JP2008210075A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that a questionnaire, advertisement or the like is printed on a user's print in an image forming apparatus capable of inexpensively providing copying or printing service to a user by receiving a request charge from a questionnaire requester and advertisement rates from an advertiser. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus, if time required for printing is a threshold and more, performs a questionnaire during the waiting time of printing, and after the end of user's printing, issues a cash back coupon to discount a charge. When time required for printing is less than the threshold, a coupon with advertisement is printed out after the end of user's printing. A result of a questionnaire is transmitted from the image forming apparatus to a prescribed transmission destination by an e-mail or a facsimile. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology that enables an image forming apparatus to print an advertisement or a coupon to a user, or to print a cashback coupon when the user answers a questionnaire.

  A method for reducing the amount of billing by printing advertisements, coupons, etc. on a part of the output paper, and determining the type and billing amount of the advertisements, coupons, etc. to be printed according to the results of the questionnaire conducted for the user (See Patent Document 1).

  However, in this method, unnecessary advertisements and coupons are printed on the customer's printed matter, and the printing is reduced to create an advertisement space, or in the case of a business user, it is presented to a third party for the advertisement. If the paper is deformed because it is blocked or the coupon is cut, the use range of the printed material is narrowed.

  Also, the user sends information about whether or not the advertisement can be attached to the store server via the Web server in advance, loads the store card on the color copier and reads it, and displays the authentication result on the color copier after user authentication. And give a copy instruction. Next, when the color copier transmits the copy instruction information to the store server, the advertisement information in the advertisement DB is transmitted from the store server to the color copier, and the color copier outputs a combination of the advertisement information and the print data. The user receives a copy. After that, there was a method of performing electronic payment for payment from the user account to the store account (see Patent Document 2).

  However, as in the method of Patent Document 1, unnecessary advertisements and coupons are printed on the customer's printed matter, so there is a problem that the use range of the printed matter is narrowed. There was a problem that enormous expenses were required on the side.

JP 2002-99808 A JP 2002-197372 A

  The problem to be solved is that there is no need to print advertisements or coupons on the customer's printed materials in image forming apparatuses that can obtain request fees or advertisement fees from questionnaire clients or advertisers and use copy services or printing services at low cost. The point was that they could not receive copying or printing services.

  In addition, even if a network device such as a server is not installed on the store side, it is not possible to use a service that can be copied or printed at low cost by obtaining a request fee or an advertisement fee from a survey client or an advertiser.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a recording unit that records data of one or both of a coupon and an advertisement, and a printing unit that prints a user's original, and the printing unit includes the user The main feature is that one or both of the coupon and / or advertisement is printed on a sheet different from the printed material of the user's document.

  Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is the image forming apparatus, wherein the recording unit records a questionnaire and executes the questionnaire to the user due to a printing act of the user's manuscript. A questionnaire execution unit, and the printing unit mainly prints one or both of the coupon and the advertisement on a sheet different from the printed material of the user's manuscript due to the execution of the questionnaire. Features.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a recording unit that records data of one or both of a coupon and an advertisement, and a printing unit that prints a user's original, and the printing unit includes the user The main feature is that one or both of the coupon and / or the advertisement is printed on a sheet different from the printed matter of the user's manuscript due to the printing action of the manuscript from the advertiser. In an image forming apparatus that can obtain an advertisement fee and can use copying or printing services at low cost, it has become possible to receive copying or printing services without printing advertisements or coupons on printed matter of customers.

  Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is the image forming apparatus, wherein the recording unit records a questionnaire and executes the questionnaire to the user due to a printing act of the user's manuscript. A questionnaire execution unit, and the printing unit mainly prints one or both of the coupon and the advertisement on a sheet different from the printed material of the user's manuscript due to the execution of the questionnaire. In an image forming apparatus that can obtain a request fee from a questionnaire client and use a copy or print service at a low cost, it is possible to perform a questionnaire to the user during the waiting time during printing of the image forming apparatus became.

