Information transmission program and information reception program

Abstract

To provide an information transmitting program and an information receiving program that enable any amount of information to be transmitted safely and easily offline.SOLUTION: A transmitting terminal 1 converts electronic data of information to be transmitted into a plurality of QR codes, and causes the QR codes to be displayed successively at a display interval set based on the refresh rate of a screen 11. Meanwhile, a receiving terminal 2 uses a camera 21 to read the QR codes successively displayed on the screen, and combines divided data embedded in those QR codes to restore it to a single piece of electronic data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information transmission program and an information reception program for causing information transmission by having a computer terminal read a screen display.

Background Art

[0002] As an information transmission method using a computer terminal such as a smartphone, a QR code (registered trademark) printed on a paper surface such as a book is read by the camera of the smartphone, and a dedicated website is connected via the Internet so that a large amount of character information, videos, etc. can be obtained (see Patent Document 1, etc.).

[0003] On the other hand, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, by converting transmission target information such as facility application information into a QR code and having the generated single QR code read by a facility terminal, information transmission can be directly performed without going through the Internet.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, information transmission using the Internet can only be executed in an environment where it is possible to connect to the network, and moreover, it involves risks such as information leakage in various scenarios.

[0006] On the other hand, information transmission using a single QR code, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, has limitations on the amount of information that can be transmitted because there is a limit to the amount of information that can be embedded in a single QR code. In addition to the above, methods using storage media such as USB memory (USB flash drive) and SD card (SD memory card) are also widely known as methods for inputting information to computer terminals offline, but these require the preparation of storage media and carry the risk of computer virus infection through the storage media.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide an information transmission program and an information reception program that enable the safe and easy transmission of any amount of information in an offline environment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides an information transmission program for transmitting information by reading the screen display of a computer terminal, characterized in that it causes a computer to execute the following steps: a procedure for dividing data based on electronic data of the information to be transmitted into predetermined units, assigning a total number of divisions and a sequence number to each divided data, and converting it into a QR code (registered trademark); and a procedure for continuously displaying the QR codes of the divided data on the screen at a display interval set based on the refresh rate of the computer terminal screen.

[0009] Here, the configuration may include a procedure for encrypting the divided data based on a set encryption key before generating it. Furthermore, when displaying the QR codes consecutively on the screen, the configuration may include a procedure for verifying readability using short-range wireless communication of the computer terminal.

[0010] On the other hand, the invention of an information receiving program is an information receiving program for transmitting information by having a computer terminal read the screen display, and is characterized in that, when a plurality of QR codes (registered trademarks) are displayed consecutively as the screen display, the program causes a computer to execute the following steps: a step of having a camera on another computer terminal acquire the QR codes; a step of reading the divided data, the total number of divisions, and the sequence number assigned to them from the acquired QR codes; a step of determining whether or not the divided data for all of the sequence numbers has been read based on the total number of divisions; and a step of concatenating the divided data for the number of divisions in the order of the sequence numbers.

[0011] The system can be configured to include a procedure for decrypting the combined segmented data based on a set encryption key. Furthermore, the system can be configured to include a procedure for transmitting the sequence number obtained by reading the QR code via short-range wireless communication from a computer terminal equipped with a camera. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The information transmission program and information reception program of the present invention, configured in this manner, replaces data based on electronic data of the information to be transmitted with multiple QR codes on the transmitting side, and displays these QR codes sequentially on the screen. When displaying these QR codes sequentially on the screen, the display interval of the QR codes is set based on the refresh rate of the computer terminal screen.

[0013] On the receiving end, the camera reads the QR codes displayed on the screen in sequence, and then combines the segmented data embedded in those QR codes to reconstruct them into a single electronic data file.

[0014] Therefore, information can be transmitted safely, easily, and efficiently between computer terminals even offline, without the need for an internet connection. Furthermore, since the number of QR codes generated can be adjusted according to the amount of information being transmitted, any amount of information can be transmitted without limitations. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is an explanatory diagram showing an overview of the execution of the information transmission program and information reception program of this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the overview of sequential display of QR codes. [Figure 3] This is a flowchart illustrating the processing flow of the information transmission program in this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a flowchart illustrating the processing flow of the information receiving program in this embodiment. [Figure 5] This flowchart explains the process for determining when multiple QR codes have been successfully read. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an overview of the execution of the information transmission program and information reception program in this embodiment. Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an overview of the continuous display of QR codes.

