JP2003067718A - Information recording medium capable of determining forgery, forgery determination device, forgery determination method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stably and appropriately determine forgery, even if dirt is produced on a medium having information univocally specifying the medium itself by a random sequence pattern of fiber impurity mixed therein in manufacturing paper. SOLUTION: This recording medium 1 is provided with a peculiar information recording region 2 recording information capable univocally specifying the medium itself and a dot code 3 recording information for obtaining the information specifying the medium from the peculiar information recording region 2. A forgery determination device 4 obtains the information capable of univocally specifying the medium itself from the peculiar information recording region 2 using the second information read from the dot code 3 and determines the forgery of the information recording medium based on the obtained results.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information recording medium capable of determining forgery such as various kinds of cash vouchers, a forgery determining device, a forgery determining method and a program therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, due to improvements in the performance of copying machines, scanners, and printers due to the progress of digital technology, it is possible to easily distinguish a material to be copied from a material to be copied if the same paper quality is used. It has become possible to easily create duplicate prints that do not stick. Therefore, for example, it is generally said that it is necessary to take measures against such forgery by copying in securities, gift certificates, various tickets, and the like.

As a countermeasure against this, it has been practiced to embed information that cannot be copied in the paper medium itself to be printed. A typical example of this is to put a watermark on it as it is used for banknotes. Even in this case, if a watermarked paper medium can be forged, a more elaborate copy can be made in large quantities.

Therefore, in recent years, as a technique for more uniquely identifying a paper medium, fibrous impurities (for example, metal filaments) are mixed at the time of filtering the paper, and the fibrous impurities are randomly arranged on the paper. There are things that take advantage of their properties. As an application example utilizing this property, a random arrangement pattern of stainless steel filaments mixed in the paper medium at a predetermined position of the paper medium is read by a magnetic head, and the read arrangement pattern is read separately on the paper medium. There is a method of magnetically recording on a magnetic material coated on the area. By using such a technique, it is possible to prevent the forgery from being easily forged because the cash voucher itself can be provided with information that can uniquely identify a large number of cash vouchers or the like.

[0005]

However, in the prior art, there is a limit in the detection accuracy of the position on the medium for reading the random arrangement pattern of the stainless steel filaments by the magnetic head and the accuracy of the read signal, and especially in the filaments. An error may occur in the read signal itself due to local magnetization of itself, iron powder, or the like adhering to the paper medium, which is not sufficient for preventing forgery.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and stains on a medium provided with information that can uniquely identify the medium itself due to a random arrangement pattern of fibrous impurities mixed during paper making. The object is to provide a forgery-determinable information recording medium, a forgery determination device, a forgery determination method, and a program that can be used for forgery determination in a stable and appropriate manner even if To do.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an information recording medium according to the present invention capable of judging forgery has a readable area in which readable information such as characters and images that can be visually read is recorded. A forgery-determinable information recording medium, comprising: a first area provided with first information capable of uniquely identifying the information recording medium in a predetermined format; and the first area to the first area. Second information for obtaining the information of the second area is provided in a mechanically readable format.

In order to achieve the above object, the forgery judging device according to the present invention is an information recording medium having a readable area in which readable information such as characters and images that can be visually read is recorded. , A first area provided with first information capable of uniquely identifying the information recording medium in a predetermined format, and second information for obtaining the first information from the first area. A reading unit that mechanically reads the second information from the second region of the information recording medium including a second region provided in a mechanically readable format, and a reading unit that reads the second information. The information recording medium based on the acquisition means for acquiring the first information from the first area by using the acquired second information and the acquisition result of the first information by the acquisition means. A forgery determination means for performing the forgery determination of Characterized by comprising.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the forgery judging method according to the present invention is an information recording medium having a readable area in which readable information such as characters and images which can be visually read is recorded. , A first area provided with first information capable of uniquely identifying the information recording medium in a predetermined format, and second information for obtaining the first information from the first area. A second area provided in a mechanically readable form; and a first area for mechanically reading the second information from the second area of the information recording medium.
And a second step of obtaining the first information from the first area by using the second information read in the first step, and the second step of And a third step of making a forgery determination on the information recording medium based on the acquisition result of the first information.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the program according to the present invention is an information recording medium having a readable area in which readable information such as characters and images that can be visually read is recorded in a computer. A first area provided with first information capable of uniquely identifying the information recording medium in a predetermined format, and second information for obtaining the first information from the first area. A second area provided in a mechanically readable format, the function of mechanically reading the second information from the second area of the information recording medium, and the second area. A function of acquiring the first information from the first area by using the second information mechanically read from the device, and an acquisition of the first information acquired from the first area. Based on the result, false of the above information recording medium A function for determining a program for implementing the.

That is, according to the information recording medium, the forgery determining device, the forgery determining method, and the program of the present invention, for example, each information recording medium is uniquely based on a different material of the information recording medium. In order to obtain the first information that can uniquely identify the information recording medium, the information recorded in the second area of a separately mechanically readable format, such as the above-mentioned first information. By using the second information including the error-correction check parity for the above, it is possible to more reliably acquire the above-mentioned first information that can be uniquely specified, and thus it is possible to increase the accuracy of the forgery determination. it can.

In order to achieve the above object, the information recording medium capable of judging forgery according to the present invention includes a readable area in which readable information such as characters and images that can be visually read is recorded. A possible information recording medium, a first area provided with first information capable of uniquely identifying the information recording medium in a predetermined format, and second information corresponding to the first information. , The third information for obtaining the first information from the first area for comparing the first information and the second information is provided in a mechanically readable format. And a second area.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the forgery judging device according to the present invention is an information recording medium having a readable area in which readable information such as characters and images which can be visually read is recorded. A first area provided with first information capable of uniquely identifying the information recording medium in a predetermined format, second information corresponding to the first information, the first information, and A second area provided in a mechanically readable format with third information for obtaining the first information from the first area for comparison with the second information. A reading unit that mechanically reads the second information and the third information from the second area of the information recording medium, and the third unit that is read by the reading unit.
Using the information of the first area, the acquisition means for acquiring the first information from the first area, the second information read by the reading means, and the first information acquired by the acquisition means. It is characterized by comprising a comparing means for comparing information and a forgery judging means for judging forgery of the information recording medium based on a comparison result of the comparing means.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the forgery judging method according to the present invention is an information recording medium having a readable area in which readable information such as characters and images which can be visually read is recorded. A first area provided with first information capable of uniquely identifying the information recording medium in a predetermined format, second information corresponding to the first information, the first information, and A second area provided in a mechanically readable format with third information for obtaining the first information from the first area for comparison with the second information. A first step of mechanically reading the second information and the third information from the second area of the information recording medium provided, and the third information read in the first step. Use to get the first information from the first area That a second step, the third comparing and said second information read by the first step, and the said first information acquired in the second step
And the fourth step of making a forgery determination on the information recording medium based on the comparison result in the third step.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the program according to the present invention is an information recording medium having a readable area in which readable information such as characters and images which can be visually read is recorded in a computer. A first area provided with first information capable of uniquely identifying the information recording medium in a predetermined format, and a second area corresponding to the first information.
And a third information for obtaining the first information from the first area for comparing the first information and the second information are in a mechanically readable format. And a function of mechanically reading the second information and the third information from the second area of the information recording medium including the second area provided by the second area. The function of acquiring the first information from the first area by using the third information that is mechanically read, and the second information mechanically read from the second area. A function of comparing the first information acquired from the first area, and a function of making a counterfeit determination of the information recording medium based on a comparison result of the second information and the first information. Is a program for realizing.

That is, according to the information recording medium, the forgery determining device, the forgery determining method, and the program of the present invention, for example, each information recording medium is unique based on the material of the information recording medium which is different from each other. In order to obtain the first information that can uniquely identify the information recording medium, the information recorded in the second area of a separately mechanically readable format, such as the above-mentioned first information. By using the third information including the error correction check parity for
It becomes possible to more reliably obtain the first information that can be uniquely specified, and the second information corresponding to the first information recorded in the second area and the first information.
By making a comparison with the first information recorded in the area, it is possible to increase the accuracy of the forgery determination.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a recording medium 1 such as paper as a first embodiment of an information recording medium capable of judging forgery according to the present invention and a forgery judgment of the recording medium 1. It is a figure which shows the forgery determination apparatus 4 which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention.

That is, the recording medium 1 is capable of uniquely identifying the readable area where characters such as characters and serial numbers as a readable image that can be visually read are recorded and the recording medium 1 that is the first information. Specific information recording area (first area) 2 to which various information is added in a predetermined format, and a dot code (second area) which is an optically readable coded image recorded as the second information. 3 and 3 are arranged at predetermined positions.

Here, in the information that can uniquely identify the recording medium 1 provided in the unique information recording area 2, the colored impurities (fibrous metal filament, etc.) mixed at the time of filtering the paper are randomly generated. The pattern itself in the state of being arranged and exposed on the paper surface is an example, and is unique information based on the material of the medium. In particular, the pattern is not controllable at the time of paper making, and the occurrence probability that the patterns are the same at a predetermined position of a plurality of recording media is substantially equal to zero,
Therefore, the information can be uniquely specified.

The information that can uniquely identify the recording medium 1 is not limited to the random arrangement pattern of the impurities, and the information is in a state in which a substantially identical state cannot be created in copying. It goes without saying that a natural phenomenon having a number or artificially processed information can be similarly used by newly preparing a detection device capable of detecting and acquiring the state thereof. Further, the detection device is not only an optical detection device, but magnetic detection is also possible when, for example, a metal filament is mixed as described in the prior art, the detection method is to uniquely identify the recording medium 1. It is optional depending on the form of possible information. Further, the above-mentioned color means a state in which the object can be read or detected by the detection device, and needless to say, may be colorless or invisible to the human eye. .

On the other hand, the forgery judging device 4 optically reads the unique information recording area 2 and the dot code 3 by a manual operation while bringing them into contact with a predetermined end face of the forgery judging device 4, and recording the information. The forgery determination device 4 is a device for performing forgery determination of the medium 1. The forgery determination device 4 includes an optical imaging unit 20 including a lens 6, an image sensor 7, and a lighting device (LED or the like) 9, and the imaging unit 20. The image processing unit 21 that buffers the captured image and performs equalizing and binarization processing, the memory 10 that stores the binary image output from the image processing unit 21, and the binary image stored in the memory 10 A CPU 11 configured by a microcomputer or the like for performing data restoration of the first and second information and forgery determination processing, and further for controlling the entire forgery determination device 4, A transmitting / receiving unit 27 for transmitting / receiving the forgery determination result by the CPU 11 and its transmitting / receiving antenna 14, and a display unit 12 for outputting the forgery determination result as information such as characters, and the like, with respect to the Internet or an intranet inquiry site. The operation buttons 5 interface with the CPU 11 to input encryption key information and control the imaging period of the imaging unit 20. Therefore, the forgery judging device 4 may of course be built in a mobile phone or the like which has been explosively popularized in recent years. In the present embodiment, when the inquiry site on the Internet or the intranet (not shown) is used, wireless communication is performed by the transmitting / receiving antenna 14, but it goes without saying that wired communication may be used.

Next, regarding the unique information recording area 2 and the dot code 3 formed on the recording medium 1,
This will be described in more detail.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the dot code 3 recorded on the recording medium 1. In the dot code 3 recorded on the recording medium 1, blocks 41 whose four corners are surrounded by markers 42 are connected one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally in a form sharing the markers 42 with adjacent blocks. It is configured.

In the block 41, the pattern code 43 and the block header 44 are arranged on each side sandwiched by the markers 42 at the four corners, and the block user data 45 is arranged therein.

The marker 42 is used to detect the approximate position of the block 41 when the forgery judging device 4 capable of optically reading the dot code 3 reads the dot code 3. is there. In addition, the pattern code 4 arranged at a position sandwiched between the two markers 42
3 is a block header 44 and block user data 4
This is used to accurately calculate the reading position of the white or black dot 5 in FIG.

In the block header 44, for the data recorded in the block user data 45, a block ID (= block address) etc. for determining the combination order of the user data divided into recording data amount units is recorded. Has been done.

The block user data 45 is recorded and modulated so that a predetermined divided data of the total user data stored in the dot code 3 does not generate a print shape similar to the marker 42, and a pattern of black and white dots. Is recorded as.

Therefore, the forgery judging device 4 which optically reads the dot code 3 thus divided into blocks does not need to image the entire dot code 3 at one time, and several blocks 41 enter the imaging area. Then, the operator manually operates the counterfeit determination device 4 to scan the entire dot code 3 at a predetermined speed or less, so that the block user data 45 stored in each block 41 based on the block ID in the block header 44. Memory 1 in a predetermined order
It can be stored in 0, and finally all the user data in the dot code 3 can be read. Here, it is premised that the forgery determination device 4 performs the image capturing operation at each predetermined period that is sufficiently shorter than the manual scanning speed.

As a result, the forgery judging device 4 can be downsized with respect to the dot code 3.

For details of the above-mentioned dot code 3 reading processing, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-231466 by the present applicant.
JP-A-8-171620.

Further, in the unique information recording area 2, as shown in FIG. 3, a block 4 constituting the dot code 3 is formed.
A marker 42 and a pattern code 43, which are the components of 1.
Further, the block header 44 is provided, and the colored fiber 50 embedded in the recording medium 1 is exposed in the internal area surrounded by these components.

The marker 42 and the pattern code 43 added to the unique information recording area 2 determine the dot reading positioning of the block header 44 in the block 41 of the dot code 3 and the block user data 45 with high accuracy. The block ID, which is provided to realize the same function as that described above, and which uniquely determines the block included in the block header 44, records a predetermined block ID that does not occur in the dot code 3. I am trying to do it. This makes it possible to determine whether the dot code 3 is captured or the unique information recording area 2 is captured in the image captured by the forgery determination device 4. .

The unique information recording area 2 does not have to be a single area, but a plurality of block IDs may be allocated to the unique information recording area 2 in advance so that a plurality of them can be arranged on the recording medium 1. It is possible. In this case, the marker 4
It goes without saying that 2 may be arranged in a shared state as in the case of the dot code 3.

Further, the unique information recording area 2 and the dot code 3 do not need to be separately arranged as shown in FIG. 1, and the unique information recording area 2 can be configured as a part of the block of the dot code 3. Is. In this case, the unique information recording area 2 and the marker 42 of the dot code 3 are arranged in a shared state.

Next, the forgery determination processing operation of the forgery determination device 4 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of the forgery determination device 4 shown in FIG. In addition,
In order to simplify the explanation, the operation procedure of the operator is as follows. First, the reading operation of the unique information recording area 2 of the recording medium 1 is performed.
This is set when the dot code 3 is read subsequently, but in practice there is no particular limitation in the order of operation, and the dot code 3 may be read first.

First, the operator operates the image pickup unit 2 of the forgery judging device 4.
0 is brought into close contact with the unique information recording area 2 and the operation button 5
While the button is being pressed, the unique information recording area 2 is imaged at a predetermined frame rate, and the captured images (multivalued images) are sequentially output to the image processing unit 21. The multi-valued image input to the image processing unit 21 is temporarily stored in a buffer memory (not shown) included in the image processing unit 21. Then, the image processing unit 21 binarizes the multi-valued image temporarily stored in the buffer memory, and outputs the resulting binary image to the dot code reading processing unit 22. In the dot code reading processing unit 22, first, the marker 42 is detected from the input binary image, and the recording position of the pattern code 43 is determined from this detection position. Next, the true center coordinate of the marker 42 that minimizes the error between the recording position coordinate obtained from the binary image of the pattern code 43 and the predetermined ideal relative coordinate from the center of the marker 42 is uniquely determined. The calculation is performed for four markers 42 surrounding the information recording area 2. Then, the block header 44 is read at the read coordinate position determined based on these four coordinate positions, and it is confirmed that the block ID stored in the block header 44 has a predetermined value indicating the unique information recording area 2. do it,
Along with the binary image, the calculated true center coordinates of the four markers 42 surrounding the unique information recording area 2 are output to the unique information reading processing unit 24.

The unique information reading processing unit 24 divides a rectangular area in the binary image surrounded by the true center coordinates of the four input markers 42 into predetermined intervals and intersects with each other at coordinate points (hereinafter referred to as reading points). The black-and-white determination process is performed to obtain bit information corresponding to each of the plurality of reading points. The read multi-bit information becomes unique information candidate data of the recording medium 1, and the unique information candidate data is output to the unique information error correction processing unit 25. In the unique information error correction processing unit 25, the inputted unique information candidate data is stored in a partial memory area of the memory 10, and is inputted from the dot code stored data decoding processing unit 23 to the unique information error correction processing unit 25. After confirming that there is no unique information error correction parity information, the reading process of the unique information recording area 2 of the forgery judging device 4 is completed.
At this time, the unique information candidate data recorded in the memory 10 is held. At this time, the forgery determination device 4 may give a notification indicating that the reading process of the unique information recording area 2 is completed.

Then, the operator brings the forgery judging device 4 into close contact with the dot code 3, scans the dot code 3 while pressing the operation button 5, and when all the dot codes 3 are scanned, the operation button 5 is scanned. Release the. As a result, the image capturing unit 20 captures images at predetermined intervals (for example, 30 msec) while the operator is pressing the operation button, and the captured images (multivalued images) are sequentially output to the image processing unit 21.

The multi-valued image input to the image processing unit 21 is
A binary image temporarily stored in a buffer memory (not shown) included in the image processing unit 21, and a binary image obtained by performing binarization processing on the multivalued image temporarily stored in the buffer memory is transferred from the image processing unit 21 to the dot code reading processing unit 22. Is output to. In the dot code reading processing unit 22, the recording positions of the marker 42 and the pattern code 43 are determined from the input binary image, as in the case of the binary image of the unique information recording area 2, and the block 41 is determined. For the four markers 42 surrounding
The true center coordinates of each marker are calculated. The block header 44 is read from these four coordinate positions, and the block ID stored in the block header 44 has a predetermined value indicating the dot code 3 (that is, it does not have the predetermined value indicating the unique information recording area 2). Things), block 41
The block user data 45 therein is read by dividing the rectangular area surrounded by the four coordinate positions at a predetermined interval. The read block user data 45 is demodulated by a predetermined recording modulation and then output to the dot code storage data decoding unit 23 together with the block header information.

In the dot code storage data decoding processing section 23, the demodulation data of the block user data 45 (hereinafter simply referred to as demodulation data) is stored in a predetermined address area in the memory 10 corresponding to the block ID of the input block header 44. ) Is stored. The blocks 41 detected from the images picked up by the image pickup unit 20 in time series perform the same processing, and all demodulated data corresponding to different block IDs are stored in the memory 10. Then, triggered by the detection of the operator's release of the operation switch 5, the rearrangement (interleave) of the data performed as a burst error countermeasure for the demodulated data stored in the memory 10 is returned. Deinterleave processing is performed, and error correction processing is further performed using an error correction code configured at the time of code creation as a measure against random errors.
The user data excluding the error correction check parity after the error correction is further encrypted, and the encrypted user data is decrypted based on the encryption key input from the key input unit 29.

The decrypted user data includes a correction check parity for error correction of the unique information, and further access attribute information (reference not shown) to the inquiry site (not shown) on the Internet or the intranet for centrally managing the forgery determination result. For example, a URL, an IP address, a serial number for identifying the recording medium 1, and a password for accessing a site), and the correction check parity is sent to the unique information error correction processing unit 25. The access attribute information is output to the forgery determination processing unit 26.

The unique information error correction processing section 25 receives the unique information candidate data already stored in the memory 10 by reading the unique information recording area 2 and the dot code stored data decoding processing section 23. The error correction code for the unique information is formed by the unique information correction check parity and the error correction processing of the correction code is performed, and the correction result is output to the forgery determination processing unit 26.

The forgery determination processing unit 26 determines whether the recording medium 1 is forged or authentic based on the input error correction result, and determines the determination result and the access attribute information of the inquiry site. To the transmitting / receiving unit 27.

The transmitter / receiver 27 accesses the inquiry site based on the input access attribute information and transmits the determination result, and the inquiry site (not shown) collates the determination result (for example, past determination results). Is searched from the database to check whether it has been determined to be forged in the past), and the inquiry result information is returned to the transmitting / receiving unit 27.

Then, the inquiry result information returned to the transmission / reception unit 27 is returned to the forgery determination processing unit 26, and the final determination result is output to the determination result output unit 28.

The determination result output unit 28 converts the input determination result into, for example, character information and outputs the character information to the display unit 12.

Therefore, the image pickup section 20 and the image processing section 2 are
1, the dot code reading processing unit 22 and the dot code storage data decoding processing unit 23 function as a reading unit 15 that mechanically reads the second information, and the image pickup unit 20.
The image processing unit 21, the dot code reading processing unit 22, the unique information reading processing unit 24, and the unique information error correction processing unit 25.
Uses the read second information to read the first
It functions as an acquisition unit 16 that acquires the first information from the unique information recording area 2 which is the area of.

Next, with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. 5, the apparatus 3 for producing a recording medium capable of determining forgery according to the present embodiment.
7 will be described.

That is, in the processing operation of the creation device 37, first, the characters 42 which are the readable information on the tickets such as securities and the marker 42 included in the unique information recording area 2, the pattern code 43, and the block header 44 are printed on the ticket surface. Printing is performed by the unit 30. An example of this printed result is the print medium 1a shown in FIG.

Next, the creating device 37 includes an image pickup section 20 ', an image processing section 21', a dot code reading processing section 22 ', and a unique information reading processing section having functions equivalent to those of the forgery judging apparatus 4 described above. The print medium 1a via 24 '
The unique information data recorded in the unique information recording area 2 therein is acquired. The unique information data is output from the unique information reading processing unit 24 'to the unique information error correction coding processing unit 32.

The unique information error correction coding processing unit 32 performs error correction code (for example, general Reed-Solomon code etc.) on the inputted unique information data, and generates the correction check parity by the dot code code. It outputs to the conversion processing unit 33.

The dot code encoding processing unit 33 further receives information input from the information input unit 36 (for example, an inquiry site (not shown) on the Internet or an intranet for the forgery judgment device 4 to inquire the forgery judgment result). Access attribute information (for example, a URL, an IP address, a serial number for identifying the recording medium 1, and a password for accessing a site) and an encryption key) are input, and the dot code encoding processing unit 33. By this, after the error correction check parity for the unique information and the access attribute information are formed into a predetermined format, they are encrypted based on the encryption key, and an error correction encoding process for dot code storage (including interleaving) And is output to the dot code image generation unit 34.

In the dot code image generating section 34, the inputted dot code storing data after the error correction coding processing is divided into predetermined amount of data, and the block user data 45 area constituting the block 41 is subjected to the modulation processing. Convert to white and black dot pattern to create an image. Then, a block header 44 in which a block ID for uniquely identifying the block is added to each block
Then, the image data of the dot code 3 in which the marker 42 and the pattern code 43 are further arranged at predetermined positions is created, and the image data is output to the dot code printing unit 35.

In the dot code printing section 35, printing corresponding to the image data is carried out at a predetermined position on the printing medium 1a, thereby obtaining the final recording medium 1 as shown in FIG. Is.

Next, the forgery judging device 4 and the creating device 3
7, a process of reading the unique information recording area 2 to obtain optically readable unique information or candidate data thereof will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. 7.

First, the unique information recording area 2 is imaged by the imaging section 20 or 20 '. The image formation image 61 formed on the image sensor 7 at the time of image pickup is shown in the figure. Here, the squares that divide the region of the imaged image 61 mean the pixels of the image sensor 7. In this schematic diagram, the width of the imaged colored fiber is drawn so as to be narrower than the pixel of the image sensor 7, but the pixel size is such that the colored fiber is the image sensor 7
Needless to say, it is better that the width is sufficiently smaller than the width imaged above.

The formed image 61 is output from the image sensor 7 as a multi-valued image, and the image processing unit 21 or 21 '.
The binary image 62 is created by the binarization process.

In the binary image 62, the true center coordinates of the four markers 42 surrounding the unique information recording area 2 are obtained by the dot code reading processing unit 22 or 22 ', and the unique information is determined on the basis of the true center coordinates. In the reading processing unit 24 or 24 ',
The inside of the binarized unique information recording area 2 is divided into a predetermined size (meshed image 63), the value of the dividing intersection position (sampling position) is determined, and the unique information data 64a or the unique information candidate data 64b. Is converted to.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams schematically showing the flow of data generated in the process and the form thereof in order to describe the operations of the creating device 37 and the forgery judging device 4 in more detail. is there.

First, with reference to FIG.
The data flow in the process of No. 7 will be described.

Unique information recording formed on the print medium 1a
The image of the area 2 is processed by the unique information reading process as described above.
Is output as unique information data 64a through the processing unit 24 '.
It The unique information data 64a is represented by a byte string.
Data 71 (A₀Through A₇) As a unique information error correction
It is input to the normal encoding processing unit 32. Unique information error correction
In the encoding processing unit 32, a byte string representation of unique information data
Reed-Solomon encoding is performed on 71, and the Reed-Solo
Correction check parity of Mon code 72 (P₀To P ₇) Got
It This correction check parity 72 is stored in the information input unit 36.
Along with the entered access attribute information of the inquiry site,
Code encoding processing unit 33 and dot code image raw
Converted to a print image of dot code 3 by the composition unit 34.
Be done.

Next, with reference to FIG. 9, the flow of data generated in each process of the forgery judging device 4 and its form will be described.

The image of the unique information recording area 2 formed on the recording medium 1 is output as the unique information candidate data 64b from the unique information reading processing section 24 as described above.
Then, the byte string representation data 9 of the unique information candidate data
2 is input to the unique information error correction processing unit 25.
On the other hand, the dot code 3 formed on the recording medium 1 is decoded through the dot code reading processing unit 22 and the dot code storage data decoding processing unit 23, and the unique information candidate data 64b obtained by the decoding is obtained. The correction check parity 72 for restoring the unique information data 64a is output to the unique information error correction processing unit 25, and the attribute information such as the referral address of the forgery determination result is output to the forgery determination processing unit 26. The unique information error correction processing unit 25 performs error correction processing from the byte string representation data 92 of the unique information candidate data and the correction check parity 72, and outputs the correctability determination to the forgery determination processing unit 26 by the correction processing.
The error information 83 at the time of correction is converted into an error pattern 84 format and output to the forgery determination processing unit 26.

The forgery determination processing unit 26 makes a primary determination based on the correctability information received from the unique information error correction processing unit 25 and the error pattern 84, and further, via the transmission / reception unit 27 based on the attribute information such as the inquiry destination address. Upon receiving the secondary determination result at the connected inquiry destination, a final determination is made, and the determination result output unit 28 creates a character string for the final determination result and outputs it to the display unit 12.

Next, the flow of the entire processing of the forgery judging device 4 will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

When the forgery judging device 4 is turned on or the operation is started (here, the operation button 5 is pressed)
By doing so, the initialization process of the counterfeit determination device 4 is performed (step S900).

At the time when the counterfeit determination device 4 enters the determination operation start mode by this initialization processing, the CPU 11 records the unique information on the recording medium 1 depending on whether the operator is pressing the operation button 5 or not. Area 2 or dot code 3
It is determined whether or not the reading operation is started (step S901).

The reading operation starts (that is, the operation button 5
Is pressed), the dot code is read from the image picked up by the image pickup unit 20 (step S902), and the block ID recorded in the read block header 44 is the unique information. It is determined whether the value is the predetermined value assigned to the recording area 2 (step S903).

Here, when the block ID is the predetermined value, the CPU 11 inside the forgery judging device 4 judges that the read area is the unique information recording area 2, and the acquired information of the unique information has already been obtained. It is determined whether it has been completed (step S908).

If the acquired information has already been acquired, the unique information is acquired from the acquired information (step S
910) and forgery determination processing is performed (step S912).

Here, in the present embodiment, the acquisition processing of the unique information based on the acquired information is the error correction processing for the unique information, and the acquired information is the error correction check parity for the unique information. is there. Further, as will be described in a second embodiment described later, the acquisition process is not limited to the error correction process, and the binarization process parameters of the unique information recording area 2 and the sampling points from the binary image are It goes without saying that a process of acquiring the unique information based on the information specifying the position and the order thereof is also included.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S908 whether or not the acquired information of the unique information has been acquired, it is determined that the acquired information has not been acquired, the candidate data regarding the unique information area is once stored in the memory 10. The operation is evacuated (step S909), and the process returns to the reading operation start determination in step S901.

If it is determined in step S903 that the block ID recorded in the read block header 44 is not the predetermined value, the read operation of the dot code 3 is completed. Until the operation button 5 is released (step S90)
2, the dot code 3 is read, and the demodulated data of the detected block user data 45 of the block 41 is stored in the memory 10. Then, when the reading operation is completed, the data recorded in the dot code 3 is decrypted (deinterleave, error correction, encryption / decryption, etc.) (step S905), and then the unique information is acquired. The information is stored in the memory 10 (step S906).

Next, it is determined whether the candidate data regarding the unique information area is saved in the memory 10 (step S907). If the candidate data regarding the unique information area is saved in the memory 10, it is determined by the acquired information. The unique information is acquired (step S910), and forgery determination processing is performed (step S912).

On the other hand, if the candidate data is not saved in the memory 10, the process returns to step S901 and the read operation start determination is performed again.

Next, an example of details of the forgery determination processing in step S912 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

That is, when receiving the error correction processing result for the acquired unique information candidate data in the processing for acquiring the unique information based on the acquired information in step S910, first, the CPU 11 cannot correct the error correction for the unique information candidate data. It is determined whether there is any (step S913).

If the correction is not impossible, then
It is determined whether the number of corrected symbols is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value (step S915). And if less than the threshold,
It is output to the display unit 12 as being forged (that is, authentic) (step S916). On the other hand, if the threshold value is not less than the threshold value, an intermediate state forgery determination process as described later is performed based on the corrected error pattern information (step S917).

On the other hand, if the error correction for the unique information candidate data in step S913 is correctable or uncorrectable, it is determined that all the positions for the unique information candidate data have been lost, and the loss correction is performed again. (Step S914). Here, the condition that the erasure correction can be performed assuming that all the unique information candidate data is lost is that the error correction check parity number (the number of error correction check parities (byte number) or more of the correction symbol number (byte number) of the unique information candidate data is ( (The number of bytes) is added and there is no error in the error correction check parity (this is a necessary condition when the number of unique information candidate data = the number of error correction check parity). Since the error correction check parity itself is protected by the error correction code based on the dot code 3, it can be considered that it does not substantially include an error. You can get the error pattern that occurs.

Then, based on this error pattern information, forgery determination processing of the intermediate state is performed (step S91).
7).

An example of the details of the intermediate state forgery determination processing in step S917 will be described with reference to the diagram relating to the error pattern 84 shown in FIG. 12 and the flowchart shown in FIG. Here, FIG. 12A is a diagram showing the error pattern 84.
(B) of FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the level determination criteria for the error frequency of the divided areas in a graph for convenience of explanation in order to divide the divided areas of the error pattern into levels.

In the example of FIG. 12, the error pattern 84 is
It is divided into _five areas (A _{1 to} A ₅ ), and the error occurrence frequency for each area is divided into levels (Lev).
el0 to Level 4) are performed. For example, in this example, the divided areas A ₁ , A ₂ , and A ₅ of the error pattern 84 are Level 3, A ₃ is Level 2, and A ₄ is Lev.
It indicates that it belongs to el1.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the forgery determination processing when the error pattern is divided into small areas and the error state is analyzed in this way.

First, the CPU 11 causes the error pattern 84.
It is determined whether or not the divided areas having Level 2 or more occupy the majority of the divided areas A _{1 to} A ₅ (step S918). If the judgment result is majority,
Information that the possibility of forgery is high (counterfeit determination level 4) is transmitted to the inquiry site to inquire about forgery information (step S919).

If Level2 or more is less than the majority, it is next determined whether the area of Level1 is the majority (step S920). If the area of Level1 occupies the majority, there is a possibility of forgery (counterfeit determination level. The information 3) is transmitted to the inquiry site to inquire about forgery information (step S921).

On the other hand, in step S920, L
If the area of level1 is less than the majority, Level
It is determined whether the area of 0 is a majority (step S92).
2) If Level0 occupies the majority, the information without forgery is output to the display unit 12 (step S92).
3). On the other hand, when the Level0 is less than the majority, information that the possibility of forgery is low (counterfeit determination level 2) is transmitted to the inquiry site to inquire about forgery information (step S924).

As described above, according to this embodiment, error correction processing is performed even if local stains or scratches occur in the unique information recording area 2 to remove the influence of stains or scratches. The accuracy of the forgery determination can be further improved.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG.

The present embodiment makes it possible to acquire the unique information candidate data with higher accuracy.

Hereinafter, for simplification of description, regarding the reading operation of the unique information recording area 2 of the recording medium 1 and the dot code 3 by the forgery determination device 4, first, the unique information recording area 2 is read, and then the dot code 3 The order of reading is to be established. As described above, the order may be reversed.

First, the unique information recording area 2 is picked up by the image pickup section 20 of the forgery judging device 4, and the multivalued image is obtained by the image processing section 2.
It is output to 1. In the image processing unit 21, the input multi-valued image is temporarily saved in a frame memory (not shown). The multi-valued image temporarily saved in the frame memory (not shown)
It is binarized by the image processing unit 21 and output to the dot code reading processing unit 22.

In the dot code reading processing section 22, the marker 42 and the pattern code 43 are extracted from the input binary image.
Is calculated, the true center position coordinate of the marker 42 is calculated from the extracted marker 42 and the pattern code 43, and the read position coordinate of the block header 44 is obtained with high accuracy from this true center position coordinate. Then, the block header 44 is read from the reading position coordinates of the block header 44, and if the block ID stored in the block header 44 is the predetermined value assigned to the unique information recording area 2,
The read information indicating that the unique information recording area 2 has been read is output to the image processing unit 21.

The image processing unit 21 receives the input of the read information and saves the read image stored in the frame memory (not shown) in the unique information read image memory 140,
The forgery judging device 4 is put in a ready-to-read waiting state again. Then, at this point, for example, to the operator, the display unit 1
2 may output the message “Please scan the dot code 3”.

Next, the dot code 3 is read by the image pickup section 20, and the multivalued image is output to the image processing section 21. In the image processing unit 21, the input multi-valued image is temporarily saved in a frame memory (not shown). The multivalued image temporarily saved in the frame memory (not shown) is binarized by the image processing unit 21 and output to the dot code reading processing unit 22.

The dot code reading processing section 22 detects the marker 42 and the pattern code 43 from the input binary image, and calculates the true center position coordinates of the marker 42 from the detected marker 42 and the pattern code 43. The reading position coordinates of the block header 44 are obtained with high accuracy from the true center position coordinates. Next, the block header 44 is read from the reading position coordinates of the block header 44, and it is confirmed that the block ID stored in the block header 44 is not the predetermined value assigned to the unique information recording area 2, The reading position coordinates in the block user data 45 are obtained from the true center position coordinates of the marker 42. Then, the modulated data recorded in the block user data 45 is read from the obtained reading position coordinates, and the demodulated data obtained by demodulating the modulated data is output to the dot code storage data decoding processing unit 23 together with the block ID.

In the dot code storage data decoding processing section 23, the demodulated data of the input block user data 45 is stored in a predetermined storage location of the memory 10 based on the block ID, and when the reading operation is completed, the memory 10 is stored. Deinterleave processing on the demodulated data stored in
Binarization processing parameters for the unique information picked-up image, error correction processing and encryption / decryption processing, extraction position parameters for extracting the unique information candidate data from the unique information picked-up image, unique information error correction inspection parity, and to the inquiry site Get the access attribute information of.

The binarization processing parameter is the image processing unit 21.
The extraction position parameter is stored in the unique information reading processing unit 24.
The unique information error correction check parity is output to the unique information error correction processing unit 25, and the access attribute information is output to the forgery determination processing unit 26.

In the image processing section 21, the multi-valued image stored in the unique information read image memory 140 is binarized based on the inputted binarization processing parameter, and the dot code read processing section 22 is again processed. Output. Here, the binarization processing parameter is, for example, the ratio of the binarization threshold value to the maximum value and the minimum value of the brightness value of the multi-valued image, or 2 of the pattern code 43 forming the unique information recording area 2.
It is information such as the average area after valuation. Especially in the case of the latter average area, the average area of the pattern code 43 detected based on the binary image output to the dot code reading processing unit 22 is calculated by the dot code reading processing unit 22, and the average is calculated. The deviation between the area and the binarization processing parameter is returned to the image processing unit 21 as a feedback parameter and again set to 2
The binarization process is performed by changing the binarization threshold, and the above process is repeated until the deviation amount becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value. This makes it possible to obtain an optimum binary image.

The dot code reading processor 22 extracts the marker 42 and the pattern code 43 from the binary image thus obtained, and calculates the true center position coordinates of the marker 42 from the extracted marker 42 and the pattern code 43. do it,
The reading position coordinates of the block header 44 are obtained with high accuracy from the true center position coordinates. Then, the block header 44 is read from the read position coordinates of the block header 44, and it is confirmed that the block ID stored in the block header 44 is a predetermined value assigned to the unique information recording area 2, The true center position coordinate of the marker 42 is output to the unique information reading processing unit 24 together with the value image.

The unique information reading processing unit 24 extracts unique information candidate data from the input binary image and the true center position of the marker 42, and further from the binary image output from the dot code storage data decoding processing unit 23. The unique information candidate data is extracted by the extraction position parameter to be extracted. here,
An example of the extraction position parameter is information on the sampling position of a rectangular area surrounded by four true center positions. 15A and 15B are examples of specific sampling positions, the sampling position 150
Can be specified arbitrarily. Further, the offset amount may be designated with respect to the four true center position coordinates serving as the reference. As a result, it is possible to specify a more characteristic sampling position as the unique information when the recording medium 1 is created,
As a result, it is possible to increase the reliability of the unique information itself acquired by the forgery determination device 4 and further improve the accuracy of the forgery determination.

The unique information candidate data extracted by the unique information reading processing section 24 is stored in the unique information error correction processing section 25.
And is corrected by the unique information error correction processing section 25 using the unique information error correction check parity.

After that, the forgery determination processing similar to that of the above-described first embodiment is performed.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of data generated in each process of the forgery judging device 4 and its form. The difference from the first embodiment is that the dot code 3 has The second information corresponding to the information that can uniquely identify the recording medium 1 which is the information of the first information from the unique information recording area 2 for comparing the first information and the second information. This is the point that the unique information error correction check parity, which is the third information for obtaining the information, is recorded. The advantage of storing the correction check parity and the unique information in the dot code 3 in this way is that the correction check parity with suppressed error correction capability for the unique information candidate data is used, and the generation of the correction check parity and the error correction process can be reduced. Is.

When it is determined that the error cannot be corrected, the error occurrence comparison is performed by comparing with the unique information recorded in the dot code 3 together with the correction check parity.

First, the image in the unique information recording area 2 is converted into unique information candidate data 64b through the unique information reading processing section 24 of the forgery judging device 4. The unique information candidate data 6
4b becomes byte string representation data 92, which is stored in a predetermined location of the memory 10. On the other hand, the dot code 3 passes through the dot code reading processing unit 22 and the dot code storage data decoding processing unit 23, and the unique information error correction check parity 72.
And the byte string representation 71 of the unique information and the access attribute information to the inquiry site.

The unique information error correction check parity 72 is
It is input to the unique information error correction processing unit 25 together with the byte string representation data 92, and error correction processing is performed. Then, the correction result 94 is subjected to exclusive OR with the byte string representation 71 of the unique information to generate an error pattern 84 as difference information.

The error pattern 84 enters the forgery determination processing unit 26, and the forgery determination processing unit 26 performs the forgery determination based on the error pattern 84. For the forgery determination itself, the method described in the above-described first embodiment can be used as it is, and the same applies to the secondary determination to the inquiry site and the output of the determination result.

In particular, this embodiment is an example in which when the unique information includes an error that can be corrected, it is determined that all the information is not forged, and only when the error cannot be corrected, a more detailed forgery determination process is performed. In this example, the forgery determination apparatus 4 can be made simpler by simplifying or eliminating the forgery determination process itself. The degree of detailed forgery determination depends on the importance of the recording medium 1 on which the forgery determination is made, but this importance level can be input to the forgery determination device 4, for example, level 1 is only for error correction, Level 2 can also be provided with a switching processing unit that switches the forgery determination processing such as performing more detailed forgery determination processing.

Also in this embodiment, the unique information as the second information recorded in the dot code 3 and the correction check parity as the third information are encrypted to prevent forgery. You may make it sure.

[Fourth Embodiment] Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In this embodiment, the information recorded in the dot code 3 is used as the error correction check parity of the unique information and the access attribute information to the inquiry site, and the advanced encryption processing (RSA using the public key) is applied to these information. A simple password embedding method and its decryption method are adopted without applying the system).

First, the creating device 37 of the recording medium 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

The unique information recording area 2 formed on the print medium 1a is imaged by the imaging unit 20 'of the creating apparatus 37, and the bytes for the unique information data 64a output from the unique information reading processing unit 24'. The column representation data 71 is output to the unique information error correction encoding processing unit 32. The unique information error correction encoding processing unit 32 generates the correction check parity 72 of the number of bytes P _N satisfying the following conditions for the byte string representation data 71.

P _N = D _N +2 where D _N indicates the number of bytes stored in one correction code of the byte string representation data 71.

On the other hand, the personal identification number input by the information input unit 36 is input to the error addition processing unit 103, and in the error addition processing unit 103, the correction check parity 72 already created.
Error is added to the byte position corresponding to the personal identification number.
The error adding method is performed, for example, by bit inversion of P ₄ which is the 5th byte of the correction check parity 72, assuming that the personal identification number is “4”.

The correction check parity with the error added in this way is input to the dot code encoding processing unit 33, and in the dot code encoding processing unit 33, the information input unit 36 is entered.
An encoding process corresponding to the dot code 3 is performed together with the address attribute information of the inquiry site that is input from the dot code 3 generated by the dot code image generation unit 34 and printed on the print medium 1a. It will be.

Next, the flow of data generated in each process of the forgery judging device 4 and its form will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the image in the unique information recording area 2 is converted into unique information candidate data 64b through the unique information reading processing section 24 of the forgery judging device 4. The unique information candidate data 64b becomes byte string representation data 92 and is stored in a predetermined location of the memory 10. On the other hand, from the image of the dot code 3, the error correction check parity 180 and the access attribute information to the inquiry site are generated through the dot code reading processing unit 22 and the dot code storage data decoding processing unit 23.

The personal identification number input from the personal identification number input unit 101 is converted into erasure position information by the erasure position determination unit 104, and the erasure position information is converted into the error correction check parity 180 and the byte string representation data 92. It is also input to the unique information error correction processing unit 25 and erasure correction processing is performed. Here, the erasure position in erasure correction is the erasure position determined by all of the byte string representation data 92 (A ′ _{0 to} A ′ ₇ ) and the personal identification number. Assuming that the error correction code in this example is a Reed-Solomon code, the code length is 18 bytes and the parity is 10 bytes.
If it is a byte, the erasure-correctable conditional expression is as follows.

ES _NUM + (ER _NUM × 2) ≦ number of parity bytes (= 10) However, ES _NUM is the number of disappearances (errors where the position can be specified) and ER _NUM is the number of errors (errors where the position is indefinite).

In the erasure correction executed by the unique information error correction processing unit 25, the number of erasures is 9 as described above, and the condition of the above equation is satisfied and correction is possible unless an error whose position is indefinite occurs. On the other hand, if a mistaken input of the personal identification number occurs, in addition to the above-mentioned 9 disappearances, an error of an uncertain position is mixed in the error correction check parity 180.
Since 9+ (1 × 2) = 11, the correction condition is no longer satisfied and the correction cannot be performed. As a result, the mistaken input of the personal identification number can be determined by the correction processing of the unique information error correction processing unit 25.

Therefore, correction is possible only when the input personal identification numbers match, and the unique information error correction processing unit 25
Is an error pattern 84 based on the calculated error information 83.
And outputs it to the forgery determination processing unit 26.

The determination process in the forgery determination processing unit 26 and the inquiry method using the access attribute information to the inquiry site are the same as those in the above-described first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof is omitted here. .

As a result, the authentication information based on the personal identification number can be embedded in the dot code 3 without installing a sophisticated cryptographic processing function in the forgery determination device 4, and the accuracy of the forgery determination can be further improved. . In this example, a personal identification number is embedded when a ticket (mainly a ticket) is issued, and the personal identification is verified by checking the personal identification number when the ticket is used, and it is further determined whether the ticket is forged. You can double check.

Although the present invention has been described based on the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. Of course.

For example, the functions shown in each of the first to fourth embodiments can be executed as a software program on a personal computer. Further, as a modification of the fourth embodiment, the error correction check matrix used in the unique information error correction processing unit 25 may be changed according to the personal identification number. In this case, it can be realized by changing the generator polynomial of the error correction code used in the unique information error correction coding processing unit 32 to one corresponding to the check matrix changed by the above-mentioned secret code. In this modification, the same effect as the authentication using the disappearance position can be obtained, and the number of digits of the personal identification number can be increased by using the authentication method together with the disappearance position. Further, in the present invention, when the second information is provided in an optically readable format, a coded image other than the dot code can be adopted, and the second information is magnetically readable. Of course, it can be given in the form.

Here, the summary of the present invention is summarized as follows.

(1) A forgery-determinable information recording medium having a readable area in which readable information such as characters and images can be visually read, which can uniquely identify the information recording medium. A first area to which the first information is added in a predetermined format, and a second area to acquire the first information from the first area in a mechanically readable format. An information recording medium capable of forgery determination, characterized by comprising:

That is, by using the second information recorded in the second area of a separately mechanically readable format to obtain the first information that can uniquely identify the information recording medium, the unique information can be obtained. It is possible to more reliably acquire the first information that can be specified as described above, and thus it is possible to increase the accuracy of the determination as to whether the information is forged.

(2) The forgery judgment according to (1) is possible, wherein the first information is unique information based on the material of the information recording medium which is different for each information recording medium. Information recording medium.

That is, in addition to the effect of (1) above, since the first information that can be uniquely specified is unique information based on the material of each recording medium, a hard copy of the printing surface was performed. Even for forgery, the difference can be determined more reliably by determining the difference in the acquired unique information.

(3) The forgery-determinable information recording medium according to (1), wherein the second information is further encrypted.

That is, in addition to the effect of (1) above, since the second information is encrypted, the second information recorded in a mechanically readable format is read, and the data is read. It can be difficult to forge the first information.

(4) The forgery-determinable information recording medium according to (1), characterized in that the second information includes error-correction check parity for the first information.

That is, in addition to the effect of (1) above, even if the second information contains the error-correction check parity for the first information and thus the first information is soiled, the soiled portion is Since it is possible to correct and the unique information corresponding to the recording medium on which the forgery determination is made can be more accurately restored, the accuracy of the forgery determination can be further increased.

(5) The forgery according to (1), wherein the second information is added to the second area in the form of an optically readable encoded image. A determinable information recording medium.

That is, in addition to the effect of (1) above, since the second information is added in the form of an optically readable coded image, an inexpensive and small reader can be provided. Moreover, the second information can be surely restored even though the operation is relatively simple. As a result, the acquisition of the first information can be made more reliable.

(6) A forgery-determinable information recording medium having a readable area in which readable information such as characters and images can be visually read, which can uniquely identify the information recording medium. In order to compare the first area to which the first information is given in a predetermined format, the second information corresponding to the first information, the first information and the second information, Forgery-determinable information, comprising: a third area for obtaining the first information from the first area; and a second area provided in a mechanically readable format. recoding media.

That is, by using the third information recorded in the second area in a mechanically readable format separately to obtain the first information that can uniquely identify the information recording medium, It is possible to more reliably obtain the first information that can be specified in the second area, and the first information recorded in the second area can be obtained.
The accuracy of the forgery determination can be increased by comparing the second information corresponding to the information of 1 with the first information.

(7) The forgery determination according to (6) is possible, wherein the first information is unique information based on the material of the information recording medium which is different for each individual information recording medium. Information recording medium.

That is, in addition to the effect of (6), since the first information that can be uniquely specified is unique information based on the material of each recording medium, a hard copy of the printing surface was performed. Even for forgery, the difference can be determined more reliably by determining the difference in the acquired unique information.

(8) The second information and the third information are further encrypted (6)
An information recording medium capable of being judged as forgery.

That is, in addition to the effect of (6) above, since the second information is encrypted, the second information recorded in a mechanically readable format is read and its data is converted. It can be difficult to forge the first information.

(9) The forgery-determinable information recording medium as described in (6), wherein the third information includes error correction check parity for the first information.

That is, in addition to the effect of the above (6), even if the third information includes the error-correction check parity for the first information, and the first information becomes dirty, the dirty portion is Since it is possible to correct and the unique information corresponding to the recording medium on which the forgery determination is made can be more accurately restored, the accuracy of the forgery determination can be further increased.

(10) The second information and the third information are added to the second area in the form of an optically readable coded image ( The information recording medium according to 6), which allows forgery determination.

That is, in addition to the effect of the above (6), the second information and the third information are added in the form of an optically readable coded image, which is inexpensive and compact. It can be used as a reading device, and the second information and the third information can be surely restored while the operation is relatively simple. As a result, the reliability of the acquisition of the first information is increased and the accuracy of the forgery determination can be increased.

(11) An information recording medium having a readable area in which readable information such as characters and images that can be visually read is recorded, and the first information that can uniquely identify the information recording medium is A first area provided in a predetermined format, and a second area provided with a second information for obtaining the first information from the first area in a mechanically readable format The second of the information recording medium including
Reading means for mechanically reading the second information from the area, and obtaining the first information from the first area by using the second information read by the reading means A forgery determination device comprising: a means and a forgery determination means for performing a forgery determination on the information recording medium based on the acquisition result of the first information by the acquisition means.

That is, by using the second information recorded in the second area of a mechanically readable format separately to obtain the first information that can uniquely identify the information recording medium, the unique information can be obtained. It is possible to more reliably acquire the first information that can be specified as described above, and thus it is possible to improve the accuracy of the forgery determination.

(12) The forgery judging means judges that the information recording medium is highly likely to be forged when the first information is not acquired by the acquiring means. The forgery determination device described.

That is, in addition to the effect of (11) above, if the first information that can be uniquely specified cannot be acquired using the second information, it is determined that the possibility of forgery is high, and the forgery is performed. The possibility of erroneous determination on the side of the determination device can be reduced.

(13) An information recording medium having a readable area in which readable information such as characters and images that can be visually read is recorded, and the first information that can uniquely identify the information recording medium is In order to compare the first area given in a predetermined format, the second information corresponding to the first information, the first information and the second information, the first information is compared.
From the second area of the information recording medium, the second area is provided with the third information for obtaining the first information from the area
The first information is acquired from the first area by using a reading unit that mechanically reads the second information and the third information and the third information read by the reading unit. Based on the comparison result of the acquisition means, the second information read by the reading means, and the first information acquired by the acquisition means, and the comparison result of the comparison means. A forgery judging device comprising: a forgery judging means for judging forgery of an information recording medium.

That is, by using the third information recorded in the second area in a mechanically readable format separately to obtain the first information that can uniquely identify the information recording medium, the unique information can be obtained. It is possible to more reliably obtain the first information that can be specified in the second area, and the first information recorded in the second area can be obtained.
The accuracy of the forgery determination can be increased by comparing the second information corresponding to the information of 1 with the first information.

(14) The forgery judging means may forge the information recording medium when predetermined difference information is detected in the comparison between the second information and the first information by the comparing means. The forgery determination device according to (13), wherein the determination is high.

That is, in addition to the effect of (13) above, the first
The state of the difference information between the second information and the information of
It is possible to reduce the possibility of erroneous determination on the side of the forgery determination device by determining that the classification that is unlikely to occur due to dirt or the like is likely to be forged.

(15) An information recording medium having a readable area in which readable information such as characters and images that can be visually read is recorded, and the first information that can uniquely identify the information recording medium is A first area provided in a predetermined format, and a second area provided with a second information for obtaining the first information from the first area in a mechanically readable format The second of the information recording medium including
Using the first step of mechanically reading the second information from the area and the second information read in the first step, the first information from the first area. And a third step of making a forgery determination on the information recording medium based on the acquisition result of the first information by the second step. Counterfeit judgment method.

That is, by using the second information recorded in the second area of a mechanically readable format separately to obtain the first information that can uniquely identify the information recording medium, It is possible to more reliably acquire the first information that can be specified as described above, and thus it is possible to improve the accuracy of the forgery determination.

(16) The third step is characterized in that when the first information is not acquired by the second step, it is judged that the information recording medium is highly likely to be forged ( The forgery determination method according to 15).

That is, in addition to the effect of (15) above, if the first information that can be uniquely specified cannot be acquired using the second information, it is determined that the possibility of forgery is high, and the forgery is determined. The possibility of erroneous determination on the side of the determination device can be reduced.

(17) An information recording medium having a readable area in which readable information such as characters and images that can be visually read is recorded, and the first information that can uniquely identify the information recording medium is In order to compare the first area given in a predetermined format, the second information corresponding to the first information, the first information and the second information, the first information is compared.
From the second area of the information recording medium, the second area is provided with the third information for obtaining the first information from the area
The first step of mechanically reading the second information and the third information and the third information read in the first step are used to extract the first information from the first area. And a third step of comparing the second information read in the first step with the first information obtained in the second step. And a fourth step of performing a forgery determination on the information recording medium based on the comparison result in the third step, the forgery determination method.

That is, by using the third information recorded in the second area of a separately mechanically readable format to obtain the first information that can uniquely identify the information recording medium, the unique information can be obtained. It is possible to more reliably obtain the first information that can be specified in the second area, and the first information recorded in the second area can be obtained.
The accuracy of the forgery determination can be increased by comparing the second information corresponding to the information of 1 with the first information.

(18) In the fourth step, when the predetermined difference information is detected in the comparison between the second information and the first information in the third step, the information recording medium is forged. The method of determining forgery according to (17), which is characterized by determining that there is a high possibility that

That is, in addition to the effect (17), the first
The state of the difference information between the second information and the information of
It is possible to reduce the possibility of erroneous determination on the side of the forgery determination device by determining that the classification that is unlikely to occur due to dirt or the like is likely to be forged.

(19) An information recording medium having a readable area in a computer in which readable information such as characters and images can be visually read, the first information recording medium being capable of uniquely specifying the information recording medium. Of the first area provided with the information of a predetermined format and the second area provided with the second information for obtaining the first information from the first area in a mechanically readable format. And a function of mechanically reading the second information from the second area of the information recording medium including the area, and the second information mechanically read from the second area. Then, the forgery determination of the information recording medium is performed based on the function of acquiring the first information from the first area and the acquisition result of the first information acquired from the first area. Functions and programs for realizing them.

That is, by using the second information recorded in the second area of a separately mechanically readable format to obtain the first information that can uniquely identify the information recording medium, the unique information can be obtained. It is possible to more reliably acquire the first information that can be specified as described above, and thus it is possible to improve the accuracy of the forgery determination.

(20) An information recording medium having a readable area in which readable information such as characters and images that can be visually read is recorded in a computer, wherein the information recording medium can be uniquely specified. Of the second area corresponding to the first information and the first area in which the information of
And a third information for obtaining the first information from the first area for comparing the first information and the second information are in a mechanically readable format. And a function of mechanically reading the second information and the third information from the second area of the information recording medium including the second area provided by the second area. The function of acquiring the first information from the first area by using the third information that is mechanically read, and the second information mechanically read from the second area. A function of comparing the first information acquired from the first area, and a function of making a counterfeit determination of the information recording medium based on a comparison result of the second information and the first information. A program for realizing the.

That is, by using the third information recorded in the second area of the mechanically readable format separately to obtain the first information that can uniquely identify the information recording medium, the unique information can be obtained. It is possible to more reliably obtain the first information that can be specified in the second area, and the first information recorded in the second area can be obtained.
The accuracy of the forgery determination can be increased by comparing the second information corresponding to the information of 1 with the first information.

[0170]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Stable and appropriate forgery determination of information even if stains occur on the paper medium with information that can uniquely identify the medium itself due to the random arrangement pattern of fibrous impurities mixed during paper making It is possible to provide an information recording medium, a forgery determination device, a forgery determination method, and a program that can be used for any purpose.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing configurations of an information recording medium and a forgery determination device capable of forgery determination according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a dot code.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a unique information storage area.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram for explaining a forgery determination processing operation of the forgery determination device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram for explaining a creation device for creating a forgery-determinable recording medium according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print result in a face printing unit of the creating apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining a process of optically reading a unique information recording area in the forgery determination device and the creation device to obtain unique information or its candidate data.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a data flow in a creation processing process in the creation device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a data flow in a forgery determination process in the forgery determination device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flowchart for explaining an overall process in the forgery determination device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flowchart illustrating forgery determination processing.

FIG. 12A is a diagram showing an error pattern in the forgery determination processing in the intermediate state, and FIG. 12B is a level determination standard for the error frequency of the divided area in order to divide the divided area of the error pattern into levels. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the above in a graph for convenience of explanation.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart for explaining a forgery determination process when an error pattern is divided into small areas and an error state is analyzed.

FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram for explaining a forgery determination processing operation of the forgery determination device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

15A and 15B are diagrams showing sampling positions of a rectangular region surrounded by four true center positions as examples of extraction position parameters.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining a data flow in a forgery determination processing process in the forgery determination device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a data flow in a creation processing process of the creation device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining a data flow in a forgery determination process in the forgery determination device according to the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 recording medium 1a print media 2 Unique information recording area 3 dot code 4 Counterfeit judgment device body 11 CPU 12 Display 20, 20 'imaging unit 21,21 'image processing unit 22, 22 'dot code reading processing unit 23 Dot code storage data decoding processing unit 24, 24 'Unique information reading processing unit 25 Unique information error correction processing unit 26 Forgery determination processing unit 27 Transmitter / receiver 28 Judgment result output section 30 Certificate printing department 32 Unique Information Error Correction Coding Processor 33 Dot code encoding processing unit 34 Dot code image generator 35 Dot code printing section 37 Creating device body 41 blocks 42 Marker 43 pattern code 44 block header 45 block user data 101 PIN code input section 103 Error addition processing unit 104 disappearance position determination unit 140 Unique information reading image memory

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06K 19/08 G06K 19/00 R // G07D 7/12 FF term (reference) 2C005 HB10 JA12 JB28 LB15 LB18 LB32 3E041 AA01 AA03 BA14 BB03 BC01 CB03 5B035 AA13 BB03 BB11 5B072 CC21 DD01 DD21 MM09

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A forgery-determinable information recording medium having a readable area in which readable information such as characters and images that can be visually read is recorded. The first information recording medium can uniquely identify the information recording medium. Of the first area provided with the information of a predetermined format, and the second area provided with the second information for obtaining the first information from the first area in a mechanically readable format. An information recording medium capable of forgery determination, comprising: 2. The forgery determination according to claim 1, wherein the first information is unique information based on a material of the information recording medium which is different for each individual information recording medium. Information recording medium. 3. The forgery-determinable information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the second information is further encrypted. 4. The forgery-determinable information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the second information includes an error correction check parity for the first information. 5. The second information, in the second area,
The forgery-determinable information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the information recording medium is provided in the form of an optically readable encoded image. 6. A forgery-determinable information recording medium having a readable area in which readable information such as characters and images can be visually read, the first information recording medium being capable of uniquely specifying the information recording medium. For the purpose of comparing the first area and the second information corresponding to the first information, the first area to which the information of the above is added in a predetermined format, and the first information for comparing the first information and the second information. And a second area in which the third information for obtaining the first information from the area is attached in a mechanically readable format. Medium. 7. The forgery determination according to claim 6, wherein the first information is unique information based on a material of the information recording medium which is different for each individual information recording medium. Information recording medium. 8. The second information and the third information are:
The information recording medium according to claim 6, wherein the information recording medium is further encrypted. 9. The forgery-determinable information recording medium according to claim 6, wherein the third information includes error correction check parity for the first information. 10. The second information and the third information are added to the second area in the form of an optically readable coded image. 6. An information recording medium according to 6, which allows forgery determination. 11. An information recording medium having a readable area in which readable information such as characters and images that can be visually read is recorded, and the first information that can uniquely identify the information recording medium is predetermined. A first area given in the form of
The second area of the information recording medium, comprising: a second area provided with a second information for obtaining the first information from the first area in a mechanically readable format. And a reading unit that mechanically reads the second information, and an acquisition unit that acquires the first information from the first area by using the second information read by the reading unit. A forgery determination device comprising: a forgery determination means for performing a forgery determination on the information recording medium based on the acquisition result of the first information by the acquisition means. 12. The forgery determining means determines that the information recording medium has a high possibility of forgery when the first information is not obtained by the obtaining means. The forgery determination device described. 13. An information recording medium having a readable area in which readable information such as characters and images that can be visually read is recorded, and the first information that can uniquely identify the information recording medium is predetermined. A first area given in the form of
A third information for obtaining the first information from the first area in order to compare the second information corresponding to the first information with the first information and the second information. A second area in which information and information is provided in a mechanically readable format;
Using a reading unit that mechanically reads the second information and the third information from the second area of the information recording medium including: and the third information read by the reading unit. A comparison for comparing the acquisition means for acquiring the first information from the first area, the second information read by the reading means, and the first information acquired by the acquisition means A forgery determination device comprising: a means and a forgery determination means for performing a forgery determination on the information recording medium based on a comparison result of the comparison means. 14. The forgery determining means may forge the information recording medium when predetermined difference information is detected in the comparison between the second information and the first information by the comparing means. The forgery determination device according to claim 13, wherein the device is determined to be high. 15. An information recording medium having a readable area in which readable information such as characters and images that can be visually read is recorded, and the first information that can uniquely identify the information recording medium is predetermined. A first area given in the form of
The second area of the information recording medium, comprising: a second area provided with a second information for obtaining the first information from the first area in a mechanically readable format. From the first area, using the first step of mechanically reading the second information and the second information read in the first step to obtain the first information from the first area. And a third step of performing a forgery determination of the information recording medium based on a result of the acquisition of the first information by the second step, and a forgery determination. Method. 16. The third step comprises: when the first information is not acquired by the second step,
The forgery determination method according to claim 15, wherein the information recording medium is determined to have a high possibility of forgery. 17. An information recording medium having a readable area in which readable information such as characters and images that can be visually read is recorded, and the first information that can uniquely identify the information recording medium is predetermined. A first area given in the form of
A third information for obtaining the first information from the first area in order to compare the second information corresponding to the first information with the first information and the second information. A second area in which information and information is provided in a mechanically readable format;
A first step of mechanically reading the second information and the third information from the second area of the information recording medium including: and the third information read in the first step. And a second step of obtaining the first information from the first area using, and the second information read in the first step,
A third step of comparing the first information acquired in the second step, and a fourth step of making a forgery determination of the information recording medium based on the comparison result in the third step. A forgery judging method comprising: 18. The forgery of the information recording medium when the predetermined difference information is detected in the comparison of the second information and the first information by the third step. The forgery determination method according to claim 17, wherein it is determined that the possibility is high. 19. An information recording medium, comprising a readable area in a computer in which readable information such as characters and images can be visually read, the first information recording medium being capable of uniquely identifying the information recording medium. A first area in which information is provided in a predetermined format and a second area in which second information for obtaining the first information from the first area is provided in a mechanically readable format. And a second area from the second area of the information recording medium including an area.
The function of mechanically reading the information of No. 2, the function of acquiring the first information from the first area by using the second information mechanically read from the second area, A program for realizing the function of making a forgery determination on the information recording medium based on the acquisition result of the first information acquired from the first area. 20. An information recording medium having a readable area in a computer in which readable information such as characters and images can be visually read, the first information recording medium being capable of uniquely specifying the information recording medium. The first area for giving information in a predetermined format, the second information corresponding to the first information, and the first information for comparing the first information and the second information. From the second area of the information recording medium including a second area provided with a third information for obtaining the first information from the area in a mechanically readable format, Using the function of mechanically reading the second information and the third information and the third information mechanically read from the second area, the first area to the first information The ability to obtain information and the mechanical reading from the second area Based on the comparison result of the second information and the first information, the function of comparing the second information and the first information acquired from the first area,
A program for realizing the function of making a counterfeit judgment on the information recording medium, and the following.