JP7564009B2 - Advertising Printing System - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an advertising printing system.

Advertising printing systems are known in which printing fees are covered by advertising fees for advertisements placed in printed matter. In these advertising printing systems, restrictions are usually imposed, such as the advertisement distribution period and an upper limit on the number of pages printed.

When a user uses an advertising printing system to print a printed matter, the user inquires about constraints from a management server that manages advertising information. The management server distributes only printable advertisements to the printing device and prints the advertisements on the printed matter. This prevents the problem of advertisements being printed beyond the distribution period or print limit. Such an advertising printing system is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1.

JP 2020-166646 A

However, the advertising printing system disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not check the constraint conditions when reprinting a document that has already been printed on a printing device. Therefore, when reprinting, the advertisement may be printed beyond the constraint conditions. As a result, a problem may occur in which the advertiser is charged advertising fees for printed matter that is printed in excess of the contracted number of copies to be distributed. Thus, conventional advertising printing systems have the problem of printing advertisements beyond the advertisement distribution period or the upper limit of the number of copies to be printed.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide an advertising printing system that does not print advertisements beyond the advertisement distribution period or print limit.

To achieve the above object, the advertising printing system of the present invention is an advertising printing system having one or more printing devices and an advertising management device that distributes advertising information to the printing devices, wherein the printing device transmits job specification information to the advertising management device that specifies the printed matter when a printed matter that has already been printed is to be reprinted, and includes a job management unit that manages the operation of performing the reprinting based on a reprint command received from the advertising management device, and the advertising management device includes a reprint possibility determination unit that specifies the advertising information printed on the printed matter using the job specification information and determines whether the advertising information can be reprinted based on distribution restriction information for the advertising information, and a reprint job generation unit that generates the reprint command including reprint number information indicating the number of reprintable sheets of the printed matter if the reprint possibility determination unit determines that reprinting is possible, and generates the reprint command including new advertising information suitable for the printed matter if the reprint possibility determination unit determines that reprinting is not possible.

The present invention provides an advertising printing system that does not print advertisements beyond the advertisement distribution period or print limit.

1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an advertisement printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a print history of the printing device shown in FIG. 1 . 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating examples of information associated with job specification information and a reprint command, respectively. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the printing device and the advertisement management device shown in FIG. 1 . 10 is a flowchart showing another processing procedure of the printing device and the advertisement management device shown in FIG. 1 .

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that the same or equivalent parts and components are designated with the same or equivalent reference numerals throughout the drawings, and their description will be omitted or simplified.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an advertisement printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The advertisement printing system 100 shown in Figure 1 has one or more printing devices 10, a network 20, an advertisement management device 30 that distributes printing information including advertisement image information to the printing device 10, and a control device 40 that controls the overall operation of the advertisement printing system 100.

The control device 40 is not essential. The functions of the control device 40 may be provided in either the printing device 10 or the advertising management device 30. The embodiment described below will be described as a configuration without the control device 40.

The printing device 10 and the advertising management device 30 are connected via a network 20. The network 20 may be the Internet or a LAN cable. If information can be exchanged between the printing device 10 and the advertising management device 30, the network 20 does not have to be present. In addition, as indicated by "..." in FIG. 1, the advertising management device 30 may be connected to multiple printing devices 10.

(Printing device)
The printing device 10 includes a transmission/reception unit 11, a job management unit 12, and a printing unit 13. The printing device 10 may be any of an inkjet printing device, an electrophotographic printing device, a punch printing device, and the like.

The printing method can be any method that forms an image on a print medium such as paper or film. Hereinafter, a print medium on which an image is formed (printed) will be referred to as a printed matter.

The functional configuration shown in FIG. 1 shows the minimum configuration required to explain this embodiment, and general configurations such as an operation unit and a control unit that are not necessary for the explanation are omitted. This also applies to the advertising management device 30 described later.

The transmission/reception unit 11 transmits and receives advertising information to be printed on a print medium and image information representing a manuscript to and from the advertising management device 30. The advertising information and image information are expressed, for example, in a page description language (PDL: Page Description Language).

The page description language is a computer language used to communicate the content to be printed to the printing unit 13, and can specify all aspects of the print job, such as advertising information, image information, number of copies to be printed, single-sided/double-sided, and resolution. Note that the page description language can be any language, such as PS, PCL, Pages, LIPS, etc., as long as it matches the specifications of the printing unit 13.

The job management unit 12 generates job specification information that specifies a printed matter when a printed matter that has already been printed is to be reprinted, and manages the reprinting operation based on a reprint command received from the advertising management device 30.

The printing unit 13 receives printing information in which advertising image information is inserted into image information from the advertising management device 30, and prints the printing information on a printing medium.

(Advertising management device)
The advertising management device 30 includes a transmission/reception unit 31, a reprint permission determination unit 32, a reprint job generation unit 33, and an advertising information database 34 (hereinafter, advertising information DB). The advertising management device 30 may be realized by a computer including, for example, a ROM, a RAM, a CPU, etc. The same is true for the transmission/reception unit 11 and the job management unit 12 of the printing device 10. When these functional components are realized by a computer, the processing contents of the functions that each functional component should have are described by a program.

The transmission/reception unit 31 transmits and receives advertising information and image information to be printed on the print medium, as well as job-specific information and reprint commands between the printing device 10. Job-specific information is information that identifies a printed matter when a printed matter that has already been printed is to be reprinted. A reprint command is a control signal that includes advertising information to be reprinted, etc.

The reprint permission determination unit 32 identifies the advertising information printed on the printed matter using the job specification information received from the printing device 10, and determines whether the advertising information can be reprinted based on the distribution restriction information for the advertising information.

If the reprinting possibility determination unit 32 determines that reprinting is possible, the reprint job generation unit 33 generates a reprint command that includes reprint number information indicating the number of reprintable sheets of the printed matter, and if it determines that reprinting is not possible, the reprint job generation unit 33 generates a reprint command that includes new advertising information that is suitable for the printed matter.

The advertising information DB34 records advertising information. The advertising information includes advertising image information, advertising fee information, distribution period information, and distribution number upper limit information. Each piece of information will be described in detail later.

(Job Specific Information)
2 is a schematic diagram showing the print history of a printed material that has been printed once and is displayed on the operation unit (not shown) of the printing device 10. Each line shown in FIG. 2 represents a print history.

When reprinting a previously printed document, the print job can be identified from the print history to perform reprinting. The print job to be reprinted can be identified, for example, by the user touching each line shown in FIG. 2 with the tip of a finger. The print job is identified by job identification information 120.

The job specification information 120 is an identifier such as COPY...0100002, which is shown in the "Job Name" column in Figure 2. The time display and the display of "Completed", "Cancelled", "Error", etc. in the same row represent the printing history.

In this way, the job specification information 120 is linked to the printing history information 122 that represents the printing history. Linking can be rephrased as association or correspondence. The printing history information 122 represented by "1", "22:36", and "Complete" on the first line indicates that one copy was completed at 22:36. The printing history information 122 represented by "42", "15:43", and "Cancelled" on the third line indicates that printing was stopped after 42 copies were made at 15:43.

Figure 3(a) is a diagram that shows a schematic example of multiple pieces of information linked to job specific information 120. As shown in Figure 3(a), the job specific information 120 is linked to each of page configuration information 121, print history information 122, image information 123, blank area information 124, advertising information 125, advertising image information 126, advertising fee information 127, distribution period information 128, and distribution copy upper limit information 129.

Page configuration information 121 is information that literally describes the page configuration, and includes information such as the number of copies to be printed, single-sided/double-sided, and resolution.

The printing history information 122 is as described above and includes information indicating the number of printed sheets and the printing results.

Image information 123, blank area information 124, advertisement information 125, advertisement image information 126, and advertisement fee information 127 are self-explanatory and detailed explanations are omitted. These pieces of information can be expressed in a page description language. Image information 123 and advertisement image information 126 may include images in bitmap format.

The distribution period information 128 and the distribution copy limit information 129 are information determined based on a contract with the advertiser (sponsor). The distribution period information 128 indicates the period during which the advertisement is distributed. The distribution copy limit information 129 indicates the maximum number of printed sheets on which the advertisement is printed.

Figure 3(a) shows an example in which each piece of information is linked to job-specific information 120 at the highest level, but the hierarchical relationship is not limited to this. Any hierarchical relationship is acceptable as long as when any piece of information shown in Figure 3(a) is selected, each piece of information corresponding to the selected information can be identified.

(Reprint Order)
3B is a diagram showing an example of a plurality of pieces of information linked to a reprint command 330. As shown in FIG. 3B, a reprint command 330 is linked to reprint specification information 331, advertisement information 125, and reprint quantity information 332.

The reprint specific information 331 is information that specifies the reprint and is an identifier similar to the job specific information 120 described above. The advertising information 125 is the same as the advertising information shown in FIG. 3(a) as is clear from its reference number. The number of reprints information 332 indicates the number of printed sheets to be reprinted.

The hierarchical relationship of the reprint command 330 shown in FIG. 3(b) is not limited to this example, as is the job specific information 120.

(Advertising printing system)
4 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the advertisement printing system 100 according to this embodiment. The operation will be described with reference to FIG.

If the request is not a reprint (NO in step S10), the printing device 10 acquires image information 123 (FIG. 3(a)) to be printed (step S11). The image information 123 is acquired by an image information acquisition unit (not shown) that is composed of, for example, a scanner. The scanner scans the original with a CCD line sensor to read the image information 123. The scanned and read image information 123 in bitmap format is converted into, for example, a page description language.

The printing device 10 then asks the user whether it is OK to insert an advertisement into the printed matter. If it is not possible to insert an advertisement, the printing device 10 ends the operation without printing, for example.

If advertisement insertion is permitted (YES in step S12), the page configuration information 121 including the image information 123 is sent to the advertisement management device 30 (step S13).

The advertising management device 30 receives the page configuration information 121 (step S30).

The reprinting possibility determination unit 32 selects advertising information 125 that matches the page configuration of the printed matter represented by the received page configuration information 121 (step S31). For example, advertising information 125 that matches the blank area information 124 is selected.

The advertising management device 30 synthesizes the printing information by inserting the advertising image information 126 into the image information 123 (step S32). The printing information is sent to the printing device 10 (step S33).

The printing device 10 receives the printing information (step S14). The received printing information is converted by the printing unit 13 into a printable bitmap format (RIP: Raster Image Processor) and printed on the printing medium (step S15).

Next, the job management unit 12 records the print result printed in step S15 (step S16). The print result is represented by the above-mentioned print history information 122. The print history information 122 is sent to the advertisement management device 30 (step S17).

The advertising management device 30 receives the printing history information 122 (step S34). Then, it manages the number of printed sheets on which the advertisement is printed (step S35).

As described above, the advertising management system 100 distributes advertising information to the printing device 10 and manages the number of printed pieces containing advertisements printed on print media. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately provide a service in which printing costs are covered by advertising fees.

Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the operational procedure when the advertising printing system 100 reprints a printed matter that has already been printed. Figure 5 shows the operational procedure from connector A onwards when it is determined in step 10 of Figure 4 that a reprint is required. A reprint is determined, for example, by the user's fingertip touching any line in the print history shown in Figure 2.

The advertising management device 30 receives the job specific information 120 (step S36).

