Slip printing system

• US 7,528,975 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2004
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Tsuyoshi, Morita, Takashi, Ito, Eiichi, Kato, Takaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): EBRAHIMI DEHKORDY, SAEID
• Application Number:
  US10/810,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20040246522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,863 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.16, 358/1.11, 358/402, 709/203, 709/208, 709217-219, 709/223, 709/227, 709/229, 455/41.3, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/419, 455/420, 455/466, 455/556.2, 455/70, 379/100.02, 379/100.08, 379/142.6, 705/27, 705/40
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A slip printing system which can be employed in a service management system is configured to include a host computer, a mobile terminal device, and a mobile printer that is capable of receiving data from the mobile terminal device. The mobile terminal device includes a service information input module. The service information input through the service information input module is transmitted to the host computer. A print data generating module of the host computer generates print data to in accordance with the service information. The print data generated by the print data generating module is transmitted to the mobile terminal device. The mobile terminal device transmits the print data which has been transmitted from the host computer, and the mobile printer prints an image on a slip in accordance with the print data transmitted from the mobile terminal device.

Claims

1. A slip printing system which can be employed in a service management system, comprising:

a host computer that stores data related to a service managed by the service management system;

a mobile terminal device that is capable of performing data communication with the host computer; and

a mobile printer that is capable of receiving data from the mobile terminal device and printing an image in accordance with the data received from the mobile terminal device, wherein;

the mobile terminal device includes a service information input module through which service information regarding a service a customer intends to receive and a customer-chosen method of payment for the service rendered is input, the service information input through the service information input module being transmitted from the mobile terminal device to the host computer,

the host computer includes a print data generating module that generates print data to be printed by the printer in accordance with the service information transmitted from the mobile terminal device, the print data generated by the print data generating module being transmitted to the mobile terminal device,

the mobile terminal device transmits the print data which has been transmitted from the host computer, and wherein the mobile printer prints an image on a slip in accordance with the print data transmitted from the mobile terminal device, and

the mobile terminal device includes a display on which a preview image is displayed based on the print data transmitted from the host computer.

2. The slip printing system according to claim 1, wherein the service the customer wants to receive allows the customer to buy items, and

wherein the service information includes information indicating items the customer intends to buy and quantities thereof.

3. The slip printing system according to claim 2, wherein the mobile terminal device includes a display, available items being displayed on the display in order to allow the customer to select desired items from among the displayed ones.

4. The slip printing system according to claim 2, wherein the service information includes information regarding a payment method for the items the customer intends to buy.

5. The slip printing system according to claim 2, wherein the host computer stores stock status of available items and unit prices thereof.

6. The slip printing system according to claim 5, wherein at least part of the stock status of available items and unit prices thereof are stored in the mobile terminal device.

7. The slip printing system according to claim 6, wherein at least part of the stock status of available items and unit prices thereof stored in the mobile terminal device are updated in accordance with data transmitted from the host computer.

8. The slip printing system according to claim 1,

wherein the service information transmitted from the mobile terminal device to the host computer includes customer identification data, and

wherein the print data generating module inserts a customer'"'"'s name in the print data, the customer'"'"'s name being retrieved based on the customer identification data transmitted.

9. The slip printing system according to claim 8, wherein the host computer stores customer information, which is updated based on the service information transmitted from the mobile terminal device.

10. The slip printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print data generating module generates different print data depending on the method of payment.

11. The slip printing system according to claim 10, wherein when the payment method is to pay in cash, the print data generating module generates the print data for printing a billing receipt.

12. The slip printing system according to claim 10, wherein when the payment method is to pay later, the print data generating module generates the print data for printing a delivery slip and a delivery receipt;

wherein the service the customer wants to receive allows the customer to buy items; and

wherein the service information includes information indicating items the customer intends to buy and quantities thereof.

13. The slip printing system according to claim 1, wherein the host computer stores customer information, which is updated based on the service information transmitted from the mobile terminal device.

14. The slip printing system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal device includes a display, available service items which can be selected by a customer being displayed on the display in order to allow the customer to select desired service items from among the displayed ones.

15. The slip printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print data generating module generates the print data having a format that corresponds to the service item selected by the customer.

16. The slip printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print data represents a slip regarding a payment for the service item selected by the customer.

17. The slip printing system according to claim 1,

wherein the mobile terminal device is provided with a predetermined manually operable member, and

wherein the print data is transmitted from the mobile terminal device to the printer when the predetermined manually operable member is operated.

18. The slip printing system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal device is a cell phone, the print data being transmitted from the cell phone to the printer by a data communication which does not use a cell phone network system.

19. The slip printing system according to claim 18, the print data is transmitted from the cell phone to the printer by a wireless communication.

20. The slip printing system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal device is a cell phone, the data communication between the cell phone and the host computer being performed using a cell phone network system.

21. A method of printing a slip to be employed in a service management system which includes a host computer that stores data related to a service managed by the service management system, a mobile terminal device that is capable of performing data communication with the host computer, and a mobile printer that is capable of receiving data from the mobile terminal device and printing an image in accordance with the data received from the mobile terminal device, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying an input screen that allows a customer to input service information regarding a service the customer desires to receive and a customer-chosen method of payment for the service;

transmitting data input by the customer referring to the input screen to the host computer;

receiving print data that is generated by the host computer in accordance with the data that is input by the customer and transmitted in the step of transmitting;

displaying a preview image on a display based on the print data received in the step of receiving; and

transmitting the print data that was received in the step of receiving to the printer, the printer printing an image on a slip in accordance with the print data.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising a step of displaying available service items on a display of the mobile terminal device in order to allow the customer to select desired items from among the displayed ones.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the print data generated by the host computer has a format that corresponds to the service item selected by the customer.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the host computer generates different print data depending on the method of payment.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein when the payment method is to pay in cash, the host computer generates the print data for printing a billing receipt.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein when the payment method is to pay later, the host computer generates the print data for printing a delivery slip and a delivery receipt.

27. The method according to claim 21,

wherein the service the customer wants to receive allows the customer to buy items, and

wherein the service information includes information indicating items the customer intends to buy and quantities thereof.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the service information includes information regarding a payment method for the items the customer intends to buy.

29. A computer-readable medium storing a computer program product for a mobile terminal device included in a service management system which includes a host computer that stores data related to a service managed by the service management system, the mobile terminal device capable of performing data communication with the host computer, and a mobile printer that is capable of receiving data from the mobile terminal device and printing an image in accordance with the data received from the mobile terminal device, the computer program product contains instructions to cause the mobile terminal device to:

display an input screen that allows a customer to input service information regarding a service the customer desires to receive and a customer-chosen method of payment for the service;

transmit data input by the customer referring to the input screen to the host computer;

receive print data that is generated by the host computer in accordance with the data that is input by the customer and transmitted in the step of transmitting;

display a preview image on a display based on the print data received in the step of receiving; and

transmit the print data that was received in the step of receiving to the printer, the printer printing an image on a slip in accordance with the print data.