Predictive bar code decoding system and method

A system for decoding a bar code, the bar code having data encoded in at least first and second data values as a plurality of bars, said system comprising:

• means for obtaining a plurality of samples of the bar code during scanning thereof;
• means for detecting bar edges in a first portion of the bar code from the plurality of samples, said edge detecting means being responsive to said sample obtaining means;
• means for identifying a bar code type from the detected bar edges, said bar code type identifying means being responsive to said edge detecting means;
• and
• means for controlling sampling of said second portion of the bar code by said sample obtaining means, based upon the identified bar code type, said controlling means being responsive to said bar code type identifying means.

A system for decoding a bar code, the bar code having data encoded in at least first and second data values as a plurality of bars, said system comprising:

• means for obtaining a plurality of samples of the bar code during scanning thereof;
• means for detecting bar edges in a first portion of the bar code from the plurality of samples, said edge detecting means being responsive to said sample obtaining means;
• means for determining that at least one bar edge occurrence in a second portion of said bar code need not be detected in order to decode said bar code, said determining means being responsive to said edge detecting means;
• and
• means for controlling sampling of said second portion of the bar code by said sample obtaining means, when a bar code edge need not be detected in order to decode said bar code, said sample controlling means being responsive to said determining means.

A system for decoding an optical data code, the optical data code having data encoded in at least first and second data values as a plurality of optical features, said system comprising:

• a sampler which obtains a plurality of samples of the optical data code during scanning thereof;
• a feature detector which detects optical features in a first portion of the optical data code from the plurality of samples, said feature detector being responsive to said sampler;
• a feature predictor which predicts at least one feature occurrence in a second portion of the optical data code, said feature predictor being responsive to said feature detector;
• and
• a controller which controls sampling of said second portion of the optical data code by said sampler, based upon the at least one predicted feature occurrence, said controller being responsive to said feature predictor.

A system for decoding an optical data code, the optical data code having data encoded in at least first and second data values as a plurality of optical features, said system comprising:

• a sampler which obtains a plurality of samples of the optical data code during scanning thereof;
• a feature detector which detects optical features in a first portion of the optical data code from the plurality of samples, said feature detector being responsive to said sampler;
• an optical code type identifier which identifies an optical code type from the detected features, said identifier being responsive to said feature detector;
• and
• a controller which controls sampling of a second portion of the optical data code by said sampler, based upon the identified optical data code type, said controller means being responsive to said optical data code type identifier.

A system for decoding an optical data code, the optical data code having data encoded in at least first and second data values as a plurality of optical features, said system comprising:

• a sampler which obtains a plurality of samples of the optical data code during scanning thereof;
• a feature detector which detects optical features in a first portion of the optical data code from the plurality of samples, said feature detector being responsive to said sampler;
• a determiner which determines that at least one feature occurrence in a second portion of said optical data code need not be detected in order to decode said optical code, said determiner being responsive to said feature detector;
• and
• a controller which controls sampling of said second portion of the optical data code by said sampler, when a feature need not be detected in order to decode said optical data code, said controller being responsive to said determiner.

A method for decoding a bar code, the bar code having data encoded in at least first and second data values as a plurality of bars, said method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining a plurality of samples of the bar code during scanning thereof;
• detecting bar edges from the plurality of samples;
• predicting a bar edge location from the detected bar edges;
• and
• controlling sampling of the bar code between the bar edges and the predicted bar edge location.

A method for decoding a bar code, the bar code having data encoded in at least first and second data values as a plurality of bars, said method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining a plurality of samples of the bar code during scanning thereof;
• detecting bar edges from the plurality of samples;
• identifying a bar code type from the detected bar edges;
• and
• controlling sampling of the bar code, based upon the identified bar code type.

A method for decoding a bar code, the bar code having data encoded in at least first and second data values as a plurality of bars, said method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining a plurality of samples of the bar code during scanning thereof;
• detecting bar edges from the plurality of samples;
• determining that at least one bar edge occurrence in said bar code need not be detected in order to decode said bar code;
• and
• controlling sampling of the bar code when a bar code edge need not be detected in order to decode said bar code.

A method for decoding a bar code, the bar code having data encoded in at least first and second data values as a plurality of bars, said method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining a plurality of samples of the bar code during scanning thereof;
• reducing sampling of said bar code between possible bar edge locations;
• and
• increasing sampling of said bar code adjacent possible bar edge locations, to thereby provide sampling on demand.