JP2003233470A - Method and system for providing contents to be printed - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a new method for providing contents to be printed which delivers a merit for both provider for printing contents and content requester. <P>SOLUTION: A method provides a client system CL and a server system SV that receives a print request, which includes an identifier ID being assigned for corresponding to sales of printing materials OB, via a network NET when the client system CL sends the print request. The client system CL receives data of contents for printing, which correspond to the identifier ID included in the print request, when the server system SV sends the data of contents for printing. In addition, the method drives the client system CL to print the data of contents on a printing surface of the printing material OB based on the data of contents by outputting on a printer PR the data of the contents received by the client CL. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for providing printing content, which is the content to be printed on a sold printing object, by using a network such as the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printed items such as notebooks, notes, clothes, shoes, etc. are usually sold in a state in which contents such as predetermined designs and characters are printed in advance.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional printed matter sales form, a manufacturer such as a printed matter or a supplier such as a seller pre-prints various kinds of contents that can be expected. Printed matter must be prepared, and printed matter on which poorly-selling content is printed is highly likely to remain unsold, which may result in a great loss in terms of cost and physical properties. Therefore, it is practically difficult for the provider side to prepare and provide various kinds of contents, and it is also difficult to add value to the existing printed matter itself. On the other hand, on the customer side, no matter how many kinds of printed materials are printed, there is a limit to the kind and there is a limited room for content selection.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printing content providing method and a facility therefor which are advantageous to both the printed matter provider and the customer as a consumer. I am trying.

[0005]

That is, according to the present invention, a server device and a client device connected to a communication line capable of two-way communication are used to print on a printing surface of a print target sold. When the server apparatus provides the print content of the item 1 to the client apparatus, the client apparatus transmits print request information including an identifier added to the sale of the print target, while the server apparatus receives the print request information and the print request information is transmitted. While the server device transmits the content data related to the print content associated with the identifier included in the information, the client device receives the content data, and the content data received by the client device is output to the printer connected to the client device. The print content based on the content data on the print surface of the print target It is characterized in that so as to print on the printer.

[0006] Here, the print object includes all things which have conventionally been sold in a form in which print content such as a design, a character, and a layout is printed. Specific examples thereof include paper, resin sheets, cloths, and the like, and the print target sold in the present invention is basically a so-called blank paper state in which the above content is not printed on the printing surface. Say something. However, if the printer connected to the client device is capable of printing later, a product having a layout or the like printed in advance at the time of sale is also included in the print target in the present invention.

The identifier is made up of a unique character, number, symbol or the like given to the corresponding print object. Then, as an aspect that is provided in association with the sale of the print target, a feature that is directly printed on the print target, a feature that is printed on the package of the print target, a store when the print target is sold, etc. From the print target to be printed separately from the print target, and when the purchaser purchases the print target from the client device and accesses the server device satisfying a predetermined condition, various modes are given. .

Further, the server device does not need to be directly managed and operated by a provider such as a manufacturer or a seller of the print target, but for example, a company affiliated with those providers may manage and operate the server device. May be. On the other hand, the client machine is used by a person who purchases the print target or a person related thereto, regardless of individual or corporation. The server device and the client device are connected so as to be capable of bidirectional communication via a communication network such as the Internet.

According to such a method according to the present invention, the provider can manufacture and sell the print target in a blank state as described above, and therefore, it is possible to prepare a large number of types of print contents in advance. It is not necessary to prepare and print on the print target and then sell the product. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost and time required for that, and it is possible to reduce the provision price of the print target. Further, since the print target to be sold is in a blank state, there is no fear of holding the stock of the print target on which the unsold contents are printed. Not only that, since the print object is given an identifier corresponding to the print content, the purchase of the print object is entrusted to the print of the content, and the use of the print object after sale is free to the purchaser. It is possible to provide unprecedented differentiation by entrusting it to the user and to add new added value to the print target. Further, when the purchaser accesses the server device from the client device, it is easy to carry out the advertisement again through the screen of the home page displayed on the browser or the like of the client device. Further, as compared with the case where the content is printed on the print target in advance, it is sufficient to store the content data related to the print content in the computer and send it to the client machine, which contributes to cost reduction. Not only can it be obtained, but it is easy to create and change contents. On the other hand, for the purchaser, there is an advantage that the print target itself can be obtained at low cost, and the degree of freedom of the content to be printed on the print target can be increased while unifying the materials of the print target.

In contrast to the method of the present invention, when the print target is sold in the so-called blank state as described above, and the server device transmits the content data based on the identifier to the client device. There may be a method of providing print content in which the recipient is charged, but then it becomes necessary for the provider side to be provided with a settlement function in the server device, or the purchaser side is required to pay the fee twice. There is a disadvantage that it extends to. Therefore, it can be said that the method of providing print content according to the method of the present invention is more excellent.

In order to prevent an excessive amount of content data from being obtained from the client device and to make it possible to achieve an appropriate service, the server device may use one identifier included in the print request information received from the client device. It is preferable to limit the number of content data that can be transmitted.

Further, in order to allow the purchaser of the printing object to broaden the range of selection of print contents, it is desirable to associate a plurality of types of content data with one identifier. In this case, in order to inform the purchaser of the content selection, one or more of the plurality of content data corresponding to the one identifier included in the print request information received from the client device is selected. Selection request information of the server device is transmitted from the server device to the client device, and content designation information indicating that one or a plurality of content data is designated based on the selection request information is transmitted from the client device to the server device. The content data designated based on this may be transmitted from the server device to the client device.

Further, in order to optimize the price that the provider side obtains for the sale of the print target and the provision of the print content, the server device is used for one identifier included in the print request information. It is preferable to limit the number of times content data is sent and received between the client device and the client device to a predetermined number. In addition, based on one content data, the printer connected to the client device transmits print count limit data that limits the number of times print content can be printed from the server device to the client device, and the client device that receives the print limit data prints the print count limit data. Even when the printing based on the content data is disabled when the number of printing steps limited by the number-of-times limiting data is completed, the same result can be obtained.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

This embodiment is a printing content providing facility for realizing a printing content providing method applied when a purchaser of a printing object prints the printing content on the printing object. As shown in FIG. 1, this equipment includes a server device SV managed and operated by a provider of the print object OB or a person affiliated with the provider (hereinafter collectively referred to as “provider”), and a print object. The client device CL used by the purchaser of the OB or a person related thereto (hereinafter collectively referred to as “purchaser”) is, for example, the Internet NET
It is configured to be connected via.

Here, first, the print object OB has been previously purchased by a purchaser through a purchase shop or the like, and a unique identifier of the print object OB is provided in a packaging package or a margin portion of the print object OB. It is assumed that the ID is attached.

Next, the configuration of each device will be briefly described.

The server device SV is a normal server computer having a WEB server function, a database server function, and the like, and stores, for example, a CPU 101, an internal memory 102, an HDD, etc., as schematically shown in FIG. Device 103, input device 1 such as keyboard and mouse
04, display 105, communication interface 106
And so on. The server device SV operates in accordance with a predetermined program stored in the storage device 103 or the like and the CPU 101 and peripheral devices operate,
As shown in FIG. 4, the functions as the print request information receiving unit 1, the content data transmitting unit 2, etc. are basically exhibited. In addition to these functions, the server device SV may also function as the identifier / content data extraction means 3, the selection request information transmission means 4, the content designation information reception means 5 and the like. The programs for exerting these functions can be installed in the server device SV by a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or downloaded through the Internet NET, and these functions are provided by dedicated software or general-purpose software. Played by using software.

