JP3844751B2 - Content management system, content management method, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a content management system, a content management method, a program, and a recording medium for managing WEB content generated based on image data read from a document composed of a plurality of pages.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Traditionally, the travel industry has become a special business that sells travel products from other companies in the same industry. In other words, in the travel industry, it becomes an agent of a competitor and earns commissions by selling the competitor's travel products. For this reason, each travel agency prints a large number of pamphlets and distributes them to each branch or agency in order to make consumers recognize their travel products.
[0003]
In addition, when selling travel products as an agent, customers receive a large amount of travel pamphlets from merchandise distributors and place the travel pamphlets on the storefront so that customers can recognize the products.
[0004]
Recently, methods for digitizing this travel brochure and publishing it on the Internet for viewing or printing it at the store as needed are also being studied.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-306204
[0006]
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2002-41499 A
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since travel agencies etc. provide pamphlets free of charge from the company that sells the products, they often receive printed pamphlets over the required number of copies and discard them in large quantities after the travel recruitment period has passed. There was a problem of being wasted.
[0008]
On the other hand, merchandise distributors that provide printed pamphlets cannot easily reduce the number of printed copies because there is a risk of lost sales opportunities if the number of copies is significantly reduced. In other words, if the number of distributions is reduced, printed brochures will be missing at certain travel agencies and will not be recognized by consumers, or travel agencies will handle products from multiple companies, so there will be fewer brochure display shelves. However, the number of printed copies could not be reduced while recognizing that a large amount was discarded as a result.
[0009]
In addition, when an electronic brochure is introduced, it will be output by a printer or the like. However, since the printing cost of a normal printer is higher than that of printing by a normal printing machine, the overall cost increases. It might be.
[0010]
Therefore, it is conceivable to provide a printed pamphlet in the same manner as in the past for the actual actual demand (for example, about 70%), and to print the electronic pamphlet on demand when the printed pamphlet is missing. Even when creating an electronic pamphlet while leaving a printed pamphlet in this way, the pamphlet creating systems described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 require a large amount of money for the construction of electronic content data and a public WEB server. However, there are problems such as an increase in overall production costs and a burden of printing costs on the travel agency side that actually performed the printing, not the company that released the product. It was.
[0011]
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and the object of the present invention is , Pa Electronic content data (printing content, WEB browsing content) and publishing WEB servers can be built at a minimum cost based on print content such as web pages, and in particular, the amount of printed pamphlets can be greatly reduced. Another object of the present invention is to provide a content management system, a content management method, a program, and a recording medium capable of suppressing the total amount of paper brochure printing / distribution costs and electronic brochure creation and printing costs to a minimum.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The first invention of the present invention is: A content management system connected to a content printing / search terminal via a communication line, From image data read from a multi-page document I gave an ID Per page of A first generator that generates print content and stores it in the storage means Stepped A second generation method for generating web browsing content based on the print content for each page generated by the first generation unit and storing the content in the storage unit Stepped A registration method for registering each WEB browsing content stored in the storage means as WEB publishing data in association with each printing content. Stepped , Each WEB browsing content registered in the registration means is externally transmitted via a predetermined communication medium. Make it viewable from Publishing process I do Open hand Stepped , Print instruction for web browsing content published by the publication means Received from the content printing / search terminal In this case, the print content associated with the instructed web browsing content is Printing content transmitting means for transmitting to the content printing / searching terminal, wherein the printing content transmitting means instructs printing of a plurality of web browsing contents received from the content printing / searching terminal. If it is, the print contents linked to the designated plurality of web browsing contents are combined into one print content, and the ID of the print content and the gray scale print designation of the ID are specified. And adding the control information corresponding to the content to transmit the combined print content to the content print / search terminal. It is characterized by that.
[0016]
First of the present invention 2 The invention of A method for controlling a content management server connected to a content printing / search terminal via a communication line, From image data read from a multi-page document I gave an ID Per page of A first generator for generating print content and storing it in the storage means About A second generation process for generating web browsing content based on the print content for each page generated in the first generation step and storing the content in the storage unit About A registration process for registering each WEB browsing content stored in the storage means as WEB publishing data in association with each printing content. About , Each WEB browsing content registered in the registration step is externally transmitted via a predetermined communication medium. Make it viewable from Publishing process I do Publication process and print instruction for WEB browsing content published by the publication process Received from the content printing / search terminal In this case, the print content associated with the instructed web browsing content is A printing content transmission step for transmitting to the content printing / searching terminal, wherein the printing instruction received from the content printing / searching terminal instructs printing of a plurality of web browsing content. If it is, the print contents linked to the designated plurality of web browsing contents are combined into one print content, and the ID of the print content and the gray scale print designation of the ID are specified. And adding the control information corresponding to the content to transmit the combined print content to the content print / search terminal. It is characterized by that.
