Printing system, program, and server

Abstract

The present invention prints a prioritized advertisement image in a readily viewable manner. Acquired is specific information that includes either one or both of setting information which pertains to print settings and model information which indicates a model of a print execution unit. Print image data for printing a plurality of advertisement images on one or more sheets is generated using the specific information and the respective priorities of the plurality of advertisement images. The plurality of advertisement images include a first advertisement image and a second advertisement image that has a priority higher than that of the first advertisement image. Print image data for printing the first advertisement image on a first portion of the sheet and printing the second advertisement image on a second portion, which is on the downstream side in the discharge direction relative to the first portion of the sheet, is generated using the specific information.

Description

Printing System, Program, and Server

[0001] This specification relates to a technique for printing advertisement images.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses the following technique for printing an advertisement image using the margin area of a recording paper. The charging unit first calculates the original printing fee when only the manuscript image is recorded on the recording paper, and divides this original printing fee by the discount rate to calculate the discounted fee. The charging unit sets (i) a larger discount rate as the size of the advertisement image is larger, (ii) a larger discount rate as the position of the advertisement image is closer to the upper end of the recording paper, or (iii) sets a larger discount rate for the front surface of the recording paper than the back surface.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-117986

[0004] When a plurality of advertisement images are printed, the priorities may be different among the plurality of advertisement images. The visible parts of the paper may vary depending on printing conditions such as printing settings and printer models. There was room for improvement in terms of printing the prioritized advertisement image clearly.

[0005] This specification discloses a technique for printing a prioritized advertisement image clearly.

[0006] The technique disclosed in this specification can be realized as the following items.

[0007] [Item 1] A printing system comprising: a specific information acquisition unit that acquires specific information including either or both of the following: setting information relating to print settings and model information indicating a model of a printing execution unit; an advertisement acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of advertisement images; a generation unit that generates print image data for printing the plurality of advertisement images on one or more sheets using the specific information and the respective priorities of the plurality of advertisement images; and a printing execution unit that prints the plurality of advertisement images represented by the print image data on the one or more sheets, wherein the printing execution unit is configured to discharge the printed sheets in the discharge direction, and the plurality of advertisement images include a first advertisement image and a second advertisement image having a higher priority than the priority of the first advertisement image, and the generation unit generates print image data for printing the first advertisement image on a first portion of a sheet and the second advertisement image on a second portion of the sheet which is downstream of the first portion in the discharge direction, using the specific information.

[0008] According to this configuration, the printing system generates print image data for printing a second advertisement image, which has a higher priority in the second portion downstream in the discharge direction from the first portion where the first advertisement image is printed, using specific information and the respective priorities of multiple advertisement images. Since the system prints multiple advertisement images represented by the print image data, the priority advertisement image can be printed in an easily viewable manner.

[0009] [Item 2] A program that enables a computer to implement: a specific information acquisition function that acquires specific information including either or both of the following: setting information relating to print settings and model information indicating a model of a print execution unit; an advertisement acquisition function that acquires a plurality of advertisement images; a generation function that generates print image data for printing the plurality of advertisement images on one or more sheets using the specific information and the respective priorities of the plurality of advertisement images; and a transmission function that transmits the print image data to a printer having the print execution unit, wherein the print execution unit is configured to discharge printed sheets in the discharge direction, the plurality of advertisement images include a first advertisement image and a second advertisement image having a higher priority than the priority of the first advertisement image, and the generation function generates print image data using the specific information for printing the first advertisement image on a first portion of a sheet and the second advertisement image on a second portion of the sheet which is downstream of the first portion in the discharge direction.

[0010] According to this configuration, print image data for printing a second advertisement image, which has a higher priority in the second portion downstream in the discharge direction from the first portion where the first advertisement image is printed, is generated using specific information and the respective priorities of multiple advertisement images. Since the print image data is sent to a printer having a print execution unit, the priority advertisement image can be printed in an easily viewable manner.

[0011] Furthermore, the technologies disclosed herein can be implemented in various forms, for example, a server that causes an advertising image to print on a printer, a method for causing an advertising image to print on a printer, a printing system comprising a server and a printer, a server, a method, or a computer program for implementing the functions of a printing system, a recording medium (e.g., a non-temporary recording medium) on which the computer program is recorded, and so on.

[0012] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of the network system 1000. This is an explanatory diagram of the printer and server databases. This is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the advertisement printing process. This is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the advertisement printing process. This is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the advertisement printing process. (A) is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement pattern of the advertisement frames. (B) is a diagram representing a page image PGI, which is an image of one page. This is a flowchart showing an example of the data generation process for print images. (A) is an explanatory diagram of the inkjet printer 500. (B) is an explanatory diagram of the laser printer 500b. (A) is a diagram showing an example of the orientation of the paper when the paper orientation is portrait O2a. (B) is a table showing an example of priority. (C) is a diagram showing an example of a landscape advertisement image O1b. (D) is a diagram showing an example of a portrait advertisement image O1a. (A) is a diagram showing an example of the orientation of the paper when the paper orientation is landscape O2b. (B) is a table showing an example of priority. (A)-(D) are diagrams showing an example of assignment.

[0013] A. First Embodiment: A-1. System Configuration: Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the network system 1000. Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the printer and server databases. In Figure 2, some of the information stored in the various databases described later is shown as an excerpt of information relevant to this embodiment.

[0014] The network system 1000 includes a printing system 900 and bidding servers 400A-400C. The printing system 900 includes a management server 100, a remote printing server 200, an advertising distribution server 300, and a printer 500.

[0015] The printer 500 is a device that uses ink, a consumable item, to perform printing and is used by the user to access services under contract (for example, advertising distribution services). The printer 500 includes a CPU 510 as its controller, a volatile storage device 520 such as DRAM, and a non-volatile storage device 530 such as a hard disk or flash memory. The 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 input, a print execution unit 570, and a communication interface (IF) 580.

[0016] The IF580 communication interface is an interface for connecting to the Internet of Things (IT), such as a wired interface compliant with Ethernet (registered trademark) or a wireless interface compliant with the Wi-Fi standard.

[0017] The CPU 510 is a processing unit (processor) that performs data processing. 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 types of information, described later, are recorded.

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

[0019] The CPU 510 executes various processes to control the printer 500 by running the computer program PGp. For example, the CPU 510 controls the print execution unit 570 to perform a printing process that causes the print execution unit 570 to print an image. The CPU 510 also communicates with the management server 100 and the remote print server 200 to perform processes related to the advertising printing process described later.

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

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

[0022] Figure 2(A) shows an overview of the printer 500's database DBp. The database DBp stores various information related to the printer 500, including configuration information and status information.

[0023] The database DBp stores information indicating the remaining ink levels. Specifically, the database DBp stores information indicating the remaining levels of each CMYK ink. The CPU 510 updates the information indicating the remaining ink levels each time printing is performed by calculating the amount of ink consumed and detecting the remaining ink levels using the ink level sensor.

[0024] The management server 100, the remote printing server 200, and the advertising distribution server 300 are, for example, computers operated by a business operator that operates multiple types of services as described later (for example, a business operator that manufactures and sells printers 500), such as cloud servers using cloud services such as Amazon Web Services (registered trademark, AWS). In other words, they are virtual servers provided to the business operator that operates the services by a cloud service provider that manages physical servers. The business operator that operates the services starts operating the management server 100, the remote printing server 200, and the advertising distribution server 300 by uploading the computer programs PGM, PGr, and PGa, described later, to the cloud provided by AWS.

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

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

[0027] Here, while advertising in a narrow sense may sometimes mean informing people for the purpose of promoting goods or services, in this specification, advertising refers to all forms of communication where an advertiser pays advertising fees to inform people (in this embodiment, the printer user), not limited to promotional purposes. And advertising image refers to an image that shows the information to be advertised. Therefore, in this specification, advertising image is not limited to an image that shows information intended to promote goods or services offered by the advertiser, but also includes images that show various kinds of information offered by the advertiser (e.g., weather information, traffic information, the advertiser's own works). Furthermore, advertising image may be any image that a third party other than the user of the printer 500 (e.g., the advertiser) wants to print on the user's printer 500.

[0028] The remote printing service is a service provided by the remote printing server 200. The remote printing service allows users to send image files stored on a server or mobile device to the remote printing server 200, which then prints the images to a printer (for example, printer 500) via the remote printing server 200. Users of the remote printing service are, for example, printer users, but in this embodiment, the advertising distribution server 300 uses the remote printing service to print advertising images to the printer.

[0029] Furthermore, the multiple types of services managed by the management server 100 may 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 ink levels of the managed printers and delivers ink cartridges or ink bottles to the user according to ink consumption.

[0030] The management server 100 includes a CPU 110 as the controller of the management server 100, a volatile storage device 120 such as 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 compliant with Ethernet (registered trademark).

[0031] The CPU 110 is a processing unit (processor) that performs data processing. 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, by being uploaded by the service provider. The CPU 110 of the management server 100 executes various processes related to the multiple types of services under management, as described later, by running the computer program PGm.

[0033] Figure 2(B) shows an overview of the database DBm of the management server 100. The database DBm records user IDs that identify users who use the various types of services under management.

[0034] The database DBm further records a partner user ID and a device ID, associated with the user ID. The partner user ID is the user ID assigned by the portal site the user is using (for example, a site operated by a company such as Yahoo®, Google®, or Microsoft®). The device ID is an ID that identifies the printer (for example, printer 500) used when using the various managed services. For example, when a user uses one of the various services for the first time, they access the management server 100 using their terminal device (not shown) and submit an application for use. The user ID is generated by the management server 100 and assigned to the user at the time of the application. The partner service ID and device ID are recorded in the database DBm of the management server 100 based on the user's input at the time of the application for use.

[0035] The database DBm further records contract service information and reward points information, associated with the user ID. Contract service information indicates the type of service the user is subscribed to. Reward points information indicates the reward points awarded to the user. Reward points can be used, for example, to pay for the usage fees of paid services the user is using or to purchase printer consumables (such as ink and toner) instead of cash.

[0036] The remote print server 200 is equipped with the same CPU 210, volatile storage device 220, non-volatile storage device 230, and communication interface 280 as the management server 100. The non-volatile storage device 230 stores the computer program PGr and the database DBr.

[0037] The computer program PGr is provided, for example, by being uploaded by a business operator providing a remote printing service. The CPU 210 of the remote printing server 200 executes the computer program PGr to perform the processing necessary to realize the remote printing service. For example, the CPU 210 uses image data transmitted from a device using the remote printing service (such as a user's terminal device or an advertising distribution server 300) to generate a print job for printing an image. The CPU 210 then sends the generated print job to the printer, causing the printer to perform the printing.

[0038] Figure 2(C) shows an overview of the database DBr of the remote print server 200. The database DBr records at least the device information necessary to send print jobs to the destination device (e.g., device ID and device token). In this embodiment, the user of printer 500 has a contract to use an advertising distribution service. The advertising distribution service uses the remote print service to print advertising images. For this reason, when the advertising distribution service contract is made, the device information of printer 500 is recorded in the database DBr.

[0039] The advertising distribution server 300 is equipped with the same CPU 310, volatile storage device 320, non-volatile storage device 330, and communication interface 380 as the management server 100. The non-volatile storage device 330 stores the computer program PGa and the database DBa.

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

[0041] The advertising space sales unit AS primarily communicates with the bidding servers 400A-400C to perform auction processing as the seller of advertising space and determines the successful bidder for the advertising space. The successful bidder's advertising image is determined to be the advertising image to be printed. The distribution control unit DC performs processing other than the auction processing performed by the advertising space sales unit AS as part of the process to realize the advertising distribution service, such as processing that involves communication with the printer 500, remote print server 200, and management server 100.

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

[0043] The database DBa records the user IDs of users registered on the management server 100 who have a contract to use the advertising distribution service.

[0044] The database DBa further records the affiliated user ID and device information, associated with the user ID. The affiliated user ID is the user ID assigned by the portal site used by the user, as described above. The affiliated user ID is used by the advertising space sales department AS when executing the auction process, as will be described later. The device information is information about the printer on which the advertising image should be printed (e.g., device ID and device token). In this embodiment, the printer information includes the model name.

[0045] In the database DBa, further, delivery setting information is recorded in association with user IDs and device information. The delivery setting information is various setting information regarding the advertisement delivery service, and includes, for example, information indicating the delivery time and information indicating the printing settings to be used when printing the advertisement image.

[0046] In this embodiment, the printing settings indicate a plurality of settings including the sheet size, the number of pages NP, the duplex setting, and the image quality mode. The sheet size may be selected from a plurality of sizes including, for example, A4 and A5. The number of pages NP is the number of pages used for printing the advertisement image (an integer of 1 or more). The duplex setting is selected from single-sided printing and double-sided printing. The image quality mode may be selected from a plurality of modes including, for example, a high image quality mode and an eco mode in which the ink usage amount is less than that in the high image quality mode. Note that the printing settings may be set by the user when applying for the use of the advertisement delivery service.

[0047] When using the advertisement delivery service, the user accesses the management server 100 using, for example, a terminal device (not shown) and applies for the use of the advertisement delivery service. In response to the application, a contract process for the advertisement delivery service is executed between the terminal device and the management server 100. After the contract process, the CPU 310 of the advertisement delivery server 300 acquires the user ID and the above-described various types 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 a contract for using the advertisement delivery service. For this reason, in the database DBa, the above-described partner user ID, device information, and delivery setting information are recorded in association with the user ID of the printer 500.

[0048] The bidding server 400A includes a CPU 410, a volatile memory device 420, a non-volatile memory device 430, and a communication IF 480 similar to those of the management server 100. The non-volatile memory device 430 stores a computer program PGb and a database DBb. In this embodiment, the bidding server 400A is operated by an operator who operates a portal site that issues affiliated user IDs.

[0049] The computer program PGb is provided, for example, in a form uploaded by the operator who operates the bidding server 400A. The CPU 410 of the bidding server 400A functions as a bidding control unit BC and a consumer information management unit CM by executing the computer program PGb.

[0050] The bidding control unit BC communicates with the advertisement distribution server 300 and executes an auction process from the perspective of a bidder aiming to purchase an advertisement frame. That is, the bidding control unit BC mainly executes a process for winning an advertisement frame based on a request from an advertiser. The consumer information management unit CM manages consumer information described later that is recorded in association with the affiliated user ID.

[0051] FIG. 2(E) shows an overview of the database DBb of the bidding server 400A. The database DBb stores advertisement images submitted by advertisers, advertisement information, the above-described affiliated user IDs and consumer information. The data of the advertisement image has a known data format such as, for example, JPEG format or PNG format. The advertisement image is either a monochrome advertisement image printed using one color of ink (usually black ink) or a color advertisement image printed using a plurality of colors of ink (for example, four colors of CMYK ink).

[0052] The advertisement information is, for example, information related to the advertisement image. The advertisement information includes, for example, type information indicating the type of the advertisement image (monochrome or color), target information indicating the target (customer) to whom the advertisement image should be delivered, and upper limit price information indicating the upper limit price that the advertiser can pay when the advertisement image is printed. The advertisement information is provided by the advertiser, for example, when the advertisement image is submitted.

[0053] Consumer information refers to information about the consumption behavior of users who have an associated affiliated user ID. Consumer information is generated based on historical information such as search history on portal sites, advertising viewing history, and browsing and purchase history on websites. Consumer information may include, for example, information about areas of interest for the user, product information, and user attributes (e.g., age group, gender, purchasing power).

[0054] Bidding servers 400B and 400C have the same configuration as bidding server 400A described above.

[0055] A-2. Operation of Network System 1000: Next, the operation of the network system 1000 will be described. The network system 1000 performs an advertising printing process that prints advertising images on the printers (for example, printer 500) of users who have contracted for the advertising distribution service. Figures 3-5 are sequence diagrams showing the operation of the advertising printing process in the first embodiment. The advertising printing process is started by the distribution control unit DC of the advertising distribution server 300 when predetermined start conditions are met. The predetermined start conditions are, for example, a predetermined time.

[0056] In S6, the distribution control unit DC of the ad distribution server 300 requests the ad space sales unit AS for the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the ad image. Upon receiving the request for the ad image URL, the ad space sales unit AS sets the advertising recruitment conditions in S8. The recruitment conditions include, for example, the placement pattern of the ad image in the printed image and the minimum bid price. In this embodiment, the recruitment conditions are set to predetermined conditions.

[0057] Figure 6(A) is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement pattern of advertising slots. An example of an advertising template is shown in the figure. The advertising template PT is a template for creating a printed image of one page. In this example, the advertising template PT represents eight advertising slots AF arranged in a 2x4 grid on one page. The eight advertising slots AF are all the same size. The advertising slots AF are examples of standard-sized advertising slots.

[0058] In S10, the advertising space sales unit AS sends a bid request to the bidding servers 400A-400C. Similar processing takes place between the advertising distribution server 300 (advertising space sales unit AS) and the bidding servers 400A-400C. For this reason, in Figures 3 and 4, the bidding servers 400A-400C are not distinguished, and the process is described as being between the advertising distribution server 300 and the bidding server 400. Note that communication between the advertising space sales unit AS of the advertising distribution server 300 and the bidding control unit BC of the bidding server 400 is performed according to a protocol called OpenRTB. RTB stands for "Real Time Bidding".

[0059] The bidding request includes frame information, minimum bid price information, and partner user ID. Frame information indicates, for example, the size of the advertising frame AF (number of pixels in the vertical or horizontal direction) and the total number of advertising frames AF. In this embodiment, the advertising frame sales department AS calculates the size of the advertising frame AF by applying the advertising template PT (Figure 6(A)) to the sheet size indicated by the print settings (Figure 2(D)). The advertising frame sales department AS also determines the total number of advertising frames 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 determined in S8. The partner user ID is the partner user ID associated with the user ID of the printer 500 user.

[0060] When the bidding server 400 receives a 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 consumer information, the bidding control unit BC passes the affiliated user ID included in the bid request, i.e., the affiliated user ID of the printer 500 user, to the consumer information management unit CM.

[0061] When the Consumer Information Management Department (CM) receives a request for consumer information, in S14 it retrieves the consumer information associated with the affiliated user ID of the printer 500 user from the database DBb and passes it to the Bidding Control Unit (BC).

[0062] When the bid control unit BC receives consumer information, in S16 it determines the advertising slot to bid on in response to the bidding request, the bid price, and the advertising image to be printed using the advertising slot if the bid is successful. The advertising slot to bid on is the advertising slot AF mentioned above. The bid price is determined to be at least the minimum bid price included in the bidding request. The advertising image to be printed and the bid price are determined from among multiple advertising images already submitted and stored in the database DBb. The advertising image and bid price are determined considering the minimum bid price, the advertising information mentioned above (target information, upper price information, type information), the consumer information obtained in S14, the printing history of each advertising image, etc.

[0063] Once the bid control unit BC has determined the ad slot, bid price, and ad image to bid on, it sends a bid notification to the ad delivery server 300 in S18. The bid notification is sent as a response to the bid request received in S10. The bid notification includes the bid ID, bid slot information indicating the ad slot to bid on, and the bid price. The bid control unit BC may also determine the ad slot, ad image, and bid price for multiple bids in S16 and send multiple bid notifications to the ad delivery server 300.

[0064] In S10, the ad distribution server 300 sends bid requests to multiple bidding servers 400A-400C, and in S18, it may receive one or more bid notifications from each of the multiple bidding servers 400-400C. In this embodiment, the ad distribution server 300 receives more bid notifications than the number of ad slots.

[0065] As will be explained later, the actual advertisement image to be printed is determined from multiple advertisement images associated with multiple bids. Thus, the multiple advertisement images associated with multiple bids obtained at this stage are candidates for the advertisement image to be printed, and are therefore also called candidate advertisements or candidate images. The bid price included in the bid notification is the amount to be received from the advertiser if the candidate image is printed as an advertisement image. For this reason, below, the bid price will also be referred to as the advertisement price of the candidate image. Here, the advertiser refers to the advertiser or a business that bids on advertisements and makes payments to distribution companies on behalf of the advertiser (e.g., a bidding business). Note that the amount actually received from the advertiser when an advertisement slot is won may be the amount remaining after deducting expenses from the bid price (i.e., the winning bid price). In such cases, the amount that the advertiser pays as consideration for printing the advertisement (i.e., the amount actually received from the advertiser) may be used as the advertisement price of the candidate image.

[0066] In S20, the advertising space sales department AS performs the bidding process. The bidding process determines the successful bidder and the winning bid price. The successful bidder is the advertiser who acquires the right to purchase the advertising space. The winning bid price is the amount that the successful bidder must pay when purchasing the advertising space.

[0067] In this embodiment, the advertising space sales department AS selects from among multiple bids for advertising space AF (Figure 6(A)) the same number of bids as the total number of advertising space AF, in descending order of bid price.

[0068] In S22, following the successful bid processing in S20 of Figure 3, the advertising space sales department AS sends a successful bid result notification corresponding to each of the multiple bid notifications received in S18. The successful bid result notification is sent to the bid server 400 (either bid server 400A-400C) that sent the bid notification. The successful bid result notification includes the 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, it further includes information indicating the successful bid price.

[0069] When the bidding server 400 receives a notification of successful bids, the bidding control unit BC of the bidding server 400 acquires the notification. If the bidding control unit BC acquires a notification of successful bids indicating that the bid was unsuccessful, the processing performed between the ad distribution server 300 and the bidding server 400 is terminated. If the bidding control unit BC acquires a notification of successful bids indicating that the bid was successful, the processing from S24 onwards in Figure 4 is executed.

[0070] In S24, the bidding control unit BC of the bidding server 400 sends an advertising image URL indicating the location of the advertising image to be printed using the winning advertising slot to the advertising distribution server 300.

[0071] When the ad distribution server 300 receives an ad image URL, the ad space sales unit AS of the ad distribution server 300 acquires the ad image URL. In S26, the ad space sales unit AS passes the ad image URL to the distribution control unit DC.

[0072] In S28, the distribution control unit DC sends an advertising image request (e.g., an HTTP request) to the received advertising image URL. Since the advertising image URL points to the advertising image data stored in the database DBb of the bidding server 400, the advertising image request is sent to the bidding server 400.

[0073] When the bidding server 400 receives an ad image request, the bidding control unit BC of the bidding server 400 acquires the ad image request. In S29, the bidding control unit BC sends the data of the ad image specified by the ad image URL to the ad distribution server 300 as a response to the ad image request. Steps S28 and S29 are repeated the same number of times as the total number of ad slots AF. The total number of ad images received by the ad distribution server 300 is the same as the total number of ad slots AF.

[0074] When the ad distribution server 300 receives ad image data, the distribution control unit DC of the ad distribution server 300 acquires the ad image data. In S30, the distribution control unit DC uses the acquired ad image to generate print image PI data, which includes images for NP pages. Figure 6(B) is a diagram representing a page image PGI, which is an image for one page. 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 a plurality of ad areas AA corresponding to a plurality of ad frames AF arranged on paper SH according to the ad template PT (Figure 6(A)). The distribution control unit DC generates print image PI including NP page images by, for example, arranging ad images in each of the plurality of ad frames AF (i.e., the plurality of ad areas AA). The data of the print image PI has a known data format, such as JPEG format or PNG format.

[0075] The distribution control unit DC generates print image PI data using either or both of the print settings and the model name, along with the respective priorities of multiple advertising images. Details of the print image PI data generation process (S30) will be described later.

[0076] In S33, the distribution control unit DC sends a print command to the remote print server 200. The print command includes, for example, data for the print image PI, information indicating the 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 command, which contains such authentication information (in this case, the data for the print image PI and the information indicating the print settings), is addressed to the printer 500. In S33, the distribution control unit DC sends the data for the print image PI to the printer 500, which has a print execution unit 570.

[0077] When the remote print server 200 receives a print command, in S34, 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 to print the print image PI according to the print settings. The print job includes data for the print image PI and information indicating the print settings. Based on the device token, the CPU 210 identifies the printer 500 to which the print job will be sent. The CPU 210 sends the generated print job to the printer 500.

[0078] When the CPU 510 of the printer 500 receives a print job, it uses the print job to print the print image PI onto the paper according to the print settings. Once the CPU 510 has finished printing the print image PI, it sends a print completion notification to the remote print server 200 via the relay server.

[0079] When the remote printing process in S34 is completed, in S35 the CPU 210 of the remote printing server 200 sends a print completion notification to the ad distribution server 300 indicating that the printing of the print image PI has been completed. When the ad distribution server 300 receives the print completion notification, the distribution control unit DC of the ad distribution server 300 acquires the print completion notification.

[0080] In S40, the distribution control unit DC passes a notification of the completion of printing of the advertising image to the advertising space sales unit AS. When the advertising space sales unit AS receives the notification of the completion of printing, 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, the process of paying the advertising fee from the advertiser of the advertising image to the business operator that operates the advertising distribution server 300. The advertising fee settlement process is executed using a known online settlement method. The amount of the advertising fee is, for example, the winning bid price. Alternatively, in S42, the advertising space sales unit AS may simply send a notification to the bidding server 400 that the advertising fee invoice has been confirmed. In this case, the actual settlement process may be executed, for example, once a predetermined period at a predetermined time (for example, once a month at the beginning of the month).

[0081] Once the advertising fee settlement process is complete, the advertising space sales department AS sends a settlement completion notification to the distribution control unit DC in S44.

[0082] When the distribution control unit DC receives the payment completion notification, it sends an advertisement printing performance notification to the management server 100 at S46 in Figure 5. The advertisement printing performance notification includes information indicating the user ID of the printer 500 that printed the print image PI containing the advertisement image, and the winning bid price for one or more advertisement slots corresponding to one or more advertisement images contained in the print image PI.

[0083] When the management server 100 receives an advertisement printing performance notification, the CPU 110 of the management server 100 calculates the reward points to be given to the printer 500 user in S50. Specifically, the CPU 110 calculates the reward points to be given as an amount equivalent to the sum of the winning bid prices of one or more advertisement slots multiplied by a predetermined reward rate (for example, several percent to several tens of percent).

[0084] In S52, the CPU 110 executes the point awarding process. Specifically, the CPU 110 adds the bonus point value calculated in S50 to the bonus point value associated with the user ID representing the user of the printer 500 in the bonus point information stored in the database DBm. Once the point awarding process is executed, the advertisement printing process is terminated.

[0085] A-3. Data Generation Process for Printed Images: Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the data generation process for printed images. This process represents an example of the process in S30 (Figure 4). In S210, the distribution control unit DC obtains the model name and duplex setting by referring to the database DBa (Figure 2(D)). In this embodiment, the model name represents the model name of the printer (for example, printer 500). A printer may have various models of print execution units. Various configurations such as the printing method, the types of colorants that can be used, and the print resolution may differ between multiple models of print execution units. Typically, multiple printers of the same model have the same model of print execution unit. The printer model name can be used as information indicating the model of the print execution unit.

[0086] In S215, the distribution control unit DC branches the processing according to the type of print execution unit represented by the model name. In this embodiment, the type of print execution unit is either an inkjet method or a laser method.

[0087] If the printing execution unit is an inkjet type, the distribution control unit DC determines the page coefficient for each of the multiple pages in S220. The page coefficient represents the suitability of the page for advertising printing. The larger the page coefficient, the more suitable the page is for advertising printing. In this embodiment, the page coefficient of pages that are likely to catch the user's eye is set to a large value.

[0088] Figure 8(A) shows a printer 500, which is an example of a printer having an inkjet printing execution unit, and n sheets of printed paper SU1-SUn (where n is an integer of 1 or more). Hereinafter, the printer 500 will also be referred to as the inkjet printer 500. The inkjet printer 500 has an output port 500o configured to eject printed paper. The output direction 500D in the figure indicates the direction of movement of the paper ejected from the output port 500o. The ejected sheets of paper SU1-SUn are stacked on a tray (not shown). The numbers at the end of the paper codes SU1-SUn indicate the order from top to bottom among the n stacked sheets of paper. For example, paper SU1 is the top sheet, paper SU2 is the second sheet from the top, and paper SUn is the bottom sheet.

[0089] In this embodiment, the inkjet printer 500 has a print execution unit 570 (Figure 1) housed within its body. The print execution unit 570 is configured to discharge the paper from the output port 500o with the printed side of the paper facing upwards (also known as face-up discharge). When single-sided printing is performed, the print execution unit 570 discharges the printed paper SU1-SUn from the output port 500o with the front side (i.e., the printed side) facing upwards. The print execution unit 570 is also capable of double-sided printing. In this embodiment, the print execution unit 570 prints an image on one side of the paper, then flips the paper over to print an image on the opposite side. The print execution unit 570 then discharges the paper from the output port 500o with the side that has the image printed on it facing upwards. The configuration for flipping the paper over can vary. For example, the print execution unit 570 may have one or more rollers for flipping the paper over.

[0090] The lower part of Figure 8(A) shows the paper sheets SU1-SUn and the paper ejection order. In this embodiment, the paper ejected from the ejection port 500o is stacked on top of the paper that has already been ejected. The ejection order of the paper sheets SU1-SUn is the same as the order from bottom to top (i.e., SUn-SU1).

[0091] Furthermore, the page numbers P1-P2n and the printing order of the pages are shown at the bottom of Figure 8(A). The page numbers shown in the figure are for double-sided printing. The top surface of the topmost sheet of paper SU1 represents the image of the first page P1, and the bottom surface of this sheet of paper SU1 represents the image of the second page P2. The same applies to the third page P3 and subsequent pages. The top and bottom surfaces of sheets of paper SU2-SUn represent pages P3-P2n in order. The 2n pages P1-P2n are arranged in order from top to bottom. The printing order of pages P1-P2n is the same as the order from bottom to top of pages P1-P2n (i.e., P2n-P1). Although not shown in the illustration, in the case of single-sided printing, the top surface of each sheet of paper SU1-SUn represents the image.

[0092] After printing is complete, the user of printer 500 takes a stack of n sheets of paper SU1-SUn and examines the 2n pages sequentially from top to bottom. The upper pages are more likely to catch the user's eye than the lower pages. The upper pages are more suitable for printing advertising images than the lower pages. Therefore, it is preferable that the page coefficient of the upper pages is larger than that of the lower pages.

[0093] In Figure 8(A), the page coefficients cP1-cP2n represent the respective page coefficients for pages P1-P2n. In S220 (Figure 7), the distribution control unit DC determines that the closer the paper representing the page is to the top sheet SU1, the larger the page coefficient. If the duplex setting indicates duplex printing, the distribution control unit DC determines that the page coefficient for the top sheet is larger than the page coefficient for the bottom sheet of the same paper. Thus, the order of the page coefficients in descending order is the same as the order of the page coefficients cP1-cP2n. In S220 (Figure 7), the distribution control unit DC adopts predetermined page coefficients cP1-cP2n. Note that the page coefficients cP1-cP2n may be determined to various values ​​that represent the relative order of size. For example, the page coefficients cP1-cP2n may indicate the order of the pages (e.g., cP1=2n, cP2=2n-1, ..., cP2n=1). After S220, the distribution control unit DC proceeds to S230.

[0094] If the type of printing execution unit is a laser type, the distribution control unit DC determines the page coefficient for each of the multiple pages in S225.

[0095] Figure 8(B) shows a printer 500b, which is an example of a printer having a laser-type printing execution unit, and n sheets of printed paper SU1-SUn. Hereinafter, printer 500b will also be referred to as laser printer 500b. Laser printer 500b has an output port 500bo configured to eject printed paper. The output direction 500bD in the figure indicates the direction of movement of the paper ejected from the output port 500bo. The ejected paper SU1-SUn is stacked on a tray 500bt.

[0096] In this embodiment, the laser printer 500b has a print execution unit 570b housed within its body. The print execution unit 570b is configured to discharge the paper from the output port 500bo with the printed side of the paper facing downwards (also known as face-down discharge). When single-sided printing is performed, the print execution unit 570b discharges the printed paper SU1-SUn from the output port 500bo with the front side (i.e., the printed side) facing downwards. The print execution unit 570b is also capable of double-sided printing. In this embodiment, the print execution unit 570b prints an image on one side of the paper, then flips the paper over to print an image on the opposite side. The print execution unit 570b then discharges the paper from the output port 500bo with the side that has the image printed on it facing downwards. The configuration for flipping the paper over can be various. For example, the printing execution unit 570b may have one or more rollers for flipping the paper over.

[0097] The lower part of Figure 8(B) shows the paper SU1-SUn and the paper ejection order. In this embodiment, the paper ejected from the ejection port 500bo is stacked on top of the paper that has already been ejected. The ejection order of the paper SU1-SUn is the same as the order from bottom to top of the paper SU1-SUn (i.e., SUn-SU1).

[0098] Furthermore, the lower part of Figure 8(B) shows the page numbers P1-P2n and the printing order of the pages. The figure shows the page numbers when double-sided printing is performed. The bottom surface of the bottommost sheet of paper SUn represents the image of the first page P1, and the top surface of this sheet of paper SUn represents the image of the second page P2. The same applies to the third page P3 and subsequent pages. The bottom and top surfaces of multiple sheets of paper from SUn-1 to SU1 represent pages P3-P2n in order. The top surface of the topmost sheet of paper SU1 represents the image of the last page P2n. The 2n pages P1-P2n are arranged in order from bottom to top. In this embodiment, when double-sided printing is performed, the paper is discharged from the output port 500bo with the side on which the image was printed later facing downwards. Therefore, the image on the bottom surface of the paper placed on the tray 500bt is printed after the image on the top surface of the same paper. For example, the printing order of pages P1 and P2 on paper SUn is page P2, then P1. The same applies to other papers. The printing order of pages P1-P2n is 2, 1, 4, 3, ..., 2n, 2n-1. Although not shown in the diagram, when single-sided printing is performed, the bottom surface of each paper SU1-SUn represents the image.

[0099] After printing is complete, the user of printer 500b picks up a stack of n sheets of paper SU1-SUn and turns the stack over. The user then observes 2n pages of the overturned stack of SU1-SUn paper in order from top to bottom. In this way, the user observes 2n pages in the order of pages P1-P2n. Among the multiple pages of the overturned stack of SU1-SUn paper, the upper pages are more likely to catch the user's eye than the lower pages. That is, among the multiple pages of SU1-SUn paper stacked on tray 500bt, the lower pages are more likely to catch the user's eye than the upper pages. The lower pages are more suitable for printing advertising images than the upper pages. Therefore, it is preferable that the page coefficient of the lower pages be larger than that of the upper pages.

[0100] In Figure 8(B), the page coefficients cP1-cP2n represent the respective page coefficients for pages P1-P2n. In S225 (Figure 7), the distribution control unit DC determines that the closer the paper representing the page is to the bottom sheet, SUN, the larger the page coefficient. If the duplex setting indicates duplex printing, the distribution control unit DC determines that the page coefficient for the bottom sheet is larger than the page coefficient for the top sheet of the same paper. Thus, the order of the page coefficients in descending order is the same as the order of the page coefficients cP1-cP2n. In S225, the distribution control unit DC adopts the predetermined page coefficients cP1-cP2n. After S225, the distribution control unit DC proceeds to S230.

[0101] In S230, the distribution control unit DC obtains information that determines the paper orientation, which will be described later, by referring to the database DBa (Figure 2(D)). In this embodiment, the paper orientation is determined by the sheet size (details will be described later). The distribution control unit DC obtains the sheet size by referring to the print settings in the database DBa.

[0102] In S235, the advertising space sales unit AS branches the processing according to the paper orientation. Paper orientation refers to the orientation of the paper relative to the direction of paper discharge from the printing execution unit. In this embodiment, the paper orientation is either portrait or landscape.

[0103] Figure 9(A) shows an example of paper orientation when the paper orientation is portrait O2a. The figure shows the ejection direction DP1 and the paper SU. The ejection direction DP1 is the direction in which the printed paper is ejected from the printing execution unit (for example, ejection direction 500D (Figure 8(A)) or ejection direction 500bD (Figure 8(B))).

[0104] In this embodiment, the shape of the paper SU is assumed to be a rectangle having two short sides SS1 and SS2 and two long sides SL1 and SL2. When the paper SU is discharged from the printing execution unit, two sides of the paper SU are approximately parallel to the discharge direction, and the other two sides of the paper SU are approximately perpendicular to the discharge direction. In the example in Figure 9(A), the two long sides SL1 and SL2 are approximately parallel to the discharge direction DP1, and the two short sides SS1 and SS2 are approximately perpendicular to the discharge direction DP1. The discharge direction DP1 indicates that the first short side SS1 of the four sides of the paper SU is discharged first from the discharge port. During the discharge of the paper SU, the first short side SS1 is positioned towards the front.

[0105] Figure 9(A) shows the height Hs and width Ws. The height Hs is the length of the paper SU in the direction parallel to the discharge direction DP1, and the width Ws is the length of the paper SU in the direction perpendicular to the discharge direction DP1. In the example in Figure 9(A), the height Hs is the same as the length of the long sides SL1 and SL2, and the width Ws is the same as the length of the short sides SS1 and SS2. The height Hs is greater than the width Ws. The orientation of the vertically oriented paper O2a indicates the orientation of the paper SU such that the height Hs is greater than the width Ws.

[0106] Figure 10(A) shows an example of paper orientation when the paper orientation is landscape O2b. The figure shows the ejection direction DP2 and the paper size SU. The ejection direction DP2 is the direction in which the printed paper is ejected from the printing execution unit (for example, ejection direction 500D (Figure 8(A)) or ejection direction 500bD (Figure 8(B))).

[0107] In the example shown in Figure 10(A), the two long sides SL1 and SL2 are approximately perpendicular to the discharge direction DP1, and the two short sides SS1 and SS2 are approximately parallel to the discharge direction DP1. The discharge direction DP2 indicates that the first long side SL1 of the four sides of the paper SU is discharged first from the discharge port. During the discharge of the paper SU, the first long side SL1 is positioned towards the front.

[0108] In the example in Figure 10(A), the height Hs is the same as the lengths of the short sides SS1 and SS2, and the width Ws is the same as the lengths of the long sides SL1 and SL2. The height Hs is smaller than the width Ws. The orientation of the landscape O2b paper indicates the orientation of the paper SU such that the height Hs is smaller than the width Ws.

[0109] The paper orientation can be determined using either the print settings, the model of the print execution unit, or both. In this embodiment, the sheet size is selected from A4 and A5, which is half the size of A4. In each printer 500, 500b, if the sheet size is A4, the paper orientation is portrait O2a (Figure 9(A)), and if the sheet size is A5, which is half the size of A4, the paper orientation is landscape O2b (Figure 10(A)). The distribution control unit DC uses the sheet size to determine whether the paper orientation is portrait O2a or landscape O2b. Alternatively, the print settings may include a specification of the paper orientation. In this case, the distribution control unit DC may use the paper orientation specified by the print settings. The paper orientation may also be pre-associated with the model of the print execution unit. In this case, the distribution control unit DC may use the paper orientation associated with the model name.

[0110] When the paper orientation is portrait O2a, the distribution control unit DC determines the position coefficient in S240 (Figure 7). The position coefficient represents the suitability of each of the multiple ad slots AF placed on the same page for advertising printing. The larger the position coefficient, the more suitable the ad slot AF is for advertising printing. In this embodiment, the position coefficient of the ad slot AF that is most likely to catch the user's eye is set to a large value.

[0111] In this embodiment, when a regular image (not an advertising image) is printed, the orientation of the image printed on the paper is set so that the top of the image is the same as the output direction. The top of the image indicates the upward direction for proper viewing of the image. For example, if the image represents text, the top of the image indicates the upward direction of the text. By adjusting the orientation of the image so that the top of the image faces upward, the user can properly view the image. If the image represents text, the text is represented in the correct orientation, not rotated to the right or left.

[0112] When a normal image is printed on the paper SU in Figure 9(A), the orientation of the image on the paper SU is set so that the top direction of the image is the same as the output direction DP1. When the user observes the printed paper, they adjust the orientation of the paper so that the output direction relative to the paper is upward from the user's perspective. The user then moves their gaze from the top to the bottom of the paper. For example, when observing the paper SU in Figure 9(A), the user adjusts the orientation of the paper SU so that the first short side SS1 forming the end of the paper SU in the output direction DP1 is the top side of the paper SU from the user's perspective. The user then moves their gaze from the first short side SS1 to the second short side SS2 (i.e., from top to bottom).

[0113] As shown in Figure 9(A), the paper SU includes a first portion Pa1 closest to the first short side SS1, a second portion Pa2 furthest from the first short side SS1, and a third portion Pa3 between the first portion Pa1 and the second portion Pa2. In the example in Figure 9(A), the first portion Pa1 and the second portion Pa2 each have two advertising frames AF in a 1x2 arrangement, and the third portion Pa3 has four advertising frames AF in a 2x2 arrangement. The first type of advertising area AA11 represented by the first portion Pa1 is more likely to be observed before the second type of advertising area AA12 represented by the second portion Pa2. Advertising areas AA observed earlier are more likely to catch the user's eye than advertising areas AA observed later. Therefore, it is preferable that the closer the advertising area AA (i.e., advertising frame AF) is to the first short side SS1, the larger the position coefficient.

[0114] Figure 9(A) shows an example of position coefficients. The first position coefficient cFS is the coefficient of the ad space AF included in the first part Pa1, the second position coefficient cLS is the coefficient of the ad space AF included in the second part Pa2, and the third position coefficient cMS is the coefficient of the ad space AF included in the third part Pa3. In S240 (Figure 7), the distribution control unit DC increases the position coefficient as the ad space AF is closer to the first short side SS1. The order of increasing position coefficients is cFS, cMS, and cLS. In S240, the distribution control unit DC adopts predetermined position coefficients cFS, cMS, and cLS. Note that the position coefficients cFS, cMS, and cLS may be determined to various values ​​that represent the relative order of size. For example, the position coefficients cFS, cMS, and cLS may indicate the order of the ad slots AF (for example, cFS = 3, cMS = 2, cLS = 1). After S240, the distribution control unit DC proceeds to S250.

[0115] If the paper orientation is landscape O2b, the distribution control unit DC determines the position coefficient in S245. When a normal image is printed on the paper SU in Figure 10(A), the orientation of the image on the paper SU is set so that the top direction of the image is the same as the discharge direction DP2. When the printed paper SU is to be observed, the user adjusts the orientation of the paper SU so that the first long side SL1, which forms the end of the paper SU in the discharge direction DP2, is the top side of the paper SU as seen from the user's perspective. The user then moves their line of sight from the first long side SL1 to the second long side SL2 (i.e., from top to bottom).

[0116] As shown in Figure 10(A), the paper SU includes a first portion Pb1 closest to the first long side SL1 and a second portion Pb2 furthest from the first long side SL1. In the example in Figure 10(A), the first portion Pb1 and the second portion Pb2 each have four advertising frames AF in a 1x4 grid. The first type of advertising area AA21 represented by the first portion Pb1 is more likely to be observed before the second type of advertising area AA22 represented by the second portion Pb2. Advertising areas AA observed earlier are more likely to catch the user's eye than advertising areas AA observed later. Therefore, it is preferable that the closer the advertising area AA (i.e., advertising frame AF) is to the first long side SL1, the larger the position coefficient.

[0117] Figure 10(A) shows an example of position coefficients. The first position coefficient cFL is the coefficient of the ad slot AF included in the first part Pb1, and the second position coefficient cLL is the coefficient of the ad slot AF included in the second part Pb2. In S245 (Figure 7), the distribution control unit DC increases the position coefficient as the ad slot AF is closer to the first long side SL1. The position coefficients are in the order of increasing position coefficients cFL, then cLL. In S245, the distribution control unit DC adopts predetermined position coefficients cFL and cLL. Note that the position coefficients cFL and cLL may be determined to various values ​​that represent the relative order of size. For example, the position coefficients cFL and cLL may indicate the order of the ad slots AF (for example, cFL = 2, cLL = 1). After S245, the distribution control unit DC proceeds to S250.

[0118] In S250, the distribution control unit DC identifies the priority of each of the multiple advertising images. In this embodiment, the priority is represented by a combination of the winning bid price and the orientation relationship described later.

[0119] Figures 9(B) and 10(B) are tables illustrating examples of priority levels. Each figure shows the correspondence between the advertisement image IM, the winning bid price B, the image orientation O1, the paper orientation O2, the orientation relationship R, and the priority level PR. Figure 9(B) shows the case where the paper orientation O2 is portrait orientation O2a, and Figure 10(B) shows the case where the paper orientation O2 is landscape orientation O2b.

[0120] First, let's explain by referring to Figure 9(B). The figure shows the correspondence between the four advertising images IM01-IM04 (the illustration of the advertising images is omitted). The winning bid price B is the winning bid price for advertising image IM. The winning bid price B for the two advertising images IM01 and IM02 is the first winning bid price B01. The winning bid price B for the two advertising images IM03 and IM04 is the second winning bid price B02, which is lower than the first winning bid price B01.

[0121] Image orientation O1 indicates the orientation of the advertisement image IM. Image orientation O1 can be selected from portrait orientation O1a and landscape orientation O1b. Figure 9(C) shows an example of a landscape orientation O1b advertisement image, and Figure 9(D) shows an example of a portrait orientation O1a advertisement image. In this embodiment, the shape of the advertisement image IM is assumed to be rectangular. The upward direction of the advertisement image IM is assumed to be parallel to the long or short side of the rectangle. In each figure, the height direction Dh indicates the upward direction of the advertisement image IM, and the width direction Dw indicates the direction perpendicular to the upward direction of the advertisement image IM. Height H indicates the length of the advertisement image IM in the height direction Dh, and width W indicates the length of the advertisement image IM in the width direction Dw.

[0122] Figure 9(C) shows the advertisement image IM01 and the upward direction D01 of the advertisement image IM01. The upward direction D01 is parallel to the short side SS01 of the advertisement image IM01. The width W is greater than the height H. Thus, the horizontally elongated advertisement image IM O1b has a width W that is greater than the height H.

[0123] Figure 9(D) shows the advertisement image IM02 and the upward direction D02 of the advertisement image IM02. The upward direction D02 is parallel to the long side SL02 of the advertisement image IM02. The height H is greater than the width W. Thus, the vertically elongated advertisement image IM O1a has a height H that is greater than the width W.

[0124] In the example in Figure 9(B), the image orientation O1 of the two advertising images IM01 and IM03 is horizontal O1b, while the image orientation O1 of the two advertising images IM02 and IM04 is vertical O1a.

[0125] The paper orientation O2 is the paper orientation described in Figures 9(A) and 10(A). In the example in Figure 9(B), the paper orientation O2 is portrait orientation O2a.

[0126] The orientation relationship R indicates the relationship between the image orientation O1 and the paper orientation O2. Mismatch R1 indicates that the image orientation O1 does not match the paper orientation O2, and match R2 indicates that the image orientation O1 matches the paper orientation O2. In the example in Figure 9(B), the orientation relationship R of the two advertising images IM01 and IM03 is mismatch R1, and the orientation relationship R of the two advertising images IM02 and IM04 is match R2.

