JP2006163938A - Information processor and processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To grasp which stage an editing stage of edition data progresses to at the time of reediting the editing data of a product (e.g., album) whose production is instructed by editing data. <P>SOLUTION: A user terminal 102 stores editing data generated by data editing processing and manages a data editing state relating to each editing data to be stored. Then, the user terminal 102 outputs information showing the data editing state relating to each editing data to be stored on the basis of the management contents. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method capable of performing album editing work using an album editing application and grasping the progress of editing, for example.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a printing system has been provided in which template data is downloaded from a server to a user terminal such as a personal computer, and a user can edit image data, character data, etc. in the template data and edit printed matter such as an album. .

  The data edited on the user terminal is transmitted to the server, and the server transfers the received editing data to the print site, and a printed matter such as an album is created at the print dealer that provides the print site.

JP 2003-296434 A

  However, there are cases where the user wants to interrupt the editing process due to various circumstances while editing a printed matter such as an album on the user terminal. In that case, the data in the editing process is saved, and when editing, the data of the desired album is read out and the editing operation is resumed, but to what stage each album is currently working when selecting the album to be reedited. It is desirable to be able to grasp whether or not

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to grasp to what level the editing stage of editing data has progressed, for example, when the editing data of a product (eg, album) is re-edited.

  An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an editing unit that performs data editing processing for product creation, a storage unit that stores editing data generated by data editing processing by the editing unit, and each of the storage units stored in the storage unit Management means for managing the data editing status relating to the editing data, and output means for outputting information indicating the data editing status relating to each editing data stored in the saving means, based on the management content by the management means It is characterized by that.

  An information processing method according to the present invention is an information processing method by an information processing apparatus having editing means for performing data editing processing for product creation and storage means for storing edited data generated by the data editing processing by the editing means. A management step for managing a data editing status related to each editing data stored in the storing means, and a data editing related to each editing data stored in the storing means based on a management content by the management step And an output step of outputting information indicating the situation.

  A program according to the present invention causes a computer to execute the information processing method.

  The computer-readable recording medium of the present invention is characterized in that the program is recorded.

  According to the present invention, the data editing status related to each editing data is managed, and the information indicating the data editing status related to each editing data is output based on the management content. ), It is possible to grasp how far the editing stage of the editing data has progressed.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments to which the invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The print system shown in FIG. 1 holds a template data effective for creating a high-quality printed material and provides it to the user terminal 102, and also manages a server 101 for managing orders, settlement of accounts, etc. of the printed material from the user terminal 102, Template data is downloaded from the server 101, desired editing data is created based on the downloaded template data, and bookbinding is actually performed based on the order contents from the user terminal 102 and the user terminal 102. Print sites 103 to 105 provided by a print dealer are connected via the Internet. The network configuration shown in FIG. 1 is merely an example, and it goes without saying that various configurations such as the number of user terminals and print sites can be adopted as appropriate.

  The server 101 includes a template holding unit 1011 for holding template data, a management information database 1012 for holding album order management information, charging information, payment information, and the like, a sharing unit 1013, and an order management unit 1014 for managing album order results. , A billing processing unit 1015 that performs billing processing in response to an order for an album, and a settlement processing unit 1016 that performs settlement processing. The sharing unit (photo sharing module) 1013 stores the image transmitted from the user terminal 102 in a database (not shown) and the attribute information database 1012 together with the attribute information, or prints out an image printout. When making a request to the site 103, this is software for performing processing such as referring to the attribute information database 1012, reading out the electronic album from which the printout has been requested from the database, and sending it to the print site 103.

  The user terminal 102 includes a template holding unit 1021 that holds template data downloaded from the server 101, an album editing application 1022, and a user data holding unit 1023 that holds editing data of an edited or editing album.

  The print site 103 (104, 105) is a database 1031 (1041, 1051) that holds album editing data transferred from the server 101, and print processing that performs printing processing of editing data held in the database 1031 (1041, 1051). A processing unit 1033 (1043, 1053) and a charging processing unit 1032 (1042, 1052) for charging for printing processing are provided.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the server 101.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a CRT (display device). On the display screen, for example, a document being edited, a graphic, an image, and other editing information, icons, messages, menus, and other user interface information are displayed.

  Reference numeral 202 denotes a VRAM on which an image to be displayed on the display screen of the CRT 201 is drawn. The image data generated in the VRAM 202 is transferred to the CRT 201 according to a predetermined rule, whereby an image is displayed on the CRT 201.

  203 is a bit move unit (BMU), for example, for transferring data between memories (for example, VRAM 202 and other memories) and transferring data between the memory and each I / O device (for example, network interface 211). Control.

