Abstract: A peripheral device at startup selectively activates one of a plurality of connection profiles for low-energy communication with a central device. The profiles determine the behavior of the peripheral device as viewed by the central device, such as a selected one of a HID, a Reader/Scanner, and a PC/SC-like device. The activated profile is selected based on connection profile state maintained across power cycle events and in view of special button combination events at startup. According to embodiment, the profile can also be selected (in conjunction with a reboot) as commanded under select circumstances by an application running on the central device or based on the peripheral reading a configuration card. According to embodiment, the activated profile corresponds to selected sub-portions of a unified database file of the peripheral device. The unified database includes profile components enabling activation of a selected one a plurality of low-energy communication profiles.

Abstract: Application-assisted friendly pairing provides a classic-energy radio technology user interface experience to a user operating a peripheral device in conjunction with a central device. The classic-energy radio technology user interface experience is provided while using a low-energy radio technology for communication between the peripheral device and the central device. The user interface experience is enabled via installation and execution of an application on the central device.

Abstract: According to a technique of accuracy-enhanced scanning, a scan target is illuminated responsive to recognizing an aiming initiation action. The scan target is scanned responsive to recognizing a scanning initiation action. The illuminating and the scanning are performable independently of each other.

Abstract: During hand-held operation, configuration of an NFC/RFID Reader/Writer peripheral device in a predefined mode named “Mobile Mode with Auto-Collection”, enables recognition of a long duration (e.g. 5 second) trigger press (AKA a “Long Press”) as an enabling event prompting a change of scan behavior between single-shot scan operation and continuous scan operation. In other defined Modes of the peripheral device, other predetermined enabling events, such as the presence or absence of a predetermined external power source, prompt the change between single-shot and continuous scan operations. The Long Press and the other intuitive features enable the general user to be able to switch between various modes and to do so without requiring acquisition or use of an additional dedicated scanner with its requisite expense or inconvenience, and without requiring advanced knowledge, special access, or special resources.

Abstract: A multi-mode ring scanner (MMRS) has a ring unit for wearing on a finger. The MMRS optionally has a wrist unit coupled to the ring unit, such as via a cable. The MMRS optionally communicates wirelessly with a computing device. The ring unit has one or more scanners (such as an optical scanner or an RFID tag reader). The ring unit optionally has two paddle switches for activation by inward pressure from fingers adjacent to the finger. The two switches enable specifying operation of the MMRS in a plurality of modes and/or to communicate a plurality of information codes to the computing device. The computing device is optionally enabled to assign a function to each combination of activation of the two switches. A scanning system including the MMRS optionally provides feedback to a user based on feedback from a host processor.

Abstract: A peripheral device at startup selectively activates one of a plurality of connection profiles for low-energy communication with a central device. The profiles determine the behavior of the peripheral device as viewed by the central device, such as a selected one of a HID, a Reader/Scanner, and a PC/SC-like device. The activated profile is selected based on connection profile state maintained across power cycle events and in view of special button combination events at startup. According to embodiment, the profile can also be selected (in conjunction with a reboot) as commanded under select circumstances by an application running on the central device or based on the peripheral reading a configuration card. According to embodiment, the activated profile corresponds to selected sub-portions of a unified database file of the peripheral device. The unified database includes profile components enabling activation of a selected one a plurality of low-energy communication profiles.

Abstract: An assisted aimer for rapid, accurate, and low-cost imaging of barcodes, includes a hand-held device, such as a smart phone or tablet, having a digital camera with built-in flash, a specialized software application executing on the phone, and an aimer apparatus attached in front of the flash aperture for forming an aimer beam at a predetermined distance. The aimer beam assists a user in accurately pointing the device at a target barcode. The aimer is attachable directly to the smart phone or camera, or is made a part of an enclosure that accepts the smart phone or tablet into a self-aligning receiving space. Aiming beam assistance enables the camera, its auto-focus, and the installed software application image processing to deliver rapid, snappy, barcode imaging.

Abstract: Application-assisted friendly pairing provides a classic-energy radio technology user interface experience to a user operating a peripheral device in conjunction with a central device. The classic-energy radio technology user interface experience is provided while using a low-energy radio technology for communication between the peripheral device and the central device. The user interface experience is enabled via installation and execution of an application on the central device.

