KR20000048145A - 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, wherein security information is generated from ticket issuing request information and user identification information sent from a user through a network, and ticket image information is generated from the ticket issuing request information. Generating ticket printing information by visually embedding the generated security information in a visually invisible state with respect to the generated ticket image information, and sending the generated ticket printing information to the user through a communication means; 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 agency, or the like through a network or a telephone line.

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

In recent years, a system for applying for tickets for concerts or transportation agencies by using a network or a telephone line and receiving an applied ticket at a predetermined place has been widely used. Thus, this makes it possible to purchase a ticket at home or at a company.

In addition, systems for distributing personal computers and color printers and maintaining a communication environment such as the Internet, etc., can be used to issue a ticket directly from a home or a company via a network.

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

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

However, the methods and systems proposed in US Pat. Nos. 5,606,507 and 5,666,284 are limited to client system configurations because of the need for dedicated storage devices connected to the personal computer. In addition, even if the postage information is encrypted, it is printed on the envelope in the visible state by using the two-dimensional code technology or its application technology. Have a drawback.

An object of the present invention is to provide a ticket issuing method and a ticket issuing system which can execute ticket issuance easily via a communication means such as a network or a telephone line with high security.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ticket combination method in which the authenticity of issued tickets can be easily executed and the 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 diagram for explaining binary imaging by two-dimensional code of security information;

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

8 is a diagram for explaining binary imaging by two-dimensional code of security information;

9 is a view for explaining a procedure for creating ticket printing information;

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 for explaining thin line processing in a third reproducing method;

21 is a diagram for explaining complementary 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 device

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; Generating ticket printing information for ticket printing by the user by embedding the generated security information with respect to the ticket image information in the ticket image information in a visually invisible state; 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; Means for generating ticket printing information for ticket printing by the user by embedding the generated security information with respect to the ticket image information in the ticket image information visually invisible; 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 according to the ticket issuance request information from the user through the communication means in a visible state on the printing surface; Outputting ticket image information from the ticket issuing request information in a visible state on a printing surface; Outputting ticket printing information for ticket printing by the user by embedding the generated security information with respect to the ticket image information in the ticket image information in a visually invisible state; And sending the generated ticket printing information to a user through a communication means.

Below. 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.

Further, "user" means a person who prints a ticket from a home to a printer and uses the ticket, or a person who can print a ticket from the home or store to the printer.

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. It 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 operation procedure of ticket issuance 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 ready to be used by 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 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 (step S4) if the user identification information is included in the registrant list, Starts the service and denies access unless it is included in the list of registrants.

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, 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 proceeds with the ticket purchase procedure by receiving this data and combining it with the data in the database 18 (step S9). If the ticket is not available for purchase, the reason is sent to the user terminal device 11 as a message and the service menu is returned.

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 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 end command is executed, and if a print error occurs, a reprint command is executed.

The user can take the printed ticket to the concert hall and use it as usual (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 with reference to the database 18 for ticket issuing request information in the process of step S11 of FIG. This ticket includes the ticket type (31), place (32), date and time (33), reserved seat (34), fare (35), serial number (36) and ticket issuer required for a ticket used for a normal concert. 37, the logo mark 38, etc. are described. In addition, these information are described in the same half of the ticket. The security information 22 of 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 the two-dimensional code information 39, the inquiry serial number 40, the ticket issuer 41, the logo mark, and the like are printed on the ticket. Characters and figures are also represented by binary images.

The two-dimensional code information 39 is automatically processed by the machine when the security information 22 is read out and described. Ticket type (31), place (32), date and time (33), reserved seat (34), fare (35), serial number (36), ticket issuer (37) and logo mark (38). It is converted into dimensional code and is included as 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.

The inquiry serial numbers 36 and 40 use numerals of 20 lines in this embodiment. Here, the information is shown in Table 1 below.

