JP2009015646A - Information reading system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive information reading system capable of reading a plurality of barcodes. <P>SOLUTION: A client 20 images a subject 29 having a plurality of barcodes with a Web camera 23 or a digital camera 25, and sends an image of the subject with the plurality of barcodes to a center system 11 via a communication interface 27, a client terminal 21 and the like, the center system 11 being connected to an Internet communication network 31. An image analyzing part 13 of the center system 11 performs image analysis, reads the individual barcodes, searches a database 15 to read information corresponding to the barcodes, and sends the barcode reading result and corresponding information to the client terminal 21 via the Internet communication network 31. The client terminal 21 displays and processes information such as the reading result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information reading system that reads identification information of an object including a plurality of barcodes.

Conventionally, an information reading device (for example, a bar code reader) that reads identification information such as a bar code one by one has been used in operations such as inventory and inspection in a supermarket or the like. These information reading devices can read only one identification information element (for example, a barcode) by one reading, and there is a problem that reading takes time and labor in operations such as inventory and inspection.
In order to solve this problem, several information readers capable of reading a plurality of barcodes have been proposed (Patent Document 1).
JP-A-9-114913

However, in these information reading apparatuses, as shown in FIG. 7, a camera portion (image photographing unit 125) that acquires a plurality of barcode images and an image analysis unit 127 that reads identification information from the acquired images are integrated. The structure (barcode analysis camera 123) is very expensive.
For this reason, for example, it is difficult to install such an integrated barcode analysis camera 123 for a user who wants to install in a plurality of places in a manufacturing factory or the like, or for a user who uses less frequently, for example, only during inventory. There is.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive information reading system capable of reading a plurality of bar codes.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problem, there is provided a photographing unit for photographing an object having one or more information storage identifiers on the client side, and the one or more information storage identifiers photographed by the photographing unit. A first transmission unit configured to transmit image data to the image analysis processing server via the network; and the image analysis processing server receives the image data transmitted by the first transmission unit, and stores the image data in the image data. The one or more information storage identifiers included are separated into individual information storage identifiers, image analysis means for reading the identification information of the individual information storage identifiers, and the identification information read by the image analysis means to the client side terminal And a second transmission means for transmitting the information.

  The information storage identifier is preferably a barcode.

  Further, the information processing apparatus further includes storage means for storing information corresponding to the object, and retrieves information corresponding to the identification information of the reading object read by the image analysis means from the storage means, together with the identification information. The second transmission unit may transmit the data to the client terminal.

The object having one or more information storage identifiers is imaged by the imaging unit on the client side, and the image data captured via the network is transmitted to the image analysis processing server by the first transmission unit.
In the image analysis processing server, the image analysis means extracts one or more information storage identifiers from the received image data, and reads the identification information of each information storage identifier. By searching the storage means for the read identification information, information corresponding to the object of the read identification information is extracted, and the identification information and the corresponding information are transmitted to the client side terminal by the second transmission means. .
As described above, an object having one or more information storage identifiers is photographed on the client side, the identification information is read by analyzing the image data by the image analysis processing server, and the read result is sent back to the client side.

  A second invention is a program for causing a computer to function as the information reading system of claims 1 to 6.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to read a plurality of bar codes at low cost.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, a system configuration of an information reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multiple barcode reading system 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the multiple barcode reading system 1 includes a Web camera 23 and a camera 25, a communication interface 27, a client terminal 21 installed in a client 20 such as a warehouse, a factory, or a store, and an Internet communication network. It consists of a center system 11 connected via 31.

For example, a camera such as a Web camera 23 is installed in a factory or a warehouse, and an object 29 with a plurality of barcodes in front of it is photographed. The captured image data is transmitted to the remote center system 11 via the communication interface 27 and the Internet communication network 31.
The object 29 with a plurality of barcodes is, for example, a stack of a plurality of packing materials, pallets, containers, and the like attached with barcodes.
The communication interface 27 is an interface unit between the Web camera 23 and the Internet communication network 31 and controls data transmission timing and transmission / reception after shooting by the Web camera 23.
As a result, an object with a plurality of barcodes traveling on a conveyor in a factory or the like is photographed at a timing when it passes in front of the Web camera 23, and image data is automatically sent to the center system 11 for processing. Construction is also possible.

A center system 11 as an image analysis processing server includes an image analysis unit 13 and a database 15. The image analysis unit 13 analyzes the received image data and identifies a plurality of barcodes. Information corresponding to the barcode identification information is stored in the database 15, information corresponding to the identified barcode is searched, and the information is transmitted to the client terminal 21 via the Internet communication network 31. The
The client terminal 21 processes and displays the received information.

On the other hand, when the frequency of use is low, such as in a store inventory, a plurality of barcode-attached objects 29 may be photographed with a normal digital camera 25. For example, the image data captured by the digital camera 25 is sucked into the client terminal 21 and sent to the center system 11 via the Internet communication network 31 so that the center system 11 performs image analysis processing in the same manner as described above. Identification information and the like are returned to the client terminal 21.
The processing of the center system 11 can be provided to the client as an ASP service (Application Service Provider service).

At this time, the transfer of the image data between the client 20 and the center system 11 may be performed on a network 31 such as the Internet as shown in FIG. 1, or a data storage medium such as a CD-ROM may be used. .
In this case, image data is recorded on a data storage medium such as a CD-ROM, sent to the center system 11, and inserted into the input unit of the center system 11 to input the image data.

Next, the configuration of the center system 11 and the client terminal 21 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the center system 11 and the client terminal 21.

As shown in FIG. 2, the center system 11 is configured using a general computer such as a server.
The center system 11 has a configuration in which a CPU 111, ROM 112, RAM 113, storage unit 114, input unit 115, display unit 116, communication interface unit 117, and the like are connected via a bus 118.

    The CPU 111 calls a program stored in a storage medium such as the storage unit 114 and the ROM 112 to a work memory area on the RAM 113 and executes the program, drives and controls each device connected via the bus 118, and the center system 11. The process performed by (see FIG. 3) is executed.

  The storage unit 114 is a hard disk device (HDD), and stores a program executed by the CPU 111, data necessary for executing the program, an OS, and the like. As for the program, a control program such as an OS and application programs for the image analysis unit 13 and the database 15 described later are stored.

The input unit 115 is, for example, a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, an input device such as a numeric keypad, or a media input unit that takes in data by inserting a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.
The display unit 116 is a display device such as a CRT monitor or a liquid crystal panel.
The communication interface unit 117 includes a communication control device, a communication port, and the like, and is a communication interface that mediates communication between the computer and the Internet communication network 31. Through the communication network 31, another terminal (client terminal 21, communication Controls communication with the interface 27).

The client terminal 21 installed in the client 20 is also configured using a general computer such as a personal computer.
That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 211, ROM 212, RAM 213, storage unit 214, input unit 215, display unit 216, communication interface unit 217, and the like are connected via a bus 218.

  The CPU 211 calls and executes a program stored in a storage medium such as the storage unit 214 and the ROM 212 to the work memory area on the RAM 213, drives and controls each device connected via the bus 218, and the client terminal 21 Various processes to be performed, for example, a process of communicating with the center system 11 via the Internet communication network 31 to obtain information processed by the center system 11 and displaying the information on the display unit 216 are executed.

  The ROM 212, RAM 213, storage unit 214, input unit 215, display unit 216, communication interface 217, and bus 218 are the ROM 112, RAM 113, storage unit 114, input unit 115, display unit 116, communication interface of the center system 11. 117 and the parts of the bus 118, description thereof is omitted.

Next, the process flow of the multiple barcode reading system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
3 is a flowchart showing the overall processing flow of the multiple barcode reading system 1, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the image analysis unit 13 of the center system 11, and FIG. 5 is a description of the processing flow. FIG. 6 and FIG. 6 are display examples of the client terminal 21.

First, on the client 20 side, the object 29 including a plurality of barcodes is photographed by the Web camera 23 or the digital camera 25 (step 201).
That is, as shown in FIG. 5A, for example, an object (captured image data 301) in which containers such as containers attached with barcodes are stacked is photographed.

Next, the photographed image data 301 is sent to the center system 11 via the Internet communication network 31 (step 202).
Here, the captured image data 301 captured by the Web camera 23 is sent to the center system 11 via the communication interface 27. In addition, when a moving image is photographed by the Web camera 23, it is cut out in units of frames on the center system 11.
On the other hand, the captured image data 301 captured by the digital camera 25 is obtained by, for example, USB connection between the client terminal 21 and the digital camera 25 or by inserting a recording medium of the digital camera 25 into the input unit 215 of the client terminal 21. The data is sucked up and sent to the center system 11 via the Internet communication network 31.
Alternatively, the photographed image data 301 may be written on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, carried to the center side, and inserted into the input unit 115 of the center system 11 to be read.

