JP6244821B2 - Printing system and printing server - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system and a print server.

  Various posts (contents) including images are published on a site of a social networking service (hereinafter referred to as SNS) provided on the Internet. When the user wants to print these contents, data such as images related to the contents is once downloaded and stored in the information terminal operated by the user, and then the application software for printing is separately started in the information terminal, and the saved The content was printed by a printer (first method). Alternatively, when the user wants to print the content, the application software or plug-in for printing that can access the SNS is obtained (installed) in advance in the information terminal, and the SNS is installed using the installed application software or the like. The contents were searched and designated, and printing was performed (second method).

  In addition, as a related technique, when an image published on a photo album site by a server device is browsed from an image browsing terminal, and the server device accepts an image print order from the image browsing terminal, the server device enters an online print site. An event image publishing system that transmits a print order is known (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-197968 A

  In the first method described above, the user needs to download a desired content to his / her own information terminal once and start application software for printing separately, which requires a lot of trouble. Some SNS sites require dedicated application software and plug-ins as in the second method for printing content. In such a case, the user is forced to install the dedicated application software and plug-in, which is one of the reasons that the use of the user is difficult to spread. In addition, there is a problem similar to that of the first method with respect to the trouble of operation when executing printing, and the user has an environment (OS, Web browser, etc.) in which the dedicated application software or plug-in operates in the information terminal. If not, the user cannot print the content on the SNS in the first place.

  In addition, the system described in Patent Document 1 is configured to order prints from an online print site, so that it cannot be printed on a printer owned by the user and a printed matter cannot be obtained immediately. Was hard to say.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least one of the above-described problems, and a print result of a desired post can be obtained more easily by utilizing an environment that many users touch in daily life. An easy-to-use printing system and print server are provided.

  One aspect of the present invention is a printing system that prints a post made to an SNS, and associated information that retains association information that associates a printer with registration information of a user registered in the SNS. A holding unit, a notification receiving unit that receives notifications from the SNS regarding operations performed on the social buttons for individually evaluating the postings in the SNS, and registration information of a user who has operated the social buttons A printer identifying unit that identifies a printer that is associated with reference to the association information, a posting data acquisition unit that acquires post data representing the content of a post that has been operated on the social button, and A print instruction unit that causes the specified printer to print the posted data.

  According to this configuration, a user who is registered in the SNS and whose printer used by the user is associated with his / her registration information in the association information corresponds to a post made to the SNS. By simply operating the button, the linked printer automatically prints the post. That is, the user can obtain the print result of the post corresponding to the social button only by operating the social button in the SNS normally used by using the information terminal. In addition, the posted data is not downloaded to the information terminal used by the user, but is only sent in the form of print data to the printer in which the information is included in the association information, so the content protection effect is also high. It can be said.

One of the aspects of the present invention is that the posting made to the SNS is subjected to stepwise evaluation according to the operation to the corresponding social button, and the posted data acquisition unit is configured to perform the notified operation. When the posted posting has received an evaluation equal to or higher than a predetermined standard, the posting data of the posted post may be acquired.
According to this configuration, only posts that are highly evaluated by the user are actually printed.

One of the aspects of the present invention is that when the posting data acquisition unit detects an operation on the social button for notifying other users registered in the SNS of postings made in the SNS. The post data of the post for which the detected operation has been performed may be acquired.
According to this configuration, only posts that are highly evaluated to the extent that a user wants to spread to other users are actually printed.

One aspect of the present invention is that the printing system selects a post data holding unit that holds the acquired post data and a selection as to whether or not the held post data is to be printed. A receiving unit, and the printing instruction unit may cause the specified printer to print the posted data that is the target of printing.
According to this configuration, a post that is evaluated by the user operating the social button and that is further selected by the user is actually printed.

One aspect of the present invention is a display control in which the printing system displays on the screen of the information terminal the posted content represented by the stored posted data and the content of the evaluation by the operation corresponding to the posted content. A part may be provided.
According to this configuration, it is a great help for the user who selects post data to be printed from the held post data via the screen of the information terminal.

In one aspect of the present invention, the printing system includes an instruction requesting unit that requests a user who performs the notified operation to give a print permission instruction using a predetermined communication function. When there is a print permission instruction, the post data acquisition unit may acquire post data of a post for which the notified operation has been performed.
According to this configuration, it is possible to confirm from the user whether or not the posting evaluated by the operation of the social button can be printed, and wasteful printing is reduced. The predetermined communication function refers to a function of sending a post or a direct notification message on the SNS to a user, a function of transmitting an e-mail, or the like.

  The technical idea of the present invention is realized not only in the printing system as described above but also in other categories, methods, computer programs, and computer-readable recording media on which the programs are recorded. May be. A print server that constitutes at least a part of the printing system can also be regarded as one invention. In this case, it is a print server that prints a post made to the SNS, and a linking information holding unit that holds linking information that links a printer and user registration information registered in the SNS, and the SNS A notification receiving unit that receives notifications about operations performed on social buttons for individually evaluating the posting from the SNS, and a printer associated with registration information of a user who has operated the social buttons A printer identification unit that identifies the association information with reference to the association information, a post data acquisition unit that acquires post data representing the content of a post that has been operated on the social button, and printing the post data. A print instruction unit to be executed by the specified printer.

It is a figure showing simply the system concerning this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function which a printing system implement | achieves. It is a flowchart which shows a stringing process. It is a figure which shows the example of a user page. It is a figure which shows the example of the page for authentication, etc. It is a flowchart which shows the process from operation of a social button to printing. It is a figure which shows the example of the page of SNS which a user browses. It is a figure which shows the example of the page of SNS concerning the modification 1. 10 is a flowchart showing printing system side processing according to Modification 1; It is a figure which shows the example of the page of SNS concerning the modification 2. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a part of printing system side processing according to Modification 3; It is a figure which shows the example of the user page concerning the modification 3. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a part of printing system side processing according to Modification 4;

The embodiment of the present invention will be described in the following order.
1. 1. System overview 2. User information linking Flow from social button operation to printing 4. Modified example

1. System Overview FIG. 1 schematically shows a system 10 according to the present embodiment. The system 10 includes an information terminal 20, a printer 30, an SNS server 40, and a printing system 60. The system 10 includes the printing system 60 in part, but the entire system 10 may be called a printing system. The information terminal 20 is a communication device owned by the user U, and corresponds to, for example, a smartphone, a tablet type terminal, a desktop type or a laptop type PC. The user U is also the owner of the printer 30. The printer 30 may be of any type, for example, a so-called inkjet printer, a so-called laser printer, or the like.

  Both the information terminal 20 and the printer 30 have a communication function with the outside, and are connected to the Internet IN by wire or wireless. The SNS server 40 is a server for providing SNS to many users via the Internet IN. Examples of the SNS provided by the SNS server 40 include services such as Twitter (registered trademark) and Facebook (registered trademark), but are not limited thereto. In FIG. 1, only one SNS server (reference numeral 40) is shown, but there can of course be a plurality of SNS servers that provide their own SNS on the Internet. The user U is a user registered in a specific SNS provided by the SNS server 40 and has “SNS registration information”. The registration information of the SNS indicates, for example, a user name, a password, and the like that are recognized by the SNS server 40 in order to specify the user U in the SNS. The user U operates the information terminal 20 on a daily basis and uses the SNS by the functions of the Web browser and application software installed in the information terminal 20.

  Further, the user U arbitrarily designates a printer 30 to be used at home or office and registers it in the printing system 60 in advance. In other words, the printing system 60 registers the printer 30 associated with the user U as one of print data transmission destinations. The printing system 60 provides a predetermined service to many users (for example, the user U) via the Internet IN. In the present embodiment, services that can be provided to the user by the printing system 60 are collectively referred to as “print services”.

  For example, the user U transmits an e-mail from the information terminal 20 to the e-mail address assigned to the printer 30 by the printing system 60, so that the contents of the e-mail and the image attached to the e-mail are displayed on the printer 30. Can be printed (see JP 2012-159914 A). Printing using such e-mail is also part of the print service.

  The printing system 60 corresponds to the printing system described in the claims, and has one or more servers. In the example of FIG. 1, the printing system 60 includes a server 50. The server 50 corresponds to an example of a print server referred to in the claims. However, even if at least a part of the functions described in this specification as being realized by the server 50 is realized by a plurality of servers including the server 50 connected via a network being linked, the printing system 60 is constructed. Good.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functions realized by the printing system 60. The printing system 60 includes a linking information holding unit 61, a notification receiving unit 62, a printer specifying unit 63, a posted data acquiring unit 64, a print data generating unit 65, a print instruction unit 66, a posted data holding unit 67, a selection receiving unit 68, Various functions such as the display control unit 69 and the instruction request unit 70 are realized. Each of these functions is realized by performing arithmetic processing according to a predetermined program installed in the server 50 in cooperation with hardware such as a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a hard disk drive (HDD) included in the server 50.

2. Next, the user information linking process will be described. In general, the linking process associates the printer 30 owned by the user U with the SNS registration information of the user U and holds the linking result (linking information). Say processing.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the association process.
In step S100, the user page provided by the server 50 is displayed on the screen of the information terminal 20 operated by the user U. For example, the user U who operates the information terminal 20 displays a screen for logging in to the print service on the screen of the information terminal 20 by a function of a Web browser or application software, and displays the self (printing system 60) on the screen for login. The login password or the like assigned in advance to the user of the printer 30 registered in (1) is input. Thereby, a user page dedicated to the user U (user of the printer 30 registered in the printing system 60) in the print service is displayed on the screen of the information terminal 20 (login to the user page). Before the flowchart of FIG. 3 is disclosed, the user U registers the printer 30 in the printing system 60 as described above.

  The registration process of the printer 30 in the printing system 60 will be briefly described (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-159914 as appropriate). In response to an instruction to start a registration request transmitted from the information terminal (for example, the information terminal 20) operated by the user U to the printer 30, the printer 30 sends a registration request to the printing system 60 to the unique information (model-specific information) of the printer 30. It is transmitted to the server 50 using HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) together with the ID and serial number. The server 50 that has received the registration request corresponds to the unique information of the printer 30, the internal ID, the login password for XMPP (eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) connection, the URL of the user page, the login password to the user page, the printer The e-mail address, etc. to be assigned is assigned so that it does not overlap with the registration information of other printers already registered. The server 50 associates the internal ID assigned in this way with the login password for XMPP connection, the URL of the user page, the login password for the user page, the e-mail address assigned to the printer, and the like in the printing system 60. Register in the database. The information registered in this way is hereinafter collectively referred to as “printer registration information”.

