JP2000172802A - Information code and information code generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an information code which can easily specify information represented as a two-dimensional code if the two-dimensional code can not be read by providing auxiliary information which can specify main information represented as a two-dimensional code and can be read by a machine. SOLUTION: Two two-dimensional codes 11 and 12 are printed in a right lower area G on a slip. The two-dimensional code 11 represents the main information comprising a predetermined information and the two-dimensional code 12, represents the auxiliary information which can specify the main information. If the main two-dimensional code 11 can not be read owing to disfeaturement etc., the auxiliary two-dimensional code 12 corresponding to the main two-dimensional code 11 is read by a reader to input a slip number. Consequently, the main information is specified according to the slip number as the auxiliary information inputted from the reader. Consequently, the main information represented as the main two-dimensional code 11 can easily be specified.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an information code and an information code generation device for generating the information code.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A two-dimensional code can record a larger amount of information than a bar code, and is expected to spread more and more in the future. By the way, although the two-dimensional code has high security performance, it cannot be deciphered by a person, and for example, the two-dimensional code printed on the product is stained by a predetermined reading device for the reason that it is soiled. When the dimensional code cannot be read, how to read the information represented by the code becomes a problem.

For example, in the case of a barcode, a code number is added below the code, and if this number is input from a keyboard or the like, the same information as when the code is read can be input. However, in a two-dimensional code, the amount of information recorded as a code is large, and information corresponding to such a code is not usually described.

For this reason, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-49611 discloses a method of displaying information which can specify information represented by a two-dimensional code and which can be read by a human, near the two-dimensional code. Usually, information expressed as a two-dimensional code is stored in a storage device provided in a host device or the like to which the reading device is connected. Therefore, 2
By writing information along with the two-dimensional code so that the information expressed as the two-dimensional code can be specified, when the reading fails, the user inputs the co-written information from a keyboard or the like so that the storage device can be used. The information of the two-dimensional code that could not be read can be specified from the information in the above.

[0005]

However, in an actual work site, it is conceivable to read a two-dimensional code using, for example, a handy type two-dimensional code reader. In such a case, if a situation occurs in which the two-dimensional code cannot be read, the user needs to move to a place where an input device such as a keyboard is installed, and input information written together with the two-dimensional code. The input work takes time. Further, even if an input device such as a keyboard is nearby, it is troublesome for the user to input the accompanying information every time the reading of the two-dimensional code fails.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an information code capable of easily specifying information represented by a two-dimensional code when the two-dimensional code cannot be read. An object of the present invention is to provide an information code generation device that generates an information code.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention An information code according to the present invention expresses main information composed of predetermined information.
A two-dimensional code, and auxiliary information that is information arranged at a predetermined position with respect to the two-dimensional code and that can specify main information expressed as the two-dimensional code and can be read by a machine. Features.

Conventionally, information that can be read by a human is described in association with a two-dimensional code as information that can specify the information represented by the two-dimensional code, and the two-dimensional code cannot be read for any reason. In the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-207, the information expressed as a two-dimensional code is specified based on the information by inputting the information from a keyboard or the like.

On the other hand, the information code of the present invention includes auxiliary information that can be read by a machine in addition to a two-dimensional code representing main information. The auxiliary information is
For example, it is information that can specify main information expressed by a two-dimensional code so that the relevant main information can be specified from a database in which a plurality of pieces of main information are stored. That is,
The auxiliary information is unique to a plurality of pieces of main information. This auxiliary information may be a part of information constituting main information. Further, the information may be information different from the main information, for example, information for associating with the main information on a database.

The auxiliary information is arranged at a predetermined position with respect to the two-dimensional code representing the main information. The predetermined position may be any position at which the user can grasp the correspondence between the two-dimensional code representing the main information and the auxiliary information. For example, it may be considered as being close to a two-dimensional code as an example.

According to the information code of the present invention, when the two-dimensional code representing the main information cannot be read due to contamination or the like, the auxiliary information arranged corresponding to the two-dimensional code is read by a reading device or the like. By letting the device read,
The above-mentioned main information can be specified from the auxiliary information. As a result, even when the two-dimensional code cannot be read, the main information represented by the two-dimensional code can be easily specified without inputting data using a keyboard or the like.

As described above, when the two-dimensional code representing the main information cannot be read, the auxiliary information arranged corresponding to the two-dimensional code is read. In general, when reading the dimensional code, the auxiliary information is spaced apart so that the auxiliary information cannot be read at the same time. That is, the user first performs a reading operation of the two-dimensional code representing the main information, and if the reading of the two-dimensional code representing the main information fails, the user performs the reading operation of the auxiliary information. However, when reading the two-dimensional code representing the main information, the auxiliary information may be arranged at a position where the two-dimensional code can be read at the same time, and the two-dimensional code representing the main information and the auxiliary information may be simultaneously read by the reading device. Can be In this case, first, a two-dimensional code representing the main information is decoded from the read image, and if the decoding of the two-dimensional code fails, a process based on the read auxiliary information is executed at the same time. By doing so, the processing load on the reading device increases, but the user only needs to perform the reading operation once.

Since the auxiliary information can be read by a machine, the auxiliary information may be represented by, for example, OCR characters. It is also conceivable to use a barcode for the expression. However, considering that the auxiliary information is also read by using a two-dimensional code reader for reading the main information, the auxiliary information may be expressed by a two-dimensional code. In this way, the auxiliary information can be read using a two-dimensional code reader for reading the main information represented by the two-dimensional code. In addition, since a two-dimensional code can record a large amount of information as compared with a barcode, it is advantageous in that an area for expressing auxiliary information can be relatively reduced.

Further, the two-dimensional code expressing the main information and the two-dimensional code expressing the auxiliary information are converted into two codes having the same code format.
The use of the dimensional code is advantageous in that the reading processing program in the two-dimensional code reading device is simplified. This is because the process for reading the two-dimensional code is shared. Also, even if the code format is different, a specific pattern indicating a two-dimensional code area,
For example, if the same positioning symbol is included in the two-dimensional code, the reading processing program can be simplified for the same reason.

By the way, auxiliary information is added in consideration of the case where the main information expressed by the two-dimensional code cannot be read by the reading device. Therefore, when the auxiliary information is expressed by the two-dimensional code, It is desirable that the two-dimensional code representing the auxiliary information can be reliably read.

Therefore, when the two-dimensional code expressing the main information and the auxiliary information is a two-dimensional code composed of a distribution pattern of cells, the cell of the two-dimensional code expressing the auxiliary information is provided. It is conceivable to make the size larger than the cell size of the two-dimensional code representing the main information.

In a matrix type two-dimensional code in which data is converted into cells, it is important to accurately determine the cell position in order to reliably read the data. For example, when the label on which the two-dimensional code is printed is expanded or contracted, the two-dimensional code is distorted, and the cell position calculated by the calculation is shifted. Therefore,
The smaller the cell size, the greater the effect of this cell position shift, and the more difficult it is to read the two-dimensional code. Therefore, compared to the cell size of the two-dimensional code representing the main information,
If the cell size of the dimensional code is increased, even if the two-dimensional code representing the main information cannot be read due to distortion, the possibility of reading the two-dimensional code representing the auxiliary information increases.

From the viewpoint of reliably reading the auxiliary information by a machine, the auxiliary information may be expressed not only by a two-dimensional code but also by the above-described bar code or OCR character. In this way, even if the two-dimensional code representing the auxiliary information cannot be read, the main information can be specified by reading the barcode or the like with a machine.

Further, as described in claim 6, it is conceivable that information corresponding to the auxiliary information, which can be read by a human, is arranged at a predetermined position with respect to a two-dimensional code expressing the auxiliary information. Here, the predetermined position may be a position at which the correspondence with the auxiliary information can be determined. Thus, in a situation where the auxiliary information cannot be read by the machine, the user can specify the main information by inputting information corresponding to the auxiliary information from a keyboard or the like as a final means.

As an apparatus for generating an information code as described above, for example, an information code generation apparatus as described in claim 7 can be considered. In the information code generation device of the present invention, predetermined information is input via input means. It is conceivable that the input means is an input device such as a keyboard which takes in instruction information from the user. It is also conceivable that the input unit is a receiving device that sequentially takes in information transmitted from an external device.

The main auxiliary information determining means determines the main information and the auxiliary information based on the information input via the input means. Then, the code generating means 2 expresses the main information.
A two-dimensional code representing the dimensional code and the auxiliary information is generated. The code generation means may be, for example, a printer device. In the case of a printer, a two-dimensional code representing main information and a two-dimensional code representing auxiliary information are printed on a predetermined print target.

It is conceivable that the main auxiliary information determining means is configured to determine, as auxiliary information, information of a predetermined portion in a series of information input by the input means. For example, when a series of information is data of a predetermined number of bytes, for example, the last 5 bytes are determined as auxiliary information. This technique is suitable when the data length of a series of information input by the input unit is predetermined.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a sign indicating auxiliary information is included in the information input by the input means, and the main auxiliary information determining means determines whether the information input by the input means has a marker. It is conceivable to determine the auxiliary information based on the information. In this case, characters or symbols that are rarely used in ordinary information recording or a combination thereof are used as markers, and the auxiliary information is determined based on the markers included in the information input from the input unit. For example, information of 5 bytes from this marker is determined as auxiliary information, or information of a portion sandwiched between the markers in a series of information is determined as auxiliary information.

The main information is determined according to the relationship with the auxiliary information. For example, information including at least a part of the auxiliary information may be determined as the main information. It is also conceivable that the remaining information excluding the information used as the auxiliary information is determined as the main information.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a slip 10 on which two two-dimensional codes are printed. The slip 10 is an "underwriting slip" issued when a customer requests inspection or repair of a product. A slip number is printed in an upper right area A of the slip 10, and a store name is printed in an area B below the area A.
The date is printed in the upper left area C of the slip 10, and under the area C, the customer column D on which the customer's name, telephone number, and address are printed, and the customer column D below the customer column D Has a product name column E on which the product name, quantity, unit, content, unit price, and total price received from the customer are printed. Below the item name column E, request contents 1 to 4 are described as “request items”, and the numbers 1 to 4 are printed as “contents” in the item name column E.
In FIG. 1, "3 (replacement of consumable parts)" is printed in "Content". In addition, a person in charge column F is provided at the lower left of the slip 10, and the name of the person in charge who has accepted the customer's request is printed. Then, two two-dimensional codes 11 and 12 are printed in the lower right area G of the slip 10. 2D code 1
1 represents main information composed of predetermined information, while the two-dimensional code 12 represents auxiliary information capable of specifying the main information. Hereinafter, the two-dimensional code 11 representing the main information will be described as a main two-dimensional code 11, and the two-dimensional code 12 representing the auxiliary information will be described as an auxiliary two-dimensional code 12 for distinction.

The main information is a slip number to be printed in the area A,
Store name printed in area B, date printed in area C,
Each of the customer name, telephone number, and address printed in the customer column D, and the product name, quantity, unit, content, unit price, total price, and the name of the person in charge printed in the area F printed in the product name column E Consists of information. On the other hand, the auxiliary information is a slip number printed in the area A.

Here, in this embodiment, the slip 10
Will be described. FIG. 2A shows a slip 10.
The main two-dimensional code 11 and the auxiliary two-dimensional code 12 printed in the lower right area G of FIG.

As can be seen from FIG. 2A, the cell size of the auxiliary two-dimensional code 12 of this embodiment is larger than the cell size of the main two-dimensional code 11. The main two-dimensional code 11 and the auxiliary two-dimensional code 12 have the same positioning symbol and a pattern having a frequency component ratio of 1: 1: 3: 1: 1 regardless of the operation direction. However, the main two-dimensional code 11 includes three positioning symbols A, B, and C, and the auxiliary two-dimensional code 12 includes one positioning symbol D.

The slip 10 as described above is used in the service management system 100 shown in FIG. The service management system 100 forms a part of a product management system centered on a host computer 200 that executes a product management process for the entire store.

The service management system 100 is mainly composed of a local computer 101. The local computer 101 and the local computer 10
1 includes a POS terminal 102, a reading device 103, and a printer 104. The service management system 100 is installed on a service counter that receives a request for repair or the like from a customer.

The POS terminal 102 inputs and outputs money transfer information. Information input from the POS terminal 102 is managed by the host computer 200 via the local computer 101. The reading device 103 is a so-called two-dimensional code reading device, and reads a two-dimensional code printed on the voucher 10 based on a two-dimensional code reading processing program. The printer 104
The above-described slip 10 is printed based on an instruction from the local computer 101.

Next, in the service management system 100,
How the above-described slip 10 is used will be specifically described. For example, a customer brings a wristwatch to the service counter and requests replacement of the wristwatch battery. At this time, the clerk listens to the customer's name, telephone number, and address, and then operates a keyboard (not shown) of the local computer 101 to input predetermined information. The predetermined information is a date, a customer name, a telephone number, an address, a product name, a quantity, a unit, contents, a unit price, a total price, a clerk name (person in charge), and a slip number. As for the content, "3" is input because the battery is to be replaced. Since the unit price and the total amount are not known at this stage, blanks are entered for them.

