JP2014021890A - Editing program and editing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an editing program or the like in which when editing a print image to be printed on a rewritable hybrid media ticket surface, improvement of print finish is taken into consideration.SOLUTION: An editing program according to the present invention causes an editing device, which edits an image to be printed on a print surface of a print medium in which a RF tag is embedded, to execute: a reading procedure for reading an embedded position of the RF tag out of storage means; an image allocation procedure for allocating an image to be printed on a print surface; a determination procedure for determining whether or not the embedded position of the RF tag and the disposed position of the image overlap each other; and a notification procedure for notifying, when it is determined that the embedded position of the RF tag and the disposed position of the image overlap each other by the determination procedure, the overlapping.

Description

  The present invention relates to the field of editing programs and editing methods.

  Conventionally, RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) is known. RFID is a technology that can instantaneously read information written in an RF tag and reflect the information in a system even from a distance by wireless communication using radio waves. By automating work that has been done by humans by introducing RFID, it is possible to significantly reduce costs. Therefore, the introduction of this method is particularly advanced in the field of product / part management and process management. By the way. However, until now, there has been a problem that the information (contents) written in the RF tag cannot be viewed without a dedicated reader.

  Therefore, in recent years, “rewritable hybrid media” has become widespread as a medium that combines an RF tag and a rewritable sheet that can be rewritten to simultaneously display electronic information written on the RF tag on a ticket surface. The surface of the rewritable hybrid media is made of a thin chemical material sheet, and an RF tag is embedded so as to be sandwiched between the sheets (for example, see FIG. 1).

  The characteristics of rewritable hybrid media are that the electronic information in the RF tag can be printed with black color by applying heat to the surface of the rewritable sheet, it can be rewritten repeatedly by special processing on the surface of the rewritable sheet, the electronic information of the RF tag and the rewritable sheet There is a point that the printing information on the front surface can be rewritten at the same time to ensure consistency between the two pieces of information. In addition, rewritable hybrid media can be used with barcode information and has high compatibility with existing infrastructure.

  The rewritable hybrid media is often used as a form, such as “invoice” or “delivery note” at the distribution site such as shipment / arrival, or “work instruction” at the factory site. Usually, when designing a ticket surface of media, a tool such as a form layout editor is used to design or edit a print to be printed on the ticket surface. There are also printers and printing systems capable of printing electronic information on RF tags while simultaneously printing an image on a rewritable hybrid media ticket.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a printer engine, an RFID reader / writer, and a printer are provided in order to provide a printing system capable of printing image information on a ticket surface and writing information on an RFID tag by a single printing system. A system composed of controllers is described. In addition, a form application (form program capable of editing both print data and RFID data) operating on a client PC connected via a network is described.

  However, since the RF tag is embedded in the rewritable hybrid media, there are some uneven portions on the surface of the ticket. For this reason, when printing an image on a rewritable hybrid media ticket using a tool such as the above-described form layout editor, the printed image is distorted and printed if the image prints exactly on the convex portion of the ticket surface. . For this reason, there was a problem that the printed finish (look) was impaired on the ticket surface. In addition, when a barcode or the like is printed on a convex portion on the surface of the ticket, the barcode is distorted and printed, which may cause a problem in barcode reading accuracy.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an editing program or the like that takes into account the improvement in print finish when editing a print image on a rewritable hybrid media ticket.

  In order to solve the above problems, an editing program according to the present invention provides an editing device for editing an image to be printed on a printing surface of a printing medium in which an RF tag is embedded, from a storage unit to an embedded position of the RF tag. A reading procedure for reading, an image arranging procedure for arranging an image to be printed on the printing surface, a determination procedure for determining whether or not the RF tag embedding position and the image arranging position overlap, and the determination If it is determined by the procedure that the RF tag embedding position and the image arrangement position overlap, a notification procedure for notifying the overlap is executed.

  In addition, what applied the arbitrary combination of the component of this invention, expression, or a component to a method, an apparatus, a system, a computer program, a recording medium, etc. is effective as an aspect of this invention.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, when editing a print image on a rewritable hybrid media ticket, it is possible to provide an editing program that takes into account the improvement of the print finish.

1 shows an example of a rewritable hybrid media according to the present embodiment. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printer system of a rewritable hybrid media according to an embodiment. It is a hardware block diagram which shows the main structures of one Embodiment of the editing apparatus 1 which concerns on embodiment. An example of the functional block diagram of the editing apparatus 1 which concerns on this embodiment is shown. An example of the media information 101a which concerns on this embodiment is shown. An example of type 1 RH media according to the present embodiment is shown. An example of the image edit screen (the 1) which concerns on this embodiment is shown. An example of the image edit screen (the 2) which concerns on this embodiment is shown. An example of the image edit screen (the 3) which concerns on this embodiment is shown. It is a flowchart explaining the determination process of the editing apparatus 1 (determination part 104) which concerns on this embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings in each embodiment.

[System configuration]
(System configuration)
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a rewritable hybrid media printer system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2A, the printer system according to this embodiment includes an editing device 1, a printer control device 2, and a printer 3 connected via a network such as a LAN. Hereinafter, the rewritable hybrid media is abbreviated as RH media.

  The editing device 1 is a computer device that edits a print image for printing on a ticket surface (printing surface) of RH media. Specifically, it can be realized by a PC or the like on which an RH media editing application (hereinafter abbreviated as an editing application) 10 is installed. The user draws and edits an image to be printed on the ticket surface of the RH media through the image editing screen of the editing application 10. The print image is transmitted from the editing application to the printer control apparatus 2 via the network.

  The printer control device 2 controls the printer 3. When the printer control device 2 receives the print image from the editing application 10 of the editing device 1, the printer control device 2 controls the printer 3 to print the print image on the ticket surface of the RH media set in the printer 3.

  The printer 3 is a printer for RH media. The printer 3 prints the print image on the ticket surface of the RH media set in the printer 3 according to the control from the printer control device 2.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the printer system according to this embodiment can also connect the printer 3 directly to the editing apparatus 1. In this case, the editing apparatus 1 includes a printer control driver for controlling the printer 3 and the like.

(hardware)
FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram illustrating a main configuration of one embodiment of the editing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. The editing device 1 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, an HDD 14, a storage medium reading device 15, an input device 16, a display device 17, and a communication device 18 as main components.

  The CPU 11 is composed of a microprocessor and its peripheral circuits, and is a circuit that controls the entire apparatus. The ROM 12 is a memory for storing a predetermined control program executed by the CPU 11, and the RAM 13 is used as a work area when the CPU 11 executes the predetermined control program stored in the ROM 12 and performs various controls. Memory. The HDD 14 is a device that stores various information including a general-purpose OS and various programs, and is a nonvolatile storage device. The storage medium reader 15 is a device that inputs information from an external storage medium such as a CD, DVD, or USB memory.

  The input device 16 is a device for a user to perform various input operations. The input device 16 includes a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel switch provided so as to be superimposed on the display screen of the display device 17, and the like. The display device 17 is a device that displays various data on a display screen. For example, it is composed of LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and the like. The communication device 18 is a device that communicates with other devices via a network. Supports communication according to various network forms including wired and wireless networks.

(function)
Next, the main functional configuration of the editing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 shows an example of a functional block diagram of the editing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the editing apparatus 1 (editing application 10) according to the present embodiment includes a storage unit 101, a display unit 102, an image editing unit 103, a determination unit 104, and a notification unit 105.

  The storage unit 101 stores media information 101a in advance. The media information 101a is RH media configuration information in which, for each type of RH media, information such as the size, shape, and position where the RF tag is embedded is described. Specific examples will be described later.

  The display unit 102 displays the image editing screen of the editing application 10. The user edits an image to be printed on the printing surface of the RH media using the image editing screen as a GUI.

