Weighing instrument using a general-purpose computer as the primary display and data entry

Abstract

A commercial-transaction weighing instrument () subject to W&M legal controls, configured with a weighing platform (), at least one load cell (), a controller () with weight-processing () and communications () modules, and software to be implemented on a general-purpose computer with display and data entry capabilities. The general-purpose computer itself is not subject to legal controls. The weight-processing module receives data from the at least one load cell and generates output data in the nature of weight and legally-required weighment information. The communications module receives the output data of the weight-processing module and further transmits the data to a general-purpose computer (). Software implemented on the general-purpose computer has program code for establishing encrypted bidirectional communication with the communications module and to operate as the primary display device for the weighing instrument. Software implemented on the general-purpose computer also has program code for transmitting signals from the general-purpose computer to the communications module in the nature of data or instructions for the weight processing module.