SPARQCode

A SPARQCode is a matrix code (or two-dimensional bar code) encoding standard that is based on the physical QR Code definition created by Japanese corporation Denso-Wave.

Contents

Overview

The QR Code standard as defined by Denso-Wave in ISO/IEC 18004 covers the physical encoding method of a binary data stream.[1] 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.[2]

Encoding standards

The SPARQCode encoding standard specifies a convention for the following encoding data types.

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 of MSKYNET, but has chosen to open it to be royalty-free.[3]

Uses

SPARQCodes are used in the travel industry[4], CRM Applications(Salesforce.com)[5], Art Sales[6], and marketing. A recent trend in SPARQCode usage growth is for mobile app downloads. Message group users and bloggers are embedding SPARQCodes directly in to their message posts for streamlining mobile app downloads.[7]

References

External links