JP2734538B2 - Binary data reproducing method and apparatus, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a binary data reproducing method and apparatus for reproducing binary data from an encoded image recorded on a recording medium such as paper, and a method and apparatus of this kind. It relates to the recording medium used.

[Background] A barcode technology (a barcode recording sheet, a barcode decoding device) is known as a technology for encoding binary information by an image and a technology for reproducing information from the encoded image. However, in the case of this technique, the density of information that can be recorded on a recording sheet is limited due to the structure of a barcode. For example, when the technique is applied to input of music piece performance information, performance data for one piece of music is recorded as a barcode. However, it required an area of A4 size or more.

In view of this point, the present applicant has proposed a technique of encoding binary information using a line drawing instead of a barcode and a technique of restoring the binary information (patent filed on May 25, 1988, Application (1), Name “Binary Information Reproduction Method and Apparatus and Recording Sheet”). The line drawing has one elongated line and a plurality of branch lines that are distributed on the elongated line, each of which selectively takes one of two different branch modes from the elongated line. Represents one bit. Therefore, by minimizing the interval between branch lines, the density of recordable information can be considerably increased.

Reproduction of this type of line drawing into binary information is performed by generating a bit according to the branching mode each time a branch line is detected while following an elongated line. This binary information reproducing method has no problem if the branch line that caused the bit generation is a normal branch line, but if the branch line is a fake branch line, one extra bit of data is read. Therefore, all subsequent binary data is shifted, and subsequent data processing becomes impossible. In addition, when the image of the normal branch line is lost due to a printing error or the like, the data is skipped by one bit, and this spreads to subsequent data.

As described above, the technique of the above-mentioned application has a problem that the binary data reproduced when the encoded image contains noise is out of order over a wide range.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention is an improvement of the technology of the above-mentioned application, in which the influence of noise included in a line drawing on reproduced binary data is limited to a limited range, and a place where the noise occurs is clarified. It is an object of the present invention to provide a binary data reproducing method and apparatus capable of reproducing binary data. Another object is to provide a recording medium on which an encoded image that facilitates such binary data reproduction is recorded.

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, at least one elongated line and two different lines distributed on the elongated line, each of which is different from the elongated line for bit encoding. A line drawing having a plurality of branch lines that selectively take any of the branching modes, wherein the recording medium records a line drawing in which one synchronization mark is arranged for each of a predetermined number of the branch lines on the elongated line. A recording medium used in the binary data reproducing method and apparatus of the present invention described below is provided. That is, according to the present invention, at least one elongate line and a plurality of branch lines distributed on the elongate line, each of which selectively takes one of two different branch modes from the elongate line for bit encoding. Two-dimensionally reading an image on the recording medium from a recording medium on which a line drawing having one synchronization mark arranged for each of a predetermined number of the branch lines on the elongated line is recorded. Storing the obtained image, and tracking a portion corresponding to the elongated line in the stored image. In the process, when the branch line is detected, a bit is generated according to the branch mode, and the synchronization mark is generated. Detecting the number of the bits generated between the synchronization marks when detecting the error, thereby performing an error check. Data reproduction method is provided.

Further, according to the binary data reproducing apparatus of the present invention, at least one elongated line and distributed on the elongated line, each of which selectively selects one of two different branch modes from the elongated line for bit encoding. A two-dimensional image on the recording medium is recorded from a recording medium on which a line drawing having a plurality of branch lines to be taken and in which one synchronization mark is arranged for each of the predetermined number of the branch lines on the elongated line is recorded. Image input means for reading, image storage means for storing an image read by the image input means, and a portion corresponding to the elongated line in the image stored in the image storage means, In the above, when the branch line is detected, a bit is generated according to the branch mode, and when the synchronization mark is detected, the bit is generated between the synchronization marks. By examining the number of serial bits, binary data reproduction device is provided which is characterized by having a calculating means for performing error checking.

