Terminal and method for efficient use and identification of peripherals

Abstract

A communication system comprises a terminal configured for being able to communicate with a computer and to operate according to at least one operational parameter. A peripheral device for use with the terminal has a use characterizing parameter associated therewith. The terminal is operable for reading the use characterizing parameter from the peripheral device when the device is coupled to the terminal. The terminal is further operable for configuring itself to operate according to an operational parameter associated with the use characterizing parameter of the peripheral device.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A terminal comprising: 
 a processor for controlling the operation of the terminal;    the processor operable for reading a use characterizing parameter from a peripheral device coupled to the terminal and further operable for associating an operational parameter for the terminal with the use characterizing parameter of the peripheral device.    
     
     
         2 . The terminal of  claim 1  wherein operational parameters for the terminal are stored in memory, the processor further operable for accessing the memory according to the use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         3 . The terminal of  claim 1  wherein the operational parameters are in a menu, the processor operable for accessing the menu based upon the use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         4 . The terminal of  claim 1  wherein the operational parameters include at least one from the group of voice templates, volume preferences, and text-to-speech preferences.  
     
     
         5 . The terminal of  claim 1  wherein the terminal is configured for coupling with at least one peripheral device from the group of a headset, a bar code reader, an audio training device, a scanner and a printer.  
     
     
         6 . The terminal of  claim 1  wherein the processor is operable for automatically reading the use characterizing parameter from a peripheral device upon coupling the peripheral device to the terminal.  
     
     
         7 . The terminal of  claim 1  further comprising a battery with an associated use characterizing parameter, the processor operable for reading the battery use characterizing parameter and maintaining statistics for the battery which are associated with the use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         8 . The terminal of  claim 7  wherein the terminal has power operational parameters, the processor operable for adapting at least one power operational parameter based upon the battery use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         9 . The terminal of  claim 8  wherein the processor is operable for automatically adapting the power operational parameter upon reading the battery use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         10 . The terminal of  claim 1  wherein said terminal is configured for coupling with multiple different peripheral devices having different use characterizing parameters, the terminal being configurable to operate with multiple operational parameters associated with the peripheral device use characterizing parameters.  
     
     
         11 . The terminal of  claim 1  wherein the processor is operable for reading multiple use characterizing parameters from a peripheral device coupled to the terminal and further operable for associating multiple operational parameters with the multiple use characterizing parameters of the peripheral device.  
     
     
         12 . A terminal for communicating with a computer, comprising: 
 circuitry for controlling the operation of the terminal, the circuitry operable for reading a use characterizing parameter from a peripheral device coupled to the terminal and further operable for configuring the terminal to operate according to at least one operational parameter associated with the use characterizing parameter of the peripheral device.    
     
     
         13 . The terminal of  claim 12  wherein the operational parameter for the terminal is stored in memory which is accessed according to the use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         14 . The terminal of  claim 12  wherein the operational parameters include at least one from the group of voice templates, volume preferences, and text-to-speech preferences.  
     
     
         15 . The terminal of  claim 12  wherein the circuitry is operable for automatically reading the use characterizing parameter from a peripheral device upon coupling the peripheral device to the terminal.  
     
     
         16 . The terminal of  claim 12  wherein said terminal is configured for coupling with multiple different peripheral devices having different use characterizing parameters, the terminal being configurable to operate with multiple operational parameters associated with the peripheral device use characterizing parameters.  
     
     
         17 . The terminal of  claim 12  wherein the circuitry is operable for reading multiple use characterizing parameters from a peripheral device coupled to the terminal and further operable for associating multiple operational parameters with the multiple use characterizing parameters of the peripheral device.  
     
     
         18 . A communication system comprising: 
 a terminal configured for being able to communicate with a computer, the terminal configurable to operate according to at least one operational parameter;    a peripheral device for use with the terminal, the peripheral device having an use characterizing parameter associated therewith;    the terminal operable for reading the use characterizing parameter from the peripheral device when the device is coupled to the terminal;    the terminal further operable for configuring itself to operate according to an operational parameter associated with the use characterizing parameter of the peripheral device.    
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the peripheral device has multiple use characterizing parameters associated therewith and the terminal is operable for reading multiple use characterizing parameters and further operable for configuring itself to operate according to multiple operational parameters associated with the multiple use characterizing parameters.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the use characterizing parameter of a peripheral device is associated with a worker who is using the peripheral device, the terminal further operable for configuring itself to operate according to an operational parameter associated with the worker.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the use characterizing parameter of a peripheral device is associated with a group of workers who may use the peripheral device, the terminal further operable for configuring itself to operate according to an operational parameter associated with the group.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the use characterizing parameter of a peripheral device is associated with a task for which the peripheral device will be used, the terminal further operable for configuring itself to operate according to an operational parameter associated with the task.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the use characterizing parameter of a peripheral device is associated with an area of a facility in which the peripheral device will be used, the terminal further operable for configuring itself to operate according to an operational parameter associated with the area.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the operational parameters are in a menu, the terminal operable for accessing the menu based upon the use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the terminal is operable for configuring itself to operate according to operational parameters received from a computer.  
     
