JP2018132938A - Contents printing system, contents providing device and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable printing of information indicating a feature of each store on a print object to be provided together with an article purchased at the store.SOLUTION: A contents providing device 2 stores: a contents selecting condition that is a condition to select contents for a print object; and store attribute information indicating a feature of a store. The contents providing device 2 acquires the store attribute information on the store specified by store identification information set in a printing data request received from a store device 3, and selects the contents to be printed by checking the acquired store attribute information with the contents selection condition. The contents providing device 2 creates printing data for printing at least the selected contents to be printed, and transmits the printing data to the store device 3. A printing device 5 of the store device 3 prints the printing data received from the contents providing device 2 on a print object 7 to be provided to a purchaser at the store together with an article.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a content printing system, a content providing apparatus, and a printing method.

  Conventionally, in a retail store, there is a technology for printing an advertisement on a product packaging material such as a sticker, a label, a tape, a product packaging package, a container, or the like attached to a product using print data received from a server (for example, Patent Document 1). However, with this conventional technology, it is difficult to change the content such as advertisements printed by print data for each store, and it is difficult for consumers who have purchased products at stores to print content that is unique to each store. It was.

JP 2002-83220 A

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and a content printing system, a content providing apparatus, and a content providing apparatus capable of printing characteristic information for each store on a printed material provided together with a product purchased in the store, and Provide a printing method.

  In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention is a content printing system including a content providing device and a store device installed in a store, wherein the store device is information for identifying a store. A print data request unit that transmits a print data request in which information is set to the content providing apparatus, and a print data reception that receives print data from the content providing apparatus in response to the print data request transmitted by the print data request unit And a printing unit that prints the print data received by the print data receiving unit on a printed material provided together with a product, and the content providing apparatus stores store attribute information indicating the characteristics of the store A store information storage unit, a content information storage unit that stores a content selection condition that is a condition for selecting content to be printed, A print data request receiving unit that receives the print data request from the store device, and a store specified by the store identification information set in the print data request received by the print data request receiving unit, or a predetermined store The store attribute information is acquired, a content selection unit that selects the content to be printed by comparing the acquired store attribute information and the content selection condition, and at least prints the content selected by the content selection unit The print data generated for the store specified by the store identification information set in the print data request to the print data generation unit that generates the print data to be transmitted and the store device that is the transmission source of the print data request And a print data transmission unit for transmitting the content.

  One aspect of the present invention is the above-described content printing system, wherein the content providing apparatus or the store apparatus is instructed to print the print data at the store apparatus that is the transmission source of the print data request. A print data processing unit that performs processing for further printing the store-specific content that is content, and the printing unit prints the print data processed by the print data processing unit on the substrate. And

  One embodiment of the present invention is the above-described content printing system, wherein the content selection unit is based on a comparison between the actual number of prints of the content selected as a result of collation and the upper limit print number of the content. Determining which of the content selected as a result of collation and the store-specific content that is the content instructed to be printed by the store apparatus is to be printed, and the print data generating unit is Print data for generating at least printing of the determined content to be printed or the store-specific content is generated.

  One embodiment of the present invention is the above-described content printing system, wherein the store-specific content is acquired from the Internet based on content input to the store device or a storage location input to the store device. It is characterized by the content.

  One embodiment of the present invention is the above-described content printing system, in which the content selection unit is configured to perform collation when the number of contents selected as a result of collation exceeds the number of contents that can be printed on the substrate. The maximum number of contents that can be printed out of the selected contents as a result, with a random probability, a probability based on the advertising cost of each of the contents, or a probability based on the actual number of printed contents Further, the contents to be printed are further selected.

  One embodiment of the present invention is the above-described content printing system, in which the content selection unit is configured to perform collation when the number of contents selected as a result of collation exceeds the number of contents that can be printed on the substrate. As a result, a set of the contents including the number of printable contents as an element is generated from the selected content, and the print data generation unit includes the set included in the set for each set generated by the content selection unit. Generating print data for printing at least content; and the print data transmitting unit transmits the print data generated for each set to the store device that is the transmission source of the print data request, The print data selected from the print data generated for each set is printed on the substrate.

  One embodiment of the present invention is the above-described content printing system, wherein the print data request includes one or more pieces of information set in an information type, a product purchaser attribute, and a purchased product. A condition is further set, and the store attribute information includes one or more information of a region to which the store belongs and a customer segment of the store, and the content selection condition includes a region, a customer segment of the store, an information type, , Indicated by one or more pieces of information among a product purchaser's attribute, purchased product, and time zone, and the content selection unit includes the store attribute information of the store specified by the store identification information, and the search condition A combination of information included in the information and one or more of the current time is used as a search key, and the content to be printed is selected by comparing the search key with the content selection condition. That.

  One aspect of the present invention is the above-described content printing system, in which the print data generation unit transmits the content to be printed selected by the content selection unit from the content information storage unit or the content. The print data is acquired from the Internet based on the storage location stored in the information storage unit, and the print data is generated using the acquired content.

  In addition, according to one aspect of the present invention, a store information storage unit that stores store attribute information indicating store characteristics, a content information storage unit that stores a content selection condition that is a condition for selecting content to be printed, and a product A print data request receiving unit that receives a print data request in which store identification information, which is information for specifying a store, is set from a store device that prints print data on a substrate to be printed, and the print data request receiving unit receives the print data request The store attribute information of the store specified by the store identification information set in the print data request or the predetermined store is acquired, and the acquired store attribute information and the content selection condition are collated and printed. A content selection unit for selecting the target content, and a print data for printing at least the content selected by the content selection unit; The print data generated for the store specified by the store identification information set in the print data request is transmitted to a print data generation unit that generates a print data and the store device that is the transmission source of the print data request And a print data transmission unit.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing method using a content printing system having a content providing device and a store device installed in a store, wherein the print data requesting unit specifies the store. A print data request process for transmitting a print data request in which store identification information, which is information, is set, to the content providing device, and a store in which the content selection unit stores store attribute information indicating the characteristics of the store in the content providing device From the information storage unit, the store specified by the store identification information set in the print data request received from the store device, or the store attribute information of a predetermined store is acquired, the acquired store attribute information and Content that selects the content by collating with the content selection condition that is a condition for selecting the content to be printed A selection process, a print data generation process in which a print data generation unit generates print data for printing at least the content selected in the content selection process, and a print data transmission unit transmits the print data request from the transmission source. In the print data transmission process for transmitting the print data generated for the store specified by the store identification information set in the print data request to the store device, and in the store device, the print data receiving unit includes the A print data receiving process for receiving the print data from the content providing apparatus; and a printing process for printing the print data received in the print data receiving process on a printing material provided together with a product. A printing method characterized by the above.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the characteristic information for every store can be printed on the to-be-printed material provided with the goods purchased in the store.

1 is a configuration diagram of a content printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the sleeve by the embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of the content provision apparatus by the embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of the store apparatus by the embodiment. It is a figure showing an example of store profile information by the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the content management information by the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the content selection information by the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the printing performance information by the same embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the content printing system by the embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Overall configuration and operation overview]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a content printing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The content printing system 1 includes a content providing device 2 of a content provider and a store device 3 installed in the store. The store is, for example, a convenience store, a fast food store, a cafe, but is not limited thereto. Although only one store apparatus 3 is shown in the figure, the content printing system 1 includes store apparatuses 3 installed in a plurality of stores. The content providing device 2 and the store device 3 are each connected to the network 9 and transmit / receive data via the network 9. The network 9 is a public network such as the Internet, but may be a private network such as an intranet or a private line, and may include a public network and a private network.

  The store apparatus 3 includes a store terminal 4 such as a computer terminal and a printing apparatus 5 such as a printer. The store terminal 4 and the printing apparatus 5 are connected by a network such as an intranet or a cable, but may be connected by a public network. A plurality of printing devices 5 may be connected to one store terminal 4. One or more information providing apparatuses 6 are connected to the network 9. The information providing device 6 is a computer server that provides information (content) on the Internet. The information providing apparatus 6 is, for example, a web server that provides SNS (social network service), a web server that provides news, or the like.

  When a consumer purchases a product at a store, the content printing system 1 prints a characteristic content for each store on a printed material 7 provided with the product. For example, the content printing system 1 prints timely information for each region on the printed material 7 on demand. The printed material 7 may be, for example, a product packaging material, a product package, a label or seal attached to the product or the product packaging material, a tape, a card attached to the product, a flyer, or the like. The content printed on the substrate 7 can be not only advertisements provided from the client, but also the latest information and discount information of stores reflected in real time, store messages, discount coupons, information linked to SNS. . The client is, for example, a company different from the company that owns the store, such as a travel agency, a real estate agent, or an online mail order company, but is not limited thereto.

  In order to print content that is characteristic for each store on the printed material 7, the content provider registers the content requested for distribution by the client in the content providing apparatus 2 in association with attributes such as the region of the store and the customer base. Keep it. This content is not only advertisements but also the latest information on clients provided by coupons, discount coupons, SNS, etc., but can be any content. Upon receiving an on-demand print data transmission request from the store device 3, the content providing device 2 selects the content to be printed according to the attribute of the store where the store device 3 is installed, and causes the selected content to be printed. Generate print data and send it back. As a result, print data on which information suitable for the store area and customer base is printed can be printed on the substrate 7 by the store device 3. By changing the attributes of the store in accordance with the store's wishes, for example, when there are many younger customers, information corresponding to the customer can be printed on the printed material 7 and provided to the purchaser of the product.

  The store terminal 4 may combine the print data received from the content providing device 2 with the print data for printing the content designated at the store and cause the printing device 5 to print the print data. The content specified at the store is also described as store-specific content. Examples of store-specific content include store messages, store advertisements, coupons and discount coupons that can be used in stores, the latest store information provided by SNS, local news, local weather, and fortune tickets. Can be any content. In this case, a print area for print data transmitted from the content providing device 2 and a print area for print data generated at the store terminal 4 are provided in the print space of the substrate 7. The printing device 5 performs printing on the substrate 7 based on the print data synthesized by the store terminal 4.

The content providing apparatus 2 may further use the following conditions in addition to the store attribute when selecting the content to be printed on the substrate 7.
That is, the content providing device 2 uses the purchaser's attributes (for example, gender, age, etc.) and purchased product information as conditions, and selects the content that is considered to be the most effective based on these conditions. Printing is performed on the substrate 7. At this time, the content may be selected at random from a plurality of content considered to be effective. In this case, the store terminal 4 uses the attributes of the purchaser input to the store terminal 4 or the printing device 5 by the store clerk or the purchaser, the purchaser attributes input to the POS (Point Of Sale) system, and the purchased product. Is transmitted to the content providing apparatus 2.

  Further, one or both of the content providing device 2 and the store terminal 4 may select the content to be printed using the time zone as a further condition. For example, the content providing apparatus 2 selects content related to news in the morning, content related to food information at noon, and content related to restaurant information and events at night.

Further, one or both of the content providing device 2 and the store terminal 4 may select the content to be printed on the printed material 7 so as to match the information type selected by the purchaser.
For example, the store terminal 4 or the printing device 5 is provided with a plurality of buttons, and the store terminal 4 transmits to the content providing device 2 information indicating which button the product purchaser or store clerk has selected. To do. One or both of the content providing device 2 and the store terminal 4 select content according to the selected button. For example, a number from 1 to 3 is assigned to the button, and the store terminal 4 stores the SNS information of the store or the store-specific content of the regional information when 1 is selected, When the store information 3 of the sale information is selected, the store content of the current economic information is selected. Note that the upper limit number of prints is determined for each of the buttons 1 to 3, and the content when 1 is selected, the content when 2 is selected, and 3 are selected so that the upper limit number of prints is reached. The content of the case may be printed equally.

  Furthermore, the content providing apparatus 2 controls the frequency of printing of the content, that is, the frequency of selection as a print target, along the upper limit number of prints so that a predetermined number of distributions can be constantly printed for each content. In addition, the content providing apparatus 2 changes the content printing frequency according to the advertising cost.

  According to the above, since the content printing system 1 selects the content on demand and prints it on the printed material 7, it is not necessary to print the printed material in advance in the store and distribute it to the store. Therefore, it is possible to provide useful and timely content to the purchaser while saving time and effort of the store and the purchaser. In addition, the content providing device 2 transmits print data generated based on the attribute information of each store to the store device 3, and the store device 3 prints the printed material 7 in the store, whereby information customized for each store is obtained. Can be provided to buyers. Furthermore, the print data (SNS information, original comments, etc.) generated in the store apparatus 3 is also printed on the substrate 7 so that the individuality of each store can be obtained. It is also possible to issue added value such as discount coupons, coupons, discounts, etc. to the purchaser of the product provided with the printed material 7 on which the information is printed.

  Note that the printing apparatus 5 may incorporate a counter that counts the number of printed data. The printing apparatus 5 transmits the number of prints of the substrate 7 counted by the counter to the content providing apparatus 2. As a result, the content provider can charge the advertiser or pay the advertising fee to the store according to the number of prints. Further, the content provider may charge the user according to the number of sheets to be printed 7 by providing the substrate 7 to the store. When the content provider provides the printed material 7 to the store, the printed material 7 may be printed in advance on a portion that is not changed by on-demand and provided to the store.

[Example of substrate and configuration of each device]
Hereinafter, a case where the substrate 7 is a sleeve will be described as an example.
FIG. 2 is a view showing the appearance of the sleeve 71. FIG. 2A is a view showing the sleeve 71 attached to the cup. As shown in FIG. 2A, the sleeve 71 is used by wrapping around the outside of a cup for storing a warm drink purchased by a consumer. FIG. 2B shows an external appearance when the sleeve 71 is viewed from the front, and FIG. 2C shows an external appearance when the sleeve 71 is viewed from the back. The appearance of the sleeve 71 includes a fixed print area A1, a content print area A2, and a store-specific content print area A3. The fixed print area A1 is an area where a predetermined print image is printed. The content printing area A2 is an area where the content of the client selected by the content providing apparatus 2 is printed. The store-specific content printing area A3 is an area where the store-specific content registered in the store apparatus 3 for each store is printed.

  The position, size, shape, and number of each of the fixed print area A1, the content print area A2, and the store-specific content print area A3 can be arbitrarily set. For example, the sleeve 71 may be provided with a plurality of content print areas A2 and may be provided with a plurality of store-specific content print areas A3. In addition, a store-specific content print region A3 may be provided in the content print region A2, or a content print region A2 may be provided in the store-specific content print region A3.

  The content providing apparatus 2 generates print data for printing in the fixed print area A1 and the content print area A2, and transmits the print data to the store apparatus 3. When the content provider provides the store with the sleeve 71 on which the fixed print area A1 has been printed in advance, the content providing apparatus 2 generates print data for printing on the content print area A2, and transmits the print data to the store apparatus 3. The store apparatus 3 generates print data to be printed in the store-specific content print area A3 and combines it with the print data received from the content providing apparatus 2. By printing the print data not on the cup itself but on the sleeve 71, printing at the store becomes easy.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the content providing device 2, and only functional blocks related to the present embodiment are extracted and shown. The content providing device 2 is realized by one or more computer servers. The content providing device 2 includes a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a processing unit 23. The communication unit 21 transmits and receives data via the network 9. The storage unit 22 stores various information. The storage unit 22 includes a store information storage unit 221, a content information storage unit 222, and a print performance information storage unit 223.

  The store information storage unit 221 stores store profile information. Store profile information is information for managing the attributes of each store. The store profile information is data in which a store ID (store identification information) that is information for specifying a store is associated with store attribute information indicating the characteristics of the store.

  The content information storage unit 222 stores content management information and content selection information. The content management information is information for managing the content requested for distribution by the client. The content management information is data in which for each content, a client ID, a content ID, content data that is data of the content main body or a storage location of the content data, an upper limit number of prints, and an advertising cost are associated with each other. The client ID is information for specifying the client, and the content ID is information for specifying the content. The content selection information is information for selecting content to be printed. The content selection information is data in which content selection conditions are associated with selected content information. The content selection condition indicates a condition for selecting the content indicated by the corresponding selected content information as a print target. The selected content information indicates, for example, the content to be printed by a content ID.

  The printing result information storage unit 223 stores printing result information. The print record information is information for managing the number of records in which the client content is printed at each store. The print record information is data in which the store ID, the content ID, and the number of prints are associated with each other.

  The processing unit 23 includes a print data request reception unit 231, a print content selection unit 232, a print data generation unit 233, a print data transmission unit 234, and a print result management unit 235. The print data request receiving unit 231 receives from the store terminal 4 a print data request in which a store ID and a search condition are set. The print content selection unit 232 acquires store attribute information corresponding to the store ID set in the print data request from the store profile information stored in the store information storage unit 221. The print content selection unit 232 collates the search key with the content selection information stored in the content information storage unit 222 using the store attribute information, the search condition set in the print data request, and the current time as a search key. To do. The print content selection unit 232 acquires selected content information associated with the content selection condition specified as a result of collation. The print data generation unit 233 reads the content data specified by the selected content information acquired by the content information storage unit 222 from the content information storage unit 222 or the information providing device 6. The print data generation unit 233 generates print data for printing the read content data, and transmits the print data to the store apparatus 3 that is the transmission source of the print data request. The printing result management unit 235 updates the printing result information stored in the printing result information storage unit 223 based on the notification from the store apparatus 3.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the store apparatus 3, and only functional blocks related to the present embodiment are extracted and shown. The store apparatus 3 shown in the figure includes a store terminal 4 and a printing apparatus 5, but the store apparatus 3 may be an apparatus in which the store terminal 4 and the printing apparatus 5 are integrated.

  The store terminal 4 includes a communication unit 41, an input unit 42, a storage unit 43, and a processing unit 44. The communication unit 41 transmits / receives data via the network 9 and transmits / receives data to / from the printing apparatus 5. The input unit 42 receives input by a user operation. The input unit 42 is, for example, a touch sensor disposed on a keyboard, buttons, a mouse, or a touch panel. The storage unit 43 stores various data such as store-specific content information. The store-specific content information is a store-specific content data that is main data of the store-specific content or an address on the Internet from which the store-specific content data is acquired.

  The processing unit 44 includes a store-specific content registration unit 441, a print data request unit 442, a print data reception unit 443, a print data processing unit 444, and a print instruction unit 445. The store-specific content registration unit 441 stores the store-specific content information input by the input unit 42. The print data request unit 442 transmits a print data request in which the store ID and the search condition are set to the content providing apparatus 2. The search condition can be optionally set in the print data request, and can include information input by the input unit 42 or the printing apparatus 5. When the search condition is not used, only the store ID may be set in the print data request.

  The print data receiving unit 443 receives the print data transmitted from the content providing apparatus 2 in response to the print data request transmitted from the print data request unit 442. The print data processing unit 444 performs processing for further printing the store-specific content on the print data received from the content providing apparatus 2. For example, the print data processing unit 444 acquires store-specific content data based on the store-specific content information stored in the storage unit 43, and generates print data for printing the acquired store-specific content data. The print data processing unit 444 combines the generated print data and the print data received by the print data receiving unit 443. The print instruction unit 445 uses the print data processing unit 444 to add the print data received from the content providing device 2 by the print data receiving unit 443 when the store-specific content is not necessary. The processed print data is output to the printing apparatus 5 and printing is instructed.

  The printing apparatus 5 includes a communication unit 51, an input unit 52, a storage unit 53, a printing unit 54, a print history management unit 55, and a control unit 56. The communication unit 51 transmits / receives data to / from the store terminal 4. The communication unit 51 may directly transmit / receive data to / from the content providing apparatus 2 via the network 9. The input unit 52 is, for example, a touch sensor disposed on a button or a touch panel, and receives an input by a user operation. The storage unit 53 stores various data such as print data and content print history. The printing unit 54 prints print data on the substrate 7 based on the control from the control unit 56. The print history management unit 55 manages the print history of content. The print history management unit 55 may be a counter that counts the number of print data prints. The control unit 56 controls each unit. The control unit 56 writes the print data received from the store terminal 4 to the storage unit 53, outputs the information input by the input unit 52 to the store terminal 4, and prints the print data stored in the storage unit 53. A process for controlling the printing unit 54 is performed. Further, the control unit 56 notifies the content providing apparatus 2 of the print history read from the storage unit 53 via the store terminal 4 or directly.

[Data structure]
Next, a configuration example of data stored in each device will be described.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a data example of the store profile information. The store profile information is information in which the store ID is associated with the store attribute information of the store specified by the store ID. The store attribute information shown in the figure indicates the area to which the store belongs and the customer segment, but information other than these may be used. The customer base is indicated by whether there are more local residents or non-regional residents, and the age of customers. A local resident is a customer whose neighborhood is a region where the store is located, and a non-regional resident is a customer who is outside the region where the store is located. As shown in the figure, the customer base may be set for each time zone.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of data of content management information. The content management information corresponds to the client ID, the content ID, the content data specified by the content ID or the storage location of the content data, the content distribution period, the maximum number of prints of the content, and the advertising cost of the content Information. The storage location of the content data is, for example, a URL (Universal Resource Locator) of a web page on which information is transmitted by a client in SNS or a web page on which news is posted. The distribution period may be divided into a plurality of periods, and the upper limit printing number may be set for each divided period.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of data of content selection information. The content selection information is information in which content selection conditions are associated with selected content information. The content selection condition indicates a condition for selecting content as a print target. The content selection condition is represented by any combination of one or more of a store area, an information number indicating an information type, a customer segment, a time zone, a purchased product, a purchaser attribute, and the like. The purchaser attribute represents an attribute of the product purchaser such as gender and age. In the selected content information, the content ID of the content selected as the print target when the content selection condition is satisfied is set. If the age of the customer group and the age of the purchaser attribute are set in the content selection condition, when determining the match between the search key and the content selection condition, such as determining the purchase attribute attribute with priority. Priority may be further set.

  According to the example in the figure, even if the product “coffee” is purchased at a store in the area “Shinagawa”, it depends on whether it is a time zone of a customer group with many “non-residents” or a time zone of a customer group with many “local residents” , Different contents can be selected. Thus, for example, in the case of a customer segment with many local residents, advertisements for real estate in the vicinity of the store are selected, and for a customer segment with many residents outside the region, advertisements for shopping malls in the suburbs are selected. it can.

  In addition, according to the example in the figure, even if a product is purchased at a store in the region “Shinagawa” during the time zone of a large number of local residents, whether the purchased product is “coffee” or “karaage” Accordingly, different contents can be selected. Thereby, for example, when coffee is purchased, a coupon coupon for a cafe around the store is selected, and when a karaage is purchased, a discount coupon for a restaurant near the store can be selected.

  Also, for example, even when the information number “1” is specified at a store in the area “Yokohama”, it differs depending on whether it is a time zone of a customer group with many “30s or younger” or a time zone of a customer group with many “40 or more” When the content is selected and the information number “3” is designated, the same content can be selected regardless of the customer segment. Further, even if the time zone is “6: 00-13: 00” at a store in the area “Shibuya”, different contents can be selected depending on the sex and age of the purchaser.

  Also, by setting a plurality of content IDs in the selected content information corresponding to the same content selection condition, the contents with those content IDs are selected at random according to the advertising expenses or according to the printing results. Can be.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a data example of the printing result information. The print record information is information in which the store ID, the content ID, and the number of prints printed at the store in which the content specified by the content ID is specified by the store ID are associated with each other. In the figure, the number of prints is shown every predetermined time. The predetermined time can be arbitrarily set such as one week, one day, one hour, and ten minutes.

[Operation of content printing system]
Next, the operation of the content printing system 1 will be described.
In advance, store profile information of each store is registered in the store information storage unit 221 of the content providing apparatus 2. The store accesses the content providing device 2 from the store device 3, and can set some store attribute information such as customer information set in the store profile information of the store at any time. For example, information on the customer base can be changed when the customer base is different from usual because an event is held in the vicinity of the store.

  Further, the content provider registers the content management information of the content requested to be distributed from the client in the content information storage unit 222 of the content providing apparatus 2. Further, the content provider registers content selection information based on a condition for selecting the content requested to be distributed as a print target.

  Further, the store clerk sets whether or not the store-specific content is necessary by using the input unit 42 of the store terminal 4, and further inputs the store-specific content information when the store-specific content needs to be printed. The store-specific content registration unit 441 of the store terminal 4 registers the input store-specific content information in the storage unit 43. The store-specific content information may be registered in association with the store-specific content selection condition in which one or both of the information number and the time zone are set. In a store, store-specific content information and store-specific content selection conditions can be updated as needed.

<When printing a substrate every time a product is purchased>
FIG. 9 is a processing flow showing the operation of the content printing system 1.
First, with reference to FIG. 9, an operation in the case where the printing object 7 is printed on demand each time a product is purchased will be described. When coffee is purchased at the store, the store clerk or the purchaser of coffee operates the input unit 42 of the store terminal 4 to input the information number selected by the purchaser, and further inputs a print start instruction (step S105). ). Note that the input of the information number may also serve as the input of the print start instruction. Further, the store clerk or the purchaser may input purchaser attribute information or purchase product information through the input unit 42 instead of or in addition to the information number. The purchased product information may include information indicating products purchased by the purchaser other than coffee. The store terminal 4 may acquire purchased product information from the POS system. Further, the store clerk or the purchaser may input the information number and the print start instruction through the input unit 52 of the printing apparatus 5. The control unit 56 transmits the input information number and print start instruction to the store terminal 4.

  The print data request unit 442 of the store terminal 4 sets the store ID in the print data request. When there is an information number, purchaser attribute information, or purchased product information input by the input unit 42 or received from the printing apparatus 5, the print data request unit 442 further requests a search condition including the information to request print data. Set to. The print data request unit 442 transmits a print data request in which the store ID is set or the store ID and the search condition are set to the content providing apparatus 2 (step S110).

  The print data request receiving unit 231 of the content providing apparatus 2 receives the print data request transmitted from the store terminal 4, acquires the store ID and search condition information, and outputs the acquired store ID and search condition information to the print content selecting unit 232 (step S205). The print content selection unit 232 acquires store attribute information corresponding to the store ID and the current time from the store profile information (step S210). The print content selection unit 232 generates a search key in which store attribute information, information set in the search condition information (information number, purchaser attribute information, purchased product information), and the current time are set (step S215). ).

  The print content selection unit 232 uses the generated search key to determine whether the content selection conditions set in the content selection information match. The print content selection unit 232 reads selected content information associated with the content selection condition determined to match the search key from the content selection condition. When there are a plurality of matching content selection conditions, the selected content information associated with each is read. The print content selection unit 232 acquires the content ID set in each of all the read selected content information as a print candidate ID (step S220).

  The print content selection unit 232 reads the distribution period and the upper limit number of prints corresponding to the print candidate ID from the content management information, and reads the number of prints corresponding to the print candidate ID from the print record information. If the current date and time are not included in the distribution period read based on the print candidate ID, the print content selection unit 232 excludes the print candidate ID. Further, the print content selection unit 232 excludes print candidate IDs whose number of prints has reached the upper limit number of prints (step S225).

  Note that the print content selection unit 232 may exclude print candidate IDs that may reach the upper limit printing number considerably before the end of the distribution period. Specifically, the print data generation unit 233 calculates a period elapsed rate and a print completion rate for each print candidate ID. The period elapsed ratio is the ratio of the elapsed period from the start of the distribution period to the current date and time to the entire distribution period. The print completion ratio is the number of prints from the start of the distribution period to the current date and time with respect to the upper limit number of prints in the distribution period. The print content selection unit 232 excludes print candidate IDs whose print completion ratio exceeds the period elapsed ratio by a predetermined amount.

  The print content selection unit 232 determines whether or not the number of remaining print candidate IDs is equal to or less than the number of contents that can be printed in the content print area A2 of the sleeve 71 (step S230). If the print content selection unit 232 determines that the number of remaining print candidate IDs is equal to or less than the number of contents that can be printed in the content print area A2 of the sleeve 71 (step S230: YES), all the print candidate IDs are printed. The target ID is set (step S235), and the process of step S245 described later is performed.

  On the other hand, when the print content selection unit 232 determines that the number of remaining print candidate IDs is larger than the number of content printable in the content print area A2 of the sleeve 71 (step S230: NO), one of the following Depending on the conditions, a print target ID is selected from the print candidate IDs with the number of printable contents as an upper limit (step S240).

(1) The print content selection unit 232 randomly selects a print target ID from among the print candidate IDs. Thus, even if the purchaser purchases the same product at the same store at the same time on a different day, different contents can be provided, and the purchaser's interest can be attracted.

(2) The print content selection unit 232 reads the advertising cost corresponding to the printing candidate ID, and determines the selection ratio of each printing candidate ID based on the advertising cost. The print content selection unit 232 selects a print target ID according to the determined selection ratio. For example, when the advertising expenses for each of the three print candidate IDs are a, b, and c, the print candidate IDs are selected as print target IDs at a ratio of a: b: c. Thereby, it is possible to preferentially select contents with high advertising costs.

(3) The print content selection unit 232 selects a print target ID based on the actual number of printed contents. Specifically, the print content selection unit 232 starts from a print candidate ID having a larger value obtained by subtracting the print completion rate from the period elapsed rate, or from a print candidate ID having a smaller value obtained by dividing the print completion rate by the period elapsed rate. In order, a print target ID is selected. As a result, it is possible to preferentially select content that has not reached the upper limit number of prints, which is a distribution target. Alternatively, the print target ID may be randomly selected from the print candidate IDs so that the content with a larger number of printed results is selected with higher probability.

  As described above, the print content selection unit 232 has a random probability from the print candidate IDs, a probability based on the advertising cost of each content, or a probability based on the actual number of printed contents. Select a print target ID. The print content selection unit 232 outputs the selected print target ID to the print data generation unit 233, and performs the process of step S250.

  The print data generation unit 233 acquires the content data specified by the print target ID or the URL of the content data from the content management information. When the print data generation unit 233 acquires the URL, the print data generation unit 233 accesses the information providing apparatus 6 using the URL as a destination, acquires the information in the returned web page as content data, and temporarily stores it in the content information storage unit 222. To save. The print data generation unit 233 generates print data of a print image such that the content data acquired based on the print target ID is printed in the content print area A2 (step S245). The print data generation unit 233 adds a print target ID to the generated print data and outputs it to the print data transmission unit 234. The print data transmission unit 234 transmits the print data input from the print data generation unit 233 to the store terminal 4 that has transmitted the print data request (step S250).

  When receiving the print data from the content providing apparatus 2 (step S115), the print data receiving unit 443 of the store terminal 4 determines whether or not the store-specific content is printed (step S120). If the print data receiving unit 443 determines that no store content printing is set (step S120: NO), the print data receiving unit 443 outputs the print data to the print instruction unit 445.

  On the other hand, when the print data receiving unit 443 determines that the presence of the store-specific content is set (step S120: YES), the print data receiving unit 443 outputs the print data to the print data processing unit 444. The print data processing unit 444 reads out the store-specific content information corresponding to the store-specific content selection condition specified based on the information number input in step S105 and the current time from the storage unit 43. When a plurality of pieces of store-specific content information are registered corresponding to the store-specific content selection conditions, the print data processing unit 444 stores in advance the random store information or the plurality of store-specific content information. The store-specific content information may be selected and read according to the selection ratio information registered in the unit 43. Thereby, for example, 90% of the store-specific content of notifications from the store can be selected, and 10% of the coupon-specific content can be selected.

  The print data processing unit 444 acquires the content data or the URL of the content data from the read store-specific content information. When acquiring the URL, the print data processing unit 444 accesses the information providing apparatus 6 using the URL as a destination, acquires the information in the returned web page as content data, and stores it in the storage unit 43. The print data processing unit 444 performs processing for printing the content data of the store-specific content in the store-specific content print area A3 on the print data received by the print data receiving unit 443 (step S125). The print data processing unit 444 outputs the processed print data to the print instruction unit 445.

  The print instruction unit 445 outputs the print data input from the print data receiving unit 443 or the print data input from the print data processing unit 444 and a print execution command to the printing apparatus 5 (step S130). The number of prints “1” is set in the print execution command instructing execution of printing. If the number of prints is further input at the time of inputting the print execution command, the number of prints is set in the print execution command.

  The control unit 56 of the printing apparatus 5 writes the print data received from the store terminal 4 in the storage unit 53. The control unit 56 generates a drive signal for performing printing for the number of printings set in the print execution command based on the print data. The printing unit 54 prints the sleeve 71 in accordance with the drive signal from the control unit 56 (step S135). The print history management unit 55 writes the print history information in which the print target ID added to the print data is associated with the number of prints and the print date and time in the storage unit 53.

  Note that the control unit 56 of the printing apparatus 5 reads out the print history information written in the storage unit 53 after transmitting the previous print history information to the store terminal 4 every predetermined period. The control unit 56 totals the number of prints for each print target ID, and print history notification information in which the store ID and the current time are added to the set of the print target ID and the print number is sent to the content providing apparatus 2 via the store terminal 4. Or send directly. The printing result management unit 235 of the content providing device 2 updates the printing result information stored in the printing result information storage unit 223 based on the printing history notification information received from the store device 3. The printing history notification information may be transmitted every time printing is performed.

  The printing result management unit 235 of the content providing apparatus 2 may perform charging processing for each client periodically or in accordance with an input instruction. Specifically, the printing result management unit 235 reads the content ID corresponding to each client ID from the content management information. The print result management unit 235 acquires the number of prints in the charging target period from the print result information for each read content ID, and totals the acquired print numbers for each client ID. The print result management unit 235 charges the client based on the total number of prints calculated for the client ID of the client.

  Note that the print data processing unit 444 of the store terminal 4 may be provided in the content providing apparatus 2. In this case, the store-specific content transmission unit (not shown) of the store terminal 4 notifies the content providing apparatus 2 in advance of the store-specific content registration information in which the store ID, the store-specific content selection information, and the store-specific content information are set. Keep it. The content providing apparatus 2 stores the received store-specific content registration information in the content information storage unit 222. The print data processing unit 444 provided in the content providing device 2 is specified based on the information number set in the search condition and the current time from the store-specific content registration information of the store ID acquired from the print data request. The store-specific content information corresponding to the store-specific content selection condition is read. The print data processing unit 444 provided in the content providing apparatus 2 acquires the content data of the store-specific content based on the read store-specific content information, and acquires the print data generated by the print data generation unit 233. Processing is performed so that the content data is printed in the store-specific content printing area A3. The print data transmission unit 234 transmits the processed print data to the store terminal 4. The print data receiving unit 443 of the store terminal 4 outputs the received print data to the print instruction unit 445.

<When the store prints the printed material in advance>
When the store is crowded, printing the substrate 7 on demand each time a product is purchased may promote congestion. At that time, before the product is purchased, the substrate 7 may be printed in advance, the store apparatus 3 receives and stores the print data in advance, and the store clerk or the purchaser instructs the start of printing. Sometimes the stored print data may be printed. The operation of the content printing system 1 in the case where the printing material 7 is printed in advance will be described focusing on the difference from the case where the printing material 7 is printed each time the above-described product is purchased.

  In step S105, the store clerk operates the input unit 42 of the store terminal 4 to input the information number, the number of prints, and the print start instruction selected by the store clerk. The information number may not be input. The print data request unit 442 sets the store ID in the print data request, and if there is an information number input by the input unit 42, sets the search condition including the information number in the print data request. In step S <b> 110, the print data request unit 442 transmits a print data request in which the store ID is set or the store ID and the search condition are set to the content providing apparatus 2.

  The content providing apparatus 2 performs the processing of steps S205 to S250 to select the client content and prints the selected content in the content printing area A2 in the same manner as when printing the printing material 7 every time a product is purchased. Data is generated and transmitted to the store terminal 4. However, if the print content selection unit 232 of the content providing apparatus 2 determines in step S230 that the number of print candidate IDs exceeds the number of contents that can be printed in the content print area A2, the print candidate IDs for the number of printable contents are displayed. May be generated, and the print data generation unit 233 may be instructed to generate print data for each of the sets. For example, it is assumed that the print candidate IDs are content A-ID, content B-ID, and content C-ID. When the number of printable contents is 1, the print data generation unit 233 generates print data with (content A-ID), (content B-ID), and (content C-ID) as print target IDs. Instructs the print data generation unit 233. When the number of printable contents is 2, the print data generation unit 233 displays (content A-ID, content B-ID), (content A-ID, content C-ID), (content B-ID, content The print data generation unit 233 is instructed to generate print data for each set of print target IDs of (C-ID). The print data generation unit 233 performs the process of step S245 for each set of print target IDs to generate print data, and the print data transmission unit 234 transmits all the generated print data to the store terminal 4.

  When the store apparatus 3 receives one or more pieces of print data from the content providing apparatus 2, the store apparatus 3 performs the processing from step S115 onward for each piece of print data, as in the case of printing the printing material 7 every time a product is purchased. That is, the store terminal 4 performs processing for printing the content data of the store-specific content in the store-specific content print area A3 on the print data received from the content providing device 2 when the store-specific content needs to be printed. . The store terminal 4 outputs the processed print data and a print execution command to the printing apparatus 5. On the other hand, when it is not necessary to print content for each store, the store terminal 4 outputs the print data received from the content providing device 2 and a print execution command to the printing device 5. When transmitting the print execution command, the print instruction unit 445 of the store terminal 4 determines the number of prints of each print data based on the number of prints input in step S105, and sets the print execution command. For example, the print instruction unit 445 sets a value obtained by dividing the number of prints input in step S105 by the number of received print data as the number of prints of each print data. In step S135, the control unit 56 of the printing apparatus 5 prints each print data received from the store terminal 4 on the sleeve 71 by the number of print data set in the print execution command, and stores the print history information. 53 is written.

  Note that the control unit 56 of the printing apparatus 5 may determine the number of prints of each print data. In this case, the print instruction unit 445 of the store terminal 4 outputs one or more print data and a print execution command in which the number of prints input in step S105 is set to the printing apparatus 5. The control unit 56 of the printing apparatus 5 writes one or more print data received from the store terminal 4 in the storage unit 53. When there are a plurality of print data, the control unit 56 selects each print data at random until the number of prints set in the print execution command is reached, and controls the print unit 54 to print the selected print data.

  Further, the print content selection unit 232 of the content providing apparatus 2 determines the selection ratio of each set of print target IDs, and the print data generation unit 233 adds the print data of the print data to the print data generated for the set of print target IDs. A selection ratio may be given and transmitted to the store terminal 4. The selection ratio is, for example, the total or average of the advertising expenses of the contents specified by the print target IDs constituting each set, the actual number of prints of the contents (a value obtained by subtracting the print completion ratio from the period elapsed ratio, or It can be determined based on the sum or average of values obtained by dividing the print completion ratio by the period elapsed ratio. The print instructing unit 445 of the store terminal 4 or the control unit 56 of the printing device 5 distributes the number of prints input in step S105 so that the selection ratio added to each print data is the same, so that each print data Determine the number of prints.

<When generating print data periodically>
In the above-described embodiment, the store apparatus 3 transmits a print data transmission request to the content providing apparatus 2 when the store clerk or the purchaser performs an operation, but the content providing apparatus 2 prints each store. Data may be periodically generated such as one to several times a day and distributed to the store apparatus 3. In this case, the content providing apparatus 2 performs the same process as described above using the store attribute information and the print data generation date and time as search keys. The store terminal 4 of the store apparatus 3 performs the same process as described above on the print data received from the content providing apparatus 2 and transmits the print data to the print apparatus 5. The printing apparatus 5 holds the print data received from the store terminal 4 in the storage unit 53. When a print start instruction is input to the store terminal 4 or the printing device 5, the printing device 5 prints the latest print data stored in the storage unit 53 on the substrate 7.

  Alternatively, the print data receiving unit 443 of the store terminal 4 receives the print data generated by the content providing apparatus 2 and stores it in the storage unit 43 in the same manner as described above, and the print data processing unit 444 is a store clerk or purchaser. 9 may input the print start instruction, read the print data from the storage unit 43, and perform the processing after step S120 in FIG. As a result, the latest content for each store can be printed.

  As another aspect, the store apparatus 3 may periodically transmit a print data transmission request, and the content providing apparatus 2 may generate print data and transmit the print data to the store apparatus 3 in response to the transmission request.

<When distributing generated print data when requesting print data>
The content providing apparatus 2 may generate print data using store attribute information of each store in advance. In this case, the content providing apparatus 2 generates print data in the same manner as described above using only the store attribute information of the print data generation target store, or the store attribute information and the generation date and time of the print data as search keys. . The print data generation unit 233 of the content providing device 2 stores the generated print data in the storage unit 22 in association with the store ID of the store for which the print data is to be generated. When the print data request receiving unit 231 of the content providing apparatus 2 receives the print data request from the store terminal 4, the print data transmitting unit 234 stores the storage unit corresponding to the store ID set in the received print data request. The print data stored in 22 is read and returned.

<When selectively printing client content and store-specific content>
In the above-described embodiment, both the client content and the store-specific content are printed on the substrate 7, but the client content and the store-specific content may be selectively printed. In this case, a fixed print area and a content print area are provided on the substrate 7, and either client content or store-specific content is printed in the content print area. The store terminal 4 is provided with a store-specific content transmission unit (not shown), the store ID, the store-specific content selection information, the store-specific content information corresponding to the store-specific content selection information, and the store-specific content printing frequency. Is notified to the content providing apparatus 2 and registered in the content information storage unit 222. Before the process of step S210 of FIG. 9, the print content selection unit 232 of the content providing apparatus 2 specifies the store-specific content registration information in which the same store ID as the print data request received from the store terminal 4 is set, Get the printing frequency. The print content selection unit 232 determines which of the client content and the store-specific content is to be printed based on the acquired print frequency.

  When the print content selection unit 232 determines that the client content is to be printed, the content providing apparatus 2 performs the processing from step S210 onward in FIG. However, the print data generation unit 233 generates print data such that the content data acquired based on the print target ID is printed in the content print area. On the other hand, if the print content selection unit 232 determines that the store-specific content is to be printed, the store-specific content information associated with the store-specific content selection condition that matches the information number and the current time from the specified store-specific content registration information. Is output to the print data generation unit 233. The print data generation unit 233 acquires the content data of the store-specific content based on the store-specific content information, and generates print data such that the acquired content data is printed in the content print area. The print data transmission unit 234 transmits the generated print data to the store terminal 4.

  In addition, the content providing apparatus 2 replaces the printing frequency of the store-specific content notified from the store terminal 4 with the client number based on the comparison between the actual number of printed contents and the upper limit printing number of the content. It may be determined which of the content and the store-specific content is to be printed on the substrate 7. In this case, the store-specific content transmission unit (not shown) of the store terminal 4 notifies the content providing apparatus 2 in advance of the store-specific content registration information in which the store ID and the store-specific content information are set, and the content information storage unit 222. Register with. The print content selection unit 232 of the content providing apparatus 2 determines whether or not the print completion rate exceeds the period elapsed rate by a predetermined amount for the content of the print target ID after the process of step S235 or step S240. In this case, the content with the print target ID is set as the print target, and when it exceeds, the store-specific content is set as the print target. The print data generation unit 233 acquires the content data of the store-specific content based on the store-specific content information corresponding to the store ID set in the print data request, and the acquired content data is printed in the content print area. Print data is generated.

  Further, the content providing apparatus 2 may determine which of the client content and the store-specific content is to be printed on the printed material 7 based on the proportion of the advertising cost of the content with the print target ID.

  In the above, the store terminal 4 does not need to process the print data received from the content providing apparatus 2, but when the store-specific content is selected as a print target, the store terminal 4 prints the store-specific content. For this reason, the print data may be processed. In this case, the store terminal 4 may not transmit the store-specific content registration information to the content providing device 2. When the store-specific content is selected as a print target, the content providing apparatus 2 transmits print data in which nothing is printed in the content print area, and transmits the print data to the store terminal 4. The print data receiving unit 443 of the store terminal 4 outputs the print data to the print data processing unit 444 when the print target ID is not set in the print data received from the content providing apparatus 2. The print data processing unit 444 acquires content data based on the store-specific content information read from the storage unit 43, and performs processing for printing the acquired content data in the content print area for printing. Output to the instruction unit 445.

[effect]
According to the embodiment described above, characteristic information for each store can be printed on the printed material provided together with the product purchased at the store. Thereby, since the store can provide familiar content that attracts the user's interest, it is expected that the number of users who use the store to enjoy this content will increase. In addition, since the client can provide an advertisement focusing on an area or a customer group that is highly effective, the cost effectiveness of the advertisement can be enhanced. Further, in a store, by providing a printed material on which a client's advertisement is printed together with a product, an advertisement fee for printing the client's advertisement or the like can be obtained. In addition, in stores, by providing store users with original messages that are input immediately on the spot, information linked with SNS, coupons that can be used in stores, etc. Encourage visits. In addition, the content provider can obtain profits by planning the distribution of the content of the client and providing the printed material.

[Others]
The content providing device 2, the store terminal 4, the printing device 5, and the information providing device 6 described above have a computer system therein. The operation processes of the content providing device 2, the store terminal 4, the printing device 5, and the information providing device 6 are stored in a computer-readable recording medium in the form of a program, and this program is read and executed by the computer system. Thus, the above process is performed. The computer system here includes a CPU, various memories, an OS, and hardware such as peripheral devices.

Further, the “computer system” includes a homepage providing environment (or display environment) if a WWW system is used.
The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Furthermore, the “computer-readable recording medium” dynamically holds a program for a short time like a communication line when transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In this case, a volatile memory in a computer system serving as a server or a client in that case, and a program that holds a program for a certain period of time are also included. The program may be a program for realizing a part of the functions described above, and may be a program capable of realizing the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in a computer system.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes designs and the like that do not depart from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Content printing system 2 ... Content provision apparatus 3 ... Store apparatus 4 ... Store terminal 5 ... Printing apparatus 6 ... Information provision apparatus 7 ... Substrate 9 ... Network 21 ... Communication part 22 ... Memory | storage part 23 ... Processing part 41 ... Communication part 42 ... input unit 43 ... storage unit 44 ... processing unit 51 ... communication unit 52 ... input unit 53 ... storage unit 54 ... printing unit 55 ... print history management unit 56 ... control unit 71 ... sleeve 221 ... store information storage unit 222 ... content Information storage unit 223 ... Print result information storage unit 231 ... Print data request reception unit 232 ... Print content selection unit 233 ... Print data generation unit 234 ... Print data transmission unit 441 ... Store-specific content registration unit 442 ... Print data request unit 443 ... Print data receiving unit 444 ... Print data processing unit 445 ... Print instruction unit

Claims (10)

A content printing system having a content providing device and a store device installed in a store,
The store apparatus is
A print data request unit that transmits a print data request in which store identification information, which is information for specifying a store, is set to the content providing device;
A print data receiving unit that receives print data from the content providing apparatus in response to the print data request transmitted by the print data request unit;
A printing unit that prints the print data received by the print data receiving unit on a printing material provided together with a product;
With
The content providing apparatus includes:
A store information storage unit for storing store attribute information indicating the characteristics of the store;
A content information storage unit that stores a content selection condition that is a condition for selecting content to be printed;
A print data request receiving unit that receives the print data request from the store apparatus;
The store attribute information and the content acquired by acquiring the store attribute information of the store specified by the store identification information set in the print data request received by the print data request receiving unit or a predetermined store A content selection unit that compares the selection conditions and selects the content to be printed;
A print data generation unit that generates print data for printing at least the content selected by the content selection unit;
A print data transmission unit that transmits the print data generated for the store specified by the store identification information set in the print data request to the store device that is the transmission source of the print data request;
Comprising
A content printing system characterized by that. The content providing device or the store device is
A print data processing unit that performs processing for causing the print data to be further printed by the store-specific content that is the content instructed to be printed by the store device that is the transmission source of the print data request;
The printing unit prints the print data processed by the print data processing unit on the substrate;
The content printing system according to claim 1, wherein: The content selection unit is instructed to print the content selected as a result of collation and the store apparatus based on a comparison between the actual number of printed contents selected as a result of collation and the maximum number of prints of the content. Decide which of the store-specific content is to be printed,
The print data generation unit generates print data for printing at least the content to be printed or the store-specific content determined by the content selection unit.
The content printing system according to claim 1, wherein: The store-specific content is content input to the store device or content acquired from the Internet based on a storage location input to the store device.
The content printing system according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein When the number of the contents selected as a result of collation exceeds the number of contents that can be printed on the printed material, the content selection unit sets the upper limit on the number of contents that can be printed from the contents selected as a result of collation. The content to be printed is further selected with a random probability, a probability based on the advertising cost of each of the contents, or a probability based on the actual number of the printed contents.
The content printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the content printing system is provided. When the number of the contents selected as a result of collation exceeds the number of contents that can be printed on the printing material, the content selection unit uses the number of contents that can be printed from the content selected as a result of collation as an element. Generate a set of content,
The print data generation unit generates print data for printing at least the content included in the set for each set generated by the content selection unit,
The print data transmission unit transmits the print data generated for each set to the store device that is the transmission source of the print data request,
The printing unit prints the print data selected from the print data generated for each set on the substrate;
The content printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the content printing system is provided. In the print data request, a search condition in which one or more information is set among the information type, the attribute of the product purchaser, and the purchased product is further set.
The store attribute information includes one or more information of an area to which the store belongs and a customer base of the store,
The content selection condition is indicated by one or more pieces of information among a region, a customer base of a store, an information type, an attribute of a product purchaser, a purchased product, and a time zone,
The content selection unit uses, as a search key, a combination of the store attribute information of the store specified by the store identification information and one or more pieces of information included in the search condition and current time, and the search key Selecting the content to be printed by collating with the content selection condition;
The content printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein The print data generation unit acquires the content to be printed selected by the content selection unit from the content information storage unit or from the Internet based on a storage location stored in the content information storage unit. Generating the print data using the content
The content printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the content printing system is characterized in that: A store information storage unit for storing store attribute information indicating the characteristics of the store;
A content information storage unit that stores a content selection condition that is a condition for selecting content to be printed;
A print data request receiving unit that receives a print data request in which store identification information, which is information for specifying a store, is set from a store device that prints print data on a substrate provided together with the product;
The store attribute information and the content acquired by acquiring the store attribute information of the store specified by the store identification information set in the print data request received by the print data request receiving unit or a predetermined store A content selection unit that compares the selection conditions and selects the content to be printed;
A print data generation unit that generates print data for printing at least the content selected by the content selection unit;
A print data transmission unit that transmits the print data generated for the store specified by the store identification information set in the print data request to the store device that is the transmission source of the print data request;
A content providing apparatus comprising: A printing method using a content printing system having a content providing device and a store device installed in a store,
In the store apparatus,
A print data request process in which a print data request is transmitted to the content providing apparatus by a print data request in which store identification information, which is information for specifying a store, is set;
In the content providing apparatus,
A store selected by the store identification information set in the print data request received from the store device from a store information storage unit that stores store attribute information indicating the characteristics of the store, or a predetermined content A content selection process of acquiring the store attribute information of a store, selecting the content by comparing the acquired store attribute information with a content selection condition that is a condition for selecting content to be printed,
A print data generation process, wherein the print data generation unit generates print data for printing at least the content selected in the content selection process;
A print data transmission unit that transmits the print data generated for the store specified by the store identification information set in the print data request to the store device that is the transmission source of the print data request Process,
In the store apparatus,
A print data receiving process in which the print data receiving unit receives the print data from the content providing device;
A printing process in which the printing unit prints the print data received in the print data receiving process on a substrate to be provided together with a product;
A printing method characterized by comprising:

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