Classification Number of rows Data example Usage Serial number 20 19980925123412345678 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 Issued order

In Table 1, the ticket issuance date indicates the date when the ticket is applied. Classification code 1 indicates the information storage location of the database for searching. The classification code 2 indicates the encoding of the ticket type and others, and the ticket number indicates the ticket issuing sequence number. By using the serial number composed of these pieces of information as a combination key to the database 18, it is possible to unify a large number of tickets.

Thus, the security information 22 of FIG. 4 can be inspected by both the machine and the person. These information are also described in the same 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. 2 and is an actual ticket by printing these information. 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 of a part of the ticket in the visible state and the invisible state, it is possible to immediately detect forgery or modification of the ticket by simple correction.

In addition, as for the logo mark, the position of the logo mark in the visible state is arranged so as to completely match 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, the form of security information generation is demonstrated.

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

When the security information is input in the two-dimensional code, the machine can be processed at the time of detection of the security information, and in the case of the binary information, it can be processed by human vision, and these can be selected according to the system characteristics. The two-dimensional code and binary image are referred to as security basic 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 described for performing automatic processing by a machine, among which the type of ticket is coded and included in the security information. The two-dimensional coded information can use not only the type of ticket but also all kinds of forms such as voice, image and text such as personal information and management information such as voice fingerprint and fingerprint of a pre-registered user.

First, it is necessary to convert the basic security information into digital data. In case of security basic information composed of analog data such as voice and voice fingerprint, it is converted into digital data through A / D conversion. Anything in the form of digital data in advance is used as it is.

Next, the digitized security basic information is converted into a binary image from a two-dimensional code. The security basic information is divided into blocks of 4 bits in order from the beginning and corresponding to the value of each block, and replaced with a black and white binary image of 2x2 pixels 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 at the time of smoothing at the time of the synthesizing processing 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 this embodiment, although color codes are applied to two-dimensional coding, two-dimensional codes such as other matrix-based two-dimensional codes and color codes can be used without problems.

When the two-dimensional image information of the character string 41 and the logo code 42 of "Ticket East-West-South-North" as shown in Fig. 4 is inserted into the security information, these data are converted into binary image information. In this case, the image resolution at the time of conversion 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 generated in this way are arranged in an area of the same size as the ticket image information as shown in FIG. The layout needs to be predetermined by the system for the convenience of the sensor for detecting security information.

Next, with reference to FIG. 9, the generation method (synthesis processing method) of ticket printing information is demonstrated in detail.

The ticket image information 21 corresponds to FIG. 3 as the so-called ticket itself information. It has information of 24 bits per pixel (8 bits for each RGB). The security information 22 is information 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 key information for generation of ticket print information and detection (restoration) of 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, the region of the 3x1 pixel is cut out, and the weight average is taken as shown in Equation 1 below.

W (i) = (STL (i-1) + 2STL (i) + STL (i + 1)) / 4

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

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

As described above, 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. When the magnification ratio n is large, the safety factor at which the embedded image information is not destroyed is increased, but hidden data is easily exposed.

For example, in the case where 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. The embedding information was enlarged 4 times by setting the security information 22 to n = 4. In addition, two pixels of the outer periphery to be embedded are set to "0".

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 Equations 2 to 4 below.

For W (i) = 0 → DES (i) = MSK (i)

For W (i) = 1 → DES (i) = MSK (i + 2)

Other than above → DES (i) = MSK (i + 1)

DES (i): x = i Phase modulation result of pixel = 1 or 0

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

Here, x = 0 columns and x = 15 columns are not smoothed to the edges of the image information and neither phase modulation is applied. Therefore, at the edge, an exclusive logic OR between the key image information 24 and the security information 22 is taken. An example of 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.

For DES (i) = 1 → VR (i) =-△ V

For DES (i) = 1 → VG (i) = + ΔV

For DES (i) = 1 → VB (i) = + ΔV

For DES (i) = 0 → VR (i) = + ΔV

For DES (i) = 0 → VG (i) = -ΔV

For DES (i) = 0 → VB (i) = -ΔV

VR (i): Integer in the range of -255 to 255 red component as a result of color difference modulation of x = i pixel

VG (i): Integer in the range of -255 to 255 for the green component.