[0017] The information transmission program and information reception program of this embodiment are executed when transmitting information between two computer terminals in an offline state where there is no need to connect to the Internet.

[0018] As computer terminals, smartphones, notebook computers, tablet terminals, wearable terminals, personal computers (PCs), etc. can be used. When performing data transmission and reception, the combination of two computer terminals used may be of the same type or different types.

[0019] Also, it may be a computer terminal in which both a display serving as a screen and a camera are integrated, such as a smartphone, or it may have a configuration in which a display or a camera is connected to a desktop PC.

[0020] Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 1, the case where the computer terminal on the information transmission side is the transmission-side terminal 1 which is a smartphone and the computer terminal on the information reception side is the reception-side terminal 2 which is a smartphone will be mainly described.

[0021] The transmission-side terminal 1 includes a screen 11 for continuously displaying a QR code. Also, the reception-side terminal 2 includes a camera 21 that can photograph the screen display of the transmission-side terminal 1. Further, the transmission-side terminal 1 and the reception-side terminal 2 are equipped with Bluetooth (registered trademark) as short-range wireless communication means. Bluetooth is a short-range communication standard of about 10m.

[0022] The computer terminals (transmission-side terminal 1, reception-side terminal 2) are equipped with, as hardware serving as an arithmetic processing unit, a SoC (System on a Chip), a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro-processing unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), etc. They also have memories such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory).

[0023] Furthermore, the computer terminals (transmission-side terminal 1, reception-side terminal 2) are equipped with, as a storage unit, a flash memory, an SD memory card, a solid state drive (SSD), a hard disk, etc.

[0024] The information transmission program and information reception program of this embodiment are applications installed on computer terminals (transmitting terminal 1, receiving terminal 2). This application may be a package that incorporates both the information transmission program and the information reception program, or the information transmission program and the information reception program may be separate applications.

[0025] The QR code (registered trademark) used for information transmission in the information transmission program and information reception program of this embodiment is a well-known matrix-type two-dimensional code. In addition to the standard-sized QR code, there are also micro QR codes, iQR codes, etc., but in this embodiment, these will all be collectively referred to as QR codes.

[0026] The capacity of a standard-sized QR code is up to 7,089 characters if it contains only numbers, up to 4,296 characters if it contains alphanumeric characters (US-ASCII), up to 2,953 bytes if it contains binary data (8 bits), and up to 1,817 characters if it contains kanji and kana characters (Shift JIS).

[0027] The electronic data that is the information to be transmitted by the information transmission program and information reception program of this embodiment may be in any format. For example, it may be text data consisting of kanji, kana, alphanumeric characters, etc. It may also be a CSV (comma-separated values) file in which items such as numbers are separated by commas (,). Furthermore, it may be information such as program code that can be incorporated into other applications.

[0028] As mentioned above, there is a limit to the amount of information that can be embedded in a single QR code. Therefore, if the amount of information in the electronic data to be transmitted exceeds this limit, the information will be divided into multiple QR codes for transmission.

[0029] Figure 2 illustrates a scenario where electronic data to be transmitted is divided into three QR codes. By displaying these divided QR codes consecutively on the screen 11 of the transmitting terminal 1 and having the receiving terminal 2 read them using its camera 21, the divided data embedded in the divided QR codes is combined and reconstructed into a single code, enabling offline information transmission.

[0030] Here, the display (screen 11) of the computer terminal (transmitting terminal 1) has a refresh rate set. The refresh rate refers to how many times per second the display draws a new image. This refresh rate is expressed in Hertz (Hz), and for example, if the display's refresh rate is 30Hz, the image will be updated 30 times per second.

[0031] Therefore, when displaying multiple QR codes consecutively on the screen 11 of the transmitting terminal 1, the QR codes are switched and displayed at an interval (frame rate) close to the refresh rate of the screen 11. Figure 2 illustrates a case where three QR codes are switched one after another at intervals of 1 / 30 (approximately 0.03) seconds and repeatedly displayed consecutively. In other words, the QR codes are switched at a frame rate of 30fps (1 / 30 second interval).

[0032] On the other hand, the camera 21 of the receiving terminal 2 is a camera device capable of shooting video at a resolution of 1920 x 1080 or higher and a frame rate of 60 fps (1 / 60 second) or higher. When transmitting information by executing the information transmission program and information reception program of this embodiment, matching the refresh rate of the screen 11 of the transmitting terminal 1 with the frame rate used to switch the QR code is key to efficiently reading the QR code.

