JP2002010061A - Book mark production system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simply and promptly produce a book mark by an office which received an order of producing the book mark from an order issuing office. SOLUTION: A laboratory 100 receives an order file 70 from a shop 10 via communication lines 92, 98. An order receiving server 102 in the laboratory 100 reads a template 20 as a sample of a post card which has previously been recorded based on the received order file 70 to correct it, and further a customer image 17 is synthesized to produce post card data 21. A post card 140 corresponding to the post card data 21 is printed by a printer 152 by means of a print server 142. On the other hand, a finishing sample 86 of the post card is printed by a printer 112 connected to the order receiving server 102, to be affixed to a delivery bag 150. The post card 140 is packaged with the sample 86 affixed to the delivery bag 150 as a mark to be shipped.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system and a method for creating a postcard such as a postcard.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a letter tag print service for printing letter cards such as postcards, there is a demand that a customer attaches a photograph or picture taken by himself to a letter tag to create a letter tag with originality.

[0003] However, duplicating a copyrighted work by including it in a postcard is a violation of copyright. Therefore, it is necessary to create such a postcard containing a copyrighted work at a factory (lab) provided with a facility capable of counting the number of copies and defined by a contract with a copyright holder. The lab-prepared letter will be delivered to the store where the order was placed again.

Heretofore, all orders for such postcards that need to be created in a laboratory have been made by documents.
Therefore, photos and pictures provided by customers were also sent to the lab in written form.

[0005]

However, in the method of accepting an order by documents, the customer cannot confirm the finished state in advance, so it is difficult to say that a satisfactory order can be made. There is no opportunity to correct mistakes. Also, the method relying on documents is problematic in situations where quick delivery is desired. Further, in the lab, it takes time to correctly insert the completed letter into a packaging means such as an envelope on which the letter is delivered and to enclose a billing slip for the letter, which is one time delay in shipping. Was a factor. In addition, when there is an inquiry on the delivery date from the store, there is no means to manage the processing status of the order, so there is a cumbersome aspect of manually checking the stage of the product or data by hand. there were.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and a method for preparing a letter tag which can solve the drawbacks of the prior art, make the work in a laboratory easy and quick, and can easily confirm the delivery date.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a letter tag creating system in which an order receiving place that receives a letter order creating order from an order place creates a letter tag based on the order. The order receiving office includes first and second recording means for recording common basic postcard data representing print contents of the postcard.

The order place further includes an image input means for inputting, as an image signal, a unique image to be combined with the basic letter data, a letter data correcting means for inputting correction contents of the basic letter data, an image signal and the basic letter data. Order file creating means for storing the contents of the correction in one order file, and transfer means for transferring the created order file to the order receiving place via a communication line.

The order receiving station further reads out and modifies the basic letter data recorded in the second recording means based on the transferred order file, and composes the image signal to create order letter data. Including means.

According to the present invention, the order file created at the order place is transferred to the order place via the communication line. The corrected contents of the basic letter data in the order file are transferred as text data. The order receiving place reads out and corrects the basic letter data recorded in the order receiving place based on the order file, and combines the corrected basic letter data with an image signal to create order letter data. When the order form data is obtained, the form and the finished sample of the form are printed.
The finished sample is attached to the packaging means, and the corresponding letter tag is stored in the packaging means.

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a letter tag creating system according to the present invention; In each drawing, elements that are not directly related to the configuration of the present invention are omitted. The same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a shop that provides a customer with the letter tag creating system according to the present invention. The store 10 may be plural, and may be separated from each other at remote locations. FIG. 2 representatively shows one of the plurality of stores.