On the other hand, the client device CL is an ordinary personal computer, for example, a CPU 201 and an internal memory 2 as shown in the outline of the internal equipment configuration in FIG.
02, a storage device 203 such as an HDD, an input device 204 such as a keyboard and a mouse, a display 205, and a communication interface 206. Further, an appropriate printer 207 suitable for printing on the print object OB is connected to the client device CL at least when printing the print content on the print object OB. In the client device CL, the CPU 201 and peripheral devices operate according to a predetermined program stored in the storage device 203 or the like, so that the print request information transmitting unit 11 and the content data receiving unit as illustrated in FIG. 12, the function as the printing unit 13 and the like is basically exhibited. Further, when the server device SV functions as the selection request information transmitting means 4 and the content designation information receiving means 5, the client device CL correspondingly corresponds to the selection request information receiving means 14 and the content designation information transmitting means 15. Function as. The program for exhibiting such a function is CD-RO.
It can be installed in the server device SV by a storage medium such as M or by downloading through the Internet NET. In addition to the so-called personal computer, an information processing device such as a portable information processing terminal or a mobile phone can be used as the client device CL.

Here, each function in the server device SV and the client device CL described above will be described.

First, in the server device SV, the print request information receiving means 1 receives the print request information transmitted from the client device CL. This print request information includes at least the identifier ID and I assigned to the print object OB.
The P address is included, and in addition, the mail address of the client device CL, the name of the purchaser, and the like may be included.

The content data transmitting means 2 sends the content data relating to the print content corresponding to the identifier ID included in the print request information received by the print request information receiving means 1 according to the IP address included in the print request information. It is transmitted to the corresponding client device CL.

The identifier / content data extraction means 3 is
The content data corresponding to the identifier ID received by the print request information receiving means 1 is extracted from the content data database. That is, the content data is made into a database and stored in the server device SV, and the corresponding content data can be searched and extracted using the identifier ID as an index. In addition, the number of content data corresponding to one identifier ID may be only one or may be plural. On the contrary, a plurality of identifier IDs may correspond to one content data.

When there are a plurality of content data extracted by the print request information receiving means 3 corresponding to one identifier ID, the selection request information transmitting means 4 selects one or a plurality of content data from them. The selection request information of is transmitted. In this case, the type or number of content data that the purchaser can select can be restricted on the server device SV side.

The content designation information receiving means 5 receives the content designation information indicating that one or a plurality of content data has been designated in the client device CL based on the selection request information.

Next, in the client device CL, the print request information sending means 11 sends the print request information including at least the identifier ID given to the print object OB purchased by the purchaser to the server device SV. In this case, for example, in the client device CL, the web page of the provider controlled by the server device SV is accessed from the web browser, and the printing including the identifier ID is performed through the input field of the predetermined identifier ID displayed on the screen of the browser. The request information may be transmitted, or the print request information including the identifier ID may be transmitted to the server device SV by e-mail.

The content data receiving means 12 receives the content data transmitted from the server device SV corresponding to the print request information.

The printing means 13 prints the printing content based on the content data received by the content data receiving means 12 on the printing surface of the printing object OB by controlling the printer PR connected to the client device CL.

The selection request information receiving means 14 receives the selection request information from the server device SV. At this time, for example, when the client device CL is displaying the home page of the provider by a browser, samples or titles of print contents corresponding to a plurality of content data are displayed on the screen of the browser. Good.
Alternatively, when the print request information is transmitted from the client device CL by e-mail, a reply of samples and titles of a plurality of selectable print contents may be received from the server device SV.

The content designation information transmission means 15 designates that the purchaser has designated one or a plurality of content data by using the client device CL with respect to the selection request information received by the selection request information reception means 14. Send information.

Hereinafter, one usage mode of the printing content providing facility of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Here, a sticker mount having adhesiveness on the back side as the printing object OB (see FIG. 1)
As an example, a mode in which a character design is printed as print content on the blank print surface of the sticker mount will be described. The identifier ID of the sticker mount is assumed to be written in the margin portion of the peripheral edge of the sticker mount.

First, the purchaser of the sticker mount uses the web browser of the client device CL to access the server device S.
When V is accessed (FIG. 5; START), a predetermined screen on the home page of the provider is displayed on the display 205 of the client device CL, and the identifier ID is input and the identifier ID is transmitted, the server device SV concerned The print request information including the identifier ID is received (step S1). Next, the server device SV extracts the content data corresponding to the identifier ID from the database based on the identifier ID included in the received print request information (step S2). Here, when there are a plurality of types of extracted content data (step S3; Y), the server device SV transmits the selection request information to the client device CL.

On the other hand, when the client device CL receives the selection request information (FIG. 6; step S11), for example, the image sample or name of the character, which is the print content, is displayed on the display 205. The content designation information designating one or a plurality of selectable characters designated by the person is transmitted (step S12).

This content designation information is sent to the server device SV.
Is received (FIG. 5; step S5), the server device SV
Transmits the corresponding content data, that is, the image data of the character (step S6). If there is only one type of content data extracted in step S3 (step S3; N), the corresponding content data is transmitted to the client device CL (step S6).

In any case, when the client device CL receives the content data (FIG. 7; step S21), the image data of the character, which is the content data, is output to the printer PR, and the printer PR is previously set.
An image of the character is printed on the sticker base paper set in (step S22).

As described above, by providing the print content to the purchaser of the print object OB, the print object OB itself can be sold to the provider with a low price and with added value. In addition to being able to
The risk of printing the specified content in B can be avoided. On the other hand, for the purchaser of the print target OB, the print target OB can be purchased at low cost, and in addition, for example, the identifier ID assigned to the print target OB.
If a plurality of types of printing contents are associated with, the desired contents can be printed on the printing object OB from among them, so that the range of selection of contents can be widened.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the print target is paper, cloth,
Various materials such as resin can be applied. In addition, the print content is not limited to the pattern of the character, of course, and when the print target is a sticky note, for example, there are various layouts such as ruled lines, letterheads, address book layouts, etc. as the print content. You can adopt one,
If the print target is a T-shirt, it is also possible to employ a design or the like applied to the entire surface or the back of the T-shirt as the print content.

Further, in the present invention, since the person who uses the client device and the purchaser of the print object do not necessarily have to match, the operator of the direct mail by letter, for example, specifies the form and the identifier of the direct mail. It is also possible to apply to a business in which the content of direct mail is printed on a sheet as print content based on the identifier received by the recipient. Similarly, when one person passes the purchased paper and the identifier to another person, and the person who receives the paper prints the print content on the paper based on the identifier, the print content is a love letter. It can also be applied to such an aspect.

In addition, the specific configuration of each part is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0040]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, an identifier is attached to a print target that can be printed after purchase and is associated with the sale, and the purchaser prints based on the identifier. A method of printing content on an object can be realized by using a server device and a client device using a communication line. For this reason, it is possible for the provider of the print target to provide the print target itself at a low price while avoiding the risk caused by selling the product that has been printed in advance. Can be given to the printing object. On the other hand, the purchaser has the advantage that the print target can be purchased at a low price, and the range of content to be printed can be easily expanded.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of a printing content providing facility according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the internal device configuration of the server device in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the internal device configuration of a client device according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a functional configuration diagram of a print content providing facility according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the server device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the client device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the client device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Print request information receiving means 2. Content data transmission means 4 ... Selection request information transmitting means 5 ... Content designation information receiving means 11 ... Print request information transmitting means 12 ... Content data receiving means 13 ... Printing means 14 ... Selection request information receiving means 15 ... Content designation information transmission means CL ... Client device ID ... identifier OB ... Print target PR ... Printer SV ... Server device

