JP4006282B2 - Printing system, printing apparatus, server, and advertisement display method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing system, a printing apparatus, a server, and an advertisement display method for printing user print data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a single copy machine is installed in a store such as a convenience store, and the copy function is provided as a service to customers.
[0003]
On the other hand, with the advent of the recent digital multifunction peripherals, the basis for using this copier as a network-connected printer has begun.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, digital multifunction peripherals that have started to appear are expensive, and it is not clear whether there is an advantage in replacing digital multifunction peripherals with stores that only offered inexpensive copy services. Even if you do, it has not reached the point where it can be used.
[0005]
Moreover, even if it is simply a print service, there is little demand for merely printing, which may not lead to store services.
[0006]
In addition, it is difficult to select a customer (a customer who requests printing) who should provide a printing system as a store.
[0007]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a printing system, a printing apparatus, a server, and an advertisement display method that can use a printing apparatus installed in a store at low cost.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a printing system according to the present invention includes a printing apparatus installed in a store and connected to each other via a network, and a server that displays a list display of store information on a user's terminal through the network. A terminal for the user to select the printing device, and the server instructs the printing device of the store selected by the user to print the print data instructed by the user, and the selected Store advertisement information is displayed on the user's terminal.
[0009]
In the printing system according to the present invention, the advertisement information of the store includes information obtained by reading an advertisement image formed on the sheet material with a scanner.
[0010]
In the printing system according to the present invention, the store includes a unique homepage, and the advertisement information includes information described on the store-specific homepage.
[0011]
In the printing system according to the present invention, the advertisement information of the store includes information described on a homepage stored in the server.
[0012]
In the printing system according to the present invention, the server displays a reception number for a print request from the terminal on the user terminal.
[0013]
In the printing system according to the present invention, the store information includes information about the printing device of the store, and the information about the printing device includes paper information and printing fee information that can be used in the printing device. At least one of them.
[0014]
Further, in the printing system according to the present invention, the list display is displayed by dividing a store for each category of the store.
[0015]
In the printing system according to the present invention, the category includes at least one of paper information and printing fee information usable in the printing apparatus.
[0016]
In the printing system according to the present invention, the list display is displayed on a pull-down menu on the terminal.
[0017]
In the printing system according to the present invention, the server searches only for stores that match the keyword input from the terminal, and displays a list display of the searched store information on the terminal.
[0018]
In the printing system according to the present invention, the server instructs printing without displaying an advertisement based on the setting of the store.
[0019]
In the printing system according to the present invention, the server does not cause the user to delete the advertisement information screen displayed on the user terminal until a predetermined time has elapsed.
[0020]
In the printing system according to the present invention, the terminal uploads print data stored in the terminal to the server as data to be printed on the printing apparatus via a network.
[0021]
In the printing system according to the present invention, the terminal uses the printing data stored in an external storage device connected to the server via a network as data to be printed by the printing device.
[0022]
In the printing system according to the present invention, the server converts the print data received from the terminal into format data that can be printed by the designated printing apparatus, and transmits the format data to the printing apparatus.
[0023]
In the printing system according to the present invention, the store discounts the printing fee by placing an advertisement.
[0024]
Furthermore, the printing device according to the present invention is a printing device installed in a store, and acquires and manages information on the printing device of the store, and displays a list display of store information on a user terminal through a network, And a printing device connected to a terminal and a network for the user to select the printing device, and the server stores print data instructed by the user to the printing device at the store selected by the user. A print instruction is issued, and the advertisement information of the selected store is displayed on the user's terminal.
[0025]
Furthermore, the server according to the present invention acquires and manages information on the printing device of the store connected to the printing device installed in the store via the network, and displays a list display of the store information on the user terminal through the network. A server, connected by a network to a terminal for the user to select the printing device, and instructing the printing device of the store selected by the user to print the print data instructed by the user, The advertisement information of the selected store is displayed on the user's terminal.
[0026]
Furthermore, the advertisement display method according to the present invention is an advertisement display method for displaying an advertisement, a display step for displaying a list display of information on a store in which the printing apparatus is installed to the user, and a method selected by the user. A printing control process for instructing printing to a printing apparatus installed in the store, and an advertisement display process for displaying advertisement information of the store selected by the user to the user.
