EP1087287A2 - Bestellzustandsverfolgungs- und Druckauftragsempfangssystem - Google Patents

Bestellzustandsverfolgungs- und Druckauftragsempfangssystem Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1087287A2
EP1087287A2 EP00308261A EP00308261A EP1087287A2 EP 1087287 A2 EP1087287 A2 EP 1087287A2 EP 00308261 A EP00308261 A EP 00308261A EP 00308261 A EP00308261 A EP 00308261A EP 1087287 A2 EP1087287 A2 EP 1087287A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
print
situation
print order
order
image forming
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00308261A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP1087287A3 (de
Inventor
Yutaka Ueda
Hiroyuki Uemura
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Konica Minolta Inc
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Konica Minolta Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Konica Minolta Inc filed Critical Konica Minolta Inc
Publication of EP1087287A2 publication Critical patent/EP1087287A2/de
Publication of EP1087287A3 publication Critical patent/EP1087287A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/08—Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
    • G06Q10/087—Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03D—APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03D15/00—Apparatus for treating processed material
    • G03D15/001—Counting; Classifying; Marking
    • G03D15/005—Order systems, e.g. printsorter

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an order situation tracing system and to a print order receiving apparatus, and in particular, to a print order receiving apparatus with which a print order can be placed based on image data and to an order situation tracing system capable of tracing the situation of the print order placed through the print order receiving apparatus.
  • an image displayed on a liquid crystal panel of a digital camera is a temporary image which disappears when the power supply for the digital camera, for example, is turned off, and therefore, the display on the liquid crystal panel is inappropriate when appreciating an image for a long time, which is a problem.
  • the person having no image display means can not appreciate the image if no actions are taken when the person is given a storage medium in which copied image data are stored, although image data themselves can be copied on a separate storage medium, which is also a problem.
  • a service for making a print of images based on image data obtained through photographing by, for example, a digital camera is one wherein a customer takes a storage medium (media) storing image data to a photofinisher where image data are outputted as a print, and the print is handed to the customer in exchange for a fixed charge.
  • a customer who utilizes service of this kind does not need to own any specific equipment for making a print of images, and can obtain a print in a simple way as in the case of silver halide photography.
  • the service to make a print from images of a digital camera will take, before wide introduction of the image forming apparatuses, a form wherein pieces of information including image data and order contents are received from customers at plural intermediating stores, for example, through print order receiving apparatuses each having a storage unit, and then, the information are sent to an image forming apparatus installed at a specific location to make prints of desired images so that prints of images may be handed to customers through the intermediating stores where the orders were received.
  • print making processing is made to be started at the moment when a charge for the print order is paid, it is possible to avoid unwanted processing when the print order is canceled by a customer, which is convenient.
  • an object of the invention is to provide an order situation tracing system capable of grasping print order processing situation for images obtained through, for example, a digital camera and a print order receiving apparatus and to provide an image forming apparatus to make it possible to grasp a print order processing situation.
  • the aforesaid backup data include original image data or image data processed based on the aforesaid print order information.
  • processing mentioned above also includes forming of images as they are based on image data without conducting synthesizing, although it can be synthesis of images.
  • the order situation tracing system has therein a control means which inputs information that is outputted from the print order receiving apparatus and shows that a charge relating to the print order has been paid, and if the image forming apparatus starts print making processing when the control means outputs control signals in response to the inputting, it is possible to avoid that processing has already been started when the order is canceled, which is convenient.
  • the output means outputs information relating to the processing situation through a network, it is possible to confirm the current processing situation in, for example, a print order receiving apparatus, which is convenient.
  • the information relating to the processing situation is accessible on Internet web pages, a customer can confirm the current processing situation by accessing the web pages through a personal computer, which is convenient.
  • the print order receiving apparatus has a display means which inputs information relating to the processing situation to display it.
  • the display means is not limited to a display but it can be a printer.
  • the order situation tracing system of the invention comprises a detection means which is connected to at least one print order receiving apparatus capable of outputting image data and print order information and to an image forming apparatus which forms a print based on the print order information outputted from the print order receiving apparatus, and detects processing situation from print order acceptance to the end of printing based on the signals from the print order receiving apparatus and from the image forming apparatus, a storage means which stores backup data relating to print order in accordance with the processing situation, and an output means which outputs information relating to the processing situation detected by the detection means.
