WO2002021255A1 - Procede et dispositif d'impression, et serveur d'informations - Google Patents

Procede et dispositif d'impression, et serveur d'informations Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2002021255A1
WO2002021255A1 PCT/FI2001/000768 FI0100768W WO0221255A1 WO 2002021255 A1 WO2002021255 A1 WO 2002021255A1 FI 0100768 W FI0100768 W FI 0100768W WO 0221255 A1 WO0221255 A1 WO 0221255A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
data
printing
information server
information
printed
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/FI2001/000768
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Pirjo Tiainen
Kari Kivikoski
Petri Hakala
Raimo MÄKILÄ
Pasi Ahonen
Kaisa VENTELÄ
Ainomaija Haarla
Markku S. Korpela
Minna Andersson
Original Assignee
Alma Media Oyj
Metso Paper Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Alma Media Oyj, Metso Paper Inc filed Critical Alma Media Oyj
Priority to AU2001284080A priority Critical patent/AU2001284080A1/en
Publication of WO2002021255A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002021255A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Definitions

  • the invention relates generally to printing news material, ads and the like data, and particularly to the digital printing technology.
  • electronically loadable memory carriers have been developed mainly for reading text.
  • electronically loadable books are commercially available.
  • the development is only starting. Electronic books are highly priced and the readability does not correspond to paper.
  • paper As an information carrier surface, paper is still qualitatively superior. It allows a large amount of information to be printed as high-quality multi-colour printing. Paper is easily readable, lightweight and easy to carry along. However, paper is not conventionally considered a good information carrier for transferring variable and customized data, which is due to the relatively large print volume required by printing machines for profitable operation. Paper has not either been considered to be suitable for sufficiently rapid distribution of information at the precise moment the consumer is in the greatest need of the data. However, the development of the digital printing technology is changing the situation.
  • digital printing refers to printing from digital material directly to a print carrier.
  • the following quality requirements can be set on a typical printing machine: 1) printing resolution 600 dpi (dots per inch) or at least 256 grey shades, 2) speed at least 30 pages per minute (four-colour printing) and 3) changeable page information at each cylinder round.
  • the most important characteristic of a digital printing machine is changeable page infor- mation at each cylinder round. This characteristic enables the making of entirely individual printed matter. Accordingly, the application areas of digital printing are small print volumes, on-demand production, distributed printing and printing of variable information. The method has been successfully utilized for example in publications distributed in various events. Newspapers and books have also been digitally printed on an on-demand basis.
  • the invention relates to a novel method of distributing selected data, news or ads, to consumers on a paper carrier directly to the party requiring or using the information to wherever he orders it.
  • This object is achieved by the printing method of claim 1 , the printing devices of claims 16 and 17, and the information server of claim 23.
  • the preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.
  • the basic idea of the invention is to place printing devices, such as digital printing machines, in common use at such customer service points that are frequently visited by people. These include restaurants, stores, banks, service stations, etc. These printing devices communicate with a centralized information server, in whose database various data are maintained and stored in digital form, such as news, ads, and stock and exchange rates.
  • the user is allowed to select the data he wishes to be printed and send a request relating thereto, together with data identifying the printing device, to the information server via a public data network.
  • the information server searches its database for the requested data and transfers it in digital form to the printing device identified in the request, and the printing device prints the received data onto an information carrier, typically a paper car- rier.
  • an information carrier typically a paper car- rier.
  • the invention allows directed or selected information to be transferred on a paper carrier directly to the party requiring or using the information to the place from where he orders it.
  • the order may be placed by a person who requires said data himself.
  • the order may also be placed by a person or party that wishes to distribute said data, e.g. ads, at precisely the given time at a given place.
  • An advantage provided by the invention is that a connection exists via an information server to a database, whose data are usually updated due to other needs. It may be e.g. an article database of a newspaper. Consequently, the invention does not have to increase the maintenance costs of the database hardly at all. On the other hand, the user, the customer, always obtains the latest updated information as well readable printed matter exactly to the place where he expects it the most.
  • Any fixed or wireless transmission system may be used between the information server and the printing device as the distribution channel.
  • at least orders and printing requests are transferred from the printing device or the customer's telecommunication terminal, such as a mobile station, to the information server using normal data links.
  • a low-capacity and low-speed transmission mode is usually sufficient.
  • a very fast transfer link may be used, such as a fixed Internet connection.
  • an extremely preferable way to transmit information to be printed is to use a broadcasting system.
  • new digital television systems for example, such as the DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting)
  • data services wherein the desired data streams are transferred, can be added to the transmit frequency.
  • the use of digital television transmission in sending information to be printed ac- cording to the invention to geographically distributed printing devices would be an advantageous solution in arranging a high-speed distribution channel.
  • the device would only require conventional telephone and antenna interfaces.
  • Figure 1 is a system diagram illustrating the information server of the invention and distributed printing devices communicating with each other via telecommunication systems and broadcasting systems.
  • a database DB2 Different information adapted to digital printing, such as news, articles, newspapers, stock rates, maps, ads, comic strips, etc., is stored in a database DB2.
  • the database 2 is managed and maintained for example by the same publishing system 3 that also produces a conventionally printed newspaper. However, in this case, the information in the database 2 is altered and updated more frequently, and optionally customized suitable for various user groups and types.
  • the database 2 can thus be maintained and managed by the same software and the same delivery personnel that also attend to other media operations, such as editing a newspaper or maintaining Internet sites.
