JP2002108982A - Postcard order printing method utilizing internet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a postcard order printing method, with which order work can be perfectly completed on the terminal equipment of the Internet while using a favorite image such as video of digital camera or video camera and additionally, a destination can be printed as well. SOLUTION: This method is provided with an image fetching step for an orderer to fetch an image to be stuck on a postcard into terminal equipment, a design selecting step for the orderer to select any one of postcard designs displayed on the screen of the terminal equipment, a sender information input step for the orderer to input sender information through the input means of the terminal equipment, a design data receiving step for receiving the image to be stuck, the data of the selected design and the sender information from the terminal equipment of the orderer to the terminal equipment of an order recipient, a destination data receiving step for the orderer to receive the data of a destination list used by the orderer from the terminal equipment of the orderer to the terminal equipment of the order recipient, a printing step for the order recipient to perform printing according to data provided by these design data receiving step and destination data receiving step, and a receiving step for the orderer to receive the completed postcard with destination.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of ordering and printing a postcard, such as a New Year's greeting or a summer visit, on which a desired image is pasted, using the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When using a large number of photo-designed postcards such as New Year's postcards and book visits at the same time, at present, bring a photo and fill out a special application form at the store (design, address, name, number of copies) The mainstream method is to fill in the application form and wait for it to finish in about a week. With this method, there is the trouble of having to go to the store and place an order, and the finished postcard often differs from the order contents, and in this case, it takes more than a week to make the correction It takes such time and effort. Furthermore, the postcard actually finished may deviate from the image envisioned by the orderer, which is the subject of claims.

[0003]

With the development of the Internet, some Web sites that accept postcard printing orders using the Internet have begun to appear. The typical one is
A page with sample postcard designs will be provided, and visitors will be able to select their favorite items from among them, accept orders by e-mail or telephone, and mail a photo to be pasted into the design separately. This is a system that scans the sent photos and incorporates them into postcards.

[0004] However, such a service at present only receives an order slip using e-mail, that is, it only saves the trouble of filling out the order slip at a store. It does not mean that it has become much more convenient, such as the need to send it separately. According to the present invention, there is provided a postcard order printing method in which all order operations can be completed by using a terminal device such as a personal computer on the Internet, and the address can be printed. You can also use digital camera and video images, favorite images imported to your personal computer over the Internet, and more.
You can preview the finish and check if there is any mistake, and understand the image of the finish,
Provide a more convenient and convenient postcard order printing method.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a postcard order printing method using the Internet, in which an orderer takes in an image to be attached to a postcard into a terminal device, and an orderer places an image on a screen of the terminal device. A design selection process of selecting one of the displayed postcard designs,
A sender information input process in which the orderer inputs sender information by input means of the terminal device, and design data reception for receiving the pasted image, selected design data, and sender information from the orderer terminal device to the contractor terminal device. Process, an address data receiving process of receiving address list data used by the orderer from the orderer terminal device to the orderer terminal device, and data obtained by the design data receiving process and the address data receiving process. And a receiving process in which the orderer receives the finished postcard with the addressee. The order from the image capture process to the sender information input process may be any order, and the address data receiving process may be prior to the design data receiving process, or both processes may be performed simultaneously. . That is, the order of each process may be appropriately designed as appropriate.

At present, almost all households using the Internet have image scanners and digital cameras / videos, so that it is easy to capture images into terminal devices. Therefore, in the present invention, the orderer scans a photograph with a scanner, or captures an image for attaching a postcard to a terminal device from a digital camera / video, or from another place via the Internet, and sends the image together with the order data via the Internet. And send it to the contractor. Further, an address list (address book) created by commercially available word processing software or postcard software is received from the orderer terminal device to the contractor terminal device, and the address is printed accordingly.
In this regard, the pasted image had to be sent separately, and even if the address was printed, the address list was sent to the contractor by e-mail or mail, and the contractor used to type in the information. Compared to technology, it is a method that is much more convenient and less prone to errors such as addressing mistakes.

[0007] In the method of the present invention, it is more preferable that the sender information in the sender information input step includes the free text of the orderer. In other words, a single stroke desired by the orderer can be added as a free sentence to the design prepared by the orderer. After the sender information input process, a preview process of displaying a print format of the input sender information on the terminal device screen of the orderer may be performed. This makes it possible to check in advance how the sender information (postal code, address, name, free text, etc.) is laid out on the postcard. At this time, it is possible to reset the address division and the font, and to transmit the data in the process of receiving the design data. Further, after the design selection step and the sender information input step, a completion preview step of displaying a completed image of the postcard incorporating the pasted image and the sender information in the selected design on the terminal device screen of the orderer should be performed. preferable. Thereby, the orderer can grasp the actual finished image, and it is also possible to confirm an error and start over.

[0008] The finished postcard with the address may be sent by mail from the ordering party to the destination, but it is preferable to send it to the orderer once so that it can be confirmed. From the contractor to the orderer, it may be delivered by courier or mail, but if the orderer further specifies the store to receive the finished address postcard, It is possible to make it convenient to receive at a store, or to drop in when you go out, or to designate a store near relatives or friends and receive it as a substitute.

In the destination data receiving process in the method of the present invention, there is no particular problem as long as the destination list is stored in the FD, but if the destination list is stored in the hard disk, the key is whether or not the file can be specified. Points. In other words, since the storage location differs depending on the software that created the address list, there is no problem if the orderer knows the storage destination folder, but it is thought that there are many cases where the orderer does not know, so corresponding to this, We propose a new method.

[0010] For all users who do not know the storage destination folder, the address data receiving process includes a software specifying step of specifying software that has created an address list used by the orderer, and a step of specifying the software. A folder specifying step of specifying a storage folder of the address list in the orderer's terminal device according to the software database storage destination information, and data to extract the address list file from the specified folder and receive to the contractor's terminal device And a receiving step. That is, first, software such as word processing software or postcard software for which an address list has been created is specified by allowing the orderer to select the software. When the software is specified, the position and name of the folder for storing the database can be obtained as database storage destination information by obtaining information from the manufacturer in advance, and the storage folder can be specified accordingly. Thereafter, the file of the address list may be extracted from the folder by copying or the like. In this case, before the data receiving step, an address preview step of displaying a print format of the address on the terminal device screen of the orderer based on the address list file in the specified folder is performed.
The orderer can confirm the finished state in advance, and can reset the address division, line feed position, and font, and send the data at the data receiving stage.

As a modification of this method, a software specifying stage for specifying software that has created an address list used by the orderer, and an address on the orderer's terminal device in accordance with the information on the database storage location of the specified software A folder specifying step of specifying a storage folder for the list;
A list display step of extracting an address list file from the specified folder and displaying the address list on the orderer's terminal device screen, and an address for the orderer to select necessary information from the displayed address list The address data receiving process may include a selecting step and a data receiving step of receiving the selected address data from the orderer terminal device to the order receiver terminal device. That is, after detecting the file of the address list by the same method as described above, the orderer selects and orders only the data of the destination information necessary for postcards and the mailing address of the postcard. Also in this case, prior to the data receiving step, an address preview step of displaying a print format of the address on the terminal device screen of the orderer based on the address list file in the specified folder is to be performed. Good. This can be before or after the list display stage.

When the orderer knows where the file of the address list is located, the address data receiving process is performed by specifying the file of the address list in the terminal device of the orderer by the orderer. Should be sent to Alternatively, a file designation step in which the orderer specifies a file of the address list in the orderer's terminal device,
An address previewing step of displaying a print format of the address on the orderer's terminal screen based on the specified address list file, and transferring the specified address list file from the orderer's terminal to the contractor's terminal. The destination data receiving process may include a receiving data receiving step.

In this case, as a modification, a list display step of displaying an address list on the screen of the orderer's terminal device by specifying the file of the address list in the terminal device of the orderer by the orderer, and the displayed address list Address selection step in which the orderer selects necessary information from among the above, and a data reception step in which data of the selected address is received from the orderer's terminal device to the orderer's terminal device. The data receiving step may be performed. Prior to the data receiving step, an address preview step of displaying a print format of the address on the terminal device screen of the orderer based on the specified address list file is performed. You may.

