Definitions

 

A

B

Basic Channel Model:

A standard system for encoding and transmitting bar code data where data message bytes are output from the decoder but no control information about the message is transmitted..  A decoder, complying to this model, operates in Basic Channel Mode

C

Cluster:

One of three subsets of ‘PDF417' symbol characters, all of which are mutually exclusive.  The symbol characters in a given cluster conform to particular structural rules which are used in decoding the symbology.

Codeword:

A single group of bars and spaces (or "elements") representing one or more numbers, letters, or other symbols (i.e., codeword values for the data to be encoded). Each PDF417 codeword contains four bars and four spaces, for a total of 17 module widths. Each codeword starts with a bar and ends with a space.

Compaction Mode:

The name given to one of three data compaction algorithms in ‘PDF417': Text, Numeric and Byte Compaction modes.  These modes efficiently map 8-bit data bytes into ‘PDF417' codewords.

D

E

Error Correction:

Mathematical calculations used to reconstruct undecoded or corrupted portions of a PDF417 symbol.

Error Correction Codeword:

A codeword in a symbol which encodes a value derived from the error correction codeword algorithm to enable decode errors to be detected and, depending on the error correction level, to be corrected.

Extended Channel Interpretation:

A procedure within some symbologies, including ‘PDF417', to replace the default interpretation with another interpretation in a reliable manner.  The interpretation intended prior to producing the symbol can be retrieved after decoding the scanned symbol to recreate the data message in its original format.

Extended Channel Model:

A system for encoding and transmitting both data message bytes and control information about the message.  A decoder, complying to this model, operates in Extended Channel Mode.  The control information is communicated using Extended Channel Interpretation (ECI) escape sequences.

F

Function Codeword:

A codeword in a symbology which initiates a particular operation within the symbology, for example to switch between data encoding sets, to invoke a compaction scheme, to program the reader, to invoke Extended Channel Interpretations.

G

Global Label Identifier:

A procedure in the ‘PDF417' symbology, which behaves in a similar manner to Extended Channel Interpretation.  The GLI system was the symbology-dependent precursor to the symbology-independent ECI system.

H

I

J

K

L

Latch Character:

A latch character causes a mode switch to another mode. That mode stays active until another latch or shift character occurs and activates a new mode.

M

Macro ‘PDF417':

A procedure within the ‘PDF417' symbology to logically distribute data from a computer file across a number of related ‘PDF417' symbols.  The procedure considerably extends the data capacity beyond that of a single symbol.

Micro PDF417:

 

Modes:

Compaction schemes used to reduce the overall size of the PDF417 symbol.

Mode Latch Codeword:

A codeword in ‘PDF417' which is used to switch from one mode to another mode, which stays in effect until another latch or shift codeword is implicitly or explicitly brought into use, or until the end of the label is reached.

Mode Shift Codeword:

A codeword in ‘PDF417' that is used to switch from one mode to another for only one codeword.

Module:

The nominal unit of measure that is the narrowest width of a bar or space in a bar code. In a PDF417 bar code, all bars or spaces are multiples (up to six times) of this width.

N

O

P

Q

R

Row:

A lateral set of elements made up of a start pattern, codewords, and a stop pattern. Each PDF417 symbol must have at least 3 rows. In each row, between left and right row indicators, there may be from 1 to 30 data codewords. Collectively, among all rows, these codewords form data columns.

Row Indicator Codeword:

A ‘PDF417' codeword adjacent to the start or stop character in a row, which encodes information about the structure of the ‘PDF417' symbol in terms of the row identification, total number of rows and columns, and the error correction level.

S

Security Level:

The level of error correction used in the PDF417 symbol.

Shift Character

A shift character causes a mode switch for only one character or codeword, returning immediately afterward to the previous mode.

Start pattern:

A unique pattern of light and dark elements that indicates the leftmost part of a bar code label.

Stop pattern:

A unique pattern of light and dark elements that indicates the rightmost part of a bar code label.

Symbol Aspect Ratio:

The ratio of the height and width of a PDF417 symbol.

Symbol Length Descriptor:

The codeword in a ‘PDF417' symbol that encodes the total number of data codewords in the symbol.  The symbol length descriptor is always the first codeword in a ‘PDF417' symbol.

T

U

V

W

X

X-dimension:

The width of the narrowest bar or space in a bar code symbol.

X-sequence:

The sequence that represents the module widths of the elements of a symbol character.

Y

Y-dimension:

The height of a row in PDF417.