JP2004005078A - Communication device and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication device and printer capable of preventing one prize competition applicant from applying the same prize competition many times, enabling a prize competition applicant to see information on a prize competition provider side, and capable of increasing the opportunities of persons other than the prize competition applicants seeing the prize competition provider-side information. <P>SOLUTION: An acceptance part accepts prize competition information, a display part displays prize providing information for display, a transmitting part transmits prize competition data for printing to a printer according to a print instructing operation followed by printing out, and a delivery part transmits the printed information/application content and information related to applicants to a prize competition management center through a communication line. The prize competition management center can confirm that the applicants printed out the prize competition data. The prize competition management center executes a prize competition program, a prize competition providing company transmits a winning report to the applicant concerned. The applicant concerned transmits the printed prize competition data to the prize competition providing company, and the prize competition providing company sends a prize to the applicant. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication device and a printer, and more particularly to a communication device that performs a prize by bidirectional communication and a printer connected to the communication device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a method of performing sweepstakes, there have been many methods using general television programs and magazines, but in recent years, sweepstakes on homepages on the Internet have increased.
[0003]
The prizes for general television and magazines cannot be easily applied many times because the applicant must pay postage when applying with a postcard. In addition, if the prize information is sent by direct mail, etc., the information provided by the prize winner is printed on paper so that the applicant can view it many times. There were many opportunities, and the sweepstakes provider was able to expect advertising effects.
[0004]
However, in the Internet sweepstakes: One applicant can apply as many times as possible. 2. Applicants often see the information on the sweepstakes provider once. There is a problem that there are few opportunities for people other than the applicant to see the information on the sweepstakes provider side because it cannot be seen unless it is operated with a terminal such as a personal computer. A similar problem occurs when a sweepstakes is held on a digital TV.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the present invention, in consideration of the above circumstances, a single prize winner cannot easily apply for the same prize many times, and the prize applicant can view the information provided by the prize winner many times. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device and a printer in which a person other than the applicant increases the chance of viewing information on the prize providing side.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention of claim 1 is a communication device,
A receiving unit for receiving prize information including information for providing prizes for display and prize data for printing;
A display section for displaying the accepted prize offer information;
A sending unit for sending the prize data for printing to the printer in response to the print instruction operation;
A signal receiving unit for receiving a print end signal from the printer;
The communication device is composed of a sending unit that sends information indicating that the prize data for printing has been printed out to the prize management center, as well as information on the application contents and applicants, via a communication line.
[0007]
According to the present invention of claim 1, the accepting unit accepts the prize providing information including the prize providing information for displaying on the display unit and the prize data for printing with the printer, and the display unit displays the accepted prize providing information for display. In response to the print instruction operation, the sending unit sends the received print prize data to the printer. After the print prize data is printed out by the printer, the signal receiving unit receives the print end signal from the printer. Information indicating that the prize data for printing has been printed out, information on the application contents, and information on the applicant are sent to the prize management center via the communication line. The prize management center can confirm that the applicant has printed out the prize data. After this, for example, the sweepstakes management center will run the sweepstakes program, notify the company that provides the prizes, the company that delivers the prizes will send the prize notice to the applicant, and the applicant will print out the prize data. The company offering the prizes will send the prizes to the applicants.
[0008]
The prize information reception and the information transmission to the prize management center may be performed via an Internet line.
[0009]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the communication device includes a digital television broadcast receiver, the digital television broadcast receiver receives the prize information from a prize program providing broadcast station, and the display unit is provided with the digital television broadcast receiver. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, which is a monitor.
[0010]
According to the present invention of claim 2, the digital television broadcast receiver accepts the prize information from the prize program providing broadcasting station, and displays the accepted prize providing information on the monitor. Accordingly, the prize information from the prize program providing broadcasting station can be streamed from the digital television broadcast, and the prize data for the printer can be a data broadcast of the digital television broadcast.
[0011]
The present invention of claim 3 is a printer,
A reception unit for receiving prize data for printing about prize information from a communication device;
A print section for printing prize data for printing;
And a notification unit that notifies the communication device that printing of the prize data for printing has been completed.
[0012]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the reception unit receives the prize data for printing about the prize information from the communication device, the printing unit prints the printing prize data, and when the printing is completed, the notifying unit notifies the communication device. Notify that.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a prize system including a communication device and a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0014]
In this embodiment, an example in which a digital television is used as a communication device will be described.
[0015]
FIG. 1 shows the entire prize system.
[0016]
The sweepstakes program broadcast station 4 places the sweepstakes program on radio waves in a digital broadcast format. A receiving antenna 6 for digital broadcasting installed in each home receives the radio waves. The digital television 8 connected to the antenna 6 visualizes the sweepstakes program. A printer 10 is connected to the digital television 8. The digital TV 8 is communicatively connected to the sweepstakes management center 12 so as to be capable of bidirectional communication.
[0017]
Details of the configuration, connection, and function of the digital TV 8, the printer 10, and the sweepstakes management center 12 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0018]
In FIG. 4, a portion surrounded by a dotted line is the digital television 8. The digital television 8 includes a tuner 20, a data separation unit 22, a main broadcast processing unit 24, a monitor 26, a data broadcast processing unit 28, a module analysis unit 30, a print data processing unit 32, and the like. An antenna 6 for digital television receives radio waves of digital broadcasting. Digital broadcasting consists of main broadcasting and data broadcasting. In the main broadcast, a main broadcast such as a TV program such as a video is performed, and in the data broadcast, a subordinate broadcast in characters and data is performed. In the present embodiment, among the digital broadcasts received by the antenna 6, the main broadcast portion includes the prize display information for monitor display, and the data broadcast portion includes the prize data for printing.
[0019]
A signal from the antenna 6 is input to the tuner 20 connected to the antenna 6. The tuner 20 performs processing such as frequency conversion and digital demodulation when the video signal is analog. The output of the tuner 20 is sent to the data separator 22. The data separation unit 22 separates the main broadcast data and the data broadcast data from the data sent from the tuner 20.
[0020]
The main broadcast data is sent to the main broadcast processing unit 24. This broadcast data includes prize display information for monitor display. The main broadcast processing unit 24 generates a video signal and an audio signal from the main broadcast data. The video signal is sent to the monitor 26. The video of the main broadcast flows on the monitor 26, and the prize display information for monitor display is always broadcast or occasionally broadcast. The prize providing information displayed on the monitor 26 is displayed as shown in FIG. 2, for example. The display contents include not only that printing is possible, but also a description that it is necessary to send a print of the prize data of the data broadcast part when winning.
[0021]
The data broadcast data is sent to the data broadcast processing unit 28. The data broadcast processing unit 28 receives the data broadcast data and sends it to the module analysis unit 30. The data broadcast processing unit 28 has a function of temporarily storing transmitted data broadcast data (buffering function). Therefore, in the module analysis unit 30, the data broadcast data is stably transmitted in order. Data broadcast data is transmitted by a “data carousel method” that is repeatedly transmitted in module units. The module analysis unit 30 analyzes the above-described module of data broadcast data.
[0022]
The analyzed data can be displayed on the monitor 26. The analyzed data is sent to the print data processing unit 32, and the print data processing unit 32 generates a print image from the data. A printer 10 separate from the digital television 8 is connected to the print data processing unit 32. The connection between the print data processing unit 32 and the printer 10 may be serial, parallel, wireless, or bi-directional.
[0023]
The above data broadcast data is repeatedly distributed during the main broadcast. That is, the broadcast is linked to the main broadcast. The user can print the print image at any time during the main broadcast.
[0024]
The digital television 8 includes a CPU 36, a memory 38, an input unit 40, a signal receiving unit 42, and a receiving / transmitting unit 34. The memory 38, the input unit 40, the signal receiving unit 42, and the receiving / transmitting unit 34 are connected to the CPU 36, respectively. Yes. The input unit 40 is connected to the monitor 26 and the print data processing unit 32, respectively. The transmission / reception unit 34 is connected to the prize management center 12 via the Internet line.
[0025]
The printer 10 includes a reception unit 46 that receives print information from the print data processing unit 32, a memory 50 that stores the received print data, a print engine 48 that prints the print data, and a notification unit 44 that notifies that printing has been performed. The notification unit 44 is connected to the signal receiving unit 42 of the digital television 8.
[0026]
When the user wants to print the prize data for printing during data broadcasting, the user activates the printer 10 simultaneously with the start of the program of the main broadcasting. This activation may be timer activation. In the digital television 8, the module analysis unit 30 receives a print instruction signal so as to print from the prize data for printing repeatedly transmitted when the print button is clicked from the input unit 40 in the prize providing information screen of the monitor 26, and the print data processing part 32 generates a print image. The generated print image data is transmitted to the receiving unit 46, temporarily stored in the memory 50, and the print image is printed by the print engine 48. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of printing. When printing is completed, a notification that printing has been completed is transmitted to the notification unit 44, and is transmitted from the notification unit 44 to the signal receiving unit 42.
