JP2005190405A - Image print sales system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image print sales system for preliminarily transmitting an image file to an image automatic vending machine which is high in user's usability to reduce the waiting time of the user when printing an image, and to prevent the possibility of the compression of a storage capacity and the leakage of data due to the fact that the transmitted image file is stored in a long term in the image automatic vending machine. <P>SOLUTION: When receiving a mail with an image file from a mobile telephone 30, a server 20 preliminarily transmits the received image file to an image automatic vending machine 10 having the use history of a user, and when receiving print execution data such as the image ID of a printed file from the image automatic vending machine 10 who has performed print, the server 20 specifies the image automatic vending machine 10 to which the image file of the image ID has been preliminarily transmitted, and requests the erasure of the image file to the image automatic vending machine 10 other than the transmission origin of the print execution data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image print sales system and program for printing and selling images.

  In recent years, images that have been placed on street corners and buildings, and that can be edited by reading image files recorded by digital cameras, mobile phones with cameras, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistance), etc., and are designed to print images for a fee. An image file can be easily printed by a print sales apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an image vending machine).

  For example, there is a method in which a recording medium on which an image file is recorded is set in an image vending machine, and the image vending machine reads the image file from the recording medium and prints it. In addition, there is a method in which an image file is transmitted from a user terminal to an image vending machine through direct wireless communication such as Bluetooth, and the image vending machine receives and prints the image file (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, when an email with an image file attached in advance is transmitted from the user's terminal to a server as a management device of the image print sales system, when the user actually prints with the image vending machine, the image vending machine sends the image file from the server. There is also a method to download and print. In particular, camera-equipped mobile phones and PDAs have become widespread, but this method is becoming established because there is generally no printing function.
JP 2002-352319 A

  The method of sending an image file attached mail to a server is preferable in that many terminals such as mobile phones have a mail transmission / reception function. However, it is troublesome for a user to input items necessary for downloading an image file with an image vending machine. In addition, there is a possibility that the waiting time for downloading the image file by the user's image vending machine becomes very long.

  Therefore, it is considered that the waiting time of the user related to the downloading of the image file at the time of printing can be reduced by distributing the image file from the server to the image vending machine in advance. However, in this case, it is not preferable because an image file is always stored in each distributed image vending machine, and the storage capacity of the image vending machine may be compressed and data may be leaked.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image printing sales system capable of reducing the waiting time of a user at the time of image printing by transmitting an image file in advance to an image vending machine with high user availability. It is to avoid the possibility of the compression of the storage capacity and the outflow of data due to the transmitted image file being stored in the image vending machine forever.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is an image print sales in which a plurality of image print sales apparatuses and a user terminal having an image file to be printed are connected to a management apparatus via a communication network. In the system, the management device receives usage history storage means for storing history data indicating the usage status of the image print sales device in the past for each user, and when receiving an image file from the user terminal or the image print sales device A specifying means for specifying an image print sales apparatus that is likely to be used for printing the image file based on the history data relating to the user who transmitted the received image file; and the received image file Image file pre-transmission means for transmitting the image to the specified image print sales apparatus, and the image file pre-transmission means More specifically, the image printing / sale apparatus from which the image file has not been printed is identified from among the image printing / sale apparatuses to which the image file is to be transmitted, and the image file is deleted from the identified image printing / sale apparatus. And a deletion instruction means for instructing.

  The invention according to claim 5 is a function of storing history data indicating the past usage status of the image print sales apparatus for each user in the computer, and when receiving an image file from the user terminal or the image print sales apparatus. Based on the history data relating to the user who transmitted the received image file, a function for identifying an image print sales apparatus that is likely to be used for printing the image file, and the received image file, A function for transmitting to the specified image print sales apparatus and an image print sales apparatus for which the image file has not been printed are identified from among the image print sales apparatuses to which the image file is to be transmitted. And a function for instructing the image print sales apparatus to delete the image file. .

