Object identifier readers that are configured to automatically send and/or store data read from an object identifier

• US 20050210475A1
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Inventors: Hepworth, Paul, Powell, George
• Granted Patent: US 8,001,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/310
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/465 Distributed object oriented systems remote method invocation [RMI] G06F9/548
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/009 the reader being an RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/14 Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit data transmission in general H04L; telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station H04Q9/00

Abstract

Object identifier readers that are configured to automatically send and/or store data read from an object identifier are disclosed. An exemplary object identifier reader includes a communication port for communicating with a host computing device. The object identifier reader also includes a storage medium. The object identifier reader also includes a processor and memory in electronic communication with the processor. Instructions are stored in the memory. The instructions are executable to implement a method that involves reading an object identifier to obtain data. The data may be stored in the storage medium. Alternatively, or in addition, an attempt may be made to send the data to the host computing device. The method also involves attempting to send stored data in the storage medium to the computing device if the object identifier reader is connected to the host computing device.

Claims

1. An object identifier reader, comprising:

a communication port for communicating with a host computing device;

a storage medium;

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to implement a method comprising;

reading an object identifier to obtain data;

at least one of storing the data in the storage medium and attempting to send the data to the host computing device; and

if the object identifier reader is connected to the host computing device, attempting to send stored data in the storage medium to the host computing device.

2. The object identifier reader of claim 1, wherein the data are stored in the storage medium and at least one attempt is made to send the data to the host computing device.

3. The object identifier reader of claim 1, wherein at least one attempt is made to send the data to the host computing device if the storage medium is empty, and wherein the data are stored in the storage medium if the at least one attempt fails or if the storage medium is not empty.

4. The object identifier reader of claim 1, wherein at least one attempt is made to send the data to the host computing device, and wherein the data are stored in the storage medium if the at least one attempt fails.

5. The object identifier reader of claim 4, wherein reading the object identifier is performed by a main task, and wherein the other steps of the method are performed by a data task that executes in parallel to the main task.

6. The object identifier reader of claim 4, wherein the data comprise an image, wherein reading the object identifier is performed by a main task, wherein the other steps of the method are performed by a data task, and wherein the main task and the data task execute sequentially.

7. The object identifier reader of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises clearing the stored data from the storage medium when the stored data are sent to the computing device.

8. The object identifier reader of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises attempting to connect to the host computing device if the object identifier reader is not connected to the host computing device.

9. The object identifier reader of claim 1, wherein the storage medium comprises non-volatile storage.

10. The object identifier reader of claim 9, wherein the storage medium further comprises volatile storage.

11. The object identifier reader of claim 1, further comprising an additional storage medium for storing a copy of the data as a log.

12. The object identifier reader of claim 1, further comprising saving metadata in the storage medium to differentiate buffered data from log data.

13. The object identifier reader of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises disconnecting from the host computing device if the object identifier reader is connected to the computing device and the object identifier reader does not have any data to send to the host computing device.

14. The object identifier reader of claim 1, further comprising entering a power-saving mode if the storage medium is empty or if the object identifier reader cannot connect to the host computing device after a period of time.

15. An object identifier reader, comprising:

a communication port for communicating with a host computing device;

a storage medium;

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to implement a method comprising;

reading an object identifier to obtain data;

storing the data in the storage medium;

attempting to connect to the host computing device if the object identifier reader is not connected to the host computing device; and

if the object identifier reader is connected to the host computing device, attempting to send stored data in the storage medium to the host computing device.

16. An object identifier reader, comprising:

a communication port for communicating with a host computing device;

a storage medium;

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to implement a method comprising;

reading an object identifier to obtain data;

attempting to connect to the host computing device if the object identifier reader is not connected to the host computing device;

if the storage medium is empty, making at least one attempt to send the data to the host computing device;

storing the data in the storage medium if the at least one attempt fails or if the storage medium is not empty; and

if the object identifier reader is connected to the host computing device, attempting to send stored data in the storage medium to the computing device.

17. An object identifier reader, comprising:

a communication port for communicating with a host computing device;

a storage medium;

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to implement a method comprising;

reading an object identifier to obtain data;

attempting to connect to the host computing device if the object identifier reader is not connected to the host computing device;

making at least one attempt to send the data to the host computing device;

storing the data in the storage medium if the at least one attempt fails; and

if the object identifier reader is connected to the host computing device, attempting to send stored data in the storage medium to the computing device.

18. In an object identifier reader, a method comprising:

reading an object identifier to obtain data;

at least one of storing the data in a storage medium of the object identifier reader and attempting to send the data to a host computing device; and

if the object identifier reader is connected to the host computing device, attempting to send stored data in the storage medium to the host computing device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the data are stored in the storage medium and at least one attempt is made to send the data to the host computing device.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein at least one attempt is made to send the data to the host computing device if the storage medium is empty, and wherein the data are stored in the storage medium if the at least one attempt fails or if the storage medium is not empty.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein at least one attempt is made to send the data to the host computing device, and wherein the data are stored in the storage medium if the at least one attempt fails.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein reading the object identifier is performed by a main task, and wherein the other steps of the method are performed by a data task that executes in parallel to the main task.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the data comprise an image, wherein reading the object identifier is performed by a main task, wherein the other steps of the method are performed by a data task, and wherein the main task and the data task execute sequentially.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising clearing the stored data from the storage medium when the stored data are sent to the computing device.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising attempting to connect to the host computing device if the object identifier reader is not connected to the host computing device.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising storing a copy of the data as a log in an additional storage medium.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising saving metadata in the storage medium to differentiate buffered data from log data.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises disconnecting from the host computing device if the object identifier reader is connected to the computing device and the object identifier reader does not have any data to send to the host computing device.

29. The method of claim 18, further comprising entering a power-saving mode if the storage medium is empty or if the object identifier reader cannot connect to the host computing device after a period of time.

30. In an object identifier reader, a method comprising:

reading an object identifier to obtain data;

storing the data in a storage medium of the object identifier reader;

attempting to connect to a host computing device if the object identifier reader is not connected to the host computing device; and

if the object identifier reader is connected to the host computing device, attempting to send stored data in the storage medium to the host computing device.

31. In an object identifier reader, a method comprising:

reading an object identifier to obtain data;

attempting to connect to a host computing device if the object identifier reader is not connected to the host computing device;

if a storage medium of the object identifier reader is empty, making at least one attempt to send the data to the host computing device;

storing the data in the storage medium if the at least one attempt fails or if the storage medium is not empty; and

if the object identifier reader is connected to the host computing device, attempting to send stored data in the storage medium to the computing device.

32. In an object identifier reader, a method comprising:

reading an object identifier to obtain data;

attempting to connect to a host computing device if the object identifier reader is not connected to the host computing device;

making at least one attempt to send the data to the host computing device;

storing the data in a storage medium of the object identifier reader if the at least one attempt fails; and

if the object identifier reader is connected to the host computing device, attempting to send stored data in the storage medium to the computing device.