VB (i): Color difference modulation result of x = i pixels, blue component -255-255

In addition, the color difference amount DELTA V is an integer in the range of "0 to 255" preset. The color difference ΔV becomes larger as the contract of visualization at the time of restoration of embedded image information becomes higher. However, if it is too large, security information is likely to be exposed. Therefore, the color difference amount? V is preferably "16 to 96", but? V = 48 is used here.

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

DESR (i) = VR (i) + SRCR (i)

DESG (i) = VG (i) + SRCG (i)

DESB (i) = VB (i) + SRCB (i)

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

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

DESB (i): Integer in the range of 0 to 255 for the blue component as a result of superposition of x = 1 pixel

SRCR (i): An integer in the range of 0 to 255 red-filled image information of x = i pixels

SRCG (i): x = i pixel embedded image information Green component An integer in the range 0 to 255

SRCB (i): An integer in the range 0 to 255 of the buried image information blue component of the x = i pixel.

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 take an integer in the range of "0 to 255", and "255" indicates that there are many red components. 15, (0, 0) pixel value = 79, (1, 0) pixel value = 79, (2, 0) pixel value = 175. In the non-embedded portion of the security information, the pixel with few red components and the pixel with many red components are repeated in two pixel units.

As shown in the equations 5 to 7 or 8 to 10, the signs of the color difference amounts of red, green and blue are reversed. Therefore, less green and blue 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, and when red and cyan are adjacent to each other, it is difficult to distinguish them by the human eye and appears achromatic. In addition, since a red rich pixel and a cyan rich pixel are repeatedly arranged in a plurality of pixel units corresponding to the key image information, the human eye cannot distinguish these minute color differences, and the color difference amount is positive and negative. It is determined as negative "0".

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

DESR (i) SRCR (i)

This cannot distinguish that the image information is embedded. Therefore, this principle makes it possible to prepare ticket printing information in which security information is embedded in ticket image information in an invisible state.

When color printer printing is made using the ticket printing information, the color vehicle ΔV becomes large, which makes it difficult to discriminate and the degree for restoring the security information increases. However, there are cases where security information embedded in the ticket printing information invisibly is easily exposed to third parties.

Therefore, in the case of printing the ticket printing information with a color printer, the data can be output after the error diffusion processing as the image processing, thereby preventing the exposure of the security information without destroying the security information. This is because the density of each pixel of the ticket printing information is compensated by the error diffusion process, thereby the data of the security information in the invisible state is preserved.

In addition, by performing the error diffusion process, the low frequency component is reduced and the high frequency component is increased. Since the security information embedded in the ticket printing information is composed of high frequency components, other high frequency components are mixed by the error diffusion process and thus cannot be visually discriminated.

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

A portion of the information is reduced from the ticket printing information to destroy the ticket image information and a portion of the security information embedded in an invisible state, thereby generating ticket display information that has not been used until then.

First, the ticket printing information shown in Fig. 15 is cut into a 3x3 pixel area and smoothed. This simply takes an average and the result is as shown in FIG. From the result of the smoothing process, the pixel information of the vertex of the 4x4 pixel area is left and the rest is removed (thin line processing). 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 print is about 300 to 600 dpi, since the image resolution of the display screen is about 100 dpi and is about 1/3 to 1/6 of the information resolution of the general print.

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. Because of the small amount of information, the processing (display) is fast, and since some of the security information and ticket image information are destroyed, it 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.

Since ticket printing information and ticket display information are not visually different from ordinary images, general image formats such as Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) and Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) are used. In addition, the system configuration is relatively easy because the processing according to the application for processing a general image is possible.

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.

In this manner, the user uses the ticket 14, which prints and prints the ticket printing information on the ticket printing apparatus 13 such as a color printer, at a concert hall 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 image of the ticket 14 printed on the ticket printing apparatus 13 on paper or the like is read by optical reading means such as a scanner, and digitalized to restore the security information 22 to the state shown in FIG. .

