Method and system for remote browsing of computer files using a bar code reader

Abstract

A method of integrating host application software with data collection devices (e.g., bar code scanners) located on remote, wireless terminals. A data collection object executes on the host computer, using a predetermined interface between the host application software and the data collection object. That interface, and the communications between the host application software and the data collection object, are configured so that to the host application software the data collection device appears to be local hardware on the host computer. The data collection object creates and executes threads of execution for controlling operation of the data collection device, with the threads communicating with the remote terminals via a host computer transport layer, the wireless link, and a remote computer transport layer at the remote terminals. A data collection device driver on the remote terminal receives communications from the data collection object, and returns information to the data collection object, over the remote computer transport layer, wireless link, and host computer transport layer.

1 - 8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . A system that facilitates reading a plurality of disparate symbols with disparate data formats, comprising: 
 interface script data and data formatted in accordance with the script data; and    a symbol reading device that reads the interface script data and generates an interface according to the interface script data, the interface enables the symbol reading device to read the data formatted in accordance with the interface script data.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , the symbol being a barcode and the symbol reading device being a barcode scanner.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , the barcode being a high density barcode.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , the symbol reading device comprising a browser, the browser parses the interface script data to generate the interface.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , the interface script data comprises a markup language.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , the interface script data comprises HTML.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 9 , the symbol reading device is portable.  
   
   
       16 . A personal digital assistant comprises the symbol reading device of  claim 9 .  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 9 , the interface script data and the data formatted in accordance with the generated interface residing within a same symbol.  
   
   
       18 . A system that facilitates reading a plurality of disparate symbols with disparate data formats, comprising: 
 interface script data that is accessible on a network;    a symbol reader that accesses the interface script data and employs the interface script data to generate a display interface, the display interface enables a display associated with the barcode reader to display data formatted in accordance with the interface script data.    
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18  further comprising a symbol that is read by the symbol reader, the symbol includes data that informs the symbol reader where on the network the interface script data resides.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , the symbol is a barcode symbol.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 18  further comprising a symbol, the symbol comprising the interface script data.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 18 , the network being one or more of the Internet and an intranet.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 18 , the symbol reading device comprising a component that facilitates scanning and decoding of barcode symbols.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a browser that parses the interface script data.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24 , the interface script data comprises a markup language.  
   
   
       26 . A method for accessing data on a network, comprising: 
 providing a symbol that comprises information relating to location of the data on the network;    reading the symbol via a symbol reading device; and    automatically accessing the data based upon the information relating to the location of the data on the network read by the symbol reading device.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising displaying the accessed data on a display associated with the symbol reading device.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising relaying the information relating to the location of the data on the network to a computing device via a wireless connection.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26 , the data is a script that is employed to generate an interface, the interface utilized by the symbol reading device to read data associated with the interface.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26 , the network being one or more of the Internet and an intranet.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising relaying the information relating to the location of the data on the network to a computing device via a cellular telephone channel.  
   
   
       32 . A system that facilitates accessing data on a network, comprising: 
 means for providing a barcode that comprises information relating to a location on the network that the data resides;    means for reading the barcode and decoding the information;    means for relaying the information to a browser that utilizes the information to access the data on the network.    
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 32 , the data is interface script data that is employed to generate an interface, the interface utilized to enable a barcode scanner to process data within a barcode that is associated with the interface.