In the store 10, a post card synthesizing device 12 is installed. This is based on information such as pictures, characters, images, etc.
This is a device that combines the postcard data 21 and presents a finished sample 86 of the postcard to the customer. The post card synthesizing device 12 includes an image scanner 14 and a color printer.
Connected to 16. In FIG. 2, the scanner 14 and the printer 16 are housed in the same housing as the postcard synthesizing apparatus 12 and are arranged integrally, but they need not necessarily be arranged integrally. This is because even if they are separately arranged, if they are connected so as to be able to exchange data as described below, they are sufficient as an embodiment of the present invention. The image scanner 14 is a device that reads a manuscript 15 such as a photograph or a picture brought by a customer, converts it into digital image data (hereinafter referred to as a “customer image”), and inputs the digital image data to the postcard synthesizing device 12. Printer 16 is for customer and store copies 88, 89
Each of the copies 88 and 89 includes a finished sample 86 of a post card synthesized by the post card synthesizing device 12.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of the post card synthesizing apparatus 12. As the postcard synthesizing device 12, for example, a personal computer can be used. As described above, the post card synthesizing device 12 is a device that reads a digital image signal from the image scanner 14 or the recording medium 18 and synthesizes an image with the template 20 held in advance. Auxiliary storage device (media drive) 22
Is a device for reading the recording medium 18 brought by the customer.
If the customer brings in the data recording medium 18, the reading is performed from the auxiliary storage device 22, and if the customer brings in the document 15, the reading is performed from the image scanner 14.

Although only one auxiliary storage device 22 is shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of different storage devices may be provided. For example, a PC card reader or a floppy (registered trademark) disk drive may be provided. Correspondingly, the readable recording medium 18 is a floppy disk, smart media, memory stick, CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-
Only Memory). Although the auxiliary storage device 22 is provided integrally with the post card synthesizing device 12 in FIG. 3, it may be provided separately as an external storage device, and it goes without saying that the auxiliary storage device 22 can be added.

The post card synthesizing device 12 has a memory 24, which is connected to the auxiliary storage device 22 via a signal line 28 and records the customer image signal 17 read from the recording medium 18. . In addition, the memory 24 also stores a customer image 17 read from the scanner 14 into a CPU (Central
Recording can be performed via a processing unit (26).

Hard disk (hereinafter abbreviated as HDD)
32 is a rewritable recording device. Any type of rewritable recording device such as a magnetic type or an optical type may be used. Various templates 20 are recorded in the HDD 32 in advance, and the template 20 shown in FIG. 3 is representative of one of them. Template 20 is a sample postcard. That is, it includes a background image 34 and a copyrighted work image 36 serving as a postcard pattern, character information 38 in the postcard, and layout information 40 of those elements 34, 36, and 38. The background image 34 and the copyrighted work image 36 are image data,
38 and the layout information 40 are text data.

The layout information 40 is information for determining the arrangement and size of the data 34, 36, and 38 on the post card, and can be described in a predetermined format. In this embodiment, an original developed format is used.
(HyperText Markup Language) can be used instead. On the other hand, the copyrighted work image 36 is a digital image protected by copyright.

The CPU 26 is an apparatus for synthesizing the customer image 17 recorded in the memory 24 with the read template 20 to create a postcard desired by the customer. The CPU 26 is connected to the memory 24, the scanner 14, and the HDD 32 by signal lines 42, 44, 30, and 46, respectively, and can control these devices. CPU 26 is a customer image on memory 24
17 and the template 20 on the HDD 32 are read. Note that the CPU 26 may have a calendar function of changing the type of the template 20 to be read depending on the time when the order of the customer is received. For example, a template for a New Year's card can be read out at the end of the year, and a template for a summer visit can be read out in the summer.

The CPU 26 combines the read template 20 with the customer image signal 17. That is, the work of adding the customer image 17 to the template 20 and adding the layout information for the customer image 17 to the layout information 40 is performed. Further, the character data 38 in the template 20 is modified to be unique to the customer. In this way, the postcard data 21 based on the template 20 is created.

The synthesis of the post card data 21 is performed by operating the display device 52. The display device 52 is a device that is operated by an operator, gives an operation signal 48 to the CPU 26, combines the postcard data 21, and displays the combined postcard data 21. The display device 52 is connected to the CPU 26 via signal lines 48 and 50. The display device 52 is of a touch panel type, and position information (touched position coordinates) on the touch panel 54 (FIG. 2) of the display device is directly input as a position on the display device 52. Note that a mouse, tablet, or other pointing device may be used instead of the touch panel type as long as the position coordinates can be input.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an example of an operation screen of the touch panel 54. HD on the right half of the touch panel 54
The various templates 20 read from D32 are displayed, and the upper left one is tentatively selected and the outline is highlighted. Below each template 20, an arrow button 60 for changing the temporary selection of the template and an OK button 62 for inputting the selection completion are displayed. On the left half of the touch panel, post card data 21 obtained by synthesizing the customer image 17 with the currently provisionally selected template 20
Is displayed.

By operating the touch panel 54, the customer image 17 is displayed.
You can modify the layout such as moving and cropping. Further, character information 38 to be described on the post card can be set.
The layout is modified as needed for the left postcard data 21 based on the temporarily selected template 20.
This is done by displaying a frame or pointer. Areas surrounded by frames of various shapes can be cut out, and the entire customer image 17 can be moved with a pointer. Further, a keyboard including at least Hiragana / Katakana syllabary and alphanumeric characters and a Kana-Kanji conversion key are displayed on the touch panel, and character information unique to the customer can be input. As a result, the content 38 to be described in the postcard, such as the customer's name and contact information, can be modified. Confirmation of input and transition to the next screen are performed by an OK button 62, and an NG button (not shown) is provided to enable correction of input contents.
A function of returning to the previous screen by providing an NDO button (not shown) can also be added. Furthermore, words frequently used in New Year's cards and summer greetings can be displayed, and the words can be input by one key operation.

The CPU 26 shown in FIG. 3 receives the above-mentioned operation from the display device 52 as an operation signal 48, and synthesizes the postcard data 21 according to the operation signal 48. When the combining is completed, the CPU 26 displays a screen prompting the input of the order information 68 on the display device 52 (not shown). The order information 68 is information for specifying an order and displaying its contents. The order information 68 includes a customer name and a customer's telephone number, a reception date, a scheduled finish date, a reception number for specifying an order, a store name where a finished product is delivered, a store code, a store telephone number, an order type, an order quantity, and the like. included. Note that the order type is the type of postcard on which the postcard is printed, and is classified into types such as government-made / private, new year's card, and summer visit. If the order type is not specified by the customer, the order type corresponding to the selected template 20 is automatically selected, but may be selected by the customer. In addition, the order information 68 may include any information in order to respond to a customer order.

When the customer inputs the order information 68, the CPU 26
Creates the order file 70 shown in FIG. The order file 70 is a file containing the contents of the postcard and transmitted to the factory (lab) 100 that actually creates the postcard. The template code 72 is
This is information for identifying the template 20 on which the postcard data 21 is synthesized. There is no need to include the template 20 or the postcard data 21 in the order file 70 itself. Same template as recorded in HDD32
This is because 20 are also stored in the lab 100.

The coded image 73 is such that the customer image data 17
It has been compression-coded by U26. Compression encoding is performed, for example, by using JPEG (Joint Photographic coding Experts).
Group) method may be used. The customer image layout information 74 is the layout information on the postcard of the customer image 17 set by the touch panel operation. When the layout information 74 is received by the lab 100, the lab 10
It is added to the layout information 40 of the template 20 stored on the 0 side. The customer character information 76 is character information unique to the customer input by the customer through the touch panel operation. The character information 76 is replaced with the character information 38 in the template 20 on the laboratory 100 side.

As is apparent from FIG. 8, in this embodiment,
The entire postcard is not transmitted as image data. Only necessary parts are separated as image data, and the other parts are separated as text data and transmitted. In this embodiment, only the encoded image data 73 needs to be transmitted as image data. Other information 68, 72, 74,
All 76 can be transmitted as text data, thereby improving data transmission efficiency. However, it goes without saying that a method of transmitting the entire postcard as image data can also be adopted. In that case, only the order information 68 in FIG. 8 is transmitted as text data, and the other information 72, 73, 74, 76 is transmitted as image data. According to this method, although the amount of communication increases, it is possible to create a more original postcard that is not limited to templates.

