How UPC Bar Codes Work

[Google]

Have you ever wondered where these codes come from and what they mean? In this article, we will solve this mystery so that you can decode any UPC code you come across.

"UPC" stands for Universal Product Code. UPC bar codes were originally created to help grocery stores speed up the checkout process and keep better track of inventory, but the system quickly spread to all other retail products because it was so successful.

UPCs originate with a company called the Uniform Code Council (UCC). A manufacturer applies to the UCC for permission to enter the UPC system. The manufacturer pays an annual fee for the privilege. In return, the UCC issues the manufacturer a six-digit manufacturer identification number and provides guidelines on how to use it. You can see the manufacturer identification number in any standard 12-digit UPC code. The UPC symbol has two parts:

• The machine-readable bar code
• The human-readable 12-digit UPC number

The manufacturer identification number is the first six digits of the UPC number -- 639382 in the image above. The next five digits -- 00039 -- are the item number. A person employed by the manufacturer, called the UPC coordinator, is responsible for assigning item numbers to products, making sure the same code is not used on more than one product, retiring codes as products are removed from the product line, etc.

In general, every item the manufacturer sells, as well as every size package and every repackaging of the item, needs a different item code. So a 12-ounce can of Coke needs a different item number than a 16-ounce bottle of Coke, as does a 6-pack of 12-ounce cans, a 12-pack, a 24-can case, and so on. It is the job of the UPC coordinator to keep all of these numbers straight!


The last digit of the UPC code is called a check digit. This digit lets the scanner determine if it scanned the number correctly or not. Here is how the check digit is calculated for the other 11 digits, using the code 63938200039 from "The Teenager's Guide to the Real World" example shown above:

1. Add together the value of all of the digits in odd positions (digits 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11).
   6 + 9 + 8 + 0 + 0 + 9 = 32
2. Multiply that number by 3.
   32 * 3 = 96
3. Add together the value of all of the digits in even positions (digits 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10).
   3 + 3 + 2 + 0 + 3 = 11
4. Add this sum to the value in step 2.
   96 + 11 = 107
5. Take the number in Step 4. To create the check digit, determine the number that, when added to the number in step 4, is a multiple of 10.
   107 + 3 = 110 The check digit is therefore 3.

Each time the scanner scans an item, it performs this calculation. If the check digit it calculates is different from the check digit it reads, the scanner knows that something went wrong and the item needs to be rescanned.

[Neoxter]

i have a nokia E66, it has bar code scanner in it, it cant read bar codes such as the one above which is the most common on products.After googling found that it reads this :



any explanations?

[Kingroudy]

a black dot means 1, and a white dot means 0.
you take each 8 bits and convert them to ascii.

[Google]

This is called "QR Code". It is used for business cards.
Here is a link of a QR code generator so you can generate codes, print them and test your nokia code scanner...

If you have a Nokia N82, N93, N93i, N95, N95 8GB, E66, E71, E90 or 6220 Classic (APAC variants) you will find the Nokia Barcode Reader pre-installed on your device, ready to scan mobile codes around you. For Nokia N78, 6210 Navigator, N96 and 6220 Classic (non-APAC variants) you can download the application via the following link: Nokia Barcode Reader. Download to a computer and transfer it to your mobile device.

You can also install the Nokia barcode reader onto Nokia N80. Simply, download the application onto your computer for free and transfer it to your device using Nokia PC Suite. For more information visit the Nokia N80 Support pages. Additionally, you can use the Download! application on your Nokia N80 to get the Nokia barcode reader straight to your device. The Download! application, however, is only available through certain operators and you should keep in mind charges for data transfers.

Note about Business card support. The following Nokia devices support decoding of Business card information: Nokia E66, E71, N78, 6210 Navigator, 6220 Classic and N96. For other Nokia devices please install one of the other code readers listed below.


Get other code readers for camera phones:
Don’t give up even if your device does not support the Nokia barcode reader. Here you will find four alternative code readers for download that work with a number of Nokia devices.

All of the following applications support the web address data type used by our mobile code generator; compatibility with the other data types we support (phone number and text/email address) will vary. Check the application provider's website for the data types and codes supported by the specific reader. Or find out for yourself by testing them out. New features and new phone models are constantly being added.

I-nigma reader, by 3GVision
Install via mobile browser: http://www.i-nigma.mobi
or download to a computer and transfer it to your mobile device from
www.i-nigma.com

NeoReader, by NeoMedia Technologies / Gavitec AG - mobile digit
Install via mobile browser: http://get.neoreader.com

UpCode reader, by UPC
Install via mobile browser: http://www.upcode.fi
or download to a computer and transfer it to your mobile device from
www.upc.fi/en/upcode/instructions/download

Semacode reader, by Semacode
Install via mobile browser: http://semacode.org/ota
or download to a computer and transfer it to your mobile device from
semacode.org/software/

QuickMark reader
Download to a computer and transfer it to your mobile device from
www.quickmark.com.tw/En/basic/index.asp

See this for more information!

[Google]

Originally Posted by Kingroudy

a black dot means 1, and a white dot means 0.
you take each 8 bits and convert them to ascii.

In fact, black is 0 and white is 1 ...
But anyways, this is not how we decode it...

By the way, let's make a competition in here!
How about decoding the Barcode placed on your Lebanese identity!
Come on guys, show the others that we're not just VCODERZ we're DECODERZ!

[Tawa]

Originally Posted by Neoxter

i have a nokia E66, it has bar code scanner in it, it cant read bar codes such as the one above which is the most common on products.

This Reminds Me Of This Thread
http://www.vcoderz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11951

[Google]

Originally Posted by Tawa

This Reminds Me Of This Thread
http://www.vcoderz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11951

W wa2ta only you voted in the poll

[Neoxter]

are there any mobile readers for this type ?



cuz its the most commonly used in product,for example if i was in a supermarket i can scan the code and know the price

[Google]

Originally Posted by Neoxter

are there any mobile readers for this type ?



cuz its the most commonly used in product,for example if i was in a supermarket i can scan the code and know the price

UpCode reader, by UPC
Install via mobile browser: http://www.upcode.fi
or download to a computer and transfer it to your mobile device from
www.upc.fi/en/upcode/instructions/download

[Tawa]

Originally Posted by Edgard Chammas

W wa2ta only you voted in the poll

No It Wasn't Me. I Would Have Voted For Yes.

I Didn't Vote Yet