Reading apparatus having reprogramming features
First Claim
1. A method for autodiscriminating and decoding a bar code symbol that may be of any of a plurality of different types using an optical reading apparatus of the type having an image data memory and a list of parameters that specify the operating mode of said reading apparatus, said plurality of different types of bar code symbols including 1D linear bar code symbols, and 2D matrix bar code symbols, said 2D matrix bar code symbols having finder patterns that may be of any of a plurality of different types, comprising the steps of:
- (a) reading said bar code symbol with said reading apparatus to produce a set of image data therefrom;
(b) storing the set of image data resulting from said scanning step in said image data memory;
(c) sequentially attempting to decode said set of stored image data as a 1D bar code symbol in accordance with a plurality of different 1D decoding programs, and 1.) if one of said attempts to decode said symbol as a 1D symbol is successful, outputting decoded data and then discontinuing said attempt;
or 2.) if said attempts to decode said symbol as a 1D symbol are not successful, discontinuing said attempts and proceeding to step (d) hereof;
(d) sequentially attempting to decode said symbol as a 2D symbol in accordance with a plurality of different 2D decoding programs, and 1.) if one of said attempts to decode said symbol as a 2D symbol is successful, outputting decoded data and then discontinuing said attempt;
or 2. ) if said attempts to decode said symbol as a 2D symbol are not successful, or if none of said types of finder patterns is found, discontinuing said attempts;
(e) wherein step (c) includes the steps of not attempting to decode said symbol in accordance with any one or more 1D decoding programs that are indicated to be disabled by said list of parameters; and
(f) wherein step (d) includes the steps of not attempting to decode said symbol in accordance with any one or more 2D decoding programs that are indicated to be disabled by said list of parameters.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reading apparatus is provided for scanning and decoding image data encoded in one of a plurality of types of indicia. The apparatus can include a solid state image sensor and a memory space in which image data can be stored. The apparatus can also include a decode circuit for applying a plurality of decoding programs to image data stored in the memory space. A parameter table can be provided for storing a plurality of parameters which specify permitted operating modes of the reading apparatus. A menuing program can be provided for allowing parameters of the parameter table to be changed in response to a reading of a menu symbol.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method for autodiscriminating and decoding a bar code symbol that may be of any of a plurality of different types using an optical reading apparatus of the type having an image data memory and a list of parameters that specify the operating mode of said reading apparatus, said plurality of different types of bar code symbols including 1D linear bar code symbols, and 2D matrix bar code symbols, said 2D matrix bar code symbols having finder patterns that may be of any of a plurality of different types, comprising the steps of:
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(a) reading said bar code symbol with said reading apparatus to produce a set of image data therefrom;
(b) storing the set of image data resulting from said scanning step in said image data memory;
(c) sequentially attempting to decode said set of stored image data as a 1D bar code symbol in accordance with a plurality of different 1D decoding programs, and 1.) if one of said attempts to decode said symbol as a 1D symbol is successful, outputting decoded data and then discontinuing said attempt;
or2.) if said attempts to decode said symbol as a 1D symbol are not successful, discontinuing said attempts and proceeding to step (d) hereof;
(d) sequentially attempting to decode said symbol as a 2D symbol in accordance with a plurality of different 2D decoding programs, and 1.) if one of said attempts to decode said symbol as a 2D symbol is successful, outputting decoded data and then discontinuing said attempt;
or2. ) if said attempts to decode said symbol as a 2D symbol are not successful, or if none of said types of finder patterns is found, discontinuing said attempts;
(e) wherein step (c) includes the steps of not attempting to decode said symbol in accordance with any one or more 1D decoding programs that are indicated to be disabled by said list of parameters; and
(f) wherein step (d) includes the steps of not attempting to decode said symbol in accordance with any one or more 2D decoding programs that are indicated to be disabled by said list of parameters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a reading apparatus for scanning and decoding image data encoded in one of a plurality of types of optically encoded indicia, said apparatus being of the type including a read-write random access memory space (RAMS) and at least one erasable read only memory space (EROMS), in combination:
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scanning circuit including a solid-state image sensor for scanning and storing in said RAMS image data for said optically encoded indicia;
decoding circuit for applying a plurality of decoding programs to image data stored in said RAMS to produce decoded data there from;
a parameter table, stored in at least one of said memory spaces, for storing a plurality of parameters which specify the permitted operating modes of said reading apparatus, said parameters including;
(i) a plurality of code parameters for controlling the decoding programs that may be used by said decoding circuit;
(ii) a plurality of scanning-decoding parameters for controlling the scanning and decoding activities of said scanning circuit and said decoding circuit; and
processing circuit including a menuing program for changing the parameters of said parameter table, and including a reprogramming program responsive to a program command generated by a data source external to said reading apparatus for reprogramming said apparatus;
wherein said menuing program allows a user to modify said parameter table by presenting predetermined menu symbols to said apparatus, and wherein said reprogramming program allows said external data source to control the reprogramming of said apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for enabling a user at a local facility to reprogram a portable optical reader, said system comprising:
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a host processor having a communication port adapted for communication with said optical reader;
a host memory in communication with said host processor comprising a host read-only memory device, and a host read-write memory device;
a plurality of candidate operating programs stored in said host memory space, said each operating program having an associated list of parameters stored in a predetermined memory location of said host memory space;
reading circuit, included in said host processor, for reading one of said candidate parameter tables from said host memory and writing said to said host memory;
editing circuit for editing a candidate list of parameters which has been stored in said memory, and for creating there from and edited list of parameters;
output circuit for outputting said edited list of parameters. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for enabling a user of a bar code reading device at a local facility to simulate the results of applying editing commands to a message representing a decoded message, said system comprising:
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a processor;
a memory in communication with said processor having an edit command simulation subprogram stored thereon;
message receive means programmed in said processor for enabling said processor to receive a test message;
editing command receive means, programmed in said processor, for enabling said processor to receive editing commands;
command apply means programmed in said processor so that said processor applies received editing commands to a received test message to generate an edited message;
output circuit for outputting said edited message. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. An optical reading system for aiding a user of a bar code reading device at a local facility to reprogram said bar code reading device, said system comprising an optical reader in communication with a host processor, said optical reader having a reader memory, said local host processor being in communication with a host memory space, said optical reading system comprising:
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a reader operating program stored in said reader memory space, said operating program having a main program stored in a first memory location of said reader memory space, and having a list of parameters stored in a second memory location of said reader memory;
a plurality of candidate operating programs stored in said host memory space, each of said candidate operating programs having at least one of either a main program and a parameter table;
selecting means included in said host processor for selecting one of said candidate operating programs for loading into said reader;
writing means, responsive to said selecting means, for writing said one selected candidate operating program into said reader memory space. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification