Barcode reader and accessory for the barcode reader

Abstract

A barcode reader and an accessory are disclosed. A barcode reader may include an interface for communication with a host computer via a wireless or wired link and an authentication system to establish mutual authentication with the host computer. The barcode reader may include a connector for connecting the barcode reader to the external power source or the host computer. The connector may be a combined power and data connector. An accessory may provide operating power to a barcode reader and provide decoded data of an image of a barcode received from the barcode reader to a host computer. The accessory may include connectors and an interface system. The interface system may include a processor configured to send the decoded data to the host computer, an authentication system, and a power interface. The accessory may include RF circuits for communicating with the host computer via a wireless link.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An accessory for a barcode reader for providing operating power to the barcode reader and providing decoded data of an image of a barcode received from the barcode reader to a host computer, the accessory comprising:
 a first power/data connector for connecting to a barcode reader;   a second power/data connector for connecting to a host computer or a power source;   a first power/data interface coupled to the first power/data connector, wherein decoded data of an image of a barcode is received from the barcode reader via the first power/data interface;   a second power/data interface coupled to the second power/data connector, wherein the second power/data interface is configured to provide a communication link to the host computer;   a relay communication system configured to:
 obtain a status of a trusted accessory to the host computer by: i) receiving an authentication challenge from the host computer over the communication link; ii) subjecting the authentication challenge to an authentication algorithm to obtain an authentication response; and iii) providing the authentication response to the host computer over the communication link; and 
 relay decoded data of an image of a barcode received from the barcode reader to the host computer after obtaining status as a trust accessory to the host computer; and 
   power interface circuits coupled to the first power/data interface and the second power/data interface, and configured to:
 draw operating power for the barcode reader from a power source and provide the operating power for the barcode reader to the barcode reader; and 
 draw operating power for the relay communication system from the power source and provide the operating power for the relay communication system to the relay communication system. 
   
     
     
         2 . The accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the first power/data connector and the second power/data connector are Universal Serial Bus (USB) male connectors. 
     
     
         3 . The accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the relay communication system is configured to relay the decoded data to the host computer using iPod® Accessory Protocol iAP or iAP2. 
     
     
         4 . The accessory of  claim 1 , further comprising radio frequency (RF) circuits for communicating with the host computer via a wireless link. 
     
     
         5 . The accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the power interface circuits draw the operating power for the barcode reader and the relay communication system from the host computer. 
     
     
         6 . The accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the host computer is a mobile device. 
     
     
         7 . The accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the power interface circuits draw the operating power for the barcode reader and the relay communication system from a wall outlet via a transformer. 
     
     
         8 . The accessory of  claim 7 , wherein the transformer is included in the second power/data connector. 
     
     
         9 . The accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the operating power provided to the barcode reader complies with Universal Serial Bus (USB) specification. 
     
     
         10 . An accessory for a barcode reader for providing operating power to the barcode reader and providing decoded data of an image of a barcode received from the barcode reader to a host computer, the accessory comprising:
 a power/data connector for connecting to the barcode reader;   a first power/data interface coupled to the power/data connector, wherein decoded data of an image of a barcode is received from the barcode reader via the power/data interface;   a power interface coupled to a power source and configured to draw operating power for the barcode reader from the power source and provide the operating power for the barcode reader to the barcode reader through the power/data connector; and   a host interface coupled to the power/data interface and configured to:
 authenticate the accessory as a trusted device to the host computer; and 
 provide decoded data received from the barcode reader to the host computer utilizing a communication protocol after the accessory has been authenticated as a trusted device to the host computer. 
   
     
     
         11 . The accessory of  claim 10 , wherein the power interface is configured to draw the operating power for the barcode reader from the power source via a second power/data interface, and provide the operating power to the barcode reader via the first power/data interface and the power/data connector. 
     
     
         12 . The accessory of  claim 11 , wherein the power source is the host computer. 
     
     
         13 . The accessory of  claim 11 , wherein the host computer is a mobile device. 
     
     
         14 . The accessory of  claim 11 , wherein the power interface draws the operating power from a wall outlet via a transformer. 
     
     
         15 . The accessory of  claim 14 , wherein the transformer is included in a second power/data connector. 
     
     
         16 . The accessory of  claim 10 , wherein the operating power provided to the barcode reader complies with Universal Serial Bus (USB) specification. 
     
     
         17 . The accessory of  claim 10 , wherein the host interface includes:
 a relay code that, when executed by a processor of the accessory, sends the decoded data received from the barcode reader to the host computer; and   a protocol system comprising accessory protocol circuits and accessory protocol code, the protocol system implementing a communication protocol specific to the host computer when communicating with the host computer, wherein the accessory protocol code is stored in memory of the accessory and executed by the accessory protocol circuits.   
     
     
         18 . The accessory of  claim 17 , wherein the communication protocol is iPod® Accessory Protocol iAP or iAP2. 
     
     
         19 . The accessory of  claim 10 , wherein the power/data connector is a USB male connector. 
     
     
         20 . The accessory of  claim 10 , further comprising radio frequency (RF) circuits for communicating with the host computer via a wireless link. 
     
     
         21 . An accessory for a barcode reader, comprising:
 a cable with a connector for connecting to the barcode reader;   a first power/data interface configured to provide operating power to the barcode reader via the cable and the connector;   a second power/data interface configured to receive the operating power from a power source; and   a code executable by a processor of the accessory to:
 authenticate as a trusted accessory to a mobile device; and 
 send decoded data of an image of a barcode received from the barcode reader to the mobile device using a protocol after the accessory has been authenticated to the mobile device. 
   
     
     
         22 . The accessory of  claim 21 , further comprising radio frequency (RF) circuits for communicating with the mobile device via a wireless link. 
     
     
         23 . The accessory of  claim 22 , wherein the RF circuits are either a wireless point-to-point interface or a wireless local area network (WLAN) interface. 
     
     
         24 . The accessory of  claim 21 , wherein the power source is the mobile device. 
     
     
         25 . The accessory of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile device acts as a master device to the accessory. 
     
     
         26 . The accessory of  claim 21 , wherein the second power/data interface receives the operating power from a wall outlet via a transformer. 
     
     
         27 . An accessory for a barcode reader for providing operating power to the barcode reader and providing decoded data of an image of a barcode received from the barcode reader to a host computer, the accessory comprising:
 a power/data connector for connecting to the barcode reader;   a power/data interface coupled to the power/data connector that receives decoded data of an image of a barcode from the barcode reader;   a power interface coupled to a power source, the power interface drawing operating power for the barcode reader from the power source and providing the operating power to the barcode reader through the power/data connector; and   a host interface circuit coupled to the power/data interface, the host interface circuit configured to:
 authenticate the accessory as a trusted device to the host computer; and 
 provide the decoded data received from the barcode reader to the host computer utilizing a communication protocol after the accessory has been authenticated as a trusted device to the host computer. 
   
     
     
         28 . The accessory of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 memory that includes at least one of a point-to-point interface driver, a radio frequency (RF) circuit driver, an accessory protocol code, or a relay code.   
     
     
         29 . The accessory of  claim 27 , wherein the operating power provided to the barcode reader complies with Universal Serial Bus (USB) specification. 
     
     
         30 . The accessory of  claim 27 , wherein the power interface is further configured to provide operating power to the accessory.