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(11) | EP 0 988 998 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 158(3) EPC |
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| (54) | SYSTEM FOR MAKING ORNAMENTAL SEAL FOR SMALL ELECTRONIC DEVICE |
| (57) A system for making ornamental seals is provided so that the seals applicable to
housings of small-sized electronic machines or apparatuses of various shapes and sizes
are made with decorative designs selected at a location where raw seals are bought.
The system accepts any change in the housings, any addition of or alteration in the
decorative designs. Outline form data relating to the housings' shape and size as
well as ornamental image data are distributed to client computers through a network
or by mailing CD-ROMs. These data are input to a printer having a cutting faculty
and connected to the client so that the ornamental seals suited to the designated
housings and printed with the selected decorative designs are made. |
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a system for making varied ornamental seals for use to decorate the housings of portable information terminals such as portable telephones, PHSs, pocket bells, electronic pocketbooks or notebook-type personal computers, or to decorate the housings of small-sized electronic machines or apparatuses (viz., small-sized information devices) such as portable MD players.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Generally, the housings (viz., casings) of small-sized electronic devices are each of a solid color without any figures so as to find public acceptance irrespective of age. Recently, the small-sized electronic devices are now most spread among the younger generation. For example in the field of mobile communication terminals, a large number of high-school girls carry PHS (viz., personal handy-phone system) to communicate with each other. Those PHSs in such a situation are often regarded as goods for amusement or pleasure, and the housings of PHS are wanted to have various ornamental designs to show users' personality. To respond to this demand, housings for replacement with sophisticated configurations or various figures or patterns are sold and have a favorable reception.
[0003] However many specialized molds have to be prepared, if housings of differently sophisticated configurations had to be manufactured for instance by injection molding. Such an event would bring about extra expense in production of the housings. Variously figured or patterned color housings would also be expensive due to separate manufacture and individual selling of them.
[0004] Small-sized electronic information devices such as portable telephones, PHSs or PDAs (viz., personal digital assistants) are carried almost everyday by users. Thus, most of recent younger people want to have their device housings particularly designed to satisfy their feeling or in harmony with their habit.
[0005] Telephone seals having for instance a marking like the rain of wood as shown in Fig. 14 are sold for decoration of the marketed portable telephones, to meet such a demand. Those seals are stuck to the surfaces of housings of telephones to change appearance thereof in a simple manner.
[0006] Decorative patterns of such telephone seals can however not be infinite in sorts, though cheapness. Varieties of telephone housings are now on the market, so that no maker can provide all the ornamental seals matching the shape and size of the respective telephones. Therefore, users of portable telephones can neither necessarily select decorative patterns freely nor design them by themselves. There are many makers of portable telephones, and model change thereof has been and is made very frequently. Thus, several thousand types or almost ten thousand ones of ornamental seals will always have to be in hands for selling, in order to meet all the desired decorative patterns and all the types of telephones. Model changes made usually twice or so a year will necessitate further addition of those seals. This situation has been making it difficult to manufacture and sell such varied telephone seals in a business scale, and consequently ornamental seals have scarcely spread not only for portable telephones but also for other small-sized electronic apparatuses or machines.
[0007] An object of the present invention made in view of such a situation in the described field is therefore to provide a system for making ornamental seals such that any alteration in shape and/or size of the housings of portable telephones or the like small-sized electronic apparatuses can be caught up soon, Any decorative figures can be chosen from a wide selection at the site of purchasing the seals, any optional figurative designs suiting or pleasing the purchasers' taste or fancy can be involved by the purchasers, and, not only version-ups of the housings' shape and size but also any change in or addition of ornamental designs can readily be followed up.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A system for making ornamental seals decorating small-sized electronic machines or apparatuses such as portable telephones, notebook-type personal computers, electronic pocketbooks or pocket bells is proposed herein, and that system consists of a sewer and clients. The server will supply the clients, periodically or on demand therefrom, with "outline form data" representing the shape and size defining configuration of housings of the small-sized electronic information machines and/or with "figurative image data" representing ornamental patterns and decorative designs applicable thereto. Each client receiving the outline form data and/or the figurative image data from the server will feed these data to a printer/cutter so as to make seal-sheets that are composed each of cut lines and ornamental figures. These cut lines will be produced by the printer/cutter from the outline form data for the small-sized electronic information machine desired, with those ornamental figures being produced from the figurative image data selected for the desired machine to be decorated.
[0009] The system provided herein for making ornamental seals decorating small-sized electronic information machines may typically be a system employable for mobile telephones each comprising dialing buttons, a liquid crystal display, a microphone and a loudspeaker. In this case, the outline form data of the small-sized electronic information machines include each a data on the housing's contour, a data on arrangement and individual shapes of the dialing buttons, a data on location and shape of the display, a data on location and shape of the microphone, a data on location and shape of the loudspeaker, and a data on location and shape of regions where holes or apertures have to be formed corresponding to those which are formed in the housing.
