Technical Reports
HPL-2010-7
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Revenge of the Physical - Mobile Color Barcode Solutions to Security Challenges
Simske, Steven J; Aronoff, Jason S.; Sturgill, Margaret
HP Laboratories
HPL-2010-7
Keyword(s): Mobile commerce, payload density, forensics, spectral pre-compensation, authentication, restoration
Abstract: Ubiquitous access to relatively high quality imaging - from digital cameras and phone cameras - has changed the way in which consumers and retailers interact with their environment and products. Barcodes and other printed marks containing information can be used to link interested parties to virtually any information of interest, often by re-directing their internet- enabled device to the appropriate webpage. With proper access privileges, the camera user can obtain information related to product security - from track and trace to product provenance, authentication and forensics. In this paper, we address many of the variables which must be considered when optimizing printed marks for their use in mobile applications. These variables include the choice and the optimization of the colors, the choice of error- correcting and/or calibration codes, the authentication technique deployed, and the restoration approaches chosen. We show herein that the proper design of color-based barcodes results in more than a doubling of payload density over default conditions, and so provides a more effective security solution and, if desired, branding mark. The implications to mobile applications are also discussed.
14 Pages
Additional Publication Information: Published and presented at Optical Document Security 2010, San Francisco. January 20-22, 2010
External Posting Date: January 21, 2010 [Fulltext]. Approved for External Publication
Internal Posting Date: January 21, 2010 [Fulltext]