is attached.
`
`11. Authorization to Charge Additional Fees
`
`The Office is hereby authorized to charge, in the manner shown above, the following additional fees
`that may be required by this paper and during the entire pendency of this application.
`
`37 C.F.R. § 1.16(a), (f) or (g) (filing fees)
`3 7 C.F .R. § l.l 6(b ), ( c) or ( d) (presentation of extra claims)
`37 C.F.R. § l.16(e) (surcharge for filing the basic filing fee and/or declaration on a date later than the
`filing date of the application)
`37 C.F.R. § 1.17(a)(l)-(5) (extension fees pursuant to§ 1.136(a))
`37 C.F.R. § 1.17 (application processing fees)
`
`12.
`
`Instructions as to Overpayment
`
`Credit Account No. 06-0540.
`
`New Application Transmittal-page 3 of 4
`
`Unified Patents
`Exhibit 1003
`Page 3 of 481
`
`

`

`Practitioner's Docket No. 57442/03-533
`
`PATENT
`
`ADDED PAGES FOR APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL WHERE BENEFIT OF PRIOR U.S.
`APPLICATION CLAIMED
`(37 C.F.R. § 1. 78)
`
`13. Relate Back
`
`Amend the specification by inserting, before the first line following the title, the following
`sentence:
`
`A.
`
`35 U.S.C. § 119(e)
`
`"This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.:
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`
`FILING DATE
`
`60/404,491
`
`08/19/2002"
`
`Language of prior filed provisional application
`
`The above identified prior filed provisional application, namely application 60/404,491, filed
`08/19/2002, whose benefit is being claimed was filed in the English language.
`
`Reg. No.: 35,422
`Tel. No.: 918-599-0621
`Customer No.: 22206
`
`220669.1
`
`Scott R. Zingerman
`FELLERS, SNIDER, BLANKENSHIP,
`BAILEY & TIPPENS, P.C.
`321 South Boston, Suite 800
`Tulsa, OK 74103-3318
`
`Added Pages for Application Transmittal Where Benefit of Prior U.S. Application(s) Claimed-page 4 of 4
`
`Unified Patents
`Exhibit 1003
`Page 4 of 481
`
`

`

`Practitioner's Docket No. 57442/03-533
`
`PATENT
`
`Preliminary Classification:
`
`Proposed Class:
`
`l\O=
`o.-~
`... a.n=
`a..ftftsrw:i
`,.:•. -~~
`:i~=-°'
`l\Q,::::::::::
`Subclass:
`.._~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~an ....... ~mo
`u:oe<=>
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`==
`
`,..,...-~
`0
`
`Mail Stop Patent Application
`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria VA 22313-1450
`
`NEW APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL
`
`Transmitted herewith for filing is the patent application of
`
`Inventor(s):
`
`J. David PAYNE
`
`For (title): SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DATA MANAGEMENT
`
`1.
`
`Type of Application
`
`This application is for an original (nonprovisional).
`
`2.
`
`Papers Enclosed
`
`A. Required for filing date under 37 C.F.R. § 1.53(b) (Regular) or 37 C.F.R. § 1.153 (Design) ·
`Application
`
`-12..... Page( s) of Specification
`
`EXPRESS MAILING UNDER 37 C.F.R. § 1.10*
`(Express Mail label number is mandatory.)
`(Express Mail certification is optional.)
`
`I hereby certify that this paper, along with any document referred to, is being deposited with the United States Postal Service in an envelope addressed
`to the Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450 as "Express Mail Post Office to Addressee" Mailing label No.
`EL795732285US on:
`
`Date: August 19, 2003
`
`NANCY J. MOORE
`Type or print name of person mailing paper
`
`WARNING: Certificate of mailing (first class) or facsimile transmission procedures of 37 C.F.R. /.8 cannot be used to obtain a date of mailing
`or transmission for this correspondence.
`
`*WARNING: Each paper or fee filed by "Express Mail" must have the number of the "Express Mail" mailing label placed thereon prior to
`mailing. 37 C.F.R. J.JO(b).
`"Since the filing of correspondence under§ I .10 without the Express Mail mailing label thereon is an oversight that can be avoided by the exercise
`of reasonable care, requests for waiver of this requirement will not be granted on petition. "Notice of Oct. 24, 1996, 60 Fed. Reg. 5 6, 43 9, at 5 6, 44 2.
`
`New Application Transmittal-page 1 of 4
`
`Unified Patents
`Exhibit 1003
`Page 5 of 481
`
`

