JP2019128676A - Information code generation system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a configuration with which it is possible to reduce the burden of a server that is requested to generate information code from each terminal.SOLUTION: When a request including record data to be recorded in an information code 40 is transmitted to a server 30 by a terminal 20, code generation information for generating the information code 40 in which the record data is recorded is received from the server 30 in response to this transmission and the information code 40 is generated on the basis of the received code generation information. In the server 30, when the request is received from the terminal 20, a bright color cell and dark color cell array pattern is obtained within a code region 41 when the information code 40 is generated so that the record data included in the request is recorded, and information relating to the array pattern is set as code generation information, which is then transmitted to the terminal 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an information code generation system that generates an information code.

  Currently, the use of information codes is diversified, and information codes corresponding to the uses are generated by various methods. For example, the information code disclosed in the following Patent Document 1 is arranged in an image display area in which data of a display target image is provided in a code graphic after data of a decoding target data and a display target image is acquired by a generation device. Generated to Specifically, after the code graphic provided with the image display area is displayed on the display unit of the generation device, when the information specifying the arrangement content of the image display area is input, the arrangement specified by the input An information display area is newly arranged according to the content, and an information code is generated so as to provide a specific pattern area and a decoding target area at a position other than the image display area.

JP 2006-076210 A

  When an information code is generated using a special encoding technique, it may not be desirable to disclose the encoding technique. In such a case, it is assumed that the information code is generated by a specific server. In this way, only a specific server generates an information code using a special encoding technology, and each terminal acquires the information code generated from that server, so that each terminal uses a program that uses that encoding technology. This is because the encoding technology can be concealed without the need for installation or the like. In addition, when an information code generation program using a special encoding technology is installed in each terminal, there arises a problem that when the program is updated etc., an update operation etc. is required for each terminal. It is.

  By the way, as the frequency of use of information codes generated using special encoding technology increases, the number of terminals that use information codes generated by servers increases, and accordingly, the information codes required from each terminal to the server are increased. It is assumed that the number of generations will also increase. Such an increase in the number of generated information codes leads not only to an increase in load at the time of information code generation processing in the server but also to an increase in load at the transmission processing of the generated information code. As a result of the increase in the load on the server as described above, if the load exceeds the assumed allowable amount, the information code is not generated smoothly on the server. There is a possibility that the information code is not properly transmitted from the server.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a configuration capable of reducing the load on a server that is required to generate an information code from each terminal. .

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 of the claims is:
A terminal (20) that performs processing using an information code (40, 40a, 51, 52) generated by arranging a plurality of light-colored cells and dark-colored cells in a code area (41); An information code generation system (10) comprising: a communicable server (30);
The terminal is
Transmits predetermined information including recording data to be recorded in the information code to the server, and receives code generation information for generating the information code in which the recording data is recorded from the server in response to the transmission The terminal side communication unit (26)
A generation unit (21) for generating the information code based on the code generation information received by the terminal-side communication unit;
Equipped with
The server is
A server side communication unit (33) which receives the predetermined information from the terminal and transmits the code generation information to the terminal according to the reception;
When the predetermined information is received from the terminal, the light color cell and the dark color system in the code area when the information code is generated so that the recording data included in the predetermined information is recorded A setting unit (31) for obtaining an array pattern of cells and setting information related to the array pattern as the code generation information transmitted by the server side communication unit;
And the like.
In addition, the code | symbol in each said bracket shows correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

  In the invention of claim 1, when predetermined information including recording data to be recorded in the information code is transmitted to the server by the terminal side communication unit of the terminal, the information in which the recording data is recorded from the server according to the transmission. Code generation information for generating a code is received, and an information code is generated by the generation unit based on the received code generation information. Then, in the server, when predetermined information is received from the terminal by the server side communication unit, the bright color in the code area when the information code is generated so that the recording data included in the predetermined information is recorded An arrangement pattern of a system cell and a dark system cell is obtained, information on the arrangement pattern is set by the setting unit as code generation information, and transmitted to the terminal by the server side communication unit.

  Thus, the server performs processing of obtaining an arrangement pattern of bright color cells and dark color cells in the process of generating an information code in which the recording data is recorded, and the bright color cell is determined based on the determined alignment pattern. Since the processing for forming the information code can be performed at the terminal by arranging the dark cells, the information code at the server is compared with the case where the information code is formed based on the arrangement pattern at the server. The load at the time of generation can be reduced. In particular, the code generation information transmitted from the server to the terminal is information related to the arrangement pattern of the bright color cell and the dark color cell, and the amount of information can be reduced like binarization information. Since the transmission amount is reduced as compared with the case where the code itself is transmitted, it is possible to reduce the load during transmission processing and the like. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the load on the server for which generation of an information code is required from each terminal.

  In the invention of claim 2, the information code is provided with an empty area different from the bright color cell and the dark color cell in the code area, and the predetermined information further includes empty area information regarding the empty area. In the server, when predetermined information is received from the terminal by the server-side communication unit, the recording code included in the predetermined information is recorded, and an information code is provided so that an empty area based on the empty area information is provided. The arrangement pattern of the light cell and the dark cell in the code area at the time of generation is obtained, information on the arrangement pattern is set as the code generation information by the setting unit, and the server side communication unit sends it to the terminal Sent.

  As a result, even if the information code has an empty area in the code area, it is possible to reduce the load on the server at the time of generation. In particular, even when an information code is generated by placing a predetermined image or the like in an empty area, it is not necessary to transmit the predetermined image or the like to the server. In addition, since the predetermined image or the like is not transmitted from the terminal to the outside, security regarding the predetermined image or the like can be improved.

  In the invention of claim 3, the predetermined information includes recording data to be recorded in each of the plurality of information codes. In the server, when predetermined information is received from the terminal by the server-side communication unit, the information in the code area when the information code is generated so that the recording data included in the predetermined information is recorded. The arrangement patterns of the color cells and the dark cells are respectively obtained, information on these arrangement patterns is set as code generation information by the setting unit, and is transmitted to the terminal by the server side communication unit.

  Thereby, even when a plurality of information codes are generated at a time, the load on the server at the time of generation can be reduced. In particular, it is not necessary to send information about the positional relationship and size of each information code to the server, and the positional relationship and size of each generated information code can be freely adjusted at the terminal, so the terminal is owned. User convenience can be improved.

It is an explanatory view showing roughly the composition of the information code generation system concerning a 1st embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining the portable terminal by which the information code was displayed on the screen. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates the process which produces | generates an information code in 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining the code | cord | chord production | generation information corresponding to the information code shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining the portable terminal by which the information code which has arrange | positioned the predetermined image to the empty area was displayed on the screen. It is explanatory drawing explaining the portable terminal by which two information codes were screen-displayed in 2nd Embodiment. 7A is an explanatory view for explaining a code image for screen display of the first information code of FIG. 6, and FIG. 7B is a code image for screen display of the second information code of FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining. It is explanatory drawing explaining the state which changed the positional relationship and magnitude | size of two information codes with respect to FIG.

First Embodiment
Hereinafter, a first embodiment that embodies an information code generation system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The information code generation system 10 according to the present embodiment is a system that generates an information code used by each terminal by using an array pattern setting process performed by a server. More specifically, in the information code generation system 10, a part of the generation process for generating the information code is performed by the server that has received the information code generation request from the terminal, and the remaining generation process is performed on the terminal. This is configured as a system that reduces the load on the server when generating the information code.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information code generation system 10 includes one or more portable terminals (hereinafter, also simply referred to as terminals 20) that use the information code, and a server 30 capable of communicating with each of the terminals 20. ing. The terminal 20 and the server 30 are communicably connected via a network N such as the Internet. In FIG. 1, for convenience, one terminal 20 is illustrated, and the other terminals 20 are not illustrated.

  First, the information code 40 used by the information code generation system 10 will be described. The information code 40 used in the present embodiment is displayed on the screen and used on the terminal 20 in which a predetermined application program for generating the information code 40 (hereinafter simply referred to as a generation application) is installed. Is. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the information code 40 is generated such that predetermined recording data is recorded by arranging a plurality of bright color cells and dark color cells in the code area 41. .

  More specifically, the information code 40 has a predetermined shape inside a rectangular (for example, square or rectangular) code area 41 by using a special encoding technique not disclosed. Specific pattern areas where specific patterns (three position detection patterns, timing patterns, alignment patterns, etc.) are arranged, data recording areas where recording data is recorded by a plurality of bright color cells and dark color cells, and a plurality of bright colors An error correction code recording area for recording an error correction code and a vacant area 42 are provided by the system cell and the dark color system cell. The vacant area 42 is provided at the center of the code area 41 with a size larger than that of a single cell so that data is not recorded by the cell and is not a target of error correction by the error correction code. ing.

  Therefore, the recording data recorded in the information code 40 is read by using a reading device (hereinafter also referred to as a dedicated reading device) capable of performing a decoding process based on a special decoding technology corresponding to the special encoding technology. be able to. On the other hand, a general reading device that cannot perform the decoding process based on the special decoding technique cannot read the recording data recorded in the information code 40.

Next, the configuration of the terminal 20 will be described.
The terminal 20 is configured as a portable terminal that can use the information code 40 by installing the generated application on a smartphone or the like having a camera function. The terminal 20 includes a control unit 21 that processes image data captured based on the pixel signal from the imaging unit 22 functioning as an imaging unit.

  The control unit 21 is composed mainly of a microcomputer, has a CPU, a system bus, an input / output interface, and the like, and functions as an information processing apparatus together with the storage unit 23. The storage unit 23 is configured by a known semiconductor memory or the like such as a ROM, a RAM, a non-volatile memory, etc. In the storage unit 23, an application program etc. including the generated application etc. can be executed by the control unit 21. Stored in

  In particular, in the present embodiment, terminal identification information that differs for each generated application to be installed is stored in the storage unit 23 together with the generated application. That is, the memory | storage part 23 functions as a memory | storage means in which terminal identification information is memorize | stored, and terminal identification information is set for every terminal 20, and also serves as information for specifying a generated application to be installed.

  The terminal 20 further includes an operation unit 24, a display unit 25, and a communication unit 26. The operation unit 24 is configured by various operation keys, a touch panel, and the like, and has a function of inputting information according to the operation to the control unit 21. The display unit 25 is made of liquid crystal or the like, and is controlled by the control unit 21 and has a function of displaying the information code 40 and the like on the screen. The communication unit 26 is controlled by the control unit 21 and has a function as a terminal-side communication unit serving as a communication unit that performs wireless communication with the server 30 and the like via the network N.

Next, the configuration of the server 30 will be described.
The server 30 is configured as a computer having a function of performing a part of processing for generating the information code 40. Specifically, when the server 30 receives recording data or the like for recording in the information code 40 from the terminal 20, the server 30 uses the special encoding technique to change the information code 40 so that the recording data is recorded. A process (hereinafter also referred to as an array pattern setting process) for obtaining an array pattern of light-colored cells and dark-colored cells in the code area 41 at the time of generation is performed. The arrangement pattern setting process will be described later.

  The server 30 mainly includes a storage unit 32, a communication unit 33, and a control unit 31 that controls them centrally. The control unit 31 is mainly configured by a microcomputer, has a CPU, a system bus, an input / output interface and the like, and functions as an information processing apparatus together with the storage unit 32. The storage unit 32 is configured by a known semiconductor memory such as a ROM, a RAM, and a nonvolatile memory. In the storage unit 32, an application program for executing the arrangement pattern setting process, a predetermined database, and the like are stored in advance by the control unit 31 so as to be usable. The communication unit 33 is controlled by the control unit 31 and has a function as a server-side communication unit serving as a communication unit that communicates with each terminal 20 and other external devices via the network N.

  Next, in the information code generation system 10 configured as described above, a process when the information code 40 generated using the server 30 is displayed on the screen of the terminal 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. explain.

