JP2024062638A - Image forming system and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

An image forming system and an image forming method are provided that can reliably provide a user with an opportunity to purchase related content that is related to the purchased content when purchasing content data.
[Solution] An image forming system 100 and image forming method including an operation acceptance unit 210 that accepts input operations from a user US, a printing unit 220, and a storage unit 320 that pre-stores a plurality of contents and a plurality of content identification information CID(1) to CID(n) linked to the plurality of contents, extracts related content information RC(i) related to the content for which the input operation was accepted from the storage unit 320 when an operation to purchase content is accepted by the operation acceptance unit 210, and prints the extracted related content information RC(i) on a recording sheet P by the printing unit 220.
[Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

This disclosure relates to an image forming system and an image forming method.

Patent Document 1 describes an image forming system that includes an operation reception unit that receives input operations from a user, a printing unit, and a storage unit that pre-stores multiple content data and multiple content identification information (e.g., content numbers) linked to each of the multiple content data. The image forming system is composed of an image forming device, such as a copier or multifunction device, and a server, and the image forming device and the server are connected to each other via a communication network.

In an image forming system, an image forming device is installed in a location such as a convenience store where an unspecified number of users can use it. The image forming device has not only service functions such as copy services and facsimile services, but also a function called a content service. Here, a content service is a service function that sells content such as bromides, sheet music, photo compositing (compositing photos onto templates such as calendars and business cards), and newspapers to users.

When using a content service on an image forming device, a user typically searches for and selects the content they want from a content server (e.g., the website of a content provider that provides a content service), which is an information resource for content, using an operation reception unit (a so-called touch panel) provided on the image forming device, and then purchases the content. Alternatively, the user searches the content server using an information processing device such as a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone or tablet, or a personal computer, and obtains content identification information (e.g., a content number) that identifies the content they wish to purchase. The user then records (prints or writes down) the content identification information obtained from the content server, takes it to the location of the image forming device, such as a convenience store, and operates the image forming device to input the content identification information and purchase the content.

However, when a user purchases content, there are cases where the user wishes to purchase not only the purchased content but also related content that is related to the purchased content, or the user may wish to purchase related content after seeing information about related content, such as information about upcoming campaigns.

JP 2020-31350 A

However, with conventional image forming systems, users were unable to find out about related content that was related to the content they had purchased, resulting in missed purchasing opportunities.

The present disclosure therefore aims to provide an image forming system and an image forming method that can reliably provide a user with an opportunity to purchase related content that is related to the purchased content when purchasing the content.

To solve the above problems, the following image forming system and image forming method are provided.

(1) Image forming system The image forming system according to the present disclosure is an image forming system including an operation receiving unit that receives input operations from a user, a printing unit, and a memory unit that pre-stores a plurality of content data and a plurality of content identification information linked to the plurality of content data, and is characterized in that the image forming system includes an extraction control means that, when a purchase operation to purchase content is received by the operation receiving unit, extracts from the memory unit related content information related to the content for which the purchase operation is received, and a print control means that prints the related content information extracted by the extraction control means on a recording sheet by the printing unit.

(2) Image Forming Method The image forming method according to the present disclosure is an image forming method performed by an image forming system including an operation receiving unit that receives input operations from a user, a printing unit, and a memory unit that pre-stores a plurality of content data and a plurality of content identification information linked to the plurality of content data, and is characterized in that, when a purchase operation for purchasing content is received by the operation receiving unit, related content information related to the content for which the purchase operation was received is extracted from the memory unit, and the extracted related content information is printed on a recording sheet by the printing unit.

According to the present disclosure, when purchasing content, it is possible to reliably provide a user with an opportunity to purchase related content that is related to the purchased content.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an image forming apparatus in an image forming system. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a server in the image forming system. 11 is a flowchart of the first half of an example of a control operation of the image forming system on the image forming apparatus side. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a control operation of the image forming system on the server side. 11 is a flowchart showing the second half of an example of a control operation of the image forming system on the image forming apparatus side. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the control example shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C. This is a diagram showing the first reference table used when obtaining related content, which is a first reference table in a memory unit that stores the top five content purchase numbers by genre in the past purchase history of all purchasers who purchased the same content as the content purchased by the user. This is a diagram showing a second reference table used when obtaining alternative related content, which is a second reference table in a memory unit that stores the top three pieces of content that a user who has purchased content has purchased simultaneously or next based on multiple content purchase histories in the purchase history of the user who has purchased the content in the past. 10 is a flowchart of the first half of another example of the control operation of the image forming system on the image forming apparatus side. 10 is a flowchart on the server side showing another example of the control operation of the image forming system. 13 is a flowchart of the second half of the image forming apparatus side showing another example of the control operation of the image forming system. FIG. 8D is an explanatory diagram for explaining the control example shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C.

The following describes an embodiment of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings. In the following description, identical parts are given the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed descriptions thereof will not be repeated.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an image forming system 100 according to the present embodiment. Figures 2 and 3 are block diagrams showing the system configurations of an image forming device 200 and a server 300 in the image forming system 100, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 100 includes an operation reception unit 210 that receives input operations from a user US (a person who purchases content), a printing unit 220, and a storage unit 320 (see FIG. 3). The storage unit 320 prestores a plurality of content data CD(1)-CD(n) (n is a subscript indicating the sequential number of the content data and is an integer of 2 or more) (see FIG. 3) and a plurality of content identification information CID(1)-CID(n) (content numbers) (see FIG. 3) that are linked to the plurality of content data CD(1)-CD(n), respectively.

More specifically, the image forming system 100 is composed of multiple image forming devices 200 (one multifunction device in the example shown in FIG. 1) and a server 300 (e.g., a content server). The server 300 is connected to the image forming devices 200 via a communications network NT such as the Internet. The server 300 is also connected to multiple information processing devices 400 (one smartphone in the example shown in FIG. 1) via the communications network NT.

The image forming device 200 is installed in a location such as a convenience store where an unspecified number of users US-US can use it. Examples of the information processing device 400 include a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet, or a personal computer. For example, the personal computer is installed in a facility such as a store where the Internet is available, or in the home of the user US. The image forming device 200 and the server 300 are connected to each other via a communication network NT and have communication units 200a, 300a (see Figures 2 and 3) that exchange information between them. The information processing device 400 also has a communication unit (not shown), and is connected to each other via the communication network NT to exchange information between them.

[Image forming apparatus]
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 200 includes a communication unit 200 a , an operation reception unit 210 , a printing unit 220 , a reading unit 230 , a control unit 240 , and a storage unit 250 .

The operation reception unit 210 receives input operations from the user US (see FIG. 1). The operation reception unit 210 is composed of an operation unit (a touch panel in this example) and a display unit (a display panel in this example). The operation unit is electrically connected to the input system of the control unit 240, and transmits the received input operations to the control unit 240. The display unit is electrically connected to the output system of the control unit 240, and displays various information on the display screen based on the display data sent from the control unit 240. The operation reception unit 210 has an operation unit provided on the display unit, and receives touch operations by the user US on various software keys displayed on the display unit at the operation unit.

The printing unit 220 forms an image on a recording sheet P such as paper by electrophotographic image formation. The printing unit 220 is electrically connected to the output system of the control unit 240, and prints an image based on the print data sent from the control unit 240.

The reading unit 230 reads the image on the recording sheet P. The reading unit 230 converts the image on the recording sheet P into image data while scanning it. The reading unit 230 is electrically connected to the input system of the control unit 240, and transmits the converted image data to the control unit 240.

Note that the operation reception unit 210, printing unit 220, and reading unit 230 are of conventionally well-known configurations, and detailed explanations will be omitted here.

The control unit 240 is composed of a computer such as a CPU. The storage unit 250 includes a non-volatile memory such as a ROM, a volatile memory such as a RAM, and a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD or SSD, and stores various information. The control unit 240 is responsible for the overall control of the image forming device 200. The control unit 240 performs various processes by calling up control programs previously stored in the ROM of the storage unit 250, loading the programs into the RAM of the storage unit 250, and executing them.

[server]
3, the server 300 includes a communication unit 300a, a control unit 310, and a storage unit 320. A website of a content provider that provides a content service is built on the server 300. In other words, the image forming system 100 is a content service system.

The control unit 310 is composed of a computer such as a CPU. The storage unit 320 includes a non-volatile memory such as a ROM, a volatile memory such as a RAM, and a large-capacity storage device such as a HDD or SSD, and stores various types of information. The control unit 310 is responsible for the overall control of the server 300. The control unit 310 performs various types of processing by calling up control programs previously stored in the ROM of the storage unit 320, and loading and executing the programs on the RAM of the storage unit 320.

First Embodiment
The image forming system 100 includes a print control unit Q1 and an extraction control unit Q3. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 2, the image forming device 200 includes the print control unit Q1. That is, the control unit 240 functions as a control unit including the print control unit Q1. As shown in Fig. 3, the server 300 includes an extraction control unit Q3. That is, the control unit 310 functions as a control unit including the extraction control unit Q3.

In the server 300, when the operation reception unit 210 of the image forming device 200 receives a purchase operation for purchasing content, the extraction control unit Q3 extracts related content information RC(i) [i is a subscript indicating the serial number of the related content information, and is at least one integer from 1 to n] related to the content for which the purchase operation has been received from the storage unit 320. For example, the storage unit 320 stores the past purchase history of all purchasers who have purchased the content as related content information RC(i), and the extraction control unit Q3 can extract the related content information RC(i) from the storage unit 320 by referring to the past purchase history of all purchasers who have purchased the same content as the content purchased by the user US. The related content information RC(i) includes related content identification information RCID(i) (related content number) linked to the content data CD(i) of the related content related to the content for which the purchase operation has been received among the multiple content data CD(1) to CD(n), and information that can stimulate the user US's desire to purchase the related content. The control unit 310 transmits the related content information RC(i) to the image forming device 200 via the communication network NT.

In the image forming device 200, the control unit 240 receives the related content information RC(i) sent from the server 300. The print control means Q1 prints the related content information RC(i) extracted by the extraction control means Q3 of the server 300 on a recording sheet P using the print unit 220 of the image forming device 200.

According to this embodiment, when the operation reception unit 210 receives a purchase operation to purchase content, related content information RC(i) related to the content for which the purchase operation was received is extracted from the memory unit 320, and the extracted related content information RC(i) is printed on a recording sheet P by the printing unit 220, so that the user US can know the related content related to the purchased content when purchasing the content. This ensures that the user US is given the opportunity to purchase related content related to the purchased content when purchasing the content.

In this embodiment, the image forming system 100 is composed of an image forming device 200 and a server 300. The image forming device 200 includes an operation reception unit 210, a printing unit 220, and a printing control means Q1. The server 300 includes a storage unit 250 and an extraction control means Q3. The image forming device 200 and the server 300 are connected to each other via a communication network NT.

By doing this, a large-capacity storage unit 320 can be used in the server 300, and a large amount of content data CD(1)-CD(n) and content identification information CID(1)-CID(n) can be stored. In addition, a high-speed processing control unit 310 can be used in the server 300, and extraction control processing can be performed at high speed.

Second Embodiment
In this embodiment, the image forming system 100 further includes a reading unit 230 (see FIG. 2) and an acquisition control unit Q4 (see FIG. 3). In detail, as shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 200 further includes the reading unit 230. As shown in FIG. 3, the server 300 further includes the acquisition control unit Q4. That is, the control unit 310 functions as a control unit including the acquisition control unit Q4.

In the image forming device 200, the control unit 240 reads the related content information RC(i) in the image on the recording sheet P (see FIG. 1) on which the related content information RC(i) is printed, using the reading unit 230 of the image forming device 200. The control unit 240 transmits the related content information RC(i) read by the reading unit 230 to the server 300 via the communication network NT.

In the server 300, the control unit 310 receives the related content information RC(i) sent from the image forming device 200. When the related content information RC(i) printed on the recording sheet P is read by the reading unit 230 of the image forming device 200, the acquisition control means Q4 acquires the content data CD(i) of the related content corresponding to the read related content information RC(i) from the multiple content data CD(1) to CD(n).

