JP2003242206A - Bar code block copy check system, bar code block copy check method, and terminal device with bar code block copy check function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bar code block copy check system for preventing printing error of a bar code. <P>SOLUTION: The bar code block copy check system is provided with a communication means connected to a network 5 to send/receive electronic information, a center server 3 storing a commodity master consisting of bar codes corresponding to open merchandise information, a communication means connected to the network to send/receive the electronic information, a bar code reader 19 reading a bar code block copy prepared for printing the bar code, and a terminal 1 of a printing agency having a means for converting the read bar code into a number to generate a bar code number data and a displaying means displaying a search result as to whether the number data exists in the commodity master including merchandise information corresponding to the bar code provided by a manufacturer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bar code plate check system and a check method for checking an error in a bar code plate used for printing a bar code, and more particularly to a bar code plate using a computer and the Internet. Check system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Currently, in order to facilitate the processing of information about an item to be handled, a bar code is attached to the item. This bar code is a code in which a plurality of black lines are lined up while changing the thickness and the interval, and the data is represented by the combination. The bar code is input to a processor such as a register by a dedicated reader and used for various data processing on the target article . As a typical usage form, there is a so-called POS system (point-of-sale information management system) applied to commodities such as daily necessities and foods. This POS system makes it easy for a retailer to collect information for each product at the time of sale and manage it with a computer in order to know when and how many products were sold.

As a bar code used in this POS system, in Japan, there is JAN (Japan Article Number) defined by Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS). Figure 1 shows an example of this JAN bar code,
It is used to represent data such as manufacturer name, product name, and price. When using a bar code that conforms to this JAN, the organization that manages this code is JISFS (JAN
Register with Item Code File Service) together with necessary items related to the product. Therefore, JI is used as POS data for products that are manufactured and sold, and registered (published).
Managed by CFS.

This bar code is used for subsequent data processing by shining light on the bar code, converting the reflected light into a read character information by a bar code reader.

[0005]

The bar code is applied to an article such as a product by printing the bar code in advance on a packaging container for the article or the like.

Therefore, when using the bar code, it is necessary to prepare a packaging container on which the bar code, which gives predetermined data for each product, is printed as a preceding step. The printing of this barcode is performed by the printer upon request from the manufacturer of the product. When printing a barcode, the manufacturer provides the printer with the code numbers necessary for printing the barcode, and the printer prints the barcode based on the information. This bar code is attached to each item of the product, and from the viewpoint of the subsequent usage of the information of the bar code, the bar code naturally has to accurately represent the item information of the product. If the printed bar code is found to be incorrect, the packaging must be destroyed. In addition, if the barcode is found to be incorrect after it has been packaged in a packaging container, it may be necessary to discard all the products in the packaging container.

Therefore, in printing a bar code, a printing company inspects the block at the stage of manufacturing the block for printing before starting the full-scale mass printing, and requests the bar code. It is necessary to check whether it accurately represents

There are the following cases in which an error may occur in the produced block copy. The data indicated by the barcode on the block and the data provided by the manufacturer (request data) do not match. There is an error in the request data itself, that is, the request data does not accurately indicate the original product data. The printing accuracy of the barcode itself is poor.

[0009] Conventionally, a method for checking the production stage of a block copy is to read a bar code printed by a test with a bar code reader to check whether the read number matches the number of the requested manuscript. Although the accuracy of the barcode can be confirmed by this, it is not possible to check the error of the manuscript requested by the manufacturer. Also,
Since the printers handle a wide variety of clients (manufacturers) and types of products, it becomes complicated to match the requested manuscripts.
There was a problem that the work burden could not be ignored. Further, in the case of the POS system, the bar code is composed of 13-digit numbers, but it is not easy to collate the numerical data, and mistakes and errors may be overlooked.

Therefore, according to the present invention, at the stage when a printing plate for printing a barcode is prepared, it is possible to easily check whether or not the printing plate is a correct printing plate intended by the manufacturer who is the client. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a work block check system and a bar code print block check method.

One aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object comprises a communication means connected to a network for transmitting and receiving electronic information, and a bar code corresponding to published product information. A center server that holds the public product master, a communication means that is connected to the network to send and receive electronic information, a bar code reader that reads a bar code, and a bar code number data that is generated by converting the read bar code into numbers. And a bar code number data holding an undisclosed product master including product information corresponding to the bar code provided by the manufacturer, and displaying a search result as to whether or not the numerical data exists in the undisclosed product master. And a display means for displaying the information, and the center server is transmitted from the printer terminal. A bar code version checking system characterized by searching whether the bar code number data exists in the product master and transmitting the search result to the printer terminal together with the product information corresponding to the bar code number. Is.

According to the check system of the present invention, the bar code at the lower stage of the bar code plate prepared for printing the bar code requested for printing is read by the bar code reader of the printer terminal and converted into numerical data. If the barcode is related to a manufacturer's undisclosed product, it is searched whether the barcode read by the undisclosed product master created from the product information provided by the manufacturer in advance has the corresponding numerical value. . If the corresponding numerical value exists, the corresponding product information is displayed on the display together with the numerical value.

In addition, if the bar code for which the print request has been issued relates to an open product, that is, a product registered in a product code registration agency, etc., a center server for performing a search service of the published product information. Connect to and search for the appropriate code number in the Public Product Master. The obtained search results are displayed on the display of the printer terminal. It is possible to confirm whether the barcode version created by the search result displayed on the display matches the requested content.

Another aspect of the present invention is a communication means connected to a network for transmitting and receiving electronic information, a bar code reader for reading a bar code, and converting the read bar code into numbers to generate bar code number data. Means for connecting the numerical data to the network,
A means for transmitting to a center server that holds a product master consisting of published product information and a corresponding bar code, and receiving a search result as to whether or not the numerical data executed by the center server exists in the product master Then, the terminal device is provided with display means for displaying the product related information corresponding to the barcode numeric data.

The terminal device of the present invention is a terminal device used by a printing trader who is a user of the system. If the barcode requested for printing is related to the published product, using the function of this terminal device, that is,
You can easily check the created barcode version by connecting to the site that provides public product information on the Internet.

Another aspect of the present invention is an undisclosed communication device that includes a communication means connected to a network for transmitting and receiving electronic information, and a product code corresponding to a barcode provided by a manufacturer that orders printing of the barcode. A storage means for storing the product master, a barcode reader for reading the barcode, a means for converting the read barcode into a number to generate barcode number data, and the number data stored in the storage means. A center for holding a public product master, which is a search means for searching whether or not the product exists in the public product master and outputs a search result, and a public product master including a product information corresponding to a bar code regarding the publicized product information on the network. Send the numerical data to the server,
A bar code including search means for receiving a search result as to whether or not the numerical data exists in the public master, and display means for displaying a bar code number reading the search result and product information corresponding to the bar code. It is a terminal device having a function of checking the bar code in the block copy stage.

The terminal device of the present invention has, in addition to the function of the above-mentioned terminal device, a function of checking the bar code copy of the bar code relating to the undisclosed product. by this,
Even for undisclosed products, it is possible to reliably check the barcode at the stage below the barcode version.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the bar code at the lower stage of the bar code plate prepared for printing the bar code is read by a bar code reader and converted into a numeral to generate bar code numeral data. The generated bar code number data is searched for whether it exists in the product master consisting of pre-created bar code numbers and product information corresponding to each bar code. It is a barcode version checking method characterized by displaying corresponding product information on a display.

According to the method of the present invention, it is possible to detect a creation error in the step of creating a block copy of a barcode and prevent a printing error from occurring.

Further, since the product information displayed on the display includes at least the product name, the reliability of the check can be further enhanced.

Another aspect of the present invention is a communication means connected to a network for transmitting and receiving electronic information, a storage means for storing a public product master holding a product master made up of a bar code corresponding to the publicized product information, The bar code number data transmitted from the printer terminal connected to the network is search means for determining whether or not the product master exists, and the search result by the search means together with the product information corresponding to the bar code number. The center server is characterized by transmitting to the printer terminal.

It is possible to provide the published product code and related product information in response to a request, and to respond to the request of the client who checks the barcode copy.

[0022]

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

FIG. 2 shows the overall construction of the bar code block checking system of the present invention.

Barcode version checking system (hereinafter,
It is simply called "this system". ) Is composed of the printer terminal 1 of the printer a, the manufacturer terminal 2 of the manufacturer B, and the center server 3 of the product information service center C (hereinafter simply referred to as “center C”). In addition, D
Is a code management organization for the POS system, and E is an industry product code management organization that manages the codes of goods in the intermediate distribution stage of a specific industry. Printer terminal 1 and center terminal 3
Is connected via the Internet 5 to exchange electronic information. That is, a site where the service center 3 provides a service for providing merchandise information on the Internet has been opened, and the printer terminal 1 can access this site to perform bar code copy checking.

The printer terminal 1 and the manufacturer terminal 2 are ordinary personal computer systems. FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the printer terminal 1 as an example. The printer terminal 1 includes a CPU 11, a RAM 12, a ROM 13, an input unit 14, a display 15, an auxiliary storage device 16, a communication unit 18, a CD-ROM driver 17, and the like, and the communication unit connects to the Internet via a communication network such as a subscriber line. It is possible to connect to. The printer terminal 1 includes a bar code reader 19 (see FIG. 1) connected to the input / output unit 14 of the computer device 11, and the bar code data read by the bar code reader 19 is processed for checking described later. Has the function of performing. That is, the system program is stored in the ROM 13, and is read from the CD-ROM by the CD-ROM driver 17, for example, and the CPU 11 is in the RAM.
According to the application program developed in 12, various kinds of processing for checking the artwork, such as holding and updating the product master consisting of undisclosed product information to be stored, and searching the product master based on the code read by the barcode reader. To execute.

Similarly, the center server 3 is also a computer device, and has a CPU, RAM, ROM, and
It is equipped with a storage unit such as a communication interface and a fixed disk, and performs the processing necessary for the barcode version checking performed by the service center. Specifically, while maintaining and updating the product master, which is data related to product information,
A search service is executed to determine whether or not the number corresponding to the number read by the barcode in the step of lowering the barcode version transmitted from the printer terminal 1 is present in the product master. A specific URL is assigned to the program for the center server 3 to execute the above service, and the printer server 1 connects to the product information providing service site specified by this URL by specifying the URL, and the center server 3
It is possible to receive a search service that refers to the data managed by.

In the present system shown in FIG. 2, the business relationship of each business operator will be described as follows.

The manufacturer B requests the printer A to print the barcode to be printed on the packaging container of the product to be manufactured and sold by transmitting the number to be displayed on the barcode. The printer A prints the barcode based on this request. The printer A uses the printer terminal 1 to check the bar code master at the stage of creating the master block created for barcode printing. Depending on the type of barcode, the data required for checking the barcode copy may be the data provided directly by Manufacturer B or the data provided by Center C. Necessary data is exchanged via the network 5 or by other communication means as required.

The center C receives the data necessary for checking the bar code copy from the POS code management organization D or the industry code management organization E and provides it to the printer A.
Hereinafter, a method for checking the bar code version using this system will be described.

FIG. 4 illustrates the overall business processing performed in this system.

First, before printing the barcode on the printer A, the manufacturer B, if the product is to be disclosed, provides the product information to a predetermined organization and registers it (a).
In this case, if the product to be handled is a product handled by the POS system, the number set in the POS code management organization D (13
(Digit) and necessary product information are registered (a). If the article is not handled by the POS system, for example, an industry-specific code such as an industry distribution symbol code is attached, the article is registered in the industry code management organization E. Product information is registered in the POS code management organization D or the industry code management organization E. Then, this product information is treated as public product information.

The service center C receives the required data items of the public product information from the POS code management organization D and the industry code management organization E, stores them in the database of the center server as the product master M, and updates them appropriately. Go (C).

If the product information is undisclosed or unregistered as before the sale, for example, the manufacturer B directly provides the printer A with the product information (b). In this case, manufacturer B
The data provided from the printer to the printer A is provided to the printer terminal 1 via the network 5 in FIG. 1, but may be a recording medium such as a magnetic disk or other communication means such as a facsimile. The provided product information is stored in the computer device 11 as an undisclosed product master m.
When the manufacturer B requests the printer A for the bar code, the manufacturer B provides the number (13 digits) set for the product in accordance with the POS system, for example, as request data and requests it. ).

The printing company A prints the bar code based on this request data. First, when printing, the block copy of the bar code is created (e).

Next, the created barcode copy is read by the barcode reader 19 (FIG. 2) (f), and the barcode is correctly displayed on the barcode copy based on the data read by the printer terminal 1. It is checked whether or not there is (G). This check is executed by the printing company terminal 1 as to whether or not the data read from the bar code block corresponds to the requested product, and the check result is displayed on the display (display unit 1 of the printing company terminal 1).
It is displayed and displayed in 5). FIG. 5 shows a data structure of the product master M stored in the center server 3.

As described above, the product master M is a POS.
It is created based on the data provided by the code management organization D or the industry code management organization, and it is the code number consisting of the numbers corresponding to the barcode and the information about the product corresponding to this code number, that is, the company name, the product. It consists of name, container form, registration date, and so on. This product master is used for verifying the read data when checking the bar code copy later described.

The unpublished product master m held by the printer terminal 1 also has basically the same data structure as the product master M, but since it has not been registered with the registration agency, the registration date It has no items. The undisclosed product master m is created and updated based on the product information provided by the manufacturer B directly to the printer A.

The process for checking the bar code copy of the printer terminal 1 will be described below. [When Product is Before Sale / Announcement] FIG. 6 shows a process of checking the barcode preprint which is executed by the printer terminal 1 when the product is before sale / announcement.

First, as described above, the manufactured barcode original is read by the barcode reader (S10).
2) The read code is digitized (S102). Next, based on the read number, the undisclosed product master m already stored in the printer terminal 1 is searched (S1).
03). This search displays all the product names corresponding to the read numbers, and is displayed on the display according to the bar code reading state as follows.

(A) The bar code is not suitable for reading and cannot be read at all. In this case, nothing is displayed on the display (step 103a).

(B) Only part of the bar code can be read. In this case, only the numbers that can be read are displayed, and the fact that they are not in the product master is displayed (S103b).

(C) There is no product corresponding to the read barcode in the product master. In this case, only the numbers are displayed, and it is displayed that the corresponding product is not in the product master (S103c).

(D) When there is only one product corresponding to the barcode, the code (number) is displayed on the display.
And the product name are displayed (S103d).

(E) When there are a plurality of product names corresponding to the bar code, the product having the oldest input date is displayed and the fact that there are a plurality of products corresponding to the code is displayed (S103e).

As described above, the barcode version is read by the barcode reader, digitized, the product of the undisclosed product master m is searched based on the data, and the corresponding product is displayed on the display. , Whether the barcode can be read by a barcode reader, whether the corresponding product exists, and whether the product matches the product requested to be printed, that is, the requested manuscript itself. It is possible to visually confirm whether there is an error or not by the result displayed on the display.
Then, it is possible to immediately judge whether the barcode under the barcode version is appropriate or not. FIG. 7 illustrates a process executed by the printer terminal 1 when a product has already been released and product information has been made public.

The produced bar code plate is read by the bar code reader (S202), and the read code is digitized (S202). The points are the above-mentioned steps S101 and S10.
There is no difference from 2. Next, in this case, the barcode and the corresponding product are stored as the product master M in the center server 3, and the inquiry site of the service center is called via the Internet. The product master M in the service center C is searched based on the read number (S203). The search result is transmitted to the printer terminal 1 via the Internet and displayed on the display. This search displays all product names and registration dates corresponding to the read numbers, and is displayed on the display according to the bar code reading state as follows.

(A) Bar code printing is not suitable for reading and cannot be read at all. In this case, nothing is displayed on the display (step 203a).

(B) Only part of the bar code can be read. In this case, only the numbers that can be read are displayed, and the fact that they are not in the product master is displayed (S203b).

(C) There is no product corresponding to the read barcode in the product master. In this case, only the numbers are displayed, and it is displayed that the corresponding product is not in the product master (S203c).

(D) When there is only one product corresponding to the bar code, the code (number) is displayed on the display.
And the product name are displayed (S203d).

(E) When there are a plurality of product names corresponding to the bar code, the product having the oldest registration date is displayed and the fact that there are a plurality of products corresponding to the code is displayed (S203e).

As described above, since the product already on sale is checked based on the registered data, it is possible to perform the check with higher reliability. Figure 8
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for creating an undisclosed product master m regarding a product before being released / announced at the printer terminal 1.

The product master stored in the printer terminal 1 is provided with product information provided by the manufacturer B via a communication line such as the Internet, or via a recording medium such as an electronic medium or paper. Depends on what is provided.

When the product information provided by the manufacturer B is transmitted via the Internet, the transmitted information is read (S301) and the undisclosed product master m stored in the storage unit is updated (S302). ).

If the data is provided via a recording medium and the recording medium is an electronic magnetic recording medium which can be read by a computer device, this is read by a recording medium reading device or the like (S303). And
The product master m in the printer terminal 1 is updated based on the read data. Also, if provided by paper,
Data is input using the input device such as the keyboard of the printer terminal 1 (S304), and the product master M is updated (S402).

As described above, when the bar code copy is checked using the printer terminal 1, it is possible to accurately collate it with the request data even before the product information is released, so that an accurate check can be made. Is possible. Figure 9
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow of information from the manufacturer B registering and publishing product information to the storage of the product information in the center server 3 of the center C until the product master M is created.

Regarding the product to be registered, the manufacturer B makes a PO if the product is a product handled by the POS system.
Register with the S code management organization (JICFS) D (S50
2). If the product code is not registered in JISFS, it is registered in the industry code management organization E (S50).
3). Codes that are not registered in JISFS include physical distribution symbol codes and other industry-specific codes.

Center C is a POS code management organization (JI
CFS) D and the industry code management organization E provided the data required for checking the barcode version, and the server 3
The product master M therein is updated (S504).

As described above, these product masters M are accessed from the printer terminal 1 and are used for checking the bar code copy based on the numerical data read by the bar code reader 12.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display 12 of the printer terminal 1 when checking the bar code copy using the printer terminal 1.

FIG. 10A shows a screen on which the barcode is read and the product data of a single product corresponding to the check result is displayed. That is, in the check processing of the barcode copy shown in FIG. 6 or 7, the barcode is read, and in step S103d of FIG. 6 or step S203d of FIG. It is something that As a result of reading the barcode copy with a barcode reader, the barcode number is 13 digits 490180111068. As a result of collation with the product master, those corresponding to this number are "raw" R label of M company, can This indicates that the product has a product name of A350.

Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the bar code can be correctly read as the requested number and whether or not the product is the requested product by checking this screen.

FIG. 10B shows an example in which the data read in the processing of FIG. 7 is a physical distribution symbol code (a code attached to a packaging or a packaging container used in an intermediate distribution stage). This code consists of 16-digit number, and the number 010490188011 is the number converted by scanning the barcode.
0689 and the corresponding product name are shown. This example
It is attached to the shipping container for loading by ship.

As described above, the bar code block is read by the bar code reader 13 of the printer terminal 1, and the read result is displayed on the disk 2 of the printer terminal 1 as numbers and corresponding product information. , Bar code version You can easily check whether the bar code below is correct.

Further, when the merchandise information is already registered in the registration agency, the collation of the read numbers is made to be collated with reliable registration data that is properly managed. It is possible to check high.

It should be noted that, in the bar code plate check system according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1, only one printer A and one manufacturer B are shown.
It goes without saying that multiple printers and multiple manufacturers can configure this system.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. Can be modified and changed.

[0068]

As is apparent from the above-mentioned details, since the barcode is read by the barcode reader at the stage when the barcode is printed and the product name corresponding to the read result is displayed on the display, The code block can be easily checked, and barcode printing errors can be prevented.

Further, since the data supplied from the registration agency is used as the collation data, it is possible to perform a highly reliable check and detect an error in the requested manuscript itself.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a barcode.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a barcode version checking system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a printer terminal of the system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the flow of business between businesses in the bar code version checking system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a structure of a product master.

FIG. 6 is a process flow diagram regarding an undisclosed product executed by the printer terminal.

FIG. 7 is a process flow diagram regarding a public product executed by a printer terminal.

FIG. 8 is a product master creation flow chart of the printer terminal.

FIG. 9 is a product master creation flow chart of the product information service center server.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display screen of a result of a barcode artwork check.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Printer terminal 2 Manufacturer terminals 3 Product information service center terminals 5 network

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A communication means connected to a network for transmitting and receiving electronic information, a center server holding a public product master including a bar code corresponding to published product information, and a electronic device connected to a network for transmitting and receiving electronic information. Communication means, a bar code reader for reading a bar code, a means for converting the read bar code into a number to generate bar code number data, and a product in which the bar code number data corresponds to the bar code provided by the manufacturer. A printing company terminal that holds an undisclosed product master containing information, and that displays a search result as to whether or not the numerical data exists in the undisclosed product master, and the center server, , Whether or not the barcode numeric data transmitted from the printer terminal exists in the product master. Barcode block copy check system and transmits to search, along with the corresponding product information and the bar code number of the search results to the print dealer terminal. 2. A communication means connected to a network for transmitting and receiving electronic information, a bar code reader for reading a bar code, a means for converting the read bar code into a numeral to generate bar code numeral data, and the numeral. A means for transmitting data to a center server which is connected to the network and holds a product master including a bar code corresponding to the published product information is provided, and the numerical data executed by the center server exists in the product master. A terminal device comprising display means for receiving a search result as to whether or not the product-related information corresponding to the barcode numeric data is displayed. 3. A communication means connected to a network for transmitting and receiving electronic information, and a storage means for storing an undisclosed product master including product information corresponding to a barcode provided by a manufacturer who orders printing of barcodes. A bar code reader for reading the bar code; a means for converting the read bar code into a number to generate bar code number data; and whether the number data exists in the undisclosed product master stored in the storage means. The numerical data is sent to a center server that holds a public product master, which is a search means for searching whether or not and outputting a search result, and a product information corresponding to a bar code and corresponding product information that is opened on the network and published. A search means for receiving a search result as to whether the numerical data exists in the public master; A terminal device having a function of checking a barcode copy work, which comprises a display means for displaying the barcode number read by and the product information corresponding to the barcode. 4. The barcode numerical data is generated by reading the barcode at the stage of creating the barcode for printing the barcode, and generating the barcode numerical data, and the generated barcode numerical data is a previously created barcode. The feature is that it searches for the existence of a product master consisting of code numbers and product information corresponding to each bar code, and if there is, displays the product information corresponding to the read bar code number on the display. How to check the barcode at the bottom of the barcode version. 5. The barcode check method at the stage of the barcode version down according to claim 4, wherein the item information displayed on the display includes at least an item name. 6. A communication means connected to a network for transmitting and receiving electronic information, a storage means for storing an open product master holding a product master including a bar code corresponding to published product information, and connected to the network. The bar code number data transmitted from the printer terminal is searched by the search means, and the search result by the search means is sent to the printer terminal together with the product information corresponding to the bar code number. A center server characterized by: