Abstract:
The present invention relates to a contact card recognition system and a recognition method using a touch screen, and to a contact card used in a contact card recognition system. More particularly, a contact card recognition system using a contact card includes: a contact card having a rear surface with at least one protrusion for representing characteristics of the contact card related to the information printed on a front surface of the contact card and identifying characteristics of the contact card; a touch screen for sensing the protrusion of the contact card, and generating position information for the zone corresponding to the protrusion; a reading unit for searching a code database on the basis of the position information, and generating code information in accordance with the position information; and a control unit for searching a characteristic database of the contact card in accordance with the code information, and extracting characteristic information in accordance with the code information. The characteristic information is output to the touch screen.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a contact card recognition system and a recognition method using a touch screen, in more detail, a contact card recognition system using a touch screen which includes a contact card having a back with at least one protrusion for identifying characteristics of the contact card, a touch screen generating position information of the protrusion of the contact card by sensing the protrusion, a reading unit searching a code data base on the basis of the position information and generating code information according to the position information, and a control unit searching a characteristic data base of the contact card on the basis of the code information and extracting characteristic information according to the code information, in which the characteristic information is outputted from the touch screen, and a recognition method using a touch screen. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    A method of recording a barcode on a contact card and reading out the barcode with a barcode reader has been known in the related art, as a method that records information on a contact card and electronically reads out the information. 
         [0003]    The method uses a way of printing a barcode with a specific identification code on a contact card and reading out the barcode with a barcode reader. 
         [0004]    However, the method has a problem that a barcode reader is always needed, as well as the contact card with a barcode printed. 
         [0005]    The barcode reader is expensive and cannot be mounted on personal game systems, such that the penetration is low. 
       TECHNICAL PROBLEM 
       [0006]    The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a contact card recognition system using a contact card which forms a protrusion representing characteristic information of a contact card on the back of the contact card, recognizes the protrusion on the back of the contact card, using a pressure sensitive touch screen, and outputs the recognized characteristic information on a screen, and a contact card recognition method. 
       TECHNICAL SOLUTION 
       [0007]    An embodiment of the present invention provides a contact card recognition system using a touch screen, which includes: a contact card having at least one protrusion for identifying characteristics of the contact card, on the back, to represent the characteristics of the contact card, which has print information on the front; a touch screen creating position information corresponding to a zone corresponding to the protrusion by sensing the protrusion on the contact card; a reading unit searching a code database on the basis of the position information and creating code information according to the position information; and a control unit extracting characteristic information according to the coded information by searching characteristic database of the contact card in accordance with the code information, in which the characteristic information is outputted on the touch screen. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the control unit may output question information and may further create result information by comparing the characteristic information with the question information, and the result information may be outputted on the touch screen. 
         [0009]    The contact card recognition system using a touch screen may further include a sub-screen that outputs the characteristic information and the result information, and the characteristic information and the result information may be outputted on the sub-screen. 
         [0010]    Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method of recognizing a contact card by using a contact card recognition system using a touch screen, which includes: (a) sensing at least one protrusion formed on the back of the contact card by using the touch screen, and creating position information corresponding to a zone corresponding to the protrusion; (b) searching a code database on the basis of the position information and creating code information according to the position information; (c) searching a characteristic database of the contact card on the basis of the code information and extracting characteristic information according to the code information; and (d) outputting the characteristic information, in which the contact card has at least one protrusion for identifying the characteristics of the contact card, on the back, to represent the characteristics of the contact card relating to print information printed on the front. 
       ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECT 
       [0011]    According to the present invention, it is possible to provide program using a contact card that makes it possible to execute interactive program, by using a contact card with a protrusion, the contact card with a protrusion, and program using the program. 
         [0012]    Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to form a protrusion on the back of a contact card in order to identify a variety of characteristic information relating to print information recorded in the contact card by printing etc., read out the contact card with a touch screen, and output the characteristic information on the screen. 
         [0013]    Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a contact card with a protrusion including characteristics recorded by printing etc. in the contact card, and interactive program using the contact card. 
         [0014]    Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a visual effect implemented by combining an image on a screen and print information printed on a contact card by making a hole through the contact card or adjusting the transparency and color of a material, and provide program using the visual effect. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a view showing the front of a contact card according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a view showing the back of the contact card according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a view showing when the back of the contact card according to an embodiment of the present invention contacts with a touch screen. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a view showing the front of a contact card according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a view showing the back of a contact card according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a contact card recognition system using a touch screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a contact card recognition method using a touch screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating a contact card recognition method using a touch screen according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a view showing a contact card recognition system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a view showing a contact card recognition system according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described hereafter in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a view showing the front of a contact card according to an embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 2  is a view showing the back of the contact card according to an embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 3  is a view showing when the back of the contact card according to an embodiment of the present invention contacts with a touch screen. 