The image forming system 100 is configured to enable the purchase of related content acquired by the acquisition control means Q4. Here, the configuration that enables the purchase of related content is similar to a conventionally known configuration, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted here.

In this way, when purchasing content in the image forming system 100, related content that is related to the purchased content can also be purchased.

Third Embodiment
In this embodiment, description information RCTE(1) to RCTE(n) describing related content is stored in advance in the storage unit 320 of the server 300. Here, the description information RCTE(1) to RCTE(n) of the related content may be, for example, a description of the related content, a photograph, an illustration, or a combination of at least two of these. The related content information RC(i) includes related content identification information RCID(i) and description information RCTE(i) of the related content.

As shown in FIG. 1, the print control means Q1 of the image forming device 200 causes the printing unit 220 of the image forming device 200 to print the related content identification information RCID(i) and the related content description information RCTE(i) on a recording sheet P together with a purchase instruction field CK(i) (check field) indicating whether or not the related content needs to be purchased.

In this way, when purchasing content, the user US can know the explanatory information RCTE(i) that describes the related content. In addition, the user US can enter an instruction indicator (check mark) in the purchase instruction field CK(i) (check field), thereby ensuring the purchase of the related content.

Fourth Embodiment
In the present embodiment, the image forming system 100 further includes a purchase necessity determination control unit Q2. More specifically, the image forming apparatus 200 further includes the purchase necessity determination control unit Q2 as shown in Fig. 2. That is, the control unit 240 functions as a control unit including the purchase necessity determination control unit Q2.

The purchase necessity determination control means Q2 determines whether or not to purchase related content based on the presence or absence of an instruction indicator (check mark) in the purchase instruction field CK(i) (check field) indicating whether or not to purchase related content.

When the related content information RC(i) printed on the recording sheet P is read by the reading unit 230 of the image forming device 200, and the purchase necessity determination control means Q2 determines that the related content is to be purchased, the acquisition control means Q4 of the server 300 acquires the content data CD(i) corresponding to the related content identification information RCID(i) of the related content determined to be purchased from the multiple content data CD(1) to CD(n).

In this way, the instruction indicator (check mark) entered in the purchase instruction field CK(i) (check field) can be easily read using the reading unit 230 of the image forming system 100 (reading unit 230 of the image forming device 200), which allows the purchase necessity determination control means Q2 to easily determine whether or not to purchase related content, and the acquisition control means Q4 to easily acquire related content.

Fifth Embodiment
In this embodiment, the storage unit 320 of the server 300 stores content purchase history CHI(1) to CHI(m) (m is a subscript indicating the serial number of the content purchased in the past, and is an integer of 2 or more). In this example, the storage unit 320 stores the content purchase history CHI(1) to CHI(m) for each user identification information USID to USID (user US), which is identification information of users US to US. The extraction control means Q3 determines the priority of related content corresponding to the related content information RC(i) based on the content purchase history CHI(1) to CHI(m). The print control means Q1 of the image forming device 200 causes the print unit 220 of the image forming device 200 to print the related content information on the recording sheet P in the order of priority determined by the extraction control means Q3 of the server 300.

This makes it possible to use the content purchase histories CHI(1) to CHI(m) of all purchasers who have previously purchased content, making it easy to provide recommended related content to the user US.

In more detail, the extraction control means Q3 determines the priority of related content by controlling the determination of recommended content using the purchase history CHI(1) to CHI(m).

In the control of determining recommended content, the higher the popularity of related content, the higher the priority of the related content can be. For example, the related contents can be arranged in order of popularity in the past purchase history of all purchasers who have purchased the same content as the content purchased by the user US (specifically, the order of the number of purchases of other content purchased by all purchasers of the same content or the order of the number of searches for other content searched for) and the top-ranked contents can be obtained. In this case, the related contents can be printed in order of popularity from the top on the recording sheet P. This allows the related contents to be ranked, and ultimately improves the accuracy of the user US's interest in the content recommended to the user US.

In addition, in the determination control of recommended content, related content can be weighted according to the amount of accompanying information (e.g., the type of illustrations, photographs, etc. depicting characters appearing in the content, the type of other works created by the original author, the type of other series works, the type of sequels) that accompanies the content purchased by the user US. This can improve the accuracy of ranking related content, and can further improve the accuracy of the user US's level of interest in content recommended to the user US.

Sixth Embodiment
In this embodiment, in the image forming system 100, the user US logs in with his/her own user identification information USID to purchase content. Therefore, the control unit 310 of the server 300 can recognize the purchase history of content previously purchased by the user US for each user identification information USID. Note that the user US may be able to purchase content without logging in.

The related content information RC(i) includes the user identification information USID of the user US who purchased the content. The print control means Q1 of the image forming device 200 may be configured to convert the content purchase history for each user identification information USID together with the related content information RC(i) into a two-dimensional code (e.g., a QR code (registered trademark)).

However, if the sales period for the content or related content you wish to purchase has expired, you will not be able to purchase the content or related content.

In this regard, when the sales deadline for the content to be purchased or the sales deadline for the related content corresponding to the related content information RC(i) to be purchased has expired, the extraction control means Q3 of the server 300 acquires alternative related content that replaces the content or related content based on the content purchase history CHI(1) to CHI(m).

In this way, if the sales period for the content or related content to be purchased has expired, the content purchase history CHI(1)-CHI(m) can be used, making it possible to easily provide the user US with alternative related content to replace the content or related content to be purchased.

For example, the extraction control means Q3 may use the user identification information USID to extract a purchase history CHI(j) (j is a subscript indicating the serial number of the content previously purchased by the user US, and is at least one integer from 1 to m) of the content purchased by the user US who has purchased the content from the content purchase history CHI(1) to CHI(m), and obtain alternative related content from the extracted purchase history CHI(j) of the user US.

The extraction control means Q3 may also determine the priority of the related content corresponding to the related content information RC(i) based on the past purchase history of all purchasers of the content that could not be purchased or the content of the same genre as the related content that could not be purchased. Specifically, the extraction control means Q3 may arrange the alternative related content in order of popularity ranking (e.g., purchase number ranking or search number ranking) in the past purchase history of all purchasers of content of the same genre, and obtain the top-ranked ones. In this case, the print control means Q1 of the image forming device 200 can print the alternative related content information RC(i) on the recording sheet P by the print unit 220 of the image forming device 200 in the order of priority determined by the extraction control means Q3 of the server 300.

Seventh Embodiment
Incidentally, even if the user US does not purchase related content when purchasing a content, he or she may wish to purchase the related content at a later date.

In this regard, in the present embodiment, detailed information DI(1) to DI(n) of related content corresponding to related content information RC(i) is stored in advance for each content identification information CID(1) to CID(n) in the storage unit 320 of the server 300. Examples of the detailed information DI(1) to DI(n) of related content include descriptions of the related content, photographs, illustrations, or a combination of at least two of these. As shown in FIG. 3, the server 300 further includes a generation control means Q5. That is, the control unit 310 functions as a control unit including the generation control means Q5.

The generation control means Q5 generates location information indicating the storage location of the detailed information DI(1) to DI(n) of the related content. For example, the location information may be a two-dimensional code (in this example, a QR code) converted from a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) indicating the location of an information resource on the Internet. The related content information RC(i) includes the location information generated by the generation control means Q5 of the server 300. The server 300 transmits the location information to the image forming device 200 via the communication network NT.

In the image forming device 200, the control unit 240 receives the location information sent from the server 300. The print control means Q1 prints the location information on the recording sheet P using the printing unit 220.

In this way, the camera function of the mobile terminal device (400) such as a smartphone or tablet can be used to display the website of the content server (in this example, server 300 owned by the content provider that provides the content service), which is the information resource of the content, on the display unit (display panel) of the mobile terminal device (400) from the location information (QR code). Therefore, the user US can know the content identification information CID(i) (content number) of the desired content. This allows the user US to operate the image forming device 200 at the location where the image forming device 200 is installed, such as a convenience store, to enter the content identification information CID(i) (content number) and purchase the content.

[Example of control operation of image forming system]
Figures 4A and 4C are respectively a first half and a second half of a flow chart on the image forming apparatus 200 side showing an example of a control operation of the image forming system 100. Figure 4B is a flow chart on the server 300 side showing an example of a control operation of the image forming system 100. Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the control example shown in Figures 4A to 4C.

