JP2015103205A - Printing system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the appeal power of advertisement of a commodity or service compared to that in the case in which typical advertisement of a commodity or service is simply printed.SOLUTION: A printing system 1 of the present invention includes: print object acquisition means for acquiring print object person information indicating an attribute of a print object person for whom printing is performed, and specific information which is information for specifying a commodity or service presented for the print object person; contribution information selection means for selecting, on the basis of the specific information, either one of a plurality of pieces of contribution information from a database containing the plurality of pieces of contribution information contributed by a plurality of contributors with respect to a plurality of commodities and a plurality of pieces of services; and print control means for performing control so as to cause printing means to print an image representing the print object person, and an image represented by the specific information and the selected contribution information.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system and a program.

  In recent years, for example, a variable printing technique has been used in which variable information such as an address, a name, and a billing amount is printed on a predetermined format, for example, when a bill is issued. Advertisements are also printed on invoices using variable printing technology.

  Patent Document 1 describes content that a user having an associated person ID related to the user leaves reputation information on the user's terminal device in the SNS site, and within a predetermined range from the current position of the user. It is described that the content including the location information of is displayed. Patent Document 2 describes that an article on a website on the Internet is searched based on a search keyword, and information indicating consumer behavior is acquired by analyzing a sentence of the article.

JP 2008-191979 A JP 2011-107826 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system and program that can increase the appeal of advertisements related to products and services rather than simply printing standard advertisements of products and services.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a printing system, and is identification information that identifies printing target person information indicating an attribute of a printing target person to be printed and information for specifying a product or service proposed to the printing target person Printing object acquisition means for acquiring information, and based on the specific information, select one of the plurality of pieces of posting information from a database including a plurality of pieces of posting information posted by a plurality of contributors regarding a plurality of products or services Post information selection means, and print control means for controlling the printing means to print the image indicating the person to be printed, the specific information, and the image indicated by the selected post information.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the database further includes contributor information indicating attributes of the plurality of contributors, and the post information selecting unit includes the specific information and the print One of the plurality of posted information is selected from the database based on the target person information.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the posted information selecting means selects one of posted information that does not include a keyword predetermined from the database based on the specific information. It is characterized by selecting.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the posts indicates posting information posted by a plurality of contributors and attributes of the plurality of contributors for a plurality of products and services. Database selection means for selecting any one of a plurality of databases including person information based on the poster information and the print target person information included in the plurality of databases, the posting information selection means, One of the plurality of posted information is selected from the selected database.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the fourth aspect, the database selection unit is configured to select the plurality of data based on information indicating the number of contributors having respective attributes and the print target person information. One of the databases is selected.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the posting information selection means prints the length of the character string of the plurality of posting information and the selected posting information. One of the plurality of pieces of posted information is selected from the database based on the size of the area.

  The invention according to claim 7 acquires print target person information indicating attributes of a print target person to be printed and specific information that is information for specifying a product or service proposed to the print target person. Print target acquisition means, post information selection means for selecting any of the plurality of post information from a database including a plurality of post information posted by a plurality of contributors on a plurality of products or services based on the specific information, A program for causing a computer to function as a print control unit that controls a printing unit to print an image indicating a person to be printed and an image indicated by the specific information and the selected post information.

  According to the first and seventh aspects of the present invention, it is possible to increase the appealing power of advertisements related to products and services rather than simply printing standard advertisements of products and services.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to further increase the appealing power of the advertisement to the print target person than when the posting information is not selected according to the print target person.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent post information including an expression that is not appropriate to be shown to the print target person from being printed.

  According to the fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to increase the appeal of the advertisement to the person to be printed as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, post information that fits in the size of the area for printing post information can be presented to the person to be printed.

It is a figure which shows an example of the apparatus structure of the printing system concerning embodiment of this invention. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a print server and a client device. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a sequence diagram showing an example of processing executed in the printing system. It is the figure which showed an example of variable data. It is a figure which shows an example of a process of a database selection part and a contribution information selection part. It is a figure which shows an example of a process of a database selection part and a contribution information selection part. It is a figure which shows an example of the process which calculates the relevance degree with a printing subject. It is a figure explaining an example of the process which determines the order | rank of each database. It is a figure showing an example of the printing content in a printing control part. It is a figure explaining an example of the process which determines the order | rank of each database in a modification.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, in the present specification and each drawing, elements similar to those described above with reference to the previous drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description may be omitted as appropriate.

  The printing system according to the present embodiment includes information on a print target (for example, a recipient of a print product) to be printed, an image indicating a product or service proposed to the print target, and a user related to the product or service. To print the posts. In addition, the printing system according to the present embodiment performs printing while sequentially replacing print contents related to products and services that are different for each person to be printed on a format (template) common to a plurality of printed materials. Such a printing method is called variable printing. Variable printing is used for printing invoices and credit card usage details for a plurality of printing subjects.

[1. Configuration of printing system]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a device configuration of a printing system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a printing system 1 includes a print server 2 configured by a server computer, a client device 3 configured by a personal computer, and a printer 4 serving as a printing device. The print server 2 and the printer 4 are connected via a bus or a network and can exchange data with each other. The number of client devices 3 and printers 4 constituting the printing system 1 may be plural, or the print server 2 may include the printer 4.

  The SNS server 5 is configured by a server computer or the like. The SNS server 5 provides services such as a community-type membership network SNS (Social Networking Service) that promotes interaction between users, a blog having communication functions such as comments and trackback, and an electronic bulletin board. It is a server. In order to provide such various services, the SNS server 5 posts information indicating a post (message) transmitted from the user and information indicating an attribute of the user (poster) (hereinafter also referred to as poster information). ) And so on. In the present embodiment, there are a plurality of SNS servers 5 depending on the types of services and communities.

  Also, the print server 2, the client device 3, and the plurality of SNS servers 5 are connected to a network 6 capable of data communication such as the Internet, and each device is installed in a remote place. Data can be exchanged. Note that the print server 2 and the client device 3 may be connected by a local area network. In this case, the print server 2 and the client device 3 are limited in one company, in a building, or the like. Installed in the area.

  In the present embodiment, the client apparatus 3 accepts an operation from a user of the printing system 1 and print target person information (hereinafter also referred to as print target person information) indicating the name, address, billing amount, etc. of the print target person. ) And information (hereinafter also referred to as product specifying information) for specifying the product or service to be proposed to the print target person is transmitted to the print server 2. Then, the print server 2 acquires post information indicating a post from a third party regarding the product or service of the transmitted product information from any of the plurality of SNS servers 5, and uses the print target person information and the product information. A print job including the displayed image and the posted information is transmitted to the printer 4 to cause the printer 4 to execute print processing.

  For example, when printing an invoice sent by the printing system 1 to a person to be printed, the person to be printed includes information on the name and address of the person to be printed who is the recipient of the invoice, and the billing amount. Includes a product name and a service name, and the print server 2 includes the name, address, and billing amount of the person to be printed, an image of the product to be proposed to the person to be printed as an advertisement for the person to be printed, and an impression on the product. Are posted on the printer 4.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the print server 2, the client device 3, and the SNS server 5. Each of the print server 2, the client device 3, and the SNS server 5 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a communication unit 13, and an input / output unit 14.

  The control unit 11 operates according to a program stored in the storage unit 12. The control unit 11 controls the communication unit 13 and the input / output unit 14. The program may be provided through the Internet or the like, or may be provided by being stored in a computer-readable storage medium such as a flash memory or a DVD-ROM. .

  The storage unit 12 includes a memory element such as a RAM and a flash memory, and a hard disk drive. The storage unit 12 stores the program. The storage unit 12 stores information input from each unit and calculation results.

  The communication unit 13 realizes a function of communicating with other devices, and includes, for example, a wired LAN communication integrated circuit and connector, a wireless LAN integrated circuit, an antenna, and the like. Based on the control of the control unit 11, the communication unit 13 inputs information received from another device to the control unit 11 or the storage unit 12 and transmits data to the other device.

  The input / output unit 14 includes a video controller that controls the display output device, a controller that acquires data from the input device, and the like. Examples of input devices include a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel. The input / output unit 14 outputs display data to the display output device based on the control of the control unit 11, and acquires data input by the user operating the input device. The display output device is, for example, a display device connected to the outside.

[2. Function group realized in printing system]
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the printing system 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the client device 3 functionally includes a print target information generation unit 20 and a print target information transmission unit 21. The print server 2 functionally includes a print target information acquisition unit 22, a database selection unit 23, a posted information selection unit 24, and a print control unit 25. These functions are realized, for example, when the control unit 11 executes a program stored in the storage unit 12 and the control unit 11 controls the communication unit 13.

