This document proposes the use of progressive barcodes, which encode changing information over time through the addition of colors to barcode tiles. It describes how progressive barcodes can be used in workflows to track items as they move through different stages. The document also discusses how progressive barcodes allow for inference applications by linking items to their containers. Finally, it suggests progressive barcodes could incorporate customer rewards programs and other applications at point-of-sale by encoding data in the color tiles beyond the static information read by retailers.

1. © Copyright 2013 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.
Progressive Barcode
Applications
Marie Vans, Steven Simske, & Brad Loucks
HP Labs
September 30, 2013

2. © Copyright 2013 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.2
narratiiveja.blogspot.com
Outline:
• Overview of Progressive Barcodes
• Recap of Dual-Purpose Barcodes
• Applications of Progressive Barcodes
o Workflows
o Inference
o Point-of-Sale
• Wrap-up
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kit?ref=sr_gallery_29&ga_search_query=qr+code&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=U
S&ga_search_type=handmade/
http://usahitman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/baby_barcode.jpg

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Previously…..

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At NIP’28
Color Tiles
•1D barcodes don’t hold enough information, so…
•We used 2D barcodes, which include QR (Quick Response)
and Data Matrix barcodes…
•Which have a much higher payload (data embedded), but…
•Color adds more bits, more flavor, and more possibilities for
aesthetics and branding…so
•We extended the science of 3D barcoding with:
•Time varying color barcodes with
•Increased Security Payload Density

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More about color tiles
A 2D barcode with 6 payload colors, > 2.5 bits/tile
The example shown here comprises:
1. 64 data tiles, max 165 bits total
2. 8 non-payload tiles:
a. Two black for orientation and corner
detection
b. 6 color {RGBCMY} for color calibration
c. The colors are 180 rotated from their color
opponency pair, providing the greatest
contrast in hue space and thus the most
reliable opposite-corner orientation detection
possible
3. Whitespace in the middle—for carrying a 2D
barcode?
Non-payload indicia
Non-payload indicia

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Moving from Color Tiles to Progressive Barcodes
Use this idea to create a barcode that looks familiar.
No limit on size (in number of tiles down and across).
We can encode information that changes over time.
Because….
1. We need a barcode that can hold much more information than its
black & white counterpart.
2. We are interested in a set of barcodes that together enable secure
& other variable workflows – we are interested in the relationship
between barcodes
3. We want to track a package or a document as it goes through its
normal workflow.
3. We wish to use branded colors along with information carrying
tiles.
4. We want to tie in other functionality, such as incentivization for
loyal customers, gaming, and location-based rewards.

7. © Copyright 2013 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.7
Progressive Barcodes & How they Work
Barcodes are a familiar data-carrying mark
Adding progressive information to a barcode allows it to relate
through time—supporting many different information lifecycles.
Creating a Progressive Barcode entails the following:
1. Use of non-data elements for calibration, skew and warp detection and
segmentation as with existing 2D (black and white) and 3D (color) barcodes
2. All data elements start out white (or other background color)
3. Initiate the workflow/lifecycle with the secure addition of the appropriate
colors directly coded from the secure binary stream
4. Increment colors – not size or barcode format – over time, and multiple
stages are thereby represented
5. Progressive barcodes can be engineered to be readable as an existing
barcode standard with the additional security of the colors added to the
otherwise “white” modules.

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Progression

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Color Progression
* This was developed to allow overprinting existing barcodes, but does not require it.

10. © Copyright 2013 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.10
Security - Statistical Probability
Progressive barcodes allow us to assign statistical probability at each
step of the progression.
• Associated with any transition between two steps in a workflow
• Based on how many bits are written and how many remain

i
i
RB
IU
P
N
N
!
!
Pi = Step i
NRB = the number of residual (0 bits) at end of the workflow
NIU = number of initial unwritten bits

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Dual-Purpose Progressive Barcodes

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Using Data-Matrices with Progressive Barcodes
• Allows use of “static” data encoded in black &
white modules for standard purposes:
• point of sale
• serial numbers (serialization)
• product information
• Allows “separate channel” for encoding
changing workflow-related information
• Static data: off-the-shelf reader reads the “black-
as-black” modules and the “rest-as-white”, so
long as white modules are unchanged or
overimaged with appropriately saturated colors.
It’s obvious that the color
information must be
special

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Dual-Purpose Progressive Barcodes
Making progressive barcodes work harder

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And now for the practical stuff….

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Work-Flows
• GS1 world-wide track and trace applications
• Progressive barcodes for GS1 product workflows using multiple barcodes
• Original GS1-compliant barcode contains a product ID and remains static as its
second channel of content progresses
• Concurrently, information encoded in the colors changes at each step.
• The data within the white-as-N-ary modules used for data normally encoded in
separate barcodes

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Work-Flows – Inference Applications
• Inference is the relationship between an item and its container and/or contained items
• Items contained by it (smaller) and containing it (larger)
• Links “forward” (to a container item) and “backward” (to a contained item(s)).
• Serialized numbers for items packaged in larger container inferred from enclosing
container
• No track and trace need to physically open the container to check each individual
item.
• Reading white-as-white gives GS1 product code for:
• Each individual unit packed in cartons -> placed into cases -> placed onto a pallet ->
placed in a shipping container, etc.
• Information in the white-as-N-ary modules used for custom track and trace and other
supply chain purposes, such as inference relationships
• Each level could be digitally signed (DS) for added security.

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Work-Flows – Inference Applications
Note that the outermost layer – which is visible to everyone – has the least content. Each
progressive “unwrapping” has more secure content for a more privileged audience.

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Work-Flows – Example Inference Applications
• Color-overlaid inference where branching occurs
• Initial GS1 code identifies a particular product – this may be
single dose of a highly regulated prescription drug
• Auto-create a package with single month’s supply (30).
• Allow the workflow to diverge
• Cartons with 12 packages of medication (a total of 360
doses) in a single carton
• 6 packages of medication (a total of 180 doses) packed into
a carton.
• Different numbers of cartons are packed onto single pallets
• Inference is possible as each step identifies the previous step & all
steps prior
• Main component (single dose medication) statically identified by GS1
identifier
• Inference enabled & quantities encoded using color in the white-as-N-
ary modules.

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GS1 Compliant Barcode with Inference

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Point-of-Sale
• Standard barcodes contain static data read by scanners at checkout
• Data may contain product numbers, sale price, and can be connected to
applications for inventory & other purposes
• Usually for retail outlets, not interesting to customer
• Some products now carry secondary barcodes for customer applications
• Usually take up more space on the product packaging
• Using color content in the white-as-n-ary modules, more customer applications
can be added to the same retail barcode:
• Rewards for buying the product
• Gaming & incentivization for loyal customers
• URLs for product website
• Other customer interactions.
• In general, interrogable by reading the white-as-N-ary, modules can be added to
barcode without using more real estate on package
Manufacturer Distributer ResellerGoods Goods

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Point-of-Sale

22. © Copyright 2013 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.
Thank you