title: One-dimensional barcode reading: an information theoretic approach.
abstract: In the convergence context of identification technology and information-data transmission, the barcode found its place as the simplest and the most pervasive solution for new uses, especially within mobile commerce, bringing youth to this long-lived technology. From a communication theory point of view, a barcode is a singular coding based on a graphical representation of the information to be transmitted. We present an information theoretic approach for 1D image-based barcode reading analysis. With a barcode facing the camera, distortions and acquisition are modeled as a communication channel. The performance of the system is evaluated by means of the average mutual information quantity. On the basis of this theoretical criterion for a reliable transmission, we introduce two new measures: the theoretical depth of field and the theoretical resolution. Simulations illustrate the gain of this approach.
authors.affiliation: Telecom Lille 1, rue G. Marconi, 59650 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France. karim.houni@telecom-lille1.eu
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Houni
authors.forename: Wadih
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sawaya
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Delignon