When the order file 70 is created by the CPU 26 and recorded in the memory 24, the stored customer image
17 is no longer used, but is kept in the memory 24 for a certain period. This is for utilizing the re-creation and re-transmission of the order file 70 when the creation and transmission of the order file 70 is interrupted. After the successful transmission of the order file 70 is confirmed, the customer image 17 may be deleted from the memory 24 in order to secure a recording capacity.

Referring again to FIG. The CPU 26 is also connected to the printer 16 and the communication adapter 80 by output signal lines 82 and 84. When the customer approves the finished state of the postcard, the CPU 26 creates the above-mentioned order file 70 and controls the printer 16 to instruct printing of the finished sample 86 based on the postcard data 21. The finished sample 86 is printed on the customer copy 88 shown in FIG. Note that the copy 89 for the store 10 can be printed with the same contents. On the copy for customer 88, in addition to the finished sample 86, order information 68 is printed. Of the order information 68, the name of the store to which the postcard is delivered is, for the convenience of the customer, the store 10 where the reception was performed.
It may be a different store. In addition, the customer arrives at the store after the finishing date (delivery date) included in the order information 68 and receives the finished product in principle. However, as described later, the customer may receive the finishing date from the store 10 and come to the store. .

The finished sample 86 is not the size of a postcard. This is because the CPU 26 has, as a software function, a print protection function that cannot print a postcard in the size of a postcard.
Such a function is required because if the postcard template 20 includes the copyrighted work 36, it is copyright infringement to duplicate the work 36 at the store 10.
Therefore, only to the extent that the finished sample 86 is printed on the customer copy 88 in a smaller size than the postcard,
Printing at the store 10 is possible. Note that postcards that do not have a risk of copyright infringement may not be transmitted to the laboratory 100 but may be created directly at the store 10. In that case, a photographic paper for postcard printing is prepared in the printer 16 connected to the postcard synthesizing apparatus 12, printed on the spot, pasted on a postcard or a private postcard, and provided to the customer. .

The communication adapter 80 shown in FIG. 2 is a device for transferring the order file 70 from the store 10 to the laboratory 100 shown in FIG. The CPU 26 can transmit, via the communication adapter 80, the order file 70 shown in FIG. 8, in which the encoded image data 73 and the text data 68, 72, 74, 76 such as template codes are integrated. it can. Communication adapter 80
As shown in FIG. 2, DSU (Digita
l Service Unit (90) via ISDN (Integrated Servi
ces Digital Network) connected to line 92.

As described above, in the store 10, customer orders are put together into one order file 70 by the post card synthesizing apparatus 12, and dial-up connection is made through the ISDN line 92, so that the order shown in FIG. To the lab 100. In addition, it connects to the Internet provider, and via the Internet, the order receiving server 102 of the lab 100
It may be accessed. This is because data transmission efficiency may be higher through the Internet than through dial-up connection. Although not shown, the order receiving server 102 of the laboratory 100 may be accessed through a dedicated line. In addition, mobile phones, PHS (Pe
A portable terminal device such as a rsonal handy-phone system can be connected to the postcard synthesizing device 12 to access the server 102 via a wireless line.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a laboratory 100 constituting a postcard creation system according to the present invention. The lab 100 is a facility that receives an order file 70 sent from a plurality of stores 10 scattered in remote locations via communication lines 92 and 98, creates a postcard, and ships the postcard. A plurality of labs 100 may be provided, and each may specify an area to be controlled.

The lab 100 is divided into an order processing section 104 and a post card creating section 106. The order processing unit 104 is a unit that prints the received order file 70 as a receipt statement 108, resynthesizes the order file 70 with the postcard data 21, and transfers it to the postcard creation unit 106.
The postcard creating unit 106 is a department that creates a postcard based on the recombined postcard data 21.

