Method for reading indicia off a display of a mobile device

A scanner comprising:

• an illumination system;
• a sensor;
• and
• a decoder,
• wherein the scanner is configured for:
• in a scan mode, capturing images presented on a display of a mobile device;
• attempting to decode a first set of captured images for a time period, when the scanner is not illuminating the mobile device;
• if decoding the first set of captured images in the time period is not successful:
• illuminating the mobile device;
• attempting to decode a second set of captured images,
• detecting whether backlight intensity of the display has increased by more than a predetermined level as compared with a previous measurement, if decoding the second set of captured images is not successful,
• ceasing illuminating the mobile device, if the backlight intensity has increased more than the predetermined level and then capturing a third set of captured images when the backlight intensity having increased more than the predetermined level;
• and
• attempting to decode the third set of captured images.

A scanner system comprising:

• a mobile device;
• an illumination system;
• a sensor;
• and
• a decoder;
• wherein the scanner is configured for:
• in a scan mode, capturing images presented on a display of the mobile device;
• illuminating the mobile device for a period of time causing a light sensor of the mobile device to increase a backlight intensity of the display;
• when the period of time ends, ceasing illuminating the mobile device and then capturing images of the display when the display has the increased backlight intensity;
• and
• attempting to decode the captured images.