  The image editing unit 103 edits an image to be printed on the printing surface of the RH media on the image editing screen in accordance with an operation instruction from the user. Note that editing is a process necessary for printing an image to be printed on the printing surface, such as drawing an arbitrary image, inputting or deleting characters, and placing an image on the printing surface of RH media. Includes editing processing.

  The determination unit 104 determines whether or not the RF tag embedding position and the image arrangement position overlap on the print surface.

  When the determination unit 104 determines that the RF tag embedding position and the image placement position overlap, the notification unit 105 notifies that the RF tag and the image placement position overlap. As an example of the notification method, there is a method of displaying the fact on the image editing screen through the display unit 102.

  The main functional configuration of the editing apparatus 1 has been described above. These functions are actually realized by the computer by the program of the editing application 10 executed by the CPU 11 of the apparatus.

(Example of media information 101a)
FIG. 5 shows an example of the media information 101a according to the present embodiment. As described above, the media information 101a is RH media configuration information in which information such as the size, shape, and position where the RF tag is embedded is described for each type of RH media.

  There are a plurality of types of RH media so that the RH media can be used according to the application such as a form, and the size, shape, position where the RF tag is embedded, and the like differ depending on the type (for example, model number or type). For this reason, in the media information 101a, configuration information is defined for each type of RH media.

For example, in the case of the media information 101a shown in the figure, three types of configuration information are included and defined. Hereinafter, an example of type 1 will be described.
<product id = "UH85200-HIXXX"> ... Indicates the product ID and model number of the RH media.
<type> hibiki </ type>: Indicates the type (name) of the RH media.
<size width = "200" height = "85"/> ... Indicates the size of the RH media. The unit is mm.
<ic_layout x = "100" y = "40"/>... indicates the position (start point) where the RF tag is embedded.
<ic_size width = "5" height = "5"/> ... Indicates the size (range) in which the RF tag is embedded.
<memory bank = "UII" start = "01h" end = "10h"/>... Indicates the type of memory bank in the RF tag and the start / end address.
<memory bank = "USER" start = "00h" end = "5Fh"/>... Indicates the type of memory bank in the RF tag and the start / end address.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of type 1 RH media according to the present embodiment. According to the type 1 configuration information of the media information 101a, as shown in the figure, the type 1 (product id = "UH85200-HIXXX" type = hibiki) RH media has a size of 200 mm in width and 80 mm in length. In addition, an RF tag is embedded in the center position within a range of 5 mm in length and width.

[Example of image editing screen]
FIG. 7 shows an example of an image editing screen (part 1) according to the present embodiment. When designing a ticket face of RH media, the user operates the editing apparatus 1 to activate the editing application 10 and first starts up an image editing screen. Next, the model number of the RH media to be used this time is specified on the image editing screen. The editing application 10 reads the media information 101a, and selects one type (for example, a model number) from a plurality of types of RH media defined in the media information 101a.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of an image editing screen (part 2) according to the present embodiment. When one model number is selected by the user, the RH media is selected on the image editing screen based on the configuration information (for example, size, shape, position where the RF tag is embedded, etc.) of the RH media of the selected model number. indicate. In addition, an “embedding position” in which the RF tag is embedded is displayed at the center of the RH media. The “embedding position” can be switched between display and non-display by, for example, “RF tag embedded display / non-display” in the upper right of the image editing screen. The default is RF tag embedded display.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of an image editing screen (part 3) according to the present embodiment. The user edits an arbitrary image to be printed on the ticket surface of the RH media through the image editing screen of the editing application 10. Specifically, drawing of an arbitrary image to be printed, character input, deletion, arrangement of an image on the printing surface of the RH media, and the like are performed on the ticket surface of the RH media.

  Here, on the “embedding position” where the RF tag of the RH media is embedded, the user draws an arbitrary image, inputs a character, and places an image. If the “embedding position” and the image overlap, the editing application 10 informs the user, for example, “Is the RF tag embedding position and the image overlapping? Are you sure?” A warning message is displayed.

  If this display is received and the user avoids editing to place an image on the “embedding position”, the problem that the printed finish (look) is impaired on the ticket surface of the RH media as a result can be avoided. it can. In addition, when the “embedding position” in which the RF tag is already embedded is displayed in the center portion of the RH media (see, for example, FIG. 8), the user can “ It is possible to avoid editing by placing an image on the “embedding position”.

  Note that, here, the display is only for caution, but this is to give flexibility to the user's needs and applications. In other words, the user can print an arbitrary image on the “embedding position” with the knowledge that the “embedding position” and the image overlap each other.

  On the other hand, if it is completely prohibited to overlap the “embedding position” and the image, the editing application 10 may, for example, “place the image here because the RF tag embedding position and the image overlap. It is also possible to display an explanation for prohibiting the operation to the user, such as “Cannot do.” Further, the editing application 10 performs control so as not to permit such editing operation.

[Information processing]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for describing determination processing of the editing apparatus 1 (determination unit 104) according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to the drawings. The scene to which this flowchart is applied is a scene after the editing application 10 is activated by the user and the image editing screen is launched.

  S1: The determination unit 104 determines whether or not an RH media model number has been selected. When the image editing start operation screen or the like is launched, the editing application 10 causes the determination unit 104 to select one type (for example, a model number) from a plurality of types of RH media defined in the media information 101a. Can acquire the model number of the RH media selected here.

  S2: The determination unit 104 refers to the media information 101a and acquires the RF tag embedding position in the selected model number. For example, when the selected model number is “UH85200-HIXXX”, the determination unit 104 uses <ic_layout x = “100” y = “40” />, < ic_size width = "5" height = "5" /> is acquired (see, for example, FIG. 5).

  S3: The determination unit 104 acquires the arrangement position of the image. The image editing unit 103 edits an image to be printed on the printing surface of the RH media on the image editing screen in accordance with an operation instruction from the user. Therefore, the determination unit 104 can acquire the arrangement position of the image from the image editing unit 103 in real time.

  S4: The determination unit 104 determines whether or not the RF tag embedding position acquired in S2 and the image layout position acquired in S3 overlap. That is, it is determined whether or not an image is placed on the RF tag embedding position.

  S5: If the determination unit 104 determines that the RF tag embedding position and the image arrangement position overlap, the determination unit 104 notifies the notification unit 105 to that effect. For example, the notification unit 105 notifies the fact by displaying that the arrangement positions of the RF tag and the image overlap on the image editing screen through the display unit 102. As another notification method, for example, the color on the RF tag embedding position can be changed from a normal color (for example, gray) to a non-normal color (for example, red).

  S6: The determination unit 104 determines the end of editing. Whether the editing has been completed can be acquired from the image editing unit 103. If it is determined that the editing is not completed, the determination unit 104 proceeds to S3, and repeats the determination process whether the RF tag embedding position and the image arrangement position do not overlap until the editing ends.

  As described above, when the user edits an image to be printed on the ticket surface (printing surface) of the RH media, the editing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has the “embedding position” on which the RF tag of the RH media is embedded. When the user tries to place an arbitrary image, a display is made to alert the user to that effect. This display alerts the user and avoids editing where the user places an image on the “embedding position”.

  In the image editing screen, display / non-display of the “embedding position” in which the RF tag is embedded can be switched. In the case of the RF tag embedded display, since the “embedded position” of the RF tag is displayed on the RH media (see, for example, FIG. 8), the user is not required to receive a warning display. Editing that spontaneously places an image on the “embedding position” can be avoided.

  For this reason, according to the editing apparatus 1 which concerns on this embodiment, it avoids that an image is printed on the convex part of the ticket surface of RH media, and, on the other hand, print finish (look) is impaired on the ticket surface of RH media. Can be avoided. In addition, when a code image such as a barcode or QR code (registered trademark) is printed on the convex portion of the surface of the ticket, the code image is distorted and printed, which causes a problem in reading accuracy of the code information. It is possible to avoid this problem.

  As described above, it is possible to completely prohibit the “embedding position” and the image from overlapping each other. In this case, for example, the notification unit 105 prohibits the operation in addition to the overlap to the user, such as “The image is overlapped with the RF tag embedding position and the image cannot be arranged here”. To be notified. Further, the image editing unit 103 can perform control so as to prohibit the arrangement of the image with respect to the arrangement position.

(Supplement)
Since the RF tag includes an IC chip and an antenna, the IC chip and the antenna are generally embedded in the RH media so as to be sandwiched between sheets of a thin chemical material. The antenna is generally thinner than the thickness of the IC chip. For this reason, when the IC chip and the antenna are embedded between the sheets, there is physically an uneven portion on the surface of the ticket surface corresponding to the embedded position of the IC chip and the antenna. However, particularly when image printing overlaps the convex portion of the surface of the bill, the printed surface has a large distortion on the bill corresponding to the IC chip embedding position.

  The antenna may be embedded over a wide range in the RH media in order to improve the communication with the reader. For this reason, avoiding not only the IC chip but also the position where the antenna is embedded avoids the arrangement of the image, so that the drawing area where the image can be edited is reduced accordingly. Sex is reduced.

  Therefore, by setting the above-mentioned “RF tag embedding position” according to the present embodiment as an “IC chip embedding position”, it is possible to avoid deteriorating the printed finish (look) on the ticket surface of the RH media. However, it is possible to secure a sufficient drawing area for image editing on the ticket surface of the RH media.

[Summary]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide an editing program that takes into account the improvement of the printed finish on the ticket surface when editing the print image on the rewritable hybrid media ticket surface. Note that the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

1 Editing Device 2 Printer Control Device 3 Printer 11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 HDD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Storage medium reader 16 Input device 17 Display apparatus 18 Communication apparatus 101 Storage part 102 Display part 103 Image editing part 104 Judgment part 105 Notification part

Japanese Patent No. 4364772

Claims (7)

In an editing device for editing an image to be printed on a printing surface of a printing medium in which an RF tag is embedded,
A reading procedure for reading the embedded position of the RF tag from the storage means;
An image placement procedure for placing an image to be printed on the printing surface;
A determination procedure for determining whether or not the embedded position of the RF tag overlaps with the arrangement position of the image;
If it is determined by the determination procedure that the embedded position of the RF tag and the arrangement position of the image overlap, a notification procedure for notifying the overlap;
An editing program to execute. On the editing screen, a display procedure for displaying the embedded position of the RF tag on the printing surface is executed.
The determination step determines that the embedded position of the RF tag and the disposed position of the image overlap when the image is disposed at the embedded position of the RF tag displayed on the printing surface. Item 1. The editing program according to item 1.   3. The editing according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined by the determination procedure that the embedded position of the RF tag and the arrangement position of the image overlap each other, a control procedure for prohibiting image arrangement with respect to the arrangement position is executed. program.   4. The editing program according to claim 1, wherein the print medium is a rewritable hybrid medium with an RF tag. The editing program according to claim 1, wherein the image is code information.
Editing program. In an editing device for editing an image to be printed on a printing surface of a printing medium in which an RF tag is embedded,
A reading procedure for reading the embedded position of the RF tag from the storage means;
An image placement procedure for placing an image to be printed on the printing surface;
A display procedure for displaying an embedded position of the RF tag on the print surface on an edit screen;
An editing program to execute. An editing method in an editing apparatus for editing an image to be printed on a printing surface of a printing medium in which an RF tag is embedded,
A reading procedure for reading the embedded position of the RF tag from the storage means;
An image placement procedure for placing an image to be printed on the printing surface;
A determination procedure for determining whether or not the embedded position of the RF tag overlaps with the arrangement position of the image;
If it is determined by the determination procedure that the embedded position of the RF tag and the arrangement position of the image overlap, a notification procedure for notifying the overlap;
An editing method characterized by comprising:

Images