JP4058221B2 - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, storage medium storing information processing program, and information processing system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a storage medium storing an information processing program, for browsing various information and printing printed matter to be attached to various media, and performing mutual communication using a network, and This relates to an information processing system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when a user (hereinafter simply referred to as a user) of an information processing apparatus service having a printing function installed in a store or the like prints printed matter, the user installs the information processing apparatus. It was necessary to go to the printer, determine the contents to be printed by directly operating the information processing apparatus, and print.
[0003]
In addition, in order for the user to obtain the latest information on various items related to the data to be printed, the user himself / herself directly operates the information processing apparatus, or an information medium created for a large number of people such as an information magazine or a bulletin board. And the user himself / herself had to find out the desired information from among a lot of information.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described conventional example, when the printing content is determined and printed when the printing system is used, it is necessary for the user himself / herself to search for information to be printed from an information magazine and directly operate the information processing apparatus.
[0005]
The present invention, on the other hand, is not only the spread of information and communication infrastructure, but also the progress of downsizing, high performance, and multi-functionality of information processing equipment such as personal computers. Mutual communication between communication media is possible. In addition, the spread of portable information terminals such as mobile phones that support the sending and receiving of Internet mail (e-mails sent via the Internet) and various information services allows users to provide various services regardless of time and place. It becomes possible to receive.
[0006]
In view of the above problems, various services such as e-mail can be used to enable mutual communication between the information processing device and the user's equipment, thereby making the user unaware of time and place. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a storage medium storing an information processing program, and a printing system that can easily create print contents and obtain various desired information.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The information processing apparatus of the present application includes a storage unit that stores print information, a reservation reception unit that receives a print reservation request transmitted from a user via a network, and print information that is printed based on the received reservation request. and print information retrieval means for retrieving from said storage means, based on the print information retrieved by the print information searching means, have a image creating means for creating printing image information, said memory means further stores user information An information processing apparatus, further comprising: an update unit that updates print information stored in the storage unit; a print information updated by the update unit; and a user who searches for a user to be notified from the user information It has a search means and a notification means for notifying a user searched by the user search means .
[0008]
The information processing method of the present application is based on the reservation accepting step of accepting a print reservation request transmitted from a user via a network in an information processing apparatus having a storage means for storing print information, and the accepted reservation request. a print information searching step of searching the print information to be printed from the storage means, based on the print information retrieved by the print information searching step, have a image creation step of creating print image information, said memory means further In the information processing apparatus that stores user information, the update step of updating the print information stored in the storage unit, the print information updated by the update step, and the user information are notified from the user. User search step to search and notify users searched in the user search step And having a notification step of performing.
[0009]
A storage medium storing a computer-readable information processing program of the present application is a reservation receiving step for receiving a print reservation request transmitted from a user via a network in an information processing apparatus having a storage means for storing print information; A print information retrieval step for retrieving print information to be printed from the storage unit based on the accepted reservation request; and an image creation step for creating print image information based on the print information retrieved in the print information retrieval step; have a, in the information processing apparatus in which the storage means further stores user information, further, the update step of updating the print information stored in the storage unit, the print information updated by said updating step, the A user search step for searching for a user to be notified from user information and And having a notification step of notifying the user searched in the user search step.
[0010]
The information processing system of the present application is an information processing system including an information processing apparatus, a server, and an information terminal connected via a network, and the information terminal specifies the information processing apparatus for printing. Transmission means for transmitting the reservation request to the server, the server receiving means for receiving the reservation request, and transfer means for transferring the received reservation request to the designated information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes: a storage unit that stores print information; a reservation reception unit that receives a print reservation request transferred from the server; and print information that is printed based on the received reservation request and print information retrieval means for retrieving from said storage means, based on the print information retrieved by the print information searching means, have the image creating means for creating printing image information The information processing system further includes an information processing apparatus for storing user information, wherein the information processing apparatus further includes an update means for updating print information stored in the storage means, and the update From the print information updated by the means and the user information, a user search means for searching for a user to be notified, and a notification means for notifying the user searched by the user search means, the information terminal comprises: Informing the user of the notification .
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, an information processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a label creating apparatus) capable of printing labels attached to music and audio recording media such as MD (Mini Disc) and cassette tape and browsing music related information. Will be described using a printing system using
[0012]
<System configuration>
FIG. 1 shows an example of the system configuration of a typical information processing system according to this embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a label producing apparatus.
[0013]
An information processing apparatus (computer) 102 is connected to the network 104 and serves as a server having a function of transmitting and receiving data in response to an external request. In this embodiment, it is called a WWW server.
[0014]
Reference numeral 103 denotes an information terminal device (hereinafter referred to as an information terminal) used directly by the user, which is connected to the network 104 and transmits a request instructed by the user in the form of an e-mail or the like, and an e-mail corresponding to the request And the like, and a function of inputting the user's instructions and displaying the contents of the reply. The information terminal 103 is, for example, a general personal computer having an Internet browsing application program (generally called a WWW browser. For example, Microsoft Internet Explorer) and a network 104 connection function, or a network 104 connection function. And a mobile information processing apparatus having a WWW browser function.
[0015]
Reference numeral 104 denotes a network for transmitting and receiving data between various devices, which is the Internet in this embodiment.
[0016]
<Label making device>
The label producing apparatus 101 has a function of printing a label such as an MD or a cassette tape. The label producing apparatus 101 has a search function to be described later for various information related to printing.
[0017]
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the label producing apparatus 101 of the present embodiment. An information processing unit 202 that performs processing using a program corresponding to a flowchart described later, a touch panel display 203, a scanner 204, a card reader 205, and a printer 206 are incorporated in the housing 201, and a printed matter is output from the output port 207.
[0018]
The information processing unit 202 has a large-capacity storage unit represented by a hard disk or the like. The storage means stores a program for performing processing such as input / update / search of various information as described in a flowchart described later, and a CPU or the like that performs processing in the information processing unit 202 as necessary. Load and execute the program. Further, the storage means has a database for managing information. Note that the program corresponding to the processing performed by the information processing unit 202 may be read or executed from the storage unit, or the storage unit may be built-in or removable. Good. Alternatively, the program may be read from another device and executed through a network.
[0019]
The information processing unit 202 has a network board that connects to a network and enables communication with the outside, and also has a function of transmitting and receiving data such as electronic mail via the network board.
[0020]
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the data items stored in the database of the storage unit in the information processing unit 202 and the relationship between the data items.
[0021]
The user information 301 is a collection of data related to the user of this service. The user name, the user ID, an e-mail address for specifying a transmission destination when communicating with the user, information that the user is interested in, e-mail, etc. It consists of items such as fields and items desired to be distributed, and history information of contents printed by the user using the label producing apparatus 101 in the past.
[0022]
The reservation information 302 is a set of data related to the use reservation of the label producing apparatus, and includes items such as a user ID for identifying a user who has reserved a label print, an artist name and an album name for specifying the print contents. .
[0023]
The print information 303 is a set of data printed on the label and related information, and includes items such as artist name, album name, related new music and event information, and advertisement contents.
[0024]
The user information 301, the reservation information 302, and the print information 303 are related to each other by the following related data items, and mutual data search is possible from this relationship. Reference numerals 304, 305, and 306 indicate data related to each piece of information. 304 indicates that the user information of the reserved user can be searched from the reservation information using the user ID as a keyword. Reference numeral 305 denotes that print information corresponding to the reservation information can be searched using the artist name or album name as a keyword. Reference numeral 306 searches for new user information from the new information, event, and advertisement information in the print information 303, and searches for new music information, event information, and advertisement information corresponding to the user's preferences and past history in the user information 304. Show that it is possible.
[0025]
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining handling of various types of information related to label printing in the information processing unit 202. The network board 401 is a device that performs connection and communication with the network and mediates processing of various application programs operating in the information processing unit 202 and data communication between various information devices on the network. The information management module 402 is an application program that operates on the information processing unit 202, and reads and stores data in a database, which will be described later, and searches the above-described 304, 305, and 306. The database 403 is a database in the storage means included in the information processing unit 202, and holds each piece of information in FIG.
[0026]
Further, the label creating apparatus 101 has a receiving function for receiving data such as user label printing reservation information and data change information from the WWW server 102 as a communication function via the network, and an electronic mail via the WWW server 102. The function of transmitting various types of information to the user information terminal 103 by the user. Data transmission / reception to / from the outside is performed via the network board 401.
[0027]
<WWW server>
The WWW server 102 holds various information related to music, etc., receives data update and additional information over the network to the label creating apparatus 101, and receives various requests from the information terminal 103, and labels accordingly A function of transferring to the creation apparatus 101 is included.
[0028]
Further, the WWW server 102 has a function for transferring an electronic mail to a designated mail address, and also operates as a generally called mail server. Using the function of this WWW server, the label producing apparatus 101 can transmit various information as electronic mail to an information terminal possessed by the user via a network.
[0029]
<Information terminal>
The information terminal 103 used by the user has an electronic mail browsing and creation / editing function, and has a means for connecting to a network, and data such as an electronic mail with the label producing apparatus via the WWW server. Also has a function of transmitting and receiving.
[0030]
<Detailed description of the system>
The information processing system of the present embodiment will be described in detail using an example of printing an MD label for attaching to an MD as shown in FIG. FIG. 5 shows an example of an MD label image printed by this information processing system. Various information such as information relating to the label portions 501 and 501 on which artist names, album names, and song titles are printed, and advertisements related to users are shown. It consists of an advertisement / related information portion 502 for printing additional information.
[0031]
FIG. 6 shows a usage form of the information processing system. First, when print information (for example, new music information or popularity ranking of music) is updated using a WWW server or an information processing apparatus connected to the WWW server via a network or the like, the change contents are printed information. A change request 303 is transmitted from the WWW server 102 to the label producing apparatus 101 (601). Upon receiving the print information change request, the label creating apparatus 101 updates the print information held by itself, searches the user information in the database (306), and lists the users who want to be notified of the updated data. Then, an update notification is sent to those users (602). The user receives the notification by using the electronic mail transmission / reception function of the information terminal 103, and after considering the notification content, transmits a label printing reservation request to the WWW server if the user wishes to print the MD label (603). ). The reservation request includes reservation contents such as a store number for designating a label producing apparatus to be printed, a member number and password for user verification, and an MD label number to be printed. When receiving the reservation request, the WWW server 102 identifies a label producing device to be printed from the store number included in the reservation request, and transfers the reservation request to the label producing device 101 as a request for changing the reservation information 302 (601). . Upon receiving the reservation information change request, the label producing apparatus 101 performs user authentication by comparing the user information 301 of the user with the database from the membership number and password included in the reservation information 302 (304). After the user authentication is completed, appropriate data and layout are searched from the contents of the reservation information (305), and an image of the label portion 501 is created. In addition, an image of the advertisement / related information part 502 is created from the search result (306) of new music / event / advertisement information related to the user's preferences and past history as related information such as advertisements and added to the label part 501. Then, print data of the entire label as shown in FIG. 5 is created and stored.
[0032]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a series of operations of the label producing apparatus 101 in this embodiment.
[0033]
In step S701, when the label producing apparatus 101 receives a change request from the WWW server 102, it starts changing the database. In this embodiment, the print information change request is made by receiving the print information change request 601 from the WWW server 102. The administrator of the label creating apparatus 101 uses a removable medium such as a CD-ROM. The print information may be changed by changing the print information data.
[0034]
In step S702, it is determined whether the change request received in step S701 is a request for changing the print information 303 or a request for changing the reservation information 302.
[0035]
If it is determined in step S702 that the request is a print information change request, the print information 303 held in the database 403 is updated in step S703. When the print information is updated, in step S704, the user information 301 is searched for preferences and past history to list the users related to the updated contents. In step S705, the list of users is listed. To determine whether to notify data update. If it is determined not to notify in S705, the process waits until the next request is received (S708). On the other hand, if it is determined in S705 that the notification is made in step S706, the e-mail address of the user determined to be notified is searched, and in step S707, information on the user to be notified is transmitted using the e-mail transmission function of the WWW server. An e-mail is transmitted to the terminal, and a standby state is entered until the next request is received (S708).
[0036]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S702 that the request is a reservation information change request, the received reservation information 302 is added / changed in step S709. In step S710, the reservation information is recorded as a history of the user information 301. In step S 711, the print information 303 (label related information 501, advertisement related information such as new music / event / advertisement information) related to the reservation information 302 and the user information 304 of the reserved user is searched. In step S712, the image data of the label to be printed is created and saved, and the standby state S708 is entered.
[0037]
Thereafter, in order to print the label reserved for printing, when the user goes to the store where the label producing apparatus 101 designated when the reservation request is made, the ID of the user is stored in the card reader 205 When the ID card is inserted and the personal identification number is entered, after user authentication, printing is performed and the label can be purchased (604). At that time, the user can confirm the label to be printed on the touch panel display 203 and instruct whether or not to perform printing.
[0038]
In addition, the payment at the time of purchasing the label may be made so that the label producing apparatus 101 is provided with an insertion slot for inputting money, or paid at the store where the label producing apparatus 101 is installed. Alternatively, a reading unit such as a credit card may be provided in the label producing apparatus 101 and paid by a credit card or the like, or when making a reservation request 603, a credit card number may be input and paid by the credit card. It may be.
[0039]
As described above, according to this embodiment, since the user creates a label image only by making a reservation request, the user does not have to search for the contents to be printed one by one. In addition, since it is possible to send and receive information between the label creation device in the form of e-mail and the user's information terminal via the network, the user can easily obtain information and can easily place orders. It can be carried out. In addition, the label creation device retains user information, etc., and refers to and analyzes them to create unique information for each user, thus providing information appropriate for each user quickly and reliably. Is possible. Further, since the user is notified when the print information is updated, the user can easily acquire the information and can easily place an order. With this information processing system, the user can use it without being aware of time and place, and can easily transmit and receive desired information.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a label producing apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of label creation device holding information.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a database management module;
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an MD label printing image.
