Patent ID: 7386491

Claim:
A merchandise order receiving system, comprising: a plurality of communication terminals for a user to order merchandise and to select image data for customizing the merchandise through a first network, wherein the merchandise is customized by incorporating a hologram of the selected image data; an order controlling apparatus connected with said plurality of communication terminals through the first network for receiving an order of the merchandise from said plurality of communication terminals; an image storing apparatus connected with said order controlling apparatus through a second network different from the first network, said image storing apparatus storing character information and/or image information as image data; a charging and settlement apparatus connected with said plurality of communication terminals through the first network for performing charging and settlement of the ordered merchandise; an order receiving apparatus connected with said order controlling apparatus through the second network for receiving an order of shipping of the merchandise through the second network, the shipping being ordered to said order controlling apparatus by said plurality of communication terminals through the first network, according to the charging and settlement performed by said charging and settlement apparatus; a print out apparatus connected with said order controlling apparatus through the second network for printing the hologram of the selected image data supplied from said image storing apparatus through the second network as printed matter; a merchandise assembling apparatus connected with said order controlling apparatus through the second network, for incorporating the printed matter in the merchandise to assemble an assembled merchandise as final shipping goods, thereby customizing the merchandise with the hologram of the selected image data; and a shipping terminal connected with said order controlling apparatus through the second network, for performing shipping processing of the assembled merchandise assembled by said merchandise assembling apparatus, wherein: the merchandise order receiving system further comprising an image processing apparatus for processing the selected image data supplied from said image storing apparatus to generate a preview image of the merchandise incorporating the hologram of the selected image data for preview display to the user.