PDF417 portable data files a new dimension in barcodes

Outlines research work based on the application of coding theory and information theory to barcode systems design, with the aim of developing a replacement for traditional linear barcodes. The coding device needs to be cheap to print and easy to read but also have the ability to store and retrieve a complete transaction file. The result of this work was PDF417, a symbol which can contain over a kilobyte of binary data or almost 2,000 alphanumeric characters. Describes the key features of PDF417 and gives examples of applications in the automotive industry, supply chain communications and military ID card systems. Concludes that PDF417 Portable Data File technology opens the door to a wide range of important new application opportunities, sometimes complimenting and other times replacing the traditional linear barcodes.