[0017]
First of the present invention 3 The invention of the 2 The content management method described in the invention of On the computer Execution Let It is a program for the above.
[0018]
First of the present invention 4 The invention of the 2 The content management method described in the invention of On the computer Execution Let The computer program is stored in a recording medium so as to be readable by a computer.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration of a content management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0020]
Hereinafter, printing of a brochure at a travel agency will be described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to printing of a brochure at a travel agency, and the content management system of the present invention can be applied to printing of all printed materials by an arbitrary organization. is there.
[0021]
In the figure, 170 is a content registration PC installed at each travel agency, etc., which reads electronic content from a reading device 175 such as a scanner, performs image processing and format conversion, and sends content information to the content intra server 140. It is a personal computer for uploading.
[0022]
The reading device 175 is a reading device such as a scanner connected to the content registration PC 170, but may be a so-called multi-function device with a scanner / copy / fax function connected to a network.
[0023]
Reference numeral 140 denotes a content intra server connected to the intranet of each travel agency, which is a server for storing the content information before approval registered from the content registration PC 170 and confirming the content. The hard disk of the content intra server 140 stores a content information registration program, a content ID numbering program, a search text registration program, an upload program to the content publishing WEB server 130, and the like. These programs are read into the RAM and executed under the control of the CPU of the content registration PC 170.
[0024]
130 is a content publishing WEB server installed in a travel agency or a third party, and can provide a search page and a browsing page for content such as a travel pamphlet and a catalog via the communication line 190. . In the hard disk 28 (FIG. 2) of the content publishing web server 130, an approved content database registered from the content intra server 140, a search program for the database, a print control program, a WEB reference data creation program, etc. Is remembered.
[0025]
These programs are read into the RAM 22 and executed under the control of the CPU 21 of the content publishing WEB server 130. The content publishing WEB server 130 is for searching and browsing content and printing the selected content. The browsing image data, thumbnail image, search text data, and printing data are stored in the hard disk. 28.
[0026]
Reference numerals 180 and 185 denote content search / print PCs A-185 and B180 installed at the storefronts of each travel agency, and are connected to the content publishing WEB server 130 via the communication line 190 to search for content. A personal computer for browsing and printing.
[0027]
Reference numeral 160 denotes a printing apparatus installed at each branch office of each travel agency, typically a color printer that can be connected to a network, and may be a so-called multi-function machine having a scanner / copy / fax function. .
[0028]
A charging device 150 is installed at each branch of each travel agency, and is a dedicated charging terminal that reads or monitors print information to the printing device 160, accumulates the charging information, and periodically transmits it to the management server 100 It is.
[0029]
The management server 100 is installed in a third party and accumulates and manages the billing information transmitted from the billing apparatus 150. A billing database (billing DB) and print history are stored in a hard disk (not shown) of the management server 100. A database (print history DB) and the like are accumulated.
[0030]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the content publishing WEB server 130 and the content intra server 140 shown in FIG.
[0031]
As shown in the figure, the server device such as the content publishing WEB server 130 and the content intra server 140 includes a CPU 21, a RAM 22, a ROM 23, a network adapter 24, a video adapter 25, a keyboard 26, a mouse 27, and the like. A pointing device, a hard disk 28, and a recording medium drive (storage medium drive) such as a CD-ROM drive 29 and a DVD-ROM drive, which are connected to each other via a system bus 20.
[0032]
The CPU 21 reads out programs stored in the ROM 23, the hard disk 28, or the CD-ROM drive 29 and executes various control processes described later. The hard disk 28 stores various form information and masters. The RAM 22 is a memory for temporarily storing data and the like when the CPU 21 executes a predetermined process. The network adapter (LAN adapter) 24 is a communication interface for connecting to the communication line 100.
[0033]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the content registration PC 170 and content search / print PC-A 185, B180 shown in FIG.
[0034]
As shown in the figure, a personal computer (PC) such as a content registration PC 170, content search / print PC-A 185, B180, etc., includes a CPU 31, a RAM 32, a ROM 33, a network adapter 34, a video adapter 35, and a keyboard. 36, a pointing device such as a mouse 37, a hard disk 38, and a recording medium drive (storage medium drive) such as a CD-ROM drive 39 and a DVD-ROM drive, which are connected to each other via a system bus 30. ing.
[0035]
The CPU 31 reads out a program stored in the ROM 33, the hard disk 38, or the CD-ROM drive 39 and executes various control processes. The RAM 32 is a memory for temporarily storing data and the like when the CPU 31 executes a predetermined process. The network adapter 34 is a communication interface for connecting to the communication line 100. Reference numeral 40 denotes a monitor which displays various information via the video adapter 35.
[0036]
Hereinafter, the content upload processing and WEB server registration processing in the content management system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0037]
4 and 5 are flowcharts showing an example of a first control processing procedure in the content management system of the present invention, which corresponds to the content upload processing and WEB server registration processing.
[0038]
S501 to S511 indicate steps executed by the content registration PC 170 shown in FIG. 1, and are executed by the CPU in the content registration PC 170 based on a program stored in a hard disk or other recording medium. S521 to S530 indicate steps executed by the content intra server 140 shown in FIG. 1, and are executed by the CPU in the content intra server 140 based on a program stored in a hard disk or other recording medium. The Further, S541 to S542 show steps executed by an approval PC (not shown) installed in each travel agency, etc., and executed based on a program stored in a recording medium by a CPU (not shown) in the approval PC. . S601 to S605 indicate steps executed by the content publishing WEB server 130 shown in FIG. 1, and based on a program stored in a hard disk or other recording medium by the CPU in the content publishing WEB server 130. Executed.
[0039]
First, the content registration PC 170 displays an image registration screen according to an instruction from the operator (S501), and then the printed content (S501) scanned by the operator operating a reading device 175 such as a multifunction peripheral or a scanner. For example, an image reading process for transmitting a read image of a color proofing document with a so-called “register mark” or a printed pamphlet (one page or a plurality of pages) from the reading device 175 to the content registration PC 170 is executed (S502). .
[0040]
Next, the content registration PC 170 converts the read image (one or a plurality of pages) into a document file (DF) (for example, PDF (Portable Document Format)) in a predetermined format, and print content (DF content). Create This DF is not limited to PDF.
[0041]
Further, the DF content is divided in units of pages (S503), and the DF content divided in units of pages is converted to generate image data of a predetermined format (for example, JPEG, bitmap, Tiff, etc.) (S504). Then, a thumbnail image corresponding to each DF content is created from each image data (S505). The content information (DF content, each content image, each thumbnail image, etc.) is uploaded to the content intra server 140 by the content registration PC 170 (S507).
[0042]
The content registration PC 170 performs image / character area determination processing and character recognition processing (OCR processing) on the content information described above to create a DF content in which text and an image are mixed (S506). You may comprise so that it may upload to the intra server 140 (S507). Note that the DF content in units of pages in the content information and the content for WEB publication (each content image and thumbnail image) are associated with each other by a file name or management information.
[0043]
Then, the content intra server 140 receives the content information transmitted from the content registration PC 170 (S521), registers the received content information in the hard disk (S522), and transmits the content information to the content registration PC 170. In response to this, a text registration screen (not shown) is transmitted (S523). If the content information includes text information (OCR result), the text information may be embedded in the text registration screen.
[0044]
Then, the content registration PC 170 receives the text registration screen transmitted from the content intra server 140 and displays it on the monitor (S508). On this text registration screen, the operator can input the content name and text for content search, confirm the OCR result, and register these as search text.
[0045]
Next, upon detecting a text registration instruction from the operator (S509), the content registration PC 170 transmits the search text to the content intra server 140.
[0046]
Then, the content intra server 140 receives the search text transmitted from the content registration PC 170 (S524), and registers the received search text in the hard disk in association with the content image (S525).
[0047]
Next, the content intra server 140 creates a content ID associated with a series of DF content (content ID numbering) (S526). Assume that correspondence information between the content ID and the registration source is stored.
[0048]
When the content ID numbering process in step S526 is completed, the content intra server 140 transmits an approval request to an approval PC (not shown) (S527). The approval request may be transmitted by notification of an approval URL by e-mail, or each content image and search text corresponding to the content image may be sent as an attached file of the e-mail. In addition to e-mail, you may make it notify URL etc. with message software, or when an approval screen is simply displayed on the approval PC, an unapproved matter based on a request from the approval PC The approval PC may be notified and displayed. This approval PC is used by an approver in content registration for approval, and may be a specific PC or simply a PC used by an approver having approval authority.
[0049]
Then, the approval PC receives an approval request transmitted from the content intra server 140 (S541), displays the received approval request on a monitor, etc., and prompts the approver to input an approval instruction or a denial instruction.
[0050]
When the approval PC detects an input of an approval instruction or a denial instruction from the operator, the approval PC transmits the approval instruction or the denial instruction to the content intra server 140. This approval instruction or denial instruction may be configured such that a character string indicating approval or denial is written in the “Subject:” column in a reply by e-mail or the like. You may comprise.
