JP2003150330A - Image printing apparatus, image printing system, image printing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] An image printing apparatus, an image printing system, and a print function provided with a discount function for a print price of a photograph on which an advertisement is taken.
Provide image printing method and program. SOLUTION: When a user causes a print vendor 100 to read image data captured by a digital camera (step S1) and selects a thumbnail image to be displayed (steps S2 to S4), the main image data is taken into the print vendor 100. (Step S5). Next, the main image is examined, and if there is an advertisement image in the main image, the advertisement image is extracted and normalized (steps S6 and S7). Next, the normalized image is sequentially compared with the advertisement image registered in the database, and it is determined whether or not the advertisement image matches any of the registered advertisement images (step S8). Is calculated and displayed, and when the fee is paid (steps S10 to S12), the selected images are sequentially printed (step S13).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image print system such as a print vendor, and more particularly to a print system having a function of discounting a print price by advertisement.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when taking a picture, even if an advertisement of a store or an upright signboard is shown in the background, it does not bring much benefit to the photographer, and rather, it often lacks the balance with the surrounding background. , It was common to take an advertisement without taking it from the composition.

[0003]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] On the other hand, from the side of the installer of a signboard advertisement, etc., if the photographed photograph also has an advertisement, it would have a publicity effect, so I would like the advertisement to be included in the composition.
There is a problem that advertisements are often removed from the composition for the reasons described above.

[0004] Here, if the photographer is profitable by some means so that the advertisement can be included in the composition, an advertising effect can be expected, but in the past, no concrete means has been provided.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides an image printing apparatus, an image printing system, an image printing method, and a program having a function of discounting the printing price of a photograph with an advertisement. With the goal.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an image printing apparatus of the first invention is an image printing apparatus which takes in image data stored and stored in an external storage unit and prints out an image. , Advertisement information storage means for storing advertisement information, advertisement information extraction means for extracting advertisement information from captured image data, advertisement information extracted by the advertisement information extraction means, and advertisement information stored in the advertisement information storage means And a charge calculation unit that calculates a discount of the printing charge based on the comparison result by the comparison unit.

According to a second invention, in the image printing apparatus of the first invention, the advertisement information stored in the advertisement information storage means is an image, and the advertisement information extracted by the advertisement information extracting means is an advertisement image. And is provided with a normalizing means for normalizing the advertisement image.

The image printing system according to the third aspect of the present invention comprises an image printing apparatus that captures image data stored and stored in an external storage unit connected via a network and prints out an image, and a server. In the image print system, the server includes an advertisement information storage unit that stores advertisement information and an advertisement information transmission unit that transmits the advertisement information stored in the advertisement information storage unit to the image print device, and the image print device includes: Advertisement information extracting means for extracting advertisement information from the captured image data, advertisement information receiving means for receiving advertisement information stored in the advertisement information storage means from the server via the network, and advertisement extracted by the advertisement information extracting means Comparison means for comparing information with the received advertisement information, and the print fee based on the comparison result by the comparison means And billing means for performing a discount calculation, and further comprising a.

The image printing system according to the fourth aspect of the present invention comprises an image printing apparatus that captures image data stored and stored in an external storage unit connected via a network and prints out an image, and a server. In the image print system, the server extracts the advertisement information from the received image data, the advertisement information storage unit that stores the advertisement information, the image data receiving unit that receives the image data transmitted from the image printing apparatus via the network. Comparing means for comparing the advertising information extracted by the advertising information extracting means with the received advertising information, and transmitting the comparison result by the comparing means to the image printing apparatus via the network. Means and
The image printing apparatus includes an image data transmitting unit that transmits the captured image data to a server via a network, a comparison result receiving unit that receives a comparison result transmitted from the server, and a comparison result receiving unit based on the received comparison result. And a charge calculation means for calculating a discount of the printing charge.

The fifth aspect of the present invention is the image printing system of the third or fourth aspect, wherein the advertisement information stored in the advertisement information storage means is an image, and the advertisement information extracted by the advertisement information extraction means. Is an advertising image, and is characterized by including a normalizing means for normalizing the advertising image.

The image printing method of the sixth invention is
Comparing the step of capturing the image data stored and stored in the external storage means, the step of extracting the advertisement information from the captured image data, and the step of comparing the extracted advertisement information with the advertisement information stored in advance And a step of performing a discount calculation of the printing fee based on the result.

Further, the image print program of the seventh invention includes a step of taking in the image data saved and stored in the external saving storage means, a step of extracting advertisement information from the taken-in image data, and the extracted advertisement information and beforehand. It is characterized by including a step of making a comparison with the stored advertisement information and a step of making a discount calculation of the printing fee based on the comparison result.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First Embodiment In this embodiment, when an image is printed by a stand-alone type print vendor (pay image printing apparatus), an advertisement comparison image (from an advertiser) registered in a database is displayed. The printing fee is discounted for the image provided with the advertisement information (provided and pre-registered in the database).

FIG. 1 is an external view of an embodiment of a print system with an advertisement discount function according to the present invention, which is a print vendor 10.
0 is an operation unit 1, a charge settlement unit 2, a near field communication data receiving unit 5, a display unit 8, a memory card insertion slot 16 on the front of the housing,
It is provided with a USB terminal 17 and a print image discharge port 19, and is fixed to a pedestal, a wall surface of a building, or the like with a fixture.

The operation unit 1 includes a cross key 1-1 and an enter key 1.
2, a plus key 1-3 / minus key 1-4, and a print start button 1-5 are provided. Further, the charge settlement unit 2 is provided with a cash slot 2-1, a card slot 2-2 and a change slot 2-3. The cross key 1-
1 functions as a cursor movement key, and when the upper end, the lower end, the left end or the right end of the cross of the cross key 1-1 is pressed, the cursor 61 (FIG. 3) displayed on the display unit 8 moves upward, downward, leftward or Move to the right.

In FIG. 1, first, the user is a print vendor 1.
00 through the memory card insertion slot 16, the USB terminal 17, or the short-range communication data receiving unit 5
0 and the image pickup device (not shown) such as a digital camera are accessed. When the storage memory for storing image data is a memory card that can be attached to and detached from the image pickup apparatus, the user removes the memory card from the image pickup apparatus and inserts the memory card into the memory card insertion slot 16, and the image data stored in the memory card is printed by the print vendor 100 side. Is taken into.
Further, when the storage memory for storing the image data is a fixed memory fixed inside the image pickup apparatus, the user may use the USB terminal 17 of the print vendor 100 and the USB provided in the image pickup apparatus.
When the terminals are connected with a USB cable and a predetermined operation is performed on the image pickup apparatus side, the image data stored in the fixed memory of the image pickup apparatus is transmitted to the print vendor 100 and is fetched by the print vendor 100 side. When the image pickup apparatus is provided with a near field communication device such as an infrared communication device or Bluetooth, the user receives the near field communication data of the print vendor 100 from the near field communication data transmission unit provided in the image pickup apparatus. By approaching the section 5 and performing a predetermined operation, the image data stored in the storage memory of the image pickup apparatus is transmitted to the print vendor 100 and taken in by the print vendor 100. The image data captured by the print vendor 100 is preferably main image data (plural) including one frame of image data and thumbnail images (reduced images) corresponding to the main image data, but it is also possible to use only the main image data. Good.

Next, the user selects an image to be printed from the thumbnail images (FIG. 3) displayed on the display section 8. At this time, the cross key 1-1 is operated to move the cursor 61 to a desired image position, and the enter key 1-2 is pressed to select the image.

Next, the plus keys 1-3 are operated to specify the number of prints. At this time, if the plus keys 1-3 are kept pressed, the number of sheets is incremented by one. Also, plus key 1-3
If you press too much, you can press the minus keys 1-4 to decrease the number by one. When the enter key 1-2 is pressed, the number of printed sheets is confirmed. Further, when the number of printed sheets is decided, the total of the post-advertisement charges (the total of the normal charges-the total of the advertisement discounts) is displayed in the charge display field of the screen as shown in FIG.

After performing an image selecting operation and a print number specifying operation on a desired image, the user inserts a usage fee into the cash slot 2-1 of the fee settlement unit 2 or the card insertion slot 2
-Insert a credit card or prepaid card into -2. When the user presses the print start instruction button 1-5, printing of the selected image is started, and the print image is discharged from the print image discharge port 19. When the printing of each selected image is completed, the change is discharged from the change discharge port 2-3 when the change is made when cash is thrown. The change may be discharged before pressing the print start instruction button 1-5.

Although the cross key 1-1 is used as the image selection key in FIG. 1, it is not limited to this. For example, the display unit 8
It may be configured such that when touching with a finger or the like, a touch input screen in which the touched portion is point input is used and a thumbnail image displayed is pointed and selected with a finger (in this case, the cross key 1- 1 is unnecessary). Further, the image data intake port is not limited to the near field communication data receiving unit 5, the memory card insertion port 16 and the USB terminal 17.

FIG. 2 shows the print vendor 100 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the print vendor 100. The print vendor 100 includes an operation unit 1, a charge settlement unit 2, a memory card reading unit 3, a USB interface 4, a short-range communication data receiving unit 5, a CPU 6, and a program memory. 7, a display unit 8, a printer 9, an advertisement image normalization unit 10, an advertisement image comparison unit 11, a database 12, and a work memory 13. Further, the network interface 14 may be provided as described later (second and third embodiments).

In FIG. 2, the operation unit 1 includes the cross key 1-1, the enter key 1-2, the plus key 1-3 / minus key 1-4 and the print start button 1-5 shown in FIG. The operation result of the key is converted into an electric signal and sent to the CPU 6.

The charge settlement unit 2 is the cash slot 2 shown in FIG.
-1 The type and number of cash inserted, the amount of money inserted is calculated, and the result is sent to the CPU 6. The amount-of-money detection unit, the change storage unit, and the change discharge port 2 based on the change discharge instruction from the CPU 6. -3, a cash settlement unit (not shown) including a change discharge mechanism, and when the credit card is inserted from the card insertion slot 2-2, the member information stored in the credit card is read to read the CPU 6
And a credit settlement unit (not shown) for discharging the credit card from the card insertion slot 2-2.

The memory card reading unit 3 reads the image data when a memory card storing the image data is inserted into the memory card insertion slot. The USB interface 4 receives image data transmitted from an imaging device such as an external digital camera via a USB cable. The near field communication data receiving unit 5 receives the infrared data (or,
Wireless data) to image data.

The CPU 6 controls the operation of the print vendor 100 as a whole and executes the advertisement discount / image printing process of the print vendor 100 by the control program and the dedicated program stored in the program storage memory 7.

The program storage memory 7 is composed of a memory such as a ROM, and executes a thumbnail image display / selection process as well as a control program and an advertisement discount program for billing and advertisement discount processing for realizing the advertisement discount function of the present invention. A thumbnail image selection program, a compressed image expansion program for expanding main image data (for example, JPEG compressed image data), a charge calculation / display program, and other programs are stored. Further, an image reduction program for generating a thumbnail image from the received main image data when the image data captured from the outside is only the main image data (when there is no thumbnail image) may be stored. These programs are fetched from the program storage memory 7 by the CPU 6 at a suitable time, read into a RAM (not shown), and activated. The display unit 8 displays the thumbnail image data in the image data fetched from the outside by the thumbnail image selection program. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the designated number of prints and the usage fee are displayed together with the thumbnail image. The printer 9 prints out the image designated by the user for the designated number of sheets.

The advertisement image normalization unit 10 determines whether an advertisement is shown in the main image, extracts the advertisement image, and performs normalization processing, as described later (FIGS. 4 to 7). Also, the advertisement image comparison unit 11 compares the advertisement image normalized by the advertisement image normalization unit 10 with the image registered in the database (registered advertisement image), and determines the match (when the match rate is higher than a certain match rate). It is determined that they match.

The database 12 includes images (advertisements) such as signboards and advertisement installations of operators who have contracted with the print system operator, the installer of the print vendor 100, the seller of the print vendor 100, the lender, or the advertiser. The image is registered (stored). Also, the credit member number when payment is made with a credit card,
A credit information storage area for storing date and time of use, usage fee, etc., and an advertisement print image information storage area for storing the number of prints of an image showing an advertisement, the number of prints by type of advertisement image, etc. are provided (not shown). .

Further, in the present embodiment, the advertising image data registered in the database 12 has a vertical: horizontal size of 1: 1.
Image data of a predetermined size, and the pixel density of each image is also the same.

In this embodiment, the database 12 is a medium (eg, CD-ROM) that can be attached to and detached from the print vendor 100.
Stored in the print system, when the advertisement image is updated (addition, deletion, etc.), the print system operator or print vendor 10
However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the registration advertisement image data may be taken into the print vendor 100 via a USB cable and updated by the database update program. Good.

The work memory 13 is used as a primary storage area for a captured image, a temporary storage area for a decompressed main image, a work area for normalization processing, a work area for image comparison, and the like.

Further, in the present embodiment, the advertisement image normalization unit 10 and the advertisement image comparison unit 11 are constituted by hardware circuits, but these are constituted by a program and stored in the program storage memory 7 to be activated at an appropriate time. It may be configured as follows. Further, in the description of FIG. 2 described above, the image data capturing method is the memory card reading unit 3, the USB interface 4, and the short-range communication data receiving unit 5, but is not limited thereto. Further, FIG. 2 shows an example in which the memory card reading unit 3, the USB interface 4, and the short-range communication data receiving unit 5 are provided, but one or a combination of these may be used. In this case,
The memory card insertion slot 16, the USB terminal 17, and the near field communication data receiving section 5 of the memory card reading section 3, US
It corresponds to a combination of the B interface 4 and the near field communication data receiving unit 5.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the image selection / charge display screen displayed on the display unit 8. The image selection / charge display screen 110 is composed of an image selection field 111 and a charge display field 112. When the image data such as is captured by the print vendor 100, thumbnail images are displayed in the image selection field 111. The user can select the desired image by operating the cross key 1-1 and the enter key 1-2 to move the cursor 61, as described above (FIG. 1). In the illustrated example, the third image from the left in the first row is selected as the print image. It should be noted that the number "3" superposed on the selected thumbnail image is the number of prints.

When an image is selected and the number of prints is designated, the total charge after advertisement discount is 6 in the charge display field 112.
2. A total of 63 normal charges and a total of 64 advertisement discount charges are displayed. Note that this fee display is displayed by increasing the charge for one sheet each time the user presses the plus key 1-3 once in the operation of specifying the number of prints, and displays one sheet each time the minus key 1-4 is pressed. Will be deducted and displayed.

(Image Normalization Process) FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a main image showing an advertisement. In the illustrated example, a signboard advertisement 41 is shown on the background of the main image 40 with a child as a subject. Further, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of extraction of the advertisement image extracted from the main image by the advertisement image normalization unit. In the example shown, the image (advertisement image) 42 of the signboard advertisement 41 shown in FIG. 4 is shown.
Is extracted as is. Further, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an advertisement image after being normalized by the advertisement image normalizing section. In the illustrated example, the normalized image 4 obtained by normalizing the advertisement image 42 of FIG.
3 is shown.

(Image printing operation by advertisement discount) FIG. 7
2 is a flow chart showing an example of an image printing operation by advertisement discount of the print system with an advertisement discount function of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 7, the user performs data access to an image pickup device (not shown) such as a digital camera through the memory card insertion slot 16 of the print vendor 100, the USB terminal 17 or the near field communication data receiving section 5. Then, the thumbnail image data is taken into the work memory 13 via the memory card reading unit 3, the USB interface 4, or the near field communication data receiving unit 5 (step S1).

The CPU 6 activates the thumbnail image selection program, sends the thumbnail images captured in the work memory 13 to the display unit 8 and displays them in an array in the image selection column 111 of the image selection / charge display screen 110 as shown in FIG. Yes (step S2).

When the user operates the cross key 1-1 to specify the image to be printed out of the thumbnail images displayed on the display section 8 and operates the confirm key 1-2, the print image is selected. When the user operates the plus key 1-3 / minus key 1-4, the number of printed sheets is counted up or down. The CPU 6 holds (temporarily stores) the image number in the work memory 13 and associates the count value with each other (temporarily stores), and displays the count value in the display unit 8.
To display the count value (= the number of prints) on the selected screen in an overlapping manner. When the user operates the confirm key 1-2, the number of prints of the selected image is confirmed (step S3).

The CPU 6 asks the display unit 8 to select the next image (for example, "Operate the cross key to select the next image. If there is no next image, press the OK key.") Is displayed to prompt the user to operate, the signal from the operation unit 1 is checked, and when the cross key 1-1 is operated, the process returns to step S3, and the “OK key” (Enter key 1
-2) is operated, the process proceeds to step S5 (step S4).

When the "OK key" is operated in step S4, the CPU 6 sequentially outputs the image numbers of the selected images held in the work memory 13 to the memory card reading section 3,
The main image data (compressed image data) corresponding to the image number is sent from the memory card or the external image pickup device to the USB interface 4 or the near field communication data receiving unit 5, and when the main image data is taken in, the work memory 13 The main image data stored in the work memory 13 is stored in the work memory 13, and the main image data stored in the work memory 13 is expanded and stored in the main image data storage area (not shown) of the work memory 13 (step S5).

The CPU 6 then sends the advertisement normalization processing unit 10
Pass control to. The advertisement normalization processing unit 10 reproduces the main image from the decompressed main image data and searches for it, checks whether or not there is an advertisement image in the main image, and if there is an advertisement image, transitions to step S7. If the advertisement image is not included, the process proceeds to step S9 (step S6).

The advertisement normalization processing unit 10 extracts an advertisement image from the main image as shown in the example of FIG. 5, and normalizes the extracted advertisement image. In the normalization process, in order to compare with the registered advertisement image (comparative image) registered in the database, the tilt of the extracted image (the tilt of the image due to the tilt of the subject or the camera at the time of shooting) was corrected and the noise erasing process was performed. rear,
The size of the extracted image after these processes is converted to a predetermined size. Note that the normalization process is not limited to the method described above, and may be a known method (step S
7).

The CPU 6 transfers control to the advertisement image comparison unit 11 to extract the normalized advertisement image of the advertisement image and the database 12.
When comparing with any of the registered advertisement images (that is, the registered advertisement is reflected in this image), the discount number counter is displayed. After adding the number of prints of this image, the process proceeds to step S9. If they do not match, the process simply goes to step S9. The match determination is determined to be a match when the predetermined match degree is equal to or higher than a predetermined value (for example, the match rate is 80% or higher) (step S8).

The CPU 6 adds the print number of this image to the print number counter and the discount number counter (step S).
9).

The CPU 6 activates the charge calculation / display program, calculates the usage charge, the normal charge and the discount charge, sends the calculation result to the display unit 8 and displays it in the charge display field 112 as shown in the example of FIG. To do. Here, the usage charge = normal charge minus discount charge, normal charge = printed sheet counter value × unit price, discount charge = discounted sheet counter value × unit price × (1-discount rate). Therefore, when it is determined in step S8 that the advertisement registered in the main image appears, the usage fee is the discounted usage fee (step S8).
10).

The CPU 6 displays a next image selection or print start operation guide on the display unit 8 (for example, "operate the cross key to select the next image or insert a usage fee and press the print start button") image Is displayed to prompt the user to operate,
When the user presses the print start button 1-5, step S12
When the cross key 1-1 is operated, the process returns to step S3 to select the next print image or the like (step S11).

The CPU 6 checks the input charge amount sent from the charge adjusting unit 2, and if it matches the use charge calculated in step S10, the process proceeds to step S13. If change is required, change instruction is given to the charge settlement unit 2, the change is discharged from the change outlet 2-3, and the process proceeds to step S13. When the credit card is inserted from the card insertion slot 2-2, the charge settlement unit 2 reads the credit member number to check whether there is a partnership, and in the case of a partner credit card, the credit member number, date and time of use, usage The charge, the normal charge, the discounted charge, the number of printed sheets, and the number of discounted sheets are stored in the credit information storage area of the database 12. If the credit card is not a credit card of a partner, a message to that effect is displayed to prompt cash insertion. Also,
When the prepaid card is read, the frequency corresponding to the usage fee is subtracted from the frequency of the prepaid card (step S12).

The CPU 6 activates the compression program to sequentially expand the main image data designated to be printed out of the main image data stored in the work memory 13, and 1
Whenever the expansion processing for the image is completed, the expanded image data is sent to the print image buffer (not shown) of the printer 9 together with the print number information of the image, and the printer 9 is made to print the specified number of images. This operation is repeated for all the main image data stored in the work memory 13. When all the printing is finished, a value obtained by counting the number of discounted images for each print date (= the number of printed images with advertisement) for each type of advertisement image is stored in the advertisement print image information storage area of the database 12. The process ends (step S13).

S6 to S12 of the flow chart of FIG.
According to the operation shown in (1), the print vendor 100 extracts and normalizes the advertisement image when the advertisement appears in the image designated for printing by the user, compares it with the registered advertisement image registered in the database, and matches the same. Since the usage fee is discounted if the user is present, the photographer can take a photo of the composition including the billboard advertisement, which had been removed from the conventional composition, by reducing the printing fee by copying the registered advertisement.

Further, in step S13, since the advertisement print image information is stored in the database 12, the print system operator collects the print results of the images in which the advertisement is shown and installs the signboard advertisement or the like (advertiser). Can be contributed to the acquisition of advertising fees and the conclusion of advertising contracts according to the usage record.

In the flow chart of FIG. 7, the thumbnail images are collectively fetched in step S1 and the thumbnail images fetched in step S2 are displayed, but the thumbnail images are displayed on the image pickup device side in the operation of step S1. If the thumbnail image has not been generated, the thumbnail image generated in step S2 may be displayed by reducing the thumbnail image while capturing the main image data.

Further, in steps S4 to S8, when the main image designated for printing is searched and an advertisement appears, the image (advertisement image) is extracted and normalized, and the registered advertisement registered in the database is extracted. Although it is determined that the images match with each other, the advertisement identification information such as a bar code is displayed in advance at a predetermined position on a billboard advertisement tower or outdoor advertisement, and the advertisement identification information is stored in a database. In the case of the configuration, in steps S4 to S8, when the print-designated main image is searched and there is advertisement identification information, it is compared with the advertisement identification information registered in the database to determine whether or not the discount is available. Can be configured to.

Further, in step S5, the main image data corresponding to the selected print image is fetched one image at a time, but the corresponding main image data may be fetched all at once. In this case, it is desirable that the user can cancel or change the number of printed sheets by viewing the fee display.

The advertisement comparison image is not limited to the advertisement image but may be advertisement text data. For example, in step S7, the advertisement image is extracted from the image data captured in step S5 of FIG. 7 and normalized, and then character recognition processing is performed, and in step S8, the advertisement text registered in the database. It can also be configured to compare with the data. As a result, for example, if the captured image data includes the character "XX cola" and the text data to be compared also includes "XX cola", the discount service can be obtained.

In the charge calculation in step S10, the discount charge = the value of the discount number counter × unit price × (1-discount rate)
Although the example of calculating as is shown, it is not limited to this. For example, the discount calculation may be performed by increasing the number of printable sheets when the advertisement is displayed. That is, 10
The number of free prints may be increased according to the number of advertisements shown, for example, 11 sheets can be printed for a fee of one sheet. Also,
A point card may be issued and points may be added according to the number of advertisements shown. In this case, if the points are accumulated to some extent, the points will be exchanged for cash vouchers, or the points will be discounted from the advertisement fee.

<Second Embodiment> In the first embodiment, the print vendor 100 is provided with the database 12 inside. However, the print vendor 100 is not provided with a database via the network. A database having the same data structure as the database 12 may be provided on the external information processing device side connected via the network.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the outline of another embodiment of the print system with an advertisement discount function of the present invention. In the print system 400, a plurality of print vendors 200 are provided with a server 250 via a communication network 50 such as the Internet.
It will be connected with.

Here, the print vendor 200 has a configuration in which the network interface 14 including a network data transmitting / receiving unit and a communication control program (stored in the program storage memory 7) are added to the configuration of the print vendor 100 in FIG. 2 and the database 12 is removed. Is done.
Further, the server 250 is a database 255 and a network 50 having the same data structure as the database 12 of FIG.
It is connected to each print vendor 200 via. Further, the data transmission / reception unit 251 for transmitting / receiving data is provided.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the operation after the image normalization processing by the print system with the advertisement discount function of FIG. 8, and the operation of steps T1 to T7 during the operation on the print vendor 200 side (FIG. (Not shown) indicates steps S1 to S1 in FIG.
The operation is the same as S7. In addition, the print vendor 200
It is assumed that the communication control program is activated at the time of start-up to establish a connection with the network 50, and is constantly connected to the network 50 within a predetermined time. Note that the connection may be always made.

(Operation after Normalization Process) Step T7
In (= step S7 of FIG. 7), when the normalized image of the main image corresponding to the image selected by the print vendor 200 is generated, the CPU 6 of the print vendor 200 sends the “comparative image transmission request” data via the network 50. Server 25
0 (step T8).

When the server 250 receives the comparison image transmission request from the print vendor 200 via the data transmission / reception unit 251, the advertisement comparison image registered from the database 255 is read out, and the comparison image 1 is sent at a predetermined timing via the data transmission / reception unit 251. The image data is transmitted to the print vendor 200, which is the transmission request source (of course, all the advertisement images may be transmitted at once, or may be divided to some extent and transmitted). Further, when the registered advertisement image to be transmitted is not stored in the database 50, that is, when the advertisement comparison image is finished, the “comparison image end notice” data is transmitted to the print vendor 200 as the transmission request source (step). T9).

When the print vendor 200 receives the registered advertisement image and the registered image number from the server 250, the print vendor 200 compares the received registered advertisement image with the normalized image of the extracted advertisement image and matches them (that is, registers with the main image). If it is determined that the completed advertisement is included), the number of prints of this image is added to the discount number counter, and the process proceeds to step T11. Also,
If they do not match, the control is returned to step T8, and the "next comparison image transmission request" data is transmitted to the server 250 via the network 50. If the “comparison image end notification” data is received from the server 250, step T11.
(Step T10).

The CPU 6 adds the print number of this image to the print number counter and the discount number counter (step T1).
1).

The CPU 6 activates the charge calculation / display program, calculates the usage charge, the normal charge and the discount charge, sends the calculation result to the display unit 8 and displays it in the charge display field 112 as shown in the example of FIG. (Step T12).

The CPU 6 displays the next image selection or print start operation guide image on the display unit 8 to prompt the user's operation, and when the user presses the print start button 1-5, the process proceeds to step T14 and the cross key 1- When 1 is operated, the process returns to step T3 (image selection print number designation operation similar to step S3 of FIG. 7: not shown) to select the next print image (step T13).

The user can pay the bill with cash, a prepaid card or a credit card. Therefore, the CPU 6 checks the signal from the charge settlement unit 2 in order to determine the payment method of the user, and when the user makes the settlement with cash or a prepaid card, transitions to step T17 to try to pay with the credit card. In this case, the process proceeds to step T15 (step T14).

C for payment by credit card
The PU 6 sends credit transaction information including the credit member number, the date and time of use, the usage fee, the normal fee, the discount fee, the number of prints, the number of discounts, and the print vendor identification number to the server 250 via the network, and the process proceeds to step T16. . (Step T15).

When the server 250 receives the credit transaction information and the print vendor identification number from the print vendor 200, the server 250 checks whether or not there is a tie-up based on the credit member number, and in the case of a tie-up credit card, the received credit information is a database. The credit transaction information storage area allocated in correspondence with the print vendor identification number of 255 is stored, and a credit transaction information reception notification is transmitted to the print vendor 200 of the source of the credit information via the network 50, and proceeds to step T18. Transition. If the credit card is not a partner credit card, a credit information refusal notice is transmitted to the print vendor 200, which is the sender of the credit information, via the network 50, and the process proceeds to step T18 (step T16).

The CPU 6 checks the input charge amount sent from the charge settlement unit 2, and if it matches the use charge calculated in step T12, the process proceeds to step T18. If change is required, change instruction is given to the charge adjustment unit 2, the change is discharged from the change outlet 2-3, and the process proceeds to step T18. When the prepaid card is read, the frequency corresponding to the usage fee is subtracted from the frequency of the prepaid card, and the process proceeds to step T18 (step T17).

The print vendor 200 transitions to step T19 when the fee collection unit 2 can confirm the fee collection or when it receives the credit information reception notice from the server 250. When the credit information refusal notification is received, a message indicating that the credit card is not a partner credit card is displayed, cash is urged, and the process returns to step T14 (step T18).

The CPU 6 of the print vendor 200 activates the compression program to sequentially expand the main image data designated to be printed out of the main image data stored in the work memory 13, and perform the expansion process for one image. Each time it is finished, the decompressed image data is sent to the print image buffer (not shown) of the printer 9 together with the print number information of the image, and the printer 9 is made to print the designated number of images. This operation is repeated for the main image data stored in the work memory 13. When all the printing is completed, the number of discounted images for each print date (= the number of printed images with advertisements) includes the advertisement image type information (= registered image number) and a value obtained by counting the advertisement images for each type. The advertisement print image information and the print vendor identification number are transmitted to the server 250 via the Internet 50 (step T19).

Upon receiving the advertisement print image information and the print vendor identification number from the print vendor 200 via the Internet 50, the server 250 stores the advertisement print image information and the print vendor identification number in the database 255 in association with each other (step T20).

By the operation of the flow chart of FIG. 9 above,
The database in which advertising images are registered can be shared by multiple print vendors, and the database can be updated easily. Further, since the usage status of each print vendor is recorded on the server side, it is not necessary to retrieve and collect data from the database of each print vendor as in the first embodiment.

Further, in the case of using a credit card, since credit information is recorded on the server side in step T15, it is possible to inquire the credit company of the credit status and to charge the usage fee via the network. .

Further, since the advertisement print image information is stored on the server side in step T18, the print system operator collects the print results of the images showing the advertisement via the network and installs the billboard advertisement or the like. It can be reported to (advertiser) and can contribute to the acquisition of advertising fees and the conclusion of advertising contracts according to the usage record. Also, since it is possible to edit the advertisement image print usage status on the server side so that it can be viewed,
In this case, each advertiser can also browse the advertisement image print usage status of the company via the network.

As a modified example of this embodiment, each print vendor 200 also has a database (12) storing comparative images (registered advertising images), and is compared with the normalized advertising image in step T10. The comparison with the image is performed in step S of the flowchart (first embodiment) of FIG.
The database (12) is provided with a means (for example, a version upgrade program) for transmitting the update data to the print vendor at the time of version upgrade in the case of version upgrade in the same manner as the operation of 8. May be configured to be updated. With this configuration, it is not necessary to go through the network at the time of comparison, so that the time can be shortened and the communication cost can be saved. In this case, the comparison image reception determination and the comparison image end notification reception determination operation of steps T8, T9, and T10 in the flowchart of FIG. 9 are unnecessary. Also in this embodiment, the advertisement comparison image is not limited to the advertisement image as in the first embodiment described above, and may be advertisement text data. Further, an example is shown in which the calculation of the discount charge = value of the discount number counter × unit price × (1−discount rate) is performed in the charge calculation of step T12, but the invention is not limited to this, and in the case of the first embodiment (step of FIG. 7). Similar to S10), the discount calculation may be performed by increasing the number of printable sheets when an advertisement is displayed, or by issuing a point card.

<Third Embodiment> In the second embodiment, each print vendor 200 includes the advertisement image normalization unit 10 and the advertisement image comparison unit 11 so that the print vendor performs the normalization process and the comparison process. However, the server side may be configured to include the advertisement image normalization unit and the advertisement image comparison unit, and the server side may perform the normalization process and the comparison process.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the outline of another embodiment of the print system with the advertisement discount function of the present invention. In the print system 500, a plurality of print vendors 300 are provided to the server 35 via the communication network 50 such as the Internet.
Connected with 0.

In FIG. 10, the server 350 includes an advertisement image normalization unit 351 and an advertisement image comparison unit 352, and a database 355 having the same data structure as the database 255 of FIG. The advertisement image normalization unit 35
1 and the advertisement image comparison unit 352, an advertisement image normalization program for executing the normalization of the advertisement image and an advertisement image comparison program for determining the match between the normalized advertisement image and the comparison image are stored in the program storage memory of the server 350. It may be stored in (not shown) and configured to be executed at a proper time. The server 350 also includes a data transmission / reception unit 353 that transmits / receives data.