Restoring the security information 22 uses the key image information 24 shown in FIG. The key image information 24 and the ticket image value of the ticket printing information 23 read by the scanner etc. are matched 1: 1. The value of the key image information 24 is " 1 " for determining the validity of the data of the ticket print information 23, and the value of the key image information 24 is " 0 " The data is judged to be invalid. This result is shown in FIG. In the figure, the hatched pixels are invalid data. In Fig. 18, valid data (expressed in white in the background) is cut to a predetermined size.

The security information 22 in this embodiment is set to n = 4, and the security information 22 is enlarged 4 times to remove the surrounding embedded 2 pixels, and then cut into 4x4 pixel units. If the valid data value within the 4x4 pixel range is a red rich value (" 175 " in this embodiment), the embedded image information (security information) = 1. If the cyan rich value (" 79 " in this embodiment) is 0, buried image information = 0. If the valid data includes both red rich and cyan rich, many are 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 solid line border portion 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, for example, printing can be performed at a resolution of 400 dpi using a sublimation thermal transfer printer, reading at a resolution of 1200 dpi using an optical scanner, and then restoration can be performed without any problem even if a restoration process is performed. .

In addition, as a method of restoring and detecting the second security information, the security information 22 is physically superimposed on the printing surface of the ticket 14 by physically superimposing a reproduction sheet having the same distribution ratio as the key image information 24 on the ticket 14. It becomes visible. Therefore, the logo mark or the like in the security information 22 can be directly confirmed by the human eye. This method has the advantage of simple authenticity because it does not require complicated operation and complicated equipment.

In addition, in the method of restoring and detecting the third security information, a system for thinning the value read by the optical means will be described. The red component of the value read by the scanner etc. is shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the security information is thinned into four pixel units by using a check pattern of 4x2 units in the synthesis process. This value is also related to the magnification ratio n at the time of generating the security information, whereby an equation of (check-like grid unit x magnification ratio n> number of thinned pixels) is established.

If the image information in Fig. 15 is thinned in units of four pixels, it becomes as shown in Fig. 20. 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 deflected by two pixels in the x direction and the y direction, it can be seen that the security information 22 of FIG. Therefore, by thinning the read image information, 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 the ticket 14 is illegally copied by a third party to a color copying machine or the like, the ticket of when, where and who issued it, as if the security information 22 includes the serial number for the inquiry. Because the history of the is known, it is possible to easily detect an illegal path.

In this embodiment, the combining process is executed using a check pattern of 4x2 pixel units as a key. Therefore, the effect of copy protection on the color copying machine is obtained by carrying out the synthesizing process with a check pattern of 1 × 1 pixel size. This is because the pixel data of the red rich and cyan rich of the ticket printing information are alternately arranged regularly by the synthesizing process using a square lattice such as 1x1 or 2x2 pixel size.

Since the sensor of the scanner portion, such as a color copying machine, is not a spot but has a limited area, the sensor pixels of the scanner and the pixels of the ticket printing information are finely deflected and read even if the scanner's reading resolution and the ticket printing resolution are the same. Here, the red and cyan components are difficult to separate pixels arranged at a very high precision pitch due to complementary colors, and 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 a ticket in which security information is embedded in an invisible state and a ticket which is guaranteed to be regular by any other means in which the security information is not embedded. For example, by simply printing a logo mark of a ticket in which security information is embedded in red, and printing a logo mark of a ticket in which security information is not embedded in blue, the inspection can be easily performed. You can save time and money.

Fig. 22 schematically shows the state from the ticket issuance until the detection of security information. A landscape photograph or the like is used for the ticket image information 21. In the security information 22, a logo mark of " JAPAN ", a two-dimensional code for inspection by human vision and inspection by a machine, is used as the copyright information, 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 generated ticket printing information 23 and ticket display information 25 are transmitted to the user who has issued a ticket through the network. The user who has received the ticket display information 25 displays the ticket display information 25 on the display of the user terminal device 11, and after confirming the contents, the ticket printing information 23 is displayed on a ticket printing device such as a color printer ( Print out 13 to obtain a ticket 14.

