Symbol reading device, symbol reading method, and symbol reading system

A symbol reading method, comprising:

• acquiring symbol information, with a plurality of reading units, by reading symbols on each respective article in a plurality of articles conveyed along a conveyance path and storing the symbol information in association with each of the reading units in the plurality that respectively read the symbols on each of the articles;
• identifying a first reading unit in the plurality that can be substituted by another reading unit in the plurality based on the symbol information associated with each of the reading units;
• and
• controlling the first reading unit to enter into a power saving state.

A symbol reading system, comprising:

• a conveyer on which articles are conveyed;
• and
• a symbol reading device including:
• a plurality of reading units configured to read symbols on articles being conveyed by the conveyor;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• acquire symbol information by controlling the plurality of reading units to read symbols on each article in a plurality of articles conveyed by the conveyor and store the symbol information in association with each of the reading units that respectively read the corresponding symbols on each article,
• identify a first reading unit in the plurality of reading units that can be substituted by another reading unit in the plurality based on the symbol information associated with each of the reading units, and
• control the first reading unit to enter into a power saving state.