interface 317 step s 5 of fig1 the cpu 52 of the personal computer 1 controls the modem 50 to receive the image data sent from the global 2d code server 300 step s 16 of fig1 and controls the lcd controller to display the received image data on the lcd 21 step s 17 of fig1 thus user d of the personal computer 1 is given the same effect as if she he has received a new year 39 s card from user c by using the personal computer 1 to read the printed matter of the 2d code 101 received from user c it should be noted that because user c is a subscriber of the 2d code processing system the registered name and address of user c are displayed on the new year 39 s card 0102 fig1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the 2d code processing system practiced as a second embodiment of the invention it should be noted that with reference to fig1 components similar to those previously described with fig1 are denoted by the same reference numerals in this example a group 2d code database server hereafter referred to as a group 2d code server 500 is newly connected to the internet 92 the group 2d code server 500 stores the 2d code ids of those 2d codes which have been set as group 2d codes.