JP2003132359A - Calligraphic works and paintings generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate artwork matching a style desired by a user without imposing complicated work on the user. SOLUTION: The user accesses to a Web server 1 from a user terminal 5 and sends a destination of the artwork, the style of the artwork to be generated, and a user object such as a message to be included in the artwork to the Web server 1, and the Web server 1 sends them to an artwork generating server 2. The artwork generating server 2 uses the style specified by the user and a style judged from a present season and time as object styles and selects a layout matching the object styles. The artwork generating server 2 arranges the user object such as the message sent from the user and a decorative object selected in response to the object styles from precedently prepared images and illustrations in accordance with the selected layout, applies a decorative effect matching the object styles and generates the artwork.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to decorated documents, images, illustrations,
The present invention relates to a technique for generating various artworks and other calligraphy in a style desired by a user.

[0003]

[Prior art]

[0004] As a technique of generating a calligraphy with a style desired by a user, for example, a technique of generating a calligraphy on a postcard communication surface is known. According to this technique, in a computer system, a plurality of designs are previously classified and accumulated according to themes such as spring, autumn, summer, and winter. When generating a document, first, a user selects a theme that suits a desired style, and displays each design classified into the selected theme. Then, it accepts the designation of the design to be adopted from the displayed designs and also accepts the input of the communication text, generates a calligraphic image in which the input communication text, etc. is placed on the specified design, and prints it on the postcard communication surface. To do.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0006] According to the above-mentioned conventional technique, by classifying the designs for each theme, the user can select a design suitable for his / her desired style for each theme.

[0007] Therefore, in order to allow the user to more finely select a design suitable for a desired style by designating a theme, it is necessary to subdivide the theme and provide the theme in a hierarchical manner. In this case, in order to select a design suitable for the style desired by the user, the user searches for one theme that suits the desired style from a large number of themes, or repeatedly hierarchically. You have to do complicated work such as having to specify the theme

[0008] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to generate a calligraphy that suits the style desired by the user, without forcing the user to perform complicated work.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides, for example,
A device for generating an electronic calligraphy, which is a design database accumulating a plurality of designs respectively associated with one or a plurality of styles associated with a time, and means for acquiring the current time, Means for determining a style related to the obtained current time, means for extracting a design related to the determined style from the database,
And a means for generating a written image according to the extracted design.

[0011] Here, such a style drawing generation device may determine the style based on the timing of sending the style received from the user, instead of determining the style based on the current time.

[0012] According to such a document image generation apparatus, for example, the current time period or the transmission time period is not received from the user without accepting the input about the style estimated to be desired by the user in relation to the present time or the time period of the document transmission. It is possible to generate a calligraphy with a style design according to.

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a means for acquiring the current time, a means for generating an object according to the acquired current time, and an electronic device including the generated object as its element. And a means for generating a typical document image.

[0014] Here, such a document image generation device may generate an object corresponding to the timing of sending the document accepted by the user, instead of generating the object according to the current period.

[0015] According to such a document image generation apparatus, the user does not need to accept the input about the style estimated to be desired by the user in relation to the present time or the time period of the document transmission, without depending on the user. It is possible to generate a calligraphy that includes an object.

[0016] Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a design database in which a plurality of designs each associated with one or a plurality of styles associated with a geographical area and a location of a user belong. A means for accepting input of information capable of discriminating a geographical area, a means for discriminating a geographical area to which a user's location belongs from the received information, and determining a style related to the discriminated geographical area,
There is provided a document image generation apparatus comprising: a unit for extracting a design related to a determined style from the database; and a unit for generating a document image according to the extracted design.

[0017] Here, such a stroke generation device may determine the style from the geographical area of the destination of the stroke received from the user, instead of determining the style from the geographical area of the user's location. good.

[0018] According to such a document image generation apparatus, the user does not need to accept input from the user about the style estimated to be desired in relation to the geographical area of the user's location or the destination address, without the user receiving the input. It is possible to generate a drawing with a style design according to the location and the geographical area to which the drawing is sent.

[0019] Therefore, according to the above-described document image generation apparatus, it is possible to generate a document image that suits the style desired by the user, without forcing the user to perform a complicated work.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the artwork generation system according to this embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the artwork generation system is
It has a Web server 1, an artwork generation server 2, a delivery server 3, a printer 4, and a user terminal 5. The Web server 1 and the user terminal 5 are connected to the Internet 6 (The interne
t).

[0024] In such a configuration, the user accesses the Web server 1 from the user terminal 5 and sets the destination of the artwork, the style of the artwork desired to be created, and the user object such as a communication sentence included in the artwork to the Web server 1
Then, the Web server 1 sends it to the artwork generation server 2. The artwork generation server 2 uses the style specified by the user and the style independently determined by the artwork generation server 2 as will be described later, and selects a layout suitable for the style data. An artwork in which a user object such as a communication message sent from the user and each decorative object such as an image and an illustration suitable for the style data are arranged according to the selected layout with a decoration effect suitable for the style data. To generate.

[0025] The artwork generation server 2 requests delivery of the generated artwork to the delivery server 3 together with the destination sent from the user, and the delivery server 3 delivers the artwork when delivering the artwork by e-mail. When the attached e-mail is transmitted to the Internet 6 and the artwork is delivered by mail, the printer 4 prints the artwork on a postcard or the like.

As illustrated, the artwork generation server 2 includes a request processing unit 201 and a management data processing unit 2
02, user specified object processing unit 203, style data processing unit 204, design selection unit 205, artwork generation unit 206, delivery request unit 207, design database 208, and clock 209.

Next, the delivery server 3 has a job queue 301, a job processing unit 302, and an electronic mail transmission unit 303.

[0028] The user terminal 5 is a PDA, a mobile phone, or a personal computer in which a general Web browser is incorporated.

[0029] The Web server 1, the artwork generation server 2, and the delivery server 3 described above are electronic computer systems, and the above respective units execute computer programs supplied via a storage medium or a communication path. It is realized by reading and executing in an electronic computer system.

In addition, the Web server 1 is, for example, ASP (Active
Server Page) or a web server that incorporates server side scripts such as JSP (Java Server Page) / Servlet. The artwork generation server 2 can be COM +, EJB (Ja
It is good as a Web application server that executes application processes constructed by va Enterprise Beens). In addition, ASP (Active Server Page), JSP (Jav
a Server Page) / Servlet, COM +, EJB (Java Enterprise
Beens) are trademarks.

Next, the contents of the design database 208 of the artwork generation server 2 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the design database 20
8 includes a layout management table 221, a plurality of layout files 222, and a decoration file management table 22.
3, a decoration object file set 224, and a decoration effect definition file set 225.

[0033] Also, the decoration object file set 224
Has a plurality of background object files 231, a plurality of image object files 232, a plurality of additional object files 233, and a plurality of automatically generated object definition files 234. The decoration effect definition file set 225 includes a plurality of font decoration files 241, a plurality of character decoration files 242, a plurality of color tone decoration files 243, a plurality of background decoration files 244,
A plurality of image decoration files 245 and a plurality of layout decoration files 246 are included.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the layout management table 221 is a table for managing each layout file 222, and the style index value is registered in the entry for each ID of each layout file 222. The style index value is obtained by registering the suitability of the layout for each style as shown in FIG. 3d. Here, in the present embodiment, as the type of style, style type 1 including styles such as “warm” and “cool” directly specified by the user,
Set according to the style type 2, which includes styles such as “marriage” and “entrance”, which is set according to the content of the communication message entered by the user, the date when the artwork was created, or the date when the user specified the artwork transmission / posting date. "Spring", "Summer", "Autumn", "Winter"
Style type 3 including styles, style type 4 including styles such as "morning", "daytime", "night", and "midnight" that are set according to the artwork creation time or the user's artwork transmission specified time, Five types of style 5 indicating styles such as "southern hemisphere" and "north half holiday" set according to the location of the user are used.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, in each layout file 222, layout ID, layout data that defines the basic size and layout of artwork, and rearrangement procedure data are registered. The artwork in this embodiment represents an image obtained by combining a plurality of layers in this order and combining them. The layout data includes the type of object to be arranged in each layer and the arrangement position, size, orientation, and text. It defines the vertical writing and horizontal writing of objects. In this embodiment, as the object, the decoration object file set 22 is previously set.
Background object prepared as a file of 4,
Image objects, additional objects, and heading objects, body objects extracted from user input,
From Postal Code Object, From Address Object,
The sender object, the destination zip code object, the destination address object, the destination object, and the artwork generation server 2 automatically generate the object definition file 2
An automatically generated object that is automatically generated according to the definition of 34 is used. Further, as the types of automatically generated objects, date objects, clock 209 objects, postmark objects, etc. are prepared. Further, the rearrangement procedure data describes a procedure for rearranging or resizing the object when it becomes necessary to change the arrangement of the object due to a decoration effect described later.

