JP2005141399A - Routine document output system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for providing service mainly for individuals, which can output a document configured in a desired form at a desired place as long as text data can be input even if a personal computer is not used. <P>SOLUTION: The system is composed of a center server to accept access from a user via a network and one or more shop information terminals connected with a network. The server has a means for accepting the text data and image data, a means for managing the accepted data and a means for providing the data managed in response to a request from the terminal. The terminal comprises a means for storing routine document template data and downloading specified data from the server; a means for supplying the downloaded data to the template selected by the user to automatically edit it; a means for printing the edited document; and an interaction input means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a fixed form document output system using a store-installed information terminal having a printer function.

  A new type of service has emerged in which document data created by an individual or image data taken using a digital camera is received via the Internet, and then some service is provided when the customer visits the store. The background is that the Internet has spread to the general public, and that digitalization and networking have progressed among consumers, such as the spread of personal computers and digital cameras.

For example, a service is provided that accepts an order of print output of image data obtained by photographing with a digital camera by having the image data uploaded to a service company website via the Internet. The user who placed the order can receive the printed photo by visiting the store at a later date or by mail.
There is also a service that provides print output by uploading document data created by an individual to a Web site. For example, the services described in Non-Patent Document 1 are as follows. First, a user registers document data created using the Internet from home or the like in the center. If registered successfully, you will receive a registration number from the center. If you write down the number and enter it with the password in the terminal at the nearest convenience store, you can print out the previously registered document data from a high-performance printer installed in the store.

Also, in the industry, a method for creating a printed material that enables a service for receiving the manuscript data supply and editing layout instructions from the orderer using the network and undertaking the creation of HTML data for use on the printed material or the website, and A printed material creation apparatus has been put into practical use for several years (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-91189 Internet <URL: http://www.printing.ne.jp/index.html>

  In the service described in Non-Patent Document 1, the user needs to edit the document data to be output to a state where it can be printed out by himself / herself. Therefore, the user is substantially limited to those who own a personal computer at home. For example, when a student who does not have a personal computer at home outputs a resume for finding a job or searching for a part-time job, it cannot be used.

  The system described in Patent Document 1 is configured such that the orderer only uses the orderer's computer, and when the edited data is printed out, the orderer's computer equipment is provided. The configuration is not intended for personal services such as being limited to output from an output device.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems. If text data can be input without using a personal computer, a document having a desired format can be output at a desired location. It is an object to provide a system that can mainly provide services for individuals.

A first invention that solves the problem is a fixed document configured by connecting a center server that receives access from a user via a first network and one or more store information terminals via a second network. An output system, which is a basic first aspect, is
The center server provides means for receiving text data and image data from the accessing user, means for assigning and managing the received data with ID numbers, and managing data for requests from store terminals Means to
The store information terminal stores fixed document template data, downloads designated data from the center server according to an ID number presented by the user, and flows the downloaded data into the fixed document template selected by the user. And means for automatically editing, a means for printing the edited document, and a dialog input means for prompting user input and receiving user input instructions.

  A user accesses the center server through a first network from a personal computer or a mobile phone used at home. The first network is usually assumed to be the Internet. According to the standard document output system of the first invention, a user can access the center server from a mobile phone and register text data in the center server from anywhere. And since the registered data is managed by the ID number, keep the number, go to the nearest store where the store information terminal is installed, and the ID number at the store's information terminal If a user enters a password that is known only to the user and designates a fixed document to be output, the store information terminal downloads the text data registered by the user from the center server and holds the fixed document template data The document data is edited based on the above and printed out by the printing means.

  Examples of standard documents include resumes and applications for various qualification tests. Even if you have a personal computer and a printer at home, these standard documents are not available for the template data or if it is difficult to obtain such template data for some reason, If a condition is set such that only a person who satisfies certain conditions such as paying can create the document, the document may not be output at home. Even if there is no such situation, a person who is not in a condition that can simply use a personal computer and a printer can not finish the document data by himself. Therefore, a document such as Non-Patent Document 1 is used to create a document. Can not do it.

  However, according to the standard document output system according to the present invention, when there is no template data of a document or when it is difficult to obtain such template data for some reason, it is a person who is not in a condition for personally using a personal computer and a printer. However, if there is only a mobile phone, it is possible to output a standard document. In addition, since the fixed document output system according to the present invention does not matter where data is input or where it is printed, for example, text data is input while moving in a transportation facility, and a history immediately before arriving at a visit destination. Documents such as books can be obtained.

  In a preferred second aspect of the first invention, the center server has a function of providing a text data input interface corresponding to a type of a fixed document designated by a user. That is, HTML data that functions as an input form corresponding to the type of a standard document is prepared for a user who has accessed from a personal computer, and HTML data corresponding to each type is provided. For users who access from mobile phones, etc., display and screen control description data are provided to provide text input interface screens according to the type of each document, and display according to each type is provided. And provide screen control description data.

  In a more preferred third aspect of the first invention, in the standard document output system, the store information terminal includes a memory card interface, and uses the image data recorded on the memory card brought by the user to use the standard document. This is a fixed form document output system characterized by being able to edit a document.

  In a standard document such as a resume, it may be necessary to paste an image such as a portrait of the person. Even in such a case, if the store information terminal has an interface of a small and large-capacity memory card used in a digital camera or the like, the data is taken out from the memory card in which the data of the portrait image of the person is recorded. A standard document can be created.

  Note that the image data registered in advance in the center server can be downloaded and used. If an image to be used repeatedly such as personal portrait image data is registered in the center server, it is not necessary to bring a memory card.

  In a more preferred fourth aspect of the first invention, in the standard document output system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the store information terminal has an interactive interface for designating a trimming position of image data. When the image data is used, the standard document output system is characterized in that the interactive operation interface is made to function, and the standard document is edited by cutting out the image data by designated trimming.

In the standard document output system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the second network is assumed to be a dedicated line or the like used for business for connecting the center server and a large number of stores. It may be connected with.

By using the system of the present invention, it is possible to arbitrarily output a standard output material such as a resume, a qualification test, an application for a certification test from a portable terminal such as a mobile phone without using a personal computer. A fixed form document can be printed out from the store information terminal installation location. If image data such as a portrait photograph is registered in the center in advance, a standard document with a photo can be output as required. If a large number of standard document layouts are prepared in the store information terminal, it can be used for printing an event participation ticket including a portrait photograph of the purchaser, for example.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the overall configuration of a fixed form output system 1 which is the best embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 5 denotes a computer used by a user at home or the like. Reference numeral 9 denotes a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone used by the user. Reference numeral 10 denotes a service center. Reference numeral 20 denotes a service store. 7 is the Internet. The user's computer 5 and the service center 10 are connected by the Internet 7. The mobile terminal 9 once connects to the service center 10 from the Internet 9 via the network 8 of the mobile phone company. A network 6 connects the service center 10 and a number of service stores 20. The service center 10 includes a server 11 and a storage 19 used for temporarily storing data.

  The service store 20 is provided with a dedicated multifunction information terminal 21. The dedicated multi-function information terminal 21 has a function of connecting to the server 11 via the network 6 in accordance with a user instruction, extracting necessary data, and providing various services to the terminal user. That is, the dedicated multi-function information terminal 21 has a communication system, a print output function, a screen display and user interface function, a cash receipt receipt issuance function, and a computer system having several application programs for providing services. It is a kind of. The document layout unit 12 is a part of such functions provided in the dedicated multifunction information terminal 21. Further, template data of a standard format document is recorded on the built-in hard disk. The document layout unit 12 is a program that applies the input text data to the template of the fixed form document, edits the layout, and finishes it as document data.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation flow of the fixed form output system 1. The operation flow will be described below with reference to FIG.

  A user accesses the WWW server 11 of the service center 10 from a personal computer 5 or a mobile phone 9 installed at home or the like. Then, text data is input and registered (FIG. 2 (1)). The text data is input by selecting several standard form documents prepared according to the input interface for the selected standard form document. For example, in the storage 19, HTML data for displaying a dedicated form for data input of a resume, a certification test application, and other frequently used fixed form documents on the browser of the user's personal computer, and frequently used Data describing the display and screen control for data input on a portable terminal of a document in a fixed format is registered, and the WWW server 11 stores these HTML data or data describing the display and screen control of the portable terminal. Is provided to the user's personal computer 5 or mobile phone 9. By using such a dedicated input interface, the user can input data that does not violate the data type and character number limitation for each input item and that does not fail to fill in the item, using a personal computer or a mobile phone.

  The server 11 registers the input data requested to be registered in a database that is held and managed in the storage 19 (FIG. 2 (2)). The registration number assigned at this time is returned to the user as an ID number (FIG. 2 (3)).

  Thereafter, the user goes to the nearest store, selects the standard document output service on the dedicated information terminal 21 installed in the store (FIG. 2 (4)), and the ID number and the user obtained earlier are A password registered in advance is input to the terminal 21 (FIG. 2 (5)). The dedicated information terminal 21 inquires of the server 11 of the center 10 about the password and, if correctly authenticated, transmits a download request for registration data specified by the ID number to the server 11 of the center (FIG. 2 (6)).

  On the server side, if there is custody data specified by the designated ID number, this is returned to the dedicated information terminal 21 (FIG. 2 (7)).

  The dedicated information terminal 21 makes a copy of the stored document template data, and edits the standard document by inserting the downloaded data into this copy template (FIG. 2 (8)). The character display position, size, character font used for the characters to be accommodated, character size, character color, other character modification patterns, etc. are defined, consisting of multiple character boxes with identification information and ruled lines and other information Prepare the document template data to be edited, and edit the document data by flowing the text data divided into items into the text box while matching the text data of a certain character box with a specific input item. Is an existing technology (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-29875). Therefore, the document layout means 12 receives data input as each item from the input form, and determines predetermined format settings for each item data, that is, typeface, character size, character color, and decoration style. It can be realized as a program for performing processing for pouring character data into a character box defined with a predetermined position and size.

  The dedicated information terminal 21 prints out the standard document data edited using the built-in printing means (FIG. 2 (9)). In this way, a resume, certification test application, and other frequently used formatted documents can be output from the dedicated information terminal 21 installed in a store such as a convenience store.

  Note that many documents such as resumes may require a portrait of a person with a front hat off and a plain background. Image data required for a standard format document such as a portrait photograph can be registered from the personal computer 5 in advance or together with text data in the procedure of FIG. In this case, since the ID number of the image data itself is given, the ID number of the image data may be specified in addition to the ID number of the text data in the procedure of FIG. At this time, the dedicated information terminal 21 may be provided with a function for designating the trimming position of the image data. For example, image data is displayed on the display monitor of the dedicated information terminal 21, and a rectangular frame having the same ratio as the aspect ratio of the image pasting frame of the standard document is displayed on this screen. An interactive interface function is provided for the user to freely change the position and decide a desired trimming. When editing layout processing of a standard document with an image, the dedicated information terminal 21 performs image processing operations such as image trimming and scaling.

In addition to this, the image data can be added to the standard document by inserting a large-capacity and small memory card used for a digital camera or the like into the dedicated information terminal 21 in the procedure of FIG. The image data may be loaded on the terminal 21.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a fixed form document output system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the utilization procedure of the system.

Explanation of symbols

1 fixed document output system 5 personal computer 6 network between stores 7 internet 8 mobile phone company network 9 mobile phone 10 service center 11 center server 19 storage 20 store 21 dedicated information terminal

Claims (6)

A fixed form document output system configured by connecting a center server that receives access from a user via a first network and one or more store information terminals via a second network,
The center server manages means for receiving text data and image data from the accessing user, means for assigning and managing ID data for the received data, and requests from store terminals. A means of providing data,
The store information terminal stores fixed document template data, downloads designated data from the center server according to an ID number presented by the user, and flows the downloaded data into the fixed document template selected by the user. A fixed document output system comprising: means for automatically editing the document; means for printing the edited document; and dialog input means for prompting the user to input and accepting an input instruction from the user.   The fixed document output system according to claim 1, wherein the center server has a function of providing a text data input interface according to a type of the fixed document designated by a user.   3. The standard document output system according to claim 1, wherein the store information terminal includes a memory card interface, and edits the standard document using image data recorded on a memory card brought by a user. A standard document output system characterized by being capable of   The fixed form document output system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the store information terminal includes an interactive interface for designating a trimming position of image data, and when using the image data, the interactive operation interface. A standard document output system characterized in that the standard document is edited by cutting out image data by designated trimming.   The fixed document output system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first network is the Internet. The fixed document output system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein both the first network and the second network are the Internet.