JP6911470B2 - Programs, information processing terminals, and printing systems - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a program of an information processing terminal that prints an image on a print medium.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a program of an information processing terminal that edits an image printed on a communication surface of a postcard. More specifically, the program described in Patent Document 1 causes a user to select one of a plurality of template images, allows the user to edit the selected template image, and uses the edited template image as a communication surface of a postcard. The printer can be made to perform the printing operation of recording in the template.

Further, in recent years, as described in Patent Document 2, for example, a technique of printing a QR code (registered trademark) indicating a URL for accessing content data on the Internet on a printing medium has become widespread. Then, by reading the QR code printed on the print medium with the camera of the mobile terminal and extracting the URL from the read QR code, it is possible to access the content data on the Internet indicated by the URL.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-081299 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-078071

The technique described in Patent Document 2 is based on the premise that content data accessible through the QR code has been uploaded on the Internet prior to generating the QR code to be printed on the print medium. However, the person who accesses the content data through the QR code is the person who acquired the print medium, and the content data may not be ready at the time of creating the print medium. Such a problem becomes particularly remarkable in a printing medium such as a New Year's card, in which it takes time for the postcard to reach the destination after the image to be recorded on the communication surface is created and printed on the postcard.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is information processing capable of printing an information holding image for accessing the content data on a print medium prior to uploading the content data. It is to provide terminal programs.

Various disclosures are made herein. The program, which is one of the disclosure examples, can be executed by an information processing terminal including an input interface and a communication interface. The program receives the instruction operation for instructing the generation of the information holding image that holds the address information indicating the memory area of the server through the input interface, and the instruction operation is received in the first reception process. Correspondingly, the first transmission process of transmitting the issuance request information requesting the issuance of the provisional address information, which is the address information indicating the memory area of the first server, to the first server through the communication interface, and the communication. A first reception process of receiving the provisional address information from the first server through the interface as a response to the issuance request information, and a first generation process of generating the information holding image holding the provisional address information were generated. The information processing terminal is made to execute a print instruction process of transmitting print instruction information for printing the information holding image on a print medium to a printer through the communication interface. After executing the print instruction process, the program accepts a user operation for designating the address information, which is the address information indicating the memory area of the second server in which the content data is stored, through the input interface. The information processing terminal is subjected to a second transmission process of transmitting the reception process and the registration request information instructing to store the provisional address information and the present address information in association with each other to the first server through the communication interface. Let it run.

According to the above configuration, after printing the information holding image holding the provisional address information on the print medium, the present address information indicating the memory area in which the content data is stored may be registered in association with the provisional address information. That is, the information holding image can be printed on the print medium even if the content data is not prepared at the time of creating the print medium.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the printing system 100 according to the embodiment. FIG. 2A shows a block diagram of the information processing terminal 50, and FIG. 2B shows a block diagram of the New Year's card server 70. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an example of an album list stored in the memory 62, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing an example of a URL list stored in the memory 82. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the communication surface editing process. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the stamp composition process. FIG. 6A is a flowchart of the provisional URL acquisition process, and FIG. 6B is a flowchart of the print URL notification process. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the status notification process. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the URL registration process. 9A and 9B are display examples of the display 53, in which FIG. 9A shows a template selection screen and FIG. 9B shows a template editing screen. 10A and 10B are display examples of the display 53, in which FIG. 10A shows a stamp selection screen 130 and FIG. 10B shows an album selection screen 140. 11A and 11B are display examples of the display 53, in which FIG. 11A shows an issue confirmation screen 150 and FIG. 11B shows a stamp edit screen. 12A and 12B are display examples of the display 53, in which FIG. 12A shows an issue confirmation screen 170 and FIG. 12B shows a registration notification screen 180.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. It goes without saying that the embodiments described below are merely examples of the present invention, and the embodiments of the present invention can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a printing system 100 according to the present embodiment. The printing system 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a printer 10, an information processing terminal 50, a New Year's card server 70, and an album server 90. The printer 10, the information processing terminal 50, the New Year's card server 70, and the album server 90 can communicate with each other via a communication network. Specific examples of the communication network are not particularly limited, but may be, for example, the Internet 101, a wired LAN, a wireless LAN 102, or a combination thereof.

The printer 10 and the information processing terminal 50 belong to the wireless LAN 102. That is, the printer 10 and the information processing terminal 50 can communicate with each other via an access point (not shown) of the wireless LAN 102. Further, the wireless LAN 102 is connected to the Internet 101 through the router 102A. Further, the New Year's card server 70 and the album server 90 are connected to the Internet 101. That is, the printer 10 and the information processing terminal 50 can communicate with the New Year's card server 70 and the album server 90 from the router 102A via the Internet 101.

The printer 10 executes a printing operation of printing an image represented by image data on a sheet. As the printing technique of the printer 10, known techniques such as an inkjet technique and an electrophotographic technique can be adopted. Since the specific configuration of the printer 10 is well known, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the information processing terminal 50 mainly includes a display 53, an input I / F 54, a communication I / F 55, a CPU 61, a memory 62, and a communication bus 63. The components constituting the information processing terminal 50 are connected to each other through the communication bus 63. The information processing terminal 50 is, for example, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a PC, or the like. More specifically, the display 53 of the information processing terminal 50 preferably has a display screen size of 12 inches or less, more preferably 8 inches or less.

The display 53 is a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like, and includes a display screen for displaying various information. The display 53 is an example of the notification unit. However, the specific example of the notification unit is not limited to the display 53, and may be a speaker, an LED lamp, a vibrator, or a combination thereof.

The input I / F 54 is a user interface that accepts input operations by the user. Specifically, the input I / F 54 has a button, and outputs various operation signals associated with the pressed button to the CPU 61. Further, the input I / F 54 may have a film-like touch sensor superimposed on the display surface of the display 53. The operation of designating an object displayed on the display surface of the display 53 and the operation of inputting a character string or a number string are examples of user operations. The “object” is, for example, a character string, an icon, a button, a link, a radio button, a check box, a pull-down menu, or the like displayed on the display 53.

The input I / F 54 realized as a touch sensor outputs position information indicating a position on the display surface touched by the user. The term "touch" in the present specification includes all operations of bringing the input medium into contact with the display surface. Further, "hover" or "floating touch" that brings the input medium close to a position where the distance between the input medium and the display surface is very small even if the input medium does not touch the display surface is used as the above-mentioned concept of "touch". May be included. Further, the input medium may be a user's finger, a touch pen, or the like. The user operation of tapping the position of the object displayed on the display 53 is an example of the user operation of designating the object.

The communication I / F 55 is an example of a first communication interface capable of communicating with an external device through a communication network. That is, the information processing terminal 50 transmits various information to the external device through the communication I / F55, and receives various information from the external device through the communication I / F55. The specific communication procedure of the communication I / F 55 is not particularly limited, but for example, Wi-Fi (registered trademark) can be adopted.

The CPU 61 controls the overall operation of the information processing terminal 50. The CPU 61 acquires various programs to be described later from the memory 62 and executes them based on various information output from the input I / F 54, various information received from the external device through the communication I / F 55, and the like. The CPU 61 and the memory 62 constitute an example of the first controller.

The memory 62 stores the OS 64, the postcard program 65, and the URL management program 66. The postcard program 65 and the URL management program 66 may be a single program or a collection of a plurality of programs. Further, the memory 62 stores data or information necessary for executing the postcard program 65 and the URL management program 66. The memory 62 is composed of, for example, a RAM, a ROM, an EEPROM, an HDD, a portable storage medium such as a USB memory attached to and detached from the printer 10, a buffer included in the CPU 61, or a combination thereof.

The memory 62 may be a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium is a non-transitory medium. In addition to the above examples, the non-transitory medium also includes a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM. The non-transitory medium is also a tangible medium. On the other hand, the electric signal that carries the program downloaded from the server on the Internet 101 is a signal medium that can be read by a computer, which is a kind of medium that can be read by a computer, but can be read by a non-transitory computer. Not included in the storage medium. The same applies to the memory 82 of the New Year's card server 70, which will be described later.

The OS 64 may be, for example, Windows (registered trademark) Operating System, Android (registered trademark) OS, iOS (registered trademark), or the like. The OS 64 can execute a plurality of programs installed in the information processing terminal 50 in parallel. A plurality of programs are virtually executed in parallel by a time division multiplexing method, for example. Further, the OS 64 executes one of a plurality of programs executed in parallel in the foreground, and executes the other programs in the background. The foreground is, for example, a state in which the screen generated by the program is displayed on the display 53. The background is, for example, a state in which the screen generated by the program is not displayed on the display 53.

The postcard program 65 is a program that causes the printer 10 to perform a printing operation of generating an image to be recorded on the address side and the communication side of the postcard according to a user's instruction and printing the generated image on the postcard. The URL management program 66 is an example of an external program that uploads content data to the album server 90 on the Internet 101 and manages the address information of the content data stored in the album server 90. The content data refers to, for example, image data, photo data, moving image data, HTML data, and the like. The address information is, for example, URL-formatted information.

The memory 62 can store the album list shown in FIG. 3A. The album list contains one or more album records. The album record includes name information and an album URL. The URL management program 66 registers an album record including the album URL notified from the album server 90 and the name information input by the user through the input I / F 54 in the album list.

Further, the memory 62 can store template image data (not shown). The template image data indicates a template image printed on the communication surface of the postcard. The template image is a rectangular image that substantially matches the size of the postcard. In this embodiment, an example of a template image printed on the communication surface of a New Year's card will be described, but the use of the template image is not limited to this, and can be applied to, for example, summer greeting cards, Christmas cards, and the like. Postcards and Christmas cards are examples of print media. However, specific examples of print media are not limited to these, and any envelope, leaflet, or any other material capable of printing an image is applicable.

Further, the memory 62 can store symbol stamp data (not shown). The symbol stamp data is image data indicating a symbol stamp which is an example of a symbol image. The design stamp is, for example, an image showing a zodiac sign, a pictogram, or the like. In addition to the design stamp, the stamp includes a QR stamp which is an example of an information holding image. The symbol stamp and the QR stamp (these may be collectively referred to as "stamp") are images that can be combined on the template image, and the image size is smaller than that of the template image.

The symbol stamp is an image showing a symbol whose meaning and content can be visually recognized. On the other hand, the QR stamp is an image representing a QR code (registered trademark), and it is extremely difficult to visually recognize the meaning and content. The QR stamp is an image that holds a URL indicating an album area secured on the album server 90. More specifically, a QR stamp is an image that retains information that can be extracted by programmatically performing image processing after being optically read by a camera. The specific example of the information holding image is not limited to the QR code, and may be Data Matorix or the like. In other words, the information holding image may be an image representing a so-called two-dimensional bar code.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the New Year's card server 70 mainly includes a communication I / F 75, a CPU 81, a memory 82, and a communication bus 83. The communication I / F 75, CPU 81, memory 82, and communication bus 83 included in the New Year's card server 70 have the same configuration as the communication I / F 55, CPU 61, memory 62, and communication bus 63 included in the information processing terminal 50. , The description is omitted. The New Year's card server 70 is an example of the first server, and the communication I / F75 is an example of the second communication interface. The CPU 81 and the memory 82 are examples of the second controller, and the memory 82 is an example of the server memory.

The memory 82 stores the OS 84 and the server program 85. The server program 85 has, for example, a redirect function that notifies the information processing terminal 50 that intends to access the memory area indicated by the provisional URL described later of the album URL associated with the provisional URL, and an album corresponding to the provisional URL. It has a push notification function that prompts the registration of a URL or the registration of content data in the album area indicated by the album URL. The server program 85 may be, for example, a collection of a plurality of programs for each of the above-mentioned functions. Further, the New Year's card server 70 may be composed of, for example, a plurality of servers for each of the above-mentioned functions.

Further, the memory 82 stores the URL list shown in FIG. 3 (B). The URL list contains one or more URL records. The URL record includes, for example, a terminal ID and at least one of a provisional URL and an album URL. The terminal ID is information (for example, MAC address) that uniquely identifies the information processing terminal 50 connected to the New Year's card server 70. The provisional URL is an example of provisional address information indicating the memory area of the memory 82 of the New Year's card server 70. The album URL is an example of this address information indicating the memory area of the album server 90. The album URL and the provisional URL are examples of address information.

The URL includes, for example, server identification information and memory identification information. The server identification information is a so-called domain name that identifies the servers 70 and 90 on the Internet 101. In the present embodiment, the New Year's card server 70 is identified by the server identification information "www.server-a.com", and the album server 90 is identified by the server identification information "www.server-b.com". The memory identification information is a so-called folder name that identifies the memory areas of the servers 70 and 90 identified by the server identification information.

The album server 90 functions as, for example, a storage server and a WEB server. The album server 90 is an example of a second server. The album server 90 sets a new album area in response to a request from the URL management program 66 to secure a memory area (hereinafter, may be referred to as an “album area”) for storing content data. The URL management program 66 is notified of the album URL that is secured in the memory and indicates the secured album area. Further, the album server 90 stores the uploaded content data in the album area indicated by the designated album URL in response to the fact that the content data is uploaded by designating the album URL from the URL management program 66. That is, the content data may or may not be stored in the album area in the memory.

[Operation of printing system 100]
The operation of the printing system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8.

[Communication surface editing process]
First, the postcard program 65 executed in the foreground causes the template selection screen shown in FIG. 9A to be displayed on the display 53 (S11). The template selection screen includes a plurality of template icons 111, 112, 113, 114. The template icons 111 to 114 correspond to one of a plurality of template image data stored in the memory 62. Then, the postcard program 65 accepts the user operation on the template selection screen through the input I / F 54 (S12).

Next, the postcard program 65 stores the template image data associated with the designated template icon 113 in the memory 62, for example, in response to receiving the designation of the template icon 113 through the input I / F 54 (S12: Yes). Read from. Next, the postcard program 65 causes the template editing screen shown in FIG. 9B to be displayed on the display 53 instead of the template selection screen (S13). Then, the postcard program 65 accepts the user operation on the template edit screen through the input I / F 54 (S14).

The template editing screen includes a template image 121, a font icon 123, a stamp icon 124, a [save] icon 125, and a [print] icon 126. The template image 121 is an image indicated by the read template image data. The font icon 123 corresponds to an instruction to switch the font (for example, Gothic font, Mincho font, etc.) of the characters included in the template image 121. The stamp icon 124 corresponds to an instruction to select a stamp to be combined with the template image 121. The [Save] icon 125 corresponds to an instruction to store the edited template image data in the memory 62. The [Print] icon 126 corresponds to an instruction to print the edited template image 121 on the communication surface of the postcard.

Next, the postcard program 65 executes the stamp composition process in response to the designation of the stamp icon 124 being received through the input I / F 54 (S14: stamp) (S15). The stamp composition process is a process of synthesizing a stamp on the template image 121. The details of the stamp composition process will be described with reference to FIG.

[Stamp composition process]
First, the postcard program 65 causes the stamp selection screen 130 shown in FIG. 10A to be displayed on the display 53 instead of the template editing screen. The stamp selection screen 130 includes a switching tab 131 in the selected state, a switching tab 132 in the non-selected state, and stamp icons 133, 134, 135, and 136. The stamp icons 133 to 136 correspond to one of the symbol stamp data stored in the memory 62. The stamp selection screen 130 according to the present embodiment is a pop-up window that is superimposed on the stamp editing screen described later. The same applies to the album selection screen 140, the issuance confirmation screens 150 and 170, and the registration notification screen 180, which will be described later. Then, the postcard program 65 accepts the user operation on the stamp selection screen 130 through the input I / F 54.

Next, the postcard program 65 reads, for example, the symbol stamp data corresponding to the designated stamp icon 133 from the memory 62 in response to receiving the designation of the stamp icon 133 through the input I / F 54. Next, the postcard program 65 synthesizes the symbol stamp indicated by the read symbol stamp data with the template image 121. Then, the postcard program 65 executes the processing after S27. Details of these processes will be omitted.

On the other hand, the postcard program 65 acquires the album list shown in FIG. 3A from the URL management program 66 in response to receiving the designation of the switching tab 132 in the non-selected state through the input I / F54 (S21). .. The postcard program 65 starts the URL management program 66, for example, by using the start API provided by the OS 64 to start the external program. Next, the postcard program 65 acquires a pointer indicating the start address of the memory area for storing the album list as the return value of the activation API. Then, the postcard program 65 reads the album list from the memory area indicated by the acquired pointer.

Next, the postcard program 65 causes the album selection screen 140 shown in FIG. 10B to be displayed on the display 53 instead of the stamp selection screen 130 (S22). The album selection screen 140 includes a switching tab 131 in a non-selected state, a switching tab 132 in a selected state, album icons 141 and 142, and a [provisional URL] icon 143. The album icons 141 and 142 correspond to one of the album records acquired in S21. Further, in the album icons 141 and 142, character strings indicated by the name information of the corresponding album records are described. The [provisional URL] icon 143 corresponds to an instruction to acquire the provisional URL from the New Year's card server 70. Then, the postcard program 65 accepts the user operation on the album selection screen 140 through the input I / F 54 (S23). The user operation on the album selection screen 140 is an example of an instruction operation, and the process of S23 is an example of the first reception process.

Next, the postcard program 65 is for displaying the issuance confirmation screen 150 shown in FIG. 11 (A) in response to the reception of the designation of the album icon 141 through the input I / F 54 (S23: album), for example. , The URL management program 66 is started by using the start API. As a result, the OS 64 executes the postcard program 65 in the background and the URL management program 66 in the foreground. The user operation for designating the album icon 141 is an example of the second instruction operation.

The URL management program 66 causes the issuance confirmation screen 150 shown in FIG. 11A to be displayed on the display 53 in response to being activated by the postcard program 65 (S24). The issuance confirmation screen 150 is an example of a second screen for notifying the issuance of a QR stamp holding the album URL. The issuance confirmation screen 150 includes a representative image 151, a message "Do you want to issue a QR code for the" family travel movie "?", An [issue] icon 152, and a [cancel] icon 153. Then, the URL management program 66 accepts the user operation on the issuance confirmation screen 150 through the input I / F 54. The process of S24 is an example of the second display process.

The representative image 151 is an image included in the content data stored in the album area indicated by the album URL of the album record corresponding to the album icon 141. As an example, when the content data is moving image data, the representative image 151 is an image showing one scene of the moving image data. As another example, when the content data is still image data, the representative image 151 is the still image itself represented by the still image data. The [Publish] icon 152 corresponds to an instruction to issue a QR stamp holding the album URL of the album record corresponding to the album icon 141. The [Cancel] icon 153 corresponds to an instruction not to issue a QR stamp.

Next, the URL management program 66 receives the designation of the [issue] icon 152 or the [cancel] icon 153 through the input I / F 54, and receives the album URL of the album record corresponding to the designated album icon 141. , The information indicating which of the [Issue] icon 152 and the [Cancel] icon 153 is specified is provided to the postcard program 65 as the return value of the activation API. As a result, the OS 64 executes the postcard program 65 in the foreground and the URL management program 66 in the background.

Next, the postcard program 65 determines which of the [issue] icon 152 and the [cancel] icon 153 is specified based on the information acquired as the return value of the activation API (S25). Then, the postcard program 65 ends the stamp composition process without executing the process after S26 in response to the determination that the [Cancel] icon 153 is specified (S25: Cancel).

On the other hand, the postcard program 65 determines that the [Issue] icon 152 has been specified (S25: Issuance), and the album URL “http://www.server-b.com” acquired as the return value of the startup API. Generate a QR stamp 163 that holds "/ trip". Then, the postcard program 65 synthesizes the generated QR stamp 163 with the template image 121 (S26). Further, the postcard program 65 temporarily stores the album URL held by the generated QR stamp 163 in the memory 62 as a print URL. The process of S26 that generates the QR stamp 163 that holds the album URL is an example of the second generation process.

Next, the postcard program 65 causes the stamp editing screen shown in FIG. 11B to be displayed on the display 53 (S27). The stamp editing screen shown in FIG. 11B includes a template image 121 in which the QR stamp 163 is combined, a [stamp addition] icon 161 and a [decision] icon 162. Then, the postcard program 65 accepts the user operation on the stamp editing screen through the input I / F 54 (S28).

As an example, the postcard program 65 moves the QR stamp 163 on the template image 121 (S29) in response to the acceptance of the drag operation on the position of the QR stamp 163 through the input I / F 54 (S28: edit). The drag operation is an operation of touching the input medium at the display position of the QR stamp 163 and moving the input medium on the display surface. More specifically, the postcard program 65 detects the moving direction and the moving amount of the input medium touched at the position of the QR stamp 163 through the touch sensor. Next, the postcard program 65 moves the QR stamp 163 on the template image 121 by the detected movement amount in the detected movement direction. Then, the postcard program 65 synthesizes the QR stamp 163 at the end position of the drag operation on the template image 121 in response to the input medium being separated from the display 53 (that is, the drag operation is completed), and S27. Subsequent processing is executed again.

However, the user operation that can be accepted in S28 is not limited to the drag operation. As another example, the postcard program 65 enlarges or shrinks the QR stamp 163, or expands or reduces the QR stamp 163 in response to receiving a user operation instructing the enlargement or reduction of the QR stamp 163 through input / F54 (S28: edit). The reduced QR stamp 163 may be combined with the template image 121. Further, the postcard program 65 re-executes the processes after S21 in response to the designation of the [stamp addition] icon 161 in FIG. 11B through the input I / F54. Further, the postcard program 65 ends the stamp composition process in response to the reception of the designation of the [decision] icon 162 of FIG. 11 (B) through the input I / F 54 (S28: determination).

Next, returning to FIG. 4, the postcard program 65 switches the font of the character string included in the template image 121 according to the designation of the font icon 123 on the template edit screen through the input I / F 54. Further, the Hagaki program 65 stores the edited template image data in the memory 62 in response to the designation of the [Save] icon 125 on the template editing screen being received through the input I / F 54.

Further, the postcard program 65 transmits print instruction information to the printer 10 through the communication I / F 55 in response to the designation of the [print] icon 126 on the template edit screen being received through the input I / F 54 (S14: print). (S16). The print instruction information is information for causing the printer 10 to perform a printing operation of printing the template image 121 on which the QR stamp 163 is combined on the communication surface of the postcard. The print instruction information includes template image data indicating the template image 121 in which the QR stamp 163 is combined. The process of S16 is an example of the print instruction process.

On the other hand, although not shown, the printer 10 receives print instruction information from the information processing terminal 50. Then, the printer 10 executes a printing operation according to the received print instruction information. That is, the printer 10 prints the template image 121 indicated by the template image data included in the print instruction information on the communication surface of the postcard.

Next, the postcard program 65 determines whether or not the template image 121 instructed to print in S16 includes the QR stamp 163 (S17). That is, the postcard program 65 determines whether or not the print URL is temporarily stored in the memory 62. Then, the postcard program 65 executes the print URL notification process described later with reference to FIG. 6 (B) in response to the determination that the template image 121 instructed to print contains the QR stamp 163 (S17: Yes). (S18). On the other hand, the postcard program 65 ends the communication surface editing process without executing the process of S18 in response to the determination that the template image 121 instructed to print does not include the QR stamp 163 (S17: No). ..

Further, returning to FIG. 5, the postcard program 65 receives the designation of the [provisional URL] icon 143 shown in FIG. 10 (B) through the input I / F54 (S23: provisional), and performs the provisional URL acquisition process. Is executed (S30). The user operation for designating the [provisional URL] icon 143 is an example of the first instruction operation. The provisional URL acquisition process is a process for acquiring the provisional URL issued by the New Year's card server 70. The details of the provisional URL acquisition process will be described with reference to FIG. 6A.

[Temporary URL acquisition process]
First, the postcard program 65 transmits the issuance request information to the New Year's card server 70 through the communication I / F 55 (S41). The issuance request information is information for requesting the issuance of a provisional URL. Then, the postcard program 65 uses the provisional URL "http://www.server-a.com/redirect1" issued by the New Year's card server 70 in S42, which will be described later, as a response to the issuance request information, through the communication I / F55. Received from 70 (S43). The process of S41 executed by the postcard program 65 is an example of the first transmission process, and the process of S43 executed by the postcard program 65 is an example of the first reception process.

On the other hand, the server program 85 of the New Year's card server 70 receives the issuance request information from the information processing terminal 50 through the communication I / F 75 (S41). Next, the server program 85 issues a new provisional URL “http://www.server-a.com/redirect1” indicating the memory area of the memory 62 (S42). Then, the server program 85 transmits the provisional URL issued in S42 to the information processing terminal 50 through the communication I / F75 as a response to the issuance request information (S43). The process of S41 executed by the server program 85 is an example of the second reception process, the process of S42 is an example of the issue process, and the process of S43 executed by the server program 85 is an example of the third transmission process.

Next, returning to FIG. 5, the postcard program 65 causes the issue confirmation screen 170 shown in FIG. 12A to be displayed on the display 53 instead of the album selection screen 140 (S31). The issuance confirmation screen 170 is an example of the first screen that notifies the generation of the QR stamp holding the provisional URL. The issue confirmation screen 170 includes a message "Do you want to issue a QR code for the provisional album?", A [Issue] icon 171 and a [Cancel] icon 172. Then, the postcard program 65 accepts the user operation on the issuance confirmation screen 170 through the input I / F 54 (S32). The process of S31 is an example of the first display process.

Next, the postcard program 65 receives the designation of the [Issue] icon 171 through the input I / F54 (S32: Issuance), and the provisional URL “http://www.server-a.” Obtained in S30. Generate a QR stamp that holds "com / redirect1". Then, the postcard program 65 synthesizes the generated QR stamp with the template image 121 (S26). Further, the postcard program 65 temporarily stores the provisional URL held by the generated QR stamp in the memory 62 as a print URL. The process of S26 for generating the QR stamp holding the provisional URL is an example of the first generation process. Since the processing after S27 is common to the above description, the description will be omitted again. On the other hand, the postcard program 65 ends the stamp composition process without executing the processes after S26 in response to the reception of the designation of the [Cancel] icon 172 through the input I / F54 (S32: Cancel).

[Print URL notification processing]
First, the postcard program 65 transmits the print URL information to the New Year's card server 70 through the communication I / F55 (S46). The print URL information includes a terminal ID "Term-A" that identifies the information processing terminal 50 and a print URL. The print URL is an album URL or a provisional URL temporarily stored in the memory 62 in S26. In other words, the print URL is the URL held by the QR stamp synthesized on the template image 121.

Next, the server program 85 receives the print URL information from the information processing terminal 50 through the communication I / F 75 (S46). Then, the server program 85 registers the URL record including the terminal ID and the print URL included in the received print URL information in the URL list (S47). That is, when the print URL information includes the album URL, the URL record including the terminal ID and the album URL is registered, for example, as shown by the URL record in the first line of FIG. 3 (B). On the other hand, when the print URL information includes the provisional URL, the URL record including the terminal ID and the provisional URL is registered, for example, as shown by the URL record in the second line of FIG. 3 (B). The album URL and the provisional URL are distinguished by the server identification information.

Next, the printing system 100 executes the status notification process according to the process of S47 (S48). The status notification process is a process of notifying the user of the information processing terminal 50 that it is necessary to register the album URL in the URL record or that it is necessary to upload the content data to the album area indicated by the album URL. be. Execution of the process of S47 is an example of detecting the arrival of the notification timing. The status notification process executed in S48 is executed only for the URL record registered in the immediately preceding S47 (hereinafter, referred to as "target URL record"). The details of the status notification process will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

[Status notification processing]
First, the server program 85 determines whether or not the target URL record includes the album URL (S51). Then, the server program 85 transmits the status request information to the album server 90 through the communication I / F75 in response to the determination that the target URL record includes the album URL (S51: Yes) (S52). The status request information is information for requesting the transmission of the status information described later. The status request information includes the album URL included in the target URL record.

Next, the album server 90 receives the status request information from the New Year's card server 70 (S52). Next, the album server 90 determines whether or not the content data is stored in the album area indicated by the album URL included in the status request information. Then, the album server 90 transmits the status information indicating the above-mentioned determination result to the New Year's card server 70 as a response to the status request information (S53). That is, in the status information, a value indicating whether or not the content data is stored is set in the album area indicated by the album URL included in the status request information.

Next, the server program 85 receives the status information transmitted as a response to the status request information from the album server 90 through the communication I / F75 (S53). Then, the server program 85 determines whether or not the content data is stored in the album area indicated by the album URL of the target URL record based on the set value of the status information received in S53 (S54).

Then, the server program 85 ends the status notification process without executing the processes after S55 in response to the determination that the content data is stored in the album area (S54: Yes). On the other hand, the server program 85 sends the communication I / F75 to the information processing terminal 50 identified by the terminal ID of the target URL record in response to the determination that the content data is not stored in the album area (S54: none). The notification instruction information is transmitted through (S55). Further, the server program 85 executes the process of S55 without executing the processes of S52 to S54 in response to the determination that the target URL record does not include the album URL (S51: none).

The notification instruction information is information for notifying the arrival of the notification timing. When the target URL record includes the album URL, the notification instruction information may include the album URL. On the other hand, when the target URL record does not include the album URL, the notification instruction information may include the provisional URL of the target URL record. The processing of S55 can be realized by using, for example, a well-known PUSH notification technology or XMPP (abbreviation of Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol).

Next, the postcard program 65 receives the notification instruction information from the server program 85 through the communication I / F 55 (S55). Next, the postcard program 65 causes the registration notification screen 180 to be displayed on the display 53 (S56). Then, the postcard program 65 accepts the user operation on the registration notification screen 180 shown in FIG. 12B) through the input I / F 54 (S57). The registration notification screen 180 is an example of the third screen. The process of S56 is an example of the third display process.

As an example, the registration notification screen 180 when the notification instruction information includes the provisional URL is a screen for notifying that the album URL corresponding to the provisional URL needs to be registered in the URL list. The registration notification screen 180 shown in FIG. 12B is an example in which the notification instruction information includes a provisional URL, and includes a message "Please register the album URL in the New Year's card server." And [Content registration. ] Icon 181 and [URL registration] icon 182, and [later] icon 183.

As another example, the registration notification screen 180 when the notification instruction information includes the album URL is a screen for notifying that the content data needs to be stored in the album area indicated by the album URL. Although not shown, the registration notification screen 180 in this case has, for example, a message "Please upload content data to the album server", a [content registration] icon 181 and a [later] icon 183. Is included, and the [URL registration] icon 182 is not included.

Next, the postcard program 65 activates the URL management program 66 using the activation API in response to receiving the designation of the [content registration] icon 181 through the input I / F54 (S57: content registration) (S58). .. The designation of the [content registration] icon 181 is an example of the first operation. As a result, the OS 64 executes the postcard program 65 in the background and the URL management program 66 in the foreground.

As an example, the URL management program 66 started in S58 requests the album server 90 to secure a new album area through the communication I / F55, and requests the album URL indicating the newly secured album area through the communication I / F55. Received from the album server 90. Then, the URL management program 66 registers the album record including the album URL received from the album server 90 and the name information received for input through the input I / F 54 in the album list.

As another example, the URL management program 66 started in S58 inputs a user operation for specifying the album URL included in the album list and a user operation for specifying the content data stored in the memory 62 through the input I / F 54. accept. Then, the URL management program 66 uploads the designated content data to the album area indicated by the designated album URL through the communication I / F 55.

Further, the postcard program 65 executes the URL registration process in response to the reception of the designation of the [URL registration] icon 182 through the input I / F54 (S57: URL registration) (S59). The designation of the [URL registration] icon 182 is an example of the second operation. On the other hand, the postcard program 65 ends the status notification process without executing the processes of S58 to S59 in response to the reception of the designation of the icon 183 [later] through the input I / F54 (S57: later). do. The details of the URL registration process will be described with reference to FIG.

[URL registration process]
First, the postcard program 65 acquires an album list from the URL management program 66 (S61). Then, the postcard program 65 displays the album selection screen 140 on the display 53 (S62). The processing of S61 to S62 may be the same as the processing of S21 to S22 of FIG. However, the album selection screen 140 displayed in S62 does not include the [provisional URL] icon 143. Then, the postcard program 65 accepts the user operation on the album selection screen 140 through the input I / F 54 (S63). The process of S63 is an example of the second reception process.

Next, the postcard program 65 transmits registration request information to the New Year's card server 70 through the communication I / F 55 in response to the reception of the designation of the album icon 142 through the input I / F 54 (S63). The registration request information is information for requesting the New Year's card server 70 to store the provisional URL and the album URL in association with each other. The registration request information includes, for example, a provisional URL included in the notification instruction information received in S55 and an album URL corresponding to the album icon 142 specified in S63. The process of S64 executed by the postcard program 65 is an example of the second transmission process.

Next, the server program 85 receives the registration request information from the information processing terminal 50 through the communication I / F 75 (S64). Next, the server program 85 registers the album URL of the registration request information in the URL record including the provisional URL of the registration request information among the URL records included in the URL list (S65). The processing of S64 executed by the server program 85 is an example of the third reception processing, and the processing of S65 is an example of the storage processing. Then, the server program 85 transmits the registration completion information indicating that the album URL has been registered to the information processing terminal 50 through the communication I / F75 as a response to the registration request information (S66). Further, the postcard program 65 ends the URL registration process in response to receiving the registration completion information from the New Year's card server 70 through the communication I / F55 (S66).

Although not shown, the user who receives the postcard on which the QR stamp is printed takes a picture of the QR stamp with a camera mounted on a mobile terminal (not shown). Then, the program (not shown) installed in the mobile terminal processes the image taken by the camera and extracts the URL held by the QR stamp. Then, the mobile terminal accesses the memory area indicated by the extracted URL.

As an example, the mobile terminal downloads the content data stored in the album area indicated by the album URL from the album server 90 in response to the extraction of the album URL. Then, the mobile terminal reproduces the downloaded content data (for example, displaying it on a display, outputting it from a speaker, etc.).

As another example, the mobile terminal requests the New Year's card server 70 to access the memory area indicated by the provisional URL in response to the extraction of the provisional URL. On the other hand, the server program 85 reads the URL record including the provisional URL for which access is requested from the URL list. Then, the server program 85 transmits the album URL of the read URL record to the mobile terminal. This process is an example of a redirect process.

Then, the mobile terminal accesses the album area indicated by the album URL received from the New Year's card server 70. That is, the mobile terminal can indirectly access the album area indicated by the provisional URL via the album URL corresponding to the provisional URL extracted from the QR stamp.

[Action and effect of this embodiment]
According to the above embodiment, the user of the information processing terminal 50 prints a QR stamp holding the provisional URL on the postcard, and then associates the album URL indicating the album area in which the content data is stored with the provisional URL. All you have to do is register. That is, even if the content data is not prepared at the time of creating the postcard, the QR stamp can be printed on the postcard.

On the other hand, for users who have already uploaded the content data at the time of creating the postcard, not only is the operation of associating the provisional URL and the album URL after the fact unnecessary, but if the operation is forgotten, the content data is accessed through the QR stamp. You will not be able to. Therefore, as in the above embodiment, it is desirable to let the user select whether to generate the QR stamp that holds the provisional URL or the album URL through the album selection screen 140.

Further, the QR stamp does not allow the user to recognize the held URL at a glance, but can extract the URL by performing image processing with a predetermined algorithm. Therefore, as in the above embodiment, the user is notified through the issuance confirmation screens 150 and 170 whether to generate the QR stamp that holds the provisional URL or the album URL. This makes it possible for the user to recognize whether or not it is necessary to specify the album URL after the fact.

Further, according to the above embodiment, the user is notified through the registration notification screen that the content data needs to be uploaded at the notification timing before the postcard on which the QR stamp is printed arrives at the destination. This makes it possible for a user who has forgotten to upload the content data or a user who wants to replace the uploaded content data to upload the content data before the postcard arrives. The specific method of notification is not limited to the above-mentioned example, and the speaker may output a voice (for example, a notification message or a beep sound), or the vibrator may be vibrated.

Further, according to the above embodiment, since the notification instruction information is transmitted to the information processing terminal 50 indicated by the terminal ID of the target URL record, it is registered in the information processing terminal 50 of the user who has forgotten to upload the content data. The notification screen is displayed. As a result, it is possible to more effectively suppress the situation where the person who receives the postcard cannot access the content data through the QR stamp.

The specific content of the notification instruction information is not particularly limited. As an example, the notification instruction information is simply information indicating the arrival of the notification timing, and the information processing terminal 50 may determine the necessity and content of the notification. As another example, the notification instruction information is information further indicating the content of the notification, and the information processing terminal 50 may notify the content indicated by the notification instruction information.

Further, according to the above embodiment, by including the [content registration] icon 181 and the [URL registration] icon 182 in the registration notification screen, the user who sees the registration notification screen can easily perform the necessary operations. can. That is, the preparation necessary for accessing the content data through the QR stamp can be more effectively promoted.

The execution timing of the status notification process is not limited to S48. As another example, in S47, the server program 85 may register a URL record including date and time information indicating the current date and time in the URL list. This date and time information indicates the date and time when the QR stamp was printed on the postcard. Then, the server program 85 may execute the status notification process in which each of the plurality of URL records included in the URL list is the target URL record at the notification timing corresponding to the date and time indicated by the date and time information.

As an example, the notification timing corresponding to the date and time information indicating before December 25 is the afternoon of December 31 (for example, 19:00). As another example, the notification timing corresponding to the date and time information indicating December 26th to 31st is the afternoon of January 1st of the following year. As yet another example, the notification timing corresponding to the date and time information indicating January 1st or later is the afternoon of the day indicated by the date and time information. That is, it is desirable that the status notification process is executed after the process of S16 is executed. Further, it is desirable that the status notification process is executed before the postcard on which the stamp is printed reaches the destination, and it is more desirable that the status notification process is executed immediately before the postcard reaches the destination (typically, the day before).

Further, the detection of the arrival of the notification timing is not limited to the server program 85. As another example, the postcard program 65 calculates the time from the current date and time to the above-mentioned notification timing according to the printing of the template image including the QR stamp on the postcard in S16, and monitors the passage of the calculated time. You may start the timer. Then, the postcard program 65 may instruct the New Year's card server 70 to execute the process of S51 in response to the timer timing out.

Further, the execution of the processes of S51 to S54 is not limited to the server program 85. As another example, the postcard program 65 may execute the processes of S51 to S54 in response to the timer timed out. And the postcard program 65
Depending on the determination that the album URL is not associated with the provisional URL held by the printed QR stamp (S51: None), or the content data is stored in the album area indicated by the album URL held by the printed QR stamp. Depending on the determination that the data is not stored (S54: No), the processing after S56 may be executed.

Further, in the information processing terminal 50 and the New Year's card server 70 of the above embodiment, various programs stored in the memories 62 and 82 are executed by the CPUs 61 and 81, so that each process executed by the controller of the present invention is realized. An example was explained. However, the configuration of the controller is not limited to this, and a part or all of the controller configuration may be realized by hardware such as an integrated circuit.

Further, the present invention can be realized not only as the information processing terminal 50 and the New Year's card server 70, but also as a program for causing the information processing terminal 50 and the New Year's card server 70 to execute processing. Then, the program may be recorded and provided on a non-transitory recording medium. The non-transitory recording medium may include a memory mounted on a server that can be connected to the information processing terminal 50 and the New Year's card server 70 through a communication network, in addition to a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, and the like. Then, the program stored in the memory of the server may be distributed as information or a signal indicating the program through a communication network such as the Internet 101.