  • the database 2 may even be common to these other functions. Consequently, the invention does not necessarily substantially increase the costs of maintaining the database 2.
  • an information server 1 is connected to the database 2 and it attends to service requests received from distributed printing devices, performs necessary data searches in the database 2 and transmits the information specified in a service request to the requiring printing device.
  • communication between the information server 1 and the distributed printing devices is based on the Internet protocol (IP).
  • IP Internet protocol
  • the server 1 can be implemented as a conventional TCP/IP server.
  • the distributed printing devices are able to download the desired information from the server 1 using for example the TCP or UDP technologies.
  • the server 1 may have a WWW site or a WAP site, via which a user is able to order the desired print for example using a mobile station provided with an Internet browser.
  • printing devices are placed at three customer service points, a service station 5, a restaurant 6, and an airport 7. However, it is to be understood that the number of printing devices may be high and they can be placed wherever there are people.
  • the printing device is composed of an order- ing terminal 51 and a printer 52.
  • the printer 52 is preferably a digital printing machine.
  • the ordering terminal 51 represents devices and functions required for communication with the information server 1 over the telecommunication system 4 and for interacting with a user.
  • the telecommunication system 4, to which the ordering terminal 51 is connected may be any public telecommunication network, such as a public telephone network (PSTN), a public mobile network (PLMN), the ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), the Internet, etc.
  • PSTN public telephone network
  • PLMN public mobile network
  • ISDN Integrated Services Digital Network
  • connection between the information server 1 and the ordering terminal 51 is established through various networks.
  • the ordering terminal 51 and the information server 1 communicate on the IP protocol layer independent of the underlying transfer layer and physical channel.
  • Reference 55 denotes the interface of the ordering terminal 51 to the public telecommunication system 4.
  • the ordering terminal 51 also comprises a user interface 53, via which a user is able to select the infor- mation to be printed.
  • the interface may comprise for example a screen and a keyboard or a touch screen.
  • the ordering terminal 51 may also comprise a reader 54 for reading various identification modules, such as magnetic stripe or smart cards, and/or for reading bar codes, as will be explained in detail later.
  • a slightly different ordering device is placed at the restaurant 6. It also comprises a printer 62, preferably a digital printing machine, and an ordering terminal 61 having an interface 68 to a public telecommunication system.
  • the ordering terminal 61 may also comprise a user interface 53 and a reader 54 similar to those in the device at the service station 5.
  • the ordering terminal 61 is so equipped that a user orders the information to be printed using a mobile station MS and the user interface of the mobile station.
  • the printing device of the invention may be implemented in any of these ways, or the device may be implemented to simultaneously support several or all of these ways.
  • the user of the MS sets up a call via a mobile network, and generally via the telecommunication system 4, to the ordering terminal 61 , for example by making a call to a telephone number attached to the ordering terminal.
  • the ordering terminal 61 is able to give the user voice prompts for making selections, and the user selects the desired print at the keyboard of the mobile station, for example by selecting a given number.
  • the ordering terminal 61 then sends the order to the information server 1 , which sends the desired data in response via a suitable return channel.
  • the request of the ordering terminal 61 naturally identifies the requesting ordering terminal (e.g. based on the IP address).
  • the ordering terminal 61 then relays the re- ceived information to the printer 62, which prints the information on an information carrier, typically a paper carrier.
  • the mobile station MS sets up a connection over an air interface 41 and the telecommunication system 4 to the information server 1 , which provides a WWW or WAP site.
  • the user is able to use the Internet browser of the mobile station to view these WWW or WAP sites using the user interface of the mobile station and selects the desired information to be printed.
  • the user also identifies the printing device or customer service point, where the selected information is to be printed.
  • the information server 1 retrieves the selected data in the da- tabase 2 and sends it via a suitable return channel to the identified printing device, i.e. in this case the ordering terminal 61.
  • the ordering terminal again inputs the received data to the printer 62, which prints a print 65.
  • both the ordering terminal 61 and the mobile station MS comprise transceivers 64 and 66 for establishing a short-range wireless link 67, such as a Bluetooth link, between the devices.
  • the MS sets up the Bluetooth link 67 to the ordering terminal 61 , and the user is able to control the ordering terminal 61 via the user interface.
  • the user se- lects the information to be printed, and preferably enters a user ID and a password.
  • the ordering terminal 61 then requests the information from the information server 1 and the information is printed on the printer 62, as was described above.
  • the user is able to select the desired information and iden- tify himself e.g. by means of a user ID and a password at the user interface 53 of the ordering terminal at the service station 5.
  • the ordering terminal 51 orders the selected information from the information server 1 , which returns it via a suitable return channel.
  • the ordering terminal 51 inputs the information further to the printer 52, which prints the information on the desired carrier.
  • the customer is billed for the print afterwards in accordance with the billing conditions of the subscription.
  • the user is also able to identify himself by inserting an identification module, such as a magnetic stripe card, into the reader 54, and the reader reads it.
  • the card may also include the print profile desired by the user, in which case the user only has to confirm the printing at the interface 53.
  • the reader 54 may also be used for paying for the print with a bank or credit card. In this case, no other kind of user identification is needed.
  • An advantageous way to implement the production of data desired by a customer is based on a code system on an information carrier at the customer point, the code system being readable with a suitable device, such as the reader 54, or a supplementary device connected to the mobile station.
  • a tray or tray mat at a restaurant may comprise such a code system.
  • the code system may be based on for example a bar code, a magnetic stripe, or another readable code.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a tray mat 56 comprising a bar code 57 at one edge. A plain text explanation of the corresponding information packet may be placed next to the code.
  • the reader 54 may decode the code to enable the customer to select the desired information packet.
  • Figure 1 also shows a wireless reader 58 having a Bluetooth link 69 to the ordering terminal 51.
  • both the ordering terminal and the reader comprise wireless transceivers 59 and 60.
  • the reader 58 may also comprise a suitable user inter- face. In this case, when the user reads the code or selects an information packet at the user interface using the reader 58, the selection is wirelessly transferred to the ordering terminal, which carries out the order and printing in the manner described in the previous examples.
  • the information server 1 and the distributed printing devices are able to communicate with each other via various telecommunication systems.
  • the distribution channel besides conventional distribution methods, data transfer based on the electrical power network, a cable TV network and microwave links is also feasible.
  • Particularly interesting ways to implement the distribution channel in- elude broadcasting networks, such as DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) and DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting).
  • DVB Digital Video Broadcasting
  • DAB Digital Audio Broadcasting
  • the primary tasks of these net- works are radio and television transmissions, they have also been thought as ways to transfer various data services to customers.
  • ETSI European Telecommunications Standards Institute
  • Internet services have been planned to be transferred via common channels (IP tunnelling).
  • the printing device at the restaurant 6 also comprises a DVB receiver 63 capable of receiving DVB broadcasts from a digital television network DVB8.
  • the printing device has an IP address.
  • the information server 1 receives an order for information (e.g. by one of the previously de- scribed methods) and the IP address of the printing device, it sends the requested information to said address via the DVB8 network. This is carried out for example by the information server 1 encapsulating an IP datagram into another IP datagram that includes the address of the DVB server of the DVB network 8. This is how the actual datagram is tunnelled between the informa- tion server 1 and the DVB network 8.
  • the DVB network separates the actual IP datagram from the tunnelling datagram and sends it in a bit stream 81 on a broadcast channel.
  • the DVB receiver 63 receives the broadcast from the DVB network and detects an IP datagram provided with its address in the bit stream.
  • the received datagram is relayed to the ordering terminal 61. This way the information server 1 sends new datagrams until the entire desired information packet is sent.
  • the ordering terminal 61 then relays the information to the printer 62, which prints the information on an information carrier 65.
  • the use of a DVB network as a distribution channel is particularly advantageous if the media company using the printing service of the invention also has e.g. a digi- tal television channel.
  • An example of transferring selected data according to the invention is the transfer of information on the tray mat of a hamburger restaurant or a pizzeria.
  • the desired information may be ordered in various ways. The simplest way is for a customer to order and at the same time indicate what he wishes to read when waiting for and enjoying the meal. It may be the economics or sports section of a given newspaper, for example. The children may request for the comic strips of the same newspaper, for example.
  • the salesperson uses an ordering terminal located in the restaurant to order said information to be printed on a digital printing machine placed in the restaurant, by one of the technical solutions presented above, for example. Printing takes place immediately and the customer receives the news or comic strips printed on the tray mat.
  • the information ordered may include selected news or news headlines, comic strips or ads.
  • News headlines may be associated with the chance to order additional information on said news item by means of a similar code system as was described above.
  • the invention also enables efficient advertising for corner stores.
  • the customer may order the special offers and brochures of corner stores for study during the eating. This may be implemented for example by printing a list of corner stores, their goods and services, including a contact code, on the tray mat.
  • the code is used to contact a network that transfers data on that particular product together with other selected objects for digital printing in the restaurant.
  • a new code may be further printed on this print for the customer to use, if need be, to place an order with his mobile phone.
  • the customer may also use the code and his mobile phone's WAP functions and place his order in an electronic form (e-business). Advertising may also be personified without the customer having any active role.
  • the invention enables advertising to be directed such that when taking a fast food order, the salesperson transfers data to the network about having a customer of a given age and sex, for example.
  • the special offers of corner stores are printed on the tray mat that are the most likely to interest said person.
  • the information server 1 may also contain a more specific profile of the customer, adapted to his previous buying habits or orders for news and special offers. This provides a convenient way to attach, to the news order, the special offers of corner stores that are the most likely to interest said person. These may naturally be provided with a chance to obtain additional information as printed matter or onto the display of a mobile station, and the chance to place an order via services provided by a mobile operator, for example.
  • the above presents a fast food restaurant or a pizzeria as the site.
  • the data transfer solution of the invention is equally well usable for example in hotels.
  • a visitor is able to order the news he is interested in to the breakfast table for reading, for example when abroad, the latest news from home printed in his own language. Similarly, the latest news could be available at airport terminals, railway stations, etc.
  • a tourist may be interested in receiving the map of the neighbourhood printed on paper.
  • the information service received may be free of charge, but it is more usual for the recipient of the information to pay for the service. Billing may occur when the order placed is paid for.
  • Other alternatives include the above-described subscriptions, charge cards, adding the cost to the telephone bill, etc.
  • a tray mat was mentioned as an example of the print carrier. This is a natural means since it is used anyway in hamburger restaurants and pizzerias. However, the intention is in no way to limit the idea to said print carrier.
  • Other examples of print carriers include packaging material or sticker material attached to a package. Generally, any paper or paperboard carrier associated with the product or service sold can be used. However, the most typical alter- native is to use paper or paperboard intended for this purpose, since it also ensures the best printing quality.

