JP2006338148A - Device for mediating image selling, and image selling system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the operation labor of a mediator when a person who uses a network and the others coexist among the purchase candidates of an image when the seller of an image sells the image in cooperation with a mediator. <P>SOLUTION: As the function of a device which mediates image selling, an image where purchasable images are numbered and displayed in a list is generated as an image for print which can be printed out so as to be put up for a bulletin board as it is. Thus, it is possible to reduce the operation labor of a mediator who puts up an image for browsing for the bulletin board. Also, as the function of the mediating device, a function for displaying order acceptance screens different for each of purchase candidates, and for accepting an order is provided. When executing the input of order information by proxy, the mediator accepts information input on the order acceptance screen different from that when the purchase candidate principal inputs order information. Thus, it is possible to reduce the labor of the input operation of the mediator. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image sales intermediary apparatus and an image sales system used for providing an image sales service using the Internet.

  As one of image services provided on the Internet, a service is known that accepts an image print order registered in a system managed by a service provider via a network (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). ). In consideration of customers who cannot use a network service, while providing the above service, a paper order form is also provided to a service user (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

In addition, in kindergartens and schools, when ordering extra prints for athletic events and excursions, the kindergarten or the like has gathered orders for all those who wish to purchase, and has placed orders with contractors. In such a case, a teacher at a kindergarten will post a photo on the bulletin board, collect the order form from the purchase requester, rearrange the order contents by photo, place an order with the supplier, and send the photo received from the supplier to the orderer. It was sorted and distributed. On the other hand, in recent years, it has also been proposed to introduce such a network service into a kindergarten or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 4).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-154218 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-203359 JP-A-10-161248 JP 2003-162645 A

  Although the number of users of network services is increasing year by year, it is expected that there will be many people who do not (or cannot) use such network services for some reason. For example, students who have fun looking at photos posted on school bulletin boards with friends and deciding on photos to order while talking about their memories of the event can use the network service environment, knowledge and technology Will not like to use network services. For this reason, regardless of the spread of network services, it is expected that sticking of photos on bulletin boards and order reception using paper order forms will continue in the future.

  However, the provision of services using paper media largely depends on human resources, and the burden is greater than that of network services. In the direct sales from the seller to the purchase applicant, as shown in Patent Document 3, the seller can bear the work load generated by using the paper medium. However, in sales through an intermediary such as a school, such a work burden is imposed on the school staff who is the intermediary. An object of the present invention is to reduce the work burden of the mediator.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is an apparatus connected via a network to a sales apparatus for managing images for sale and an order terminal used for inputting order information, and includes the following means: Provide an intermediary device. Furthermore, the present invention provides an image sales system including a sales device that manages images for sale and an intermediary device having the following means. In the present specification, “sales” of an image means sales of a print on which an image is printed and download sales of an image file of the image. Further, the print on which the image is printed is not limited to the print on which only the image is printed, and includes, for example, a print on which the image is printed together with a template image and a comment. Similarly, an image file is not limited to an image file containing only that image.

  The mediating apparatus of the present invention includes a printing image generation unit that generates a printing image in which images that can be brokered by the mediating apparatus among sales images are arranged together with identification information of the images. In the past, in order to display images for viewing on bulletin boards, it was necessary to place and paste photos on imitation paper (or directly on the bulletin board), and number each photo so that you can specify the photos you want to purchase. . The printing image generation means is means for automatically generating such a posting image using information given to the mediation apparatus.

  Further, the mediation apparatus of the present invention has screen setting means for setting one of the two types of order screens as an order screen for each prospective purchaser. The first type order screen is an order screen in which images that can be brokered and sold by the brokering device are arranged and displayed from among the images for sale. For example, a screen in which images are arranged and can be selected by designating the images with a mouse corresponds to the first type order screen. The second type order screen is an order screen that displays an input frame in which the identification information of the image included in the print image can be key-inputted. For example, an input frame for each order information or a screen displaying a table in which order information can be input in each cell corresponds to the second type order screen.

  Further, the intermediary device of the present invention identifies the purchase prospect based on the identification information of the purchase prospect transferred from the order terminal, and forwards and outputs an order screen for the identified purchase prospect to the screen of the order terminal. And order receiving means for receiving the order information input and transferred on the screen. The order receiving means may acquire information relating to the screen display of the order terminal, and forward and output an order screen suitable for the screen display, which is a second type order screen, to the screen of the order terminal. . Here, the information related to the screen display of the order terminal means information that needs to be referred to in order to perform an appropriate display. For example, this corresponds to character information indicating the type of the terminal and the type of browser, or numerical information indicating the size of the terminal screen.

  According to the present invention, work that must be performed by a person who mediates sales in providing a service using a paper medium, such as a work for posting a browsing image on a paper medium or an order information input operation to the system. The burden is reduced.

  The system exemplified below is a system configured mainly for the purpose of providing an image sales service for groups such as schools, kindergartens, nurseries, nursing homes and the like. That is, the system assumes that the service provider sells images with the cooperation of a school teacher, facility staff, and the like.

  First, an overall configuration of a system that provides this image sales service will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, this system uses storages 2, 3, 5 for storing various information including images, and processing for order sales of print images and download images using information stored in the storages. A sales server 1, an intermediary server 4, a group server 6, and a lab system 8 that prints out images. The sales server 1, the mediation server 4, and the lab system 8 are devices managed by a service provider, and the group server 6 is a device managed by a school, a facility, or the like that is a collaborator of image sales.

  Each of the above devices constituting the system is connected to the network 7 and can always communicate with each other. In the present embodiment, the network 7 is the Internet, but it may be connected by a dedicated line. Further, when the devices are arranged in geographically close positions, they may be connected via a local area network.

  Although FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which the storage is directly connected to the server computer, this only shows the relationship between the information in the storage and the computer that uses the information. The actual configuration is not limited to the illustrated configuration. For example, a SAN (Storage Area Network) composed of the storages 2, 3 and 5 may be configured, and NAS (Network Attached Storage) is adopted as a storage device. The above storages may be directly connected to the network 7. In addition, each storage may be composed of a plurality of storage devices.

  A user of the service uses the image sales service provided by the system using the stationary terminal 9 or the portable terminal 10 connected to the network 7. The stationary terminal 9 is a general-purpose personal computer with a browser function. The portable terminal 10 is a mobile phone or PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) having a network service use function such as i-mode (registered trademark), for example.

  Hereinafter, information stored in each storage will be further described.

  The storage 2 stores image data representing each image to be sold. Specifically, high resolution image data for print output and low resolution image data for screen display are stored for each image. Further, the storage 3 stores information on order contents and delivery status for images to be sold. Specifically, the date the order was placed, the name of the orderer, the identification information of the ordered image, the print size, the number of prints, the desired delivery date (planned), the lab requesting the output, the delivery address, Information such as delivery completion date is stored.

  The storage 5 stores album information in which sales target images are classified into groups. The album information is information in which setting information of the album itself is associated with information indicating the storage location of images belonging to the album. Specifically, the setting information of the album itself is the album name, creator, creation date, and the like. The information indicating the storage location of the image is a folder and a file name where the image in the storage 2 is stored.

  Subsequently, each server will be further described. The sales server 1, the mediation server 4, and the group server 6 are all built into a general-purpose computer with a program for executing processing described below.

  The sales server 1 executes the following processing while exchanging information with the mediation server 4 and the laboratory system 8.

  First, when the sales server 1 receives a registration request for an image from the mediation server 4, the sales server 1 performs processing for adding the predetermined management information to the transferred image and registering it in the storage 2. Furthermore, processing such as update, deletion, and search of registered images is performed in response to a request from the mediation server 4.

  Further, when the order information is transferred from the mediation server 4, the sales server 1 analyzes the order information and registers it in the storage 3. If the order information is for requesting image printing, the corresponding image data is read from the storage 2 and transferred to the lab system 8 to instruct print output.

  On the other hand, the sales server 1 also performs processing for collecting information related to the progress of processing from the lab system 8 and registering it in the storage 3. When an inquiry about the order / delivery status is received from the intermediary server 4, the information that is the answer to the inquiry is read from the storage 3 and returned.

  The mediation server 4 provides a user interface for album management, print image generation, and order reception. All the screens related to the image sales service displayed on the installation type terminal 9 and the portable type terminal 10 are constituted by this mediation server 4. The function of the mediation server 4 will be described later.

  The organization server 6 is a Web server that provides a homepage for the organization. An organization's home page is usually composed of a page that can be viewed by an unspecified number of people and a page that can be browsed only by those involved in the organization. And password are supplied. For example, when the group is a school, the school information page corresponds to the former, and the electronic bulletin board for posting a message for parents / students corresponds to the latter. In this system, the organization server 6 provides an image sales service page as one of the latter pages. However, in this embodiment, it is the mediation server 4 that provides the image sales service page, and the access restriction is also performed on the mediation server 4 side. The group server 6 provides a link to the image sales service page provided by the mediation server 4.

