Method for updating indicia readers

• US 7,552,863 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Stewart, James W., Koziol, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US11/712,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20080209411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 235/435, 235/375, 235/454, 235/494, 235/462.01
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment

Abstract

A method of operating an indicia reader comprising the steps of: requesting upgrade software from a remote server; the remote server sending in response to the request an information bearing indicia (IBI) to a device local to the indicia reader; providing the IBI on a readable medium; reading the IBI; recognizing in the indicia the presence of indicia upgrade information regarding retrieval of the upgrade software; and, retrieving upgrade software from the remote server in response to the indicia upgrade information.

Claims

1. A method of operating an indicia reader comprising the steps of:

electronically requesting upgrade software from a device remote from the indicia reader;

the device electronically sending in response to the request an information bearing indicia (IBI) to a device local to the indicia reader;

providing the IBI on a readable medium;

electronically reading the IBI;

electronically recognizing in the indicia the presence of indicia upgrade information regarding retrieval of the upgrade software; and

,

electronically retrieving upgrade software from the remote device in response to the indicia upgrade information.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the retrieving step comprises:

sending instructions to the local device to retrieve the upgrade software from the remote device; and

,

sending the upgrade software from the local device to the indicia reader to thereby upgrade the reader in accordance with the upgrade software.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the retrieving step comprises:

sending upgrade software to the indicia reader from the remote device; and

,

upgrading the reader in accordance with the upgrade software.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the retrieving step comprises retrieving via the internet.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the retrieving step is accomplished via a wireless communication.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upgrade information is encrypted.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the indicia reader is an optical reader.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the retrieving step comprises retrieving from a remote processor or server.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the providing step comprises displaying the IBI on a display.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the providing step comprises printing the IBI on a printable medium.

11. An indicia reader system comprising:

an indicia reader adapted to send a software upgrade request;

a remote server adapted to receive the software upgrade request and send an information bearing indicia (IBI) in response to the request;

device local to the indicia reader adapted to receive and display the IBI on a display medium;

wherein the indicia reader reads the displayed IBI, recognizes the presence of upgrade information in the displayed indicia regarding retrieval of upgrade software and receives upgrade software from the remote server in response to the upgrade information.

12. An indicia reader system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the remote server sends the upgrade software to the indicia reader via the local device to thereby upgrade the reader in accordance with the upgrade software.

13. An indicia reader system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the remote server sends the upgrade software to the indicia reader and the reader is upgraded in accordance with the upgrade software.

14. An indicia reader system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the software upgrade request and IBI are sent via the internet.

15. An indicia reader system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the upgrade software is transmitted via a wireless communication.

16. An indicia reader system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the upgrade information is encrypted.

17. An indicia reader system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the indicia reader is an optical reader.

18. An indicia reader system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the IBI is displayed on a display.

19. An indicia reader system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the IBI is printed on a printable medium.