The order processing unit 104 includes a communication adapter 110,
It includes an order receiving server 102 and a receipt statement slip printer 112. The communication adapter 110 is similar to that of FIG.
2 is connected to ISDN line 92 via DSU 114 and
This is a device for receiving an order file 70 from. The order receiving server 102 is connected to the communication adapter 110 via the signal line 160, receives the order file 70 from the communication adapter 110, and re-synthesizes the postcard data 21.
The order receiving server 102 can also receive the order file 70 from the store 10 via the Internet. In that case, a gateway with a dedicated line 98 connected to the Internet provider or a frame relay installed in the lab 100
, And can access the order receiving server 102 via a LAN (Local Area Network) 118. The order receiving server 102 preferably uses a workstation to handle access from multiple stores 10.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a configuration example of the order receiving server 102. The CPU 120 is a device that mainly receives the order file 70 from the store 10 and controls each unit in the server 102 to resynthesize the postcard data 21. The CPU 120 controls the signal lines 122, 124, 126, 128
Are connected to the memory 130 and the HDD 132 via the. In the memory 130, the received order file 70 is recorded, and also, count information 134 for counting the number of prints of the work 36 is recorded. The CPU 120 recognizes and adds the order number included in the order information 68 of the order file 70 to the count information 134. In the HDD 132, the same template 20 as that contained in FIG. 2 is recorded. In addition, security information 136 for an external file transfer request is recorded. Security Information 13
6 stores a user name (store name) and a password given to each store 10.

The order receiving server 102 has such a configuration and has a function of receiving at least the order file 70. Therefore, for example, an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server having a file transfer function can be used as the order receiving server. When receiving a file transfer request from the outside, the CPU 120 recognizes the user name and the password input by the requesting side, and
The file transfer request is permitted only when the same user information is found by collating with the security information 136 of FIG. If the file transfer request is accepted and the order file 70 is received, the CPU 120 returns “data arrival” to the store 10 via the communication lines 92 and 98. And order file 70
Is stored in the memory 130.

The memory 130 further stores a schedule in which the delivery date and time are recorded corresponding to the reception number of the order file 70.
Record 138. The schedule 138 may include, for example, the current process in which the ordered postcard 140 or its order file 70 is located, and the date and time from the process to the average delivery. In this embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 1, the post card 140 or the order file 70 is placed in the first step 102 in which the order file 70 reaches the order receiving server 102 and the first step 102 in which the order file 70 is transferred to the subsequent print server 142. The second step 142 and the third step 143 in which the postcard 140 on which printing has been completed are waiting to be shipped.

Regarding the fact that the first and second steps 102 and 142 have been reached, the CP that receives and transfers the order file 70
U120 rewrites the delivery date and time of schedule 138 according to the processing state of order file 70. Postcard 140
Has reached the third step 143 via the transport path 141, a bar code 144, which will be described later, which is managed integrally with the post card 140, and a slip issuing machine 146, which will also be described later.
Can be known by reading with a barcode reader 148 connected to the. This is the order receiving server 10
2 and the CPU 120 rewrites the schedule 138.

At the same time as detecting that the post card 140 has reached the third step 143, the CPU 120 has a function of transmitting the delivery date and time 138 to the store 10 by e-mail or fax. Delivery date and time from store 10
When there are 138 inquiries, the scheduled delivery date and time are answered to the store 10 at any time.

The order file 70 is a memory of the receiving server 102
130, and the CPU 120 stores the order file 70
Can be transferred to the subsequent second step 142 in the order in which they were received in principle. However, if the order file 70 includes the delivery date and time desired by the customer, the order can be processed prior to the other order files so as to be followed. In this way, the order receiving server 102
Unified management of schedules.

When re-combining the postcard data 21, the CPU 120 reads the order file 70 from the memory 130, reads the template 20 corresponding to the template code 72 from the HDD 132, and combines this with the customer image data 73. Specifically, the customer image 73 that has been compression-encoded
Is added to the template 20 and the layout information 74 of the customer image is added to the layout information 40. Furthermore, the character data in the template 20
38 is corrected to character data 76 unique to the customer. The post-card data 21 re-synthesized in this manner, as shown in FIG.
Printed as finish sample 86.