FIG. 11 shows the print vendor 3 shown in FIG.
00 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a circuit configuration of the print vendor 300, and the print vendor 300 includes an operation unit 1, a charge settlement unit 2, a memory card reading unit 3, a USB interface 4, a short-range communication data receiving unit 5, a CPU 6, and a program. A storage memory 7, a display unit 8, a printer 9, a work memory 13 and a network interface 14 are provided.

Here, the structure of the print vendor 300 is the same as the structure of the print vendor 100 shown in FIG. 2 except that the advertisement image normalization unit 10, the advertisement image comparison unit 11 and the database 12 are used.
Is removed, and the network interface 14 including the network data transmitting / receiving unit is added. A communication control program is stored in the program storage memory 7.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the operation after the image is captured by the print system with the advertisement discount function of FIG. 10, and the operation of steps U1 to U4 (not shown) during the operation on the print vendor 300 side. Is step S1 of FIG.
The operation is the same as the operation in S4, and the operation after step U14 is the same as the operation after step T12 in FIG.

It is also assumed that the print vendor 300 moves the communication control program at startup and establishes a connection with the network 50, and is constantly connected to the network 50 within a predetermined time.

(Operations after Importing Main Image Data) In step U4 (= step S4 in FIG. 7), when an image is selected (when the "OK key" is operated), the CPU 6
Is the image number of the selected image stored in the work memory 13,
It is sequentially sent to the memory card reading unit 3, the USB interface 4, or the short-range communication data receiving unit 5, and the main image data (compressed image data) corresponding to the image number is fetched from the memory card or the external imaging device (step U5).

In step U5, the print vendor 300
When the main image data is captured by the CPU 6, the CPU 6 sends the main image data and the identification number of the print vendor 300 to the network 50.
To the server 350 via (step U6).

When the server 350 receives the main image data and the identification number of the print vendor 300 from the print vendor 300 via the data transmission / reception unit 353, it passes control to the advertisement normalization processing unit 351. The advertisement normalization processing unit 351 reproduces the main image based on the main image data obtained by performing the expansion processing on the main image data obtained by the expansion processing (step U7).

Next, the advertisement normalization processing unit 351 searches the reproduced image, checks whether or not the image has an advertisement image, and if there is an advertisement image, the process proceeds to step U9. If the advertisement image is not included, the process proceeds to step U12 (step U8).

The advertisement normalization processing unit 351 extracts an advertisement image from the main image, performs tilt correction, noise elimination, size conversion, etc. of the extracted advertisement image to normalize the extracted advertisement image (step U9).

Next, the server 50 causes the advertisement image comparison unit 352.
To the advertisement image registered in the database 355, and if it is determined that it matches any of the registered advertisement comparison images, step U11 Transition to. If they do not match, the process proceeds to step U12 (step U10).

When a match is determined, the server 350 transmits the comparison result, for example, “advertisement image presence notification” data to the print vendor 300 that is the transmission source of the main image data via the data transmission / reception unit 353 and the network 50 ( Step U11).

Further, when the advertisement is not displayed or when the non-coincidence determination is made, the comparison result, for example, “advertisement image nonexistence” data is transmitted via the data transmitting / receiving unit 353 and the network 50 to the source of the main image data. To the print vendor 300 (step U12).

When the print vendor 300, which is the main image transmission source, receives the "advertisement image existence notification" data from the server 350, the CPU 6 adds the number of prints of this image to the discount number counter, and then proceeds to step U14. When the "advertisement image non-existence notification" data is received from the server 350, the CPU 6 adds the number of prints of this image to the number of prints counter, and then transitions to step U14 (step U).
13). The subsequent operation is the same as that after step T12 in FIG.

With the operation shown in the flow chart of FIG. 12, discount printing of images can be performed anywhere if there is a general-purpose image data reading device as a print vendor, and the number of users can be expected to increase. An image printing business can be established for images captured by the image capturing device.

Also in this embodiment, the advertisement comparison image is not limited to the advertisement image as in the first embodiment described above, and may be advertisement text data.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications can be made.

[0097]

As described above, according to the image printing apparatus of the first invention and the image printing system of the third and fourth inventions, when the image printing apparatus fetches an image from the external storage means, a photograph is taken. If the advertisement information shown in (Image) is the advertisement information of the contracted advertiser, the printing fee will be discounted. Therefore, if the user sees the registered advertisement, the printing fee will be cheaper, so remove it from the conventional composition. Opportunities to take photos that include advertisements such as billboard advertisements that were used in the past will increase.
In addition, since it is expected that the operator of the image print system will increase the opportunity for the user to use the image print system due to the increase in the number of photographs in which the advertisement is composed, the operator of the image print system will receive the contracted advertiser. You can make a profit by earning income from the advertising fee and printing fee. For advertisers, it is expected that the more printing of photographs (images) with advertisement information in the composition, the more effective the advertising effect will be, and it will be profitable to pay the advertising fee to the operator of the image printing system. Therefore, the number of advertisers who contract with the operator of the image print system can be expected to increase.

According to the image printing apparatus of the second aspect of the invention and the image printing system of the fifth aspect of the invention, since the advertisement image is extracted and normalized from the image, advertisements of different sizes such as billboard advertisements, etc. It is possible to compare the advertisement image that is tilted and the image for comparison stored in the advertisement information storage means.

Further, according to the image print system of the third invention, the version-up advertisement image is stored on the server side, and the stored contents of the advertisement comparison image storage means of the image printing apparatus are updated at appropriate times via the network. Therefore, it is not necessary to update the advertisement comparison image. Further, since it is not necessary to go through the network at the time of comparison, the time can be shortened and the communication cost can be saved.

