Two-dimensional code, two-dimensional code output system, two-dimensional code output method, two-dimensional code reading system, and two-dimensional code reading method

1. A two-dimensional code output system comprising at least one processor or circuitry or a combination thereof configured to:

accept input of first information and second information via an input device;

encode the first information according to a first standard, into a first bit string;

encode the second information according to a second standard different from the first standard, into a second bit string;

generate a combined bit string including the first bit string, terminator data indicating an end of valid information according to the first standard, and the second bit string in this order;

convert the combined bit string into a two-dimensional code according to the first standard, thereby generating the two-dimensional code comprising: a first code symbol coding the first information as the valid information according to the first standard; the terminator pattern coding the terminator data; and a second code symbol arranged after the terminator pattern in a region in which the valid information can be arranged according to the first standard and coding the second information according to the second standard; and

output the two-dimensional code.

2. The two-dimensional code output system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first standard defines a pattern of invalid information to be arranged after the terminator pattern, and

wherein the second standard defines a coding rule of information so that information arranged in a predetermined range after the terminator pattern does not coincide with the pattern of the invalid information.

3. The two-dimensional code output system according to claim 2 ,

wherein the predetermined range is a predetermined number of bits directly after the terminator pattern.

4. The two-dimensional code output system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first standard defines a pattern of invalid information to be arranged after the terminator pattern, and

wherein a code symbol arranged in a predetermined range after the terminator pattern does not coincide with the pattern of the invalid information in the output two-dimensional code.

5. The two-dimensional code output system according to claim 4 ,

wherein the predetermined range is a predetermined number of bits directly after the terminator pattern.

6. The two-dimensional code output system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the output two-dimensional code further comprises a third code symbol coding error correcting data according to the first standard, for correcting errors in the first code symbol and the second code symbol.

7. A two-dimensional code output method comprising:

accepting input of first information and second information via an input device;

encoding the first information according to a first standard, into a first bit string;

encoding the second information according to a second standard different from the first standard, into a second bit string;

generating a combined bit string including the first bit string, terminator data indicating an end of valid information according to the first standard, and the second bit string in this order;

converting the combined bit string into a two-dimensional code according to the first standard, thereby generating the two-dimensional code comprising: a first code symbol coding the first information as the valid information according to the first standard; the terminator pattern coding the terminator data; and a second code symbol arranged after the terminator pattern in a region in which the valid information can be arranged according to the first standard and coding the second information according to the second standard; and

outputting the two-dimensional code.

8. The two-dimensional code output method according to claim 7 ,

wherein the first standard defines a pattern of invalid information to be arranged after the terminator pattern, and

wherein the second standard defines a coding rule of information so that information arranged in a predetermined range after the terminator pattern does not coincide with the pattern of the invalid information.

9. The two-dimensional code output method according to claim 8 ,

wherein the predetermined range is a predetermined number of bits directly after the terminator pattern.

10. The two-dimensional code output method according to claim 7 ,

wherein the first standard defines a pattern of invalid information to be arranged after the terminator pattern, and

wherein a code symbol arranged in a predetermined range after the terminator pattern does not coincide with the pattern of the invalid information in the output two-dimensional code.

11. The two-dimensional code output method according to claim 10 ,

wherein the predetermined range is a predetermined number of bits directly after the terminator pattern.

12. The two-dimensional code output method according to claim 7 ,

wherein the output two-dimensional code further comprises a third code symbol coding error correcting data according to the first standard, for correcting errors in the first code symbol and the second code symbol.

13. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium containing program instructions executable by a computer, and when executed, causing one computer or a plurality of computers in cooperation to execute:

accepting input of first information and second information via an input device;

encoding the first information according to a first standard, into a first bit string;

encoding the second information according to a second standard different from the first standard, into a second bit string;

generating a combined bit string including the first bit string, terminator data indicating an end of valid information according to the first standard, and the second bit string in this order;

converting the combined bit string into a two-dimensional code according to the first standard, thereby generating the two-dimensional code comprising: a first code symbol coding the first information as the valid information according to the first standard; the terminator pattern coding the terminator data; and a second code symbol arranged after the terminator pattern in a region in which the valid information can be arranged according to the first standard and coding the second information according to the second standard; and

outputting the two-dimensional code.