GB2268442A

GB2268442A - Automatic telephone dialling card with multi-stage bar code and card printer

Info

Publication number: GB2268442A
Application number: GB9301817A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shoichi Saitoh
Original assignee: Sento Krei
Current assignee: Sento Krei
Priority date: 1992-04-30
Filing date: 1993-01-29
Publication date: 1994-01-12
Also published as: GB9301817D0; DE4313595A1; FR2690773A1

Abstract

An information card e.g. a business card, used for information processing wherein one row of a bar code symbol and a multi-stage bar code symbol are printed on one side of the information card, while characters are printed on the other side thereof. One row of a bar code symbol 22, 24 represents telephone number data, and the multi-stage bar code symbol 26-32 represents a designated code which indicates information and specifies a processing method of the read-in information. Automatic dialling is performed by reading the bar code representing telephone number data, and the process specified in a designated code is executed by reading the multi-stage bar code. The multi-stage bar code comprises parallel rows of bar codes separated by bars (SB, Fig.3). The card printed includes a box-shaped hopper 40 for receiving a stack of the cards which are fed to the printed one-by-one 46 through a slit aperture (48, Fig.8) by means of skewed roller 44 in the base of the hopper.

Description

INFORMATION CARD, INFORMATION CARD PRINTER AND INFORMATION CARD SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an information card, an information card printer and an information card system, and more particularly, to an information card in which two types of bar code symbols are recorded on one side thereof by printing or the like and character information such as alphanumeric characters, kanji characters, katakana characters, hiragana characters, etc. is recorded on the other side thereof by printing or the like, a printer for printing such an information card, and an information card system employing such information card.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART As is well known, an automatic telephone calling system has been disclosed in which a bar code reader reads a bar code printed on a visiting card (which may also be referred to as a name card or business card) so as to automatically perform a telephone calling operation. JAN/EAN(UPC) symbols are used for the bar code symbol. One character of this bar code symbol is comprised of a combination of four types of bars and four types of spaces forming 7 modules. The characters which can be represented with this bar code symbol are only the numerical characters, 0 to 9.

The JAN/EAN(UPC) bar code symbol, used in the abovedescribed prior art was the standard common product code symbol and has been utilized all over the world. However, this symbol lacks universality because of it being intended for use in a distribution system. When this symbol is used with a card of a size similar to the visiting card, the volume of information it can record is only about 40 to 50 characters. Therefore there is a low recording density making it impossible to represent addresses, a company name, a personal name and other necessary information with this bar code symbol. As a result, this bar code symbol cannot be used in various types of information processing systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the present invention to provide an information card which has a high recording density and can be used in various types of information processing systems, a printer for printing this information card, and an information card system employing this information card.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the information card of the present invention comprises one row of a bar code symbol for representing telephone number data by the bar code, and a multistage bar code symbol which represents information by the bar code and includes plural rows of bar code symbols separated by separating bars, both of which are recorded on one side of the information card.

The multistage bar code of the information card can be provided with a code for indicating a section of the recorded information and a designated code for specifying a processing method of the read-in information.

The information card printer of the present invention for printing the information card comprises: accommodating means for accommodating information card sheets and having a slit formed in a side wall in a vicinity of a bottom surface of the accommodating means, the slit being used for passing the information card sheets therethrough one-by-one; carrier means which carries each information card sheet through the slit and carries it out from the accommodating means; first printing means for printing a bar code symbol on one side of each information card sheet which is carried out from the accommodating means; and second printing means for printing characters on the other side of each information card sheet which is carried out from the accommodating means.

The information processing system of the present invention comprises: an information card in which one row-of bar code symbols for representing telephone number data by the bar code, and a multistage bar code symbol which represents information by the bar code and includes plural rows of bar code symbols separated by separator bars are recorded on one side of the information card; reading means for reading the code recorded on the information card; and processing means for processing in accordance with the read-in information.

According to the present invention, the information card has one row of bar code symbols for representing telephone number data by a bar code, recorded thereon, so that the information card can be used for an automatic dialing unit which automatically performs a telephone calling operation by reading this bar code with a pen-type scanner or the like. Also, since the information card includes information recorded with the multistage bar code symbol which can represent a large amount of information in a limited area of the information card, it can access different types of information processing systems by reading this bar code. The information to be represented with the multistage bar code includes addresses, a company name, a company title, messages, business guides, a membership number, a blood type, a birth date and the like.

The information is recorded by providing the multistage bar code symbol with a code symbol for indicating a section of the recorded information and a designated code symbol for specifying a processing method of the read-in information so as to specify a method of processing the information and the like after the bar code is read, thereby reducing the capacity of a program on the side of a computer.

In the information card printer of the present invention for printing information cards, the information card sheets accommodated in an accommodating means are passed through a slit one-by-one and are carried out from the accommodating means by means of a carrier means. Each information card sheet carried out from the accommodating means include bar code symbols printed on one side of the information card sheet by means of a first printing means, and characters printed on the other side of the information card sheet by means of a second printing means.

In the information card and the system thereof according to the present invention as described above1 an excellent advantageous effect can be provided in that, since information is recorded with the multistage bar code symbol, a large amount of data can be recorded in a limited area of the information card, thereby allowing the information card of the present invention to be used as an information card which accesses various information systems.

Further, the information card printer of the present invention can provide a superior effect in that information cards can be printed promptly since both sides of the card sheet are printed by means of the first and the second printing means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a plan view showing an information card in which two types of bar code symbols have been printed thereon.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing one character of a multistage bar code.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing a data structure of the multistage bar code.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing a data array of a NW-7 bar code symbol.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a printing system for a visiting card.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a printer.

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing a bottom surface of a holder in the printer.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the holder in the printer.

Fig. 9 is a flow chart showing a processing routine of a personal computer.

Fig. 10 is a flow chart showing a processing routine of a printer.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing a JIS Kanji code list.

Fig. 12 is a partially enlarged view of the JIS Kanji code list.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view showing a condition in which. the JIS Kanji code list is converted to a coordinate system based on 94 numbers.

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view showing a kanji code list of an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, an embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail.

Fig. 1 shows one side of an information card of the present embodiment. The information card 20 has a size of approximately 91 mm x 55 mm and a thickness of about 175 to 210 microns. In the vicinity of the shorter side on one surface of the information card, a first bar code symbol 22 for representing telephone number data by a bar code is printed along the shorter side, and in the vicinity of the printed first bar code symbol 22 a second bar code symbol 24 for representing facsimile number data by a bar code is printed parallel to the first bar code symbol 22.The first bar code symbol 22 and the second bar code symbol 24 are each represented, using the NW-7 code, in that a start code ST, telephone number data comprising an out-of-town call number, a local line number and an individual phone number, a check digit CD, and a stop code SP are arranged sequentially, as shown in Fig. 4. The NW-7 code has seven modules for each one character, comprised of four bars and three spaces formed between the four bars. Two or three bars, or spaces from among them are thick. In the present embodiment, for the purpose of distinguish between the telephone number data and facsimile number data, the first bar code symbol 22 and the second bar code symbol 24 have different start codes ST and different stop codes SP.

Namely, the first bar code symbol 22 representing telephone number data uses the "A" code for its start code ST and stop code SP, while the second bar code symbol 24 representing facsimile number data uses the "B" code for its start code ST and stop code SP. Accordingly, judging whether the start code is A or B enables the identification of the telephone number or the facsimile number. In addition, a third bar code symbol for representing telex number data by a bar code may be further printed parallel to the second bar code symbol 24 on the same surface of the information card. In this case, it is preferable that each start code ST and stop code SP of the respective bar code symbols be different from each other in order to identify the first bar code symbol, the second bar code symbol and the third bar code symbol.

Alternatively, any one of the first, the second and the third bar code symbols may be printed.

