Looping Compaction for Logistics Using Composites and GTAG

1
Looping Compaction for Logistics Using Composites
and GTAG

• Ted Williams
• December 2, 2000

? Uniform Code Council, Inc. 2000
2
Logistical AIDC Application for Mixed Pallets
3
Required Mixed Pallet Data

• Currently SSCC-18 primary data can be
  supplemented with a single AI 02 (GTIN) and AI 37
  (Qty) to define the pallet contents.
• Mixed pallets cannot use this scheme as it would
  require multiple occurrences of AI 02 and AI 37.
• EANUCC System prohibits repeated AIs with
  differing data.

4
Looping Solution

• Solution encode data with a flag to indicate
  that the data violates the no repeat AI rule.
• Define additional structures (looping) to define
  which attributes go with which items.
• Encode the data in the 2D Composite following a
  unique Composite character and a flag digit of 0.
• When read, the mixed pallet data will be prefixed
  with a unique symbology identifier e1 and 0
  flag.

5
Looping Implementation

• The shipper builds a database table with the
  pallet contents as the pallet is built.
• The database table provides the data necessary
  for the Composite pallet label.
• EANUCC will provide encoding and decoding models
  to handle the structured data.

6
Looping Compaction Model

• Reads the pallet tables data.
• Validates that the correct AIs are used.
• Compacts the data using several different
  schemes.
• Produces an output string with the looping
  structure to give to the label printing software.

7
SSCC-18 Composite with Mixed Pallet Data
(00)006141410000000012 (02)00614141000050
(37)10(10)AB123456(17)123105(400)12345678 (02)0061
4141000067(37)5(10)CD987654(17)123105(400)12345678
(02)00614141000081(37)23(10)EFG65432(17)123105(40
0)12345678
8
Looping De-compaction Model

• Receives the Composite data from the bar code
  reader.
• Looks for the e1 symbology identifier and 0
  flag.
• Reverses the data compaction.
• Builds a table using the looping structures.
• Writes the table to a flat file.

9
Composite Symbol Expanded Capabilities
10
Composite Data Structures

• Composite symbols can encode new features beyond
  the standard UCC/EAN-128 AI element string data
  structure.
• The symbol separator allows new structures such
  as looping to be used for logistics applications.

11
Composite Data Structures

• The escape mechanism allows new data encoding
  such as foreign language characters.
• The use of a flag character(s) to specify a
  specific application will allow the possibility
  of defining many new application for Composites.

12
Composite Data Structures

• The standard Composite symbols encode AI element
  strings.
• A new symbology identifier of e0 is used to
  differentiate the data transmission from
  UCC/EAN-128 because the data may easily exceed
  the 48 character limit for UCC/EAN-128.

13
Symbol Separators

• The 2D composite symbols support the encoding of
  a symbol separator character, which causes the
  scanner/reader to begin transmitting a new
  message with the symbology identifier e1.

14
Escape Mechanism

• The composite symbols CC-B and CC-C support the
  encoding of a escape mechanism, which causes the
  scanner/ reader to begin transmitting a new
  message with the symbology identifier e2 or
  e3 (supporting ECIs).
• Following the escape mechanism character, the
  data encoding changes to allow full 8-bit and
  16-bit data to be encoded.

15
New Symbology Identifiers
message content
separator e0 standard AI element
strings none e1f new ISO 646 structures symbol
separator e2f ISO 8859-1 8-bit data codeword gt
899 e3f ECI escapes and 8/16-bit data codeword gt
899 f format identifier
16
Mixed Pallet or Looping Data

• The symbol separator with flag 0 is defined for
  mixed pallet looping data structures.
• The compacted mixed pallet data will directly
  follow symbol separator and zero flag.
• A scanner will identify the mixed pallet data in
  the 2D Composite Component by preceding the
  compacted looping data with the symbology
  identifier prefix and zero flag character e10.