[0027]
According to the present invention, in a printing system in which a printing apparatus that can be connected to a network is installed and a print request is received from a remote user's terminal, information on the printing apparatus in the store is acquired and managed, Display a list of stores on the user's terminal, obtain user data, issue a print instruction to the printer at the store selected by the user, display an advertisement screen for the selected store on the user's terminal, and accept print requests Display the number on the user's terminal.
[0028]
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing system capable of realizing at least one of store advertising effects, collection of customers with print requests, inexpensive print services through advertisements, and printable store search services. can do.
[0029]
The sheet material referred to in the present invention includes paper, an OHP sheet, and the like, but the sheet material referred to in the present invention is not limited to this, and includes other sheet materials.
[0030]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified. Absent.
[0031]
Further, in the following drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those described in the above-described drawings.
[0032]
The description of each embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention described below also serves as the description of each embodiment of the printing apparatus, server, and advertisement display method according to the present invention.
[0033]
(First Embodiment of Printing System)
Next, a first embodiment of a printing system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0034]
FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a printing system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an output device constituting the user-side PC 100, and 102 denotes a CPU constituting the user-side PC 100.
[0035]
Reference numeral 103 denotes an input device constituting the PC 100 on the user side, and reference numeral 104 denotes a storage device of the PC 100. These devices constituting the PC 100 are connected to each other by a bus 109.
[0036]
Reference numeral 110 denotes an external storage device connected to the PC 100 on the user side.
[0037]
Reference numeral 105 denotes a server, and 106 denotes an external storage device of the server. Reference numeral 107 denotes a digital multifunction peripheral of the store 120, and reference numeral 108 denotes a network such as the Internet or a telephone line.
[0038]
The store 120 is generally a convenience store, but the store in the printing system according to the present invention includes not only a convenience store but also a place where other printing devices such as department stores and stationery stores can be installed. . In addition, the store 120 is not necessarily limited to a place where products are sold, and may be a place where services are provided. In the present invention, the number of PCs 100, servers 105, and stores 120 is not limited to one, and may be an arbitrary number of one or more.
[0039]
Here, the internal configuration of the server 105 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The server 105 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111, an input device 112, a main storage device 113, an output device 114, an auxiliary storage device 115, and a clock device 116.
[0040]
The CPU 111 is a component as an alias processing device, and includes a control device 117 that sends commands to each device in the system and controls the operation thereof, and an arithmetic device 118 that performs arithmetic processing of digital data at the central part of the server. .
[0041]
Here, the CPU 111 is used alone or in combination with the other components shown in FIG. 1 or in cooperation with a program stored in the main storage device 113 or the auxiliary storage device 115. Functions as acquisition management means, list display means, print instruction means, and display means described in the range.
[0042]
The control device 117 reads data input from the input device 112 and a predetermined procedure (for example, a program or software) into the main storage device 113 in accordance with the timing of the clock generated by the clock device 116, and based on the read content. An instruction is sent to the arithmetic unit 118 to perform arithmetic processing.
[0043]
The result of this arithmetic processing is transmitted to an internal device such as the main storage device 113, the output device 114, and the auxiliary storage device 115, an external device, or the like based on the control of the control device 117.
[0044]
The input device 112 is a component for inputting various data. For example, a keyboard, a mouse, a pointing device, a touch panel, a mouse pad, a CCD camera, a card reader, a paper tape reader, a magnetic tape device, and the like can be considered.
[0045]
The main storage device 113 is a component called an alias memory, and is a component indicating an addressable storage space used for executing instructions in the processing device and the internal storage device.
[0046]
The main memory device 113 is mainly composed of semiconductor memory elements, stores and holds input programs and data, and reads the stored and held data to, for example, a register in accordance with an instruction from the control device 117.
[0047]
Further, examples of the semiconductor memory element that constitutes the main memory device 113 include a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory).
[0048]
The output device 114 is a component for outputting the calculation result of the calculation device 118, and corresponds to, for example, a CRT, a plasma display panel and a liquid crystal display or other display devices, a printing device such as a printer, an audio output device, or the like.
[0049]
The auxiliary storage device 115 is a component for supplementing the storage capacity of the main storage device 113. The medium used for the auxiliary storage device 115 is a CD-ROM, a hard disk, or the like, for example, a write-once system capable of writing information. CD-R, DVD-R, phase change recording CD-RW, DVD-RAM, DVD + RW, PD, magneto-optical storage medium, magnetic recording medium, removable HDD recording medium, flash A memory recording medium is used.
[0050]
Here, each of the above devices is connected to each other by a bus 119.
