Abstract: A two-dimensional bar code is used to identify a traveler's luggage, permitting the luggage to be tracked and, if desired, to be delivered to the traveler's ultimate destination (e.g., a hotel). If the traveler is traveling on an airline, a corresponding two-dimensional bar code is applied to the traveler's boarding pass. A two-dimensional bar code reader is used to read the boarding-pass bar code of each enplaning passenger; comparison of these bar codes with luggage bar-code data permits an alarm to be raised if each item of checked luggage is not matched by an enplaned passenger. The boarding-pass bar code may take the form of an integrated passenger identification code for use by, e.g., rental car companies, hotels, and the like.

Abstract: Inventory item records are affixed to inventory item holders. The inventory item records comprise two-dimensional bar code labels containing encoded item identification information and reordering information for ordering replacement inventory items. The replacement inventory items are labeled with two-dimensional bar-coded information describing the ultimate destination, and packed into a container for shipment to a receiving/distribution center. The destination information is scanned and decoded at the receiving/distribution center to enable proper routing of the replacement inventory items.