Intelligent media reader and label printer

Abstract

A hand-held portable reader and labeling device for interrogating data storage cartridges of the type containing an in-built memory chip having information stored describing details of data contained on the data storage medium is disclosed. The reader-labeling device comprises a processor, random access memory, printer, display, keypad, operating system, transponder, receiver and battery power supply. By scrolling a menu display, key parameters describing a data cartridge can be accessed quickly and efficiently without the need to access the data storage medium itself. A cartridge media specific label may be rapidly printed for attachment to a data storage cartridge.

1 . A hand holdable portable reader device capable of reading data stored in a memory device attached to a cartridge data storage device therein said reader comprising: 
 a signal receiver means capable of receiving data signals emitted from said memory device:    a memory means capable of storing said data signals received by said receiver means;    a printer device configured to print human readable indicia determined by at least some of said data signals received by the printer device on said print media; and    a processor device operable to control said printer device to print said indicia on said print media.    
     
     
         2 - 13 . (Canceled).  
     
     
         14 . A hand-holdable portable reader device for reading data from a memory device on a data storage device, said reader device comprising: 
 a casing having a port capable of receiving a said data storage device;    reading means for reading data from said memory device of said data storage device, said reading means located in said port;    processor means configured for controlling said reading means and for accepting data signals and for accepting data signals received by said reading means;    memory means including an operating system for controlling said processor means in response to a sequence of command signals;    display means for displaying said data obtained from said reading means in a user readable format;    keyboard data entry means capable of receiving input commands for activation of menu items in said operating system; and    printer means operable under control of said processor means for printing a label in response to a user command signal input activated by said keypad data entry means, wherein said label includes at least some of the data read from the memory device of the data storage device.    
     
     
         15 . A method of enabling personnel to determine information about data stored in a memory structure of a housing having a data storage structure storing signals indicative of the information comprising the steps of: carrying by hand a hand holdable portable reader for the signals stored by the data storage structure; the hand holdable portable reader including a printer; inserting the data storage structure into a port of the portable reader; while the data storage structure is inserted into the port causing the reader to read the stored signals indicative of the information from the data storage structure; causing the printer of the reader to print a label including the information in human readable form in response to the stored signals read by the reader; and attaching the printed label including the information in human readable form to the housing.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the reader includes a display and a key pad for tactile operation by a user of the reader, the method further comprising causing the display to display to the user the information in human readable form in response to tactile operation of the key pad by the user.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising causing the display to display to the user a message requesting the user to selectively activate the printer to print the label after the display has displayed the information, the user responding to the message by tactile activating the key pad.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the reader includes a display and a key pad for tactile operation by a user of the reader, the method further comprising causing the display to display to the user the information in human readable form and causing the display to display to the user a message requesting the user to selectively activate the printer to print the label after the display has displayed the information.  
     
