JP4603644B2 - Information processing apparatus and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a storage medium that can communicate with an ordering apparatus, a providing apparatus, and a print control apparatus via a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the progress and popularization of information processing apparatuses such as personal computers and network technologies such as the Internet, various businesses using the Internet have been actively conducted.
[0003]
For example, it is a business such as publishing a product catalog on the Internet, receiving orders from all over the world, and delivering products for the order, and it can be used by many customers and it does not cost sales It is attracting attention as a leading sales channel in many industries.
[0004]
On the other hand, there are also businesses that store a large number of images such as photographs and fine graphics and sell printed images of such images, mainly possessing content such as famous people, landscapes, incidents, paintings, magazines, etc. It is established as a business that sells or rents printed materials on the assumption that they will be used as publications.
[0005]
Hereinafter, the above-mentioned business, paid image content business, and a business operator that performs the business are referred to as an image provider. In the paid image content business, as with other businesses, it is important to build a paid image content sales system in order to increase the number of customers and reduce costs by using the Internet.
[0006]
The following methods are implemented in order to conduct a paid image content business using the Internet.
[0007]
The first method is generally the same as the mail order that is performed via the Internet, and publishes a sample of an image, for example, a thumbnail image on the Internet, and the user searches for the desired image. In this method, an identifier of the image, for example, an image number is transmitted as an order to the image provider by e-mail or the like, and the image provider prints the image according to the received order and delivers it to the user. .
[0008]
However, in the above method, the image provider needs to have a printing apparatus having a function of printing the ordered image on a high-definition or special medium, and it is necessary to search for the ordered image and print it. The effect to use was not enough.
[0009]
A second method devised and implemented in order to solve the problems of the first method includes a server on the Internet that stores image samples to be searched by a user and image data for printing of each image. The server receives the print order of the user, and the print image corresponding to the order is transmitted to a base where the printing apparatus is installed, for example, a printing company, and is printed and delivered. .
[0010]
By using the second method, image providers can sell paid images simply by storing image samples to be sold and print images on a server on the Internet. It became possible to enjoy the benefits of.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above prior art, the image provider only has to store the image sample and the print image on a server on the Internet. However, it is not possible to expand the paid image content business using the Internet. There were enough points.
[0012]
Usually, images that are the subject of paid image content business must be protected by copyright, and for the purpose of protecting business profits, it is necessary to avoid illegally copying printed images received by users. is there.
[0013]
For copyright protection, for example, there is a method in which a user and an image provider conclude a license agreement, and both parties comply with the contract. In this method, the image provider, for example, manages the entire service as a membership system. It is necessary to authenticate the user in advance by such a method as above, and there is a risk that the advantage of the Internet for obtaining the use opportunity of many customers may be impaired.
[0014]
There is also a method of requesting a user license when ordering prints, but in the case of the Internet, it is difficult to identify the user unless it is registered in advance by a method such as a membership system. There was a fear that the act could not be traced.
[0015]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism by which a provider can confirm the contents of an order for a print order from an ordering apparatus. is there.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An information processing apparatus according to the present invention has the following characteristic configuration.
An information processing apparatus that communicates with an ordering apparatus, a providing apparatus, and a print control apparatus via a network, a storage unit that stores a thumbnail image and an image ID corresponding to a print image file, and a thumbnail stored by the storage unit Sending means for sending an image to the ordering device, and ordering information for making a print order including an image ID of a thumbnail image selected by the ordering device from among the thumbnail images sent by the sending means. Receiving means that receives the order information from the providing apparatus when the providing apparatus inputs a predetermined instruction, and the providing apparatus that approves the order information notified by the notifying means. From the providing device, and a recording means for receiving and recording from the providing device and a printing image file corresponding to the image ID. An acquisition unit; and a transfer unit that transfers an image file for printing corresponding to the image ID included in the order information acquired from the providing unit by the acquisition unit and whose approval is recorded by the recording unit to the print control unit; It is provided with.
[0046]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
<System configuration>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a server apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and corresponds to an example of a print service system using the Internet, for example.
[0047]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an information processing apparatus (a computer system composed of a CPU, ROM, RAM, HDD, etc., which will be described later in FIG. 2) having the main processing functions in this embodiment, and is simply referred to as a center server hereinafter. . The center server 101 is an information processing apparatus generally called a server in the Internet, and is always connected to a network 105 to be described later, and has a function of performing processing such as data return in response to an external processing request.
[0048]
The center server 101 can be configured by connecting a large-capacity external storage device system or a plurality of information processing devices, generally called a file server or a database server, for example. Since there is no difference from the case of a single information processing procedure, it will be described as a single information processing apparatus.
[0049]
Reference numerals 102 (1), 102 (2), and 102 (3) are information processing apparatuses that are directly operated by the user of the present embodiment, and are simply referred to as ordering apparatuses hereinafter. In the present embodiment, one or more ordering devices 102 (N) can be used and a plurality of ordering devices 102 (N) are illustrated in FIG. 1, but the functions of each ordering device 102 (N) are the same. The ordering apparatus 102 will be described collectively.
[0050]
The ordering device 102 is a generally popular personal computer, which is connected to a network 105 to be described later by a user operation or the like, for example, a communication device such as a modem, and an Internet server desired by the user, for example, It has a data browsing function such as Microsoft Internet Explorer (trade name) generally called an Internet browser, which transmits a processing request to the center server 101 and displays data returned from the center server 101. A user of this system uses the ordering device 102 to search for image data, and orders printing of desired image data from the system.
[0051]
103 (1), 103 (2), and 103 (3) are information processing apparatuses that are directly operated by a provider (hereinafter simply referred to as a provider) of image data to be searched and printed by a user in this embodiment. In the following, it is simply referred to as a providing device.
[0052]
In the present embodiment, one or more providing devices 103 (N) can be used and a plurality of providing devices 103 (N) are illustrated in FIG. 1, but the functions of the providing devices 103 (N) are the same. The providing apparatus 103 will be described generically.
[0053]
Like the ordering apparatus 102, the providing apparatus 103 has a function of connecting to the network 105 and a data browsing function. The provider uses the providing apparatus 103 to provide image data necessary for a print order ordered by the user. A use permission operation and a transmission operation of necessary image data to the center server 101 are performed.
[0054]
Reference numerals 104 (1), 104 (2), and 104 (3) denote printing systems that print image data ordered by the user in this embodiment, and an information processing apparatus that receives a print order as described later. Consists of a printing device.
[0055]
In the present embodiment, one or more printing systems 104 (N) can be used and a plurality of printing systems 104 (N) are illustrated in FIG. 1, but the functions of the printing systems 104 (N) are the same. The system 104 will be described collectively. The printing system 104 has a function of receiving printing data from the center server 101 via a communication device such as a modem for connecting to the network 105 and printing with the printing device.
[0056]
Reference numeral 105 denotes a network system, which is the Internet in this embodiment, and in the following description, the entire system constituting the Internet, such as a communication device, is simply described as a network.
[0057]
In this embodiment, the network 105 is the Internet, and the ordering device 102, the providing device 103, and the printing system 104 have a function of connecting to the Internet. For example, the ordering device 102, the providing device 103, and the printing system 104 It goes without saying that the present invention can also be implemented using a network system that is directly connected to the center server 101 by dial-up or the like.
[0058]
<Block diagram of information processing apparatus>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the main configuration of the electronic transaction image processing system shown in FIG. 1 and corresponds to the configuration of the information processing apparatus 101 to 104 described above.
[0059]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 200 denotes a system bus group, which will be simply referred to as a system bus hereinafter. The system bus 200 is a transmission path that connects units described later in the housing of the information processing apparatus and transmits data and control information between the units.
[0060]
A central processing unit 201 performs various controls and calculations of the information processing apparatus, and is simply referred to as a CPU hereinafter. Reference numeral 202 denotes a random access memory, which will be simply referred to as RAM hereinafter. The RAM 202 functions as a main memory of the CPU 201 and also as an execution program area, an execution area of the program, and a data area.
[0061]
A read-only memory 203 stores the operation processing procedure of the CPU 201 and is simply referred to as ROM hereinafter. The ROM 203 records a basic program (generally called BIOS) for controlling each unit in the information processing apparatus, information necessary for operating the system, and the like. Reference numeral 204 denotes a unit group for inputting / outputting data to / from a removable external storage medium such as a floppy disk or a CD-ROM, and is hereinafter simply referred to as FDD.
[0062]
Reference numeral 205 denotes a network interface which is connected to an external network via a modem 206 which will be described later, or connected to a LAN 207 which will be described later, and is hereinafter simply referred to as NETIF. The NETIF 205 performs control for performing data transfer between information processing apparatuses via the network and diagnoses connection status.
[0063]
Reference numeral 206 denotes a device for connecting an external network and an information processing apparatus via a telephone line, and is generally a modem or a terminal adapter (TA) for ISDN connection. .
[0064]
Reference numeral 207 denotes a network system such as an Ethernet, and is hereinafter collectively referred to as a LAN. For example, when the center server 101 is connected to an external device such as a file server, the connection is mainly made via the LAN 207.
[0065]
In the present embodiment, each information processing apparatus in FIG. 1 is connected to the network 105 via the modem 206 or via a communication device such as a router or a gateway connected on the LAN 207.
[0066]
Reference numeral 208 denotes a video RAM (hereinafter simply referred to as VRAM), which develops image data to be displayed on a CRT 209 (to be described later) and controls display. Reference numeral 209 denotes a display device such as a display, which will be simply referred to as CRT hereinafter.
[0067]
A controller 210 controls input signals from external input devices 211 and 212, which will be described later, and is simply referred to as KBC hereinafter. Reference numeral 211 denotes a keyboard for the user of the information processing apparatus to perform an input operation, which is simply referred to as KB hereinafter.
[0068]
A pointing device 212 is used by a user of the information processing apparatus to perform an input operation, and is simply referred to as a mouse hereinafter.
[0069]
In the center server 101 shown in FIG. 1, the CRT 209, KB 211, and mouse 212 are not particularly necessary, and are used only for the purpose of managing the information processing apparatus itself.
[0070]
Reference numeral 213 denotes a hard disk drive, hereinafter simply referred to as an HDD. The HDD 213 is used for storing application programs and various data. The application program in the present embodiment is a software program that executes various processing means constituting the present embodiment.
[0071]
Reference numeral 214 denotes a controller that controls an external input / output device, which will be described later. Reference numeral 215 denotes a printer, hereinafter simply referred to as PRT. Reference numeral 216 denotes a scanner. Note that an input / output device other than the printer 215 and the scanner 216, for example, an externally connected HDD or an MO drive can be connected via the controller 214. To do.
[0072]
In each information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the IOC 214, the printer 215, and the scanner 216 are not particularly required.
[0073]
In the printing system 104 illustrated in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus is connected via the NETIF 205 or the IOC 214.
[0074]
<Module configuration>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a module configuration in the server device according to the present invention, and a processing unit group that operates in each information processing device of the center server 101, the ordering device 102, the providing device 103, and the printing system 104, and This corresponds to a storage device group for storing data, and a configuration for explaining an outline of a main data flow between the processing means group and the storage device group.
[0075]
3, 300, 301, 302, 310 to 316, 350, and 351 function as processing units, and are read from the HDD 213, the FDD 204, or the ROM 203 in each information processing apparatus and stored in the RAM 202. An application program that is deployed and used, or a module that operates as part of the program.
[0076]
Although details will be described later, reference numerals 320 to 324, 340, and 360 denote data storage apparatuses, which use at least one of the HDD 213, the FDD 204, and the RAM 202 in each information processing apparatus using a file system or a commercially available database system. To store data.
[0077]
In addition, each arrow in FIG. 3 represents a main data flow among the data exchanged between the processing means and between the processing means and the storage device. The flow of data across the center server 101 and the ordering device 102, the providing device 103, and the printing system 104 is transmitted via the NETIF 205 and the network 105 of each information processing device.
[0078]
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 300 denotes a server program group on the Internet, which will be collectively referred to as an Internet server. The Internet server 300 is always operating on the RAM 202 and has a function of performing appropriate processing in response to an external processing request received via the NETIF 205 and returning data, and is an HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol). A function generally called a Web server and a FTP (File Transfer Protocol) that sends back the contents of the requested data file or starts the designated processing means and returns the output of the processing means. And a function called a FTP server or the like that returns or receives a requested data file.
[0079]
Reference numerals 301 and 302 are data browsing programs generally called Internet browsers, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, and are hereinafter referred to as data browsing means. The data browsing means 301 and the data browsing means 302 are application programs that can be read and used by the user of the information processing means by being connected to the network 105 via the NETIF 205 of the information processing apparatus. A function for transmitting processing request data based on the input to the network 105 in accordance with an input from the user, and a function for displaying data returned from the server 101 via the network 105 on the CRT 209 of the information processing apparatus.
[0080]
In the following, it is assumed that other processing means 310 to 316 operating on the center server 101 shown in FIG. 3 described in detail are expanded and operated in the RAM 202 by the Internet server based on processing requests from the outside.
[0081]
In the center server 101, reference numeral 310 denotes customer registration means, which receives user information such as the user's name and address input by the user operating the ordering device 102, and stores it in a customer information storage device 320 to be described later. A function of storing the user information;
[0082]
An image search unit 311 receives an image search condition input by the user by operating the ordering apparatus 102, searches an image satisfying the condition from an image storage device 321 to be described later, thumbnail data of the image, and the like. Is sent back to the ordering apparatus 102 via the Internet server 300.
[0083]
An order receiving unit 312 receives image print order data input by the user by operating the order device 102, performs various checks, and stores the order data in an order information storage device 323 described later. It has a function.
[0084]
Reference numeral 313 denotes order search means, which searches the order information storage device 323 for order data including an image provided by the provider based on an instruction given by the provider by operating the providing device 103, and the order data The content of the information is returned to the providing apparatus 103 via the Internet server 300.
[0085]
Reference numeral 314 denotes a print approval unit that receives an instruction input for approving or denying printing of the order data for each order data acquired by the provider using the order search unit 313, and according to the input content. It has a function of updating the contents of the order data in the order information storage device 323.
[0086]
Reference numeral 315 denotes image registration means for receiving printing image data necessary for printing order data and accompanying information transmitted from the provider by operating the providing apparatus 103, and printing the image data in the image storage apparatus 321 described later. And the function of updating the contents of the order data including the image among the order data in the order information storage device 323.
[0087]
Reference numeral 316 denotes order transmission means, which is order data for the printing system 104 that has made the request based on a processing request from an order receiving means 350 described later, and for each image included in the order, the image The print approval is performed using the print approval means 314 by the provider, and the order data in which the image data for printing of the image exists in the image storage device 321 is extracted, and the printing system is connected via the Internet server 300. 104 has a function of returning to 104.
[0088]
The order transmission unit 316 previously extracts the order data to be transmitted, and transmits the extracted data when a transmission request from the order reception unit 315 is received. A method of extracting in advance and immediately transmitting to the order receiving means 350 using a data transmission function such as an electronic mail is also possible.
[0089]
Reference numeral 320 denotes a customer information storage device having a function of storing user data related to the users of the system as listed below for each user. The customer information storage device 320 uses the user ID as a key, user data (user identifier (hereinafter referred to as user ID), user authentication identifier (hereinafter referred to as user password), name or It also has a function of uniquely searching for a company name, postal code, address, telephone number, e-mail address, name of the person in charge (if the provider is a corporation), and a list of approved provider IDs.
[0090]
Of the user data, the list of authenticated provider IDs indicates that the print order of the image provided by the provider has been approved in advance by the provider in the list. means. That is, for a print order ordered by the user, among the images included in the order, the image of the provider included in the list of approved provider IDs is subjected to the print approval by the print approval unit 314. No procedure is required.
[0091]
Reference numeral 321 denotes an image storage device, which has various resolutions of usable images (thumbnail image, low-resolution image for display, and high-resolution image for printing), image information as described later in FIG. It has a function of storing search data.
[0092]
An output destination information storage device 322 has a function of storing output destination data related to the installation location of the printing system 104, for example, a print store, in units of output destinations. The output destination information storage device 322 uses the output destination ID as a key, and outputs output destination data (output destination identifier (hereinafter referred to as output destination ID), name or company name, postal code, address, telephone number, electronic It also has a function for uniquely searching a list of e-mail addresses, representative names (if the provider is a corporation), names of persons in charge (if the provider is a corporation), and provider IDs of images that can be output).
[0093]
Of the output destination data, the list of provider IDs that can be output indicates that the output destination has a contract with the provider regarding the printing fee billing method.
[0094]
An order information storage device 323 has a function of storing print order data ordered by the user. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 4, the order data includes information on the user who placed the order, information on the printing system 104 that the user desires to output, information on the images included in the order data, and the status of each image and print order. Etc.
[0095]
Reference numeral 324 denotes a provider information storage device having a function of storing provider data related to the provider of the present system as listed below in units of providers. The provider information storage device 324 uses provider ID as a key to provide provider data (provider identifier (hereinafter referred to as provider ID), name or company name, postal code, address, telephone number, e-mail address) , It also has a function of uniquely searching for the representative name (when the provider is a corporation) and the person in charge (when the provider is a corporation).
[0096]
Reference numeral 340 denotes an original image storage device, which is a group of image data files for low resolution and printing stored in the HDD 213 of the providing device 103. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the provider stores necessary image data in the original image storage device 340 using the scanner 216 or the like.
[0097]
Reference numeral 350 denotes an order receiving unit that operates in the printing system 104. The order receiving unit is activated by an instruction input by an operator of the printing system, connects to the center server 101 via the network 105, receives a print order, and stores print data described later. The apparatus 360 has a function of storing the print order data.
[0098]
Reference numeral 351 denotes print control means that operates in the printing system 104. The print control unit 351 is activated by an instruction input from an operator of the printing system, and transmits print data in the print data storage device 360 to the PRT 215 of the printing system 104 for printing. Have Reference numeral 360 denotes a print data storage device that stores data relating to print orders such as print images and user information.
[0099]
<Order information storage device>
FIG. 4 is a layout diagram for explaining the data contents stored in the order information storage device 323 shown in FIG. In the order information storage device 323, an order table for storing the contents of a print order placed by the user and a sub-order table for storing information on individual images included in each order are stored. Both are made searchable using a commercially available database system or the like.
[0100]
In FIG. 4, 401 is an order table, and a data record is created by the order receiving means 312 in accordance with a user ordering instruction. In the order table 401, the order ID is an identifier for uniquely identifying each order data, and the order receiving means 312 issues a number.
[0101]
The user ID is the user ID of the user who placed the order. The output destination ID is the output destination ID of the output destination selected by the user as the print output destination of the order. The status is a value indicating the processing status of the order data, and is referred to / updated by each processing means in the center server 101. The status of the order table 401 includes the following three types of status (processing status (1), approval status (2), and printing image status (3)).
[0102]
The processing status (1) indicates one of the processing statuses (1-1) to (1-3).
[0103]
The processing status (1-1) indicates a “print standby” status, and at least one of the images included in the order requires the provider's print approval or the print image data does not exist in the center server 101. Corresponding to
[0104]
The processing status (1-2) indicates a “printable” status, all the images included in the order have been approved for printing by the provider, and the image data for printing exists in the center server 101. Correspond.
[0105]
The processing status (1-3) indicates the “transfer completed” status. After the processing status (1) becomes the processing status (1-2), that is, “printable”, the order data is transmitted to the output destination. Corresponding to the situation.
[0106]
The approval status (2) indicates one of the approval statuses (2-1) and (2-2) in order to indicate the print approval status of the image included in the order.
[0107]
The approval status (2-1) indicates an “unapproved” status, and corresponds to a status where at least one image has not received the print approval of the provider.
[0108]
The approval status (2-2) indicates an “approved” status, and corresponds to a status in which all images have received the print approval of the provider.
[0109]
The print image status (3) indicates either of the print image statuses (3-1) and (3-2) in order to indicate whether or not the print image data of the image included in the order exists in the center server 101. The image status for printing is shown.
[0110]
The printing image status (3-1) corresponds to a situation in which there is no printing image data of at least one image in the “no image” situation.
[0111]
The image status for printing (3-2) corresponds to a situation in which there is image data for printing of all images in the “image present” status.
[0112]
In FIG. 4, the price information in the order table 401 is the total charge for the order. Further, the delivery destination information stores the destination (recipient, address, postal code, telephone number) and the like of the delivery destination when the user gives an instruction to deliver the output of the order when placing the print order. .
[0113]
Although the supplementary information is not particularly described in the present embodiment, when the order date and time of the order data is stored, an editing application that allows the user to edit document information including image data on the ordering apparatus 102 is used. Used to store the editing information when editing.
[0114]
Reference numeral 402 stores data indicating individual image information (hereinafter referred to as a suborder) included in the order data, and is hereinafter referred to as a suborder table.
[0115]
The order ID of the sub-order table 402 is the order ID of the order to which the sub-order belongs.
[0116]
The provider ID and the image ID are the provider and image IDs of the sub-order image, and each data record of the sub-order table 402 can be uniquely identified by order ID + provider ID + image ID.
[0117]
The status of the sub-order table 402 includes an approval status and a print image status that indicate the status of the image of the sub-order among the statuses of the order table 401.
[0118]
The printing conditions of the sub-order table 402 store the paper size and the number of copies at the time of printing. The print setting is a value designated by the provider at the time of image registration, and stores print parameters such as edge enhancement set for the PRT 215 of the printing system 104 at the time of printing.
[0119]
<Image storage device>
FIG. 5 is a layout diagram for explaining data contents stored in the image storage device 321 shown in FIG. In the image storage device 321, in addition to the image data file group stored using the file system of the information processing device, an image information table for storing properties of each image and the storage location (path name) of the image file are stored. An image file table to be managed, a category search table for searching images, and a keyword search table are stored. Each table is made searchable using a commercially available database system or the like.
[0120]
In FIG. 5, reference numeral 501 denotes an image information table which stores property information of each image. Each data record in the image information table 501 can be uniquely identified by a provider ID representing the provider of the image and an image ID assigned by each provider.
[0121]
The image properties stored in the image information table 501 include image titles, captions such as credits, prices (unit prices) at the time of printing, and images that are set for the PRT 215 of the printing system 104 at the time of printing, such as edge enhancement. It includes print settings for setting print parameters for executing processing.
[0122]
The approval flag of the image information table 501 indicates whether the image requires print approval by the provider when the user places a print order. When the approval flag is “unnecessary”, the print approval of the provider is not required, and it is treated as being unconditionally approved for printing.
[0123]
Further, the storage period (1) and the storage period (2) of the image information table 501 are the storage period of the search thumbnail image and the low resolution image in the center server 101 and the print image in the center server 101, respectively. Retention period is retained. The storage period is determined by a period after each image is last used. The last use date of the image information table 501 stores the date when the image was last used, that is, as a print order. Although not described in the present embodiment, the supplementary information stores information such as the creation date of each data record.
[0124]
Reference numeral 502 denotes an image file table. Each data record of the image file table 502 that manages the storage position of the image data file of each image, that is, a name accessible on the file system, such as a path name, includes the provider ID of each image. It can be uniquely identified by the image ID and the type indicating the resolution of the image. There are three types of resolutions: a thumbnail used for display during image search, a low resolution used for enlarged display of a search image, and a print image used for printing.
[0125]
Reference numeral 503 denotes an image data file group, which stores individual image files using a file system of the information processing apparatus. The storage location, that is, the file name of each image file can be specified by the path name of the image file table 502.
[0126]
In FIG. 5, a category search table 504 and a keyword search table 505 are image search search tables used by the image search means 311. The image provider ID and the image ID are determined by the category name and the keyword, respectively. Can be searched multiple times. A plurality of categories and keywords can be set for one image.
[0127]
<Communication method>
Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 6, World using the Internet, which is a widely used communication method used between the center server 101, the ordering device 102, and the providing device 103 in the present embodiment. A communication method of the Wide Web (WWW) function will be described. However, since the communication method between the center server 101 and the ordering device 102 and the communication method between the center server 101 and the providing device 103 are the same value, only the communication method between the center server 101 and the ordering device 102 will be described below. I write. In this embodiment, the WWW function is used as a communication method. However, this function is an embodiment of a general client / server model. Therefore, the present invention is applicable to an embodiment using an arbitrary client / server type. It goes without saying that can be implemented.
[0128]
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a communication method used between the center server 101, the ordering device 102, and the providing device 103 illustrated in FIG.
[0129]
In FIG. 6, reference numeral 600 denotes an identifier for identifying a document or program on the center server 101, which is an example of an identifier generally called an Unform Resource Locator (URL). A user can acquire desired document data or processing result data of a program by inputting a URL to the data browsing unit 301 using the KB 211, and processing requests received by the center server 101 are also main. To the URL format. The URL is composed of a plurality of parts as described below.
[0130]
Reference numeral 601 denotes a network protocol used when transmitting the URL and returning the processing result of the document or program indicated by the URL. In the example of FIG. 6, it is indicated that Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is used in the communication.
[0131]
Reference numeral 602 denotes an identifier indicating the center server 101 which is a transmission destination when the URL is transmitted as a processing request, and is determined in advance to be unique within the Internet.
[0132]
Reference numeral 603 denotes a path name, which functions as an identifier for identifying a document or program in the center server 101 indicated by the identifier 602, and is usually a part of the path name of the document file or program file in the center server 101. is there.
Reference numeral 604 denotes a URL argument, that is, the part after the delimiter “?” Is valid when the URL request is a program and is added as necessary.
[0133]
Note that the value of the URL argument 604 part can be referred to by a program, and can be used just like a runtime argument of a program module. The internal format of the URL argument 604 is analyzed by a program indicated by the path name 603.
[0134]
For the Internet server 300 of the center server 101, for each directory part of the path name 603, it is set whether to handle a file in the directory as a document file or a program file.
[0135]
The program file is a program module or script file that can be executed on the center server 101. In the case of the WWW function, the program file is generally referred to as a Common Gateway Interface (CGI) program or a CGI script, and is simply referred to as CGI hereinafter.
[0136]
When the Internet server 300 of the center server 101 receives the URL and the path name 603 of the URL indicates CGI, the CGI file is read from the HDD 213 or the FDD 204 of the center server 101 to the RAM 202 and the URL argument 604 is included in the URL. If there is, the URL argument 604 is transferred to the CGI. The CGI analyzes the URL argument 604 as necessary, and performs a preset process.
[0137]
Thereafter, the CGI returns data to be returned to the data browsing means 301 to the Internet server 300, and the Internet server 300 returns the reply data to the data browsing means 301. The data browsing means 301 analyzes the reply data, edits it, and displays it on the CRT 209 of the ordering apparatus 102.
[0138]
In FIG. 6, an identifier 602 is an example of data returned from the Internet server 300 to the data browsing means 301, and the return data is a text described based on a description format generally called Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML). The data is transmitted to the data browsing means 301 as data.
[0139]
Reference numeral 610 denotes a screen image displayed on the CRT 209 of the ordering apparatus 102 by the data browsing unit 301 based on the HTML 602.
[0140]
Reference numeral 611 denotes a tag. When a button 622 (to be described later) is clicked (instructed by operating the mouse 212 or the KB 211 of the ordering apparatus 102), the data browsing unit 301 centers the URL indicated by the “ACTION =” parameter of the tag 611. The server 101 is designated to make a request.
[0141]
Reference numeral 612 denotes a tag, which displays an input field 621 (to be described later) on the CRT 209. When requesting the URL specified by the tag 611, a character string input by the user using the KB 211 to the input field 621 is displayed. It is specified that the data browsing means 301 makes a request by adding the URL as a URL argument.
[0142]
If “TYPE = HIDDEN” is specified for the parameter TYPE in the tag 612 portion, the data browsing unit 301 does not display the field on the CRT 209 and adds the value set as the default value as it is as the URL argument. To do.
[0143]
A tag 613 displays a button 622 (to be described later) on the CRT 209, and designates that the data browsing unit 301 requests the URL to the center server 101 when the button 622 is clicked.
[0144]
Reference numeral 614 denotes a portion called an HTTP header, in which information for control exchanged between the data browsing means 301 and the Internet server 300 is described. In the example of FIG. 6, the portion following the HTTP header 614 is HTML data, and the data browsing means 301 represents that the HTML data must be analyzed and the screen should be edited on the CRT 209 based on the content.
[0145]
Reference numeral 621 denotes an input field displayed on the CRT 209 by the data browsing unit 301 based on the designation of the identifier 602 in the network protocol (HTML) 601.
[0146]
Reference numeral 622 denotes a button displayed on the CRT 209 by the data browsing unit 301 based on the designation of the path name 603 portion in the network protocol 601. Each processing unit on the center server 101 operates as the CGI unless otherwise specified.
[0147]
<User processing>
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention. Processing of the customer registration means 310, the image search means 311 and the order order receiving means 312 of the center server 101 shown in FIG. Corresponds to the procedure. In addition, S1-S22 shows each step.
[0148]
Further, the customer registration unit 310, the image search unit 311 and the order receiving unit 312 are all CGI activated by the Internet server 300, and when the user gives an instruction using the data browsing unit 301 of the ordering apparatus 102, The instruction input is transmitted to the Internet server 300 via the data browsing means 301 and the network 105 and activated by the Internet server 300. Similarly, the output of each processing means is transmitted to the data browsing means 301 of the ordering apparatus 102 via the Internet server 300 and the network 105 and displayed on the CRT 209 of the ordering apparatus 102.
[0149]
However, in the following description, for the sake of simplicity, the transmission / reception part is omitted, and a description such as “display on screen” is simply used.
[0150]
Each processing means is activated by the Internet server 300 every time data is received from the ordering apparatus 102, and after the display data is transmitted to the ordering apparatus 102, the processing ends. That is, each processing means can be implemented as a plurality of programs in addition to being implemented as a single program, and a single program can implement the functions of a plurality of processing means.