Abstract: An assisted aimer for rapid, accurate, and low-cost imaging of barcodes, includes a hand-held device, such as a smart phone or tablet, having a digital camera with built-in flash, a specialized software application executing on the phone, and an aimer apparatus attached in front of the flash aperture for forming an aimer beam at a predetermined distance. The aimer beam assists a user in accurately pointing the device at a target barcode. The aimer is attachable directly to the smart phone or camera, or is made a part of an enclosure that accepts the smart phone or tablet into a self-aligning receiving space. Aiming beam assistance enables the camera, its auto-focus, and the installed software application image processing to deliver rapid, snappy, barcode imaging.

Abstract: An accuracy-enhanced scanner provides (in response to a first user input) illumination of potential scan targets and scans (in response to a second user input) a selected scan target. The user uses the illumination to aim the scanner at the selected scan target in between providing the first and the second user inputs. The scanner has switches to communicate the user inputs, to specify an operating mode for the scanner, and/or to communicate information codes to a computing device. The scanner has one or more scan engines (such as a barcode reader or an RFID tag reader), and optionally communicates wirelessly with the computing device. A scanning system including the scanner optionally provides feedback to the user based on feedback from a host processor. The scanner is any of a Multi-Mode Ring Scanner (MMRS), a cordless hand scanner, or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) with an add-on scanner.

Abstract: During hand-held operation, configuration of an NFC/RFID Reader/Writer peripheral device in a predefined mode named “Mobile Mode with Auto-Collection”, enables recognition of a long duration (e.g. 5 second) trigger press (AKA a “Long Press”) as an enabling event prompting a change of scan behavior between single-shot scan operation and continuous scan operation. In other defined Modes of the peripheral device, other predetermined enabling events, such as the presence or absence of a predetermined external power source, prompt the change between single-shot and continuous scan operations. The Long Press and the other intuitive features enable the general user to be able to switch between various modes and to do so without requiring acquisition or use of an additional dedicated scanner with its requisite expense or inconvenience, and without requiring advanced knowledge, special access, or special resources.

Abstract: A multi-mode ring scanner (MMRS) has a ring unit for wearing on a finger. The MMRS optionally has a wrist unit coupled to the ring unit, such as via a cable. The MMRS optionally communicates wirelessly with a computing device. The ring unit has one or more scanners (such as an optical scanner or an RFID tag reader). The ring unit optionally has two paddle switches for activation by inward pressure from fingers adjacent to the finger. The two switches enable specifying operation of the MMRS in a plurality of modes and/or to communicate a plurality of information codes to the computing device. The computing device is optionally enabled to assign a function to each combination of activation of the two switches. A scanning system including the MMRS optionally provides feedback to a user based on feedback from a host processor.

Abstract: An assisted aimer for rapid, accurate, and low-cost imaging of barcodes, includes a hand-held device, such as a smart phone or tablet, having a digital camera with built-in flash, a specialized software application executing on the phone, and an aimer apparatus attached in front of the flash aperture for forming an aimer beam at a predetermined distance. The aimer beam assists a user in accurately pointing the device at a target barcode. The aimer is attachable directly to the smart phone or camera, or is made a part of an enclosure that accepts the smart phone or tablet into a self-aligning receiving space. Aiming beam assistance enables the camera, its auto-focus, and the installed software application image processing to deliver rapid, snappy, barcode imaging.

Abstract: A portable scanner with improved user feedback provides scan data to a networked computing node via a wireless interface and the Internet. The portable scanner receives user feedback information from the networked computing node via the wireless interface and the Internet. The user feedback information indicates successful entry of the scan data into a database, or alternatively successful receipt of the scan data by the networked computing node. The portable scanner sets a scan status indicator to a final state in response to the user feedback information. Optionally, the database is a remote database that a local database is synchronized with, and/or the database is associated with the networked computing node. Optionally the portable scanner is wearable. Optionally the portable scanner is compatible with barcode and/or RFID technologies.

Abstract: A multi-mode ring scanner (MMRS) has a ring unit for wearing on a finger. The MMRS optionally has a wrist unit coupled to the ring unit, such as via a cable. The MMRS optionally communicates wirelessly with a computing device. The ring unit has one or more scanners (such as an optical scanner or an RFID tag reader). The ring unit optionally has two paddle switches for activation by inward pressure from fingers adjacent to the finger. The two switches enable specifying operation of the MMRS in a plurality of modes and/or to communicate a plurality of information codes to the computing device. The computing device is optionally enabled to assign a function to each combination of activation of the two switches. A scanning system including the MMRS optionally provides feedback to a user based on feedback from a host processor.