Next, the decoration file management table 223
Background object file 231, image object file 232, additional object file 233, font decoration file 241, character decoration file 242, tone decoration file 243, background decoration file 244, image decoration file 245, layout decoration file 24
6 has a file management table 250 for each type of each file, and the table for each type has the file ID of each file of the corresponding type, the information of the layout file 222 to which the file corresponds, and the style index value. Is registered.

The style index value registered in the type-based management table is the same as the style index value registered in the layout management table 221, and the objects stored in the corresponding file or the decoration defined by the corresponding file. It shows the degree of conformity of the effect to each style.

[0038] Next, each background object file 231 stores a background object used as a background,
Each image object file 232 stores an image object such as a photo image, an illustration image, or a painting image used as a main object for decoration, and the additional object file 233 stores a mascot character or various kinds used as an auxiliary object for decoration. An additional object such as an illustration is stored, and the automatic generation object definition file 234 defines the generation method of each automatic generation object.

[0039] Then, the font decoration file 241 includes each object whose type is text (header object, body object, sender zip code object,
Address object, sender object, destination zip code object, destination address object, recipient object, date object) font, size, style and color are defined. Also, character decoration file 2
Reference numeral 42 defines a decoration effect to be applied to the characters of each object whose type is text, for example, an operation of inserting a heart mark after the character "marriage".
Further, in the color tone decoration file 243, the operation definition of the color tone of each object is defined. Also, the background decoration file 2
In 44, operations performed on the background object, such as rotation, enlargement, reduction, partial extraction, color tone correction, resolution processing, blurring processing, and mosaic processing, are described. Further, the image decoration file 245 includes operations to be performed on the image object, such as rotation, enlargement,
Reduction, partial extraction, color tone correction, resolution processing, blurring processing,
Operations such as mosaic processing are described. Then, the layout decoration file 246 describes an operation for changing the layout, for example, an operation for enlarging the image object or an operation for changing the position of the text object.

[0040] Hereinafter, details of the operation of such an artwork generation system will be described.

When the user creates the artwork, first,
The user accesses the predetermined artwork generation start page of the web server 1 via the web browser of the user terminal 5, and according to the guide on the artwork generation start page, mails the generated artwork by mail or sends an email. Specify whether to deliver by.

[0042] In the following, first, a case will be described in which the user specifies delivery by mail on the taskwork generation start page.

[0043] In response to the user's designation of mail delivery, the web browser of the user terminal 5 follows the description in the web page,
b Access the artwork creation page shown in FIG.

[0044] Then, on the artwork creation page, a headline sentence to be included as a headline in the artwork, a body text to be included in the artwork as a body text, a destination postal code and destination address of the artwork, a destination person name, and the artwork Enter the sender's zip code, sender's address, and sender's name, and select the style and desired date of posting from the pull-down menu. However, if you want to send the artwork by mail as soon as possible, you do not have to specify the desired posting date. The styles that can be selected as styles on the artwork creation page are styles such as “kawaii” and “cool” that belong to style type 1.

Then, when the user operates the create button on the artwork creation page, the web browser of the user terminal 5 follows the description in the web page and is input to the web server 1 for the mail accompanied by the selected contents. Submit an artwork creation request. If the desired date of mailing is not specified by the user, the desired date of mailing is not specified and is transmitted in the mail artwork creation request.

[0046] Web that received the request to create artwork for mail
The server 1 transfers this to the artwork generation server 2.

FIG. 4 shows a processing procedure of the artwork generation server 2.

The request processing unit 201 of the artwork generation server 2 selects the destination zip code, the destination address, the recipient's name, the sender's zip code, the sender's address, the sender's name, and the user input to the management data processing unit 202 by the user. The desired posting date is handed over, and the user-specified object processing unit 203
The destination zip code, the destination address, the recipient's name, the sender's zip code, the sender's address, the sender's name, the headline, and the text input by the user are delivered. Further, the headline sentence, the body text, the sender address, the style selected by the user, and the desired posting date are delivered to the style processing unit as job data for the mail artwork creation request.

Then, the management data processing unit 202 uses the received information as job management information for the mail artwork creation request (step 401), and transfers this to the delivery requesting unit 207 and the design selecting unit 205.

On the other hand, the user-specified object processing unit 203
The destination zip code, destination address, recipient name, sender zip code, sender address, sender name, headline, and body, respectively, destination zip code object, destination address object, recipient object, sender zip code object, sender Address objects, sender objects, headline objects, and body objects (step 40
2), it is delivered to the artwork generation unit 206.

[0051] Then, the style data processing unit 204 checks whether or not the headline sentence and the main body include a character string that matches the style name belonging to style type 2, and if it is included, The style with that name is extracted as a style 2 style (step 403). Here, a plurality of styles may be extracted as styles of style 2. Also,
The style data processing unit 204 determines that the desired posting date is spring, summer,
It is determined whether it belongs to autumn or winter, and the determined season is classified as style type 3 (step 404). It is determined whether the sender address belongs to the northern hemisphere or the southern hemisphere, and the determined hemisphere is classified as style style 5 ( Step 406). However, if the desired date of mailing is not specified, the season to which the current month and day obtained from the clock 209 belongs is set as the style 5 style. Then, the style selected by the user is set as the style 1 style, and the styles are passed to the design selection unit 205.
Note that the style 4 determined in step 405 is not used in the job corresponding to the mail artwork creation request.

The design selection unit 205 first refers to the layout management table 221, and selects the layout file 222 that best suits the delivered style of each type (step 407). This selection is performed, for example, by selecting the layout file 222 having the largest total suitability for the delivered styles of the styles registered in the style index value of the layout management table 221. However, this is performed by selecting one layout file 222 using a random number or the like from a plurality of layout files having a high total degree of conformance, or by weighting the type of each style to calculate each degree of conformity. Alternatively, another method such as selecting the layout file 222 having the largest total degree of conformity may be used.

[0053] Next, when the layout of the selected layout file 222 includes an automatically generated object, the design selection unit 205 generates an automatically generated object according to the definition of the corresponding automatically generated object definition file 234. (Step 408). For example, when the date object which is an automatic object is included in the layout of the selected layout file 222, this is a text (for example, a text indicating the desired posting date in the management information passed from the management data processing unit 202).
The character string "April 15, 2001" is generated as a date object according to the definition of the date object automatic generation object definition file 234. However, if the desired date of mailing is not specified, the current month and day is obtained from the clock 209, and a text representing the obtained current month and day (for example,
The character string "April 10, 2001" is generated as a date object according to the definition of the date object automatic generation object definition file 234. However, if the current date and time is the date and time during which posting is not possible today, the text (for example, the character string of "April 11, 2001") representing the earliest possible posting date is set as the date. The object may be automatically generated as a date object according to the definition of the object definition file 234.

Next, the design selection unit 205 refers to the decoration file management table 223, describes in the corresponding layout information that it corresponds to the selected layout file 222, and most of the styles received by the style index value. A matching background object file 231, image object file 232, additional object file 233,
Font decoration file 241, character decoration file 24
2. Color decoration file 243, background decoration file 24
4, the image decoration file 245 and the layout decoration file 246 are selected (step 409). This selection is performed, for example, by selecting, for each type-based management table 250, a file having the largest total degree of suitability for the delivered styles of the styles registered in the style index value. However, this is because one file is selected for each type-based management table 250 using a random number or the like from a plurality of files having a high total suitability, or each suitability is set by weighting the type of each style. Alternatively, another method may be used, such as selecting the file with the largest total degree of suitability for each type-based management table 250.

The design selection unit 205 then selects the selected layout file 222 and background object file 2
31, image object file 232, additional object file 233, font decoration file 241, character decoration file 242, color tone decoration file 243, background decoration file 244, image decoration file 245, layout decoration file 246, generated auto-generated objects artwork It is delivered to the generation unit 206.

