JP2793633B2 - Ticket issuing device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a ticket issuing device installed at a window of a station or the like and used for issuing a ticket or the like.

(Prior Art) In a railway station or the like, vending machines are widely used when issuing tickets. When the customer presses a destination designation button or the like, the vending machine prints predetermined items on the ticket surface and issues a ticket on the spot. On the other hand, limited express tickets, designated tickets, long-distance tickets, and the like are often issued at stations.

If the content of the application is relatively simple, the customer tells the attendant a verbal answer, and the attendant issues a predetermined ticket accordingly. However, the application for a transit ticket, a designated ticket for a plurality of people including adults and children, etc. is complicated, so the application is complicated, so the applicant must fill out a prescribed ticket application form and submit it to the counter. .

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a conventional ticket issuing device operated by a person in charge of such a counter.

In the figure, the apparatus includes a keyboard 3 for inputting ticket issuing information 2 described on a ticket application form 1, a control unit 4 for controlling the operation of the apparatus, and a ticket printing unit 5. The control unit 4 is connected to a host computer 6 installed at a head office or the like via a communication line.

For example, when making a reservation for a designated ticket, when an attendant operates the keyboard 3 to designate a train to be reserved, the information is transmitted to the host computer 6 via the control unit 4. The host computer 6 checks the seat reservation status of the train, specifies an empty seat, and sends it back to the control unit 4. The control unit 4 includes ticket issuing information and a host computer 6
The ticket printing unit 5 is controlled based on the information from, and the ticket is issued.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, if the items described in the ticket application form 1 become complicated, it takes time for the attendant to input data, which causes traffic congestion in the counter business.

In order to solve this, for example, use of a mark sheet generally adopted in computer processing or the like can be considered. However, work such as painting a certain portion of a mark sheet using a pencil or the like is required, and it is not realistic to require this at a window of a station. Further, when the information is written in a hurry, the probability of occurrence of a reading error increases.

On the other hand, it is conceivable to use a so-called character reading device that reads and recognizes the characters written on the ticket application form 1 as it is. However, it is also required that characters of a certain quality or higher that can be read are written in a predetermined frame. Otherwise, the read error rate increases and is not practical.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a ticket issuing device capable of improving the efficiency of ticket issuing operations at a station window or the like.

(Means for Solving the Problems) A ticket issuing device according to the present invention includes a reading unit that reads image information written on a ticket application sheet, an image memory that stores the read image data, and an image memory that includes the image data. A pattern memory storing data for recognizing mark information to be read, a dictionary memory storing a dictionary for recognizing character information included in the image data, and image data read from a predetermined area of the image memory. A mark recognizing unit that recognizes the mark information by comparing the data with the data stored in the memory, and compares the character information read from a predetermined area of the image memory with the data stored in the dictionary memory to convert the character information. A character recognition unit to be recognized, and a ticket for generating ticket issuance information based on outputs of the mark recognition unit and the character recognition unit. Issue information generating unit, a display unit for displaying the contents of the ticket issuance information, a key input unit for filling in supplementary correction information of the ticket issuance information,
A ticket printing unit for printing a ticket based on the ticket issuance information.

(Operation) Since the above-described apparatus is intended for a ticket application form having relatively limited items to be described, it recognizes information on the ticket application form by dividing it into mark information and character information. The mark information is information such as a circle attached to an item selected from a plurality of items by a customer in a mark entry area where a plurality of items are printed in advance. The character information is
Information such as the reservation date of the designated ticket, the number of issued tickets, and the station name. The mark information can be determined based on whether data other than the image data originally printed in the mark entry area has been entered. Further, in the character information, the characters to be entered are limited depending on the region, and the character is recognized by collating with a dictionary corresponding to the region. Regarding ticket issuing information that could not be recognized by the mark recognizing unit and the character recognizing unit or ticket issuing information that was incorrectly recognized, the attendant operates the key input unit based on the display on the display unit to supplement and correct it. . This allows
Significant automation of entry of ticket application forms has been achieved,
Window operations become more efficient.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a ticket issuing apparatus according to the present invention.