[0127] Priority PR is determined using the winning bid price B and the orientation relationship R. In this embodiment, the higher the winning bid price B, the higher the priority PR. Thus, a higher winning bid price B is given priority over a lower winning bid price B. Also, if the winning bid prices B are the same, the priority PR associated with mismatch R1 is higher than the priority PR associated with match R2 (the reason for this will be explained later). Therefore, the order of priority PR01-PR04 for advertising images IM01-IM04 is from highest to lowest priority PR01-PR04.

[0128] Figure 10(B) shows the correspondence between the four advertising images IM11-IM14. The winning bid price B for the two advertising images IM11 and IM12 is the first winning bid price B11. The winning bid price B for the two advertising images IM13 and IM14 is the second winning bid price B12, which is lower than the first winning bid price B11. The image orientation O1 of the two advertising images IM11 and IM13 is portrait orientation O1a, and the image orientation O1 of the two advertising images IM12 and IM14 is landscape orientation O1b. The paper orientation O2 is landscape orientation O2b. The orientation relationship R of the two advertising images IM11 and IM13 is mismatched R1, and the orientation relationship R of the two advertising images IM12 and IM14 is consistent R2. Based on the above, the order of priority PR11-PR14 for advertising images IM11-IM14 is from highest to lowest priority PR11-PR14.

[0129] The reason why the priority PR associated with mismatch R1 is higher than the priority PR associated with match R2 is as follows. Figure 9(A) shows the upward directions D01-D04 of advertising images IM01-IM04 assigned to multiple advertising frames AF on the paper SU. Figure 10(A) shows the upward directions D11-D14 of advertising images IM11-IM14 assigned to multiple advertising frames AF on the paper SU. As shown in the figures, the upward directions D01, D03, D11, D13 of advertising images IM01, IM03, IM11, IM13, which are associated with mismatch R1, are the same as the discharge directions DP1, DP2. The upward directions D02, D04, D12, D14 of IM02, IM04, IM12, IM14, which are associated with match R2, are perpendicular to the discharge directions DP1, DP2. In this embodiment, when multiple advertising frames AF are arranged on a single page, as shown in Figure 9(A), the advertising frames AF are horizontally oriented for a vertically oriented paper SU O2a, and as shown in Figure 10(A), the advertising frames AF are vertically oriented for a horizontally oriented paper SU O2b. The same applies when the total number of advertising frames AF assigned to a single page is different from 8, although this is not shown in the illustration. Thus, the orientation of the advertising frames AF is inconsistent with the paper orientation O2. Therefore, when an advertising image IM associated with the inconsistency R1 is assigned to an advertising frame AF, the upward direction of the advertising image IM is the same as the output directions DP1 and DP2, and the orientation of the advertising image IM is appropriate from the perspective of a user observing the paper SU. On the other hand, when an advertising image IM associated with match R2 is assigned to advertising slot AF, the upward direction of the advertising image IM is perpendicular to the output directions DP1 and DP2, and the orientation of the advertising image IM is rotated 90 degrees from the appropriate orientation as viewed by the user observing the paper SU. As a result, the priority PR associated with mismatch R1 is higher than the priority PR associated with match R2.

[0130] As described above, in S250 (Figure 7), the distribution control unit DC uses the winning bid price B and the orientation relationship R to determine the priority PR of each advertisement image. The priority PR may be determined by various values ​​that represent the relative height order. For example, the priority PR may indicate the order of advertisement images, with higher numbers indicating higher priority.

[0131] In S255, the distribution control unit DC places multiple advertising images into multiple advertising slots AF. In this embodiment, the distribution control unit DC assigns advertising images with high priority PR to advertising slots AF with high evaluation values. The evaluation value of an advertising slot AF represents the desirability of the advertising slot AF for advertising printing. In this embodiment, the evaluation value of an advertising slot AF is higher the larger the page coefficient determined in S220 or S225. Also, among multiple advertising slots AF on the same page, the evaluation value is higher the larger the position coefficient determined in S240 or S245. The distribution control unit DC determines the correspondence between multiple advertising images and multiple advertising slots AF such that the higher the priority PR of an advertising image, the higher the evaluation value of the advertising slot AF associated with that advertising image. For example, the distribution control unit DC assigns advertising images with higher priority PR to pages with larger page coefficients. Then, within a single page, the distribution control unit DC assigns advertising images with higher priority PR to advertising slots AF with larger position coefficients.

[0132] First, we will explain the allocation of multiple ad images within a single page, referring to Figures 9(A) and 10(A). The allocation of multiple ad images across multiple pages will be discussed later.

[0133] Figure 9(A) shows an example of the assignment of advertising images IM01-IM04 (Figure 9(B)) when the paper orientation O2 is vertical O2a. Two advertising images, IM01 and IM02, are associated with the first successful bid price B01. The priority PR01 of advertising image IM01 is higher than the priority PR02 of advertising image IM02. Therefore, advertising image IM01 can be assigned to the advertising frame AF of the first part Pa1, which is associated with a relatively large first position coefficient cFS. Advertising image IM02 can be assigned to the advertising frame AF of the third part Pa3, which is associated with a third position coefficient cMS, which is smaller than the first position coefficient cFS. Thus, advertising image IM01, which has the same upward direction D01 as the discharge direction DP1, can be assigned to a more favorable advertising frame AF than advertising image IM02, which has an upward direction D02 perpendicular to the discharge direction DP1.

[0134] The same applies to the two advertising images IM03 and IM04 associated with the second successful bid price B02. The priority PR03 of advertising image IM03 is higher than the priority PR04 of advertising image IM04. Also, the priority PR03 of advertising image IM03 is lower than the priority PR02 of advertising image IM02. Advertising image IM03 is assigned to an advertising frame AF having a position coefficient less than or equal to the position coefficient cMS of the advertising frame AF of advertising image IM02. For example, advertising image IM03 may be assigned to an advertising frame AF of the third part Pa3 associated with the third position coefficient cMS. Advertising image IM04 may be assigned to an advertising frame AF of the second part Pa2 associated with the second position coefficient cLS which is smaller than the third position coefficient cMS. Thus, an advertising image IM03 having the same upward direction D03 as the discharge direction DP1 may be assigned to a more favorable advertising frame AF than an advertising image IM04 having an upward direction D04 perpendicular to the discharge direction DP1.

[0135] Figure 10(A) shows an example of the assignment of advertising images IM11-IM14 (Figure 10(B)) when the paper orientation O2 is landscape O2b. Two advertising images IM11 and IM12 are associated with the first successful bid price B11. The priority PR11 of advertising image IM11 is higher than the priority PR12 of advertising image IM12. Therefore, advertising image IM11 can be assigned to the advertising frame AF of the first part Pb1, which is associated with a relatively large first position coefficient cFL. Advertising image IM12 can be assigned to the advertising frame AF of the second part Pb2, which is associated with a second position coefficient cLL, which is smaller than the first position coefficient cFL. Thus, advertising image IM11, which has the same upward direction D11 as the discharge direction DP2, can be assigned to a more favorable advertising frame AF than advertising image IM12, which has an upward direction D12 perpendicular to the discharge direction DP2.

[0136] The same applies to the two advertising images IM13 and IM14 associated with the second successful bid price B12. The priority PR13 of advertising image IM13 is higher than the priority PR14 of advertising image IM14. Also, the priority PR13 of advertising image IM13 is lower than the priority PR12 of advertising image IM12. Advertising image IM13 is assigned to an advertising frame AF having a position coefficient less than or equal to the position coefficient cLL of the advertising frame AF of advertising image IM12. For example, advertising image IM13 may be assigned to an advertising frame AF of the second part Pb2, and advertising image IM14 may also be assigned to an advertising frame AF of the second part Pb2. Here, for the purpose of explaining the comparison between advertising images IM13 and IM14, let us assume that advertising image IM13 is assigned to an advertising frame AF of the first part Pb1. In this case, the advertisement image IM14 may be assigned to the advertisement frame AF of the second portion Pb2, which is associated with a second position coefficient cLL that is smaller than the first position coefficient cFL. Thus, the advertisement image IM13 having the same upward direction D13 as the discharge direction DP2 may be assigned to a more favorable advertisement frame AF than the advertisement image IM14 having an upward direction D14 perpendicular to the discharge direction DP2.

[0137] Next, we will explain how to assign multiple advertising images to multiple pages. Figures 11(A) to 11(D) show examples of assignments.

[0138] Figure 11(A) shows a case where the type of print execution unit is a type that performs face-up paper output and the paper orientation O2 is portrait orientation O2a. The figure shows n printed sheets of paper SU1-SUn and multiple advertising frames AFa-AFd contained within the advertising frames AF of sheets SU1-SUn. The 2n pages P1-P2n are arranged in order from top to bottom. As explained in S220 (Figure 7), the order of increasing page coefficients is P1-P2n.

[0139] Ad space AFa is the ad space closest to the first short side SS1 on the top surface SU1a of the top sheet SU1 (i.e., the first page P1). Ad space AFb is the ad space furthest from the first short side SS1 on the top surface SU1a of the top sheet SU1. Ad space AFc is the ad space located behind ad space AFa. Ad space AFc is the ad space closest to the first short side SS1 on the bottom surface SU1b of the top sheet SU1 (i.e., the second page P2). Ad space AFd is the ad space closest to the first short side SS1 on the bottom surface SUnb of the bottom sheet SUn (i.e., the second nth page P2n). The relationship of the page coefficients among the four ad spaces AFa-AFd is AFa = AFb > AFc > AFd. The relative magnitudes of the positional coefficients between the ad spaces AFa and AFb on the same first page P1 are AFa > AFb.

[0140] The advertising images IMa-IMd represent the advertising images assigned to advertising slots AFa-AFd, respectively. The order of priority PRa-PRd for advertising images IMa-IMd is as follows: priority PRa-PRd. Thus, advertising images with higher priority are assigned to the higher-positioned sheets of paper among the multiple sheets SU1-SUn. On the same page, advertising images with higher priority are assigned to the advertising slot AF that is closer to the first short side SS1 among the multiple advertising slots AF.

[0141] Figure 11(B) shows the case where the type of print execution unit is a type that performs face-down paper output and the paper orientation O2 is vertical O2a. The difference from Figure 11(A) is that face-up paper output is changed to face-down paper output. The 2n pages P1-P2n are arranged in order from bottom to top. As explained in S225 (Figure 7), the order of increasing page coefficients is pages P1-P2n. The arrangement of advertising frames AFa-AFd for the 2n pages P1-P2n is the same as the arrangement in Figure 11(A). For example, advertising frame AFa is the advertising frame closest to the first short side SS1 on the first page P1. That is, advertising frame AFa is the advertising frame closest to the first short side SS1 on the bottom surface SUnb of the bottommost paper SUn.

[0142] The advertising images IMa-IMd, as in the example in Figure 11(A), represent the advertising images assigned to advertising slots AFa-AFd, respectively. Advertising images with higher priority are assigned to the lower-positioned sheets of paper among the multiple sheets SU1-SUn. On the same page, advertising images with higher priority are assigned to the advertising slot AF that is closer to the first short side SS1 among the multiple advertising slots AF.

[0143] Figure 11(C) shows a case where the print execution unit is of the type that performs face-up paper output and the paper orientation O2 is landscape O2b. The figure shows n printed sheets of paper SU1-SUn and multiple advertising frames AFe-AFh contained within the advertising frames AF of sheets SU1-SUn. The 2n pages P1-P2n are arranged in order from top to bottom. As explained in S220 (Figure 7), the order of increasing page coefficients is P1-P2n.

[0144] Ad space AFe is the ad space closest to the first long side SL1 on the top surface SU1a of the top sheet SU1 (i.e., the first page P1). Ad space AFf is the ad space furthest from the first long side SL1 on the top surface SU1a of the top sheet SU1. Ad space AFg is the ad space located behind ad space AFe. Ad space AFg is the ad space closest to the first long side SL1 on the bottom surface SU1b of the top sheet SU1 (i.e., the second page P2). Ad space AFh is the ad space closest to the first long side SL1 on the bottom surface SUnb of the bottom sheet SUn (i.e., the second nth page P2n). The relationship of the page coefficients among the four ad spaces AFe-AFh is AFe = AFf > AFg > AFh. The relative magnitudes of the positional coefficients between the ad slots AFe and AFf on the same first page P1 are AFe > AFf.

[0145] The advertising images IMe-IMh represent the advertising images assigned to the advertising slots AFe-AFh, respectively. The order of priority PRRe-PRh for advertising images IMe-IMh is as follows: priority PRRe-PRh order. Thus, advertising images with higher priority are assigned to the higher-positioned sheets of paper among the multiple sheets SU1-SUn. On the same page, advertising images with higher priority are assigned to the advertising slot AF that is closer to the first long side SL1 among the multiple advertising slots AF.

[0146] Figure 11(D) shows the case where the type of print execution unit is a type that performs face-down paper output and the paper orientation O2 is landscape O2b. The difference from Figure 11(C) is that face-up paper output is changed to face-down paper output. The 2n pages P1-P2n are arranged in order from bottom to top. As explained in S225 (Figure 7), the order of increasing page coefficients is pages P1-P2n. The arrangement of advertising frames AFe-AFh for the 2n pages P1-P2n is the same as the arrangement in Figure 11(C). For example, advertising frame AFe is the advertising frame closest to the first long side SL1 on the first page P1. That is, advertising frame AFe is the advertising frame closest to the first long side SL1 on the bottom surface SUNb of the bottommost paper SUN.

[0147] The advertising images IMe-IMh, as in the example in Figure 11(C), represent advertising images assigned to advertising slots AFe-AFh, respectively. Advertising images with higher priority are assigned to the lower-positioned sheets of paper among the multiple sheets SU1-SUn. On the same page, advertising images with higher priority are assigned to the advertising slot AF that is closer to the first long side SL1 among the multiple advertising slots AF.

[0148] As described above, in S255 (Figure 7), the distribution control unit DC uses the type of print execution unit, the print settings, the winning bid price, and the orientation relationship R to place multiple advertising images in multiple advertising frames AF.

[0149] In S260, the distribution control unit DC generates data for a print image PI that includes the image of the NP page, using the print settings and the correspondence between the multiple advertising images and multiple advertising slots AF determined in S255. Then, the distribution control unit DC completes the process shown in Figure 7, i.e., the process in S30 (Figure 4).

[0150] As described above, in this embodiment, the printing system 900 (Figure 1) performs the following processing. In S210 (Figure 7), the distribution control unit DC obtains the model name and the duplex setting included in the print settings. In S230, the distribution control unit DC obtains the sheet size included in the print settings. The duplex setting and sheet size are examples of setting information related to the print settings. The model name is an example of model information indicating the model of the print execution unit. The setting information and model information are examples of specific information used to generate the data of the print image PI. In S210 and S230, the distribution control unit DC obtains specific information including the setting information and the model information.

[0151] In S29 (Figure 4), the distribution control unit DC acquires data for multiple advertising images. In S30, the distribution control unit DC generates print image PI data for printing the multiple advertising images on one or more sheets of paper. As shown in Figure 7, the distribution control unit DC generates print image PI data using the above-mentioned specific information and the multiple priority PRs for each of the multiple advertising images. The print image PI data is an example of print image data for printing advertising images. In this embodiment, the format of the print image PI data is a printer-independent data format such as JPEG or PNG. Alternatively, the format of the print image PI data may be a data format associated with the printer model. In either case, the color space of the print image PI data may be various color spaces (for example, RGB color space, YCbCr color space, color space of colorants usable by the printer (for example, CMYK color space), etc.).

[0152] As shown in Figure 1, the printing system 900 includes a printer 500. The printer 500 includes a print execution unit 570. In S34 (Figure 4), the print execution unit 570 prints multiple advertising images represented by the data of the print image PI onto one or more sheets of paper. A printer 500b (Figure 8(B)) may be used instead of the printer 500. If printer 500b is used, the print execution unit 570b of printer 500b prints multiple advertising images represented by the data of the print image PI onto one or more sheets of paper. In either case, a control device that controls the printer (for example, the CPU 510 of printer 500) controls the print execution unit using the data of the print image PI. As a result, the print execution unit prints the images of each page represented by the data of the print image PI onto one or more sheets of paper.

[0153] As shown in Figures 8(A) and 8(B), the printing execution units 570 and 570b are configured to discharge the printed paper in the discharge directions 500D and 500bD. As shown in Figures 11(A) to 11(D), when multiple advertising images are printed, the priority PR may differ among the multiple advertising images. The multiple advertising images may include a first advertising image and a second advertising image having a higher priority than the priority of the first advertising image. In Figures 11(A) and 11(B), advertising image IMb is an example of a first advertising image, and advertising image IMa is an example of a second advertising image having a priority PRa higher than the priority PRb of advertising image IMb. In Figures 11(C) and 11(D), advertising image IMf is an example of a first advertising image, and advertising image IMe is an example of a second advertising image having a priority PRe higher than the priority PRf of advertising image IMf.

[0154] In S30, the distribution control unit DC generates print image data having the following configuration using the specified information described above. As shown in Figures 11(A) to 11(D), the advertising images IMb and IMf are printed on the portions of the paper SU1 and SUun corresponding to the advertising frames AFb and AFf. The advertising images IMa and IMe, which have higher priorities PRa and PRe, are printed on the portions of the paper SU1 and SUun downstream of the portions corresponding to the advertising frames AFb and AFf in the discharge direction DP1 and DP2 (in this case, the portions corresponding to the advertising frames AFa and AFe). The data for the print image PI is configured to print multiple advertising images in this manner.

[0155] With this configuration, the printing system 900 can print the preferred advertising image in an easily viewable format. The portion of the paper that is most likely to catch the user's eye may vary depending on the print settings or the model of the printing execution unit. If multiple advertising images are printed without considering this information, the preferred advertising image may be difficult to see. For example, in the example in Figure 11(C), the advertising image with the highest priority may be assigned to the advertising frame AFf that is closest to the first short side SS1 and furthest from the first long side SL1. In this embodiment, the possibility of such assignment is reduced.

[0156] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the specific information used to generate the data for the printed image PI includes a model name, which is an example of model information (S210 (Figure 7)). As explained in S215 of Figure 7, Figure 8(A), and Figure 8(B), the model name indicates one of several models, including a face-up model (here, an inkjet printer) which performs face-up paper output, and a face-down model (here, a laser printer) which performs face-down paper output. Face-up paper output is the output of single-sided printed paper with the printed side facing up. Face-down paper output is the output of single-sided printed paper with the printed side facing down.

[0157] As shown in Figures 11(A) to 11(D), when multiple advertising images are printed, the multiple advertising images may include a third advertising image and a fourth advertising image having a higher priority than the third advertising image. In Figures 11(A) and 11(B), advertising image IMd is an example of a third advertising image, and advertising image IMa is an example of a fourth advertising image having a higher priority PRa than the priority PRd of advertising image IMd. In Figures 11(C) and 11(D), advertising image IMh is an example of a third advertising image, and advertising image IMe is an example of a fourth advertising image having a higher priority PRe than the priority PRh of advertising image IMh.

[0158] Figures 11(A) to 11(D) illustrate the case where one or more sheets of paper used to print multiple advertising images include two or more sheets of paper (here, sheets SU1-SUn). In S30 (Figure 4), the distribution control unit DC generates print image data having the following configuration. When the model name indicates a face-up model, as shown in Figures 11(A) and 11(C), the advertising images IMd and IMh are printed on the first sheet of paper (here, sheet SUn) which is ejected before the last sheet of paper SU1 among the two or more sheets of paper SU1-SUn. Advertising images IMa and IMe, which have higher priority RPa and RPe, are printed on the second sheet of paper (here, sheet SU1) which is ejected after the first sheet of paper (here, sheet SUn) among the two or more sheets of paper SU1-SUn. The print image PI data is configured to print multiple advertising images in this manner.

[0159] When the model name indicates a face-down model, as shown in Figures 11(B) and 11(D), the advertising images IMd and IMh are printed on a third sheet of paper (here, paper SU1) that is ejected after the first sheet of paper SU1-SUn out of two or more sheets of paper SU1-SUn. The advertising images IMa and IMe, which have higher priority RPa and RPe, are printed on a fourth sheet of paper (here, paper SUn) that is ejected before the third sheet of paper (here, paper SU1) out of two or more sheets of paper SU1-SUn. The data for the printed image PI is configured to print multiple advertising images in this manner.

[0160] With this configuration, the printing system 900 can print preferred advertising images in an easily viewable format when multiple advertising images are distributed across two or more sheets of paper. For example, as explained in Figure 8(A), when face-up output is performed, the user picks up the stack of ejected papers and examines the pages sequentially from top to bottom. Therefore, in the examples of Figures 11(A) and 11(C), the user can examine advertising images IMa and IMe, which have higher priority RPa and RPe, before advertising images IMd and IMh. Also, as explained in Figure 8(B), when face-down output is performed, the user turns the stack of ejected papers over and examines the pages sequentially from top to bottom of the overturned stack. Therefore, in the examples of Figures 11(B) and 11(D), the user can examine advertising images IMa and IMe, which have higher priority RPa and RPe, before advertising images IMd and IMh.

[0161] In the examples of Figures 11(A) and 11(C), the advertising images IMd and IMh may be printed on paper ejected after paper SUn (for example, paper Sn-1). The advertising images IMa and IMe may be printed on paper ejected before paper SU1 (for example, paper SU2). Similarly, in the examples of Figures 11(B) and 11(D), the advertising images IMd and IMh may be printed on paper ejected before paper SU1 (for example, paper SU2). The advertising images IMa and IMe may be printed on paper ejected after paper SUn (for example, paper Sn-1).

[0162] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 11(A) and 11(C), when the model name indicates a face-up model, the advertising images IMd and IMh are printed on the first sheet of paper (here, paper SUn) that is ejected first from the two or more sheets of paper SU1-SUn. Advertising images IMa and IMe, which have higher priority RPa and RPe, are printed on the second sheet of paper (here, paper SU1) that is ejected last from the two or more sheets of paper SU1-SUn. The data of the printed image PI is configured to print multiple advertising images in this manner. As shown in Figures 11(B) and 11(D), when the model name indicates a face-down model, the advertising images IMd and IMh are printed on the third sheet of paper (here, paper SU1) that is ejected last from the two or more sheets of paper SU1-SUn. Advertisement images IMa and IMe with higher priority RPa and RPe are printed on the fourth sheet (here, sheet SUn) which is the first to be ejected from two or more sheets of paper SU1-SUn. The data for the print image PI is configured to print multiple advertisement images in this manner.

[0163] With this configuration, the printing system 900 can print preferred advertising images in an easily viewable format when multiple advertising images are distributed across two or more sheets of paper. For example, a user can view advertising images IMa and IMe, which have higher priority RPa and RPe, before other advertising images.

[0164] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as explained in S210 (Figure 7), the specific information used to generate the data for the printed image PI includes setting information, and the setting information includes duplex settings. Duplex settings are an example of information indicating whether or not duplex printing is selected. As shown in Figures 11(A) to 11(D), when multiple advertising images are printed, the multiple advertising images may include a fifth advertising image and a sixth advertising image having a higher priority than the fifth advertising image. In Figures 11(A) and 11(B), the advertising image IMc is an example of a fifth advertising image, and the advertising image IMa is an example of a sixth advertising image having a higher priority PRa than the priority PRc of the advertising image IMc. In Figures 11(C) and 11(D), the advertising image IMg is an example of a fifth advertising image, and the advertising image IMe is an example of a sixth advertising image having a higher priority PRe than the priority PRg of the advertising image IMg.