As shown in FIG. 4A, in the image forming device 200, the control unit 240 determines whether or not content identification information CID(k) (k is a subscript indicating the serial number of the content purchased by the user US, and is at least one integer from 1 to n) (content number) has been input to the operation reception unit 210 by the user US who has logged in using the user identification information USID (Sa1), and if it is determined that the content has been input (Sa1: Yes), it requests content data CD(k) corresponding to the content identification information CID(k) from the server 300 (Sa2).

As shown in FIG. 4B, in server 300, control unit 310 determines whether the content to be purchased is within the sales period (Sa3), and if it is determined that it is within the sales period (Sa3: Yes), obtains the requested content data CD(k) from storage unit 320 (Sa4). On the other hand, if control unit 310 determines that the sales period has expired (Sa3: No), it determines whether the content to be purchased is related content (Sa5), and if it is not related content (Sa5: No), it proceeds to Sa6.

Next, the control unit 310 acquires the related content identification information RCID(k, i) (related content number) and the related content description information RCTE(k, i) from the storage unit 320 as the related content information RC(k, i) (Sa6).

Figure 6 shows the first reference table TB1 (see Figure 3) in the storage unit 320, which is used when acquiring related content and stores the top five content purchases by genre in the past purchase history of all purchasers who have purchased the same content as the content purchased by the user US. Note that the first reference table TB1 in the storage unit 320 stores a value that has been previously tallied as the number of purchases.

For example, the control unit 310 uses the first reference table TB1 shown in FIG. 6 to obtain related content and its corresponding related content identification information RCID(k, i) and related content description information RCTE(k, i) from the storage unit 320.

Next, the control unit 310 converts the user identification information USID, the related content identification information RCID(k, i), and the location information (URL) into a two-dimensional code (Sa7), and transmits the converted two-dimensional code and the related content description information RCTE(k, i) together with the content data CD(k) to the image forming device 200 (Sa8). At this time, the control unit 310 also transmits the sales period of the content to be purchased to the image forming device 200.

As shown in FIG. 4C, in the image forming device 200, the control unit 240 determines whether the content to be purchased is related content (Sa9), and if it is determined that it is not related content (Sa9: No), it determines whether the content to be purchased is within the sales period (Sa10), and if it is determined that it is within the sales period (Sa10: Yes), it prints the content data CD(k) (Sa11). On the other hand, if the control unit 240 determines that the sales period has passed (Sa10: No), it displays a message on the display unit of the operation reception unit 210 that the sales period has passed (Sa12), and proceeds to Sa13.

Next, the control unit 240 prints a "recommended content flyer (related content information flyer)" on the recording sheet P, which includes a two-dimensional code (QR code), a purchase instruction field CK(k,i) (check field), and related content description information RCTE(k,i) (related content description), for each content of the content data CD(k) (Sa14). Then, the user US writes an instruction indicator (check mark) in the purchase instruction field CK(k,i) (check field) of the related content that the user wants to purchase additionally (S15a). Here, if the user US decides to purchase the related content on the spot, the image of the "recommended content flyer" is read by the reading unit 230 of the image forming device 200, and the process returns to Sa1 shown in FIG. 4A. On the other hand, if the user US decides to purchase the related content later, the process proceeds to the flowcharts shown in FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C, which will be described later.

When the user US decides to immediately purchase the related content, as shown in FIG. 4A, in the image forming device 200, if the control unit 240 determines that the content identification information CID(k) has not been input (Sa1: No), it waits until it determines that the image of the "recommended content flyer" has been read (Sa16: No), and if it determines that it has been read (Sa16: Yes), it determines whether or not an instruction indicator (check mark) has been entered in the purchase instruction field CK(k, i) (Sa17). If the control unit 240 determines that it has not been entered (S17a: No), it proceeds to Sa1, whereas if it determines that it has been entered (S17a: Yes), it converts the two-dimensional code with the instruction indicator (check mark) into the content identification information CID (Sa18) and proceeds to Sa2.

Also, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the server 300, if the control unit 310 determines that the content to be purchased has exceeded its sales period (Sa3: No), and if the control unit 310 determines that the content to be purchased is related content (Sa5: Yes), it acquires the alternative related content identification information RCID(k, i) (related content number) and the alternative related content description information RCTE(k, i) from the memory unit 320 as the related content information RC(k, i) (Sa19).

Figure 7 shows the second reference table TB2 (see Figure 3) in the storage unit 320, which is used when obtaining alternative related content and stores the top three pieces of content that have been purchased simultaneously or next in the purchase history CHI(j) of a user US who has previously purchased content.

For example, the control unit 310 uses the second reference table TB2 shown in FIG. 7 to obtain the alternative related content and the corresponding alternative related content identification information RCID(k, i) and alternative related content description information RCTE(k, i) from the storage unit 320.

Also, as shown in FIG. 4C, in the image forming device 200, when the control unit 240 determines that the content to be purchased is related content (Sa9: Yes), it determines whether or not a purchase operation to purchase the content data CD(k, i) of the related content has been accepted (Sa20), and when it determines that a purchase operation has been accepted (Sa20: Yes), it proceeds to Sa10. On the other hand, when the control unit 240 determines that an operation not to purchase has been accepted (Sa20: No), it ends the process.

[Another Example of Control Operation of Image Forming System]
Figures 8A and 8C are respectively a first half and a second half of a flowchart on the image forming apparatus 200 side showing another example of the control operation of the image forming system 100. Figure 8B is a flowchart on the server 300 side showing another example of the control operation of the image forming system 100. Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the control example shown in Figures 8A to 8C.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the information processing device 400 uses the camera function to capture the two-dimensional code on the "recommended content flyer" (Sb1) and converts the two-dimensional code into location information (URL) (Sb2). Next, the information processing device 400 queries the server 300 that has built the content provider's website using the location information (Sb3).

As shown in FIG. 8B, in the server 300, the control unit 310 determines whether the content to be viewed is within the sales period (Sb4), and if it is determined that it is within the sales period (Sa3: Yes), obtains detailed information DI(i) of the related content from the storage unit 320 (Sb5). For example, the control unit 310 uses the first reference table TB1 shown in FIG. 6 to obtain the related content and the corresponding related content identification information RCID(i) and detailed information DI(i) of the related content from the storage unit 320.

On the other hand, if the control unit 310 determines that the sales period has expired (Sb4: No), it obtains detailed information DI(i) of the alternative related content from the storage unit 320 (Sa6).

Here, if the user US has multiple past purchase histories, the past purchase history of the user US is used to obtain alternative related content. Also, if the user US has only one past purchase history or no past purchase history, the alternative related content is arranged in descending order of popularity in the past purchase histories of all purchasers for content in the same genre as the related content that could not be viewed, and the top-ranked content is obtained.

Next, the control unit 310 transmits detailed information DI(i) of the related content to the information processing device 400 (Sb7). At this time, the control unit 310 also transmits the sales period of the content to be viewed to the information processing device 400.

As shown in FIG. 8C, the information processing device 400 determines whether the content to be viewed is within the sales period (Sb8), and if it is determined that the content is within the sales period (Sb8: Yes), it displays the detailed information DI(i) of the related content on the display unit (Sb9). On the other hand, if the information processing device 400 determines that the sales period has passed (Sb8: No), it displays a message on the display unit of the operation receiving unit 210 indicating that the sales period has passed (Sb10), and determines whether a viewing operation to view the detailed information DI(i) of the alternative related content has been accepted (Sb11), and if it determines that a viewing operation has been accepted (Sb11: Yes), it proceeds to Sb9. On the other hand, if the information processing device 400 determines that an operation not to view has been accepted (Sb11: No), it ends the process.

(Other embodiments)
In the image forming system 100 according to the first to seventh embodiments described above, the control unit 240 in the image forming device 200 is configured to include a print control unit Q1 and a purchase necessity determination control unit Q2, and the server 300 is configured to include an extraction control unit Q3, an acquisition control unit Q4, and a generation control unit Q5, but this is not limited thereto, and these control units (Q1 to Q5) may be located in either the image forming device 200 or the server 300. For example, all of the control units (Q1 to Q5) may be located in the control unit 240 of the image forming device 200, or in the control unit 310 of the server 300.

The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various other forms. Therefore, the embodiments are merely illustrative in all respects and should not be interpreted in a restrictive manner. The scope of the present disclosure is indicated by the claims, and is not bound by the text of the specification. Furthermore, all modifications and changes that fall within the scope of the claims are within the scope of the present disclosure.

100 Image forming system 200 Image forming device 210 Operation reception unit 220 Printing unit 230 Reading unit 240 Control unit 250 Memory unit 300 Server 310 Control unit 320 Memory unit 400 Information processing device CD Content data CHI Purchase history CID Content identification information CK Purchase instruction field DI Detailed information NT Communication network P Record sheet Q1 Print control means Q2 Purchase necessity determination control means Q3 Extraction control means Q4 Acquisition control means Q5 Generation control means RC Related content information RCID Related content identification information RCTE Explanation information TB1 First reference table TB2 Second reference table USID User identification information US User

Claims (9)

An image forming system including an operation receiving unit that receives an input operation from a user, a printing unit, and a storage unit that stores in advance a plurality of content data and a plurality of content identification information respectively associated with the plurality of content data,
an extraction control means for extracting, when the operation acceptance unit accepts a purchase operation for purchasing content, related content information related to the content for which the purchase operation has been accepted from the storage unit;
a print control means for printing the related content information extracted by the extraction control means on a recording sheet by the printing unit;
An image forming system comprising: 2. The image forming system according to claim 1,
a reading unit; and an acquisition control unit that, when the related content information printed on the recording sheet is read by the reading unit, acquires content data of related content corresponding to the read related content information from the plurality of content data,
An image forming system, characterized in that the related content acquired by the acquisition control means can be purchased. 3. The image forming system according to claim 2,
The storage unit stores in advance description information that describes the related content,
the related content information includes related content identification information associated with the content data of the related content and the description information of the related content;
An image forming system characterized in that the printing control means prints the related content identification information and the explanatory information of the related content on the recording sheet in the printing unit, together with a purchase instruction field indicating whether or not the related content needs to be purchased. 4. The image forming system according to claim 3,
a purchase necessity determination control means for determining whether or not to purchase the related content based on the presence or absence of an instruction indicator indicating whether or not to purchase the related content in the purchase instruction field,
The image forming system is characterized in that, when the related content information printed on the recording sheet is read by the reading unit, and when the purchase necessity determination control means determines that the related content is to be purchased, the acquisition control means acquires, from the multiple content data, the content data corresponding to the related content identification information of the related content that has been determined to be purchased. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1,
the storage unit stores a purchase history of the content;
the extraction control means determines a priority of the related content corresponding to the related content information based on a purchase history of the content;
The image forming system according to the present invention, wherein the print control means causes the printing unit to print the related content information on the recording sheet in the order of the priority determined by the extraction control means. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1,
the storage unit stores a purchase history of the content;
The image forming system is characterized in that, when the sales period for the related content corresponding to the related content information to be purchased has expired, the extraction control means obtains an alternative related content to replace the related content based on the purchase history of the content. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1,
The system is composed of an image forming device and a server.
the image forming apparatus includes the operation receiving unit, the printing unit, and the print control unit,
The server includes the storage unit and the extraction control means,
The image forming system according to the present invention is characterized in that the image forming apparatus and the server are connected to each other via a communication network. 8. The image forming system according to claim 7,
The storage unit prestores detailed information of related content corresponding to the related content information,
The server further includes a generation control means for generating location information indicating a storage location of the detailed information of the related content,
the related content information includes the location information generated by the generation control means of the server,
2. An image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the print control means of the image forming apparatus causes the printing unit to print the location information on the recording sheet. An image forming method performed by an image forming system including an operation receiving unit that receives an input operation from a user, a printing unit, and a storage unit that stores in advance a plurality of content data and a plurality of content identification information respectively associated with the plurality of content data, the method comprising:
an operation receiving unit receiving a purchase operation for purchasing content, extracting from the memory unit related content information related to the content for which the purchase operation was received, and printing the extracted related content information on a recording sheet by the printing unit,

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