JP2007265195A - Page layout device, medium layout support system, program and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medium layout support system, capable of reducing labor-burden by enhancing the efficiency of page layout work for a medium. <P>SOLUTION: A server 101 comprises a database management means 111, a commodity information database 301, a posting information database 302, and a layout history information database 303. A client terminal 103 comprises a commodity information retrieval means 121, a page assignment means 122, an assignment information recording means 123, an assignment result output means 124, a medium formation data output means 125, a layout history information retrieval means 126, and a layout history information recording means 127. The client terminal 103 acquires page layout history information for a selected commodity from the server 101 and displays it, and performs page layout processing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a medium layout support system that performs a page layout of merchandise information on an information medium in cooperation with a merchandise information database using a network.

  In recent years, with the spread of computers, media production is performed by using product data to be put in a catalog as a database. A medium production system having a high affinity with desktop publishing (DTP) work that can be produced in cooperation with a database in a form including a customer is operated to improve the efficiency of the medium production work.

  In addition, a medium production information system has been proposed that includes a product information database and a publication information database that holds allocation information for each page, and that improves the efficiency of page layout work (see, for example, [Patent Document 1]).

JP 2004-220548 A

However, in the page layout work of the medium in the conventional system, the posted product is searched from the product information database, but the product information can be acquired as a search result, but the information on the past page layout cannot be acquired. There is a problem.
For example, when the user wants to know the previous publication size, it is necessary to actually turn over and refer to the previous catalog, which increases the labor burden.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a medium layout support system capable of improving the efficiency of the page layout work of the medium and reducing the labor burden. To do.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the first invention is connected to a server including a product information database that stores product information and a publication information database that stores allocation information related to page allocation of the product information via a network. A page layout device, product information search means for searching the product information database via the server, page assignment means for assigning the product information in a predetermined page layout, and the page assignment via the server Allocation information recording means for registering the allocation information created by the means in the posting information database; output means for outputting the allocation result or media production data necessary for media production based on the allocation information created by the page allocation means; The layout information history created by the page allocation means is laid out via the server. Layout history information recording means for registering in the layout history information database as history information, and layout history information searching means for searching the layout history information database for the selected product information via the server, This is a page layout device.

  Further, the page layout apparatus may set a predetermined layout based on past layout history information. The predetermined page layout is, for example, a posting size.

The “product information” is composed of character information (such as specifications) of the product, material information (image information) of the product, and the like.
The “assignment information” includes frame information having product information associated with the position and size of the frame. A top is a placement frame or placement area on each page.
The “information medium (medium)” specifically refers to a flyer, a catalog, or the like. It does not matter whether it is printed on paper or used as digital data.
The “page” constitutes an information medium and has at least one “frame (posting area)”. One piece of product information is published in the “frame (publishing area)”.

In the first invention, the server includes a page layout history information database, and the client terminal acquires and displays page layout history information from the server for the selected product, and performs page layout processing.
As a result, page layout processing can be performed based on past layout history information, an appropriate posting size, etc. can be set quickly, and the labor burden associated with page layout recorrection and proofreading work can be reduced. . In DTP work, waste can be eliminated and efficiency can be improved.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a server comprising a product information database holding product information and a posting information database holding allocation information related to page allocation of the product information, and a page layout device connected to the server via a network. In the medium layout support system, the product information search means for searching the product information database, the page assignment means for assigning the product information in a predetermined page layout, and the assignment information created by the page assignment means Allocation information recording means to be registered in the information database; output means for outputting allocation results or media production data necessary for media production based on the allocation information created by the page allocation means; and allocation information created by the page allocation means Layout history information as layout history information. Layout history information recording means for registering the database, a media layout support system characterized by comprising: a layout history information retrieving means for retrieving the layout history information database for the selected item information.

  The second invention relates to a medium layout support system comprising a page layout device and a server that performs database management and provides product information and page allocation information.

A third invention is a program for causing a computer to function as the page layout apparatus of the first invention.
A fourth invention is a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to function as the page layout apparatus of the first invention is recorded.
The above-mentioned program may be held and distributed on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, or the program can be transmitted and received via a communication line.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a medium layout support system capable of improving the efficiency of the page layout work of the medium and reducing the labor burden.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a medium layout support system will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description and the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are given to components having substantially the same functional configuration, and redundant description will be omitted.

(1. Configuration of media layout support system)
First, the configuration of the medium layout support system 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a medium layout support system 100.
The medium layout support system 100 is configured by connecting a server 101 and a plurality of client terminals 103 via a network 109.
The medium indicates an information medium, and is, for example, a product catalog, a flyer, a planning document or a proposal for a commercial transaction. The medium may be a paper medium or electronic data.