  Further, the client device 3 functionally includes a personal information storage unit 30 and a product information storage unit 31. The print server 2 includes a database information storage unit 32, a prohibited keyword storage unit 33, a form data storage unit 34, and a product image storage unit 35. The SNS server 5 functionally includes a database 40. These functions are mainly realized by the storage unit 12. The personal information storage unit 30, the product information storage unit 31, the database information storage unit 32, the prohibited keyword storage unit 33, the form data storage unit 34, and the product image storage unit 35 are the client device 3 and the print In addition to being included in the server 2, it may be realized by other devices (such as a storage device or an information processing device) connected via a bus or a network.

[3. Processing executed in the printing system]
FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of processing executed in the printing system 1. Hereinafter, functions realized by the printing system 1 will be described with reference to a sequence diagram.

[3-1. Generation of print target person information and product identification information]
The print target information generation unit 20 is mainly realized by the control unit 11 of the client device 3. The print target information generation unit 20 generates print target person information indicating attributes of a print target person to be printed, and product specifying information that is information for specifying a product or service proposed to the print target person. (Step S101).

  The print target information generation unit 20 generates, for example, data (hereinafter, also referred to as variable data) in which a plurality of print target person information and product identification information are stored. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of variable data. As shown in FIG. 5, the variable data includes, for example, information that specifies the print target person's name, address, gender, age, and the print target person's favorite URL or SNS community as the print target person information. Information such as SNS is included. The variable data includes information such as a product name and a service name as product specifying information.

  Here, the personal information storage unit 30 stores in advance various personal information (name, address, gender, usage SNS information) of the person to be printed. Note that the personal information storage unit 30 may store, as personal information, for example, information such as the occupation and hobbies of the person to be printed, the family structure, the amount charged for the purchase of goods, the credit card usage details, and the like. The print target information generation unit 20 generates print target person information (variable data) including a part of personal information about the print target person.

  The product information storage unit 31 stores in advance information such as a product name, a product model number, a service name, and a provider as information for specifying the product or service. The product information storage unit 31 may store an ID (hereinafter, also referred to as a product ID) that uniquely identifies a plurality of types of information related to the product or service. The print target information generation unit 20 generates product specifying information (variable data) including a part of information for specifying the product or service proposed to the print target person.

  The print target information generation unit 20 may receive an input operation by the user and acquire the print target person information and the product specifying information. The print target information generation unit 20 displays, for example, information on the person to be printed and an input screen for requesting input of a product or service to be presented to the print target person on the input / output unit 14 of the client device 3, and Variable data is generated by acquiring input information.

  Further, the personal information storage unit 30 may include purchase records of persons to be printed. In this case, the print target information generation unit 20 may acquire the product specifying information of the product or service proposed to the print target person by a so-called recommendation technique based on the purchase record. The print target information generation unit 20 generates product specifying information related to a printer that is a peripheral device of a personal computer, for example, for a print target person who has a purchase record indicating that the latest personal computer has been purchased.

[3-2. Sending print target person information and product specific information]
The print target information transmission unit 21 is mainly realized by the control unit 11 and the communication unit 13 of the client device 3. The print target information transmitting unit 21 transmits the print target person information and the product specifying information generated by the print target information generating unit 20 to the print server 2 (step S102). The print target information transmission unit 21 transmits, for example, the generated variable data to the print server 2.

[3-3. Acquisition of print target person information and product specific information]
The print target information acquisition unit 22 is mainly realized by the control unit 11 and the communication unit 13 of the print server 2. The print target information acquisition unit 22 acquires print target person information indicating attributes of a print target person to be printed, and product specifying information that is information for specifying a product or service to be proposed to the print target person. (Step S201). In the present embodiment, the print target information acquisition unit 22 receives the variable data transmitted from the client device 3, thereby acquiring the print target person information and the product specifying information included in the variable data.

  The print target information acquisition unit 22 selects print target person information and product specifying information to be printed by the printer 4 from a plurality of print target person information and product specifying information. First, the print target information acquisition unit 22 selects first print target person information and product identification information (first record in variable data) (step S202). When the printing process for the selected information is completed, the print target information acquisition unit 22 selects the next print target person information and product specifying information (step S206).

[3-4. Select database and posting information]
The database selection unit 23 and the posted information selection unit 24 are mainly realized by the control unit 11 and the communication unit 13 of the print server 2. The database selection unit 23 selects any one of a plurality of databases 40 each including posting information posted by a plurality of contributors and a plurality of contributor information indicating attributes of the plurality of contributors with respect to a plurality of products and services. The posted information selection unit 24 selects any of posted information of a plurality of posted information from the selected database 40 (step S203).

  In the present embodiment, different databases 40 are realized by different SNS servers 5. Each database 40 stores a plurality of post information and a plurality of contributor information. The post information is information indicating a post distributed from a user (poster) of a service provided in the SNS server 5 and includes a character string indicating the post content. The posted information includes, for example, the contributor's impression of the product or service.

  Also, the posting information includes the date and time of posting, and information that identifies the product or service to be posted (for example, a character string such as a name that identifies the product or service, or a product ID). Also good. Further, the posted information may include posted evaluation information indicating an evaluation from a third party with respect to the posted information. The post evaluation information here includes, for example, the number of times that an affirmative evaluation operation (for example, pressing of a “Like” button) is performed by a third party, the number of posts (replies) for the post information, and the third This is information indicating the number of times a person has cited and reposted the post.

  Also, the poster information is information indicating the attribute of the user (poster) of the SNS server 5 that transmitted the posting information, and is information indicating, for example, the name, address, age, etc. of the poster. The poster information is stored in the database 40 in a state associated with the posting information.

  Further, the SNS server 5 has a search function that accepts a search condition character string (keyword) and product ID, and searches the database 40 for post information and poster information that include (or match) these. The search function is realized, for example, as an API (Application Program Interface) called via the network 6.

  6 and 7 are diagrams illustrating an example of processing of the database selection unit 23 and the posting information selection unit 24.

[3-4-1. Select Database]
The database selection unit 23 selects any one of the plurality of databases 40 based on the poster information and the print target person information included in the plurality of databases 40. Specifically, the database selection unit 23 selects one of the plurality of databases 40 based on information indicating the number of contributors having respective attributes and print target person information.

  The database selection unit 23 selects one of the plurality of databases 40 based on the evaluation value (total evaluation) calculated for each of the plurality of databases 40. Here, in the database information storage unit 32, information indicating the storage locations of the plurality of databases 40 (for example, URLs, SNS community names, etc.) is stored in advance. The plurality of databases 40 are specified based on information stored in the database information storage unit 32. A part of the databases 40 may be specified at random from the plurality of databases 40 specified in this way.

  The overall evaluation of the database 40 is calculated from factors such as the freshness of the database 40, the evaluation of posted information, the reliability, the ethics, and the degree of association with the person to be printed. Hereinafter, a method for calculating the freshness of the database 40 will be described.

[Calculation of freshness]
The database selection unit 23 calculates the freshness of the database 40 (step S301). The freshness of the database 40 is information indicating whether discussions regarding products or services of the product identification information selected by the print target information acquisition unit 22 are actively and timely. Specifically, the freshness of the database 40 is calculated based on the date and time when each of a plurality of pieces of posted information is posted and the number of pieces of posted information including the selected product specifying information.

  The database selection unit 23 includes posted information including the product name of the selected product specifying information among the posted information posted within a past period (for example, within the last one week) determined in advance from the present ( Alternatively, the posting information including the product ID of the product specifying information) is searched from the database 40, and the freshness of each database 40 is calculated from the number of posted information found by the search. In addition, a post that is searched for by a coefficient determined for each period from the present (for example, a coefficient that is set to a higher value as it is closer to the current time) and the product name among the posted information posted within that period The freshness of the database 40 may be calculated on the basis of the cumulative value for each period multiplied by the number of information.

[Calculation of posted information evaluation]
The database selection unit 23 calculates the evaluation of the posted information in the database 40 (Step S302). The evaluation of the posted information in the database 40 is calculated based on the posted evaluation information included in each posted information in the database 40. For example, the higher the number of times that the posting information is positively evaluated, the number of replies to the posting, and the number of times a third party quotes and reposts the posting, the higher the evaluation value of the posting information in the database 40 Calculated.

[Calculation of reliability]
The database selection unit 23 calculates the reliability of the database 40 (step S303). For example, when similar postings are repeated by the same poster, a low value is calculated for the reliability of the database 40. The database selection unit 23 searches the database 40 for posted information that matches the poster, and calculates the reliability of the database 40 based on the number of posted information that matches the posted content among the posted information found by the search.

  The database selection unit 23 performs calculation so that the reliability of the database 40 becomes lower as the number of pieces of posted information whose posters and posted contents match is larger. The database selection unit 23 may set a predetermined value as the reliability of the database 40 according to the range of the number of matching contributor information, or specify the number of the contributor information that matches. The reliability of the database 40 may be calculated by subtracting from the value.

  The database selection unit 23 selects the database 40 based on the number of pieces of posted information in which the matched portion of the character string indicating the posted content is present in the number of characters, the number of lines, and the ratio that are equal to or greater than the threshold among the posted information that the posters match. The reliability may be calculated.

[Calculation of ethics]
The database selection unit 23 calculates the ethics level of the database 40 (step S304). For example, when the database 40 contains a large amount of prohibited keywords, which are character strings that are inappropriate for showing to the print target person, a low value is calculated for the ethics of the database 40. Here, the prohibited keyword storage unit 33 stores one or more prohibited keywords in advance. The database selection unit 23 searches the database 40 for the prohibited keywords stored in the prohibited keyword storage unit 33, and based on the number of prohibited keywords found by the search (or the number of pieces of post information including the prohibited keywords in the posted content). Thus, the ethical level of the database 40 is calculated.

  The database selection unit 23 calculates the ethics of the database 40 as the number of prohibited keywords and the number of poster information including the prohibited keywords increases. The database selection unit 23 may set a predetermined value as the ethical level of the database 40 according to the range of the above number, or subtract the above number from the specified value to reduce the number of the database 40. The ethical level may be calculated.

[Calculating the degree of association with the person to be printed]
The database selection unit 23 calculates the degree of association with the print target person in the database 40 based on the poster information and the print target person information included in the plurality of databases 40 (step S305). Specifically, the database selection unit 23 determines whether there is a print target person in the database 40 based on information indicating the number of contributors having each attribute included in the plurality of databases 40 and the print target person information. Calculate relevance.

  Here, the number of contributors having each attribute is the number of contributors according to age, gender, address, etc., for example, the number of contributors that match the print target person in a certain attribute, or a certain attribute Indicates the number of contributors classified in the same category as the person to be printed. The number of contributors having each attribute may indicate the ratio of the number of contributors having the specific attribute to the total number of contributors in the database 40. In addition, information indicating the number of contributors having each attribute may be stored in advance in the storage unit 12 of the SNS server 5 as aggregate data aggregated for each attribute in each database 40.

  In the present embodiment, the database selection unit 23 calculates the degree of association of the database 40 from the poster's age, sex, and address. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing for calculating the degree of association with the person to be printed (details of processing in step S305).

  The database selection unit 23 calculates an age score from the amount of poster information corresponding to the age of the person to be printed (step S401). Specifically, the posters are classified in advance into categories such as 20's and 30's according to their ages, and the database selection unit 23 sets the age score according to the number of posters belonging to the same category as the print target person. calculate. For example, when the person to be printed is in his twenties, the database selection unit 23 calculates the age score by checking the number of contributors in his twenties from the aggregated data totaled for each age of the poster. In addition, the database selection unit 23 may calculate the age score by counting the number of contributor information indicating that it is in its twenties among those included in the database 40.

  Further, the database selection unit 23 may calculate an age score from the number of contributors whose age difference from the print target person is within a threshold.

  The database selection unit 23 calculates a gender score from the number of contributors according to the gender of the print target person (step S402). For example, the database selection unit 23 calculates a gender score from the number of contributors whose gender matches in the selected print target person information.

  The database selection unit 23 calculates an address score from the number of contributors according to the address of the person to be printed (step S403). For example, the database selection unit 23 calculates the score of the address from the number of contributors that match at least a part of the address of the person to be printed. The database selection unit 23 may calculate the score of the address by multiplying the degree of importance set according to the degree of matching of the address by the number of corresponding posters. For example, the number of contributors with the same country, the number of contributors up to prefectures multiplied by “2”, and the number of contributors up to the municipality multiplied by “3”, respectively. The score of the address may be calculated from the total value.

  Further, the database selection unit 23 calculates a usage score based on whether or not the database 40 corresponds to the usage SNS (for example, information such as URL or SNS community name) of the person to be printed (step S404). Here, when the usage SNS indicates the database 40, a specified value is set for the usage score of the database 40, and when the usage SNS does not indicate the database 40, the usage score of the database 40 is based on the above specified value. Is set to a smaller value (for example, “0” or the like).

  Each of step S401 to step S404 can be omitted, and the database selection unit 23 may calculate a score related to the attribute of the poster such as occupation and hobby as well as age, gender, and address. . In addition, the database selection unit 23 may calculate a score such as age and gender based on the number of contributors whose age (age), gender, and the like are different from those to be printed.

  The database selection unit 23 prints based on a value obtained by summing up scores of various attributes for each contributor (in this embodiment, a sum of age score, gender score, address score, and usage score). The degree of association with the person is calculated (step S405).

  As described above, the database selection unit 23 calculates the freshness, the evaluation of the posted information, the reliability, the ethics, and the degree of association with the person to be printed for the plurality of databases 40 (steps S301 to S305). Note that the database selection unit 23 may calculate one of the above.

  The database selection unit 23 calculates a comprehensive evaluation for the plurality of databases 40 (step S306), and determines the rank of each database 40 (step S307). FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing in which the database selection unit 23 determines the rank of each database 40. As shown in FIG. 9, the database selection unit 23 calculates the overall evaluation of the database 40 from the total of values obtained by multiplying the values calculated for the freshness of the database 40 and the importance set for each. The database selection unit 23 determines the rank of each database 40 based on the comprehensive evaluation of each database 40 (for example, in descending order of the comprehensive evaluation value).

  The database selection unit 23 selects the database 40 having the highest ranking (ranking “1”) (step S308).

[3-4-2. Select post information]
The posted information selection unit 24 selects any of a plurality of posted information from the database 40 based on the product specifying information. In the present embodiment, the posting information selection unit 24 selects any of a plurality of posting information from the database 40 selected by the database selection unit 23.

  The posting information selection unit 24 searches the posting information from the database 40 selected by the database selection unit 23 using a search condition including the product name or product ID of the product specifying information selected by the print target information acquisition unit 22. (Step S311). If there is post information satisfying the search condition (Y in step S312), it is determined whether or not to select this post information.

  The posted information selection unit 24 selects any of a plurality of posted information from the database 40 based on the product specifying information and the print target person information. Specifically, the posting information selection unit 24 acquires poster information associated with the posting information found by the search, and for this poster information, the condition regarding the printing target person selected by the printing target information acquisition unit 22 It is determined whether or not the condition is satisfied (step S313). Here, the determination is made by comparing the attribute of the poster and the attribute of the person to be printed.

  The posting information selection unit 24 determines, for example, whether the poster information satisfies a condition regarding the age of the person to be printed. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the age of the poster and the age of the person to be printed satisfy a predetermined determination condition. The determination condition here may be any of age matching, each age indicating the same age, or whether the age difference is equal to or less than a threshold value.

  The posting information selection unit 24 determines, for example, whether the poster information satisfies a condition regarding the address of the person to be printed. Specifically, the address of the poster and the address of the person to be printed are checked, and if at least a part of them matches, it is determined that the address condition is satisfied. The determination condition here may be any of whether the countries match, the prefectures match, or the municipalities match.

  In addition, the posting information selection unit 24 may select the posting information when the poster information satisfies the age and address conditions of the person to be printed, or the age or address condition may be selected by the poster. When the information is satisfied, post information may be selected. Further, the posting information selection unit 24 may select posting information that satisfies the conditions related to sex, occupation, family structure, and the like as attributes of the person to be printed. In addition, the posting information selection unit 24 selects the posting information when the poster information does not satisfy the conditions regarding the attributes of the printing target person (for example, when the attribute of the posting person does not match the printing target person attribute). You may make it do.

  The posted information selection unit 24 selects any of posted information that does not include a predetermined keyword from the database 40 based on the product specifying information. Specifically, the posting information selection unit 24 determines whether or not the prohibited keyword stored in advance in the prohibited keyword storage unit 33 is included in the posting information (step S314).

  Note that, in the posted information search process in step S311, the posted information may be searched from the database 40 on the condition that the prohibited keyword is not included. In this case, the process of step S314 can be omitted.

  The posting information selection unit 24 selects one of the plurality of posting information from the database 40 based on the length of the character string of the plurality of posting information and the size of the area where the selected posting information is printed. Specifically, the posting information selection unit 24 determines whether or not the total length of the character string indicating the posting content of the posting information can be arranged in the print area for printing the posting information (step S315). ).

  Here, the form data storage unit 34 stores in advance form data indicating a format (template) common to a plurality of printed materials in variable printing. The form data includes information such as paper settings, font settings, ruled lines, senders, common character strings and images in direct mail, for example. In addition, the form data includes information related to an area where different images and sentences are output for each of a plurality of printed materials.

  In step S <b> 315, the posting information selection unit 24 acquires form data stored in the form data storage unit 34. The print target information generating unit 20 generates variable data including form specifying information for specifying form data, and the posting information selecting unit 24 acquires form data specified in the form specifying information included in the variable data. May be.

