Barcode-reading system that utilizes beacon messages to communicate information about barcode-reading devices

A system comprising:

• a barcode-reading device configured to transmit a beacon message based at least in part on detecting that the barcode-reading device has been unintentionally disconnected from a base station, wherein the beacon message comprises a group identifier associated with a group to which the barcode-reading device belongs, and wherein the beacon message further comprises a barcode-reading device identifier that uniquely identifies the barcode-reading device;
• and
• an intermediary system that is configured to listen for beacon messages, receive the beacon message transmitted by the barcode-reading device, and forward at least some contents of the beacon message to a remote server based at least in part on detecting the group identifier in the beacon message;
• wherein the remote server comprises a management application that is configured to:
• receive a plurality of forwarding messages corresponding to the beacon message, the plurality of forwarding messages being received from a plurality of intermediary systems;
• select an intermediary system from among the plurality of intermediary systems based at least in part on information contained in the plurality of forwarding messages;
• determine barcode-reading device location information based at least in part on the plurality of forwarding messages, wherein the barcode-reading device location information comprises a reference to the selected intermediary system;
• generate a user notification message that comprises the barcode-reading device location information;
• and
• send the user notification message to at least one user device.

A system comprising:

• a barcode-reading device configured to transmit a beacon message based at least in part on detecting that the barcode-reading device has been unintentionally disconnected from a base station, wherein the beacon message comprises a group identifier associated with a group to which the barcode-reading device belongs, and wherein the beacon message further comprises a barcode-reading device identifier that uniquely identifies the barcode-reading device;
• and
• an intermediary system that is configured to listen for beacon messages, receive the beacon message transmitted by the barcode-reading device, and forward at least some contents of the beacon message to a remote server based at least in part on detecting the group identifier in the beacon message;
• wherein the intermediary system comprises a base station that is communicatively coupled to a host computing device;
• wherein the base station is configured to receive the beacon message and to send a host notification message to the host computing device based at least in part on receiving the beacon message;
• wherein the host notification message comprises the barcode-reading device identifier;
• wherein the host notification message further comprises a beacon message indicator;
• and
• wherein the beacon message indicator signals to the host computing device that contents of the host notification message originate from a device other than a currently connected barcode-reading device.