Serial port

About: Serial port is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 12486 publications have been published within this topic receiving 51886 citations.

A portable information and transaction processing system and method utilizing biometric authorization and digital certificate security

Abstract: The present invention is a portable client PDA with a touch screen or other equivalent user interface and having a microphone and local central processing unit (CPU) for processing voice commands and for processing biometric data to provide user verification. The PDA also includes a memory for storing financial and personal information of the user and I/O capability for reading and writing information to various cards such as smartcards, magnetic cards, optical cards or EAROM cards. The PDA includes a Universal Card, which is common generic smartcard with a unique imprint provided by a service provider, on which selected financial or personal information stored in the PDA can be downloaded to perform certain consumer transactions. The PDA includes a modem, a serial port and/or a parallel port so as to provide direct communication capability with peripheral devices (such as POS and ATM terminals) and is capable of transmitting or receiving information through wireless communications such as radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) communication. The present invention is preferably operated in two modes, i.e., a client/server mode and a local mode.

The WHOI micro-modem: an acoustic communications and navigation system for multiple platforms

Abstract: The micro-modem is a compact, low-power, underwater acoustic communications and navigation subsystem. It has the capability to perform low-rate frequency-hopping frequency-shift keying (FH-FSK), variable rate phase-coherent keying (PSK), and two different types of long base line navigation, narrow-band and broadband. The system can be configured to transmit in four different bands from 3 to 30 kHz, with a larger board required for the lowest frequency. The user interface is based on the NMEA standard, which is a serial port specification. The modem also includes a simple built-in networking capability which supports up to 16 units in a polled or random-access mode and has an acknowledgement capability which supports guaranteed delivery transactions. The paper contains a detailed system description and results from several tests are also presented

System for automatic synchronization of common file between portable computer and host computer via communication channel selected from a plurality of usable channels there between

Abstract: A handheld computer which contains an LCD display having a digitizing surface to allow pen input. Internal storage takes several forms, such as a large flash ROM area, battery-backed up RAM and an optional hard disk drive. Several alternative communication paths are available, such as the previously mentioned modem, a parallel printer port, a conventional serial port, a cradle assembly connected to the host computer, and various wireless short distance techniques such as radio frequency or infrared transmission. The computer can readily communicate with other sources, particularly to a host desktop computer, to allow automated synchronization of information between the host and the handheld system. Preferably the remote synchronization is performed at several user selectable levels. When the handheld computer is in a cradle and actively connected to the host computer, automatic capture of updated data in the host computer is performed. Several synchronization techniques are utilized to keep track of different types of files. In addition, while communication is established the handheld computer can enter a remote control mode, allowing the user access to files and applications not included in the handheld computer.

Portable apparatus for providing multiple integrated communication media

Abstract: The present invention relates to a communication device for a personal digital assistant (PDA). The PDA mounts within the communication device and the communication device connects electronically to a serial port on the PDA. Through this single serial port, the communication device provides the user of the PDA with access to multiple communication media, such as a telephone modem, a Global Positioning System engine, a packet radio and a cellular telephone. Data from the PDA is directed to a decoder that routes the data to the appropriate communication medium, while data from the communication media are multiplexed onto the single serial interface of the PDA. The communication device also provides a pass-thru serial interface that allows other external devices to communicate directly with the serial port of the PDA. In addition, the communication device can upload software to the PDA that facilitates communications between the PDA and the communication device, and allows the PDA to control the operation of the communication device.

Method and apparatus for configuring a camera through external means

Abstract: A camera (10) having a built-in microprocessor for accepting configuration data from an external device (14). The camera (10) has a serial port (16), and a slot (18) for receiving standard type II and III PCMCIA cards (22) for data input and output. These features provide the camera (10) with the capability of being programmed by an external device (14), including downloading configuration data including a particular operating system, custom modules, graphics and textual data, and data base information and operational parameters. The configuration data can also be downloaded from one camera (10) to another camera (12).