JPH08202863A - Method for synthetic-outputting image data - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To efficiently prepare a direct mail on which an illustration, etc., is printed with an address, etc., so as to interest a recipient. CONSTITUTION: In order to print the illustration, etc., of contents corresponding to the recipient's attributes such as sex and age so as to interest the recipient, image data such as the illustration, etc., is previously registered in an internal memory 51 in a printer 5 as an overlay 52. Then, indication data 41 indicating an overlay to use and individual data 1 are combined to be print data 4 to send to the printer so that the printer 5 synthesizes individual data and the indicated overlay and prints the illustration, etc., corresponding to individual data such as the address and its attribute individually.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to contents such as envelopes and enclosed forms for direct mail, in addition to printing characters such as recipient's address and name and information to be notified, as well as images such as illustrations. The present invention relates to a method of printing variously different prints at the same time according to individual attributes such as sex and hobby of each recipient.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, direct mail has been sent to a printer from a personal data file necessary for mailing the recipient's address, name, etc., successively to a printer to send a postcard,
The address was printed on an address label, envelope, address paper to be enclosed, and mailed together with the information to be notified. This will be described with reference to the drawing as shown in FIG. That is, the personal data file 1a having the personal data of the recipient on an information storage medium such as a magnetic tape is read by the information processing device 3 including a computer, and the information processing device 3 sends the data to the printing device 5 to print it. The device 5 prints out personal data such as an address on a predetermined envelope, postcard or the like as a printed matter. If the content to be notified such as direct mail is fixed, it is printed by other printing means capable of mass copying such as offset printing, but the content that is different for each recipient such as credit card usage statement In the case of sending, the information regarding the usage contents is read as a character information file 7 by the information processing device 3, combined with the above personal data file, sent to the printing device 5, and printed.

[0003]

However, in recent years,
Direct mail has also been used so often that the recipient often throws away the envelope without opening it, and there has been a desire for a direct mail that the sender can open the direct mail. In addition, even postcards can be discarded without looking at the contents, and even if the envelope is opened, there has been a demand for direct mail that gives the reader the interest to read the contents. In addition, even in the case of sending a mere clerical notice to a specific customer such as a credit statement or a stock certificate transaction report, in order to maintain good intimacy with the customer, the customer's interest is attracted. There was a desire for heartwarming content.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method capable of efficiently creating a direct mail that makes the recipient interested.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the first invention of the method for synthesizing and outputting image data according to the present invention combines different image data according to personal data and prints them. A method of outputting, wherein a combination of personal data and image data is determined based on an attribute of the personal data, and the personal data and one or more types of image data stored in advance in an information storage unit included in the printing apparatus are stored. The image data to be combined with the personal data from the inside and instruction data for instructing the printing apparatus are combined and sent as printing data to the printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus is instructed based on the instruction data of the printing data and the personal data. The image data and the personal data that have been created are combined, and for each individual personal data, the personal data and an image related to the personal data are combined. It is a method of outputting a printed material having Jideta.

A second aspect of the present invention is a method of combining different image data according to personal data and printing it out. The combination of personal data and image data is determined based on the attribute of the personal data. , One or more sets of image data and one or more sets of personal data to be combined with the image data are selected, and the one or more sets of image data are sent to a printing device and stored in an information storage means included in the printing device. , Combining the personal data and instruction data for instructing the printing device with image data to be combined with the personal data from one or more sets of image data stored in the information storage means, and sending them as print data to the printing device, Based on the instruction data of the printing data and the personal data, the printing device instructs the image data and the personal data. Data and, the by combining each individual personal data, a method of outputting a printed material having the image data associated with the personal data and said individual data.

[0007]

According to the image data synthesizing and outputting method according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, personal data such as an address is printed on a printed matter such as an envelope, an enclosed sheet, and a postcard output by the printing device. Image data such as an illustration that attracts attention to each person is printed at the same time according to attributes such as sex and age of the personal data.

In order to obtain such a printed matter, in the first invention, a printing apparatus having a memory in which data to be printed is registered in advance is used, and image data having a relatively large amount of information is used as many times as the memory is used. Register in. The registered data is also called an overlay. On the other hand, on the side of the information processing apparatus such as a host computer that sends print data to the printing apparatus and instructs printing, the image data to be combined is defined and determined in advance according to the attribute of the personal data. Then, when the personal information is sent to the printing device, the information processing device also sends, as print data, a combination of instruction data indicating which of the overlays the image data used with the personal data corresponds to. In the printing device, the overlay to be used is taken out from the received print data from the memory, the personal data and the image data are combined, both are printed, and the desired printed matter is output.

On the other hand, in the second invention, a printing apparatus having a memory in which data to be printed is registered in advance is used as in the first invention, but common image data is used based on image data. The above personal data are collected in advance in image data units and then sent to the printing apparatus. This is an effective method for repeatedly sending image data within the range that can be stored in the memory and performing print processing when the memory capacity of the printing apparatus is not sufficient. Certain image data is sent to the printing apparatus, stored in the memory of the printing apparatus as an overlay, and instruction data for instructing the overlay and personal data that forms a pair with the overlay are combined and sent as printing data to the printing apparatus. Then, the printing device takes out the overlay to be used from the received print data from the memory, prints both the personal data and the image data, and outputs a desired printed matter. Then, the personal data to be combined with the same image data is repeatedly processed as the print data together with the instruction data. When all the image data to be used cannot be stored in the memory of the printing apparatus, the above processing is repeated.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, in order to help understanding of the purpose and effect of the image data synthesizing and outputting method of the present invention, as an example of a finally obtained printed matter, a table of an envelope with an illustration together with the recipient's address Is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show an example in which gender is used as an attribute of personal data, and the illustrations used are different for men and women. That is, the envelope 61a of FIG. 2 is an envelope used for sending direct mail, credit statement, etc., and is sent to a man as can be seen from the recipient's address 11a, which is suitable for men. The illustrated illustration 21a is selected and printed. On the other hand, FIG. 3 is directed to a woman as printed on the recipient's destination 11b, and an illustration 21b suitable for a woman different from that for a man is selected and printed.

In the above example, the attributes are only alternatives of gender, and only two types of illustrations are used. However, there are various attributes of personal data, and various attributes can be combined. This makes it possible to combine illustrations and the like that suit each individual. Such attributes include, for example, gender, married and unmarried persons, alternative attributes such as students and working adults, and analog attributes such as age, income, and area. For example, when a department store sends a direct mail for bargain sale, it can be easily imagined that the product indicating the purchase will, the price range, and the like differ depending on the above attributes. Therefore, if you attach illustrations that match them, you can effectively motivate purchase,
It will be a direct mail that will get you interested.

On the other hand, as an image such as an illustration, basically, a gradation image, or a gradation image, depending on the capability of a printing apparatus such as a printer capable of printing different print data for each sheet.
A multicolor or full color image may be used. Further, for example, by preparing various types of story-oriented ones such as four-frame manga and changing them according to the attribute, it is possible to transmit more advanced image information. Also, if you change the text according to your personal name and personal attributes in the “balloon” that shows the content of the person, character, etc. of the illustrations and comics, you can add different pictures to each individual. it can.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view for explaining an embodiment of the image data synthesizing and outputting method of the present invention. First, the device configuration used in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present invention,
In particular, the printing device 5 includes at least an information storage unit 51 such as a semiconductor memory, and a printing unit including a CPU for controlling the processing of the entire printing device such as printing the received print data, storing and retrieving data from the information storage unit. Control means 5
3 is used. Then, the information to be printed is stored in the information storage means 51 as the overlay 52, and when the received print data 4 includes the instruction data 42 to use the overlay, the corresponding overlay is taken out from the information storage means. Then, it is printed in combination with other data in the received print data as needed. After that, the information processing device 3 or the like by a host computer or the like, which sends necessary print data to such a printing device, is used.

Next, one embodiment of the first invention of the present invention will be described following the processing procedure with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 4 and FIG. In FIG. 4 (and FIG. 5 to be referred to later), S11 and S12 are step numbers, and “C” and “P” at the lower left of the frame are processes performed by the information processing device by the former and by the printing device by the latter. Indicates processing.

First, the attribute items of individuals who use different illustrations are determined, and the classification of individuals is determined by the combination of the items of individual attributes (4 types if the preceding male and female and married / unmarried. Two types if only male and female). ). Decide which illustration to use for each. Then, with respect to the information processing device 3 that transmits the print data 4 to the printing device for each personal data 1,
What is the image data 2 corresponding to each of the above categories is defined and registered, for example, in the form of a correspondence table, and an instruction is given to perform desired processing (step S11).

Next, as a preparation, the information processing apparatus 3 first takes out some kinds of image data defined in the correspondence table from the image data file 2a stored in the external memory or the like, and prints it out. 5 (step S12).

Then, the printing device 5 stores the received image data in the internal memory 51 and overlays the received image data.
Register as 2. Also, the overlay to be registered is
OV1, OV2, OV3, and so on are sequentially numbered so that specific objects can be taken out. Such processing on the printing apparatus side is performed by the print control unit 5.
3 is mainly performed (step 13). With the above, the pre-storing of the image data 2 in the information storage means 51 of the printer 5 is completed.

Next, the information processing apparatus reads out the necessary personal data 1 from the personal data file 1a stored in the external information storage means such as a magnetic tape, checks the personal attribute, and confirms the personal attribute by the correspondence table. Understand the image data used in combination. Then, for the corresponding image data, instruction data for instructing, for example, what number of the overlay is stored in the internal memory of the printing apparatus is created, and the instruction data 42 and the personal data 1 are created. Print data 4 is combined (step S14). This will be explained with an example of the print data contents of FIG. 1. When the personal data is combined with the individual A, the instruction data OV1 for instructing the first overlay is used.
Similarly, the print data is combined with OV2 for the individual B and OV1 for the individual C. Then, the print data is transmitted to the printing device (step S15).

Next, the printer 5 which has received the print data 4 analyzes the presence of the instruction data 42 in the print data 4 by the print control means, and overlays the instruction data 42 stored in the internal memory 51. The designated overlay is taken out of 52 (step S16). Next, the taken out overlay and the personal data in the print data 4 are combined and combined, printed on a predetermined paper, and a printed matter having image data combined with the desired personal data is output (step S17).

With the above, the composite output process for one personal data is completed. Then, when unprocessed personal data remains (step S18), the process returns to step S14, and the above-described processes after step 14 are repeated until the process of all the personal data is completed.

In the above steps S14 and S15, the print data may be directly transmitted to the printing device in units of one person, but a plurality of people may be collectively collected as a print data file in an information storage means such as a magnetic tape. You may create it once. This may be read again by the information processing device (the same information processing device or an information processing device dedicated to another printing device), and may be transmitted to the printing device in units of one person.

Next, referring to the flow chart of FIG. 5 and FIG. 1, the processing procedure of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. According to the invention, when the capacity of the internal memory of the printing device is limited, a part (at least one set is enough) is registered without registering all the image data to be used as an overlay. Then, the information processing apparatus selects the personal data to be processed according to the registered overlay and then transmits the personal data.

First, similarly to the above-described method according to the first aspect of the invention, an illustration to be used is determined for each category based on a combination of individual attribute items for which the illustration is used.
Then, for the information processing device 3, what the image data corresponding to each of the above categories is is defined by, for example, a correspondence table, and is registered to instruct desired processing (step S2).
1).

Next, the information processing apparatus 3 firstly selects one or more sets of image data within a range that can be stored in the internal memory of the printing apparatus from among several kinds of image data to be used defined in the correspondence table. (It is enough for at least one set, and if the memory capacity allows, two or more sets are acceptable) are taken out from the image data file 2a and are sent to the printing device 5 (step S22).

Then, the printing device 5 registers the received image data in the internal memory 51 as an overlay 52. When there are a plurality of sets of image data to be transmitted, the overlays are OV1 and OV in the same manner as above.
Numbers are registered in order, such as 2, ... In the case of one set, it is always registered as fixed, for example, as OV1. (Step 23). As described above, the storage of the image data used for the time being in the information storage means of the printing apparatus is completed.

Next, the information processing device 3 first sends the printing device 5
Based on the image data to be used first among the image data transmitted to the personal data file, the personal data used in combination with the image data is searched and extracted from the personal data file (step S24). Extraction by one person,
Alternatively, a plurality of people may be collectively extracted in units of image data.

Then, in order to transmit the extracted personal data (because the image data corresponding to the personal attribute of the personal data to be transmitted has been selected in the previous step S24),
Instruction data for instructing the image data selected in step 24 from the overlay is created and combined with personal data to form print data 4 (step S25).
Then, the print data is transmitted to the printing device (step S
26).

Next, the printer 5 takes out the instructed overlay from the overlay 52 stored in the internal memory 51 according to the instruction data 42 in the print data 4 received by the print control means (step S27). Next, the taken out overlay and the personal data in the print data 4 are combined and combined, printed on a predetermined paper, and a printed matter having desired personal data and image data is output (step S28).

With the above, the composite output process for one personal data is completed. Then, if unprocessed personal data for the selected overlay remains (step S29), the process returns to step S24, and the above-described processes after step 24 are repeated until the process of the corresponding personal data is completed.

Further, when the process for a specific overlay is completed and the overlay to be used next remains (step S30), the process returns to step S22, and the image data of the above-described process after step 22 is used. Repeat until processing is completed.

In the composite output method according to the first and second aspects of the invention, the printed matter to be sent to the recipient is an individual statement such as a usage statement of a credit card or a transaction statement of a stock certificate. If the character information to be notified to
As shown in FIG. 5, it may be read from the character information file having the character information, transmitted as print data together with the personal data, and printed.

As described above, according to the image data synthesizing and outputting method of the present invention, the printed matter having the personal data and the image data matching the attribute of the personal data can be obtained.

[0034]

According to the method of synthesizing and outputting image data of the present invention, according to the personal attributes of the recipient by direct mail or the like, pictures such as illustrations, manga, maps, etc. suitable for the attributes are displayed on the envelope surface or the enclosed paper. In addition to various guidance texts,
Can be output by a printer. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently create various direct mails that make the recipient interested. The sales promotion effect etc. can be improved. These things include
New member introduction campaign of member organizations, solicitation of retailers of financial institutions, application guidance for mid-year gifts and year-end gifts of mail order, shipping of travel tickets for travel business, shipping of meal tickets for food clubs, seminar vouchers Shipment, school / prep school pass report, admission procedure, mock test result report,
For sending correspondence correction results of correspondence education, credit card usage statements, securities company securities transaction reports, management reports to stockholders of general companies, disclosure of life insurance companies and notice of contract contents, recruitment, etc. There are various uses such as company information, and in these various uses, an unprecedented appealing effect can be brought about.

Further, in the image data synthesizing and outputting method of the present invention, from the system point of view, for the character information,
The image data having a very large amount of information per one illustration such as bitmap data is not transmitted every time personal data for one person is transmitted to the printing apparatus. Therefore, the transmission of the image data becomes a bottleneck in terms of time, and the printing process does not become slow and there is no practical problem.
Smooth and efficient printing process can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of a method for synthesizing and outputting image data according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example A of the envelope obtained by the present invention, the illustration of which is changed according to personal attributes.

FIG. 3 is an example B of an envelope obtained by the present invention, the illustration of which is changed according to personal attributes.

FIG. 4 is a process flow of a method for synthesizing and outputting image data according to the first aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow of processing of an image data synthesizing and outputting method according to a second aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of creating a conventional printed matter such as a direct mail.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Personal Data 1a Personal Data File 11a, 11b Destination (Personal Data) 2 Image Data 2a Image Data File 21a, 21b Illustration 3 Information Processing Device 4 Print Data 41 Instruction Data 5 Printing Device 51 Information Storage Means 52 Overlay 53 Print Control Means 6 Printed matter 61a, 61b Envelope 7 Character information file

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Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A method of combining different image data according to personal data and printing it out, wherein the combination of personal data and image data is determined based on the attribute of the personal data, and the personal data and the print data are printed. From one or more types of image data stored in advance in the information storage means included in the device, the personal data and instruction data for instructing the printing device of image data to be combined are combined and sent to the printing device as print data for printing. The device synthesizes the instructed image data and the personal data based on the instruction data of the print data and the personal data to generate the personal data and the image data related to the personal data for each individual personal data. A method for synthesizing and outputting image data, comprising outputting as a printed matter. 2. A method of combining different image data according to personal data and printing out the combination, wherein the combination of personal data and image data is determined based on the attribute of the personal data, One or more sets of one or more sets of personal data to be combined with the image data are selected, and the one or more sets of image data are sent to the printing device and stored in the information storage means included in the printing device. Instruction data for instructing the printing device of image data to be combined with the personal data from one or more sets of image data stored in the information storage means;
And send to the printing device as print data, and the printing device synthesizes the instructed image data and personal data based on the instruction data and the personal data of the printing data, and for each individual personal data, A method for synthesizing and outputting image data, comprising outputting as a printed matter having personal data and image data related to the personal data.