Patent ID: 8879737

Claim:
A method of producing, in a code producing device including at least a microcomputer, a two-dimensional code having a code area in which a plurality of data blocks each consisting of a plurality of cells are mapped, comprising: a first arranging step of first arranging, by the microcomputer, first type of data codes, the first type of data codes being coded as codewords and indicating data to be disclosed publicly; an adding step consisting of adding i) an end identification code to a code string composed of the first type of data codes such that the end identification code continues successively from an end of the code string, the end identification code showing an end of the code string, or ii) end identification information to the code string at a predetermined position of the code string, the end identification information specifying an end position of the code string; a second arranging step consisting of second arranging of second type of data codes after i) the end identification code, the second type of data codes being coded as the codewords and indicating data to be kept in secret, or ii) the end position of the code string specified by the end identification information; and a producing step consisting of producing into the cells mapped in the code blocks in the code area of the two-dimensional code i) the code string composed of the first type of data codes, the end identification code, and the second type of data codes, or ii) the code string composed of the end identification information, the first type of data codes, and the second type of data codes, wherein the code string is produced in the producing step such that a general purpose reader, which interprets as filler i) codes produced after the end identification code or ii) codes produced after the code string whose end is specified by the end identification information, will not recognize the second type of data codes.