U.S. patent number RE31,951 [Application Number 06/587,315] was granted by the patent office on 1985-07-16 for market survey data collection method.
This patent grant is currently assigned to NPD Research, Inc.. Invention is credited to George Goldberg, Tod Johnson, Andrew Tarshis.
United States Patent |
RE31,951 |
Johnson , et al. |
July 16, 1985 |
Market survey data collection method
Abstract
A method .[.for.]. independently electronically .[.collecting.].
.Iadd.collects .Iaddend.related market survey data from a plurality
of diverse locations (6,6') for temporary storage at each of the
independent diverse locations (6,6') where the data is collected
for subsequent transmission thereof from these locations (6,6')
over a telephone type link (30,36,42) for accumulative processing
thereof at a remote central electronic data processor. An
interactive interchangeable prompt message display is displayed on
a visual display device (32) indicating one of a plurality of
market survey categories in a predefined sequence. An actual data
input signal may be provided via a keyboard (70) or barboard (29)
and/or wand (18,28) in response to the prompt message display with
this input being stored in a memory (16) for subsequent
transmission. Prior to storage in the memory (16), the data is
stored in a buffer and is displayed on the display device (32) to
enable confirmation prior to transfer to the bulk memory (16). When
a confirmation command signal is provided to the microcomputer
(10,12,14) the data is transferred to the bulk memory (16) and the
display (32) is changed to display the next prompt message in the
sequence. The sequence recycles for each market transaction for
enabling independent integral storage (16) of each product
transaction at the location of the unit (6,6'). This stored data is
then transmitted to the remote data processor via acoustic coupling
(30,36,42) to the telephone line.
Inventors: |
Johnson; Tod (Scarsdale,
NY), Tarshis; Andrew (New York, NY), Goldberg; George
(Great Neck, NY) |
Assignee: |
NPD Research, Inc. (Port
Washington, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
26914608 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/587,315 |
Filed: |
March 7, 1984 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
220140 |
Dec 24, 1980 |
04355372 |
Oct 19, 1982 |
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
700/90 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q
30/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06Q
30/00 (20060101); G06F 003/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;364/2MSFile,9MSFile
;235/376 ;358/85 ;455/2 ;340/824.54,824.55,870.11 ;179/2A
;382/57,59 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Springborn; Harvey E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hubbell, Cohen, Stiefel &
Gross
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for independently.Iadd., .Iaddend.electronically
collecting related market data from a plurality of diverse
locations for .[.temporary.]. storage at each of said
.[.independent.]. diverse locations where said data is
independently collected for subsequent transmission thereof from
said .[.independent.]. diverse locations over a telephone type link
for accumulative processing thereof at a remote central electronic
data processor, said method at said .[.independent.]. data
collection diverse locations comprising the steps of electronically
.[.independently displaying an interactive changeable.].
.Iadd.responding to a .Iaddend.prompt message .[.display on a
visual display device.]. at said .[.independent.]. diverse location
indicating a particular one of a plurality of market survey
information categories in a predefined sequence of said categories,
said categories comprising at least product identification data.[.,
pricing data.]. and purchase demographic data; providing a market
survey data input signal to a buffer storage means in response to
said .[.interactive.]. prompt message .[.display.]., said provided
market survey data input signal comprising an actual data input
corresponding to said particular category; selectively.Iadd.,
.Iaddend.interactively processing said provided market survey data
input signal at said diverse location in a microcomputer means in
accordance with said predefined sequence; providing a verification
signal corresponding to said actual data input in response to the
input thereof at said .[.independent.]. diverse location for
verifying entry of said actual data input; providing a confirmation
command input signal to said microcomputer means in response to
said verification signal; and independently .[.temporarily.].
storing said .[.displayed.]. particular category market survey data
input signal content of said buffer storage means in a static
memory means at said .[.independent.]. diverse location in response
to said confirmation command input signal and .[.changing said
visual display at said diverse location for electronically
displaying.]. .Iadd.responding to .Iaddend.the next prompt message
in said predefined sequence in response to said confirmation
command input signal for providing a next .[.temporarily.].
storable corresponding market survey data input signal in response
to said next prompt message, said sequence defining a market survey
data transaction .[.expository of each product.]., said interactive
sequence recycling for each market .[.survey data.]. transaction
for enabling independent integral storage of each .[.product.].
transaction at said diverse location.[.; whereby subsequently
transmitted market survey data may be rapidly independently
collected at a central location from a plurality of independent
diverse locations for said accumulative processing thereof with
minimal error potential.]..
2. An electronic market survey data collection method in accordance
with claim 1 wherein said purchase demographic data comprises store
and day of purchase.
3. An electronic market survey data collection method in accordance
with claim 1 wherein said market survey data input signal providing
step comprises the step of optically scanning a product code on a
product for providing said market survey data input signal
corresponding to said product identification data.
4. An electronic market survey data collection method in accordance
with claim 1 wherein said market survey data input signal providing
step comprises the step of providing a keyboard data signal input
from a keyboard array comprising a plurality of keys each
corresponding to a unique keyboard symbol, said keyboard provided
market survey data input signals corresponding to at least .[.said
pricing data and.]. said purchase demographic data, and optically
scanning a product code on a product for providing said market
survey data input signal corresponding to said product
identification data.
5. An electronic market survey data collection method in accordance
wth claim 1 wherein said interactive prompt message sequence
comprises numeric product code identification, product quantity
identification and product price identification.
6. An electronic market survey data collection method in accordance
with claim .[.5.]. .Iadd.15 .Iaddend.further comprising the step of
directly advancing through said sequence to provide a prompt
message display corresponding to the next category in said market
survey transaction in response to provision of said confirmation
command input signal during a prompt message display, whereby input
data relating to categories in said transaction which are
inapplicable to the product defined in said transaction may be
omitted.
7. An electronic market survey data collection method in accordance
with claim 1 wherein said verification signal providing step
comprises the step of electronically displaying said corresponding
actual data input from said buffer storage on said visual display
device in a verification display in response to the input thereof
at said .[.independent.]. diverse location for verifying the
correct entry of said actual data input.
8. An electronic market survey data collection method in accordance
with claim 7 wherein said product identification data comprises a
UPC type product code.
9. An electronic market survey data collection method in accordance
with claim 8 wherein said market survey data input signal providing
step comprises the steps of optically scanning a UPC product code
on a product for providing said market survey data input signal
corresponding to said identification data and selectively optically
scanning a barboard array of UPC product type codes each
corresponding to a unique keyboard symbol for providing said market
survey data input signals corresponding to at least .[.said pricing
data and.]. said purchase demographic data. .Iadd.10. An electronic
market survey data collection method in accordance with claim 9
wherein said purchase demographic data comprises pricing data.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.11. An electronic market survey data collection
method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said purchase demographic
data comprises pricing data. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. An electronic
market survey data collection method in accordance with claim 1
wherein said independent storing step comprises independently
temporarily storing said particular category market survey data.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.13. An electronic market survey data collection
method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said prompt messages are
electronically displayed on a visual display device, said prompt
message display being an interactive display, said method further
comprising the step of changing said visual display at said diverse
location for electronically displaying the next prompt message to
be
responded to in said predefined sequence. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. An
electronic market survey data collection method in accordance with
claim 13 wherein said interactive prompt message sequence comprises
numeric product code identification, product quantity
identification and product price identification. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.15. An electronic market survey data collection method in
accordance with claim 1 wherein said purchase demographic data
comprises pricing data; said independent storing step comprises
independently temporarily storing said particular category market
survey data; and said prompt messages are electronically displayed
on a visual display device, said prompt message display being an
interactive display, said method further comprising the step of
changing said visual display at said diverse location for
electronically displaying the next prompt message to be responded
to in said predefined sequence. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. An electronic
market survey data collection method in accordance with claim 15
wherein said interactive prompt message sequence comprises numeric
product code identification, product quantity identification and
product price identification. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. An electronic
market survey data collection method in accordance with claim 16
further comprising the step of directly advancing through said
sequence to provide a prompt message display corresponding to the
next category in said market survey transaction in response to
provision of said confirmation command input signal during a prompt
message display, whereby input data relating to categories in said
transaction which are inapplicable to the product defined in said
transaction may be omitted.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.18. An electronic market survey data collection
method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said purchase demographic
data comprises pricing data, said market survey data input signal
providing step comprising the step of providing a keyboard data
signal input from a keyboard array comprising a plurality of keys
each corresponding to a unique keyboard symbol, said keyboard
provided market survey data input signals corresponding to at least
said purchase demographic data, and optically scanning a product
code on a product for providing said market survey data input
signal corresponding to said product identification data. .Iaddend.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a method for independently,
electronically collecting market survey data for temporary storage
thereof at diverse locations for subsequent transmission thereof
from such diverse locations over a telephone type link for
accumulative processing at a remote data processor.
BACKGROUND ART
Market survey data collection systems are well known in the art.
One of the more common prior art systems for collecting such data
involves the use of survey booklets or questionnaires which are
mailed to a diverse group of panelists, individually handwritten
into by the panelists to record the survey data relating to their
particular shopping habits for various identified products, mailed
back to the survey company by the panelists where the data is
keypunched and then read into a data processor or computer for
accumulative processing of all of this data. This procedure,
although satisfactory under most circumstances, is time consuming,
costly and provides many opportunities for erroneous data entry due
to carelessness either by the panelist who is writing in the data
by hand or by the keypunch operator who is subsequently encoding
the handwritten data. With the advent of electronic inventory
control and supermarket scanners there has been considerable
interest in bringing market data collection into the electronic
age. An example of such prior art attempts is disclosed in U.S.
Pat. Nos. 3,942,157 and 4,016,542 which relate to electronic
notebooks, such as marketed under the name SCOREPAD by Azurdata
Inc., for electronically collecting data, such as for inventory
control, for subsequent transmission to a central computer.
SCOREPAD terminals also employ a scanning wand in certain instances
for inputting UPC product code type data. However, to applicants'
knowledge, such a system has not been employed in connection with
electronic collection of market survey data from diverse panelists,
such as in the home, nor do such systems employ an interactive
prompt message sequence, such as one responsive to confirmation of
proper data entry in order to minimize the potential for erroneous
data entry.
The use of scanning webs or optical readers, because of the
standardized UPC product codes, has become popular in electronic
inventory control systems in an effort to both minimize error and
accelerate entry of UPC and other types of product code data. An
example of such prior art scanning systems is disclosed in U.S.
Pat. Nos. 4,118,687 and 3,665,164, both of which are point-of-sale
type systems and neither of which is involved with independent
electronic data collection from diverse panelists for accumulative
central processing, such as where the independent data collection
is in response to an interactive prompt message sequence, such as
one responsive to confirmation of proper data entry in order to
minimize the potential for erroneous data entry. Other prior art
OCR scanning systems, per se, by way of example, are disclosed in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,143,358; 4,088,981; 3,826,900; 3,798,421;
3,752,958; 3,717,750; 3,760,162; 4,025,766 and 3,876,863 while U.S.
Pat. Nos. 4,072,859 and 4,158,194 disclose prior art systems
similar to U.S. Pat. No. 4,118,687. None of these prior art data
collection systems known to applicants, however, employ an optical
scanner as the sole data input device for both UPC product code
type data and supplementary market survey data, nor employs the
aforementioned prompt message interaction within the data base.
Thus, despite the widespread use of electronics over at least the
past ten years in connection with market type data and despite the
problems inherent in the conventional market survey data collection
methods employing handwritten questionnaires, no satisfactory prior
art system or method known to applicants has been developed which
enables rapid collection at a central location of market survey
data independently collected at a plurality of diverse locations
for accumulative processing with minimal error potential.
These disadvantages of the prior art overcome by the present
invention.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for independently
electronically collecting related market survey data from a
plurality of diverse locations for temporary storage at each of the
independent diverse locations where the data is collected for
subsequent transmission thereof from the independent diverse
locations over a telephone type link for accumulative processing
thereof at a remote central electronic data processor. The method
at each of the independent data collection locations includes the
step of electronically independently displaying an interactive
changeable prompt message display on a visual display device
indicating a particular one of a plurality of market survey
information categories in a predefined sequence of these
categories. A market survey data input signal, which comprises an
actual data input corresponding to the particular displayed
category, is provided to a buffer storage in response to the
interactive prompt message display. This provided signal is
selectively interactively processed in a microcomputer in
accordance with the predefined sequence. The actual data input from
the buffer storage is displayed on the visual display device, such
as an alphanumeric display device, in order to enable verification
of the correctness of the input in which instance a confirmation
command input signal may then be provided to the microcomputer. The
content of the buffer storage is temporarily stored in a static
memory in response to the confirmation command input signal, with
the visual display being changed so as to display the next prompt
message in the sequence. The sequence defines a market survey data
transaction expository of each product with the interactive
sequence recycling for each market transaction for enabling
independent integral storage for each product transaction at the
diverse location. The market survey data is input via optical
scanning of both a UPC product code and a barboard array of such
codes or via optical scanning in conjunction with a keyboard input.
In order to transmit the stored data to the remote central data
processor, the static memory is acoustically coupled to the
telephone type link via a telephone handset to provide a digital
data transmission signal on a character by character basis. A FULL
memory prompt message display is provided and further storage in
the static memory is disabled when the static memory contains
insufficient storage space for storage of a complete market
transaction for a product. The sequence may be directly advanced to
provide the next corresponding prompt message display in response
to provision of a confirmation command input signal during a prompt
message display so that inapplicable product categories may be
omitted. Thus, in accordance with the above method, subsequently
transmitted market survey data may be rapidly independently
collected at a central location from a plurality of independent
diverse locations for accumulative processing thereof with minimal
error potential, such as resulting from the prompting sequence
interaction with the data base and the required verification of
data being input. Moreover, the prompting sequence guarantees the
completeness of the data since the prompting will preferably not
advance the sequence without a data entry.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a preferred embodiment of
the market survey data collection system of the present
invention;
FIGS. 2A and 2B constitute a logic schematic diagram of the
microprocessor control portion of the system of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3A and 3B constitute a logic schematic diagram of the bulk
memory portion of the system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a timing diagram of the divide-by-7 circuit portion of
the bulk memory of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the wand control portion of the system
of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the power supply portion of the system
of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 7A and 7B constitute a logic schematic diagram of the wand
control and power supply portions of FIGS. 5 and 6;
FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of the display portion of the
system of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 9 and 10 are logic schematic diagrams of the display portion
illustrated in FIG. 8;
FIGS. 11 and 12 are diagrammatic illustrations of the segment
arrangement of a typical segment display portion of the display of
FIG. 8;
FIG. 13 is a plan view of the preferred terminal of the system of
FIG. 1 illustrating a typical preferred barboard layout;
FIG. 14 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 of an alternative
preferred embodiment of the terminal of the system of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 15A and 15B constitute a logic schematic diagram of the
keyboard circuit portion of the system of FIG. 1 assuming the
terminal of FIG. 14 is employed;
FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of the acoustic coupler portion of
the system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 17 is a graphic illustration of a typical TX DATA line
transmission of an ASCII character W in accordance with the present
invention;
FIG. 18 is a chart of a typical ASCII character set employed in the
system of the present invention;
FIGS. 19-43, and 45 comprise a logic flow diagram of the
interactive market survey control functions of the system of FIG.
1; and
FIG. 44 is a graphic illustration of the various display states
referred to in the logic flow diagram of FIGS. 19-43 and 45.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings in detail and initially to FIGS. 1, 2
and 13, a preferred embodiment of the market survey data collection
system of the present invention, generally referred to by the
reference numeral 6, is shown. As shown and preferred in FIG. 13,
market survey data collection system 6 is preferably configured as
a terminal 8 (FIG. 13) which is preferably of the size of a desk
top calculator. As shown and preferred in FIG. 13, by way of
example, the terminal 8 contains two portions 28 and 29 which, as
will be described in greater detail hereinafter, act as market
survey data input devices for the system 6 and two portions 30 and
32 which act as information output devices for the system 6. In the
embodiment of FIG. 13, the information input devices 28 and 29 are
a conventional optical character reading wand 28, such as an
Intermes Model 1240, and a barboard 29 which is optically read by
wand 28. Barboard 29 preferably contains the numbers 0 through 9
and the symbols * and # each being represented by unique UPC bar
code numbers such as employed in UPC version A Number System 1,
with the arrangement of these bar code numbers preferably being in
the format of a standard Touch-Tone telephone keyboard array. As
will be explained in greater detail with reference to FIG. 14, if
desired the barboard 29 may be replaced by a conventional keyboard
69 forming part of a keyboard circuit 70 illustrated in greater
detail in FIG. 15, in which instance rather than using the optical
character reading wand 28 to input all information, the optical
character reading wand 28 would be used to input UPC product codes
while the keyboard 69 would be used to input supplementary market
survey data and/or UPC product code information. In the embodiment
of FIG. 13 the appropriate numbers and/or symbols on the barboard
29 are preferably scanned by the optical character reading wand 28
to input supplementary market survey data and/or UPC product code
information with the wand 28 also preferably being used to scan UPC
product code information contained on the products being surveyed.
The aforementioned output devices 30 and 32, which will be
explained in greater detail hereinafter, preferably consist of an
alphanumeric display 32 which preferably displays both prompt
messages as well as verification of the market survey data being
input to the system 6 via the wand 28 and barboard 29 or keyboard
69, and an acoustic coupler 30, to be described in greater detail
hereinafter with reference to FIG. 16, which is preferably employed
to transmit the market survey data stored in terminal 8 from the
terminal 8 to a remote computer (not shown) for processing via
conventional telephone lines (not shown).
Referring now specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 1 is a functional
block diagram of the system 6 contained within terminal 8, the
system 6 preferably including a microprocessor control portion
1000, illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 2, which supervises the
interactive functions of the system 6 such as providing appropriate
prompting messages to the user dependent on the market survey data
information or operation desired and the data input provided by the
user as well as controlling the transmission and storage of market
survey data in the system 6. The microprocessor control portion
1000 preferably includes a central processing unit or
microprocessor 10, such as preferably an Intel 8048, 8748 or 8039,
depending on the program memory requirements. As shown and
preferred in FIGS. 1 and 2, microprocessor 10 is preferably
provided with an additional 4K of ROM 14, such as a pair of Intel
2716 or 2732 ROMs, given reference numerals 1002 and 1004 in FIG.
2, and 512 bytes of RAM 12, such as Intel 5101 RAMs, given
reference numerals 1006 and 1008 in FIG. 2, all of which are
externally connected to the internal ROM and RAM normally contained
on the Intel microprocessor chip 10. External ROM 14 and external
RAM 12 are preferably provided to increase the program and data
memory space, respectively, of the microprocessor chip 10. In
addition, as shown and preferred in FIG. 2, conventional pull-up
resistors 1010, 1012, 1014 are associated with the output of
microprocessor chip 10. The microprocessor chip 10 normally takes
significantly more power than most of the other components
associated with the system 6, and, preferably, microprocessor chip
10 is preferably shut down while the system 6 or terminal 8 is
idle; that is while data is being neither input nor output from the
system 6. As shown and preferred in FIGS. 1 and 2, the
microprocessor control portion 1000 also preferably includes a
system oscillator or clock 40 which preferably provides a system
clock signal such as a 6 MHz clock input, by way of example, to
microprocessor chip 10 via paths 1037 and 1039. In addition,
microprocessor control portion 1000 also preferably includes an
acoustic coupler driver 43 for driving acoustic coupler 30 so as to
enable transmission of data stored in the RAM 12 over conventional
telephone lines to the previously mentioned remote computer (not
shown) for processing. The acoustic coupler driver 42 is shown in
greater detail in FIG. 2 and preferably comprises a pair of PNP
transistors 1016 and 1018 and an NPN transistor 1020. The bases of
transistors 1018 and 1020 are tied to the collector of transistor
1016 and the emitters of transistors 1018 and 1020 are tied
together to one end of a connector 36 which connects to acoustic
coupler 30 while the other end of the connector 36 is tied to the
collector of transistor 1020, with the output line being labeled
TXDATA. The acoustic coupler 42 preferably changes the signal
provided thereto from the output of the microprocessor 10 from a
signal having a 0-to-5 volt level to a signal to the acoustic
coupler 30 to a signal having a signal level of between +5 volts
and -5 volts.
As further shown and preferred in FIG. 2, the input to acoustic
coupler driver 42, which is the signal provided to the base of
transistor 1016, is provided as one output of a conventional
one-line-to-eight-line output multiplexer 1022 connected to the
output of microprocessor chip 10. Output multiplexer 1022
conventionally provides an output to one of eight possible paths;
however, in the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 only
four such output lines or paths 1024, 1026, 1028 and 1030 are
employed. Output path 1024 provides a buzzer signal to an
annunciator 34 (FIGS. 1,7), such as for indicating an error
condition or acknowledging of a confirm (*) command as will be
described in greater detail hereinafter. Output path 1026 provides
a signal to a conventional flip-flop 1032 acting as a latch to
latch the power down via path 1033, with output path 1026 being
connected in parallel to the D input to flip-flop 1032 and to the
input to an inverter 1034 whose output is provided as one input to
a conventional two input AND gate 1036 whose output is, in turn,
provided to RAMs 1006 and 1008. Output path 1028 is the
aforementioned data line labeled TXDATA which is connected to the
input to acoustic coupler driver 42 at the base of transistor 1016.
Lastly, output path 1030 is provided to the display circuitry
(FIGS. 8,9,10) and is a signal labeled DIGSHF. Output multiplexer
1022 may preferably be a conventional multiplexer such as a
Fairchild 4724. Similarly, a conventional input multiplexer 1040 is
provided which is preferably an eight-line-to-one-line multiplexer
connected in parallel to the input to output multiplexer 1022 and
to the inputs to the microprocessor chip 10. However, as with
output multiplexer 1022, not all of the input lines to multiplexer
1040 are employed, with preferably only two such input lines 1042
and 1044 being employed. Input line 1042 preferably provides the
data input from the memory circuitry which comprises a bulk memory
16 to be described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to
FIG. 3, and input line 1044 preferably provides the POWER DELAY
signal from the power supply circuitry (FIG. 7) such as from the
CPU power control 20 illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 7.
Various control signals, which will be described in greater detail
hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 19-45, are output from
microprocessor chip 10 to other portions of the system 6 via a
conventional QUAD latch 1048, such as a Fairchild 40175 with these
control signals including the signal labeled DATA OUT, CLK, R/W and
MEMINIT, all of which are provided to the bulk memory 16 as will be
described in greater detail hereinafter, and the signal labeled
THRESH CTL which is provided to the power supply, such as
illustrated in FIG. 7. Thus, this latch 1048 acts as an interface
between the microprocessor chip 10 and the memory circuitry or bulk
memory 16, and between the microprocessor chip 10 and the power
supply. Similarly, a pair of QUAD latches 1050 and 1052, such as
Fairchild 4042s are connected as an interface between the ROMS
1002, 1004 and RAMS 1006, 1008 and the microprocessor chip 10. As
shown and preferred in FIG. 2, the control signals PSEN, RD and WR
which are provided as outputs from the microprocessor chip 10 via
paths 1054, 1056 and 1058, respectively, are supplied to the
external ROM 14 and RAM 12 with the output signal provided via path
1054 being provided to ROMs 1002 and 1004 through conventional
gating circuitry 1060, 1062, 1064, 1066 and with the output control
signals provided via paths 1056, 1058 being provided to the RAMs
1006 and 1008 via conventional gating circuitry 1068, 1070, 1072,
1074, 1076 which provides one input to AND gate 1036 whose other
input is the previously mentioned signal provided via path
1026.
As was previously described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, an
optical character reading wand 28, such an Intermes Model 1240, is
preferably employed to input UPC label data to the system 6 as well
as, in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 13, to read the
barboard 29 and input supplementary data to the system 6. As shown
and preferred in FIG. 1, a wand control circuit 18, shown in
greater detail in FIG. 7, acts as an interface between the wand 28
and the central processing unit or microprocessor 10. The power
control circuitry includes a central processing unit power control
20, also shown in greater detail in FIG. 7, as well as the main
power supply 24, an AC adapter 26 for enabling the system 6 to be
operated off a standard 110 volt AC wall outlet, and an auxiliary
battery supply 62 which provides portability for the terminal 8 as
well as insuring retention of stored data in the bulk memory 16
when the terminal 8 is not plugged in. In addition a mode selection
switch 22 is preferably provided for selecting between the STANDBY
and OPERATE modes of the system 6, to be described in greater
detail hereinafter, with the mode or status of the switch 22 being
supplied to microprocessor 10 via path 1061. FIG. 5 graphically
illustrates the wand control circuit 18 which is shown in greater
detail in FIG. 7 as comprising a wand power portion 1080 and a wand
amplifier 1082. As shown and preferred in FIG. 7, the wand control
circuit 18 output, labeled PDATA, is provided via paths 1063 to
microprocessor 10. The purpose of the wand control 18 and CPU or
microprocessor power control 20 circuits in the system 6 of the
present invention is to preferably extend the life of the battery
supply 62 as much as possible, particularly since the batteries 62
are responsible for retention of data in the memory 16. Thus, as
was previously mentioned, since the central processing unit 10 and
the external ROM 14 normally use up a significant amount of power
the system 6 preferably is designed to keep the central processing
unit 10 shut off as much as possible, with the central processing
unit 10 being turned on only when necessary. Although the turn on
of the central processing unit 10 could be initiated by a wand read
by the wand 28 if desired, under certain circumstances a false
signal could be provided since the wand 28 does not normally
provide a reliable signal for determining when the wand 28 is on a
label surface. In order to avoid such a possibility, the central
processing unit power input to the central processing unit power
control 20 is preferably controlled by the OPERATE position of the
STANDBY/OPERATE mode switch 22. Terminal 8 may be on in either the
OPERATE or STANDBY mode as selected by the mode switch 22 with,
however, the preferred restriction that the OPERATE mode is only
recognized by the central processing unit power control circuit 20
when the AC adapter 26 is live. Whenever the terminal 8 or system 6
is ON, both the internal RAM and the external RAM 12 of the central
processing unit 10, the bulk memory 16, and the multiplexer line
have power so that as long as the terminal 8 stays ON these will
retain their data. Preferably, as the terminal 8 goes from OFF,
that is with an unplugged AC adapter 26 and no batteries 62, or
from the STANDBY mode to the OPERATE mode, that is with the adapter
26 live and the mode switch 22 being switched to OPERATE, the
central processing unit 10 is powered ON and RESET. This power
signal arrangement is graphically illustrated in FIG. 6. Of course,
preferably each time the microprocessor 10 is powered ON, it must
set up the input/output multiplexer lines associated with
microprocessor 10 to the desired state. This functional procedure
is graphically illustrated in FIGS. 19, 20 and 38 to be described
in greater detail hereinafter. With respect to FIG. 7, the various
portions 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 34 and 62 of the wand and power
control circuitry function illustrated in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 are
shown in schematic detail. Since the various components thereof are
conventional their operation will be readily understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art without further explanation. By way of
example, exemplary component values have been inserted in FIG. 7
where applicable as well as exemplary indications of conventional
logic components to facilitate the understanding thereof.