Then, the local computer 101 handles the input information as data having a predetermined data length. These pieces of input information are arranged and managed in a predetermined order, and the data of the last predetermined byte in the series of information corresponds to the “slip number”. The local computer 101 stores the input information in a storage device (not shown) in the local computer 101, and, as shown in FIG. 4A, corresponds to the last predetermined byte of the input information. The information of the predetermined portion, that is, the "slip number" is used as auxiliary information, and the entire input information is determined as main information. Then, the local computer 101 generates print data for generating a two-dimensional code representing the main information, and also generates print data for generating a two-dimensional code corresponding to the auxiliary information. Subsequently, the local computer 101 outputs a print instruction to the printer 104, and thereafter, transmits the input series of information and the created print data to the printer 10.
4 is output. As a result, the slip 10 as shown in FIG.
Will be printed.

The clerk gives the customer the slip 10 which is the "underwriting slip" printed by the printer 104, and tells when the product will be completed. Next, when the customer brings the slip 10 to the service counter to receive the goods, the clerk makes the main 2 printed on the lower right area G of the slip 10.
By causing the reading device 103 to read the dimensional code 11, necessary information such as a request content and a product name is acquired from the main two-dimensional code 11, and the corresponding product is delivered to the customer and the customer is charged. Information regarding the payment of the price is input to the POS terminal 102.

Here, if the main two-dimensional code 11 cannot be read due to soiling or the like, the store clerk operates the auxiliary two-dimensional code 1 corresponding to the main two-dimensional code 11.
The slip number is input by causing the reading device 103 to read the slip number 2. The slip number input via the reading device 103 is output to the local computer 101. In this case, the local computer 101 specifies and reads out the relevant main information in the storage device of the local computer 101 based on the slip number. Thus, the clerk grasps necessary information such as the request content and the product name, and performs the same correspondence as described above for the customer.

That is, in the present embodiment, when the main two-dimensional code 11 representing the main information cannot be read due to soiling or the like, the auxiliary two-dimensional code 12 is read by the reading device 103 so that the input from the reading device 103 is performed. The main information is specified based on the received slip number as auxiliary information. As a result, even if the main two-dimensional code 11 cannot be read, it is possible to easily specify the main information represented by the main two-dimensional code 11 without inputting data using the keyboard of the local computer 101 or the like. Can be.

In the present embodiment, the auxiliary two-dimensional code 12 in which the auxiliary information is expressed by a two-dimensional code is printed on the voucher 10. However, instead of the auxiliary two-dimensional code 12, for example, a bar code or an OCR character is used. It may be printed on the slip 10. However, in the present embodiment, since the auxiliary information is represented by a two-dimensional code capable of recording a large amount of information, an area for expressing the auxiliary information is relatively small.

In this embodiment, since the auxiliary information is expressed by a two-dimensional code, the auxiliary two-dimensional code 12 can be read by using the reading device 103 for reading the main two-dimensional code 11. Further, as described above, the positioning symbols A,
By making B, C and the positioning symbol D of the auxiliary two-dimensional code 12 the same pattern, the reading processing program of the reading device 103 is simplified. This is because the common parts in the program increase. In this sense, as shown in FIG. 2B, three positioning symbols D, E, and F are used instead of the auxiliary two-dimensional code 12.
When the two-dimensional code 13 having the following is adopted, the reading processing program of the reading device 103 has more common parts, and the reading processing program can be simplified. In addition, if the number of positioning symbols increases, the decoding time of a two-dimensional code can be reduced. However, as can be seen from FIG. 2, the code area of the auxiliary two-dimensional code 12 is smaller than the code area of the auxiliary two-dimensional code 13. This is because if the same amount of information is to be expressed when the cell size is equal, the area of the area required to express the information is the same, so the more the positioning symbols, the more the code area It is because it becomes large. In that sense, the auxiliary two-dimensional code 12 having one positioning symbol D is more advantageous.

By the way, it is important to accurately determine the cell position in order to reliably read the matrix type two-dimensional codes 11 and 12 in which data is converted into cells. For example, a slip 1 on which a two-dimensional code is printed
If 0 is stretched, creased, or wrinkled, the two-dimensional codes 11 and 12 are distorted, so that the cell positions calculated by the calculation are shifted. Therefore, the smaller the cell size, the greater the influence of the cell position shift, and the more difficult it is to read the two-dimensional code.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as described above,
The cell size of the auxiliary two-dimensional code 12 is larger than the cell size of the main two-dimensional code 11. As a result, even when the main two-dimensional code 11 cannot be read due to distortion, the possibility that the auxiliary two-dimensional code 12 can be read increases.