[0010] A data storing medium provided herein for making ornamental seals that decorate housings of small-sized electronic machines does comprise a figurative image data file that stores series of data concerning ornamental patterns and decorative designs applicable to the housings, and also comprise an outline form data file that stores series of data concerning shape and size of the housings, wherein the data can be selected by users from the respective files at the users' will. The data storing medium further comprises a program file that enables such an operation that the selected one of the outline form data as well as the selected one of the figurative image data will be output from the respective data files to a printer/cutter so as to make seal-sheets that are composed each of cut lines and ornamental figures. These cut lines will correspond to the shape and size of the desired small-sized electronic machine, with those ornamental figures corresponding to the figurative image desired to the machine. All of the image data file, the outline form data file and the program file can be read by computers. This data storing medium of the present invention may be renewed and periodically transmitted or otherwise distributed to registered customers such as seal selling shops or the like, so that the program file and the data files are installed in a computer owned by each customer so as to render up-to-date periodically the then existing programs and data. An apparatus for making the ornamental seals for decorating the current types of small-sized electronic machines will be build up in this manner.
[0011] The data storing medium provided herein may typically be a data storing medium employable for mobile telephones involved as the small-sized electronic information machines and each comprising dialing buttons, a liquid crystal display, a microphone and a loudspeaker. In this case, the outline form data of the small-sized electronic information machines include each a data on the housing's contour, a data on arrangement and individual shapes of the dialing buttons, a data on location and shape of the display, a data on location and shape of the microphone, a data on location and shape of the loudspeaker, and a data on location and shape of regions where holes or apertures have to be formed corresponding to those which are formed in the housing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DREWAINGS
[0012]
Fig. 1 is a scheme of an instrumental arrangement prepared by a client that has subscribed for a network system that provided herein to make ornamental seals for decorating small-sized electronic machines;
Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a portable telephone to which the ornamental seals have been attached;
Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the ornamental seal for the portable telephone;
Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a series of the exemplary ornamental seal that have been made by the system of the invention;
Fig. 5 shows a pair of the front and rear pressure-sensitive seals as shown in Fig. 4 and from which necessary portions have been taken off;
Fig. 6 shows samples of the portable telephones to which the ornamental seals have been attached;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a sample of a printing apparatus used in the invention to make the ornamental seals;
Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating the network system in its entirety;
Fig. 9 is a flow chart showing a process in an embodiment performed to renew the data at a user's terminal equipment;
Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a process in the embodiment to output the data at the user's terminal equipment;
Fig. 11 is a flow chart of an exemplary routine performed in the system of the invention so as to select either ready-made images or original images;
Fig. 12 is a flow chart of a further exemplary routine performed in the system to add the original images to the ready-made images;
Fig. 13 is a scheme illustrating the client's computer arrangement in another embodiment;
Fig. 14 shows two samples of the prior art telephone seals;
Fig. 15 is a scheme of an electronic pocketbook to which an ornamental seal is being attached;
Fig. 16 is a scheme of a pocket bell to which another ornamental seal is being attached;
Fig. 17 is a scheme of a notebook-type personal computer to which still another ornamental seal is being attached; and
Fig.18 is a scheme of a portable telephone having a side to which a further ornamental seal is being attached.
BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention may be carried out to provide an apparatus for making ornamental seals for use to decorate small-sized electronic machines, the apparatus comprising a computer and a printer/cutter electrically connected thereto. The computer has an auxiliary memory or storage, and the printer/cutter electrically connected to the computer may be a type of printing device capable of cutting printed sheets. The printing device will receive figurative image data (hereinafter referred to simply as 'image data') from the computer so as to print figurative designs according to the image data on blank seal-sheets each with a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive. Outline form data (sometimes re-ferred to herein simply as 'form data') output from the computer will also be input to the printing device, so that cut lines according to the form data are carved in the printed seal-sheets. The auxiliary storage installed in the computer will be loaded with a number of the image data representing the various figurative designs, a number of the form data representing the various shapes and sizes of housings which the small-sized electronic machines or apparatuses comprise, and a program to be executed in and by the computer. The program includes the step of selecting any desired one from the figurative designs and any desired one from the configurations, and the succeeding step of feeding to the printing device the image data representing the selected design and the form data representing the selected configuration. Network transmission and/or the mailing of CD-ROMs or the like may be done to renew the out-of-date data in the auxiliary storage, so that purchasers of the blank seals can have same finished at any desired station where the described apparatuses are equipped. Each finished seal may be such that it is cut to be of a contour in accordance with the shape and size of the portable telephone or the like small-sized electronic machine which the purchaser has, wherein portions in such a trimmed semi-finished seal are punched off corresponding to the locations of buttons, a liquid-crystal display and so on present in his or her electronic machine. Since the purchasers are allowed to select themselves the figurative designs to be formed on their finished seals, it is no longer necessary to previously prepare and always manage an extremely large number of finished seals. Thus, the described system will contribute to cost reduction in making the seal-sheets.
[0014] In general, each image data is a bit map data consisting of vertical and horizontal rows of dots, or a condensed alternative of the bit map data. In order to assure at least one cut line or a cutout zone within a printed image, the number of dots constituting each horizontal row in the bit map data must be greater than the mathematical 'product' of a maximum horizontal width of the largest portion of each image corresponding to the form data and the resolution of each image. Also for the same purpose, the number of dots constituting each vertical row in the bit map data should be greater than the product of a maximum vertical width of the said largest portion and the said resolution of each image. The seals to be made may for instance be of a maximum horizontal width of 2 inches and a maximum vertical width 6 inches, with the image resolution being 400 dpi (viz., dots per inch). In this case, the number of dots in each horizontal row may desirably be 800 or more, and that in each vertical row be 2400 or more. The value of resolution used here may be that which has been written and stored in each image data. An example of such a data format with the image resolution written therein is the so-called 'J-peg' format.
[0015] Preferably, the computer employed herein may comprise such an input device that can set modifying factors of location of contour lines defining a desired figure when an output image is shown on a displaying faculty. The selected form data will thus be modified using the factors in the input device and modified form data is output to the printing device. This feature will protect important figure regions (e.g., those expressing characters' faces) from being deleted even if some areas in a ornamental seal were to be cut off and vacant corresponding to the buttons and/or liquid-crystal display. The input device may make use of a keyboard, 'mouse' or the like usually connected to personal computers. In this connection, the application program installed in the computer mentioned above has to be composed to observe the key-operation on the keyboard or the mouse-operation by processes on the computer in order to set the desired modifying or adjusting factors for making each ornamental seal.
[0016] It also is desirable for the apparatus for making the seals to have a displaying faculty to show an output image composed of the selected figure and the contour lines corresponding to the selected configuration and superimposed thereon. This feature will make it possible to visually preview the output image before the printing device actually produces the seal. The contour lines in the output image can be drawn based on the selected form data for the selected configurations. If high precision full-color prints are wanted, then the size of the image data will be too large (usually amounting to hundreds of kilobytes) to afford good responsiveness to the system. In detail, such large-sized image data read from the auxiliary memory or storage to give scaled-down images on the display will considerably impair responsiveness when selection of the decorative figures is done. Thus, low-resolution image data giving the same decorative figure as represented by the large-sized image data may preferably be stored in the auxiliary memory so as to improve responsiveness at the selection step. The preview display, in this case, will give output images produced with such low-resolution data. The bit map size of such a low-resolution image data may for example be 640 dots or less in horizontal rows and 480 dots or less in vertical rows, in order that the VGA standard as one of the most widely spread standards of picture frame can provide pictures apt for preview.
[0017] In a case wherein the ornamental seals are made from raw seal-sheets having decorative figures previously printed thereon, both the image data and the program routine for processing same are dispensed with. The printer/cutter may be replaced with a cutting device devoid of the printing faculty.
[0018] The present invention may also be embodied as an apparatus for making ornamental seals for use to decorate small-sized electronic machines, the apparatus comprising a computer having an auxiliary memory or storage and a printing device electrically connected to the computer. The printing device will receive a series of bit map data of a predetermined format so as to print figurative designs on blank seal-sheets each with a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive. Written in the auxiliary storage installed in the computer are: a number of image data representing the figurative designs, a number of form data corresponding to various shapes and sizes of housings which the small-sized electronic machines comprise, and a program to be executed in and by the computer. All of those data and the program are previously written in the auxiliary storage installed in the computer. The program including the step of selecting any desired one from the figurative designs and any desired one from the configurations, and the succeeding step of feeding to the printing device the image data representing the selected design and the form data representing the selected configuration. The program further includes the succeeding step of producing from the output images the bit map data adapted to the printing device, and the step of feeding the bit map data produced at the preceding step to the printing device. Network transmission and/or the mailing of CD-ROMs or the like may be done to renew the out-of-date data in the auxiliary storage, so that purchasers of the blank seals can have same printed and semi-finished at any desired station or shop where the described apparatuses are equipped. Each printed but semi-finished seal has a number of cut lines in accordance with the contour of front panel and the location of liquid -crystal,display and the buttons in portable telephone or the like small-sized electronic machine which the purchaser has. Portions surrounded with the cut lines in such a semi-finished seal will be severed off therefrom along said lines by the purchasers using the so-called cutter-knife or a pair of scissors. The seal thus finished will of course match the front face of the electronic machine. Since the purchasers are allowed to select themselves the figurative designs to be formed on their finished seals, it is no longer necessary to previously prepare and always manage an extremely large number of finished seals. Thus, the described system will contribute to cost reduction in making the seal-sheets. Also in this mode of the invention, the computer used for making the ornamental seals may preferably comprise a previewing display device or faculty.
[0019] Installation and renewal of various data in the auxiliary storage or memory devices may be done by directly transmitting thereto up-to-date data through a network for the computers owned by retailing shops (viz., users). Alternatively, appropriate recording media may be mailed or otherwise delivered to the users. Thus, the present invention can be embodied as a recording medium (i.e., data storing medium mentioned above) that stores therein a number of image data representing various figurative designs, a number of form data representing various shapes and sizes of housings which small-sized electronic machines comprise, and a program to be executed in and by computers. The program includes the step of selecting any desired one from the figurative designs and any desired one from the configurations, and the succeeding step of feeding to the printing device the image data representing the selected design and the form data representing the selected configuration. For convenience of program designing and data maintenance, those image data and form data may be recorded as discrete files having respective names distinguishable from each other.
