Method and system for improving barcode scanner performance

A computer implemented method for ignoring multiple barcode scans of the same item, the method comprising:

• receiving an item's first barcode scan from a barcode scanner communicatively coupled with a computer;
• determining from the first barcode scan the scanned-item's type;
• initiating a scale-timeout period if the scanned-item's type is a variable-weight type;
• starting a scale-timeout mode wherein subsequent barcode scans are compared with the first barcode scan and any subsequent barcode scans that match, at least part of, the first barcode scan are ignored;
• obtaining, a scale signal from a scale communicatively coupled to the computer;
• if the scale signal indicates that the scale is active, restarting the scale-timeout period and remaining in scale-timeout mode;
• and
• if the scale signal indicates that the scale is not active, ending the scale-timeout mode after a delay.

A scanner/scale system comprising:

• a barcode scanner for scanning barcodes of items within a field of view;
• a scale for measuring the weight of items placed on a measurement platform, said measurement platform configured to position the items within the barcode scanner's field of view;
• a computing device having a processor communicatively coupled to the barcode scanner and the scale, the processor capable of executing a barcode-ignore program stored on a computer readable memory, said computer readable memory accessible to the computing device;
• wherein said barcode-ignore program configures the processor for (i) receiving a scanned barcode from the barcode scanner, (ii) determining an item type from the scanned barcode, (iii) receiving a scale signal from the scale, and (iv) using the item type and the scale signal to adjust a scale-timeout mode, wherein said scale-timeout mode comprises a timeout period during which repetitively scanned barcodes are ignored.