Further, according to the image print system of the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the advertisement information storage means for registering the advertisement information for comparison is provided on the server side, the advertisement information storage means of the server is used by a plurality of image print apparatuses. Since the image printing apparatus can print the image by discounting the usage fee based on the comparison result from the server, the function and configuration of the image printing apparatus can be simplified.

Further, according to the image printing method of the sixth invention and the image printing program of the seventh invention, when the advertisement information shown in the photograph (image) is the advertisement information of the contracted advertiser, the printing fee is charged. Discounts are made. Therefore, if the user copies the advertisement, the printing cost will be cheaper, so that the user is more likely to take a photograph including an advertisement such as a billboard advertisement, which has been removed from the composition in the past. In addition, it is expected that the operator of the image printing system will have more opportunities for the user to use the image printing system due to the increase in the number of photographs with advertisements in the composition. Further, it is expected that the advertiser will be more effective as the number of prints of photographs (images) with advertisement information in the composition increases.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an embodiment of a print system with an advertisement discount function of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration of the print system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an example of an image selection / charge display screen displayed on a display unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a main image showing an advertisement.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an extraction example of an advertisement image extracted from a main image by an advertisement image normalization unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an advertisement image after being normalized by an advertisement image normalizing unit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of an image printing operation by advertisement discounting in the print system with an advertisement discount function of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an outline of another embodiment of the print system with an advertisement discount function of the present invention.

9 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation after image normalization processing by the print system with an advertisement discount function of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an outline of another embodiment of the print system with an advertisement discount function of the present invention.

11 is a block diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration of the print vendor shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of an operation after image capturing by the print system with an advertisement discount function of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

6 CPU (Charge Calculation Means) 10 Advertising Image Normalizing Unit (Advertising Information Extracting Means, Normalizing Means) 11 Advertising Image Comparing Unit (Comparison Means) 12 Database (Advertising Information Storage Means) 14 Network Interface (Advertising Information Receiving Means, Images) Data transmission means, comparison result receiving means) 40 Main image (image data, advertisement information, advertisement image) 42 Signboard advertisement (advertisement information) 43 Normalized image (advertisement information, advertisement image) 50 Network 100 Print vendor (image printing device) 200, 300 Print vendor (image printing device) 250, 350 Server 251 Data transmission / reception unit (advertising information transmission means) 255 Database (advertising information storage means) 351 Advertising image normalization unit (advertising information extraction means, normalization means) 352 Advertising Image comparison unit (comparison means) 353 Data transmission / reception unit ( Image data receiving means, comparison result transmitting means) 355 Database (advertising information storage means) 400, 500 (image print system)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06F 17/60 ZEC G06F 17/60 ZEC G07F 9/00 G07F 9/00 B 17/26 17/26 G09F 19 / 00 G09F 19/00 Z H04N 1/00 107 H04N 1/00 107Z

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image printing apparatus that captures image data stored and stored in an external storage unit and prints out an image, wherein the advertisement information storage unit stores advertisement information and the advertisement information is extracted from the captured image data. Advertising information extracting means, comparing means for comparing the advertising information extracted by the advertising information extracting means with the advertising information stored in the advertising information storage means, and printing based on the comparison result by the comparing means. An image printing apparatus comprising: a charge calculation unit that calculates a discount on charges. 2. The advertisement information stored in the advertisement information storage means is an image, the advertisement information extracted by the advertisement information extracting means is an advertisement image, and a normalizing means for normalizing the advertisement image is provided. Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.
The image printing apparatus described. 3. An image print system comprising an image print device which takes in image data stored and stored in external storage means connected via a network and prints out an image, and a server, wherein the server is an advertisement. An advertisement information storage unit that stores information; and an advertisement information transmission unit that transmits the advertisement information stored in the advertisement information storage unit to the image printing apparatus, the image printing apparatus from the captured image data Advertisement information extracting means for extracting advertisement information, advertisement information receiving means for receiving advertisement information stored in the advertisement information storage means from the server via the network, and advertisement information extracted by the advertisement information extracting means And comparing means for comparing the received advertisement information with the received advertisement information, and based on the comparison result by the comparing means. Image print system comprising: the billing means for discount calculation of the printing fee, the. 4. An image print system comprising an image print device for fetching image data stored and stored in an external storage means connected via a network to print out an image, and a server, wherein the server is an advertisement. Advertisement information storage means for storing information, image data receiving means for receiving image data transmitted from the image printing apparatus via the network, and advertisement information extracting means for extracting advertisement information from the received image data. A comparing means for comparing the advertisement information extracted by the advertisement information extracting means with the received advertisement information; and a comparison result transmitting means for transmitting the comparison result by the comparing means to the image printing apparatus via the network. And the image printing apparatus stores the captured image data in the network. Image data transmitting means for transmitting to the server via the work, comparison result receiving means for receiving the comparison result transmitted from the server, and fee calculating means for performing discount calculation of the printing fee based on the received comparison result. An image printing system comprising: 5. The advertisement information stored in the advertisement information storage means is an image, the advertisement information extracted by the advertisement information extracting means is an advertisement image, and a normalizing means for normalizing the advertisement image is provided. 4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:
Alternatively, the image print system according to item 4. 6. A step of capturing image data stored and stored in an external storage unit, a step of extracting advertisement information from the captured image data, and the extracted advertisement information and prestored advertisement information. The process of comparing,
And a step of performing a discount calculation of the printing fee based on the comparison result. 7. A step of capturing image data stored and stored in an external storage means, a step of extracting advertisement information from the captured image data, and the extracted advertisement information and advertisement information stored in advance. An image print program, comprising: a step of making a comparison; and a step of performing a discount calculation of a printing fee based on the result of the comparison.