Scanner with auxiliary non-volatile memory

Abstract

A radio receiver having a plurality of features programmable by a user, the data relating to the programmable features defining a set-up configuration. The radio receiver includes a housing and an auxiliary memory disposed within the housing which stores a plurality of set-up configurations. A working memory is also disposed within the housing and is configured to store the set-up configuration in use by the radio receiver.

The invention claimed is:  
     
         1 . A radio receiver having a plurality of features programmable by a user, data relating to the programmable features defining a set-up configuration, the radio receiver comprising: 
 a housing;    an auxiliary memory disposed within said housing, said auxiliary memory configured such that a plurality of set-up configurations are storable therein;    a working memory disposed within said housing, said working memory configured such that at least one of said set-up configurations for use by the radio receiver is storable in said working memory; and    wherein said radio receiver is configured to manage said plurality of set-up configurations.    
     
     
         2 . A radio receiver as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the radio receiver is configured such that a plurality of set-up configurations are stored and managed within said radio receiver without using a computer in communication with the radio receiver.  
     
     
         3 . A radio receiver as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a microprocessor disposed within said housing and in communication with said auxiliary memory, and wherein said microprocessor is configured to manage said plurality of set-up configurations.    
     
     
         4 . A radio receiver as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said working memory is controlled by said microprocessor.  
     
     
         5 . A radio receiver as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said working memory is non-volatile.  
     
     
         6 . A radio receiver as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said working memory comprises an EEPROM.  
     
     
         7 . A radio receiver as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said working memory is configured such that contents of said working memory is not lost when power is removed from the radio receiver.  
     
     
         8 . A radio receiver as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said auxiliary member is non-volatile.  
     
     
         9 . A radio receiver as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said auxiliary memory comprises an EEPROM.  
     
     
         10 . A radio receiver as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said auxiliary memory is configured such that contents of the auxiliary memory is not lost when power is removed from the radio receiver.  
     
     
         11 . A radio receiver having a plurality of features programmable by a user, data relating to the programmable features defining a set-up configuration, the radio receiver comprising: 
 a housing;    a memory disposed within said housing, said memory'storing a plurality of set-up configurations;    a working memory pointer, wherein said working memory pointer identifies the set-up configuration in use by the radio receiver; and    wherein said radio receiver is configured to manage said plurality of set-up configurations.    
     
     
         12 . A radio receiver as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the radio receiver is configured such that a plurality of set-up configurations are stored and managed without using a computer in communications with the radio receiver.  
     
     
         13 . A radio receiver as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a microprocessor configured to manage said plurality of set-up configurations.    
     
     
         14 . A radio receiver as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said memory is non-volatile.  
     
     
         15 . A radio receiver as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said memory comprises an EEPROM.  
     
     
         16 . A radio receiver as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said memory is configured such that contents of said memory is not lost when power is removed from the radio receiver.  
     
     
         17 . A method for managing multiple set-up configurations for a radio receiver comprising the steps of: 
 providing a radio receiver including a housing, an auxiliary memory disposed within said housing configured such that a plurality of set-up configurations are storable therein, a working memory disposed within said housing, said working memory storing at least one of said set-up configurations; wherein said radio receiver is configured to manage said plurality of set-up configurations; and    operating the scanner to store data relating to the multiple set-up configurations in said auxiliary memory.    
     
     
         18 . A method as defined in  claim 17 , further including the step of: 
 operating the radio receiver to retrieve data relating to one of the multiple set-up configurations from said auxiliary memory and to move said data to said working memory.    
     
     
         19 . A method for managing multiple set-up configurations for a radio receiver comprising the steps of: 
 providing a radio receiver including; a housing, a memory disposed within said housing, said memory storing a plurality of set-up configurations, wherein said radio receiver is configured to manage said plurality of set-up configurations, and a working memory pointer; and    directing said working memory pointer to identify one of said plurality of set-up configurations to be used by the radio receiver.