JP2011192175A - Photo print information network system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photo print information network system, configured to deliver announcement information to store controllers connected to a headquarter server through a network and needing the information. <P>SOLUTION: When announcement information is delivered from the headquarter server 1 to the controllers, a printer type and/or a printing function related to the announcement information are selected, and information in a printer information storage unit 131 is searched based on the selection result, one or more controllers that receive the announcement information are set, and control is performed to deliver the announcement information to the set one or more controllers. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is a photo print system installed in each of a plurality of stores, and includes a plurality of order input units, two or more controllers for controlling photo print processing related to orders received by the order input unit, and the controller A photo print system having two or more printers that output photo prints based on print data relating to print processing transmitted from the printer, a store information management unit that manages information about the stores, and each photo The present invention relates to a photo print information network system comprising a print system and a headquarter server connected via a network.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a photo print business unit that includes each store (photo store or minilab store) and a headquarters that supervises each store. In such stores, customers can place orders for photo prints in various ways. For example, customers can place orders by operating the reception terminals themselves, or online prints using the Internet from their home computers. You can place an order, or you can place an order by passing image data to a store clerk. In the store, a plurality of order input devices capable of accepting a plurality of orders and image processing of the order image data and the order unit (order unit) ) And a plurality of controllers (computers) for instructing printing to a plurality of printers, and two or more printers connected to each of the plurality of controllers in an overlapping manner.

  At the headquarters, information on photo print processing at each store, for example, the number of photo print orders per day, detailed information on the order (number of prints, print size, type of photo (regular photo, photo book, album, presence of template, etc.), etc. ) Etc. are managed. The headquarters then provides the store with various useful information (new printer introductions, software upgrade notices, consumable information (for example, renewal of consumables, discount sales, price revisions, etc.) Notifications, maintenance notifications, etc.) as notifications. In this distribution function, for example, the headquarters server automatically distributes the above notification to all controllers with the same contents.

  However, there are cases where the store does not require all of the notification information to be distributed. The content of the notification information may be, for example, information related to a printer that is not installed in the store, or the print function of the installed printer may be restricted. As long as you can receive it.

  By the way, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which mail addresses are arbitrarily increased or decreased with respect to a mail address of a transmission destination registered in advance as a group. However, neither a problem of setting a delivery destination according to the content of the notification information nor specific means is disclosed.

JP 2002-244972 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide information on the store that requires the content of the notification information when distributing the notification information to the controller of each store connected to the headquarters server via the network. Provided is a photo print information network system configured to be distributed to a controller.

In order to solve the above problems, a photographic print information network system according to the present invention provides:
A photo print system installed in each of a plurality of stores, a plurality of order input units, two or more controllers for controlling photo print processing related to orders received by the order input unit, and the controller A photo print system having two or more printers that output photo prints based on print data relating to print processing, a store information management unit that manages information related to the plurality of stores, and each photo print system and network A photo print information network system comprising a headquarters server connected via
The headquarters server
A printer information storage unit for storing at least printer identification information for each store, information on the print function, and controller identification information for managing the printer;
A printer information collection unit that stores the printer model and print function information received from the controller and controller identification information in the printer information storage unit;
A selection unit that selects a printer model and / or a print function related to the notification information when distributing the notification information from the headquarter server to the controller;
A transmission destination setting unit that searches information in a printer information storage unit based on a selection result of the selection unit and sets one or more controllers to be a distribution destination of the notification information;
A delivery control unit that controls to deliver the notification information to one or more controllers set in the transmission destination setting unit;
The controller is configured to include a display control unit that can display notification information received from the headquarter server.

  The effects of this configuration are as follows. The photo print system installed in each of a plurality of stores has a plurality of order input units capable of receiving orders in a plurality of types of order forms and a function 2 for controlling photo print processing related to orders received by the order input units. The above-described controller and two or more printers that output photographic prints based on print data relating to print processing transmitted from the controller are configured. The controller can execute image processing condition setting operations for image data related to orders, image processing, setting of printing conditions (number of sheets, size, automatic correction, etc.), processing for selecting and assigning an arbitrary printer from a plurality of printers, etc. .

  The headquarters server is connected to the photo print system of each store via a network, stores a store information management unit that manages information about each store, printer model and print function information of each store, and a controller that manages the printer. The printer information storage unit stores at least information, and the printer information collection unit stores the printer model and print function information received from the controller and the controller identification information in the printer information storage unit. Thereby, the headquarters server can manage the printer models and print functions of all stores. The printer information collection unit issues an instruction to transmit update information to all controllers periodically or by arbitrary instruction input, and a transmission control unit described later of all the controllers provides information on the printer model and print function (controller (Including identification information) can be read from a storage unit described later and transmitted to the printer information collection unit of the headquarter server. Further, when the information is updated by a function of a transmission control unit described later of the controller, the update information can be automatically transmitted to the printer information collecting unit of the headquarter server.

  The headquarter server has a selection section for selecting a printer model and / or print function related to the notification information when the notification information is distributed from the headquarter server to all the controllers. Based on the selection result Then, the information in the printer information storage unit is searched, and one or more controllers to be the distribution destination of the notification information are set (function of the transmission destination setting unit). The notification information is controlled to be distributed to one or more set controllers (function of distribution control unit).

  The controller includes a display control unit that can display the notification information received from the headquarter server, and the operator can check the notification information. Therefore, when notification information is distributed to the controller of each store connected to the headquarters server via the network, the notification information can be distributed to the controller of the store that is directly related to the content of the notification information, which is unnecessary. No notification information is received, and the troublesomeness of the store user can be preferably eliminated.

  “Notification information” includes, for example, information on new printer models, software version upgrades, information on consumables (for example, renewal of consumables, discount sales, price revision, etc.), maintenance information, etc. . Examples of the “print function” include double-sided printing, single-sided printing, inkjet printing, and silver salt printing. “Print data” is data that includes at least data necessary for print processing in the printer, and includes, for example, image data, frame image print size information, and information on the number of prints for each frame image.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the controller includes a storage unit that stores information on the printer model and print function managed by the controller, and the printer model and print function information stored in the storage unit is updated. In this case, there is a configuration including a transmission control unit that transmits the updated printer model and print function update information and controller identification information to the headquarter server.

  According to this configuration, the printer model and print function managed by each controller are collectively managed, and if there is an update, it is automatically transmitted to the headquarter server. Then, the printer information collection unit of the headquarter server can update and store the update information in the printer information storage unit.

  Further, as an embodiment of the above invention, there is a configuration in which the selection unit of the headquarter server performs selection by accepting a user's selection instruction from the printer model and / or print function displayed in a list. When the notification information is distributed, the user can select and instruct any of the printer models and / or print functions displayed in the list, and therefore can select and instruct by a simple operation.

  As an embodiment of the above invention, the selection unit of the headquarter server analyzes the character string indicating the printer model and / or print function included in the notification information, and automatically selects the printer model and / or A configuration for selecting a print function is given. Since the selection unit can automatically select the printer model and / or print function from the notification information, the user's selection operation can be omitted.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the controller includes a storage unit that stores information on the printer model and print function managed by the controller, and a printer model and / or information included in the notification information received from the headquarter server. Or an analysis unit that analyzes a character string indicating a print function, and a collation unit that collates an analysis result of the analysis unit with a printer model and / or a print function stored in the storage unit, and the display control unit includes: Based on the collation result of a collation part, the structure controlled so that notification information is not displayed is mentioned. Moreover, the collation part can comprise a collation result based on the non-display information previously memorize | stored in the memory | storage part. For example, a non-display flag can be set and stored in association with a printer model and / or a print function by an operation on the controller side.

  According to this configuration, since the printer model and / or print function can be automatically selected from the notification information on the controller side, it is not necessary to make the selection at the headquarters server accurate. In addition, this function is effective when the store side is installed in the store but does not require notification information of a specific printer, or when it is not desired to display the notification information for a predetermined period.

  The “headquarter server” of the present invention is a server device installed in the headquarters, a cloud server using cloud computing (also referred to as a cloud provider), and information installed in the headquarters connected to the cloud server via a network. It is a concept including a combination system with a processing device, and the headquarter server may be configured by a single computer or a plurality of computers (also referred to as distributed computing). Cloud computing includes, for example, elements such as network computing, utility computing, SaaS, PaaS, and HaaS, and is further developed.

The figure which shows an example of a function structure of a photograph print information network system A flowchart showing an example of an operation for distributing notification information A flowchart showing an example of an operation for setting a delivery destination The flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement which determines whether notification information is displayed. Diagram showing an example of printer information managed by the controller The figure which shows an example of the printer information memorize | stored in the headquarters server The figure which shows an example of information such as printer model, print function The figure which shows an example of the information of the controller which is a delivery destination

  A functional configuration of the photo print information network system will be described with reference to FIG. The photo print information network system shown in FIG. 1 includes a photo print system 2 installed in each of a plurality of stores, and a headquarter server 1 to which the plurality of photo print systems 2 are connected via the Internet. The photo print system 2 can receive orders in a plurality of types of order forms by the order input unit, and includes, for example, an in-store reception terminal 21a, a scanner 21b, and a net reception terminal 21c. The in-store reception terminal 21a provides a functional configuration that allows a customer to make an order for a photo print by himself / herself. The scanner 21b provides a function of reading an image from the developed film and converting it into digital image data. The net reception terminal 21c is an in-store reception terminal of a known online print ordering system, and provides a function of receiving order information including image data from a home PC, a portable terminal or the like or from a server of the system.

  The order information received by the order input unit is transmitted to a controller unit having a function of controlling the photo print processing. The controller unit includes two or more controllers. In FIG. 1, only the first controller 22a and the second controller 22b are illustrated, but the controller unit may include three or more controllers.

  A printer unit is configured to output a photographic print based on print data relating to print processing transmitted from the controller unit. The printer unit is composed of two or more printers. In FIG. 1, only the two first printers 23a and 23b and the two second printers 23c and 23d are shown. May be. Examples of the type of printer include a silver salt printer and an ink jet printer (dry printer). Silver salt printers can create photographic prints based on image data. When creating a photographic print, the image data for printing processed for printing is transmitted to an exposure engine, and the image is printed and exposed on a photographic photosensitive material such as paper. A photographic print can be created by developing the paper on which the image has been printed and exposed. As the ink jet printer, a known ink jet printer can be used. In addition, as a method for ejecting ink, a general piezo method in which ink is ejected from an ink ejection nozzle that communicates with the pressure chamber by changing the volume of the pressure chamber filled with ink by a piezo element is exemplified.

  Next, functions of the first controller 22a will be described. These functions are also provided in the second controller 22b. The order management unit 221 has a distribution processing function for determining a printer for output. When the first printer 23a executes print processing, the order management unit 221 transmits print data to the first printer 23a and prints it to the second printer 23c. When the process is executed, the print data is transmitted to the second printer 23c.

  The storage unit 222 stores information on the printer model and print function managed by the first controller 22a. For example, information such as a printer ID, model name, version information, print function, and the like as shown in FIG. 5 is stored, and information about consumables may also be stored. When the printer model and print function information stored in the storage unit 222 has been updated, the transmission control unit 223 reads the updated update information of the printer model and print function from the storage unit 222, and the first Control is performed so as to be associated with the controller ID and transmitted to the headquarter server 1. The transmission process is a function of the transmission / reception unit 224. As will be described later, the headquarters server 1 executes information update processing based on the received update information. As another embodiment, a printer information collection unit to be described later issues a command to transmit update information to all controllers periodically or by arbitrary instruction input, and the transmission control unit 223 of all controllers controls the printer. The model and print function information (including controller identification information) can be read from the storage unit 222 and transmitted to the printer information collection unit of the headquarter server 1.

  The display control unit 225 stores the notification information received from the headquarter server 1 in a storage unit (not shown), and displays the notification information on a predetermined display screen when receiving an instruction input from an operator of the controller. The predetermined display screen may be a tab-type display screen or a pop-up screen.

  The first controller 22a also includes a function unit (not shown) for setting image processing condition setting operations for image data relating to orders, image processing, and print conditions (number of sheets, size, automatic correction, etc.). In addition, the photo print system may be provided with a storage medium writing device having a function of writing image data on a medium such as a CD-R (an example of a storage medium). The first controller 22a can be configured by a general-purpose computer. The monitor (not shown) includes a liquid crystal display device, an organic EL display device, and the like. Input / output means (not shown) includes a mouse, a keyboard, and the like.

(Headquarters server)
The headquarters server 1 has a store information management unit 12 that manages information about each store. The store information management unit 12 stores, as an example of information regarding each store, in the store information storage unit 121, as shown in FIG. However, this is not an essential configuration, and the printer information shown in FIG. 6 can be substituted. Moreover, the store information management part 12 has memorize | stored the information regarding a controller in the shop information storage part 121 as shown in FIG.

  The printer information storage unit 13 of the headquarter server 1 stores at least information on the printer model and print function of each store and information on a controller that manages the printer. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, printer ID, model name, version information, print function, controller ID information is stored, and related consumable information is also stored.

  The printer information collection unit 13 provides a function of storing the printer model and print function information received from the controller and the controller identification information in the printer information storage unit 131. For example, the printer information collection unit 13 is provided periodically or arbitrarily. By command input, a command to transmit update information to all controllers is issued, and the transmission control unit 223 of all controllers reads out the printer model and print function information (including controller identification information) from the storage unit 222, The data is transmitted to the printer information collecting unit 13 of the headquarter server 1. Further, when such information is updated by the function of the transmission control unit 223 of the controller, the update information is automatically transmitted to the printer information collecting unit 13 of the headquarter server 1, and the printer information collecting unit 13 The received printer model and print function information and controller identification information can be stored in the printer information storage unit 131.

  The notice information control unit 17 of the headquarter server 1 provides a function for creating notice information, and can be used to key in the notice information by using an input unit (not shown). A file (text data, HTML data, etc.) stored in (not shown) can also be read and created.

  The notification information created by the notification information control unit 17 is configured to be distributed to all controllers by the distribution control unit 16 as shown in FIG. Furthermore, the present embodiment provides a function of selecting a delivery destination of the controller based on a print model and / or a print function. The list display unit 141 has a function of reading out the printer model name, version information, and print function information as shown in FIG. 7 and displaying the information in a list format on the screen. The operator can select one or more printer models, version information, and print functions related to the notification information from the listed printer models, version information, and print functions (selection unit). 14 functions). For example, when the operator selects “silver salt type QSS 3701” of the printer model from the list display, the information in the printer information storage unit 131 is searched using “silver salt type QSS 3701” as a key, and one or more to be the distribution destination of the notification information Controller IDs are extracted, and all of the extracted controller IDs are set as distribution destinations. (This is a function of the transmission destination setting unit 15). Then, the information in the store information storage unit 121 is searched using one or more set controller IDs as a key, and the transmission destination address of the controller specified by the controller ID is extracted. With respect to the extracted transmission destination address of the controller, the distribution control unit 16 performs distribution control so that the notification information is distributed as a distribution destination. The distribution process depends on the function of the transmission / reception unit 11. As described above, the distributed notice information is configured to be displayed by the display control unit 225 of the controller.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation for distributing notification information. First, the notification information control unit 17 creates notification information (step S1). Next, when it is not desired to distribute to all the controllers, the distribution destination is selected by selecting the printer model and / or print function related to the notification information (step S2). Select the printer model and / or print function related to the notification information from the printer model and / or print function list display. The printer storage unit 131 is searched using the selected printer model and / or print function as a key, the controller ID associated with the hit printer model and / or print function is extracted, and the extracted controller ID is used as the distribution destination. Set (step S3). Next, the destination address of each controller is searched using the extracted controller ID as a key, and notification information is distributed to the extracted destination address (step S4).

  The distribution destination controller receives the notification information (step S5) and stores it in a storage unit (not shown). Then, the notification information is displayed on a predetermined screen, and the operator of the controller can check the notification information (step S6).

(Another embodiment 1)
The operation of automatically selecting a delivery destination will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the notification information control unit 17 creates notification information (step S10). Next, the created notification information is analyzed, and a character string indicating the print model and / or print function is extracted. Next, the printer storage unit 131 is searched using the extracted character string (print model and / or print function) as a key, and the controller ID associated with the hit character string is extracted (step S12). The extracted controller ID is set as a delivery destination (step S13).

(Another embodiment 2)
The operation for determining whether or not to display the notification information on the controller side will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the controller receives notification information from the headquarter server 1 (step S20). The received notification information is analyzed whether or not a character string indicating the print model and / or print function exists, and if a character string indicating the print model and / or print function exists, it is extracted ( Function of analysis unit) (step S21). Next, the extracted character string (print model and / or print function) is collated with the print model and / or print function stored in the storage unit 222 using the key (function of the collation unit) (step S22). As a result of the collation, when the extracted character string does not exist in the storage unit 222, or when the extracted character string exists but the non-display flag is set, this notification information is set to non-display, If the extracted character string exists in the storage unit 222 and the non-display flag is not set, the notification information is set to be displayed (step S23).

