JP2008158856A - Image providing device, image providing system, consideration calculation device, and consideration calculation method - Google Patents

Abstract

An appropriate service is provided to a user even when printing failure occurs.
An image providing system includes an image providing apparatus, a client connected to the image providing apparatus via a communication network, and a printing apparatus connected to the client.
The image providing apparatus includes a print request receiving unit 10C that receives a print request for image information selected by the client, and a print target that transmits to the client print target information for causing the printing apparatus to print an image based on the image information. Providing print target information based on the information transmission unit 10F, the print defect information receiving unit 10G that receives print defect information indicating a print defect that has occurred in the printing operation based on the print object information, and the print defect information And a compensation reduction unit 10K for reducing the compensation.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an image providing device, an image providing system, a consideration calculating device, and a consideration calculating method.

There is an image providing system in which an image providing apparatus and a client are connected via a communication network. Some image providing systems provide an image to a user by printing the image with a printing apparatus connected to a client (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-334709 A

  In this image providing system, since the printing apparatus is owned by the receiving side of the image, its state is different individually. For this reason, when an image is printed by a printing apparatus that is not in good condition, the original image quality may not be obtained. For example, in a printing apparatus that prints an image by ejecting ink onto paper, an image with a so-called missing dot is provided because the ink to be ejected is not ejected.

  When such a printing failure occurs, the user may perform printing again in order to obtain an image with the original image quality. When printing is performed again, the ink and paper consumed in the previous printing are wasted. If these are burdened by the user, an unnecessary burden is imposed on the user, and an appropriate service cannot be provided. In addition, depending on the user, it may be determined that there is no problem even in an image whose image quality is impaired. Even in this case, if a regular fee is charged for an image with deteriorated image quality, an appropriate service cannot be provided to the user.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an appropriate service to a user even when a printing failure occurs.

The main invention for achieving the object is as follows:
A print request receiving unit for receiving a print request from a client connected via a communication network, the print request receiving unit receiving a print request for image information selected by the client;
A print target information transmitting unit for transmitting to the client print target information for causing a printing apparatus connected to the client to print an image based on the image information;
A print defect information receiving unit that receives, from the client, print defect information indicating a print defect caused by a print operation based on the print target information;
Based on the reception of the print defect information, a price reduction unit for reducing the provision price of the print target information;
Is an image providing apparatus.

  Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

At least the following will be made clear by the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.
A print request receiving unit that receives a print request from a client connected via a communication network, the print request receiving unit receiving a print request for image information selected by the client, and the image information A print target information transmitting unit that transmits to the client print target information for causing a printing apparatus connected to the client to print an image based on the print, and printing indicating a print defect caused by a print operation based on the print target information Clearly, it is possible to realize an image providing apparatus that includes a print defect information receiving unit that receives defect information from the client and a price reduction unit that reduces the provision of the print target information based on the reception of the print defect information. To be.
According to such an image providing apparatus, when a printing failure occurs in the printing apparatus connected to the client, the consideration is reduced according to the printing failure. For this reason, even if printing failure occurs, an appropriate service can be provided to the user.

In this image providing apparatus, the printing apparatus prints an image on the medium by ejecting ink toward the medium, and the price reduction unit is consumed in a printing operation related to a printing defect. It is preferable to determine the degree of reduction based on ink consumption information indicating the amount of ink and medium specifying information for specifying a medium used in the printing operation related to the printing failure.
According to such an image providing apparatus, since the degree of reduction is determined according to the amount of ink consumed in the printing operation of defective printing and the medium used, the degree of reduction can be optimized.

In this image providing apparatus, it is preferable that the medium specifying information specifies the medium based on the type of the medium and the size of the medium.
According to such an image providing apparatus, since the type and size of the medium used are reflected, the degree of reduction can be made more appropriate.

In this image providing apparatus, the price reduction unit reduces the ink price based on the ink consumption information and the medium price based on the medium specifying information from the basic price related to the provision of the print target information. It is preferable to do.
According to such an image providing apparatus, each of the ink price and the medium price is subtracted from the basic consideration, so the degree of reduction can be made more appropriate.

In this image providing apparatus, the printing apparatus prints an image on the medium by ejecting ink toward the medium, and the print defect information receiving unit is caused by the fact that the ink is not ejected. It is preferable that print defect information indicating a print defect to be received is received from the client. The printing apparatus preferably includes a print defect information storage unit that stores the print defect information, and the client acquires the print defect information stored in the print defect information storage unit.
According to such an image providing apparatus, since the reduction is performed based on the defective print information, the reduction can be performed at an appropriate timing.

In this image providing apparatus, it is preferable that the client acquires the print defect information stored in the print defect information storage unit after a printing operation related to the print defect is completed.
According to such an image providing apparatus, even if a printing failure occurs, the printing operation is performed to the end. As a result, it is possible to prevent a difference in hue due to stopping printing halfway. As a result, the image can be obtained at an appropriate price after the reduction if the printing defect is not problematic for the user.

The image providing apparatus preferably includes a print target information generation unit that generates the print target information based on the image information. Further, it is preferable that the print target information generation unit generates the print target information according to a type of the printing apparatus.
According to such an image providing apparatus, it is possible to effectively prevent problems such as image information being diverted to other uses.

It is also clarified that the following image providing system can be realized.
An image providing system comprising: an image providing device; a client connected to the image providing device via a communication network; and a printing device connected to the client.
The image providing apparatus is a print request receiving unit that receives a print request from the client, the print request receiving unit receiving a print request for image information selected by the client, and an image based on the image information. A print target information transmitting unit for transmitting print target information for causing the printing apparatus to print to the client, and print defect information indicating a print defect caused by a print operation based on the print target information from the client. It is also clarified that it is possible to realize an image providing system that includes a printing defect information receiving unit that performs and a price reduction unit that reduces the provision of the print target information based on reception of the printing defect information.

It is also clarified that the following price calculation device can be realized.
That is, a printing apparatus connected to the client is connected to an image providing apparatus that provides an image by printing an image based on the print target information transmitted to the client, and calculates a consideration for providing the image. A price calculation device,
A basic value setting unit for setting a basic value for providing the image from the image providing apparatus to the client; and print defect information indicating a print defect caused by a printing operation in the printing apparatus, the print target information A compensation calculation apparatus comprising: a printing failure information receiving unit that receives printing failure information indicating a printing failure that has occurred in a printing operation based on; and a price reduction unit that deducts from the basic consideration based on reception of the printing failure information. It is also revealed that it can be realized.

It will also be clarified that the following calculation method can be realized.
That is, the print target information is transmitted from the image providing apparatus to the client connected via the communication network, and the image based on the print target information is printed by the printing apparatus connected to the client. A consideration calculation method for calculating consideration,
A printing operation based on the print target information, which is a print defect information indicating a print defect caused by a printing operation in the printing apparatus, by setting a basic consideration for providing the image from the image providing apparatus to the client It is also clarified that it is possible to realize a compensation calculation method that receives the printing failure information indicating the printing failure that occurred in (1), and deducts the basic compensation based on the reception of the printing failure information.

=== First Embodiment ===
As shown in FIG. 1, the image providing system includes an image providing server 10, a user terminal 20, and a printer 30. The image providing server 10 and the user terminal 20 are connected by a communication network NW such as the Internet. That is, the image providing server 10 and the user terminal 20 are connected with the relay station RS interposed. On the other hand, the user terminal 20 and the printer 30 are directly connected by a communication cable CB.

<About the image providing server 10>
The image providing server 10 corresponds to an image providing apparatus that provides an image to a client in the image providing system. The image providing server 10 includes a server-side controller 11 and a communication interface 12. The server side controller 11 includes a CPU 111 and a memory 112. The CPU 111 is a central part that performs control, and operates according to a program stored in the memory 112. The memory 112 stores programs executed by the CPU 111 and various data. Note that the configuration of the memory 112 and programs stored in the memory 112 will be described later. The communication interface 12 is for connecting the image providing server 10 (server-side controller 11) to the communication network NW.

<About the configuration of the memory 112>
As shown in FIG. 2A, the memory 112 has an application program storage area 112a, an image data storage area 112b, a table data storage area 112c, a printer driver storage area 112d, a basic charge data storage area 112e, and a consumable unit price data storage. A region 112f is provided. Then, application programs, image data, table data, printer drivers, basic charge data, and consumable unit price data are stored in the corresponding storage areas.

  The application program causes the CPU 111 to perform processing for providing an image to the client. When the CPU 111 executes this application program, for example, a request from the user terminal 20 can be recognized. Further, in response to a request from the user terminal 20, image information for display can be transmitted or information for printing can be transmitted.

  The image data is a basis of an image that can be provided to the user, and corresponds to image information. For example, an image for selection is displayed on the display device 24 of the user terminal 20 based on the image data. Further, print data for the printer 30 is generated based on the selected image data. This print data constitutes information for printing together with a print command. As shown in FIG. 2B, the image data stores a plurality of types that can be provided to the user.

  The table data is data used when associating various types of information. For example, image data and basic charge data are associated, or printer 30 model information indicating the model of the printer 30 is associated with a printer driver.

  The printer driver is a program for converting image data into print data for the printer 30. That is, the printer driver generates print data suitable for the printer 30 connected to the user terminal 20 based on the image data and the model information of the printer 30. In this image providing system, the print data corresponds to print target information for causing the printer 30 as a printing apparatus to perform a printing operation. Accordingly, the printer driver corresponds to a generation program for causing the image providing apparatus to generate print target information based on the image information.

  The basic fee data is data indicating a basic fee (basic consideration) for providing an image to a user. Based on this basic fee, the amount charged to the user is calculated. For example, when the printer 30 connected to the user terminal 20 prints an image in the first printing operation without causing a printing failure, the basic fee becomes the billing amount as it is. On the other hand, when a printing failure occurs in the printing operation, the price of the ink consumed in the printing operation or the price of the used paper is reduced from the basic fee to become a billed amount. The basic fee is determined according to image data to be printed, the size of paper to be printed, and the like. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 2B, a plurality of types of basic fee data are stored in the memory 112. For example, a plurality of basic charges corresponding to a certain image data A are stored as basic charges A1, A2, A3... For each size of paper to be printed. Also, a plurality of basic charges corresponding to different image data B are stored as basic charges B1, B2, B3,... For each paper size to be printed. The consumable unit price data is data used to calculate a reduction amount when printing failure occurs. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the unit price is stored for each paper A, B, C... Classified by size and type. For example, the price per sheet is stored. Similarly, for ink, a unit price is stored for each ink A, B, C,. For example, the price per drop is stored.

<User terminal 20>
The user terminal 20 corresponds to a client in the image providing system. As shown in FIG. 3, the user terminal 20 includes a terminal-side controller 21, a communication interface 22, a printer interface 23, a display device 24, and an input device 25. The terminal side controller 21 includes a CPU 211 and a memory 212. The CPU 211 is a central part that performs control, and operates according to a program stored in the memory 212. The memory 212 stores programs executed by the CPU 211 and various data. The user terminal 20 browses a plurality of types of image data stored in the image providing server 10 or selects a desired one of these image data. Therefore, the memory 212 is provided with an application program storage area 212a. In this application program storage area 212a, for example, Web browsing software (Web browser) is stored as an application program. In addition, in order to cause the printer 30 to print an image from the application program, the memory 212 also stores a printer driver (not shown) used for the printer 30 connected to the user terminal 20. The communication interface 22 is for connecting the user terminal 20 (terminal-side controller 21) to the communication network NW. The printer interface 23 is for connecting the user terminal 20 to the printer 30. The display device 24 is, for example, a liquid crystal display. The display device 24 displays various images constituting a user interface, for example. This display is controlled by the terminal-side controller 21. For this reason, the terminal-side controller 21 also functions as a display control device that controls display by the display device 24. The input device 25 is, for example, a keyboard or a mouse. The input device 25 also functions as an information input device for the user to input various types of information to the terminal-side controller 21.

<About the printer 30>
The printer 30 corresponds to a printing device in the image providing system. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 30 includes a control unit 31 and a printing unit 32. The control unit 31 includes a printer-side controller 33, a drive signal generation circuit 311, and an external interface 312. The printing unit 32 includes a paper transport mechanism 321, a carriage movement mechanism 322, a sensor group 323, a head control unit 324, and a head 325.

  The printer-side controller 33 has a CPU 331 and a memory 332. The CPU 331 is a central part that performs control, and operates according to a program stored in the memory 332. The memory 332 stores programs executed by the CPU 331 and various data. The configuration of the memory 332 and the stored program will be described later. The printer 30 prints an image on a sheet based on print data transmitted from the user terminal 20 or the image providing server 10. The drive signal generation circuit 311 generates a drive signal supplied to the head 325. In the printer 30, the drive signal generation circuit 311 generates a drive signal based on control information from the printer-side controller 33. The external interface 312 is for connecting the printer 30 to the user terminal 20. In this image providing system, the printer interface 23 of the user terminal 20 and the external interface 312 of the printer 30 are communicably connected via a communication cable CB.

  The paper transport mechanism 321 transports paper as a medium in the transport direction. Accordingly, the paper transport mechanism 321 corresponds to a medium transport unit that transports the medium in the transport direction. The carriage moving mechanism 322 moves the carriage CR to which the head 325 and the head control unit 324 are attached. The sensor group 323 detects the state of each unit in the printer 30 and outputs the detection result to the printer-side controller 33.

  The sensor group 323 includes an ink ejection sensor. The ink ejection sensor is a sensor that detects the presence or absence of ink ejection. This ink ejection sensor has, for example, a conductor disposed in the vicinity of the ink droplet ejection path and a detector that detects a change in the voltage of the conductor. Then, a change in the voltage of the conductor due to the passage of the ink droplet is detected. The ink ejection sensor is not limited to this configuration. For example, a configuration may be employed in which a light beam is emitted from the light emitting element, and a light blocking state accompanying the passage of the ink droplet light beam is detected by the light receiving element. Alternatively, the ink may be ejected toward the ink receiving member, and a thermal change, an impact, and an electrical change of the ink receiving member that are generated when the ink is landed may be detected.

  The sensor group 323 includes a paper detection sensor and a paper width detection sensor. The paper detection sensor is a sensor for detecting the leading edge and the trailing edge of the paper. The paper width sensor is a sensor for detecting the paper width. These paper detection sensors and paper width detection sensors are configured by, for example, photo interrupters. Note that these paper detection sensors and paper width detection sensors are not limited to photo interrupters. For example, a mechanical sensor may be used.

<Regarding Configuration of Memory 332>
As shown in FIG. 4A, the memory 332 includes a firmware storage area 332a, a discharge counter area 332b, and an error flag area 332c. The firmware storage area 332a is an area for storing firmware. The firmware is a program for operating the printer 30.

  The discharge counter area 332b is an area used as a discharge counter. The ejection counter is for counting the number of ink ejections by the head 325. In the printer 30, an ejection counter is provided for each type of ejected ink. For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, a discharge counter for black ink, a discharge counter for cyan ink, a discharge counter for magenta ink, and a discharge counter for yellow ink are provided. Here, the amount of ink per drop is known. Therefore, the printer-side controller 33 can recognize the ink ejection amount based on the count value of the ejection counter. Also, the amount of ink that can be mounted on the printer 30 is known. For example, it is determined by the volume of the cartridge mounted on the carriage. For this reason, the printer-side controller 33 can recognize the remaining amount of ink mounted on the printer 30 based on the ink ejection amount. Note that the types of ink ejected are not limited to the four colors described above. The number of ejection counters is determined according to the type of ink ejected.

  The error flag area 332c is an area for storing an error flag. Here, the error flag is a flag indicating that an error (problem or the like) has occurred in the printer 30. In the printer 30, for example, as shown in FIG. 4B, a paper size error flag, a missing dot error flag, and an out-of-ink error flag are set as error flags. The paper size error flag is set when there is a difference between the size of the paper recognized by the control and the size of the printed paper. For example, if there is sufficient print data but the paper detection sensor detects “no paper”, or the print detection data is lost and the paper detection sensor indicates “paper present” Set when detected. The missing dot error flag is set when the ink to be ejected is not ejected. This missing dot error flag is set based on the detection result by the ink ejection sensor. Briefly, this is set when ink ejection cannot be detected by the ink ejection sensor even though “ejection” is designated in the control. The out-of-ink error flag is a flag that is set when the remaining amount of ink installed in the printer 30 is less than a specified amount. This ink out error flag is set based on the count value in the ejection counter.

<Overview of operation>
In this image providing system, the user accesses the Web page of the image providing server 10 (image providing apparatus) through the user terminal 20 (client), and instructs printing if there is a favorite image. As a result, print data (print target information) for the printer 30 is transmitted from the image providing server 10 to the user terminal 20, and printing is performed by the printer 30 (printing apparatus). The outline of the operation in this image providing system will be described below.

  When the user using the user terminal 20 accesses the Web page of the image providing server 10 by operating the browsing software, the image providing server 10 performs the following operation. First, the server-side controller 11 and the communication interface 12 function as the selection image information transmission unit 10A and transmit selection image information. The selection image information is information for displaying a Web page via the browsing software, and is stored in the memory 112 as the selection image information storage unit 10B. The transmitted selection image information is received by the user terminal 20. At this time, the terminal-side controller 21 and the communication interface 22 included in the user terminal 20 function as the selection image information receiving unit 20A and receive the selection image information. Further, the received selection image information is stored in a work area included in the memory 212. In the user terminal 20, the content of the Web page is displayed on the display device 24 based on the stored selection image information. At this time, for example, a list of printable image information, a basic fee, and the like are displayed.

  When the user selects an image that the user likes and instructs printing on the browsing software, a print request is transmitted from the user terminal 20 as a client to the image providing server 10 as an image providing apparatus. At this time, the terminal-side controller 21 and the communication interface 22 function as the print request transmission unit 20B. The server-side controller 11 and the communication interface 12 function as a print request receiving unit 10C that receives a print request from a client. Upon receiving the print request, the server-side controller 11 functions as the print target information generation unit 10D and generates print data as print target information. Here, the print target information means information for causing an image based on the image information to be printed on a printing apparatus connected to the client. At this time, the server-side controller 11 reads image data (image information) to be printed from its own memory 332 (image information storage unit 10E), and generates print data by executing the printer driver.

  The generated print data is transmitted to the printer 30 connected to the user terminal 20. At this time, the server-side controller 11 and the communication interface 12 function as a print target information transmission unit 10F that transmits print data as print target information. The terminal-side controller 21, the communication interface 22, and the printer interface 23 function as a print target information relay unit 20 </ b> C that receives print data (print target information) transmitted from the image providing server 10 and transmits it to the printer 30. Further, the printer-side controller 33 and the external interface 312 function as a print target information receiving unit 30 </ b> A that receives print data (print target information) transmitted through the user terminal 20.

  When the print target information is received, the printer 30 prints an image by the printing unit 32. At this time, the printer-side controller 33 and the sensor group 323 function as a print defect detection unit 30B for detecting a print defect. For example, an ink ejection failure (dot missing) is detected by an ink ejection sensor, or a paper size difference is detected by a paper detection sensor. Further, based on the count value of the ejection counter, the presence / absence of ink out is detected. When a printing failure occurs, an error flag indicating that a printing failure has occurred is set in the error flag area 332c. That is, when a paper size error occurs, a paper size error flag is set, and when a dot missing error occurs, a dot missing error flag is set. If an ink out error occurs, an ink out error flag is set. These error flags correspond to a kind of print defect information, and the error flag area 332c corresponds to a print defect information storage unit 30C that stores the print defect information.

  After the error flag is set, the terminal-side controller 21 transmits error information based on the set error flag to the image providing server 10 at the timing when printing on one sheet is completed. This error information corresponds to a type of print defect information indicating a print defect that has occurred in a printing operation based on print target information. Then, the server-side controller 11 receives this error information. At this time, the terminal-side controller 21, the communication interface 22, and the printer interface 23 function as a print defect information transmission unit 20D that transmits error information as print defect information. The server-side controller 11 and the communication interface 12 function as a print defect information receiving unit 10G that receives error information as print defect information.

  Based on the reception of the error information, the server-side controller 11 reduces the consideration for providing the image. At this time, the server-side controller 11 functions as the consideration calculation unit 10H. The consideration calculation unit 10H includes a basic fee setting unit 10I, a reduction amount setting unit 10J, and a consideration reduction unit 10K. The basic fee setting unit 10I sets a basic fee according to the selected image or the like. The reduction amount setting unit 10J sets a reduction amount based on ink or paper consumed in printing an image that has been determined to be defective. The consideration reduction unit 10K reduces the provision consideration of the information to be printed, and reduces the reduction amount set by the reduction amount setting unit 10J from the basic fee set by the basic fee setting unit 10I.

  By adopting such a configuration, in this image providing system, when a printing failure occurs in the printer 30 (printing apparatus) connected to the user terminal 20 as a client, the consideration can be reduced according to the printing failure. . For this reason, even if printing failure occurs, an appropriate service can be provided to the user.

<Specific examples of operation>
Next, a specific example of the operation will be described, and the operation of the image providing system will be described in detail. First, an operation when printing is performed normally will be described. The following operation is performed by the server side controller 11, the terminal side controller 21, and the printer side controller 33 executing computer programs (application programs, firmware) stored in the memories 112, 212, and 332. . For this reason, these computer programs have codes for executing the following operations.

  In this image providing system, first, a browsing request signal is transmitted from the user terminal 20 to the image providing server 10 (S11). This browsing request signal corresponds to the selection image information described in the outline of the operation. When receiving the browsing request signal, the image providing server 10 transmits the list image data to the user terminal 20 (S12). This list image data is data for causing the display device 24 of the user terminal 20 to display the list image. Here, the list image corresponds to a selection image for allowing the user to select an image to be printed. Therefore, the list image data corresponds to selection image information. When the list image data is received, the user terminal 20 displays the list image on the display device 24 (S13). For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the list image includes a plurality of selectable images (thumbnail images) arranged in a matrix.

  In this state, when the user operates the input device 25 (such as a mouse) to select an image desired to be printed, selection information is transmitted to the image providing server 10 (S14). This selection information includes data indicating image information to be selected. When this selection information is received, the image providing server 10 acquires target image data (hereinafter also referred to as target image data) from the image data storage area 112 b of the memory 112. Further, basic fee information indicating the basic fee of the target image data is also acquired from the basic fee storage area of the memory 112 based on the table data. Then, the image providing server 10 transmits basic fee information corresponding to the target image data to the user terminal 20 (S15). The user terminal 20 that has received the data or the like causes the display device 24 to display an image based on the target image data, a basic fee, and the like (S16). In this display, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the display size of the target image data is set larger than the display size of the image data in the previous list display. This is to facilitate determination by the user. Further, the basic fee for each print size, the reference number of the selected image, and the like are also displayed on the outer side of the target image data. In addition, an OK button that is selected when the target image is printed and a cancel button that is selected when the target image is not printed are also displayed.

  Here, if the OK button is selected, an information input image for inputting necessary information is displayed on the display device 24 (S17). On the other hand, if the cancel button is selected, the process returns to step S11 described above, and a browsing request signal is transmitted to the image providing server 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the information input image includes an input field for personal identification information such as name and phonetic, an input field for 30 printer models, and an input field for paper specification information such as paper size and paper type (glossy paper, etc.). And a selected image display field for displaying the selected image. In addition, a transmission button that is selected when information is transmitted and a cancel button that is selected when information is not transmitted are also displayed. When the necessary information is input and the transmission button is selected, order information including the input information is transmitted to the image providing server 10 (S18). This order information corresponds to a print request for requesting printing of designated image information. On the other hand, if the cancel button is selected, the process returns to step S11 described above, and a browsing request signal is transmitted to the image providing server 10. The image providing server 10 that has received the order information transmits the target image data, basic fee information, and other necessary information to the user terminal 20 based on the received order information (S19). The user terminal 20 displays a confirmation image on the display device 24 based on the received information (S20). For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the confirmation image includes the selected image, the name of the orderer (user), the model of the printer 30, the paper type, the paper size, and the compensation for providing the image. In addition, an OK button that is selected when the order is confirmed and a return button that is selected when the content is corrected are also displayed. An OK button is selected when the order is confirmed, and a return button is selected when the order is corrected. When the OK button is selected, confirmation information is transmitted to the image providing server 10 (S21), and when the return button is selected, the process returns to step S17 and information can be re-input.

  When the confirmation information is transmitted to the image providing server 10, an authentication information request signal for requesting authentication information is transmitted from the image providing server 10 to the user terminal 20 (S22). In response to the authentication information request signal, when the user inputs authentication information at the user terminal 20, the input authentication information is transmitted to the image providing server 10 (S23). When the authentication is established, the image providing server 10 generates print data (S24). In generating the print data, the image providing server 10 reads the selected image data from the image data storage area 112 b of the memory 112. Further, the printer driver (conversion program) corresponding to the designated model is read from the printer driver storage area 112 d of the memory 112. The read image data is subjected to resolution conversion processing, color conversion processing, halftone processing, and rasterization processing to generate print data.

  Here, the resolution conversion process is a process of converting the resolution of the image data into the print resolution. The print resolution is the resolution when printing on the paper S. The color conversion process is a process of converting each RGB pixel data of the RGB image data into CMYK pixel data having multi-level (for example, 256 levels) gradation values represented by the CMYK color space. The halftone process is a process for converting CMYK pixel data having multi-stage gradation values into dot gradation values having small-stage gradation values that can be expressed by the printer 30. The rasterization process is a process for changing the dot gradation values obtained by the halftone process in the order of data to be transferred to the printer 30. By performing this halftone process, print data is generated. Here, when the size of the generated print data is equal to or larger than the threshold, the image providing server 10 performs a data compression process for compressing the data.

  After generating the print data, the image providing server 10 transmits the generated print data and a print command to the user terminal 20 (S25). The user terminal 20 transfers the received print data and print command to the printer 30 (S26). At this time, the user terminal 20 functions as the print target information relay unit 20C and relays print data and the like. Then, the printer 30 performs a printing operation (S27) based on the received print data and the like. As a result, the selected image is printed on the paper, and the image is provided to the user. When the printing operation is completed, the printer 30 transmits print completion information indicating that the printing is completed to the user terminal 20 (S28). The user terminal 20 transmits the received print end information to the image providing server 10 (S29). At this time, the terminal-side controller 21 included in the user terminal 20 functions as a print end information relay unit that relays print end information transmitted from the printer 30 to the image providing server 10. Based on the reception of the print end information, the image providing server 10 transmits the end image information to the user terminal 20 (S30). Accordingly, a display for notifying the user of the end is displayed on the display device 24 of the user terminal 20 (S31). Further, the image providing server 10 generates billing information upon completion of printing (S32).

<Specific examples of operation when printing is defective>
Next, a specific example of the operation at the time of printing failure will be described. Even in the case of printing failure, the same operation as the specific example described above is performed until the printing operation (S27). Therefore, the description is omitted. When a printing failure is detected in the printing operation (S27), an error flag corresponding to the type of the detected printing failure is set (S51). For example, when a certain nozzle is clogged or the like and ink is not ejected, a dot dropout occurs in the image as shown by a white circle in FIG. In this case, a dot missing error flag is set in the error flag area 332c of the memory 332. As described above, this error flag is read at the end of printing on the paper on which printing failure has occurred. Then, the error information based on the error flag and the print end information are transmitted to the image providing server 10 via the user terminal 20 (S52, S53).

  The image providing server 10 calculates a reduction price (S54). At this time, the server-side controller 11 calculates the price corresponding to the ink consumed in printing and the price of the paper used for printing, and sets the total of these prices as the reduced price. This is based on the idea of compensating for the ink cost and the paper cost used in the printing operation that was determined to be defective. In calculating the reduction fee, the image providing server 10 uses ink consumption data indicating ink consumption (corresponding to ink consumption information), and paper specification information (medium specification information) indicating the type and size of the paper. Is used). Then, when printing failure occurs due to ink ejection failure (clogging), the reduction fee is calculated on the assumption that the ink ejection failure occurred immediately after the start of printing. For example, assume that an image composed of 1000 dots × 1000 dots is printed. In this case, assuming that 100,000 dots are missing dots, the price is subtracted from 900,000 dots obtained by subtracting 100000 dots missing dots from the total number of dots of 1000000 dots. If the ink amount (ink unit price) per dot is 0.00001 yen, 9 yen obtained by multiplying 900,000 dots by 0.00001 yen is the ink price. Also, if the paper fee is 10 yen, a total of 19 yen will be reduced. From this, it can be said that when the dot omission occurs in the thin image and the case where the omission occurs in the dark image, the reduction fee may increase when the dot omission occurs in the dark image.

  If the reduction price has been calculated, the image providing server 10 acquires post-reduction billing information (S55). That is, the reduced price is obtained by subtracting the reduced price from the basic charge, and the reduced billing information including the reduced price is acquired. This reduced billing information is transmitted to the user terminal 20 (S56). Accordingly, the user terminal 20 displays a confirmation image on the display device 24 (S57). This confirmation image is an image that informs the user that printing failure has occurred and asks for confirmation as to whether or not to perform reprinting. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, this confirmation image includes a message indicating the contents of printing failure, the amount before and after the reduction, the ink fee and the paper fee to be reduced, and whether or not to reprint. Consists of buttons.

  When the reprint button is operated with this confirmation image (S58), the image providing server 10 generates print data (S24), and transmits the generated print data and the print command to the user terminal 20 again (S25). The user terminal 20 transfers the received print data and print command to the printer 30 (S26). The printer 30 performs a printing operation (S27) based on the received print data and the like. As a result, the selected image is printed on the paper, and the image is provided to the user. Thereafter, processing is performed in the same manner as in the above-described specific example (S28 to S30). The image providing server 10 receives the end of printing and creates billing information with the reduced price (S59). Note that if a printing failure occurs even in reprinting, the processing in steps S51 to S57 described above is performed again, and the consumed ink and paper costs are reduced.

  Further, when the end button is operated on the above-described confirmation image, for example, when a missing dot or the like has occurred but the user determines that there is no problem, confirmation information to that effect is displayed as shown in FIG. 10 (S58). Then, end image information indicating that the process is to be ended without reprinting is transmitted to the user terminal 20 (S60), and the fact is displayed on the display device 24 of the user terminal 20 (S61). The image providing server 10 generates billing information with the reduced price (S62).

<Summary>
As described above, the image providing server 10 receives order information about the image data selected by the user terminal 20 from the user terminal 20 connected via the communication network NW (S18). Thereafter, print data is generated based on the selected image data and the model information of the printer 30 (S24), and the generated print data is transmitted to the user terminal 20 together with a print command (S25). Further, the image providing server 10 receives error information indicating that a printing failure has occurred from the user terminal 20 (S53), calculates the price for the reduced amount, and obtains the charging information after the reduced amount (S54, S55). . With this configuration, when a printing failure occurs in the printer 30, the consideration can be reduced according to the printing failure. For this reason, even if printing failure occurs, an appropriate service can be provided to the user.

  Further, when calculating the price for the reduction (S54), the image providing server 10 uses the ink consumption data indicating the amount of ink consumed in the printing operation related to the printing failure and the printing operation related to the printing failure. The amount of reduction is determined based on the paper specifying information for specifying the used paper. With this configuration, it is possible to compensate for wasteful ink and paper, and to optimize the amount of reduction. Further, since the sheet specifying information indicates the type and size of the sheet, the type and size of the medium used are reflected in the degree of reduction. For this reason, the degree of reduction can be made more appropriate. Further, the image providing server 10 creates billing information for the user (S55, S59), based on the basic fee for image provision, and subtracts the reduction fee from this basic fee. For this reason, the degree of reduction can be made more appropriate.

  If any error occurs during printing, the printer 30 sets an error flag indicating the occurrence of the error (S51). This error flag is referred to by the user terminal 20 at the timing when printing on one sheet is completed (S52). Then, the user terminal 20 transmits error information based on the error flag to the image providing server 10 (S53). The image providing server 10 calculates a price for the reduced amount based on the reception of the error information (S54). As described above, the image providing server 10 calculates the price for the reduction based on the reception of the error information, so that the reduction process can be performed at an appropriate timing. Further, the user terminal 20 acquires an error flag after the printing operation related to the printing failure is completed (S52). For this reason, even if printing failure occurs, the printing operation is performed to the end. As a result, it is possible to prevent a difference in hue caused by stopping printing halfway. In addition, the user terminal 20 confirms whether to reprint by displaying a confirmation image (S57). Even if the user determines not to perform reprinting, the reduced price is charged (S55, S62). As a result, the user can obtain the image at an appropriate price after the reduction if the printing defect is not problematic.

  Further, the image providing server 10 generates print data from the image data by executing the printer driver (S24), and transmits the print data and the print command to the printer 30 (S25, S26). Upon reception of the print data or the like, the printer 30 prints the target image on the paper (S27). As described above, since the print data used in the printer 30 is transmitted from the image providing server 10, it is possible to effectively prevent problems such as the image data being diverted to other uses.

=== Other Embodiments ===
The above-described embodiment describes an image providing system, which includes disclosure of an image providing apparatus, an image providing method, a program for the image providing apparatus, and a price calculation method. The above-described embodiments are for facilitating understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and it is needless to say that the present invention includes equivalents thereof. In particular, the embodiments described below are also included in the present invention.

<About the image providing server 10>
In the above-described embodiment, the image providing server 10 also performs billing processing for the user. Here, the billing process may be performed by another device. For example, the charging server 40 may be provided separately from the image providing server 10 as indicated by a broken line in FIG. In this configuration, the image providing server 10 performs processing related to image provision, and the charging server 40 performs processing related to charging. In this configuration, the billing server 40 corresponds to a consideration calculation device.

<About degree of reduction>
In the embodiment described above, the amount of reduction is calculated each time using the number of ink ejections, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, a predetermined reduction amount may be reduced for one printing failure. In this case, a reduction amount data storage area for storing reduction amount data indicating a predetermined reduction amount is provided in the memory of the image providing server 10 or the billing server 40. Then, the reduction amount data read from the reduction amount data storage area is used when the billing information is acquired. This configuration has the advantage that the processing can be speeded up. Further, a plurality of types of reduction amount data may be stored, and the reduction amount data may be changed according to a basic fee, a paper size, or the like. As a result, it is possible to achieve both an appropriate degree of reduction and a higher processing speed.

It is a block diagram explaining the structure of an image provision system. FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image providing server. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating data stored in the memory. It is a block diagram explaining the structure of a user terminal. FIG. 4A is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the printer. FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating data stored in the memory. It is a figure which illustrates the outline | summary of operation | movement in an image provision system typically. It is a figure demonstrated to the specific example of operation | movement in an image provision system. It is a figure explaining an example of a list picture. It is a figure explaining the example of a display of the image etc. based on object image data. It is a figure explaining an example of an information input image. It is a figure explaining an example of a check picture. It is a figure explaining to the specific example of operation | movement when printing defect arises. It is a figure which illustrates dot missing typically. It is a figure explaining an example of a check picture. It is a figure explaining the specific example in the case of complete | finishing without performing reprinting.

Explanation of symbols

10 Image providing server,
10A selection image information transmission unit, 10B selection image information storage unit,
10C printing request receiving unit, 10D printing target information generating unit,
10E image information storage unit, 10F print target information transmission unit,
10G printing defect information receiving unit, 10H consideration calculating unit,
10I basic charge setting part, 10J reduction amount setting part, 10K price reduction part,
11 server side controller, 111 CPU, 112 memory,
112a application program storage area,
112b image data storage area, 112c table data storage area,
112d Printer driver storage area, 112e Basic charge data storage area,
112f Consumable unit price data storage area, 12 communication interface,
20 user terminals,
20A selection image information reception unit, 20B print request transmission unit,
20C printing target information relay unit, 20D printing defect information transmission unit,
21 terminal side controller, 211 CPU, 212 memory,
212a Application program storage area,
22 communication interface, 23 printer interface,
24 display devices, 25 input devices,
30 printer,
30A printing target information receiving unit, 30B printing defect detecting unit,
30C printing defect information storage unit,
31 control unit, 311 drive signal generation circuit, 312 external interface,
32 printing section, 321 paper transport mechanism, 322 carriage movement mechanism,
323 sensor group, 324 head control unit, 325 head,
33 Printer-side controller, 331 CPU, 332 memory,
332a Firmware storage area, 332b Discharge counter area,
332c error flag area,
40 billing server,
NW communication network, CB communication cable, CR carriage

Claims (12)

A print request receiving unit for receiving a print request from a client connected via a communication network, the print request receiving unit receiving a print request for image information selected by the client;
A print target information transmitting unit for transmitting to the client print target information for causing a printing apparatus connected to the client to print an image based on the image information;
A print defect information receiving unit that receives, from the client, print defect information indicating a print defect caused by a print operation based on the print target information;
Based on the reception of the print defect information, a price reduction unit for reducing the provision price of the print target information;
An image providing apparatus. The image providing device according to claim 1,
The printing apparatus includes:
An image is printed on the medium by ejecting ink toward the medium,
The consideration reduction part is
The degree of reduction is determined based on the ink consumption information indicating the amount of ink consumed in the printing operation related to the printing failure and the medium specifying information specifying the medium used in the printing operation related to the printing failure. , Image providing device. The image providing device according to claim 2,
The medium specifying information is
An image providing apparatus that identifies the medium based on a type of the medium and a size of the medium. The image providing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein
The consideration reduction part is
An image providing apparatus that reduces an ink price based on the ink consumption information and a medium price based on the medium specifying information from a basic consideration related to provision of the print target information. The image providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The printing apparatus includes:
An image is printed on the medium by ejecting ink toward the medium,
The printing defect information receiving unit
An image providing apparatus that receives, from the client, print defect information indicating a print defect caused by the fact that the ink is not ejected. The image providing device according to claim 5,
The printing apparatus includes:
A printing failure information storage unit for storing the printing failure information;
The client
An image providing apparatus that acquires print defect information stored in the print defect information storage unit. The image providing device according to claim 6,
The client
An image providing apparatus that acquires print defect information stored in the print defect information storage unit after a printing operation related to the print defect is completed. An image providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
An image providing apparatus, comprising: a print target information generation unit configured to generate the print target information based on the image information. The image providing device according to claim 8,
The print target information generation unit
An image providing apparatus that generates the print target information according to a type of the printing apparatus. An image providing device;
A client connected to the image providing apparatus via a communication network;
A printing device connected to the client;
An image providing system comprising:
The image providing device includes:
A print request receiving unit that receives a print request from the client, the print request receiving unit receiving a print request for image information selected by the client;
A print target information transmitting unit for transmitting, to the client, print target information for causing the printing apparatus to print an image based on the image information;
A print defect information receiving unit that receives, from the client, print defect information indicating a print defect caused by a print operation based on the print target information;
Based on the reception of the print defect information, a price reduction unit for reducing the provision price of the print target information;
An image providing system. Compensation calculation for communicably connecting to an image providing apparatus that provides an image by causing a printing apparatus connected to the client to print an image based on print target information transmitted to the client and calculating a consideration for providing the image A device,
A basic price setting unit for setting a basic price for providing the image from the image providing device to the client;
A print defect information receiving unit that receives print defect information indicating a print defect caused by a print operation based on the print target information, which is print defect information indicating a print defect caused by a print operation in the printing apparatus;
Based on the reception of the print defect information, a price reduction unit that reduces the basic price,
A consideration calculating device. Consideration is given to an image provided by transmitting print target information from an image providing apparatus to a client connected via a communication network, and causing the printing apparatus connected to the client to print an image based on the print target information. Compensation calculation method for calculating,
Setting a basic consideration for the provision of the image from the image providing device to the client;
Receiving print defect information indicating a print defect occurring in a print operation based on the print target information, which is print defect information indicating a print defect caused by a print operation in the printing apparatus;
Deducting from the basic consideration based on receipt of the print defect information;
Consideration calculation method.

Images