         [0027]    A contact card  100  according to the present invention may be used for executing an interactive game of an interactive study program, together with game machines and study devices, which are equipped with a touch screen, and may be used in various ways, such as an access card (a student identification card and an employee ID) which verifies the identification for entrance of a company or a school, or a card for authenticating qualifying software of a game machine or a computer equipped with a touch screen. 
         [0028]    A variety of print information relating to characteristics of the contact card  100  is printed on the front of the contact card  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention and ‘car’  120  representing a vehicle has been printed in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0029]    A variety of print information relating to characteristics of the contact card  100 , such as characters, symbols, and images (pictures), may be printed on the front of the contact card  100 . For example, ‘car’ or ‘Lion’ may be printed as print information, as in  FIG. 1 , for infant English study program, the picture or the name of an employee or a student may be printed as print information for an employee ID or a student identification card, and the name of software that is authenticated may be printed for a card that authenticates qualifying software. 
         [0030]    The contact card  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention has protrusions  110 _ 1  and  110 _ 2  in a protrusion zones corresponding to characteristic information, on the back, in order to represent characteristic information relating to the print information printed on the front of the contact card  100 . The characteristic information implies information representing characteristics of the contact card, in connection with the print information printed on the front of the contact card  100 . 
         [0031]    For example, when a word ‘vehicle’ has been printed, as print information, on the contact card  100 , for infant study program, the characteristic information may be an image (a picture or a video) representing a vehicle or ‘car’. On the other hand, when sings representing a company name or an access card are printed as print information for an access card of a company, the characteristic information may be the name, the employee number, or access authority of the employee with the contact card. Further, for program authenticating qualifying software, the characteristic information may be an authentication code verifying the qualifying software. That it can be used for various recognition fields. 
         [0032]    The characteristic information relating to the print information is formed in the protrusion on the back of the contact card  100  and a contact card recognition system that is described blow precisely recognizes the characteristic information of the contact card  100  by sensing the position of the protrusion. 
         [0033]    The protrusion on the back of the contact card  100  may be formed various zones, for example, one of the zones shown by dotted lines in  FIG. 2  or a plurality of zones. That is, the protrusions  110 _ 1  and  110 _ 2  on the back of the contact card  100  are formed in predetermined zones by the method that is determined in advance in accordance with the print information printed on the front of the contact card  100 . The positions of the protrusions are different for the print information and the characteristic information relating to print information and the characteristic information of the contact card  100  depends on the positions of the protrusions. Meanwhile, the sizes of the zones where the protrusions are formed may be determined in various ways in accordance with the resolution that the touch screen can recognize and the recognition program. 
         [0034]    For example, for two contact cards, protrusions are formed at the same position on two contact cards when the print information of the fronts of the two contact card  100  is the same, and the protrusions are formed at different positions on the two contact card when the print information of the fronts of the two contact cards  100  is different. 
         [0035]    The protrusions  110 _ 1  and  110 _ 2  on the back of the contact card  100  are portions that allow the touch screen  200  to recognize a contact by contacting with the pressure sensitive touch screen  200 . The protrusions  110 _ 1  and  110 _ 2  on the back of the contact card  100  contacts with the touch screen  200  and the pressure sensitive touch screen  200  that senses pressure can recognize the positions  210 _ 1  and  210 _ 2  that the protrusions contact, as coordinate information. 
         [0036]    In this configuration, only one protrusion may be formed when the touch screen  200  recognizes a single touch and a plurality of protrusions may be formed when it can recognize a multi-touch. 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  is a view showing the front of a contact card according to another embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 5  is a view showing the back of a contact card according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0038]    Print information representing, for example, an image, a character, and a symbol, is printed on the front of a contact card  100  according to another embodiment of the present invention and the contact card  100  may be formed of a transparent or a translucent material, having a hole  150 . 
         [0039]    Protrusions  110 _ 3  and  110 _ 4  for identifying characteristic information are formed on the back of the contact card  100 , as described above, to represent the characteristic information relating to the print information on the front of the contact card. The protrusions  110 _ 3  and  110 _ 4  are formed at predetermined zone and the positions of the protrusions are determined in advance for the print information and the characteristic information. 
