Packaging material printing content determination device, packaging material printing content determination method, and program

Abstract

To prevent information that should be protected for a recipient from being attached to the surface of a packaging material, in a packaging material printing content determination device, a packaging material printing content determination method, and a program.SOLUTION: A packaging material printing content determination device (e.g., EC server 100 or print control device 300) includes an image data acquisition unit (111, step S1) that acquires image data (D1) on the surface of a packaging material that contains a product, a target area determination unit (112, step S2) that determines a protection target area in the image data (D1), and a print data generation unit (113, step S3) that generates print data (D2, D3) so that the protection target area is concealed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging print content determination device, a packaging print content determination method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] In the past, in order to prevent personal information about the recipient from leaking when delivering a package, a method has been proposed in which personal information such as the recipient's address, name, telephone number, and type of product is recorded in an IC tag and attached to the package (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] In addition, a delivery address label has been proposed that breaks when removed from the packaging material that contains the delivery item, making the information written in the recipient's address and sender's address sections invisible (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

[0004] In addition, an image forming device has been proposed that, when printed paper contains information that must be protected, such as personal information, by printing a predetermined area on a transparent sheet that includes at least the area where the information to be protected is printed, thereby concealing and protecting the information to be protected from being seen by others (see, for example, Patent Document 3). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-008129 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-025678 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-167083 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As mentioned above, there are known methods for concealing personal information such as product delivery address information. However, the surface of packaging materials such as cardboard boxes in which products are packed may be printed with product names, the seller's (manufacturer's) company name and logo, campaign advertisements, etc. While the content printed on the surface of these packaging materials can clarify the delivered product and have an appealing effect for sellers, recipients may not want others to know what they have purchased during the delivery process.

[0007] Furthermore, if all information such as the product name and seller is erased uniformly from the surface of the packaging, the recipient will not be able to determine what kind of package it is, so it is desirable to conceal only specific information on the surface of the packaging.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a packaging print content determination device, a packaging print content determination method, and a program that can prevent information that should be protected for the recipient from being attached to the surface of the packaging material. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In one embodiment, the packaging printing content determination device includes an image data acquisition unit that acquires image data of the surface of the packaging that contains the product, a target area determination unit that determines an area to be protected in the image data, and a print data generation unit that generates print data so that the area to be protected is concealed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to this aspect, it is possible to prevent information that should be protected for the recipient from being attached to the surface of the packaging material. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an EC server or the like that functions as a packaging printing content determination device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining printing of inkjet print content (print data) onto packaging material in one embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of image data of the surface of a packaging material according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram (part 1) for explaining how a protection target area is determined in an embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a protection target area setting screen (manual setting) according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating generation of print data for concealing a protection target area according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram (part 1) showing an example of a protection target area setting screen (strong privacy protection setting) according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram (part 2) showing an example of a protection target area setting screen (weak privacy protection setting) according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing print data obtained by processing image data according to an embodiment. [Figure 10] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining packaging print contents according to an embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a print control device and the like that function as a packaging print content determination device according to a modified example of an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A packaging print content determination device, a packaging print content determination method, and a program according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an EC server 100 and other components that function as a packaging printing content determination device according to one embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining printing of inkjet print content Pb (print data D2) on packaging material P. As shown in FIG.

[0015] The EC server 100 shown in FIG. 1 is a server device that manages product information and purchaser information to operate an EC (Electronic Commerce) site that sells products on a website, and includes a control unit 110, a storage unit 120, and an interface unit 130. The EC server 100 is an example of a packaging printing content determination device. The EC server 100 communicates with a purchaser terminal 200, a print control device 300, and the like via a network N. A system that includes a packaging printing content determination device, such as the EC server 100, and a printing device 400 can be called a printing system.

[0016] The control unit 110 has, for example, one or more processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit) that function as an arithmetic processing device that controls the operation of each unit of the EC server 100. This processor functions as an image data acquisition unit 111, a target area determination unit 112, and a print data generation unit 113 by, for example, reading and executing a predetermined program from the storage unit 120 or from a storage medium (a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium) that is detachable from the EC server 100. In this way, the control unit 110 (or the EC server 100) functions as an example of a computer that executes a program.

[0017] The image data acquisition unit 111 acquires image data D1 of the surface of a packaging material P (see FIG. 2 ) that contains a product. This image data D1 may be, for example, original data of preprinted printing content, such as flexographic printing content Pa, printed on the packaging material P by flexographic printing (or original data of printing content that is not preprinted and is printed by the printing unit 410), or image data D1 of the surface of the packaging material P imaged by the imaging device 500 (described later) after the flexographic printing content Pa has been printed by flexographic printing. The image data D1 imaged by the imaging device 500 may be a preprinted image of the surface of another packaging material P on which the same flexographic printing content Pa has been printed, or may be an image of the surface of the packaging material P that actually contains the product to be sold. Note that flexographic printing, which is an example of preprinting, is merely one example of a printing method for the image data D1, and other printing methods, such as inkjet printing, may also be used. Furthermore, flexographic printing may be performed at a distribution center (described later), or may be preprinted on the surface of the packaging material P before it is delivered to the distribution center. Here, the packaging material P is, for example, a cardboard box, but it may also be a plastic case, a bag-like object, etc., and is not particularly limited. Furthermore, the surfaces of the packaging material P are the front, back, left, right, and top surfaces, but may also be the bottom surface, especially when the packaging material P is bag-like.

[0018] The target area determination unit 112 determines the protection target area in the image data D1 acquired by the image data acquisition unit 111. This protection target area may be determined by accepting input from a user, or may be determined automatically by the target area determination unit 112. As will be described in detail later, when accepting input from a user, the target area determination unit 112 determines the protection target area by presenting the image data D1 to the user and accepting input of the protection target area from the user. When automatically determining the protection target area, the target area determination unit 112 may determine, for example, information that falls under the NG list, including specific characters or images such as "hemorrhoids" or "diapers," or predetermined information such as the product name or the purchased manufacturer, as the protection target area based on the recipient's attribute information. Note that the user may be, for example, a purchaser using the purchaser terminal 200, but may also be another user, such as a person managing the EC server 100.

[0019] The print data generation unit 113 generates print data D2 so as to conceal the protection target area determined by the target area determination unit 112. The generation of print data D2 will be described in detail later, but for example, the print data generation unit 113 generates print data D2 (inkjet printing content Pb) for concealing the protection target area (e.g., the characters "for hemorrhoids") that is printed after the image data D1 (flexographic printing content Pa) is printed on the surface of the packaging material P as shown in Fig. 2. Alternatively, the print data generation unit 113 generates print data D3 for the case where pre-printing is not performed by processing the image data D1 (adding print data D2) so as to conceal the protection target area, as shown in Fig. 9.

[0020] The storage unit 120 includes, for example, a memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), which is a read-only semiconductor memory in which a predetermined control program is pre-recorded, a RAM (Random Access Memory), which is a semiconductor memory that can be written and read at any time and is used as a working storage area as needed when the processor executes various control programs, a hard disk drive, etc. The storage unit 120 may also include an external storage device (database) to store information on a large number of products and information on a large number of purchasers.

[0021] The interface unit 130 exchanges various types of information with external devices such as the purchaser terminal 200 and the print control device 300. For example, the interface unit 130 receives sales information (recipient attribute information and product information) from the purchaser terminal 200, and receives image data D1 of the surface of the packaging material P from the imaging device 500 via the print control device 300.

[0022] The purchaser terminal 200 includes a control unit 210, a memory unit 220, an input unit 230, a display unit 240, and an interface unit 250. The purchaser terminal 200 is a terminal of a purchaser who purchases an item, and is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a laptop computer.

[0023] The control unit 210 has, for example, a processor (e.g., a CPU) that functions as an arithmetic processing device that controls the operation of each unit of the purchaser terminal 200. This processor reads and executes a predetermined program from, for example, the storage unit 220 or from a storage medium (non-transitory computer-readable storage medium) that is detachable from the purchaser terminal 200.

[0024] The storage unit 220 includes, for example, a ROM, which is a read-only semiconductor memory in which predetermined control programs are pre-recorded, and a RAM, which is a semiconductor memory that can be written and read at any time and is used as a working memory area as needed when the processor executes various control programs.

[0025] The input unit 230 has, for example, a touch panel or operation keys, and receives input of various information from the user.

[0026] The display unit 240 is a display that displays various types of information.

[0027] The interface unit 250 exchanges various types of information with external devices such as the EC server 100. For example, the interface unit 250 transmits sales information to the EC server 100.

[0028] The print control device 300 includes a control unit 310, a memory unit 320, an input unit 330, a display unit 340, and an interface unit 350. The print control device 300 controls the print device 400. The print control device 300 may be a dedicated terminal for controlling printing by the print device 400, or may function as a delivery management device for a delivery company (logistics company). Alternatively, the print device 400 may function as the print control device 300. The print control device 300, the print device 400, and the imaging device 500 may be located in a delivery center. This delivery center is, for example, a 3PL (Third Party Logistics) that packs products purchased from an e-commerce site of the e-commerce server 100 into packaging material P and prints flexographic printing content Pa or inkjet printing content Pb on the packaging material P. The products packed in packaging material P at the delivery center are delivered to a recipient (e.g., the same person as the purchaser).

[0029] The control unit 310 has a processor (e.g., a CPU) that functions as an arithmetic processing unit. This processor reads and executes a predetermined program from, for example, the storage unit 320 or from a storage medium (a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium) that is detachable from the print control device 300.

[0030] The storage unit 320 includes, for example, a ROM, which is a read-only semiconductor memory in which predetermined control programs are pre-recorded, and a RAM, which is a semiconductor memory that can be written and read at any time and is used as a working memory area as needed when the processor executes various control programs.

[0031] The input unit 330 includes, for example, a keyboard and a mouse, and receives input of various information from the user.

[0032] The display unit 340 is a display that displays various information.

[0033] The interface unit 350 exchanges various types of information with external devices such as the EC server 100, the printing device 400, and the imaging device 500.

[0034] The printing device 400 includes a printing unit 410, a control unit 420, a storage unit 430, and an interface unit 440.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, the printing unit 410 has six print heads 411 for each color, for example, black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. As an example, the printing unit 410 prints inkjet printing content Pb (print data D2) for concealing the words "for hemorrhoids" on the surface of the packaging material P. The print heads 411 are shown with hidden dashed lines because they are located behind the printing unit 410 and not visible in FIG. 2. For example, the six print heads 411 for each color are arranged vertically at different positions in the transport direction of the packaging material P transported on the conveyor C. Each of the multiple print heads 411 ejects ink in a horizontal direction to print. This horizontal direction is a direction intersecting the vertical direction and the transport direction of the packaging material P (to the right in FIG. 2), and is, for example, a horizontal direction. However, the print heads 411 may eject ink in other directions, such as vertically downward, when printing on the top surface of the packaging material P. Furthermore, the printing unit 410 may be a printing unit 410 other than the inkjet type, such as a flexographic printing type or a thermal type.

[0036] The control unit 420 has, for example, a processor (e.g., a CPU) that functions as an arithmetic processing unit that controls the operation of each unit of the printing device 400. This processor reads and executes a predetermined program from, for example, the storage unit 430 or from a storage medium (non-transitory computer-readable storage medium) that is detachable from the printing device 400.

[0037] The storage unit 430 includes, for example, a ROM, which is a read-only semiconductor memory in which predetermined control programs are pre-recorded, and a RAM, which is a semiconductor memory that can be written and read at any time and is used as a working memory area as needed when the processor executes various control programs.

[0038] The interface unit 440 exchanges various types of information with external devices such as the print control device 300 .

[0039] The imaging device 500, for example, captures an image of the surface of the packaging material P shown in FIG. 2 to obtain image data D1 of the flexographically printed content Pa printed on the surface of the packaging material P by flexographic printing. This image data D1 is sent to the EC server 100 (image data acquisition unit 111) via, for example, the print control device 300. The imaging device 500 has an imaging element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). Note that the imaging device 500 may also be configured as an inspection device for inspecting the print quality of the flexographically printed content Pa and whether the printed content is correct, or as a reading device for reading information such as a two-dimensional code for delivery management of the packaging material P.

[0040] Here, a method for determining packaging print contents according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 10. Note that explanations of matters that overlap with the above explanation will be omitted as appropriate.

[0041] The processing of the flowchart shown in Figure 10 may be performed by the control unit 110 of the EC server 100, for example, when a product is sold on the EC site of the EC server 100, based on the EC server 100 receiving sales information (e.g., product information and recipient attribute information) from the purchaser terminal 200.

[0042] First, the image data acquisition unit 111 acquires image data D1 (see Figure 3) of the surface of the packaging material P that contains the product, for example, image data D1 that is the original data of the flexographic printing content Pa, or image data D1 captured by the imaging device 500 (step S1).

[0043] Next, the target area determination unit 112 determines a protection target area in the image data D1 (step S2). For example, the target area determination unit 112 presents a preview of the image data D1 on the display unit 240 of the purchaser terminal 200 of a purchaser (user) who has purchased a product on the EC site of the EC server 100. In this case, the target area determination unit 112 may extract each element of the image data D1, such as characters and logos, and display candidate areas A1 to A5 as visible to the user using dashed lines, as shown in FIG. 4. The candidate areas A1 to A5 may be input by the user via the input unit 230 and accepted by the target area determination unit 112. In particular, if the image data D1 is source data for flexographic printing, each element of the image data D1 may be associated with type information, such as "product name," "purchasing manufacturer (logo)," "purchasing manufacturer (name)," and "campaign advertisement," as shown in the setting screen F1 in FIG. 5, when generating the image data D1.

[0044] 4, it is preferable that check boxes B1 to B5 corresponding to the candidate areas A1 to A5 are also displayed in the image data D1 presented to the user. When the user selects one of the check boxes B1 to B5, the target area determination unit 112 can accept the candidate area A1 to A5 corresponding to the selected check box B1 to B5 as input of the area to be protected.

[0045] For example, when the user selects the character "for hemorrhoids" in the character "Kikunar for hemorrhoids" (candidate area A2) corresponding to the product name, the character "for hemorrhoids" may be displayed as candidate area A1 (check box B1) on the image data D1.

[0046] As described above, when each part of the image data D1 is linked to type information such as "product name," "purchased manufacturer (logo)," "purchased manufacturer (name)," and "campaign advertisement," as in the setting screen F1 shown in FIG. 5, the target area determination unit 112 may present the setting screen F1 to the user and accept candidate areas A1 to A5 corresponding to the check boxes of each item on the setting screen F1 as input of the area to be protected.

[0047] In the example of FIG. 5, items (category information) such as "All except necessary information" corresponding to all candidate areas A1 to A5, "Product name (all)" corresponding to candidate area A2, "Product name (partial)" corresponding to candidate area A1, "Purchased manufacturer (all)" corresponding to candidate areas A3 and A4, "Purchased manufacturer (logo)" corresponding to candidate area A3, "Purchased manufacturer (name)" corresponding to candidate area A4, and "Campaign advertisement" corresponding to candidate area A5 are displayed. Because it is undesirable to conceal "product lot" such as the letters "ABC" shown in FIG. 4, "warning marks" such as images indicating careful handling or images indicating fragile items, and "product codes" such as barcodes, these cannot be set as protected areas on the setting screen F1 shown in FIG. 5. Therefore, check boxes are not displayed. Therefore, these pieces of information may be excluded from the image data D1 previewed to the user. Images for which variable printing is performed, such as the "product lot" and expiration date, may be printed by the printing unit 410 along with the print data D2.

[0048] As shown in Figure 5, when the check box for "Product name (part)" corresponding to candidate area A1 is selected, the target area determination unit 112 determines the characters "hemorrhoids" (candidate area A1) shown in Figure 4 as the area to be protected.

[0049] The target area determination unit 112 may allow the user to select the protection target area as an automatic privacy protection setting of "strong," "medium," or "weak," as in the setting screen F2 shown in Fig. 7. For example, when the user selects the "strong" checkbox, all of the candidate areas A1 to A5 shown in Fig. 4 may be input as the protection target area, and when the user selects the "weak" checkbox as shown in Fig. 8, only a part of the candidate areas, such as A1 and A4 shown in Fig. 4, may be input as the protection target area.

[0050] As described above, the target area determination unit 112 may automatically determine, as the protection target area, information that falls under the NG list, including specific characters or images, or predetermined information such as product names and purchased manufacturers. In this case, the target area determination unit 112 may determine the protection target area based on attribute information, such as the recipient's age information, gender information, delivery address information, and purchase history information. For example, if the target area determination unit 112 determines that the recipient is male or young (e.g., under 40 years old), it may not set the character string "hemorrhoids" as the protection target area, but if the recipient is female or elderly (e.g., over 40 years old), it may set the character string "hemorrhoids" as the protection target area. Alternatively, if the recipient is determined to be under 50 years old, it may not set the character string or image "diaper" (which image may be identifiable by known image processing) as the protection target area, but if the recipient is determined to be over 50 years old, it may set the character string or image "diaper" as the protection target area. Furthermore, with regard to the area to be protected that is determined based on attribute information, not only when the area to be protected is determined automatically by the area determination unit 112, but also when user input is accepted, for example, a state in which some or all of the check boxes B1 to B5 are selected in advance may be presented to the user as an initial setting.

[0051] Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 10, the print data generation unit 113 generates print data D2 so that the protection target area is concealed (step S3), and the processing shown in FIG. 10 ends. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the print data generation unit 113 generates print data D2 that blacks out the characters "hemorrhoids" so that the characters "hemorrhoids" already printed (candidate area A1) are concealed. This print data D2 may be, for example, a solid print such as black, a mosaic pattern that makes the content (the characters "hemorrhoids") difficult to see, or an arbitrary image. The print data D2 may also include an image that is placed for decoration or the like in a position different from the protection target area.

[0052] 2 prints the flexographic printing content Pa corresponding to the image data D1, and then prints the inkjet printing content Pb corresponding to the print data D2 (inkjet printing content Pb) for concealing the area to be protected (for example, the characters "for hemorrhoids"). However, as described above, the printing unit 410 may also print the flexographic printing content Pa corresponding to the image data D1.

[0053] In this case, the print data generation unit 113 may generate print data D3 by processing the image data D1 (adding print data D2) so that the protection target area (for example, the characters "for hemorrhoids") is concealed, as shown in Fig. 9. Note that the print data generation unit 113 can also conceal the protection target area by simply deleting the protection target area from the image data D1, replacing the protection target area with other characters or images, lowering the resolution of the protection target area, or removing part of the protection target area (for example, multiple parallel linear portions) and printing it in a discontinuous manner, rather than adding print data D2 such as solid black printing to the image data D1.

[0054] In the present embodiment described above, the EC server 100, which is an example of a packaging printing content determination device, includes an image data acquisition unit 111 that acquires image data D1 of the surface of the packaging P that contains the product, a target area determination unit 112 that determines the area to be protected in the image data D1, and a print data generation unit 113 that generates print data D2 so that the area to be protected is concealed.

[0055] In addition, the method for determining the printing contents of packaging is a method for determining the printing contents of packaging performed by a computer (e.g., the control unit 110 or the EC server 100), and includes acquiring image data D1 of the surface of the packaging P that contains the product (step S1), determining an area to be protected in the image data D1 (step S2), and generating print data D2 so that the area to be protected is concealed (step S3).

[0056] The program also causes a computer (e.g., the control unit 110 or the EC server 100) to perform the following functions: acquiring image data D1 of the surface of the packaging material P that contains the product (step S1); determining the area to be protected in the image data D1 (step S2); and generating print data D2 so that the area to be protected is concealed (step S3).

[0057] In these EC server 100 (packaging print content determination device), packaging print content determination method, and program, print data D2 is generated so that some of the information, such as the product name, seller (manufacturer), and campaign advertisements, which are printed or otherwise attached to the surface of the packaging material P, is concealed as a protected area. Furthermore, compared to an embodiment in which all information attached to the surface of the packaging material P is deleted, this embodiment allows information that is not inconvenient for the recipient to remain, allowing the recipient to determine what kind of product it is. Therefore, this embodiment makes it possible to prevent information that should be protected from the recipient from being attached to the surface of the packaging material P.

[0058] Also, in this embodiment, the target area determination unit 112 (determining or determining the protection target area) determines the protection target area by presenting image data D1 to the user and accepting input of the protection target area from the user.

[0059] This makes it possible to conceal only the information that the recipient (user) who receives the product wishes to protect, thereby more reliably preventing information that the recipient needs to protect from being attached to the surface of the packaging material P.

[0060] In addition, in this embodiment, the print data generation unit 113 (the function of generating or generating print data D2) generates print data D2 for concealing the area to be protected, which is printed after the image data D1 is printed on the surface of the packaging material P.

[0061] As a result, the area to be protected of the print content (corresponding to the image data D1), such as the flexographic print content Pa, already printed on the surface of the packaging material P, can be concealed by printing the print data D2.

[0062] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the print data generation unit 113 (generating or function of generating print data D2) generates print data D3 by processing the image data D1 so that the protection target area is concealed.

[0063] This prevents the protection target area in the image data D1 from being printed in advance on the surface of the packaging material P before the print data D3 is printed. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent information that should be protected for the recipient from being attached to the surface of the packaging material P.

[0064] In the above description, the EC server 100 is used as an example of a packaging printing content determination device, but the packaging printing content determination device may be a device other than the EC server 100, such as a printing control device 300 of a modified example described below. In this case, the packaging printing content determination device may acquire sales information (e.g., product information, recipient attribute information, etc.) from the EC server 100.

[0065] <Modification> FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a print control device 300 and other components that function as a packaging print content determination device according to a modified example of the embodiment.

[0066] In this modification, the print control device 300 functions as a packaging print content determination device. As other matters can be the same as those described above, the following description will focus on the differences.

