International Journal of Advance Foundation and Research in Computer (IJAFRC)

Volume 2, Issue 6, June - 2015. ISSN 2348 4853

Pocket Barcode Application-Data Transmission Between

PDA & PC Using Wireless Network
Mr. Sachin Sadashiv Bansode
ME-IT, Student,
Vidyalankar Institute of Technology, Wadala,
Mumbai, Mahatrashtra
E-mail : sachin.bansode@kotak.com
Dr. J. W. Bakal
Principal,
Shivajirao S. Jondhale college of Engineering, Dombivli(E),Thane Dt, Maharastra.
E-mail : bakaljw@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Barcode system is a network of hardware and software, consisting primarily of mobile computers,
printers, handheld scanners, infrastructure, and supporting software. Barcode systems are used
to automate data collection where hand recording is neither timely, nor cost effective. Barcode
system is a very common system that is widely used in various areas in today businesses. Pocket
Barcode application will be another key evolution for barcode. Pocket barcode application that
uses wireless network like WIFI is able to enable barcode to be captured anywhere and extract
the information on the fly from server located somewhere else within the WIFI coverage area.
Besides that, it can save computation time of Personal Digital Assistance (PDA) and at the same
time utilize PDA (client) to communicate with PC (server) for more accurate information like
inventory, delivery and pricing of stocks.
Index Terms Barcode System, PDA, Wireless Network, Data Transmission.

I. INTRODUCTION
The information age in todays world are branded by rapid development and change. The continuous
developments of computer technology in various sectors such as marketing, manufacturing, distribution,
communications, transportation and healthcare have played and continue to play a large part in
accelerating change. For any business in this fast changing world, the importance of collecting and
processing information on a timely basis is essential. In order to continue to be effective and able to
respond to new customer requirements, reliable information in real time or as close to it as possible is
required. Due to this fact, barcode system is getting more and more important in providing solution for
todays business needs in an efficient and economical way. In addition to this, with well over a billion
mobile PDA handsets worldwide, wireless barcode system will be another key enabling to expand
beyond the traditional limitation of fixed-line barcode system.
II. LITERATURE SURVEY
Barcode system normally operated by using a set of PC and wired infra-red scanner. This method of setup
is the most popular and widely used in today businesses. Due to its advantages in accuracy and
effectiveness of data tracking, their applications can be found in a vast range of organizations, including
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International Journal of Advance Foundation and Research in Computer (IJAFRC)

Volume 2, Issue 6, June - 2015. ISSN 2348 4853

hypermarket and retail stores (point-of sale [POS] systems), libraries, hospitals, schools and factories
(production and supply chain management).
The traditional barcode system has successfully creeping into various industries and provides effective
yet economy system for a lot of businesses. Although it has some portability limitation, it is still an unremovable system for today businesses.
2.1 The design of PDA network communication based on EVB .net
Windows CE development platform and Embedded Visual Basic .net (EVB) program development
environment, studies the TCP/IP protocol and Socket principle, then using a set of network communication
functions which is provided by WinSock API to achieve network communication program between the PDA
and other network devices. A detailed implementation and programming steps are given in an actually
application system. In the end, this paper compares the network communications program platform
between EVB and Visual Basic .NET.
2.2 Windows CE
Microsoft Windows CE (now officially known as Windows Embedded Compact and previously also
known as Windows Embedded CE, and sometimes abbreviated WinCE, codenamed Pegasus) is
an operating system developed by Microsoft for embedded systems. Windows CE is a distinct operating
system and kernel, rather than a trimmed-down version of desktop Windows. It is not to be confused
with Windows Embedded Standard which is an NT-based componentized version of desktop Microsoft
Windows.
Windows CE is optimized for devices that have minimal memory; a Windows CE kernel may run with one
megabyte of memory. Devices are often configured without disk storage, and may be configured as a
"closed" system that does not allow for end-user extension (for instance, it can be burned into ROM).
Windows CE conforms to the definition of a real-time operating system, with deterministic interrupt
latency. From Version 3 and onward, the system supports 256 priority levels and uses priority
inheritance for dealing with priority inversion. The fundamental unit of execution is the thread. This
helps to simplify the interface and improve execution time.
Often Windows CE, Windows Mobile, and Pocket PC are used interchangeably, in part due to their
common origin. This practice is not entirely accurate. Windows CE is a modular/componentized
operating system that serves as the foundation of several classes of devices. Some of these modules
provide subsets of other components' features (e.g. varying levels of windowing support; DCOM vs COM),
others which are separate (Bitmap or TrueType font support), and others which add additional features
to another component. One can buy a kit (the Platform Builder) which contains all these components and
the tools with which to develop a custom platform. Applications such as Excel Mobile/Pocket Excel are
not part of this kit. The older Handheld PC version of Pocket Word and several other older applications
are included as samples, however.
Windows Mobile is best described as a subset of platforms based on a Windows CE underpinning.
Currently, Pocket PC (now called Windows Mobile Classic), SmartPhone (Windows Mobile Standard), and
Pocket PC Phone Edition (Windows Mobile Professional) are the three main platforms under the
Windows Mobile umbrella. Each platform uses different components of Windows CE, plus supplemental
features and applications suited for their respective devices.
Pocket PC and Windows Mobile are Microsoft-defined custom platforms for general PDA use, consisting
of a Microsoft-defined set of minimum profiles (Professional Edition, Premium Edition) of software and
hardware that is supported. The rules for manufacturing a Pocket PC device are stricter than those for
producing a custom Windows CE-based platform. The defining characteristics of the Pocket PC are
the touchscreen as the primary human interface device and its extremely portable size.
The SmartPhone platform is a feature-rich OS and interface for cellular phone handsets. SmartPhone
offers productivity features to business users, such as email, and multimedia abilities for consumers. The
SmartPhone interface relies heavily on joystick navigation and PhonePad input. Devices running
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International Journal of Advance Foundation and Research in Computer (IJAFRC)