In this embodiment, in addition to the auxiliary two-dimensional code 12, the slip number is printed in the upper right area A of the slip 10. Therefore, when not only the main two-dimensional code 11 but also the auxiliary two-dimensional code 12 cannot be read, as a last resort, the user inputs the slip number from the keyboard of the local computer 101, The main information represented as the main two-dimensional code 11 can also be specified.

It should be noted that the local computer 101 of this embodiment corresponds to "input means" and "main auxiliary information determining means", and the printer 104 corresponds to "code generation means". As described above, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment at all, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention.

In the above embodiment, the local computer 101 assumes that the information input from the keyboard of the local computer 101 has a predetermined data length and that the information is arranged in a predetermined order. A predetermined part of the information is determined as auxiliary information (see FIG. 4).
(See (a)). However, it is conceivable to generate a two-dimensional code based on variable-length data transmitted to the local computer 101 via the LAN 400, for example. In such a case, an arrangement may be made such that a mark indicating a predetermined portion to be used as the auxiliary information is included in the data, and the auxiliary information is determined based on the mark. This sign may be a character or a symbol or a combination thereof, which is rarely used in ordinary information recording, for example, “＄
It is conceivable to use “＄”, “##”, “&&” and the like. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, a predetermined portion to be determined as auxiliary information in the input information is sandwiched by the specific character symbol. The local computer 101 determines this specific character symbol, and determines a predetermined portion sandwiched between the character symbols as auxiliary information. In this way, the auxiliary information can be determined even when data having different data lengths is input.

In the above embodiment, all of the input information is determined as the main information. However, the input information may be determined based on the relationship between the main information and the auxiliary information. For example, it is conceivable to determine information including only a part of the predetermined portion as main information. It is also conceivable to determine information excluding a predetermined portion as main information.

In the above-described embodiment, the predetermined information input to the storage device of the local computer 101 is stored. However, the information is stored in the host computer 200 connected via the LAN 400 and read. When a slip number is input from the device 103 or from the keyboard of the local computer 101, the main information may be specified by searching a storage device provided in the host computer 200.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a slip on which a two-dimensional code according to an embodiment is printed.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method of expressing a two-dimensional code.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method of determining auxiliary information from input information.

[Description of Signs] 11, 12, 13: Two-dimensional code 100: Service management system 101: Local computer 102, 30
0 POS terminal 103 Reading device 104 Printer 200 Host computer 400 LA
N

Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Junichiro Kiuchi 1-1-1, Showa-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi Prefecture Inside Denso, Inc. (72) Inventor Yukinori Tsujimoto 1-1-1, Showa-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi Prefecture F inside Denso, Inc. Terms (reference) 2C005 HB17 HB20 JA15 JB21 JB32 LA38 LB53 5B035 AA00 BB00 BB11 BB12

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A two-dimensional code representing main information composed of predetermined information, and information arranged at a predetermined position with respect to the two-dimensional code, wherein the main information expressed as the two-dimensional code is specified. An information code, comprising: auxiliary information that is possible and can be read by a machine. 2. The information code according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary information is represented by a two-dimensional code. 3. The information code according to claim 2, wherein the two-dimensional code representing the auxiliary information has the same code format as the two-dimensional code representing the main information. 4. The information code according to claim 2, wherein the two-dimensional code representing the main information has a specific pattern indicating a two-dimensional code area, and the two-dimensional code representing the auxiliary information is An information code having the same specific pattern as the two-dimensional code expressing the main information. 5. The information code according to claim 2, wherein the two-dimensional code representing the main information and the auxiliary information is configured by a cell distribution pattern, and represents the auxiliary information. The cell size of the two-dimensional code
An information code characterized by being larger than a cell size of a two-dimensional code expressing the main information. 6. The information code according to claim 2, wherein the information corresponding to the auxiliary information, the information being readable by a human being, is located at a predetermined position with respect to the two-dimensional code expressing the auxiliary information. An information code characterized by being located at 7. An input means for inputting predetermined information; a main auxiliary information determining means for determining main information and auxiliary information based on the information input by the input means; Information code generation means for generating a two-dimensional code expressing the main information and a two-dimensional code expressing the auxiliary information based on the determined main information and the auxiliary information. apparatus. 8. The information code generation device according to claim 7, wherein the main auxiliary information determining means determines information of a predetermined portion in a series of information input by the input means as the auxiliary information. An information code generation device characterized by the following. 9. The information code generation device according to claim 7, wherein the information input by the input unit includes a marker indicating auxiliary information, and the main auxiliary information determination unit includes the input information. An information code generation apparatus, wherein the auxiliary information is determined based on the marker in information input by means.