NUERA 2D Barcode and ID Registry Services from dPId, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

THE NU-ERA TECHNOLOGY SUITE - ENABLING COST-AFFORDABLE INDIVIDUAL IDENTIFICATION

NU-ERA - stands for:

Numerically
Unique
Encrypted
Redundant
Array

Introduction

The Purpose of NU-ERA

The purpose of Project NU-ERA is to make practical and cost-affordable, the individual identification of every entity (inanimate and animate) of interest within an organisation, no matter how trivial that entity might be.

Overview of Technology Suite

The aim of the NU-ERA technology suite is to assist, in every practical way, the use of this system of individual identification. The suite consists of the following "components":

the Number Registry,
the NU-ERA 2D Barcode,
the Reader,
the Laser Etcher,
the encryption/decryption hardware, and
a software comprised of a library of application software modules and useful utilities.

For a complete description of this technology suite, download the information paper.

The Unique Number Registry. At the core of this system of identification is a registry that issues to customers numbers which are encrypted and guaranteed to be unique. The registry operated by dPId is called "The Global ID Registry" or GIDR for short. Because the numbers in the GIDR are encrypted, it is possible for customers to verify that these numbers were, in fact, issued by dPId. In this manner, the provenance of numbers can be tracked. Other systems of individual ID do not provide this facility. Registry numbers are typically 128 bits when symmetric encryption is used or 256 bits when asymmetric encryption is used. The NU-ERA technology suite not only consists of this registry but also every other possible assistance to customers in order that they can effectively utilise the unique numbers to the benefit of their business. A demonstration system featuring the NU-ERA method of identification at the Defence National Supply and Distribution Centre (DNSDC) proved that dPId's method of individual identification required approximately 60% less effort than other systems of individual identification, such as "Global Standard One"(GS1). The method of ID also provided a more practical solution for situations where determining the manufacturer's part number or the NATO stock number was not cost-effective or feasible, as is often the case in the military or small business.

Figure 1. 2D Barcodes capable of displaying GIDR Numbers	In fact, this system of individual identification can be applied using numbers of any suitable length. In most cases, the numbers are represented by either a 2D Bar Code (such as the ones shown opposite) or a very simple, low-cost Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Device operating in any frequency range both for powering (in the case of passive devices) and transmission. Numbers are made up of a "payload" and validation bits of various natures to ensure the number has been read correctly. The supply of unique numbers from the dPId registry is effectively inexhaustible. The 128 bit NU-ERA number has a 96 bit payload giving it a numerical range of 0 to 7.922816251×10²⁸. This means it is possible to issue, say, 7,922,816,251,000,000 numbers per year for 10,000 billion years before the source of unique numbers would be exhausted.
Novel High Reliability Dot Matrix 2D Barcode. As a part of this suite, dPId invented a new type of two dimensional (2D) barcode (from which the name "NU-ERA" is partially based). This 2D barcode is deliberately designed to only consist of an array of dots.(See Fig 1 above) This then allows the use of crude (and hence low-cost), printing, peening or laser etching devices to create the barcode. In the case of peening and etching, it is possible to quickly and indelibly mark any object rather than having to resort to labels and tags. This reduces the cost of using the barcodes and is ideally suited to volume production-line systems. It should be noted, however, that it is possible to use any commonly available 2D barcode, such as DataMatrix, QR Code or PDF417 (as shown in Figure1) to represent a NU-ERA unique number.
Figure 2. Conventional DataMatrix and DataMatrix displayed as dots	Users are not locked into the dPId barcode but it does have its advantages; the main ones being the ease with which it can be printed or etched and its superior resistance to dirt and damage. Besides being cheap to produce and quick to read, the NU-ERA 2D barcode's focus was also on being highly resistant to dirt and damage; more so than, for example, DataMatrix which also can be displayed as a series of dots (See Figure 2.) If you go to the i-nigma site you can download software that will read DataMatrix using an Android phone. If you have this application or something similar loaded on your phone, you will be able to read the barcodes opposite. To achieve the highest possible level of reliability under adverse conditions, the NU-ERA barcode uses a large number of bits to display its number The repetitive nature of the pattern presented by the barcode also facilitates its location by the reader in its field of view.

