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JP-2026076029-A - Image processing device, computer program for image processing device, and method for controlling the image processing device

JP2026076029AJP 2026076029 AJP2026076029 AJP 2026076029AJP-2026076029-A

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a technology for printing multiple images in a situation where images with specified relative relationships and images without specified relative relationships are mixed together. [Solution] The image processing device includes an information receiving unit that receives first designation information from an external device that specifies the relative relationship between a first image and a second image, which are placed in two of three or more printing areas obtained by dividing the printing surface of a printing medium; a decision unit that, based on the first designation information, decides to place the first image and the second image in two of the three or more printing areas, and decides to place a third image in an area other than the two printing areas determined based on the first designation information; a generation unit that generates print data for printing the first image, the second image, and the third image onto a printing medium; and a print control unit that transmits the print data to a printing device to print the first image, the second image, and the third image onto the printing medium. [Selection Diagram] Figure 4

Inventors

  • 瀧尻 豊
  • 木元 太一朗
  • 出浦 祐視

Assignees

  • ブラザー工業株式会社

Dates

Publication Date
20260511
Application Date
20241023

Claims (15)

  1. An image processing device, An information receiving unit that receives first designation information from an external device different from the image processing device, which designates the relative relationship between a first image and a second image, which are arranged in two of three or more printing areas obtained by dividing the printing surface of a printing medium, wherein the first designation information is information that designates at least one of the following: the relative position of the second image with respect to the first image in the three or more printing areas, and the relative orientation of the second image with respect to the first image in the three or more printing areas, A determination unit that determines, based on the first specified information, to place the first image and the second image in two of the three or more printable areas, and to place the third image in the area of the three or more printable areas other than the two printable areas determined based on the first specified information, A generation unit that generates print data for printing the first image, the second image, and the third image, whose positions in the three or more print areas have been determined, onto the print medium, A print control unit transmits the print data to a printing device and prints a plurality of images, including the first image, the second image, and the third image, onto the printing medium. An image processing device equipped with the following features.
  2. The aforementioned image processing device further, The device includes a first presentation unit that transmits to the external device first presentation information, which presents to the external device a plurality of combinations obtained by combining each of the three or more print areas, The information receiving unit receives from the external device the first designation information which specifies a particular combination from the plurality of combinations presented by the first presentation information as the relative relationship between the first image and the second image arranged in the two printing areas, The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines to place the first image and the second image in the two printing areas which are a specific combination specified by the first designation information.
  3. The information receiving unit receives from the external device, in addition to the first designation information, a second designation information that specifies other combinations among the plurality of combinations as a relative relationship between a fourth image and a fifth image placed in two other print areas that partially overlap with the two print areas. The first designated information includes a first value, The second designation information includes the second value, The determination unit determines, when the first value is greater than the second value, to place the first image and the second image in the two printing areas. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit determines to place the fourth image and the fifth image in the other two printing areas when the second value is greater than the first value.
  4. The aforementioned image processing device further, The device includes a second presentation unit that transmits second presentation information to the external device, which presents each of the three or more printable areas to the external device, The information receiving unit receives third designation information from the external device, which specifies that a seventh image be placed in the first printing area of the at least two printing areas presented by the second presentation information, and that an eighth image be placed in the second printing area of the at least two printing areas. The first designated information includes a first value, The third designation information includes a third value corresponding to the first print area and a fourth value corresponding to the second print area, The determination unit determines to place the first image and the second image in the two print areas if the first print area and the second print area are included in the specific combination and the first value is greater than the sum of the third value and the fourth value. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit determines to place the seventh image and the eighth image in the two printing areas when the first printing area and the second printing area are included in the specific combination and the sum is greater than the first value.
  5. The first presented information includes a first minimum value corresponding to each of the plurality of combinations, The second presentation information includes a second minimum value corresponding to the first print area and the second print area, respectively. The first value is greater than the first minimum value corresponding to the specific combination. The third value is greater than the second minimum value corresponding to the first printing area. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the fourth value is greater than the second minimum value corresponding to the second printing area.
  6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first minimum value corresponding to the specific combination is greater than either the second minimum value corresponding to the first printing area or the second minimum value corresponding to the second printing area.
  7. The determination unit determines to place the seventh image and the eighth image in the two print areas if the first print area and the second print area are included in the specific combination, the total value is greater than the first value, and the difference between the total value and the first value is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. The determination unit determines to place the first image and the second image in the two printing areas when the first printing area and the second printing area are included in the specific combination, the sum is greater than the first value, and the difference between the sum and the first value is less than the predetermined value, and the image processing apparatus according to claim 4.
  8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, if the determination unit determines that the first image and the second image are designated for the two printing areas by the first designation information, but it has already been determined that another image will be placed in at least one of the two printing areas, it determines that neither the first image nor the second image will be placed in the two printing areas.
  9. The three or more printing areas include a surface area defined on the surface of the printing medium and a back surface area defined on the back surface of the printing medium. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first designation information specifies, as a relative relationship, that the first image is placed in the surface region and the second image is placed in the back region.
  10. The aforementioned image processing device further, The printing device is equipped with a status receiving unit that receives specific information from the printing device indicating whether or not the printing device is capable of double-sided printing. The information receiving unit receives the first designated information from the external device when the specific information indicates that the printing device is capable of double-sided printing. When the generation unit receives the first designated information from the external device, it generates the print data for printing the first image on the front surface area and the second image on the back surface area. The information receiving unit receives, when the specific information indicates that the printing device is not capable of double-sided printing, a fourth designation information from the external device that specifies that another image should be placed in the surface area instead of the first designation information. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the generation unit generates the print data for printing the other image onto the surface area when the fourth designated information is received from the external device.
  11. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, when it is determined that the first image and the second image are to be placed in the two printable areas, the print data includes data for printing an image in either of the two printable areas that indicates the relative relationship between the first image and the second image.
  12. The information receiving unit receives the first designated information which includes information for acquiring a blank image as the second image. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the determination unit determines to place the blank image obtained using the first designation information in one of the two printing areas.
  13. The information receiving unit further receives a fifth designation information specifying that a blank image, in which neither the relative position relative to other images in the three or more print areas nor the relative orientation relative to other images in the three or more print areas is specified, be placed in one of the three or more print areas. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the determination unit determines, when the fifth designation information is received, that the blank image is not placed in the one print area.
  14. A computer program for an image processing device, The aforementioned computer program controls the computer of the image processing device in the following parts, namely: An information receiving unit that receives first designation information from an external device different from the image processing device, which designates the relative relationship between a first image and a second image, which are arranged in two of three or more printing areas obtained by dividing the printing surface of a printing medium, wherein the first designation information is information that designates at least one of the following: the relative position of the second image with respect to the first image in the three or more printing areas, and the relative orientation of the second image with respect to the first image in the three or more printing areas, A determination unit that determines, based on the first specified information, to place the first image and the second image in two of the three or more printable areas, and to place the third image in the area of the three or more printable areas other than the two printable areas determined based on the first specified information, A generation unit that generates print data for printing the first image, the second image, and the third image, whose positions in the three or more print areas have been determined, onto the print medium, A print control unit transmits the print data to a printing device and prints a plurality of images, including the first image, the second image, and the third image, onto the printing medium. A computer program that functions as such.
  15. A method for controlling an image processing device, An information receiving step of receiving first designation information from an external device different from the image processing device, which specifies the relative relationship between a first image and a second image, which are arranged in two of three or more printing areas obtained by dividing the printing surface of a printing medium, wherein the first designation information is information that specifies at least one of the following: the relative position of the second image with respect to the first image in the three or more printing areas, and the relative orientation of the second image with respect to the first image in the three or more printing areas, A decision step of determining to place the first image and the second image in two of the three or more printable areas based on the first designation information, and to place the third image in the area other than the two printable areas determined based on the first designation information, A generation step for generating print data for printing the first image, the second image, and the third image, whose positions in the three or more print areas have been determined, onto the print medium, A print control step of transmitting the print data to a printing device to print a plurality of images, including the first image, the second image, and the third image, onto the printing medium. A control method comprising:

Description

This specification relates to an image processing apparatus for generating print data. Patent Document 1 discloses a system for printing an image corresponding to image data created by overlaying image data and text data. In this system, the relative position of the text data to the image data is specified by the user. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-117527 Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram of a communication system.Figure 2 is a block diagram of the communication system.Figure 3 is a sequence diagram of the processing realized by the communication system.Figure 4 shows an example of a frame that was successfully bid on through the bidding process.Figure 5 shows an example of the data structure of an auction request.Figure 6 shows another example of the data structure of an auction request.Figure 7 shows an example of the data structure for bid responses.Figure 8 shows another example of the data structure for bid responses.Figure 9 shows an example of an image printed on a print medium. (First embodiment) (Configuration of communication system 100; Figures 1 and 2) The communication system 100 provides an advertising printing service that prints advertising images onto a print medium 300 at a predetermined distribution time (for example, 9:00 AM every day). The advertising images are, for example, images of advertisements for products or services, store advertisements, corporate advertisements, government announcements, and coupons usable at stores (for example, discount coupons, free coupons). If a user installs a printer 200 at home, they can obtain the advertising images printed on the print medium 300 at the predetermined distribution time. The communication system 100 can also provide advertisers with advertising media different from the web, television, magazines, newspapers, etc. Here, the print medium 300 is, for example, printing paper. The printer 200 is a device that has a printing function. Note that the printer 200 may be a multi-functional machine that has other functions such as a scanning function in addition to the printing function. The communication system 100 comprises a print server 2, a distribution server 4, an SSP server 6, a DSP server 8, a DMP server 10, and a printer 200. Here, "SSP" stands for Supply Side Platform, "DSP" for Demand Side Platform, and "DMP" for Data Management Platform. Each server 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and the printer 200 are connected to the Internet 12 and can communicate with each other via the Internet 12. The print server 2 is a server that sends print data corresponding to the advertising image to the printer 200. The distribution server 4 is a server that manages the distribution of advertising images. The SSP server 6 is a server that provides the print medium 300 as advertising space to advertisers. The DSP server 8 is a server that manages advertising placement requests from advertisers. Advertising placement requests include image data provided by the advertiser, information indicating the target audience the advertiser wants to reach (e.g., men in their 40s), and information specifying the advertising space the advertiser wants. The DMP server 10 is a server that manages customer information about customers who receive advertisements. Customer information includes DMP user ID, personal information such as the customer's age, gender, and address, and customer consumption behavior. For example, consumption behavior is information about actions taken while logged in with the DMP user ID, and can include information about product browsing on e-commerce sites and the frequency and number of purchases. Another example is information about the user's hobbies and preferences estimated from the search history and site browsing history on the device linked to the DMP user ID. Generally speaking, customer information can be any information known as user attributes. The advertising space auction is automatically executed when the DSP server 8 places bids on the advertising space provided by the SSP server 6. The SSP server 6 and DSP server 8 implement what is known as RTB (Real Time Bidding). In this embodiment, the printing surface of the printing medium 300 is divided into multiple printing areas. These multiple printing areas are provided to the advertiser as advertising slots. These multiple printing areas may include not only the surface area located on the front of the printing medium 300, but also the back surface area located on the back of the printing medium 300. Furthermore, each of the multiple printing areas may be provided to the advertiser as a single advertising slot, or a set obtained by combining at least two of the multiple printing areas may be provided to the advertiser as a single advertising slot. The print server 2, distribution server 4, and SSP server 6 are installed on the internet 12 by, for example, the vendor of the printer 200. The DSP server 8 and DMP server 10 are installed on the internet 12 by, for example, an advertising agency