JP2004199256A - Online print ordering system and on line print ordering method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an online print ordering system and method for allowing a user to make an online print order from a photo studio desired by the user by using the online print wizard function of an OS in a simple method. <P>SOLUTION: A user terminal 2a and a print service server 3 and a server 4a of a member photo studio 4 of a print service are connected through a communication network 5, and the print service server 3 is stored with a registry file 3a in which the URL or designation of the photo studio 4 and the information of service contents are recorded in the area of each photo studio. A photo studio web page 7 is provided with the download button of the registry file 3a so that the registry file 3a can be provided to a user 2, and the registry file is executed by the user terminal 2a. Thus, it is possible to add the photo studio 4 to the print company selection screen of an online print wizard without performing any complicated operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an online print ordering system and an online print ordering method, and more particularly to an online print ordering system and an online print ordering method using an online print wizard function of an OS.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, users who handle photographic images as digital data have been increasing due to higher performance and lower prices of digital cameras. In addition, there is also a service that converts photos taken with a film camera into digital data.For example, if you bring in a film taken to a photo shop such as a lab or an order store such as a convenience store, the film was developed at the photo shop. Thereafter, a service is provided in which the negative film is read by a scanner or the like, and the read image data is written to an information recording medium such as a CD-R and provided to the user.
[0003]
A user who uses a photographic image as digital data can print the image data using a home printer connected to a computer terminal such as a personal computer. Image data can be transmitted to a print service server that accepts a print order, and a print shop can be requested to print.
[0004]
In such an online print service, it is necessary to upload / download large-size image data via the Internet. Therefore, various methods for efficiently performing communication have been proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. -2855764). This publication discloses a method of storing a plurality of images in order to solve a problem such as that when a plurality of users simultaneously access a server and upload or download an order image, a line becomes busy and an access speed is extremely reduced. The server is designed to search and allocate an image storage server that is not in use when multiple users access the server, and to efficiently process print orders using this method. Can be.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 13-285764 (page 3-6, FIG. 1)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, a conventional online print ordering system as shown in the above publication or the like is to place a print order using browser software, and when a user sends image data to a print service server, the image data is sent to the print service server side. It is necessary to create an order screen in which the order is incorporated, and a procedure for the user to download the screen is required, which increases the load on the print service server and takes time for data communication and processing. In addition, for the user, browsing and selection of images performed by the image display software and print ordering performed by the browser software must be performed separately, and there is a problem that workability is poor.
[0007]
On the other hand, Windows (R) XP, which is the OS of a personal computer, has a function called an online print wizard. For example, after displaying an image with Explorer or the like, "print online" is displayed in "image task" on the screen. When "Order" is selected, an online print wizard is automatically activated, and a print order can be placed with a print service company written in a registry in advance.
[0008]
Unlike the method using the browser software, this online print wizard can perform image data browsing, selection and print order as a series of operations, and can download an order page from the photo service server and Since the order screen is created by incorporating the image data into the order page on the personal computer, the order screen in which the user once sends the image data and then incorporates the image data on the print service server side, as in the case of browser software, is created. There is no complicated processing such as creation and downloading of the order screen by the user, so that the load on the print service server can be reduced and the print order can be executed easily and quickly.
[0009]
However, print orders using the online print wizard can only be made to print service companies that have been written in the registry in advance, and the registry includes print service companies and photo shops that desire print orders. Otherwise, there is a problem that a print order cannot be made to the print service company or the photo shop.
[0010]
The registry is system data managed by the OS, in which information necessary for the operation of the personal computer such as information on hardware devices of the personal computer, management information on installed software, and system information on the OS are recorded. . This registry can be rewritten using a registry editor or the like, but this requires special knowledge and skills. If you rewrite the registry by mistake, the system may become unstable or your computer may not operate normally. It may not work, and it is not preferable that a user unfamiliar with the operation of the personal computer rewrites the registry.
[0011]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a main object of the present invention is to enable a user to place a print order online at a desired photo store by an online print wizard function of an OS by a simple method. An online print ordering system and an online print ordering method are provided.
[0012]
[Means to solve the problem]
In order to achieve the above object, the online print ordering system of the present invention is configured such that a terminal of a user who places a print order and a print service server that provides a print service for receiving a print order online are connected via a communication network, The print service server stores a registry file for adding information of a photo shop participating in the print service to a registry of the user terminal.
[0013]
In the present invention, the print service server may display a homepage of the photo shop on a web, and the registry file is downloaded to the user terminal on the homepage.
[0014]
In the present invention, it is preferable that the registry file includes a URL designating a download site for each photo shop, a name of the photo shop, and information indicating the contents of services of the photo shop.
[0015]
Also, the online print ordering method of the present invention includes a terminal of a user who places a print order, a print service server that provides a print service that accepts a print order online, and a server of a photo shop participating in the print service. Providing a registry file for adding the information of the photo shop to the registry of the user terminal, and enabling the user to order a print from the user terminal to the photo shop. Things.
[0016]
Also, the online print ordering method of the present invention includes a terminal of a user who places a print order, a print service server that provides a print service that accepts a print order online, and a server of a photo shop participating in the print service. Wherein the print service server stores a registry file for adding the information of the photo shop in the registry of the user terminal, and displays the web page on the web according to an instruction on the homepage of the photo shop. And downloading the registry file to the user terminal.
[0017]
In the present invention, it is preferable that, in the user terminal, the information of the photo shop is added to the registry in which the setting information of the online print wizard is recorded by executing the registry file.
[0018]
Further, in the present invention, the print service server stores order information ordered at the download site of the photo shop using the online print wizard in an area for each photo shop, and the server of the photo shop stores Alternatively, the printing apparatus may be configured to acquire the order information from the print service server and execute printing.
[0019]
As described above, according to the configuration of the present invention, the print service server is first accessed using the browser software, and the registry file is downloaded from the homepage of the photo shop that has joined the service, and is executed on the user terminal. As a result, information including the URL of the photo shop can be added to the registry, and even a user unfamiliar with the operation of a personal computer can easily rewrite the registry. As a result, when the print order is made thereafter, the print order can be made directly to the photo shop using the online print wizard of the OS.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
In a preferred embodiment of the online print ordering system according to the present invention, a user terminal, a print service server for providing an online print service, and a server of a photo shop participating in the print service are connected to a communication network. The print service server stores a registry file in which information such as the URL, name, and service contents of the photo shop is recorded in an area for each photo shop. By providing a download button for the registry file to the user at the photo shop homepage displayed by the user and providing the user with the registry file, and executing the registry file on the user's terminal, the print company selection screen of the online print wizard of Windows (R) XP is displayed. Adding a photo shop It can be.
[0021]
As a result, the user can easily include the desired photo store in the options of the print company selection screen of the online print wizard without performing any special work such as rewriting the registry by himself using the registry editor. Therefore, it is not necessary to create an order screen on the server side, so that the load can be reduced.
[0022]
【Example】
In order to describe the above-described embodiment of the present invention in more detail, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an online print ordering system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data structure of a registry. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for rewriting the registry, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a schematic procedure for ordering a print using the online print wizard. FIG. 5 to FIG. 15 are diagrams illustrating a configuration example of a screen displayed on the user terminal.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 1, an online print ordering system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a user 2 having a user terminal 2a such as a personal computer in which Windows (R) XP is installed as an OS and a print for receiving an online print order. A service server 3 and a photo shop 4 having a photo shop server 4a and participating in a print service are interconnected via a communication network 5. The print service server 3 has an area for each photo shop 4, and stores image data and order data in each area, and stores information on a homepage and a print order page for each photo shop and a registry file 3a.
[0024]
In this embodiment, a list of photo shops 4 is provided on the portal site 6 provided by the print service server 3 for easy explanation, and when a desired photo shop 4 is selected, a jump to the home page 7 is made. However, the photo shop 4 may have its own homepage and be configured to be directly accessible.
[0025]
The procedure for rewriting the registry of the user terminal 2a using the online print ordering system 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to the structure of the registry data of FIG. 2, the flowchart of FIG. 3, and the screen configuration examples of FIGS. I do.
[0026]
First, in step S101, the user 2 starts up the browser software installed on the user terminal 2a. The type of the browser software is not limited, and may be any software that can browse web pages on the Internet.
[0027]
Next, in step S102, the user 2 accesses the print service server 3 using the communication function of the user terminal 2a, and enters the print service portal site 6. Here, the print service server 3 provides an online print ordering service. However, in addition to the print ordering service, the print service server 3 provides services such as creation of a postcard, storage of image data, creation of an electronic album, and the like. There may be.
[0028]
Next, in step S103, when a desired photo store 4 is selected from the list of member stores provided on the portal site 6 and the homepage 7 of the photo store 4 is accessed, for example, as shown in FIG. The screen is displayed. In this photo shop homepage 7, in addition to a list of services handled by the photo shop 4 and a member ID and password input field for displaying a member-only page, a registry file 3a characteristic of the present invention is downloaded. Download button 8 is displayed. Note that the screen configuration in FIG. 5 is an example, and any configuration may be used as long as at least the registry file 3a can be downloaded.
[0029]
When the user 2 clicks the download button 8, the registry file 3a stored in the print service server 3 is downloaded to the user terminal 2a in step S104, and is displayed on the Windows (R) screen 9 as shown in FIG. The icon 10a of 3a is displayed.
[0030]
When the registry file icon 10a is double-clicked, a confirmation message 10b as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. When "Yes" is selected, the URL of the photo shop 4 recorded in the registry file 3a is included in step S105. The information is added to the registry, and the icon, name, message, and the like of the photo shop 4 are displayed on the print company selection screen when the online print wizard is executed.
[0031]
Here, the data structure of the registry will be described with reference to FIG. The registry is recorded in three data files "System.dat", "User.dat" and "Classes.dat" in the Windows (R) folder, and is used to set the print company selection screen of the online print wizard. Are recorded in a “User.dat” file having a data structure as shown in FIG. Under “Providers \”, a “registry key” indicating the information of the printing company is written, and information including the URL of the desired photo shop 4 is added thereto.
[0032]
This “registry key” includes data such as “Icon”, “DisplayName”, “Description”, “HREF”, and “SupportedTypes”, and “Icon” is a print company column on a print company selection screen described later. Indicates the path to the icon displayed in the left corner of the “,” “DisplayName” is the service name displayed on the first line of the print company column, “Description” is the description of the service displayed on the second line, and “HREF” is The URL of the service page displayed first, "SupportedTypes", indicates the types of files supported by the service.
[0033]
The above-mentioned data relating to the photo shop 4 is recorded in the registry file 3a downloaded from the photo shop homepage 7, and when the registry file 3a is executed (double-clicked), the photo shop is displayed under “Providers \” in the registry. 4 “Icon”, “DisplayName (for example, photo shop A)”, “Description (for example, you can order digital camera images with high quality)”, “HREF (for example, https: // www. onlinelab.net/opw/pc1/start.php) ”and“ SupportedTypes ”are added.
[0034]
As described above, the desired information of the photo shop 4 can be added to the registry only by executing the registry file 3a downloaded from the photo shop homepage 7 on the user terminal 2a. This eliminates the need for rewriting, so that even the user 2 unfamiliar with the operation of the personal computer can use the online print wizard to place a print order at the desired photo shop 4 with a simple operation.
[0035]
In the above description, the function of downloading the registry file 3a is provided on the photo shop homepage 7. However, the registry file 3a in which information including the URL of the photo shop 4 is recorded can be provided to the user 2, and for example, The configuration may be such that the registry file 3a is transmitted to the user 2 by e-mail, or recorded on an information recording medium such as a CD-R and provided to the user 2.
[0036]
Next, in the online print ordering system 1 having the above-described configuration, the procedure in which the user 2 places a print order at a desired photo shop 4 using the online print wizard is shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 and the screen configuration examples of FIGS. It will be described with reference to FIG.
[0037]
First, in step S201, when the user 2 specifies a folder in which image data is stored using Explorer or the like, a screen as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. The explorer screen 11 has an image display area 11b for displaying a thumbnail image of the image data stored in the folder and an enlarged image of the selected image, and a task display area for displaying the processing on the image data and detailed information of the image data. When the user 2 selects and clicks “order print online” from the “image task” column of the task display area 11a, the online print wizard is executed, and as shown in FIG. The online print wizard start screen 12 is displayed.
[0038]
Here, in the conventional online print ordering method using browser software, browsing and selection of image data using image display software and print order using browser software are performed as separate tasks, so the operation of print order is performed. Was complicated. On the other hand, in the method using the online print wizard, a print order can be made immediately after the image is displayed on the explorer screen, so that the print order operation can be simplified.
[0039]
Next, when "next" is clicked on the online print wizard start screen 12, a screen for selecting an image to be printed online as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed. The image selection screen 13 displays image data stored in a folder specified by the explorer, and a check box 13a for selecting an image is provided at the upper right of each image. In step S202, the user 2 clicks a “select all” button, a “clear all” button, or a check box 13a of each image data, and selects an image to be ordered for printing from the image data (FIG. Shows a state in which four image data out of six images are selected.)
[0040]
Also in this case, in the conventional online print ordering method using browser software, the user 2 selects image data using image display software, and then refers to the file name of the image data to send the image data to the print service server 3. Although there was a risk that the wrong image data was transmitted because of the transmission, the method using the online print wizard allows the user to select the image data by operating the check box while looking at the thumbnail image. Work can be performed easily and reliably.
[0041]
Next, when a “Next” button on the image selection screen 13 is clicked, a print company selection screen as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed. On the print company selection screen 14, the icon, name, and comment of the print service company written under “Providers \” in the registry data of FIG. 2 are displayed. Here, the top three print companies (print service companies A to C) are written as defaults in the OS. Conventionally, a print company had to be selected from these, but in this embodiment, As described above, the registry file is downloaded from the desired photo shop homepage 7 in advance, and information such as the URL of the photo shop 4, the service name, and the service description are added to the registry. The information of the photo shop 4 is also displayed, and a print order can be made to the photo shop 4 using the online print wizard.
[0042]
Then, in step S203, the user 2 selects a desired printing company from among them (here, selects the photo shop A) and presses a “next” button. It is connected to a URL described in “HREF” of the registry (this URL indicates, for example, the location of an area for each photo shop in the print service server 3), and for example, a desired photo shop 4 as shown in FIG. Is displayed.
[0043]
The photo shop top screen 15 is provided with, for example, a member registration button for the user 2 who newly makes a print order, and a member ID and password input fields for the user 2 who has already registered as a member. . Then, in step S204, the user 2 who has not registered as a member presses a member registration button, and the user 2 who has registered as a member inputs a member ID and a password and presses a "next" button. For example, when the member registration button is pressed, a member registration screen (not shown) is displayed. In step S205, user information is entered in input fields for member ID, name, address, e-mail address, etc. Button, the member is registered as a member of the photo shop 4 and a print order can be made.
[0044]
Next, in step S206, a print order page including columns for the selected image, print size, pixel count check, unit price, number of ordered sheets, and the like is transmitted from the print service server 3, and in step S207, the print order is stored in the user terminal 2a. Then, the image data selected by the user 2 is incorporated into the print order page, and the print order screen 16 is created.
[0045]
Here, in the method using the conventional browser software as well, after the user 2 transmits the image data to the print service server 3, the print service server 3 creates a print order screen incorporating the image data, and the screen is displayed by the user 2. However, there is a problem that the load on the print service server 3 is large and it takes time to communicate data. However, in the method using the online print wizard, the print order screen 16 is created on the user terminal 2a side. , And the ordering work can proceed smoothly. In the figure, a "pixel number check" column for checking whether the image data selected by the user 2 has a sufficient number of pixels for a desired print size is provided to provide high-quality prints. .
[0046]
Then, the user 2 determines the print size by referring to the “pixel number check”, “price” columns, etc., inputs the number of prints, and clicks the “next” button. The store selection screen is displayed. The receiving store selection screen 17 displays a list of receiving stores close to the address registered by the user 2 with reference to the member registration information. In step S208, the user 2 designates a desired receiving store from the list. Or, specify the desired receiving store from the list by prefecture, and click the "Next" button.
[0047]
Then, a print order confirmation page is transmitted from the print service server 3, and in step S209, a print order confirmation screen 18 in which the image data selected by the user 2 is incorporated in the print order confirmation page is created in the user terminal 2a. Is done. When the user 2 confirms these items and clicks the “next” button, the image data and the order data selected by the user 2 in step S210 are stored in an area of the print service server 3 for each photo shop. At the same time, the order file is stored in the photo shop server 4a. Then, in step S211, printing is executed in the photo shop 4 and provided to the user 2.
[0048]
As described above, according to the online print ordering system 1 of the present embodiment, the desired photo shop 4 is added to the print company selection screen 14 of the online print wizard. You can place a print order. By creating a print order screen and a print order confirmation screen on the user terminal 2a, a print order can be executed quickly.
[0049]
In the above embodiment, the user 2 downloads the registry file 3a from the print service server 3. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. A configuration in which the registry file 3a is provided and the photo shop 4 records the registry file 3a on an information recording medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) and provides it to the user 2, or a homepage unique to the photo shop 4 different from the print service It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the registry file 3a is downloaded to the user terminal 2a through the above.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the online print ordering system and online print ordering method of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
[0051]
A first effect of the present invention is that a print order can be made to a desired photo store using an online print wizard.
[0052]
The reason is that a homepage of a photo shop participating in the print service provides a registry file in which information including the URL of the photo shop is recorded, and the user executes the registry file downloaded from the homepage of the photo shop. This is because a desired photo shop can be added to a print company that can be ordered with the online print wizard without complicated operations.
[0053]
A second effect of the present invention is that the communication time for a print order can be reduced.
[0054]
The reason is that the online print wizard creates a print order confirmation screen and a print order confirmation screen incorporating the image data on the user terminal. This is because there is no need to create an order screen or an order confirmation screen on the server side and perform a complicated process such as downloading the screen again by the user.
[0055]
By constructing such an online print ordering system, a user can easily order a print at a desired photo shop using an online print wizard, and a print order screen is displayed for a print service server. And the trouble of creating a print order confirmation screen can be saved, and the convenience of both can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an online print ordering system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data structure of a registry according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a registry rewriting procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an online print ordering procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a screen (photo shop homepage screen) displayed on the computer terminal.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a screen (icon display screen) displayed on the computer terminal.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a screen (registry rewrite confirmation screen) displayed on the computer terminal.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a screen (explorer screen) displayed on the computer terminal.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a screen (online print wizard start screen) displayed on the computer terminal.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a screen (image selection screen) displayed on the computer terminal.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a screen (print company selection screen) displayed on the computer terminal.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a screen (photo shop top screen) displayed on the computer terminal.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a screen (print order screen) displayed on the computer terminal.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a screen (reception store selection screen) displayed on the computer terminal.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a screen (print order confirmation screen) displayed on the computer terminal.
[Explanation of symbols]
1. Online print ordering system
2 users
2a User terminal
3 print service server
3a Registry file
4 Photo shop
4a Photo shop server
5 Communication network
6 portal site
7 photo shop homepage
8 Download button
9 Windows (R) screen
10a Registry file
10b Confirmation message
11 Explorer screen
11a Task display area
11b Image display area
12 Online Wizard start screen
13 Image selection screen
13a Check box
14 Print company selection screen
15 Photo shop top screen
16 Print order screen
17 Receiving store selection screen
18 Print order confirmation screen

Claims (8)

A terminal of a user who makes a print order and a print service server which provides a print service for accepting a print order online are connected via a communication network,
An online print order system, wherein the print service server stores a registry file for adding information of a photo shop participating in the print service to a registry of the user terminal. 2. The online print ordering system according to claim 1, wherein the print service server displays a homepage of the photo shop on a web, and the registry file is downloaded to the user terminal on the homepage. The said registry file contains the URL which designates the download site for every said photo shop, the name of the said photo shop, and the information which shows the content of the service of the said photo shop, The claim 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. Online print ordering system. A print ordering method in a system including a terminal of a user who makes a print order, a print service server that provides a print service for receiving a print order online, and a server of a photo shop that is a member of the print service.
An online print ordering method, wherein the user is provided with a registry file for adding the information of the photo shop to the registry of the user terminal, and the user terminal can order a print from the photo shop. A print ordering method in a system including a terminal of a user who makes a print order, a print service server that provides a print service for receiving a print order online, and a server of a photo shop that is a member of the print service.
The print service server stores a registry file for adding the information of the photo shop in a registry of the user terminal, and stores the registry file on the user terminal according to an instruction on a homepage of the photo shop displayed on a web. Online print order method characterized by downloading. 6. The online print according to claim 4, wherein the user terminal adds information of the photo shop to the registry where setting information of an online print wizard is recorded by executing the registry file. How to order. 7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the registry file includes a URL designating a download site for each photo shop, a name of the photo shop, and information indicating service contents of the photo shop. The online print order method described in 1. The print service server stores order information ordered on the download site of the photo shop using the online print wizard in an area for each photo shop, and the server of the photo shop stores the order information from the print service server. The online print ordering method according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the print is executed by acquiring the order information.

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