ISO/IEC DIS 23941

Information technology -- Automatic identification and data capture techniques -- Rectangular Micro QR Code (rMQR) bar code symbology specification

Technologies de l'information -- Techniques d'identification automatique et de capture des données -- Spécification de la symbologie de code à barres Rectangular Micro QR Code (rMQR)

Standards Content (sample)

DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
ISO/IEC DIS 23941
ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 31 Secretariat: ANSI
Voting begins on: Voting terminates on:
2021-03-19 2021-06-11
Information technology — Automatic identification and
data capture techniques — Rectangular Micro QR Code
(rMQR) bar code symbology specification

Technologies de l'information — Techniques d'identification automatique et de capture des données —

Spécification de la symbologie de code à barres Rectangular Micro QR Code (rMQR)
ICS: 35.040.50
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
FOR COMMENT AND APPROVAL. IT IS
THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND MAY
NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD UNTIL PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
This document is circulated as received from the committee secretariat.
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
USER PURPOSES, DRAFT INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO
BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR
POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO
WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
Reference number
NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO/IEC DIS 23941:2021(E)
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED
TO SUBMIT, WITH THEIR COMMENTS,
NOTIFICATION OF ANY RELEVANT PATENT
RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE AND TO
PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION. ISO/IEC 2021
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ISO/IEC DIS 23941:2021(E)
COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO/IEC 2021

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ISO/IEC DIS 23941:2021(E)
Contents Page

Foreword ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................v

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................vi

1 Scope ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1

2 Conformance ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1

3 Normative references ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 1

4 Terms and definitions ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 1

5 Mathematical and logical symbols, abbreviations and conventions ..............................................................3

5.1 Mathematical and logical symbols ......................................................................................................................................... 3

5.2 Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

5.3 Conventions ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

5.3.1 Module positions ............................................................................................................................................................. 3

5.3.2 Byte notation ....................................................................................................................................................................... 3

5.3.3 Version references .......................................................................................................................................................... 3

6 rMQR specifications .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 4

6.1 Basic characteristics ........................................................................................................................................................................... 4

6.2 Summary of additional features ............................................................................................................................................... 5

6.3 Symbol structure ................................................................................................................................................................................... 5

6.3.1 General...................................................................................................................................................................................... 5

6.3.2 Symbol Versions and sizes ....................................................................................................................................... 9

6.3.3 Finder pattern .................................................................................................................................................................10

6.3.4 Separator .............................................................................................................................................................................11

6.3.5 Timing pattern ................................................................................................................................................................11

6.3.6 Alignment patterns .....................................................................................................................................................12

6.3.7 Finder sub pattern .......................................................................................................................................................12

6.3.8 Corner finder pattern................................................................................................................................................12

6.3.9 Encoding region .............................................................................................................................................................13

6.3.10 Quiet zone ...........................................................................................................................................................................13

7 Requirements .......................................................................................................................................................................................................13

7.1 Encode procedure overview.....................................................................................................................................................13

7.2 Data analysis ..........................................................................................................................................................................................15

7.3 Modes ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................15

7.3.1 General...................................................................................................................................................................................15

7.3.2 Extended Channel Interpretation (ECI) mode ....................................................................................15

7.3.3 Numeric mode ...................................................................... ...........................................................................................16

7.3.4 Alphanumeric mode ..................................................................................................................................................16

7.3.5 Byte mode ...........................................................................................................................................................................16

7.3.6 Kanji mode .........................................................................................................................................................................16

7.3.7 Mixing modes ...................................................................................................................................................................16

7.3.8 FNC1 mode .........................................................................................................................................................................16

7.4 Data encoding .......................................................................................................................................................................................17

7.4.1 Sequence of data ...........................................................................................................................................................17

7.4.2 Extended Channel Interpretation (ECI) mode ....................................................................................19

7.4.3 Numeric mode ...................................................................... ...........................................................................................20

7.4.4 Alphanumeric mode ..................................................................................................................................................22

7.4.5 Byte mode ...........................................................................................................................................................................23

7.4.6 Kanji mode .........................................................................................................................................................................23

7.4.7 Mixing modes ...................................................................................................................................................................24

7.4.8 FNC1 modes ......................................................................................................................................................................25

7.4.9 Terminator .........................................................................................................................................................................26

7.4.10 Bit stream to codeword conversion .............................................................................................................27

7.5 Error correction ..................................................................................................................................................................................28

7.5.1 Error correction capacity ......................................................................................................................................28

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ISO/IEC DIS 23941:2021(E)

7.5.2 Generating the error correction codewords .........................................................................................32

7.6 Constructing the final message codeword sequence ..........................................................................................33

7.7 Codeword placement in matrix .............................................................................................................................................33

7.7.1 Symbol character representation ...................................................................................................................33

7.7.2 Function pattern placement .................. ..............................................................................................................34

7.7.3 Symbol character placement ..............................................................................................................................34

7.8 Data masking .........................................................................................................................................................................................36

7.8.1 General...................................................................................................................................................................................36

7.8.2 Data mask patterns .....................................................................................................................................................36

7.9 Format information..........................................................................................................................................................................37

8 Symbol printing and marking ..............................................................................................................................................................39

8.1 Dimensions ..............................................................................................................................................................................................39

8.2 Human-readable interpretation ............................................................................................................................................39

8.3 Marking guidelines ...........................................................................................................................................................................39

9 Symbol quality .....................................................................................................................................................................................................39

9.1 Methodology ..........................................................................................................................................................................................39

9.2 Symbol quality parameters .......................................................................................................................................................39

9.2.1 Fixed pattern damage ...............................................................................................................................................39

9.2.2 Scan grade and overall symbol grade..........................................................................................................39

9.2.3 Grid non-uniformity ...................................................................................................................................................40

9.3 Process control measurements..............................................................................................................................................40

10 Decoding procedure overview ............................................................................................................................................................40

11 Reference decode algorithm .................................................................................................................................................................41

12 Autodiscrimination capability ............................................................................................................................................................52

13 Transmitted data ...............................................................................................................................................................................................52

13.1 General principles .............................................................................................................................................................................52

13.2 Symbology Identifier ......................................................................................................................................................................52

13.3 Extended Channel Interpretations .....................................................................................................................................52

13.4 FNC1 ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................53

Annex A (normative) Error detection and correction generator polynomials ......................................................54

Annex B (normative) Error correction decoding steps ..................................................................................................................56

Annex C (normative) Format information ...................................................................................................................................................58

Annex D (normative) Position of alignment patterns......................................................................................................................61

Annex E (normative) Symbology Identifier ................................................................................................................................................62

Annex F (normative) rMQR print quality - symbology - specific aspects ....................................................................63

Annex G (normative) ISO/IEC 8859-1 character sets .......................................................................................................................69

Annex H (informative) JIS8 and Shift JIS character sets .................................................................................................................71

Annex I (informative) Symbol encoding examples .............................................................................................................................73

Annex J (informative) User guidelines for printing and scanning of rMQR symbols ......................................75

Annex K (informative) Autodiscrimination ................................................................................................................................................77

Annex L (informative) Process control techniques ............................................................................................................................78

Bibliography .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................80

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ISO/IEC DIS 23941:2021(E)
Foreword

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards

bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out

through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical

committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International

organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.

ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of

electrotechnical standardization.

International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International

Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.

Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies

casting a vote.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of

patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

ISO/IEC WD xxxxxx was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,

Subcommittee SC 31, Automatic identification and data capture techniques.

Annexes A through G of this International Standard are normative; Annexes H through L are informative.

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ISO/IEC DIS 23941:2021(E)
Introduction

Rectangular Micro QR Code (rMQR) is a matrix symbology. The symbols consist of an array of nominally

square modules arranged in an overall rectangular pattern, including a unique finder pattern located at

a single corner and intended to assist in easy location of its position, size and inclination. A wide range

of sizes of symbol is provided for, together with two levels of error correction. Module dimensions are

user-specified to enable symbol production by a wide variety of techniques.
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DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC DIS 23941:2021(E)
Information technology — Automatic identification and
data capture techniques — Rectangular Micro QR Code
(rMQR) bar code symbology specification
1 Scope

This International Standard defines the requirements for the symbology known as rMQR. It specifies

the rMQR symbology characteristics, data character encoding methods, symbol formats, dimensional

characteristics, error correction rules, reference decoding algorithm, printing quality requirements

and user-selectable application parameters.
2 Conformance

rMQR symbols (and equipment designed to produce or read rMQR symbols) shall be considered as

conforming with this International Standard if they provide or support the features defined in this

International Standard.
3 Normative references

The following standards, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are

indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies and any later

edition (including any amendments) will not apply. For undated references, the latest edition of the

referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

ISO/IEC 19762, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) techniques —

Harmonized vocabulary

ISO/IEC 8859-1, Information technology — 8-bit single-byte coded graphic character sets — Part 1: Latin

alphabet No. 1

ISO/IEC 15415, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Bar

code symbol print quality test specification — Two-dimensional symbols
4 Terms and definitions

For the purpose of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC 19762 and the

following apply.
4.1
Character Count Indicator
bit sequence which defines the data string length in a mode
4.2
Encoding region

region of the symbol not occupied by function patterns and available for encoding of data and error

correction codewords, and for format information
4.3
Format information

encoded pattern containing information on the error correction level and version applied to symbol

characteristics, essential to enable the encoding region to be decoded
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ISO/IEC DIS 23941:2021(E)
4.4
Function pattern

overhead component of the symbol (finder pattern, separator, timing patterns, alignment patterns,

finder sub patterns and corner finder pattern) required for location of the symbol or identification of its

characteristics to assist in decoding
4.5
Masking

process of XORing the bit pattern in an area of the symbol with a mask pattern to equalize the number

of light and dark modules
4.6
Mode
method of representing a defined character set as a bit string
4.7
Mode Indicator
identifier indicating in which mode the following data sequence is encoded
4.8
Padding Bit

zero bit, not representing data, used to fill empty positions of the final codeword when converting the

bit stream after data encoding process to codeword stream
4.9
Remainder Bit

zero bit, not representing data, used to fill empty positions of the symbol encoding region after the

final symbol character, where the area of the encoding region does not divide exactly into 8-bit symbol

characters
4.10
Remainder Codeword

Remainder codeword, placed after the data codeword stream that was generated in Data Encoding

process, used to fill empty codeword positions to meet the requirements of number of data codeword of

the version and error correction definitions
4.11
Segment
sequence of data encoded according to the rules of one ECI or encoding mode
4.12
Separator

function pattern of all light modules, one module wide, used to separate the finder pattern from the rest

of the symbol
4.13
Terminator

bit pattern of defined number (depending on symbol) of all zero bits used to end the bit string

representing data
4.14
Timing pattern

alternating sequence of dark and light modules enabling module coordinates in the symbol to be

determined
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ISO/IEC DIS 23941:2021(E)
4.15
Version

size of the symbol represented in terms of the number of modules in the vertical and horizontal axes. To

indicate a symbol using versions, indicate Version R7x59 for example by putting the number of vertical

and horizontal modules in order following R representing the rectangle

Note 1 to entry: The error correction level applied to the symbol may be suffixed to the Version Indicator, e.g.

Version R11x27-M.
4.16
Version Indicator

five-bit identifier indicating symbol version used for a part of the format information

4.17
Error correction Level Indicator

one-bit identifier indicating error correction level used for a part of the format information

5 Mathematical and logical symbols, abbreviations and conventions
5.1 Mathematical and logical symbols

Mathematical symbols used in formulae and equations in this document are defined after the formula

or equation in which they appear.
For the purposes of this document, the following mathematical operations apply.
DIV is the integer division operator
MOD is the integer remainder after division

XOR is the exclusive-or logic function whose output is one only when its two inputs are not equivalent.

It is represented by the symbol ⊕.
5.2 Abbreviations
BCH Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem
ECI
RS Reed-Solomon
5.3 Conventions
5.3.1 Module positions

For ease of reference, module positions are defined by their row and column coordinates in the symbol,

in the form (i, j) where i designates the row (counting from the top downwards) and j the column

(counting from left to right) in which the module is located, with counting commencing at 0. Module

(0, 0) is therefore located at the upper left corner of the symbol.
5.3.2 Byte notation
Byte contents are shown as hexadecimal (hex) values.
5.3.3 Version references

Symbol versions are referred to in the form Version RC xC -E where C identifies the vertical number

V H V

of modules (7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17), C identifies the horizontal number of modules (27, 43, 59, 77, 99, 139),

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ISO/IEC DIS 23941:2021(E)

and E indicates the error correction level (M and H). For example, R13x27-M for vertical number of

modules 13, horizontal number of modules 27 and error correction level M. Versions may be referred to

without error-correction level. For example, R13x27.
NOTE For M and H, see 6.1 e).
6 rMQR specifications
6.1 Basic characteristics
rMQR is a matrix symbology with the following characteristics:
a) Encodable character set:
1) numeric data (digits 0 - 9);

2) alphanumeric data (digits 0 - 9; upper case letters A - Z; nine other characters are shown in

Table 5.);

3) byte data (default: ISO/IEC 8859-1 (see Annex G); or other sets as otherwise defined (see

7.3.5));

4) Kanji characters. Kanji characters (Characters can be compacted into 13 bits (see 7.3.66))

b) Representation of data:

A dark module is nominally a binary one and a light module is nominally a binary zero. However,

see 6.2 for details of reflectance reversal.
c) Symbol size (not including quiet zone):

See Table 1 for the symbol sizes for 7 x 43 modules to 17 x 139 modules (Version R7x43 to R17x139).

d) Data characters per symbol;
The maximum symbol size of Version R17x139-M is as specified below.
— numeric data: 361 characters
— alphanumeric data: 219 characters
— Byte data: 150 characters
— Kanji data: 92 characters
e) Selectable error correction:

This symbology supports two levels of Reed-Solomon error correction, M and H, which allows the

recovery of rMQR codewords up to the indicated rate below.
— M 15%
— H 30%
f) Code type:
Matrix
g) Orientation independence:
Yes (bo
...