1. A method for decoding printed alphanumeric characters from images or video sequences captured by a wireless device, the method comprising: pre-processing the image or video sequence to optimize processing in all subsequent operations; searching one or more grayscale images for key alphanumeric characters on a range of scales; comparing the values on said range of scales to a plurality of templates in order to determine the characteristics of the alphanumeric characters; performing additional comparisons to a plurality of templates to determine character lines, line edges, and line orientation; processing information from prior said pre-processing, said searching, said comparing, and said performing additional comparisons, to determine the corrected scale and orientation of each line; recognizing the identity of each alphanumeric character in a string of such characters; decoding the entire character string in digitized alphanumeric format.