Field Trials and Demonstrators. dPId provided services to BAE Systems Australia to develop a "demonstrator" item tracking system at the Defence National Supply and Distribution Centre, Moorebank. Because the NU-ERA reader and related technology were not yet sufficiently developed to employ, DataMatrix codes were used in lieu of NU-ERA 2D Bar Codes along with a PSION barcode reader. The demonstrator system did, however, utilise unique numbers drawn from the dPId registry. In doing this it was found that the NU-ERA method of individually identifying items involved around 60% less effort than that which would have been expended had the GS1 system of individual identification been used instead. The reason for this lies in the method used by GS1 to create and then allocate its unique numbers to items in an inventory. GS1 creates a unique ID by appending to a NATO Stock Number (NSN) or a manufacturer's part number a serial number drawn from any one of a number of registries. (This results in a variable length string of characters which can't be used as the primary key in a database; resulting in severely degraded database performance when compared to the fixed length NU-ERA unique ID.) When using the GS1 system one must pre-print labels and tags and then locate the item to which the tag is to be attached. With the NU-ERA system, the item is simply allocated the next unique number off the pile and this number is then associated with the item's record in the inventory database; a much simpler, quicker operation.

The Background to the NU-ERA Technology Suite

Inventors

Kevin Loughrey conceived this technology in collaboration with Ivan Curtis of Keyworks in Adelaide and another engineer, Mick Evans, in the UK.

Investors.

A group of investors in Sydney then provided funds for the development of a prototype reader and the commercialisation of this technology. dPId Pty Ltd was formed for this purpose.

How it Happened

In late 2005, Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Loughrey was recalled into military service as the Maintenance Approval and Design Acceptance Authority for Land Command, a formation that comprehended 85% of the Australian Army's assets; including those involved in operations around the world.
This appointment required he become qualified as a lead auditor through the auspices of SAI Global in order that he could perform technical audits on military units. Because the appointment had been unoccupied for some period of time there were a large number of units to be audited.
During the course of these audits, he became aware of how little support military units had, in the form of computer systems and automatic data capture technology, to perform the mandatory checks required by regulations. Many of these activities involved such things as spotchecks and stocktakes to ensure equipment was available and ready for use. Data collection was a problem in that clerical manpower had been stripped from units in anticipation the centralised stores system, SDSS would significantly improve the productivity of units. This it did not.

The evolution of this idea was driven by a number of "imperatives". These were the creation of an inexhaustible source of unique numbers and a supporting symbology that would have the following characteristics:

Represent a 128 bit binary number of which 96 bits would be the "payload". 96 bits of data provides a number range from 0 to 79,228,162,514,264,337,593,543,950,336. In other words, it would be possible to issue from the dPId registry one million, billion unique numbers per annum for approximately 79,228,162,514,264 years (~79 thousand billion years). Provided these numbers were efficiently allocated, this range provides for an inexhaustible supply of unique numbers.
Be novel such that it could be patented. This would allow the enforcement of a licence condition that the NU-ERA barcode may only be used when representing numbers drawn from the dPId unique number registry.
Be highly resistant to dirt and damage. This was achieved through large-scale redundancy. The redundant pattern also facilitated the identification of a barcode in the field of view of an image sensor by the image processing circuitry.
Provide a barcode with a low probability of erroneous read. This would be achieved through using a 32 bit error code.
Consist only of dots. Being so it could be printed or etched using inexpensive equipment. Having only dots is particularly suited to engraving items with the barcode using a simplified laser etching system.

The Registry

Purpose of Registry. The registry provides the means for the orderly issue of unique numbers to client-systems.

Method of Operation. The design, construction and operation of the registry is novel. Patents have been applied for. The numbers in the registry based on 128 bits range from 0 to 79,228,162,514,264,337,593,543,950,336 . Unlike other systems of allocation, such as GS1, the dPId system does not segment the number range into hierarchies, groups or categories. Doing so invariably results in largescale wastage of numbers in the range. Instead, the dPId number is simply used to access a record within a computer system and that record then provides access to any amount of information on the entity being identified.

Figure 3. Example of number allocations from NU-ERA Registry

Allocation of Numbers. Users of the dPId registry may have as many different systems as they wish. These individual systems are referred to as being "client-systems". The number allocation for a client-system begins from the middle of the largest available remaining space in the registry. If a client-system requires more numbers at a later date, these are provided from the point where the last number allocated to that client-system was made. In this manner:

All numbers allocated to a client-system are serial sequential as shown in Figure 3 opposite.
The first number of the first allocation to a client-system is the number by which that particular client-system is henceforth identified.
Administration of the allocation of numbers from the registry for all client-systems is greatly simplified because one only needs to record, for any client system, the first and the last number allocated to any particular client-system.

Universality. This system of unique item identification can co-exist with any other system of generic or individual identification, such as GS1, manufacturer's parts numbers, transport tracking numbers or wholesale product numbers. It points to a computer record and from this record any amount of information about that entity may be obtained.
Efficiency. Unlike other systems of unique item identification, such as GS1, this system has been found, in the field during trials, to require around 60% less labour than, say GS1, to label or tag items for the purposes of identification. This is because the tag or label does not have to be matched up to a specific item. Instead, the item is tagged or labelled with any number and then, using a hand-held reader, the number is associated with the entity when its displayed on a list within the database.

2 Dimensional Bar Code

Figure 4. Example of a NU-ERA 2D Bar Code

Purpose of Novel Bar Code Symbology. The Bar Code Symbology, displayed in Figure 4, was developed to:

Be novel such that it could be patented. This would allow the enforcement of a licence condition that the NU-ERA barcode may only be used when representing numbers drawn from the dPId unique number registry.
Represent a 128 bit binary number of which 96 bits would be the "payload". 96 bits of data provides a number range from 0 to 79,228,162,514,264,337,593,543,950,336. In other words, it would be possible to issue from the dPId registry one million, billion unique numbers per annum for approximately 79,228,162,514,264 years (~79 thousand billion years). Provided these numbers were efficiently allocated, this range provides for an inexhaustible supply of unique numbers.
Be highly resistant to dirt and damage. This was achieved through large-scale redundancy. The redundant pattern also facilitated the identification of a barcode in the field of view of an image sensor by the image processing circuitry.
Provide a barcode with a low probability of erroneous read. This would be achieved through using a 32 bit error code.
Consist only of dots. Being so it could be printed or etched using inexpensive equipment. Having only dots is particularly suited to engraving items with the barcode using a simplified laser etching system.

Example of a Readable NU-ERA Tag that is Damaged

Figure 5. Damaged yet readable NU-ERA Bar Code

Figure 5 provides an example of the robustness of the NU-ERA Bar Code. This robustness is achieved through the use of largescale redundancy, error detection (to determine if one of the arrays actually yields a valid value) and the processor "overlaying" arrays to determine the strongest summated signal from any "dot" making up each of the overlapped arrays. Other systems such as Reed-Solomon encoding could be used for this purpose and may indeed be a more efficient use of dots but the redundancy also serves a another function and that is to assist the image processor speedily find a barcode pattern in the field of view of the image sensor.

For more detailed information on the NU-ERA technology suite, please click here to download the dPId information paper.

