JP2002189881A - Document production supporting method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide document product supporting method and device capable of supporting selection of a trader by a customer and easily preparing a desired document. SOLUTION: Information on the trader is stored in a data base 11, the trader who matches a condition designated by the customer via a Web browser 20 is retrieved by an intermediating device 10 and the result is displayed by the Web browser 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document production supporting method and apparatus, and more particularly, to a document production supporting method and apparatus for mediating between a document producing company and a customer who uses the company.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of computers and peripheral technologies, the production mode of documents including printing has changed greatly.

For example, in printing a document, a high-performance digital printer can be used in addition to printing using a conventional plate such as planographic printing or letterpress printing. Further, it is not always necessary to print the produced document, and the form of recording the document on a medium such as a CD-ROM and distributing the document has been adopted in many cases.

[0004] On the other hand, the relationship between a company that produces documents and a customer who requests the company (role assignment)
Has also changed significantly. For example, in the past, customers submitted paper manuscripts, and the merchant created platemaking,
Although printing plates, printing, and post-processing have been performed, in recent years, customers are increasingly using the software for DTP (DeskTop Publishing) to produce up to the block.

[0005]

As described above, the environment involved in the production of documents has changed significantly, and the number of companies handling them has increased.

[0006] However, the contractor involved in document creation does not necessarily support all output modes (print type, post-processing type, output to a medium other than a paper medium), and does not support all processes (plate edition). It does not necessarily correspond to the process from creation to post-processing). Further, the amount, delivery date, and price of the document to be handled vary depending on each company. For this reason, it is difficult for the customer to select a target trader, and it is difficult to say that the selected trader is optimal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a document production support method and apparatus which can assist a customer in selecting a trader and can easily produce a desired document.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a first aspect of the present invention is a document production support method which mediates between a customer who wants to produce a document and a contractor who produces the document. Registering trader information including the business contents and order conditions of each of a plurality of traders, searching for a trader that meets the order conditions desired by the customer from the registered trader information, and displaying the search result to the customer It is characterized by.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, communication with the customer via the Internet is performed, and a form for inputting the order conditions and a display of the search result are displayed on a web page. It is characterized by performing using.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, in the invention of claim 1, when the customer inputs the order condition,
The past transaction results of the customer are displayed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when the customer inputs the order condition,
It is characterized by displaying general transaction examples.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, when displaying the transaction example, if a part of the order condition is inputted, the part of the order condition is entered. It is characterized by displaying matching transaction cases.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the search is performed on a condition that a document production process is determined based on the order conditions.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the present invention, if there is no company that matches the search performed on the condition of the manufacturing process, the manufacturing process is divided and the divided manufacturing process is performed. The search is performed for each process.

The invention of claim 8 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, mediation is performed between the customer and the trader while maintaining the anonymity of the customer.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a document production support apparatus which mediates between a customer who wants to produce a document and a contractor who produces the document. Means for storing trader information including the following, condition receiving means for receiving order conditions desired by the customer, and search for searching for traders who meet the order conditions received by the condition receiving means from the trader information stored in the storage means. And a display means for displaying the trader name searched by the search means to the customer.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect of the invention, the condition receiving means and the display means are
It is a web server connected to the Internet.

The invention of claim 11 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 9, the display means displays the past transaction results of the customer when the customer inputs the order conditions. I do.

A twelfth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the ninth aspect of the present invention, the display means displays a general transaction example when the customer inputs the order condition.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the twelfth aspect, when the display means displays a transaction example, the condition receiving means receives a part of ordering conditions. In this case, a search is made for a transaction example that satisfies a part of the order conditions, and the search result is displayed on the display means.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect of the present invention, the search means includes a process determining means for determining a document production process based on the order conditions received by the condition receiving means, The search is performed on condition that the manufacturing process determined by the process determining means is a condition.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the search means further comprises a dividing means for dividing the manufacturing process, and If there is no, the search is executed for each production process divided by the division means.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect of the invention, there is further provided communication mediation means for mediating between the customer and the trader while maintaining the anonymity of the customer. I do.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a document production support method and apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an application example of the present invention. As shown in the figure, an application example of the present invention is an example in which a mediation center 1 and a client 2 (2-1) used by a customer are used.
~ 2-n), client 3 (3-1 ~ 1) used by the trader
3-m) is connected via the Internet 4.
The mediation center 1 provides the business contents and the like of each trader to the customer, and mediates communication of inquiries from the customer to the trader and their replies.

FIG. 2 shows a mediation center 1 and a client 2,
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a client 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the mediation center 1 includes a mediation device 10 having a function as a Web server and a database 11 for storing various information. Further, the client 2 and the client 3 include a Web browser 20 and a Web browser 30, respectively. Client 2 and Client 3 can connect to the Internet and
Any device may be used as long as the browsers 20 and 30 operate.