  • the order situation tracing system of the invention comprising a detection means which is connected to at least one print order receiving apparatus capable of outputting image data and print order information and to an image forming apparatus which forms a print based on the print order information outputted from the print order receiving apparatus, and detects processing situation from print order receipt to the end of printing based on the signals from the print order receiving apparatus and from the image forming apparatus, a storage means which stores backup data relating to print order in accordance with the processing situation, and an output means which outputs information relating to the processing situation detected by the detection means, makes it possible to grasp the current situation of print making processing, and to continue processing immediately based on backup data stored in the storage means even when processed data are lost by unexpected accident.
  • a order situation tracing system having therein a detection means which is connected with at least one print order receiving apparatus capable of outputting image data and print order information and with an image forming apparatus which forms a print based on print order information outputted from the print order receiving apparatus, and detects the processing situation covering from print order receipt to completion of printing, a storage means which stores backup data relating to print order in accordance with the processing situation, and an output means which outputs information relating to the processing situation detected by the detection means.
  • the order situation tracing system according to Structure 2-1 wherein the backup data include image data processed based on original image data or the print order information.
  • a print order receiving apparatus having a display means which is connected with the print order receiving apparatus described in Structure 2-5 or 2-6, and inputs information relating to the processing situation and displays it.
  • Fig. 1 is a top view of a print order receiving apparatus relating to the first embodiment.
  • Fig. 2 is a diagram showing how print order receiving apparatus 10 relating to the present embodiment and an outer image forming apparatus are connected to each other.
  • Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a print making apparatus (image forming apparatus) relating to the present embodiment.
  • Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of the print making apparatus.
  • Fig. 5 is an example of display on liquid crystal image plane 11.
  • Fig. 6 is an example of display on liquid crystal image plane 11.
  • Fig. 7 is an example of a duplicate of a print order.
  • Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the state of display which is made on liquid crystal image plane 11 by print order receiving apparatus 10 that accessed order data base formed on server 30 by detecting only necessary data.
  • Fig. 9 is an illustration explaining how to detect order situation (processing situation).
  • Fig. 1 is a top view of a print order receiving apparatus relating to the present embodiment.
  • print order receiving apparatus 10 is in a shape of a rectangular plate, and it has liquid crystal image plane 11 of a touch panel type serving as an input means and a display means, on its top surface, and has power supply switch 17 on its side face (lower portion in Fig. 1). Further, on the side (upper portion in Fig. 1) facing the aforesaid side face of the print order receiving apparatus 10, there are formed two openings 12 and 13.
  • Data reading unit (reading means) 14 is formed in the opening 12 and reading/writing unit 15 is formed in the opening 13.
  • the opening 12 freely accepts removable medium C such as, for example, PC card storing image data corresponding to images obtained through photographing by a digital camera, while, the opening 13 freely accepts removable medium M such as, for example, PC card serving as a storage means or a storage medium. It is preferable that removable medium M is greater than removable medium C in terms of storage capacity for each of them under the condition of no stored data, namely, under the condition of empty.
  • removable medium C and removable medium M are not limited to PC card and IC card shown here.
  • Fig. 2 is a diagram showing how print order receiving apparatuses 10, 10' and 10'' relating to the present embodiment and outer image forming apparatuses 20 and 20' are connected to each other.
  • print order receiving apparatus 10 installed in intermediating store A, print order receiving apparatus 10' installed in intermediating store B and print order receiving apparatus 10'' installed in intermediating store C are connected to server 30 through Internet NT, and the server 30, on the other hand, is connected to first image forming apparatus 20 and second image forming apparatus 20'.
  • Print order receiving apparatuses 10 has therein reading unit 14 capable of reading image data from removable medium C inserted in opening 12, reading/writing unit 15 capable of storing image data and print order information which will be stated later in removable medium M inserted in opening 13 and CPU 16 connected to the aforesaid units.
  • the CPU 16 is capable of inputting prescribed information from touch panel type liquid crystal image plane 11 and is capable of displaying prescribed images on the liquid crystal image plane 11 through an unillustrated driver.
  • Print order receiving apparatuses 10 has therein CPU 16, interface 17 of a type of RS-232C or USE which makes it possible to communicate with outer printer 19, and interface (for example, LAN terminal) 18 which makes it possible to communicate between CPU 16 and outer image forming apparatus 20 through Internet NT.
  • the interface 18 may include also a dial-up router. Since the Print order receiving apparatuses 10' and 10'' are of the same structure, detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.
  • Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a print making apparatus (image forming apparatus) relating to the present embodiment.
