JP2001243383A - System for substitutively providing online data print for temporarily holding data by conversion to unified form - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an economical print substitution service method, which does not require individual dealing by making the main body of print service uniformly deal with a computer virus or a large number of data forms for print while utilizing a communication function. SOLUTION: The main body of preparation issues a distributing instruction from its own communication equipment 1 to a server device 3 in the main body of print service and transmits the image data of printed matter such as leaflet for sale, for example. After it is checked whether the computer virus is not mixed in the received image data, the server device 3 in the main body of print service converts the format of the image data to the printed matter data of the unified form capable of processing in a print enable information terminal 4 and temporarily stores these data. A main body 2 of utilization communicates with the server device 3 by operating the print enable information terminal 4 installed in the closest convenience store or the like and prints the printed matter data by authenticating the right of access or putting in charges.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing agent service for distributing printed matter between contractors or from a contractor to the public by utilizing a data communication network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A company lends a salesperson or the like a portable information terminal or an Internet-capable mobile phone that can use services such as i-mode (trade name) for computerization. It is difficult to carry. Therefore, when a print creator (hereinafter referred to as a “creation subject”) and a print recipient (hereinafter referred to as a “subject”) are remote, it is difficult to safely transfer the printed material, and materials such as printed materials necessary for business (hereinafter, “ You must go to the nearest office or other office to receive the printed matter. As a result, at present, the created printed matter cannot be used immediately, and unnecessary printed matter must be carried. There is also a service that allows printing devices and applications to be used in stores, but since data is individually carried on media such as floppy (registered trademark) disks, there are problems in terms of anti-virus measures and adaptation to various applications, and widespread use. I haven't.

[0003] When a company distributes printed materials to an unspecified number of customers, means such as distribution of flyers at stores or facsimile communication are generally used, but flyers must be printed in advance and lack of immediacy. There was a point. On the other hand, in the case of facsimile, the print quality is limited, and there is inconvenience that the creator pays a communication fee. As a method of collecting the usage fee of the FAX distribution from the user, there is a method of storing the price together with the communication fee using a storage service of the dial Q2 (trade name). Resistance has hindered its spread.

On the other hand, there is a need among individual users of the data communication apparatus to print image data provided as contents such as websites on a network with high image quality. Due to the shortening, it is not always advisable for an individual to have a high-performance printing device at present, and management of consumables and the like is troublesome.

[0005] In a convenience store network, it is common to provide a printing service using a commercial copier in the store, and to provide a storage service such as a utility bill, a purchase price, an insurance fee, and the like ( Hereinafter, such service entities are simply referred to as “print service entities” and “storage agency service entities”).

[0006]

As described above, conventionally, there has been a demand for a method of distributing printed matter that enables high-quality printed matter to be delivered from a creator of the printed matter to a user at a remote place with promptness and continuity. But there wasn't enough. Accordingly, the present invention provides an economical print proxy service method in which a print service entity uses a communication function to uniformly deal with computer viruses and a large number of print data formats, and does not need to individually deal with them. The purpose is to:

Further, according to the present invention, when a printed matter is distributed to an unspecified number of users, the printed matter can be specified by the selection of the user, and a charge corresponding to the reception of the printed matter is rationally collected from the user. Another object of the present invention is to provide a means for distributing printed matter that can be used.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a remote printing service means which can be easily used from a communication device of a general communication user and can easily obtain high quality print output.

[0009]

The invention described in claim 1 of the present application is a method in which printing is performed by a printing service entity having an online management system and a store network having a printable information terminal, The print data transmitted from the subject is received by the computer center of the print service, and the server device of the center converts the print data into a unified format and temporarily stores it in the center or the storage device of the printable information terminal, The above object is solved by a print proxy realizing method in which a print subject is selected by a user operating a printable information terminal at a store and the print data is printed when necessary access authority is authenticated.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the printable information terminal authenticates the necessary access right to the print data of the user, if the print data is data to be stored in the printable information terminal, the printable information terminal is used. The above problem is solved by the print proxy realizing method according to claim 1, wherein the fee is collected and stored by a fee collection means in the printer.

[0011] The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is characterized in that the server device at the center notifies the registered communication device of the use subject when printing of the printed matter at the printable information terminal becomes possible. The above problem is solved by a print proxy realizing method according to claim 1 or 2.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As described above, according to the present invention, by arranging a large number of public printing devices connected to a server device having a unified data management function and a window function, it is possible to receive data in the same manner as an electronic mail. It is intended to provide a multi-purpose printing service network capable of distributing printed matter without confirming the location of the user. Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In each figure, the arrow indicates data transmission, and the white arrow indicates movement of the subject.

[0013]

First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention for distributing a printed matter from a creator as a contractor to a pre-registered user. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a communication device which is a creation subject, 2 denotes a use subject, 3 denotes a server device which is a print service subject, and 4 denotes a printable information terminal installed in a store. As the store network, use of a convenience store store network managed by a POS system is assumed.

The creator issues a distribution instruction from its own communication device 1 to the server 3 which is a print service entity, and downloads a printed matter, such as a sales pamphlet, by directly downloading or attaching it to an e-mail. Send print data. The server 3 mainly performing the print service checks whether the received print data contains a computer virus or the like, and then converts the format of the print data into print data in a unified format that can be processed by the printable information terminal 4. Then, it is temporarily stored in the storage device in the server device 3 or the printable information terminal 4. As a storage management method in this case, there are a method of managing for each of the contracted creating entities and a method of managing for each of the use entities which are the distribution destinations. If the user has an information terminal such as a mobile phone, the server 3 can notify the terminal of each user using a means such as an e-mail or a voice mail that the printing is enabled by the server device 3. .

[0015] The user 2 goes to the nearest store and operates the printable information terminal 4. FIG. 2 shows an example of a printable information terminal 4 also serving as a multi-function copier provided in a store. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a liquid crystal display screen also serving as a touch panel, 11 denotes a fee collection unit, 12 denotes a scanner unit, and 13 denotes a printer. Department. The terminal 4 is connected to the center server device 3 via a dedicated line or the like. User 2 is display screen 1
0 is used to select print data. There are two methods of selection: a method of selecting from a list downloaded from the server device 3 and a method of directly specifying an identification code of a print. In addition, there are a method of designating a group of managed printed materials as one unit and a method of selecting individual printed materials. In this embodiment, the operation means is a touch panel, but other means such as a keyboard may be used.

After selecting the print data, the user 2 inputs a predetermined user ID or password, and the server device 3 performs an authentication process to determine whether the user 2 has an access right to the print data, and Is confirmed, the print data is transmitted. After confirming the print image on the display screen 10, the user 2 performs printing by operating the touch panel. User 2 in this service
It is not necessary to charge a fee, and the server apparatus 3 totals the number of printed sheets and the like for each usage entity and notifies the communication device of the creation entity 1. The notification frequency to the creator 1 may be changed as necessary.
Contact, daily, weekly, monthly. After the expiration of the predetermined service period, the server device 3 deletes the stored print data from the storage device.

In the present service, since highly confidential data is handled, it is a problem to safely transfer data from the creator 1 to the user 2. Therefore, the creator 1 encrypts the print data by himself using a password or the like by a known means, transmits the password to the user 2 by another method, and inputs the password when the user prints, so that the print data is If the encryption can be decrypted, the data can be transferred without leaking to a third party on the way. However, it is necessary to use the same data format and encryption / decryption method adopted by the print service entity.

FIG. 3 shows another printable information terminal 4 'installed in a store. This terminal is a communication-only terminal having no scanner function, and includes a liquid crystal display screen 10 also serving as a touch panel, a fee collection unit 11, a printer unit 13, and a read / write device 14 for a storage medium such as a smart media compact flash. The space availability is superior to that of the printable information terminal 4. The terminals 4 and 4 'can be properly used depending on the situation of the store.

[0019]

Embodiment 2 FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention for distributing a flyer, service information, and the like from the creating entity 1 which is a contract operator to the public. In the figure, the use entity 2 is a customer of the creation entity, and obtains the contents of the prints and the identification code information of the obtainable prints by connecting to the website of the creation entity or by means such as e-mail or other public media. The creator 1 sends the print data to the server device 3 without specifying the distribution destination.
After performing the same checks and data format conversions as described above, print data is stored in the storage device for each producing entity.

When the user 2 operates the touch panel of the printable terminal device 4 of the store to select desired print data, the printable terminal device 4 displays the charge assigned to the print data on the liquid crystal display screen 10. . User 2
After checking the fee and the print image, the required number of copies is input to the touch panel, and a fee corresponding to the number of copies is input to the fee collection unit 11 for printing. Since charging is performed for the normal printing, the fee for the printing that is not performed normally is refunded from the change return port. Upon confirming the normal end, the printable terminal device 4 sends the deposit data to the server device 3 and
Performs predetermined data processing based on a storage agency contract between the storage agency and the creator 1. The fee may not be charged to the usage entity 2 but may be paid by the creation entity 1 as in the first embodiment.

The same embodiment can also be used as a means for an image content site on the Internet to sell paid contents such as maps and music scores to customers. A means for moving to the reception screen of the print service entity is provided on the website of the user 1 under the contract so that the customer can move smoothly. After confirming the application from the customer, the server device 3 requests the server device of the user 1 to transmit the print data, receives the data, performs predetermined processing, and notifies the customer of the reception code by e-mail to the customer. . The customer inputs a reception code, a printed material ID, and the like to the printable terminal device 4 at the store, receives the printed material data, and acquires the printed material. At this time, it is convenient to bring the portable information terminal that has received the code, since it is possible to input while referring to the screen of the terminal. The print service entity performs settlement processing based on the storage agent contract with the user entity 1 and collects a prescribed fee. Note that print data that is expected to be used in large numbers may be downloaded to each printable terminal device 4 in advance and temporarily stored.

[0022]

Third Embodiment FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention in which an electronic mail is used for data transmission means. The customer 5 assumed in the present embodiment is mainly an individual PC user, and uses the printable information terminal 4 as a remote print service for printing print data managed by the user with high image quality. The customer accesses the web site mainly for the print service from his / her own communication device, obtains the member ID according to the instruction, attaches the member ID to the server device 3 by e-mail, and transmits the print data. After confirming the normal end of the predetermined check and conversion, the server device 3 sends an application confirmation mail to the customer 5 and stores the print data in the mail account of the customer 5 provided in the storage device. The customer 5 sends the ID and the like to the user 2 who wants to go to the store himself or receive the printed matter,
The customer 5 or the user 2 operates the printable information terminal 4 in the same procedure as in the second embodiment, pays the fee for the printing proxy service, and prints the required number of copies. The print data can be encrypted in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0023]

[Effect] In the present invention, in order to distribute materials to a sales person of a company or to distribute a printed matter from a company or a network operator to the public, the immediacy of a printed matter from a creator of a printed matter to a distant user.
High quality printed matter can be delivered and received at any time. It can also be used as a remote printing service for general communication users to obtain high quality printed matter.

In particular, if a 24-hour convenience store is used as a store network, most users can easily visit the store at any time, and the collection and settlement of the payment can be made easier by combining with a conventional storage agency service. Becomes In addition, if a printable information terminal is arranged in a store or a convenience store in which management forms are unified, a high-quality printing service can be provided at a low fee due to mass production effects.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a printable information terminal.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another example of the printable information terminal.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication device of preparation subject 2 Subject of use 3 Server device 4 Printable information terminal 5 Customer 10 Liquid crystal display screen 11 Charge collection part 12 Scanner part 13 Printer part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A method in which printing is performed by a printing service entity having an online management system and a store network having a printable information terminal, wherein print data transmitted from a creating entity is sent to a computer center of the printing service entity. The server device of the center converts the print data into a unified format and temporarily stores it in the center or in the storage device of the printable information terminal, and the user operates the printable information terminal at the store to operate the printable data terminal. A print proxy realizing method for printing the print data when data is selected and necessary access authority is authenticated. 2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of certifying a necessary access right to the print data of the user in the printable information terminal, if the print data is data to be stored in a distribution fee, the print service is provided by a charge collection unit in the printable information terminal. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the main body stores the fee on a proxy basis. 3. A server device at a center notifies a communication device of a use subject when printing of a printed matter at a printable information terminal becomes possible.
The printing proxy realization method described.