The intermediary device 10 has a function as a mail server that sends and receives mails as needed.
In this case, the clients 2 and 3 also operate as mail clients.

Here, a mode of use of the mediation center 1 will be described focusing on the operation of the mediation device 10. In the mediation center 1, access is received from a customer and a trader via the client 2 and the client 3, respectively.

First, the access from the trader will be described. When the trader accesses the mediation device 10 from the Web browser 30 of the client 3, the mediation device 10 displays a registration page (not shown) on the Web browser 30.
When the registration page is displayed, the operator is required to input authentication information via the Web browser 30.

The registration page displayed on the Web browser 30 contains the business contents of the trader (acceptable submission form, output form, processing contents, etc.), order conditions (delivery date, delivery method, price, etc.), and other information. It is a page to register and update,
The content entered by the trader on this registration page is returned to the mediation device 10 and stored in the database 11.

Next, access from the customer to the mediation center 1 will be described. When the customer accesses the mediation center 1, the client accesses the mediation device 10 from the Web browser 20 of the client 2, but this access may be made possible by any customer. Only permission may be given, and input of authentication information may be required at the time of access.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing between the mediation device 10 and the client 2. When there is access from the client 2, the intermediary device 10 first displays a condition input page for the customer to input desired conditions to the trader, and accepts the conditions input on the condition input page (step). 101).

Subsequently, the mediation apparatus 10 searches the database 11 based on the received conditions, and displays a list of traders capable of performing a process desired by the customer on the Web browser 20 from various registered information ( Step 10
2). Then, based on the displayed list, the customer responds to confirmation of the detailed information of the trader selected by the customer or mediates an inquiry (step 103), receives an order from the customer (step 104), and ends the processing.

Here, the processing in each step shown in FIG. 3 will be described in detail. First, in the input condition receiving process of step 101, the mediation apparatus 10 displays a condition input page as shown in FIG. 4 on the Web browser 20 in response to access from the client 2.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show examples of the configuration of the condition input page. As shown in FIG. 4, the condition input page 50 includes a submission condition setting column 51 for setting submission conditions, an output condition setting column 52 for setting output conditions, and an other condition setting column 53 for setting other conditions. Have been. In each of these setting columns, a selection column 54 and the like are provided so that the customer can select desired conditions. For example,
When the selection field 54 is selected with a pointing device such as a mouse, an option list 58 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed.

As an example of the options, in the submission conditions,
The manuscript may include, in addition to a paper manuscript and an electronic manuscript (text, a format of various word processing software, etc.), creation and translation of the text itself. Also, as a figure,
None, including creation requests, paper, bitmaps and other image files, software-specific formats, etc.Photos include none, shooting requests, prints (photographic paper), negative films, positive films, digital cameras, images There are various file-specific formats specific to software.

Output conditions include monochrome (black), single-color printing, two-color printing and color designation, plain paper, high-quality paper, coated paper, special paper, postcards, sealed letters,
There is a medium such as a CD-ROM.

Other conditions include post-processing (such as bookbinding and laminating), delivery time, and price.

When the search execution button 55 displayed on the condition input page 50 is pressed after setting these conditions, the input conditions are transferred from the Web browser 20 to the intermediary device 10, and the process proceeds to step 102. Is started.

By the way, depending on the customer, the condition selection on the condition input page 50 may not be easily performed. This is a case where the user is not used to such a request or a case where a vague output form is imagined. In such a case, when the customer presses the case search button 56 or the past result button 57 displayed on the condition input page, the mediation device 10 assists in inputting the condition.

When the case search button 56 is pressed, the case search result page as shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a case search result page. As shown in the figure, the case search result page 60 includes a case 61, a selection button 62, and a detail button 63.
Is displayed.

The case 61 describes the contents of general processing cases stored in the database 11, and a desired one can be selected by the customer.

When the selection button 62 is pressed by a pointing device, the selected case 61 is selected.
Select the content and return to the condition input page.
2 displays the details of the case 61 selected by being pressed (the display state is not shown).

The case 61 displayed on the case search result page 60 displays a case satisfying the condition when a part of the condition is specified when the case search button 56 is pressed. (For example, if the output medium is specified for the postcard, only the case where the postcard is the output medium is displayed).

On the other hand, when the past record button 57 is pressed, the past record page as shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the case search result page. As shown in FIG.
Displays a record 71, a selection button 72, and a detail button 73.

The record 71 describes the transaction contents stored in the database 11 when the customer has made a transaction using the mediation center 1 in the past, and the customer can select a desired one. It is.

When the selection button 72 is pressed by a pointing device, the selected result 71 is selected.
To return to the condition input page, and click the detail button 7
2 displays the details of the achievement 71 selected by pressing the button (the display state is not shown).

Next, the search processing in step 102 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 10
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of a search process.
And FIG. 11 shows that the mediation device 10 uses the Web browser 2
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a search result page displayed in “0”.

Upon receiving the condition set by the client 2, the intermediary device 11 determines a processing step based on the condition (step 201). The processing step is determined, for example, under the condition that a paper document input is printed in color and output, and bookbinding is performed, such as block making, plate making, printing plate, printing, and bookbinding.

Subsequently, the intermediary device 11 searches the database 11 for a company capable of processing the determined entire process, and matches the other conditions (delivery date, delivery place, delivery method, price, etc.) from the found company. To search for a business operator (step 20)
2).

As a result of the search, if there is a trader that satisfies the condition (YES in step 203), if it does not exist (NO in step 203), a saturation search is performed by a division process described later (step 203). 204), and list the results on the Web browser 20.

The list is displayed on the search result page 80 (FIG. 9).
Reference). On the search result page 80, as a result of the search, the trader names 81 of the traders that match the conditions are displayed. After the customer selects one or more trader names 81, the customer presses the detail button 82 or the inquiry button 83. In this way, the mediation apparatus 10 checks in step 103
Execute inquiry mediation processing.

Next, the division processing in step 204 will be described. In the division process, the mediation device 10 first determines whether or not the previously determined process can be divided. If the division is impossible (NO in step 241), the Web
The browser 20 is notified that there is no corresponding result (step 24).
2) Forcibly terminate the process (ignoring steps after step 103). An indivisible process is, for example, a case where only bookbinding is a process. In this process, it is assumed that there is no vendor that can perform bookbinding in the previous search. This is the case where the conditions such as the price have not been met.

On the other hand, if the process can be divided (YES in step 241), the process is divided into two (step 243). This division may be made in any of a plurality of steps, but usually, the priority is determined and the division is performed according to the priority. For example, composition,
When dividing the process of plate making, printing plate, printing and bookbinding into two,
Split between printing and bookbinding. This is because the printing company and the bookbinding company are often different.

Then, a search is made for a trader who can process the pre-process divided into two (step 244). If there is a trader that can be processed (YES in step 245), a trader who can process the post-division process is searched. (Step 24
6) If there is a trader capable of processing (YES in step 247), the division processing ends, and the flow returns to step 205 (see FIG. 8).

On the other hand, if there is no contractor capable of processing the divided previous process (N in step 245)
O), the division process described here is recursively executed (step 248), and even if there is no company that can process the post-division process (NO in step 247),
The division process is executed recursively (step 249). By the division processing including the recursive processing, a plurality of traders are finally set as search results and the search result page 90 is displayed on the Web browser 20.
(See FIG. 11) or notify that there is no corresponding result.

On the search result page 90, as a result of the search, the trader names 91 of the traders that match the conditions are displayed for each process, and after the customer selects one or a plurality of trader names 91,
When the detail button 92 or the inquiry button 93 is pressed, the mediation apparatus 10 executes the confirmation / inquiry mediation process in step 103.

The dividing process described here is an example, and other methods, for example, searching for a company capable of performing the first process of all processes, and narrowing down a company capable of processing the next process from the result. It is also possible to divide the process at a place where it cannot be narrowed down finally.

Finally, the confirmation / inquiry mediation process in step 103 and the order mediation process in step 104 will be described. In the confirmation / inquiry mediation process in step 103, the customer clicks the detail button 82 or the detail button 92 on the search result page 80 or the search result page 90.
Is pressed and a confirmation process is performed.
Alternatively, the inquiry mediation process is performed when the inquiry button 93 is pressed.

In the confirmation process, the mediation device 10 acquires detailed information of the trader selected by the customer from the database 11 and displays the acquired information on the Web browser 20. At this time, if the trader has separately published a Web page, that page may be introduced.

In the inquiry mediation process, the mediation device 10
Mediates communication between the client 2 and the client 3 and causes a question and answer between the customer and the trader.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a flow of communication contents between the mediation device 10 and the clients 2 and 3. First, the client 2 inputs an inquiry to one or a plurality of traders into an inquiry page (not shown) displayed on the Web browser and transmits the inquiry to the intermediary device 10 (step 301). The intermediary device 10 notifies the client 3 of the received inquiry item by e-mail with the customer name being anonymous (step 302, actually transmits to the mail server corresponding to the client 3), and inquires of the Web browser 20 of the client 2 A message that the result is notified by e-mail is displayed (step 303).

Thereafter, when there is a reply mail from the client 3 (step 304), the intermediary device 10 transfers the mail to the client 2 (step 305, actually transmits to the mail server corresponding to the client 2).

It should be noted that mail is not used for inquiries and W
It is also possible to use only the web browser 20 and the web browser 30. For example, the mediation device 1
0 prepares a page having a bulletin board function, and allows both the web browser 20 and the web browser 30 to access the page.

The order mediation processing is performed by the mediation device 10 displaying a form (not shown) on the Web browser 20 to input information, and notifying the input information to the client 3. Also, enter the telephone number and the
The information may be displayed on the web browser 20 so that the customer can place an order directly.

[0068]

As described above, according to the present invention, information on a trader is stored in a database,
Since the system is configured to search and display a company that meets the conditions specified by the customer, the customer can easily select a company that can perform the desired processing, and the opportunity for the company to receive an order increases.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an application example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mediation center 1, clients 2 and 3;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing between the mediation device 10 and a client 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram (1) illustrating a configuration example of a condition input page;

FIG. 5 is a diagram (2) illustrating a configuration example of a condition input page;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a case search result page.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a case search result page.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart (1) showing a flow of a search process.

FIG. 9 is a diagram (1) illustrating a configuration example of a search result page;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart (1) showing a flow of a search process;
It is.

FIG. 11 is a diagram (2) illustrating a configuration example of a search result page;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a flow of communication contents between the mediation device 10 and the clients 2 and 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Intermediation Center 2, 2-1 to 2-n Client 3, 3-1 to 3-m Client 4 Internet 10 Intermediation Device 11 Database 20 Web Browser 30 Web Browser 50 Condition Input Page 51 Submitting Condition Setting Field 52 Output Condition Setting Field 53 Other condition setting field 54 Selection field 55 Search execution button 56 Case search button 57 Past result button 58 Choice list 60 Case search result page 61 Case 62 selection button 63 Detail button 70 Past result page 61 Result 62 selection button 63 Detail button 80 Search result page 81 Trader name 82 Detail button 83 Inquiry button 90 Search result page 91 Trader name 92 Detail button 93 Inquiry button

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G06F 17/30 170 G06F 17/30 170Z

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A document production support method for mediating between a customer who wants to produce a document and a contractor who produces the document, the method comprising registering trader information including the business contents of each of a plurality of traders and order conditions. A document production support method, wherein a search is made for a supplier conforming to the order condition desired by the customer from the registered supplier information, and the search result is displayed to the customer. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein communication with the customer is performed via the Internet, and a form for inputting the order conditions and a display of the search result are performed using a web page. Document production support method. 3. The document production support method according to claim 1, wherein when the customer inputs the order conditions, the past transaction results of the customer are displayed. 4. The document production support method according to claim 1, wherein a general transaction example is displayed when the customer inputs the order condition. 5. When displaying a part of the order condition, when the part of the order condition is input, the case example that matches the part of the order condition is displayed. 4. The document production support method described in 4. 6. The document production support method according to claim 1, wherein the search is performed on condition that a document production process is determined based on the order condition. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein when there is no company that matches the search performed on the basis of the manufacturing process, the manufacturing process is divided, and the search is executed for each of the divided manufacturing processes. Item 6. A document production support method according to Item 6. 8. The document production support method according to claim 1, wherein the mediation is performed between the customer and the trader while maintaining the anonymity of the customer. 9. A document production support apparatus which mediates between a customer who wants to produce a document and a contractor who produces the document, stores the trader information including the business contents of each of a plurality of contractors and order conditions. Storage means, condition receiving means for receiving an order condition desired by the customer, search means for searching for a trader who meets the order condition received by the condition receiving means from trader information stored in the storage means, and Display means for displaying the searched trader name to the customer. 10. The document production support apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said condition receiving means and said display means are web servers connected to the Internet. 11. The document production support apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the display means displays the past transaction results of the customer when the customer inputs the order condition. 12. The document production support apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said display means displays a general transaction example when said customer inputs said order condition. 13. The search means, when the display means displays a transaction example, if the condition receiving means has received a part of the order condition, a transaction meeting the part of the order condition. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a case is searched, and the search result is displayed on the display unit.
2. The document production support device according to 2. 14. The search means comprises: a step of deciding a production process of a document based on an order condition received by the condition receiving means, wherein the retrieval is performed on the condition of the production step determined by the process decision means. 10. The document production support device according to claim 9, wherein 15. The search unit further includes a division unit for dividing the production process, and if there is no trader who matches the search performed on the condition of the production process, the production unit divided by the division unit. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the search is performed for each process.
4. The document production support device according to 4. 16. The document production support apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising communication mediation means for mediating between the customer and the trader while maintaining the anonymity of the customer.