         [0040]    When the contact card with the hole  150  is placed on a touch screen, an image  250  (including a picture and a video) outputted on the touch screen and a print image on the contact card  100  may be combined and implemented to provide various visual effects. 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a contact card recognition system using a touch screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0042]    The contact card recognition system using a contact card according an embodiment of the present invention includes a contact card  100 , a touch screen  200 , a reading unit  300 , a control unit  400 , and a storage unit  500  storing a code database  520  and a characteristic database of the contact card, and may further include an input unit  600  or a sub-screen  280 . 
         [0043]    At least one protrusion for identifying the characteristic information is formed on the back to represent the characteristic information of the contact card relating to the print information printed on the front of the contact card  100 . 
         [0044]    When the contact card  100  with the protrusion is placed on the touch screen  200 , the touch screen  200  senses the protrusion of the contact card, and creates and provides position information corresponding to the zone corresponding to the protrusion to the reading unit  300 . The position in formation is information representing the position of the protrusion, that is the horizontal and vertical positions, on the contact card  100 , and may be represented by position information with respect to a predetermine reference point. When a plurality of protrusions is formed, the position information includes information on the positions of all the protrusions. 
         [0045]    The reading unit  300  searches the code database  520  on the basis of the position information of the protrusion and creates code information according to the position information of the protrusion of the contact card  100  from the code database  520 . In this configuration, the code database  520  is a database storing code information corresponding to the position information of each of the protrusions. 
         [0046]    The control unit  400  searches the characteristic database  540  of the contact card in accordance with the code information created from the reading unit  300  and extracts the characteristic information of the contact card according to the code information. 
         [0047]    Further, the control unit  400  ascertains whether qualifying software is authenticated by using the extracted characteristic information, for example, and it may perform a control to allow a user to use the program when the software is authenticated, and prevent a user from using the software, when the software is not authenticated. 
         [0048]    The characteristic database  540  is a database storing a variety of characteristic information of the contact card  100  for each of the code information. The code information varies in accordance with the position of the protrusion on the contact card and the characteristic information includes a variety of information representing the characteristics of the contact card, matching one-by-one with the code information. 
         [0049]    For example, when a word ‘vehicle’ has been printed as print information, information, such as an image (a video or a picture) representing a vehicle and/or ‘car’ which is another English word for vehicle, is stored in the characteristic database, as characteristic information corresponding to the code information created from the contact card. Meanwhile, when the contact card is used as an access card, information, such as the name and the telephone number of the person with the contact card and/or whether access is allowed, may be stored for each of the code information in the characteristic database, and when the contact card is used as an authentication card of qualifying software, the characteristic information may be stored as an authentication code. Meanwhile, the characteristic information may be changed of renewed at the outside in accordance with the user conditions. 
         [0050]    Further, the control unit  400  creates output information for outputting the extracted characteristic information to the touch screen or the sub-screen  280  and controls the reading unit  300 , the storing unit  500 , the input unit  600 , the touch screen  200 , and the sub-screen  280 . 
         [0051]    The extracted characteristic information is outputted by the touch screen  200  or the sub-screen  280 . 
         [0052]    The touch screen  200  is a pressure sensitive touch screen, as described above, which can output information while sensing pressure. 
         [0053]    When the contact card  100  with a protrusion has a hole or is made of a transparent material, the characteristic information of the contact card may be outputted on the touch screen or in the touch screen zone corresponding to the hole of the contact card. 
         [0054]    Meanwhile, the sub-screen  280  is a display device, that is, a display device that outputs the characteristic information and/or the result information of the contact card. 
         [0055]    When the contact card  100  with a protrusion is placed on the touch screen and the contact card is made of an opaque material, it is difficult to recognize the characteristic information of the contact card  100 , even if it is outputted through the touch screen  200 . Therefore, when the contact card recognition system according to the present invention is made of an opaque material, it is preferable to further include the sub-screen  280  on which the characteristic information is outputted. 
         [0056]    The contact card recognition system according to the present invention can perform an interactive game and may be operated to recognize and use the information in the contact card. 
         [0057]    In order to perform the interactive game, the control unit  400  can create question information to be outputted to the touch screen  200  or the sub-screen  280 . The game user watches the question information outputted on the touch screen  200  or the sub-screen  280  and then places the contact card printed with the answer corresponding to the question information, print information, on the touch screen  200 . 
         [0058]    The touch screen  200  created position information of the contact card, the reading unit  300  creates code information according to the position information of the contact card, and the control unit  400  creates characteristic information according to the code information. 
