Optical reader having decoding and image capturing functionality

An image capturing optical reader comprising:

• a trigger;
• an imaging assembly;
• and
• a control circuit having an associated memory in communication with said imaging assembly, wherein said control circuit is configured to operate said device in at least a “message only,” an “image only,” and an “image and message” mode of operation so that
• when said “message only” mode is selected said control circuit, in response to an actuation of said trigger, captures an image representation into said memory, decodes decodable indicia represented in said image representation and stores into a designated memory location a decoded-out message corresponding to said decodable indicia,
• when said “image only” mode is selected, said control circuit in response to an actuation of said trigger stores a frame of image data into a designated frame storage location of said memory without attempting to decode decodable indicia represented in said frame,
• when said “image and message” mode is selected, said control circuit in response to an actuation of said trigger captures an image representation into said memory, determines and stores a decoded-out message corresponding to a decodable indicia of said image representation, and stores said image representation subjected to decoding to a designated frame storage memory location, said control circuit storing said decoded-out message and said image representation into said memory in such manner that said decoded-out message is correlated with said image representation.

An image capturing optical reader comprising:

• a trigger;
• an imaging assembly;
• and
• a control circuit having an associated memory in communication with said imaging assembly, wherein said control circuit is configured to operate said device in at least a “message only,” an “image only,” and a “two step image and message” mode of operation so that
• when said “message only” mode is selected said control circuit, in response to an actuation of said trigger, captures an image representation into said memory, decodes decodable indicia represented in said representation and stores into a designated memory location a decoded-out message corresponding to said decodable indicia,
• when said “image only” mode is selected, said control circuit in response to an actuation of said trigger stores a frame of image data into a designated frame storage location of said memory without attempting to decode decodable indicia represented in said frame;
• when said “two step image and message” mode is selected, said control circuit in response to a first actuation of said trigger captures a first image representation into said memory, decodes decodable indicia represented in said first representation and stores a resulting decoded-out message into said memory, and in response to a second actuation of said trigger stores a second image representation into a designated frame storage location of said memory, said control circuit storing said decoded-out message and said second image representation into said memory in such manner that said second image representation is correlated with said decoded-out message.

A method for indexing a plurality of image representations, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) programming a first hand held image capturing device to execute a “two step message and image” mode of operation, said “two-step message and image” mode of operation configuring said device so that when a designated interface of said device is actuated a first time, said device captures an image and decodes a decodable indicia represented therein to generate a decoded-out message, and when said designated interface of said device is actuated a second time, said device stores a frame of image data into a designated frame storage location of said device and correlates said stored frame of image data with said decoded-out message;
• (b) operating said device in said “two-step message and image” mode of operation a first time to associate a first stored image representation with a first decoded-out message;
• (c) operating said device in said “two-step message and image” mode of operation a second time to associate a second stored image representation with said first decoded-out message;
• and
• (d) operating said device in said “two-step message and image” mode of operation a third time to associate a third stored image representation with a second decode out message, so that a database of stored image representations is established wherein said first and second image representations are correlated with said first decoded-out message and said third image representation is correlated with said second decoded-out message.

A method for tracking the shipment of a package from a first location to a second location remote from said first location, said package including a decodable symbol, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a first optical reader at said first location, and a second optical reader at said second location wherein each of said optical readers has image capture functionality;
• (b) coupling said first and second optical readers in communication with a common nonintegrated remote processor system;
• (c) at said first location decoding said decodable symbol to determine a decoded-out message corresponding to said decodable symbol and storing an image representation of said package using said first optical reader;
• (d) correlating said image representation stored in step (c) with said decoded-out message determined in step (c);
• (e) sending said correlated decoded-out message and said image representation correlated in step (d) to said nonintegrated processor system;
• (f) at said second location, decoding said symbol using said second optical reader to determine said decoded-out message;
• and
• (g) via communication of said first decoded-out message from said second optical reader to said nonintegrated processor system, accessing said image representation of said package correlated with said decoded-out message at step (f) for comparison between said image representation and an actual condition of said package.