The center system 11 receives the captured image data 301 (step 211), and first, the image analysis unit 13 executes processing to read a plurality of barcodes included in the captured image data 301 (step 212).
The process (step 212) of the image analysis unit 13 will be described later.
By the processing of the image analysis unit 13, the identification information of the plurality of barcodes included in the captured image data 301 of the plurality of barcode-attached objects 29 is decoded.

Next, the database 15 is searched for each piece of decoded identification information, and information about each piece of identification information is extracted and processed (step 213).
For example, as shown in FIG. 5C, identification information (code) and a product name corresponding to the code are stored in correspondence with each other in the database.
Finally, the read identification information and database search result (for example, product name) are sent to the client terminal 21 via the Internet communication network 31 (step 214).

  The client terminal 21 displays the barcode reading result and database search result sent from the center system 11 (step 203).

Next, the flow of image analysis processing will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the image analysis process (step 212).

First, a barcode portion is extracted from the photographed image data 301 (step 2121).
That is, as shown in FIG. 5A, the captured image data 301 includes a plurality of barcodes. This is separated into individual barcode portions 303 as shown in the right figure of FIG.

Next, each extracted bar code portion is decoded and the code is read (step 2122). Next, it is determined whether or not the data has been read correctly (step 2123).
If it is read correctly (Yes in step 2123), the read code and the data indicating the position of the corresponding barcode on the captured image data are stored in the storage unit 114 of the center system 11 (step 2124). On the other hand, if it cannot be read (No in step 2123), data indicating the position of the barcode that could not be read is stored in the storage unit 114 (step 2125).

FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram of an example of storing the read code in the storage unit 114.
The position information (for example, x1-y1) of each barcode on the captured image data and the read code (for example, “13875244433854”) are stored correspondingly.
Here, in the case where the data cannot be read correctly, position information (for example, x3-y3) of the barcode that cannot be read on the captured image data and data (for example, “0”) indicating that the barcode cannot be read are stored.

  Next, it is determined whether or not all the barcode portions 303 extracted in step 2121 have been read (step 2125), and the processing from step 2122 to step 2125 is performed until the processing of all barcode portions is completed. repeat. When all bar code portions have been read (Yes in step 2125), the image analysis process (212) is terminated.

FIG. 6 is a screen example of a result of reading a plurality of barcodes sent from the center system 11 to the client terminal 21.
A screen example 41 is a captured image of the captured image data 301.
A reading result of the barcode included in the photographed image is a screen example 42.
In this screen example 42, for example, the product name corresponding to each barcode, the number included in the captured image data 301, and the status are displayed.

By using the position information of the barcode as shown in FIG. 5B, by pointing the specific barcode field of the screen example 42 with a mouse or the like, the bar on the screen example 41 (shooting screen) is displayed. It is also possible to display the object part of the code in a different color or the like.
Further, for example, by pointing a portion where the status of the screen example 42 is “x”, it is possible to display the position of the barcode that could not be read on the photographing screen (screen example 41).

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications are possible, and these are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the multiple barcode reading system 1 which concerns on this Embodiment Hardware configuration diagram of center system 11 and client terminal 21 The flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the multiple barcode reading system 1 A flowchart showing the flow of processing of the image analysis unit 13 Explanatory drawing of the process of the multiple barcode reading system 1 Example screen Explanatory drawing of a conventional barcode reader

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ......... Multiple barcode reading system 11 ......... Center system 13 ......... Image analysis part 15 ......... Database 20 ......... Client 21 ......... Client terminal 23 ......... Web camera 25 ......... Digital Camera 27 ……… Communication interface 29 ……… Object with multiple barcodes 31 ……… Internet communication network

Claims (4)

Photographing means for photographing an object having one or more information storage identifiers on one or more clients;
First transmission means for transmitting image data of the one or more information storage identifiers photographed by the photographing means to the image analysis processing server via the network;
In the image analysis processing server, the image data transmitted by the first transmission means is received, the one or more information storage identifiers included in the image data are separated into individual information storage identifiers, and individual information storages are performed. Image analysis means for reading the identification information of the identifier;
Second transmitting means for transmitting the identification information read by the image analyzing means to a terminal on the client side;
An information reading system comprising:   The information reading system according to claim 1, wherein the information storage identifier is a barcode. A storage means for storing information corresponding to the object;
Information corresponding to the identification information of the reading object read by the image analysis unit is retrieved from the storage unit, and transmitted to the client terminal together with the identification information by the second transmission unit. The information reading system according to claim 1 or 2.   A program for causing a computer to function as the information reading system according to claim 1.

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