Aztec Code
Aztec je 2D čárový kód na každé letecké palubní vstupence, téměř každé aplikaci pro jízdní doklady a stále větším podílu přepravních karet. Jedná se o jedinou 2D symboliku speciálně optimalizovanou pro spolehlivé dekódování z nízkokontrастního telefonu za šmouhami od prstů, proto si ji IATA vybrala pro standard BCBP v roce 2005.
Canonical spec:ISO/IEC 24778:2008.
IATA application:BCBP Resolution 792.
Originator: Welch Allyn (now Honeywell), 1995. Royalty-free.
IATA application:BCBP Resolution 792.
Originator: Welch Allyn (now Honeywell), 1995. Royalty-free.
Co to je
A square matrix code with a distinctive bullseye finder pattern in the centre. Unlike QR, Aztec has no corner patterns, the centre bullseye tolerates rotation, off-centre framing, and non-square cropping better than QR.
- No quiet zone required. QR needs 4-module margin; Aztec decodes with zero.
- Bullseye finder tolerates contrast loss. Phone LCDs, sun glare, smudges, Aztec survives where QR washes out.
- Variable ECC 5%–95%. QR caps at 30%; Aztec goes to 95%.
- Compact relative to capacity. 3,067 alphanumeric chars maximum.
- No orientation lock. Aztec's bullseye is rotationally symmetric.
Velikost a kapacita
| Variant | Dimensions | Max alphanumeric capacity | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact | 15 × 15 to 27 × 27 | ~110 chars | Short URLs, IATA seat assignments |
| Full-Range (small) | 19 × 19 to 45 × 45 | ~400 chars | BCBP Type M1 boarding passes |
| Full-Range (medium) | 49 × 49 to 95 × 95 | ~1,200 chars | Transit tickets with multiple segments |
| Full-Range (max) | 151 × 151 | ~3,067 chars | Heavy payloads |
Úrovně korekce chyb
| ECC level | Typical use | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| 5% | Experiments / demos only | Fails on real-world damage. Never ship production codes at this level. |
| 23% (default) | Short-URL on digital displays | Matches QR level M. |
| 50% | IATA BCBP, transit tickets, crumpled paper | Survives a folded corner or significant smudge. |
| 75%–95% | High-abrasion environments | Payload capacity drops sharply. |
Formát IATA BCBP, kanonické použití Aztec
The IATA Type M1 Bar Coded Boarding Pass is the largest Aztec application by volume. Payload leading fields:
M1{PASSENGER/NAME}E{BOOKING_REF} {FROM} {TO} {AIRLINE} {FLIGHT} {DAY}{COMPARTMENT}{SEAT}{CHECK_IN_SEQ}{PASSENGER_STATUS}Kanonické testovací vektory
| Case | Payload | Expected substring |
|---|---|---|
| Short URL | https://example.com/board/AB12 | example.com/board/AB12 |
| IATA BCBP minimal | M1DOE/JOHN EABC123 JFKLHRBA 0100 042Y034A0001 100 | M1DOE/JOHN |
Typické chyby
- Consumer phone cameras don't decode Aztec. iPhone Camera returns nothing. Aztec is for dedicated readers (airport gates, industrial imagers).
- ECC 5% is a trap. 23% is the safe floor; 50% is production default for paper.
- BCBP Type M1 vs M2. M2 is multi-segment. Verify gate reader M2 support before embedding multiple segments.
- Perspective distortion. Aztec tolerates rotation but NOT heavy perspective. Scan roughly perpendicular.
- Styling disabled. QR-specific features don't apply to Aztec.
Kompatibilita skenerů
| Reader | Aztec support | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| iOS Camera (iOS 15+) | No | Apple supports standard QR only. |
| Android Camera (Google/Pixel) | Partial | Some OEM camera apps decode; Pixel stock camera does not reliably. |
| Google Lens | Unreliable | Not a viable verification path for production. |
| Zebra / Honeywell / Datalogic industrial imager | Yes | Every industrial 2D imager supports Aztec. |
| Airline / transit gate reader | Yes (canonical) | This is what Aztec was designed for. |
| Scandit / Dynamsoft SDK | Yes | Used by self-service kiosks and airline check-in apps. |