  The server 101 is a server computer or the like and has a database management unit 111. The database management unit 111 is a database engine. In response to a request from the client terminal 103, the database management unit 111 performs processing for various requests such as search, reference, registration, and deletion to the product information database 301, the publication information database 302, and the layout history information database 303.

  The client terminal 103 is a personal computer, a portable terminal (Personal Digital Assistant), or the like. The client terminal 103 is a page layout device, and uses the product information database 301, the publication information database 302, and the layout history information database 303 of the server 101 to perform page layout and product allocation processing when producing media such as flyers and catalogs. .

  The client terminal 103 includes product information search means 121, page assignment means 122, assignment information recording means 123, assignment result output means 124, medium production data output means 125, layout history information search means 126, and layout history information recording means 127. .

The product information search unit 121 transmits a product information search request for the product information database 301 to the server 101.
The page allocation means 122 allocates product information selected from the product information group as a search result to a frame (posting area).
The allocation information recording unit 123 registers and holds the created allocation information in the posting information database 302 via the server 101.
The allocation result output means 124 prints out the allocation result based on the allocation information.
The medium production data output means 125 outputs text data necessary for medium production from the allocation information.
The layout history information search unit 126 transmits, to the server 101, a search request for layout history information with respect to the layout history information database 303 for the selected product information.
The layout history information recording unit 127 registers and holds the layout history information in the layout history information database 303 via the server.

  The network 109 is a network such as the Internet, a local area network (LAN), or an in-house LAN, and may be wired or wireless.

  The medium layout support system 100 according to the present embodiment is realized by using WWW (World Wide Web) technology. The server 101 includes a Web server, the client terminal 103 includes a Web browser, and the server 101 and the client terminal 103. Transmits and receives data via a Web server and a Web browser, respectively.

(2. Server 101)
(2-1. Hardware configuration)
Next, the hardware configuration of the server 101 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the server 101.

  The server 101 is configured by connecting a control unit 201, a storage unit 202, a media input / output unit 203, a communication control unit 204, an input unit 205, a display unit 206, and a printing unit 207 via a system bus 209.

  The control unit 201 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like.

The CPU calls a program stored in the storage unit 202, ROM, recording medium or the like to a work memory area on the RAM, executes it, controls the drive of each device connected via the system bus 209, and is performed by the server 101. Implement various database management processes.
The ROM is a non-volatile memory and permanently holds a computer boot program, a program such as BIOS, data, and the like.
The RAM is a volatile memory, and temporarily stores a program, data, and the like loaded from the storage unit 202, ROM, recording medium, and the like, and includes a work area used by the control unit 201 for performing various processes.

The storage unit 202 is an HDD (hard disk drive), and stores a program executed by the control unit 201, data necessary for program execution, an OS (operating system), and the like. As for programs, a control program 391 corresponding to an OS (operating system), an application program 392 corresponding to various database management processes performed by the server 101 to which the computer is applied, and the like are stored.
Each of these program codes is read by the control unit 201 as necessary, transferred to the RAM, read by the CPU, and executed as various means.

  The media input / output unit 203 (drive device) performs data input / output, for example, floppy disk drive, PD drive, CD drive (-ROM, -R, -RW, etc.), DVD drive (-ROM, -R, etc.) -RW etc.) and media input / output devices such as MO drives.

  The communication control unit 204 includes a communication control device, a communication port, and the like, and is a communication interface that mediates communication between the server 101 and the network 109. Communication control between the server 101 and the client terminal 103 is performed via the network 109. I do.

The input unit 205 inputs data and includes, for example, a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, and an input device such as a numeric keypad.
An operation instruction, an operation instruction, data input, and the like can be performed on the server 101 via the input unit 205.

The display unit 206 includes a display device such as a CRT monitor and a liquid crystal panel, and a logic circuit (such as a video adapter) for realizing a video function of the computer in cooperation with the display device.
A printing unit 207 is a printer and performs print output processing.
The system bus 209 is a path that mediates transmission / reception of control signals, data signals, and the like between the devices.

(2-2. Information held by the storage unit 202)
Next, information stored in the storage unit 202 of the server 101 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating information stored in the storage unit 202.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data structure of the product information database 301, the publication database 302, and the layout history information database 303.

The storage unit 202 stores a plurality of product information databases 301, a publication information database 302, a layout history information database 303, a control program 391, and an application program 392.
The control program 391 is a program that drives and controls each component of the server 101, and corresponds to an OS (operating system).
The application program 392 is an executable program corresponding to the data management unit 111 provided in the server 101.

