JP2006113631A - Communication support method and system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication support method and a system for promoting inter-enterprise and inter-department communications by utilizing an image forming device as a hub to support the communications. <P>SOLUTION: Conditions of a user who is an information posting destination 12 and posting desired conditions of an advertiser who is an information posting origin 22 are matched with each other. An advertisement requested from an advertiser is outputted to a recording medium and the outputted recording medium is posted on a color complex machine 14 installed at a user 12. The user can make communications with the advertiser by browsing the advertisement posted on the color complex machine 14 and placing an order for a commodity. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and system for supporting communication between companies and between departments.

  It is considered to use the image forming apparatus for outputting information such as advertisements. For example, in Patent Document 1, when an image is formed on a recording sheet using an image forming apparatus, predetermined advertisement information is displayed and output to the user of the image forming apparatus, and the user uses the image forming apparatus. A system is disclosed in which when the print output is performed, the print output is charged, and the charge mode is variable according to the display output of the advertisement information.

JP 2002-082581 A

  However, conventionally, the image forming apparatus is merely used as an information output apparatus, and there is no idea of using it for forming a place for supporting communication.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a communication support method and system that can utilize an image forming apparatus as a hub for supporting communication and promote communication between companies and between departments.

  The first feature of the present invention is that the conditions of the information posting destination where the image forming apparatus is installed and the conditions of the information posting source are matched, and the posting information from the information posting source is output to the recording medium, and output In the communication support method, the recorded recording medium is placed on at least one of the image forming apparatus and a position near the image forming apparatus. Therefore, since the information posting source information is posted in at least one of the image forming apparatus of the matched information posting destination and the vicinity of the image forming apparatus, the person who uses the image forming apparatus is the information posting destination in the information posting destination. The original information can be seen, and communication between the information publisher and the information publisher can be promoted.

  Preferably, the publication information is output by the image forming apparatus. Since the posted information is output from the image forming apparatus, the posted information can be easily posted. Preferably, when the recording medium is placed on at least one of the image forming apparatus and a position near the image forming apparatus, a posting fee is collected from the information posting source. Preferably, the posted information is a product advertisement, and product order information is output from the image forming apparatus to the information posting source. Preferably, the posting fee is returned to the information posting destination. More preferably, the posting fee is returned to the information posting destination by reducing the usage fee of the image forming apparatus of the information posting destination. Preferably, when a product is sold based on the order information of the product, a fee is collected from the information publisher as a sales result fee.

  The second feature of the present invention is that the image forming apparatus installed at the information posting destination, the database storing the environmental conditions of the information posting destination where the image forming apparatus is installed, and stored in this database A matching unit that matches the conditions and conditions of the information posting source, receives the matching result of the matching unit, outputs the posting information from the information posting source to the recording medium, and the output recording medium forms the image In the communication support system, the information is posted in at least one of the apparatus and the vicinity of the image forming apparatus.

  Preferably, the image forming apparatus outputs posted information to a recording medium. Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes a posting fee collecting means for collecting a fee from the information posting source when the recording medium is posted on at least one of the image forming apparatus and a position near the image forming apparatus. Preferably, the posted information is a product advertisement, and the image forming apparatus includes order information output means for outputting product order information to the information source. More preferably, there is a posting fee collecting means for collecting a fee from the information posting source when the order information of the product is output. More preferably, there is a billing fee calculating means for calculating a billing fee to the information posting destination so as to reduce the posting fee from the usage fee of the image forming apparatus.

  The third feature of the present invention is that an image forming apparatus installed in a product advertisement posting destination, a database for storing conditions of a product advertisement posting destination in which the image forming apparatus is installed, and stored in this database. The image forming apparatus receives the matching result of the matching means and outputs the product information from the product advertisement publisher to a recording medium. In the support system.

  Preferably, the image forming apparatus has a space for displaying the output recording medium. Preferably, the image forming apparatus includes a product ordering unit that orders products from the information publisher. More preferably, the image forming apparatus includes an address storage unit that stores an address of a product advertisement publication source, and the product ordering unit orders a product based on the address of the address storage unit. Here, the product advertisement source address is a telephone number when using facsimile communication, and an e-mail address when using communication means such as the Internet. More preferably, the image forming apparatus includes detailed information storage means for storing details of product information when an advertisement is posted. For this reason, when it is desired to know the details of the product, the detailed product information stored in the detailed information storage means may be read out.

  According to the present invention, since the information posting source information is posted in at least one of the image forming apparatus of the matched information posting destination and the vicinity of the image forming apparatus, the information forming destination uses the image forming apparatus. A person can see the information of the information publisher, and can promote communication between the information publisher and the information publisher.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 shows an outline of the hardware configuration of a communication support system 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A large number of information posting destinations 12 are provided with image forming apparatuses, for example, a first color multifunction peripheral 14. The color multifunction device 18 includes a control panel 16 that serves as both an input instruction device and a display device, a scanner unit 18 that reads an image, and a printer unit 20 that outputs an image. The information publisher 22 is provided with an image forming apparatus similar to the information publisher 12, for example, a second color multifunction device 24. Similar to the first color multifunction device 18, the second color multifunction device 24 includes a control panel 26, a scanner unit 28, and a printer unit 30. The information forming source 22 is provided with a computer 32 which is a personal computer, for example. A management server 36 is installed in the management unit 34.

  The first color multifunction device 14 and the second color multifunction device 24 are connected via a telephone line 38 to enable facsimile communication. The first color multifunction peripheral 14, the computer 32, and the management server 36 are connected via a network 40 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet.

  In FIG. 2, the hardware configuration of the first color multifunction peripheral 14 (the same applies to the second color multifunction peripheral 24) is shown. In the color multifunction peripheral 14, a central processing unit (CPU) 42, a program ROM 44 and a RAM 46 are connected to a bus 48. Further, a control panel interface 50, a scanner unit interface 52, and a printer unit interface 54 are connected to the bus 48. The control panel interface 50 is connected to the control panel 18 (26), and the scanner unit interface 52 is connected to the scanner unit 18 ( 28), the printer unit interface 54 is connected to the printer unit 20 (30). Further, the color multi-function peripheral 14 has a storage unit 56 composed of a hard disk or the like, and this storage unit 56 is connected to the bus 48 via a storage unit interface 58. As will be described later, the storage unit 56 stores a telephone number of the information publisher 22, an e-mail address, detailed information on the posted information, and the like. A communication interface 60 is connected to the bus 48 so as to receive a signal from the network 40 and send a signal to the outside. Further, a modem 62 is connected to the communication interface 60 so that facsimile communication can be performed via the telephone line 38 described above.

  In FIG. 3, the hardware configuration of the management server 36 is shown. In the management server 36, a CPU 64, a program ROM 66, and a RAM 68 are connected to a bus 70. The management server 36 also has a database 72, and this database 72 is connected to the bus 70 via a database interface 74. Further, a network interface 76 is connected to the bus 70 so as to receive a signal from the network 40 and send the signal to the outside. As shown in FIG. 4, the database 72 includes a user name, a user code, a business type, an installation location (address, telephone number, facsimile number, etc.), a business type, an installation department signature, a color MFP model name, a model code, and a printer. The number of prints made by the copy, the use log of the printer, etc., the presence / absence of information posting as will be described later, and the like are stored for each user.

  Next, as a first specific example of the communication support system 10, an example applied to an advertisement model will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first specific example, there are a user and an advertiser, and a service agent company supports communication between them. The user corresponds to the information posting destination 12 in FIG. 1, the advertiser corresponds to the information posting source 22, and the service agency corresponds to the management unit 34.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the advertising method, and FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of information.
First, in step 10 (S10), the condition of the user who is the information posting destination 12 and the condition of the advertiser who is the information posting source 22 are matched in the management server 34 of the service agent company which is the management unit 34. That is, the management server 36 receives a request from the user (information publisher 12), uploads it to the database 72 described above, and inputs a desired condition from the advertiser (information publisher 22). And user conditions (address, business type, department, etc.) stored in the database 72 are matched to obtain mutual approval. In the next step 12 (S12), a placement application from the advertiser is accepted. When the advertisement itself is transmitted from the advertiser, the advertisement itself is accepted. When the advertisement creation request is accepted from the advertiser, the advertisement creation service is executed. In the next step 14 (S14), an operation for posting on the color multifunction peripheral 14 of the information posting destination 12 is performed. The advertisement is posted by sticking an advertisement medium on the front surface, side surface, or the like of the color multifunction peripheral 14 (preferably so as not to interfere with operations such as paper replenishment and jam clearing). Instead of posting directly on the color multifunction peripheral 14, it can also be posted on, for example, a wall or panel on the back where the color multifunction peripheral 14 is installed. The created advertisement medium may be posted by a person, for example, a service engineer for the color multifunction device 14, or may be output from the color multifunction device 14 and posted. Further, the information about the purchase of the advertisement product (order method / detailed information) is output to the color multifunction device 14 together with the advertisement information. In the next step 16 (S16), the advertisement is browsed at the information posting destination 12, and as a result of the browsing, a product is ordered. The order of the product can be made by directly using the transmitted order form (the order destination is set by a bar code or the like) by using facsimile communication, or by using the rewritten telephone number. Further, detailed information can be acquired. In the next step 18 (S18), the product is shipped from the information publisher 14 and delivered to the information publisher 12. Then, in step 20 (S20), the process related to the advertisement insertion fee is executed and completed. Advertising fees include posting fees, advertising creation fees, sales performance fees, fee-billing agent fees, etc., and are charged to advertisers in association with the print fees of color MFP 14 (or 24) or returned to users can do.

FIG. 7 shows a detailed flow when matching is performed.
In step 102 (S102), the management server 36 first accepts the user's advertisement request, and uploads the presence / absence of the advertisement request in the information posting request column of the database 72. In the next step 104 (S104), the desired condition transmitted from the advertiser's computer 32 is accepted. Desired conditions include the type of business (for example, only the manufacturer), the installation location (for example, only for Tokyo), the installation department (for example, only the sales department), the number of prints (for example, 10,000 sheets / month or more), and the like. It is possible to estimate how many people see the advertisement according to the number of prints. In the next step 106 (S106), a search is made for users who satisfy the advertiser's desired conditions. That is, “Yes” users are picked up in the information posting request column of the database 72, and users who satisfy the advertiser's desired condition are narrowed down from users having “Yes” in the information posting request column. In the next step 108 (S108), it is determined whether or not there is a user who satisfies the posting conditions. If no user satisfies the posting conditions in step 108, the process proceeds to step 110 (S110), where the desired conditions are changed and the desired conditions are accepted again. If there is a user who satisfies the insertion conditions, the process proceeds to step 112 (S112), the advertiser's approval is obtained, and further, in step 114 (S114), the user's approval is obtained, and the process is terminated. In step 108, if no user satisfying the desired condition is found even if the advertiser's desired condition is changed, the process is terminated.

FIG. 8 shows a detailed flow when a publication application is made.
The management server 36 first accepts the posting application transmitted from the advertiser computer 32 in step 122 (S122). This application includes the scheduled posting time, order form, order method, detailed product information, advertiser's facsimile number, e-mail address, and the like. In the next step 124 (S124), it is determined whether or not an advertisement image is included in the posting application and the advertisement creation is not required, or no advertisement image is included and there is an advertisement creation request. . If there is an advertisement creation request, the process proceeds to step 126 (S126), where an advertisement is created in the service agency, and in step 128 (S128), an advertisement image is stored together with information such as the publication date, and the process ends. If it is determined in step 124 that an advertisement image is included and it is not necessary to create an advertisement, the process proceeds to step 128 (S128), and the advertisement image is stored together with information such as the publication date, and the process ends.

FIG. 9 shows a detailed flow for performing the posting work. FIG. 9A is a flow on the management server 36 side. FIG. 9B is a flow on the user's color multifunction peripheral 14 side.
In step 142 (S142), the management server 36 determines whether or not it is the scheduled publication time, and waits until the scheduled publication time comes. If it is determined in this step 142 that it is the scheduled publication time, the process proceeds to step 144 (S144), and the advertisement image, advertisement information (order form, order method, detailed product information, advertiser's facsimile number and e-mail) Address, etc.) to the target user's color multifunction peripheral 14 via the network 40, and the process is terminated. On the other hand, when there is a transmission from the management server 36, the color multifunction peripheral 14 receives the advertisement image and advertisement information transmitted from the management server 36 via the communication interface 60 in step 146 (S146). In the next step 148 (S148), the advertisement image is output from the printer unit 20 as an advertisement medium. As described above, the output advertisement medium is pasted on the front surface, the side surface, or the like of the color multifunction device 14 or in the vicinity of the color multifunction device 14. In this case, the advertisement medium can be easily pasted if it is output on a sheet with a seal on the back. In the next step 150 (S150), together with the advertisement image output in step 148, the order method and detailed information on the product are output as information related to the advertisement product purchase. In the next step 152 (S152), the original advertiser's facsimile telephone number and e-mail address stored in the storage unit 52 are sent from the management server 36 to the new advertiser's facsimile telephone number and e-mail address. Rewrite to The facsimile telephone number may be registered as a speed dial. In the next step 154, the order form, order method, detailed information, etc. are stored in the storage unit 56, and the process is terminated.

FIG. 10 shows a detailed flow for browsing / ordering advertisements. When a user places an advertisement on the color multifunction device 14 or in the vicinity of the color multifunction device 14 and a customer who sees the advertisement intends to purchase the posted product, the user orders the product using the color multifunction device 14. Is possible.
To order a product, first, in step 162 (S162), the control panel 16 is operated to select a product ordering method. At this time, the control panel 16 can be operated to read out the ordering method and detailed information of the products stored in the storage unit 56 and display them on the control panel 16. There are two methods for ordering products, for example, a method using a facsimile function and a method performed by operating the control panel 16. If it is determined in step 164 (S164) that an order by facsimile is selected, the process proceeds to step 166 (S166), and the order form stored in the storage unit 56 is read and output by the printer unit 20. This order form is attached with a barcode or the like, and the facsimile telephone number of the ordering party (advertiser) is also output. In the next step 168 (S168), the order form checked by the customer in the check column is read by the scanner unit 18, and in the next step 170 (S170), it is transmitted to the color multifunction device 24 and the management server 36 of the advertiser. The process ends. In the color multifunction device 24 of the advertiser, the purchase order checked by the customer is output from the printer unit 30. Further, the management server 36 analyzes the contents described in the order form and stores the order information in the database 72 as a usage log. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 166 that the order by facsimile is not selected, that is, the order by the control panel operation is selected, the process proceeds to step 172 (S172), and the customer is displayed on the control panel 16 while displaying the guidance. Accepts input. The customer input information received in this step 172 (S172) is automatically described in the order form stored in the storage unit 56, and the facsimile communication is performed by referring to the facsimile telephone number stored in the storage unit 56. The data is sent to the advertiser's color multifunction device 24 or is referred to the advertiser's e-mail address stored in the storage unit 56 and sent to the advertiser's computer 32 as an e-mail. Also in this case, the order information is sent to the management server 36 and stored as a usage log.
Detailed product information can be read from the storage unit 56 and output at any time from the control panel 16 or the printer unit 20, but is distributed from the advertiser's color multifunction device 24 to the user's color multifunction device 14 when the product is ordered. You can also tell them to do it.

