Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

High Capacity Color Barcode

A High Capacity Color Barcode (HCCB) is a two-dimensional technology developed by , utilizing clusters of small colored triangles arranged in a hexagonal to encode data, which enables significantly higher information density than traditional monochrome barcodes. This system employs four primary colors—typically black, red, green, and yellow—in distinct triangular shapes to represent data, allowing for robust encoding of up to 2,000 binary bytes or 3,500 alphanumeric characters per square inch when scanned at 600 dpi. HCCB also supports an eight-color palette for even higher capacity. Invented by Microsoft researcher Gavin Jancke and publicly detailed in December 2007, HCCB incorporates advanced features such as digital signing via (equivalent to RSA-1024 security with minimal 20-byte overhead) and support for multiple data payloads through an embedded , enhancing security and versatility. Originally announced in April 2007, HCCB was licensed to the International Agency (ISAN-IA) to facilitate the identification and tracking of commercial audiovisual works, such as motion pictures, video games, and broadcasts, with initial implementations expected on DVD media by late 2007. The technology's design prioritizes mobile readability, enabling decoding in as little as 30 milliseconds on a 200 MHz processor and from tags as small as 3/4 inch square using consumer devices like cell phone cameras. Beyond content identification, HCCB supports applications in , product , posters, and websites, where its visually appealing multicolor format bridges physical and digital experiences while providing anti-counterfeiting measures and access to services like ratings or promotions. HCCB evolved into the consumer-facing Microsoft Tag service, launched in 2009 as a customizable tagging system that leveraged the barcode's high capacity to link scans to web content, videos, contacts, and more via smartphones. Tag expanded HCCB's reach by allowing users to create and deploy tags for and interactive purposes, though the service was discontinued on August 19, 2015, with its technology licensed to Scanbuy to support migration of existing tags until shutdown. Despite the service's end, HCCB's underlying innovations in color-based data encoding have influenced subsequent 2D barcode advancements, including open-source implementations and into even higher-capacity variants.

History and Development

Origins at

The development of the High Capacity Color Barcode (HCCB) was initiated at in the mid-2000s, with the core filing occurring on June 28, 2004 ( Ser. No. 60/583,571; granted July 6, 2010 as US7751585B2). Led by Gavin Jancke, then director of engineering at , the project aimed to advance barcode technology by leveraging color to achieve greater data density without requiring specialized hardware. Jancke, the primary inventor, focused on creating a system that could embed substantial information—such as URLs or identifiers for multimedia content—into compact visual forms compatible with everyday printing and imaging devices. The primary motivation behind HCCB stemmed from the need for a robust, high-capacity encoding to the and with commercial audiovisual works, including motion pictures and video games. This addressed limitations in traditional barcodes, which struggled to store extensive data in limited spaces while remaining scannable by consumer devices. Jancke emphasized that the technology was designed as a "partner" to existing standards like UPC, enabling enhanced consumer access to details such as ratings, promotions, and pricing through simple scanning, alongside applications in anti-counterfeiting and royalty tracking. Initial prototypes were developed and tested in laboratories to ensure compatibility with standard consumer hardware, including cameras and desktop printers. These early versions demonstrated reliable readability under typical conditions, paving the way for broader integration into . The first public disclosure of HCCB occurred in April 2007, coinciding with licensing agreements for audiovisual identification applications.

Licensing and Early Adoption

In 2007, the International Agency (ISAN-IA) entered into a licensing agreement with for the High Capacity Color Barcode (HCCB) technology, developed at , to embed unique identifiers in audiovisual works such as movies and television shows. This agreement marked the first external licensing of HCCB, enabling its use in the ISAN standard for persistent identification of audiovisual content across distribution channels, including like DVDs. Early adoption of HCCB extended to research applications focused on content tracking and measures, where the barcode's high data capacity facilitated the encoding of detailed for verifying and of files. Registration agencies affiliated with ISAN-IA began integrating the technology to encode ISANs directly onto , with initial implementations anticipated on DVD by late 2007 to combat unauthorized copying and distribution. A key milestone in HCCB's early visibility occurred in April 2007, when the reported on the 's potential to enable high-capacity in print media, highlighting its role in advancing identification systems for content. This coverage underscored the barcode's promise for secure, color-based encoding in non-digital formats, paving the way for broader exploratory partnerships in media authentication.

