Hand held machine vision method and apparatus

A method for use with a database and a portable device including a processor, the method for obtaining information associated with a subset of a plurality of different item types, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an identification tag on at least one item that includes item identifying information;
• obtaining item identifying information from the identification tag via the portable device;
• identifying the item type from the item identifying information;
• obtaining at least one image of the at least one item via the portable device;
• identifying at least one supplemental process to be performed on the obtained image wherein the supplemental subprocess is identified at least in part as a function of the item type;
• and
• performing the at least one supplemental process on the obtained image.

A method for use with a database and a portable device including a processor, the method for performing functions associated with different items, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing identification tags on each of a plurality of items, each tag including identifying information useable to specifically identify an associated item;
• obtaining item identifying information from at least one identification tag corresponding to a specific item via the portable device;
• obtaining other information associated with the specific item including at least one image of the specific item via the portable device;
• performing supplemental processes on the other information associated with the specific item;
• monitoring the portable device for a transition indication;
• and
• when a transition indication is received, halting the supplemental processes.

A system for use with items that include identification tags where each tag includes item identifying information, the apparatus comprising:

• a portable housing;
• a processor mounted within the housing;
• a tag information obtainer supported by the housing for obtaining information from the tags;
• and
• a camera supported by the housing;
• wherein, the processor runs a program to, when information is obtained from a tag via the obtainer and an image is obtained via the camera, perform a supplemental process on the image as a function of the information obtained from the tag.

An apparatus for use with items that include identification tags where each tag includes item identifying information, the apparatus comprising:

• a portable housing;
• a processor mounted within the housing;
• a tag information obtainer supported by the housing for obtaining information from the tags;
• and
• a camera supported by the housing;
• wherein, the processor runs a program to, when information is obtained from a tag associated with a specific item via the obtainer, perform supplemental processes associated with the specific item on images obtained by the camera until a transition indication is received and, when a transition indication is received, halting the supplemental processes associated with the specific item.