Character Set Translator for Two-Dimensional Symbol Decoding

The patent introduces a character set translator as an intermediary component between the imaging reader and the host system controller. This translator receives binary data with an unknown encoding scheme from the reader, automatically detects the character set type (SBCS or DBCS), translates the data into the host system's local codepage, and then transmits it to the controller. This intermediary translation process ensures that the host system can reliably process symbols regardless of their original encoding scheme, eliminating processing failures while maintaining efficient local codepage interpretation.

The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the character set translator automatically detects and identifies the encoding scheme of incoming binary data without requiring any additional information from the imaging reader. The translator analyzes the binary data characteristics to determine whether it uses SBCS or DBCS encoding, then performs appropriate translation to the host system's local codepage. This self-detecting and self-translating capability allows the system to handle multiple encoding schemes universally without increasing the imaging reader's complexity or requiring encoding scheme indication from the reader.

The patent dynamically changes the character encoding parameter by translating symbols from their original encoding scheme (whether SBCS or DBCS) into the host system's local codepage. The character set translator detects the source encoding type and applies the appropriate translation algorithm, effectively converting the data representation parameter to match the host system's expectations. This parameter transformation enables efficient processing using local codepages while maintaining compatibility across different language environments, as each host system processes symbols in its native codepage.