Server and printing system

Abstract

To determine a reference price of an advertisement image to be printed.SOLUTION: Color material amount information having a correlation with the amount of color material is acquired. To determine a reference price of an advertisement image to be printed by using color material amount information. When the color material amount information indicates a first color material amount, the reference price is determined to be a higher price than when the color material amount information indicates a second color material amount smaller than the first color material amount. Candidate price information indicating respective prices of a plurality of candidate advertisements associated with prices equal to or higher than a reference price is acquired from an advertisement supply server. The candidate price information is used to determine a target advertisement that is a candidate advertisement to be printed from a plurality of candidate advertisements. Executing a process of causing a printer to print an image including an advertisement image associated with the target advertisement; SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present specification relates to a technique for printing advertising images. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a web printing system that combines advertising information into web pages and prints them. The printing fee is calculated by subtracting the advertising fee per print from the sum of the running costs required for printing and the information provision fee for the web page. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-92355 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There was room for improvement in determining the reference price of the advertising images to be printed.

[0005] This specification discloses a technique for determining a reference price for an advertising image to be printed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The techniques disclosed in this specification can be implemented in the following application examples.

[0007] [Application Example 1] A server comprising: a color material amount acquisition unit that acquires color material amount information correlated with the amount of color material; a price determination unit that uses the color material amount information to determine a reference price of an advertising image to be printed, the price determination unit determining the reference price to be higher when the color material amount information indicates a first color material amount compared to when the color material amount information indicates a second color material amount that is less than the first color material amount; a candidate acquisition unit that acquires candidate price information indicating the prices of multiple candidate advertisements associated with prices equal to or higher than the reference price from an advertisement supply server; an advertisement determination unit that uses the candidate price information to determine a target advertisement that is a candidate advertisement to be printed from the multiple candidate advertisements; and a print processing unit that executes processing to have a printer print an image including an advertising image associated with the target advertisement.

[0008] According to this configuration, the reference price can be determined according to the color material amount information so that when the color material amount information indicates a relatively large first color material amount, a high-priced advertising image can be printed, and when the color material amount information indicates a relatively small second color material amount, a low-priced advertising image can be printed.

[0009] [Application Example 2] A printing system comprising: a server; and a printer; wherein the server comprises: a color material amount acquisition unit that acquires color material amount information correlated with the amount of color material used in previous printing of an advertising image; a price determination unit that uses the color material amount information to determine a reference price for a new advertising image to be printed, wherein when the color material amount information indicates a first color material amount, the price determination unit determines the reference price to be higher than when the color material amount information indicates a second color material amount that is less than the first color material amount; a candidate acquisition unit that acquires, from an advertisement supply server, candidate price information indicating prices of multiple candidate advertisements associated with prices equal to or higher than the reference price; an advertisement determination unit that uses the candidate price information to determine a target advertisement that is a candidate advertisement to be printed from the multiple candidate advertisements; and a transmission unit that transmits specific information to the printer, the specific information being used to print an image including an advertising image associated with the target advertisement; and the printer uses the specific information to print the image including the advertising image.

[0010] According to this configuration, the reference price can be determined according to the color material amount information so that when the color material amount information indicates a relatively large first color material amount, a high-priced advertising image can be printed, and when the color material amount information indicates a relatively small second color material amount, a low-priced advertising image can be printed. Also, the printer can print an image including an advertising image associated with the target advertisement determined using the color material amount information.

[0011] The technology disclosed in this specification can be realized in various forms, such as a server that causes a printer to print an advertising image, a method that causes a printer to print an advertising image, a printing system that includes a server and a printer, a computer program for realizing the functions of these servers, methods, and systems, and a recording medium (e.g., a non-temporary recording medium) on which the computer program is recorded. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system 1000. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a printer and server database. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of an advertisement printing process. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of an advertisement printing process. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of an advertisement printing process. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for determining recruitment conditions. [Figure 7] 1A is an explanatory diagram of an arrangement pattern of advertising spaces, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of a print image PI. [Figure 8] 10A-10C are diagrams showing examples of calculation of the minimum bid price MP for a slot. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an ink amount recording table TB. [Figure 10]10 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of the process for determining recruitment conditions. [Figure 11] (A) is a diagram showing a printer 500, which is an example of an inkjet printer, and sheets of paper SU1-SUn. (B) is a diagram showing an example of a laser printer 500b and sheets of paper SU1-SUn. (C) and (D) are diagrams showing the printing direction. [Figure 12] (A)-(F) are diagrams showing examples of base prices. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] A. First Example A-1. Configuration of System 1000 Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system 1000. Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the printer and server databases. Fig. 2 shows an excerpt of some of the information related to the embodiment from the information stored in various databases described below.

[0014] The system 1000 includes a management server 100, a remote print server 200, an advertisement distribution server 300, bidding servers 400A-400C, and a printer 500.

[0015] Printer 500 is a device that prints by consuming ink as a consumable item, and is used for utilizing a service (e.g., an advertising distribution service) for which a user has a contract. Printer 500 includes a CPU 510 as a controller for printer 500, a volatile storage device 520 such as DRAM, and a non-volatile storage device 530 such as a hard disk or flash memory. Printer 500 also includes a display unit 540 such as a liquid crystal display for displaying images, an operation unit 550 such as buttons or a touch panel for acquiring user operations, a printing mechanism 570, and a communication interface (IF) 580.

[0016] The communication IF 580 is an interface for connecting to the Internet IT, for example, a wired interface conforming to Ethernet (registered trademark) or a wireless interface conforming to the Wi-Fi standard.

[0017] The CPU 510 is a computing device (processor) that processes data. The volatile storage device 520 provides a buffer area for temporarily storing various intermediate data generated when the CPU 510 performs processing. The non-volatile storage device 530 stores a computer program PGp for controlling the printer 500 and a database DBp in which various information, described below, is recorded.

[0018] In this embodiment, the computer program PGp is ​​provided by being stored in advance in the nonvolatile storage device 530 at the time of manufacturing the printer 500. Alternatively, the computer program PGp may be provided, for example, in a form downloaded from a server connected via the Internet IT, or in a form recorded on a USB memory stick, a DVD-ROM, or the like.

[0019] The CPU 510 executes the computer program PGp to perform various processes for controlling the printer 500. For example, the CPU 510 controls the printing mechanism 570 to perform a printing process that causes the printing mechanism 570 to print an image. The CPU 510 also communicates with the management server 100 and the remote printing server 200 to perform processes related to the advertisement printing process, which will be described later.

[0020] The printing mechanism 570 is an inkjet printing mechanism. The printing mechanism 570 is equipped with a print head formed with nozzles for ejecting ink. The printing mechanism 570 prints on a substrate such as paper by ejecting multiple types of ink, for example, cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), from the nozzles under the control of the CPU 510. In this embodiment, ink cartridges CI, MI, YI, and KI containing ink of each color, C, M, Y, and K, are detachably attached to the printing mechanism 570. Alternatively, the printing mechanism 570 may be an electrophotographic printing mechanism that prints images using toner contained in a toner cartridge as a coloring material. The electrophotographic method is also called a laser method.

[0021] As can be seen from the above explanation, the printer 500 is a color printer capable of printing using an achromatic ink (K ink) and two or more chromatic inks (CMY inks) as color materials.

[0022] 2A shows an overview of the database DBp of the printer 500. The database DBp stores various information indicating setting information and status information (status) related to the printer 500.

[0023] Database DBp stores information indicating the remaining amount of ink. Specifically, database DBp stores information indicating the remaining amount of each of the CMYK inks. Each time printing is performed, CPU 510 calculates the amount of ink consumed and detects the amount of remaining ink using a remaining ink sensor, thereby updating the information indicating the remaining amount of ink.

[0024] The management server 100, the remote printing server 200, and the advertisement distribution server 300 are, for example, computers, such as cloud servers, operated by a business operator that operates multiple types of services described below (for example, a business operator that manufactures and sells the printer 500).

[0025] The management server 100 is a server that manages users and printers (e.g., printer 500) used for multiple types of services. The multiple types of services are services provided using printers, and include an advertisement distribution service and a remote printing service.

[0026] The advertisement distribution service is a service provided by the advertisement distribution server 300 and the bidding servers 400A-400C. The advertisement distribution service is a service that distributes advertisements to users of the printer 500 by causing the printer 500 to print an image including one or more advertisement images at a predetermined distribution timing, in this embodiment, once a day at a fixed time.

[0027] In the narrow sense, advertising can mean informing people about a product or service for the purpose of promotion. However, in this specification, advertising is not limited to promotional purposes and refers generally to anything that an advertiser pays an advertising fee to inform people (in this example, printer users). An advertising image refers to an image showing the information to be advertised. Therefore, in this specification, advertising images are not limited to images showing information for the purpose of promoting a product or service provided by the advertiser, but also include images showing various information provided by the advertiser (for example, weather information, traffic information, or the advertiser's own work).

[0028] The remote printing service is a service provided by the remote printing server 200. The remote printing service is a service in which a user sends an image file stored on a server or a mobile terminal to the remote printing server 200, and the image file is printed by a printer (e.g., printer 500) via the remote printing server 200. A user of the remote printing service is assumed to be, for example, a printer user, but in this embodiment, the advertisement distribution server 300 uses the remote printing service to cause the printer to print an advertisement image.

[0029] The multiple types of services managed by management server 100 may further include various other services. For example, in this embodiment, the multiple types of services managed include an ink management service provided by a server (not shown). The ink management service manages the remaining amount of ink in the managed printers and delivers ink cartridges or ink bottles to users according to ink consumption.

[0030] The management server 100 includes a CPU 110 as a controller of the management server 100, a volatile storage device 120 such as a DRAM, a non-volatile storage device 130 such as a hard disk or flash memory, and a communication IF 180. The communication IF 180 is, for example, a wired interface that complies with Ethernet (registered trademark).

[0031] The CPU 110 is a computing device (processor) that processes data. The volatile storage device 120 provides a buffer area for temporarily storing various intermediate data generated when the CPU 110 performs processing. The non-volatile storage device 130 stores a computer program PGm and a database DBm.

[0032] The computer program PGm is provided, for example, in the form of being uploaded by a service provider. The CPU 110 of the management server 100 executes the computer program PGm to perform various processes (described later) related to multiple types of services to be managed.

[0033] 2(B) shows an overview of the database DBm of the management server 100. The database DBm stores user IDs that identify users who use multiple types of services that are managed.

[0034] The database DBm further stores affiliated user IDs and device IDs in association with the user IDs. The affiliated user ID is a user ID assigned by a portal site used by the user (e.g., a site operated by a service provider such as Yahoo (registered trademark), Google (registered trademark), or Microsoft (registered trademark). The device ID is an ID that identifies a printer (e.g., printer 500) used when using multiple types of managed services. For example, when a user uses one of the multiple types of services for the first time, the user accesses the management server 100 using his or her own terminal device (not shown) and applies for use. The user ID is generated by the management server 100 at the time of the application for use and assigned to the user. The affiliated service ID and device ID are recorded in the database DBm of the management server 100, for example, based on input by the user at the time of the application for use.

[0035] The database DBm further stores contracted service information and bonus point information in association with the user ID. The contracted service information is information indicating the type of service to which the user has contracted. The bonus point information is information indicating the bonus points granted to the user. Bonus points are used instead of money, for example, when paying for the usage fees of paid services used by the user or for purchasing printer consumables (e.g., ink and toner).