[0027]
In order for the user to apply for the prize, it is necessary to send the data indicating that this has been printed to the prize management center 12, and at that time, personal information necessary for the application is also attached. The data indicating that printing has been completed may be, for example, data obtained by compressing the prize data for printing shown in FIG. 3, and there is a method of attaching personal information as a header to the compressed data. It is also useful as application information because the prize management center knows what prizes have been applied for when the prize data for printing is compressed. The personal information identifies an individual such as an address, name, age, gender, and telephone number. Personal information is input from the input unit 40. Personal information may be input in advance and stored in the memory 38. The memory 38 may be an EEPROM or a hard disk. The CPU 36 controls operations of the memory 38, the input unit 40, the signal receiving unit 42, and the receiving / transmitting unit 34.
[0028]
The data indicating that the print has been completed and the personal information are subjected to necessary data conversion in the transmission / reception unit 34 and transmitted from the reception / transmission unit 34 to the prize management center 12 via the Internet line. Transmission is performed while the sweepstakes program is aired.
[0029]
The sweepstakes management center 12 can confirm that the application has been printed out. That is, an application that does not include data that has been printed out is processed as not being applied. The sweepstakes management center 12 stores application information from each applicant, and after the acceptance period set in advance, draws a lottery to determine the winner. The sweepstakes management center 12 issues a winner notification to the sweepstakes provider 14.
[0030]
The prize providing company 14 sends a winning postcard to the user 16 who is the winner, and the winner mails the winning postcard and the prize print image printed at the time of application to the prize providing company. The company providing prizes sends prizes to winners.
[0031]
According to this embodiment, by sending information to the prize management center 12 that the prize data has been printed out at the time of application, the application is stopped and one prize applicant can easily apply for the same prize many times. Disappear. In addition, by printing out the prize data, the applicants can see the prize information many times and can see the contents well. In addition, since there are more opportunities for people (family members, etc.) to view the prize information, the prize provider can advertise the contents of the prize to many people.
[0032]
In the above-described example, the print prize data is distributed by the data broadcast. However, the print prize data may be distributed by the main broadcast.
[0033]
Further, data indicating that the prize data has already been printed is temporarily stored in the memory 38. At another time, for example, after the broadcast, the information received from the transmission / reception unit 34 is sent to the prize management center 12 via the Internet line. You may make it apply by transmitting required information, such as information.
[0034]
When data indicating that printing has been completed and application information are stored in the memory 38, the data may be deleted from the memory 38 after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.
[0035]
In the above-mentioned form, the prize information is distributed by radio from the broadcasting station, and the prize information is accepted by the digital television. The communication terminal can receive prize information. In this case, the communication terminal may be connected to the printer to exchange prize prints with the printer, and the communication terminal may be connected to the prize management center 12 via the Internet line.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the fact that the prize data is printed out is shown to the prize providing side, so that one prize applicant cannot easily apply for the same prize many times. Also, by printing out the prize data, the prize winner can view the information on the prize provider side many times and can fully confirm the contents. Furthermore, since there are more opportunities for people (family members, etc.) who have not applied for the prize to see information on the prize provider, the prize provider can advertise the contents of the prize to as many people as possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an entire prize system.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing prize providing information displayed on a monitor.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of printing prize data.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration and connection of a digital television, a printer, and a prize management center.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 ... Sweepstakes System, 8 ... Digital Television, 10 ... Printer, 12 ... Sweepstakes Management Center, 20 ... Tuner, 22 ... Data Separation Unit, 24 ... Main Broadcast Processing Unit, 26 ... Monitor, 28 ... Data Broadcast Processing Unit, 30 ... Module analysis unit 32... Print data processing unit 34... Transmission / reception unit 36... CPU, 38 .. memory 40 .. input unit 42 .. signal reception unit 44. 50 ... Memory

Claims (3)

A communication device,
A receiving unit for receiving prize information including information for providing prizes for display and prize data for printing;
A display for displaying the received prize offer information;
A sending unit for sending the prize data for printing to the printer in response to the print instruction operation;
A signal receiving unit for receiving a print end signal from the printer;
A communication apparatus comprising: a sending unit that sends information indicating that the prize data for printing has been printed out to the prize management center, as well as information on the application contents and the applicant, via a communication line. 2. The communication according to claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a digital television broadcast receiver, the digital television broadcast receiver receives the prize information from a prize program providing broadcast station, and the display unit is a monitor of the digital television broadcast receiver. apparatus. A printer,
A reception unit for receiving prize data for printing about prize information from a communication device;
A print section for printing prize data for printing;
A printer comprising: a notification unit that notifies the communication device that printing of the prize data for printing has been completed.

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