Patent ID: 8256681

Claim:
A data collection device for incorporation in a data collection system having an access point and a peer device, said access point adapted for wireline connection to a wireline bus, said data collection device comprising: an encoded information reader unit selected from the group consisting of a bar code decode unit, an RFID reader unit, and a credit/debit card reader unit; a radio transceiver for wireless transmission of data packets; a housing, wherein said encoded information reader unit is supported within said housing, wherein said housing is one of a hand held housing and a re-mountable housing; and a dynamic access module enabling said data collection device to perform at least one of receiving data packets from said peer device and transmitting data packets to said peer device; wherein said data collection device is operative to continuously perform switching between an infrastructure mode and an ad-hoc mode; wherein said data collection device is operative so that at least one of receiving data packets from said peer device and transmitting data packets to said peer device is carried out with a single hop transmission when said switching of said data collection device and a switching of said peer device is synchronized; and wherein said data collection device is further operative so that at least one of receiving data packets from said peer device and transmitting data packets to said peer device is carried out via said access point when said switching of said data collection device and said switching of said peer device is not synchronized.