Integration and Information Retrieval by Multiplexing Visible Tetrachromatic QR Codes Embedded in Printed Images

Abstract

Two-dimensional quick response (QR) codes were created to transmit information in a simple and versatile way, facilitating, for example, to aid in the exchange of information about a product. This motivated the development of this work, which presents an innovative methodology to improve the security of information in printed QR codes by integrating two levels of protection. Two dimensional QR codes are widely used to transmit information, including sensitive data in documents such as passports and financial reports. Therefore, it is crucial to implement robust security mechanisms. The proposal consists of first encrypting the information using the Privacy Guard (GPG) method and then multiplexing two sets of data into a chromatic QR code, where different colors represent different encoded information. This double layer of security provides greater protection against unauthorized access to information. The results demonstrate that multiplexing dichromatic QR data into a tetrachromatic code is feasible and improves both storage capacity and data security. Furthermore, the use of the YCbCr color model enables accurate retrieval of the original codes, even in the presence of brightness variations. The developed method provides an advanced solution for data protection in printed documents, with potential applications in various fields where high information security is required.