Abstract: An antenna for a mobile device is described. The antenna includes a housing formed from a metal material. The housing functions as a ground plane for the antenna and an RF shield for at least one electronic component of the mobile device. An insulating material covers at least a portion of the housing. The antenna also includes a radiating element disposed on the insulating material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locationing an object in a communication network. The method includes transmitting by a wireless transceiver fixed to the object of unknown location a plurality of radio frequency (RF) packets to a plurality of locationing receivers (LRs) in the communication network. The method further includes determining by each locationing receiver the local time of arrival of the RF packet and places a time stamp on the received RF packet based on a corresponding local clock, wherein the local clocks of the locationing receivers are synchronized based on a plurality of RF beacon packets transmitted by at least one reference transmitter at a known location.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for tracking and monitoring tagged objects in an RFID environment is described. By varying RFID reader antenna output power levels and detecting RFID devices in the vicinity, data about position and orientation of the RFID devices can be gathered. This gathered data is used to correlate with pre-stored data about RFID devices' position and orientation. Such a correlation then can be used to infer data about neighboring RFID devices based upon data stored in the database. Such an inferential technique also results in a faster analysis of position and orientation data of RFID devices, and also leads to faster tracking of RFID enabled devices. Unnecessary reads and high power operations of the RFID reader are also avoided.

Abstract: A method of recovering from misconfiguration of APs and other networked components includes storing a “safe” configuration, implementing a configuration request received from a network operations center (NOC), then reverting to the stored configuration in the event that connectivity is not restored with the NOC within a predetermined time period. The NOC is configured to transmit one or more handshake messages to the AP after sending the configuration request.

Abstract: A multicamera imaging-based bar code reader wherein for least one camera assembly of the reader, a sensor array of the camera assembly is non-orthogonal with respect to an optical axis of an imaging lens assembly of the camera assembly such that an imaging or scanning volume of the camera assembly more closely conforms to a desired imaging field or region of the reader. In one exemplary embodiment the reader features: a housing supporting first and second transparent presentation windows and defining an interior region; an imaging system including a plurality of camera assemblies within the interior region, at least one camera assembly includes a sensor array and an imaging lens assembly, the sensor array being positioned with respect to the imaging lens assembly at an angle so as to be non-orthogonal with respect to an optical axis of the imaging lens assembly of the camera assembly.

Abstract: A method adjusts a computing device. The method receives configuration data relating to at least two functionalities of the device. The method adjusts configurations of components of the device as a function of the configuration data so that the device performs as if a first functionality of the at least two functionalities is a primary functionality of the device. The components are at least partially capable of the at least two functionalities.

Abstract: Described are systems, methods, and devices used for reducing scanning time while communicating between wireless mobile computing devices within a wireless communications network. The method includes the following step(s): receiving communication data from one or more APs within a network, the communication data being specific to each of the one or more APs and transmitting the communication data to an MU within the network. The MU is associated with a first AP and the MU associates with a second AP based on the communication data as the MU roams to the second AP. The method further includes the steps of: associating, by an MU, with a first AP within a network, receiving communication data from the first AP, the communication data including information specific to each of one or more further APs, and associating with one of the further APs based on the communication data.

Abstract: Mobile units within an area are located using a wireless local area network. Reference signal transmitters are provided at selected fixed locations within the area. Reference signals are transmitted using the reference signal transmitters using a first selected channel of the wireless local area network. A computer is provided having a database relating signal characteristics of signals transmitted by the reference signal transmitters to location within the area At least one access point is coupled to the computer and provides wireless data communications between the computer and the mobile unit using one or more channels of the wireless data communications system that are different from the first data communications channel.

Abstract: In a network comprising a wireless device, a first access point (AP) and a plurality of neighbor APs, a method is provided for reducing the chances of packet loss when the wireless device roams from the first AP to one of the neighbor APs. For example, when the first AP is transmitting a particular packet of a packet stream from to the wireless device, the wireless device begins to move away from the first AP toward at least one of the neighbor APs. The first AP maintains an acknowledgement counter for the particular packet which counts a number of times the particular packet has been transmitted by the first AP without receiving an acknowledgement (ACK) message from the wireless device confirming successful reception of the particular packet from the first AP. The first AP determines whether an ACK message was received for the particular packet, and if not, the first AP determines whether the number of times the particular packet has been sent is equal to a particular number of attempts.

Abstract: A consumer can use his or her cell phone to scan barcodes from newspaper circulars at home, on a computer screen at home and/or to scan coupon barcodes positioned on the edge of shelves in a store or displayed on a kiosk in a store. The data from all these coupons is be combined into (preferably) a single 2D barcode or in the event of a large number of coupons, into a smaller number of 2D barcodes on the cell phone's display, for scanning by an imaging barcode scanner at the point of sale. This 2D barcode can also include the user's loyalty card information, so reading a single barcode off the screen of the phone can accomplish what formerly required multiple individual scans to accomplish.