Further, according to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, at least one elongated line and two different branching modes are selected from the elongated line distributed on the elongated line, each of which is for bit coding. A line drawing having a plurality of branch lines to be taken, wherein the branch line taking the first branch mode and the branch line taking the second branch mode for each of a limited number of the branch lines on the elongated line There is provided a recording medium on which a line drawing in which barytes indicating an odd event are arranged is recorded and which is used in a binary data reproducing method and apparatus of the present invention described below.

That is, according to the present invention, at least one elongated line and a plurality of branch lines distributed on the elongated line, each of which selectively takes one of two different branch modes from the elongated line for bit encoding, Arranging, for each of a limited number of the branch lines on the elongated line, a barytic mark indicating the odd occurrence of the branch line in the first branch mode and the oddness of the branch line in the second branch mode. Two-dimensionally reading the image on the recording medium from the recording medium on which the line drawing is recorded, storing the read image, and determining a portion corresponding to the elongated line in the stored image. Tracking, in the process, when the branch line is detected, a bit is generated according to the branch mode, and when the parity mark is detected, the bit is detected between the parity marks. Performing an error check by checking the number of branch lines in the first branch mode and the number of branch lines in the second branch mode in accordance with the result of detection of the parity mark. And at least one elongated line and a plurality of branches distributed on the elongated line, each of which selectively takes one of two different branching modes from the elongated line for bit encoding. And a barity mark indicating the odd occurrence of the branch line taking the first branch mode and the odd occurrence of the branch line taking the second branch mode for each of the limited number of the branch lines on the elongated line. Image input means for two-dimensionally reading an image on the recording medium from a recording medium on which a line drawing in which is arranged is recorded, and an image storage means for storing the image read by the image input means. And a portion corresponding to the elongated line in the image stored in the image storage unit. In the process, when the branch line is detected, a bit is generated according to the branch mode. When a parity mark is detected, the number of branch lines in the first branch mode and the number of branch lines in the second branch mode detected between the parity marks are checked according to the result of the parity mark detection. A binary data reproducing apparatus is provided, comprising: an arithmetic unit for performing an error check.

In the above structure, at least one elongated line and a plurality of bit-encoded branch lines branching therefrom are provided.
A coded image having a two-dimensional line drawing configuration can be formed at a high recording density.

Each of the elongated lines and the plurality of branch lines branching from it are 1
It is formed as two consecutive line drawings. Therefore, at the time of binary data reproduction, the continuity of the line drawing is used to track a portion corresponding to an elongated line from the captured image data, and each time a branch line is encountered in the process, the branch mode is followed. By generating the decoded bits, the data decoding is easily achieved in the correct order. However,
In the configuration of the present invention that does not use a synchronization mark or a parity mark, if a fake branch line enters between bit-encoded branch lines, a decoding error ripple effect occurs.

That is, if a line image includes a noise image, the number of branch lines increases or decreases. For example, if a fake branch line having the first branch mode is formed, the number of branch lines increases, and if a real branch line is omitted, the number of branch lines decreases.

Therefore, if the marks for checking the increase or decrease of the number of branch lines are arranged at every limited length of the line drawing, it becomes easy to detect the synchronization deviation of the reproduced binary data due to the noise, and the noise can be easily detected. The occurrence position can be specified within a limited length.

The mark arranged for each fixed number of branch lines has the meaning of a synchronization mark.

Therefore, in reproducing binary data for a line drawing having a synchronization mark, when a branch line is detected, bits are generated according to the branch mode, and when a synchronization mark is detected, a bit from the previous synchronization mark to the current synchronization mark is generated. By examining the number of bits generated between (or the number of detected branch lines), the position where noise occurs can be detected within the range of binary data generated between synchronization marks. The synchronization of the binary data can be reset.

Another type of mark is a parity mark. It can be considered that noise generated in a line image having a limited length is at most one place. Therefore, by disposing a parity mark indicating the odd / even of the branch line taking the first branch mode and the odd / even of the branch line taking the second branch mode for each of a limited number of branch lines, the above noise can be reduced. It becomes possible to detect.

That is, in reproducing binary data for a line drawing having a parity mark, when a branch line is detected during the search for a line drawing, bits are generated according to a branching mode, and when a parity mark is detected, the first bit detected between the parity marks is generated. The odd / even number of branches in the branch mode and the odd / even in the branch line in the second branch mode may be checked in accordance with the parity mark detection result.

When a parity mark indicating the odd or even number of the branch lines in the first mode is used for each of the odd or even branch lines, the parity mark simultaneously indicates the odd or even number of the branch lines in the second mode. become.

There may be a configuration in which both the synchronization mark and the parity mark are arranged on a line drawing. In a preferred form in this case, 1
One mark represents both synchronization and parity. That is, a mark (synchronization / parity mark) indicating the oddness or evenness of the number of branch lines in the first branch mode is arranged for every fixed number of branch lines. Then, in the binary data reproduction, when a branch line is detected, a bit is generated according to a branch mode, and when a synchronization / parity mark is detected, the number of branch lines detected between the synchronization / parity marks is checked. At the same time, the odd / even number of branch lines in the first branch mode detected between the synchronization / parity marks is checked.

For a line drawing on which both a synchronization mark and a parity mark are arranged, a synchronization check (a check of the number of branch lines) and a parity check (an odd / even check of a branch line having a specific branch mode) are performed in the reproduction of binary data. This makes it possible to detect more complicated noise. That is, it is possible to cope with a case where a regular branch line is missing and a fake branch line is formed.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of an encoded image recorded on a recording sheet according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the encoded image is a line drawing, and is composed of a plurality of parallel and equally-spaced line drawing patterns of lines L1, L2,. Each row is distributed on a single elongated line (trunk) M extending from the starting point S to the ending point E and the trunk M, and is separated from the trunk M by 2
A plurality of branch lines (branches) selectively adopting two different branch modes
It has B1 and B2. A branch B1 extending to the left of the trunk M with respect to the traveling direction of the trunk M (a direction from the starting point S to the end point E) represents a first bit, for example, bit "1", and a branch B2 extending to the right of the trunk M is defined as a second bit. A bit, for example, a bit “0” is represented. Furthermore, a synchronization mark SYNC is formed in the line drawing for each of a fixed number (four in this case) of branch lines B1 and B2. Fig. 1 shows the synchronization mark SY
The NC is composed of branch lines extending from both sides of the trunk M. Therefore, the line drawing of the encoded image is segmented (blocked) by the synchronization mark, and as described later, in the reproduction of the binary data, the number of bit branches B1 and B2 in each line drawing segment is determined by the synchronization mark. By checking at the arrival of SYNC, it is possible to specify the location of the noise included in the image within the range of the line drawing segment.

FIG. 2 shows three other examples of the encoded image. In these examples, the synchronization mark SYNC is used instead of the synchronization mark SYNC.
You are using For example, in FIG. 2A, a thick branch synchronization / parity mark SP1 is formed for each of the seven bit branches B1 and B2. When the branch of the bit "1" extending from the left side of the trunk M in the seven bit branches B1 and B2 in the line drawing segment is an odd number, the synchronization / parity mark SP1 for the line drawing segment extends from the left side of the trunk M. The synchronization / parity mark SP1 for the line drawing segment having an even number of bit “1” branches is a thick branch extending from the right side of the trunk M. The example of FIG. 2 (B) is a modification of the format of the synchronization / parity mark shown in FIG. 2 (A), where the synchronization / parity mark SP2 is 2
It has a structure in which branches are connected by thick beams. In the example of FIG. 2C, the synchronization / parity mark is further changed, and the synchronization / parity mark SP3 is changed to the right or left side of the trunk M depending on the oddness of the number of the branches B1 of the bit "1" in the line drawing segment. Line (parity mark part) P extending from
And thin branches (synchronous mark portions) S extending from both sides of the trunk M. In the example shown in FIG. 2C, the synchronization mark S and the parity mark P are integrated to form a synchronization / parity mark SP3. However, the parity mark P may be arranged independently of the synchronization mark S. Good.

As will be described later, in binary data reproduction for a line drawing with a synchronization / parity mark SP as illustrated in FIG.
When the synchronous parity mark SP is detected, the number of bit branches B1 and B2 detected in the relevant line drawing segment and the branch of bit “1”
An error in the line drawing segment is detected by examining the evenness of B1 (and / or the oddness of branch B2 of bit “0”).

FIG. 3 shows the overall configuration of a binary data reproducing apparatus that captures an image from a recording medium (recording sheet) on which an encoded image as described above is recorded and reproduces binary data. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a recording sheet, an image on the recording sheet 1 is read by an image input device 2, and stored as binary (black and white) image data by an image storage device 3. As the image input device 2, a known image scanner or a television camera (for example, a CCD camera) can be used. The image data stored in the image storage device 3 is subjected to recognition processing by the arithmetic device 4 in accordance with the structural characteristics of the encoded image, and binary data is reproduced.

The image recognition processing executed by the arithmetic unit 4 differs depending on whether the encoded image has a synchronization mark SYNC as shown in FIG. 1 or a synchronization / parity mark SP as shown in FIG. The recognition process for the former is shown in FIG. 4, and the recognition process for the latter is shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 4, first, at 4-1 the arithmetic unit 4 measures the interval of the row interval (stem M) from the stored image data and sets the interval to W. Next, pay attention to the top row (4
-2), search for the starting point S of the line (4-3). Then, it moves to the right position by one step along the center line of the row, that is, the trunk M, and determines whether or not it has exceeded the end point E of the trunk M (4-
4). If the moved position is a point on the stem M, the image data at the upper and lower W / 4 positions from that point is checked (4-
5). If the image data is a white pixel, the process returns to step 4-4 to move the position to be checked one position further to the right.
The black pixel found in the check of 4-5 is a bit branch
B1, B2 or a fragment of the synchronization mark SYNC. That is, as can be seen from FIG. 1, the black pixel above W / 4 of the stem M is a fragment of the branch B1 of the bit “1” extending to the left of the stem M, and the black pixel below W / 4 of the stem M. The pixel is a fragment of the branch B2 of the bit “0” extending to the right side of the trunk M, and the black pixels on both sides of the trunk M represent a branch extending from both sides of the trunk M, that is, a fragment of the synchronization mark SYNC. Therefore, when a black pixel is found in the check 4-5, the process proceeds to 4-6 to check at which position the black pixel is found. Then, when it is found on the trunk M, it outputs a bit "1" (4-7), when it is found on the trunk M, it outputs a bit "0" (4-8),
The bit counter bitcounter is incremented by one (4-9). This bit counter bitcounter counts the number of bit branches B1 and B2 included in the line drawing block (segment) related to the synchronization mark SYNC. Therefore, when the synchronization mark SYNC is recognized in the check 4-6, the process proceeds to 4-10 to determine whether or not the value of the bit counter bitcounter is 4. This numerical value "4" is the number of normal bit branches B1, B2 between the synchronization marks SYNC. Therefore, when the bit counter bitcounter is different from 4, the synchronization mark SY
This means that the line drawing block between NCs contains noise. Therefore, the process proceeds to 4-11 to execute processing indicating that this block contains an error, and the bit counter bitcounter
To “0”. On the other hand, when the bit counter bitcounter is 4, it is considered that there is no error in the line drawing block, so only the bit counter bitcounter is returned to “0”.

If it is detected in 4-4 that the end point of the trunk M has been exceeded, the process proceeds to 4-13 to check whether the next line remains. If it remains, the process returns to 4-3 to search for the starting point S of the line. If the next line does not remain, the reproduction of the binary data for all the line drawings has been completed, and the flow exits.

FIG. 5 shows an image recognition process for the encoded image shown in FIG. 2. In 5-1 and 5-2, the arithmetic unit 4 searches for the starting point of the trunk M from the end of the frame of the image data. If the starting point of the trunk M is found, the process proceeds to 5-3, and the trunk M is traced by one step. If the trunk M is continued (5-4), the existence of the branches B1, B2, and SP is checked. If no branch is found (5-6), the process returns to 5-3, but if a branch is found, the process goes to 5-7 to recognize the feature of the branch. For example, in the case of the encoded image of FIG.
The width of the branch and the direction of the branch with respect to the trunk M are recognized. It is the branch B1 representing the bit "1" that the branch width is narrow and the left side of the trunk M is the branch direction, and the bit B is "0" if the branch width is narrow and the right side of the trunk M is the branch direction. The branch B2 having a large width and having the left side of the trunk M as the branching direction is a synchronizing signal indicating that the line drawing segment includes the branch B1 of an odd number of bits "1".
The parity mark SP1 having a large branch width and the branch direction on the right side of the trunk M is the synchronization / parity mark SP1 indicating that the line drawing segment includes a branch B2 of an even number of bits “1”. In the case of the encoded image in FIG. 2B, the direction of the branch with respect to the trunk M and whether or not the branch includes a beam are recognized. In the case of the coded image shown in FIG. 2C, substantially the same processing as in the case of FIG. 2A may be performed, but the synchronization / parity mark SP3 includes the synchronization mark part S branched on both sides of the trunk M. Is a necessary condition for recognition. The branch feature recognition processing 5-7 is specifically performed by pattern matching or projection of image data in the vicinity of the branch (production).
Can be performed. After 5-7, 5-
At step 8, it is determined whether or not it is a branch SP of the synchronization / parity mark. When the branch SP of the synchronization / parity mark is detected, the process proceeds to 5-10, and the detected bit branches B1 and B2 in the line drawing segment.
Of the number of branches B1 detected in the same segment in accordance with the branch direction of the synchronization / parity mark SP, and execute error processing based on the check result. I do. That is, if the number of bit branches detected between the previous synchronization / parity mark SP and the current synchronization / parity mark SP (within the line drawing segment) is not 7, or the number of bits "1" generated in the same segment Is not equal to the parity information of the synchronization / parity mark SP, the segment is processed as having an error. After 5-10, return to 5-3.

If it is detected in 5-4 that the end point of the trunk M has been exceeded, the image recognition is completed and the flow exits.

Although the description of the embodiments has been finished above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible.

For example, in the above embodiment, a mark (synchronization mark SYNC, synchronization / parity mark) for managing a limited number of continuous branch lines on the trunk M is provided, and the number of branch lines included in a line drawing segment between marks is determined. By checking based on the mark, the range of the binary data which is out of synchronization with the noise image is limited, and the position where the noise is generated is clarified in units of the line drawing segment. It is possible to specify whether the bit is caused by noise, and it is possible to correct the bit to correct binary data. For example, in the last line of a plurality of line drawings, vertical parity marks indicating odd / even of bit branches in the vertical direction are sequentially arranged. By performing the inspection, if there is only one error, its occurrence position and its correct value can be estimated, and it can be corrected to correct binary data.

In the line drawing composed of the bit branches B1 and B2 and the trunk M,
In the case where only a parity mark is added, when arranging a parity mark for each variable number of bit branches, four types of parity marks (a first parity representing a branch of an odd number of bits “1” and an odd number of bits “0”) are used. Marks, second, third, and fourth parity marks) in the same manner.

[Effect of the Invention] Since the synchronization mark is attached to each of a predetermined number of branch lines on the elongated line in the encoded image of the recording medium according to the third aspect, the synchronization deviation of the reproduced binary data due to the noise image is easily limited. It becomes possible. Further, compared to a configuration in which check information is included in some branch line patterns, the sacrifice of the recording space is small.

3. The binary data reproducing method and apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the binary data reproduction of the encoded image, when a synchronization mark is detected, the number of branch lines detected in a line drawing segment belonging to the mark. Is inspected, it is possible to suppress the spread of the synchronization shift of the reproduced binary data within the line drawing segment and to clarify the location of the noise included in the encoded image.

The encoded image of the recording medium according to claim 6 adopts the odd / even of the first branch mode and the second branch mode for each of a limited number of branch lines (the number may be variable) on an elongated line. Since the parity mark indicating the odd / even of the branch line is arranged, it has almost the same effect as the recording medium of the third aspect.

