JP2003263471A - Printing data transmission/management system using personal digital assistant - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for ordering output in the form of printed matter such as a desired booklet by uploading and laying out contents from a cellphone or the like. <P>SOLUTION: This server system performs access from a user's personal digital assistant. The server system performs a layout template specification processing in which contents data transmitted by the user from the personal digital assistant are stored in a contents database and the layout template of the data constituting the printed matter is chosen; an edit instruction processing for editing the data such as contents data and character data inserted into the layout template; an output instruction processing for outputting the number, the paper quality and the size of the printed matter; a fee charging information processing for storing a specified layout template specifying data, an edit specifying data and an output specifying data in the contents database. The server system performs the order processing of the printed matter by storing them in the user database. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention allows a user who has accessed a computer network typified by the Internet to upload and lay out contents such as digital images and request output in the form of printed matter such as a desired booklet. The billing process is performed, and the data that constitutes the printed matter that has been output is stored and managed in association with the registration data related to the user and the storage management, so that reordering is possible based on the data that constitutes the stored management of the printed matter. Data management system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a lot of work has been performed using a computer system in the production process of printed matter, particularly in the plate making / platemaking process. The format of data used in a computer system is, for example, in the case of characters and character strings, text data input by a word processor, computer, etc., and photographs and pictures are image data input by a scanner, etc. Yes, the format of the printing material data is all digital data.

On the other hand, today, with the development of computer networks and communication environments, businesses such as commercial activities represented by the Internet have become active. There are many websites such as shopping malls and auctions, and various technologies such as payment methods have been developed in association with them. In addition to information devices such as personal computers, mobile information terminals, mobile phones, PHS, and information home appliances such as Internet TVs and game devices have become widespread. Some mobile phones have a browser function, and it is possible to browse Internet Web pages from mobile phone terminals.

Under such circumstances, a user who has accessed a computer network typified by the Internet uploads and lays out contents such as digital images, and outputs them in the form of printed matter such as New Year's cards, postcards, and other desired booklets. There are services that request and are charged. In addition, if the contents can be freely laid out and printed materials such as publications, small number of booklets, posters, brochures and leaflets, postcards, letters, various documents, and other edited print media can be output, it is troublesome. In terms of cost, cost, and production time, the convenience will be dramatically improved.

As a conventional technique in such a field, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-352598 "Method and lab system of print photograph processing using the Internet".
Discloses a method for providing a print photograph processing method using the Internet and a technique for providing a lab system. According to the present invention, the lab system develops the film, adds a unique ID to all the lab systems, and stores it as image data. The lab system prints the image data stored in any lab system connected to the Internet. In this way, according to the present invention, the lab system stores image data, is managed by a unique ID in all lab systems, and is connected to each other via the Internet. Therefore, the permission of the owner of the image data has been obtained. The user can print on any lab system.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-161673 "Catalog Creation System" discloses a technique for shortening the catalog creation time. The WWW server connected to the Internet network collectively manages the catalog data for creating a catalog as a catalog database, and when connecting to the WWW server from the browser of a personal computer, the same input is displayed while displaying a predetermined input screen. Since the catalog database is operated according to the input contents on the screen, it is possible to share the contents of the catalog database in real time, and to provide a catalog creation system capable of creating a catalog easily and in a short time. You can

Further, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-254744 "Printing Data Management System and Printing Data Management Method", in the manufacture of printed matter, printing data is properly selected from storage devices set on a network. A print data management system capable of automatically setting and surely storing, recalling necessary edit data to an edit work terminal, and further storing process management information regarding the edit work as a database. A technique for providing the above is disclosed. A management system for storing and managing data constituting printed matter as a database, comprising a storage unit for storing printing material data as an object packed with related data and the printing data management system and printing data management. Is the way.

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional techniques, various techniques for uploading and laying out contents such as digital images and outputting them in the form of a desired printed matter such as a booklet are available. Although disclosed, users can upload and register content such as images, and store the registered content for reprinting or reordering so that reordering and reprinting can be done easily, and There is no mention of storing the editing designation data such as the layout.

Furthermore, today, there is a remarkable spread of mobile information terminals represented by mobile phones, and various technological developments for next-generation mobile phones are being made. In such a field, for example, it becomes possible to mount a CCD camera or the like on a mobile phone or a memory card, and further install a program in a storage device included in the mobile phone to perform various processes. Will be done. It is assumed that various data other than conventional voice data can be sent and received with the improvement of the communication environment.By applying these technologies, it is possible to send contents and place orders for printed materials using contents. If possible, the usage will expand.

Further, in order to facilitate re-ordering from the user, if these order histories are managed in association with the user's data, and if discounts or point rewards corresponding to these are made, desirable.
From another point of view, in order for the user to easily finish the desired printed matter, it is necessary to easily select a layout template suitable for the user, such as a layout in which content such as a character image is inserted. It is desirable if

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a user who accesses a computer network typified by the Internet uses a portable information terminal typified by a mobile phone to download contents such as digital images. Uploading and laying out, requesting output in the form of a printed matter such as a desired booklet for charging processing, and storing the data constituting the output printed matter in association with the registration data regarding the user and storage management The purpose of the present invention is to provide a system capable of doing so.

[0012]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the invention of claim 1, a computer
On the network, a user database for storing registration data about users, a content database for storing data constituting printed matter, a template database for the user to select and specify a layout template for the printed matter, and a user In a server system that includes a billing information management database for managing information on the use / purchase of a user and is accessed from the user's mobile information terminal via the mobile phone communication gateway server, Access the server system of
A process of transmitting images and other content data and storing them in the content database, a layout template designation process of selecting a layout template of data constituting a printed matter, and the content data inserted in the layout template. , And the layout template specification data specified by the above processing by performing the edit specification processing that edits data such as character data as necessary and the output specification processing that specifies the output such as the number of copies, paper quality, and size of printed matter. , Edit specification data,
A process of storing the output designation data in the content database in association with the content data;
By performing the billing information processing for billing the user and storing the billing information in the user database, the printed matter ordering process is performed and the data constituting the printed matter is output to the user. A data transmission / management system for printing using a portable information terminal, characterized in that re-ordering can be performed based on the data constituting the stored and managed printed matter by storing and managing in association with registration data related to It is characterized by being.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a second aspect of the present invention is provided.
In the invention according to claim 1, in the invention according to claim 1, the portable information terminal of the user is provided with an image capturing means for capturing an image or a moving image. It is characterized by being a print data transmission / management system using the portable information terminal described.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a third aspect of the present invention is provided.
In the invention described in claim 1, in the invention described in claim 1 or 2, the user portable information terminal is provided with a slot for reading information stored in an information storage medium. A print data transmission / management system using the portable information terminal according to claim 1 or 2.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a fourth aspect of the present invention is provided.
In the invention according to claim 1, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the content database can be sequentially accessed by a user from a user portable information terminal to store content, and the user orders a printed matter. The printing using the mobile information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the user can select from among the stored contents and perform the editing process when performing the editing. It is characterized by being a data transmission / management system.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a fifth aspect of the present invention is provided.
In the invention according to claim 1, in the inventions according to claims 1 to 4, the content stored and managed in the content database can be accessed and downloaded by the user, and the mobile information terminal is in a standby state. It is available for a screen etc., Claims 1-4 characterized by the above-mentioned.
The print data transmission / management system using the portable information terminal according to any one of 1 to 3 above.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a sixth aspect of the present invention is provided.
In the invention described in claim 1, in the inventions according to claims 1 to 5, by managing the order history data of the printed matter output of the user in the billing information management database for managing the information on the use and purchase of the user, 6. A print output of data constituting a print output for which a print output order has been initially placed, when a print output is to be ordered next time or later, a discount is applied when performing billing information processing. It is a printing data transmission / management system using the portable information terminal described in (1).

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a seventh aspect of the present invention is provided.
In the invention according to claim 6, in the invention according to claim 6, the process of discounting when performing billing information processing when ordering after the next time is a point that can be converted into money usable in the system of the present invention. The print data transmission / management system using the portable information terminal according to claim 6 is characterized in that the return processing is performed.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is characterized in that:
In the invention described in (1), in the invention described in (1) to (7), when the next printed matter output order is performed,
8. A print data transmission / management system using a mobile information terminal according to claim 1, wherein a layout template of a printed matter can be selected and re-designated. I am trying.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a ninth aspect of the present invention is provided.
In the invention described in claim 1, in the invention described in claims 1 to 8, when the next printed matter output order is performed,
The mobile information according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is possible to perform a re-editing designation process for re-editing data such as character data inserted in a layout template as needed. It is characterized by being a printing data transmission / management system using a terminal.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1
In the invention described in 0, in the invention described in claims 1 to 9, the layout template stored in the template database is a layout template in which a predetermined image or other content is inserted in advance. A print data transmission / management system using the portable information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which is characterized by being included.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first aspect of the present invention is provided.
In the invention described in claim 1, in the invention described in claim 10, a layout template in which a predetermined image or other content is inserted in advance in a process of selecting and storing a layout template of data constituting a printed matter. When a print output order is selected by selecting, the calculation processing is performed to return a predetermined usage fee to the copyright holder of the image or other content inserted in the layout template. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print data transmission / management system using the portable information terminal according to claim 10.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first aspect of the present invention is provided.
In the invention described in claim 2, in the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 11, the billing information for each user stored in the billing information database is a telecommunications carrier provided by a telecommunications carrier who provides communication by a portable information terminal. The printing data transmission / management system using the portable information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the system is notified and a charging process is performed by a communication carrier. There is.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first aspect of the present invention is provided.
In the invention described in claim 3, in the invention described in claims 1 to 12, the data transmitted from the user's portable information terminal to the server system includes data such as image data, moving image data, and audio data. It is possible to include an output order, and the output data includes a printed matter including contents such as image data and character data, and an information storage medium such as a CD-ROM including voice and moving images. A print data transmission / management system using the portable information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 12, which is a printed matter that can be stored as a set.

[0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A print data transmission / management system using a portable information terminal of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a basic system configuration of a print data transmission / management system using a portable information terminal of the present invention. A printing data transmission / management system using the portable information terminal of the present invention is
A system for a user to access from a user's portable information terminal on a computer network typified by the Internet, for storing a user database for storing registration data regarding the user and data constituting a printed matter. Mobile phone communication gateway, including a content database, a template database for a user to select and specify a layout template of a printed matter, and a billing information management database for managing information on user's use / purchase. It is a server system that is accessed from a user's mobile information terminal via a server. These typically include a database server with each of the above databases and an operating system (O
S) and a control unit including an application program, and a server system including a display unit, a data transmission / reception unit, and the like.

If necessary, a large-scale database server, image storage / distribution server, WEB server, mail server, application server, search server, authentication server, etc. can be provided, and various servers can be multiplexed as needed. It is desirable to ensure safety. Note that these are examples of desirable configurations, and the location of the server can be specified by a URL or the like as long as the functions described in detail below can be realized, and thus the configuration of the server may be different. Databases such as a user database, a content database, a template database, and a billing information management database are provided in a storage device such as a database server. Each database may be physically located at the same location, but even if they are physically and spatially separated, the server location is UR.
Since it can be specified by L or the like, the system of the present invention can be realized even in such a case.

CPU, RAM, ROM, HDD, CRT
And a display unit such as a liquid crystal monitor, a control unit for storing information such as an operating system (OS) and application programs for performing edit processing, and performing information processing, and receiving data from a user's portable information terminal. Receiving means, transmitting means for transmitting data to the mobile information terminal of the user, search means for searching data in the database in response to a request from the mobile information terminal of the user,
It comprises a storage means for storing data from the user's portable information terminal, an output means for outputting the data, a display means and an input means necessary for operating and maintaining the server computer and the database.

As described above, the server system of the present invention includes the storage means. The storage means is provided with a user database that stores user information. These are provided in a storage device such as a database server, and the database is constructed by a relational database or the like so as to be convenient for data retrieval / extraction.

The user database includes the name, address, mobile phone number, and user name of the user who uses the system of the present invention.
The e-mail address, the payment method, the shipping destination of the printed matter, and other data are stored. The content database stores images and other contents that the user has accessed and uploaded to the system side of the present invention. In addition to image data, the content can include character data, moving image data, voice data, and other various data.

In the template database, when the contents uploaded by the user are arranged and outputted in the form of a printed matter, the size, the orientation of the paper, the arrangement of the contents such as images and characters, the designation of the margin, and other output Layout template for specifying the form
The data is stored.

The billing information management database stores information on the use and purchase of users. The information regarding the user's use / purchase includes the date and time when the user orders the printed matter using the system of the present invention, the number of print copies ordered, the amount ordered, the history of payment for the order, and the reordering. Whether or not the data has been re-ordered, the date and time of re-ordering, the number of reprinted copies, the amount of re-ordering, and the history of payment for re-ordering.

Further, a user portable information terminal for a user who uses contents to connect to and access a computer network is provided by being connected to a computer network such as the Internet. The user mobile terminal includes a control unit that controls an application program including an OS and an automatic editing system, and a storage unit that stores the program, downloaded content, generated page data, and the like, if necessary. It is provided with input / output means and connection means for connecting to a user terminal or the Internet via a communication line, display means such as a display, and input means such as a printer. The user can use the system of the present invention by connecting to the Internet via the server.

An example of the embodiment of the user type information terminal is as follows. The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the portable information terminal of the user is provided with an image capturing means for capturing an image or a moving image. An image capturing means such as a CCD camera for capturing and storing images and moving images is provided,
The contents such as captured images are temporarily stored and transmitted to the server system.

Next, in the invention described in claim 3,
The user personal digital assistant has a slot for reading information stored in the information storage medium. From an information storage medium that stores content shot by a shooting device such as a digital camera,
It is provided with a slot for reading the stored information. The information storage medium is, for example, various types of memory cards known as Memory Stick (trademark), SmartMedia (trademark), or an IC card.

Further, in the present invention, the layout template designating process, the edit designating process, and the output designating process are performed in the user's portable information terminal, and the data for ordering the output of the printed matter is transmitted to the server system,
The output is ordered, but the above process is performed using the editor program provided in the server system.
The portable information terminal can be provided as described below. First, the editor program is stored in a storage device included in a mobile information terminal such as a mobile phone, and second, the editor program is stored in an information storage medium mounted in a slot included in the mobile information terminal. It is a form to let.

Here, the editor program is a program having the following functions. First, it has a function of reading the content data and layout template data stored in the information storage medium.
In addition, the information storage medium stores data that configures a menu screen, an operation screen, and the like displayed on the user terminal for the user to select a menu and perform an operation. As described in Item 4, the program is provided with an automatic connection wizard function for performing an automatic connection process to the server system. Next, the above-mentioned program is executed by the user on the user terminal such as an input means such as a keyboard and a mouse, a CPU.
Using a control unit such as the above, a function of temporarily storing the selected layout designation data is provided in accordance with a layout designation process of selecting a layout template of data constituting a printed matter for which an output is ordered. Also, if necessary,
A user edits data such as character data to be inserted in a layout template of data that constitutes a printed matter for which output is ordered, using input means such as a keyboard and mouse and control means such as CPU in a user terminal. It has a function of temporarily storing edit designation data in accordance with edit designation processing. In addition, according to the output designation process in which the user designates the output such as the number of copies, paper quality, size, etc. of the printed matter to be ordered for output by using the input means such as the keyboard and mouse in the user terminal, the control means such as the CPU, and the like,
It has a function of temporarily storing output designation data. Next, it has a function of transmitting the data generated by the above-mentioned processing and temporarily stored in the user terminal for outputting the printed matter to the content server.

In particular, the IMT-called next-generation mobile phone
In the W-CDMA system of 2000, authentication information such as user ID, extended application, telephone directory, etc. are to be loaded on a memory card. These use a credit card or a non-volatile memory of a chip size to realize user mobility, that is, number portability. EPOC (Epoch) developed by Sibian is the most promising candidate for IMT-2000 mobile terminal OS, and Microsoft's Wind is the opponent OS.
There is an OS that is an improvement of ows (registered trademark) CE. Symbian (UK) develops and provides an OS that can send and receive image data for wireless PDAs and multifunctional mobile phones sold in Europe and the United States. Systems that incorporate the Epoch OS include Java (registered trademark), WAP, and Bl.
One of its strengths is that it can support cutting-edge technologies such as Bluetooth. EPOC is a 3rd generation operating system for ROM-based mobile computing, a fully multi-tasking 32-bit OS with a pen-based GUI and full
Support networking features. It is compote-based and can be expanded from relatively large configurations such as full-featured palm-sized computers to small-scale configurations such as built-in applications. The system is a shell that controls the entire machine, and is equipped with browsing, application roaming, and a variety of control panels. It includes features such as rich text, paragraph and character formatting, styles, picture capture, spreadsheets and charts, other objects, and integrated access to spell checkers. Handwritten sketching, numerous drawing and painting, multi-level redoing, a series of clips,
Supports art function. Voice memos can be embedded in documents like memos.

By using the portable information terminal such as the next-generation mobile phone as described above, an output request is made for data including images and moving images, and also voice data, and the output data includes It is also possible to order the output of a printed matter including a set of a printed matter containing contents such as image data and character data and an information storage medium such as a CD-ROM containing voices and moving images. That is,
As described in claim 13, the content transmitted from the user's portable information terminal to the server system may include data such as image data, moving image data, audio data, etc. The output data includes a printed matter including contents such as image data and character data, and a CD-RO including voice and moving images.
In this embodiment, the printed matter can be stored together with an information storage medium such as M as a set. The printed matter is in the form of a printed matter such as a booklet on which images or characters are printed, and
Package media (information storage media) such as D-ROM
A storage portion for storing the is provided.

The basic processing flow of the print data transmission / management system using the portable information terminal of the present invention will be described below. Note that the processing flow shown here is an example showing a desirable mode, and the present invention is not limited to this. 2 to 6 are flowcharts showing an example of the basic processing flow of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a process of user registration when the user uses the system of the present invention. First, by connecting to the Internet from the user's mobile information terminal by dial-up connection or concession connection (S1), the connection is established (S2), and by specifying / entering the URL in the browser of the user's mobile information terminal. Access the server system of the present invention (S3). Specifically, it accesses a WEB site for registering contents and ordering printed matter such as a photo book. Next, enter the user's name, e-mail address, contact information, payment method, and other user information (S4) and send (S)
As a result, the user information is stored in the user database of the server system (S6). User registration is completed (S7), and the user can use the system of the present invention, but normally for user authentication,
It is desirable to use a form in which a user ID, a password, etc. are issued and other forms of authentication.

Next, the initial ordering process for the printed matter will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. First, by connecting to the Internet from the user's mobile information terminal by dial-up connection or constant connection (S11), the connection is established (S12), and by specifying and inputting the URL in the browser of the user's mobile information terminal. Access the server system of the present invention (S13). Specifically, it accesses a WEB site for registering contents and ordering printed matter such as a photo book. The user prepares content such as an image file in the user's mobile information terminal. These are contents which are arranged in the layout template and are desired to be inserted in the output as a printed matter. The content to be registered is selected on the user's portable information terminal (S14), the content is transmitted to the content database of the server system (S15), and registered (S16). As a method of uploading contents, FTP (File Transfer Pr
OTcol), a CGI program for uploading contents such as images to a predetermined storage device, and other programs are known. The content is stored in the content database, but it is desirable to store it by providing a directory structure for each user. Further, since the same user may order multiple printed materials, each printed material may be output. It is desirable to manage separately. A method of assigning a print product order ID to each output print product is effective.

When some more contents are to be registered (S17), the process returns to S14 and the same processing is repeated until there are no more contents to be registered.