(2-3. Product information database 301)
The product information database 301 includes a plurality of product information 310. Note that a plurality of product information databases 301 managed by the server 101 may exist as necessary.
The product information 310 includes a product information ID, product specification information 311 (character information), and product material information 312 (image information).
The data configuration of the product information database 301 is not limited to this configuration.

(2-4. Publication information database 302)
The posting information database 302 includes allocation information 320 created by the client terminal 103.
The allocation information 320 is page layout information for each page 21 constituting an information medium such as a catalog or a flyer, and includes master information 321 and at least one piece of frame information 323.

The master information 321 includes a master ID, an information medium name, a size, a publication date, and the like.
The frame information 323 includes a master ID, a frame ID, a frame size, frame position information (for example, a frame lower left coordinate, a frame coordinate upper right coordinate), a product information ID to be posted, a user information ID in charge, and the like.
The data structure of the posting information database 302 is not limited to this structure.

(2-5. Layout history information database 303)
The layout history information database 303 includes layout history information 330.
The layout history information 330 is information related to the page layout history, and includes date / time information 331, product information ID 332, and allocation information ID 333. The date / time information 331 is information indicating the issue time of the information medium. The date and time when the allocation information 320 and the page layout history information 330 are created can also be used as the date and time information 331. The layout history information 330 and the product information 310 are related by the product information ID 332. The layout history information 330 and the allocation information 320 are related by the allocation information 333.
The data structure of the page layout history information 330 is not limited to this structure.

(2-6. Page layout information)
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of page layout information.
The page layout information to be created manages data in a hierarchical structure of pages 21 and frames (posting areas) 23.
The page 21 constitutes an information medium, and has at least one frame 23 on the page 21. One piece of product information 310 is posted on the top 23.

(3. Client terminal 103)
(3-1. Hardware configuration)
Next, the hardware configuration of the client terminal 103 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 is a hardware configuration diagram of the client terminal 103.

The client terminal 103 is connected to a control unit 401, a storage unit 402, a communication control unit 403, a media input / output unit 404, an input unit 405, a display unit 406, a printing unit 407, and the like via a system bus 409.
The hardware configuration of the client terminal 103 is the same as that of the server 101 described above with reference to FIG.

  Note that the storage unit 402 executes a program corresponding to a control program 391 corresponding to an OS (operating system) and processing described later performed by the client terminal 103 to which the computer is applied (see FIGS. 7 and 8). This is a possible program and corresponds to the product information search means 121, the page assignment means 122, the assignment information recording means 123, the assignment result output means 124, the medium production data output means 125, the layout history information search means 126, and the layout history information recording means 127. This is a page layout processing program. Each of these program codes is read by the control unit 401 as necessary, transferred to the RAM, read by the CPU, and executed as various means.

(4. Operation)
Next, the operation of the medium layout support system 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.
7 and 8 are flowcharts showing page layout processing in the medium layout support system 100. FIG.

A page layout processing program, which is an application program 392, is installed in the storage unit 402 of the client terminal 103, and the following page layout processing (product information search unit 121, page allocation unit 122, allocation information recording unit) of the client terminal 103 is performed. 123, the allocation result output unit 124, the medium production data output unit 125, the layout history information search unit 126, and the layout history information recording unit 127) are performed by the control unit 401 of the client 103.
A database management program that is an application program 392 is installed in the storage unit 202 of the server 101. The following processing of the server 101 is performed by the control unit 201 of the server 101 according to the control of this database management program.

  The control unit 401 of the client terminal 103 accesses the server 101 and makes a login request to the product information database 301 (step S701).

  For example, a predetermined URL of the server 101 is designated from the client terminal 103 to access the server 101, and the control unit 201 of the server 101 transmits login screen data to the client terminal 103. The control unit 401 of the client terminal 103 transmits the input user ID, password, and server name to the server 101 according to a login screen (not shown).

  The control unit 201 of the server 101 performs user authentication from the received user ID, password, and the like, and when the user authentication is correct, sets and connects the product information database 301 corresponding to the specified server name (step S702).

  The control unit 401 of the client terminal 103 displays the layout screen 10 (step S703). The control unit 401 reads the allocation information 320 of the existing catalog in the publishing information database 302 from the server 101, and creates and displays the layout screen 10 from the read information.

FIG. 9 shows the layout screen 10.
On the layout screen 10, a catalog tree 11, a catalog list 12, a layout area 13, a posting list 14, a menu bar 15, and the like are displayed.

