JP4803427B2 - Photo printing system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographic print system including a photographic print order receiving terminal, a photographic print output machine, and a user information management unit which are connected so as to be able to transmit data.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the above-described photo print system, a photo print output store (print lab store or the like) that receives a photographed image as well as a user inputting a name, address, telephone number, etc. at a photo print order receiving terminal I was also asked to enter a print order.

  Among these, a print service system described in Patent Document 1 is known as an example of instructing a photo print place when placing a print order. That is, in a print service system that accepts an image print order from a user and prints out an image related to the print order on a medium, a route such as a toll road, a railway route, a bus route, or an air route is defined. Order information receiving means for receiving information relating to print orders from users who use or use specific transportation facilities, and places where users using or using these transportation facilities are available Based on the information relating to the print order received by the order information receiving means, print means for printing out the image relating to the print order on the medium, and information relating to the print order received by the order information receiving means. There is a system including order information transfer means for transferring to a print means.

  Here, when the printing means is installed at a plurality of locations, a print receiving place specifying means for specifying the place where any one of the printing means is installed as a print receiving place is further provided. Specifically, selectable print receiving locations are provided to the user, and the print receiving location can be specified by designating one of the receiving locations. As such a selectable print receiving location, for example, only the location of the printing means arranged along the movement path of the user can be provided.

JP 2002-7533 A (paragraphs [0007], [0008], [0012], [0015])

  In the print service system described in Patent Document 1 described above, a traveler is particularly assumed as a user, and thus a user who uses a specific transportation system in which a route such as a toll road or a railway line is defined. Can be selected as a print receiving place. However, it is necessary to select one print receiving place from a plurality of different print receiving places for every print order (every transportation changes), and when ordering a print, the user's name, contact information, etc. It is difficult to say that the input operation is sufficiently simplified for the user. Further, when a traveler or the like is assumed as a user in this way, convenience for general users becomes a problem, for example, selectable print receiving places are limited to places that can be used from a specific transportation facility. . In particular, a user who lives and is active in a certain area often orders and receives photo prints at a place (store) specified to some extent, and such a photo print system is used for such users. There is room for improvement in terms of the complexity and convenience of input operations.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a highly convenient photo print system while simplifying the input operation of photo print orders.

In order to achieve the above object, the first characteristic configuration of the photo print system according to the present invention includes a photo print order receiving terminal arranged in a photo print order store, a photo print output machine arranged in a photo print output store, and user information. In the photo print system connected to the management unit so as to be able to transmit data , the photo print order reception terminal includes a print order information display unit for displaying print order information including an image to be printed and a photo print output store on a display; A print order information input unit that inputs the print order information, and a user identification information acquisition unit that acquires user identification information assigned to the user, wherein the user information management unit includes the user identification information and the user A user information storage unit for storing user information including history information of print order information of The print order information display unit includes a user information verification unit that compares the user identification information acquired in the photograph print order reception terminal with the stored user identification information to identify the user, and the print order information display unit includes: Based on the history information of the identified user, as the photo print output store to be selected, the photo print order reception terminal in which the photo print order receiving terminal that has ordered the print output is arranged, and A list of the photo print output stores that have been printed is displayed on the screen.

  As in this configuration, the identification of the user who uses the photo print order receiving terminal is performed based on the stored (registered) user identification information, so that input operations such as the user's name and address can be omitted as in the past. can do. In addition, since the photo print output stores to be selected are displayed in a list based on the user's history information, the information related to the photo print stores that the user has used so far can be reflected and displayed for easy selection and input. It is possible to present a photographic print output store suitable for the user as well as simplifying the operation. The history information includes information such as the photo print order store where the photo print order receiving terminal is arranged, the photo print output store and the contents of the print order.

  According to a second characteristic configuration of the photo print system according to the present invention, the print order information display unit obtains from the user information management unit the history information as a store where the identified user has received the order reception / order output. A list is displayed as an output store selection target.

  As a preferred example of displaying a list of photo print output stores to be selected on the screen based on the identified user history information, the stores where the identified user has received (and used) order acceptance / order output are recorded as a history. Information is obtained from the user information management unit and displayed as a list of photo print output store selection targets. By displaying in this way, the selection of the photo print output store is facilitated, and the input operation can be simplified. In particular, when a user is a member of a photographic community who is active in a certain area, the order store of the photo print and the output store that is the receiving place are often specified to some extent from the range of activities of the member. And, for members who are acting in several patterns within the scope of their activities after ordering photo prints, as in this configuration, the store that received the order reception / order output is obtained from the user information management unit as history information, Displaying a list as a photo print output store selection target makes it easier for members who have the same behavior pattern each time to select a receiving location, and also makes it easier to schedule a photo print order from the receiving location. Become.

  The third characteristic configuration of the photo print system according to the present invention is based on the location information of the photo print store included in the history information, where the identified user is expected to search the photo print output store. And the print order information display unit displays a list of photo print stores located in the expected search area as photo print output store selection targets.

  As described above, the photo print ordering store and output store (reception location) used by members of the photo community who are active in a certain region are specified to some extent, and the photo print order is based on the print order information so far. The range of activities related to can be predicted. In this configuration, a predicted search area where a member or the like is expected to search for a photo print output store is derived based on the location information of the photo print store used so far. Then, by displaying a list of photo print stores located in the predicted search area as photo print output store selection targets, a photo print system that is highly convenient for the user can be configured.

Embodiments of a photographic print system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
〔overall structure〕
FIG. 1 is a model diagram showing the overall configuration of a photographic print system according to the present invention. This system is disposed in a print lab store as a photo print order store, and is disposed in a photo print order reception terminal 1 for receiving a photo print order from a user and a print lab store 3 as a photo print output store. A photographic print output machine 31 that prints out a photographed image, information relating to a photographic print transmitted between the photographic print order receiving terminal 1 and the photographic print output machine 31, that is, information relating to the contents of the photographic print service and a photographic print It comprises a photo print management server 2 that mediates information relating to the contents of an order, and a communication network 4 that connects these pieces of information so that they can be transmitted. In this system, a plurality of photographic print order receiving terminals 1 and photographic print output machines 31 are provided, and these are arranged in print lab shops scattered in various places. A member ID such as a local photo community is given a user ID as user identification information by registration, and this user ID is stored in a member card used when using a photo print order receiving terminal. Yes.

[Photo Print Management Server]
As shown in FIG. 2, the photo print management server 2 includes an information transmission server unit 20A and an application server unit 20B as core elements. The information transmission server unit 20A is connected to a photographic print order receiving terminal 1 and a photographic print output machine 31 arranged in the print laboratory store 3 via a communication network 4 such as the Internet so that data transmission is possible. When using HTML or XML, it is configured as a WWW server unit.

  The application server unit 20B exchanged with the information transmission server unit 20A via CGI or the like includes a user information management unit 20b. The user information management unit 20b is assigned to a user who uses the photo print order receiving terminal 1. A user information storage unit 21 that stores user information including user identification information and history information of the print order information of the user, user identification information acquired in the photo print order reception terminal 1, and stored user identification information A user information collating unit 22 for identifying the user by collating them, and photo print service information such as an order form displayed on the photo print order receiving terminal 1 is stored, and this is transmitted to the photo print order receiving terminal 1 Print order information created by the service information processing unit 23 and the photo print order receiving terminal 1 Which it receives from the photographic print order receiving terminal 1, and a order information processing unit 24 for transmitting the print order information print lab shop photographic print output device 31 arranged (photographic print output store). The user information storage unit 21 stores personal information such as a user's name, address, and telephone number, a member code of a group to which the user belongs, and the like associated with user identification information (user ID).

[Photo print order reception terminal]
FIG. 3 shows an example of a specific example of the photo print order receiving terminal 1. The photo print order receiving terminal 1 includes a media drive 11 for capturing image data from a memory card M, an optical drive 12 for capturing image data stored on a DVD-R or CD-ROM, and an image from a developed photographic film F. And a film scanner 13 for capturing data by photoelectric conversion. In addition, a display 15 with a touch panel 14 on which a user performs an input operation such as print order information is provided on the front side, a receipt printer 16 that outputs a print order receipt R, and a user ID (user identification information) assigned to the user. Is also provided as a card reader 17 as a user identification information acquisition unit that acquires information from a member card Cd (user identification information storage medium) in which is stored. A user identification information storage medium other than the membership card may be used. Further, a controller 18 for controlling various operations of the photo print order receiving terminal 1 is provided in the housing.

  The controller 18 of the photographic print order receiving terminal 1 uses a CPU as a core member to construct a functional unit for controlling various operations of the photographic print order receiving terminal 1 with hardware and / or software. As shown in FIG. 4, the controller 18 is connected to external devices such as the media drive 11, the display 15 with the touch panel 14, and the card reader 17 via the I / O interface. The main functions realized by hardware and software in the controller 18 include image data taken from the memory card M provided by the user via the media drive 11 and photographic film F via the film scanner 13. The image preprocessing unit 18B that preprocesses the captured image data and the like, the image processing unit 18C that performs various image processing on the preprocessed image data developed in the memory 18A, and the photo print order receiving terminal 1 place an order. A print service information management unit 18D that manages information related to a photo print service, creation of a graphic operation screen including various operation guides and various operation buttons, and user operation input through such a graphic operation screen (touch panel 14 Control command etc.) A GUI unit 18E for constructing a graphic user interface to be generated (hereinafter abbreviated as GUI), a screen control unit 18F for generating a video signal for finally displaying various image information on the display 15, and a photograph input by the user Processing of user identification information acquired from the order creation unit 18G, the member card Cd, etc., which creates print order information in which print order data for the print service and image data of the photographed frame image relating to the order are combined, and photo print management User information transmitted from the server 2 is temporarily stored, the user information processing unit 18H that performs necessary processing, photo print service information and user information is received from the photo print management server 2, and created by the order creation unit 18G Print order information A communication unit 18I or send to 2. The GUI unit 18E includes a print order information display unit 18e for displaying print order information including an image to be printed and a photo print output store (print laboratory store) on the display 15.

  In this embodiment, the photo print service information is transmitted from the print service information processing unit 23 of the photo print management server 2 to the print service information management unit 18D via the communication network 4 periodically or when necessary. Although it is configured to be stored in the service information management unit 18D, a configuration that does not use the communication network 4 may be employed.

  The order creation unit 18G creates print order information, transmits it to the order information processing unit 24 of the photo print management server 2, and prints a receipt R (not shown) indicating the order contents to be notified to the user. Is output through the receipt certificate printer 16. This receipt certificate R describes the order number, the number of prints ordered and the charge, etc., and this receipt certificate R can also function as a voucher for an output print product at the print lab store 3.

[Print order information]
As an example, the photo print order receiving terminal managed by the photo print management server 2 includes print order information (for example, HTML, XLM, or other formats available) shown in FIG. 1 is an order number sequentially issued with the user's unique ID as a route, image data of a photographed frame image used for a photo print service processed by this order number, an order data section, and a photo print for which a print order has been placed A name (code) for specifying the print lab store where the order receiving terminal 1 is arranged and a name (code) for specifying the print lab store 3 which is an output store of the ordered photo print are included. Is a required item that differs depending on the photo print service type or the service type, for example, the image data name The layout code, print size, and the like order quantity.

  The print order information transmitted from the order creation unit 18G to the order information processing unit 24 is transmitted to the photo print output machine 31 arranged in the print laboratory store 3 which is a photo print output store related to the print order. The user information storage unit 21 stores the print order information of the user as history information. FIG. 6 shows an example of the structure of the history information of the print order information. The print order that the user has made so far at the photo print order receiving terminal 1 is shown for each order, the management number, the order date and time. In addition, the number of prints, a photo print ordering store, and a print lab store name (code) as an output store are stored.

[Procedure for ordering photo prints]
Next, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for receiving a photographic print order in the photographic print system according to the present invention.

  First, in the standby state, the photo print order receiving terminal 1 displays a standby screen, and when a member (user) places an order for photo prints, it touches the touch panel 14 of the display 15 and is shown in FIG. The user identification information input screen 50 is displayed (# 01). On this screen, a user ID input column 51 for inputting a user ID (user identification information) assigned to each user, an input board 52 having a keyboard for inputting in these columns, and the like are displayed. That is, in this embodiment, the GUI unit 18E also functions as a user identification information acquisition unit. The user inserts the member card Cd into the insertion slot of the card reader 17 or operates the input board to input the user ID in the user ID input field 51 and operates the “OK” button 53. If user registration is not performed and there is no user ID, the “no ID” button 54 is operated. In this case, a user registration screen (not shown) is displayed, and a user ID is issued through the photo print management server 2 by registering the user's name, address, telephone number and the like on this registration screen.

  By operating the “OK” button 53, the acquired user ID (user identification information) is transmitted from the photo print order receiving terminal 1 to the photo print management server 2. Then, the user information collation unit 22 of the print management server 2 collates the acquired user identification information with the registration information stored in the user information storage unit 21 to identify the user who matches the user identification information. The user information including the history information of the print order information is transmitted to the photo print order receiving terminal 1 (# 02). The transmitted user information is temporarily taken into the user information processing unit 18H of the photo print order receiving terminal 1 (# 03). The history information included in the transmitted user information includes history information regarding the user's photo print ordering store and output store.

  When the capture of the user information is completed, a “print order start screen” (not shown) is displayed (# 04), and the user performs a photo print order procedure according to the screen. The outline will be described. First, after a “print order start screen”, a “media selection screen” (not shown) is displayed, and the media selected on this screen is set in the media drive 11 or the like. Image data of the shot frame image is read from the set medium, and a print image selection screen 60 as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed (# 05). The user selects a photographed frame image to be printed out from these photographed frame images 61 by operating the selection button 62 below the photographed frame image. In addition, for the selected photographed frame image 61, the print size and order quantity are displayed on a “print detail setting input screen” (not shown) displayed by operating the detail setting button 63 below the selected photographed frame image 61. Perform settings and desired image correction. Then, by operating the “OK” button 64, selection of the shot frame image to be printed out is completed.

  When a photographed frame image is selected on the print image selection screen 60 and the “OK” button 64 is operated, a photo print output store (receiver) for the selected photographed frame image is selected as shown in FIG. The photo print output store selection screen 70 is displayed (# 06). The photo print output store selection screen 70 has a selected image display field 71 in which a reduced image of a part of the image selected by the user on the print image selection screen 60 is displayed, and the name of the recipient who receives the photo print of the selected image. Along with the displayed recipient name input field 72, the display method selection field 73 for selecting the display method of the photo print output shop in the photo print output shop selection field 74, and the name of the print lab shop as the photo print output shop It has a photo print output store selection column 74 in which the address of the lab store, the number of selections so far (the number of uses), and the most recent selection date (the date of use) are displayed.

  The user first inputs a recipient name on an input board (not shown) displayed by operating “recipient name” in the recipient name input field 71. By default, the recipient is set to the user himself / herself. Next, by operating the “display method” in the display method selection field 73, the display method of the photo print output store is selected from the menu (not shown) displayed, and the “OK” button 73b is operated. A list of print lab stores 3 is displayed in the photo print output store selection column 74. This list display is performed based on the information about the photo print store included in the “history information of print order information” in the user information temporarily captured by the user information processing unit 18H. For example, in FIG. 10, in the display method selection field 73, as the display method of the photo print output store, “in order of the number of times of use by the customer (all photo print order reception terminals in the photo community, photo print store with photo print output machine arranged) In order of the number of times of use), that is, from all the photo print stores in the photo community including the photo print order receiving terminal operated by the user, A list of photo print stores that have been specified by another photo print store (by operating the order reception terminal) and selected as a photo print output store are listed in order of frequency of use based on their usage frequency. Is done. For example, photo print order reception terminals 1A and 1B are arranged in a print lab store 3A as a photo print order store, and the user has so far been a print lab store as a photo print output store (receiver store) at the photo print order reception terminal 1A. If 3B or 3C has been selected, the next time the photograph print order receiving terminal 1B (1A is the same) is operated, the print lab stores 3A, 3B, and 3C are selected as photo print output store selection targets. It is displayed as a store selection target. Similarly, when the user operates the photo print order receiving terminal 1C of the print lab store 3D visited for the first time in the photographic community, the print lab stores 3A, 3B, and 3C are selected. After that, if the print lab store 3D prints out at any one of the print lab stores 3A, 3B, and 3C, the selection of the print output store is further performed in the operation input at the next photo print order receiving terminal. The print lab stores 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D are displayed as a list and receive an instruction selection from the user. Note that such processing associating the photo print order store with the photo print output store is performed by the user information processing unit 18H, but is performed by the photo print management server 2 based on a command from the photo print order receiving terminal. You may comprise as follows. Then, in the photo print output store selection column 74, a desired photo print output store is selected by operating the number on the left side, and the “OK” button 75 is operated to complete the selection of the photo print output store. To do.

  Next, an “order content confirmation screen” (not shown) displaying a list of print order information ordered by the user this time is displayed (# 07). If there is no error in the displayed content, the OK button is operated. The final print order information is created by the order creation unit 18G (# 08). At the same time, a “Receipt certificate issuance guidance screen” (not shown) is displayed, and a message “Receipt certificate is being issued. Please wait.” Is displayed on this screen. A receipt R is output from the printer 16 (# 09). The print order information created by the order creation unit 18G is transmitted to the order information processing unit 24 of the photo print management server 2, stored in the user information storage unit 21 (# 10), and placed in the selected print lab store. The photographic print output machine 31 prints out the image selected based on the received print order information (# 11). Then, the recipient described in the recipient name input field 72 of the photo print output store selection screen 70 visits the print lab store 3 where the photo print output machine 31 to which the print order information is transmitted is arranged. , Can receive printed products.

[Another embodiment 1]
The list display of photo print output stores to be selected is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be displayed as follows, for example.
(1) Based on the location information of a photo print store (print laboratory store) that has been used so far, the user information processing unit 18H derives a predicted search area where the user is expected to search for a photo print output store. To do. This derivation may be performed by the photo print management server 2. An example of the derivation method is shown in FIG. 11. If the positions of print lab stores that have been used so far are 3A, 3B, and 3C, a predetermined distance from the center (for example, 1 of the distance from the center to each point). .5 times) is derived as the search predicted area Z. Of course, the derivation method is not limited to this, and various methods such as derivation of the same municipality as a search predicted area can be adopted. A print lab store (in FIG. 11, in addition to the print lab stores 3A, 3B, and 3C, the print lab stores 3D, 3E, 3F, and 3G in FIG. 11) are displayed on the photo print output store selection screen 70. A list is displayed in the print output store selection column 74.
(2) Rather than using all photo print output stores existing in the community as a reference, history information may be captured based on individual reception stores (order stores). That is, the output store usage frequency selected from the photo print reception store may be stored, and a list of output store selection correspondences may be displayed based on the stored information. Thereby, the photo print output store according to the use frequency from the same reception store can be displayed.

[Another embodiment 2]
In the embodiment described above, the user information management unit is provided in the photo print management server. However, a configuration provided in the photo print order receiving terminal or the photo print output machine may be adopted.

Model diagram of photo print system according to the present invention Functional block diagram of photo print management server Perspective view of specific example of photo print order reception terminal Functional block diagram of photo print order reception terminal Structure diagram of print order information Illustration of print order information history information Flow chart of procedure for ordering photo prints User identification information input screen Print image selection screen Photo print shop selection screen Explanatory diagram showing the expected search area

Explanation of symbols

1 Photo Print Order Reception Terminal 2 Photo Print Management Server 3 Print Lab Store 4 Communication Network 14 Touch Panel (Print Order Information Input Unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Display 17 User identification information acquisition part 18e Print order information display part 20b User information management part 21 User information storage part 22 User information collation part 31 Photo print output machine 60 Print image selection screen 70 Photo print output store selection screen

Claims (3)

In a photo print system in which a photo print order receiving terminal arranged in a photo print order store, a photo print output machine arranged in a photo print output store, and a user information management unit are connected so as to be able to transmit data ,
The photo print order receiving terminal includes a print order information display unit for displaying print order information including an image to be printed and a photo print output store on a display, a print order information input unit for inputting the print order information, and a user. A user identification information acquisition unit that acquires user identification information assigned to
The user information management unit stores user information including user identification information and history information of the print order information of the user, and stores user identification information acquired at the photo print order receiving terminal. A user information collating unit that collates the user identification information and identifies the user, and
The print order information display unit is arranged with the photo print order reception terminal that has ordered the print output as a photo print output store to be selected based on the history information of the identified user. A photo print system that displays a list of the photo print order store and the photo print output store that has performed the print output on a screen.   2. The print order information display unit according to claim 1, wherein the store where the identified user has performed order reception / order output is obtained as history information from the user information management unit and displayed as a list of photo print output store selection targets. Photo print system. A user information processing unit for deriving a predicted search area where the identified user is expected to search for a photo print output store based on position information of the photo print store included in the history information;
The photo print system according to claim 1, wherein the print order information display unit displays a list of photo print stores located in the predicted search area as photo print output store selection targets.

Images