Reprogramming system and method for devices including programming symbol

• US 8,196,832 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Soule, Robert M. III, Berthiaume, Guy H., Caballero, Aldo Mario, Conti, Brian V., Harper, Jeffrey Dean, Hooks, Larry K., Meggitt, Adam Edward, Sauerwein, James T. Jr., Yeakley, Daniel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, TUYEN KIM
• Application Number:
  US12/070,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20080203167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/383, 235/385, 235/472.03, 23546201-47201
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/13 File access structures, e.g. distributed indices arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2007/10524 Hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1413 1D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1473 error correction

Abstract

A system and method is provided wherein a device can be reprogrammed utilizing one or more programming symbols. A device subject to reprogramming can be a portable device. In one embodiment a device subject to reprogramming can be a portable symbol reading device capable of reading programming symbols.

Claims

1. A method for inputting data into a bar code reading device, said method comprising:

downloading a file from a remote computer, said remote computer connected to a network operated by one of;

a manufacturer of said bar code reading device or a supplier of said bar code reading device;

successively generating a plurality of bar codes at a fixed position by display of the plurality of bar codes on a display, wherein the plurality of bar codes encode file data of said file;

orienting the bar code reading device to read indicia at said fixed position; and

operating said bar code reading device to continuously read bar codes, so that said bar code reading device reads each of said plurality of successively generated bar codes, wherein the bar code reading device is configured to read the plurality of bar codes without relative movement between the display and the device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said operating step includes the step of holding down a trigger.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said operating step includes the step of repetitively actuating a trigger.

4. The method of claim 1, further including the step of placing said reader on a stand.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of bar codes encode file data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of bar codes are formatted in an animation file.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of bar codes are formatted in a .GIF file.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of bar codes are transmitted from a remote location.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of bar codes are transmitted from a remote location and, wherein the plurality of bar codes encode file data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of bar codes encode file data of a single formatted file.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a result of the operating step is that a formatted file is stored on said bar code reading device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of bar codes encode file data, and wherein a result of the operating step is that a formatted file is stored on said bar code reading device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said method includes the step of selecting a formatted file, and wherein said plurality of bar codes encode file data of said formatted file.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said method includes the step, prior to said successively generating step, of selecting a formatted file stored on a computer other than said bar code reading device, wherein said plurality of bar codes include file data of the formatted file, and wherein a result of the operating step is that the formatted file is stored on the bar code reading device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the computer is portable.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the computer is a PC.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the computer is a device that displays the plurality of bar codes by successively generating the plurality of bar codes at a fixed position.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one formatted file is an executable file.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the formatted file is over 10KB in size.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

presenting to a user of said bar code reading device an information input form;

automatically submitting said information input form to a second remote computer connected to said network.

21. A bar code data reading system comprising:

a display equipped device operated to successively display a plurality of bar codes at a fixed position on said display, wherein the plurality of bar codes encode file data of at least one formatted file; and

at least one reader oriented at a location so that said reader can read bar codes at said fixed position, wherein said reader is operated to continuously read bar codes at said fixed position, wherein said at least one reader is configured to read bar codes without relative movement between the display and the at least one reader

wherein said at least one formatted file is downloaded from a remote computer by said display equipped device, said remote computer connected to a network operated by one of a manufacturer of said at least one reader or a supplier of said at least one reader.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said at least one reader is a plurality of readers, each being oriented at said fixed position.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said at least one reader is configured to operate in a continuous scan mode, and is operated in said continuous scan mode.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein said at least one reader is operated to continuously read bar codes at said fixed position by holding down a trigger.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein said at least one reader is operated to continuously read bar codes at said fixed position by repetitively actuating a trigger.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein said system includes a stand holding said reader.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein said display is disposed on a portable device that includes a connector sleeve aiding a connection between a motherboard and a radio circuit board therein, the radio circuit board having a radio communication link for use in receiving data.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein there is encoded in displayed bar code data displayed on the display, path information, wherein the at least one reader is operative to store the at least one formatted file in a file directory in accordance with said path information.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein the display is disposed on a display equipped apparatus, wherein the display equipped apparatus is operative to vary a count of the plurality of bar codes responsively to a size of data to be encoded by the plurality of bar codes.

30. A method for inputting data by a mobile reading device, said method comprising:

downloading to a portable device a file containing one or more decodable symbols from a remote computer, said portable device having a display, said remote computer connected to a network operated by one of;

a manufacturer of said mobile reading device or a supplier of said mobile reading device;

successfully displaying said one or more decodable symbols on the display of said portable device;

reading said one or more decodable symbols by said mobile reading device.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said one or more decodable symbols are provided by one or more bar code symbols.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of decoding said one or more decodable symbols by said mobile reading device.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein said step of downloading to a portable device a file is performed via a wireless communication interface of said portable device.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein said file has a file type selected from the group consisting of:

a PDF file, a WPD file, and an XML file.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein said portable device is provided by one of:

a cellular phone, a PDA, or a portable data terminal (PDT).

36. A decodable symbol reading system comprising:

a display equipped portable device operated to download a file containing one or more decodable symbols and to successively display said one or more decodable symbols at a fixed position on said display; and

a mobile reading device operated to read said one or more decodable symbols;

wherein said file is downloaded by said display equipped portable device from a remote computer connected to a network operated by one of;

a manufacturer of said mobile reading device or a supplier of said mobile reading device.

37. The decodable symbol reading system of claim 36, wherein said one or more decodable symbols are provided by one or more bar code symbols.

38. The decodable symbol reading system of claim 36, wherein said display equipped portable device comprises a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a wireless communication interface.

39. The decodable symbol reading system of claim 36, wherein said display equipped portable device comprises a CPU, a memory, and a wireless communication interface;

and

wherein said display equipped portable device is configured to download said file via said wireless communication interface.

40. The decodable symbol reading system of claim 36, wherein said file has a file type selected from the group consisting of:

a PDF file, a WPD file, and an XML file.

41. The decodable symbol reading system of claim 36, wherein said mobile reading device is configured to display a message responsive to reading said one or more decodable symbols.

42. The decodable symbol reading system of claim 36, wherein said mobile reading device is provided by one of:

a gun-style hand held reader, a hand held reader disposed in a stand, a pen reader, or a digital camera.

43. The decodable symbol reading system of claim 36, wherein said display equipped portable device is provided by one of:

a cellular phone, a PDA, or a PDT.