JP2002074087A - Ordering apparatus, ordering and order-receiving system, odering method and record medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ordering apparatus, capable of simply ordering the commodity to which text information and image information are applied. SOLUTION: This ordering apparatus has an input means for inputting text information and image information, a display means for displaying an image where, the information input by the input means is applied onto the commodity, and an order instructing means for instructing ordering of the commodity to which the information is applied.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ordering device, an ordering system, an ordering method, and a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When ordering printing of a business card, a company name, a post, a name, an address, and a telephone number are designated on a paper medium or verbally to request printing. The printing company creates a composition based on the information. The client performs proofreading based on the composition. Since the work required for the creation and proofreading of the composition is complicated, the cost of creating a business card becomes high. The above work cost accounts for most of the business card creation cost. For this reason,
In order to request business card printing, the request cannot be made unless the business card is a large number of business cards. Even if the number of business cards requested increases, the business card creation cost does not increase so much.

[0003]

As described above, the cost of creating a business card increases because the work of creating and proofing a composition is complicated. Further, it is difficult for the client to specify the layout of the business card in detail, and it is difficult to imagine the completed layout. Therefore, the business card that is expected by the client is not always completed.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to simplify the ordering of goods. Another object of the present invention is to make the process of making and proofing a composition simple and reliable. Still another object of the present invention is to order a product without leaking information of the orderer to the outside.

[0005]

According to one aspect of the present invention, input means for inputting text information or image information,
There is provided an ordering apparatus including a display unit for displaying an image in which information input by the input unit is provided on a product, and an order instructing unit for instructing an order of the product to which the information is provided.

Another object of the present invention is an order receiving system in which an order receiving device and an order receiving device are connected via a network, wherein the order receiving device includes input means for inputting text information or image information; Display means for displaying an image in which the information input by the means is provided on the product, order instructing means for instructing the order of the product to which the information is provided, and receiving the received order information via a network. Transmitting means for transmitting the order information to the apparatus, the order receiving apparatus receiving order information from the ordering apparatus via a network, and a production of a product to which the information is added in accordance with the received order information An ordering system having a production start instructing means for instructing start is provided.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide (a) a step of inputting text information or image information, (b) a step of displaying an image provided with the input information on a product, and (c). Instructing an order for a product to which the information has been added.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide (a) a procedure for inputting text information or image information, (b) a procedure for displaying an image in which the input information is provided on a product, and (c) There is provided a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for causing a computer to execute a procedure for instructing an order for a product to which the information has been added.

According to the present invention, it is possible to input text information or image information and instruct an order for a product to which the information is added, so that it is possible to easily place an order for a product. In addition, since the image of the product to which the predetermined information has been added is displayed, it is possible to easily and reliably perform the process of creating and correcting the composition.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an ordering system according to an embodiment of the present invention. An employee of the general company 20 orders a business card, the data center server 101 receives the order, and the printing company computer 200
Performs business card printing.

The general company 20 has an in-house local area network (LAN) 31. The LAN 31 includes a personal computer (PC) 2 handled by an employee 21 as a first orderer, and a PC handled by an employee 22 as a second orderer.
2. The PC 2, the business card server 1, and the router 32 which are handled by the accounting person 23 who is the order approver are connected. Router 32
Is an external network (for example, the Internet) 33
Is also connected.

The business card server 1 has an external storage device 3. The external storage device 3 stores a database 4 and an order support program 15. Database 4
Employee attribute information (employee list information) 10, shipping destination information 11,
It has payment source information 12, order information 13, and face photograph information 14.

The employee attribute information 10 includes a name, a title, an address,
Includes phone numbers, fax numbers, e-mail addresses, etc. The shipping destination information 11 includes a department to which the orderer is to be shipped to the employee. The payment source information 12 includes information of a person (for example, an accounting department) who pays a business card fee. The order information 13 includes information such as the number of business cards to be ordered and the paper quality. Face photo information 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes a face photograph of each employee, which is to be printed on a business card. The business card server 1 performs a business card ordering process described later according to the ordering support program 15.

The data center server 101 includes a router 34
And has an external storage device 102. The external storage device 102 stores a database 110 and a program module 109. The database 110 includes order information 103, layout information 104, charge calculation information 105, and subcontractor information 10.
6. It has printing device information 107, a logo file and an image file 108.

The order information 103 includes information such as the number of ordered sheets and the quality of paper. The layout information 104 is layout information such as design and arrangement. Charge calculation information 105
Is information necessary for calculating the cost charged to the orderer according to the order. The subcontractor information 106 is information on the subcontractor when requesting printing from the subcontractor's printing company.
The printing device information 107 is information on the printing device 203 that is necessary when creating an EPS file or the like to be input to the printing device. The logo file and the image file 108 are image files of a company logo and a building for printing on a business card. The data center server 101 performs a business card order receiving process described below according to the program module 109.

The printing company computer 200 is connected to the network 33, and has a storage device 203 and a printing device 20.
4 The storage device 203 stores the order information file 201 and the composition EPS file 202 received from the data center server 101 via the network 33. The printing device 204 inputs the composition EPS file 202 and performs business card printing.

FIG. 2 shows a business card server 1, a PC 2, a router 3
2 and 34 show the hardware configurations of the data center server 101 and the printing company computer 200. For these, for example, a personal computer or a general-purpose computer can be used. The bus 411 includes a central processing unit (C
PU) 412, ROM 413, RAM 414, network interface 415, input device 416, output device 417, and external storage device 418 are connected.

The CPU 412 performs data processing or calculation and controls various components connected via the bus 411, and executes order, order receiving, or printing processing described later.

The control procedure (computer program) of the CPU 412 is stored in the ROM 413 in advance.
The computer is activated by the CPU 412 executing the computer program. External storage device 4
18 stores a computer program, and the computer program is copied to the RAM 414 and executed. The RAM 414 is used as a work memory for input / output of data, transmission / reception, and temporary storage for control of each component.

The network interface 415 is an interface for connecting to the network 31 or 33 shown in FIG. The input device 416 is, for example, a keyboard and a mouse, and can perform various designations or inputs. The output device 417 is a display or the like, and can display a print image of a business card. In the printing company computer 200 (FIG. 1), an output device (printing device or printer) 417 can print a business card.

The external storage device 418 is, for example, a hard disk storage device or the like, and does not lose its stored contents even when the power is turned off. The external storage device 418 stores the database 4 or 110 shown in FIG.

Means for supplying the computer program to the computer, for example, a recording medium storing the computer program constitutes the present invention. As a recording medium for storing such a computer program, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like can be used. The computer program on the recording medium is copied to the RAM 414 and executed by the CPU 412.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process when an employee (orderer) 21 or 22 in the general company 20 in FIG. 1 orders a business card. In step SA1, the employee 21 or 22 accesses the business card server 1 from his or her PC2. In step SA2, it is checked whether or not the page (employee attribute information 10) in the business card server 1 on which the information of the user is posted is registered in the bookmark. The bookmark is registered as “favorite” or the like. If it is registered in a bookmark, the page on which the user's information is posted can be displayed on his / her PC 2 by designating the bookmark. If the information is not registered in the bookmark, in step SA3, a page in which the information of the user is posted in the business card server 1 is searched and displayed on the own PC2.

Next, at step SA4, it is checked whether or not the content of the displayed self information is correct. The self information is the employee attribute information 10, the face photograph information 14, and the like.
The employee attribute information 10 includes a company name, a post, a name, an address, a telephone number, a fax number, and the like. If not, the information is corrected in step SA5.

Next, at step SA6, the business card server 1 connects the data center server 101 via the network 33 or the like.
Connect to and start communication. In step SA7, the employee inputs order information, such as the number of business cards, to the PC2.
Click the calibration button (change button) on the screen with the mouse.

At step SA8, the screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed. Position 302, Name (Japanese notation) 303, Name (English notation) 304, Address 305, Phone number / FAX
In the number / email address 306, the information 10 of the employee is displayed. The business card print image 301 displays an image in which the employee information (text information) 302 to 306 is printed on a business card, and can also display a company logo, a company photo, and a face photo. This screen can be displayed by a browser (for example, Internet Explorer).

