Patent ID: 7080786

Claim:
A method for operating a bar code reader system having at least a first hand held bar code reader and a host processor spaced apart from said first hand held bar code reader, wherein said first hand held bar code reader includes a memory, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing programming data for programming said first hand held bar code reader at said host processor; (b) encoding with use of said host processor at least one bar code symbol, said at least one bar code symbol being encoded such that when said at least one bar code symbol is read by said second hand held bar code reader, said programming data provided at said host processor is loaded into said memory of said second hand held bar code reader; (c) outputting said at least one bar code symbol encoded at step (b), wherein said outputting includes the step of displaying a bar code symbol on a computer display; and (d) reading using said first hand held bar code reader said at least one bar code symbol output at step (c) so that said first hand held bar code reader is reprogrammed.