Printing system, POS system, connection device, and control method and control program for printing system
First Claim
1. A printing system having a print processing unit, comprising:
- a terminal computer comprising a first print data generating unit configured to generate first print data containing sales information related to a transaction;
an information-providing server that comprises a second print data generating unit configured to analyze the first print data and determine if any advertising or sales promotion information stored in the information-providing server is relevant to the sales information of the first print data, and to selectively generate second print data containing relevant advertising or sales promotion information based on the analyze and determine operations; and
an interface device in communication with the terminal computer and the information-providing server, the interface device being configured to receive the first print data from the terminal computer, the interface device comprising a first print data processing unit configured to send the first print data received from the terminal computer to the print processing unit for printing and to the information-providing server for analysis, and a second print data processing unit configured to send any second print data received from the information-providing server to the print processing unit for printing;
wherein the print processing unit is configured to print a receipt based on the first print data, and also on the second print data if generated.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Advertising or sales promotion information can be additionally printed on a sales receipt without changing the POS application of the POS system, which includes a terminal computer for generating first print (e.g., sales) data based on transaction information, a server for generating second print data comprising advertising or sales promotion information, and a printer in which an interface device for communication with the terminal computer and the server is installed. The interface device has a first print data processing unit and a second print data processing unit, the former of which passes the first print data received from the terminal computer to both the printer and server. The server generates the second print data based on the content of the first print data, and then sends the second print data to the interface device, which sends that data to the printer.
79 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A printing system having a print processing unit, comprising:
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a terminal computer comprising a first print data generating unit configured to generate first print data containing sales information related to a transaction;
an information-providing server that comprises a second print data generating unit configured to analyze the first print data and determine if any advertising or sales promotion information stored in the information-providing server is relevant to the sales information of the first print data, and to selectively generate second print data containing relevant advertising or sales promotion information based on the analyze and determine operations; and
an interface device in communication with the terminal computer and the information-providing server, the interface device being configured to receive the first print data from the terminal computer, the interface device comprising a first print data processing unit configured to send the first print data received from the terminal computer to the print processing unit for printing and to the information-providing server for analysis, and a second print data processing unit configured to send any second print data received from the information-providing server to the print processing unit for printing;
wherein the print processing unit is configured to print a receipt based on the first print data, and also on the second print data if generated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An interface device capable of being attached to a printer in a printing system, the interface device comprising:
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a first print data processing unit configured to send first print data received from a terminal computer to the printer for printing and to an information-providing server for analysis and consideration in determining whether to generate second print data; and
a second print data processing unit configured to send the second print data received from the information-providing server to the printer.
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18. A control method for a printing system that comprises a first host device for generating first print data, a second host device for performing an analysis on the first print data and for selectively generating second print data based on the analysis, and a printer having an interface device for receiving the first print data and second print data and for printing based on the first print data and second print data, the control method comprising:
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sending the first print data received by the interface device from the first host device to the printer and asserting a first print command, and also to the second host device;
analyzing the first print data received by the second host device from the interface device, detecting if any advertising or sales promotion information stored in the second host device is relevant to sales information contained in the first print data, and selectively generating the second print data based on the analyzing and detecting operations;
sending any generated second print data to the interface device; and
sending the second print data, if received by the interface device from the second host device, to the printer and asserting a second print command. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification