1. An information processing apparatus has a processor, and the processor

Storing order receiving information including printed matter that can be accepted for production and device information used for production of the printed matter,

receiving order information for a process of producing the printed matter,

specifying order information indicating acceptance of production of the printed matter from the stored order information using the printed matter indicated by the order information as a search condition,

and corresponding the ordering information to the device corresponding to the device information associated with the determined order taking information.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

The processor derives an operating condition of the device corresponding to the order information, and generates display information for displaying the derived operating condition.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

The processor generates the display information that displays, as the operating status, the operating status of the apparatus before the acceptance of the production of the printed matter indicated by the order information and the operating status of the apparatus when the acceptance of the production of the printed matter indicated by the order information.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

The processor derives a variation in the operating status of the apparatus based on the operating status of the apparatus before the acceptance of the production of the printed matter and the operating status of the apparatus after the acceptance of the production of the printed matter, and specifies the order information corresponding to the specified variation.

5. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein

The processor displays the operating status of the apparatus for each process in the production of the printed matter performed by the apparatus.

6. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein

The processor further acquires an authority degree for controlling the display of the operation status for each of the devices, and generates the display information for displaying the operation status of the device based on the authority degree.

7. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein

The processor retrieves the order receiving information and accepts whether to select the order receiving information when the order information corresponds to the device information related to the order receiving information.

8. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein

The processor further stores the subscription information,

receiving the order receiving information, specifying the order information indicating an order of the producible printed matter from the stored order information using the printed matter indicated by the order receiving information as a search condition,

corresponding the determined subscription information to the device corresponding to the device information associated with the order taking information.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

The processor retrieves the order information and accepts whether to select when the order information corresponds to the device information related to the order pickup information.

10. A recording medium having recorded thereon an information processing program for causing a computer to execute:

storing order receiving information including printed matter that can be accepted for production and device information used for production of the printed matter,

receiving order information for a process of producing the printed matter,

specifying order information indicating acceptance of production of the printed matter from the stored order information using the printed matter indicated by the order information as a search condition,

and corresponding the ordering information to the device corresponding to the device information associated with the determined order taking information.

Background

Disclosed is a printing order receiving apparatus that constructs a workflow (work flow) for producing printed matter including a plurality of processes based on a condition from a user, receives an order for producing the printed matter from the user, and includes: a registration unit that registers a process definition that defines process information and performance information of each process, the process definition being a basic unit for each of the processes that are to be used by a plurality of order acceptors to produce printed matter; a workflow creating unit that creates a first workflow in which processes suitable for production conditions are connected in a processing order suitable for the production conditions, based on the production conditions of a printed matter including a plurality of conditions requested by the user; a first step search means for searching for a step definition suitable for each step included in the first workflow created by the workflow creation means from the registration means; a second step search means for searching for a step definition suitable for a similar condition different from one or two of the plurality of conditions included in the production condition from the registration means; a workflow construction unit that links the process definition retrieved by the first process retrieval unit and the process definition retrieved by the second process retrieval unit in an order corresponding to each process included in the first workflow created by the workflow creation unit, and if a plurality of process definitions are suitable for the process, constructs a second workflow capable of selecting the process definition; an evaluation calculation unit configured to calculate a cost for producing a printed matter based on the second workflow constructed by the workflow construction unit, for each of the cases where the process definition of the second workflow is arbitrarily selected; an evaluation prompting means for prompting the user of the second workflow constructed by the workflow construction means together with the cost calculated by the evaluation calculation means; an order receiving unit configured to receive an order for production of a printed matter corresponding to the second workflow presented by the evaluation presenting unit and the process definition selected by the user from the second workflow; and a production instruction unit that presents the processing of each step included in the second workflow of the order received by the order receiving unit to the corresponding order receiver.

[ Prior art documents ]

[ patent document ]

Patent document 1: japanese patent No. 4940787

Disclosure of Invention

[ problems to be solved by the invention ]

In the printing industry, when a process for producing a printed matter is executed, the process may be divided into individual processes, and the processes may be placed in different companies, and the companies may receive the order, so that the process divided into the individual processes may be performed by a plurality of companies. In order to efficiently manage the processing of the produced printed matter across the plurality of enterprises, there is a technology for constructing a workflow of the processing across the plurality of enterprises.

However, when ordering and receiving a print job, it is necessary to check whether or not the processing amount of the processing and the operation status of the company are appropriate between the ordering and receiving persons, and the job of checking the processing amount of the processing and the operation status of each company may be a burden.

An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and a recording medium capable of reducing the load of work for confirming the processing amount and the operation state of each company, compared with a case where the processing amount and the operation state of each company are confirmed between a printing process and a receipt at the time of the receipt and the receipt of a printing process for each process.

[ means for solving problems ]

An information processing apparatus according to a first aspect includes a processor that stores order information including printed matter that can be accepted for production and device information used for production of the printed matter, accepts order information for processing of the produced printed matter, specifies order information indicating acceptance of production of the printed matter from the stored order information using the printed matter indicated by the order information as a search condition, and associates the order information with a device associated with the device information associated with the specified order information.

An information processing apparatus according to a second aspect is the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the processor derives an operating status of the apparatus corresponding to the order information, and generates display information for displaying the derived operating status.

An information processing apparatus according to a third aspect is the information processing apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the processor generates display information showing, as the operation status, an operation status of the apparatus before the acceptance of the production of the printed matter shown by the order information and an operation status of the apparatus when the acceptance of the production of the printed matter shown by the order information.

An information processing apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the information processing apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein the processor derives a change amount of an operating condition of the apparatus based on the operating condition of the apparatus before accepting production of the printed matter and the operating condition of the apparatus after accepting production of the printed matter, and specifies order information corresponding to the specified change amount.

An information processing apparatus according to a fifth aspect is the information processing apparatus according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, wherein the processor displays an operating state of the apparatus for each process in production of a printed matter performed by the apparatus.

An information processing apparatus according to a sixth aspect is the information processing apparatus according to any one of the second to fifth aspects, wherein the processor further acquires a degree of authority for controlling display of the operating condition for each of the apparatuses, and generates display information for displaying the operating condition of the apparatus based on the degree of authority.

An information processing apparatus according to a seventh aspect is the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the processor retrieves the order information and accepts whether or not the order information is selected when the order information is associated with the device information related to the order information.

An information processing apparatus according to an eighth aspect is the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the processor further stores order information, accepts order information, specifies order information indicating an order of a producible printed matter from the stored order information using a printed matter indicated by the order information as a search condition, and associates the specified order information with apparatus information associated with the order information.

An information processing apparatus according to a ninth aspect is the information processing apparatus according to the eighth aspect, wherein the processor searches the order information and accepts whether or not to select when the order information is associated with the device information related to the order receiving information.

A recording medium according to a tenth aspect has an information processing program recorded thereon for causing a computer to execute: order receiving information is stored, the order receiving information including printed matter capable of accepting production and device information used for production of the printed matter, order information for processing of the produced printed matter is accepted, the printed matter indicated by the order information is used as a search condition, order receiving information indicating acceptance of production of the printed matter is specified from the stored order receiving information, and the order information is associated with a device corresponding to the device information associated with the specified order receiving information.

[ Effect of the invention ]

According to the information processing apparatus of the first aspect and the recording medium of the tenth aspect, the burden of the work for confirming the processing throughput and the operation status of each company can be reduced as compared with the case where the processing throughput and the operation status of each company are confirmed between the order taker and the order taker when the order is placed and the order is accepted for the processing of the production printed matter for each process.

According to the information processing apparatus of the second aspect, it is possible to accept orders more appropriate to the situation than the case where the operation situation is not taken into consideration.

According to the third aspect, the influence of the subscription information associated with the device can be recognized.

According to the information processing apparatus of the fourth aspect, the operation status in the apparatus can be adjusted, compared to a case where the order information is selected without considering the amount of change in the operation status.

According to the information processing apparatus of the fifth aspect, more detailed operation status can be confirmed compared to the case where the operation status is displayed without distinguishing the apparatus.

According to the information processing apparatus of the sixth aspect, the range in which the operation status is disclosed can be controlled.

According to the information processing apparatus of the seventh aspect, the idea of the order taker can be reflected more than the case where the selection of the order pickup information is not considered.

According to the information processing apparatus of the eighth aspect, the idea of the order taker can be reflected more than in the case where the retrieval of the order information is not considered.

According to the information processing apparatus of the ninth aspect, it is possible to further reflect the idea of the order taker than the case where the selection of the order information is not considered.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printed matter ordering/receiving system according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the function of the printed matter ordering/receiving system according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the printed matter receipt/receipt server according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the printed matter order issuing/receiving server according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 5 is an entity correlation diagram showing an example of the relationship between the pieces of information according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of authority levels of the printed matter receipt/receipt server according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the order receiving process flow of the printed matter placing/order receiving system according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the order placement processing flow of the printed matter order placement/order receiving system according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen for displaying the operation status of the printed matter order placing/receiving server according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen for registering order information of the printed matter order issuing/receiving server according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen of the search order information of the printed matter placing/receiving server according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen for registering receipt information in the printed material receipt/receipt server according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen for searching receipt information of the printed matter receipt/receipt server according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of information processing according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the registration processing according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of the order taker search processing according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of order retrieval processing according to the present embodiment.

[ description of symbols ]

1: printed matter ordering/receiving system

10: printed matter order placing/receiving server

11: terminal device

13: communication line

21：CPU

22：ROM

23：RAM

24: storage container

25: input unit

26: monitor unit

27: communication I/F

28: bus line

30: acquisition unit

31: storage unit

32: lead-out part

33: display information generating unit

40: resource management screen

41: operation rate display area

42: schedule plan display area

43: order-placing registration button

44: order retrieval button

45: order-receiving registration button

46: order receiver search button

47: outer ring

48: inner ring

50: order registration screen

51: commodity display area

52: detailed display area of merchandise

53: commodity addition button

54: save button

60: order retrieval screen

61: condition information input area

62: search result display area

63: order information detail display area

64: retrieval button

65: order information display area

66: order receiving information display area

67: order-placing registration button

68: order-receiving registration button

70: order taking registration screen

71: display area for single connected commodity

72: detailed display area of merchandise

73: commodity addition button

74: display switching tab

75: setting region

76: save button

80: order receiver search screen

81: condition information input area

82: search result display area

83: detailed display area for order taker

84: retrieval button

85: display switching tab

86: commodity selection button

87: order-placing registration button

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an embodiment for implementing the technology of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, a description is given of an embodiment in which information input and transmitted by a terminal is acquired by a server as an information processing device and processed by the server, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the information processing apparatus may function not as a server but as an apparatus such as a personal computer or a tablet terminal, and may function as an information processing system using the information processing apparatus and a terminal apparatus as a whole.

Further, the information processing apparatus is not limited to the processing executed by acquiring information transmitted from another terminal apparatus, and may be configured to perform processing by operating the information processing apparatus itself directly to input information and using the information processing apparatus.

In the following description, an embodiment will be described in which the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is a print order/receipt server that acquires information on orders to be placed and received from a user terminal and manages the acquired information.

The structure and function of the printed matter ordering/receiving system 1 will be described with reference to fig. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printed matter ordering/receiving system 1 according to the present embodiment.

As shown in fig. 1, the printed matter order placing/order receiving system 1 includes a printed matter order placing/order receiving server 10 and a terminal 11. The printed matter order issuing/receiving server 10 and the terminal 11 are connected to each other via a communication line 13. The printed matter ordering/receipt accepting system 1 according to the present embodiment can be used as a system for ordering/receipt accepting printed matters. A user who orders printed matter (order taker) or a user who accepts an order for printed matter (order taker) accesses the printed matter order/order taker server 10 through the operation terminal 11, and uses the printed matter order/order taker system. In the following description of the embodiment, the terminal 11 operated by the order issuer may be referred to as an order issuer terminal, and the terminal 11 operated by the order taker may be referred to as an order taker terminal. The printed matter order issuing/receiving server 10 according to the present embodiment is an example of an information processing apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the function of the printed matter placing/receiving system 1 according to the present embodiment. The printed matter ordering/receiving server 10 is connected to a network, and is configured to be communicable with the terminal 11 via the network. The printed matter order placing/receiving server 10 executes processing such as operation status display processing, order placing processing, and order receiving processing, as shown in fig. 2, in order to receive a printed matter order or order placing from the terminal 11 operated by the user and perform the processing.

In the order receiving process of the printed matter ordering/receiving system 1 according to the present embodiment, a user (order taker) who wants to order printed matter registers information (order information) related to the order of the printed matter desired to be produced in the printed matter ordering/receiving server 10. A user (order taker) who wants to receive order printing, such as a printing company, specifies conditions of printed matters that can be accepted by the company and searches the information for the registered orders of the printed matters, thereby extracting the appropriate orders of the printed matters and accepting production of the printed matters of the received order.

In the order placement process, the order taker operation terminal 11 such as a printing company registers information (order information) on the printed matter that the company can support in advance in the printed matter order placement/order taking server 10. The order taker inputs the print conditions of the printed matter to be produced by order taking through the terminal 11 and searches the registered order receiving information, thereby finding out the printing company that is the order taker capable of producing the desired printed matter and ordering the printed matter to the company.

The configuration of order information and order receipt information used in order receipt processing or order receipt placement processing will be described in detail with reference to fig. 5, which will be described later.

When a printing material is placed in order, if a desired delivery date such as a printing material is to be taken at the latest, the person who places the order must grasp the operating conditions of the printing devices and the like owned by the printing company and place the order to the printing company capable of completing the production of the printing material before the desired delivery date. On the other hand, when a printing company accepts a new printed matter production (when performing order receiving processing), it is necessary to grasp the operation state of equipment such as a printing apparatus owned by the company itself, and then extract an order of printed matters that can be produced in a delivery date and receive the order. Therefore, in the operation status display processing shown in fig. 2, processing for acquiring the operation status of the equipment for producing printed matters owned by the printing company such as the printing apparatus or the post-processing apparatus and presenting the operation status of the equipment to the user who is the order taker or the order taker is performed. Here, the operation status of the apparatus includes information such as a schedule (schedule) of an apparatus used in each process for producing printed matters, such as a printing apparatus or a post-processing apparatus, and an operation rate of each apparatus calculated based on the schedule. The operation rate may be calculated for each device as a percentage of the time to which execution of the process is allocated during a certain period (for example, a predetermined fixed period such as one day, one week, or one month). The time allocated for the execution of the processing may include, for example, not only a predicted time required for the processing of actually printing an image on a sheet but also a time required before and after the printing processing, such as a time required for preparation for printing, a time required for conversion after the printing processing is finished, and the like, as a schedule of the printing apparatus used for the printing process when the apparatus is a printing apparatus. As the post-processing, in the case of an apparatus that cuts, staples, or the like printed sheets, not only the predicted time required to perform the processing such as cutting or stapling but also the time required before and after the processing step, such as the time required to set or modify the sheets, may be included.

Specific flows and contents of order receiving processing or order placing processing for ordering the production of printed matter, processing related to registration of user information, device information, and the like for order placing/receiving, and the like will be described later.

For example, the order taker and the order taker can operate the terminal 11 to access the printed matter order issuing/order accepting server 10 to register information necessary for order taking or order taking for the production of printed matter. For example, as user information for using the printing order receipt/receipt system described as an example in the present embodiment, information on the order receiver and the order receiver is registered, or device information on a printing device, a processing device, or the like owned by the order receiver and the order receiver is registered. The user information is information related to a user necessary for using the system, and may be, for example, user names of an order taker and an order taker (user name of an individual user, legal name of a printing company or the like), information related to a contact method of the user (address, telephone number, email, or the like), or may be device information of a device owned by the user, if the user is an order taker who orders production of a printed matter by a printing company or the like. The device-related information (device information) is information related to a device used for executing a process for producing a printed material, and may include, for example, information related to a printing device or a post-processing device (a cutting device, a binding device, a folding device, or the like), a device name, a device-executable process, or a process condition. The configuration of the user information and the device information will be described in detail with reference to fig. 5 described later.

Next, the hardware configuration of the printed matter ordering/receipt server 10 will be described with reference to fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the printed matter order receipt/receipt server 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in fig. 3, the printed matter receipt/receipt server 10 according to the present embodiment includes a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 21, a Read Only Memory (ROM) 22, a Random Access Memory (RAM) 23, a storage 24, an input Unit 25, a monitor 26, and a communication interface (communication I/F) 27. The CPU 21, ROM 22, RAM 23, storage 24, input section 25, monitor 26, and communication I/F27 are each connected to one another via a bus 29. Here, the CPU 21 is an example of a processor.

The CPU 21 collectively controls the entire printed matter ordering/receipt server 10. The ROM 22 stores various programs and data including an information processing program for printing material order placement/order receiving used in the present embodiment. The RAM 23 is a memory used as a work area when various programs are executed. The CPU 21 expands and executes a program stored in the ROM 22 into the RAM 23, thereby performing control of transmitting an operation rate or a schedule of each device in accordance with an acquisition request from the terminal 11. The storage 24 is, for example, a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), a Solid State Drive (SSD), a flash memory (flash memory), or the like. The storage 24 may store an information processing program, various kinds of information, and the like. The input unit 25 is a mouse and a keyboard for inputting characters and the like. The monitor 26 displays image data, characters, and the like. The communication I/F27 communicates with the terminal 11 and transmits and receives data.

Next, the functional configuration of the printed matter ordering/receipt server 10 will be described with reference to fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the printed matter order issuing/receiving server 10 according to the present embodiment.

As shown in fig. 4, the printed matter ordering/receipt server 10 includes an acquisition unit 30, a storage unit 31, a derivation unit 32, and a display information generation unit 33. The CPU 21 executes the information processing program to function as the acquisition unit 30, the storage unit 31, the derivation unit 32, and the display information generation unit 33.

Information such as information registered by the user, order information or order receipt information in the order receipt process, and the like is transmitted from a terminal operated by the user, or information managed by the printed matter order receipt/receipt server 10 is transmitted to the terminal.

The acquisition unit 30 performs processing for acquiring various information necessary for the order receiving processing, the order placing processing, the operation status display processing, and the like. For example, when the user registers user information, device information, or the like in the system, or when order information, or the like is registered in the system in order receiving processing or order placing processing, these pieces of information set by the terminal 11 are received from the network via the communication I/F27 and acquired. When searching for an order matching the condition desired by the user, the operating state of the printing apparatus, or the like, the acquisition unit 30 receives the search condition from the terminal 11 and acquires the search condition. Further, when the search process is executed, the acquisition unit 30 acquires information that matches the condition from the information registered in the storage unit 31.

The storage unit 31 stores information such as user information, device information, information related to the specification of the printed matter or the printing device (hereinafter referred to as "specification information"), order information, and the like acquired by the acquisition unit 30 via the communication I/F27. When storing such information, a database for managing each information may be prepared in advance and stored in the database. For example, in the present embodiment, the information is stored as a user information database (hereinafter, referred to as "DB") 34, a device information DB35, a specification information DB36, a receipt information DB37, and a subscription information DB 38. Fig. 5 shows the structures and relationships of the user information DB34, the device information DB35, the specification information DB36, the order information DB37, and the order information DB38, as an example.

Fig. 5 is an entity correlation diagram showing an example of the relationship between the pieces of information according to the present embodiment. As shown in fig. 5, the storage unit 31 stores user information DB34, device information DB35, specification information DB36, order information DB37, and order information DB 38.

The user information DB34 of the present embodiment is a database that stores and manages information of users (order takers or order takers) who use the printed matter ordering/order taking system described as an embodiment of the present invention. The user information includes, for example, a user Identifier (ID), a user name, an address, contact information, a device ID, an authority level, a receipt ID, and a subscription ID. The user ID is information that can uniquely identify the user who is the order issuer and the order taker, the user name is a name registered by the order issuer and the order taker, the address is the address of the order issuer and the order taker, and the contact information is information for contacting the user, such as the telephone number or mail address of the order issuer and the order taker. The device ID is information that can uniquely identify a device that can be used for producing a printed matter, and can be managed for each device type such as a printing device, a cutting device, and a folding device. The authority level indicates the degree of authority of information that each user can refer to. The permission level may be, for example, one level for each user, and permission or prohibition of viewing of the device state and the like may be controlled in accordance with the permission level of the user. Further, as another method, the authority level to each device may be set for each user. In this case, for a certain device, the permission or prohibition of access to the information of the device can be more finely controlled for each user. The order ID is information that can uniquely identify order information registered by a user who wants to produce an order print, and the order ID is information that can uniquely identify order information registered by a person who issues the order.

The device information DB35 is a database that stores and manages information relating to devices used for producing printed matters, and is configured to include, for example, a device ID, a device name, a process date and time, and a specification ID. The device ID is information that can uniquely identify a device used for producing a printed material, such as a printing device or a post-processing device. The device name is a name of the printing device or the post-processing device, and as information that a user can easily grasp what kind of device is when performing the order placing process or the order receiving process, for example, a model name or the like can be used. The process name is a name of a process of producing a printed matter, the process date and time is a date and time when the process of producing the printed matter is performed, and the specification ID is information for uniquely identifying a printing condition or a condition of post-processing of the printed matter produced using the apparatus.

The specification information DB36 is a database for storing and managing specification information of produced printed matters, and is configured to include, for example, a specification ID, specification designation information, front cover setting information, and text setting information. The specification specifying information is information relating to the specification of the entire printed matter to be produced, and includes the paper size, the binding method, and the number of pages. In this example, the paper size is the size of the paper used for the printed matter, the binding method is the method of binding the printed matter, and the number of pages is the number of pages of the printed matter. Printed matter sometimes contains parts (parts) called parts, such as covers and text. In this case, information defining the specification and the processing conditions of each component may be prepared for each component and used for production of printed matter. In the case of the present embodiment, a cover and a text are typical components constituting a printed matter, and in this case, the cover setting information includes a binding direction, a type of paper, and a thickness of paper, and the text setting information includes a binding direction, a type of paper, and a thickness of paper. The binding direction of the cover setting information is a direction in which the cover of the printed matter is bound, the type of the sheet of the cover setting information is a type of the sheet for the cover of the printed matter, and the thickness of the sheet of the cover setting information is a thickness of the sheet for the cover of the printed matter. The binding direction of the text setting information is a direction in which the text of the printed matter is bound, the type of the sheet of the text setting information is a type of the sheet used for the text of the printed matter, and the thickness of the sheet of the text setting information is a thickness of the sheet used for the text of the printed matter.

The order information DB37 is a database for storing and managing order information used in order processing, and is configured to include, for example, an order ID, a product type, a process, an apparatus ID, an amount of money, a delivery fee, a delivery available time, and the like for each order information. The commodity type is a commodity which can be ordered and registered by the order taker or a commodity which is ordered by the order taker, and is information indicating the type of printed matter produced, such as a catalog, a calendar, a pocket book, and a magazine. The process is information indicating a process that can be performed by a user who wants to receive an order. The amount of money is a charge to be paid when an order is received, and is a charge per grade (grade) for each page or number of copies, or is set according to a period until a delivery date. The distribution cost is a cost to be spent in distributing the printed matter. The deliverable time is the date and time that the order taker entered and can deliver the delivery.

The order information DB38 is a database that stores and manages order information registered by a user who wants to order production of printed matter, and is configured to include, for example, an order ID, a specification ID, a product type, a number of copies, a price, and a delivery date. Here, the number of copies is the number of produced copies per ordered printed matter, the delivery date is the delivery date of the printed matter desired by the order taker or the desired number of days from order (or order receipt) until delivery, and the price is the price desired by the order taker.

For example, when the order taker and the order taker register their own printing devices, the order taker and the order taker operate a terminal installed in their own site (site), input user information, device information, and specification information, and transmit the input user information, device information, and specification information to the printed matter order issuing/order taker server 10 according to the present embodiment. Upon receiving this, the acquiring unit 30 of the printed matter ordering/receipt server 10 acquires the information received from the terminal 11. The storage unit 31 stores the acquired information in the user information DB34, the device information DB35, and the specification information DB36 as a database corresponding to the type of the information. At this time, the user information DB34 has the information of the user registered therein, and as the information of the user, a device ID capable of uniquely identifying a device owned by the user is stored in the user information DB 34. At this time, the same device ID as the device ID registered in the user information DB34 is stored as the device ID of the device information DB 35. Similarly, the same specification ID received and acquired from the terminal 11 is stored in the specification IDs of the device information DB35 and the specification information DB 36. Therefore, the information of the devices owned by the order taker and the specifications executable by the devices are stored in association with the user information DB 34.

When the order taker and the order taker register a device whose operation status is to be confirmed, the acquisition unit 30 receives the device ID from the terminal 11, acquires the device ID input by the operation of the order taker and the order taker, and stores the device ID in the user information DB 34. At this time, the device ID stored in the device information DB35 is stored in the device ID of the user information DB34 related to the order sender and the order receiver. Therefore, the information of the device to which the order placing person and the order receiver want to refer is stored in association with the user information DB34 of the order placing person and the order receiver.

Further, since there are one or more devices owned by the user and devices for which the user wants to confirm the operation status, one user information is associated with one or more device information using the device ID as shown in fig. 5. Since the specification of the printing apparatus is determined for each printing apparatus, one piece of specification information is associated with one piece of apparatus information by using the specification ID.

When the order taker registers order information, the acquisition unit 30 acquires the device information, the specification information, and the order information input by the order taker, and the storage unit 31 stores the acquired information in the device information DB35, the specification information DB36, and the order information DB 37. At this time, the order ID stored in the order information DB37 is stored in the order ID of the user information DB34, and the device ID stored in the device information DB35 is stored in the device ID of the order information DB 37. Further, the specification ID stored in the specification information DB36 is stored in the specification ID of the device information DB 35. Therefore, the order receiving information registered by the order receiver, the device information, and the information related to the specification of the device are stored in association with the user information of the order receiver.

Note that the order information DB37 is not stored until the order taker registers the order taker. That is, as shown in fig. 5, 0 or more ticket information DB37 is associated with one user information DB34 using a ticket ID. Since the order information DB37 registers devices assignable in each process for a product to be ordered, one order information DB35 is associated with one or more device IDs.

When the order information is registered by the order taker, the acquiring unit 30 acquires the specification information and the order information input by the order taker, and the storage unit 31 stores the acquired information in the specification information DB36 and the order information DB 38. At this time, the order ID stored in the order information DB38 is stored in the order ID of the user information DB34 of the order, and the specification ID stored in the specification information DB36 is stored in the specification ID of the order information DB 38. Therefore, order information ordered by the order-issuing person and information related to the specification of the printed matter are stored in association with the user information DB 34.

Further, since the order issuing person may register a plurality of orders, as shown in fig. 5, 0 or more order information DBs 38 are associated with one user information DB34 using the order ID. The order information DB38 sets the specification of one printed material for one order, and associates one specification information DB36 with one order information using the specification ID.

In fig. 4, the deriving unit 32 derives the operation rate of the printing apparatus and the schedule for each printing apparatus using the apparatus information DB 35. When the order taker orders the order, the derivation unit 32 derives the operation rate of each device before the order, the operation rate of each device after the order, and the amount of change in the operation rate, using the device information DB 35. The deriving unit 32 derives appropriate order receiving information and order information using the condition information. The condition information in the present embodiment includes the commodity type, address, designated amount of change, paper size, paper type, and process. Here, the specified variation amount means a variation amount of the operation rate that varies when a certain printed matter is produced.

The display information generating unit 33 generates information (hereinafter, referred to as "display information") for displaying the derived operation rate and schedule plan on the terminal 11 operated by the next and the next person, and transmits the information to the terminal 11. Then, the display information generating unit 33 generates display information of order receiving information and order information suitable for the condition information, and transmits the generated display information to the terminal 11.

Specifically, when the next person and the order receiver confirm the operation status, the acquisition unit 30 acquires the device name, the processing name, and the processing date and time from the device information DB35 using the device ID of the user information DB34 shown in fig. 5. The deriving unit 32 derives the operation state and operation rate for each day using the acquired processing date and time, and derives a one-day schedule for each device using the acquired device name, processing name, and processing date and time. The display information generating unit 33 generates information for displaying the derived operating state and schedule, and transmits the information to the terminal 11.

Then, the user who wants to take over the production of the printed matter retrieves order information of the acceptable order from the order information registered in the printed matter ordering/receiving server, and accepts the order that can be dealt with. Therefore, when the order receiver searches for the order information that can be handled, the deriving unit 32 searches for the user information, the specification information, and the order information that are suitable for the condition information input by the order receiver from the user information DB34, the specification information DB36, and the order information DB38 registered by the order receiver. The display information generating unit 33 transmits the display information to the terminal 11, with the user information, the specification information, and the order information suitable for the condition information as candidates for the order information.

For example, as the condition information of the printed matter that can be produced by the company, the user who wants to support the production of the printed matter sets the type of the product that can be produced by the printing company (product type) or the processable process as the search condition, and transmits the search condition to the printed matter ordering/receiving server. The printed matter order placing/receiving server receives the information, searches the order information DB38 for an order ID suitable for the product type and the process using the condition information acquired by the acquiring unit of the printed matter order placing/receiving server, and derives user information and order information related to the order ID. The display information generating unit 33 transmits the derived user information and order information to the terminal 11 as candidates for order information.

Further, a user who has accepted the production of printed matter sometimes wants to suppress the increase in the operating rate caused by the acceptance of the production to a certain range. In some cases, it is desired to prevent the saturation of the production amount of the company itself due to the order having a large production amount, or the sudden increase of the load of the operator actually performed by the management apparatus. Therefore, when the change amount of the operation rate (designated change amount) is designated by the order taker as the condition information for searching the order information registered by the user, the derivation section 32 searches the printing apparatus or the post-processing apparatus owned by the order taker, and calculates the operation rate before the order taking based on the processing date and time of the searched apparatus. The deriving unit 32 searches for order information that can be assigned to the printing apparatus, assigns the searched order information to the printing apparatus, and calculates an operation rate after receiving an order. The deriving unit 32 derives the amount of change in the operation rate for each order information from the operation rate before the order reception and the operation rate after the order reception. The display information generating unit 33 specifies order information using a specified change amount and a change amount of an operation rate for each order information, derives user information associated with the order information, and the display information generating unit 33 transmits the derived user information and order information to the terminal 11 as candidates for the order information.

When the next order is to search for order information, the derivation unit 32 searches for user information, specification information, and order information that are appropriate for the condition information input by the next order from the user information DB34, specification information DB36, and order information DB37 registered by the order receiver. The display information generating unit 33 transmits the user information, the specification information, and the order receipt information suitable for the condition information to the terminal 11 as candidates for the order receipt information.

In the present embodiment, a description has been given of a mode in which, when a printing apparatus to be referred to is registered by a following person and a following person, the operation rate and schedule of the registered apparatus are referred to. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the authority level may be set for each order issuer, order taker, or device, and the user who can refer to the operation rate and schedule may be controlled, or only the operation rate or only the schedule may be referred to. The user of the printed matter order issuing/receiving system according to the present embodiment can use the system not only for the receiver who is a company that supports printing but also for the order issuer who wants to order printed matters. Further, a method is considered in which a plurality of order takers, i.e., printing companies, share information with each other. In general, such printing companies are likely to be competing companies with each other, and therefore it is considered inappropriate to share information without limitation. For example, the status of devices owned by other printing companies in a competitive relationship, the operating status of each of the devices, information on the amount of money set at the time of order pickup, or information on the printing and processing conditions that can be dealt with is not all open to companies in a competitive relationship to some extent. Similarly, even if users who are order receivers are linked to each other, if there are companies in a certain cooperation relationship, there is a case where a company wants to request a part of the processes to a company in a cooperation relationship for the production of printed matters that the company has. On the other hand, users who can be the order takers are given a certain degree of information disclosure, which contributes to an increase in the chances of printed matter production that can be handled by order taking. In this way, the information to be referred to between users differs in the level that can also be referred to according to the relationship with the user, and it is preferable to determine the information to be referred to according to the level.

Therefore, it is more preferable to perform an operation of setting a degree of authority that can refer to information for each user, or setting a degree of authority to refer to each device for each user, and providing information corresponding to the degree of authority to the user.

Specifically, the operation rate and schedule of the device that can be referred to are set according to the degree of authority that can be referred to by each user (hereinafter referred to as "authority level"). For example, as shown in fig. 6, the user information DB34 stores a user name, a device ID, and an authority level. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the authority level of the printed matter receipt/receipt server 10 according to the present embodiment.

For example, the authority levels are set to "0", "1", "2", and "3". If the authority level is "0", it means that the operation rate and the schedule cannot be referred to, if the authority level is "1", it means that the operation rate can be referred to only, if the authority level is "2", it means that the schedule can be referred to only, and if the authority level is "3", it means that the operation rate and the schedule can be referred to only.

For example, when the authority level "1" is set for a user having the user name "X" for a device having the device ID "a", the user name "X" can refer to the operation rate of the device corresponding to the device ID "a". When the authority level "2" is set for the user having the user name "Y" for the device having the device ID "B", the user name "Y" can refer to the schedule of the device corresponding to the device ID "B". When the authority level "3" is set for the user having the user name "Z" for the device having the device ID "C", the user name "Z" can refer to the operation rate and schedule of the device corresponding to the device ID "C". When the authority level "0" is set for the user having the user name "W" for the device having the device ID "D", the user name "W" cannot refer to the operation rate and schedule of the device corresponding to the device ID "D".

The user information DB34 of the present embodiment is described as having one device ID and one authority level set for one user name. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. When a user has a plurality of printing apparatuses or a plurality of post-processing apparatuses, a plurality of apparatus IDs may be set for one user name or user ID, and an authority level may be set for each apparatus ID. The authority level in the present embodiment is an example of the authority limit.

Next, before describing the operation of the printed matter order placing/receipt server 10, a method for deriving and displaying the operation rate of the printed matter order placing/receipt server 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 7 to 13. Hereinafter, the terminal 11 operated by the order taker will be referred to as "order taker terminal", and the terminal 11 operated by the order taker will be referred to as "order taker terminal".

Referring to fig. 7, a process will be described in which the user searches order information of a received order using the printed matter ordering/order receiving system 1 and receives the order. Fig. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the order receiving process flow of the printed matter placing/order receiving system 1 according to the present embodiment.

As an example, as shown in fig. 7, the order issuing terminal transmits the input order information to the printed matter order issuing/receiving server 10 (step S101).

The printed matter ordering/receiving server 10 stores the acquired order information in the storage 24 (step S102).

When the order information of the order received by the order receiver is searched, the order receiver terminal transmits the input condition information to the printed matter placing/receiving server 10 (step S103).

The printed matter ordering/order taking server 10 acquires the candidate of order information suitable for the acquired condition information from the storage 24, and transmits the candidate of order information to the order taker terminal (step S104).

The order taker terminal displays the received candidates of the order information (step S105), and transmits the selected order information to the printed matter placing/order taking server 10 (step S106).

The printed matter placing/order taking server 10 acquires the device information related to the order taker, the selected order information, and the specification information related to the selected order information from the storage 24 (step S107).

The printed matter order placing/order receiving server 10 derives the operation rate before the order receiving from the processing date and time of the acquired device information. The printed matter order placing/receiving server 10 derives the operation rate after receiving the order from the acquired order information, specification information, and device information. The printed matter order placing/receiving server 10 derives a cost prediction in the order information from the acquired order information and specification information. The printed matter placing/order receiving server 10 transmits the derived operation rate and cost prediction to the order receiver terminal (step S108).

The order receiver terminal displays the received operation rate and cost prediction (step S109). Then, the order taker terminal determines whether or not order taking registration is to be performed (step S110). When the order delivery registration is performed, the order receiver terminal transmits a message to perform the order delivery registration to the printed matter placing/order receiving server 10 (step S111). Here, the order receiver terminal transmits the processing date and time when the printed matter processing related to the order information set by the order receiver is performed together with the order registration.

When the printed matter placing/order receiving server 10 receives the order receiving registration, the processing date and time at which the processing set by the order receiver is performed is set as the processing date and time of the device information and stored in the storage 24 (step S112).

The order receiver terminal determines whether or not to display the operation rate (step S113). When the operation rate is displayed, the order receiver terminal transmits an instruction to display the operation rate to the printed matter placing/receiving server 10 (step S114).

When receiving the indication of the operation rate, the printed matter placing/order receiving server 10 acquires the processing date and time stored in the device information DB35 from the storage 24 (step S115), derives the operation rate, and transmits the operation rate to the order receiver terminal (step S116).

The order taker terminal displays the received operation rate (step S117).

Next, a process in which the order taker is designated by the order taker using the printed matter order taking/order taking system 1 and orders are placed will be described with reference to fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the order placement process flow of the printed matter order placement/receipt accepting system 1 according to the present embodiment.

As an example, as shown in fig. 8, the order receiver terminal transmits order information to the printed matter placing/order receiving server 10 (step S201).

The printed matter ordering/order taking server 10 stores the acquired order taking information in the storage 24 (step S202).

The order issuing terminal transmits the order information input by the order issuing person to the printed matter order issuing/receiving server 10 (step S203).

The print order placing/receiving server 10 stores the acquired order information in the storage 24 (step S204).

When the order receiving information is searched, the order issuer terminal transmits the input condition information to the printed matter order issuing/order receiving server 10 (step S205).

The printed matter order placing/order taking server 10 acquires candidates of order taking information suitable for the acquired condition information from the storage 24, and transmits the candidates of order taking information to the order taker terminal (step S206).

The order taker terminal displays the received candidates for the order taking information (step S207), and transmits the selected order taking information to the printed matter order taking/order taking server 10 (step S208).

The printed matter placing/order receiving server 10 acquires the selected order receiving information, the user information, the device information, and the specification information related to the order receiving information from the storage 24 (step S209), derives an estimate of the cost, the processing time, and the like to be spent when the device executes the processing in the order information, and transmits the estimate to the person who places the order (step S210).

The next terminal displays the received estimate (step S211). The order issuer terminal determines whether or not to perform order issuance registration (step S212). When the order placing registration is performed, the order placing terminal transmits a message to perform the order placing registration to the printed matter order placing/receiving server 10 (step S213). Here, the order issuer terminal transmits order information for ordering together with a designation of order registration.

When the printed matter order placement/order reception server 10 receives the order registration request, it notifies the order receiver associated with the order reception information selected by the order receiver that the order has been placed (step S214). Here, the printed matter order placing/receiving server 10 transmits order information for placing an order together with a notification indicating that the order has been placed (step S215).

When receiving the notification that ordering has been performed, the order receiver terminal transmits the device ID and the processing date and time for performing the ordering process in the received order information to the printed matter ordering/order receiving server 10.

The printed matter placing/receiving server 10 sets and stores the process settings in the device ID, the processing date and time, and the order information in the device information DB35 stored in the storage 24 (step S216).

In the present embodiment, a mode is described in which after order information is registered, an order receiver is searched for and an order is placed. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The order information may be registered when the order is placed, or may be registered when the order information is registered before the order is placed by the order placing person.

Next, a screen for displaying the operation status, a screen for registering order information, a screen for searching order information, a screen for registering order information, and a screen for searching order information will be described with reference to fig. 9 to 13.

First, a screen for displaying the operation status in the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen for displaying the operation status of the printed matter order issuing/receiving server 10 according to the present embodiment.

As an example, as shown in fig. 9, the resource management screen 40 includes an operation rate display area 41 for displaying an operation rate, a schedule plan display area 42 for displaying a schedule plan, a placing order registration button 43, an order search button 44, an order registration button 45, and an order recipient search button 46.

The operation rate display area 41 displays the operation rate of the owned devices registered by the order taker and the order taker per day, and the operation rate of the owned devices of the company having a relationship of collaboration (hereinafter referred to as a "collaboration company") registered by the order taker and the order taker per day. Hereinafter, the operation rate of all devices registered by the order taker and the order taker per day is referred to as "total operation rate", and the operation rate of a device owned by a company or the like is referred to as "operation rate of the company".

For example, if the operation status of "5/11" displayed in the operation rate display area 41 is referred to, the operation rate display area 41 includes an outer ring 47 that visually displays the total operation rate and an inner ring 48 that visually displays the operation rate of the company. The shapes of the outer ring 47 and the inner ring 48 are displayed in a circle shape as the operation rate of the company increases, and in a circle shape as the operation rate becomes 100%, with respect to the total operation rate and the operation rate of the company. The total operation rate and the operation rate of the company are further displayed in two character strings located inside the outer ring 47 and the inner ring 48, the total operation rate is displayed in the upper section, and the operation rate of the company is displayed in the lower section.

The schedule plan display area 42 displays a schedule plan for each device of the specified date to execute the processing. For example, when the operation rate of "5/11" is selected in the operation rate display area 41, the schedule plan of "5/11" of the devices registered by the next and the recipient is displayed in the schedule plan display area 42. In the schedule display area 42, the operation rates of the printing apparatuses of the company and the cooperating company registered by the order sender and the order receiver, and the process names of the processes for each hour are displayed.

That is, the operation rate display area 41 and the schedule plan display area 42 of the resource management screen 40 are referred to, and the operation rate and the schedule plan of the company showing the order placing and the order receiving person and the company registered by the order placing and the order receiving person are confirmed, and then the order placing and the order receiving are performed.

The order placing and order receiving are performed by the order placing and receiving person pressing an order placing registration button 43, an order retrieval button 44, an order receiving registration button 45, and an order receiving person retrieval button 46 displayed on the resource management screen 40.

The resource management screen 40 of the present embodiment is described in a form of displaying the operation rate and schedule of the device for each day. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the operation rate and schedule of the apparatus for each process may be displayed. Here, the step refers to a work of dividing the process of producing the printed matter, such as preprinting, printing, processing, stapling, and shipment.

Next, a method of searching and ordering by the order taker and receiving and ordering the order will be described with reference to fig. 10 and 11. First, a method of placing an order for an order registration will be described with reference to fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen for registering order information of the printed matter order placing/receiving server 10 according to the present embodiment.

As an example, as shown in fig. 10, the order registration screen 50 includes a product display area 51 and a product detail display area 52. The order registration screen 50 is a screen for transitioning to the order registration screen 50 when the order registration button 43 is pressed on the resource management screen 40.

In the product display area 51, a list of products to be placed by the person placing the order is displayed. For example, the product addition button 53 is pressed to add a product, thereby adding a product displayed in the product display area 51. When the product displayed in the product display area 51 is pressed and selected by the order taker, the product detail display area 52 is displayed.

The product detailed display area 52 displays detailed information of the product selected in the product display area 51, and accepts input of detailed information of the product by the next person. For example, the detailed product display area 52 receives the product type, the number of copies, the price, the delivery date, and the display period of the printed matter as order information, and receives specification information, cover setting information, and text setting information as specification information. The specification specifying information is a paper size, a binding method, and a number of pages of the printed matter, the display setting information is a binding direction of a cover of the printed matter, a type of paper, and a thickness of the paper, and the text setting information is a binding direction of a text of the printed matter, a type of paper, and a thickness of the paper.

When the save button 54 included in the product detail display area 52 is pressed, the printed matter ordering/receipt server 10 stores the product type, the number of copies, the price, the delivery date, the display period setting, and the printed matter specification information of the printed matter in the storage 24 as order information and specification information.

That is, when the order taker orders without specifying the order taker, the order taker orders the product from the order taking registration screen 50.

Next, a method of searching for order information according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen for searching order information of the printed matter ordering/receipt server 10 according to the present embodiment.

As an example, as shown in fig. 11, the order search screen 60 includes a condition information input area 61, a search result display area 62, and an order information detailed display area 63. The order retrieval screen 60 is shifted to the order retrieval screen 60 when the order retrieval button 44 is pressed on the resource management screen 40.

The condition information input area 61 receives, as condition information, input of condition information such as the type of product, the area where the place of the order is located, the specified amount of change, the size of the paper, the type of paper, and the target process. When the search button 64 included in the condition information input area 61 is pressed after the condition information is input by the order taker, the user information, the specification information, and the order information are searched for, and the search result display area 62 is displayed.

In the search result display area 62, the commodity type, the number of copies, the expected delivery date, the expected price, a message, the user name, and the address are displayed as candidates for the order information. When a candidate of the order information is selected by the order taker, the order information detail display area 63 is displayed.

The order information detail display area 63 includes an order information display area 65, a receipt information display area 66, a process setting button 67, and a receipt registration button 68. In the order information display area 65, a user name, a telephone number, an address, the number of copies, an expected delivery date, an expected price, a predicted amount of cost, specification information of a product to be printed, and a message registered by the order issuer are displayed. The order receipt information display area 66 displays the operation rates of the printing apparatuses related to the order recipient before and after the order receipt information when the order information selected by the order recipient is accepted. When the stock of the paper sheets is registered, the order information detail display area 63 displays the type and the stock number of the paper sheets corresponding to the order information, and accepts whether or not the corresponding paper sheets are arranged.

When the order taker presses the process setting button 67 included in the order information detail display area 63, the printed matter placing/order taking server 10 receives an input of the processing date and time for executing the process in the order information.

When the order taker presses the order taking registration button 68 included in the order purchase information detail display area 63, the printed matter placing/order taking server 10 stores the processing related to the selected order information and the input processing date and time as device information in the storage 24. The print ordering/receipt server 10 notifies the ordering person of the fact that the order has been received.

That is, when order information is searched and order is received, the order receiver searches the order information from the order search screen 60, and specifies the order information to receive the order.

Next, a method of the present embodiment for the ordering person to search for the order receiver and order the order with reference to fig. 12 and 13 will be described. First, a mode in which the order taker registers order taking information will be described with reference to fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen for registering order receipt information of the printed matter placing/order receiving server 10 according to the present embodiment.

As an example, as shown in fig. 12, the order receipt registration screen 70 includes an order receivable product display area 71 and a product detail display area 72. The order registration screen 70 is a screen 70 that transitions to the order registration screen 70 when the order registration button 45 is pressed on the resource management screen 40.

In the order receivable product display area 71, a list of products that the order receiver can receive is displayed. For example, the commodity addition button 73 is pressed to add a commodity, thereby adding a commodity displayed in the orderable commodity display area 71. Then, the product displayed in the order receivable product display area 71 is pressed and selected, whereby the product detail display area 72 is displayed.

The product detail display area 72 receives, as the specification information, the printing device that can be used for each process of the selected product, the specification setting for each printing device, the basic amount of money for receiving the order, the number of corresponding days, the number of copies, and the charge for the corresponding days. For example, when the "specification setting" of the display switching tab 74 included in the product detail display area 72 is pressed, the order registration screen 70 displays the device assignment setting area 75 in the product detail display area 72.

The equipment assignment setting area 75 sets a printing device that can cope with each process of the selected product, and a specification that can cope with each process and each printing device of the selected product.

For example, when "booklet catalog" is selected in the acceptable-order product display area 71, the device assignment setting area 75 in the product detail display area 72 is set for each process of performing each process of the front cover and the body text of the product. For example, printing devices of "6F-01" and "6F-05" are assigned to the front cover processing step at the upper stage of the equipment assignment setting area 75. In the lower stage of the device assignment setting area 75, specification settings that can be handled by the selected printing device, "6F-01", are input. For specification setting, a paper size, a binding method, and the number of pages are received as specification specifying information, a binding direction, a paper type, and a paper thickness are received as cover setting information, the binding direction, the paper type, and the paper thickness are received as text setting information, and an image is received as an actual result map. Here, when the "display setting" of the display changeover tab 74 is pressed, the order receipt registration screen 70 displays a distribution fee, the number of copies, the number of corresponding days, and a region in which the fee setting for the number of copies and the corresponding days is performed.

When the save button 76 included in the product detail display area 72 is pressed, the printed matter placing/order taking server 10 stores the product type, the process, the specification setting for each printing device, the corresponding number of days, the number of copies, and the cost for the corresponding number of days in the storage 24 as the device information, the order taking information, and the specification information.

That is, when the order taker accepts the order, the order taker registers order information, device information, and specification information from the order taker registration screen 70.

Next, a screen for searching for a recipient in the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen for searching receipt information of the printed matter receipt/receipt server 10 according to the present embodiment.

As an example, as shown in fig. 13, the order receiver search screen 80 includes a condition information input area 81, a search result display area 82, and an order receiver detailed display area 83. The order taker search screen 80 transitions to the order taker search screen 80 when the order taker search button 46 is pressed on the resource management screen 40.

The condition information input area 81 receives, as condition information, the type of product, the area where the recipient's site is located, the size of the paper, the type of paper, and the input of the target process. When the search button 84 included in the condition information input area 81 is pressed after the condition information is input by the order taker, the user information, the specification information, and the order pickup information are searched for, and the search result display area 82 is displayed. In the search result display area 82, the product, amount, delivery fee, delivery possible time, user name, and message are displayed as candidates for the order taker suitable for the condition information.

When a candidate for an order taker in the search result display area 82 is selected by the next person, the order taker detailed display area 83 is displayed.

The order taker detailed display area 83 includes a display switching tab 85, a product selection button 86, and an order placing registration button 87. In the order recipient detailed display area 83, the kind of the product, the amount of money, the distribution fee, the number of copies, the fee corresponding to the number of days, the user name, the telephone number, the address, and the message registered by the order recipient are displayed. When the display switching tab 85 is pressed, the order receiver detailed display area 83 switches and displays the charge table, the equipment information owned by the order receiver, the transaction performance, and the performance map. When the product selection button 86 is pressed, the order receiver detailed display area 83 displays a list of products registered on the order registration screen 50 by the order receiver, and accepts input of the product to be ordered.

When the order registration button 87 is pressed by the order taker, the printed matter order/order taking server 10 notifies the selected order taker of order information related to the input product.

That is, when the order receiver is searched for and the order is placed, the order receiver designates the order receiver on the order receiver search screen 80 and places the order. The designated order taker confirms the order information, and sets the date and time of processing of the printing apparatus for the processing in the order information to execute the processing.

In the present embodiment, a mode has been described in which a product registered in advance is selected and an order is placed to a recipient. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. When the order registration button 87 is pressed, the input of order information may be newly accepted.

Next, as a specific embodiment of the information processing program, the operation of the printed matter ordering/order combining program according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 14 to 17. Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of information processing according to the present embodiment. The CPU 21 reads out and executes a printed matter order placing/receiving program from the ROM 22 or the storage 24, thereby executing the information processing shown in fig. 14. The information processing shown in fig. 14 is performed when an instruction to execute a print order placing/receiving program is input from a user, for example.

In step S301, the CPU 21 acquires user information of the order taker and the order taker from the storage 24.

In step S302, the CPU 21 acquires device information of the order placing person and the order receiving person from the storage 24.

In step S303, the CPU 21 displays the resource management screen 40 in fig. 9.

In step S304, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the button is pressed. If the button is pressed (step S304: YES), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S305. On the other hand, if the button is not pressed (NO in step S304), the CPU 21 waits until the button is pressed.

In step S305, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the button has been pressed to give a registration instruction. If the registration instruction is given (yes in step S305), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S306. On the other hand, if the registration instruction is not given (the search instruction is given) (no in step S305), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S307. Here, the registration instruction is a case where the order placing registration button 43 and the order taking registration button 45 are pressed in fig. 9.

In step S306, the CPU 21 performs registration processing. The registration process flow will be described in detail with reference to fig. 15 described later.

In step S307, the CPU 21 determines whether or not an order taker search instruction has been given. When the order taker search instruction is issued (step S307: YES), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S308. On the other hand, if the order taker search instruction is not made (order information search instruction is made) (no in step S307), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S309. Here, the order receiver search instruction is a case where the order receiver search button 46 is pressed in fig. 9, and the order information search instruction is a case where the order search button 44 is pressed in fig. 9.

In step S308, the CPU 21 performs the order taker search process. The flow of the order receiving search process will be described in detail with reference to fig. 16 described later.

In step S309, the CPU 21 performs order information retrieval processing. The order information retrieval processing flow will be described in detail with reference to fig. 17 described later.

In step S310, the CPU 21 determines whether or not to end the information processing. When the information processing is finished (step S310: YES), the CPU 21 finishes the information processing. On the other hand, if the information processing is not performed (no in step S310), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S301.

Next, the registration process will be described with reference to fig. 15. Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the registration processing according to the present embodiment. The CPU 21 reads out a registration processing program from the ROM 22 or the storage 24 and executes it, thereby executing the registration processing shown in fig. 15. The registration process shown in fig. 15 is performed, for example, when the order registration button 43 or the order reception registration button 45 is pressed by the order receiver and the order receiver in fig. 9 and an instruction to perform the registration process is input.

In step S401, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the instruction input from the order taker and the order taker is an order placing registration instruction. If the order registration instruction is issued (step S401: YES), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S402. On the other hand, if the order registration instruction is not issued (no in step S401), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S403. Here, the order registration instruction is a case where the order registration button 43 is pressed in fig. 9, and the order receipt registration instruction is a case where the order receipt registration button 45 is pressed in fig. 9.

In step S402, the CPU 21 displays the order registration screen 50 in fig. 10.

In step S403, the CPU 21 displays the order taking registration screen 70 in fig. 12.

In step S404, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the product addition button is pressed. When the product addition button is pressed (step S404: YES), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S405. On the other hand, if the product addition button is not pressed (no in step S404), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S406. Here, the product addition button refers to the product addition button 53 on the order registration screen 50 in fig. 10 and the product addition button 73 on the order registration screen 70 in fig. 12.

In step S405, the CPU 21 additionally displays the product.

In step S406, the CPU 21 determines whether or not a product is selected. If a product is selected (step S406: YES), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S407. On the other hand, if no product is selected (NO in step S406), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S408. Here, the products are products displayed in the product display area 51 on the order registration screen in fig. 10 and products displayed in the order receivable product display area 71 on the order registration screen in fig. 12.

In step S407, the CPU 21 displays details of the selected product.

In step S408, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the save button is pressed. If the save button is pressed (step S408: YES), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S409. On the other hand, if the save button is not pressed (NO in step S408), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S404. Here, the save button refers to the save button 54 on the order registration screen 50 in fig. 10 and the save button 76 on the order registration screen 70 in fig. 12.

In step S409, the CPU 21 acquires input information input by the order taker and the order taker. Here, the input information is order information and specification information when the order registration screen 50 in fig. 10 is displayed, and order information, device information, and specification information when the order registration screen 70 in fig. 12 is displayed.

In step S410, the CPU 21 stores the input information.

Next, the order matching search process will be described with reference to fig. 16. Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of the order taker search processing according to the present embodiment. The CPU 21 reads out and executes the order retrieval processing program from the ROM 22 or the storage 24, thereby executing the registration processing shown in fig. 16. The order recipient search processing shown in fig. 16 is executed, for example, when the order recipient presses the order recipient search button 46 in fig. 9 and an instruction to execute the order recipient search processing is input.

In step S501, the CPU 21 displays the order taker search screen 80 in fig. 13.

In step S502, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the search button is pressed. If the search button is pressed (step S502: YES), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S503. On the other hand, if the search button is not pressed (step S502: NO), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S506.

In step S503, the CPU 21 acquires the input condition information. Here, the condition information refers to the type of product, the area where the recipient's site is located, the size of the paper, the type of paper, and the target process, which are input in the condition information input area 61 on the order taker search screen in fig. 13.

In step S504, the CPU 21 searches the order receiving information, the user information, the device information, and the specification information, and acquires candidates of an order receiver suitable for the condition information.

In step S505, the CPU 21 displays candidates suitable for the order taker of the condition information.

In step S506, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the order taker is selected. If the order taker is selected (step S506: YES), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S507. On the other hand, if no order is selected (NO in step S506), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S508.

In step S507, the CPU 21 displays the details of the selected order taker. Here, as the details of the order taker, the order taker detailed display area 83 on the order taker search screen 80 of fig. 13 is displayed.

In step S508, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the display switching tab is pressed. If the display switching tab is pressed (step S508: yes), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S509. On the other hand, if the display changeover tab is not pressed (step S508: NO), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S510. Here, the display tab is the display switching tab 85 on the order taker search screen 80 in fig. 13.

In step S509, the CPU 21 switches the detailed display of the order recipient.

In step S510, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the order registration button is pressed. If the order registration button is pressed (step S510: yes), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S511. On the other hand, if the purchase order registration button is not pressed (step S510: NO), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S502. Here, the order registration button is an order registration button 87 on the order taker search screen 80 in fig. 13.

In step S511, the CPU 21 acquires the selected order taking information, the user information related to the selected order taking information, and the device information related to the order taking information.

In step S512, the CPU 21 notifies the order taker that the order has been placed using the user information.

In step S513, the CPU 21 acquires the processing date and time when the processing related to the order information is executed.

In step S514, the CPU 21 sets the acquired processing date and time to the device information, and stores the device information.

Next, the order retrieval processing will be described with reference to fig. 17. Fig. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of order retrieval processing according to the present embodiment. The CPU 21 reads out the order retrieval processing program from the ROM 22 or the storage 24 and executes the program, thereby executing the order processing shown in fig. 17. The order retrieval processing shown in fig. 17 is executed, for example, when an instruction to execute the order retrieval processing is input from the user.

In step S601, the CPU 21 displays the order retrieval screen 60 in fig. 11.

In step S602, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the search button is pressed. If the search button is pressed (step S602: YES), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S603. On the other hand, if the search button is not pressed (NO in step S602), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S606. Here, the search button is a search button 64 on the order search screen 60 of fig. 11.

In step S603, the CPU 21 acquires the input condition information. Here, the condition information refers to the type of the product, the area where the order receiver is located, the amount of change in designation, the size of the paper, the type of the paper, and the process to be performed, which are input in the condition information input area 61 on the order search screen 60 in fig. 11.

In step S604, the CPU 21 retrieves candidates of order information suitable for the condition information, and acquires the retrieval result.

In step S605, the CPU 21 displays candidates of order information suitable for the condition information. Here, candidates of order information are displayed in the search result display area 62 on the order search screen of fig. 11.

In step S606, the CPU 21 determines whether or not order information is selected. If the order information is selected (step S606: YES), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S607. On the other hand, if no subscription information is selected (step S606: NO), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S611.

In step S607, the CPU 21 acquires the device information of the order taker.

In step S608, the CPU 21 derives the operation rate using the acquired device information.

In step S609, the CPU 21 displays the details of the selected order information. Here, details of the order information are displayed in the order information display area 65 on the order retrieval screen 60 of fig. 11.

In step S610, the CPU 21 displays the derived operation rate. Here, the operation rate is displayed in the order receiving information display area 66 on the order retrieval screen 60 of fig. 11.

In step S611, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the process setting button is pressed. If the process setting button is pressed (step S611: YES), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S612. On the other hand, if the process setting button is not pressed (step S611: NO), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S613. Here, the process setting button is the process setting button 67 on the order search screen 60 in fig. 11.

In step S612, the CPU 21 acquires the processing date and time input by the order taker.

In step S613, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the order registration button has been pressed. If the order registration button is pressed (step S613: yes), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S614. On the other hand, if the order registration button is not pressed (no in step S613), the CPU 21 proceeds to step S602. Here, the order registration button is the order registration button 68 on the order retrieval screen 60 in fig. 11.

In step S614, the CPU 21 sets the acquired processing date and time to the device information, and stores the device information.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the order taker and the order receiver can check the operating status and schedule of the printing apparatus. Therefore, the workload of the job of confirming the throughput of the printing process and the operation status of each company can be reduced compared to the case of confirming the throughput of the printing process and the operation status of each company between the order taker and the order taker when ordering the order of the printed matter and receiving the order.

In addition, the configuration of the printed matter ordering/receipt server 10 described in the above embodiment is an example, and may be changed according to the situation without departing from the scope of the invention.

The processing flow of the program described in the above embodiment is also an example, and unnecessary steps may be deleted, new steps may be added, or the processing order may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the above embodiments, the processor is a processor in a broad sense, and includes, for example, a general-purpose processor such as a CPU, or a special-purpose processor such as a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or a Programmable logic device.

Further, the operations of the processors in the above embodiments may be performed not only by one processor but also by a plurality of processors located at physically separate locations in cooperation. The order of the operations of the processor is not limited to the order described in the above embodiments, and may be changed as appropriate.

In the above embodiments, the description has been given of the form in which the program for information processing is stored (installed) in the storage 24 in advance, but the present invention is not limited to this. The program may be provided in a form of being recorded on a recording medium such as a Compact disk Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), a Digital Versatile disk Read Only Memory (DVD-ROM), or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Memory. The program may be downloaded from an external device via a network.