JP4128757B2 - Optical character reader and optical character reader barcode reading method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical character reader having a barcode reading function.
[0002]
The present invention also relates to a bar code reading method of an optical character reading apparatus suitable for application to OCR that handles variable length bar codes.
[0003]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, barcode reading in OCR is performed based on form reading information called FC (Format Control), as in the case of character reading, and the number of digits of barcode specified by FC. Based on the above, barcode reading of the barcode field defined by FC is performed. That is, for the barcode printed in the field read by OCR, the number of digits must be fixed (digit designated by FC), and barcodes other than the number of digits defined by FC cannot be read.
[0004]
Specifically, the barcode reading conditions (type, number of digits, etc.) are given by FC, the number of barcodes recorded in the barcode field is checked based on these conditions, and the barcode is recorded in the field. The barcode was read.
[0005]
In recent years, however, barcodes with different lengths (numbers of digits) have appeared, and as a countermeasure for reading forms in which barcodes with different lengths are recorded, FCs containing information defining the barcode length are included. Had to be read in advance every time the barcode length changed.
[0006]
By doing this, even if the length of the barcode changes, it is possible to read the barcode recorded in the barcode field by checking the number of barcodes based on the number of digits specified by FC. In other words, each time the barcode length is changed by FC, the barcode on the field cannot be read unless the barcode digit number information is defined.
[0007]
Specifically, according to the above-described prior art, a unique ID is attached to a form for each barcode having a different number of digits, an FC is created for each ID, and an FC corresponding to each recognized ID is created. By using this to read the barcode, the barcode can be read even when the number of digits of the barcode is different for each form. However, this method has to create an FC that defines the number of digits every time the number of digits of the bar code changes, and there are practical problems in various aspects including the creation and management of FCs. .
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, conventionally, since the number of barcodes is checked based on the number of digits specified by FC and the barcode recorded in the barcode field is read, it is printed in the field read by OCR. As for the barcode, there is a problem that the number of digits must be fixed, and barcodes other than the number of digits defined by FC cannot be read.
[0009]
Also, if the barcode can be read even if the number of barcode digits differs for each form using ID processing, the number of digits is defined each time the barcode digits change. FC had to be created, and there were practical problems in various aspects including FC creation and management.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in an optical character reader that handles a form having a barcode field, every time the number of digits changes even if the number of digits of the barcode is different for each form. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical character reader that can easily and easily read bar codes (variable length bar codes) with various numbers of digits without requiring a unique FC.
[0011]
In addition, the present invention provides an optical character reader that enables variable-length barcode reading with existing FCs and system configurations without preparing multiple types of FCs for reading variable-length barcodes. An object of the present invention is to provide a barcode reading method.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention reads the barcode recorded on the form using the information indicating the number of digits of the barcode printed on the form, so that the number of digits differs for each form in the existing FC and system configuration. It is possible to read barcodes.
[0013]
That is, the present invention provides an optical character reader that handles barcodes, a form that records a barcode and digit number information indicating the number of digits of the barcode, and a character that reads the digit number information from the form. Recognizing the number of digits of the barcode recorded in the form based on the number of digits information read by the recognition means and the character recognition means, and the bar recorded in the form based on the recognized number of digits And a bar code reading means for reading code information .
[0014]
Further, the present invention provides a barcode reading method of an optical character reading device for reading a form on which a barcode is recorded, and each of the forms to be read by the optical character reading device has a barcode and Digit number information indicating the number of digits of the barcode is recorded in a predetermined area, and the optical character reader reads the digit number information from the form to be read; and the read Recognizing the number of digits of the barcode recorded on the form based on the number of digits information, and reading the information on the barcode recorded on the form based on the recognized number of digits. Thus, a plurality of types of forms on which barcodes with variable numbers of digits are recorded are read .
[0018]
With the configuration described above, even if the number of digits of the barcode differs for each form, various variable length barcodes can be read easily and easily without requiring a unique FC for each number of digits.
[0019]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in an OCR form applied to an optical character reader that handles barcodes, a barcode and information representing the number of digits of the barcode are recorded on the form. To do.
[0020]
In the barcode reading method in the optical character reader, the present invention reads barcode digit number information representing the number of digits of the barcode from a specific field on the form defined by the format control information, Recognizing the number of digits of the barcode recorded in the barcode field on the form based on the read barcode number of digits information, and on the form based on the recognized number of digits of the barcode and the format control information The bar code recorded in the bar code field is read.
[0021]
By applying the OCR form and barcode reading method as described above, the existing FC and system can be used effectively and easily and easily without the need to prepare multiple types of FC on the OCR side. Bar code can be read. In addition, an optical character reader that handles variable-length bar codes can be easily constructed.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0023]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part in the embodiment of the present invention.
[0024]
In the figure, reference numerals 11 to 15 denote components of an optical character reader, 11 is a scanner, 12 is an FC (format control) management unit, 13 is a character recognition unit, 14 is a bar code reading unit, and 15 is It is an output unit. P is a form having a bar code field to be read by the optical character reader, and bar code digit number information Ca, Cb,... Is recorded corresponding to each bar code Ba, Bb,.
[0025]
The scanner 11 scans the form P, binarizes the image, buffers the image, and sends the binary image data 101 to the character recognition unit 13 as recognition processing target data. Here, the barcode digit number information Ca, Cb,... Recorded in the form P is subjected to character recognition in the character recognition unit 13, and the binary image data of the barcodes Ba, Bb,. The data is sent to the barcode reading unit 14 via the character recognition unit 13.
[0026]
The FC management unit 12 manages FC (format control) for character reading. Here, the digit number information reading FC102 for reading bar code digit number information Ca, Cb,... Bar code reading FC 103 for reading bar codes Ba, Bb,... Is managed, digit number information reading FC 102 is sent to character recognition unit 13, and bar code reading FC 103 is sent to bar code reading unit 14. The definition information of FC102 and FC103 may be recorded in the same FC form or may be different. In addition to using the FC form as the input means of each FC, the FC may be input on the setting screen.
[0027]
The character recognition unit 13 recognizes binary image data 101 input from the scanner 11 according to FC input from the FC management unit 12 as recognition processing target data. Here, the digit number information input from the FC management unit 12 is used. The barcode digit number information Ca, Cb,... On the form P is read using the position information of the barcode digit number information defined by the reading FC 102, and the value is read as the barcode digit designation information 104 to the barcode reading unit 14. Send it out.
[0028]
The barcode reading unit 14 receives binary image data of barcodes Ba, Bb,... From the scanner 11 via the character recognition unit 13, and the barcode management unit 12 defines a barcode defined by the barcode reading FC103. Bar code digit designation information 104 is input from the code position information and the character recognition unit 13, and based on these, the bar code reading unit 14 decodes (decodes) the bar codes Ba, Bb,. The output unit 15 edits and encodes the barcode decoded by the barcode reading unit 14 and outputs it.
[0029]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the above embodiment. Here, in step S13, the character recognizing unit 13 uses the position information of the barcode digit number information defined by the digit number information reading FC102 input from the FC management unit 12 to use the barcode digit on the form P. The numerical information Ca, Cb,... Is read, and in step S14 in FIG. 2, it is confirmed that the character recognition is correctly performed. The numerical data recognized as the character is used as the digit designation information 104 representing the number of digits of the barcode. The data is sent to the barcode reader 14. In step S16, the barcode reading unit 14 is defined by the digit designation information 104 indicating the number of digits of the barcode input from the character recognition unit 13 and the barcode reading FC103 input from the FC management unit 12. Based on the barcode position information, the barcodes Ba, Bb,... Inputted from the scanner 11 via the character recognition unit 13 are decoded.
[0030]
FIG. 3 shows a specific example of the form P. In the figure, 30 is a bar code form, which corresponds to the form P shown in FIG. B1, B2, B3 are bar codes each having a unique number of digits recorded in the field of the bar code form 30, and correspond to the bar codes Ba, Bb,... Shown in FIG. 31, 32, and 33 are bar code digit number designation fields provided corresponding to the bar codes B 1, B 2, and B 3, and digit values corresponding to the bar codes B 1, B 2, and B 3 are respectively recorded. . This digit value corresponds to the barcode digit number information Ca, Cb,... Shown in FIG. Incidentally, in this example, the barcode digit number information indicating that the number of digits of the barcode B1 is “30” is recorded in the barcode digit number designation field 31, and the barcode digit number designation field 32 contains the barcode. Barcode digit number information indicating that the number of digits of B2 is “23” digits is recorded, and a barcode indicating that the number of digits of barcode B3 is “31” digits in the barcode digit number designation field 33 Digit number information is recorded.
[0031]
Here, the operation in the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the respective drawings.
[0032]
The scanner 11 scans the form P corresponding to the barcode form 30 shown in FIG. 3, binarizes the image, buffers the image, and then uses the binary image data 101 as character data to be recognized. The data is sent to the recognition unit 13 (step S11 in FIG. 2). Here, the binary image data of the barcode digit number information 31, 31,... Recorded in the form P is sent to the character recognition unit 13 as recognition processing target data, and the binary image data of the barcodes Ba, Bb,. The data is sent to the barcode reading unit 14 via the character recognition unit 13 as recognition processing target data. On the other hand, the FC management unit 12 sends the position information of the barcode digit number information defined by the digit information reading FC102 of the form P to the character recognition unit 13, and the barcode position defined by the barcode reading FC103. Information is sent to the barcode reader 14.
[0033]
As a result, the character recognition unit 13 reads the barcode digit number information 31, 32,... On the form P (steps S12 and S13 in FIG. 2), and when the character recognition is correctly performed (step S14 in FIG. 2 (YES)). ) Sends the character-recognized numerical data “30”, “23”,... To the barcode reading unit 14 as digit designation information 104 representing the number of digits of the barcode (step S15 in FIG. 2).
[0034]
At this time, if character recognition is rejected by the character recognition unit 13 (when character recognition is not possible), all the digits of the bar code are rejected (step S14 (NO) in FIG. 2), and the state is output. Then, the barcode reading process for the form P as the processing target is terminated (step S20 in FIG. 2).
[0035]
When the digit designation information 104 indicating the number of digits of the barcode is input from the character recognition unit 13, the barcode reading unit 14 converts the digit designation information 104 and the barcode position information defined by the barcode reading FC 103. Based on this, the barcodes B1, B2,... Input from the scanner 11 via the character recognition unit 13 are decoded (decoded) (step S16 in FIG. 2).
[0036]
Here, when the barcodes B1, B2,... Can be normally decoded with the number of digits (“30”, “23”,...) According to the digit designation information 104 (step S17 (YES) in FIG. 2), the decoding is performed. The barcode data is sent to the output unit 15, edited by the output unit 15, coded and output (step S 19 in FIG. 2). When the barcodes B1, B2,... Cannot be normally decoded with the number of digits according to the digit designation information 104 (step S17 (NO) in FIG. 2), the barcode analysis is performed again (steps S18, S16,. If the barcode analysis has failed a predetermined number of times, a status to that effect is output and barcode reading is terminated (step S20 in FIG. 2).
[0037]
In the embodiment described above, the barcode digit number information 31, 32,... Indicating the number of digits of the barcode is recorded on the form P in correspondence with the barcodes B1, B2,. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, for a plurality of barcode fields, the number of digits of each barcode may be combined into one field and recorded by characters or symbols. May be in any recording form in which a barcode and print information that can be recognized by the character recognition unit 13 representing the number of digits of the barcode are recorded on the form P. Further, the bar code may be of a type other than the one shown in the figure, and in short, any bar code of variable length that can be decoded (decoded) by the bar code reader 14 may be used. In addition to recording the number of digits for barcode reading, it is also possible to print and record in a predetermined field defined by FC, for example, the image processing cutout range, resolution, compression method, etc. for decoding.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, in an optical character reader that handles a form having a barcode field, the number of digits changes even when forms with different numbers of digits of the recorded barcode are mixed. A unique FC is not required for each bar code, and barcodes with various numbers of digits (bar code table bar code table with variable length recorded) can be read easily and easily.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example of a form in the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Scanner 12 ... FC management part 13 ... Character recognition part 14 ... Bar code reading part 15 ... Output part P, 30 ... Form Ba, Bb, ..., B1, B2, B3 ... Bar code Ca, Cb, ... Bar code digit Number information 31, 32, 33... Bar code digit number designation field 101... Binary image data 102.
103 ... Bar code reading FC
104 ... Digit designation information indicating the number of digits of the barcode

Claims (2)

A form in which a barcode and digit number information indicating the number of digits of the barcode are recorded;
Character recognition means for reading the digit number information from the form;
Recognizing the number of digits of the barcode recorded in the form based on the number of digits information read by the character recognition means, the barcode information recorded in the form based on the recognized number of digits An optical character reader comprising a barcode reading means for reading. A barcode reading method of an optical character reading device for reading a form in which a barcode is recorded,
In each of the forms to be read by the optical character reading device, a barcode and digit number information indicating the number of digits of the barcode are recorded in predetermined areas, respectively.
In the optical character reader,
Reading the digit number information from the form to be read;
Recognizing the number of digits of the barcode recorded in the form based on the read digit number information;
Reading the barcode information recorded in the form based on the recognized number of digits,
A bar code reading method for an optical character reading apparatus, wherein a plurality of types of forms on which bar codes having variable lengths are recorded are read.

Images