Mobile computer configured to read multiple decodable indicia

• US 9,208,367 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2013
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Taylor
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US13/748,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20140131443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454, 235/462.01, 235/462.09, 235/462.25
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1404 Methods for optical code recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1443 locating of the code in an image

Abstract

A device can comprise a processor, a memory, an imaging subsystem configured to acquire an image of decodable indicia, a display, and a communication interface. The device can be configured, responsive to acquiring an image of one or more objects within a field of view of the imaging subsystem, to locate within the image and decode one or more decodable indicia. The device can be further configured to display the image on the display and visually mark the one or more successfully decoded decodable indicia. The device can be further configured, responsive to accepting user input selecting at least one decodable indicia of the displayed one or more decodable indicia, to transmit to an external computer at least one decoded message corresponding to the at least one decodable indicia.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

an imaging subsystem configured to acquire an image of decodable indicia;

a display;

a communication interface;

wherein said device is configured, responsive to acquiring an image of one or more objects within a field of view of said imaging subsystem, to locate within said image and decode one or more decodable indicia;

wherein said device is further configured to display said image on said display and visually mark said one or more successfully decoded decodable indicia;

wherein said device is further configured, responsive to accepting user input selecting at least one decodable indicia of said displayed one or more decodable indicia, to transmit to an external computer at least one decoded message corresponding to said at least one decodable indicia; and

wherein said device is further configured to accept user input indicating an order in which decoded messages corresponding to two or more decodable indicia are to be transmitted to said external computer.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is provided by one of:

a smart phone, a tablet computer, and a personal digital assistant.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said imaging subsystem comprises:

a two-dimensional image sensor configured to output an analog signal representative of light reflected by an object located within a field of view of said imaging subsystem;

an amplifier configured to output an amplified analog signal by amplifying said analog signal read out of said image sensor; and

an analog-to-digital (AID) converter configured to convert said amplified analog signal into a digital signal representing said acquired image.

4. The device of claim 1, further configured to accept user input selecting within said displayed image at least one decodable indicia which is not marked as successfully decoded;

wherein said device is further configured to decode said at least one decodable indicia.

5. The device of claim 1, further configured,

responsive to accepting user input selecting at least one decodable indicia of said displayed one or more decodable indicia, to transmit to an external computer at least one image comprising said at least one decodable indicia.

6. A method, performed using one or more processors, comprising:

acquiring, using at least one processor of said one or more processors, an image of one or more objects bearing one or more decodable indicia;

locating, using at least one processor of said one or more processors, one or more decodable indicia within said image;

decoding, using at least one processor of said one or more processors, said one or more decodable indicia;

displaying, using at least one processor of said one or more processors, said image;

visually marking, using at least one processor of said one or more processors, said one or more successfully decoded decodable indicia within said displayed image;

accepting, using at least one processor of said one or more processors, user input selecting at least one decodable indicia of said displayed one or more decodable indicia;

transmitting, using at least one processor of said one or more processors, to an external computer at least one decoded message corresponding to said at least one decodable indicia;

wherein said at least one decodable indicia of said displayed one or more decodable indicia is provided by two or more decodable indicia; and

wherein said step of accepting user input comprises accepting user input indicating an order in which decoded messages corresponding to said two or more decodable indicia are to be transmitted to said external computer.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

accepting user input selecting within said displayed image at least one decodable indicia which is not marked as successfully decoded; and

decoding said at least one decodable indicia.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said visually marking said one or more successfully decoded decodable indicia within said displayed image is performed by highlighting said one or more successfully decoded decodable indicia.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said visually marking said one or more successfully decoded decodable indicia within said displayed image is performed by rendering a bounding box around said one or more successfully decoded decodable indicia.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said visually marking said one or more successfully decoded decodable indicia within said displayed image is performed by rendering a visual marker around a center of said one or more successfully decoded decodable indicia.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting, responsive to accepting user input selecting at least one decodable indicia of said displayed one or more decodable indicia, to an external computer at least one image comprising said at least one decodable indicia.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein said method is performed by one or more processors of one or more mobile computers.

13. A computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions capable of configuring one or more processors for:

acquiring, using at least one processor of said one or more processors, an image of one or more objects bearing one or more decodable indicia;

locating, using at least one processor of said one or more processors, one or more decodable indicia within said image;

decoding, using at least one processor of said one or more processors, said one or more decodable indicia;

displaying, using at least one processor of said one or more processors, said image;

visually marking, using at least one processor of said one or more processors, said one or more successfully decoded decodable indicia within said displayed image;

accepting, using at least one processor of said one or more processors, user input selecting at least one decodable indicia of said displayed one or more decodable indicia; and

transmitting, using at least one processor of said one or more processors, to an external computer at least one decoded message corresponding to said at least one decodable indicia;

wherein said step of accepting user input comprises accepting user input indicating an order in which decoded messages corresponding to said two or more decodable indicia are to be transmitted to said external computer.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, in which the executable instructions are further capable of configuring one or more processors for:

selecting within said displayed image at least one decodable indicia which is not marked as successfully decoded; and

decoding said at least one decodable indicia.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, in which the executable instructions are further capable of configuring one or more processors so that:

said visually marking said one or more successfully decoded decodable indicia within said displayed image is performed by highlighting said one or more successfully decoded decodable indicia.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, in which the executable instructions are further capable of configuring one or more processors so that:

said visually marking said one or more successfully decoded decodable indicia within said displayed image is performed by rendering a bounding box around said one or more successfully decoded decodable indicia.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, in which the executable instructions are further capable of configuring one or more processors so that:

said visually marking said one or more successfully decoded decodable indicia within said displayed image is performed by rendering a visual marker around a center of said one or more successfully decoded decodable indicia.