  When the generation application is executed by the control unit 21 by the user having the terminal 20 performing a predetermined operation, the terminal 20 responds to the operation, etc. of the recording data to be recorded in the information code 40. To be ready for input. When recording data or the like is input by the user according to the operation of the operation unit 24 (S1 in FIG. 3), predetermined information including the input recording data, free space information, terminal identification information, and the like is obtained. The request is transmitted to the server 30 via the communication unit 26 (S2). Here, the free space information is information regarding the free space 42 such as the presence / absence of the free space 42. Depending on the special encoding technique to be used, for example, according to the operation of the operation unit 24, the shape of the free space 42, Information on size, location, etc. can also be included.

  When the above request is received from the terminal 20 (S3), the control unit 31 of the server 30 records the recording data included in the request using the special encoding technology, and the free area based on the free area information An array pattern setting process is performed to obtain an array pattern of bright cells and dark cells in the code area 41 when the information code 40 is generated so that 42 is provided.

  Then, information on the arrangement pattern set by the arrangement pattern setting process is set as code generation information (S4), and is transmitted to the terminal 20 via the communication unit 33 (S5). The code generation information includes, for example, “0” for a unit area corresponding to a bright color cell and “1” for a unit area corresponding to a dark cell for a unit area obtained by dividing the code area 41 into cell sizes. A numerical value is set so as to be ternarized for each unit region so that the unit region corresponding to a part of “2” is “2”. Specifically, the code generation information corresponding to the information code 40 shown in FIG. 2 is set in three values as illustrated in FIG. The control unit 31 that sets code generation information can correspond to an example of a “setting unit”. Further, in FIG. 4, for the sake of convenience, unit regions corresponding to dark color cells are hatched.

  When the code generation information is received from the server 30 in response to the request transmission (S6), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 generates a code image for screen display of the information code 40 based on the code generation information (S7) ). For example, when ternary code generation information as shown in FIG. 4 is received, it is provided at the center of the code area 41 as shown in FIG. 2 based on the numerical value for each unit area. A graphic in which bright cells and dark cells are arranged in the code area 41 except for the empty area 42 is generated, and the generated graphic becomes a code image of the information code 40 in which the recording data is recorded. . The information code 40 generated in this way is stored in the storage unit 23 so that it can be displayed on the display unit 25 at an arbitrary timing. The control unit 21 that generates the information code 40 based on the code generation information may correspond to an example of a “generation unit”.

  The user who owns the terminal 20 displays the information code 40 generated as described above on the display unit 25 (S8) and causes the dedicated reading device to take an image, thereby recording the information code 40 in the information code 40. The recording data can be read by the dedicated reading device. Thus, the user can receive a service or the like using the recording data.

  As described above, in the information code generation system 10 according to the present embodiment, when the request (predetermined information) including the recording data to be recorded in the information code 40 is transmitted to the server 30 by the terminal 20, this transmission In response to this, code generation information for generating the information code 40 in which the recording data is recorded is received from the server 30, and the information code 40 is generated based on the received code generation information. When the server 30 receives a request from the terminal 20, a bright color cell and a dark color system in the code area 41 when the information code 40 is generated so that the recording data included in the request is recorded. A cell arrangement pattern is obtained, information relating to the arrangement pattern is set as code generation information, and transmitted to the terminal 20.

  As a result, of the processing for generating the information code 40 in which the recording data is recorded, the processing for obtaining the arrangement pattern of the bright color cells and the dark color cells is performed by the server 30, and the bright color is obtained based on the obtained arrangement pattern. The process of forming the information code 40 can be performed at the terminal 20 by arranging the system cell and the dark color system cell. Therefore, by performing the process of forming the information code 40 based on the array pattern in the server 30, the load at the time of information code generation in the server 30 can be reduced compared to the case where the information code 40 is generated. .

  In particular, since the code generation information transmitted from the server 30 to the terminal 20 is information on the arrangement pattern of the bright cell and the dark cell and the empty area 42, the unit area divided into cell sizes is used as a reference 3. The amount of information can be reduced like the value information. Therefore, compared to the case where the information code 40 itself is transmitted from the server 30 to the terminal 20, the amount of transmission is reduced, so that the load at the time of transmission processing and the like can be reduced.

  For example, even when a large number of information codes in which different record data are recorded for each product in various production lines are generated using the server 30, each terminal provided on each production line transmits record data. The code generation information can be received from the server 30, and the information code can be sequentially generated by the processing of the control unit. And since the server 30 should just generate | occur | produce and transmit code generation information sequentially with respect to the terminal of each manufacturing line instead of information code itself, the load of the server 30 is reduced. Therefore, even if the information code 40 has a free area 42 in the code area 41, it is possible to reduce the load on the server 30 that is required to generate the information code 40 from each terminal.

  In particular, in each terminal, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the information code 40 a can be generated by arranging a predetermined image D in the empty area 42. When such an information code 40a is generated, it is not necessary to transmit the predetermined image D to the server 30, so that not only can the communication amount during transmission / reception of the predetermined image D be reduced, but the predetermined image D The security of the predetermined image D can be enhanced because it is not transmitted from the terminal to the outside.

  Further, when each terminal displays the information codes 40 and 40a on the screen, it is not limited to displaying the light cell as a white cell and the dark cell as a black cell, and distinguishes two types of cells according to the light and dark. It is possible to display it by setting it to a possible color.

  Note that the information code to be generated by the information code generation system 10 is not limited to the configuration in which the empty area 42 is provided like the information code 40 illustrated in FIG. By using, for example, the specific pattern area, the data recording area, and the error correction code recording area may be configured to be expressed by a plurality of bright color cells and dark color cells inside the code area.

  In this configuration, since the code generation information transmitted from the server 30 to the terminal 20 is information on the arrangement pattern of the light cell and the dark cell, binarization is performed based on the unit area divided into cell sizes. Like information, the amount of information can be reduced. Therefore, compared to the case where the information code itself is transmitted from the server 30 to the terminal 20, the amount of transmission is reduced, and therefore the load at the time of transmission processing and the like can be further reduced.

Second Embodiment
Next, an information code generation system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The information code generation system 10 according to the second embodiment is different from the information code generation system according to the first embodiment in that a plurality of information codes displayed at the same time are generated. Therefore, substantially the same components as those of the information code generation system of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, as exemplified in FIG. 6, two information codes (hereinafter also referred to as first information code 51 and second information code 52) generated using the information code generation system 10 have predetermined positions. The screen is simultaneously displayed on the display unit 25 by the relationship. On the other hand, the terminal 20 transmits the recording data to be recorded in the first information code 51 and the recording data to be recorded in the second information code 52 to the server 30, and from the received code generation information, the first information code 51 and the second information The code 52 is generated and arranged so as to have a predetermined positional relationship. That is, the server 30 obtains the arrangement pattern without considering the positional relationship or the relative size of the first information code 51 and the second information code 52.

Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, processing when the first information code 51 and the second information code 52 generated using the server 30 are displayed on the screen of the terminal 20 will be described with reference to FIG.
When the generated application is executed by the control unit 21 and recording data to be recorded in the first information code 51 and the second information code 52 are input (S1 in FIG. 3), the input recording data and terminal identification are input. Predetermined information including information and the like is transmitted as a request to the server 30 via the communication unit 26 (S2).

  When the request is received from the terminal 20 (S3), the control unit 31 of the server 30 uses the special encoding technique to record the first information code so that the recording data included in the request is recorded. Array pattern setting processing for determining the array pattern of the light cell and the dark cell in the code area 41 when the 51 and the second information code 52 are generated is performed, respectively. Then, information on the two array patterns set by the array pattern setting process is set as code generation information (S4), and is transmitted to the terminal 20 via the communication unit 33 (S5).

  When the code generation information is received from the server 30 in response to the request transmission (S6), the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 determines, for example, the first as illustrated in FIG. 7 (A) based on the code generation information. A code image for screen display of the information code 51 and a code image for screen display of the second information code 52 as illustrated in FIG. 7B are individually generated (S7). The first information code 51 and the second information code 52 generated in this way are stored in the storage unit 23 so as to be displayed on the display unit 25 at an arbitrary timing.

  Thereafter, when the first information code 51 and the second information code 52 are displayed on the screen according to the operation of the user, the first information code 51 and the second information code 52 read from the storage unit 23 are predetermined. The screen is displayed on the display unit 25 in accordance with a predetermined positional relationship, size, and the like (S8: see FIG. 6). The first information code 51 and the second information code 52 displayed on the screen as described above are recorded in the first information code 51 and the second information code 52, respectively, by imaging them collectively with the dedicated reading device. Recorded data can be read by the dedicated reader. Thus, the user can receive a service or the like using the recording data.

  As described above, in the information code generation system 10 according to the present embodiment, the request (predetermined information) transmitted from the terminal 20 to the server 30 includes recording data to be recorded in each of a plurality of information codes. Then, in the server 30, when a request is received from the terminal 20, the light color cell and the dark color system in the code area when each information code is generated so that the recording data included in the request is recorded respectively. Cell arrangement patterns are obtained, information on these arrangement patterns is set as code generation information, and transmitted to the terminal 20.

  Thus, even when a plurality of information codes are generated at a time, such as the two first information codes 51 and the second information code 52 described above, the load on the server 30 at the time of generation can be reduced. In particular, it is not necessary to transmit information regarding the positional relationship and size of each information code to the server 30, and the positional relationship and size of each generated information code can be freely adjusted at the terminal. For example, when the first information code 51 and the second information code 52 are displayed on the screen, the first information code 51 and the second information code 52 may be displayed as illustrated in FIG. 8 according to the operation of the operation unit 24 or the like. The positional relationship and the size can be changed with respect to FIG. Thereby, the convenience of the user who possesses the terminal 20 can be improved.

[Other embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and modifications, and may be embodied, for example, as follows.
(1) In the information code generation system 10 according to the present invention, the generated information codes 40, 40a, 51, and 52 are not limited to being displayed on the terminal 20 and used. It may be used by printing on a predetermined printing medium using a printing apparatus (not shown).

(2) The request (predetermined information) transmitted from the terminal 20 to the server 30 may include the type of information code to be generated. In this case, the server 30 can obtain the array pattern as described above by using the encoding technique corresponding to the designated type.

(3) The terminal 20 is not limited to being configured as a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, but may be configured as, for example, a stationary terminal disposed on a production line or the like that uses the generated information code.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Information code generation system 20 ... Terminal 21 ... Control part (generation part)
26 ... Communication unit (terminal communication unit)
30 ... Server 31 ... Control unit (setting unit)
33 ... Communication part (server side communication part)
40, 40a ... information code 41 ... code area 42 ... empty area 51 ... first information code 52 ... second information code

Claims (3)

An information code generation system comprising a terminal that performs processing using an information code generated by arranging a plurality of light color cells and dark color cells in a code area, and a server that can communicate with the terminal,
The terminal is
Transmits predetermined information including recording data to be recorded in the information code to the server, and receives code generation information for generating the information code in which the recording data is recorded from the server in response to the transmission A terminal side communication unit to
A generation unit that generates the information code based on the code generation information received by the terminal-side communication unit;
Equipped with
The server is
A server-side communication unit that receives the predetermined information from the terminal and transmits the code generation information to the terminal according to the reception;
When the predetermined information is received from the terminal, the light color cell and the dark color system in the code area when the information code is generated so that the recording data included in the predetermined information is recorded A setting unit configured to obtain an array pattern of cells and set information on the array pattern as the code generation information transmitted by the server communication unit;
An information code generation system comprising: In the information code, an empty area different from the light color cell and the dark color cell is provided in the code area,
The predetermined information further includes free space information on the free space,
When the setting unit receives the predetermined information from the terminal, the setting unit generates the information code so that the recording data included in the predetermined information is recorded and the free area based on the free area information is provided. Obtaining an array pattern of the light color cell and the dark color cell in the code area at the time, and setting information regarding the array pattern as the code generation information transmitted by the server side communication unit. The information code generation system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The predetermined information includes recording data to be recorded in each of a plurality of information codes,
When the setting unit receives the predetermined information from the terminal, the light color in the code area when the information code is generated so that the recording data included in the predetermined information is recorded. 3. The system cell and the dark cell cell are obtained, respectively, and information relating to these arrangement patterns is set as the code generation information transmitted by the server side communication unit. Information code generation system.

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