  According to the first and fifth aspects of the present invention, the history data indicating the past usage status of the image print sales apparatus is stored for each user, and received when the image file is received from the user terminal or the image print sales apparatus. Based on the history data relating to the user who sent the image file, the image print sales device that is likely to be used for printing the image file is identified and sent, and the image print sale for which the image file was sent In the apparatus, an image print sales apparatus that has not actually printed the image file is instructed to delete the image file. Accordingly, an image print sales system capable of reducing the waiting time of the user at the time of image printing by transmitting an image file in advance to an image vending machine that is highly available to the user is provided. It is possible to avoid the possibility of compression of the storage capacity and the outflow of data due to the file being stored in the image vending machine forever.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, each image print sales apparatus transmits print execution data including image identification data for identifying the printed image file to the management apparatus after the image is printed, and the print execution is performed. When the data was received, the image file was not actually printed on the image print sales apparatus that was the transmission target of the image file corresponding to the image identification data other than the image print sales apparatus that sent the print execution data. By specifying as an image print sales apparatus, it is possible to easily specify an image print sales apparatus for which an image file was not actually printed.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the history data can be stored based on the print execution data received from each image print sales apparatus.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the management device deletes the history data after a predetermined time has elapsed since it was stored. Therefore, the storage capacity of the management device is reduced due to the history data being stored forever. Can be avoided.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, the apparatus configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the image print sales system 100. FIG. 2 shows an external configuration of the image vending machine 10. FIG. 3 shows the internal configuration of the image vending machine 10. FIG. 4 shows the internal configuration of the server 20. FIG. 5 shows an internal configuration of the mobile phone 30.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image printing and selling system 100 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of image vending machines 10, a server 20, and a mobile phone 30, and is connected for communication through a communication network N.

  The image vending machine 10 is an apparatus that acquires an image file from a recording medium or the server 20 by a user operation, prints it, and sells it. The image vending machine 10 is installed in a place that is easy for a user to use, such as a station or a convenience store.

  The server 20 is a management device in the image print sales system 100. When the server 20 stores and manages the usage history of the image vending machine 10 for each user in the usage history table 60 (see FIG. 8) and receives the image file attached to the email from the mobile phone 30, the usage history of the transmission source user is received. The image vending machine 10 to which the image file should be transmitted in advance is specified and transmitted.

  The mobile phone 30 is a user terminal having a mail transmission / reception function and an image recording function. In FIG. 1, the mobile phone 30 is illustrated as one unit, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  The communication network N is, for example, a WAN (Wide Area Network), but may be a LAN (Local Area Network), such as a telephone line network, an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) line network, a broadband communication line network, a dedicated line, a mobile line. A configuration including a body communication network, a communication satellite line, a CATV (Community Antenna Television) line, an optical communication line, a wireless communication line, and an Internet service provider for connecting them may be used.

  Next, the configuration of the image vending machine 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The image vending machine 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, an operation unit 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a display unit 14, a recording unit 15, a communication unit 16, a money transfer unit 17, The medium reading unit 18, the printing unit 19, and the time measuring unit 1A are configured, and each unit is connected by a bus 1B.

  The CPU 11 reads out a system program stored in the recording unit 15, develops it in a work memory formed in the RAM 13, and controls each unit according to the system program. Further, the CPU 11 reads out various processing programs stored in the recording unit 15 and develops them in the work memory, and executes various processes including an image file reception process and an image print sales process described later.

  The operation unit 12 is, for example, a touch panel operation unit configured integrally with the display unit 14, receives a touch input from the user on the display screen 141 of the display unit 14, and transmits the input signal to the CPU 11. The operation unit 12 may be provided with various keys and may be an operation unit independent of the display unit 14.

  The RAM 13 forms a work memory that temporarily stores a system program executed by the CPU 11, various processing programs, data being processed in each processing, processing results, and the like.

  The display unit 14 includes a display screen 141 such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and is configured as a touch panel display together with the operation unit 12, for example. The display unit 14 displays various screens on the display screen 141 in accordance with a display signal from the CPU 11.

  The recording unit 15 has a recording medium (not shown) in which various programs and various data are stored in advance or can be written, and the recording medium is a nonvolatile medium such as a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor. It is composed of a CPU 11 readable recording medium such as a memory. As the recording medium, a fixed hard disk, a flash ROM, or the like, a CD-RW (CD-ReWritable), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) -RAM, a memory card, a portable hard disk, or a blue laser is used. A portable information recording medium or the like that can be detachably mounted is used. The recording unit 15 may include a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores a program and the like so as to be readable.

  The communication unit 16 includes a network card for communicating with an external device, and communicates with a device connected to the communication network N.