(Another embodiment 3)
In the above embodiment, the delivery destination is set based on the print model and / or the print function. However, when the notification information is information related to the consumable item, the delivery destination is set based on the consumable item. Can be configured.

  According to the above embodiment, when the notification information is distributed to the controller of each store connected to the headquarters server via the network, the notification information is distributed to the controller of the store directly related to the content of the notification information. This makes it possible to eliminate unnecessary notification information and to eliminate the troublesomeness of the store user.

(Another embodiment)
The program for executing the processing operation of the headquarter server can be configured as follows.
On the computer,
A selection step of selecting a printer model and / or print function related to the notification information from the list displayed when the notification information is distributed from the headquarter server to the controller;
A transmission destination setting step of searching for information in the printer information storage unit based on the selection result of the selection step and setting one or more controllers to be a distribution destination of the notification information;
This is a program for executing a distribution control step for controlling the one or more controllers set in the transmission destination setting step to distribute the notification information.

Moreover, the program for executing the processing operation of FIG. 3 of the headquarter server can be configured as follows.
On the computer,
A step of analyzing a character string indicating a printer model and / or a print function included in the notification information when the notification information is distributed from the headquarter server to the controller;
A transmission destination setting step of searching for information in the printer information storage unit based on the character string extracted by the analysis and setting one or more controllers to be a distribution destination of the notification information;
This is a program for executing a distribution control step for controlling the one or more controllers set in the transmission destination setting step to distribute the notification information.

Further, the program for executing the processing operation of FIG. 4 of the controller can be configured as follows.
On the computer,
An analysis step for analyzing a character string indicating the printer model and / or print function included in the notification information received from the department server;
A collation step for collating the analysis result of the analysis step with the printer model and / or print function stored in the storage unit;
And a step of controlling not to display the notification information based on a collation result of the collation step.

1 head server 12 store information management unit 121 store information storage unit 13 printer information collection unit 131 printer information storage unit 14 selection unit 141 list display unit 15 destination setting unit 2 photo print system 22a first controller 221 order management unit 222 storage unit 223 Transmission control unit 225 Display control unit

Claims (6)

A photo print system installed in each of a plurality of stores, a plurality of order input units, two or more controllers for controlling photo print processing related to orders received by the order input unit, and the controller A photo print system having two or more printers that output photo prints based on print data relating to print processing, a store information management unit that manages information related to the plurality of stores, and each photo print system and network A photo print information network system comprising a headquarters server connected via
The headquarters server
A printer information storage unit for storing at least printer identification information for each store, information on the print function, and controller identification information for managing the printer;
A printer information collection unit that stores the printer model and print function information received from the controller and controller identification information in the printer information storage unit;
A selection unit that selects a printer model and / or a print function related to the notification information when distributing the notification information from the headquarter server to the controller;
A transmission destination setting unit that searches information in a printer information storage unit based on a selection result of the selection unit and sets one or more controllers to be a distribution destination of the notification information;
A delivery control unit that controls to deliver the notification information to one or more controllers set in the transmission destination setting unit;
The photo print information network system, wherein the controller has a display control unit that can display the notification information received from the headquarter server. The controller is
A storage unit for storing information on the printer model and print function managed by the controller;
A transmission control unit that transmits the updated printer model and print function update information and the controller identification information to the headquarter server when the printer model and print function information stored in the storage unit is updated; The photographic print information network system according to claim 1.   3. The photo print information network system according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit of the headquarter server is configured to receive a user selection instruction from a list of printer models and / or print functions.   The selection unit of the headquarter server is configured to analyze a character string indicating a printer model and / or print function included in the notification information and automatically select a printer model and / or print function. Item 3. The photo print information network system according to Item 1 or 2. The controller is
A storage unit for storing information on the printer model and print function managed by the controller;
An analysis unit for analyzing a character string indicating a printer model and / or a print function included in the notification information received from the headquarter server;
A collation unit that collates the analysis result of the analysis unit with the printer model and / or print function stored in the storage unit;
The photographic print information network system according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit performs control so that the notification information is not displayed based on a collation result of the collation unit.   6. The photo print information network system according to claim 5, wherein the collation unit of the controller configures a collation result based on non-display information stored in advance in the storage unit.

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