A system and method are disclosed for creating 2D barcodes that are watermarked in a digital fashion. The system and method include changing specific elements within the code words as well as modifying the physical representation within elements of the codewords.

A system and method for error correction for machine-readable symbols having data codewords, and having error correction (EC) codewords derived from the data codewords and redundantly indicating the location and data contents of the data codewords. The symbols use Reed-Solomon (RS) error correction to retrieve damaged codewords. RS error correction normally requires two EC codewords to identify both the location and data contents of a data codeword. The present system and method perform optical contrast analysis on the codewords, identifying those codewords with the lowest contrast levels (that is, the least difference between the reflectance of the black or white cells and the black/white threshold). Codewords with the lowest contrast levels are flagged as optically ambiguous, thereby marking, in the EC equations, the locations of the codewords most like to be in error. As a result, only a single EC codeword is required to retrieve the data for a flagged data codeword.

A method, an apparatus, and a terminal for recognizing a two-dimensional code are provided. The two-dimensional code includes an image region and an encoding region. The image region and the encoding region have no overlap. The method includes selecting, from pixels of the two-dimensional code, a pixel included in a code element in an encoding region. The method further includes determining a value of the code element in the encoding region according to the pixel included in the code element in the encoding region. The method further includes recognizing the two-dimensional code according to the value of the code element in the encoding region.

Systems and methods for reading a two-dimensional matrix symbol or for determining if a two-dimensional matrix symbol is decodable are disclosed. The systems and methods can include a data reading algorithm that receives an image, locates at least a portion of the data modules within the image without using a fixed pattern, fits a model of the module positions from the image, extrapolates the model resulting in predicted module positions, determines module values from the image at the predicted module positions, and extracts a binary matrix from the module values.

Technology for generating, reading, and using machine-readable codes is disclosed. There is a method, performed by an image capture device, for reading and using the codes. The method includes obtaining an image, identifying an area in the image having a machine-readable code. The method also includes, within the image area, finding a predefined start marker defining a start point and a predefined stop marker defining a stop point, an axis being defined there between. A plurality of axis points can be defined along the axis. For each axis point, a first distance within the image area to a mark is determined. The distance can be measured from the axis point in a first direction which is orthogonal to the axis. The first distances can be converted to a binary code using Gray code such that each first distance encodes at least one bit of data in the code.

Aspects of this disclosure include technologies for detecting mislabeled products. In one embodiment, the disclosed system will capture an image of a product when the MRL of the product is scanned or being scanned. After recognizing the product in the image, the size of the area containing the product may be calculated. Subsequently, the disclosed system can determine whether the MRL mismatches the product in the image if this size of the area containing the product does not match the standard size associated with the MRL.

Disclosed in embodiments of the present application are a QR code generation method and apparatus for a terminal device. The terminal device comprises a camera. A specific implementation mode of the method comprises: receiving a QR code generation instruction input by a user, wherein the QR code generation instruction comprises a QR code information; starting a camera, and generating a camera real-time photographing picture; and generating a real-time picture displaying the QR code based on the QR code information and the generated camera real-time photographing picture. The implementation mode enables the user to clearly distinguish whether the QR code is an originally generated QR code, thereby improving the security of the QR code.

A two-dimensional code includes: a first code symbol coding first information being valid information according to a first standard; a terminator pattern indicating an end of the valid information according to the first standard; and a second code symbol arranged after the terminator pattern in a region in which the valid information can be arranged according to the first standard and coding second information being valid information according to a second standard different from the first standard. The first information may be output data, and the second information may be non-output data.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for providing a one sensor near far solution to minimize field of view mismatch and aiming offsets are provided. For example, an indicia reader utilizing dual optics may include an engine comprising a near field imaging optic and a far field imaging optic that split an imaging sensor array and a aimer; wherein the near field imaging optic, the far field imaging optic, and the aimer are configured in a triangular arrangement to minimize the field of mismatch and aiming offsets. In some embodiments, the far field imaging optic may be configured to utilize a two or more mirrors to provide a periscope configuration.

A sensor-augmented two-dimensional barcode includes a layer provided on a substrate comprising a two-dimensional error-correcting barcode symbol. The bar code symbol further includes a barcode region, an empty region, and a dynamic region. The barcode region includes a plurality of modules in a static color state and the empty region has an area. Additionally, the dynamic region is provided on the substrate and positioned within the area of the empty region. The dynamic region includes a dynamic indicator having a chemistry that is configured, responsive to the occurrence of an environmental condition, to undergo a chemical or physical state change between an initial state and an end state, causing a change in the color state of the dynamic indicator. Additionally, the color state indicates exposure to the environmental condition.