[0036] The remote printing server 200 includes a CPU 210, a volatile storage device 220, a non-volatile storage device 230, and a communication IF 280, similar to those of the management server 100. The non-volatile storage device 230 stores a computer program PGr and a database DBr.

[0037] The computer program PGr is provided, for example, in the form of being uploaded by a business operator that operates a remote printing service. The CPU 210 of the remote printing server 200 executes the computer program PGr to perform processing for realizing the remote printing service. For example, the CPU 210 generates a print job for printing an image using image data transmitted from a device that uses the remote printing service (a user's terminal device or the advertisement distribution server 300). The CPU 210 transmits the generated print job to a printer, causing the printer to execute printing.

[0038] FIG. 2C shows an overview of the database DBr of the remote print server 200. The database DBr stores at least device information (e.g., device ID and device token) required to send a print job to a destination device. In this embodiment, the user of the printer 500 has a contract to use an advertisement distribution service. The advertisement distribution service uses a remote printing service to print advertisement images. For this reason, when the user signs a contract for the advertisement distribution service, the device information of the printer 500 is stored in the database DBr.

[0039] The advertisement delivery server 300 includes a CPU 310, a volatile storage device 320, a nonvolatile storage device 330, and a communication IF 380, similar to those of the management server 100. The nonvolatile storage device 330 stores a computer program PGa and a database DBa.

[0040] The computer program PGa is provided, for example, in the form of being uploaded by a business operator that operates an advertisement distribution service. The CPU 310 of the advertisement distribution server 300 executes the computer program PGa to function as a distribution control unit DC and an advertisement space sales unit AS.

[0041] The advertising space sales unit AS mainly communicates with the bidding servers 400A-400B, executes an auction process from the standpoint of selling advertising space, and determines the successful bidder for the advertising space. The advertising image of the successful bidder is determined as the advertising image to be printed. The distribution control unit DC executes processes other than the auction process executed by the advertising space sales unit AS among the processes for realizing the advertising distribution service, such as processes involving communication with the printer 500, the remote printing server 200, and the management server 100.

[0042] 2(D) shows an overview of the database DBa of the advertisement delivery server 300. The database DBa stores various information required for the delivery control unit DC and the advertisement space sales unit AS to realize the advertisement delivery service.

[0043] The database DBa records the IDs of users who are registered in the management server 100 and who have signed a contract to use the advertisement distribution service.

[0044] The database DBa further stores affiliated user IDs and device information in association with the user IDs. The affiliated user ID is a user ID assigned by the portal site used by the user, as described above. The affiliated user ID is used when the advertising space sales department AS executes the auction process, as will be described later. The device information is information about the printer that should print the advertising image (for example, a device ID or a device token). In this embodiment, the printer information includes the model name.

[0045] The database DBa also stores distribution setting information in association with the user ID and device information. The distribution setting information is various setting information related to the advertisement distribution service, and includes, for example, information indicating the distribution time and information indicating the print settings to be used when printing the advertisement image.

[0046] In this embodiment, the print settings indicate a plurality of settings including sheet size, page count NP, and image quality mode. The sheet size may be selected from a plurality of sizes including, for example, A4 and A5. The page count NP is the number of pages used to print the advertisement image (an integer equal to or greater than 1). The image quality mode may be selected from a plurality of modes including, for example, a high-quality mode and an eco-mode that uses less ink than the high-quality mode. The print settings may be set by the user when applying to use the advertisement distribution service.

[0047] The database DBa also stores an ink amount recording table TB, which will be described in detail later.

[0048] When a user uses the advertisement distribution service, the user accesses the management server 100 using, for example, a terminal device (not shown) and applies for use of the advertisement distribution service. In response to the application, a contract process for the advertisement distribution service is executed between the terminal device and the management server 100. After the contract process, the CPU 310 of the advertisement distribution server 300 acquires the user ID and the various pieces of information associated with the user ID from the management server 100 and records them in the database DBa. In this embodiment, the user of the printer 500 has signed a contract to use the advertisement distribution service. For this purpose, the database DBa stores the above-mentioned affiliated user ID, device information, and distribution setting information associated with the user ID of the printer 500.

[0049] The bidding server 400A includes a CPU 410, a volatile storage device 420, a non-volatile storage device 430, and a communication IF 480, similar to those of the management server 100. The non-volatile storage device 430 stores a computer program PGb and a database DBb. In this embodiment, the bidding server 400A is operated by an operator that operates a portal site that issues affiliated user IDs.

[0050] The computer program PGb is provided, for example, in the form of being uploaded by the business operator that operates the bid server 400A. The CPU 410 of the bid server 400A executes the computer program PGb to function as a bid control unit BC and a consumer information management unit CM.

[0051] The bidding control unit BC communicates with the advertisement distribution server 300 and executes the auction process from the perspective of a bidder who is seeking to purchase an advertisement space. That is, the bidding control unit BC mainly executes the process for winning a bid for the advertisement space based on a request from an advertiser. The consumer information management unit CM manages consumer information (described later) that is recorded in association with an affiliated user ID.

[0052] FIG. 2(E) shows an overview of database DBb of bidding server 400A. Database DBb stores advertising images submitted by advertisers, advertising information, and the affiliated user IDs and consumer information described above. Advertising image data has a known data format, such as JPEG or PNG. Advertising images are either monochrome advertising images printed using one color of ink (usually black ink) or color advertising images printed using multiple colors of ink (for example, four colors of ink: CMYK).

[0053] The advertising information is, for example, information related to an advertising image. The advertising information includes, for example, type information indicating the type of the advertising image (monochrome or color), target information indicating the target (customer) to whom the advertising image should be delivered, and maximum price information indicating the maximum price that the advertiser is willing to pay when the advertising image is printed. The advertising information is provided, for example, by the advertiser when the advertising image is submitted.

[0054] Consumer information is information about the consumption behavior of a user who has an associated affiliated user ID. The consumer information is generated based on history information such as search history on a portal site, advertisement reference history, and browsing and purchasing history on a website. The consumer information may include, for example, information about the user's areas of interest, product information, and user attributes (e.g., age group, gender, purchasing power).

[0055] The bid servers 400B and 400C have the same configuration as the bid server 400A described above.

[0056] A-2. Operation of System 1000 Next, the operation of the system 1000 will be described. The system 1000 executes an advertisement printing process that causes a printer (e.g., printer 500) of a user who has subscribed to the advertisement distribution service to print an advertisement image. FIGS. 3 to 5 are sequence diagrams showing the operation of the advertisement printing process of the first embodiment. The advertisement printing process is started by the distribution control unit DC of the advertisement distribution server 300 when a predetermined start condition is satisfied. The predetermined start condition is, for example, when a predetermined time has come.

[0057] In S6, the distribution control unit DC of the advertisement distribution server 300 requests the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the advertisement image from the advertisement space sales unit AS. Upon receiving the request for the URL of the advertisement image, the advertisement space sales unit AS sets advertisement solicitation conditions in S8. The solicitation conditions include a minimum bid price.

[0058] 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for determining recruitment conditions. In S250, the advertisement space sales department AS acquires a base price for an advertisement space of a base size.

[0059] FIG. 7(A) is an explanatory diagram of an advertisement space arrangement pattern. The figure shows an example of an advertisement template. The advertisement template PT is a template for creating a one-page print image. In this embodiment, the advertisement template PT represents eight advertisement spaces AF arranged in two rows and four columns on one page. The eight advertisement spaces AF are all the same size. The advertisement spaces AF are an example of advertisement spaces of a standard size.

[0060] In S250, the advertising space sales department AS obtains the base price of the advertising space AF. Figures 8(A) to 8(C) are diagrams showing examples of calculating the minimum bid price MP for the space. Figure 8(A) shows examples of the base price SP and base ink cost SC. The base price SP indicates the base minimum bid price for one advertising space AF. The base ink cost SC indicates the base cost of ink used to print the advertising image for one advertising space AF. In this embodiment, prices such as the base price SP and base ink cost SC are expressed as prices based on a currency (e.g., yen, dollars, euros, etc.).

[0061] The reference ink cost SC is experimentally determined in advance using the print results of various advertising images in the advertising space AF so that the reference ink cost SC represents the cost of standard ink. In this embodiment, the cost of the ink used to print the advertising images is covered by payments made by purchasers of the advertising space. The reference price SP is experimentally determined in advance using the print results of various advertising images in the advertising space AF so that the reference price SP is not lower than the cost of the ink used to print the advertising images. As a result, the reference price SP is higher than the reference ink cost SC.

[0062] Although not shown in the figure, data representing the base price SP and the base ink cost SC is stored in advance in the nonvolatile storage device 330 of the advertisement delivery server 300 (FIG. 1). The advertisement space sales department AS refers to this data to obtain the base price SP.

[0063] In S260, the advertising space sales unit AS acquires the cost equivalent to the ink consumption for printing the advertising image for the most recent predetermined number of times. In this embodiment, the advertising space sales unit AS acquires the cost for the most recent predetermined number of times by referring to the ink amount record table TB.

[0064] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an ink amount recording table TB. As shown in the figure, the ink amount recording table TB records, in association with the printing date and time, the ink consumption per page for each of CMYK and the frame ink cost CC, which is the ink cost per advertising space. As will be described later, when an image including an advertising image is printed, the ink consumption for each of CMYK is calculated. The ink consumption for each of CMYK per page is calculated by dividing the ink consumption by the number of printed pages. The calculated ink consumption for CMYK per page is recorded in the ink amount recording table TB. Furthermore, the ink consumption for CMYK per advertising space AF is calculated by multiplying the ink consumption for CMYK per page by the ratio of the area of ​​the advertising space AF to the area of ​​the printed image on one page. The cost of CMYK is calculated by multiplying the ink consumption for CMYK by the unit price for CMYK. The unit price for CMYK is determined in advance. The total cost of CMYK is recorded in the ink amount recording table TB as the frame ink cost CC. Every time the advertisement printing process is executed, a new record of one line is recorded in the ink amount recording table TB.

[0065] In S260 (FIG. 6), the advertising space sales department AS acquires the frame ink costs CC for a predetermined number of recent times (e.g., three times) by referring to the ink amount recording table TB. For example, the advertising space sales department AS acquires three frame ink costs CC_1, CC_2, and CC_3 corresponding to the three most recent printing dates and times TM_1, TM_2, and TM_3 from the ink amount recording table TB (FIG. 9).

[0066] Figures 8(B) and 8(C) show examples of calculating the minimum bid price MP. Each figure shows an example of three frame ink costs CC corresponding to the three most recent print dates and times TM_1, TM_2, and TM_3. In the example of Figure 8(B), the three frame ink costs CC are 7.5, 7, and 8. In the example of Figure 8(C), the three frame ink costs CC are 3.5, 3, and 4.

[0067] As described below, an advertising image is selected from multiple candidate advertising images with reference to consumer information. For example, if a user is interested in summer travel, the frequency of purchases based on advertising images including photos of scenery such as blue skies and oceans may be high. For example, the advertising image may display information used for purchases, such as coupon numbers and purchasing URLs. The user may then use such information to make purchases. Furthermore, if a user is interested in shopping, the frequency of purchases based on advertising images showing product photos or illustrations may be high. Thus, if the frequency of purchases based on advertising images including photos or illustrations is high, the likelihood of such advertising images being selected may be high. When such advertising images are printed, a large amount of ink may be used, and the frame ink cost CC may be high, as in the example of FIG. 8(B).

[0068] If a user is interested in a book, the frequency of purchases based on an advertising image containing text or line drawings representing the book may be high. The text may represent, for example, the book title, the author's name, or an outline of the book. The line drawings may represent the contents of the book. Thus, if the frequency of purchases based on an advertising image containing text or line drawings is high, the likelihood of such an advertising image being selected may be high. When such an advertising image is printed, the amount of ink used may be small, and the frame ink cost CC may be low, as in the example of FIG. 8(C).

[0069] In S265 (FIG. 6), the ad space sales department AS calculates the estimated ink cost for the standard-sized ad space AF. In this embodiment, the ad space sales department AS determines the estimated ink cost as the average of the space ink costs CC for the most recent predetermined number of times obtained in S260. The estimated ink cost AC is shown in FIGS. 8(B) and 8(C). The estimated ink cost AC in FIG. 8(B) is 7.5, and the estimated ink cost AC in FIG. 8(C) is 3.5.

[0070] The estimated ink cost AC is higher as the amount of CMYK ink consumed increases. The estimated ink cost AC correlates with the amount of ink (i.e., the amount of colorant). Hereinafter, the colorant amount IA1 associated with the estimated ink cost AC in FIG. 8(B) will be referred to as the first colorant amount IA1. The colorant amount IA2 associated with the estimated ink cost AC in FIG. 8(C) will be referred to as the second colorant amount IA2. The colorant amounts IA1 and IA2 indicate the amounts of each of the multiple colorants (here, CMYK inks) that can be used for printing. Here, the amount of each of the multiple colorants (here, CMYK) indicated by the first colorant amount IA1 is assumed to be greater than the amount of the corresponding colorant indicated by the second colorant amount IA2.

[0071] In S270 (FIG. 6), the advertising space sales department AS determines the minimum bid price MP by adding the difference between the estimated ink cost AC and the reference ink cost SC to the reference price SP. FIGS. 8(B) and 8(C) show the difference AD ​​between the estimated ink cost AC and the reference ink cost SC. The difference AD ​​is calculated by AC-SC. The difference AD ​​in FIG. 8(B) is 2.5. The difference AD ​​in FIG. 8(C) is -1.5. Thus, when the frame ink cost CC is small, the difference AD ​​can be a negative value.

[0072] 8(B) and 8(C) also show the minimum bid price MP. The minimum bid price MP is calculated by SP+AD. The minimum bid price MP in FIG. 8(B) is 12.5, and the minimum bid price MP in FIG. 8(C) is 8.5.

[0073] 8(B) and 8(C) show the standard difference SD. The standard difference SD is the difference between the standard price SP and the frame ink cost CC (SD=SP-CC). The difference AD ​​is the average of the three standard differences SD.

[0074] Upon completion of S270, the process of FIG. 6, that is, the process of S8 in FIG. 3, ends.

[0075] In S10, the advertising space sales unit AS transmits a bid request to the bidding servers 400A-400C. Similar processing is performed between the advertising delivery server 300 (advertising space sales unit AS) and each of the bidding servers 400A-400C. For this reason, in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bidding servers 400A-400C are not distinguished from each other, and processing is described as being between the advertising delivery server 300 and the bidding server 400. Note that communication between the advertising space sales unit AS of the advertising delivery server 300 and the bidding control unit BC of the bidding server 400 is performed in accordance with a protocol called OpenRTB. RTB is an abbreviation for "Real Time Bidding."

[0076] The bid request includes slot information, minimum bid price information, and affiliated user ID. The slot information indicates, for example, the size of the advertising slot AF (number of pixels in the vertical or horizontal direction) and the total number of advertising slots AF. In this embodiment, the advertising slot sales unit AS calculates the size of the advertising slot AF by applying the advertising template PT (FIG. 7(A)) to the sheet size indicated by the print settings (FIG. 2(D)). The advertising slot sales unit AS also determines the total number of advertising slots AF using the number of pages NP indicated by the print settings and the advertising template PT. The minimum bid price information is information indicating the minimum bid price MP determined in S8. The affiliated user ID is an affiliated user ID associated with the user ID of the user of the printer 500.

[0077] When the bidding server 400 receives the bid request, the bidding control unit BC of the bidding server 400 acquires the bid request. In S12, the bidding control unit BC requests consumer information from the consumer information management unit CM. When requesting the consumer information, the bid control unit BC passes the affiliated user ID included in the bid request, i.e., the affiliated user ID of the user of the printer 500, to the consumer information management unit CM.

[0078] When the consumer information management unit CM receives the request for consumer information, in S14 it obtains the consumer information associated with the affiliated user ID of the user of the printer 500 from the database DBb and passes it to the bidding control unit BC.

[0079] When the bidding control unit BC receives the consumer information, in S16 it determines the advertising space to be bid for in response to the bid request, the bid price, and the advertising image to be printed using the advertising space if the advertising space is successful through the bid. The advertising space to be bid for is the advertising space AF described above. The bid price is determined to be a price equal to or higher than the minimum bid price included in the bid request. The advertising image to be printed and the bid price are determined from among multiple advertising images that have been submitted and stored in database DBb. The advertising image and bid price are determined taking into consideration the minimum bid price, the advertising information described above (target information, upper limit price information, type information), the consumer information acquired in S14, the printing history of each advertising image, etc.

[0080] After determining the advertising space, bid price, and advertising image for the bid, the bid control unit BC transmits a bid notification to the advertisement delivery server 300 in S18. The bid notification is transmitted as a response to the bid request received in S10. The bid notification includes a bid ID, bid space information indicating the advertising space for which the bid is being made, and the bid price. Note that the bid control unit BC may also determine the advertising space, advertising image, and bid price for each of multiple bids in S16, and transmit multiple bid notifications to the advertisement delivery server 300.

[0081] The advertisement delivery server 300 transmits bid responses to the plurality of bidding servers 400A-400C in S10, and may receive one or more bid notifications from each of the plurality of bidding servers 400-400C in S18. In this embodiment, the advertisement delivery server 300 receives more bid notifications than the number of advertisement slots.

[0082] As will be described later, the advertising image to be actually printed is determined from the multiple advertising images associated with the multiple bids. The multiple advertising images associated with the multiple bids obtained at this stage are candidates for the advertising image to be printed, and are therefore also referred to as candidate advertisements or candidate images. The bid price included in the bid notification is the amount to be obtained from the advertising client when the candidate image is printed as the advertising image. Therefore, hereinafter, the bid price is also referred to as the advertising price of the candidate image. Here, the advertising client refers to the advertiser or a business (e.g., a bidding business) that bids on the advertisement and makes payments to the distribution business on behalf of the advertiser. Note that the amount actually obtained from the advertising client when the advertising space is successfully bid may be the amount remaining after deducting various expenses from the bid price (i.e., the successful bid price). In such a case, the amount paid by the advertising client as compensation for the printing of the advertisement (i.e., the amount actually obtained from the advertising client) may be used as the advertising price of the candidate image.

[0083] In S20, the advertising space sales department AS executes a successful bid process. The successful bid process is a process for determining a successful bidder and a successful bid price. The successful bidder is an advertiser who acquires the right to purchase advertising space. The successful bid price is the amount that the successful bidder must pay when purchasing advertising space.

[0084] In this embodiment, the advertising space sales unit AS selects bids from among a plurality of bids for the advertising space AF (FIG. 7(A)) in descending order of bid price, the number of bids being the same as the total number of advertising spaces AF.

[0085] In S22 after the successful bid process in S20 of Fig. 3, the advertising space sales unit AS transmits a successful bid result notice corresponding to each of the multiple bid notices received in S18. The successful bid result notice is transmitted to the bidding server 400 (one of the bidding servers 400A-400C) that transmitted the bid notice. The successful bid result notice includes a bid ID and successful bid result information. The successful bid result information includes information indicating whether the bid was successful or not, and if the bid was successful, further includes information indicating the successful bid price.

[0086] When the bidding server 400 receives the bidding result notification, the bidding control unit BC of the bidding server 400 acquires the bidding result notification. If the bidding control unit BC acquires the bidding result notification indicating that the bid was unsuccessful, the processing executed between the advertisement delivery server 300 and the bidding server 400 is terminated. If the bidding control unit BC acquires the bidding result notification indicating that the bid was successful, the processing from S24 onwards in Fig. 4 is executed.

[0087] In S24, the bidding control unit BC of the bidding server 400 transmits to the advertisement distribution server 300 an advertisement image URL indicating the location of the advertisement image to be printed using the successful bid advertisement frame.

[0088] When the advertisement delivery server 300 receives the advertisement image URL, the advertisement space sales unit AS of the advertisement delivery server 300 acquires the advertisement image URL. In S26, the advertisement space sales unit AS passes the advertisement image URL to the delivery control unit DC.

[0089] In S28, the distribution control unit DC transmits an advertising image request (e.g., an HTTP request) addressed to the received advertising image URL. Since the advertising image URL points to the advertising image data stored in the database DBb of the bid server 400, the advertising image request is transmitted to the bid server 400.

[0090] When the bidding server 400 receives the advertising image request, the bidding control unit BC of the bidding server 400 acquires the advertising image request. In S29, the bidding control unit BC transmits data of the advertising image specified by the advertising image URL to the advertising delivery server 300 as a response to the advertising image request. S28 and S29 are executed for each advertising space AF. The total number of advertising images received by the advertising delivery server 300 is the same as the total number of advertising spaces AF.

[0091] When the advertisement delivery server 300 receives the advertisement image data, the delivery control unit DC of the advertisement delivery server 300 acquires the advertisement image data. In S30, the delivery control unit DC uses the acquired advertisement image to generate data for a print image PI including images of NP pages. FIG. 7(B) is a diagram illustrating an example of the print image PI. The figure shows a page image PGI, which is an image of one page included in the print image PI. The page image PGI represents an image to be printed on one page of paper SH. In this embodiment, the size of the page image PGI is the same as the size of the printable area of ​​one page. The page image PGI includes multiple advertisement areas AA corresponding to multiple advertisement frames AF arranged on paper SH according to the advertisement template PT (FIG. 7(A)). The delivery control unit DC generates the print image PI including NP page images, for example, by arranging advertisement images in the multiple advertisement frames AF (i.e., multiple advertisement areas AA). The data for the print image PI has a known data format, for example, JPEG format, PNG format, or the like.

[0092] In S31B, the distribution control unit DC of the advertisement distribution server 300 sends a request for remaining ink amount information to the printer 500.

[0093] In this embodiment, the printer 500 establishes a constant connection with a relay server (not shown) while the printer 500 is powered on. The constant connection is a connection that complies with a protocol such as MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) or XMPP (eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol). In this embodiment, communication between the remote print server 200 and the printer 500 is performed via the relay server.

[0094] When printer 500 receives the remaining ink level information request, CPU 510 of printer 500 sends the remaining ink level information to advertisement delivery server 300 in S32B. The remaining ink level information is information that indicates the current remaining levels of each of the CMYK inks in printer 500. The remaining ink level information is obtained from database DBp (FIG. 2(A)) and sent to advertisement delivery server 300.

[0095] When the advertisement delivery server 300 receives the remaining ink level information, the delivery control unit DC acquires the remaining ink level information. In S33B, the delivery control unit DC sends a print instruction to the remote print server 200. The print instruction includes, for example, data of the print image PI, information indicating print settings for printing the print image PI, and a device token. The device token is authentication information for remote printing associated with the printer 500. The information included in the print instruction including such authentication information (here, the data of the print image PI and information indicating the print settings) is information addressed to the printer 500.

[0096] When the remote print server 200 receives the print instruction, in S34B, the remote print server 200 and the printer 500 execute the remote print process. For example, the CPU 210 of the remote print server 200 generates a print job for printing the print image PI according to the print settings. The print job includes data of the print image PI and information indicating the print settings. The CPU 210 identifies the printer 500 to which the print job is to be sent based on the device token. The CPU 210 sends the generated print job to the printer 500.

[0097] When the CPU 510 of the printer 500 receives the print job, it uses the print job to print the print image PI on paper in accordance with the print settings. When the CPU 510 completes printing of the print image PI, it sends a print completion notification to the remote print server 200 via the relay server.

[0098] When the remote printing process in S34B is completed, in S35B, the CPU 210 of the remote printing server 200 transmits a print completion notification indicating that printing of the print image PI has been completed to the advertisement delivery server 300. When the advertisement delivery server 300 receives the print completion notification, the delivery control unit DC of the advertisement delivery server 300 acquires the print completion notification.

[0099] When the delivery control unit DC receives the print completion notification, in S36B it sends a remaining ink level request similar to S31B to the printer 500. When the printer 500 receives the remaining ink level information request, in S37B the CPU 510 of the printer 500 sends the remaining ink level information to the advertisement delivery server 300, similar to S32B. When the advertisement delivery server 300 receives the remaining ink level information, the delivery control unit DC acquires the remaining ink level information.

[0100] In this way, the distribution control unit DC acquires ink remaining amount information indicating the amount of ink remaining before printing the advertising image in S32B, and acquires ink remaining amount information indicating the amount of ink remaining after printing the advertising image in S37B.

[0101] In S38B, the delivery control unit DC calculates the amount of ink consumed in printing the advertisement image (ink consumption). Specifically, for each of the CMYK inks, the delivery control unit DC calculates the difference between the remaining ink amount before printing acquired in S37B and the remaining ink amount after printing acquired in S32B. This calculates the ink consumption amount for each of the CMYK inks. The delivery control unit DC calculates the ink consumption amount for each of the CMYK inks by dividing the ink consumption amount by the number of pages NP. Furthermore, as described in FIG. 9, the delivery control unit DC calculates the ink consumption amount for each of the CMYK inks per page by the ratio of the area of ​​the advertisement frame AF to the area of ​​the page image PGI (FIG. 7(B)). The delivery control unit DC calculates the cost of CMYK by multiplying the ink consumption amount for each of the CMYK inks by the unit price of each of the CMYK inks. The delivery control unit DC calculates the total cost of CMYK as the frame ink cost CC.

[0102] In S40B, the distribution control unit DC passes a printing completion notice of the advertising image to the ad space sales unit AS. The printing completion notice includes the CMYK ink consumption per page and the frame ink cost CC calculated in S38B.

[0103] When the ad space sales department AS receives the printing completion notification, in S41B, the ad space sales department AS records the CMYK ink consumption per page and the frame ink cost CC in the ink amount recording table TB (FIG. 2(D) and FIG. 9) stored in the database DBa. In S41B, a new record of one line is added.

[0104] In S42, an advertising fee settlement process is executed between the advertising space sales unit AS and the bidding server 400. The advertising fee settlement process is, for example, a process in which an advertiser of an advertising image pays advertising fees to a business operator operating the advertising distribution server 300. The advertising fee settlement process is executed using a known so-called online settlement method. The amount of advertising fees is, for example, the successful bid price. Note that, instead of the advertising fee settlement process, in S42, the advertising space sales unit AS may simply send a notification to the bidding server 400 that the advertising fee claim has been finalized. In this case, the actual settlement process may be executed, for example, once per predetermined period, at a predetermined timing (for example, once a month at the beginning of the month).

[0105] When the advertising fee settlement process is completed, the advertising space sales unit AS passes a settlement completion notice to the distribution control unit DC in S44.

[0106] 5, the distribution control unit DC transmits an advertisement printing performance notification to the management server 100. The advertisement printing performance notification includes information indicating the user ID of the user of the printer 500 that printed the print image PI including the advertisement image, and the successful bid prices of one or more advertisement spaces corresponding to one or more advertisement images included in the print image PI.

[0107] When the management server 100 receives the advertisement printing performance notification, the CPU 110 of the management server 100 calculates, in S50, the bonus points to be returned to the user of the printer 500. Specifically, the CPU 110 calculates the bonus points to be returned as the amount obtained by multiplying the total successful bid prices of one or more advertisement spaces by a predetermined return rate (for example, several percent to several tens of percent).

[0108] In S52, the CPU 110 executes a point granting process. Specifically, the CPU 110 adds the value of the bonus points calculated in S50 to the value of the bonus points associated with the user ID indicating the user of the printer 500 in the bonus point information stored in the database DBm. Once the point granting process is executed, the advertisement printing process ends.

[0109] As described above, in this embodiment, the CPU 310 of the advertisement distribution server 300 executes the following process in accordance with the computer program PGa. In S265 (FIG. 6), the CPU 310 acquires the estimated ink cost AC. The estimated ink cost AC is higher as the amount of ink increases. In this way, the estimated ink cost AC is an example of colorant amount information, which is information correlated with the amount of colorant.

[0110] In S270, the CPU 310 determines the minimum bid price MP using the estimated ink cost AC. As explained in S16, the advertising image to be printed is determined with reference to the minimum bid price MP. In this way, the minimum bid price MP is an example of a reference price for the advertising image to be printed. FIGS. 8(B) and 8(C) show examples of the estimated ink cost AC and the minimum bid price MP. The estimated ink cost AC in FIG. 8(C) is smaller than the estimated ink cost AC in FIG. 8(B). That is, the second color material amount IA2 associated with the estimated ink cost AC in FIG. 8(C) is smaller than the first color material amount IA1 associated with the estimated ink cost AC in FIG. 8(B). Furthermore, the minimum bid price MP in FIG. 8(B) is higher than the minimum bid price MP in FIG. 8(C). In this way, when the estimated ink cost AC indicates a first color material amount IA1, the CPU 310 determines the minimum bid price MP to be higher than when the estimated ink cost AC indicates a second color material amount IA2 that is less than the first color material amount IA1.

[0111] In S18 (FIG. 3), CPU 310 obtains a notification of multiple bids from bidding server 400. The bid notification includes bid prices representing the prices of candidate advertisements. As described in S16, the bid prices are determined to be equal to or greater than the minimum bid price. Thus, the notification of multiple bids is an example of candidate price information representing the prices of multiple candidate advertisements associated with prices equal to or greater than the minimum bid price MP. Bidding server 400 is an example of an advertisement serving server that serves advertisements.

[0112] In S20, CPU 310 uses the notifications of multiple bids to determine a target advertisement, which is a candidate advertisement to be printed, from the multiple candidate advertisements. In S33B (FIG. 4), CPU 310 sends a print instruction to remote print server 200. As a result, in S34B, remote print processing is executed by remote print server 200 and printer 500. Printer 500 prints on paper a print image PI including an advertising image associated with the target advertisement. Thus, the processing of S33B is an example of processing for causing printer 500 to print a print image PI including an advertising image associated with the target advertisement.

[0113] According to the above configuration, the CPU 310 can determine the minimum bid price MP using the estimated ink cost AC so that when the estimated ink cost AC indicates a relatively large first colorant amount (FIG. 8(B)), a high-priced advertising image can be printed, and when the estimated ink cost AC indicates a relatively small second colorant amount (FIG. 8(C)), a low-priced advertising image can be printed. In this way, the CPU 310 can determine the minimum bid price MP appropriate for the estimated ink cost AC. For example, when the estimated ink cost AC is low, the CPU 310 can increase the likelihood that a low-priced advertising image will be printed compared to when the estimated ink cost AC is high.

[0114] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described in S260 and S265 (FIG. 6), the CPU 310 obtains an estimated ink cost AC that correlates with the amount of ink previously used to print an advertising image. Therefore, the CPU 310 can determine a minimum bid price MP appropriate for the amount of ink previously used to print an advertising image. For example, if a small amount of ink was previously used to print an advertising image, the CPU 310 can increase the likelihood that a low-priced advertising image will be printed compared to when a large amount of ink was previously used to print an advertising image. For example, if the frequency of purchases based on advertising images containing text or line drawings is high, such advertising images may be more likely to be selected. When such advertising images are printed, the amount of ink used may be small, and the estimated ink cost AC may be low, as in the example of FIG. 8(C). As a result, a variety of advertising images, including low-priced advertising images, may be printed.

[0115] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described in S260 and S265 (FIG. 6), the CPU 310 obtains an estimated ink cost AC that correlates with the amount of ink used to print the most recent predetermined number of advertising images. Therefore, the CPU 310 can determine a minimum bid price MP appropriate for the amount of ink used to print the most recent predetermined number of advertising images. For example, if the amount of ink used to print the most recent predetermined number of advertising images is small, the CPU 310 can increase the likelihood that advertising images will be printed at a low price compared to when the amount of ink used to print the most recent predetermined number of advertising images is large.

[0116] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described with reference to FIGS. 8B and 8C, the CPU 310 determines the minimum bid price MP as the sum of the base price SP and the difference AD. The base price SP indicates the base for the minimum bid price MP. The CPU 310 determines the minimum bid price MP by adjusting the base price SP by the difference AD. The difference AD ​​is an example of an adjusted price. As shown in FIG. 8B, when the estimated ink cost AC indicates a first color material amount IA1, the difference AD ​​is a positive value. The CPU 310 determines the minimum bid price MP as the sum of the positive adjusted price (here, the difference AD) associated with the first color material amount IA1 and the base price SP. As shown in FIG. 8C, when the estimated ink cost AC indicates a second color material amount IA2, the difference AD ​​is a negative value. The CPU 310 determines the minimum bid price MP as the sum of the negative adjusted price (here, the difference AD) associated with the second color material amount IA2 and the base price SP.

[0117] In this way, the CPU 310 adjusts the base price SP using the difference AD, which can be either a positive or negative value depending on the estimated ink cost AC. Therefore, the CPU 310 can determine the minimum bid price MP to be an appropriate price. For example, if the adjusted price is always a positive value, the minimum bid price MP may be too high. If the adjusted price is always a negative value, the minimum bid price MP may be too low. In this embodiment, the possibility of such a problem is reduced.

[0118] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7B, the page image PGI includes multiple advertising areas AA. Although not shown, multiple advertising images are allocated to each of the multiple advertising areas AA. S33B (FIG. 4) is an example of processing for causing the printer 500 to print a print image PI including such a page image PGI. As described above, the CPU 310 acquires the frame ink costs CC for the most recent predetermined number of prints in S260 (FIG. 6) to obtain the estimated ink cost AC. As described in S38B (FIG. 4) and FIG. 9, the CPU 310 multiplies the CMYK ink consumption per page by the ratio of the area of ​​the advertising frame AF to the area of ​​the page image PGI (FIG. 7B) to calculate the CMYK ink consumption per advertising frame AF, and thus the frame ink cost CC. The CMYK ink consumption per page is an example of page colorant amount information that correlates with the amount of colorant previously used to print the page image PGI. The frame ink cost CC is an example of color material amount information associated with the advertising frame AF (i.e., advertising area AA). In this way, the CPU 310 obtains the color material amount information (here, frame ink cost CC) associated with the advertising area AA by multiplying the page color material amount information by the ratio of the area of ​​the advertising area AA to the area of ​​the page image PGI. With this configuration, when various different advertising images are assigned to multiple advertising areas AA included in the page image PGI, the CPU 310 can calculate an appropriate frame ink cost CC that represents a representative value.

[0119] Also, in this embodiment, in S20 (FIG. 3), the CPU 310 selects bids in the order of highest bid price, the same number as the total number of advertising spaces AF. That is, the CPU 310 uses the multiple bids to determine the candidate advertisement showing the highest price among the multiple candidate advertisements as the target advertisement for one advertising area AA among the multiple advertising areas AA. As described above, the bid includes a bid price indicating the price of the candidate advertisement. With this configuration, the CPU 310 can reduce the possibility that the payment by the purchaser of the advertising space will be less than the cost of the ink used to print the advertising image.

[0120] In this embodiment, the color material used to print the advertisement image is ink, so the CPU 310 can determine the minimum bid price MP that is appropriate for the amount of ink.

[0121] In this embodiment, the system 1000 (FIG. 1) includes an advertisement delivery server 300 and a printer 500. In S33B (FIG. 4), the CPU 310 of the advertisement delivery server 300 sends a print instruction to the remote print server 200. As described above, this print instruction includes data on the print image PI, information indicating print settings, and authentication information associated with the printer 500. The data on the print image PI and the information indicating the print settings are examples of specific information used to print an image including an advertisement image associated with the target advertisement. The data on the print image PI and the information indicating the print settings are information addressed to the printer 500. In S34B, the printer 500 receives a print job including the data on the print image PI and the information indicating the print settings via the remote print server 200. The printer 500 uses the print job to print an image including the advertisement image. With this configuration, the printer 500 can provide the user with a printed copy of the advertisement image determined according to the minimum bid price MP appropriate for the estimated ink cost AC, which is an example of color material amount information.

[0122] B. Second Example: FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the process for determining recruitment conditions. The difference from the process in FIG. 6 is that the base price is determined for each advertising space AF by adjusting the base price SP. The process in FIG. 10 is executed in S8 (FIG. 3) instead of the process in FIG. 6. The processes in S10-S22 are executed for each advertising space AF. The other parts of the advertisement printing process are the same as the corresponding parts of the advertisement printing process (FIGS. 3-5) of the first embodiment.

[0123] In S210, the advertising space sales department AS refers to the database DBa (FIG. 2(D)) to acquire the model name, which is an example of model information of the printer.

[0124] In S215, the advertising space sales department AS branches the process depending on the type of printer, which is represented by the model name. In this embodiment, the type of printer is assumed to be an inkjet printer or a laser printer. If a laser printer is used to print the advertising image, the advertising printing process uses the amount of toner instead of the amount of ink.

[0125] If the printer type is an inkjet printer, the advertising space sales department AS determines a coefficient for adjusting the base price SP in S220. As will be described later, a coefficient greater than 1 increases the base price, and a coefficient less than 1 decreases the base price.

[0126] FIG. 11A shows a printer 500, an example of an inkjet printer, and n sheets of printed paper SU1-SUn (where n is an integer equal to or greater than 1). Hereinafter, the printer 500 will also be referred to as the inkjet printer 500. The inkjet printer 500 has an outlet 500o configured to eject printed sheets. In this embodiment, the printing mechanism 570 (FIG. 1) of the inkjet printer 500 is configured to eject printed sheets SU1-SUn from the outlet 500o with the front of the sheets facing up to allow the ink to dry (also known as face-up ejection). The ejected sheets SU1-SUn are stacked on a tray (not shown). The numbers at the end of the sheet reference numbers SU1-SUn indicate the order of the stack of n sheets from top to bottom. For example, sheet SU1 is the topmost sheet, sheet SU2 is the second-highest sheet, and sheet SUn is the bottommost sheet.

[0127] The bottom of Figure 11(A) shows the relationship between the sheets SU1-SUn and the page numbers. In this embodiment, double-sided printing is performed. The image of the first page P1 is printed on the front of the topmost sheet SU1, and the image of the second page P2 is printed on the back of the sheet SU1. Similarly, the third page and subsequent pages are printed in order on the front and back of each of the sheets SU2-SUn. In this way, the 2n pages P1-P2n are arranged in order from top to bottom.

[0128] When the front side of the paper faces up, the image on the front side is easier for the user to see than the image on the back side. In this case, the front side of the paper is more suitable for printing advertising images than the back side. Therefore, it is preferable that the base price of the advertising space AF placed on the front side of the paper is higher than the base price of the advertising space AF placed on the back side of the paper.

[0129] Furthermore, when n sheets of paper SU1-SUn are stacked, the upper sheets are easier for the user to see than the lower sheets. In this case, the upper pages are more suitable for printing advertising images than the lower pages. Therefore, it is preferable that the base price of the advertising space AF arranged on the upper pages be higher than the base price of the advertising space AF arranged on the lower pages.

[0130] FIG. 11(A) shows examples of coefficients. The front coefficient cSF is the front coefficient, and the back coefficient cSB is the back coefficient. The ad space sales unit AS determines the front coefficient cSF to be a value greater than the back coefficient cSB (e.g., cSF=1.4, cSB=1). The page coefficients cP1-cP2n are the coefficients of each of the pages P1-P2n. The ad space sales unit AS determines the coefficient cP1 of the topmost first page P1 to be a value greater than the coefficient cP2n of the bottommost 2nth page P2n (e.g., cP1=1.4, cP2n=1). The coefficients cP2-cP2n-1 of the remaining pages P2-P2n-1 are determined so that the coefficient of the upper page is equal to or greater than the coefficient of the lower page. For example, all of the coefficients cP2-cP2n of pages P2-P2n other than the topmost first page P1 may be set to 1. After S220 (FIG. 10), the advertising space sales department AS proceeds to S230.

[0131] If the type of printer is a laser printer, the advertising space sales department AS determines a coefficient for adjusting the base price SP in S225.

[0132] FIG. 11(B) is a diagram showing an example of a laser printer 500b and n printed sheets of paper SU1-SUn. The laser printer 500b has an outlet 500bo configured to eject printed sheets of paper. In this embodiment, the laser printer 500b is configured to eject printed sheets of paper SU1-SUn from the outlet 500bo with the backs of the sheets facing up (also called face-down ejection). The ejected sheets of paper SU1-SUn are stacked on a tray 500bt.

[0133] The bottom of Figure 11(B) shows the relationship between the sheets SU1-SUn and the page numbers. In this embodiment, double-sided printing is performed. Unlike when the inkjet printer 500 (Figure 11(A)) is used, the last page P2n is printed on the back side of the topmost sheet SU1, which faces upward. The 2n pages P1-P2n are arranged in order from bottom to top.

[0134] When the back of a sheet of paper faces up, the image on the back is easier for the user to see than the image on the front. Therefore, it is preferable that the base price of the advertising space AF arranged on the back of the sheet of paper is higher than the base price of the advertising space AF arranged on the front of the sheet of paper. Also, as in the example of FIG. 11(A), the upper sheet of paper is easier for the user to see than the lower sheet of paper. Therefore, it is preferable that the base price of the advertising space AF arranged on the upper page is higher than the base price of the advertising space AF arranged on the lower page.

[0135] FIG. 11(B) shows an example of coefficients. The ad space sales unit AS determines the back coefficient cSB to be a value greater than the front coefficient cSF (e.g., cSF=1, cSB=1.4). The ad space sales unit AS also determines the coefficient cP2n of the topmost 2nth page P2n to be a value greater than the coefficient cP1 of the bottommost 1st page P1 (e.g., cP1=1, cP2n=1.4). The coefficients cP2-cP2n-1 of the remaining pages P2-P2n-1 are determined so that the coefficients of the upper pages are equal to or greater than the coefficients of the lower pages. For example, all of the coefficients cP1-cP2n-1 of pages P1-P2n-1 other than the topmost 2nth page P2n may be set to 1. After S225 (FIG. 10), the ad space sales unit AS proceeds to S230.

[0136] In S230, the advertising space sales department AS acquires print settings (for example, sheet size) by referring to the database DBa (FIG. 2(D)).

[0137] In S235, the advertising space sales department AS branches the process depending on the print direction determined by the print settings. Figures 11(C) and 11(D) are diagrams showing the print direction. In this embodiment, the shape of the paper SU is a rectangle with two short sides SS1 and SS2 and two long sides SL1 and SL2.

[0138] The directions DP1 and DP2 in each figure indicate the printing direction. The printing directions DP1 and DP2 indicate the direction in which the paper is discharged from the discharge outlet (for example, discharge outlets 500o and 500bo (FIGS. 11A and 11B)).

[0139] The printing direction DP1 in Figure 11(C) shows that the first short side SS1 of the sheet of paper SU is discharged first from the discharge slot. When the sheet of paper SU is being discharged, the first short side SS1 is located at the front. The printing direction DP1 is parallel to the long sides SL1 and SL2 (hereinafter, the printing direction DP1 will be referred to as the vertical printing direction DP1).

[0140] The printing direction DP2 in Figure 11(D) shows that the first long side SL1 of the sheet of paper SU is discharged first from the discharge slot. When the sheet of paper SU is being discharged, the first long side SL1 is located at the front. The printing direction DP2 is parallel to the short sides SS1 and SS2 (hereinafter, the printing direction DP2 will be referred to as the horizontal printing direction DP2).

[0141] The print orientation can be determined according to various print settings. In this embodiment, the sheet size is selected from A4 and A5, which is half the size of A4. In each printer 500, 500b, when the sheet size is A4, the print orientation is portrait print orientation DP1, and when the sheet size is A5, which is half the size of A4, the print orientation is landscape print orientation DP2. The ad space sales department AS uses the sheet size to determine whether the print orientation is portrait print orientation DP1 or landscape print orientation DP2. Alternatively, the print settings may include a print orientation specification.

[0142] When the printing direction is the portrait printing direction DP1, the advertising space sales department AS determines a coefficient for adjusting the base price SP in S240. As shown in FIG. 11(C), the multiple advertising areas AA on the sheet of paper SU become visible earlier the closer they are to the first short side SS1. For example, the sheet of paper SU includes a first portion Pa1 that is closer to the first short side SS1 and a second portion Pa2 that is farther from the first short side SS1. The second-class advertising area AA12 represented by the second portion Pa2 is ejected later than the first-class advertising area AA11 represented by the first portion Pa1. The first-class advertising area AA11 becomes visible earlier than the second-class advertising area AA12. An advertising area AA that becomes visible earlier is more likely to catch the user's eye than an advertising area AA that becomes visible later. Therefore, it is preferable that the base price be higher the closer the advertising area AA (i.e., advertising space AF) is to the first short side SS1.

[0143] FIG. 11(C) shows examples of coefficients. The first coefficient cFS is the coefficient of the advertising space AF closest to the first short side SS1, the third coefficient cLS is the coefficient of the advertising space AF farthest from the first short side SS1, and the second coefficient cMS is the coefficient of the remaining advertising space AF. The advertising space sales unit AS determines the first coefficient cFS to be a value greater than the third coefficient cLS (e.g., cFS=1.5, cLS=1). The second coefficient cMS may be any value greater than the third coefficient cLS and less than the first coefficient cFS (e.g., cMS=1). After S240, the advertising space sales unit AS proceeds to S250b.

[0144] If the printing direction is the horizontal printing direction DP2, the advertising space sales unit AS determines a coefficient for adjusting the base price SP in S245. As shown in FIG. 11(D), the multiple advertising areas AA on the paper SU become visible earlier the closer they are to the first long side SL1. For example, the paper SU includes a first portion Pb1 that is closer to the first long side SL1 and a second portion Pb2 that is farther from the first long side SL1. The second-category advertising area AA22 represented by the second portion Pb2 is ejected later than the first-category advertising area AA21 represented by the first portion Pb1. The first-category advertising area AA21 becomes visible earlier than the second-category advertising area AA22. It is preferable that the base price be higher the closer the advertising area AA (i.e., the advertising space AF) is to the first long side SL1.

[0145] 11(D) shows examples of coefficients. The first coefficient cFL is the coefficient of the advertising space AF closest to the first long side SL1, and the second coefficient cLL is the coefficient of the advertising space AF farthest from the first long side SL1. The advertising space sales unit AS determines the first coefficient cFL to be a value greater than the second coefficient cLL (for example, cFL=1.5, cLL=1). After S245, the advertising space sales unit AS proceeds to S250b.

[0146] In S250b, the advertising space sales department AS acquires the unadjusted base price of the advertising space of the standard size. In this embodiment, the base price SP described in FIG. 8(A) is used as the unadjusted base price (hereinafter, the base price SP is referred to as the unadjusted base price SP).

[0147] In S255b, the advertising space sales department AS determines a base price for each advertising space AF using the coefficients of each advertising space AF. Figures 12(A)-12(F) are diagrams showing examples of base prices. Figure 12(A) shows n printed sheets of paper SU1-SUn and advertising spaces AFa-AFe when the printing direction is portrait printing direction DP1 and the printer type is a laser printer. Figure 12(B) shows an example of adjusted base prices SPa-SPe for advertising spaces AFa-AFe when the coefficient values ​​of Figures 11(A)-11(D) are applied.

[0148] Ad space AFa (Fig. 12(A)) is the ad space closest to the first short side SS1 on the upward-facing back side of the topmost sheet SU1. The adjusted base price SPa (Fig. 12(B)) of this ad space AFa is calculated by multiplying the unadjusted base price SP by the page coefficient cP2n, the back coefficient cSB, and the first coefficient cFS. The adjusted base price SPa is 29.

[0149] Ad space AFb is the ad space farthest from the first short side SS1 on the upward-facing back side of the topmost sheet SU1. The adjusted base price SPa for this ad space AFb is calculated by multiplying the unadjusted base price SP by the page coefficient cP2n, the back coefficient cSB, and the third coefficient cLS. The adjusted base price SPb is 20.

[0150] Ad space AFc is located behind ad space AFa. Ad space AFc is the ad space closest to the first short side SS1 on the downward-facing surface of the topmost sheet SU1. The adjusted base price SPc of this ad space AFc is calculated by multiplying the unadjusted base price SP by the page coefficient cP2n-1, the table coefficient cSF, and the first coefficient cFS. The adjusted base price SPc is 15.

[0151] Ad space AFd is the ad space closest to the first short side SS1 on the downward-facing surface of the bottommost paper SUn. The adjusted base price SPd of this ad space AFd is calculated by multiplying the unadjusted base price SP by the page coefficient cP1, table coefficient cSF, and first coefficient cFS. The adjusted base price SPd is 15.

[0152] The ad space AFe is the ad space furthest from the first short side SS1 on the downward-facing surface of the bottommost paper SUn. The adjusted base price SPd of this ad space AFe is calculated by multiplying the unadjusted base price SP by the page coefficient cP1, the table coefficient cSF, and the third coefficient cLS. The adjusted base price SPd is 10.

[0153] As explained in FIG. 11(B) and FIG. 11(C), the more visible the advertising space AF (that is, the advertising area AA), the higher the adjusted base price.

[0154] Figure 12(C) shows n printed sheets of paper SU1-SUn and advertising spaces AFa, AFc-AFe when the printing direction is portrait printing direction DP1 and the printer type is an inkjet printer. Here, the printed image PI is the same as the printed image PI used in Figure 12(A). That is, the arrangement of advertising spaces AFa, AFc-AFe on multiple pages P1-P2n is the same as the arrangement in Figure 12(A). Figure 12(D) shows an example of adjusted base prices SPa, SPc-SPe for advertising spaces AFa, AFc-AFe when the coefficient values ​​of Figures 11(A)-11(D) are applied.

[0155] Ad space AFa (Fig. 12(C)) is the ad space closest to the first short side SS1 on the downward-facing back side of the bottommost paper SUn. The adjusted base price SPa (Fig. 12(D)) of this ad space AFa is calculated by multiplying the unadjusted base price SP by the page coefficient cP2n, the back coefficient cSB, and the first coefficient cFS. The adjusted base price SPa is 15.

[0156] Ad space AFc is the ad space closest to the first short side SS1 on the upward-facing surface of the bottommost sheet SUn. The adjusted base price SPc of this ad space AFa is calculated by multiplying the unadjusted base price SP by the page coefficient cP2n-1, the table coefficient cSF, and the first coefficient cFS. The adjusted base price SPc is 21.

[0157] Ad space AFd is the ad space closest to the first short side SS1 on the upward-facing surface of the top sheet SU1. The adjusted base price SPd of this ad space AFd is calculated by multiplying the unadjusted base price SP by the page coefficient cP1, table coefficient cSF, and first coefficient cFS. The adjusted base price SPd is 29.

[0158] The advertising space AFe is the advertising space farthest from the first short side SS1 on the upward-facing surface of the top sheet SU1. The adjusted base price SPd of this advertising space AFe is calculated by multiplying the unadjusted base price SP by the page coefficient cP1, the table coefficient cSF, and the third coefficient cLS. The adjusted base price SPd is 20.

[0159] As explained in FIG. 11(A) and FIG. 11(C), the more visible the advertising space AF (that is, the advertising area AA), the higher the adjusted base price.

[0160] Figure 12(E) shows n printed sheets of paper SU1-SUn and advertising spaces AFa-AFc when the printing direction is landscape printing direction DP2 and the printer type is a laser printer. Here, the printed image PI is the same as the printed image PI used in Figure 12(A). That is, the arrangement of advertising spaces AFa-AFc on multiple pages P1-P2n is the same as the arrangement in Figure 12(A). Figure 12(F) shows an example of adjusted base prices SPa-SPc for advertising spaces AFa-AFc when the coefficient values ​​of Figures 11(A)-11(D) are applied.

[0161] Ad space AFa (Fig. 12(E)) is the ad space farthest from the first long side SL1 on the upward-facing back side of the topmost sheet SU1. The adjusted base price SPa (Fig. 12(F)) of this ad space AFa is calculated by multiplying the unadjusted base price SP by the page coefficient cP2n, the back coefficient cSB, and the second coefficient cLL. The adjusted base price SPa is 20.

[0162] Ad space AFb is the ad space closest to the first long side SL1 on the upward-facing back side of the topmost sheet SU1. The adjusted base price SPa of this ad space AFb is calculated by multiplying the unadjusted base price SP by the page coefficient cP2n, the back coefficient cSB, and the first coefficient cFL. The adjusted base price SPb is 29.

[0163] The advertising space AFc is the advertising space furthest from the first long side SL1 on the downward-facing surface of the top sheet SU1. The adjusted base price SPc of this advertising space AFc is calculated by multiplying the unadjusted base price SP by the page coefficient cP2n-1, the table coefficient cSF, and the second coefficient cLL. The adjusted base price SPc is 10.

[0164] Although not shown in the figure, the advertising space sales department AS similarly calculates the adjusted base price of other advertising space AF by multiplying the unadjusted base price SP by a coefficient associated with the advertising space AF. The same applies to other combinations of printer type and print direction.

[0165] S260 and S265 following S255b (FIG. 10) are the same as S260 and S265 in FIG. 6. In S260, the advertising space sales department AS references the ink amount recording table TB (FIG. 9) to obtain the space ink cost CC for the most recent predetermined number of times. In S265, the advertising space sales department AS calculates the estimated ink cost AC for an advertising space AF of a standard size.

[0166] In S270b, the advertising space sales unit AS determines the minimum bid price for each advertising space AF by adding the difference AD ​​between the estimated ink cost AC and the base ink cost SC to the adjusted base price. The difference from S270 in FIG. 6 is that the adjusted base price for each advertising space AF is used instead of the base price SP. The difference AD ​​is common to multiple advertising spaces AF. In this way, the minimum bid price for each advertising space AF is adjusted using a coefficient associated with the placement of the advertising space AF, and is also adjusted using the estimated ink cost AC, as in the embodiment in FIG. 6. The advertising space sales unit AS ends the processing in FIG. 10, i.e., the processing of S8 (FIG. 3), in response to the determination of the minimum bid prices for all advertising spaces AF.

[0167] After S8, the advertising space sales unit AS performs the processes of S10-S22 for each advertising space AF. In S10, the advertising space sales unit AS sends a bid request appropriate for the minimum bid price MP for each advertising space AF to the bidding server 400. In S18, the advertising space sales unit AS receives a bid notification for each advertising space AF. Multiple bids may be notified for each advertising space AF. In S20, the advertising space sales unit AS executes a winning bid process for each advertising space AF. In S22, the advertising space sales unit AS sends a winning bid result notification corresponding to each of the multiple bid notifications. Note that the advertising space sales unit AS may send bid requests for each of the multiple advertising spaces AF together in S10.

[0168] The processing after S22 is the same as the processing in Figures 4 and 5 of the first embodiment. With the above, the advertisement printing processing ends.

[0169] As described above, in this embodiment, the CPU 310 of the advertisement distribution server 300 executes the following process in accordance with the computer program PGa. In S33B (FIG. 4), the CPU 310 transmits a print instruction to the remote print server 200. As shown in FIG. 7(B), the page image PGI includes a plurality of advertisement areas AA. Although not shown, a plurality of advertisement images are allocated to each of the plurality of advertisement areas AA. S33B (FIG. 4) is an example of a process for causing the printer 500 to print a print image PI including such a page image PGI.

[0170] 11(A) and 11(B), printers 500 and 500b are configured to discharge sheets on which page images are printed. Furthermore, as described below, CPU 310 determines the minimum bid price for a first advertising area represented by first portions Pa1 and Pb1 of the paper (e.g., advertising area AA in advertising space AFa in FIG. 12(A)) to be higher than the minimum bid price for a second advertising area represented by second portions Pa2 and Pb2 of the paper (e.g., advertising area AA in advertising space AFb in FIG. 12(A)). Here, second portions Pa2 and Pb2 are discharged later than first portions Pa1 and Pb1. This configuration allows CPU 310 to determine the minimum bid price for the first advertising area, which is more likely to catch a user's eye than the second advertising area, to be higher than the minimum bid price for the second advertising area.

[0171] The CPU 310 determines the minimum bid price for the first advertising area represented by the first portions Pa1 and Pb1 and the minimum bid price for the second advertising area represented by the second portions Pa2 and Pb2 as follows: As described in Figures 11(C) and 11(D), the CPU 310 determines the coefficients cFS and cFL of the first-class advertising areas AA11 and AA21 represented by the first portions Pa1 and Pb1 of the paper SU to be greater than the coefficients cLS and cLL of the second-class advertising areas AA12 and AA22 represented by the second portions Pa2 and Pb2 of the paper SU (the second portions Pa2 and Pb2 are portions that are discharged after the first portions Pa1 and Pb1).

[0172] As explained in S255b (FIG. 10), the adjusted base price is adjusted according to the coefficient. Therefore, the adjusted base price of the advertising space AF represented by the first portions Pa1 and Pb1 is higher than the adjusted base price of the advertising space AF represented by the second portions Pa2 and Pb2. For example, in the examples of FIGS. 12(A) and 12(B), the adjusted base price SPa of the advertising space AFa represented by the first portion Pa1 is higher than the adjusted base price SPb of the advertising space AFb represented by the second portion Pa2. The same applies to the advertising spaces AFd and AFe in FIG. 12(C) and the advertising spaces AFb and AFa in FIG. 12(E).

[0173] As explained in S270b (FIG. 10), the minimum bid price for each advertising space AF is determined by adding the difference AD ​​common to the multiple advertising spaces AF to the adjusted base price for the advertising space AF. Therefore, the minimum bid price for the advertising space AF represented by the first portions Pa1 and Pb1 is higher than the minimum bid price for the advertising space AF represented by the second portions Pa2 and Pb2. For example, in the examples of FIGS. 12(A) and 12(B), the minimum bid price for the advertising space AFa represented by the first portion Pa1 is higher than the minimum bid price for the advertising space AFb represented by the second portion Pa2. The same applies to the advertising spaces AFd and AFe in FIG. 12(C) and the advertising spaces AFb and AFa in FIG. 12(E).

[0174] In this embodiment, the number of pages NP may be 2 or more. Like the page image PGI in FIG. 7B, each page image includes an advertising area AA and an advertising image allocated to the advertising area. For example, as shown in FIG. 12A, the page image P2n includes a first advertising area AAa, which is the advertising area of ​​the advertising space AFa, and an advertising image allocated to the first advertising area AAa. The page image P2n-1 includes a second advertising area AAc, which is the advertising area of ​​the advertising space AFc, and an advertising image allocated to the second advertising area AAc. S33B (FIG. 4) is an example of processing for causing a printer to print a print image PI including such multiple page images.

[0175] As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, printers 500 and 500b print multiple page images using double-sided printing. For example, as shown in FIG. 12A, page image P2n is printed on the first side SU1a of sheet SU1, and page image P2n-1 is printed on the second side SU1b of sheet SU1. Here, sheet SU1 is discharged with the first side SU1a facing up. In this case, CPU 310 determines the coefficient cSB (FIG. 12B) of advertisement space AFa on the first side SU1a, which faces up, to be greater than the coefficient cSF of advertisement space AFc on the second side SU1b, which faces down. Therefore, the adjusted base price SPa of advertisement space AFa is higher than the adjusted base price SPc of advertisement space AFc. Then, the CPU 310 determines the minimum bid price for the first advertising area AAa corresponding to the advertising space AFa to be higher than the minimum bid price for the second advertising area AAc corresponding to the advertising space AFc. The first advertising area AAa is an area on the first surface SU1a facing upward, and the second advertising area AAc is an area on the second surface SU1b facing downward. The first advertising area AAa is easier for users to see than the second advertising area AAc. The CPU 310 can determine the minimum bid price for the first advertising area AAa, which is easier for users to see than the second advertising area AAc, to be higher than the minimum bid price for the second advertising area AAc. The same applies when other combinations of printer type and print orientation are used.

[0176] In this embodiment, the printer can be selected from a plurality of printers, including an inkjet model printer 500 and a laser model printer 500b. As described with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B, a page image PGI of one page includes a plurality of advertising areas AA. Therefore, one or more page images included in the print image PI include a plurality of advertising areas AA as a whole, and include a plurality of advertising images allocated to the plurality of advertising areas AA. S33B (FIG. 4) is an example of processing for causing a printer to print a print image PI including such one or more page images.

[0177] FIG. 12(A) shows a case where a laser printer 500b is used, and FIG. 12(C) shows a case where an inkjet printer 500 is used.

[0178] 12(A), the CPU 310 determines the adjusted base price of the advertising area AA represented by the first portion Pa1 of the paper SU1 (for example, the adjusted base price SPa of the advertising area AAa in the advertising space AFa) to be the highest price among the multiple adjusted base prices of the multiple advertising areas AAs. In other words, the minimum bid price for the advertising area AAa is the highest among the multiple minimum bid prices of the multiple advertising areas AAs.

[0179] In the example of FIG. 12(C), the CPU 310 determines the adjusted base price of the advertising area AA represented by the first portion Pa1 of the paper SU1 (for example, the adjusted base price SPd of the advertising area AAd in the advertising space AFd) to be the highest of the multiple adjusted base prices of the multiple advertising areas AAs. That is, the minimum bid price for the advertising area AAd is the highest of the multiple minimum bid prices of the multiple advertising areas AAs. The CPU 310 also determines the adjusted base price SPa of the advertising area AAa to be a price lower than the adjusted base price SPd of the advertising area AAd. That is, the CPU 310 determines the minimum bid price for the advertising area AAa to be a price lower than the minimum bid price for the advertising area AAd.

[0180] In this way, the CPU 310 can determine the minimum bid price for each of the multiple advertising areas AA to be a price suitable for the printer model.

[0181] In this embodiment, the print setting (FIG. 2(D)) can be selected from a plurality of print settings. The target print setting, which is the print setting used in the advertisement printing process, may be any one of a plurality of print settings including, for example, a first print setting indicating an A4 sheet size and a second print setting indicating an A5 sheet size. Furthermore, one or more page images included in the print image PI collectively include a plurality of advertisement areas AA (FIG. 7(B)), and include a plurality of advertisement images allocated to the plurality of advertisement areas AA. S33B (FIG. 4) is an example of processing for causing a printer to print the print image PI including such one or more page images using a target print setting, which is any one of a plurality of print settings including the first print setting and the second print setting.

[0182] FIG. 12(A) shows a case where a first print setting indicating an A4 sheet size is used, and FIG. 12(E) shows a case where a second print setting indicating an A5 sheet size is used.

[0183] 12A, the CPU 310 determines the adjusted base price SPa of the advertising area AAa on the sheet SU1 to be the highest price among the multiple adjusted base prices of the multiple advertising areas AAs. In other words, the minimum bid price for the advertising area AAa is the highest among the multiple minimum bid prices of the multiple advertising areas AAs.

[0184] In the example of FIG. 12(E), the CPU 310 determines the adjusted base price SPb of the advertising area AAb, which is the advertising area in the advertising space AFb on the paper SU1, to be the highest of the multiple adjusted base prices of the multiple advertising areas AA. That is, the minimum bid price for the advertising area AAb is the highest of the multiple minimum bid prices for the multiple advertising areas AA. The CPU 310 also determines the adjusted base price SPa of the advertising area AAa to be a price lower than the adjusted base price SPb of the advertising area AAb. That is, the CPU 310 determines the minimum bid price for the advertising area AAa to be a price lower than the minimum bid price for the advertising area AAb.

[0185] In this way, the CPU 310 can determine the minimum bid price for each of the multiple advertising areas AA to be a price suitable for the print setting.

[0186] In this embodiment, the advertisement printing process is performed in the same manner as the advertisement printing process in the first embodiment, except that an adjusted base price is determined for each advertisement space AF. Therefore, this embodiment can provide the same various advantages as those provided by the first embodiment.

[0187] C. Variations: (1) In calculating the frame ink cost CC (Figure 9), the area of ​​the page image used to calculate the area ratio may be the area of ​​the remaining part excluding the marginal part where no image is printed (for example, the marginal part between multiple advertising areas AA) instead of the entire area of ​​the page image (for example, page image PGI (Figure 7(B))), which is the printed image of one page.

[0188] (2) In each of the above embodiments, the estimated ink cost AC (FIGS. 8B and 8C) is used as the color material amount information used to determine the minimum bid price. The frame ink cost CC used to calculate the estimated ink cost AC is calculated using the ink consumption amount in S38B (FIG. 4). The advertisement delivery server 300 calculates the ink consumption amount due to printing the advertisement image using changes in the remaining ink amount information (FIG. 4: S32B, S37B) acquired from the printer. Alternatively, the printer may calculate the ink consumption amount due to printing the advertisement image. The printer may send a print completion notice including ink consumption data to the advertisement delivery server 300 via the remote print server 200 (S35B (FIG. 4)). In addition, various other methods may be used to determine the ink consumption amount. For example, the advertisement delivery server 300 may estimate the ink consumption amount by analyzing the data of the print image PI. Specifically, the advertisement delivery server 300 may calculate the total number of dots for each CMYK by analyzing the data of the print image PI. The advertisement distribution server 300 may calculate the estimated ink consumption amount by multiplying the total number of dots by the amount per dot.

[0189] In S260 and S265 (FIGS. 6 and 10), the advertisement delivery server 300 calculates color material amount information (here, estimated ink cost AC) using the amount of color materials used in printing advertisement images the most recent predetermined number of times. Alternatively, the color material amount information may be various information correlated with the amount of color materials used in previous advertisement image printing. For example, the advertisement delivery server 300 may calculate the estimated ink cost AC using the amount of ink consumed in printing advertisement images within the most recent predetermined period (e.g., two weeks). The advertisement delivery server 300 may also determine the color material amount information corresponding to the estimated ink cost AC depending on the image quality mode used in the previous advertisement printing process using the same printer. For example, if the previous image quality mode was the high image quality mode, the color material amount information may be set to a first cost corresponding to a predetermined first color material amount. If the previous image quality mode was the eco mode, the color material amount information may be set to a second cost corresponding to a second color material amount less than the first color material amount. Instead of the image quality mode used in the previous advertisement printing process, the color material amount information may be determined according to the image quality mode used in the last printing by the same printer.

[0190] Furthermore, the color material amount information may be information correlated with various amounts of color materials, instead of information correlated with the amounts of color materials previously used in printing the advertisement image. For example, the advertisement distribution server 300 may determine color material amount information corresponding to the estimated ink cost AC according to the current image quality mode.

[0191] (3) The method of determining the adjusted base price may be various methods instead of the method shown in Figure 10. For example, the coefficients cFS, cMS, cLS, cFL, and cLL (Figures 11(C) and 11(D)), which change depending on the order of discharge, may be omitted.

[0192] The selectable printer models are not limited to inkjet and laser printers, and may include various models. For example, for laser printers, a face-down ejection model and a face-up ejection model may be selectable. When a face-up ejection model is used, the coefficients cSF and cSB may be determined as shown in FIG. 11(A), similar to when an inkjet printer 500 is used. Note that the coefficients cSF and cSB that differ between the top and bottom surfaces of the paper may be omitted. Furthermore, the advertisement delivery server 300 may determine the coefficients for each advertisement space AF regardless of the printer model. In other words, the coefficients associated with each advertisement space AF may be common to multiple models.

[0193] The advertisement delivery server 300 may determine the coefficient using various print settings. For example, the advertisement delivery server 300 may determine an image quality coefficient associated with the image quality mode used in the current advertisement printing process. The advertisement delivery server 300 may determine an image quality coefficient associated with the high-image-quality mode to be a larger value than an image quality coefficient associated with the eco mode. The image quality coefficient may be commonly applied to multiple advertisement spaces AF. Furthermore, the advertisement delivery server 300 may determine the image quality coefficient according to a previous image quality mode (e.g., the image quality mode used in the previous advertisement printing process using the same printer, or the image quality mode used in the last printing by the same printer) instead of the current image quality mode. Note that the advertisement delivery server 300 may determine the coefficient for each advertisement space AF regardless of the print settings. In other words, the coefficient associated with each advertisement space AF may be common to multiple print settings.

[0194] The advertisement delivery server 300 may determine the coefficient using color material amount information (e.g., estimated ink cost AC). For example, the advertisement delivery server 300 may determine a larger coefficient as the amount of color material indicated by the color material amount information (e.g., estimated ink cost AC) increases. The advertisement delivery server 300 may then determine the minimum bid price by multiplying the determined coefficient by the unadjusted base price SP.

[0195] (4) The method for determining the minimum bid price is not limited to the above method and may be various methods. For example, the base price (e.g., the base price SP in FIGS. 8A-8C or the unadjusted base price SP in FIG. 10) may be the minimum bid price used in the previous advertisement printing process instead of a predetermined price. The adjustment price added to the base price may be various prices instead of a price that can change between positive and negative values ​​like the difference AD. For example, the adjustment price may be determined to be a larger positive value as the amount of color material indicated by the color material amount information (e.g., estimated ink cost AC) increases. Alternatively, the adjustment price may be determined to be a larger negative value as the amount of color material indicated by the color material amount information (e.g., estimated ink cost AC) increases.

[0196] Furthermore, the adjustment of the unadjusted base price SP using the coefficients may be omitted. Instead, the advertisement delivery server 300 may use the various coefficients described above to adjust the estimated ink cost AC (and thus the color material amount information). The advertisement delivery server 300 may also use the various coefficients described above to adjust the unadjusted minimum bid price.

[0197] (5) In S20 (FIG. 3), the advertisement delivery server 300 may select various candidate advertisements associated with bid prices equal to or higher than the minimum bid price, instead of the candidate advertisement showing the highest bid price. For example, the advertisement delivery server 300 may calculate the adjusted bid price by subtracting the cost of color materials required for printing the advertisement image from the bid price. Then, the advertisement delivery server 300 may select the candidate advertisement showing the highest adjusted bid price.

[0198] (6) In S33B (FIG. 4), the advertisement delivery server 300 may generate a print job by itself and send the generated print job directly to the printer. The advertisement delivery server 300 may also send a first set of data addressed to the printer, including data on the advertisement template PT, data on advertisement images, and placement data indicating the correspondence between the advertisement frames AF and the advertisement images. The printer may use the first set of data to generate print image data and print the advertisement images using the generated data. The advertisement delivery server 300 may also send a second set of data addressed to the printer, including data on the advertisement template PT and data indicating advertisement image URLs associated with each advertisement frame AF. The printer may access the advertisement image URL to obtain advertisement image data, use the obtained data to generate print image data, and print the advertisement images using the generated data. The printer may also be configured to, upon receiving image data in a predetermined format (e.g., PDF format), perform printing using the received image data. In this case, the advertisement delivery server 300 may send print image data in the predetermined format addressed to the printer without sending a print instruction. In either case, the advertisement delivery server 300 may send the printer information directly, without going through the remote print server 200. All of these processes by the advertisement delivery server 300 are examples of processes for causing the printer to print an image including an advertisement image associated with the target advertisement. Also, as described above, the specific information sent by the advertisement delivery server 300 to the printer for printing the advertisement image is not limited to data of the print image PI, and may include various information.

[0199] (7) The layout pattern of the advertising images in the print image PI is not limited to the pattern in FIG. 7(A) and may be various patterns. For example, the layout pattern may include L advertising spaces (L is an integer equal to or greater than 1). For example, the number of advertising spaces included in the layout pattern may be 1. The size of this advertising space may be the same as the size of the page image. Furthermore, the layout pattern may include advertising spaces of two or more different sizes. For example, a layout pattern including one advertising space that is half the size of the page image and four advertising spaces that are 1 / 8 the size of the page image may be adopted. Furthermore, a layout pattern pre-selected by the user from among the multiple layout patterns may be used.

[0200] (8) The printed image may include an image designated by the user in addition to the advertising image. For example, when a user prints an image using a remote printing service, the advertising image may be placed in the margin of the paper. Alternatively, the image designated by the user may be printed on the front of the paper, and the advertising image may be printed on the back of the paper.

[0201] (9) The sheet used for printing may be a variety of sheet-like media, such as film, instead of paper.

[0202] (10) The advertisement printing process is not limited to the process of the above embodiment and modified example, and may be various processes. For example, the process of FIG. 5 may be omitted. The printer may also be used for a prepaid printing service. In this case, the number of printable sheets may be increased in accordance with the printing of the advertisement image.

[0203] (11) In the above embodiments and modifications, the advertisement delivery service is realized by four types of servers 100-400 working together. The servers providing the advertisement delivery service may have various configurations. For example, the delivery control unit DC and the advertising space sales unit AS of the advertisement delivery server 300 may be separate servers. Similarly, the bidding control unit BC and the consumer information management unit CM of the bidding server 400 may be separate servers. Furthermore, the advertisement delivery server 300 and one of the bidding servers 400A-400C may be formed by a single server.

[0204] Furthermore, the processes executed by the management server 100, the remote print server 200, and the advertisement delivery server 300 may be executed by a single server. Alternatively, the processes executed by any two of the management server 100, the remote print server 200, and the advertisement delivery server 300 may be executed by a single server. Furthermore, the advertisement delivery server 300 may be formed by a plurality of computers that can communicate with each other.

[0205] In each of the above embodiments, a part of the configuration realized by hardware may be replaced by software, and conversely, a part or all of the configuration realized by software may be replaced by hardware. For example, the processing performed by the advertising space sales unit AS may be performed by a dedicated hardware circuit such as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC).

[0206] Furthermore, when some or all of the functions of the present disclosure are realized by a computer program, the program can be provided in a form stored on a computer-readable recording medium (e.g., a non-transitory recording medium). The program can be used in a state stored on the same or a different recording medium (computer-readable recording medium) from when it was provided. The "computer-readable recording medium" is not limited to portable recording media such as memory cards and CD-ROMs, but can also include internal storage devices within a computer, such as various ROMs, and external storage devices connected to a computer, such as a hard disk drive.

[0207] The above-described examples and modifications can be combined as appropriate. The above-described examples and modifications are provided to facilitate understanding of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit thereof, and the present invention includes equivalents thereof. [Explanation of symbols]

[0208] 100... management server, 200... remote printing server, 300... advertising distribution server, 400, 400A, 400B... bidding server, 500... inkjet printer, 500b... laser printer, 500bo, 500o... discharge outlet, 500bt... tray, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510... CPU, 120, 220, 320, 420, 520... volatile storage device, 130, 230, 330, 430, 530... non-volatile storage device, 540... display unit, 550... operation unit, 570... printing mechanism, 1000... system

Claims

1. a server, a color material amount acquisition unit that acquires color material amount information correlated with the amount of color material; a price determination unit that determines a reference price of an advertising image to be printed using the color material amount information, and when the color material amount information indicates a first color material amount, determines the reference price to be higher than when the color material amount information indicates a second color material amount that is less than the first color material amount; a candidate acquisition unit that acquires candidate price information indicating the prices of a plurality of candidate advertisements associated with prices equal to or higher than the reference price from the advertisement supply server; an advertisement determination unit that determines a target advertisement, which is a candidate advertisement to be printed, from the plurality of candidate advertisements using the candidate price information; a print processing unit that executes a process to cause a printer to print an image including an advertisement image associated with the target advertisement; A server comprising:

2. 2. The server of claim 1, the color material amount acquisition unit acquires the color material amount information having a correlation with the amount of color material previously used in printing an advertisement image; server.

3. 3. The server according to claim 2, the color material amount acquisition unit acquires the color material amount information having a correlation with the amount of color material used in printing the advertisement image a predetermined number of times most recently; server.

4. 3. The server according to claim 1, The price determination unit When the color material amount information indicates the first color material amount, the reference price is determined to be the sum of a first adjusted price having a positive value associated with the first color material amount and a base price; When the color material amount information indicates the second color material amount, the reference price is determined to be the sum of a negative second adjusted price associated with the second color material amount and the base price. server.

5. 3. The server according to claim 1, the print processing unit executes the process to cause the printer to print a page image including a plurality of advertising areas, the page image including a plurality of advertising images allocated to the plurality of advertising areas; the color material amount acquisition unit acquires the color material amount information associated with the advertisement area by multiplying page color material amount information, which is correlated with the amount of color material previously used in printing the page image, by a ratio of the area of ​​the advertisement area to the area of ​​the page image; server.

6. 3. The server according to claim 1, the print processing unit executes the process to cause the printer to print a page image including a plurality of advertising areas, the page image including a plurality of advertising images allocated to the plurality of advertising areas; the printer is configured to output a sheet having a page image printed thereon; the price determination unit determines a reference price of a first advertising area represented by a first portion of the sheet to be higher than a reference price of a second advertising area represented by a second portion of the sheet that is ejected after the first portion; server.

7. 3. The server according to claim 1, the print processing unit executes the process to cause the printer to print a first page image including a first advertising area, the first page image including an advertising image allocated to the first advertising area, and a second page image including a second advertising area, the second page image including an advertising image allocated to the second advertising area; The printer printing the first page image on a first side of a sheet; printing the second page image on a second side of the sheet; The sheet on which the first page image and the second page image are printed is discharged with the first surface facing upward. It is configured as follows: The price determination unit determines the reference price of the first advertising area to be higher than the reference price of the second advertising area. server.

8. 3. The server according to claim 1, the printer is one of a plurality of printers including a first printer of a first model and a second printer of a second model different from the first model; the print processing unit executes the process to cause the printer to print one or more page images that include a plurality of advertising areas as a whole, the page images including a plurality of advertising images allocated to the plurality of advertising areas; The price determination unit If the printer is the first printer, determining the reference price of a first advertising area among the plurality of advertising areas to be the highest price among the plurality of reference prices of the plurality of advertising areas; If the printer is the second printer, determining a reference price of a second advertising area among the plurality of advertising areas to be the highest price among the plurality of reference prices of the plurality of advertising areas; determining the reference price of the first advertising area to be lower than the reference price of the second advertising area; server.

9. 3. The server according to claim 1, the print processing unit executes the process of causing the printer to print one or more page images that include a plurality of advertising areas as a whole, the page images including a plurality of advertising images allocated to the plurality of advertising areas, using a target print setting that is one of a plurality of print settings including a first print setting and a second print setting; The price determination unit When the target print setting is the first print setting, a reference price of a first advertising area among the plurality of advertising areas is determined to be the highest price among the plurality of reference prices of the plurality of advertising areas; When the target print setting is the second print setting, determining a reference price of a second advertising area among the plurality of advertising areas to be the highest price among the plurality of reference prices of the plurality of advertising areas; determining the reference price of the first advertising area to be lower than the reference price of the second advertising area; server.

10. 3. The server according to claim 1, The advertisement determination unit determines the target advertisement as the candidate advertisement showing the highest price among the plurality of candidate advertisements using the candidate price information. server.

11. 3. The server according to claim 1, The colorant is ink.

12. 1. A printing system comprising: A server and a printer are provided, The server a color material amount acquisition unit that acquires color material amount information that correlates with the amount of color material previously used in printing an advertisement image; a price determination unit that uses the color material amount information to determine a reference price for a new advertising image to be printed, and when the color material amount information indicates a first color material amount, determines the reference price to be higher than when the color material amount information indicates a second color material amount that is less than the first color material amount; a candidate acquisition unit that acquires candidate price information indicating the prices of a plurality of candidate advertisements associated with prices equal to or higher than the reference price from the advertisement supply server; an advertisement determination unit that determines a target advertisement, which is a candidate advertisement to be printed, from the plurality of candidate advertisements using the candidate price information; a transmitting unit that transmits specific information to a printer, the specific information being used to print an image including an advertisement image associated with the target advertisement; Equipped with the printer uses the identification information to print the image including the advertisement image; Printing system.

Images