JP2009003960A - Article managing system, code determining system, article managing method, and article management code determining method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve reliability of codes to be marked and easily and accurately determine whether marked contents are correct or not. <P>SOLUTION: The article managing system 1 comprises a database for extracting a group of information (manufacture unique information) relating to each of articles on a marked article. The database is used to create a first code and a second code different in content by product. A two-dimensional code is created from the first code, the second code is converted into a character string code, and these codes are printed on an article or its accessory by a printer 41. When data obtained by reading the two dimensional code and input character strings are received from a user terminal 7, the second code corresponding to the read data is extracted from the database and whether the character strings obtained by converting the second code correspond to input ones or not are determined. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

This invention is directed to a technique for marking a code indicating that it is a legitimate article for an article (for example, an industrial product or a branded article) in which a counterfeit product imitating a legitimate article may be available. The present invention relates to a technique for determining whether or not it is correct.
The “marking” in this specification refers to various processes for fixing the content of information in a visible state, such as a printing process, a marking process, a relief process, an etching process, and a laser marking.

  In recent years, in view of the increasing number of sophisticated counterfeit products that are indistinguishable from regular articles, a technology has been developed that makes it easy to distinguish counterfeit products. Among these, information individually set for each article is encoded as an optical information code such as a two-dimensional code or a barcode, and printed on the article together with a character string corresponding to the content of the code. Yes (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2003-44257 A JP 2006-102364 A

  Patent Document 1 is intended for printed matter such as securities, and describes that a part of character information to be printed is encrypted and a two-dimensional code representing the encrypted information is printed together with the character information. (Paragraphs 0021-0026). In addition, it is described that information read from the two-dimensional code is decoded and displayed, and the operator verifies the correctness by comparing the display content with the actual print information (paragraphs 0032 to 0034).

  Patent Document 2 targets electronic parts for gaming machines, and uses a hash function for first identification information (a combination of a manufacturing number, a lot number, a serial number, etc.) having different contents depending on individual parts. Is converted into a code having a different content (check code), and the two-dimensional code in which the first identification information and the check code are embedded is printed on the surface of the component together with the character string indicating the original various information. (Paragraphs 0023, 0024, 0028, etc.). In addition, as a genuineness determination inspection after shipment, a two-dimensional code reading process is performed to decode the first identification information and the check code, and the decoded first identification information is converted and decoded. It is described that the check code is collated, and each decoded information is displayed on the monitor and visually collated with the printed character string (paragraphs 0046 to 0049).

  However, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, since the information represented by the two-dimensional code and the information that is the basis of the information are printed on the same object, the encryption rules and the like are deciphered from the relationship between the two information. There is a fear. Further, when a fake character string or a two-dimensional code is printed based on the decrypted encryption rules, there is a possibility that the forgery cannot be detected.

  The present invention pays attention to the above-mentioned problem so that the relationship between the optical information code and the character string cannot be easily deciphered, the reliability of each code is increased, and the correctness of the marking content can be determined easily and accurately. The task is to do.

  The invention related to the article management system, the code determination system, the article management method, and the code determination method described below is made to solve the above-described problems.

  The article management system includes a function for marking an article or its accessory with an optical information code and a character string code for article management, and a function for determining whether the marking content of each code is correct. In this system, a plurality of types of information relating to an article are stored in association with each other so that a group of information relating to the article can be identified for each article; A first code generating means for generating a first code indicating a content specific to the article using a part of the specified group of information; for each article, unique to each article in the group of information Second code generating means for generating a second code including information not included in the first code; optical information code generating means for generating an optical information code representing the first code; second code Character string data generating means for generating a data of a character string to be marked by performing a predetermined conversion process; an optical information code representing the first code, and a sentence generated from the second code Marking means for performing a marking process using the column data; for any article, read data obtained by reading the optical information code marked on the article or accessory and character string data representing the contents of the string Input means for receiving the input; a code specifying means for searching the storage means using the read data received by the input means as a first code and specifying a second code corresponding to the code; a second specified by the code specifying means Determining means for determining whether the same character string data as accepted by the input means can be obtained when the character string data generating means uses the code to generate the character string data; Determination result output means for outputting the information indicating whether the marking content is correct or not.

  In the above, it is desirable that the information group corresponding to each article includes at least two types of information having different contents for each article. This is because the first code and the second code must include information that is unique to each article and is not common to the codes. However, the information group may include information common to a plurality of articles. The same applies to the first code and the second code, and in addition to the unique information, information common to other articles may be included.

