Information technology - Automatic identification and data capture techniques - Quality test specification for rewritable hybrid media data carriers

This International Standard specifies methodologies to be used for the conformance of rewritable hybrid media data carriers, which combine RFID tag technology with linear and/or two-dimensional bar code symbologies that are written to an erasable substrate. Three main product configuration types are addressed within this International Standard:

- Rewritable Media, which supports the rewriting of linear or two-dimensional symbols;
- Rewritable Hybrid Media, which integrates the Rewritable Media with an RFID tag;
- Rewritable Media combined with RFID technology that are physically separate data carriers but still require their data encoding processes to be integrated as part of a Rewritable Hybrid Media system.

In particular, this International Standard

- defines the base requirements for Rewritable Media and Rewritable Media devices (see 6.2)
- defines additional methods for process control of the Rewritable Media over multiple erasure and rewrite cycles (see 6.4)
- defines reference standards for evaluating the RFID tag component (see 7.2 and 7.3)
- defines additional methods for process control of the RFID component over multiple erasure and rewrite cycles (see 7.4)
- provides information to ensure that the data encoded in the bar code symbology and RFID data carrier are synchronous, i.e. are derived from the same source data set (see Clause 8).

NOTE Depending on the application, the encoded data can be identical or different (e.g. one data carrier could provide additional data).

Because of the interdependency between the Rewritable Hybrid Media and the rewrite device used to create the optical image, the entire Rewritable Hybrid Media system needs to be taken into account to define conformance. Therefore, there is a requirement to define the capability of achieving a given print quality grade as defined in relevant standards. This Rewritable Hybrid Media system approach has the additional advantage of not being prescriptive on the types of media and print technologies that may be used now or developed in future. As long as a print technology/media combination meets the print quality grades, it can be considered conformant with this International Standard.