In the case where the orderer designates a file, it is preferable that the designated address list file is converted into a fixed file format (for example, .csv or the like) and received by the orderer's terminal device. However, the file format received on the order receiving side is constant, which is preferable.

[0015] In addition to the above, according to the present invention, the image capturing process in which the orderer captures the image to be pasted on the postcard into the terminal device, or the orderer's design of the postcard displayed on the screen of the terminal device can be used. Selecting a design, a sender information inputting process in which the orderer inputs sender information by an input means of the terminal device, and a completed image of a postcard incorporating the pasted image and the sender information in the selected design. Receiving the design data received from the orderer's terminal device to the orderer's terminal device, the printing process in which the orderer prints according to the data obtained by the design data receiving process, and the orderer receiving the finished postcard A postcard order printing method using the Internet, characterized by including a receiving step.

In the design data receiving step in this method, a completed image of the postcard in which the pasted image and the sender information are incorporated in the selected design is received as an image file from the terminal device of the orderer to the terminal device of the orderer. I have. That is, regarding the transfer of the pasted image, instead of separately transmitting the pasted image, the sender information, and the design information, these are transmitted as integrated image information. In the case of separate transfer, the terminal device (server) of the contractor reassembles the data, so that the actual finish may be deviated. Since the file can be received and printed as it is, there is no deviation from the actual image.

Generally, in the case of a site where a plurality of design templates are prepared and one of them is selected, information of the selected design is converted into text information and transferred from the user to the server. Therefore, the pasted image is transferred in a format such as JPEG separately from the design information. In this case, on the server side (contractor terminal device),
Receive four types of files: design, paste image, sender information, order information (designation of the number of prints and receiving store)
These must be reconfigured at the server to create a postcard print image. For this reason, there is a possibility that the image of the postcard assembled on the user terminal screen may differ from the image of the postcard assembled on the server, and since the number of files is large, data management such as association of each file may not be performed. It gets complicated. On the other hand, as in the present invention, the complete image of the postcard in which the design, the pasted image, and the sender information are assembled is converted into, for example, JPEG as a whole.
If one image file is transferred from the user to the server, the server receives only the image file and the order information file, and the server does not need to reconstruct the postcard print image. As a result, the postcard can be finished with the image as seen on the user terminal screen, and data management is easy because the number of files is small.

[0018] This postcard order printing method also includes an address data receiving step of receiving address list data used by the orderer from the orderer terminal device to the orderer terminal device. The contractor can perform printing in accordance with the data obtained in the receiving process and the address data receiving process. The address data receiving process can be performed by various methods similar to the above.
Further, modifications such as introducing a preview formula similar to the above, inserting a free sentence in sender information, and specifying a receiving store are also possible.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of a postcard order printing method according to the present invention.

The orderer can order postcard printing by accessing a Web site established on the server S, which is the Internet terminal device of the contractor, from the personal computer PC, which is the Internet terminal device at home. Become. In the case of this example, it is necessary to take in the pasted image, input the sender information, select the postcard design, select the address list, and specify the receiving store and the number of orders when ordering. Upon receiving the above information from the orderer's personal computer PC, the contractor returns an order and a confirmation of the receiving store by e-mail or the like. And pasted image, sender information,
The postcard backside image consisting of the selected design is printed (printed) on a dedicated machine, and the address is printed in the postcard address column, and the finished postcard with the address is delivered to the receiving store.
The orderer goes to pick up when contacted by the receiving store, and finishes the receipt and settlement of the finished address postcard. The postcard you received has already been addressed, so just post it to the post.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the order procedure. First of all, on the orderer's personal computer PC, paste your favorite by scanning the picture with a scanner, inputting images from a digital camera or video, downloading images from other sites on the Internet, etc. The image is captured, and the pasted image is designated at the start of the postcard order. After the pasting image is determined, it is a step of selecting a postcard design. In this design selection step, a large number of design templates are displayed on the browser of the personal computer PC, and the orderer executes selection by clicking on a favorite one among them. Thus, when a design is selected, an input step of sender information is performed. Here, the user inputs his / her zip code, address, name, zip code, and free text from input means of a keyboard and a mouse attached to the personal computer PC. Free sentences are original sentences that the orderer wants to put on a postcard,
Anything is fine. When the sender information is input, the print format is previewed on the browser of the personal computer PC. This may be a method of displaying a print image created in real time on the server S side of the contractor, or a method of downloading a dedicated tool from the server S to the personal computer PC and displaying it. In this preview, it is possible to reset the address separator, the line feed position of the sentence, and the font such as Gothic and brush.

When the preview of the sender information is confirmed, a completed image is generated by incorporating the pasted image and the sender information into the selected design, and is previewed on the personal computer PC of the orderer. If the orderer does not like the completed image preview check step, he can return to the design selection step and start over.

If the result of the preview of the completed image is good, then, in order to extract the address list, a step of specifying the software that has created the address list used by the orderer is performed. In this step, a list of typical word processing software, postcard software, table software, etc. that can create an address list is displayed on the browser of the personal computer PC, and the orderer clicks on the software he is using. It is a good method. Thus, when the software is specified, the folder in which the file of the address list is stored can be specified according to the database storage destination information obtained in advance for the specified software. That is, the database storage destination information is information for specifying where in the folder tree of the software maker A the data storage folder is located. When the folder in which the file of the address list is stored is specified, the file of the address list is extracted from the folder, and the address list is displayed on the screen of the personal computer PC. When the address list is displayed, the orderer selects the recipient and the destination information from which the postcard is to be placed. In this selection step, selection is performed by clicking items of the name of the person to whom the postcard is to be posted and information necessary for mailing (destination address, zip code) from the displayed address list according to the guide. After the selection, the selected addresses are previewed in a printed state on the screen of the personal computer PC, and the print format can be confirmed. In this address preview check step, it is possible to preview all the selected addresses one by one, check the print format, and reset the address separator and the like.

When the preview of the address is confirmed, a step of designating the receiving store and the number of orders as order information is performed. The number of orders can be specified when an extra postcard is desired. In addition, since a list of chain stores is displayed on the browser of the personal computer PC on the browser of the chain PC, the list is specified by clicking from the list.

When the receiving store and the number of orders are specified, an order button is displayed on the browser upon completion of order setting. When the orderer clicks this, the data determined in the above steps, the image file of the completed image, the selected address data, and the specified order information are transferred to the server S of the order receiver.

FIG. 3 shows a procedure performed on the order receiving party side. An image file of the completed image, an address list, and order information are transferred from the orderer to the server S of the contractor. Among them, the image file is one in which the completed image in which the pasted image and the sender information are incorporated in the selected design is JPEG-compressed and transferred as one image file as described above, and can be printed as it is.
Therefore, the image file is sent from the server S together with the order information (the number of prints) to the dedicated postcard printing machine Pa, and is printed (developed) as a backside image of the postcard. On the other hand, the address data is sent to a high-speed printer Pb such as a laser printer, and is printed on the surface of a postcard. Then, by attaching the back surface image created by the dedicated postcard printing machine Pa to the back surface of the postcard on which the address printing is performed, the postcard with the address as ordered is completed. The finished postcard is delivered to the designated receiving store. The address list sent from the orderer may be stored on the orderer side for the next order, or may be discarded after work is completed for privacy protection. It is best to have the orderer select one of them when ordering.

In addition to this example, an example in which the front and back surfaces of a postcard are collectively printed using a high-speed color printer is also possible. In this case, the processing can be speeded up, which greatly contributes to shortening the delivery date.

[0028]

According to the present invention, there is no need for the orderer to go to the store, the order can be made at any time at home 24 hours, and the postcard is delivered in the state where the address is entered, which is very convenient. . In addition, the orderer can finish the size and position of the pasted image as desired while checking it on the screen, and since the sender information is input by himself, errors are less likely to occur. In addition, by adopting a method of transferring to the contractor as an image file in the form of a completed image incorporating the pasted image and sender information in the selected design,
The orderer does not deviate from the image confirmed on the screen, the work process on the orderer side can be shortened, the data management can be simplified, and the delivery time can be greatly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a postcard order printing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an operation performed by an orderer.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a flow of a work performed by a contractor.

Claims (29)

[Claims] 1. An image capturing process in which an orderer captures an image to be pasted on a postcard into a terminal device, and a design selecting process in which the orderer selects one of postcard designs displayed on a screen of the terminal device. And a sender information inputting process in which the orderer inputs sender information by the input means of the terminal device, and a design in which the pasted image, data of the selected design, and sender information are received from the orderer terminal device to the contractor terminal device. A data receiving step, an address data receiving step of receiving the address list data used by the orderer from the orderer terminal device to the orderer terminal device, and a design data receiving process and an address data receiving process. A printing process in which the orderer performs printing in accordance with the received data, and a receiving process in which the orderer receives the finished address postcard. Postcard order printing method using the Internet. 2. The sender information in the sender information input process includes:
2. The postcard order printing method according to claim 1, further comprising a free text of the orderer. 3. The postcard order printing method according to claim 1, wherein a preview process of displaying a print format of the input sender information on a terminal device screen of the orderer is performed after the sender information input process. 4. After the design selection step and the sender information input step, a completion preview step of displaying a completed image of the postcard in which the pasted image and the sender information are incorporated in the selected design is displayed on the terminal device screen of the orderer. Item 1
3. The postcard order printing method according to any one of 3. 5. The postcard order printing method according to claim 1, further comprising a receiving store designation step of designating a store for receiving the finished postcard with the address by the orderer. 6. The address data receiving process includes a software specifying step of specifying software that has created an address list used by the orderer, and a terminal device of the orderer in accordance with information on a database storage location of the specified software. 6. A folder specifying step of specifying a storage folder of an address list in step (a), and a data receiving step of extracting an address list file from the specified folder and receiving the file in a terminal device of a contractor. Postcard order printing method according to item 1. 7. An address previewing step of displaying a print format of an address on a terminal device screen of an orderer based on an address list file in a specified folder before the data receiving step. Postcard printing method. 8. The address data receiving process includes a software specifying step of specifying software that has created an address list used by the orderer, and a terminal device of the orderer in accordance with information on a database storage location of the specified software. A folder specifying step of specifying a storage folder of the address list in the above, a list display step of displaying the address list on the terminal device screen of the orderer based on the file of the address list in the specified folder, and the displayed address 2. An address selecting step in which the orderer selects necessary information from the list, and a data receiving step of receiving data of the selected address from the orderer's terminal device to the orderer's terminal device. The postcard order printing method according to any one of Items 1 to 5. 9. An address previewing step of displaying an address printing format on an orderer's terminal screen based on an address list file in a specified folder before the data receiving step. Postcard printing method. 10. The address data receiving step, wherein the orderer designates a file of an address list in the terminal device of the orderer and transmits the file to the terminal device of the order receiver.
The postcard order printing method according to any one of Items 1 to 5. 11. The address data receiving step includes a step of specifying a file of an address list in the orderer's terminal device by the orderer, and the orderer's print format of the address based on the specified address list file. 6. An address previewing step of displaying an address list file displayed on the terminal device screen of the third party, and a data receiving step of receiving a specified address list file from the orderer terminal device to the contractor terminal device. Postcard order printing method described in section. 12. The address data receiving step includes the step of specifying an address list file in the orderer's terminal device by the orderer, and the orderer's terminal device screen based on the specified address list file. A list display step of displaying an address list; an address selection step in which the orderer selects necessary information from the displayed address list;
6. The postcard order printing method according to claim 1, further comprising a data receiving step of receiving the selected address data from the orderer's terminal device to the orderer's terminal device. 13. The postcard order according to claim 12, wherein, prior to the data receiving step, an address preview step of displaying a print format of the address on the terminal device screen of the orderer based on the specified address list file is performed. Printing method. 14. The postcard order printing method according to claim 10, wherein the specified address list file is converted into a fixed file format and received by a terminal device of the order receiver. 15. An image capturing process in which an orderer captures an image to be pasted on a postcard into a terminal device, and a design selecting process in which the orderer selects one of postcard designs displayed on a screen of the terminal device. And a sender information input process in which the orderer inputs sender information by input means of the terminal device, and a completed image of the postcard incorporating the pasted image and the sender information in the selected design from the orderer terminal device as an image file. A design data receiving process to be received by the contractor's terminal device, a printing process in which the contractor performs printing in accordance with the data obtained by the design data receiving process, a receiving process in which the orderer receives the finished postcard,
A postcard order printing method using the Internet, comprising: 16. An address data receiving step of receiving address list data used by the orderer from the orderer terminal device to the orderer terminal device, wherein the printing process includes a design data receiving step and an address data. 16. The postcard order printing method according to claim 15, wherein the orderer prints according to the data obtained by the receiving process. 17. The address data receiving process includes a software specifying step of specifying software that has created an address list used by the orderer, and a terminal device of the orderer in accordance with information on a database storage location of the specified software. 17. The postcard order according to claim 16, comprising: a folder specifying step of specifying a storage folder of the address list in step (a), and a data receiving step of extracting a file of the address list from the specified folder and receiving the file in the terminal device of the contractor. Printing method. 18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising, before the data receiving step, an address preview step of displaying a print format of the address on a terminal device screen of the orderer based on the address list file in the specified folder. Postcard printing method. 19. The address data receiving step includes a software specifying step of specifying software that has created an address list used by the orderer, and a terminal device of the orderer in accordance with information on a database storage location of the specified software. A folder specifying step of specifying a storage folder of the address list in the above, a list display step of displaying the address list on the terminal device screen of the orderer based on the file of the address list in the specified folder, and the displayed address 17. An address selecting step in which the orderer selects necessary information from the list, and a data receiving step of receiving data of the selected address from the orderer's terminal device to the orderer's terminal device. Postcard order printing method described. 20. An address previewing step of displaying an address printing format on an orderer's terminal screen based on an address list file in a specified folder, prior to the data receiving step. Postcard printing method. 21. The address data receiving step, wherein the orderer designates a file of an address list in the terminal device of the orderer and transmits the file to the terminal device of the order receiver.
Postcard order printing method described in 6. 22. The address data receiving step includes a step of specifying a file of an address list in the terminal device of the orderer by the orderer, and a print format of the address based on the specified address list file. 17. A method for printing a postcard order according to claim 16, comprising: an address previewing step of displaying on the terminal device screen of the third party; and a data receiving step of receiving a file of the designated address list from the terminal device of the orderer to the terminal device of the contractor. . 23. The address data receiving step includes the step of specifying an address list file in the orderer's terminal device by the orderer, and the orderer's terminal device screen based on the specified address list file. A list display step of displaying an address list; an address selection step in which the orderer selects necessary information from the displayed address list;
17. The postcard order printing method according to claim 16, comprising: a data receiving step of receiving the selected address data from the orderer's terminal device to the orderer's terminal device. 24. The postcard order according to claim 23, wherein, prior to the data receiving step, an address preview step of displaying a print format of the address on the terminal device screen of the orderer based on the specified address list file is performed. Printing method. 25. The postcard order printing method according to any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the designated address list file is converted into a fixed file format and received by the terminal device of the contractor. 26. The postcard order printing method according to claim 15, wherein the sender information in the sender information input step includes a free text of the orderer. 27. The postcard order according to any one of claims 15 to 26, wherein after the sender information inputting step, a preview step of displaying a print format of the input sender information on a terminal device screen of the orderer is performed. Printing method. 28. After the design selection step and the sender information input step, a completion preview step of displaying a completed image of the postcard in which the pasted image and the sender information are incorporated in the selected design is displayed on the terminal device screen of the orderer. Item 1
The postcard order printing method according to any one of items 5 to 27. 29. The postcard order printing method according to any one of claims 15 to 28, further comprising the step of specifying a store to receive the finished postcard by the orderer.