JP6569615B2 - Billing management system and billing management method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a billing management system and a billing management method when using a management system for maintaining an image forming apparatus.

  Manufacturers of copiers, multifunction peripherals (MFPs), printers, etc. (hereinafter collectively referred to as image forming devices) manage the image forming devices installed at the end customer site in a centralized manner. Various ideas have been made such as building and providing a system.

  For example, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, a customer's image forming apparatus is not managed at each service store, but is centrally managed by including a center, including the usage status of the image forming apparatus and its peripheral devices. Provide information to the service store to manage maintenance schedules. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the man-hours for managing customer equipment at the service store.

  Further, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 2, customer information and product information of a customer who has traded a product at a store are acquired by a server, and another customer having the same attribute as that of the traded customer is extracted and extracted. The product information of the traded product is provided from the server to the dealer in charge of the customer.

JP 2002-269460 A JP 2004-272387 A

  When a user such as a service person belonging to a sales company or a dealer uses a management system, a manufacturer that provides the management system generally charges.

  However, conventional charging methods have not been able to charge users properly.

  In view of the circumstances as described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a charging management system and a charging management method capable of appropriately charging a user.

  To achieve the above object, a billing management system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a billing management server connected to a network and one or more image forming apparatuses under the management of the billing management server. Includes a communication unit capable of network communication, a management database for managing the one or more image forming apparatuses in a group that can be referred to by a user, and a group that can be referred to by a specific user using the management database. The management unit to be picked up, the reference group number counting unit that counts the number of groups picked up by the management unit, and the charge to be charged to the user according to the number of groups counted by the reference group number counting unit A billing management unit. Therefore, the user can be charged appropriately.

  To achieve the above object, a billing management system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a billing management server connected to a network and one or more image forming apparatuses under the management of the billing management server. A communication unit capable of network communication, the one or more image forming apparatuses in a group that can be referred to by a user, and a management database for managing a hierarchy in which the group is located; and the management database A management unit that picks up a group that can be referred to by a specific user, obtains a hierarchy in which the picked-up group is located, a hierarchy number count unit that counts the number of hierarchies obtained by the management unit, and the hierarchy number count The fee charged to the specific user is calculated according to the number of tiers counted by the department. And a billing management unit. Therefore, the user can be charged appropriately.

  To achieve the above object, a billing management method according to an aspect of the present invention is a billing management system including a billing management server connected to a network and one or more image forming apparatuses under the management of the billing management server. A charging management method, wherein a management unit of the charging management server uses a management database for managing the one or more image forming apparatuses in a group that can be referred to by a user, and a group that can be referred to by a specific user The reference group number counting unit of the charging management server counts the number of groups picked up by the management unit, and the charging management unit of the charging management server is counted by the reference group number counting unit. Calculate the charge you charge users according to the number of groups.

  To achieve the above object, a billing management method according to an aspect of the present invention is a billing management system including a billing management server connected to a network and one or more image forming apparatuses under the management of the billing management server. A charge management method, wherein a management unit of the charge management server collectively manages the one or more image forming apparatuses into groups that can be referred to by a user, and further manages a hierarchy in which the groups are located Is used to pick up a group that can be referred to by a specific user, obtain a hierarchy in which the picked-up group is located, and a hierarchy number counting unit of the billing management server counts the number of hierarchies obtained by the management unit, The billing management unit of the billing management server is responsive to the number of hierarchies counted by the hierarchy number counting unit. To calculate the fee to be charged to the specific user.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the user can be charged appropriately.

1 is an overall view for explaining an overall image of an environment in which a charge management system 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention operates. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the concept of a group. It is a figure for demonstrating the charging method (the 1) using a group. It is a block diagram in case the accounting management server 10 is comprised by a general computer. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of processing in a charge management server 10; It is a figure for demonstrating the charging method (the 2) using a group. It is a block diagram in case the accounting management server 10B is comprised by a general computer. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the flow of a process in the charge management server 10B.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<First Embodiment>
First, the first embodiment will be described.
[overall structure]
First, an overall image of an environment in which the charge management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention operates will be described. FIG. 1 is an overall view for explaining an overall image of an environment in which the charge management system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention operates.

  The charge management system 100 includes a charge management server 10 in the management cloud 1 and an image forming apparatus 40 belonging to a group (described later) to be charged managed by the charge management server 10.

  The management cloud 1 includes a configuration server 30 that manages the configuration of the image forming apparatus 40 managed by the management cloud 1 and a maintenance server 20 that maintains the image forming apparatus 40 managed by the management cloud 1.

  Also, the cloud administrator accesses the management cloud 1 from the management terminal 50 that manages the management cloud 1 and manages the management cloud 1.

  The image forming apparatuses 40 installed in the end customers X, Y, and Z that use the image forming apparatus 40 are managed remotely from the management cloud 1 via the network.

  A serviceman (may include a salesman) of the sales company A and the sales agent B becomes a user of the management cloud 1 and performs the maintenance of the image forming apparatus 40 of each end customer via the service terminal 60. The management cloud 1 is accessed, and remote maintenance or the like of the image forming apparatus 40 installed at each end customer site is performed.

  The charge management server 10 charges the use fee of the management cloud 1 to the sales company and the sales agent according to the number of groups that the sales company and the sales agent can refer to their users.

  The overall image of the environment in which the charge management system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention operates has been described above.

[About Group]
Next, the concept of groups will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the concept of groups.

  The billing management server 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention uses the concept of a group in order to maintain the image forming apparatus 40 and manage billing to a sales company / sales agency.

  Groups are hierarchized in a tree structure.

  The group basically assumes one independent company organization. A user such as the service person described above can belong to a group.

  The image forming apparatus 40 to be managed belongs to the group.

  The hierarchy in the vertical direction in FIG. 2 may represent, for example, the inclusion relationship of sales areas such as sales companies.

  The group concept has been described above.

[Billing method using groups (part 1)]
Next, a charging method (part 1) using groups will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a charging method (part 1) using a group.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the user belongs to the group 1, and the authority to refer to the group 1-3 and the group 1-1-2 is given among the groups under the group 1.

  In the case of this example, the number of groups that can be referred to by the user is three, and this user is charged a fee of 3X, assuming that a charge of X is charged per group.

  The charging method (part 1) using the group has been described above.

[Billing management server configuration]
Next, the configuration of the charge management server 10 will be described. The accounting management server 10 may be configured by dedicated hardware or software, or may be configured by a general computer. FIG. 4 shows a configuration diagram when the charge management server 10 is configured by a general computer.

  As shown in the figure, the charge management server 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, an operation input unit 14, a communication unit 15, a display unit 16, And a storage unit 17, and these blocks are connected via a bus 18.

  The ROM 12 stores a plurality of programs and data such as firmware for executing various processes. The RAM 13 is used as a work area for the CPU 11 and temporarily holds an OS (Operating System), various applications being executed, and various data being processed.

  The storage unit 17 is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, or other nonvolatile memory. The storage unit 17 stores an OS, various applications, various data, and a management DB (Database) 17a.

  The management DB 17a manages the groups and the image forming apparatus 40, and stores information about groups that can be referred to for each user.

  The communication unit 15 is connected to a network for exchanging information with the maintenance server 20, the configuration server 30, the image forming apparatus 40, the management terminal 50, and the service terminal 60.

  The CPU 11 expands a program corresponding to a command given from the operation input unit 14 or via the network among a plurality of programs stored in the ROM 12 or the storage unit 17 in the RAM 13 and displays the program according to the expanded program. The unit 16 and the storage unit 17 are appropriately controlled.

  The operation input unit 14 is, for example, a pointing device such as a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, and other operation devices.

  The display unit 16 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, an EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, a plasma display, or the like.

  Next, functional blocks realized by executing a program in the CPU 11 will be described.

  The functional blocks realized in the CPU 11 of the charge management server 10 are a management unit 11a, a reference group count unit 11b, and a charge management unit 11c.

  The management unit 11a uses the management DB 17a to pick up a group that can be referred to by each user.

  The reference group number counting unit 11b counts the number of groups that can be referred to, which are picked up by the management unit 11a.

  The charge management unit 11c calculates a charge for charging the user according to the number of groups counted by the reference group number counting unit 11b.

  The configuration of the charge management server 10 has been described above.

[Process flow]
Next, the flow of processing in the charge management server 10 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing in the charge management server 10.

  First, the management unit 11a uses the management DB 17a to pick up a group that can be referred to by the user (step S1).

  Next, the reference group count unit 11b counts the number of groups picked up as groups that can be referred to by the user (step S2).

  Next, the charge management unit 11c charges the user according to the counted number of groups (step S3).

  The flow of processing in the charge management server 10 has been described above.

  The first embodiment has been described above.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment will be described. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that, instead of charging according to the number of groups that can be referred to by the user, charging is performed according to the number of layers in which the groups that can be referred to by the user are located. is there.

  In the following description, only differences from the first embodiment will be described.

[About billing method using group (2)]
Next, a charging method (part 2) using groups will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a charging method (part 2) using a group.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the user belongs to the group 1, and the authority to refer to the group 1-2 and the group 1-3 among the groups under the group 1 is given.

  The group tree structure includes a first hierarchy in which group 1 is located, a second hierarchy in which group 1-1, group 1-2, and group 1-3 are located, group 1-1-1, and group 1. -1-2 and the third hierarchy in which the group 1-3-1 is located.

  In this example, the groups that can be referred to by the user are located in the two layers of the first and second layers, and the user is charged a YY charge per layer. Is done.

  The charging method (part 2) using the group has been described above.

[Billing management server configuration]
Next, the configuration of the accounting management server 10B will be described. The accounting management server 10B may be configured by dedicated hardware or software, or may be configured by a general computer. FIG. 7 shows a configuration diagram when the charge management server 10B is configured by a general computer.

  The storage unit 17 is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, or other nonvolatile memory. The storage unit 17 stores an OS, various applications, various data, and a management DB (Database) 17a.

  The management DB 17a manages the group and the image forming apparatus 40, and stores information about a group that can be referred to for each user, information about a hierarchy in which the group is located, and the like.

  Next, functional blocks realized by executing a program in the CPU 11 will be described.

  The functional blocks realized in the CPU 11 of the charge management server 10 are a management unit 11a, a hierarchy number counting unit 11d, and a charge management unit 11c.

  Using the management DB 17a, the management unit 11a picks up a group that can be referred to by each user and obtains a hierarchy in which the picked-up group is located.

  The hierarchy number counting unit 11d counts the number of hierarchies obtained by the management unit 11a.

  The charge management unit 11c calculates a charge for charging the user according to the number of hierarchies counted by the hierarchy number counting unit 11b.

  The configuration of the charge management server 10B has been described above.

[Process flow]
Next, the flow of processing in the accounting management server 10B will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing in the accounting management server 10B.

  First, the management unit 11a uses the management DB 17a to pick up a group that can be referred to by the user, and obtains a hierarchy in which the picked-up group is located (step S10).

  Next, the hierarchy in which the group which a user can refer is located is counted (step S11).

  Next, the charge management unit 11c charges the user according to the counted number of hierarchies (step S12).

  Heretofore, the processing flow in the charge management server 10B has been described.

  The second embodiment has been described above.

[Additional notes]
In the above description, it is assumed that the user is a general user who has only the reference authority for the group to which the user belongs unless the user is particularly authorized. On the other hand, special users who are managers who have reference authority by default for all subordinate groups may charge a fee separately, and the number of groups that can be referred to or subordinate groups, as with general users. You may charge by the number of tiers where is located.

  As described above, the billing management system 100 according to the present invention includes the billing management server 10 and one or more image forming apparatuses 40 under the management of the billing management server 10 connected to the network. Includes a communication unit 15 capable of network communication, a management database 17a for managing the one or more image forming apparatuses 40 in a group that can be referred to by a user, and a reference of a specific user using the management database 17a. Depending on the number of groups counted by the management unit 11a that picks up possible groups, the reference group number counting unit 11b that counts the number of groups picked up by the management unit 11a, and the number of groups counted by the reference group number counting unit 11b Charge management unit 11c for calculating a charge for charging the user Equipped with a.

  Therefore, the user can be charged appropriately.

  In addition, this invention is not limited only to the above-mentioned embodiment, Of course, various changes can be added within the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Management cloud 10 ... Charge management server 10B ... Charge management server 11 ... CPU
11B ... CPU
11a ... Management unit 11b ... Reference group count unit 11c ... Billing management unit 11d ... Hierarchy count unit 12 ... ROM
13 ... RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Operation input part 15 ... Communication part 16 ... Display part 17 ... Memory | storage part 17a ... Management DB
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 18 ... Bus 20 ... Maintenance server 30 ... Configuration server 40 ... Image forming apparatus 50 ... Management terminal 60 ... Service terminal 100 ... Billing management system

Claims (4)

Billing management server included in the management cloud ,
It said charging being connection management server and via a network, comprises one and more of the image forming apparatus under the control of the billing management server,
The billing management server is
A communication unit capable of network communication;
A management database for managing the one or more image forming apparatuses in a group that can be referred to by a service person of a sales company or a sales agent that uses the management cloud ;
A management unit that picks up a group that can be referred to by a serviceman of the sales company or sales agent using the management database;
A reference group number counting unit that counts the number of groups picked up by the management unit;
The management cloud that multiplies the charge per group by the number of groups counted by the reference group number counting unit and charges the charge obtained by the multiplication to a service person of the sales company or sales agent A billing management system comprising a billing management unit for the usage fee . Billing management server included in the management cloud ,
It said charging being connection management server and via a network, comprises one and more of the image forming apparatus under the control of the billing management server,
The billing management server is
A communication unit capable of network communication;
A management database for managing the one or more image forming apparatuses in a group that can be referred to by a service person of a sales company or a sales agent that uses the management cloud, and managing a hierarchy in which the group is located; ,
A management unit that picks up a group that can be referred to by a serviceman of the sales company or sales agent using the management database, and obtains a hierarchy where the picked-up group is located
A tier number counting unit that counts the number of tiers obtained by the management unit;
The management cloud that multiplies the charge per tier by the number of tiers counted by the tier count counter and charges the charge obtained by the multiplication to the service person of the sales company or sales agent . A billing management system comprising a billing management unit for use charges . Billing management server included in the management cloud ,
The connected charging management server and via the network, a charging management method in the billing management system including one or more of the image forming apparatus under the control of the billing management server,
The management unit of the billing management server uses a management database for managing the one or more image forming apparatuses in a group that can be referred to by a service person of a sales company or a sales agent that uses the management cloud. Pick up a referenceable group of service personnel of the sales company or sales agent ,
The reference group count section of the billing management server counts the number of groups picked up by the management section,
The charge management unit of the charge management server multiplies the charge per group by the number of groups counted by the reference group number count part, and the charge obtained by the multiplication is used as the sales company or the sales agent. A billing management method that uses the management cloud for billing a company serviceman . Billing management server included in the management cloud ,
A billing management method in a billing management system including one or more image forming apparatuses connected to the billing management server via a network and being managed by the billing management server,
The management unit of the billing management server collectively manages the one or more image forming apparatuses in a group that can be referred to by a service person of a sales company or a sales agent that uses the management cloud , and the group is located. Pick up a group that can be referred to by the service person of the sales company or sales agent using the management database for managing the hierarchy, and find the hierarchy where the picked-up group is located,
The tier number counting unit of the billing management server counts the number of tiers obtained by the management unit,
The charge management unit of the charge management server multiplies the charge per tier by the number of tiers counted by the tier number count part, and the charge obtained by the multiplication is used as the sales company or sales agent company. A charge management method for using the management cloud to charge a service person .

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