  The money transfer unit 17 includes a banknote transfer unit 171, a coin transfer unit 172, a return lever 173, a change return unit 174, a receipt output unit 175, etc., and receives and returns charges input from the user. Specifically, the bill transfer unit 171 receives a bill as a fee from the user, the coin transfer unit 172 receives a coin as a fee from the user, the return lever 173 receives a fee or change return from the user, The return unit 174 returns the change or fee, and the receipt output unit 175 outputs a receipt for image printing sales.

  The recording medium reading unit 18 includes a recording medium setting unit 181 in which a recording medium on which an image file is recorded is set, and a memory such as a compact flash (registered trademark), smart media (registered trademark), or SD (Secure Digital) card. A recording medium such as a card, a flexible disk, a CD-R (CD-Recordable), a DVD-R or the like can be set, and image information in the set recording medium can be set according to an instruction from the CPU 11. Read information.

  The printing unit 19 prints an image of the image file on a recording medium such as recording paper in accordance with a printing instruction from the CPU 11, and outputs it from the print image discharge unit 191. For example, an image is printed on a recording sheet by a silver salt method, but is not limited to this method. The timer unit 1A acquires the current date and time information and transmits it to the CPU 11.

  Next, the internal configuration of the server 20 will be described with reference to FIG. The server 20 includes a CPU 21, an operation unit 22, a RAM 23, a display unit 24, a recording unit 25, a communication unit 26, and a time measuring unit 27, and each unit is connected by a bus 28. The CPU 21, the operation unit 22, the RAM 23, the display unit 24, the recording unit 25, the communication unit 26, and the time measuring unit 27 are, in order, the CPU 11, the operation unit 12, the RAM 13, the display unit 14, the recording unit 15, and the communication unit 16. And since it is the same as that of the timing unit 1A, the different parts will be mainly described.

  The CPU 21 reads a system program stored in the recording unit 25, develops it in a work memory formed in the RAM 23, and controls each unit according to the system program. Further, the CPU 21 reads out various processing programs stored in the recording unit 25 and develops them in the work memory, and performs various processes including an image file pre-transmission process, an image file transmission process, and a usage history table update process, which will be described later. Execute.

  The operation unit 22 includes a keyboard having cursor keys, numeric input keys, various function keys, and the like. The operation unit 22 outputs to the CPU 21 a press signal that is pressed by the operator using the keyboard. The operation unit 22 may include a pointing device such as a mouse. The display unit 24 includes an LCD, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), and the like, and performs screen display according to a display signal from the CPU 21.

  Next, the internal configuration of the mobile phone 30 will be described with reference to FIG. The cellular phone 30 includes a CPU 31, an operation unit 32, a RAM 33, a display unit 34, a recording unit 35, a communication unit 36, and a photographing unit 37, and each unit is connected by a bus 38. . The CPU 31, the operation unit 32, the RAM 33, the display unit 34, the recording unit 35, and the communication unit 36 are the same as the CPU 11, the operation unit 12, the RAM 13, the display unit 14, the recording unit 15, and the communication unit 16 of the image vending machine 10 in this order. Therefore, the different parts will be mainly described.

  The CPU 31 reads a system program stored in the recording unit 35, develops it in a work memory formed in the RAM 33, and controls each unit according to the system program. Further, the CPU 31 reads out various processing programs stored in the recording unit 35 and develops them in the work memory, and executes various processes including an image mail transmission process.

  The operation unit 32 includes a keypad provided with cursor keys, numeric input keys, various function keys, and the like. The operation unit 32 outputs to the CPU 31 a press signal that is pressed by the operator using the keypad. The display unit 34 is configured by an LCD or the like, and performs screen display according to a display signal from the CPU 31. The recording unit 35 includes a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, and stores various information such as an image file. The communication unit 36 includes a wireless communication unit including an antenna, and transmits / receives various information to / from each device on the communication network N via a base station (not shown) on the communication network.

  The imaging unit 37 includes an optical system such as a lens and imaging means such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and an image of a subject imaged by the imaging means via the optical system in accordance with an imaging instruction from the CPU 31 as an image file. Output to the recording unit 35 or the like.

  Next, information stored in the recording unit 25 of the server 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 shows a configuration example of the user table 40, FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of the image data table 50, FIG. 8 shows a configuration example of the usage history table 60, FIG. 9 shows a configuration example of the vending machine table 70, FIG. 10 shows a configuration example of the transmission history table 80.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the user table 40 is a table that stores information regarding each user. The user table 40 includes a user ID 41 that is identification data for uniquely identifying each user, and a user mail address 42 corresponding to the user ID 41.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the image data table 50 is a table that stores information about an image file attached to a mail received by the server 20. The image data table 50 includes a user ID 51 that is identification data for uniquely identifying each user, an image ID 52 that is identification data for uniquely identifying each image file, and an image received by the server 20. It includes the reception date and time 53 of the image file with ID 52, the file name 54 of the image file with image ID 52, the file size 55 of the image file with image ID 52, and the actual image file 56 that is the image file with image ID 52 itself.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the usage history table 60 is a table that stores (stores) data indicating the usage status of the image vending machine 10 in the past of the user. The usage history table 60 is printed with a user ID 61 that is identification data for uniquely identifying each user, an image ID 61 that is identification data for uniquely identifying an image file, and an image file with the image ID 61. It includes a vending machine ID 63 that is identification data for uniquely identifying the image vending machine 10, a printing date and time 64 when the image file with the image ID 61 is printed, and a number 65 of copies that prints the image file with the image ID 61.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the vending machine table 70 is a table that stores information related to the image vending machine 10. The vending machine table 70 includes a vending machine ID 71 that is identification data for uniquely identifying each image vending machine, and a fixed IP (Internet Protocol) address ID 72 as a communication address of each image vending machine 10.

  As illustrated in FIG. 10, the transmission history table 80 is a table that stores information related to a transmission history when an image file is transmitted in advance. The transmission history table 80 includes an image ID 81 that is identification data for uniquely identifying an image file, a vending machine ID 82 that is identification data for identifying the image vending machine 10 to which the image file of the image ID 81 is transmitted, And a transmission date and time 83 indicating the date and time when the image file with ID 81 is transmitted.

Next, the operation of the image print sales system 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 11 shows image mail transmission processing executed by the CPU 31 of the mobile phone 30. This process is a process for transmitting a mail with an image file attached to the server 20 by the mobile phone 30, and triggered when an execution instruction for the image mail transmission process is input from the user via the operation unit 32. As shown in FIG. It is assumed that the recording unit 35 stores at least one image file photographed by the photographing unit 37 in advance.

The image mail transmission process will be described below with reference to FIG.
First, a list of image files stored in the recording unit 35 is displayed on the display unit 34, and when an image file is selected and input from the list by the operation unit 32 (step S11), the list is selected from the recording unit 35. The read image file is read out and attached to the mail (step S12).

  When the operation unit 32 instructs to send a mail with the selected image file attached to the server 20 (step S13; YES), the mail with the selected image file attached is sent to the communication unit 36 and the communication network. N is transmitted to the server 20 via N (step S15), and the image mail transmission process is terminated. When the transmission of the mail with the image file attached to the server 20 is canceled (step S13; NO, step S14; YES), the image mail transmission process is terminated without performing the transmission.

  FIG. 12 shows image file pre-transmission processing executed by the server 20. This process is periodically executed at predetermined time intervals in cooperation with the CPU 21 and the image file pre-transmission processing program stored in the recording unit 25.

  First, it is determined whether or not a mail with an image file attached is received from the mobile phone 30 via the communication network N and the communication unit 26 (step S21). When a mail with an image file attached is received (step S21; YES), the user table 40 in the recording unit 25 is referred to, and the transmission source user ID 41 is acquired from the mail transmission source mail address 42 ( Step S22).

  Next, it is determined whether or not a user ID has been acquired in step S22 (step S23). When the user ID is not acquired in step S22 (step S23; NO), there is no corresponding user ID in the user table 40, a new unique user ID is issued, and the issued user ID and the corresponding mail address are displayed. And stored in the user ID 41 and the mail address 42 of the user table 40 (step S24).

  Next, a new unique image ID is issued to the image file attached to the received mail, the current date and time is acquired as the mail reception date and time from the time measuring unit 27, the user ID, the issued image ID, and the reception date and time. , The file name, the file size, the actual image file, and the transmission date and time are stored in the user ID 51, the image ID 52, the reception date and time 53, the file name 54, the file size 55, and the actual image file 56 of the image data table 50, respectively (step S25). ).

  Next, a mail with an image ID for notifying the issued image ID is created and transmitted (returned) to the mobile phone 30 that is the transmission source of the mail of the image file via the communication unit 26 and the communication network N (step S26). ), The image file pre-transmission process is terminated.

  When the user ID is acquired in step S22 (step S23; YES), a new unique image ID is issued to the image file attached to the mail, and the current date and time is acquired from the time measuring unit 27 as the mail reception date and time. The user ID acquired in step S22, the issued image ID, the reception date / time, the file name, the file size, and the actual image file are the user ID 51, the image ID 52, the reception date / time 53, the file name 54, and the file of the image data table 50. The size 55 and the actual image file 56 are respectively stored (step S27).

  Next, a mail with an image ID for notifying the issued image ID is created and transmitted (returned) to the mobile phone 30 that is the transmission source of the mail of the image file via the communication unit 26 and the communication network N (step). S28). After the transmission of the mail with the image ID, the usage history table 60 is referred to, and the history data of the user ID whose content of the user ID 61 is acquired in step S22 is read into the work memory (step S29). The history data refers to each record in the usage history table 60. The history data read to the work memory is composed of the user ID 61, the image ID 62, the vending machine ID 63, the printing date and time 64, the number of printed sheets 65, and the editing type 66 stored in the usage history table 60.

  Next, based on the history data acquired in step S29, the image vending machine 10 having the vending machine ID included in the history data is specified as the image transmission target vending machine, the number of the vending machines is set in the counter N, and the vending machine table in the recording unit 25 is used. By referring to 70, the vending machine ID 71 and the fixed IP address 72 of the specified image vending machine 10 are acquired (step S30). In other words, the image vending machine 10 used in the past by the user who transmitted the image file is identified as the image vending machine 10 to which the image file is to be transmitted in advance as a vending machine that is likely to be used by the user to print the image file. Is done. Here, all the vending machine IDs included in the history data acquired in step S29 may be transmission targets, or for example, a predetermined number may be specified as a transmission target from the most frequently used one. Note that N = 0 is set when there is no history data in the usage history table 60, such as when the user uses the image vending machine 10 for the first time.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the set counter N = 0 (step S31). If N = 0 (step S31; YES), the image file pre-transmission process is terminated. If N is not 0 (step S31; NO), 1 is set in the counter n (step S32), and the image transmission target corresponding to the history data stored in the work memory is transmitted via the communication unit 26 and the communication network N. In the image vending machine 10, the image file attached to the mail and its image ID are transmitted to the fixed IP address of the nth vending machine (step S33). When the transmission is completed, the data is stored in the image ID 81, the vending machine ID 82, and the transmission date and time 83 in the transmission history table 80, so that the transmission history is saved (step S34), the counter n is incremented (step S35), and n> N Steps S33 to S35 are repeatedly executed until When n> N is satisfied (step S36; YES), the image file pre-transmission process is terminated.

  FIG. 13 shows image file reception processing in which the image vending machine 10 receives an image file from the server 20. This processing is periodically executed at predetermined time intervals in cooperation with the CPU 11 and the image file reception processing program stored in the recording unit 15. Hereinafter, the image file receiving process will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, it is determined whether or not an image ID and its image file have been received from the server 20 via the communication network N and the communication unit 16 (step S41). Step S41 corresponds to step S33 of the image file pre-transmission process in FIG. When the image ID and the image file are received (step S41; YES), the received image ID and the image file are associated with each other and stored in the recording unit 15 (step S42), and the image file receiving process is ended.

  On the other hand, if no image file has been received (step S41; NO), it is determined whether or not an image ID and a deletion request have been received from the server 20 (step S43). If no image file has been received (step S43; NO), the image file receiving process is terminated. When the image ID and the deletion request are received from the server 20 (step S43; YES), the image file with the corresponding image ID is deleted from the recording unit 15 (step S44), and the image file receiving process is ended. Step S43 is a process corresponding to step S85 of the use history table update process described later.

  FIG. 14 shows image print sales processing for printing and selling an image file in the image vending machine 10. This process is a process executed in cooperation with the CPU 11 and the image print sales processing program stored in the recording unit 15 triggered by the input of the execution instruction of the image print sales process by the user from the operation unit 12. is there. The image print sales process will be described below with reference to FIG.

