An object identification and attribute information tracking and linking computer
system for connection to the communication medium of a data communication network.
The object identification and attribute information tracking and linking computer
system comprises a housing; a first set of programmable data input ports, which
is provided through the exterior of the housing, for connection to one or more
object identification data generating sources and capable of receiving object identity
data elements from the one or more of object identification data generating sources
using a networking protocol, wherein the object identification data generating
source is disposed external to the housing; a second set of programmable data input
ports which is provided through the exterior of the housing, for connection to
one or more object attribute data generating sources and is capable of receiving
object attribute data elements from one or more object attribute data generating
sources using the networking protocol; and a data element queuing, handling, processing
and linking mechanism, which is provided in operable association with the first
and second programmable data input ports, for enabling the automatic queuing, handling,
processing, linking and transporting each input object identification data element,
and one or more object attribute data elements linked thereto, to a database subsystem
operably connected to the data communication network for storage and subsequent retrieval.
