THE NU-ERA TECHNOLOGY SUITE - ENABLING COST-AFFORDABLE INDIVIDUAL IDENTIFICATION

Information Papers

For a complete description of this technology suite, download the information paper by clicking here.  A shorter, more succinct paper may be downloaded by clicking here

A Virtually Inexhaustible Source of Unique Identifiers

The Global ID Registry (GIDR).  At the core of this system of identification is a registry that issues to customers identifiers which are encrypted and guaranteed to be unique.  The registry operated by NuEra-ID is called "The Global ID Registry" or GIDR for short.   Because the identifiers in the GIDR are encrypted, it is possible for customers to verify that these identifiers were, in fact, issued by NuEra-ID.  In this manner, the provenance of identifiers can be tracked.  Other systems of individual ID do not provide this facility.  Registry identifiers are typically 128 bits when symmetric encryption is used or 256 bits when asymmetric encryption is used. The NU-ERA technology suite not only consists of this registry but also every other possible assistance to customers in order that they can effectively utilise the unique identifiers to the benefit of their business.

In fact, this system of individual identification can be applied using identifiers of any suitable length.  In most cases, the identifiers are represented by either a 2D barcode (such as the ones shown in Figure 1.) or a very simple, low-cost Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Device operating in any frequency range both for powering (in the case of passive devices) and transmission.  Identifiers are made up of a "payload" and validation bits of various natures to ensure the identifier has been read correctly.

The supply of unique identifiers from the NuEra-ID registry is effectively inexhaustible.  For example, it is possible to issue 7,922,816,251,000,000 128bit identifiers per year for 10,000 billion years before the source of unique identifiers would be exhausted.

Figure 1. 2D Barcodes capable of displaying
GIDR Identifiers

NU-ERA Barcode Symbology

Novel High Reliability Dot Matrix 2D Barcode.  As a part of this suite, NuEra-ID invented a new type of two dimensional (2D) barcode (from which the name "NU-ERA" is partially based).  This 2D barcode is deliberately designed to only consist of an array of dots.(See Fig 1 above)  This then allows the use of crude (and hence low-cost), printing, peening or laser etching devices to create the barcode.  In the case of peening and etching, it is possible to quickly and indelibly mark any object rather than having to resort to labels and tags.  This reduces the cost of using the barcodes and is ideally suited to volume production-line systems.

Conventional 2D Barcodes may be Used

It should be noted, however, that it is possible to use any commonly available 2D barcode, such as DataMatrix, QR Code or PDF417 (as shown in Figure1) to represent a NU-ERA unique identifier.  Users are not locked into the NuEra-ID barcode but it does have its advantages; the main ones being the ease with which it can be printed or etched and its superior resistance to dirt and damage.  Besides being cheap to produce and quick to read, the NU-ERA 2D barcode's focus was also on being highly resistant to dirt and damage;

Figure 2. Conventional DataMatrix and DataMatrix displayed as dots

more so than, for example, DataMatrix which also can be displayed as a series of dots, as shown in Figure 2. Going to Google Play there is available for download software that will read a variety of barcodes including DataMatrix a using an Android phone and tablet.  With this application, or the equivalent which is now available for the Apple iPhone and iPad, it is possible to read the barcodes opposite.  If the ID represented by the barcode is from the NuEra registry, the application will take you to the server of that client-system and you will be provided information concerning the object to which the barcode is attached.  To achieve the highest possible level of reliability under adverse conditions, the NU-ERA barcode uses a large number of bits to represent an identifier  The repetitive nature of the pattern presented by the barcode also facilitates its location by the reader in its field of view.

Field Trials and Demonstrators.

NuEra-ID developed for BAE Systems Australia a "demonstrator" item tracking system at the Defence National Supply and Distribution Centre, Moorebank.  Because the NU-ERA reader and related technology were not yet sufficiently developed to employ, DataMatrix codes were used in lieu of NU-ERA 2D Barcodes.  The demonstrator system did, however, utilise unique identifiers drawn from the NuEra-ID registry.  In doing this, it was found that that NuEra-ID's method of individually identifying items involved around 60% less effort than that which would have been expended had the GS1 system of individual identification been used instead.  For a comprehensive explanation as to why NuEra-ID's method of individual ID is so much better than that of GS1, not only for ease of effort but also practicality, go to "BETTER THAN GSI".