prEN IEC 61406-1:2025

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-februar-2026
Identifikacijska povezava - 1. del: Splošne zahteve
Identification link - Part 1: General requirements
Lien d’identification - Partie 1: Exigences générales
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN IEC 61406-1:2025
ICS:
35.240.15 Identifikacijske kartice. Čipne Identification cards. Chip
kartice. Biometrija cards. Biometrics
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

65E/1196/CDV
COMMITTEE DRAFT FOR VOTE (CDV)
PROJECT NUMBER:
IEC 61406-1 ED2
DATE OF CIRCULATION: CLOSING DATE FOR VOTING:
2025-12-05 2026-02-27
SUPERSEDES DOCUMENTS:
65E/1140A/RR
IEC SC 65E : DEVICES AND INTEGRATION IN ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS
SECRETARIAT: SECRETARY:
United States of America Mr David Richmond
OF INTEREST TO THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES: HORIZONTAL FUNCTION(S):
SC 3D,TC 57,TC 62,TC 121
ASPECTS CONCERNED:
SUBMITTED FOR CENELEC PARALLEL VOTING NOT SUBMITTED FOR CENELEC PARALLEL VOTING
Attention IEC-CENELEC parallel voting
The attention of IEC National Committees, members of
CENELEC, is drawn to the fact that this Committee Draft for
Vote (CDV) is submitted for parallel voting.
The CENELEC members are invited to vote through the
CENELEC online voting system.
This document is still under study and subject to change. It should not be used for reference purposes.
Recipients of this document are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which
they are aware and to provide supporting documentation.
Recipients of this document are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant “In Some Countries”
clauses to be included should this proposal proceed. Recipients are reminded that the CDV stage is the final stage for
submitting ISC clauses. (SEE AC/22/2007 OR NEW GUIDANCE DOC).

TITLE:
Identification Link - Part 1: General requirements

PROPOSED STABILITY DATE: 2030
NOTE FROM TC/SC OFFICERS:
electronic file, to make a copy and to print out the content for the sole purpose of preparing National Committee positions.
You may not copy or "mirror" the file or printed version of the document, or any part of it, for any other purpose without
permission in writing from IEC.

IEC CDV 61406-1 © IEC 2025
1 CONTENTS
3 FOREWORD . 5
4 INTRODUCTION . 7
5 1 Scope . 9
6 2 Normative references . 9
7 3 Terms, abbreviated terms and definitions . 10
8 4 Identification Link string . 11
9 4.1 ILS-1: Global uniqueness . 11
10 4.1.1 Requirement . 11
11 4.1.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 11
12 4.2 ILS-2: Link to additional information . 12
13 4.2.1 Requirement . 12
14 4.2.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 12
15 4.3 ILS-3: No reuse. 12
16 4.3.1 Requirement . 12
17 4.3.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 13
18 4.4 ILS-4: No altering . 13
19 4.4.1 Requirement . 13
20 4.4.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 13
21 4.5 ILS-5: String length . 13
22 4.5.1 Requirement . 13
23 4.5.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 13
24 4.6 ILS-6: URL syntax . 13
25 4.6.1 Requirement . 13
26 4.6.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 13
27 4.7 ILS-7: Allowed characters . 14
28 4.7.1 Requirement . 14
29 4.7.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 14
30 4.8 ILS-8: Uppercase and lowercase characters . 14
31 4.8.1 Requirement . 14
32 4.8.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 14
33 4.9 ILS-9: No character-combinations with special functions . 15
34 4.9.1 Requirement . 15
35 4.9.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 15
36 4.10 ILS-10: Query string parameters starting with dot “.” . 15
37 4.10.1 Requirement . 15
38 4.10.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 15
39 5 Identification Link with 2D symbol . 16
40 5.1 General . 16
41 5.2 2D-1: When marking with 2D symbol . 16
42 5.2.1 Requirement . 16
43 5.2.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 16
44 5.3 2D-2: 2D symbol content . 16
45 5.3.1 Requirement . 16
46 5.3.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 17
47 5.4 2D-3: Symbology . 17
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48 5.4.1 Requirement . 17
49 5.4.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 17
50 5.5 2D-4: Module size . 17
51 5.5.1 Requirement . 17
52 5.5.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 18
53 5.6 2D-5: Quiet zone . 18
54 5.6.1 Requirement . 18
55 5.6.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 18
56 5.7 2D-6: Error correction . 18
57 5.7.1 Requirement . 18
58 5.7.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 18
59 5.8 2D-7: Label print quality . 19
60 5.8.1 Requirement . 19
61 5.8.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 19
62 5.8.3 Requirement . 19
63 5.8.4 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 20
64 5.9 2D-9: Durability of the 2D marking . 20
65 5.9.1 Requirement . 20
66 5.9.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 20
67 5.10 2D-10: Marking with a frame . 21
68 5.10.1 Requirement . 21
69 5.10.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 21
70 5.11 2D-11: Frame layout . 21
71 5.11.1 Requirement . 21
72 5.11.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 21
73 5.12 2D-12: Orientation of the frame for QR-Codes and rMQR-Codes. 23
74 5.12.1 Requirement . 23
75 5.12.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 23
76 5.13 2D-13: Positive image . 23
77 5.13.1 Requirement . 23
78 5.13.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 23
79 5.14 2D-14: Location of the 2D symbol . 24
80 5.14.1 Requirement . 24
81 5.14.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 24
82 6 Near Field Communication for the Identification Link . 25
83 6.1 General . 25
84 6.2 NFC-1: When marking with NFC . 25
85 6.2.1 Requirement . 25
86 6.2.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 25
87 6.3 NFC-2: Air interface standards . 25
88 6.3.1 Requirement . 25
89 6.3.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 25
90 6.4 NFC-3: Data format and content . 26
91 6.4.1 Requirement . 26
92 6.4.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 26
93 6.5 NFC-4: Data consistency . 26
94 6.5.1 Requirement . 26
95 6.5.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 26
96 6.6 NFC-5: Protection classes and approvals . 26
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97 6.6.1 Requirement . 26
98 6.6.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 27
99 6.7 NFC-6: Durability . 27
100 6.7.1 Requirement . 27
101 6.7.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 27
102 6.8 NFC-7: Write protection . 27
103 6.8.1 Requirement . 27
104 6.8.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 27
105 6.9 NFC-8: Tag location for use in installed state . 27
106 6.9.1 Requirement . 27
107 6.9.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 27
108 6.10 NFC-9: Tag position relative to existing marking for identification . 28
109 6.10.1 Requirement . 28
110 6.10.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 28
111 6.11 NFC-10: Tag position relative to neighbouring tags . 28
112 6.11.1 Requirement . 28
113 6.11.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 28
114 6.12 NFC-11: Generic RFID Emblem in frame . 28
115 6.12.1 Requirement . 28
116 6.12.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 29
117 6.13 NFC-12: RFID Emblem visibility . 29
118 6.13.1 Requirement . 29
119 6.13.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 29
120 6.14 NFC-13: RFID Emblem position relative to tag . 29
121 6.14.1 Requirement . 29
122 6.14.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance. 30
123 (normative) Overview of characters permitted for the IL string . 31
124 (informative) Examples of Identification Link strings . 34
125 (informative) 2D symbol examples and layout considerations . 40
126 C.1 Choice of symbology . 40
127 C.2 Square and rectangular symbols . 41
128 C.3 Symbols not centered in the frame . 41
129 C.4 Layout example when space is not sufficient . 42
130 (informative) 2D symbols on curved surfaces . 43
131 (informative) Duplicates of the Identification Link . 44
132 (informative) Search Engine friendliness . 45
133 (informative) Cybersecurity aspects . 46
134 (informative) IL string as IRDI . 47
135 ANNEX I (informative) Print quality verification strategies . 48
IEC CDV 61406-1 © IEC 2025
138 Figure 1 – Example of an IL linking a physical object to information associated with it . 13
139 Figure 2 – IEC 60417-6452 frame around the 2D symbol . 23
140 Figure 3 – IEC 60417-6452-1 frame around the 2D symbol . 23
141 Figure 4 – Comparison of a 2D symbol as negative and normal positive image . 24
142 Figure 5 – Representation of an IL on a dark background . 25
143 Figure C.1 – IL size may vary depending on the used symbology left: data matrix
144 (ISO/IEC 16022), right: QR code (ISO/IEC 18004) . 41
145 Figure C.2 – IL with square and rectangular Data Matrix . 42
146 Figure C.3 – IL with 2D symbols not centred in the frame. 42
147 Figure C.4 – IL with 2D symbols quiet zone below 4 modules on 2 sides . 43
149 Table 1 - Minimum module size as a function of available space . 18
150 Table 2 - Tolerances, in modules, for placing a 2D symbol within the frame . 23
151 Table A.1 – List of ASCII Code Characters permitted as this standard to create an IL . 33
152 Table B.1 – Structure of example a) . 35
153 Table B.2 – Structure of example b) . 35
154 Table B.3 – Structure of example c) . 35
155 Table B.4 – Structure of example d) . 35
156 Table B.5 – Structure of example e) . 36
157 Table B.6 – Structure of example f) . 37
158 Table B.7 – Structure of example g) . 37
159 Table B.8 – Structure of example i) . 37
160 Table B.9 – Structure of example j) . 38
161 Table B.10 – Structure of example k) . 38
162 Table B.11 – Structure of example l) . 38
163 Table B.12 – Structure of example m) . 39
164 Table B.13 – Structure of example n) . 39
165 Table B.14 – Structure of example o) . 39
166 Table D.1 – Recommended maximum radii when using 2D Codes with error correction
167 level “Q” . 44
IEC CDV 61406-1 © IEC 2025
170 INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
171 ____________
173 IDENTIFICATION LINK
174 PART 1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
176 FOREWORD
177 1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
178 all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote international
179 co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To this end and
180 in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications, Technical Reports,
181 Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as "IEC Publication(s)"). Their
182 preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with
183 may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-governmental organizations liaising
184 with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely with the International Organization for
185 Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two organizations.
186 2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
187 consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
188 interested IEC National Committees.
189 3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
190 Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
191 Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
192 misinterpretation by any end user.
193 4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
194 transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence between
195 any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in the latter.
196 5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
197 assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
198 services carried out by independent certification bodies.
199 6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
200 7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
201 members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
202 other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
203 expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
204 Publications.
205 8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
206 indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
207 9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of patent
208 rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
209 IEC 61406 has been prepared by subcommittee 65E: Devices and integration in enterprise
210 systems, of IEC technical committee 65: Industrial-process measurement, control and
211 automation. It is an International Standard.
212 The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
65E/XX/FDIS 65E/XX/RVD
214 Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
215 the above table.
216 The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
217 This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
218 accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
219 at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
220 described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/publications.
IEC CDV 61406-1 © IEC 2025
221 The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
222 stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
223 specific document. At this date, the document will be
224 • reconfirmed,
225 • withdrawn,
226 • replaced by a revised edition, or
227 • amended.
IMPORTANT – The "colour inside" logo on the cover page of this document indicates that it
contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct understanding of its
contents. Users should therefore print this document using a colour printer.
IEC CDV 61406-1 © IEC 2025
231 INTRODUCTION
232 Every year, hundreds of millions of items, both tangible (e.g.hardware) and intangible (e.g.
233 software, resources), are bought and sold across the world. For various reasons, it is in the
234 interest of those concerned that these items, for simplicity, referred to here as physical objects
235 – can be identified for what they are.
236 When applying this standard, physical objects can be simply and unambiguously identified by
237 using a standardized Identification Link (IL), attached for example on a nameplate. This means
238 that all information relating to the physical object can be identified in various IT systems and
239 then called up, edited and stored as necessary. For industrial equipment this would cover all
240 processes from storage and retrieval to assembly, maintenance, inspection, repair and
241 disassembly. This is an invaluable advantage to all concerned. The manufacturer in turn can
242 link all information such as drawings, operating instructions and spare part lists to this IL in its
243 systems. Users, e.g. owners or operators, can do the same with their information in their
244 systems. In communication between the manufacturer and user, this IL alone suffices for both
245 parties to find and exchange all the information they need about a physical object throughout
246 its lifecycle. This IL is therefore a prerequisite for easy accessing and maintaining information
247 in the object’s digital twin.
248 Previous standards for machine-readable identification of physical objects essentially describe
249 how the traditional identification features (manufacturer, product number, serial number) can
250 be stored in a machine-readable way using standardized syntax (e.g. as per ISO/IEC 15434 [6])
251 and semantics (e.g. as per ISO/IEC 15418 [7]) so that the strings used for identification
252 according to these standards can be analyzed (parsed) and processed across all manufacturers
253 using suitable software. These regulations allow a great variety of identifiers and technologies
254 to be used, some of which can be highly complex, depending on the chosen solution. This
255 means that in the relationship between the manufacturer and the user, it must be determined
256 which parts of these regulations and which of the identification methods specified in them are
257 to be used. A universally usable identification by the manufacturer is not possible without
258 consulting the respective user. The identification options listed in these regulations also always
259 require analysis of the character string and the information encoded in it using suitable software,
260 which involves much greater requirements for further processing. Furthermore, for industrial
261 applications such as in the process manufacturing industry, there are special requirements for
262 the long-term legibility and reliability of markings in the harsh conditions of industrial
263 environments.
264 Production systems, e.g. in the process manufacturing industry, usually consist of several
265 thousand individual objects. Each of these physical objects must be uniquely identified during
266 all steps and processes in its lifecycle by both the manufacturer and the user. On the part of
267 the manufacturer, this identification starts during the production of the physical object and
268 continues during its packaging and shipping. On the part of user, this process continues with
269 the receipt, storage and retrieval of the physical object, carries on through installation,
270 commissioning, operation, inspection, maintenance, repair and disassembly, and finally ends
271 when it is scrapped.
272 The manufacturer usually provides each physical object with a code that allows it to be uniquely
273 identified. This identification is normally to be found on the nameplate.
274 The product type of the physical object can generally be clearly identified using the information
275 on the nameplate. If it is a serialized physical object, which means a serial number is present
276 on the nameplate, then it can also be identified as a single, distinguishable instance of a model.
277 However, in practice this identification of physical objects on a nameplate often cannot be read
278 and used automatically. This is a serious drawback to optimizing and in particular automating
279 identification in all work processes. The reason for this is that the characteristics of a nameplate
280 such as the content, designation, layout and fonts vary greatly according to the physical object
281 and the manufacturer. The same applies to the physical properties of the nameplate, such as
IEC CDV 61406-1 © IEC 2025
282 the material and the process for producing the graphic content (e.g. printing, etching, engraving,
283 laser marking etc.).
284 This document does not try to standardize nameplates or physical properties of nameplates,
285 due to the widely differing requirements of manufacturers and users and the vast variety of
286 objects.
287 Optimizing and automating the identification of a physical object merely requires a unique
288 machine-readable ID attached to the object. In this context, the use of a URL in a 2D symbol or
289 an NFC tag on the physical object to link to information on the Internet is becoming more
290 common. The Identification Link that is the subject of this standard covers, in a simple,
291 monomorphic and single solution, both major use cases for machine readable product marking:
292 the unique identification and the link to data on the Internet.
293 IEC 61406 comprises two parts.
294 IEC 61406-1 General requirements sets out the basic physical and syntactic requirements of the
295 Identification Link, whereby:
296 • the Identification Link designates and links to exactly one individual physical object
297 • the Identification Link does not require any additional syntactical or semantical
298 intelligence
299 In practice, these two assumptions do not always apply. For instance, many objects produced in lots
300 are not identified individually but by their lot number. These cases are covered by IEC 61406-2
301 Types/models, lots/batches, items and characteristics that specifies a Structured Identification Link
302 whereby:
303 • that gives further information about the kind of identified object, for example product,
304 person, location or document. It can contain additional data elements or classifications.
305 • that for products can designate and link to the unique information of lots/batches or
306 product codes and is not limited to the uniqueness of individual items.
307 Structured Identification Link strings according to IEC 61406-2 differ from Identification Link strings
308 according to IEC 61406-1by having a URL parameter with a name starting with a dot “.”.
309 Identification Link strings according to IEC 61406-1 are always used in combination with the
310 Identification link frame IEC 60417-6452 with full corner, indicating the association with a unique physical
311 object.
312 Structured Identification Link strings according to IEC 61406 part 2 can be combined either with an
313 Identification link frame to IEC 60417-6452 with full corner to indicate the association with a unique
314 physical object or alternatively can be combined with an Identification link frame IEC 60417-6452-1 with
315 bevelled corner to indicate an association with a group of items such as a lot/batch or product code
316 level.
IEC CDV 61406-1 © IEC 2025
317 IDENTIFICATION LINK
318 PART 1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
320 1 Scope
321 This International Standard specifies minimum requirements for a globally unique identification
322 of physical objects that also constitutes a link to its related digital information. This identification
323 is designated hereinafter as "Identification Link" (IL), with the encoded data designated as IL
324 string. The IL string has the data-format of a link (URL). The IL is machine-readable and is
325 attached to the physical object as a 2D symbol or NFC tag.
326 The requirements in this standard apply to physical objects that are individual units and have
327 been given a unique identity.
328 This document does not specify any requirements on the content and the layout of
329 nameplates/type plates (e.g. spatial arrangement, content of the plain texts, approval symbols
330 etc.).
331 Note: Electronic labelling together with the displaying of the Identification Link on screens is not in scope of this
332 standard.
333 2 Normative references
334 The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
335 constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies.
336 For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
337 amendments) applies.
338 IEC 60050-351, International Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV) - Part 351: Control technology
339 ISO 7000 / IEC 60417, Graphical symbols for use on equipment
340 Note: This is now available as a database standard
341 ISO/IEC 8859-1, Information technology – 8-bit single-byte coded graphic character sets –
342 Part 1: Latin alphabet No. 1
343 ISO/IEC 14443-1, Cards and security devices for personal identification – Contactless proximity
344 objects – Part 1: Physical characteristics
345 ISO/IEC 14443-2, Cards and security devices for personal identification – Contactless proximity
346 objects – Part 2: Radio frequency power and signal interface
347 ISO/IEC 14443-3, Cards and security devices for personal identification – Contactless proximity
348 objects – Part 3: Initialization and anticollision
349 ISO/IEC 14443-4, Cards and security devices for personal identification – Contactless proximity
350 objects – Part 4: Transmission protocol
351 ISO/IEC 15415, Information technology – Automatic identification and data capture techniques
352 – Bar code symbol print quality test specification – Two-dimensional symbols
353 ISO/IEC 15426-2, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture
354 techniques — Bar code verifier conformance specification – Part 2: Two-dimensional symbols
355 ISO/IEC 15693-1, Cards and security devices for personal identification – Contactless vicinity
356 objects – Part 1: Physical characteristics
IEC CDV 61406-1 © IEC 2025
357 ISO/IEC 15693-2, Cards and security devices for personal identification – Contactless vicinity
358 objects – Part 2: Air interface and initialization
359 ISO/IEC 15693-3, Cards and security devices for personal identification – Contactless vicinity
360 objects – Part 3: Anticollision and transmission protocol
361 ISO/IEC 16022, Information technology – Automatic identification and data capture techniques
362 – Data Matrix bar code symbology specification
363 ISO/IEC 18004, Information technology – Automatic identification and data capture techniques
364 – QR Code bar code symbology specification
365 ISO/IEC 19762, Information technology – Automatic identification and data capture (AIDC)
366 techniques – Harmonized vocabulary
367 ISO/IEC 21471:2025, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture
368 techniques — Data Matrix Rectangular Extension (DMRE) bar code symbology specification
369 ISO/IEC 23941:2022, Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture
370 techniques — Rectangular Micro QR Code (rMQR) bar code symbology specification
371 ISO/IEC 29158, Information technology – Automatic identification and data capture techniques
372 – Direct Part Mark (DPM) Quality Guideline
373 ISO/IEC 29160, Information technology – Radio frequency identification for item management
374 – RFID Emblem
375 ISO 13849-1, Safety of machinery – Safety-related parts of control systems – Part 1: General
376 principles for design
377 IETF RFC 3986:2005, Uniform Resource Identifier (URI): Generic Syntax
378 3 Terms, abbreviated terms and definitions
379 For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60050-351,
380 ISO/IEC 19762 and the following apply.
381 ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following
382 addresses:
383 • IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
384 • ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
385 3.1
386 data carrier
387 device or medium used to store data as a relay mechanism in an AIDC system
388 Note 1 to entry: Bar code, OCR character string and RF tag are examples of data carriers.
389 [SOURCE: ISO/IEC 19762:2016, 01-01-59]
390 3.2
391 Identification Link
392 IL
393 combination of 2D symbol or NFC tag and contained IL string
IEC CDV 61406-1 © IEC 2025
394 3.3
395 Identification Link string
396 IL string
397 data string in URL syntax which is the globally unique identification of a physical object and
398 points to related information on the Internet
399 Example: https://www.example.com/sd09fqw4?1P=productcode&S=serialnumber
400 3.4
401 manufacturer
402 company or organization with ultimate responsibility for the compliance of the physical object
403 with the appropriate standard or standards and to provide the product information
404 3.5
405 user
406 organization or person that is the owner or operator of the physical object
407 3.6
408 physical object
409 technical equipment such as vessels, units, machines, electronic devices and components,
410 assemblies, batteries, components, spare parts etc.
411 3.7
412 RFID Emblem
413 graphical symbol specified in ISO/IEC 29160 to inform users of the presence of RFID
414 3.8
415 symbology
416 standard means of representing data in optically machine readable form
417 Note 1 to entry: Each symbology specification sets out its particular rules of composition or symbol architecture.
418 [SOURCE: ISO/IEC 19762:2016, 02-01-02]
419 4 Identification Link string
420 4.1 ILS-1: Global uniqueness
421 4.1.1 Requirement
422 The IL string shall be a globally unique string that is assigned to only one physical object.
423 4.1.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance
424 The manufacturer and the user have an interest in unambiguously linking a physical object to
425 data accrued during its lifecycle using machine reading processes. The reasons for this might
426 include the following:
427 • If measures are carried out on a physical object, it must be unambiguously identified in
428 order to rule out any confusion with other physical objects which would endanger the
429 physical object itself, the system it is installed in, human beings or the environment.
430 • Any consistent and clear inventory management depends on unambiguous
431 identification.
432 Figure 1 shows an example of the role of the globally unique IL for linking a physical object to
433 various data and information.
IEC CDV 61406-1 © IEC 2025
435 Figure 1 – Example of an IL linking a physical object to information associated with it
436 Examples of information possibly associated to the physical object are:
437 • information from the manufacturer such as operating instructions, drawings, spare parts
438 lists and calibration records
439 • operating data such as speeds, power consumption and pressures
440 • models such as function and simulation models
441 • maintenance and inventory management data.
442 This information is required in many processes during the lifecycle of the physical object.
443 Simplifying access to this information using an IL is thus of significant benefit.
444 4.2 ILS-2: Link to additional information
445 4.2.1 Requirement
446 The IL string shall lead to additional information in digital form related to the physical object.
447 4.2.2 Rationale and supplemental guidance
448 In addition to identifying the physical object, the IL is also able to link to information pertaining
449 to the object in the manufacturer and the user systems, as well as in other systems such as
450 cloud-based third-party systems and to further information provided via the Internet.
451 Examples for additional information are a Digital Product Passport (DPP) or a Digital Twin (DT).
452 NOTE This document does not specify requirements regarding format and content of the information provided.
453 4.3 ILS-3: No reuse
454 4.3.1 Requirement
455 Once an IL string has been assigned to a physical object, it shall not be reused for any another
456 physical object, even after the maximum lifetime of the physical object has expired.
oSIST prEN IEC 61406-1:
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