Suffice it to say that the operation of the reading wand and power
control interface with the system 6 may be summarized in the
following table:
______________________________________ READING WAND AND POWER
CONTROL INTERFACE TABLE line sense use
______________________________________ THRESH make it high right
after CTL hitting the first bar. Make it low as soon as possible
after the end of the label. TO 0=STANDBY Tells you when the
1=OPERATE and AC terminal is in the adapter plugged in OPERATE
condition TI 0=light surface wand data 1=dark surface POWER 0=power
Bring low to DOWN 1=no power guarantee power to the CPU. Make it
high to hand control over to the OPERATE switch. PWR 1=just
switched on After a RESET, if DELAY 0=on for over 1 sec. this is a
"1" it's an initial POWER ON, if it is a "0" then the wand circuit
has just brought the CPU up from STANDBY (power down)
______________________________________
As further shown and preferred in FIG. 1, the aforementioned bulk
memory 16 is provided for storage of product label market survey
data which may be optically read with the wand 28 and may
preferably be, for example, as large as 32K 8-bit bytes, in 8K
chunks. The RAM 12 and bulk memory 16 are preferably powered by
batteries 62 when they are present in the system 6 and the unit 8
is not plugged in, and by appropriately modified AC power whenever
the AC adaptor 26 is plugged into a live wall outlet. As was
previously mentioned, whenever the system 6 is ON, both the
external RAM 12 and the internal RAM, the bulk memory 16 and the
multiplexer lines have power so that as long as the system 6 or
terminal 8 stays ON, they will retain the data stored therein.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the bulk memory 16 is shown in
greater detail, with FIG. 4 being a timing diagram for use in
understanding the clock signal operation of bulk memory 16.
Preferably the interactive control system of the terminal 8 is
designed to determine if the terminal 8 was OFF at some time since
the previous OPERATE mode of the switch 22. This is preferably
accomplished, by way of example, by writing data into two locations
of RAM and/or bulk memory 16 to preferably be checked following a
RESET. The bulk memory 16 illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 3
preferably includes several portions which facilitate the storage
and retrieval of market survey data in the system 6 of the present
invention. Thus, the bulk memory 16 includes a command synchronizer
portion 1084, a bit counter 1086, an address register 1088, a
refresh counter 1090, a divide-by-twenty-one circuit for the system
clock which comprises a divide-by-three circuit 1092 and a
divide-by-seven circuit 1094, an address multiplexer 1096, a chip
select memory control 1098 and the memory array 1100 per se, all of
which cooperate in the data storage and retrieval functions of the
bulk memory 16. Command synchronizer 1084 preferably includes a
pair of conventional flip-flops 1102, 1104, such as a Fairchild
4013, which are coupled together to provide the inputs to a
conventional two input AND gate 1106. The D input to flip-flop 1102
is the MEMINIT memory initiate control signal provided from
microprocessor 10 via QUAD latch 1048 and output path 1108. The C
input to flip-flop 1102 and flip-flop 1104 is the system clock
divide-by-twenty-one clock signal output from the last stage 1094d
of the divide-by-seven circuit 1094 whose other stages are given
reference numerals 1094a, 1094b and 1094c, respectively. The D
input to flip-flop 1104 is the Q output of flip-flop 1102 which
also provides one input to AND gate 1106. The other input to AND
gate 1106 is the Q output of flip-flop 1104. The output of this AND
gate 1106 is a program cycle control signal PCYCLE which is
preferably provided in parallel to the bit counter 1086, which
preferably comprises a conventional counter 1110, such as a
Motorola MC14520, and to the chip select memory control 1098 via
path 1112. The program cycle control signal PCYCLE, as contrasted
with the refresh cycle control signal to be referred to
hereinafter, is preferably synchronized with the refresh cycle
control signal so that reading or writing in the memory 1100 via
the READ/WRITE control signal RW occurs at a different time from
the refresh cycle and insures that the program cycle is in sync
with the system clock as divided-by-twenty-one. The counter 1110 of
bit counter 1086 preferably receives a clock control signal from
microprocessor 10 via QUAD latch 1048 and output path 1114 which
clock control signal is also preferably provided to address
register 1088 which provides the memory access address from the
microprocessor 10 in response to the data input to bulk memory 16
from microprocessor 10 via QUAD latch 1048 and output path 1116.
Address register 1088 preferably includes four stages 1088a, 1088b,
1088c and 1088d each of which preferably comprises a conventional
shift register, such as a Motorola 14161, which acts as a shift
register in the load mode and as a counter in the clock mode. As
shown and preferred in FIG. 3, the clock control signal provided
via path 1114 is provided in parallel to the clock inputs of
registers 1088a-1088d which registers also receive the READ/WRITE
control signal R/ from the microprocessor 10 via QUAD latch 1048
and output path 1118. As shown and preferred in FIG. 3, if the
logic value of the READ/WRITE control signal R/W is a "1" it is a
READ control signal to the memory 1100 whereas if it is a "0" it is
a WRITE control signal to the memory 1100.
The various stages 1088a-1088d of the address register 1088 are
selectively connected to the dynamic RAM 1100 address lines M0-M9
of the memory array 1100 by the address multiplexer 1096 which
connects the dynamic RAM 1100 address lines M0-M9 either to the
appropriate stage 1088a-1088d of the address register 1088 or to
the appropriate stage 1090a and 1090c of the refresh counter 1090
dependent on whether the bulk memory 16 is in the access or refresh
mode, respectively, as determined by the phase of the clock control
signal, which is the system clock divided-by-twenty-one. By way of
example, the various address outputs from address register 1088 are
respectively labeled A3, A4, A5, A6 for stage 1088a, A7, A8, A9, AA
for stage 1088b, AB, AC, AD, AE for stage 1088c and AF, AG, AH, AI
for stage 1088d, with the connections to the corresponding
appropriate inputs to the various stages 1096a, 1096b, 1096c, 1096d
and 1096e being labeled accordingly. The various stages 1096a-1096e
of the address multiplexer 1096 are each preferably conventional
dual four line-to-one line multiplexers, such as a Motorola
MC14539. As further shown and preferred in FIG. 3, the switch
control inputs to the various stages 1096a-1096e of address
multiplexer 1096 are labeled A and B, which inputs are connected,
respectively, to the Q output of stage 1094d and to the Q output of
stage 1094b for receiving the system clock divided-by-twenty-one
clock control signal whose phase determines the mode of multiplexer
1096. Thus, by way of example, if the logic signals to inputs A and
B of multiplexer 1096 are both equal to logic "0" then the memory
access address register outputs A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, AE, AG
and AH are preferably switched so as to be connected to the memory
1100 address line inputs M0-M9, thereby providing the lower half of
the address register 1088 to memory 1100. On the other hand, if the
logic input to input A is logic "1" while the logic input to input
B is logic "0", then the memory address register outputs A7, A8,
A9, AA, AB, AC, AD, AF, AG, AH are preferably switched so as to be
connected to the memory 1100 inputs M0-M9, thereby providing the
higher half of the address register 1088 to memory 1100. However,
if the logic signals to inputs A and B of multiplexer 1096 are both
equal to logic "1", or if the logic input to input A is logic "0"
while the logic input to input B is logic "1", then the memory 1100
will preferably be in the refresh mode with the dynamic RAM 1100
address lines M0-M9 being switched or connected to the appropriate
outputs R0, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, respectively, of
the various stages 1090a-1090c of the refresh counter 1090.
It should be noted that since the memory array 1100 is preferably a
dynamic RAM it preferably requires the periodic refresh provided by
the refresh counter 1090 which refreshes the various stages
1100a-1100p of the dynamic RAM memory array 1100 at the system
clock divided-by-twenty-one rate. Each of the sixteen dynamic RAM
stages 1100a-1100p which comprises the memory array 1100 of bulk
memory 16 are preferably conventional dynamic RAMs such as an Intel
4116 which are 16K.times.1 memory chips or Intel 4164 which are
65K.times.1 memory chips with a configuration employing Intel 4116
RAMs being illustrated in FIG. 3. The three stages 1090a, 1090b,
1090c of the refresh counter 1090 are preferably conventional
binary counters, such as a Motorola MC14520, tied together with the
enable input EN to counter 1090a being the system clock
divided-by-twenty-one clock control signal Q output of stage 1094b
which is connected in parallel to the B signal input to address
multiplexer 1096 and to the chip select memory control 1098. As
shown and preferred in FIG. 3, by way of example, the outputs of
counter 1909a are labeled R0, R1, R2, R3, respectively, with output
R3 being connected to the enable input EN of counter 1090b, the
outputs of counter 1090b are labeled R4, R5, R6, R7, respectively,
with output R7 being connected to the enable input EN of counter
1090c, and the used outputs of counter 1090c are labeled R8 and R9,
respectively. The connections to the corresponding appropriate
inputs to the various stages 1096a-1096e of the address multiplexer
1096 are labeled accordingly.
