Method of and arrangement for minimizing power consumption and data latency of an electro-optical reader in a wireless network
First Claim
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1. A method of minimizing power consumption of a battery-operated, wireless reader for electro-optically reading machine-readable indicia, and of minimizing latency of data generated by, and transferred from, the reader to a wireless data collection terminal remote from the reader, comprising the steps of:
- a) incorporating a controller and a radio in each of the reader and the terminal;
b) operating the reader to read indicia in a reading mode in which data related to the indicia is generated;
c) commanding the radio in the reader by the controller in the reader to enter a low power mode when the reader is not in the reading mode, thereby minimizing power consumption of the reader, and to automatically enter a full power mode when the reader is in the reading mode and has generated the data; and
d) automatically transferring the data generated by the reader to the terminal after the radio has entered the full power mode, thereby minimizing data latency.
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Abstract
Battery power consumption and data transfer latency of an electro-optical reader in a wireless network are minimized by turning a radio off in a default state, and by turning the radio on only after the reader has generated data to be transferred along the network.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of minimizing power consumption of a battery-operated, wireless reader for electro-optically reading machine-readable indicia, and of minimizing latency of data generated by, and transferred from, the reader to a wireless data collection terminal remote from the reader, comprising the steps of:
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a) incorporating a controller and a radio in each of the reader and the terminal;
b) operating the reader to read indicia in a reading mode in which data related to the indicia is generated;
c) commanding the radio in the reader by the controller in the reader to enter a low power mode when the reader is not in the reading mode, thereby minimizing power consumption of the reader, and to automatically enter a full power mode when the reader is in the reading mode and has generated the data; and
d) automatically transferring the data generated by the reader to the terminal after the radio has entered the full power mode, thereby minimizing data latency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An arrangement for minimizing power consumption of a battery-operated, wireless reader for electro-optically reading machine-readable indicia, and for minimizing latency of data generated by, and transferred from, the reader to a wireless data collection terminal remote from the reader, comprising:
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a) a controller and a radio in each of the reader and the terminal;
b) means for actuating the reader to read indicia in a reading mode in which data related to the indicia is generated;
c) means for commanding the radio in the reader by the controller in the reader to enter a low power mode when the reader is not in the reading mode, thereby minimizing power consumption of the reader, and to automatically enter a full power mode when the reader is in the reading mode and has generated the data; and
d) means for automatically transferring the data generated by the reader to the terminal after the radio has entered the full power mode, thereby minimizing data latency. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of minimizing power consumption of a battery-operated, wireless reader for electro-optically reading machine-readable indicia, and of minimizing latency of data generated by, and transferred from, the reader to a wireless data collection terminal remote from the reader, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) establishing a wireless network between the reader and the terminal by incorporating a controller and a radio in each of the reader and the terminal;
b) operating the terminal as a master by periodically transmitting radio frequency signals from the terminal and listening for radio frequency responses;
c) operating the reader to read indicia in a reading mode in which data related to the indicia is generated;
d) commanding the radio in the reader by the controller in the reader to enter a low power mode when the reader is not in the reading mode, thereby minimizing power consumption of the reader, and to automatically enter a full power mode when the reader is in the reading mode and has generated the data; and
e) operating the reader as a slave by receiving the signals transmitted by the master, and by automatically transferring the data generated by the reader to the master after receipt of one of the transmitted signals and after the radio has entered the full power mode, thereby minimizing data latency. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification