JP2002197296A - Providing method of customized books and its system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a book providing method and its system which enable to obtain the book at once at the nearest spot when it is needed, to customize the information required by users for each user and to provide it. SOLUTION: The providing method of the customized book disassembles the original publication which is a digital publication on the network into sub- categories to be parted, manages the components of the original publication as an aggregate of data components of the publication, extracts components in accordance with contents of information required by users among the components of the publication which constitutes single or multiple original publications, generates data of reedited publication which has been customized for individual users by combining between components of the publication or with other original publications, distributes the data of the reedited publication to the books vending machine installed at the nearest spot from the users, and provides them by processing the data into printed publications using a printing and bookbinding device equipped by the books vending machine at the nearest spot from the users.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a book providing method and a book providing system, and more particularly, to a book providing method and a system customized for an individual user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of computers, new distribution forms of books are being created, and on-demand printing is known as a typical example. In this method, digitalized works (hereinafter referred to as digital works) are stored in the center, and when there is a subscription order from a consumer or a retailer, the corresponding data is called from the center and based on the called data. After printing and bookbinding, a required amount of books are prepared, packed, and then delivered to consumers and retailers through delivery and receiving processes.
In addition, services such as depositing private data from individuals instead of data stored in the center and creating private books such as mini comic magazines are also provided.

[0003]

In such an on-demand printing, a book is produced in a necessary amount after receiving an order, so that there is no need to hold a large amount of stock and a book with a small number of copies can be produced relatively. It has the advantage that it can be provided at a low price, and is attracting attention as a new method of providing copyrighted work, but in terms of satisfying consumers,
The following points still need to be improved. 1
One is that it takes time from order placement to product acquisition.
One is that they have not been able to respond to the diverse information needs of consumers. For example, since a produced book needs to be delivered to a consumer or a store, it takes several days from order placement to delivery, and also requires time and effort for packing for delivery. In addition, digital works are treated as an inseparable whole without changing the original data, and this data is simply processed into printed matter as it is, so it is possible to flexibly respond to various demands of consumers. Can not. In the case of informational magazines such as weekly and monthly magazines, it seems that there are far more readers who prefer to read interesting articles selectively than consumers who want to read all articles Despite this, it has not been able to respond to such demands.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and while maintaining the advantages of on-demand printing, which is suitable for small-volume production without the need for stock, can be immediately obtained at the nearest place when desired, and furthermore, the user can use it. It is an object of the present invention to provide a book providing method and a book providing system capable of accurately providing a user with necessary information and satisfying the user.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems The inventor of the present invention has made intensive studies to solve the above problems, and has obtained the following two ideas.
First of all, a book vending machine having a communication function and a print bookbinding function is configured and installed at the nearest location of the consumer, and data of the digital work is sent from the host computer to the book vending machine, and the nearest location of the consumer is arranged. The idea is to complete the book by printing and binding. The second is to convert digital works into parts with the consent of the authors, and to integrate and re-edit the copyrighted parts across the framework of the original work according to the user's request, for individual users. The idea is to complete a customized printout. The book providing method of the present invention completed based on such an idea is to disassemble an original work, which is a digital work existing on a network, into sub-units into parts, and convert the original work into parts. , And extracts a copyrighted part that matches the information content required by the user from a group of copyrighted parts that constitute one or more original copyrighted works, and creates a set of copyrighted parts or other original copyrighted work. In addition to creating customized reorganized work data for individual users in combination with the above, it distributes the reorganized work data to a book vending machine located near the user via a communication network and has a book vending machine The print bookbinding function is characterized in that the work is converted into a print work at a place closest to the user and provided to the user. Here, the original work refers to a work that is an original form before being made into a part, and the reorganized work refers to a work that is reorganized by combining copyrighted parts extracted from the original work.

Here, the reorganization of the literary parts is performed before the distribution through the communication network, but it is also possible to perform only the extraction of the literary parts before the distribution, and to reorganize the literary parts after the distribution.

[0007] Parts (objects) of digital works are classified into categories, themes, creation dates,
Can be done by author.

[0008] The copyrighted parts to be combined may be a collection of information on a continuous theme that the user is interested in. For example, matters that the user is interested in and continuously collecting information are considered as interests. It is also preferable to register in advance for each user, and to automatically add the information on the interests as an additional page when providing the printed work each time.

It is preferable that the addition of the additional page relating to the interest is performed only when the content is updated.

A book providing system for realizing such a book providing method includes a host computer, and a number of book vending machines connected to the host computer via a communication network and arranged at a location nearest to consumers in the whole country. You. The host computer and the book vending machine each have the following configuration. The host computer has a means of decomposing the original work, which is a digital work, into sub-units and managing it as a collection of work parts, and the information contents required by the user from the group of parts constituting one or more original works Means for extracting a part matching the above, means for combining the extracted part with another copyrighted part or another original work to create data of a restructured work customized for individual users, and Means for distributing the above data to a user's nearest place via a communication network. On the other hand, the book vending machine is installed at a place nearest to the user, and includes means for receiving data of the reorganized work from the host computer through a communication network, and printing bookbinding means for producing a print work based on the received data. Have.

Since the present system reflects a user's request, it is preferable to manage the user. For this purpose, it is preferable to provide a means for accepting identification information from a recording medium on which the identification information of the user is recorded. In order to provide a print work customized for each user, it is preferable to provide a user based on the identification information. It is preferable that a means for selecting print information to be provided is provided.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, this system is configured by connecting a host computer 1 serving as an operation center and a number of book vending machines 2, 2,... Via a communication network 3. As a communication network, a dedicated line, a public analog line, a public digital line, a CATV line, or the like can be adopted. It is preferable to use the Internet in consideration of distribution costs to the whole country. The system includes the following units. [1] Means for decomposing an original work as a digital work into sub-units and managing it as a collection of work parts. [2] Means for extracting a part matching the information content required by the user from a group of parts constituting one or more original works. [3] Means for combining the extracted parts with other copyrighted parts or other original work as a whole to create data of a reorganized work customized for individual users. [4] Means for distributing the newly created data of the reorganized work to the nearest place of the user via a communication network. [5] Means for receiving data of the reorganized work in the nearest place of the user. [6] Print binding means for printing and binding a print work based on the received data. Among these means, [1] to [4] are carried by the host computer, and [5] and [6] are carried by the book vending machine. Here, the reorganization of the copyrighted parts is performed on the host computer side, but this operation can be performed on the book vending machine side. In this case, the work parts before reorganization are distributed from the host computer to the book vending machine. Each unit described above may be sufficient in the entire system constituted by the host computer, the communication network, and the book vending machine, and it is not necessary to limit the location of each unit to a specific location. For example, it is only necessary that the literary parts and the original literary work, which is the original form thereof, exist somewhere on the network, such as being distributed to other computers other than the host computer and the book vending machine.

In the host computer, the original work, which is a digital work, is decomposed into sub-units and handled as a set of work parts, and these work parts are reorganized for each user and reorganized work corresponding to each user. In order to be able to create product data, there is provided a database DB having a content master for managing the contents of the copyrighted parts and a user master for managing the users. The content master manages the original work as a digital work as one complete work, and also manages a collection of work parts handled in sub-units. Here, the digital work means a digital form of the work under the permission of the creator, which is expressed in a file format that can be handled by a computer. Also, a child set refers to a set of sentences having a certain unity including one or more paragraphs, and the “fixed unity” here means
A sentence that has a certain degree of completeness and contains a content that can be understood even if cut out from other sentences. In the present invention, such a component is referred to as a “copyright component”.

As shown in FIG. 2, the content master manages the literary works A, B,... R, and at the same time, divides the literary parts (a
1, a2 ... an), (b1, b2 ... bn), (r
1, r2... Rp) are classified and managed according to category, creation date and time, and author. The category is, for example, a genre such as sports, movies, and travel. The theme refers to distinctions such as family issues and environmental issues. Note that the copyrighted parts (a1, a2... An),
(B1, b2... Bn) and (r1, r2... Rp) may be created in advance, or may be the first time that a copyrighted component is generated after a user's use request. . The former is advantageous in terms of speeding up the processing, and the latter is more preferable from the viewpoint of emphasizing the copyright because the time during which the parts are made into copyrighted works can be minimized. In the latter case, only the portion to be disassembled is specified in advance. What is important in the present invention is that, in response to a request from a user, necessary parts are extracted from a plurality of original works, and these are combined to reorganize one book. The time of extraction does not matter.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, information on each user is recorded in the user master. The information to be recorded includes an ID for identifying a user, basic attributes such as age and gender, a hobby, a request category, and the like. The request category is a category in which the user requests the center to provide information continuously.
Usually, items that are of interest to the user are targeted. The specification of the request category may be a genre such as “sports” or a theme that is interesting to the user such as “family issues” or “environmental issues”. By registering the request category, the user can receive information on the category from the center periodically or when communication is made. Information on such a request category may be provided as an independent booklet and provided frequently, but as described later, when a user purchases another book through the book vending machine, as described later. If a form is added to the end of the book as a newly added page, interest information that the user seeks every day can be provided to the user early without losing timing.

The registration of the request category may be performed by a user's self-declaration at the time of membership registration to the present system, or by analyzing the user's book purchase history through the book vending machine, the host computer You may make it register automatically. If the user of this system is not limited to members, the same service can be provided to non-members by adopting operation specifications and screen specifications that can easily select a request category. In this case, it is preferable to use a touch panel from the viewpoint of operability.

The book vending machine 2 is provided at a location nearest to the consumer, and includes therein communication means via a network, and printing bookbinding means for printing data obtained by the communication at a high speed and binding the obtained printed matter to a book. Let me. The book vending machine 2 only needs to receive the data of the reorganized work customized for the individual user on the host computer side and print and bind the data. Basically, the book vending machine 2 does not need the editing function. This does not preclude sending the data of the copyrighted parts before the reorganization and reorganizing the copyrighted parts data in the book vending machine. As a printing apparatus in the printing and bookbinding means incorporated in the book vending machine, a laser printer or the like capable of high-speed printing is used from the viewpoint of reducing the waiting time of the user. The laser printer is preferably a printer capable of color printing, but may be a monochrome laser printer when color printing is not required. In particular, when a newspaper article or the like is used as an information source, a monochrome laser printer can often handle the problem. As the bookbinding device in the printing bookbinding means, a device capable of saddle stitching is adopted. If time is required for bookbinding, news, recommended information, quizzes, commercials, and the like may be displayed on the display during the waiting time according to the user. , And commercials, the profits obtained from the commercials can be supplemented as part of the system operation costs.

It is needless to say that the degree of finish of bookbinding is preferably beautiful, but simple bookbinding is sufficient.
Books provided by this book vending machine are more like books on the shelf, rather than books on information magazines such as weekly and monthly magazines, as well as on the Internet such as e-mail magazines and street magazines. Suitable for printouts of distribution magazines. Since this kind of information paper already has a soil that is easily accepted by young people, such a book vending machine can be easily spread as a culture if it is installed in a place where young people can easily gather. Simple bookbinding is sufficient for a small and low-cost bookbinding apparatus, and can also contribute to lowering the cost of providing the entire book vending machine. Also, by making the book mobile different from a regular book,
Be able to segregate in book sales.

The book vending machine 2 is equipped with a recording device such as a hard disk. If the printing speed is slower than the communication speed with the host computer, the data is temporarily downloaded to the hard disk, and after the line is disconnected, the hard disk is used. By reading and printing the data, communication costs are saved. The hard disk is also used for the purpose of storing frequently used data locally. As a result, frequently used data such as information that is popular with everyone can be dealt with by reading from the local disk without downloading from the center each time. The book vending machine 2 is provided with means for identifying a user. All of the user identification means may be incorporated in the book vending machine 2, or the book vending machine 2 may be provided with only an input unit in the user identification means, and the recognition processing may be performed on the host side. As an input unit of the user identification means, a reader for reading recorded contents of a recording medium such as an IC card or a magnetic card in which a user ID is recorded, an input button for inputting a user ID provided on the front of a book vending machine, a host computer For example, a mobile phone for inputting an ID by direct communication with the user can be exemplified. Then, by identifying the users, it becomes possible to provide a print work suitable for each user. Such a book vending machine 2 is installed in a place that can provide an environment where people can easily gather and operate easily, such as a bookstore, a newspaper store, a convenience store, a station stand, and a post office.

