JP7626175B2 - Packaging order management device, packaging order management method, and program - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a packaging order management device, a packaging order management method, and a program.

Online print systems are known that receive orders, print, and arrange for delivery based on order signals from a client terminal via the Internet (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-9506 A

In recent years, online commercial transactions (online transactions) using EC sites and the like have become widespread, and it is being considered to allow packaging printed with a design specified by the user to be ordered online. This disclosure provides a packaging order management device, a packaging order management method, and a program that can improve user convenience.

[1] A packaging order management device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a device that accepts, via the Internet, orders for the creation of packaging from an orderer terminal operated by an orderer. This packaging order management device includes an order reception unit that acquires order information indicating the contents of the order from the orderer terminal, a print data acquisition unit that acquires design data including a design to be printed on the packaging specified by the order information acquired by the order reception unit based on an operation by the orderer, a packaging creation instruction unit that transmits packaging creation instructions based on the order information acquired by the order reception unit and the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit to a manufacturing department including a printing machine, and a design diagnosis unit that predicts the impact of the design included in the design data on people based on the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit.

[2] In the packaging material ordering management device described in [1] above, the design diagnosis unit may calculate an index value representing the predicted result of the above-mentioned impact based on the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit.

[3] In the packaging material ordering management device described in [2] above, the design diagnosis unit may calculate the index value based on a diagnosis model that has been constructed in advance by machine learning to output a calculation result of the index value in response to input of design data, and on the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit.

[4] In the packaging order management device described in any one of [1] to [3] above, the design diagnosis unit may predict the above-mentioned effects based on at least one of the color, brightness, position on the packaging material, and size on the packaging material of the design elements constituting the design included in the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit.

[5] A packaging material order management device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a device that accepts orders for the creation of packaging material from an orderer terminal operated by an orderer via the Internet. This packaging material order management device includes a transmission/reception unit that transmits and receives text messages and data to and from the orderer terminal via a message application, an order reception unit that acquires order information indicating the contents of the order, a print data acquisition unit that acquires design data including a design to be printed on the packaging material specified by the order information acquired by the order reception unit, a packaging material creation instruction unit that transmits packaging material creation instructions based on the order information acquired by the order reception unit and the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit to a manufacturing department including a printing machine, and a design diagnosis unit that predicts the impact of the design included in the design data on people based on the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit.

[6] A packaging order management method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a method of accepting, via the Internet, an order for the creation of packaging from an orderer terminal operated by an orderer. This packaging order management method includes a first acquisition step of acquiring order information indicating the contents of the order from the orderer terminal, a second acquisition step of acquiring design data including a design to be printed on the packaging specified by the order information acquired in the first acquisition step based on the orderer's operation, an instruction step of sending a packaging creation instruction based on the order information acquired in the first acquisition step and the design data acquired in the second acquisition step to a manufacturing department including a printing machine, and a diagnosis step of predicting the impact of the design included in the design data on people based on the design data acquired in the second acquisition step.

[7] A packaging order management method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a method of accepting, via the Internet, an order for the creation of packaging from an orderer terminal operated by an orderer. This packaging order management method includes a sending and receiving step of sending and receiving text messages and data to and from the orderer terminal via a message application, a first acquisition step of acquiring order information indicating the contents of the order, a second acquisition step of acquiring design data including a design to be printed on packaging identified by the order information acquired in the first acquisition step, an instruction step of sending a packaging creation instruction based on the order information acquired in the first acquisition step and the design data acquired in the second acquisition step to a manufacturing department including a printing machine, and a diagnosis step of predicting the impact of the design included in the design data on people based on the design data acquired in the second acquisition step.

[8] A program according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a program for causing a computer to execute the packaging material ordering management method described in [6] or [7] above.

According to the present disclosure, a packaging order management device, a packaging order management method, and a program are provided that can improve user convenience.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a packaging material ordering system. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of information held by the material information holding unit. Fig. 3A is a schematic diagram showing an example of the material configuration of a flexible packaging material, and Fig. 3B is a diagram showing an example of information on the specifications of the flexible packaging material. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the sales information storage unit. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of information held by the format data holding unit. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of design data. 7A and 7B are graphs showing examples of index values representing the predicted results of the influence of design. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a packaging material order management device and a packaging material production management device. FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing an example of an order management method by the packaging material ordering system. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a method for transmitting and receiving information between a packaging material order management device and an orderer terminal. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the orderer terminal when sending and receiving information using a message application.

One embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description, identical elements or elements having the same functions are given the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted.

[First embodiment: Packaging ordering system]
First, a packaging ordering system according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. FIG. 1 is a diagram that illustrates a packaging ordering system 1 according to an embodiment. The packaging ordering system 1 communicates with an orderer terminal 90 operated by an orderer, and manufactures and provides packaging based on an order instruction from the orderer terminal 90. The packaging ordering system 1 manufactures and provides packaging based on an order instruction from the orderer terminal 90, thereby selling the packaging to the orderer. The orderer may put contents in the packaging purchased through the packaging ordering system 1 and sell the packaging with the contents as a commodity to consumers, wholesalers, retailers, etc. The orderer may distribute the packaging with the contents as a sample to potential customers. The packaging ordering system 1 includes a packaging order management device 10 and a packaging manufacturing management device 30.

The packaging ordering system 1 has a function of accepting orders from a purchaser terminal 90 operated by a purchaser, and instructing a packaging manufacturing management device 30, which works in cooperation with the manufacturing department, to manufacture and deliver products based on the order. The products handled by the packaging ordering system 1 are "packaging materials." Packaging materials are materials used to wrap contents (products). There are no limitations on the type of packaging material as long as it can wrap the contents, and examples of packaging materials include soft packaging materials, packaging materials used for freshness-preserving agents (oxygen absorbers), and paper containers. In this disclosure, packaging materials can include not only bags or containers used to package products, but also labels attached to containers, etc.

One example of a packaging material is a flexible packaging material used for packaging composed of flexible materials such as paper, plastic film, aluminum foil, and cloth. Among these, plastic film is often used as the main material. In addition, flexible packaging materials are devised to exhibit desired performance such as barrier properties and heat resistance by using composite materials that combine multiple materials. Since packaging materials such as flexible packaging materials are often used for product packaging, the printing content on the printing surface of the packaging material is expected to differ depending on the order. In addition, when deciding the printing content on the printing surface of the packaging material, it is expected that the purchaser will consider the impact that the printing content has on people. For example, the purchaser will consider the impact that the printing content has on consumers who purchase the product. As described above, when receiving an order for packaging material from a purchaser, it is necessary to obtain information specifying the material to be used for the packaging material, design data for printing, etc. from the purchaser, and further, it is required to provide this information appropriately to the manufacturing department.

Materials used for soft packaging materials include single-layer films and multilayer films. Among these, multilayer films are generally created by laminating a base material, an intermediate layer, and a sealant layer using an adhesive. Design data is printed on the base material. The intermediate layer may be omitted depending on the application of the soft packaging material, but a material that functions as a barrier material may be selected. When creating a soft packaging material for a specific application, a material (multilayer film) is created by combining materials suitable for that application. Since the materials (film, ink, etc.) of soft packaging materials differ depending on the application, the materials used in their production are also diverse. Since the materials of paper containers and labels can also differ depending on the application, the materials used in their production may also be diverse. On the other hand, the purchaser selects from a wide variety of packaging materials based on the application of the packaging material to be ordered and places an order. The packaging material ordering system 1 described above centrally manages orders from purchasers related to the creation of a wide variety of packaging materials created using a wide variety of materials as described above, and manages the production of the ordered packaging materials.

In the packaging ordering system 1, the packaging ordering management device 10 is a device that accepts orders for the creation of packaging from the client terminal 90. The packaging ordering management device 10 is a device that accepts orders from the client terminal 90 via the Internet, i.e., performs so-called online order receipt. The packaging ordering management device 10 has a website that can be viewed by the client terminal 90, and acquires information entered by the client on this website. In addition, when the packaging ordering management device 10 accepts an order from the client terminal 90, it manages the information and provides information related to the manufacture of the product to the packaging manufacturing management device 30.

The packaging manufacturing management device 30 has a function of managing various manufacturing-related equipment in a department related to the manufacturing of packaging materials such as a packaging manufacturing factory (referred to as the "packaging manufacturing department" in FIG. 1). The packaging manufacturing management device 30 may have a function of controlling equipment related to the manufacturing of packaging materials, such as a printing machine 31, a laminating machine 32, and a bag making machine 33, based on instructions from the packaging ordering management device 10. Furthermore, the packaging manufacturing management device 30 may have a function of ordering materials and managing inventory, etc. The packaging ordering management device 10 and the packaging manufacturing management device 30 are configured to be capable of wireless communication or wired communication, for example, and the packaging ordering management device 10 appropriately instructs the packaging manufacturing management device 30 to create the packaging materials ordered. Based on this instruction, the packaging manufacturing management device 30 starts managing the process related to the creation of the ordered packaging materials for each device in the packaging manufacturing department. In addition, the management of the process of creating packaging by the packaging manufacturing management device 30 may include, for example, grasping the manufacturing process according to the ordered packaging (e.g., laminating materials, printing, etc.), scheduling the work of each device to advance this manufacturing process, and procuring (ordering) materials to be used in the packaging.

The orderer terminal 90 is, for example, a terminal device used by a user who is an orderer, and examples of such devices include a smartphone, a tablet, and a personal computer. The orderer terminal 90 is connectable to the Internet. When connecting to the Internet, the connection may be via, for example, a communication network other than the Internet. The orderer terminal 90 may have a function of editing design data for printing, which will be described later.

The number of orderer terminals 90 used by a particular user is not limited to one. That is, one user may use multiple orderer terminals 90. Therefore, for example, the orderer terminal 90 used by the user to send order information and the orderer terminal 90 used to send design data may be different. If multiple orderer terminals 90 are each connected to the Internet and can send and receive information, the user can handle each orderer terminal 90 individually. A user (orderer) may be an individual or a legal entity such as a company. Below, the packaging material order management device 10 and the packaging material manufacturing management device 30 will be described using an example in which the packaging material order system 1 handles soft packaging material, which is an example of packaging material.

(Packaging material order management device)
As shown in Fig. 1, packaging material order management device 10 has, as its functional configuration (hereinafter referred to as "functional modules"), an information providing unit 12, an order receiving unit 14, a print data acquisition unit 15, a packaging material production instruction unit 16, a delivery management unit 17, a payment processing unit 18, a user information holding unit 21, an order information holding unit 22, a materials information holding unit 23, a sales information holding unit 24, a format data holding unit 25, and a design diagnosis unit 27. The processes executed by these functional modules correspond to the processes executed by packaging material order management device 10. Furthermore, packaging material order management device 10 communicates with a purchaser terminal 90 and a packaging material production management device 30 to send and receive information. The communication between packaging material order management device 10 and purchaser terminal 90 or packaging material production management device 30 may be performed by wire or wirelessly.

The information providing unit 12 has a function of providing various information to the orderer terminal 90. The information provided by the information providing unit 12 includes various information required when the orderer orders packaging materials. The information providing unit 12 prepares, for example, a website that can be viewed on the orderer terminal 90. This makes it possible to view the website on the orderer terminal 90 in response to a request from the orderer terminal 90 (for example, specification of a URL).

The order receiving unit 14 has a function of acquiring information indicating the contents of an order for the creation of packaging material (hereinafter referred to as "order information") from the purchaser terminal 90. For example, in response to a request from the purchaser, the information providing unit 12 displays an input form for ordering on the screen of the purchaser terminal 90. The purchaser inputs the information required for the order, for example by entering information into the input form. The input information is sent via the Internet to the packaging material order management device 10, which provides a website, and the order receiving unit 14 acquires the information required for the order (the above-mentioned order information). This allows the order receiving unit 14 to accept the order.

The order information acquired by the order receiving unit 14 when receiving an order includes information identifying the orderer (name, address, etc.), information on the product being ordered, information on the delivery destination (name, address, etc.), and information on payment of expenses. In the case of soft packaging materials, the information on the product being ordered includes, for example, information on the type of packaging material (e.g., materials to be used) and the number of orders. The information specifying the packaging material includes information on the materials used in the packaging material (information on each layer in the case of a film in which multiple types of materials are laminated) and information on the shape and size of the packaging material (shape is, for example, a three-sided square bag, a standing pouch, etc.). In the packaging material order management device 10 of this embodiment, a model number is assigned in association with information on the materials (materials) constituting the packaging material and information on the shape and size of the packaging material. Therefore, by specifying a model number, the purchaser can transmit information on the material of the packaging material and information on the shape and size of the packaging material to the packaging material order management device 10.

The information provided to the user on the orderer terminal 90 may be adjusted by the information providing unit 12 so that the orderer (user) can operate the orderer terminal 90 to select a specific packaging material and place an order. For example, for each soft packaging material that the user can purchase, the type of packaging material (e.g., the material used), size, shape, approximate capacity that can be stored, etc. may be important information when the user selects a soft packaging material. In addition, information such as the use of the soft packaging material (retort compatible, boil compatible, microwave compatible, examples of contents that can be stored, etc.) and characteristics (light blocking properties, antistatic properties, transparency, etc.) may be important information for the user's selection of packaging material compared to when the type of packaging material is directly displayed. Therefore, for the purpose of increasing the user's convenience, etc., the information providing unit 12 may combine and display this information on the order screen used by the user. In this disclosure, when the user is a corporation such as a company, an action (e.g., an operation) performed by an individual belonging to the corporation on the orderer terminal 90, etc. corresponds to an action performed by the user.

The print data acquisition unit 15 has a function of acquiring design data to be used for printing based on the user's operation. For example, the print data acquisition unit 15 acquires design data created by the user at the orderer terminal 90 from the orderer terminal 90 based on a transmission instruction from the user. The design data to be used for printing is data including a design to be printed on the packaging material specified by the order information. Note that the types of printing on soft packaging materials include digital printing, which basically prints directly from the design data, and non-digital printing, which prints after plate making and color matching. Examples of non-digital printing include gravure printing, flexographic printing, and EB offset printing. However, a non-digital printing method different from these printing methods may be used. The packaging material order management device 10 can handle any printing. However, in the case of digital printing, the print data acquired from the orderer may be used for printing as is without plate making. Therefore, the packaging material order management device 10 is configured to acquire design data (printing data) suitable for a specific packaging material from the user by providing the user with format data. This point will be described later. The information acquired by the order receiving unit 14 and the information acquired by the print data acquisition unit 15 is stored in the order information storage unit 22.

When the design data sent by the user is PDF data, the print data acquisition unit 15 may perform a preflight check, which checks the data based on preset check items. The print data acquisition unit 15 may also be configured to notify the user of the results of the preflight check and the design data to be finally used for printing. In this case, the user may check the notification content by accessing a specific site based on a URL notified by email, for example. Although the preflight check is performed on PDF data, the same type of check may also be performed when data other than PDF data is handled as design data. The design data to be finally used for printing may be data after proofreading the original design data sent by the user. After the user's approval of the proofread design data is obtained, the proofread design data for which approval has been obtained may be stored in the order information storage unit 22 as data to be finally used for printing.

Instead of sending design data from the user (orderer terminal 90), the print data acquisition unit 15 may acquire data including a design proposal created by a third party as design data by having the user approve the data by operating the orderer terminal 90. The data including the design proposal created by a third party may be stored in the packaging material order management device 10. The data including the design proposal created by a third party may be data created in the packaging material order management device 10, or may be data created in another computer device and then sent to the packaging material order management device 10. In the present disclosure, the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 15 includes design data candidates (design data under consideration by the user), proofread design data, and design data finally used for printing (design data after approval by the user).

The packaging material production instruction unit 16 has a function of transmitting a packaging material production instruction based on the order information acquired by the order reception unit 14 and the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 15 to the packaging material production management device 30. The packaging material production instruction unit 16 prepares information necessary for issuing instructions to the packaging material production management device 30 based on the information acquired by the order reception unit 14 and the print data acquisition unit 15 and the information held in its own device (packaging material order management device 10). By transmitting the prepared information to the packaging material production management device 30 (the manufacturing department including the printing machine 31), the packaging material production management device 10 issues an instruction to the packaging material production management device 30 to produce packaging. The instruction to the packaging material production management device 30 from the packaging material order management device 10 may include at least a part of the order information and the design data to be finally used for printing.

The delivery management unit 17 has a function to manage the delivery of packaging materials instructed to be created by the packaging material production instruction unit 16. When completed, the packaging materials instructed to be created by the packaging material production instruction unit 16 can be sent from the packaging material production department (e.g., a factory, etc.) to the delivery destination. The delivery management unit 17 has a function to notify the purchaser of the production status and delivery status of the product for which an order has been accepted, based on delivery date information and delivery notifications sent from the packaging material production management device 30.

The payment processing unit 18 has a function of making payments for orders accepted by the order acceptance unit 14. The mechanism for making payments is not particularly limited, and existing payment methods can be combined and used. Payment history (information indicating that a payment has been made, etc.) may be stored in the order information storage unit 22 in association with information about the order, etc. Information about the payment may be stored separately from the information stored in the order information storage unit 22. In this case, for example, association using the order number may be performed so that it is possible to confirm that a payment has been made for each order.

The user information storage unit 21 has a function of storing information about users who use the packaging order management device 10 (users who use the services provided by the packaging order management device 10). The user can be configured to register as a user who uses the packaging order management device 10 by providing the information necessary for registration to the packaging order management device 10 in advance or at the time of the first order. The information provided by the user during user registration is stored in the user information storage unit 21. In addition, information that identifies the user (e.g., a user ID) is assigned to each user, and information related to a specific user can be obtained using this information. In this way, by registering user information in the user information storage unit 21, the user can use the information registered as a user when placing an order again. Note that user registration itself is not an essential component of the packaging order management device 10. For example, if user management is not performed, the packaging order management device 10 may not have the user information storage unit 21. In addition, the configuration may be such that association with the order information storage unit 22 described later is not performed. Alternatively, the user information storage unit 21 may manage only some of the users who use the packaging material order management device 10. In other words, the configuration may be such that only some users, rather than all users, are subject to user registration.

The order information storage unit 22 has a function of storing information on orders received from users. The order information storage unit 22 can store information acquired by the order reception unit 14 and a design (printing data) acquired by the print data acquisition unit 15 in association with a single order from a user. Furthermore, the order information storage unit 22 stores the user information stored in the user information storage unit 21 in association with each order, allowing the user to search for past order history. When a user who has registered as a user becomes the orderer, the user-registered information becomes the orderer's information, so that linking is possible by placing an order while logged in. In addition, when a user registers at the time of the first order, the information entered as the orderer at the time of the first order can be used as user information. Then, data can be linked even after the order is placed by using a user ID or the like assigned as information to identify the user.

The material information storage unit 23 has a function of storing information related to the correspondence between model numbers and materials. An example of information stored in the material information storage unit 23 is shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the model number used at the time of ordering is associated with a specification (for example, information specifying the specification used in the manufacturing department) and a material composition. The material composition indicates the composition of each layer that constitutes the packaging material corresponding to each model number. Using this information, it is possible to specify the material used for the packaging material of the model number from one model number. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the "material composition" includes information specifying the thickness of the base material, intermediate layer, sealant layer, and materials used in these layers to be used in the soft packaging material. The "material composition" may also include information specifying the adhesive to be used between layers, the ink to be used for printing, etc. The information included in the "material composition" may be changed as appropriate depending on the type of soft packaging material.

As shown in FIG. 2, the information stored in the material information storage unit 23 may include information such as shape, size, estimated capacity, characteristics (information explaining the characteristics and use of the material of each soft packaging material) in association with the model number. The various information stored in the material information storage unit 23 may be used, for example, when the purchaser places an order for packaging material. Specifically, for example, the information provider 12 may present information such as shape, size, estimated capacity, characteristics, etc. to the user on a website or the like, and the user may select the model number of the packaging material to be ordered based on the information.

With reference to FIG. 3(a) and FIG. 3(b), an example of the configuration of the soft packaging material included in the information shown in FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 3(a) is a schematic diagram of a packaging film 200 used for a soft packaging material, in which a first base film 201, an adhesive layer 204, a second base film 202, an adhesive layer 206, and a third base film 203 are laminated in this order. A primer layer (not shown) may be provided on one of the pair of main surfaces of the first base film 201, which is closer to the second base film 202. In addition, an electrostatic ink layer 205 is provided on one of the main surfaces of the adhesive layer 204, which is closer to the first base film 201. When a primer layer is provided, the electrostatic ink layer 205 is provided on one of the pair of main surfaces of the primer layer, which is closer to the second base film 202. This packaging film 200 is, for example, a film used for soft packaging material for foods heated by a microwave oven.

As shown in FIG. 3(a), the first base film 201 is a 12 μm thick biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate film with a transparent inorganic oxide vapor deposition of alumina (GLARH, manufactured by Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.), the second base film 202 is a 15 μm thick nylon film, and the third base film 203 is a 60 μm thick unstretched polypropylene film. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the material composition can be described by, for example, a combination of the abbreviation of the material and the thickness (number), such as "GLARH12/NY15/CPP60". Furthermore, FIG. 3(b) states that a film using mechanically recycled PET (GLARNF) can be used instead of the biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate film with a transparent inorganic oxide vapor deposition of alumina (GLARH). In this way, the "material composition" specifies the composition of the material that constitutes the packaging film to realize the functions required of the soft packaging material, and the materials are similarly described by abbreviations in the example shown in FIG. 2.

In addition to the material composition, FIG. 3(b) also shows information related to the use and bag shape (square standing pouch for microwave ovens), adhesive layer specification, size, approximate capacity, design (designation of location where design can be added), and bottom tape specification. Some of the information shown in FIG. 3(b) may be included in the information shown in FIG. 2, or, as shown in FIG. 3(b), data may be managed separately for each soft packaging material handled by this system.

Returning to FIG. 1, the sales information storage unit 24 stores information related to the sale of packaging materials that can be ordered at the purchaser terminal 90 (hereinafter referred to as "sales information"). The sales information may include at least one of information indicating the period during which the packaging material can be delivered to the purchaser, information indicating the sales price of the packaging material, and information indicating the order unit of the packaging material. FIG. 4 shows an example of sales information. The sales information may include, for example, the sales price and the number (number of sheets) per lot, which is the order unit, in association with the model number. In one example, when one lot is 100 sheets, the purchaser can order packaging materials in units of 100 sheets, and the minimum order number is 100 sheets. The sales price may be set to vary depending on the lot number. In this case, the sales price may be set so that the unit price per sheet becomes cheaper as the lot number increases. The sales price may be set by determining the unit price per sheet regardless of the lot number. The sales information stored in the sales information storage unit 24 may include a period during which the packaging material can be delivered to the orderer in association with the model number (hereinafter referred to as the "delivery period"). The delivery period may be a flexible period (e.g., a period of 4 to 6 days), or may be the period (number of days) from the receipt of the order to the date when the packaging material manufacturing department is expected to be able to ship the product. A discount on the selling price may be set in the sales information. The discount on the selling price may be set for each user, and the amount of discount for a certain model number may differ between users. The sales information is used by the information providing unit 12 when preparing information (e.g., a website) that can be viewed on the orderer terminal 90.

Returning to FIG. 1, the format data storage unit 25 has a function of storing information on a set of format data provided to the user and used by the user to create design data for printing. FIG. 5 shows an example of information stored in the format data storage unit 25. In FIG. 5, information (e.g., a file name) that specifies data to be sent to the user (orderer terminal 90) is associated with the model number used at the time of ordering. The format data sent to the orderer terminal 90 is data that allows the user to create a design (process data) using the orderer terminal 90 or other devices. In addition, it is preferable that the data (printing data) after processing by the user is returned in a predetermined format, and in particular, in the case of digital printing, it is required that the data be sent from the orderer terminal 90 to the packaging material order management device 10 in a format that can be used in, for example, the printing machine 31. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, one format data, one setting file, and one manual data may be prepared as a set of format data for one model number. This set of format data can be a package of data provided to the orderer terminal 90.

The format data is the data that is the source of the design data used for printing. An example of the design data is shown in FIG. 6. The design data D0 includes data D1, which is the format data, and data D2, which represents the design to be processed on the data D1. As shown in FIG. 6, the data D1 may define a drawing area A1 and a non-drawing area A2 that correspond to the packaging material corresponding to the model number. The drawing area A1 may also be provided with a frame line A3 for separating the recommended printing area. Furthermore, if there is an area with printing restrictions such as a zipper, a restricted area A4 may also be defined. In this way, the data D1 may include information that enables the user to create print data with an appropriate design according to the packaging material.

Returning to FIG. 5, the setting file associated with each model number is, for example, a file that describes various settings for outputting the design data used for printing in an appropriate state in an application used by the user. The manual data is data that describes how to use the format data and the setting file. Such a data set may be stored as a "set of format data" in association with one model number. The format data storage unit 25 stores the setting file and manual data in addition to the above data D1. When the set of format data is sent to the purchaser terminal 90, three pieces of data (format data, setting file, and manual data) are selected based on the model number. Then, these pieces of data are packaged together and sent from the packaging material order management device 10 to the purchaser terminal 90 by the information providing unit 12.

Design data D0 is created by adding data D2 representing a design to data D1 (format data) (see FIG. 6). For example, a user operates the orderer terminal 90 to process and edit the format data to create design data to which a design has been added. The design added to the format data may include design elements such as characters, figures, logos, illustrations, patterns, and photographs. The design elements that make up the design may also include a background created in the drawing area A1. The characters included in the design may represent the name of the product that the orderer plans to sell (product name), a description of the product (capacity, etc.), the name of the seller of the product, etc. The figures, logos, etc. may represent the brand. The user may create and edit design data on the orderer terminal 90 while creating the design elements and arbitrarily changing the size, position, color, and brightness (luminance, brightness) of the design elements on the data.

Returning to FIG. 1, the design diagnosis unit 27 has a function of predicting the impact of a design included in the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 15 on people based on the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 15. The design diagnosis unit 27 diagnoses the design by predicting the impact of the design on people (e.g., consumers, potential customers, etc.). The design diagnosis unit 27 may diagnose the design included in the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 15 in response to a diagnosis request from a user via the orderer terminal 90. Predicting the impact of a design on people includes, for example, evaluating the impression that the design gives to people. In addition, predicting the impact of a design on people includes, for example, predicting the direct or indirect impact that the design will have on sales of a product when it is assumed that the content is packed in a soft packaging material on which the design is printed and sold as a product. Hereinafter, the design to be diagnosed by the design diagnosis unit 27 may be simply referred to as "design".

The design diagnosis unit 27 may calculate an index value representing a predicted result of the impact of the design on people based on the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 15. For example, the design diagnosis unit 27 calculates a numerical value that indexes the degree of the impression received from the design as an index value. The index value regarding the degree of impression is a numerical value that represents the degree to which a person who sees the target design will be impressed by the target design (prediction of the degree to which the person will be impressed). Examples of impressions received from a design include beautiful, ugly, urban, rural, cute, gross, high-class, cheap, masculine, feminine, cheerful, gloomy, modern, traditional, simple, complex, warm, cool, delicate, bold, intelligent, humorous, calm, dynamic, human, mechanical, clean, dirty, quiet, and noisy. Other examples of impressions received from a design include delicious, smooth, warm, rich, and natural. The design diagnosis unit 27 may calculate an index value representing the degree of each of one or more of these impressions. In one example, when the design diagnosis unit 27 predicts that the degree to which the design gives the impression that a person is beautiful is strong, the design diagnosis unit 27 calculates the index value for "beautiful" so that the numerical value is high. When the design diagnosis unit 27 predicts that the degree to which the design gives the impression that a person is beautiful is weak, the design diagnosis unit 27 calculates the index value for "beautiful" so that the numerical value is low.

The design diagnostic unit 27 may calculate the index value based on a diagnostic model previously constructed to output the calculation result of the index value in response to the input of design data and the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 15. The diagnostic model is, for example, a model previously constructed by a provider who provides the packaging material order management device 10. The diagnostic model may be a model constructed by performing machine learning based on learning data. The diagnostic model may be a model that calculates an index value based on at least one of the size on the soft packaging material, the position on the soft packaging material, the color, and the brightness (luminance, brightness) of the design element added to the format data. The diagnostic model may be a model that calculates an index value based on the comparison result of the evaluation target value such as the size, position, color, and brightness of the design element with various thresholds. The diagnostic model may be a relational expression that expresses the relationship between one or more types of evaluation target values and the index value.

The design diagnosis unit 27 may calculate the index value by evaluating some of the various design elements added to the format data. Before evaluating the impact of the design on the viewer, the diagnosis model used by the design diagnosis unit 27 during diagnosis may be capable of extracting design elements (or areas) from the design that are predicted to most attract the attention of consumers and other people. The diagnosis model may be constructed to calculate the index value by comprehensively considering at least one type of information of the extracted design element on the soft packaging material, its position on the soft packaging material, its color, and its brightness (luminance, brightness).

When the diagnostic model is constructed by machine learning, sample data of various designs and correct answer data of index values based on questionnaire results from a large number of monitors who may be people who view the designs (e.g., consumers) may be prepared as learning data. Machine learning refers to a method in which a machine (computer) autonomously finds laws or rules by repeatedly learning based on given information. The above diagnostic model can be constructed using an algorithm and a data structure. The diagnostic model is realized, for example, using a neural network, which is an information processing model that mimics the mechanism of the human brain and nerves. The specific algorithm of the machine learning performed when constructing the diagnostic model is not particularly limited. The diagnostic model may be constructed autonomously by performing machine learning using various input data (sample data of designs) given as input for machine learning and correct answer data (index values based on questionnaire results) of the machine learning output associated with the input data.

The design diagnostic unit 27 may calculate the above index value for each of a plurality of groups divided according to human attributes. In this case, a diagnostic model may be constructed for each group having the same attributes based on survey results obtained from monitors belonging to that group. The plurality of groups may be divided according to at least one of gender and age group.

The design diagnosis unit 27 may calculate the index value using a common diagnostic model for multiple model numbers that can be ordered in the packaging material order management device 10. The design diagnosis unit 27 may calculate the index value for each orderable model number using a diagnostic model corresponding to that model number. A common diagnostic model may be associated with some of the multiple orderable model numbers. In the packaging material order management device 10, the design diagnosis unit 27 may be able to diagnose the design for some model numbers. The packaging material order management device 10 may store one or more diagnostic models, or a computer different from the packaging material order management device 10 may store one or more diagnostic models. In the packaging material order management device 10, only users who have registered as users may be able to request design diagnosis, or only some of the users who have registered as users may be able to request design diagnosis.

Examples of index values are not limited to numerical values (impression level) that indicate the degree of impression. Examples of index values calculated by the design diagnostic unit 27 include, in addition to impression level, a value that indexes the degree of conformity to one's own taste (preference), a value that indexes the degree of favorability of the design, a value that indexes the advertising effect (e.g., click rate), a value that indexes the degree of willingness to try, a value that indexes the degree of memory retention, a value that indexes the degree of willingness to purchase, and a value that indexes the degree of willingness to continue purchasing. The design diagnostic unit 27 may calculate two or more types of index values. When two or more types of index values are calculated, a diagnostic model may be constructed for each type of index value, and one diagnostic model may be capable of calculating two or more types of index values.

7(a) illustrates the calculation result of the index value for the impression (beauty), and FIG. 7(b) illustrates the calculation result of the index value for the value (likability) indexed to the degree of likability received from the design. In the examples shown in FIG. 7(a) and FIG. 7(b), "total" is the evaluation result of the impact on the whole including all groups, "male" and "female" are the evaluation results of the impact on the whole male and the whole female, respectively. "F2 layer" is the evaluation result of the impact on the layer (group) of women aged 35 to 49. The evaluation results for the whole, the whole male, and the whole female may be obtained by averaging the evaluation results of each of the multiple segment layers including the F2 layer. In the graph shown in FIG. 7(a), the value on the vertical axis is the index value representing the impression (the degree to which the impression is beautiful), and the larger the value, the greater the degree to which the target design is expected to be beautiful. In the graph shown in FIG. 7(b), the value on the vertical axis is the index value representing the likability, and the larger the value, the greater the degree to which the target design is expected to be liked.

The user of the packaging material ordering management device 10 can check whether the target design is likely to achieve its goal (e.g., to be favorable) from the calculation result of the index value. Alternatively, the user of the packaging material ordering management device 10 can comprehensively judge the calculation results of multiple types of index values for the target design and decide whether to adopt the target design. Note that instead of calculating the index value, the design diagnosis unit 27 may evaluate the impact of the design in two stages, whether it is good or bad. For example, the design diagnosis unit 27 may determine whether the design gives a good impression to people based on the evaluation target value that represents the characteristics of the design elements that make up the design (e.g., color, brightness, size, position). The design diagnosis unit 27 may determine whether the design gives a good impression or bad impression to people who see the design based on the comparison result between the evaluation target value and a predetermined threshold value.

The packaging material ordering management device 10 may further have a function of managing the payment process that occurs when an order is accepted. In the packaging material ordering management device 10, a design diagnosis is performed by the design diagnosis unit 27, and the payment process may be performed after the user approves the design data that has been design diagnosed by operating the purchaser terminal 90. In the payment process, whether or not the design diagnosis has been used may be reflected in the payment information (e.g., the fee paid by the user). As existing processes can be applied to the management of the payment process, a detailed explanation will be omitted.

(Packaging material manufacturing control device)
The packaging material manufacturing management device 30 is a device that can operate in cooperation with the packaging material order management device 10. The packaging material manufacturing management device 30 has a function of managing each device related to packaging material manufacturing in the department (in FIG. 1, it is referred to as the "packaging material manufacturing department") that it manages. As examples of each device, FIG. 1 shows a printing machine 31, a laminating machine 32, and a bag making machine 33. As the printing machine 31, a digital printing machine or a non-digital printing machine (gravure printing machine, EB offset printing machine, flexographic printing machine, etc.) can be selected as a printing machine according to the type of printing. As the laminating machine 32, a dry laminating machine, an extrusion laminating machine, etc. can be mentioned. Note that these machines shown in FIG. 1 are only examples, and the objects managed by the packaging material manufacturing management device 30 are not limited to these. Furthermore, the packaging material manufacturing management device 30 may be capable of individually controlling the managed equipment (printing machine 31, etc.), or may be configured to manage only the operating status or the operation schedule (operation schedule).

Furthermore, the packaging manufacturing management device 30 may be configured to collectively manage materials, process, and the like for each product manufactured in the department that it manages. In this way, the management of the packaging manufacturing management device 30 can be the general business related to the manufacturing of packaging materials in the department that it manages. However, the packaging manufacturing management device 30 does not have to manage all of these business operations, and may be configured to manage only some of them. As an example, in this embodiment, as part of the management related to the manufacturing of packaging materials based on instructions from the packaging ordering management device 10, the packaging manufacturing management device 30 at least receives instructions to create packaging materials from the packaging ordering management device 10, manages the received data, and manages the manufacturing status of the packaging materials that have been instructed to be created (process management). Note that these management operations do not need to be performed by a single packaging manufacturing management device 30, and may be managed in a distributed manner by multiple devices.

(Hardware configuration of packaging order management device and packaging manufacturing management device)
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a computer 110 used in the packaging order management device 10 or the packaging manufacturing management device 30. For example, the computer 110 has a control circuit 100. In one example, the control circuit 100 has one or more processors 101, a memory 102, a storage 103, a communication port 104, and an input/output port 105. The processor 101 executes an operating system and an application program. The storage 103 is composed of a storage medium such as a hard disk, a non-volatile semiconductor memory, or a removable medium (e.g., a magnetic disk, an optical disk, etc.), and stores the operating system and the application program. The memory 102 temporarily stores a program loaded from the storage 103 or a calculation result by the processor 101. The processor 101 functions as an individual functional module by executing a program in cooperation with the memory 102. The storage 103 may store a program for configuring each of the above-mentioned functional modules (functional modules of the packaging order management device 10). The communication port 104 performs data communication with other devices via the communication network NW in accordance with instructions from the processor 101. The input/output port 105 performs input/output of electrical signals with input/output devices (user interfaces) such as a keyboard, mouse, monitor, and touch panel in accordance with instructions from the processor 101.

The packaging order management device 10 and the packaging manufacturing management device 30 may each be configured with multiple computers 110. Furthermore, if either the packaging order management device 10 or the packaging manufacturing management device 30 is configured with multiple computers 110, the multiple computers 110 may be distributed and may be connected to each other via a communication network NW.

(Packaging material order management method)
Next, a packaging order management method using a packaging order system 1 including a packaging order management device 10 and a packaging manufacturing management device 30 will be described with reference to Fig. 9. This packaging order management method includes at least a first acquisition step of acquiring order information indicating the contents of an order from a purchaser terminal 90, and a second acquisition step of acquiring design data including a design to be printed on a packaging material specified by the order information acquired in the first acquisition step, based on an operation by a user. The packaging order management method also includes an instruction step of sending a packaging production instruction based on the order information acquired in the first acquisition step and the design data acquired in the second acquisition step to a manufacturing department including a printer 31, and a diagnosis step of predicting the effect of the design included in the design data on people, based on the design data acquired in the second acquisition step.

9 is a flow diagram showing an ordering method and a delivery method by the packaging material ordering system 1. As shown in FIG. 9, steps S01 and S02 are first performed between the purchaser terminal 90 and the packaging material ordering management device 10. In step S01, for example, a user (purchaser) operates the purchaser terminal 90 to refer to a website provided by the information providing unit 12 of the packaging material ordering management device 10, input necessary information on the website, and transmit a user registration request. On the other hand, in step S02, for example, the packaging material ordering management device 10 receives a user registration request from the purchaser terminal 90, registers user information in the user information holding unit 21 of the packaging material ordering management device 10, and notifies the purchaser terminal 90 that user registration has been completed. This enables the user of the purchaser terminal 90 to become the purchaser. Note that steps S01 and S02 are examples of a case where user registration is performed in advance, and this process can be changed depending on the timing of user registration. Also, if user management is not performed in the packaging material order management device 10, this process is omitted and the user of the orderer terminal 90 becomes the orderer as is.

Next, the packaging material order management device 10 executes step S03 based on a request from the purchaser terminal 90. When a user of the purchaser terminal 90 is about to place an order for packaging material with the packaging material order management device 10, the user operates the purchaser terminal 90 to request the presentation of an order form. In response to this request, the information providing unit 12 presents the order form. The format of the order form is not particularly limited, and for example, a plurality of packaging materials that can be provided on the website may be displayed so that the user can select from among them, or the user may input a model number. In this way, the format, interface, etc. for inputting information when the user places an order may be changed as appropriate. For example, the initial screen may be configured to display all available packaging materials, and the user may set and search for extraction conditions, and only information related to a specific packaging material that matches the extraction conditions may be extracted and displayed. When a plurality of packaging materials that can be provided on the website are displayed, sales information for each packaging material (for example, sales price, order unit, estimated time until delivery) may be displayed. The information providing unit 12 may display the sales information stored by the sales information storage unit 24 on an order form or other screen.

Next, the purchaser terminal 90 that has acquired the order form executes step S04. In step S04, the user of the purchaser terminal 90 inputs at least a portion of the various information required for the order. At this time, the information input by the user may include information specifying the model number of the packaging material. Note that the user may directly specify the model number of the packaging material, but, for example, when a packaging material is selected from those listed on a website, the model number corresponding to that packaging material may be automatically selected.

Next, the purchaser terminal 90 executes step S05. In step S05, for example, the information entered in the order form after input, i.e., the order information, is sent from the purchaser terminal 90 to the packaging material order management device 10. This order information may include model number information that specifies the material, shape, and size of the packaging material. When the order information is sent from the purchaser terminal 90, the packaging material order management device 10 executes step S06. In step S06, for example, the order acceptance unit 14 acquires the order information as a process of starting the process of accepting the order, and stores it in the order information storage unit 22. In addition, the order acceptance unit 14 associates the order information with the user information storage unit 21 as necessary (for example, links information using a user ID).

Next, the packaging material order management device 10 executes step S07. In step S07, for example, the print data acquisition unit 15 refers to the format data storage unit 25 and prepares a set of format data corresponding to the model number included in the order information. Next, the packaging material order management device 10 executes step S08. In step S08, for example, the print data acquisition unit 15 transmits the prepared set of format data to the purchaser terminal 90. As an example, the print data acquisition unit 15 may upload the set of format data to a website or the like from which data can be downloaded by an operation from the purchaser terminal 90. In this case, the set of format data may be acquired by downloading the data by an operation from the purchaser terminal 90. The set of format data corresponding to each model number may be provided in a downloadable state on a specific website, and the purchaser terminal 90 may acquire the set of format data by downloading the set of format data corresponding to a specific model number.

In response, the orderer terminal 90 executes step S09. In step S09, for example, a user creates design data for printing by processing data D1 on the orderer terminal 90 from which the set of format data has been acquired. Various design elements (e.g., characters, figures) are added to data D1, thereby creating design data for printing.

The purchaser terminal 90 executes step S10 for the created data. In step S10, the purchaser terminal 90 transmits the processed design data for printing to the packaging material order management device 10. The transmitted data is acquired by the print data acquisition unit 15 of the packaging material order management device 10. The design data may be sent from the purchaser terminal 90 to the packaging material order management device 10 by uploading the data to a specific website, for example. The initial design data transmitted to the packaging material order management device 10 may be proofread. After the user's approval of the proofread design data is obtained, the print data acquisition unit 15 may obtain the approved proofread design data and update the design data to new data. The design data obtained in step S10 may be a candidate for the design data to be used for final printing.

Next, the purchaser terminal 90 executes step S11. In step S11, for example, based on a user operation, the purchaser terminal 90 requests diagnosis of the design included in the design data transmitted in step S10. In response to the request in step S11, the packaging material order management device 10 executes step S12. In step S12, for example, the design diagnosis unit 27 predicts the impact of the design included in the design data on people (people who view the design) based on the design data. The design diagnosis unit 27 may calculate one or more types of index values that represent the predicted results of the impact of the design on people based on the design data. The design diagnosis unit 27 may calculate an index value of a type specified by the user from among the multiple types of index values that can be calculated. The design diagnosis unit 27 may calculate the above index value using a diagnosis model associated with the packaging material identified by the order information transmitted in step S05.