  The storage means may be physically constituted by a plurality of memory devices. Further, when the information included in the first code is stored in an individual storage medium (for example, RFID tag, IC chip, etc.) for each article, these storage media are also included in the storage means.

  According to the above system, since the first code and the second code generated for the same article use a common information group as a source and each contains information unique to the article, the first code and the second code Have a uniquely corresponding relationship. For this reason, the combination of the optical information code representing the first code and the character string generated from the second code can be different for each article. Therefore, when the combination of the read data read from the optical information code and the character string is the same, or when there are a plurality of articles having the same optical information code and different character strings, the articles are genuine. However, it can be determined that there is only one and all others are fake.

  Since the character string data is generated by converting the second code, the second code cannot be decoded unless the conversion rules are known. In addition, since the second code includes information unique to each article that is not in the first code, even if the second code is decoded from a character string marked on a regular article, the second code is decoded. It is impossible to forge an optical information code and a character string of a combination that can be determined as a legitimate article using the code.

  Therefore, it is impossible to analyze the mechanism of code generation based on the marked optical information code or character string, or to forge a code that can be regarded as a normal code. Therefore, it is possible to reliably detect the combination of the optical information code and the character string forged by the fraudster.

  Next, when confirming whether or not the markings attached to the hand-held article or its accessories are authentic by the above-described marking process, the user performs a reading process on the optical information code, and the reading data as a result thereof. And character string data indicating the contents of the character string are input to the system. As a result, the code specifying unit operates, and the storage unit is searched based on the input read data to specify the second code. Further, determination processing by the determination means and output processing by the determination result output means are performed.

  For example, the determination unit performs a conversion process similar to that performed by the character string data generation unit of the marking processing system using the code specified by the code specifying unit, and the generated character string data is input together with the read data. Compare with the string data. Since the first code and the second code have a uniquely corresponding relationship, the character string data converted from the specified second code is considered to be regular. Therefore, if the input character string data matches the normal character string data, the marking content is determined to be normal, but if the two character string data do not match, the marking content is determined to be fake. Is done.

  The processing performed by the determination unit is not limited to the above. For example, in the marking processing system, when the second code generated in the past and character string data are stored in association with each other, the second code specified by the code specifying means is sent to the marking processing system to cope with it. The character string data to be transmitted may be requested, and the transmitted character string data may be collated with the input character string data.

  According to the above determination processing, it is possible to correctly determine whether the marking contents are correct by comparing the regular character string data derived from the first code represented by the optical information code with the marked character string data. .

  In a preferred aspect of the article management system, the input unit is configured as a unit that receives transmission of read data and character string data from an external device. The determination result output unit is configured as a unit that returns information indicating whether the marking content is correct or not to the external device that has transmitted the read data and the character string data. This aspect is applied to a system that accepts access from an external device via a communication network such as the Internet.

  Next, the code determination system determines whether the marking contents are correct or not for the optical information code and the predetermined character string marked by the above-described marking processing, and each of the optical codes represents a first code indicating unique contents. A plurality of legitimate items marked with an information code are generated using a part of a group of information about the item, and are information of contents unique to each item in the group of information. Storage means for storing a second code that includes information not included in the code and is converted into a character string marked together with the optical information code by a predetermined conversion process in association with the first code; Read data and character string contents obtained by reading the optical information code marked on the article or accessory An input means for receiving input of character string data; a code specifying means for searching the storage means using the read data received by the input means as a first code and specifying a second code corresponding to the code; by a code specifying means Determining means for determining whether or not the same character string data as received by the input means is obtained when the character string data to be marked is generated by the conversion process using the specified second code; The determination result output means for outputting the determination result according to the above as information indicating whether the marking content is correct or not is included.

  The storage means in the above code determination system may store all of the “group of information” of each article, but is not limited to this, and at least each piece of information constituting the second code, the second code, Information relating to the first code (a part having different contents for each article in the first code) may be stored.

  In the article management method, for each article, a plurality of types of information related to the article are stored in association with each other so that a group of information relating to the article can be specified. And a second code including information unique to the article in the information group and including information not included in the first code; optical information representing the first code A step of generating a code; a step of performing a predetermined conversion process on the second code to generate data of a character string to be marked; an optical information code representing the first code for each article, and the second code Marking a character string based on the generated character string data on the article or its accessory; for any article, the article or accessory is marked A step of accepting input of read data obtained by reading processing for the optical information code and character string data representing the contents of the character string; searching the storage means using the input read data as a first code and corresponding to the code A step of specifying a second code to be performed; if character string data to be marked is generated by the conversion process using the specified second code, is the same character string data as the input being obtained? Each step of determining whether or not; outputting the result of the determination as information indicating whether the marking content is correct or not is executed.