         [0059]    The control unit  400  outputs the characteristic information according to the code information to the touch screen  200  and creates result information acquired by comparing the characteristic information according to the code information with the question information. The result information is information created by determining that the characteristic information of the contact card  100  placed on the touch screen  200  by the game user for the question information meets with the answer information for the question information. In this configuration, the question information and the answer information for the question information may be stored in the storing unit. 
         [0060]    For example, when the sentence outputted as the question information is ‘lion’ and a card where a lion is drawn or a contact card printed with ‘lion’ is placed on the touch screen  200 , result information ‘correct’ can be outputted. 
         [0061]    The input unit  600  receives a key operation for operating a game from a game user, and receives various key operation signals and transmits them to the control unit  400 , when the interactive study game is operated. 
         [0062]    Meanwhile, the contact card recognition system according to the present invention may be implemented to recognize and use information in a contact card. For example, the contact card recognition system may be used for an access system by storing information on the name, phone number, position, and/or whether access is allowed in the characteristic information corresponding to the code information recognized from the contact card, recognizing the characteristic information according to the code information of the contact card used as an access card by using the control unit, and controlling access of the person with the access card in accordance with the recognized characteristic information. In this case, the question information may be an information sentence “contact the access card to the touch screen for access” and the result information may be information including the final result about the access is allowed after the contact card contacts to the touch screen and a corresponding control signal (e.g. a control signal for opening an automatic door when the access is allowed). 
         [0063]    Further, the contact card recognition system according to the present invention may be used for a system that recognizes an authentication card for qualifying software by storing the authentication code that authenticate the qualifying software in the characteristic information corresponding to the code information recognized from the contact card, and recognizing the characteristic information according to the code information, and performing a control such that only the authenticated user uses the software in accordance with the recognized information, by using the control unit. In this case, the question information may be an information sentence “contact the authentication card to the touch screen to execute software first”, and the result information may be information including the final result about whether the users is authenticated after the contact card contacts to the touch screen and a corresponding control signal (e.g. a control signal that allows the authenticated user to use the software). 
         [0064]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a contact card recognition method using a touch screen according to an embodiment of the present invention. The contact card recognition method using a contact card according to an embodiment of the present invention is a contact card recognition method that is performed by the contact card recognition system using a contact card, which has been described above, and repeated description is not provided. 
         [0065]    A game user places first a contact card with a protrusion on the touch screen  200 . 
         [0066]    The protrusion of the contact card is formed in accordance with the characteristic information relating to the print information printed on the front of the contact card, that is, the protrusion is formed at a predetermined zone on the back of the contact card that is determined in advance for each characteristic of the contact card to identify the characteristics relating to the print information. 
         [0067]    The touch screen  200  senses at least one protrusion on the back of the contact card and creates position information corresponding to the zone corresponding to the sensed protrusions (S 410 ). When a plurality of protrusion is formed, the position information includes all information on the positions of the protrusions. 
         [0068]    The reading unit  300  searches the code database on the basis of the position information and creates code information according to the position information (S 420 ). 
         [0069]    The control unit  400  searches the characteristic database of the contact card on the basis of the code information and extract characteristic information according to the code information (S 430 ), and creates output information for outputting the extracted characteristic information. 
         [0070]    The touch screen  200  or the sub-screen  280  outputs the characteristic information of the contact card on the touch screen  200  (S 440 ). 
         [0071]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating a contact card recognition method using a touch screen according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0072]    The touch screen  200  or the sub-screen  280  outputs first question information (S 510 ). The question information is information on a question selected by the control unit, for example, may be information proposed as a problem to the game user to operate the game or an information sentence for access. 
         [0073]    The game user watches the question information outputted on the touch screen  200  or the sub-screen  280  and then may select a contact card printed with information on the front which is estimated as the correct answer for the question information and place the contact card on the touch screen  200 , or may place a contact card on the touch screen  200  in accordance with the information sentence. 
         [0074]    The touch screen  200  senses at least one protrusion on the back of the contact card and creates position information corresponding to the zone corresponding to the protrusion (S 520 ). When a plurality of protrusions is formed, the position information includes information on all the positions of the protrusions. 
         [0075]    The reading unit  300  searches the code database on the basis of the position information and creates code information according to the position information (S 530 ). 
         [0076]    The control unit  400  searches the characteristic database of the contact card on the basis of the code information and extracts characteristic information according to the code information (S 540 ), and creates output information for outputting the extracted characteristic information. 
         [0077]    The touch screen  200  or the sub-screen  280  outputs the characteristic information of the contact card on the touch screen  200  (S 550 ). 
         [0078]    The control unit  400  creates result information acquired by comparing the extracted characteristic information of the contact card with the question information. 
         [0079]    When the system is used for game, the control unit  400  determines whether the extracted characteristic information meets with the correct answer information for the question information, and creates result information acquired by determining whether the contact card selected and placed on the touch screen  200  by the game user meets with the correct answer information. The result information includes information on whether the contact card placed on the touch screen  200  by the game user, corresponding to the question information, meets with the correct answer or not. 
         [0080]    Further, for example, when the system is used for an access system and the extracted characteristic information includes access-allowable information, result information that allows access may be created. 
         [0081]      FIG. 9  is a view showing a contact card recognition system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0082]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a contact card recognition system  700  including a screen  200 , a sub-screen  280 , and an input unit  600  for operating keys is exemplified. 
         [0083]    Print information  120 , an English word ‘car’ has been printed on the front of a contact card  100  and a protrusion for identifying characteristic information corresponding to ‘car’ has been formed at a predetermined zone on the back. 
         [0084]    According to the present invention, when the contact card  100  is placed on the touch screen  200 , a vehicle-shaped image corresponding to ‘car’ may be outputted as characteristic information on the sub-screen  280 . Obviously, Korean character information           may be outputted, instead of the image. 
         [0085]    Meanwhile, the image of the vehicle outputted on the sub-screen  280  may be outputted as question information. The contact card  100  printed with print information of ‘car’  120  is placed on the touch screen  200 , the contact card (car) placed on the touch screen, for the question information (vehicle) is the correct answer, such that result information showing that the answer for the question is correct may be outputted on the sub-screen. 
         [0086]      FIG. 10  is a view showing a contact card recognition system according to another embodiment of the present invention. When the contact card printed with print information  120  is transparent or has a hole  150 , as in  FIG. 9 , the contact card recognition system  700  according to the present invention can be implemented by one touch screen  200 . 
         [0087]    Print information  120  of an English word ‘APPLE’ has been printed on the front of the contact card  100  and a protrusion for identifying characteristic information corresponding to ‘APPLE’ has been formed at a predetermined zone on the back of the contact card  100 . 
         [0088]    According to the present invention, when the contact card  100  is placed on the touch screen  200 , an apple-shaped image  250  corresponding to ‘APPLE’ may be outputted on the touch screen  200 . Meanwhile, the apple image  250  outputted on the touch screen  200  may be outputted as question information. When the contact card  100  printed with print information of ‘APPLE’  120  is selected and placed on the touch screen  200  by a game user after the question information is outputted, the contact card (APPLE) placed on the touch screen, for the question information (apple) is the correct answer, such that result information saying that the answer for the question is correct may be outputted on the sub-screen. 
         [0089]    The contact card, the contact card recognition system using a touch screen, and a contact card recognition method using a touch screen, according to the present invention, may be used in various field, such as a game, an interactive game, a study device, study program, individual information recognition (student identification card and employee card), access card system, and authentication of game program. The number of the zones where protrusions are formed on the back of the contact card and the number of the protrusions may be increased and the number of corresponding code information may be increased, such that the numbers are not limited to the embodiments described herein and the system may be used in various ways for recognizing code information of cards and corresponding characteristic information. 
         [0090]    The method may be implemented by a computer-readable code on a computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium includes all of recording devices that store computer-readable data. For example, the computer-readable recording medium may be ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, and an optical data storage device, and also includes device implemented by carrier wave (e.g. internet transmission). Further, the computer-readable recording medium may be distributed in computer systems connected by network and computer-readable codes may be stored and executed by a distribution method. 
         [0091]    Although the present invention exemplifies a pressure sensitive touch screen, that is, a pressure-resistant type of touch screen, the touch screen may be various other touch screens, such as capacitive overlay type or electronic-induction type of touch screens. 
         [0092]    However, when a capacitive overlay type of touch screen is used, the front of the contact card  100  is made of or coated with a conductive material, such as metal, and the back is made of non-conductive material. In this case, the protrusion is made of a conductive material, such as metal, and connected to the front made of a conductive material, protruding from the back. 
         [0093]    Further, when the electronic-induction type of touch screen is used, a coil generating a magnetic field is disposed in the protrusion on the back of the contact card  100 . 
         [0094]    The capacitive overlay type of touch screen and the electronic-induction type of touch screen have been well known in the art, such that the detailed description is not provided. 
         [0095]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the scope of the present invention that have been described above is not limited to the embodiments described above and may be changed and modified in various ways, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the changes and modifications should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention described in claims.