QR Codes

QR-CODE

QR-CODE

1.INTRODUCTIONQuick Response Code is the trademark for a type of matrix barcode first designed for the automotive industry in Japan; a barcode is an optically machine-readable label that is attached to an item and that records information related to that item: The information encoded by a QR code may be made up of four standardized types of data. That is, numeric, alphanumeric, byte /binary, Kanji or, through supported extensions, virtually any type of data.The QR Code system has become popular outside the automotive industry due to its fast readability and greater storage capacity compared to standard UPC barcodes. Applications include product tracking, item identification, time tracking, document management, general marketing, and much more.A QR code consists of black modules (square dots) arranged in a square grid on a white background, which can be read by an imaging device (such as a camera) and processed using Reed-Solomon error correction until the image can be appropriately interpreted; data is then extracted from patterns present in both horizontal and vertical components of the image.

2. CHARACTERISTICSAdditional to the characteristics for two-dimensional symbols such as large volume data (7,089 numerical characters at maximum), high-density recording (approx. 100 times higher in density than linear symbols), and high-speed reading.QR Code has other superiority in both performance and functionalities aspects.2.1 ALL-DIRECTION (360) HIGH-SPEED READINGReading matrix symbols will be implemented by using a CCD sensor (area sensor). The data of the scan line captured by the sensor will be stored into the memory. Then, by using the software, the details will be analysed, finder patterns identified, and the position/size/angle of the symbol detected, and the decoding process will be implemented. Traditional two-dimensional symbols used to take much time for detecting the position/angle/size of the symbol, and had a problem that their readings were less accurate when compared with those of linear symbols. QR Code has finder patterns for notifying the position of the symbol arranged in three of its corners to enable high-speed reading in all directions (360). The ratio between black and white among the scan line that runs through the finder patterns is always 1:1:3:1:1 when seen from any direction among the 360 surrounding it. By detecting this specific ratio, the finder pattern can be detected from among the image captured by the CCD sensor to identify the position of the QR Code in a short period of time. Additionally, by identifying the positional relationships of the three finder patterns listed in Figure 5 from among the image field of the CCD sensor, the size (L), the angle (), and the outer shape of the symbol can be simultaneously detected. By arranging the finder patterns into the three corners of the symbol, the decoding speed of the QR Code can be made 20 times faster than that of other matrix symbols. Additionally, detecting finder patterns can be easily implemetned by the hardware, and can also be accelerated.

2.2 RESISTANT TO DISTORTED SYMBOLSSymbols often get distorted when attached onto a curved surface or by the reader being tilted (angled between the CCD sensor face and the symbol face). To correct this distortion, QR Code has alignment patterns arranged with a regular interval within the range of the symbol. The variance between the centre position of the alignment pattern estimated from the outer shape of the symbol and the acutal centre position of the alignment pattern will be calculated to have the mappings (for identifying the centre position of each cell) corrected. This will make the distorted linear/non-linear symbols readable.2.3 DATA RESTORATION FUNCTIONALITY (RESISTANT TO SMUDGED OR DAMAGED SYMBOLS)QR Code has four different error correction levels (7%, 15%, 25%, and 30% per symbol area). The error correction functionality is implemented according to each of the smudge/damage, and is utilising Reed-Solomon code which is highly resistant to burst errors. Reed-Solomon codes are arranged in the QR Code data area. By this error correction functionality, the codes can be read correctly even when they are smudged or damaged up until the error correction level. The error correction level can be configured by the user when he/she creates the symbol. So if the code is highly likely to get smudged in the users usage environment, it is recommended to have 30% set for this correction level.2.4 EFFICIENTLY ENCODING OF KANJI AND KANA CHARACTERSQR Code has been developed based on the premise that it will be used in Japan. The specifications for the symbol has efficiently encoded JIS level-1 & 2 Kanji and Kana characters. When making Japanese expressions using other two dimensional symbols, the expression would have to be made in binaries and would require 16 bits (2 bytes) for a single character, whereas QR Code has each Japanese character encoded in 13 bits. This means that QR Code can have Japanese letters encoded 20% more efficiently than other two-dimensional symbols. In other words, if the data volume is the same, the symbol can be generated in a smaller area. Codes in each country will be using the language in that specific country, and this functionality will enable encoding of the specific language in an efficient manner, such as having Chinese characters for China and Vietnamese for Vietnam efficiently encoded.2.5 LINKING FUNCTIONALITY OF THE SYMBOLSQR Code has a linking functionality which will enable a single symbol to be represented in several symbols by dividing it . A single symbol can be divided into 16 symbols at maximum. The example shown in Figure 8 is one where a single QR Code is divided into four symbols, and each symbol has an indicator showing how many symbols the original symbol had been divided into and in which order that specific symbol would be among all divided ones. This will enable the entire data to be edited and submitted to the computer regardless of what order the symbols had been read by the reader. By this linking functionality, the QR Code will be able to be printed even if the printing space is not wide enough to have a single QR Code printed.2.6 MASKING PROCESSBy having special patterns to process masking, QR Code is enabled to have black and white cells well arranged in a balanced order. To accurately binalize the data that had been read, it is necessary to arrange the white and black cells in a well-balanced manner. To enable this, EX-OR calculation will be implemented between the data area cell and the mask pattern (template) cell when encoding the stored data and arranging it into the data area. Then, the number of unique patterns exisiting and the balance between the white cells and the black cells will be assessed against the data area where the calculation had been implemented. There are eight mask patterns. Assessment will be made for each mask pattern, and the mask pattern with the highest assessment result together with the EX-OR calculation result will be stored into the data area.