  In the code determination method, a plurality of legitimate articles each marked with an optical information code representing a first code indicating unique contents are generated using a group of information about the articles, and the articles in the group of information Corresponding to the first code, the second code that contains information that is unique to the contents and that is not included in the first code, and that is converted into a character string marked together with the optical information code by a predetermined conversion process A step of storing in the storage means; a step of accepting input of character string data representing the content of the read data and character string obtained by reading the optical information code marked on the article or accessory for any article; The storage unit is searched using the input read data as the first code, and the second code corresponding to the code is specified. Determining whether or not the same character string data as previously input is obtained when the character string data to be marked is generated by the conversion process using the specified second code; Are output as information indicating whether the marking contents of the code are correct or not.

  According to the marking process described above, the optical information code and the character string are associated with each other via the second code that is not directly marked, and a pair of combinations is set. And since each pair of articles is marked with a pair of combinations consisting of optical information codes and character strings with unique contents, marking reliability is extremely high, and correctness of the codes can be judged correctly. it can. In addition, it is possible to easily determine that the regular marking is duplicated with the same combination of optical information code and character string attached to a plurality of articles.

  Further, according to the determination process, the user can obtain a determination result of the correctness of the marking by inputting the first code read from the optical information code and the character string marked together with the optical information code. Therefore, the correctness of the marking can be obtained easily and accurately.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of an article management system 1 according to the present invention.
This article management system 1 is operated by a manufacturer of an article (hereinafter described as an example of a product such as an electronic component), and marks a management code on a product shipped by the manufacturer, and uses the Internet. And receiving the access from the user who purchased the product via the user, and executing the process of determining whether or not the marking of the product owned by the user is correct. A firewall 6 is provided at the connection port of the system to the Internet.

  In the system, a manufacturing unique information management server 2 and a determination server 3 and a plurality of printing stations 4 (illustrated as one for convenience) are provided as an example of an apparatus for marking. The printing station 4 includes a printing processing terminal device 40 mainly composed of a computer and a printing machine 41 connected to the terminal device 40. In each of the servers 2 and 3 and the print processing terminal device 40, a program for setting various functions shown in FIGS.

  The printing machine 41 prints information including a management code on the main body of the completed product or on a label attached to the package. Although information may be printed directly on the package, in this embodiment, a printed label is attached to the package. The print processing terminal device 40 obtains unique information (same as “manufactured unique information” described later) generated for each individual product through communication with the unique manufacturing information management server 2 and the same. Data to be printed is generated using the information and supplied to the printer 41. The data to be printed includes two types of data representing management codes in addition to general information such as company name, product name, and product number. One of these constitutes a two-dimensional code, and the other is represented as a character string.

  FIG. 2 shows an example in which printing is performed on the main body surface of the product 100 (microswitch in this example) and the label 101 attached to the package 102 of the product 100. In the following description, the printed one is limited to a two-dimensional code and a character string.

  The two-dimensional code represents information having different contents for each product 100. Also for the character string, information of contents unique to each product 100 is used as a source. Specifically, it is generated by a process of encrypting information and replacing the encrypted information with numbers and alphabets. This character string functions as an indicator for identifying a legitimate product together with the two-dimensional code. Therefore, this character string is hereinafter referred to as “identification code”.

  In the example of FIG. 2, an identification code (“86Gy9hY2” as an example) is marked immediately below the two-dimensional code (hereinafter, exemplified as printing). By printing the identification code in the vicinity of the two-dimensional code in this way, it is possible to prevent the user from misidentifying other character strings as identification codes. However, the identification code may be printed at a location away from the two-dimensional code if the printing position of the identification code can be thoroughly known to each user.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the determination server 3 receives a request (hereinafter referred to as “determination”) from a device 7 (hereinafter referred to as “user terminal 7”) used by the user via the firewall 6 to determine whether the code is correct. "Request" is received, and a determination process corresponding to the request is executed.

  The determination request includes read data obtained by reading the two-dimensional code printed on the surface of the main body of the product 100 or the label 101, and character string data representing an identification code. For this reason, the user terminal 7 needs to have a function of reading a two-dimensional code in addition to a function of connecting to the Internet. For example, a personal computer connected to a code reader (not shown) for a two-dimensional code or a mobile phone having an imaging function can be used as the user terminal 7. Character string data may be input using a keyboard or the like.

  The determination server 3 uses the read data and the identification code included in the determination request from the user terminal 7 to determine whether or not they represent a correct code, and the determination result (if it is determined to be a correct code, “ A code indicating “OK”, or a code indicating “NG” if it is determined to be a fake code) is returned to the user terminal 7. This determination process proceeds using information obtained through communication with the manufacturing specific information management server 2.