[0056] The artwork creation unit follows the layout of the received layout file 222, and receives the destination zip code object, the destination address object, the destination person object, which are passed from the user-specified object processing unit 203.
From Postal Code Object, From Address Object,
Sender object, heading object, body object, automatically generated object received from the design selection unit 205, background object file 231, image object file 232 received from the design selection unit 205, background object, image object read from the additional object file 233, The font decoration file 241 and the character decoration file 24 received from the design selection unit 205 are arranged with additional objects.
2. Color decoration file 243, background decoration file 24
4. The artwork with the decorative effect defined in the image decoration file 245 and the layout decoration file 246 is generated (step 410). Note that some objects are not used depending on the layout.

[0057] Then, the delivery request unit 2 receives the generated artwork.
07, a preview image representing the generated artwork is generated, and the image is returned to the request processing unit 201 as a response to the mail artwork creation request (step 4).
11).

[0058] The delivery request unit 207 includes the artwork generation unit 20.
The artwork received from 6 and the management information previously received from the management data processing unit 202 are held as delivery job data.

[0059] On the other hand, the request processing unit 201 that has received the preview artwork image returns it to the web server 1, and the web server 1 includes the artwork confirmation page shown in Fig. 5b including the preview image. Is transmitted to the user terminal 5 and displayed on the Web browser.

[0060] Here, in the illustrated example, a header object, a body object, a sender address object, and a sender name object, which are the contents input by the user, are included as elements in the artwork. In addition, the style “kawaii” of style 1 selected by the user, the style “excursion” of style 2 determined from the character string of the excursion in the headline sentence, and the style 3 of style 3 determined from the desired date of posting. "Spring" and style 5 of style 5 determined from the sender's address "Northern Hemisphere". It is included as an element in the work. In addition, a date object, which is the text representing the desired posting date selected by the user, is included as an element in the artwork. Also, the layout and decoration are generally adapted to each style.

Now, when the user operates the confirm button on this artwork confirmation page, the Web browser sends an art arc postal delivery request to the Web server 1 according to the description on the artwork confirmation page.

The Web server 1 that has received the artwork mail delivery request transfers this to the artwork generation server 2. The request processing unit 201 of the artwork generation server 2 that has received the artwork postal delivery request transmits the artwork postal delivery request to the delivery requesting unit 207, and the delivery requesting unit 207 that receives the request (Step 412) holds it. A mail delivery execution request including the stored delivery job data is sent to the delivery server 3 (step 413).

[0063] After the mail delivery execution request is registered in the job queue 301 of the delivery server 3, the job processing unit 302 determines whether the desired posting date in the management information matches the current month or day, or does not specify the desired posting date. Objects are taken out sequentially. Then, the job processing unit 302 controls the printer 4 to display the artwork in the job data on the communication side of the postcard, and the destination zip code, destination address, and destination name included in the management information in the job data on the address side of the postcard. To print. Then, the printed postcard is posted as mail.

[0064] The case has been described above where the user specifies delivery by mail on the network generation start page.

[0065] A case will be described below in which the user specifies delivery by e-mail on the network generation start page.

In response to the user's designation of mail delivery, the web browser of the user terminal 5 follows the description in the web page, We
b Access the artwork creation page of server 1 shown in FIG. 6a.

[0067] Then, on the artwork creation page, a headline sentence to be included as a headline in the artwork, a body text to be included as a body text in the artwork, an email address of the artwork destination, a name of the artwork destination, and the artwork Enter the sender's e-mail address and the sender's name of the artwork sender, and select the style, desired date of transmission, and desired time of transmission using the pull-down menu.
The styles that can be selected as styles on the artwork creation page are styles such as “kawaii” and “cool” that belong to style type 1. The user does not need to select the desired transmission date and the desired transmission time when immediate transmission is desired.

Then, when the user operates the create button on the artwork creation page, the web browser of the user terminal 5 follows the description in the web page and enters the web server 1 for the mail accompanied by the selected contents. Submit an artwork creation request. Here, if the user does not select the desired transmission date and the desired transmission time, the desired transmission date and the desired transmission time are transmitted without designation in the email artwork creation request.

We received the artwork creation request for mail.
b The server 1 transfers this to the artwork generation server 2.

[0070] The processing procedure of the artwork generation server 2 is the same as that for the mail artwork creation request shown in Fig. 4 above.

