JP2006059224A - Information processing system, information processing method, and information processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To extensively and remarkably improve the convenience in an information processing system, an information processing method and an information processing program. <P>SOLUTION: This information processing system for providing a predetermined service to a plurality of users comprises a cultural area correspondence registration part registering user identification information for identifying each user in coordination with a cultural area identification information for identifying a cultural area each user belongs to, and retrieves, when each user supplies user identification information, the cultural area correspondence registration part by using the user identification information as a retrieval key, and changes the content of a service depending on cultural area to be provided to this user according to the cultural area identification information obtained as the retrieval result. In such a structure, it is also preferable to provide the cultural area correspondence registration part on a remote storage server on a network which stores predetermined storage object data according to a storage request from each user, and is accessible from each communication device by a plurality of users. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing method, and an information processing program, and is suitable for application to, for example, a remote printing service provided on the Internet.

  Conventionally, as a technique for changing the content of a service to be provided to a more preferable one for a user by using personal information of a user (user) registered in advance, Patent Documents 1 to 3 listed below. There is what is described in.

  Among them, in the technique of Patent Document 1, when providing information to a member, distance information between the member's address or designated point and the service provider's base of service provision that can provide services to the member is also provided. As a result, the member can determine whether the service content is easy to obtain or whether it is easy to get to the event venue, etc., so it is possible to more appropriately determine whether to receive the service. Become.

  In the technique of Patent Document 2, the product purchaser is notified of the URL related to the purchased product, and when the product purchaser accesses the URL, the product information page is dynamically generated and provided. Since the product information page is individually generated according to the preference information reflecting the preference of the product purchaser, it is more useful than a home page that provides only general product information.

Furthermore, in the technique of Patent Document 3, information such as stores and events classified in each region and information indicating user preferences are stored in advance in the server, and the user uses a mobile terminal to store information. The server also obtains location information indicating the current location of the terminal, and identifies a store or event that matches the user's preference within the area corresponding to the location indicated by the location information. In addition, information about the specified store is presented to the user. Thereby, information suitable for the user's preference can be presented.
JP 2001-338209 A JP 2003-196541 A JP 2001-282831 A

  By the way, in the above-mentioned patent document 1, the distance information with respect to the service providing base, the above-mentioned patent document 2 indicates the URL regarding the purchased product and the purchaser's preference, and the above-mentioned patent document 3 indicates the user's preference and the current position. The contents of each service are changed based on the location information. However, since such information has only a limited meaning, it can change various items of the service provided to the user by itself. However, the quality and degree of improvement in convenience are likely to be limited and lack flexibility.

  In order to solve this problem, in the first aspect of the present invention, an information processing system (for example, communication system 10, information) that provides a predetermined service (for example, remote printing service) to a plurality of users (for example, U1). In the processing device 60, etc., further comprising a cultural sphere registration unit for registering the user identification information for identifying each user in association with the cultural sphere identification information for identifying the cultural sphere to which each user belongs. When user identification information (for example, UID1 or the like) is supplied, the cultural area correspondence registration unit (for example, the cultural area table TB1 or the like) is searched using the user identification information as a search key, and the cultural area identification information obtained as a search result According to (for example, JP1 etc.), the content of the service depending on the cultural area provided to the user is changed.

  In the second aspect of the present invention, a remote storage server (for example, the remote print server 14) on a network (for example, the Internet 11) that can be accessed from each communication device (for example, the mobile phone 15 or a personal computer) by a plurality of users. And the like, a predetermined storage target data (for example, document DC1) is stored in response to a storage request from the user, and a remote connected to the remote storage server in response to an output request from the user. In the information processing system that outputs the storage target data via an output device (for example, the MMK terminal 17 or the printing machine 19), the remote storage server is configured to identify user identification information ( For example, UID1 etc.) and cultural sphere identification information (eg JP1 etc.) identifying the cultural sphere to which each user belongs. A culture area registration unit (for example, a culture area table TB1) to be registered, and each user accesses the remote storage server via the network using the communication device or the remote output device and obtains his / her user identification information. When the message is supplied, an output message for dialogue provided for dialogue with the user (for example, ME2 which is a Web page or an e-mail) or a detailed mode of outputting the storage target data is registered in the cultural zone correspondence registration. And an output control unit (for example, a set value generation unit 54, a page generation unit 56, etc.) that controls according to culture area identification information associated with the user identification information registered in the unit. To do.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in an information processing method for providing a predetermined service to a plurality of users, the cultural area registration unit includes user identification information for identifying each user and the cultural area to which each user belongs. The cultural area identification information to be identified is registered in association with each other, and when each user supplies the user identification information, the cultural area correspondence registration unit is searched using the user identification information as a search key and obtained as a search result. The content of the service depending on the cultural sphere to be provided to the user is changed according to the cultural sphere identification information.

  Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, in an information processing program for providing a predetermined service to a plurality of users, the user identification information for identifying each user and the cultural sphere for identifying the cultural sphere to which each user belongs to a computer. When the cultural area corresponding registration function for registering the identification information in association with each other is realized and each user supplies the user identification information, the cultural area corresponding registration function is searched using the user identification information as a search key and obtained as a search result. The content of the service depending on the cultural area to be provided to the user is changed according to the cultural area identification information.

  Since the cultural sphere to which a user belongs is information that provides comprehensive and multifaceted attributes related to that user, a wide variety of useful information is flexibly associated with the cultural sphere identification information that identifies the cultural sphere. be able to.

  According to the present invention, the convenience can be improved widely and remarkably, and the flexibility is high.

(A) Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of an information processing system, an information processing method, and an information processing program according to the present invention will be described.

(A-1) Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of the communication system 10 of the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, the communication system 10 includes an Internet 11, a mobile phone network 12, an MMK (multimedia kiosk) network 13, a remote print server 14, a mobile phone 15, MMK terminals 16, 17 and a printing press. 18 and 19.

  Of these, the mobile phone network 12 is a network operated by a mobile phone operator, in which a large number of mobile phones are accommodated. A mobile phone 15 carried by the user U1 is also one such mobile phone. It goes without saying that many mobile phone networks other than the mobile phone network 12 can be connected to the Internet 11. The user U1 can also access the remote print server 14 from a personal computer or the like installed at home or work, but here, it is assumed that the user U1 mainly accesses with the mobile phone 15.

  The remote printing server 14 is a server that provides a membership-based remote printing service, and plays a central role in this embodiment. The geographical range in which the remote print server 14 provides remote printing services via the Internet 11 covers a vast range on the earth, and a plurality of cultural spheres can be included in the range. Here, the cultural zone refers to an area characterized by a similar culture (style). Within one cultural area, there are various languages such as languages that can be used, preferred colors, preferred color strength, preferred character thickness, and specific paper sizes (eg letter sizes used in the United States, etc.). There is an almost consistent and robust format for items across and it is difficult to accept unless it conforms to that format.

  One culture is originally formed in one area through a historical process, but now, one culture often exists in a geographically distant area. For example, Chinese culture was originally formed in China, but there are also Chinese cultures in Chinatowns such as San Francisco in the United States and Yokohama in Japan, so these Chinatowns can also be included in the Chinese cultural sphere. it can.

  In addition, cultural spheres can be divided at various levels. For example, Japan (excluding Chinatown) may be viewed as one cultural area where Japanese culture is valid, but it is divided into Kansai and Kanto areas and is considered as separate cultural areas (Kansai cultural area and Kanto cultural area). Also good.

  Various messages are exchanged between the remote print server 14 and the mobile phone 15 using a communication application such as e-mail or Web. In FIG. 1, regardless of the type of communication application, a message transmitted from the mobile phone 15 to the remote print server 14 is ME1, and a message transmitted from the remote print server 14 to the mobile phone 15 is ME2. Therefore, the message ME1 may be an e-mail, or may be information that the user U1 supplies to the remote print server 14 using a Web page (form) or the like. Similarly, the message ME2 may be an e-mail, or may be a Web page (form may be a form) provided by the remote print server 14 to the user U1.

  The user U1 is one of many members registered as members of the remote printing service.

  The remote printing service refers to a case where a document (for example, DC1) is registered in the remote printing server 14 via the Internet 11 from a personal computer or the like installed at a user's home or a company where the user works, and the user desires The remote print server 14 is accessed using a desired MMK terminal (for example, 17) installed in a convenience store, and the document is printed out by a printing machine (for example, 19) connected to the MMK terminal. It is a service whose content is to perform. Since many MMK terminals are installed at convenient locations for many people, such as convenience stores within the vast range, anytime according to the user's wishes, A remote printing service capable of printing out can realize mobility close to printing out a document with a printing function installed in a cellular phone and high-quality printing output.

  There are actually a large number of MMK terminals, mobile phones, documents, and users (members). In the following, the description will proceed mainly focusing on the MMK terminal 17, the mobile phone 15, the document DC1, and the user U1.

  In the present embodiment, the remote print server 14 needs to communicate with the mobile phone 15 and the MMK terminal 17.

  The MMK terminal 17 is a communication terminal that is installed in a convenience store or the like, and temporarily stores a document (for example, DC1) downloaded from the remote print server 14, and the document DC1 in response to a request from the user U1. Is output. There can be various forms of output. In addition to the above-described print output, screen display output, writing to an external storage medium, and the like can also be included.

  In order to perform print output, the MMK terminal 17 may have a built-in print function, but here, the MMK terminal 17 itself does not have a print function and prints out via an external printer 19. The printing machine 19 is installed in the vicinity of the MMK terminal 17 such as in a store of the same convenience store as the MMK terminal 17. The printing machine 19 is basically a normal printing machine, but may be a multifunction machine (MFP) having functions such as a copying machine as well as a function as a printing machine.

  The screen display output is executed via the display unit 34 (see FIG. 3) provided in the MMK terminal 17. Since the size of the display screen of the display unit 34 of the MMK terminal 17 is much larger than the size of the display screen of the display unit 24 (see FIG. 2) of the mobile phone 15, the image of the document DC1 is displayed in detail. be able to.

  The writing to the recording medium is to write the document DC1 to the recording medium carried by the user U1 via a predetermined interface that the MMK terminal 17 has. When the recording medium is, for example, a memory card, the MMK terminal 17 needs to have an external storage slot as the interface. In addition, the mobile phone 15 itself can be used as an external storage medium. In this case, the document DC1 may be transmitted from the MMK terminal 17 to the mobile phone 15 using near field communication and stored in the storage unit 23 (see FIG. 2) in the mobile phone 15.

  The internal configuration of the mobile phone 15 is, for example, as shown in FIG.

(A-1-1) Internal Configuration Example of Mobile Phone In FIG. 2, the mobile phone 15 includes a communication unit 20, a control unit 21, an operation unit 22, a storage unit 23, and a display unit 24. Yes.

  The communication unit 20 is a part that functions when the mobile phone 15 performs communication. Specifically, in addition to functioning when performing a voice call as a telephone or the short-range wireless communication, the Internet 11 is used for browsing a Web page for accessing the remote print server 14 and sending and receiving e-mails. It also functions to perform the communication.

  The control unit 21 corresponds to a CPU (central processing unit) of the mobile phone 15 in terms of hardware, and corresponds to various programs such as an OS (operating system), a mailer, and a web browser in terms of software. .

  The operation unit 22 is a part that is operated by the user U1 to transmit an instruction to the mobile phone 15. In the case of the mobile phone 15, the operation unit 22 is usually configured by arranging a plurality of small push buttons.

  The display unit 24 is a part corresponding to a display device that performs screen display according to functions of a mailer, a web browser, and the like installed in the mobile phone 15. The user U1 operates the operation unit 22 while viewing the display unit 24, thereby browsing, for example, a Web page provided by the remote print server 14, and displaying a message (sentence) described on the Web page. The user can interact with the remote print server 14 by reading and manipulating the interactive component prepared on the Web page.

  The message of the Web page is described in a language corresponding to the cultural area to which the user U1 belongs, and the configuration and color of the Web page can be adapted to the cultural area. Therefore, even if the Web page has the same meaning in the remote printing service, the Web page is different if the cultural sphere of the user U1 is different. For example, even if the Web page is for checking the file name of the document (here, DC1) stored in the remote print server 14 by the user U1, the Web page varies depending on the cultural sphere to which the user U1 belongs. It becomes.

  The storage unit 23 is a storage resource composed of volatile storage means (such as RAM) and non-volatile storage means (such as a hard disk) in terms of hardware, and various files are stored in this portion in terms of software. May be included. Since the program file such as the mailer or the web browser is one of such files, the physical entity of the mailer or the web browser is located in the storage unit 23.

  Further, when the mobile phone 15 is used as the above-described external storage medium, the document DC1 is stored in the storage unit 23.

  If an e-mail is transmitted from the mobile phone 15, the information on the source e-mail address (@) included in the e-mail header of the e-mail is received except when the user U 1 is provided with a so-called roaming service. The approximate current location of the user U1 of the mobile phone 15 can be found based on the domain name on the right side of the mark). This domain name is, for example, when the top level domain (TLD) is a country-specific domain (for example, “jp” in the case of Japan, “us” in the case of the United States, etc.) Can also be used to guess. It is also possible to estimate the cultural sphere in more detail by using TLDs other than country-specific domains, second level domains (SLD), and the like. For example, if the TLD is “edu”, it can be inferred that the user U1 is related to an academic institution in the United States, and if the SLD is “ed” (the user U1 is not the mobile phone 15 but the personal computer and the remote print server 14). If you have sent an e-mail to a), you can guess that it is a person involved in a school organization such as elementary, middle and high schools. In addition, since the domain corresponding to the name of the mobile phone operator is often described below the domain (left side from the SLD), there is a possibility that useful information can be obtained from the domain below. There is.

  Since the mobile phone network 12 needs to perform location registration in order to perform its original function (for example, to specify an area for performing a general call for receiving a call to the mobile phone 15), each mobile phone is normally used. The position information indicating the current position (for example, 15) is always grasped and accumulated. If the remote print server 14 acquires the position information from the mobile phone network 12, it is highly possible that the current position can be grasped and the cultural area can be estimated more accurately than when the domain name is used. .

  As described above, a conventional mobile phone can be basically used as it is as the mobile phone 15.

  On the other hand, the internal configuration of the remote printing server 14 is as shown in FIG.

(A-1-2) Internal Configuration Example of Remote Print Server In FIG. 5, the remote print server 14 includes a communication unit 50, a control unit 51, a storage unit 52, a user authentication unit 53, and a set value generation unit. 54, a determination rule providing unit 55, a page generation unit 56, a cultural sphere determination unit 57, a schedule management unit 58, and a position information acquisition unit 59.

  Of these, the communication unit 50 corresponds to the communication unit 20, the control unit 51 corresponds to the control unit 21, and the storage unit 52 corresponds to the storage unit 23.

  However, unlike the mobile phone 15, the communication unit 50 of the remote print server 14 does not normally need to function during a voice call. When the remote print server 14 communicates with the mobile phone 15 or the MMK terminal 17 (or an MMK monitoring server described later), the communication unit 50 functions.

  Further, the control unit 51 includes a DBMS (database management system) for managing a database including the three tables TB1 to TB3 shown in FIGS.

  Further, the storage unit 52 stores personal information, a user ID, a password, and the like input by each member (for example, the user U1) at the time of member registration with the remote printing service, and stores the database.

  Among the tables TB1 to TB3, the cultural area table TB1 includes a user ID and a cultural area ID as data items, as shown in FIG.

  The user ID is identification information for uniquely identifying a user (one of whom is U1) registered as a member in the remote printing service. For example, UID1 may be the user ID of the user U1.

  The cultural sphere ID is identification information for uniquely identifying the cultural sphere within the vast range that provides the remote printing service. For example, JP1 may be the Kanto cultural zone, JP2 may be the Kansai cultural zone, US1 may be a general US cultural zone, and CN1 may be a cultural zone ID that identifies the Chinese cultural zone including the Chinatown.

  In the cultural area table TB1, as many rows (for example, L1 to L4) as the number of users registered as members of the remote printing service are registered. Here, a row is a horizontal arrangement excluding data items in the table. For example, the row L1 of “UID1 JP1” is one row.

  In FIG. 6, the cultural zone table TB1 includes rows L1 to L4.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the correspondence culture table TB2 includes, as data items, a culture sphere ID, a language ID, a message content ID, a set value set ID, and a cultural life time ID. .

  Among these, the cultural sphere ID is the same as the cultural sphere ID of the cultural sphere table TB1.

  The language ID is identification information for uniquely identifying a language characteristic of each cultural sphere. As described above, the language level is determined depending on the level at which the cultural sphere is divided. For example, if Japan is regarded as one cultural sphere, the language in the Japanese cultural sphere is only Japanese (common language). However, if Japanese is divided into the Kanto cultural sphere and the Kansai cultural sphere, Japanese is dialect of Kanto. Can be divided into Kansai dialects, and a language ID can be assigned to each dialect. This also applies to other data items in the correspondence culture table TB2.

  The message content ID is identification information for uniquely identifying a message content (content of the message ME2) characteristic of each cultural area. It is often difficult to obtain an appropriate result by simply executing machine translation, but the message content itself is stored in the remote print server 14 in terms of expressions and sentence expressions peculiar to each cultural area. By providing the user U1 with the corresponding message content according to the cultural sphere to which the accessing user U1 belongs and the situation (stage) of the processing, a message suitable for the situation can be transmitted to the user U1. .

  In addition, when the user U1 is a company employee and is registered in the remote printing service as an employee of a certain company, the remote print server 14 changes the message content in response to a request from the company where the user U1 works. Sometimes. For example, when the company requests that the date information to be added to the message be detailed, the remote print server 14 sends the message ME2 to which the date information more detailed than usual is sent to the mobile phone 15.

  Alternatively, when the remote printing server 14 manages information related to the performance of the printing machine 19 connected to the MMK terminal 17 designated by the user U1 (for example, information indicating that the printing machine 19 cannot support double-sided printing). Can also be included in the message ME2 using the corresponding message content.

  Similarly, if the printing machine 19 has specifications for a certain cultural area (for example, the Chinese cultural area), the message content can be used to convey information to that effect to the user U1 using the message ME2. . This can be useful information especially when the cultural area (for example, the Chinese cultural area) is different from the cultural area to which the user U1 belongs. When the user U1 reads the message ME2 and knows in advance that the MMK terminal he / she is trying to use is a specification for a cultural sphere different from the cultural sphere to which the user U1 belongs, the user U1 can change the MMK terminal to be downloaded, etc. Is possible. Even if the printer has almost the same performance, for example, a printer for the US cultural sphere can select and print letter-size paper, but a printer for the Chinese cultural sphere or for the Japanese cultural sphere Depending on the specifications for cultural areas, such as letter size paper cannot be used on a printing press, the functions may vary greatly. This is because letter-size paper is basically not used in the Chinese cultural sphere or Japanese cultural sphere.

  The set value set ID is identification information for identifying a set of set values (consisting of one or a plurality of set values) reflecting colors preferred in each cultural sphere or a specific paper size. A set of setting values specified by the setting value set ID is set in the MMK terminal 17 or the printing machine 19, so that the screen display output by the MMK terminal 17 or the printing output by the printing machine 19 is It corresponds to the colors preferred by cultural areas and specific paper sizes.

  The cultural life time ID is identification information for uniquely identifying a characteristic life time (or business hour) for each cultural area. For example, if it is customary to take a long lunch break of about 2 hours, such as a siesta in the Spanish cultural sphere, the print output to users belonging to that cultural sphere will be Since it can be considered that there is little need to perform the band, it is effective to prepare the cultural life time ID in this way.

  Note that it may happen that the user U1 originally moves to an area corresponding to a cultural area different from the cultural area to which the user U1 belongs and accesses the remote print server 14 from the movement destination area. In such a case, since the user U1 is likely to live according to the life time of the destination cultural area instead of the life time of the cultural area to which the user U1 belongs, the life time (cultural life time ID) is high. ), The time corresponding to the destination cultural area may be applied.

  In FIG. 7, the corresponding culture table TB2 includes rows LM1 to LM4.

  In the corresponding culture table TB2, the ID is used in each data item of language ID, message content ID, set value set ID, and cultural life time ID, but this is replaced with the main body of information specified by the ID. There are cases where it is possible. For example, when the information indicating the cultural life time specified by the cultural life time ID is not so large, the cultural life time is prepared as a data item, and the cultural life is stored in the corresponding culture table TB2. You may make it register the main body of the information which shows time. The same applies to other data items.

  Since the cultural sphere is information that provides comprehensive and multifaceted attributes regarding the user, the cultural sphere ID includes various data having useful information as shown in the corresponding cultural table TB2. Items can be flexibly associated. Of course, data items other than those listed here can be associated with the cultural zone ID, and some of the data items listed here can be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the geographical life time table TB3 includes a geographical range and a geographical life time as data items.

  Of these, the geographical range indicates a region to which position information indicating the current position of the mobile phone 15 belongs. Since this is a data item for specifying standard time (for example, Japan Standard Time) in each region, it indicates a geographical area with the same accuracy as the geographical range in which standard time is set. For example, in Japan, the standard time is one, so when the mobile phone 15 is located in Japan, it is sufficient to know that the mobile phone 15 is located in Japan, as far as the geographical life time table TB3 is concerned. It is not necessary to specify the position with higher accuracy.

  The geographical life time indicates the absolute standard time of each region, and usually indicates the time zone (life time zone) in which a person is active at the standard time. For example, when a certain region A is in the life time zone, and in another region B on the earth, if it is usually in a time zone where the person is not active (non-life time zone), it is not completed at that time. Of the plurality of jobs, priority can be given to the execution of a job related to the remote printing service to the region A. Further, if the living time zone is from 6:00 am to midnight, it is considered that the necessity for printing out the document DC1 is low in the non-living time zone from midnight to 6:00 am. be able to.

  In FIG. 8, the geographical life time table TB3 includes rows LN1 to LN3.

  The user authentication unit 53 causes the user U1 to input the user ID and password assigned to each user at the time of member registration, and the user ID and password stored in the storage unit 52 and the input user ID and password. It is a part which performs user authentication by comparing these. The user authentication is a process for confirming the validity of the user who has accessed the remote print server 14. There may be a remote printing service that does not perform user authentication, but user authentication is indispensable when there is a possibility that the user may store a highly confidential document in the remote print server 14 or when charging is performed.

  The setting value generation unit 54 is a part that generates a set of setting values specified by the setting value set ID. The generation of the setting value may be performed dynamically or may be performed statically. In dynamic generation, a set of set values is generated each time a set value set ID is specified. In static generation, an installation value set corresponding to each setting value set ID is generated in advance, and the generated setting value set is stored in the storage unit 52.

  The determination rule providing unit 55 is a part that provides one or a plurality of determination rules DR1 for determining the cultural sphere to which each user belongs.

  The cultural sphere determination unit 57 executes the determination of the cultural sphere based on the received determination rule DR1. The cultural sphere to which each user belongs may be explicitly registered with each user at the time of membership registration or the like, but is determined by the remote print server 14 based on this determination rule DR1 (for example, explicit registration by the user U1 is performed). If not, the cultural area corresponding to the area to which the current position of the mobile phone 15 at the time of member registration belongs may be set as the cultural area to which the user U1 belongs). The cultural sphere explicitly registered by each user or the cultural sphere once determined by the remote print server 14 based on the determination rule DR1 may be changed based on the subsequent access history of the user. A rule for making this change is also included in the determination rule DR1.

  For example, the frequency of the location where the user U1 uses the service (such as the current location of the mobile phone 15 that has been accessed or the installation location of the MMK terminal 17 that performed the print output) is statistically checked for each region, and the bias is predetermined. A cultural area corresponding to an area larger than the value may be determined as the cultural area of the user.

  As an example, even when the user U1 explicitly registers the US cultural sphere at the time of membership registration, and the remote print server 14 determines that the cultural sphere to which the user U1 belongs based on this registration, the user U1 is accessing it. In many cases, the current location of the mobile phone 15 is in Japan, and in the case where the deviation is larger than a predetermined value, the cultural area to which the user U1 belongs may be changed to Japan.

  Alternatively, when an interactive component that can instruct the change of the language of the Web page provided by the remote print server 14 from the browsing user U1 is prepared on the Web page, the user can use the interactive component. The cultural area to which the user U1 belongs can also be determined based on the content of the change made by U1. For example, when a web page written in English is provided and the user U1 instructs to change to Japanese several times (for example, twice), it is determined that the user U1 belongs to the Japanese cultural sphere can do.

  The page generation unit 56 is a part that generates a Web page that the remote print server 14 provides to the user U1. The generation of the Web page may be performed statically or dynamically, similarly to the generation of the setting value. Between the user U1 using the mobile phone 15 and the remote print server 14, the conversation is repeated by exchanging the messages ME1 and ME2 many times, and a predetermined procedure in the remote print service is advanced. In the generation, a message ME1 requesting transmission of a new response message is received from the user U1, and the cultural zone table TB1 or the corresponding culture table is selected according to the content of the message ME1 (for example, user ID or information corresponding to the user ID). When TB2 is searched and the corresponding message content ID is specified, a Web page as a response message is generated each time. In static generation, a Web page (a file constituting a Web page) as a response message corresponding to each message content ID is generated in advance, and the generated Web page is stored in the storage unit 52.

  Similarly to this Web page, even when the message ME2 is an email transmitted from the remote print server 14 to the user U1, the page generation unit 56 may generate the content of the body of the email.

  When a request message for requesting the output of the document DC1 arrives from the user U1, the schedule management unit 58 provides each user with the life time zone indicated by the specified cultural life time ID or geographical life time ID. This is a part for managing the schedule of the remote printing service.

  Specifically, the schedule management unit 58 manages the execution schedule of each job constituting the remote printing service. It is also desirable that the schedule management unit 58 manages the execution schedule of jobs executed by the MMK terminal (for example, 17). This is implemented by installing software having the function on the MMK terminal 17 side (for example, an MMK schedule management unit 36 described later) and the like, an MMK monitoring server (not shown) included in the MMK network 13, and download reservation information RV1. It is realizable by using.

  The MMK monitoring server is a server that monitors the state of each MMK terminal every predetermined monitoring period by examining MMK information that each MMK terminal (for example, 17) transmits regularly or irregularly. Here, the MMK information is information relating to the MMK terminal 17 itself collected by the MMK terminal 17, and includes, for example, usage history information (information indicating the usage history of the MMK terminal 17) and machine state information (the state of the MMK terminal 17 is Information indicating whether or not normal) is included. Since the MMK monitoring server having the function of monitoring the state of the MMK terminal is already operated in the existing MMK network, for example, remote printing can be performed indirectly by using the MMK monitoring server. It is possible for the server 14 to manage the job execution schedule in the corresponding MMK terminal (for example, 17).

  The download reservation information RV1 is control information for reserving the download of the document DC1 registered in the remote print server 14 to the MMK terminal 17. Therefore, the download reservation information RV1 includes at least document designation information that specifies a document that the user U1 desires to download (here, the document DC1), and one or more MMK terminals (here, It is necessary to include MMK terminal designation information for identifying (referred to as MMK terminal 17) and time designation information for identifying a time (for example, the latest time that can be accepted by the user U1) for executing this download. The MMK terminal designation information is necessary for the MMK monitoring server to identify the corresponding MMK terminal (here, 17) from among the many MMK terminals that have transmitted the MMK information.

  Conventionally, when the user U1 actually moved to the MMK terminal 17 and requested execution of download via the MMK terminal 17, the document DC1 was downloaded from the remote print server 14 to the MMK terminal 17, but the download reservation information If RV1 is delivered to the MMK terminal 17 in advance and the MMK terminal 17 executes an operation according to the download reservation information RV1, the download of the document DC1 is completed before the user U1 moves to the MMK terminal 17. It is possible. Although depending on the bandwidth of the access line, the size of the document DC1, etc., this download has often required 10 minutes (600 seconds) or more in the past, so by completing the download in advance, the user U1 Can be greatly reduced.

  In the download reservation information RV1, if the process of converting the data format of the downloaded document DC1 into the data format for printing, the process of spooling to the printing machine 19 and the like are described in advance, When the user U1 has moved to the MMK terminal 17, the data format conversion processing and spooling have already been completed and printing is possible immediately, so that the burden on the user U1 can be further reduced. .

  When downloading of the document DC1 to the MMK terminal 17 is completed, it is also desirable to transmit an e-mail ME2 addressed to the mobile phone 15 from the remote print server 14 in order to notify the user U1 to that effect. Further, if necessary, when the download is completed and the conversion of the data format of the document DC1 or the spooling is completed, the user U1 may be notified by the e-mail ME2.

  As a result, when the user U1 moves to the MMK terminal 17 after reading this e-mail, the download, data format conversion, spooling, etc. have already been completed, so that the user U1 can further save time. .

  The position information acquisition unit 59 is a part that acquires position information of the mobile phone 15. Necessary position information is acquired from the information of the sender mail address of the electronic mail ME1 transmitted from the mobile phone 15 described above and the position information of each mobile phone (for example, 15) stored in the mobile phone network 12.

  The internal configuration of the MMK terminal 17 is, for example, as shown in FIG. The internal configuration of other MMK terminals (for example, 16) is the same as this.

(A-1-3) Internal Configuration Example of MMK Terminal In FIG. 3, the MMK terminal 17 includes a communication unit 30, a control unit 31, an operation unit 32, a storage unit 33, a display unit 34, and setting correspondences. Unit 35 and an MMK schedule management unit 36.

  Among them, the communication unit 30 corresponds to the communication unit 20, the control unit 31 corresponds to the control unit 21, the operation unit 32 corresponds to the operation unit 22, and the storage unit 33 corresponds to the storage unit 23. Detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  Since the operation unit 32 is larger than the operation unit 22 of the mobile phone 15 and has a large push button and is easy to operate, complicated button operations can be performed relatively easily.

  Furthermore, since the display unit 34 is much larger than the display unit 24 of the cellular phone 15 as described above, it is possible to display the image of the document DC1 in detail. Therefore, the user U1 may be able to see well an image that is difficult to see on the display unit 24 of the mobile phone 15 by the display unit 34.

  The storage unit 33 stores download reservation information RV1 received by the MMK terminal 17. The download reservation information RV1 is transmitted by the remote print server 14 and received by the MMK terminal 17 via the MMK monitoring server or the like. The download reservation information RV1 needs to be stored until the document DC1 is downloaded from the remote print server 14 to the MMK terminal 17, but may be immediately deleted from the storage unit 53 when it becomes unnecessary. .

  As described above, the MMK terminal 17 may include a print function. However, since the MMK terminal 17 does not include the print function, the MMK terminal 17 uses the communication unit 30 to print the remote print server 14 when printing the document DC1 or the like. It is necessary to download (automatically download) the document DC1 from the printer, communicate with the printing machine 19 installed in the store of the same convenience store, and deliver the document DC1 to the printing machine.

  When the document DC1 is stored on the remote print server 14, the data format depends on the application (for example, word processing software) that created the document DC1, but before printing, the data format does not depend on the platform. It is necessary to execute processing and spooling to convert to. Such data format conversion can be executed by the MMK terminal 17.

  Further, even if printing output is performed by the printing machine 19, this screen is displayed on the display unit 34 of the MMK terminal 17 so that the content of the document DC1 can be viewed by the user U1. Before the display, it is necessary to execute a conversion job of the data format.

  The setting handling unit 35 is a part that receives supply of the set of setting values described above from the remote print server 14 and performs control corresponding to the set of setting values. By this control, various items such as image processing settings and paper selection are changed, and the color of the screen displayed and output by the display unit 34 of the MMK terminal 17, the result of the print output by the printing machine 19, and the like belong to the culture to which the user U1 belongs. It can be a favorite in the area. The set of setting values may be delivered to the MMK terminal 17 as a part of the download reservation information RV1, for example.

  The MMK schedule management unit 36 manages based on the download reservation information RV1 stored in the storage unit 33 so that the corresponding document can be downloaded from the remote print server 14 to the MMK terminal 17 by the corresponding time. Part. This download reservation information RV1 may be received from the MMK monitoring server when the MMK terminal 17 delivers the MMK information to the MMK monitoring server. The supply source of the download reservation information RV1 is the remote print server 14. That is, as described above, the download reservation information RV1 is transferred from the remote print server 14 to the MMK monitoring server, and is transferred from the MMK monitoring server to the corresponding MMK terminal (here, 17).

  It is also desirable to prepare a route other than this as a route for delivering the download reservation information RV1 from the remote print server 14 to the MMK terminal 17. For example, a route via a satellite can be used.

  As described above, the conventional MMK terminal can be basically used as it is as the MMK terminal 17.

  The internal configuration of the printing machine 19 is, for example, as shown in FIG. The internal configuration of other printing machines (for example, 18) is the same as this.

(A-1-4) Internal Configuration Example of Printing Machine In FIG. 4, the printing machine 19 includes a communication unit 40, a control unit 41, an operation unit 42, a storage unit 43, a display unit 44, and a printing unit. 45 and the setting corresponding | compatible part 46 are provided.

  Among these, the communication unit 40 corresponds to the communication unit 20, the control unit 41 corresponds to the control unit 21, the operation unit 42 corresponds to the operation unit 22, the storage unit 43 corresponds to the storage unit 23, Since the display unit 44 corresponds to the display unit 34 and the setting support unit 46 corresponds to the setting support unit 35, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  However, the communication unit 40 is basically a part that functions only to communicate with the MMK terminal 17.

  The setting corresponding unit 46 corresponds to a set of setting values related to image processing settings, paper selection, and the like for printing out the document DC1.

  As described above, basically the conventional printing press can be used as it is as the printing press 19.

  The operation of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described below with reference to FIGS. Here, the description will proceed mainly focusing on the MMK terminal 17, the mobile phone 15, the document DC1, and the user U1.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for providing a Web page from the remote print server 14 to the user U1, and includes steps S10 to S14.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart when an electronic mail is transmitted from the remote print server 14 to the user U1, and includes steps S20 to S25.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart for supplying a set of installation values from the remote printing server 14 to the MMK terminal 17 or the like, and includes steps S30 to S35.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart relating to job schedule management, and includes steps S40 to S45.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart for determining the cultural sphere to which the user U1 belongs when the remote printing server 14 is registered as a member, and includes steps S50 to S55.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart for the remote print server 14 to change the culture area of the user U1 once determined (determined) and registered, and includes steps S60 to S66.

(A-2) Operation of Embodiment First, a case where user U1 becomes a member of the remote printing service and member registration is performed in the remote printing server 14 will be described.

  In order for the user U1 who was not a member to register as a member, it is necessary to access the remote print server 14 using the mobile phone 15 or the like. This access can be performed by e-mail or the like, but here, the Web is mainly assumed.

  Normally, the user U1 who is not a member first designates the URL of the top page provided by the remote print server 14. In response to this, when the remote print server 14 provides the top page, the user U1 browses the top page with the mobile phone 15, and operates the interactive component on the top page in the browsing process to register the member. Make intentions. In response to this, the remote print server 14 provides a Web page for member registration. The member registration web page usually has input fields for inputting various personal information such as the name and e-mail address of the user U1, and the personal information is input to these input fields. When the user U1 performs a predetermined operation on the member registration Web page, various personal information, which is input content in the input field, is transmitted to the remote print server 14. This process is performed using a known foam mechanism.

  The language (for example, Japanese, English, etc.) described on the member registration Web page may be explicitly selected by the user U1, but the remote is based on the location information of the mobile phone 15 described above. The print server 14 may make the determination. For example, if the mobile phone 15 is located in a region corresponding to the Japanese cultural sphere at that time, a web page for member registration written in Japanese is provided and the region corresponding to the US cultural sphere is provided. If it is located, a web page for member registration written in English (US) may be provided.

  In addition, when utilizing an e-mail for member registration, the user U1 transmits e-mail ME1 addressed to the remote print server 14 by the mobile phone 15. In the transmission source mail address included in the mail header of this e-mail ME1, the above-described various information can be obtained from the domain described on the right side from the @ mark. The language of the electronic mail ME2 and the web page ME2 provided to U1 can also be determined.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the remote print server 14 determines the validity of the received personal information by a predetermined process (S51), and if it is determined not to be valid, the process is finished (S55). For example, in the case where no personal information is input in the required input field (for example, the input field of the name or e-mail address of the user U1) prepared on the member registration Web page, When incorrect personal information (for example, an e-mail address without an @ mark) is input, the remote print server 14 determines that it is not valid. However, some of such determinations may be executed on the mobile phone 15 side using a script or the like.

  In any case, when the remote print server 14 determines that the input personal information is not valid, this flow ends (S55). To perform member registration, the user U1 again uses the member registration information. It is necessary to input personal information by accessing the Web page.

  If it is determined that the received personal information is valid, step S51 branches to Yes, and the remote print server 14 determines the cultural area of the user U1 (S52).

  If an input field (or a dialogue part for selection) for designating the cultural sphere to which the user U1 belongs is prepared on the member registration Web page, the cultural sphere input or selected by the user U1 is used as it is. It may be determined that the cultural area to which the user U1 belongs. However, in the case where such an input field or a dialog part for selection is not prepared, position information indicating the position of the mobile phone 15 at the time (or the domain) It may be determined based on various information obtained from the above.

  Therefore, when the input field and selection interactive parts are not prepared, a remote printing service suitable for the cultural area to which the user U1 belongs is provided without the user U1 being aware of it at all. In addition, even when the user U1 makes a predetermined input or selection, an input field or a selection dialogue part is prepared, and when the user U1 receives a remote printing service thereafter, the user U1 must Since there is no need to designate the cultural sphere to which it belongs, it is possible to receive a remote printing service adapted to the cultural sphere to which it belongs with little awareness.

  The same processing as that performed when determining the language described on the member registration Web page can be used for the determination to be performed when the input field or selection interactive component is not prepared. That is, for example, when the mobile phone 15 is located in an area corresponding to the Japanese cultural zone at that time (or the mobile phone 15 belongs to a mobile phone network operated by a Japanese mobile phone operator from the domain name) If the mobile phone is found to be a mobile phone), the user U1 is determined to belong to the Japanese cultural sphere, and if the user U1 is located in an area corresponding to the US cultural sphere, it is determined to belong to the US cultural sphere. You may make it do. In addition, when the mobile phone 15 is currently located in an area corresponding to the Kanto cultural area in the Japanese cultural area, the user U1 can also be determined to belong to the Kanto cultural area.

  In any case, when the cultural area to which the user U1 belongs is determined and determined, the cultural area of the user U1 is registered in the remote print server 14 based on the determination (S53). When the user ID of the user U1 is the UID1 and the cultural area to which the user U1 belongs is determined to be the Kanto cultural area (cultural area ID is JP1), the line L1 is added to the cultural area table TB1 shown in FIG. Will be added.

  Since the correspondence culture table TB2 shown in FIG. 7 and the geographic life time table TB3 shown in FIG. 8 are already registered in the remote print server 14 before the user U1 performs membership registration, the row L1 of the culture zone table TB1. When UID1 that is the user ID of user U1 and JP1 that is the cultural sphere ID are associated with each other, row LM1 in which the value of cultural sphere ID is JP1 is associated with user U1 on the corresponding cultural table TB2. Become.

  The row L1 of the cultural zone table TB1 is stored in the storage unit 52 of the remote print server 14 as long as at least the user U1 continues to be a member of the remote print server (S54). However, as will be described later, when the cultural sphere to which the user U1 belongs is changed, JP1 in the row L1 is changed to another cultural sphere ID.

  The flowcharts of FIGS. 9 to 12 and 14 are executed during the period in which the storage is performed.

  Since the remote printing service is a membership-based service, each time the user receives a remote printing service, the user U1 enters the user ID and password into the Web page provided by the remote printing server 14 and the like. You need to be authenticated and logged in. If there is an input error of the user ID or password, as shown in FIG. 9, step S11 branches to the No side and the flowchart of FIG. 9 ends (S14). Input is required.

  If the user ID and password are correctly input, step S11 branches to the Yes side. When the user U1 correctly inputs the UID1 and a predetermined password, the step S11 branches to the Yes side, so the remote print server 14 searches the cultural zone table TB1 of FIG. 6 using the UID1 as a search key. As a search result, JP1 which is the cultural sphere ID is obtained (S12).

  Next, the remote print server 14 searches the correspondence culture table TB2 shown in FIG. 7 using the JP1 as a search key, and obtains a corresponding search result. As a search result at this time, it is possible to obtain the values of all data items other than the cultural sphere ID shown in FIG. 7, but which data item value needs to be obtained is determined at that time. The remote print server 14 can make a determination based on the processing aspect (stage).

  For example, when the user U1 has accessed to confirm the file name of the document DC1 stored in the remote print server 14 in advance, the remote print server 14 sends a Web page for that purpose to the mobile phone 15. It can be determined that transmission is necessary. In this case, what is necessary among the data items is a language ID or a message content ID, which describes a message described in the language specified by the language ID or the content specified by the message content ID. The web page is transmitted to the mobile phone 15.

  When using machine translation or the like, a language ID is required. However, when a message content for each aspect is prepared for each language, the language ID is unnecessary, so the message content ID is used as a search result. Just get it.

  Even if the cultural sphere is the same, the message content is different for each situation. Therefore, the message content specified by the message content ID is not one but multiple. The remote print server 14 can determine which of the plurality of message contents to use based on the situation at that time.

  For example, as described above, when the user U1 accesses to confirm the file name of the document DC1 stored in the remote print server 14 in advance, it is necessary to display the file name of the document DC1. It can be determined that the message content (for example, “The list of files in which you are stored is as follows”) is used.

  In this way, the remote print server 14 identifies a Web page including appropriate message contents (S13), and the processing ends when the Web page is transmitted to the mobile phone 15 (S14).

  When the user U1 uses the mobile phone 15 to operate the interactive parts on the Web page, the processes of steps S12 and S13 are repeated, and the remote print server 14 moves to the mobile phone 15 one after another. A corresponding Web page is provided.

  On the other hand, FIG. 10 shows a procedure in a case where the e-mail ME2 is transmitted from the remote print server 14 to the mobile phone 15 as a part of the remote print service. Such transmission of the e-mail ME2 can be performed in various aspects of the remote printing service. For example, when the download of the document DC1 to the MMK terminal 17 is completed based on the download reservation information RV1 described above, or download The e-mail ME2 that notifies the user U1 when the conversion of the data format of the document DC1 and the spooling are completed is also an example of such an e-mail ME2.

  In FIG. 10, step S21 corresponds to step S11, step S22 corresponds to step S12, and step S25 corresponds to step S14. Therefore, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  However, assuming a case where a download reservation is made, the user U1 accesses the remote print server 14 and transmits a user ID and password in order to make a download reservation.

  If the result of the user authentication is OK, information constituting the content of the download reservation is collected from the user U1 by providing a Web page (form) from the remote print server 14 or the like. For example, as described above, the document designation information that identifies the document that the user U1 desires to download (here, the document DC1) and the MMK terminal that performs this download (here, the MMK terminal 17) are identified. MMK terminal designation information to be executed, time designation information for specifying a time (for example, the latest time that can be accepted by the user U1), and the like are collected.

  Then, the download reservation information RV1 is delivered from the remote print server 14 to the MMK terminal 17 via the MMK monitoring server or the like, and the MMK terminal 17 performs an operation according to the download reservation information RV1, thereby causing the document DC1. Processing such as downloading from the remote print server 14 is executed. Since the download of the document DC1 is a process in which the remote print server 14 transmits the document DC1 to the MMK terminal 17 in response to a request from the MMK terminal 17, whether or not the process is completed is also determined by the remote print server 14. I can grasp it. If necessary, the MMK terminal 17 may be notified to the remote print server 14 that the document DC1 has been normally downloaded (data format conversion, spooling, etc., if necessary).

Since JP1 which is the cultural sphere ID of the cultural sphere to which the user U1 belongs has already been specified in step S22, the remote print server 14 searches the corresponding culture table TB2 using the JP1 as a search key, and obtains the message content ID and the like. It is possible to specify. In the case of this aspect, the message content such as “Document DC1 has been downloaded to the specified MMK terminal” is selected from the plurality of message contents specified by the message content ID ( S23).

  The remote printing server 14 that has actually recognized that the download of the document DC1 has been completed, transmits such an e-mail ME2 including the message content in the body part to the mobile phone 15 (S24), thereby indicating that fact. Notify user U1.

  Next, FIG. 11 will be described.

  In FIG. 11, step S31 corresponds to step S11, step S32 corresponds to step S12, and step S35 corresponds to step S14. Therefore, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  11 can be executed in another case, but in the case where the document DC1 is downloaded to the MMK terminal 17, step S33 in FIG. 11 is executed between steps S22 and S23 shown in FIG. obtain.

  In step S33, the remote print server 14 searches the correspondence culture table TB2 using JP1 as a search key, acquires ST1 which is the value of the set value set ID as a search result, and sets a set value designated by the ST1. To the MMK terminal 17 (S33). This set of setting values can also be notified from the MMK terminal 17 to the printing machine 19. As described above, the download reservation information RV1 can be used when a set of installation values is transmitted from the remote print server 14 to the MMK terminal 17.

  In step S33, the setting value set is notified, and after this setting value set is set in the MMK terminal 17 or the printing press 19, the MMK terminal 17 or the printing press 19 is actually instructed to print out the document DC1. It is usually the role of the user U1 that is executed. When the user U1 receives the electronic mail ME2 informing the completion of the download to the mobile phone 15, and reads the electronic mail ME2, the user U1 moves to the MMK terminal 17. Thereafter, the user U1 instructs the MMK terminal 17 and the printing machine 19 to print the document DC1 (S34).

  Next, FIG. 12 will be described.

  In FIG. 12, step S41 corresponds to step S11, step S42 corresponds to step S12, and step S45 corresponds to step 14. Therefore, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The process of FIG. 12 can be executed in another case, but in the case where the document DC1 is downloaded to the MMK terminal 17 in accordance with the download reservation information RV1, the steps S43 and S23 in FIG. S45 may be executed.

  As a result of searching the correspondence culture table TB2 using JP1 acquired in step S42 as a search key, the remote print server 14 acquires TM1 which is the value of the cultural life time ID. Further, the geographical range to which the mobile phone 15 belongs is specified from the position information indicating the location of the mobile phone 15 at the time of performing the user authentication related to the step S41, and the geographical range (or the geographical area) The geographical life time table TB3 is searched using the identification information indicating the range) as a search key, and the geographical life time is acquired as a search result.

  Among the many jobs for each user (one of whom is U1) managed by the remote printing server 14 in the unprocessed state, in the light of the cultural life time and the geographical life time, A job related to a user belonging to a certain area is processed with a higher priority than a job related to a user belonging to an area that is currently in a non-lifetime zone (S43, S44). Therefore, the specific contents of each download reservation information (for example, RV1) are changed according to this priority, and the order of delivering the download reservation information to the corresponding MMK terminal is determined. Thereby, limited resources (processing capacity, storage capacity, etc.) such as the remote print server 14 and the MMK terminal 17 can be used effectively.

  Since the time designated by each user as the time for executing the download relating to the document (for example, DC1) is almost the same, the culture among the plurality of jobs that the remote print server 14 may process almost at the same time. The priority of jobs related to users who belong to areas that are currently living hours is high, and the priority of jobs related to users who are currently non-living hours is low, in light of the typical life time and geographical life time Be controlled. Thus, for example, if user U1 has reserved download of document DC1, the job associated with the download is that user U1 currently lives in the light of cultural and geographic life time. If it belongs to a region, it is processed with a high priority, otherwise it is processed with a low priority.

  Finally, FIG. 14 will be described. Here, whenever the user U1 accesses the remote print server 14 with the mobile phone 15 or the MMK terminal (for example, 17), the position information indicating the position of the mobile phone 15 at that time, the installation position of the MMK terminal, etc. Is acquired by the remote print server 14 and accumulated as a history of position information.

  In FIG. 14, step S61 corresponds to step S11, and step S66 corresponds to step S14. Therefore, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  When the user U1 who has accessed the remote print server 14 with the mobile phone 15 inputs a user ID or password for user authentication and branches to the Yes side in step S61, the position corresponding to UID1 which is the user ID of the user U1 The current position information is added to the information history. At this time, the remote print server 14 determines a culture area suitable for the user U1 based on the determination rule DR1 based on the position information added this time and the position information accumulated so far.

  In step S62, which is executed following step S61, for example, as described above, the location where the user U1 used the service (the current location of the mobile phone 15 that has been accessed, the installation location of the MMK terminal 17 that performed the print output, etc.) ) Is statistically checked for each region, and a cultural area corresponding to an area where the bias is larger than a predetermined value is determined as the cultural area of the user U1.

  Next, the cultural area of user U1 already registered in the remote print server 14 (here, the cultural area ID JP1 (corresponding to the Kanto cultural area)) is acquired (S63), and the determination result in step S62 is obtained. By comparing with the obtained cultural sphere, the validity of the already registered cultural sphere is checked (S64). As a result of the inspection, if it is determined that the already registered cultural sphere is valid, step S64 branches to the Yes side, and the already registered cultural sphere is maintained. Various methods are conceivable, but when the already registered cultural sphere coincides with the cultural sphere obtained as the determination result in step S62, a test result that is valid may be issued. .

  On the other hand, when a test result that is not valid is issued, the already registered cultural sphere is replaced with the cultural sphere obtained as the determination result in step S62. Thereby, the cultural sphere to which the user U1 belongs can be changed to an optimal one without the user U1 being conscious.

  The flowchart of FIG. 14 can be executed every time the user U1 accesses the remote print server 14 using the mobile phone 15 or the like.

  Since the cultural area is information that provides comprehensive and multifaceted attributes relating to the user (for example, U1), the cultural area ID includes various types as shown in the correspondence culture table TB2 shown in FIG. Various data items can be flexibly associated. Of course, data items other than those listed in FIG. 7 can be associated with the cultural zone ID, and some of the data items listed here can be omitted. Accordingly, various data items can be associated with the cultural sphere ID.

(A-2) Effects of the Embodiment According to the present embodiment, the convenience can be improved extensively and remarkably, and the flexibility is high.

(B) Other Embodiments In the above embodiment, the functions realized using the tables TB1 to TB3 and the DBMS may be realized by any method as long as the same functions can be realized.

  In the above embodiment, the position information of the mobile phone 15 is acquired from the mobile phone network 12, but the position information of the mobile phone 15 may be acquired by other methods.

  In the embodiment described above, the priority determined in step S43 may be determined in consideration of other information.

  For example, when the remote printing server 14 sets a grade for a member of the remote printing service and changes the content of the service according to the grade, a higher priority is more easily set for a member with a higher grade. It may be. For example, the grade may be set to be higher for members who use the remote printing service more frequently.

  In the above embodiment, the document DC1 is delivered to the MMK terminal 17 from the remote print server 14 when download is requested from the MMK terminal 17, but the remote print server 14 manages the schedule related to the download. The push type configuration in which the document DC1 is transmitted from the remote print server 14 side to the MMK terminal 17 may be adopted.

  As described above, when the document DC1 is downloaded by a plurality of MMK terminals, the document DC1 is stored in another MMK terminal when the document DC1 is output from a certain MMK terminal (for example, 17). The document DC1 that has been deleted may be deleted.

  Regardless of the above-described embodiment, if necessary, the user U1 may operate the MMK terminal to instruct the MMK terminal to transmit the download reservation information RV1 to the remote print server 14.

  Further, if necessary, the user U1 directly operates the MMK terminal, and each piece of information (for example, document designation information, MMK terminal designation information, time designation information, etc.) included in the download reservation information RV1 is stored in the MMK terminal. You may make it input.

  Further, many of the functions installed in the remote print server 14 in the above embodiment can be arranged in an information processing apparatus such as an MFP. In this case, the internal configuration of the information processing apparatus 60 is as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 15, the function of each component given the same reference numerals 42, 44, 45, 46 as in FIG. 4 may be basically the same as that of the printing machine 19. In FIG. 15, the function of each component given the same reference numerals 50 to 59 as in FIG. 5 may be basically the same as that of the remote print server 14.

  However, for example, when a screen is provided to a user who has logged in by operating the operation unit 42 and inputting a user ID or password via the display unit 44 mounted on the information processing apparatus 60 itself, the page generation unit 56 The screen generated by is not necessarily a web page. How this screen is realized depends on the implementation of the information processing apparatus 60.

  In addition, the setting value set specified by the setting value set ID generated by the setting value generation unit 54 in FIG. 15 is not a device connected via a network, but is installed in the information processing apparatus 60 itself. It is a matter of course that 15 setting corresponding units 46 are set.

  According to such an information processing device 60, for example, department management can be performed for a plurality of departments provided in one company. In this case, however, the cultural sphere reflects the cultural differences of each sector of the company.

  In the above description, most of the functions realized by hardware can be realized by software, and almost all the functions realized by software can be realized by hardware. .

It is the schematic which shows the example of whole structure of the communication system which concerns on embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the internal structural example of the mobile telephone used with the communication system which concerns on embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the example of an internal structure of the MMK terminal used with the communication system which concerns on embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the internal structural example of the printing machine used with the communication system which concerns on embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the example of an internal structure of the remote printing server used with the communication system which concerns on embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the structural example of the culture zone table used with the communication system which concerns on embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the structural example of the corresponding | compatible culture table used with the communication system which concerns on embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the structural example of the geographical life time table used with the communication system which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the internal structural example of the information processing apparatus in other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Communication system, 11 ... Internet, 12 ... Mobile phone network, 13 ... MMK network, 14 ... Remote printing server, 15 ... Mobile phone, 16, 17 ... MMK terminal, 18, 19 ... Printing machine, 35, 46 ... Setting Corresponding unit 36 ... MMK schedule management unit 50 ... communication unit 51 ... control unit 52 ... storage unit 53 ... user authentication unit 54 ... setting value generation unit 55 ... determination rule providing unit 56 ... page generation unit 57 ... Cultural zone determination unit, 58 ... Schedule management unit, 59 ... Location information acquisition unit, 60 ... Information processing device, TB1 ... Cultural zone table, TB2 ... Corresponding culture table, TB3 ... Geographic life time table, DC1 ... Document , RV1 ... download reservation information, ME1, ME2 ... message.

Claims (10)

In an information processing system that provides a predetermined service to a plurality of users,
A cultural zone correspondence registration unit for registering the user identification information for identifying each user and the cultural zone identification information for identifying the cultural zone to which each user belongs;
When each user supplies user identification information, the culture area corresponding registration unit is searched using the user identification information as a search key, and the culture provided to the user according to the culture area identification information obtained as a search result An information processing system characterized by changing service contents depending on a service area. The information processing system according to claim 1,
A remote storage server on the network that has the cultural zone registration unit, stores predetermined storage target data in response to a storage request from each user, and is accessible from each communication device by the plurality of users; ,
In response to an output request from the user, the storage target data is acquired from the remote storage server, and a remote output device that performs the output, and
The remote storage server is
Cultural sphere identification information associated with the user identification information registered in the cultural sphere registration unit, with a detailed output mode of the dialogue output message provided for the dialogue with the user or the output of the storage target data. An information processing system comprising an output control unit that performs control in accordance with the information. The information processing system according to claim 2,
The remote storage server is
A corresponding language registration unit for registering the cultural sphere identification information and language identification information indicating a language type in association with each other;
Based on the correspondence relationship between the user identification information and the cultural sphere identification information, the corresponding language registration unit searches for language identification information corresponding to the relevant cultural sphere identification information. An information processing system characterized in that predetermined message contents are described in a language of a type corresponding to the obtained language identification information. The information processing system according to claim 2,
The remote storage server is
A corresponding message content registration unit for registering the cultural sphere identification information in association with message content identification information indicating the content conveyed in the dialog output message;
Based on the correspondence between the user identification information and the cultural sphere identification information, the corresponding message content registration unit searches the message content identification information corresponding to the relevant cultural sphere identification information, and the dialogue output message includes a search. An information processing system for describing message contents corresponding to message content identification information obtained as a result. The information processing system according to claim 2,
The remote storage server is
When the remote output device has a setting value selection unit that changes the aspect by using a setting value selected from a plurality of candidate setting values for each item that defines a detailed aspect of the output of the storage target data, A correspondence setting value registration unit that registers setting value identification information indicating a setting value to be selected in association with the cultural sphere identification information;
Based on the correspondence relationship between the user identification information and the cultural sphere identification information, the corresponding setting value registration unit searches the setting value identification information corresponding to the relevant cultural sphere identification information, and the set value identification obtained as a search result An information processing system, wherein the setting value selection unit is selected according to a setting value indicated by information. The information processing system according to claim 2,
The remote storage server is
A schedule control unit that adjusts and controls an execution schedule of a job related to a plurality of output requests requested by each user;
Relative life time identification information indicating a relative life time zone as a lifestyle that can be different for each cultural area is associated with the cultural area identification information and / or reflects the current position of each user on the earth A corresponding time zone registration unit for registering absolute life time identification information indicating the absolute life time zone in association with the user identification information,
An information processing system in which the schedule control unit adjusts the execution schedule according to a relative and / or absolute life time zone obtained by searching the corresponding time zone registration unit . The information processing system according to claim 1,
A first access position information acquisition unit that acquires access position information indicating the position of the user at that time when the user accesses to register as a member or to receive provision of the service after member registration When,
An information processing system comprising: a first cultural area determination unit that determines a cultural area to which each user belongs by analyzing the access position information acquired by the first access position information acquisition unit. The information processing system according to claim 1,
When the user explicitly registers the cultural sphere to which the user belongs, when the user accesses to receive the provision of the service after the member registration, the access indicating the position of the user at that time A second access position information acquisition unit for acquiring position information;
The access location information acquired by the second access location information acquisition unit is analyzed, and the analysis result is used for a plurality of times to execute a determination process according to a predetermined determination rule, thereby determining the cultural sphere to which each user belongs. A second cultural area determination unit for determining;
When the cultural sphere determined by the second cultural sphere determination unit is different from the cultural sphere registered by the user at the time of membership registration, the second cultural sphere determination unit determines the cultural sphere to which the user belongs. An information processing system comprising: a registered cultural sphere changing unit for changing to a cultural sphere. In an information processing method for providing a predetermined service to a plurality of users,
In the cultural area corresponding registration unit, the user identification information for identifying each user and the cultural area identification information for identifying the cultural area to which each user belongs are associated and registered,
When each user supplies user identification information, the culture area corresponding registration unit is searched using the user identification information as a search key, and the culture provided to the user according to the culture area identification information obtained as a search result An information processing method characterized by changing a service content depending on a service area. In an information processing program for providing a predetermined service to a plurality of users,
Realizing a cultural area corresponding registration function for registering the user identification information for identifying each user and the cultural area identification information for identifying the cultural area to which each user belongs,
When each user supplies user identification information, the culture area registration function is searched using the user identification information as a search key, and the culture provided to the user according to the culture area identification information obtained as a search result An information processing program characterized by changing service content depending on a service area.

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