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A server device and a client device connected to a communication line capable of two-way communication, and print contents for printing on a printing surface of a print target sold from the server device to the client. A method of providing to a device, the print request information transmitting / receiving step in which a client device transmits print request information including an identifier attached to the sale of the print object, and a server device receives the print request information, and the print request information. A content data transmitting / receiving step in which the server device transmits the content data related to the print content associated with the identifier included in the client device and the client device receives the content data, and the client device transmits the received content data to a printer connected to the client device. Output and based on the content data on the print side of the print target And a printing step of causing the printer to print the printing content. 2. The content for printing according to claim 1, wherein in the content data transmitting / receiving step, the server device limits the number of content data that can be transmitted for one identifier included in the print request information received from the client device. How to provide. 3. A plurality of types of content data are associated with one identifier, and one or a plurality of content data among a plurality of content data corresponding to the one identifier included in the print request information received from the client device. The client device transmits a selection request information transmitting / receiving step in which the server device transmits selection request information to the effect that the client device selects, and content specification information indicating that one or a plurality of content data is specified based on the selection request information. And a step of transmitting and receiving content designation information transmitted and received by the server device, wherein the content data designated in the content designation information transmission and reception step is transmitted from the server device to the client device in the content data transmission and reception step. 1
Alternatively, the printing content providing method described in 2 above. 4. The number of times of transmission / reception of content data transmitted / received between the server device and the client device in the content data transmission / reception step is limited to a predetermined number of times for one identifier included in the print request information. The method for providing print content according to 1, 2, or 3. 5. A print number limit data transmission / reception in which a server device transmits print number limit data for limiting the number of times print content can be printed by a printer connected to the client device based on one content data, and the client device receives the print number limit data. 4. The printing method according to claim 1, further comprising a step, wherein when the printing step limited in number by the printing number limitation data is completed in the client device, printing based on the content data is disabled. Content provision method. 6. A server device and a client device connected to a communication line capable of two-way communication are used to print content for printing from a server device to a client for printing on a printing surface of a print target sold. In the equipment provided to the device, the client device includes print request information transmitting means for transmitting print request information including an identifier attached to the sale of the print target, while the server device prints the print request information. The client device further comprises print request information receiving means for receiving request information, and content data transmitting means for transmitting content data relating to the print content associated with the identifier included in the print request information, wherein the client device further includes the content. Content data receiving means for receiving data and output to a printer connected to the client device Print content facility, characterized in that the print content based on the content data to the printing surface of the printing object is provided with a printing unit for printing on the printer. 7. The content data transmitting means limits the number of content data that can be transmitted by the server device to one identifier included in the print request information received by the print request information receiving means. Equipment for providing print content. 8. The server device associates a plurality of types of content data with one identifier, and the server device has a plurality of identifiers corresponding to one identifier included in the print request information received by the print request information receiving means. A selection request information transmitting unit that transmits selection request information for selecting one or a plurality of content data items, while a client apparatus receives the selection request information item, and a selection request information receiving unit unit that receives the selection request information item. Content specifying information transmitting means for transmitting content specifying information indicating that one or a plurality of content data has been specified based on the selected request information, and the server device further receives the content specifying information receiving means. The content data transmission means receives the content designation information. Print content provided equipment according to claim 6 or 7, wherein is adapted to transmit the content data based on the content specifying information received by the stage. 9. The server device limits the number of times of transmission of content data transmitted by the content data transmitting means to a predetermined number of times for one identifier included in the print request information received by the print request information receiving means. Claim 6, 7 or 8
Equipment for providing the described print contents. 10. The server device further comprises print number limit data transmitting means for transmitting print number limit data for limiting the number of times the printer connected to the client device can print the print content based on one content data. On the other hand, when the client device further includes a print number limit data receiving unit that receives the print number limit data, and when the print step of the number of times limited by the received print number limit data is completed, based on the content data. The printing content providing method according to claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein printing is disabled. 11. A print content providing facility for providing print content for printing on a printing surface of a sold print object from a server device connected to a communication line capable of two-way communication to a client device. A print request information receiving unit configured to receive from the client apparatus print request information including an identifier assigned to the sale of a print target having a printable print surface, and the print request. A server device, comprising: based on the identifier received by the information receiving means, content data output means for outputting content data relating to printing content to be printed on the printing surface, which is associated with the identifier.