JP7070084B2 - Image printing system and image printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image printing system and an image printing device that prints out image data stored in a storage medium owned by a user, a mobile terminal, or the like.

Image printing devices that read digital data of images taken with digital cameras, smartphones, etc. and output them as prints are installed in various places. For example, the user brings a storage medium in which image data taken by a digital camera is stored, and causes the image printing device to read the image data in the storage medium. The image printing device prints out the image data read from the storage medium from a printer housed therein.

The conventional image printing device provides a mini-game during the printing process by the printer, and the user waits for the end of the printing process while playing the mini-game. For users who do not play games, the waiting time for the print process can be tedious.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-173912

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and provides an image printing system and an image printing apparatus that provide information of interest to a user during a printing process and enable a meaningful printing waiting time. The challenge is to provide.

The image print system according to the present invention prints an image selected via a server device, an input unit for inputting image data, a display unit for displaying an order screen including a thumbnail image obtained by reducing the image data, and the order screen. The server device includes an image printing device having a communication unit for transmitting the image data to the server device, and when the server device receives the image data from the image printing device, the server device analyzes the image data. Related information related to the image data is extracted from the open data, the related information is transmitted to the image printing device, and the image printing device displays the related information received from the server device on the display unit. Is.

In the image printing system according to one aspect of the present invention, the image printing apparatus displays the related information on the display unit during the printing process of the printer.

In the image printing system according to one aspect of the present invention, the server device detects shooting location information from the image data and extracts related information based on the shooting location.

In the image printing system according to one aspect of the present invention, the server device extracts related information of the type according to the installation location of the image printing device.

The image printing device according to the present invention has an input unit for inputting image data, a display unit for displaying an order screen including a thumbnail image obtained by reducing the image data, and a printer for printing the image selected via the order screen. And an analysis unit that analyzes the image data, and an extraction unit that extracts related information related to the image data from the open data by using the analysis result by the analysis unit. The display unit is the printer. The related information is displayed during the printing process of.

According to the present invention, information that the user is interested in is provided during the print process, and the user can spend the print waiting time meaningfully.

It is a schematic block diagram of the image printing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A) to (c) are diagrams showing examples of information provided to users. It is a block block diagram of an image printing apparatus. It is a perspective view of an image printing apparatus. It is a functional block diagram of a server device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image printing system includes an image printing device 1 and a server device 2. The image print device 1 receives input of image data from a user and prints out an image, and is communicably connected to the server device 2.

When the image data is input from the user, the image printing device 1 displays a list of thumbnail images of the input image. The user selects an image to print. In addition, the user can perform image editing processing such as synthesizing a stamp on an image or inputting characters.

When the user pays a fee according to the print size and the number of prints, the image printing apparatus 1 starts the printing process.

While the user is selecting or editing an image, the image printing device 1 transmits the input image data to the server device 2. The server device 2 extracts GPS information from Exif (registered trademark) information included in the image data. This GPS information indicates the shooting location of the image.

The server device 2 extracts related information from open data (big data) based on the shooting location of the image. Open data is data that is open to the public and licensed to be used on networks such as the Internet, regardless of whether it is paid or free of charge. The server device 2 transmits the related information to the image printing device 1.

The image printing device 1 displays related information during the printing process. The related information is related to the image input by the user to the image printing device 1, and is easy for the user to be interested in.

For example, consider a case where an image taken when a user goes on a trip to Nagasaki is input to the image printing device 1. The server device 2 identifies that the shooting location is Nagasaki from the GPS information included in the Exif information of the image received from the image printing device 1.

For example, the server device 2 extracts recommended sightseeing information of Nagasaki from the open data and transmits it to the image printing device 1. The image printing device 1 displays recommended tourist information as shown in FIG. 2A. Users who have traveled to Nagasaki can read detailed information about the Peace Statue, a tourist attraction in Nagasaki, and spend a meaningful time waiting for printing.

The server device 2 may change the type of information to be extracted depending on the installation location of the image printing device 1. For example, when the image printing device 1 is installed in a bookstore, the server device 2 extracts book information related to Nagasaki from the open data and transmits it to the image printing device 1.

The image printing device 1 displays book information related to Nagasaki as shown in FIG. 2 (b). By displaying such book information, it is expected that a user who is interested in the book will purchase the book at this bookstore after the printing process.

When the image printing device 1 is installed in a CD shop, the server device 2 extracts artist information such as an artist from Nagasaki and a representative song of the artist from the open data, and transmits the artist information to the image printing device 1.

The image printing device 1 displays information related to an artist from Nagasaki as shown in FIG. 2 (c). By displaying such information, it is expected that a user who is interested in the artist will purchase a CD at this CD shop after the printing process.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the information that the user is interested in can be provided during the printing process, and the printing waiting time can be meaningfully spent. Further, by providing information according to the installation location of the image printing device 1, it is possible to increase the purchase motivation of the product.

