ISO/IEC 15438:2001

Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Bar code symbology specifications — PDF417

Technologies de l'information — Techniques automatiques d'identification et de capture des données — Spécifications pour les symboles de codes à barres — PDF417

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Withdrawal Date: 10-Oct-2001
• ICS: 35.040 - Information coding
• ICS: 35.040.50 - Automatic identification and data capture techniques
• Technical Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 31 - Automatic identification and data capture techniques
• Drafting Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 31 - Automatic identification and data capture techniques
• Current Stage: 9599 - Withdrawal of International Standard
• Completion Date: 24-May-2006

Relations

• Revised: ISO/IEC 15438:2006 - Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — PDF417 bar code symbology specification
• Effective Date: 15-Apr-2008

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 15438
First edition
2001-09-15
Information technology — Automatic
identification and data capture
techniques — Bar code symbology
specifications — PDF417
Technologies de l'information — Techniques automatiques d'identification
et de capture des données — Spécifications pour les symboles de codes à
barres — PDF417




Reference number
ISO/IEC 15438:2001(E)
©
 ISO/IEC 2001

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ISO/IEC 15438:2001(E)
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©  ISO/IEC 2001
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ISO/IEC 15438:2001(E)
Contents Page
Foreword.vi
Introduction.vii
1 Scope .1
2 Normative references.1
3 Definitions, mathematical symbols and abbreviations .2
3.1 Terms and definitions .2
3.1.1 Basic Channel Model: .2
3.1.2 Bar-space sequence:.2
3.1.3 Cluster: .2
3.1.4 Compaction mode: .2
3.1.5 Error correction codeword: .2
3.1.6 Extended Channel Interpretation:.3
3.1.7 Extended Channel Model:.3
3.1.8 Function codeword: .3
3.1.9 Global Label Identifier:.3
3.1.10 Macro PDF417:.3
3.1.11 Mode Latch codeword:.3
3.1.12 Mode Shift codeword: .3
3.1.13 Row Indicator codeword:.3
3.1.14 Symbol Length Descriptor:.4
3.2 Mathematical symbols and operations .4
3.3 Abbreviations.5
4 Requirements.5
4.1 Symbology characteristics.5
4.1.1 Basic characteristics.5
4.1.2 Summary of additional features.6
4.2 Symbol structure .7
4.2.1 PDF417 symbol parameters .7
4.2.2 Row parameters.7
4.2.3 Codeword sequence.8
4.3 Basic encodation .9
4.3.1 Symbol character structure.9
4.3.2 Start and stop characters .9
4.4 High level (data) encodation.10
4.4.1 Function codewords.11
4.4.2 Text Compaction mode.13
4.4.3 Byte Compaction mode.19
4.4.4 Numeric Compaction mode.20
4.4.5 Advice to select the appropriate compaction mode .22
4.4.6 Treatment of PDF417 reserved codewords.22
4.5 Extended Channel Interpretation .23
4.5.1 Encoding the ECI assignment number.23
4.5.2 Pre-assigned Extended Channel Interpretations .24
4.5.3 Encoding ECI sequences within compaction modes .25
4.5.4 Post-decode protocol.27
4.6 Determining the codeword sequence.27
4.7 Error detection and correction.27
4.7.1 Error correction level .27
4.7.2 Error correction capacity.28
4.7.3 Defining the error correction codewords.29
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ISO/IEC 15438:2001(E)
4.8 Dimensions.29
4.8.1 Minimum width of a module (X).29
4.8.2 Row height (Y).29
4.8.3 Quiet zones.29
4.9 Defining the symbol format .29
4.9.1 Defining the aspect ratio of the module .30
4.9.2 Defining the symbol matrix of rows and columns .30
4.10 Generating the error correction codewords .31
4.11 Low level encodation .33
4.11.1 Clusters.34
4.11.2 Determining the symbol matrix .34
4.11.3 Determining the values of the left and right row indicators.34
4.11.4 Row encoding .35
4.12 Compact PDF417 .35
4.13 Macro PDF417 .35
4.13.1 Compaction modes and Macro PDF417 .35
4.13.2 ECIs and Macro PDF417.35
4.14 User guidelines .36
4.14.1 Human readable interpretation.36
4.14.2 Autodiscrimination capability .36
4.14.3 User-defined application parameters .36
4.14.4 PDF417 symbol quality .37
4.15 Reference decode algorithm .37
4.16 Error detection and error correction procedure.37
4.17 Transmitted data.37
4.17.1 Transmitted data in the basic (default) interpretation .37
4.17.2 Transmission protocol for Extended Channel Interpretation (ECI).37
4.17.3 Transmitted data for Macro PDF417 .38
4.17.4 Transmission of reserved codewords using the ECI protocol .39
4.17.5 Symbology identifier .39
4.17.6 Transmission using older protocols.39
Annex A (normative) Encoding/decoding table of PDF417 symbol character bar-space sequences .40
Annex B (normative) The default character set for Byte Compaction mode.55
Annex C (normative) Byte Compaction mode encoding algorithm .56
Annex D (normative) Numeric Compaction mode encoding algorithm .58
Annex E (normative) User selection of error correction.60
Annex F (normative) Tables of coefficients for calculating PDF417 error correction codewords .61
Annex G (normative) Compact PDF417 .66
Annex H (normative) Macro PDF417 .67
Annex J (normative) Testing PDF417 symbol quality .75
Annex K (normative) Reference decode algorithm for PDF417 .77
Annex L (normative) Error correction procedures .81
Annex M (normative) Symbology identifier.83
Annex N (normative) Transmission protocol for decoders conforming with earlier PDF417 standards .84
Annex P (informative) Algorithm to minimise the number of codewords.90
Annex Q (informative) Guidelines to determine the symbol matrix.91
Annex R (informative) Calculating the coefficients for generating the error correction codewords –
worked example .95
Annex S (informative) Generating the error correction codewords — worked example.96
Annex T (informative) Division circuit procedure for generating error correction codewords .100
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ISO/IEC 15438:2001(E)
Annex U (informative) Autodiscrimination compatibility.101
Bibliography.102

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ISO/IEC 15438:2001(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical Commission)
form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are members of ISO or IEC
participate in the development of International Standards through technical committees established by the
respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity. ISO and IEC technical committees
collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in
liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work. In the field of information technology, ISO and IEC have
established a joint technical committee, ISO/IEC JTC 1.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 3.
The main task of the joint technical committee is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the joint technical committee are circulated to national bodies for voting. Publication as an International
Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the national bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this International Standard may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO/IEC 15438 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology, Subcommittee
SC 31, Automatic identification and data capture techniques.
Annexes A to N form a normative part of this International Standard. Annexes P to U are for information only.
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ISO/IEC 15438:2001(E)
Introduction
The technology of bar coding is based on the recognition of patterns of bars and spaces of defined dimensions.
There are various methods of encoding information in bar code form, known as symbologies, and the rules defining
the translation of characters into bar and space patterns and other essential features are known as the symbology
specification.
Manufacturers of bar code equipment and users of bar code technology require publicly available standard
symbology specifications to which they can refer when developing equipment and application standards. It is the
intent and understanding of ISO/IEC that the symbology presented in this standard is entirely in the public domain
and free of all user restrictions, licences and fees.
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 15438:2001(E)

Information technology — Automatic identification and data
capture techniques — Bar code symbology specifications —
PDF417
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies the requirements for the bar code symbology known as PDF417. It specifies
PDF417 symbology characteristics, data character encodation, symbol formats, dimensions, error correction rules,
decoding algorithm, and a number of application parameters.
2 Normative references
The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of
this International Standard. For dated references, subsequent amendments to, or revisions of, any of these
publications do not apply. However, parties to agreements based on this International Standard are encouraged to
investigate the possibility of applying the most recent editions of the normative documents indicated below. For
undated references, the latest edition of the normative document referred to applies. Members of ISO and IEC
maintain registers of currently valid International Standards.
ISO/IEC 646:1991, Information technology — ISO 7-bit coded character set for information exchange
ISO/IEC 8859-1:1998, Information technology — 8-bit single-byte coded graphic character sets — Part 1: Latin
alphabet No. 1
ISO/IEC 15416, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Bar code print
quality test specification — Linear Symbols
AIM International Technical Specification: Extended Channel Interpretations — Part 1: Identification Schemes and
Protocol
AIM International Technical Specification: Extended Channel Interpretations — Part 2: Registration of Coded
Character Sets and Other Data Formats
EN 796, Bar coding — Symbology identifiers
EN 1556, Bar coding — Terminology
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ISO/IEC 15438:2001(E)
3 Definitions, mathematical symbols and abbreviations
3.1 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this International Standard, the following terms and definitions given in EN 1556 apply.
algorithm, application standard, ASCII, autodiscrimination, bar, bar code, bi-directional, binary, bit, codeword,
column, continuous code, data character, data codeword, data compaction, data region, decode algorithm,
decoder, element, encode, error correction level, human readable character, leading zeros, linear symbology,
module, modulo, multi-row symbology, n, k symbology, numeric, overhead, pad character, pad codeword, quiet
zone, reference decode algorithm, row, scanner, self-checking, space, start character, stop character, symbol
aspect ratio, symbol character, symbology, symbology identifier, symbol width, X-dimension, Y-dimension
The following definitions also apply to this International Standard.

3.1.1 Basic Channel Model:
A standard system for encoding and transmitting bar code data where data message bytes are output from the
decoder but no control information about the message is transmitted. A decoder, complying to this model,
operates in Basic Channel Mode.

3.1.2 Bar-space sequence:
The sequence which represents the module widths of the elements of a symbol character.

3.1.3 Cluster:
One of three subsets of PDF417 symbol characters, all of which are mutually exclusive. The symbol characters in
a given cluster conform with particular structural rules which are used in decoding the symbology.

3.1.4 Compaction mode:
The name given to one of three data compaction algorithms in PDF417: Text, Numeric and Byte Compaction
modes. These modes efficiently map 8-bit data bytes into PDF417 codewords.

3.1.5 Error correction codeword:
A codeword in a symbol which encodes a value derived from the error correction codeword algorithm to enable
decode errors to be detected and, depending on the error correction level, to be corrected.
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ISO/IEC 15438:2001(E)
3.1.6 Extended Channel Interpretation:
A procedure within some symbologies, including PDF417, to replace the default interpretation with another
interpretation in a reliable manner. The interpretation intended prior to producing the symbol can be retrieved after
decoding the scanned symbol to recreate the data message in its original format.

3.1.7 Extended Channel Model:
A system for encoding and transmitting both data message bytes and control information about the message. A
decoder, complying to this model, operates in Extended Channel Mode. The control information is communicated
using Extended Channel Interpretation (ECI) escape sequences.

3.1.8 Function codeword:
A codeword in a symbology which initiates a particular operation within the symbology, for example to switch
between data encoding sets, to invoke a compaction scheme, to program the reader, to invoke Extended Channel
Interpretations.

3.1.9 Global Label Identifier:
A procedure in the PDF417 symbology, which behaves in a similar manner to Extended Channel Interpretation.
The GLI system was the symbology-dependent precursor to the symbology-independent ECI system.

3.1.10 Macro PDF417:
A procedure within the PDF417 symbology to logically distribute data from a computer file across a number of
related PDF417 symbols. The procedure considerably extends the data capacity beyond that of a single symbol.
This procedure is similar to the Structured Append feature in other symbologies.

3.1.11 Mode Latch codeword:
A codeword which is used to switch from one mode to another mode, which stays in effect until another latch or
shift codeword is implicitly or explicitly brought into use, or until the end of the label is reached.

3.1.12 Mode Shift codeword:
A codeword which is used to switch from one mode to another for one codeword, after which encoding returns to
the original mode.

3.1.13 Row Indicator codeword:
A PDF417 codeword adjacent to the start or stop character in a row, which encodes information about the structure
of the PDF417 symbol in terms of the row identification, total number of rows and columns, and the error correction
level.

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ISO/IEC 15438:2001(E)
3.1.14 Symbol Length Descriptor:
The codeword in a PDF417 symbol which encodes the total number of data codewords in the symbol. The Symbol
Length Descriptor shall always be the first codeword in a PDF417 symbol.
3.2 Mathematical symbols and operations
For the purposes of this standard the mathematical symbols which follow shall apply. There are some cases where
the symbols below have been used in a different manner in an equation. This has been done for consistency with
a more general use of the notation and is always clearly defined in the text.
A symbol aspect ratio (height to width) of a PDF417 symbol
b the element width in a symbol character
c number of columns in the symbol in the data region (excluding start, stop and row indicator codewords)
d data codeword including all function codewords
E error correction codeword
e an edge to similar edge dimension in a symbol character
F row number
f number of substitution errors
H height of symbol including quiet zone
K cluster number
k number of error correction codewords
L left row indicator
l number of erasures
m number of source data codewords prior to the addition of the Symbol Length Descriptor and any pad
codewords
n total number of data codewords including Symbol Length Descriptor and any pad codewords
p the pitch or width of a symbol character
Q horizontal quiet zone
H
Q vertical quiet zone
V
R right row indicator
r number of rows in the symbol
s error correction level
W width of symbol including quiet zone
X X-dimension or module width
Y module height (also called row height)

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ISO/IEC 15438:2001(E)
For the purposes of this standard the mathematical operations which follow shall apply:
    div is the integer division operator, rounding down
INT is the integer value i.e. where a number is rounded down to its whole number component, ignoring its
decimal fractions
mod is the positive integer remainder after division. If the remainder is negative, add the value of the divisor
to make it positive. For example, the remainder of -29 160 divided by 929 is -361 which when added to
929 yields 568.

3.3 Abbreviations
For the purposes of this standard, the following abbreviations shall apply:
ECI Extended Channel Interpretation
GLI Global Label Identifier

4 Requirements
4.1 Symbology characteristics
4.1.1 Basic characteristics
PDF417 is a bar code symbology with the following basic characteristics:
a. Encodable character set:
  1. Text Compaction mode (see 4.4.2) permits all printable ASCII characters to be encoded, i.e.
values 32 - 126 inclusive in accordance with ISO/IEC 646, as well as selected control characters.
  2. Byte Compaction mode (see 4.4.3) permits all 256 possible 8-bit byte values to be encoded. This
includes all ASCII characters value 0 to 127 inclusive and provides for international character set
support.

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