CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/JP2019/028677, filed Jul. 22, 2019.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a system for detecting a fraud regarding an information code representing information so as to be optically readable.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, information codes such as a QR code (registered trademark) (ISO/IEC 18004) and a bar code are widely used. The information code is obtained by encoding, for example, information related to an object to which the information code is adhered and something provided in a place where the information code is displayed. Original information to be encoded is, for example, information itself provided to a user or a uniform resource locator (URL) for accessing the information provided to the user. The user may obtain the original information by reading the information code with a terminal device such as a mobile terminal equipped with a digital camera, for example.

Technologies for detecting a fraud regarding such information code is also developed. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a fraud detecting system which encodes predetermined information and information for detection for detecting the fraud into the information code. When the information code is read, this system checks the information for detection obtained by decoding the information code against information for checking recorded in a database to determine whether there is any fraud regarding the information code.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: JP 2014-029659 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

However, even with the technology as described above, it is not possible to detect all the frauds regarding the information code. For example, in a case where an application or the like for generating the information code is widely provided, anyone may officially generate the information code. In this case, it is possible to encode fraudulent information together with the information for detection to generate the information code, and cause the information for checking which matches the information for detection to be officially recorded in the database. It is not possible to detect the fraud as for the information code generated in this manner.

By the way, the information code is generally configured by arranging a large number of geometric figures such as lines and squares. Therefore, it is usually impossible for a person to visually recognize the original information from the information code. When a certain information code has been replaced with another information code, it is also difficult for a person to notice that the information code has been replaced.

One or more embodiments of the present invention are made in view of the above-described points, and are directed to provide an information processing system, an information code generating system, an information processing method, and an information code generating method that enable a person to easily determine whether an information code has been replaced.

Solution to Problem

In response to the above issue, an aspect of the present invention is an information processing system comprising: a first class information obtaining means that obtains, based on original information obtained by photographing and decoding an optically readable information code, first class information indicating a class into which an object visually represented by first visual information which should be displayed together with the information code is classified; a second class information obtaining means that obtains second class information indicating a class into which an object visually represented by second visual information photographed together with the information code because of being displayed together with the information code is classified; a comparing means that compares the obtained first class information with the obtained second class information; and a control means that controls, based on a result of the comparison, execution of predetermined processing using the obtained original information.

According to this aspect, together with a displayed information code (hereinafter referred to as a first information code), second visual information visually representing a certain object is photographed. The second visual information is the visual information actually being displayed together with the first information code. Original information is obtained by decoding the first information code. Based on the original information, first class information indicating a class into which an object visually represented by first visual information is classified is obtained. The first visual information is the visual information which should be displayed together with the first information code. On the other hand, second class information indicating a class into which an object visually represented by the second visual information is classified is obtained. Then, execution of predetermined processing using the original information is controlled based on a result of comparison between the first class information and the second class information. In a case where the second class information is different from the first class information, the first information code is not a second information code which should be displayed together with the second visual information. Therefore, the second information code that was displayed together with the second visual information might be replaced with the first visual information. In this case, the execution of the predetermined processing may be rejected based on the result of the comparison. On the other hand, even in a case where the second visual information matches the first visual information, the information code might have been replaced. Specifically, it is considered that a combination of a third information code originally displayed and third visual information which should be displayed together with the third information code has been replaced with a combination of the first information code and the first visual information (second visual information). Here, a person can visually recognize to which class an object represented by each visual information is classified. Therefore, in a case where the person looked at the visual information before, he/she can compare the class into which the object represented by the visual information is classified and the class in which the object represented by the currently displayed first visual information is classified based on memory and vision of the person. As a result of the comparison, the person may determine whether the information code has been replaced. In a case where a person determines that the information code has been replaced, the person may stop the reading of the first information code currently displayed. As a result, predetermined processing is not executed. In this manner, a fraud regarding the information code is suppressed.

Another aspect of the present invention is the information processing system according to claim1, wherein the first class information obtaining means generates the first class information by converting the obtained original information, and the second class information obtaining means obtains the second class information by performing image classification on a photographic image obtained by photographing the information code and the second visual information.

According to this aspect, it becomes possible to obtain the first class information even if the original information and the first class information are not stored in advance in association with each other. It is also possible to obtain the second class information indicating the same class as the class which persons tend to recognize visually from the second visual information.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is the information processing system according to claim2, wherein the first class information obtaining means generates the first class information from the original information by using a method different from an encoding method for generating the information code from the original information.

According to this aspect, the first class information different from the information code is generated by the conversion.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is the information processing system according to any one of claims1to3, further comprising: a first position information obtaining means that obtains, based on the obtained original information, first position information indicating a position of a place where the information code should be displayed; and a second position information obtaining means that obtains second position information indicating a position of a place where the information code and the second visual information have been photographed, wherein the comparing means further compares the obtained first position information with the obtained second position information, and the control means controls the execution of the predetermined processing based on the result of the comparison between the first class information and the second class information and a result of comparison between the first position information and the second position information.

According to this aspect, in a case where a distance between a first place where the photographed first information code should be displayed and a second place where the first information code is actually displayed is relatively long, another information code which should be displayed in the second place might be replaced with the first information code. In this case, even if the first class information and the second class information match, it is possible to reject the predetermined processing based on a comparison result of the first position information and the second position information.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is the information processing system according to any one of claims1to4, wherein, in a case where the comparison result satisfies a predetermined condition, the control means causes the predetermined processing to be executed, and in a case where the comparison result does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the control means does not cause the predetermined processing to be executed.

According to this aspect, in a case where the information code has been replaced, the predetermined processing is prevented from being illegally executed.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is the information processing system according to any one of claims1to4, wherein, in a case where the comparison result satisfies a predetermined condition, the control means causes the predetermined processing to be executed, and in a case where the comparison result does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the control means causes a notice based on the comparison result to be presented to a user.

According to this aspect, the user can recognize that the information code might be replaced.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is the information processing system according to claim6, wherein the control means determines whether to cause the predetermined processing to be executed according to selection by the user in a case where the comparison result does not satisfy the predetermined condition.

According to this aspect, it is possible for the user to execute the predetermined processing at user's own responsibility after recognizing that the information code might be replaced.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is an information code generating system comprising: an information code generating means that encodes original information to generate an optically readable information code; a class information generating means that generates, based on the original information, class information indicating a class into which an object capable of being visually represented is classified; and an output means that outputs the generated information code and visual information visually representing the object classified into the class indicated by the generated class information in association with each other.

According to this aspect, by an output of the information code and the visual information which should be displayed together with the information code, the visual information is displayed together with the information code. This visual information visually represents a certain object. Therefore, a person can compare the class into which the object indicated by the visual information previously displayed together with the information code is classified with the class into which the object indicated by the visual information currently displayed together with the information code is classified based on memory and vision of the person. As a result of the comparison, the person can determine whether the information code has been replaced. If a person determines that the information code has been replaced, the person can stop reading of the currently displayed information code. As a result, predetermined processing is not executed. In this manner, a fraud regarding the information code is suppressed.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is the information code generating system according to claim8, wherein the class information generating means generates the class information by converting the original information by using a method different from an encoding method for generating the information code from the original information.

According to this aspect, class information different from the information code is generated by conversion.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is the information code generating system according to claim9, further comprising: a determining means that determines, for each information code to be generated, a conversion specification to be used among a plurality of different conversion specifications capable of being used for converting the original information to generate the class information, wherein the class information generating means generates the class information according to the determined conversion specification, and the information code generating means encodes the original information and specification information indicating the determined conversion specification among the plurality of conversion specifications to generate the information code.

According to this aspect, it becomes difficult to identify the conversion specification used to generate the visual information. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a malicious third party from generating correct visual information which should be displayed together with a fraudulent information code.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is the information code generating system according to claim10, wherein the specification information indicates a date at which the information code and the visual information are output, and the class information generating means generates the class information according to the conversion specification corresponding to the date among the plurality of conversion specifications.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is the information code generating system according to claim8, further comprising: a position information obtaining means that obtains position information indicating a position of a place where the information code should be displayed, wherein the class information generating means generates the class information different from already generated class information generated for another information code which should be displayed in a place within a predetermined distance from the place indicated by the obtained position information.

According to this aspect, visual information different from visual information which should be displayed together with another information code which should be displayed in a place within a predetermined distance from a place where the generated information code should be displayed is generated. Therefore, in a case where a combination of the information code and the visual information has been replaced with a combination of another information code which should be displayed in a relatively close place and the visual information, a person can determine whether the information code has been replaced by looking at the visual information.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is the information code generating system according to claim12, wherein the class information generating means generates class information, among a plurality of pieces of class information different from the already generated class information, having a relatively small degree of overlap with the already generated class information.

According to this aspect, visual information easily distinguished from visual information which should be displayed together with another information code which should be displayed in a place within a predetermined distance from a place where the information code to be generated should be displayed is generated. Therefore, it is possible for a person to easily determine whether the information code has been replaced even if the memory of the visual information seen in the past is ambiguous.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is the information code generating system according to any one of claims8to13, wherein the visual information represents the object such that the class may be recognized through human vision.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is the information code generating system according to any one of claims8to14, wherein the visual information includes at least one of a picture, a number, a character, and a symbol.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is the information code generating system according to any one of claims8to15, wherein the information code includes a plurality of geometric figures.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is the information code generating system according to any one of claims8to16, wherein the output means outputs an image in which the visual information is arranged outside the information code.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is the information code generating system according to any one of claims8to17, wherein the output means outputs an image in which the visual information is arranged inside the information code.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is an information processing method performed by a computer, the method comprising: a first class information obtaining step of obtaining, based on original information obtained by photographing and decoding an optically readable information code, first class information indicating a class into which an object visually represented by first visual information which should be displayed together with the information code is classified; a second class information obtaining step of obtaining second class information indicating a class into which an object visually represented by second visual information photographed together with the information code because of being displayed together with the information code is classified; a comparing step of comparing the obtained first class information with the obtained second class information; and a control step of controlling, based on a result of the comparison, execution of predetermined processing using the obtained original information.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is an information code generating method performed by a computer, the method comprising: an information code generating step of encoding original information to generate an optically readable information code; a class information generating step of generating, based on the original information, class information indicating a class into which an object capable of being visually represented is classified; and an output step of outputting the generated information code and visual information visually representing the object classified into the class indicated by the generated class information in association with each other.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, it becomes easier for a person to determine whether the information code has been replaced.