Further, as described in claim 4, it is also possible to adopt a method in which contents such as images are divided and transmitted several times and stored, and the contents are gradually accumulated.
In this case, the content database is sequentially accessed by the user from the user portable information terminal,
It is characterized in that the contents can be stored, and that when the user orders a printed matter, the user can select from the stored contents and perform the editing process. For example, when the content has reached a certain amount, it is selected from among them, and editing is designated and an output is ordered. Further, as described in claim 5, the contents to be stored and stored in this way can be accessed and downloaded by the user for the contents stored and managed in the contents database. It is also possible to make it available for a standby screen of a mobile information terminal. In such an embodiment, the content database has a function of storing and storing images and the like for each user, and preferably when selecting an image from a large number of accumulated images. Can be provided with a preview function or the like.

Next, the process of selecting and storing the layout template of the data that constitutes the printed matter is performed.
The layout template is a DTP for editing page data of a printed matter provided in the control means of the server system.
This is data for specifying the page layout of a printed matter in a program or the like. Prepare various layout templates that pre-specify page size, margin size, placed content size, location, placed character data location, character point number, font type, color, and other data. It is also possible to allow the user to change / correct the detailed designation as described above by looking at the layout template or to designate it from the beginning. Desirably, a list of layout templates is displayed (S18), thumbnail display (S19) and the like are enabled, and the user selects a layout template by viewing them (S20).

Next, the user specifies which content is to be inserted in which part of which page from the content registered in S15 to S17 (S2).
1). This process is repeated until the insertion designation process for all contents is completed (S22).

Further, the user performs an edit designation process for editing data such as character data inserted in the layout template, if necessary. This process is not performed unless the text needs to be inserted. When inserting, the user inserts the text to be inserted into the portable information terminal (S23), transmits it (S24), and stores it in the content database (S25). This process is repeated until the insertion designation process for all texts is completed (S26).

As described above, in FIG. 4, the user confirms the designation / arrangement of the designated content and the designation / arrangement of the text, proceeds to the next step if it is appropriate, and performs the edit designation processing if it is necessary to re-designate. (S27). Content such as images can be automatically corrected for color tone, contrast, etc. (S29). The automatic correction may be performed at the time of registering the content (S14 to S17).

As described above, the designation / editing of the page data output as the printed matter is completed, and the user then performs the output designation process for designating the output such as the number of copies, the paper quality, and the size of the printed matter (S30). This is an ordering process in which the operator of the server system specifies the output process and places an order. When input and transmitted (S31), the transmitted output designation information is stored in the billing information database of the server system (S32) and used for output processing and calculation of the amount to be billed, and for each user. It is managed as an order history. Prior to the billing process, it is preferable that the designation prompts a reconfirmation (S33) and allows correction if necessary (S34).

When the confirmation is completed, the charge amount calculated by the above designation is calculated, and the charge information is transmitted and displayed on the user's portable information terminal (S35). When the user confirms and officially places an order, billing information processing for billing is performed (S26), and output processing of the printed matter is performed based on the order (S37).

Claim 12 In the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 11, the billing information for each user stored in the billing information database is stored in a telecommunications carrier system provided by a telecommunications carrier who provides communication by a portable information terminal. Be notified,
The printing data transmission / management system using the portable information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a charging process is performed by a communication carrier.

The data constituting the output printed matter is stored and managed in association with the registration data regarding the user and (S39), and the order history is stored (S3).
By doing 9), it becomes possible to reorder based on the data that constitutes the stored and managed printed matter.

Next, the next reordering process for the printed matter will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. First, by connecting to the Internet from the user's mobile information terminal by dial-up connection or constant connection (S40), the connection is established (S41), and by specifying and inputting the URL in the browser of the user's mobile information terminal. Access the server system of the present invention (S42). Specifically, it accesses a WEB site for registering contents and ordering printed matter such as a photo book. On the server side, it is determined whether the user has been registered (S44). This is because it is premised that the user is registered and the contents and order history are stored when re-ordering. Select the content / edit designation information to be reordered on the user's mobile information terminal (S4
4) If necessary, if the content is additionally registered (S45), the content is transmitted to the content database of the server system (S46) and registered (S47).

Next, the layout template of the data constituting the printed matter can be made reselectable (S4
8) In this case, the user selects a layout template (S49).

Next, the user, if necessary (S50),
Edit designation processing is performed to perform additional insertion / editing of data such as character data to be inserted into the layout template (S51). If the text does not need to be edited again, this processing will not be performed. When inserting, the user inserts or edits / deletes text, etc., to be inserted into the mobile information terminal of the user, and sends the updated text to the content database.

From the above, the user confirms the designation / arrangement of the designated content and the designation / arrangement of the text, proceeds to the next step if it is appropriate, and designates it again (S5
2), edit designation processing is performed (S53). Further, contents such as images can be automatically corrected in color tone, contrast, etc. (S54, S55).

As described above, the designation / editing of the page data output as a printed matter is completed, and then the user performs an output designation process for designating the output such as the number of copies, paper quality, size, etc. of the printed matter (S56). This is an ordering process in which the operator of the server system specifies the output process and places an order. When input and transmitted (S57), the transmitted output designation information is stored in the accounting information database of the server system (S58), used for output processing and calculation of the amount to be charged, and for each user. It is managed as an order history. It is preferable that the designation prompts reconfirmation before the billing process (S59) and allows correction if necessary (S60).

When the confirmation is completed, the charge amount calculated by the above designation is calculated, and the charge information is transmitted and displayed on the user's portable information terminal (S63). In this case, by referring to the past order history for each user on the server system side (S62), it is determined whether or not to give a discount or the like (S61). The discount process is
As described in claim 6, it may be calculated based on the past order history for each printed matter, or when the user orders a plurality of printed matters in the past, the calculation is performed based on all the histories. May be. Also,
In the invention according to claim 7, the processing for discounting when performing billing information processing when placing an order after the next time,
The present invention is characterized by a point conversion process that can be converted into money that can be used in the system of the present invention. According to this, according to the order history, points that can be used in the same manner as money when the next order is placed are added to the user database. The user selects whether or not to use points when placing an order next time, and when using,
The amount of money for that point is discounted. When the user confirms and officially places an order, billing information processing for billing is performed (S64), and a printed matter output process is performed based on the order (S65).

The data constituting the output printed matter is stored and managed in association with the registration data concerning the user and (S66), and the order history is updated and stored (S66).
67) By this, it becomes possible to reorder based on the data that constitutes the stored and managed printed matter.

Next, another embodiment of the system of the present invention will be described. In the invention of claim 10,
The layout template stored in the template database includes a layout template in which a predetermined image or other content is inserted in advance. In this case,
A layout template in which decorations, image photographs, character / illustrations, and other contents are arranged in advance is stored in the layout, and the user can also select them. Further, the image and other contents to be inserted into the layout template can be selected and inserted by the user from the contents stored in the content server in advance. In this case, the layout template has no content already inserted,
Images and other contents are stored in advance in the content database, and the user can execute S14 to S17.
In addition to the content registered in, the content can be selected and used. In the invention according to claim 11, in the process of selecting and storing the layout template of the data constituting the printed matter, the layout template in which a predetermined image or other content is inserted is selected and the printed matter is output. When an order is placed, it is characterized in that calculation processing is performed in order to return a predetermined usage fee to the copyright holder of the image or other content inserted in the layout template. That is, when using the previously prepared content,
A content usage fee is added in the calculation of the amount of money in the charging process. In addition, when the user selects a layout template in which the content has been inserted in advance or the content to be inserted in the layout template, the user can select the content based on the conditions including the usage fee of the content. You can As described above, when using the content prepared in advance, when the user searches and extracts desired content from a plurality of contents, for example, the user can select from the content of the usage charge of 500 yen, For the user to select based on conditions including the usage fee of the content, such as searching by specifying content within 1000 yen or searching within 500 yen and content that is an animation character Select using the method of.