  First, an image ID input screen is displayed on the display unit 14, and the operation unit 12 receives an input of an image ID of an image file to be printed from the user (step S51). The image ID to be input is the image ID in the mail of the image ID received by the user's mobile phone 30. Next, it is determined whether or not an image ID is input corresponding to step S51 (step S52). When the image ID is not input (step S52; NO), the process returns to step S51.

  When the image ID is input (step S52; YES), it is determined whether or not an image file corresponding to the input image ID is stored in the recording unit 15 (step S53). When an image file corresponding to the image ID is stored (step S53; YES), a thumbnail of the stored image file is previewed on the display unit 14 and displayed by the operation unit 12 from the user. An input of the number of prints of the image file is accepted (step S54).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the number of prints has been input corresponding to step S54 (step S55). If the number of prints has not been input (step S55; NO), the process returns to step S54. When the number of printed sheets is input (step S55; YES), a charge corresponding to the number of printed sheets is calculated and displayed on the display unit 14 (step S56), and the calculated charge input request is displayed on the display unit 14. The money transfer unit 17 receives money input from the user (step S57).

  When a fee is inserted, it is determined whether or not a sufficient amount of money has been inserted for the requested fee in response to step S57 (step S58). If the input amount is not sufficient (step S58; NO), the process returns to step S57. When the input amount is sufficient (step S58; YES), the printing unit 19 prints the image file to be printed on the recording paper by the input number of prints (step S59).

  After printing, it is determined whether or not money exceeding the requested fee has been inserted (step S60). When money exceeding the requested fee is inserted (step S60; YES), the amount of change exceeding the requested fee is calculated, and the change is refunded by the money transfer unit 17 (step S61). Then, the current date and time is acquired as the printing date and time by the timing unit 1A, and the image ID, the printing date and time, and the number of copies of the printed image file are transmitted to the server 20 as printing execution data via the communication unit 16 and the communication network N. (Step S62), the image print sales process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S53 that the image file corresponding to the input image ID is not stored (step S63; NO), the image ID to be printed is set via the communication unit 16 and the communication network N. The image file is transmitted to the server 20 and a transmission request for the image file is made (step S63). When an image file transmission request is made, an image file corresponding to the image ID to be printed or an error message is received from the server 20 (step S64). When the image file is received (step S65; YES), the received image file is stored in the recording unit 15 in association with the image ID. And a process transfers to step S54 and step S54-62 is performed. If the image file has not been received (step S65; NO), an error message indicating that there is no image file to be printed is displayed on the display unit 14 (step S66), and the image print sales process is terminated.

  FIG. 15 shows an image file transmission process in which the server 20 transmits an image file to the image vending machine 10 in response to a transmission request from the image vending machine 10. This process is periodically executed at predetermined time intervals, and is a process executed in cooperation with the CPU 21 and the image file transmission process program stored in the recording unit 25. Hereinafter, the image file transmission process will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, it is determined whether or not an image ID is received from the image vending machine 10 via the communication network N and the communication unit 26 (step S71). Step S71 corresponds to step S63 of the image print sales process in FIG. If the image ID has not been received (step S71; NO), the image file transmission process is terminated.

  When the image ID is received (step S71; YES), the image data table 50 in the recording unit 25 is referred to and an image file of the actual image file 56 corresponding to the received image ID is acquired (step S72). . Then, it is determined whether or not an image file has been acquired in step S72 (step S73).

  When the image file is acquired (step S73; YES), the image file is transmitted to the fixed IP address of the image vending machine 10 that is the transmission source of the image ID via the communication unit 26 and the communication network N (step S74). The transmission process is terminated. When the image file has not been acquired (step S73; NO), the fact that the image file has not been stored in the recording unit 25 via the communication unit 26 and the communication network N indicates that the image vending machine from which the image ID is transmitted 10 is transmitted to the fixed IP address (step S75), and the image file transmission process is terminated.

  FIG. 16 shows usage history table update processing for updating the usage history table 60 in the server 20. This process is periodically executed at predetermined time intervals, and is a process executed in cooperation with the CPU 21 and the usage history table update process program stored in the recording unit 25. Hereinafter, the use history table update process will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, it is determined whether or not the image ID, the printing date and time, and the number of copies of the printed image file have been received as print execution data from the image vending machine 10 via the communication network N and the communication unit 26 (step S81). . Step S81 corresponds to step S62 of the image print sales process in FIG.

  When the image ID, the printing date and time, and the number of printed sheets are received as the print execution data (step S81; YES), the vending machine table 70 in the recording unit 25 is referred to, and the fixed IP of the image vending machine 10 that is the transmission source such as the image ID. A vending machine ID 71 corresponding to the address 72 is acquired (step S82). Further, the image data table 50 in the recording unit 25 is referred to, and the user ID 51 corresponding to the received image ID is acquired (step 83).

  Next, the transmission history table 80 is referred to, and in the above-described image file pre-transmission process, the image vending machine 10 that pre-transmits the image file with the received image ID is identified (step S84), and the communication network N and the communication unit 26 are used. Then, among the image vending machines 10 identified in step S84, the image vending machine 10 other than the image vending machine 10 that is the transmission source of the print execution data is identified as the image vending machine in which the image file of the received image ID has not been printed, A request to delete the image file having the received image ID (deletion instruction) is made to the identified image vending machine 10 (step S85).

  Further, the acquired user ID, received image ID, acquired vending machine ID, received printing date / time and number of printed sheets are the user ID 61, image ID 62, vending machine ID 63, printing date / time 64 and printing of the usage history table 60 in the recording unit 25. The usage history table 60 is updated (step S86), and the usage history table update processing ends.

  On the other hand, when the image ID, the printing date / time, and the number of printed sheets as printing execution data are not received (step S81; NO), it is determined whether or not there is history data in the usage history table 60 after a predetermined time has elapsed since registration. It is determined (step S87). In the present embodiment, based on the printing date and time 64 of each history data in the usage history table 60, it is determined whether or not a certain time has elapsed since registration, but each history data in the usage history table 60 is determined. The registration date and time may be registered in association with. If there is no target history data (step S88; NO), the usage history table update process is terminated. If there is target history data (step S88; YES), all target history data in the usage history table 60 is deleted (step S89), and the usage history table update process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a mail with an image file attached is transmitted from the mobile phone 30 to the server 20, the user ID of the mail transmission source is acquired in the server 20, and the usage history table 60 Based on the history data in which the content of the user ID 61 is the acquired user ID, the image vending machine 10 having a high availability that has been used by the user in the past is likely to print the received image file. The image file is specified as an object to be transmitted in advance as being an image vending machine, and the image file is transmitted in advance to the specified image vending machine 10. Further, when the server 20 receives print execution data such as an image ID, a printing date / time, and the number of prints as a usage history from the image vending machine 10, the image vending machine 10 that is the prior transmission destination of the image file of the received image ID. The image ID stored in the recording unit 15 for the specified image vending machine 10 other than the transmission source of the print execution data, that is, for the image vending machine 10 that has received the image file but did not print it. Is deleted, and the received print execution data is registered in the usage history table 60 and updated. In the server 20, history data that has passed for a fixed time since being registered in the usage history table 60 is deleted.

  Therefore, an image printing and selling system is provided that can reduce the waiting time of the user when printing an image by transmitting an image file in advance to a highly available image vending machine that has been used by the user in the past. At the same time, it is possible to avoid the possibility of compression of the storage capacity and the outflow of data due to the transmitted image file being stored in the image vending machine forever. Further, the storage capacity of the server 20 due to the accumulation of history data can be avoided.

  In addition, the description content in the said embodiment is a suitable example of the image printing sales system 100 which concerns on this invention, and is not limited to this.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the image file stored in the image vending machine in which the image file was transmitted in advance but not actually printed is deleted, but this deletion is a complete deletion. Alternatively, reading may be disabled.

  Further, the data stored in the image data table 50 of the server 20 may be deleted when print execution data is received from the image vending machine 10 that has performed printing. Further, it may be deleted after a predetermined time has passed since it was saved. As a result, the amount of data stored in the server 20 can be suppressed.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the structure which uses the mobile telephone 30 as a user's terminal was demonstrated, it is not limited to this. For example, a configuration using a PHS (Personal Handyphone System), a PC, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a digital still camera, a digital movie camera, or the like may be used as a user terminal.

  In the above embodiment, the case where an image file is transmitted (uploaded) from the user terminal such as the mobile phone 30 to the server 20 has been described as an example. However, the image vending machine 10 uploads the image file to the server 20. There may be.

