A SPARQCode is a matrix code (or two-dimensional

bar code A barcode or bar code is a method of representing data in a visual, Machine-readable data, machine-readable form. Initially, barcodes represented data by varying the widths, spacings and sizes of parallel lines. These barcodes, now commonly ref ...

)

encoding In communications and Data processing, information processing, code is a system of rules to convert information—such as a letter (alphabet), letter, word, sound, image, or gesture—into another form, sometimes data compression, shortened or ...

standard that is based on the physical QR Code definition created by Japanese corporation Denso-Wave.

Overview

The QR Code standard as defined by Denso-Wave in ISO/IEC 18004 covers the physical encoding method of a binary data stream. However, the Denso-Wave standard lacks an encoding standard for interpreting the data stream on the application layer for decoding URLs, phone numbers, and all other data types. NTT Docomo has established de facto standards for encoding some data types such as URLs, and contact information in Japan, but not all applications in other countries adhere to this convention as listed by the open-source project " zxing" for QR Code data types.

Encoding standards

The SPARQCode encoding standard specifies a convention for the following encoding data types. * E-mail address * Phone Number * SMS TEXT * MAP * URL * BIZCARD * MeCard *

vCard vCard, also known as VCF ("Virtual Contact File"), is a file format standard for electronic business cards. vCards can be attached to e-mail messages, sent via Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), on the World Wide Web, instant messaging, N ...

* BlackBerry PIN * Geographic information *

Google Play Google Play, also known as the Google Play Store, Play Store, or sometimes the Android Store (and was formerly Android Market), is a digital distribution service operated and developed by Google. It serves as the official app store for certifie ...

link * Wifi Network config for Android *

YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...

URI *

iCalendar The Internet Calendaring and Scheduling Core Object Specification (iCalendar) is a media type which allows users to store and exchange calendaring and scheduling information such as events, to-dos, journal entries, and free/busy information, ...

The SPARQCode convention also recommends but does not require the inclusion of visual pictograms to denote the type of encoded data.

License

The use of the SPARQCode is free of any license. The term ''SPARQCode'' itself is a

trademark A trademark (also written trade mark or trade-mark) is a form of intellectual property that consists of a word, phrase, symbol, design, or a combination that identifies a Good (economics and accounting), product or Service (economics), service f ...

of MSKYNET, but has chosen to open it to be royalty-free.

References

{{ISO standards Barcodes Encodings Automatic identification and data capture NTT Docomo