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  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Development Economics (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
  • Game Theory and Decision Science (AREA)
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation (AREA)
  • Economics (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)

Abstract

Des informations, des publicités et des taux de change et boursiers sont stockés et gardés sous forme numérique dans au moins un serveur d'informations centralisé (1) accessible par un réseau public de données. En outre, on met à disposition,d ans le cadre d'un usage commun, un nombre important de machines d'impression numériques au niveau de points de service clientèle répartis géographiquement (5, 6, 7). On sélectionne les données à imprimer au niveau du point de service clientèle et on envoie au serveur d'informations, par le biais du réseau public de données (4), une demande concernant les données sélectionnées conjointement à des données identifiant le dispositif d'impression demandé ou un point de service clientèle. Le serveur d'informations (1) envoie les données demandées sous forme numérique au dispositif d'impression souhaité (51, 52, 61, 62) qui imprime les informations sur papier (65).
PCT/FI2001/000768 2000-09-06 2001-09-05 Procede et dispositif d'impression, et serveur d'informations WO2002021255A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2001284080A AU2001284080A1 (en) 2000-09-06 2001-09-05 Printing method, printing device and information server

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI20001971 2000-09-06
FI20001971A FI20001971A (fi) 2000-09-06 2000-09-06 Tulostusmenetelmä, tulostuslaitteisto ja informaatiopalvelin

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2002021255A1 true WO2002021255A1 (fr) 2002-03-14

Family

ID=8559034

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/FI2001/000768 WO2002021255A1 (fr) 2000-09-06 2001-09-05 Procede et dispositif d'impression, et serveur d'informations

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2001284080A1 (fr)
FI (1) FI20001971A (fr)
WO (1) WO2002021255A1 (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4425619A (en) * 1980-06-23 1984-01-10 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Selective read out of one hour transaction data in an electronic cash register
US5799283A (en) * 1995-05-10 1998-08-25 Francisco; Paul A. Point of sale governmental sales and use tax reporting and receipt system
EP0943984A2 (fr) * 1998-03-20 1999-09-22 Xerox Corporation Page de couverture client et serveur
EP0971287A2 (fr) * 1998-07-08 2000-01-12 Seiko Epson Corporation Imprimante ayant un dispositif de communication

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4425619A (en) * 1980-06-23 1984-01-10 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Selective read out of one hour transaction data in an electronic cash register
US5799283A (en) * 1995-05-10 1998-08-25 Francisco; Paul A. Point of sale governmental sales and use tax reporting and receipt system
EP0943984A2 (fr) * 1998-03-20 1999-09-22 Xerox Corporation Page de couverture client et serveur
EP0971287A2 (fr) * 1998-07-08 2000-01-12 Seiko Epson Corporation Imprimante ayant un dispositif de communication

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2001284080A1 (en) 2002-03-22
FI20001971A (fi) 2002-03-07
FI20001971A0 (fi) 2000-09-06

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