JP2001209699A - Contents distribution system, server, output device and accounting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the print service of a contents distribution type by a network without restricting an information requesting place and the place of receiving the print service. SOLUTION: A portal site computer 2 is provided with a utilization member registration processing part 2A for performing utilization member registration processing and registering a utilization member corresponding to a utilization member registration request from a portable terminal 3, a utilization member file 2B, a user authentication processing part 2C for performing utilization reservation processing from the portable terminal 3, the transmission of a user reservation ID to an information providing undertaker computer 4, contents introduction, the reception of a link parameter from the information providing trader computer 4 and utilization reservation by performing user authentication processing and a utilization reservation information reception processing part 2D for performing the link parameter acquisition processing of a user, the setting processing of the utilization contents of advertisements and distribution contents according to the link parameter and the updating processing of utilization reservation information, etc.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content distribution system for distributing content, a charging system for performing charging at the time of content distribution, a server applied to the content distribution system, and an output device for content distribution.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, with the spread of digital cameras, print services for printing photographed data have become widespread. In addition, service environments for providing content to communication terminal users using a communication network have become widespread, and print services via the communication network have also been provided. Such conventional print service modes are classified into the following types.

[0006] A form in which print data is brought into a print shop and a paid print service is received. In this case, the contents (print data) for which the print service can be received are limited, and the print service is a fixed-rate print service.

A form in which contents are printed by a network search of a multimedia terminal installed in a store or the like In this case, this is a print service in which the place of information search is limited.

A form in which designated information is received from a facsimile information service by a facsimile machine in this case. In this case, the print service is limited to print media.

A form in which a print service is received from a user's personal computer or the like via the Internet In this case, the print service is a print service in which print locations are limited.

[0007] A form in which image data and the like brought by a user are printed on the spot by a dedicated print service machine installed in a store or the like. In this case, the print service is limited to printable contents.

As described above, in the print service modes (1) to (6), any one of an information search place, a print place, a print content, a print medium, and a usage fee is limited.

A conventional print accounting system applicable to a print service using a network has also been proposed. In such a print accounting system, accounting for each department in a company is assumed, and the number of prints, The number of printing surfaces, printing time, toner and fonts required for printing, and the like are charged for print data.

[0010]

However, in the above-described conventional print service mode, the information retrieval location,
Since any one of print place, print content, print medium, usage fee, and the like is limited, the following problems (1) to (5) occur. (1) Print service where information search location is limited In a print service such as a multimedia terminal, the information search location is limited, so that a user goes to a location that provides the print service if there is no actual print request. Often not. For this reason, print service providers need to appeal to users about the contents of the print service.For example, advertising costs for advertising activities are incurred, and the types and amount of services that can be provided are limited. Become.

[0011] In addition, for a print service provider, if the information search location is limited, there are many cases where the information search is performed only and the print service is not finally connected. This had a major impact on the profitability of print services, such as the loss of opportunities for users. (2) Print service where print location is limited The Internet information search service using a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone is not limited in location such as information search while moving, but the size and weight are limited when carrying a printer. In addition, mobile phones and the like do not originally have a printing function.

[0012] Furthermore, since there is no print service provider for portable information terminals such as portable telephones, it is not possible to receive print services at locations close to the information retrieved while traveling with portable telephones. (3) Print service with limited print media Although mobile information terminals such as mobile phones are provided with mobile contents with high real-time properties, the amount of information and the amount of information may vary depending on the screen size of the terminals and the performance of communication infrastructure. They cannot receive high-visual images, etc., and their content is limited.

[0013] In addition, a dedicated print service machine that does not have a network information search function performs printing within a range of content prepared in advance, and the type of content that can be provided is limited. (4) Print Service with Limited Print Medium In the print service for contents distributed from a network, the print medium is determined in advance by the contents and the printing apparatus, and is provided according to the print medium arbitrarily selected by the user. Print service does not currently exist.

The printing medium includes plain paper, a refill of a system organizer, a print sticker, a card, a postcard, a poster, and the like. The printing medium varies depending on a print size, a printing material, a printing form, and the like. Further, there is no print service such as a sticker, a card, a refill of a system notebook, or the like, which prints a print medium having a plurality of print surfaces on a single printed material or prints a content in accordance with a print medium in which each surface needs to be printed. (5) Print service usage fee is limited The usage fee of the print service of the content distributed from the network cannot be established by a fixed fee system in a print shop or the like.

[0015] The usage fee of the print service is greatly affected by the content fee provided, and the cost of the print medium and the toner cost of color printing also vary greatly depending on the content. Further, in consideration of a case where a plurality of contents are printed on one print medium, a mechanism for calculating a usage fee in a print service of contents distributed from a network is newly required.

On the other hand, in a print billing system using a network, a mechanism for calculating a bill based on print data, such as the number of prints, the number of printed pages, the printing time, the amount of toner used, and the font used, has been considered. Have a problem.

[0017] A content fee that is relatively high in the cost of using the print service is not charged. There is no mechanism for calculating and charging the printing cost for each printed material. There is no mechanism for charging for the completion of printing for each printed material. Since the accounting is performed based on the print data, the amount of data transferred to the print service terminal increases. The form of using the prepaid print service is not charged.

Although a mechanism for calculating the charge from the amount of toner used in the printing machine has been considered, a mechanism for charging the printing cost after the printing is completed is not suitable for the operation of the prepaid print service.

An object of the present invention is to provide a content distribution type print service by a network in which a place for requesting information and a place for receiving a print service are not restricted.

[0020]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 uses an information terminal (for example, the portable terminal 3 in FIG. 1) to transmit contents to a network (for example, the Internet S in FIG. 1). ), A print reservation is made by a server (for example, the portal site computer 2 in FIG. 1), and the print reserved content is output to an arbitrary output device (for example,
In a content distribution system (for example, the print service system 100 in FIG. 1) for printing out from the print station 6) in FIG. 1, the information terminal accesses a print reservation homepage established on a server on the network. Communication means (for example, the wireless communication control unit 34 in FIG. 6) for making a print reservation of desired content on the homepage, the server opens the print reservation homepage on the network, Management means (for example, CPU 21 in FIG. 5) for managing the usage charge balance for each ID, and when a desired content is reserved for printing on the homepage by the information terminal, the reservation information is stored in the user ID of the information terminal. The corresponding amount is stored and the difference between the usage fee balance and the content printing fee is stored. Storage means for storing a purchase amount information corresponding to the content (e.g., storage of FIG. 5 device 2
6) and receiving the user ID transmitted from the output device, referring to the reservation information and the purchase price information stored in the storage means based on the user ID, and corresponding content and purchase corresponding to the content. Communication means (for example, the Internet transmission control unit 24 in FIG. 5) for transmitting the amount information to the output device, wherein the output device is an input device for inputting a user ID (for example, the input unit 6 in FIG. 7).
3) and a cash input device (for example, the coin input device 69 in FIG. 7) for inputting cash, transmitting the user ID input from the input device to the server, and transmitting the content transmitted from the server. And a communication unit (for example, the Internet transmission control unit 64 in FIG. 7) for receiving the purchase amount information corresponding to the content, and inputting the amount corresponding to the purchase amount information received by the communication unit in cash from the cash input device. And printing means for printing the received content (for example, the printing device 68 in FIG. 7).

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content distribution system for making a print reservation of a content at a server on a network using an information terminal, and printing out the reserved content from an arbitrary output device. ,
The information terminal accesses a print reservation homepage established on a server on the network by communication means, makes a print reservation of desired content on the homepage, and the server makes the print reservation homepage on the network. The management means manages the usage fee balance for each user ID of the information terminal, and the storage means, when the desired content is reserved for printing on the homepage by the information terminal, transmits the reservation information to the information terminal. Storing corresponding to the user ID, storing the difference between the usage fee balance and the content printing fee as purchase price information corresponding to the content, and receiving the user ID transmitted from the output device by the communication unit; Referring to the reservation information and the purchase price information stored in the storage means based on the user ID, Transmitting the content to be purchased and the purchase price information corresponding to the content to the output device, wherein the output device includes an input device for inputting a user ID and a cash input device for inputting cash, and a communication unit is provided with the input device. Sends the user ID input from the server to the server,
The content transmitted from the server and the purchase price information corresponding to the content are received, and the printing unit receives the cash amount from the cash input device when the money amount that matches the purchase price information received by the communication unit is received. Print the selected content.

Therefore, the desired content reserved for printing from a mobile information terminal such as a mobile phone or a PHS having a communication function to a server on the network is printed by an output device installed near the user. Since it is possible to acquire the content, a content delivery type print service in which the content request location and the print location are separated can be provided.

Further, since the difference between the usage fee balance and the content printing fee is used as the purchase price information corresponding to the content, an electronic billing system for promoting the use of the content can be provided.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, an information terminal (for example, the portable terminal 3 in FIG. 1) and an output device (for example,
A server (for example, the portal site computer 2 in FIG. 1) connected to the print station 6 in FIG. 1, establishes a print reservation homepage on the network, and stores a usage charge balance for each user ID of the information terminal. When a desired content is reserved for printing on the homepage by the information terminal, the reservation information is stored in correspondence with the user ID of the information terminal, and the managing means (for example, the CPU 21 of FIG. 5) manages the reservation information. Storage means for storing the difference between the usage fee balance and the content printing fee as purchase price information corresponding to the content (for example, FIG.
Storage device 26) and the user ID transmitted from the output device, and refers to the reservation information and the purchase price information stored in the storage unit based on the user ID, and stores the corresponding content and the content. Communication means (for example, the Internet transmission control unit 24 in FIG. 5) for transmitting the corresponding purchase price information to the output device.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a server connected to the information terminal and the output device via a network, wherein a print reservation homepage is established on the network, and a management means is provided for the information terminal. The user fee balance is managed for each user ID, and when the desired content is reserved for printing on the homepage by the information terminal, the storage means stores the reservation information corresponding to the user ID of the information terminal. The difference between the usage fee balance and the content printing fee is stored as purchase price information corresponding to the content, and the communication unit receives the user ID transmitted from the output device, and stores the received user ID in the storage unit based on the user ID. Refers to the reserved information and the purchase price information, and outputs the corresponding content and the purchase price information corresponding to the content. To send to the location.

Therefore, a desired content reserved for printing from a mobile information terminal such as a mobile phone or a PHS having a communication function to a server on a network is delivered to an output device installed near the user. And an electronic billing system for promoting the use of the content.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an output device (for example, the print station of FIG. 1) connected to a server (for example, the portal site computer 2 of FIG. 1) via a network (for example, the Internet S of FIG. 1). 6), input means for inputting a user ID (for example, an input unit in FIG. 7), cash input means for inputting cash (for example, a coin input device 69 in FIG. 7), and input from the input means. Communication means for transmitting the user ID to the server and receiving the content transmitted from the server and the purchase price information corresponding to the content (for example, FIG.
Internet transmission control unit 64) and a printing unit (for example, FIG. 3) that prints the received content when an amount corresponding to the purchase amount information received by the communication unit is input by cash from the cash input unit. 7 printing device 6
8).

[0028] According to the invention of claim 16, there is provided an output device connected to the server via a network, wherein the communication means transmits the user ID input from the input means to the server, Upon receiving the content and the purchase price information corresponding to the content transmitted from the server, the printing unit receives the cash amount from the cash input unit when the price matching the purchase price information received by the communication unit is received. Print the selected content.

Therefore, an output device installed in a place close to the user receives desired content reserved for printing from a server on a network from an information terminal having a communication function such as a mobile phone or a PHS while moving from the server. Can be printed.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, a user (for example, a portal site computer shown in FIG. 1) on a network (for example, the Internet S in FIG. 1) can use an information terminal (for example, the portable terminal 3 in FIG. 1). When the content reserved for printing in 2) is printed out from an output device (for example, the print station 6 in FIG. 1), accounting information corresponding to the printing of the content is calculated and stored for the user, and the accounting information is stored. Is a billing system that enables printing of content when the payment is made by the output device,
The information terminal includes a communication unit (for example, the wireless communication control unit 34 in FIG. 6) for accessing a print reservation homepage established on a server on the network and performing print reservation of desired content on the homepage. The server establishes the print reservation homepage on the network, stores a usage charge balance for each user ID of the information terminal, and, when a desired content is reserved for printing on the homepage by the information terminal, Storage means for storing the reservation information corresponding to the user ID of the information terminal, and for storing the difference between the usage fee balance and the content printing fee as purchase price information corresponding to the content (for example, the storage device 26 in FIG. 5). ) And a user ID transmitted from the output device, and based on the user ID, the storage means Referring to purchase amount information and the stored reservation information, the corresponding content, and a communication unit for transmitting to an output device purchase amount information corresponding to the content (e.g., Internet transmission control unit 24 of FIG. 5),
When the communication unit receives a print output completion from the output device, the updating unit updates the usage fee balance stored for each user ID of the information terminal (for example, C in FIG. 5).
PU21), and the output device includes an input device for inputting a user ID (for example, the input unit 63 in FIG. 7) and a cash input device for inputting cash (for example, the coin input device 69 in FIG. 7). Transmitting the user ID input from the input device to the server, receiving the content transmitted from the server and the purchase price information corresponding to the content, and transmitting the completion of the printout of the content to the server Communication means (for example, the Internet transmission control unit 64 in FIG. 7), and when the money amount corresponding to the purchase amount information received by this communication means is inserted in cash from the cash input device, the received content is deleted. And a printing unit for printing (for example, the printing device 68 of FIG. 7).

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, when the content reserved for printing by the user on the server on the network is printed out from the output device using the information terminal, the accounting information corresponding to the content printing is output. A billing system for calculating and storing the billing information corresponding to the user, and enabling printing of the contents when the billing information is settled by the output device, wherein the information terminal has a communication unit established on a server on the network. Accessing the designated print reservation homepage, and making a print reservation of desired content on the homepage, the server opens the print reservation homepage on the network, and the storage means uses the information terminal for each user ID of the information terminal. When the desired content is reserved for printing on the homepage by the information terminal, the charge balance is stored. The reservation information of the information terminal user ID
And stores the difference between the usage fee balance and the content printing fee as purchase price information corresponding to the content, and the communication means receives the user ID transmitted from the output device, and Refers to the reservation information and the purchase price information stored in the storage means based on the ID, transmits the corresponding content and the purchase price information corresponding to the content to the output device, and receives a print output completion from the output device. Then, the update means updates the usage fee balance stored for each user ID of the information terminal, the output device includes an input device for inputting a user ID and a cash input device for inputting cash, A communication unit that transmits the user ID input from the input device to the server, and that corresponds to the content and the content transmitted from the server; When the deposit amount information is received and the completion of the printout of the content is transmitted to the server, if the amount matching the purchase amount information received by the printing unit by the communication unit is inserted in cash from the cash input device, Print the received content.

Therefore, the desired content reserved for printing from the information terminal having a communication function, such as a mobile phone or a PHS, is reserved for printing on a server on the network by using an output device installed near the user. It is possible to provide an effective accounting system in a content delivery type print service that can acquire and obtain a content request location and a print location.

The billing system stores and manages the difference between the usage fee balance and the content printing fee as purchase price information corresponding to the content, and updates the usage fee balance when the printing of the content is completed. In addition, an electronic use coupon can be easily provided to the user in order to promote the use of the content.

[0034]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 36 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a print service system to which the present invention is applied. First, the configuration will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a print service system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, a print service system 100 includes a portal site computer 2 connected to a communication carrier 1 via a dedicated line T, and a plurality of communication services such as a mobile phone and a PHS connected to a communication network N. It comprises a plurality of mobile terminals 3, a plurality of information provider business computers 4 connected to the Internet S, an advertisement site business computer 5, and print stations 6 installed at a plurality of locations.

FIG. 1 shows a case where three portable terminals 3, two information provider computers 4, and three print stations 6 are connected. The number of installation locations is not particularly limited.
In addition, a plurality of advertisement site company computers 5 may be connected.

The communication company 1 includes a portable terminal 3 connected to the communication network N, a portal site computer 2, an information provider computer 4, an advertising site company computer 5, and a print station 6 connected to the Internet S. And a communication environment related to the print service, and controls a data communication procedure and the like according to a communication request between the respective parties.

The print service system 1 shown in FIG.
00, an outline of each control function of the portal site computer 2, the mobile terminal 3, the information provider computer 4, the advertising site provider computer 5, and the print station 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. Will be explained.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of control functions of the portable terminal 3 and the information provider computer 4.

In FIG. 2, the portable terminal 3 executes a user member registration process (see FIG. 20) described later and accesses the portal site computer 2 to perform a print service member registration process. When the print service is used, the e-mail function unit 3B that receives the guidance of the use coupon and the guidance of the use fee from the portal site computer 2 and the use reservation registration process (see FIGS. 23 and 24) to be described later are executed. A use reservation processing unit 3C for reserving the use of the print service via the portal site computer 2 or directly to the information provider computer 4;

In FIG. 2, the information provider computer 4 executes a content use guidance process (see FIG. 26), which will be described later, and receives the user reservation ID of the user who has reserved the use via the portal site computer 2. When this is done, it has a content use guidance processing unit 2A for transmitting link parameters for the use reservation to the portal site computer 2 to authenticate the user, and a content file 2B for storing content data related to the print service.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of control functions of the print station 6 and the advertisement site company computer 5.

In FIG. 3, the print station 6
Executes the usage reservation information printing process (see FIGS. 30 and 31) described below to access the portal site computer 2 and authenticate the usage reservation user, fetch the usage reservation information, and execute the content history file and print format file. Reservation information print processing unit 6A that performs the import processing, the content and advertisement print processing, and the coupon amount calculation processing, and the print format file 6B, the content file 6C, and the advertisement content used by the use reservation information print processing unit 6A. It has a file 6D and a use reservation information file 6E.

The advertisement site business computer 5 executes an advertisement content registration process (FIG. 35), which will be described later, creates an advertisement content in which various usage conditions are set, and registers the advertisement content in the advertisement content file 5B. And an advertisement content file 5B used by the advertisement content registration processing unit 5A.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an outline of a control function of the portal site computer 2.

In FIG. 4, the portal site computer 2 executes a user member registration process (see FIGS. 21 and 22), which will be described later, and performs a user member information registration process in response to a user member registration request from the portable terminal 3. A user member registration processing unit 2A, a user member file 2B (see FIG. 8) used by the user member registration processing unit 2A, and a user authentication process (see FIG. 25) to be described later executed to reserve a use from the mobile terminal 3. A user authentication processing unit 2C that performs processing, transmission of a user reservation ID to the information provider computer 4 and content introduction processing, reception of link parameters from the information provider computer 4 and use reservation processing, etc .; Executes reception processing (FIGS. 27 and 28) to acquire link parameters from the user authentication processing section 2C, Setting processing of the distribution content and advertising use content-based, and a use reservation information reception processing unit 2D to perform the update processing of use reservation information.

Further, the portal site computer 2
A print content generation process (see FIG. 29), which will be described later, is executed to check the content update history and the content download process from the information provider computer 4, and to use the distribution content and advertisement set by the use reservation information reception processing unit 2D. A print content generation processing unit 2E that executes a print content generation process based on the contents, a usage fee notification process to the mobile terminal 3, and the like, and a usage reservation information reception processing unit 2
The use reservation information file 2F (see FIG. 9) and the print service unit price file 2G (see FIG. 9) used by D, the print format file 2H (see FIG. 10) and the content history file 2I used by the print content generation processing unit 2E.
(See FIG. 10).

Also, the portal site computer 2
By executing the use reservation information printing process (see FIGS. 32 and 33) described later, the transmission process of the use reservation information in response to the use reservation information request from the print station 6, the user history, the content use history, and the advertisement posting history are performed. A use reservation information print processing unit 2J that performs each update process and the like, and a user history file 2K (FIG. 1) used by the use reservation information print processing unit 2J.
1), the content usage history file 2L (see FIG. 12), and the advertisement posting history file (see FIG. 13), and the advertisement content distribution process (see FIG. 34) described later (see FIG. 34). An advertisement content distribution processing unit 2N that receives the advertisement content in response to the advertisement distribution request, determines the distribution area, the advertisement publication condition, and the like based on the usage conditions set for the advertisement content, and distributes the advertisement content; An advertisement content file 20 (see FIG. 14) used by the advertisement content distribution processing unit 2N.

Next, the respective internal configurations of the portal site computer 2, the mobile terminal 3, the information provider computer 4, the advertising site provider computer 5, and the print station 6 constituting the print service system 100 shown in FIG. Will be described.

As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 5, the portal site computer 2 includes a CPU 21, a display unit 22, an input unit 23, an Internet transmission control unit 24, a RAM 2
5, the storage device 26, the storage medium 27, and the dedicated line transmission control unit 28, and each unit except the storage medium 27 is connected to the bus 29.

The portal site computer 2 displays the contents of the print service provided by the information provider computer 4 and the advertising site provider computer 5 connected to the Internet S on the portable terminal 3. Of the print service portal site page is displayed on the portable terminal 3 accessed via the communication carrier 1, and the request contents (contents) of the print service are transmitted from the portable terminal 3. It has a portal site function related to print services, such as accepting and issuing a one-time password for confirming the print reservation.

That is, the portal site computer 2
As described in the outline of the control function in FIG. 4, the user member registration processing unit 2A and the user authentication processing unit 2C
, A usage reservation information reception processing unit 2D, a print content generation processing unit 2E, a usage reservation information print processing unit 2J, and an advertisement content distribution processing unit 2N. These control functions are mainly performed by the CP in the portal site computer 2.
This is realized by the following program processing executed in U21.

CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21
Executes a user member registration process (see FIGS. 21 and 22), which will be described later, in order to provide a user member registration function for a print service to the mobile terminal 3 accessed via the communication carrier 1.

In the use member registration process, the CPU 2
1. When a member registration menu is selected from the menu screen transmitted in response to the access request from the mobile terminal 3, a member registration screen is transmitted, and when a new registration is selected from the member registration screen, the member Perform new registration of information,
When the correction of the registration information is selected, the corresponding registration information is read and the correction is performed according to the instruction content.

The CPU 21 executes a user authentication process (see FIG. 25) described later in response to a print service use reservation request from the information provider computer 4.

In this user authentication process, the CPU 21
Obtains the link parameter from the information provider computer 4, performs the authentication process using the user member file if the user reservation ID and the mobile user ID are set in the link parameter, and obtains the user reservation ID and the mobile user ID.
If is not set, after obtaining the mobile user ID from the communication carrier 1 and performing authentication processing, obtain the user reservation ID from the user member file and transmit the link destination menu information of the usage content to the mobile terminal 3, The user reservation ID is linked to the content site selected by the mobile terminal 3 as a parameter.

The CPU 21 executes a later-described use reservation information receiving process (see FIGS. 27 and 28) based on the link parameters acquired in the user authentication process.

In the use reservation information receiving process, the CP
U21 executes the setting processing of the use contents of the distribution content and the advertisement, the update processing of the use reservation information, and the like based on the acquired link parameter.

The CPU 21 executes a print content generation process (see FIG. 29), which will be described later, based on the use reservation information updated in the use reservation information reception process.

In the print content generation process, C
The PU 21 checks the content update history from the information provider computer 4 based on the updated usage reservation information, prints the content based on the distribution content set in the content download processing, and the usage content of the advertisement set in the usage reservation information reception processing. , A usage fee notification process for the portable terminal 3, and the like.

The CPU 21 executes a later-described use reservation information printing process (see FIGS. 32 and 33) in response to a use reservation information request from the print station 6.

In the use reservation information printing process, the CP
U21 executes the transmission processing of the usage reservation information in response to the usage reservation information request from the print station 6, and updates the user history, the content usage history, and the advertisement posting history.

The CPU 21 executes an advertisement content distribution process (see FIG. 34) described below in response to an advertisement distribution request from the advertisement site company computer 5.

