JPH07182435A - Information recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an information recording device which can extend its recording area, can improve its error correcting capability and can store the secret information respectively. CONSTITUTION:The audio information inputted from a voice input device 12 is converted into an optically readable dot code by an error correction code adding circuit 20, an interleave circuit 22, an address data adding circuit 24, a modulation circuit 26 and a marker adding circuit 28. A positioning mark image forming circuit 30 refers to the dot code and forms a positioning mark image that is printed around the dot code in a print mode. Then 8 synthesizing circuit 32 superposes the positioning mark image on the clot code, and a printer system 34 prints the mark image superposed on the dot code directly on a recording medium such as a sheet, a tape, a printed matter, etc.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention provides so-called multimedia information including audio information such as voice and music, video information obtained from a camera, a video and the like, digital data obtained from a personal computer, a word processor and the like. The present invention relates to an information recording apparatus for recording an optically readable dot code suitable for recording and / or reproducing on a recording medium such as paper, various resin films, and metals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various media such as magnetic tapes and optical disks have been known as media for recording voice, music and the like. However, even if a large number of copies of these media are made, the unit price will be somewhat expensive, and a large amount of space will be required to store them.

Further, when it is necessary to give a medium having a voice recorded to another person in a remote place, whether it is mailed or brought directly, it takes time and time. There was also the problem of this.

Therefore, it has been considered to record voice information on paper in the form of image information which can be transmitted by facsimile and can be reproduced in large quantities at low cost. For example, JP-A-60
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 244145, there has been proposed a method in which a small amount of voice is converted into an optical code so that voice information is converted into image information and can be sent by facsimile.

Further, Japanese Patent Application No. 4-25826 of the present applicant
In No. 2, from a recording medium in which audio information is recorded as optically readable dot codes, a portion that optically reads the dot codes and restores the original audio information is one portable casing. An audio information recording / reproducing system capable of reproducing audio information such as voice and music from a recording medium any number of times by accommodating it in the body, and utilizing a recording medium in which audio information for a long time is recorded. Recording media have been proposed.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are views showing an example of a recording medium recorded by using the audio information reproducing system of Japanese Patent Application No. 4-258262 of the present applicant.
(A) shows an example in which the dot code 4 is printed on a sheet 3 containing characters 1 and image information 2, and (B) shows an example in which the dot code 4 is printed on a medium such as a magazine / book 5. ing. In the case of (B), in particular, the convenience is obtained in the usage method in which each page of the book 5 is printed in an empty area other than the text area 6. However, in both cases (A) and (B), the audio information reproduced by the dot code 4 has to be completed within each sheet.

[0007]

However, after the voice information is converted into optically readable code information and printed on one recording medium, or after transmission when a facsimile is used, it is printed. In the conventional devices disclosed in the above-mentioned publications and applications, in which the code information is read from the printed medium by the optical reading means, and the voice information is decoded and output again, the conventional information is spread over a plurality of media. It is not assumed that a single voice will be recorded or reproduced as code information.

However, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the dot code 4 is printed in an empty area other than the text area 6 in the page of the book / magazine 5, etc., the voice information is the individual dot code. Since the area of the vacant area is limited although it must be completed within 4, the conventional apparatus can use the dot code 4 when the amount of voice information to be recorded is large.
Cannot be printed and the voice can be recorded only halfway.

Further, when the dot code 4 is recorded on the edge of a book / magazine 5, etc., the edge of the book or the like is usually flipped by hand, so that the dot code 4 is easily soiled, and the dot code 4 is flipped as it is flipped.
Errors tend to occur during playback of.

Further, when limited to the conventional recording and printing method, since the information is completely completed on one recording medium, it is easy for anyone when the reproducing apparatus scans and reads the one medium. There is also a potential problem that confidential information will be disclosed to.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an information recording apparatus capable of expanding a recording area, improving error correction capability, and retaining confidential information.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, an information recording apparatus according to the present invention is provided with audio information,
Input means for inputting multimedia information including at least one of image information and digital data, converting means for converting the multimedia information input by the input means into a code, and the converting means Code recording means for readablely recording the converted code over a plurality of recording media, and for alignment for indicating the positional relationship between the codes recorded over the plurality of recording media by the code recording means. It is characterized by comprising a mark recording means for recording a mark on the plurality of recording media.

[0013]

That is, according to the information recording apparatus of the present invention, the converting means converts the multimedia information including at least one of the audio information, the image information and the digital data inputted from the input means into a readable code. Then, the code is recorded so as to be readable over a plurality of recording media by the code recording means. In addition, as a guide for aligning the plurality of recording media so that the code recorded over the plurality of recording media at the time of reproduction can be reproduced, the code recorded over the plurality of recording media by the code recording means is used. Positioning marks for indicating the positional relationship between the marks are recorded on the plurality of recording media by the mark recording means.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an information recording device for printing audio information such as voice and music on paper as a dot code which is an optically readable digital signal.

An audio signal input by a voice input device 12 such as a microphone or an audio output device is amplified by a preamplifier 14 (in the case of microphone voice, AGC is used).
Then, it is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 16. This digitized audio signal is
After the data is compressed by the compression processing unit (ADPCM) 18, an error correction code is added by the error correction code addition circuit 20.

After that, the interleave circuit (data memory) 22 performs interleaving. This interleaving arranges the data according to a pre-defined rule 2
This is to disperse the data in a dimensional manner, so that when the data is returned to the original array by the playback device, the burst-like stains and scratches on the paper, that is, the errors themselves are dispersed, and error correction and data interpolation are performed. Easier to do.

The output data of the interleave circuit 22 is then subjected to the block address X address and Y address for each block by the address data adding circuit 24.
The address error determination code (CRC code or the like) is added to each address and further to each address added to each block.

The data to which the CRC code or the like is added as described above is further modulated for recording by the modulation circuit 26,
Further, the marker adding circuit 28 adds a marker to each block. With reference to the output data of the audio information output from the marker adding circuit 28, the alignment mark image forming circuit 30 forms the alignment mark image to be printed around the output data at the time of printing, The alignment mark image formed by the alignment mark image forming circuit 30 is superimposed on the output data output from the marker adding circuit 28 by the synthesizing circuit 32, and the result is directly transferred to the sheet, tape, or the like by the printer system 34.
It is printed on a recording medium such as a printed matter.

As a result, the data is recorded on the sheet 36 in the format shown in FIG. 2, for example. That is, the image 38 and the character 4
With 0, the digital signalized sound data is printed as an optically readable dot code 42.

As shown in the figure, the dot code 42 is composed of a plurality of blocks 44, and each block 44 is composed of a marker 46, a block address 48, and a data area 50. As the marker 46, a pattern such as DAT that does not normally appear in recording modulation is used. In addition, the data area 50
Is an area where actual data is recorded. The block address 48 is data representing the position of the block 44 and has an error correction code (not shown) added thereto.

Dot code 4 of such a format
2 indicates data of "1" and "0" such as "1" with a black dot and "0" without a black dot as in the case of a bar code. Etc. are printed and recorded.

The alignment mark image forming circuit 30 is also provided.
Thus, the alignment mark image is formed. If this mark image is created so as to surround the dot code 42 in a square shape, for example, even if one piece of information is recorded as a dodge across a plurality of media, it is not necessary to detect the boundary of the recorded media. . The alignment mark image forming circuit 30 can easily calculate the blank space only from the image information of the dot code 42 to obtain an effective alignment mark image.

Therefore, if such a printing means is used,
Printing on a plurality of media as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D is also possible. Here, (A) is the sheet 36A, 36B
This is an example in which the dot code 42 is printed across both of the above. Since the dot code 42 is interleaved in itself, it is printed on the sheet 36A.
Alternatively, if only one of the sheets 36B is read by a reading means such as a scanner of a reproducing device (not shown), it cannot be reproduced as audio information. The input audio signal can be obtained only after the sheets 36A and 36B are aligned by the alignment mark image 52 so that the dot code 42 can be read correctly and read by the reproducing device.