Abstract: An inventory compliance system includes an RFID reader having an agent configured to periodically read all RF tags within its range and then send the resulting tag information to an inventory application that processes the received information (e.g., tag ID, etc.) to determine the state of inventory at that time—i.e., the number, type, and location of each of the tags. In this way, through automatic updating via mobile and stationary RFID readers, an organization is able to monitor inventory without manual intervention, thereby reducing cost and time associated with conventional inventory compliance methods.

Abstract: A data input arrangement may include a first array of input keys defining a first shape extending across a first typing surface thereof; and a second array of input keys defining a second shape extending across a second typing surface thereof. The first and second arrays are contiguous with one another so that the first and second shapes create a non-linear surface extending across the data input arrangement. The non-linear surface enables users to tactilely locate individual keys of the first and second arrays.

Abstract: Integrated switch systems and methods for locating ID tags are disclosed. One system includes an application, a plurality of different tag readers in communication with the ID tags, and an integrated switch configured to enable the application to receive tag information from the different tag readers. An integrated switch includes multiple reader adapters, an application adapter, and a virtualization core. The virtualization core is configured to provide a common interface between each tag reader and the application. One method includes receiving a first signal from a first tag reader and receiving a second signal from a second tag reader, the first and second signals having information related to first and second ID tags, respectively. The method also includes normalizing the first and second signals such that the signals are compatible with the application and transmitting an ID tag report based on the normalized first and/or second signal to the application.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are described for reducing interference amongst frequency identification (RFID) readers operating within an interference range. Groups of frequencies from a range of frequencies are determined such that RFID readers transmitting on adjacent frequencies in a particular group of frequencies experience substantially negligible interference. A first group of frequencies is selected for a first time period of operation. RFID readers are each assigned a unique frequency from the first group of frequencies. At the end of the first time period, a second group of frequencies is selected and RFID readers are each assigned unique frequencies from the second group of frequencies. Substantially all frequencies of the groups of frequencies are assigned during a predetermined time duration.

Abstract: A data capture terminal for, and a method of, automatically capturing data from targets, employ a handheld housing orientable by a human operator in different orientations relative to the targets; a data capture system, preferably including a plurality of actuatable data capture modules, supported by the housing; an orientation sensor supported by the housing for detecting the orientations of the housing relative to the targets, and for generating respective orientation signals in response to the respective detected orientations of the housing; and a controller operatively connected to the orientation sensor, for independently actuating one of the data capture modules for capturing the data from one of the targets in one data capture mode of operation in response to generation of one of the orientation signals, and for actuating another of the data capture modules for capturing the data from another of the targets in another data capture mode of operation in response to generation of another of the orientatio

Abstract: A system and method for determining an operating mode for a mobile unit (“MU”), comprising defining a plurality of spatial regions, tracking at least one activity of the MU when the MU is oriented within the one of the plurality of spatial regions, determining an orientation of the mobile unit, and selecting the operating mode based on the at least one of the orientation and an activity of the MU when the MU is oriented within the one of the plurality of spatial regions.

Abstract: A device includes a memory, a wireless transceiver and a positioning system. The memory stores a first area in which a wireless network lacks coverage. The wireless transceiver is adapted to communicate with the wireless network. The positioning system determines a position of the device to determine whether the device is located within the first area. The wireless transceiver does not attempt to communicate with the wireless network if the positioning system determines that the device is located within the first area.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to establish a set of dynamic channel masks that select channels to be scanned in a wireless environment during a mobile terminal roaming. The set of channel masks is associated with a set of scan groups determined through a Boolean operation applied to a set of scan variables determined via data indicators that reflect channel quality and/or presence in the vicinity of the mobile terminal. Regardless of actual access point geometric configuration in a quasi-two-dimensional coverage plan, a universal set of three scan groups can be determined. In addition to the universal set, a fail-safe set is computed in order to ensure successful scanning in various roaming scenarios. Quality of service indicators like communication reliability and battery performance can be improved by successively scanning the universal scan groups during roaming.

Abstract: An aiming pattern assembly for an imaging-based bar code reader including: a laser assembly laterally offset from an imaging lens assembly optical axis, the laser assembly including a first laser light source and a second laser light source; and a focusing lens defining an optical axis and positioned proximate to the laser assembly, the focusing lens focusing the laser light generated by the first laser light source to generate a first aiming pattern traversing along a first beam path and focusing the laser light generated by the second laser light source to generate a second aiming pattern traversing along a second beam path, the first laser light source being aligned with the focusing lens optical axis and the second laser light source being laterally offset from the focusing lens optical axis resulting in the second beam path crossing the imaging lens assembly optical axis in a near working range.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for using in an imaging scanner. The apparatus includes a solid-state imager, an imaging lens assembly comprising a base lens and a MEMS lens, and an electric circuitry operative to transfer the image captured by the solid-state imager to a decoding circuitry. The imaging lens assembly is configured to focus light reflected from the target object onto the array of photosensitive elements in the solid-state imager by passing the light reflected from the target object through the base lens followed by the MEMS lens.