Printing device, information providing system, printing method, and printed matter

Abstract

Provided are a printing device, an information providing system, and a printing method each capable of properly printing a dispersed image where information for specifying a plurality of websites is dispersed and human-readable information regarding each of the websites, and a printed matter obtained therethrough. A dispersed image generation unit (27) subjects ID pattern for designating a plurality of websites in a data storage unit (26) to inverse Fourier transform to disperse the ID pattern, and divides an image generated by the dispersion into the number equal to the plurality of websites, to thereby generate partial images. A printing unit (28) prints each partial image so as to be superposed on human-readable information such that multiple pieces of human-readable information in the data storage unit (26) can all be printed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an outline of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is block diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system 1 according to this embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a logical configuration of an ID database disposed in a URL server 2 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams showing examples of receipts having ID background images printed thereon;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer 3;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a gradation representation method;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the printer 3;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation of the printer 3;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing another operation of the printer 3;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams showing examples of screens displayed on mobile telephones regarding photographing of a receipt;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure of connecting a mobile telephone 5 to a service server 6;

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a modified example of a method of printing an ID background image; and

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional example of printing.

Claims

1. A printing device, comprising: a reception unit for receiving specific information for designating a plurality of websites;an input unit for receiving human-readable information regarding each of the plurality of websites;a dispersed image generation unit for generating a dispersed image including a plurality of partial images in which the specific information is dispersed; anda printing section for printing the dispersed image and the human-readable information in a superposed manner.

2. A printing device, comprising: a reception unit for receiving multiple pieces of specific information to specify predetermined websites;an input unit for receiving human-readable information regarding the specific information received by the reception unit;a dispersed image generation unit for generating a dispersed image including a plurality of partial images in which the multiple pieces of specific information are dispersed; anda printing unit for printing the dispersed image and the human-readable information regarding the specific information in a superposed manner.

3. A printing device according to claim 2, wherein: the multiple pieces of human-readable information respectively correspond to the multiple pieces of specific information; andthe dispersed image generation unit generates the plurality of partial images by dispersing each of the multiple pieces of specific information, and prints the partial images and the human-readable information corresponding to the partial images in a superposed manner.

4. A printing device according to claim 1, further comprising a designation information reception unit for receiving designation information for designating sizes of the plurality of partial images, wherein the dispersed image generation unit decides on sizes of the partial images according to the designation information.

5. A printing device according to claim 2, further comprising a designation information reception unit for receiving designation information for designating sizes of the plurality of partial images, wherein the dispersed image generation unit decides on sizes of the partial images according to the designation information.

6. A printing device according to claim 3, further comprising a designation information reception unit for receiving designation information for designating sizes of the plurality of partial images, wherein the dispersed image generation unit decides on sizes of the partial images according to the designation information.

7. An information providing system, comprising: a printing device; anda printing control device for communicating with the printing device, wherein:the printing control device comprises: a storage unit for storing specific information for designating a plurality of websites and human-readable information regarding each of the plurality of websites;a dispersed image generation unit for generating a dispersed image including a plurality of partial images in which the specific information stored in the storage unit is dispersed;a printing image generation unit for generating a printing image in which the dispersed image generated by the dispersed image generation unit and the human-readable information stored in the storage unit are superposed on each other; anda transmission unit for transmitting the printing image generated by the printing image generation unit to the printing device, andthe printing device comprises: a reception unit for receiving the printing image; anda printing unit for printing an image according to the printing image received by the reception unit.

8. An information providing system, comprising: a printing device; anda printing control device for communicating with the printing device, wherein:the printing control device comprises: a storage unit for storing multiple pieces of specific information for designating predetermined websites and human-readable information regarding the specific information;a dispersed image generation unit for generating a dispersed image including a plurality of partial images in which the multiple pieces of specific information stored in the storage unit are dispersed;a printing image generation unit for generating a printing image in which the dispersed image and the human-readable information regarding the specific information are superposed on each other; anda transmission unit for transmitting the printing image generated by the printing image generation unit to the printing device, andthe printing device comprises: a reception unit for receiving the printing image; anda printing unit for printing an image according to the printing image received by the reception unit.

9. An information providing system according to claim 7, wherein: the storage unit further stores designation information for designating sizes of the plurality of partial images, andthe dispersed image generation unit decides on sizes of the partial images according to the designation information stored in the storage unit.

10. An information providing system according to claim 8, wherein: the storage unit further stores designation information for designating sizes of the plurality of partial images, andthe dispersed image generation unit decides on sizes of the partial images according to the designation information stored in the storage unit.

11. A printing method, which is implemented by a printing device, comprising: a reception step of receiving specific information for designating a plurality of websites;an input step of receiving human-readable information regarding each of the plurality of websites;a dispersed image generation step of generating a dispersed image including a plurality of partial images in which the specific information is dispersed; anda printing step of printing the dispersed image and the human-readable information in a superposed manner.

12. A printing method implemented by a printing device, comprising: a reception step of receiving multiple pieces of specific information for specifying predetermined websites;an input step of receiving human-readable information regarding the specific information;a dispersed image generation step of generating a dispersed image including a plurality of partial images in which the multiple pieces of specific information are dispersed; anda printing step of printing the dispersed image and the human-readable information regarding the specific information in a superposed manner.

13. A printing method implemented by an information providing system comprising a printing device, and a printing control device for communicating with the printing device and storing specific information for designating a plurality of websites and human-readable information regarding each of the plurality of websites, the method comprising:a dispersed image generation step of generating, by the printing control device, a dispersed image including a plurality of partial images in which the specific information is dispersed;a printing image generation step of generating, by the printing control device, a printing image in which the dispersed image and the human-readable information are superposed on each other;a transmission step of transmitting, by the printing control device, the printing image to the printing device;a reception step of receiving, by the printing device, the printing image; anda printing step of printing, by the printing device, an image according to the printing image.

14. A printing method implemented by an information providing system comprising a printing device, and a printing control device which communicates with the printing device and stores multiple pieces of specific information for designating predetermined websites and multiple pieces of human-readable information regarding each of the multiple pieces of specific information, the method comprising:a dispersed image generation step of generating, by the printing control device, a dispersed image including a plurality of partial images in which the multiple pieces of specific information are dispersed;a printing image generation step of generating, by the printing control device, a printing image in which the dispersed image and the human-readable information regarding the specific information are superposed on each other;a transmission step of transmitting, by the printing control device, the printing image to the printing device;a reception step of receiving, by the printing device, the printing image; anda printing step of printing, by the printing device, an image according to the printing image.

15. A printed matter, wherein a dispersed image having specific information for designating a plurality of websites dispersed therein and including partial images equal in number to the plurality of websites, and pieces of human-readable information equal in number to the plurality of websites are superposed on each other.

16. A printed matter wherein a dispersed image having multiple pieces of specific information for specifying a predetermined website dispersed therein and including partial images equal in number to the multiple pieces of specific information, and pieces of human-readable information equal in number to the multiple pieces of specific information are superposed on each other.