Next, the image printing apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of the image printing device 1, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the image printing device 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the image printing device 1 includes a first touch panel 10A, a second touch panel 10B, a data input unit 11, a charging unit 12, a printer 13, a CPU (central processing unit) 14, and a disk device (storage unit) 15. , Main memory 16, and communication unit 17.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first touch panel 10A is provided on the top plate 1A portion of the housing H, and the second touch panel 10B is provided on the upper portion of the housing H. The screens of the top plate 1A and the first touch panel 10A are slightly tilted so that the front side is low and the back side is high so that the input operation to the first touch panel 10A can be easily performed. The display screen of the second touch panel 10B is in a state of standing substantially vertically.

The first touch panel 10A and the second touch panel 10B display information including an image and accept input of various instructions from the user. The first touch panel 10A is a selection screen for inputting image data to the image printing device 1 (for example, use of a storage medium, infrared communication from a mobile terminal, or wireless communication from a smartphone), a display screen for precautions, and a print output. Displays basic operation screens such as an order screen for selecting image data to be printed and specifying the number of prints, and a confirmation screen for order details and billing amount.

Further, the first touch panel 10A and / or the second touch panel 10B displays the related information received from the server device 2.

The data input unit 11 accepts the input of image data by reading the image data from the storage medium in which the image data taken by a digital camera or the like is stored. The data input unit 11 has a data reading device corresponding to various storage media. Further, the data input unit 11 can accept the input of image data from the mobile terminal by infrared communication or wireless communication. As shown in FIG. 4, the data input unit 11 is provided on the upper part of the housing H, specifically, between the top plate 1A of the housing H and the second touch panel 10B.

As shown in FIG. 4, the billing unit 12 has a coin slot 12A, a bill slot 12B, and a change return port 12C provided on the front side of the housing H, from the coin slot 12A and the bill slot 12B. The inserted coins are identified and counted, and the change is discharged from the change return port 12C. Further, the billing unit 12 may have a payment function using electronic money. Further, the billing unit 12 may have a receipt printer that prints and outputs the number of prints, the unit price, the billing amount, the input amount, the change amount, and the like on the receipt.

The printer 13 is a high-resolution color printer such as a sublimation type or an inkjet type, and prints and outputs image data based on the order contents. The printer 13 is housed in the housing H. A plurality of printers 13 may be installed. As shown in FIG. 4, a transparent opening / closing door D is provided on the front surface side of the housing H so as to be openable / closable. On the back surface side of the opening / closing door D, a collecting portion (not shown) for accumulating the printed matter printed and output by the printer 13 is provided, and when the opening / closing door D is opened, the printed matter accumulated in the accumulating portion can be taken out. It has become like.

The disk device 15 (storage unit) stores an image processing program, a control program, and edit items that can be synthesized with respect to the image data. The disk device 15 is, for example, a hard disk drive.

The CPU 14 loads the image processing program in the disk device 15 into the main memory 16 and executes the image processing program. With the execution of the image processing program, the main memory 16 secures an area for storing input image data, order details, related information received from the server device 2, and the like.

Further, the CPU 14 loads the control program in the disk device 15 into the main memory 16 and executes the control program to control the first touch panel 10A, the second touch panel 10B, the billing unit 12, the printer 13, and the like. Functions as.

When image data is input from a storage medium or a mobile terminal via the data input unit 11, the control unit displays an order screen including thumbnail images obtained by reducing the image data on the first touch panel 10A. The order screen is provided with a button for increasing / decreasing the number of prints for each image, and by pressing this button, the number of prints for each image can be specified and a print order can be input.

In addition, the order screen is provided with an edit button for each image. When the edit button is pressed, the display of the first touch panel 10A switches to the edit screen for editing this image. Operate the edit screen to combine edit items such as stamps with images and enter characters.

The communication unit 17 transmits the input image data to the server device 2. At this time, the machine number of the own machine may be transmitted to the server device 2. Further, the communication unit 17 receives related information related to the image from the server device 2.

When the print order is completed, the control unit displays the billing amount based on the order contents from the user on the first touch panel 10A. When the user inserts money, the billing unit 12 counts the inserted money, withdraws change, prints a receipt, and the like.

The control unit causes the printer 13 to print the image data based on the order contents. While the printer 13 is performing the print process, the control unit displays the related information received from the server device 2 on the first touch panel 10A and / or the second touch panel 10B.

Next, the server device 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the server device 2 is a computer having a storage unit 20 including a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a non-volatile memory, a hard disk device, and the like, and the storage unit 20 has a storage unit 20. Image analysis program, installation location information, etc. are stored. Although one image printing device 1 is shown in FIG. 1, the server device 2 can communicate with a plurality of image printing devices 1 installed at various locations, and the installation location information is obtained by printing each image. The machine number of the device 1 and the installation location are associated and registered.

When the CPU of the server device 2 executes the image analysis program, the functions of the image receiving unit 21, the image analysis unit 22, the related information extraction unit 23, and the related information transmission unit 24 are realized as shown in FIG. ..

The image receiving unit 21 receives image data from the image printing device 1 and stores it in the storage unit 20.

The image analysis unit 22 analyzes the received image data and detects the shooting location information. For example, the image analysis unit 22 detects the shooting location information from the GPS information in the Exif information of the image data.

The related information extraction unit 23 extracts related information related to the shooting location from open data (big data) on the network. The extracted related information is stored in the storage unit 20. For example, the related information extraction unit 23 extracts recommended tourist information at the shooting location.

The related information extraction unit 23 may change the type of information to be extracted according to the installation location of the image printing device 1. The related information extraction unit 23 refers to the installation location information in the storage unit 20, and specifies the installation location of the image printing device 1 from the machine number received from the image printing device 1. For example, when the image printing device 1 is installed in a bookstore, the related information extraction unit 23 extracts book information related to the shooting location of the image. When the image printing device 1 is installed in a CD shop, the related information extraction unit 23 extracts artist information such as an artist whose hometown is the prefecture where the image was taken and a representative song of that artist.

The related information transmission unit 24 transmits the related information extracted by the related information extraction unit 23 to the image printing device 1.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the related information that the user is likely to be interested in is extracted from the open data based on the shooting location of the image data input by the user, and the image printing device 1 is performed during the printing process. Display at. This makes it possible to spend the print waiting time meaningfully. Further, by providing related information such as book information and artist information according to the installation location of the image printing device 1, it is possible to connect to the subsequent purchase of the product.

In the above embodiment, an example in which image data is transmitted from the image printing device 1 to the server device 2 and the server device 2 extracts GPS information from the Exif information of the received image data has been described. However, the image printing device 1 describes the image data. GPS information may be taken out from the Exif information of the above and the GPS information may be transmitted to the server device 2.

In the above embodiment, an example of detecting the shooting location of an image from the GPS information of the Exif information and extracting the information related to the shooting location has been described. However, the name of the shooting device manufacturer of the Exif information is detected and the latest camera of this manufacturer is detected. Information may be extracted.

The image analysis unit 22 may perform scene analysis of the image and extract related information based on the analysis result. For example, when it is determined by scene analysis that the image is playing baseball, information such as the result of a professional baseball game is extracted.

The image printing device 1 may print out a part of the related information by using a receipt printer or the like. For example, the book name of the book information is printed on paper and output. The user can search for a book at a bookstore while looking at the printed paper.

The image printing device 1 may accept input of gender and / or age from the user. The image printing device 1 transmits the input gender and age to the server device 2. The server device 2 extracts related information in consideration of the gender, age, and the like of the user.

Even if the image printing device 1 has the same functions as the image analysis unit 22 and the related information extraction unit 23, the image printing device 1 analyzes the image data and extracts the related information related to the image data from the open data. good.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment as it is, and at the implementation stage, the components can be modified and embodied within a range that does not deviate from the gist thereof. In addition, various inventions can be formed by an appropriate combination of the plurality of components disclosed in the above-described embodiment. For example, some components may be removed from all the components shown in the embodiments. In addition, components across different embodiments may be combined as appropriate.

1 Image printing device 2 Server device

Claims (3)

With the server device
An input unit for inputting image data, a display unit for displaying an order screen including a thumbnail image obtained by reducing the image data, a printer for printing a selected image via the order screen, and the image data to the server device. An image printing device having a communication unit for transmission, and
Equipped with
When the server device receives the image data from the image printing device, the server device analyzes the image data, detects shooting location information from the image data, and is related information related to the image data, and the detected shooting is performed. Related information based on the location and according to the type of installation location of the image printing device is extracted from the open data, and the related information is transmitted to the image printing device.
The image printing device is an image printing system characterized in that the related information received from the server device is displayed on the display unit. The image printing system according to claim 1, wherein the image printing device displays the related information on the display unit during the printing process of the printer. Input section for inputting image data and
A display unit that displays an order screen including thumbnail images obtained by reducing the image data, and
A printer that prints the selected image via the order screen,
An analysis unit that analyzes the image data and
An extraction unit that extracts related information related to the image data from open data using the analysis result by the analysis unit, and an extraction unit.
Is an image printing device equipped with
The analysis unit detects shooting location information from the image data and obtains information on the shooting location.
The extraction unit extracts related information based on the detected shooting location and according to the type of the installation location of the image printing device.
The display unit is an image printing apparatus characterized in that the related information is displayed during the printing process of the printer.

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