Encoded information reading terminal with multi-band antenna

An encoded information reading (EIR) terminal comprising:

• a microprocessor;
• a memory communicatively coupled to said microprocessor;
• an EIR device comprising an imaging-based bar code reading device and/or a laser-based bar code reading device, said EIR device configured to perform at least one of:
• outputting raw message data comprising an encoded message and outputting decoded message data corresponding to an encoded message;
• a wireless communication interface configured to support at least two wireless communication protocols, said wireless communication interface comprising an RF front end configured to perform at least one of:
• receiving a first radio signal and transmitting a second radio signal;
• and
• an antenna comprising metamaterial (MTM) that is electrically coupled by said RF front end, said metamaterial (MTM) antenna provided by at least one of:
• two or more single-band antennas, a multi-band antenna;
• wherein said metamaterial (MTM) antenna is configured to simultaneously receive two or more radio signals in two or more frequency regulatory domains,
• wherein each one of said two or more radio signals is received by said multi-band antenna over at least one of:
• a distinct wireless communication network, and a distinct wireless communication protocol;
• wherein said microprocessor is configured to execute at least one of:
• a base band encoder software program and a base band decoder software program;
• and
• wherein said EIR terminal is configured to dynamically select at least one of:
• a wireless communication network and a wireless communication protocol by optimizing a value of a wireless communication protocol selection criterion, said wireless communication protocol selection criterion based on said two or more radio signals.