`

`....
`
`r
`
`Page( s) of Claims
`__&.. Sheet(s) of Drawing(s)--Formal
`
`B. Other Papers Enclosed
`
`_2_ Page(s) of declaration and power of attorney
`Page(s) of abstract
`_L Page(s) of Application Data Sheet
`
`3.
`
`Declaration or Oath
`
`Enclosed.
`
`Executed by:
`
`*
`
`inventor.
`
`4.
`
`lnventorship Statement
`
`The inventorship for all the claims in this application is the same.
`
`5.
`
`Language
`
`English
`
`6.
`
`Assignment
`
`An assignment of the invention to MACROSOL VE, INC. is attached. A separate "COVER
`SHEET FOR ASSIGNMENT (DOCUMENT) ACCOMPANYING NEW PATENT APPLICATION"
`is also attached.
`
`7.
`
`Fee Calculation (37 C.F.R. § 1.16)
`
`Regular Application
`
`CLAIMS AS FILED
`
`Number Filed
`
`Number Extra
`
`Rate
`
`Total
`Claims (37 C.F.R.
`§ 1.16(c))
`
`Independent
`Claims (37 C.F.R
`§ l.16(b))
`
`11
`
`20
`
`0
`
`x $
`
`18.00
`
`3
`
`3 =
`
`0
`
`x $
`
`84.00
`
`Multiple Dependent Claim(s),
`if any (37 C.F.R. § 1.16(d))
`
`+ $
`
`280.00
`
`Basic Fee
`37 C.F.R. § 1.16(a)
`750.00
`
`$
`
`$
`
`$
`
`0.00
`
`0.00
`
`0.00
`
`New Application Transmittal-page 2 of 4
`
`Unified Patents
`Exhibit 1003
`Page 6 of 481
`
`

`

`Filing Fee Calculation
`
`$750.00
`
`8. Assertion of Small Entity Status
`
`Applicant hereby asserts status as a small entity under 37 C.F.R. § 1.27.
`
`Filing Fee Calculation (50% of above Filing Fee Calculation)
`
`$375.00
`
`9.
`
`Fee Payment Being Made at This Time
`
`Enclosed
`
`Filing Fee
`
`Recording assignment ($40; 3 7 C.F .R. §
`l.21(h)) (See attached "COVER SHEET FOR ASSIGNMENT
`ACCOMPANYING NEW APPLICATION".)
`
`Total Fees Enclosed
`
`10. Method of Payment of Fees
`
`$375.00
`
`$40.00
`
`$415.00
`
`Authorization is hereby made to charge the amount of $415 .00 to Deposit Account No. 06-0540.
`
`Charge any additional fees required by this paper or credit any overpayment in the manner authorized
`above.
`
`A duplicate of this paper is attached.
`
`11. Authorization to Charge Additional Fees
`
`The Office is hereby authorized to charge, in the manner shown above, the following additional fees
`that may be required by this paper and during the entire pendency of this application.
`
`37 C.F.R. § 1.16(a), (f) or (g) (filing fees)
`3 7 C.F .R. § l.l 6(b ), ( c) or ( d) (presentation of extra claims)
`37 C.F.R. § l.16(e) (surcharge for filing the basic filing fee and/or declaration on a date later than the
`filing date of the application)
`37 C.F.R. § 1.17(a)(l)-(5) (extension fees pursuant to§ 1.136(a))
`37 C.F.R. § 1.17 (application processing fees)
`
`12.
`
`Instructions as to Overpayment
`
`Credit Account No. 06-0540.
`
`New Application Transmittal-page 3 of 4
`
`Unified Patents
`Exhibit 1003
`Page 7 of 481
`
`

`

`Practitioner's Docket No. 57442/03-533
`
`PATENT
`
`ADDED PAGES FOR APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL WHERE BENEFIT OF PRIOR U.S.
`APPLICATION CLAIMED
`(37 C.F.R. § 1. 78)
`
`13. Relate Back
`
`Amend the specification by inserting, before the first line following the title, the following
`sentence:
`
`A.
`
`35 U.S.C. § 119(e)
`
`"This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.:
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`
`FILING DATE
`
`60/404,491
`
`08/19/2002"
`
`Language of prior filed provisional application
`
`The above identified prior filed provisional application, namely application 60/404,491, filed
`08/19/2002, whose benefit is being claimed was filed in the English language.
`
`Reg. No.: 35,422
`Tel. No.: 918-599-0621
`Customer No.: 22206
`
`220669.1
`
`Scott R. Zingerman
`FELLERS, SNIDER, BLANKENSHIP,
`BAILEY & TIPPENS, P.C.
`321 South Boston, Suite 800
`Tulsa, OK 74103-3318
`
`Added Pages for Application Transmittal Where Benefit of Prior U.S. Application(s) Claimed-page 4 of 4
`
`Unified Patents
`Exhibit 1003
`Page 8 of 481
`
`

