JP2011170430A - Reading system, optical information reader and information code - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To store substantially large-capacity data in an information code, and to allow a specific user to use information inside the information code. <P>SOLUTION: When an optical information reader 10 used in the reading system 1 reads information code C, the optical information reader confirms whether the reading mode is a table-use mode based on mode identification information included in the information code C. When it is confirmed that the mode is the table use-mode, the optical information reader confirms whether a table inside a memory 35 corresponds to use-table identification information recorded in the information code C, and retrieves individual data corresponding to an individual data number recorded in the information code C in an applicable table, when the table is a corresponding table (the applicable table). The optical information reader generates data wherein the individual data number of the information code C is converted into the retrieved individual data. The optical information reader, further, includes a table update means updating storage contents of the memory 35, based on accumulation data of a management device 50. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a reading system, an optical information reading device, and an information code.

  Currently, two-dimensional codes such as QR codes (trade names) are used for various purposes. Compared to a one-dimensional code, this two-dimensional code can generally handle a large amount of data, and operations unique to a two-dimensional code using this characteristic are also made. As an example, there is an operation in which the entire database is stored in a two-dimensional code.

JP-A-7-254037 JP-A-6-214916

  However, when storing a large amount of data such as a database in the two-dimensional code, there is a problem that the code size increases. If the code becomes large in this way, there may arise a problem that the entire code cannot be printed when only a small printing space can be secured. Furthermore, if the amount of data is too large, it may occur that the data cannot be stored in the two-dimensional code. In addition, there are many two-dimensional codes that can be read by various reading devices, and such general-purpose codes can be read only by a specific user, for example (notifying other than a specific user). It is not suitable for cases where you do not want to.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can store substantially large amounts of data in the information code, and a specific user can use the information in the information code. It is an object to provide a reading system, an optical information reading device, and an information code.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reading system that collects a plurality of data that can be used for reading the information code, an imaging unit that images the information code, an information code reading unit that reads the information code imaged by the imaging unit. An optical information reading device comprising one or more table storage means for storing one or more tables, communication means for communicating with the optical information reading device, and addition or update of the table in the table storage means And a management device provided with data storage means in which usable stored data is stored.
Further, the information code includes mode identification information for identifying whether or not the information code reading mode is a table use mode using the table, and at least a use table number of a use table used for reading the information code. Use table identification information, and an individual data number for designating individual data in the use table specified by the use table identification information.
Further, the information code reading means determines whether or not the read mode of the captured information code is the table use mode based on the mode identification information included in the information code captured by the imaging means. When the table use mode is confirmed by the reading mode confirmation unit to be confirmed and the reading mode confirmation unit, any one or a plurality of the tables stored in the table storage unit is included in the use table identification information. Corresponding table confirming means for confirming whether the corresponding table is corresponding, and when the corresponding table is confirmed by the corresponding table confirming means, the individual data corresponding to the individual data number is retrieved from the corresponding table. The individual data search means for performing the search, and the individual data number of the information code. Data generation means for generating data converted into the individual data retrieved by the table, and table update means for updating the storage contents of the table storage means based on the accumulated data of the management device. .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the reading system according to the first aspect, the information code includes the usage table number and the version number as the usage table identification information, and the corresponding table confirmation unit includes the table In one or a plurality of the tables stored in the storage means, the table corresponding to both the use table number and the version number included in the information code is confirmed as the corresponding table.

  A third aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in the reading system according to the second aspect, each table of a plurality of the version numbers can be stored in any one of the table numbers in the table storage means. .

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the reading system according to any one of the first to third aspects, when the table update unit does not confirm the corresponding table by the corresponding table confirmation unit, the management device The update data for the corresponding table is downloaded from the stored data stored in the database.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the reading system according to the fourth aspect, the optical information reading device refers to the corresponding table recorded in the management device, and the corresponding table from the management device. Mode selection means for switching between a first mode for downloading the update data and a second mode for referring to the corresponding table recorded in the management device, and the table update means comprises: When the first mode is selected by the mode selection means, the update data for the corresponding table is downloaded from the management device, and the reference means selects the second mode by the mode selection means. In this case, the corresponding table recorded in the management device is referred to.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the reading system according to the fifth aspect, the mode switching means switches between the first mode and the second mode based on a selection operation by a user.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the reading system according to the fifth aspect, when the mode switching unit downloads the update data from the management device, the table is based on a storable area of the table storage unit. It is determined whether or not the update data can be stored in the storage means. If the update data can be stored in the table storage means, the first mode is selected, and the update data is stored in the table storage means. The second mode is selected when data cannot be stored.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the reading system according to any one of the fourth to seventh aspects, the plurality of tables are classified and stored in groups in the data storage unit of the management device. And when the table updating means stores another table to which the corresponding table belongs in the data storage means, the group including the update data of the corresponding table and the data of the other table. It is characterized by downloading data.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the reading system according to the eighth aspect, when the table updating unit stores another table to which the corresponding table belongs in the data storage unit, The update data is downloaded first, and after the information code reading means performs reading using the corresponding table, the data of the other table is downloaded.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the reading system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the information code is read when the information code reading unit cannot check the corresponding table by the corresponding table checking unit. It is characterized by having a canceling means for canceling reading.

  The invention according to claim 11 is recorded in the management apparatus when the optical information reader is unable to confirm the corresponding table by the corresponding table confirmation means in the reading system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Reference means for referring to the corresponding table is provided.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the reading system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the management apparatus is further accessed according to a predetermined access condition and stored in the data storage means. New data confirmation means for confirming whether or not there is new data in which the table stored in the table storage means is updated is stored in the stored data, and the table update means includes the new data When the new data is confirmed by the confirmation unit, update data based on the new data is downloaded from the management device to update the storage content of the table storage unit.

  A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is the reading system according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, wherein a plurality of the tables are classified and stored in the data storage means of the management device, and the table updating means If the data storage means stores data of another table in the group to which the table belongs in the data storage means when the management device is accessed according to the access condition, the data of the other table is stored. Downloading.

  A fourteenth aspect of the present invention is the reading system according to any one of the fourth to thirteenth aspects, wherein the table storage means is used when the table update means downloads the update data from the management device. A predetermined priority deletion table is selected and deleted from one or a plurality of the tables stored in the table.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the reading system according to the fourteenth aspect, the optical information reading device includes a reference time recording unit that records a time when the table stored in the table storage unit is referred to. The table update means selects the table having the oldest last referenced time from among the tables stored in the table storage means as the priority deletion table.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the reading system according to the fourteenth or fifteenth aspect, when the table update unit downloads the update data from the management device, the table storage unit stores the update data in the storage area. A storage enable / disable determining unit that determines whether or not the update data can be stored in the table storage unit, and the storage enable / disable determination unit determines that the update data cannot be stored in the table storage unit Further, the priority deletion table is selected and deleted.

  A seventeenth aspect of the present invention is the reading system according to any one of the first to sixteenth aspects, wherein difference information between the content stored in the table storage means and the content stored in the data storage means The table update means downloads the difference information detected by the difference information detection means as the update data.

  The invention of claim 18 is the reading system according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the table stored in the table storage means is character data, symbol data, graphic data, image data, It has a configuration in which data belonging to at least one of the sound data is collected. Then, rearrangement means is provided for rearranging each data of the table stored in the table storage means in at least one of an initial letter order, a character number order, a file size order, and a file name order. .

  According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the reading system according to any one of the first to seventeenth aspects, the usage frequency calculation means for calculating the usage frequency of each piece of information stored in the information code; Sorting means is provided for rearranging each piece of data stored in the table storage means based on the use frequency of each piece of information calculated by the use frequency calculation means.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, an image pickup means for picking up an information code, an information code reading means for reading the information code picked up by the image pickup means, and a plurality of data usable for reading the information code are collected. An optical information reading device comprising one or more table storage means for storing a table, wherein in the information code to be read, the information code reading mode is a table use mode in which the table is used. Mode identification information that can identify whether or not, usage table identification information including at least a usage table number of a usage table used for reading the information code, and individual data in the usage table specified by the usage table identification information And an individual data number for designating.
Further, based on the mode identification information included in the information code picked up by the image pickup means, the information code reading means determines whether the read mode of the picked up information code is the table use mode. When the table use mode is confirmed by the reading mode confirmation unit to be confirmed and the reading mode confirmation unit, any one or a plurality of the tables stored in the table storage unit is included in the use table identification information. Corresponding table confirming means for confirming whether the corresponding table is corresponding, and when the corresponding table is confirmed by the corresponding table confirming means, the individual data corresponding to the individual data number is retrieved from the corresponding table. The individual data search means for performing the search, and the individual data number of the information code. Data generating means for generating data obtained by converting the retrieved the individual data by the stored contents of said table storage means is characterized by having a table updating means for updating, based on information from outside.

  According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, an optical information reader includes an imaging unit, an information code reading unit, and a table storage unit that stores one or a plurality of tables in which a plurality of sets of data usable for reading is stored. Mode identification information capable of identifying whether the reading mode of the information code is a table usage mode using a table, and at least a usage table number of a usage table used for reading the information code. Use table identification information included, and an individual data number designating individual data in the use table specified by the use table identification information, and the use in the table storage means of the optical information reader When the corresponding table corresponding to the table identification information exists, it is converted to the individual data number. Te, the individual data corresponding to the individual data number in the corresponding table is characterized in that it is used.

In the reading system according to claim 1, mode identification information capable of identifying whether or not the information code reading mode is a table use mode using a table, and at least the information code reading are used in the information code. Usage table identification information including the usage table number of the usage table and an individual data number for specifying individual data in the usage table specified by the usage table identification information are included. In this way, it is possible to determine whether or not the reading mode of the information code is the table usage mode based on the information in the information code, and the usage table used for reading the information code and the usage table It becomes possible to identify individual data.
On the other hand, on the optical information reader side, the reading mode confirmation means can confirm whether or not the reading mode of the captured information code is the table usage mode, and the table usage mode is confirmed in the read information code The corresponding table confirmation unit can quickly confirm whether or not the corresponding table (the table corresponding to the used table identification information) exists in the table storage unit. When the corresponding table is confirmed in the table storage means, the individual data specified by the information code (that is, the individual data corresponding to the individual data number) is selected from the corresponding table by the individual data search means. Data obtained by converting the individual data number of the information code into the individual data can be generated by searching and by the data generating means. In this way, all the data is stored in the information code by converting the partial data (individual data number) in the information code into data stored in the optical information reader and decoding it. Therefore, it is possible to construct a system that can decode a large amount of data while making the information code more compact. In addition, since an optical information reader that does not have a corresponding table cannot decode the information code, it is possible to construct a system in which only a specific user can use the information in the information code. Furthermore, since the stored contents of the table storage means can be updated by the table update means based on the accumulated data of the management device, the necessary table is downloaded from the management device into the optical information reader, and the table storage means is provided. It becomes easy to make appropriate stored contents suitable for the user.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the information code includes a usage table number and a version number as usage table identification information, and the corresponding table confirmation unit is configured to use the information code in one or more tables stored in the table storage unit. The table corresponding to both the use table number and the version number included in is confirmed as the corresponding table. In this way, a table whose version does not correspond is not used as a corresponding table, and appropriate version management is possible.

  In the invention of claim 3, each table of a plurality of version numbers can be stored in any one of the table numbers in the table storage means. In this way, it becomes possible to cope with a transition period in which the version of a table with any table number is changed. For example, for a table with a certain table number, if the table of the old version before the version change and the table of the new version after the version change are stored in the table storage means, the old version is specified during the transition period before and after the version change. Even if the information code to be read is read, the information code specifying the new version can be read even if it is read.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the corresponding table is not confirmed by the corresponding table confirming means, the table updating means downloads update data for the relevant table from the accumulated data accumulated in the management apparatus. In this way, data can be speeded up by using the table storage means in the optical information reader, and if the corresponding table is not confirmed, the update data is downloaded from the accumulated data of the management device. It is possible to replenish, and it is possible to effectively reduce reading failure due to the absence of the corresponding table.

  In the invention of claim 5, the optical information reading device includes a reference unit that refers to the corresponding table recorded in the management device, and a first mode for downloading update data for the corresponding table from the management device; Mode selection means for switching between the second mode for referring to the corresponding table recorded in the management apparatus is provided. When the first mode is selected by the mode selection unit, the table update unit downloads update data for the corresponding table from the management apparatus, and when the second mode is selected by the mode selection unit. The referring means refers to the corresponding table recorded in the management apparatus. In this way, the mode for downloading update data from the management apparatus and the mode for referring to the table in the management apparatus can be used separately, and the degree of freedom in using the table is increased.

  In the invention of claim 6, the mode switching means switches between the first mode and the second mode based on the selection operation by the user. In this way, the user can arbitrarily use the first mode and the second mode.

  The invention according to claim 7 determines whether or not the update data can be stored in the table storage means based on the storable area of the table storage means when the mode switching means downloads the update data from the management device. When the update data can be stored in the table storage means, the first mode is selected. When the update data cannot be stored in the table storage means, the second mode is selected. In this way, when the update data can be stored in the table storage means, the update data can be downloaded to the table storage means to update the contents of the table storage means, and the table storage means can be in a more appropriate state. In addition, it becomes easier to perform the reading process more quickly based on the table stored in the table storage means. On the other hand, if the update data cannot be stored in the table storage means, it can be used by referring to the table data of the management device as a next best measure, and the number of readings caused by the absence of the table in the table storage means Failure can be reduced.

  In the invention of claim 8, the data storage means of the management device stores a plurality of tables classified into groups, and when the data storage means stores other tables of the group to which the corresponding table belongs, The table update means downloads group data including update data for the corresponding table and data for other tables. In this way, if another table in the group to which the table specified by the information code (corresponding table) belongs is present in the data storage means, it can be downloaded. This table can be downloaded in advance and prepared for later reading. Then, when another table is specified in the subsequent reading, the download process becomes unnecessary, so that the other table can be used quickly and the information code specifying the other table can be quickly and satisfactorily decoded. Become.

  In the invention of claim 9, when another table to which the corresponding table belongs is stored in the data storage means, the table updating means first downloads the update data of the corresponding table, and the information code reading means After reading using the corresponding table, data in another table is downloaded. In this way, the decoding of the information code can be quickly completed using the corresponding table downloaded previously, and the data in other tables is downloaded after the decoding of the information code and prepared for later reading. You can do this.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided stop means for stopping reading of the information code when the corresponding table cannot be confirmed by the corresponding table confirmation means. In this way, when the corresponding table does not exist in the table storage means, the process can be quickly completed.

  The invention of claim 11 is provided with a reference means for referring to the corresponding table recorded in the management apparatus when the corresponding table cannot be confirmed by the corresponding table confirmation means. In this way, when the corresponding table does not exist in the table storage means, it can be used by referring to the corresponding table recorded in the management apparatus, and it is possible to effectively prevent reading failure due to the absence of the corresponding table. Can be reduced.

  In the invention of claim 12, the management apparatus is accessed according to a predetermined access condition, and whether the stored data stored in the data storage means includes new data in which the table stored in the table storage means is updated. New data confirmation means is provided for confirming whether or not, and when the new data is confirmed by the new data confirmation means, the table update means downloads update data based on the new data from the management device and stores the table The stored contents of the means are updated. In this way, the accumulated data of the data accumulating means can be confirmed at a predetermined time, and when new data in which the table of the table storing means is updated exists in this data accumulating means, the table storage is performed accordingly. The stored contents of the means can also be updated.

  In the invention of claim 13, a plurality of tables are classified and stored in the data storage means of the management device, and data of other tables of the group to which the table stored in the table storage means belongs in the data storage means. Is stored, the table updating means downloads the data of the other table. In this way, it is possible to appropriately increase the number of tables having high relevance to the tables in the table storage means while realizing an environment in which the contents of the tables in the table storage means can be easily maintained.

  According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, when the update data is downloaded from the management apparatus, a predetermined priority deletion table is selected and deleted from one or a plurality of tables stored in the table storage means. In this way, it is possible to appropriately suppress an increase in the amount of information stored in the table storage unit while supplementing necessary data by downloading the update data.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the optical information reader, reference time recording means for recording a time when a table stored in the table storage means is referred to is provided, and the table update means is stored in the table storage means. The table with the oldest reference time is selected as the priority deletion table. In this way, it is possible to preferentially delete a table that is unlikely to be used and secure a storage area for a new table.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided storage enable / disable determining means for determining whether or not the update data can be stored in the table storage means based on the storage area of the table storage means when downloading the update data from the management device. The priority deletion table is selected and deleted when it is determined by the storage possibility determination unit that the update data cannot be stored in the table storage unit. In this way, it is possible to appropriately organize the contents of the table storage means at the timing of downloading the update data, and it is possible to avoid a situation in which the update data cannot be stored.

  The invention according to claim 17 includes a difference information detecting means for detecting difference information between the contents stored in the table storage means and the contents stored in the data storage means, and the table updating means is detected by the difference information detecting means. The difference information is downloaded as update data. In this way, the download amount of the update data can be effectively suppressed, and the update processing time can be shortened.

  According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, the table stored in the table storage means has a configuration in which data belonging to at least one of character data, symbol data, graphic data, image data, and sound data is gathered. Then, rearrangement means for rearranging each data of the table stored in the table storage means in at least one of the initial letter order, the character number order, the file size order, and the file name order is provided. In this way, it becomes easy to search each data of the table based on the rearranged order.

  In the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the usage frequency calculation means for calculating the usage frequency of each piece of information stored in the information code, and each data of the table stored in the table storage means are calculated by the usage frequency calculation means. Rearranging means for rearranging based on the frequency of use of each information is provided. If it does in this way, it will become possible to search each data of a table in order of use frequency, and it will become easy to search required data rapidly.

  According to the twentieth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to realize an optical information reading device having the same effects as the first aspect.

  According to the invention of claim 21, an information code having the same effect as that of claim 1 can be realized.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a reading system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration of the reading system of FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration of the optical information reader used in the reading system of FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram for conceptually explaining the configuration of an information code used in the reading system 1 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4B is a part of the information code in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates notionally the cell structure of this code block. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram conceptually illustrating the data configuration of the information code used in the first embodiment. FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram showing the correspondence between the mode indicator and the reading mode, and FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram showing a setting example of the character number indicator according to the model number and the mode. FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram conceptually illustrating the data configuration of the table, and FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of the data configuration of the table. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a reading process performed by the reading system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram conceptually illustrating the data conversion method performed in the process of S10 of FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an update process performed in the reading system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an update process performed in the reading system according to the third embodiment. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a reading process performed by the reading system according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a reading process performed by the reading system according to the fifth embodiment.

[First embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a reading system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(overall structure)
First, the overall configuration of the reading system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a reading system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration of the reading system of FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration of the optical information reader used in the reading system of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a reading system 1 (hereinafter also simply referred to as system 1) according to the present embodiment includes an information code C (for example, a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (trade name), a data matrix code, and a maxi code). 2 and a bar code (one-dimensional code), and includes an optical information reading device 10, a management device 50, and a server 60, as shown in FIG.

  The optical information reader 10 has a configuration as shown in FIG. 3, for example, and functions as a code reader capable of reading a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code. As shown in FIG. 3, the optical information reader 10 mainly includes an optical system such as an illumination light source 21, a light receiving sensor 23, a filter 25, and an imaging lens 27, a memory 35, a control circuit 40, and an operation switch 42. And a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as “microcomputer”) system such as the liquid crystal display device 46. These are mounted on a printed wiring board (not shown) or housed in a case (not shown).

  The optical system includes an illumination light source 21, a light receiving sensor 23, a filter 25, an imaging lens 27, and the like. The illumination light source 21 functions as an illumination light source capable of emitting the illumination light Lf, and includes, for example, a red LED and a diffusion lens, a condensing lens, and the like provided on the emission side of the LED. In the present embodiment, for example, illumination light sources 21 are provided on both sides of the light receiving sensor 23, and the illumination light Lf is directed toward the reading object R through a reading port (not shown) formed in a case (not shown). It is configured to be able to irradiate. As the reading object R, for example, various objects such as a resin material and a metal material can be considered. In FIG. 3, the information code C is formed on the reading object R by printing, direct marking, display by a display device, or the like. An example is shown.

  The light receiving sensor 23 is configured to be able to receive the reflected light Lr irradiated and reflected on the reading object R and the information code C. For example, the light receiving element 23 is a solid-state image pickup device such as a C-MOS or CCD. An area sensor arranged in a dimension corresponds to this. The light receiving sensor 23 is mounted on a printed wiring board (not shown) so that incident light incident through the imaging lens 27 can be received by the light receiving surface 23a. The filter 25 is configured as an optical low-pass filter that allows passage of light having a wavelength less than or equal to the wavelength of the reflected light Lr and blocks passage of light that exceeds the wavelength. The reading port ( (Not shown) and the imaging lens 27. Further, the imaging lens 27 is constituted by, for example, a lens barrel and a plurality of condensing lenses accommodated in the lens barrel. In the present embodiment, the imaging lens 27 is provided at a reading port (not shown) formed in the case. The incident reflected light Lr is collected and a code image of the information code C is formed on the light receiving surface 23 a of the light receiving sensor 23.

  The microcomputer system includes an amplification circuit 31, an A / D conversion circuit 33, a memory 35, an address generation circuit 36, a synchronization signal generation circuit 38, a control circuit 40, an operation switch 42, an LED 43, a buzzer 44, a liquid crystal display device 46, and a communication interface 48. Etc. This microcomputer system is configured around a control circuit 40 and a memory 35 that can function as a microcomputer (information processing apparatus), and the image signal of the information code C imaged by the optical system described above is signaled in hardware and software. It can be processed.

  An image signal (analog signal) output from the light receiving sensor 23 of the optical system is input to the amplification circuit 31 and amplified by a predetermined gain, and then input to the A / D conversion circuit 33, and the digital signal is converted from the analog signal. Is converted to The digitized image signal, that is, image data (image information) is input to the memory 35 and stored in the image data storage area of the memory 35. The synchronization signal generation circuit 38 is configured to generate a synchronization signal for the light receiving sensor 23 and the address generation circuit 36. The address generation circuit 36 is based on the synchronization signal supplied from the synchronization signal generation circuit 38. Thus, the storage address of the image data stored in the memory 35 can be generated.

  The memory 35 is composed of a plurality of semiconductor memory devices, and includes, for example, a RAM (DRAM, SRAM, etc.), a ROM (EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, etc.), and the like. In addition to the above-described image data storage area, the RAM of the memory 35 is configured to be able to secure a work area and a reading condition table that are used by the control circuit 40 in each processing such as arithmetic operation and logical operation. . The ROM stores in advance a predetermined program that can execute a reading process and the like that will be described later, and a system program that can control each piece of hardware such as the illumination light source 21 and the light receiving sensor 23.

  The control circuit 40 is a microcomputer capable of controlling the entire optical information reader 10 and includes a CPU, a system bus, an input / output interface, and the like, and has an information processing function. Various input / output devices (peripheral devices) are connected to the control circuit 40 via a built-in input / output interface. In this embodiment, the operation switch 42, the LED 43, the buzzer 44, the liquid crystal display device 46, A communication interface 48 or the like is connected. The communication interface 48 is an interface for communicating with an external device such as the computer 50, and includes a wired communication unit that performs wired communication with the external device, a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication, or both. There is no.

  The computer 50 is configured as, for example, a known personal computer, and includes a CPU 51, a storage unit 52, and a communication unit 53 as shown in FIG. The CPU 51 performs overall control of the computer 50 and various information processing on data from the optical information reading device 10. The storage unit 52 is configured by a storage unit such as a ROM, a RAM, and a hard disk drive, and can store at least data acquired from the optical information reader 10 and data acquired from the server 60 temporarily. I am doing. The communication unit 53 is configured as an interface when communicating with the optical information reading apparatus 10 and the server 60, and includes a LAN communication unit (for example, a wired LAN communication unit and / or a wireless LAN communication unit), other A communication unit (such as a serial communication unit according to the RS232C standard) is provided. In the present embodiment, for example, serial communication or LAN communication is possible between the optical information reading apparatus 10 and the computer 50, and the computer 50 and the server 60 are connected via a communication network such as the Internet. It is connected. The communication unit 53 corresponds to an example of “communication means” and functions to communicate with the optical information reading apparatus 10.

  The server 60 is also configured as a known personal computer or the like, and has a CPU 61, a storage unit 62, and a communication unit 63 as shown in FIG. The CPU 61 performs overall control of the server 60 and various arithmetic processes on data acquired from the computer 50. The storage unit 62 is configured by storage means such as a ROM, a RAM, and a hard disk drive. The communication unit 63 is configured as an interface when communicating with the computer 50, and is configured to communicate with the computer 50 via a communication network such as the Internet as described above. In the present embodiment, various data can be downloaded from the server 60 into the management device 50. For example, data to be stored in the storage unit 52 (data storage unit) can be acquired from the server 60. Yes.

(Configuration of information code)
Next, the information code read by the system 1 will be described.
4A is an explanatory diagram for conceptually explaining the configuration of an information code used in the reading system 1 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4B is a part of the information code in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates notionally the cell structure of this code block. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram conceptually illustrating the data configuration of the information code used in the first embodiment. FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram showing the correspondence between the mode indicator and the reading mode, and FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram showing a setting example of the character number indicator according to the model number and the mode. FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram conceptually illustrating the data configuration of the table, and FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of the data configuration of the table.

  The information code C (FIGS. 1 and 3) read by the system 1 is, for example, as a cell aggregate in which a plurality of information display unit cells C1 (hereinafter also simply referred to as cells) are aggregated as shown in FIG. It is configured and has a rectangular shape. In the representative example of FIG. 4A, the information code C is configured according to the standard of QR code (trade name), and the position detection pattern having the same configuration and function as the position detection pattern of QR code (registered trademark). FP1, FP2, and FP3 are arranged at three corners of the code area, respectively, and a rectangular cell C1 has a matrix shape arranged in M rows and N columns (specifically, 21 rows and 21 columns).

  The information code C is provided with a data recording area AR1 for recording data and format information recording areas AR2 and AR3 for recording format information. The data recording area AR1 is an area in which encoded data is expressed by a plurality of cells C1. In the information code C used in the present embodiment, data configured in a format (FIG. 5) described later is stored in the data recording area AR1. It is recorded. In the data recording area AR1, for example, a block is constituted by eight cells as shown in FIG. 4B, and the dark cell represents “1” and the light cell represents “0”. In FIG. 4A, the data recording area AR1 is conceptually indicated by a one-dot chain line, and the format information recording areas AR2 and AR3 are conceptually indicated by hatching. As the cells of the data recording area AR1 and the format information recording areas AR2 and AR3, light cells and dark cells as shown in FIG. 4B are actually used. In FIG. The specific configuration of is omitted.

  Data recorded in the data recording area AR1 is configured as shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 5, a mode indicator is provided at the head of the data area, and table number data, table version number data, and a character number indicator are arranged after the mode indicator. Further, an individual data number is arranged after the character number indicator, and a terminator is provided after that.

The mode indicator corresponds to an example of “mode identification information”, and can identify whether the reading mode of the information code C including the mode indicator is a mode using a table (table usage mode). Information. In this embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 6A, an indicator corresponding to each mode is defined in advance, and if the mode indicator is data “0110”, it is specified that the mode uses a table. It can be done.

  The table number data corresponds to an example of “use table identification information”, and includes a use table number (use table number) used for reading the information code C. The table version number data also corresponds to an example of “use table identification information”, and is configured as data specifying the version of the use table specified by the table number data. Thus, in the present embodiment, the used table and its version are specified by the table number data and the table version number data.

  The number-of-characters indicator indicates the number of characters of the subsequent data. For example, as shown in FIG. 6B, the information code model number (QR code model number in the example of FIG. 4) and mode (mode) The data is determined according to the combination with the mode specified by the indicator. The model number data is recorded, for example, in the format information recording areas AR2 and AR3 in FIG.

  The individual data number designates individual data in the usage table specified by the table number data (usage table identification information). In the example of FIG. 5, a plurality of individual data numbers are recorded in the information code C. Individual data is specified. For example, FIG. 7A shows a table of Thai syllables, and each individual data number is associated with a syllable. When the use table specified by the table number data is such a table, each individual data number included in FIG. 5 has a Thai syllable associated with each individual data number as shown in FIG. Will be specified. In the example of FIG. 7B, a table of words is shown. When the use table specified by the table number data is such a table, each individual data number included in FIG. Each word associated with the data number is specified.

  The information code C configured as described above can be read by the above-described optical information reading apparatus 10 provided with an imaging unit, an information code reading unit, and a table storage unit (described later). When the corresponding table corresponding to the use table identification information exists in the table storage means of the apparatus 10, the individual data corresponding to the individual data number in the corresponding table is used instead of the individual data number. Yes. A specific method for reading such information code C will be described later.

(Reading process)
Next, a reading process performed by the reading system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the reading process performed by the reading system according to the first embodiment. The reading process shown in FIG. 8 is executed by the control circuit 40 of the optical information reading device 10, for example, and when a predetermined start condition is satisfied in the optical information reading device 10 (for example, a predetermined value for the operation switch 42). Disclosed when the operation is performed).

  In the reading process shown in FIG. 1, first, an image code C is imaged and analyzed (S1). In the process of S1, the information code C is imaged to obtain image data of the information code C, and each data recorded in the information code C based on this image data (recorded in the format information recording areas AR2 and AR3). Data or data code blocks recorded in the data recording area AR1) is acquired by a known method, for example, data having a format as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the light receiving sensor 23 corresponds to an example of “imaging means”. Further, the control circuit 40 that executes the reading process of FIG. 8 corresponds to an example of “information code reading unit” and functions to read the information code C imaged by the imaging unit.

After S1, the mode indicator (FIG. 5) included in the information code C is referred to and it is determined whether or not the table use mode is instructed by the mode indicator (S2). If the mode indicator of the information code C does not indicate the table use mode, the process proceeds to No in S2 to perform decoded data generation / output processing (S10). When the process proceeds to No in S2, a normal decoding process (decoding process without using a table) performed with a known information code (for example, a QR code) is performed in S10. On the other hand, when the mode indicator recorded in the information code C indicates the table use mode, the process proceeds to Yes in S2.
In the present embodiment, the control circuit 40 that executes the process of S2 corresponds to an example of a “reading mode confirmation unit”, and a mode indicator (mode identification information) included in the information code C imaged by the imaging unit. Based on this, it functions to confirm whether or not the reading mode of the captured information code C is the table use mode.

  When the process proceeds to Yes in S2, it is determined whether or not the table indicated by the table number data (FIG. 5) recorded in the information code C exists in the memory 35 (S3). If the table specified by the table number data of the information code C (that is, the table having the same table number as the table number data) is not stored in the memory 35, the process proceeds to No in S3 and the download process in S9 is performed. Do. The process of S9 will be described later.

  On the other hand, if the table specified by the table number data of the information code C is stored in the memory 35, the process proceeds to Yes in S3, and the table recorded in the memory 35 (that is, the table number of the information code C). It is determined whether the table version number of the table having the same table number as the data is different from the table version number data (FIG. 5) recorded in the information code C (S4). If the table version number of the table recorded in the memory 35 is the same as the table version number data of the information code C, the process proceeds to No in S4. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the table number data of the information code C is “B3”, and the table version number data is Ver. In the case of “3.0”, the table number is “B3” in the memory 35 as in the optical information reader 10 of FIG. When the table of “3.0” is recorded, the process proceeds to Yes in S3 and proceeds to No in S4. On the other hand, if a table having the same table number as the table number specified by the information code C is recorded in the memory 35, but the table version number of the table is not the same as the table version number data of the information code C, in S4 Proceed to Yes.

  In the present embodiment, the control circuit 40 that executes the processing of S3 corresponds to an example of “corresponding table confirmation unit”. When the table use mode is confirmed by the reading mode confirmation unit, the memory 35 (table storage unit) Function to confirm whether one or a plurality of tables stored in the table is a corresponding table corresponding to the use table identification information (specifically, stored in the memory 35 (table storage means)). In one or a plurality of tables, the table corresponding to both the use table number and the version number included in the information code C functions as a corresponding table).

  When the process proceeds to No in S4, a process for generating and outputting decrypted data is performed (S10). In the present embodiment, the memory 35 of the optical information reading apparatus 10 corresponds to an example of “table storage unit”, and for example, table data as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B is stored. . In the table stored in the memory 35, an individual data number is associated with each data (individual data), and the corresponding individual data can be searched by specifying the individual data number. For example, in the table of FIG. 7B, by specifying the individual data number as “1”, the word data “Aomori Prefecture” can be acquired. Assuming that such a table is stored in the memory 35, when the process proceeds to No in S4 and the process of S10 is performed, the corresponding table recorded in the memory 35 (same as the table number data of the information code C) And the individual data number (FIG. 5) recorded in the information code C is searched for in the table number of the information code C and the same table version number data of the information code C). Read the individual data corresponding to the data number. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, converted data obtained by converting each individual data number recorded in the information code C into corresponding individual data is generated and output as decoded data to the liquid crystal display 46 or an external device. .

  Note that the configuration of the table stored in the memory 35 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 7, and various table configurations can be employed. The individual data that is an element of each table includes various data, and the individual data can be composed of one or more kinds of data of character data, symbol data, graphic data, image data, and sound data. . For example, when individual data is constituted as character data, it can be constituted by one or a plurality of characters, and the contents can also be various contents such as words, idioms, one sentence, and plural sentences. Similarly, when individual data is configured as symbol data or graphic data, the individual data can be configured by one or a plurality of symbols or one or a plurality of graphics. Further, when individual data is configured as image data, the individual data can be configured by one or a plurality of images, and the individual data can be configured by still images, moving images, mixed images thereof, and the like as image types. it can. Regardless of which type of individual data is used, an individual data number is assigned to each individual data, and in the process of S10, the individual data number specified by the information code C is converted and output as shown in FIG. It becomes.

  In the present embodiment, the control circuit 40 that executes the processing of S10 corresponds to an example of “individual data search means”, and when the corresponding table is confirmed by the corresponding table confirmation means, the individual data from the corresponding table is obtained. It functions to search individual data corresponding to a number. In addition, the control circuit 40 that executes the process of S10 corresponds to an example of “data generation unit”, and generates data obtained by converting the individual data number of the information code C into the individual data searched by the search unit. To work.

Next, a case where the corresponding table does not exist will be described.
First, the case where the process proceeds to No in S3 of FIG. 8 will be described. If the table (designated table) having the same table number as the table number data of the information code C read in S1 does not exist in the memory 35, the process proceeds to No in S3, and the designated version number (information code C A table of the same version number as the table version number data) is downloaded from the management device 50 (FIG. 1 etc.) (S9).

  In the present embodiment, the storage unit 52 of the management device 50 illustrated in FIG. 2 corresponds to an example of “data storage unit”, and includes, for example, a database (a database storing a plurality of tables) as illustrated in FIG. Stored data that can be used to add or update a table stored in the memory 35 (table storage means) of the optical information reader 10 is stored. In the process of S9, the management apparatus 50 is accessed and a download of the table having the table number and table version number specified by the information code C read in S1 is requested. On the other hand, on the management device 50 side, access from the optical information reader 10 is monitored under the control of the CPU 51 (FIG. 2), and a corresponding table (a table specified by the information code C) is sent from the optical information reader 10. In the case of a download request of a table of number and table version number), the requested corresponding table is read from the storage unit 52 and transmitted to the optical information reading apparatus 10. Then, the optical information reading device 10 receives the data of the corresponding table transmitted from the management device 50 in this way and stores it in the memory 35.

  In the present embodiment, each table of a plurality of version numbers can be stored in any one of the table numbers in the memory 35. For example, an old table version number for the table number specified by the information code C Is stored in the memory 35, the new data downloaded (that is, the table data of the table number and the table version number specified by the information code C) while the old data remains in the memory 35. Can be stored in the memory 35. In addition, when a new version of data with the same table number as the table stored in the memory 35 is downloaded without doing this, the old version of the table data stored in the memory 35 is deleted. It may be.

  In the present embodiment, the control circuit 40 capable of executing the processes of S7 and S9 corresponds to an example of “table update unit”, and the storage content of the memory 35 (table storage unit) is stored in the accumulated data of the management device 50. The update function for the corresponding table is downloaded from the accumulated data stored in the management device 50 when the corresponding table is not confirmed by the corresponding table confirmation unit. Function.

  After the table data is downloaded in S9, decrypted data is generated and output based on the downloaded table (S10). In addition, when the process of S10 is performed after S9, the data of the corresponding table specified by the information code C (the table of the table number and the table version number specified by the information code C) is stored in the memory 35. The process of S10 is performed in the same manner as the process of S10 when the process proceeds to No in S4 (described above).

  Next, the case where the process proceeds to Yes in S4 will be described. Although a table having the same table number as the table number data (FIG. 5) of the information code C read in S1 exists in the memory 35, the table version number of the table of the table number existing in the memory 35 is the information code C. If it is different from the table version number data (FIG. 5), the process proceeds to Yes in S4 to determine whether or not to perform major update. In the present embodiment, the table version number handled in the system 1 includes identification information used for identifying whether or not major update is performed, and if it is determined in S4 that the table version number is different, It is determined whether or not a major update is performed based on the identification information. For example, the table version number is indicated in a decimal point format such as “1.1”, “2.1”, “3.2”, and the table version number data (see FIG. When the integer part of 5) is different from the integer part of the table version number of the table stored in the memory 35, it is determined that the major update is performed. For example, the table version number data of the information code C is ver. 3.2, and the table version number of the table stored in the memory 35 is ver. In the case of 2.2, it is determined that a major update has occurred. On the other hand, when the integer part of the table version number data recorded in the information code C and the integer part of the table version number of the table stored in the memory 35 are the same, and the decimal part of these table version numbers is different, minor update is performed. Judging. For example, the table version number data of the information code C is ver. 3.2, and the table version number of the table stored in the memory 35 is ver. In the case of 3.3, it is judged as a minor update.

  If it is determined in S5 that the update is major, the process proceeds to Yes in S5, and the download process in S9 described above is performed. That is, in the case of major update, the entire table of the corresponding table specified by the information code C (the table with the same table number and table version number as the table number data and table version number data of the information code C) is downloaded. Yes. The process of S10 performed after S9 is the same as described above.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S5 that the update is not a major update, the process proceeds to No in S5, and a determination process is performed as to whether or not update data is to be downloaded in a batch (S6). There are various methods for this determination process. For example, when using a method for determining based on a predetermined initial setting by the user, or when the user specifies to download minor updates all at once in the initial setting. The process proceeds to Yes in S6, and if not, the process proceeds to No in S6. As another method, before the process of S6, a display for prompting determination of whether or not to perform batch download is performed, and when batch download is instructed according to the display, the process proceeds to Yes in S6. You may make it progress to No. In any case, when the process proceeds to Yes in S6, the download process in S9 described above is performed. That is, even in the case of minor update, when batch download is instructed, the corresponding table specified by the information code C (the table number and the table same as the table number data and table version number data of the information code C) Download the entire version number table.

  On the other hand, when the process proceeds to No in S6 (that is, when batch download is not instructed), the corresponding table stored in the storage unit 52 (that is, the same as the table number data and the table version number data of the information code C). Difference data between the table number and the table version number) and a table with a different table version number recorded in the memory 35 (that is, a table having the same table number as the corresponding table but a different table version number). Perform the process.

  In this process, first, the optical information reading device 10 accesses the management device 50 and transmits the table number data and the table version number data specified by the information code C to the management device 50 and stores them in the memory 35. The version number (old version number) of the table corresponding to the table number being sent is transmitted. On the other hand, the management device 50 detects difference data between the table of the new version number (the table version number specified by the information code C) and the table of the old version number for the table number specified by the information code C. Only the difference data is read from the storage unit 52 and transmitted to the optical information reader 10. On the other hand, the optical information reading device 10 receives the difference data transmitted from the management device 50 (S7), and updates the old version number table for the table number stored in the memory 35. In this case, the CPU 51 of the management device 50 corresponds to an example of the “difference information detection unit”, and the content stored in the memory 35 (table storage unit) and the content stored in the storage unit 52 (data storage unit). It functions to detect the difference information, and the table update means described above downloads the difference information detected by the difference information detection means as update data.

  The difference information may be detected on the optical information reading device 10 side. For example, in the process of S7, for the table number specified by the information code C, the control circuit 40 calculates the difference data between the table of the new version number (the table version number specified by the information code C) and the table of the old version number. The information (for example, individual data number) for detecting and transmitting the difference data to the management apparatus 50 may be transmitted to request the difference data. In this case, the management device 50 reads the difference data based on the information specifying the difference data and transmits it to the optical information reading device 10. In this case, the control circuit 40 corresponds to an example of “difference information detection means”.

  The difference data may be data for changing a part of individual data in the old version number table, or may be data for adding individual data that does not exist in the old version number table together with the individual data number. . As a result of the processing in S8, the corresponding table (the table having the same table number and table version number as the table number data of the information code C and the table version number data) is stored in the memory 35. Therefore, S10 performed after S8. This process is performed in the same manner as described above.

(Main effects of the first embodiment)
In the reading system 1 according to the present embodiment, a mode indicator (mode identification) that can identify whether or not the reading mode of the information code C is a table using mode (table use mode) inside the information code C. Information), use table identification information including at least a use table number (use table number) used for reading the information code C, and an individual data number specifying individual data in the use table specified by the use table identification information And are included. In this way, it can be determined whether or not the reading mode of the information code C is the table usage mode based on the information recorded in the information code C, and the usage table used for reading the information code C, In addition, the individual data in the usage table can be specified.
On the other hand, on the optical information reading apparatus 10 side, the reading mode confirmation means can confirm whether or not the reading mode of the captured information code C is the table usage mode, and the table usage mode is confirmed in the read information code C. In such a case, the corresponding table confirmation unit can quickly confirm whether or not the corresponding table (table corresponding to the used table identification information) exists in the memory 35 (table storage unit). When the corresponding table is confirmed in the memory 35 (table storage means), the individual data search means corresponds to the individual data designated by the information code C (that is, the individual data number) from the corresponding table. Data obtained by converting the individual data number of the information code into the individual data can be generated by the data generation means. In this way, all the information code C can be obtained by converting the partial data (individual data number) recorded in the information code C into data stored in the optical information reader 10 and decoding it. Therefore, it is possible to construct a system capable of decoding a large amount of data while making the information code C more compact. In addition, since an optical information reader having no corresponding table cannot decode the information code C, it is possible to construct a system in which only a specific user can use the information recorded in the information code C. Furthermore, since the stored contents of the memory 35 (table storage means) can be updated by the table update means based on the accumulated data of the management device 50, the necessary table is transferred from the management device 50 to the optical information reading device 10. The memory 35 (table storage means) can be easily downloaded and stored in an appropriate storage content suitable for the user.

  Furthermore, the information code C includes “use table number” and “version number” as “use table identification information”, and the corresponding table confirmation means is one or more stored in the memory 35 (table storage means). The table corresponding to both the use table number and the version number included in the information code C is confirmed as the corresponding table. In this way, a table whose version does not correspond is not used as a corresponding table, and appropriate version management is possible.

  Furthermore, each table of a plurality of version numbers can be stored in any one of the table numbers in the memory 35 (table storage means). In this way, it becomes possible to cope with a transition period in which the version of a table with any table number is changed. For example, with respect to a table with a certain table number, if the old version table before the version change and the new version table after the version change are stored in the memory 35 (table storage means), before and after the version change, Even if the information code designating the old version is read, the information code designating the new version can be read.

  In this embodiment, when the corresponding table is not confirmed by the corresponding table confirmation unit, the table update unit downloads the update data for the corresponding table from the accumulated data accumulated in the management device 50. In this way, the memory 35 (table storage means) in the optical information reader 10 is used to speed up the data processing, and if the corresponding table is not confirmed, the data is updated from the accumulated data of the management device 50. Data can be downloaded and replenished, and reading failures due to the absence of the corresponding table can be effectively reduced.

  In the present embodiment, difference information detection means for detecting difference information between the contents stored in the memory 35 (table storage means) and the contents stored in the storage unit 52 (data storage means) is provided. In a predetermined case (specifically, for example, when a minor update is confirmed), the table update unit downloads the difference information detected by the difference information detection unit as update data. In this way, the download amount of the update data can be effectively suppressed, and the update processing time can be shortened.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an update process performed in the reading system according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, update processing as shown in FIG. 10 is performed in addition to the first embodiment. Therefore, in the following, detailed description of the same configuration as in the first embodiment will be omitted, and the added configuration will be mainly described. 1 to 9 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and will be described with reference to these drawings as appropriate.

  In the present embodiment, an update process as shown in FIG. 10 is performed. The outline of this update process will be described. The update process is performed by the control circuit 40 of the optical information reading apparatus 10. In this update process, the management apparatus 50 shown in FIG. 2 is accessed according to a predetermined access condition. At the same time, it is confirmed whether or not there is new data in which the table stored in the memory 35 (table storage unit) is updated in the stored data stored in the storage unit 52 (data storage unit). If new data is confirmed, update data based on the new data is downloaded from the management device 50 to update the storage contents of the memory 35 (table storage means). In the present embodiment, the control circuit 40 capable of executing the update process of FIG. 10 corresponds to an example of “new data confirmation unit” and “table update unit”.

  The update process shown in FIG. 10 is executed when a predetermined access condition set in advance is satisfied. An example of “when a predetermined access condition is satisfied” may be, for example, “when the optical information reader 10 is connected to the management device 10”. It may be “when the set time is reached”. When the update process is started, first, the management apparatus 50 is accessed, and a process for checking whether or not an updated table exists in the management apparatus 50 is performed (S21). There are various methods for checking the updated table. For example, the table is added or updated in the storage unit 52 from the time when the optical information reader 10 was last accessed until it is accessed in the current processing of S21. For example, there is a method of determining whether or not there is an updated table when a new table is added or updated in the storage unit 52. If it is determined that there is no updated table in the process of S22, the process proceeds to No in S22 and the update process is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined that an updated table exists, the process proceeds to Yes in S22.

  When the process proceeds to Yes in S22, it is determined whether or not the table number of the updated table is the same as the table number of the table stored in the memory 35 (S23). If the table numbers are different, the process proceeds to No in S23, and a process of downloading the updated table from the management device 50 into the memory 35 is performed (S29). In FIG. 10, the process of S29 is performed when the process proceeds to No in S23. However, the update process may be terminated without performing such a process. In other words, when the table number of the updated table is different from the table number of the table stored in the memory 35, it may not be downloaded.

  On the other hand, if the table number of the table updated in the management apparatus 50 is the same as the table number of the table stored in the memory 35, the process proceeds to Yes in S23, and the table version of the table updated in the management apparatus 50 is reached. It is determined whether or not the number is different from the table version number of the table stored in the memory 35. If the table version number of the table updated in the management device 50 is the same as the table version number of the table stored in the memory 35, the updated table already exists in the memory 35, so in S24. It progresses to No and complete | finishes the said update process.

  On the other hand, if the table version number of the table updated in the management device 50 is different from the table version number of the table stored in the memory 35, the process proceeds to Yes in S24, and the table version number of the updated table is stored in the memory 35. Based on the table version number of the stored table, it is determined whether or not it is a major update. The method for determining whether or not a major update is performed is the same as in S5 of FIG. 8, for example, the integer part of the table version number of the updated table is different from the integer part of the table version number of the table stored in the memory 35. If YES, the major update is determined and the process proceeds to Yes in S25, and the process of S29 is performed.

  On the other hand, when the update is not a major update (for example, when the integer part of the table version number of the updated table is the same as the integer part of the table version number of the table stored in the memory 35 and the decimal part is different). The process proceeds to No in S25, and a determination process is performed to determine batch download of the target table (updated table here) (S26). The determination process of S26 can be performed by the same method as S6 of FIG. 8, and when performing batch download of the target table, the process proceeds to Yes in S26 and the process of S29 is performed. On the other hand, when batch download of the target table is not performed, a process of downloading difference data between the target table (the updated table here) and the table stored in the memory 35 is performed (S27). The process of S27 is performed by the same method as the process of S7 of FIG. Then, based on the difference data downloaded in S27, table data is generated in the same manner as in S8 (FIG. 8) (S28).

(Main effects of the second embodiment)
According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the stored data in the storage unit 52 (data storage unit) can be confirmed at a predetermined time, and the table of the memory 35 (table storage unit) is stored in the storage unit 52 (data storage unit). If there is new data that has been updated, the contents stored in the memory 35 can be updated to match the new data. Therefore, reading failure based on different versions can be effectively eliminated, contributing to quick and good reading.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an update process performed in the reading system according to the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, update processing as shown in FIG. 11 is performed in addition to the first embodiment. Therefore, in the following, detailed description of the same configuration as in the first embodiment will be omitted, and the added configuration will be mainly described. 1 to 9 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and will be described with reference to these drawings as appropriate.

  In the present embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, a plurality of tables are classified into groups and stored in the storage unit 52 (data storage unit) of the management device 50. For example, in FIG. 1, each table is classified by industry, and a group number is assigned to each industry. For example, the group assigned the group number G1 is configured as a group of tables related to the medical industry, and the group assigned the group number G2 is configured as a group of tables related to the logistics industry. In addition, tables of various industries can be grouped. In addition, there are various categories of grouping. For example, it is classified according to the language of individual data used in the table (for example, how individual data is grouped in English, individual data is grouped in Japanese), or data type It is possible to use a method of classifying each data (for example, a method in which individual data is a group of character data, individual data is a group of image data, and individual data is a group of audio data).

  The update process shown in FIG. 10 is performed by the control circuit 40 of the optical information reading apparatus 10 and is started when a predetermined access condition set in advance is satisfied. An example of “when a predetermined access condition is satisfied” may be, for example, “when the optical information reader 10 is connected to the management device 10”. It may be “when the set time is reached”. When the update process is started, first, the management apparatus 50 is accessed (S31), and it is determined whether or not all the tables of the group to which the table stored in the memory 35 belongs are stored (S32). Specifically, for example, the table number and the table version number of the table stored in the memory 35 are transmitted to the management apparatus 50, and on the management apparatus 50 side, the “other table” of the group to which the table of the table number belongs. It is determined whether or not (the table of the group, which is different from the table stored in the memory 35 and at least one of the table number and the table version number) is stored in the storage unit 52. When the “other table” exists in the storage unit 52, a list of this “other table” is transmitted. When the management apparatus 50 makes a response indicating that “another table” exists, the process proceeds to Yes in S32. On the other hand, when a response indicating that “other table” does not exist is made, the process proceeds to No in S32.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a table B1 (ver. 1.1) and a table B3 (ver. 3.0) of a group G2 of logistics industry are stored in the memory 35, and the group G2 stored in the storage unit 52 is stored. If no other table is stored in the memory 35, the process proceeds to Yes in S32. On the other hand, when all the tables of the specific group are stored in the memory 35 and the tables of other groups are not stored, the process proceeds to No in S32 and the update process is terminated.

  When the process proceeds to Yes in S32, one of the unstored “other tables” belonging to the same group as the table stored in the memory 35 is selected, and the selected “other table” is stored in the memory 35. It is determined whether or not the table number is the same as the table number. If the table numbers are not the same, the process proceeds to No in S34 and “the other table (the table selected in S33) is downloaded from the management apparatus 50 (S38).

  If the “other table” selected in S33 has the same table number as any of the tables in the memory 35 and only the table version number is different, the process proceeds to Yes in S34 to determine whether or not it is a major update. To do. A method for determining whether or not a major update is performed by comparing the table to be updated (here, the other table selected in S33) with the table stored in the memory 35 is described in S5 of the first embodiment (FIG. 8) and S25 (FIG. 10) of the second embodiment, for example, the integer part of the table version number of the other table selected in S33 and the integer part of the table version number of the table stored in the memory 35. If they are different from each other, it is determined that the major update has been made, and the process proceeds to Yes in S35 to perform the process in S38.

  On the other hand, when the update is not a major update (for example, the integer part of the table version number of the other table selected in S33 is the same as the integer part of the table version number of the table stored in the memory 35, and the decimal part is different) If yes, the process proceeds to No in S35, and determination processing for determining batch download of the target table (here, the other table selected in S33) is performed (S36). The determination process in S36 can be performed in the same manner as in S6 in FIG. 8, and when performing batch download of the target table (the other table selected in S33), the process proceeds to Yes in S36. The process of S38 is performed. On the other hand, if batch download of the target table (the other table selected in S33) is not performed, a process of downloading difference data between the target table and the table stored in the memory 35 is performed (S37). ). Note that the process of S37 is performed by the same method as the process of S7 of FIG. Thereafter, based on the difference data downloaded in S37, table data is generated in the same manner as in S8 (FIG. 8) (S28).

  As described above, the other table selected in S33 by the process in S38 or S39 is stored in the memory 35. After S38 and S39, other tables that are not stored in the memory 35 (other tables that are in the same group as the table in the memory 35 and are not stored in the memory 35) remain in the storage unit 52. (S40), if it remains, the process proceeds to Yes in S40, selects one of the remaining "other tables" (S33), and performs the processing after S33. On the other hand, if no other table that is not stored in the memory 35 remains in the storage unit 52, the process proceeds to No in S40, and the update process ends.

  In the present embodiment, the control circuit 40 that executes the processing of FIG. 11 corresponds to an example of “table update unit”, and the memory unit 52 (data storage unit) stores a memory when accessing the management device 50 according to a predetermined access condition. When data of “other table” of the group to which the table stored in 35 (table storage unit) belongs is stored, the data of the other table is downloaded.

  In the above embodiment, “when the predetermined access condition is satisfied” is exemplified as “when the optical information reading device 10 is connected to the management device 50”, but for example, FIG. 8 described in the first embodiment Immediately before the end of such reading processing (for example, after the processing of S10 in FIG. 8) may be “when a predetermined access condition is satisfied”. In this case, the reading process can be basically performed according to the flow of FIG. 8, and the corresponding table (the table number and the table version recorded in the information code C) described in the first embodiment is stored in the storage unit 52 (data storage unit). Even if another table to which the group to which the number belongs) is stored, the update data of the corresponding table can be downloaded first (see S7, S9, etc. in FIG. 8). . Then, after reading using the corresponding table (that is, the table generated in S8 or the table downloaded in S9) by the process of S10 (FIG. 8), the update process of FIG. Data can be downloaded.

(Main effects of the third embodiment)
In the present embodiment, a plurality of tables are classified and stored in the storage unit 52 (data storage unit) of the management device 50, and are stored in the memory 35 (table storage unit) in the storage unit 52 (data storage unit). When data of another table in the group to which the stored table belongs is stored, the table updating means downloads the data of the other table. In this way, it is possible to appropriately increase the number of tables having high relevance to the tables in the memory 35 while realizing an environment in which the contents of the tables in the memory 35 (table storage means) can be easily maintained.

  Further, in the example in which the update process of FIG. 11 is performed after S10 of FIG. 8, when another table of the group to which the corresponding table specified by the information code C belongs is stored in the storage unit 52 (data storage unit). The group data including the update data of the corresponding table and the data of other tables can be downloaded. In this way, if another table to which the corresponding table specified by the information code belongs is stored in the storage unit 52 (data storage means), it can be downloaded, so the same group that can be used Other tables can be downloaded in advance to prepare for later reading. Then, when another table is specified in the subsequent reading, the download process becomes unnecessary, so that the other table can be used quickly and the information code specifying the other table can be quickly and satisfactorily decoded. Become.

  Further, in the example in which the update process of FIG. 11 is performed after S10 of FIG. 8, the update data of the corresponding table is stored when another table to which the corresponding table belongs is stored in the storage unit 52 (data storage unit). Is downloaded first, and after the information code reading means performs reading using the corresponding table, the data of the other table is downloaded. In this way, the decoding of the information code C can be quickly completed using the previously downloaded corresponding table (S10 in FIG. 8). Can be downloaded and prepared for later reading.

[Fourth embodiment]
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a reading process performed by the reading system according to the fourth embodiment. Note that the fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the reading process of FIG. 8 is changed as shown in FIG. 12, and other than the reading process (FIGS. 1 to 7, FIG. 9, and configurations related to these drawings) This is the same as in the first embodiment. Therefore, detailed description of the same parts will be omitted, and will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 and 9 as appropriate.

  The reading process (FIG. 12) of the present embodiment is also executed by the control circuit 40 when a predetermined start condition is satisfied (for example, when a predetermined operation is performed on the operation switch 42). First, S1 of the first embodiment. In the same manner as in FIG. 8, the information code C is imaged and analyzed (S41). Then, with reference to the mode indicator (FIG. 5) included in the information code C, it is determined whether or not the table use mode is instructed by the mode indicator (S42). If the mode indicator of the information code C does not indicate the table use mode, the process proceeds to No in S42, and decrypted data generation / output processing is performed (S48). When the process proceeds to No in S42, a normal decoding process (decoding process without using a table) performed with a known information code (for example, a QR code) is performed in S48.

  On the other hand, if the mode indicator recorded in the information code C indicates the table use mode, the process proceeds to Yes in S42. Then, it is determined whether or not a table (corresponding table) having the same table number and the same table version number as the table number data and table version number data recorded in the information code C exists in the memory 35 (S43). If the corresponding table exists in the memory 35, the process proceeds to Yes in S43, and the process of S48 is performed. Note that the processing of S48 when proceeding to Yes in S43 (that is, the decryption processing using the corresponding table (see FIG. 9 and the like)) is the same as the processing of S10 when proceeding to No in S4 (FIG. 8). .

  If the table (corresponding table) having the same table number and the same table version number as the table number data and table version number data recorded in the information code C does not exist in the memory 35, the process proceeds to No in S43, and It is determined whether the data amount is larger than the free capacity of the memory 35 (S44). Various specific methods of the processing of S44 can be considered. For example, the table number data and the table version number recorded in the information code C for the management apparatus 50 while accessing the management apparatus 50 from the optical information reading apparatus 10 There is a method of transmitting data and requesting the data amount of the corresponding table specified by the table number data and the table version number data. In this case, the management device 50 searches the corresponding table in response to this request, and transmits the data amount of the corresponding table to the optical information reading device 10. Then, the optical information reading device 10 compares the data amount of the corresponding table given from the management device 50 with the free space of the memory 35, and if the data amount of the corresponding table is larger than the free space of the memory 35. Proceed to Yes in S44.

  When the process proceeds to Yes in S44, the corresponding table is referred to (S47). In the present embodiment, for example, a non-volatile memory (for example, a flash memory) that constitutes a part of the memory 35 functions as a table storage unit, and other RAM or the like is used as a work memory that can be temporarily stored. It can be done. In this case, the free capacity of the non-volatile memory which is the table storage area is checked in S44, and if the data amount of the corresponding table is larger than the free capacity, the process proceeds to Yes in S44 and other storage areas such as the RAM are stored. The corresponding table is referred to by using (S47). In the process of S47, for example, the management device 50 is accessed and the table number data, table version number data, and individual data number (see FIG. 5) recorded in the information code C are transmitted to the management device 50 for management. The individual data of the corresponding table (data specified by the individual data number of the information code C) is acquired from the device 50. Based on the acquired individual data, decrypted data is generated by converting the individual data number of the information code C into individual data (S48).

  In the present embodiment, the control circuit 40 capable of executing the processing of S47 corresponds to an example of “reference means”, and refers to the corresponding table recorded in the management device 50 when the corresponding table cannot be confirmed in the memory 35. To work. In the present embodiment, “referencing the corresponding table recorded in the management apparatus” means that a part or all of the corresponding table recorded in the management apparatus 50 is temporarily used for decoding the information code C, and the information This means that the data of the corresponding table is not left in the memory 35 after the code C is decoded.

  On the other hand, when the process proceeds to No in S44, it is determined whether or not to download the corresponding table. There are various methods for the determination process. For example, when using a method for determination based on a predetermined initial setting by the user, the user specifies that the table is referred to in the initial setting, and the setting data is stored in the memory 35. If stored, the process proceeds to No in S45 and the above-described reference process is performed (S47). On the other hand, if the user specifies that the corresponding table is to be downloaded in the initial setting and this setting data is stored in the memory 35, the process proceeds to Yes in S45, and the process of downloading the corresponding table from the management device 50 is performed. Do. Note that the processing in S48 after downloading the corresponding table is the same as the processing in S48 when the process proceeds to Yes in S43. In the above description, the example in which the determination process of S45 is performed based on the initial setting has been described. However, when the process proceeds to No in S44, a display for inquiring whether or not to download the corresponding table may be performed. In this case, if the user has instructed to download the corresponding table according to the display of the inquiry, the process proceeds to Yes in S45, and if the user has instructed to refer to the corresponding table according to the display of the inquiry, in S45. You may make it progress to No.

  In the present embodiment, the control circuit 40 capable of executing the processing of S44 and S45 corresponds to an example of “mode selection means”, and the update data for the corresponding table is downloaded from the management device 50 (S46). 1 mode (that is, the mode that proceeds to Yes in S45) and the second mode that refers to the corresponding table recorded in the management device 50 (S47) (that is, the mode that proceeds to Yes in S44 or proceeds to No in S45). To function. Specifically, in S44, when the update data is downloaded from the management device 50, it is determined whether the update data can be stored in the memory 35 based on the storage area of the memory 35 (table storage means). When the update data can be stored in the memory 35, the first mode can be selected, and when the update data cannot be stored in the memory 35, the second mode is selected. Moreover, in S45, it functions so that a 1st mode and a 2nd mode may be switched based on selection operation by a user.

  Further, the control circuit 40 capable of executing the processes of S45, S46, and S47 corresponds to an example of “table update means”. When the first mode is selected by the mode selection means, the management device 50 sends information about the corresponding table. Functions to download update data. Further, the reference means (control circuit 40) that executes the process of S47 functions to refer to a corresponding table recorded in the management device 50 when the second mode is selected by the mode selection means.

(Main effects of the fourth embodiment)
In the present embodiment, there is provided reference means for referring to the corresponding table recorded in the management device 50 when the corresponding table cannot be confirmed by the corresponding table confirmation means (that is, when the corresponding table is not stored in the memory 35). Yes. In this way, when the corresponding table does not exist in the memory 35, the corresponding table recorded in the management device 50 can be referred to and used, and the reading failure due to the absence of the corresponding table can be effectively performed. Can be reduced.

  Specifically, there is provided mode selection means for switching between a first mode in which update data for the corresponding table is downloaded from the management device 50 and a second mode in which the corresponding table recorded in the management device 50 is referenced. Yes. When the first mode is selected by the mode selection unit, the table update unit downloads the update data for the corresponding table from the management device 50, and the second mode is selected by the mode selection unit. Refers to the corresponding table recorded in the management device 50 by the reference means. If it does in this way, the mode which downloads the data for update from the management apparatus 50 and the mode which refers the applicable table memorize | stored in the management apparatus 50 can be used properly, and the freedom degree in using a table increases.

  In the present embodiment, the mode switching unit switches between the first mode and the second mode based on the selection operation by the user. In this way, the user can arbitrarily use the first mode and the second mode.

  In this embodiment, the mode switching means determines whether or not the update data can be stored in the memory 35 based on the storable area of the memory 35 when the update data is downloaded from the management device 50. When the update data can be stored in the memory 35, the first mode can be selected, and when the update data cannot be stored in the memory 35, the second mode is selected. In this way, when the update data can be stored in the memory 35, the update data can be downloaded to the memory 35 and the contents of the memory 35 can be updated. Based on the table stored in the memory 35, it is possible to facilitate the reading process more quickly. On the other hand, if the update data cannot be stored in the memory 35, it can be used by referring to the table data of the management device 50 as a second best measure, and the reading failure caused by the absence of the table in the memory 35. Can be reduced.

[Fifth Embodiment]
Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a reading process performed by the reading system according to the fifth embodiment. The fifth embodiment is different from the fourth embodiment in that a part of the reading process of FIG. 12 is changed as shown in FIG. 13, and other than the reading process (related to FIGS. 1 to 7, 9 and these drawings). The configuration is the same as that of the fourth embodiment (that is, the same as that of the first embodiment). Therefore, detailed description of the same parts will be omitted, and will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 and 9 as appropriate.

  The reading process (FIG. 13) performed in the present embodiment is the same as S41 to S44 (FIG. 12) of the fourth embodiment from S51 to S54. Therefore, detailed description of these processes is omitted. In the process of FIG. 13, the data amount of the corresponding table specified by the information code C (the table having the same table number and table version number as the table number data and table version number data of the information code C) is larger than the free capacity of the memory 35. If it is also larger, the process proceeds to Yes in S54, and after deleting some of the tables stored in the memory 35, a process of downloading the corresponding table is performed (S57).

  There are various methods for deleting the table stored in the memory 35. For example, the table stored last in the memory 35 is selected and deleted as the priority deletion table with the oldest reference time. A method is mentioned. When using such a method, every time a table in the memory 35 is used in S58, the latest reference time of the used table (the time when the table was used in S58) is recorded in association with the table. (Such processing may be added to S58). Then, since the latest reference time is recorded for each table stored in the memory 35, it is possible to specify which table is the oldest reference time table when performing the process of S57. become. In this case, the control circuit 40 that performs the process of S58 corresponds to an example of “reference time recording unit”, and functions to record the time when the table stored in the memory 35 is referred to.

  In the above description, prior to downloading the corresponding table in the process of S57, the table with the oldest last referenced time is selected as the priority deletion table from the tables stored in the memory 35, and this is deleted. Although an example has been shown, the method for selecting the priority deletion table is not limited to such an example. For example, the table with the lowest use count among the tables stored in the memory 35 may be deleted as the priority deletion table.

  When the process proceeds to No in S54, a determination process is performed to determine whether or not to delete the table in the memory 35 along with downloading the corresponding table. There are various methods for this determination processing. For example, when using a method for determination based on a predetermined initial setting by the user, the user specifies that the existing table is deleted at the time of download in the initial setting, and the setting data is stored in the memory. If it is stored in 35, the process proceeds to Yes in S55, and the above-described deletion and download processing is performed (S57). On the other hand, if the user has not designated deletion of the existing table in the initial setting and this setting data is stored in the memory 35, the process proceeds to No in S55, and the existing table in the memory 35 remains. A process of downloading the corresponding table from the management device 50 is performed. Note that the processing of S58 after downloading the corresponding table in S56 or S57 is the same as S48 (FIG. 12) of the fourth embodiment.

  In the above description, the example in which the determination process of S55 is performed based on the initial setting has been described. However, when the process proceeds to No in S54, a display asking whether to delete the existing table in the memory 35 is performed. May be. In this case, if deletion of the existing table is instructed by the user according to the display of the inquiry, the process proceeds to Yes in S55, and if deletion of the existing table is not specified by the user according to the display of the inquiry, No in S55. You may make it progress to.

  In the present embodiment, the control circuit 40 capable of executing the process of S57 corresponds to an example of a “table update unit”, and is stored in the memory 35 (table storage unit) when downloading update data from the management device 50. A predetermined priority deletion table is selected and deleted from one or a plurality of tables. The control circuit 40 that executes the process of S54 corresponds to an example of a “storability determination unit”, and updates data based on the storable area of the memory 35 when downloading the update data from the management device 50. Is stored in the memory 35. The table updating means (that is, the control circuit 40) selects and deletes the priority deletion table when it is judged by the storage possibility judging means that the update data cannot be stored in the memory 35 as in S54 and S57. is doing.

(Main effects of the fifth embodiment)
In this embodiment, when downloading update data from the management device 50, a predetermined priority deletion table is selected and deleted from one or more tables stored in the memory 35 (table storage means). . In this way, it is possible to appropriately suppress an increase in the amount of information stored in the memory 35 while supplementing necessary data by downloading the update data.

  Further, the optical information reader 10 is provided with reference time recording means for recording the time when the table stored in the memory 35 is referred to, and the table update means is included in the table stored in the memory 35. The table with the oldest reference time is selected as the priority deletion table. In this way, it is possible to preferentially delete a table that is unlikely to be used and secure a storage area for a new table.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when downloading the update data from the management device 50, a storage availability determination unit is provided that determines whether the update data can be stored in the memory 35 based on the storage area of the memory 35. When the storage determination unit determines that the update data cannot be stored in the memory 35, the priority deletion table is selected and deleted. In this way, it is possible to properly organize the contents of the memory 35 at the timing of downloading the update data, and to avoid a situation where the update data cannot be stored.

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  In the above embodiment, the information code C configured as a QR code has been described as a representative example. However, as long as the data can be recorded as shown in FIG. Or a two-dimensional code).

  In the above embodiment, the table number and the table version number are assigned to each table, but only the table number may be assigned. In this case, for example, in the first embodiment, the table having the same table number as the table number specified by the information code C is “corresponding table”, and when the corresponding table is stored in the memory 35, the memory 35. When the table is read and is not stored in the memory 35, the corresponding table (the table having the same table number as the table number data recorded in the information code C) is downloaded from the management device 50. It will be.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the optical information reading device 10 is configured by a single terminal has been described. However, the optical information reading device 10 may be configured by a reading terminal and another device (for example, a computer). In this case, the CPU of the computer connected to the reading terminal is connected to the information code reading means, the reading mode confirmation means, the corresponding table confirmation means, the individual data search means, the data generation means, the table update means, the reference means described above or below. It can function as a mode selection unit, a cancellation unit, a new data confirmation unit, a storage availability determination unit, a difference information detection unit, a rearrangement unit, a usage frequency calculation unit, etc., and a computer storage unit can function as a table storage unit Can do. And the management apparatus 50 will be connected to the said computer so that communication is possible, for example.

  In the above embodiment, the management apparatus 50 and the server 60 are connected and the management apparatus 50 can download various data from the server 60. However, such a server 60 may not exist.

In the first embodiment, the corresponding table (the table having the same table number and table version number as the table head number data and table version number data recorded in the information code C) is not stored in the memory 35 (table storage unit). The configuration in which the corresponding table is downloaded from the management measure 50 in the case where the corresponding table cannot be confirmed by the corresponding table confirmation unit is illustrated. However, when the corresponding table does not exist in the memory 35, the reading process is stopped. Also good. For example, in either case of proceeding to No in FIG. 8 or proceeding to Yes in FIG. 4, reading of the information code imaged in S1 may be stopped. In this way, when the corresponding table does not exist in the memory 35 (table storage means), the processing can be quickly completed. In this case, the control circuit 40 that executes the processing of FIG. 8 corresponds to an example of “stop means”.
Further, when a part of the reading process (FIG. 12) of the fourth embodiment is changed and the process proceeds to Yes in S44 (that is, when the free capacity of the memory 35 is larger than the data amount of the corresponding table), the reading process is stopped. You may make it do. In this case, for example, the processes of S45 and S47 in FIG. 12 may be omitted, and the process may be changed to end the reading process when the process proceeds to Yes in S44.

  In any of the above-described embodiments, the control circuit 40 is caused to function as a “sorting unit”, and the individual data in the table stored in the memory 35 (table storage unit) is converted into the initial order, the number of characters order, the file size order, the file They may be rearranged in at least one of the names. Since techniques for sorting data in the order of initial letters, the number of letters, the order of file size, the order of file names, etc. are well known, detailed arrangement is omitted. In this way, it becomes easy to search each data of the table based on the rearranged order.

  In any of the above embodiments, the control circuit 40 functions as a “sorting unit” and also functions as a “usage frequency calculating unit” that calculates the usage frequency of each piece of information stored in the information code. The individual data of the table stored in the means) may be rearranged based on the use frequency of each information calculated by the use frequency calculation means. As an example, for example, the number-of-uses data (usage frequency) is recorded in association with each individual data in the table of the memory 35, and each time the individual data is used in the reading process (for example, FIG. 8). A method of counting up the number of times of use of each individual data (every time used in S10) can be used. In this case, the individual data in the table may be rearranged in order of use frequency (in order of increasing number of uses) periodically or whenever the use frequency data of each individual data is updated. If it does in this way, it will become possible to search each individual data of a table in order of use frequency, and it will become easy to search required data rapidly.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Reading system 10 ... Optical information reader 23 ... Light receiving sensor (imaging means)
35 ... Memory (table storage means)
40 ... Control circuit (information code reading means, reading mode confirmation means, corresponding table confirmation means, individual data retrieval means, data generation means, table update means, reference means, mode selection means, cancellation means, new data confirmation means, storage possibility (Determination means, difference information detection means, rearrangement means, usage frequency calculation means)
50 ... management device 52 ... storage unit (data storage means)
53. Communication unit (communication means)
C ... Information code

Claims (21)

An image pickup unit that picks up an information code, an information code read unit that reads the information code picked up by the image pickup unit, and one or a plurality of tables in which a plurality of data that can be used for reading the information code are collected are stored. An optical information reader comprising table storage means;
A management device comprising: a communication unit that communicates with the optical information reader; and a data storage unit that stores stored data that can be used to add or update the table in the table storage unit;
A reading system comprising:
The information code is
Mode identification information that can identify whether the reading mode of the information code is a table use mode that uses the table;
Usage table identification information including at least the usage table number of the usage table used for reading the information code;
An individual data number designating individual data in the usage table specified by the usage table identification information;
The information code reading means comprises
Based on the mode identification information included in the information code imaged by the imaging means, a reading mode confirmation means for confirming whether the reading mode of the imaged information code is the table use mode;
When the table use mode is confirmed by the reading mode confirmation unit, whether one or a plurality of the tables stored in the table storage unit is a corresponding table corresponding to the use table identification information. A corresponding table confirmation means for confirming whether or not
Individual data search means for searching the individual data corresponding to the individual data number from the corresponding table when the corresponding table is confirmed by the corresponding table confirmation means;
Data generation means for generating data obtained by converting the individual data number of the information code into the individual data searched by the search means;
Table updating means for updating the storage contents of the table storage means based on the accumulated data of the management device;
A reading system comprising: The information code includes the use table number and the version number as the use table identification information,
The corresponding table confirmation unit uses the table corresponding to both the use table number and the version number included in the information code as the corresponding table in one or a plurality of the tables stored in the table storage unit. The reading system according to claim 1, wherein the reading system is confirmed.   3. The reading system according to claim 2, wherein each table of a plurality of the version numbers can be stored in any one of the table numbers in the table storage unit.   The said table update means downloads the data for an update about the said table from the said accumulation | storage data accumulate | stored in the said management apparatus, when the said corresponding table is not confirmed by the said corresponding table confirmation means. The reading system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The optical information reader is
Referring means for referring to the corresponding table recorded in the management device;
Mode selection means for switching between a first mode for downloading the update data for the corresponding table from the management device and a second mode for referring to the corresponding table recorded in the management device;
With
The table update means downloads the update data for the corresponding table from the management device when the first mode is selected by the mode selection means,
5. The reading system according to claim 4, wherein the reference unit refers to the corresponding table recorded in the management device when the second mode is selected by the mode selection unit.   The reading system according to claim 5, wherein the mode switching unit switches between the first mode and the second mode based on a selection operation by a user.   The mode switching unit determines whether the update data can be stored in the table storage unit based on a storage area of the table storage unit when downloading the update data from the management device, The first mode is selected when the update data can be stored in the table storage means, and the second mode is selected when the update data cannot be stored in the table storage means. The reading system according to claim 5. In the data storage means of the management device, a plurality of the tables are classified and stored by group,
The table updating means, when the other table of the group to which the corresponding table belongs is stored in the data storage means, group data including the update data of the corresponding table and the data of the other table The reading system according to claim 4, wherein the reading system is downloaded.   The table update means downloads the update data of the corresponding table first when the other table of the group to which the corresponding table belongs is stored in the data storage means, and the information code reading means 9. The reading system according to claim 8, wherein after the reading using the table is performed, the data of the other table is downloaded.   4. The information code reading unit according to claim 1, further comprising a stopping unit that stops reading the information code when the corresponding table cannot be confirmed by the corresponding table checking unit. The reading system according to one item.   2. The optical information reading device according to claim 1, further comprising a reference unit that refers to the corresponding table recorded in the management device when the corresponding table cannot be confirmed by the corresponding table confirmation unit. Item 4. The reading system according to Item 3. Whether the management device is accessed according to a predetermined access condition, and whether or not new data in which the table stored in the table storage unit is updated exists in the stored data stored in the data storage unit New data confirmation means to confirm
The table updating means downloads update data based on the new data from the management device and updates the stored contents of the table storage means when the new data is confirmed by the new data confirmation means. The reading system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the reading system is characterized. In the data storage means of the management device, a plurality of the tables are classified and stored by group,
When the table update means stores data of another table in the group to which the table belongs stored in the table storage means in the data storage means when the management device is accessed according to the predetermined access condition The reading system according to claim 12, wherein data of the other table is downloaded.   The table update means selects and deletes a predetermined priority deletion table from one or a plurality of the tables stored in the table storage means when downloading the update data from the management device. The reading system according to any one of claims 4 to 13, wherein the reading system is characterized. The optical information reading device includes a reference time recording unit that records a time when the table stored in the table storage unit is referred to.
15. The table update unit, as the priority deletion table, selects the table with the oldest last referenced time among the tables stored in the table storage unit. Reading system. The table updating means includes
When downloading the update data from the management device, the storage device includes a storage availability determination unit that determines whether the update data can be stored in the table storage unit based on a storage area of the table storage unit,
16. The priority deletion table is selected and deleted when the storage possibility determination unit determines that the update data cannot be stored in the table storage unit. Reading system. A difference information detecting means for detecting difference information between the contents stored in the table storage means and the contents stored in the data storage means;
The reading system according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the table update unit downloads the difference information detected by the difference information detection unit as the update data. The table stored in the table storage means is a collection of data belonging to at least one of character data, symbol data, graphic data, image data, and sound data,
Sorting means for rearranging each data of the table stored in the table storage means in at least one of the following: initial order, number of letters order, file size order, file name order The reading system according to any one of claims 1 to 17. Use frequency calculation means for calculating the frequency of use of each information stored in the information code,
2. A rearrangement unit that rearranges each data of the table stored in the table storage unit based on the use frequency of each piece of information calculated by the use frequency calculation unit. The reading system according to claim 17. An imaging means for imaging the information code;
Information code reading means for reading the information code imaged by the imaging means;
Table storage means for storing one or a plurality of tables formed by collecting a plurality of data usable for reading the information code;
An optical information reader comprising:
In the information code to be read,
Mode identification information that can identify whether the reading mode of the information code is a table use mode that uses the table;
Usage table identification information including at least the usage table number of the usage table used for reading the information code;
An individual data number for designating individual data in the usage table specified by the usage table identification information;
Is provided,
The information code reading means includes
Based on the mode identification information included in the information code imaged by the imaging means, a reading mode confirmation means for confirming whether the reading mode of the imaged information code is the table use mode;
When the table use mode is confirmed by the reading mode confirmation unit, whether one or a plurality of the tables stored in the table storage unit is a corresponding table corresponding to the use table identification information. A corresponding table confirmation means for confirming whether or not
Individual data search means for searching the individual data corresponding to the individual data number from the corresponding table when the corresponding table is confirmed by the corresponding table confirmation means;
Data generation means for generating data obtained by converting the individual data number of the information code into the individual data searched by the search means;
Table updating means for updating the storage contents of the table storage means based on information from the outside;
An optical information reading apparatus comprising: An information code that is read by an optical information reading device that includes an imaging means, an information code reading means, and a table storage means that stores one or a plurality of tables in which a plurality of sets of data usable for reading is stored,
Mode identification information capable of identifying whether the reading mode of the information code is a table use mode using a table;
Usage table identification information including at least the usage table number of the usage table used for reading the information code;
An individual data number for designating individual data in the usage table specified by the usage table identification information;
With
When there is a corresponding table corresponding to the use table identification information in the table storage means of the optical information reader, the individual data corresponding to the individual data number in the corresponding table instead of the individual data number An information code characterized in that is used.

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