JPH11321168A - Id card production system and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the efficiency of ID card production by reducing the load of a printer, an enhancing the efficiency of ID card production; moreover, restraining alteration parts as much as possible even when character information is altered in its specification with a sufficient correspondence thereto, and controlling the congestion on a network. SOLUTION: This includes a face image retaining device 4 for retaining face image data, an information processing device 3 for creating character image data by font-developing the character code data obtained, and a printer 5 for creating a synthetic image data retained by the face image retaining device 4 and character image data created by the information processing device 3 to thereby record face photograph and character information on ID card in terms of the synthetic image data, wherein at least the information processing device 3, face image retaining device 4, and printer 5 are connected on another via the network.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ID card production system for producing an ID card by recording a photograph of a face and character information on the ID card, and a printer for the ID card production system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A face photograph and character information are recorded on an ID card such as a driver's license, a passport, a national card, and an employee ID card, and the recorded information is used for identity verification. . An ID card creating system for creating an ID card includes a host computer storing personal data, a photographing device which is a face image acquiring device for acquiring face image data of a face photograph, and a personal data acquired from the host computer and a photographing device. And a printer that records a face photograph and character information on an ID card based on the face image data obtained from the printer. Generally, in this ID card creation system, a plurality of photographing devices and printers are connected to one host computer in order to centrally manage personal data and create ID cards in various places.

In this conventional ID card creation system, a printer acquires character information as character code data from a host computer, and converts the acquired character code data into a font based on font data stored in the printer. The image data is developed to generate character image data in a bitmap format, and is recorded on an ID card together with the face image data obtained from the photographing device.

[0004]

However, after the printer develops the font and generates the character image data,
Recording on the ID card together with the face image data
Originally, it takes a long time to record an image, and the printer is subjected to a process of font development, and the efficiency of ID card creation is low.

In addition, when the specifications of the character information of the host computer are changed, the interface between the host computer and the printer must be changed. In particular, as described above, a plurality of ID cards must be created in various places to create ID cards. When the printers are provided in various places, it is necessary to change all the plurality of printers in each place, and the amount of work has to be enormous.

Further, such an ID card creation system is used in various countries around the world, but every time specifications such as languages and fonts are different, an interface between the host computer and the printer and font data stored in each printer are stored. In order to change this, a great burden is imposed on the manufacturer of the ID card creation system.

[0007] The inventors of the present invention have disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Nos.
No. 9215 proposes increasing the efficiency of ID card creation (image recording and the like) in a printer by separately providing a server, which is an information processing device, with a function of font expansion which has been performed by a conventional printer. As a result, even if the specifications of the personal information obtained by the server are changed, it is not necessary to change all the printers connected to the network, just change the server and the amount of work can be greatly reduced. ,further,
Printers and the like can be adapted to countries around the world with different specifications such as languages and fonts by simply changing the server without changing the specifications, thereby greatly reducing the burden.

However, in this system, since the server combines the face image data acquired by the photographing device with the character image data acquired and developed by the server, the face image data having a large data amount is transmitted from the photographing device. It must be transmitted over the network twice, to the server, and from the server to the printer. As a result, network congestion occurs and the efficiency of ID card creation decreases.

Accordingly, the present invention reduces the load on the printer to increase the efficiency of ID card creation, and furthermore, even when the specifications of the character information are changed, minimizes the portion to be changed and sufficiently copes with it. It is another object to reduce congestion on a network and improve the efficiency of ID card creation.

[0010]

The above object can be attained by the following constitution.

(1) A face image acquisition device for acquiring face image data, an information processing device for acquiring character code data, developing the acquired character code data into a font to generate character image data, Generating composite image data by synthesizing the face image data obtained by the image obtaining device and the character image data generated by the information processing device;
A printer that records a face photograph and character information on an ID card based on the composite image data, wherein at least the information processing device, the face image acquisition device, and the printer are connected via a network. An ID card production system characterized by being performed.

(2) The face image acquisition device acquires an identification code corresponding to the acquired face image data when acquiring the face image data, and the information processing device acquires the identification code acquired by the face image acquisition device. The ID card production system according to (1), wherein character code data corresponding to the identification code is obtained.

(3) The printer according to (1) or (2), wherein the printer records information based on the character code data acquired by the information processing device in an IC memory incorporated in an ID card. The described ID card production system.

(4) A face image acquiring device for acquiring face image data, and an information processing device for acquiring character code data and developing the acquired character code data into a font to generate character image data via a network. Connected
The face image data acquired by the face image acquisition device and the character image data generated by the information processing device are acquired via the network, and the acquired face image data and character image data are combined to form a composite image. A printer which generates data and records a face photograph and character information on an ID card based on the generated composite image data.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Before describing an embodiment of the present invention, an ID card 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 which is a plan view of the ID card 1. FIG. Note that FIG. 1 shows the inside of the ID card 1 as a part. In this example, the employee card of the company is shown as the ID card 1.

Inside the ID card 1, an IC memory (also called an IC chip) 11 capable of storing digital data, reading of information stored in the IC memory 11, and writing of information to the IC memory 11 are provided. And an antenna 12 which is a signal transmitting / receiving unit.

On the surface of the ID card 1, a character image 14 and a face photograph image 15 are recorded as visible images.
The character image 14 is personal information for identifying the individual carrier of the ID card 1, and for example, a personal code, a name, a company name, a workplace, an issue date, etc. are recorded as images on the surface of the ID card 1. I have. The face photograph image 15 is a color image recorded on the surface of the ID card 1 as an image of a photograph of the carrier (employee) of the ID card 1. The face photograph image 15 is preferably a color image having a gradation (multi-valued), but may be a monotone image, a halftone image, or a dither image. Further, the character image 14 is preferably a binary monochrome image in order to enhance the identification of characters. In this example, all the images of the character image 14 and the face photograph image 15 are recorded on one surface of the ID card 1, but a part of the image is recorded on the other side of the ID card 1 (on the opposite side). (This corresponds to the back surface in FIG. 1).

The base of the ID card 1 is preferably a biaxially stretched polyester film or a film of ABS or polyester / biaxially stretched polyester film, but may be vinyl chloride.

The ID card 1 according to the present embodiment has a so-called non-contact type ID having an antenna 12 built therein.
The card (IC card) 1 is provided with electrical contacts on the surface of the ID card 1 and transmits and receives data via the electrical contacts, that is, a so-called contact type ID card (IC card) 1
It may be. Further, in the present embodiment, the IC memory 11 is provided inside the ID card 1;
May be provided with an IC memory 11 on the surface thereof.

Next, an ID card creating system for creating the ID card 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the ID creation system.

The ID creation system includes a host computer (hereinafter, referred to as a host) 2, a server 3, an imaging device 4,
And a printer 5. In the present embodiment,
Servers 3 are set up in branch offices and branches in various places so that personal information is centrally managed by a host 2 located in the head office and an ID card 1 can be created in branch offices and branch offices in various places (see FIG. 2). Describes only one server 3). Therefore, the host 2 and the server 3 are connected, for example, by a dedicated line, and are configured to be able to exchange data with each other. Further, in the present embodiment, a local area network (hereinafter, referred to as a LAN) is provided in each branch / branch, and a server 3, a photographing device 4, and a printer 5 are connected to the LAN. Thus, data can be exchanged with each other. Further, as shown by a broken line in FIG.
And multiple printers such as 5 'can be connected,
Here, a case where one image capturing device 4 and one printer 5 are connected will be described.

The host 2 is an information processing apparatus that centrally manages personal information, exchanges data with the server 3 via a dedicated line, and searches for personal information (personal character data). The host 2 is provided with a database 21 in which personal information is stored in a character code (character code) format together with a personal code which is an identification code corresponding to the personal information of all employees. It is stored as code data. Specifically, the personal information is a name, a workplace, an address, and the like. When the host 2 receives the personal code from the server 3 described later, the host 2 searches the personal code stored in the database 21 for data that matches the received personal code, and stores the data in the database 21 corresponding to the matched personal code. Read the stored personal information. And
The read character code data of the personal information is transmitted to the server 3 together with the personal code.

The server 3 receives the personal code from the photographing apparatus 4 via the LAN, and receives the personal code via the dedicated line.
An information processing device (a computer functioning as a server) that transmits and receives data to and from the host 2, acquires personal information from the host 2, and transmits the acquired personal information to the printer 5 via the LAN. That is, the server 3 receives the personal code transmitted from the photographing device 4 described later, transmits the personal code to the host 2 to obtain personal information corresponding to the personal code, performs an inquiry of the personal code, The personal information obtained as a result of the search in step 2 is received, and the personal information is acquired. Then, the obtained information is transmitted to the printer 5. The server 3 has storage means (not shown) for storing font data. Then, the personal information represented by the character code obtained from the host 2 is subjected to font expansion using the font data stored in the storage means (if there are a plurality of font data, preset font data). 2. Generate character image data of binary bitmap data (monochrome image). In addition, the server 3 stores the ID stored in the IC memory 11 of the ID card 1 based on the acquired personal information.
Generate C data. The server 3 transmits the generated character image data and IC data together with the personal code to the LAN.
Is transmitted to the printer 5 via the.