[0033] For example, if the display refresh rate is 1 / 60th of a second, and you set the QR code switching to a frame rate of 15fps (1 / 15th of a second), the timing of the QR code switching will coincide with the display refresh, increasing the number of times you'll end up photographing a completely black screen and failing to read a new QR code, thus increasing the time it takes to read the code.

[0034] In contrast, the information transmission program of this embodiment matches the frame rate of QR code switching to the refresh rate of the screen 11 of the transmitting terminal 1, and the camera 21 of the receiving terminal 2 is equipped with camera performance that allows video recording at a frame rate higher than the refresh rate of the screen 11, thereby enabling efficient reading of QR codes one after another.

[0035] The following describes the processing flow of the information transmission program of this embodiment, with reference to the flowchart shown in Figure 3. The sending terminal 1 has at least an information transmission program (application) installed, and the procedure described below will be executed by the computer.

[0036] First, in step S1, the transmitting terminal 1 starts the transmission application, which is an information transmission program. The memory unit of this transmitting terminal 1 already stores the electronic data that will be transmitted.

[0037] Therefore, in step S2, the electronic data to be transmitted is read. Here, the electronic data to be transmitted can be obtained from an external source via a network such as the internet. It can also be obtained from a storage medium such as a USB memory stick. At this stage, the electronic data to be transmitted can be read using any known means.

[0038] In this embodiment, the electronic data read in step S2 is converted into binary data in step S3. This converted binary data is based on the electronic data before conversion. Alternatively, the subsequent processing can proceed with the read electronic data as is; in that case, the electronic data itself becomes "data based on the electronic data of the information to be transmitted."

[0039] Furthermore, as a subsequent process, the binary data can be directly split and converted into QR codes (see steps S5 and S6), but in this embodiment, we will describe the case where data compression and encryption are performed.

[0040] For example, when transmitting highly confidential information, it is necessary to prevent the information from being transmitted to computer terminals owned by unintended parties. Therefore, in step S4, the compressed binary data, whose data size has been reduced, is encrypted based on a predetermined encryption key. This encryption key is determined between the sender and receiver, and information transmission can be prevented to computer terminals operated by persons who cannot obtain the encryption key.

[0041] For example, AES-256 (Advanced Encryption Standard 256-bit) can be used for encryption. AES-256 is a method for encrypting data using a 256-bit encryption key, and it is a symmetric-key encryption method where both the sender and receiver of the data use the same key.

[0042] In the following step S5, the compressed and encrypted binary data is divided into predetermined units. For example, it is divided into 1,152-byte chunks, and each divided data chunk is assigned the total number of chunks and a sequence number (step S6).

[0043] As mentioned above, the capacity of a single QR code is a maximum of 2,953 bytes if it is binary data, so there is ample capacity if it is divided into 1,152-byte chunks. Therefore, we add information such as the total number of divisions and the sequence number of the divided data.

[0044] Then, the segmented data, the total number of segments, and the sequence number are converted into a single QR code. This conversion to a QR code is performed for all segmented data. In short, in step S6, the same number of QR codes as the total number of segments are generated.

[0045] The processing from step S7 onward is performed when transmitting information to the receiving terminal 2. First, in step S7, the refresh rate of the screen 11 of the transmitting terminal 1 is obtained. The refresh rate may differ depending on the model, so it is set to the QR code display interval (frame rate) that is close to the refresh rate obtained from the transmitting terminal 1. For example, the display interval (frame rate) for continuous display is set to whichever is closer, either a 1 / 30 (approximately 0.03) second interval or a 1 / 60 (approximately 0.016) second interval.

[0046] Then, in step S8, multiple QR codes are displayed sequentially on the screen 11 of the transmitting terminal 1 at the set display interval (frame rate). In this sequential display, the QR codes from sequence number 1 up to the total number of divisions are displayed on the screen 11 at each display interval.

[0047] For example, when it is determined that the refresh rate of the screen 11 of the transmitting terminal 1 is 30Hz, the frame rate for continuous display of QR codes is set to 30fps, so that the first QR code is displayed at the start of the refresh rate of screen 11, and the total number of divided QR codes are displayed one after another at 1 / 30 second intervals.

[0048] The screen 11 displaying the QR codes in sequence is captured by the camera 21 of the receiving terminal 2, as shown in Figure 1. Since the camera 21 of the receiving terminal 2 can record video at a frame rate of 60fps (1 / 60 second) or higher, it can efficiently capture the QR codes displayed at 1 / 30 second intervals.

