JP2001077953A - Image forming system and information-providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide image services such s recording, duplication and print out of information contents obtained from a remote place with charge by compositing additional image information with image information for the output to output the image and calculating and charging the amount of money obtained, by subtracting the amount of money corresponding to the use of the additional image information from an image output service charge. SOLUTION: An image-generating part 104 fetches print data from a print data storing part 103 and generates a print image in a format that can be outputted by an image outputting part 107. Printing paper with announcement information which includes a 1st area where image information can be formed in an electrophotographic printing system and a 2nd area, where announcement information has already been formed on a printing surface, is filled in one or more paper feeding tray among paper feeding trays. A printing charge calculating part 105 calculates the charge necessary for an image output service. The change is calculated, on the basis of a printing charge for outputting an image on the printing paper and reduction applied due to the use of announcement information. The printing charge is calculated according to the number of copies of printed paper and printed contents which are made clear after the part 104 generates an image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to recording, copying, and printing of information such as original images, and recording, copying, and printing of information contents obtained from remote locations via transmission media such as the Internet. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image forming system and an information providing system capable of providing an inexpensive image output service to a user.

[0002] The present invention also relates to an image forming system and an information providing system capable of providing an image output service suitably utilizing additional image information such as an advertisement image, and in particular, with the use of advertisement information. The present invention relates to an image forming system and an information providing system capable of providing an inexpensive image output service by deducting a part of a fee.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of office automation (OA)
ation) equipment has been actively developed and manufactured,
It is widely used in offices of companies and research institutions. In particular, in a modern society where documentation is regarded as the most important, an image forming apparatus capable of reproducing an image with high resolution and high quality has penetrated deeply into an office. The term “image forming apparatus” includes a “copying machine” that reads an original image and reproduces it on a print sheet, as well as a PSTN.
(Public Switched Telephon
e Network) or ISDN (Integrate)
d Services Digital Network
k) to output image data received via a telephone line, such as “facsimile”, LAN (Local Area)
a), a “printer” for printing computer data received via a network such as the Internet, or a “multifunction machine” having two or more of these image output functions.

An image forming apparatus generally includes an image input unit that optically scans the surface of a document placed on a platen to read an image, and performs color coordinate conversion, digital filtering, T An image processing unit that performs a predetermined process such as / I separation and an image output unit that reproduces an input image on printing paper based on image data that has undergone image processing. The image output unit employs, for example, an electrophotographic process method. The electrophotographic process is realized by repeating charging, developing, and cleaning of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. That is, after uniformly charging the surface of the photoconductor with a charger, the surface of the photoconductor is exposed according to image data to form an electrostatic latent image, and the electrostatic latent image is converted into a toner image by a developing device. Transfer the toner image onto the printing paper. After that, the toner image is fixed on the printing paper by the heat melting / compression bonding operation, and is discharged out of the image forming apparatus. After the transfer, the photoreceptor surface is used for the next development process after the residual toner is removed by a cleaner. It is generally considered preferable to use a dedicated printing paper having a paper quality suitable for the electrophotographic process system in terms of toner fixing and the like as the printing paper.

[0005] The need for documentation is ever-increasing. On the other hand, image forming apparatuses with high print quality are expensive, and it is still difficult for individual consumers to purchase them at their own expense. For this reason, copiers and facsimile machines are installed in open spaces such as convenience stores,
There are cases where paid copy services and facsimile transmission services are provided. In the copying service, a fee is inserted in a coin kit in advance, and the number of copies output according to the inserted fee is permitted to the customer (or a prepaid card is inserted into a card reader and the balance of the prepaid card is paid). Copy output is permitted according to the number of copies). In the facsimile transmission service, after the facsimile transmission, it is general to settle the usage fee according to the amount of transmission data and the transmission time at a cash register in the store.

[0006] Such a charge service of a copying machine or a facsimile can provide a general consumer who uses the service the benefits of a high-function and high-quality device without a device purchase cost. In addition, for store managers who provide services, there is an advantage that customers can use the equipment without permission simply by installing such a device, accumulate usage fees naturally, and attract customers to the store. There is.

[0007] In the future, it is expected that paid copy services of higher quality and higher added value such as color copy will appear. In addition to the service of simply duplicating images on manuscript paper, digitized computer data (that is, document files) and information content received from a remote terminal device via a network (for example, the Internet), etc. A paid service of printing and printing on paper is also expected.

[0008] Information content has been distributed in the form of printed and bound "books" for a long history up to today, but in the last few years, WWW (World Wide) has been distributed.
Information providing services on the Internet, such as Web), have been greatly expanded. The distribution form of content distribution via a network makes it easy to distribute information content to remote content consumers.
In addition, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to prepare physical means in the real world such as distribution channels and sales channels of merchandise and display shelves in stores. In other words, the future development of information networks is increasingly expected.

If a document distributed as computer data or information content obtained via a network is printed out by a high-quality, high-value-added image generating apparatus, the consumer can effectively obtain a "book". In addition, the information provider can save trouble of distribution. However, a high-quality, high-value-added, and high-performance image output service, in other words, causes an increase in service unit price. For example, if information content obtained relatively cheaply on the Internet is printed out by a paid print service, it means that if the sum of the content usage fee and the print service fee exceeds the price of "books" There is no.

[0010] In addition, if the paid print service becomes expensive, the effectiveness of the information network itself, such as the distribution of information contents via the Internet, may be reduced.

[0011] On the other hand, even if a large number of information content providers scattered on a network, their "profit model"
Alternatively, the “business model” is not limited to the form of collecting content usage fees from users of information content.

[0012] For example, in the information communication industry, a provider of information contents displays a so-called "banner (banner) advertisement" on a homepage established on the Internet and collects an advertisement fee from an advertisement source. Already established. In addition, this type of revenue structure has diversified,
In addition to imposing a uniform banner advertisement fee, the advertisement fee is finely divided based on the barometer such as the number of accesses to the homepage and the number of accesses to the banner advertisement link (the banner advertisement itself is the anchor on the page screen). In some cases, it is calculated.

In the case of the latter profit form, the user of the information content simply visits the information provider's site,
Or, simply by referring to the banner advertisement, it is actually contributing to the profit of the information content provider. However, the user of the information content has not received the return of profit, that is, the compensation or reward for viewing the advertisement (that is, return of the advertisement fee). That is, W
In an information providing space such as the WW, there is not yet a system for reducing a fee by posting advertisement information such as a general publication.

[0014] Further, the banner advertisement is simply displayed as a "banner" on the homepage, and no secondary use accompanying the distribution of information content is considered at all. That is, it cannot be said that the information content provider distributes the advertisement information efficiently, and it is hard to say that the advertiser enjoys the effect of the advertisement sufficiently and completely.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to record, copy and print information such as a document image, and to record and copy information contents obtained from a remote place via a transmission medium such as the Internet. An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent image forming system and information providing system capable of providing image output services such as print output for a fee.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an excellent image forming system and information providing system capable of providing a user with an inexpensive image output service.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an excellent image forming system and an excellent information providing system capable of appropriately distributing additional information such as advertisement information accompanying information content distribution. is there.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an excellent image forming system and information providing system capable of providing a cheaper image output service by deducting a part of a fee accompanying the use of advertisement information. To provide.

[0019]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a first aspect of the present invention is an image forming system for providing image output for a fee, comprising: Image output means for synthesizing the additional image information and outputting the resulting image, and charging means for calculating and charging an amount (or a discounted fee) obtained by subtracting the usage equivalent amount of the additional image information from the image output service fee. An image forming system is characterized in that:

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for providing a copy service of original image information for a fee, comprising image output means for combining the original image information with additional image information and outputting an image. An image forming system comprising: charging means for calculating and charging an amount (or a discounted fee) obtained by subtracting a usage equivalent amount of additional image information from an image output service fee of original image information.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for providing an image output to a print medium for a fee, wherein a print medium without additional image information and a print medium with additional image information are selected. Printing medium supply means for supplying the printing medium;
An image output unit for outputting image information for output on a print medium supplied by the print medium supply unit; and a charging unit for charging a usage fee of the image forming system, wherein the charging unit includes an additional image An image forming system is characterized in that, when a print medium with information is used, an amount (or a discounted amount) obtained by subtracting the usage equivalent amount from the image output service fee is calculated and charged as a usage fee.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for providing a service for copying original image information to a print medium for a fee, comprising a print medium without additional image information and a print medium with additional image information. Print medium supply means for selectively supplying the image forming apparatus, image output means for outputting an image of the original image information on the print medium supplied by the print medium supply means, and charging means for charging a charge for using the image forming system. The charging means calculates a charge (or a discounted charge) obtained by subtracting the usage equivalent amount from the image output service charge when the print medium with additional image information is used, and charges the usage charge as a usage charge. An image forming system is characterized in that:

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for providing an image output to a print medium,
Print medium supply means for selectively supplying a print medium without additional image information and a print medium with additional image information, and an image for outputting image information for output on the print medium supplied by the print medium supply means And an output unit.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for providing a service for copying original image information to a print medium, comprising: a print medium without additional image information; and a print medium with additional image information. An image forming system comprising: a print medium supply unit for selectively supplying; and an image output unit for outputting original image information on a print medium supplied by the print medium supply unit.

According to the third to sixth aspects, the image forming system further comprises a user designating which of the print media to be supplied, without the additional image information or with the additional information, by the print medium supply means. May be provided.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for providing an image output of information content supplied from an information providing system connected via a transmission medium, comprising: Additional image information storing means for storing, receiving means for receiving information content via a transmission medium, and synthesizing the image information of the information content received by the receiving means and the additional image information extracted from the additional image information storing means; And an image output means for outputting an image.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for providing an image service of information content supplied from an information providing system connected via a transmission medium for a fee, comprising one or more additional images. Additional image information storage means for storing information; receiving means for receiving information content via a transmission medium; image information of the information content received by the receiving means; and additional image information extracted from the additional image information storage means. Image output means for synthesizing and outputting an image, and charging means for calculating and charging an amount (or a discounted fee) obtained by subtracting the usage equivalent amount of the additional image information from the image output service fee. Image forming system.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for outputting an information content supplied from an information providing system connected via a transmission medium to a print medium as an image. A print medium supply unit for selectively supplying a print medium and a print medium with additional image information; a reception unit for receiving information content via a transmission medium; and printing the image information of the information content received by the reception unit. And an image output unit that outputs an image on a print medium supplied by the medium supply unit.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for outputting an information content supplied from an information providing system connected via a transmission medium to a print medium as an image. A print medium supply unit for selectively supplying a print medium and a print medium with additional image information; a reception unit for receiving information content via a transmission medium; and printing the image information of the information content received by the reception unit. Image output means for outputting an image on a print medium supplied by a medium supply means, and charging means for charging a usage fee of the image forming system,
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that when the print medium with additional image information is used, the charge means calculates a charge (or a discounted charge) obtained by subtracting the use equivalent charge from the image output service charge and charges the charge as a use charge. System.

In the image forming systems according to the ninth and tenth aspects, the user further specifies whether the print medium supply means should supply the print medium without additional image information or with additional information. A user selection means may be provided.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for providing an image output of information contents supplied from an information providing system connected via a transmission medium, the information providing system providing the image forming system. Information content selecting means for selecting information content; receiving means for receiving the information content selected via the information content selecting means from the information providing system with additional image information; An image forming system comprising: an image output unit that combines image information and additional image information to output an image.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system which provides an image output of information contents supplied from an information providing system connected via a transmission medium for a fee, wherein the information providing system is provided. Information content selecting means for selecting information content to be provided; receiving means for receiving the information content selected via the information content selecting means from the information providing system with additional image information; and information received by the receiving means. Image output means for combining the image information of the content and the additional image information to output an image, and charging for calculating and charging an amount (or a discounted fee) obtained by subtracting the usage equivalent amount of the additional image information from the image output service fee. And an image forming system.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for providing an image output of information contents supplied from at least one information providing system connected via a transmission medium. Information information selecting means for selecting the information content provided by the user, additional image information searching means for searching for additional image information related to the information content from the same or another information providing system, and information information and additional image information. An image forming system comprising: a receiving unit that receives data via a transmission medium; and an image output unit that combines the image information of the information content received by the receiving unit and the additional image information to output an image. is there.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for providing a fee-based image output of information contents supplied from one or more information providing systems connected via a transmission medium. Information content selecting means for selecting information content provided by the providing system, additional image information searching means for searching for additional image information related to the information content from the same or another information providing system, information content and additional image Receiving means for receiving information via a transmission medium, image output means for synthesizing the image information of the information content received by the receiving means and additional image information and outputting an image, and use of the additional image information from an image output service fee Charging means for calculating and charging an amount (or a discounted fee) obtained by reducing the equivalent amount. An image forming system, characterized by.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for providing an image output of information content supplied from an information providing system connected via a transmission medium. Information content selecting means for selecting information content, and receiving means for receiving, from the information providing system, composite image information in which image information and additional image information relating to the information content selected via the information content selecting means are composited. ,
An image output unit that outputs an image of the combined image information received by the receiving unit.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for providing a fee-based image output of information content supplied from an information providing system connected via a transmission medium. Receiving from the information providing system information content selecting means for selecting information content to be provided, and combining image information obtained by combining image information and additional image information relating to the information content selected via the information content selecting means; Means, an image output means for outputting an image of the combined image information received by the receiving means, and a charge for calculating and charging an amount (or a discounted rate) obtained by subtracting a usage equivalent amount of additional image information from an image output service charge. And an image forming system.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for providing an image output service in response to a print request from an information processing system connected via a transmission medium. An image forming system comprising: a receiving unit that receives the image information; an additional image information obtaining unit that obtains additional image information; and an image output unit that combines the print information and the additional image information and outputs an image. It is.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for providing an image output service for a fee in response to a print request from an information processing system connected via a transmission medium. Receiving means for receiving via a medium, additional image information obtaining means for obtaining additional image information,
Image output means for combining the print information and the additional image information to output an image, and charging means for calculating and charging an amount (or a discounted fee) obtained by subtracting the usage equivalent amount of the additional image information from the image output service fee. And an image forming system.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for providing an image output service in response to a print request from an information processing system connected via a transmission medium. , An additional image information obtaining unit that obtains additional image information related to a print request source, and an image output unit that synthesizes print information and additional image information and outputs an image. This is a featured image forming system.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for providing an image output service for a fee in response to a print request from an information processing system connected via a transmission medium. Receiving means for receiving via a medium, additional image information obtaining means for obtaining additional image information related to a print request source, image output means for synthesizing print information and additional image information to output an image, and image output service And a billing means for calculating and billing an amount (or a discounted fee) obtained by subtracting the usage equivalent amount of the additional image information from the fee.

In the image forming systems according to the seventeenth to twentieth aspects, the additional image information acquiring means may acquire additional image information from an information providing system connected via a transmission medium. .

Further, there may be provided means for acquiring charge system information for calculating the usage equivalent amount of the additional image information via a transmission medium.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for providing an image output service for a fee, comprising: an image output means for outputting an image; Means for controlling the operation of the system, the control means outputting the requested image information on a print medium and outputting the additional image information on another print medium. An image forming system characterized by controlling to charge an image output service fee to which a reduction (or a discount) according to an image output amount of image information is applied.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for providing image output for a fee, comprising: additional image information storage means for storing one or more pieces of additional image information associated with user information; Means for inputting user information, and image output means for extracting additional image information associated with the user information and outputting a composite image of the image information and the additional image information requested by the user as an image. Image forming system.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for providing an image output service for a fee, comprising: additional image information storage means for storing one or more pieces of additional image information associated with user information; Means for inputting user information, image output means for extracting additional image information associated with the user information, and outputting a composite image of the image information and the additional image information requested by the user, and an image output means for utilizing the additional image information. A charging unit for charging a user for an image output service fee in a corresponding discounted fee system.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for providing an image output service for a fee, comprising: additional image information storage means for storing one or more pieces of additional image information associated with user information; The system includes: a unit for inputting user information; an image output unit for outputting image information requested by the user as an image; and an additional image information presenting unit for extracting additional image information associated with the user information and presenting it to the user. An image forming system characterized in that:

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system for providing image output for a fee, comprising: additional image information storage means for storing one or more pieces of additional image information associated with user information; Means for inputting user information, image output means for outputting image information requested by the user as an image, additional image information presenting means for extracting additional image information associated with the user information and presenting it to the user, and additional image information And a charging means for charging a user for an image output service fee in a discounted fee system suitable for use of the image forming system.

[0048] A twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention is an information providing system for providing information content via a transmission medium, comprising: an information content storage means for storing one or more information content to be provided; An additional image information storage unit for storing the additional image information, and in response to the information content request received via the transmission medium, extracting the corresponding information content from the information content storage unit, and storing the additional image information from the additional image information storage unit. An information providing system, comprising: a response unit that takes out and returns a request to a request source.

A twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention is an information providing system for providing information content via a transmission medium, comprising: an information content storage means for storing one or more information contents to be provided; An additional image information storage unit that stores one or more additional image information items associated with the information content, and fetches the corresponding information content from the information content storage unit in response to the information content request received via the transmission medium; And a reply unit for extracting additional image information from the additional image information storage unit related to the request and returning the same to the request source.

According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information providing system for providing information contents via a transmission medium, comprising: an information contents storage means for storing one or more information contents to be provided; An additional image information storage unit that stores one or more additional image information items associated with the information content, and fetches the corresponding information content from the information content storage unit in response to the information content request received via the transmission medium; An information providing system comprising: a return unit that extracts additional image information from an additional image information storage unit associated with a requesting user and returns the additional image information to the requesting source.

The information providing system according to each of the twenty-sixth to twenty-eighth aspects further includes a charge system storage unit for storing charge system information associated with use of the additional image information, and the reply unit includes the charge system. The system information may be transmitted together.

In the information providing system according to each of the twenty-sixth to twenty-eighth aspects, each of the additional image information stored in the additional image information storage means may have a maximum number of times of use. In this case, the maximum number of times of use is determined, for example, according to the fee paid by the supplier of the additional image information.

According to a twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing sheet applied to an image forming system of an electrophotographic printing system, wherein a first area in which image information can be formed by an electrophotographic printing system is provided. And a second area on which the additional image information is formed.

"Additional image information" referred to in each aspect of the present invention
Is an advertisement image that is allowed to be distributed to the public when the advertiser pays a predetermined advertisement fee.

[0055]

The image forming system according to the present invention can provide an image output service such as copying a document image for a fee.

Further, the image forming system can be used in a distributed computing environment where a number of host devices are connected to a network and innumerable. In such a case, the image forming system can provide a print output service for a fee in response to a print request from another host device.

The network is "Internet".
In such a wide area network, there are countless information providing systems on the network, such as a WWW (World Wide Web) server, for providing information contents for free or for free. In such a case, the image forming system can also provide a service for outputting an image of the information content distributed from the information providing system for a fee.

According to the image forming system and the information providing system of the present invention, when an image output service is provided for a front image of a document placed on a platen or an information content received via a transmission medium, an advertisement is provided. An image is output together with additional image information such as an image.

Therefore, the advertiser can distribute the advertisement information efficiently, can easily disseminate his / her business services, and can further promote commercial activities.

Further, when such an image output service is provided for a fee, the user is charged an amount obtained by subtracting the amount equivalent to the use of the advertisement information from the image output service fee or the content usage fee. In other words, since a kind of discount fee is applied, a part of the profit of the advertisement fee is returned to the user. With the return of profits to users, the use of image output services will be increasingly promoted.

In addition, the image output service and the information content provider can provide an inexpensive service, and can benefit from an increase in the number of service users and, consequently, a business expansion. In addition, an increase in the number of users of the service further increases the efficiency of diffusion of advertisement information, so that an increase in advertisement income can be expected.

The advertisement fee collected from the advertiser may be a flat rate system or a pay-as-you-go system according to the number of times the advertisement information is used.

In the latter case, for example, an information providing system or an image forming system can count the number of times each piece of advertising information is used, and can charge and collect an advertising fee to an advertiser at a later date.

Alternatively, it is also possible to set the advertisement fee in advance and set the maximum number of times the advertisement information can be used in accordance with the advance amount of the advertiser. That is, when the maximum number of uses is reached, the advertisement information is no longer supplied to the user of the image output service.

Still other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are:
It will become apparent from the following more detailed description based on the embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings.

[0066]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

The image forming system according to the present invention can provide an image output service such as copying a document image for a fee.

Such an image forming system includes, for example,
Like a convenience store or a college co-op,
It is installed and used in an open space where many people who want to record, copy and print information are gathered.

The present image forming system can perform an information recording service and a bill even if it is placed in a stand-alone environment in a store. Preferably, the PSTN (Pub)
like Switched Telephone Ne
work) or ISDN (Integrated Se)
services Digital Network), and is connected to an exchange-type telephone line, such as a LAN.
(Local Area Network) and the like, and can be used in a distributed computing environment where countless host devices are scattered. In such a case, the image forming system can provide a print output service for a fee in response to a print request from another host device.

The network is "Internet".
In such a wide area network, there are numerous information providing systems, such as WWW (World Wide Web) servers, which provide information contents for a fee or free of charge. The present image forming system can also provide a service for outputting an image of information content distributed from these information providing systems for a fee.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a state in which an image forming system 100 according to the present invention is installed in a network environment.

The image forming system 100 according to the present embodiment is an image forming apparatus for forming a visible image on a print sheet. More preferably, the image forming apparatus 100 scans a document image and duplicates a substantially identical image on the print sheet. It has multiple image forming functions, such as a copier function, a printer function for printing out computer data in response to a print request from an external host device, and a facsimile function for exchanging image information via a telephone line. It is preferable to use a “multifunction machine”.
Further, in view of providing a paid image output service, it is preferable that the image forming system 100 is equipped with a device for charging a user such as a coin kit or a dispenser.

The image forming system 100 is interconnected with a plurality of host devices 200, 300, 400,... Via a computer network such as a LAN or the Internet. Here, the “host device” is a general term for a computer system that operates as a server or a client on a network. Also,
The image forming system 100 itself can also operate as one of the host devices operating on the network. Therefore, the image forming system 100 can operate as a print server on a network (described later).

Each host device can create a document file in a predetermined format by using an application such as a word processor or a spreadsheet. Further, on the network, each host device can issue a document print request to the image forming system 100 as a print server. In this case, the host device that has issued the print request transmits a file (described later) in which the user information and the like are added to the document and encapsulated therein to the image forming system 100. The user information referred to here includes user IDs and passwords.
Any information can be used as long as it can uniquely identify an account (user qualification). Upon receiving the encapsulated file, the image forming system 100 temporarily spools (SPOOL: simultane) as a print job.
ous peripheral operation
online). The “capsule” refers to a uniting of a document (or content) body to be printed and information necessary for handling the document in the image forming system 100 such as user information and billing information (to be described in detail later). And FIG. 2).

When the network is the Internet, the image forming system 100 and each host device 20
0, 300, 400... Are, for example, TCP / IP (Tra
nsmission Control Protocol
1 / Internet Protocol). As is well known in the art, on the Internet, WWW (World W
ide Web) is being developed for various wide-area information content providing services. In the WWW information space, a URL (Uniform Resource)
Locators) are scattered innumerable information contents. Each server and client on the WWW information space is based on HTTP (Hyper Text T).
Each information content can be accessed in accordance with a transfer protocol.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the host device 200
It is a Web server that provides information content on the WWW information space, that is, a computer system that operates as a content server. Information providing system 200
Publishes information content for a fee or free of charge. If the content is paid, the information usage fee may be the same for all content, a metered system according to the content size, etc., or a separate fee system for each information content. There may be.

The information providing system 200 of this embodiment can provide advertisement information in addition to providing information content. Advertising information is provided by the advertiser. The information providing system 200 acts as a distribution agent for advertisement information to a third party, and receives an advertisement fee in return. That is, in the business activity of providing or distributing information content to general users, the operator of the information providing system 200 and the provider of information content not only make the content usage fee from mid-autumn to profit from the user,
Advertising fees collected from advertisers can also be used for revenue.

The other host device 300 is a Web server that provides information contents in the WWW information space, and is an information providing system specialized for an advertisement information diffusion service, that is, an advertisement server. The procedure of the advertisement information providing service by the information providing systems 200 and 300 will be described in detail later.

Further, another host apparatus 400 is a PC (Personal Computer) that operates as a Web client that requests access to information contents.
It is. This type of host device can be used in corporate or university laboratories,
Alternatively, it is installed in a general household or the like, and is used by general users. The host device 400 activates a WWW browser and develops an interactive information search operation on the Internet in response to a user input. One example of a WWW browser is "Netscape Navigator" of Netscape Corporation.

In this embodiment, the Web client 400
Can issue a print request for information content provided on the WWW information space to the image forming system 100. In this case, the Web server 200 that is the distribution source of the information content transfers the file in which the user information is added to the information content and encapsulated, to the image forming system 100. User information is information that can uniquely specify a user account (as described above). When the recording service system 100 receives the encapsulated file, it is once spooled as a print job.

Further, the image forming system 1 according to the present embodiment
00 also has an aspect as a Web client connected to the network. That is, the image forming system 100 activates the WWW browser and executes the Web server 20.
0 can be requested to provide information content. (Of course, the recording service system 100
It may function as a server and provide information content on the Internet. However, this point is not directly related to the gist of the present invention, and will not be further described in this specification. )

As described above, the image forming system 100
Is encapsulated by adding user information. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the data structure of the encapsulated file.

The document field of this data structure stores the document body to be recorded. The term “recording” used here means not only copying on a printing paper, that is, outputting an image, but also CD-R (Compact)
Disc-Recordable) and MO (Magn)
Eto-optical disc), DVD (Dig)
It means that digital information is recorded as it is on an ital Versatile Disc). The document body is a PDL (Page Description)
Language) and PDF (Portable Do)
document format or printable format ^{/ * /} or still images (GIF, JP
EG, BMP), video (MPEG), audio (AIFF,
WAV, ACC) or other mono-media data formats. Further, the document may be data encrypted by an encryption method that supports a decryption process in the image forming system 100.

In the document name field, the name of the document body is written. The document name is used, for example, when displaying a print job filtered according to user information. Instead of the document name, the date and time when the image forming system 100 receives the document may be used.

In the document provider information field, the provider of the document body is written. If the document body is the information content sent from the Web server 200, the server name, the content provider or the content creator is written in the field. For example, based on the document provider information, the usage fee collectively collected in the image forming system 100 can be distributed to each document provider again later.

In the fee information field, information (for example, a fee system) for calculating a fee required for providing a document body recording service is written. For example, the number of pages and color information of the document are required for the charge calculation (the page unit price at the time of print output may be different between black and white and multi-color pages). If an information content usage fee is imposed on the document itself, this usage fee is also required for the fee calculation. However, a discount may be applied to the usage fee of the information content by adding the advertisement information (described later).

In the user information field, information for identifying or filtering a job spooled in the image forming system 100 for each user and performing user authentication is written. As the user information, for example, a user ID, a password, and a telephone number (particularly in the case of facsimile reception) can be used.

However, in the data structure shown in FIG. 2, the definition of the data field with the title (Optional) in the file is arbitrary. These fields are used to identify users who use the file, authenticate users, calculate fees, distribute fees, etc.
If unnecessary, the field can be omitted to reduce the file communication load.

FIG. 3 schematically shows an external configuration of the image forming system 100 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 100 includes a display device 11,
Media box 12 and user information input device 13
, A control device 14, a billing device 15, and a multifunction device 16.

The control device 14 controls the image forming system 100
Is a device for controlling the pay image output service in the. The control device 14 according to the present embodiment temporarily stores a document or the like (usually encapsulated as shown in FIG. 2) for which recording is requested from each user (SPOOL: simultaneousoneperipheral).
It has a "heral operation online" function. The control device 14 can be configured as, for example, a general-purpose computer system called a “workstation” or a “personal computer”.

The display device 11 has a liquid crystal display (L).
CD) and CRT (Cathode Ray Tube)
It is a display or the like, and can be equipped as a peripheral device of a computer system as the control device 14. A GUI (Graphic) is displayed on the display screen of the display device 11.
cal User Interface) environment is provided. The display device 11 can be used, for example, for displaying a list of the results of filtering the jobs in the spool in accordance with the user information, and for displaying the recording service charge and input amount calculated by the charging device 15. Command input by the user, such as job selection, can be performed simply and intuitively by using a keyboard or mouse, or by using a transparent touch panel (described later) pasted on a display screen.

The media box 12 has a CD-ROM
And CD-R, MO (magnetooptical d)
isc), DVD (Digital Versatil)
It comprises one or more drive units that load a portable recording medium such as eDisc) and read and / or write data to the recording medium. The media box 12 is connected as a peripheral device of a computer system as the control device 14. Interface standards for connecting a plurality of media drives to a computer system include, for example, SCSI
(SmallComputer System Int
surface).

The user information input device 13 is a device for inputting user information. In this embodiment, the user information input device 13 is an IC card reader capable of accessing user information recorded on the IC card. As the user information, for example, a user ID, a password, and a telephone number can be used. However, the input of the user information does not necessarily have to be made via an IC card. For example, the user information may be input by a keyboard on the display screen of the display device 11. The input user information can be used, for example, to select appropriate advertisement information for the user (described later).

The billing device 15 is a device for calculating a fee as a price for the image output service, presenting and billing the fee to the user, and accepting the fee payment of the user. The billing device 15 can be used for payment by a prepaid card, credit,
Various forms of payment may be supported, such as withdrawal from a bank account with a card and instant payment from a bank account with a debit card.

The multifunction device 16 reads a document image on a platen and reproduces it on printing paper, or a PSTN.
Or a "facsimile" for outputting image data received via a telephone line such as ISDN, or a computer receiving data via a network such as a LAN or the Internet.
It is a "printer" for printing data, or an apparatus having two or more of these image output functions.

The multifunction device 16 includes an image reading unit that optically reads a front image of a document placed on a platen, an image processing unit that converts the read image and other input images into a printable format, It comprises an image output unit for duplicating the processed image on printing paper by electrophotography or the like, and a transport unit for sequentially transporting the printing paper inside the device. However, existing multifunction peripheral products can be applied, and the internal structure of the device 16 itself is not directly related to the gist of the present invention, and thus will not be further described in this specification.

The multifunction device 16 may include other devices such as a paper feed tray and a paper discharge tray for storing sheets before and after printing, and an automatic document feeder (ADF) for sequentially feeding document sheets for reading. Good. In general, the optimum printing paper quality differs depending on each image forming method such as an electrophotographic method, and a dedicated printing sheet is distributed in the market for each method.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the multifunction device 16 is equipped with two or more paper feed trays. At least one paper feed tray is filled with printing paper with advertisement information including a first area in which image information can be formed by an electrophotographic printing method and a second area in which advertisement information has already been formed on a printing surface. It is assumed that

FIG. 4 schematically shows the internal hardware configuration of the control device 14 for controlling the operation of the image forming system 100. As already mentioned, the control device 14
Designed based on general-purpose computer system architecture. That is, the control device 14
For a printed wiring board on which main circuit components called "motherboard" (not shown) are mounted, a peripheral device is connected to a connector (not shown) provided on the board by a cable or a peripheral device is provided on the board. It is configured by attaching various adapter cards (interface cards) to one or more bus slots (not shown). Hereinafter, each unit in the system 100 will be described.

The processor 51 is a main controller that comprehensively controls the operations of the control device 14 and the entire image forming system 100, and executes various application programs under an operating environment provided by an operating system (OS). Execute. The OS is, for example, “UN
IX ”and Microsoft's“ WindowsNT ”
Is fine. As an application, for example, a software program that executes the following processing operates.

(1) Spool information contents and print requests received from another host device via a network. (2) Processing such as user authentication is performed based on the user information input from the user information input device 13. (3) Perform calculations and controls for the pay image output service. For example, an image output service usage fee is calculated, presented to the user, and charged. (The fee for the image output service referred to here includes, in addition to the service fee for using the image forming system 100, a fee for using information content, a reduction or discount associated with the use of advertising information, and the like).

The main memory 52 is a writable volatile memory used for loading an execution program code of the processor 51 and writing work data of the execution program.
dynamic RAM) chip. Also, R
An OM (Read Only Memory) 53 is a read-only memory that permanently stores a self-diagnosis program (POST) executed when the control device 14 is powered on and a basic input / output system (BIOS) for hardware operation. The ROM 53 is, for example, an EEPROM (Electrica) capable of electrically erasing and rewriting.
lly Erasable and Programm
(table ROM).

The processor 51 is connected to each unit in the apparatus 14 via the bus 65 via I / O. The bus 65 is a common signal transmission path including an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like.
ipheral Component Interco
(nect) bus corresponds to this.

The display interface 54
An interface controller that controls the screen display of the display device 11 in accordance with a drawing command from the processor 51, and includes a frame memory (not shown) for temporarily storing drawing information. Note that, in order to suitably implement the present invention, the display interface 54
Is a VGA (Video Graphics Array)
y) or more drawing capability (for example, SVGA (Super
video Graphics Array) or XGA
(Extended Graphics Arra
y)) is preferred.

Hard Disk Drive (HDD) 5
Reference numeral 5 denotes an external storage device for storing programs, data, and the like in a file format of a predetermined format.
It has a relatively large capacity of about B to several tens GB. HDD55
Are connected to a bus 65 via a hard disk interface 56. An interface standard for connecting a hard disk drive to the computer system 14 is, for example, IDE (Integrated).
Drive Electronics). In the present embodiment, the hard disk drive 55 is provided with a spool (SPOOL: simultaneous peripheral).
This is used for temporary operation online, that is, temporary storage of print data for image output.

Keyboard / Mouse Controller (KM
C) 57 is a key input from the keyboard 72 or the mouse 7
3 is a dedicated controller for processing a user input such as a coordinate instruction input from a pointing device such as 3.

In this embodiment, a touch panel 71 is provided as a pointing device other than the mouse 73. The touch panel 71 is affixed on the display screen of the display device 11, and the user can use a GUI (Graphical User Interface) provided on the display screen.
ce) The user can intuitively input a command while following the display object (icon, button, etc.) on the screen with his / her eyes. The touch panel 71 is attached to the control device 14 via the serial input / output interface 63.

As described above, the image forming system 10
No. 0 is provided with an accounting device 15 for performing processing such as accounting and payment of a fee, and a multifunction device 16 as recording means.
The billing device 15 and the MFP 16 are connected to the computer system 14 via the RS422 interface 58.
Connected to. Note that "RS422" is a standard for electrical characteristics of a high-speed interface for data communication defined by EIA (American Electronic Industries Association).

The image forming system 100 includes a media box 12 (described above) in which a portable recording medium is loaded and one or more media drive units for recording and / or reproducing data are mounted. . In this embodiment, the media box 12 stores a CD-ROM (C
DR) drive 81, MO drive 82, DVD drive 83 and the like. SCSI interface 5
9 can connect a plurality of media drives 81, 82,... In a daisy chain system.

The network interface card (NIC) 60 is a device for connecting a host device to a network outside the device. In the example shown in FIG.
The IC 60 connects the control device 14 to one LAN segment. On this LAN segment, the controller 14 can operate as a print server.

One of the host devices on the LAN segment is a router, and is connected to the Internet via the router. A plurality of host devices are scattered on the LAN and the Internet. A part of the host device is a Web site that publishes information contents for a fee or free of charge.
The server 200. Each of the information contents on the Internet is a URL (Uniform Resource).
Locator), and HTTP (Hy
per Text Transfer Protocol
l) Accessible according to protocol.

The host device 200 operates as a Web server that provides information contents for a fee or free of charge, ie, an information providing system. Paid content may have a uniform information usage fee for all content, a pay-as-you-go system depending on the content size, etc., or a separate fee structure for each information content. .

[0113] The information providing system 200 of this embodiment also distributes advertisement information in conjunction with the provision of information contents. Advertisers pay advertising fees in return for spreading advertising information. That is, the operator of the information providing system 200 and the provider of the information content can use the advertisement fee paid by the advertiser in addition to the content usage fee collected from the general user as the profit.

The other host device 300 is also a Web server that provides information contents, but is an information providing system that specializes in the advertisement information diffusion service, that is, an advertisement server, and is different from the information providing system 200 described above. I do.

The modem 61 is a device for modulating and demodulating transmission data on an analog telephone line, and can be exchange-connected to the facsimile device 300 via the telephone line. The control device 14 spools the received facsimile data in the HDD 55 as a print job.

The extension device interface 62 is a device for connecting an IC card reader as a user information input device to the computer system 14. The user information acquired by the IC card reader is used for user authentication processing, selection of advertisement information, and the like.

FIG. 5 is a schematic functional block diagram of the image forming system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Each functional block in the figure is actually embodied by a cooperative operation of software executed by the processor 51 and other hardware components. Hereinafter, each unit will be described.

As shown in FIG.
0 is networked and located in a distributed computing environment. That is, it is connected to a network with another host device (not shown) that issues a print request, and can function as a print server. However, the form of the communication medium is not particularly limited, and may be wired or wireless.

The communication section 101 communicates with another host device (not shown) connected to the network. The entities of the communication unit 101 are the network interface card 60 and communication protocol software.

The print data receiving unit 102 receives print data sent from a host device via a network. The print data receiving unit 102 is, for example, a daemon process that monitors generation of a print request in the background of application execution.

The print data storage unit 103 is a print queue for sequentially storing received print data.

The image generation unit 104 is provided with the print data storage unit 1
03, print data is extracted from the image output unit 107.
In step (described later), a print image in a format that can be output is generated. However, if the print data is a printable format file such as PDL or PDF, there is no need to execute the image generation unit 104. The image generation processing includes, for example, image processing such as color coordinate conversion, digital filtering, and T / I separation.

The selection / setting unit 110 is a functional module for performing various settings / selections relating to printing. The selection / setting unit 110 of the present embodiment particularly selects “use / do not use” the advertisement function. The selection / setting unit 110 is a user / user for inputting a user selection of whether to use the advertisement function.
It has an advertising function selection unit 110B as an interface.

[0124] The entity of the advertisement function selection unit 110B is a function button on a control panel provided on the multifunction device 16. FIG. 6 illustrates a button configuration example of the control panel. A button B at the right end of the control panel is a "start" button for requesting the start of an image output operation such as copying. A button B1 at the left end of the panel is a selection button for designating whether or not the advertisement information is attached on the printing paper.

As described above, the MFP 16 of this embodiment is provided with two or more paper feed trays. At least one of the paper feed trays has a printing sheet with advertisement information including a first area in which image information can be formed by an electrophotographic printing method and a second area in which advertisement information has already been formed on a printing surface. Is filled. Further, printing paper with different advertisement information for each tray may be stored. The tray information management unit 111 manages which tray stores the image forming paper for advertisement. The tray setting unit 110B responds to the selection contents (described above) of the advertisement function selection unit 110A,
An appropriate paper feed tray is set with reference to the tray information management unit 111.

The advertisement fee system storage unit 112 stores advertisement fee system information (such as a discount rate and a discount amount) set for each tray that holds print sheets with advertisement information.

[0127] The printing fee system information storage unit 108 stores the fee system of the image output service provided in the image forming system 100. The fee system is configured by a page size required for printing for each paper size, monochrome / color information, and the like.

The printing fee calculation unit 105 calculates a fee required for the image output service. This fee is calculated based on a printing fee for outputting an image on printing paper and a reduction applied by using the advertisement information. The printing fee is
The calculation is performed in accordance with the number of prints and the print contents that are found after the image is generated by the image generation unit 104. The number of prints and the unit price of the print content are stored in the storage unit 108 as a print fee system. Further, the amount of reduction due to the use of the advertisement information is calculated based on the advertisement fee system (that is, information on reduction or discount rate) stored in the advertisement fee system storage unit 112.

The fee collection unit 109 is provided in the image forming system 1
A fee is collected from the user who uses the 00 service.
In reality, the collection operation is performed in the charging device 15, and payment is performed using a prepaid card, a credit card, a debit card, or the like in addition to cash such as coins and bills.

[0130] The collected fee confirmation unit 106 is
In 5, it is confirmed that the user has been settled or that the payment of the fee has been confirmed, and the output of the image is permitted. If the fee has not been paid or the payment fee is insufficient, the user may be prompted again to pay the fee (for example, a warning display or a warning sound is generated).

The image output unit 107 prints the image data passed from the image generation unit 104 on print paper supplied from a predetermined paper feed tray. The substance of the image output unit 107 is a print engine of the electrophotographic printing system in the multifunction device 16. In the present embodiment, the printing operation in the image output unit 107 is activated in response to a positive output from the collected fee confirmation unit 106.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an image output service by the image forming system 100 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, each step of this flowchart will be described.

Image forming system 100 waits until print data is received via the network (step S).
11). Upon receiving the print data, the print data is temporarily stored in the print data storage unit 103 (step S12).

Next, it is determined whether or not the advertisement function is selected in the advertisement function selection section 110A (step S13).

If the advertisement function has not been selected, the process goes to the branch No in decision block S13, proceeds to step S16 via step S21, and skips steps S14 and S15. If the advertisement function is not selected, the user of the image output service cannot enjoy the benefit of reducing (or discounting) the fee by using the advertisement information. That is,
In step S21, the reduced charge is set to zero.

On the other hand, if the advertising function has been selected, the flow advances to branch Yes in decision block S13. That is. In step S14, the paper feed tray storing the print paper with the advertisement information is selected as the paper feed source, and then the process proceeds to step S14.
At 15, the amount of reduction in the fee associated with the use of the advertisement information is calculated. The reduced amount can be calculated based on the advertising fee system stored in the advertising fee system storage unit 112.

In step S16, the print data is extracted from the print queue, that is, the print data storage unit 103, and the image generation unit 104 generates an image in a printable format. After the image is generated, information necessary for calculating the fee, such as the number of prints and the print content, is derived. If the print data is already in a printable format such as PDL or PDF, the image generation processing is omitted.

Next, in step S17, a printing fee is calculated. The printing fee is calculated from the number of prints and the print content according to the printing fee system stored in the printing fee system information storage unit 108.

Next, in step S18, a charge for using the image output service is collected from the user. The amount obtained by subtracting the reduced fee corresponding to the use of the advertising information from the printing fee (or applying a discount rate corresponding to the use of the advertising information) is the fee amount to be collected by the user. In short,
This is a mechanism in which a part of the fee for the image output service is returned to the user in return for using the advertisement information (that is, the return of the advertisement fee).

The image forming system 100 waits for the image output service until the fee collection is completed (or the payment of the fee by a credit card or the like is determined) (step S19). Then, in response to the completion of the fee collection, image output is executed (step S20).

FIG. 8 is a schematic functional block diagram of an image forming system 100 and an information providing system 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the image forming system 100 can provide an image output of the information content received from the information providing system via the network for a fee.

The information providing system 200 according to the present embodiment
To provide information content on the WWW information space
The host device operates as a server b, and can also distribute advertisement information when providing contents. The entity of the information providing system 200 is a computer system called “workstation” or “personal computer”.
The functional block configuration of the information providing system 200 as shown in FIG. 8 is embodied by cooperative operation between software such as a server application and each hardware component.

The information providing system 200 includes a communication unit 212
The communication with the image forming system 100 is thereby performed. The entity of the communication unit 212 is a network interface
A card 60 and communication protocol software.

The content storage unit 201 is a functional module for storing information content provided on the WWW information space. Each information content provided has a content usage fee for using the content.
In some cases, the content fee information is embedded in the information content itself, and in another case, a separate fee table is prepared.

The content selection unit 202 retrieves the content selected by the image forming system 100 from the content storage unit 201. On the display device 11 of the image forming system 100, the browser unit 13
0 (described later) is presented. The user can select a desired information content by referring to the content list display on the page screen.

[0146] The content transmitting section 203 transmits the selected content to the image forming system 100.

[0147] The advertisement information storage unit 204 stores one or more pieces of advertisement information spread on the network. The advertisement information is composed of display information such as text, images and moving images. An advertisement fee system (such as a discount rate or a discount amount) used for reducing the printing fee can also be stored in the advertisement information storage unit 204. Each advertisement information stored in the storage unit 204 is provided by an advertiser. The advertiser shall pay a flat or pay-as-you-go advertising fee in return for having the advertising information provided by the advertiser spread via the network.

[0148] The advertisement information selection unit 205 is a functional module that selects appropriate information from one or more pieces of advertisement information stored in the advertisement information storage unit 204. In the present embodiment, advertisement information that does not exceed the maximum number of uses is selected based on the relevance between the information content and the advertisement information, the relevance between the user information of the content user and the advertisement information, and the like.

The advertisement information use frequency management unit 206 stores a use frequency counter and a maximum use frequency for each advertisement information. The maximum number of times of use is determined, for example, according to the amount of the advertisement fee paid in advance by the advertiser. Advertising information use frequency management unit 20
6 increments the advertisement information selected by the advertisement information selection unit 205 one by one, and disables the advertisement information that has reached the maximum number of times of use. Alternatively, the maximum number of times of use may be set for each piece of advertisement information, and the countdown may be performed for each use, and the advertisement information whose counter value has disappeared may be disabled.

The related information management unit 207 is a functional module for managing the relationship between each information content and the advertisement information. The above-described advertisement information selection unit 205 can select advertisement information with reference to the related information.

The advertisement display data acquisition unit 208 acquires advertisement display data used for display from the advertisement information. Also,
The display information creation unit 209 combines image information in a format that can be displayed on the display device 11 of the image forming system 100, that is, “advertisement display data”. The combined advertisement display data is in, for example, an HTML document format that can be displayed by a standard Web browser.

The advertisement fee structure information acquiring unit 210 acquires the advertisement fee structure information for the advertisement information selected by the advertisement information selecting unit 205. The fee structure is, for example, embedded in the advertisement information content. Then, the advertising fee system information transmitting unit 211 transmits the advertising fee system information to the image forming system 100.

On the other hand, the image forming system 100 is connected to a network and provides a service for outputting information content received from another host device such as the information providing system 200 as an image. However, the form of the communication medium is not particularly limited, and may be wired or wireless. Each functional block in the image forming system 100 as shown in FIG. 8 is actually embodied by a cooperative operation of software executed by the processor 51 and other hardware components. Hereinafter, each functional block will be described.

The communication section 121 performs communication with another host device (for example, the information providing system 200) connected to the network. The entity of the communication unit 121 is the network interface card 60 and communication protocol software.

The browser unit 130 is an agent for taking out information contents from an information space such as WWW. To access information contents, for example, HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer) is used.
Protocol message is used. The entity of the browser unit 130 is a Web browser executed by the processor 51 (for example, a software product “Netscape.
Navigator "), and the display device 11
Appears as the upper browser screen (well-known).

[0156] The browser unit 130 selects a corresponding information content from the information space of the hyperlink structure in accordance with the URL (or the selection of the anchor in which the link is embedded in the page screen) entered in the location box on the browser screen. To explore. Further, it analyzes the received information content (for example, an HTML document), assembles a page screen, and presents it to the user.

The content receiving section 122 receives the information contents sent from the information providing system 200 to be output as an image, and receives the information contents.
Is stored sequentially.

[0158] The advertisement fee system information receiving unit 133 receives the advertisement fee system information (described later) provided from the information providing system 200 and stores it in the advertisement fee system information storage unit 134. The advertisement fee system information is information describing a fee system relating to a discount amount and a discount rate applied when a user, that is, a content user uses the advertisement information (same as above).