[0165] Figures 11(A) to 11(D) show the case where the setting information indicates that double-sided printing is selected. In S30 (Figure 4), the distribution control unit DC generates print image data having the following configuration. When the model name indicates a face-up model, as shown in Figures 11(A) and 11(C), the advertising images IMc and IMg are printed on the bottom surface SU1b of the paper SU1. The bottom surface SU1b is the first surface to be printed on of the two sides of the paper SU1. The advertising images IMa and IMe, which have higher priority RPa and RPe, are printed on the top surface SU1a of the paper SU1. The top surface SU1a is the second surface to be printed on of the two sides of the paper SU1. The print image PI data is configured to print multiple advertising images in this manner.

[0166] When the model name indicates a face-down model, as shown in Figures 11(B) and 11(D), the advertising images IMC and IMG are printed on the top surface SUna of the paper SUN. The top surface SUna is the first side of the paper SUN to be printed. The advertising images IMa and IMe, which have higher priority RPa and RPe, are printed on the bottom surface SUnb of the paper SUN. The bottom surface SUnb is the second side of the paper SUN to be printed. The data for the print image PI is configured to print multiple advertising images in this manner.

[0167] With this configuration, the printing system 900 can print preferred advertising images in an easily viewable format when multiple advertising images are printed distributed across both sides of a sheet of paper. For example, as explained in Figure 8(A), when face-up output is performed, the user picks up the stack of ejected papers and examines the pages sequentially from top to bottom. Therefore, in the examples of Figures 11(A) and 11(C), the user can examine advertising images IMa and IMe, which have higher priority RPa and RPe, before advertising images IMc and IMg. Also, as explained in Figure 8(B), when face-down output is performed, the user turns the stack of ejected papers over and examines the pages sequentially from top to bottom of the turned-over stack. Therefore, in the examples of Figures 11(B) and 11(D), the user can examine advertising images IMa and IMe, which have higher priority RPa and RPe, before advertising images IMc and IMg.

[0168] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as explained in S8-S29 (Figures 3 and 4), the multiple advertising images are advertising images that were successfully bid on in an auction. As explained in Figures 9(B) and 10(B), the priority PR changes according to one or more parameters (here, the winning bid price B and the orientation relationship R) associated with the advertising image IM having a priority PR. The one or more parameters include the winning bid price B. Among multiple priority PRs that differ only in their winning bid price B, the higher the winning bid price B, the higher the priority PR. For example, in the example in Figure 9(B), the priority PR01 of advertising image IM01 is higher than the priority PR03 of advertising image IM03. In the example in Figure 10(B), the priority PR11 of advertising image IM11 is higher than the priority PR13 of advertising image IM13. In this way, the printing system 900 can prioritize advertising image IM associated with a higher winning bid price B.

[0169] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as explained in Figures 9(B) and 10(B), the priority PR changes according to one or more parameters (here, the winning bid price B and the orientation relationship R) associated with the advertising image IM having the priority PR. The one or more parameters include the orientation relationship R. The orientation relationship R indicates whether the image orientation O1 matches the paper orientation O2. As explained in Figures 9(C) and 9(D), the image orientation O1 is the orientation of the advertising image and indicates either portrait orientation O1a or landscape orientation O1b. As explained in Figures 9(A) and 10(A), the paper orientation O2 is the orientation of the paper SU with respect to the output directions DP1 and DP2 and indicates either portrait orientation O2a or landscape orientation O2b. With this configuration, since the priority PR changes according to the orientation of the advertising image with respect to the output directions DP1 and DP2, the printing system 900 can prioritize advertising images having a specific orientation with respect to the output directions DP1 and DP2. For example, as shown in the embodiments in Figures 9(A) and 10(A), the printing system 900 can prioritize advertising images that have the same upward direction as the discharge directions DP1 and DP2.

[0170] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as explained in Figures 9(B) and 10(B), the priority PR changes according to two or more parameters (here, the winning bid price B and the orientation relationship R) associated with the advertising image IM having the priority PR. The two or more parameters include the winning bid price B and the orientation relationship R. The orientation relationship R indicates the agreement R2 or mismatch R1 between the image orientation O1 and the paper orientation O2. The image orientation O1 is the orientation of the advertising image, as explained in Figures 9(C) and 9(D), and indicates either portrait orientation O1a or landscape orientation O1b. The paper orientation O2 is the orientation of the paper SU with respect to the discharge directions DP1 and DP2, as explained in Figures 9(A) and 10(A), and indicates either portrait orientation O2a or landscape orientation O2b. As shown in the priority PR01 and PR02 of the advertising images IM01 and IM02 in Figure 9(B), among multiple priority PRs where only the orientation relationship R differs from each other, the priority associated with the orientation relationship R indicating mismatch R1 is higher than the priority associated with the orientation relationship R indicating match R2. As shown in the PR02 and PR03 of the advertising images IM02 and IM03 in Figure 9(B), among multiple priority PRs where only the winning bid price B and the orientation relationship R differ from each other, the higher the winning bid price B, the higher the priority PR.

[0171] With this configuration, if only the orientation relationship R differs between multiple advertising images, the printing system 900 can prioritize the advertising image that has the same upward direction as the discharge directions DP1 and DP2 (for example, advertising image IM01 in Figure 9(A) and advertising image IM11 in Figure 10(A)). Also, if only the winning bid price B and the orientation relationship R differ between multiple advertising images, the printing system 900 can prioritize the advertising image IM with the higher winning bid price B. For example, advertising image IM02 in Figure 9(B) is prioritized over advertising image IM03, and advertising image IM12 in Figure 10(B) is prioritized over advertising image IM13.

[0172] In this embodiment, the distribution control unit DC (i.e., CPU 310) of the advertising distribution server 300 performs the following processing according to the computer program PGa. In S210 and S230 (Figure 7), the CPU 310 acquires specific information including setting information (here, double-sided setting and sheet size) and model information (here, model name). In S29 (Figure 4), the CPU 310 acquires data for multiple advertising images. In S30, the CPU 310 generates print image data for printing multiple advertising images on one or more sheets of paper. As shown in Figure 7, the CPU 310 generates print image data using the above-mentioned specific information and the respective priorities of the multiple advertising images. The print image data is an example of print image data for printing advertising images. In S33, the CPU 310 transmits print image PI data to the printer 500 having a print execution unit 570. With this configuration, the CPU 310 can cause the printer 500 to print the preferred advertising images in an easily viewable format.

[0173] B. Variations: (1) The correspondence between advertising images and advertising slots may be various correspondences that associate advertising images with high priority with advertising slots with high evaluation values. For example, when face-up paper output is performed as in Figures 11(A) and 11(C), advertising images with relatively high priority (e.g., advertising images IMa, IMe) may be printed on paper that is ejected before paper SU1 (e.g., paper SU2). Advertising images with relatively low priority (e.g., advertising images IMd, IMh) may be printed on paper that is ejected after paper SUn (e.g., paper SUn-1, not shown). Generally, advertising images with relatively low priority may be printed on paper that is ejected before paper on which advertising images with relatively high priority are printed.

[0174] Furthermore, when face-down paper output is performed as shown in Figures 11(B) and 11(D), advertising images with relatively high priority (e.g., advertising images IMa, IMe) may be printed on paper that is ejected after paper SUn (e.g., paper SUn-1, not shown). Advertising images with relatively low priority (e.g., advertising images IMd, IMh) may be printed on paper that is ejected before paper SU1 (e.g., paper SU2). Generally, advertising images with relatively low priority may be printed on paper that is ejected after paper on which advertising images with relatively high priority are printed.

[0175] (2) The arrangement of multiple advertising slots on one or more sheets of paper may be in various arrangements other than the arrangement based on the advertising template PT in Figure 6(A). For example, the total number of advertising slots included on one page is not limited to 8, but may be any number of 1 or more. Multiple advertising slots may include multiple types of advertising slots that are different in size from each other. If the total number of advertising slots included on one page is 1, multiple advertising images may be printed distributed across multiple pages.

[0176] (3) Print image data for printing multiple advertising images on one or more sheets of paper may be various types of data representing the images to be printed. For example, the print image data may include multiple advertising image data, template data representing the arrangement of advertising frames on each page, and correspondence data representing multiple correspondences between advertising frames and advertising images. A control device that controls the print execution unit (for example, the CPU 510 of the printer 500) may use such print image data to generate page data representing page images for each page, and use the page data to control the print execution unit and print page images for each page on the paper. The print image data may also include data indicating the URLs of each of the multiple advertising images, template data representing the arrangement of advertising frames on each page, and correspondence data representing multiple correspondences between advertising frames and advertising images. The control device that controls the print execution unit may access the URLs to obtain advertising image data and use the obtained data to generate page data representing page images for each page. The control device that controls the print execution unit may also be configured to execute printing using the received image data when it receives image data in a predetermined format (for example, PDF format). In this case, the print image data may be image data in a predetermined format.

[0177] (4) The transmission process for sending print image data to a printer (for example, S33 (Figure 4)) may be any of the various processes for sending print image data so that it reaches the destination printer. For example, the transmission process may be a process for sending print image data to a printer to a communication device other than the printer, such as a remote print server 200. The communication device may be any of the various devices that relay print image data. Alternatively, the transmission process may be a process for directly sending print image data to the printer.

[0178] (5) In the embodiments of Figures 9(B) and 10(B), among multiple priority PRs that differ only in orientation relationship R, the priority PR associated with the orientation relationship showing match R2 may be higher than the priority PR associated with the orientation relationship R showing mismatch R1. For example, when a normal image that is not an advertising image is printed, the orientation of the image printed on the paper may be set so that the top of the image is perpendicular to the output direction. For example, on the paper SU of Figure 9(A), the top of the image may be to the right, perpendicular to the output direction DP1. In this case, the orientation of the advertising images IM02 and IM04 associated with match R2 is appropriate from the perspective of a user observing the paper SU. In this case, it is preferable that the priority PR associated with match R2 is higher than the priority PR associated with mismatch R1. The printer may also be configured so that the user can remove the paper from a direction perpendicular to the paper output direction. In this case, the top of the paper from the user's perspective is perpendicular to the output direction. For example, when a user removes the paper SU shown in Figure 9(A), the upward direction on the paper SU from the user's perspective may be perpendicular to the discharge direction DP1 (for example, to the right in the figure). In this case, it is preferable that the priority PR associated with the matching R2 is higher than the priority PR associated with the mismatch R1.

[0179] (6) The method for determining the paper orientation O2 is not limited to the method using the sheet size (S230, S235 (Figure 7)), but may be any of the various methods. For example, the paper orientation O2 may be associated with the model name. In this case, the distribution control unit DC may determine the paper orientation O2 using the model name without using the print settings. Alternatively, the paper orientation O2 may be associated with a combination of the model name and the sheet size. In this case, the distribution control unit DC may determine the paper orientation O2 using the model name and the sheet size. The print execution unit may also be configured to switch the paper orientation between portrait and landscape according to the user's instructions. In this case, the print settings may include the paper orientation setting, and the distribution control unit DC may determine the paper orientation O2 using the paper orientation setting. The settings used to determine the paper orientation O2 among the print settings may include various other settings. Thus, to determine the paper orientation O2, either or both of the setting information related to the print settings (for example, information representing a specific setting included in the print settings) and the model name may be used.

[0180] (7) The method for determining the orientation of the printed surface (face up or face down) when the paper is ejected is not limited to the method using the model name (S210, S215 (Figure 7)), but may be any of the following methods. For example, the orientation of the printed surface may be associated with a combination of the model name and the sheet size. In this case, the distribution control unit DC may use the model name and the sheet size to determine the orientation of the printed surface. The print execution unit may also be configured to switch the orientation of the printed surface between face up ejection and face down ejection according to the user's instructions. In this case, the print settings may include a setting for the orientation of the printed surface, and the distribution control unit DC may use the setting for the orientation of the printed surface to determine the orientation of the printed surface. The setting used to determine the orientation of the printed surface among the print settings may include various other settings. Thus, to determine the orientation of the printed surface, either or both of the setting information related to the print settings and the model name may be used.

[0181] (8) The model information indicating the model of the print execution unit is not limited to the printer model name; various types of information indicating the model of the print execution unit may be used. For example, an identifier associated with the printer model, the model name of the print execution unit, or an identifier associated with the model of the print execution unit may be used.

[0182] (9) The specific information used to generate print image data is not limited to duplex settings, sheet size, and model name (S210, S230 (Figure 7)), but may include various other information. When the page coefficient is determined using the orientation of the print surface, as in S215-S225 (Figure 7), the specific information may include the various other information used to determine the orientation of the print surface. When the page coefficient is determined using duplex settings, the specific information may include duplex settings. When the position coefficient is determined using the paper orientation O2, as in S235-S245, the specific information may include the various other information used to determine the paper orientation O2. Thus, the specific information may include either setting information related to print settings or model information indicating the model of the print execution unit, or both.

[0183] (10) There may be various methods for obtaining specific information. As shown in the embodiment of Figure 7, the distribution control unit DC may obtain specific information by referring to information recorded by the contract processing of the advertising distribution service (for example, the database DBa). Alternatively, the distribution control unit DC may request specific information from the printer and obtain the specific information from the printer.

[0184] (11) The priority PR (S250 (Figure 7)) of each advertisement image may be determined by a device not included in the printing system 900 (Figure 1) (for example, another server not shown). The priority PR (S250 (Figure 7)) may change according to various parameters, not limited to the winning bid price B and the orientation relationship R. For example, the priority PR may be determined according to the winning bid price B, independently of the orientation relationship R. The priority PR may be determined according to the orientation relationship R, independently of the winning bid price B. The priority PR may change according to the classification of the advertisement. The classification of the advertisement may be selected from a predetermined number of classifications, such as automobiles, travel, books, food, electrical appliances, etc. The priority PR for each classification may be predetermined. For example, a user or a business operator operating an advertising distribution service may determine the priority PR for each classification in advance. Also, the priority PR of each advertisement image may be predetermined. For example, an advertiser may determine the priority of each advertisement image in advance. Alternatively, users may decide the priority PR for each ad image.

[0185] (12) The method for acquiring advertising images is not limited to an auction (S8-S29 (Figures 3 and 4)), but may be any of the following methods. For example, multiple pre-prepared advertising images may be acquired.

[0186] (13) The configuration of the print execution unit may vary. The print execution unit may be configured to perform single-sided printing without performing double-sided printing. The print execution unit may be configured to perform only one of either face-down paper output or face-up paper output. Alternatively, the print execution unit may allow the user to select either face-down paper output or face-up paper output.

[0187] (14) The configuration of the printing system is not limited to the configuration of the printing system 900 in Figure 1, and may be various configurations. For example, the remote printing server 200 may be omitted, and the advertising distribution server 300 may communicate directly with the printer (for example, printer 500). The processing performed by the advertising distribution server 300 may be performed by multiple servers. For example, the distribution control unit DC and the advertising space sales unit AS may be separate servers. The processing performed by any two of the servers 100, 200, and 300 may be performed by one server. The processing performed by servers 100, 200, and 300 may be performed by one server. In this way, the system processing, which includes the acquisition of specific information, the acquisition of multiple advertising images, and the generation of print image data, may be performed by one or more servers. Also, the servers may be omitted, and a control device that controls the print execution unit (for example, the CPU 510 of printer 500) may perform the system processing. In this case, a printer having a print execution unit and a control device is an example of a printing system.

[0188] (15) The printed image may include an image specified by the user in addition to the advertisement image. For example, if the user prints an image using a remote printing service, the advertisement image may be placed in the margin of the paper. Alternatively, the image specified by the user may be printed on the front of the paper and the advertisement image on the back.

[0189] (16) The sheet used for printing may be any sheet-like medium, such as film, instead of paper.

[0190] (17) The configuration of the server providing the advertising distribution service is not limited to a configuration including four types of servers 100, 200, 300, and 400 (Figure 1), but may be various configurations. For example, the bidding control unit BC and the consumer information management unit CM of the bidding server 400 may be separate servers. The advertising distribution server 300 and one of the bidding servers 400A-400C may be formed by a single server.

[0191] In each of the above embodiments, some of the configurations implemented by hardware may be replaced with software, and conversely, some or all of the configurations implemented by software may be replaced with hardware. For example, the processing performed by the distribution control unit DC may be performed by a dedicated hardware circuit such as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC).

[0192] Furthermore, if some or all of the functions of this disclosure are implemented by a computer program, that program may be provided in the form of a computer-readable recording medium (e.g., a non-temporary recording medium). The program may be used while stored on the same or a different recording medium (computer-readable recording medium) as it was provided. "Computer-readable recording medium" is not limited to portable recording media such as memory cards and CD-ROMs, but may also include internal storage devices within a computer, such as various ROMs, and external storage devices connected to a computer, such as hard disk drives.

[0193] The above embodiments and modifications can be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, the above embodiments and modifications are provided to facilitate understanding of this disclosure and do not limit the present invention. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from its spirit, and equivalents thereof are included.

[0194] 100...Management server, 200...Remote printing server, 300...Ad delivery server, 400, 400A-400C...Bidding server, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510...CPU, 120, 220, 320, 420, 520...Volatile memory device, 130, 230, 330, 430, 530...Non-volatile memory device, PGa, PGb, PGm, PGp, PGr...Computer program, AS...Advertising space sales department, BC...Bidding control unit, CM...Consumer information management department, DC...Distribution control unit, 500...Inkjet printer, 500b...Laser printer, 500bD, 500D, DP1, DP2...Discharge direction, 500bo, 500o...Discharge port, 500bt...Tray, 540...Display unit, 550...Operation unit, 570, 570b...Print execution unit, 900...Printing system, 1000...Network system, IT...Internet

Claims

1. A printing system comprising: a specific information acquisition unit that acquires specific information including either or both of the following: setting information relating to print settings and model information indicating a model of a printing execution unit; an advertisement acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of advertisement images; a generation unit that generates print image data for printing the plurality of advertisement images onto one or more sheets, using the specific information and the respective priorities of the plurality of advertisement images; and a printing execution unit that prints the plurality of advertisement images represented by the print image data onto the one or more sheets, wherein the printing execution unit is configured to discharge the printed sheets in the discharge direction, the plurality of advertisement images include a first advertisement image and a second advertisement image having a higher priority than the priority of the first advertisement image, and the generation unit generates print image data for printing the first advertisement image onto a first portion of a sheet and the second advertisement image onto a second portion of the sheet which is downstream of the first portion in the discharge direction, using the specific information.

2. A printing system according to claim 1, wherein the specific information includes the model information, the model information indicates any of a plurality of models including a face-up model which is a model that performs face-up paper output and a face-down model which is a model that performs face-down paper output, the face-up paper output means outputting a single-sided printed sheet with the printed side up, the face-down paper output means outputting a single-sided printed sheet with the printed side down, the plurality of advertising images includes a third advertising image and a fourth advertising image which has a higher priority than the third advertising image, the one or more sheets includes two or more sheets, and the generation unit generates print image data for printing the third advertising image on a first sheet which is output before the last sheet output among the two or more sheets, and printing the fourth advertising image on a second sheet which is output after the first sheet among the two or more sheets, when the model information indicates the face-up model. A printing system that generates print image data for printing the third advertisement image on a third sheet that is ejected after the first sheet among the two or more sheets, and for printing the fourth advertisement image on a fourth sheet that is ejected before the third sheet among the two or more sheets, when the model information indicates the face-down model.

3. A printing system according to claim 2, wherein the generation unit generates print image data for printing the third advertisement image on the first sheet that is ejected first among the two or more sheets, and the fourth advertisement image on the second sheet that is ejected last among the two or more sheets, when the model information indicates the face-up model, and generates print image data for printing the third advertisement image on the third sheet that is ejected last among the two or more sheets, and the fourth advertisement image on the fourth sheet that is ejected first among the two or more sheets, when the model information indicates the face-down model.

4. A printing system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the specific information includes the setting information, the setting information includes information indicating whether or not double-sided printing is selected, the plurality of advertising images includes a fifth advertising image and a sixth advertising image having a higher priority than the fifth advertising image, and the generation unit generates print image data for printing the fifth advertising image on the first side of the sheet to be printed and the sixth advertising image on the second side of the sheet to be printed when the setting information indicates that double-sided printing is selected and the model information indicates the face-up model, and generates print image data for printing the fifth advertising image on the first side of the sheet to be printed and the sixth advertising image on the second side of the sheet to be printed when the setting information indicates that double-sided printing is selected and the model information indicates the face-down model.

5. A printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of advertising images are advertising images that have been successfully bid on in an auction, the priority changes according to one or more parameters associated with the advertising images having the priority, the one or more parameters include the winning bid price, and among the plurality of priorities that differ only in the winning bid price, the higher the winning bid price, the higher the priority.

6. A printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the priority changes according to one or more parameters associated with an advertising image having the priority, the one or more parameters include an orientation relationship indicating whether the image orientation information matches the sheet orientation information, the image orientation information is the orientation of the advertising image and indicates whether it is portrait or landscape, and the sheet orientation information is the orientation of the sheet with respect to the discharge direction and indicates whether it is portrait or landscape.

7. A printing system according to claim 5, wherein the priority changes according to two or more parameters associated with an advertising image having the priority, the two or more parameters include the winning bid price and the orientation relationship, the orientation relationship indicates whether the image orientation information and the sheet orientation information match or do not match, the image orientation information is the orientation of the advertising image and indicates whether it is portrait or landscape, the sheet orientation information is the orientation of the sheet with respect to the discharge direction and indicates whether it is portrait or landscape, among a plurality of priorities where only the orientation relationship differs from each other, the priority associated with the orientation relationship showing a mismatch is higher than the priority associated with the orientation relationship showing a match, and among a plurality of priorities where only both the winning bid price and the orientation relationship differ from each other, the higher the winning bid price, the higher the priority.

8. A program that enables a computer to implement the following: a specific information acquisition function that acquires specific information including either or both of the following: setting information relating to print settings and model information indicating a model of a print execution unit; an advertisement acquisition function that acquires multiple advertisement images; a generation function that generates print image data for printing the multiple advertisement images onto one or more sheets, using the specific information and the respective priorities of the multiple advertisement images; and a transmission function that transmits the print image data to a printer having the print execution unit, wherein the print execution unit is configured to discharge printed sheets in the discharge direction, the multiple advertisement images include a first advertisement image and a second advertisement image having a higher priority than the first advertisement image, and the generation function generates print image data for printing the first advertisement image onto a first portion of a sheet and the second advertisement image onto a second portion of the sheet which is downstream of the first portion in the discharge direction, using the specific information.

9. A server comprising: a specific information acquisition unit that acquires specific information including either or both of the following: setting information relating to print settings and model information indicating a model of a print execution unit; an advertisement acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of advertisement images; a generation unit that generates print image data for printing the plurality of advertisement images onto one or more sheets, using the specific information and the respective priorities of the plurality of advertisement images; and a transmission unit that transmits the print image data to a printer having the print execution unit, wherein the print execution unit is configured to discharge printed sheets in the discharge direction, the plurality of advertisement images include a first advertisement image and a second advertisement image having a higher priority than the first advertisement image, and the generation unit generates print image data for printing the first advertisement image onto a first portion of a sheet and the second advertisement image onto a second portion of the sheet which is downstream of the first portion in the discharge direction, using the specific information.

Images