FIG. 11 shows a detailed flow for delivering a product.
The order information from the user is received by the color multifunction device 24 or the computer 32 of the advertiser. However, in step 182 (S182), the order information received by the color multifunction device 24 is sent to the computer 32, and the order information is received. Are collected in the computer 32. Next, in step 184 (S184), it is determined whether or not the ordered product is directly delivered. If it is determined in step 184 that the delivery is direct delivery, the process proceeds to step 186 (S186), and the process is terminated by delivering the product directly from the advertiser to the user. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 184 that the ordered product is not directly delivered, the process proceeds to step 188 (S188), a proxy delivery request signal is sent to the management server 36, the proxy delivery is requested, and the process ends. To do.

FIG. 12 shows a detailed flow when the advertisement fee process is performed.
First, in step 202 (S202), the management server 36 reads from the database 72 the number of prints of the user used for that month, for example. In the next step 204 (S204), the monthly advertisement information is read from the database 72 in the same manner. In the next step 206 (S206), a fee charged to the advertiser is calculated. The billing to the advertiser is an advertising fee. When the advertiser uses a service that creates advertising media for the service agency, the advertising media creation fee is added, and the advertiser delivers the product to the service agency. When requested, the product delivery fee is added. Further, when the advertiser requests the user to pay for the product to the service agent company, the charge agent fee is added. Further, when a result fee corresponding to the sales result of the product is set with the advertiser, the result fee is added. In the next step 208 (S208), a charge to be charged or returned to the user is calculated. That is, the user may return the amount obtained by subtracting the billing fee from the printing fee, or may be charged so as to be offset with a part of the print fee. The billing or reduction method can be selected by the user. If the user prints out the advertisement image, detailed information, and order method, the print fee can be free.

  As described above, the first specific example can support communication between an advertiser and a user through a color multifunction peripheral.

  Next, as a second specific example of the communication support system 10, an example applied to an in-house communication model will be described. In the second specific example, the user has a communication planning department and a color multifunction peripheral using department, and the agency supports the communication between them. The color MFP usage department corresponds to the information posting destination 12 in FIG. 1, the communication department corresponds to the information posting source 22, and the service agency corresponds to the management section 34.

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of the in-house communication method, and FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of information.
First, in step 22 (S22), the conditions of the color multifunction peripheral using department that is the information posting destination 12 and the conditions of the communication planning department that is the information posting source 22 are matched in the management server 34 of the service agent company that is the management section 34. . That is, the management server 36 receives a request from the color multifunction peripheral using department (information posting destination 12), uploads it to the database 72 described above, and inputs a desired condition from the communication planning department (information posting source 22). Matching the desired conditions of the communication planning department with the conditions (department, etc.) stored in the database 72 to obtain mutual approval. The posting target is, for example, a poster or a slogan. In the next step 24 (S24), a publication application from the communication planning department is accepted. When a posted image itself such as a poster or motto is transmitted from the communication planning department, the posted image itself is accepted. When a posting image creation request is received from the communication planning department, a posted image creation service is executed. In the next step 26 (S26), an operation for posting on the color multifunction device 14 is performed. The posted image is posted by attaching an advertising medium to the front surface, the side surface, or the like of the color multifunction peripheral 14. In addition, it is the same as in the first specific example that it can be posted on the wall or panel on the back surface where the color multifunction peripheral 14 is installed, instead of being directly posted on the color multifunction peripheral 14. The created posted image medium may be posted by a person, for example, a service engineer for the color multifunction device 14, or may be output from the color multifunction device 14 and posted. Further, the color multifunction peripheral 14 outputs information (detailed information and the like) related to the posted information together with the posted image. In the next step 26 (S26), the posting fee process is executed so that the fee relating to information posting is directly transferred to the service agency.

As described above, the second specific example can support communication between the communication planning department and the color multifunction peripheral using department through the color multifunction peripheral.
The details of each step of the second specific example can be understood by referring to the first specific example, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, the present invention can be used for a system that needs to promote communication.

It is a block diagram which shows the communication assistance system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a color multifunction peripheral used in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the management server used for embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the memory content of the database in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the whole flow in the 1st specific example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow of the information in the 1st specific example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the matching method in the 1st example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the posting application method in the 1st specific example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the posting operation | work in the 1st specific example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the advertisement browsing / ordering method in the 1st example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the goods delivery method in the 1st specific example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the advertising fee processing method in the 1st example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the whole flow in the 2nd specific example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow of the information in the 1st specific example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Communication support system 12 Information publication place 14 1st color compound machine 16 Control panel 18 Scanner part 20 Printer part 22 Information publication source 24 2nd color multifunction machine 32 Computer 34 Management part 36 Management server 72 Database

Claims (18)

  The conditions of the information posting destination where the image forming apparatus is installed are matched with the conditions of the information posting source, the posted information from the information posting source is output to the recording medium, and the output recording medium is output to the image forming apparatus and the image A communication support method for posting on at least one of the positions near the forming apparatus.   The communication support method according to claim 1, wherein the publication information is output by the image forming apparatus.   The communication support method according to claim 1, wherein when a recording medium is posted on at least one of the image forming apparatus and a position near the image forming apparatus, a posting fee is collected from the information posting source.   The communication support method according to claim 1, wherein the posted information is a product advertisement, and product order information is output from the image forming apparatus to the information publisher.   The communication support method according to claim 3, wherein a posting fee is returned to the information posting destination.   6. The communication support method according to claim 5, wherein the return of the posting fee to the information posting destination is performed by reducing the image forming apparatus usage fee of the information posting destination.   5. The communication support method according to claim 4, wherein when the product is sold based on the order information of the product, a fee is collected from the information publisher as a sales result fee.   The image forming apparatus installed at the information posting destination, the database storing the environmental conditions of the information posting destination where the image forming apparatus is installed, and the matching for matching the conditions stored in the database with the conditions of the information posting source Means for outputting the posted information from the information publisher on the recording medium in response to the matching result of the matching means, and the output recording medium is at least one of the image forming apparatus and the vicinity of the image forming apparatus The communication support system that was put on the site.   The communication support system according to claim 6, wherein the image forming apparatus outputs posted information to a recording medium.   8. The communication support system according to claim 6, further comprising posting fee collection means for collecting a fee from the information posting source when a recording medium is posted on at least one of the image forming device and a position near the image forming device.   9. The communication support system according to claim 8, wherein the posted information is a product advertisement, and the image forming apparatus includes order information output means for outputting product order information to the information source.   The communication support system according to claim 10, further comprising posting fee collection means for collecting a fee from the information publisher when product order information is output.   13. The communication support system according to claim 12, further comprising billing fee calculation means for calculating a billing fee for the information posting destination so as to reduce a posting fee from a usage fee of the image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus installed at the product advertisement posting destination, the database storing the conditions of the product advertisement posting destination where the image forming apparatus is installed, and the conditions stored in the database and the conditions of the product advertisement posting source are matched. A communication support system for outputting product information from a product advertisement publisher to a recording medium in response to a matching result of the matching unit.   The communication support system according to claim 14, wherein the image forming apparatus has a space for posting the output recording medium.   The communication support system according to claim 14, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a product ordering unit that orders a product from the information publisher.   The communication support system according to claim 16, wherein the image forming apparatus includes an address storage unit that stores an address of a product advertisement publisher, and the product ordering unit orders a product based on the address stored in the address storage unit.   The communication support system according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a detailed information storage unit that stores details of product information when an advertisement is posted.

Images