The catalog tree 11 represents a catalog tree structure based on the master information 321.
The catalog list 12 displays a catalog list indicating catalog information 16 included in a folder selected from the catalog tree 11. The catalog information 16 includes a catalog name, a size, a publication date, and the like which are the master information 321 of the allocation information 320.
The layout area 13 is an area where layout work is performed.
The posting list 14 includes a frame information record 17 indicating a product information ID, a frame size, and the like arranged in the frame 23 of the page 21 displayed in the layout area 13.
The menu bar 15 is an interface for calling a menu for performing various operations of the page layout device 103. For example, when searching for the merchandise information database 301, the search dialog is called by pulling down “Search” in the menu bar 15.

  The control unit 401 of the client terminal 103 displays the page 21 to be operated on the layout area 13 based on the corresponding master information 321 by selecting the desired catalog information 16 from the catalog list 12 (step S704).

FIG. 10 is a screen transition diagram of the client terminal 103 in (1) product search to (6) allocation result display.
The control unit 401 transmits a product information search request for the search condition 41 designated by the search function to the server 101 (step S705) (FIG. 10 (1) product search).
The user selects a search function from a search menu (not shown) displayed by pulling down “Search” in the menu bar 15 on the layout screen 10, and the control unit 401 displays the product search screen 40, A product information search request for the specified search condition 41 is transmitted.

  The control unit 201 of the server 101 searches the product information database 301 from the product information database 301 based on the designated search condition 41, and transmits search result data (step S706).

The control unit 401 of the client terminal 103 displays the search result list 51 including the product information record 52 that is the received search result data on the product search result screen 50 (step S707) (FIG. 10 (2) product search result display). .
The processing from step S705 to step S707 corresponds to the product information search unit 121.

The user selects the product information record 52 to be used from the search result list 51 on the product search result screen 50 and presses the “history display” button 53 (step S708). The control unit 401 transmits a layout history information search request for the product of the selected product record 52 (step S709) (FIG. 10 (3) product selection).
The control unit 201 of the server 101 searches the layout history information 330 for the product of the selected product record 52 from the layout history information database 303, and transmits search result data (step S710).
The control unit 401 of the client terminal 103 displays the layout history screen 60 based on the received search result data (step S711) (FIG. 10 (4) layout history display).
The processing from step S708 to step S711 corresponds to the layout history information search unit 126.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an aspect of the layout history information 330.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a layout history screen 60.
When the layout history information 330-1 to 330-3 is recorded in the layout history information database 303 for the selected product (“product A”), the layout history corresponding to each layout history information 330-1 to 330-3 Records 62-1 to 62-3 are displayed on the layout history screen 60. Information (product name and price) acquired from the publication information database 302 is displayed in the field 64, and information (catalog name, publication page, and publication size) acquired from the product information database 301 is displayed in the field 65. .

The user selects the layout history record 62 that adopts the posted size on the layout history screen 60 and presses the “adopt posted size” button 63. The control unit 401 sets the publication size 71 of the selected layout history record 62 and displays it on the product search result screen 50 (step S712) (FIG. 10 (5) publication size setting).
The control unit 401 assigns product information to the frame 23 corresponding to the set posting size 71 (step S713), and displays the product information assignment result in the layout area 13 of the layout screen 10 (step S714) (FIG. 10). (6) Allocation result display).
The processes in steps S712 to S714 correspond to the page allocation unit 122.

When all the product allocations are completed, the control unit 401 registers the created allocation information 320 in the posting information database 302 and transmits a storage request (step S715).
The control unit 201 of the server 101 registers and stores the received allocation information 320 in the posting information database 302 (step S716).
The processes in steps S715 and S716 correspond to the allocation information recording unit 123.

The control unit 201 of the server 101 creates layout history information 330, registers and saves it in the layout history information database 303 (step S717). The layout history information 330 may be created on the client terminal 103 side, sent to the server 101 side, and registered and stored.
The processing in step S717 corresponds to the layout history information recording unit 127.

  The control unit 401 of the client terminal 103 transmits a product information acquisition request for the product information ID associated with the piece information 323 to the product information database 301 to the server 101 as an assignment result output function corresponding to the assignment result output unit 124. Then, the layout result data created by arranging the item values (spec information 311 and material information 312) of the product information 310 acquired from the server 101 in each frame 23 are printed out. This output can be used as an instruction to the worker of the DTP work, which is a subsequent process.

  Similarly, the control unit 401 creates text data from the item values (spec information 311 and material information 312) of the product information 310 acquired from the server 101 as a medium production data output function corresponding to the medium production data output means 125. And output. The output text data can be used for pouring in DTP work.

(5. Effects, etc.)
As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the server includes the page layout history information database, and the client terminal acquires and displays the page layout history information from the server for the selected product. Process.

  As a result, page layout processing can be performed based on past layout history information, an appropriate posting size, etc. can be set quickly, and the labor burden associated with page layout recorrection and proofreading work can be reduced. . In DTP work, waste can be eliminated and efficiency can be improved.

  The user selects a product for which the layout history is to be referred to from the search result list of the product information and instructs the layout history display, whereby the layout history information of the selected product is displayed. When a new layout is created, the page layout can be assembled with reference to the previous or previous layout by calling and referring to the layout history information.

  In this embodiment, the server 101 includes a database management unit 111, a product information database 301, a publication information database 302, and a layout history information database 303. The client terminal 103 includes a product information search unit 121 and a page allocation unit 122. , An allocation information recording unit 123, an allocation result output unit 124, a medium production data output unit 125, a layout history information search unit 126, and a layout history information recording unit 127. The client terminal 103 is a page layout which is an executable program of these. The page layout process is started while accessing the product information database 301, the posting information database 302, and the layout history information database 303 via the database management unit 111 on the server 101 side. It has been described as to perform, but is not limited to this. A page layout program may be installed on the server 101 side, and the page layout unit may be activated as an application of the server 101 from the client terminal 103.

  The preferred embodiments of the medium layout support system according to the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to such examples. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope of the technical idea disclosed in the present application, and these naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

Configuration diagram of media layout support system 100 Hardware configuration diagram of server 101 The figure which shows the information which the memory | storage part 202 hold | maintains The figure which shows the data structure of the merchandise information database 301 and the publication database 302 Diagram showing the data structure of page layout information Hardware configuration diagram of the client terminal 103 Flow chart showing page layout processing Flow chart showing page layout processing The figure which shows the layout screen 10 Screen transition diagram of client terminal 103 The figure which shows the one aspect | mode of the layout history information 330 The figure which shows the layout history screen 60

Explanation of symbols

100... Media layout support system 101... Server 103... Client terminal (page layout device)
109 ......... Network 111 ......... Database management means 121 ......... Product information search request means 122 ......... Page allocation means 123 ......... Allocation information recording means 124 ......... Allocation result output means 125 ......... Media production Data output means 126... Layout history information search means 127... Layout history information recording means 201, 401... Control section 202, 402 ... Storage section 301 ... Product information database 302. Database 303 ......... Layout history information database 310 ......... Product information 311 ......... Spec information (character information)
312 ... Material information (image information)
320... Allocation information 321... Master information 323... Frame information 330... Layout history information 331... Date and time information 332.
333 ... Allocation information ID
12 ……… Catalog list 13 ……… Layout area 14 ……… List 21 ……… Page 23 ……… Frame (publishing area)
60 ……… Layout history screen 71 ……… Published size

Claims (8)

A page layout device connected to a server including a product information database that stores product information and a posting information database that stores allocation information related to page allocation of the product information via a network,
Product information search means for searching the product information database via the server;
Page allocation means for allocating the product information in a predetermined page layout;
Allocation information recording means for registering the allocation information created by the page allocation means in the posting information database via the server;
An output means for outputting an assignment result or medium production data necessary for medium production based on the assignment information created by the page assignment means;
Layout history information recording means for registering the history of allocation information created by the page allocation means in the layout history information database via the server as layout history information;
Layout history information search means for searching the layout history information database for selected product information via the server;
A page layout apparatus comprising:   The page layout apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the allocating unit sets the predetermined layout based on the past layout history information.   The page layout apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined page layout includes a posting size. A medium layout support system comprising a server including a product information database for storing product information and a posting information database for storing allocation information related to page allocation of the product information, and a page layout device connected to the server via a network Because
Product information search means for searching the product information database;
Page allocation means for allocating the product information in a predetermined page layout;
Allocation information recording means for registering allocation information created by the page allocation means in the posting information database;
An output means for outputting an assignment result or medium production data necessary for medium production based on the assignment information created by the page assignment means;
Layout history information recording means for registering the history of allocation information created by the page allocation means in the layout history information database as layout history information;
Layout history information search means for searching the layout history information database for selected product information;
A medium layout support system comprising:   5. The medium layout support system according to claim 4, wherein the allocating unit sets the predetermined layout based on the past layout history information.   The medium layout support system according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined page layout includes a posting size.   A program that causes a computer to function as the page layout device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program that causes the computer to function as the page layout apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images