KR100433590B1 - Ticket issuing method, ticket issuing system and ticket collating method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a ticket issuing method, a ticket issuing system and a ticket combination method, generating security information from ticket issuing request information and user identification information sent from a user through a communication means, and ticket image information from the ticket issuing request information. Generate ticket printing information for ticket printing by the user by embedding the security information visually invisible in the ticket image information, and sending the ticket printing information to the user through a communication means; In addition, the user prints on the basis of the sent ticket printing information, and it is possible to easily issue a high security ticket via a communication means such as a network or a telephone line.

Description

Ticket issuing method, ticket issuing system and ticket combination method {TICKET ISSUING METHOD, TICKET ISSUING SYSTEM AND TICKET COLLATING METHOD}

The present invention relates to a ticket issuing method and a ticket issuing system for issuing a ticket, for example, a concert ticket, a ticket of a transportation facility, etc. via a network or a telephone line.

The present invention also relates to a ticket collating method for determining the authenticity of issued tickets.

Recently, a system for applying for a ticket for a concert or a transportation facility by using a network or a telephone line has become widespread, and an applicant receives a requested ticket at a predetermined place. Thus, this makes it possible to purchase a ticket at home or at a company.

Also, based on the communication environment base such as the spread of personal computers and color printers and the Internet, a system for directly issuing an applied ticket through a network at home or a company is also under consideration.

In addition, recently, when applying for a concert ticket through a network, a service of downloading a ticket exchange image to a personal computer at home, recording the image on a floppy disk, and bringing the image to a concert hall to view a concert is provided.

In addition, a system for applying an electronic stamp through a network and issuing an electronic stamp applied at home or at a company is also being tested. For example, US Pat. No. 5,606,507 and US Pat. No. 5,666,284 provide a method and system for storing stamp information including postage information encrypted in a dedicated storage device connected to a personal computer and printing the stamp information on an envelope. It is proposed.

However, the methods and systems proposed in US Pat. Nos. 5,606,507 and 5,666,284 require dedicated storage devices that are connected to personal computers and are therefore limited in client system configurations. In addition, even if the postage information is encrypted, it is printed on the envelope in a visible state by using a two-dimensional code technique or an application technique thereof, so that the encrypted data is relatively easily read when the two data differences are taken and compared, thereby making the security weak. Have a drawback.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a ticket issuing method and a ticket issuing system capable of issuing a ticket with high security and simplicity via a communication means such as a network or a telephone line.

Further, another object of the present invention is to provide a ticket combination method in which the authenticity of issued tickets can be easily performed and tracking can be easily performed when a fraudulent ticket is detected.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a ticket issuing system for realizing a ticket issuing method according to the present invention;

2 is a flowchart for explaining an operation procedure of ticket issuance;

3 is a plan view showing an example of ticket image information when applied to a car race entrance ticket;

4 is a plan view showing an example of security information when applied to a car race entrance ticket;

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing an example of ticket printing information when applied to a car race entrance ticket;

6 is a schematic diagram illustrating binary imaging by two-dimensional code of security information;

7 is a schematic diagram illustrating binary imaging by two-dimensional code of security information;

8 is a schematic diagram illustrating binary imaging by two-dimensional code of security information;

9 is a block diagram illustrating a ticket printing information creating step;

10 is a diagram showing a specific calculation example in the preparation of ticket printing information;

11 is a diagram showing a specific calculation example in the preparation of ticket printing information;

12 is a diagram showing a specific calculation example in the preparation of ticket printing information;

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing a specific calculation example in the creation of ticket print information.

14 is a diagram showing a specific calculation example in the preparation of ticket printing information;

15 is a diagram showing a specific calculation example in the preparation of ticket printing information;

Fig. 16 is a diagram showing a specific calculation example in the creation of ticket print information.

17 is a diagram showing a specific calculation example in the creation of ticket printing information;

18 is a diagram showing a specific calculation example in the creation of ticket printing information;

19 is a diagram showing a specific calculation example in the creation of ticket printing information;

20 is a view explaining a thinning process in a third reproducing method;

21 is a diagram illustrating interpolation processing in a third playback method;

22 is a diagram schematically showing a ticket issuing method; And

Fig. 23 is a view for explaining an example of applying the ticket issuing method of the present invention to an electronic stamp.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

A: User side mechanism B: System side mechanism

C: Network 11: User Terminal

13 ticket printing device 14 ticket

16: host computer / server 18: database

19: Security information detection system 21: Ticket image information

22: security information 23: ticket printing information

24: key image information S51: smoothing process step

S52: phase modulation step S53: color difference modulation step

S54: superposition processing step

The ticket issuing method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: generating security information from the ticket issuing request information and the user identification information sent from the user through a communication means; Generating ticket image information from the ticket issuing request information; Synthesize the security information and the ticket image information such that the security information is visually invisible with respect to the ticket image information when the ticket printing information including the ticket image information and the security information is printed on the ticket paper by the user. Thereby generating ticket printing information; And sending the generated ticket printing information to a user through a communication means.

In addition, the ticket combination method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: generating security information from the ticket issuance request information and the user identification information sent from the user through a communication means; Generating ticket image information from the ticket issuing request information; Generating predetermined pattern image information; Modulating the predetermined pattern image information by the security information to generate pattern modulated image information; Generating ticket printing information by superimposing the generated pattern modulated image information on the ticket image information; Transmitting the ticket printing information to a user through a communication means; Restoring the security information from a ticket printed by the user based on the ticket printing information sent; And authenticating the authenticity of the ticket printed by the restored security information.

In addition, the ticket issuing system according to the present invention, means for generating security information from the ticket issuance request information and the user identification information sent from the user through the communication means; Means for generating ticket image information from the ticket issuing request information; Synthesize the security information and the ticket image information such that the security information is visually invisible with respect to the ticket image information when the ticket printing information including the ticket image information and the security information is printed on the ticket paper by the user. Means for generating ticket printing information by doing so; And means for transmitting the generated ticket printing information to a user through a communication means.

In addition, the ticket issuing method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: outputting security information in accordance with the ticket issuance request information from the user through the communication means on the paper sheet; Outputting ticket image information from the ticket issuing request information on a sheet in a visible state; Synthesize the security information and the ticket image information such that the security information is visually invisible with respect to the ticket image information when the ticket printing information including the ticket image information and the security information is printed on the ticket paper by the user. Thereby outputting ticket printing information; And sending the generated ticket printing information to a user through a communication means.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a ticket issuing system for realizing a ticket issuing method according to the present invention. This ticket issuing system is constituted by connecting the user side mechanism A and the system side mechanism B through a network C such as the Internet or a LAN.

Also, as used herein, "user" means a person who prints a ticket with a home printer and uses the ticket, and a person who prints the ticket with a home printer or a printer installed in a store for use by another person or customer.

The user side mechanism A includes a user terminal device 11 made of a personal computer, dedicated client software 12 running on the personal computer, and a ticket printing device 13 such as a color printer connected to the user terminal device 11. Consists of.

The system side mechanism B includes a host computer / server 16, dedicated server software 17 operating on the host computer, a database 18 storing ticket information, user information, and other information, and a security information detection system ( 19).

Next, the ticket issuing operation procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The host computer / server 16, dedicated server software 17, and database 18 are always ready to start up and are available to users registered with the database 18 at any time.

First, the user activates the user terminal device 11 by starting the user terminal device 11 and the dedicated client software 12 (step S1), and inputting user identification information such as a user ID and a password (step S2). The host computer / server 16 is connected (step S5).

The host computer / server 16 combines the input user identification information with the data stored in the database 18 (step S3), and permits access if the registered user list includes the input information (step S4). Start the service, and refuse access if it is not included in the registered user list.

When connection to the host computer / server 16 is started (step S5), a service menu is displayed on the user terminal device 11, and the user selects a desired service and inputs ticket issuing request information (step S8). Here, the ticket issuance request information is, for example, necessary information such as a desired ticket type, date and time, fare, seat reservation, and fare payment means in the case of a ticket purchase service.

When the ticket issuing request information is input, the user terminal device 11 transmits these input data to the host computer / server 16. The host computer / server 16 receives this data, combines it with the data in the database 18 (step S9), and proceeds with the ticket purchase procedure. If the desired ticket is not available for purchase, the host computer / server 16 sends a message describing the reason to the user terminal 11 and returns to the service menu.

When the ticket is available for purchase, the host computer / server 16 outputs security information from the ticket issuing request information and the user identification information (step S10), generates ticket image information from the ticket issuing request information (step S11), Ticket printing information is generated by embedding the security information in the invisible state in the ticket image information (step S12). When the security information is printed on the printing paper, the security information is visible. The host computer / server 16 also generates ticket display information based on the ticket printing information (step S13), and transmits the ticket printing information and the ticket display information to the user terminal device 11 (step S14). The detailed method of generating security information, ticket printing information and ticket display information will be described later.

On the display of the user terminal device 11, ticket display information transmitted from the host computer / server 16 is displayed (step S15). The user looks at it and checks the indication and prints the ticket if there is no problem. That is, when the print command is executed, the ticket printing information is transmitted from the user terminal device 11 to the ticket printing device 13, and the ticket 14 is printed out (step S16). If printing is normally completed, a print completion command is executed, and if a printing error or the like occurs, the print command is executed again.

The user can take the printed ticket to the concert hall and use it normally (step S17). At the concert venue, the security information detection system 19 is used to check whether the ticket 14 used is a regular ticket. In the security information detection system 19, authenticity is determined by combining the detected security information with the data in the database 18 (step S18).

3 to 5 show an example of a car race entrance ticket applicable to this embodiment. 3 shows ticket image information 21, FIG. 4 shows security information 22, and FIG. 5 schematically shows ticket printing information.

The ticket image information 21 of FIG. 3 is generated from the ticket issuing request information with reference to the database 18 in the process of step S11 shown in FIG. This ticket includes the ticket type (31), venue (32), date and time (33), reserved seat number (34), fare (35), serial number (36), and ticket issuer 37) and a logo mark are printed. This information is also listed on the half of the ticket. The security information 22 shown in FIG. 4 is generated from the user identification information and the ticket issuing request information in the process of step S10 of FIG. This security information 22 is used for authenticity determination of whether a ticket has been forged or modified. In this example, information such as two-dimensional code information 39, inquiry serial number 40, ticket issuer 41, logo mark, and the like are printed on this ticket. Characters and figures are also represented by binary images.

The two-dimensional code information 39 is printed during the automatic machine processing when the security information 22 is read. Ticket type (31), place (32), date and time (33), reserved seat number (34), fare (35), serial number (36), ticket issuer (37), logo mark (38), etc. It is converted into two-dimensional code and included in two-dimensional code information 39. In addition, the inquiry serial number 40, the ticket issuer 41 and the logo mark are provided for visually confirming the security information 22.

In the present embodiment, 20 lines are used as the inquiry serial numbers 36 and 40. Here, the ticket is composed of the information shown in Table 1 below.

Classification Number of rows Data example Usage Serial Number 20 1998092512345678 Used to query database Issue date 8 19980925 Date Classification code 1 2 12 Database Classification Code Classification code 2 4 3412 Ticket type / Region / Contract type Ticket number 6 345678 Ticket Issuance Number

In Table 1, the issuance date represents the date of applying for issuance of the ticket. The classification code 1 indicates the information storage location of the database for retrieval, the classification code 2 indicates encoding the ticket type and others, and the ticket number indicates the ticket issuing sequence number. If a serial number composed of these pieces of information is used as a key for the combination into the database 18, it becomes possible to manage a large number of tickets uniformly.

Therefore, the security information 22 of FIG. 4 can inspect both the machine and the person. These pieces of information are also described on the half of the ticket.

The ticket printing information 23 of FIG. 5, that is, the visible state information and the invisible state information, is generated from the security information and the ticket image information in the process of step S12 of FIG. . The ticket printing information 23 of FIG. 5 is generated by embedding the security information 22 of FIG. 4 in an invisible state in the ticket image information 21 of FIG. Thus, the tickets of Figs. 3 and 5 are completely identical to the naked eye and cannot be distinguished.

In this embodiment, the inquiry serial number, the ticket issuer and the logo mark of the issuer are included in the visible state in the ticket image information and in the invisible state in the security information. Therefore, by including the information in the visible and invisible state partially in the ticket, it is possible to immediately detect a counterfeit or modified ticket through simple rewriting.

In addition, with respect to the logo mark, the position of the logo mark in the visible state is arranged so as to completely coincide with the position of the log mark in the invisible state. Therefore, forgery or modification of either or both of the visible and invisible logo marks is very difficult, and the security of the ticket is further improved.

Next, a method of forming security information will be described.

The security information is composed of two-dimensional code information such as a character or a figure and a binary image as shown in FIG. 4, but may include any one of these elements or both elements.

When security information is input as a two-dimensional code, machine processing is possible when security information is detected, and when security information is input as a binary image, it can be processed by human vision. It is selectable. Two-dimensional codes and binary images are referred to as basic security information.

An example of partial generation of the two-dimensional code 39 of FIG. 4 will be described.

When the security information is read as described above, the two-dimensional code 39 is printed on the ticket for mechanical automatic processing, and the type of the ticket is coded and included in the security information. In the two-dimensional coded information, it is possible to use not only the kind of ticket but also all kinds of forms such as voice, image, text, etc., such as personal information and management information such as voice fingerprint and fingerprint of a user registered in advance.

First, basic security information needs to be converted into digital data. Basic security information composed of analog data such as voice and voice fingerprint is converted into digital data through A / D conversion. Information that is already in digital form is used as is.

Next, the digitized basic security information is converted into a binary image by a two-dimensional code. Basic security information is divided into four-bit blocks in order from the beginning, and each block is replaced with a black-and-white binary image of 2 x 2 pixels according to the value of each block as shown in FIG.

For example, if the embedded information is arranged in hexadecimal notation from the beginning, as shown below:

FF 01 45 D3...

These information are replaced as shown in FIG.

In addition, the binary image information (Fig. 6) is enlarged n times so as not to damage the embedded image information during the smoothing process in the synthesis process described later. N = 2-4 are preferable here. For example, the result of enlarging the binary image information of FIG. 7 when n = 2 is shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment, although color codes are applied to two-dimensional coding, other two-dimensional codes such as other matrix-based two-dimensional codes and glyph codes can be used without problems.

When the two-dimensional image information such as the character string 41 and the logo mark 42 of " ticket east-west-south-north " as shown in Fig. 4 is inserted into the security information, these information are converted into binary image information. In this case, the image resolution at the time of converting the information into a binary image needs to be unified, and it is preferable to match the image resolution of the ticket printing information. Meaningful parts such as letters are converted into black components, and meaningless parts such as background are converted into white components.

The two-dimensional code information and binary image information are arranged in an area of the same size as the ticket image information as shown in FIG. For the convenience of the sensor for detecting security information, the layout needs to be determined in advance by the system.

Next, a method of generating ticket print information (synthesis processing method) will be described in detail.

The ticket image information 21 is so-called ticket information itself and corresponds to FIG. 3. It has information of 24 bits per pixel (8 bits for each RGB). The security information 22 is information to be embedded in the ticket image information 21 in an invisible state and corresponds to FIG. 4. It has 1 bit of information per pixel. The key image information 24 is information serving as a key for generating ticket printing information and detecting (restoring) security information. This information is not disclosed to the user and has 1 bit of information per pixel.

First, in the smoothing process step S51, the smoothing process is performed with the black pixel of security information as "1" and the white pixel as "0". Here, the pixels at both ends of the pixel of interest in the X direction are taken, and the area of the 3x1 pixel is cut out to obtain a weighted average as in Equation (1).

W (i): weighted average of x = i pixels

STL (i): buried image information of pixel x = i = 1 or 0

If the security information has not increased n times at the time of generation, the two-dimensional code information of the security information is destroyed during this smoothing process. The larger the magnification n, the higher the safety factor of not destroying the embedded image information, but the hidden data is more likely to be exposed.

For example, when the key image information 24 is shown in FIG. 10 and the security information 22 is shown in FIG. 11, the smoothing result is as shown in FIG. By setting the security information 22 to n = 4, the embedding information was enlarged four times. In addition, two pixels around the outer side are set to " 0 " in accordance with the embedding permit.

Next, in the phase modulation step S52, based on the result of the smoothing process in the smoothing process step S51, phase modulation of the key image information 24 is executed in accordance with the rules of the following equations (2) to (4). .

DES (i): x = ipixel phase modulation result = 1 or 0

MSK (i): x = i pixel key image = 1 or 0

Here, x = 0 and x = 15 are the edges of the image information and thus cannot be smoothed and phase modulation cannot be applied. Therefore, at the edge, an exclusive OR of the key image information 24 and the security information 22 is taken. The result of phase modulation is shown in FIG.

Next, in the color difference modulation step S53, the color difference modulation process is executed in accordance with the rules of the following equations 5 to 10 based on the phase modulation result in the phase modulation step S52. In this case, three components, R (red), G (green) and B (blue), are divided and calculated. An example of the color difference modulation result of the red component is shown in FIG.

VR (i): x = color difference modulation result of i pixel for red component-integer in the range from 255 to 255

VG (i): x = color difference modulation result of i pixel with respect to green component-integer between 255 and 255

VB (i): x = color difference modulation result of i pixel for blue component-integer in the range from 255 to 255

Further, the color difference amount ΔV is an integer in the range of "0 to 255" preset. As the color difference ΔV increases, the visible contract at the time of restoration of the embedded image information becomes higher, and the embedded information can be easily reproduced. However, if it is too large, security information is likely to be exposed. Therefore, the color difference amount? V is preferably about "16 to 96", but? V = 48 is used here.

Finally, in the superposition processing step S54, the superimposition processing shown by the following equations 11 to 13 is executed from the color difference modulation result and the ticket image information 21 in the color difference step S53 to execute the ticket printing information 23 )

DESR (i): x = an integer in the range of 0 to 255 as a result of the superposition of the i pixels for the red component

DESG (i): x = an integer in the range of 0 to 255 as a result of the superposition of i pixels for the green component

DESB (i): x = an integer in the range of 0 to 255 as a result of the superposition of the i pixels for the blue component

SRCR (i): x = integer of 0 to 255 embedded image information of i pixel for red component

SRCG (i): x = integer of 0 to 255 buried image information of i pixel for green component

SRCB (i): x = integer of 0 to 255 embedded image information of i pixel for blue component

Also, DESR (i), DESG (i), and DESB (i) are integers in the range of "0 to 255", respectively. If the calculation result is "0" or less, set it to "0". If the calculation result is "255" or more, set it to "255".

The result of the red component in the case where all the pixels of the ticket image information 21 are (R, G, B) = (127, 127, 127) is shown in FIG. All values are integers in the range of "0 to 255", and "255" indicates the highest red component. 15, (0,0) pixel value = 79, (1,0) pixel value = 79, (2,0) pixel value = 175. In the portion where the security information is not embedded as described above, pixels having a small red component and pixels having a large red component are alternately repeated in units of two pixels.

As shown in Equations 5 to 7 or 8 to 10, the signs of the color difference amounts of red, green, and blue are inverted. Therefore, less green and blue components are contained in the pixel with many red components, and many other components are contained in the pixel with few red components. Red and (green, blue) = cyan are complementary to each other, and even when the red and cyan are adjacent to each other, it is difficult to distinguish them by the human eye and appears achromatic. In addition, since the pixels with a lot of red and the pixels with a lot of cyan are repeatedly arranged in various pixel units according to the key image information, the human eye cannot distinguish these minute color differences, and the amount of color difference is plus-minus "0". Judging by

For example, in Equation 11, an error is determined as in Equation 14 below.

And it cannot be identified that the image information is embedded. Therefore, according to this principle, ticket printing information can be prepared using security information embedded in ticket image information in an invisible state.

When printing with a color printer using ticket printing information, the larger the color vehicle ΔV becomes, the easier it is to discriminate the information, and the higher the degree for restoring the security information is. However, there is a case where security information embedded in the invisible state in the ticket printing information is easily exposed to the third party.

Therefore, in the case where the ticket printing information is printed out by a color printer, the data can be output after performing the error diffusion process as the image processing, thereby preventing the security information from being exposed without destroying the security information. Since the density of the pixels of the ticket printing information is compensated by the error diffusion process, the security information that is invisible to the naked eye is preserved.

In addition, when the error diffusion processing is performed, the low frequency component decreases and the high frequency component increases. Since the security information embedded in the ticket printing information is composed of high frequency components, other high frequency components are mixed and the security information cannot be visually discriminated.

Next, a method of generating ticket display information will be described.

The ticket display information, which cannot be used directly, is generated by partially reducing the ticket printing information and destroying the ticket image information and a part of the security information embedded in an invisible state.

First, the ticket printing information in Fig. 15 is cut into 3x3 pixel areas and smoothed. This simply takes an average and the result is as shown in FIG. From the result of the smoothing process, pixel information is left at the vertex of the 4x4 pixel area and the rest is removed (scavenging process). The result is as shown in FIG. This data becomes ticket display information.

Here, the information amount is about 1/4 of the ticket printing information. In general, there is no problem because the image resolution of the display screen is about 100 dpi and about 1/3 to 1/6 of the general print image resolution while the print image resolution is about 300 to 600 dpi.

Therefore, ticket display information is generated and displayed on the user terminal device 11 by subtracting the information from the ticket printing information and destroying the security information without directly displaying the ticket print information on the user terminal device 11. Since the amount of information is small and the security information and the ticket image information are partially destroyed, the processing (display) is fast, so that ticket printing information cannot be used even if it is illegally obtained by hard copy of the screen. Therefore, there is an advantage that the security is further improved.

The ticket printing information and the ticket display information are not clearly different from ordinary images, and therefore, general image formats such as Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) and Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) can be used. In addition, the system configuration is relatively easy because it can be processed by an application for processing a general image.

In addition, even if the image format of the ticket printing information is converted to another format in the system, the embedded security information remains as it is and no problem occurs.

On the other hand, the ticket 14 printed with the ticket printing information printed by the ticket printing apparatus 13, such as a color printer, is used by the user in a raceway or the like. At this time, the system can detect the authenticity of the ticket by detecting the security information of the ticket 14 used. This will be described below in detail.

The ticket printing apparatus 13 reads an image of the ticket 14 printed on paper or the like with an optical reading means such as a scanner, digitizes the state shown in FIG. 15, and restores the security information 22. FIG.

In order to recover the security information 22, the key image information 24 shown in Fig. 10 is used. The key image information 24 and the ticket image information of the ticket printing information 23 read by the scanner are matched 1: 1. The portion where the value of the key image information 24 is "1" determines that the ticket printing information 23 is valid, and the portion where the value of the key image information 24 is "0" is invalid the ticket printing information 23. I judge it. This result is shown in FIG. In the figure, the hatched pixels are invalid information. In Fig. 18, valid data (expressed in white on a black background) is cut into a predetermined size.

The security information 22 in this embodiment has been enlarged four times by setting n = 4, and therefore the information is cut in units of 4 × 4 pixels after removing the two pixels embedded in the surroundings. The embedded image information (security information) is 1 if the value of valid data in the 4x4 pixel range is a value with many red colors (" 175 " in this embodiment). If the turquoise color is a large value (" 79 " in this embodiment), the embedded image information is zero. If both red and cyan values are included, the more side is adopted.

This is caused by the smoothing treatment in the synthesis treatment. 19 shows the result of restoring the embedded image information (security information) 22 according to this method. The thick line border in the figure is the security information 22 portion. This part is consistent with FIG. 11 and shows that the security information 22 has been completely restored.

In the present embodiment, information was printed at a resolution of 400 dpi using, for example, a sublimation thermal transfer printer, read out at a resolution of 1200 dpi by an optical scanner, and then recovered without a problem.

In addition, as a method for restoring and detecting the second security information, when the reproduction sheet having the same pattern of transmittance as the key image information 24 is physically superimposed on the printing surface of the ticket 14, the security information 22 is visible. It becomes a state. Therefore, the logo mark and the like in the security information 22 can be visually confirmed directly. This method does not require complicated operation and complicated devices, and thus has the advantage of simply authenticating the ticket at any place.

In addition, in the method of restoring and detecting the third security information, a system for removing the value read by the optical means will be described. Assume that the red component of the value read by the scanner or the like is as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the security information is sifted into 4 pixel units as a 4x2 checkered pattern for synthesis processing. The magnification ratio n at the time of generating the security information is related to this value, and an equation of (checkerboard lattice unit x magnification ratio n ≥ number of pixels to be drawn) is established.

The image information of FIG. 15 is subtracted into four pixel units, as shown in FIG. However, if the image information is insufficient and all of the 4x2 areas are set to the same value with the remaining pixels as the vertices, the image information becomes as shown in FIG. Even if the pixels are shifted by two pixels in the x direction and the y direction, the security information 22 shown in Fig. 11 is completely restored. Therefore, when the read out image information is removed, the number of pixels to be processed at the time of restoration is reduced and data can be restored at high speed.

As described above, the authenticity of the ticket 14 can be easily determined by detecting the presence or absence of the security information 22 embedded in the used ticket 14. For example, even when a ticket 14 is provided to a third party and copied illegally using a color copying machine, the security information 22 includes a serial number for inquiry, such as when, where and who issued the ticket. You can see the history of and can easily detect the wrong path.

In this embodiment, the combining process is performed using a checkered pattern of 4x2 pixel units as a key. Therefore, the effect of copy protection using a color copyer is further improved by performing the synthesizing process using a checkered pattern of 1 × 1 pixel size. This is because, when a square lattice such as a 1x1 or 2x2 pixel size is used, pixel data with a lot of red and cyan with lots of cyan color are alternately arranged regularly by the synthesizing process.

Since the sensor of the scanner part of the color copying machine is not a spot but has a limited area, even if the scanner's reading resolution and ticket printing resolution are the same, the pixels of the scanner's sensor pixels and the ticket printing information are read as they are slightly misaligned. . Here, since the red and cyan components are complementary colors, it is difficult to separate the pixels arranged at a very high precision pitch, and they cannot be copied normally because they are misrecognized as gray by the human eye and the sensor.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to remarkably increase the security of a ticket or the like. However, since the security information is embedded in an invisible state, some means are required for its restoration, and it is difficult to execute the operation for all tickets.

Therefore, it is necessary to distinguish between tickets in which security information is embedded in an invisible state and tickets which are not embedded in security information but are guaranteed to be appropriate by any other means. For example, by simply printing the logo mark of the ticket in which security information is embedded in red and printing the logo mark of the ticket in which the security information is not embedded in blue, the inspection can be easily performed. It can save a lot.

Fig. 22 schematically shows the state from the ticket issuance in use up until the detection of the security information. A landscape photograph or the like is used for the ticket image information 21. The security information 22 uses a logo mark of " JAPAN " as copyright information and a two-dimensional code for inspection by human vision and machine, which is converted into security information according to the steps shown in this embodiment.

First, the ticket printing information 23 is generated by performing a combining process on the ticket image information 21, the security information 22, and the key image information 24 according to the above-described method. The image of the ticket printing information 23 is seen as a landscape photograph by the human eye, but copyright information and the like are embedded in an invisible state. Further, ticket display information 25 is generated from ticket print information 23 according to the method shown in this embodiment.

Next, these ticket printing information 23 and ticket display information 25 are transmitted to the user who has requested ticket issuance via the network. When the ticket display information 25 has been received, the user displays the ticket display information 25 on the display of the user terminal device 11, checks the contents thereof, and prints the ticket printing information 23 on a ticket such as a color printer. Print out using device 13 to obtain ticket 14.

The user can use this issued ticket 14, and the system side detects the security information of the used ticket 14 using the key image information, and performs authenticity discrimination by combining the database and the security information. do.

As security information including copyright information is embedded in this issued ticket 14 in an invisible state, it is possible to restore copyright information according to the above-described restoration method.

23 shows an example of applying the ticket issuing method of the present invention to an electronic stamp. FIG. 23A shows ticket printing information, FIG. 23B shows a stamp image part, and FIG. 23C shows security information embedded in an invisible state. Security is particularly important in order for a user to be able to issue something equivalent to cash, such as a stamp. When the security information is embedded in the electronic stamp in an invisible state and the print information of the ticket (stamp) is printed directly on an envelope or the like, as described above, the electronic stamp can be realized.

Such postal matters are generally mechanically processed by an address reader, and security can be maintained by reading the security information embedded in the electronic stamp with a sensor and performing authenticity discrimination. In addition, when printing a stamp on a color printer, by printing the address and name at the same time it is possible to significantly reduce the cost.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a ticket issuing method in which a ticket having high security can be easily issued via a communication means such as a network or a telephone line.

In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a ticket combination method in which the authenticity determination of issued tickets is easily executed and the follow-up investigation can be easily performed when an irregularity occurs.

Claims (20)

Generating ticket image information from the ticket issuing request information; Generating security image information from the ticket issuing request information and user identification information sent from a user through a communication device, wherein the security image information itself is printed without being synthesized with the ticket image information. If it is visible— Generating ticket printing information by synthesizing the security image information with the ticket image information, wherein the security image information is invisible to the ticket image information when the ticket printing information is printed on a ticket paper by a user. Contains-, Generating the ticket printing information Generating predetermined key image data; Generating pattern modulated image information by a color difference that modulates the key image information by the security information; Superimposing the pattern modulated image information on the ticket image information; Transmitting the ticket printing information to the user through the communication device. Ticket issuing method, characterized in that. The method of claim 1, The security image information generating step, Generating binary embedded information by binary encoding basic security information consisting of a control code, a text, an image, a voice, and the like; And And converting the binary embedding information into binary image information of a predetermined format. delete The method of claim 3, wherein Generating the predetermined pattern image information comprises arranging adjacent image information to be a combination of complementary colors. delete Generating ticket image information from the ticket issuing request information; Generating security image information from the ticket issuing request information and user identification information transmitted from a user through a communication device, wherein the security image information itself is printed without being synthesized with the ticket image information. If it is visible— Generating ticket printing information by synthesizing the security image information with the ticket image information, wherein the security image information is invisible to the ticket image information when the ticket printing information is printed on a ticket paper by a user. Contains-, Generating the ticket printing information Generating predetermined key image data; Generating pattern modulated image information by a color difference that modulates the key image information by the security information; Superimposing the pattern modulated image information on the ticket image information; Generating ticket display information for inspecting the display by the display means of the user by partially reducing the ticket printing information, The transmitting step transmits the ticket display information to the user through the communication means together with the ticket printing information. The process of generating the ticket display information Performing a smoothing process on the ticket printing information; Performing a pruning process for the smoothed ticket printing information. Ticket issuing method, characterized in that. The method of claim 1, The ticket printing information generating step includes synthesizing a part of the security image information with the ticket image information in a state of both an invisible state and a visible state. The method of claim 1, The ticket printing information generating step may include synthesizing a part of the security image information with the ticket image information in a state of both an invisible state and a visible state so that the positions of the invisible state and the visible state coincide with each other. The ticket issuing method characterized by the above-mentioned. The method of claim 1, In the ticket printing information generating step, the ticket image information without the security image information synthesized with the ticket image information and a specific mark for distinguishing the ticket image information with the security image information synthesized in an invisible state are added to the visible state. Ticket issuing method comprising the step of. The method of claim 1, The security image information is a ticket issuing method comprising user identification information, ticket issuance date and time information, ticket type information, ticket expiration date information, ticket fee information and management information. In the ticket collating method, Generating ticket image information from the ticket issuing request information; Generating security image information from the ticket issuing request information and user identification information sent from the user through a communication device; Generating predetermined key image data; Generating pattern modulated image information by modulating the predetermined key image information by the security image information; Generating ticket printing information by superimposing the pattern modulated image information on the ticket image information; Transmitting the ticket printing information to a user through the communication means; Restoring the secure image information from a ticket printed by the user based on the received ticket printing information; Performing authenticity determination of the printed ticket according to the restored security image information; Ticket combination method comprising the. The method of claim 11, And the restoring step comprises generating the secure image information in the visible state by physically overlapping a sheet-shaped mask having a transmittance of the same pattern as the pattern image information on the printed ticket. The method of claim 11, The restoring step includes optically reading the printed ticket information, comparing the obtained read signal with a mark signal indicating the same pattern as the predetermined pattern image information, and invalidating a portion where both signals coincide. Ticket combination method characterized in that. The method of claim 11, And the reconstructing step includes optically reading the printed ticket information and performing a process of pitting the read signal obtained at a period corresponding to the spatial frequency of the pattern image information. Ticket image information generating device for generating ticket image information from the ticket issuing request information, Security image information generating device for generating security image information from the ticket issuance request information and user identification information sent from the user through a communication device, wherein the security image information itself is printed without combining with the ticket image information Visible-Wow, (1) synthesizing the secure image information and the ticket image information, and (2) generating predetermined key image information, wherein the secure image information is generated when the ticket printing information is printed on a ticket paper by a user. (3) pattern modulated image information is generated by color difference modulating the key image information by the security image information, and (4) the pattern modulated image information on the ticket image information. Ticket print information generating device for generating a ticket print information by overlapping the; A transmission device for transmitting the ticket printing information to the user through the communication device; Ticket issuing system, characterized in that it comprises a. Outputting security image information according to ticket issuance request information from a user through a communication means; Outputting ticket image information from the ticket issuing request information; Synthesizing the secure image information and the ticket image information and outputting ticket printing information; Sending the ticket printing information to a user through the communication means, The security image information becomes visible when only the security image information is printed on paper, and when the ticket printing information is printed on the ticket paper by the user, the security image information becomes invisible to the ticket image information, and the ticket image information is The ticket issuing method is characterized in that when the printed on the paper is a visible state, the synthesized ticket printing information has a physical visible state almost the same as the ticket image information. In the medium issuance method, Generating medium image information from the medium issuance request information; Generating security image information from the identification information transmitted from the user through the medium issuance request information and the communication device, wherein the security image information is visible when itself is printed without being combined with the media image information. To do that, Media print information by combining the secure image information and the medium image information, wherein the secure image information is invisible to the medium image information when the medium print information is printed on a plain medium by a user. Generating a status; Generating the media print information Generating predetermined key image data; Generating pattern modulated image information by a color difference that modulates the key image information by the security information; Superimposing the pattern modulated image information on the medium image information; And transmitting the media print information to the user through the communication device. Method for issuing a medium, characterized in that. In a media publishing system, A medium image information generating device for generating medium image information from the medium issuing request information; Security image information generating device for generating security image information from the media issuance request information and the user identification information sent from the user through a communication device, wherein the security image information itself is printed without combining with the media image information Visible-Wow, (1) synthesizing the secure image information with the media image information, and (2) generating predetermined key image information, wherein the secure image information is printed by the user on the non-shaped medium. Invisible to the medium image information; (3) pattern modulated image information is generated by a color difference modulating the key image information by the security image information, and (4) the pattern modulated image on the medium image information. A media print information generating device generating media print information by superimposing the information; A transmission device for transmitting the media print information to the user through the communication device; Media issuing system comprising a. In the medium issuance method, Generating medium image information from the medium issuance request information; Generating security image information from the identification information transmitted from the user through the medium issuance request information and the communication device, wherein the security image information is visible when itself is printed without being combined with the media image information. To do that, Combining the security image information with the media image information to generate media output information, wherein the security image information is invisible to the media image information when the media output information is output to a display by a user. Including steps Generating the media output information Generating predetermined key image data; Generating pattern modulated image information by a color difference that modulates the key image information by the security information; Superimposing the pattern modulated image information on the medium image information; Transmitting the media output information to the user through the communication device. Method for issuing a medium, characterized in that. In a media publishing system, A medium image information generating device for generating medium image information from the medium issuing request information; Security image information generating device for generating security image information from the media issuance request information and the user identification information sent from the user through a communication device, wherein the security image information itself is printed without combining with the media image information Visible-Wow, (1) synthesizing the secure image information and the medium image information, and (2) generating predetermined key image information, wherein the secure image information is generated when the medium output information is output to a display by a user. Invisible to the image information, (3) generate pattern modulated image information by color difference modulating the key image information by the security image information, and (4) place the pattern modulated image information on the medium image information. A media output information generating device generating media output information by overlapping; A transmission device for transmitting the medium output information to the user through the communication device; Media issuing system comprising a.