Encoded information reading terminal with user-configurable multi-protocol wireless communication interface

• US 8,708,236 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2012
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Ynjiun P., Qu, Huyu, Sauerwein, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D
• Application Number:
  US13/430,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20120234910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.44, 235/462.45, 235/462.46, 235/462.25, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/472.03
• US Class Current: 235/462.25
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/01 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/401 for selecting or indicating operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/06 Transport layer protocols, e.g. TCP [Transport Control Protocol] over wireless transmission control protocol/Internet protocol [TCP/IP] or user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

An encoded information reading (EIR) terminal can comprise a microprocessor, a memory, an (EIR) device, and a wireless communication interface. The EIR device can be provided by a bar code reading device, an RFID reading device, and/or a card reading device. The EIR device can be configured to perform outputting raw message data containing an encoded message and/or outputting decoded message data corresponding to an encoded message. The wireless communication interface can comprise a radio frequency front end configured to perform receiving a first radio signal and/or transmitting a second radio signal. The radio frequency front end can be electrically coupled to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) which can be electrically coupled to the system bus and/or to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) which can be electrically coupled to the system bus. The microprocessor can be configured to execute a base-band encoder software program and/or a base-band decoder software program.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a microprocessor; and

a wireless communication interface comprising an RF front end configured to perform at least one of receiving a first radio signal or transmitting a second radio signal, said RF front end electrically coupled to at least one of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) or a digital-to-analog converter (DAC);

wherein said microprocessor is configured to execute at least one of a base-band encoder software program or a base-band decoder software program; and

wherein said apparatus is configured to switch, during an active communication session, one of;

a wireless communication network, a wireless communication protocol, or a parameter of a wireless communication protocol.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base-band encoder software program is configured to produce a first encoded bit stream by performing at least one of the following functions:

source encoding of a first bit stream, encryption, channel encoding, multiplexing, modulation, frequency spreading, and media access control.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base-band decoder software program is configured to produce a second bit stream corresponding to said second encoded bit stream by performing at least one of the following functions:

media access control, frequency de-spreading, de-modulation, de-multiplexing, channel decoding, decryption, and source decoding.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said switching is performed in order to maintain said active communication session.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said switching is performed in order to optimize a value of a user-defined criterion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said switching is performed in order to optimize a value of a user-defined criterion;

and

wherein said value of said user-defined criterion is calculated based on at least one of network status, communication quality, signal strength, service cost, bandwidth, a user preference, and communication channel throughput.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said switching is performed based on said apparatus searching beacon signals over a pre-defined frequency range.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said switching is performed responsive to said apparatus detecting a user interface action.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said switching is performed responsive to said apparatus scanning a pre-defined bar code.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication interface is implemented using a single multi-protocol chipset.

11. A system comprising:

a microprocessor; and

a wireless communication interface comprising an RF front end configured to perform at least one of receiving a first radio signal and transmitting a second radio signal, said RF front end electrically coupled to at least one of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) or a digital-to-analog converter (DAC);

wherein said microprocessor is configured to execute at least one of a base-band encoder software program or a base-band decoder software program;

wherein said system is configured to maintain an active communication session irrespectively of changing external conditions by switching one of;

a wireless communication network, a wireless communication protocol, or a parameter of a wireless communication protocol.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said external conditions include said system being physically moved.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said base-band encoder software program is configured to produce a first encoded bit stream by performing at least one of the following functions:

source encoding of a first bit stream, encryption, channel encoding, multiplexing, modulation, frequency spreading, and media access control.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said base-band decoder software program is configured to produce a second bit stream corresponding to said second encoded bit stream by performing at least one of the following functions:

media access control, frequency de-spreading, de-modulation, de-multiplexing, channel decoding, decryption, and source decoding.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said switching is performed based on optimizing a user-defined criterion.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said switching is performed based on optimizing a user-defined criterion;

and

wherein said value of said user-defined criterion is calculated based on at least one of network status, communication quality, signal strength, service cost, bandwidth, a user preference, and communication channel throughput.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein said switching is performed based on said system searching beacon signals over a pre-defined frequency range.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said wireless communication interface is implemented using two or more chipsets.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein a sampling frequency of said ADC is at least twice a maximum frequency of an analog signal produced by said RF front end.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a buffer amplifier configured to amplify an analog signal produced by said radio frequency front end.