[0051]
Further, in the server 105 according to the present invention, if there is an unnecessary device among the devices shown in FIG. 1, it can be appropriately deleted. For example, a display that constitutes the output device 114 may be unnecessary, and in this case, the output device 114 may be unnecessary in the server according to the present invention.
[0052]
The numbers of the main storage device 113 and the auxiliary storage device 115 are not limited to one each, and may be any number. As the number of the main storage devices 113 and auxiliary storage devices 115 increases, the fault tolerance of the server is improved accordingly.
[0053]
Various programs according to the present invention are stored (recorded) in at least one of the main storage device 113 and the auxiliary storage device 115.
[0054]
Therefore, the computer-readable recording medium that records the program according to the present invention corresponds to at least one of the main storage device 113 and the auxiliary storage device 115.
[0055]
Next, the operation of the printing system shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0056]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of basic operations of the printing system shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing server-side processing of the display state of the advertisement window displayed in the printing system shown in FIG.
[0057]
In FIG. 1, step 201 is a step in which the server 105 displays the basic screen of the printing system on the output device of the PC 100 owned by the user.
[0058]
Step 202 is a step in which the user selects a store for printing and waits for printing.
[0059]
Step 203 is a step in which the server 105 displays the advertisement data registered in the server (stored in the external storage device) in a window on the output device of the PC 100 owned by the user.
[0060]
Step 204 is a step in which the PC 100 transmits print data designated by the user from the external storage device 104 of the user's PC 100.
[0061]
Step 205 is a step in which the server 105 determines whether the print data of the user is data that can be printed by the printer of the selected store.
[0062]
Step 206 is a step in which the server 105 converts the print data into printable data suitable for the printer.
[0063]
Step 207 is a step in which the server 105 transmits a print instruction and print data to the printer of the designated store.
[0064]
Step 208 is a step in which the digital multifunction peripheral 107 in the store performs printing.
[0065]
The operation of the first embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0066]
The server 105 is “ Opened “Print Service Homepage”. This home page is shown at 401 in FIG.
[0067]
Instead of providing the advertisement display function, the company contracts for a discount on the print fee.
[0068]
Company C provides a “printing system” to customers who sell their digital devices, saying “you can print at a convenience store near your home”.
[0069]
A user who has a digital device but does not have a printing device accesses the home page on the server 105 from the home PC 100 via the Internet to “Print Service Home Page”. A “print service homepage” is displayed on the PC 100 (step 201).
[0070]
The homepage has a function to display a list of contracted stores. The store list is categorized as “prefecture”, “municipalities”, and “approximate area” in consideration of user convenience, and the user can select a store near his home. Here, the print service homepage waits for the user to finish setting (step 202).
[0071]
At this time, in addition to the store information, the PC 100 may display at least one piece of information such as usable paper and a printing fee of the digital multifunction peripheral in the store.
[0072]
As a result of searching for a store near the home, the user finds a store whose A4 output is 1 yen per sheet and selects it. Then, the user designates the location of the print data stored in the PC 100 in the “data:” item shown in FIG. 4 and presses the “print” button (step 202).
[0073]
The print service homepage for receiving this request displays advertisement data of the store A registered in advance (steps 501 to 503 in FIG. 5) on the user's PC as a window (step 203).
[0074]
At the same time, the PC 100 copies and transfers the print data from the storage location of the print data of the user's PC 100 input as “data:” to the server 105 with the home page via the Internet (step 204).
[0075]
The server 105 confirms whether the print data of the user is data that can be printed by the digital multifunction peripheral at the store A (step 205).
[0076]
As a result, if the data is print language data that can be understood by the digital multifunction peripheral of store A (YES in step 205), the server 105 transmits the data to the digital multifunction peripheral 107 of store A (step 207). .
[0077]
At this time, the server 105 may display the reception number for the print request from the PC 100 on the output device 101 of the user's PC 100. This receipt number is used when the user receives a printed matter from the digital multifunction peripheral 107.
[0078]
If the user's print data is simply application data (NO in step 205), the server 105 converts the print data into appropriate print language data with a printer driver corresponding to the digital multifunction peripheral at the store A inside the server. (Step 206). Thereafter, the server 105 transmits the data to the digital multifunction peripheral 107 at the store A (step 207).
[0079]
The digital multifunction peripheral 107 of the store A that has received the print language data starts printing (step 208).
