Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses : Honours Theses 2005 2D-barcode for mobile devices Hiroko Kato Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons Part of the Software Engineering Commons Recommended Citation Kato, H. (2005). 2D-barcode for mobile devices. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons/1388 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons/1388 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorize you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. You are reminded of the following: Copyright owners are entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. A reproduction of material that is protected by copyright may be a copyright infringement. A court may impose penalties and award damages in relation to offences and infringements relating to copyright material. Higher penalties may apply, and higher damages may be awarded, for offences and infringements involving the conversion of material into digital or electronic form. USE OF THESIS The Use of Thesis statement is not included in this version of the thesis. 2D-barcode for Mobile Devices by Hirol<o Kato A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the degree of Bachelor of Science Honours (Computer Science) at Faculty of Communications, Health and Science School of Computer and Information Science, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia Supervisor: Dr. Alfred Tan Associate-supervisor: Dr. Douglas ·chai Hiroko Kato Student Number: 2015893 November 2005 Abstract 2D-barcodes were designed to carry significantly more data than its lD counterpart. These codes are often used in industrial information tagging applications where high data capacity, mobility, and data robustness are required. Wireless mobile devices such as camera phones and Portable Digital Assistants (PDAs) have evolved from just a mobile voice communication device to what is now a mobile multimedia computing platform. Recent integration of these two mobile technologies has sparked some interesting applications where 2D-barcodes work as visual tags and/or information source and camera phones performs image processing tasks on the device itself. One of such applications is hyperlink establishment. The 2D symbol captured by a camera phone is decoded by the software installed in the phone. Then the web site indicated by the data encoded in a symbol is automatically accessed and shown in the display of the camera phone. Nonetheless, this new mobile applications area is still at its infancy. Each proposed mobile 2D-barcode application has its own choice of code, but no standard exists nor is there any study done on what are the criteria for setting a standard 2D-barcode for mobile phones. This study intends to address this void. The first phase of the study is qualitative examination. In order to select a best standard 2D-barcode, firstly, features desirable for a standard 2D-barcode that is optimized for the mobile phone platform are identified. The second step is to establish the criteria based on the features identified. These . ll. features are based on the operating limitations and attributes of camera phones in general use today. All published and accessible 2D-barcodes are thoroughly examined in terms of criteria set for the selection of a best 2D-barcode for camera phone applications. In the second phase, the 2D-barcodes that have higher potential to be chosen as a standard code are experimentally examined against the three criteria: light condition, distance, whether or not a 2D-barcode supports VGA resolution. Each sample 2D-barcode is captured by a camera phone with VGA resolution and the outcome is tested using an image analysis tool written in the scientific language called MATLAB. The outcome of this study is the selection of the most suitable 2D-barcode for applications where mobile devices such as camera phones are utilized. Declaration I certify that this thesis does not, to the best of my knowledge and belief: (i) incorporate without acknowledgment any material previously submitted for a degree or diploma in any institution ofhigher education; (ii) contain any material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the text; or (iii) contain any defamatory material Hiroko Kato Student~umber: 2015893 ~ovember 2005 . IV. Acknowledgements I take this opportunity to thank many who have contributed to the production of this thesis. Of these, following individuals are worthy of special mention. Firstly, thanks must go to my supervisor, Dr Alfred Tan, for his enthusiasm, very helpful advice, tremendous assistance and encouragements. Without him I would not have been able to be involved in the project that focuses on such cutting edge technology. My appreciation towards him will last forever. Thanks must go to my associate supervisor Dr. Douglas Chai for helping me administer the experiments twice even during the semester break. Great thanks to my friends who have been patient with me, and always ready to help me. Especially Karen, I would not have survived without your help. I can never thank enough for your kindness and understanding. Big thanks to Medhat, for always offering things. Many thanks to Bao, for helping me gain access to various research materials. Thanks to all the lectures and academic friends within a School of Computer and Information Science at Edith Cowan University Mount Lawley, their guidance and generous assistance. Finally, thanks to all my family. Hisanori, I would not have continued the study without your support. Masa and Yukino, you are always incredibly supportive as well as extremely lovely. - v- Table of contents Abstract ················································~~~··························••tt••··········································· ii Declaration ..................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements .... ., ......... ~~·························································································· v Table of contents ............................................................................................................ vi List of Figures .............................................................................................................. viii List of Tables ................................................................................................................... x 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Motivation ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Approach .............................................................................................................................. 3 1.3 Organization ......................................................................................................................... 3 2 Barcode Technology ..................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 4 2.1.1 Development of Barcode Technology .......................................................................... .4 2.1.2 Fttture ofBarcode Technology .................................................................................... lO 2.2 Barcode Systems ................................................................................................................ l2 2.2.1 One Dimensional (lD) Barcode .................................................................................. 12 2.2.2 Two Dimensional (2D) Barcode ................................................................................. 16 2.2.3 Three Dimensional (3D) Barcode ............................................................................... 20 2.3 Two Dimensional Symbologies ......................................................................................... 21 2.3.1 Stacked 2D-barcodes .................................................................. : ................................ 21 2.3.2 Matrix 2D-barcodes .................................................................................................... 27 2.3.3 Two Dimensional Barcodes and their Derivatives used for Mobile Applications ...... 35 2.4 Summary ............................................................................................................................ 35 3 1\vo Dimensional Barcodes for Mobile Phones ....................................................... 37 3.1 QR Code ............................................................................................................................ 39 3.1.1 QR Code Symbol Structure ......................................................................................... 40 3 .1.2 Symbol Description .................................................................................................... 44 3 .1.3 Advantageous Features ............................................................................................... 49 3 .1.4 Scanning and decoding ..............................................................................................