JPH09327959A - Printer money-allocating system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print in appropriate compensation corresponding to actual consumption of a printer by a method wherein a memory, a developing controller, a font, etc., occupying a large ratio in cost in components of the printer are provided outside the printer to control an initial investment at low. SOLUTION: When a data is received, a host computer 3 develops an image in a frame memory. At this time an amount of memory used by allocating actually, types and the number of used fonts, and time elapsed in processing are left in a log, and money is allocated based on the log. A data to the host computer 3 may be transmitted from a client computer once via a printer 4, or directly transmitted. Though the frame memory developed on the host computer 3 is transmitted to the printer 4, since the printer 4 itself has not the frame memory, the transmitted data is sent directly to a write part of the printer 4, and printed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a charging system in a printer device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional printer, for a printed matter which requires a large amount of memory that rarely outputs, a memory which is not usually used is mounted. -In addition, since fonts that are rarely used are printed in rare cases, expensive fonts were installed. -In addition, because of the so-called heavy data printing speed, which requires CPU power that may be printed in rare cases, in normal use, an over-spec CPU was mounted for engine performance.

[0003]

As described above, the conventional printer device is equipped with a memory and a font which are rarely used, and further, an over-spec CPU is used.
It is equipped with a memory, a development controller, which occupies a large cost ratio among the components of the printer.
Since the font is installed, the initial investment of the printer was high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an initial investment amount is obtained by providing a memory, a development controller, and a font, which occupy a large ratio in cost among printer components, outside the apparatus. It is intended to enable printing at an appropriate price according to the usage amount while keeping the value low and charging according to the actual usage amount of the printer.

[0005]

A signal input from a host interface is transferred to a host computer via a network, developed into an image to be printed on the host computer, and information in a frame memory on the host computer is printed. In a printer device that directly transfers data to a writing unit for printing, charging is performed for the CPU time, font information, and memory usage amount of the host computer used, and thus, the charging according to the actual usage amount of the printer. Is performed, and printing is performed at an appropriate price according to the usage amount.

[0006]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a main part showing a mode of use of a printer device according to the present invention. Client computers 1 and 2 for sending print data, a host computer 3 for expanding data, and an actual host computer 3. It is composed of a printer device 4 for printing. The connection form of the client computer may be a network connection or a normal host I / F connection such as Centronics. The host computer does not have to (or may not) be in the same network as long as the communication path is established.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the present invention. When the host computer 3 receives data, it develops an image in the frame memory according to the PDL. At this time, the amount of memory actually allocated and used, the type and number of fonts used, and the processing time are recorded in a log, and the charging is performed based on this log. The data transfer to the host computer 3 may be, for example, once via the printer 4 from the client computer 1 as shown in the figure, or directly from the client computer 2. The frame memory expanded on the host computer 3 is the printer device 4 on the network.
Transferred to Since the printer device 4 itself does not have a frame memory, the transferred data is directly sent to the writing unit of the printer 4 and printing is executed.

[0008]

Since the memory, the expansion controller, the font, and the like, which account for a large cost ratio among the constituent elements of the printer, are provided outside the printer device, the initial investment amount can be kept low, and It is possible to print at an appropriate price according to the usage amount of the printer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a usage pattern of a printer device to which a printer charging system according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2 ... Client computer, 3 ... Host computer, 4 ... Printer device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A signal input from a host interface is transferred to a host computer via a network, developed into an image to be printed on the host computer, and information in a frame memory on the host computer is written to a writing unit of a printer device. A printer billing system characterized by charging a use time, font information, and memory usage of a host computer used in a printer that directly transfers and prints.