In the vicinity of the above-described bar code symbols represented by the NW-7 code, a first multistage bar code symbol 26, a second multistage bar code symbol 28, a third multistage bar code symbol 30 and a fourth multistage bar code symbol 32, all of which are configured from four blocks, are printed.

Such a multistage bar code is to represent a large amount of data in a limited area of the information card, and is comprised of plural rows (2 to 16 rows) of variable length which codes 128 characters in the full ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) and employs the character set pattern of the Code 128 in the UPC code. 77 full ASCII characters and 154 numerical characters is the maximum that can be represented in 16 rows.

Referring to Fig. 2, one character is comprised of 11 modules, of which the first one is a space, with three bars and three spaces. Each bar and space is comprised of 1 to 4 modules.

The multistage bar code of 16 rows is employed in the present embodiment, and the symbol for each row of the 16row multistage bar code is constructed in that a left-side quiet zone LQZ, start codes ST, a guard bar GB, characters CH, stop codes SP, and a right-side quiet zone RQZ are sequentially arranged as shown in Fig. 3. This symbol for each row has 81 modules as indicated in Table 1 given below.

Each row is separated by separator bars SB, and the separator bars are also provided on the upper side of the uppermost row and the lower side of the lowermost row. The uppermost separator bar and the lowermost separator bar have the same length, which is longer than the other separator bars disposed between each row. In addition, the left-side quiet zone and the right-side quiet zone are each common to all of rows, without being separated by the respective rows.

Further, referring to Fig. 3, "S" in the character CH denotes a start of data, D1 to D77 are data, and C1 and C2 are check digits.

Table 1

Right-side quiet zone ..... 10 modules Start ..... 7 modules Guard bar ..... 1 module Character ..... 11 x 5 modules Stop ..... 7 modules Left-side quiet zone ..... 1 module 81 modules The start code is comprised of 7 modules in a combination of bar-space-bar-space. The combination of these modules is eight kinds as shown in the following table 2.

Table 2 START PATTERN Value b s b s 0 3 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 3 1 4 1 1 4 1 1 3 2 5 1 2 3 1 6 1 1 1 4 7 3 1 1 2 (b: bar, s: space) The stop code is comprised of 7 modules in a combination of space-bar-space-bar. The combination of these modules is eight kinds as shown in the following table 3.

Table 3 STOP PATTERN Value s b s b 0 3 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 3 1 4 1 1 4 1 1 3 2 5 1 2 3 1 6 1 1 1 4 7 3 1 1 2 (b: bar, s: space) In addition, the respective values of the start code and the stop code for each row are defined as shown in the table 4 given below.

Table 4 ROW START STOP 1 0 0 2 1 1 3 2 2 4 3 3 5 4 4 6 5 5 7 6 6 8 7 7 9 0 4 10 1 5 11 2 6 12 3 7 13 4 0 14 5 1 15 6 2 16 7 3 The width of the symbol representing this multistage bar code is expressed by 81X (X denotes a unit length), and the height H of the symbol is expressed by the following formula: H = ((h + g) r + g) X where, "h" is the height of bars in one row (the minimum value is 8X), "r" is the number of rows (2 to 16), and "g" is the height of the separator bar SB Next, a printing system for printing the information card 20 will be explained below. Referring to Fig. 5, the printing system includes a personal computer 10 with a CPU, a ROM and a RAM. A CRT 12, a printer 14 and a tablet 16 are electrically connected to the personal computer 10. The pointed end of an electronic pen 18 is moved so as to be in contact with the surface of the tablet 16, and its moving track is converted to data represented by a string of dots so as to be input into the personal computer 10. A control routine program which will be explained hereinafter is previously stored in the ROM of the personal computer 10.

In addition, the printer 14 is provided with a microcomputer 14A having a CPU, a ROM and a RAM. The microcomputer 14A controls in accordance with the control routine which will be explained below so that character information and a bar code symbol can be printed on two sides of the information card sheet, respectively. Sensors S1, S2, which comprise a light emitting element and a light receiving element for detecting the leading edge of the information card sheet, are connected to the microcomputer 14A.

As shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the printer 14 includes a box-shaped hopper 40, serving as an accommodating means for accommodating the information card sheets, with a rectangular hole 42 which is perforated through a bottom surface 40A for inserting a feed roller therethrough. The rectangular hole 42 of the hopper 40 is formed so that the longer side of the hole is disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to the direction in which each information card sheet is conveyed, indicated by the arrow in Fig. 7, and the feed roller 44 serving as a carrier means is inserted into the hole 42 so that the axis of the roller 44 is parallel to the longer side of the hole 42. In addition, the predetermined angle may be any value other than 90 degrees.

A gate plate 43 with an inclined plane in the lower end portion thereof is mounted to a wall surface of the hopper 40 provided on its side to which each information card sheet is carried out. A plurality of information card sheets is accommodated in a stacked manner within the hopper 40. An information card sheet 46 in the lowermost position being brought into contact with the feed roller 44, once contacts a wall surface 40B of the hopper 40 by rotating the feed roller 44 and changes position so that the longer side of the information card sheet may coincide with the direction in which the information card sheet is conveyed. Then, the leading edge of the information card sheet is introduced along the inclined plane of the gate plate 43.Thereafter, the information card sheets are carried out one by one from a slit aperture 48 (see Fig. 8) formed on an exit side of the sheets, whose-width is a little larger than the thickness of one information card sheet. At this time, information card sheets positioned above the information card sheet being carried out, are not carried out since they contact the gate plate 43. Accordingly, although the information card sheets 46 are not arranged in a fixed direction within the hopper 40, they can be surely carried out one by one. Each information card sheet 46 is made of a thermosensible (heat sensitive) paper of which two sides can be printed.Downstream from the hopper 40 in the direction in which the information card sheet is conveyed, a pinch roller 50 which conveys the information card sheets carried out from the hopper 40, and a character data printing station in which a first thermal head 52 and a first opposed roller 54 are disposed opposite to each other, are sequentially provided. The first thermal head 52 is mounted to a swinging plate 53 which may be swingable about a shaft 51. The swinging plate 53 is constantly biased in the direction in which the first thermal head 52 moves away from the first opposed roller 54. A sensor S1 (not shown) is provided in the character data printing station on the side in which each sheet enters for detecting the leading edge of each information card sheet.Downstream from the character data printing station in the direction in which the information card sheet is conveyed, a pinch roller 55 which conveys the information card sheets which have passed through the character data printing station, and a bar code symbol printing station in which a second thermal head 56 and a second opposed roller 58 are disposed opposite to each other, are sequentially provided. A sensor S2 (not shown) is provided in the bar code symbol printing station on the side in which each sheet enters for detecting the leading edge of each information card sheet. The second thermal head 56 is mounted to a swinging plate 59 which is swingable about a shaft 57 and which is constantly biased in the direction in which the second thermal head 56 moves away from the second opposed roller 58.

The first thermal head 52 is constantly urged in the direction in which the first thermal head 52 moves away from the first opposed roller 54. The rotation of a cam 60 causes the first thermal head 52 to descend in the direction of the first opposed roller 54. Thus, the information card sheet 46 is held between the first thermal head 52 and the first opposed roller 54, thereby allowing the information card sheet to be printed on the surface thereof. In addition, similar to the first thermal head 52, the second thermal head 56 can move up and down by rotating the cam 60, and the information card sheet 46 is held between the second thermal head 56 and the second opposed roller 58, thereby allowing the information card sheet to be printed on the back side thereof. Incidentally, the opposed rollers may be moved up and down without moving the thermal heads up and down.Further, the above embodiment has been described in which one feed roller is employed, but two rollers may also be employed; one roller conveys the information card sheet in the direction of the wall surface 40B of the hopper 40, and the other roller conveys it toward the slit.