[0020] The users may be supplied with high resolution image data for the printing purpose and low resolution ones for the displaying purpose so that these data constitute as a whole the image data as discussed above. The recording media in this case will have therein a number of high-resolution image data representing various figurative designs, a number of low-resolution image data also representing the same figurative designs, a number of form data representing various shapes and sizes, viz., configurations, of housings which small-sized electronic machines comprise, and a program to be read by and executed in and by computers. Accordingly, this program includes the step of selecting any desired one from the figurative designs and any desired one from the various configurations, and the step of producing output images that are based on the low-resolution image data corresponding to the selected figurative design and also based on the form data corresponding to the selected housing configuration. The output images will thus be previewed on a display device connected to the computer. The program further includes the succeeding step of outputting to a printing device connected to the computer the high-resolution image data corresponding to the selected figurative design, and the further step of outputting to the printing device the form data corresponding to the selected housing configuration. Preferably, those high-resolution image data and low-resolution image data as well as the form data may be recorded as discrete files having respective names distinguishable from each other. Data base files for making mutual reference between the names of the high-resolution and low-resolution image data in the case of the same decorative figure being concerned may also preferably be recorded in the media. A simpler program will suffice to make easy and rapid access using the data base file, and degree of freedom in naming the image data files will increase to render easier management of them.
[0021] Any appropriate format may be adopted for the data base file, and for example, the name of each high-resolution image data and that of low-resolution corresponding thereto can be arranged fore and aft and punctuated with a comma (,), thus correlating the former with the latter.
[0022] There may be an occasional case wherein it only is necessary for the recording media to merely renew the data that have been read in the users' computers. The recording media in this case will contain at least a number of high-resolution image data file representing various figurative designs, a number of low-resolution image data file also representing the same figurative designs, a data base file for correlating the former with the latter, and a number of form data representing various shapes and sizes of housings which small-sized electronic machines comprise.
[0023] The present invention is also suited to form, as a network communication system, a system for making ornamental seals for use to decorate small-sized electronic machines. Thus, the invention may also be embodied to provide a network system electrically linking a server having an auxiliary storage or memory to clients that are rendered capable of making bi-directional communication with the server. The auxiliary storage contain, written therein, a number of high-resolution image data representing various figurative designs as well as a number of form data representing the shapes and sizes, viz., configurations, of the housing of the small-sized electronic machines. On the server's side, a process will be carried out to transmit the image data and the form data to the clients on one hand. On the other hand, each client has a computer accompanied by a printing device that has a cutting or carving function. The printing device will print on a raw seal-sheet a decorative figure represented by the image data in response to the image data which the client outputs from the computer. The printing device will also carve cut lines in the printed seal-sheet in response to the form data which the client outputs from said computer. On the side of each client, a process is conducted to select any one from the decorative designs and select any one from the configurations, and to subsequently output to the printing device the relevant high-resolution image data corresponding to the selected design as well as the relevant form data corresponding to the selected configuration. Each of the processes executed at the end of the server and/or the clients may be a single integral process, or alternatively consist of two or more 'sub-processes' allotted to respective works.
[0024] Also in this network system, each high-resolution image data is a bit map data consisting of vertical and horizontal rows of dots, or a condensed alternative of the bit map data. The number of dots constituting each horizontal row in the bit map data must be greater than the mathematical 'product' of a maximum horizontal width of the largest portion of each image corresponding to the form data and the resolution of each image. The number of dots constituting each vertical row in the bit map data should also be greater than the product of a maximum vertical width of the said largest portion and the said resolution of each image. It is preferable for each client to have a displaying faculty to show an output image composed of the selected figure and the contour lines corresponding to the selected configuration and superimposed thereon. A number of low-resolution image data representing the same figurative designs may be written in the server's auxiliary memory so that the output images on the client's side will be produced using low-resolution image data. A blanket of such numerous low-resolution image data may be transmitted to the clients, periodically or on demand from the clients. Preferably, low-resolution image data stored in a client's auxiliary memory may be utilized in showing the output image on the client's displaying faculty. This way of supplying the clients with the necessary data will minimize the quantity of data transmitted from the server to the clients selecting the decorative figures. Those data will thus be delivered to the clients timely and smoothly, protecting transmission lines from congestion. Preferably, the high-resolution image data will be transmitted to the clients that request same after having selected the decorative figure and the configuration.
[0025] Also preferably, the clients may have such an input device that location of contour lines defining a desired figure on the computer's display can be modified or adjusted by desired factors when an output image is shown on the display. The selected form data will thus be changed using the factors in the input device, before said data is output to the printing device. This feature will protect important figure regions (e.g., those expressing characters' faces) from being deleted even ifsome areas in a ornamental seal were to be cut off and vacant corresponding to the buttons and/or liquid-crystal display. The input device may make use of any keyboard, 'mouse' or the like usually connected to personal computers. In this connection, the application program installed in the computer mentioned above has to be composed to observe the key-operation on the keyboard or the mouse-operation by setting the desired changing or adjusting factors for making each ornamental seal.
[0026] In a case wherein any client makes the ornamental seals from raw seal-sheets having decorative figures previously printed thereon, both the image data can be dispensed with together with the program routine for processing same. The printing device connected to the client may be replaced with a cutting device devoid of the printing faculty.
