1. A portable data terminal, comprising: at least one imaging assembly generating pixel data from a target; a frame buffer receiving said pixel data from said imaging assembly; a data storage means storing a plurality of program instructions implementing at least one one-dimensional decoder and at least one two-dimensional decoder, a processor in communication with said data storage means and executing said program instructions such that said decoders decode said pixel data, wherein said one dimensional decoder and said two dimensional decoder process, simultaneously and in parallel, a same frame of pixel data from said frame buffer on a first clock cycle until a successful decode occurs with either of said decoders; and wherein, upon a successful decode, said decoders access, upon said first clock cycle, another frame of pixel data from said frame buffer.