The Reader (Under development - Successful working model has proved concept)
Figure 6. Block diagram of reader.	Block Diagram. Figure 6 provides a representation of a block diagram of the reader. The optics, processor, memory and communications means can be provided by any common barcode reader or mobile phone. The "heart" of the reader is the image processing chip. Components that Comprise the Reader. The reader consists of the following: Optics. The reader auto-focuses onto an object or objects placed in front of it. In actuality, the reader's focus oscillates back and forth around the point the distance measuring device has just to be the median distance. The Optics have the largest possible depth of view with a zoom capability. Image Sensor. The image sensor captures the field of view at 200 frames per second to a common CCD resolution, for example, 648x480, 800x600 or 1024x768 pixels. Image Processor. The image processor: detects the likelihood of a NU-ERA barcode pattern in the field of view; determines the boundaries of the barcode and "straightens" it up so that it is rectangular and of the correct proportions; reads the value of the arrays that comprise the barcode; decrypts the values and, through the execution of a number of algorithms, tries to determine if the number derived is valid; and if valid, passes the calculated value on to the reader's computer for further processing as an application running on the computer requires.
Figure 7. Prototype Reader Prototype Reader. A proto-type reader, Figure 7, centred around a Field Programmable Gate Array, has been developed for the purposes of demonstrating the technological feasibility of performing the above functions. This has proven successful and so removed all technical risk from this project.
More Detail. For more detail download the NU-ERA System Information Paper.

The Laser Etcher

Purpose of the Laser Etcher. The laser etcher enables the NU-ERA barcode to be engraved onto the surface of any "hard" object. This eliminates the need for tags and labels and, combined with the robust nature of the barcode, provides a level of surety the barcode will survive for the life of the article.

Figure 8. Handheld Laser Etcher

Figure 9. DataMatrix Comprised of Dots

Overview of the Laser Etcher. At the time of writing, there are available a number of portable laser etching systems capable of etching glass, plastic, metal, wood and paper. These systems, as depicted in Figure 8, suffer the drawback of being heavy and expensive (circa US$70,000). Importantly, though, for large companies and organisations such as Defence, these systems are practical. Tests using this system show that it is possible to create a NU-ERA or DataMatrix barcode comprised of dots (per Figure 9) on metal, plastic and wood in around 1/100th of a second. (To etch glass it is best to use a CO2 Laser.)

Future Development. For the laser etcher system to be useful in enabling NU-ERA technology to be pervasive, the laser etcher has to be lightweight, and hence easily portable, and it must be affordable by small business. The NU-ERA barcode is deliberately comprised of only dots spaced at a set interval. Much of the expense in the present-day laser etching systems lies in the fact they are designed to etch complex patterns and shapes. The design of the NU-ERA barcode makes possible the construction of a laser head consisting only of hi-intensity laser sources set at a fixed distance apart. This head can either move, just like a printer head in a dot matrix printer, or can have sufficient sources such that it can, in one pulse, create all of the dots necessary to create a NU-ERA barcode (potentially 1620 dots in total).

Purpose of the Software Application Modules and Utilities.

dPId's Commercial Model. The commercial model of dPId is to provide services to industry, not to sell products, except where those products are an integral part of service provision. In line with this, it is intended that dPId provides every possible assistance to assist clients use their technology and gain maximum benefit from it.

Overview of Software Modules. dPId, A Perfect PC and NVTech are all supporters of Open Source Software, seeing it as a means by which by which it is possible, in a cost affordable way, to accelerate the development of less fortunate countries. It also holds a number of benefits for advanced economies in that it facilitates the sharing of knowledge and therefore the advancement of science and society to the benefit of all. The software modules that are used by dPId for its customers are largely drawn from Open Source Community. The preferred operating system is Linux (at present the Ubuntu distribution) and the preferred programming language is Java or Python. (Even this web-page has been created using a variety of Open Source HTML Editors!)

Creating Bar Codes for Printing. In order for clients to use NU-ERA numbers drawn from the registry, it is necessary there be available to them modules that enable them to easily produce files, in PDF file format, the contents of which can then be printed or etched. NU-ERA registry numbers do not have to represented in only a NU-ERA barcode. Because the barcode reader technology is not yet mature and commercialised, for field trials to determine the benefit of using NU-ERA method of individual ID, DataMatrix barcodes were used to represent these numbers. This necessitated the creation of software capable of printing DataMatrix barcodes from NU-ERA numbers.

CAFE. CAFE stands for Common Application Front End. To learn more about CAFE, click here. CAFE not only provides a standard for input forms comprising the front end of a database but also consists of a library of software classes to assist programmers to quickly create CAFE-compliant forms. As such CAFE provides a valuable enabler for potential users of NU-ERA's technology suite.