The binary data reproducing method and apparatus according to claims 4 and 5 for reproducing binary data from the recording medium according to claim 6 each time a parity mark is detected, in accordance with the detection result, within a line drawing segment belonging to the parity mark. Since the odd / even number of the detected branch lines having the first branch mode and the odd / even number of the branch lines having the second branch mode are checked, a one-bit error that may occur in the same drawing segment can be reliably detected. Can be detected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an encoded image recorded on a recording sheet according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing another example of the encoded image, and FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram of a binary data reproducing apparatus. , Fourth
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an image recognition process executed by the arithmetic unit of FIG. 3 on the encoded image of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is executed by the arithmetic unit of FIG. 3 on the encoded image of FIG. It is a flowchart of an image recognition process. 1 ... Recording sheet, 2 ... Image input device, 3 ... Image storage device, 4 ... Computing device, M ... Trunk (elongated line), B1, B2 ... Branch (branch line), SYNC ... Synchronization mark,
SP1, SP2, SP3 ... Sync / parity mark.

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A line drawing comprising at least one elongate line and a plurality of branch lines distributed on the elongate line, each of which selectively takes one of two different branching modes from the elongate line for bit coding. Two-dimensionally reading an image on a recording medium from a recording medium on which a line drawing in which one synchronization mark is arranged for each of a predetermined number of the branch lines on the elongated line is recorded; Storing an image, tracing a portion corresponding to the elongated line in the stored image, and in the process, when detecting the branch line, generating a bit according to the branch mode, and detecting the synchronization mark Performing an error check by examining the number of bits generated between the synchronization marks. Law. 2. A line drawing having at least one elongate line and a plurality of branch lines distributed on the elongate line, each of which selectively takes one of two different branching modes from the elongate line for bit coding. Image input means for two-dimensionally reading an image on the recording medium from a recording medium on which a line drawing in which one synchronization mark is arranged for each of a predetermined number of the branch lines on the elongated line is recorded; An image storage unit that stores an image read by the image input unit; and a part corresponding to the elongated line in the image stored in the image storage unit is tracked. In the process, when the branch line is detected, Bits are generated according to the branching mode, and when the synchronization mark is detected, the number of bits generated between the synchronization marks is checked. Ri, binary data reproduction apparatus characterized by having a calculating means for performing error checking. 3. The recording medium for use in the binary data reproducing method according to claim 1 or the binary data reproducing device according to claim 2. 4. A line drawing comprising at least one elongate line and a plurality of branch lines distributed on said elongate line, each of which selectively takes one of two different branching modes from said elongate line for bit coding. And a line drawing in which, for each of a limited number of the branch lines on the elongated line, a barity mark indicating an odd occurrence of the branch line in the first branch mode and a parity mark in the second branch mode is arranged. A step of two-dimensionally reading an image on the recording medium from the recorded recording medium, a step of storing the read image, and tracking a portion corresponding to the elongated line in the stored image, In the process, when the branch line is detected, a bit is generated according to the branch mode, and when the parity mark is detected, the first branch mode detected between the parity marks is generated. Binary data reproduction method characterized by having a step of performing an error check by a number of branch lines to take the number and the second branch aspect of the branch line to check in accordance with the detection result of the parity mark taking. 5. A line drawing comprising at least one elongate line and a plurality of branch lines distributed on said elongate line, each of which selectively takes one of two different branching modes from said elongate line for bit coding. And a line drawing in which, for each of a limited number of the branch lines on the elongated line, a barity mark indicating an odd occurrence of the branch line in the first branch mode and a parity mark in the second branch mode is arranged. Image input means for two-dimensionally reading an image on the recording medium from the recorded recording medium, image storage means for storing the image read by the image input means, and image stored in the image storage means In the process, when the branch line is detected in the process, a bit is generated according to the branch mode, and the parity marker is generated. Is detected by checking the number of branch lines in the first branch mode and the number of branch lines in the second branch mode detected between the parity marks in accordance with the result of the parity mark detection. And a calculation means for performing the following. 6. The recording medium for use in the binary data reproducing method according to claim 4 or the binary data reproducing device according to claim 5.