[0049] The receiving terminal 2 needs to recognize and acquire all QR codes from sequence number 1 to the sequence number of the total number of divisions. Several methods can be applied to determine whether or not all of these QR codes have been read; details will be described later.

[0050] In step S9, it is determined whether or not all of the total number of QR codes have been read. If reading is not complete, the process returns to step S8 and continues the continuous display. If all of the QR codes have been read, the process moves to step S10 and stops the continuous display of QR codes on the transmitting terminal 1.

[0051] Next, the processing flow of the information receiving program in this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in Figure 4. The receiving terminal 2 has at least an information receiving program (application) installed, and the procedure described below will be executed by the computer.

[0052] First, in step S11, the receiving terminal 2 launches the receiving application, which is the information receiving program. Then, it switches to the QR code acquisition screen of the receiving application (step S12).

[0053] After the receiving terminal 2 is ready to acquire the QR code, the camera 21 of the receiving terminal 2 captures the screen 11 (step S8) of the transmitting terminal 1, which is displaying a series of QR codes, as shown in Figure 1.

[0054] When shooting begins, one QR code with a sequence number from 1 to the total number of divisions, which are displayed in sequence, will be acquired (step S13). In step S14, the information of the assigned total number of divisions and sequence number is read from the acquired QR code.

[0055] Then, in step S15, it is determined whether the read sequence number has already been read. In short, the read sequence number is stored in the memory of the receiving terminal 2, and a comparison is made with the stored sequence number.

[0056] The segmented data for sequence numbers that have not yet been read is read in step S16. This reading of segmented data continues until the reading of segmented data embedded in all of the total number of QR codes is complete (step S17). Here are some methods for determining whether or not all QR codes have been read.

[0057] One simple method is to first store the total number of divisions and the sequence number when the QR code is read by the receiving terminal 2, and then continue to display the QR code on the transmitting terminal 1 until all sequence numbers from 1 to the total number of divisions have been collected. In this process, the transmitting terminal 1 will repeatedly display the QR code from 1 to the total number of divisions.

[0058] As an alternative method for verifying readability, Figure 5 shows the process flow for determining the completion of reading multiple QR codes. This method utilizes short-range wireless communication means such as Bluetooth in conjunction with the continuous display of QR codes on screen 11.

[0059] When the QR code is read, the receiving terminal 2 transmits the read sequence number via Bluetooth communication (step S21). This signal of the read sequence number transmitted from the receiving terminal 2 is received by the transmitting terminal 1, which is located in an adjacent position, via Bluetooth communication, as shown in Figure 1.

[0060] When the transmitting terminal 1 receives a signal for a sequence number that has already been read, it removes the QR code corresponding to that sequence number from the list of consecutive display items (step S22). In short, it removes the QR code for the sequence number that has already been read from the consecutive display list, which initially contained all of the total number of QR codes.

[0061] In the following step S23, the QR codes remaining in the sequential display list are displayed sequentially. In short, the QR codes with sequence numbers not yet received by the transmitting terminal 1 are repeatedly displayed on screen 11.

[0062] In step S24, the transmitting terminal 1 determines whether it has received signals for all sequence numbers of the total number of divisions via Bluetooth communication with the receiving terminal 2. If there are any sequence numbers that have not been received, the processes from steps S21 to S23 are repeated.

[0063] Then, when the transmitting terminal 1 confirms that it has received all sequence numbers, the continuous display of QR codes on the screen 11 of the transmitting terminal 1 stops (step S25). The same determination as in step S24 is performed in the receiving terminal 2 in step S17.

[0064] In step S17 of Figure 4, it is determined whether or not the reading of the segmented data embedded in all of the total number of segmented QR codes has been completed. If it has not been completed, the process returns to step S13 and the acquisition of the unread QR codes is repeated. The determination in step S15 as to whether or not a sequence number has been read is a process that occurs when all QR codes are repeatedly displayed, and if the Bluetooth communication described above is used as an auxiliary method, the process in step S15 can be omitted.

[0065] After all the segmented data embedded in the total number of QR codes has been read, step S18 performs the concatenation of the segmented data in the order of the sequence numbers. Typically, the concatenation is performed in ascending order from sequence number 1 up to the segmented data with the sequence number corresponding to the total number of segments.

[0066] In the following step S19, the encrypted, spliced-together data is decrypted. The receiving terminal 2 has previously obtained the encryption key necessary to receive the transmitted information, and decryption is performed based on the encryption key that was set. In short, a computer terminal that has not set an encryption key (symmetric key encryption) can read the QR code from the screen display of the sending terminal 1, but it cannot decrypt the encrypted binary data. The decrypted binary data is compressed and then decompressed back to its original data size.

