JP2001338029A - Mail accepting system and mail accepting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mail accepting system capable of solving the labor of the purchase of postcard sheets or letter paper and envelopes, the printing of contents to be announced, and the posting of mails in a post office or the like at the time of preparing and posing mails and any troublesome generated at the time of visiting at a mailing goods selling store, a printing agent, and the post office several times. SOLUTION: This mail accepting system is provided with at least an accepting center terminal 20 for transmitting the design information of mails to be selected by an orderer and the address registration format of mails to a user terminal 10, and for accepting the request information of the preparation and posting of mails including the design information selected by the orderer from the design information and the address information of the mails from the user terminal 10 and the user terminal 10 for transmitting and receiving the information through a network 100 with the accepting center terminal 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mail receiving system and a mail receiving method capable of requesting printing of a postal matter and posting of a postal matter having a designated destination via a network. It is about. In particular, a postal lump-sum reception system and postal service that allow an orderer to request printing of a plurality of mails and posting of a plurality of mails describing a designated destination from a user terminal via a network. It relates to the batch reception method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, postal items such as New Year's cards, Christmas cards, thank-you cards, letters, etc., are printed by an individual using a personal computer at home, or after requesting printing from a nearby printing company, and Was created by handwriting or printed by a personal computer.
Also, when sending out the created mail, it was common to post it to the nearest post office or post.

[0003]

However, postcard paper,
Alternatively, it is necessary to purchase stationery and envelopes and print or handwrite the contents to be conveyed, so that there is a problem that it takes time and effort to create mail. In particular, there is a problem that as the number of mails increases, more labor is required. In addition, there is a problem that it is troublesome to go to a postal store such as postcards, postcards, stationery and envelopes, a printing company (when printing), and a post office many times. In addition, there is a problem that a high postage different from country to country must be paid especially when the destination includes overseas.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a reception center terminal that solves one or more of the above problems. Another object of the present invention is to provide a mail receiving system that solves one or more of the above problems.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a mail receiving method that solves one or more of the above problems. Another object of the present invention is to provide a medium for carrying a program for performing the mail receiving method.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a terminal for a reception center transmits and receives, via a network, sample information of mail contents for requesting an orderer to prepare mail. Information sending means for sending to the orderer's user terminal capable of performing, and postal matter creation request information, including mail information including part or all of the sample information, from the user terminal, And at least an information receiving means for receiving the information via the Internet. In addition, the reception center terminal according to the second aspect of the present invention is configured to send sample information of mail contents for requesting the orderer to create mail and destination information of the created mail to the orderer. Information sending means for sending the information to a user terminal of an orderer who can send and receive information via a network, contents information of the mail having some or all of the sample information, and an address of the mail Information, including the request information of mail creation and posting, from the user terminal,
At least information receiving means for receiving the information via a network. The postal reception system according to a third aspect of the present invention includes the reception center terminal,
It is characterized by having the terminal for the reception center and a terminal having at least an information transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving information via a network.

[0006] A mail receiving method according to a fourth aspect of the present invention provides an orderer user who can transmit and receive sample information of mail contents for requesting the orderer to create mail through a network. A sample information sending step sent by a reception center terminal capable of sending and receiving information via a network to a service terminal, and a request for mail creation including mail information including some or all of the sample information. information,
A step of receiving mail creation request information received from the user terminal by the reception center terminal via a network. A mail receiving method according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes sample information of mail contents for requesting an orderer to create a mail, and information for sending address information of the created mail to the orderer. A sample information sending step in which a reception center terminal capable of sending and receiving information via the network sends to the user terminal of the orderer capable of sending and receiving information via the network; and From the user terminal, the reception center terminal receives the mail creation and mailing request information via the network, including postal information including the contents information of the mail to be the whole and the destination information of the mail. And a mailing request information receiving step. A medium according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the medium carries a computer-readable and executable program for performing the above steps for performing the mail receiving method.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Reception Center Terminal] An example of a reception center terminal will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an example of a reception center terminal. The reception center terminal 700 is used to send a plurality of sample information of mail contents for requesting the orderer to create mail and the destination information of the created mail to the orderer. Information transmitting means 701 for transmitting information to an orderer's user terminal capable of transmitting and receiving information via a network, and a part of selected sample information selected from the plurality of sample information. And an information receiving means 702 for receiving, via the network, request information for mail creation and mailing including the content information of the mail to be all or the address information of the mail, from the user terminal.

[0009] The sample information of the mail contents includes mail design information (for example, design information to be printed on the surface of the New Year's postcard opposite to the address writing surface), image information, and character information. The design information includes, for example, information such as the layout of images and characters, the font of the characters, the character size, and the arrangement direction of the characters (the distinction between vertical writing and horizontal writing). The request information for mail creation and mailing can include orderer information such as an encrypted credit card number.

The reception center terminal 700 has a storage unit 703 for storing the information transmitted by the information transmission unit and the information received by the information reception unit, and creates a print image of a mail based on the request information. Print image creating means 704 for calculating the cost (charge charged to the orderer) based on the request information
And estimate information creating means 706 for creating price estimate information to be charged to the orderer based on the cost calculated by the cost calculating means.

[0011] The information sending means transmits request content confirmation information (for example, a print image of mail contents, a print image of a destination surface, and a charge charged to the orderer) for causing the orderer to confirm the request contents. Send to user terminal. The information receiving means receives response information to the request content confirmation information from the user terminal.

The reception center terminal 700 includes information transmitted from a terminal capable of transmitting and receiving information via a network, and encryption means 707 for encrypting information transmitted from the information transmission means. A decryption unit 708 for decrypting the information encrypted by the encryption unit. The information receiving means receives, from the user terminal, response information to the request content confirmation information, including information on an orderer's credit card number or an encrypted credit card number.

[0013] The information transmitting means may transmit inquiry information including information for inquiring whether or not the orderer can pay a fee based on the credit card number to a credit company capable of transmitting and receiving information via a network. To the user terminal. The information receiving means receives response information to the inquiry information from the credit company terminal. In the inquiry information, in addition to the credit card number information of the orderer,
Information such as the name, address, and telephone number of the orderer can be included. The inquiry information (at least credit card number information) can be transmitted after being encrypted.

Further, the reception center terminal 700 deletes the request information from which the response information indicating that the orderer cannot pay the fee as the response information to the inquiry information from the storage means and discards the order. Order destroying means 7
09. If the answer information to the inquiry information is answer information indicating that the orderer cannot pay a fee, the information sending unit sends answer information indicating that the order cannot be accepted to the user terminal. .

[0015] The information transmitting means may be a content (for example, a confirmed print image, a confirmed destination) for which the content of the request has been confirmed by the response information to the request content confirmation information.
The print request information including the information requesting the print service provider to print the data is transmitted to a print service terminal capable of receiving the information via a network.

The reception center terminal 700 is located in a printing company closest to the destination of the mail or in an area where the postage to the destination of the mail is lower than the postage from the place requested by the orderer. There is a printing company selection unit 710 for selecting a printing company for each destination, and the printing company terminal is a terminal of the printing company selected by the printing company selection unit.

Further, the reception center terminal 700 counts the number of the print request information for each print trader (a print trader who requests printing and posting) and stores the print request information in a storage means. 711, and the information sending means sends a predetermined number or more of print request information accumulated for each printing company to the printing company terminal of each printing company.

[0018] The information receiving means receives cost information including printing cost of mail and postage of mail from the printer terminal, and the information sending means setstle the price charged to the orderer. The settlement request information requested based on the credit card number is sent to the credit company terminal.

A case where an example of the reception center terminal is an information processing device such as a computer will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a block diagram when an example of the reception center terminal is an information processing device such as a computer. The terminal for the reception center is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 81
An information transmitting / receiving unit 82, a storage unit 83, an input unit 84,
The display unit 85 is provided. The information transmission / reception unit 82 is, for example, a modem or the like, and also serves as the information transmission unit 701 and the information reception unit 702. The storage unit 83 is an information recording medium such as a memory and a hard disk.

The storage unit 83 stores information transmitted and received by the information transmitting and receiving unit 82. The storage unit 83 includes a print image creation unit 83a that stores the print image creation unit 704 as a program, a cost calculation unit 83b that stores the cost calculation unit 705 as a program, and an estimate information creation unit 70.
6 as a program
An encryption unit 83d that stores the encryption unit 707 as a program; an encryption unit 83e that stores the encryption unit 708 as a program; an order cancellation unit 83f that stores the order cancellation unit 709 as a program; A printing company selection unit 83g that stores the unit 710 as a program and a print request information storage unit 83h that stores the print request information storage unit 711 as a program.

The input section 84 is information input means such as a keyboard, and can input information. Display unit 85
Is a display unit such as a display, and can display information stored in the storage unit 83, for example.

[Terminal] The terminal is a terminal (terminal device capable of transmitting and receiving information by connecting to a network) having at least a reception center terminal and information transmitting / receiving means for transmitting and receiving information via a network. It can include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an information transmitting / receiving unit, a storage unit, an input unit, and a display unit. The information transmitting / receiving unit is, for example, a modem or the like. The storage unit is an information recording medium such as a memory or a hard disk, and can store information transmitted and received by the information transmission and reception unit.

[Postal Reception System] The postal reception system has a reception center terminal and a terminal having at least information transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving information via the reception center terminal and a network.

[Postal Reception Method] The postal reception method has at least the specific sample information sending step and the specific request information receiving step.

A print image creation step for creating a print image of a mail based on the request information; a cost calculation step for calculating a cost based on the request information; and a cost obtained by the cost calculation step And an estimate information creating step of creating estimate information of a charge to be charged to the orderer based on the request information receiving step.

A request content confirmation information transmitting step in which the reception center terminal transmits request content confirmation information for allowing the orderer to confirm the request content to the user terminal, and response information to the request content confirmation information, A step of receiving response information from the orderer that the reception center terminal receives from the user terminal may be provided after the request information reception step.

The credit card number receiving step in which the reception center terminal receives the response information to the request content confirmation information including the orderer's credit card number or the encrypted credit card number information from the user terminal. , Can be provided after the request content confirmation information sending step.

The inquiry information including the information of the orderer's credit card number or the encrypted credit card number and the information for inquiring whether or not the orderer can pay the fee is transmitted through the network. A credit card number inquiring step in which the reception center terminal sends out to the credit company terminal capable of sending and receiving, and reply information from the credit company in which the reception center terminal receives answer information to the inquiry information from the credit company terminal. The receiving step may be provided after the credit card number receiving step.

If the response information to the inquiry information is response information indicating that the orderer cannot pay the fee, the reception center terminal sends the response information indicating that the order cannot be received to the user. Sending to the terminal, and an order discarding step of discarding the order by deleting the request information from which the orderer obtained the response information indicating that the charge cannot be paid from the storage means of the reception center terminal, It can be provided after the step of receiving the answer information from the credit company.

The print request information, which includes information requesting a print service provider to print with the content whose request content has been confirmed based on the response information to the request content confirmation information, is printable via a network. A print request information sending step to be sent by the reception center terminal to the trader terminal may be provided after the response information receiving step from the credit company.

The printer closest to the mailing address, or
A printing company selection step of selecting, for each destination, a printing company that exists in an area where the postage to the mail destination is lower than the postage from the place requested by the orderer is provided before the printing request information sending step. The terminal of the printing company selected in the printing company selection step can be used as the printing company terminal.

A print request information storing step of counting the number of the print request information for each printing company and storing the print request information in the storage means of the reception center terminal is provided before the print request information sending step. In the print request information sending step, a predetermined number or more of print request information accumulated for each printing company can be sent to the printing company terminal of each printing company.

The receiving center terminal receives the cost information including the printing cost of the mail and the postage of the mail from the printing agent terminal, and performs the cost information receiving step and the settlement of the price charged to the orderer. A settlement request information sending step in which the reception center terminal sends settlement request information requested based on a credit card number to the credit company terminal may be provided after the print request information sending step.

[Medium] The medium may be any recording medium on which a program can be recorded, such as a magnetic disk, a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM,
It can be a semiconductor memory or other recording medium.

The outline of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the mail reception system of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the orderer uses his or her user terminal 10 to transmit design information and address list information of mail items to be sent out, and a credit number for charge settlement to a reception center terminal via the network 100. .

When the reception center terminal 20 receives the design information of the mail, the list of destinations, and the credit number, it first transmits the credit number to the credit company terminal 40, and requests the credit check of the orderer. Next, the credit company terminal 40 checks the credit of the owner based on the received credit number, and returns the credit to the reception center terminal 20. If there is no problem with the credit of the orderer, the reception center creates a print request to request printing and mailing (mailing) to the nearest printing company of the destination for each destination, and a fixed amount of request for each printing company. At the time when is accumulated, a print request is transmitted to the printing agency terminal 30 as a whole.

Upon receiving the print request, the printing company prints the postal matter in accordance with the design information included in the received print request, further prints the destination, and reprints the completed (postable mail) postal matter. Mail it to your local post office. Next, the printing company prepares an invoice, and the reception center terminal 20
Send to Upon receipt of the bill from the printing company, the reception center transfers the billing amount to the printing company, and finally transmits a credit card payment request from the orderer account to the credit company terminal 40.

[0038]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [Structure of Embodiment] Referring to FIG. 1, a batch mail receiving system according to an embodiment of the present invention
0, the reception center terminal 20, the printing agent terminal 30,
It comprises a credit company terminal 40 and a communication network 100 such as the Internet for interconnecting them.

The user terminal 10 is an information processing device such as a personal computer. The user terminal 10 has a function of accessing a product catalog provided by the reception center terminal 20 on the network 100 and displaying the product catalog on a screen. The product catalog information is, for example, information on the print format of mail, such as New Year's cards, Christmas cards, thank-you cards, and includes information on product names, product numbers, design samples, colors, character fonts, sizes, prices, and the like. The user terminal 10 further transmits information such as design information, which is information in a print format of mail items that the orderer desires to order, list information of destinations to be sent, and credit numbers for paying charges to the network 100.
And has a function of transmitting to the reception center terminal 20 via the.

The reception center terminal 20 is used by a merchandise seller and is constituted by an information processing device such as a workstation server. The reception center terminal 20
The function of receiving the design information, destination information, and credit number transmitted by the user terminal 10 by the orderer's operation, and transmitting the design information, the destination registration form, and the quotation to the user terminal 10. A function to select, a function to store print requests for each printer, and a function to collectively transmit the print requests to the printer terminal 30 when a certain amount of print requests are accumulated. And a function of transmitting a request for withdrawal from the orderer's account to the credit company terminal 40.

The design information is information including more detailed information than the product catalog and the user's selection input regarding the print format of the mail. The destination registration form is a format that allows the orderer to input a destination to which mail is sent. The quote is
This is information for notifying the orderer of the price corresponding to the order content and the details thereof. The print request is information in which a destination and design information are paired to instruct printing for each destination.

The printing company terminals 30 are provided at printing companies around the world in cooperation with the reception center. Printing service terminal 3
No. 0 receives a print request from the reception center 20, prints a postal matter in accordance with the design information for each print request, and also prints the address thereof. The printed mail is collected by a printing company and mailed to the nearest post office. After mailing, the printing company will pay the cost of the printing company's terminal 3
Then, a bill is created on the service center 0, the bill is transmitted to the reception center terminal 20, and a transfer request for the corresponding amount is made.

The credit company terminal 40 uses an information processing device such as a workstation server currently provided by the credit company for online settlement.

[0044]

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. In the following description, it is assumed that the network 100 is the Internet. 2 and 3 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the present embodiment. 4 to 6 are diagrams each showing an example of the content displayed on the information display means (for example, a display) of the user terminal 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, the orderer operates the reception center via his / her own user terminal 10 on the Internet 1.
Access to the postal reception desk homepage set up at 00 and the product catalog included therein (step A
1). In response, the reception center terminal 20 transmits the design information and the destination registration form to the user terminal 10 (Step A2).

First, design information as shown in FIG. 4 and a field for the user (orderer) to select a design are displayed on the screen of the user terminal 10 (step A3). The orderer sees various design information displayed on the screen of the user terminal 10, selects a layout, a character font / size, a vertical writing, a horizontal writing, or the like of a destination, and registers the design on the screen (step A4). The information registered in this manner is temporarily stored in the storage unit of the user terminal 10 (for example,
Memory or hard disk).

Next, when the orderer clicks the “Next” button on the screen of FIG. 4 with a mouse, a format for registering the destination of the party to whom mail is to be sent is displayed on the user terminal 10. 5 is displayed on the screen (step A
5). The orderer enters a sentence (short sentence of about 100 characters) that can be attached to each of the serial number, name, country name, address, and destination according to the format (step A6). The information thus registered is temporarily stored in the storage unit of the user terminal 10. The design information and the destination information stored in the user terminal 10 are transmitted to the reception center terminal 20 by the orderer clicking a "Send" button on the destination registration screen as shown in FIG. 1
00 (step A7).

Upon receiving the design information and the destination information, the reception center terminal 20 stores the design information and the destination information in a storage means (for example, a memory or a hard disk), and then creates a print image of a mail from the design information. Further, the required cost is calculated from the design information and the destination information, an estimate is created, and the estimate is returned to the user terminal 10 (step A8). The estimate is displayed on the screen of the user terminal 10 as shown in FIG. The orderer confirms the print image and the quotation content, and if there is no problem, enters a credit card number capable of performing a debit from the account for settlement in the credit number field of the quotation form as shown in FIG. By clicking the "Send" button with a mouse, the credit number is
(Step A9).

Regarding the transmission of the credit number,
It is necessary to ensure sufficient security, such as encryption of transmission data and virtual networks (VPs) on the Internet.
N) and other existing security methods can be adopted. Upon receiving the credit number from the user terminal 10, the reception center terminal 20 stores the credit number in a storage means (for example, a memory or a hard disk) and then includes the credit number of the orderer in order to check the credit of the orderer. A credit check request is transmitted to the credit company terminal 40 (step A10).

Upon receiving the credit check request, the credit company terminal 40 checks the credit information of the credit card member stored in the credit company terminal based on the included credit number, and receives the check result as the reception center terminal 20. (Step A11). When the reception center terminal 20 receives the credit check result from the credit company terminal 40, if there is a problem with the check result, the reception center terminal 20 notifies the orderer that the order cannot be accepted, and the design information stored in the reception center terminal 20, Destination information,
The order is discarded by deleting all credit numbers from the reception center terminal 20 (step A1).
2).

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, if there is no problem in the check result, for each destination of the destination information, a printing company closest to the destination is selected, and a printing request (a destination Is stored in the reception center terminal 20 (step B1). Here, the term “closest” means that, for example, when a Japanese orderer registers the United States as a destination for a Christmas card, the user requests printing and mailing (mailing) from a US printing company via the Internet 100. .
The reception center terminal 20 checks the total number of stored requests at the time of storing print requests for each printing company, and if the number exceeds a predetermined number of requests, collectively sends the requests to the printing company. A print request is transmitted (step B2).

The printing company terminal 30 is the reception center terminal 2
When a group of print requests from 0 is received, mail is printed one by one in accordance with the design information included in the print request, and a destination is printed for each mail. The printed mail is collectively mailed by the printing company to the nearest post office (step B3). After mailing, the printing company creates a bill to the reception center on the printing company terminal 30 based on a series of costs required for the work from printing to mailing, and transmits the bill to the reception center terminal 20 (step B4).

The reception center terminal 20 is a printing company terminal 3
Upon receipt of the invoice from 0, each printing company checks the statement to be charged, and transfers the billing amount to an account designated by the printing company (step B5). Further, the settlement center terminal 20 transmits a settlement request for the amount charged to the orderer to the credit company terminal 40 together with the orderer's credit number (step B6). Upon receiving the payment request from the reception center terminal 20, the credit company terminal 40 performs a payment process based on the orderer's credit number received together (step B7).

In the description of the present invention, a series of transmission processes performed in FIGS.
0.

The first effect of the above embodiment is that the orderer purchases a New Year's card, a Christmas card, a thank-you note, etc. by going to a store by himself / herself or by applying to a printing company and purchasing it.
This eliminates the hassle of writing the address to the post office and mailing it to the post office, and the shipping can be performed only by operating the user terminal. The second effect of the above embodiment is that, by requesting a printer closest to the destination, mailing to an overseas destination in particular can be done at the domestic postage of the country, which is cheaper than the overseas postage. That's it.

The third effect of the above embodiment is that the printing work is made more efficient and the printing cost is kept low by storing printing requests for each printing company at the reception center and requesting them collectively. The fourth effect of the above-described embodiment is that the reception center accepts print orders in a lump, and performs the credit check of the orderer on behalf, so that the collection of printing costs is guaranteed by the reception center from the viewpoint of individual printing companies. The point is that the labor involved in settlement can be greatly reduced as compared with the case where individual printing companies receive orders via the Internet.

[0057]

A first effect of the reception center terminal of the present invention is that mail can be obtained without trouble. The reason is that the reception center terminal of the present invention
Information sending means for sending sample information of mail contents for requesting the orderer to prepare mail to an orderer's user terminal capable of transmitting and receiving information via a network; and a part of the sample information. From the user terminal, request information for mail creation, including the content information of the mail to be or all,
This is because it has at least information receiving means for receiving via a network. This reception center terminal is effective for orderers who do not want to know the destination of mail. Note that the created mail can be delivered to the orderer by mail or courier service.

A second effect of the reception center terminal of the present invention is that mail can be sent to a destination without trouble and delivered. The reason for this is that the reception center terminal of the present invention uses sample information of mail contents for requesting the orderer to create mail, and information for sending the destination information of the created mail to the orderer. Information sending means for sending to a user terminal of an orderer capable of sending and receiving information via a network, and mail information including part or all of the sample information and destination information of the mail. This is because, at least, there is provided information receiving means for receiving, via the network, request information for mail creation and posting from the user terminal.

A third effect of the reception center terminal of the present invention is that postal items for overseas destinations can be shipped and delivered at low cost without trouble. The reason is,
The terminal for the reception center of the present invention is used for a printing company closest to the postal address, or a printing company located in an area where the postage to the postal address is lower than the postage from the place requested by the orderer. This is because the print request information can be sent to the terminal.

A fourth effect of the reception center terminal of the present invention is that the printing operation can be made more efficient and the printing cost can be kept low. The reason is that the reception center terminal of the present invention can be configured to transmit a certain number or more of print request information accumulated for each printing company to the printing company terminal of each printing company. It is.

The fifth effect of the reception center terminal of the present invention is that, when viewed from an individual printing business, the collection of printing costs is guaranteed by the reception business center, and each printing business makes an order via the Internet. This means that the labor involved in settlement can be significantly reduced. The reason is that, in the reception center terminal of the present invention, the information transmitting means transmits inquiry information including information for inquiring whether or not the orderer can pay a fee based on the credit card number to the network. Sending to a credit company terminal capable of sending and receiving information through the information receiving means,
This is because it is possible to provide a configuration in which response information to the inquiry information is received from the credit company terminal.

The mail receiving system of the present invention can provide the same effects as the first to fifth effects of the reception center terminal. The reason is that the mail reception system of the present invention has the terminal for the reception center.

The first effect of the mail receiving method of the present invention is that mail can be obtained without trouble.
The reason is that the mail reception method of the present invention provides sample information of mail contents for requesting the orderer to prepare mail, to a user terminal of the orderer who can send and receive information via a network, A sample information sending step sent by a reception center terminal capable of sending and receiving information via a network;
Receiving request information for mail creation, from which the reception center terminal receives the mail creation request information via the network, from the user terminal, including mail content information including part or all of the sample information. This is because it has at least steps.

A second effect of the mail receiving method of the present invention is that mail can be sent to a destination without trouble and delivered. The reason for this is that the mail receiving method of the present invention uses sample information of mail contents for requesting an orderer to create mail and information for sending destination information of the created mail to the orderer. A sample information sending step in which a reception center terminal capable of sending and receiving information via a network sends to a user terminal of an orderer capable of sending / receiving information via a network, and a part or all of the sample information From the user terminal, the reception center terminal receives, via the network, the mail creation and mailing request information including the mail content information and the mail address information of the mail. At least the request information receiving step.

A third effect of the mail receiving method of the present invention is that mails for overseas destinations can be shipped and delivered at low cost without trouble. The reason is that, in the postal receiving method of the present invention, the terminal for the reception center is configured such that the postage to the printer or the postal address closest to the destination of the postal matter is higher than the postage from the place requested by the orderer. This is because it is possible to provide a configuration that includes a step of transmitting print request information to a terminal of a printing company located in an inexpensive area.

A fourth effect of the mail receiving method of the present invention is that the printing operation can be made more efficient and the printing cost can be kept low. The reason is that, in the postal reception method of the present invention, the reception center terminal has a step of transmitting a predetermined number or more of print request information accumulated for each printing business to the printing business terminal of each printing business. This is because a configuration can be provided.

The fifth effect of the mail receiving method of the present invention is that, when viewed from an individual printing business, the collection of printing costs is guaranteed by the reception center, and when the individual printing business receives an order via the Internet. In comparison, the labor involved in settlement can be greatly reduced. The reason is that, in the postal receiving method of the present invention, the inquiry including the information of the credit card number or the encrypted credit card number of the orderer and the information for inquiring whether or not the orderer can pay the fee. A credit card number inquiring step in which the reception center terminal sends information to a credit company terminal capable of transmitting and receiving information via a network; and reply information to the inquiry information from the credit company terminal for the reception center. This is because the terminal can have a configuration of receiving a response information from a credit company to receive the information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a mail receiving system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of content displayed on an information display unit (for example, a display) of the user terminal 10;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of content displayed on an information display unit (for example, a display) of the user terminal 10;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of content displayed on an information display unit (for example, a display) of the user terminal 10;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an example of a reception center terminal;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram when an example of a reception center terminal is an information processing device such as a computer;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 User terminal 20 Reception center terminal 30 Printing agency terminal 40 Credit company terminal 100 Network

Claims (25)

[Claims] An information sending means for sending sample information of mail contents for requesting the orderer to create a mail to a user terminal of the orderer who can send and receive information via a network; A reception center having at least an information receiving means for receiving, via the network, request information for creating a mail from the user terminal, including mail information including part or all of the sample information. Terminal. (2) A sample of mail contents for requesting an orderer to create a mail, and information for sending destination information of the created mail to the orderer are transmitted through the network. An information sending means for sending to the user terminal of the orderer capable of sending and receiving, and including mail content information and mail address destination information including part or all of the sample information, for mail creation and mailing. A terminal for a reception center, comprising: at least information receiving means for receiving request information from said user terminal via a network. 3. A storage means for storing information sent by the information sending means and information received by the information receiving means; a print image creation means for creating a print image of a mail based on the request information; Cost calculation means for calculating the cost based on the request information; and quote information creation means for creating price estimate information to be charged to the orderer based on the cost calculated by the cost calculation means. The reception center terminal according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The information sending means sends request content confirmation information for allowing an orderer to confirm the request content to the user terminal, and the information receiving means sends answer information to the request content confirmation information. The reception center terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the reception center terminal receives the information from the user terminal. 5. An information transmitting device which can transmit and receive information via a network, an encrypting device for encrypting the information transmitted from the information transmitting device, and an information encrypted by the encrypting device. Decrypting means for decrypting information, wherein the information receiving means includes, for the user, reply information to the request content confirmation information, including information on an orderer's credit card number or an encrypted credit card number. The reception center terminal according to claim 1, wherein the reception center terminal receives the information from a terminal. 6. The information transmitting means is capable of transmitting and receiving, via a network, inquiry information including information for inquiring whether or not the orderer can pay a fee based on the credit card number. The terminal for a reception center according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the information is sent to a terminal for a credit company, and the information receiving means receives response information to the inquiry information from the terminal for the credit company. 7. An order discarding means for deleting request information from which reply information indicating that the orderer cannot pay a fee from the storage means and discarding the order, and reply information to the inquiry information. However, if the response information is that the orderer can not pay the fee, the information sending means, the response information that the order can not be accepted,
2. The transmission to the user terminal.
7. The terminal for a reception center according to any one of items 6 to 6. 8. The information transmitting means transmits, via a network, print request information including information requesting a printing service provider to print with the content whose request content has been confirmed by the response information to the request content confirmation information. The terminal for a reception center according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the terminal is sent to a terminal for a printing company capable of receiving information. 9. The printer closest to the mailing address, or
A printing company selection means for selecting, for each destination, a printing company that exists in an area where the postage to the destination of the postal matter is lower than the postage from the place requested by the orderer, The terminal for a reception center according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the terminal is a terminal of a printing business selected by the printing business selection means. 10. A print request information storage means for counting the number of the print request information for each print trader and storing the print request information in a storage means, wherein the information sending means is a fixed print information storage means for each print trader. The reception center terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a plurality of or more pieces of print request information are sent to the printing company terminal of each printing company. 11. The information receiving means receives cost information including the printing cost of mail and postage of mail from the terminal for the printing company, and the information sending means receives the cost information charged to the orderer. 11. The reception center terminal according to claim 1, wherein payment request information for requesting payment based on the credit card number is sent to the credit company terminal. 12. A terminal comprising at least an information transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving information via a network to the terminal for a reception center according to any one of claims 1 to 11. 13. A reception center terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 11, and a terminal having at least information transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving information to / from the reception center terminal via a network. Characterized mail reception system. 14. Sending and receiving of sample information of mail contents to the orderer's user terminal capable of sending and receiving information via the network, to the orderer's user terminal capable of sending and receiving information via the network, for requesting the orderer to create mail. A sample information sending step sent by a reception center terminal capable of receiving, and request information for mail creation, including mail content information that partially or entirely uses the sample information, from the user terminal, A mail receiving request received by the center terminal via a network. 15. The information of a sample of mail contents for requesting the orderer to create a mail and the information for sending the destination information of the mail to the orderer through the network. A sample information sending step to be sent by a reception center terminal capable of sending and receiving information via a network to a user terminal of an orderer capable of sending and receiving, and content information of a postal matter in which the sample information is partially or wholly sent. And postal mail creation and mailing request information, including the postal mail address information, from the user terminal, the reception center terminal receiving the mail creation and mailing request information via the network. A mail receiving method characterized by having at least a mail. 16. A print image creation step for creating a print image of a mail based on the request information; a cost calculation step for calculating a cost based on the request information; and a cost calculation step. The postal reception according to any one of claims 14 to 15, further comprising, after the request information receiving step, a quotation information creating step of creating quotation information of a charge to be charged to the orderer based on the cost. Method. 17. A request content confirmation information transmitting step in which the reception center terminal transmits request content confirmation information for causing the orderer to confirm the request content to the user terminal, and reply information to the request content confirmation information. And receiving the response information from the orderer that the reception center terminal receives from the user terminal after the request information reception step. 18. The postal service according to claim 14, wherein Reception method. 18. A credit card number receiving method in which the reception center terminal receives, from the user terminal, response information to the request content confirmation information, including the orderer's credit card number or encrypted credit card number information. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 17, further comprising a step after the request content confirmation information sending step. 19. The system according to claim 16, further comprising: transmitting information about the credit card number or the encrypted credit card number of the orderer and inquiry information including information for inquiring whether or not the orderer can pay a fee via a network. A credit card number inquiry step in which the reception center terminal sends the information to a credit company terminal capable of transmitting and receiving information; and a response from the credit company in which the reception center terminal receives answer information to the inquiry information from the credit company terminal. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 18, further comprising an answer information receiving step after the credit card number receiving step. 20. When the reply information to the inquiry information is reply information indicating that the orderer cannot pay the fee, the reception center terminal transmits the reply information indicating that the order cannot be received to the order center. Sending to the user terminal; and an order discarding step of discarding the order by deleting the request information from which the orderer has obtained the response information indicating that the charge cannot be paid from the storage means of the reception center terminal. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 19, wherein the method is provided after the step of receiving answer information from the credit company. 21. It is possible to receive, via a network, print request information including information requesting a printing company to print with the content whose request content has been confirmed by the response information to the request content confirmation information. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of sending print request information sent by the reception center terminal to the terminal for a printing company after the step of receiving reply information from the credit company.
The mail reception method described in any one of the items 0. 22. For each destination, select the printing company closest to the postal address or a printing company located in an area where the postage to the postal address is lower than the postage from the place requested by the orderer. 22. A printing company selection step to be performed before the printing request information sending step, wherein a terminal of the printing company selected in the printing company selection step is used as the printing company terminal. The mail reception method described in any one of the above. 23. A print request information storing step of counting the number of the print request information for each printing company and storing the print request information in the storage means of the reception center terminal before the print request information sending step. 23. The print request information sending step, wherein a predetermined number or more of print request information accumulated for each print trader is sent to the print trader terminal of each print trader. The mail reception method described in (1). 24. A cost information receiving step in which the reception center terminal receives the cost information including the printing cost of the mail and the postage of the mail from the printing company terminal, and settlement of the price charged to the orderer. And a settlement request information sending step in which the reception center terminal sends the payment request information to the credit company terminal after the print request information sending step. A mail receiving method according to any one of claims 14 to 23. 25. A medium for carrying out the method according to claim 14, wherein said medium carries a computer-readable and executable program for performing said steps.