Advertisement contents setting device, printing system, advertisement contents setting method, and program

Abstract

To nullify an unnecessary existing printed image already printed on a recycled packaging material in an advertisement contents setting device, a printing system, an advertisement contents setting method, and a program.SOLUTION: An advertisement contents setting device (100) comprises an existing image information acquisition unit (111, step S1) of acquiring existing printed image information of an existing printed image (Pa) already printed on a recycled packaging material (P), a print advertisement image acquisition unit (112, step S2) of acquiring a print advertisement image (Pb) to be printed on the recycled packaging material (P), and a nullification area determination unit (113, step S5) of determining a nullification area of the existing printed image (Pa).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an advertisement content setting device, a printing system including the advertisement content setting device, an advertisement content setting method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART A selection support system has been proposed that selects whether to reuse or recycle packaging materials used in mail-order sales based on the number of times they have been reused and deterioration information (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Furthermore, a packaging material tracking system has been proposed that allows information about packaging paper to be tracked and provides incentives for reuse (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

[0004] Furthermore, in order to increase the advertising appeal of the advertisement to the recipient of the product, an advertisement printing method has been proposed in which an advertisement based on advertising information is printed on the packaging material of the product (see, for example, Patent Document 3). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-043818 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2021-140791 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-061049 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] When a product is ordered on an EC (Electronic Commerce) site, the product is packed in packaging before being delivered. From the perspective of resource conservation, it is desirable that packaging used in such mail-order distribution channels be reused.

[0007] When a recipient who receives packaging containing a product reuses the packaging, the recycled packaging already has pre-existing images, such as advertisements, on it. These pre-existing images are usually set to suit the original recipient. Therefore, when a product is packed in recycled packaging and delivered, the pre-existing images may not be suitable for another recipient who receives the recycled packaging, and may not be effective as an advertisement.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide an advertisement content setting device, a printing system, an advertisement content setting method, and a program that can invalidate unnecessary existing images that have already been printed on reusable packaging materials. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In one embodiment, the advertising content setting device includes an existing image information acquisition unit that acquires existing posted image information of an existing posted image that has already been posted on a recycled packaging material, an posted advertising image acquisition unit that acquires a posted advertising image to be posted on the recycled packaging material, and an invalidation area determination unit that determines an invalidation area of ​​the existing posted image based on the existing posted image information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to this aspect, it is possible to invalidate unnecessary existing images that have already been printed on the reusable packaging material. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams for explaining printing of an advertisement image and a filled-in image on a reusable packaging material according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram (part 1) for explaining invalidation of an existing published image according to an embodiment. [Figure 4]FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram (part 2) for explaining invalidation of an existing published image according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram (part 3) for explaining invalidation of an existing published image according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining acquisition of an existing published image in one embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an outline of the functions of each device in one embodiment. [Figure 8] 1 is a flowchart illustrating an advertisement content setting method according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An advertisement content setting device, a printing system, an advertisement content setting method, and a program according to embodiments 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 a printing system according to an embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining printing of an advertisement image Pb and a filled-in image Pc on a reusable packaging material P. As shown in FIG.

[0015] 1 includes an advertisement content setting device 100 and a printing device 200. The printing system 1 is, for example, a 3PL (Third Party Logistics) that packs products purchased at an EC site of an EC server 400 or the like into packaging materials (new packaging materials that are not reused packaging materials P), and prints advertisement images Pb to be placed on reused packaging materials P that contain products purchased at a secondary distribution site of a secondary distribution server 600 or the like.

[0016] The advertisement content setting device 100 includes a control unit 110, a storage unit 120, and an interface unit 130. The advertisement content setting device 100 functions as a print control device that controls the printing device 200. The advertisement content setting device 100 may also function as a delivery management device for a delivery company that manages the delivery of products. Alternatively, the printing device 200 may function as the advertisement content setting device 100 by being integrally equipped with the advertisement content setting device 100.

[0017] The control unit 110 has, for example, one or more processors (for example, CPU: Central Processing Unit) that function as an arithmetic processing device that controls the operation of each unit of the advertisement content setting device 100. This processor functions as an existing image information acquisition unit 111, a posted advertisement image acquisition unit 112, an invalidation area determination unit 113, and an invalidation setting information acquisition unit 114, for example, by reading and executing a predetermined program from the storage unit 120 or from a storage medium (non-transitory computer-readable recording medium) that is detachable from the advertisement content setting device 100. In this way, the control unit 110 (or the advertisement content setting device 100) functions as an example of a computer that executes a program. The existing image information acquisition unit 111, the posted advertisement image acquisition unit 112, the invalidation area determination unit 113, and the invalidation setting information acquisition unit 114 will be described later.

[0018] 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. Note that the storage unit 120 may include an external storage device (database) when, for example, a large number of advertisement images Pb to be posted are pre-stored.

[0019] The interface unit 130 exchanges various types of information with external devices such as the printing device 200, the advertising agency terminal 300, the EC server 400, the purchaser terminal 500, and the secondary distribution server 600.

[0020] The printing device 200 includes a printing unit 210, a control unit 220, a storage unit 230, and an interface unit 240. The printing device 200 may further include a display unit and an input unit, similar to the purchaser terminal 500 described below.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the printing unit 210 has, for example, six print heads 211 for each color of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. As an example, the printing unit 210 prints a display advertisement image Pb and a fill-in image Pc (for example, the display advertisement image Pb1 and fill-in image Pc1 shown in FIG. 3(b)) on the reusable packaging material P. The printing unit 210 may also print the seller's logo, text representing the name, product information, etc. along with the display advertisement image Pb. Note that the print heads 211 are shown by hidden dashed lines because they are located behind the printing unit 210 and do not appear in FIG. 2.

[0022] For example, six print heads 211 for each color are arranged in the height direction at different positions in the transport direction of the reusable packaging material P transported on the conveyor C. Each of the multiple print heads 211 ejects ink in the horizontal direction to perform printing. This horizontal direction is a direction intersecting the vertical direction and the transport direction of the reusable packaging material P (to the right in FIG. 2), and is, for example, the horizontal direction. However, the print head 211 may eject ink in other directions, such as vertically downward, in cases where printing is performed on the top surface of the reusable packaging material P. Furthermore, the printing unit 210 may be a printing unit 210 other than an inkjet type, such as a flexographic printing type. Note that a system including the conveyor C and the printing device 200 can be considered a transport system.

[0023] The control unit 220 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 printing device 200. This processor reads and executes a predetermined program, for example, from the storage unit 230 or from a storage medium (a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium) that is detachable from the printing device 200. The storage unit 230 has, for example, memories such as ROM and RAM. The interface unit 240 exchanges various types of information with external devices such as the advertisement content setting device 100.

[0024] The advertising agency terminal 300 is, for example, a terminal of an advertising agency that solicits advertising requests for the advertisement images Pb to be posted from advertisers. This advertising agency may also be called a matching association or matching organization. The advertising agency terminal 300 includes a control unit 310, a memory unit 320, and an interface unit 330. Note that the advertising agency terminal 300 may also further include a display unit and an input unit, similar to the purchaser terminal 500 described below.

[0025] 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, for example, from the storage unit 320 or from a storage medium (non-transitory computer-readable recording medium) that is detachable from the advertising agency terminal 300. The storage unit 320 has memories such as ROM and RAM. The interface unit 330 exchanges various information with external devices such as the advertisement content setting device 100.

[0026] The EC server 400 is, for example, a server device that manages sales information to operate an EC site on a website. The EC site operated by the EC server 400 may be a mall-type EC site that sells products from multiple businesses, or may be a company's own EC site that sells products from a single business. The EC server 400 includes a control unit 410, a storage unit 420, and an interface unit 430. The EC server 400 may also include a display unit and an input unit, similar to the purchaser terminal 500 described below.

[0027] The control unit 410 has a processor (e.g., a CPU) that functions as an arithmetic processing unit. This processor reads and executes a predetermined program, for example, from the storage unit 420 or from a storage medium (a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium) that is detachable from the EC server 400. The storage unit 420 has, for example, memories such as ROM and RAM. The interface unit 430 exchanges various information with external devices such as the advertisement content setting device 100 and the purchaser terminal 500.

[0028] The purchaser terminal 500 is a terminal of a purchaser who purchases a product on the EC site operated by the EC server 400, and this purchaser puts the product up for sale on the secondary distribution site operated by the secondary distribution server 600. The purchaser terminal 500 includes a control unit 510, a memory unit 520, an input unit 530, a display unit 540, and an interface unit 550.

[0029] The control unit 510 has a processor (e.g., a CPU) that functions as an arithmetic processing unit. This processor reads and executes a predetermined program, for example, from the storage unit 520 or from a storage medium (non-transitory computer-readable recording medium) that is detachable from the purchaser terminal 500. The storage unit 520 has memories such as ROM and RAM. The input unit 530 is an operation key, touch panel, mouse, keyboard, etc. for acquiring input information entered by the purchaser. The display unit 540 displays various information to be presented to the purchaser. The interface unit 550 exchanges various information with external devices such as the advertisement content setting device 100, the EC server 400, and the secondary distribution server 600.

[0030] The secondary distribution server 600 is a server device that manages sales information to operate a secondary distribution site for person-to-person transactions, such as a flea market app. The secondary distribution server 600 includes a control unit 610, a storage unit 620, and an interface unit 630. Like the purchaser terminal 500 described above, the secondary distribution server 600 may also include a display unit and an input unit.

[0031] The control unit 610 has a processor (e.g., a CPU) that functions as an arithmetic processing unit. This processor reads and executes a predetermined program, for example, from the storage unit 620 or from a storage medium (a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium) that is detachable from the secondary distribution server 600. The storage unit 620 has, for example, memories such as ROM and RAM. The interface unit 630 exchanges various information with external devices such as the advertisement content setting device 100 and the purchaser terminal 500.

[0032] Returning to the explanation of the control unit 110 of the advertisement content setting device 100, the existing image information acquisition unit 111 acquires existing posted image information of an existing posted image Pa that has already been posted on the reused packaging P shown in Fig. 2. This existing posted image information is, for example, information such as the content of the existing posted image Pa and its position on the reused packaging P (or the advertising area A of the reused packaging P). The reused packaging P may be, for example, a cardboard box, a plastic case, a bag-like object, or the like, and is not particularly limited. The existing posted image Pa is, for example, an existing advertising image that has already been posted on the reused packaging P. However, the existing posted image Pa may also be an image representing the product, the seller, handling information, expiration date, etc.

[0033] The existing image information acquisition unit 111 may identify the reusable packaging material P from a barcode, a two-dimensional code, or the like attached to the reusable packaging material P, and acquire existing published image information of the existing published image Pa from a database for reuse management, the storage unit 120, the EC server 400, or the like. Alternatively, the existing image information acquisition unit 111 may acquire existing published image information of the existing published image Pa from, for example, an imaging device that images the reusable packaging material P.

[0034] The posted advertisement image acquisition unit 112 acquires the posted advertisement image Pb to be posted on the recycled packaging P. For example, the posted advertisement image acquisition unit 112 may determine the posted advertisement image Pb based on sales information of the product contained in the recycled packaging P, posting target area information for the posted advertisement image Pb, and advertisement posting area information for the advertising area A of the recycled packaging P, and may acquire this posted advertisement image Pb, for example, from the advertising agency terminal 300 or the memory unit 120. Note that the posted advertisement image acquisition unit 112 may acquire not only the posted advertisement image Pb for the recycled packaging P, but also the posted advertisement image Pb to be posted on newly used packaging (an image that becomes the existing posted image Pa when the recycled packaging P is reused).

[0035] The displayed advertisement image Pb may include a code image such as a two-dimensional code corresponding to a URL for accessing a site on the Internet that displays the advertisement image. To convert access to the site from this code image, a statistical database may be accessed, and after an access log is acquired, the number of accesses may be counted by accessing a specific site. The above-mentioned site may also distribute discount coupons or unique points for secondary distribution sites or e-commerce sites.

[0036] The posted advertisement image Pb may be changed according to the attributes of the product being sold or the attributes of the recipient, such as coloring if the product price or the recipient's (secondary purchaser's) cumulative purchase amount is high. It may also be changed according to the number of times the recycled packaging P is reused, such as making it monochrome because the recycled packaging P deteriorates as the number of times it is reused decreases, making it less likely to display color. It may also be changed according to the recipient, such as changing the color using a color profile if the recipient has congenital color blindness. The code image included in the posted advertisement image Pb may be for accessing a different website than the code image printed on new packaging. The posted advertisement image Pb may also be acquired by excluding attributes of specific recipients or specific products. For example, a candidate for exclusion may be a posted advertisement image Pb related to meat or fish and the recipient is a vegetarian (e.g., someone who frequently purchases vegetarian foods).

[0037] The sales information of the product may include, for example, attribute information of the recipient of the product, attribute information of the product, etc. The advertiser may be able to specify sales information of the product contained in the reusable packaging P for which the posted advertisement image Pb is to be displayed. The recipient's attribute information may include, for example, age information, delivery address information, purchase history information, etc. The product attribute information may include, for example, the genre of the product being sold, the product name, the product price, etc. The posted advertisement image acquisition unit 112 may acquire attribute information of the purchaser as sales information instead of or in addition to the recipient's attribute information. Furthermore, if the recipient is not an individual but a supermarket, event venue, store, company, etc., a posted advertisement image Pb of a national brand (mass advertising for the masses) may be determined instead of a posted advertisement image Pb for an individual.

[0038] The target area information for the displayed advertising image Pb is, for example, information specified by the advertiser, such as the display area of ​​the displayed advertising image Pb, the number of pages on the recycled packaging P on which the displayed advertising image Pb will be displayed, the position (front, etc.), the color of the recycled packaging P (base color such as white or brown), and the material (virgin pulp content and base material such as cardboard or paper bag).

[0039] The advertisement posting area information for the advertising area A of the recycled packaging P is, for example, information such as the posting area, number of posting pages, and position of the area of ​​the advertising area A where no existing posting image Pa is posted, which can be determined from the recycled packaging P, as well as information such as the color and material of the recycled packaging P. This advertisement posting area information and the target posting area information specified by the advertiser described above can be considered as the rank of the advertisement, and the determination of the posting advertising image Pb based on this information can be considered to be based on a matching of ranks.

[0040] The invalidation area determination unit 113 determines an invalidation area of ​​the existing published image Pa based on the existing published image information of the existing published image Pa. The invalidation area determination unit 113 may also generate a fill-in image Pc that fills in the invalidation area.

[0041] The invalidation setting information acquisition unit 114 acquires invalidation setting information indicating whether the existing posted image Pa needs to be invalidated. The invalidation area determination unit 113 may determine the invalidation area, for example, when the invalidation setting information acquired by the invalidation setting information acquisition unit 114 indicates that the existing posted image Pa needs to be invalidated. Note that the invalidation setting information may be set to require invalidation on the terminal of the advertiser of the posted advertisement image Pb, the advertiser of the existing posted image Pa, or the secondary purchaser in the following cases: for example, when an advertiser of the posted advertisement image Pb does not want the posted advertisement image Pb to be posted on the recycled packaging P together with the existing posted image Pa; when an advertiser of the existing posted image Pa does not want the posted advertisement image Pb to be posted on the recycled packaging P together with the posted advertisement image Pb; or when a secondary purchaser who purchases an auction item on the secondary distribution site of the secondary distribution server 600 does not want the existing posted image Pa to be posted on the recycled packaging P. This setting requiring invalidation may be transmitted to the advertisement content setting device 100 via the advertising agency terminal 300, the secondary distribution server 600, or the like.

[0042] In the example of FIG. 3, as shown in FIG. 3(a), an existing posted image Pa1 including the text "Cat Lover Canned Food a" and an image of a cat is already posted at the bottom of the advertising area A of the recycled packaging P. Note that the dashed line between the top and bottom of the advertising area A is a boundary line, but it does not have to be actually printed on the recycled packaging P. When a posted advertising image Pb1 including an image of a dog and the text "Dog Run B with Gentle Earth" is posted at the top of the advertising area A as shown in FIG. 3(b), or when a posted advertising image Pb2 including an image of a dog and the text "Dog Run C with Artificial Turf" is posted at the top of the advertising area A as shown in FIG. 3(c), when the existing posted image Pa1 is invalidated based on the request of the advertiser of the posted advertising image Pb1 (invalidation setting information), the invalidation area determination unit 113 generates fill-in images Pc1 and Pc2 that fill in the area of ​​the existing posted image Pa1. These filled-in images Pc1 and Pc2 are solid printed images, mosaic patterns, or any other images that make the existing published image Pa1 difficult to view.

[0043] In the example of Figure 4, as shown in Figure 4(a), an existing posted image Pa3 including the text "Cat Lover Canned Food a" and an image of a cat is already posted to the left of the vertical center and across the horizontal center in the advertising area A of the recycled packaging P. As shown in Figure 4(b), if the existing posted image Pa3 is not invalidated, a posted advertising image Pb3 with the text "Scentless Cat Litter d" is added to the right of the vertical center in the advertising area A. At this time, to distinguish the existing posted image Pa3 from the posted advertising image Pb, a border may be printed between them, or frames may be printed surrounding the existing posted image Pa3 and the posted advertising image Pb3, respectively.

[0044] In addition, if the product in the existing posted image Pa3 (canned cat food) and the product in the posted advertisement image Pb3 (cat litter) are related (both are advertising images for cat-related products), the existing posted image Pa3 (advertising image) may have been posted based on the fact that a recipient who received the packaging P (only the existing posted image Pa3) before it was reused purchased a cat-related product. Therefore, when the product in the existing posted image Pa3 and the product in the posted advertisement image Pb3 are related, the invalidation area determination unit 113 may decide not to invalidate the existing posted image Pa3 if the advertiser of the posted advertisement image Pb does not wish to invalidate it. Note that the relevance of the products can be determined based on the commonality of the product genres contained in the advertising information of the existing posted image Pa and the posted advertisement image Pb managed by the advertisement content setting device 100 or the advertising agency terminal 300, the commonality of the characters contained in the existing posted image Pa and the posted advertisement image Pb, and the like. In addition, the setting of whether or not to invalidate the existing posted image Pa may be set separately for when the products are related and when they are not related.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 4(c), when a posted advertisement image Pb4 with the text "Now on Sale: Cat Book e" is displayed on the right side of the vertical center of the advertising area A, the invalidation area determination unit 113 may generate a fill-in image Pc3 that fills in a portion of the existing posted image Pa3 (the text "Cat Lover: Canned Food a") because books and canned food are not related to each other. The invalidation area determination unit 113 generates the fill-in image Pc3 that fills in a portion of the existing posted image Pa3, for example, when the invalidation area determination unit 113 determines that the text of the existing posted image Pa3 is not related to the posted advertisement image Pb4 and decides to invalidate it, but determines that the cat image of the existing posted image Pa3 is related to the posted advertisement image Pb4 and decides not to invalidate it. In this case, the advertising area of ​​the posted advertisement image Pb4 is increased by including the portion of the existing posted image Pa3 (the cat image), thereby enhancing the advertising effectiveness.

[0046] Next, consider an example in which the existing posted image Pa3 is not invalidated but instead posted with the posted advertising image Pb3 added as shown in Figure 4(b) above, and then the recycled packaging material P is put to a third use, in which case the posted advertising image Pb5 with the words "Animal Welfare Donation" is posted at the top of the advertising area A, as shown in Figure 4(d).

[0047] 4(d), since the donation is not related to the canned food and cat litter, the invalidation area determination unit 113 generates a fill-in image Pc3 that fills in a part of the existing posted image Pa3 (the characters "Cat Lover Canned Food a") and a fill-in image Pc4 that fills in the posted advertisement image Pb3 (the characters "Unscented Cat Litter d"). In this case, for example, the invalidation area determination unit 113 determines that the characters of the existing posted image Pa3 and the posted advertisement image Pb3 are not related to the posted advertisement image Pb5 and decides to invalidate them, and determines that the cat image of the existing posted image Pa3 is related to the posted advertisement image Pb5 and decides not to invalidate them.

[0048] In the example of FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 5(a), an existing posted image Pa6 with the word "curry" is already posted at the bottom of the advertising area A of the recycled packaging material P. As shown in FIG. 5(b), when an existing posted advertisement image Pb6 including the words "natural detergent" and a green background is posted at the top of the advertising area A, if the existing posted image Pa6 is to be invalidated based on the request of the advertiser of the posted advertisement image Pb6 (invalidation setting information), the invalidation area determination unit 113 may generate a fill-in image Pc6 that fills in the area of ​​the existing posted image Pa6 with the same hue (similar green color) as the existing posted image Pa6, as shown in FIG. 5(b). Note that the same hue as the existing posted image Pa6 may be the same hue as the background of the existing posted image Pa6 (or the hue most commonly used therein) or the text or pattern of the existing posted image Pa6 (or the hue most commonly used therein). Examples of the same hue include reddish colors, yellowish colors, greenish colors, blueish colors, purpleish colors, etc. The same hue may also be the exact same color.

[0049] Unlike the example shown in FIG. 5, the invalidation area determination unit 113 may generate a fill-in image Pc1 in a brown color, a concept color associated with "earth," for the advertisement image Pb1 containing the text "Dog Run B, with Gentle Earth" as shown in FIG. 3(b) above, or a green color, a concept color associated with "grass," for the advertisement image Pb2 containing the text "Dog Run C, with Artificial Turf" as shown in FIG. 3(c). Since it is desirable for these advertisement images Pb1 and Pb2 to be printed above the fill-in image Pc1, which evokes earth, or the fill-in image Pc2, which evokes artificial turf, the position of the target advertisement area information may be specified as the top of the advertisement area A. The invalidation area determination unit 113 may generate a fill-in image Pc6 in the same hue as the existing advertisement image Pa6 (text, pattern, or background, or the most commonly used hue of these) as shown in FIG. 5(a). In this case, the existing advertisement image Pa6 can be filled in with a small amount of ink.

[0050] In the example of Figure 6, the above-mentioned posted advertisement image acquisition unit 112 divides (segments) the advertising area A into 3 rows and 3 columns, and acquires the posted advertisement image Pb7 of "Advertisement Z" to be posted in the areas of 1 column, 3 rows (A13) and 2 columns, 3 rows (A23) as shown in Figure 6(b) based on the advertisement posting area information of the above-mentioned recycled packaging P (information on the posting area and position of the area where the existing posted image Pa6 is not posted).

[0051] The invalidation area determination unit 113 determines the areas of 1 column, 1 row (A11), 2 columns, 1 row (A21), 1 column, 2 rows (A12), and 2 columns, 2 rows (A22) where the existing posted image Pa7 is posted as invalidation areas, and generates a fill-in image Pc7 corresponding to this invalidation area. In this case, the invalidation area determination unit 113 can also use the sections of the advertising area A determined by the posted advertisement image acquisition unit 112 when determining the area and position for generating the fill-in image Pc7.

[0052] For example, suppose an advertiser submits an advertising request stating that Ad X should be placed if the target area is 40 cm x 40 cm or larger, Ad Y if the target area is 10 cm x 10 cm or larger, and no advertising should be placed if the area does not meet the 10 cm x 10 cm or larger condition. Another advertiser submits an advertising request stating that Ad Z should be placed if the target area is 10 cm x 10 cm or larger but smaller than 40 cm x 40 cm, and no advertising should be placed otherwise. In this case, the existing posting image Pa is determined and printed in areas A11, A21, A12, and A22 of the advertising area A by the posting advertisement image acquisition unit 112 beforehand when the packaging is new. Then, the posting advertisement image acquisition unit 112 determines to place Ad Z based on the fact that areas A13 and A23 meet the target area condition for Ad Z. Note that Ad Y also meets the same conditions as Ad Z, but Ad Z may be selected due to its high degree of compatibility with the sales information described above. Here, advertisement Z is preferably set at a lower advertising fee because it is displayed in a smaller area than the advertising area A when advertisement X (existing published image Pa) is not displayed (the display area of ​​the advertisement display area information of the recycled packaging material P is smaller).

[0053] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an outline of the functions of each device in the printing system 1 and the like.

[0054] 7, an advertiser submits an advertising request together with advertising information to the advertising agency terminal 300. The advertising agency terminal 300 transmits the advertising information received from the advertiser to the advertisement content setting device 100. Here, the advertising information is information that specifies the above-mentioned target area information of the advertisement image Pb to be posted (such as the posting area, number of pages, position, color and material of the reusable packaging material P), sales information of the product contained in the reusable packaging material P to which the advertisement image Pb will be posted, etc.

[0055] When the EC server 400 sells a product to a purchaser, it sends a delivery request to the delivery center (printing system 1). Based on the delivery request from the EC server 400, the delivery center packs the product in packaging (here, new packaging, not reused packaging P). The product packed in the packaging is then delivered to a recipient (for example, the same as the purchaser) via a delivery company. Note that even for new packaging, the posting advertisement image acquisition unit 112 of the advertisement content setting device 100 may acquire a posting advertisement image Pb (an existing posting image Pa on the reused packaging P at the time of reuse) from the advertising agency terminal 300 via the EC server 400, and the printing device 200 may print the posting advertisement image Pb.

[0056] As described above, a purchaser (purchaser using purchaser terminal 500) who has purchased a product on the EC site of EC server 400 puts the product up for sale on the secondary distribution site of secondary distribution server 600, and when the secondary purchaser purchases the put-up product on secondary distribution server 600, the purchaser using purchaser terminal 500 uses the packaging that contained the purchased product on the EC site of EC server 400 as recycled packaging P to package the put-up product. This recycled packaging P containing the put-up product is sent from the purchaser using purchaser terminal 500 to a delivery center via, for example, a delivery company. Note that in Figure 7, the flow related to secondary distribution (reused packaging P) is indicated by dashed lines.

[0057] The delivery center (advertising content setting device 100 and printing device 200) then prints the advertisement image Pb on the reusable packaging material P, invalidates the existing advertisement image Pa, and delivers the reusable packaging material P to the secondary purchaser via a delivery company.

[0058] Incidentally, by posting the advertisement image Pb on the reusable packaging material P, there is a risk that personal information, such as information related to personal preferences, may be posted on the reusable packaging material P. Therefore, it is preferable that the purchaser be able to choose whether or not to post the advertisement image Pb when purchasing a product on an EC site or a secondary distribution site.

[0059] The distribution center can earn a printing fee for the advertisement by printing the advertisement image Pb and the fill-in image Pc on the reusable packaging P. The advertising fee for the advertisement image Pb is determined mainly based on the printing fee for the advertisement image Pb and the fill-in image Pc, a setting for whether or not to invalidate the existing advertisement image Pa (invalidation setting information), electronic discount coupons and unique points distributed at the site of the code image included in the advertisement image Pb, and the electronic discount coupons and unique points granted to secondary purchasers by the advertisement content setting device 100 or the secondary distribution site of the secondary distribution server 600 in exchange for the number of times the reusable packaging P is reused or for displaying the advertisement image Pb. The unique points can be used for discounts at the time of purchase, discounts on shipping, and invitations to specific sites. In addition, the advertising content setting device 100 may give special incentives to users of recycled packaging P to encourage reuse, such as allowing them to enter a prize draw when the recycled packaging P is reused a specified number of times, or printing an environmental contribution stamp in parts of a specified shape gradually onto the recycled packaging P when the recycled packaging P is reused (when the published advertising image Pb is printed) until it is nearing completion, and when this environmental contribution stamp is completed, the above-mentioned electronic discount coupon or unique points may be obtained, or a star representing the degree of environmental contribution may be printed each time the recycled packaging P is reused.

[0060] The advertising fee may be set according to the degree of conformity between the sales information specified by the advertiser (recipient attribute information and product attribute information) and the sales information of the product actually contained in the reusable packaging P, as well as information on the target area for displaying the advertisement image Pb (for example, the display area, the number of pages on the reusable packaging P on which the advertisement image Pb is displayed, its position, the color and material of the reusable packaging P, and other information specified by the advertiser). For example, the larger the display area, the more pages, the more prominent the position, the whiter the color of the reusable packaging P, and the stronger the material, the higher the advertising fee may be set.

[0061] FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the advertisement content setting method.

[0062] The process shown in Fig. 8 is performed by the control unit 110 of the advertisement content setting device 100, for example, when the delivery center receives the reusable packaging material P containing the auctioned product via the delivery company from the purchaser of the purchaser terminal 500. Note that, with regard to the process in Fig. 8, explanations of matters that overlap with the above explanations will be omitted as appropriate.

[0063] First, the existing image information acquisition unit 111 acquires existing published image information (information such as the content and position of the existing published image Pa) of an existing published image Pa such as an existing advertising image that has already been published on the reused packaging P (step S1). As described above, the existing image information acquisition unit 111 may acquire this existing published image information by identifying the reused packaging P from a barcode, two-dimensional code, or the like attached to the reused packaging P, and acquiring information on advertising images that have been printed in the past from a database for reuse management, the memory unit 120, the EC server 400, or the like.

[0064] The advertisement image acquisition unit 112 also acquires the advertisement image Pb to be placed on the reused packaging P (step S2). For example, as described above, the advertisement image acquisition unit 112 determines the advertisement image Pb to be placed based on the sales information of the product contained in the reused packaging P, the target area information for placing the advertisement image Pb, and the advertisement placement area information of the advertisement area A of the reused packaging P, and acquires the advertisement image Pb from, for example, the advertising agency terminal 300 or the memory unit 120.

[0065] The invalidation setting information acquisition unit 114 acquires the invalidation setting information (step S3). As described above, this invalidation setting information is set so that invalidation is required by the advertiser when the advertiser of the posted advertisement image Pb does not want the posted advertisement image Pb to be posted on the reused packaging P together with the existing posted image Pa.

[0066] The invalidation area determination unit 113 determines whether the invalidation setting information acquired by the invalidation setting information acquisition unit 114 indicates that the existing posted image Pa needs to be invalidated (step S4). If the invalidation setting information indicates that the existing posted image Pa needs to be invalidated (step S4: YES), the invalidation area determination unit 113 determines an invalidation area for the existing posted image Pa based on the existing posted image information of the existing posted image Pa (step S5). This invalidation area is, for example, an area where the existing posted image Pa was posted, and the invalidation area determination unit 113 may generate a fill-in image Pc that fills in the invalidation area.

[0067] When the invalidation area determination process (step S5) has been performed, or when the invalidation setting information acquired by the invalidation setting information acquisition unit 114 does not indicate that the existing posted image Pa needs to be invalidated (step S4: NO), the process shown in Fig. 5 ends. After this, the printing unit 210 of the printing device 200 prints the posted advertisement image Pb and, if generated, a fill-in image Pc that fills in the invalidation area onto the reusable packaging material P, as shown in Fig. 2.

[0068] In the above description, an example has been described in which the advertisement content setting device 100 is placed in a distribution center and can function as a print control device that controls the printing device 200 and a delivery management device that manages product delivery (shipping, etc.). However, the advertisement content setting device 100 does not have to be placed in a distribution center. Also, the advertising agency terminal 300, the EC server 400, the secondary distribution server 600, etc. may function as the advertisement content setting device 100. In this case, the control units 310, 410, 610 of the advertising agency terminal 300, the EC server 400, the secondary distribution server 600, etc. may function as the existing image information acquisition unit 111, the posted advertisement image acquisition unit 112, the invalidation area determination unit 113, and the invalidation setting information acquisition unit 114 described above.

[0069] Furthermore, in the above description, the advertisement image Pb and the fill-in image Pc to be published on the reusable packaging P are printed directly on the reusable packaging P. However, for example, a sticker on which the advertisement image Pb is printed or a sticker covering the existing advertisement image Pa may be affixed to the reusable packaging P. When a sticker covering the existing advertisement image Pa is affixed to the existing advertisement image Pa (invalidation area), the sticker may be affixed to only a portion of the existing advertisement image Pa so as to invalidate a portion of the existing advertisement image Pa, as in the above description. Furthermore, the invalidation method is not limited to printing a fill-in image Pc or affixing a sticker. If the existing advertisement image Pa is printed with friction ink, heat treatment to erase the existing advertisement image Pa may be performed. If the existing advertisement image Pa is affixed to the reusable packaging P with a sticker, peeling off the sticker from the existing advertisement image Pa may be performed. If a medium such as paper on which the existing advertisement image Pa is printed is inserted into a transparent film or the like that covers the surface of the reusable packaging P, removal of the medium may be performed.

[0070] Furthermore, in the above description, the invalidation area determination unit 113 determines an invalidation area (filled-in image Pc) when the invalidation setting information acquired by the invalidation setting information acquisition unit 114 indicates that invalidation is required, but the invalidation area determination unit 113 may determine an invalidation area that invalidates all existing posted images Pa regardless of the invalidation setting information, or, as described above, may determine an invalidation area only when the product in the existing posted image Pa1 and the product in the posted advertising image Pb2 are not related to each other.

[0071] Furthermore, in the above description, the advertisement image acquisition unit 112 determines and acquires the advertisement image Pb to be placed based on sales information and the like of the product contained in the reused packaging P, but it is also possible for another device, such as the advertising agency terminal 300, to determine the advertisement image Pb to be placed, and for the invalidation area determination unit 113 to simply acquire the advertisement image Pb to be placed on the reused packaging P from the other device, such as the advertising agency terminal 300. In this case, a print control device or the like located in a delivery center may transmit the above-mentioned advertisement placement area information of the reused packaging P (information such as the placement area, number of placement pages, and position of the area of ​​the advertising area A where the existing advertisement image Pa is not placed, and information such as the color and material of the reused packaging P), information on printable colors of the printing unit 210, and the like, to the other device that determines the advertisement image Pb to be placed.

[0072] In the above description, the reusable packaging material P is used to store products exhibited on the secondary distribution site of the secondary distribution server 600. However, secondary distribution is not limited to commercial transactions and also includes situations in which the reusable packaging material P is sent between individuals, such as by sending money. In this case, the advertisement content setting device 100 can determine the attributes of the recipient and the attributes of the product by acquiring delivery address information, delivery information, and the like, entered by the purchaser of the purchaser terminal 500 that sends the product in the reusable packaging material P on the purchaser terminal 500 or written on a delivery slip for the delivery company. Remittances can be identified based on whether the sender (the purchaser of the purchaser terminal 500) and the recipient have the same last name or whether these senders and recipients regularly deliver to each other. If the posted advertisement image acquisition unit 112 determines that the product is remittance, it is preferable to preferentially acquire advertising images for families (for example, advertising images for anniversaries such as Mother's Day).

[0073] In the present embodiment described above, the advertisement content setting device 100 includes an existing image information acquisition unit 111 that acquires existing published image information of an existing published image Pa that has already been published on a recycled packaging material P, a published advertisement image acquisition unit 112 that acquires a published advertisement image Pb to be published on the recycled packaging material P, and an invalidation area determination unit 113 that determines an invalidation area (e.g., a filled-in image Pc) of the existing published image Pa based on the existing published image information of the existing published image Pa.

[0074] The printing system 1 also includes the above-mentioned advertisement content setting device 100 and a printing device 200, and the printing device 200 includes a printing unit 210 that prints the advertisement image Pb to be displayed and a fill-in image Pc that fills in the invalidated area on the reusable packaging material P.

[0075] In addition, the advertising content setting method is an advertising content setting method performed by a computer (e.g., the control unit 110 or the advertising content setting device 100), and includes acquiring existing posted image information of an existing posted image Pa that has already been posted on the recycled packaging material P (step S1 in FIG. 8), acquiring a posted advertising image Pb to be posted on the recycled packaging material P (step S2), and determining an invalidation area (e.g., a filled-in image Pc) of the existing posted image Pa based on the existing posted image information of the existing posted image Pa (step S5).

[0076] The program also causes a computer (e.g., the control unit 110 or the advertisement content setting device 100) to realize the following functions: a function of acquiring existing published image information of an existing published image Pa that has already been published on the recycled packaging material P (step S1); a function of acquiring a published advertising image Pb to be published on the recycled packaging material P (step S2); and a function of determining an invalidation area (e.g., a filled-in image Pc) of the existing published image Pa based on the existing published image information of the existing published image Pa (step S5).

[0077] Incidentally, when a recipient who receives packaging containing a product reuses the packaging, the existing posted image Pa of advertisements or the like already posted on the reused packaging P is set to suit the original recipient. Therefore, the existing posted image Pa may not be suitable for the secondary purchaser who receives the reused packaging P. In this regard, the advertisement content setting device 100, printing system 1, advertisement content setting method, and program described above determine the invalidation area of ​​the existing posted image Pa based on the existing posted image information of the existing posted image Pa, thereby making it possible to invalidate unnecessary existing posted images Pa. Furthermore, since the posted advertisement image Pb can be switched according to the attributes of the purchaser, such as the primary purchaser (the purchaser at the purchaser terminal 500), secondary purchaser, or tertiary purchaser, and the attributes of the product, the advertising effectiveness of the posted advertisement image Pb on the reused packaging P can be improved.

[0078] In addition, in this embodiment, the advertisement content setting device 100, the printing system 1, the advertisement content setting method, and the program further include an invalidation setting information acquisition unit 114 (acquisition or acquisition function) that acquires invalidation setting information indicating whether or not an existing posted image Pa needs to be invalidated, and the invalidation area determination unit 113 (determining or determining the invalidation area) determines the invalidation area when the invalidation setting information indicates that invalidation is required.

[0079] This allows the existing posted image Pa to be invalidated in accordance with the wishes of, for example, the advertiser of the posted advertising image Pb, the advertiser of the existing posted image Pa, the secondary purchaser, etc. Therefore, only the unnecessary existing posted image Pa can be invalidated. Furthermore, when a fill image Pc is printed in the invalidated area, the amount of ink used can be minimized.

[0080] In addition, in this embodiment, the posted advertisement image acquisition unit 112 (a function of acquiring or acquiring the posted advertisement image Pb) determines the posted advertisement image Pb based on sales information of the product contained in the recycled packaging P, target area information for the posted advertisement image Pb (for example, information specified by the advertiser, such as the posting area, the number of pages on the recycled packaging P where the posted advertisement image Pb is to be posted, its position, the color and material of the recycled packaging P, etc.), and advertisement posting area information of the recycled packaging P (for example, information that can be determined from the recycled packaging P, such as the posting area, the number of pages, its position, and information such as the color and material of the recycled packaging P), and acquires this posted advertisement image Pb.

[0081] This allows the advertisement image Pb suitable for the secondary purchaser who receives the product in the reused packaging material P and the reused packaging material P to be published on the reused packaging material P, thereby increasing the advertising effect of the advertisement image Pb.

[0082] In addition, in this embodiment, the invalid area determination unit 113 (determining or determining the invalid area) generates a fill-in image Pc5 that fills the invalid area with the same hue as the published advertising image Pb5, as shown in Figure 5(b).

[0083] This eliminates the sense of incongruity felt by the secondary purchaser in relation to the filled-in image Pc5 and the posted advertisement image Pb5, thereby increasing the advertising effect of the posted advertisement image Pb.

[0084] 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.

[0085] [Appendix 1] an existing image information acquisition unit that acquires existing published image information of an existing published image already published on the reused packaging material; an advertisement image acquisition unit that acquires an advertisement image to be placed on the recycled packaging material; an invalidation area determination unit that determines an invalidation area of ​​the existing posted image based on the existing posted image information; An advertisement content setting device comprising:

[0086] [Appendix 2] The image processing device further includes an invalidation setting information acquisition unit that acquires invalidation setting information indicating whether or not the existing posted image needs to be invalidated, The invalidation area determination unit determines the invalidation area when the invalidation setting information indicates that the invalidation is required. 2. The advertisement content setting device according to claim 1,

[0087] [Appendix 3] The advertisement image acquisition unit determines the advertisement image to be placed based on sales information of the product contained in the reusable packaging, target area information for placing the advertisement image, and advertisement placement area information of the reusable packaging, and acquires the advertisement image to be placed. 3. The advertisement content setting device according to claim 1 or 2.

[0088] [Appendix 4] The invalidation area determination unit generates a fill-in image that fills the invalidation area with the same hue as the published advertisement image. 4. The advertisement content setting device according to claim 1, wherein:

[0089] [Appendix 5] A printing system including an advertisement content setting device and a printing device, The advertisement content setting device an existing image information acquisition unit that acquires existing published image information of an existing published image already published on the reused packaging material; an advertisement image acquisition unit that acquires an advertisement image to be placed on the recycled packaging material; an invalidation area determination unit that determines an invalidation area of ​​the existing posted image based on the existing posted image information; The printing device a printing unit that prints the advertisement image and a fill-in image that fills in the invalid area on the reusable packaging material; A printing system characterized by:

[0090] [Appendix 6] An advertisement content setting method performed by a computer, comprising: Acquiring existing posted image information of existing posted images already posted on the recycled packaging material; acquiring an advertisement image to be placed on the recycled packaging; determining an invalidation area of ​​the existing posted image based on the existing posted image information; An advertisement content setting method comprising:

[0091] [Appendix 7] A function to obtain existing image information for images already published on recycled packaging materials, A function of acquiring an advertisement image to be published on the recycled packaging material; a function of determining an invalidation area of ​​the existing posted image based on the existing posted image information; A program that makes the computer realize the above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 1 Printing System 100 Advertising content setting device 110 control section 111 Existing image information acquisition unit 112 Advertising image acquisition unit 113 Invalidation area determination unit 114 Invalidation setting information acquisition unit 200 Printing device 210 Printing Department 211 Print head 300 advertising agency terminals 400 EC Server 500 buyer terminals 600 Secondary Distribution Server 610 Control Unit 620 Storage section 630 Interface section A. Advertising Area C Conveyor P Recycled packaging material Pa Existing published images Pb advertising image Pc fill image

Claims

1. an existing image information acquisition unit that acquires existing published image information of an existing published image already published on the reused packaging material; an advertisement image acquisition unit that acquires an advertisement image to be placed on the recycled packaging material; an invalidation area determination unit that determines an invalidation area of ​​the existing posted image based on the existing posted image information; An advertisement content setting device comprising:

2. The image processing device further includes an invalidation setting information acquisition unit that acquires invalidation setting information indicating whether or not the existing posted image needs to be invalidated, The invalidation area determination unit determines the invalidation area when the invalidation setting information indicates that the invalidation is required.

2. The advertisement content setting device according to claim 1.

3. The advertisement image acquisition unit determines the advertisement image to be placed based on sales information of the product contained in the reusable packaging, target area information for placing the advertisement image, and advertisement placement area information of the reusable packaging, and acquires the advertisement image to be placed.

3. The advertisement content setting device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The invalidation area determination unit generates a fill-in image that fills the invalidation area with the same hue as the published advertisement image.

3. The advertisement content setting device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. A printing system including an advertisement content setting device and a printing device, The advertisement content setting device an existing image information acquisition unit that acquires existing published image information of an existing published image already published on the reused packaging material; an advertisement image acquisition unit that acquires an advertisement image to be placed on the recycled packaging material; an invalidation area determination unit that determines an invalidation area of ​​the existing posted image based on the existing posted image information; The printing device a printing unit that prints the advertisement image and a fill-in image that fills in the invalid area on the reusable packaging material; A printing system characterized by:

6. An advertisement content setting method performed by a computer, comprising: Acquiring existing posted image information of existing posted images already posted on the recycled packaging material; acquiring an advertisement image to be placed on the recycled packaging; determining an invalidation area of ​​the existing posted image based on the existing posted image information; An advertisement content setting method comprising:

7. A function to obtain existing image information for images already published on recycled packaging materials, A function of acquiring an advertisement image to be published on the recycled packaging material; a function of determining an invalidation area of ​​the existing posted image based on the existing posted image information; A program that makes the computer realize the above.

Images