10 ... Printer 50 ... Information processing terminal 53 ... Display 54 ... Input I / F
55, 75 ... Communication I / F
61, 81 ... CPU
62, 82 ... Memory 65 ... Postcard program 66 ... URL management program 70 ... New Year's card server 85 ... Server program

Claims (6)

A program that can be executed by an information processing terminal including an input interface, a communication interface, and a display.
The program
Screen display processing that displays a selection screen on the display that allows you to select whether or not to redirect.
A first reception process that accepts a first instruction operation that specifies on the selection screen that the redirect is necessary, or a second instruction operation that specifies on the selection screen that the redirect is unnecessary, through the input interface. When,
In response to in the first receiving process has accepted the first instruction operation, the issuance request information for requesting the issuance of the provisional address information is the memory area of the first server shown to address information, via the communication interface The first transmission process to be transmitted to the first server and
The first reception process of receiving the provisional address information from the first server through the communication interface as a response to the issuance request information.
A first generation process for generating the information holding image that holds the provisional address information,
The print instruction information to print an information holding image generated by the first generation process in the print medium, a first print instruction process of transmitting to the printer is performed on the information processing terminal via the communication interface,
The program,
In after executing the first print instruction process, content second to a user operation, and receives via the input interface to specify the address information in the memory area of the second server data is stored in the shown to address information Reception processing and
The information processing terminal is made to execute a second transmission process of transmitting the provisional address information and the registration request information instructing to store the present address information in association with each other to the first server through the communication interface .
In response to the reception of the second instruction operation in the first reception process, the second generation process of generating the information holding image holding the present address information and the second generation process.
Wherein the second print instruction information to print the generated information held image on a printing medium by the second generation process, the program Ru is executed and a second printing instruction process of transmitting to the printer through the communication interface to the information processing terminal. Before SL information holding image generated by the first generation process and the second generation process by the image processing after the optically read is extractable images the address information,
The program
In response to reception of said first instruction operation in said first reception processing, the first screen for notifying that generate information holding image that holds the provisional address information, first to be displayed on the display Let the information processing terminal execute the display process
In response to in the first receiving process has accepted the second instruction operation, said second screen for notifying that generate information holding image that holds this address information, the display on the display 2 The program according to claim 1 , wherein the information processing terminal executes a display process. The program, in the above after executing the first print instruction process, a third screen for notifying that it is necessary to specify the present address information via the input interface, the third display processing for displaying on the display The program according to claim 1 or 2 , which is executed by an information processing terminal. The program according to claim 3 , wherein the information processing terminal executes the third display process on the day before the print medium on which the information holding image is recorded arrives at the destination in the first print instruction process. Input interface and
Communication interface and
With the display
An information processing terminal equipped with a controller
The controller
Screen display processing that displays a selection screen on the display that allows you to select whether or not to redirect.
A first reception process that accepts a first instruction operation that specifies on the selection screen that the redirect is necessary, or a second instruction operation that specifies on the selection screen that the redirect is unnecessary, through the input interface. When,
In response to in the first receiving process has accepted the first instruction operation, the issuance request information for requesting the issuance of the provisional address information is the memory area of the first server shown to address information, via the communication interface The first transmission process to be transmitted to the first server and
The first reception process of receiving the provisional address information from the first server through the communication interface as a response to the issuance request information.
A first generation process for generating the information holding image that holds the provisional address information,
The print instruction information to print an information holding image generated by the first generation process in the print medium to perform a first printing instruction process of transmitting to the printer through the communication interface,
Wherein the controller,
In after executing the first print instruction process, content second to a user operation, and receives via the input interface to specify the address information in the memory area of the second server data is stored in the shown to address information Reception processing and
The second transmission process of transmitting the provisional address information and the registration request information instructing to store the present address information in association with each other to the first server through the communication interface is executed.
In response to the reception of the second instruction operation in the first reception process, the second generation process of generating the information holding image holding the present address information and the second generation process.
An information processing terminal that executes a second print instruction process of transmitting the second print instruction information for printing the information holding image generated in the second generation process on a print medium to the printer through the communication interface. A printing system including an information processing terminal including an input interface, a first communication interface, a display, and a first controller, and a first server including a second communication interface, a server memory, and a second controller.
The first controller is
Screen display processing that displays a selection screen on the display that allows you to select whether or not to redirect.
A first reception process that accepts a first instruction operation that specifies on the selection screen that the redirect is necessary, or a second instruction operation that specifies on the selection screen that the redirect is unnecessary, through the input interface. When,
In response to said first to accepting the first instruction operation at the reception process, the issuance request information for requesting issuance of the first server memory area of which is a view to address information provisional address information, said first The first transmission process of transmitting to the first server through the communication interface,
The first reception process of receiving the provisional address information from the first server through the first communication interface as a response to the issuance request information.
A first generation process for generating the information holding image that holds the provisional address information,
The print instruction information to print an information holding image generated by the first generation process in the print medium to perform a first printing instruction process of transmitting to the printer via the first communication interface,
The first controller,
In after executing the first print instruction process, content second to a user operation, and receives via the input interface to specify the address information in the memory area of the second server data is stored in the shown to address information Reception processing and
The second transmission process of transmitting the provisional address information and the registration request information instructing to store the present address information in association with each other to the first server through the first communication interface is executed.
The first controller is
In response to the reception of the second instruction operation in the first reception process, the second generation process of generating the information holding image holding the present address information and the second generation process.
The second print instruction process of transmitting the second print instruction information for printing the information holding image generated in the second generation process on the print medium to the printer through the first communication interface is executed.
The second controller is
A second reception process for receiving the issuance request information from the information processing terminal through the second communication interface, and
The issuance process for issuing the provisional address information and
A third transmission process of transmitting the issued provisional address information to the information processing terminal through the second communication interface as a response to the issuance request information.
A third reception process for receiving the registration request information from the information processing terminal through the second communication interface, and
A storage process in which the provisional address information and the present address information instructed by the registration request information are associated with each other and stored in the server memory.
In response to a request for access to the memory area indicated by the provisional address information, the address information stored in the server memory in association with the provisional address information is transmitted through the second communication interface. A printing system that performs redirection processing and.

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