Fig. 9 shows a control routine of the personal computer 10. When a power supply is turned on, at a step 100 the CRT 12 displays an input image screen. On this input image screen, ID codes of 01, 02, 03,...17 and an input space adjacent to these ID codes are displayed. An operator enters data while viewing the input display screen. The input data corresponding to the respective ID codes are defined, for example, as follows: 01: company name, 02: company assignment 1, 03: company assignment 2, 04: company title, 05: personal name, 06: a telephone number, 07: a facsimile number, 08: a telex number, 09: a postal code number, 10: address 1 (e.g. a company address), 11: address 2 (e.g. a private residence address), 12: blood type, 13: birth date, 14: zodiac constellation, 15: company profile, 16: a message, 17: a membership number. In addition, any other necessary data can be added by setting ID numbers of 18 to 99.

Step 102 determines whether data has been entered or not. If data has been entered, in step 104 the data is once stored in the RAM. Step 106 determines whether the input of all data has finished or not. If finished, the process proceeds to a step 108. It should be noted that, for the input of data, alphanumeric characters, katakana characters and hiragana characters may be entered by handwriting via the tablet 16 and the electronic pen 18. In the case of entering kanji characters, an original hiragana to be converted to a kanji is first entered, and then is converted to the kanji. In this case, the input data is represented by the JIS code.

Next, at a step 108, character data are created which are printed on one side of the information card 20. The input data in the ID codes of 01 to 11 can be used as the character data, and these ID codes can be increased or decreased if necessary. These character data are represented as in the JIS code. In the next step 110, bar code data are created which are printed on the other side of the information card 20. The bar code data include the input data of the ID codes of 01 to 17 and any additional data. In the case of bar code data, the JIS Kanji code represented by four hexadecimal digits, is converted to the kanji character code of the present embodiment represented in four decimal digits, which will be explained hereinafter.

In addition, step 108 executes editing including a change of layout, a designation of character type, and the like, as required. Then, in step 112, the created data is transferred to the printer 14.

Fig. 10 represents a control routine of a microcomputer included in the printer 14. In step 120, the data transferred from the personal computer 10 is once stored in the RAM. In the next step 122, the data on the front image plane, i.e., the character data, is fetched. In step 124 the carrying out and conveying of the information card sheets begin, and in step 126 the first thermal head is moved down when it is detected that the leading edge of the information card sheet has reached directly under the first thermal head, based on the signal from the sensor S1. Then, in step 128, printing is performed while conveying the information card sheet. Thus, the character data such as company name, company assignment, company title, personal name, telephone number and the like, are printed on'the surface of each information card sheet.

The next step 130 determines whether any bar code data to be printed exists or not among the data transferred from the personal computer 10, and if none exist, this routine ends. As a result, the character data are only printed on the surface of the information card sheet. In this case, this card cannot be used as an information card, but can be used as a normal visiting card or the like.

- In step 130, when it is determined that bar code data exists, the bar code data is fetched from the RAM in step 132, and data of the multistage bar code pattern is created.

An example of the data of the multistage bar code pattern is shown in the following table 5, where the ID codes of 01, 02, 03..., etc. are employed as the field partition data for partitioning information. In the table 5, "ESC K" denotes a designated code which designates that the subsequent data be processed as the JIS code, "ESC 0" denotes another designated code which designates that the subsequent data be processed as the ANK (alphabet, number, katakana) code, and "CR LF" indicates the end of each field. The "SUB" indicates the end of the bar code data.