2.7 THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE CODE By making the relationship between the character type and the stored data unique for a special usage, QR Code can be easily encrypted.Unless the conversion table between the character type and the stored data is deciphered, no one will be able to read the QR Code.2.8 DIRECT MARKINGQR Code exerts superior readability even for symbols which are directly marked using laser or dot pin markers. For directly marked symbols, the cell shape does not necessarily have to be square as shown in Figure 10. It can also be circular shape. Even if the white part (with high reflectance) and the black part (with low reflectance) are inverted due to the angle of the illuminating ray, the code can still be read in an accurate manner. It is also possible to read from the back side of the symbol when it is marked upon a transparant material such as glass, etc.

3. QR CODE STRUCTUREQR Code is a matrix type symbol with a cell structure arranged in a square. It consists of the functionality patterns for making reading easy and the data area where the data is stored. QR Code has finder patterns, alignment patterns,timing patterns, and a quiet zone.

Fig3.1 The QR Code Structure3.1 FINDER PATTERNA pattern for detecting the position of the QR Code. By arranging this pattern at the three corners of a symbol, the position, the size, and the angle of the symbol can be detected. This finder pattern consists of a structure which can be detected in all directions (360).

Fig3.2 Finding Pattern

Fig3.3 Identifying a QR Code3.2 ALIGNMENT PATTERNA pattern for correcting the distortion of the QR Code. It is highly effective for correcting nonlinear distortions. The central coordinate of the alignment pattern will be identified to correct the distortion of the symbol. For this purpose,a black isolated cell is placed in the alignment pattern to make it easier to detect the central coordinate of the alignment pattern. Fig 3.4.Allignment Pattern

3.3 TIMING PATTERNA pattern for identifying the central coordinate of each cell in the QR Code with black and white patterns arranged alternately. It is used for correcting the central coordinate of the data cell when the symbol is distorted or when there is an error for the cell pitch. It is arranged in both vertical and horizontal directions.

3.4 QUIET ZONEA margin space necessary for reading the QR Code. This quiet zone makes it easier to have the symbol detected from among the image read by the CCD sensor. Four or more cells are necessary for the quiet zone.3.5 DATA AREAThe QR Code data will be stored (encoded) into the data area. The grey part in Figure 3.1 represents the data area. The data will be encoded into the binary numbers of 0 and 1 based on the encoding rule. The binary numbers of 0 and 1 will be converted into black and white cells and then will be arranged. The data area will have Reed-Solomon codes incorporated for the stored data and the error correction functionality.

4. TYPES OF QR CODESTo us, they all look the same, but they are different when it comes to storing information. QR codes can store many different types of information including:URL: These are the codes that redirect the user to a website. As soon the code is scanned, the phone browser will open and load the company website. Company can put URL QR codes on their promotional materials so that their customers who are looking for more information can land on their website.MECARD: Containing contact details, these codes automatically save information in a users phone address book. This saves users from the hassle of entering the information manually and from making input mistakes. These codes are very useful in an event such as conventions, conferences, and seminars where there is a need to exchange business card.VCARD: A vCard QR code can store more data than meCard QR code, like a salutation, job title, mobile number, work details, address, zip code, and country. Such information is useful if a person is working on a global level and needs to share more information about to consumers.CALENDAR EVENT: Usually found on invitation cards and movie or concert tickets, these codes have information regarding the event date, time, and location. They can also hold event descriptions. These codes also have an option to automatically save the event in the phones calendar.EMAIL: When scanned, email QR codes will have an email address to provide. Email QR codes can also open email composition window on a users phone, with the email address field already filled in. These codes can prompt users to send an email.PHONE NUMBER: This code is used to encode a phone number so when a phone scans it, it will produce a number on its home screen. This encourages users to call the advertiser, rather than continue searching. This type of QR code is especially useful for pizza delivery and similar services.SMS: This type of QR code prompts an SMS message from the users phone, automatically addressing and composing the text message. An SMS QR code is best used for subscription services.GPS MAP COORDINATES: Information regarding the location of a particular place or an object is stored using latitude and longitude coordinates and can be displayed on a smartphone. This code can also provide directions.SOCIAL MEDIA: Use this code to get a person to like a Facebook page or retweet on Twitter. You can also use this code to share information on social networking websites.PLAIN TEXT: This code displays a text message to the codes scanner, and is useful for communicating short messages.YOUTUBE VIDEO: Embedding a YouTube video in your QR code directs users to promotional or how-to videos about your company.LINKEDIN SHARE: Creating a QR Code for LinkedIn lets clients and customers find your profile easily on this popular business networking site.FOURSQUARE VENUE: You can create a QR code to capitalize on the popularity fo the FourSquare app, which entices customers to check in at your location and tell their friends.

5. FUNCTIONS OF QR CODESQR Codes are commonly used to navigate to a web page. However, the real power of QR Codes resides in the full-functionality of your smart phone. QR codes can also dial numbers, send texts, launch your favorite app, send a vCard, send geographic coordinates, and more.Here are just a few common QR Code functions: Go to a website (URL) Set a bookmark Make a phone call Send an SMS message Start an email Send a vCard Store a date in your calendar (schedule an appointment) Redirection based on parameters (change functionality based on date scanned, of type of phone) Return text (i.e. You Win!) Encryption Record geographic coordinates

6. CREATION OF QR CODESThe QR Code can be created are as followsSteps to create a QR codeStep 1: Click on this link http://goqr.me/.Step 2: Now, choose the type of data you want to encrypt via QR codes from the left side option panel.Step 3: I entered the URL of my website as shown in the below image and the QR code got ready at the right side of the screen. if you want to download it, click on download button just beneath the QR code.

Fig 6.1 Qr Code GeneratorStep 4: Once, you click on the download button, you will be asked to refer the format of the Code as SVG, EPS, PNG or JPEG.

Fig 6.2 Qr Code Generator Make sure that the size of your QR code is large enough to be detected (scanned) under low light or long distance conditions. If you experimenting to create a colored QR code, make sure to keep the quiet zone ideally white or light color. The border around a QR code is known as quiet zone. Also make sure that Quiet zone zone of you QR code should be at least 4 times the width of the modules of your QR code. If you are making a QR code of a URL of a website, try creating it after shortening the URL. Most of the times, QR code generated from long URL are complex and unreliable.

7. WORKING OF QR CODESA QR codeis a two-dimensional barcode, used to encode information. The information is read by a mobile phone equipped with a QR code reader, which works in conjunction with the phone's camera to decode the information.The information in a QR code is typically some sort of actionable text; that is, the information in a QR code typically directs the phone to take some sort of action. For example, a QR code might instruct a phone to open its browser to a specific URL, or to open an email and address it to a certain address.Here are some of the most popular uses of QR codes URL:A QR code can be used to encode the text of a URL, which will be opened using the mobile phone's Web browser. E-MAIL ADDRESS:A QR code may contain an e-mail address. The phone's e-mail client will open, and a blank message using the encoded email address will automatically be opened. TELEPHONE NUMBER:A QR code also may contain a phone number. When the code is read, the phone's dialer will open with the number filled in, but the QR code should not automatically place the call without asking permission. CONTACT INFORMATION:A QR code may be encoded with contact information, such as a mailing address, phone number, and email address. When read, the QR code will prompt the phone's contact manager to open, and will create a new entry with all of the data. SMS / MMS:A QR code may contain a mobile telephone number that is ready to receive a text or multimedia message. The QR code reader would prompt the phone to open the messaging client, and would open a new message that the user can compose and send.

8. APPLICATIONS OF QR CODESOriginally designed for industrial uses, QR codes have become common in consumer advertising. Typically, a smart phone is used as a QR-code scanner, displaying the code and converting it to some useful form (such as a standard URL for a website, thereby obviating the need for a user to type it manually into a web browser).In the shopping industry, knowing what causes the consumers to be motivated when approaching products by the use of QR codes, advertisers and marketers can use the behavior of scanning to get consumers to buy, causing it to have the best impact on ad and marketing design. As a result, the QR code has become a focus of advertising strategy, since it provides quick and effortless access to the brand's website. Beyond mere convenience to the consumer, the importance of this capability is that it increases the conversion rate (that is, increases the chance that contact with the advertisement will convert to a sale), by coaxing qualified prospects further down the conversion funnel without any delay or effort, bringing the viewer to the advertiser's site immediately, where a longer and more targeted sales pitch may continue.Although initially used to track parts in vehicle manufacturing, QR codes are now (as of 2012) used over a much wider range of applications, including commercial tracking, entertainment and transport ticketing, product/loyalty marketing (examples: mobile couponing where a company's discounted and percent discount can be captured using a QR code decoder which is a mobile app, or storing a company's information such as address and related information alongside its alpha-numeric text data as can be seen in Yellow Pages directory), and in-store product labeling. It can also be used in storing personal information for use by government. An example of this is Philippines National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) where NBI clearances now come with a QR code. Many of these applications target mobile-phone users (via mobile tagging). Users may receive text, add a vCard contact to their device, open a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), or compose an e-mail or text message after scanning QR codes. They can generate and print their own QR codes for others to scan and use by visiting one of several pay or free QR code-generating sites or apps. Google has a popular API to generate QR code and apps for scanning QR codes can be found on nearly all smart phone devices. QR codes storing addresses and Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) may appear in magazines, on signs, on buses, on business cards, or on almost any object about which users might need information. Users with a camera phone equipped with the correct reader application can scan the image of the QR code to display text, contact information, connect to a wireless network, or open a web page in the telephone's browser. This act of linking from physical world objects is termed object hyper linking. QR codes also may be linked to a location to track where a code has been scanned. Either the application that scans the QR code retrieves the geo information by using GPS and cell tower triangulation (aGPS) or the URL encoded in the QR code itself is associated with a location.

9. ADVANTAGES OF QR CODEThe main advantage of a QR code is its versatility. QR codes can be used for anything and everything. They are also beneficial for both customers and businesses. For example, a business saves money and advertising costs by distributing a QR code to their website or URL. A customer can scan this QR code and this allows them to store the information for future reference. Whats also greater about QR codes is that they bridge different forms of marketing streams together. For example ecommerce and mobile commerce are both used for QR codes. QR codes acts as the link and it also exposes customers to other forms of advertising the business or service of the QR code has done. This maximizes exposure and can potentially generate revenue.

10. DISADVANTAGESThe disadvantages and risks are as followsOne disadvantage of QR codes and perhaps the biggest problem is the lack of familiarity of the QR code among people. Although QR codes are popping up everywhere from on plant specimen labels to library catalogues, there is a large demographic in society that still dont know what QR codes represent. These proses a problem as companies and business are using the QR code to advertise information that a potential customer might be interested in, but if the customer doesnt know how to find the information, then they might not buy the product or service and this can lose business thousands of dollars. One way to counteract this disadvantage is product knowledge. Not only should businesses be using QR codes for its obvious benefits and advantages but they should also be directing customers on where and how to get the information. Another major disadvantage of a QR code is the codes dependability on a mobile device or smartphone. The whole concept of a QR code and its benefits are strictly based on its ability to be scanned by a mobile device. If a consumer does not have a mobile device or smartphone, then the QR code is not beneficial to them and they lose out.

11. RISKSThe disadvantages and risks are as followsMalicious QR codes combined with a permissive reader can put a computer's contents and user's privacy at risk. This practice is known as "attagging", a portmanteau of "attack tagging" They are easily created and can be affixed over legitimate QR codes. On a smart phone, the reader's permissions may allow use of the camera, full Internet access, read/write contact data, GPS, read browser history, read/write local storage, and global system changes. Risks include linking to dangerous web sites with browser exploits, enabling the microphone/camera/GPS, and then streaming those feeds to a remote server, analysis of sensitive data (passwords, files, contacts, transactions) and sending email/SMS/IM messages or DDOS packets as part of a botnet, corrupting privacy settings, stealing identity, and even containing malicious logic themselves such as JavaScript or a virus.

12. CONCLUSION & FUTURE SCOPEQR-Codes first hit mainstream when they were initially used for tracking parts by vehicle manufacturers. After a while, companies began to see a news scope for where QR-Codes could be used elsewhere within the world. The most commercial use for QR-Codes is in the telecommunications industry where the mobile phone seems to be the biggest driver of their popularity.Take a mobile phone such as the iPhone; nearly ever mobile phone has a digital camera in todays world. The camera, along with decoding software can be used to capture a picture of the QR-Code, of which the QR-Code software decoder can then transform the data held with the QR-Code to a meaningful action for the mobile phone: Connect to a web address Download a MP3 Dial a telephone number Prompt your email client with a sender addressThis can all be done within a matter of milliseconds making the transformation from a users mobile phone to the mobile web instantaneous. FUTURE SCOPEThis is an exciting and thrilling new way to share content digitally. QR stands for Quick Ready, and thats exactly what it does.These codes can be printed on anything, so you could use them on business cards with your contact information. QR codes are also handy for various branding purposes. They can be used to direct mobile phone users to special websites to download brand ads, ring tones, character logos, viral videos, branded flash games and more.Retailers print them on receipts. Event producers employ them to provide exhibit information. Doctor's offices and beauty salons use them to let people make appointments over their mobile phones. In other words, they're a great tool for marketers!Googles URL shortener will now create a QR code for you automatically. Just add a .qr to the end of your Google shortened URL and youll get a QR code you can embed, save or print and use anywhere.

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