[0027] Further, the present invention provides a network server as a suitable file server connectable to the 'INTERNET' and adapted to transmit to clients data for making ornamental seals for small-sized electronic machines or apparatuses. The network server, that is provided herein and permits bi-directional communication between the server and clients connected to their printing devices for making ornamental seals, comprises:
an auxiliary storage or memory and a central processing unit;
the auxiliary memory having written therein a number of high-resolution image data representing various figurative designs, a number of low-resolution image data also representing the same figurative designs, a number of form data representing various shapes and sizes, viz., configurations, of housings which, small-sized electronic machines comprise, and a fee-charging data allotted to each client; and
the central processing unit capable of conducting processes for transmitting to the
clients the high-resolution data, the low-resolution data and the form data all selected
by the clients, on demand therefrom, and also capable of renewing the fee-charging
data at a time when the high-resolution data are transmitted to the clients,
wherein each high-resolution image data is a bit map data consisting of vertical and
horizontal rows of dots, or a condensed alternative of the bit map data, and the number
of the dots constituting each horizontal row in the bit map data is greater than the
mathematical product of a maximum horizontal width of the largest portion of each
image corresponding to the form data and the resolution of each image data, with the
number of the dots constituting each vertical row in the bit map being greater than
the product of a maximum vertical width of the said largest portion and the said resolution
of each image data,
and wherein each low-resolution image data is also a bit map data consisting of vertical
and horizontal rows of dots, or a condensed alternative of the bit map data, and the
number of the dots constituting each horizontal row in the bit map data is 640 or
less, with the number of the dots constituting each vertical row in the bit map being
480 or less.
[0028] In use of the server of the present invention, any house-held personal computer as one of the clients may be connected to INTERNET so as to download any necessary data, which include a form data corresponding to the housing of a small-sized electronic apparatus such as a portable telephone owned by the purchaser of raw seal-sheets. An image data representing the decorative figure selected by him or her will also be included in the downloaded data. His or her selection of the decorative figures will be done quickly with a good response, because he or she can download low-resolution image data of a reduced file size from the server for the purpose of previewing on a displaying device or screen the figure produced by said data. In other words, the low-resolution image data distributed by the server of this invention are mainly utilized as the data shown on the client's displaying faculty on selecting the figurative designs. In general, those display screens of the widely spread house-held personal computers are of a dimension of: 640 x 480 in the VGA standard, 800 x 600 in the SVGA standard or 1024 x 768 in the XGA standard (all denoted as 'dots in a horizontal row' multiplied by 'dots in a vertical row'). Therefore, the number of the dots in each horizontal row is preferably made 640 or less, with the number of the dots in each vertical row being made 480 or less, in order to render highly versatile the low-resolution image data providing preview images on the screens.
[0029] After the purchasers have selected decorative designs, they will down-load high-resolution image data corresponding thereto and producing output images from the server. Cut lines of a color such as black will then be superimposed on each output image, using a form data representing the configuration of the housing covering the purchaser's small-sized electronic apparatus. The output images thus finished will then be output to a color printer so as to print the seals with fine and brilliantly colored decoration with the cut lines. Thereafter, the purchasers will cut around portions of each ornamental seal and along the cut lines, using the cutter-knife or a pair of scissors, so that the thus trimmed seals are neatly stuck to the housings. Information about sales, such as fees and any expenses charged on the purchasers, will be registered surely without failure by renewing within the server the fee-charging data every time when the high-resolution data are transmitted to the clients. The up-to-date fee-charging data will be used to send debit notes to the seal purchasers, periodically (for instance monthly).
[0030] Some embodiments and examples of the present invention will now be described in detail referring to the accompanying drawings.
[0031] Fig. 1 shows the basic arrangement of exemplary devises of the network system (data transmitting system) of this invention in a terminal equipment on the side of a user (viz., client). This user is connected to a network system that is provided herein for making ornamental seals to be attached to small-sized electronic information machines or apparatuses such as portable telephones.
[0032] In Fig. 1, a seal printer 1 as one of the devices comprises a color printer of the ink-jet type consolidated with a cutting machine. As such a printer (or 'printer/cutter') 1, for example, a device named "COLOR SIGN MAKER" which the Roland D.G. Corp. has put on market may be employed. The reference numeral 2 denotes a personal computer as the client in the network system. The computer 2 will control the seal printer 1 and contact a server (detailed below) to receive therefrom, or deliver thereto, requisite data. As will be seen in Fig. 1 and in case using the network, the client 2 will obtain the requisite data from a server that is located at a data-distributing center not shown. The client 2 will also function to automatically transmit fee-charging data 4 according to the use of the data to this center. Although the data distribution system in the present invention may rely on the network system, any simplified system, not relying on the network system, can be used for example by which recording media such as CD-ROMs are mailed periodically to some seal-selling stores (viz., users). In such simplified independent computer systems, the users will respectively catch up with version-ups.
[0033] Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate an ornamental seal applicable to portable telephones. As seen there, the ornamental seal 5 has holes at areas corresponding to the liquid-crystal display and the dialing zone formed in each portable telephone. A pressure-sensitive adhesive layer present in the seal will be useful when manually sticking it to the housing of said telephone. The ornamental seal 5 may not only be attached to the front face but also to the rear face or a side of the housing, if so wanted. Each seal is composed of an exfoliation backing 6,the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 7 and a sheet body 8 on which the decorative figures are to be printed. This fundamental structure is employed herein in common with the prior art 'telephone seals' exemplified in Fig. 14.
[0034] Fig. 4 shows examples of the ornamental main parts of the seals made by the seal printer 1, and removed from the exfoliation backings so as to be ready for attachment to the telephone housings. Fig. 5 shows sloughs of the ornamental seals from which the main parts have been removed.
[0035] As shown in Fig. 7, the seal printer is adapted to color-print any desired pattern of desired figures on an ordinary adhesive sheet 8'. The cutting faculty incorporated in the printer is such that cut lines are carved simultaneously so that all the areas encircled with them may be taken off with fingers of the user, to reproduce the shape and size (viz., configuration) of telephone housing. Usually, this type of printers is connected to a serial terminal of the computer so that in response to the image data output from the computer and input to the printer any desired figures are printed on a blank paper or the like sheet. The image data input to the printer are generally given each in a bit map form representing the desired figure. Thus, each figure will be expressed as a matrix of dots. Each dot includes color-indicating codes or components, whereby brilliant color prints are produced. A fluorescent or phosphorescent ink will give color prints conspicuous at night.
[0036] With the finished seals shown in Fig, 4 having been removed away from the areas of adhesive-repelling exfoliation backing, those areas thus exposed will remain white as shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 6 gives some examples of the portable telephone to which the ornamental seals have been attached. As illustrated in Fig. 18, those ornamental seals may also stick to either side or both the sides of the telephone. The figurative designs are color-printed.
[0037] Ornamental seals for the other types of electronic information machines or apparatuses are fundamentally the same as that for the telephones, except for their size and the arrangement of cut lines. Figs. 15, 16 and 17 illustrate examples of an electronic pocketbook, a pocket bell and a notebook-type personal computer, respectively.
[0038] Fig. 8 shows a system composition of the network system proposed herein in an embodiment. The reference numeral 11 in Fig. 8 denotes a server, and other numeral 12 and 13 denote clients (viz., user terminals), with the further numeral 14 denoting a management center. This center handles data contents to supply the server with basic data and fundamental information.
[0039] At the management center 14, an image data file 16 and a form data file 17 are always managed respectively for the decorative figures and the configuration of objective electronic machines to be transmitted to the user terminals via the server 11. The image data file 20 and the outline data file (viz., form data file) 21, which have been stored in hard disc memories in the server 11, will thus be renewed at regular periodical intervals or on demand from the clients. As will be seen in Fig. 8, if the management center 14 is located far remote from the server 11, then renewal of data may be done through a certain network utilizing public telephone wires or private exclusive lines. The certain network may for example be the network "INTERNET". Further networks 30 and 31 connecting the server 11 to the user terminals 12 and 13 utilize the telephone lines, though private lines may be used if necessary. Further users, not denoted with any reference numeral, who have not entered any network service will receive by mail computer-readable CD-ROMs. The data which are written in CD-ROMs will be used by them to renew contents of their computers.
[0040] Fig. 9 is an exemplary flow chart showing a process conducted between the server 11 and the user terminals 12,13 to renew the data. In this example, the image file 20 in the memory of the server 11 will be compared with those 22,25 in the memories of user terminals 12,13. Likewise, the outline data file 21 in the former memory is also compared with those 23,26 in the latter memories. If, as a result of comparison, any newly registered data in the server 11 is not found in the user terminals 12,13 or any data of the newest data is not found there, then those data will be downloaded to the terminals from the server. Every time when the user terminals 12,13 use this system, fees will be charged on them corresponding to quantity or the like of the output information 24,27. These fees are accumulated in the server 11 to give each a fee-charging data 19, which will be summed up periodically or according to need to produce debit information to be sent to each user terminal 12,13. As seen in Fig. 8, it may be convenient that payment information is treated with at the terminals, with receipts information treated with at the management center. However, such an accounting system can be replaced with any existing known system.
[0041] Fig. 10 shows an overall composition of the system for outputting the various data at and from the one client (viz., user terminal). A client program (viz., an integrated software) will be executed at the client to control all the processes done there.
[0042] An image file 42 and an outline data file (viz., form data file) 43 correspond respectively to the files 22 and 23 included in Fig. 8. Those files 42 and 43 are automatically renewed by the server at regular periods (for instance, daily). Alternatively, the client may ask the server for download of up-to-date data to renew the client's files, when necessary.
[0043] Usually, periodical renewal of the image file 42 and the outline data file 43 is carried out through the network. If any network service is not utilized, then CD-ROMs for renewal of the clients' files may be mailed or otherwise delivered to them. As shown from reference number 46 in Fig. 10, it may also be possible that in addition to the ready-made images (decorative figures) registered at the server any original designs made by seal purchasers (viz., end users) are used. For this purpose, scanners, CCD cameras or any other image inputting devices may be connected to the client computers (viz., user terminals).
[0044] Each image file 42 stores therein a number of high-resolution image data that are produced by data contents producers to represent various decorative figures. Those many image data are preferably contained in respective image files for an easier search by means of their names, though a single image file holding therein such numerous image data can be employed herein. Generally, the image data are of a bit map format, not excluding usage of a condensed alternative thereof. Examples of such condensed image formats known in the art are named: 'J peg' format, GIF format, PCX format, TIFF format and 'Targa' format. In usual, these condensed data file will be exploded each into a normal bit map format when read into a main memory of a computer, according to a process operating therein. Thus, every desired figure can be printed by outputting the relevant exploded bit map image data from the main memory to a printer at the client. It is however noted that those high-resolution image data for the printing purpose are of a so large size that responsiveness will be lowered when they are used to preview the figures on a display. Therefore, low-resolution image data are preferably prepared to represent the same figures as those which those high-resolution ones do.
[0045] The outline data file 43 also supplied from the data contents maker do each contain a number of configuration data representing in shape and size the housings of various types of portable telephones and PHSs. Those many form data are preferably contained in respective outline data files for an easier search by means of their names, though a single file holding all such numerous form data can be employed herein. In usual, those form data are vector data such that contours of the entire housing, the respective buttons and liquid-crystal display are expressed each with vectors. Such vector data widely used in plotters or the like are advantageous in that even a small amount of data can represent well any highly sophisticated configuration. With such vector data being input to the printer 1, it will carve cut lines in each seal-sheet to realize a configuration defined with those vector data.
[0046] A hard disc device (viz., auxiliary memory) disposed at each client will store, in addition to the data described above, a program by which communication between the client and the server as well as control of the printer are carried out. The further steps of indicating the type of portable telephone and selecting any desired figure to make ornamental seals are also conducted under control by the program. The program is usually stored in the form of an executive file or executive control program so that if the client computer does it, then processes for conducting desired works are generated. Such a program will contain, for example, the step of voluntarily and freely choosing one figure and one configuration from respective 'wide selection', as well as the step of outputting to the printer the image data and form data respectively corresponding to the selected pictorial design and the selected housing configuration.
[0047] The data picked out from the image file 42 and outline data file 43 will visually be confirmed on a displaying device 45 such as a CRT or a liquid crystal panel, to preview an output image. A seal printer 47 will print a raw seal-sheet with the selected picture or pictures and sever from a large raw sheet each finished seal matching the housing of the designated type of small-sized electronic apparatus. By virtue of the cut lines already existing carved in each ornamental seal thus prepared, users can exfoliate it with care away from the non-adhesive backing and then stick it to the portable telephone or the like.
[0048] Figs. 11 and 12 show exemplary flow charts that are designed to conduct the processing described above. In Fig. 11, selection of the image files is done at first before designation of the apparatus's outline. In contrast, designation of the outline precedes the selection of image files in Fig. 12. Either option may be adopted of the user's own choice. The flow chart of Fig. 11 includes the step of preferring the ready-made pictures or original ones, while that shown in Fig. 12 including the step of adding the original pictures to the ready-made ones.
[0049] Fig. 13 illustrates an apparatus provided in a further embodiment to make ornamental seals. In this embodiment, raw seals are already printed with decorative figures or the like so that only the cut lines as discussed above need be carved in accordance with the outline data. Thus, this system is simpler in structure, less expensive and nevertheless adapted to mass production of ornamental seals that have been printed with popular figures and have cut lines carved to match any desired types of the electronic machines or apparatuses.
[0050] As will now be apparent, the system provided in the embodiments for making ornamental seals is advantageous: in that any alteration in shape and/or size of the housings of portable telephones or the like small-sized electronic apparatuses can be caught up soon, in that any decorative figures can be chosen from a wide selection at site of purchasing the seals, in that any optional figurative designs suiting or pleasing the purchasers' taste or fancy can be involved by the purchasers, and in that not only version-ups of the housings' shape and size but also any change in or addition of ornamental designs can readily be followed up.
[0051] Furthermore, it is a beneficial feature that the system provide herein can incorporate therein PCs available on the market and the existing INTERNET service. Thus no noticeable investment will be necessitated to establish the systems thanks to development made herein as to soft-wares and system engineering, realizing inexpensive systems. It is now possible to ornament the telephones or the like small-sized electronic apparatus or tools inexpensively, conveniently and immediately with novel figurative designs.
UTILITY IN THE INDUSTRIES
[0052] The present invention that was made to decorate the housings of. portable telephones, PHSs or the like portable electronic tools, machines or the like may be embodied: as an equipment for making ornamental seals for use with small-sized electronic apparatuses, as a recording medium for feeding data to the equipment, as a network system for making the ornamental seals, as a network server for transmitting data used to make the ornamental seals, or as a system for making ornamental seals for use with small-sized electronic information devices.
the auxiliary memory device being loaded with:
a number of the image data representing the various figurative designs;
a number of the form data representing various configurations including shapes and sizes of housings which the small-sized electronic machines comprise; and
a program to be executed in and by the computer,
the program including the step of selecting any desired one from the figurative designs and any desired one from the configurations, and the succeeding step of feeding to the printing device the image data representing the selected design and the form data representing the selected configuration.
the auxiliary memory device in the computer having written therein:
a number of image data representing the figurative designs;
a number of form data representing configurations including various shapes and sizes of housings which the small-sized electronic machines comprise; and
a program to be executed in and by the computer, all of those data and the program
being previously written in the auxiliary memory device,
wherein the program includes the step of selecting any desired one from the figurative
designs and any desired one from the configurations, and the succeeding step of feeding
to the printing device the image data representing the selected design and the form
data representing the selected configuration, the program further including the succeeding
step of producing from the output images the bit map data adapted to the printing
device, and the step of feeding the bit map data produced at the preceding step to
the printing device.
the auxiliary memory device in the computer having written therein:
a number of form data representing configurations including various shapes and sizes of housings which the small-sized electronic machines comprise; and
a program to be executed in and by the computer, both the data and the program being
previously written in the auxiliary memory device,
wherein the program includes the step of selecting any desired one from the configurations,
and the succeeding step of feeding to the cutting device the form data representing
the selected configuration.
a plurality of image data representing various figurative designs;
a plurality of form data representing various shapes and sizes of housings which small-sized electronic machines comprise; and
a program to be executed in and by computers,
wherein the program includes the step of selecting any desired one from the figurative
designs and any desired one from the configurations, and the succeeding step of feeding
to the printing device the image data representing the selected design and the form
data representing the selected configuration.
a number of high-resolution image data representing various figurative designs, a
number of low-resolution image data also representing the same figurative designs,
a number of form data representing configurations including shapes and sizes of housings
which small-sized electronic machines comprise, and a program to be read by and executed
in computers,
wherein the program includes the step of selecting any desired one from the figurative
designs and any desired one from the various configurations, and the step of producing
output images that are based on the low-resolution image data corresponding to the
selected figurative design and also based on the form data corresponding to the selected
housing configuration so that output images are previewed on a display device connected
to the computer, the program further including the succeeding step of outputting to
a printing device connected to the computer the high-resolution image data corresponding
to the selected figurative design, and the further step of outputting to the printing
device the form data corresponding to the selected housing configuration.
a number of high-resolution image data file representing various figurative designs, a number of low-resolution image data file also representing the same figurative designs, a data base file for correlating the former with the latter, and a number of form data representing various shapes and sizes of housings which small-sized electronic machines comprise.
the auxiliary memory device of the server having stored therein a number of high-resolution image data representing various figurative designs as well as a number of form data representing configurations including shapes and sizes of housings which the small-sized electronic machines comprise,
the server being capable of conducting a process to transmit the image data and the form data to the clients, and
each client having a printing device that has a carving function so that the printing
device prints on a raw seal-sheet a decorative figure represented by the image data
in response to the image data being output from the client, and also the printing
device carving cut lines in the sheet in response to the form data being output from
said client,
wherein a process is conducted at each client to select any one from the decorative
designs and select any one from the configurations, and to subsequently output to
the printing device the relevant high-resolution image data corresponding to the selected
design as well as the relevant form data corresponding to the selected configuration.
the auxiliary memory device of the server having stored therein a number of form data representing configurations of including shapes and sizes of housings which the small-sized electronic machines comprise,
the server being capable of conducting a process to transmit the form data to the clients, and
each client having a cutting device for carving cut lines in a raw seal-sheet in response
to the form data being output from said client,
wherein a process is conducted at each client to select any one from the configurations,
and to subsequently output to the printing device the relevant form data corresponding
to the selected configuration.
an auxiliary memory device and a central processing unit;
the auxiliary memory device having written therein a number of high-resolution image data representing various figurative designs, a number of low-resolution image data also representing the same figurative designs, a number of form data representing various configurations including shapes and sizes of housings which small-sized electronic machines comprise, and a fee-charging data allotted to each client;
the central processing unit capable of conducting processes for transmitting to the
clients the high-resolution data, the low-resolution data and the form data all selected
by the clients, on demand therefrom, and also capable of renewing the fee-charging
data at a time when the high-resolution data are transmitted to the clients,
wherein each high-resolution image data is a bit map data consisting of vertical and
horizontal rows of dots, or a condensed alternative of the bit map data, and the number
of the dots constituting each horizontal row in the bit map data is greater than the
mathematical product of a maximum horizontal width of the largest portion of each
image corresponding to the form data and the resolution of each image data, with the
number of the dots constituting each vertical row in the bit map being greater than
the product of a maximum vertical width of the said largest portion and the said resolution
of each image data,
and wherein each low-resolution image data is also a bit map data consisting of vertical
and horizontal rows of dots, or a condensed alternative of the bit map data, and the
number of the dots constituting each horizontal row in the bit map data is 640 or
less, with the number of the dots constituting each vertical row in the bit map being
480 or less.
a figurative image data file that stores series of data concerning decorative designs applicable to the housings, the data capable of being selected;
an outline form data file that stores series of data concerning shape and size of the housings, the data capable of being selected; and
a program file enabling such an operation that the selected one of the outline form
data as well as the selected one of the figurative image data will be output from
the respective data files to a printer/cutter so as to make seal-sheets that are composed
each of cut lines and the decorative designs,
wherein the cut lines correspond to the shape and size of the housing which the designated
small-sized electronic machine comprises, with the decorative designs corresponding
to the selected outline form data.