  The production unique information management server 2 (hereinafter referred to as “management server 2” for short) is provided with a database for storing various information generated during the production of each product. The information to be accumulated includes, for example, a group of information that can uniquely identify each product such as product number, production lot number, and product serial number (information uniquely attached to each product) Includes information related to manufacturing management that is not unique to individual products but is commonly set for multiple products, such as date of manufacture, factory identification number, manufacturing line identification number, and other information. Associated and stored. Then, it is possible to extract or search a series of associated information from the management server 2 using information that can uniquely identify a product (for example, a combination of a product number, a production lot number, and a serial number) as key information. . Therefore, it is possible to acquire a group of information related to the manufacture and management of individual products when necessary. In addition, the information of the specific content attached | subjected to each product is not restricted to the combination of a product number, a manufacturing lot number, and a serial number. As another example, the information attached to each product may be a product serial number or a manufacturing symbol. When lot management is not performed, a combination of a product number and a serial number can be used as manufacturing specific information.

  That is, the database in the management server 2 corresponds to “storage means in which a plurality of types of information related to an article are stored in association with each other so that a group of information related to the article can be specified for each article”. Hereinafter, a group of information specified for each product is referred to as “manufacturing specific information”, and a database in the manufacturing specific information management server 2 is also referred to as “manufacturing specific information database (DB)”.

  In this embodiment, for each product, a code based on a two-dimensional code or an identification code is extracted based on manufacturing unique information corresponding to the product. FIG. 3 shows an example of the code extraction.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows manufacturing specific information of one product in a strip shape. Among them, a fill pattern is attached to a portion corresponding to information of contents specific to the one product (hereinafter referred to as “individual information”). In particular, the individual information indicated by the diagonal lines at the top is the key information described above. This means that one piece of key information associates all of the manufacturing-specific information that one product has.

  In the example of FIG. 3, a code (hereinafter referred to as “first code”) that is the basis of a two-dimensional code is generated using a predetermined number of pieces of information including key information among the manufacturing specific information, and the first Using information that is not included in the code, a code (hereinafter referred to as “second code”) that is the basis of the identification code is generated. The first code includes individual information X and pre-selected common information together with key information. The portion of the first code that is not a fill pattern may include, for example, traceability information related to manufacturing and information that the manufacturer wants to convey to the outside intentionally. The second code includes individual information Y and other common information selected in advance. Information that can only be known by the manufacturer, such as the date of manufacture, the identification number of the factory, the identification number of the manufacturing line, the identification number of the person in charge of manufacturing, is included in the portion of the second code that is not a filled pattern. The other information that is not selected as the target of the first code and the second code is information generated in the manufacturing stage (processing time in each process, measurement value at the time of inspection, inspection result, etc.), Contains confidential information that the manufacturer prohibits outflow.

  The first code is converted into a two-dimensional code using a normal encoding method. On the other hand, the second code is subjected to a predetermined conversion process so that the individual information Y does not appear. For example, encryption is performed, and the encrypted code is converted into character string data to obtain an identification code. The identification code generated here preferably has a smaller number of digits in the data string. For example, the number of digits in the data string can be reduced by performing a process of cryptographically compressing the data of the second code and converting it into a 62-digit data string.

  As described above, each of the first code and the second code includes information of contents specific to each product, so that both indicate contents specific to the product, and each code has a uniquely corresponding relationship. It is in. Therefore, the combination of the identification code generated from the second code and the two-dimensional code generated from the first code is also uniquely determined for each product. In other words, the combination of the two-dimensional code and the identification code attached to each product is applied only to the product, and the same combination of codes is not applied to other products.

  According to the code configuration as described above, the forged code can be easily and accurately specified. For example, when the contents of a two-dimensional code are set randomly, the first code read from the two-dimensional code does not actually exist. Manufacturing specific information corresponding to the code cannot be found. Therefore, it is possible to determine that the code is fake by the process of searching the manufacturing unique information database using the read data of the two-dimensional code.

  In addition, when a two-dimensional code of a legitimate product is copied and the identification code is changed or randomly set, manufacturing-specific information corresponding to the first code read from the two-dimensional code exists. The identification code derived from the generated second code is not the same as the printed identification code. Therefore, after specifying the manufacturing unique information from the read data of the two-dimensional code and generating the second code from this information, it is determined whether or not the identification code generated from the second code is the same as the printed identification code. By determining, the printed identification code can be determined to be fake.