Volume 2, Issue 6, June - 2015. ISSN 2348 4853

SmartPhone do not include a touchscreen interface. SmartPhone devices generally resemble other
cellular handset form factors, whereas most Phone Edition devices use a PDA form factor with a larger
display.
III.

PROPOSED SYSTEM

In this paper, client and server programming model will be used to program the Pocket Barcode Reader
client and Pocket Barcode Server applications. Actual data will be transferred using WIFI network from
client to server and vice versa through asynchronous socket. The asynchronous socket uses transmission
control protocol (TCP) to transmit data. The image captured by PDA will be transferred back to server for
processing and data extraction. A stand-alone system will be there to communicate with Pocket Barcode
Reader and will play the role of server for such clients.
This system will help to overcome the issues of traditional wired barcode system as such wired barcode
systems are not so feasible in stock accounting at factory level especially if labeled product could not be
brought in front of the barcode reader.
IV.

DESIGN

The main objective of the paper is to develop programs to enable wireless data transmission between
PDA and PC for 1-D barcode system using WIFI. These programs will act as a medium to transfer picture
captured by PDA and send it to PC for processing. Once processed, the PC will send the result of ASCII
code back to the PDA for display. By having this model, it will save the computation time of PDA and at
the same time speed up the decoding of barcode information. In addition, it will enable PDA client to get
more up-to-date and accurate information from server. At the end of this Paper, two programs will be
developed. First program is the server program which will function as a server to receive multi-session
connections from PDA clients and able to send ASCII code back to respective client that make request.
Second program is the client program that will establish connection with server and send barcode image
captured by PDA camera to server program for processing.
The overall block diagram representing the proposed data transmission between PDA and PC model for
barcode application is shown in Figure below

Figure : Block Diagram Of Proposed PDA And PC Data Transmission Model

A barcode image with minimum resolution of 640x480 captured by PDA camera will be stored as .jpeg
format file in PDA. This image will then be transmitted through WIFI using file transfer protocol (FTP) to
server program. The role of wireless router is to route the request from client to server for processing.
After the PC receives the image, the image will be processed and ASCII code of barcode info will be sent
back to PDA through router.