In the advertisement content distribution process, C
The PU 21 receives the advertisement content in response to the advertisement distribution request from the advertisement site company computer 5, and determines the distribution area, the advertisement publication condition, and the like based on the usage conditions set for the advertisement content, and distributes the advertisement content. I do.

Further, the CPU 21 executes an advertisement content registration process (see FIG. 36), which will be described later, based on the advertisement content transmitted from the advertisement site company computer 5.

In the top advertisement content registration process, C
The PU 21 executes the registration confirmation process and the update process based on the advertisement content received from the advertisement site company computer 5, and sets the advertisement coupon amount, the user content classification, the posting restriction, and the like for the update target advertisement content. Do.

The display section 22 is a CRT (Cathode Ray Tub).
e) and a screen display based on the display data input from the CPU 21 by a liquid crystal display device or the like.

The input unit 23 includes a keyboard having cursor keys, numeric input keys, various function keys, and the like, and a mouse as a pointing device. The input unit 23 outputs to the CPU 21 a signal indicating a key pressed by the keyboard. An operation signal from the mouse is output to the CPU 21.

The Internet transmission control unit 24 includes a modem (MOdulator / DEModulator) and a terminal adapter (Te
rminal Adapter) or a router or the like, and communication control for performing communication with each of the plurality of information provider computers 4, the information provider computer 5, and the plurality of print stations 6 connected to the Internet S. I do.

The RAM (Random Access Memory) 25
It has a program storage area for storing programs executed by the CPU 21 and various application programs, and a work area for temporarily storing input instructions, input data, processing results, and the like.

The storage device 26 has a storage medium 27 in which programs, data and the like are stored in advance, and this storage medium 27 is constituted by a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. The storage medium 27 is fixedly provided in the storage device 26 or is detachably mounted. The storage medium 27 includes various application programs corresponding to the portal site computer 2, a use member registration processing program, It stores an authentication processing program, a usage reservation information reception processing program, a print content generation processing program, a usage reservation information printing processing program, an advertisement content distribution processing program, an advertisement content registration processing program, data processed by each processing program, and the like.

The programs, data, and the like stored in the storage medium 27 are partially or wholly received from another device such as a server or a client from the Internet transmission control unit 24 via a transmission medium such as a network line. The storage medium 27 may be a storage medium of a server constructed on a network. Further, the program may be configured to be transmitted to a server or a client via a transmission medium such as a network line and installed in these devices.

The storage device 26 has various memory areas related to the print service. As shown in FIG. 4, the use member file 2B, the use reservation information file 2F, the print service unit price file 2G, the print format file 2H, Content history file 2I, user history file 2K,
It has a content usage history file 2L, an advertisement posting history file 2M, and an advertisement content file 20.

The user member file 2B stores user member information for each user of the portable terminal 3 using the print service, and as the storage items, as shown in FIG. 8, a user member code, a user reservation ID, a mobile user ID, user I
D (mobile phone number), password, name, gender, date of birth, postal code, address, E-mail address, occupation category, motive for joining, introduction cell phone number, registration date, registration coupon amount, introduction coupon amount , Ad coupon amount,
Survey coupon amount, usage coupon balance, reservation printing service fee, reservation information service fee, coin insertion amount when using,
Set next time coupon amount.

Here, the admission coupon amount is automatically set as a service for the user from the portal site computer 2 at the time of admission, and the introduction coupon amount is the portal site computer when the other user is introduced. This is the coupon amount automatically added as a service from the second party to the referral member.

The advertisement coupon amount is a coupon amount that is automatically added as a service from the portal site computer 2 to the user when the advertisement content is printed on the content to receive the print service. The amount is a coupon amount that is automatically added from the portal site computer 2 as a service to the use member when participating in the questionnaire survey.

The used coupon balance indicates the sum of the above-mentioned admission coupon amount, introduction coupon amount, advertisement coupon amount, and survey coupon amount, which is a coupon amount that can be used during the print service.

The reservation print service fee indicates the printing cost portion of the usage fee calculated according to the content of the print service received from the user member. The reservation information service fee is the print service fee received from the user member. Of the usage fee calculated according to the content of the information provision cost. These charges are transmitted to and displayed on the mobile terminal 3 of the user member at the time of using the print service.

The coin insertion amount at the time of use is a usage fee (reservation printing service fee + reservation information service fee) calculated according to the content of the print service received from the user.
The amount of the shortfall obtained by subtracting the usage coupon balance from
It is calculated in units of 0 yen. The used coin insertion amount is transmitted to and displayed on the mobile terminal 3 of the user when making a reservation for using the print service.

The use reservation information file 2F stores the use reservation information of the print service, and as the storage items,
As shown in FIG. 9 (A), the use member code, the information company I
D, content URL, content type classification, content name, information service fee, print service fee, print media (paper), number of printed pages, number of copies, number of copies, continuous print designation, advertisement print designation, reservation registration date and time .

The print service unit price file 2G stores print service unit price information at the time of print service, and as its storage items, as shown in FIG. 9B, a print medium code, a print medium (paper), a printable surface. Number, one-page printing service unit price, service unit price change date and time, service unit price after change, unit price registration date and time are set.

The print format file 2H stores the print format information at the time of the print service, and as its storage items, as shown in FIG. 10A, the use member code, the print media code, the print media (paper), the print media The number of sheets, the number of printed pages, the current number of final pages, and the date and time of printing completion are set.

The contents history file 2I stores history information of contents provided by the print service, and as its storage items, as shown in FIG. 10B, a content history URL, a content type classification, a content name, an information service Set the fee, standard media code designation, standard number of printed pages, content use age limit, station store use limit, content update date and time, and content expiration date and time.

The user history file 2K stores use history information for each user of the portable terminal 3 using the print service, and stores, as shown in FIG. 11, a user member code, a use date, Set the date and time of use, enrollment coupon fee, introduction coupon fee, advertising coupon fee, survey coupon fee, usage coupon balance, reservation printing service fee, reservation information service fee, coin insertion amount at use, next carryover coupon amount, use station code .

The content usage history file 2L stores usage history information for each information provider computer 4 that provides the content for the print service, and stores, as its storage items, an information company ID and usage information as shown in FIG. Date, date of use, content URL, content type classification, content name, information service fee, print service fee, print media (paper), number of printed pages, number of copies, number of copies, continuous printing designation, advertisement printing designation, use Set the station code and user member code.

The advertisement posting history file 2M stores usage history information for each advertisement site company computer 5 that provides advertisement contents for print services, and stores, as shown in FIG. Date of advertisement, date and time of advertisement, URL of advertisement content,
Advertisement content classification, advertisement content name, advertisement publication service fee, advertisement coupon amount, advertisement print media (paper), number of advertisement publication pages, number of advertisement publication copies, use station code, user member code are set.

The advertisement content file 20 stores information relating to the advertisement content for the print service, and as its storage items, as shown in FIG.
D, advertising content URL, advertising content type classification, advertising content name, advertising service fee, advertising coupon amount, advertising printing media (paper), number of advertising pages, limited number of advertising publications, number of remaining advertising publications, advertisement publication Start date / time, end date / time of advertisement placement, advertising area category 1, advertising area category 2, advertising user gender, advertising user age lower limit, advertising user age upper limit, advertising user birthday, advertising usage Job Category 1, Advertising User Category 2, Advertising User Content 1, Advertising User Content 2, Advertising Restricted Area Category 1, Advertising Restricted Area Category 2, Advertising Restricted Store Category 1, Advertising Listing Restricted store category 2, advertising restricted content type 1, advertising restricted content type 2, advertising restricted content company 1,
The advertisement posting restricted content company 2 is set.

Next, the configuration of the portable terminal 3 of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. 6, the mobile terminal 3 includes a CPU 31, a display unit 32, an input unit 33, a wireless communication control unit 34, a RAM 35, a storage device 36, and a storage medium 37, and each unit except the storage medium 37 is a bus 38. It is connected to the.

The mobile terminal 3 also has a built-in mobile phone function, and can access the portal site computer 2 from the communication network N via the communication carrier 1 to use the print service.

That is, the portable terminal 3 has the use member registration processing unit 3A and the use reservation processing unit 3C as described in the outline of the control function in FIG. These control functions are realized by the following program processing mainly executed by the CPU 31 in the mobile terminal 3.

The CPU 31 develops an application program designated from the system programs stored in the storage device 36 and various application programs corresponding to the system into a program storage area (not shown) in the RAM 35, and Are temporarily stored in the RAM 35, and are stored in the storage device 3 in accordance with the input instructions and the input data.
Various processes are executed in accordance with the application programs stored in the RAM 6, and the processing results are stored in the RAM 35 and displayed on the display unit 32. And RAM
The processing result stored in the storage unit 35 is stored in a storage destination in the storage device 36 instructed by the input unit 33.

The CPU 31 has a wireless communication control unit 34.
When using the print service by accessing the portal site computer 2 on the Internet S from the communication network N wirelessly connected via the communication carrier 1 and using the print service, a user member registration process (see FIG. 20) described later is executed. I do.

In this use member registration process, the CPU 3
1 connects to a print service site set in the portal site computer 2 on the Internet S, receives a menu screen from the portal site computer 2 and displays it on the display unit 32, and a menu item is selected from the menu screen. Then, the selected instruction content is transmitted to the portal site computer 2, and the member registration screen is received from the portal site computer 2.

When the "modification mode" is selected on the member registration screen, the CPU 31 transmits the input user ID and password to the portal site computer 2 to confirm the user authentication, and then registers the registered member information. Is received and the registered member information is corrected and input.

When "new mode" is selected on the member registration screen, the CPU 31 transmits the input user ID (mobile phone number) to the portal site computer 2 to perform new user registration. The member information registration screen is received and the member information is input.

Further, when reserving the print service after the end of the use member registration, the CPU 31 executes a use reservation registration process described later (see FIGS. 23 and 24).

In this use reservation registration processing, the CPU 3
Reference numeral 1 denotes a portal site of the portal site computer 2 on the Internet S, an official site of the information provider computer 4, or information provision from the communication network N wirelessly connected by the wireless communication controller 34 via the communication provider 1. The general site of the business computer 4 is accessed to make a reservation for use of the print service.

When accessing the portal site of the portal site computer 2, the CPU 31 receives and displays the usage reservation information menu from the portal site computer 2, authenticates the user, selects the content, and then prints the print service usage content. After receiving and displaying the print instruction and confirming the print instruction, a use reservation confirmation screen for the selected content is further received and displayed, and the print reservation contents (number of copies, print media (paper), continuous printing, advertisement insertion printing, etc.) To make an input reservation, and display the print reservation contents for which the input reservation has been made.

When the user accesses the official site of the information provider computer 4, the unique user ID assigned to the portable terminal 3 by the official site is automatically recognized. After receiving and displaying the contents of the official site information menu from 4 and selecting the information you want to print,
After receiving and displaying the use contents of the print service and confirming the print instruction, the user authentication screen is received and displayed from the portal site computer 2, and the registration check of the use member is executed. If the registration of the user member is confirmed, the CPU 31
In the same manner as described above, the process shifts to the content use reservation process. If the registration of the user member is not confirmed, the process shifts to the user member registration process because a new member registration is required.

When accessing the general site of the information provider computer 4, the CPU 31 receives and displays the contents of the general site information menu from the information provider computer 4, and allows the user to select the information to be printed. After receiving and displaying the use contents of the print service and confirming the print instruction, the user authentication screen is received and displayed from the portal site computer 2, and the registration check of the use member is executed. When the registration of the user member is confirmed, the CPU 31
As described above, the process proceeds to the content use reservation process. If the registration of the user member is not confirmed, the process proceeds to the use member registration process because new member registration is required.

The display section 32 is constituted by a liquid crystal display panel or the like, and performs a screen display based on display data input from the CPU 31.

The input unit 33 includes a keyboard having cursor keys, numeric input keys, various function keys, and the like, and a mouse as a pointing device. The input unit 33 outputs a press signal of a key pressed by the keyboard to the CPU 31. An operation signal from the mouse is output to the CPU 31.