That is, the request processing unit 201 of the artwork generation server 2 sends to the management data processing unit 202 the destination electronic mail address, the recipient's name, the sender's electronic mail address, the sender's name, and the transmission selected by the user. The desired date and the desired transmission time are delivered, and the recipient's name, the sender's name, the headline sentence, and the text input by the user are delivered to the user-specified object processing unit 203. In addition, the headline and the body, the sender's e-mail address, the address, the style selected by the user, the desired transmission date, and the desired transmission time, which are input by the user, are delivered to the style processing unit as job data in response to a request to create artwork for mail. .

Then, the management data processing unit 202 uses the received information as job management information for the email artwork creation request (step 401), and the delivery requesting unit 20.
7 and the design selection unit 205.

On the other hand, the user-specified object processing unit 203
Uses the name of the recipient, the name of the sender, the heading sentence, and the body as a recipient object, a sender object, a heading object, and a body object, respectively (step 40).
2), it is delivered to the artwork generation unit 206.

[0074] Then, the style data processing unit 204 checks whether or not the headline sentence and the main body include a character string that matches the style name belonging to style type 2, and if it is included, The style with that name is extracted as a style 2 style (step 403). In addition, the style data processing unit 2
04 determines whether the desired date of transmission belongs to spring, summer, autumn, or winter according to a pre-registered determination rule, and determines the determined season as the style of style 3 (step 404),
It is determined which of the morning, daytime, night, and midnight time periods the desired time belongs to according to a pre-registered determination rule, and the determined time period is set as the style 4 style (step 405). Further, it is determined whether the sender's electronic mail address is in the northern hemisphere or the southern hemisphere according to a pre-registered determination rule, and the determined hemisphere is classified as style 5 (step 406). However, if the desired time is not specified, the current time obtained from the clock 209 is used as the style 4 style, and if the desired transmission date and time is not specified, the clock 209 is selected.
The season to which the current date, which is obtained more, belongs to the style 5 style. Then, the style data processing unit 204 transfers the style of each style type to the design selection unit 205 with the received style of the user selection as the style type 1.

Next, the design selection unit 205 first refers to the layout management table 221 to select the layout file 222 that best suits the delivered style (step 407). This selection is performed, for example, by selecting the layout file 222 having the largest total suitability for the delivered styles of the styles registered in the style index value of the layout management table 221. However, this may be performed by another method as described above.

[0076] Next, if the layout of the selected layout file 222 includes an automatically generated object, the design selection unit 205 generates the automatically generated object according to the corresponding automatically generated object definition file 234 (step 408). . For example, when the clock 209 object that is an automatic object is included in the layout of the selected layout file 222, an image showing the clock 209 indicating the desired transmission time in the management information passed from the management data processing unit 202. Is generated as a clock 209 object according to the automatic generation object definition file 234 of the clock 209 object. However,
If the desired transmission time is not specified, the current time is obtained from the clock 209, and an image representing the clock 209 indicating the obtained time is generated as the clock 209 object according to the automatic generation object definition file 234 of the clock 209 object.

Further, for example, when the postmark object which is an automatic object is included in the layout of the selected layout file 222, the management data processing unit 2
An image representing a postmark (stamp of a stamp) in which the date of the desired transmission date is stamped in the management information passed from 02 is generated as a postmark object according to the postmark object automatic generation object definition file 234. However, if the desired date of transmission is not specified, the current date is obtained from the clock 209, and an image showing the postmark with the obtained date is displayed, and the image is automatically generated as the postmark object definition file 2
According to 34, a postmark object is generated.

Next, the design selection unit 205 refers to the decoration file management table 223, describes in the corresponding layout information that it corresponds to the selected layout file 222, and the style index is the most appropriate for the style received. A matching background object file 231, image object file 232, additional object file 233,
Font decoration file 241, character decoration file 24
2. Color decoration file 243, background decoration file 24
4, the image decoration file 245 and the layout decoration file 246 are selected (step 409). This selection is performed, for example, by selecting, for each type-based management table 250, a file having the largest total degree of suitability for the delivered styles of the styles registered in the style index value. However, this may be performed by another method as described above.

[0079] The design selection unit 205 then selects the selected layout file 222 and background object file 2
31, image object file 232, additional object file 233, font decoration file 241, character decoration file 242, color tone decoration file 243, background decoration file 244, image decoration file 245, layout decoration file 246, generated auto-generated objects artwork It is delivered to the generation unit 206.

[0080] The artwork creating unit follows the layout of the received layout file 222 and automatically receives each of the recipient object, the sender object, the heading object, the text object, and the design selecting unit 205 passed from the user-specified object processing unit 203. The background object file 231, the image object file 232, the background object file read from the additional object file 233, the generated object and the background object file 231 received from the design selection unit 205 are arranged, and the font decoration file 241 received from the design selection unit 205. Defined in the character decoration file 242, the color decoration file 243, the background decoration file, the image decoration file 245, and the layout decoration file 246. An artwork with a decorative effect is generated (step 410).

[0081] Then, the created artwork is delivered to the delivery request unit 2
07, a preview image representing the created artwork is created and returned to the request processing unit 201 as a response to the mail artwork creation request (step 411).

[0082] The delivery request unit 207 includes the artwork generation unit 20.
The artwork received from 6 and the management information previously received from the management data processing unit 202 are held as delivery job data.

[0083] On the other hand, the request processing unit 201 that receives the image of the artwork for preview returns it to the Web server 1, and the Web server 1 includes the artwork confirmation page shown in Fig. 6b including the image for preview. Is transmitted to the user terminal 5 and displayed on the Web browser.

[0084] Here, in the illustrated example, a header object, a body object, and a sender name object, which are contents input by the user, are included as elements in the artwork. In addition, the style “Cool” of style 1 selected by the user, the style “Birthday” of style 2 determined from the excursion character string in the headline, and the country display “.au” of the sender email address (Australia) The style of the style 5 determined from the style of "Southern hemisphere" is selected as a solid background object to be comprehensively adapted, the image object showing the Southern Cross is the element in the artwork. Included as. In addition, a postmark object representing the image of the postmark with the desired transmission date selected by the user and a clock object representing the image of the clock representing the desired transmission time selected by the user are included as elements in the artwork. . The layout and decoration imitating postcards have also been selected as comprehensively suited to each style.

[0085] Now, when the user operates the confirm button on the artwork confirmation page, the Web browser transmits an art arc mail delivery request to the Web server 1 according to the description on the artwork confirmation page.

[0086] Web that received the artwork mail delivery request
The server 1 (step 412) transfers this to the artwork generation server 2. Upon receiving the artwork mail delivery request, the request processing unit 201 of the artwork generation server 2 sends the artwork mail delivery request to the delivery requesting unit 207, and the delivery requesting unit 207 that receives the request sends the artwork mail delivery request. A mail delivery execution request accompanied by job data is sent to the delivery server 3 (step 413).

After the postal delivery execution request is registered in the job queue 301 of the delivery server 3, the job processing unit 302 determines that the desired transmission date in the management information matches the current month and date and the transmission time is in the past or the desired transmission. Items with no specified date and transmission time are sequentially taken out. Then, the job processing unit 302
Uses the e-mail transmission unit 303 to send an e-mail to which the artwork is attached with an appropriate title, with the destination e-mail address in the management information as the destination.

The case has been described above in which the user specifies delivery by e-mail on the network generation start page.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

[0090] By the way, the date object, the postmark object, and the clock object described in the above embodiments are examples of the automatically generated objects, and the automatically generated objects may be any type of automatically generated objects associated with time or geographical position. It doesn't matter if you prepare. Also, the type of the automatic object included in the artwork may be selected according to the style.

[0091] Further, in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to use a style according to the destination address of the artwork or the destination address of the artwork obtained from the destination electronic mail address.

[0092] In the above embodiment, the current time is obtained from the clock 209 inside the artwork generation server 2, but it may be received from the user terminal 5.

[0093] Also, the location of the user may be obtained by another method such as receiving from the user terminal 5. For example, when the user terminal 5 is a mobile terminal equipped with a GPS receiver, the user terminal 5 transmits the position obtained by the GPS receiver as the current position, and the artwork generation server 2 sets this as the user's location. You may use it as.

[0094] In addition, information such as a user's address and name is stored on the Web.
The server 1 or the artwork generation server 2 may be pre-registered. If the user terminal 5 is a mobile phone with a small screen, a page for the user to make various inputs may be displayed. , It may be divided into a plurality of pages and the input may be sequentially received on each page.