[0080]
Next, processing on the server side in the display state of the displayed advertisement window in the printing system shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The processing shown in FIG. 3 is for preventing the advertisement window from being erased for a certain period of time.
[0081]
In FIG. 3, step 301 is a step in which the server 105 monitors the user's window erasing operation.
[0082]
Step 302 is a step in which the server 105 does not delete the window if the user tries to delete the window and has not been displayed for a certain period of time.
[0083]
Step 303 is a step in which the server 105 automatically deletes the advertisement window when a predetermined time has passed without any user deletion operation.
[0084]
Step 304 is a step in which the server 105 actually deletes the advertisement window.
[0085]
The advertisement window of the store A is opened and displayed on the PC 100 of the user who has designated printing. Most users try to close the advertisement screen immediately (step 301).
[0086]
However, since the minimum display time has not yet elapsed (step 302), the screen cannot be closed. No matter how many times the user closes, it cannot be closed until the minimum display time has elapsed.
[0087]
If the user tries to close after the minimum display time has elapsed, the advertisement window is closed (step 304).
[0088]
Even if the user keeps displaying the advertisement window, the advertisement window is closed (step 304) when the set display time has elapsed (step 303).
[0089]
As described above, in the first embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention, the effects as shown in FIG. 4 can be obtained. Details are described below.
[0090]
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the effects of the first embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention and the actual flow of printing work.
[0091]
The dotted arrows in the figure show the advantages provided by the present invention. Solid arrows indicate printing operations. In FIG. 4, 401 is a homepage established by the server 105, 402 is an advertisement, and 403 is a store.
[0092]
The user can obtain an “inexpensive printing service” and a “service for selecting an appropriate printer from a registered store” by the printing system screen displayed by the server (administrator) (dotted arrow “discounted printing service”). .
[0093]
Here, the discount printing service is a service in which a printing fee is discounted by a predetermined amount (or rate) from a normal fee.
[0094]
The server 105 displays the advertisement 402 of the store 403 selected by the user on the home page 401 on the display device of the user. Thereby, an advertisement of the store 403 is shown to the user, and the store 403 obtains an advertisement effect (dotted line arrow “advertisement effect”).
[0095]
The store 403 can acquire the advertisement effect and provide a discount printing service providing method to the store user, and the user having the print request of the server administrator can also be acquired as a customer of the store 403. .
[0096]
For this reason, it is possible to recommend the purchase of a multifunction device to the store 403 together with the introduction of the printing system (dotted arrow “Molder purchase”).
[0097]
The above is the effect of the first embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention. However, if the server administrator is a company having a user who has a print request and is in a position capable of providing a digital multifunction peripheral, Increases system effectiveness.
[0098]
(Second Embodiment of Printing System)
Next, a second embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart on the server side in the case where registration of advertisement data is performed from a digital multifunction peripheral in a store in the second embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention.
[0099]
Note that the configuration of the second embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention described above, and therefore the drawing of the first embodiment is used. Only differences from the first embodiment will be described, and other detailed description will be omitted.
[0100]
In FIG. 5, step 501 is a step in which the server 105 waits for advertisement data rewrite notification.
[0101]
Step 502 is a step in which the server 105 receives advertisement data from the digital multifunction peripheral at the store when the server 105 receives the notification.
[0102]
Step 503 is a step in which the server 105 stores the received advertisement data in the external storage device 106 of the server 105.
[0103]
Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described in more detail. The store A that wants to display the paper advertisement distributed at the store as image data first informs the server 105 to start rewriting the advertisement data (step 501).
[0104]
The store A scans advertisements using the scanner of the digital multi-function peripheral 107 installed in the store A to generate image data.
[0105]
The image data is transmitted to the server 105 via the network 108 (step 502) and stored in the external storage device 106 of the server 105 (step 503).
[0106]
This image data is displayed as it is in the advertisement window. The store A can easily change the advertisement contents by this method whenever it wants to change the advertisement.
[0107]
Thus, in the second embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the first embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention described above, and change the advertisement from the store side. It can be done easily.
[0108]
(Third embodiment of printing system)
Next, a third embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention will be described. The configuration of the third embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention described above, and is different from the first embodiment described above. Only the above will be described, and other detailed description will be omitted.
[0109]
This embodiment is an embodiment relating to registration of advertisement data. In this embodiment, the store A has its own home page and creates its own advertising window.
[0110]
It is also possible to register and display this advertisement window. In this case, the store registration window on the print service home page is opened, and only the URL with the content to be displayed at the specified location is described.
[0111]
As described above, in the third embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention, the same effects as those of the first embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention described above can be obtained, and a website unique to the store is created. The advertisement window can be registered and displayed.
[0112]
(Fourth embodiment of printing system)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention will be described. The configuration of the fourth embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention described above, and is different from the first embodiment described above. Only the above will be described, and other detailed description will be omitted.
[0113]
This embodiment is an embodiment relating to registration of advertisement data. In this embodiment, the store A does not have a home page, but it is possible to create page content for advertisement on the server of the print service home page. The page created here is displayed as an advertisement window.
[0114]
As described above, in the fourth embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention, the same effect as that of the first embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention described above can be obtained, and an advertisement is sent to the server of the print service homepage. Page content can be created.
[0115]
(Fifth embodiment of printing system)
Next, a fifth embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention will be described. The configuration of the fifth embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention, and is different from the first embodiment described above. Only the above will be described, and other detailed description will be omitted.
[0116]
This embodiment relates to a store list display. The store list of the present embodiment is displayed in a pull-down menu for each category so that the user can easily understand. At least one of the store location, the usable paper of the printing apparatus, the printing fee, and the like can be classified and displayed by category.
[0117]
As described above, in the fifth embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention, the same effects as those of the first embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention described above can be obtained, and a list of stores can be obtained for each category. It becomes possible to display with a pull-down menu, so that the user can easily understand.
[0118]
(Sixth embodiment of printing system)
Next, a sixth embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention will be described. The configuration of the sixth embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention described above, and is different from the first embodiment described above. Only the above will be described, and other detailed description will be omitted.
[0119]
This embodiment relates to store search. In this embodiment, the print service home page has a store search function.
[0120]
In the present embodiment, the server 105 displays only a list of stores that match the keyword specified by the user. As a result, the user can select a store from a list of only stores with conditions that match his print.
[0121]
As described above, in the sixth embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention, the same effects as those of the first embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention described above can be obtained, and the same applies to the keyword specified by the user. By displaying only the stores as a list, the user can select a store from a list of only stores with conditions that match his print.
[0122]
(Seventh embodiment of printing system)
Next, a seventh embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention will be described. The configuration of the seventh embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention described above, and is different from the first embodiment described above. Only the above will be described, and other detailed description will be omitted.
[0123]
This embodiment is an embodiment when no advertisement window is displayed. In the present embodiment, the advertisement window is not displayed depending on the store registration.
[0124]
In this embodiment, the administrator of the server 105 performs a setting of “do not display an advertisement” on the store setting screen of the print service homepage. Further, the advertisement can be prevented from being displayed even when the advertisement data is not entered on the store setting screen.
[0125]
As described above, in the seventh embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention, the same effects as those of the first embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention described above can be obtained. The advertisement can be prevented from being displayed in at least one of the cases where the advertisement data is not entered on the setting screen.
[0126]
(Eighth embodiment of printing system)
Next, an eighth embodiment of a printing system according to the present invention will be described. The configuration of the eighth embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention described above, and is different from the first embodiment described above. Only the above will be described, and other detailed description will be omitted.
[0127]
In each of the embodiments described above, a PC is used as a user terminal. However, the terminal used in the printing system according to the present invention is not limited to a PC, and any terminal can be used as long as it can be connected to the Internet and has an input / output device. Also, the public line is not limited to the Internet, and can be realized when a store and a server with a print service homepage are connected by a dedicated line.
[0128]
As described above, in the eighth embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention, the same effects as those of the first embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention described above can be obtained, and the user terminal is limited to the PC. In addition, anything that can be connected to the Internet and has an input / output device can be used.
[0129]
(Ninth embodiment of printing system)
Next, a ninth embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention will be described. The configuration of the ninth embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention, and is different from the first embodiment. Only the above will be described, and other detailed description will be omitted.
[0130]
This embodiment is an embodiment relating to designation of user print data. The user designates the print data on the print service home page, but at that time, the data itself may not be in the external storage device of the PC owned by the user.
[0131]
In this embodiment, print data is stored in an external storage device (for example, a homepage server provided by a third party) in a system having an external storage device connected to the same network as the network to which the server of the print service homepage can be connected. Save.