FIGS. 4 to 7 show that a digital work as an original work is decomposed into a plurality of work parts, only necessary ones are extracted according to a user's request, and these are further reorganized. In addition, various embodiments of the process of printing and binding at the place of purchase are shown. In these illustrated examples, the host computer and the book vending machine are network-connected, and the left side of the “communication network” is the processing content performed by the host computer, and the right side is the processing content performed by the book vending machine. In each of the embodiments described here, the work parts obtained by decomposing the original work on the host computer side are sent to the book vending machine side through the communication network, and the book vending machine side is customized to the reorganized work. However, it goes without saying that reorganization may be completed before sending the book to the communication network, and the book vending machine may be configured to specialize in print bookbinding. In the following description, digital works as original works are referred to as A and B in order to simplify the description.
In the following, the operation will be limited to only the two books, but in practice, the following operation is performed on the work library managed by the host computer, on the work library selected under various conditions.

FIG. 4 shows a procedure for obtaining a printed work Z as a book using the digital works A and B as materials.
Here, the concept of a book is a concept that includes not only a book with strong bookbinding but also a form of information paper such as a booklet. Digital works A and B as original works are previously made into parts (objects) in units of child sets, and digital work A is made up of a plurality of work parts a1, a2,.
… An and the digital work B is a plurality of work parts b
1, b2,..., Bm. From these, copyrighted parts a1 and b2 that match the user's request are extracted.
This extraction is performed based on a command from the book vending machine, and this command is based on the key operation of the user who operates the book vending machine and the information content of the member card to be inserted. Then, the host computer receiving this command extracts the copyrighted parts a1 and b2 that match the user's request from the group of copyrighted parts by referring to the content master and the user master, and extracts these through the communication network into a book. It will be sent to the vending machine. The book vending machine reorganizes the received parts a1 and b2 to create data of a reorganized work customized for individual users, performs bookbinding based on this data, and obtains the obtained print work Z. It is provided to the user. As described above, what has been conventionally provided as another independent book or printed matter is provided in the form of one book.

There are various patterns for indicating a book to be purchased. For example, it is of course possible to follow the conventional method, such as a method of designating a specific writer, title of a work, or a book title.However, in this system, how to convey information necessary for oneself to a book vending machine Becomes important, and it can be said that the designation of necessary information is closer to the actual situation than the designation of a purchased book. As a method of specifying information to be obtained, in addition to a method of specifying an information source, use of a search engine that is frequently used on the Internet or the like can be considered. When the files of the copyrighted parts (for example, a1 and b2) are extracted in this way, the files of these copyrighted parts are distributed to the book vending machine through a communication network such as the Internet, and the book vending machine receives the files of the distributed copyrighted parts. After editing the file into one integrated file, the file is printed out using a printer device built in the book vending machine. The method of creating an integrated file from files of a plurality of copyrighted parts is basically performed in a state customized for each individual.
As described above, the reorganization and integration of the copyrighted parts taken out from the host computer are performed at the book vending machine side, but this operation may be performed at the host computer side. When the number of copyrighted parts to be combined is large, it is preferable to send the integrated file edited by the host computer to the book vending machine because the total capacity of the transmitted file is reduced. Further, even when editing a file of a plurality of copyrighted parts is complicated and the power of the CPU is required, it is advantageous to create an integrated file on the host computer side.

The file format of a digital work as an original work, a work part obtained by disassembling the work, and a new work (reorganized work) reconstructed by combining the work parts can be handled by a computer. There is no particular limitation as long as it is possible, but it is preferable that the text and the image can be mixedly expressed. For example, DTP (Des
Top Publising) file and PDF (Portable Document)
Format) files, as well as HTML files and XTM
One described in a markup language such as an L file is exemplified. These are file formats in which text and images can be combined and handled, but file formats such as TXT files that target only text, JPG,
It does not preclude the use of a combination of file formats such as BMP and GIF that target only images. The digital works A and B may be ones that are entirely pierced by one theme, such as a novel, or may be an information magazine that combines a variety of information, such as a weekly newspaper. The latter is more suitable from the viewpoint of disassembly into a plurality of copyrighted parts. When disassembling digital works,
It is important to respect the copyright, such as not changing the description in the sub-group and obtaining the consent of the author.
However, if copyright permits, it may be possible to make some modifications in order to increase the degree of perfection after reorganization.

In the above-described example, the objects to be combined were both the copyrighted parts extracted from a part of the original work, but the one shown in FIG. Is the case. With such a configuration, for example, it is possible to add the latest information on a matter that the user is interested in while publishing the entire contents of the information magazine subscribed to.

Although the above description has been made on a case where the parts are combined for a plurality of original works, the one shown in FIG. 6 is for one original work A, and only necessary portions in the original work A are shown. Are extracted as copyrighted parts a1, an, and a printed work X is obtained by reorganizing them. In this case, it is possible for the user to efficiently read only articles of a favorite theme among them while designating a favorite original work A.

FIG. 7 shows that there is no equivalent to the original work,
This is an example in which copyrighted parts b and e that meet conditions are extracted from copyrighted parts a to f distributed on a network, and these are reorganized to create a print work W. In this case, the collection of copyrighted parts is performed for various types of information distributed on the network.

As described above, according to the present invention, by using existing original works as materials and customizing combinations of work parts extracted from the original works in accordance with individual user's requirements, the user can use the original work without waste. In addition, it is possible to provide a work in which necessary information is posted. The most important consideration in practicing the present invention is the issue of copyright. When an original work edited with the intention of the creator is disassembled and re-edited at the request of the user, the copyrighted work must be The question is how to get the author's consent. An embodiment in which the consent of the author is most easily obtained and which can be implemented immediately is the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, in which an information page relating to the user's request category is added to the original work which has not been made into parts. Among them, if the original work has multiple authors such as newspapers and information magazines, and the editor organizes them, edit the consent regarding the addition of information pages on the premise of expanding the sales of the original work It is not so difficult to get from others.

For example, as an application example of such a form, as shown in FIG. 8, each of husband A, husband and wife B and child C who subscribe to the same newspaper, An example is given in which an additional page relating to “tennis information” is added to the couples B and “wine information” to the child C. In this case, each of husband A, husband and wife B, and child C must register in advance the requested category to be distributed in the host computer as member information, or have the book vending machine read the member card in which these contents are registered. Then, the request category is transmitted to the book vending machine. If there is new update information on the request category, if it is set to be automatically distributed, even if the child C subscribes to another magazine, for example, “monthly sports information”, the updated “wine” An additional page of "information" will be added.

If there is useful information related to the request category registered by the user, the useful information may be automatically distributed. For example, as information requested by her husband on a daily basis, the weather forecast of the Kinki area golf course, PG
If you register multiple request categories such as weekly results of A tour and bargain information on used golf equipment, A
My husband is a book vending machine, "Daily Mothers Stock Price Ranking"
When subscribing to, it is conceivable that golf-related information is additionally printed automatically on an appropriate page. Instead of targeting registered request categories, similar services can also be provided for users' interests estimated from the user's tendency to use book vending machines. However, when such a service is provided, it is needless to say that it is necessary to obtain the permission of the user in advance to analyze the usage tendency of the user. In this way, by registering for automatic distribution when there is an update related to your interests, regardless of the purchase of the copyrighted work, the information required for yourself will be posted on the last page It is possible to obtain the information required by the user at the latest timing. With the spread of book vending machines, such information can be obtained from all over Japan or anywhere in the world, and the latest necessary information can be obtained without delay.

[0030]

According to the first and seventh aspects of the present invention, there is no need for packaging and delivery for the supplier and no time from order to delivery of the product for the user. , While having the basic effect of on-demand printing, where you can get as many books as you need when you want them,
Users can immediately obtain a book customized for each user and containing information necessary for the user at his / her nearest location when necessary. In addition, since the information source is basically an existing work, the time and funds required for the maintenance of the information source can be saved, and the introduction of the present system can proceed smoothly.

In the case where the reorganization of the copyrighted parts is performed by the book vending machine after distribution as in the invention according to claim 2,
The burden on the host computer can be reduced.

When each copyrighted component is classified and managed by the content attribute as in the invention according to claim 3, each copyrighted component can be extracted by the content attribute.
A copyrighted part can be selected according to the category requested by the user.

When the copyrighted parts are classified by category, theme, creation date and time, or author, as in the invention according to claim 4, the copyrighted parts are classified by keywords belonging to these categories. You will be able to extract.

[0034] As in the invention according to claim 5, the user registers the interests, and when the print work is provided each time, the information on the interests is integrated with the main body in the form of an additional page and provided. In this case, the user can obtain information at the latest timing without missing necessary information.

In the case where the addition of the information page relating to the matter of interest is performed only when the information is updated as in the invention according to claim 6, the user has to check the same information many times. You can selectively get only the necessary and up-to-date information on your interests.

According to the present invention, there is provided means for accepting identification information from a recording medium on which the identification information of the user is recorded, and the print information to be provided to the user is changed based on the received identification information. In this case, it becomes easy to provide information customized according to the user's interests.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a content master.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a user master.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing one mode of reorganization of original work into parts.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing one mode of reorganization of parts and parts of an original work;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing one mode of reorganization and parting of an original work;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing one mode of reorganization and parting of an original work;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram in a case where an additional page relating to an interest item is added to a newspaper or an information magazine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 host computer 2 book vending machine 3 communication network DB database

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G07F 17/00 G07F 17/00 Z

Claims (8)

[Claims] An original work, which is a digital work existing on a network, is decomposed into sub-units to form parts, and the original work is managed as a set of data of work parts that have been made into parts, Reorganized works customized for individual users by extracting work parts that match the information content requested by the user from work parts groups that compose multiple original works, and combining the work parts with each other or with other original works In addition to creating product data, the data of this reorganized work is distributed to the book vending machine installed at the user's nearest location through a communication network, and the print bookbinding function of the book vending machine is used to print the print work at the user's nearest location How to provide customized books to be processed and provided to users. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein instead of performing the reorganization of the copyrighted parts before distribution, only the extraction of the copyrighted parts is performed before distribution and the reorganization of the copyrighted parts is performed after distribution. How to provide a customized book with the described. 3. The customized book providing method according to claim 1, wherein each of the copyrighted parts is classified and managed by the content attribute. 4. The classification of the work parts is one of a category, a theme, a creation date and time, and an author.
4. The method for providing a customized book according to any one of items 3 to 3. 5. An item for which the user wishes to provide information continuously is registered in advance as an interest item for each user, and when the print work is provided each time, the interest item is added to the print work itself to be provided. The method for providing a customized book according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising providing an information page related to the book. 6. The addition of an information page relating to an interest is
The method for providing a customized book according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the method is performed only when the content is updated. 7. A means for decomposing an original work, which is a digital work, into sub-units and managing it as an aggregate of work parts;
A means for extracting a part that meets the information content requested by the user from a group of parts constituting one or more original works, and combining the extracted part with another copyrighted part or another original work to create an individual user A host computer having means for creating data of a reorganized work customized for use, and means for distributing the data of the reorganized work to a user's nearest location via a communication network; and a host computer provided at a user's nearest location. And a book vending machine having means for receiving data of the reconstructed work from the host computer through the communication network, and printing and bookbinding means for producing a printed work based on the received data. Offer system. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: means for receiving identification information from a recording medium on which the identification information of the user is recorded; and means for selecting print information to be provided to the user based on the received identification information. A customized book delivery system.