  • print making apparatus 20 wherein a print is made by exposing and developing a light-sensitive material
  • the invention is not limited to this, and print making apparatuses of an ink jet system and an electrophotographic system, for example, are also acceptable, provided that prints can be made based on image information.
  • a system to use a light-sensitive material is preferable.
  • the second image forming apparatus 20' since the second image forming apparatus 20' has the same structure, its detailed explanation will be omitted here.
  • Print making apparatus 20 in the present embodiment is equipped on the left side of its main body 202 with magazine loading section 203. Inside the main body 202, there are provided exposure processing section 204 which exposes a light-sensitive material representing a storing medium and print making section 205 which processes the exposed light-sensitive material and dries it to make a print, and a print thus made is ejected on tray 206 provided on the right side of the main body 202. Further, control section 207 is provided above the exposure processing section 204 inside the main body 202.
  • CRT 208 which constitutes a display means that displays images of image information from which a print is to be made.
  • film scanner section 209 representing an image reading section which reads a transmission type document
  • reflection type document input apparatus 210 On the right side thereof, there is arranged reflection type document input apparatus 210.
  • a photographic light-sensitive material representing a color negative film, a color reversal film, a black and white negative film and a black and white reversal film, on which the image data obtained through photographing by an analog camera are stored.
  • the image data can be converted by a film scanner of the film scanner section 209 into digital information which is made to be image data.
  • the photographic light-sensitive material is a color photographic paper, it can be made to image data by a flat bed scanner of the reflection type document input apparatus 210.
  • image transmission section 214 At the position of control section 207 of the main body 202, there is provided image transmission section 214. Into the image transmission section 214, it is possible to insert PC card 213a and floppy disk 213b in which image data are stored, in addition to the aforesaid removable medium M (IC card), and image data of the inserted storage medium are read out.
  • PC card 213a and floppy disk 213b in which image data are stored, in addition to the aforesaid removable medium M (IC card), and image data of the inserted storage medium are read out.
  • operation section 211 On the front side of CRT 208, there is arranged operation section 211 which is provided thereon with information input means 212 that is constituted, for example, with a touch panel.
  • main body 202 there is provided storage medium writing section 215, and there is provided writing means K (Fig. 4) for writing image data in a storage medium on magnetic storage media or on optical storage media.
  • a storage medium that stores image data there are actually given removable media such as a multi-media card, a memory stick, MD and CD-ROM, to which, however, the invention is not limited.
  • operation section 211, CRT 208, film scanner section 209, reflection type document input apparatus 210, image transmission section 214 and storage medium writing section 215 are provided solidly on main body 202 to be the structure of the apparatus. However, either one or more of them may also be provided separately.
  • Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of a print making apparatus.
  • Control section 207 of print making apparatus 20 conducts reading of document information coming from film scanner section 209 or from reflection type document input apparatus 210, based on command information from information input means 212, and obtains image information to display it on CRT 208.
  • the print making apparatus 20 has data accumulation means 271 and template storage means 272. It is possible to store image data obtained through reading from removable medium M and print order information (information about frames for printing and about the number of prints to be made, and information about print sizes, which will be explained in detail later) corresponding to the image data in the data accumulation means 271 to accumulate them in succession.
  • Frame images from developed negative film N that is obtained by developing a negative film exposed by an analog camera are inputted from the film scanner section 209, while, frame images from print P that is obtained by printing frame images on a photographic paper to process are inputted from the reflection type document input apparatus 210.
  • the template storage means 272 there are stored, in advance, data of at least one template image for setting a synthesizing area with a background image and data relating to the number corresponding to the aforesaid data.
  • data of at least one template image for setting a synthesizing area with a background image and data relating to the number corresponding to the aforesaid data Through operations of an operator, or based on the number of a template image included in print order information, there is specified a prescribed template image from plural template images stored in the template storage means 272, then, image data are synthesized by the selected template image, and a print is made based on the synthesized image data. This synthesis by the template image is carried out through a Chromakey method which is widely known.
  • the control section 207 has image processing section 270 where image information is image-processed to form image information for exposure which is sent to exposure processing section 204.
  • image processing section 204 a light-sensitive material is exposed to images, then, this light-sensitive material is sent to print making section 205 where the exposed light-sensitive material is processed and dried, thus, a print is made.
  • Image transmission section 214 of the print making apparatus 20 is equipped with reading means 230 which reads image data on removable medium M to transmit and with communication means 240 capable of communicating with server 30.
  • the reading means 230 can read stored image data from removable medium M inserted in the image transmission section 214 and transmit them to the control section 207 composed of a microcomputer.
  • the communication means 240 can input image data accumulated in server 30.
  • Ordinary print P1 is one to make one print from one piece of image data.
  • this ordinary print P1 it is possible to make print P1 in ordinary print size decorated by a photo-frame, by establishing a prescribed synthesizing area in a background image (template image) having a certain pattern, for example, and by composing one frame image with the synthesizing area to be stored.
  • template image template image
  • File print P2 is one to make one large-sized file from plural frame images. Even in the case of this file print P2, it is possible to set synthesizing areas at 3 - 10 locations, for example, on the background image having prescribed patterns, and to synthesize one frame image with each of three synthesizing areas for storage. Further, in the file print P2, it is also possible to store, in the background, perforation lines which make it possible to cut easily and nicely to make a favorite and specific print which can be put in a purse or in a communication-ticket holder.
  • Index print P3 is one to make one print in a prescribed size for all images based on image data, so that the print may be helpful for reordering of prints.
  • this print making apparatus when making prints from images on the developed negative film or on the developed reversal film, the images are scanned by a film scanner of the film scanner section 209 to be converted into digital information, and thereby, a print is made in the same way through control section 207.
  • Print order receiving apparatuses 10, 10' and 10'' relating to the present embodiment may also be installed in convenience stores. Let it be assumed that a customer who desires prints took the removable medium C in which image data corresponding to images obtained through photographing by its digital camera to intermediating store A in this case. Incidentally, any type of removable medium will do provided that the removable medium is a storage medium which is portable and is capable of storing image data. With regard to operations relating to the print order, they are assumed to be conducted by the customer itself in the present embodiment, although they may also be conducted by an operator in the intermediating store.
  • CPU 16 representing a preparation means for preparing order information is initialized to be in the operation state, and it first displays initial images on liquid crystal image plane 11.
  • an unillustrated sensor detects that the removable medium C has been fixed to the position where image data can be read, and transmits the signals which can be read.
  • reading apparatus 14 reads image data stored in removable medium C.
  • CPU 16 can store the image data thus read out in removable medium M first, and can further display all images corresponding to image data stored in removable medium C on an image plane of liquid crystal image plane 11 on an index basis, based on image data read out.
  • thumbnail image data whose amount of data is smaller than that of the full-sized image data are stored in removable medium C for the same image
  • images are displayed based on thumbnail image data in the case of index display.
  • image data whose amount of data is small are not stored, it is also possible to generate image data whose amount of data is small from the full-sized image data read out to display on an index basis.
  • the customer who observes this display selects images for which the customer desires prints by pressing the image plane of liquid crystal image plane 11. In this case, if a color of the frame, for example, for the image pressed on liquid crystal image plane 11 is changed by CPU 16, the selected image can be recognized at a glance, which is convenient.
  • CPU 16 displays the template image stored (thinned-out image data relating to fine template image, hereinafter referred to as thinned-out image data) and the number corresponding thereto on an index basis.
  • the customer who observes this display selects a template image which is desired by the customer to be synthesized with an image of a subject by pressing an image plane of liquid crystal image plane 11.
  • the selected image can be recognized at a glance, which is convenient.
  • the number 9 which instructs not to synthesize with a template image has only to be pressed.
  • CPU 16 When the customer presses "NEXT" button lla (see Fig. 5) displayed at the lower portion on the right side on liquid crystal image plane 11 after completion of the selection, CPU 16 synthesizes thumbnail image data of images of a subject with thinned-out image data, and displays the synthesized image on liquid crystal image plane 11 as shown in Fig. 6 based on the synthesizing data. Since any data serving as sub-information is small in terms of a volume, time required for synthesizing processing is short, and large memory is not needed for synthesizing.
  • Sub-information in this case means thumbnail image data and the following information.
  • the customer can draw images G1 and G2 in desired color and shape on liquid crystal image plane 11 by the use of touch pen TP.
  • the images G1 and G2 thus drawn are inputted in CPU 16 through liquid crystal image plane 11 of a touch panel type, and are displayed on liquid crystal image plane 11.
  • CPU 16 can convert the image G2 into character data by the use of OCR function and it can also display. Since the OCR function is well-known, its details will not be described below.
  • the synthesized image is displayed on liquid crystal image plane 11 in the form of final print made by image forming apparatus 20. Therefore, the customer can confirm the finish at a glance, thus, it is possible to make prints which more satisfy demands of users.
  • the liquid crystal image plane 11 displays contents of the order (not shown) for confirmation. So, the user who desires no change presses NEXT button 11a as a confirmation operation.
  • CPU 16 representing an output means judges that the operations for confirming print order have been done, and conducts the following operations.
  • CPU 16 stores all information about the order in removable medium M. Namely, removable disk M is used as a hard disk.
  • the information about the order includes, for example, the following.
  • CPU 16 reads a part of information about the order out of removable medium M, and transmits data to printer 19 through interface 17 to make the printer to print an order duplicate shown in Fig. 7.
  • order duplicate there are described information about an intermediating store (name, address and phone number) D1, information about a customer (date of order, receipt number, name and phone number) D2, information about details of charges for prints D3 and information about date of finish D4.
  • a rough synthesizing image may also be formed on the order duplicate based on synthesizing data of thumbnail image data of subject images and thinned-out image data.
  • the order duplicate of this kind is received and taken back by the customer, and then, is brought to the store when prints are finished to be exchanged for the prints together with charges.
  • the printer 19 can output also a duplicate about an intermediating store and a duplicate on the part of image forming apparatus 20.
  • CPU 16 communicates with server 30 through interface 18 and Internet NT, and transmits information necessary for prints which are read out of removable medium M.
  • information necessary for prints include main information composed of image raw data, the number of a template image to be synthesized and a synthesizing position, image data relating to handwritten images G1 and G2 (or, character data including a font and a size), synthesizing information in a text form composed of synthesizing position and a rate of magnification and order information relating to the number of prints.
  • image raw data and fine template image data are not synthesized on the part of print order receiving apparatus 10, and therefore, time for synthesizing is not necessary, a memory with large capacity for synthesizing is not necessary, and communication time is shortened to reduce communication cost.
  • a clerk of the intermediating store A can input a key code composed of prescribed alphanumeric characters from print order receiving apparatus 10 through liquid crystal image plane 11.
  • the print order receiving apparatus 10 sends information about collected charges to server 30.
  • the server 30 representing a control means starts processing of data synthesizing. Therefore, when a customer cancels its print order, or when a wrong print order is sent, excessive processing can be avoided.
  • the server 30 wherein fine template image data are stored in advance conducts synthesizing with image raw data based on the number and the position of synthesizing both transmitted, and further conducts synthesizing with image data relating to handwritten image data. Though such synthesizing of image data is considered to take a considerable period of time, it is possible to conduct processing through, for example, an automatic operation at night.
  • the image data thus synthesized are sent to first image forming apparatus 20 or to second image forming apparatus 20' from the server 30, so that prints are made.
  • the prints outputted from the image forming apparatus 20 or 20' are transported to intermediating store A to be handed finally to the customer.
  • the first image forming apparatus 20 for example, conducts synthesizing by using highly fine template images
  • the second image forming apparatus 20' conducts synthesizing by using ordinary fine template images.
  • the server 30 judges, based on the template number of synthesizing information, that synthesizing with highly fine template images is desired, the server 30 can transmit image data to the first image forming apparatus 20 to make it to form images
  • the server 30 judges that synthesizing with ordinary fine template images is desired
  • the server 30 can transmit image data to the second image forming apparatus 20' to make it to form images efficiently.
  • first image forming apparatus 20 and the second image forming apparatus 20' in accordance with customers requests, by using, for example, the first image forming apparatus 20 to form images on paper for exclusive use and by using the second image forming apparatus 20' to form images on cloth.
  • Print order receiving apparatus 10 can input information concerning order situation from server 30 through Internet NT in the mode stated below.
  • server 30 representing a detection means detects whether print order has been received based on signals from the print order receiving apparatus 10 or not, whether prints have been completed based on signals from image forming apparatus 20 or not, and whether the prints have been sent to an intermediating store or not, for each print order, and it stores these information in order data base formed in the server 30 representing a storage means.
  • Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the situation wherein print order receiving apparatus 10 that accessed order data base formed on server 30 extracts necessary data based on detection items inputted by an operator and displays the necessary data outputted from the server 30 representing an output means on liquid crystal image plane 11.
  • a detection item On the detection item, a name of an orderer and the date of order can be added or changed at any time.
  • the displayed print order in the first line it is understood, by confirming "ORDER STATE MONITOR", that prints have been completed but they have not been sent out.
  • the print order in the second line it is understood, by confirming "Order state monitor” in the same way, that prints have not been completed yet.
  • the server 30 can make the order situation to be accessible on Internet web pages.
