Wireless bar code symbol reading system capable of automatically collecting and storing symbol character data when hand-supportable unit is operated outside of its rf data communication range, and automatically transmitting stored symbol character data when the hand-supportable unit is operated within its rf data communication range

A wireless bar code symbol reading system for use in a work environment, said wireless bar code symbol reading system comprising:

• (A) a wireless hand-supportable bar code symbol reader in two-way RF communication with a base station operably connected to a host system, by way of an RF-based wireless data communication link having a predetermined RF communication range over which two-way communication of data packets can occur in a reliable manner, said wireless hand-supportable bar code symbol reader including
• (1) a hand-supportable housing;
• (2) a bar code symbol reading mechanism, disposed in said hand-supportable housing, for automatically reading a bar code symbol on an object and automatically producing a symbol character data string representative of said read bar code symbol;
• (3) a first RF-based transceiver circuit, disposed in said hand-supportable housing, for transmitting to said base station, groups of data packets associated with said produced symbol character data string;
• (4) a data packet group buffer, disposed in said hand-supportable housing, for buffering one or more groups of data packets associated with said symbol character data string produced in response to the reading of a bar code symbol by said bar code symbol reading mechanism;
• (5) a data transmission circuit, disposed in said hand-supportable housing, for transmitting said produced symbol character data string to either said first RF-based transceiver circuit or said data packet group buffer;
• (6) a device controller, disposed within said hand-supportable housing, for controlling the operation of said wireless hand-supportable bar code symbol reader;
• and
• (B) said base station installable within a work environment and including
• (1) a base station housing,
• (2) a second RF-based transceiver circuit, disposed within said base station housing, for receiving groups of data packets corresponding to the symbol character data string transmitted from said first RF-based transceiver circuit, and
• (3) a base station controller mounted in said base station housing, for controlling the operation of said base station;
• wherein said first and second RF-based transceiver circuits enable a RF-based wireless data communication link between said wireless hand-supportable bar code reader and said base station;
• wherein said first and second RF-based transceiver circuits cooperate to enable the communication of data packets between said wireless hand-supportable bar code symbol reader and said base station, over said RF-based wireless data communication link;
• wherein said second RF-based transceiver includes means for automatically generating and transmitting a reference signal to said first RF-based transceiver circuit over said RF-based wireless data communication link;
• wherein said first RF-based transceiver circuit includes means for automatically receiving said reference signal and detecting the strength of said reference signal;
• wherein said device controller is programmed to automatically detect when said wireless hand-supportable bar code symbol reader is located inside of said predetermined RF communication range based on measuring the strength of said detected reference signal, and thereupon to automatically transmit to said second RF-based transceiver, the symbol character data string produced while said wireless hand-supportable bar code symbol reader is located inside of said predetermined RF communication range;
• and
• wherein said device controller is programmed to automatically detect when said wireless hand-supportable bar code symbol reader is located outside of said predetermined RF communication range based on measuring the strength of said detected reference signal, and thereupon to automatically collect and store in said data packet group buffer, the symbol character data string produced while said wireless hand-supportable bar code symbol reader is located outside of said predetermined RF communication range.