JP2003010575A - Embroidery preparing system, embroidery preparing method and embroidery preparing program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prepare an embroidery which coincides with a request of a customer and has high freedom. SOLUTION: A user is asked to select embroidery data defined by a starting point, an end point, at least one stopping point and attribute information among these points each other, and a plurality of embroidery images are displayed to the user in relation to embroidery image data formed based on the embroidery data and the user is asked to select at least one embroidery image and the embroidery image selected by the user is displayed and is also asked to designate (s2) embroidery specifying information consisting of a relation between the embroidery and an object to be embroidered, an embroidery size and at least one color of the embroidery.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an embroidery creating system, an embroidery creating method and an embroidery creating program for creating a sewn product including embroidery using a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a customer requests the creation of embroidery via the Internet, a server accesses an embroidery database, presents search items to a client terminal, and causes an embroidery pattern to be selected. In some cases, the client terminal side permits the use of embroidery by downloading the desired data by paying a fee.

Further, there have been cases where, on the basis of an order from a customer, products such as clothes and sewn products with embroidery of motifs and names are sold.

[0004]

However, in the case of the above-described conventional embroidery creating method, the customer cannot confirm the product actually created. Therefore, even if a product is created based on the customer's request, the product to be delivered often does not meet the customer's wish.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to create an embroidery creating system, an embroidery creating method, and an embroidery creating method for creating an embroidery having a high degree of freedom, which meets customer's wishes. To provide an embroidery creation program.

[0006]

According to one aspect of the present invention, a start point, an end point, at least one stop point, embroidery data defined by attribute information between these points, and the embroidery data. An embroidery data storage unit for storing embroidery image data generated on the basis of the embroidery created by, and reading out embroidery image data corresponding to the embroidery data selected by the user to display a plurality of embroidery images to the user, The user is prompted to select at least one embroidery image, displays the embroidery image selected by the user, and prompts designation of embroidery specific information including at least one of the relationship between the embroidery and the embroidered object, embroidery size, and embroidery color. There is provided an embroidery creation system characterized by comprising an embroidery designating means.

According to such a construction, the user can freely decide the desired embroidery by selecting the displayed embroidery image, and can also make the decision while checking the embroidery. However, the inconvenience that the embroidery differs from the desired embroidery can be eliminated.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the attribute information is information specified by a first attribute indicating that there is a sewing thread and a second attribute indicating that there is no sewing thread.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, it further comprises embroidery image generating means for generating embroidery image data based on the embroidery data. As described above, since the embroidery creation simulation can be performed using the embroidery image data generated based on the embroidery data set by the detailed parameters such as stitch and jump, there is no difference in the detailed design of the embroidery. It is possible to create embroidery.

Embroidery information transfer means for transferring the embroidery data corresponding to the specified embroidery to the electric sewing machine and for prompting the creation of the embroidery based on the embroidery data is further provided. As a result, the embroidery specified by the user can be instantly created by the electric sewing machine.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the embroidery data storage means stores the embroidery data in association with the price thereof, and the embroidery designating means stores the embroidery image by the user. Is displayed against
It further comprises price display means for displaying a price corresponding to the embroidery image. This makes it possible to create embroidery while referring to the price.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the price display means calculates the total price of the entire embroidery specified and displayed by the user, and the total price is selected by the user. Both sides of the price of the embroidery are displayed. Thus, the embroidery can be created by referring to both the price of the entire embroidery and the embroidery selected by the user.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the embroidery designating means simultaneously displays embroidery images corresponding to a plurality of embroidery data designated by the user, and displays the relative position of each embroidery image. Prompt for designation. As a result, it is possible to create embroidery as a combination of separate and independent embroidery as embroidery data.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the embroidery designating means further displays a plurality of embroidery sets designated by the user as an embroidery set, and the position and size of the embroidery set relative to the embroidered object. , Means for urging designation of detailed embroidery detailed information consisting of at least one color, and the embroidery information transfer means transfers the detailed embroidery detailed information to the electric sewing machine. As a result, it becomes possible to automatically create, as an embroidery data, an embroidery in which separate and independent embroidery is combined with an electric sewing machine.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the embroidery designating means further displays the embroidering target image together with the embroidery image, and based on the displayed relationship between the embroidering target image and the embroidery image. The relationship between the embroidered object and the embroidered object is set. Thus, the embroidery can be created while confirming the positional relationship with the embroidered object such as a towel to which the embroidery is actually sewn and the state in which the embroidered object is sewn.

The present invention relating to a system (apparatus) is
It also holds as an invention of a method realized by the device.

Further, the present invention related to an apparatus or method is for causing a computer to execute a procedure corresponding to the present invention (or for causing a computer to function as means corresponding to the present invention, or for a computer corresponding to the present invention. And a computer readable recording medium storing the program.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall structure of an embroidery creation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of client terminals 2 and a server 3 are connected via the Internet 1. The server 3 is connected to a plurality of electric sewing machines 4 via a dedicated line 5.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the server 3 and the electric sewing machine 4. As shown in FIG. 2A, the server 3
Is an interface 31 for controlling transmission and reception of information to and from the Internet 1, and a processing means (processor) 32 which is connected to the interface 31 and performs various information processing.
And a storage means 33 which is connected to the processing means 32 and stores various data.

The processing means 32 comprises an embroidery designating means 321, an embroidery information transferring means 322, and an embroidery image generating means 323. Hard disk and CD-provided in the processing means 32
The recording medium is read from a recording medium reading device such as a ROM, or the program is downloaded via the Internet 1 so that each of these means 32
The processing means 32 functions as 1 to 323.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the concept of embroidery data stored in the storage means 33. As shown in FIG. 3, the embroidery data includes the relative positions of the start point, the stop point, and the end point,
It is composed of stitches that indicate the presence / absence of stitches that connect each stop point, jumps, and needle changes that indicate that the sewing needles are changed.
The stitch is shown by a solid line connecting the respective stop points in FIG. 3, and indicates that the stitching thread is actually passed through the front side of the cloth. The jump is shown in FIG. 3 by a broken line connecting the respective stop points, and indicates that the front side of the cloth is a place where the sewing thread cannot pass. Further, the sewing needle can be changed at the needle changing position. Embroidery data is defined by these start point, stop point, end point, stitch, jump, and needle replacement. The start point, the stop point, and the end point are defined by their relative positions, and can be enlarged or reduced in the x direction or the y direction, or can be deformed according to a predetermined rule. .

In addition to the embroidery data, embroidery thread data for specifying an embroidery thread that determines the color, texture, etc. of the embroidery data is stored. Specifically, it is specified by the color and thread type of the embroidery thread used for embroidery.

Further, the embroidery data is stored in the storage means 33 in association with the embroidery image data. The embroidery image data is generated by the embroidery image generating means 323 of the processing means 32. The embroidery image generation unit 323 generates the embroidery data based on the data such as the start point, the stop point, the end point, the stitch, the jump, the needle change, etc. included in the embroidery data and the embroidery thread color data included in the embroidery thread data. Image data when it is generated is generated. More specifically, for example,
A start point, a stop point, an end point, etc. are made to correspond to pixels, and when each stop point is a stitch, it is made to correspond to pixels that make the stop points illuminate and pixels that do not illuminate other pixels. Generate image data. As a result, the start point, the end point, the stop point, and the like shown in the conceptual diagram of FIG.
It is possible to generate an embroidery image that accurately reflects the sewing direction and sewing order of embroidery threads such as stitches, jumps, and needle changes. The embroidery image data may be generated in advance or may be generated in response to a request from the user.

Further, the storage means 33 stores a predetermined set of embroidery data in order to facilitate the user to create embroidery in advance (hereinafter, this set of embroidery data is referred to as an embroidery data set). . This embroidery data set is made up of a plurality of combinations of the above-mentioned embroidery data, and the relative position of each embroidery data is defined. That is, the embroidery data set includes a plurality of embroidery data and relative position data of each embroidery data. It should be noted that the plurality of embroidery data may be defined as embroidery data identification information for identifying certain embroidery data and other embroidery data. In this case, it is preferable that the embroidery data identification information be stored in association with each embroidery data. By creating the embroidery on the basis of this embroidery data set, the client has an advantage that it can be created in a shorter time than creating the embroidery from the state in which there is no embroidery. The embroidery data and the embroidery data set are associated with their prices in advance and stored in the storage means 33.
It is stored in.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the electric sewing machine 4
Is a receiving means 41 for receiving data from the leased line 5.
And a control means 42 which is connected to the receiving means 41 and drives the driving means (sewing machine) 43 based on the data received by the receiving means 41. The driving means 43 sew the cloth provided by the cloth providing means (not shown) with the sewing thread provided by the sewing thread providing means (not shown) to complete the sewn product made of the embroidered cloth.
The completed embroidery is an embroidery created by the control of the control means 42.

Next, an embroidery creating method using the embroidery creating system described above will be described. Unless otherwise indicated, information exchange between the server 3 and the client terminal 2 is performed by data communication via the Internet 1.

First, when the server 3 receives an embroidery creation request from the client terminal 2 (s1), in response to this request, the server 3 provides an embroidery image and prompts designation of embroidery (s2). The client terminal 2 designates embroidery on the basis of the embroidery image displayed on the display screen of the display means (not shown). Data about specified embroidery (embroidery specification data)
Is transmitted to the server 3 (s3). The server 3 transmits the received embroidery designation data to the electric sewing machine 4 (s4).
The electric sewing machine 4 creates embroidery based on the received embroidery designation data (s5).

The embroidery creation process will be described in more detail below. Upon receiving the embroidery creation request, the server 3 displays, for example, the embroidery creation screen shown in FIG. 4 on the display means of the client terminal 2 and prompts the client to select an embroidery set such as an embroidery pattern or character type. On this embroidery creation screen, a plurality of embroidery sets are displayed. This embroidery creation screen is created based on a plurality of embroidery data sets stored in the storage means 33. The client uses the terminal 2 to select any embroidery data set. The selection information is transmitted from the terminal 2 to the server 3. In response to this selection, the server 3 displays an embroidery data set processing screen that does not include an embroidery data set other than the selected embroidery data set on the display means of the client terminal 2 to prompt the user to select the embroidery data to be changed.
An example of the embroidery data set processing screen is shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, an embroidery data set is displayed on the left side of the screen, and each embroidery data set is surrounded by a solid line frame. Further, the client can select the embroidery data desired to be processed on the embroidery data set processing screen by using the input means of the terminal 2. In response to the selection of the embroidery data, the total amount of the embroidery data set and the amount of the embroidery selected by the client are displayed together with the embroidery data set.
In order to display the total amount and the amount of embroidery, the server 3 may transmit these amount data to the terminal 2 and display them on the terminal 2 in response to the selection of the embroidery data by the client.
The amount data may be transmitted together with the display of the embroidery data set processing screen and the terminal 2 may display the data in response to the selection from the input means. These amounts of money are obtained by reading the price associated with the embroidery data or the embroidery data set, or by calculating the total of the selected prices. The client selects the embroidery data to be changed using the terminal 2. In response to this selection, the server 3 displays a plurality of embroidery data belonging to the selected type of embroidery data.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a list of embroidery data relating to a plurality of "hairstyles" when the client selects the type of embroidery data "hairstyle". When the client selects any one of these desired embroidery data, the browser on the client terminal 2 replaces and displays the selected embroidery data on the embroidery data set processing screen on the left side of the screen. Of course, the total amount of the embroidery data set and the amount of the selected embroidery data are also updated to the values calculated based on the replaced embroidery data.

Further, in the case of processing a character created as embroidery by the same method, the embroidery data set processing screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display means of the terminal 2. As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of types of characters are displayed in a box on the right side of the screen, and by selecting one of these boxes, the character input screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. When a character is determined according to the screen shown in FIG. 8, the selected character type is replaced and displayed on the embroidery data set processing screen on the left side of the screen in FIG. Of course in detail,
It is also possible to set the character type and character size on the character detail setting screen shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

In addition to changing the embroidery data, the relative position (layout) of each embroidery data can be set by moving the display position while selecting each embroidery data by the input means of the terminal 2. . The movement of the display position by the input means can be realized by, for example, when a mouse is used as the input means, by moving the display position while the embroidery data is selected by the mouse. The display position of each embroidery data displayed is converted into the relative position of each embroidery data and stored in the storage means 33 of the server 3.
Alternatively, it is stored in a storage means (not shown) of the terminal 2. When the layout setting is completed, the embroidery color can be set on the embroidery color setting screen shown in FIG. Further, the color and type of the embroidering target (towel in this embodiment) which is the target for sewing embroidery can be set on the embroidering target setting screen as shown in FIG.

Finally, in order to determine the relative position of the embroidery to the embroidered object and the kind of the embroidered object, the relative position of the embroidery to the embroidered object and the embroidered object are displayed on the embroidery position determination screen as shown in FIG. You can set the type.

When the embroidery, the object to be embroidered, and the relationship between the embroidery and the object to be embroidered are specified as described above, data (embroidery specification detailed data) for specifying these are transmitted from the client terminal 2 to the server 3. It The server 3 generates embroidery acceptance data based on the detailed embroidery specific data.
The embroidery acceptance note data may be printed by a printing means (not shown) or may be stored in the storage means 33 as electronic data. FIG. 14 shows an example of embroidery acceptance note data.

Although the information transmission / reception between the client terminal 2 and the server 3 described above is performed a plurality of times, the transmission / reception may be performed a plurality of times at a time depending on the communication rate and the data amount of data communication. . For example, necessary data is transmitted from the server 3 to the client terminal 2 at a time, and a browser (not shown) of the client terminal 2 causes the display means of the terminal 2 to display the data based on the data, thereby making an information request to the server 3. You may reduce the number of times.

Next, the embroidery information transfer means 322 of the server 3
Sends detailed data for specifying embroidery to the electric sewing machine 4. The embroidery specific detailed data received by the receiving means 41 of the electric sewing machine 4 is transferred to the control means 42. The control means 42
Based on the received detailed embroidery specific data, the driving means 43 is driven to create the embroidery included in the detailed data. The drive means 43 selects a sewing thread of a color specified by the detailed embroidery data specification data, and embroiders the embroidered object along the start point, the end point, the stop point, the stitch, the jump, the needle change, etc. defined by the data. create.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
Since the embroidery to be created is created by performing the embroidery simulation while confirming the embroidery to be actually created on the screen, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that the finished embroidery is different from the desired embroidery. Since the embroidery image displayed on the screen is generated and displayed based on the embroidery data specified by the start point, the end point, the stop point, the stitch, the jump, the needle change, etc., the embroidery image is very close to the real thing. Therefore, the embroidery simulation can be performed while confirming the detailed design of the embroidery. Further, since the embroidery created by the simulation is directly transferred as electronic data to the electric sewing machine and the embroidery is created based on the electronic data, there is a time lag from determining the embroidery design to be created until the embroidery is created. There is no.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

Further, the case where the program for executing the function of the present invention is incorporated into the processor 32 and the function of the present invention is executed by the program has been described. For example, a computer-readable recording medium in which these programs are recorded is used. You may read from the recording medium reader which the server 3 does not show in figure, and may make the processor 32 perform the said function.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the server performs most of various information processing in response to a request from the terminal is shown, but it is also possible to cause the terminal to perform a part of the processing performed by the server. In this case, for example, a program for performing processing as a recording medium may be distributed to each terminal in advance, or the program may be distributed to each terminal via a network.

Information transmission and reception between the server and the terminal may be wireless communication or wire communication.

Although a case has been shown in which information is transmitted and received between the server and the terminal to specify the embroidery, the embroidery creation system described above may be realized by a stand-alone type computer system. That is, it is possible to provide display means and input means on the server side, omit the terminal, and specify embroidery on the server side.

It is also possible to provide a printing means in the server and print the embroidery image selected and generated by the user to create a postcard.