  • each customer can confirm immediately its print order situation on its own personal computer even when print order receiving apparatus 10 is not available, which is convenient.
  • a key word is allocated to each customer, it is possible to transmit the current state for only the print order of the customer based on the key word inputted by the customer, which protects privacy.
  • the server 30 preserves backup data for each processing step. For example, in the case of receiving print orders, image data sent by print order receiving apparatus 10 and synthesizing information including the template number are preserved as backup data. Then, after the image data are synthesized, image data after the synthesizing are preserved as backup data. Though these backup data are erased simultaneously with completion of sending of prints, they may also be preserved in another recording medium. If the state of preservation of backup data is stored in an order data base stored in server 30, it is possible to confirm existence of backup data promptly, which is further convenient.
  • Fig. 9 a center Web server is connected between print order receiving apparatus 10 and server 30 in Fig. 1, which is a difference between Fig. 9 and Fig. 1.
  • each print order receiving apparatus 10 (or 10' or 10'') information necessary for print is sent to a center Web server, then, the center Web server thaws automatically its compressed file to divide it into an image file and an order information file, and from the order information file, the following information and information expressing the status of "END OF ORDER RECEIVING" which means that the order has arrived safely from the print order receiving apparatus are made to be text file and are stored as the revised data in the data base in the center Web server.
  • the center Web server sends the compressed file to server 30.
  • the server 30 thaws the received file, and from the thawed image data and order information file, images for print output are synthesized in accordance with the transmitted order information file by image forming apparatus 20, to be printed out by a prescribed digital printer.
  • the print thus printed out is checked by an operator so that printing is completed, and by transmitting to the server 30 that packing for forwarding to a customer has been completed (for example, to inform the server 30 of completion of forwarding, by inputting characters of "COMPLETION OF FORWARDING" on order control PC, or by reading the bar-code printed on a package for forwarding with a bar-code reader, when packing for forwarding is completed), the server 30 uploads automatically the information file expressing the status of "COMPLETION OF FORWARDING" on the center Web server, for the order. On the part of the center Web server, the up-loaded information file is opened, and the status information relating to the forwarding for the order is up-dated as "COMPLETION OF FORWARDING" on the data base in the center Web server.
  • a customer entering order tracing content on the center Web can observe the data base up-dated constantly, and can monitor its own order situation (whether the order has arrived or not, and whether forwarding has been completed or not).
  • a print order receiving apparatus is not limited to the one shown in Fig. 1, and it may also be one like a personal computer or PDA, for example.
  • An order situation tracing system of the invention is connected with at least one print order receiving apparatus capable of outputting image data and print order information and with an image forming apparatus which forms a print based on print order information outputted from the aforesaid print order receiving apparatus, and has therein a detection means which detects the processing situation covering from print order receipt to completion of printing based on signals coming from the print order receiving apparatus and the image forming apparatus, a storage means which stores backup data relating to the print order in accordance with the processing situation and an output means which outputs information relating to the processing situation detected by the detection means. Therefore, it is possible to grasp the current progress of the print making processing, and even when the processed data are lost by an unexpected accident, processing can be continued immediately based on the backup data stored in the storage means, which is a point of advantage.

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EP00308261A 1999-09-22 2000-09-21 Bestellzustandsverfolgungs- und Druckauftragsempfangssystem Withdrawn EP1087287A3 (de)

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JP26820299 1999-09-22
JP26820299 1999-09-22

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EP1087287A2 true EP1087287A2 (de) 2001-03-28
EP1087287A3 EP1087287A3 (de) 2005-03-16

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110238807A (zh) * 2012-06-12 2019-09-17 实耐宝公司 用于自动化工具控制系统的工具塑造
CN112948044A (zh) * 2021-03-10 2021-06-11 深圳市优擎信息科技有限公司 看板使用激活授权方法、装置、计算机设备及存储介质

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JPH1195952A (ja) * 1997-04-28 1999-04-09 Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd 写真プリンタのドライバプログラムを記録したコンピュータ読み取り可能な記録媒体

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110238807A (zh) * 2012-06-12 2019-09-17 实耐宝公司 用于自动化工具控制系统的工具塑造
CN112948044A (zh) * 2021-03-10 2021-06-11 深圳市优擎信息科技有限公司 看板使用激活授权方法、装置、计算机设备及存储介质
CN112948044B (zh) * 2021-03-10 2022-12-02 深圳市优擎信息科技有限公司 看板使用激活授权方法、装置、计算机设备及存储介质

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