The photographing device 4 is a face image acquiring device for acquiring face image data of a face photograph. In the present embodiment, the photographing device 4 captures a face photograph of a person sitting in front of the photographing device 4 and photoelectrically converts the photograph. A photographing apparatus 4 for obtaining face image data represented by a value color image (digital data). The photographing apparatus 4 displays an image based on the captured face image data on a display unit (not shown), and the operator looks at the image displayed on the display unit and operates an operation unit (not shown). An arrangement is made such that the position of the face in the data is adjusted and the positioned face image data is obtained. Also,
At the time of capturing the face photograph, an operator inputs the photograph from an input unit (not shown) provided in the photographing device 4.
The personal code corresponding to the person to be imaged is obtained. The photographing device 4 exchanges data with the server 3 and the printer via the LAN.
The personal code and the face image data obtained by the photographing device 4 are LA
The data is transmitted to the server 3 and the printer 5 via N.
More specifically, the personal code is transmitted to the server 3, and the personal code and the face image data are transmitted to the printer 5.

In the present embodiment, the face image data is obtained by directly imaging a person to obtain the face image data. It may be configured to obtain face image data by reading by means. Further, when the personal code is obtained, the operator inputs the personal code to the input means. However, the personal code may be obtained by a reading means such as a card reader.

An image forming apparatus for recording a face photograph based on the face image data acquired by the photographing device 4 and character information based on the character image data generated by the server 3 on the surface of the ID card 1. It is. The printer 5 in the present embodiment acquires a personal code, character image data, and IC data from the server 3 via the LAN, and acquires a personal code and face image data from the photographing device 4 via the LAN. It also has a function of synthesizing character image data and face image data having the same personal code acquired from the imaging device 4 to generate synthesized image data. The printer 5 records an image of the face and character information on the surface of the ID card 1 by forming an image based on the generated composite image data. Further, the printer 5
Has acquired the IC data from the server 3 via the LAN, and records this IC data in the IC memory 11 of the ID card 1.

Of course, the printer 5 is provided with storage means, and is capable of storing a plurality of personal codes, face image data, character image data, and IC data.

Next, the operation of the present system will be described with reference to FIG. 3 which is a timing chart.

First, the server 3 logs in to the host 2, and upon receiving a login OK signal from the host 2, the server 3 enters a state in which data can be exchanged between the server 3 and the host 2. Then, when the operator inputs the user ID and the password into the input means of the photographing device 4, the photographing device 4 logs in to the server 3 via the LAN and receives a login OK signal from the server 3.
Data can be exchanged between the photographing device 4 and the server 3, and photographing OK is displayed on the display unit of the photographing device 4.
Is displayed.

Next, the operator inputs a personal code corresponding to the person sitting in front of the photographing device 4 to the input means of the photographing device 4, and further operates the operating means to capture a photograph of the face of the person. To instruct. The photographing device 4 receiving this instruction
Captures a face photograph of a person, performs photoelectric conversion to obtain face image data represented by a multi-valued color image, stores the image in a memory (not shown) provided in the photographing device 4, and An image based on the image is displayed on the display means. The operator looks at the image displayed on the display unit of the photographing device 4 and operates the operation unit to adjust the position and density of the face in the face image data (further, re-photograph). With this adjustment, the imaging device 4 performs image processing on the image data stored in the memory,
The result is sequentially displayed on the display means. The operator
Finally, when it is determined that the image displayed on the display means is OK, an input indicating confirmation is made to the input means. Photographing device 4
When this input is detected, the personal code input first is transmitted to the server 3 via the LAN, and the personal code and the face image data stored in the memory are transmitted via the LAN. , To the printer 5.

Then, the operator and the photographing device 4 continue to photograph the second person in the same manner as described above. The personal code and the face image data transmitted from the photographing device 4 to the printer 5 are stored in the storage unit of the printer 5. On the other hand, the server 3 receives the personal code transmitted from the photographing device 4 via the LAN. Server 3
Transmits the received personal code to the host 2 via a dedicated line.
Send to

The host 2 receives the personal code transmitted from the server 3 via a dedicated line. Host 2
When the personal code is received from the server 3, the personal code stored in the database 21 is searched for data matching the received personal code, and the personal information stored in the database 21 corresponding to the matched personal code is retrieved. Is read. Then, the obtained personal information is transmitted to the server 3 via a dedicated line together with the personal code. The format of the data transmitted at this time is a character code (character code). However, special characters that are not standard may be sent as font images.

The server 3 receives the personal code and the personal information transmitted from the host 2 via a dedicated line.
That is, the server 3 acquires character code data as personal information. Then, the personal information (character code data) represented by the obtained character code is font-expanded using the font data stored in the storage means,
Character image data of binary bitmap data (monochrome image) is generated. Further, the server 3 stores the IC memory 1 of the ID card 1 based on the personal information acquired from the host 2.
1 is generated. Thereafter, the server 3 transmits the generated character image data and IC data together with the personal code to the printer 5 via the LAN.

The printer 5 converts the personal code and face image data transmitted from the photographing device 4 via the LAN,
The data is received and stored in the storage means of the printer 5.
Further, the printer 5 receives the personal code, character image data, and IC data transmitted from the server 3 via the LAN. Then, the printer 5 stores the server 3 out of the face image data stored in the storage unit of the printer 5.
The face image data stored corresponding to the personal code that matches the personal code received from the printer 5 is read from the storage unit of the printer 5. Then, the character image data received from the server 3 and the read face image data are pasted on a template stored in the storage unit of the printer 5 and combined to generate combined image data.

Then, the printer 5 forms an image based on the generated composite image data, thereby recording the face photograph 15 and the character information 14 on the surface of the ID card 1.
Further, the printer 5 records the received IC data in the IC memory 11 of the ID card 1. I by printer 5
When the recording on the D card 1 is completed, the printer 5
A signal indicating that the recording is completed is transmitted to the photographing device 4 via N. Then, the photographing device 4 receives this signal and displays it on the display means to notify the operator that the first ID card 1 has been created.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the efficiency of creating the ID card 1 (image recording and the like) in the printer 5 is improved by providing the server 3 with the function of font expansion which has conventionally been performed by the printer 5. . Also, the specification of personal information acquired by the server 3 (the specification of the host 2)
Even if is changed, in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to change all the printers 5 connected to the LAN, only the server 3 needs to be changed, and the amount of work can be greatly reduced. Further, in the present embodiment, the printer 5 and the like can be adapted to countries around the world having different specifications such as languages and fonts by simply changing the server 3 without changing the specifications, thereby greatly reducing the burden. Can be planned.

Further, in the present embodiment, the character image data obtained by expanding the font and the face image data are combined by the printer 5 so that the transmission of the face image data having a large data amount can be performed by the photographing device 4. Only once to the printer 5, network congestion can be alleviated, and the efficiency of ID card creation can be promoted.

In this embodiment, each device 3
It is also possible to compress data that is exchanged between ５5, for example, face image data, and exchange the data with the compressed data.

[0039]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
Reduces the load on the printer to increase the efficiency of ID card creation, and even if the specifications of text information are changed, minimizes the changes and minimizes congestion on the network. However, the efficiency of ID card creation can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an ID card.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ID creation system.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ID card 2 Host computer 3 Server (information processing device) 4 Photographing device (facial image acquisition device) 5 Printer 11 IC memory 14 Character image 15 Face photograph image

Claims (4)

[Claims] A face image acquisition device for acquiring face image data, an information processing device for acquiring character code data, and developing the acquired character code data into a font to generate character image data; The face image data acquired by the acquisition device and the character image data generated by the information processing device are combined to generate combined image data, and based on the combined image data,
A printer for recording a face photograph and text information on a D card,
An ID card production system, comprising: at least the information processing device, the face image acquisition device, and the printer are connected via a network. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the face image acquisition device acquires an identification code corresponding to the acquired face image data when acquiring the face image data, and the information processing device acquires the identification code acquired by the face image acquisition device. The ID card production system according to claim 1, wherein character code data corresponding to the code is acquired. 3. The ID according to claim 1, wherein the printer records information based on the character code data acquired by the information processing device in an IC memory incorporated in an ID card. Card production system. 4. A face image acquiring apparatus for acquiring face image data, and an information processing apparatus for acquiring character code data, expanding the acquired character code data into a font and generating character image data, via a network. Connected, acquires the face image data acquired by the face image acquisition device and the character image data generated by the information processing device via the network, and synthesizes the acquired face image data and character image data. A printer that generates composite image data and records a face photograph and character information on an ID card based on the generated composite image data.