After the design diagnosis is performed, the packaging material order management device 10 executes step S13. In step S13, for example, the information providing unit 12 presents the result of the design diagnosis performed in step S12 on the purchaser terminal 90. The information providing unit 12 may present the result of the design diagnosis to the user by email notification. After the user confirms the result of the design diagnosis, the purchaser terminal 90 executes step S14. In step S14, for example, the purchaser terminal 90 transmits an instruction to confirm the order started from step S04 based on the user's operation. The instruction to confirm the order in step S14 may include an approval to use the candidate design data as the data to be finally used for printing. In conjunction with the execution of step S14, the user may further input some of the various information required for the order into the purchaser terminal 90. If the result of the design diagnosis is different from the expected content, the user may modify the design data (design elements). After the user has modified the design data, the series of processes in steps S11 to S13 may be executed again. The series of steps S11 to S13 may be repeated until step S14 is executed, or a predetermined limited number of times.

When the procedures up to step S14 are completed, the packaging material order management device 10 executes step S15. In step S15, for example, the payment processing unit 18 confirms the order from the purchaser and performs payment processing. Information indicating that payment has been made by the payment processing unit 18 is recorded in the order information storage unit 22, for example, as described above. With the processing up to this point, a series of processes related to order acceptance is completed. Note that, in the series of processes related to order acceptance, if the user does not request design diagnosis, steps S11 to S13 are not executed.

Next, the packaging order management device 10 executes step S16. In step S16, for example, the packaging production instruction unit 16 refers to the model number included in the order information and refers to the material information storage unit 23 to prepare information that needs to be sent to the packaging production management device 30. That is, information that identifies the materials used in the packaging material specified by the model number (material specification information) is prepared. The packaging production instruction unit 16 obtains information on the materials corresponding to the model number from the information stored in the material information storage unit 23. This prepares the data to be sent to the packaging production management device 30.

Next, the packaging order management device 10 executes step S17. In step S17, for example, the packaging production instruction unit 16 transmits a packaging production instruction to the packaging manufacturing management device 30. The transmitted production instruction may include at least a portion of the order information (for example, information identifying the packaging material, information related to the delivery destination of the packaging material), information specifying the materials to be used in producing the packaging material, and design data to be used for printing on the packaging material.

Next, the packaging manufacturing management device 30, which has received the instruction to create the packaging material, executes step S18. In step S18, the packaging manufacturing management device 30 starts managing and creating the process related to the creation of the packaging material based on the creation instruction. Examples of process management in the packaging manufacturing management device 30 include procuring materials and ensuring the use time of each device used to create the packaging material, such as the printing machine 31, laminating machine 32, and bag making machine 33. In step S18, adjustments (such as data proofreading) may be made to the design data to enable use by the printing machine 31.

In parallel with the creation of the product, the packaging material manufacturing management device 30 executes step S19, and the packaging material ordering management device 10 executes step S20 in response to this. In step S19, for example, the packaging material manufacturing management device 30 notifies the packaging material ordering management device 10 of the planned delivery date of the packaging material. The planned delivery date can be identified, for example, as a result of process management (step S18). The packaging material manufacturing management device 30 notifies the packaging material ordering management device 10 at the stage when the delivery date is expected. The notified planned delivery date of the packaging material may correspond to the delivery period that may be included in the sales information, or may deviate from the delivery period due to changes in the situation from the time the sales information was provided. In step S20, for example, the packaging material ordering management device 10, which has received information on the planned delivery date from the packaging material manufacturing management device 30, notifies the delivery date information to the purchaser terminal 90 via the delivery management unit 17. The method of notifying the purchaser terminal 90 is not particularly limited, and examples include notification on a website (e.g., a user page assigned to each user), notification by email, etc. At this time, the delivery management unit 17 may update the delivery date information in the order information stored in the order information storage unit 22.

When the product is completed, the packaging material manufacturing management device 30 executes step S21. In addition, steps S22 to S24 are executed in conjunction with the execution of step S21. In step S21, for example, the packaging material manufacturing management device 30 ships the completed product to the delivery destination included in the production instruction. Together with the delivery of the product, a shipping notification is sent from the packaging material manufacturing management device 30 to the packaging material ordering management device 10 in step S22. In addition, in step S23, for example, the packaging material ordering management device 10 that has received the shipping notification reports to the purchaser terminal 90 that the shipping has been completed. The method of notifying the purchaser terminal 90 is not particularly limited, and examples include notification on a website (for example, a user page assigned to each user) and notification by email. In addition, as shown in step S24, the product is separately sent from the packaging material manufacturing management device 30 (manufacturing department) to the delivery destination. Note that FIG. 9 shows a state in which the product is sent to the purchaser terminal 90 as an example in which the delivery destination is the user of the purchaser terminal 90. The delivery destination is set based on the order information, so the product may be delivered to a location other than the location of the user of the orderer terminal 90.

The above completes a series of processes related to the creation of one packaging material. Note that, when the same user places a packaging material order for the second or subsequent times, some of the procedures shown in FIG. 9 can be omitted. For example, when user management is performed in the packaging material order management device 10, user registration is completed from the second order onwards, so the procedures related to user registration (S11 to S12) are omitted, and a login process using a user ID or the like is performed. Also, as described above, when user management is performed in the packaging material order management device 10, order information can be created using the information used for user registration, so that, for example, the input of information in input of order information (S04) can be simplified. The procedures shown in FIG. 9 may be executed even when the packaging material is a material other than light packaging material (for example, paper containers, etc.) or when the types of packaging materials handled by the packaging material order system 1 include materials other than soft packaging materials.

(Modification of the first embodiment)
As described above, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to the above-described examples, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present disclosure.

In the series of processes related to an order shown in FIG. 9, the order information and the design data may be acquired in any order. Before inputting the order information, the user (orderer) may send design data by operating the orderer terminal 90 and request a diagnosis of the design of the design data. Before inputting the order information, the orderer terminal 90 may acquire format data from the packaging material order management device 10 based on the user's operation. Before inputting the order information, the design diagnosis unit 27 may diagnose the design. In this case, the user may continue ordering the packaging material by inputting order information, etc., after checking the diagnosis result by the design diagnosis unit 27. In the process of continuing the packaging material order, the packaging material order management device 10 may associate the design data sent before inputting the order information with the order information. By performing this association, the design data sent before inputting the order information becomes data including the design to be printed on the packaging material specified by the order information.

The purchaser terminal 90 may send multiple design data candidates to the packaging material order management device 10 based on user operation. When a design diagnosis is requested, the design diagnosis unit 27 may perform design diagnosis on each of the multiple design data. The user may check the diagnosis results for each of the multiple design data and select (decide) the design data to be ultimately used for printing from among the multiple design data. The print data acquisition unit 15 may acquire the design data selected by the user as the data to be ultimately used for printing.

(Effects of the First Embodiment)
The packaging material order management device 10 described above is a device that accepts orders for the production of packaging material from an orderer terminal 90 operated by an orderer via the Internet. This packaging material order management device 10 includes an order receiving unit 14 that acquires order information indicating the contents of the order from the orderer terminal 90, a print data acquisition unit 15 that acquires design data including a design to be printed on a packaging material specified by the order information based on an operation by the orderer, a packaging material production instruction unit 16 that transmits packaging material production instructions based on the order information acquired by the order receiving unit 14 and the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 15 to a production department including a printer 31, and a design diagnosis unit 27 that predicts the impact of the design included in the design data on people based on the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 15.

When managing packaging orders, this packaging order management device 10 acquires design data including the design to be printed on the packaging, and issues instructions to create the packaging based on that design data. The packaging order management device 10 also diagnoses the design included in the design data and predicts the impact of that design on people. The user who will be placing the order can grasp the predicted impact of the prepared design data on people when ordering packaging with that design printed on it. This makes it possible to decide on a design and order packaging while considering the impact on people who will see the design in the future. This makes it possible to improve user convenience.

In the packaging material ordering management device 10 described above, the design diagnosis unit 27 may calculate an index value that represents the predicted result of the above-mentioned impact based on the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 15. In this case, the user can grasp the predicted impact of the design in numerical terms. Therefore, the design can be determined by quantitatively considering the impact on people who will view the design in the future. Therefore, it is possible to further improve user convenience.

