JP2014225244A - Information processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To combine a paper media document and an electronic media document to enhance convenience of a document as an information medium.SOLUTION: A display code generation function, a display code image integration function, a display code reading function and a display code image sheet output function are added to an information processing apparatus 52 having a manuscript reading function, a printing function, a facsimile function, a document storage function and the like. The information processing apparatus 52 generates a display code in which a document file is added as additional information to a symbol array pattern which can be recognized as a message by visual observation of a person and can be recognized by equipment provided with an optical reading function, integrates the display code with the paper media document, and outputs the paper media document integrated with the display code by printing. Also, the information processing apparatus 52 reads the display code integrated in the paper media document, and transmits the document file added to the symbol array pattern of the display code to a terminal apparatus 54, or outputs the document file by printing.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that performs document reading, storage, printing, transfer by communication, and the like.

  Bar codes and QR codes (registered trademark) are known as codes displayed on articles. A bar code is formed by arranging bars and spaces in a row in the horizontal direction, and looks like a striped pattern as a whole. In the barcode, symbols such as numbers and letters are replaced with an array pattern composed of bars and spaces and displayed.

  The QR code is formed by arranging dot patterns in a square planar space in a matrix, and as a whole, it appears as a complicated geometric pattern in which many spots are densely arranged. In the QR code, symbols such as numbers and letters are replaced with dot patterns and displayed. Since a QR code is a two-dimensional code having information in two vertical and horizontal directions, a larger amount of information is recorded in one code than a bar code which is a one-dimensional code having information only in the horizontal direction. be able to.

  Both the barcode and the QR code need to be optically read by a code reader, a multi-function mobile phone or the like that functions as a code reader, and are therefore displayed on the outer surface of the article. Therefore, when a person sees an article, the barcode or QR code displayed on the article also enters the eyes of the person. However, neither the barcode nor the QR code can be visually recognized by the person. The bar code looks just a striped pattern, and the QR code looks like a meaningless geometric pattern.

  On the other hand, the inventor of the present application provides additional information different from the message in a symbol arrangement pattern that can express a message that can be visually recognized by a person and that can be optically read by a multi-function mobile phone or the like. Invented a display code formed by adding. That is, according to the following Patent Document 1 describing the present invention, the display code is one or more of the plurality of cells in a two-dimensional space formed by arranging a plurality of cells in a lattice pattern. A single symbol pattern or a plurality of symbol patterns representing a message that can be visually recognized by a person by arranging a pattern element having a predetermined shape in each selected cell A symbol array pattern is formed, and among the plurality of cells in the two-dimensional space, in order to form the symbol array pattern, a cell in which the pattern element is disposed is turned on, and the pattern element is disposed Turned off by no grid, identified by these on, off, corresponding to the symbol arrangement pattern, recognized by equipment with optical reading function It said message is different from the additional information on the performance of binary information is added to the code (see claim 1 of Patent Document 1).

  Since the binary information in the display code is information that can be recognized by a device having an optical reading function, a person points the camera of the multifunctional mobile phone to the display code displayed on the outer surface of the article, The binary information in the display code can be optically read by photographing the display code with the camera of the multi-function mobile phone. Then, the person can acquire additional information added to the binary information. The additional information is information arbitrarily added by the creator of the display code, and is, for example, document data, audio data, image data, or the like.

  In addition, since the display code expresses a message that can be visually recognized by a person, when a person looks at the article and the display code displayed on the article enters the eye, the person The message expressed by the display code can be recognized directly on the spot.

  The message can be expressed as a word using symbols such as numerals, alphabets, “!”, “#”, “$”, “&”, Etc., as described in FIG. Therefore, a name (for example, a title of the additional information) associated with the additional information added to the binary information in the article name and the display code can be expressed as a message.

  In this way, the function of being able to express a message that can be recognized by human eyes while being recognizable by a device equipped with an optical reading function is a function unique to a display code that is neither in a barcode nor in a QR code. It is.

Japanese Patent No. 4629788

  By the way, conventionally, a document is a document in which characters and symbols are written on paper (paper media document). In recent years, characters and symbols are recorded electronically or magnetically on media other than paper and read by a computer. What has become possible (electronic media documents) has become a kind of document. And today, people deal with both paper and electronic media documents on a daily basis.

  The advantages and disadvantages of these two types of documents are in contrast. That is, since the paper media document is recorded in a state where characters, symbols, and the like can be directly read on paper, people can quickly read the contents of the document. However, when a large amount of information is recorded on a paper media document, the paper surface becomes large, the number of papers increases, the volume and weight increase, and storage becomes difficult.

  On the other hand, even if there is a lot of information to be recorded, the electronic media document is only slightly increased in data size, and can be easily stored by storing it as a document file in a storage device such as a hard disk. However, if an electronic media document is read from a storage device and the read electronic media document is not displayed on a computer monitor, the characters and symbols recorded in the document cannot be read by humans. It takes time and effort to read the contents.

  When people handle documents, it would be convenient if they could be combined to take advantage of the advantages of both paper media documents and electronic media documents. For example, when a product manufacturer sells a product to a consumer, when the product manual is attached to the product and delivered to the consumer, the product's handling precautions and product usage It is convenient to use a short summary document as a paper media document and a long document that explains in detail how to use the product as an electronic media document. In this case, a paper media document that summarizes how to use the product is combined with an electronic media document that explains in detail how to use the product, and the consumer uses the product from the document that summarizes how to use the product. It is desirable to be able to smoothly read a document that has been described in detail.

  However, it is difficult to combine paper media documents and electronic media documents. When both of two documents are electronic media documents, a method of forming a link between documents using hypertext is known as a method for combining the two documents. It cannot be applied to electronic media documents.

  Further, as a method of combining a paper media document and an electronic media document, a QR code is printed on the paper media document, and the QR code is read by a code reader, whereby, for example, a web page of a server storing the electronic media document is stored. A method of acquiring a URL, inputting the URL into a web browser, and downloading an electronic media document from a web page is conceivable.

  However, the QR code is a meaningless geometric pattern that cannot be recognized by human eyes. For this reason, when a QR code is printed on a paper media document, the document becomes difficult to see and the design is deteriorated. In addition, since it seems that the QR code cannot be recognized by human eyes, the consumer can view the contents of the electronic media document associated with the paper media document through the QR code even when looking at the QR code itself. I can't associate it at all. As a result, consumers cannot smoothly read from a document that summarizes how to use the product to a document that explains in detail how to use the product.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, for example, and an object of the present invention is to combine a paper media document and an electronic media document, and to improve the convenience of the document as an information transmission medium. It is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of

  In order to solve the above problems, a first information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a document data input unit that inputs document data, a storage unit that stores document data input by the document data input unit, and the document A plurality of cells in a two-dimensional space formed by arranging a plurality of cells in a grid pattern, and a printing unit that prints document data input by a data input unit or document data stored in the storage unit on paper. A single symbol pattern representing a message that can be visually recognized by a person by selecting one or more cells from among the cells and placing a pattern element having a predetermined shape in each selected cell A symbol array pattern composed of a plurality of symbol patterns is formed, and the symbol array pattern is formed among the plurality of cells in the two-dimensional space. The cell in which the pattern element is arranged is turned on, the cell in which the pattern element is not arranged is turned off, specified by these on and off, corresponding to the symbol arrangement pattern, and provided with an optical reading function A display code generation unit that generates a display code in which additional information different from the message is added to binary information that can be recognized by a device, the display code generation unit including a message input unit that inputs a message, and the message A symbol arrangement pattern generation unit for generating a symbol arrangement pattern corresponding to a character string representing a message input by the input unit; binary information corresponding to the symbol arrangement pattern generated by the symbol arrangement pattern generation unit; and the document data Correspondence information generation that generates correspondence information indicating the correspondence with the document data input by the input unit. And the document data input by the document data input unit is stored in the storage unit as the additional information, and the correspondence information generated by the correspondence information generation unit is stored in the storage unit. A storage control unit and a first print control unit that prints the symbol arrangement pattern generated by the symbol arrangement pattern generation unit on a sheet by the printing unit are provided.

  According to a second information processing apparatus of the present invention, in the first information processing apparatus of the present invention described above, a symbol arrangement pattern reading unit that reads a symbol arrangement pattern printed on paper and the symbol arrangement pattern reading unit. The binary information corresponding to the read symbol arrangement pattern is identified, the document data corresponding to the identified binary information is identified by referring to the correspondence information stored in the storage unit, and the identified A document data reading unit that reads document data from the storage unit, and a second print control unit that prints the document data read by the document data reading unit on a sheet by the printing unit. To do.

  Further, the third information processing apparatus of the present invention is the above-described second information processing apparatus of the present invention, in which the document data input by the document data input unit and the correspondence relationship generated by the correspondence information generation unit A first transmission unit that transmits information to an external device that is communicably connected to the information processing device, and the document data and correspondence information transmitted from the first transmission unit are stored in the external device. It is characterized by that.

  The fourth information processing apparatus of the present invention specifies binary information corresponding to the symbol arrangement pattern read by the symbol arrangement pattern reading unit in the third information processing apparatus of the present invention described above, and A second transmitter that transmits the specified binary information to the external device; and the document data corresponding to the binary information transmitted from the second transmitter by the external device is stored in the external device. The second print control unit is identified by referring to the correspondence relationship information, and includes a receiving unit that receives the transmitted document data when the specified document data is transmitted to the information processing apparatus. The document data received by the receiving unit is printed on a sheet by the printing unit.

  The fifth information processing apparatus of the present invention transmits the document data read by the document data reading unit to the terminal device in any of the second to fourth information processing apparatuses of the present invention described above. A third transmitting unit is provided.

  According to a sixth information processing apparatus of the present invention, the fourth information processing apparatus of the present invention described above further includes a fourth transmission unit that transmits the document data received by the reception unit to the terminal device. It is characterized by that.

  The seventh information processing apparatus of the present invention is used as a constituent element of the symbol arrangement pattern in the display code in any of the first to sixth information processing apparatuses of the present invention described above, and is at least 0-9. A symbol pattern set that is a collection of a plurality of symbol patterns respectively representing characters A to Z or a to z is stored in the storage unit, and the symbol array pattern generation unit receives the message input by the message input unit. The symbol arrangement pattern is generated by selecting a symbol pattern corresponding to each character to be represented from the symbol pattern set.

  According to an eighth information processing apparatus of the present invention, the display code image including the image of the symbol arrangement pattern is stored in the storage unit in any of the first to seventh information processing apparatuses of the present invention described above. A second storage control unit and a plurality of display code images stored in the storage unit by the second storage control unit are read from the storage unit, and the display code is arranged by arranging the read display code images. A display code image array generation unit that generates an image array; and a third print control unit that prints the display code image array generated by the display code image array generation unit on a sheet by the printing unit. Features.

  According to the present invention, a paper media document and an electronic media document can be combined, and the convenience of a document as an information transmission medium can be improved.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the product description on which the display code image was printed. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure on the external appearance of a display code. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the symbol pattern in a display code. It is explanatory drawing which shows the symbol pattern in a display code. It is explanatory drawing which shows the guide pattern and extended pattern in a display code. It is explanatory drawing which shows the arrangement | sequence information pattern in a display code. It is explanatory drawing which shows the identification information pattern in a display code. It is explanatory drawing which shows the combination information in a display code. It is explanatory drawing which shows the information processing system containing the information processing apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation panel part in the information processing apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the touch operation screen in the information processing apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the monitor part in the information processing apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the information processing apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the display code production | generation process and document preservation | save process in the information processing apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the display code image incorporation process in the information processing apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the display code reading process and document output process in the information processing apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the display code image sheet production | generation / output process in the information processing apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the document list using the display code image sheet produced | generated by the information processing apparatus by embodiment of this invention. FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where the document list illustrated in FIG. 18 is bound to a binder. It is explanatory drawing which shows the document card using the display code image sheet produced | generated by the information processing apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the facsimile letter using the display code image sheet produced | generated by the information processing apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other usage example of a display code image sheet. It is explanatory drawing which shows the further another usage example of a display code image sheet.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, description will be made on the point that the combination of the paper media document and the electronic media document can be realized by the display code 1 (see FIG. 2).

  In addition, "document" here means letter, memo, notebook, notice, report, invoice, receipt, contract, certificate, manual, paper, article, novel, catalog, brochure, manual, advertisement Widely includes characters, symbols, etc., such as photographs and paintings. In addition, for convenience of explanation, a document created by the user first to see is referred to as a “primary document”, and is created by the user who has seen the primary document as required. This document is called “secondary document”.

  FIG. 1 shows a product description as an example of a primary document. Product description 2 in FIG. 1 is a paper media document. The product description 2 is, for example, A4 size paper. The product manual 2 is printed with a text 3 describing precautions for handling the product (camera in this example) and a text 4 summarizing the outline of how to use the product. Further, a display code image 5 of the display code 1 having a symbol arrangement pattern 13 (see FIG. 2) representing a message “Manual” is printed on the product description 2.

  The product description 2 is delivered to the person who purchased the product together with the product. The purchaser can quickly understand the handling precautions and the rough usage of the product by directly reading the texts 3 and 4 of the product manual 2 with the eyes.

  Further, when it is desired to know more detailed usage of the product, the purchaser can obtain an operation manual from the information processing apparatus 52 (see FIG. 9). This operation manual is an example of a secondary document. The operation manual is an electronic media document, specifically a document file.

  An information processing device 52 is provided in the purchaser's office or home. The information processing apparatus 52 is a multifunction machine to which the present invention is applied, and has a document reading function, a printing function, a copy function, a facsimile function, a document storage function, and the like, as in a normal multifunction machine. Further, as will be described later, the information processing apparatus 52 has a display code generation function, a display code image incorporation function, a display code reading function, and a display code image sheet output function. Further, the information processing apparatus 52 is connected to an external server 53 via the Internet so as to be able to communicate with each other, and has a function of transferring a document file to the server 53 or receiving a document file transferred from the server 53. Yes.

  In acquiring the operation manual document file from the information processing apparatus 52, the purchaser processes the display code image 5 printed on the product manual 2 in the same manner as when copying a document with a normal copying machine. Let the device 52 read. That is, the purchaser places the product manual 2 on the platen glass of the information processing device 52 and presses a display code reading start button provided on the information processing device 52. Thereby, in the information processing apparatus 52, a document reading unit 62 (for example, a scanner) provided under the platen glass optically reads the display code image 5 printed on the product manual 2. The symbol binary information 43 (see FIG. 8) corresponding to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 included in the display code image 5 has a corresponding relationship with the operation manual document file, and this document file is stored in the server 53. . The information processing device 52 analyzes the read display code image 5 and identifies the document file based on the symbol arrangement pattern 13 and the like included in the display code image 5. Subsequently, the information processing apparatus 52 communicates with the server 53 and receives the document file from the server 53. Subsequently, the information processing apparatus 52 displays the contents of the operation manual document file received from the server 53 on the monitor unit 64 provided in the information processing apparatus 52 and allows the purchaser to confirm the contents of the operation manual. The purchaser confirms the operation manual, and selects whether to obtain the operation manual document file as it is (as electronic data) or to obtain a printout of the operation manual document file. As a result, the information processing device 52 transmits the operation manual document file to the terminal device 54 such as a personal computer connected to the information processing device 52 or prints the operation manual document file according to the purchaser's selection. Output.

  The operation manual describes in detail how to use all the functions of the product. For this reason, the amount of sentences described in the operation manual is enormous, and therefore the printed matter obtained by printing out the entire operation manual has an enormous number of pages. If the operation manual is uniformly bundled with the product and delivered to the purchaser, the purchaser is forced to store the bulky print immediately after purchasing the product. On the other hand, as described above, according to the method of outputting the operation manual document file or the printed version of the operation manual from the information processing device 52 only when the purchaser needs, the purchaser purchases the product. Immediately afterwards, you will not be forced to store bulky prints.

  In this way, the display code 1 makes it possible to combine the product manual 2 that is a paper media document and the operation manual that is an electronic media document. This makes it possible to take advantage of both the advantages of a paper media document that allows the recorded contents to be read quickly and the advantage of the electronic media document that it is easy to store, or the paper media document that is difficult to store. The disadvantages and the disadvantages of electronic media documents that it takes time and effort to read the recorded contents can be compensated for each other, and the convenience of the document as an information transmission medium can be enhanced.

  Further, since the display code 1 is a code having a symbol arrangement pattern 13 representing a message that can be visually recognized by a person, even if the display code 1 is printed on a paper media document, the document is not difficult to see. And the design will not get worse.

  Further, since the symbol arrangement pattern 13 represents a message that can be visually recognized by a person, the purchaser sees the display code 1 and is associated with the paper media document through the display code 1. It is possible to associate the existence and contents of electronic media documents. Specifically, the purchaser can associate the existence of the operation manual and the acquisition method thereof by looking at the symbol arrangement pattern 13 “Manual” in the display code image 5. As a result, the purchaser can acquire the operation manual without hesitation, and can smoothly read from the product manual 2 to the operation manual.

  Hereinafter, first, the display code 1 will be described. Next, the information processing apparatus 52 that is an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(Appearance structure of display code)
FIG. 2 shows the external structure of the display code. In FIG. 2, the display code 1 has additional information 45 (see FIG. 8) that is different from the message in a symbol arrangement pattern that can be visually recognized by a person and recognized by a device having an optical reading function. ) Is a code formed by adding. More specifically, the display code 1 forms a code space 11 by arranging a plurality of cells 12 in a lattice pattern, and one or more cells 12 are selected from the plurality of cells 12 in the code space 11, By arranging a pattern element 15 having a predetermined shape in each of the selected cells 12, a symbol array pattern 13 representing a message that can be visually recognized by a person is formed, and a plurality of symbols in the code space 11 are formed. In order to form the symbol arrangement pattern 13, the grid 15 in which the pattern elements 15 are arranged is turned on, and the grid 12 in which the pattern elements 15 are not arranged is turned off. This is a code in which the additional information 45 different from the message is added to the symbol binary information which is binary information.

  That is, the code space 11 is a two-dimensional space having a rectangular outer shape extending in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. In the code space 11, a plurality of grids 12 each having a square shape, for example, are laid in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction so as to form a lattice.

  In addition, a symbol arrangement pattern 13 is arranged in the central portion of the code space 11. The symbol arrangement pattern 13 is formed by a single symbol pattern 14 or an arrangement of a plurality of symbol patterns 14, and expresses a message (for example, “Manual”) that can be visually recognized by a person. In the code space 11, for example, five rows in which a maximum of twelve symbol patterns 14 can be arranged can be provided, whereby a symbol arrangement pattern 13 composed of a maximum of 60 symbol patterns 14 can be formed. In forming the display code 1, the number of the symbol patterns 14 arranged in the code space 11 may be one. Further, the maximum number of symbol patterns 14 that can be arranged in the code space 11 to form the symbol arrangement pattern 13, the maximum number per row, and the number of rows are not limited.

  On the other hand, a control pattern for controlling a device having a display code reading function (hereinafter referred to as a “display code reading device”) such as an information processing device 52 to be described later is arranged at the peripheral portion of the code space 11. The The control patterns include guide patterns 21, 22, 23, an extended pattern 24, an array information pattern 25, and an identification information pattern 26. The control pattern does not represent a message that can be recognized by human eyes.

  The display code image 5 is an image of the symbol arrangement pattern 13 and the control patterns (21 to 26) arranged in the code space 11, and as described above, this is a paper media document (for example, the product description in FIG. 1). Printed on the book 2).

(Symbol pattern structure and type)
FIG. 3 shows the structure of the symbol pattern 14 that forms the symbol arrangement pattern 13 in the display code 1. FIG. 4 shows various specific examples of the symbol pattern 14. As shown in FIG. 3, each symbol pattern 14 forming the symbol array pattern 13 has a symbol pattern area 31 consisting of a total of 65 cells 12 in which 13 cells 12 are arranged in the vertical direction and five cells are arranged in the horizontal direction. Formed. For the symbol pattern 14, one or a plurality of cells 12 are selected from among the 65 cells 12 in the symbol pattern region 31 so as to form the symbol pattern 14, and the pattern element 15 is arranged in each selected cell 12. It is formed by doing. Each pattern element 15 has substantially the same shape and the same size as the grid 12.

  As shown in FIG. 4, by appropriately arranging the pattern elements 15 in the 65 cells 12 forming the symbol pattern region 31, numbers (0 to 9), alphabets (A to Z, a to z), and other Form symbol patterns 14 representing symbols ("!", "" "," # "," $ ","% "," & "," '"," (), "" ", ...), respectively. Can do. Thus, according to the display code 1, all symbols (JIS codes 32 to 126) that can be directly input and displayed on the monitor by typing the keyboard of the personal computer are represented by the symbol pattern 14. it can. Further, symbols other than these can be represented by the symbol pattern 14.

  4 is stored in the storage unit 92 of the information processing apparatus 52 as the symbol pattern set 47, for example.

(Guide pattern / Extended pattern)
FIG. 5 shows guide patterns 21, 22, 23 and an extended pattern 24. The guide patterns 21, 22, and 23 are obtained when the display code reading device reads the symbol arrangement pattern 13, the reading unit of the display code reading device (for example, the original reading unit 62 of the information processing device 52 described later), the symbol arrangement pattern 13, and the like. This is a pattern for correcting the misalignment of the display code, or for the reading unit of the display code reading device to recognize the reading direction of the symbol array pattern 13. As shown in FIG. 5A, the guide pattern 21 includes a single or a plurality of cells 12 so as to form the guide pattern 21 out of a plurality of cells 12 arranged in a predetermined area in the code space 11. It is formed by selecting and arranging a pattern element 15 in each selected cell 12. The guide patterns 22 and 23 are formed in the same manner as the guide pattern 21. As shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, each of the guide patterns 21, 22, and 23 has a unique mode (shape). That is, the modes of the guide patterns 21, 22, and 23 are different from each other, are different from the modes of any control pattern other than the guide patterns 21, 22, and 23, and are also different from the modes of any of the symbol patterns 14. . As shown in FIG. 2, the guide pattern 21 is arranged at the upper left corner of the code space 11, the guide pattern 22 is arranged at the upper right corner of the code space 11, and the guide pattern 23 is the lower right corner of the code space 11. Is arranged.

  When the outer shape of the region where the symbol arrangement pattern 13 is arranged is a rectangle or a square, the outer shape of the region can be grasped if the positions of three vertices out of the four vertices of the region are known. Therefore, the outer shape of the symbol arrangement pattern 13 can be recognized by the display code reading device 4 by the guide patterns 21, 22, and 23.

  The straight line connecting the guide pattern 21 and the guide pattern 22 is parallel to the horizontal direction of the symbol array pattern 13. Accordingly, the guide patterns 21 and 22 allow the reading unit of the display code reading device to recognize the horizontal reading direction of the symbol arrangement pattern 13. The straight line connecting the guide pattern 22 and the guide pattern 23 is parallel to the vertical direction of the symbol array pattern 13. Therefore, the guide patterns 22 and 23 allow the reading unit of the display code reading apparatus to recognize the vertical reading direction of the symbol arrangement pattern 13.

  Further, the guide pattern 21 is located on the leftmost side of the symbol arrangement pattern 13. Therefore, the reading start position of the symbol arrangement pattern 13 can be recognized by the reading unit of the display code reading device by the guide pattern 21. The guide patterns 22 and 23 are located on the rightmost side of the symbol arrangement pattern 13. Therefore, the reading end position of the symbol arrangement pattern 13 can be recognized by the reading unit of the display code reading device by the guide pattern 22 or the guide pattern 23. Further, when the number of rows of the symbol array pattern 13 is two or more, the first row of the symbol array pattern 13 can be recognized by the reading unit of the display code reading device by the guide pattern 21 or the guide pattern 22. The guide pattern 23 allows the reading unit of the display code reading device to recognize the last row of the symbol arrangement pattern 13. In addition, the aspect (shape) of the guide patterns 21, 22, and 23 is not limited to the aspect shown to FIG. 5 (a), (b), (c).

  On the other hand, the extended pattern 24 has a unique aspect as shown in FIG. 5D, for example, and is arranged in the lower left corner of the code space 11 as shown in FIG. The extended pattern 24 can be given a unique function or assigned unique information using its unique aspect or unique position in the code space 11. For example, the aspect of the extended pattern 24 may be changed for each article to which the display code 1 is attached, and different information may be assigned to each of the plurality of extended patterns 24 having different forms for each article to which the display code 1 is attached. . Further, for example, by utilizing the fact that the extended pattern 24 is arranged at the lower right corner of the code space 11, the positional deviation correction or the reading direction in the reading unit of the display code reading device using the guide patterns 21, 22, and 23 is performed. The extended pattern 24 may be provided with a function for assisting the recognition.

(Sequence information pattern)
FIG. 6 shows an array information pattern 25. The arrangement information pattern 25 is a pattern indicating the number of digits and the number of lines of the arrangement of the symbol pattern 14 forming the symbol arrangement pattern 13 in the display code 1. The array information pattern 25 is arranged at the center of the upper end of the code space 11 (see FIG. 2). The array information pattern 25 indicates 8-bit binary information indicating the number of digits and the number of rows of the symbol pattern 14 forming the symbol array pattern 13 in the eight cells 12 continuously arranged in the horizontal direction. It is formed by disposing the pattern element 15 on the surface. For example, among 8-bit binary information, the lower 4 bits represent the number of digits, and the upper 4 bits represent the number of rows.

  For example, the symbol arrangement pattern 13 shown in FIG. 2 is obtained by arranging six symbol patterns 14 each representing “M”, “a”, “n”, “u”, “a”, “l” in one line. It is. Therefore, the number of digits of this symbol arrangement pattern 13 is 6, and the number of rows is 1. In this case, the 8-bit binary information indicated by the array information pattern 25 is “00010110”, and the array information pattern 25 corresponding to this is as shown in FIG.

  The arrangement and mode of the array information pattern 25 are not limited to the position shown in FIG. 2 and the mode shown in FIG. For example, the array information pattern 25 may be arranged at the lower end center, the left end center, or the right end center of the code space 11. Further, for example, the array information pattern 25 may be constituted by 16 cells 12 arranged continuously in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, and may indicate 16-bit binary information. The total number (number of symbols) of the symbol patterns 14 forming the symbol arrangement pattern 13 may be indicated.

(Identification information pattern)
FIG. 7 shows the identification information pattern 26. The identification information pattern 26 is a pattern for identifying the additional information 45 added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 in the display code 1. As will be described later, a plurality of additional information 45 different from each other can be added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 in the display code 1. When a plurality of additional information 45 is added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13, the information processing device 52 is based on the identification information pattern 26 and one additional information 45 out of the plurality of additional information 45 added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13. Can be specified. The identification information pattern 26 is arranged at the center of the lower end of the code space 11 (see FIG. 2). The identification information pattern 26 indicates 8-bit binary information representing the identification number (identification information 44) of the additional information 45 added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 in the eight cells 12 arranged in the horizontal direction continuously. In this way, the pattern elements 15 are arranged.

  The arrangement and mode of the identification information pattern 26 are not limited to the position illustrated in FIG. 2 and the mode illustrated in FIG. For example, the identification information pattern 26 may be arranged at the center of the upper end, the center of the left end, or the center of the right end of the code space 11. Further, for example, the identification information pattern 25 may be configured by 16 cells 12 arranged in a row in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, and may indicate 16-bit binary information.

(Combination information)
FIG. 8 shows combination information in the display code 1. The combination information 41 is mainly information (correspondence information) indicating the correspondence between the symbol arrangement pattern 13 in the display code 1 and the additional information 45 added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13. The combination information 41 is generated in the process of generating the display code 1 by a device having a display code generation function (hereinafter referred to as “display code generation device”) such as the information processing device 52 described later, and the display code The information is stored in a storage unit of the reading device or a storage unit of an external device that is communicably connected to the display code reading device. When the display code reading device reads the symbol arrangement pattern 13 and prints out or transmits the additional information 45 added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13, the read symbol arrangement pattern 13 is read with reference to the combination information 41. The additional information 45 added to is specified.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the combination information 41 is composed of message text information 42, symbol binary information 43, identification information 44, and additional information 45 (or additional information specifying information 46).

  The message text information 42 is a text representation of the message represented by the symbol arrangement pattern 13 in the display code 1. For example, since the message expressed by the symbol arrangement pattern 13 in the display code 1 shown in FIG. 2 is “Manual”, the message text information 42 is “Manual” as shown in FIG.

  The symbol binary information 43 is binary information obtained by binarizing the symbol arrangement pattern 13 in the display code 1. That is, the symbol binary information 43 turns on the cell 12 in which the pattern elements 15 are arranged to form the symbol arrangement pattern 13 among the plurality of cells 12 in the code space 11, and the pattern elements 15 are not arranged. The binary information is specified by turning the cell 12 off and turning it on and off.

  The symbol binary information 43 generates binary information obtained by binarizing the individual symbol patterns 14 forming the symbol arrangement pattern 13, and connects these binary information according to the arrangement order of the symbol patterns 14 in the symbol arrangement pattern 13. To generate. The binary information of each symbol pattern 14 is expressed as (1) when the position of each cell 12 in the symbol pattern area 31 shown in FIG. 3 is expressed as (x, y) using the digit number x and the row number y. , 1), (1,2), (1,3), (1,4), (1,5), (1,6), (1,7), (1,8), (1,9 ), (1,10), (1,11), (1,12), (1,13), (2,1), (2,2), (2,3), (2,4), ..., (2, 13), (3, 1), ..., (3, 13), (4, 1), ..., (4, 13), (5, 1), ... (5, 13) Then, “1” and “0” are assigned to ON and OFF of each cell 12, respectively. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the binary information of the symbol pattern 14 representing “M” is “1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0. , 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 , 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0 , ”.

  Further, the symbol binary information 43 shown in FIG. 8 corresponds to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 representing “Manual” as shown in FIG. The method for binarizing the symbol arrangement pattern 13 is not limited to the method described above.

  On the other hand, the identification information 44 is a number for identifying each additional information 45 when a plurality of additional information 45 is added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13. The identification information 44 is a unique number different from each other. In the example shown in FIG. 8, since the identification information pattern 26 representing the identification information 44 is formed as a pattern representing 8-bit binary information, the identification information 44 is shown as binary information.

  The additional information 45 is information added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 in the display code 1. Strictly speaking in the light of the structure of the combination information 41, the additional information 45 is information combined with the symbol binary information 43 (or message text information 42) in the display code 1. A plurality of additional information 45 can be added to one symbol arrangement pattern 13.

  The additional information 45 may be added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 by including all of the additional information 45 in the combination information, or additional information specifying information 46 that can specify the additional information 45 is included in the combination information. Thus, the additional information 45 may be added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13. For example, when the additional information 45 is a document file, the document file itself may be included in the combination information, or only the file name of the document file may be included in the combination information.

  The additional information 45 may be text data, document data, audio data, still image data, moving image data, a computer program, or the like.

(Configuration of information processing device)
FIG. 9 shows an information processing system 51 including an information processing apparatus 52 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 10 and 11 show an operation panel unit of the information processing system 51. FIG. 12 shows the monitor unit of the information processing apparatus 52.

  In FIG. 9, the information processing system 51 includes an information processing device 52, a server 53, and a terminal device 54. The information processing device 52 and the terminal device 54 are connected to be communicable with each other by a local area network (LAN) 56 including a router 55, for example. The local area network 56 is connected to the Internet 58 via a modem 57, for example, and the information processing device 52 and the terminal device 54 are respectively connected to the server 53 so as to be able to communicate with each other. A plurality of terminal devices 54 can be connected to the local area network 56.

  The terminal device 54 is a personal computer, for example. The server 53 is a server computer that can be used for providing services by cloud computing, for example. The server 53 is a specific example of an external device.

  The information processing device 52 is, for example, a multifunction machine. The information processing apparatus 52 has a document reading function, a printing function, a copy function, a facsimile function, a document file storage function, and the like. Further, the information processing apparatus 52 has a display code generation function, a display code image printing function, a display code reading function, and a display code image sheet output function. The information processing apparatus 52 has a function of transferring document files to and from the server 53.

  The information processing device 52 includes an automatic document feeder (sheet feeder) 61, a platen glass (not shown), a document reading unit 62, an operation panel unit 63, a monitor unit 64, a printing unit 65, and a sheet storage unit (sheet feeding cassette). 66, a paper discharge tray 67, and the like. The automatic document feeder 61 is a device that automatically conveys a document placed on the document carry-in section 61A onto the platen glass. The platen glass is a table on which a document to be read is placed. The document reading unit 62 is a device that optically reads a document placed on a platen glass, and is a line scanner, for example.

  The operation panel unit 63 is a device for the user to operate the information processing device 52. The operation panel 63 is provided with function buttons as shown in FIG. The function buttons include a print button 71, a copy button 72, a facsimile button 73, a document scan button 74, a display code generation / document storage button 75, a display code image incorporation button 76, a display code reading / document output button 77, and the like. . Further, the operation panel unit 63 is provided with a numeric keypad 78, a start button 79, a power button 80, an output button 84 for a display code image sheet, and the like. The operation panel unit 63 is provided with a touch operation screen 81. The touch operation screen 81 is formed, for example, by overlapping a liquid crystal display device and a touch panel. The touch operation screen 81 displays a keyboard 82 for inputting characters, numbers, symbols, etc., as shown in FIG. The touch operation screen 81 displays characters, numbers, symbols, symbol arrangement patterns, and the like that are input by the user by operating the keyboard 82.

  The monitor unit 64 is a device for the user to check the processing of the information processing device 52. The monitor unit 64 is formed, for example, by overlapping a liquid crystal display device and a touch panel. As shown in FIG. 12, when the display code image 5 is incorporated into a primary document that is a paper media document, a primary document 83 is displayed on the monitor unit 64. The user can check the position on the primary document 83 of the display code image 5 by looking at the monitor unit 64. Further, when outputting the document file of the secondary document, the contents of the document file are displayed on the monitor unit 64. The user can confirm the contents of the document file before printing the document file.

  The printing unit 65 is a device that prints out document data. The printing unit 65 includes document data of a document read by the document reading unit 62, document data stored in the storage unit 92 of the information processing device 52, document data transmitted from the terminal device 54 via the local area network 56, Document data transmitted from the server 53 via the Internet can be printed out. The printing unit 65 can print out a paper media document in which a display code image is incorporated, a display code image sheet, or the like. The paper storage unit 66 is a mechanism for storing paper on which a document is printed. The paper discharge tray 67 is a portion where paper on which a document is printed is discharged.

  FIG. 13 shows an electrical configuration of the information processing apparatus 52. As shown in FIG. 13, the information processing apparatus 52 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 91, a storage unit 92, a facsimile communication unit 93, an Internet communication unit 94, and a LAN communication unit 95. These are connected to each other via a bus. The automatic document feeder 61, the document reading unit 62, the operation panel unit 63, the monitor unit 64, and the printing unit 65 are connected to the bus.

  The CPU 91 functions as a display code generation unit 96, a display code image incorporation unit 97, a display code reading unit 98, and a display code image sheet generation unit 99 by executing a control program stored in the storage unit 92. The display code generation unit 96 performs processing related to display code generation and document file storage. The display code image incorporation unit 97 performs processing related to the incorporation of the display code image into the paper media document. The display code reading unit 98 performs processing relating to reading of the display code and output of the document file. The display code image sheet generation unit 99 performs processing related to generation and output of a display code image sheet. Details of the display code generation unit 96, the display code image incorporation unit 97, the display code reading unit 98, and the display code image sheet generation unit 99 will be described later. In addition, the CPU 91 performs automatic document feeder 61, document reading, in order to realize various functions such as document reading, copying, printing, facsimile communication, communication with the terminal device 54, communication with the server 53, etc. in the information processing device 52. Control unit 62, operation panel unit 63, monitor unit 64, printing unit 65, storage unit 92, facsimile communication unit 93, Internet communication unit 94, and LAN communication unit 95.

  The storage unit 92 is, for example, a hard disk device, and stores a symbol pattern set 47, combination information 41, a document file 48, display code image data 49, and the like in addition to the control program described above.

  The Internet communication unit 94 is a communication circuit that performs control for performing communication via the Internet 58. The LAN communication unit 95 is a communication circuit for performing communication via the local area network 56. The facsimile communication unit 93 is a communication circuit for controlling facsimile transmission / reception.

(Display code generation / document file saving)
FIG. 14 shows display code generation processing and document storage processing in the information processing apparatus 52. A user who wants to save a document (for example, an operation manual for a product) in the information processing apparatus 52 or the server 53 first transfers the document to the information processing apparatus 52 by one of the following two methods. Input (step S1). That is, when the document to be stored is a paper media document, the user causes the information processing apparatus 52 to optically read the document. In order to cause the information processing apparatus 52 to read the document, the user presses the display code generation / document storage button 75 of the operation panel unit 10, places the document on the platen glass (or the paper carry-in unit 61 </ b> A), and presses the start button 79. Push. In response to this, the document reading unit 62 optically reads the document. Subsequently, the CPU 91 generates a document file that is a collection of document data corresponding to the document from the data read by the document reading unit 62. On the other hand, when the document to be stored is an electronic media document, that is, a document file, the user transmits the document file from the terminal device 54 (see FIG. 9) to the information processing device 52. As a result, the CPU 91 receives the document file via the LAN communication unit 95.

  Subsequently, the user operates the operation panel unit 63 to display a message (for example, “Manual”), a file name of the document to be saved (for example, “OperationsManual.pdf”), and a document name (for example, “operation manual”). Is input (step S2). For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the user operates the keyboard 82 in the touch operation screen 81 to input text representing a message, text representing a file name, and text representing a document name.

  When the input of the message, file name, and document name is completed, the display code generation unit 96 of the CPU 91 generates a symbol arrangement pattern 13 (see FIG. 2) representing the message (step S3). In generating the symbol arrangement pattern 13 representing the message, the display code generating unit 96 refers to the symbol pattern set 47 (see FIG. 4) stored in the storage unit 92 and corresponds to the text representing the input message. The pattern 14 is selected from the symbol pattern set 47, and the selected symbol pattern 14 is arranged. Subsequently, the display code generation unit 96 displays the generated symbol arrangement pattern 13 on the touch operation screen 81 as shown in FIG.

  Subsequently, the display code generation unit 96 generates the identification information pattern 26 (step S4). When another display code 1 having the same symbol arrangement pattern 13 exists, the display code generation unit 96 generates an identification information pattern 26 different from the identification information pattern 26 included in the other display code 1. Further, the display code generation unit 96 generates a necessary control pattern other than the identification information pattern 26.

  Subsequently, the display code generation unit 96 generates the display code image 5 (step S5). In generating the display code image 5, the display code generation unit 96 determines the size of the code space 11 according to the number of digits and the number of lines of the symbol pattern 14 constituting the symbol array pattern 13 generated in step S3. The symbol arrangement pattern 13 is arranged in the central portion of the code space 11. Subsequently, the display code generation unit 96 arranges the guide patterns 21 to 23 and the extension patterns 24 generated in advance at the four corners of the code space 11. Subsequently, the display code generation unit 96 generates an array information pattern 25 indicating the number of digits and the number of rows of the symbol pattern 14 constituting the symbol array pattern 13, and arranges this in the center of the upper end of the code space 11. . Subsequently, the display code generation unit 96 arranges the identification information pattern 26 at the center of the lower end of the code space 11.

  Subsequently, the display code generation unit 96 includes message text information 42, which is a text representing the message input in step S2, symbol binary information 43 corresponding to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 generated in step S3, and the identification generated in step S4. The combination information 41 including the identification information 44 corresponding to the information pattern 26 and the additional information specifying information 46 which is the file name input in step S2 is formed (step S6).

  Subsequently, the user selects a location for storing the document file of the document. That is, the document file can be stored in either the storage unit 92 or the server 53 of the information processing apparatus 52 according to the user's selection.

  When the user selects the storage unit 92 of the information processing device 52 as the storage location (step S7: NO), the display code generation unit 96 stores the combination information 41 and the document file in the storage unit 92 of the information processing device 52. Store (step S8). On the other hand, when the user selects the server 53 as the storage location (step S7: YES), the display code generation unit 96 transmits the combination information 41 and the document file to the server 53 (step S9). The transmitted combination information 41 and document file are stored in the storage unit of the server 53.

  Subsequently, the display code generation unit 96 receives the display code image data 49, which is the image data of the display code image 5 generated in steps S3 and S4, as the file name of the document file input in step S2, and in step S2. The document name information indicating the document name and the saved date / time information indicating the current date / time are stored in the storage unit 92 (step S10).

  According to the display code generation process and the document storage process in the information processing apparatus 52, the user can easily perform the creation of the display code 1 and the storage of the document file at the same place and at the same timing according to a series of operations. .

(Incorporation of display code image)
FIG. 15 shows display code image incorporation processing in the information processing apparatus 52. A user who wants to incorporate the display code image 5 of the display code 1 generated by the display code generation process shown in FIG. 14 into a paper media document (for example, product description 2) as a primary document is shown in FIG. First, a paper media document into which the display code image 5 is incorporated is input to the information processing device 52 by any one of the following two methods (step S21). That is, when there is no document file corresponding to the paper media document as in the case where the paper media document is created by handwriting, the user causes the information processing apparatus 52 to optically read the paper media document. In order to cause the information processing apparatus 52 to read the paper media document, the user presses the display code image incorporation button 76 of the operation panel unit 10, places the paper media document on the platen glass (or the paper carry-in unit 61 </ b> A), and starts. Press the button 79. In response to this, the document reading unit 62 optically reads the paper media document. Subsequently, the CPU 91 generates a document file corresponding to the paper media document from the data read by the document reading unit 62. On the other hand, when a paper media document in which the display code image 5 is to be incorporated is created by the terminal device 54 (see FIG. 9), when the document file of the paper media document exists, the user receives information from the terminal device 54. The document file is transmitted to the processing device 52. As a result, the CPU 91 receives the document file via the LAN communication unit 95.

  Subsequently, the user selects the display code image 5 that is desired to be incorporated into the paper media document (step S22). The display code image incorporating unit 97 has the display code image 5 stored in the storage unit 92 of the information processing device 52 and the file name corresponding to the display code image 5 in order to allow the user to select the display code image 5. Document name information and storage date / time information (file name, document name information, and storage date / time information stored in the storage unit 92 together with the display code image data 49 corresponding to the display code image 5) are displayed on the monitor unit 64. The user looks at the display code image 5 displayed on the monitor unit 64, the file name, the document name information, and the storage date / time information, identifies the display code image 5 to be incorporated into the paper media document, and touches the screen of the monitor unit 64. Then, the specified display code image 5 is selected.

  Subsequently, the user sets a position at which the selected display code image 5 is arranged in the paper media document that is the primary document (step S23). The monitor unit 64 displays an image of a paper media document. The user can touch the screen of the monitor unit 64 to move the display code image 5 on the image of the paper media document and determine the display code image 5 while confirming the arrangement.

  After the arrangement of the display code image 5 on the paper media document is determined, the display code image incorporation unit 97 incorporates the display code image 5 (display code image data 49) into the data of the paper media document (step S24).

  Subsequently, the display code image incorporating unit 97 prints out the data of the paper media document in which the display code image 5 is incorporated (step S25). As a result, a paper media document in which the display code image 5 is incorporated is generated.

  According to the display code image incorporation process in the information processing apparatus 52, the user can easily create a paper media document in which the display code image 5 is incorporated.

  Note that only the display code image 5 can be printed out on a blank sheet. In this case, in step S <b> 21, the user operates the operation panel unit 10, inputs an instruction to print out the display code image 5 on a blank sheet, and presses the start button 79. In response to this, the display code image incorporating unit 97 performs the processes of steps S22 to S25 on the blank paper. The user can create a paper media document in which the display code image 5 is incorporated by writing a sentence or the like by handwriting on a sheet on which only the display code image 5 is printed. Further, as will be described later, the user can create a document card (see FIG. 20) by using a function of printing only the display code image 5 on blank paper.

  Further, as will be described later, data of a paper media document in which the display code image 5 is incorporated can be transmitted by facsimile by the facsimile communication unit 93.

(Display code reading / document data output)
FIG. 16 shows display code reading processing and document output processing in the information processing apparatus 52. As shown in FIG. 16, when acquiring a document file added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 of the display code image 5 printed on a paper media document (for example, product description 2), the user uses the paper media document as information. The display unit is placed on the platen glass of the processing device 52, a display code reading / document output button 77 provided on the operation panel unit 63 is pressed, and a start button 79 is pressed. In response to this, the display code reading unit 98 reads the display code image 5 printed on the paper media document (step S31). Specifically, the display code reading unit 98 controls the document reading unit 62 to scan the entire paper surface of the paper media document and obtain an image of the entire paper surface of the paper media document. Subsequently, the display code reading unit 98 detects the guide patterns 21 to 23 and the like in the display code image 5, recognizes the position of the display code image 5 in the image on the entire paper surface of the paper media document, and displays the display code image. Cut out 5 When there is one display code image 5 printed on the paper media document (step S32: NO), the display code reading unit 98 identifies the cut out display code image 5 as a target of the following processing, and the processing is stepped. Proceed to S34.

  On the other hand, when a plurality of display code images 5 are printed on the paper media document (step S32: YES), the display code reading unit 98 displays each display code image 5 in the image on the entire paper surface of the paper media document. The position is recognized, and each display code image 5 is cut out. Subsequently, the display code reading unit 98 displays the cut out display code images 5 side by side on the monitor unit 64 or the touch operation screen 81 in order to allow the user to select the display code image 5 (step S33). For example, the user can touch the monitor unit 64 or the touch operation screen 81 with a finger to select one desired display code image 5. When the user selects one display code image 5, the display code reading unit 98 specifies the display code image 5 selected by the user as a target of the following processing, and advances the processing to step S34.

  In step S <b> 34, the display code reading unit 98 acquires the symbol binary information 43 corresponding to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 and the identification information 44 corresponding to the identification information pattern 26 from the display code image 5 specified as the processing target. Specifically, the display code reading unit 98 is cut out from the image of the entire paper surface of the paper media document, and the symbol arrangement pattern 13, the arrangement information pattern 25, and the identification from the display code image 5 specified as the processing target. Each information pattern 26 is cut out. Subsequently, the display code reading unit 98 recognizes the number of digits and the number of lines of the symbol pattern 14 constituting the symbol arrangement pattern 13 from the arrangement information pattern 25, and refers to these to each of the symbols constituting the symbol arrangement pattern 13. The symbol pattern 14 is cut out and converted into binary information, and symbol binary information 43 corresponding to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 is generated. Further, the display code reading unit 98 generates identification information 44 corresponding to the cut out identification information pattern 26.

  Subsequently, the display code reading unit 98 searches the storage unit 92 of the information processing device 52 in order to find the combination information 41 including the symbol binary information 43 and the identification information 44 acquired in step S34 (step S35).

  When the combination information 41 including the symbol binary information 43 and the identification information 44 acquired in step S34 is found as a result of searching the storage unit 92 of the information processing device 52 (step S35: YES), the display code reading unit 98 is The document file is specified based on the additional information specifying information 46 included in the combination information 41. This document file is a document file (for example, an operation manual) added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 in the display code image 5 printed on the paper media document. Subsequently, the display code reading unit 98 reads the document file from the storage unit 92 (step S36).

  On the other hand, as a result of searching the storage unit 92 of the information processing device 52, when the combination information 41 including the symbol binary information 43 and the identification information 44 acquired in step S34 is not found (step S35: NO), the display code reading is performed. The unit 98 transmits the symbol binary information 43 and the identification information 44 acquired in step S34 to the server 53, and requests transmission of the document file (step S37).

  The server 53 that has received the symbol binary information 43 and the identification information 44 searches the storage unit of the server 53 in order to find the combination information 41 including the received symbol binary information 43 and the identification information 44. When the combination information 41 including the received symbol binary information 43 and identification information 44 is found, the server 53 specifies the document file based on the additional information specifying information 46 included in the combination information 41. This document file is a document file (for example, an operation manual) added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 in the display code image 5 printed on the paper media document. Subsequently, the server 53 transmits the document file to the information processing apparatus 52. Then, the information processing apparatus 52 receives the document file (step S38).

  Subsequently, in the information processing apparatus 52, the display code reading unit 98 selects the document file read from the storage unit 92 of the information processing apparatus 52 in step S36 or the document file received from the server 53 in step S38 for user selection. In response, the data is transmitted to the terminal device 54 or printed out (step S39).

  On the other hand, if the combination information 41 including the symbol binary information 43 and the identification information 44 acquired in step S34 is not found as a result of searching the storage unit of the server 53, the server 53 transmits error information to the information processing device 52. To do. Upon receiving the error information, the display code reading unit 98 of the information processing apparatus 52 confirms that the document file added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 in the display code image 5 printed on the paper media document cannot be found. To display. Note that the transmission and display of error information is omitted in FIG.

  According to the display code reading process and the document output process in the information processing device 52, the user reads the display code image 5 incorporated in the paper media document in almost the same way as a copy of a document is normally taken by a multi-function peripheral. The document file added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 can be acquired immediately.

(Display code image sheet generation / output)
FIG. 17 shows display code image sheet generation / output processing in the information processing apparatus 52.

  A plurality of document files can be stored in the information processing apparatus 52 or the server 53. The information processing device 52 generates the display code image 5 for each document file stored in the information processing device 52 or the server 53 by the above-described display code generation processing and document storage processing, and generates the generated display code image 5 (display code). The image data 49) is stored in the storage unit 92 (see step S10 in FIG. 14). Therefore, when the user saves a plurality of document files in the information processing apparatus 52 or the server 53 using the information processing apparatus 52, a plurality of display code images 5 are stored in the storage unit 92 of the information processing apparatus 52. The information processing apparatus 52 displays a display code image sheet in which any one display code image 5 stored in the storage unit 92 or a plurality of display code images 5 is arranged (FIG. 18, FIG. 18). 20) can be generated and output (display code image sheet output function). A display code image sheet in which a plurality of display code images 5 are arranged is a specific example of the display code image arrangement.

  The information processing device 52 generates and outputs a display code image sheet as follows, for example. That is, when the user presses the display code image sheet output button 84 (see FIG. 10) of the operation panel unit 63, the display code image sheet generation unit 99 is stored in the storage unit 92 as shown in FIG. A plurality of display code images 5 (display code image data 49) are read (step S41).

  Subsequently, the display code image sheet generation unit 99 displays the read display code image 5 on the monitor unit 64 so that the user can select the display code image 5 to be placed on the display code image sheet (step S42). The user can select one or more desired display code images 5 by touching the monitor unit 64 with a finger, for example. In addition, the user may select all the display code images 5 stored in the storage unit 92 by, for example, touching all selection buttons (not shown) displayed at the corners in the monitor unit 64 with a finger. it can.

  Subsequently, the display code image sheet generation unit 99 arranges or arranges the display code images 5 selected by the user, and generates a display code image sheet (step S43). The rules for the arrangement of the display code images 5 (for example, how many display code images 5 are arranged on one sheet) are determined in advance. In addition, the user can arbitrarily change the arrangement rule by operating the operation panel unit 63.

  Subsequently, the display code image sheet generation unit 99 prints the generated display code image sheet on paper and outputs it (step S44).

  The printed display code image sheet itself is a paper media document. According to the display code image sheet output function of the information processing apparatus 52, the user can easily manage the document file stored in the information processing apparatus 52 or the server 53 using the paper media document.

(Use example 1 of display code image sheet)
FIG. 18 shows a document list (display code index sheet) using the display code image sheet generated by the information processing apparatus 52. FIG. 19 shows a state in which a plurality of display code image sheets as a document list are bound to a binder.

  The display code image sheet 121 shown in FIG. 18 or FIG. 19 is generated by the display code image sheet output function of the information processing apparatus 52 (see FIG. 17). On the display code image sheet 121, a plurality of display code images 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D are printed. These display code images 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D are all display code images stored in the storage unit 92 of the information processing device 52. The display code images 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D are displayed in the symbol arrangement pattern 13 of each display code image 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D. The document file stored in the information processing apparatus 52 or the server 53 is added. As described below, the display code image sheet 121 on which a plurality of display code images are printed can be used as a document list.

  That is, the user quickly grasps a document stored as a document file in the information processing apparatus 52 or the server 53 by viewing the display code images 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D printed on the display code image sheet 121. be able to. That is, each of the symbol arrangement patterns 13 of the display code images 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D printed on the display code image sheet 121 is a message that can specify a document file stored in the information processing device 52 or the server 53. Represents. Specifically, the symbol arrangement pattern 13 of the display code image 5A represents an operation manual, and the symbol arrangement pattern 13 of the display code image 5B represents a plan for “B12 project”. Further, the symbol arrangement pattern 13 of the display code image 5C represents the product specification of the product number “A-1995-260US”, and the symbol arrangement pattern 13 of the display code image 5D represents the design of the package of “Tsukaya XYZ Chocolate”. Represents a picture. The user visually observes the display code image sheet 121, so that the operation manual, the B12 project plan, the product specification of the product number “A-1995-260US”, and the package design image of the Tsukaya XYZ chocolate are processed by the information processing apparatus. 52 or the server 53 can be quickly known. As described above, the display code image sheet 121 functions as a list of documents stored in the information processing apparatus 52 or the server 53. Based on such a document list, the user can easily manage documents stored in the information processing apparatus 52 or the server 53.

  Here, it should be noted that no character or symbol is printed on the display code image sheet 121 other than the display code images 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D. Since the user can recognize the documents corresponding to the display code images 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D only by visually observing the message represented by the symbol arrangement pattern 13 of the display code images 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D, In addition to the display code images 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D, it is not necessary to print characters and symbols. However, as preliminary information, the file name, document name information, and the like of the document file corresponding to each of the display code images 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D may be printed on the display code image sheet 121.

  Further, the user uses the display code reading function (see FIG. 16) of the information processing device 52 to add to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 of each display code image 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D arranged on the display code image sheet 121. The document file can be easily acquired as printed matter or as electronic data.

  By using the display code image sheet 121 as a document list, the user can quickly grasp a document stored as a document file in the information processing apparatus 52 or the server 53, and further, if necessary, information about the document can be stored. It can be easily taken out from the processing device 52 or the server 53.

  As described above, according to the information processing apparatus 52, the display code image sheet 121 as the document list is combined with the document file stored in the information processing apparatus 52 or the server 53, that is, the paper media document and the electronic media document. Can be realized.

(Use example 2 of display code image sheet)
FIG. 20 shows a document card using a display code image sheet generated by the information processing apparatus 52.

  The display code image sheet 122 shown in FIG. 20 is generated by the display code image incorporation function (see FIG. 15) or the display code image sheet output function (see FIG. 17) of the information processing apparatus 52. On this display code image sheet 121, one display code image 5E is printed. The display code image 5E is a display code image stored in the storage unit 92 of the information processing device 52. The symbol array pattern 13 of the display code image 5E includes a document file stored in the information processing device 52 or the server 53. Is added. Thus, the display code image sheet 122 in which one display code image is printed on one sheet can be used as a document card as described below.

  That is, a document card in which only one display code image is printed on one card-type paper by using the display code image incorporation function or the display code image sheet output function of the information processing device 52 is used, for example, as information All documents saved as document files in the processing device 52 or the server 53 are created. By binding a plurality of document cards created in this manner to a binder, documents stored in the information processing apparatus 52 or the server 53 can be managed. If there is a necessary document, the document card corresponding to the document is removed from the binder, and the display code image printed on the document card is displayed by the display code reading function of the information processing device 52 (see FIG. 16). read. Thereby, the printed matter or electronic data of the document can be acquired.

  The combination of a paper media document and an electronic media document can also be realized in this way.

(Usage example 3 of display code image sheet)
FIG. 21 shows a facsimile letter using a display code image sheet generated by the information processing apparatus 52.

  The display code image sheet 123 shown in FIG. 21 is generated by the display code image incorporation function (see FIG. 15) or the display code image sheet output function (see FIG. 17) of the information processing apparatus 52. On this display code image sheet 123, one display code image 5F is printed. The display code image 5F is a display code image stored in the storage unit 92 of the information processing apparatus 52, and a document file stored in the server 53 is added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 of the display code image 5F. . Further, there is a large margin on the paper surface of the display code image sheet 123. As will be described below, the user can use the display code image sheet 123 as a facsimile letter to send the operation manual stored in the server 53 to the recipient of the facsimile letter.

  That is, an information processing device 52 is placed in the former office, and another information processing device 52 is placed in the office of the second office. Both of these two information processing devices 52 are connected to the Internet 58. ing. A server 53 is also connected to the Internet 58. Under such circumstances, after using the information processing device 52 placed in the office of Party A to create the display code image sheet 123 on which the display code image 5F corresponding to the operation manual is printed, A handwritten sentence 124 is written using a ballpoint pen to send an operation manual to the margin. Thereafter, Party A transmits the display code image sheet 123 by facsimile to the second party by the facsimile function of the information processing device 52 placed in the office of Party A. The display code image sheet 123 transmitted by facsimile is received by the facsimile function of the information processing apparatus 52 placed in the office of the second party. The second party who picks up the received display code image sheet 123 reads the handwritten document 124 written on the display code image sheet 123, and reads the display code image 5F printed on the display code image sheet 123. to see. At that moment, B quickly recognizes that it is possible to obtain an operation manual. The second party reads the display code image 5F printed on the display code image sheet 123 by the display code reading function of the information processing apparatus 52 placed in the second office, and reads the operation manual stored in the server 53. Obtained as printed matter or electronic data.

  In this way, the display code image sheet 123 functions as a facsimile letter, and by sending the display code image sheet 123 by facsimile, the document stored in the server 53 can be sent to another person.

(Usage example 4 of display code image sheet)
FIG. 22 shows another example of use of the display code image sheet.

  The display code image sheet 125 shown in FIG. 22 is generated by the display code image sheet output function (see FIG. 17). On this display code image sheet 125, a display code image 5G corresponding to one document file and display code images 126A to 126L corresponding to each page of the document file are printed. These display code images 5G and 126A to 126L are display code images stored in the storage unit 92 of the information processing apparatus 52, respectively. A document file stored in the information processing device 52 or the server 53 is added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 of the display code image 5G. Further, one page of the document file is added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 of each of the display code images 126A to 126L. For example, the first page of the document file is added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 of the display code image 126A, and the second page of the document file is added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 of the display code image 126B. The 12th page of the document file is added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13. According to such a display code image sheet 125, the user can acquire the entire document file as printed matter or electronic data by reading the display code image 5G by the display code reading function of the information processing apparatus 52. In addition, the user can acquire only one desired page of the document file as printed matter or electronic data by reading one of the display code images 126A to 126L by the display code reading function of the information processing apparatus 52.

(Usage example 5 of display code image sheet)
FIG. 23 shows still another usage example of the display code image sheet.

  A display code image sheet 127 shown in FIG. 23 is generated by a display code image sheet output function (see FIG. 17). The display code image sheet 127 includes a display code image 5H corresponding to one document file. Display code images 128A to 128E corresponding to the document file portion are printed. These display code images 5H and 128A to 128E are display code images stored in the storage unit 92 of the information processing apparatus 52, respectively. A document file stored in the information processing device 52 or the server 53 is added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 of the display code image 5H. In addition, the document file portion is added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 of each of the display code images 128A to 128E. For example, the portion from the first page to the twenty-second page of the document file is added to the symbol arrangement pattern 13 of the display code image 128A, and the symbol arrangement pattern 13 of the display code image 128B is added from the twenty-third page of the document file. Portions up to page 48 are added, and portions from page 151 to page 189 of the document file are added to symbol arrangement pattern 13 of display code image 128E. According to such a display code image sheet 127, the user can acquire the entire document file as printed matter or electronic data by reading the display code image 5H by the display code reading function of the information processing apparatus 52. Further, the user obtains only a desired portion (desired page range) of the document file as a printed matter or electronic data by reading one of the display code images 128A to 128E by the display code reading function of the information processing apparatus 52. can do.

  In the above-described embodiment, the product manual and the operation manual are given as examples of the combination of the primary document and the secondary document. However, for example, a letter and enclosed document, a paper and reference material, an application form, There can be various attachments, invitations and maps, complaints and evidence.

The document reading unit 63 and the LAN communication unit 95 are specific examples of the document data input unit.
The operation panel unit 63 is a specific example of the message input unit (see step S2 in FIG. 14). The display code generation unit 96 is a specific example of the symbol arrangement pattern generation unit (see step S3 in FIG. 14). The display code generation unit 96 is a specific example of the correspondence information generation unit (see step S6 in FIG. 14). The display code generation unit 96 is a specific example of the first storage control unit (see step S8 in FIG. 14). The display code image incorporating unit 97 is a specific example of the first print control unit (see step S25 in FIG. 15).

  The display code reading unit 98 is a specific example of the symbol arrangement pattern reading unit (see step S31 in FIG. 16). The display code reading unit 98 is a specific example of the document data reading unit (see step S36 in FIG. 16). The display code reading unit 98 is a specific example of the second print control unit (see step S39 in FIG. 16).

  The display code generation unit 96 is a specific example of the first transmission unit (see step S9 in FIG. 14). Further, the display code reading unit 98 is a specific example of the second transmission unit (see step S37 in FIG. 16). Further, the display code reading unit 98 is a specific example of the receiving unit (see step S38 in FIG. 16). The display code reading unit 98 is a specific example of the third transmission unit and the fourth transmission unit (see step S39 in FIG. 16).

  Further, the display code generation unit 96 is a specific example of the second storage control unit (see step S10 in FIG. 14). The display code image sheet generation unit 99 is a specific example of the display code image array generation unit (steps S41 to S43 in FIG. 17). The display code image sheet generation unit 99 is a specific example of the third print control unit (see step S44 in FIG. 17).

  In addition, the present invention can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit or idea of the invention which can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and an information processing apparatus accompanying such a change is also a technical idea of the present invention. include.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display code 2 Product description 3, 4 Text 5, 5A-5H, 126A-126L, 128A-128E Display code image 11 Code space 12 Grid 13 Symbol arrangement pattern 14 Symbol pattern 15 Pattern element 21-23 Guide pattern 24 Expansion pattern 25 Sequence information pattern 26 Identification information pattern 31 Symbol pattern area 41 Combination information 42 Message text information 43 Symbol binary information 44 Identification information 45 Additional information 46 Additional information specifying information 47 Symbol pattern set 48 Document file 49 Display code image data 51 Information processing system 52 Information processing device 53 Server 54 Terminal device 62 Document reading unit 63 Operation panel unit 64 Monitor unit 65 Printing unit 81 Touch operation screen 91 CPU
92 Storage unit 96 Display code generation unit 97 Display code image incorporation unit 98 Display code reading unit 99 Display code image sheet generation unit 121, 122, 123, 125, 127 Display code image sheet 124 Text

Claims (8)

A document data input unit for inputting document data;
A storage unit for storing the document data input by the document data input unit;
A printing unit for printing the document data input by the document data input unit or the document data stored in the storage unit on paper;
One or more cells are selected from the plurality of cells in a two-dimensional space formed by arranging a plurality of cells in a lattice pattern, and pattern elements having a predetermined shape are arranged in each of the selected cells. Thus, a single symbol pattern representing a message that can be visually recognized by a person or a symbol array pattern composed of a plurality of symbol patterns is formed, and among the plurality of cells in the two-dimensional space, In order to form a symbol arrangement pattern, a cell in which the pattern element is arranged is turned on, a cell in which the pattern element is not arranged is turned off, and these are turned on and off to correspond to the symbol arrangement pattern. A display code in which additional information different from the message is added to binary information that can be recognized by a device having an optical reading function is generated. And a display code generator which,
The display code generation unit
A message input section for inputting a message;
A symbol array pattern generation unit that generates a symbol array pattern corresponding to a character string representing a message input by the message input unit;
A correspondence information generation unit that generates correspondence information indicating a correspondence between binary information corresponding to the symbol arrangement pattern generated by the symbol arrangement pattern generation unit and document data input by the document data input unit;
The first storage control unit that stores the document data input by the document data input unit as the additional information in the storage unit and stores the correspondence information generated by the correspondence information generation unit in the storage unit When,
An information processing apparatus comprising: a first print control unit that prints the symbol arrangement pattern generated by the symbol arrangement pattern generation unit on a sheet by the printing unit. A symbol arrangement pattern reading unit that reads a symbol arrangement pattern printed on paper;
Identifying binary information corresponding to the symbol arrangement pattern read by the symbol arrangement pattern reading unit, and referring to the correspondence information stored in the storage unit for document data corresponding to the identified binary information And a document data reading unit for reading out the specified document data from the storage unit,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second print control unit that prints document data read by the document data reading unit on a sheet by the printing unit.   A first transmission unit configured to transmit the document data input by the document data input unit and the correspondence relationship information generated by the correspondence information generation unit to an external device connected to be communicable with the information processing device; 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the document data and correspondence information transmitted from the first transmission unit are stored in the external device. A second transmission unit for identifying binary information corresponding to the symbol arrangement pattern read by the symbol arrangement pattern reading unit, and transmitting the specified binary information to the external device;
The external device identifies document data corresponding to the binary information transmitted from the second transmission unit by referring to the correspondence relationship information stored in the external device, and the identified document data is identified by the information. A receiving unit that receives the transmitted document data when transmitted to the processing device;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second print control unit prints document data received by the receiving unit on a sheet by the printing unit.   5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a third transmission unit that transmits the document data read by the document data reading unit to a terminal device.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a fourth transmission unit configured to transmit the document data received by the reception unit to the terminal device. A symbol pattern set that is used as a component of a symbol arrangement pattern in the display code and is a set of a plurality of symbol patterns each representing at least 0 to 9, A to Z, or a to z characters is stored in the storage unit,
The symbol arrangement pattern generation unit generates the symbol arrangement pattern by selecting a symbol pattern corresponding to each character representing a message input by the message input unit from the symbol pattern set. The information processing apparatus according to any one of 1 to 6. A second storage control unit for storing a display code image including an image of the symbol arrangement pattern in the storage unit;
A display code image for generating a display code image array by reading a plurality of display code images stored in the storage unit by the second storage control unit from the storage unit and arranging the read display code images An array generator;
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a third print control unit that prints the display code image array generated by the display code image array generation unit on a sheet by the printing unit. Information processing device.

Images