Table 5 < 2C > H < 42 > H < 2C > H < 56 > H < 2C > H ESC B , V < 30 > H < 31 > H < 1B > H < 4B > H < Company name kanji code > < 1B > H 0 1 ESC K ESC < 4F > H < OD > H < OA > H 0 CR LF < 30 > H < 32 > H < 1B > H < 4B > H < Company assignment 1 kanji code > 0 2 ESC K < 1B > H < 4F > H < OD > H < OA > H ESC 0 CR LF < 30iH < 33 > H < 1B > H < 4B > H < Company assignment 2 kanji code > 0 3 ESC K < 1B > H < 4F > H < OD > H < OA > H ESC 0 CR LF < 30 > H < 34 > H < 1B > H < 4B > H < Company title kanji code > 0 4 ESC K < 1B > H < 4F > H < OD > H < OA > H ESC 0 CR LF < 30 > H < 35 > H < 1B > H < 4B > H < Personal name kanji code > < 1B > H 0 5 ESC K ESC < 4F > H < OD > H < OA > H 0 CR LF < 30 > H < 36 > H < Telephone Number > < OD > H < OA > H 0 6 03-1234-1234 CR < 30 > H < 37 > H < Facsimile Number > < OD > H < OA > H 0 7 03-1234-1234 CR LF < 30 > H < 38 > H < Telex Number > < OD > H < OA > H 0 8 3922-313GTBMFG CR LF < 30 > H < 39 > H < Postal Code Number > < OD > H < OA > H 0 9 411-01 CR LF < 31 > H < 30 > H < 1B > H < 4B > H < Address 1 kanji code > < 1B > H < 4F > H 1 0 ESC K ESC O < OD > H < OA > H CR LF < 31 > H < 31 > H 91B > H < 4B > H < Address 2 kanji code > < 1B > H < 4F > H 1 0 ESC K ESC O < OD > H < OA > H CR LF < 39 > H < 39 > H < 1B > H < 4B > H < Kanji Code > < 1B > H < 4F > H < OD > H < OA > H 9 9 ESC K ESC O CR LF < 1A > H SUB The next step 136 determines if, among the bar code data, there are ID codes 06, 07 and 08, or not. If so, in step 138 the NW-7 bar code pattern data, which contains character data of the respective ID codes 06, 07 and 08, is created. Thus, the data of the multistage bar code pattern are created for all of the character data, and at the same time the data of the NW-7 bar code pattern of which ID codes corresponding to the respective one of 06, 07 and 08, i.e., telephone number data, facsimile number data and telex number data, is also created. In addition, when the ID code is selected from any one or two of 06, 07 and 08, the NW-7 bar code pattern data is created for the respective character data.The next step 140 determines whether the leading edge of the information card sheet has reached directly under the second thermal head, based on a signal from the sensor S1, and if so, the second thermal head is moved upward and the bar code symbol is printed at a step 142.

As explained above, the character data is printed on the surface of the information card sheet, and two kinds of bar code symbols similar to those shown in Fig. 1 are printed on the back side thereof. Fig. 1 shows in that two rows of bar codes representing the telephone number data and the facsimile number data are printed on the information card sheet, but when telex number data exists, the bar code representing the telex number is also printed, and when the ID code is any one of 06, 07 and 08, a bar code representing any one of telephone number data, facsimile number data and telex number data is printed.

Next, the conversion process is explained below between the JIS Kanji code and the kanji character code used in the present embodiment, In the JIS Kanji code list, character codes are assigned as follows: Non-kanji : 2121H - 2771H 1st-level kanji: 3021H - 4F53H 2nd-level kanji: 5021H - 737EH In their hexadecimal mapping representation, the highorder two digits and the low-order two digits are respectively mapped between 21H and 7EH.

In Fig. 12, the region from OOH to 7EH is enlarged, and a more detailed mapping representation, in which the highorder and low-order two hexadecimal digits are converted to decimal numbers, is shown. 21H of a hexadecimal number is represented as "33" in a decimal number, 7EH of a hexadecimal number is represented as "126" in a decimal number.

As seen from Fig. 12, the JIS code list is arranged among 8836 measures composed of 94 (126 - 33 + 1) at the maximum both in length and width.

The conversion from the JIS code list into the kanji character code list of the present embodiment is performed by moving the mapping of the JIS code list in parallel on the same coordinate axis.

Namely, when the coordinate (33, 33) of Fig. 12 is moved in parallel so that it may come to the origin of coordinates (0, O), all characters are mapped in the plane of O-to 93 both in length and width, as shown in Fig. 13, so as to be represented by a system based on 94 numbers.

