ISO/IEC 24728:2006

Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — MicroPDF417 bar code symbology specification

ISO/IEC 24728:2006 specifies the requirements for the bar code symbology known as MicroPDF417. It specifies the MicroPDF417 symbology characteristics, data character encodation, symbol formats, dimensions, error correction rules, decoding algorithm, and a number of application parameters. MicroPDF417 is a multi-row symbology, derived from and closely based on PDF417. MicroPDF417 is designed for applications with a need for improved area efficiency but without the requirement for PDF417's maximum data capacity. A limited set of symbol sizes is available, together with a fixed level of error correction for each symbol size. Module dimensions are user-specified to enable symbol production and reading by a wide variety of techniques. Since MicroPDF417's data character encodation, its error correction method, and many of its other symbol characteristics are, and are intended to remain, identical to those of PDF417, descriptions of these characteristics are quoted verbatim from the PDF417 symbology specification (ISO/IEC 15438) wherever appropriate, or with the appropriate modifications. For ease of cross-reference, ISO/IEC 24728:2006 follows a similar document structure, with minor differences in clause/subclause numbering, to the PDF417 symbology specification.

Technologies de l'information — Techniques automatiques d'identification et de capture des données — Spécifications pour la symbologie de code à barres MicroPDF417

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 23-May-2006
• 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/WG 1 - Data carrier
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Completion Date: 23-Apr-2020

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 24728
First edition
2006-06-01

Information technology — Automatic
identification and data capture
techniques — MicroPDF417 bar code
symbology specification
Technologies de l'information — Techniques d'identification
automatique et de capture des données — Spécifications pour la
symbologie de code à barres MicroPDF417





Reference number
ISO/IEC 24728:2006(E)
©
ISO/IEC 2006

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ISO/IEC 24728:2006(E)
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©  ISO/IEC 2006
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
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ISO/IEC 24728:2006(E)
Contents Page
Foreword. vi
Introduction . vii
1 Scope .1
2 Normative references .1
3 Terms and definitions .2
4 Symbols, operations and abbreviated terms.4
4.1 Symbols .4
4.2 Mathematical operations.5
4.3 Abbreviated terms .5
5 Requirements.5
5.1 Symbology characteristics .5
5.1.1 Basic characteristics.5
5.1.2 Summary of additional features.6
5.2 Symbol structure .7
5.2.1 MicroPDF417 symbol parameters.7
5.2.2 Row and column combinations.9
5.2.3 Row parameters.10
5.2.4 Codeword sequence.10
5.2.5 MicroPDF417 Row Address Patterns.12
5.3 Basic encodation .14
5.3.1 Symbol character structure .14
5.3.2 Start and Stop Patterns.15
5.4 High level (data) encodation.15
5.4.1 Function codewords.15
5.4.2 Text Compaction mode .21
5.4.3 Byte Compaction mode.25
5.4.4 Numeric Compaction mode .27
5.4.5 Advice to select the appropriate compaction mode .28
5.4.6 Treatment of MicroPDF417 reserved codewords.29
5.5 Extended Channel Interpretation .29
5.5.1 Encoding the ECI assignment number.30
5.5.2 Pre-assigned and default Extended Channel Interpretations .31
5.5.3 Encoding ECI sequences within compaction modes .31
5.5.4 Post-decode protocol.33
5.6 Determining the codeword sequence.33
5.7 Error detection and correction.34
5.7.1 Number of error correction codewords.34
5.7.2 Error correction capacity .34
5.7.3 Defining the error correction codewords.35
5.8 Dimensions.35
5.8.1 Minimum width of a module (X).35
5.8.2 Row height (Y).35
5.8.3 Quiet zones.35
5.9 Defining the symbol format .35
5.9.1 Defining the aspect ratio of the module .36
5.9.2 Defining the symbol matrix of rows and columns .36
5.10 Generating the error correction codewords .37
5.11 Low level encodation .39
5.11.1 Clusters.40
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ISO/IEC 24728:2006(E)
5.11.2 Determining the symbol matrix . 40
5.11.3 Determining the values of the Row Address Patterns . 40
5.11.4 Row encoding. 46
5.12 Printing Row Address Patterns . 46
5.13 Structured Append. 47
5.13.1 Compaction modes and Structured Append. 47
5.13.2 ECIs and Structured Append . 47
5.14 User guidelines . 47
5.14.1 Human readable interpretation. 47
5.14.2 Autodiscrimination capability. 47
5.14.3 User-defined application parameters. 48
5.14.4 MicroPDF417 symbol quality . 48
5.14.5 Separation of multiple symbols. 49
5.15 Reference decode algorithm. 49
5.16 Error detection and error correction procedure . 49
5.17 Transmitted data . 49
5.17.1 Transmitted data in the basic (default) interpretation. 49
5.17.2 Transmission protocol for Extended Channel Interpretation (ECI) . 49
5.17.3 Transmitted data for Structured Append.51
5.17.4 Transmission of reserved codewords using the ECI protocol. 51
5.17.5 Symbology identifier. 51
5.17.6 Transmission using older protocols. 51
Annex A (normative) Encoding/decoding table of PDF417 symbol character bar-space sequences. 52
Annex B (normative) The default character set for Byte Compaction mode . 67
Annex C (normative) Byte Compaction mode encoding algorithm . 68
Annex D (normative) Numeric Compaction mode encoding algorithm. 70
Annex E (normative) Error correction . 72
Annex F (normative) Tables of coefficients for calculating MicroPDF417 error correction
codewords . 73
Annex G (normative) Text Compaction mode encoding algorithm. 77
Annex H (normative) Structured Append MicroPDF417 symbols . 78
H.1 Structured Append overview . 78
H.2 Structured Append syntax . 78
H.3 High level encoding considerations . 81
H.4 Encodation example . 81
H.5 Structured Append and the Extended Channel Interpretation protocol . 82
H.6 Structured Append data transmission. 83
Annex I (normative) Testing MicroPDF417 symbol quality. 86
I.1 Overview of methodology . 86
I.2 Test scans for scan reflectance profile . 86
Annex J (normative) Reference decode algorithm for MicroPDF417. 88
J.1 Phase 1: Initialization. 88
J.2 Phase 2: Filling the matrix. 89
J.3 Phase 3: Interpretation . 90
J.4 Reference line-decode algorithm . 91
Annex K (normative) Error correction procedures . 95
Annex L (normative) Symbology identifier . 97
Annex M (normative) Transmission protocol for decoders conforming with original
PDF417 standards. 98
M.1 Basic Channel Mode . 98
M.2 GLI encoded symbols. 98
M.3 Structured Append symbols. 100
M.4 Transmission of reserved codewords using the original PDF417 protocol . 101
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ISO/IEC 24728:2006(E)
M.5 Achieving compatibility between old and new PDF417 equipment .101
Annex N (informative) Algorithm to minimise the number of codewords.104
Annex O (informative) Guidelines to determine the symbol matrix.106
Annex P (informative) Calculating the coefficients for generating the error correction
codewords — worked example .107
Annex Q (informative) Generating the error correction codewords — worked example .109
Annex R (informative) Division circuit procedure for generating error correction codewords.112
Annex S (informative) Additional guidelines for the use of MicroPDF417.113
S.1 Autodiscrimination compatibility.113
S.2 Pixel-based printing .113
Bibliography .115