[0051]
The content intra server 140 receives the approval instruction or the denial instruction transmitted from the approval PC, and determines whether or not it is an approval instruction (S528).
[0052]
When it is determined in step S528 that the instruction is not an approval instruction (a rejection instruction), the content intra server 140 transmits a rejection mail indicating that the content information corresponding to the content registration PC 170 is rejected (S530). ).
[0053]
Then, the content registration PC 170 receives a rejection mail transmitted from the content intra server 140 (S511), and notifies the operator that the corresponding content information has been rejected.
[0054]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S528 that the instruction is an approval instruction, the content intra server 140 transmits the corresponding content information to the content publishing WEB server 130 (S529). Specifically, the content intra server 140 uploads content information including user information, content images, thumbnail images, search text, DF content, and content IDs to the content publishing WEB server 130. Of the content information described above, the content image and the thumbnail image are used for browsing in the content publishing WEB server 130 (WEB browsing content), and the DF content and the content ID are used for printing (for printing). content).
[0055]
Then, the content publishing WEB server 130 receives the above-described content information transmitted from the approval PC (S601), and registers the received content information in the hard disk (S602).
[0056]
Next, the content publishing web server 130 generates content publishing HTML from the registered content information (S603), and updates the link information from the top (S604). Specifically, HTML for publishing content is generated using content images, thumbnail images, search text, user information, pre-registered frames, etc., and link information from the generated HTML top page is updated. To do.
[0057]
Then, the content publishing WEB server 130 updates the access authority so that the access authority is disclosed as read-only from the external network from a state in which only a specific administrator can refer and write (S605).
[0058]
Note that all or some of steps S503 to S506 shown in FIG. 4 may be executed by the content intra server 140.
[0059]
In addition, you may perform the process of S508 thru | or S510 between step S503 and step S504. That is, after the image is converted to DF and divided, the search text for each divided DF is input to associate the search text with each DF. In step S507, the content information including the search text and the association information is further included. It may be sent in a batch.
[0060]
Further, steps S603 to S604 shown in FIG. 5 may be executed by the content intra server 140 between steps S528 and S529 shown in FIG.
[0061]
The search / print processing in the content management system of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
[0062]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a second control processing procedure in the content management system of the present invention, and corresponds to the content upload processing and WEB server registration processing.
[0063]
Steps S701 to S712 are steps executed by the content search / print PC-A 185 or B180 (hereinafter simply referred to as a content search / print PC) shown in FIG. It is executed by the CPU based on a program stored in a hard disk or other recording medium. S721 to S729 indicate steps executed by the content publishing WEB server 130 shown in FIG. 1, and based on a program stored in a hard disk or other recording medium by the CPU in the content publishing WEB server 130. Executed. Further, S741 to S744 indicate steps executed by the printing apparatus 160 shown in FIG. 1, and are executed by the illustrated CPU in the printing apparatus 160 based on a program stored in a hard disk or other recording medium.
[0064]
7 to 9 are schematic diagrams showing examples of screens transmitted from the public WEB server 130 shown in FIG. 1 and displayed on the monitor of the content search / printing PC. Hereinafter, a description will be given according to the flowchart of FIG.
[0065]
First, in FIG. 6, the content search / printing PC accesses the publishing WEB server 130, receives the search screen (FIG. 7) transmitted from the publishing WEB server 130, and displays it on the monitor (S701). ).
[0066]
The search screen shown in FIG. 7 is used for inputting various search conditions as indicated by reference numeral 1001 in the figure from the content search / print PC and searching for content information published on the publishing WEB server 130.
[0067]
When detecting that the search button 1010 is instructed with a mouse or the like in step S702 of FIG. 6, the content search / printing PC transmits the search condition specified in 1001 to the publishing WEB server 130.
[0068]
The content publishing WEB server 130 receives the search condition transmitted from the content search / printing PC (S721), and the content information published by the publishing WEB server 130 based on the received search condition. The condition search process is performed (S722). Specifically, matching processing is performed between the received search condition and the search text in the content information.
[0069]
Then, the content publishing WEB server 130 determines whether there is content information (corresponding product) hit by matching with the search text in the content information (S723), and if there is no content information (corresponding product). If it is determined, the error information is transmitted to the content search / printing PC (S724).
[0070]
When the content search / print PC receives the error information transmitted from the content publishing WEB server 130 (S703), the error information is displayed on the monitor, and the process returns to step S701 to prompt the user to input search conditions again. .
[0071]
On the other hand, if the content publishing WEB server 130 determines in step S723 that there is content information (corresponding product) hit by matching with the search text in the content information, the search condition or content registrant A search result list information screen (FIG. 8) including the user information and the like is generated and transmitted to the content search / printing PC (S725).
[0072]
Upon receiving the search result list information screen (FIG. 8) transmitted from the content publishing WEB server 130, the content search / printing PC displays the list information screen on the monitor (S704).
[0073]
The search result list screen in FIG. 8 displays a list of search results in the publishing WEB server 130 on the monitor of the content search / printing PC. The content is selected, and detailed information of the selected content is acquired from the public WEB server 130.
[0074]
Although not shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, content that has been detected by inputting a keyword search condition for a refinement search in the keyword entry field 1103 in FIG. 8 and instructing a refinement search key. The search / printing PC returns to step S702 in FIG. 6 and transmits a search condition including a keyword to the publishing WEB server 130 for narrowing down.
[0075]
When the content search / printing PC detects that the detail display button 1102 is instructed with a mouse or the like in step S705 of FIG. 6, the content selection information checked in the detail check column 1101 is displayed on the publishing WEB server. To 130.
[0076]
The content publishing WEB server 130 receives the selection information transmitted from the content search / printing PC (S726), and the content image includes a thumbnail image of the content information corresponding to the received selection information, a content name, and the like. Information (content detail display screen (one or more pages) shown in FIG. 9) is created and transmitted to the content search / printing PC (S727).
[0077]
Upon receiving the content image information (content detail display screen shown in FIG. 9) transmitted from the content publishing web server 130, the content search / printing PC receives the content image information (content detail display screen shown in FIG. 9). ) Is displayed on the monitor (S706).
[0078]
The detailed content display screen of FIG. 9 displays the detailed information of the selected content on the monitor of the content search / print PC, and further selects the desired content by using the bookmark addition button 1202 in FIG. The print information of the selected content is acquired from the public web server 130 and printed.
[0079]
In FIG. 9, reference numerals 1201 and 1205 denote previous page and next page buttons. By instructing these buttons, the display page in the content detail display screen can be changed.
[0080]
A bookmark 1206 can be added to a page to be printed by selecting any page with a mouse or the like and instructing a bookmark addition button 1202.
[0081]
Reference numeral 1203 denotes a bookmark deletion button. The bookmark 1206 can be deleted by selecting the bookmark 1206 with a mouse or the like and instructing the bookmark deletion button 1203.
[0082]
Reference numeral 1204 denotes a print button. When the content search / printing PC detects that the print button 1102 is instructed with a mouse or the like in step S707 in FIG. (Including information to be specified and print page selection information) is transmitted to the public WEB server 130.
[0083]
Then, the content publishing WEB server 130 receives the print request transmitted from the content search / print PC (S728), and based on the page selection information in the received print request, the selected page unit DF. Are merged, and the merged DF, the content ID of the selected content and control information (control information for starting application software for printing a DF on the content search / printing PC) The data is transmitted to the printing PC (S729). Each content ID corresponding to the selected content may be transmitted by being incorporated in a part of the merged DF, or may be transmitted by incorporating each content ID in a part of the control information.
[0084]
The control information may include a flag for printing in gray scale (multi-tone black and white) for each content ID. This flag is designated in advance in step S503 in FIG. 4 and transmitted to the content intra server 140 in step S507, or designated in step S508 in FIG. 4 and transmitted to the content intra server 140 in step S510. When this flag is on, the content with the content ID is printed in gray scale even if the original print data is in color. By specifying the gray scale in this way, the color can be viewed when referring to the content, and the gray scale can be printed when printing, so that the printing cost can be saved.
[0085]
When the content search / print PC receives the merged DF, content ID, and control information transmitted from the content publishing web server 130, application software for printing the DF based on the received control information (If DF is PDF, Adobe Acrobat (registered trademark)) is started (S709).
[0086]
When the content search / printing PC detects that a print instruction has been issued from the print screen of the activated application software, the print settings of the print screen and the printer driver and the received control are executed by the application software and the selected printer driver. For each content ID included in the information, the received DF print data is generated based on setting information such as a flag for printing in gray scale (multi-tone black and white), and management data ( The billing management ID in which the value of the content ID is inserted is created (S710), and the created print data and management data are transmitted to the printing apparatus 160 (S711).
[0087]
The printing apparatus 160 receives the print data and the charge management ID transmitted from the content search / print PC (S741), and executes content printing based on the received print data (S742).
