JP2005322013A - Print order accepting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To flexibly avoid the monopoly of a print order accepting device by one user for a long time, in the print order accepting device. <P>SOLUTION: In the print order accepting device which captures, from a portable telephone set HP with photographing function, image data for photograph print preparation with an image data capturing means involving the capture of image data through a communication cable 27, a communication managing device is provided which is configured such that multiple machine types of the portable telephone sets HP from which image data can be captured through the communication cable 27 are set and whether to permit the capture of image data through the communication cable can be set in a switchable manner for each of the multiple machine types. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a print order receiving apparatus that takes in image data for making a photographic print from an image data taking-in means including taking in with a communication cable from a mobile phone device with a photo shooting function.

In recent years, mobile phone devices with a photo shooting function have improved the image quality of captured images, and it is desirable not only to browse on the display screen of a mobile phone device, but also to output as a photo print like a captured image by a digital camera. The demand is growing.
In order to meet such a demand, a system for transmitting image data from a mobile phone device using the Internet and printing it out as described in Patent Document 1 below is considered. It is also considered to install image data of an image to be printed from a mobile phone device by installing it in a street or a store. Such a print order receiving apparatus may be provided integrally with the photo print apparatus, or may be provided separately from the photo print apparatus and function as a print order receiving terminal.

  As means for capturing image data to be printed from the cellular phone device to the print order receiving device, the external connection terminal provided in the cellular phone device and the print order receiving device are connected by a communication cable to capture the image data. In addition, in a mobile phone device to which a memory card can be attached and detached, the memory card storing and storing the photographed image can be removed from the mobile phone device, and the image data can be read by the memory card reader provided in the print order receiving device. In addition, in a mobile phone device having an infrared communication port, image data can be captured from the mobile phone device to the print order receiving device by communicating with the infrared communication port provided in the print order receiving device.

Among these image data fetching means, the means for fetching image data using a communication cable has a different communication procedure for each model of mobile phone device, so a communication program corresponding to each model of mobile phone that is expected to be used. Must be configured.
Conventionally, as long as the communication program of the print order receiving apparatus is compatible, all mobile phone models have been handled so that image data can be captured using a communication cable.
JP 2004-88726 A

However, as described above, it may not be practically preferable to capture images with a communication cable for all models that can communicate with the communication cable.
That is, the communication speed of data communication using a communication cable varies greatly between models, and there are models with extremely low communication speeds.
In addition, although image data capture using a memory card is much faster than image data capture using a communication cable, few users capture image data using a low-speed communication cable. Absent.
If the image data to be printed is taken in by data communication using such a low-speed communication cable, it takes a long time for one user to occupy the print order receiving device, and the waiting time for the following users is longer than necessary. There is a disadvantage that it becomes long.
To avoid such inconvenience, configure a communication program so that communication with a communication cable is not possible for models with low-speed data communication using a communication cable or models with a memory card. However, this may impose usage restrictions more than necessary.
The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to flexibly avoid a single user from occupying a print order receiving apparatus for a long time.

According to a first aspect of the present application, there is provided a print order receiving apparatus for capturing image data for making a photographic print from an image data capturing means including capturing by a communication cable from a cellular phone device having a photographing function. A plurality of models of the mobile phone device capable of capturing image data in the communication, and communication configured to be able to switch between each of the plurality of models whether or not image data capture through the communication cable is permitted A management device is provided.
In other words, the communication program itself should be compatible with as many models as possible so that image data can be captured via a communication cable. Which model is actually allowed to capture image data via a communication cable is determined appropriately. The setting can be changed.

  As a result, for models with a slow communication speed using a communication cable or models that can be equipped with a memory card, in principle, set the image data so that it cannot be captured via a communication cable, and other types that can capture image data at a higher speed. If there is a reasonable reason such as the fact that there are many actual users even when the communication speed is low, for example, there is a large number of actual users even when the image data capturing means is used, Flexible operation such as allowing is possible.

According to a second invention of the present application, in addition to the configuration of the first invention, the communication management device lists a model name of the mobile phone device capable of capturing image data with the communication cable on a monitor. In the displayed state, accepts a setting for which model image data is allowed to be taken in via the communication cable, and takes in the image data via the communication cable prior to taking the image data via the communication cable. Only the model names that are set to allow the above are displayed on the monitor as a list.
Therefore, the administrator of the print order receiving apparatus can easily set whether or not to allow the image data to be taken in via the communication cable on the monitor list display. In a state where only the information is accurately displayed, the information reflecting the setting state can be confirmed before the start of the image data capturing operation.

According to a third aspect of the present application, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect of the invention, usage data storage for storing print order reception frequency data by the communication cable for each model of the cellular phone device. A device is provided.
In other words, it is possible to ascertain for each model how much the communication cable is actually used, and for models with a high communication cable usage frequency, the communication cable is set to allow image data even if the communication speed is somewhat slow. For example, it is possible to appropriately set whether or not the communication cable can be used according to the actual situation.

According to a fourth aspect of the present application, in addition to the configuration of the third aspect of the invention, the usage data storage device is configured to be capable of setting and changing the total period of the print order reception frequency data.
Therefore, it is possible to acquire data on the communication cable usage frequency for each model in various forms.

According to the first aspect of the invention, there is some reasonable reason for guiding the user of the print order receiving apparatus to use other image data capturing means that can capture image data at a higher speed. In this case, the operation of allowing the image data to be taken in via the communication cable is enabled, and it is possible to flexibly avoid that one user occupies the print order receiving apparatus for a long time.
In addition, according to the configuration of the second invention, it is possible to easily set whether or not the communication cable can be used, and the user can accurately grasp the information. Operation can be performed efficiently.
Further, according to the configuration of the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to appropriately set whether or not the communication cable can be used according to the actual situation of use, and the print order receiving apparatus can be operated more efficiently.
In addition, according to the configuration of the fourth aspect of the invention, since the data of the communication cable usage frequency for each model can be acquired in various forms, more accurate data can be acquired.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a print order receiving apparatus according to the present invention is provided in an automatic photography apparatus for taking ID photographs will be described based on the drawings.
As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 2, the automatic photography apparatus PB is an apparatus that is installed on the street or on the premises of various facilities, and is operated by a user to create a photographic print. In FIG. 2, the front side portion of the frame is indicated by a two-dot chain line in order to make the drawing easy to see.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the automatic photography apparatus PB includes a photography room 1 where a chair 11 is installed and a user to be photographed is located, and an equipment storage room 2 for storing various equipment. On the side wall of the room 2 on the photographing room 1 side, there is an upper lighting unit 12 that illuminates the user from above, a transparent window 13 for photographing the user and displaying information, and a coin as a usage fee of the apparatus And a charge input unit 14 for inserting bills, a memory card reader 15 for reading recorded images of various types of memory cards, a console 16 for a user to input various instructions, and a table 17. Also, a lower illumination unit 18 that is arranged on the lower surface side of the table 17 and illuminates the user from below, and a print take-out door 19 that covers the discharge location of the finished photographic print are arranged.

As shown in the block configuration diagram of FIG. 3, in the equipment storage chamber 2, an imaging device 21 for photographing a user, a printer 22 for producing a photographic print, and various information and imaging for the user and the like. A monitor 23 for displaying a photographed image by the device 21, a communication interface 24 for communicating with a mobile phone device with a photographing function, and a control device 25 for controlling these units are provided. The printer 22 is configured by, for example, a sublimation thermal transfer printer.
The imaging device 21 and the monitor 23 shoot a user with the imaging device 21 through the transparent window 13, and in order to allow the user to visually recognize a display image on the monitor 23, an optical path from the transparent window 13 to each of them. Is branched by a half mirror.

The main function of the automatic photo-taking apparatus PB having the above-described configuration is a function for taking a photograph of a user's face. It also has a function of producing a photographic print with a photographed image of a mobile phone device (hereinafter simply referred to as “mobile phone device”).
That is, in other words, the automatic photo-taking device PB is integrally provided with a function of a print order receiving device that takes in image data for making a photo print from a mobile phone device and a function of a printer that actually makes a photo print. Yes.
In the following, an operation when image data of an image to be printed is taken from the cellular phone device will be described.
The automatic photographing apparatus PB of the present embodiment includes a plurality of image data capturing means for capturing image data from a mobile phone device. Specifically, for the mobile phone device to which a memory card can be attached, A method of removing a memory card from a mobile phone device and capturing a recorded image with the memory card reader 15 and a communication cable connected to an external connection terminal of the mobile phone device, and stored in the mobile phone device via the communication cable There are two systems including a method of capturing image data.

The communication procedure when capturing image data from a mobile phone device via a communication cable differs depending on the model of the mobile phone, but a plurality of communication procedures are performed by the control device 25 so that image data can be captured from as many models as possible. It is incorporated in the communication program.
However, it is not always possible to capture image data via a communication cable for all models supported by the communication program, and the administrator of the automatic photo shooter PB It is configured to be able to arbitrarily set whether or not to accept image data via a communication cable. This is because there are models with extremely low image data capturing speeds using a communication cable, and when a user of such a model occupies the automatic photography apparatus PB for a long time, the next is waiting for the turn. In some cases, the user of the automatic photo shooter PB can be determined not to accept image data using a communication cable at the discretion of the administrator of the automatic photography apparatus PB. It is doing so.

The setting for each model as to whether or not the image data is allowed to be taken in via the communication cable is managed from the normal business operation mode in which the operation state of the control device 25 is received from time to time for receiving a photo print order (including ID photo). This is performed by causing the control device 25 to execute the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. Therefore, the control device 25 functions as a communication management device CC configured to be able to switch and set whether to allow image data to be taken in via a communication cable for each of a plurality of mobile phone device models.
When the processing of FIG. 6 is started, first, the “supported model setting screen display” shown in FIG. 4A is displayed on the monitor 23 (step # 1).
In this “supported model setting screen display”, a mobile phone that supports image capture using a communication cable for each mobile operator (indicated as “Company A”) is displayed on a display portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line A near the center of the screen. The model name of the device (indicated as “a001S”, etc.) is displayed in a list. By displaying “*” in front of the model name, image data can be taken in via the communication cable for that model name. Indicates that it is set.

When the administrator operates the cursor key of the console 16 to select one of the models and presses the selection determination key located at the center of the cursor key (step # 2), the image is captured for the model by the communication cable. Is switched (step # 3), and the screen display corresponding to the switching is updated (step # 4).
When the administrator completes all necessary input operations (step # 5), the models with the “*” mark in front of the model name are registered in the memory etc. to allow image data to be imported via the communication cable. (Step # 6).

In order to help the administrator determine how to set image data for each model according to the above processing, the communication cable for each model The accumulated data on the use frequency of the image data fetching by can be displayed on the monitor 23.
In order to display the accumulated data of the frequency of use of the communication cable, the administrator activates the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 in the control device 25 in the administrator mode as described above.
When the processing shown in FIG. 7 is started, the control device 25 displays an initial display of accumulated data as shown in FIG. FIG. 5A shows a case where the total number of image captures with the communication cable since the automatic photography apparatus PB is installed and started to operate is initially displayed.

As will be described later, the information on the number of times images are captured with the communication cable is stored and held together with information on the date of use of the communication cable, and it is also possible to change the setting period of the print order acceptance frequency data with the communication cable is there.
When an instruction to change the total period is input from the console 16 or the like (step # 12), a sub-screen for inputting the total period is displayed and an input for setting the total period is accepted (step # 13). The number of times of use is totaled for each model during the totaled period (step # 14) and displayed on the monitor 23 as shown in FIG. 5B (step # 15).
The administrator checks the accumulated data of the number of times this communication cable is used. For example, even if the model has a slow communication speed using a communication cable, if there is a lot of usage results, Operation that allows image data to be taken in is possible.

Next, in the business operation mode operated by the user of the automatic photography apparatus PB, the operation when an instruction is input to take image data from the mobile phone device to produce a photographic print will be described.
In the business operation mode, when an instruction is input to capture image data from the mobile phone device to produce a photographic print, the control device 25 executes the process shown in the flowchart of FIG.
First, the screen display of the image capture compatible model is performed with the communication cable illustrated in FIG. 4B (step # 21).
In the area surrounded by a one-dot chain line B located near the upper center of the screen in FIG. 4B, image capture using a communication cable is allowed for each mobile operator (indicated as “Company A”). A list of model names (indicated as “a001S” or the like) of the set mobile phone device is displayed. These display models are models in which “*” is added in front of the model name in FIG. 4A, and only models that are set so as to allow image capture with a communication cable in the processing of FIG. it's shown.

Next, a screen display is displayed on the monitor 23 asking the user whether to take in the image data from the mobile phone device via a memory card or via a communication cable (step # 22).
When the user removes the memory card from the cellular phone device, sets it in the memory card reader 15 and inputs from the console 16 that the image data is taken in via the memory card, the memory card reader 15 moves the image on the memory card. The data is fetched and transmitted to the control device 25 (steps # 23 and # 28).

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, after the user pulls out the communication cable 27 from the communication cable storage unit 26 and connects its connector 27a to the external connection terminal of the mobile phone device HP, the image data is transmitted via the communication cable. When input operation is performed from the console 16 (step # 23), the control device 25 starts communication with the mobile phone device HP, and when the model of the mobile phone device HP can be identified from the communication content ( In step # 24), information indicating that the communication cable 27 has been used once for the model is stored in the nonvolatile memory or the like together with the date data at this time (step # 27). Therefore, the control device 25 functions as a usage data storage device DS that stores print order acceptance frequency data through the communication cable 27 for each model of the mobile phone device HP.
Thereafter, a communication program according to the communication procedure corresponding to the model is executed to capture image data (step # 28).

If the model of the mobile phone device HP cannot be specified by initial communication with the mobile phone device HP (step # 24), the model of the mobile phone device HP is narrowed down to some extent from the information sent from the mobile phone device HP. The narrowed model name is displayed on the monitor 23 (25).
According to this display, when the model is specified by having the user specify the model of his / her mobile phone device HP (step # 26), information indicating that the communication cable 27 has been used once for this model is displayed. Along with the date data at the time, the data is stored in a non-volatile memory or the like (step # 27), and a communication program according to the communication procedure corresponding to the model is executed to capture image data (step # 28).
The image data captured in this way is separately sent from the control device 25 to the printer 22 on the condition that a predetermined fee is paid from the fee input unit 14 separately, and is subjected to print processing. The print can be taken out by opening the print take-out door 19.

[Another embodiment]
Hereinafter, other embodiments of the present invention will be listed.
(1) In the above embodiment, as the image data fetching means for fetching image data for making a photo print from the cellular phone device HP, the fetching means via the communication cable 27 and the fetching means via the memory card are exemplified. However, image data capturing means by optical communication or wireless communication may be further provided.
(2) In the above-described embodiment, the control device 25 functioning as the usage data storage device DS starts storing the usage data of the communication cable from the beginning of the operation of the automatic photography apparatus PB, However, it may be configured such that the period for accumulating usage data itself can also be changed.
(3) In the above embodiment, the case where the print order receiving apparatus according to the present invention is applied to the automatic photography apparatus PB for taking ID photographs that also integrates the printer function is illustrated, but there is no printer function. The present invention can also be applied to a print order receiving terminal having only a print order receiving function.

The principal part perspective view concerning embodiment of this invention The perspective view of the automatic photography device concerning an embodiment of the invention The block block diagram concerning embodiment of this invention Example of monitor screen display according to an embodiment of the present invention Example of monitor screen display according to an embodiment of the present invention The flowchart concerning embodiment of this invention The flowchart concerning embodiment of this invention The flowchart concerning embodiment of this invention

Explanation of symbols

CC communication management device DS use data storage device HP mobile phone device 23 monitor 27 communication cable

Claims (4)

A print order receiving device for taking in image data for making photo prints from an image data taking-in means including taking in by a communication cable from a mobile phone device with a photo shooting function,
A plurality of models of the mobile phone device capable of capturing image data with the communication cable are set,
A print order receiving apparatus provided with a communication management apparatus configured to be able to switch and set whether or not to allow image data to be taken in via the communication cable for each of the plurality of models.   The communication management device allows a model name of the mobile phone device capable of capturing image data via the communication cable to be displayed in a list on a monitor, and for which model image data capture via the communication cable is permitted. Claims are configured to accept settings and display on the monitor only model names that are set to allow image data capture via the communication cable prior to capturing image data via the communication cable. Item 2. A print order receiving apparatus according to Item 1.   The print order receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a usage data storage device that stores print order reception frequency data using the communication cable is provided for each model of the mobile phone device.   4. The print order receiving apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the usage data storage apparatus is configured to be capable of changing a setting period of the print order reception frequency data.

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