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ISO/IEC 24728:2006(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 2.
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 document 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 24728 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 31, Automatic Identification and data capture techniques.
This International Standard contains many provisions which are identical with those of ISO/IEC 15438.

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ISO/IEC 24728:2006(E)
Introduction
MicroPDF417 is a multi-row symbology, derived from and closely based on PDF417. MicroPDF417 is
designed for applications with a need for improved area efficiency but without the requirement for PDF417’s
maximum data capacity. A limited set of symbol sizes is available, together with a fixed level of error
correction for each symbol size. Module dimensions are user-specified to enable symbol production and
reading by a wide variety of techniques.
Since MicroPDF417’s data character encodation, its error correction method, and many of its other symbol
characteristics are, and are intended to remain, identical to those of PDF417, descriptions of these
characteristics are quoted verbatim from the PDF417 symbology specification (ISO/IEC 15438) wherever
appropriate, or with the appropriate modifications. For ease of cross-reference, this International Standard
follows a similar document structure, with minor differences in clause/subclause numbering, to ISO/IEC 15438.

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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 24728:2006(E)

Information technology — Automatic identification and data
capture techniques — MicroPDF417 bar code symbology
specification
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies the requirements for the bar code symbology known as MicroPDF417. It
specifies the MicroPDF417 symbology characteristics, data character encodation, symbol formats, dimensions,
error correction rules, decoding algorithm, and a number of application parameters.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/IEC 646:1991, Information technology — ISO 7-bit coded character set for information interchange
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
print quality test specification — Two-dimensional symbols
ISO/IEC 15417, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Bar code
symbology specification — Code 128
ISO/IEC 15418, Information technology — EAN/UCC Application Identifiers and Fact Data Identifiers and
Maintenance
ISO/IEC 15424, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — Data
Carrier Identifiers (including Symbology Identifiers)
ISO/IEC 24723, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture techniques — EAN.UCC
Composite bar code symbology specification
ISO/IEC 19762-1, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) techniques —
Harmonized vocabulary — Part 1: General terms relating to AIDC
ISO/IEC 19762-2, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) techniques —
Harmonized vocabulary — Part 2: Optically readable media (ORM)
AIM Inc. International Technical Standard: ITS/04-001, Extended Channel Interpretations — Part 1:
1
Identification Schemes and Protocols
2
GS1 General Specification

