Customer terminal apparatus and information distribution server

• US 6,655,284 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2000
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Mizuno, Kimiyasu, Kasahara, Takeshi, Hoshii, Toshifumi, Takahashi, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): Nolan, Jr., Charles H.
• Application Number:
  US09/588,061
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 101/484, 400/76, 400/70, 400/61
• US Class Current: 101/484
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards

Abstract

Each image print apparatus is connected to a nearest base station by radio, and a plurality of base stations are connected to a public communication network. A server apparatus is connected to the public communication network. The server apparatus sends an image of advertisement information to a plurality of image print apparatuses via the public communication network and base stations, and each image print apparatus additionally prints the image of advertisement information received from the server apparatus on a photo image to be printed, which is designated by the customer.

Claims

1. A customer terminal apparatus which prints a photo image designated by a customer for pay while charging the customer a predetermined fee, comprising:

storage means for storing advertisement information provided in advance by an advertiser;

designation means for designating whether or not the advertisement information is additionally printed on the photo image;

changing means for changing the fee in accordance with the presence/absence of designation of the additional print;

discrimination means for discriminating the presence/absence of designation of the additional print of the advertisement information upon printing the photo image designated by the customer; and

print control means for additionally printing the advertisement information on the designated photo image if the additional print is designated, and printing only the designated photo image if no additional print is designated.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the customer designates a plurality of photo images, said print control means repetitively additionally prints the advertisement information on each of the photo images.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage means stores a plurality of pieces of advertisement information, and

when the customer designates a plurality of photo images, said print control means additionally prints different advertisement information on each of the photo images.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage means stores a plurality of pieces of advertisement information,

said apparatus further comprises selection means for arbitrarily selecting desired advertisement information from the plurality of pieces of advertisement information, and

said print control means additionally prints the advertisement information selected by the customer on the designated photo image.

5. A recording medium containing a computer readable program for enabling a customer terminal apparatus to print a photo image designated by a customer for pay while charging the customer a predetermined fee, said program comprising:

program code for storing advertisement information provided in advance by an advertiser;

program code for designating whether or not the advertisement information is additionally printed on the photo image;

program code for changing the fee in accordance with the presence/absence of designation of the additional print;

program code for discriminating the presence/absence of designation of the additional print of the advertisement information upon printing the photo image designated by the customer; and

program code for additionally printing the advertisement information on the designated photo image if the additional print is designated, and printing only the designated photo image if no additional print is designated.