[0132]
Thus, in the present embodiment, an external storage device in a system having an external storage device connected to the same network as the network to which the server of the print service homepage can be connected (for example, in a homepage server provided by a third party) If the print data is stored in (), printing is possible. In that case, the user inputs the URL of the stored data.
[0133]
As described above, in the ninth embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention, the same effects as those of the first embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention can be obtained, and the server of the print service homepage can be connected. It becomes possible to print print data stored in an external storage device (for example, in a homepage server provided by a third party) in a system having an external storage device connected to the same network as a possible network. .
[0134]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the user instructs printing from the terminal, the server displays advertisement information on the user's terminal. Then, the printing fee is discounted corresponding to the display of the advertisement to the user.
[0135]
As a result, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain the effects of exhibiting the advertisement effect of the store for the user, reducing the printing fee, and recommending the purchase of the printing device for the store.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a printing system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a basic operation flow of the printing system shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing server-side processing of an advertisement window display state displayed in the printing system shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the effects of the first embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention and the flow of actual printing work.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart on the server side in the case of registering advertisement data from a digital multifunction peripheral in a store in the second embodiment of the printing system according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
101 Output device
102 CPU
103 Input device
104 External storage device
105 servers
106 External storage device
107 Digital MFP
108 network
109 bus
110 External storage device
111 CPU
112 Input device
113 Main memory
114 output device
115 Auxiliary storage device
116 Clock device
117 control device
118 Arithmetic unit
119 bus
120 stores
401 Homepage
402 Advertising
403 stores

Claims (19)

Connected to each other by a network,
A printing device installed in the store;
A server for displaying a list of store information on the user's terminal through the network;
A terminal for the user to select the printing device;
The server is configured to instruct the printing device of the store selected by the user to print the print data instructed by the user, and to display the advertisement information of the selected store on the user's terminal. system. In the advertising information of the store,
The printing system according to claim 1, comprising information obtained by reading an advertisement image formed on a sheet material with a scanner. The store has its own homepage,
The advertising information is
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system includes information described on a homepage unique to the store. In the advertising information of the store,
The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising information described on a homepage stored in the server. 5. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the server displays a reception number for a print request from the terminal on the user's terminal. 6. The store information includes information about the printing device of the store,
6. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the information of the printing apparatus includes at least one of paper information and printing fee information that can be used in the printing apparatus. . The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the list display is performed by dividing a store for each category of the store. The category includes
The printing system according to claim 7, wherein at least one of paper information and printing fee information usable in the printing apparatus is included. The list display is
The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is displayed by a pull-down menu on the terminal. The server
Search only for stores that match the keyword entered from the device,
10. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein a list display of the searched store information is displayed on the terminal. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the server instructs printing without displaying an advertisement based on a store setting. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the server does not cause the user to delete the advertisement information screen displayed on the terminal of the user until a predetermined time has elapsed. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the terminal uploads print data stored in the terminal to the server through a network as data to be printed on the printing apparatus. . The printing according to claim 1, wherein the terminal uses the printing data stored in an external storage device connected to the server via a network as data to be printed by the printing device. system. 15. The server according to claim 1, wherein the server converts print data received from the terminal into format data that can be printed by a designated printing apparatus, and transmits the format data to the printing apparatus. The printing system described. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the store discounts a printing fee by placing an advertisement. A printing device installed in a store,
A server for acquiring and managing information of the printing device of the store, and displaying a list display of store information on the user's terminal through the network; and
A printing device connected to a terminal and a network for the user to select the printing device;
The server is configured to instruct the printing device of the store selected by the user to print the print data instructed by the user, and to display the advertisement information of the selected store on the user's terminal. apparatus. Connected to the printing device installed in the store via a network,
It is a server that acquires and manages information of the printing device of the store, and displays a list display of store information through a network on a user's terminal,
Connected by a network with a terminal for the user to select the printing device;
A server characterized by instructing the printing device of the store selected by the user to print the print data instructed by the user and displaying the advertisement information of the selected store on the user's terminal. An advertisement display method for displaying an advertisement,
A display step for displaying to the user a list display of information about the store where the printing apparatus is installed;
A print control process for instructing printing to a printing apparatus installed in a store selected by the user;
An advertisement display method comprising: an advertisement display step of displaying advertisement information of a store selected by the user to the user.

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