Method, apparatus, and recording medium for data management

• US 20020126149A1
• Filed: 03/01/2002
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Umeda, Tomoaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,574,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1253 Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/127 by using hot folders, e.g. folder for which print settings or print data management rules are set in advance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

An Order icon is displayed on a user terminal and image data sets to be printed are registered by drag-and-drop operations for the image data sets onto the Order icon. By opening the Order icon, thumbnail images of the registered image data sets are displayed, and print sizes and quantities are input to generate order information. The order information is transferred to an order reception server together with the image data sets, and further transferred to a DPE store where the image data sets are printed.

Claims

1. A data management method comprising the steps of:

displaying on a display means an icon corresponding to a data management unit with which data can be registered;

registering the data with the data management unit by carrying out a drag-and-drop operation for the data onto the icon; and

carrying out a simple output of the data registered with the data management unit to the display means by opening the icon.

2. A data management method as defined in claim 1, wherein the data are image data and the simple output is displaying a thumbnail image or thumbnail images of the image data that have been registered with the data management unit.

3. A data management method as defined in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

displaying on the display means, in the case where a plurality of sets of the image data have been registered with the data management unit, an order screen for all the image data sets together with the thumbnail images thereof,;

receiving an input of the content of a print order for the image data sets; and

generating order information representing the content of the print order for the image data sets.

4. A data management apparatus comprising:

a data management unit with which data can be registered;

a display means; and

a control means for displaying an icon corresponding to the data management unit on the display means, for registering the data with the data management unit by a drag-and-drop operation for the data onto the icon, and for carrying out a simple output of the data that have been registered with the data management unit to the display means by opening the icon.

5. A data management apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the data are image data and the simple output is displaying a thumbnail image or thumbnail images of the image data that have been registered with the data management unit.

6. A data management apparatus as defined in claim 5, the control means displaying on the display means, in the case where a plurality of sets of the image data have been registered with the data management unit, an order screen for all the image data sets together with the thumbnail images thereof;

receiving an input of the content of a print order for the image data sets; and

generating order information representing the content of the print order for the image data sets.

7. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program that causes a computer to execute the procedures of:

displaying on a display means an icon corresponding to a data management unit with which data can be registered;

registering the data with the data management unit by carrying out a drag-and-drop operation for the data onto the icon; and

carrying out a simple output of the data registered with the data management unit to the display means by opening the icon.

8. A computer-readable recording medium as defined in claim 7, wherein the data are image data and the simple output is displaying a thumbnail image or thumbnail images of the image data that have been registered with the data management unit.

9. A computer-readable recording medium as defined in claim 8, the program further comprising the procedures of:

displaying on the display means, in the case where a plurality of sets of the image data have been registered with the data management unit, an order screen for all the image data sets together with the thumbnail images thereof;

receiving an input of the content of a print order for the image data sets; and

generating order information representing the content of the print order for the image data sets.