  In an image forming apparatus that can obtain an advertisement fee from an advertiser and use an inexpensive copy or print service, the problem that an advertisement or a coupon is printed on a user's manuscript is described on a sheet different from the printed matter of the user. Solved by printing advertisements and coupons. In addition, in an image forming apparatus that can obtain a request fee from a questionnaire requester and use a copy or print service at a low cost, the survey was conducted while the user waited for the completion of copying or printing.

  Copiers are installed in stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores, and copy services using copiers are provided. In this copy service, a copier box is attached to the copier, and the copier user pays a usage fee when the copier user inserts a fee according to the number of copies into the coin box. It is.

  If this system is used as it is and a user's copy time takes more than a certain amount, a portion of the copy fee is cashed back by providing advertisements and conducting a questionnaire using that time. In addition, by issuing coupons to customers who have a small number of copies, it is possible to improve profitability and reuse rate. It is possible to select whether or not to issue a coupon, and print it on a separate sheet with an advertisement. Advertisements, questionnaires, and coupon information use an external storage device (USB memory, HDD (Hard Disk Drive), etc.) to reduce the cost for changing the system.

[Calculation of copy time and copy amount]
Since copying machines in recent years have a large capacity storage device (HDD or the like), when copying, most of the originals scan all the originals and then print all the pages continuously. For this reason, it is possible to calculate the time required for copying and the copy amount (size, number of sheets) when the user sets and scans the copy and presses the copy execution button.

  When conducting a questionnaire, if the survey time continues for a while after the copy ends, it will be a burden on the user, so an appropriate time (threshold) can be set, and if it exceeds that, you can select whether to conduct the questionnaire . Further, when conducting a questionnaire and cashing back a part of the copy fee, the discount can be easily applied when the copy amount is large, and the threshold value can be set by the provider.

[Advertisement, questionnaire, coupon information]
Advertisements, questionnaires, and coupon information are stored in an external storage device (USB memory, HDD, etc.) and can be changed. The questionnaire result is stored in an external storage device or sent to the questionnaire result user by facsimile transmission or e-mail.

  By making it possible to select the storage medium of the external storage device, a small-scale retail store or the like can be used, and it becomes easy to carry out an advertisement limited to a region.

[Cashback method]
When the user completes the questionnaire, a cashback coupon with an advertisement is printed. The user receives cash back by presenting it to the store manager. As a result, the copy fee and the advertisement fee can be easily separated, so that it is easy to manage and convenient for a small-scale retail store.

  Further, by using cash back, it is not necessary to change the fee collection system of the copying machine.

  The method described above can be applied not only to a copying service but also to a printing service and a facsimile service.

[Constitution]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes the following functional blocks, a recording unit 101, a questionnaire execution unit 103, a printing unit 105, a printing time prediction unit 107, a facsimile communication unit 109, an e-mail communication unit 111, and a telephone line I / F (interface). 113 and a network I / F (interface) 115. Other functional blocks such as a document reading unit provided in a normal image forming apparatus are omitted because they are not related to the essence of the present invention.

  The recording unit 101 (including the portable memory unit) records data such as questionnaires, advertisements, and coupons. The recording unit is composed of a memory device of the image forming apparatus main body and a removable USB memory or a magnetic disk device (HDD), and receives a questionnaire, an advertisement, or a coupon from a questionnaire requester or an advertiser in a portable memory such as a USB memory. By using a questionnaire, an advertisement, or a coupon that is inserted into the apparatus and recorded in the memory, the change or update can be easily performed.

  The questionnaire execution unit 103 displays and inputs the questionnaire recorded by the recording unit to the user by using the display panel unit provided in the image forming apparatus and its touch panel. As another method, a method may be used in which a questionnaire is printed on a sheet and the user inputs it and then the image forming apparatus reads the questionnaire or facsimile transmission to a predetermined transmission destination.

  The printing unit 105 performs normal printing and prints advertisements and coupons on another sheet after the user has finished copying and printing.

  The printing time predicting unit 107 predicts the time required for printing from the amount of the document placed on the document table and the printing method (color, black and white, sharpness level, etc.).

  The facsimile communication unit 109 performs normal facsimile transmission / reception and transmits a statistical result of the questionnaire to the questionnaire client.

  The e-mail communication unit 111 transmits and receives normal e-mails, and transmits the statistical results of the questionnaire to the questionnaire client.

  A telephone line I / F (interface) 113 is an interface unit that connects the facsimile communication unit 109 and the public network.

  The network I / F (interface) 115 is an interface unit that connects the electronic mail communication unit 111 and the Internet network line.

[flowchart]
The operation flow will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  S11: The user sets the copy by placing the document on the document table.

  S13: The user depresses the copy button.

  S15: The document feeder detects the amount of documents placed on the document table, and the printing time prediction unit 107 predicts the time required for copying.

  S17: It is determined whether or not the predicted time is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (a time during which a questionnaire is possible). If it is equal to or greater than the threshold, the operation proceeds to S19. If it is less than the threshold, the operation proceeds to S27.

  S19: The questionnaire execution unit 103 performs a questionnaire.

  S21: After the questionnaire is completed, an advertisement is displayed on the display panel.

  S23: A normal fee is collected regardless of the questionnaire.

  S25: Print cashback coupon with advertisement. This completes the operation of the image forming apparatus. The user takes this coupon to the register of the copy service store and receives discount cash.

  S27: If it is less than the time when the questionnaire is possible in S17, the user is asked to select whether or not to print a coupon with an advertisement. If the user has selected printing, the operation proceeds to S29. If the user has not selected printing, the operation proceeds to S31.

  S29: A coupon with an advertisement is printed after the user finishes printing.

  S31: A normal fee is collected.

  The operation is completed by the series of operations described above.

  In the above description of the flowchart, the steps relating to copying or printing of the user's document are not included, but the process is started by pressing the button of S13 and is parallel to the steps of S15, S17, S19, S21, and S27. And executed.

  The coupon printed in S29 may be a cashback coupon similar to S25, may be a discount coupon for advertisements printed at the same time as the coupon, or may be another discount coupon. .

[Effect of Example]
The following effects can be obtained by the image forming apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention.

  Users can use it easily and inexpensively without printing advertisements or coupons on customer prints.

  If the amount of output of the copy is large, the customer must wait for a long time on the image forming apparatus side, and will have time, but this time can be used effectively and in addition, copying can be used at low cost. became.

  The store side can provide the customer with the use of an inexpensive image forming apparatus without changing the current system.

1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus (first embodiment). FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the image forming apparatus (first embodiment).

Explanation of symbols

100 Image forming apparatus 101 Recording unit (portable memory unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 103 Questionnaire execution part 105 Printing part 107 Printing time estimation part 109 Facsimile communication part 111 E-mail communication part 113 Telephone line I / F (interface)
115 Network I / F (interface)

Claims (5)

A recording section that records data for one or both of coupons and advertisements,
A printing unit that prints a user's manuscript;
The printing unit prints one or both of the coupon and the advertisement on a sheet different from a printed matter of the user's manuscript due to the printing act of the user's manuscript. Forming equipment. The recording unit records a questionnaire,
Due to the printing action of the user's manuscript, the questionnaire has a questionnaire execution unit for conducting the questionnaire to the user;
The image forming apparatus, wherein the printing unit prints one or both of the coupon and the advertisement on a sheet different from a printed matter of the user's manuscript due to the execution of the questionnaire. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,
A printing time prediction unit for predicting the time required for printing the user's document;
If the printing time predicted by the printing time prediction unit is equal to or greater than a threshold, the questionnaire execution unit performs a questionnaire. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
An image forming apparatus comprising: a facsimile communication unit that transmits a result of a questionnaire conducted by the questionnaire execution unit to a predetermined destination, an e-mail communication unit, or both. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
The image forming apparatus, wherein the recording unit includes a removable portable memory unit.

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