JP2006318085A - Information processor, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily prepare a household account book. <P>SOLUTION: Such information relating to payment (called payment information) as the article name of merchandise, price (amount), purchase date, store name, address and telephone number is printed on a receipt 2, and a two-dimensional code 2A incorporating information including the payment information is also printed. A portable terminal 3 is a compact device having a camera 11 such as a mobile phone or PDA. When the image of the two-dimensional code 2A of the receipt 2 is picked up by a camera 11 according to the operation of a user, a portable terminal 3 extracts the payment information incorporated into the two-dimensional code 2A from image data acquired as the result, and generates household account information by using the extracted payment information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and a program, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus and method, and a program that allow a household account book to be easily created.

  In order to eliminate the hassle of creating a household account book by handwriting, so-called household account book software has been developed that allows a household account book to be easily created on a personal computer.

  In addition, providing receipts that can reduce the labor of customers who receive services (see Patent Document 1), and outputting household memos, etc. as a bank card usage statement card over multiple months (Reference Document 2) ) Etc. are also proposed.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-4271 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-5838

  However, in any of the methods, since the final collection of the household account book must be performed manually by the user, the troublesomeness of creating the household account book could not be solved.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a condition, and makes it possible to create a household account book easily.

  An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit that images a code in which payment information is incorporated, and an extraction unit that analyzes image data obtained as a result of imaging by the imaging unit and extracts payment information. Features.

  Generation means for generating household account book information from the payment information extracted by the extraction means can be further provided.

  A communication unit that communicates with one or more other information processing devices connected to the information processing device via a network is further provided, and the communication unit includes payment information and at least one other information processing device. Another information processing apparatus that has been transmitted to the information processing apparatus and has received the payment information can be transmitted to another information processing apparatus that can generate household account book information from the payment information.

  The information processing method of the present invention includes an imaging step of imaging a code in which payment information is incorporated, and an extraction step of analyzing image data obtained as a result of imaging at the imaging step and extracting payment information. It is characterized by.

  The program of the present invention includes an imaging step for imaging a code in which payment information is incorporated, and an extraction step for analyzing image data obtained as a result of imaging in the imaging step and extracting payment information. And

  In the information processing apparatus and method and the program of the present invention, a code in which payment information is incorporated is imaged, and image data obtained as a result of the imaging is analyzed to extract payment information.

  According to the present invention, a household account book can be easily created.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Correspondences between constituent elements described in the claims and specific examples in the embodiments of the present invention are exemplified as follows. This description is to confirm that specific examples supporting the invention described in the claims are described in the embodiments of the invention. Therefore, even though there are specific examples that are described in the embodiment of the invention but are not described here as corresponding to the configuration requirements, the specific examples are not included in the configuration. It does not mean that it does not correspond to a requirement. On the contrary, even if a specific example is described here as corresponding to a configuration requirement, this means that the specific example does not correspond to a configuration requirement other than the configuration requirement. not.

  Further, this description does not mean that all the inventions corresponding to the specific examples described in the embodiments of the invention are described in the claims. In other words, this description is an invention corresponding to the specific example described in the embodiment of the invention, and the existence of an invention not described in the claims of this application, that is, in the future, a divisional application will be made. Nor does it deny the existence of an invention added by amendment.

An information processing apparatus according to claim 1 is provided.
An imaging means (for example, the camera 11 in FIG. 3) for imaging a code in which payment information is embedded;
An extraction unit (for example, the control unit 13 in FIG. 3) that analyzes the image data obtained as a result of imaging by the imaging unit and extracts the payment information is provided.

The information processing apparatus according to claim 2
Generation means (for example, control unit 13 in FIG. 3) for generating household account book information (for example, FIG. 2) from the payment information extracted by the extraction means.
Is further provided.

An information processing apparatus according to claim 3 is provided.
Communication means (for example, the communication unit 31 in FIG. 7) that communicates with one or more other information processing devices connected to the information processing device via a network,
The communication means transmits the payment information to at least one other information processing device of the other information processing device,
The other information processing apparatus to which the payment information has been transmitted is transmitted to another information processing apparatus capable of generating household account book information from the payment information.

The information processing method according to claim 4 and the program according to claim 5 are:
An imaging step (e.g., step S1 in FIG. 4) for imaging a code in which payment information is embedded;
And an extraction step (for example, step S2 in FIG. 4) for analyzing the image data obtained as a result of imaging in the imaging step and extracting the payment information.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of use of a mobile terminal 3 to which the present invention is applied.

  The receipt 2 is, for example, a receipt issued according to the product purchased by the user from the register 1 in the store, and includes the item name, price (amount), purchase date / time, store of the product for which the price has been paid Information such as name, address, and telephone number (hereinafter referred to as payment information) is printed, and a two-dimensional code (for example, QR code) 2A incorporating information including the payment information is printed.

  The mobile terminal 3 is a small device having a camera 11 such as a mobile phone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). When the two-dimensional code 2A portion of the receipt 2 is imaged by the camera 11 by the user's operation, the mobile terminal 3 extracts the payment information embedded in the two-dimensional code 2A from the image data obtained as a result. The household account book information as shown in FIG. 2 can be generated using the extracted payment information.

  The household account book information in FIG. 2 includes a store name, an address, a telephone number, a purchase date and time, a purchased item name, and an amount thereof, and is generated by appropriately adding the contents of payment information extracted from the receipt 2.

  That is, for example, the user of the mobile terminal 3 simply captures the two-dimensional code 2A portion of the receipt 2 received after purchasing the product with the camera 11 of the mobile terminal 3, and the so-called household account book is obtained from the payment information about the purchased product. Can be attached.

  FIG. 3 shows an internal configuration example of the mobile terminal 3.

  The camera 11 supplies image data obtained as a result of imaging to the control unit 13.

  The operation unit 12 includes a shutter, a button, a cross key, and the like, and notifies the control unit 13 of the operation content by the user.

  The control unit 13 controls each unit according to the internal operation of the user notified from the operation unit 12. For example, the control unit 13 analyzes the image data of the two-dimensional code 2A of the receipt 2 obtained as a result of imaging by the camera 11, extracts the payment information, and stores the contents of the payment information in the storage unit 14. It is added and updated to the household account book information (FIG. 2).

  The display unit 15 appropriately displays the household account book information stored in the storage unit 14.

  Next, household account book information generation processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the user operates the operation unit 12 (shutter) of the portable terminal 3 and the camera 11 captures the two-dimensional code 2A portion of the receipt 2, in step S1, the control unit 13 displays the image data obtained as a result of the imaging. Input from the camera 11.

  In step S2, the control unit 13 analyzes the input image data of the two-dimensional code 2A and extracts payment information.

  In step S <b> 3, the control unit 13 adds and updates the content of the extracted payment information to the household account book information stored in the storage unit 14.

  Housekeeping book information is generated as described above.

  In the above, although the mobile terminal 3 itself has generated (updated) the household account book information, the mobile terminal 3 sends the acquired payment information via the Internet 4 and the home network 5 as shown in FIG. , Information processing devices connected to the home network 5 (in this example, two information processing devices 6-1 or 6-2) (hereinafter, if there is no need to distinguish between them, simply the information processing device 6 It is also possible to make the information processing device 6 generate household account book information and store it there.

  In the example of FIG. 5, a software cell, which will be described later, is transmitted and received between the mobile terminal 3 and the information processing apparatus 6, so that the mobile terminal 3 and the information processing apparatus 6 become virtual as shown in FIG. 6. It is configured to operate as one information processing apparatus 7.

  FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of the mobile terminal 3 of FIG. The mobile terminal 3 is further provided with a communication unit 31 that controls communication with the Internet 4 and the home network 5 in the mobile terminal 3 of FIG. 3, and a control unit 32 is provided instead of the control unit 13. ing.

  In addition, a storage unit corresponding to the storage unit 14 in FIG. 3 of the portable terminal 3 includes a fixed disk (hard disk), a removable disk, an optical disk such as MO, CD ± RW, or DVD ± RW, a memory disk, and SRAM (static RAM). ), And external recording units 41-1 and 41-2 such as a ROM.

  The other parts are the same as in FIG.

  FIG. 8 shows a configuration example of the control unit 32.

  The control unit 32 includes an information processing controller 51 as a computer function unit.

  The main processor 61 of the information processing controller 51 performs schedule management of program execution (data processing) by the sub processors 62-1 to 62-3 and general management of the information processing controller 51. The main processor 61 has an LS (local storage) 61A.

  The sub processors 62-1 to 62-3 execute programs and process data in parallel and independently under the control of the main processor 61. The sub processor 62 has an LS (local storage) 62A.

  A DMAC (dynamic memory access controller) 63 accesses programs and data stored in the main memory 71 connected to the information processing controller 51. A DC (disk controller) 64 accesses the external recording unit 41 connected to the information processing controller 51.

  The main processors 61 to DC64 are connected via a bus 65.

  The main memory 71 is composed of a DRAM (dynamic RAM) or the like.

  The information processing controller 51 is assigned an identifier that can uniquely identify the device including the information processing controller 51 throughout the network 5 as a device ID.

  Returning to FIG. 5, the information processing apparatus 6 is, for example, a personal computer or an AV device, and includes the information processing controller 51, the main memory 71, and the external recording unit 41 illustrated in FIG. 8. In addition, although illustration of the information processing controller, main memory, and external recording unit of the information processing device 6 is omitted, in the following description, the information processing controller, main memory, and external recording unit are the same as those in FIG. It shall be attached with the symbol.

  Next, the configuration of the software cell exchanged between the mobile terminal 3 and the information processing apparatus 6 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The software cell includes a transmission source ID, a transmission destination ID, a response destination ID, a cell interface, and an execution section. When the software cell is transmitted over the Internet 4, an appropriate encryption process is performed.

  The transmission source ID includes the network address of the mobile terminal 3 or the information processing device 6 that is the transmission source of the software cell, the device ID, and the identifiers of the main processor 61 and the sub processor 62.

  In the transmission destination ID and the response destination ID, the network address, the device ID, the mobile terminal 3 or the information processing apparatus 6 that is the transmission destination of the software cell and the (response destination) transmission result of the software cell, In addition, identifiers of the main processor 61 and the sub processor 62 are included.

  The cell interface is information necessary for using the software cell, and includes a global ID, necessary sub-processor information, a sandbox size, and a previous software cell ID as shown in FIG.

  The global ID can uniquely identify the software cell throughout the network 5 and is created based on the transmission source ID and the date and time of creation or transmission of the software cell.

  As the necessary sub-processor information, the number of sub-processors 62 necessary for executing the software cell is set.

  As the sandbox size, the amount of memory of the main memory 71 and the LS 62A of the sub processor 62 necessary for executing the software cell is set.

  The previous software cell ID is an identifier of the previous software cell of one group of software cells that requests sequential execution of streaming data or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the execution section of the software cell includes a DMA command list, a program (subprocessor program), and data.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the DMA command list includes a series of DMA commands necessary for program startup, such as a load command, a kick command, a status request command, a status return command, and a function program execution command.

  The load command includes a main memory address, a sub processor ID, and an LS address in addition to a command for loading information in the main memory 71 to the LS 62A of the sub processor 62.

  The main memory address indicates an address of a predetermined area in the main memory 71 from which information is loaded. The sub processor ID and the LS address indicate the identifier of the sub processor 62 to which information is loaded and the address of the LS 62A.

  The kick command includes a sub processor ID and a program counter in addition to a command for starting execution of the program. The sub processor ID identifies the sub processor 62 to be kicked, and the program counter is an address for a program execution program counter.

  The status request command requests transmission of device information related to the current operating state (situation) of the mobile terminal 3 or the information processing device 6 indicated by the transmission destination ID to the mobile terminal 3 or the information processing device 6 indicated by the response destination ID. It is a command to do.

  The status reply command is a command in which the portable terminal 3 or the information processing apparatus 6 that has received the status request command responds to the portable terminal 3 or the information processing apparatus 6 indicated by the response destination ID included in the status request command. It is. The status reply command stores device information in the data area of the execution section.

  The function program execution command is a command for the mobile terminal 3 or the information processing device 6 to request execution of the function program from another device. The information processing controller 51 of the portable terminal 3 or the information processing apparatus 6 that has received the function program execution command identifies the function program to be activated by the function command ID.

  The program in the execution section includes a sub processor program executed by the sub processor 62. Data is data processed by a program including this sub processor program.

  The portable terminal 3 and the information processing device 6 appropriately generate and transmit / receive the above software cells according to the contents to be processed.

  For example, in the network system in the example of FIG. 5, one device becomes a master device, and the master device acquires device information of other devices (slave devices), as shown in FIG. Although it is possible to operate as a single virtual information processing device 7, when the master device acquires device information of a slave device, the master device generates a software cell whose DMA command is a status request command And send it to the slave device. When the slave device receives the status request command, the slave device generates a software cell including the DMA command as a status return command and device information as execution section data, and transmits the software cell to the master device. The master device receives the software cell transmitted from the slave device, reads the device information of the slave device stored as the data of the execution section, and stores it.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of device information.

  The device type ID of the device information includes a value representing the characteristics of the device including the information processing controller 51. The device features include, for example, a personal computer, a hard disk recorder, a PDA, a portable CD player, a mobile phone, and the like. It is assumed that values representing the characteristics and functions of a device are determined in advance, and it is possible to grasp the characteristics and functions of the device by reading the device type ID.

  The MS status indicates whether the device is operating as a master device or a slave device. When this device is set to 0, it indicates that the device is operating as a master device. Is set, it indicates that it is operating as a slave device.

  The main processor operating frequency represents the operating frequency of the main processor 61. The main processor usage rate represents the usage rate in the main processor 61 for all programs currently operating in the main processor 61 of the apparatus.

  The number of sub processors represents the number of sub processors 62 provided in the apparatus. The sub processor ID is an identifier for identifying each sub processor 62 in the information processing controller 51.

  The sub processor status represents the state of each sub processor 62 and includes states such as unused, reserved, and busy. Unused indicates that the sub processor 62 is not currently used and is not reserved for use. Reserved indicates a state that is not currently used but is reserved. Busy indicates that it is currently in use.

  The sub processor usage rate represents a usage rate in the sub processor 62 for a program currently being executed or reserved in the sub processor 62. That is, the sub processor usage rate indicates the current usage rate when the sub processor status is Busy, and indicates the estimated usage rate that will be used later when the sub processor status is reserved.

  One set of the sub processor ID, sub processor status, and sub processor usage rate is set for one sub processor, and the number of sets corresponding to the sub processor 62 of one information processing controller 51 is set.

  The main memory total capacity and main memory usage represent the total capacity of the main memory 71 connected to the information processing controller 51 and the capacity currently in use, respectively.

  The number of external recording units represents the number of external recording units 41 connected to the information processing controller 51. The external recording unit ID is information that uniquely identifies the external recording unit 41 connected to the information processing controller 51. The external recording unit type ID represents the type of the external recording unit 41 (for example, hard disk, memory, etc.).

  The external recording unit total capacity and the external recording unit usage amount represent the total capacity in the external recording unit 41 identified by the external recording unit ID and the external recording unit type ID, and the amount currently in use, respectively.

  The external recording unit ID, the external recording unit type ID, the external recording unit total capacity, and the external recording unit usage amount are set for one external recording unit 41 and connected to the information processing controller 51. The number of external recording units 41 is set. That is, when a plurality of external recording units 41 are connected to one information processing controller 51, different external recording unit IDs are assigned to the respective external recording units 41, the external recording unit type ID, the external recording unit capacity, and the external Recording unit usage is managed separately.

  The device information is configured as described above. The device information is added to the device ID for uniquely identifying the device in the network 5, stored in the software cell, and provided to the master device. . The master device stores the device information of the slave device in the main memory 71.

  Next, household account book information generation processing in the example of FIG. 5 will be described.

  For example, when the portable terminal 3 as the slave device extracts payment information from the image data of the two-dimensional code 2A (FIG. 1) obtained as a result of imaging by the camera 11, the DMA command (FIG. 9) A function program execution command for requesting execution of the (function program) and a software cell including payment information as data (execution section) are generated and transmitted to, for example, the information processing apparatus 6-1 as a master apparatus.

  The main processor 61 of the information processing controller 51 of the information processing device 6-1 that has received a software cell, which is a function program execution command for requesting execution of the household account book information generation program by the DMA command, reads the command, and 71, information processing device 6 (information processing device 6 capable of executing a household account book information generation program) capable of executing the command is detected.

  Specifically, the main processor 61 of the information processing device 6-1 refers to the device information and relates to the processing capacity of the main processor 61 or the sub processor 62 of the information processing devices 6-1 and 6-2 and the main memory 71. Information is read out, and it is determined whether or not the apparatus satisfies the required specifications necessary for executing the household account book information generation program.

  As a result, the information processing device 6-1 selects, for example, the information processing device 6-2 as an execution request destination slave device, and the main processor 61 of the information processing controller 51 of the information processing device 6-1 transmits from the mobile terminal 3. A command including the received payment information is transmitted to the information processing device 6-2, and the execution is requested.

  The main processor 61 included in the information processing controller 51 of the information processing device 6-2 analyzes the received command, loads a function program necessary for generating household account book information from the external recording unit 41 to the main memory 71, A process of generating household account book information is executed according to the payment information, and the household account book information obtained as a result is stored (FIG. 2).

  In this way, the household account book generation process is executed in the network system shown in FIG.

  In the example of FIG. 5, the payment information extracted by the mobile terminal 3 is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 6 connected to the home network 5, but for example, a blog server (not shown) connected to the Internet 4. You can also send it to and manage it on your blog.

  Further, in the example of FIG. 1, the payment information is extracted by imaging the two-dimensional code 2A portion printed on the receipt 2, but as shown in FIG. It is also possible to display the two-dimensional code 1B at the time of issuance and capture the image.

  1 and 5, the mobile terminal 3 extracts payment information from the two-dimensional code 2A of the receipt 2. However, it is also possible to extract payment information from a stationary device instead of a mobile device.

  The series of processes described above can be executed by dedicated hardware or can be executed by software. When a series of processing is performed by software, for example, the series of processing can be realized by causing a (personal) computer as shown in FIG. 12 to execute a program.

  In FIG. 12, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111 executes various processes according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 112 or a program loaded from a hard disk 114 to a RAM (Random Access Memory) 113. . The RAM 113 also appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 111 to execute various processes.

  The CPU 111, the ROM 112, and the RAM 113 are connected to each other via a bus 115. An input / output interface 116 is also connected to the bus 115.

  The input / output interface 116 includes an input unit 118 including a keyboard, a mouse, and an input terminal, a display including a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and an LCD (Liquid Crystal display), an output terminal, and an output unit 117 including a speaker. A communication unit 119 including a terminal adapter, an ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) modem, a LAN (Local Area Network) card, and the like is connected. The communication unit 119 performs communication processing via various networks such as the Internet.

  A drive 120 is also connected to the input / output interface 116, a magnetic disk (including a floppy disk) 131, an optical disk (including a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory) DVD Digital Versatile Disk)) 132, a magneto-optical disk. 133 (including MD (Mini Disk)) or a removable medium (recording medium) 134 such as a semiconductor memory is appropriately mounted, and a computer program read from the medium is installed in the hard disk 114 as necessary.

  In the present specification, the steps described in the flowcharts are executed in parallel or individually even if they are not necessarily processed in time series, as well as processes performed in time series in the described order. It also includes processing.

  Further, in this specification, the system represents the entire apparatus constituted by a plurality of apparatuses.

It is a figure which shows the usage example of the portable terminal 3 to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the example of household account book information. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the portable terminal 3 of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining a household account book information generation process. It is a figure which shows the other usage example of the portable terminal 3 to which this invention is applied. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a virtual information processing apparatus 7. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the portable terminal 3 of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the control part 32 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a software cell. It is a figure which shows the example of apparatus information. It is a figure which shows the other usage example of the portable terminal 3 to which this invention is applied. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a personal computer 101. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  2 Receipt 3 Mobile terminal 5 Home network 6 Information processing device 11 Camera 13 Control unit 31 Communication unit 32 Control unit 41 External recording unit 51 Information processing controller 61 Main processor 62 Sub processor 63 DMAC, 64 DC, 71 Main memory

Claims (5)

An imaging means for imaging a code incorporating payment information;
An information processing apparatus comprising: an extraction unit that analyzes the image data obtained as a result of imaging by the imaging unit and extracts the payment information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: generating means for generating household account book information from the payment information extracted by the extracting means. A communication means for communicating with one or more other information processing devices connected to the information processing device via a network;
The communication means transmits the payment information to at least one other information processing device of the other information processing device,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the other information processing apparatus to which the payment information is transmitted transmits to the other information processing apparatus capable of generating household account book information from the payment information. . An imaging step of imaging a code with embedded payment information;
And an extraction step of extracting the payment information by analyzing the image data obtained as a result of imaging in the imaging step. In a program executed by a processor that controls an information processing apparatus that performs image processing,
An imaging step of imaging a code with embedded payment information;
An extraction step of analyzing the image data obtained as a result of imaging in the imaging step and extracting the payment information.

Images