[0095] Further, although the case where the artwork is sent by mail or e-mail has been described above, the above-described technique of generating an artwork according to each style is also applied only for the purpose of generating an artwork. It can also be applied to independently generate artwork in a device such as a personal computer.

Further, in the above, only one artwork most suitable for each style is generated, but this generates a plurality of artworks having a high degree of suitability for each style and presents it to the user. The user may accept and process the selection of the artwork to be finally posted and transmitted.

[0097]

【The invention's effect】

[0098] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to generate an artwork suitable for a style desired by a user without compelling the user to perform complicated work.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an artwork generation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a design database according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing contents of a design database according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing performed by the artwork generation server according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an artwork generation page provided by the Web server according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an artwork generation page provided by the Web server according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1; Web server, 2; Artwork generation server, 3; Delivery server, 4; Printer, 5; User terminal, 201; Request processing unit, 202; Management data processing unit, 203;
User-specified object processing unit, 204; Style data processing unit, 205; Design selection unit, 206; Artwork generation unit, 207; Delivery request unit, 208; Design database, 209; Clock, 301, Job queue, 30
2; Job processing unit, 303; E-mail sending unit

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 5B009 NA14 ND03 ND04 NG02                 5B050 BA06 BA16 BA18 CA05 CA07                       EA09 EA12 EA13 EA16 EA19                       GA08                 5B075 ND06 PQ03 PQ05 PQ16 UU24                 5C076 AA17 BA04

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A document image generation apparatus for generating an electronic document, comprising a design database in which a plurality of designs respectively associated with one or a plurality of styles associated with a period are accumulated, and a current period. A means for acquiring, a means for determining a style related to the acquired current period, a means for extracting a design related to the determined style from the database, and a means for generating a calligraphy according to the extracted design. Characteristic drawing generation device. 2. A document image generation apparatus for generating an electronic document image, comprising a design database in which a plurality of designs respectively associated with one or a plurality of styles associated with a period are accumulated, and a document image from a user. Means for accepting the input of the sending time, means for determining the style related to the received sending time, means for extracting the design related to the determined style from the database, and means for generating the calligraphy according to the extracted design A document image generation apparatus comprising: 3. A document image generation apparatus for generating an electronic document, comprising means for acquiring a current time period, means for generating an object according to the acquired current time period, and the generated object as an element thereof. And a device for generating a document image included as a document image. 4. A document generation device for generating an electronic document, comprising means for accepting an input of a timing for sending a document from a user, means for generating an object according to the accepted timing for sending, and generating the object. And a means for generating a calligraphy including an object as its element. 5. The document image generating apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the time period includes at least one of month, day and time. 6. A document generation device for generating an electronic document, comprising one or more styles associated with a geographical area,
A design database that stores multiple related designs, a means to accept input of information that can determine the geographical area to which the user's location belongs, and a geographical area to which the user's location belongs from the received information And a means for determining a style related to the determined geographical area, a means for extracting a design related to the determined style from the database, and a means for generating a stroke according to the extracted design. Document generation device that does. 7. A calligraphy generating device for generating calligraphy, comprising one or more styles associated with a geographical area,
A design database that stores multiple designs associated with each other, a means for accepting the designation of information that enables the user to determine the geographical area to which the destination of the drawing belongs, and a geographical area to which the destination belongs from the received information. And a means for determining a style related to the determined geographical area, a means for extracting a design related to the determined style from the database, and a means for generating a stroke according to the extracted design. Characteristic drawing generation device. 8. A method for generating an electronic calligraphy, comprising a step of acquiring a current time or a step of sending a calligraph, and a style related to the acquired time, which are related to the time. Selected from a plurality of styles, extracting a design related to the selected style from a plurality of designs each associated with one or more styles, and generating a calligraphy according to the extracted design And a step of creating a document image. 9. A computer program read and executed by an electronic computer, the program comprising:
The step of acquiring the current time or the time of sending the drawing to the electronic computer, and the step of selecting the style related to the acquired time from a plurality of styles associated with the time A computer characterized by being a program for executing a step of extracting a design related to a style from a plurality of designs each associated with one or a plurality of styles, and a step of generating a calligraphy according to the extracted design. program.