Abstract: A system and method for providing operational feedback of systems employing electronic tags such as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. In one configuration, the RFID reader is actuated by a single trigger pull, with the reader continuing to read multiple RFID tags in the read zone as long as the trigger is held until a terminating event occurs and in another configuration, an apparatus and method provides real-time feedback of the progress of a multiple RFID tag reading operation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for updating configuration settings, updating an OS image, and booting an alternate OS on a portable data reader including a reading engine for reading data from an object. Configuration settings of a portable data reader may be updated by detecting whether a storage device having a set of updated configuration settings stored thereon has been coupled to the portable data reader and, if so, updating one or more configuration settings on the portable data reader with one or more of the updated configuration settings from the storage device.

Abstract: A portable data reading device, such as a barcode scanner or RFID reader, includes a Web server and a first server-side application to modify one or more settings of the portable data reading device. The settings may include, for example, symbology settings, device settings, and network settings. The Web server may receive formatted data from a client browser representing a requested modification of at least one setting of the portable data reading device. Upon receiving the formatted data, the Web server may automatically invoke the first server-side application to modify the at least one setting responsive to the formatted data.

Abstract: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) antennas systems and methods that are less sensitive to orientation. One example includes an interrogator having a radio frequency transceiver, a first linearly polarized antenna in electrical communication with the transceiver, and a second linearly polarized antenna in electrical communication with the transceiver, the second antenna having a polarization in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first antenna; a control circuit is in electrical communication with the transceiver and with the first and second antennas, the control circuit operable to switch between interrogating with the first antenna and interrogating with the second antenna, and an RFID decoder is coupled to an output of the transceiver to decode an interrogated electromagnetic signal from a tag.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of methods, systems, and apparatus for ranging or determining a distance between a reader and a wireless tag. In one embodiment, a query signal is transmitted from the reader to the wireless tag. The carrier signal from the reader may then be modulated and the modulated signal transmitted from the reader during at least a portion of a response period for the wireless tag. A modulated backscatter response from the wireless tag is received at the reader and is used to calculate a distance between the reader and the wireless tag.