Technical Specifications

Structure and Encoding

The High Capacity Color Barcode (HCCB) utilizes clusters of small triangles as its building blocks, arranged in a to form a compact two-dimensional . This triangular arrangement allows for efficient packing and high data density, with each triangle serving as a capable of representing multiple bits of through color . The overall includes a distinctive boundary consisting of a black frame with an inner thick white band, and a thicker black border at the bottom to aid in determining orientation during decoding. Data encoding in HCCB relies on Reed-Solomon error correction codes to provide robustness against distortions from printing, lighting variations, and camera capture, akin to the mechanism employed in QR codes. The process begins with input data, which is segmented and mapped to symbols via 4-ary or 8-ary modulation schemes based on the selected color palette; in the 4-ary mode, four distinct colors (typically , , , and ) encode 2 bits per , while the 8-ary mode extends this to 3 bits using an expanded palette of eight colors. A fixed color reference pattern, comprising two instances each of the palette colors, is embedded in the last eight symbols of the final row to calibrate color detection and compensate for imaging inconsistencies. HCCB supports variable symbol counts and grid dimensions to accommodate different application needs, ranging from as few as 10 rows with 20 symbols per row up to 60 rows with 120 symbols per row, enabling scalability from small tags readable by devices to larger matrices for high-volume . This flexibility, combined with compatibility with standard color inkjet or printers at resolutions like 600 dpi, facilitates widespread printability without specialized equipment.

Capacity, Colors, and Error Correction

High Capacity Color Barcodes (HCCB) achieve significant through their use of a of triangular symbols, enabling up to approximately 3,500 alphanumeric characters per under optimal conditions with a 600 dpi scanner. This capacity varies based on the number of colors employed and the error correction overhead, with higher densities realized in settings using advanced and scanning . For instance, configurations with eight colors can encode over 1,100 bytes (or about 3,300 symbols) per , substantially surpassing traditional barcodes by leveraging color separability to increase the symbol size. HCCB supports flexible color configurations to balance density and reliability, including 2 colors (typically black and white for basic compatibility), 4 colors (such as black, red, green, and yellow), or 8 colors for maximum capacity. These color sets are selected for their distinguishability under common printing and scanning conditions, minimizing misreads due to issues like color bleeding, fading, or illumination variations; for example, the eight-color palette includes a reference set for to account for printer limitations and scanner noise. Deeper color depths, up to 24-bit or more, are theoretically possible but less common in practice due to hardware constraints. Error correction in HCCB relies on Reed-Solomon codes, which provide robust detection and correction of errors introduced during printing, scanning, or environmental distortions such as color shifts or geometric warping. These codes operate with variable redundancy levels, typically ranging from 10% to 30% depending on the desired reliability and data size, allowing correction of up to half the parity symbols in each codeword using Berlekamp decoding algorithms. Additionally, embedded (CRC) checksums verify post-decoding, while synchronization patterns—such as white space separators between row pairs and a fixed reference palette—facilitate accurate alignment and color normalization under diverse lighting and viewing angles. This combination ensures high decode success rates, even for small tags as tiny as 3/4 inch square.

