Scanning & Hardware Integration

Mobile Device as a Universal Sensor¶

A modern smartphone is a camera, scanner, NFC reader, Bluetooth hub, GPS tracker, accelerometer and biometric sensor in one. At a fraction of the cost of dedicated hardware. But hardware alone isn’t enough — you need software that uses it correctly, reliably and fast.

We build mobile applications that extract maximum value from the hardware the user already has in hand. And where the phone isn’t enough, we integrate external devices via Bluetooth or USB-C.

Code Scanning¶

Camera-based Scanning¶

Camera scanning is the foundation of operational mobile apps. But “scan a QR code” and “scan 200 barcodes per hour in poor lighting” are two different problems.

Supported formats: - 1D codes: Code 128, Code 39, Code 93, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, ITF, Codabar - 2D codes: QR Code, Data Matrix, PDF417, Aztec, MaxiCode - Special: GS1 DataBar, GS1-128 (logistics labels), Swiss QR (invoice codes)

Optimized for operations: - Batch scanning: Scan after scan without closing the camera. Acoustic and haptic feedback on successful scan. Counter shows the number of scanned items. - Multi-code scanning: Reading multiple codes in a single frame. Camera sees a pallet with 20 labels — reads them all at once. - Low-light and damaged codes: Image preprocessing (adaptive thresholding, sharpening) for reading damaged or poorly lit codes. - Viewfinder UX: Visual guide for correct targeting. Overlay with bounding box of detected code. Auto-zoom for small codes.

Performance: Decoding under 100ms on a modern device. Continuous scanning 2-3 codes per second. Sufficient for most logistics and inventory operations.

External Bluetooth Scanners¶

For high-volume operations (distribution centers, large warehouses) we integrate dedicated Bluetooth scanners:

• Zebra: CS4070, RS5100 ring scanner — trigger scan, result in app
• Honeywell: 8680i, Voyager 1602g — enterprise-grade scanners
• Socket Mobile: SocketScan S740 — compact, suitable for retail

Integration via Bluetooth SPP or HID profile. Automatic pairing, reconnect after dropout, battery monitoring. The scanner is an input device — user aims the scanner, result appears in the app.

NFC and RFID¶

NFC (Near Field Communication)¶

Communication at a range of up to 4 cm. Ideal for identification, authentication, inventory:

• Tag reading: NDEF records, MIFARE Classic/Ultralight, ISO 14443-A/B, ISO 15693
• Tag writing (Android): Writing URL, text, custom payload to NFC tags
• Background reading (iOS): From iPhone XS+ — bring a tag to the phone, the app automatically opens to the correct screen
• Host Card Emulation (Android): Phone behaves like an NFC card — access systems, payments

Use cases: Asset identification (NFC tag on equipment → opens service card), access cards (phone instead of card), inventory (scan tag → confirm location), operator authentication on a machine.

UHF RFID¶

For bulk reading at a distance (inventory of an entire warehouse at once) a phone isn’t enough. We integrate external UHF RFID readers:

• Zebra RFD40/RFD90: Sled reader mounted on phone, reading hundreds of tags per second
• Chainway: Rugged Android terminals with integrated UHF module

RFID SDK integration, tag filtering, anti-collision algorithms. Warehouse inventory with thousands of items in minutes instead of hours.

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)¶

BLE is the backbone of communication with IoT sensors, beacons and industrial devices. Unlike Classic Bluetooth, it’s energy-efficient — a sensor can run on battery for months to years.

GATT Communication¶

Full implementation of Generic Attribute Profile for standard and custom BLE services:

• Scanning: Discover devices by service UUID, advertisement data, RSSI
• Connection management: Auto-connect, reconnect after dropout, bond management
• Data transfer: Read/write characteristics, notifications, indications
• Background mode: iOS background BLE (with limitations), Android foreground service

Typical Integrations¶

• IoT sensors: Temperature, humidity, vibration, pressure — reading data from industrial sensors
• Beacons: Indoor positioning, proximity marketing, asset tracking
• Wearables: Health data (heart rate, SpO2), fitness trackers
• Industrial devices: Diagnostics, configuration, firmware update via BLE

Biometrics and Camera¶

Biometric Authentication¶

Face ID (iOS), Touch ID (iOS), Fingerprint (Android), Face Unlock (Android) — biometrics as a secure and fast authentication method in the app:

• App unlock: Biometric scan instead of PIN code
• Transaction confirmation: Order confirmation, workflow approval
• Credential protection: Tokens and passwords in Keychain/Keystore, access only after biometrics

Keychain (iOS) and Android Keystore for hardware-backed storage. Credentials are never in app memory — the operation happens inside the secure enclave.

Advanced Camera Features¶

Camera as a data input, not just a camera:

• OCR (Optical Character Recognition): Reading text from documents, labels, license plates. On-device processing via Vision (iOS) / ML Kit (Android). Real-time — aim the camera, text is read continuously.
• Photo documentation: Package condition, damage, before/after photos. Automatic timestamp, GPS coordinates, watermark. Compression for efficient upload.
• AR overlays: Information displayed directly in the camera view. Navigation in a warehouse, data visualization on a machine, assembly instructions.
• On-device ML: Custom models for recognizing specific objects (products, defects, parts). Core ML (iOS) / TensorFlow Lite (Android). Inference under 50ms, no network latency.

Technology Stack¶

Scanning: AVFoundation (iOS), CameraX + ML Kit (Android), ZXing, Scandit SDK.

NFC: Core NFC (iOS), Android NFC API, NDEF, MIFARE.

BLE: Core Bluetooth (iOS), Android BLE API, Nordic DFU, RxBLE.

Biometrics: LocalAuthentication (iOS), BiometricPrompt (Android), Keychain, Keystore.

Vision: Vision framework (iOS), ML Kit (Android), Core ML, TensorFlow Lite, OpenCV.

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