JP4642445B2 - Terminal device and ticket issuing system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a terminal device and a ticket issuing system including the terminal device, and more particularly to a terminal device that outputs a print command to a thermal printer.

  In order to reduce the cost (including running cost), ticket issuing systems and POS systems often include a monochrome thermal type small printer as a printing apparatus.

  A single-color thermal type small printer can only perform simple monochrome (monochrome binary) printing. Therefore, when printing a photograph or a picture including halftones (hereinafter collectively referred to as an image), the image data is converted to monochrome 2. It is necessary to convert it into a value or use an area gradation method (a method for expressing light and dark by the ratio of the number of black and white dots per unit area).

  However, the image printed based on the image data converted into the monochrome binary is greatly deteriorated in image quality compared to the original image. The area gradation method is suitable for large-area printing, but is not suitable for small-area printing such as tickets. Therefore, in an actual ticket issuing system or POS system, an image is not printed. For example, in the case of a ticket, only holding information (ticket information) such as a title, a holding date and a holding place is printed.

  Several techniques have already been proposed for performing multi-gradation printing by a density gradation method using a thermal printer (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-48868

  A conventional ticket issuing system or POS system equipped with a small single-color thermal printer cannot perform gradation printing, and cannot effectively print an image.

  Further, the conventional technology for performing multi-tone printing requires a printer corresponding to the technology, and has a problem that it cannot be applied to a single-color thermal type small printer provided in a conventional ticket issuing system or POS system.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a ticket issuing system capable of printing an image with a predetermined image quality on thermal paper and a terminal device thereof in a ticket issuing system having a small monochrome thermal printer.

  In addition, the present invention is not only capable of printing an image in a ticket issuing system including a single-color thermal small printer, but also selecting an image arbitrarily selected from a plurality of image candidates from a plurality of print layout candidates. It is an object of the present invention to provide a ticket issuing system capable of printing with an arbitrarily selected print layout and a terminal device thereof.

According to the present invention, in response to an operation from the input operation unit, a printing command for printing ticket information with characters and symbols on a thermal paper is output to a thermal printer, and a ticket is issued to the thermal paper on the thermal paper. An image to be printed together with ticket information can be selected by operating the input operation unit from among a plurality of image candidates displayed on the display unit, and the selected image and the ticket information can be selected from a plurality of print layout candidates. To create a plurality of print images, display the plurality of print images on the display unit, and select any print image from the plurality of print images by an operation from the input operation unit Thus, the plurality of print layout candidates include a ticket that uses the selected image as a background image of the ticket information. DOO overall layout, and the selected image the and independent image from the ticket information Ticket overall layout, characterized in that it is included.

The present invention also provides a thermal printer that prints ticket information using characters and symbols on thermal paper in accordance with an input print command, and a terminal that outputs the print command to the thermal printer in response to an operation from an input operation unit. In a ticket issuing system comprising a device and a server connected to the terminal device via a network and providing information required when generating the print command, the ticket is printed on the thermal paper together with the ticket information An image can be selected by operating the input operation unit from among a plurality of image candidates displayed on the display unit, and the selected image and the ticket information are synthesized according to a plurality of print layout candidates. A plurality of print images are displayed on the display unit, and an operation from the input operation unit is performed. To select an arbitrary print image from among the plurality of print images, and for the plurality of print layout candidates, a layout of the entire ticket using the selected image as a background image of the ticket information, and the selection And a layout of the entire ticket, which is an image independent of the ticket information.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a terminal device that can be arbitrarily selected from a plurality of candidates as an image to be printed on thermal paper.

  In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a terminal device that can arbitrarily select a print layout on thermal paper from a plurality of layout candidates.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a ticket issuing system including a terminal device that can be arbitrarily selected from a plurality of candidates as an image to be printed on thermal paper.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a ticket issuing system including a terminal device that can arbitrarily select a print layout on thermal paper from a plurality of layout candidates.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a ticket issuing system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a ticket issuing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, this ticket issuing system includes small printers 11-1 and 11-2, ticket issuing terminals (or POS terminals) 12-1 and 12-2, a first network 13, a store server 15, and a second A network 16 and a headquarter server 17 are included.

  The small printers 11-1 and 11-2 are, for example, single-color thermal type small printers. As shown in FIG. 2, the small printers 11-1 and 11-2 are connected to the ticket issuing terminals 12-1 and 12-2 by the data transfer interface 271, respectively. The small printers 11-1 and 11-2 receive printing instructions from the ticket issuing terminals 12-1 and 12-2, and print characters and symbols (ticket information, promotional information, discount information), photos, Print a picture (hereinafter collectively referred to as an image).

  As shown in FIG. 2, each of the ticket issuing terminals 12-1 and 12-2 includes a control unit 23, a display unit 24, a storage unit 25, an input selection unit 26, and a communication unit 27. These ticket issuing terminals 12-1 and 12-2 share image data and sales information provided from the headquarter server 17 by being connected to a common network via a host line 272.

  The control unit 23 includes a CPU, a memory, and the like, and performs POS control or ticket issuance control, conversion / development of print image data to be transmitted to the small printer 11, and the like. The control unit 23 has a hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. Control related to ticket transactions, which will be described later, is provided by middleware.

  Here, in order to enable printing of an image with a predetermined image quality (relatively high image quality) by the single-color thermal type small printer 11, the control unit 23 has proposed the “tone control method and A density gradation method based on “gradation control method” (Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-051160) is employed. Thereby, it is possible to print an image such as a high-quality photograph on general thermal paper without changing the interface of a general thermal head. In addition, since an image having a smaller size can be printed with higher image quality than in the area gradation method, a plurality of images can be printed or other information can be printed together.

  The display unit 24 is, for example, a CRT, LCD, touch panel, etc., and displays various data information and images.

  The storage unit 25 stores various data and image data. The presence of the storage unit 25 eliminates the need for the ticket issuing terminal 12 to request information from the headquarter server 17 each time a ticket is traded, and the headquarter server only needs to transmit information to be updated. The amount of communication and the communication time can be reduced.

  The input selection unit 26 is a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, or the like (also serves as the display unit 24 in the case of a touch panel). In order to select an arbitrary image from a plurality of images, other necessary instructions and information are input. Used for.

  The communication unit 27 controls external interfaces (a data transfer interface 271 and a host line 272) for connecting to the small printer 11, another ticket issuing terminal, a host computer, or the like.

  The first network 13 is, for example, a LAN, and connects the store server 15 and the ticket issuing terminals 12-1 and 12-2 through a host line 272.

  The store server 15 manages and manages the ticket issuing terminals 12-1 and 12-2 that exist in a limited range as in the same store.

  The second network 16 is, for example, WAN, ISDN, or the Internet, and comprehensively manages the store server 15 (several).

  The operation of the ticket issuing system according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  First, the operation of the entire system will be described with reference to FIG.

  The headquarter server 17 transmits image data, sales information, and the like to the store server 15 via the second network 16 as needed (step S401).

  Upon receiving the image data and sales information transmitted from the headquarter server 17 (step S402), the store server 15 transfers the image data and sales information to the subordinate ticket issuing terminal 12 via the first network 13. (Step S403).

  When the ticket issuing terminal 12 receives the image data and sales information transmitted from the store server 15 (step S404), the control unit 23 analyzes the contents. The control unit 23 stores data to be stored (image data or the like) in the storage unit 25 according to the analysis result, and causes the display unit 24 to display data to be displayed (sales information or the like) (step S405).

  As described above, the latest information (such as ticket sales order) is displayed on the display unit 24 of the ticket issuing terminal 12. Thereby, the information regarding a ticket can be provided to the person who exists in the circumference | surroundings of a terminal, and a purchase willingness can be stimulated.

  When the purchaser (operator) operates the ticket issuing terminal 12 and the ticket transaction is completed (step S406), the ticket issuing terminal 12 stores information (ticket data) regarding the ticket transaction in the storage unit 25 (step S406). Together with S407), the ticket data is transmitted to the store server 15 (step S408). The ticket transaction will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The store server 15 totals the ticket data from the subordinate ticket issuing terminal 12 as needed or periodically, and transmits the total result to the headquarter server 17 (step S409).

  The headquarters server 17 holds and manages the counting results from the store server 15 (step S410).

  In the example described above, the photo data and the like are transmitted from the head office server 17 to the ticket issuing terminal 12 as needed. However, as shown in FIG. May provide necessary information.

  That is, when the ticket issuing terminal 12 sends a request for transmitting ticket information (information on tickets, image data, barcode data, etc.) to the store server 15 (step S501), the store server 15 sends the request to the headquarter server 17. (Steps S502 and S503).

  Upon receiving the ticket information transmission request transferred from the store server 15 (step S504), the headquarter server 17 transmits the ticket information to the ticket issuing terminal 12 that issued the request (step S505). The ticket information transmitted from the headquarter server 17 is sent via the store server 15 to the ticket issuing terminal 12 that is the request source.

  When the ticket issuing terminal 12 receives the ticket information from the headquarter server 17 (step S506), the ticket issuing terminal 12 analyzes the data and stores the image data or the like in the storage unit 25 as well as the ticket sales, as in step 305 of FIG. The order and the like are displayed on the display unit 24 (step S507).

  As described above, the ticket issuing terminal 12 can obtain the latest information when necessary.

  Further, an arbitrary image on the Internet may be taken into the ticket issuing terminal 12 by operating the input selection unit 26. Thereby, an original ticket or the like can be created.

  Next, the operation at the time of ticket transaction (step S406 in FIG. 4) of the ticket issuing system in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the purchaser operates the input selection unit 26 of the ticket issuing terminal 12 to purchase a ticket (step S601). For example, in the case of a travel ticket, a departure date or course may be designated and a purchase button may be pressed.

  When the purchaser purchases a ticket, the control unit 23 of the ticket issuing terminal 12 reads a plurality of image data (photo data / image data) associated with the ticket from the storage unit 25 (step S602) and can print the ticket. A candidate for a correct image is displayed on the display unit 24 (step S603). A display example of the display unit 24 at this time is shown in FIG.

  Next, the purchaser operates the input selection unit 26 to select an arbitrary image from the candidate images displayed on the display unit 24 (step S604).

  The control unit 23 synthesizes image data representing the selected image and ticket information (information such as date and time, course, and barcode) according to a plurality of layout candidates. The layout candidates include the presence / absence of image printing, the presence / absence of auxiliary information, the presence / absence of a frame, the presence / absence of a decorative pattern, and whether the image is a background image of ticket information or an independent image. The combined image data and ticket information are converted into grayscale monochrome data for monochrome gradation (n gradation) printing, and used as print image data (step S605). The control unit 23 displays a plurality of print images on the display unit 24 based on the generated print image data (step S606). A display example of the display 24 at this time is shown in FIG.

  The purchaser operates the input selection unit 26 to select any one of the plurality of print images displayed on the display unit 24 (step S607).

  The control unit 23 transfers the selected print data to the small printer 11 through the data transfer interface 271 (step S608).

  The small printer 11 recognizes whether the print data transferred from the ticket issuing terminal 12 is normal monochrome data (binary data) or monochrome gradation data, and in response thereto, prints on a general thermal ticket sheet. Print. An example of the printed ticket is shown in FIG. Note that the small printer 11 can easily identify whether it is normal monochrome data or monochrome gradation data by deciding a command in advance.

  The purchaser receives the ticket printed by the small printer 11 (step S610).

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to increase purchase intention of the purchaser by printing image data or the like arbitrarily selected on the ticket. Further, by printing an image on a normal ticket sheet, it is possible to improve the utility value of a stub that is normally discarded. For example, in the case of a travel ticket, a previously discarded ticket can be used as a commemorative ticket by printing a landscape photo of the travel destination, and an artist's photo or album jacket photo can be used for an artist concert ticket. By printing, it becomes an original ticket and can be used as a substitute for bromide or as a bag. Conventionally, the ticket paper is simply printed only with ticket information and is not interesting. However, it can be one of the criteria for product selection (purchasing store selection) on the buyer side by printing a clear picture. On the other hand, as a seller (system administrator), it can be used as one means for attracting buyers. For example, in the case of a movie, you can print and advertise the next scheduled photo (use it as a discount as an incidental), and in the case of an amusement hall, you can print and advertise a vehicle or event that will be held soon. It is possible to call in.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the ticket issuing system which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the ticket issuing terminal contained in the ticket issuing system of FIG. 1, and its connection. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the control part of the ticket issuing terminal of FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the ticket issuing system of FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining operations that can be executed in place of steps S401 to S405 in FIG. 4 or together with all the steps in FIG. 4; 6 is a flowchart for explaining details of an operation in step S406 in FIG. It is a figure which shows the state in which the several image which can be selected was displayed on the display part of the ticket issuing terminal. It is a figure which shows the state by which the print image produced | generated by the print layout which can be selected was displayed on the display part of the ticket issuing terminal. It is a figure which shows an example of the printed ticket.

Explanation of symbols

11, 11-1, 11-2 Small printer 12, 12-1, 12-2 Ticket issuing terminal 13 First network 15 Store server 16 Second network 17 Headquarter server 23 Control unit 24 Display unit 25 Storage unit 26 Input Selection unit 27 Communication unit 271 Data transfer interface 272 Host line

Claims (12)

In response to an operation from the input operation unit, a print command for printing ticket information with characters and symbols on a thermal paper is output to a thermal printer, and in a terminal device for issuing a ticket,
An image to be printed together with the ticket information on the thermal paper can be selected from among a plurality of image candidates displayed on a display unit by operating the input operation unit, and the selected image and the ticket information are According to a plurality of print layout candidates, a plurality of print images are created, the plurality of print images are displayed on the display unit, and an arbitrary operation is selected from the plurality of print images by an operation from the input operation unit. Allows you to select a print image,
The plurality of print layout candidates include a whole ticket layout using the selected image as a background image of the ticket information, and a whole ticket layout using the selected image as an image independent of the ticket information. A terminal device characterized by being included.   2. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the latest ticket sales order is displayed on the display unit based on sales information transmitted from a host device as needed.   The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising an image storage unit that stores the plurality of image candidates.   The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising an interface for connecting to a network in which a server storing the plurality of image candidates exists.   The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a layout storage unit that stores the plurality of layout candidates.   The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising an interface for connecting to a network in which a server storing the plurality of layout candidates exists. A thermal printer that prints ticket information with letters and symbols on thermal paper according to the input print command;
A terminal device that outputs the print command to the thermal printer in response to an operation from an input operation unit;
In a ticket issuing system comprising a server connected to the terminal device via a network and providing information necessary for generating the print command,
An image to be printed together with the ticket information on the thermal paper can be selected from among a plurality of image candidates displayed on a display unit by operating the input operation unit, and the selected image and the ticket information are According to a plurality of print layout candidates, a plurality of print images are created, the plurality of print images are displayed on the display unit, and an arbitrary operation is selected from the plurality of print images by an operation from the input operation unit. Allows you to select a print image,
The plurality of print layout candidates include a whole ticket layout using the selected image as a background image of the ticket information, and a whole ticket layout using the selected image as an image independent of the ticket information. A ticket issuing system characterized by being included.   8. The ticket issuing system according to claim 7, wherein the latest ticket sales order is displayed on the display unit based on sales information transmitted from a host device as needed.   9. The ticket issuing system according to claim 7, wherein an image storage unit that stores the plurality of image candidates is provided in the terminal device.   9. The ticket issuing system according to claim 7, wherein an image storage unit for storing the plurality of image candidates is provided in the server.   The ticket issuing system according to claim 7, wherein a layout storage unit that stores the plurality of layout candidates is provided in the terminal device.   The ticket issuing system according to claim 7, wherein a layout storage unit that stores the plurality of layout candidates is provided in the server.