`

`I '•
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT APPLICATION
`
`for
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DATA MANAGEMENT
`
`by
`
`J. David Payne
`
`CERTIFICATE OF EXPRESS MAILING UNDER 37CFR1.10
`I hereby certify that this document and any document referred to as being
`attached therein is being deposited with the U.S. Postal Service in an
`envelope as "Express Mail Post Office to Addressee", Mailing Label No.
`EL795732285US, addressed
`to: Mail Stop Patent Application,
`Commissioner for Patents, P. 0. Box 1450, Alexandria .• VA 22313-1450,
`on August 19, 2003.
`
`Nancy J. Moore
`
`Unified Patents
`Exhibit 1003
`Page 9 of 481
`
`

`

`"
`
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DATA MANAGEMENT
`
`Express Mail Label No. EL795732285US
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
`
`[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.
`
`60/404,491 filed August 19, 2002.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`5
`
`1.
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`[0002] The present invention relates to a system of computing devices for the
`
`collection and management of information. More particularly, but not by way of limitation,
`
`the present invention relates to a system for collecting and managing information including
`
`a plurality of computer devices loosely networked to a server and an operating system for a
`
`10
`
`computer which provides a number of features favorable for use in the inventive system.
`
`2.
`
`Background of the Invention
`
`[0003] Virtually all business software applications involve the collection of
`
`information in some form or another. Where information is gathered away from the
`
`convenience of a desktop, workers have traditionally entered the information on paper forms.
`
`15
`
`This data is then entered into a computer in a second step. This extra step leads to delays and
`
`1
`
`Unified Patents
`Exhibit 1003
`Page 10 of 481
`
`

`

`"
`
`inaccuracies which are costly and, more importantly, unnecessary.
`
`[0004) Handheld computers are well known in the art. In fact such computers are
`
`presently available from numerous manufacturers offering a vast assortment of operating
`
`systems and hardware configurations. While such devices come in a host of variations,
`
`5
`
`generally handheld computers include an LCD display, a method for gathering manual input,
`
`storage, and a variety of machine interfaces, i.e., an IR link, a USB port, a serial port, etc.
`
`[0005] As with their desktop, and laptop counterparts, a handheld computer will also
`
`include an operating system which provides an operator interface, file management, and
`
`standardized 110, as well as facilitating the running of application programs. Thus far,
`
`10
`
`handheld operating systems mimic those of desktop and laptop systems, despite the fact that
`
`handheld devices are typically used in a different manner and have radically different
`
`resources.
`
`[0006) As with other types of computers, handheld computers suffer from
`
`compatibility issues, especially in the operation of application programs. Generally speaking,
`
`15
`
`software programs must typically be tailored to a specific family of processors and to a
`
`specific operating system. Most applications are developed in a high level language and then
`
`compiled for a specific target processor. As different manufacturers select different
`
`processors, an application written for one family of processors must be recompiled to execute
`
`in a processor of a different family. Even when two manufacturers select compatible
`
`20
`
`processors, if they chose different operating systems, applications written for one device will
`
`probably not run correctly on the other device. Since the operating system provides access
`
`2
`
`Unified Patents
`Exhibit 1003
`Page 11 of 481
`
`

`

`"
`
`to the various hardware resources and manages the file system, it is almost unfathomable that
`
`the operating systems of independent authors would be compatible, unless one specifically
`
`set out to copy the other. Thus, particular applications tend to grow up around a particular
`
`family of devices which share an operating system and, unfortunately, the application may
`
`5
`
`not be available for non-compatible devices.
`
`[0007] Another issue which is common to all computers is the transferability of
`
`stored information, specifically, the ability to move files from machine-to-machine. While
`
`most handheld computers include an infrared port for communicating with other infrared
`
`devices, including other handhelds, files transferred in such a manner may not be usable by
`
`10
`
`software on the receiving device. This is especially true of information formatted for a
`
`particular application such as a word processor, spread sheet program, data base manager,
`
`or the like.
`
`[0008] To overcome the necessity of compiling a program for a particular machine,
`
`an application may be written in an interpreted language, or a language which can be
`
`15
`
`compiled to produce an intermediate language (i.e., a language that falls somewhere between
`
`source code and object code) such as i-code or tokens. In such a scheme, each device is
`
`provided with a run-time package which can execute the compiled i-code or tokens, the run(cid:173)
`
`time package having been written for that particular device, thus, only the run-time package
`
`needs to be modified in order to port a program to a new computing environment. Once the
`
`20
`
`run-time package is installed, any application authored in the language and which has been
`
`compiled to i-code will run on the target device. Unfortunately, such languages typically
`
`3
`
`Unified Patents
`Exhibit 1003
`Page 12 of 481
`
`

`

`lack effective optimization and generally do not provide a broad range of support for
`
`hardware resources. Regardless of the language selected, whether compiled, interpreted, or
`
`whatever, software coding requires at least a nominal degree of programming skill to create
`
`the application program.
`
`5
`
`[0009] Perhaps because handheld computers are not as evolved as their desktop
`
`counterparts, or because it is typically cumbersome to enter information, or maybe due to the
`
`lack of a true front-runner in operating systems, handheld computers have not inspired the
`
`full range of software products available for larger computers. The result has been a rather
`
`limited selection ofretail software applications for handheld devices as compared with their
`
`10
`
`desktop counterparts, such software is aimed primarily at organizational tools, e-mail, and
`
`games. However, at the other end of the spectrum, custom programs tailored for a specific
`
`customer, handheld computers are gaining momentum in replacing manual forms which are
`
`often filled-out in remote areas, away from a desktop, i.e. manufacturing inventory, quality
`
`inspections, delivery systems, and the like. One reason for the increasing movement toward
`
`15
`
`the use of handheld computers for data gathering tasks is that they can be easily transported
`
`to the source of the data and have the information directly entered into them, thereby
`
`eliminating the potentially error-prone step of manual data entry of information on previously
`
`completed paper forms. Eliminating the extra step additionally saves unnecessary labor, and
`
`allows the data to be entered in a more timely fashion.
`
`20
`
`[0010] Due to their incredible portability, handhelds are particularly well suited to
`
`this type of data gathering, despite an obvious lack of software infrastructure in this area.
`
`4
`
`Unified Patents
`Exhibit 1003
`Page 13 of 481
`
`

`

`The present trend is for a business to commission the authoring of a custom program aimed
`
`at a particular need. While the cost of such an application is usually high, the accuracy of
`
`the information, the timeliness of the information, and the accessibility of the information
`
`are likely worth the cost. In fact, while such systems may seem cost prohibitive to develop,
`
`5
`
`in many cases the actual cost on a per-data-entry basis may prove to be relatively small,
`
`especially in light of the timeliness and accuracy associated with real time data collection.
`
`[0011] To develop software for a handheld computer, a custom program is typically
`
`developed and tested on a larger system. When the developer is satisfied with the program,
`
`it is compiled for a particular target device and transferred to handheld devices through a
`
`10
`
`communication link. If users are using more than one type of device, the same program must
`
`be tested and compiled for each type of device. If a change is required, the developer must
`
`make the change on the development system and re-transfer the entire program to each target
`
`device.
`
`[0012] In a typical data gathering application, information is entered into custom
`
`15
`
`designed forms on the handheld computer. Eventually, the data entered in the handheld finds
`
`its way to a database, which is typically located on a server which is accessible to those
`
`needing the information or from which it may be accessed by other programs such as
`
`accounting systems, materials management programs, etc. Present day servers are well
`
`suited to the task of information management and generally provide broad access to and
`
`20
`
`searchability to collected data.
`
`[0013] One problem area in such systems becomes apparent when the data is
`
`5
`
`Unified Patents
`Exhibit 1003
`Page 14 of 481
`
`

`

`transferred from the handheld to the server. While it would seem that wireless interfaces and
`
`handhelds were made for each other, the marriage of the two is not without its own set of
`
`problems. Wireless interfaces fall into a number of different categories. At one extreme is
`
`the infrared ("IR") port often found on handheld devices. The range of this type of interface
`
`5
`
`is usually limited to a few feet and typically supports transfer rates of 115 kbaud, or less.
`
`[0014] Another method for wireless communication is via a wireless local area
`
`network or "WLAN." A typical example of a WLAN is that defined by the IEEE 802.11
`
`standard. When a handheld computer is equipped with a WLAN interface, the device can
`
`communicate with other computers also equipped with a WLAN interface, or even
`
`IO
`
`computers networked to a WLAN equipped computer by a wired network. Typically,
`
`WLAN interfaces provide a range of several hundred feet. As long as a handheld is within
`
`the range of another WLAN equipped computer, the network connection is continuous.
`
`Wireless local area networks sport data rates from a few thousand bits per second up to at
`
`least 52 million bits per second, depending on the particular standard employed.
`
`15
`
`[0015] Yet another known wireless interface for handheld computers is a CDPD
`
`interface, CDMA interface, GSM interface, or similar wireless interface or modem. While
`
`there are some variations, these systems are often built around a cellular phone network and
`
`provide coverage similar to that of a cellular phone, typically national, or even international,
`
`coverage. Such interfaces will experience the same gaps in service as can be expected with
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`20
`
`a cell phone. While such systems provide an exceptionally wide area of coverage, they
`
`typically do so at limited bandwidth, e.g. 19.2 kbaud.
`
`6
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`Unified Patents
`Exhibit 1003
`Page 15 of 481
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`

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`(0016) Of course handheld devices are not limited to wireless communications.
`
`Typically such devices can be connected to another computer through a universal serial bus
`
`("USB") connection, an RS-232 connection, an Ethernet connection on a properly equipped
`
`device, or similar hardwired connection. While these interfaces range from moderately
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`5
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`paced to the extremely fast, they are exceptionally reliable, at least while the connection is
`
`in place. Unfortunately, few environments are well suited to tethering a handheld to allow
`
`a continuous wired connection.
`
`(0017) It can be seen that perhaps the greatest drawback to using a handheld for data
`
`gathering as part of a larger system are the limitations of the data link: 1) it is unlikely that
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`10
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`the data link will always be available; and 2) the bandwidth of most of the practical wireless
`
`options is restrictive. Presently there are two methods for dealing with the problem of data
`
`link availability. fu one scheme, data is transmitted as it is collected. The advantage of such
`
`a scheme is that the database is updated in real time and represents current data. The
`
`disadvantages are, for all practical purposes, the scheme is limited to systems using a
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`15
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`wireless interface and when the wireless link is not operational, generally data cannot be
`
`entered.
`
`[0018) Alternatively, entered data can be stored locally on the handheld and
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`transmitted in a batch process when a link is established. The advantage of this system is
`
`that it is tolerant of gaps in the communication link and works well with wired transfers of
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`20
`
`data. Unfortunately, data is not delivered in real time and the data base may be somewhat
`
`stale, depending on the length of time between the collection of data and the presence of the
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`7
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`Unified Patents
`Exhibit 1003
`Page 16 of 481
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`

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`link.
`
`[0019] The issue of bandwidth may be problematic on several fronts. If programs
`
`are updated periodically, the entire program must be sent and the time to reload may be
`
`objectionable. In the opposite direction, iflarge amounts of data are collected, it may be time
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`5
`
`consuming to send the data collected from the handheld to the server, particularly when
`
`performed in a batch fashion.
`
`[0020] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an operating system
`
`for a handheld computer which will allow a program to execute on any handheld computer.
`
`[0021] It is a further object of the present invention to provide an operating system
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`10
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`for a handheld computer wherein programming changes will only necessitate incremental
`
`transfers of program instructions.
`
`[0022] It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an operating
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`system for a handheld computer wherein files may be transferred among devices without a
`
`translation or conversion.
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`15
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`[0023] It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an operating
`
`system for a hand.held computer wherein programming steps and data are tokenized to reduce
`
`the load on a communication channel of finite bandwidth.
`
`[0024] It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a system of
`
`networked computers in which modifications to a computer program for a remote computer
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`20
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`are sent in real time to the remote computer and are implemented immediately and
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`seamlessly without the requirement of user installation.
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`8
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`Unified Patents
`Exhibit 1003
`Page 17 of 481
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`

`

`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0025] The present invention provides a system and method for the management of
`
`information which solves the problems and alleviates the needs discussed above. In its
`
`broadest sense, the present invention is a method designed to accomplish the following:
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`5
`
`1) Allow any computer(s) (desktops, laptops, handhelds, portables,
`
`etc.) to be used to capture information;
`
`2) Transfer the information to a data center (via file transfer methods
`
`such as a network, to include, but not necessarily, Internet based) in
`
`a form that the data center can recognize;
`
`10
`
`3) Allow another computer(s) to access the information and
`
`download it from the data center in a format that can be readily used
`
`regardless of the format in which the original information was
`
`gathered.
`
`[0026] In a preferred embodiment, a server is loosely networked to a plurality of
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`15
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`computers (handheld, laptop, or desktop). Each computer is equipped with an operating
`
`system which allows common programming to execute on any device, regardless of hardware
`
`differences or native operating system differences among the plurality of devices.
`
`[0027] With regard to the present invention, the term "loosely networked" is used
`
`to describe a networked computer system wherein devices on the network are tolerant of
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`20
`
`intermittent network connections and, in fact, tolerant of the type of network connection
`
`available.
`
`In particular, if any communication connection is available between devices
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`9
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`Unified Patents
`Exhibit 1003
`Page 18 of 481
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`

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`wishing to communicate, network transmissions occur normally, in real time. If a network
`
`connection is unavailable at that moment, the information is temporarily stored in the device
`
`and later transmitted when the connection is restored. Unless otherwise specified, hereinafter
`
`the terms "network" or "networked" refer to loosely networked devices.
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`5
`
`(0028] Thus, the operating system may be thought of as device indifferent and
`
`communication channel indifferent. In the preferred embodiment, any computer can execute
`
`any program developed for the inventive system and will communicate with other members
`
`of the system through any communication method the device can find available.
`
`[0029] The operating system provided in each computer device allows the use of a
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`10
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`common instruction set in any such device, regardless of compatibility issues between the
`
`devices, wherein "instruction set" is used herein to mean the commands, tokens, etc., that are
`
`recognized by the operating system as valid instructions. Unlike conventional computer
`
`programs, the operating system employed in the inventive system allows incremental changes
`
`to the program without the need to reload the entire program. Additionally, a programming
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`15
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`change made at a central office will automatically propagate to loosely networked computers
`
`dispersed throughout the field.
`
`[0030] In one aspect of the invention, branching logic depending on the programs
`
`are created for handheld or other computer devices by simply entering questions and
`
`providing response specification, in the form of a questionnaire, for the end-user. Thus, no
`
`20
`
`particular programming skill is required to generate programs for data gathering. As will be
`
`appreciated by those familiar with data collection, data can be collected by posing a series
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`10
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`Unified Patents
`Exhibit 1003
`Page 19 of 481
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`

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`of questions, or otherwise prompting for specific input from the user, as in the manner used
`
`with paper forms. A number of useful subsystems, which may already be present in the
`
`handheld device, or easily added later, may be utilized so that at least some of the
`
`information which is responsive to the designed questionnaire may be collected
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`5
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`automatically rather than entered manually, e.g., time and date, position information ifthe
`
`device includes a GPS receiver, etc.
`
`[0031) In another aspect of the present invention, the program and user responses
`
`are coded in such a fashion as to substantially reduce the bandwidth requirements of the
`
`network connection. Since many of the networking options for handheld devices provide
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`10
`
`limited bandwidth, best use may be made of the available throughput by coding, or
`
`tokenizing, program information and responses.
`
`[0032) In practice, a program is created by entering a series of prompts and
`
`providing direction for how the system is to respond to particular responses. This process
`
`of data gathering may then be performed by a person having no programming skill
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`15
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`whatsoever. The program may then be sent to all, or selected, computer devices on the
`
`network. Those devices having a connection may immediately be updated. Those devices
`
`in which a network connection is temporarily not available will be updated when the
`
`connection is next restored.
`
`[0033] The user of the computer device is then prompted for specific input. As the
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`20
`
`user enters data, if the network connection is available, the information is immediately sent
`
`to the server. If the network connection is unavailable, the information is stored locally in
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`11
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`Unified Patents
`Exhibit 1003
`Page 20 of 481
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`

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`the handheld device and sent upon restoration of the network connection. At the server, the
`
`information is typically processed upon receipt such that users of the data have real time, or
`
`virtually real time, information available.
`
`[0034] In another aspect of the invention, the inventive system may be provided to
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`5
`
`end users according to an application service provider ("ASP") business method. ASPs are
`
`an emerging trend in the computer software industry. Traditionally, a company seeking a
`
`software solution would either acquire a preprogrammed package which suits its needs or
`
`commission the programming of custom software.
`
`In many instances preprogrammed
`
`software is unavailable or requires too many compromises to be attractive. In either case,
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`10
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`the software is purchased and, invariably, represents a large capital expense to the company.
`
`Once purchased, modifications, evolutional upgrades, changing management practices, and
`
`the like, result in additional expenses to keep the software up-to-date.
`
`[0035] In contrast an ASP typically provides software on a pay-as-you-go basis. An
`
`ASP typically provides custom, or semi-custom software to companies. Each user is billed
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`15
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`for the time it uses the s