In the packaging material ordering management device 10 described above, the design diagnosis unit 27 may calculate the index value based on a diagnosis model previously constructed by machine learning so as to output the calculation result of the index value in response to the input of design data, and on the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 15. In this case, the diagnostic model constructed by machine learning is used to calculate the index value, so that the predicted impact can be made closer to the impact when a person actually views the design. This allows the user to decide on a design taking into account the predicted result with higher accuracy. Therefore, it is possible to further improve user convenience.

In the packaging order management device 10 described above, the design diagnosis unit 27 may predict the above-mentioned impact based on at least one of the color, brightness, position on the packaging, and size on the packaging of the design elements constituting the design contained in the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 15. The color, brightness, position on the packaging, and size on the packaging of the design elements affect people who view the design when selling or distributing a product or the like that includes packaging on which the design is printed. In the above configuration, by evaluating these characteristics of the design elements, the design elements can be determined while taking into consideration the impact that the design elements will have on people who view the design in the future. This makes it possible to further improve user convenience.

[Second embodiment]
Next, a packaging ordering system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. In the packaging ordering system 1 according to the second embodiment, the packaging ordering management device 10 is configured to accept orders via a message application (hereinafter referred to as a "message app") as an order acceptance via the Internet. The packaging ordering management device 10 is configured to transmit and receive information related to packaging orders to and from a purchaser terminal 90 via a message app capable of transmitting and receiving text messages and data to and from a registered (user registered) user. The packaging ordering management device 10 can receive text messages and data from a registered user via the message app. The packaging ordering management device 10 can also transmit text messages and data to a registered user via the message app. At least a part of the information from the packaging ordering management device 10 may be transmitted by an operation of an operator (hereinafter referred to as an "administrator") capable of operating the packaging ordering management device 10. The packaging ordering management device 10 may transmit at least a part of the information from the packaging ordering management device 10 autonomously.

The message app used to accept packaging orders in the packaging order management device 10 is an application for sending messages between users and is also capable of sending and receiving data between users. The message app may also be called a messaging app, chat app, messenger app, communication app, instant messaging app, or chat platform. Text messages sent and received on the message app may include numbers, symbols, and emojis in addition to text.

The message app used to receive packaging orders in the packaging order management device 10 may be an existing message app, an existing message app customized for business use, or an existing message app customized for packaging orders. In one example, as shown in FIG. 10, the packaging order management device 10 and the orderer terminal 90 send and receive text messages and data via a message app server 300.

Information is transmitted and received between the packaging material order management device 10 and the message app server 300 via the Internet (communications network NW). The packaging material order management device 10 may have, as a functional module, a transmission/reception unit 11 that transmits and receives information with the message app server 300. In FIG. 10, functional modules other than the transmission/reception unit 11 possessed by the packaging material order management device 10 are omitted. The purchaser terminal 90 may have, as a functional module, a transmission/reception unit 191 that transmits and receives information with the message app server 300.

The message app server 300 is, for example, a server computer managed by a company that provides a message app. The computer used for the message app server 300 may also have a hardware configuration similar to that of the computer 110 illustrated in FIG. 8. The message app server 300 may have, as functional modules, a transmission/reception unit 301 and a file storage unit 302.

The transmission/reception unit 301 transmits and receives text messages and data between the transmission/reception unit 11 of the packaging material order management device 10 and the transmission/reception unit 191 of the purchaser terminal 90. The file storage unit 302 stores data (specifically, files) transmitted from the transmission/reception unit 11 of the packaging material order management device 10, and stores data (specifically, files) transmitted from the transmission/reception unit 191 of the purchaser terminal 90. For example, when messages are exchanged between the packaging material order management device 10 (the administrator of the packaging material order management device 10) and the purchaser terminal 90 (the purchaser who operates the purchaser terminal 90), the transmission/reception unit 301 performs processing such as relaying messages. When a file is uploaded from the purchaser terminal 90 or the packaging material order management device 10 on the message app, the file storage unit 302 stores the file. When a download request for a specific file is made from the purchaser terminal 90 or the packaging material order management device 10 on the message app, the transmission/reception unit 301 transmits the file stored in the file storage unit 302 to the device that made the download request.

As described above, the transmitting/receiving unit 11 of the packaging material ordering management device 10 transmits and receives text messages and data to and from the purchaser terminal 90 via a message application. In the packaging material ordering system 1 according to the second embodiment, the order receiving unit 14 obtains order information indicating an order for the creation of packaging material from the purchaser terminal 90. The order receiving unit 14 obtains the order information, for example, based on an operation by an administrator who has confirmed a text message from the purchaser terminal 90. The acceptance of an order for packaging material by the packaging material ordering management device 10 via a message application may include an operation by the administrator. Instead of an operation by the administrator, the order receiving unit 14 may obtain the order information based on information such as a text message from the purchaser terminal 90 (for example, by recognizing the content of the text message). In this case, a message template (format) for ordering packaging material on the message application may be presented to the purchaser terminal 90 by the administrator.

In the packaging ordering system 1 according to the second embodiment, the print data acquisition unit 15 acquires design data including a design to be printed on the packaging material specified by the order information acquired by the order reception unit 14. The print data acquisition unit 15 acquires the design data, for example, based on the operation of an administrator who confirms the text message from the orderer terminal 90 and the sent data. Instead of the operation of the administrator, the print data acquisition unit 15 may acquire the design data based on the text message from the orderer terminal 90 and the sent data (for example, by recognizing the contents of the text message and confirming whether data has been sent). In the packaging ordering system 1 according to the second embodiment, the other functional modules, such as the packaging material creation instruction unit 16 and the design diagnosis unit 27, may function in the same manner as the packaging material ordering management device 10 in the packaging material ordering system 1 according to the first embodiment.

11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of information exchange between an orderer and an administrator on a message app. FIG. 11 shows an example of a screen displayed on an orderer terminal 90 such as a smartphone, specifically, a chat screen 99 on a message app. In the exchange on the chat screen 99 shown in FIG. 11, format data is sent from the administrator, and design data is sent from the orderer (user A). The orderer also requests a design diagnosis, and data showing the diagnosis results is sent from the administrator to the orderer. Furthermore, the orderer presents information on the order (number of days available for delivery) that takes into account the situation in the packaging manufacturing department. In addition, although not shown in the figure, adjustments to the number of days and quantity for delivery, adjustments to design data (including suggestions from the administrator), or adjustments to the delivery location may be made between the orderer and the administrator via the message app.

In the packaging material ordering system 1 according to the second embodiment, the packaging material ordering management device 10 may have a sales information management unit as a functional module. The sales information management unit changes the sales information to be sent to the purchaser terminal 90 based on the situation related to the creation of the packaging material in the manufacturing department. Then, the sales information managed by the sales information management unit 28 may be provided to the purchaser terminal 90 via a message app. The sales information may include at least one of information indicating a period during which the packaging material can be delivered to the purchaser, information indicating the selling price of the packaging material, and information indicating the order unit of the packaging material. The information providing unit 12 may provide the sales information managed by the sales information management unit 28 to the purchaser terminal 90 via a message app (e.g., a chat screen) based on the operation of the administrator. Alternatively, the information providing unit 12 may provide the sales information managed by the sales information management unit 28 to the purchaser terminal 90 via a message app (e.g., a chat screen) when a predetermined condition for providing the sales information is met. Unlike the example shown in FIG. 10, the packaging order management device 10 may have the functionality of the message app server 300. In this case, the message app may be a dedicated application for accepting orders for packaging materials.

The packaging ordering management method executed in the packaging ordering management device 10 of the packaging ordering system 1 according to the second embodiment includes at least a sending and receiving step of sending and receiving text messages and data to and from the purchaser terminal 90 via a messaging app, a first acquisition step of acquiring order information indicating the contents of an order related to the creation of packaging, and a second acquisition step of acquiring design data including a design to be printed on the packaging identified by the order information. The packaging ordering management method also includes an instruction step of sending a packaging creation instruction based on the order information acquired in the first acquisition step and the design data acquired in the second acquisition step to a manufacturing department including a printer 31, and a diagnosis step of predicting the impact of the design included in the design data on people based on the design data acquired in the second acquisition step.

(Effects of the Second Embodiment)
The packaging material order management device 10 described above is a device that accepts orders for the creation of packaging material from a purchaser terminal 90 operated by a purchaser via the Internet. The packaging material order management device 10 includes a transmission/reception unit 11 that transmits and receives text messages and data to and from the purchaser terminal 90 via a message app, an order reception unit 14 that acquires order information indicating the contents of the order, a print data acquisition unit 15 that acquires design data including a design to be printed on a packaging material specified by the order information acquired by the order reception unit 14, a packaging material creation instruction unit 16 that transmits packaging material creation instructions based on the order information acquired by the order reception unit 14 and the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 15 to a manufacturing department including a printer 31, and a design diagnosis unit 27 that predicts the impact of a design included in the design data on people based on the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 15.

In this packaging material ordering management device 10, the design diagnosis unit 27 is provided, so that, like the packaging material ordering system 1 according to the first embodiment, the design can be determined while considering the impact on people who will see the design in the future, and packaging material can be ordered. Therefore, it is possible to improve the convenience of the user. In addition, when ordering packaging material, there are many items that need to be adjusted with the purchaser before the packaging material creation instruction unit 16 can send the packaging material creation instruction to the manufacturing department. For example, items that need to be adjusted include whether the design included in the design data is suitable for printing on packaging material, what kind of impact the design is desired to have on consumers, the ordered quantity of packaging material, and the number of delivery days. In the packaging material ordering management device 10, information is sent and received between the purchaser terminal 90 and the packaging material ordering management device 10 via a message app, so that communication with the purchaser can be performed in a more timely manner than, for example, when an order is accepted via a web browser and email. For example, the possibility that the purchaser will miss information from the packaging material ordering management device 10 is reduced, and the purchaser can easily check the past history of the current order. This can shorten the time from when the purchaser starts preparations to place an order for packaging materials to when the ordered packaging materials are delivered. In particular, when using the packaging material order management device 10 to provide a service for receiving orders for packaging materials in small lots with short delivery times, receiving orders via a messaging app is useful.

[Other Modifications]
In the first or second embodiment, some of the functions of the packaging material order management device 10 may be configured to be managed by a device separate from the packaging material order management device 10. For example, management of user information may be configured to be performed by a device separate from the packaging material order management device 10. Furthermore, payment-related matters may also be configured to be managed by a device separate from the packaging material order management device 10. Furthermore, the information contained in the order information or sales information is not limited to that described in the above embodiments, and various information can be combined. Furthermore, the order input form, the configuration of the design data, etc. may also be changed as appropriate.

In the first embodiment, various information may be exchanged between the packaging order management device 10 and the purchaser terminal 90 via an application capable of sending and receiving information related to packaging orders instead of or in addition to a web browser. At least a portion of the content described in any of the various examples described above may be combined with other examples.

1... packaging material ordering system, 10... packaging material ordering management device, 11... transmitting/receiving unit, 14... order receiving unit, 15... printing data acquisition unit, 16... packaging material production instruction unit, 27... design diagnosis unit, 30... packaging material manufacturing management device, 31... printing machine, 90... orderer terminal.

Claims (8)

A packaging material order management device that receives an order for the creation of packaging materials from an orderer terminal operated by an orderer via the Internet,
an order receiving unit that acquires order information indicating the contents of the order from the orderer terminal;
a print data acquisition unit that acquires design data including a design to be printed on a packaging material specified by the order information acquired by the order receiving unit based on an operation by the orderer;
a packaging material production instruction unit that transmits a packaging material production instruction based on the order information acquired by the order receiving unit and the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit to a manufacturing department including a printing machine;
a design diagnosis unit that calculates the index value based on a diagnosis model that is constructed in advance by machine learning so as to output a calculation result of an index value that represents a predicted result of the impact of the design included in the design data on people in response to input of the design data, and the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit ;
An information providing unit that presents the calculation result of the index value by the design diagnosis unit to the client terminal,
the diagnostic model is constructed by machine learning based on learning data including sample data of the design and correct answer data of the index value associated with the sample data;
The printing data acquisition unit determines the design data to be ultimately used for printing based on the operation of the purchaser after the information providing unit presents the calculation result of the index value. The packaging material ordering management device according to claim 1, wherein the print data acquisition unit determines the design data for which the index value is calculated as the design data to be ultimately used for printing, based on an instruction indicating approval from the purchaser after the calculation result of the index value is presented by the information providing unit. the design diagnosis unit calculates the index value for each of a plurality of candidate design data;
2. The packaging material ordering management device of claim 1, wherein the printing data acquisition unit, after presenting the calculation result of the index value by the information providing unit, determines one piece of design data selected by the client from among a plurality of candidate design data as the design data to be ultimately used for printing. The packaging material order management device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the design diagnosis unit calculates the index value based on at least one of color, brightness, position on the packaging material, and size on the packaging material of design elements constituting the design included in the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit. A packaging material order management device that receives an order for the creation of packaging materials from an orderer terminal operated by an orderer via the Internet,
A transceiver unit for transmitting and receiving text messages and data to and from the orderer terminal via a message application;
an order receiving unit that acquires order information indicating the contents of the order;
a print data acquisition unit that acquires design data including a design to be printed on a packaging material specified by the order information acquired by the order reception unit;
a packaging material production instruction unit that transmits a packaging material production instruction based on the order information acquired by the order receiving unit and the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit to a manufacturing department including a printing machine;
a design diagnosis unit that calculates the index value based on a diagnosis model that is constructed in advance by machine learning so as to output a calculation result of an index value that represents a predicted result of the impact of the design included in the design data on people in response to input of the design data, and the design data acquired by the print data acquisition unit ;
An information providing unit that presents the calculation result of the index value by the design diagnosis unit to the client terminal,
the diagnostic model is constructed by machine learning based on learning data including sample data of the design and correct answer data of the index value associated with the sample data;
The printing data acquisition unit determines the design data to be ultimately used for printing based on the operation of the purchaser after the information providing unit presents the calculation result of the index value. A packaging material order management method executed by a packaging material order management device that receives an order for the creation of packaging material from an orderer terminal operated by an orderer via the Internet, comprising:
a first acquisition step in which an order receiving unit of the packaging material order management device acquires order information indicating the content of the order from the orderer terminal;
a second acquisition step in which a print data acquisition unit of the packaging material order management device acquires design data including a design to be printed on the packaging material specified by the order information acquired in the first acquisition step, based on an operation by the orderer;
an instruction step in which a packaging material production instruction unit of the packaging material order management device transmits a packaging material production instruction based on the order information acquired in the first acquisition step and the design data acquired in the second acquisition step to a manufacturing department including a printing machine;
a diagnosis step of calculating the index value based on a diagnosis model previously constructed by machine learning so that a design diagnosis unit of the packaging material order management device outputs a calculation result of an index value representing a predicted result of the impact of the design included in the design data on people in response to input of the design data, and the design data acquired in the second acquisition step ;
a presentation step in which an information providing unit of the packaging material order management device presents a calculation result of the index value in the diagnosis step to the orderer terminal,
the diagnostic model is constructed by machine learning based on learning data including sample data of the design and correct answer data of the index value associated with the sample data;
A packaging material ordering management method, wherein the second acquisition step includes the printing data acquisition unit determining the design data to be ultimately used for printing based on the operation of the purchaser after the presentation of the calculation result of the index value in the presentation step. A packaging material order management method executed by a packaging material order management device that receives an order for the creation of packaging material from an orderer terminal operated by an orderer via the Internet, comprising:
a transmitting/receiving step in which a transmitting/receiving unit of the packaging material order management device transmits and receives text messages and data to and from the orderer terminal via a message application;
a first acquisition step in which an order receiving unit of the packaging material order management device acquires order information indicating contents of the order;
a second acquisition step in which a print data acquisition unit of the packaging material order management device acquires design data including a design to be printed on the packaging material specified by the order information acquired in the first acquisition step;
an instruction step in which a packaging material production instruction unit of the packaging material order management device transmits a packaging material production instruction based on the order information acquired in the first acquisition step and the design data acquired in the second acquisition step to a manufacturing department including a printing machine;
a diagnosis step of calculating the index value based on a diagnosis model previously constructed by machine learning so that a design diagnosis unit of the packaging material order management device outputs a calculation result of an index value representing a predicted result of the impact of the design included in the design data on people in response to input of the design data, and the design data acquired in the second acquisition step ;
a presentation step in which an information providing unit of the packaging material order management device presents a calculation result of the index value in the diagnosis step to the orderer terminal,
the diagnostic model is constructed by machine learning based on learning data including sample data of the design and correct answer data of the index value associated with the sample data;
A packaging material ordering management method, wherein the second acquisition step includes the printing data acquisition unit determining the design data to be ultimately used for printing based on the operation of the purchaser after the presentation of the calculation result of the index value in the presentation step. A program for causing a computer to execute the packaging material ordering management method according to claim 6 or 7 .

Images