A data collection system comprising: an encoded information reading terminal interface node, said EIR terminal interface node including one or more computers, each computer comprising a central processing unit, a memory and at least one communication interface; a plurality of EIR terminals, wherein said EIR terminal interface node is communicatively coupled to the plurality of EIR terminals; a reprogramming database communicatively coupled to said EIR terminal interface node, said reprogramming database containing a plurality of reprogramming records, each reprogramming record of said plurality of reprogramming records containing EIR terminal identifying information and at least one of: a binary file identifier, a data file identifier and a script file identifier; and a docking station communicatively coupled to said EIR terminal interface node, each EIR terminal of said plurality of EIR terminals being engageable to the docking station for communicating with the docking station; wherein said EIR terminal interface node is configured to build and transmit a reprogramming message for reprogramming at least one EIR terminal engaged in the docking station, said reprogramming message including at least one of: a binary file, a data file, a script file; wherein said EIR terminal interface node utilizes information determined by querying said reprogramming database when building said reprogramming message; wherein said binary file contains a software code to be executed by the at least one EIR terminal; wherein said data file contains EIR terminal software configuration parameters; wherein said script file contains a sequence of commands to be executed by the at least one EIR terminal; wherein said EIR terminal interface node is configured to query the at least one EIR terminal for a list of active communication interfaces via the docking station; wherein the at least one EIR terminal is configured to reply to said active interface list request with a list of its active interfaces, said list of active interfaces including interface types and IP addresses; and wherein said EIR terminal interface node is further configured, upon receiving said list of active interfaces, to perform further communication with the at least one EIR terminal over a communication interface selected from said list of active interfaces, said communication interface not associated with the docking station. an encoded information reading terminal interface node, said EIR terminal interface node including one or more computers, each computer comprising a central processing unit, a memory and at least one communication interface; a plurality of EIR terminals, wherein said EIR terminal interface node is communicatively coupled to the plurality of EIR terminals; a reprogramming database communicatively coupled to said EIR terminal interface node, said reprogramming database containing a plurality of reprogramming records, each reprogramming record of said plurality of reprogramming records containing EIR terminal identifying information and at least one of: a binary file identifier, a data file identifier and a script file identifier; and a docking station communicatively coupled to said EIR terminal interface node, each EIR terminal of said plurality of EIR terminals being engageable to the docking station for communicating with the docking station; wherein said EIR terminal interface node is configured to build and transmit a reprogramming message for reprogramming at least one EIR terminal engaged in the docking station, said reprogramming message including at least one of: a binary file, a data file, a script file; wherein said EIR terminal interface node utilizes information determined by querying said reprogramming database when building said reprogramming message; wherein said binary file contains a software code to be executed by the at least one EIR terminal; wherein said data file contains EIR terminal software configuration parameters; wherein said script file contains a sequence of commands to be executed by the at least one EIR terminal; wherein said EIR terminal interface node is configured to query the at least one EIR terminal for a list of active communication interfaces via the docking station; wherein the at least one EIR terminal is configured to reply to said active interface list request with a list of its active interfaces, said list of active interfaces including interface types and IP addresses; and wherein said EIR terminal interface node is further configured, upon receiving said list of active interfaces, to perform further communication with the at least one EIR terminal over a communication interface selected from said list of active interfaces, said communication interface not associated with the docking station.