Method and apparatus to automatically search data carriers, such as RFID tags and machine-readable symbols

A method of operating a data carrier reader, comprising:

• reading a respective characteristic data strings from each of at least two RFID tags;
• producing a first human-perceptible indication after each of the respective characteristic data strings from the RFID tags have been read;
• comparing each of the read characteristic data strings to a set of identifiers stored in a memory to determine whether all of the RFID tags have been read;
• and
• producing a second human-perceptible indication if all of the RFID tags have been read.

A method of operating a data carrier reader, comprising:

• reading data including a characteristic data string from an RFID tag;
• reading data including a characteristic data string from a symbol;
• and
• comparing at least a portion of the characteristic data string read from the RFID tag to at least a portion of the characteristic data string read from the symbol.

A method of operating a data carrier reader, comprising:

• receiving a plurality of characteristic data strings from each of a number of RFID tags, including at least one RFID tag of interest;
• comparing at least a portion of each of the received characteristic data strings to at least one identifier stored in a buffer, the identifier corresponding to the RFID tag of interest;
• producing a first human-perceptible indication in response to the number of received characteristic data strings that correspond to the at least one identifier;
• and
• automatically operating a symbol reader when a rate of response corresponding to the at least one identifier exceeds a threshold value.