The actual row and column select in the dynamic RAM memory array
1100 is preferably accomplished by the chip select memory control
1098, with the row select control signals RAS0, RAS1, RAS2, RAS3
preferably being provided to the dynamic RAM memory array 1100 from
a conventional one-to-four line multiplexer 1120, such as a
74LS139, and with the column select control signals CAS0, CAS1,
CAS2, CAS3 preferably being provided to the dynamic RAM memory
array 1100 from another conventional one-to-four line multiplexer
1122, such as a 74LS139. The connections to the corresponding row
and column select inputs of the various dynamics RAMs 1100a-1100p
comprising the dynamic RAM memory array 1100 are labeled
accordingly. The enable inputs EN to multiplexers 1120 and 1122 are
preferably provided from conventional AND/OR INVERT gate
configurations 1124 and 1126, respectively, each comprising gates
1124a, 1124b and 1124c and 1126a, 1126b and 1126c, respectively. As
shown and preferred in FIG. 3, the inputs to gate 1124a are the
system clock divided-by-twenty-one Q output of stage 1094a and the
Q output of stage 1094b while the inputs to gate 1124b are the
system clock divided-by-twenty-one Q output of stage 1094d and the
program cycle PCYCLE output of gate 1106 provided via path 1112,
with the output of gate 1124c preferably being the enable input to
multiplexer 1120 labeled TRAS. The other inputs to multiplexer 1120
are the address lines M8 and M9 from address multiplexer stage
1096e. Similarly, the inputs to gate 1126a are the system clock
divided-by-twenty-one Q output of stage 1094d and the Q output of
stage 1094b and the program cycle PCYCLE output of gate 1106
provided via path 1112, while the inputs to gate 1126b are tied to
ground, with the output of gate 1126c being the enable signal input
to multiplexer 1122 labeled TCAS which is also connected in
parallel as the C input to a conventional flip-flop 1128, such as
Fairchild 4013, which provides the data output from bulk memory 16
to microprocessor 10 via path 1042. The other inputs to multiplexer
1122 are the address register outputs AE and AF, assuming Intel
4116 RAMs are employed in the memory array 1100. In this regard,
the connections in the memory array 1100 and the chip select memory
control 1098 which are employed if Intel 4116 RAMs are employed are
shown by solid lines labeled 4116, whereas the changes in these
connections if Intel 4164 RAMs are employed in memory array 1100
are represented by dotted lines labeled 4164 in FIG. 3.
Referring now to FIG. 4 in addition to FIG. 3, the creation of the
system clock divided-by-twenty-one clock control signal for bulk
memory 16 shall be described. As was previously mentioned, this
system clock divided-by-twenty-one clock control signal is produced
from the interaction of the divide-by-three circuit 1092 and the
divide-by-seven circuit 1094. The divide-by-three circuit 1092
preferably comprises a pair of conventional J-K flip-flops 1092a
and 1092b, such as a 74LS109, tied together so as to conventionally
provide a system clock divided-by-three output via path 1140 from
the Q output of flip-flop 1092b, with the system clock, such as the
preferred 6MHz clock, signal output via path 1037 from the system
oscillator 40, being provided to the C input to flip-flop 1092a. A
typical system clock signal input is graphically illustrated in
FIG. 4. The divide-by-seven circuit 1094, as was previously
mentioned, comprises four stages 1094a-1094d, each of which is
preferably a conventional J-K flip-flop, such as a 74LS109, with
the four stages 1094a-1094d preferably being connected so as to
provide four different phase clock control signal outputs. As shown
and preferred in FIG. 4, the Q outputs of stages 1094a and 1094d
and the Q outputs of stages 1094b and 1094c are each the system
clock divided-by-twenty-one, but of different phase. FIG. 4 also
graphically illustrates the timing relationship for the refresh
cycle, the program cycle when the lower half of the address
register 1088 is provided to the memory 1100 and the program cycle
when the higher half of the address register 1088 is provided to
the memory 1100. In FIG. 4, the various timing relationships are
graphically illustrated between a typical period t.sub.0 to
t.sub.1.
Referring now to FIGS. 8-12, the preferred display portion 32 of
the system 6 of the present invention which provides both prompt
messages and visual verification of data entry shall be described
in greater detail. As shown and preferred in FIG. 8, the display 32
comprises a multidigit display unit such as a twelve digit
alphanumeric L.E.D. or light emitting diode display unit 58, which
is strobed by the microprocessor 10 while displaying data. The
display unit 58 is conventionally driven by a conventional display
digit driver circuit 54 and a conventional display segment driver
circuit 52. The display digits each preferably comprise sixteen
illuminable segments which may be selected to provide the desired
alphanumeric character in a seven segment character format.
Accordingly, a conventional sixteen bit segment register 50 is
connected between the display segment driver circuit 50 and the
control signal inputs SEGBIT and SEGCLK provided via paths 1142 and
1144, respectively, from the microprocessor 10. Similarly, a
conventional twelve bit digit register 60 is connected between the
display digit driver circuit 60 and the control signal inputs
SEGBIT and DIGSHF provided via paths 1142 and 1030, respectively,
from the microprocessor 10, with the DIGSHF control signal being
provided from microprocessor 10 via output multiplexer 1022. As
further shown and preferred in FIG. 8, the display 32 also includes
a power supply 56.
FIGS. 11 and 12 represent a typical preferred system segment
display including a decimal point DP which comes on instead of the
unused K segment. For purposes of explanation the various segments
are labeled A1, A2, B, C, D1, D2, E, F, G1, G2, H, I, J, DP, L and
M in FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 12 diagrammatically functionally
represents the sixteen bit segment register 50 with the
corresponding bits and segments which are conventionally selected
to provide the desired alphanumeric display character in the
preferred seven segment character format by selectively
illuminating various combinations of the sixteen segments
comprising the display digit or character in each of the twelve
digits of the L.E.D. display unit 58.
FIGS. 9 and 10 comprise a detailed schematic diagram of the various
portions 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 of the display 32 of FIG. 8 and
will be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art,
such as the display power supply 56 shown in greater detail in FIG.
9. Thus, the sixteen bit segment register 50 preferably comprises
five conventional shift registers 50a-50e, such as a Fairchild
4015, with the SEGCLK control signal provided via path 1144 being
connected in parallel to the C input of registers 50a-50e and with
the SEGBIT control signal provided via path 1142 being connected in
parallel to the SI input of shift register 50a. As shown and
preferred in FIG. 9, the last stage of each register 50a, 50b, 50c
and 50d is, in turn, connected in parallel to the SI input of the
next register 50b, 50c, 50d and 50e, respectively. The display
segment driver circuit 52 preferably includes conventional pull-up
resistor networks 1146, 1148 and 1150 as well as conventional
display segment drivers 52a, 52b and 52c, such as a Sprague
ULN2033A. The various interconnections of the shift registers
50a-50e to the display segment drivers 52a-52c through pull-up
resistor networks 1146, 1148 and 1150 are readily apparent from
FIG. 9 and will not be described in greater detail as is the
interconnection of the display power supply 56 and the display
segment drivers 52a-52c. Suffice it to say that the various segment
control signal output paths for the display segments A1, A2, B, C,
D1, D2, E, F, G1, G2, H, I, J, DP, L and M have been given
reference numerals 1152, 1154, 1156, 1158, 1160, 1162, 1164, 1166,
1168, 1170, 1172, 1174, 1176, 1178, 1180 and 1182, respectively, in
FIGS. 9 and 10.
Referring now to FIG. 10, the twelve digit L.E.D. display unit 58
preferably comprises display control units 58a and 58b, such as
conventional Hewlett-Packard HDSP 6504 and HDSP 6508 display
control units, respectively, with display control unit 58a
preferably relating to four of the twelve digits comprising the
twelve digit alphanumeric L.E.D. display unit 58 and with display
control unit 58b relating to the other eight digits of the twelve
digit display 58. As further shown and preferred in FIG. 10, the
display digit driver circuit 54 comprises a pair of conventional
display digit drivers 54a and 54b, such as a Sprague ULN2033A,
appropriately interconnected to display control units 58a and 58b
as shown in FIG. 10. The conventional twelve bit digit register 60,
as shown and preferred in FIG. 10, comprises three conventional
shift registers 60a-60c, such as Fairchild 4015, which are
appropriately interconnected in the manner illustrated in FIG. 10
to the display digit drivers 54a and 54b. In this regard, the
DIGSHF control signal input provided via path 1030 is preferably
connected in parallel to the C input of shift registers 60a-60c
while the SEGBIT control signal input provided via path 1142 is
preferably connected to the SI input of shift register 60a whose
last stage is, in turn, connected in parallel to the SI input of
shift register 60b whose last stage is, in turn, connected in
parallel to the SI input of shift register 60c. The various
interconnections of the shift registers 60a-60c with the display
digit drivers 54a and 54b are readily apparent from FIG. 10 and
will not be described in greater detail hereinafter as they will be
readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
The interactive market survey control functions of the system 6 of
the present invention are illustrated in the logic flow diagram of
FIGS. 19-45, which particularly illustrate the nature of the
display 32 in providing prompt messages to the user and
verification or confirmation of data input. The various possible
states of the sixteen segment alphanumeric display 32 are
summarized in FIG. 44, with the symbol "d" being representative of
a typical display digit input by the user which is verified by its
appearance in the display 32. As was previously mentioned, although
the display 32 employs a sixteen bit segment register 50, it is
preferably used to display all of the desired numeric and
alphabetic characters in a seven segment character format. The
overall operation of the system 6 will subsequently be described in
greater detail with further reference to FIGS. 19-45. However,
suffice it to say at this point that the display 32 plays an
integral part in monitoring and supervising the proper storage of
the market survey data being collected so as to minimize erroneous
data entry and thereby insure the accuracy of market survey data
collected from a shopper's panel of unsophisticated users. Thus, if
the electronic data collected were less accurate than that
collectible by prior art manual methods, it could not be employed
and would not prove beneficial even though it were inherently
faster. In other words, accuracy cannot be sacrificed for speed in
market survey data collection or any other type of statistical data
collection if the information based thereon is to be at all
meaningful. In this regard, the system 6 will not accept obviously
erroneous data, such as providing information as to STORE when the
DAY of purchase is requested, or requiring a confirmation signal
where potential confusion can occur, with the annunciator 34
providing a buzzer 1184 (FIG. 7) indication, under control of
microprocessor 10 as a result of an output control signal provided
via path 1024 such as when an erroneous data entry has been made by
the user or when a confirm (*) command has been input to the system
6, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.
By way of example, the display 32 interface with the microcomputer
10 of the system 6 can be defined in terms of the following table
which interrelates the BUZZER control signal provided via path
1142, the SEGCLK control signal provided via path 1144 and the
DIGSHF control signal provided via path 1030 as they relate to
control of the alphanumeric display 32 presentation:
______________________________________ DISPLAY INTERFACE TABLE
signal line sense use ______________________________________ BUZZER
0=silent keep 1 for at least 100ms. (annunciator) 1=sound to make
audible noise ##STR1## 1=off, 0=on Data bit for segment register if
you clock SEGCLK or or 0=off, 1=on "seed" bit for digit position
register if you clock DIGSHF SEGCLK 0=normal Bring high (1) then
low (0) 0 to 1 transition= ##STR2## "clock!" bits down one
position, and drop the last bit out into the bit bucket DIGSHF
1=on/normal Bring low to kill display power while you manipulate
0=off segments. Bring high to 0 to 1 ##STR3## transition= down one,
drop the last bit "clock!" off into the bit bucket, and bring up
the display power ______________________________________
As was previously mentioned with reference to FIGS. 1 and 13, a
barboard 29, such as twelve character barboard containing UPC
version A number system 1 labels identical in value to a number and
symbol Touch-Tone keyboard array, may preferably be employed in
conjunction with the wand 28 to input all data to the system 6.
Alternatively, as was also previously mentioned, barboard 29 may be
replaced by a conventional keyboard 69, such as a Grayhill P/N
84AC1-102 keypad, in which instance the keyboard 69 may be employed
to input supplementary market survey data in response to the prompt
messages provided via the display 32 as well as to input market
survey data not readable by the wand 28. Such a terminal 8 is
illustrated in FIG. 14. A typical preferred keyboard circuit 70 for
use in the terminal 8 of FIG. 14 is illustrated in FIG. 15.
Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, a typical type of conventional
keypad 69, such as the aforementioned Grayhill keypad, is
illustrated in FIG. 15 as being operatively connected to the
microprocessor 10, via paths 1190, 1192, 1194 and 1196, illustrated
by dotted lines since the keyboard circuit 70 is employed in place
of the presently preferred barboard 29, through a conventional
keyboard interface 1200, such as a Harris Semiconductor HD0165, and
a plurality of dual input NAND gates 1202, 1204, 1206 and 1208,
such as a Fairchild 40111, which are strobed by a conventional
keyboard strobe circuit 1210. Since the keyboard circuit 70 per se
illustrated in FIG. 15 is essentially conventional, it will not be
described in any greater detail hereinafter as it will be readily
understood by one or ordinary skill in the art.
As was previously mentioned, once the market survey data has been
input to the system 6 and stored in the memory 16, it is preferably
subsequently transmitted to a remote computer (not shown) for
processing via conventional telephone lines by means of the
acoustic coupler 30 provided with the terminal 8. Such an acoustic
coupler 30 conventionally receives a conventional telephone handset
(not shown) in a telephone handset cradle designed to hold a
standard telephone handset so as to acoustically couple the
transmitter portion of the telephone handset to the telephone lines
via a speaker 1212 (FIG. 16) located in the acoustic coupler 30
housing in acoustic contact with the telephone handset transmitter
portion. The acoustic coupler 30 is preferably connected to the
microprocessor 10 TXDATA output line 1028 via connector 36 and the
acoustic coupler driver 42 described with reference to FIG. 2. As
shown and preferred in FIG. 16, the acoustic coupler 30 may also
preferably include a light bulb indicator 1214 which visually
indicates the ON or OFF mode of the acoustic coupler 30. It should
be noted that, preferably, since the communications data output
goes to the acoustic coupler 30, the signal TXDATA via path 1028 is
preferably, by way of example, a square wave output during data
bits with a frequency of 1200Hz during a "1"bit and 2200 Hz during
a "0" bit, with the transmission over the telephone lines
preferably being at 300 baud.
The transmission of each character via the TX DATA line 1028
through the acoustic coupler 30 and telephone handset and out over
the telephone lines to the remote computer is preferably
accomplished on a character-by-character basis. Thus, starting at
the point at which the user commences a transmission of the stored
data to the remote computer, the microprocessor 10 makes the TXDATA
line 1028 a "0" for a one bit time so as to provide a start bit.
Thereafter, the TXDATA line 1028 is made a "0" or a "0" for each
data bit and parity bit, if present, for one bit time each, in the
character being transmitted from the memory 16. Of course, it
should be noted that there is normally no time between bits within
a character, with each bit time period starting at the end of the
previous bit time period. At the completion of the transmission of
the character, the microprocessor 10 preferably makes the TXDATA
line 1028 a "1" for either two bit times or not less than three bit
times to create stop bits before initiating the next start bit of
the next character being transmitted. Preferably, the order of the
data bits being transmitted is the least significant bit first and
the most significant bit last, followed by the parity bit. By way
of example, the least significant and most significant bits are
shown, in ASCII code, in the ASCII Character Set Table of FIG. 18.
A typical exemplary TXDATA line 1028 output for transmission of
such an ASCII "W" character incuding, by way of example an odd
parity, is illustrated in FIG. 17, where "LSB" represents the last
significant bit, "MSB" represents the most significant bit and
"PAR" represents the parity bit.
As was previously mentioned, the microprocessor 10 which controls
the TXDATA line 1028 transmission is the overall system controller
for the terminal 8 with respect to both data collection and storage
and data transmission of market survey data. The various I/O lines
on the microprocessor 10 have been previously described with
reference to FIG. 2. However, for purposes of clarity, the
functions of these I/O lines are summarized in the table below.
______________________________________ I/O LINE ASSIGNMENTS TABLE
BitNameGroup ______________________________________ Part 2 ##STR4##
Part 1 ##STR5## ##STR6## ______________________________________
With respect to the above exemplary rate of I/O line assignments,
six I/O lines in PORT 1 of the microprocessor 10 are preferably
used to operate the two multiplexers 1022 and 1040, with output
multiplexer 1022 preferably controlling eight lines of output and
with input multiplexer 1040 preferably controlling eight lines of
input. However, the two multiplexers 1022 and 1040 share three
common address lines ADDRESS 0, ADDRESS 1 and ADDRESS 2. The
preferred multiplex I/O control as well as the preferred multiplex
I/O assignments are summarized in the tables below with the OUT
DATA and ENABLE lines preferably being used to operate the output
line after the address is set up and with the address being set up
to select the desired input line.
______________________________________ MULTIPLEX I/O CONTROL TABLE
line sense use ______________________________________ ADDRESS 0
Binary value 0 7 Set up the address of ADDRESS 1 (1 is 1 and 0 is
0) the input or output mul- ADDRESS 2 tiplexer line you intend to
use OUT DATA 1=1 and 0=0 Value for addressed mul- tiplex output
line to take any time ENABLE is brought low (0) ;ENABLE 1=off,
addressed out- Bring low, then high, to put line keeps last latch
addressed output value it had line to value on OUT DATA line or
leave low 0=on, addressed line to operate addressed "connected" to
out- output line with the put data line OUT DATA line INPUT 1=1 and
0=0 This line is always "connected" to the currently addressed
input line This line is not af- fected by the ENABLE line
______________________________________
______________________________________ MULTIPLEX I/O ASSIGNMENTS
TABLE ad- input output dress line group line group
______________________________________ 0 BATTLO Power ROM SELECT
External Status Memory 1 BATT REPL RAM SELECT 2 RX DATA Comm.
BUZZER Feedback 3 (UNUSED) POWER CPU 10 DOWN Pwr 4 (UNUSED) TX DATA
Comm. 5 PWR DELAY Start up RTS 6 CONFIG 0 BULK DIGSHF Display
MEMORY 32 16 7 CONFIG 1 CAPACITY (UNUSED)
______________________________________
For purposes of completeness, an exemplary interactive control
program through which the microprocessor 10 supervises and controls
the overall operation of the system 6 of the present invention is
provided below in the annexed program listing, assuming that the
microprocessor configuration 10 is as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2
for an Intel 8748, 8039 or 8035, with the program being written in
Intel Assembler language and stored in the program memory
associated with the microprocessor 10.
The program listing, submitted as an annexation to the
specification, has been summarized so as to be part of the file but
is not to be printed.
OPERATION
Now that the structural details of the preferred system 6 of the
present invention have been described, the functional and user
interface aspects of the market survey data collection terminal 8
of the present invention shall be described with reference to FIGS.
19-45 which represent a flowchart of the functional operation of
the terminal 8. Preferably, there are two levels of turn-on for the
terminal 8, i.e., initial turn-on when there is no market survey
data stored in the terminal 8, and all subsequent transitions of
all the OPERATE/STANDBY switch 22 from the STANDBY mode to the
OPERATE mode. When the terminal 8 is plugged into the wall power
outlet, turning mode switch 22 to the OPERATE mode causes a
self-test if there is no data stored in memory 16. Such a test mode
sequence is illustrated in FIG. 19. During this test mode sequence,
an automatic test of internal circuitry is performed which, if
successful, results in the display of all segments, which would
cause the display of twelve 8's on the twelve digit L.E.D. display
32. If the test is unsuccessful, nothing would be displayed.
Moreover, if only partial segments are displayed this would be
indicative that portions of the display 32 were inoperable. After
the display 32 of all 8's is observed, the user would then enter a
CONFIRM command, represented by the symbol *, which would cause the
display of the word HELLO on the display 32. Similarly, when the
terminal 8 is turned on after a previous market survey data
collection and storage sequence, the test sequence is omitted and
the display 32 displays the word HELLO.
After turn-on of the terminal 8 and completion of the test
sequence, if applicable, the terminal 8 is ready for a market
survey data collection sequence. Such a market survey data
collection sequence preferably consists of a sequence of commands
and data entries in response to prompt messages appearing on the
display 32. Each entry preferably takes place in a unique machine
mode or state with the machine state for current data entry being
selected as illustrated in FIG. 45 after an entry signal which is
produced when entering data or commands. As was previously
mentioned, a summary of all machine state displays S.phi. through
S21 provided in accordance with the present invention is
illustrated in FIG. 44.
As was also previously mentioned, data entry of product data is
accomplished by the bar code wand 28 scanning of UPC labels while
data entry of panelist or user identification, DEMONSTRATION MODE
SELECT, TRANSMIT ENABLE and MEMORY ERASE ENABLE is also preferably
accomplished by bar code wand 28 scanning of the unique UPC number
system 1 labels imprinted on a separately provided panelist or user
ID (or manual digit-by-digit entry thereof). The entry of
supplementary market survey data, such as day, store, quantity,
price, special and cents off, or the command signals confirm * or
reset # is preferably accomplished by bar code wand 28 scanning of
the barboard 29 array of UPC number system 1 bar code labels
arrayed as a Touch-Tone keyboard on a permanently imprinted
faceplate in the embodiment of FIG. 13, or by keying the
appropriate numerical or command data from the conventional 12 key.
Touch-Tone telephone keyboard 69 in the embodiment of FIG. 14.
Preferably, none of the labels or codes on the panelist or user ID
card or the barboard 29 are valid UPC product labels so that there
can be no confusion by the system 6 between these labels or codes
and the actual UPC product identifiers.
With respect to identification to the system 6 of the user or
panelist inputting the market survey data, this is preferably
accomplished following confirmation of all 8's (state S.phi. in
FIG. 20). Thus, as shown and preferred in FIGS. 21 and 22, the next
step (steps S1 and S2) involved is to scan the panelist
identification number on the panelist identification card with wand
28. If entered successfully, a tone will be produced by the buzzer
34 and the 7 digit ID will be stored in memory 16 followed by
automatic display of the prompt messages HELLO and DAY shown in
FIGS. 21 and 22. Unsuccessful wand 28 reads preferably have no
effect and produce no tone by the buzzer 34.
In response to the prompt message DAY on display 32, the user or
panelist enters the day of the week in state S3, by number 1
through 7 as shown in FIG. 23. The panelist enters in the day of
the week from the keyboard 69 or barboard 29, depending on whether
the embodiment of FIG. 14 or FIG. 13 is employed. Successful entry
of this data produces a tone from buzzer 34 and results in a
display on display 32 of the day number 1 through 7, i.e. Sunday
through Saturday respectively, being displayed adjacent to "DAY"
which provides verification to the panelist of the data being
entered prior to storage thereof. Assuming this data is correct,
the panelist then enters a CONFIRM (*) command (state S4 in FIG.
24) which produces a tone from buzzer 34, terminates the
DAY-OF-WEEK mode and initiates the STORE ID display 32 as shown in
FIG. 24. If an erroneous day number had been entered by the
panelist, it may be corrected by first then entering the correct
day number prior to entering the CONFIRM (*) command.
In response to the prompt message STORE on display 32 (state S5 in
FIG. 25), the panelist enters the identification number of the
store at which the items being surveyed were purchased. Again, the
panelist enters the store number from the keyboard 69 or barboard
29 depending on the embodiment employed. Successful entry of this
data results in a display on display 32 of the store number
adjacent to the prompt message STORE. This provides verification to
the panelist of the data being entered prior to storage thereof.
Assuming this data to be correct, the panelist then enters a
CONFIRM (*) command (state S6 in FIG. 26) which produces a tone
from buzzer 34, termination of the STORE ID display as shown in
FIG. 26 and produces the product code entry prompt message display
UPC on display 32. Again, it is noted that store number entries can
be continually entered to correct an error any time prior to entry
of the CONFIRM (*) command. At this point, the terminal 8 is now
ready for entry of market survey product data.
In entering such product data, the first data entered is
identification of the product by its UPC code in response to the
UPC prompt message display on display 32. This UPC product
information is normally preferably entered into the system 6 by
scanning of the UPC product label with the wand 28. Entry of a
product label (state S7 in FIG. 27) results in the UPC product code
being entered followed by a tone from buzzer 34 and automatic
sequencing to the units/price prompt message display, "U.sub.------
For.sub.------.------ " on display 32 with the first two
underscores preferably blinking to indicate or prompt the panelist
as to the first field to be entered as shown in FIG. 27. If the UPC
product label cannot be read for some reason with the wand 28, the
human readable numeric data from the product label may be entered
manually, digit-by digit, starting with the UPC number system digit
in the left margin of the label and continuing left to right,
digit-by-digit, until all seven (zero-suppressed) or eleven digits
are entered via the keyboard 69 or barboard 29. If the UPC number
system digit is omitted then only 6 or 10 digits are entered with
the zero system automatically supplied, otherwise 7 or 11 digits
are recognized and stored. Entry of more than eleven digits will be
ignored and the display 32 will retain the first eleven entries
until a CONFIRM (*) or RESET (#) command (see FIG. 28). It should
be noted that entry of the check digit is impractical since it is
not always human readable from the label and therefore no check on
the validity of the numeric entry can be made except as to correct
number of digits. An ASCII symbol is preferably inserted in place
of the check digit for later recognition of manual entry of a UPC
label.
Referring once again to the units/price prompt message display, in
response thereto, the panelist enters the number of units, digit-by
digit, most significant to least significant. The digits are then
shifted into the two character field from the right as on a
conventional calculator. The first digits entered replace the
blinking underscores and subsequent digits entered replace the
previously entered digits. Entry of the first digit is preferably
accomplished in state S9, illustrated in FIG. 29, while entry of
subsequent digits and confirmation is preferably accomplished in
state S10, illustrated in FIG. 30. The "quantity" underscores in
the units/price prompt message display will preferably blink and so
will the entered data which has replaced the underscores. If the
number of items or units is correct, the CONFIRM (*) command (state
S10 in FIG. 30) is then entered which results in a tone from buzzer
34 and the price section of the units/price prompt message display
32 then commences blinking to prommpt the panelist that this field
is to be filled. The panelist then preferably enters the price
(state S11 in FIG. 31) as one to four digits left to right (dollars
then cents) as shown in FIG. 31. Price underscores and price data
which have replaced the blinking underscores will preferably
continue to blink until the panelist enters the CONFIRM (*)
command. The entry of the CONFIRM (*) command (state S12 in FIG.
32) terminates the UNIT QUANTITY/PRICE mode and preferably
initiates the SPECIAL OFFER entry mode as shown in FIG. 32. It
should be noted that quantity and price entries can be continually
entered to correct an error without the need to reset.
Assuming there is a special offer on the product being surveyed,
the special offer code is entered in state S13 from the barboard 29
or keyboard 69 as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34. The specials field (3
digits) preferably displays blinking underscores on display 32 to
prompt the panelist that this field is to be filled first. If there
is no special offer on the product, a CONFIRM (*) command (state
S13) entered by the panelist will return the terminal 8 to the UPC
or STORE mode for entry of data on a different product.
Alternatively, if a special offer entry has been made, a CONFIRM
(*) command (state S14) causes the cents off (3 digits) display
underscores to blink to prompt the panelist as to the next field to
be filled.
The cents off mode (state S15 in FIG. 35) allows data entry of the
dollar value of the special offer. Preferably the underscores and
digits in the display 32 will blink until a CONFIRM (*) command
(state S15, FIG. 35) is entered resulting in a tone from buzzer 344
and display of the UPC or STORE prompt message for entry of data on
a different product. If there is no price value for the special
offer a CONFIRM (*) command will cause the display 32 to skip to
the UPC or STORE prompt message display. This returns the terminal
8 to readiness for entering the next UPC label or STORE ID in state
S16, FIG. 36. At this point, entry of a valid UPC label returns the
terminal 8 to the UPC label data entry and display (state S9 in
FIG. 28). Entering a digit from the keyboard 69 or barboard 29
results in a display of the digit in the right-most position (state
S17 in FIG. 36). Entering a CONFIRM (*) command after entry of one
or two digits (FIG. 37) will return the system 6 to the state S7
with display of the prompt message UPC. Entering a CONFIRM (*)
command after entry of 6, 7, 10 or 11 digits will return the system
6 to state S9 in which a display of the prompt message "U.sub.----
For.sub.----.---- " (FIG. 37) is provided and the sequence
previously described with reference to FIGS. 28 and 29 may be
commenced.
It should be noted that, preferably, at any point during product
data entry a RESET (#) command may be entered in which instance the
sequence illustrated in FIG. 38 will preferably be followed. As
shown and preferred in FIG. 38, in response to this RESET (#)
command the data for this product (i.e., everything since and
including the last product label) will be erased. The display 32
will then read UPC or STORE and entry of a new store code or
product label in the manner previously described may then occur.
However, if the RESET (#) command is entered immediately following
confirmation of the store code, the system 6 will then allow
re-entry of the store code.
Preferably, the operation of the system 6 as described above is
dependent on a series of defined preferred conditions. Thus, the
keyboard 69 or barboard 29 entries are preferably not accepted by
the system 6 until a CONFIRM (*) command is entered, thereby
minimizing the potential for erroneous data entry. Such a CONFIRM
(*) command preferably is acknowledged by production of a tone from
buzzer 34 and a change in the display 32. Prior to entry of the
CONFIRM (*) command, keyboard 69 or barboard 29 data entries may be
overwritten (with the exception of manual entry of product of
command labels). As stated above, entry of a RESET (#) command
during product data entry will erase all data for this product. In
addition, erroneous data entry is also minimized by preferably
displaying all data entered by the keyboard 69 or barboard 29 on
display 32 so that the user or panelist may verify the data prior
to entry of a CONFIRM (*) command. However, preferably entry of
user identification codes or UPC labels by wand 28 do not result in
a display of the entry on display 32, nor is a CONFIRM (*) command
required. Rather, the terminal 8 preferably sounds a tone via
buzzer 34 and displays the next prompt message on display 32. All
other entries, as stated above, require a CONFIRM (*) command to be
entered. Another area for potential erroneous data entry could
occur if the user attempted to enter data when the memory 16 was
full, thus resulting in overwritten or lost data. In order to avoid
this problem, if the memory 16 is full at any time during product
entry; that is the memory 16 cannot store another complete market
survey trans-action, then the terminal 8 will automatically display
a prompt message FULL on display 32, which prompt message will
preferably blink to insure the user is alerted (see FIGS. 19, 33,
38). If this occurs, the terminal 8 or system 6 is then in state
S18 (FIG. 39) in which the terminal 8 is ready to transmit the
stored market survey data to the remote computer via telephone
lines through a telephone handset and the acoustic coupler 30. At
this point, entry of a CONFIRM (*) command, after the terminal 8 is
properly coupled to the telephone line, will begin
transmission.
In this transmission mode, once connection is made to the remote
computer via the telephone link, the panelist preferably wands the
TRANSMIT ENABLE code on the panelist ID card with the wand 28
(state S18, FIG. 39). The terminal 8 then displays a blinking
prompt message GO on display 32. If the panelist then enters the
CONFIRM (*) command, the system 6 then sends all stored data to the
remote computer over the telephone link. The format of this
transmission is preferably as follows:
______________________________________ ID 1XXXXXXX[CR][LF] where
[CR] = carriage return, DAY 2X[CR][LF] [LF]=line feed STORE 3XX
[CR][LF] and X,Q,P,S & V are typical data characters UPC
4XXXXXXXXXXXXQQPPPPSSVVV[CR][LF]
______________________________________
At the completion of this data transmission the display 32
preferably displays the prompt message GO or ERASE with the message
GO preferably blinking (state S19, FIGS. 40, 41). Preferably, the
display 32 is off during the above transmission. After the prompt
message GO or ERASE is displayed, the panelist can either
retransmit by reentering the CONFIRM (*) command or can erase
memory 16 in preparation for a new data collection sequence. If the
panelist desires to now erase memory 16, this may preferably be
accomplished by wanding the ERASE MEMORY ENABLE code on the
panelist ID card with wand 28. The display 32 will then preferably
blink the prompt message ERASE? (state S21, FIG. 42). If the
panelist then enters the CONFIRM (*) command, the terminal 8 will
then preferably erase memory 16 and automatically perform the
self-test illustrated in FIG. 19, ending in an all 8's display
S.phi. (FIG. 43) on display 32. At this point, the terminal 8can
preferably be switched to STANDBY or immediately used in another
market survey data collection sequence with entry of a CONFIRM (*)
command. It should be noted that, preferably, the ERASE MEMORY
ENABLE command will be ignored by the system 6 until there has been
at least one data transmission from the terminal 8.
If desired, the system 6 may be employed in a DEMONSTRATION mode in
which case no data is stored or altered in the memory 16 during the
DEMONSTRATION sequence. To enter this mode, the panelist preferably
scans a DEMO code instead of a PANELIST IDENTIFICATION code and the
above described sequence commences as referred to in FIG. 22 with
the exception that no data is stored or altered in memory 16.
Summarizing the presently preferred market survey data collection
method of the present invention using the system 6 of the present
invention, various commands and market survey data are entered into
the system 6 using the wand 28 and either the barboard 29 or
keyboard 69 depending whether the embodiment of FIG. 13 or FIG. 14
is employed, with both the entry and transmission sequence prompted
by automatically displayed prompt messages. In following the
presently preferred market survey data collection sequence,
assuming the terminal 8 has been initialized, the panelist enters
his or her identification code via the wand 28 and/or barboard 29
and/or keyboard 69 so that the source of the data canb be
identified including associated demographic information if desired.
The next prompt message displayed is DAY in response to which the
panelist enters the numeric equivalent 1 through 7 corresponding to
the day of the week via the wand 28 and/or barboard 29 and/or
keyboard 69. This number appears in the display, is verified by the
panelist who then enters a CONFIRM (*) command which causes storage
of this information and display of the next prompt message STORE.
In response to display of the STORE prompt message, the panelist,
using the wand 28 and barboard 29 and/or keyboard 69, then enters
the number corresponding to the store at which the product was
purchased, verifies this information in the display, and then
enters a CONFIRM (*) command which causes storage of the
information and display of the next prompt message UPC. This
completes the product demographics phase of the market survey data
collection sequence for each of the products purchased at that
store. The terminal 8 is now ready to begin the product data
collection phase which includes identification of each of the
products by universal product code of UPC and provision of
supplementary market survey data about each product, namely
quantities, prices, and special offers, if any.
The following sequence of steps is preferably performed for each
product purchased at the store identified in response to the STORE
prompt message. In response to the UPC prompt message display, the
panelist scans the UPC product label to enter and store the UPC
code, unless the code is unscannable and must be entered via the
barboard 29 or keyboard 69. Entry of the UPC code causes display of
the next prompt message "U.sub.---- For.sub.----.-- " in which "U"
relates to the price of each product. The two underscores after "U"
in the display blink to prompt the panelist to enter this
information first, the panelist then enters this information via
the barboard 29 or keyboard 69, verifies the quantity information
entered in the display and enters a CONFIRM (*) command which
causes storage of this information and causes the underscores after
"For" in the display to blink, prompting the panelist to now enter
the price information. The panelist then enters the price
information via the barboard 29 or keyboard 69, verifies the price
information entered in the display and enters a CONFIRM (*) command
which causes storage of this information and causes a display of
the next prompt message SP.sub.---- OFF.sub.--.----, in which "SP"
represents one of a predetermined quantity of available special
offers, such as 16, and "OFF" represents the price or value of the
special offer. As was previously mentioned, at any time prior to
entry of the associated CONFIRM (#) command, if the data input
being verified in the display is incorrect, it may be corrected
merely by "overwriting" the data without the need to enter a RESET
(#) command. If there is a special offer for the product the
panelist first enters the code corresponding to the special offer
in response to the underscores after the "SP" blinking in the
display. The panelist verifies this data and enters a CONFIRM (*)
command which causes storage of this information and causes the
underscores after "OFF" to blink. If in response to this, the
panelist enters the value of the special offer, verifies this data
in the display and enters a CONFIRM (*) command, this causes
storage of this information and causes display of the next prompt
message UPC or STORE signaling initiation of a new transaction for
a new product. If there is no special offer associated with that
product, the panelist next enters a CONFIRM (*) command which
causes the terminal 8 to recycle to accept market survey data
pertaining to the new product and causes the prompt message UPC or
STORE to be displayed. In either event, if the new product was
purchased at the same store as the previously entered product, the
panelist scans the UPC product label on the new product and repeats
the above cycle. If, however, the new product was purchased at a
different store from the previous product, the panelist then enters
the new store number and continues as above. It should be noted
that if the memory is full at the completion of a transaction for a
product, that is, that the memory 16 cannot store another complete
transaction, the display 32 will display the prompt message FULL at
the completion of the last acceptable transaction. At such a point,
or when requested, the panelist may then transmit the stored market
survey data to the remote computer via the telephone link as
previously described.
Thus, as can be seen from the foregoing, by utilizing the market
survey data collection method and system of the present invention,
market survey data mey be rapidly collected and transmitted for
analysis over a widespread geographic area with a minimum of time
and potential error.
* * * * *