Microsoft Tag Implementation

Features and Functionality

Microsoft Tag employed a simplified variant of the underlying High Capacity Color Barcode (HCCB) technology, utilizing four colors arranged in a 5x10 hexagonal grid to encode data efficiently for mobile scanning. This configuration supported a capacity of approximately 350 to 500 characters in a compact , such as a 0.5-inch tag, prioritizing rapid decoding on low-power devices like 200 MHz processors in under 30 milliseconds. The system's core functionality revolved around linking physical tags to digital experiences via , enabling dynamic resolution that allowed content updates without reprinting tags. This server-side processing facilitated redirects to content, such as videos or interactive pages, while providing through usage graphs tracking scans and interactions. Additionally, with capabilities supported location-based services using GPS for context-aware responses, enhancing personalized user experiences. A free Tag Reader mobile application, launched in 2009, enabled scanning across platforms including , , and . The app decoded the tag on the device to extract a , which was then sent to for resolution to the linked content, ensuring dynamic updates but requiring an internet connection. The app used the phone's camera with a visual overlay for targeting, delivering content directly to the upon successful . Customization options allowed tags to adopt circular or custom shapes, incorporating colors and logos while preserving scannability across and qualities. This flexibility ensured tags could blend into materials without compromising the underlying HCCB encoding integrity.

Consumer Adoption and Applications

Microsoft Tag experienced rapid adoption following its public launch in , particularly in and sectors where it bridged print with . By April 2011, more than 5 billion tags had been printed worldwide since the technology's , with 3 billion printed in the preceding six months alone, reflecting its for embedding links to videos, websites, and interactive experiences on billboards, magazine pages, and product . This growth was driven by its aesthetic appeal and higher data compared to traditional barcodes, making it a favored tool for brands seeking to enhance engagement without disrupting visual designs. Key applications emerged in high-profile marketing campaigns, such as Ford's integration of tags in print advertisements for the 2010 , where 800,000 direct-mailed ads featured scannable tags linking to multimedia demos like vehicle safety features, anticipating over 500,000 scans from tech-savvy users. Similarly, partnered with to place tags on 32-ounce cups at airport locations, enabling consumers to scan for entry into summer promotions through September 2010. These efforts extended to interactive print media in publications like , , and , as well as ticketing scenarios where tags facilitated quick access to digital confirmations and details. Partnerships with agencies, including Scanbuy's later support via the ScanLife platform, further enabled seamless deployment and analytics for such campaigns. From a perspective, the dedicated Tag Reader app—available for free on major platforms—delivered instant access to linked content upon scanning, transforming passive encounters with print materials into dynamic interactions. Features included options for social sharing of discovered content directly through integrated tools and location-aware responses, such as prompting GPS data for offers, like directing users to nearby stores based on a scanned . At its peak around 2013, Microsoft Tag had become embedded in retail and entertainment industries, with Scanbuy reporting expectations of over 10 million monthly scans across QR codes, Microsoft Tags, and related formats by year's end, underscoring its role in driving consumer traffic to digital ecosystems before the service's wind-down.

Discontinuation

Microsoft announced the discontinuation of its Tag service on August 19, 2013, providing a two-year notice period in accordance with the service's terms of use. The service, which had been transitioned via licensing to Scanbuy in 2013 for continued support on their ScanLife platform, fully shut down on August 19, 2015, ending all Microsoft-hosted functionality. Through the notice period, users could access accounts, scan existing tags, generate new ones, and retrieve reports without interruption. The primary reasons for discontinuation included declining usage amid the widespread adoption of QR codes, which benefited from built-in scanning capabilities in native smartphone camera apps, reducing the need for a dedicated Tag reader application. Tag's proprietary nature and requirement for a specific app hindered broader consumer uptake compared to the open-standard QR codes, which saw increasing integration in mobile ecosystems. Following the shutdown, all existing Microsoft Tags became non-functional, as they relied on Microsoft's servers for redirection and data resolution, disrupting marketing campaigns and applications dependent on the technology. To mitigate this, Microsoft offered migration guidance, while Scanbuy provided tools to convert Tag campaigns to their ; additionally, Microsoft recommended transitioning to open standards like QR codes for long-term viability. In an official statement, Microsoft emphasized giving customers "ample time to plan their transition" and affirmed its belief in the underlying digital tagging technology, despite shifting priorities away from in-house support.

Post-Discontinuation Developments

Following the discontinuation of Microsoft's official support for High Capacity Color Barcode (HCCB) technology in 2015, interest persisted in open-source implementations, primarily among hobbyists and developers exploring web-based applications. A notable example is the library developed by Duane Johnson, which generates HCCB barcodes as (SVGs) for display in web applications, enabling dynamic encoding of data into colored triangle clusters without built-in error correction. This partial implementation, created for personal projects such as educational programming with , demonstrates ongoing enthusiast efforts to revive HCCB for non-commercial uses like interactive web demos. Academic research on color barcode technologies has continued into the , building on HCCB's foundational concepts of multi-color encoding for increased data , though direct enhancements to HCCB itself have been limited. Studies have explored related variants, such as iterative decoding with predictive (IDPC) methods for robust color barcode recognition under varying conditions, as detailed in a 2022 examining palette optimization and . Earlier post-2015 works, like those on robust color in high-capacity color QR codes, reference HCCB's triangle-based to improve decoding speed and accuracy in environments, achieving up to 60% reduction in bit rate against distortions including illumination variations. A 2023 review of color evolution highlights HCCB's influence on subsequent designs, including four-dimensional color barcodes patented in 2015 for enhanced capacity through additional spatial modulation. Niche applications of HCCB concepts have emerged in experimental contexts, such as embedding data for archival tagging and prototype mobile scanning systems. Researchers have adapted color barcode principles for progressive encoding in long-term data preservation, allowing denser information storage in printed media for retrieval over extended periods. Limited hobbyist experiments also involve mobile tagging prototypes, where open-source generators like the library facilitate testing HCCB-like codes for overlays in educational apps. As of , HCCB has seen no major commercial revival, with adoption confined to academic prototypes and open-source tools rather than widespread deployment. It remains referenced in studies on barcode evolution as a pioneering example of color-based density improvements, influencing modern high-capacity formats without supplanting standards like QR codes.

Similar Color Barcode Technologies

High Capacity Color Barcodes (HCCB) share conceptual similarities with other color-based symbologies that leverage multiple colors to enhance data density beyond traditional barcodes, though they differ in structure, application focus, and visibility. One early precursor is DataGlyphs, developed at PARC in the 1990s by David Hecht. DataGlyphs consist of compact, line-like glyphs arranged in patterns that can be embedded directly into images or graphics, with color variants allowing for optional chromatic encoding to increase capacity while maintaining visual subtlety. Unlike overt barcode tags, DataGlyphs prioritize stealthy data hiding, enabling integration into printed documents or visuals without drawing attention, such as in secure document or archival . Another comparable technology is the , a symbology originating from in the early , developed by Colour Code Technologies Co., Ltd. CCC employs a square grid of colored cells, supporting up to 16 distinct colors per cell to achieve high data density in a compact . This square-based layout contrasts with HCCB's hexagonal clusters, and CCC is particularly suited for and applications where robust scanning under varied lighting is essential, emphasizing industrial reliability over consumer-oriented print aesthetics. The High Capacity Colored Two-Dimensional (HCC2D) code, proposed in 2010 by Antonio Grillo, Alessandro Lentini, and colleagues, represents a more direct analog to HCCB in its use of color to boost capacity in matrix-style barcodes. HCC2D arranges data in a of square cells, each selectable from a palette of 4 to 8 colors, enabling up to several times the storage of standard QR codes while incorporating error correction for print-scan reliability. Designed for mobile scanning, HCC2D focuses on balancing density with decodability in real-world conditions, differing from HCCB primarily in its rectangular structure and emphasis on palette encoding to mitigate color misreads. Academic proposals for dot-oriented color barcodes, such as those introduced by Orhan Bulan, Vishal Monga, and Gaurav Sharma in 2009, exploit printer processes to embed data separately in multiple colorant channels like and . These systems modulate the orientation of elliptical dots within each channel to encode independent bit streams, achieving high capacity through channel separability without relying on discrete color blocks. This approach suits high-volume environments, such as labels or , where data must survive reproduction, and contrasts with HCCB's visible geometric patterns by integrating more seamlessly into textured or media. A refined version in their 2011 IEEE Transactions on Image Processing paper further optimizes orientation modulation for elliptical dot arrays, enhancing robustness to distortions. In general, these alternatives often emphasize invisibility (as in DataGlyphs) or sector-specific durability (like in ), whereas HCCB targeted broader consumer print scenarios with its distinctive for aesthetic integration.

References

  1. [1]
    High Capacity Color Barcodes (HCCB) - Microsoft Research
    Dec 18, 2007 · High Capacity Color Barcode technology, developed within Microsoft Research, assists in identifying commercial audiovisual works such as motion pictures and ...
  2. [2]
    International Organization Licenses Microsoft's New Multicolor Bar ...
    Apr 16, 2007 · ... High Capacity Color Barcode (HCCB) technology developed by Microsoft Research to assist in the identification of commercial audiovisual ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  3. [3]
    Microsoft Gives Up On Its Tag Barcode Service, Schedules It For ...
    Aug 19, 2013 · Today, Microsoft announced that, in accordance with Tag's terms of use, it will shut down the service on August 19, 2015. Very few people will ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  4. [4]
    Localization and Segmentation of A 2D High Capacity Color Barcode
    A 2D color barcode can hold much more information than a binary barcode. Barcodes are often intended for consumer use where using a cellphone, ...
  5. [5]
    Technology | Colour barcode system to hit DVDs - BBC NEWS
    Apr 19, 2007 · Gavin Jancke, the Microsoft Research engineering director who developed the so-called High Capacity Color Barcode (HCCB), said the aim was ...
  6. [6]
    Colorful new bar code coming to DVDs soon; pirates beware!
    Apr 18, 2007 · We can expect to see the HCCB on movies, games and other recordings by the end of the year. HCCB is meant to supplement the traditional bar code ...
  7. [7]
    [PDF] Localization and Segmentation of a 2D High Capacity Color Barcode
    Localization and Segmentation of A 2D High Capacity Color Barcode. Devi Parikh. Gavin Jancke dparikh@cmu.edu gavinj@microsoft.com. Carnegie Mellon University.
  8. [8]
    [PDF] High Capacity Colored Two Dimensional Codes
    We developed a prototype of HCC2D, which realizes the entire Print&Scan process, tested this prototype in many experiments considering different operating ...
  9. [9]
    [PDF] High Information Rate and Efficient Color Barcode Decoding
    One of the popular color barcodes in the market is HCCB (Microsoft's High. Capacity Color Barcode) [8]. HCCB uses a grid of colored triangles with four or ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  10. [10]
  11. [11]
    Definition of Microsoft Tag - PCMag
    A two-dimensional barcode used for mobile tagging. Microsoft Tag is a four-color variation of Microsoft's "High-Capacity Color Barcode" (HCCB).
  12. [12]
    You're It! Tag Your Customers With Microsoft Tag - Business Insider
    Sep 26, 2011 · It uses four colors in a 5 x 10 grid and, additionally, the code also works in monochrome. The print size can be varied accordingly. For example ...Missing: specifications capacity
  13. [13]
    Microsoft Tag | Windows Experience Blog
    Jul 13, 2009 · Microsoft Tags can be used for a number of purposes from linking to online content to easily giving someone your contact information for storage ...
  14. [14]
    Microsoft Tag for SmartPhone and iPhone - CNET
    Jan 8, 2009 · The software is free and available for download via your mobile smartphone browser @ http://gettag.mobi/ . We've come a long way from the old- ...
  15. [15]
    Microsoft Tag Sees Biggest Scanning Month Ever - Source
    Apr 5, 2011 · March had the greatest number of Tag scans since Tag launched in January 2009, with more than 50 percent more scans than any other month to date ...
  16. [16]
    Tag, You're It, Says Ford - The Detroit Bureau
    Sep 16, 2009 · Simply take a pic of the Microsoft Tag in the corner of an ad for the 2010 Ford Taurus and your smartphone links you to a special ad ...
  17. [17]
    Coca-Cola, HMSHost increase awareness via mobile sweepstakes ...
    Coca-Cola and HMSHost have teamed up to support ... We have a long-time partnership with Coca-Cola and thought the power of HMSHost? ... Microsoft Tag code found on ...
  18. [18]