  The server 20 is configured to store transmission status data when an image file is received from the user terminal, for example, transmission time and a transmission source device (such as a mobile phone, a PC, a PDA, a digital still camera). By referring to the transmission status data and the usage history table, an image vending machine that is likely to be used by the user according to the transmission status when the image file is uploaded is sent to the transmission target that is likely to print the image file. You may make it identify as an image vending machine. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the number of data communications related to pre-transmission and the amount of image file data stored in the recording unit 15 of the image vending machine 10.

  In the above embodiment, the image file is preliminarily transmitted from the server 20 to the image vending machine 10 after receiving the image file. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the received image files may be collectively transmitted to the image vending machine 10 by batch processing in the server 20. For example, a configuration is preferable in which the server 20 checks the degree of communication congestion and the like, and when the server 20 is not congested, the image file is transmitted in advance.

  In addition, the detailed configuration and detailed operation of each component of the image print sales system 100 according to the present embodiment can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image print sales system 100. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external configuration of an image vending machine 10. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the image vending machine 10. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a server 20. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a mobile phone 30. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a user table 40 stored in a recording unit 25 of the server 20. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image data table 50 stored in a recording unit 25 of the server 20. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a usage history table 60 stored in a recording unit 25 of the server 20. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a vending machine table 70 stored in a recording unit 25 of the server 20. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a transmission history table 80 stored in a recording unit 25 of the server 20. 4 is a flowchart showing image mail transmission processing executed in the mobile phone 30. 4 is a flowchart illustrating image file pre-transmission processing executed in the server 20. 4 is a flowchart illustrating image file reception processing executed in the image vending machine 10. 3 is a flowchart showing image print sales processing executed in the image vending machine 10. 4 is a flowchart illustrating image file transmission processing executed in the server 20. 4 is a flowchart showing usage history table update processing executed in the server 20.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image printing sales system 10 Image vending machine 20 Server 30 Mobile phone 11, 21, 31 CPU
111, 211, 311 Control unit 12, 22, 32 Operation unit 13, 23, 33 RAM
14, 24, 34 Display unit 141 Display screen 15, 25, 35 Recording unit 16, 26, 36 Communication unit 1B, 28, 38 Bus 17 Money transfer unit 171 Bill transfer unit 172 Coin transfer unit 173 Return lever 174 Change return unit 175 Receipt output unit 18 Recording medium reading unit 19 Printing unit 1A, 27 Timing unit 37 Imaging unit N Communication network

Claims (5)

In an image print sales system in which a plurality of image print sales apparatuses and a user terminal having an image file to be printed are connected to a management apparatus via a communication network,
The management device
Usage history storage means for storing history data indicating the usage status of the image printing sales apparatus in the past for each user;
When an image file is received from the user terminal or the image print sales apparatus, an image that is highly likely to be used for printing the image file based on the history data relating to the user who transmitted the received image file. A specifying means for specifying a print sales device;
Image file pre-transmission means for transmitting the received image file to the identified image print sales device;
Among the image print sales devices that have been the transmission target of the image file by the image file pre-transmission means, the image print sales device that has not actually printed the image file is specified, and the specified image print sales device A deletion instruction means for instructing deletion of the image file;
An image print sales system characterized by comprising: Each of the image print sales devices transmits print execution data including image identification data for identifying a printed image file to the management device after printing the image,
When the print execution data is received, the management apparatus delete instruction means is an image to which an image file corresponding to the image identification data is to be transmitted other than the image print sales apparatus that is the transmission source of the print execution data. 2. The image printing and selling system according to claim 1, wherein a printing and selling device is specified as the image printing and selling device in which the image file is not actually printed.   3. The image print sales system according to claim 2, wherein the history data is stored in the usage history storage unit based on print execution data received from each of the image print sales apparatuses.   The said management apparatus is provided with the log | history data deletion means which deletes the said log | history data after a fixed time passes since it was memorize | stored in the said use log | history memory means. Image printing sales system. On the computer,
A function of storing history data indicating the usage status of the image printing sales apparatus in the past for each user;
When receiving an image file from a user terminal or an image print sales apparatus, based on the history data relating to the user who transmitted the received image file, the image print sales that are likely to be used for printing the image file The ability to identify the device;
A function of transmitting the received image file to the specified image print sales device;
Among the image print sales devices to which the image file is to be transmitted, the image print sales device for which the image file was not actually printed is specified, and the specified image print sales device is instructed to delete the image file Function to
A program to realize

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