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Advanced
How To Guides
Systems Integration
Mobile Computing & Automatic Data Collection (ADC)
Mobile Computing in its most general sense refers to
the use of any computer that is not hardwired to the
central or host system with which it needs to interact.
The required interaction occurs through a wireless,
real-time connection, a batch synchronisation procedure,
or a combination of wireless and batch.
ADC (automatic data collection) refers to data entry
methods and technologies that do not use a standard
desktop keyboard. The most widely known ADC technology
is bar coding. ADC can be implemented with older, legacy
systems as well as ERP systems. ADC and Mobile Computing
commonly overlap in the world of manufacturing, distribution
and service enterprises.
Mobile
Computing and ADC Components:
- Mobile
computers that may incorporate bar code scanning.
Typical models are:
-
Handhelds (also known as PDAs (Personal Digital
Assistants))
-
Full-screen mobile PCs
-
Vehicle-mounted devices
- "Wearable"
devices
- Bar
Code Scanning
-
Bar Code printing
- Dedicated,
rugged stationary devices for use where full workstation
PCs are not appropriate.
-
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)
-
Wireless RF Networks
- Middleware
- third-party software that runs on a dedicated
server or on the host server. It manages a data
collection network that typically incorporates wired,
wireless and/or batch devices.
-
Screen Mapping - software programs which select
relevant fields from the terminal screens and reformat
them for data collection devices
The
following diagram may help to explain the relationships
among the technology and business system components
within a manufacturing / distribution enterprise. It
illustrates an approach where Mobile Computing and Automatic
Data Collection (ADC) is integrated with the corporate
ERP system.
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