Further, FIG. 3B shows the sheets 36C, 3
This is an example in which the information recording device prints over three areas 6D and 36E. In all of these, the input voice information cannot be reproduced unless all the recording media on which the dot code 42 is printed are prepared. Therefore, the confidential information can be retained by separately storing the recording media. Is possible.

Further, (C) and (D) of FIG.
Dot code 42 across multiple pages such as books 54
Is an example printed. Here, it is assumed that the voice data is recorded in an empty area other than the body of the page of the magazine / book 54, but the voice information that can be recorded in the page is limited. Therefore, it is possible to obtain more continuous recording areas of audio information than in the conventional case. Here again, the reproduction of the above information by the conventional reproducing apparatus can be performed by referring to the alignment mark 52. As a matter of course, a recording medium in which the dot code 42 and the alignment mark 52 in this case are printed from the beginning may be provided, and various comments and annotations are conventionally printed in characters outside the frame of a comic magazine or the like. However, recording the voice information in such comment fields has a great effect on sales promotion. This is because voice information can be obtained in addition to the text and image information of a conventional book.
Since the area outside the frame is usually small, the above recording method is effective. Furthermore, since the edges of books and the like are usually turned over by hand, they are easily soiled, and interleaving over several pages also produces an effect of being resistant to soiling. that time,
The dot code 42 is interleaved over several pages, and it is strong against stains and disappears.
If the end of No. 2 is about to disappear and cannot be correctly performed, the recorded dot code 42 cannot be reproduced in the end.

Therefore, the effect of providing the alignment mark 52 on the print medium is great. FIG. 3E shows a dot code 4 on the edge of a plurality of recording media, the magazine / book 54 itself.
In this example, 2 is printed. For example, regarding the contents of a book,
Guide with voice information.

In this embodiment, the reading means of the reproducing apparatus is
Although the reading was performed after the alignment with reference to the alignment mark of the recording medium, the reading means separately reads each recording medium without performing the alignment of each recording medium, and after reading, on the memory. It is also possible to attach and reproduce by referring to the alignment mark. Alternatively,
Japanese Patent Application No. 5-63 filed by the applicant regardless of alignment marks
An image bonding technique such as that shown in No. 978 may be used.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 shows a plurality of reflective originals and transparent originals as optically readable digital signals of multimedia information including image information, text information and computer data in addition to audio information such as voice and music described above. It is a block diagram of an information recording device for printing.

An audio signal input by a voice input device 12 such as a microphone or an audio output device is amplified by a preamplifier 14 and then converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter 16. The digitized audio signal is data-compressed by the audio compression circuit 18 such as the ADPCM circuit of the compression processing unit 56.
By selecting the voice synthesis coding processing unit 60 by switching by 8, the audio signal is subjected to voice synthesis coding and compressed by the Huffman / arithmetic coding processing unit 62.

Also, an electronic camera or video output device 64
The image signal input by the above is amplified by the preamplifier 66 and then converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 68. This digitized image signal is separated into a natural image and a binary image by the image area determination and separation unit 70, and if it is a natural image, the JPEG compression processing unit 72 displays it in a binary image such as handwritten characters and graphs. In that case, the MR / MH / MMR processing unit 74 optimally compresses the binary image.

The I / F 76 is an interface for inputting data from a personal computer, word processor, CAD, electronic notebook, communication transfer, storage device, etc.
The data inputted to the data No. 6 is discriminated by the data form discriminating unit 78 as to the form / presence / non-compression of the data, and if it is uncompressed data, it is inputted to the Huffman / arithmetic encoding processing unit 62 and compressed appropriately. Processing is performed.

Here, the data synthesizing unit 80 determines whether the data determined by the data form determining unit 78 as compressed data, the data compressed by the Huffman / arithmetic coding processing unit 62, or the MR / MH. / MMR processing unit 7
The binary image data compressed in No. 4 or the natural image data compressed in the JPEG compression processing unit 72, the audio data compressed in the audio compression circuit 18, and the like are synthesized.

After the data synthesized by the data synthesizing section 80, an error correction code is added to the data for each block by the error correction code adding circuit 20, and the interleave circuit (data memory) 22 interleaves the data. Is applied. This interleaving distributes the array of data two-dimensionally according to a predetermined rule.
As a result, when the data is returned to the original array in the reproducing apparatus, the paper-like stains and scratches on the paper, that is, the errors themselves are dispersed, and error correction and data interpolation are facilitated. The output data of the interleave circuit 22 is further added with a block address for each block by the address data addition unit 24 for each X address and Y address, and an address error judgment is performed for the address added for each block. A code (CRC code or the like) is added.

The data to which the CRC code or the like has been added in this way is further subjected to modulation for recording by the modulation circuit 26, and a marker is added to each block by the marker addition circuit 28. With reference to the output data of the multimedia information output from the marker adding circuit 28, the alignment mark image forming circuit 30 forms an alignment mark image to be printed around the output data at the time of printing.

The output data from the marker adding circuit 28 is divided by the dividing circuit 82. This division circuit 8
2 indicates that when the recording medium is a transparent original, the output data is divided into the number of recording media as image data so that the output data before division is obtained as a result of superposing a plurality of division results in the surface direction. Output.

Then, the alignment mark image formed by the alignment mark image forming circuit 30 and each of the image data output by the dividing circuit 82 to be recorded on each recording medium are combined and edited by the combining and editing unit. The recording medium is superposed by 84 and recorded on the corresponding recording medium by the printer system and the printing plate making system 86, respectively.

At this time, if there is data 88 to be printed on the paper in addition to the dot codes such as images, titles, characters, etc., the composition / editing section 84 performs composition / editing. That is, together with the image 38 and the character 40, a part of various data such as an image, a sound, a character, and data converted into a digital signal is printed as the dot code 42 with the alignment mark 52.

Alternatively, the image data from the synthesizing / editing section 84 can be directly transmitted by the FAX 90. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the dot code 42 is composed of a plurality of blocks 44, and each block 44 is composed of a marker 46, a block address 48, and a data area 50. As the marker 46, a pattern such as DAT that does not normally appear in recording modulation is used. The data area 50 is an area for recording actual data. The block address 48 is data representing the position of the block 44 and has an error correction code (not shown) added thereto.

Dot code 4 of such a format
2 indicates that data of “1” and “0” is set to “1” with black dots and “0” without black dots by the printer system and the printing plate making system 86, for example, like a barcode. It is printed and recorded on a sheet, a tape printed matter, or a transparent original such as a film or OHP.

FIG. 5 shows an example of information encryption using a plurality of transparent originals as recording media using this information recording apparatus.
A dot A and a dot B are printed on each transparent original 92, and an alignment mark 94 is also recorded at the position shown in the figure. Then, by reading the respective transparent originals 92 at the position of the alignment mark 94, the reproducing apparatus (not shown) obtains the readable dot code 42 for the first time.

In the present embodiment, the reproducing apparatus performed reading after the alignment with reference to the alignment mark 94 of the recording medium. However, the reproducing apparatus does not perform the alignment of each recording medium and After reading the recording media separately,
The alignment mark 94 may be referred to, and the composite mark may be reproduced after being combined on the memory. Therefore, the alignment mark 94 is effective not only when the recording medium is a transparent original but also when a plurality of reflective originals are used.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 shows, as a present embodiment, a configuration of an information recording apparatus for forming voice information, image information, character information and the like, which are input as digital signals, on a print surface such as a seal stamp by forming unevenness on a print plane. FIG.

The digital signal output from the digital signal input unit 96 into which the digitized voice information, image and character information is input is subjected to the optimum data compression for each signal by the compression circuit 98, and then, The error correction code adding circuit 20 adds an error correction code.

Then, the memory 22A and the interleave circuit 22B perform interleaving. This interleaving arranges the data according to a pre-defined rule 2
It is one that is dispersed dimensionally. This interleaving is performed by appropriately reading and outputting the data stored in the memory 22A by the interleaving circuit 22B.

The output data of the interleave circuit 22B is next added with a block address for each block by the address data adding circuit 24 for each X address and Y address, and further for the address added for each block. Address error determination code (CRC code or the like) is added.

The data to which the CRC code or the like is added as described above is further modulated for recording by the modulation circuit 26,
Further, the marker adding circuit 28 adds a marker to each block. With reference to the dot code output by the marker adding circuit 28, the frame line forming unit 100 forms a frame line as an alignment mark image to be printed around the output data at the time of printing. The details of the format of the dot code 42 are the same as those described in the first and second embodiments.

In the frame line as the alignment mark image formed by the frame line forming section 100, the dot code 42 output from the marker adding circuit 28 is the binary inversion circuit 102.
In FIG. 7, the image data that has been black and white inverted is superimposed by the synthesizing circuit 32, and the result is output to the printing surface creation system 104 that forms a binary unevenness on the stamp, and as shown in FIG. 2 corresponding to the print surface 108 such as 106
The value unevenness 110 is formed.

That is, the seal 106 created as a recording means on the medium in the present information recording apparatus is used as the dot code 42 and the positioning mark 52 surrounding the dot code 42 repeatedly on the paper surface and the plate surface with ink any number of times. The frame line of can be imprinted and recorded.

FIG. 7B shows the imprinting result imprinted on the two sheets 36 by the stamp 106.
As described above, in the imprinting result, the dot code 42 and the alignment mark 52 surrounding the dot code 42 are imprinted over the two sheets 36.

However, half of the dot code 42 and a part of the alignment mark 52 are provided on one sheet 36 which is separated from the two sheets 36, and the rest of the dot code 42 and the alignment mark are provided on the remaining sheets 36. The rest of 52 will be imprinted. Since these are interleaved over the entire dot code 42, they cannot be reproduced by only one side. Therefore, if the dot code 42 printed by the printing surface 108 of the seal 106 created by this information recording device records the voice (voiceprint) of the owner, when this is used as the tally, both sheets 36 are When the registration mark 52 is overlapped and read by the reproducing device, various usage scenes such as obtaining a voice required for evidence are developed.

As described above in detail with reference to the first to third embodiments, according to the present invention, it is possible to record multimedia information such as voice, music, images and character information recorded in an optically readable manner for a long time. In an information recording / reproducing system capable of recording and repetitive reproduction, the recording area of a medium used for the system is supplemented, and a recording method that is resistant to stains and disappearance of printed recorded information is provided, and information encryption and new information are provided. It is possible to provide the recording method described above, and to provide a seal stamp and a device for creating the seal stamp having a new function that could not be achieved in the past.

Further, a method of converting personal voice information from which personal voiceprint information can be extracted into a certificate or an optically readable dot code on a contract and printing it by using a conventional device is also considered. To be Even in such a case, if the voice information is printed like a tally between the two documents superimposed as the dot code, a document is created in which the certification relationship becomes effective only when all the documents are prepared. It becomes easy to do.

A recording medium whose contents can be understood only when two or more are prepared is, for example, a collection of problems such as a language teaching material which can obtain voice information only when a question sheet and an answer sheet are combined, or a plurality of persons. There is an advantage that information can be encrypted such as a sent letter of invitation for a party or the like, a will letter addressed to a plurality of relatives, or a design drawing obtained by collecting a plurality of parts lists.

In the first embodiment, when the dot code is recorded over a plurality of sheets, for example, the printer system prints the dodge code on a sticky tape or the like on the back surface and prints it on a plurality of sheets. After sticking over the sheet, the tape or the like may be cut in accordance with the sheet separating portion, or the dividing circuit as in the second embodiment may be provided to convert the dot code into a plurality of dot code images. You may make it divide and print each on a sheet | seat by a printer system.

In the description of the second embodiment, the multimedia information includes audio information, image information, text information, computer data and the like, but the present invention does not need to include all of them, and at least these. You only need to include one.

[0056]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
In an information recording / reproducing system capable of long-time recording and repetitive reproduction of multimedia information such as readable sound, music, images, and character information, the recording area of the medium used for this is compensated for and printed. It is possible to provide an information recording apparatus that enables recording of recorded information that is resistant to dirt and disappearance, and that enables encryption of information and recording of new information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a dot code.

3A to 3D are diagrams showing dot code recording examples in the first embodiment, and FIG. 3E shows an example in which the dot code is printed on the edge of the magazine / book itself. It is a figure.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of dot code recording in the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a third embodiment.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing a seal stamp created as a recording means on a medium in the third embodiment, and FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a seal recording result.

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are diagrams showing conventional dot code recording examples.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 ... Voice input device, 14, 66 ... Preamplifier, 16, 6
8 ... A / D converter, 18 ... Compression processing unit (ADPCM),
20 ... Error correction code addition circuit, 22 ... Interleave circuit (data memory), 22A ... Memory, 22B ... Interleave circuit, 24 ... Address data addition circuit, 26
... modulation circuit, 28 ... marker addition circuit, 30 ... alignment mark image forming circuit, 32 ... combining circuit, 34 ... printer system, 36, 36A to 36E ... sheet, 38 ... image, 4
0 ... letter, 42 ... dot code, 44 ... block, 46
... Marker, 48 ... Block address, 50 ... Data area, 52, 94 ... Alignment mark, 54 ... Magazine / book, 5
6 ... Compression processing unit, 58 ... Switch, 60 ... Speech synthesis coding processing unit, 62 ... Huffman / arithmetic coding processing unit, 64
... electronic camera or video output device, 70 ... image area determination and separation unit, 72 ... JPEG compression processing unit, 74 ... MR / MH
/ MMR processing unit, 76 ... I / F, 78 ... Data form discriminating unit, 80 ... Data combining unit, 82 ... Dividing circuit, 84 ... Combining and editing unit, 86 ... Printer system and printing plate making system, 88 ... Dots Print data other than code, 90
... FAX, 92 ... Transparent manuscript, 96 ... Digital signal input section, 98 ... Compression circuit, 100 ... Frame line forming section, 102 ... 2
Value inversion circuit, 104 ... Printing surface creation system, 106 ... Stamp, 108 ... Printing surface, 110 ... Binary unevenness.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Input means for inputting multimedia information including at least one of audio information, image information and digital data, and converting the multimedia information input by the input means into a readable code. Conversion means, a code recording means for readable recording the code converted by the conversion means over a plurality of recording media, and a code recorded by the code recording means over a plurality of recording media, respectively. An information recording apparatus, comprising: a mark recording unit that records a positioning mark for indicating a positional relationship between them on the plurality of recording media. 2. The code recording means records the code converted by the converting means into a plurality of code information, and the code information divided by the dividing means in separate recording media. The information recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The plurality of recording media are transparent transparent originals, respectively, and the dividing unit is configured to make the code readable when the code information recorded on each of the plurality of transparent originals is superposed. 3. The information recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the code converted by the converting means is divided into a plurality of pieces of code information. 4. The information recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the mark recording means records a mark indicating a position of superposition of the plurality of transparent originals. 5. The information recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mark recording means forms and records a frame line outside a code recorded by the code recording means. 6. The code recording means forms a seal having a print surface capable of being repeatedly recorded on a recording medium, and the code converted by the converting means is formed as binary unevenness on the print surface of the seal. The binary mark unevenness forming means is provided, and the mark recording means is a concave comb formed outside the code formed as the binary unevenness by the binary unevenness forming means on the printing surface of the stamp. The information recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising means for forming an outer frame.