The wireless communication control unit 34 is constituted by a wireless modem or the like, and performs communication control for performing wireless communication with the communication carrier 1 connected to the communication network N.

The RAM 35 has a program storage area for storing programs executed by the CPU 31 and various application programs, and a work area for temporarily storing input instructions, input data, processing results, and the like.

The storage device 36 has a storage medium 37 in which programs, data and the like are stored in advance, and this storage medium 37 is constituted by a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. The storage medium 37 is fixedly provided in the storage device 36 or is detachably mounted. The storage medium 37 includes various application programs corresponding to the mobile terminal 3, a use member registration processing program, a use reservation It stores a registration processing program, data processed by each processing program, and the like.

The programs, data, and the like stored in the storage medium 37 are partially or wholly received from the wireless communication control unit 34 from another device such as a server or a client via a transmission medium such as a network line. The storage medium 37 may be a storage medium of a server constructed on a network. Further, the program may be configured to be transmitted to a server or a client via a transmission medium such as a network line and installed in these devices.

Next, the configuration of the print station 6 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. The print station 6 is installed in a store or the like, and provides a print service to a user of the mobile terminal 3 and has a function of issuing a prepaid slip for the print service, a function of providing a service coupon by advertisement printing, and the like. Have.

In FIG. 7, the print station 6
Is configured by a CPU 61, a display unit 62, an input unit 63, an Internet transmission control unit 64, a RAM 65, a storage device 66, a storage medium 67, a printing device 68, and a coin insertion device 69. It is connected to a bus 70.

The CPU 61 executes a later-described use reservation information printing process (see FIGS. 30 and 31) to provide a print service to the user of the portable terminal 3 who has made a print reservation for the print service.

In the use reservation information printing process, the CP
U61 displays the print service menu, and when the use reservation print menu is selected, makes the user input a user ID (mobile phone number) and a password.
(Portable telephone number) and the password are transmitted to the portal site computer 2 to execute the authentication processing of the use reservation user.

When the use reservation user is authenticated, the CPU 6
1 fetches and displays the use reservation information from the portal site computer 2, and displays a purchase amount necessary for use and waits for coin insertion when the use coupon balance for the print service is insufficient.

[0111] The coin corresponding to the purchase price is
9, the CPU 61 fetches the content history file and the print format file of the use reservation information from the portal site computer 2 and checks whether or not the advertisement is specified. If there is advertising designation, CP
The U61 further receives the advertisement content from the portal site computer 2, generates print data of the content and the advertisement content according to the print format file, and prints the print data on the designated paper by the printing device 68. And CPU
When confirming the completion of printing, 61 displays the total amount of the printed advertising coupon.

The display unit 62 is constituted by a CRT, a liquid crystal display device, or the like, and performs a screen display based on display data input from the CPU 61.

The input section 63 includes a touch panel integrated with the display screen of the display section 62, a keyboard having numeric input keys and various function keys, and the like. And outputs a key operation signal of the keyboard to the CPU 61.

The Internet transmission control unit 64 includes a modem, a terminal adapter, a router, or the like, and is connected to each of the portal site computer 2, the information provider computer 4, and the advertisement site computer 5 connected to the Internet S. Communication control for performing communication between the devices is performed.

The RAM 65 has a program storage area for storing programs executed by the CPU 61 and various application programs, and a work area for temporarily storing input instructions, input data, processing results, and the like.

The storage device 66 has a storage medium 67 in which programs, data and the like are stored in advance, and this storage medium 67 is constituted by a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. The storage medium 67 is fixedly provided in the storage device 66 or is removably mounted. The storage medium 67 includes a usage reservation information print processing program corresponding to the print station 6 and a processing program for each processing program. The processed data and the like are stored.

The storage device 66 has various memory areas related to the print service, and as shown in FIG. 4, a print format file 6B, a content file 6C, an advertisement content file 6D, and a use reservation information file 6E.
Having.

The programs, data, and the like stored in the storage medium 67 are partially or wholly received from another device such as a server or a client from the Internet transmission control unit 64 via a transmission medium such as a network line. The storage medium 67 may be a storage medium of a server constructed on a network. Further, the program may be configured to be transmitted to a server or a client via a transmission medium such as a network line and installed in these devices.

The printing device 68 can use various printing papers (plain paper (A4, A3), system notebook (B6), long paper, stickers (2 × 4), trading cards, postcards, prepaid slip paper, etc.). The CPU 61 has a color print mode and a monochrome print mode, and prints print data input from the CPU 61 onto a print medium and discharges the print data when the use reservation information is printed by the CPU 61.

Further, the printing device 61 executes the use reservation information printing process executed by the CPU 61 to execute the CPU 61.
Is printed on a blank page of a print medium.

When the purchase amount required for using the print service is displayed by the use reservation information printing process executed by the CPU 61, the coin insertion device 69 inserts a coin (eg, a 100 yen coin) inserted by the user. ) Is identified and counted, and the count value is notified to the CPU 61.

Since the configurations and functions of the information provider computer 4 and the advertising site computer 5 have been described with reference to the schematic configurations shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
Illustration and explanation of the internal configuration are omitted.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. First, a user member registration process executed in the mobile terminal 3 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

In the portable terminal 3, when access to the portal site is instructed by an instruction from the user, the CPU 3
Reference numeral 1 denotes a connection to the portal site computer 2 via the communication carrier 1 from the communication network N wirelessly connected by the wireless communication control unit 34, the reception of the portal site menu from the portal site computer 2, and the display unit 32
When the print service site in the portal site menu is selected, the user member registration process shown in FIG. 20 is started.

In FIG. 20, the CPU 31 first connects to a print service site set in the portal site computer 2 (step P1), receives a print service menu from the portal site computer 2, and obtains a print service menu, for example, as shown in FIG. A print service menu as shown in (1) is displayed (step P2).

Next, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the menu item selected in the displayed print service menu is “1. Registration of a user member” (step P3), and another print service menu is selected. In this case, the process shifts to the other selected process, and if “1. Registration of user member” is selected, the content of the selection instruction is transmitted to the portal site computer 2 (step P).
4).

Then, the CPU 31 receives the user member registration menu from the portal site computer 2 and
For example, a user member registration screen as shown in FIG. 15B is displayed (step P5). In this case, “1. Registration of user member” and “2. Correction of registration information” can be selected as menu items.

The selection value “1” or “2” of the menu item selected on this user member registration screen is
U31 sends it to portal site computer 2 (step P6), and determines whether or not "2. Modify registration information" has been selected (step P7).

When "2. Modify registration information" is selected, CPU 31 causes user ID (mobile phone number) and password to be input and transmitted to portal site computer 2 (step P8).
Waits for user authentication confirmation (step P9). If the user authentication confirmation is NG, an error message is displayed (step P10), and the process returns to step P3. If the user authentication confirmation is OK, the process proceeds to step P15. I do.

[0130] When "1. Registration of user member" is selected, CPU 31 causes user ID (mobile phone number) to be input and transmitted to portal site computer 2 (step P11). The process waits for reception of presence / absence of registration (step P12), and if registered, displays an error (step P13) and ends this processing.

If the registration has not been completed yet and is a new registration, the CPU 31 receives the member information registration screen from the portal site computer 2 and, for example, receives the screen shown in FIG.
A member registration screen as shown in (D) is displayed (step P14), and a mobile phone number, a password, an e-mail address, a name, and a date of birth are displayed and input (step P14).
15 to P17), input and selection of postal code, address, and occupation type (step P18), and input and select motive type to join the print service (step P19).

However, when entering the password,
As shown in (C), "****" is displayed so that it cannot be seen by others.

When the input regarding the member information in the above steps P15 to P19 is completed, the CPU 31 transmits the input various information to the portal site computer 2 (step P20), and the motive classification to join the selected print service. Is “introduction from existing member” (step P21).

If the motive category is not “introduction from existing member”, the CPU 31 shifts to step P25, and if the motive category is “introduction from existing member”, the CPU 31 sets the user ID (telephone number) of the existing member. The user is input (Step P22), the input user ID is transmitted to the portal site computer 2 (Step P23), and the reception of the check result from the portal site computer 2 for the existing member is awaited (Step P24).

Upon receiving the check result of the existing member from the portal site computer 2, the CPU 31 checks whether the check result is OK or NG (step P25).
If G, the process returns to the motive category selection process in step P19. If OK, the process proceeds to step P26, in which a list of the inputted member registration information is displayed and the member registration information is transmitted to the portal site computer 2. Then, the main use member registration process ends.

Next, in response to the use member registration process by the portable terminal 3, the CP in the portal site computer 2
The user member registration process executed in U21 will be described based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

In FIG. 21, when the portable terminal 3 accesses the print service site, the CPU 21 in the portal site computer 2 transmits a print service menu screen (see FIG. 15A), and the portable terminal 3 Then, the selection value of the menu transmitted from 3 is acquired (step S1), and it is determined whether the selection value is a member registration menu or another menu (step S2).

For other menus, the CPU 21
Shifts to other processing, and if it is a member registration menu, transmits a member registration screen (see FIG. 15B) to the mobile terminal 3 and obtains a selection value of the menu transmitted from the mobile terminal 3 (Step S3), it is determined whether the selected value is the correction mode or the new member registration mode (Step S4).

In the case of the correction mode, the CPU 21 obtains the input values of the user ID (mobile phone number) and the password transmitted from the mobile terminal 3 (step S5), and uses the input member file based on the input values. 2B (see FIG. 8)
The user authentication check is performed with reference to the use member data stored in the (step S6). If the result of the user authentication is NG (step S7), the CPU 21 transmits the error display content to the mobile terminal 3 (step S8), and returns to the menu selection value determination processing in step S2.

If the result of the user authentication is OK (step S7), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S13.

When the new member registration mode is selected in step S4, the CPU 21
(Step S9), and the user member file 2B (see FIG. 8)
Is checked for user ID registration (step S
10) It is determined whether or not the user ID has been registered (step S11).

If the user ID is existing (registered),
The CPU 21 transmits the error display content to the mobile terminal 3 (step S12).
It is determined whether or not the user of the mobile terminal 3 is an official site (Step S13).

If the user of the portable terminal 3 is an official site, that is, a carrier, the CPU 21 obtains a portable user ID unique to the carrier from the carrier 1 (step S14), and proceeds to step S15. If the user of the mobile terminal 3 is a normal individual user who is not an official site, the CPU 21 immediately proceeds to step S15.

At the step S15, the CPU 21
Member information registration screen on the mobile terminal 3 (FIGS. 15C and 15D)
), And then obtains a password desired by the user transmitted from the mobile terminal 3 (step S1).
6) Then, an e-mail address is obtained (step S17).

Further, the CPU 21 sends the user's name, gender, date of birth, input values of postal code, address, occupation classification, and motive classification value to join the main member transmitted from the portable terminal 3. Is acquired (steps S18 to S20).

Then, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the acquired motive classification value is “introduction from existing member” (step S 21). The user ID (phone number) of the existing member to be acquired is acquired (step S22), and the user member file 2 is used.
It is checked whether or not the user ID of the existing member is registered in B (see FIG. 8) (step S23), and it is checked whether or not the user is an existing member (step S24).

If the user is not an existing member, the CPU 21
Is transmitted to the mobile terminal 3 (step S26),
Returning to the motive classification value acquisition processing in step S20,
If K, OK is transmitted to the portable terminal 3 (step S27).

Next, the CPU 21 acquires the mail address of the introducer from the user member file 2B (step S).
27) Then, an inquiry coupon is added to the use coupon balance of the introducer (step S28), and the process proceeds to step S29.

If it is determined in step S21 that the acquired motive classification value is not “introduction from existing member”, the CP
U21 updates the use member file 2B with the information acquired in steps S16 to S20. Then, the CPU 21 transmits the contents of the acquired member registration information to the portable terminal 3 (step S30), and adds the enrollment coupon to the usage coupon balance of the enrollee (step S31).

Subsequently, the CPU 21 transmits an enrollment rule and an enrollment coupon to the enrollee by e-mail (step S31), and transmits an introduction thank you letter and an introduction coupon to the introducer by e-mail. (Step S32), and the main member registration process ends.

As described above, by the use member registration process,
The user of the portable terminal 3 is the portal site computer 2
, The user can easily register for a print service.

Also, in the portal site computer 2, an enrollment coupon is automatically given as an enrollment privilege to the user of the mobile terminal 3 who has enrolled. If the motivation for enrollment is an introduction from an existing member, the introduction privilege is provided. An introduction coupon is added to an existing member who is an introducer who introduced a user who has joined.

Therefore, in the print service system 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to promote the member's enrollment and introduction, and to promote the use of the member's print service.

Next, a print service use reservation registration process executed in the portable terminal 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

The user of the portable terminal 3 can directly access and link to the portal site computer 2 that provides the print service as an access method for registering the print service as a reservation. It is possible to take a method of accessing an official site or a general site provided by and linking to a print service.

In the portable terminal 3, when an access to a site on the Internet S is instructed by an instruction from the user, the CPU 31 causes the wireless communication control unit 34 to connect the communication carrier 1 from the communication network N wirelessly connected. Then, the user accesses the designated site to start the use reservation registration process of FIG.

In FIG. 23, the CPU 31 first accesses the Internet S and links to a type of site such as “portal site”, “official site of telecommunications carrier”, or “general site of telecommunications carrier”. Is determined (step P31).

If the linked site is a portal site, CPU 31 receives a print use reservation information menu from portal site computer 2 (step P).
32) Display a print reservation information menu screen (not shown).

Next, the CPU 31 receives and confirms from the portal site computer 2 the user authentication result based on the user ID (mobile phone number) transmitted to the portal site computer 2 at the time of the link (step P33).
If the user authentication result is NG, an error message is displayed (step P34), and the use reservation registration processing ends.

If the user authentication result is OK, the CP
U31 is a content (information content) corresponding to the menu selected on the print reservation information menu screen.
Is received from the portal site computer 2, and the content selection screen is displayed (step P35).

FIG. 16 shows a display example of the content selection screen.
It is shown in (A). This example of the content selection screen shows a case where an information search screen for “part-time job information” is displayed.

Next, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the information to be printed is selected by the user in the displayed content selection screen (step P36). Until the information to be printed is selected, the contents selection screen of step P35 is displayed. When the display is continued and the information to be printed is selected, the selected information is transmitted to the portal site computer 2.
Then, after receiving and displaying the print service use content from the portal site computer 2, the CPU 31 waits for a print button selection operation by the user (steps P37 and P38), and the print button is not selected and the return button is selected. If so, the process returns to the display of the content selection screen in step P35.

When the print button is selected, the CP
U31 transmits the print instruction information to the portal site computer 2, and receives and displays the user authentication screen from the portal site computer 2 (Step P39),
The program shifts to Step P56.

If the type of the site accessed and linked on the Internet S in step P31 is "official site of a telecommunications carrier", the CPU 3
1 receives and displays an information menu of an official site from the communication carrier 1, and waits for selection of a menu item (step P40).

At this time, since the communication carrier 1 links to the portal site computer 2 that provides the print service via the Internet S, the contents of the official site information menu include the print service menu.

When the print service menu is selected, the CPU 31 transmits the selected menu information to the communication carrier 1 and receives the selected official site information menu content (print service content) from the communication carrier 1. And a content selection screen (see FIG. 16A).
Is displayed (step P41).

At this time, the communication carrier 1 transmits the contents of the official site information menu including the contents of the print service received from the linked portal site computer 2 to the portable terminal 3.

Next, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the information to be printed is selected by the user in the displayed content selection screen (step P42). Until the information to be printed is selected, the contents selection screen of step P41 is displayed. When the display is continued and the information to be printed is selected, the selected information is transmitted to the communication carrier 1.

Then, after receiving and displaying the print service usage content from the portal site computer 2 linked to the communication carrier 1, the CPU 31 waits for the user to select a print button (steps P43, P4).
4) If the print button is not selected and the return button is selected, the process returns to the display of the official site information menu screen in step P41.

If the print button is selected, the CP
U31 transmits the print instruction information to the communication carrier 1,
A user authentication screen is received and displayed from the portal site computer 2 linked to the communication carrier 1 (step P
46), It is confirmed whether the user is an existing member or a new member by using member check (step P47). CP
If U31 is a new user, the process shifts to the use member registration process, and if it is an existing user, the process moves to Step P56.

If the type of the site accessed and linked on the Internet S in step P31 is “general site of a telecommunications carrier”, the CPU 31 receives the information menu of the site from the telecommunications carrier 1 and displays it. And waits for selection of a menu item (step P4).
7).

At this time, since the communication carrier 1 links to the portal site computer 2 that provides the print service via the Internet S, the contents of the official site information menu include the print service menu.

When the print service menu is selected, CPU 31 transmits the selected menu information to communication carrier 1 and receives the selected official site information menu content (print service content) from communication carrier 1. And a content selection screen (see FIG. 16A).
Is displayed (step P48).

At this time, the communication carrier 1 transmits the contents of the official site information menu including the contents of the print service received from the linked portal site computer 2 to the portable terminal 3.

Next, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the user has selected information to be printed in the displayed content selection screen (step P49). Until the information to be printed is selected, the CPU 31 displays the content selection screen in step P48. When the display is continued and the information to be printed is selected, the selected information is transmitted to the communication carrier 1.

Then, after receiving and displaying the print service usage content from the portal site computer 2 linked to the communication carrier 1, the CPU 31 waits for the user to select a print button (steps P50 and P5).
1) If the print button is not selected and the return button is selected, the process returns to the display of the general site information menu screen in step P47.

If the print button is selected, the CP
U31 transmits the print instruction information to the communication carrier 1,
A user authentication screen is received and displayed from the portal site computer 2 linked to the communication carrier 1 (step P
52), It is confirmed whether the user is an existing use member or a new use member by using member check (step P53).

If the member is a new member, the CPU 31 proceeds to a member registration process. If the member is an existing member, the CPU 31 further receives and confirms the user authentication result from the portal site computer 2 (step P54). If the result is NG, an error message is displayed (step P55), the present reservation registration process ends, and if the user authentication result is OK, the program shifts to step P56.

At step P56, the CPU 31 sets
A use reservation confirmation screen for the selected content transmitted from the portal site computer 2 is displayed, and a confirmation operation on the use reservation confirmation screen is awaited.

FIG. 16B shows a display example of the use reservation confirmation screen.
Shown in In the use reservation confirmation screen, "Content name: XX part-time job information, information service fee: 200 yen,
Printing service fee: 60 yen, standard printing media: plain paper A
4 (two pages), the number of print reservations: three, etc. "is displayed, the" use button "is displayed as an operation button for confirming use reservation, and the" cancel button "is displayed as an operation button for canceling use reservation. I have.

Then, the CPU 31 confirms whether the operated button is the "use button" or the "cancel button" (step P57). If the "cancel button" is operated, the use reservation registration processing is terminated. When the "use button" is operated, the use confirmation information is transmitted to the portal site computer 2
Send to

Next, CPU 31 receives and displays a print format selection screen (see FIG. 16C) from portal site computer 2 (step P58). FIG.
On the print format selection screen shown in (C), “number of copies, print media (paper), multi-sided media printing, printing of advertisements, etc.” are displayed as input items and selection items.

Further, a "reservation button" for confirming the print format selection contents and a "cancel button" for canceling the print format selection contents are displayed on the print format selection screen of FIG.

Then, according to the display position of the input items and the selection items in the print format selection screen, the number of copies is input (step P59), and the print medium (paper) “plain paper A
4 (2 pages), plain paper A4 (1 page), bible plate refill (3 pages), mini number refill (4 pages), etc. "(step P60), and continuous printing of multi-sided media" continuous printing, each content Page break etc. "(step P
61) The user is caused to select the “insertion / non-existence” of the advertisement insertion printing of the multi-sided medium (step P62).

When all the print format selections described above are input and selected, the CPU 31 confirms a button operation for confirming the print format selections (step P63). If the "cancel button" is operated, the process proceeds to step P57. When the “reservation button” is operated by returning to the use reservation confirmation processing of (1), the print reservation contents are displayed on the print reservation confirmation screen (see FIG. 16D).
Is displayed, and the print reservation information is transmitted to the portal site computer 2 (step P64), and the use reservation registration processing ends.

Next, in response to the use reservation registration processing executed in the portable terminal 3, the portal site computer 2
The user authentication process executed by the CPU 21 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 25, first, the CPU 21 waits for a link from the portable terminal 3 to the user authentication site (step S41), and receives a link parameter from the linked portable terminal 3 (step S42). Reservation ID and mobile user ID
Is checked (steps S43, S44).

If the user reservation ID and the portable user ID have been set, the CPU 31 proceeds to step S55 to perform a user authentication process using the user member file 2B, and then the user authentication confirmation result is “new”. If so, the process proceeds to a use member registration process (FIG. 21). If the corresponding use member information is registered, the process proceeds to a use reservation information reception process (FIGS. 32 and 33).

[0189] Also, the user reservation ID is set in the link parameter.
If the mobile user ID is not set, the CPU 21
Requests the communication carrier 1 to acquire a mobile user ID (step S45), and confirms the presence or absence of the mobile user ID (step S46).

If the portable user ID can be obtained, the CPU 21 shifts to step S49, and the portable user I
D, user authentication processing is performed with reference to the use member file 2B (see FIG. 8).
7) The mobile user ID and the password are acquired (step S48), and the user authentication process is executed with reference to the use member file 2B (see FIG. 8) (step S49).

Next, the CPU 21 checks the result of the user authentication (step S50), and determines that the result of the user authentication is NG.
If so, the authentication result is transmitted to the portable terminal 3 as NG (step S51), and the user authentication process is terminated.
If the user authentication result is OK, the user reservation ID is acquired from the user member file (step S52).

Next, the CPU 21 transmits the link destination menu information of the content used for the pudding service (step S53), receives the content selection information from the portable terminal 3, and receives the selected content site (information provider computer). 4) is linked using the user reservation ID as a parameter (step S54), and the user authentication process ends.

Next, the portal site computer 2
The content use guidance process executed by the information provider computer 4 linked by the user authentication process in will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 26, the information provider computer 4 waits for a link to the content site from the portal site computer 2 or the portable terminal 3 (step C1), and the link from the linked portal site computer 2 or the portable terminal 3 When the parameter is received (step C2), it is confirmed whether or not the user reservation ID is set in the link parameter (step C2).
3).

Then, the information provider computer 4
If the user reservation ID has been set, the process proceeds to step C6. If the user reservation ID has not been set, the mobile operator 1 is requested to acquire the mobile user ID (step C4). The presence or absence is confirmed (step C5).

Then, the information provider computer 4
If the mobile user ID cannot be obtained, step C11
Then, the process links to the user authentication process of the portal site computer 2, and if the mobile user ID can be obtained, the information menu of the content site is transmitted to the mobile terminal 3.

Next, upon receiving the content selection information from the mobile terminal 3, the information provider computer 4 transmits the information of the selected content site (step C7), and transmits the print usage reservation information from the mobile terminal 3. It waits for the presence or absence of transmission (step C8), terminates this content use guidance processing if print use reservation information is not received, and generates a use reserved content file if print use reservation information is received (step C8). C9).

Then, the information provider computer 4
Are the link parameters (user reservation ID, mobile user I
D, content URL, information service fee, standard media designation, content type classification, content name, number of printed pages, etc.) are set in the content file (step C).
10) Link to the user authentication process of the portal site computer 2 (step C11), and terminate the content usage guidance process.

Next, C of the portal site computer 2
The use reservation information receiving process executed by the PU 21 subsequent to the user authentication process will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

In FIG. 27, the CPU 21 first executes link parameters (user reservation I
D, mobile user ID, content URL, information service fee, standard media designation, content type classification, content name, number of printed pages, etc.) (step S6).
1) Check usage restrictions (restrictions by age) from the content type and user attribute (age) (step S)
62, S63).