[0044]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to create an embroidery having a high degree of freedom, which meets the wishes of the customer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an embroidery creation system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a detailed configuration of a server and an electric sewing machine according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the concept of embroidery data according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of an embroidery creation screen according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an embroidery data set processing screen according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of an embroidery data set processing screen according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of an embroidery data set processing screen according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a character input screen according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary view showing an example of a character detail setting screen according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a character detail setting screen according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of an embroidery color setting screen according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of an embroidering target setting screen according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a view showing an example of an embroidery position determination screen according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a view showing an example of embroidery acceptance note data according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a view showing a timing chart of the embroidery creation method according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Internet 2 ... Client terminal 3 ... server 4 ... Electric sewing machine 5 ... dedicated line 31 ... Interface 32 ... Processing means 33 ... Storage means 41 ... Receiving means 42 ... Control means 43 ... Driving means 321 ... Embroidery designating means 322 ... Embroidery information transfer means

Continued front page    F term (reference) 3B150 AA15 CB04 CE09 CE27 LA44                       LA57 LA58 LA66 LA67 LA71                       LA72 LA73 LB02 MA03 MA07                       MA08 MA12 NA53 NA54 NA61                       NA62 NA67 NA71 NB18 QA04                       QA06 QA08                 5B046 AA10 CA06 FA13 GA04 HA05

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A start point, an end point, at least one stop point, embroidery data defined by attribute information between these points, and embroidery image data generated based on the embroidery created by this embroidery data. And an embroidery image data corresponding to the embroidery data selected by the user are read out, a plurality of embroidery images are displayed to the user, and at least one embroidery image is urged to be selected by the user. Embroidery designating means for displaying the embroidery image and for prompting designation of embroidery specifying information including at least one of the relationship between the embroidery and the object to be embroidered, the embroidery size, and the color of the embroidery. Embroidery creation system. 2. The attribute information is information specified by a first attribute indicating that there is a sewing thread between two points and a second attribute indicating that there is no sewing thread between the two points. The embroidery creation system according to claim 1. 3. The embroidery creation system according to claim 1, further comprising embroidery image generation means for generating embroidery image data based on the embroidery data. 4. An embroidery information transfer means for transferring embroidery data and embroidery specifying information corresponding to the designated embroidery to an electric sewing machine and for prompting creation of embroidery based on the embroidery data. The embroidery creation system described in 1. 5. The embroidery data storage means stores the embroidery data in association with a price thereof, and the embroidery designating means displays the embroidery image to a user and corresponds to the embroidery image. The price display means for displaying the price to be displayed is further provided.
The embroidery creation system described in. 6. The price display means calculates a total price of the entire embroidery specified and displayed by the user, and displays both the total price and the price of the embroidery selected by the user. The embroidery creation system according to claim 5, which is characterized in that. 7. The embroidery designating means simultaneously displays an embroidery image corresponding to a plurality of embroidery data designated by a user, and prompts designation of a relative position of each embroidery data. The embroidery creation system described. 8. The embroidery designating means further displays a plurality of embroidery sets designated by a user as an embroidery set, and at least one of a relative position of the embroidery set with respect to an embroidered object, a size of the embroidery set, and a color of the embroidery set. 5. The embroidery creation system according to claim 4, further comprising means for prompting designation of detailed embroidery set information, wherein the embroidery information transfer means transfers the detailed embroidery set information to the electric sewing machine. 9. The embroidery designating means further displays the embroidering target image together with the embroidery image, and sets the relationship between the embroidering target and the embroidery target based on the relationship between the displayed embroidery target image and the embroidery image. The embroidery creation system according to any one of claims 1 to 8. 10. A step of urging a user to select a start point, an end point, at least one stop point, and embroidery data defined by attribute information between these points, and the step of generating the embroidery data based on the embroidery data. A step of displaying a plurality of embroidery images of the embroidery image data to the user and prompting the user to select at least one embroidery image; displaying the embroidery image selected by the user; And a step of urging the user to specify embroidery specifying information including at least one of size and embroidery color. 11. A step of urging a computer to select a start point, an end point, at least one stop point, and embroidery data defined by attribute information between these points, based on the embroidery data. A step of displaying a plurality of generated embroidery image data to the user, and urging the user to select at least one embroidery image; displaying the embroidery image selected by the user; An embroidery creation program for realizing the step of prompting the designation of embroidery specifying information including at least one of the relationship, embroidery size, and embroidery color.