     
         19 . A hand holdable portable device responsive to data on a housing carrying a large capacity memory, the data being indicative of information stored in the large capacity memory, said reader comprising: 
 a hand holdable portable casing including:    (a) a port for receiving the housing;    (b) a transducer for receiving the data only while the housing is in the port;    (c) a memory for storing the data received by said transducer;    (d) a printer connected to be selectively responsive to the data stored in the memory for printing onto a print medium at least some of said information in human readable form; and    (e) a battery power supply compartment with connections for powering the receiver, memory and printer.    
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19  wherein said printer is arranged for printing said at least some of said information in human readable form on a label having a size and shape for direct attachment to said housing carrying the large capacity memory.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the data are indicative of plural aspects of the information stored in the large capacity memory, and further including a processor arranged for causing the memory to couple said data indicative of the plural aspects of the information stored in the large capacity memory to the printer, said printer being arranged for printing in human readable form the data indicative of the plural aspects of the information stored in the large capacity memory.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21  wherein said printer is arranged for printing a label including the data indicative of the plural aspects of the information stored in the large capacity memory in human readable form, the label having a size and shape for direct attachment to said housing carrying the large capacity memory.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22  wherein the casing further comprises a display and a key pad adapted to be tactile operated by a user, said processor being arranged for causing the memory to couple said data indicative of the plural aspects of the information stored in the large capacity memory to the display and for causing the key pad to selectively couple commands resulting from tactile operation of the key pad to the display and printer, the display being arranged to respond to the commands resulting from tactile operation of the key pad and said data stored in the memory indicative of the plural aspects of the information stored in the large capacity memory for activating the display for causing display in human readable form of the plural aspects of the information stored in the large capacity memory.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23  wherein the plural aspects of the information stored in the large capacity memory include (a) the name of a file in the large capacity memory, (b) the date said file was stored in the large capacity memory and (c) the amount of unused data space in the large capacity memory.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24  wherein the casing further comprises a port for connection to a computer and interface for coupling data to the port, thence to the computer.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the casing further comprises a display and a key pad adapted to be tactile operated by a user, said processor being arranged for causing the memory to couple said data indicative of the plural aspects of the information stored in the large capacity memory to the display and for causing the key pad to selectively couple commands resulting from tactile operation of the key pad to the display and printer, the display being arranged to respond to the commands resulting from tactile operation of the key pad and said data stored in the memory indicative of the plural aspects of the information stored in the large capacity memory for activating the display for causing display in human readable form of the plural aspects of the information stored in the large capacity memory.  
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the plural aspects of the information stored in the large capacity memory include (a) the name of a file in the large capacity memory, (b) the date said file was stored in the large capacity memory and (c) the amount of unused data space in the large capacity memory.  
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the casing further comprises a port for connection to a computer and an interface for coupling data to the port, thence to the computer.  
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the printer comprises a receptacle for receiving a roll of blank labels adapted to have printed thereon by the printer the information in human readable form, the blank labels having a size and shape for direct attachment to said housing for the large capacity memory.  
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 19  wherein said housing includes a further transducer for emitting a wave having a magnetic component, the further transducer being coupled with a source of the data indicative of information stored in the large capacity memory for causing the wave to carry the data indicative of information stored in the large capacity memory, said transducer of the casing being positioned and arranged to receive the wave having a magnetic component while the housing is located in the port.  
     
     
         31 . A method of enabling personnel to determine information about the contents of a large capacity memory carried by a housing, the housing carrying data indicative of the information, the method comprising the steps of: carrying by hand a hand holdable portable casing including (a) a transducer for the data indicative of the information and (b) a printer; inserting the housing into a port of the portable casing; while the housing is inserted into the port causing the transducer to read the data indicative of the information from the housing; causing the printer of the casing to print the information about the contents of the large capacity memory in human readable form in response to the read data indicative of the information about the contents of the large capacity memory; and putting the printed information in human readable form about the contents of the large capacity memory on the housing.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the printer prints the information about the contents of the large capacity memory in human readable form on a label, and applying the printed label to the housing.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the casing includes a display and a key pad for tactile operation by a user of the casing, the method further comprising causing the display to display to the user the information in human readable form about the contents of the large capacity memory in response to tactile operation of the key pad by the user.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising causing the display to display to the user a message requesting the user to selectively activate the printer to print the label after the display has displayed the information, the user responding to the message by tactile activating the key pad.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the information about the contents of the large capacity memory includes (a) the name of a file in the large capacity memory, (b) the date said file was stored in the large capacity memory and (c) the amount of unused data space in the large capacity memory, and the printer and display are activated to print and display (a) the name of the file in the large capacity memory, (b) the date said file was stored in the large capacity memory and (c) the amount of unused data space in the large capacity memory.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the information about the contents of the large capacity memory includes (a) the name of a file in the large capacity memory, (b) the date said file was stored in the large capacity memory and (c) the amount of unused data space in the large capacity memory, and the printer and display are activated to print and display (a) the name of the file in the large capacity memory, (b) the date said file was stored in the large capacity memory and (c) the amount of unused data space in the large capacity memory.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the information about the contents of the large capacity memory includes (a) the name of a file in the large capacity memory, (b) the date said file was stored in the large capacity memory and (c) the amount of unused data space in the large capacity memory, and the printer is activated to print (a) the name of the file in the large capacity memory, (b) the date said file was stored in the large capacity memory and (c) the amount of unused data space in the large capacity memory.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the data indicative of the information are loaded in an erasable low capacity memory of the housing, and changing the data loaded in the erasable low capacity memory indicative of the amount of unused data space in the high capacity memory as changes occur in the high capacity memory.