[0159] The advertisement fee calculating unit 123 follows the fee system stored in the advertisement fee system information storage unit 122, and the advertisement fee (that is, the fee to be reduced from the image output service fee).
Is a functional module for calculating.

[0160] The content image acquiring section 124 extracts the information content selected by the user from the information contents stored in the content storage section 123 and outputs the extracted information content to the image generating section 1.
25.

The image generator 125 generates a print image in a format that can be output by the image output unit 107 (described later) based on the input content image. However, if the print data is a printable format file such as PDL or PDF, there is no need to execute the image generation unit 125. The image generation processing includes, for example, image processing such as color coordinate conversion, digital filtering, and T / I separation.

The content charge obtaining unit 131 is a functional module for obtaining a usage charge for each information content stored in the content storage unit 123. The content usage fee may be embedded in the content itself, or a separate fee table may be prepared (described above).

The printing fee system information storage unit 132 stores the fee system of the image output service provided in the image forming system 100. The fee system is composed of paper size, page unit price for black and white and color information, and the like.

The printing fee calculation unit 126 is a functional module that calculates the total amount of fees required for the information content image output service. This fee includes the usage fee for information content, the printing fee for outputting images on printing paper,
It is calculated by the reduction applied by using the advertising information. Content usage fee is content fee acquisition unit 13
Input from 1. The printing fee is calculated by applying the fee system supplied from the printing fee system information storage unit 132 to elementary data such as the number of printed images, paper size, and print content (black and white / color, etc.). You.
The reduction due to the use of the advertisement information is calculated by the advertisement charge calculation unit 1
Supplied from 23.

The fee collection unit 129 is provided for the image forming system 1
A fee is collected from the user who uses the 00 service.
In reality, the collection operation is performed in the charging device 15, and payment is performed using a prepaid card, a credit card, a debit card, or the like in addition to cash such as coins and bills.

[0166] The collected fee confirmation unit 127 is provided with the fee collection unit 12.
At 9, it is confirmed that the user has been settled or that the payment of the fee has been confirmed, and the image output is permitted. If the fee has not been paid or the payment fee is insufficient, the user may be prompted again to pay the fee (for example, a warning display or a warning sound is generated).

The image output unit 128 prints the image data passed from the image generation unit 125 on a predetermined print sheet. The substance of the image output unit 128 is a print engine of the electrophotographic printing system in the multifunction device 16. In the present embodiment, the printing operation in the image output unit 128 is based on the collected fee confirmation unit 12
7 is activated in response to a positive output from 7.

In determining the gist of the present invention, "image output" is not necessarily limited to image output on printing paper. For example, an image output on the screen of the display device 11 may be used.

Here, a data structure handled in each functional module of the information providing system 200 according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 10 schematically shows the data structure of the advertisement information storage unit 204. In the present embodiment, an advertisement information set number is allocated to each advertiser, and the advertisement information is managed separately for each advertiser. In the example shown in the figure, N advertisers are registered. The advertisement information provided by each advertiser is assigned an advertisement information number, and stored in the corresponding advertisement information set.

FIG. 11 schematically shows the data structure of advertisement information stored in advertisement information storage section 204. As shown in the figure, the data structure includes an advertisement attribute information field, an advertisement fee structure field, and an advertisement display data field. In the advertisement attribute information field, attribute information such as the advertiser name and the business category of the advertiser is described. In the example shown in the figure, the advertiser of the advertisement information is “○ × Securities” and the business classification is “Securities”.

In the advertising fee system field, a discount method and a calculation method of a discount amount are described. In the example shown in the figure, a discount method is adopted, and the discount rate is set to 20%. The advertiser bears the discounted amount, for example.

In the advertisement display data field,
The data body with the data type of the advertising information body (or
Link information for referring to the data body) is stored. In the illustrated example, a moving image is specified as the data type. The advertisement information body can handle various media data such as texts, still images, and audio in addition to moving images.

Each advertisement information is provided with an advertisement information number and is stored in a corresponding advertisement information set (described above). In other words, the advertising information can be uniquely specified by the combination of the set number and the advertising information number.

FIG. 12 shows the advertisement information use frequency management unit 20.
6 schematically shows a data structure used to manage the number of times each piece of advertisement information is used. In the example shown in the figure, the number of times of use and the maximum number of times of use are managed for each set number, that is, for each advertiser. However, the gist of the present invention is not limited to such a management form, for example,
The number of times of use may be managed and restricted for each advertising information unit instead of for each advertiser.

As described above, each time the advertisement information is retrieved by the advertisement information selection unit 205, the number of times the corresponding set number is used is counted up by one. Also,
The advertisement information selection unit 205 cannot extract the advertisement information (that is, supply the advertisement information to the user) from the set in which the number of uses reaches the maximum number of uses. The maximum number of times of use is determined, for example, based on the advertisement fee paid by the advertiser.

FIG. 13 schematically shows a data structure used by the related information management unit 207 to manage the association between the information content and the advertisement information. As shown in the figure, the data structure is expressed in the form of a correspondence table between information contents and advertisement information. As described above, each piece of advertisement information is uniquely specified by the combination of the set number and the advertisement information number in the set. In addition, information contents are roughly classified and handled based on content accompanying information given to each content. In the illustrated example, the content accompanying information means a genre,
In addition, classification may be based on, for example, a provider or a content usage fee.

At the time of distributing the information content, the advertisement information selection unit 205 selectively extracts the advertisement information from the advertisement information storage unit 204. At this time, the related information management unit 20
With reference to the correspondence table 7 (FIG. 13), one of the advertisement information corresponding to the accompanying information of the information content is selected by a predetermined method. For example, content accompanying information "computer"
At the time of distribution of information content having
One of the advertisement information items is appropriately selected.

FIG. 14 schematically shows a data structure for the content storage section 201 to store each information content. In the present embodiment, in order to maintain consistency with the above-described advertisement information selection process, information contents are sorted into content accompanying information and stored.

Next, the processing procedure of the image output service in this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 9 is a chart illustrating a transaction developed between the image forming system 100 and the information providing system 200 in chronological order. Less than,
The processing sequence of the image output service will be described with reference to this chart.

(1) Process 1: First, the user requests the image forming system 100 to display the information providing system 200, which is the provider of the information content. This display request is made, for example, by inputting a URL specifying the location of the information resource. (However, an information providing system that can be displayed may be determined in advance. In addition, a user may be able to specify a device identifier of the information providing system 200.)

(2) Process 2: In the image forming system 100, the browser unit 130 requests the information providing system 200 to create display information.

(3) Process 3: Information providing system 200
Creates display information in response to the request. (For example, information of a list display screen of contents to be provided is generated.) The information providing system 200 is, for example, a CGI.
(Common Gateway Interface
An external program can be started from a WWW server using a mechanism as in e) to create display information.

(4) Process 4: The generated display information is returned to the image forming system 100.

(5) Process 5: In the image forming system 100, the browser unit 130 analyzes the received display information, assembles a page screen, and presents it to the user on the screen of the display device 11.

(6) Process 6: The user enters the browser section 13
After browsing through 0, the desired information content is selected. This content selection is performed on the touch panel 7
1 can be performed intuitively. The content selected by the user is notified to the information providing system 200.

(7) Process 7: In the information providing system 200, the advertisement information selecting unit 205 selects the advertisement information associated with the selected content from the advertisement information storage unit 204. The related information between the information content and the advertisement information is stored in the related information management unit 207 (described above).

(8) Process 8: Advertisement Information Use Frequency Management Unit 2
In step 06, the advertisement information use number counter for the advertisement information set selected in the above process 7 is incremented by one.
When the number of times of use reaches the maximum number of times of use, the advertisement information use number management unit 206 disables the advertisement information.

(9) Process 9: Advertisement display data acquisition unit 20
7 extracts the advertisement display data from the advertisement information (see FIG. 11) selected by the advertisement information selection unit 205 and transmits it to the display information creation unit 209. The display information creation unit 209 combines the received advertisement information with the current display information. (10) Process 10: The content transmitting unit 203 transmits the content selected by the user to the image forming system 100 that has made the request. Also, the display information creation unit 209
Transmits the display information created in the above process 9 to the image forming system 100 of the request source.

(11) Process 11: Image forming system 10
0 presents display information to the user using the display screen of the display device 11.

(12) Process 12: The image forming system 100 stores the information content transmitted from the information providing system 200 in the content storage section 123.

(13) Process 13: Next, the image generation unit 125 of the image forming system 100
23, the information content is extracted from the image output unit 12
In step 8, print data in a printable format is created.

(14) Process 14: Printing Charge Calculation Unit 126
Calculates the collection fee from the content usage fee, the printing fee, and the advertisement fee (reduction).

(15) Process 15: Further, the calculated collection fee is displayed on a screen on the display device 11 to perform a billing operation such as presenting the payment amount to the user.

(16) Process 16: In response to the charging operation, the user puts, for example, cash equivalent to a fee into the charging device 15.

(17) Process 17: Collection fee confirmation unit 127
Collects the input fee and confirms whether the payment has been settled.

(18) Process 18: In response to the completion of the collection of the fee, the image output unit 128 starts printing out the print data.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the information providing system 200 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, each step of this flowchart will be described.

The content selection section 202 selectively retrieves information content from the content storage section in response to a request from the user, that is, the image forming system 100 (step S31).

Further, the advertisement information selecting unit 205 refers to the related information management unit 207, and identifies the identification number (in this example, the combination of the set number and the advertisement information number) of the advertisement information related to the selected information content. Select (Step S3
2) The advertisement information is extracted from the corresponding advertisement information set in the advertisement information storage unit 204 (step S33).

At this time, the advertisement information use frequency management unit 206
Adds 1 to the number of times the selected advertisement information set is used (step S34).

[0203] The display information creation unit 209 combines the current display information with the advertisement display data of the selected advertisement information (step S35).

Next, the selected information content and the display information combined with the advertisement display data are transmitted to image forming system 100 (step S36).

When the content transmission processing is completed, the advertisement information use number management section 206 determines whether or not the advertisement information set used this time has reached the maximum use number (step S37).

When the maximum number of uses is reached, it means that the advertising fee paid by the advertiser has already been used up. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S38, and the advertisement information set is disabled.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the image forming system 100 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, each step of this flowchart will be described.

First, the display information transmitted by the information providing system 200 in step S36 is displayed on the screen of the display device 11 (step S41). This display information
For example, a list display of information contents that can be provided,
The user can select a desired information content via the touch panel 71 (step S42).

According to the user's selection of the content, the image forming system 100 requests the information providing system 200 to distribute the information content, and waits until the information content and the display information are received (step S43).

When the information content and the display information are received,
These are presented on the screen of the display device 11 as display information with advertisement (step S44). Further, the received information content is temporarily stored in the content storage unit 123 (step S45).

Next, the information content is extracted from the content storage unit 123, and data in a printable format is created by the image generation unit 125 (step S46).

[0212] The printing fee calculation unit 126 calculates the printing fee from the number of printed images and the print content in accordance with the printing fee system (step S47). The advertisement fee calculation unit 123 calculates an advertisement fee reduced by using the advertisement information (step S48). The reduced amount is borne by the advertiser, for example. Then, the printing fee calculation unit 126 calculates an amount obtained by subtracting the advertising fee from the sum of the printing fee and the usage fee for the information content, and sets the amount as a collection fee (step S49). In short, a part of the fee for the image output service is deducted in return for using the advertising information (that is, the return of the advertising fee).

[0213] In the fee collection unit 129, a charging operation for the user is executed, and the process stands by until the fee collection is completed (step S50).

[0214] In response to the fee collection, the image output unit 128 outputs the content image with advertisement (step S51).

FIG. 17 is a schematic functional block diagram of an image forming system 100 according to a third embodiment of the present invention, an information providing system 300 for mainly providing an advertisement information distribution service, and a host device 400 as a client. FIG.

In this embodiment, the image forming system 10
0 functions as a print server (or a network printer), and can provide an image output of print data for a fee in response to a print request received from the host device 400. Also, at the time of image output, by applying a discount to the printing fee by using the advertisement information acquired from the information providing system 300,
The image forming system 100 can provide an inexpensive image output service.

The host device 400 according to the present embodiment operates as a client that issues a print request to the image forming system 100 as a print server. The entity of the client 400 is a computer system called “workstation” or “personal computer”. The functional block configuration of the host device 400 illustrated in FIG. 17 is embodied by a cooperative operation between software such as a client application and each hardware component.

[0218] The print data transmission unit 401
This is a functional module that converts document data, image data, and the like created and edited on the print server 100 into print data and transmits the print data. The entity of the print data transmission unit 401 is, for example, various application software such as a word processor, a spreadsheet, and a drawing process.

The communication section 402 communicates with another host device (not shown) connected to the network. The entities of the communication unit 402 are the network interface card 60 and communication protocol software.

Information providing system 300 according to the present embodiment
Is a host device that distributes advertisement information at the request of an advertiser, that is, operates as an “ad server” that spreads advertisement information on a network. The entity of the information providing system 300 is a computer system called “workstation” or “personal computer”. The functional block configuration of the advertisement server 300 as shown in FIG. It is embodied by a cooperative operation with the wear component.

The information providing system 300 includes a communication unit 305
The communication with the image forming system 100 is thereby performed. The entity of the communication unit 305 is a network interface
A card 60 and communication protocol software.

The advertisement information storage unit 301 stores one or more pieces of advertisement information distributed on the network. The advertisement information is composed of display information such as text, images and moving images. The advertising fee system (discount rate, discount amount, etc.) used to reduce the printing fee is also stored in the advertising information storage unit 3.
01 can be stored.

The advertisement information storage unit 301 manages each advertisement information using the same data structure as that shown in FIG. That is, the advertisement information is sorted for each set number assigned to the advertiser, and the advertisement information can be uniquely specified by a combination of the set number and the advertisement information number. Further, each advertisement information has a data structure similar to that shown in FIG. 11, that is, is configured by an advertisement attribute, an advertisement fee system, and advertisement display data.

[0224] The advertisement information selection unit 302 is a functional module for selecting an arbitrary item from one or more pieces of advertisement information stored in the advertisement information storage unit 301. As a selection method, a method of selecting at random, selecting according to a time zone, selecting according to an installation location of the image forming system 100 as a request source, or the like is adopted. However, the advertisement information that has reached the preset maximum number of uses is not selected.

The advertisement information use count management unit 303 has a use count counter and a maximum use count for each advertisement information. The advertisement information use count management unit 303 manages the use count and the maximum use count for each advertisement information set using the same data structure as that shown in FIG.

The maximum number of times of use is determined, for example, according to the amount of the advertisement fee paid in advance by the advertiser. The advertisement information use number management unit 303 counts up the advertisement information selected by the advertisement information selection unit 302 one by one, and cannot prevent the advertisement information selection unit 302 from selecting the advertisement information that has reached the maximum use number. To

The advertisement information transmitting section 304 transmits the advertisement information selected by the advertisement information selecting section 302 to the image forming system 100. However, when transmitting images (including still images and moving images) as advertisement display data of the advertisement information, the amount of communication data becomes enormous,
The data may be converted into small-capacity data and transmitted by applying a predetermined compression encoding method.

The image forming system 100 according to the present embodiment
Functions as a print server (or a network printer), and provides a print data image output service in response to a print request received from the host device 400. Image forming system 100 shown in FIG.
Each of the functional blocks is actually realized by a cooperative operation of software executed by the processor 51 and other hardware components. Hereinafter, each functional block will be described.

The communication unit 141 performs communication with another host device (for example, the information providing system 300 or the client 400) connected to the network. The entity of the communication unit 141 is the network interface card 60 and communication protocol software.

The print data receiving section 142 receives the print data sent from the client 400 and sequentially accumulates the print data in the print data storage section 143 as a print queue. The print data receiving unit 142 is, for example, a daemon process that monitors generation of a print request in the background of application execution.

[0231] The advertisement information receiving unit 150 receives the advertisement information provided from the information providing system 300 and stores it in the advertisement information storage unit 151.

As already described with reference to FIG. 11, each piece of advertisement information is related to advertisement display data composed of mono-media data such as an advertisement image, and a discount amount and a discount rate associated with using the advertisement information. It contains advertising fee structure information describing the fee structure. Advertising images have a large data size, and transmitting them directly will increase the communication load.
It may be transmitted in a compression-encoded format.

The advertisement image acquiring section 152 extracts an advertisement image to be used at the time of print output from the advertisement information stored in the advertisement information storage section 151, and transfers the advertisement image to the image generation / composition section 144. I have. However, when the compression-encoded advertisement image is transmitted from the information providing system 300 (described above), it is necessary to apply the corresponding decompression decoding processing to reproduce the original advertisement image.

The image generation / synthesis unit 144 receives the print data extracted from the print data storage unit 143 and the advertisement image passed from the advertisement image acquisition unit 152, and synthesizes an image with an advertisement. However, whether to combine the advertisement image with the print data may be determined according to a user selection via a control panel (see FIG. 6) or the like. Further, the image generation / synthesis unit 144 generates print data in a format that can be output by the image output unit 147. The image generation processing includes, for example, image processing such as color coordinate conversion, digital filtering, and T / I separation.

[0235] The advertisement fee structure information acquiring unit 153 extracts the advertisement fee structure relating to the advertisement information used at the time of printing out of the advertisement information stored in the advertisement information storage unit 151, and sends the advertisement fee calculation unit 154 to the advertisement fee calculation unit 154. hand over. Then, the advertisement fee calculation unit 154 calculates an advertisement fee applied to the current print output (that is, a fee returned to the user by using the advertisement information) according to the input advertisement fee system information.

[0236] The printing fee system information storage unit 149 stores the fee system of the image output service provided in the image forming system 100. The fee system is configured by a unit price of a page required for printing for each paper size, black and white, and color information.

[0237] The printing fee calculation unit 146 is a functional module that calculates the total amount of fees required for the image output service of print data. This fee is calculated based on a printing fee for outputting print data on a print sheet as an image and a reduction applied by using the advertisement image. The printing fee is calculated by applying the fee system supplied from the printing fee system information storage unit 149 to elementary data such as the number of printed images, paper size, and print content (black and white / color, etc.). The amount reduced by the use of the advertisement image is supplied from the advertisement fee calculation unit 154.

[0238] The fee collection unit 148 includes the image forming system 1
A fee is collected from the user who uses the 00 service.
In reality, the collection operation is performed in the charging device 15, and payment is performed using a prepaid card, a credit card, a debit card, or the like in addition to cash such as coins and bills.

The collected charge confirmation unit 146 is
At 8, it is confirmed that the user has been settled or that the payment of the fee has been confirmed, and the image output is permitted. If the fee has not been paid or the payment fee is insufficient, the user may be prompted again to pay the fee (for example, a warning display or a warning sound is generated).

The image output unit 147 includes the image generation / synthesis unit 1
The image data passed from 44 is printed on predetermined printing paper. The substance of the image output unit 147 is a print engine of the electrophotographic printing system in the multifunction device 16. In this embodiment,
The printing operation in the image output unit 147 is activated in response to a positive output from the collected fee confirmation unit 146.

In determining the gist of the present invention, image output is not necessarily limited to image output on printing paper. For example, an image output on the screen of the display device 11 may be used.

Next, the processing procedure of the image output service in this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 18 is a chart illustrating a transaction developed between the image forming system 100, the client 400, and the information providing system 300 in chronological order. Hereinafter, the processing sequence of the image output service will be described with reference to this chart.

(1) Process 1: First, the client 400
User inputs a document print command. The print command includes the image forming system 1 as a print destination.
00 is specified. GUI (Graphic
Under the “Al User Interface” environment, a print command is input by clicking a submenu “Print” in a file menu or by clicking a “Print” button in a tool box (well-known). .

(2) Process 2: The print data transmission unit 401 of the client 400 converts the document into print data and passes it to the communication unit 402.

(3) Process 3: The communication section 402 of the client 400 sends print data to the image forming system 100 designated as a print destination.

(4) Process 4: Image forming system 100
Receives the print data, the information providing system 300
To send the advertising information.

(5) Process 5: In the information providing system 300, upon receiving a request from the image forming system 100,
The advertisement information selection unit 302 selects appropriate information from one or more pieces of advertisement information stored in the advertisement information storage unit 301. For example, the advertisement information is selected by a method of selecting randomly, selecting according to a time zone, selecting according to an installation location of the image forming system 100 that is a request source, and the like.

(6) Process 6: Advertisement information use frequency management unit 3
In step 03, the advertisement information use number counter for the advertisement information set selected in the above process 5 is incremented by one.
When the number of times of use reaches the maximum number of times of use, the advertisement information use number management unit 303 disables the advertisement information.

(7) Process 7: The advertisement information transmitting unit 305
The advertisement information selected in the above process 5 is transmitted to the requesting image forming system 100. At this time, the amount of communication data may be reduced by applying compression coding to the advertisement image included in the advertisement information. Further, the image forming system 100
May also receive print data while waiting for reception of advertisement information.

(8) Process 8: On the image forming system 100 side, the advertisement information receiving unit 150
The advertisement information received from 0 is stored in the advertisement information storage unit 151.

(9) Process 9: Next, the image generation / synthesis unit 144 of the image forming system 100 sends the print data extracted from the print data storage unit 143 to the advertisement image acquisition unit 1
The advertisement-added image is synthesized by using the advertisement image passed from 52 as an input. However, whether or not to be combined with the advertisement image may be left to the user selection (described above). If the advertisement image has been transmitted after being compressed and encoded, it is necessary to reproduce the original advertisement image by applying the corresponding decompression decoding process. Further, the image generation / synthesis unit 144 generates a print image in a format that can be output by the image output unit 147 based on the synthesized image.

(10) Process 10: Print Charge Calculation Unit 145
Calculates the collection fee from the printing fee and the advertising fee (reduction).

(11) Process 11: Also, a billing operation is performed such as presenting the payment amount to the user by displaying the calculated collected fee on a screen on the display device 11, or the like.

(12) Process 12: In response to the charging operation, the user puts, for example, cash equivalent to a fee into the charging device 15.

(13) Process 13: Collection fee confirmation unit 148
Collects the input fee and confirms whether the payment has been settled.

(14) Process 14: In response to the completion of the fee collection, the image output section 147 outputs the print data synthesized in the process 9 above.

FIG. 19 shows, in the form of a flowchart, a processing procedure executed by the information providing system 300 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, each step of this flowchart will be described.

The information providing system 300 waits until an advertisement information transmission request is received (step S61).

Upon receiving the sending request, the advertisement information selecting unit 3
02 selects an arbitrary one from the advertisement information set (see FIG. 10) (step S62). As the selection method, any method such as selection at random, selection according to the time zone, selection according to the installation location of the image forming system 100 that is the transmission request source, etc. is adopted.

The advertisement information use number management section 206 adds 1 to the use number of the selected advertisement information set (step S63).

Next, the advertisement information transmitting section 304 transmits the selected advertisement information set to the image forming system 1 of the transmission request source.
00 (step S64). Compression encoding may be applied to the advertisement image included in the advertisement information to reduce the amount of communication data.

When the transmission processing of the advertisement information is completed, the advertisement information use number management section 206 determines whether or not the advertisement information set used this time has reached the maximum use number (step S65).

When the maximum number of uses is reached, it means that the advertising fee paid by the advertiser has already been consumed. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S66 to disable the advertisement information set.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the image forming system 100 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, each step of this flowchart will be described.

The image forming system 100 operates as a print server on the network, and waits until print data is received from the client 400 (step S71).

Upon receiving the print data, the print data receiving section 142 stores the print data in the print data storage section 143 as a print queue (step S73).

Next, the image forming system 100 requests the information providing server 300 to send advertisement information to be used for print output (step S73), and waits until the information is received (step S74).

The received advertisement information is stored in the advertisement information storage unit 15
1 (step S65). Then, the image generation / synthesis unit 144 extracts the print data from the print data storage unit 143, combines the print data with the advertisement image extracted from the advertisement information, and generates printable image data in the image output unit 147. (Step S76).

The print fee calculating unit 145 calculates a print fee from the number of printed images and the print content according to a print fee system (step S77).

[0271] The advertisement fee calculation unit 154 calculates an advertisement fee reduced by using the advertisement information (step S78). The reduced amount is borne by the advertiser, for example.

Then, the printing fee calculation unit 145 calculates the amount obtained by subtracting the advertising fee from the printing fee, and sets this as a collection fee (step S79). In short, a part of the fee for the image output service is deducted in return for using the advertising information (that is, the return of the advertising fee).

The charge collecting section 148 executes a charging operation for the user, and waits until the charge collection is completed (step S80).

[0274] In response to the fee collection, the image output unit 147 outputs the print data image with advertisement (step S81).

FIG. 21 shows an image forming system 100 and an information providing system 200 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a schematic functional block diagram of FIG. In this embodiment, the image forming system 100 can provide an image output of the information content received from the information providing system via the network for a fee.

An information providing system 200 according to the present embodiment
To provide information content on the WWW information space
The host device operates as a server b, and can also distribute advertisement information when providing content. The entity of the information providing system 200 is a computer system called “workstation” or “personal computer”.
The functional block configuration of the information providing system 200 as shown in FIG. 21 is embodied by a cooperative operation between software such as a server application and each hardware component.

The information providing system 200 includes a communication unit 230
The communication with the image forming system 100 is thereby performed. The entity of the communication unit 230 is a network interface
A card 60 and communication protocol software.

[0278] The content storage unit 221 is a functional module for storing information content provided in the WWW information space. For each information content provided, a content fee for using the content is set. In some cases, the content fee information is embedded in the information content itself, and in another case, a separate fee table is prepared. It is assumed that, as shown in FIG. 14, the content storage unit classifies and stores each information content according to the content accompanying information (described above).

[0279] The content selection section 222 retrieves the content selected by the image forming system 100 from the content storage section 221. On the image forming system 100 side, for example, a user can select desired content on a content list display screen prepared by a browser unit 169 (described later).

[0280] The content transmitting section 223 transmits the selected content to the image forming system 100.

[0281] The advertisement information storage unit 224 stores one or more pieces of advertisement information distributed on the network. The advertisement information is composed of display information such as text, images and moving images. The advertising fee system (discount rate, discount amount, etc.) used to reduce the printing fee is also stored in the advertising information storage unit 2.
24.

The advertisement information storage unit 224 manages each advertisement information using the same data structure as that shown in FIG. That is, the advertisement information is sorted for each set number assigned to the advertiser, and the advertisement information can be uniquely specified by a combination of the set number and the advertisement information number. Each advertisement information has the same data structure as that shown in FIG. 11, and is composed of advertisement attribute information, an advertisement fee system, and advertisement representation data.

[0283] The advertisement information selection unit 225 is a functional module that selects appropriate information from one or more pieces of advertisement information stored in the advertisement information storage unit 224. In the present embodiment, advertisement information that does not exceed the maximum number of times of use is selected based on the association between the information content and the advertisement information defined by the related information management unit 229.

The advertisement information transmitting section 227 transmits the selected advertisement information to the image forming system 100. However, when an image (including a still image and a moving image) is transmitted as the advertisement display data of the advertisement information, the amount of communication data becomes enormous, so that a predetermined compression encoding method is applied to convert the data into small-volume data. It may be transmitted from.

The advertisement information use frequency management section 226 has a use frequency counter and a maximum use frequency for each advertisement information. The maximum number of times of use is determined, for example, according to the amount of the advertisement fee paid in advance by the advertiser. The advertisement information usage count management unit 226 sets 1 for the advertisement information selected by the advertisement information selection unit 225.
The advertisement information is incremented by one, and the advertisement information selection unit 225 cannot select the advertisement information that has reached the maximum number of times of use.

[0286] The advertisement information use count management unit 226 is configured as shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the number of times of use and the maximum number of times of use are managed for each advertisement information set using the same data structure as that shown in FIG.

[0287] The related information management section 229 is a functional module for managing the relation between each information content and the advertisement information. The related information management unit 229 of this embodiment stores the correspondence between each information content and the advertisement information using the same data structure as that shown in FIG. The above-described advertisement information selection unit 225 can select the advertisement information according to the content accompanying information of the information content with reference to the related information.

The display information creating section 228 combines image information in a format that can be displayed on the display device 11 of the image forming system 100. For example, it is generated as an HTML document that can be displayed by a standard Web browser. In such an image processing, for example, the Web browser uses CG
This is executed by calling an external program using a mechanism such as I.

On the other hand, the image forming system 100 is connected to a network and provides a service for outputting information content received from another host device such as the information providing system 200 as an image. However, the form of the communication medium is not particularly limited, and may be wired or wireless. Each functional block in the image forming system 100 shown in FIG.
In reality, it is embodied by the cooperative operation of software executed by the processor 51 and other hardware components. Hereinafter, each functional block will be described.

The communication section 161 communicates with another host device (for example, the information providing system 200) connected to the network. The entities of the communication unit 161 are the network interface card 60 and communication protocol software.

[0291] The browser unit 169 is an agent for taking out information contents from an information space such as WWW. The entity of the browser unit 169 is the processor 5
1 is a web browser executed on the display device 11 and appears to the user as a browser screen (known).

[0292] The content receiving section 162 receives the information contents to be output from the information contents sent from the information providing system 200, and outputs the information contents.
Is stored sequentially.

[0293] The advertisement information receiving unit 172 receives the advertisement information provided from the information providing system 200 and stores it in the advertisement information storage unit 173.

As already described with reference to FIG. 11, the advertisement information includes advertisement display data composed of mono-media data such as an advertisement image, and a charge relating to a discount amount and a discount rate accompanying the use of the advertisement information. It contains advertising fee system information describing the system.

[0295] The advertisement image acquisition unit 175 extracts an advertisement image to be used at the time of printout from the advertisement information stored in the advertisement information storage unit 173, and passes the advertisement image to the image generation / composition unit 165.

[0296] The content image obtaining section 164 extracts the information content from the content storage section 163, obtains a content image to be output as an image, and obtains an image generating section 165.
Pass to. However, when the information providing system 300 is transmitting the compression-encoded advertisement image (described above), it is necessary to reproduce the original advertisement image by applying the corresponding decompression decoding processing.

[0297] The image generation / composition unit 165 receives the content image passed from the content image acquisition unit 164 and the advertisement image passed from the advertisement image acquisition unit 175 as inputs.
Combine images with advertisements. However, whether to combine the advertisement image with the print data may be determined according to a user selection via a control panel (see FIG. 6) or the like. Further, the image generation / synthesis unit 165 generates a print image in a format that can be output by the image output unit 168 based on the synthesized image. This image generation processing includes, for example, image processing such as color coordinate conversion, digital filtering, and T / I separation.

[0298] The advertisement fee structure information acquiring unit 174 extracts the advertisement fee structure related to the advertisement information used at the time of printing out of the advertisement information stored in the advertisement information storage unit 173, and sends the advertisement charge system to the advertisement fee calculation unit 176. hand over. Then, the advertisement fee calculation unit 176 calculates an advertisement fee applied to the current print output (that is, a fee returned to the user by using the advertisement information) according to the input advertisement fee system information.

[0299] The content fee acquisition unit 170 is a functional module that acquires a usage fee for each information content stored in the content storage unit 163. The content usage fee may be embedded in the content itself, or a separate fee table may be prepared (described above).

[0300] The printing fee system information storage unit 171 stores the fee system of the image output service provided in the image forming system 100. The fee system is composed of paper sizes, unit prices for black and white and color information, and the like.

The printing fee calculating unit 166 is a functional module that calculates the total amount of fees required for the image output service of information contents. This fee includes the usage fee for information content, the printing fee for outputting images on printing paper,
It is calculated by the reduced amount returned by using the advertisement information. Content usage fee is content fee acquisition unit 17
Input from 0. Further, the printing fee is calculated by applying the fee system supplied from the printing fee system information storage unit 171 to elementary data such as the number of printed images, paper size, and print content (black and white / color, etc.). You.
The reduction due to the use of the advertisement information is calculated by the advertisement charge calculation unit 1
Supplied from 76.

[0302] The fee collection unit 177 is a part of the image forming system 1.
A fee is collected from the user who uses the 00 service.
In reality, the collection operation is performed in the charging device 15, and payment is performed using a prepaid card, a credit card, a debit card, or the like in addition to cash such as coins and bills.

[0303] The collection fee confirmation unit 167
In, it is confirmed that the charge to the user has been settled or the payment of the fee has been confirmed, and the output of the image is permitted. If the fee has not been paid or the payment fee is insufficient, the user may be prompted again to pay the fee (for example, a warning display or a warning sound is generated).

[0304] The image output unit 168 includes the image generation / synthesis unit 1
The image data passed from 65 is printed on predetermined printing paper. The substance of the image output unit 168 is a print engine of the electrophotographic printing system in the multifunction device 16. In this embodiment,
The printing operation in the image output unit 168 is activated in response to a positive output from the collected fee confirmation unit 167.

In determining the gist of the present invention, "image output" is not necessarily limited to image output on printing paper. For example, an image output on the screen of the display device 11 may be used.

Next, the processing procedure of the image output service in this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 22 is a chart illustrating a transaction developed between the image forming system 100 and the information providing system 200 in chronological order. Hereinafter, the processing sequence of the image output service will be described with reference to this chart.

(1) Process 1: First, the user requests the image forming system 100 to display the information providing system 200 as the information content provider. This display request is made, for example, by inputting a URL specifying the location of the information resource. (However, an information providing system that can be displayed may be determined in advance. In addition, a user may be able to specify a device identifier of the information providing system 200.)

(2) Process 2: In the image forming system 100, the browser section 169 makes a display information creation request to the information providing system 200.

(3) Process 3: Information Providing System 200
Creates display information in response to the request. (For example, information of a list display screen of contents to be provided is generated.) The information providing system 200 can activate an external program using a mechanism such as CGI to create display information.

(4) Process 4: The generated display information is returned to the image forming system 100.

(5) Process 5: In the image forming system 100, the browser unit 169 analyzes the received display information, assembles a page screen, and presents it to the user on the screen of the display device 11.

(6) Process 6: The user enters the browser section 16
After browsing through 9, a desired information content is selected. This content selection is performed on the touch panel 7
1 can be performed intuitively. The content selected by the user is notified to the information providing system 200.

(7) Process 7: In the information providing system 200, the advertisement information selection unit 225 selects advertisement information associated with the selected content from the advertisement information storage unit 224. The related information between the information content and the advertisement information is stored in the related information management unit 229 (described above).

(8) Process 8: Advertisement Information Use Frequency Management Unit 2
26 adds 1 to the advertisement information use number counter for the advertisement information set selected in the above process 7.
When the number of times of use reaches the maximum number of times of use, the advertisement information use number management unit 226 disables the advertisement information.

(9) Process 9: Content transmitting section 227
Transmits the content selected by the user to the image forming system 100 of the request source. Further, the advertisement information transmitting unit 227 transmits the advertisement information selected in the above-described process 7,
The request is transmitted to the requesting image forming system 100. On this occasion,
Apply compression encoding to the advertising image included in the advertising information,
The communication data amount may be reduced.

(10) Process 10: Image forming system 10
0, each of the information content and the advertisement information transmitted from the information providing system 200 is stored in the content storage unit 1.
63 and the advertisement information storage unit 173.

(11) Process 11: Image generation / composition unit 16
5 generates an image in which the content image and the advertisement image are combined, and further generates a print image in a format that can be output by the image output unit 168. If the received advertisement image is data that has been compression-encoded, it may be used after reproducing the original advertisement image by applying the corresponding decompression decoding process.

(12) Process 12: Print Charge Calculation Unit 166
Calculates the collection fee from the content usage fee, the printing fee, and the advertisement fee (reduction).

(13) Process 13: Also, a billing operation such as presenting the payment amount to the user by displaying the calculated collection fee on a screen on the display device 11 or the like is performed.

(14) Process 14: In response to the charging operation, the user puts, for example, cash equivalent to a fee into the charging device 15.

(15) Process 15: Collection fee confirmation unit 167
Collects the input fee and confirms whether the payment has been settled.

(16) Process 16: In response to the completion of the collection of the fee, the image output unit 168 starts printing out the print data.

[0324] Fig. 23 shows, in the form of a flowchart, a processing procedure executed by the information providing system 200 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, each step of this flowchart will be described.

[0325] In response to a request from the user, that is, the image forming system 100, the content selection unit 222 selectively retrieves information content from the content storage unit (step S91).

The advertisement information selecting unit 225 refers to the related information managing unit 229 and selects an identification number (a combination of a set number and an advertisement information number) of the advertisement information related to the selected information content (step). S92), the advertisement information is extracted from the corresponding advertisement information set in the advertisement information storage unit 224 (step S93).

At this time, the advertisement information use frequency management unit 226
Adds 1 to the number of times the selected advertisement information set is used (step S94).

Next, the information content selected by the content selection section 222 and the advertisement information selected by the advertisement information selection section 225 are stored in the image forming system 10.
0 (step S95). At this time, a predetermined compression encoding method may be applied to the advertisement display data included in the advertisement information to convert the data into small-capacity communication data and transmit the communication data.

When the transmission processing of the contents and the advertisement information is completed, the advertisement information use number management section 226 determines whether or not the advertisement information set used this time has reached the maximum use number (step S96).

If the maximum number of uses is reached, it means that the advertising fee paid by the advertiser has been used up. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S97, and the advertisement information set is disabled.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the image forming system 100 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, each step of this flowchart will be described.

First, the display information received from the information providing system 200 is displayed on the screen of the display device 11 (step S101). The display information is, for example, a list display of information contents that can be provided, and the user can select desired information contents via the touch panel 71 (step S102).

In accordance with the user's selection of the content, the image forming system 100 requests the information providing system 200 to distribute the information content, and waits until the information content and the advertisement information are received (step S103).

When the information content and the advertisement information are received from the information providing system 200, they are stored in the content storage unit 163 and the advertisement information storage unit 173, respectively (step S).
104).

Next, the image generation / synthesis unit 165 generates printable format data from the information content (step S105), and then synthesizes the print data with the advertisement image (step S106). Information providing system 20
When the compression-encoded advertisement image is sent from 0, the corresponding advertisement image is reproduced by applying the corresponding decompression and decoding process to the original advertisement image before use.

The print fee calculating unit 166 calculates a print fee from the number of printed images and the print content according to a print fee system (step S107). Further, the advertisement fee calculation unit 176 calculates an advertisement fee reduced by using the advertisement information (step S108). The reduced amount is borne by the advertiser, for example. Then, the printing fee calculation unit 166 calculates an amount obtained by subtracting the advertising fee from the sum of the printing fee and the usage fee of the information content, and sets this as a collection fee (step S109). In short, a part of the fee for the image output service is deducted in return for using the advertising information (that is, the return of the advertising fee).

The charge collecting section 177 executes a charging operation for the user, and waits until the charge collection is completed (step S110).

[0338] In response to the fee collection, the image output unit 168 outputs the content image with advertisement (step S111).

FIG. 25 is a schematic functional block diagram of an image forming system 100 and information providing systems 200 and 300 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the image forming system 100 can provide an image output of the information content received from the information providing system 200 via the network for a fee.

The present embodiment is different from the above-described fourth embodiment in that provision of information contents and distribution of advertisement information on the network are performed by sharing the two information providing systems 200 and 300 with each other. That is the point. In the following description, for convenience, the former information processing system 200 will be referred to as a “content server”, and the latter system 300 will be referred to as an “advertisement server”.

The content server 200 includes a content storage unit 221, a content selection unit 222, a content transmission unit 223, a display information creation unit 228, and a communication unit 2.
30A. The advertisement server 300 includes an advertisement information storage unit 224, an advertisement information selection unit 225, an advertisement information use count management unit 226, and an advertisement information transmission unit 227.
, A related information management unit 229, and a communication unit 230B. These functional blocks have substantially the same configuration as those denoted by the same reference numerals in FIG. 21, and thus detailed description will be omitted.

Further, the image forming system 100 according to the present embodiment, when outputting an image of the information content retrieved from the content server 200,
Advertising information can be obtained from. Then, a discounted fee is applied in return for using the advertising information (that is, a reduction of the advertising fee), so that an inexpensive image output service can be provided. Since the image forming system 100 has substantially the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 21, detailed description will be omitted.

Next, the processing procedure of the image output service in this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 26 is a chart illustrating a transaction developed between the image forming system 100, the content server 200, and the advertisement server 300 in chronological order. Hereinafter, the processing sequence of the image output service will be described with reference to this chart.

(1) Process 1: First, the user makes a display request to the image forming system 100 to display the content server 200 as the information content provider. This display request is made, for example, by inputting a URL specifying the location of the information resource. (However, an information providing system that can be displayed may be determined in advance. In some cases, the user may be able to specify the device identifier of the content server 200.)

(2) Process 2: In the image forming system 100, the browser section 169 makes a display information creation request to the information providing system 200.

(3) Process 3: Content server 200
Creates display information in response to the request. (For example, information on a list display screen of contents to be provided is generated.) The content server 200, for example, generates a CGI.
By using such a mechanism, an external program can be activated to create display information.

(4) Process 4: The generated display information is returned to the image forming system 100.

(5) Process 5: In the image forming system 100, the browser unit 169 analyzes the received display information, assembles a page screen, and presents it to the user on the screen of the display device 11.

(6) Process 6: The user enters the browser section 16
After browsing through 9, a desired information content is selected. This content selection can be performed intuitively on the GUI screen using the touch panel 71, for example. The content selected by the user is notified to the content server 100.

(7) Process 7: Content server 200
Then, the content selection unit 222 extracts the requested information content from the content storage unit 221.

(8) Process 8: Content Transmission Unit 223
Combines the extracted information content with the content-related information to form the requesting image forming system 100.
Reply to.

(9) Process 9: In the image forming system 100, the information content received from the content server 200 is stored in the content storage section 163.

(10) Process 10: Next, the image forming system 100 requests the advertisement server 300 to send advertisement information. To this transmission request, content accompanying information on the information content is attached.

(11) Process 11: The advertisement information selection unit 225 of the advertisement server 300 selects an appropriate item from one or more pieces of advertisement information stored in the advertisement information storage unit 224.
More specifically, the advertisement information selecting unit 225 converts the content accompanying information included in the transmission request into the related information management unit 22.
9 to find the set number and the advertisement information number of the corresponding advertisement information, and extract the relevant advertisement information from the advertisement information storage unit 224.

(12) Process 12: The advertisement information use frequency management section 226 adds 1 to the advertisement information use frequency counter for the advertisement information set selected in the above process 11. When the number of times of use reaches the maximum number of times of use, the advertisement information use number management unit 226 disables the advertisement information.

(13) Process 13: Advertisement information transmitting section 227
Returns the advertisement information selected in the above processing 11 to the image forming system 100 that is the request source. At this time, the amount of communication data may be reduced by applying compression coding to the advertisement image included in the advertisement information. Further, the image forming system 1
At 00, the print data may be received in parallel while waiting for the reception of the advertisement information.

(14) Process 14: Image forming system 10
At 0, the advertisement information received from the advertisement server 300 is stored in the advertisement information storage unit 173.

(15) Process 15: Image generation / composition unit 16
5 generates an image in which the content image and the advertisement image are combined, and further generates a print image in a format that can be output by the image output unit 168. If the received advertisement image is data that has been compression-encoded, it may be used after reproducing the original advertisement image by applying the corresponding decompression decoding process. Further, the creation of the print data in the process 15 can be performed in parallel with the execution of the processes 11 to 14.

(16) Process 16: Print Charge Calculation Unit 166
Calculates the collection fee from the content usage fee, the printing fee, and the advertisement fee (reduction).

(17) Process 17: Also, a billing operation such as presenting the payment amount to the user by displaying the calculated collected fee on a screen on the display device 11 or the like is executed.

(18) Process 18: In response to the charging operation, the user puts, for example, cash equivalent to a fee into the charging device 15.

(19) Process 19: Collection fee confirmation unit 167
Collects the input fee and confirms whether the payment has been settled.

(20) Process 20: In response to the completion of the collection of the fee, the image output unit 168 starts printing out the print data.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the content server 200 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, each step of this flowchart will be described.

[0366] Content server 200 waits until content designation is received from image forming system 100 (step S111).

[0367] Upon receiving the content designation from the image forming system 100, the content selection unit 222 retrieves the corresponding information content from the content storage unit 221 (step S112).

Then, the content information accompanying the extracted information content is sent back to the image forming system 100 (step S113).

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the advertisement server 300 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, each step of this flowchart will be described.

[0370] The advertisement server 300 uses the image forming system 1
From 00, the process waits until an advertisement transmission request is received (step S121).

Upon receiving the advertisement transmission request, the related information management unit 229 searches for the content accompanying information included in the request, and derives the set number and the advertisement information number of the relevant advertisement information (step S122). The advertisement information is extracted from the advertisement information storage unit 224 based on the combination of these numbers (step S123).

The advertisement information usage count management unit 226 adds one to the usage count of the selected advertisement information set (step S124).

The advertisement information transmitting unit 227 transmits the extracted advertisement information to the requesting image forming system 100 (step S125). At this time, a predetermined compression encoding method is applied to the advertisement display data included in the advertisement information,
The data may be converted into small-capacity communication data and transmitted.

The advertisement information use number management section 226 determines whether or not the advertisement information set taken out this time has reached the maximum use number (step S126).

When the maximum number of uses is reached, it means that the advertising fee paid by the advertiser has already been used up. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S127, and the advertisement information set is disabled.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the image forming system 100 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, each step of this flowchart will be described.

First, the display information received from the content server 200 is displayed on the screen of the display device 11 (step S131). This display information is, for example, a list display of information contents that can be provided. The user can select desired information content on the GUI screen via the touch panel 71 (step S132).

In accordance with the user's selection of the content, image forming system 100 requests distribution of information content to content server 200, and waits until the information content is received (step S133).

Upon receiving the information content, content receiving section 162 stores the information content in content storage section 163 (step S134). The attached information is attached to the received information content.

Next, the image forming system 100 issues an advertisement information transmission request to the advertisement server 300 with the content accompanying information (step S135). Then, it waits until advertisement information is returned from the advertisement server 300 (step S136).

Upon receiving the advertisement information, the advertisement information receiving section 172 stores it in the advertisement information storage section 173 (step S137).

[0382] The content image obtaining section 164 extracts a content image from the information content stored in the content storage section 163, and the image generating / combining section 165
This is converted into data in a printable format by the image output unit 168 (step S138).

Next, the image generating / combining unit 165 combines the print data created in step S138 and the advertisement image (step S139). When the compression-encoded advertisement image is sent, the corresponding advertisement image is reproduced by applying the corresponding decompression and decoding process to the original advertisement image before use.

The printing fee calculation unit 166 calculates a printing fee from the number of printed images and the print content according to a printing fee system (step S140). The advertisement fee calculation unit 176 calculates an advertisement fee reduced by using the advertisement information (step S141). The reduced amount is borne by the advertiser, for example.

[0385] Then, the printing fee calculation unit 166 calculates an amount obtained by subtracting the advertising fee from the sum of the printing fee and the usage fee of the information content, and sets this as a collection fee (step S142). In short, a part of the fee for the image output service is deducted in return for using the advertising information (that is, the return of the advertising fee).

The charge collecting section 177 executes a charging operation for the user, and waits until the charge collection is completed (step S143).

Then, in response to the fee collection, image output unit 168 outputs the content image with advertisement (step S144).

FIG. 30 shows an image forming system 100, an information providing system 300, and an image forming system 100 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
And a schematic functional block diagram of the client 400. In this embodiment, the image forming system 100
Operates as a print server on the network,
An image output service can be provided for a print request issued by the client 400.

[0389] The information providing system 300 operates on a network as an advertisement server that distributes advertisement information. Image forming system 100
By using the advertisement information received from the advertisement server 300 at the time of printout, the user can apply a discount rate and provide an inexpensive image output service.

The embodiment in which the image forming system 100 operates as a print server on a network has already been described as the “third embodiment” of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the advertisement information used at the time of printout is arbitrarily selected in the information providing system 300 as the advertisement server (described above). On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the user who requests the image output (that is, the client 400
Advertisement information can be selected based on the user information of As a result, the user of the image forming service can obtain the advertisement information suitable for his / her own needs, so that the service content is further enhanced. Also, since the advertisement information is supplied to the people who need it, the diffusion efficiency of the advertisement is improved for the advertiser.

The host device 400 as a client that issues a print request includes a print data transmission unit 401 and a communication unit 402. However, the host device 400 is substantially the same as that of the above-described third embodiment, and the description is omitted here.

Also, as described above, the information providing system 300 according to the present embodiment is an advertisement server that distributes advertisement information at the request of an advertiser. It is a computer system called a "personal computer." The functional block configuration of the advertisement server 300 as shown in FIG. 30 is embodied by cooperative operation between software such as a server application and each hardware component.

The advertisement server 300 communicates with the image forming system 100 through the communication unit 314. Communication unit 31
The entities of 4 are the network interface card 60 and the communication protocol software.

The advertisement information storage unit 312 stores one or more pieces of advertisement information distributed on the network. The advertisement information is composed of display information such as text, images and moving images. An advertisement fee system (such as a discount rate or a discount amount) used for reducing the printing fee can also be stored in the advertisement information storage unit 312.

The advertisement information storage section 312 manages each advertisement information using the same data structure as that shown in FIG. That is, the advertisement information is sorted for each set number assigned to the advertiser, and the advertisement information can be uniquely specified by a combination of the set number and the advertisement information number. Each advertisement information has the same data structure as that shown in FIG. 11, and is composed of advertisement attribute information, an advertisement fee system, and advertisement display data.

[0396] The advertisement information selection unit 311 is a functional module that selects the most appropriate one from one or more pieces of advertisement information stored in the advertisement information storage unit 312. In the present embodiment, the advertisement information is selected based on the relevancy specified in the relevant information management unit 315.

[0397] The advertisement information transmitting section 313 transmits the advertisement information selected by the advertisement information selecting section 311 to the image forming system 100. However, when transmitting images (including still images and moving images) as advertisement display data of the advertisement information, the amount of communication data becomes enormous,
The data may be converted into small-capacity data and transmitted after applying a predetermined compression encoding method.

The related information management section 315 is a functional module for managing the relation between each information content and the advertisement information. The related information management unit 315 of the present embodiment defines the relevance between the user information and the advertisement information. The user information receiving unit 316 is a functional module for receiving the user information sent from the image forming system 100.

The “user” here refers to a user who requests an image output service from the image forming system 100, and corresponds to, for example, a client user who issues a print request on the host device 400. The “user information” is, for example, personal information such as a user's sex, age, entertainment and hobbies. The user information is, for example, the user information input device 13 provided in the image forming system 100.
Can be read from the IC card inserted by the user. Alternatively, the user may input his / her user information to the control device 14 via the console.

[0400] Fig. 31 illustrates an example of a relation rule between the user and the advertisement information specified in the relation information storage section 315 in a correspondence table format. In the example shown in the figure, the gender and each age group are classified by hobbies (sports, music, computer, etc.), and the set number and the advertisement information number of the corresponding advertisement information are written in each column. In other words, by searching the related information storage unit 315 based on the user information including (sex, age, and hobby), the corresponding advertisement information is derived. As a result of being able to select appropriate advertisement information based on the user information of the user in this way, the user of the image output service is provided with advertisement information that meets personal needs, The service content is further improved. Also, since the advertisement information is supplied to the people who need it, the diffusion efficiency of the advertisement is improved for the advertiser.

The other image forming system 100 functions as a print server and provides a print data image output service in response to a print request received from the host device 400. Image forming system 1 shown in FIG.
Each functional block in 00 is actually a processor 51.
Is embodied by the cooperative operation of the software executed by the software and other hardware components. Hereinafter, each functional block will be described.

The communication section 181 performs communication with another host device (for example, the information providing system 300 or the client 400) connected to the network. The entity of the communication unit 181 is the network interface card 60 and communication protocol software.

The print data receiving section 182 receives the print data sent from the client 400 and sequentially accumulates the print data in the print data storage section 183 as a print queue. The print data receiving unit 182 is, for example, a daemon process that monitors generation of a print request in the background of application execution.

[0404] The advertisement information receiving unit 188 is connected to the advertisement server 30.
The advertisement information provided from 0 is received and stored in the advertisement information storage unit 189.

As described above with reference to FIG. 11, the advertisement information includes advertisement display data composed of mono-media data such as an advertisement image, and a charge relating to a discount amount and a discount rate accompanying the use of the advertisement information. It contains advertising fee system information describing the system. Since the communication load increases when the advertisement image is transmitted as it is with a large data size, the advertisement image may be transmitted in a format in which the data fee is reduced by compression encoding.

[0406] The advertisement image acquisition unit 190 extracts an advertisement image to be used at the time of printout from the advertisement information stored in the advertisement information storage unit 189, and passes it to the image generation / composition unit 184. However, when the compression-encoded advertisement image is transmitted from the advertisement server 300 (described above), it is necessary to apply the corresponding decompression decoding processing to reproduce the original advertisement image.

[0407] The image generation / composition unit 184 receives the print data extracted from the print data storage unit 183 and the advertisement image passed from the advertisement image acquisition unit 1190, and synthesizes an image with an advertisement. However, whether to combine the advertisement image with the print data may be determined according to a user selection via a control panel (see FIG. 6) or the like. Further, the image generation / synthesis unit 184 generates a print image in a format that can be output by the image output unit 187. The image generation processing includes, for example, image processing such as color coordinate conversion, digital filtering, and T / I separation.

[0408] The advertisement fee calculation unit 191 calculates the advertisement fee applied to the current print output (that is, the fee returned to the user by using the advertisement information) according to the advertisement fee system included in the advertisement information. .

[0409] The printing fee calculation unit 185 is a functional module that calculates the total amount of fees required for the image output service of print data. This fee is calculated based on a printing fee for outputting print data on a print sheet as an image and a reduction applied by using the advertisement image. The printing fee is based on the fee system set in the image forming system 100,
It is calculated by applying to the raw data such as the number of printed images, the paper size, and the print content (black and white / color, etc.). The amount reduced by the use of the advertisement image is supplied from the advertisement fee calculation unit 191.

[0410] The fee collection unit 192 is a part of the image forming system 1.
A fee is collected from the user who uses the 00 service.
In reality, the collection operation is performed in the charging device 15, and payment is performed using a prepaid card, a credit card, a debit card, or the like in addition to cash such as coins and bills.

[0411] The collection fee confirmation unit 186 is
In step 2, it is confirmed that the charge to the user has been settled or that the payment of the fee has been confirmed, and the image output is permitted. If the fee has not been paid or the payment fee is insufficient, the user may be prompted again to pay the fee (for example, a warning display or a warning sound is generated).

[0412] The image output unit 187 outputs the image
The print data passed from 84 is printed on a predetermined print sheet. The substance of the image output unit 187 is a print engine of the electrophotographic printing system in the multifunction device 16. In this embodiment,
The printing operation in the image output unit 187 is activated in response to a positive output from the collected fee confirmation unit 186. However, image output is not necessarily limited to image output on printing paper. For example, an image output on the screen of the display device 11 may be used.

[0413] The user information input unit 194 is
At 00, a functional module for inputting user information used for selecting advertisement information. The entity of the user information input unit 194 is, for example, the image forming system 100.
Is a user information input device 13 provided in the IC card and can be read from an IC card inserted by a user. Alternatively, it is not always necessary to equip a dedicated device unit such as an IC card reader. For example, the user inputs his / her own user information to the console using a user interface provided as a standard feature of the control device 14. You may.

[0414] The user information input in the user information input section 194 is transmitted to the user information transmitting section 193 at a predetermined time.
Is transmitted to the advertisement server 300.

Next, the processing procedure of the image output service in this embodiment will be described.

[0416] Fig. 32 is a chart illustrating a transaction developed between the image forming system 100, the client 400, and the advertisement server 300 in a time-series manner. Hereinafter, the processing sequence of the image output service will be described with reference to this chart.

(1) Process 1: First, the client 400
User inputs a document print command. The print command includes the image forming system 1 as a print destination.
00 is specified.

(2) Process 2: The print data transmitting unit 401 of the client 400 converts the document into print data and passes it to the communication unit 402.

(3) Process 3: The communication section 402 of the client 400 sends print data to the image forming system 100 designated as the print destination.

(4) Process 4: In the image forming system 100, the print data transmitted from the client 400 is temporarily stored in the print data storage unit 183.

(5) Process 5: In this embodiment, input of user information and user authentication are performed using the IC card of each user. (Since user authentication is not directly related to the gist of the present invention, It will not be further described in the specification). On this chart, when a user inserts an IC card into the user information input device 13, a session starts.

(6) Process 6: User information input section 194
Represents the inserted I via the user information input device 13.
Read data such as user information from the C card.

(7) Process 7: Image forming system 100
Requests the advertisement server 300 to send advertisement information together with user information.

[0424] (8) Process 8: In the advertisement server 300, upon receiving the transmission request from the image forming system 100, the advertisement information selection unit 311 converts the advertisement information corresponding to the user information attached to the transmission request into an advertisement. It is extracted from the information storage unit 3312. Since the user information includes personal information such as gender, age, and hobby, the related information storage unit 31
By searching for No. 5, the corresponding advertisement information can be derived (described above). It should be sufficiently understood that the extracted advertisement information is advertisement information suitable for the user's personal information (in other words, the user's needs).

(9) Process 9: The advertisement information transmitting unit 313
The advertisement information selected in the above process 8 is transmitted to the image forming system 100 that is the transmission request source. At this time, the amount of communication data may be reduced by applying compression coding to the advertisement image included in the advertisement information.

(10) Process 10: Image forming system 10
On the 0 side, the advertisement information receiving unit 188
Is stored in the advertisement information storage unit 189.

(11) Process 11: Next, the image generation / synthesis unit 184 of the image forming system 100 receives the print data extracted from the print data storage unit 183 and the advertisement image passed from the advertisement image acquisition unit 190 as inputs. Then, the image with the advertisement is synthesized, and a print image in a format that can be output by the image output unit 187 is generated. If the advertisement image has been transmitted after being compressed and encoded, it is necessary to reproduce the original advertisement image by applying a corresponding decompression decoding process.

(12) Process 12: Print Charge Calculation Unit 185
Calculates the collection fee from the printing fee and the advertising fee (reduction).

(13) Process 13: Also, the calculated collection fee is displayed on the screen of the display device 11 to perform a billing operation such as presenting the payment amount to the user.

(14) Process 14: In response to the charging operation, the user puts, for example, cash equivalent to a fee into the charging device 15.

(15) Process 15: Collection Fee Confirmation Unit 186
Collects the input fee and confirms whether the payment has been settled.

(16) Process 16: In response to the completion of the collection of the fee, the image output section 187 outputs the print data synthesized in the process 9 above.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the advertisement server 300 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, each step of this flowchart will be described.

[0434] When the advertisement server 300 receives the request for sending the advertisement information with the user information (step S151),
By searching the related information storage unit 315, the set number and the advertisement information number of the corresponding advertisement information are derived (step S152).

[0435] Then, the advertisement information selection unit 311 extracts the relevant advertisement information from the advertisement information storage unit 312 (step S153), and the advertisement information transmission unit 313 transmits this to the image forming system 100 of the transmission request source (step S153). Step S154).

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for requesting the transmission of advertisement information by the image forming system 100 according to the present embodiment. This processing procedure is actually embodied by the cooperative operation of the software executed by the processor 51 in the control device 14 and the user information input device 13. Hereinafter, each step of this flowchart will be described.

[0437] The user information input device 13 waits until the user (for example, the user of the client 400) inserts the IC card (step S161).

When the IC card is inserted, the user information is read from the card (step S162). And
A transmission request for the advertisement information is transmitted to the advertisement server 300 together with the user information (step S163).

[0439] The flow waits until advertisement information is returned from the requesting advertisement server 300 (step S164). Then, the received advertisement information is temporarily stored in the advertisement information storage unit 189 (step S165). The advertising information received is
It should be appreciated that the advertisement information is suitable for the user's personal information (in other words, the user's needs).

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for the image forming system 100 according to the sixth embodiment to provide an image output service. Hereinafter, each step of this flowchart will be described.

The image forming system 100 operates as a print server on the network, and waits until print data is received from the client 400 (step S171).

Upon receiving the print data, the print data receiving section 182 stores the print data in the print data storage section 183 as a print queue (step S173).

The image generation / synthesis unit 184 extracts the print data from the print data storage unit 183 and synthesizes the print data with the advertisement image extracted from the advertisement information to generate a print image with advertisement. Further, the image data is converted into printable image data by the image output unit 187 (step S173).

The printing fee calculation unit 185 calculates a printing fee according to the printing fee system from the number of printed images and the print content (step S174).

[0445] The advertisement fee calculation unit 191 calculates an advertisement fee reduced by using the advertisement information (step S175). For example, when the advertiser bears the reduced amount, a part of the advertising revenue is returned to the user.

[0446] Then, the printing fee calculation unit 185 calculates the amount obtained by subtracting the printing fee and the advertising fee, and sets this as a collection fee (step S176). In short, a part of the fee for the image output service is deducted in return for using the advertising information (that is, the return of the advertising fee).

[0447] In the fee collection unit 192, a charging operation for the user is executed, and the process stands by until the fee collection is completed (step S177).

[0448] Then, in response to the fee collection, the image output unit 187 executes the print data image with advertisement (step S178).

FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for the client 400 according to the sixth embodiment to provide an image output service.

[0450] On the client 400, application software for document creation, such as a word processor, a spreadsheet, and a drawing process, is running.

The user operating the client 400
For example, a GUI (Graphical User In
Click on the "Print" submenu in the file menu on the "terface" screen, or
By clicking the "Print" button in the box, a print command can be issued.

[0452] The print command includes designation of the image forming system 100 to be a print destination. For example, a print command property screen can be opened to input a print destination (well-known).

The print data transmitting unit 401 converts the document requested to be printed into print data, and transmits the print data to the designated image forming system 100 (step S1).
81).

<< Notes >> *: PDL (Page Description La
nuge) is a description language for instructing a page printer to print a print image. Also, PDF
(Portable Document Format
t) is a file format that can be displayed and printed on a document viewer “Acrobat” developed by Adobe Systems, Inc. of the United States.

[Addition] The present invention has been described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments. However, it is obvious that those skilled in the art can modify or substitute the embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention. That is, the present invention has been disclosed by way of example, and should not be construed as limiting. In order to determine the gist of the present invention, the claims described at the beginning should be considered.

[0456]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide, for a fee, image recording services such as recording, duplication, and printing of information such as manuscript images, and recording, duplication, and printing of information contents obtained from remote locations via transmission media such as the Internet. An excellent image forming system and an excellent information providing system can be provided.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an excellent image forming system and information providing system capable of providing a user with an inexpensive image output service.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an excellent image forming system and an excellent information providing system capable of appropriately distributing additional information such as advertisement information accompanying distribution of information contents. .

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cheaper image output service by deducting a part of the fee accompanying the use of the advertisement information and returning a part of the advertisement revenue to the user. It is possible to provide an excellent image forming system and an excellent information providing system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a state in which an image forming system according to the present invention is installed in a network environment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a data structure of an encapsulated file.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an external configuration of the image forming system 100 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming system 100 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic functional block diagram of the image forming system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a button configuration of a control panel provided on the multifunction device 16.

FIG. 7 is an image forming system 100 according to the first embodiment.
Is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an image output service according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic functional block diagram of an image forming system 100 and an information providing system 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an image forming system 100 according to a second embodiment.
4 is a chart illustrating a transaction developed between the information providing system 200 and the information providing system 200 in chronological order.

FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing a data structure of an advertisement information storage unit 204.

FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing a data structure of advertisement information stored in an advertisement information storage unit 204.

FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically illustrating a data structure used for managing the number of times of use of each piece of advertisement information in the advertisement information use number management unit 206.

FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically showing a data structure used in a related information management unit 207 to manage the association between information content and advertisement information.

FIG. 14 is a diagram schematically showing a data structure for the content storage unit 201 to store each information content.

FIG. 15 is an information providing system 20 according to the second embodiment.
0 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the CPU.

FIG. 16 is an image forming system 10 according to a second embodiment.
0 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the CPU.

FIG. 17 is a schematic functional block diagram of an image forming system 100, an information providing system 300, and a client 400 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an image forming system 10 according to a third embodiment.
6 is a chart illustrating a transaction developed between the information providing system 200 and the information providing system 200 in chronological order.

FIG. 19 is an information providing system 30 according to a third embodiment.
0 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the CPU.

FIG. 20 is an image forming system 10 according to a third embodiment.
0 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the CPU.

FIG. 21 is a schematic functional block diagram of an image forming system 100 and an information providing system 200 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is an image forming system 10 according to a fourth embodiment.
6 is a chart illustrating a transaction developed between the information providing system 200 and the information providing system 200 in chronological order.

FIG. 23 is an information providing system 20 according to a fourth embodiment.
0 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the CPU.

FIG. 24 is an image forming system 10 according to a fourth embodiment.
0 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the CPU.

FIG. 25 is a schematic functional block diagram of an image forming system 100 and information providing systems 200 and 300 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is an image forming system 10 according to a fifth embodiment.
5 is a chart illustrating a transaction developed between the content server 200 and the advertisement server 200 in time series.

FIG. 27 is a content server 2 according to the fifth embodiment.
9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the 00.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the advertisement server 300 according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 29 is an image forming system 10 according to a fifth embodiment.
0 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the CPU.

FIG. 30 is a schematic functional block diagram of an image forming system 100, an information providing system 200, and a client 400 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing, in a correspondence table format, an example of a relation rule between a user and advertisement information specified in a related information storage unit 315.

FIG. 32 shows an image forming system 100 and a client 40.
0 is a chart illustrating a transaction developed between the advertisement server 300 and a time series.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the advertisement server 300 according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 34 is an image forming system 10 according to a sixth embodiment.
0 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for requesting advertisement information transmission.

FIG. 35 is an image forming system 10 according to a sixth embodiment.
0 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for performing an image output service.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by a host device (client) 400 according to the sixth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Display device, 12 ... Media box 13 ... User information input device, 14 ... Control device 15 ... Billing device, 16 ... Multifunction machine 51 ... Processor, 52 ... Main memory 53 ... ROM, 54 ... Display interface 55 ... Hard disk drive (HDD) 56 ... HDD interface 57 ... Keyboard / mouse controller 58 ... RS422 interface 59 ... SCSI interface 60 ... Network interface card 61 ... Modem, 62 ... Expansion device interface 63 ... Serial input / output interface 71 ... Touch panel, 72 ... Keyboard, 73 ... Mouse 81 ... CD-ROM (CD-R) drive 82 ... MO drive, 83 ... DVD drive 100 ... Recording service system 200 300 ... the host device (Web server) 400 ... the host device (client)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/60 H04N 1/387 5C076 H04N 1/34 G03G 21/00 392 9A001 1/387 G06F 15/21 330 (72) Inventor Toshiki Okiyama 3-2-1 Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture KSP R & D Business Park Building Inside Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akihiko Takada 3-2-1, Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa KSP R & D Business Park Building Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroaki Anraku 2-17-22 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H027 EJ06 FA30 FD01 FD10 5B021 AA01 AA02 BB00 CC05 CC09 5B049 BB21 BB49 CC05 CC36 DD01 EE01 EE05 EE07 FF02 FF03 FF04 GG 04 GG07 5C062 AA29 AB20 AB22 AB42 AB46 AC24 AF00 AF08 BA00 5C075 AB90 CA90 FF03 GG09 5C076 AA14 BA06 9A001 BB01 BB03 BB04 BB05 CC04 CC05 CC06 CC07 CC08 DD02 DD06 DD07 DD13 EE03 EE04 FF03 HH27 EJ03 HH27 EJ03HH30H28 KK31 KK42 KK43 KK44 KK54 KK56 KK57 LL05

Claims (39)

[Claims] 1. An image forming system for providing image output for a fee, comprising: an image output means for combining additional image information with output image information to output an image; An image forming system comprising: a charging unit configured to calculate an amount by which the amount is reduced and charge the amount. 2. An image forming system for providing a copy service of original image information for a fee, comprising: image output means for combining additional image information with original image information and outputting an image; An image forming system comprising: charging means for calculating and charging an amount obtained by reducing a usage equivalent amount of additional image information. 3. An image forming system for providing an image output to a print medium for a fee, wherein the print medium supply means selectively supplies a print medium without additional image information and a print medium with additional image information. An image output unit that outputs image information for output on a print medium supplied by the print medium supply unit; and a billing unit that charges a fee for using the image forming system. An image forming system characterized in that when a print medium with image information is used, an amount obtained by subtracting the usage equivalent amount from an image output service fee is calculated and charged as a usage fee. 4. An image forming system for providing a copy service of original image information to a print medium for a fee, wherein the print medium selectively supplies a print medium without additional image information and a print medium with additional image information. Supply means; image output means for outputting an image of the original image on the print medium supplied by the print medium supply means; and charging means for charging a charge for using the image forming system. An image forming system, wherein when using a print medium with additional image information, the usage equivalent amount is subtracted from the image output service fee, and the calculated amount is charged as a usage fee. 5. An image forming system for providing image output to a print medium, comprising: a print medium supply unit for selectively supplying a print medium without additional image information and a print medium with additional image information; An image output unit that outputs image information for output on a print medium supplied by the print medium supply unit. 6. An image forming system for providing a service of copying original image information to a print medium, wherein the print medium supply means selectively supplies a print medium without additional image information and a print medium with additional image information. An image forming system comprising: an image output unit configured to output original image information on a print medium supplied by the print medium supply unit. 7. A printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said printing medium supply means includes a user selection means for designating a printing medium to be supplied with no additional image information or with additional information. An image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 8. An image forming system for providing an image output of information content supplied from an information providing system connected via a transmission medium, comprising: additional image information storage means for storing one or more additional image information; Receiving means for receiving the information content via a transmission medium; image output means for combining the image information of the information content received by the receiving means with the additional image information extracted from the additional image information storage means to output an image; An image forming system comprising: 9. An image forming system for paying for image output of information content supplied from an information providing system connected via a transmission medium, wherein said additional image information storage means stores one or more additional image information. Receiving means for receiving the information content via a transmission medium; image output for combining and outputting the image information of the information content received by the receiving means and the additional image information retrieved from the additional image information storage means An image forming system comprising: a charging unit configured to calculate an amount obtained by subtracting a usage equivalent amount of additional image information from an image output service fee. 10. An image forming system for outputting an information content supplied from an information providing system connected via a transmission medium to a print medium, comprising: a print medium without additional image information; and a print with additional image information. A print medium supply unit that selectively supplies a medium; a reception unit that receives information content via a transmission medium; and a print medium that is supplied with the image information of the information content received by the reception unit by the print medium supply unit. And an image output means for outputting an image thereon. 11. An image forming system for outputting an image of information content supplied from an information providing system connected via a transmission medium onto a print medium, comprising: a print medium without additional image information; and a print with additional image information. A print medium supply unit that selectively supplies a medium; a reception unit that receives information content via a transmission medium; and a print medium that is supplied with the image information of the information content received by the reception unit by the print medium supply unit. An image output unit for outputting an image thereon, and a charging unit for charging a usage fee of the image forming system, wherein the charging unit charges the usage equivalent amount when using the print medium with additional image information to an image output service fee. An image forming system comprising: calculating an amount reduced from a fee and charging a usage fee; 12. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a user selecting means for designating which of the print medium supplying means and the additional image information should be supplied by the user. Or the image forming system according to any one of claims 11 to 11. 13. An image forming system for providing an image output of information contents supplied from an information providing system connected via a transmission medium, wherein said information providing system selects information contents provided by said information providing system. Receiving means for receiving the information content selected via the information content selecting means from the information providing system with additional image information; and combining the image information of the information content received by the receiving means with the additional image information. And an image output means for outputting an image. 14. An image forming system for providing an image output of information content supplied from an information providing system connected via a transmission medium for a fee, wherein said information content selecting system selects the information content provided by said information providing system. Selecting means; receiving means for receiving the information content selected via the information content selecting means from the information providing system with additional image information; and image information and additional image information of the information content received by the receiving means. An image forming system comprising: an image output unit that synthesizes an image and outputs an image; and a charging unit that calculates and charges an amount obtained by subtracting a usage equivalent amount of additional image information from an image output service fee. 15. An image forming system for providing an image output of information content supplied from one or more information providing systems connected via a transmission medium, the information providing system selecting information content provided by the information providing system. Content selection means, additional image information searching means for searching for additional image information related to the information content from the same or another information providing system, and receiving means for receiving information content and additional image information via a transmission medium; And an image output means for combining the image information of the information content and the additional image information received by the receiving means and outputting an image. 16. An image forming system for paying an image output of information content supplied from one or more information providing systems connected via a transmission medium, wherein the information content provided by the information providing system is selected. Information content selecting means, additional image information searching means for searching for the additional image information related to the information content from the same or another information providing system, and receiving the information content and the additional image information via a transmission medium Means, image output means for combining the image information and the additional image information of the information content received by the receiving means and outputting an image, and calculating an amount obtained by subtracting the usage equivalent amount of the additional image information from the image output service fee. An image forming system comprising: 17. An image forming system for providing an image output of information content supplied from an information providing system connected via a transmission medium, wherein the information content selecting means selects information content provided by the information providing system. Receiving means for receiving, from the information providing system, combined image information in which image information and additional image information relating to the information content selected via the information content selecting means are combined; and a combined image received by the receiving means. An image forming system comprising: an image output unit that outputs information as an image. 18. An image forming system for paying an image output of information content supplied from an information providing system connected via a transmission medium, wherein the information content is provided by the information providing system. Selecting means; receiving means for receiving, from the information providing system, combined image information in which image information and additional image information relating to the information content selected via the information content selecting means are combined; An image forming system comprising: an image output unit that outputs synthesized image information as an image; and a charging unit that calculates and charges an amount obtained by subtracting a usage equivalent amount of additional image information from an image output service fee. 19. An image forming system for providing image output in response to a print request from an information processing system connected via a transmission medium, comprising: a receiving unit for receiving print information via a transmission medium; An image forming system comprising: additional image information obtaining means for obtaining information; and image output means for synthesizing print information and additional image information and outputting an image. 20. An image forming system for providing an image output service for a fee in response to a print request from an information processing system connected via a transmission medium, comprising: receiving means for receiving print information via a transmission medium; Additional image information obtaining means for obtaining additional image information; image output means for synthesizing print information and additional image information to output an image; calculating an amount obtained by subtracting a usage equivalent amount of additional image information from an image output service fee An image forming system comprising: 21. An image forming system for providing an image output in response to a print request from an information processing system connected via a transmission medium, comprising: receiving means for receiving print information via a transmission medium; An image forming system comprising: an additional image information obtaining unit that obtains additional image information related to a source; and an image output unit that combines print information and additional image information and outputs an image. 22. An image forming system for providing an image output service for a fee in response to a print request from an information processing system connected via a transmission medium, comprising: receiving means for receiving print information via a transmission medium; Additional image information obtaining means for obtaining additional image information related to the print request source; image output means for synthesizing the print information and the additional image information to output an image; And a billing means for calculating and billing the amount obtained by reducing the amount of the image. 23. The image forming system according to claim 19, wherein said additional image information obtaining means obtains additional image information from an information providing system connected via a transmission medium. 24. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for acquiring charge system information via a transmission medium for calculating a usage equivalent amount of the additional image information.
The image forming system according to any one of 4, 16, 18, 20, and 22. 25. An image forming system for providing an image output service for a fee, comprising: an image output unit for outputting an image; a charging unit for calculating an image output service fee and charging a user; Control means for outputting the requested image information on a print medium and outputting the additional image information on another print medium, and controlling the image information according to the image output amount of the additional image information. An image forming system, wherein control is performed to charge an image output service fee to which a reduced amount is applied. 26. An image forming system for providing image output for a fee, comprising: additional image information storage means for storing one or more pieces of additional image information associated with user information; means for inputting user information; An image forming system comprising: an image output unit that extracts additional image information associated with information and outputs an image of a composite image of the image information requested by the user and the additional image information. 27. An image forming system for providing image output for a fee, comprising: additional image information storage means for storing one or more additional image information associated with user information; means for inputting user information; Image output means for extracting additional image information associated with the information and outputting a composite image of the image information and the additional image information requested by the user, and an image output service using a discount fee system suitable for the use of the additional image information An image forming system comprising: charging means for charging a user for a fee. 28. An image forming system for providing image output for a fee, comprising: additional image information storage means for storing one or more pieces of additional image information associated with user information; means for inputting user information; An image forming system comprising: an image output unit that outputs image information requested from a user; and an additional image information presentation unit that extracts additional image information associated with user information and presents it to a user. 29. An image forming system for providing image output for a fee, comprising: additional image information storage means for storing one or more additional image information associated with user information; means for inputting user information; Image output means for outputting the image information requested from the user, additional image information presenting means for extracting the additional image information associated with the user information and presenting it to the user, and a discount rate system corresponding to the use of the additional image information. An image forming system comprising: a charging unit for charging a user for an image output service fee. 30. An information providing system for providing information content via a transmission medium, comprising: information content storage means for storing one or more information contents to be provided; and additional image information for storing one or more additional image information. In response to the information content request received via the transmission medium, the storage means retrieves the corresponding information content from the information content storage means, retrieves the additional image information from the additional image information storage means, and returns a reply to the request source. An information providing system comprising: means. 31. An information providing system for providing information content via a transmission medium, comprising: information content storage means for storing one or more information contents to be provided; and one or more additional images associated with each information content. An additional image information storage unit for storing information; and, in response to the information content request received via the transmission medium, extracting the corresponding information content from the information content storage unit, and extracting from the additional image information storage unit related to the information content A replying means for taking out the additional image information and returning it to a request source. 32. An information providing system for providing information content via a transmission medium, comprising: information content storage means for storing at least one information content to be provided; and at least one additional image associated with each information content. An additional image information storage unit for storing information; and an additional image associated with the user requesting the information content, extracting the information content from the information content storage unit in response to the information content request received via the transmission medium. A replying means for taking out the additional image information from the information storage means and returning it to the requesting source. 33. A system according to claim 30, further comprising a charge system storing means for storing charge system information associated with use of the additional image information, wherein said reply means transmits said charge system information together. 33. The information providing system according to any one of claims to 32. 34. The information providing system according to claim 30, wherein each additional image information stored in said additional image information storage means has a maximum number of uses. 35. The information providing system according to claim 30, wherein the maximum number of uses of the additional image information is determined according to a fee paid by a provider of the additional image information. 36. A printing sheet applied to an image forming system of an electrophotographic printing method, comprising: a first area in which image information can be formed by an electrophotographic printing method; Printing paper, comprising: 37. A printing paper which can be used as a printing medium with additional image information in the image forming system according to any one of claims 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, and 11. 38. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein said additional image information is an advertisement image supplied by an advertiser in response to payment of an advertisement fee. 39. The information providing system according to claim 30, wherein the additional image information is an advertisement image supplied by an advertiser in response to payment of an advertisement fee.