Bar Code

ByVIKAS.T

1MS09MCA57

November 2010

M S Ramaiah Institute of Technology(Autonomous Institute Affiliated to VTU)

Bangalore – 54

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Department of Master of Computer Application

M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology(Autonomous Institute Affiliated to VTU)

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the Seminar entitled Bar-Code

has been presented by VIKAS.T in 3rd semester of the degree of

MCA –2010 Examination, under our supervision and guidance.

DR T.V.SURESH KUMAR

(PROFESSOR  &  HOD)

K.SAILAJA KUMAR (LECTURER)

NIRANJAN MURTHY(LECTURER)

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Date: 01 Dec 2010

Acknowledgement

It gives me immense pleasure to present my seminar on

‘Bar-code’.The able guidance of my teaching staff department made this

study possible. They have been a constant source of

encouragement throughout the completion of this seminar.

I would sincerely like to thank Mam. Silaja Kumar &

Sir.Niranjanmurthy for their help & support during the making

of this seminar report. This report would not have been

successful without the immense guidance from my guide & the

valuable time that they have spent with me during my report

development stages.

VIKAS.T

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1MS09MCA57

CONTENTS

1. Introduction.

2. First Commercial Use.

3. How does BC works?

4. Universal Product Code.

5. Anatomy of Bar Code.

6. Breaking the code.

7. Advantages.

8. Disadvantages.

9. Bar Code Scanner.

10. Types of Scanners

11. Applications.

12. Conclusion.

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Introduction.A bar code (also barcode) is an optical machine-readable

representation of data.

Bar codes represented data in the widths (lines) and the

spacings of parallel lines and may be referred to as linear or

1D (1 dimensional) barcodes or symbologies.

The first use of barcodes was to automate grocery checkout

systems, a task where they have become almost universal

today.

generically referred to as Auto ID Data Capture (AIDC).

Barcodes can be read by optical scanners called barcode

readers or scanned from an image by special software

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First Commercial Use

Bar coding was first used commercially in 1966, (but to

make the system acceptable to the industry as a whole

there would have to be some sort of industry standard).

By 1970, Logicon Inc. had developed the Universal Grocery

Products Identification Code (UGPIC).

The first company to produce barcode equipment for retail

trade using was the American company Monarch Making

(1970), and for industrial use, the British company Plessey

Telecommunications (1970).

In June of 1974, the first UPC scanner was installed at a

Marsh’s supermarket in Troy, Ohio.

June 16, 1974 – customer Clyde Dawson purchased the first

item to be scanned, 10 packs of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit Gum.

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How does a Barcode work?

Each character is represented by a pattern of wide and

narrow bars. A barcode reader uses a photo sensor to

convert the barcode into an electrical signal as it moves

across a barcode. The scanner then measures the relative

widths of the bars and spaces,

translates the different patterns back into regular

characters, and sends them on to a computer or portable

terminal.

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Universal Product Code (UPC)

UPC is a 12 digit, numeric symbology used in retail

applications. UPC symbols consist of 11 data digits and one

check digit. The first digit is a number system digit that

normally represents the type of product being identified.

The following 5 digits are a manufacturers code and the next

5 digits are used to identify a specific product.

UPC bar codes were originally created to help grocery stores

speed up the checkout process and keep better track of

inventory, but the system quickly spread to all other retail

products because it was so successful.

The machine-readable bar code

The human-readable 12-digit UPC number

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Breaking the code

Since the lines and spaces appear in four different widths,

we could use the words thin, medium, wide, and very wide

to represent them.

We can also use numbers, though, with 1 representing thin,

2 representing medium, 3 representing wide,

and 4 representing very wide. That plan allows us to

represent each number this way:

0 is formed by alternating bars and spaces of width 3-2-1-1

1 is formed by alternating bars and spaces of width 2-2-2-1

2 is formed by alternating bars and spaces of width 2-1-2-2

3 is formed by alternating bars and spaces of width 1-4-1-1

4 is formed by alternating bars and spaces of width 1-1-3-2

5 is formed by alternating bars and spaces of width 1-2-3-1

6 is formed by alternating bars and spaces of width 1-1-1-4

7 is formed by alternating bars and spaces of width 1-3-1-2

8 is formed by alternating bars and spaces of width 1-2-1-3

9 is formed by alternating bars and spaces of width 3-1-1-2

An end guard bar is formed by two bars and a space 1-1-1

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A middle guard bar is formed by two bars and three spaces

1-1-1-1-1

Putting it all together

Let's return to the padlock barcode, enlarged and detailed

here. Note that the barcode contains two sixes,

one on each side of the middle guard bars. As mentioned

above, you can see the difference in representation

of the same 1-1-1-4 code for a left-hand six, where the very

wide segment is a bar instead of a space,

and the right hand six, where the very wide segment is a

space rather than a bar. Yet you are looking at the

same number.