  A keyboard 204 has various keys for inputting documents and the like. Reference numeral 205 denotes a pointing device, which is used, for example, to indicate an icon, menu, or other object displayed on the display screen of the CRT 201.

  A CPU 206 controls each device connected to the CPU device based on a control program stored in the ROM 207, the hard disk, or the flexible disk.

  A ROM 207 holds various control programs and data. A RAM 208 has a work area for the CPU 206, a data save area for error processing, a control program load area, and the like.

  Reference numeral 209 denotes a hard disk drive (HDD). The hard disk 209 can store each control program and content executed by the information processing apparatus or the like. For example, the hard disk of the user PC 102 stores electronic album data, an album editing program, and the like.

  A flexible disk drive (FDD) 210 controls access to the flexible disk. A network interface 211 can communicate with other information processing apparatuses, printers, and the like.

  A CPU bus 212 includes an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus. The control program can be provided to the CPU 206 from the ROM 207, the hard disk, or the flexible disk, or from another information processing apparatus or the like via the network interface 211.

Next, the operation of the user terminal 101 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The user terminal 102 displays a product selection screen (not shown) on the CRT 201 in response to the operation instruction from the user in step S301. On the product selection screen, it is possible to select a desired product from a plurality of products including the album. Here, it is assumed that the album is selected by the user.

  When the user selects an album, the user terminal 102 displays the template selection screen as shown in FIG. 6 on the CRT 201 by accessing the server 101 via the network interface 211.

  When the user selects a desired template on the template selection screen and presses a “template download” button 601, the acquisition instruction information of the selected template is transmitted from the user terminal 102 to the server 101 via the network interface 211. I will reply.

  When the CPU 206 downloads the template data corresponding to the acquisition instruction information from the server 101, the CPU 206 stores the template data in the HDD 209.

  When desired template data is selected by the user from the template data stored in the HDD 209, the selected template data is read from the HDD 209 into the VRAM 208 (step S302: template selection step), and is shown on the CRT 201 as shown in FIG. Displayed as an edit screen.

  The HDD 209 also stores image data taken by a digital camera or the like, and the user selects desired image data to be posted on the album from the stored image data. The image data selected here is also read into the VRAM 208 and displayed together on the editing screen shown in FIG. 7 (step S303: image selection step).

  The user performs an album editing operation on the editing screen (step S304: editing step). Reference numeral 701 in FIG. 7 denotes a template data display area, which includes frames A and B for arranging image data, and frames a and b for arranging character data. An image data display area 702 displays a list of image data selected by the user.

  Here, a process for setting a frame for arranging image data and character data in the template data display area will be described. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the image data allocation table. As shown in (a), the image data allocation table includes 5 allocation matrix data to 21 allocation matrix data, and as shown in (b), each matrix data sets the number of images that can be allocated for each page. Has been.

  For example, when the template data selected by the user is template data that can allocate 21 images, the CPU 206 reads the matrix data for 21 images in the image data allocation table shown in FIG. 10 read from the HDD 209 into the RAM 208. Reference is made and the number-of-images data assigned to each page is acquired. That is, in the 21-sheet matrix data, the number of images that can be assigned to the first page is 2, the number of images that can be assigned to the second, second, and third pages is 5, the number of images that can be assigned to the fourth, and fifth pages is 2. ,... The number of images that can be assigned to the 21st page is two.

  As described above, when template data capable of assigning 21 images is selected, the number of images that can be assigned to the first page is 2, the number of images that can be assigned to the second, and third pages is 5, It is determined from the image data allocation table of FIG. 10 that the number of images that can be allocated to the fifth page is 2,... Referring to the configuration diagram of the layout file, the layout data when the number of images that can be allocated to one page is two (the layout data for the first two pages), the number of images that can be allocated to the second and third pages is as follows. There is layout data for the case of 5 sheets (layout data for 5 sheets for the second and third pages), etc. The CPU 206 displays the corresponding layout data for each page. By irradiation, to determine the layout of the template data display area on the editing screen, and displays an editing screen as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 7, the editing screens for the sixth and seventh pages of the album are shown, but a desired album is created by performing the editing operation in the same manner for each page. For example, when the user completes the assignment of image data and the input of character data for all pages, the user presses a “confirm” button 703 in FIG.

  When the “confirm” button 703 is pressed, a confirmation screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the CRT 201. When the “<” button 801 in FIG. 8 is pressed, the left page is turned and the fourth and fifth pages are displayed. When the “>” button 802 is pressed, the right page is turned and the eighth and ninth pages are displayed. Is displayed. All the pages of the album created by operating the “<” and “>” buttons 801 and 802 can be confirmed (step S305: confirmation process), and if there is no problem, the user presses the “order” button 803.

  When the “order” button 803 is pressed, the editing result up to that point is generated as order data and transmitted to the server 101 via the network interface 211 (steps S306 and S307). As shown in FIG. 9, the transmission status of the order data is displayed superimposed on the confirmation screen of FIG.

  Further, when order data is transmitted, personal order information input by the user, delivery destination information of the album, and the like are transmitted together. The order personal information includes, for example, the name of the orderer and the number of books ordered.

  By the way, the user can end the editing process in any step of steps S302 to S305. The data created up to the point when the processing is completed is stored in the HDD 209, and when it is desired to re-edit the album, the data stored in the HDD 209 is read and displayed on the CRT 201 again. The album can be re-edited. Note that when the process is terminated in step S301, since a product (here, an album) is simply selected in step S301, there is no data to be stored in the HDD 209 for re-editing. Without being re-edited.

  For example, when the process is terminated in step S302, the template data selected in step S302 is stored in the HDD 209, and the album ID is associated with the name of the template data. 4 is registered in the operation state management table as shown in FIG. Note that the operation state management table shown in FIG. 4 shows only information that is registered when the operations are terminated in steps S303 to S305 described later.

  When the process is terminated in the step S303, the template data selected in the step S302 and the image data selected in the step S303 are stored in the HDD 209 and the album ID (in FIG. 4, “ 0003 "), the name of the template data selected in step S302 (" Classic 1 "in FIG. 4), the date and time when the process was terminated (" 2004/5/13 "in FIG. 4), and the process was terminated. “Image selection” indicating the image selection process that is the operation state at the time is associated and registered in the operation state management table of FIG.

  When the process is ended in step S304, the template data selected in step S302, the image data selected in step S303, and the edit data generated up to the time point when the editing is ended in step S304. Is stored in the HDD 209, the album ID ("0001" in FIG. 4), the name of the template data selected in step S302 ("Classic 1" in FIG. 4), and the date and time when the processing is terminated. (In FIG. 4, “2004/5/13”) and “edit” indicating the editing process, which is the operation state at the time when the process is terminated, are associated with each other and registered in the operation state management table of FIG.

  When the process is terminated in step S305, the template data selected in step S302, the image data selected in step S303, and the editing process in step S304 are created, and the confirmation operation in step S305 is performed. The editing data at the time of completion is stored in the HDD 209, the album ID ("0002" in FIG. 4), the name of the template data selected in step S302 ("Classic 1" in FIG. 4), The operation state management table of FIG. 4 is associated with the date and time when the process is terminated (“2004/5/13” in FIG. 4) and “confirmation” indicating the confirmation process that is the operation state at the time when the process is terminated. Registered in

  Next, the operation of the user terminal 102 when the user performs the album re-editing process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Upon receiving an instruction for album re-editing processing from the user, the user terminal 102 sequentially refers to the records from, for example, the first record in the operation state management table in FIG.

  First, the CPU 206 refers to the record currently being processed, and determines whether or not “template selection” indicating a template selection process is registered in the operation status item of the record (steps S1101 and S1102). ). If “template selection” is registered in the operation state item, the CPU 206 refers to the icon creation table shown in FIG. 12 and creates an icon image including character information “design selected” (step S1103). ). Also, the update date, template name, and album ID registered in the record are read, and the created icon image is associated with the update date, template name, and album ID and recorded in the RAM 208 (step S1107). On the other hand, if “template selection” is not registered in the operation state item in the record, the process proceeds to step S1104.

  In step S1104, the CPU 206 determines whether or not “image selection” indicating an image selection process is registered in the operation state item in the record (step S1104). If “image selection” is registered in the operation state item, the CPU 206 refers to the icon creation table shown in FIG. 12, and creates an icon image including character information “image currently being selected” (step S1105). ). Also, the update date, template name, and album ID registered in the record are read, and the created icon image is associated with the update date, template name, and album ID and recorded in the RAM 208 (step S1107). On the other hand, if “image selection” is not registered in the operation state item in the record, the process proceeds to step S1106.

  When the processing proceeds to step S1106, the information registered in the operation state item in the record is “edit” indicating an edit process other than “template selection” and “image selection” or “confirm” indicating a confirmation process. Therefore, the CPU 206 refers to the icon creation table shown in FIG. 12 and creates an icon image for the cover of the album including the image data selected as the cover image in the editing process. Further, the update date, template name, and album ID registered in the record are read out, and the created icon image is associated with the update date, template name, and album ID and recorded in the RAM 208 (step S1107). The above processing is repeatedly executed for each record in the operation state management table of FIG. 4 (steps S1108 and S1109).

  Information (icon image, update date, template name, etc.) recorded in the RAM 208 by the above processing is read into the VRAM 202, and an album (file) subject to re-edit processing as shown in FIG. The selected image is displayed. In this display process, for example, sorting based on the type of icon image (operation state at the end of the editing process) is performed, and when the user starts the re-editing process, the work progress status of each album is easily identified. It is also possible to make it possible.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a user re-edits an album, the work (editing) stage of each album is progressed according to the icon image or the like as shown in FIG. The user can grasp the work stage of each album based on the display.

  The user selects a target album when editing the album from the selection screen shown in FIG. When the target album is selected, the work can be started from the time when the previous editing process is completed. For example, when an album that has been processed after step S302 (template selection step) in FIG. 3 is selected for re-editing, image data to be posted on the album is selected from image data stored in the HDD 209. A screen for an image selection process (step S303) for displaying is displayed on the CRT 201, and the user can start the work from the image selection process.

  For example, when an album that has been processed after step S303 (image selection step) in FIG. 3 is selected as a re-edit target, the template data and image data selected in steps S302 and S303 are read from the HDD 209. As a result, the editing screen of FIG. 7 is displayed on the CRT 201, and the user can start work from the editing step of step S304.

  For example, when an album that has been processed after step S304 (editing step) in FIG. 3 is selected as a target for re-editing, the editing data created in the editing step is read from the HDD 209, and the confirmation in FIG. A screen is displayed on the CRT 201, and the user can start work from the confirmation process in step S305.

Next, the operation of the server 101 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
Upon receiving order data, order personal information, etc. from the user terminal, the server 101 registers the orderer name, the number of books ordered, etc. in association with the current order, and then performs processing for setting the album delivery destination (step S501). -Step S503).

  The server 101 performs the processing for setting the delivery destination of the album, and then performs a settlement process for the current order with the user terminal 102 (step S504). When the settlement process is completed, the server 101 performs a print process for the order data. Set the outsourced printer. When setting the print trader, an optimal print trader is set based on the type of album ordered, the distance to the album delivery destination, and the like.

  Next, the server 101 transmits the order data, the order personal information, and the delivery destination information to the print site (for example, 103) of the set printer (step S505). Upon receiving the order data, the print company of the print site 103 performs print processing based on the order data, creates albums for the designated number of orders, and sends the created albums to the delivery destination indicated in the delivery destination information. .

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (basic system or operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is determined based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of a server. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a user terminal. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation state management table. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a server. It is a figure which shows an example of a template selection screen. It is a figure which shows an example of an edit screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a confirmation screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen structure on which the information which shows the transmission condition of order data was superimposed on the confirmation screen. It is a figure which shows the structure of an image data allocation table. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a user terminal in case a user performs the re-editing process of an album. It is a figure which shows the structure of an icon creation table. It is a figure which shows the screen for selecting the album used as the object of a re-editing process. It is a figure which shows the structure of a layout file.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Server 102 User terminal 103-105 Print site 1011 Template holding | maintenance part 1012 Management information database 1013 Sharing part 1014 Order management part 1015 Charge processing part 1016 Payment processing part 1021 Template holding part 1022 Album edit application 1023 User data holding | maintenance part 1031,1041 , 1051 Database 1032, 1042, 1052 Charge processing unit 1033, 1043, 1053 Print processing unit 201 CRT
202 VRAM
203 BMU
204 Keyboard 205 PD
206 CPU
207 ROM
208 RAM
209 HDD
210 FDD
211 NETI / F

Claims (8)

Editing means for performing data editing processing for product creation,
Storage means for storing edited data generated by data editing processing by the editing means;
Management means for managing the data editing status of each edited data stored in the storage means;
An information processing apparatus comprising: output means for outputting information indicating a data editing status relating to each editing data stored in the storage means based on the management content by the management means.   The output means generates image data representing the product for edit data for which predetermined data editing processing has been completed by the editing means, and outputs the data as information indicating the data editing status related to the edit data. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.   The output means includes an image representing the product including a part of the selected image data until the predetermined data editing process is completed for the editing data for which the predetermined data editing process has been completed by the editing means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein data is generated and output as information indicating a data editing status relating to the editing data.   The output means outputs character information indicating a data editing status related to the editing data for editing data for which the predetermined data editing processing has not been completed by the editing means. The information processing apparatus described in 1.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the product is an album. An information processing method by an information processing apparatus having editing means for performing data editing processing for product creation and storage means for storing edited data generated by the data editing processing by the editing means,
A management step for managing a data editing status relating to each editing data stored in the storing means;
And an output step of outputting information indicating a data editing status related to each editing data stored in the storage unit based on the management content of the management step.   A program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method according to claim 6.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 7 is recorded.

Images