  Hereinafter, functions of the mediation server 4 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing programs incorporated in the mediation server 4 by function. As shown in the figure, the mediation server 4 includes at least an album management program 41, a print image generation program 42, an order reception program 43, and a screen setting program 44. These programs are obtained when a person having a predetermined authority, that is, an affiliated person of an organization logs in to the mediation server 4 by using the stationary terminal 9 or the portable terminal 10 and following the link from the organization server 6. Perform screen display control of the terminal.

  The album management program 41 performs input / output control of an album registration screen, an album list screen, an image upload screen, and an album edit screen that are displayed and output on the stationary terminal 9. The album management program 41 requests information input such as an album name on the album registration screen, and stores the input album information in the storage 5. In the album list screen, album names stored in the storage 5 are displayed in a selectable state. Further, on the image upload screen, the input of the image is accepted, and the input image is transferred from the mediation server 4 to the sales server 1 and stored in the storage 2. In the album editing screen, the album information stored in the storage 5 is updated. Specifically, the images constituting the album are changed in response to a request from the stationary terminal 9, and comment information is attached to each image.

  The print image generation program 42 generates, for each album, a print image in which a list of images with image identification information (for example, numbers) and a print fee table are arranged on one plane. In other words, if you print it out and paste it on the bulletin board as it is, it will be possible for those who want to place an order on the order form without using the network service and can place an order while viewing the posted image. Generate an image.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print image generation screen that the print image generation program 42 outputs to the screen of the stationary terminal 9. This screen is displayed when an operation for selecting an album to be printed is performed from the album names displayed in a list by calling the print image generation function on the stationary terminal 9.

  As shown in the figure, on the print image generation screen, images registered in the selected album are displayed with a print image 11 numbered in the registered order and a print request button 12. Is displayed. However, the figure shows a state in which a part of the printing image 11 is displayed. The entire print image 11 can be confirmed by performing a scroll operation or an operation (not shown) for instructing the entire display.

  When the print request button 12 is pressed on the print image generation screen, a print dialog start request is transmitted from the print image generation program 42 to the stationary terminal 9, and the printer dialog is displayed on the screen of the stationary terminal 9. The When the print button of the dialog is pressed, a print image is printed out from a printer connected to the stationary terminal 9.

  Since the printed matter printed out as described above is pasted on a bulletin board or the like as it is, it is preferable that the size of each printed image is about the same size as a normal photo print. However, since there are usually dozens to dozens of images registered in one album, printing on a single plane with the same size as a photo print is not possible with large format paper. Only a special printer that can handle it can do it. For this reason, in the present embodiment, when the print image is printed out, the print image is divided and printed in accordance with the size of the print paper. Specifically, printing images are divided and printed so that a total of nine images are arranged on one A3 sheet, three in the vertical direction and three in the horizontal direction.

  Further, the mediation server 4 separately prints out the order form by a program not shown in FIG. 2 separately from the print image posted on the bulletin board. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an order form. As shown in the figure, the order form includes an entry field 13 for information on the orderer (class, name), an album name entry field 14, a photo number, size, number of sheets, and a charge entry field 15 to be purchased. An entry column 16 for the total number of sheets and the total amount is printed.

  The order reception program 43 controls the order reception screen displayed on the screen of the stationary terminal 9 or the portable terminal 10. As shown in the figure, the order reception screen output by the order reception program 43 includes three types of screens: a browsing / selection format screen, a table input format screen, and an interactive input format screen.

  The browsing / selection format screen is a screen for an orderer who places an order using the self-installing terminal 9, and can select an image to be purchased while browsing the image list. FIG. 5 shows an example of the browsing / selection format screen. In this example, a list of albums is displayed in a selectable state in a frame 17 on the left side of the screen, and images registered in the album selected in the left frame are listed over a plurality of pages in a frame 18 on the right side of the screen. Is displayed. The displayed page is switched by selecting page number 20. Each image 19 can be selected as a purchase target by clicking the mouse or the like, and for the selected image, a screen for designating a print size and the number of prints is separately displayed so that a print order can be made. ing.

  When order information such as an image, a print size, the number of prints, and the like is input on the browsing / selection format screen, the mediation server 4 configures a confirmation screen on which the order details are displayed and transfers it to the stationary terminal 9. When a predetermined confirmation operation is performed on the confirmation screen, the stationary terminal 9 notifies the intermediary server 4 to that effect. In response to this, the mediation server 4 transfers the order information to the sales server 1.

  The browsing / selection format screen shown in FIG. 5 is convenient as an interface when a person who wants to purchase an image directly performs an ordering operation. However, it is not necessarily easy to use as an interface when the staff of the organization inputs the order information entered on the order form submitted by the purchase requester to the system on behalf of the image purchase requester. In such a case, it is less burdensome to directly enter the photo number entered on the order form than to select an image while turning the page on the browsing / selection format screen.

  The table input format screen is a screen suitable for proxy input by group staff, and is a screen for specifying an image to be purchased and placing an order by typing a photo number or the like in the frame of the table. FIG. 6 shows an example of a table input format screen. In this example, a drop-down menu 21 for selecting an album, a table 22 in which a charge is automatically calculated and displayed when a photo number, size, and number are typed or selected and entered, and the number of orders entered in the above table and A total number / amount field 23 for automatically calculating and displaying the total of the charges is displayed on the screen.

  When the table input is completed on the table input format screen, the mediation server 4 configures a confirmation screen on which the order details are displayed and transfers the confirmation screen to the stationary terminal 9. When a predetermined confirmation operation is performed on the confirmation screen, the stationary terminal 9 notifies the intermediary server 4 to that effect. In response to this, the mediation server 4 transfers the order information to the sales server 1.

  Next, the dialog input format screen will be described. The dialogue input format screen is an order screen suitable for inputting order information using the portable terminal 10 while browsing a printed matter of paper pasted on a bulletin board. FIG. 7 shows an example of the dialog input format screen. On the first screen 24, a drop-down menu for selecting an album is displayed. When the album selected by operating the OK button on the screen 24 is confirmed, a second screen 25 is displayed on which the entry fields for the photo number, print size and number of copies desired to be purchased are displayed. When a numerical value is entered in the entry field and the numerical value input by the operation of the OK button is confirmed, a third screen 26 on which an image selected by the number is displayed is displayed. When the order image is confirmed by operating the OK button on the third screen 26, a screen 24 for inquiring whether or not to place an order is displayed. If it is selected to continue placing an order, the display returns to the screen 25 again.

  Since the interactive input screen is based on the premise that images are browsed in printed materials, group staff need to post images for browsing. However, since the person who wants to purchase the image directly inputs the order information, the group staff does not need to collect the order form or input the order information on behalf of the person. In addition, when ordering via the interactive input screen, it is possible to enter order information into the system while viewing the bulletin board, so those who wish to purchase images can order images while viewing the bulletin board together with a large number of people. Can do.

  Next, the screen setting program 44 in FIG. 2 will be described. The screen setting program 44 is a screen for setting an order reception screen that is displayed by default when the order reception screen is called from the stationary terminal 9 or the portable terminal 10. FIG. 8 shows an example of the setting screen. In this example, a default order reception screen can be set by selecting one of the above-described browsing / selection format screen or table input format screen with an option button. The information on the selected order reception screen is stored in association with identification information (for example, a login ID input at the time of login) of the party related to the organization. In the present embodiment, the dialog input format screen is a screen that is automatically selected and displayed when the order acceptance screen is called from the portable terminal 10, and thus cannot be selected as a default screen. The default screen may be selected.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of screen control processing by the order reception program 43. When the order reception program 43 receives a request from the stationary terminal 9 or the portable terminal 10, the order reception program 43 acquires the terminal information of the terminal that transmitted the request (S101). Then, it is determined from the contents of the terminal information what kind of screen display the ordering terminal displays (S102).

  For example, in HTTP communication, there is information called a user agent (HTTP_USER_AGENT) in the information transmitted from the terminal to the server, but the value of the user agent includes a character indicating a browser when the terminal is a personal computer. If the terminal is a mobile phone, it includes characters indicating the mobile phone manufacturer. Therefore, by referring to this information, it is possible to obtain information such as whether the ordering terminal is a personal computer or a mobile phone and what browser is used for display.

  When the order reception program 43 determines that the order terminal is the portable terminal 10 such as a mobile phone, the order reception program 43 displays a dialog input format screen and performs the above-described input / output control on the screen (S104). On the other hand, when it is determined that the order terminal is the stationary terminal 9 such as a personal computer, the screen setting information on the order reception screen is referred to (S103). If the default order acceptance screen is set to the table input format screen, the table input format screen is displayed, and the above-described input / output control is performed on the screen (S105). If the default order acceptance screen is set to the browsing / selection input format screen, the browsing / selection input format screen is displayed, and the aforementioned input / output control is performed on the screen (S106).

  The system provides the following benefits to organizations that mediate image sales. First, if there is a person who does not use the network service among purchase applicants belonging to the group, the group staff must provide a list of images to be sold as printed matter. Since the printed matter for posting can be output by a simple operation in, the burden of work when presenting the printed matter is small.

  Secondly, the order information submitted by the person who does not use the network service to the organization after filling in the order form must be entered into the system on behalf of the organization staff. Since the order reception screen can be set to the order reception screen in the table input format, the order reception screen in the table input format automatically appears when the group staff logs in with the login ID of the person who does not use the network service. Thus, an order screen can be set in advance. Since the group staff only has to log in with the orderer's login ID and then enter the numerical value written on the order form as it is on the displayed order reception screen, the burden of order information input is small.

  Third, if there are purchase applicants belonging to an organization who use a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant but do not use a personal computer, the organization staff will only post printed materials and enter order information. Can be performed by the orderer using a mobile phone or the like. In this case, the group staff does not need to input the order information on its behalf.

  In addition, the system provides the following benefits to those who wish to purchase images.

  First, in the conventional system, when an organization decides to use a network service, there is a possibility that the parties involved in the organization who do not have facilities for using the network service cannot use the service. Or even if it could be used, it would be burdensome to the group staff, so care was needed. On the other hand, according to the above system, when there is a person who does not use the network service, the work burden that the group staff must bear is small, so that the person who does not use the network service does not suffer a disadvantage.

  Secondly, in the above system, images can be browsed with printed matter affixed to the bulletin board, and order information can be input using a portable terminal, so that the orderer can see the images together in large numbers. You can enjoy both the enjoyment of the bulletin board that allows you to place orders and the convenience of network services that allow you to place orders easily with button operations.

  In addition, although the said description was performed paying attention to the process of the one group server 6 and the mediation server 4, the group server 6 and the mediation server 4 may exist in multiple numbers. For example, as an intermediary server 4, an elementary and junior high school intermediary server is installed and links to elementary and junior high school intermediary servers are provided on a plurality of elementary and junior high school homepages. It is conceivable that the mediation server 4 is installed for each type of organization and the organization server 6 is installed for each organization, such as providing a link to a nursing home mediation server on the homepage. If an intermediary server is installed for each type of organization that mediates, the user interface of the order screen can be made different for each group type. The home mediation server can also provide an order reception screen with a design for an elderly person.

  In addition, various modifications of hardware, programs, screens, and the like can be considered by those skilled in the art. However, even a device or system different from the above-described embodiment is claimed. It goes without saying that any device or system including the configuration described in the scope is included in the scope of the present invention.

Diagram showing overall configuration of image sales system Block diagram showing functions of mediation server The figure which shows an example of the image generation screen for printing Figure showing an example of order form The figure which shows an example of the order reception screen of the inspection / selection form Figure showing an example of the order entry screen in the table input format Diagram showing an example of an order entry screen in the dialog input format Figure showing an example of the setting screen Flow chart showing the flow of screen control processing of order receiving means

Explanation of symbols

1 sales server, 4 mediation server, 6 group server,
9 Stationary type terminal, 10 Portable type terminal

Claims (4)

An intermediary device connected via a network to a sales device that manages images for sale and an order terminal used for order information input,
A printing image generating means for generating a printing image in which images that can be brokered by the brokering device are arranged together with identification information of the image among the images for sale;
The first type order screen in which images that can be brokered by the mediating device can be selected from among the images for sale, or an input that can be used to key-in the image identification information included in the printing image Screen setting means for setting one of the order screens of the second type displaying the frame as an order screen for each purchase prospect, and the purchase expectation transferred from the order terminal Order accepting means for identifying a purchase prospect based on the identification information of the person, transferring and outputting the order screen for the identified purchase prospect to the screen of the order terminal, and receiving the order information inputted and transferred on the screen An image sales intermediary device comprising:   The order receiving means acquires information related to the screen display of the order terminal, and forwards and outputs an order screen suitable for the screen display as the second type of order screen to the screen of the order terminal. The intermediary device according to claim 1. A sales device for managing images for sale;
An intermediary device connected via a network to the sales device and an order terminal used for order information input,
A printing image generating means for generating a printing image in which images that can be brokered by the brokering device are arranged together with identification information of the image among the images for sale;
The first type order screen in which images that can be brokered by the mediating device can be selected from among the images for sale, or an input that can be used to key-in the image identification information included in the printing image Screen setting means for setting one of the order screens of the second type displaying the frame as an order screen for each purchase prospect, and the purchase expectation transferred from the order terminal Order accepting means for identifying a purchase prospect based on the identification information of the person, transferring and outputting the order screen for the identified purchase prospect to the screen of the order terminal, and receiving the order information inputted and transferred on the screen An image sales system comprising an intermediary device having   The order receiving means of the intermediary device acquires information relating to the screen display of the order terminal, and an order screen suitable for the screen display, which is the order screen of the second type, is displayed on the screen of the order terminal. 4. The image sales system according to claim 3, wherein the image sales system performs transfer output.

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