Patent ID: 7261238

Claim:
A method of locating an imaged bar code in a captured image frame for an imaging-based bar code reader, the steps of the method comprising: determining a mode of operation of the reader; if the reader is being operated in a hand-held mode of operation, utilizing a first method of locating the imaged bar code wherein the first method of locating the imaged bar code includes the steps of: selecting a captured image frame; searching for the imaged bar code commencing at a starting location near a geographic center of the selected image frame; and if no imaged bar code is found at the starting location, utilizing a search pattern to search outwardly from the starting location until the imaged bar code is found; and if the reader is being operated in a fixed position mode, utilizing a second method of locating the imaged bar code wherein the second method of locating the imaged bar code includes the steps of: analyzing a series of captured image frames for changes in the series of captured image frames indicative of a movement of an object in the series of captured image frames; determining a location corresponding to the movement in a selected image frame of the series of captured image frames; searching for the imaged bar code commencing at the movement location within the selected image frame; and if no imaged bar code is found at the movement location, utilizing a search pattern to search outwardly from the movement location until the imaged bar code is found.