Remote device management interface

Abstract

A network for remotely managing a plurality of remote devices that are each individually configurable to have selected operating characteristics includes a server connected to the network and to the plurality of remote devices, and a display coupled to a computer which is connected to the network. Also included are means for assigning a common icon to each remote device of the same type and displaying the icons on the server display, and means for coloring each icon to indicate a current configuration status of each remote device and for displaying the color on the icon on the display.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method for managing a plurality of remote devices, the method comprising:
 providing a user interface, the user interface comprising a map of a geographical region in which one or more of the plurality of remote devices are located, wherein each remote device of the plurality of remote devices is a mobile data collection device that is configurable by receiving one or more configuration updates from a server;   displaying, for each remote device of the plurality of remote devices, a respective icon representative of the respective remote device on the map at a first location on the map that corresponds to a first location of the remote device in the geographical region and a first configuration status, the first location of the remote device on the map determined at least in part based upon a first location data obtained from the remote device, wherein the respective icon representative of the respective remote device on the map is updated to a second location on the map from the first location of the remote device on the map in response to determining a second location of the remote device in the geographical region, the second location of the remote device on the map determined at least in part based upon a second location data obtained from the remote device;   receiving a request to update a configuration of the remote device; and   adjusting the first configuration status to a second configuration status for a remote device of the plurality of remote devices, in response to the update.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 adding another icon on the user interface to indicate an additional symbology associated with the update.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 identifying a fault in at least one remote device;   determining another update that addresses the fault; and   applying the another update in response to the another update being available, wherein a third configuration status reflects the another update in the user interface.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising, displaying, on the map, icons of the plurality of remote devices, which are of a selected type, and hiding, on the map, icons of all remote devices, of the plurality of remote devices, which are of a type other than the selected type. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising, providing, a selection panel on the user interface, the selection panel comprising multiple icon groupings, each icon grouping corresponding to a respective icon placed on the map, wherein an icon grouping comprises a device icon for the remote device represented by the icon, on the map, to which the icon grouping corresponds and further comprises at least one additional icon representative of at least one characteristic of the remote device represented by the icon, on the map, to which the icon grouping corresponds. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising applying a common configuration update to each of the remote devices in the icon grouping. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising receiving a selection, via the user interface, two or more devices from the plurality of remote devices and applying a configuration update to the two or more devices. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising receiving metric data relating to at least one remote device of the plurality of remote devices and displaying a representation of the metric data, wherein the representation of the metric data is associated with the at least one remote device. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising identifying a new remote device and applying a configuration update to the new remote device based on a request received via the user interface. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the update is at least one of a security update, a firmware update, and an extension of decoding capability of the remote device to an additional symbology; and wherein at least one remote device of the plurality of remote devices is configured to capture and decode postal code symbols. 
     
     
         33 . An apparatus configured for managing a plurality of remote devices, the apparatus comprising at least a processor, and a memory associated with the processor having computer coded instructions therein, with the computer coded instructions configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
 provide a user interface, the user interface comprising a map of a geographical region in which one or more of the plurality of remote devices are located, wherein each remote device of the plurality of remote devices is a mobile data collection device that is configurable by receiving one or more configuration updates from a server;   display, for each remote device of the plurality of remote devices, a respective icon representative of the respective remote device on the map at a first location on the map that corresponds to a first location of the remote device in the geographical region and a first configuration status, the first location of the remote device on the map determined at least in part based upon a first location data obtained from the remote device, wherein the respective icon representative of the respective remote device on the map is updated to a second location on the map from the first location of the remote device on the map in response to determining a second location of the remote device in the geographical region, the second location of the remote device on the map determined at least in part based upon a second location data obtained from the remote device;   receive a request to update a configuration of the remote device; and   adjust the first configuration status to a second configuration status for a remote device of the plurality of remote devices, in response to the update.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the computer coded instructions further cause the apparatus to:
 add another icon on the user interface to indicate an additional symbology associated with the update.   
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the computer coded instructions further cause the apparatus to:
 identify a fault in at least one remote device;   determine another update that addresses the fault; and   apply the another update in response to the another update being available, wherein a third configuration status reflects the another update in the user interface.   
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the computer coded instructions further cause the apparatus to display, on the map, icons of the plurality of remote devices, which are of a selected type, and hiding, on the map, icons of all remote devices, of the plurality of remote devices, which are of a type other than the selected type. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the computer coded instructions further cause the apparatus to provide, a selection panel on the user interface, the selection panel comprising multiple icon groupings, each icon grouping corresponding to a respective icon placed on the map, wherein an icon grouping comprises a device icon for the remote device represented by the icon, on the map, to which the icon grouping corresponds and further comprises at least one additional icon representative of at least one characteristic of the remote device represented by the icon, on the map, to which the icon grouping corresponds. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the computer coded instructions further cause the apparatus to apply a common configuration update to each of the remote devices in the icon grouping. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the computer coded instructions further cause the apparatus to receive a selection, via the user interface, two or more devices from the plurality of remote devices and applying a configuration update to the two or more devices. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the computer coded instructions further cause the apparatus to receive metric data relating to at least one remote device of the plurality of remote devices and displaying a representation of the metric data, wherein the representation of the metric data is associated with the at least one remote device. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the computer coded instructions further cause the apparatus to identify a new remote device and applying a configuration update to the new remote device based on a request received via the user interface. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the update is at least one of a security update, a firmware update, and an extension of decoding capability of the remote device to an additional symbology; and wherein at least one remote device of the plurality of remote devices is configured to capture and decode postal code symbols.