[0067] 11 functions as an image data acquisition unit 311, a target area determination unit 312, and a print data generation unit 313 by reading and executing a predetermined program, for example, from the storage unit 320 or from a storage medium (non-transitory computer-readable recording medium) that is detachable from the print control device 300. In this way, the control unit 310 (or the print control device 300) functions as an example of a computer that executes a program.

[0068] The image data acquisition unit 311, the target area determination unit 312, and the print data generation unit 313 may be similar to the image data acquisition unit 111, the target area determination unit 112, and the print data generation unit 113 described above.

[0069] As described above, the print control device 300 is located in a distribution center together with the imaging device 500. Therefore, the image data acquisition unit 311 of the print control device 300 can easily acquire the image data D1 captured by the imaging device 500. In this case, the target area determination unit 312 of the print control device 300 may automatically determine, as the protection target area, information that falls under the NG list and includes specific characters or images, or predetermined information such as the product name or purchased manufacturer, as described above. However, the target area determination unit 312 may also determine the protection target area by presenting the image data D1 to the user (the purchaser of the purchaser terminal 200) and accepting input of the protection target area.

[0070] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the components can be modified and embodied in practice without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, all components shown in the embodiments may be appropriately combined. Naturally, various modifications and applications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. Below, a portion of the invention described in the specification and drawings of this application is additionally noted.

[0071] [Appendix 1] an image data acquisition unit that acquires image data of the surface of a packaging material that contains the product; a target area determination unit that determines a protection target area in the image data; a print data generation unit that generates print data so that the protection target area is concealed; A packaging printing content determination device comprising:

[0072] [Appendix 2] The target area determination unit determines the protection target area by presenting the image data to a user and receiving an input of the protection target area from the user. 2. The packaging printing content determination device according to claim 1.

[0073] [Appendix 3] The print data generation unit generates the print data for concealing the protection target area, which is printed after the image data is printed on the front surface. 3. The packaging printing content determination device according to claim 1 or 2.

[0074] [Appendix 4] The print data generation unit generates the print data by processing the image data so that the protection target area is concealed. 3. The packaging printing content determination device according to claim 1 or 2.

[0075] [Appendix 5] A packaging printing content determination method carried out by a computer, comprising: Acquiring image data of a surface of a packaging material containing the product; determining a region to be protected in the image data; generating print data so that the protection target area is concealed; A method for determining packaging printing contents, comprising:

[0076] [Appendix 6] A function for acquiring image data of the surface of packaging that contains the product; determining a region to be protected in the image data; a function of generating print data so that the protection target area is concealed; A program that makes the computer realize the above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 100 EC server (packaging material printing content determination device) 110 control section 111 Image data acquisition unit 112 Target area determination unit 113 Print data generation unit 120 Storage section 130 Interface section 200 Buyer Terminal 210 Control Unit 220 Storage section 230 Input section 240 Display section 250 Interface section 300 Printing control device (packaging material printing content determination device) 310 Control Unit 311 Image data acquisition unit 312 Target Area Determination Unit 313 Print data generation unit 320 Storage section 330 Input section 340 Display section 350 Interface section 400 Printing equipment 410 Printing Department 411 Print Head 420 Control Unit 430 Storage section 440 Interface section 500 Imaging device A1~A5 Candidate area B1~B5 Checkboxes C Conveyor D1 Image data D2 print data D3 print data F1,F2 setting screen N Network P packaging material Pa Flexographic printing content (image data) Pb Inkjet print content (print data)

Claims

1. an image data acquisition unit that acquires image data of the surface of a packaging material that contains the product; a target area determination unit that determines a protection target area in the image data; a print data generation unit that generates print data so that the protection target area is concealed; A packaging printing content determination device comprising:

2. The target area determination unit determines the protection target area by presenting the image data to a user and receiving an input of the protection target area from the user.

2. The packaging printing content determination device according to claim 1.

3. The print data generation unit generates the print data for concealing the protection target area, which is printed after the image data is printed on the front surface.

3. The packaging printing content determination device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The print data generation unit generates the print data by processing the image data so that the protection target area is concealed.

3. The packaging printing content determination device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. A method for determining packaging printing content performed by a computer, comprising: Acquiring image data of a surface of a packaging material containing the product; determining a region to be protected in the image data; generating print data so that the protection target area is concealed; A method for determining packaging printing contents, comprising:

6. A function for acquiring image data of the surface of packaging that contains the product; determining a region to be protected in the image data; a function of generating print data so that the protection target area is concealed; A program that makes the computer realize the above.

Images