[0151]
In FIG. 7, steps S1 to S3 and steps S7 to S16 are processing functions of the image search means 311, steps S4 to S6 are processing functions of the customer registration means 310, and steps S17 to S22 are processing functions of the order receiving means 312.
[0152]
In addition, data shared or delivered between a plurality of programs is exchanged via the data browsing means 301 of the ordering apparatus 102 using the HIDDEN parameter of HTML, or stored on the HDD 213 or the RAM 202 of the center server 101. To exchange data. Hereinafter, the data exchange means and the storage method are collectively referred to simply as a saved data area.
[0153]
First, in step S1, the image search unit 311 activated in accordance with the URL input by the user to the data browsing unit 301 of the ordering apparatus 102 uses the user ID and password of the user to identify the user. A screen for requesting input (hereinafter referred to as a login screen) is displayed. The screen includes a button for requesting identification / authentication by the user (hereinafter referred to as an “OK button”) and a customer registration unit 310 when the user is not registered and does not yet have a user ID. A button for requesting new registration (hereinafter referred to as a new registration button) is also displayed. The registered user also clicks the new registration button when changing the registered contents.
[0154]
Next, in step S2, the image search means 311 determines the contents of the button clicked by the user on the Login screen. If the button is an OK button, the customer information storage device 320 uses the input user ID as a key. If the record of the user ID exists in the customer information storage device 320 and the password of the record matches the input password, and the collation matches, If it is determined that the identification and authentication have succeeded, the process proceeds to step S7. If there is no corresponding record or the password is different, the process proceeds to step S3. The entered user ID is stored in the saved data area.
[0155]
If the button clicked by the user is a new registration button, the process proceeds to step S4.
[0156]
In step S3, the image search means 311 creates and displays an error message screen according to the content of the collation error in step S2. A “return” button is prepared on the screen, and when the “return” button is clicked, the process returns to step S1.
[0157]
In step S4, the customer registration unit 310 inputs, as customer information, items other than the user ID and the list of approved provider IDs among the data items in the customer information storage device 320 ( Created and displayed (hereinafter referred to as customer registration screen).
[0158]
On the other hand, when the user ID is input in step S1, that is, when the user ID is stored in the storage data area, the customer information storage device 320 is searched with the user ID, and the corresponding record is found. In the case of a record, the data of the record is displayed in default in the input fields on the display screen.
[0159]
The screen also includes a button for a user to request registration as a new customer (hereinafter referred to as a new registration button) and a button for changing registered customer information (hereinafter referred to as a change button). indicate. However, the change button is displayed only when the default display is performed.
[0160]
In step S <b> 5, the customer registration unit 310 creates a data record to be stored in the customer information storage device 320 based on the value of each item input by the user on the customer registration screen.
[0161]
Next, when a new registration button is clicked by a mouse operation on the customer registration screen displayed on the order apparatus 102 side, a new user ID that does not exist in the customer information storage apparatus 320 is issued, The storage data record is stored in the storage data area and the storage data area, and the storage data record is added to the customer information storage device 320.
[0162]
When the change button is clicked, as in step S4, the customer information storage device 320 is searched with the user ID stored in the storage data area, and the corresponding record is replaced with the storage data record.
[0163]
In both cases of new registration and change, the list of approved provider IDs of the corresponding data record is left empty.
[0164]
In step S6, when the new registration process is performed in step S5, the customer registration unit 310 displays a user ID that has been issued and a message that prompts the user to record the user ID. Is displayed. In the screen, a “return” button is prepared. When the “return” button is clicked, the process proceeds to step S7.
[0165]
In step S7, the image search means 311 creates and displays a menu screen for selecting a search method (hereinafter referred to as a search method selection screen) for searching for an image to be printed by the user. On the search method selection screen, buttons (“number selection button”, “category search button”, “keyword search button”) for instructing a search method and an input field for inputting a keyword are arranged.
[0166]
In step S8, the image search means 311 determines the button that the user of the ordering apparatus 102 has input and clicked on the search method selection screen displayed in step S7, that is, if it is a number selection button. If the search button is a category search button, the process proceeds to step S10. If the search button is a keyword search button, the input keyword is stored in the storage data area, and the process proceeds to step S11.
[0167]
On the other hand, when the keyword search button is instructed and no keyword is input, a message prompting input is added, although not shown, the search method selection screen is displayed again, and the process returns to step S8.
[0168]
In step S <b> 9, the image search unit 311 displays a screen (hereinafter referred to as an image number input screen) for inputting a provider ID and an image ID of an image desired by the user on the ordering apparatus 102. When a user inputs a provider ID and an image ID on the image number input screen, the image information table 501 of the image storage device 321 is searched with the provider ID + image ID, and a corresponding record exists. Stores the provider ID + image ID in the saved data area, and proceeds to step S12. If there is no corresponding record, an appropriate error message is added and the image number input screen is displayed again, and step S9 is processed again.
[0169]
In the image number input screen, a plurality of provider ID + image ID input fields can be prepared. In this case, the existence check and the storage process in the storage data area are performed for each input provider ID + image ID pair. In the saved data area, a plurality of combinations of provider ID + image ID are stored and are not duplicated.
[0170]
Also, the screen to be displayed is divided into a plurality of steps, the provider information in the provider information storage device 324 of the center server 101 is displayed in a menu format on the first screen, and provided by the user selecting from the menu An alternative method for inputting the user ID is also possible.
[0171]
In step S10, the image search means 311 reads the category search table 504 of the image storage device 321, and a screen for the user to select all stored categories (hereinafter referred to as a category selection screen). List. Next, the category search table 504 is searched using the category selected by the user on the category selection screen as a key, and a list of applicable provider ID + image ID pairs is stored in the saved data area.
[0172]
Note that the category search screen can be selected from a plurality of screens by categorizing the categories (for example, the categories in the category search table 504 are hierarchized using a delimiter such as “person \ family”). It can also be implemented as a format.
[0173]
In step S11, the image search means 311 searches the keyword search table 505 of the image storage device 321 using the keyword stored in the storage data area in step S8 as a key, and displays a list of corresponding provider ID + image ID pairs. Store in the saved data area. If the corresponding data does not exist in the keyword search table 505, an appropriate message is displayed and a screen for re-inputting the keyword is displayed, or step S11 is processed again, or although not shown, step S8 is performed. Return to.
[0174]
In step S12, the image search means 311 sequentially reads a list of provider ID + image ID pairs stored in the storage data area in step S9, step S10, or step S11, and images with each provider ID + image ID. The image information table 501 of the storage device 321 is searched to read the title of the corresponding data record. Further, the image file table 502 of the image storage device 321 is searched with each provider ID + image ID, and the path name of the thumbnail image file of the corresponding image is acquired.
[0175]
Next, based on the acquired data, a display screen (hereinafter referred to as a search result screen) of an image hit as a search result in step S9, step S10, or step S11 is created and displayed on the ordering apparatus 102. indicate. On the search result screen, the thumbnail image of each hit image, the provider ID, the image ID, and the title are all displayed in a list format, for example, based on the acquired data.
[0176]
In addition, a check box is arranged in the display portion of each image so that it can be selected as an order object before clicking an order button described later. Also, the thumbnail image of each image is made clickable. In addition, a button (hereinafter referred to as an order button) for placing an order for printing an image whose check box is checked is also arranged at the top or bottom of the screen.
[0177]
In step S13, the image search means 311 checks the operation performed by the user on the search result screen displayed in step S12. When a certain thumbnail image is clicked, the provider ID + image of the corresponding image is clicked. The ID is stored in the saved data area, and the process proceeds to step S14. If the order button on the search result screen is clicked, the process proceeds to step S15.
[0178]
However, if the order button is clicked and neither check box is checked, the search result screen is displayed again with an appropriate error message, and step S13 is processed again.
[0179]
In step S14, the image search means 311 searches the image information table 501 of the image storage device 321 by using the combination of the provider ID + image ID stored in the storage data area in step S13 as a key, and all the corresponding data records are searched. The item is read, and the image file table 502 of the image storage device 321 is further searched to obtain the path name of the low-resolution image file of the corresponding image.
[0180]
Next, based on each acquired data, a screen for displaying an enlarged display image of the image (that is, a low-resolution image) and properties (title, caption, etc.) of the image is displayed on the ordering apparatus 102. A “return” button is arranged on the screen, and when the “return” button is clicked, the same search result screen as in step S12 is displayed again, and the process returns to step S13.
[0181]
In step S15, the image search means 311 displays a list of provider IDs + image IDs of images checked by the user in the check box on the search result screen displayed on the ordering apparatus 102 in step S12. Acquired from the data area and recorded in the saved data area as a print order target. At this time, the list of provider ID + image ID as a search result recorded in the storage data area in step S9, step S10, and step S11 is deleted.
[0182]
In step S16, the image retrieval unit 311 creates and displays a screen for confirming whether the user retrieves an image again or proceeds to a print order for the image stored in step S15. On this screen, the user can select the selection with buttons (hereinafter referred to as a re-search button and a button for proceeding to order, respectively).
If the user inputs an instruction for a re-search button on the screen, the process returns to step S7. If the user inputs an instruction for an order button, the process proceeds to step S17.
[0183]
When returning to step S7, the list of provider IDs + image IDs to be ordered recorded in the storage data area in step S15 is not deleted. That is, the user can make an additional order.
[0184]
In step S17, the order receiving means 312 sequentially reads the list of the provider ID + image ID pairs of the images to be ordered stored in the storage data area in step S15, and stores the images with each provider ID + image ID. The image information table 501 of the device 321 is searched and the data of the corresponding data record is read. Further, the image file table 502 of the image storage device 321 is searched with each provider ID + image ID, and the path name of the thumbnail image file of the corresponding image is acquired.
[0185]
Next, based on the acquired data, a screen for setting an image to be ordered and a printing method for each image (hereinafter referred to as a print detail setting screen) is created and displayed on the ordering device 102. To do.
[0186]
On this print detail setting screen, the thumbnail image of the target image, the provider ID, the image ID, the title, and the price are displayed in a list format, for example, based on the acquired data.
[0187]
Also, an input field for the paper size and the number of copies at the time of printing is arranged in the display portion of each image. The paper size may be a pull-down list of printable paper sizes set in advance on the center server 101. For the paper size and the number of copies to be printed, for example, values such as A4 and 1 copy are displayed by default.
[0188]
Further, a check box for canceling the print order of the image is also arranged in the display portion of each image. In addition, a button for placing a print order with display / input contents (hereinafter referred to as an order button) is also arranged at the top or bottom of the screen.
[0189]
In step S18, the order receiving means 312 examines the contents input by the user on the print detail setting screen displayed in step S17, and if there is an image for which the check box for canceling the print order is checked, The image is deleted from the order target list recorded in the storage data area.
[0190]
Next, the print paper size and the number of copies input by the user on the print detail setting screen are recorded in the list of provider IDs + image IDs to be printed recorded in the storage data area.
[0191]
Next, in the record of the output destination information storage device 322, all the records including all the provider IDs in the list to be printed are extracted from the list of outputable image provider IDs, and the contents of the extracted records Are stored in the saved data area as an output destination candidate list. If there is no corresponding record, a message indicating that there is no output destination that can be output is displayed, and the process returns to step S17.
[0192]
In step S19, the order receiving means 312 displays a screen (hereinafter referred to as an output destination selection screen) that displays an output destination name or the like as a menu that can be selected from the list of output destination candidates stored in the storage data area in step S18. Is created in HTML format using CGI and transmitted to the ordering apparatus 102 via the Internet.
[0193]
In step S20, the order receiving unit 312 records the output destination ID of the output destination selected by the user in the storage data area on the output destination selection screen displayed in step S19, and then stores the output destination ID in the storage data area in step S18. The printing price is obtained by searching the image information table 501 of the image storage device 321 using the recorded list of provider IDs to be ordered + image IDs, and the total printing fee is calculated from the paper size and the number of copies input in step S18. Calculate the value.
[0194]
Next, create a screen (hereinafter referred to as a charge screen) that displays information such as the list of provider IDs + image IDs to be ordered, the printing price of each image, and the output destination in the stored data area. Display on device 102. A button for the user to confirm the order of the print order (hereinafter referred to as an order button) and a button for canceling the order (hereinafter referred to as a cancel button) are arranged on the fee screen. .
[0195]
The charge screen also displays an input field for inputting the destination, address, postal code, and telephone number of the delivery destination when the ordering user and the delivery destination that receives the print output are different. .
[0196]
In step S21, the order receiving means 312 checks the instruction input made by the user on the fee screen displayed in step S20. If the order button is clicked, the process proceeds to step S22, and if the cancel button is clicked. Return to step S17. When there is an input in each field of the delivery destination, the input content is recorded in the storage data area.
[0197]
In step S22, the order receiving means 312 issues a new order ID, and adds new data to the order information storage device 323 based on the data recorded in the storage data area before step S19. That is, one new order record created from the user ID, output destination ID, etc. in the order table 401, and the number of images created from the provider ID, image ID, etc. of each image for each order target image Are added to the sub-order table 402.
[0198]
At this time, the approval status of each new suborder record is set by the following processes (A1) to (A3).
[0199]
In the process (A1), the customer information storage device 320 is searched using the user ID of the order as a key, and if the provider ID of the sub-order record exists in the list of approved provider IDs, the approval status “ Approved ".
[0200]
In the process (A2), if the approval status is not “approved” in the process (A1), the image information table 501 of the image storage device 321 is searched with the provider ID + image ID of the suborder record, and the approval flag is set. If “unnecessary”, the approval status is “approved”.
[0201]
In the process (A3), if the approval status does not become “approved” in the process (A1) and the process (A2), it is determined as “unapproved”.
[0202]
The image status for printing of each suborder record to be added is searched for in the image file table 502 of the image storage device 321 with the provider ID + image ID of the suborder record. “Yes”, and if there is no “No image”.
[0203]
The approval status of the new order record is “approved” if the approval status of all new sub-order records is “approved” in the processing (A1), (A2), and (A3). Otherwise, set to “Unapproved”.
[0204]
In addition, the image status for printing of the new order record is also set to “image present” if the image status for printing of all the new sub-order records is “image present” in the above process, and “image not present” otherwise. To do.
[0205]
The processing status of the new order record is “printable” if the approval status of the new order record is “approved” and the image status for printing is “image present” by the above processing, and “printing” otherwise. Set to "wait".
[0206]
Next, the image information table 501 of the image storage device 321 is searched with the provider ID + image ID of each new suborder record, and the last use date of the corresponding record is updated with the processing date of this processing.
[0207]
If even one sub-order has an “unapproved” approval status, each provider terminal (providing device) is allowed to approve the user in this step S22. In this case, the HTML message is displayed on the user terminal (in HTML) with the message “There is an image that has not been approved. Please get approval.” And the page that displays the “OK” button. To the ordering device), and when the user presses the “OK” button, the user terminal provides access to the provider terminal and provides image information that has not been approved by linking to the “OK” button. The URL of the provider terminal is attached. When the user terminal accesses the provider terminal and the provider terminal gives approval, a communication line is directly connected from the provider terminal to the center server. In addition, the center server does not request the user terminal to approve the provider terminal directly. As described later in FIG. 8, the specific use for the “unapproved” image information by access from the provider terminal is performed. Approval processing may be performed.
[0208]
Note that the processing relating to user identification and authentication, that is, step S1 to step S6, can be performed at an arbitrary point in time immediately before the processing that requires user identification, that is, up to step S20. In addition, the customer registration process from step S4 to step S6 can be registered in advance by the user as another function outside this flowchart.
[0209]
In addition, for example, a button for ending the processing of this flowchart can be standardly arranged on each screen displayed in this flowchart.
[0210]
<Processing of the provider>
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the second data processing procedure in the server apparatus according to the present invention. Processing of the order search means 313, print approval means 314, and image registration means 315 of the center server 101 shown in FIG. Corresponds to the procedure. In addition, S1-S13 shows each step.
[0211]
The order retrieval unit 313, the print approval unit 314, and the image registration unit 315 are all CGI activated by the Internet server 300, and when the provider uses the data browsing unit 302 of the providing apparatus 103 to instruct, The instruction input is transmitted to the Internet server 300 via the data browsing means 302 and the network 105 and activated by the Internet server 300. Similarly, the output of each processing means is transmitted to the data browsing means 302 of the providing apparatus 103 via the Internet server 300 and the network 105 and displayed on the CRT 209 of the ordering apparatus 103. However, in the following description, for the sake of simplicity, the transmission / reception part is omitted, and a description such as “display on screen” is simply used.
[0212]
Each processing means is activated by the Internet server 300 every time data is received from the providing apparatus 103, and after the display data is transmitted to the ordering apparatus 103, the processing ends. That is, each processing means can be implemented as a plurality of programs in addition to being implemented as a single program, and a single program can implement the functions of a plurality of processing means.
[0213]
In FIG. 8, step S1 to step S4, step S10, and step S13 are the order retrieval unit 313, step S6 and step S7 are the print approval unit 314, step S8, step S9, step S11, and step S12 are the image registration unit 315. A processing function.
[0214]
In addition, data shared or delivered between a plurality of programs is exchanged via the data browsing means 302 of the ordering apparatus 103 using the HIDDEN parameter of HTML, or stored on the HDD 213 or the RAM 202 of the center server 101. To exchange data. Hereinafter, the data exchange means and the storage method are collectively referred to simply as a saved data area.
[0215]
First, in step S1, the order retrieval unit 313 operated according to the URL input by the provider to the data browsing unit 302 of the providing apparatus 103 uses the provider ID and password of the provider to identify the provider. A screen for requesting input (hereinafter referred to as a login screen) is displayed. The screen also displays a button for the provider to request identification and authentication (hereinafter referred to as “OK button”).
[0216]
The order search means 313 searches the provider information storage device 324 using the provider ID input on the Login screen as a key, the record of the provider ID exists in the provider information storage device 324, and the password of the record Check whether the password matches the entered password. If the verification matches, it is determined that the identification and authentication of the provider has been successful, and if the corresponding record does not exist or the password is different, an error message is displayed and step S1 is performed again. The provider ID that has been successfully identified and authenticated is stored in the saved data area.
[0217]
In step S2, the order search means 313 creates and displays a menu screen (hereinafter referred to as a provider menu screen) for the provider to select a process. The menu screen displays the following menus (1) to (4) (unprocessed order display, processed order display, image list display, end), which can be selected by the provider by inputting an instruction such as a click. deep.
[0218]
In step S3, the order retrieval unit 313 checks the menu selected and input by the provider on the provider menu screen displayed in step S2, and if the unprocessed order display (1) of menu (1), the process proceeds to step S4. If the processed order display {2} of menu (2), go to step S5, if the image list display of menu (3) {3}, go to step S10, if the end of menu (4) {4}. Proceed to step S13.
[0219]
In step S4, the process of this step is a process of displaying a print order list screen (hereinafter referred to as an unprocessed order list screen) that requires the print approval of the provider in operation.
[0220]
The order search means 313 checks the order information storage device 323, and the sub-order whose sub-order table 402 has the provider ID that matches the provider ID recorded in the storage data area in step S1 and whose approval status is “unapproved”. All records are extracted and read onto the RAM 202. Hereinafter, the sub-order record read into the RAM 202 will be referred to as an order display record.
[0221]
Next, the order table 401 of the order information storage device 323 is searched using the order ID of each order display record as a key, and the contents of the corresponding order record are added to the order display record. Further, the customer information storage device 320 is searched using the user ID added in the above processing as a key for each order display record, and the name or company name of the corresponding customer information record is extracted and added to the order display record. To do.
[0222]
Further, the output destination information storage device 322 is searched using the output destination ID added in the above process as a key, and the name or company name of the corresponding output destination information record is extracted and added to the order display record.
[0223]
Next, edit the items such as order ID, image ID, printing image status, printing conditions, and user name or company name of the order display record created in the above process into a list format and display the screen data Create
[0224]
Further, the path name of the thumbnail image file of the image is extracted from the image file table 502 of the image storage device 321 using the provider ID and the image ID of the order display record as keys, and each line in the screen data list includes: The thumbnail image of the corresponding image is displayed.
[0225]
In addition, a button group for selecting a process for the corresponding sub-order and inputting an instruction for activation is arranged on each line in the list. Here, a button group (print approval button, print image registration button) for starting the following print approval process (1) and print image registration process (2) is arranged.
[0226]
Finally, an unprocessed order list screen is displayed on the providing apparatus 103 based on the screen data. At this time, a “return” button is also arranged at the top or bottom of the unprocessed order list screen. The order display record is recorded in the storage data area.
[0227]
In step S5, the order retrieval means 313 examines the contents of the button selected and input by the provider, that is, clicked on the unprocessed order list screen displayed in step S4. If the image for printing is registered, the process returns to step S8. If the “return” button is selected, the contents of the order display record recorded in the storage data area are deleted, and then the process returns to step S2.
[0228]
If the button is not a “return” button, the position in the list of clicked buttons is checked and recorded as a selected position in the saved data area.
[0229]
In step S6, the print approval unit 314 extracts the record of the selected position recorded in the storage data area in step S5 from the order display records recorded in the storage data area in step S4, and stores the contents of the record. The data is edited as display data and displayed on the providing apparatus 103. Hereinafter, this screen is referred to as a print order detail screen.
[0230]
At this time, the customer information storage device 320 is searched using the user ID of the corresponding order display record as a key, and the contents of the corresponding customer information record are also displayed on the print order detail screen shown in FIG.
[0231]
The image information table 501 of the image storage device 321 is searched using the provider ID and image ID of the order display record as keys, and the contents of the corresponding image information table are also displayed on the print order detail screen. Further, the path name of the low resolution image file is extracted from the image file table 502 using the provider ID and the image ID as keys, and the low resolution image is also displayed on the print order detail screen.
[0232]
Also, in the print order detail screen, an “approval” button (button 1004 shown in FIG. 10) and a “return” button (button 1005 shown in FIG. 10), and the case where the approval is given to the corresponding user are specified. When the provider clicks the “approval” button, the process proceeds to step S7, and when the “return” button is clicked, the “approve user” check box (check box 1006 shown in FIG. 10) is arranged. Return to step S4.
[0233]
The contents of the order display record in the saved data area displayed on the print order detail screen are newly recorded in the saved data area as an approval target record.
[0234]
In step S7, the print approval unit 314 uses the order ID, the provider ID, and the image ID of the record to be approved recorded in the storage data area in step S6 as keys for the sub-order table 402 of the order information storage device 323. Search and update the approval status of the corresponding suborder record to “Approved”.
[0235]
Next, the sub-order table 402 is searched again using the order ID as a key, and all corresponding sub-order records are checked. If the approval status of the corresponding sub-order record is all “approved”, the sub-order table 402 The order table 401 is searched with the order ID of the record, and the approval status of the corresponding order record is updated to “approved”.
[0236]
Next, if the image status for printing of the order record whose approval status has been updated in the process is “image present”, the processing status of the order record is updated to “printable”.
[0237]
Furthermore, when the “approve user” check box on the print order detail screen displayed in step S6 is checked, the following processing is also performed.
[0238]
In step S6, the customer information storage device 320 is searched using the user ID of the approval target record recorded in the storage data area as a key, and the approval target record is found in the list of approved provider IDs of the corresponding customer information record. Whether or not the provider ID exists is checked. If the provider ID does not exist, the provider ID is added to the list of approved provider IDs in the customer information record.
[0239]
Next, all the order records whose user ID matches the user ID of the approval target record and whose approval status is “unapproved” are extracted from the order table 401 of the order information storage device 323.
[0240]
Next, the sub-order table 402 is searched using the order ID of each extracted order record as a key, the order ID matches, the provider ID matches the provider ID of the record to be approved, and the approval status is “Not yet”. It is checked whether or not a sub-order record of “approval” exists, and if it exists, the approval status of the corresponding sub-order record is changed to “approved”, and the sub-order table 402 uses the order ID of the sub-order record as a key. Are searched again, and all the corresponding suborder records are checked. If the approval status of all the corresponding suborder records is “approved”, the order table 401 is searched with the order ID, and the corresponding order record Update the approval status to "Approved".
[0241]
Next, if the image status for printing of the order record whose approval status has been updated in the process is “image present”, the processing status of the order record is updated to “printable”. After the above process is completed, the process returns to step S4.
[0242]
In step S8, the image registration means 315 extracts the record of the selected position recorded in the storage data area in step S5 from the order display records recorded in the storage data area in step S4, and stores the contents of the record. The data is edited as display data and displayed on the providing apparatus 103. Hereinafter, this screen is referred to as a printing image registration screen (refer to FIG. 11 for details).
[0243]
At this time, the customer information storage device 320 is searched using the user ID of the corresponding order display record as a key, and the content of the corresponding customer information record is also displayed on the print image registration screen. The image information table 501 of the image storage device 321 is searched using the provider ID and image ID of the order display record as keys, and the contents of the corresponding image information table are also displayed on the print image registration screen.
[0244]
Further, the path name of the low resolution image file is extracted from the image file table 502 using the provider ID and the image ID as keys, and the low resolution image is also displayed on the print image registration screen. In addition, in order for the provider to send the print image of the image to the center server 101, a field for instructing and inputting the path name of the print image file on the providing device 103, and the printing device at the time of printing the image For example, a field in which a designated character string for print setting such as edge emphasis or high contrast can be input, an input field for inputting a storage period for storing the print image in the center server 101, and a transmission process are started. A “Send” button is also displayed on the print image registration screen.
[0245]
In the HTML created for display, a description is given to instruct the data browsing means 302 to transmit the contents of the file specified in the path name field to the center server 101 when the “Send” button is clicked. deep.
[0246]
The contents of the order display record in the storage data area displayed on the print image registration screen are newly recorded in the storage data area as print image registration target records.
[0247]
In step S9, on the print image registration screen displayed in step S8, the provider inputs the path name of the print image file in the original image storage device 340 of the providing device 103 and clicks the “Send” button. The data browsing unit 302 transmits the print image file data to the center server 101.
[0248]
The image registration unit 315 receives the contents of the print image file and the print setting value and the storage period input by the provider in the input field on the print image registration screen. The received image file data for printing generates a unique path name in the image data file group 503 of the image storage device 321 based on the image ID recorded in the storage data area in step S8, and the image data as an image data file Store in the file group 503.
[0249]
Next, the data for the image file table 502 is edited based on the provider ID and the image ID recorded in the storage data area in step S8 and the path name of the image data file stored in the above process, and the type is for printing. And the data is added to the image file table 502.
[0250]
At this time, if the record of the same provider ID, image ID, and type already exists in the image file table 502, the record is updated and the image data file indicated by the path name of the record before the update is changed to the image data. Delete from the file group 503. Further, the image information table 501 is searched using the provider ID and the image ID as keys, and the print setting of the corresponding image information record and each value of the storage period (2) in the image information table shown in FIG. 5 are received. Update with the print setting value and retention period.
[0251]
Next, the sub-order table 402 of the order information storage device 323 is searched using the order ID, the provider ID, and the image ID of the print image registration target record recorded in the storage data area in step S8 as keys. The print image status of the order record is updated to “image present”, and the print setting is updated with the print setting value of the image information record.
[0252]
Next, using the provider ID and the image ID as keys, the sub-order table 402 is searched again, all the corresponding sub-order records are checked, and the print image statuses of the corresponding sub-order records are all “image present”. In this case, the order table 401 is searched with the order ID of the sub-order record, and the print image status of the corresponding order record is updated to “image present”.
[0253]
Further, if the approval status of the order record whose printing image status is updated in the above process is “approved”, the processing status of the order record is updated to “printable”.
[0254]
Then, low-resolution image data for display is created from the print image file saved in the above process, the display image, the data related to the image such as the image ID stored in the saved data area, and the registration completion. A screen for displaying a message to be notified (hereinafter referred to as a printing image registration completion screen) is created and displayed on the providing apparatus 103. A “return” button is arranged on the print image registration completion screen. When the “return” button is clicked, the process returns to step S4.
[0255]
The process in step S10 is a process of displaying a print order list screen (hereinafter referred to as a processed order list screen) of a print order that has been approved by the operating provider and has been printed or transferred. The means 313 checks the order information storage device 323, the provider ID of the sub-order table 402 matches the provider ID recorded in the storage data area in step S1, the approval status is “approved”, and printing All sub-order records whose image status is “image present” are extracted and read into the RAM 202. Hereinafter, the suborder record read into the RAM 202 is referred to as a processed order display record.
[0256]
Next, the order table 401 of the order information storage device 323 is searched using the order ID of each processed order display record as a key, and the contents of the corresponding order record are added to the processed order display record. Further, the customer information storage device 320 is searched using the user ID added in the above processing as a key of each processed order display record, and the name or company name of the corresponding customer information record is extracted, and the processed order display is performed. Append to record. Further, the output destination information storage device 322 is searched using the output destination ID added in the above process as a key, the name or company name of the corresponding output destination information record is extracted, and added to the processed order display record.
[0257]
Next, each item such as the order ID, the image ID, the processing status of the corresponding order record, the printing condition, and the user name or company name of the processed order display record created in the above process is displayed in a list format. Edit to create screen data. Further, the path name of the thumbnail image file of the image is extracted from the image file table 502 of the image storage device 321 using the provider ID and the image ID of the processed order display record as keys, and each line in the list of the screen data The thumbnail image of the corresponding image is displayed.
[0258]
Then, a processed order list screen is displayed based on the screen data. A “return” button is also arranged at the top or bottom of the screen, and when the “return” button is clicked, the process returns to step S2.
[0259]
In step S11, the image registration unit 315 includes fields for inputting the following items (1) to (10) and a screen (hereinafter referred to as an image registration screen) including a “registration” button for inputting a registration process. Is created and displayed on the providing apparatus 103.
[0260]
Item (1) is an image ID, item (2) is a title, item (3) is a caption, (4) is a price (an input field is provided for each of a plurality of print sizes), and item (5) Indicates that printing approval is required / not required (selectable check box), item (6) is a search image storage period, item (7) is a print image storage period, and item (8) is low The path name of the resolution image file is used, the item (9) is a category, and the item (10) is a keyword (for example, a plurality of characters can be input using a space character as a delimiter).
[0261]
Note that the path name of the low resolution image file in item (8) indicates the path name of the low resolution image file on the providing apparatus 103 in order for the provider to transmit the low resolution image of the image to the center server 101. This is an input field. In the HTML created for display, when the “Register” button is clicked, data browsing is performed so that the content of the file specified in the path name field of the low resolution image file is transmitted to the center server 101. A description instructing the means 302 is made.
[0262]
In step S12, the provider inputs the path name of the low resolution image file in the original image storage device 340 of the providing apparatus 103 on the image registration screen (see FIG. 12 described later) displayed in step S11, and the “Register” button. When the button is clicked, the data browsing unit 302 transmits the low resolution image file data to the center server 101.
[0263]
The image registration means 315 receives the contents of the low resolution image file and the values input by the provider in each input field on the image registration screen. At this time, if at least the image ID is not input, an error message is displayed and the process returns to step S11. An error also occurs when the image information table of the image storage device 321 is searched using the input image ID and the provider ID recorded in the storage data area in step S1 as a key, and the corresponding image information record exists. A message is displayed and the process returns to step S11.
[0264]
Next, a new image information record, a category search record, and a keyword search record are edited based on the provider ID recorded in the storage data area and each value input by the provider in each input field of the image registration screen. Are added to the image information table 501, the category search table 504, and the keyword search table 505, respectively.
[0265]
The received low-resolution image file data generates a unique path name in the image data file group 503 of the image storage device 321 based on the input image ID and the like, and the image data file group 503 as an image data file. Further, a thumbnail image file of the image is created based on the low resolution image file, and a unique path name is generated and stored in the image data file group 503 in the same manner as the low resolution image file.
[0266]
Next, based on the two path names, the input provider ID, and the image ID, the type is added to the image file table 502 as a low resolution thumbnail. After the above processing ends, the process returns to step S2.
[0267]
Note that the image information table 501 is searched based on the input image ID, and the function of updating the registered image information by displaying the contents of the corresponding image information record, or by clicking the button, the process proceeds to step S8. It is also possible to proceed and register a print image.
[0268]
In step S13, the order retrieval unit 313 retrieves the image information table 501 and deletes the image whose storage period has expired. The order retrieval unit 313 retrieves all records in the image information table 501 of the image storage device 321. 5 and extracting an image information record that has passed the retention period (1) or the retention period (2) in the image information table shown in FIG. 5 from the last use date, that is, the retention period has expired, The processing target image record list is recorded on the RAM 202.
[0269]
Next, for each processing target image record in the processing target image record list, the sub-order table 402 of the order information storage device 323 is searched using the provider ID and image ID of the processing target image record as a key, and the corresponding sub-order is searched. If a record exists, the order table 401 is searched using the order ID of the corresponding sub-order record as a key, and the processing status of the order is checked. In the process, if the corresponding sub-order record exists and the process status of the corresponding order record is not “transferred”, the process target record is deleted from the process target record list.
[0270]
Next, the following processing is performed on each processing target image record in the processing target image record list. When the storage period (2) of the processing target image record, that is, the storage period of the printing image has expired, printing is performed from the image file table 502 using the provider ID and the image ID of the processing target image record as keys. When the image file record for the image is searched and the corresponding image file record exists, the image file indicated by the path name of the record is deleted from the image data file group 503 and the image file record is deleted from the image file table 502. delete.
[0271]
If the storage period (1) of the processing target record, that is, the storage period of the search image has expired, the corresponding processing is performed from the image file table 502 using the provider ID and the image ID of the processing target image record as keys. All the image file records are searched, the image file indicated by the path name of the searched image file record is deleted from the image data file group 503, and the image file record is deleted from the image file table 502. Next, the image information table 501, the category search table 504, and the keyword search table 505 are searched using the provider ID and image ID of the processing target record as keys, and all corresponding records are deleted.
[0272]
In this embodiment, the processing in step S13 is performed when the provider finishes the series of processing in FIG. 8, but does not require data transmission / reception with the providing device 103. It is also possible to do this by starting periodically.
[0273]
<Print processing>
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a third data processing procedure in the server apparatus according to the present invention, which is a flowchart for explaining a process of transmitting printable data to the printing system 104 and printing it, This corresponds to the processing procedure of the order transmission unit 316 of 101, the order reception unit 350 of the printing system 104, and the print control unit 351. In addition, S1-S14 shows each step.
[0274]
The order receiving unit 350 and the print control unit 351 are programs that are developed in the RAM 202 and can be used by an instruction input by the operator of the printing system 104. The order transmitting unit 316 is a CGI activated by the Internet server 300, and is activated by the Internet server 300 when the Internet server 300 receives the URL transmitted by the order receiving unit via the network 105. The processing corresponding to each of the above means 350, 351, and 316 is described by enclosing them in the figure.
[0275]
First, in step S1, the order receiving unit 350 transmits an output destination ID for identifying the printing system, which is stored in advance in the HDD 213 or the ROM 203 of the printing system 104, to the order transmitting unit 316, and transmits the print order. Ask.
[0276]
In step S2, the order transmitting unit 316 on the center server 101 side receives the output destination ID transmitted by the order receiving unit 350 in step S1.
[0277]
Next, the order table 401 of the order information storage device 323 is examined, an order record whose output destination ID matches the received output destination ID and whose processing status is “printable” is extracted, and the contents are stored in the RAM 202. To do. The order ID of each order record stored in the RAM 202 is stored in a file on the HDD 209 (hereinafter referred to as a transmission target order list file).
[0278]
Next, the sub-order table 402 is searched using the order ID of each order record recorded in the RAM 202 as a key, all corresponding sub-order records are extracted, and the contents are stored in the RAM 202.
[0279]
Next, the image file table 502 of the image storage device 321 is searched using the provider ID and image ID of each sub-order record stored in the RAM 202 as a key, and the path name of the printing image of the corresponding image file record is extracted. It is added to the corresponding suborder record stored in the RAM 202.
[0280]
In step S3, the order transmitting unit 316 prints the contents of the order record stored in the RAM 202 in step S2, the contents of the suborder record, the path name of the image file for printing, and the path name of the order list file to be transmitted to the printing system 104. To the order receiving means 350 on the side.
[0281]
In step S4, the order receiving means 350 on the printing system 104 side receives the contents of the order record transmitted by the order transmitting means 316 of the center server 101 in step S2, the contents of the suborder record, the path name of the print image file, and The path name of the transmission target order list file is received, and the contents of the order record and the sub-order record are output to files in the print data storage device 360, respectively. Hereinafter, they are referred to as a reception order file and a reception suborder file, respectively.
[0282]
The path name of the received print image file is also added to the corresponding suborder record and output to the suborder file. The path name of the transmission target order list file is stored in the RAM 202.
[0283]
In step S <b> 5, the order receiving unit 350 reads one suborder record from the suborder file created in step S <b> 4 and stores it in the RAM 202. If there is no suborder record in the suborder file or if it has been read to the end, the process proceeds to step S9.
[0284]
In step S6, the order receiving unit 350 on the printing system 104 side transmits the path name of the printing image file added to the suborder record stored in the RAM 202 in step S5 to the order transmitting unit 316, and the printing image. Request to send a file.
[0285]
In step S 7, the order transmission unit 316 receives the path name of the print image file transmitted by the order reception unit 350 in step S 6, reads the print image file from the image data file group 503 of the image storage device 321, and The contents of the print image file are transmitted to the order receiving means 350.
[0286]
In step S8, the order receiving unit 350 receives the contents of the print image file transmitted by the order transmitting unit 316 on the center server 101 side in step S7, and stores the contents in the print data storage device 360 as a print image file.
[0287]
At this time, the path name of the printing image file of the suborder record stored in the RAM 202 in step S5 is replaced with the path name in the print data storage device 360, and the contents of the suborder record in the RAM 202 are replaced with the contents of the suborder record. Update the corresponding suborder record. Thereafter, the process returns to step S5.
[0288]
In step S9, the order receiving means 350 orders the path name of the transmission target order list file stored in the RAM 202 in step S4, assuming that all the print image files in the sub-order file created in step S4 have been received. The data is transmitted to the transmission unit 316 to notify the completion of the reception process.
[0289]
In step S10, the order transmission unit 316 on the center server 101 side receives the path name of the transmission target order list file transmitted by the order reception unit 350 on the printing system 104 side in step S9, and the contents of the transmission target order list file That is, a list of transmitted order IDs is read and stored in the RAM 202.
[0290]
Next, the order table 401 of the order information storage device 323 is searched using each order ID stored in the RAM 202 as a key, and the processing status of the corresponding order record is updated to “transferred”.
[0291]
In step S11, the print control unit 351 on the printing system 104 side reads all the contents of the order file and the suborder file in the print data storage device 360, and matches the contents of each suborder record and the order ID of the suborder. The contents of the order record with the order ID are edited in units of sub-order records and displayed in a list form on the CRT 209 of the printing system 104. At this time, each row on the list, that is, each sub-order can be selected by operating the mouse 212 or the like. Each list also displays the contents of the print settings.
[0292]
In step S12, the print control unit 351 checks whether there is a suborder selected by the operator of the printing system 104 with respect to the suborder list displayed in step S11. If nothing is selected, the process is terminated.
[0293]
In step S13, the print control unit 351 checks the contents of the suborder record selected in step S12, reads the print image from the print data storage device 360 based on the path of the print image file of the suborder record, Print image data (PDL) to be transmitted to the PRT 215 is created based on the printing conditions of the sub-order table, and the PDL is printed by starting a printing device control program that is generally attached to the printing device, a so-called printer driver. Send to device.
[0294]
At this time, the printer driver setting screen is displayed so that the operator can freely make print settings for the printer driver based on the contents of the print settings displayed in step S11.
[0295]
In step S14, printing is performed by the printing apparatus of the printing system 104, that is, the PRT 215.
[0296]
In this embodiment, the file transmission in step S7 is performed by the order transmission means 316, which is CGI. Generally, the file transmission / reception function of the Internet server 300, the so-called FTP function, is used to perform the steps from step S6 to step S6. It is also possible to implement S8.
[0297]
<Example of display screen>
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the print order detail screen displayed on the providing apparatus 103 shown in FIG. 3, and the screen display data created by the print approval unit 314 in step S6 of the flowchart described in FIG. 3 is a print order detail screen example displayed on the CRT 209 of the providing apparatus 103 by the data browsing unit 302 based on the above.
[0298]
In FIG. 10, reference numeral 1001 denotes an ordering user information unit corresponding to the information of the user who ordered the sub-order selected by the provider, and the ordering user information 1001 is stored in the customer information storage device 320, and the customer Data is read from the information storage device 320 and displayed on the CRT 209 of the providing device 103 by the data browsing means 302.
[0299]
Reference numeral 1002 denotes an order content display unit which displays the contents of the order in the order table 401.
[0300]
Reference numeral 1003 denotes a suborder content display unit that displays the contents of the suborder in the suborder table 402.
[0301]
Reference numeral 1004 denotes an “approval” button. When the provider of the providing apparatus 103 shown in FIG. 3 operates the mouse or the like and clicks the “approval” button 1004, the process proceeds to step S7 in the flowchart of FIG.
[0302]
Reference numeral 1005 denotes a “return” button. When the provider of the providing apparatus 103 shown in FIG. 3 clicks the “return” button 1005 by operating the mouse or the like, the process returns to step S4 in the flowchart of FIG.
[0303]
A user approval check box 1006 is an “approve user” check box for performing print approval for the user.
[0304]
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a printing image registration screen displayed on the providing apparatus 103 shown in FIG. 3, and data browsing means based on the screen display data created in step S8 of the flowchart described in FIG. Reference numeral 302 denotes a print image registration screen example displayed on the CRT 209 of the providing apparatus 103.
[0305]
In FIG. 11, reference numeral 1101 denotes an ordering user information display unit corresponding to the information of the user who ordered the sub-order selected by the provider. The ordering user information 1001 is stored in the customer information storage device 320, and Data is read from the customer information storage device 320 and displayed on the CRT 209 of the providing device 103 by the data browsing means 302.
[0306]
An order content display unit 1102 displays the contents of the order in the order table 401.
[0307]
Reference numeral 1103 denotes a sub-order display unit that displays the contents of the sub-order in the sub-order table 402.
[0308]
Reference numeral 1104 denotes a print image file path name input field, which functions as an input field for inputting the path name of the print image file in the original image storage device 340 of the providing apparatus 103, and is adjacent to the input field. When the “Browse” button is clicked, the data browsing means 302 displays the tree structure of the file in the providing apparatus 103 and displays a dialog box for the provider to select a file to be input in the path name input field 1104. To do.
[0309]
Reference numeral 1105 denotes a print setting field, which functions as an input field for inputting print settings designated for the printing apparatus when the printing image is printed, for example, image processing such as edge enhancement.
[0310]
A storage period input field 1106 functions as an input field for inputting the data file storage period of the print image in the center server 101, for example, in units of days.
[0311]
Reference numeral 1107 denotes a “send” button. When the provider clicks the “send” button 1107, the contents and input values of the file specified in the input fields 1104, 1105, and 1106 are sent to the image registration unit 315 of the center server 101. Is done.
[0312]
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an image registration screen displayed on the providing apparatus 103 shown in FIG. 3. The image registration unit 315 adds the screen display data created in step S11 of the flowchart described in FIG. It is an example of an image registration screen that the data browsing means 302 displays on the CRT 209 of the providing apparatus 103 based on.
[0313]
In FIG. 12, reference numeral 1201 denotes an input field that functions as an input field for the image ID, title, and caption of an image to be registered.
[0314]
An input field 1202 functions as an input field for inputting the price of an image to be registered. In the example of FIG. 12, it is possible to specify for three print sizes. This is an example configured to be able to be specified.
[0315]
An input field 1203 includes a check box for inputting “necessary” or “unnecessary” for print approval of an image to be registered, and an input field for inputting a search file and a data file lifetime in the center server 101 of the print image. It is configured.
[0316]
An input field 1204 is an input field for inputting the path name of the low resolution image file in the original image storage device 340 of the providing apparatus 103. The “reference” button next to the input field is the button. When the button is clicked, the data browsing unit 302 displays the tree structure of the files in the providing apparatus 103 and displays a dialog box for selecting a file to be input by the provider in the path name input field 1204.
[0317]
An input field 1205 functions as a field for inputting a category and a keyword for searching for an image to be registered.
[0318]
Reference numeral 1206 denotes a “registration” button. When the provider inputs the “registration” button 1206, the contents of the file specified in the input fields 1201 to 1205 (stored in the original image storage device 340 of the providing device matching the image ID). Search image information, print image information) and input values are transmitted to the image registration means 315 of the center server 101.
[0319]
According to the above-described embodiment, since the image provider confirms the contents of the order for the print order placed by the user and performs print approval for the order, printing is enabled for the first time. Accordingly, the image provider can confirm the contents of the print order and the orderer and instruct whether or not printing is possible without requiring prior user authentication and suppressing the load on the image provider.
[0320]
In addition, since the image provider approves the printing of the user or the image, the approval operation for each print order for the specific user or the image on the server device side is unnecessary, and the workload of the image provider is further reduced. be able to.
[0321]
The configuration of the data processing program that can be read by the server device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the memory map shown in FIG.
[0322]
FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs that can be read by the server apparatus according to the present invention.
[0323]
Although not particularly illustrated, information for managing a program group stored in the storage 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.
[0324]
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.
[0325]
The functions shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 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 storage medium such as a CD-ROM, flash memory, or FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Is.
[0326]
As described above, a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium in the storage medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the programmed program code.
[0327]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0328]
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, an EEPROM, or the like is used. it can.
[0329]
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.
[0330]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into 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.
[0331]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the provider can confirm the order contents for the print order from the ordering apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a server device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the server apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a module configuration in the server device according to the present invention.
4 is a layout diagram for explaining data contents stored in the order information storage device shown in FIG. 3; FIG.
5 is a layout diagram for explaining data contents stored in the image storage device shown in FIG. 3; FIG.
6 is a diagram for explaining a communication method used between the center server shown in FIG. 1 and the ordering device and the providing device.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the server apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a second data processing procedure in the server device according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a third data processing procedure in the server apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a print order detail screen in the server device according to the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a print image registration screen in the server device according to the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an image registration screen in the server device according to the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the server device according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 Center server
102 Ordering equipment
103 Providing device
104 Printing system
105 network
200 System bus
201 Central processing unit (CPU)
202 Random access memory (RAM)
203 Read-only memory (ROM)
204 External input / output device (FDD)
205 Network interface (NETIF)
206 Network connection device (modem)
207 Local network (LAN)
208 Video RAM (VRAM)
209 Display (CRT)
210 Controller (KBC)
211 Keyboard (KB)
212 Pointing device (mouse)
213 Hard disk drive (HDD)
214 External input / output controller (IOC)
215 Printer (PRT)
216 Reading device (scanner)
300 Internet server
301,302 Data browsing means
310 Customer registration means
311 Image retrieval means
312 Order receiving means
313 Order search means
314 Print approval means
315 Image registration means
316 Order transmission means
320 Customer information storage device
321 Image storage device
322 Output destination information storage device
323 Order information storage device
324 Provider information storage device
340 original image storage device
350 Order receiving means
351 Print control means
360 print data storage device

Claims (5)

An information processing apparatus that communicates with an ordering apparatus, a providing apparatus, and a print control apparatus via a network,
Storage means for storing a thumbnail image and an image ID corresponding to the print image file;
Transmitting means for transmitting the thumbnail image stored by the storage means to the ordering device;
Receiving means for receiving, from the ordering apparatus, order information for performing a print order including an image ID of a thumbnail image selected by the ordering apparatus from among the thumbnail images transmitted by the transmitting means;
A notification means for notifying the order information to the providing apparatus when the providing apparatus inputs a predetermined instruction ;
Recording means for receiving and recording the approval for the order information notified by the notification means from the providing device;
An acquisition unit configured to acquire a print image file corresponding to the previous SL image ID from the providing apparatus,
Transfer means for transferring a print image file corresponding to the image ID included in the order information acquired from the providing apparatus by the acquisition means and whose approval is recorded by the recording means to the print control apparatus;
An information processing apparatus comprising: A management means for associating and managing information indicating whether or not the order information needs to be approved and the image ID;
If the approval is managed by the management means, control is performed so that the notification by the notification means is not performed, and the recording means records the approval for the order information. Item 6. The information processing apparatus according to Item 1. Storage means for storing a print image file acquired from the providing device;
Management means for managing the retention period of the print image file stored in the storage means;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a deletion unit that deletes the print image file whose storage period has expired.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit further receives a designation of the print control apparatus, and the transfer unit transfers the image file for printing to the designated print control apparatus. A computer device that communicates with an ordering device, a providing device, and a print control device via a network.
A storage step of storing a thumbnail image and an image ID corresponding to the image file for printing in a storage device;
Transmitting the thumbnail image and the image ID from the storage device and transmitting the thumbnail image and the image ID to the ordering device;
A receiving step of receiving, from the ordering device, order information for performing a print order including an image ID of a thumbnail image selected by the ordering device from the transmitted thumbnail images;
A notification step of notifying the providing apparatus of the order information when the providing apparatus inputs a predetermined instruction ;
A recording step of receiving an approval for the notified order information from the providing device and recording it in a recording device;
An acquisition step of acquiring print image file corresponding to the image ID from the providing apparatus,
A computer stores a program for executing a transfer step of transferring a print image file corresponding to an image ID included in order information acquired from the providing apparatus and whose approval is recorded in the recording apparatus to the print control apparatus. A storage medium stored in a readable manner.

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