The memory 576 includes an operating system 578, one or more applications including a barcode reading application 580, and an image data buffer 582. In operation, the processor 574 may execute instructions embodied in the operating system 578 and each of the applications, including the barcode reading application 580. One or more hardware circuits 584 interface the processor 574 with peripheral systems including, but not limited to, a display screen 586 (which may be a touchscreen), a camera assembly 526, an illumination source 532, and a hardwired peer-to-peer (P2P) communication interface 591.

The camera assembly 526 may include an image sensor 530, which is a two-dimensional array of pixels with each pixel comprising an active photosensitive region capable of measuring or quantifying the intensity of illumination incident on the pixel. The pixels of the image sensor 530 may be fabricated using charge-coupled display (CCD) technology, complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology, or the like. The image sensor 530 may be capable of capturing color images. The image sensor 530 may be positioned parallel to the face surface and the back surface of the mobile device 502. The camera assembly 526 may also include a lens assembly 528 with an optical axis 588 orthogonal to the image sensor 530 and defining a center line of a camera field of view 540 extending outward from the back surface of the mobile device 502.