Print management device, print management method, computer program

Abstract

To provide a book management device reliably managing owners of books.SOLUTION: A book management device 1 connected to at least a user terminal 2 via a network NW and managing identification information of a book, where a lateral face of the book configured by accumulating a plurality of pages, includes a printed pattern formed thereon by exposing printed areas each of which has been printed from a surface to an end of the page, comprises: a coding part 15 for coding a photographed image obtained by photographing the lateral face where the printed areas appear, which is obtained from the user terminal, to generate code data, the identification information of the book; and a storage part for storing user identification information to be associated with the user terminal, in association with the code data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a book management device, a book management method, a computer program, and a method for producing printed matter. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a technology that allows a book to access specific information, such as a website or a server, from a book using a computer network, thereby allowing the user to use a service associated with the book. In this case, if the specific information is accessed by many people who do not own the book, the service associated with the purchase will be used free of charge, which is undesirable. In addition, the maintenance costs of a server environment that can withstand a large number of accesses will be enormous. Furthermore, if the server environment becomes unstable as a result of accepting a large number of accesses, there is a risk that readers who have properly paid the purchase fee will not be able to use the service comfortably. Therefore, there is a need for a technology that ensures that the service associated with the book is available only to the owner of the book.

[0003] In this regard, Patent Document 1 discloses a device that instructs a user to mark a specific area of ​​a book and photograph it before allowing the user to exercise the right, in order to prevent the right from being exercised multiple times for one paper book, and estimates the history of the right exercise based on the presence or absence of the mark. Patent Document 2 discloses an image processing device that has a function of recording a special mark indicating that the document has been read, and a function of determining whether or not a special mark has been recorded when reading the document, and preventing the document from being read if a special mark has been recorded. Patent Document 3 discloses a system that allows a reader to obtain a purchase certificate from a bookstore terminal on an IC card owned by the reader when purchasing a book. In this system, when a reader sends a purchase certificate from the reader terminal to an electronic book management system when applying for an electronic book, the electronic book management system switches the service when providing the electronic book to the reader depending on the presence or absence of the purchase certificate. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2016-45562 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 3412441 [Patent Document 3] Patent Publication No. 2000-113049

[0005] However, in the configurations of Patent Documents 1 and 2, the mark is recorded on the book itself, which is undesirable as it will stain the book. Also, in the configuration of Patent Document 3, the reader must manage the IC card, which is cumbersome. Also, if the purchaser and the reader are different, it is difficult to transfer the rights obtained by the purchase to the reader.

[0006] Also, a conventionally known technology is to use variable printing to assign a unique access key or the like to each book, thereby granting one access right to each book. This access key is printed, for example, inside the sealed pages, and only readers who own the book can obtain the access right by opening the sealed pages. However, variable printing is costly, and there is a risk that only the sealed pages will be shoplifted at bookstores. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a book management device that can reliably manage the owners of books. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a book management device according to one aspect of the present invention is a book management device that is connected to at least a user terminal via a network and manages identification information of books, wherein a printed pattern is formed on a side of the book where multiple pages are accumulated, by exposing a printed area that is printed from the paper surface to the edge of the page, and the book management device is equipped with a coding unit that generates code data that is identification information of the book by coding a captured image obtained from the user terminal of the side where the printed pattern appears, and a memory unit that links and stores the code data with the identification information of a user associated with the user terminal.

[0009] The device may further include a response unit which, upon receiving a request for ownership information along with the user's identification information, refers to the memory unit and checks whether or not the code data linked to the user is present, and if the code data is present, responds with the ownership information indicating that the user owns the corresponding book, and if the code data is not present, responds with the ownership information indicating that the user does not own the book.

[0010] The encoding unit may further include an authority granting unit that, when the captured image is obtained from the user terminal, generates the code data from the captured image, references the memory unit, and, if there is no user linked to the code data, grants access authority for a specified service to the user terminal that sent the captured image.

[0011] The system may further include a determination unit that, when an access request for the service is received from the user terminal, refers to the access authority of the user associated with the user terminal and determines whether or not the user terminal is allowed to access the service.

[0012] The user terminal that has transmitted the access request may further include an image capture request generating unit that generates an image capture request for requesting the captured image.

[0013] The book may have a plurality of sides, the printed pattern may be exposed on a plurality of the sides, and the photographing request generating unit may request photographed images of a plurality of the sides for one of the books.

[0014] The determination unit may refer to the memory unit, and if the code data is associated with a user other than the user associated with the user terminal that sent the access request, may not allow access from the user terminal.

[0015] A plurality of the printed patterns may be exposed along the length of the page on one side of the book, and the coding unit may generate one of the code data from the captured image of the plurality of the printed patterns.

[0016] The side of the book may be at least one of the fore-edge, the top and the bottom of the book.

[0017] The memory unit may be configured to record the code data and NFT information in association with each other.

[0018] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a book management method according to another aspect of the present invention is a method for managing books, which is executed by a book management device connected to at least a user terminal via a network, wherein a printed pattern is formed on a side of the book where multiple pages are accumulated by exposing a printed area that is printed from the paper surface to the edge of the page, and the method executes an encoding step of generating code data that is identification information of the book by encoding an image obtained from the user terminal, which is an image of the side where the printed pattern appears, and a storage step of linking and storing the code data with the identification information of a user associated with the user terminal.

[0019] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a computer program according to yet another aspect of the present invention is a computer program for managing books, executed by a computer connected to at least a user terminal via a network, wherein a printed pattern is formed on a side of the book where multiple pages are accumulated, by exposing a printed area that is printed from the paper surface to the edge of the page, and the computer executes a coding command to generate code data that is identification information of the book by coding an image obtained from the user terminal, which is taken of the side where the printed pattern appears, and a storage command to link and store the code data with the identification information of a user associated with the user terminal.

[0020] The computer program can be provided by downloading via a network such as the Internet, or can be provided by recording it on various computer-readable recording media.

[0021] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a manufacturing method for printed matter according to yet another aspect of the present invention is a manufacturing method for printed matter that produces a printed matter consisting of a plurality of consecutive pages in a predetermined order, and includes at least an extraction step of extracting, from the plurality of pages, pages with bleed, which have a bleed area that is an area outside the finish line and for which a printing instruction is specified; an identification step of identifying, as a page bundle, the plurality of pages with bleed, in which the bleed areas appear consecutively in the same range on the paper surface; a printing step of printing the plurality of pages, excluding the bleed area, on some of the pages with bleed included in the page bundle; and a cutting step of cutting the plurality of pages at the finish line. Effect of the Invention

[0022] According to the present invention, the owners of books can be reliably managed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a functional block diagram showing functions of a book management device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a user terminal connected to the book management device via a network. [Diagram 2] This figure shows examples of tables stored in a memory unit provided in the book management device, including (a) an example of a user table that stores the correspondence between user identification information and access rights, and (b) an example of a book information table that stores the correspondence between book identification information and associated users. [Diagram 3] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing a first example of a book photographed by the user terminal, including (a) an example of a page of a book with bleed printing, (b) a first example of the fore-edge of a book with bleed printing, and (c) a second example of the fore-edge of a book with bleed printing. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram illustrating bleed printing. [Diagram 5] A figure showing a second example of a book photographed by the user terminal, (a) a figure showing an example of a page of a book with bleed printing, and (b) a figure showing an example of the fore-edge of a book with bleed printing. [Figure 6] A figure showing a third example of a book photographed by the user terminal, (a) a figure showing an example of a page of a book with bleed printing, and (b) a figure showing an example of the fore-edge of a book with bleed printing. [Figure 7] A figure showing a fourth example of a book photographed by the user terminal, (a) a figure showing an example of a page of a book with bleed printing, and (b) a figure showing an example of the fore-edge of a book with bleed printing. [Figure 8] 10 is a sequence diagram showing a process flow in which access permission is granted to a user terminal connected to the book management device. FIG. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for determining whether or not a user terminal is allowed to access the book management device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a book management device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The book management device is a device that acquires identification information of a book from a photographed image of the book and manages access rights to services associated with the book. The book management device also acquires user data from the owner of the book, i.e., a user, and associates the user data with the access rights upon acquisition of the photographed image, thereby ensuring that only the owner of the book can use the service.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 1, the book management device 1 is configured to be able to communicate with multiple user terminals 2 via a network NW. In this embodiment, communication between the book management device 1 and each user terminal 2 is wireless, but some or all of the connections may be wired. Note that although Fig. 1 shows one user terminal 2, the number of user terminals 2 is arbitrary. A book management system 100 may be configured by the book management device 1 and one or multiple user terminals 2.

[0026] ●User device 2 The user terminal 2 is a terminal used by a user who wishes to use a service associated with a book. The user may be, for example, the owner or purchaser of the book.

[0027] The user terminal 2 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a computer. The user terminal 2 is configured as functional blocks including an input unit 21, an image capturing unit 22, a display unit 23, and a communication processing unit 24, which are configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a computer program executed by the CPU, a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory) for storing the computer program and predetermined data, and the like.

[0028] The input unit 21 may be realized by a touch panel or the like for inputting data, or may have physical keys such as a keyboard. The input unit 21 accepts, for example, registration of user data from a user. The user data may be, for example, the user's email address or phone number.

[0029] The photographing unit 22 is, for example, a camera. The photographing unit 22 photographs a photo of a book by a user's operation in response to a request from the book management device 1. The photographing unit 22 may also photograph a video of the book.

[0030] The display unit 23 may be configured with a touch panel display together with the input unit 21. For example, the display unit 23 displays instructions from the book management device 1 and photographed images of books. The display unit 23 also displays a screen associated with a service for which access authority has been granted.

[0031] The communication processing unit 24 is a processing unit that can execute data transmission and reception processing with the book management device 1 according to a predetermined protocol via a network NW such as the Internet, and is realized by an application, a Web browser, etc. The communication processing unit 24 transmits user data, an access request, and photographed data of a book to the book management device 1. The communication processing unit 24 also receives a request to photograph a book and a determination result of whether access is permitted from the book management device 1.

[0032] ●Book management device 1 1, the book management device 1 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a computer. The user terminal 2 mainly includes functional blocks including a storage unit 50, a user data acquisition unit 11, an access request acquisition unit 12, a determination unit 13, a photographing request generation unit 14, an encoding unit 15, an authorization unit 16, and a communication processing unit 17, which are configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a computer program executed by the CPU, a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory) for storing the computer program and predetermined data.

[0033] The book management device 1 may be realized by a plurality of hardware configurations, or may be partially or entirely configured by cloud computing. Also, some of the functional units of the book management device 1 may be provided in the user terminal 2.

[0034] The storage unit 50 is a functional unit that stores information related to the access authority of users. FIG. 2(a) is an example of a user table T1 that stores the correspondence between user identification information and access authority. The storage unit 50 stores user data acquired via the user terminal 2 in the user table T1. The user data includes user-specific identification information such as the user's phone number and email address. The user data may also include the user's contact information. The user data is identification information that can identify the user, such as the user's email address and SMS, and is particularly preferable if it is information that can verify the user's identity. The user table T1 also stores the presence or absence of access authority to services associated with a specific book in association with the user's identification information. The storage unit 50 may store the presence or absence of access authority to multiple services.

[0035] It is sufficient that the storage unit 50 stores at least the user's identification information and the code data in association with each other, and even if the access authority is not stored in association with each other, the technical scope of the present invention still falls within the scope of the present invention. According to the configuration in which the user's identification information and the code data are stored in association with each other, it is possible to reliably manage that the user owns the book.

[0036] Furthermore, the book management device 1 may have a function unit that refers to the user table T1 and checks whether code data associated with a specific user is stored, regardless of whether access authority is stored in the user table T1. For example, this function unit may be a so-called response unit that, when receiving a request for ownership information together with the user's identification information, checks whether code data associated with the user is stored in response to the request, and responds with ownership information indicating that the user owns the corresponding book if the code data is present, or responds with ownership information indicating that the user does not own the book if the code data is not present. This configuration also ensures that book owners can be managed.

[0037] In addition, with this configuration, it is possible to provide different services to users according to book ownership information, not just accessibility. For example, it is possible to display different web pages to users who own a book and users who do not own a book.

[0038] 2B is an example of a book information table T2 that stores the correspondence between the identification information of a book and the associated user. In the book information table T2, for example, a book and an associated service are associated. In addition, in the book information table T2, a different user is associated with each identification information of a book.

[0039] The user data acquisition unit 11 is a functional unit that acquires user data registered via the user terminal 2. At this time, the user data acquisition unit 11 may perform identity verification by sending an email or SMS to the acquired user data, or by making a phone call.

[0040] The access request acquisition unit 12 is a functional unit that receives an access request to a service via the user terminal 2 .

[0041] The determination unit 13 is a functional unit that, when receiving an access request for a service from the user terminal 2, refers to the access authority of the user associated with the user terminal 2 and determines whether the user terminal 2 is allowed to access. The determination unit 13 refers to the user table T1 in the storage unit 50 and determines whether the user who transmitted the access request via the user terminal 2 has the access authority. If the user has the access authority, the determination unit 13 permits access to the service. Furthermore, if the user does not have the access authority, the determination unit 13 generates an image capture request using the image capture request generation unit 14 and transmits it to the user terminal 2.

[0042] The determination unit 13 refers to the book information table T2 in the storage unit 50, and when the code data is associated with a user different from the user associated with the user terminal 2 that sent the access request, it denies access to the user terminal 2. With this configuration, it is possible to permit access authority to only one user for one book, and to restrict use by those who do not own the book.

[0043] The imaging request generation unit 14 is a functional unit that generates an imaging request to be transmitted to the user terminal 2. The imaging request generation unit 14 refers to the user table T1 by the determination unit 13, and generates an imaging request for the user terminal 2 when the user terminal 2 that transmitted the access request does not have access authority.

[0044] The photographing request generating unit 14 determines, for example, a photographing portion of a book that is requested of the user. The photographing portion is, for example, at least a part of a side of a book in a closed state that is formed by stacking a plurality of pages, and is at least a part of any of a side of the book that can be opened (so-called "fore-edge"), a top surface of the book (so-called "top"), and a bottom surface of the book (so-called "bottom"). The photographing request generating unit 14 may also determine to request photographing of a plurality of photographing portions. When a photographing request is for requesting a plurality of photographing data for one book, it takes a considerable amount of time to photograph the book. This can also deter people who would like to photograph a book in a bookstore before purchasing it.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 3(a), the book to be read in the present invention has colored printed areas A10 and A11 printed from the surface to the edge of each page P1. In such a book, as shown in FIG. 3(b) and (c), printed patterns M10 and M11 are exposed on the side S10 of the book where multiple pages are stacked. That is, the printed areas A10 are stacked, and the printed pattern M10 is exposed on the side S10. As a result of stacking the printed areas A11, the printed pattern M11 is exposed below the area shown in FIG. 3(b) on the side S10. Note that the printed area A11 is printed in a different position for each of multiple pages, for example, for each chapter of the content written in the book, and as a result, in FIG. 3(c), it is formed as approximately two separate areas M12 and M13.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 4, when it is desired to have printing visible on the sides of a book, each page P2 is filled beyond the finish line L20 during manufacturing, i.e., a so-called bleed M21 is performed, and the book is then bound and cut at the finish line L20. However, due to slight cutting deviations caused by misalignment of the paper stack, misalignment of the printing press for each book, wear of the paper feed roller, characteristics of the cutting cutter blade, etc., the printed patterns M10 and M11 seen from the side are different for each individual. In particular, the printed patterns M10 and M11 vary vertically along the edge of the page P1, and the printed patterns M10 and M11 are misaligned vertically in the figure, and the upper and lower edges are jagged in the figure. Furthermore, if no bleed is performed in the printed area on the side of the book and the printed area only extends to the finish line, pages are cut outside the finish line, and as a result, the printed patterns on the side of the book become intermittent and some are blank.

[0047] Therefore, by mechanically reading the printed patterns on the sides with the vertical misalignment and blank spaces, they can be used as identification information for each book. The resolution of these printed patterns M10 and M11 in the horizontal direction in FIG. 3(b) or (c) corresponds to one page, and is, for example, 0.1 mm. A camera installed in a smartphone has, for example, 12 million pixels and can detect differences of about 0.002 mm, so individual differences in printed patterns can be easily detected by a typical smartphone.

[0048] In addition to photographing the side of the book, the photographing request generating unit 14 may request to photograph other than the side of the book. For example, the photographing request generating unit 14 may request to photograph the back side of the obi, the back side of the cover, or a part or all of a specified page. In this case, a specified mark or the like may be printed on the back side of the obi, the back side of the cover, or the specified page. This mark may be different for each individual book, or the same mark may be printed on each individual book. Since it is relatively easy to change the contents of the obi or cover depending on the edition, a configuration that includes the obi or cover as a subject of photography can increase the variation of the identification information of the book and can manage the edition number of the photographed book. In addition, in the collection of a library, the obi or cover is generally discarded or fixed to the book so that the back side cannot be seen, and a configuration that requests to photograph the obi or cover can prevent many people who borrow books from the library from using the service.

[0049] Furthermore, the photography request generating unit 14 may request photography of the code inserted by variable printing in addition to photography of the side of the book. The code may be, for example, a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode. This code may be printed, for example, inside a sealed binding. In this case, the storage unit 50 described later stores information contained in the code inserted by variable printing in association with the code data obtained by encoding the photography data of the side of the book. With this configuration, even if only the code inserted by variable printing is cut off from the book and stolen, the service cannot be used, and therefore usage of the service can be reliably restricted.

[0050] The photography request generating unit 14 may request different photography locations even for photography requests for the same book. The photography request generating unit 14 may randomly determine the photography location to be requested, or may store a plurality of photography location patterns in advance and determine the pattern. In addition, the photography request generating unit 14 may determine the photography location by appropriate processing so that the photographer cannot predict. With such a configuration, since the user does not know what photography data will be requested, it is necessary to have the book at hand and take the picture, and it is difficult to respond to the photography request by preparing only the photography data in advance. In other words, it is possible to prevent those who do not have the book at hand from using the service.

[0051] The photographing request generating unit 14 may generate a photographing request to photograph the book at a predetermined photographing angle. Also, a photographing request may be generated to photograph only a predetermined position among a plurality of printed patterns appearing on the side. Furthermore, in a mode in which a plurality of codes are printed on the back side of the cover or the band, a photographing request may be generated to photograph only the code at a predetermined position. In this manner, according to the configuration in which the photographing request generating unit 14 generates photographing requests of various variations, it is very difficult to prepare and transmit only the photographing data in advance. In other words, in order to transmit photographing data in response to a photographing request, it is almost essential to have the book at hand, so that it is possible to further prevent those who do not have the book at hand from using the service.

[0052] In addition, the identification information of such a book may be stored in the storage unit 50 in association with an NFT (non-fungible token). With this configuration, it is possible to associate each actual book with NFT information. In addition, the NFT technology can accurately manage the history of the owner of the actual book.

[0053] The encoding unit 15 is a functional unit that encodes the photographed data of the side surface S10 of the book and generates code data that is identification information of the book. The encoding unit 15 may use any method of encoding, but may generate code data by, for example, digitizing the vertical variation of the printed patterns M10, M11 using an appropriate feature extraction technique. In addition, when the printed patterns M10, M11 are interrupted in the direction from the front cover to the back cover, the encoding unit 15 may digitize the widths of the small areas that make up the printed patterns M10, M11 and generate code data. In this case, the encoding unit 15 may employ a known barcode reading technique.

[0054] According to this configuration, the individual differences of books produced by existing technology can be read as identification information without performing special processing on the books. In particular, since the technology of revealing a printed area on the side of a book by bleed is widely used, it is possible to realize the individual management of existing books that are mass-produced. Note that so-called variable printing, which adds unique information to each book, is known as an individual management of books, but the labor required for adding information increases the production cost. In contrast, as described above, according to a configuration in which the code data generated by precisely reading the error on the side surface S10 of the book is used as the identification information of the book, no special process is required, so individual management of books can be realized at low cost. In addition, with regard to what is described in this specification as book identification information or code, embodiments that do not have complete identification capabilities are also included within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention. This is the same as how fingerprints and DNA are used and expressed as substantial identification information, even though there is no guarantee that they are non-collision-free, strictly speaking.

[0055] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a print area A30 applied to a page P3 of a book. In the page P3, a plurality of print areas A31, A32, and A33 are printed at the end, and each of them corresponds to the print patterns M31, M32, and M33 on the side surface S30. In this way, when a plurality of print patterns M31, M32, and M33 are exposed along the length direction of the page P3 on one side surface S30 of the book, the coding unit 15 may integrate and extract one code data from a captured image of the plurality of print patterns M10 and M11. Since the relative positions of the print areas A31, A32, and A33 on each page P3 are specified, the vertical deviations of the plurality of print patterns M31, M32, and M33 correspond to each other. Therefore, according to a configuration in which the plurality of print patterns M31, M32, and M33 are integrated and then the code data is generated, the code data can be extracted more accurately. The integration process may be, for example, an averaging process.

[0056] Here, the thickness of the printed area A32 varies from the edge of the page P3 toward the center of the page P3. In the figure, the printed area A32 is a substantially triangular shape that becomes wider toward the edge of the page P3. With this configuration, the trimming deviation can be quantitatively estimated. Also, even if the sides of the book are filed with a file or the like to remove fading after production, the amount of the book that has been filed off can be quantitatively determined. The encoding unit 15 may correct the code data based on the length of the printed pattern M32 that appears on the side S30.

[0057] 6 is a diagram showing an example of a print area A40 and a corresponding print pattern applied to a page P4 of a book. In the page P4 shown in FIG. 6(a), multiple print areas A40 are printed on the edge. In addition, the print area A40 has a print area A41 that extends outward from the finish line L40 by a first length L41, a print area A42 that extends outward from the finish line L40 by a second length L42, a print area A43 that is printed to the same extent as the finish line L40, a print area A44 that is shortened from the finish line L40 by a fourth length L44, and a print area A45 that is shortened from the finish line L40 by a fifth length L45. When multiple such pages P4 are stacked together to form a book, the printed pattern M41 corresponding to the printed area A41, the printed pattern M42 corresponding to the printed area A42, the printed pattern M43 corresponding to the printed area A43, and the printed pattern M44 corresponding to the printed area A44 are visible on the side S40 of the book shown in FIG. 6(b). The printed area A45 is printed sufficiently inside the finish line L40, so even if there is a cutting misalignment, it will hardly be visible on the side S40. Note that if scraping is performed after production, the printed pattern corresponding to the printed area A45 may be visible on the side S40. Printed area With this configuration, cutting misalignment can also be quantitatively grasped.

[0058] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a printing area A51 and a corresponding printing pattern applied to a page P5 of a book. In the page P5 shown in FIG. 7(a), the width of the printing area A51 changes smoothly from top to bottom, and the outer edge of the printing area A51 is formed so as to straddle the finish line L50. In the figure, the width of the printing area A51 increases toward the bottom in the figure. When a plurality of such pages P5 are stacked to form a book, as shown in FIG. 7(b), a sawtooth notch pattern randomly extending from the bottom to the top of the book appears on the side S50 as a printing pattern M50. This printing pattern M50 is formed to reflect both the vertical and depth misalignments of the side S50. The encoding unit 15 can also extract the book's unique identification information by encoding such a printing pattern M50.

[0059] Furthermore, the book may be produced without providing bleed areas for the printing areas of some pages among the printing areas printed on multiple pages that constitute one printing pattern. With this configuration, the printing pattern is reliably left blank in the portion corresponding to the page that is not bled. The determination unit 13 may store the portion where the blank occurs in advance in correspondence with the identification information of the book, and determine the presence or absence of this blank in the photographed data, and may not permit access or grant of access authority if there is no blank in a predetermined position. Furthermore, the determination unit 13 may not permit access or grant of access authority if there is no portion corresponding to the blank in the code data. With this configuration, the blank ensures that the photographed data is reliably the printing pattern of the book, and counterfeiting of the printing pattern can be prevented.

[0060] The encoding unit 15 may also analyze a printed pattern (not shown) corresponding to the printed area A52 printed at a fixed width at the end of the page P5 together with the printed pattern corresponding to the printed area A52. The printed area A52 expresses a printed pattern that reflects the vertical misalignment of the page P5 in the figure. Therefore, the encoding unit 15 can also extract the misalignment in the depth direction on the side surface S50 by subtracting the effect of the vertical misalignment extracted from the printed pattern corresponding to the printed area A52 from the printed pattern M50. In such a case, the encoding unit 15 may separate the misalignment in the depth direction and the vertical misalignment and generate them as code data.

[0061] Furthermore, when a printed area is exposed on each of a plurality of sides, the coding unit 15 may extract one piece of code data from a plurality of captured images of the plurality of printed areas. With this configuration, coding is performed based on more information, so that code data with higher individual identification accuracy can be generated. Furthermore, when a book is configured so that the same printed areas are exposed on a plurality of sides, the coding unit 15 may use any of the plurality of captured images for coding. In this case, for example, the coding unit 15 may code each of the plurality of captured images, and then determine the appropriately coded image as the code data. With this configuration, even if some of the plurality of sides are damaged by sunburn or appropriate dirt, the code data can be accurately extracted.

[0062] Furthermore, when the print area is exposed on the fore-edge and either the top or bottom of the book, the misalignment of the print area appearing up and down on the fore-edge appears as a striped pattern with intermittent blank areas because it is shifted toward the front and back when the top or bottom is viewed from the front. Therefore, taking this premise into consideration, the encoding unit 15 may generate code data by integrating image data of the fore-edge and at least one of the top and bottom, or the fore-edge, top and bottom.

[0063] Furthermore, when the printed areas are exposed on both the top and bottom, the misalignment that occurs in the same book appears on the top and bottom in a corresponding manner. Therefore, the printed area appearing on the top and the printed area appearing on the bottom have patterns with inverted shading. Therefore, the coding unit 15 may generate code data by integrating the captured image data of the top and bottom. More specifically, for example, by multiplying the reciprocals of both printed areas, code data can be generated that further emphasizes the misalignment of the individual.

[0064] In addition, as a pre-processing of the coding process by the coding unit 15, a process for making the captured data easier to read may be performed using a known image correction technique. In addition, the coding unit 15 may generate code data by excluding vertical deviations of less than a predetermined thickness. The specific calculation process for excluding is arbitrary, and for example, moving average processing, appropriate low-pass filter processing, binarization processing using a predetermined threshold, etc. may be performed on the waveform generated by the deviation. With this configuration, even if the camera of the user terminal 2 has a low resolution, certain code data can be generated and can be more accurately compared with the code data stored in the storage unit 50. The exclusion process performed by the coding unit 15 may be selectable by the administrator of the book management device 1. In particular, the administrator may be able to select the accuracy of analyzing the captured data. The higher the accuracy of the analysis, the lower the noise resistance of the analysis, but the more precise the code data can be generated.

[0065] The obtained code data is stored in the book information table T2 together with the identification information of the user terminal 2 that transmitted the photographed data. At this time, the book information table T2 may store hashed code data.

[0066] The authority granting unit 16 is a functional unit that grants access authority for a predetermined service to the user terminal 2 that transmitted the captured image when there is no user associated with the code data. The access authority is stored in the user table T1 together with the user identification information.

[0067] With this configuration, the code data extracted from the book is linked to the user's identification information, allowing the user, who is the owner of the book, to use services associated with the book.

[0068] The communication processing unit 17 is a processing unit that enables data transmission and reception processing with the book management device 1 according to a predetermined protocol via a network NW such as the Internet, and is realized by an application, a Web browser, or the like. The communication processing unit 17 particularly receives an access request from the user terminal 2. The communication processing unit 17 also receives photographed data of a book from the user terminal 2. Furthermore, the communication processing unit 17 may transmit information indicating access permission or information itself related to a service associated with the book to the user terminal 2.

[0069] ● Sequence diagram for user registration and access permission The flow of information when initial user registration is input from the user terminal 2 and access rights are granted from the book management device 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 8. As shown in Fig. 8, first, the user terminal 2 accepts input of user data as a user registration process and transmits it to the book management device 1 (step S101). At this time, a step may be executed in which the book management device 1 or an appropriate linked security management system sends a confirmation notice to contact information included in the user data, such as an email address or a phone number, to confirm that the contact information belongs to the user.

[0070] The user terminal 2 also transmits an access request to the book management device 1 for a service associated with the book, and the book management device 1 receives this (step S102). The book management device 1 transmits an image capture request to the user terminal 2 to capture an image of a specific part of the book and transmit the captured image data to the user terminal 2 (step S103a). The user terminal 2 transmits the image capture data of the book captured in response to the image capture request to the book management device 1 (step S104). Steps S103 and S104 are repeated multiple times depending on the number of image capture parts included in the image capture request.

[0071] The book management device 1 encodes the captured image and acquires code data indicating the identification information of the book (step SS105). Next, the book management device 1 associates the user data, the code data, and the access authority, stores them in the storage unit 50 (step S106), and transmits the access authority to the user terminal 2 (step S107).

[0072] According to such a configuration, in order to obtain access authority, the book must be in hand and photographed, so that access authority can be given only to the owner of the book.

[0073] Flowchart for determining whether a user can access the device As shown in Fig. 7, first, the user data acquisition unit 11 of the book management device 1 acquires user data from the user terminal 2 (step S201). Next, the access request acquisition unit 12 acquires an access request to the service from the user terminal 2 (step S202). Next, the storage unit 50 is referenced to determine whether or not the access authority is linked to the user data (step S203). If the access authority is linked to the user data (Y in step S204), the access permission is transmitted to the user terminal 2 (step S204), and the process ends.

[0074] In step S204, if the access authority is not associated with the user data (N in step S204), the imaging request generating unit 14 generates an imaging request including information on the requested imaging region and the like (step S205). Then, the imaging request is transmitted to the user terminal 2 (step S206). When imaging data is received from the user terminal 2 (Y in step S207), the process proceeds to step S208.

[0075] Next, the coding unit 15 of the book management device 1 extracts an area including the identification information of the book from the photographed data and codes it (step S208). Next, the memory unit 50 is referred to, and it is determined whether the coded data obtained in step S209 is linked to another user (step S209). If it is linked to another user, the communication processing unit 17 transmits to the user terminal 2 that access is not permitted (step S210). If the coded data is not linked to another user, the coded data is linked to the user data, and access authority is granted to the user data, which is stored in the memory unit 50 (step S211). Next, the access permission is transmitted to the user terminal 2 (step S212). Thereafter, the book management device 1 allows the server or the like to access in response to a request from the user terminal 2, and provides a service.

[0076] According to such a configuration, a user to whom the access authority is linked can use the service without photographing the book again. According to a configuration in which whether or not the access authority obtained by the book is linked to another user is determined based on the identification information of the book, and if the access authority is linked to another user, the access authority is not granted. Since the access authority can be limited to one for one book, the use of the service by people who do not have the book can be restricted. Furthermore, by reliably managing the owner of the book, the service associated with the book can be reliably used only by the owner of the book.

[0077] ●How to manufacture printed matter A method for producing a printed matter according to another embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for producing a printed matter managed by the book management device 1 according to the present invention. The printed matter is, for example, a book, and is composed of a plurality of pages P2 (see FIG. 4) that are consecutive in a predetermined order. The method for producing a printed matter includes at least the following steps.

[0078] First, among the multiple pages P2, pages having bleed areas M21 that are outside the finish line L20 and have print instructions specified, that is, bleed pages, are extracted. If there are bleed pages, multiple bleed pages in which the bleed areas M21 appear consecutively in approximately the same range on the paper surface are identified as a page bundle. If there is a page bundle, in the step of printing multiple pages, some of the bleed pages included in the page bundle are printed excluding the bleed areas M21. The pages excluding the printing of the bleed areas may be multiple consecutive pages, or may be intermittent at multiple locations. Next, the multiple pages P2 are cut at the finish line L20. Note that if a bleed page is not extracted in the step of extracting bleed pages, or if a page bundle is not extracted in the step of identifying the page bundle, the pages may be printed without excluding the bleed areas, and cut at the finish line.

[0079] With a printed matter produced by this production method, the printed pattern appearing on the side of the printed matter will be blank in the portion corresponding to the printed page P2 excluding the bleed area M21. The book management device 1 stores the blank areas in advance in correspondence with the identification information of the book, and can determine whether the photographed printed pattern has this blank, thereby determining whether the photographed printed pattern is genuine and appears on the side of a specific book. In other words, with this production method for printed matter, a printed matter can be produced in which the authenticity of the printed pattern can be determined by the book management device 1.

[0080] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 1 Book management device 11 User data acquisition section 12 Access request acquisition unit 13 Judgment section 14. Shooting request generation unit 15 Coding section 16 Authorization Department 17 Communication processing section 50 Storage section 2. User terminal

Claims

1. A print management device that is connected to at least a user terminal via a network and manages the identification information of printed materials, In the aforementioned printed material, on the side surface formed by the accumulation of multiple pages, a printed pattern is formed by exposing the printed area from the paper surface to the edge of the page. A coding unit generates code data which is identification information for the printed material by coding an image taken from the user terminal of the side surface where the printed pattern appears, obtained from the user terminal. A storage unit that stores user identification information associated with the user terminal and the code data in association, Equipped with, Printed matter management device.

2. Upon receiving a request for ownership information along with the user's identification information, the response unit refers to the storage unit, checks for the presence or absence of the code data associated with the user, responds with ownership information indicating that the user possesses the corresponding printed material if the code data exists, and responds with ownership information indicating that the user does not possess the printed material if the code data does not exist. Furthermore, The printed material management device according to claim 1.

3. When the captured image is acquired from the user terminal, the encoding unit generates code data from the captured image, refers to the storage unit, and if there is no user associated with the code data, the authorization granting unit grants access rights to a predetermined service to the user terminal that sent the captured image. Furthermore, The printed material management device according to claim 1.

4. When an access request to the service is received from the user terminal, a determination unit refers to the access rights of the user associated with the user terminal and determines whether the user terminal is allowed to access the service. Furthermore, The printed material management device according to claim 3.

5. A shooting request generation unit generates a shooting request requesting the captured image to the user terminal that sent the access request. Furthermore, The printed material management device according to claim 4.

6. The printed material comprises a plurality of the aforementioned sides, The aforementioned printed pattern is exposed on multiple of the aforementioned sides, The aforementioned shooting request generation unit requests multiple side view images for the printed material 1. The printed material management device according to claim 5.

7. The determination unit refers to the storage unit and, if the code data is associated with a user different from the user associated with the user terminal that sent the access request, denies access to the user terminal. The printed material management device according to claim 4.

8. On one side of the printed material, a plurality of the printed patterns are exposed along the length of the page. The coding unit generates one code data from the captured images in which multiple printed patterns are photographed. The printed material management device according to claim 1.

9. The side of the printed material is at least one of the fore-edge, top, and bottom of the printed material. The printed material management device according to claim 1.

10. The storage unit records the code data and NFT information in association. The printed material management device according to claim 1.

11. A method for managing printed materials, which is performed by a printed materials management device connected to at least a user terminal via a network, In the aforementioned printed material, on the side surface formed by the accumulation of multiple pages, a printed pattern is formed by exposing the printed area from the paper surface to the edge of the page. A coding step to generate code data which is identification information for the printed material by coding an image taken from the user terminal of the side surface where the printed pattern appears, obtained from the user terminal, A storage step that stores the user identification information associated with the user terminal and the code data in association, Execute How to manage printed matter.

12. A computer program for managing printed materials, which is executed by a computer connected to a user terminal via a network, In the aforementioned printed material, on the side surface formed by the accumulation of multiple pages, a printed pattern is formed by exposing the printed area from the paper surface to the edge of the page. For computers, A coding command that generates code data which is identification information of the printed material by coding an image taken from the user terminal of the side surface where the printed pattern appears, A storage instruction that stores the user identification information associated with the user terminal and the code data in association, Execute Computer program.

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