JAB code

The text "Wikipedia" in JAB code with 8 colors

The JAB code ( J ust A nother B ar Code) is a further development of the two-dimensional barcodes or QR codes , which uses colored pixels in particular to achieve a higher data density.

background

The JAB code is a 2D code that has a higher data density than the black and white codes. This barcode was developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology (SIT) in Darmstadt as a contract development for the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). The use of the codes is intended to increase the security against forgery of documents that do not contain electronics, such as birth certificates and other official certificates. The additional security arises from the fact that the digital signature of the content is also printed as a JAB code on the document. The code can be applied to the documents with commercially available printers and checked with any smartphone. In addition, unlike "normal" QR codes, it is not restricted to rectangular or square shapes. The codes can be generated and read out on a website.

A next goal is to implement the JAB process with gray levels so that it can be used in industry together with monochrome cameras.

standardization

The JAB code is currently being standardized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The responsible committee is ISO / IEC JTC 1 / SC31 / WG 1, whereby the JAB code is listed there with the identifier NP23634.

An official open source implementation of the process is available, licensed under the LGPL v2.1.

The code is on the BSI document BSI TR-03137 Optically Verifiable Cryptographic Protection of non-electronic documents (Digital Seal) Part 2 defines

technology

This article as a JAB with 8 colors, minimum size, as of November 28, 2018 at 12:23:51 pm, oldid = 183152351

This article as JAB with 256 colors, minimum size, as of November 28, 2018 at 12:23:51 pm, oldid = 183152351

Basically it is a normal 2D barcode, but the individual fields are not black and white. At the moment, when using 8 colors with conventional smartphones, three times the information density can be achieved. This can be increased significantly with the use of higher quality cameras.

There are 2 types of JAB codes, called primary and secondary symbols. A JAB code always consists of a primary and any number of (also 0) secondary symbols. In a primary symbol there is a pattern in each corner that defines a clear assignment and orientation. These patterns differentiate between the primary and secondary symbols; these patterns do not exist for the secondary symbols. Secondary symbols can be attached horizontally and vertically at any position to a primary symbol without any spacing. The strength of the error correction can be selected by the creator.