The illustrated apparatus has a reading unit 10 for reading mark information, character information, and the like described on a ticket application form 1. The reading unit 10 is a device that includes an image line sensor or the like, photoelectrically converts information on a ticket application sheet, and outputs the information to the image memory 11. The image memory 11 is composed of, for example, a random access memory for storing the image information read by the reading unit 10 over the entire surface of the ticket application form 1.

Further, a pattern memory 12 is provided for recognizing mark information in the image data stored in the image memory 11. The pattern memory 12 is composed of a read only memory or the like.
The image of the mark entry area is stored as it is. Further, a dictionary memory 13 is provided for recognizing character information in the image data stored in the image memory 11. The dictionary memory 13 is also composed of a read-only memory and the like, and has a dictionary for recognizing numbers, for example, corresponding to the area where the numbers on the ticket application form 1 are written. The dictionary for digit recognition is a data in which characteristic points of numbers written by hand are converted into data, and has the same contents as those generally provided in a character recognition device or the like. However,
In this ticket issuing device, since the types of characters to be entered are extremely limited, data relating to the characteristic points may be relatively simple.

In addition, in the dictionary memory 13, for example, in the case of a bullet train,
A dictionary corresponding to the station name of the Shinkansen and a dictionary classified according to other described items are prepared.

The mark recognizing unit 14 reads the data of the mark entry area from the image data stored in the image memory 11, compares the read data with the corresponding information stored in the pattern memory 12, and determines whether or not the mark is entered in the area. It is a circuit that determines whether or not this is the case and outputs the result to the ticket issuance information generation unit 16. This information includes a comparison circuit for image data and the like.

The character recognition unit 15 reads character information from a predetermined area of the image data stored in the image memory 11, extracts the characteristic points, compares the result with the corresponding dictionary stored in the dictionary memory 13, and compares the result with the corresponding dictionary. Is a circuit that recognizes This has a circuit configuration substantially similar to that of a conventional character reader,
Further detailed description is omitted. The recognition result of this character is also output to the ticket issuing information generation unit 16.

The ticket issuance information generation unit 16 is a circuit that generates ticket issuance information based on the outputs of the character recognition unit 15 and the mark recognition unit 14. The display unit 17 and the key input unit 18 are connected to this circuit.

The display unit 17 is composed of a cathode ray tube display or the like, and is configured so that a clerk can check the generated ticket issuing information. Then, the clerk compares the information displayed on the display section 17 with the information described on the ticket application form 1 and operates the key input section 18 to correct an error or supplement an unrecognizable portion. It is configured as follows.

The ticket issuance information generation unit 16 further includes a host computer 8
Is configured to output ticket issuance information via a communication line.

The configurations of the host computer 8 and the ticket printing unit 5 are the same as those of the conventional ticket issuing device already described with reference to FIG.

The host computer 8 has a ticket issuance information generation unit 16.
A customer management information storage unit 19 for storing information necessary for customer management among the information transferred from.

FIG. 3 shows an example of information on a ticket application sheet suitable for use of the apparatus of the present invention.

This form is, for example, an application form for a designated ticket such as an express train or a bed. Here, there is a customer name entry field 20 and a number entry field
21 and a type description column 22 for describing the type of ticket are provided.

Here, in the present invention, the mark information refers to a circle 23 for selecting a type such as a bullet train, an express ticket, a sleeper ticket, etc., described in a type description column 22. The character information is, for example, a numerical value in the number entry column 21. In this example, for example, a Shinkansen ticket for one adult and one child is applied. In addition, other boarding date designations, reservation train designations, and boarding section designations are also described.
The illustration is omitted.

In the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the mark recognizing unit 14 reads from the image memory 11 an image of an area including the type description column 22 of the ticket application form 1 shown in FIG. Is compared with an image in which no mark information 23 is described, and the presence or absence of the mark information 23 is detected. If you perform the comparison in the frame described as the Shinkansen, the comparison in the frame described as the express ticket, and the comparison in the frame described as the sleeper ticket, the circle in each frame will be displayed. It can be easily determined.

On the other hand, the character recognizing unit 15 reads an image of the area including the number entry field 21 shown in the ticket application form 1 in FIG.
Character recognition is performed by comparing with the dictionary stored in 13.

 The device having the above configuration operates as follows.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the apparatus of the present invention.

First, when the ticket application form 1 is submitted by the customer, the attendant operates the reading unit 10 to read the information (step S1). Next, the image data stored in the image memory 11 is sequentially read out for each area, and it is determined whether or not it is character information (step S2). In the case of character information, the character recognition unit 15 extracts feature points (step S3). Then, the dictionary is read (step S4), and the feature points are compared (step S5). As a result, the character is recognized (step S6) and output to the ticket issuing information generation unit 16.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that the information is not character information, the mark recognizing unit 14 reads the corresponding image from the pattern memory 12 (step S7). Then, the patterns are compared (step S8). The mark is recognized (step S9). The result is also output to the ticket issuing information generation unit 16.

The ticket issuance information generation unit 16 generates ticket issuance information based on these recognition results (step S10). And
It is determined whether the recognition has been completed for all the areas (step S11). If there is another area that needs recognition, the process returns to step S2, and the operations from step S2 to step S10 are repeated.

When the recognition for all the areas is completed, the result is displayed on the display unit 17 (step S12). Then, the attendant determines whether there is any error in the contents (step S13). If there is an error, the key input unit 18
Is manually input using (step S14).

When these operations are completed, the completion key is pressed, and the result is output to the host computer 8 (step S15). The host computer 8 generates print information based on the ticket issuing information, and the ticket printing unit 5 prints the ticket based on the ticket issuing information and the printing information (step S1).
6).

 This is the end of the ticket issuing process.

The host computer 8 stores, for example, the customer's name 20 and address described in the ticket application form 1 shown in FIG. This is used for addressing of direct mail for customer service.

 The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

Although the above-described apparatus has been described by taking an example of a ticket issuing apparatus, it can also be used for, for example, issuing a commuter pass or the like, and can be used for an issue of securities in various service operations other than a station. .

(Effect of the Invention) The above-described ticket issuing device of the present invention automatically reads the content described on the ticket application form, determines the type of ticket based on the output of the mark recognition unit, and outputs the type of the ticket to the output of the character recognition unit. Since the ticket issuance information is generated by defining information other than the type based on the type, the burden on the staff at the counter can be reduced and the efficiency of the counter operation can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a ticket issuing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional ticket issuing apparatus, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of information on a ticket application sheet, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus of the present invention. 1 ... ticket application form, 5 ... ticket printing section, 8 ... host computer, 10 ... reading section, 11 ... image memory, 12 ... pattern memory, 13 ... dictionary memory, 14 ... mark recognition Unit, 15: character recognition unit, 16: ticket issue information generation unit, 17: display unit, 18: key input unit, 19: customer management information storage unit.

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-63-136288 (JP, A) JP-A-1-109491 (JP, A) JP-A-52-133723 (JP, A) JP-A-56-11573 (JP) JP-A-61-279991 (JP, A) JP-A-63-127389 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G07B 1/00-9/02 G06K 9/00-9/82

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image of a sheet in which a plurality of types to be selected are printed in advance, and a mark entry area in which mark information is added to the selected type and a character entry area in which character information is entered are provided. A reading unit for reading data; an image memory for storing image data read by the reading unit; a pattern memory for storing image data previously printed in a mark entry area of the sheet; and a character entry area of the sheet. A dictionary memory storing a dictionary for recognizing character information to be written, and image data corresponding to a mark writing area read from the image memory are compared with the image data stored in the pattern memory. If data other than the stored image data is entered, it is recognized as having mark information. A character recognizing unit that compares character information corresponding to a character entry area read from the image memory with data stored in the dictionary memory to recognize character information; and a mark recognizing unit. A ticket issuance information generation unit that determines the type of ticket based on the output of the ticket, determines information other than the type based on the output of the character recognition unit, and generates ticket issuance information, and prints the ticket based on the ticket issuance information And a ticket printing unit.