Next, the reprint permission determination unit 32 identifies the advertising information 125 printed on the printed matter using the job specification information 120 (step S37), and determines whether the advertising information 125 can be reprinted based on the distribution restriction information linked to the advertising information (step S38). The distribution restriction information consists of two pieces of information: distribution period information 128 and distribution copy limit information 129.

The reprint permission determination unit 32 determines that reprinting is not possible if, for example, the advertising period represented by the distribution period information 128 has passed. Also, it determines that reprinting is not possible if the number of printed sheets represented by the distribution copy limit information 129 has already been printed (No in step S38). Whether or not the printed sheet that has already been printed has exceeded the distribution limit is determined by comparing the print history information 122 with the distribution copy limit information 129.

If it is determined that reprinting is not possible (No in step S38), the reprint job generation unit 33 generates a reprint command 330 including new advertising information 125 that matches the printed matter (step S40). The reprint command 330 generated here may include new advertising image information 126 and printing information that combines image information 123.

The reprint command 330 includes reprint specific information 331, advertising information 125, and reprint number information 332. When reprinting is not possible, the reprint number information 332 is information indicating that the number of prints is 0. Alternatively, when reprinting is not possible, the reprint command 330 does not need to include the reprint number information 332.

If it is determined that reprinting is possible (Yes in step S38), a reprint command 330 is generated that includes reprint count information 332 indicating the number of reprints that can be performed (step S39).

The reprint job generation unit 33 sends the generated reprint command 330 to the printing device 10 (step S41).

The printing device 10 receives the reprint command 330 (step S19).

The job management unit 12 of the printing device 10 determines whether the advertising information 125 included in the reprint command 330 is new advertising information 125 (step S20).

If it is not new advertising information 125 (NO in step S20), the number of printed sheets indicated by the reprint number information 332 is printed based on the previous page configuration information 121 recorded in the printing device 10 (step S21).

If it is new advertising information 125 (YES in step S20), the job management unit 12 inquires of the user whether or not it is possible to print a printed matter including the new advertising information (step S22). If it is possible to print (YES in step S22), the printing unit 13 prints it using the page configuration information 121 that corresponds to the new advertising information 125 (step S23).

In this way, when the reprint command 330 includes new advertising information 125 that matches the printed matter, the job management unit 12 inquires of the user whether or not to print the printed matter including the advertising information 125, and if printing is possible, causes the user to perform the reprint, and if printing is not possible, causes the reprint to be canceled. This makes it possible to prevent advertising information 125 that is not intended by the user from being printed.

The job management unit 12 records the print results printed in step S21 or step S23 (step S24). The print results, i.e., the print history information 122, are sent to the advertising management device 30 (step S25).

The subsequent operations are the same as those when reprinting is not performed as described above. The advertising management device 30 manages the number of copies printed, including the reprint number information 332. Therefore, even when reprinting is performed, it is possible to appropriately provide a service in which the printing costs are covered by advertising fees.

As described above, the advertising printing system 100 according to this embodiment is an advertising printing system having one or more printing devices 10 and an advertising management device 30 that distributes advertising information to the printing device 10. The printing device 10 transmits job specific information 120 that identifies a printed matter when reprinting a printed matter that has already been printed, to the advertising management device 30, and is provided with a job management unit 12 that manages the operation of reprinting based on a reprint command 330 received from the advertising management device 30. The advertising management device 30 is provided with a reprinting possibility determination unit 32 that identifies advertising information 125 printed on the printed matter using the job specific information 120 and determines whether the advertising information 125 can be reprinted based on distribution restriction information associated with the advertising information 125, and a reprint job generation unit 33 that generates a reprint command 330 including reprint number information 332 indicating the number of reprints that can be made for the printed matter if the reprinting possibility determination unit 32 determines that reprinting is possible, and generates a reprint command 330 including new advertising information 125 that is suitable for the printed matter if reprinting is not possible. This makes it possible to provide an advertising printing system that does not print advertisements beyond the advertisement distribution period or the upper limit of the number of prints. In other words, when reprinting is performed on the printing device 10, by checking the distribution restrictions of the advertising information, it is possible to prevent the advertisement from being printed beyond the distribution period (distribution period information 128) and the number of copies to be distributed (upper limit information 129 of the number of copies to be distributed).

According to the advertisement printing system 100 of this embodiment, when reprinting, the possibility of reprinting is determined based on the distribution restriction information, so the advertisement is not printed beyond the distribution restriction. Even if the distribution restriction is exceeded, new advertisement information 125 is distributed, so the service can be provided continuously. It is also possible to prevent advertisements from being printed beyond the distribution restriction, resulting in excessive advertising fees being charged to advertisers.

In the above example, the advertisement management device 30 is provided with a reprinting possibility determination unit 32 that determines whether reprinting is possible, but the present invention is not limited to this example. The reprinting possibility determination unit 32 may be arranged in the printing device 10. In this case, the determination of whether reprinting is possible is performed by the printing device 10. The reprinting possibility determination unit 32 may also be arranged in the control device 40.

In addition, while an example has been shown in which a reprint is specified by touching the print history (Figure 2) displayed on the operation unit with the user's fingertip, the present invention is not limited to this example. A reprint may also be specified by the control device 40. In addition, the hierarchical relationship of the job specification information 120 shown in Figure 3 is one example, and the present invention is not limited to this example.

As such, the present invention naturally includes various embodiments not described here. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is determined only by the invention-specific matters related to the scope of the claims that are appropriate from the above explanation.

[Note]
This application discloses the following inventions.

(Appendix 1)
An advertisement printing system having one or more printing devices and an advertisement management device that distributes advertisement information to the printing devices,
The printing device includes:
a job management unit that transmits job specification information for specifying a printed matter that has been printed once to the advertisement management device when the printed matter is to be reprinted, and manages an operation of performing the reprinting based on a reprint command received from the advertisement management device;
The advertisement management device includes:
a reprint permission determination unit that identifies the advertising information printed on the printed matter using the job identification information, and determines whether or not the advertising information can be reprinted based on distribution restriction information associated with the advertising information;
and a reprint job generation unit that generates the reprint command including reprint number information indicating the number of reprintable sheets of the printed matter when the reprint possibility determination unit determines that reprinting is possible, and generates the reprint command including new advertisement information suitable for the printed matter when the reprint possibility determination unit determines that reprinting is not possible.

(Appendix 2)
The job management unit
The advertising printing system described in Appendix 1, in which, when the reprint command includes new advertising information that is compatible with the printed matter, the user is asked whether or not it is possible to print the printed matter including the advertising information, and if it is possible to print, the reprint is performed, and if it is not possible to print, the reprint is canceled.

10 Printing device 12 Job management unit 13 Printing unit 20 Network 30 Advertisement management device 31 Transmitting/receiving unit 32 Reprint permission determination unit 33 Reprint job generation unit 34 Advertisement information database 40 Control device 100 Advertisement printing system 120 Job specification information 330 Reprint command

Claims (1)

An advertisement printing system having one or more printing devices and an advertisement management device that distributes advertisement information to the printing devices,
The printing device includes:
a job management unit that transmits job identification information for identifying a printed matter that has been printed once to the advertisement management device when the printed matter is to be reprinted, and manages an operation of performing the reprinting based on a reprint command received from the advertisement management device;
The advertisement management device includes:
a reprint permission determination unit that identifies the advertising information printed on the printed matter using the job identification information, and determines whether or not the advertising information can be reprinted based on distribution restriction information associated with the advertising information;
and a reprint job generation unit that generates the reprint command including reprint number information indicating the number of reprintable sheets of the printed matter when the reprint possibility determination unit determines that reprinting is possible, and generates the reprint command including new advertisement information suitable for the printed matter when the reprint possibility determination unit determines that reprinting is not possible.

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