  The posting information selection unit 24 determines whether or not the total of the character string of the posting information to be determined and the length of the character string of the posting information that has been selected so far can be arranged in the print area. Judge using technology. For example, the range of character strings that can be arranged (for example, the range of the number of characters, the range of the number of characters and the number of lines per line, etc.) is set in the print area. It is determined whether or not the total length of the character string falls within the range of the number of characters that can be output to the print area.

  When the posting information or the poster information satisfies all the determination conditions described above (Y in step S313, Y in step S314, and Y in step S315), the posting information selection unit 24 prints the posting information. (Step S316).

  The posted information selection unit 24 determines whether or not the size of the blank area in the print area is less than the threshold value (step S317). The blank area here is an area that does not include characters in the print area. The posting information selection unit 24 calculates the size of the blank area based on the size of the print area and the total length of the character strings included in the posting information selected so far.

  When the size of the blank area is smaller than the threshold (Y in step S317), one or a plurality of pieces of post information indicating a sufficiently long post content has been selected, so that the database selection unit 23 and the post information selection unit 24 perform here. The process of step S203 ends. Further, when the size of the blank area is smaller than the threshold (N in Step S317), or when the posted information does not satisfy the above-described conditions (N in Step S313, N in Step S314, or N in Step S315). The posting information selecting unit 24 searches the posting information again from the database 40 (step S311), and repeats the determination and selection processing of the posting information.

  If the posting information is not found by the search in step S311 (N in step S312), the database selection unit 23 selects the next-ranked database 40 (step S322), and the posting information selection unit 24 selects the selected database. Post information is searched from 40, and post information satisfying the condition is selected. The database selection unit 23 and the post information selection unit 24 repeat the selection process of the database 40 and the post information selection process until a post content having a sufficient length is finally obtained.

  If the database 40 of the next order does not exist in step S321 (N in step S321), search and selection of post information from the database 40 cannot be continued, so the database selection unit 23 and the post information selection unit 24 The process of step S203 ends.

[3-5. Print processing]
The print control unit 25 is mainly realized by the control unit 11 and the communication unit 13 of the client device 3. The print control unit 25 controls the printer 4 to print an image indicating the person to be printed and an image indicated by the product specifying information and the selected post information (step S204). In the present embodiment, the print control unit 25 selects the print target person information and the product specifying information selected by the print target information acquisition unit 22 for the form data indicating a fixed form (template) of a plurality of printed materials, Print control processing is executed in which the image data specified by the product specifying information and the poster information selected by the posting information selection unit 24 are sequentially replaced and printed.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of print contents in the print control unit 25. As shown in FIG. 10, the print target person information output column 51 for outputting the print target person information, the advertisement column 52 for outputting the image data specified by the product specifying information, and the posting information are output as the print contents. An advertisement comment field 53 is included.

  In the print target person information output column 51, for example, the name and address of the print target person are printed as the print target person information. Further, in the print target person information output column 51, information such as a charge amount for purchase of a product or a credit card usage statement may be printed according to the purpose of printing.

  In the advertisement column 52, image data specified by the product specifying information is printed. Here, in the product image storage unit 35, a plurality of pieces of image data representing products or services are stored in advance in a state associated with information (for example, product name, product ID, etc.) specifying the product or service. Yes. The print control unit 25 acquires the image data associated with the product identification information from the product image storage unit 35 and controls the image data to be printed in the advertisement column 52. In addition to the image data, a product name or a service name included in the product specifying information may be printed in the advertisement field 52.

  In the advertisement comment field 53, a character string of the posted content included in the posted information selected by the posted information selecting unit 24 is printed. The post information printed in the advertisement comment field 53 relates to a product or service printed in the advertisement field 52. Also, the post information is selected according to the person to be printed, and does not include the prohibited keyword, and is selected so as to be within the area of the advertisement comment field 53.

  Thereafter, the print server 2 repeats the database 40 and post information selection processing and the printing processing until printing for all print target persons is completed. In other words, the print server 2 executes print processing for all the records of variable data. Specifically, the print target information acquisition unit 22 confirms whether the print target person information and the product identification information selected immediately before are the last information, and if not the last information (N in step S205), Unselected print target person information and product identification information (next record in variable data) are selected, and the database 40 and post information selection process (step S203) and the print process (step S204) are repeated. When the print target person information and the product identification information selected immediately before are the last information (Y in step S205), a series of processes by the print server 2 is ended.

  As mentioned above, although an example of embodiment of this invention was demonstrated, the specific structure shown to this embodiment was shown as an example, and is not limited to this. Further, the flow diagram shows an example of an algorithm that realizes the functions of the embodiment, and the present invention is not limited to this, and an algorithm that realizes similar functions may be used.

[4. Modified example]
Hereinafter, an example (modified example) obtained by modifying the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  (1) In the example of the embodiment, the database selection unit 23 determines the rank of each database 40 from the total (total evaluation) of values obtained by multiplying factors such as the freshness of the database 40 and the importance set thereto. The case where the database 40 is selected in descending order has been described. The database selection unit 23 may select any one of the plurality of databases 40 based on the classification of products or services proposed to the print target person. Specifically, the importance level for elements such as the freshness of the database 40 may be set in accordance with the classification of the product or service proposed to the print target person.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing for determining the ranking of each database 40 in the modification (1). As shown in FIG. 11, the database selection unit 23 multiplies elements such as the freshness of the database 40 by the importance according to the classification of the product or service indicated by the product identification information, and performs a comprehensive evaluation from these totals. And the ranking of each database 40 is calculated.

  Here, in the product information storage unit 31, information indicating a product or service classification (hereinafter also referred to as product classification information) is stored in advance in a state associated with information such as a product name or a product ID. The print target information generation unit 20 generates product classification information (including variable data) together with the product identification information, and the print target information transmission unit 21 transmits the product classification information to the print server 2. The database selection unit 23 determines the importance of the freshness of the database 40 according to the classification of the product or service indicated by the product classification information. The database selection unit 23 determines the overall evaluation and rank of each database 40 based on the determined importance, and selects the database 40 with the highest rank.

  As described above, in the printing system 1 according to the modification (1), one of the plurality of databases 40 is selected based on the classification of products or services proposed to the print target person.

  (2) In the example of the embodiment, the case where the printing system 1 includes the print server 2, the client device 3, and the printer 4 has been described. For example, the printing system 1 may include the print server 2 and the printer 4 without including the client device 3. In this case, the print server 2 functionally includes a print target information generation unit 20, a personal information storage unit 30, and a product information storage unit 31. The print target information acquisition unit 22 may simply acquire the information without receiving the print target person information and the product specifying information (variable data) generated by the print target information generation unit 20.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Print system, 2 Print server, 3 Client apparatus, 4 Printer, 5 SNS server, 6 Network, 11 Control part, 12 Storage part, 13 Communication part, 14 Input / output part, 20 Print target information generation part, 21 Print target information Transmission unit, 22 Print target information acquisition unit, 23 Database selection unit, 24 Posting information selection unit, 25 Print control unit, 30 Personal information storage unit, 31 Product information storage unit, 32 Database information storage unit, 33 Prohibited keyword storage unit, 34 form data storage unit, 35 product image storage unit, 40 database, 51 print target person information output column, 52 advertisement column, 53 advertisement comment column.

Claims (7)

Print target acquisition means for acquiring print target person information indicating attributes of a print target person to be printed, and specific information that is information for specifying a product or service proposed to the print target person;
Based on the specific information, posted information selecting means for selecting any of the plurality of posted information from a database including a plurality of posted information posted by a plurality of contributors on a plurality of products or services;
Print control means for controlling the printing means to print the image indicating the person to be printed and the image indicated by the specific information and the selected post information;
A printing system comprising: The database further includes poster information indicating attributes of the plurality of posters,
The posting information selection means selects any of the plurality of posting information from the database based on the specific information and the printing person information.
The printing system according to claim 1. The posted information selecting means selects any of posted information that does not include a predetermined keyword from the database based on the specific information.
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is a printing system. Posts included in the plurality of databases, each of which includes post information posted by a plurality of contributors on a plurality of products and services and contributor information indicating attributes of the plurality of contributors. Database selection means for selecting based on the person information and the person to be printed information,
The posting information selection means selects any of the plurality of posting information from the selected database;
The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The database selection means selects one of the plurality of databases based on information indicating the number of contributors having respective attributes and the print target person information.
The printing system according to claim 4. The posting information selection means selects one of the plurality of posting information from the database based on a length of a character string of the plurality of posting information and a size of an area in which the selected posting information is printed. To
The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: Print target acquisition means for acquiring print target person information indicating an attribute of a print target person to be printed and specific information that is information for specifying a product or service proposed to the print target person,
Post information selection means for selecting any of the plurality of post information from a database including a plurality of post information posted by a plurality of contributors on a plurality of products or services based on the specific information,
Print control means for controlling the printing means to print the image indicating the person to be printed and the image indicated by the specific information and the selected post information;
As a program to make the computer function as.

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