In step SA9, the employee checks whether the contents of the business card print image are correct or whether the layout of the image is sufficient. If calibration is desired, calibration processing is performed in step SA10. For example, on the screen of FIG.
6 can be corrected or information corresponding to them can be cleared by clicking the clear button 311 arranged on the right side of them with a mouse.

When a sample selection button 321 is clicked, a business card sample can be selected.
By clicking the input character button 322, a new character other than the above employee information can be added. By clicking the change font button 323, the font of the character can be changed. By clicking the change character size button 324, the size of the character can be changed.
If you click any other menu button 325,
Color, long, character position, vertical composition, horizontal composition, left alignment, right alignment or centering can be designated. When the design save 326 is clicked, the design of the business card can be saved.

After changing the employee information 302 to 306 or specifying the buttons 321 to 326 and then clicking the change button (proof button) 312, the business card print image 301 corresponding to the change or specification is displayed again. You. When the user clicks an enlargement / reduction button 313, the business card print image 301 can be enlarged or reduced. When the box display button 314 is clicked, the business card print image 301 can be displayed in a box.
When the grid display button 315 is clicked, the business card print image 301 can be displayed in a grid at intervals of 5 mm. When the area 327 is clicked, a method of using this screen, a charge table, a method of sending business cards, a method of payment, and the like can be displayed.

Next, in step SA11 of FIG. 3, when the order button SA11 on the screen is clicked, the order information 13 necessary for printing the business card is transmitted from the business card server 1 to the data center server 101 via the network 33. To send. At step SA12, the data center server 101 receives the order information 13 and stores it as tentative order information.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing of the data center server 101. As described above, when the change button 312 in FIG. 4 is clicked, step S in FIG.
At C1, the data center server 101 receives a change event from the business card server 1. In step SC2, a business card printing underlay image is generated with reference to layout information, a logo file, an image file, and the like included in the change event,
Return it to business card server 1. Then, the changed business card print image 301 is displayed on the screen of the orderer's PC 2 (FIG. 4).

After the order button is pressed in step SA11 in FIG. 3, the data center server 101 receives an order event from the business card server 1 in step SC3 in FIG.
In step SC4, the order information in the received order event is stored as temporary order data in the temporary order database. At step SC5, the fact that the provisional order information has been received is transmitted to the orderer 21 or 22 and the order approver 23 by e-mail (E-mail). The orderers 21 and 22 and the order approver 23 can confirm from the e-mail that the provisional order has been completed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process performed by the PC 2 or the like by the operation of the order approver 23 receiving the e-mail. In step SB1, in response to the reception of the e-mail, it is checked whether a page in the business card server 1 for confirming the provisional order information is registered in the bookmark. If registered, the page of the provisional order information is displayed on the PC 2 using the bookmark. If not registered, in step SB2,
The user accesses the business card server 1 from his / her PC 2 and displays the temporary order information.

Next, in step SB3, it is checked whether or not there is provisional order information in the provisional order information area. If there is no provisional order information, the process ends. If there is provisional order information, the process proceeds to step SB4.

In step SB4, it is determined whether or not all information in the list of provisional order information is approved. If all are approved, that fact is confirmed and the process proceeds to step SB6. If all are not approved, step SB5
If the list is not approved, the user inputs that fact and proceeds to step SB6.

In step SB6, the approval button on the screen is clicked, and the approval information is transmitted from the business card server 1 to the data center server 101. In step SB7, the above-mentioned approval information is used as the real order information in the data center server 10.
1 is registered.

Next, the processing of the data center server 101 will be described. When the approval button is clicked in step SB6, the data center server 101 receives an approval event from the business card server 1 in step SC6 of FIG. In step SC7, based on the received approval event, the business card print image is transmitted to the EPS (encapsulated PostScr.
ipt) file and PDF (portable document forma)
t) Generate a file and generate an order (work order). Only one of the EPS file and the PDF file may be generated. By generating both files, a printing company can select a desired file when printing. In step SC9, the printing company
A confirmation e-mail is sent to the orderer and the order approver to confirm that the approval event (final order event) has been received.

FIG. 7 shows the printing company computer 20 of FIG.
0 is a flowchart showing a process performed by the C.O. Step S
In D1, the confirmation mail transmitted in step SC9 of FIG. 6 is received. In step SD2, a download button on the screen is clicked. In step SD3, the EPS file, the PDF file, and the order form are received from the data center server 101 in response to the click. In step SD4, the received contents are confirmed.
In step SD5, the EPS file or the PDF file is input to the printing device 204, and the business cards are printed by the number of orders. In step SD6, the printed business card is inspected and sent to the employee 21 or 22 as the orderer. In step SD7, a delete button on the screen is clicked.
In step SD8, in response to the above click, the order information 103 in the data center server 101 is deleted, and the order information file 201, the EPS file, and the PDF file 202 in the printing company computer 200 are deleted. This can prevent the employee list information of the general company 20 from leaking outside.

The method is not limited to the above-described method of deleting by clicking the delete button. The file is automatically deleted after a predetermined period from the reception of the file by clicking the download button in steps SD2 and SD3. Is also good. That is, it can be automatically deleted after a predetermined period from the production start instruction.

According to the present embodiment, since business card printing can be ordered using the employee list information 10 of FIG. 1, each employee does not need to newly input all the information required for business card printing, which is easy. Can order business card printing. This effect is particularly advantageous when employees in a company having many employees place orders. At this time, in order to prevent the employee directory information 10 from leaking to the outside, the employee directory information 10 is held and managed in the general company 20, and the employee directory information 10 itself needs to be passed to the data center server 101 and the printing company computer 200. There is no. General company 2
The employee 0 can easily order business card printing without leaking the employee list information 10 to the outside.

In the conventional business card printing, the cost of business card printing has been increased due to the complicated work of preparing and proofing the composition. In this embodiment, since the orderer creates and proofs the composition on the screen shown in FIG. 4, the work of the printing company can be omitted, and the business card printing cost can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to order from one business card, and even with one business card, it is possible to place an order at low cost. In addition, the ordering party is shown in FIG.
While referring to the specific business card print image on the screen of
Since the layout can be specified in detail, the finished layout can be easily imagined, and the business card expected by the orderer is completed. Further, the time from ordering to delivery can be shortened.

In the above description, a case is described in which the order of a business card having information such as a name printed on a business card is described. However, the product is not limited to a business card. It may be a bill, clothing, ballpoint pen, stamp, or the like. In particular, products are business cards,
Postcards or envelopes are preferred. If you have multiple products,
First, a desired product is selected from a plurality of products, and then the screen can be shifted to the screen of FIG. The present invention is not limited to the case where information such as a name is printed on a product. In the case of a ball-point pen or a stamp, information such as a name may be given to a product by a method other than printing, such as molding.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show examples of screens when information is given to a ballpoint pen. In FIG. 8A,
When the company name and telephone number at the bottom of the screen are input, an enlarged view of the image of the company name and telephone number is displayed at the top of the screen.
On the left side of the screen, characters, character size, typeface change, color change, character direction, movement, enlargement / reduction, addition, deletion, screen pasting, and the like can be designated. When the change button is clicked, an image in which the company name and the telephone number are given is displayed on the ballpoint pen as shown in FIG. Thereafter, when the order button is clicked, an order can be instructed.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show examples of screens when information is added to a calendar. In FIG. 9A,
When a catch phrase and a title at the bottom of the screen are input, an enlarged image of the image of the catch phrase and the title is displayed at the top of the screen. On the left side of the screen, characters, character size, typeface change, color change, character direction, movement, enlargement / reduction, addition, deletion, screen pasting, and the like can be designated. When the change button is clicked, an image with a catch phrase and a title is displayed on the calendar as shown in FIG. 9B.

FIGS. 10A to 10C show examples of screens when information is added to a leaflet. In FIG. 10A,
Choose a flyer layout. Next, in FIG. 10B, when a catch phrase and a title at the bottom of the screen are input, an enlarged view of the image of the catch phrase and the title is displayed at the top of the screen. On the left side of the screen, characters, character size, typeface change, color change, character direction, movement, enlargement / reduction, addition, deletion, screen pasting, and the like can be designated. When the change button is clicked, FIG.
As shown in (C), an image with a catch phrase, a title, and the like is displayed on the flyer.

Although the case where the data center server 101 of FIG. 1 requests the subcontractor's printing company computer 200 to perform printing has been described as an example, the data center server 101 may perform the printing operation by itself. That is, the data center server 101 and the printing company computer 200 may be integrated.

Each of the above embodiments is merely an example of an embodiment for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted in a limited manner. . That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea or the main features.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to input text information or image information and to instruct an order for a product to which the information is added, so that the order of the product can be easily performed. be able to. In addition, since the image of the product to which the predetermined information has been added is displayed, it is possible to easily and reliably perform the process of creating and correcting the composition.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an ordering system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a business card server and the like.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an ordering process.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display screen when ordering.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an order approval process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing of the data center server.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing of a printing company computer.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen when predetermined information is added to a ballpoint pen.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen when predetermined information is added to a calendar.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen in a case where predetermined information is added to a flyer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 business card server 2 personal computer 3 external storage device 4 database 10 employee attribute information (employee list information) 11 supplier information 12 payer information 13 order information 14 face photograph information 15 order support program 21,22 orderer 23 order approver 31 LAN 32 router 33 network 34 router 101 data center server 102 external storage device 103 order information 104 layout information 105 charge calculation information 106 outsourcing information 107 printing device information 108 logo file and image file 109 program module 110 database 200 printing company computer 201 order Information file 202 Composition EPS file 203 Storage device 204 Printing device 411 Bus 412 CPU 413 ROM 414 RAM 415 Network Interface 416 input device 417 output device 418 external storage device

Claims (18)

[Claims] An input unit for inputting text information or image information; a display unit for displaying an image in which the information input by the input unit is provided on a product; and an instruction for ordering the product to which the information is provided. An ordering device having order instructing means. 2. The order placement apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a commodity selection means for selecting a commodity. 3. The ordering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input means inputs text information including at least one of a name, an address, a telephone number, a facsimile number, and an e-mail address. 4. The ordering apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the product is a business card, a postcard, an envelope, a calendar, a pamphlet, a flyer, a bill, clothing, a ballpoint pen, or a stamp. 5. The ordering apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a layout designating means for designating a layout of a product to which the information is added. 6. The ordering apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the layout designating means designates a font, a character size, a color, a long font, a character position, a vertical composition, a horizontal composition, a left alignment, a right alignment or a centering. 7. The ordering apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said layout designating means can designate image pasting. 8. The ordering apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said display means displays the product to which said information has been added in a layout designated by said layout designation means. 9. The ordering apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a database for storing list information of a plurality of persons, wherein said input means selects and inputs predetermined information from said list information. . 10. The ordering apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said database stores employee list information. 11. The ordering apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the employee list information includes at least one of a post, a name, an address, a telephone number, a fax number, and an e-mail address. 12. The ordering apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the employee list information further includes face photograph information. 13. An order receiving system connected to an order receiving device and an order receiving device via a network, wherein the order receiving device includes an input unit for inputting text information or image information, and information input by the input unit. Display means for displaying an image in which the information is provided on the product; order instructing means for instructing the order of the product to which the information is provided; and transmitting means for transmitting the instructed order information to the order receiving device via a network. A receiving means for receiving order information from the ordering device via a network; and a production start for instructing a production start of a product to which the information is added in accordance with the received order information. An order receiving and ordering system having an instruction means. 14. The order receiving / ordering system according to claim 13, wherein said ordering apparatus further has a database for storing list information of a plurality of persons, and said input means selects and inputs predetermined information from said list information. . 15. The order receiving / ordering system according to claim 14, wherein said order receiving device further comprises a deleting means for deleting said received order information after a predetermined time from said production start instruction or after completion of production. 16. The order instructing means of the ordering device first instructs a tentative order, and then instructs a real order. The production start instructing means of the order receiving device starts production after the real order is instructed. 16. The order receiving / ordering system according to claim 14 or 15, which issues an instruction. 17. (a) a step of inputting text information or image information; (b) a step of displaying an image in which the input information is provided on a product; and (c) a product to which the information is provided. Indicating an order of the order. 18. (a) a procedure for inputting text information or image information; (b) a procedure for displaying an image in which the input information is provided on a product; and (c) a product to which the information is provided. And a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a procedure for instructing an order.