[0088]
Also, the printing device 160 prints a print record including a printing date and time, a printing device ID and a printing management ID, a print management ID, the number of prints, and a printing result on a non-illustrated non-illustrated recording medium such as a hard disk in the printing device 160. In addition to (FIG. 10) (history update), when the content printing is executed normally, the printing device 160 prints the number of print counters for each billing ID stored in the non-volatile recording medium. The number is increased according to the number of sheets (counter information update) (S743).
[0089]
The print history data shown in FIG. 10 indicates the agency ID 901 and the content ID 902 in which the content used as the charging management ID is registered, the page number 903 of the print, the print date and time 904, and the content search / print PC that has requested the print. The print history is composed of a print record including a terminal 905, check data 906 indicating a print result, and a printing apparatus ID 907 that has been printed. In this content management system, it is assumed that charging based on printing is performed not on the person who executed printing but on the content registrant (agent or the like). In addition, the printing apparatus stores information on print settings (bookbinding, glossy paper use, full-color printing, monochrome printing, etc.) at the time of printing in the print history data, and the charging apparatus 150 later sets the print settings. The billing amount may be set based on the billing amount.
[0090]
Further, the printing apparatus 160 transmits the printing result to the content search / printing PC (S744).
[0091]
Then, the content search / printing PC receives the printing result transmitted from the printing apparatus 160 (S712).
[0092]
In step S729 of FIG. 6, the content publishing WEB server 130 generates the management data executed by the content search / printing PC in step S710, and prints directly from the content publishing WEB server 130 to the printing apparatus 160. Data may be transmitted (S729 → S741).
[0093]
Hereinafter, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 11, the accounting total processing in the content management system of the present invention will be described.
[0094]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a third control processing procedure in the content management system of the present invention, which corresponds to the billing tabulation process.
[0095]
Steps S801 to S807 are steps executed by the charging apparatus 150 shown in FIG. 1, and are executed by a CPU (not shown) in the charging apparatus 150 based on a program stored in a hard disk or other recording medium. S841 to S847 indicate steps executed by the printing apparatus 160 shown in FIG. 1, and are executed by a CPU (not shown) in the printing apparatus 160 based on a program stored in a hard disk or other recording medium. S821 and S822 are steps executed by the management server 100 shown in FIG. 1, and are executed by the CPU in the management server 100 based on a program stored in a hard disk or other recording medium.
[0096]
First, the charging device 150 determines whether or not a predetermined charging information collection time has come (S801 and S802). ), The process returns to step S801.
[0097]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S802 that the charging information collection time has arrived, a request for the number of print counters for each charging management ID is transmitted to the printing apparatus 160 (S803).
[0098]
The printing apparatus 160 receives the counter request transmitted from the charging apparatus 150 (S841), and stores the number of print counters (counter value) for each charging ID and the print history data (FIG. 10) in a non-volatile recording (not shown). The data is read from the medium (S842), and the read number of print counters (counter value) is compared with the number of print logs that have been printed normally (actual print number) (S843) to determine whether they match. If it is determined that they do not match (S844), the error flag is set to “ON” (S845), and the process proceeds to step S847.
[0099]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S844 that the counter value matches the actual number of printed sheets, the error flag is set to “OFF” (S846), and the process proceeds to step S847.
[0100]
Next, the printing apparatus 160 transmits charging information (counter value and error flag) to the charging apparatus 150 (S847).
[0101]
The charging device 150 receives the charging information transmitted from the printing device 160 (S805), and updates the charging information stored in a non-illustrated non-volatile recording medium based on the received charging information (S806). The billing information received together with this is transferred to the management server 100 (S807). Note that the billing information for each billing management ID may be directly transmitted from the printing apparatus to the management server 100 in step S847.
[0102]
The management server 100 receives the billing information transmitted from the billing device 150 (S821), and updates the billing information stored in the hard disk based on the received billing information (S822).
[0103]
Hereinafter, the flow from image reading of print content to print processing will be described with reference to FIG.
[0104]
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a flow from print content image reading to print processing in the content management apparatus of the present invention.
[0105]
As shown in FIG. 12, the flow from print content image reading to print processing in the content management apparatus of the present invention is read by a reading device 175 (step S502 in FIG. 4). The content registration PC 170 generates a DF, divides the DF into pages (step S503 in FIG. 4), generates a thumbnail from the divided DF (steps S504 and S505 in FIG. 4), and the content publishing web server 130. Publish to WEB.
[0106]
Then, the pages (plural) selected by the content search / printing PC are merged to generate one DF (step S729 in FIG. 6), and printer driver information (for example, color printing designation) is generated by the content searching / printing PC. , Gray scale (multi-tone black-and-white printing designation, bookbinding printing designation, etc.) are generated and transmitted to the printing apparatus 160 (steps S709 to S710 in FIG. 6), and designated by the printing apparatus 160. The printout is performed with the driver setting (steps S741 and S742 in FIG. 6).
[0107]
Other Embodiment
In the first embodiment, the case where the content publishing WEB server and the content intra server are separately provided has been described. However, the content publishing WEB server 130 and the content intra server 140 shown in FIG. It is good also as a structure to provide. Further, the printing apparatus may be configured to serve as the charging apparatus 150 shown in FIG. The embodiment will be described below.
[0108]
FIG. 13 is a system configuration diagram showing the configuration of a content management system showing another embodiment of the present invention.
[0109]
In the figure, reference numeral 135 denotes a content server. The content server 135 serves as both the content publishing web server 130 and the content intra server 140 shown in FIG.
[0110]
Reference numeral 165 denotes a printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus 165 serves as both the printing apparatus 160 and the charging apparatus 150 shown in FIG.
[0111]
In the case of the configuration as described above, instead of steps S529 of FIG. 4 and steps S601 to 605 of FIG. 5, a content server 135 that combines the content intra server 140 and the content publishing WEB server 130 shown in FIG. The internal storage area (for example, the internal folder) that can be referred to only from a specific terminal based on the approval input may be configured to be moved or copied to the public storage area (for example, the public folder). .
[0112]
As described above, in the present embodiment, electronic content data and a publishing WEB server can be created at a minimum cost based on print content.
[0113]
Furthermore, since printing of electronic content can be grasped for each page of each electronic content in units of each device, accurate billing management in units of printed sites or devices can be performed.
[0114]
In addition, it is possible to prevent additional printing of electronic contents in advance by making additional orders for printing contents in a timely manner.
[0115]
Furthermore, since browsing of electronic content can be grasped for each electronic content unit and for each page, the degree of interest in each content can be accurately grasped.
[0116]
In addition, the on-demand printing of electronic content can significantly reduce the discard of print content (paper) while preventing the loss of opportunity due to a significant reduction in the initial number of print content issued, contributing to environmental conservation.
[0117]
Further, the processing of the content registration PC 170 shown in FIG. 4 and the processing of the content search / printing PC shown in FIG. 6, that is, the processing on the client side, include functions such as some judgment means. explained. However, it can also be realized in such a form that the HTML file is simply displayed by the browser application, and the event is transmitted from the client to the server side, and the server side performs processing for realizing each step using CGI or servlet. .
[0118]
Although one embodiment has been described above, the present invention can take an embodiment as, for example, a system, apparatus, method, program, or recording medium, and specifically includes a plurality of devices. The present invention may be applied to a system including a single device.
[0119]
In addition, all the structures which combined the said 1st Embodiment, other embodiment, and said each modification are also included in this invention.
[0120]
The configuration of a data processing program that can be read by the content management system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the memory map shown in FIG.
[0121]
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a recording medium (storage medium) that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the content management system according to the present invention.
[0122]
Although not specifically shown, information for managing a program group stored in the recording medium, for example, version information, creator, etc. is also stored, and information depending on the OS on the program reading side, for example, a program is identified and displayed. Icons may also be stored.
[0123]
Further, data depending on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs in the computer, and a program for decompressing when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.
[0124]
The functions shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 11 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when an information group including a program is supplied to the output device from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external recording medium via a network. Is.
[0125]
As described above, a recording medium recording software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the recording medium in the recording medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the programmed program code.
[0126]
In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0127]
Therefore, as long as it has the function of the program, the form of the program such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to the OS is not limited.
[0128]
As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD, etc. Can be used.
[0129]
In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0130]
As another program supply method, a browser of a client computer is used to connect to a homepage on the Internet, and the computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function is stored on a recording medium such as a hard disk It can also be supplied by downloading. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server, an ftp server, and the like that allow a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer are also included in the claims of the present invention.
[0131]
In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.
[0132]
Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) or the like running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.
[0133]
Furthermore, after the program code read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted in the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0134]
Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. In this case, by reading a recording medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or apparatus, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. .
[0135]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are excluded from the scope of the present invention. is not.
[0136]
While various examples and embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the spirit and scope of the present invention are not limited to the specific description within this specification.
[0137]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, print content is generated for each page of image data read from a document consisting of a plurality of pages, and WEB browsing is performed based on the generated print content for each page. Each of the generated web contents is registered as WEB publishing data in association with each of the printed contents, and each of the registered web browsing contents is stored in a predetermined communication medium. When the publishing process is externally performed and a print instruction for the WEB browsing content subjected to the publishing process is input, the print content associated with the instructed WEB browsing content is combined. Content printing / retrieval terminal by adding ID of printing content and control information corresponding to gray scale printing designation of the ID Therefore, the electronic content data (printing content, WEB browsing content) and the publishing WEB server can be created at a minimum cost based on the printing content such as a pamphlet.
[0139]
Further, it is possible to place additional orders for print contents in a timely manner and prevent mass printing of electronic contents.
[0140]
Furthermore, since browsing of electronic content can be grasped for each electronic content unit and for each page, the degree of interest in each content can be accurately grasped.
[0141]
In addition, the on-demand printing of electronic content can greatly reduce the amount of printed content (paper) discarded while preventing the loss of opportunity due to a significant reduction in the initial number of copies of printed content, contributing to environmental conservation. .
[0142]
The control information includes a flag for printing in gray scale (multi-tone black and white) for each content ID, and when this flag is on, the content of the content ID has the original print data in color However, since it is possible to print in gray scale, it is possible to look in color when referring to the content and to print in gray scale when printing, thereby saving printing costs.
[0143]
Therefore, in particular, the printed pamphlet discard amount can be greatly suppressed, and the total cost of printing and distributing paper pamphlets and creation and printing costs of electronic brochures can be suppressed to a substantially minimum.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration of a content management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the content publishing WEB server and the content server shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the content registration PC and content search / print PC shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a first control processing procedure in the content management system of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a first control processing procedure in the content management system of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a second control processing procedure in the content management system of the present invention.
7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen transmitted from the public WEB server shown in FIG. 1 and displayed on the monitor of the content search / printing PC. FIG.
8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen that is transmitted from the public web server shown in FIG. 1 and displayed on the monitor of the content search / print PC. FIG.
9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen that is transmitted from the public web server shown in FIG. 1 and displayed on the monitor of the content search / print PC. FIG.
10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of print history data managed by the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a third control processing procedure in the content management system of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a flow from print content image reading to print processing in the content management apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration of a content management system showing another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a recording medium (storage medium) that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the content management system according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 Management server
130 WEB server for content publication
140 Content Intra Server
150 Billing device
160 Printer
170 Content registration PC
180 PC-B for content search and printing
185 PC-A for content search and printing
190 Communication line

Claims (4)

A content management system connected to a content printing / search terminal via a communication line,
First generation means for generating print content in units of pages to which an ID is assigned from image data read from a document consisting of a plurality of pages, and storing the content in a storage means;
Second generation means for generating web browsing content based on the print content for each page generated by the first generation means and storing the content in the storage means;
Registration means for registering each web browsing content stored in the storage means as web publication data in association with each printing content;
A publishing unit for performing a publishing process for allowing each WEB browsing content registered in the registration unit to be browsed from outside via a predetermined communication medium;
When a print instruction for the web browsing content published by the publication means is received from the content printing / retrieval terminal, the content for printing associated with the designated web browsing content is printed as the content. A print content transmission means for transmitting to the search terminal ;
When the print instruction received from the content printing / retrieval terminal instructs printing of a plurality of web browsing contents, the printing content transmission means associates the plurality of web browsing contents with the designated web browsing contents. The attached print contents are combined into one print content, and the print content ID and control information corresponding to the gray scale printing designation of the ID are added to the combined print content as the content. A content management system, characterized by being transmitted to a printing / search terminal . A method for controlling a content management server connected to a content printing / search terminal via a communication line,
A first generation step of generating print content in units of pages to which an ID is assigned from image data read from a document consisting of a plurality of pages and storing the content in a storage unit;
A second generation step of generating web browsing content based on the page-specific print content generated in the first generation step and storing the content in the storage unit;
A registration step of registering each WEB browsing content stored in the storage means as WEB publishing data in association with each printing content;
A publishing step for performing a publishing process for allowing each WEB browsing content registered in the registration step to be browsed from outside via a predetermined communication medium;
When a print instruction for the WEB browsing content published by the publishing step is received from the content printing / retrieval terminal, the content for printing associated with the designated WEB browsing content is printed as the content. A print content transmission step for transmitting to the search terminal ,
In the printing content transmission step, when a print instruction received from the content printing / search terminal instructs printing of a plurality of web browsing contents, the plurality of web browsing contents designated are linked. The attached print contents are combined into one print content, and the print content ID and control information corresponding to the gray scale printing designation of the ID are added to the combined print content as the content. A content management method comprising: transmitting to a printing / search terminal . Order of the program to execute the content management method according to claim 2 to the computer. Recording medium of the order of the program computer has to be able to store read to execute the content management method according to claim 2 to the computer.

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