ADAPTIVE DATA READER AND METHOD OF OPERATING

Systems and methods for data reading are disclosed wherein one or more images of an item bearing an optical code are captured and the captured images are analyzed to determine whether the item has a reflective surface or not. Based on such a determination, operating parameters of the system, such as one or more of: the amount of time dedicated to 1D code decoding and the amount of time dedicated to 2D code decoding, the order in which 1D code and 2D code decoding are performed, termination of a decoding operation, restarting an image capture and decoding operation, and image preprocessing may be automatically adjusted by the system to decode an optical code.