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

When security information including copyright information is embedded in the issued ticket 14 in an invisible state, it is possible to restore copyright information by 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. In particular, security information is important in order for a user to be able to issue something having a value equivalent to cash, such as a stamp. Like the car race entrance ticket described above, an electronic stamp can be realized by embedding security information in an invisible state in the electronic stamp and printing the ticket (stamp) printing information directly on an envelope or the like.

In the case of such mail items, mechanical processing such as address reading is generally performed, and security can be maintained by reading the security information embedded in the electronic stamp with a sensor and performing authenticity determination. In addition, when printing a stamp on a color printer or the like, printing the address and name at the same time enables significant cost reduction.

As described above, according to the present invention, a ticket issuing method capable of simply issuing a high security ticket via communication means such as a network or a telephone line can be provided.

In addition, according to the present invention it is possible to provide a ticket combination method in which the authenticity of the ticket issued by the ticket issuing method is easily executed and the tracking investigation is easily performed when an irregularity occurs.

Claims (16)

Generating security information from ticket issuance request information and user identification information sent from a user through a communication means; Generating ticket image information from the ticket issuing request information; Generating ticket printing information for ticket printing by the user by embedding the generated security information with respect to the ticket image information in the ticket image information in a visually invisible state; And And sending the generated ticket printing information to the user through a communication means. The method of claim 1, The security information generation step Generating binary embedded information by binary encoding security basic 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 specific format. The method of claim 1, The ticket printing information generation step Generating predetermined pattern image information; Generating pattern modulated image information by modulating the pattern image information into the security information; And And superimposing the pattern modulated image information on the ticket image information. The method of claim 3, wherein Generating the predetermined pattern image information comprises arranging adjacent image information to be a combination of complementary colors. The method of claim 1, Reducing ticket information from the ticket printing information to generate ticket display information for display confirmation by the display means of the user; And And sending the ticket indication information together with the ticket printing information to a user through a communication means. The method of claim 5, The ticket display information generation step Executing a smoothing process on the ticket printing information; And And executing the thin line processing on the smoothed ticket printing information. The method of claim 1, The ticket printing information generating step includes embedding a part of the security information in 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 includes embedding a part of the security information into the ticket image information such that the buried positions of the invisible and visible states coincide with each other. Ticket issuance method. The method of claim 1, The ticket printing information generating step includes adding a specific mark for distinguishing the ticket image information from which the security information is not embedded to the ticket image information generated by embedding the security information in an invisible state. Ticket issuing method, characterized in that. The method of claim 1, The security information is a ticket issuing method comprising a user identification information, ticket issuance date and time information, ticket type information, ticket expiration date information, ticket fee information and management information. Generating security information from ticket issuance request information and user identification information sent from a user through a communication means; Generating ticket image information from the ticket issuing request information; Generating predetermined pattern image information; Generating pattern modulated image information by modulating the pattern image information by the security 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 And authenticating the printed ticket by the restored security information. The method of claim 11, And the restoring step includes generating security information in a 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, And the restoring step includes optically reading the printed ticket information, comparing the obtained read signal with a mark signal representing the same pattern as the pattern image information, and invalidating a portion where the two match. How to combine tickets. The method of claim 11, And the reconstructing step includes optically reading the printed ticket information and executing thin line processing with respect to the obtained read signal at a period corresponding to the spatial frequency of the pattern image information. Means for generating security information from ticket issuing request information and user identification information sent from a user via a communication means; Means for generating ticket image information from the ticket issuing request information; Means for generating ticket printing information for ticket printing by the user by embedding the generated security information with respect to the ticket image information in the ticket image information visually invisible; And And a means for transmitting the generated ticket printing information to a user through a communication means. Outputting security information according to the ticket issuing request information from the user through the communication means in a visible state on the printing surface; Outputting ticket image information from the ticket issuing request information in a visible state on a printing surface; Outputting ticket printing information for ticket printing by the user by embedding the generated security information with respect to the ticket image information in the ticket image information in a visually invisible state; And And sending the generated ticket printing information to the user through a communication means.