  On the other hand, when a normal combination of the two-dimensional code and the identification code is copied as it is, the combination itself is determined to be correct. However, there should be only one product with this combination in the world, and multiple users cannot own the same combination of products. Therefore, when there are a plurality of determination requests for the same combination of codes at the same time, it may be considered that counterfeit products on which the combination codes are printed are available. It should be noted that a genuine hologram seal is affixed to any one of the product 100, the package, and the label 101, a special ink is printed on the label, or the label 101 so that the regular combination of the two-dimensional code and the identification code is not copied as it is. It may be possible to add additional measures such as making the material special.

  In the example of FIG. 3, the first code and the second code are generated with different information, but not limited to this, as shown in FIG. May be shared. However, the individual information Y needs to be set so as to be included only in the second code.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the manufacturing unique information corresponding to one product is physically divided, the information included in the first code and the information included in the second code May be extracted from different information sources. In this case, if each information source is linked with common key information, the second code corresponding to the first code can be easily specified.

FIG. 5 shows functions related to code printing processing in the article management system 1 of FIG.
In addition to the manufacturing unique information database 20, the management server 2 is provided with a transmission / reception unit 21, a manufacturing unique information reading unit 22, a data management unit 23, and the like. The transmission / reception unit 21 is for exchanging information with the print processing terminal device 40, and the manufacturing specific information reading unit 22 executes a process of reading specific manufacturing specific information from the manufacturing specific information database 20. The data management unit 23 updates the corresponding manufacturing specific information based on the management data received from the print processing terminal device 40 by the transmission / reception unit 21.

  The print processing terminal device 40 (hereinafter abbreviated as “print terminal 40”) includes a manufacturing specific information acquisition unit 42, a first code generation unit 43, a second code generation unit 44, a two-dimensional code generation unit 45, an identification code. A generation unit 46, a print control unit 47, a management data transmission unit 48, and the like are provided.

  FIG. 6 shows a flow of processing executed in the printing terminal 40 and the management server 2 for code printing. In the drawing, the processing step (ST) on the printing terminal 40 side is indicated by a numerical value of the 100th, and the processing step on the management server 2 side is indicated by a numerical value of the 10th generation. In addition, a dotted line arrow indicates a processing relationship between apparatuses.

  Hereinafter, the printing process executed by the various functions shown in FIG. 5 will be described along the flow of FIG.

  First, the manufacturing specific information acquisition unit 42 of the printing terminal 40 receives a print instruction from a production control system (not shown) and requests the management server 2 to transmit manufacturing specific information of a product to be printed (ST101). This transmission request specifies information to be transmitted, for example, by using the key information shown in FIGS.

  In the management server 2, the transmission / reception unit 21 receives the transmission request (ST11), and the manufacturing specific information reading unit 22 reads the requested manufacturing specific information (ST12). Further, the read manufacturing unique information is returned to the printing terminal 40 by the transmission / reception unit 21.

  The manufacturing specific information acquisition unit 42 of the printing terminal 40 receives the manufacturing specific information from the management server 2 (ST102) and supplies it to the first code generation unit 43 and the second code generation unit 44. The first code generation unit 43 extracts a predetermined number of information including the key information and the individual information X from the manufacturing unique information, and generates the first code by arranging them in a predetermined order (ST103). The second code generation unit 44 also extracts a predetermined number of pieces of information including the individual information Y from the manufacturing specific information, and generates the second code by arranging them in a predetermined order (ST104).

  The first code generated by the first code generation unit 43 is given to the two-dimensional code generation unit 45. The two-dimensional code generation unit 45 encodes the first code to generate a two-dimensional code (ST105).

  The second code generated by the second code generation unit 44 is given to the identification code generation unit 46. The identification code generation unit 46 converts the second code based on a predetermined encryption rule, and generates an identification code based on character string data (ST106).

  The next ST 107 is executed by the print control unit 47 and the printer 41 shown in FIG. The print controller 47 takes in the two-dimensional code and the identification code generated in STs 105 and 106 and supplies them to the printer 41. At this time, the product 100 or label 101 to be printed is sent to the printing machine 41, and each code supplied from the print control unit 47 is printed on the printing object.

  The first code generated by the first code generation unit 43 is also given to the management data transmission unit 48. The management data transmission unit 48 transmits the first code to the management server 2 as management data for specifying a printed product in response to the printing target code being output to the printing press 41 (ST108). With this ST108, the processing on the printing terminal 40 side for one product ends.

  When the transmission / reception unit 21 of the management server 2 receives the management data transmitted from the management data transmission unit 48 (ST13 is “YES”), it passes the management data to the data management unit 23. The data management unit 23 searches the manufacturing specific information database 20 and specifies manufacturing specific information corresponding to the management data (ST14). Further, the data management unit 13 stores information indicating that the code has been printed in association with the specified manufacturing-specific information of the product (for example, attaching a flag indicating “printing completed”). Is executed (ST15). With this ST15, the processing on the management server 2 side for one product is also finished.

  Note that the processing in the printing terminal 40 is not limited to the above, and a flowchart may be employed in which ST108 is omitted after returning to ST101 after performing the printing processing in ST107. In this case, the printing terminal 40 does not transmit to the management server 2 every time printing processing is performed for one product, but the management data transmitting unit 48 stores a plurality of management data (printed information). Thus, the accumulated management data is collectively transmitted to the management server 2 at a predetermined timing. Further, the management server 2 performs the processing of ST14 and ST15 for a plurality of management data.

FIG. 7 shows functions relating to code determination in the article management system 1.
The determination server 3 includes a determination request reception unit 31 that receives a determination request from the user terminal 7 and a determination result transmission unit 36 that returns a determination result to the user terminal 7. Further, a read data transmission unit 32, a processing result reception unit 33, an identification code generation unit 34, a determination processing unit 35, and the like are provided.

  The management server 2 includes a first code acquisition unit 24, a second code generation unit 25, a processing result transmission unit 26, and the like. Furthermore, the data management unit 23 and the manufacturing unique information database 20 involved in the printing process are also used for the code determination process.

  FIG. 8 shows a flow of processing executed in the determination server 3 and the management server 2 regarding the code determination processing. In FIG. 8, the processing steps on the determination server 3 side are indicated by numbers in the 200th generation, and the processing steps on the management server 2 side are indicated by 20th generation numbers. Similarly to FIG. 6, the processing relationship between apparatuses is indicated by a dotted arrow.

  Hereinafter, the determination process executed by the various functions shown in FIG. 7 will be described along the flow of FIG.

  The processing on the determination server 3 side is started in response to receiving a determination request including read data of a two-dimensional code and character string data representing an identification code from the user terminal 7. When receiving the request, the determination request receiving unit 31 individually extracts the read data and the identification code (ST201, 202). Hereinafter, for convenience, the identification code extracted from the determination request is referred to as “identification code (A)”.

  The read data of the two-dimensional code is transferred to the read data transmission unit 32 and transmitted to the management server 2 (ST203). The first code acquisition unit 24 of the management server 2 receives this read data as the first code and passes it to the data management unit 23 (ST21).

  The data management unit 23 recognizes the key information included in the supplied first code, and searches the manufacturing specific information database 20 based on the key information (ST22). When the manufacturing unique information corresponding to the key information can be extracted by this search, the entire configuration of the extracted manufacturing unique information and the first code is further compared. As a result, when the two match completely (when ST23 is “YES”), it is checked whether or not the information “print processed” is written in the extracted manufacturing unique information (ST24).

  If manufacturing-specific information that completely matches the first code is not extracted (when ST23 is “NO”) or the corresponding information has been extracted, the information “print processed” is included in the manufacturing-specific information. If not written (when ST24 is “NO”), the data management unit 23 contacts the processing result transmission unit 26 and causes the determination server 3 to transmit a code indicating “NG” (ST27).

  On the other hand, when manufacturing-specific information including the same content as the first code is extracted and information of “printing completed” is written in the information (when both of ST23 and 24 are “YES”), data The management unit 23 supplies the manufacturing specific information to the second code generation unit 25. The second code generation unit 25 generates a second code from the supplied manufacturing specific information based on the same rules as the second code generation unit 44 on the printing terminal 40 side (ST25). This second code is transmitted to the determination server 3 by the processing result transmitter 26 (ST26).

  The process on the management server 2 side with respect to the transmission of the read data from the determination server 3 ends with the above ST26 or ST27. The transmitted data is taken into the processing result receiving unit 33 of the determination server 3.

  When the processing result receiving unit 33 receives the transmission of the second code from the management server 2 (when ST204 is “YES”), the second code is given to the identification code generating unit 34. Based on the same encryption rule as the identification code generation unit 46 on the printing terminal 40 side, the identification code generation unit 34 encrypts the second code and generates an identification code (ST205). Hereinafter, the identification code generated using the second code from the management server 2 is referred to as “identification code (B)”.

  The determination processing unit 35 takes in the identification code (A) extracted by the determination request receiving unit 31 and the identification code (B) generated by the identification code generation unit 34 and collates them (ST206). When the two codes are matched by this collation (when ST207 is “YES”), the determination processing unit 35 gives a code “OK” to the determination result transmitting unit 36 and transmits it to the user terminal 7 (ST208). ). On the other hand, if the two codes do not match (when ST207 is “NO”), the determination processing unit 35 gives a code “NG” to the determination result transmission unit 36 and transmits it to the user terminal 7 (ST209). ).

  On the other hand, when the processing result receiving unit 33 receives a code “NG” instead of a two-dimensional code (when ST204 is “NO”), the code is passed to the determination processing unit 35. In this case, the determination processing unit 35 gives a code of “NG” to the determination result transmission unit 36 without performing the collation processing (ST209).

  When the transmission process of ST208 or ST209 is completed, the determination processing unit 35 stores the transmitted determination result in a memory (not shown) together with various pieces of information related to the determination (read data, identification codes (A), (B), etc.). (ST210). With this process, the process for the determination request from the user terminal 7 ends.

  7 and 8, the second code is transmitted from the management server 2 in response to the transmission of the read data from the determination server 3. However, in order to ensure the security protection of the second code. Alternatively, an identification code generation function may be set on the management server 2 side, and the identification code (B) may be returned in response to the transmission of the read data.

  According to the series of processes shown in FIG. 8, if the product to be determined is genuine, the identification code (A) extracted from the determination request and the identification generated by the second code from the management server 2 The code (B) always matches, and the determination result “OK” is transmitted in response to the determination request.

  On the other hand, when the product to be judged is a counterfeit product, the two-dimensional code is copied from any product, and the identification code is rewritten randomly, the identification code (A) and the identification code (B) The determination result “NG” is transmitted to the user terminal 7 without matching.

  In some cases, the two-dimensional code is forged, but in most cases, it is considered that there is no manufacturing-specific information corresponding to the forged two-dimensional code. Therefore, information corresponding to the read data transmitted from the determination server 3 cannot be extracted on the management server 2 side, the “NG” code is returned, and the determination result of “NG” is also transmitted to the user terminal 7. Is done. Moreover, even if the manufacturing specific information corresponding to the forged two-dimensional code exists by chance, the individual information Y included in the second code in the manufacturing specific information is held in the manufacturing specific management server 2. Therefore, it is considered that there is almost no possibility that a third party can obtain this and derive a correct identification code. Accordingly, as in the case where the identification code is forged, the identification code (A) and the identification code (B) do not match, so “NG” is also transmitted to the user terminal 7.

  As described above, according to the determination process of the system, it is possible to determine whether the code is correct or not easily and accurately.

  The article management system 1 is provided with two servers 2 and 3, and the management server 2 performs both a process for printing two types of codes and a process for determining whether the printed codes are correct. The servers 2 and 3 may be combined into one.

  Further, instead of performing the two types of processing in the same system, the system may be separated for each processing content. In this case, if the security of the second code can be ensured, the first and second codes for each printed product are transmitted from the print processing side system to the determination side system, and are sent to the determination side system. You may make it accumulate | store. In this case, the system on the determination side generates “a plurality of regular articles marked with an optical information code representing a first code indicating unique contents, using a group of information about the articles, and the group The second code that includes information that is unique to each article in the information and that is not included in the first code, and that is converted into a character string marked together with the optical information code by a predetermined conversion process, Storage means "stored in association with the first code.

  The article management system 1 is intended for electronic components, but a system having a similar configuration can be constructed for articles other than electronic components (brand products, credit cards, etc.). In this case, depending on the article, various individual information may not be generated as in the case of an electronic component. However, for example, by generating a plurality of random numbers and combining them, the contents unique to each article are generated. Information can be created and used as the individual information Y of the second code.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, all the manufacturing specific information is managed in the management server 2, but the information constituting the first code may be copied and stored in a place other than the management server 2. For example, if the object to be printed is large, the information constituting the first code is stored in a storage medium such as an RFID tag for each article, attached to the object to be printed, Reading may be performed.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an article | item management system. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of printing of a two-dimensional code and an identification code. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the data used as the origin of two types of codes. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of a structure of the data used as the origin of two types of codes. It is a functional block diagram regarding a printing process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process regarding a printing process. It is a functional block diagram regarding a code determination process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the code determination process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Article management system 2 Manufacturing specific information management server 3 Determination server 4 Printing station 7 User terminal 20 Manufacturing specific information database 23 Data management part 25 2nd code generation part 31 Determination request reception part 35 Determination processing part 36 Determination result transmission part
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 40 Print processing terminal device 41 Printing machine 43 1st code generation part 44 2nd code generation part 45 Two-dimensional code generation part 46 Identification code generation part 47 Print processing part 100 Product 101 Label 102 Package

Claims (6)

A system comprising a function of marking an article or an accessory thereof with an optical information code and a character string code for managing the article, and a function of determining whether the marking content of each code is correct or not,
Storage means for storing a plurality of types of information related to an article in association with each other so that a group of information related to the article can be specified;
For each article, first code generation means for generating a first code indicating a content specific to the article using a part of a group of information specified for the article in the storage means,
For each article, a second code generating means for generating a second code including information that is unique to each article in the group of information and is not included in the first code;
Optical information code generating means for generating an optical information code representing the first code;
Character string data generating means for generating a character string data to be marked by applying a predetermined conversion process to the second code;
Marking means for executing the marking process using an optical information code representing the first code and character string data generated from the second code;
For any article, input means for receiving input of read data obtained by reading processing on the optical information code marked on the article or accessory and character string data representing the contents of the character string;
Code specifying means for searching the storage means with the read data received by the input means as a first code, and specifying a second code corresponding to the code;
When the character string data generating means generates character string data using the second code specified by the code specifying means, it is determined whether or not the same character string data accepted by the input means can be obtained. Determination means to perform,
An article management system comprising: a judgment result output means for outputting a judgment result by the judgment means as information indicating whether the marking content of the code is correct or not.   The input means is configured as a means for receiving transmission of read data and character string data from an external device, and the determination result output means is configured to output the marking content to the external device that has transmitted the read data and character string data. The article management system according to claim 1, wherein the article management system is configured as means for returning information indicating whether the product is correct or not. A system for judging the correctness of the marking contents for an optical information code and a predetermined character string marked on an article or its accessories,
A plurality of legitimate articles each marked with an optical information code representing a first code indicating unique contents, generated using a group of information about the article, and contents unique to each article in the group of information And a second code that includes information that is not included in the first code and is converted into a character string marked together with the optical information code by a predetermined conversion process, is stored in association with the first code Stored storage means,
For any article, an input means for receiving input of read data obtained by a reading process on the optical information code marked on the article or accessory and character string data representing the contents of the character string;
Code specifying means for searching the storage means with the read data received by the input means as a first code, and specifying a second code corresponding to the code;
When the character string data to be marked is generated by the conversion process using the second code specified by the code specifying means, it is determined whether or not the same character string data accepted by the input means can be obtained. Determination means to perform,
A code determination system comprising: determination result output means for outputting a determination result by the determination means as information indicating whether the marking content is correct or not.   The input means is configured as a means for receiving transmission of read data and character string data from an external device, and the determination result output means is configured to output the marking content to the external device that has transmitted the read data and character string data. The code determination system according to claim 4, wherein the code determination system is configured as means for returning information indicating whether the data is correct or not. A method for managing an article using an optical information code and a character string code,
A first code indicating a content specific to each article for each article, using a storage means in which a plurality of types of information relating to the article are stored in association with each other so that a group of information relating to the article can be specified. And a second code including information unique to the article in the information group and including information not included in the first code,
Generating an optical information code representing the first code;
Performing a predetermined conversion process on the second code to generate data of a character string to be marked;
For each article, marking an optical information code representing the first code and a character string based on character string data generated from the second code on the article or an accessory thereof,
A step of accepting input of read data obtained by a reading process on an optical information code marked on the article or an accessory and character string data representing the content of the character string for an arbitrary article;
Searching the storage means using the input read data as a first code, and specifying a second code corresponding to the code;
Determining whether or not the same character string data as the input can be obtained when the character string data to be marked is generated by the conversion process using the specified second code;
Outputting the result of the determination as information indicating whether the marking content is correct or not;
Article management method for executing each of the steps. A method for determining whether the marking content is correct or not with respect to an optical information code and a predetermined character string marked on an article or an accessory thereof,
A plurality of legitimate articles each marked with an optical information code representing a first code indicating unique contents, generated using a group of information about the article, and contents unique to each article in the group of information A second code that includes information not included in the first code and is converted into a character string marked together with the optical information code by a predetermined conversion process, in association with the first code. Step to store,
A step of accepting input of read data obtained by a reading process on an optical information code marked on the article or an accessory and character string data representing the content of the character string for an arbitrary article;
Searching the storage means using the input read data as a first code, and specifying a second code corresponding to the code;
Determining whether or not the same character string data as the input can be obtained when the character string data to be marked is generated by the conversion process using the specified second code;
Outputting the result of the determination as information indicating whether the marking content is correct or not;
A code determination method for article management that executes each step of

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