  Further, the server 50 transmits the registration information of the printer and the XMPP domain name of the server 50 to the printer 30 that is the transmission source of the registration request using HTTP. The printer 30 stores the transmitted printer registration information and the XMPP domain name of the server 50 in a predetermined memory, and also combines an ID (for XMPP connection) with the internal ID and the XMPP domain name in the registration information. ID). Then, the printer 30 transmits the ID for XMPP connection and the login password for XMPP connection in the registration information to the server 50 as XMPP connection information. The server 50 that has received the XMPP connection information establishes an XMPP connection with the transmission source printer 30. Further, in the course of such registration processing, at least a part of the printer registration information (URL of the user page, login password to the user page, The e-mail address assigned to the printer is notified and displayed on the screen.

Returning to the description of FIG. In step S110, the server 50 accepts an SNS selection via the user page.
FIG. 4 illustrates a part of the user page displayed on the screen of the information terminal 20 in the process of step S110. The user page 51 shown in FIG. 4A includes an SNS setting status column 51a that displays a list of SNS currently associated with the printer 30 and users of the SNS. After the user U logs in to the print service in step S100, the user U selects a predetermined menu (for example, a menu such as “SNS print”, see FIG. 4A) in his / her user page. 20 screens can be displayed.

  The SNS setting status column 51a includes an SNS setting button 51b and an SNS setting deletion button 51c. The user can add an SNS to be associated with the printer 30 by operating the SNS setting button 51b, and can operate the SNS setting button 51b to operate the SNS setting button 51b. Linkage can be deleted.

  FIG. 4B is a user page 52 displayed on the screen of the information terminal 20 when the SNS setting button 51b (FIG. 4A) is operated. The user page 52 includes an SNS selection field 52a. In the SNS selection field 52a, a plurality of SNSs (for example, services A, B, C,...) That can be associated with the printer 30 to which the printing system 60 has been registered are listed. The SNS selection field 52a includes a cancel button 52b and a next button 52c. The user U selects the SNS to be linked with the printer 30 by operating the next button 52c while arbitrarily selecting the SNS from the plurality of SNSs displayed in the SNS selection field 52a. It can be confirmed. When the server 50 recognizes the operation of the next button 52c, it accepts that the SNS currently selected in the SNS selection column 52a has been selected.

In step S120, the authentication page provided by the SNS selected in step S110 (the SNS server that realizes the SNS) is displayed on the screen of the information terminal 20.
FIG. 5A illustrates an authentication page 41 displayed on the screen of the information terminal 20 in step S120. For example, when the server 50 of the printing system 60 receives the selection of the SNS in step S110, the user uses the API (Application Programming Interface) used by the server (for example, the SNS server 40) that provides the selected SNS. The authentication page 41 as described above is displayed over the page 52. The authentication page 41 includes a registration information input field 41a, a denial button 41b, and an authentication button 41c.

  In this embodiment, the user U already has registration information (user name and password) of the SNS selected in step S110, and inputs this registration information into the registration information input field 41a (step S130). The user U operates the authentication button 41c when authenticating that the registration information of the SNS is associated with the printer 30, and operates the denial button 41b when denying the association. Such an input operation to the authentication page 41 is notified from the SNS server 40 to the server 50 of the printing system 60. When the server 50 recognizes that the operation of the authentication button 41c has been performed, the registration information of the SNS entered in the registration information input field 41a of the authentication page 41 and the registration of the printer of the user U who has logged in after step S100 are registered. Information is linked (step S140).

  When SNS registration information is input to the registration information input field 41 a of the authentication page 41 and the authentication button 41 c is operated, the screen display of the information terminal 20 returns to the user page 51. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, the SNS setting status column 51a of the user page 51 includes the name (service name) of the SNS for which the association has been completed and the user name (account) of the SNS that has authenticated the association. Has been added. After performing the linking in step S140, the server 50 stores the linking result (linking information) in a database in the printing system 60 (step S150). Note that step S140 and step S150 are processes performed by the function of the linking information holding unit 61. The above is the description of the linking process.

3. Flow from Operation of Social Button to Printing FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing from operation of social button SB by user U to printing. In FIG. 6, the information terminal side processing means processing by the information terminal 20 operated by the user U, the SNS server side processing means processing by the SNS server 40, and the printing system side processing means printing system. 60 (server 50).

  The user U arbitrarily browses the SNS provided by the SNS server 40 via the screen of the information terminal 20 by operating the information terminal 20. During this browsing, when the user U finds a post (content) that he / she wants to print in a page with SNS, he / she operates a social button SB provided corresponding to the post (step S200). The social button SB means a user interface (UI), an icon, or the like that is provided for accepting some evaluation regarding content published on the SNS. The operation of the social button SB is click or tap of the social button SB.

  FIG. 7 illustrates a page 42 with an SNS that the user U browses through the screen of the information terminal 20 in step S200. The page 42 is a page managed on the SNS by a user different from the user U, for example. On the page 42, for example, a plurality of photos (posted images IM) posted by the other user are disclosed. Further, on the page 42, each posted image IM is provided with a social button SB for individually evaluating the posted image IM. In the example of FIG. 7, the social button SB is a UI (like button or like button) written as “Like” for positively evaluating the corresponding posted image IM. The user U can operate the social button SB corresponding to the arbitrarily selected posted image IM.

The SNS server 40 accepts an operation by the user (user U) to the social button SB as described above from the information terminal 20 as needed (step S300).
Next, the SNS server 40 notifies the server 50 of the fact of the operation received in step S300 by the API (step S310).

  The server 50 receives the notification from the SNS server 40 (step S400). The notification from the SNS server 40 includes information for uniquely identifying the posted image IM that has been evaluated by the operation of the social button SB, registration information of the SNS of the user U who has performed the operation of the social button SB, And the information etc. which show the content of operation of the said social button SB (For example, that the like button was tapped once) are contained. Note that the server 50 may inquire of the SNS server 40 about the operation of the social button SB periodically instead of simply waiting for the notification to be transmitted from the SNS server 40. In this case, in response to the inquiry, the SNS server 40 notifies the server 50 of the fact that the social button SB has been accepted since the previous inquiry (step S310). Step S400 is processing by the notification receiving unit 62.

  Next, the server 50 determines whether or not the SNS registration information of the user U included in the notification from the SNS server 40 is associated with the printer with reference to the association information (step S410). The server 50 determines whether or not the registration information of the printer associated with the registration information of the SNS of the user U who has operated the social button SB exists in the association information. When it exists in the said link information, it progresses to step S420, and when it does not exist, the said flowchart is complete | finished. However, the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 (and other flowcharts described later) is repeatedly executed. If the process proceeds to step S420 in the determination of step S410, the printer 30 associated with the registration information of the user U who operated the social button SB can be identified. Step S <b> 410 is processing by the printer specifying unit 63.

  Next, the server 50 acquires, from the SNS server 40, image data representing the posted image IM on which the operation of the notified social button SB has been performed (a type of posted data representing the content of the posting) (step S420). ). The information for uniquely specifying the posted image IM that has been evaluated by the operation of the social button SB included in the notification from the SNS server 40 includes a URL indicating the storage destination of the posted image IM. That is, the image data related to the posted image IM published in the SNS provided by the SNS server 40 is stored in a predetermined database managed by the SNS server 40, and the URL indicating the storage destination is transmitted from the SNS server 40 to the server. 50 is informed. Accordingly, the server 50 accesses the URL and downloads the stored image data. Step S <b> 420 is processing by the posted data acquisition unit 64.

  Next, the server 50 generates print data for printing the posted image IM from the image data acquired in step S420 (step S430). The image data acquired in step S420 is not data in a format that can be received as it is by a printer registered in the printing system 60 and printed. Therefore, the server 50 converts such image data into data in a format that can be printed by the printer. In this case, the server 50 converts the image data into print data described in a so-called PDL (page description language) that can be interpreted by the printer 30 that is the transmission destination of the print data. Alternatively, the server 50 performs so-called color conversion processing and halftone processing on the image data, thereby forming / not forming ink droplets for each ink (ink used by the printer 30) for each pixel constituting the image. Data defining (dot on / dot off) or the like is generated as print data. The printer 30 that is the transmission destination of the print data is, of course, the printer 30 that uniquely indicates the registration information of the printer associated with the registration information of the user SNS included in the notification received in step S400. Step S430 is processing by the print data generation unit 65.

  Next, the server 50 transmits the print data generated in step S430 to the printer 30 that is the transmission destination, thereby causing the printer 30 to print an image based on the print data (step S440). In this case, the server 50 notifies the printer 30 that there is print data to be printed using XMPP. Upon receiving this notification, the printer 30 transmits a request for print data to the server 50 using HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure). According to HTTPS, communication between the printer 30 and the server 50 is encrypted by TLS or SSL. The server 50 that has received this request transmits the print data generated in step S430 to the printer 30 using HTTPS. As a result, the posted image IM is printed based on the print data by the printer 30 owned by the user U. Step S440 is processing by the print instruction unit 66.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the printing system 60 associates the printer 30 (printer registration information) with the SNS registration information of the user U registered in the SNS provided by the SNS server 40. It holds date information. When the user U (information terminal 20) operates the social button SB that evaluates the posted image IM published in the SNS provided by the SNS server 40, the SNS of the user U who has operated the social button SB. The printer 30 associated with the registered information is identified with reference to the association information. Then, it is assumed that image data representing the posted image IM on which the operation of the social button SB is performed is acquired, print data is generated from the image data, and is transmitted to the specified printer 30.

  That is, when the user U finds a favorite posted image IM while enjoying the SNS via the information terminal 20, the user U clicks or taps the social button SB provided corresponding to the posted image IM. The post image IM can be printed by the printer 30 (the printer 30 registered in the printing system 60). This is because, as in the prior art, the content to be printed is temporarily downloaded to its own information terminal, and a printing application software is separately started on the information terminal (first method), or an application for printing exclusively for SNS Compared with a method (second method) in which software or the like is installed in advance on the information terminal and contents in the SNS are searched and printed using the installed application software or the like (second method), the burden on the user is remarkably reduced. Is. In addition, since the user can easily use the SNS (printing the posted image IM published to the SNS), the use of the print service by the printing system 60 is expected to spread to more users. Is done. Further, the image data related to the posted image IM is not downloaded to the information terminal 20 used by the user, but is transmitted in the form of print data and encrypted to the printer 30 included in the association information. Therefore, unauthorized copying of the posted image IM can be prevented.

4). Modifications The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the invention.
The “post” to the SNS in the present embodiment includes a document such as text in addition to the image (posted image IM). Therefore, when it is said that the posting is printed by the printer, it includes printing the posted document and printing the posted image and the document in addition to printing the posted image. When printing a posted document, the posted data acquired by the posted data acquisition unit 64 from the SNS is text data of the document.
In the present embodiment, for example, the following modifications are possible. The contents appropriately combined with the above-described embodiments and the following modifications are also included in the disclosure scope of the present invention. Further, in the following description, the description overlapping with what has already been described will be omitted as appropriate.

Modification 1:
A post made to the SNS provided by the SNS server 40 (for example, a post image IM published in the SNS) may receive a stepwise evaluation according to an operation on the corresponding social button SB. For example, the user U can give points to the posted image IM by the number of times the social button SB corresponding to the posted image IM is clicked or tapped.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of a page 43 with an SNS that the user U browses through the screen of the information terminal 20 in step S200 (FIG. 6), which is different from the page 42 shown in FIG. A plurality of posted images IM are published on the page 43 as in FIG. The user U can give an arbitrary score to the posted image IM by operating a social button SB (not shown in FIG. 8) for individually evaluating the posted image IM. On the page 43, the score given by the user U for each post image IM is displayed as the number of stars. For example, a maximum of five stars can be given for each posted image IM, and the greater the number of stars, the higher the user U's evaluation for the posted image IM. Of course, the score given by the user U for each posted image IM may be displayed with a mark other than a star, or may be displayed with a number.

  FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of printing system side processing according to the first modification. In the first modification, the printing system side process shown in FIG. 9 is executed instead of the printing system side process shown in FIG. The printing system side processing shown in FIG. 9 is different from the printing system side processing shown in FIG. 6 in that step S405 is added. In step S405, the server 50 determines whether or not the posted image IM on which the operation indicated by the notification from the SNS server 40 received in step S400 has been evaluated above a predetermined standard. Since the notification from the SNS server 40 includes information indicating the content of the operation of the social button SB with respect to a certain posted image IM, if the information indicates an evaluation equal to or higher than the predetermined standard (step If “Yes” in step S405), the process proceeds to step S410. If the evaluation is not equal to or higher than the predetermined standard (“No” in step S405), the flowchart ends.

  When it is assumed that the predetermined standard is “80% of the highest score (for example, 5 points)”, information indicating the content of the operation of the social button SB (for example, the number of taps of the social button SB) is 80% or more. If the score (for example, four or more taps) is indicated, “Yes” is determined in step S405. Note that the timing for determining whether or not the posted image IM has received an evaluation equal to or higher than the predetermined reference is not necessarily limited to the timing illustrated in FIG. 9, but after the determination of the presence / absence of the association (after step S410). But you can. In any case, in Modification 1, when the posted image IM on which the operation indicated by the notification from the SNS server 40 received in step S400 has been evaluated is more than the predetermined standard, the posted image IM Acquisition of image data according to (Step S420) can be performed. According to the first modification, printing is performed only on the posted image IM that is highly evaluated among the posted images IM evaluated on the SNS page by the user U, so that a printing result that is truly valuable to the user U is provided. Can do.

  Further, as a mode derived from the first modification, popularity voting (a kind of stepwise evaluation) from a large number of users of the SNS is obtained for each posted image IM published on the SNS, and the result of the voting is predetermined. You may make it print the contribution image IM which is more than a reference | standard. For example, the page 43 (FIG. 8) is a page that publishes a plurality of posted images IM that have been submitted for accepting votes. The SNS server 40 obtains the owner (exhibitor) for each posted image IM that has been exhibited as information. In addition, the server 50 preliminarily links information (exhibitor--) with an exhibitor for each posted image IM and registration information of a printer (printer to which print data is transmitted) for actually printing the posted image IM. Assume that the printer association information is obtained. Here, for the sake of simplicity, the posted images IM published on the page 43 are all works exhibited by the user U, and the user U who is the exhibitor of these posted images IM and the printer 30 of the user U (FIG. 1). Assume that they are tied.

  In such a situation, the SNS server 40 votes each posted image IM published on the page 43 for each operation by the user to the social button SB corresponding to each posted image IM for a certain period of time, for example. One vote is accepted. The voting result (the number of votes) for each posted image IM is notified from the SNS server 40 to the server 50 together with the seller information for each posted image IM, and the server 50 receives the notification (step S400). Next, the server 50 extracts a posted image IM whose number of votes is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference (step S405). The server 50 extracts a posted image IM that has received a vote of a reference number (for example, 100 votes) or more, or extracts a posted image IM having the largest number of votes. In step S410, the printer associated with the seller of the extracted posted image IM is specified with reference to the seller-printer association information.

  Thereafter, through steps S420 to S440, the posted image IM whose number of votes is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference is printed by the printer 30 associated with the exhibitor (user U) of the posted image IM. According to the said structure, the said exhibitor can obtain the printing result of the contribution image IM which acquired high evaluation from many users of SNS. In addition, when the server 50 generates print data related to the posted image IM whose number of votes is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference (step S430), for example, a stamp such as “very popular!”, “XX contest winner”, etc. The image may be generated after being superimposed on the posted image IM. As a result, it is possible to provide a printing result that can be recognized at a glance that the popularity vote has been highly evaluated.

Modification 2:
The concept of the social button SB includes a UI and an icon for notifying other users registered in the SNS of a post (for example, a post image IM). For example, a retweet button RTB for retweeting is a kind of such a social button SB. Retweeting refers to an act of transmitting information to a follower (another user who is set to view his / her posts) in SNS.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of a page 44 with SNS that the user U browses through the screen of the information terminal 20 in step S200 (FIG. 6), which is different from the pages 42 and 43 shown in FIGS. Yes. A plurality of posted images IM are published on the page 44 as in FIGS. On the page 44, a retweet button RTB is provided corresponding to the posted image IM. The user U can retweet the post image IM (notify the post image IM to the follower) by operating a retweet button RTB provided corresponding to the post image IM.

  Even when the user U operates the retweet button RTB on the screen of the information terminal 20, the SNS server 40 accepts the operation (step S300) and notifies the server 50 of the fact of the accepted operation by the API ( Step S310). Thereby, the server 50 receives a notification that the retweet button RTB has been operated for a certain posted image IM (step S400). That is, in the modified example 2, in the server 50, the operation indicated by the notification from the SNS server 40 received in step S400 is a social button SB for notifying other users registered in the SNS of the posted image IM (for example, Even when it is detected that the operation is for the retweet button RTB), acquisition of image data related to the posted image IM (step S420) can be performed. According to the second modification, the user U can obtain the print result of the posted image IM that is so valuable as to be notified to other users simply by operating the social button SB (for example, the retweet button RTB). it can.

Modification 3:
FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of printing system side processing according to the third modification. However, for the sake of simplicity, FIG. 11 shows only a part of the printing system side processing, and the processing of FIG. 11 is performed after the processing up to step S420 (FIGS. 6 and 9) already described. The server 50 stores the post data acquired in step S420 (for example, image data representing the post image IM) in a predetermined storage area (step S422). At this time, the server 50 stores the image data in association with the printer that is the transmission destination of the print data (registration information of the printer 30 specified in step S410). In other words, the server 50 temporarily pools the image data acquired through the processing up to step S420, instead of setting it as an immediate printing target. Step S <b> 422 is processing performed by the post data holding unit 67. Alternatively, the storage area for storing the image data as described above may be referred to as a post data holding unit 67.

  Further, the server 50 determines whether or not the selection for any of the image data stored in step S422 has been accepted (step S424). If the selection has been accepted (“Yes” in step S424), the server 50 proceeds to step S430. If the selection is not accepted (“No” in step S424), the flowchart is finished. Step S424 is processing by the selection receiving unit 68. In step S430, the server 50 generates print data from the image data related to the selection received in step S424 (image data to be printed).

  FIG. 12 shows an example of a user page 53 provided by the server 50 displayed on the screen of the information terminal 20. The user page 53 is the same as the user pages 51 and 52 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the user U (the user of the printer 30 registered in the printing system 60) operates the information terminal 20 to log in to the print service. Part of the displayed user page. In the user page 53, an image represented by a plurality of currently stored image data (image data stored in step S422) associated with the registration information of the printer to which the user page 53 corresponds is displayed in a reduced state, for example. (Reduced version of posted image MI). A check box CB for the user to arbitrarily select the image data of each posted image IM is provided in the vicinity of the reduced posted image IM. The user page 53 includes a print button 53a, a delete button 53b, a cancel button 53c, and the like. The display control unit 69 is responsible for generating and displaying the user page 53.

  The user U who operates the information terminal 20 selects the check box CB in the vicinity of the posted image IM displayed on the user page 53 as desired and operates the print button 53a to check it. It is possible to confirm the selection of the image data of the posted image IM being (selected). When the server 50 recognizes the operation of the print button 53a, it accepts the selection of the image data at that time (“Yes” in step S424). In addition, the user U arbitrarily selects the image data displayed on the user page 53 by operating the check box CB, and operates the delete button 53b to select the image data selected at that time. Deletion can be confirmed. When the server 50 recognizes the operation of the delete button 53b, it deletes the currently selected image data from the storage area. However, when the server 50 recognizes the operation of the print button 53a, the user page 53 is selected from among a plurality of image data currently stored in association with the registration information of the corresponding printer. Other image data may be automatically deleted from the storage area.

  As illustrated in FIG. 12, in the user page 53, each posted image IM represented by each currently stored image data associated with the registration information of the printer to which the user page 53 corresponds, and each posted image IM The contents of the evaluation by operating the social button SB corresponding to (for example, the star shown in FIG. 8) may be included. By displaying the specific evaluation regarding such an image together, the user U can efficiently select an image to be printed.

  As described above, according to the third modification, the image data of the posted image IM acquired by the server 50 in response to the operation of the social button SB corresponding to the posted image IM published on the SNS is temporarily pooled, and the pool The image data to be printed is selected again by the user U from the image data thus obtained. Therefore, it is preferable for a user who frequently operates the social button SB for various posted images IM in the SNS, which helps to reduce the number of printed sheets. Further, when the user U operates the social button SB without intending to print the posted image IM, it is possible to avoid an inconvenience that an unintended printed matter is output.

  However, the user U may want to enjoy the convenience that a printed matter can be obtained simply by operating the social button SB corresponding to the posted image IM while browsing the SNS. For such a user U, the operation of selecting an image via the user page 53 is a burden. Therefore, at the time of registration processing of the printer 30 in the printing system 60, the server 50 performs printing (pool printing) to which the modification 3 is applied to the user U of the printer 30, or FIG. Is set, and the setting is stored in the registration information of the printer 30. When the server 50 acquires the image data (step S420), the server 50 refers to the registration information of the printer 30 that is the transmission destination of the print data and determines whether pool printing or direct printing is set. If pool printing is set, pool printing is executed, and if direct printing is set, direct printing is executed.

Modification 4:
FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of printing system side processing according to the fourth modification. However, FIG. 13 shows only a part of the printing system side processing for the sake of simplicity, and the processing of FIG. 13 is performed after step S400 (FIGS. 6 and 9) already described. After receiving the notification from the SNS server 40 in step S400, the server 50 requests the user U who has operated the notified social button SB to issue a print permission instruction using a predetermined communication function. (Step S402). In addition to directly requesting the print permission, the print permission instruction may request whether or not the print permission is indirectly made by requesting a print non-permission instruction. Step S402 is processing by the instruction request unit 70. As the communication function referred to here, for example, a function of executing posting to the SNS through the Internet or a function of transmitting an e-mail can be considered.

When requesting the instruction by posting to the SNS, the server 50 extracts the user U account (@example (see FIG. 5B)) from the registration information of the user SNS included in the notification received in step S400. Then, the extracted account is designated as a destination, and a posting for requesting the instruction is made (step S402). At this time, the server 50 generates a character string that uniquely identifies the posted image IM to be checked for whether or not to permit printing, and includes the generated character string in the post. For example, the server 50
“If you print @example, reply with this hashtag # AJS8DX62DL”
Post a document like this to SNS. # AJS8DX62DL corresponds to a character string that uniquely identifies the posted image IM to be checked.

  The SNS server 40 accepts such a post. Further, the user U can view such a post from the server 50 by operating the information terminal 20. When the user U permits printing, the user U makes a reply (reply) including the character string # AJS8DX62DL, for example, “@printservice # AJS8DX62DL” using the SNS, and does not permit printing. In that case, the reply is not made.

  When requesting the instruction by electronic mail, the server 50 designates the electronic mail address of the user U already registered in the printing system 60 as a destination, and transmits an electronic mail for requesting the instruction (step). S402). During registration processing of the printer 30 in the printing system 60, the server 50 causes the user U of the printer 30 to set an email address that the user U has, and uses the set email address as registration information of the printer 30. It is assumed that they have been saved. Accordingly, in step S402, the server 50 registers the printer 30 associated with the SNS registration information based on the SNS registration information of the user U and the association information included in the notification received in step S400. Extract information. Then, an e-mail for requesting the instruction is transmitted to the e-mail address of the user U included in the extracted registration information of the printer 30.

  At this time, the server 50 includes a URL (for example, https://www.print.example.com/) that includes a character string AJS8DX62DL that uniquely identifies a posted image IM that is a target of confirmation of whether or not to permit printing. ? id = AJS8DX62DL), and the generated URL is included in the e-mail text. The user U receives such an e-mail with a mailer installed in the information terminal 20. The user U clicks (or taps) the URL included in the e-mail from the server 50 when printing is permitted, and does not click (or tap) the URL when printing is not permitted.

  The server 50 determines whether or not there is a print permission instruction for the request in step S402 (step S404). If there is a print permission instruction (“Yes” in step S404), the server 50 performs subsequent processing in the printing system side processing. Step (step S410 in FIG. 6 or step S405 in FIG. 9) is completed, and if there is no instruction to permit printing (“No” in step S404), the flowchart is ended. The print permission instruction is a reply by SNS including the character string # AJS8DX62DL or a click (or tap) of a URL (URL including the character string AJS8DX62DL) included in the e-mail. The server 50 may perform the determination in step S404 continuously for a certain period of time, and if the server does not recognize the print permission instruction during that time, it may be considered that there is no print permission instruction. Further, when requesting the instruction by e-mail in step S402, the server 50 has made the same determination as in step S410 (FIGS. 6 and 9), so after the determination of “Yes” in step S404, the step S410 (FIGS. 6 and 9) can be skipped. Of course, in the process of requesting the instruction by e-mail in step S402, the registration information of the printer 30 associated with the registration information of the user SNS included in the notification received in step S400 is obtained from the association information. If not, the flowchart ends at that point.

When requesting the instruction from the user U, the server 50 may also request the user U to set printing conditions. Here, the setting of the printing conditions includes, for example, selection of paper size, selection of color printing / monochrome printing, selection of bordered printing / borderless printing, and the like. For example, when requesting the instruction by e-mail, the server 50 is a URL that uniquely specifies a posted image IM that is a target of confirmation as to whether or not printing is permitted, and that is different for each printing condition as follows: Such a plurality of URLs are written together in the e-mail.
https://www.print.example.com/?id=AJS8DX62DL&fuchi=0
https://www.print.example.com/?id=AJS8DX62DL&fuchi=1
These two types of URLs indicate whether the character string of fuchi = 0 and fuchi = 1 is a borderless print or a bordered print. When the user U clicks (or taps) one of the plurality of URLs, the printing conditions corresponding to the clicked (or tapped) URL are set. The server 50 that has recognized the click (or tap) for any of the plurality of URLs included in the e-mail recognizes the print permission setting corresponding to the clicked (or tapped) URL, and the setting of the printing conditions. In the process (steps S430 and S440), the set printing conditions are observed.

  According to the modification 4, the user U who operates the social button SB corresponding to the post made to the SNS (for example, the post image IM published to the SNS) is permitted / denied to print the post image IM. When the user U's intention to confirm and permit printing can be confirmed, acquisition of image data related to the posted image IM (step S420) can be performed. Therefore, it is possible to avoid execution of printing that is not permitted by the user U (highly likely to be wasted). However, the user U may want to enjoy the convenience that a printed matter can be obtained simply by operating the social button SB corresponding to the posted image IM while browsing the SNS. For such a user U, the operation of instructing permission of printing in response to a request from the server 50 is a burden. Therefore, at the time of registration processing of the printer 30 in the printing system 60, the server 50 performs printing for the user U of the printer 30 (confirmation printing), printing for which the modification 4 is not applied (direct printing, (Pool printing) is set, and this setting is included in the registration information of the printer 30 and stored.

