Method and Apparatus for Multiplexed Symbol Decoding
First Claim
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1. A symbology reader comprising:
- an imaging module having an image sensor and a lens to cooperatively provide an image of a field of view;
a data bus coupled to the imaging module;
a memory module coupled to the data bus; and
a processor coupled to the data bus, the processor comprising;
an acquisition process that controls the imaging module and the memory module to transfer the image into the memory module via the data bus;
a first decoding thread process that attempts to decode a first symbol type of the image of the field of view;
a second decoding thread process that attempts to decode a second symbol type of the image of the field of view;
wherein the first decoding thread process and the second decoding thread process execute substantially simultaneously.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for multi-threaded operation of an image-based symbology reader is provided. In the method of the invention, acquired images of an encoded symbol are attempted to be decoded using a plurality of decoding engines asynchronously and substantially simultaneously in a multi-threaded processing environment. Each of the decoding engines can be directed to a specific symbology type to achieve an improved response time when reading multiple symbol types.
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20 Claims
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1. A symbology reader comprising:
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an imaging module having an image sensor and a lens to cooperatively provide an image of a field of view; a data bus coupled to the imaging module; a memory module coupled to the data bus; and a processor coupled to the data bus, the processor comprising; an acquisition process that controls the imaging module and the memory module to transfer the image into the memory module via the data bus; a first decoding thread process that attempts to decode a first symbol type of the image of the field of view; a second decoding thread process that attempts to decode a second symbol type of the image of the field of view; wherein the first decoding thread process and the second decoding thread process execute substantially simultaneously. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for reading an encoded symbol comprising:
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acquiring an image of the encoded symbol; attempting to decode the encoded symbol from the image using a first decoding thread while asynchronously and substantially simultaneously attempting to decode the encoded symbol from the image using a second decoding thread; and reporting a result when one of the first decoding thread and the second decoding thread is successful. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for reading an encoded symbol comprising:
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acquiring a plurality of images of the encoded symbol; attempting to decode the encoded symbol from one of the plurality of images with a plurality of decoding threads substantially simultaneously and asynchronously, each of the plurality of decoding threads having an apportioning variable that distributes processing resources between each of the plurality of decoding threads and a timeout variable that renders its respective decoding thread unsuccessful if an elapsed time exceeds the timeout; and reporting a result when one of the plurality of decoding threads is successful. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification