Abstract: Methods and systems for alerting a user to a device low battery state are disclosed herein. An example method includes receiving, at a charging station for a scanning device, a notification from the scanning device when the scanning device is not coupled to the charging station indicating that the scanning device has entered a low battery state. The scanning device may be communicatively coupled to the charging station by a wireless communication protocol. Further, the example method may include generating, by the charging station, an indication of the low battery state of the scanning device based upon the notification. The example method may also include displaying, by the charging station, the indication for a user.

Abstract: A method of pairing a client device to a host device, the method comprising: obtaining, at the host device, a reference approval code; receiving, at the host device, a pairing request from the client device; when the pairing requests includes an embedded approval code, comparing the embedded approval code to the reference approval code; when the embedded approval code matches the reference approval code, bypassing an approval request and approving a pairing of the client device to the host device; and responsive to approving the pairing, pairing the client device to the host device based on the pairing request.

Abstract: An example method for charging a barcode reader that can be implemented by a charging cradle includes: detecting that the barcode reader is coupled to a first interface of the charging cradle for the barcode reader; detecting that a spare battery of the barcode reader is coupled to a second interface of the charging cradle; receiving, via a connection between the charging cradle and a port of a host power source, an indication of a magnitude of an input current that the host power source is capable of delivering to the charging cradle over the connection; comparing the magnitude of the input current to a threshold magnitude; responsive to the comparing, determining a charging order in which to charge the barcode reader and the spare battery using the input current from the host power source; and charging the barcode reader and the spare battery in accordance with the charging order.

Abstract: Techniques for pre-configuring a barcode reader device for establishing a communication link with a particular computing device via a short-range communication protocol are provided herein. An example method includes sending, by a barcode reader device, a request to a computing device via a first short-range wireless communication protocol (e.g., NFC); receiving, by the barcode reader device, from the computing device, via the first short-range wireless communication protocol, an indication of one or more barcode reader device settings for establishing a short-range communication link with the computing device via a second short-range wireless communication protocol (e.g., Bluetooth®); modifying, by the barcode reader device, the one or more barcode reader device settings as indicated; and establishing, by the barcode reader device, the short-range communication link with the computing device via the second short-range wireless communication protocol.

Abstract: Methods and systems for establishing a bi-directional communication link between a host device and a barcode reader are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the present invention enables a barcode reader to pair with a host device by way of advertising a unique identification code that is generated by the host device and passed thereto via a barcode. Responsive to detecting the unique identification code, the host device is operable to connect to the barcode reader.

Abstract: Methods and systems for alerting a user to a device low battery state are disclosed herein. An example method includes receiving, at a charging station for a scanning device, a notification from the scanning device when the scanning device is not coupled to the charging station indicating that the scanning device has entered a low battery state. The scanning device may be communicatively coupled to the charging station by a wireless communication protocol. Further, the example method may include generating, by the charging station, an indication of the low battery state of the scanning device based upon the notification. The example method may also include displaying, by the charging station, the indication for a user.

Abstract: Techniques for connecting and disconnecting cordless scanners to/from host devices are disclosed herein. A transceiver of an example barcode reader is configured to attempt to establish a wireless connection with a host device (e.g., repeatedly) over a first period of time. Responsive to failing to establish the connection with the host device over the first period of time, the barcode reader enters a power-saving mode. During the power-saving mode at least one of the transceiver, a decode engine, a peripheral sensor, and an imaging engine of the barcode reader are deactivated. The wireless transceiver of the barcode reader is configured to attempt to re-establish the wireless connection with the host device after (i) a passage of a second period of time following the first period of time, wherein the second period of time is greater than the first period of time; or (ii) a receipt of an interrupt signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for authenticating features for download to an image scanning apparatus has a client computing device generate an image of a symbol that encodes authentication data. The client computing device hashes a communication parameter of its transceiver, digitally signs the hash value with a private key from public-private key pair, and encodes the hash value, digital signature and the unencrypted communication parameter into the symbol. The image scanning apparatus captures an image of the symbol, decodes the symbol, verifies whether the unencrypted communication parameter corresponds to the hash of the communication parameter, and a public key stored in the memory of the barcode reader corresponds with the private key used to sign the hash value. If the communication parameter corresponds with the hash value and the signature corresponds with the public key, the barcode reader enables its transceiver to download the feature from the client computing device.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for authenticating features for download to an image scanning apparatus has a client computing device generate an image of a symbol that encodes authentication data. The client computing device hashes a communication parameter of its transceiver, digitally signs the hash value with a private key from public-private key pair, and encodes the hash value, digital signature and the unencrypted communication parameter into the symbol. The image scanning apparatus captures an image of the symbol, decodes the symbol, verifies whether the unencrypted communication parameter corresponds to the hash of the communication parameter, and a public key stored in the memory of the barcode reader corresponds with the private key used to sign the hash value. If the communication parameter corresponds with the hash value and the signature corresponds with the public key, the barcode reader enables its transceiver to download the feature from the client computing device.

Abstract: A wireless, Bluetooth® paired connection is established between a wireless, electro-optical reader and a host by reading a multi-parameter, pairing symbol displayed by the host. An identification parameter is extracted from the pairing symbol to automatically identify the host, and one or more configuration parameters are substantially simultaneously extracted from the same pairing symbol to automatically configure the paired connection between the reader and the host.

Abstract: A Bluetooth master device is paired with a Bluetooth slave device that is selected from a group of Bluetooth slave devices that are in Bluetooth-discoverable range with the Bluetooth master device. The master device establishes with the slave devices unauthenticated communications, each containing a Bluetooth device address of the master device. The slave devices receive from the master device the Bluetooth device address. The selected slave device recognizes a manual action manually performed with the selected slave device by a user. The selected slave device initiates a pairing request, in response to recognition of the manual action, and communicates with the master device at the received Bluetooth device address.

Abstract: A Bluetooth master device is paired with a Bluetooth slave device that is selected from a group of Bluetooth slave devices that are in Bluetooth-discoverable range with the Bluetooth master device. The master device establishes with the slave devices unauthenticated communications, each containing a Bluetooth device address of the master device. The slave devices receive from the master device the Bluetooth device address. The selected slave device recognizes a manual action manually performed with the selected slave device by a user. The selected slave device initiates a pairing request, in response to recognition of the manual action, and communicates with the master device at the received Bluetooth device address.

Abstract: A checkout system for electro-optically reading targets includes a host, a workstation reader, and an auxiliary reader operatively connected to the workstation reader. The workstation reader captures data associated with the targets, and communicates its captured data with the host over a predetermined communications protocol. The auxiliary reader also captures data associated with the targets independently of the workstation reader. The workstation reader automatically integrates the auxiliary reader in the system by automatically detecting the protocol of the auxiliary reader, and by automatically configuring the detected protocol of the auxiliary reader to conform to the predetermined communications protocol of the workstation reader, thereby enabling the auxiliary reader to communicate its captured data with the host.

Abstract: A wireless Bluetooth® paired connection is established between a Bluetooth® module in an electro-optical, handheld reader and a Bluetooth® module in a mobile terminal via a human interface device (HID) profile. Data capture from a target is initiated upon one type of manual actuation, e.g., a single pull, of a trigger on the reader. A soft keyboard is caused to appear on a display on the terminal, either immediately, or after a predetermined event, after the establishment of the Bluetooth® paired connection. The soft keyboard is caused to disappear upon manual actuation of the trigger with a different type of manual actuation, e.g., a double pull, of the trigger. Another double pull of the trigger will cause the soft keyboard to reappear.

Abstract: A checkout system for electro-optically reading targets includes a host, a workstation reader, and an auxiliary reader operatively connected to the workstation reader. The workstation reader captures data associated with the targets, and communicates its captured data with the host over a predetermined communications protocol. The auxiliary reader also captures data associated with the targets independently of the workstation reader. The workstation reader automatically integrates the auxiliary reader in the system by automatically detecting the protocol of the auxiliary reader, and by automatically configuring the detected protocol of the auxiliary reader to conform to the predetermined communications protocol of the workstation reader, thereby enabling the auxiliary reader to communicate its captured data with the host.

Abstract: A wireless Bluetooth® paired connection is established between a Bluetooth® module in an electro-optical, handheld reader and a Bluetooth® module in a mobile terminal via a human interface device (HID) profile. Data capture from a target is initiated upon one type of manual actuation, e.g., a single pull, of a trigger on the reader. A soft keyboard is caused to appear on a display on the terminal, either immediately, or after a predetermined event, after the establishment of the Bluetooth® paired connection. The soft keyboard is caused to disappear upon manual actuation of the trigger with a different type of manual actuation, e.g., a double pull, of the trigger. Another double pull of the trigger will cause the soft keyboard to reappear.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying a Bluetooth connection between a cradle and at least one handheld data capture device that includes a barcode reading arrangement or an RFID reader. The apparatus includes a cradle configured to accommodate a handheld data capture device detachably settled therein. The apparatus also includes a connection indicator configured to be activated, in response to a find-connection command, if a Bluetooth connection between the cradle and the handheld data capture device is identified. In some implementations, the connection indicator is on the cradle and it can be a light emitting diode, a speaker, or a vibration generator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying a Bluetooth connection between a cradle and at least one handheld data capture device that includes a barcode reading arrangement or an RFID reader. The apparatus includes a cradle configured to accommodate a handheld data capture device detachably settled therein. The apparatus also includes a connection indicator configured to be activated, in response to a find-connection command, if a Bluetooth connection between the cradle and the handheld data capture device is identified. In some implementations, the connection indicator is on the cradle and it can be a light emitting diode, a speaker, or a vibration generator.