Portable data reading device with integrated web server for configuration and data extraction

Abstract

A portable data reading device, such as a barcode scanner or RFID reader, includes a Web server and a first server-side application to modify one or more settings of the portable data reading device. The settings may include, for example, symbology settings, device settings, and network settings. The Web server may receive formatted data from a client browser representing a requested modification of at least one setting of the portable data reading device. Upon receiving the formatted data, the Web server may automatically invoke the first server-side application to modify the at least one setting responsive to the formatted data.

1 . A portable data reading device comprising: 
 a Web server to deliver Web pages to a client browser; and    a first server-side application to update a file system of the portable data reading device,    wherein the Web server is to receive formatted data from the client browser representing an updated file system, and    wherein the Web server is to automatically invoke the first server-side application to replace the file system of the portable data reading device with the updated file system    
   
   
       2 . The portable data reading device of  claim 1 , further comprising a barcode scan engine to read one or more symbols from a physical object.  
   
   
       3 . The portable data reading device of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication interface to communicate with the client browser through a network.  
   
   
       4 . The portable data reading device of  claim 1 , further comprising a Web page comprising code to replace the file system of the portable data reading device with the updated file system.  
   
   
       5 . The portable data reading device of  claim 4 , wherein the Web page comprises a server-side page, and wherein the code comprises an embedded script.  
   
   
       6 . The portable data reading device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second server-side application to clone a file system of the portable data reading device to at least one other portable data reading device,    wherein the Web server to automatically invoke the second server-side application to create a cloned image of the file system of the portable data reading device, and    wherein the Web server is to send formatted data representing the cloned image to at least one other portable data reading device with instructions for the at least one other portable data reading device to replace its file system with the file system from the cloned image.    
   
   
       7 . A portable scanning system comprising: 
 a reading engine;    a communication interface to connect the portable scanning system to a client browser through a network; and    a memory coupled to the reading engine and the communication interface, the memory comprising: 
 a Web server to deliver Web pages to a client browser; and  
 a first server-side application to update a file system of the portable data reading device,  
 wherein the Web server is to receive formatted data from the client browser representing an updated file system and automatically invoke the first server-side application to replace the file system of the portable data reading device with the updated file system.  
   
   
   
       8 . The portable scanning system of  claim 7 , wherein the memory further comprises: 
 a second server-side application to clone a file system of the portable data reading device to one or more other portable data reading devices,    wherein the Web server is to automatically invoke the second server-side application to create a cloned image of the file system of the portable data reading device and send formatted data representing the cloned image to at least one other portable data reading device with instructions for the at least one other portable data reading device to replace its file system with that of the cloned image.    
   
   
       9 . A method for updating a file system of a portable data reader including an integrated Web server, the method comprising: 
 receiving at the Web server formatted data representing an updated file system; and    invoking a first server-side application to replace a file system of the portable data reader with the updated file system.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 invoking a second server-side application to create a cloned image of a file system of the portable data reader; and    sending formatted data representing the cloned image to at least one specified portable data reader with instructions for the specified portable data reader to update its file system with the cloned image.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising delivering to a client browser a Web page comprising code to automatically invoke the first server-side application.  
   
   
       12 . A method comprising: 
 integrating a portable data reader with a Web server to deliver Web pages to a client browser;    integrating the portable data reader with a first server-side application to update a file system of the portable data reader;    receiving formatted data from the client browser representing an updated file system; and    automatically invoking the first server-side application to replace the file system of the portable data reader with the updated file system.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising integrating the portable data reader with a communication interface to communicate with the client browser through a network.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising integrating the portable data reader with a Web page comprising code to cause the Web server to automatically invoke the first server-side application.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein integrating the portable data reader with a Web page comprises integrating the portable data reader with an server-side page in which the code comprises an embedded script.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 integrating the portable data reader with a second server-side application to clone a file system of the portable data reader to at least one specified portable data reader;    automatically invoking the second server-side application to create a cloned image of the file system of the portable data reader; and    sending formatted data representing the cloned image from the Web server to at least one specified portable data reader with instructions for the at least one specified portable data reader to replace its file system with the file system from the cloned image.    
   
   
       17 . A portable data reader comprising: 
 a reading engine;    a Web server coupled to the reading engine; and    a server-side application coupled to the Web server to clone a file system of the portable data reading device to at least one other portable data reader,    wherein the Web server to automatically invoke the server-side application to create a cloned image of the file system of the portable data reader, and    wherein the Web server is to send formatted data representing the cloned image to at least one other portable data reader with instructions for the at least one other portable data reader to replace its file system with the file system from the cloned image.