A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided in order to provide improvements in the configuring of Bluetooth low energy (BLE) advertising beacons. Embodiments of the present invention are directed to conveniently and reliably configuring or updating the configuration of a BLE beacon, while limiting the amount of technical information and/or tools required. A method is provided comprising: receiving a data stream encoded in a flickering barcode from a programming device; decoding, using a processor, the received data stream; and configuring a BLE beacon advertisement using the decoded data stream. The method may further include transmitting the configured BLE beacon advertisement. A corresponding apparatus and a computer program product are also provided.

Generating a 2D barcode includes acquiring private information input by a user and sending the private information to a server through a network. The method includes receiving an information access address returned through the network by the server, and generating a 2D barcode including the information access address. The method further includes acquiring a 2D barcode including an information access address and scanning the 2D barcode to obtain the information access address included in the 2D barcode, the information access address being for accessing private information. The method further includes sending the information access address to a server through a network, and receiving the private information returned through the network by the server, and using the private information as a reading result of the 2D barcode.

An electronic and paper combined data submission, printing, and retrieval method includes: completing an application in a client terminal, sending the user-entered data in the client terminal to a remote storage server; printing the completed application together with a barcode containing a unique identification code; retrieving the electronic data stored in the remote storage server by scanning said identification code. A system includes: a data encryption module; a data transmission module: an identification code module; a print module; a scan module; an analysis module; a data retrieve module; and a data decryption module.

An imager module for an optical code reader may include a camera comprising a lens system, and an actuator for moving the lens system operatively connected to the lens system for autofocus adjustment. The actuator for moving the lens system comprises a linear electric motor with a drive shaft, a position sensor device adapted to detect the position of the drive shaft within a predefined stroke length and a control device adapted to control the movement of the drive shaft. The control device and the position sensor device are integrated in a single PCB, the electric motor comprises a frame that supports the drive shaft, and the single PCB constitutes part of said frame. On optical code reader may include such an imager module.

Techniques are described with regard to determining and controlling a location and status of assets directly and/or indirectly. The techniques may be used to track and control the respective locations and status of any number of objects. Applications include but are not limited to tracking dry and refrigerated trailers and their status in a supply-chain yard; tracking pallets and boxes and their status in a warehouse; tracking items in a retail environment; tracking finished goods and work in progress in and around a manufacturing plant; tracking vehicles in a parking lot; tracking cargo and equipment at an airport; tracking equipment in a lay down yard; etc. In all cases the laborious and error prone data gathering is replaced with automated data collection methods reducing cost, increasing accuracy, and increasing efficiency.

Indicia readers may be configured with two illumination light sources: a primary light source for illuminating primary indicia (e.g., a barcode) and a secondary ultraviolet (UV) light source for revealing secondary indicia (e.g., UV fluorescent watermarks) that are used to protect against counterfeit and fraud. Ultraviolet light can be harmful. The present invention embraces methods and a device for controlling the secondary UV light source to limit UV exposure. When an exposure risks is detected, the UV light source is deactivated.

A check-out system according to an embodiment includes an image capturing device that captures an image of a merchandise item. A processor determines whether the captured image includes a symbol on the merchandise item corresponding to a merchandise ID. If the captured image includes the symbol, the processor retrieves the merchandise ID. If the captured image does not include the symbol, the processor identifies the merchandise item based on an object recognition processing. The processor retrieves a corresponding merchandise ID and a merchandise category. The processor determines whether the merchandise item is likely to include the symbol based on the merchandise category. If the merchandise item likely includes the symbol, the processor controls a display to display a message instructing an operator to check for the symbol. The processor performs a settlement processing with respect to the merchandise items corresponding to one or more of the retrieved merchandise IDs.

A portable scanner with improved user feedback provides scan data to a networked computing node via a wireless interface and the Internet. The portable scanner receives user feedback information from the networked computing node via the wireless interface and the Internet. The user feedback information indicates successful entry of the scan data into a database, or alternatively successful receipt of the scan data by the networked computing node. The portable scanner sets a scan status indicator to a final state in response to the user feedback information. Optionally, the database is a remote database that a local database is synchronized with, and/or the database is associated with the networked computing node. Optionally the portable scanner is wearable. Optionally the portable scanner is compatible with barcode and/or RFID technologies.

A computer can comprise a housing, a microprocessor disposed within the housing, a display, and a communication interface communicatively coupled to the microprocessor. The computer can be configured, responsive to locating decodable indicia within content viewable on the display, to decode the decodable indicia to produce at least one decoded message. The computer can be further configured to display the content with decoded message data being embedded into the content. The decoded message data can be provided by at least one decoded message, data derived from the decoded message.

An identification module is disclosed for use in a key making machine. The identification module may have a key receiving assembly configured to receive only a shank of an existing key. The identification module may also have a tip guide, configured to receive a tip of the shank of the existing key. The tip guide may have a slot that exposes a tip end of the shank. The identification module may also have an imaging assembly configured to capture an image of the tip end through the slot.