If the content use restriction is NG, the CPU 21 transmits a use restriction statement to the portable terminal 3 (step S64), terminates the use reservation information reception processing, and determines whether the content use restriction is OK. For example, the use restriction (restriction by the setting store) based on the content classification is checked (steps S65 and S66).

Then, if the use restriction by the installation store is NG, the CPU 21 transmits an available installation store guidance message to the portable terminal 3 (step S67), and proceeds to step S68, where the use restriction by the installation store is OK. If so, the process immediately proceeds to step S68.

[0203] In step S68, the CPU 21
The print service content of the selected content (content name, information service fee, print service fee, standard media, number of printed pages, etc.) is transmitted to the mobile terminal 3.

Next, the CPU 21 acquires the selection value (use or cancellation) of the use reservation transmitted from the portable terminal 3 according to the transmitted print service contents (step S).
69), the use reservation is confirmed based on the selected value (step S70). If the selection value is Cancel,
When the use reservation information receiving process is completed and the selected value is “use”, the print format selection screen (see FIG. 16C) is transmitted to the mobile terminal 3 (step S71).

Next, the CPU 21 obtains the input value of the number of copies transmitted from the portable terminal 3 in accordance with the transmitted print format selection screen (step S72), and further selects the print medium (paper) selection value (plain paper A4). (2 sides), plain paper A4
(1 side), bible version refill (3 sides), mini version refill (4 sides), etc. are acquired (step S73).

Further, the CPU 21 obtains a continuous printing selection value (continuous printing, printing for each content, etc.) of the multi-faced medium transmitted from the portable terminal 3 (step S74), and selects an advertisement insertion print selection value (advertisement) of the multi-sided medium. (Print: present / absent) is acquired (step S75), and a print format selection value (reservation or cancellation) is acquired and the print format is confirmed (step S76).

Then, the CPU 21 determines that the selected value is "cancel".
If it is, the process returns to the print service content transmitting process in step S68, and if the selected value is "reservation", the use reservation content received in steps S72 to S75 is transmitted to the portable terminal 3 (step S77). The content of the use reservation information is updated to the file of the corresponding user in the use reservation information file 2F (see FIG. 9) (step S78), and
The process proceeds to print content generation processing.

Subsequently, the print content generation processing executed by the CPU 21 of the portal site computer 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0209] In FIG. 29, the CPU 21 first determines the content UR provided by the information provider computer 4.
The update date and time of the content site are acquired from L (step S81), and the acquired update date and time are compared with the update date and time of the corresponding content in the content history file 2I (see FIG. 10B) (step S82). (Step S83).

[0210] If there is no content update, the CPU 21 proceeds to step S85, and if there is a content update, fetches the updated content from the content URL and updates the content history file 2I (step S84).

Next, the validity period of the content in the content history file 2I is extended for a certain period (step S85), and the print format file 2H (see FIG. 10A).
Then, the number of reserved prints and the number of print surfaces for each print medium are obtained from the print format of the corresponding user (step S86), and the presence or absence of continuous printing designation is confirmed (step S87).

Then, if continuous printing is specified, the CPU 21 develops the content from the content history file 2I in accordance with the format of the specified print medium (paper) following the reserved number of print faces, and determines the number of prints. It is acquired (step S88).

If the continuous printing is not specified, the contents are developed from the contents history file 2I in accordance with the format of the specified print medium (paper) and the number of prints is obtained (step S89).

Next, the CPU 21 determines the print service based on the number of prints acquired in step S88 or step S89 and the one-sheet print service unit price of the corresponding print medium (paper) in the print service unit price file 2G (see FIG. 9B). The charge is calculated (step S90).

Subsequently, the CPU 21 updates various data such as the information service charge, the print service charge, and the number of prints of the corresponding use reservation information in the use reservation information file 2F (see FIG. 9A) (step S91). , User member file 2
The reservation print service fee, the reservation information service fee, the used coin insertion amount, and the next carry-over coupon amount of the corresponding use member in B (see FIG. 8) are updated (step S92).

[0216] Further, the CPU 21 sets the print format file 2
H (see FIG. 10 (A)), the number of print media (sheets) for the corresponding use member is updated (step S93),
The user of the portable terminal 3 is notified by e-mail of the usage fee guidance and the completion of preparation for the print service (step S9).
4) The print content generation processing ends.

FIG. 16 shows a display example of the usage fee guidance and the print service completion e-mail notified to the user of the portable terminal 3 from the portal site computer 2.
(E) is shown.

Next, the CPU 6 of the print station 6
FIG. 3 shows the usage reservation information printing process executed by
Description will be made based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

In FIG. 30, the CPU 61 first accesses the print service menu (FIG. 17) by access from the user of the portable terminal 3 who has made a print reservation for the print service.
(A) is displayed (step T1), and the selected menu item is confirmed (step T2).

Then, if the selected menu item is other than “use reservation print”, the CPU 61 shifts to another processing corresponding to the selected item and sets the selected menu item to “use reservation print”. If "printing", FIG.
A top menu screen of the use reservation print service as shown in (1) is displayed to prompt the user to input a user ID and a password (step T3).

When the user inputs the user ID and the password, the CPU 61 transmits the input data to the portal computer 2 (step T4), and waits for the reception of the user authentication result (step T5).

When the CPU 61 receives from the portal computer 2 that the user authentication result is NG (step T6), an error message is displayed (step T6).
7), upon receiving that the user authentication result is OK,
A request for transmission of the use reservation information file of the authenticated user is made to the portal computer 2 (step T8),
Wait for reception of the usage reservation information file.

When the CPU 61 receives from the portal site computer 2 a notification indicating that there is no use reservation information file (step T9), it displays an error (step T10), terminates the use reservation information print processing, and uses When a notification indicating that there is a reservation information file is received (step T9), the use reservation information file and the use member file corresponding to the user who has been authenticated are imported from the portal site computer 2 (step T1).
1).

Next, the CPU 61 displays the items of the use reservation information generated based on the contents of the fetched use member file and the use reservation information file in a purchase price display screen as shown in FIG. 17C (step). T12), it is determined whether or not the coin input amount is necessary or unnecessary from the total of the print service fee and the information service fee for the displayed coupon balance (step T13).

In the case of the purchase amount display screen shown in FIG. 17C, the coupon balance of the user is “250 yen”, the print service charge is “180 yen”, and the information service charge is “200 yen”. But there is a shortage of 130 yen,
It is necessary to insert coins for 200 yen with the coin insertion being in units of 100 yen.

Therefore, the CPU 61 shifts to step T18 if the coin insertion amount is unnecessary, and if the coin insertion amount is necessary as described above, the CPU 61 determines the purchase amount necessary for using the print service this time as shown in FIG. (C) and waits for the user to insert coins (step T1).
4).

Then, as a response of the user to the displayed coin insertion amount, the CPU 61 confirms whether or not there is coin insertion information from the coin insertion device 69 and whether or not the cancel button is operated on the display screen (step T15). . When the cancel button is operated, an error message is displayed (step T1).
6) A cancellation instruction is transmitted to the portal site computer 2 (step T17), the use reservation information printing process is completed, and if it is confirmed that the coin insertion amount has been inserted, the process proceeds to step T17.
Move to 18.

Next, the CPU 61 requests the portal site computer 2 to transmit a content history file and a print format file corresponding to the usage reservation information (step T18). The print format file is fetched (step T19).

[0229] Then, the CPU 61 checks whether or not the advertisement printing is specified in the use reservation information file (step T2).
0), if there is no advertisement print designation, the process proceeds to step T22, and if there is an advertisement print designation, a request for transmission of advertisement content is made to the portal site computer 2 (step T2).
1).

[0230] Next, the CPU 61 generates print data in accordance with the received print format for the content and the advertisement content for each specified print medium (paper) (step T22), and outputs the print data to the printing device 68. It waits until printing is completed (step T23).

At this time, the CPU 61 displays a screen during content printing as shown in FIG. 18A, following the purchase price display screen shown in FIG. 17C.

Subsequently, the CPU 61 confirms the printing completion notification from the printing device 68 (step T24), and if the printing completion notification is OK, notifies the portal site computer 2 of the printing completion of the usage reservation information file (step T24). T2
5) The printed total amount of the advertising coupon is displayed on the screen (step T26), and the use reservation information printing process ends.

At this time, the CPU 61 displays an advertising coupon guide screen after the content printing as shown in FIG. 18B, following the screen during the content printing shown in FIG. 18A. In this case, there is no advertisement print designation, the advertisement coupon amount is “0 yen”, and this indicates that the next carry-over coupon amount is “70 yen”.

The carry-over coupon amount is such that the change amount of "70 yen" is carried over as the coupon balance which can be used in the next print service without returning the change in cash to the coin input amount of "200 yen". is there.

By managing the usage balance as a coupon in this way, the cash processing function in the print station 6 is simplified, and the apparatus cost is reduced.

When the notification from the printing device 68 is NG and the content of the print error is received, the CPU 61 displays an error repair instruction corresponding to the content of the print error, and performs an error repair by a clerk at the installation store. Then, the result of the print error repair is confirmed (step T27).

If the print error repair result is OK, the CPU 51 returns to print data output and print completion standby processing in step T23 again. If the print error repair result is NG, the CPU 51 prints to the portal site computer 2. An error notification is transmitted (step T28), an apology message is displayed to the user (step T29), and the use reservation information printing process ends.

FIG. 19 shows an example of changing the print medium when the print format is changed in the above-described use reservation information print processing. FIG. 19 shows an example in which the content for A4 plain paper is changed to the content for the system notebook (B6). In the print station 6, the content print medium conversion process is executed in response to the print mode change instruction. ing.

Next, the usage reservation information printing process executed by the CPU 21 of the portal site computer 2 in response to the usage reservation information printing process in the print station 6 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

In FIG. 32, first, the CPU 21 waits for a user authentication request from the print station 6 (step S101), and upon receiving the user authentication request from the print station 6, performs terminal authentication processing of the print station 6 (step S101). S102). That is,
It is confirmed whether or not the print station 6 is registered as a print service terminal.

Next, the CPU 21 transmits the user ID of the user of the portable terminal 3 transmitted from the print station 6.
And a password (step S103), and executes a user authentication process with reference to the use member file 2B (see FIG. 8) (step S104).

Next, the CPU 21 confirms the result of the user authentication (step S105),
If the result is G, the authentication result is transmitted to the print station 6 as NG (step S106), the print reservation information printing process ends, and if the user authentication result is OK, the user authentication result (OK) is printed. It transmits to the station 6 and waits for reception of the use reservation information transmission request (step S107).

When the CPU 21 receives the use reservation information transmission request from the print station 6, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the authenticated user has the use reservation information file by referring to the use reservation information file 2F (see FIG. 9A). The presence or absence is confirmed (steps S108 and S109).

If there is no use reservation information file for the authenticated user, the CPU 21 transmits the use error information to the print station 6 (step S112), terminates the use reservation information print processing, and returns to the authenticated user. If there is a use reservation information file, the presence / absence of use terminal restriction information in the use reservation information file for the print station 6 used this time is determined by the content history file 2I (FIG. 10).
Confirmation is made by referring to (B) “Restriction on use of station-installed store”) (steps S110 and S111).

If the use terminal restriction is set and NG, the CPU 21 transmits the use error information to the print station 6 (step S112), ends the use reservation information print processing, and sets the use terminal restriction. If is not set and is OK, the use reservation information file and the use member file of the authenticated user are transmitted to the print station 6 (step S113).

Next, the CPU 21 waits for reception of a transmission request for the content history file and the print format file transmitted from the print station 6 (step S11).
4) When the transmission request is received, the content of the request is "OK".
Or "cancel" (step S115).

Then, the CPU 21 determines that the request content is "O
If "K", the content history file and the print format file are transmitted to the print station 6 (step S11).
6) If it is "cancel", the use reservation information printing process ends.

Subsequently, the CPU 21 determines whether or not an advertisement print designation is set in the use reservation information file (step S117). If there is no advertisement print designation, the flow shifts to step S120, where the advertisement print designation is present. In the advertisement content distribution process (see FIG. 34),
An advertisement content is requested in a distribution area, a content division, or the like (step S118).

Then, the CPU 21 calculates the coupon amount of the advertising content received from the advertising site provider computer 5 by the advertising content distribution process, and transmits the coupon amount and the advertising content to the print station 6 (step S119).

Next, the CPU 21 waits for reception of the print completion notification transmitted from the print station 6 (step S120), and upon receiving the print completion notification, checks whether the print completion is OK or NG (step S121). When the print completion notification is NG, the use reservation information printing process is terminated, and when the print completion notification is OK, the advertisement coupon amount is added to the user member's coupon balance in the user member file 2B (see FIG. 8). Then, the usage reservation information file is updated (step S122).

Subsequently, the CPU 21 updates the user history information of the user in the user history file 2K (see FIG. 11) (step S123), and updates the user history information in the content use history file 2L (see FIG. 12). The usage history information of the content is updated (step S124), and the posting history information of the advertisement content in the advertisement posting history file 2M (see FIG. 13) is updated (step S125). finish.

Next, the advertisement content distribution processing executed by the CPU 21 of the portal site computer 2 in response to the advertisement content distribution processing request in the use reservation information printing processing will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 34, first, the CPU 21 waits for a distribution request of the advertisement content file from the use reservation information printing process (step S201), and confirms whether or not there is a distribution request (step S202). If
From the received information, advertisement content conditions such as the number of advertisement contents, user attributes, and distribution area content types are acquired (step S203).

Next, the CPU 21 acquires one corresponding advertisement content candidate from the advertisement content file 2O (see FIG. 14) based on the acquired advertisement content condition (step S204), The validity period is checked (step S205), and it is confirmed whether the advertisement is valid or invalid (step S20).
6).

[0255] The remaining number of advertisement publications is a value obtained by subtracting the actual number of publications from the number of publications to print contents preset at the time of registration of the advertisement contents. This is a posting validity period that is set in advance.

If the advertisement placement is invalid, the CPU 21 returns to step S204 to acquire another one of the advertisement content candidates from the advertisement content file 2O, and if the advertisement placement is valid, the advertisement The area, store, content type, and company of the posting restriction are checked (step S207), and it is checked whether the advertisement is subject to the advertisement restriction or not (step S208).

[0257] The CPU 21 returns to step S204 if the advertisement is subject to the advertisement posting restriction, obtains another advertisement content candidate from the advertisement content file 2O, and if the advertisement is not subject to the advertisement posting restriction, The previous advertisement posting date and time for the user is acquired from the advertisement posting history file 2M (see FIG. 13), and it is checked whether a certain period has elapsed since the previous advertisement posting (step S2).
09), and confirm whether or not it is within the posting history limit (step S)
210).

If the predetermined period has not elapsed since the previous posting and the posting history is within the posting history limit, the CPU 21 returns to step S204 and acquires another one advertising content candidate from the advertising content file 20. If it is out of the posting history limit after a certain period, the target of the advertisement content in the advertisement content file 20 is checked from the user attributes (step S211), and it is determined whether the user is out of the target. Confirm (step S212).

[0259] If the user is out of the posting target, the CPU 21 returns to step S204 to obtain another advertisement content candidate from the advertisement content file 2O,
If the content is to be posted, the advertisement content file 20 is checked from the distribution area content type for the advertisement content posting area target (step S213), and it is confirmed whether or not the advertisement content is outside the posting target (step S214).

[0260] Then, the CPU 21 returns to step S204 if it is not the target of the posting target area, acquires another advertisement content candidate from the advertisement content file 20, and if it is the target of the posting target area, uses it. The content file information such as the advertising content URL and the advertising coupon amount is transmitted to the reservation information printing process (FIGS. 32 and 33) (step S215).

[0261] Next, the CPU 21 sets the number of unpublished publications of the advertising content in the advertising content file 20 to 1
The number is reduced (step S216), and one is added to the number of advertisement content candidates (number of advertisement placements) (step S21).
7) It is confirmed whether or not the required number of publications has been exceeded based on the number of publications of the advertisement content (step S218).

[0262] If the number of insertion requests has not been exceeded, the CPU 21 returns to step S204 to obtain another advertisement content candidate from the advertisement content file 20.
If the number exceeds the required number of publications, the advertisement content distribution process ends.

Each of the above-described processes in FIGS. 20 to 34 is a series of processes for realizing the print service in the present embodiment.

Therefore, in the print service system 100 according to the present embodiment, the user of the portable terminal 3 can reserve the print service content by linking to the portal site computer 2 on the Internet S, and can store the reserved print service content. It can be obtained as a designated print medium from the print station 6 installed in the nearest store.

Next, a process of updating the advertisement content from the advertisement site company computer 5 to the portal site computer 2 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

First, the advertising content update process in the advertising site company computer 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 35, the advertisement site company computer 5 first sets the HTM of the advertisement content to be updated.
An L (Hyper Text Markup Language) file is created (step D1), and an advertising company ID, a posted advertising content URL, an advertising content type classification, and an advertising content name are input (step D2).

Next, the advertisement site company computer 5
Enter the advertisement print media (paper), the number of advertisements, the number of advertisements, the number of advertisements, the start date and time, and the end date and time (step D3). And the upper limit, the user's birthday target, and the user's occupation classification (step D4), update the advertising content file with the entered values (step D5), and transfer the updated advertising content file to the portal site computer 2. Then (step D6), the advertisement content updating process ends.

Next, an advertisement content update process executed by the CPU 21 of the portal site computer 2 in response to the advertisement content update process in the advertisement site company computer 5 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 36, first, the CPU 21 waits for reception of an advertising content file to be updated transmitted from the advertising site company computer 5 (step S).
301), upon receiving the advertisement content file to be updated, the presence / absence of registration of the relevant advertisement content is confirmed with reference to the advertisement content file 20 (step S30).
2).

[0271] If the relevant advertisement content is not registered, the CPU 21 returns to the reception waiting process of step S301, and if the relevant advertisement content is registered, updates the advertisement content file 20 with the received advertisement content file (step S301). S303).

Subsequently, the CPU 21 determines that the advertisement content U
Download the advertising content from the RL (step S
304), input the advertising service fee and the advertising coupon amount into the advertising content file 20 (step S30).
5), an advertisement posting user content category of the advertisement content is set (step S306).

[0273] Further, the CPU 21 inputs the area division, store division, content type, and content company competing with the advertiser of the advertisement posting restriction (step S307), and stores the advertisement content file 2O with each of the inputted values. The advertisement content is updated (step S308), and the advertisement content update process ends.

As described above, in the print service system 100 of the present embodiment, since the fee system of the coupon type print service is adopted, an electronic use coupon can be easily provided to the use member in order to promote the use of the print service. For example, it is possible to easily provide a use coupon for answering a questionnaire and a use coupon for posting the advertisement.

The print station 6 has a function of adjusting the usage fee using the usage coupon balance and a 10-yen coin. For example, a change of 10 to 100 yen in the usage coupon after the registration of the usage member is replaced with the next coupon balance. Since the change settlement method is used, the change return function can be omitted, and the service can be prevented from being deteriorated due to the change of the change.

Further, in the print service system 100 of the present embodiment, the content history file 2I (FIG. 1)
0 (B)), the print service use reservation restriction function can be set at the time of content distribution.
The following use reservation restriction function that reflects the intention of the information provider and the intention of the store where the print station 6 is installed can be provided.

As a function of restricting the use reservation according to the user attribute of the content, for example, a function of restricting the use reservation according to the birth date of the use member can be provided for the content with the age restriction.

As a function of restricting the use reservation according to the intention of the store where the print station is installed, for example, a function of restricting the use reservation of contents that do not suit the visitor layer, such as horse race prediction information, according to the intention of the fast food restaurant can be provided.

Further, in the print service system 100 of the present embodiment, since the advertisement insertion function of the print service by the content distribution can be set, the following advertisement insertion service can be provided.

As a function of posting a pinpoint advertisement to a target demographic of an advertiser based on user attributes, regional characteristics, etc., for example, an advertisement is made only when a user is a female high school student in a product in which a female high school student is the main target demographic. Can be provided.

As a function of appropriately changing the contents of advertisement according to the attributes of the user, the regionality of the print service, and the time zone,
For example, an advertisement for men and an advertisement for women can be prepared, and a function of posting a product advertisement or a coupon suitable for the gender of the user can be provided.

As a function of clarifying the needs with the advertisement that meets the latent needs assumed next from the content classification of the print service, for example, a detached house advertisement or moving based on the attribute of the user who has reserved the print service of the rental information It can provide a function to publish advertisements for shops and the like.

Further, in the print service system 100 of the present embodiment, the advertisement content file 20 (FIG. 1)
4), the advertisement posting restriction function of the print service can be set at the time of content distribution, so that the following advertisement posting restriction function can be provided.

[0284] As a function of restricting the posting of advertising contents contrary to the intention of the shop where the print station is installed, for example, when the fast food shop is the shop where the printing station is installed, a function of limiting the posting of advertisements of competing peers and coffee shops can be provided. .

As a function of restricting the posting of advertising content contrary to the intention of the content provider, for example, a function of restricting the posting of an advertisement of a competitor company of the content provider or advertising content in which the content competes can be provided.

[0286] As a function of restricting the posting of advertisement content according to the attribute of the user, for example, a function of restricting the posting of advertisements that are legally restricted to minors, such as tobacco, alcohol, and pachinko parlors, are provided. it can.

[0287] The same user can be provided with a function of restricting the posting of the same advertisement content during a certain period.

In the above-described embodiment, if the print station 6 is provided with a means for automatically taking in the mobile phone number set in the mobile terminal 3, the user of the mobile terminal 3 has trouble inputting the mobile phone number. Can be omitted.

The system configuration of the print service system 100 described in the above embodiment is an example, and the type and number of portable terminals, the number of print stations, and the installation location can be arbitrarily changed.

[0290]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a desired content reserved for printing from an information terminal having a communication function such as a mobile phone or a PHS, which is moving, to a server on a network is stored in a location close to the user. Therefore, a content delivery type print service can be provided in which the content requesting location and the printing location are separated from each other because the content can be printed and acquired by the output device installed in the printer.

Further, since the difference between the usage fee balance and the content printing fee is used as the purchase price information corresponding to the content, an electronic billing system for promoting the use of the content can be provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to promote the use of the content distribution type print service for newly registered users.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to promote the use of a content distribution type print service to a user who introduces a new member.

[0294] According to the invention described in claim 4, it is possible to provide a user with a use coupon service for answering a questionnaire and to improve the service of a content distribution type print service.

[0295] According to the invention of claim 5, it is possible to provide a user with a use coupon service or the like for posting advertisement content, and to improve the service of the content distribution type print service.

According to the invention of claim 6, the change return function in the output device can be omitted to reduce the cost of the device and prevent the service from being lowered due to the change of change.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a content distribution type print service capable of restricting a print reservation by a user attribute such as a user's age.

[0298] According to the invention of claim 8, it is possible to provide a content distribution restriction service reflecting the intention of the side where the output device is installed.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an advertisement publishing service capable of publishing an appropriate advertisement according to a user attribute.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an advertisement publishing service capable of publishing an advertisement reflecting the intention of the side on which the output device is installed on the content.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an advertisement placement restriction service capable of restricting improper advertisements from being placed on contents reflecting the intention of the side where the output device is installed.

[0302] According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an advertisement placement restriction service capable of restricting improper advertisements from being placed on contents reflecting the intention of a contents provider.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an advertisement placement restriction service capable of restricting advertisements placed on contents according to user attributes such as the age of the user.

According to the fourteenth aspect, the same advertisement can be prevented from being posted to the same user in a short period of time, and a more effective advertisement posting service can be provided.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, a desired content reserved for printing from an information terminal having a communication function, such as a mobile phone or a PHS, which is being moved to a server on a network, is installed in a place close to the user. It is possible to provide an electronic billing system for promoting the use of contents while distributing and printing to the output device.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, a desired content reserved for printing by a server on a network from an information terminal having a communication function, such as a mobile phone or a PHS, is installed in a place close to the user. The printed output device can receive and print from the server.

[0307] According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the desired content reserved for printing from an information terminal having a communication function, such as a mobile phone or a PHS, which is being moved to a server on a network, is installed in a place near the user. In the content delivery type print service that can be obtained by printing on the output device that has been separated, and the content request location and the print location are separated,
An effective billing system can be provided.

The charging system stores and manages the difference between the usage fee balance and the content printing fee as purchase price information corresponding to the content, and updates the usage fee balance when the printing of the content is completed. In addition, an electronic use coupon can be easily provided to the user in order to promote the use of the content.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a print service system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of each control system of a portable terminal 3 and an information provider computer 4 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of each control system of an advertisement site company computer 5 and a print station 6 in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control system of the portal site computer 2 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a portal site computer 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the portable terminal 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the print station 6 of FIG. 1;

8 is a diagram showing a specific example of a usage member file 2B stored in the storage device 26 of FIG.

9 is a diagram showing a specific example of the use reservation information file 2F stored in the storage device 26 of FIG. 5 (FIG. 9A) and a specific example of the print service unit price file G (FIG. 9B). is there.

10 is a diagram showing a specific example of a print format file 2H (FIG. 5A) and a specific example of a content history file 2I (FIG. 6B) stored in the storage device 26 of FIG.

11 is a diagram showing a specific example of a user history file 2K stored in the storage device 26 of FIG.

12 is a diagram showing a specific example of a content user history file 2L stored in the storage device 26 of FIG.

13 is a diagram showing a specific example of an advertisement posting history file 2M stored in the storage device 26 of FIG.

14 is a diagram showing a specific example of an advertisement content file 20 stored in the storage device 26 of FIG.

15 is a diagram showing a portal site menu screen (FIG. (A)) displayed on the portable terminal 3 of FIG. 6 and a transition state of the member registration screen (FIGS. (B) to (D)).

16 is an information search screen (FIG. 16A) displayed on the portable terminal 3 in FIG. 6 and a use reservation confirmation screen (FIG. 16B).
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a print format selection screen (FIG. 10C), a print reservation confirmation screen (FIG. 10D), and a usage fee guidance mail screen (FIG. 10E).

17 is a diagram showing a transition state (FIGS. (A) and (B)) of a menu screen displayed on the print station 6 of FIG. 7 and a purchase price display screen (FIG. (C)).

18 is a diagram showing a screen during content printing (FIG. (A)) and an advertisement coupon guide screen (FIG. (B)) displayed on the print station 6 in FIG. 7;

19 is a diagram showing a specific example of a content print medium conversion process executed in the use reservation information printing process of the print station 6 of FIG. 7;

20 is a flowchart showing a user member registration process executed in the mobile terminal 3 of FIG.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a part of a user member registration process executed in the portal site computer 2 of FIG.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a user member registration process following FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a part of a use reservation registration process executed in the portable terminal 3 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a use reservation registration process following FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a user authentication process executed in the portal site computer 2 of FIG.

26 is a flowchart showing a content use guidance process executed in the information provider computer 4 of FIG.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a part of a use reservation information receiving process executed in the portal site computer 2 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing the use reservation information receiving process following FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing print content generation processing executed in the portal site computer 2 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing a part of a usage reservation information printing process executed in the print station 6 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing the use reservation information printing process following FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing a part of use reservation information printing processing executed in the portal site computer 2 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing the use reservation information printing process following FIG. 32;

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing an advertisement content distribution process executed in the portal site computer 2 of FIG.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing an advertising content update process executed in the advertising site company computer 5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing an advertisement content update process executed in the portal site computer 2 of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 communication carrier 2 portal site computer 2B user member file 2F usage reservation information file 2G print service unit price file 2H print format file 2I content history file 2K user history file 2L content usage history file 2M advertisement posting history file 2O advertising content file 3 Mobile terminal 4 Information provider computer 5 Advertising site operator computer 6 Print station 21, 31, 61 CPU 22, 32, 62 Display unit 23, 33, 63 Input unit 24, 64 Internet transmission control unit 25, 35, 65 RAM 26, 36, 66 Storage device 27, 37, 67 Storage medium 29, 38, 70 Bus 34 Wireless communication control unit 69 Coin insertion device 100 Print service system N Communication network S interface -Net

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) KC49 KC58 LB12 5K025 BB10

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A content distribution system for making a print reservation of a content at a server on a network using an information terminal, and printing out the reserved content from an arbitrary output device, wherein the information terminal comprises: Communication means for accessing a print reservation homepage established on the server and printing reservation of desired content on the homepage, wherein the server establishes the print reservation homepage on the network; Management means for managing the usage charge balance for each user ID, and when a desired content is reserved for printing on the homepage by the information terminal, the reservation information is stored in correspondence with the user ID of the information terminal, The difference between the usage charge balance and the content printing charge is Storage means for storing as purchase price information; receiving the user ID transmitted from the output device; referring to the reservation information and purchase price information stored in the storage means based on the user ID; Communication means for transmitting purchase price information corresponding to the content to the output device, wherein the output device includes an input device for inputting a user ID and a cash input device for inputting cash, and the input device Communication means for transmitting the user ID input from the server to the server and receiving the content and the purchase price information corresponding to the content transmitted from the server; and a price matching the purchase price information received by the communication means. When is inserted in cash from the cash input device,
A content distribution system, comprising: printing means for printing received content. 2. In the server, a member registration page is set on the print reservation homepage, and the management means stores the member information registered on the member registration page by the information terminal into a user ID of the information terminal.
2. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the content distribution system manages each user, and adds a predetermined reward amount to a usage fee balance of the newly registered user stored in the storage unit. 3. In the server, an input item for inputting another user introduced on the print reservation homepage is set, and the management means sets another entry introduced on the print reservation homepage by the information terminal. 2. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein when a user is input, a predetermined reward amount is added to the usage fee balance of said other user stored in said storage means. 4. In the server, a questionnaire response item for inputting a response to a questionnaire on the print reservation homepage is set, and the management means receives the questionnaire response item on the print reservation homepage by the information terminal. If
2. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined reward amount is added to the usage fee balance of the information terminal user stored in the storage unit. 5. In the server, a designation item for designating the printing of an advertisement content at the time of printing the content on the print reservation homepage is set, and the management means uses the information terminal to display the advertisement content on the print reservation homepage. 2. The contents distribution system according to claim 1, wherein when printing is designated, a predetermined reward amount is added to the usage fee balance of the information terminal user stored in the storage unit. 6. The output device, wherein the cash input device allows only a predetermined coin to be inserted, and the purchase amount information is settled by the amount of the predetermined coin inserted from the cash input device to be changed. The balance information is transmitted to the server by the communication means. In the server, the communication means receives the balance information transmitted from the output device, and the management means controls the balance received by the communication means. 2. The contents distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the amount information is added to the usage fee balance of the information terminal user stored in the storage unit. 7. The server, wherein the storage unit stores user attribute information for each of the user IDs, and stores restriction information for restricting print reservation according to a user attribute for each of the contents. When a desired content is reserved for printing on the print reservation homepage by the information terminal,
2. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the print reservation is limited based on the attribute information of the information terminal user and the content restriction information stored in the storage unit. 8. The server, wherein the storage unit stores distribution restriction information of the content specified in the output device, and the management unit stores a content corresponding to the output device that transmitted the user ID. 2. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein, when transmitting the content, the distribution of the content to the output device is restricted based on the distribution restriction information stored in the storage unit. 9. The server, wherein the storage unit stores a user attribute for each of the user IDs and stores a posting condition based on the user attribute for each advertisement content to be posted on the content. When a desired content is reserved for printing on the print reservation homepage by the information terminal,
2. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the advertisement content to be posted on the content is determined based on the user attribute of the information terminal user stored in the storage unit and the posting condition. 10. The server, wherein the storage unit stores an advertisement publishing condition designated by the output device for each advertisement content to be posted on the content, and wherein the management unit outputs the output of the user ID transmitted by the user. 2. The content distribution according to claim 1, wherein when transmitting the corresponding content to the device, the advertisement content to be posted on the content is determined based on the advertisement posting condition stored in the storage unit. system. 11. The server, wherein the storage means stores posting restriction information designated by the output device for each advertisement content to be posted on the content, and wherein the management means outputs the user ID transmitted from the output device. 2. The content distribution according to claim 1, wherein when transmitting the corresponding content to the device, the advertising content to be posted on the content is restricted based on the posting restriction information stored in the storage unit. system. 12. In the server, the storage unit stores posting restriction information designated by a content provider for each advertising content to be posted on the content, and the management unit transmits the user ID. 2. The content according to claim 1, wherein when transmitting the corresponding content to the output device, the advertising content to be posted on the content is restricted based on the posting restriction information stored in the storage unit. Delivery system. 13. The server, wherein the storage means stores a user attribute for each of the user IDs, and stores posting restriction information based on the user attribute for each advertising content to be posted on the content. When a desired content is reserved for printing on the print reservation homepage by the information terminal,
2. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein advertisement content to be posted on the content is restricted based on the user attribute of the information terminal user and the posting restriction information stored in the storage unit. 14. In the server, the storage unit stores publication period information for each advertisement content to be published in the content, and the management unit stores the content corresponding to the output device that transmitted the user ID. 2. A content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein, when transmitting the advertisement content, the posting of the advertising content exceeding the posting period on the content is restricted based on the posting period information stored in the storage unit. . 15. A server connected to an information terminal and an output device via a network, wherein a management means for setting up a print reservation home page on the network and managing a usage charge balance for each user ID of the information terminal. When the desired content is reserved for printing on the homepage by the information terminal, the reservation information is stored corresponding to the user ID of the information terminal, and the difference between the usage fee balance and the content printing fee is determined. Storage means for storing as purchase price information corresponding to the content, receiving the user ID transmitted from the output device, referring to the reservation information and purchase price information stored in the storage means based on the user ID, Communication means for transmitting the corresponding content and the purchase price information corresponding to the content to the output device. Server, wherein the door. 16. An output device connected to a server via a network, comprising: input means for inputting a user ID; cash input means for inputting cash; and a server for inputting a user ID input from the input means to the server. And a communication unit for receiving the content transmitted from the server and the purchase price information corresponding to the content, and inputting the cash amount from the cash input unit with the purchase price information received by the communication unit. If so,
An output device, comprising: printing means for printing received content. 17. When a content reserved for printing by a user on a network using an information terminal is printed out from an output device, accounting information corresponding to the content printing is calculated and stored in correspondence with the user. A billing system that enables printing of the contents when the billing information is settled by the output device, wherein the information terminal accesses a print reservation homepage established on a server on the network, and Communication means for making a print reservation of desired content on the network, the server opens the print reservation homepage on the network, stores a usage charge balance for each user ID of the information terminal,
When a desired content is reserved for printing on the homepage by the information terminal, the reservation information is stored corresponding to the user ID of the information terminal, and a difference between the usage fee balance and the content printing fee is stored in the content. A storage unit for storing as the corresponding purchase amount information; receiving the user ID transmitted from the output device; referring to the reservation information and the purchase amount information stored in the storage unit based on the user ID; A communication unit for transmitting the content and the purchase price information corresponding to the content to the output device; and when the communication unit receives the completion of the printout from the output device, the communication unit stores the usage stored for each user ID of the information terminal. Updating means for updating a charge balance, wherein the output device inputs an input device for inputting a user ID and cash. A cash input device, transmitting the user ID input from the input device to the server, receiving the content transmitted from the server and the purchase price information corresponding to the content, and completing the printout of the content. Communication means for transmitting to the server, if the amount coinciding with the purchase amount information received by this communication means is inserted in cash from the cash input device,
A billing system comprising: a printing unit that prints received content.