1
Published by AIM Global, 125 Warrendale-Bayne Road, Suite 100, Warrendale, PA 15086, USA.
2
Published by GS1, Blue Tower, Avenue Louise 326, bte 10, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
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ISO/IEC 24728:2006(E)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC 19762-1, ISO/IEC 19762-2 and
the following apply.
3.1
application identifier
sequence of 2 to 4 digits, used to define the nature or use of the subsequent data characters, in accordance
with ISO/IEC 15418 and the GS1 General Specification
3.2
bar-space sequence
sequence which represents the module widths of the elements of a symbol character
3.3
basic channel mode
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
3.4
cluster
any of three mutually exclusive subsets of PDF417 symbol characters, also used in MicroPDF417; the symbol
characters in a given cluster conform with particular structural rules which are used in decoding the symbology
3.5
compaction mode
any of three data compaction algorithms in PDF417 (Text, Numeric and Byte Compaction modes), also used
in MicroPDF417, which are used to map 8-bit data bytes efficiently to PDF417 codewords
3.6
e-distance
measurement from the leading edge of one element to the leading edge of the next element, or from the
trailing edge of an element to the trailing edge of the next element, in a symbol character or Row Address
Pattern
3.7
error correction codeword
codeword which encodes a value derived from the error correction codeword algorithm to enable decode
errors to be detected and, depending on the number of error correction codewords, to be corrected
3.8
Extended Channel Interpretation
ECI
procedure within some symbologies, including MicroPDF417, to replace the default interpretation with another
interpretation in a reliable manner
NOTE 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.
3.9
extended channel model
system for encoding and transmitting both data message bytes and control information about the message,
the control information being communicated using Extended Channel Interpretation (ECI) escape sequences
3.10
family
set of MicroPDF417 symbol versions sharing the same number of columns and the same RAP rotation
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ISO/IEC 24728:2006(E)
3.11
function codeword
codeword which initiates a particular operation within a symbology, for example to switch between data
encoding sets, to invoke a compaction scheme, to program the reader, or to invoke Extended Channel
Interpretations
3.12
Global Label Identifier
GLI
procedure in the PDF417 symbology which behaves in a similar manner to Extended Channel Interpretation
NOTE The GLI system was the symbology-dependent precursor to the symbology-independent ECI system.
3.13
macro character
character representing a predefined sequence of data characters (e.g. an industry-specific message header)
used to reduce the number of symbol characters needed to encode data in a symbol using certain structured
formats
3.14
Mode Latch codeword
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 symbol is reached
3.15
Mode Shift codeword
codeword which is used to switch from one mode to another for one codeword, after which encoding returns
to the original mode
3.16
RAP rotation
difference between the number designating a Center or Right Row Address Pattern and the number
designating the nearest Row Address Pattern to the left, in the same row of a symbol
3.17
Row Address Patterns
special patterns made up of three bars and three spaces occupying ten modules that serve both as start or
(with the stop bar) stop patterns and as row indicators in MicroPDF417 symbols
3.18
stop bar
single-module bar, adjoining the rightmost Row Address Pattern, which forms the right boundary of the symbol
3.19
Structured Append
procedure within the MicroPDF417 symbology to distribute data logically from a computer file across a
number of related symbols
NOTE 1 This procedure is identical to the Macro PDF417 feature of PDF417.
NOTE 2 The procedure considerably extends the data capacity beyond that of a single symbol.
3.20
UCC/EAN-128
subset of Code 128 symbols as defined in ISO/IEC 15417, reserved for use in accordance with GS1 General
Specification
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ISO/IEC 24728:2006(E)
4 Symbols, operations and abbreviated terms
4.1 Symbols
For the purposes of this document, the following mathematical symbols 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.
b the element width in a symbol character
c number of columns in the symbol in the data region (excluding Row Address Patterns)
d data codeword including ECI Descriptor and all function codewords
E error correction codeword
e an edge to similar edge dimension in a symbol character
f number of substitution errors
F row number
H height of symbol including quiet zone
K cluster number
k number of error correction codewords
L number of erasures
m number of source data codewords (including the codeword in the ECI Descriptor position but prior to
the addition of any pad codewords)
n total number of data codewords (including ECI Descriptor and pad codewords)
p pitch or width of a symbol character
Q horizontal quiet zone
H
Q vertical quiet zone
V
r number of rows in the symbol
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 24728:2006(E)
4.2 Mathematical operations
For the purposes of this document, the following mathematical operations a
...