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International Journal of Advance Foundation and Research in Computer (IJAFRC)

Volume 2, Issue 6, June - 2015. ISSN 2348 4853

The entire system uses three main components, PDA, PC and wireless router. This configuration will
allow maximum of 256 clients (PDA) connected at one time per router. The speed of barcode decoding
will vary based on the network bandwidth and server processing power. [11]
Advantages of the Pocket Barcode Application system over the traditional methods
1. Freedom
Wireless barcode scanners become veritable workhorses, but offer the freedom to roam while staying
connected to Wi-Fi. Without the entrapment of cords, this type of barcode scanner allows you to move
your scanner to the inventory instead of hauling the inventory to your scanner when it comes time to
count that year-end inventory.
2. Increased Durability
Because wireless barcode scanners are ideal for environments where data collecting involves moving
around, many times such scanners are built to last. Accidents happen, and when youre not tied to your
computer, the odds of dropping the device are increased.
3. Added Range
When it comes to increasing productivity of your mobile fleet, a wireless barcode scanner is a must. Not
only does it allow your employees to track inventory and manage business assets remotely. But they also
allow for additional range by providing internal memory storage. This internal storage will allow you
to store multiple barcodes scans, so youll never be out of range from the transmitter base. And no task
will ever be too much.
V. CONCLUSION
Pocket barcode application is helping industries to improve their productivity and secure required
information with use of barcode. Though barcode is carrying very limited amount of data, it can be
utilized in better way by storing maximum dependent information in database masters. Check stock has
become much easier with a hand scanner. Employees and managers no longer have to spend much time
instead of counting Tag, only to find out what to stock. The number of errors in this process have barcode
scanner repair certainly reduced drastically by this device extremely useful. The staff need to analyze
only the products and what will be immediately scanned into the system. This modern equipment makes
life easier and faster.
Use of Wi-Fi networks gives immense flexibility to work with applications and resulting in less
turnaround time. Multiple access points are covering multiples zones and creating backups for Wi-Fi
dependent devices. Failure in one access point is not affecting much due to availability of neighboring
access point. [8]
VI. FUTURE SCOPE
Today, majority barcode system is still relying on PC and wired scanner. This system is not portable.
Moreover, the existing mobile computing with wireless and built-in scanner is very expensive which is
too high and not economical for majority of todays business. In order to solve limited memory and CPU
processing power in mobile barcode system, the decoding function which consumes the most processing
power will be shifted to the server. PDA will be used only to capture image, transmit image to server and
display result.
For small displays and limited input capabilities problem, it can be solved by designing a simple yet
comprehensive GUI with most frequent use button and features required by barcode system. By having
this simple GUI, it can reduce the needs for user to type in input to operate the system. For low

48 | 2015, IJAFRC All Rights Reserved

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International Journal of Advance Foundation and Research in Computer (IJAFRC)

Volume 2, Issue 6, June - 2015. ISSN 2348 4853

bandwidth problem, it can be solved or minimized by using the minimum resolution of image required to
capture barcode.
VII. REFERENCES
[1]

Phil Turner, et al. Implementing A Wireless Network of PDAs in a Hospital Setting

[2]

Irfan Ullah, A study and analysis of Public WiFi, Linkping University, 2012

[3]

Daojing He , Sammy Chan DiCode: DoS-Resistant and Distributed Code Dissemination in Wireless
Sensor Networks, IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS, VOL. 11, NO. 5, MAY
2012

[4]

Mr. Nachiket A Rathod, Dr. Siddharth A. Ladhake, Detecting and Decoding Algorithm for 2D
Barcode, International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering, Volume 2,
Issue 11, November 2012

[5]

John A. Stankovic, Anthony D. Wood, Tian He ,Realistic Applications for Wireless Sensor Networks

[6]

Chan-tseh Hsieh, Mobile Commerce: Assessing New Business Opportunities, Communications of

the IIMA, Volume 7 Issue 1 Article 9, 2007

[7]

Ming Li, et al.,DATA SECURITY AND PRIVACY IN WIRELESS BODY AREA NETWORKS, IEEE
Wireless Communications February 2010

[8]

SEAH YEOW NGEE Data Transmission Between PDA and PC using WIFI For Pocket Barcode
Application University Technology Malaysia Yr. 2007

[9]

Cheng Zhang, Canxi Li, Shuran Song, Tiansheng Hong Long distance data communication based on
wireless communication technology IEEE-2011

[10] Hongbin Ma, Dongyang Lu, Qun He, Yumei Yue, Xue Wang Serial Communication between PDA and
GPS Based on Windows CE IEEE-2011
[11] Qian Yan, Yin Wen-qing, Zhang Ji-feng, The design of PDA network communication based on EVC
IEEE 2010
[12] Seshadri, Praveen, and Phil Garrett. "SQLServer for Windows CEA Database Engine for Mobile
and Embedded Platforms." 2013 IEEE 29th International Conference on Data Engineering (ICDE).
IEEE Computer Society, 2000.

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