    Scanbuy Selected as Premier Licensee of the Microsoft Tag Mobile ...
    Aug 19, 2013 · Scanbuy plans to support Microsoft Tag Technology on the ScanLife platform beginning no later than September 18th, 2013, and to offer transition ...
  19. [19]
    Five ways retailers can use Microsoft Tag today
    Some phones can be prompted to reply with GPS information, too, making location-aware marketing a possibility: a driver captures the Tag on a retail store ...Missing: social | Show results with:social
  20. [20]
    Scanbuy Licenses Microsoft Tag Technology - MediaPost
    Aug 20, 2013 · By the end of the year, Wehrs expects the company to process more than 10 million scans monthly, such as 2D barcodes, QR codes, Microsoft Tags, ...
  21. [21]
    Microsoft to kill Tag barcode program, license technology out
    Aug 19, 2013 · The technology is a form of High Capacity Color Barcode (HCCB), and allows for a higher density of information to be stored in a smaller ...Missing: anti- piracy
  22. [22]
    Microsoft's Tag Barcode Service To End In 2015 - TNW
    Aug 19, 2013 · Microsoft Tag will be terminated in two years on August 19, 2015, after being licensed to Scanbuy.
  23. [23]
    Microsoft Tag closing on August 19th 2015, reminds us all crappy ...
    Aug 19, 2013 · This August 19, 2013 notice is to inform you that the Microsoft Tag service will terminate in two years, on August 19, 2015. We are ...
  24. [24]
    Redmond abandons Microsoft Tag. Where does QR Code go from ...
    Aug 20, 2013 · It sounded like a good idea, but the technology never took off, undoubtedly due to competition from QR Code and rank user disinterest. According ...Missing: discontinuation rise
  25. [25]
    Microsoft's QR code competitor Tag to shut up shop - BetaNews
    Aug 19, 2013 · Microsoft's Tag service is to close two years from now. In a statement on the Tag website Microsoft says that it is issuing a two year termination notice.
  26. [26]
    RIP, Microsoft Tag: Barcode service will end in 2015 - GeekWire
    Aug 19, 2013 · Microsoft says it has licensed the technology to Scanbuy, operator of the ScanLife service, to continue supporting Microsoft Tags for existing ...
  27. [27]
    The End of MS Tag - Terence Eden's Blog
    Aug 20, 2013 · Through August 19, 2015, you will be able to continue to log into your existing Microsoft Tag service account, use existing Microsoft Tag codes, ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  28. [28]
    canadaduane/elm-hccb: High Capacity Color Barcode ... - GitHub
    This is an Elm library that displays data as an HCCB (High Capacity Color Barcode). It dynamically constructs an SVG element based on the data to display.
  29. [29]
  30. [30]
  31. [31]
    [PDF] Color Barcodes from Debut to Present - DergiPark
    Jul 12, 2023 · Color barcodes have caught wider use and attraction to a certain extent after. Microsoft announced the 'High Capacity Color Barcode' (HCCB) ...<|separator|>
  32. [32]
    Archive-enabling Tagging Using Progressive Barcodes | Request PDF
    Aug 7, 2025 · Color barcodes offer increased density over two-dimensional barcodes, which can be taken advantage of to embed longer data strings in the same ...
  33. [33]
    [PDF] A Theory of Color Barcodes
    For example, Microsoft's. High Capacity Color Barcode (HCCB) technology [12] uses 2-D barcodes enhanced with four or eight different colors. This technology, ...
  34. [34]
    A theory of color barcodes | Request PDF - ResearchGate
    Aug 8, 2025 · In this paper, we propose a new approach to color barcode decoding, one that does not require a reference color palette. Our algorithm decodes ...
  35. [35]
  36. [36]
    [PDF] High Capacity Color Barcodes Using Dot Orientation and Color ...
    In this paper, we present a new high capacity color barcode. Our method operates by embedding independent data in two different printer colorant channels via ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  37. [37]