@Article{jcs.2020.07209,
AUTHOR = {Han Jin, Shi Jin, Junfeng Wu},
TITLE = {An Amorphous 2-Dimensional Barcode},
JOURNAL = {Journal of Cyber Security},
VOLUME = {2},
YEAR = {2020},
NUMBER = {1},
PAGES = {37--48},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/JCS/v2n1/39371},
ISSN = {2579-0064},
ABSTRACT = {Most existing 2-dimensional barcodes are designed with a fixed shape and 
clear area. Having a fixed shape and clear area makes the barcode difficult to lay out with 
other text and pictures. To solve this problem, an amorphous 2-dimensional barcode is 
presented in this paper. The barcode uses encoding graph units to encode data. There are 
two key points in a 2-dimensional barcode: One is the encoding graph unit, the other is its 
encoding rules. Because encoding graph units of a 2-dimensional barcode are surrounded 
by other graphics, the units should be self-positioned and distinguished from other units. 
This paper presents an encoding graph unit generation algorithm, which is based on 
genetic algorithms. Encoding rules of the barcode are also given in this paper. Those 
rules include data encoding rules and encoding graph unit sequence arrangement rules. 
Data encoding rules are used to encode data to an encoding graph unit sequence. 
Encoding graph unit sequence arrangement rules are used to embed the unit sequence in 
the target picture. In addition to those rules, it also discussed the steps to restore encoding 
graph unit sequence from a picture. In the experiments section of this paper, an example 
is provided to encode a string and embed it in a car ad picture by the barcode. According 
to encoding rules of the barcode, those encoding graphic units can be scattered and 
embedded in a picture with other graphics, so amorphous 2-dimensional barcode has no 
fixed shape. Take advantage of this, designer can present a more elegant design to lay out 
barcodes with other graphic elements.},
DOI = {10.32604/jcs.2020.07209}
}