The order information 68 that is not used for re-synthesizing the postcard data 21 is given by the order receiving server 102 a lab code unique to the lab 100 and a lot number and a reception number unique to the lab 100. Thereafter, the CPU 120 sends the order information 68 together with the re-synthesized post card data 21 and the receipt statement printer 11 connected to the server 102.
Output to 2.

The receipt statement printer 112 in FIG. 1 is a device that receives the order information 68 and the post card data 21 and prints the receipt statement 108. After the receipt statement is printed, it passes through the transport path 109 and is sent to the postcard creation unit 106.
Transported to FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of a receipt statement slip. The receipt statement slip 108 is a piece of paper that is affixed to the delivery bag 150 in which the finished product 140 is to be put and that is managed integrally with the finished product 140 in the postcard creating unit 106. It should be noted that the receipt statement slip 108 may be printed directly on the delivery bag 150 instead of as a piece of paper attached to the delivery bag 150. In this case, the delivery bag 150 is set as print paper of the receipt statement printer 112.

In the receipt statement slip 108, the order information 68
It is printed as character information as it is. The post card data 21 is printed as a finished sample 86. In addition to the order information 68 and the finished sample 86, a bar code 144 is also printed on the receipt statement slip 108. The bar code 144 displays a store code, a store reception number, and a lab code which are part of the order information 68. Below the bar code 144, the lot number given in the lab 100 and the reception number of the lab 100 are further printed.

Referring back to FIG. Postcard creation department
106 is a print server 142 and a digital printer 15
2 and a slip issuing machine 146. Print server 142
Receives the post card data 21 and the order information 68 from the receiving server 102 via the LAN 118,
140 is printed by a digital printer 152. A personal computer may be used as the print server 142.

The digital printer 152 connected to the print server 142 sends an instruction signal from the print server 142.
At step 166, the post card 140 is printed. The printer 152 is provided with printing paper for postcard printing as printing paper. The photographic paper on which the contents of the postcard are printed is stuck on the back of a postcard or a private postcard to complete the postcard. In addition,
These postcards may be used as print paper, and the contents of the postcard may be printed directly. The printer 152 selects the printing paper to be used, for example, a government-made / private-made, New Year's card, or a hot summer visit, for each lot based on the order type of the order information 68 obtained from the print server 142, and prints the ordered number of prints. Do.

The slip issuing machine 146 sends the L
This is an apparatus that receives order information 68 via AN 118 and creates a billing slip 154 based on this. When preparing the billing slip 154, the issuing machine 146 reads the barcode 144 of the receipt statement slip 108 with the barcode reader 148 connected to the issuing slip 146. Thus, the received receipt number is compared with the receipt number of the order information 68 received via the LAN 118, and a billing slip 154 is created from information such as the number of ordered items that match. Reading this bar code 144 is
140 is performed in the third step 143 in a state of waiting for shipment, and C
The order information 68 is transmitted to the PU 120. Thereby, the CP
U120 can e-mail or fax the delivery date of finished product 140 to store 10. On the other hand, the created billing slip 154 passes through the transport route 155 and
Step 143 is attached to the delivery bag 150 immediately after. And
Immediately before shipment, the delivery bag 150 is re-
Read by 4. As a result, the order information 68 is transmitted to the CPU 120 again, and information indicating that the finished product has already been shipped from the laboratory can be answered to the inquiry from the store 10.

The step of creating a postcard in the postcard creation system having the above configuration will be described. 2 is a touch panel display.
An operation screen is displayed on 54, and first, input of customer image data 17 is instructed. As shown in FIG. 2, a post card synthesizing device
Reference numeral 12 denotes the customer image data 17 from the recording medium 18 brought by the customer.
Read. Alternatively, an original 15 such as a photograph or a picture brought by the customer is read by the image scanner 14 and converted into a digital image signal 17. These digital image signals are recorded as a customer image 17 in the memory 24 of the postcard synthesizing apparatus 12 shown in FIG. When the image is provided from the recording medium 18, the image is directly recorded in the memory 24 from the medium 18, and when the image is provided from the scanner 14, the image is recorded in the memory 24 via the CPU 26.

When the customer image data 17 is obtained, the CPU 26 accesses the HDD 32 to read out the various templates 20, and combines the customer image 17 with any one of the templates 20, and as shown in FIG. Display on the display 54.

By operating the touch panel, the layout of the customer image data 17, the correction of the character information 38, and the input of the order information 68 are performed based on one of the templates 20, and the information is transmitted to the CPU 26. CPU26
Creates the order file 70 of FIG. 8 together with the synthesis of the postcard data 21. As shown in FIG. 8, the order file 70 stores an encoded image 73 in which the customer image data 17 is compression-encoded. The order file 70 is recorded in the memory 70 after completion. At this time, in order to secure a storage capacity, the customer image 17 may be deleted from the memory 24 after being held for a certain period.

The CPU 26 creates the above-described order file 70 and controls the printer 16 to control the post card data.
21 based on the customer copy, including the finished sample 86 shown in Fig. 4.
Print a copy of 88 and a copy for store 10 (same content as a copy for customer). The customer copy 88 is given to the customer and the store copy 89
Is stored by store 10. The CPU 26 controls the communication adapter 80, dial-up connects to the order receiving server 102 of the laboratory 100, and transmits the order file 70.

The description of the operation will be continued with reference to FIG. Store 10
Side makes a dial-up connection to the order receiving server 102, and stores a user name and password unique to the store 10 on a signal line 16.
Entered via 0. The CPU 120 refers to the HDD 132 to collate with the security information 136 to determine whether a file transfer request can be made. As a result, the order file 70
Is received, a reply to the effect that "data has arrived" is returned to the postcard synthesizing device 12 of the store 10 via the signal line 160. CPU
120 reads from the HDD 132 the template 20 corresponding to the template code 72 included in the order file 70. Further, the compression-encoded customer image data 73 is compounded and combined with the read template 20 together with character information 76 unique to the customer. The CPU 120 stores the re-synthesized new postcard data 21 and the order information 68 into L
The data is transferred to the print server 142 in FIG. These data are also output to the receipt statement slip printer 112, and the receipt statement slip 108 is printed.

Please refer to FIG. The printed receipt slip 108 is conveyed to the postcard preparation unit 106 through the conveyance path 109, is manually pasted on a delivery bag 150 for storing the finished product 140, and further passes through the conveyance path 151 to form the postcard 140. It is placed in a state waiting for creation. on the other hand,
The print server 142 that has received the postcard data 21 and the order information 68 prints the postcards 140 for the number of orders included in the order information 68. The printed postcard 140 is put into the delivery bag 150 by an operator.

The delivery bag 150 has a finished sample shown in FIG.
Since the receipt slip 108 including 86 is affixed, the operator can put the post card 140 in the corresponding delivery bag 150 without mistake. Subsequently, the receipt statement 10 is read by the barcode reader 148 connected to the slip issuing machine 146.
8 is read, and a billing slip 154 is created and attached to the delivery bag 150. By reading the bar code 144, the order receiving server 102 sends the post card 140 to the store 10 by e-mail or fax.
Notify the delivery date and time. In addition, the barcode reader 148 performs reading immediately before shipping, and the shop 10 can be informed that the postcard has been shipped. Postcard 14
0 is according to the receipt statement 108 affixed to the delivery bag 150,
It is shipped to stores 10 nationwide via transport route 168. The customer visits the store after the delivery date and time notified at the time of ordering, or after the delivery date and time learned from the contact from the store 10, and the post card
Receive 140.

In the above, the system for preparing a postcard according to the present invention has been described with respect to postcard preparation. However, the present invention is not limited to creating postcards only. For example, the present invention can be applied to the creation of a postcard for a business card. In addition, by preparing a template for the letter card to be created,
It can be applied to the creation of all kinds of postcards including information such as photos and characters.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention, the customer can check the finished sample at the time of ordering, not only can he make a satisfactory order, but also can correct the error of the contents of the postcard such as the address at the time of ordering. Is also possible, so convenience is greatly improved. In addition, since the shop and the laboratory are connected by a communication line, it is possible to expedite the delivery of a postcard that needs to be created in the laboratory due to copyright. In the lab, the receipt slip is attached to the delivery bag, so that the work of packing the postcard and issuing the billing slip becomes easy, which also speeds up the delivery. further,
By separately transmitting the customer image data and other text data, the data transmission efficiency is improved. In addition, since the order is centrally managed, the processing status of the order can be easily checked.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a laboratory that configures a postcard creation system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a store that provides a customer with a letter tag creating system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of a postcard synthesizing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of a copy for a customer.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of a receipt slip.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a configuration example of an order receiving server.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an example of an operation screen of the touch panel.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of an order file.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 stores 12 Postcard synthesizer 20 Template 21 Postcard data 54 Touch panel 86 Finished sample 100 Lab 104 Order receiving server 108 Receipt slip 112 Receipt slip printer 140 Postcard 142 Print server 144 Barcode 148 Barcode reader 150 Delivery bag

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B049 BB00 CC05 CC08 CC21 CC35 DD01 EE01 EE07 FF02 FF03 FF04 GG04 GG07 5C076 AA16 BA02 BA03 BA05 BA06 CA02

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A letter tag creating system in which an order receiving place that has received a letter order creating order from an order place creates a letter tag based on the order, wherein the order place and the order receiving place each have a common letter representing the print content of the letter tag. First and second records of basic letter data
The ordering place further includes: an image input unit that inputs a unique image to be combined with the basic letter data as an image signal; and a letter data correction means that inputs correction content of the basic letter data. The correction content of the image signal and the basic letter data is 1
Order file creating means for storing the order file in one order file, and transfer means for transferring the created order file to the order receiving place via a communication line, wherein the order place further includes a second order file based on the transferred order file. 2. A letter tag creating system comprising: letter tag data creating means for reading and correcting basic letter data recorded in the recording means of No. 2 and synthesizing the image signal to create order letter data. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the correction contents of the basic letter data in the order file are text data. 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second recording means records authentication information corresponding to each ordering place, and said order receiving place further includes an order placement requesting transfer of said order file. Collating the input information from the place with the authentication information,
A letter tag creating system comprising an order place authentication means for permitting the transfer of the order file only when they match. 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the letter order is printed at a receiving place where the order is received from a place of order via a communication line, and the order is sorted for each order and housed in a packing means for the letter. A letter tag data creating step of creating order letter data representing print content of the letter tag by letter letter data creating means receiving the creation order; a letter tag printing step of outputting the created order letter data and printing the letter tag; A sample printing step of outputting the completed order form data and printing a finished sample of the form, a sample attaching step of attaching the finished sample to the wrapping means, and a label corresponding to the finished sample attached to the wrapping means. And a packaging step of accommodating in the packaging means. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the order receiving place further outputs identification information corresponding to the created order form data on a one-to-one basis from the form data generating means, and outputs the identification information together with the finished sample. An identification information display step of printing and displaying the identification information on the packaging means; reading the displayed identification information, inputting the identification information to the letter label data creating means, and detecting order letter data corresponding to the identification information; A delivery schedule notifying step of notifying the ordering place of the detected order form data to the delivery schedule of the label. 6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising a step of storing the order form label data in the first and second recording means provided in the order place and the order place prior to the step of preparing the order form tag data. An image input step of inputting a unique image to be synthesized with the basic label data as an image signal to the label data generating means. A letter data correction step of inputting the corrected contents of the basic letter data to the letter data generating means; and an order for storing the corrected contents of the image signal and the basic letter data in one order file by the letter data generating means. A file creation step, and a transfer step of transferring the created order file to the order receiving place via the communication line. Shosatsu create how to. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the order receiving place further reads and modifies the basic letter data recorded in the second recording means based on the transferred order file, and further comprises: A method for creating a letter tag, comprising combining the signals to create the order note data. 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the correction contents of the basic letter data in the order file are transferred as text data.