JP3956196B2 - How to create print order data - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a print order data creation program and a print order system used when, for example, a print order is made via a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, image data generation devices such as digital cameras and scanners have been spreading at a remarkable rate due to improvements in image processing technology. Along with this, users are becoming more aware of digital images, and they have been used for various purposes such as Internet homepage creation and digital printing. On the other hand, in conventional laboratories, prints were made using negative film. However, with the widespread use of digital cameras, output centers that provide image print services, minilabs (small-scale development laboratories), and large laboratories that perform centralized processing are naturally accepted. The number of services that handle digital image data is increasing, and there are a wide variety of service variations.
[0003]
On the other hand, as an example of a service that handles such digital image data with the spread of the Internet to general households, a customer uploads print order data including image data to the center server via the Internet. In order to acquire the print order data uploaded to the center server, printing is performed based on the image data of the acquired print order data and provided to the customer. According to such a service, there is an advantage that it is possible to order printing of image data owned by the customer while the customer is at home. For customers who do not have such terminals, it is also considered to install a dedicated print order data creation device in a convenience store or the like.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when a customer places a print order from a terminal via a network, if the customer is unfamiliar with the operation, the order button displayed on the display may be erroneously clicked multiple times. In such a case, the same print order data will be sent multiple times from the terminal, but the server that received this cannot determine that anything other than the first print order data is incorrect, and eventually the customer Contrary to the intention, multiple sets of the same print will be created.
[0005]
To deal with this problem, for example, when the same print order data is transmitted from the same terminal to the server, the server side may automatically invalidate the subsequent print order data. However, since it is possible that the customer intentionally transmits the same print order data, it may be contrary to the customer's intention to invalidate the subsequent print order data without permission in the server program.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the problems or problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a print order data creation / transmission program and a print order system that can suppress the creation of unnecessary prints.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Print order data creation method of the present invention, at least in the print order data including the image data created by using a computer, the print order data creation method for transmitting transmitted via information line, the print order data created When a transmission button for starting transmission is displayed on the display and the time from when the transmission button is operated before to when the transmission button is operated is within a predetermined time, an alarm is issued and the operation button Since only the cancel button that can cancel the later transmission is displayed , the customer can know the fact by an alarm when the print order data is transmitted more than once by mistake. If the print order data for the second and subsequent times is unnecessary, you can take measures such as canceling it. If the later of the print order data is intended, it is possible to wait for it to print is created, whereby it is possible to perform a print created in response to the intention of the customer.
[0014]
In this specification, “data transmission” includes not only uploading data to the other party but also permitting the data download request from the other party. "Receiving of" includes downloading of data from the other party and permitting the data uploading request from the other party. The “print order data” need only include at least information for specifying image data (regardless of where it is stored) and information for requesting printing based on the image data. However, in the following embodiment, image data relating to an image to be printed is included in the print order data.
[0015]
Further, in this specification, image data generally refers to digitized image data, and specifically, a transparent original such as a negative film or a positive film, a reflective original such as a photographic paper or a printed matter. Data obtained by quantizing and digitizing information stored in analog, data stored directly as digital information like a digital camera, or image data arbitrarily drawn on a computer by a customer (generally CG) And so on.
[0016]
As used herein, the information line refers to a computer system, a terminal, and a data communication facility connected to each other. The connection may be a wired connection such as a dedicated line or a public line, a wireless connection through a communication satellite or the like, or a combination thereof.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a print ordering system according to the present embodiment.
[0018]
In FIG. 1, a customer terminal (including a print order data creation device installed in a convenience store or the like) 11, a center server 21 that is a print order data storage server, and a lab server 31 installed in a lab are not shown. It is connected to a network (WAN) such as the Internet via a router or a modem. Although not shown, the lab server 31 is connected to a printer that can form a print based on the print order data.
