Looking for documentation about custom readable codes - qr-code

Do any of you know what to call these codes? My best guess is custom QR codes. Facebook (messenger) and Snapchat has their own QR codes and I want to look into how to create these - well my own of course!
Does anyone here have anything I could research? A mane? Some documentation or just something?
Have a wonderful day!

Those QR codes are either using the "Frame QR" format or taking advantage the error correction bits to recover the damage done by placing a logo in the middle of the barcode. QR codes have 4 levels of error correction that can be added to the code to allow a partially damaged barcode to still be readable.
For more information: https://www.qrcode.com/en/codes/

Related

Functionality in QR code without a web server

The context of this problem is weird (a magic trick that occurred to me), so I will skip that explanation and go straight to the point.
What I want: a set of QR codes (it can be just 1, or 2 different ones, either way will work for me). These QR codes may be scanned with a regular smartphone QR scanner to show some kind of text. My initial idea was a simple HTML page with the message in plain text. The difficult part is this:
Whenever someone scans the QR for the first time, certain message is show. But the second time, another message is shown. If it's just one QR code, I would like it to follow that sequence (alternating between the two messages). If there are 2 QR codes, I would want the first one scanned to display the first message (always) and the second one scanned to show the second one (always); the first scanned QR would determine which message will be shown in each one. The scan of one QR by one cell should not affect the scan of another phone (their functionality flow is independent).
I got some limitations though:
It must work just with the QR scanner a regular Android smartphone has (don't want the person installing any app).
I would like avoiding having to pay a server to store a page that has the functionality. The ideal scenery is the QR behaving like this by itself (maybe containing the proper script inside the QR).
I know how to generate QR codes and how to store HTML code in them using data:text/html protocol. My problem is the design of this functionality. Is there a way I can embed that functionality into a QR code (or two) without it being an URL to a web that stores the functionality? If not, which is the easiest way to achieve this?
Any help will be appreciated, thanks in advance.

Xamarin scanner for small Barcodes / QRCodes

I am working on a Xamarin QRCode scanner prototype and the aim is to make the App being able to scan QR codes as small as 1.8/1.8 mm. I have tried the GoogleVision and also the ZXing. The GoogleVision is able to scan them but it is not convenient at all since it hardly depends on the Camera quality, position, illumination, and stability. Also tried Camera / Image Scannig to take a picture while the user is able to zoom on the QR code, still so hard to do that for a user (it cannot detect the QR code 9 out of 10).
TBH, I have searched a lot and manipulated these libraries and couldn't get it to work. On the other hand, there are Apps on the market that they can simply scan these small QR codes. (which I believe they are not based on Xamarin) I have noticed some of them are using ZXing but I couldn't find any useful information on how they are managing these small QR Codes! So my question is:
Is it possible to use Xamarin and ZXing or GoogleVision for this matter? If yes, any further information would be hugely appreciated.
Is there any library that can handle these small QR codes (Commercial or non-commercial)?
Thank you in advance.
Cheers 🤘

Damaging QR Codes to Create Circles: Are Corners Necessary?

I am trying to create a circular QR Code. I understand that the typical circular codes require customer readers (Facebook, Kik, TikTok, ShotCode, etc.), but I would like this code to be able to be read by standard devices (ex.: the built-in reader in iOS devices).
I have looked at a stack of reference materials, including:
How can I generate a circular qr-code like a messenger or a kik code?
Generate circular qr-code like a messenger or a kik code using Python
Generate QR codes missing the corner
I've also dug into the (really in-depth) tutorial at thonky.com, and tried to create my own:
From what I can tell, I've kept the finder patterns, the alignment pattern, the timing patterns, the separators, and the dark module intact (see details here). But still no love when I try to read it.
Admittedly, I've taken an existing code (it contains the URL 'https://www.stackoverflow.com') and just chopped off the corners to make it fit. So my assumption is that I've damaged the code enough that the error correction isn't working.
But, would this work at all anyway? If I figured out how to encode it correctly, would it work without the corners? Or is this a useless endeavor to start with?
There is a basic structure for QR codes with specific elements that take part in the decoding process. Some of them are the alignment, the timing pattern, and the finder pattern. One of the elements which seems to be missing is the quiet zone. It's used to separate the code from other objects and surrounds all the data including structuring elements in the code. Have a look on the outer side of codes here and notice the difference. Also, if you look at the points that represent your data cells, some of them partially exist. In other words, some half and quarter circles exist and others are unknown behind the outer frame of your code design. How would it be figured out if it's black or white to be used for decoding? This is the problem. Please check this image to see how data look missing when you crop it with the circle.
Also, if you use any regular QR coder reading application, you will notice that circular QR codes require custom readers. So, the answer to your question is yes. The corners are necessary if you don't use a custom reader and if data exists on them.
If you are interested in academic research details, see this. I hope my answer helps you. :)

How to generate an 11x11 QR-Code

Does anyone know how to generate an 11x11 module QR-code? Alternatively, it could also be a 13x13 code, but preferably 11x11.
I know the codes exist, but I can't figure out how to go about generating my own.
The code doesn't have to store much information. It would be nice with a tiny image, but it wouldn't need more than a simple text message.
I have used online code generators in the past, but most of them requires a paid subscription to customize and make codes, and as my project isn't sponsored, I don't have the budget to pay for the code.
Thanks in advance for all answers

What is the spec for formatting data in QR codes? I can not find it anywhere

I'm specifically asking if, and what, is the specification for formatting the text inside a QR code - not how to generate a code (which I can do).
I need to put hCard data into a QR code, however I don't know how to mark the QR code as VCF data (versus URL, text, etc) so the decoder knows what to do.
All the info I've seen online has to do with generating the QR code, not formatting the data inside.
There is no official specification for this -- the QR code spec does not say anything about the contents. Everything I know about the commonly-used and de facto formats and conventions is summarized in this wiki:
https://github.com/zxing/zxing/wiki/Barcode-Contents
Who says you have to pay for this info? just go to this page http://qrcodenet.codeplex.com/ and scroll to the bottom REFERENCES section and you should find a free download like tited 4. ISO/IEC 18004:2006(E) - QR code specification ISOIEC 18004_2006Cor 1_2009.pdf
See http://www.onbarcode.com/qr_code/ for helpful info - both about encoding and generating, and several libraries to use as well.
See http://www.denso-wave.com/qrcode/qrstandard-e.html
and http://www.denso-wave.com/qrcode/aboutqr-e.html
QR Code is a kind of 2-D
(two-dimensional) symbology developed
by Denso Wave (a division of Denso
Corporation at the time) and released
in 1994 with the primary aim of being
a symbol that is easily interpreted by
scanner equipment.
...
QR Code is open in the sense that the
specification of QR Code is disclosed
and that the patent right owned by
Denso Wave is not exercised.
from http://www.denso-wave.com/qrcode/qrstandard-e.html:
QR Code is established as an ISO (ISO/IEC18004) standard. QR Code
specification can, therefore, be purchased from this organization.
Please seach by inputting ISO No.18004 to "Search
and ISO Catalogue".
http://www.iso.ch/iso/en/prods-services/ISOstore/store.html
The official spec is available here from iso.org, but you have to pay for it.
In the past I have found information at http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/service/imode/make/content/barcode/function/, a page which I can not trace (easily?) anymore.

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