Patent ID: 7617279
Filing Date: 2009-11-10
Classification: G06F,H04N

Abstract:
1. An image-printing system, comprising: a connection-managing server which enters a closed user group (CUG) in which a limited number of users share an image on a network, issues an authorization code necessary for login to the entered CUG while managing login/logout of user terminal units respectively, the user terminal units, each of which has the same authorization code issued by the connection-managing server, are peer-to-peer-connected with each other during communication between the user terminals and managing the peer-to-peer connection between the user terminal units on the network; and an order-accepting server which is peer-to-peer-connected with the user terminal units respectively having the same authorization code via the network, gets image data relating to a print order from each of the user terminal units, sends the image data to a digital printer set in a print station, and makes the digital printer execute printing in accordance with the image data; wherein the user terminal unit used for the image-printing system includes: an image-getting device which gets image data from other peer-to-peer-connected user terminal unit; an image-displaying device which displays an image represented with the image data gotten by the image-getting device so that the image is viewed; an image memory which stores image data; order-inputting unit through which an order is inputted for selecting at least one image from images stored in the other peer-to-peer connected user terminal unit and images stored in the image memory and requesting a print of the selected image, wherein at the time of requesting the print order, a processing for confirming a permission of the print is performed between the peer-to-peer connected user terminal units based on the same authorization code; and an order-managing server which receives a print order from each of the user terminal units via the network, issues an order ID every order, manages the information on a plurality of print stations, and provides information necessary for the peer-to-peer connection with the order-accepting server of one of the plurality of print stations selected by the user as a print-receiving place for the user terminal unit of the user ordering the print, wherein the order-accepting server includes a printing-completion-communicating device which communicates the order ID relating to completion of the printing relating to the order to the order-managing server when the print relating to the order is completed.