Abstract: A docking station for a portable electronic device comprises a housing forming a first cradle receiving slot, the housing including a first housing connector within the first cradle receiving slot in combination with a first cradle shell inerrable into the first cradle receiving slot, the first cradle shell being sized and shaped to receive a first portable electronic device therein, the first cradle shell including a first shell inner connector positioned on a device receiving side of the cradle shell so that, when a first portable electronic device is received in the first cradle shell, the first shell inner connector is aligned with a connector of the first portable electronic device and a first shell outer shell connector on a housing facing surface of the first cradle shell, the first shell outer connector being positioned so that, when the first cradle shell is inserted into the first cradle receiving slot, the first shell outer connector aligns with the first housing connector.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for verifying singulated tags are described. A radio frequency (RF) signal is transmitted to provide power to at least one tag. A powered tag is singulated. A delay time period is waited. A read verify command is transmitted to the singulated tag. A response is received to the read verify command. The response to the read verify command is verified to determine whether it was received from the singulated tag.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a read operation including acquiring a series of frames of image data; processing a first frame of image data including an array of pixel data acquired while an aiming pattern was generated for determining a location L of at least one pixel of the array of pixel data that corresponds to the aiming pattern; and processing a second frame of image data acquired while the aiming pattern was not generated. The processing of the second frame of image data includes the steps of selecting at least one optical code acquired in the second frame of image data that is located at a respective location; wherein the respective location meets a predetermined condition relative to the determined location L; and providing the selected at least one optical code for further processing in accordance with the read operation.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag inlay tester and sorter system are described. A tag inlay is received. A characteristic of the tag inlay is tested. The tag inlay is disposed if the tag inlay is determined to fail the test of characteristic. The tag inlay is transported to a processing station if the tag inlay is determined to have passed the test of characteristic. The tag inlay is processed at the processing station. In an aspect, the tag inlay testing and tag inlay processing is performed in a single apparatus. In an alternative aspect, the tag inlay testing is performed by a first apparatus, and the tag inlay processing is performed by a second apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method utilizing the principles of axial chromatic aberration for auto-focusing an image onto an image sensor are provided. The system and method are particularly suitable for incorporation within an optical code reader. A signal processor analyzes data signals representative of the intensity or magnitude of wavelength components of an impinged image onto the image sensor for determining a value indicative of the focus quality of the impinged image. An actuator controls movement of a lens in accordance with the determination until obtainment of a desired focus quality. A decoder decodes the image having the desired focus quality.

Abstract: The present invention relates to network communication systems for managing client/server connections in a wireless environment. In accordance with the invention, a mobile communication unit (i.e., client), deploys keepalive packets at selected times in order to reset a keepidle timer of a server (e.g., host computer). By periodically resetting the keepidle timer a current connection between the mobile communication unit and server can be maintained as long as desired even when the mobile communication unit is in a power suspend mode. When in a power suspend mode, the mobile communication unit can briefly awake long enough to activate its transmitter and send a keepalive packet to the server to maintain the current connection. In this manner, the mobile communication unit can obtain the power savings of being in primarily a power suspend mode, but still prevent the current connection from timing out.

Abstract: An imaging-based bar code reader that includes an imaging and decoding system. When used on a stand to image documents, typically neither the stand or document is moving. Therefore blurring due to motion is not an issue. A sensor detects when the scanner is mounted to a stand. When commanded to take an image the scanner electronics and software modifies an auto-exposure process to minimize gain and lengthen exposure. This modification results in the scanner that is effective for scanning bar codes and yet also takes excellent pictures when mounted to a stand.

Abstract: A method that enables the power saving frame transmission comprising an AP informing a plurality of stations within its range in a WLAN about a plurality of scheduled service periods during which the AP has access to a channel in a scheduled service time, receiving the information about the plurality of scheduled service periods by the plurality of stations and deciding about initiating or not initiating a frame transmission, whether or not an acknowledgement and an immediate response expected from other APs pertaining to said WLAN are received prior to a subsequent scheduled service time, wherein the frame is transmitted in a cooperative frame transmission scenario.

Abstract: Described is a scanner for reading an optical code which includes a light transmission system and an image acquisition system. The light transmission system projects light on a target. The image acquisition system receives light reflected from the target to generate an image of the target. The image acquisition system is arranged to receive the light reflected from the target at a plurality of angles so that, when specular reflection of the target is associated with a first of the plurality of angles, light from a second one of the plurality of angles is available to minimize image degradation associated with the specular reflection.

Abstract: Described are a system and method for verifying a self-authenticating document. First, upon a request for verification of the document, a characteristic digital data “CDD” is extracted from the document. An image of at least a predetermined portion of the document is obtained. The image is divided into a predetermined number of pixel groups and each pixel group includes a plurality of pixels. Pixel characteristic data is determined for each pixel. A pixel group classification data is determined for each pixel group as a function of the pixel characteristics data of at least one pixel in the pixel group. A further CDD for the image is generated as a function of the pixel group classification data and a location of the corresponding pixel group in the image. The document is verified if the CDD is substantially identical to the further CDD.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for secure communications of confidential information are provided. In an embodiment, a method of communicating with a population of radio frequency identification tags includes transmitting a first interrogation signal, receiving a response to the first interrogation signal from at least one RFID tag at a first received signal strength including at least a portion of a first identification code, and transmitting a second interrogation signal that includes a request for confidential information, a command to transmit a response to the second interrogation signal at a secure power level, and the first identification code. In another embodiment, a method for communicating with an RFID tag includes receiving an interrogation signal that includes a request for confidential information and transmitting a response to the interrogation signal at a secure power level. The response includes the confidential information.

Abstract: An imager (12) is provided for imaging target objects (26) comprising an illumination source (22) for providing illumination (24) that is reflected (30) from a target object (26), an intensity of the illumination being a function of a magnitude of current provided to the illumination source (22) and photosensitive circuitry (36) located within the imager (12) for capturing an image reflected from the target object (26) to the imager (12) while the imager is activated during an exposure period. The imager (12) further comprises a selectively adjustable imaging mode (120) for selecting either of: the magnitude of current (130) provided to the illumination source (22) or exposure period (230) of the imager such that the other of the magnitude of current or exposure period of the imager is automatically adjusted (150, 240) as a result of the selection.

Abstract: An imaging-based bar code reader (10) featuring: an imaging system (20) including an imaging lens assembly (26) and a sensor array (28); an image stabilization system (30) including a sensor system (34) to determine pitch and yaw movements (PM, YM) of the lens assembly (26) and a compensating optical element (26e) moveable along two axes (YL, XL) orthogonal to the optic axis (OA) of the imaging lens assembly (26) to compensate for pitch and yaw movements (PM, YM), the image stabilization system (30) being selectively actuatable; and an image analysis system (31) coupled to the image stabilization system (30), the image analysis system (31) analyzing blurring of an imaged target bar code (14?), when blurring exceeds a threshold value, the image stabilization system (30) being actuated when imaging the target bar code (14) to reduce blurring of the imaged target bar code (14?).

Abstract: An exemplary imaging based barcode reader has an imaging system that includes a photosensitive array, a focusing lens fixed with respect to the light detecting array which creates an image of a target object on the light detecting array; and an aperture stop fixed in relation to the focusing lens having an opening that allows light from the target object to impinge upon the lens for focusing onto the light detecting array. The focusing lens has a surface facing the aperture stop that is toroidal and in one exemplary embodiment approximates a cylinder that balances or optimizes. Astigmatism of the lens in the imaging plane located in the close proximity to the photosensitive array.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining the location of a first wireless device (e.g., a mobile unit) within a wireless network comprising a plurality of second wireless devices (e.g., access points). The method includes identifying an overlap area corresponding to the intersection of RF ranges for the one or more second wireless devices then computing a set of signal strength values, each associated with a measure of RF signal strength (e.g., RSSI) received by the plurality of second wireless devices from the first wireless device. A decision metric is evaluated for a plurality of locations within the overlap area based on the set of signal strength values. The location of the first wireless device is determined by selecting, from the plurality of locations, a location having the optimum value of the decision metric within the overlap area. The decision metric may utilize a minimum mean square error (MMSE) calculation.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining the location of a first wireless device (e.g., a mobile unit) within a wireless network comprising a second wireless device (e.g., an access point). The method includes determining a signal strength contour associated with RF communication between the access point and the mobile unit, and adding a correction factor to the signal strength contour to produce a corrected signal strength contour, wherein the correction factor includes the sums of the differences between the transmit power and the antenna gain associated with the mobile unit and the access point. In an alternate scheme involving stored fingerprint data, a correction factor is introduced based on the differences between antenna gains and transmit power associated with the mobile unit under consideration and the mobile unit used for generating the fingerprint data. The systems and methods disclosed herein are applicable, for example, to networks operating in accordance with 802.

Abstract: Described is a system and method for communicating using a telecommunications device which includes an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system. The ASR system which is capable of recognizing at least one prestored command from a voice input to the telecommunication device is activated. The ASR system compares the voice input to the at least one prestored command. When at least a first portion of the voice input matches the prestored command, the ASR system reviews a second portion of the voice input to determine a parameter value. A tone system generates a tone frequency corresponding to the parameter value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the geographic location of a user incorporates the sensing of a plurality of physical environmental parameters at the user's location. The parameter values are compared to corresponding parameter values associated with known locations, and a best-fit correlation is established. The identity of the determined location may be displayed to the user, or may be used to control a location-based operation, such as the unlocking of a safe, the transmission of an entry password, or the disabling of a piece of equipment. Persistence weighting values for different environmental parameters may be applied to improve the reliability of the correlation.

Abstract: A composite laser beam is swept as a pattern of scan lines on a projection surface, and selected pixels arranged along each scan line are illuminated to project an image of high quality and in color. A data frequency of a video signal supplied by a host is matched to a scan frequency of a scan mirror to reduce the amount of buffer memory required and to make the projected image brighter and more uniform in brightness.