     
         26 . An inventory management system comprising: 
 a central computer operable to track inventory;    at least one terminal configurable to operate according to at least one operational parameter, the terminal configured for communicating with the central computer;    at least one peripheral device for use with the terminal;    the terminal operable for reading an use characterizing parameter from a peripheral device coupled thereto and further operable for configuring itself to operate according to an operational parameter associated with the use characterizing parameter of the peripheral device.    
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26  wherein operational parameters for the terminal are stored in memory in the terminal, the terminal further operable for accessing the memory according to the use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26  wherein operational parameters for the terminal are stored in memory in the central computer, the terminal further operable for obtaining an operational parameter from the memory according to the use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the operational parameters are in a menu, the terminal operable for accessing the menu based upon the use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the terminal is operable for configuring itself to operate according to operational parameters received from the central computer.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the terminal is configured for coupling with at least one peripheral device from the group of a headset, a bar code reader, an audio training device and a scanner.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 26  further comprising a removable power source couplable with the terminal to provide power thereto and having an use characterizing parameter associated therewith.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the circuitry is operable for reading an use characterizing parameter from the power source when it is coupled to the terminal and further operable for configuring the terminal to operate according to at least one operational parameter associated with the use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the terminal maintains statistics for the power source which are associated with the use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the terminal has power operational parameters, the circuitry operable for adapting at least one power operational parameter based upon the power source use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the central computer is operable for maintaining statistics for the power source, the statistics being associated with the use characterizing parameter for the power source.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the central computer is operable for tracking multiple peripheral devices based upon the use characterizing parameters associated with the peripheral devices.  
     
     
         38 . A peripheral device for use with a terminal which communicates with a computer, the peripheral device comprising: 
 a use characterizing parameter associated with the peripheral device;    the use characterizing parameter being associated with at least one operation parameter of a terminal.    
     
     
         39 . The peripheral device of  claim 38  wherein the terminal has multiple use characterizing parameters associated therewith and the terminal is operable for reading multiple use characterizing parameters and further operable for configuring itself to operate according to multiple operational parameters associated with the multiple use characterizing parameters.  
     
     
         40 . The peripheral device of  claim 38  wherein the use characterizing parameter of a peripheral device is associated with user criteria of a user who is using the peripheral device, the terminal further operable for configuring itself to operate according to an operational parameter associated with the user criteria.  
     
     
         41 . The peripheral device of  claim 38  wherein the use characterizing parameter of a peripheral device is associated with user criteria of a group of users who may use the peripheral device, the terminal further operable for configuring itself to operate according to an operational parameter associated with the user criteria of the group.  
     
     
         42 . The peripheral device of  claim 38  wherein the use characterizing parameter of a peripheral device is associated with user criteria of a task for which the peripheral device will be used, the terminal further operable for configuring itself to operate according to an operational parameter associated with the user criteria of the task.  
     
     
         43 . The peripheral device of  claim 38  wherein the use characterizing parameter of a peripheral device is associated with user criteria of an area of a facility in which the peripheral device will be used, the terminal further operable for configuring itself to operate according to an operational parameter associated with the user criteria of the area.  
     
     
         44 . The peripheral device of  claim 38  wherein the operational parameters are in a menu, the terminal operable for accessing the menu based upon the use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         45 . The peripheral device of  claim 38  wherein the terminal is operable for configuring itself to operate according to operational parameters received from a computer.  
     
     
         46 . A terminal for communicating with a computer, comprising: 
 circuitry for controlling the operation of the terminal;    a removable power source couplable with the terminal to provide power thereto and having a use characterizing parameter associated therewith;    the circuitry operable for reading a use characterizing parameter from the power source when it is coupled to the terminal and further operable for configuring the terminal to operate according to at least one operational parameter associated with the use characterizing parameter.    
     
