KR100341504B1 - Machine readable code for representing information and method and apparatus for encoding/decoding the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an encoding method for generating a code image from code and information that can be recognized by a machine in which an image is formed in units of cells for displaying specific information, and a decoding method for extracting information from a code image. A code formed to be machine readable, the machine readable code comprising at least two areas, each area including at least one cell, the color or shade depending on the content of the information A data area formed of at least one data cell that is encoded and displayed differently; And a reference area formed of at least one reference cell providing a reference color or a reference joke for determining the color or tint of the data cell formed in the data area, and thus, more diverse and vast information can be encoded. In addition, it includes a reference area, which can reduce misperception due to differences in operating conditions of output devices or input devices or differences in product models.

Description

Machine readable code for representing information and method and apparatus for encoding / decoding the same}

The present invention relates to an encoding method for generating code images from machine-recognizable codes and information in which images are formed in units of cells in order to display specific information, and a decoding method for extracting information from code images.

In recent years, most products on the market are printed with bar codes composed of lines of various thicknesses to indicate product information such as product types and prices. As shown in FIG. 1, the bar code is composed of a thick line, a thin line, a double line, and the like to represent numeric data encoded with product information.

On the other hand, there are cases where a uniform resource location (URL) such as a home page address or an e-mail address of a company is printed on a business card for the purpose of general business. The Internet homepage contains the contents of the company's public relations, and an Internet user interested in the company reads the company's public relations contained in the Internet homepage and attempts to contact the e-mail address when inquiries are made. In addition to the business card, the website or the URL of a specific company may be printed in an advertisement column such as a magazine or a newspaper, and in some cases, an internet homepage address may also be printed in a publication.

At this time, if a user wants to access the URL printed on the business card, the user must type the URL printed on the business card (for example, http://comsciyonsei.ac.kr/~nklee) with the keyboard. Or, if an e-mail address (for example, nklee@yonsei.ac.kr) is printed on a business card, a user who wants to send a letter to that e-mail address must type in the e-mail address.

However, Internet homepage addresses or e-mail addresses do not consist of one or two letters, but generally consist of dozens or tens of letters. This has the disadvantage of being cumbersome for the user to enter the address.

Using bar codes, which are widely used now, can represent only a small amount of data. That is, the bar code is limited in the characters that can be encoded, free expression is impossible.

In order to solve this disadvantage, US Patent Publication No. USP 5,869,828 (name of the invention: Color and shape system for encoding and decoding data) has been proposed. US Pat. No. 5,869,828 is a method and system for encoding / decoding character data using a color figure, and can display information of a product by printing a color figure with a simple configuration on the surface of the product.

Since print characteristics are different for each print, when one color figure is printed with different printers, colors are differently printed due to the characteristics of the printer. In other words, when data is encoded into color figures and the color figures are printed to printers of different companies, the color tone of the color figures may vary according to the characteristics of each printer. Therefore, according to US Pat. No. 5,869,828, an error of failing to properly restore the original information when decoding the printed color figure may occur even if the same color figure is caused by the difference in the printing environment.

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, unlike the conventional encoding method of bar code encoding method and system capable of expressing a wider variety of characters and ensure the accuracy of the code decoding can be interpreted and encoded by such a method It is an object of the present invention to provide a decoding method and apparatus.

1 is a view showing a conventional barcode.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a code formed as an image so that target information can be machine-readable according to the present invention.

3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a code conversion table for converting various characters and the like into code images.

4 illustrates an example of a color matrix coded image in which object information is imaged and represented according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5A and 5B illustrate an embodiment of a pattern that can be displayed on each cell of a code image according to the present invention, and FIG. 5C shows a color by dividing one cell area of the code image into various parts according to the present invention. It is a figure explaining one possible embodiment.

5D illustrates one embodiment of generating a code image using greyscale code in accordance with the present invention.

6A, 6B and 6C show examples in which a code image according to the present invention is displayed on a business card.

7A is a flowchart illustrating an encoding method according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7B illustrates a screen provided for inputting objective information, and FIG. 7C illustrates a system for implementing an encoding method according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows.

8A is a flowchart illustrating a decoding method according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating a system for implementing a decoding method according to the present invention, and FIG. 8C is a diagram in which a code image is read in a skewed or skewed form. It is a figure which shows the state.

Machine-readable code according to the present invention for solving the above problems,

In a machine-readable code for displaying predetermined information,

A data area including at least two areas, each area including at least one cell, wherein the data area is formed of at least one data cell in which colors or shades are encoded differently according to contents of the information; And a reference area formed of at least one reference cell providing a reference color or a reference joke for determining the color or tint of the data cell formed in the data area.

Code image encoding method according to the present invention for solving the above problems,

Setting a code conversion table in which colors or shades are mapped differently in correspondence with each recognizable character including numbers and symbols; Setting object data to be encoded; Encoding the object data by the code conversion table to generate an image displayed in a data area; Setting a reference area in which an existing color or reference joke is displayed, which provides an interpretation criterion of a color or tint to be displayed in the data area; And generating a physical or electronic code image from the image of the data area and the reference area.

Code image encoding apparatus according to the present invention for solving the above problems,

A storage unit for storing a code conversion table in which colors or shades are mapped differently in correspondence with each recognizable character including numbers and symbols; A data area generation unit which receives the target data to be encoded and encodes the data by using the code conversion table to generate an image displayed in the data area; A reference area generation unit for setting a reference area in which a reference color or a reference joke is provided which provides a criterion for interpreting colors or shades to be displayed in the data area; And a code image generator for generating a physical or electronic code image from the image which is the data region and the reference region.

Code image decoding method according to the present invention for solving the above problems,

Receiving a code image having a data area encoded with colors or shades and having a reference region in which a reference color is displayed or a reference color is displayed to provide an interpretation criterion of the colors or shades displayed on the data region; Discriminating and identifying a data area and a reference area from the code image; Determining the color or tint of each cell displayed in the data area based on the reference color or the reference joke displayed in the reference area; And extracting the object data of recognizable characters including numbers and symbols by decoding them by a code conversion table according to the colors or shades determined for each cell of the data area.

Code image decoding apparatus according to the present invention for solving the above problems,

A storage unit for storing a code conversion table in which colors or shades are mapped differently in correspondence with each recognizable character including numbers and symbols; An input unit for receiving a code image encoded by the code conversion table, the input area having a data area in which object data is displayed and a reference area providing an interpretation criterion for the data area; An information identification unit for discriminating and identifying a data area and a reference area from the code image, and determining a color or a tint of each cell displayed in the data area based on the reference color or reference joke displayed on the reference area; And a data extraction unit for decoding the target data in recognizable characters including numbers and symbols by decoding by the code conversion table according to the color or tint determined for each cell of the data area.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a code formed into an image so that predetermined target information can be machine-readable in accordance with the present invention.

The code includes at least two regions, and each region includes at least one cell. The code determines the color or shade of the data region 21 and the data cell formed in the data region 21 formed of at least one data cell in which colors or shades are encoded and displayed differently according to the content of the information. And a reference area 22 formed of at least one reference cell for providing a reference color or a reference jog. In addition, the display device may further include a control region 23 formed of at least one control cell displaying a command or a service that may be provided using information displayed in the data region 21.

It is preferable to further include boundary regions 25 and 26 for distinguishing regions between the regions included in the code. In addition, a boundary area for distinguishing cells may be further provided between each cell included in each area. The boundary areas 25 and 26 may be composed of lines or cells of a specific color or pattern that do not display object information. On the other hand, by distinguishing and setting the range of colors or shades that can be displayed in each cell of the data area, the reference area, and the control area, these areas can be distinguished, or special patterns as described later are inserted into the cells of each area differently. Can be used.

The data area 21 is composed of one or more data cells in which characters and the like are encoded as images, and may include a boundary line or a boundary area for distinguishing adjacent data cells between the data cells. Each border or border area is black or white so that each data cell can be distinguished when a scanner or CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera reads the data area (even in the case of the reference area and the control area).

The data cells may be configured such that each represents one character, and the plurality of data cell sets may also be configured to represent one or more information. For example, the letter 'A' may be displayed as one cell in red or two cells in red and green.

The purpose information contained in the data area 21 is composed of letters, numbers, symbols, etc., name, address, phone number, fax number, host address of the network, domain name and IP address used in the Internet, URL, protocol, Or it can be various according to user's needs such as document name.

The reference area 22 is used to set a reference color for recognizing the colors represented in the cells in the data area 21 and / or the control area 23. The colors of the cells displayed in the data area 21 and the reference area 22 are displayed based on at least one of a red blue green (RGB) color model and a hue saturation value (HSV) color model.

Depending on the type of printing or the material of the printing paper, even one color may be printed differently, and the same color may be recognized differently depending on the characteristics of the scanner or camera. In view of this point, the reference cell in the reference area 22 provides a criterion for determining the color displayed in the data area. That is, even if the color is output differently according to the output device or the color is input differently according to an input device such as a scanner, the color difference between the color of the reference area 22 and the color of the data area 21 is Since it is fixed, it is possible to accurately recognize the color of the cell represented in the data area 21. Therefore, since the color displayed in the cell of the data area 21 has a relative color difference compared with the reference color of the reference area 22, the color is compared with the reference color of the reference area 22 based on the RGB model or the HSV model. By obtaining the color of the cells in the data area 21, it is possible to accurately recognize the information of the data cells even if the image input device or the output device is changed.

The user may be provided with various services according to the application field using the purpose information of the data area 21. For example, if a business card displays the homepage address (ie URL) of the Internet as a code image, decode the code image into a computer and then launch the WEB browser of that computer or a server computer connected to that computer. Can be programmed to access the home page. In addition, if the e-mail address of the Internet is displayed as a code image, an environment in which the code image can be decoded to a computer and then mailed to the e-mail address by executing mailing software of the computer. Can be provided. At this time, the automatic service function may be automatically executed by a separate program or in accordance with the type of object information in the decoding program. In addition, it is possible to implement such a separate command in the code image to include the control region 23 represented by the image, and to automatically serve the decoding program using the control information decoded in the control region 23.

The control area 23 is encoded / decoded in the same manner as the data area 21, but is an area in which a command or meta-data or the like for controlling the target information of the computer system or the data area is encoded. For example, the information displayed in the control area 23 is a mapping method for the decoding order of the cells formed in the data area 21, or the reference area 22 serving as a criterion for determining the color of the data cells formed in the data area 21. ) May include various meta information such as the location of a reference cell.

In addition, when the code image is displayed on a part of the medium, a boundary line (or boundary area) for distinguishing an area of the code image and a background area that is not may be set to distinguish the code image from the background.

3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a code conversion table for converting various characters (alphabet, special characters, etc.), numbers, or shapes into a code image, in which two color cells are mapped to one character. Using the code conversion table as shown in FIG. 3, the object information may be encoded into a code image or the object information may be extracted by decoding the code image.

In the encoding method using the code conversion table of FIG. 3, a code image is generated by converting various characters and the like into codes, and then generating a code image in a color (color) assigned to each code. In this example, code images are generated using eight colors, and two consecutive cells are used to represent one letter or number. For each color, codes '000' through '111' are assigned, and each character is encoded in two colors. For example, the number '3' is assigned to the code '000 011', encoded in the color (black) assigned to the code '000' and the color assigned to the code '011' (yan), and the black cell and the white color. It is imaged as two consecutive cells. 3 is shown in black and white gray level due to the limitation of drawing, it is also possible to use the black and white gray level in actual application, but it would be more advantageous to code recognition to implement with a combination of color colors, the number of colors It will depend on the capabilities of your color-printing device (e.g. printer) or your color-aware device (e.g. scanner).

According to the code conversion table shown in FIG. 3, various characters or numbers included in the object information may be coded, and then the color corresponding to the code may be expressed in the form of a rectangular matrix of square cell combinations. As shown in the code conversion table of FIG. 3, when one character is represented by two cells using eight kinds of colors, all 64 characters may be represented. The English alphabet has 52 lowercase and uppercase letters, 10 Arabic numerals, and 1 space character (all 63), so there is no problem in English.

However, special codes can be set to display more various characters. For example, when the special code for the Korean-English toggle is set to the 64th code, when a cell corresponding to the special code appears in the code image, the next consecutive cell is toggled in English and vice versa. Alternatively, a special code is set separately for each type of language. For example, in the case of expressing English, data is represented after the English special code, and the Korean special code is first displayed to display the Korean language.

The code conversion table is a table that defines a relationship for mapping various letters, numbers, symbols, and the like into predetermined colors. Examples thereof include not only the example shown in FIG. 3, but also codes such as a barcode or PDF-417, and a matrix image composed of one-dimensional or two-dimensional monochrome or color cells (or lines). Code images can be printed on credit cards in visual form or in computer-readable file data on electronic media. If the code image is decoded by a code conversion table, the original ' Purpose information 'can be obtained.

4 illustrates an example of a color matrix code image in which object information is physically or electronically imaged and represented according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the present embodiment, a code image is generated from the object information by converting the recognizable characters such as numbers and symbols into predetermined colors (or shades), respectively, by converting them by the code conversion table (see FIG. 3). It consists of colors, patterns or a combination thereof.

The number of cells included in the color matrix code image may be appropriately determined in consideration of the amount of information of the objective information, and the structure thereof is preferably a matrix type of NxM size, but in consideration of the needs of the user or the characteristics of the medium in which the code image is represented. It can be expressed in any shape such as round, oval or polygon. In addition, one code image may be divided into several parts and displayed in a plurality of separated locations.

Scanners and digital cameras have higher resolutions and higher recognition rates of colors displayed in cells, but CCDs have a narrower imaging area and lower resolution than scanners, which is lower than scanners in the same color recognition rate. Therefore, it is desirable that the code image for use in the CCD be as large as possible in the cell size and as small as possible in the color type of the cell. However, when the size of the cell is increased and the color type of the cell is reduced, it is difficult to encode many kinds of data within the limited area.

However, if the patterns of various shapes are included in the cell, various data may be represented in the same space. If one cell represents one character, if eight (3 bits) colors and four (2 bits) different patterns can be formed, all 32 kinds (5 bits) of different characters can be formed. Can be represented.

5A and 5B illustrate an embodiment of a pattern that can be displayed in each cell of a code image according to the present invention. In converting information into a code image, it is shown that a method of adding a pattern to a color cell using a vector line in addition to color can be employed. 5A illustrates an example of four-way vector lines and eight-way vector lines that may be displayed in a cell. If four-way vector lines are used, as shown in FIG. 5B, 16 different patterns (4 bits) may be added to the color of each cell. Therefore, when 8 colors (3 bits) are used, 128 cells (7 bits) can be represented by one cell.

In addition, as an example of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5C, one cell may be divided into horizontal, vertical, or diagonal directions to arrange other colors to generate more diverse and precise color coded images.

In this way, if an encoding algorithm capable of code-imaging object information by various expression methods is provided, flexibility in expression of richer characters (for example, Chinese or Japanese as well as Korean or English) can be provided.

5D illustrates one embodiment of generating a code image using greyscale code in accordance with the present invention. Although the present invention can be encoded and decoded as color using a color printer and a scanner, it is shown that a code image can be generated using grayscale code, that is, black and white shades according to a user's use and situation.

Grayscale codes form codes according to the brightness of black and white instead of the mixing ratio of R (Red), G (Green), and B (Blue). Accordingly, the reference area is composed of at least one reference light of black, white, and gray, and the cells in the data area have values coded by gray differences compared to the reference light of the reference area. This grayscale code image can be applied to a medium mainly printed in black and white, such as a newspaper.

6A illustrates an example in which a code image according to the present invention is displayed on a business card. FIG. 6B illustrates an example using a code image including a vector line described with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B. However, this additional vector line pattern is preferably implemented with lines of color not represented in the cell. The reason is to distinguish the background color of the pattern and the cell. 6C illustrates an example in which a code image is displayed on an advertisement sheet, and may include information for accessing a webpage for accessing an advertiser's homepage address, an e-mail address, or detailed information related to the advertisement. 6B and 6C, one column to the left of the code image indicates a reference area, and it can be seen that the two areas are distinguished with a space between the data areas.

7A is a flowchart illustrating a method of encoding information such as characters into a code image according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information is converted into a code image by the encoding software as follows. One or more letters or numbers included in the object information are converted by a predetermined code conversion table as shown in FIG. 3 and converted into code images having a predetermined shape, color, pattern, or a combination thereof.

First, the following encoding scheme may be applied according to the type of information encoded into the code image. Encoding methods can be divided into direct encoding method, indirect (or index) encoding method, and mixed encoding method. The direct encoding method refers to a method of generating a code image by directly encoding object information by a code conversion table. Indirect encoding is a method of encoding the index information (for example, the address or record number of the database) for referencing the target information by using a code conversion table to convert the form into an image. There is a mixed encoding method in which the two methods are mixed.

The direct encoding method encodes the target information itself into a code image, and does not require a separate system or a separate storage location, but when the amount of data of the target information increases, the physical size of the code image also increases.

The indirect encoding method encodes the positional information of the storage location where the object information is stored without encoding the object information itself. The location information may be a pointer or a memory address of a storage location where the destination information is stored, or a URL or an IP address indicating the location of the destination information. Therefore, the indirect encoding method requires a separate system or storage location where the target information exists.

In the mixed encoding method, some data essential for the entire purpose information is encoded by the direct encoding method, and other data is encoded by the indirect encoding method. For example, a name and a telephone number are encoded for each character, data having a large amount of data such as a postal address or an email address is stored in a server, and a code image is generated by encoding a memory address of the data stored in the server. Such a mixed encoding method is preferably to apply a direct encoding method for fixed data, such as a name, and an indirect encoding method for variable data, such as homepage information.

An encoding process will be described with reference to FIG. 7A. A code conversion table in which colors or shades or gray levels are mapped differently is set corresponding to each recognizable character including numbers and symbols (71). An example of the code conversion table is shown in FIG. 3. As described above, a pattern using a vector line (see FIG. 5B) or a method of dividing an internal region of a cell (see FIG. 5C) may be applied to a mapping method.

The user inputs object information to be converted into a code image (72). 7B illustrates a screen provided for inputting objective information. This example is to encode the personal information to be displayed on the business card into a code image. When a name, affiliation, telephone number, fax number, etc. is inputted, the code image is automatically generated by a code conversion table. It is also common for servers to store information entered by users in a database or file.

Next, it is determined whether a direct encoding method for directly encoding the object information is applied or whether an indirect encoding method for encoding the position information stored in the database is applied (73). If the direct encoding method is applied, the object information itself is set as the object data to be encoded (74b), and if the indirect encoding method is applied, the position information of the object information is set as the object data to be encoded (74a). ). For example, in the example of FIG. 7B, encoding the personal information (object information) input by the user itself is a direct encoding method, and when the personal information is encoded an address of a database stored in a server or an index associated with the address, indirectly It is an encoding method. In addition, a mixed encoding scheme may be applied in which a direct encoding scheme is applied to a name and an indirect encoding scheme is applied to the remaining personal information. Since phone numbers and e-mail addresses are information that can be changed from time to time, it is preferable to apply an indirect encoding method that can refer to a database where user information is stored without directly encoding them. When a user's personal information is changed, the user can modify the contents of the server's database. The person who receives the business card displaying the user's code image can always access the latest information even with the previously received business card.

The target data is encoded by the code conversion table (75a). Then, the image to be displayed in the data cell is determined by the color or shade corresponding to the letters or numbers included in the object data, and the image cells are arranged in the order (or in a predetermined manner) in which the characters of the object data are arranged. To complete the data area.

On the other hand, the target data may be encrypted by an encryption algorithm before being encoded by the code conversion table. As a method of encryption, a method of changing the order of characters or replacing other characters with a predetermined algorithm by a predetermined algorithm or changing the amount and type of information by using a hash algorithm can be used. In addition, the encoding process may be performed after encoding the object data (if the object data is encrypted if the object data is encrypted). In this case, the encryption method may change the order of the data cells, change the shape, characters, patterns, colors, etc. displayed on the data cells, or replace the data cells with other ones.

Next, a reference color or a reference jog is provided to provide an interpretation criterion for the color or tint displayed on the data cells of the data area, and the reference area is set by determining the shape, position or arrangement of the reference cells in which they are displayed (75b). ). In addition, a control region encoded with control information in which items related to a command or a service that can be used using the purpose information included in the data region may be further set (75c). Such a control region may or may not be set according to the content or type of encoded object information.

When the data area, the reference area, and the control area are set, the layout of the code image is set including the shape in which the code image is displayed, the relative position and size of each area, and the size of the unit cell (75d). For example, as shown in FIG. 2, in the case of a rectangular matrix code image, the reference region may be positioned at the leftmost side of the code image, the control region may be positioned at the lower end, and the other portions may be data regions.

In operation 76d, a code image including a data area, a reference area, and a control area is generated according to the layout determined. Code images can be automatically output by the program's algorithms, or they can be created by a graphical editor or by hand, depending on the code conversion scheme. The generated code image is displayed on a predetermined medium or stored as an image file.

FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating a system for implementing an encoding method according to the present invention. The computer 77 receives target information, generates a code image by the above-described encoding method, and prints the code image to the printer 78. May be physically displayed on a medium 79a such as a business card or provided as a code image file 79b in the form of an image file. Here, the media on which the code image is to be displayed includes all media for displaying predetermined information such as a business card, an outer surface of a product, or an advertisement surface of a magazine. In addition, the code image may be output to a display device such as a monitor, may be stored in a computer file, or may be transmitted as an electrical signal on a communication line.

8A is a flowchart illustrating a decoding method of extracting original object information, such as characters, from a code image according to an embodiment of the present invention. The process of converting the code image into the object information by the decoding software is as follows. Each cell of a code image having a predetermined shape, color, pattern, or a combination thereof is converted into a letter or a number by using a predetermined code conversion table as shown in FIG.

In order to decode the code image of the present invention, at least as shown in FIG. 8B, an image input device 92 such as a scanner, a digital camera, a CCD camera, or the like for reading the code image 91 is used or may be directly used by the computer 93. It should be provided in the form of a code image file. Then, a computer system (a personal computer or a server computer connected to the personal computer) for decoding the code image must be equipped.

First, a code image formed of a data area and a reference area is input by an image input apparatus such as a scanner or a CCD (81). The user inputs the code image displayed on the medium to the user computer through the image input device 92. The user computer may receive a code image in real time using an image input device, or load an image file that has been created into a memory through a storage device such as a disk or a buffer.

For example, in the case of a handbill in which a code image is printed as shown in FIG. 6C, a user who reads the handbill may scan the code image to obtain information corresponding to the code image. When the code image is displayed on a portion of the medium as shown in FIG. 6C, a boundary line separating the area of the code image and the background area that is not may be detected to distinguish the code image from the background.

Depending on the operating state of the scanner or the position where the code image is printed on the medium, the code image may be read skewed or skewed as shown in FIG. 8C. In this case, since the code image may be decoded erroneously, the rotated state of the code image is detected to correctly correct the position or orientation of the code image (82).

The data area and the reference area are distinguished and identified from the code image by using information of the boundary area set between each area or information of a cell containing specific information (83). If the control region is also encoded in the code image, the control region is also identified and identified.

When the code image is recognized by the computer, a decoding process of extracting original information therefrom is performed. Decoding involves finding the original information from the code image as defined in the code conversion table. Decoding methods include a direct decoding method and an indirect decoding method according to a method of encoding information. In the direct decoding method, when the code image is decoded, actual object information such as name or address is extracted immediately. In the indirect decoding method, the decoded result has index information, which is a key value for accessing a database storing actual object information such as a name and an address.

In the decoding process, it is necessary to find out the shapes, colors, patterns, and characters included in the code image, and to correct the distorted image. Here, using at least one method of RGB (Red, Green, Blue) model, HSV (Hue angle, Saturation, Value) model, CMY (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow) model, HLS (Hue angle, Lightness, Saturation) model Color discrimination is possible. Border and detection and thinning algorithms can also be used to detect shapes and patterns.

For decoding, first, the code values of the cells of the data area and the control area are extracted based on the color displayed in the reference area (84). In other words, the color (or shade) of the reference cell in the reference region is detected and used as the reference color (or shade) as a reference for analyzing the information in the data region. After detecting the color of the cells in the data area and the control area, the color difference between the reference color is detected and the cells in the data area and the control area are converted into code values.

The code values of the cells obtained in step 84 are converted into object data of recognizable characters including numbers and symbols by the code conversion table (see FIG. 3). The code values of each cell formed in the correctly read code image are decoded and converted into the original information in the reverse order of the algorithm that was executed when they were encoded. At this time, if the encryption process is performed in the step before the object information is converted into a code value during encoding, the cipher code set in the code value must first be decrypted and then the decrypted code value must be converted into information. If the encoding process is performed after the object information is converted to a code value during encoding, the code value must first be converted into information and then the cipher set in the information must be decrypted.

The content of the object data obtained in step 85 is determined according to an encoding method (86). If the code image is encoded by an indirect encoding method, that is, if the object data is index information, the object data obtained by decoding corresponds to an address or a pointer of a storage location in which the object information is stored, and thus the storage device defined by the object data ( The target information stored in the location of the database) is extracted (87a). If the object data is not index information, the object data obtained by decoding soon becomes desired object information (87b).

It is optional to pre-install a decoding program to perform the decoding process on the user's computer. If the decoding program is not installed on the user's computer, the user's computer transmits the code image to the server computer. Is performed on the server computer.

If there is a control area in the code image that sets up a command or service that can be used by using the objective information (88), the command or service is provided according to the information set in the control area (90a). Provide the specified basic service (89b)

The present invention can be applied not only to the case where one code image is implemented in one medium (see FIGS. 6A and 6B) but also to the case where a plurality of code images are implemented in one medium (see FIG. 6C). Alternatively, even when physically represented by one code image, there may be a plurality of zones consisting of a data area and a reference area. In other words, this is a case where there are a plurality of reference areas as reference for analyzing the data area.

In this case, a plurality of data areas and a plurality of reference areas are read separately, and then data pairs and reference areas which are paired with each other are divided into sets. Data areas divided into sets are decoded according to reference areas in the same set.

The invention can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium includes all kinds of recording devices in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. Examples of computer-readable recording media include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage, and the like, and may also be implemented in the form of a carrier wave (for example, transmission over the Internet). Include. The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

According to the code according to the present invention, not only can encode more diverse and vast information than the conventional bar code, but also includes a reference area, which reduces misperception due to differences in operating conditions of output devices or input devices or differences in product models. Can be.

Claims (22)

In a machine-readable code for displaying predetermined information, Including at least two regions, each region including at least one cell, A data area formed of at least one data cell in which colors or shades are encoded differently according to contents of the information; And And a reference area formed of at least one reference cell providing a reference color or a reference joke for determining the color or tint of the data cell formed in the data area. The method of claim 1, wherein the data area includes: In converting letters or numbers into images for expressing cells, colors or shades are expressed differently by using patterns including vector lines as well as colors or shades, or by dividing cells in horizontal, vertical or diagonal directions. Machine readable code. According to claim 1, wherein the control area formed of at least one control cell indicating a command or a service that can be provided by the information displayed in the data area or between each area included in the code or each included in each area And a boundary area for dividing the area or cells between the cells. 2. The machine-readable code according to claim 1, wherein the code includes a cell for displaying an area identification code for identifying each area or a language display code for indicating the type of language. The machine-readable code of claim 1, wherein each region or cell is in the form of one selected from a circle, an ellipse, and a polygon. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information is at least one of a letter, a number, a symbol, a name, an address, a phone number, a fax number, a network address, a domain name, an IP address, a URL, a protocol, and a document name. Possible code. Setting a code conversion table in which colors or shades are mapped differently in correspondence with each recognizable character including numbers and symbols; Setting object data to be encoded; Encoding the object data by the code conversion table to generate an image displayed in a data area; Setting a reference area in which an existing color or reference joke is displayed, which provides an interpretation criterion of a color or tint to be displayed in the data area; And And generating a physical or electronic code image from the image of the data area and the reference area. 8. The code image encoding method according to claim 7, wherein the object data is object information which is actually information of interest or location information related to the location of a storage location where the information of interest is actually located. The method of claim 7, further comprising encrypting and then encoding the object data, or encoding and converting the object data. The method of claim 7, wherein the information included in the code image, The code image encoding method of claim 1, further comprising control information for setting a command or a service related to an object or a service usable by the object data included in the data area. The method of claim 7, wherein Setting a display shape of the code image, a position and a size at which the data area and the reference cell area are displayed, and setting a layout of the code image, including a size of a unit cell and whether a vector line is included. Code image encoding method comprising a. An information display medium displaying a code image generated by encoding object data by the encoding method according to claim 7. A storage unit for storing a code conversion table in which colors or shades are mapped differently in correspondence with each recognizable character including numbers and symbols; A data area generation unit which receives the target data to be encoded and encodes the data by using the code conversion table to generate an image displayed in the data area; A reference area generation unit for setting a reference area in which a reference color or a reference joke is provided which provides a criterion for interpreting colors or shades to be displayed in the data area; And And a code image generator for generating a physical or electronic code image from the image of the data area and the reference area. Receiving a code image having a data area encoded with colors or shades and having a reference region in which a reference color is displayed or a reference color is displayed to provide an interpretation criterion of the colors or shades displayed on the data region; Discriminating and identifying a data area and a reference area from the code image; Determining the color or tint of each cell displayed in the data area based on the reference color or the reference joke displayed in the reference area; And And decoding the target data of the recognizable characters including numbers and symbols by decoding by means of a code conversion table according to the color or tint determined for each cell of the data area. . 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising correcting a position and a direction according to an input state of the code image after receiving the code image. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of extracting the information at the location of the storage location determined by the destination data when the extracted object data is the location information related to the location of the storage location where the information is actually located. Code image decoding method, characterized in that. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: providing a command or a service according to the control information when the code image further includes control information for setting a command or service item that can be used using the object data. Code image decoding method comprising a. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said identifying step And detecting a boundary area separating the data area and the reference cell area. A storage unit for storing a code conversion table in which colors or shades are mapped differently in correspondence with each recognizable character including numbers and symbols; An input unit for receiving a code image encoded by the code conversion table, the input area having a data area in which object data is displayed and a reference area providing an interpretation criterion for the data area; An information identification unit for discriminating and identifying a data area and a reference area from the code image, and determining a color or a tint of each cell displayed in the data area based on the reference color or reference joke displayed on the reference area; And a data extraction unit which decodes the target data in recognizable characters including numbers and symbols by decoding by the code conversion table in accordance with the color or shade determined for each cell of the data area. . A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for realizing the method according to claim 7 or 14. A machine readable code for representing information for displaying predetermined information, An image area formed in any one shape selected from a circle, an ellipse, and a polygon; And At least two cells physically dividing the image area; And wherein the cell displays a recognizable character including numbers and symbols in different colors or shades. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the cell of the image region further comprises a pattern including not only colors or shades, but also vector lines, or differently represent the colors or shades by dividing the cells in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal direction. Machine readable code.