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Five advantages of BarcodesSpeed

• A bar code label of twelve characters can be wended in

approximately the time it takes a keyboard operator to

make two keystrokes.

Accuracy

• For every 1,000 characters typed by a keyboard operator,

there are an average of ten keying errors. For an Optical

Character Reader (OCR), there is one error in every 10,000

reads. With wands, barcode systems approach one error in

every 3,000,000 characters, and with laser technology, they

approach one error in 70 million entries.

Data Integrity

• Probable number of substitution errors per 3,400,000

characters

• Data Entry Method

Ease of Implementation

• Operators of bar code scanners can learn to use the

equipment effectively in less than 15 minutes. System costs

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are lower than other means of data entry because of the

existence of interfacing hardware and software. Barcode

labels can cost less than a penny apiece, are easily read by

thousands of commonly available devices, and can be

printed universally.

Cost Effectiveness

• Barcode systems have a demonstrated payback period of six

to eighteen months, and they provide the highest level of

reliability in a wide variety of data collection applications.

Barcode systems create value not only by saving time, but

also by preventing costly errors

Disadvantages of Bar CodesPricing Issues

Pricing discrepancies can result if store employees forget to

code in discount prices. Customers and clerks at the check-out

then have to deal with correcting the situation.

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Damaged Labels

Bar code readers cannot read labels that are wrinkled, dirty or

smudged.

Training

Another disadvantage when beginning to use bar codes is having to

train employees, which can be a significant issue if the business is large

Advantages of Bar-coding over RFIDCheaper Production

Bar codes are printed directly onto paper or plastic objects.

The only cost involved in producing a bar code is extra ink; this is

a negligible cost.

RFID technology requires the assembly and insertion of a

computerized chip, which is more costly.

Universal Technology

Bar codes are the norm for retail products across the world. Any

store with a bar code reader can

process product bar codes from anywhere else in the world. As of

2010, RFID technology still has two

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separate chips (read only and readable/writable), which cannot

be read by the same machine.

A product is in development that would make this possible, but it

is not yet available.

Fewer Restrictions

In RFID tests, it has been found that readers have a difficult time

passing through metal and liquid to

pick up the information. Bar codes function with the same

accuracy no matter what material they are placed

on

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Bar code scannersA device used to extract information optically from a Bar

Code

Bar Code symbol consists of series of vertical dark bars

separated by light spaces

When illuminated reflected light is detected by electro

optical sensor

The intensity of reflected light from the dark bars is less

than that of spaces

Reflected light is converted into electrical voltage signals

Analog voltages are digitized into raw data

The decoder converts this data into the character data

representation of the symbol’s code

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Bar code ApplicationINVENTORY CONTROL

Portable readers

WORK-IN PROCESS TRACKING (WIP) COMPANY INVENTORY

Raw materials

WIP (Components, Assemblies, Semi finished Products)

Finished Products

SHIPPING

ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI)

Direct communication between computers of two

companies (Manufacturer & Vendor)

Industry-wide EDI standards

Reduces cost and saves time of business transaction

RETAIL APPLICATIONS

Super markets

Counter-mounted Bar Code scanners

Universal Product Code (UPC)

Price and description information

HEALTH CARE APPLICATIONS

Drugs, devices, instruments

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Identification of expiry date

Blood banking

Blood group

Expiry date

Donor traceability

BAR CODE IN LIBRARIES

No queuing up at check out/check in counters

Avoids piling up of data entry work for counter staff

Stock verification made easy

Quick and error free entry of access and membership codes

Ensures total integrity of collected data

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Conclusion

Barcodes are an important tool that can improve

productivity, decrease costs, and improve accuracy.

The key is to apply them in the most advantageous

situation. Barcodes are not the answer to all your

Indexing problems but they can be an important

part of your overall capture strategy.