  As described above, in the aspect in which any one of confirmation printing, direct printing, and pool printing is set in advance in the registration information of the printer 30, the server 50 makes a determination equivalent to step S410 after step S400 and print data. It is necessary to determine the presence / absence and contents of registration information of the printer 30 serving as the transmission destination (settings such as confirmation printing, direct printing, and pool printing). Then, the subsequent processing (one of confirmation printing, direct printing, and pool printing. However, the determination in step S410 is skipped thereafter) according to the determination result. In consideration of practicality, it can be said that either one of confirmation printing (Modification 4) and pool printing (Modification 3) is employed, but a mode combining these is excluded from the scope of the present invention. do not have to. That is, the server 50 confirms the permission of printing of the posted image IM using the SNS or e-mail to the user U who has operated the social button SB corresponding to the posted image IM (Modification 4), and then once. The image data to be printed may be selected from the image data of the posted image IM that has been pooled (Modification 3).

Modification 5:
The server 50 uses the predetermined communication function for the user U who operates the social button SB corresponding to the posted image IM (the information terminal 20 operated by the user U), and the progress of processing related to printing the posted image IM May be notified. The communication function here is as described in the fourth modification. The progress status means, for example, that it is determined that there is a printer 30 associated with the registration information of the user SNS (that is, the request for printing the posted image IM by the operation of the social button SB is accepted), or conversely An error occurred in determining that there is no printer 30 associated with the SNS registration information of the user U (not accepting a print request for the posted image IM by the operation of the social button SB), or obtaining image data For example, an error has occurred in the generation and transmission of print data, and the transmission of print data to the printer 30 has been completed.

  As an example, after receiving the notification from the SNS server 40 in step S400, the server 50 posts the progress to the SNS provided by the SNS server 40 at various timings. At this time, the server 50 designates the SNS account (@example (see FIG. 5B)) of the user U as the destination and posts the progress status. The SNS server 40 accepts such posting (step S320 in FIG. 6). In addition, the user U can browse such a post from the server 50 by operating the information terminal 20 (step S210 in FIG. 6). According to such a configuration, the user U who has operated the social button SB corresponding to the posted image IM can know the progress of processing related to printing of the posted image IM caused by the operation via the information terminal 20. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... System, 20 ... Information terminal, 30 ... Printer, 40 ... SNS server, 41 ... Authentication page, 41a ... Registration information input column, 41b ... Denial button, 41c ... Authentication button, 42, 43, 44 ... SNS page 50, server, 51, 52, 53 ... user page, 51a ... SNS setting status column, 51b ... SNS setting button, 51c ... SNS setting deletion button, 52a ... SNS selection column, 52b ... cancel button, 52c ... next button 53a ... Print button, 53b ... Delete button, 53c ... Cancel button, 60 ... Printing system, 61 ... Linking information holding unit, 62 ... Notification receiving unit, 63 ... Printer specifying unit, 64 ... Post data acquisition unit, 65 ... Print data generation unit, 66 ... print instruction unit, 67 ... post data holding unit, 68 ... selection reception unit, 69 ... display control unit 70 ... instruction request section, CB ... check box, IM ... posted, IN ... Internet, RTB ... rate Eat button, SB ... social buttons

Claims (7)

A printing system that prints posts made to social networking services,
A linking information holding unit for holding linking information that links a printer and registration information of a user registered in the social networking service;
A notification receiving unit that receives notifications from the social networking service regarding operations performed on social buttons for individually evaluating the posts in the social networking service;
A printer identifying unit that identifies a printer associated with registration information of a user who has operated the social button with reference to the association information;
A post data acquisition unit for acquiring post data representing the content of a post operated on the social button from the social networking service;
A printing system comprising: a printing instruction unit that causes the specified printer to print the posted data. Posts made to the social networking service are subject to a gradual evaluation according to the operation to the corresponding social button,
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the posting data acquisition unit acquires the posting data of the posting when the posting for which the notified operation is performed receives an evaluation equal to or higher than a predetermined standard. .   The posted data acquisition unit is configured to detect the operation when the operation to the social button for notifying other users registered in the social networking service of the posting made to the social networking service is detected. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein post data of a post that has been made is acquired. A post data holding unit for holding the acquired post data;
A selection accepting unit that accepts a selection as to whether or not the post data held is to be printed,
4. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print instruction unit causes the specified printer to execute printing of post data to be printed. 5.   5. The display control unit according to claim 4, further comprising: a display control unit configured to display a posted content represented by the stored posted data and a content of evaluation by the operation corresponding to the posted content on a screen of an information terminal. Printing system. An instruction requesting unit for requesting an instruction to permit printing using a predetermined communication function for the user who has performed the notified operation;
The post data acquisition unit acquires post data of a post for which the notified operation has been performed when there is an instruction to permit printing in response to the request. The printing system in any one of. A print server that prints posts made to social networking services,
A linking information holding unit for holding linking information that links a printer and registration information of a user registered in the social networking service;
A notification receiving unit that receives notifications from the social networking service regarding operations performed on social buttons for individually evaluating the posts in the social networking service;
A printer identifying unit that identifies a printer associated with registration information of a user who has operated the social button with reference to the association information;
A post data acquisition unit for acquiring post data representing the content of a post operated on the social button from the social networking service;
And a print instruction unit that causes the specified printer to print the posted data.

Images