Multicolour barcode and messaging system

摘要

An apparatus for generating a multicolour barcode includes an input for text; a barcode generator arranged to generate a barcode from the input text and colouring means for applying a multicolour pattern to the barcode. The apparatus may transmit and receive messages as barcodes. Alternatively, a message may be stored on a server, such as a website, indexed by a reference key and the reference key transmitted to an intended recipient of the message as a multicoloured barcode so that the intended recipient can use the reference key to retrieve the message. The barcode may have bars of varying height and maybe overlaid with an image.