Bar code scanner diagnostic method

Abstract

A bar code scanner diagnostic method which may be performed at a retail site or during the burn-in phase of manufacturing. The method includes the steps of applying power to the scanner, reading a bar code label by the scanner, determining whether the bar code label is a diagnostic bar code label, reading the diagnostic bar code label by the scanner a first predetermined number of times within a predetermined period of time if the bar code label is the diagnostic bar code label, determining scanner failures which occurred during the reading of the diagnostic bar code label, logging the failures which occurred during reading of the diagnostic bar code label, cycling power to the scanner after the predetermined time period, and performing the reading through cycling steps a second predetermined number of times. Logged failures may be downloaded to a terminal coupled to the scanner and printed by a printer coupled to the terminal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.