Customizable optical reader

• US 20030209605A1
• Filed: 03/28/2003
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Livingston, Joseph, Hussey, Robert M., Robinson, Michael D., Holzhauer, David, Keys, Barry, Fauth, Dieter, Walczyk, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 6,959,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1017 Programmable
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10851 Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device basic electronic circuitry H03

Abstract

An optical reader, which is operable in a “host commands” mode and a “host routines” mode. In the “host commands” mode, the reader receives and executes a script routine module from a host. In the “host routines” mode, the reader receives a script routine Module identifier from the host, and the reader, in turn, executes a selected one of a plurality of reader-stored script routine modules based on the identifier.

Claims

1. An optical reader comprising:

an imaging assembly;

a memory;

a script interpreter resident on said memory;

a plurality of selectively actuatable script routine modules stored in said memory; and

a control circuit is programmed to operate in a “

host commands”

mode, and a “

host routines”

mode,

wherein said control circuit, while operating in said “

host commands”

mode receives a script routine module transmitted from an external host, and executes said host-transmitted script routine module without actuating one of said selectively actuatable memory stored script routine modules;

wherein said control circuit while operating in said “

host routines”

mode during execution of said script execution section selects and executes one of said plurality of selectively actuatable script routine modules stored on said control circuit.

2. The reader of claim 1, wherein said reader while operating in said “

host routines”

mode receives a script routine module identifier from said host.

3. The reader of claim 2, wherein said identifier is in the form of a script instruction which when executed by said control circuit causes actuation of one of said memory stored script routine modules.

4. The reader of claim 1, wherein said reader is gun style.

5. The reader of claim 1, wherein said reader is in the form factor of a transaction terminal.

6. The reader of claim 1, wherein said reader is configured to be driven into either of said ‘

host commands’

mode or said “

host routines”

mode via user actuation of a control button.

7. The reader of claim 1, wherein said control circuit is further programmed to operate in a “

reader resident”

mode, wherein said reader when executing a main operating program while operating in a “

reader resident”

mode does not receive any of a script instruction, script routine module, or an identifier from an external host.

8. The reader of claim 1, wherein reader is configured to receive and store user authored script instructions, such that said memory stored script routine modules are user authored script routine modules.

9. The reader of claim 1, wherein said one of said memory stored script routine modules configures said reader to operate in an inventory application.

10. The reader of claim 1, wherein said one of said memory stored script routine modules configures said reader to operate in a shipping application.

11. The reader of claim 1, wherein said one of said memory stored script routine modules configures said reader to operate in an inventory application and wherein one of said memory stored script routine modules configures said reader to operate in a shipping application.

12. An optical reader comprising:

a portable housing;

a control circuit disposed in said portable housing operable in a first “

host commands”

mode and a second “

host routines”

mode;

a memory;

a script interpreter resident on said memory;

a main program stored in said memory,

wherein said reader in said “

host commands”

mode receives a script routine module from said host and executes said script routine module, and

wherein said reader in said “

host routines”

mode receives a script routine module identifier from said host, and executes a selected one said user-authored script routine modules based on said identifier.

13. The reader of claim 12, wherein said reader while operating in said “

host routines”

mode further establishes a pointer based on a identity of said identifier received from said host.

14. The reader of claim 12, wherein said script routine module identifier received during said “

host routines”

mode comprises fewer bits of data than said script routine mode received during said “

host commands”

mode.

15. The reader of claim 12, wherein said identifier is in the form of a script instruction which when executed by said control circuit causes actuation of one of said memory stored script routine modules.

16. The reader of claim 12, wherein said reader is gun style.

17. The reader of claim 12, wherein said reader is in the form factor of a transaction terminal.

18. The reader of claim 12, wherein said reader is configured to be driven into either of said “

host commands”

mode or said “

host routines”

mode via user actuation of a control button.

19. The reader of claim 12, wherein said control circuit is further programmed to operate in a “

reader resident”

mode, wherein said reader when executing a main operating program while operating in a “

reader resident”

mode does not receive any of a script instruction, script routine module, or an identifier from an external host.

20. The reader of claim 12, wherein said reader is configured to be worn on a user'"'"'s finger.

21. An optical reader network comprising:

a plurality of optical readers, each having a memory and a script interpreter interpreting script routine modules;

a host in communication with each of said plurality of optical readers;

a main program executable by each of said optical readers, wherein said host is utilized to program each of said plurality of readers to have a common main program;

a plurality of script routine modules stored on each of said reader memories;

a first mode in which at least one of said plurality of readers executes a script routine without executing one of said plurality of script routine modules; and

a second mode in which at least one of said plurality of readers receives a script routine module identifier from said host and establishes a pointer installing at least one of said script routine modules in response to said identifier received from said host.

22. The reader network of claim 21, wherein said network is configured so that said plurality of readers sharing a common main program are programmed to include a common main program via a command initiated by a user utilizing a graphical user interface.

23. The reader network of claim 21, wherein said network is configured so that a user initiated command input into said host switches operation of each of said plurality of readers from said first mode to said second mode.

24. The reader network of claim 21, wherein said host includes a base and a host computer.

25. The reader network of claim 21, further including a customer service network maintained by a manufacturer/supplier of said readers, wherein said network is configured so that operating programs can be sent from said customer service network to said host.