The mapping representation of Fig. 13 is inconvenient to be handled since, when represented in a decimal number, the first-level and the second-level kanji characters exist in a mixed condition on the same order of 4000 so that the non-kanji region exists between 0 and 657, the first-level kanji region exists between 1410 and 4417 and the secondlevel kanji region between 4418 and 7801.

Therefore, in order to facilitate processing in the decimal system, these regions are allocated as follows: Non-kanji region: 0 - 999 First-level kanji region: 1000 - 3999 Second-level kanji region: 4000 - 7999.

For that purpose, the code is shifted so that the minimum code coordinates (15, 00) of the first-level kanji shown in Fig. 13 may be positioned at the coordinates (10, 60) based on 94 numbers as the value of 1,000 in a decimal number, by employing the space between each region. In a similar manner, the code is shifted so that the minimum code coordinates (47, 00) of the second-level kanji shown in Fig.

13 may be positioned in the coordinates (42, 52) based on 94 numbers as the value of 4,000 in decimal number. Thus, the mapping representation of the kanji character code list of the present embodiment indicating the multistage bar code shown in Fig. 14, can be obtained.

The conversion between the JIS Kanji code and the kanji character code of the present embodiment is performed by the following expressions. In the conversion expressions as given below, the "Hi" and "Lo" are values each of which represents the high-order and low-order two digits in the JIS Kanji code with decimal numbers, respectively.

In addition, JISC and 16KC denotes respectively the values of the JIS code and the multistage bar code, each of which is represented by a decimal number.

The operator "/" denotes an integer division, "*" denotes a multiplication and "x" is a residue.

(1) Convert the JIS Kanji code to the kanji character code of the present embodiment.

Non-kanji: After the high-order and the low-order two digits of the JIS code are converted to a decimal number, the following expression is employed: 16KC = (Hi - 33) * 94 + (Lo - 33).

lst-level kanji: After the high-order and the low-order two digits of the JIS code are converted to a decimal number, the following expression is employed: 16KC = (Hi - 48) * 94 + (Lo - 33) + 1000.

2nd-level kanji: After the high-order and the low-order two digits of the JIS code are converted to a decimal number, the following expression is employed: 16KC = (Hi - 80) * 94 + (Lo - 33) + 4000.

(2) Convert the kanji character code of the present embodiment to the JIS code.

Non-kanji: Hi = 16KC/94 + 33 ..... (/: integer calculation, surplus is discarded) Lo = 16KC%94 + 33 ..... (%: surplus after division) JISC = Hi * 256 + Lo JISC is converted to a hexadecimal number.

lst-level kanji: Hi = (16KC - 1000) / 94 + 48 Lo = (16KC - 1000) % 94 + 33 JISC = Hi * 256 + Lo JISC is converted to a hexadecimal number.

2nd-level kanji: Hi = (16KC - 4000) / 94 + 48 Lo = (16KC - 4000) w 94 + 33 JISC = Hi * 256 + Lo JISC is converted to a hexadecimal number.

The information card created in the above-described manner, enables automatic telephone calling by reading the first bar code symbol 22 by a scanner, and enables an automatic calling of facsimiles by reading the second bar code symbol 24 by the scanner. In addition, the information card can access various information systems by reading the multistage bar code. In this case, the data represnted in the kanji character code of the present embodiment is converted to the JIS code for its use.

The information card of the present embodiment can be employed for the following information systems as well as an automatic dialing system of telephone sets and facsimiles as described above: i.e., a visiting card filing system, an administration system for all sorts of entertainment (attendance administration system of a motor car show, electronics show, database show, business show and the like), an entering and leaving system of patronized dealers in a construction field, an ID card system, a service record administration system, a commutation ticket system for various kinds of transportation (trains, buses, airplanes, monorails, ships, etc.), a library card system for lending, a pre-payment card system, a post-payment card system, a visitor management system in large factories, an entering and leaving car management system for a parking lot, a customer management system, an addressing printer system for addresses on a gift-giving list for summer and winter gift seasons in department stores, supermarkets, and the like), a guest management system, an amusement park entrance system, various membership card systems (a club membership card system for department stores, a membership card system for rental video tapes, a membership card system for golf links or golf practice ranges, a membership card system f6r gas stations, a membership card system for sports clubs or aerobics clubs, a membership card system of beauty shops or barbershops, a mail-order club membership card system, a club membership card system of cosmetics makers, a private and official membership card system).

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An information card comprising: one row of a bar code symbol for representing telephone number data by the bar code; and a multistage bar code symbol which represents information by the bar code and includes plural rows of bar code symbols separated by separate bars, wherein both of bar code symbols are recorded on one side of the information card.

2. An information card according to Claim 1, further comprising at least one row of a bar code symbol for representing at least either one of facsimile number data and telex number data with a bar code, wherein said at least one row of a bar code symbol is recorded on said one side of the information card.

3. An information card according to Claim 1, wherein a plurality of said multistage bar code symbols is recorded on said one side of the information card.

4. An information card according to Claim 1, wherein said multistage bar code symbol includes a code which indicates a section of the recorded information and a designated code which specifies a processing method of the read-in information.

5. An information card according to Claim 1, wherein character information is recorded on the other side of the information card.

6. An information card according to Claim 2, wherein the respective bar codes representing telephone number data, facsimile number data and telex number data each have a different start code and a different stop code.

7. An information card printer, comprising: accommodating means for accommodating information card sheets and having a slit formed in a side wall in a vicinity of a bottom surface of said accommodating means, said slit being used for passing the information card sheets there through one-by-one; carrier means which carries each information card sheet through said slit and out from said accommodating means; first printing means for printing bar code symbols on one side of each information card sheet which is carried out from said accommodating means; and second printing means for printing characters on the other side of each information card sheet which is carried out from said accommodating means.

8. An information card printer according to Claim 7, wherein said carrier means carries each information card sheet through said slit so as to be carried out from said accommodating means and at the same time one edge of each information card sheet is brought into contact with the side wall of said accommodating means.

9. An information card according to Claim 16, wherein said processing means performs automatic dialing by reading the bar code representing said telephone number, and performs a process specified in a designated code by reading said multistage bar code.

9. An information card printer according to Claim 7, wherein an inclined plane is formed in the vicinity of said slit for guiding the leading end of each information card sheet toward said slit.

10. An information card printer according to Claim 7, wherein said carrier means comprises a feed roller which is rotatably mounted to the bottom surface of said accommodating means so that a shaft of said feed roller does not cross at right angles with respect to the direction in which the information card sheet is conveyed.

11. An information card printer according to Claim 7, wherein said information card is made of a thermosensible paper on which both sides can be printed, and said first printing means and said second printing means each have a thermal head.

12. An information card printer according to Claim 7, wherein said first printing means comprises a printing head disposed so as to correspond to one side of the information card sheet and a roller disposed opposite to the printing head, and said second printing means comprises another printing head disposed so as to correspond to the other side of the information card sheet and another roller disposed opposite to the printing head.

13. An information processing system, comprising: an information card in which one row of a bar code symbol for representing telephone number data by a bar code, and a multistage bar code symbol which represents information by a bar code and includes plural rows of bar code symbols separated by separate bars are recorded on one side of the information card; reading means for reading the code recorded on the information card; and processing means for processing in accordance with the read-in information.

14. An information processing system according to Claim 13, wherein at least one row of a bar code symbol for representing at least either one of facsimile number data and telex number data with a bar code is further recorded on said one side of the information card.

15. An information processing system according to Claim 13, wherein a plurality of said multistage bar code symbols is recorded on said one side of the information card.

16. An information processing system according to Claim 13, wherein said multistage bar code comprises a code which indicates a section of the recorded information, and a designated code which specifies a processing method of the read-in information.

17. An information processing system according to Claim 13, wherein character information is recorded on the other side of the information card.

18. An information processing system according to Claim 14, wherein the respective bar codes representing telephone number data, facsimile number data and telex number data each have a different start code and a different stop code.