Spreadsheet-Based Application Generation for Data Collection Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data collection devices, such as handy terminals, require technical knowledge to create application software for specific data collection tasks, making it difficult and costly for non-experts to create applications for various data types, and existing solutions are not user-friendly for those without programming experience.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a data processing device, a cradle, a label printer, and a handy terminal that uses a spreadsheet software to generate application definitions, allowing users to define data items and create operation menus and applications easily, with barcode labels for data collection and storage, enabling efficient data collection and recording without specialized programming knowledge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If application software is created using special program tools, then application creation efficiency is improved, but operation difficulty increases due to requiring special knowledge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a spreadsheet software as an intermediary tool between the user and the data collection device. The spreadsheet software generates application definitions that are then transferred to the data collection device, eliminating the need for users to directly use complex program tools. This mediator approach maintains high application creation efficiency while significantly reducing operation difficulty for non-experts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses spreadsheet files as simplified copies or representations of application definitions. Instead of requiring users to work with complex program tool interfaces, the system allows users to create and modify application definitions using familiar spreadsheet formats, which are then copied to the data collection device for execution.
2Adaptability or versatility
If application software is created for different data types, then data collection versatility is improved, but creation cost increases due to requiring technical knowledge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the data collection device universally adaptable to different data types by using a standardized interface approach. The device can execute various application definitions generated from different spreadsheet files, allowing it to handle multiple data types (barcodes, RFID, magnetic strips, etc.) through a single unified system rather than requiring separate specialized applications for each data type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables versatility through parameter changes in the application definitions rather than structural changes to the device itself. By modifying parameters in spreadsheet files (such as data type specifications, collection methods, and processing rules), the same data collection device can be adapted to handle different data types without requiring physical reconfiguration or specialized programming knowledge.
3Adaptability or versatility
If program tools are used for application creation, then application functionality is improved, but user accessibility deteriorates due to lack of special knowledge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the application creation process into two distinct parts: (1) creating application definitions using simple spreadsheet software that non-experts can easily use, and (2) transferring these definitions to the data collection device for execution. This segmentation allows users without programming knowledge to perform the first part while the system handles the second part, maintaining high functionality while improving accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The spreadsheet software acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between non-expert users and the sophisticated data collection device. Users interact with the familiar spreadsheet interface to define their data collection needs, and the system automatically translates these definitions into executable applications, making advanced functionality accessible to ordinary users.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Disclosed is an application software generation device to generate an application software for a data collection device having a reading unit to read discrimination information to carry out collection of data based on the discrimination information including a table data generation unit to generate table data for defining arbitrary items, an application software generation unit to generate an application software which is executed by the data collection device in order to collect the data based on the item which is defined in the table data and a transfer unit to transfer the generated application software to the data collection device.