[0019]
Referring to FIG. 1, the flow of a print order is shown. Here, it is assumed that a customer desires to print in a laboratory based on image data photographed by a digital still camera (not shown), for example. In such a case, the customer transfers image data from the digital still camera to the terminal 11.
[0020]
The terminal 11 can create print order data including the image data and the number of prints and print size corresponding to the image data. The print order data is transmitted to the center server 21 via the WAN and stored in a predetermined storage area. On the other hand, the lab server 31 accesses a predetermined storage area of the center server 21 at a predetermined timing and acquires print order data. In the lab, printing is performed by a printer (not shown) in accordance with the order contents of the print order data acquired by the lab server 31. The formed print is delivered from a photo shop to a customer, for example, by mail or home delivery.
[0021]
Next, a method for creating print order data will be described. 2-7 is a figure which shows the example of the screen displayed on the monitor 11a of the terminal 11. As shown in FIG. First, after a customer transfers all image data from a digital still camera and stores it in the hard disk of the terminal 11, a print order data creation and transmission program (which may be stored in advance in the hard disk of the terminal 11 as a storage medium, 2 may be read out from a CD-R or the like, the display shown in FIG. 2 is automatically performed. In this example, each frame selection screen (each frame selection mode) is set by default. Needless to say, the all-frame selection screen (all-frame selection screen mode) may be the default.
[0022]
Here, a print order data creation method in each frame selection screen (each frame selection mode. Each frame selection button B2 in FIG. 2 is selected) will be described. In FIG. 2, all the file names of the image data stored in the hard disk of the terminal 11 can be displayed in the area A1. By placing the cursor on the buttons A2 and A3 and clicking, the file name is scrolled up and down, and when the displayed file name (here, 007.jpg) is pressed, the file is specified, and the file name 007. jpg image data (also referred to as an image file) is selected for print ordering. At the same time, the thumbnail image G1 is displayed on the left side, and a black star mark is added to the left side of the selected file so that it can be visually confirmed that the selection has been made. ing. Then, when the customer who has determined that the selection has been completed clicks the selection OK button B3, the screen is switched to the display shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, when the all selection button B2 is pressed and selected, a black star mark is automatically added to the left side of all image file names, and all image files are selected as image files to be ordered. Will be.
[0023]
The selected image data constitutes a part of single or plural print order data according to the customer's intention or automatically.
[0024]
Next, the print order folder list screen shown in FIG. 3 will be described. “Order 001” to “Order 004” displayed on the screen are print order folders (that is, print order data), and are created corresponding to sets of image files belonging to one print order.
[0025]
When one of the print order folders in FIG. 3 is clicked (for example, the folder for order 002), the screen is switched to the screen shown in FIG. 4, and a desired number of prints is obtained for each image file belonging to this print order folder. And print size can be changed. In the initial stage where there is no input, the number of prints is set to 1 and the print size is set to L based on the default data. Also in the screen shown in FIG. 4, the file name is scrolled up and down by clicking the F1 and F2 keys, and a thumbnail image is displayed for the designated image data by clicking the file name. The number of prints and the print size corresponding to the designated image data can be changed by clicking the keys indicated by H1 and J1. When the customer determines that the number of prints and the print size have been determined and clicks the confirmation key K1, the number of prints and the print size corresponding to each image data are determined.
[0026]
In this way, it is possible to change the number of prints and the print size other than the default values. When the confirmation key K1 is clicked, the setting change of the number of prints and the print size of the print order folder (in this case, order 002) for which the default value of the number of prints and print size is to be changed is confirmed, and the screen shown in FIG. Return to the screen. When the customer determines that the number of prints and the print size of orders 001 to 004 are the desired values and clicks the send button L1, the terminal 11 sends a print order to the center server 21 via the network WAN. Send data.
[0027]
Here, in response to the customer clicking the send button L1, the terminal 11 changes the display screen of the display 11a from the one shown in FIG. 3 to the one shown in FIG. 5 in accordance with the print order data creation / transmission program. To do. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the send button L1 is erased from the screen (including a state where it is displayed in a light color and does not respond to a click operation), so that there is a possibility that the customer will press twice due to a trembling of a finger. Absent. The transmission button L1 may be displayed again after a relatively long time (for example, 30 minutes) has elapsed.
[0028]
By the way, in such a form, when the customer wants to immediately transmit the same print order data, the operation must be performed again from the screen shown in FIG. Therefore, as another embodiment, in response to the customer clicking the transmission button L1, the display screen of the display 11a is changed from the one shown in FIG. 3 to that shown in FIG. It is possible to change to In this case, as shown in FIG. 7 , the send button L1 is displaced upward on the screen, but the position of the cursor (not shown) used for the click operation does not change. There is no fear of pushing.
[0029]
Furthermore, in another embodiment, the transmission button L1 is clicked twice or more within a predetermined time on the same screen according to the print order data creation / transmission program without changing the display screen (FIG. 3) of the display 11a. In some cases, it is conceivable to ignore the transmission request for print order data other than the first (that is, do not execute transmission). As a result, only the first print order data is transmitted to the center server 21, and erroneous print creation can be prevented.
[0030]
Furthermore, in another embodiment, when the transmission button L1 is clicked twice or more on the same screen in accordance with the print order data creation / transmission program, the screen is switched to a screen displaying an alarm as shown in FIG. It is also possible. In such a screen, the date and time of sending and the print order data number are displayed, and a warning message “The print order data after that is likely to be sent incorrectly. Check it” is displayed below. The When the customer who has checked this notices that the print order data transmitted later is his / her mistake, a signal for canceling the second and subsequent print order data by clicking the cancel button M1 only afterward. Can be transmitted to the center server 21. In response, the center server 21 can cancel the second and subsequent print order data.
[0031]
In the embodiment described above, the processing is performed on the terminal 11 side. However, in the following embodiment, the processing is performed by the center server 21 or the lab server 31 which is a print order data storage server. More specifically, among the print order data of a plurality of orders transmitted from the center server 21 or the lab server 31 and the same customer terminal 11, two transmission times at the customer terminal 11 are within a predetermined time interval. When the print order data exists, it is determined that there is a possibility of a wrong order for the print order data having a later transmission time at the customer terminal 11.
[0032]
In such a case, if it is determined that there is a possibility of a wrong order for the print order data with the later transmission time at the customer's terminal 11, if the center server 21 or the lab server 31 issues an alarm, the center server The 21 managers or lab workers can confirm whether the print order is correct by using means such as telephone, FAX, and e-mail to the customer, thereby making it possible to create the print intended by the customer.
[0033]
At this time, if the print order data with the later transmission time is automatically stored in a predetermined folder different from the folder for storing the data to be transmitted to the printer in a pending state, before the customer confirmation can be taken, It is possible to prevent print creation based on print order data that may be erroneous. If it is confirmed that the subsequent print order data is also intended to be printed, the print order data is stored in the print folder, waits for print execution, and is intended to be printed. If it is confirmed that it has not been done, it will be erased.
[0034]
The present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified or improved as appropriate.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a print order data creation / transmission program and a print order system that can suppress the creation of unnecessary prints.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a print order data transmission / reception system according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display of the terminal 11;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display of the terminal 11;
4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display of the terminal 11. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display of the terminal 11;
6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display of the terminal 11. FIG.
7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display of the terminal 11. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Terminal 21 Center server 31 Lab server WAN Network

Claims (1)

In a print order data creation method for creating and transmitting print order data including at least image data transmitted via an information line using a computer, a transmission button for starting transmission of the created print order data is displayed on the display. If the time from the previous operation of the transmission button to the next operation of the transmission button is within a predetermined time, an alarm is issued and the subsequent transmission of the operation buttons can be canceled. A print order data creation method characterized by displaying only a cancel button that can be used .

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