[0067] In step S20, the binary data, which has been expanded to its original data size, is converted into electronic data. If the received electronic data is text data, the content of the information can be understood as text. If the received data is a CSV file, program code, or various instruction information, it can be imported into another application launched on the receiving terminal 2 and executed.

[0068] Next, the operation of the information transmission program and the information reception program of this embodiment will be described.

[0069] In this embodiment, the information transmission program and information reception program are configured such that the transmitting terminal 1 replaces the data based on the electronic data of the information to be transmitted with multiple QR codes and displays these QR codes sequentially on the screen 11. When displaying these QR codes sequentially on the screen 11, the display interval (frame rate) of the QR codes is set based on the refresh rate of the screen 11 of the transmitting terminal 1. In short, the timing of the refresh rate and the frame rate is synchronized by displaying the first QR code at the start of the refresh rate of the screen 11.

[0070] Meanwhile, the receiving terminal 2 uses its camera 21 to read the QR codes that are continuously displayed on the screen 11 of the transmitting terminal 1, and then combines the segmented data embedded in those QR codes to reconstruct them into a single electronic data.

[0071] Therefore, information can be safely and easily transmitted between the transmitting terminal 1 and the receiving terminal 2 even when offline, without the need for an internet connection. Furthermore, since the refresh rate of the screen 11 of the transmitting terminal 1 and the display interval (frame rate) of the QR code are matched, there are fewer reading errors, and the QR code can be read efficiently. In addition, since the number of QR codes generated can be increased or decreased according to the amount of information to be transmitted, any amount of information can be transmitted without any limitations.

[0072] Furthermore, if electronic data or binary data based thereon is encrypted using a set encryption key, even highly confidential information that should be exchanged only between specific individuals can be transmitted safely and easily.

[0073] Furthermore, by using short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth for supplementary read verification, even if the number of QR codes increases, only the QR codes that have not yet been read can be continuously displayed, making it possible to transmit information efficiently.

[0074] While embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and any design modifications that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are included in the present invention.

[0075] For example, the above embodiment described an example where electronic data is converted to binary data and then compressed and encrypted. However, it is not limited to this, and conversion to binary data, data compression, and encryption can be performed as needed.

[0076] Furthermore, although the above embodiment described an example in which a series of QR codes generated using the information transmission program of this embodiment are read by the receiving terminal 2, the embodiment is not limited to this, and any series of QR codes generated in any way can be read by the information receiving program of this embodiment. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0077] 1: Sending terminal (computer terminal) 11: Screen 2: Receiving terminal (another computer terminal) 21: Camera

Claims

1. An information transmission program that transmits information by reading the screen display of a computer terminal, A procedure for converting data based on electronic data of information to be transmitted into a QR code (registered trademark) by dividing the data into predetermined units, assigning the total number of divisions and a sequence number to each divided data, and A procedure for continuously displaying the QR codes of the divided data on the screen at a display interval set based on the refresh rate of the computer terminal screen, The procedure involves having the computer perform a step to display the aforementioned QR codes on the screen in sequence, and to perform a step to verify that the QR codes are read using the short-range wireless communication of the computer terminal. The information transmission program is characterized in that, in the procedure for performing the reading confirmation, it removes the QR code corresponding to the sequence number received by the short-range wireless communication from the list of consecutively displayed items.

2. The information transmission program according to claim 1, further comprising a step of encrypting the divided data based on a set encryption key before generating the divided data.

3. An information receiving program that transmits information by reading the screen display of a computer terminal, The procedure for acquiring a QR code using the camera of another computer terminal when multiple QR codes (registered trademarks) are displayed consecutively on the screen, A procedure for reading the segmented data, the total number of segments assigned, and the sequence number from the acquired QR code, A procedure for transmitting the sequence number obtained by reading the QR code via short-range wireless communication of a computer terminal having a camera, A procedure for determining whether the division data for all sequence numbers has been read based on the total number of divisions, The procedure involves having a computer perform the steps of concatenating the division data for the total number of divisions in the order of the sequence numbers, An information receiving program characterized in that the continuous display of the QR code is performed for sequences other than the sequence number transmitted by the short-range wireless communication.

4. The information receiving program according to claim 3, characterized by comprising a procedure for decrypting the combined segmented data based on a set encryption key.

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