17
Looping Data Compaction
18
Removing Duplicate Element Strings

• Mixed pallet items often have duplicated element
  strings from line to line.
• These element strings can be defaulted to the
  element string in a previous line.
• AI 02 GTIN and AI 400 purchase order have a scope
  of the entire pallet.
• Supplementary attributes such as lot number or
  expiration date only have a scope across a GTIN.

19
Removing Duplicate Purchase Orders

• If there are more duplicate AI 400 - purchase
  orders in the pallet than AI 02 GTIN items,
• Then the compaction hierarchy will be P.O.s
  first then GTINs.
• In the following example, pallet A has 3
  duplicate P.O. numbers and 1 duplicate GTIN.

20
Table of Mixed Pallet A Contents
21
Compacted Mixed Pallet A Data
22
Removing Duplicate GTINs

• If there are more duplicate AI 02 GTIN items on
  the pallet than AI 400 - purchase orders,
• Then the compaction hierarchy will be GTINs
  before P.Os.
• In the following example, pallet B has 4
  duplicate GTINs and no duplicate P.O. numbers.
• Notice that the lot number duplicates were also
  removed.

23
Table of Mixed Pallet B Contents
24
Compacted Mixed Pallet B Data
25
Removing Quantities of One with Serial Numbers

• Any line items which contain a serial number are
  assumed to have a quantity of one, so the
  quantity field can be removed.
• In the following example, there are five cases of
  the same item on pallet C, each case with its
  serial number.

26
Table of Mixed Pallet C Contents
27
Compacted Mixed Pallet C Contents
28
Compaction Optimized forNumeric Encodation

• The most efficient encoding mode for 2D Composite
  Components is numeric encodation.
• A digit or FNC 1 ( represented by a , pound
  sign, for the encoder model) can be encoded in
  3.5 bits.
• Consecutive FNC 1 characters are not allowed.
• The encoding of level changes, quantity fields
  and macros have been designed to use numeric
  encodation.

29
Element String Compaction

• Certain AI element strings have predictable
  formats and redundant information.
• GTINs on a given pallet may duplicate the same
  manufacturers number and other contiguous
  digits.
• Some element strings such as AI 37 can be
  run-length encoded.
• In the following example the AI 02 GTIN and AI 37
  quantity data is compacted by 60.

30
Element String Compaction

• GTIN check digit stripping
• 0200614141000012373 to
• 020061414100001373
• Shortening common sub-strings by use of macros
• 020061414100001373 to
• 021001373
• Compaction of AI 37 quantity element strings
• 021001373 to
• 0210013 (60 total data reduction)

31
Looping Compaction Model
32
Looping Compaction Model

• Reads a text flat file containing the mixed
  pallet contents.
• Compacts the data and outputs a file formatted
  for input into the RSSENC.EXE encoder model.
• The model will produce a logistical composite
  symbol from the output file.

33
Input Flat File

• The flat file will define the pallet contents
  including all the AI supplementary data.
• The flat file will use tabs to separate the
  element strings and _at_ to separate the AIs from
  the data.
• The first line of the file will define the pallet
  SSCC-18 and any logistical attributes.
• The following line will define the items and
  attributes on the pallet.
• The flat file will include a level number at the
  start of each line to define the looping
  structure of the pallet contents.

34
Flat File Example
1 00_at_123456789012345675 3302_at_001234 2
02_at_0012345678905 37_at_12 10_at_1234ABC 400_at_12345678 2
02_at_0098765432105 37_at_3 17_at_021231 400_at_12345678
The table defines the (00) SSCC-18 and (3302)
logistical weight of the pallet at looping level
1. At looping level 2, there are two different
(02) GTINs with (37) quantities 12 and 3. One
GTIN has a (10) lot number and the other has a
(17) expiry date. Both are part of (400)
purchase order 12345678. If the data includes
POs, the flat file repeats the PO element string
with each item.
35
Looping De-compaction Model
36
Looping De-compaction Model

• Reads the scanner output and de-compacts the
  looping data.
• Creates a flat file which is the equivalent of
  the original flat file input.
• Line item and supplementary element strings
  within each line item may be re-sequenced.

37
Compacted Data Formats
38
Compacted Output File Data Fields
SSCC and logistical attributes
Composite, Symbol Separator and flag
Primary macro definitions
Supplementary macro definitions
Compacted looping data
39
SSCC-18 and Logistical Attributes

• The first line of the flat file is encoded in the
  UCC/EAN-128 linear component.
• The data is not compacted as it must be able to
  be interpreted as a standard SSCC-18 symbol with
  optional attributes.
• An example of this data field encoding an SSCC-18
  and a logistical weight
• 001234567890123456753302001234

40
Composite, Symbol Separatorand Flag

• This data field defines the start of the 2D
  composite and the start of the looping
  compaction.
• The encoder model uses a character to
  indicate the start of the 2D composite component
  data.
• A is used to indicate a symbol separator
  character.
• A flag character of 0 following the symbol
  separator indicates looping compaction.
• The field therefore contains the text 0.

41
Macros

• Macros allow repeated element string text to be
  defined once in a macro definition and replaced
  in the element string by a one or two-character
  macro flag.
• The compaction model supports two macro types
• primary macros for SSCC-18 and GTIN element
  strings
• supplementary macros for supplementary AI element
  strings.

42
Primary Macro Definitions

• Up to ten primary macros can be defined, numbered
  0 to 9.
• The definition starts with the largest macro
  number to be defined followed by a FNC 1 .
• Each macro string is then listed in sequence,
  each terminated by a FNC 1 .
• For example macro strings 11111, 222222 and 3333
  would be defined as
• 2111112222223333

43
Primary Macro Data Compaction

• If only a single primary macro is defined, the
  macro text in the element string is replaced with
  a FNC 1 .
• For example if the macro definition is
• 00123456
• then the GTIN
• 010012345600001
• would be encoded
• 01000001.

44
Primary Macro Data Compaction

• If two or more macros are defined, the macro text
  in the element string is replaced with a FNC 1
  followed by the macro number, 0 to 9.
• For example if the macro definition is
• 1012345698765432
• then the GTIN
• 019876543200001
• would be encoded
• 01100001.

45
Primary Elements Strings without Macros

• If a primary element string does not use a macro,
  then the element string is unchanged.
• The de-compaction model can recognize the lack of
  a macro as no FNC 1 appears in the fixed
  length element string data.

46
Secondary Macros

• Sets of secondary macros can be defined for
  multiple AI element strings.
• For example a set of macros could be defined for
  AI 10, lot number, and a different set of macros
  could be defined for AI 21, serial number.
• The set is identified by the first two digits of
  the AI, so AI 400, purchase order, and AI 401,
  consignment number, would share the same macro
  set.
• Only variable length AI element strings can use
  secondary macros.

47
Secondary Macro Definitions

• Up to nine secondary macros can be defined for
  each AI set, numbered 0 to 8 (9 is used as a null
  macro to indicate no macro is used).
• The definition starts with the largest macro
  number to be defined followed by a FNC 1 .
• The first two digits of the AI are next encoded.
• Each macro string is then listed in sequence,
  each terminated by a FNC 1 .
• For example macro strings 11111, 222222 and 3333
  for AI 10 would be defined as
• 210111112222223333

48
Secondary Macro Definitions

• If there are no primary macros defined, but there
  are secondary macro definitions, the secondary
  definitions are prefixed by a FNC 1 .
• If there are multiple sets defined, each set is
  concatenated with the others.
• For example if there are no primary macros and
  macro strings 11111, 222222 and 3333 for AI 10
  and macro string ABCD for AI 400 would be defined
  as
• 210111112222223333040ABCD

49
Secondary Macro Data Compaction

• The secondary macro text in the element string is
  replaced with a FNC 1 followed by the macro
  number, 0 to 8.
• For example if the macro definition is
• 140ABC123XYZ456
• then the AI 400 purchase order element string
• 400ABC123456
• would be encoded
• 4000456.

50
Null Secondary Macro

• If a set of macros is defined for the leading two
  digits of an AI, all element strings with those
  two digits must contain either a macro or the
  null macro number 9.
• For example if the macro definition is
• 040ABC123
• then the AI 400 purchase order element string
• 400MNO98765
• would be encoded
• 4090MNO98765.

51
Compacted Looping Data
52
Special Purpose AIs

• AIs 02, 37, and 23 are used as special flags in
  compacted data.
• AI 02 is encoded as an AI 01 in compacted data,
  allowing 02 to be used for loop begin.
• AI 37 quantity data is encoded at the end of the
  first element string, leaving 37 to be used for
  loop end.
• AI 23 is converted to AI 10, leaving 23 to be
  used for force new line.

53
Defining the Looping Level

• The first line encodes the pallet SSCC and is
  always level 1.
• The second line is the first line of the looping
  data and is level 2.
• The contents of totes and containers on the
  pallet is level 3.
• Levels higher than 3 would indicate contents of
  contents

54
Defining the Looping Level

• The special purpose AI 02 is used to increase the
  level by one when the level goes above 2.
• The special purpose AI 37 is used to decrease the
  level by one. It may be used consecutively to
  decrease the level by more than one.
• The AI 37 is not used at the end of the compacted
  data, as all loops automatically terminate at the
  end.

55
Defining the Looping Level

• Example flat file and compacted data
• 001234567890123456733020012340
• 0000614141000000001
• 02010098765432103170263140012345678
• 370000614141000000002
• 020100987654321031703181

1 00_at_123456789012345675 3302_at_001234 2
00_at_006141410000000012 3 02_at_0098765432105 37_at_3
17_at_021231 400_at_12345678 2 00_at_006141410000000029 3
02_at_0098765432105 37_at_3 17_at_030331 400_at_12345678
56
Defining the Start of a Line Item

• An AI 00 or and AI 01 will always indicate the
  start of a new line.
• If the AI 01 is a duplicate, then the occurrence
  of a repeating supplementary attribute will start
  a new line, for example
• 01000123456789021ABC123
• 21ABC124
• and
• 0100012345678902015
• 201

57
Defining the Start of a Line Item

• If the AI 01 is a duplicate and there is only one
  or more new supplementary attributes on the new
  line, then the special force new line AI 23 is
  used to start a new line, for example
• 01000123456789051012345678
• 23599ABCDEF
• Note that the AI 23 encodes the quantity using
  method one described later.

58
Encoding Pallet Content Line Items

• For each line, repeated element strings are not
  encoded, but are defaulted from the previous
  line.
• An element string can be redefined by a new
  occurrence or be removed by the null data (e.g.
  10 to signal no lot number).
• A new GTIN, SSCC-18 or level change causes the
  default element strings to be reset.
• AI 400 (purchase order) is the exception, it is
  not reset, but has scope across the pallet.

59
Encoding Null Data AIs with Secondary Macros

• If an AI has a defined secondary macro, the null
  data cannot be encoded as in the normal form,
  e.g. 10.
• The null macro number 9 must also be encoded,
  examples
• 109
• 4090
• 80901

60
Encoding Quantities

• The data from the quantity AI 37 is encoded
  directly following the first data element of a
  new line item without using the AI 37.
• A line containing a SSCC-18 AI 00 does not encode
  the quantity as the quantity must be one.
• A line containing an AI 01 will be encoded with a
  quantity of one as an AI 02 is converted to an AI
  01 during compaction.

61
Lines Containing AI 21 Serial Number

• If the line includes an AI 21 serial number, the
  quantity is omitted as it is also assumed to be
  one.
• The compactor will re-sequence the attributes to
  place the AI 21 string first so it will be
  recognized by the de-compactor.
• If an AI 21 follows a GTIN in a line, a FNC 1
  is inserted before the 21 so that the first 2 of
  the 21 will not be interpreted as a quantity of 2
  by the de-compactor
• 01006141410123421ABC1234

62
Quantity Encoding

• Line item quantities are encoded following one of
  two methods depending on whether the first
  element sting in the line ends in a FNC 1 .
• Fixed length element strings use the first method
  with the exception of null element strings, e.g.
  17, or primary element string ending in a singly
  defined macro, e.g. 019.
• All other compacted strings end in a FNC 1
  and use the second method to avoid double FNC 1
  characters from being encoded.

63
Quantity Encoding Method One

• This encoding method is used for element strings
  which do not end in a FNC 1 .
• quantity 1 is encoded as
• quantity 2-9 is encoded as 2-9
• quantity 10-19 is encoded as 10-19
• quantity nn gt 19 is encoded as 0nn
• Examples
• 010061414100001 encodes quantity 1
• 0100614141000010999 encodes quantity 999

64
Quantity Encoding Method Two

• This encoding method is used for element strings
  which end in a FNC 1 .
• quantity 1-9 is encoded as 1-9
• quantity nn gt 9 is encoded as 0nn
• Examples
• 10ABC1231 encodes quantity 1
• 10ABC123010 encodes quantity 10

65
Stripping Check Digits

• AI 00 and AI 01 element strings will be stripped
  of their check digits.
• The check digits are stripped before macro logic
  is applied.
• During de-compaction, macros are inserted before
  the check digits are calculated and inserted.

66
Compacting Date Fields

• AI 11 to AI 19 will be treated as dates and the
  date compacted from six digits to five digits.
• The compacted five-digit date value is
• YY1000 MM50 DD
• For example
• 17050931 would be encoded as 1705481

67
Compacting Variable Measure Fields

• AI starting with 31 to 36 will be treated as
  containing six-digit data values and truncated if
  the data value has two or more leading zeroes.
• A FNC 1 will be used two terminate four or
  fewer digits.
• Examples
• 3202000123 is compacted as 3202123
• 3202001234 is compacted as 32021234
• 3202012345 remains 3202012345

68
RFID Logistics Application
69
RFID Use for Logistics

• RFID tag will be used to identify logistical
  containers and contents where
• Composite symbols cannot be used because of the
  container or printing or scanning
  environment.
• The container is reusable and the RFID tag can be
  permanently installed.
• A read/write capability is required for
  supplementary applications.

70
RFID Logistics Implementation

• The RFID tag will be organized to support data
  objects which can be independently written and
  read.
• One object will store the primary data, e.g. SSCC
  and logistical attributes.
• Another object will store the 2nd and higher
  level looping data.
• The same data compaction schemes will be used as
  used for Composites.

71
GDD/AI Schema
72
GDD/AI Schema

• The specialized flat file format must be
  eventually changed into a database which can
  serve as input to the Advance Ship Notice or
  Despatch Advice EDI transactions as well as the
  AI mixed pallet applications.
• This will require a one-to-one correspondence
  between the EDI ASN/DESADV Item_IDs and the
  application identifiers.

73
Data Table

• Shippers scan cases as they build a mixed pallet
  (pick/pack).
• The system builds a multi-level table
  representing the contents of the pallet.
• The data table provides the information to
  generate Ship Notice/Manifest XML transaction.
• The data table also provides the data for the
  AIDC, Composite or RFID, logistical data.

74
Logistical Data Table
GDD/AI x-ref table
Scan and build pallet
Logistical Data Table
XML
Composite
RFID
75
GDD Item_IDs

• The Ship Notice transaction gets trade item and
  attribute data from scanning in the pick/pack
  operation.
• These Item_IDs for the transaction would be the
  same as the SSCC, GTIN and trade item attribute
  element strings.
• Therefore, the GDD should define Item_IDs that
  directly correspond with the AIs.

76
Proposed GDD/AI Schema
Alignment rule converts date and variable
measure formats ISO code conversion. Special
rule specifies composite AIs.
77
Logistical Data Table Example