     
         47 . The terminal of  claim 46  wherein the terminal maintains statistics for the power source which are associated with the use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         48 . The terminal of  claim 46  wherein the terminal has power operational parameters, the circuitry operable for adapting at least one power operational parameter based upon the power source use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         49 . The terminal of  claim 46  wherein the circuitry is operable for automatically adapting the power operational parameter upon reading the power source use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         50 . A method for configuring a terminal for use with a computer comprising: 
 providing a terminal which communicates with a computer;    coupling a peripheral device with the terminal, the peripheral device having a use characterizing parameter associated therewith;    reading the use characterizing parameter of the peripheral device with the terminal; and    configuring the terminal to operate according to at least one operational parameter associated with the use characterizing parameter of the peripheral device.    
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50  further comprising accessing the operational parameter from memory of the terminal according to the use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50  further comprising automatically reading the use characterizing parameter from a peripheral device upon coupling the peripheral device to the terminal.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 50  further comprising coupling a battery with the terminal, the battery having an use characterizing parameter associated therewith; and 
 reading the use characterizing parameter of the battery with the terminal and configuring the terminal to operate according to at least one operational parameter associated with the use characterizing parameter of the battery.  
 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53  further comprising maintaining statistics for the battery which are associated with the use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the terminal has power operational parameters, the processor operable for adapting at least one power operational parameter based upon the battery use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 50  further comprising accessing, with the terminal, the operational parameter from memory of the computer according to the use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 50  further comprising configuring the terminal to operate according to an operational parameter received by the terminal from the central computer.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the peripheral device has multiple use characterizing parameters associated therewith and further comprising reading the multiple use characterizing parameters of the peripheral device with the terminal, and configuring the terminal to operate according to multiple operational parameters associated with the multiple use characterizing parameters.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the use characterizing parameter of a peripheral device is associated with a worker who is using the peripheral device, and further comprising reading the use characterizing parameter of the peripheral device with the terminal; and 
 configuring the terminal to operate according to an operational parameter associated with the worker.  
 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the use characterizing parameter of a peripheral device is associated user criteria for a group of workers who may use the peripheral device, and further comprising configuring the terminal to operate according to an operational parameter associated with the group.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the use characterizing parameter of a peripheral device is associated with user criteria for a task for which the peripheral device will be used, and further comprising configuring the terminal to operate according to an operational parameter associated with the task.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the use characterizing parameter of a peripheral device is associated with user criteria for an area of a facility in which the peripheral device will be used, and further comprising configuring the terminal to operate according to an operational parameter associated with the area.  
     
     
         63 . A method for tracking peripheral devices used with terminals, the method comprising: 
 providing a computer which communicates with a plurality of mobile terminals;    upon the coupling of a peripheral device with at least one of the mobile terminals, reading a use characterizing parameter of the peripheral device with the terminal; and    accumulating information regarding the peripheral device with the computer based upon the use characterizing parameter of the peripheral device.    
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the peripheral device includes a battery, and further comprising accumulating information regarding use of the battery based upon a use characterizing parameter of the battery.  
     
     
         65 . A wearable, mobile and/or portable terminal comprising: 
 a processor for controlling the operation of the terminal, the terminal being configurable to operate according to at least one operational parameter;    the processor operable for reading a use characterizing parameter from a peripheral device coupled to the terminal and further operable for associating an operational parameter with the use characterizing parameter of the peripheral device.    
     
     
         66 . The terminal of  claim 65  wherein operational parameters for the terminal are stored in memory, the processor further operable for accessing the memory according to the use characterizing parameter.  
     
     
         67 . The terminal of  claim 65  wherein the terminal is configured for coupling with at least one peripheral device from the group of a headset, a bar code reader, an audio training device, a scanner and a printer.  
     
     
         68 . A peripheral device for use with a wearable, mobile and/or portable terminal, the peripheral device comprising: 
 a use characterizing parameter associated with the peripheral device.    
     
     
         69 . The peripheral device of  claim 68  wherein the use characterizing parameter of a peripheral device is associated with a user who is using the peripheral device, the terminal further operable for configuring itself to operate according to an operational parameter associated with the user criteria.  
     
     
         70 . The peripheral device of  claim 68  wherein the use characterizing parameter of a peripheral device is associated with a group of users who may use the peripheral device, the terminal further operable for configuring itself to operate according to an operational parameter associated with the user criteria of the group.  
     
     
         71 . The peripheral device of  claim 68  wherein the use characterizing parameter of a peripheral device is associated with a task for which the peripheral device will be used, the terminal further operable for configuring itself to operate according to an operational parameter associated with the user criteria of the task.  
     
     
         72 . The peripheral device of  claim 68  wherein the use characterizing parameter of a peripheral device is associated with an area of a facility in which the peripheral device will be used, the terminal further operable for configuring itself to operate according to an operational parameter associated with the user criteria of the area.