Methods and systems for establishing a bi-directional communication link between a host device and a barcode reader
AssigneeZebra Technologies Corporation
InventorsNilusha Niwanthaka Wimalasena, Chaminda Weerakkody, Kenneth S. Bhella, Mariya Wright
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Abstract
Methods and systems for establishing a bi-directional communication link between a host device and a barcode reader are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the present invention enables a barcode reader to pair with a host device by way of advertising a unique identification code that is generated by the host device and passed thereto via a barcode. Responsive to detecting the unique identification code, the host device is operable to connect to the barcode reader.
Claims19
A method for establishing and maintaining a bi-directional wireless communication link between a host device and a barcode reader, the method comprising:
- generating a unique identification code (UIC), the UIC excluding a media access control (MAC) address of a host device radio;
- encoding the UIC in a barcode;
- displaying the barcode on at least one of a display of the host device via an application or a print media of the host device via printing the barcode on the print media;
- capturing an image including the barcode via the barcode reader;
- processing, via the barcode reader, the image to decode the barcode and extract the UIC from the barcode;
- advertising, via a barcode reader radio, the UIC;
- detecting, via the host device, the barcode reader advertising the UIC;
- and
- responsive to the host device detecting the barcode reader advertising the UIC, pairing the host device with the barcode reader to establish the bi-directional wireless communication link.
A system comprising:
- a host device having a host device controller, a host device radio, an application executing on the host device, and at least one of a display or a print head, wherein the host device controller is configured to:
- generate a unique identification code (UIC), the UIC excluding a media access control (MAC) address of the host device radio;
- encode the UIC in a barcode;
- and
- display the barcode on at least one of a display of the host device via an application or a print media of the host device via printing the barcode on the print media;
- and
- a barcode reader having a barcode reader controller, an imaging assembly, a barcode reader radio, wherein the barcode reader controller is configured to:
- responsive to an activation trigger, cause the imaging assembly to capture an image including the barcode;
- process the image to decode the barcode and extract the UIC from the barcode;
- and
- cause the barcode reader radio to advertise the UIC,
- wherein the host device controller is further configured to:
- detect the barcode reader advertising the UIC;
- and
- responsive to the detecting the barcode reader advertising the UIC, pair the host device with the barcode reader to establish the bi-directional wireless communication link.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.