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an information processing system.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation in a change request process.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Label production apparatus 102 WWW server 103 Information terminal 104 Network 201 Label production apparatus housing 202 Information processing section 203 Touch panel display 204 Scanner 205 Card reader 206 Printer 207 Output port 301 User information 302 Reservation information 303 Print information 304 From reservation information Retrieval of user information 305 Retrieval of print information from reservation information 306 Retrieval between user information and print information 401 Network board 402 Information management module 403 Database 501 Label portion 502 Advertisement / related information portion 601 Data change information transmission 602 E-mail Notification 603 Send reservation information 604 Print / purchase label

Claims (20)

Storage means for storing print information;
Reservation accepting means for accepting a print reservation request sent from the user via the network;
Based on the received reservation request, print information search means for searching print information to be printed from the storage means;
Based on the print information retrieved by the print information searching means, have a image creating means for creating printing image information,
An information processing apparatus in which the storage means further stores user information,
Update means for updating print information stored in the storage means;
User search means for searching for a user to be notified from the print information updated by the update means and the user information;
An information processing apparatus comprising notification means for notifying a user searched by the user search means . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the notification by the notification unit is performed by electronic mail. The print information includes data to be printed
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The user information includes a field or item that the user desires to distribute information.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The user information includes past printing history information of the user.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. In an information processing apparatus having storage means for storing print information,
A reservation accepting step for accepting a print reservation request sent from the user via the network;
A print information retrieval step for retrieving print information to be printed from the storage unit based on the accepted reservation request;
Based on the print information retrieved by the print information searching step, it possesses an image generation step of generating print image data,
In the information processing apparatus in which the storage means further stores user information,
An update step of updating the print information stored in the storage means;
A user search step of searching for a user to be notified from the print information updated by the update step and the user information;
An information processing method comprising: a notification step of notifying a user searched in the user search step . The information processing method according to claim 6 , wherein the notification in the notification step is performed by electronic mail. The print information includes data to be printed
The information processing method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by the above. The user information includes a field or item that the user desires to distribute information.
The information processing method according to any one of claims 6 to 8. The user information includes past printing history information of the user.
The information processing method according to any one of claims 6 to 9. In an information processing apparatus having storage means for storing print information,
A reservation accepting step for accepting a print reservation request sent from the user via the network;
A print information retrieval step for retrieving print information to be printed from the storage unit based on the accepted reservation request;
Based on the print information retrieved by the print information searching step, it possesses an image generation step of generating print image data,
In the information processing apparatus in which the storage means further stores user information,
An update step of updating the print information stored in the storage means;
A user search step of searching for a user to be notified from the print information updated by the update step and the user information;
A storage medium storing an information processing program, comprising: a notification step for notifying a user searched in the user search step . The storage medium storing the information processing program according to claim 11 , wherein the notification in the notification step is performed by electronic mail. The print information includes data to be printed
A storage medium storing the information processing program according to claim 11 or 12. The user information includes a field or item that the user desires to distribute information.
A storage medium storing the information processing program according to any one of claims 11 to 13. The user information includes past printing history information of the user.
The storage medium which stored the information processing program of any one of Claims 11 thru | or 14 characterized by the above-mentioned. An information processing system composed of an information processing device, a server, and an information terminal connected via a network,
The information terminal includes a transmission unit configured to transmit a print reservation request designating the information processing apparatus for performing printing to the server;
The server includes receiving means for receiving the reservation request;
Transfer means for transferring the received reservation request to the designated information processing apparatus;
The information processing apparatus includes a storage unit that stores print information;
Reservation accepting means for accepting a print reservation request transferred from the server;
Based on the received reservation request, print information search means for searching print information to be printed from the storage means;
Based on the print information retrieved by the print information searching means, have a image creating means for creating printing image information,
The information processing system further includes an information processing apparatus in which the storage unit stores user information,
The information processing apparatus further includes update means for updating print information stored in the storage means,
User search means for searching for a user to be notified from the print information updated by the update means and the user information;
Notification means for notifying a user searched by the user search means,
The information terminal system notifies the user of the notification . The information processing system according to claim 16 , wherein the notification is performed by electronic mail. The print information includes data to be printed
The information processing system according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that: The user information includes a field or item that the user desires to distribute information.
The information processing system according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein The user information includes past printing history information of the user.
The information processing system according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein

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