[0060]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a portable information terminal represented by a portable telephone is used,
A user who has accessed a computer network typified by the Internet uploads and lays out contents such as digital images, requests output in the form of a desired printed matter such as a booklet, performs billing processing, and outputs the printed matter. It is possible to provide a system capable of storing, storing, and managing the data configuring the above in association with the registration data regarding the user and the like. Further, according to the present invention, in order to facilitate reordering from the user, these order histories are managed in association with the user's data, and discounts and point rewards corresponding to these are performed. be able to. Further, according to the present invention, the user can easily select a layout template suitable for the user, for example, a layout in which contents such as character images are inserted, in order to finish a desired printed matter. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a basic configuration of a system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of user registration processing of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of an initial order according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of an initial order according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a reordering process of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of a reordering process of the present invention.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification Code FI Theme Coat (Reference) H04N 1/387 H04N 1/387

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. On a computer network, a user database for storing registration data relating to a user, a content database for storing data constituting printed matter, and a user selecting and designing a layout template for printed matter. In a server system in which a user's mobile information terminal is accessed via a mobile phone communication gateway server, including a template database for The user accesses the server system from the portable information terminal, transmits the image and other content data, stores it in the content database, and selects the layout template of the data that constitutes the printed matter. Layout template specification processing, editing specification processing that edits the content data inserted in the layout template, and data such as character data as necessary, and output specification such as the number of copies, paper quality, and size of printed matter And a process of storing the layout template designating data, the editing designating data, and the output designating data designated by the above process in the content database in association with the content data, and charging the user. Billing information processing for storing the billing information and storing the billing information in the user database. To store and manage in association with and Ri, characterized in that it can be re-ordered based on the data constituting the printed material stored management, print data transmission and management system using a portable information terminal. 2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the portable information terminal of the user is provided with image capturing means for capturing an image, a moving image, or the like.
A print data transmission / management system using the portable information terminal according to claim 1. 3. The invention according to claim 1 or 2,
The mobile information terminal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the user mobile information terminal is provided with a slot for reading information stored in an information storage medium. Data transmission and management system for printing. 4. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the content database can be sequentially accessed by a user from a user portable information terminal to store content, and when the user orders a printed matter. To
The printing data transmission / management using the mobile information terminal according to claim 1, wherein a user can select and select from stored contents to perform editing processing. system. 5. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the content stored and managed in the content database can be accessed and downloaded by a user, and a standby screen of a mobile information terminal or the like. The print data transmission / management system using the portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein the print data transmission / management system is available. 6. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an order history data of printed matter output of a user is managed for the first time in a billing information management database for managing information on use / purchase of the user. 2. When ordering the printed matter output of the data constituting the printed matter for which the printed matter output order has been made after the next time, a discount is given when performing the billing information processing.
A print data transmission / management system using the mobile information terminal according to any one of 5 above. 7. The invention according to claim 6, wherein the process of discounting when performing billing information processing when placing an order after the next time is a point conversion process that can be converted into money that can be used in the system of the present invention. The print data transmission / management system using the portable information terminal according to claim 6, wherein 8. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a layout template of a printed matter can be selected and redesignated when a printed matter output order for the next and subsequent times is performed. A print data transmission / management system using the mobile information terminal according to any one of Items 1 to 7. 9. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein when a printed matter output order for the next and subsequent times is to be performed, re-editing of data such as character data inserted into a layout template is performed if necessary. 9. A print data transmission / management system using a portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein edit designation processing is possible. 10. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
10. The layout template stored in the template database includes a layout template in which a predetermined image or other content is inserted in advance. A print data transmission / management system using the described portable information terminal. 11. The invention according to claim 10, wherein a layout template in which a predetermined image or other content is inserted is selected in advance in the process of selecting and storing the layout template of the data constituting the printed matter. When a printed matter output order is made by performing the print output order, a calculation process is performed to return a predetermined usage fee to the copyright holder of the image or other content inserted in the layout template. A print data transmission / management system using the portable information terminal according to claim 10. 12. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the accounting information for each user stored in the accounting information database is notified to a telecommunications carrier system provided by an entrepreneur who provides communication by a portable information terminal. The printing data transmission / management system using the portable information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it is charged by a telecommunications carrier. 13. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the content transmitted from the user's portable information terminal to the server system may include data such as image data, moving image data, and audio data. Is possible,
A print product that can be stored by placing an order for output and outputting the output data as a set with a print product including contents such as image data and character data and an information storage medium such as a CD-ROM including voice and moving images. The print data transmission / management system using the portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein