JP2002082581A - Image forming device, image forming method, and recording medium with image forming program recorded thereon - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To promote use of an image forming device by realizing a reasonable price of an output of a print with the utilization of the function of displaying information onto an operation display when an image is output and printed by the image forming device. SOLUTION: When an image is formed on recording paper by the use of the image forming device 10, particular advertising information is output and displayed for a user of the image forming device 10. When the user outputs a print from the image forming device 10, the user is charged for the output of the print. Also, the charging ways can be varied according to the output of the display of the advertising information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer for printing out image data. The present invention also relates to an image forming method used when forming an image on recording paper by the image forming apparatus. Further, the present invention relates to a storage medium storing an image forming program for causing an image forming apparatus to print out image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer is provided with a display for displaying information necessary for an operation (hereinafter referred to as an "operation display") in order to improve a user interface. . Further, in recent years, some image forming apparatuses having an operation display are provided on the operation display in order to remove the discomfort that the user waiting for the completion of the print output gets tired in the meantime. Some are configured to display and output information such as advertisements and news.

Specifically, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-595
As in the information distribution system disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 54-54, a centralized management device connected to a copying machine via a public telephone line distributes information such as advertisements and news, so that the copying machine is distributed. Some are configured to display and output information. In a copying machine in this information distribution system, information such as advertisements and news is periodically distributed from a centralized management device.
Is temporarily stored in RAM (Random Access Memory) in the copier.
y), and when the print output operation starts, the CPU (Cen
tral Processing Unit) reads the distribution information from the RAM, re-lays out the text and images in the distribution information and displays them on the operation display, and when the printout operation is completed, the operation display returns to the original operation display It returns to the state. In addition, at times other than the print output operation, an operation button for displaying information or printing information is displayed on the operation display, and when the information display button is pressed, the distribution information is displayed on the operation display, and information printing is performed. When the button is pressed, the distribution information is printed out.

[0004]

By the way, printing image data using an image forming apparatus naturally involves a cost. Conventionally, the cost associated with print output is generally borne by the user of the image forming apparatus that has performed the print output. For this reason, an image forming apparatus having a so-called billing function that prints out on condition that a user is authenticated by inputting a magnetic card or a password or that a user inserts money has been widely used.

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus,
All costs associated with print output are charged to the user of the print output. In other words, even with an image forming apparatus that displays and outputs information such as advertisements and news on the operation display, although there is an advantage that discomfort during waiting time can be eliminated, all costs related to print output are used. Is charged to the person. In addition, even when the distribution information is printed out by the information print button, the user is charged for the cost of the printout. For this reason, there is a possibility that the user may feel a large cost burden for the print output using the image forming apparatus.

In view of the above, according to the present invention, when printing image data using an image forming apparatus, the cost burden associated with the printing is optimized by utilizing an information display function on an operation display. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a storage medium on which an image forming program is recorded, which can promote the use of the image forming apparatus.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an image forming apparatus devised to achieve the above-mentioned object, comprising: an image forming means for converting image data into a visible image to print out on a recording sheet; Advertisement display means for displaying and outputting advertisement information, and charging means for charging the print output by the image forming means and changing the mode of the charging in accordance with the display output of the advertisement information by the advertisement display means. It is characterized by the following.

The present invention is also an image forming method devised to achieve the above object. That is, an image forming method used when an image is formed on recording paper by an image forming apparatus that prints out image data, and displays and outputs predetermined advertisement information to a user of the image forming apparatus. When the user performs a print output on the image forming apparatus, the user is charged for the print output, and the mode of the charge is changed according to the display output of the advertisement information.

Further, the present invention is a storage medium storing an image forming program devised to achieve the above object. That is, the storage medium stores a computer-readable image forming program, and displays and outputs predetermined advertisement information to a user of the image forming apparatus that prints out image data. When the print output is performed, the print output is charged, and the mode of the charge is changed according to the display output of the advertisement information.

According to the image forming apparatus having the above configuration, the image forming method having the above procedure, or the storage medium storing the image forming program having the above procedure, the mode of charging the print output is determined according to the display output of the advertisement information to the user. When the advertisement information is displayed and output, for example, the user is borne as a usage fee by deducting a certain amount from the charge amount for the print output, and the deducted amount is used as the advertisement fee by the advertiser. Can be burdened. Therefore, if the charging mode is changed according to the display output of the advertisement information, the cost burden on the user can be reduced.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a storage medium storing an image forming program according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described. Here, a case where the image forming apparatus is a copying machine will be described as an example. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration in which an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is used, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

The copying machine according to the present embodiment is used in a system as shown in FIG. This system includes a plurality of copiers 10, a management device 20, and a network 30 connecting these to each other. In addition,
It is needless to say that the number of the copying machines 10 may be one instead of a plurality.

Among them, the management device 20 is provided for each copier 10
The host computer monitors the usage status and operation status of each copying machine 10 and manages the billing status of each copying machine 10. Also,
In the management device 20, image information for displaying an advertisement image (moving image or still image) relating to a company or a product in advance (hereinafter, referred to as image information)
This information is referred to as “advertisement information”), and the advertisement information is periodically delivered to each copying machine 10 through the network 30.

The network 30 is connected to each copier 10
If the connection is made between the local L
It may be an AN (local area network) or a wide area network using a public telephone line.

The copying machine 10 connected to the management device 20 via the network 30 realizes a so-called copying function of printing out image data optically read from a document on recording paper. . However, the copying machine 10 can also realize a so-called print function of printing out image data received via the network 30 on recording paper. The print function includes a confidential print function, which will be described in detail later.

For this purpose, each of the copying machines 10 is configured as shown in FIG. That is, a network interface 11 for connecting to the network 30, an IIT controller 12 for controlling an image input terminal (hereinafter referred to as "IIT") for reading image data from a document, and an image data on a recording sheet. Output device (Imag
e Output Terminal (hereinafter referred to as “IOT”), a printer controller 14 for performing image processing required for outputting in IOT image data acquired by IIT, a display unit and a touch panel. LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) consisting of a unit and functioning as an operation display
15, a user interface (hereinafter referred to as “UI”) controller 16 for controlling information display on the LCD 15, and a system controller 17 for controlling the operation of the entire copying machine.

The UI controller 16 includes an LC controller
LCD controller 16a, touch panel controller 16b, SRAM to control D15
(Static Random Access Memory), etc., a frame memory 16c, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 16d, and an interface (I /
F) 16e and the internal bus 1 connecting them together
6f is built in.

The system controller 17 includes a CPU 17a and a ROM for controlling the operation of the entire copying machine.
17b, hard disk 17c, UI controller 16
Interface (I / F) 17d and an internal bus 17e connecting these to each other.

When the network 30 connecting each copying machine 10 and the management device 20 is a public telephone line, it goes without saying that the network interface 11 is a modem device.

Next, the copying machine 10 constructed as described above
An example of the processing operation in will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the outline of the entire processing operation, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing operation in the copy mode.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the power is turned on (ON) in the copying machine 10 (step 100, the step is hereinafter abbreviated as "S"), the CPU 17a sets the LCD controller after the warm-up of the mechanism is completed. An instruction is given to the LCD 16a to display a UI screen for displaying the operation of the copying operation on the LCD 15 (S101).

When there is a command from CPU 17a, the LCD
The controller 16a reads the UI screen information stored in the ROM 16d and causes the LCD 15 to display the UI screen. Thereafter, the copier 10 turns off the power (S1
02) or the idle state unless there is a copy operation start instruction (S103). Examples of a copy operation start instruction include placing a document on a platen glass, setting a document on an ADF (auto document feeder), and operating a touch panel of the LCD 15 by a user.

In the idle state, when the network interface 11 receives the advertisement information periodically delivered from the management device 20 via the network 30,
(S104) In the system controller 17, the CPU 1
7a decodes the header part of the received information and recognizes whether it is advertisement information, and if it is advertisement information, the hard disk 17c holds and stores it (S105).

Then, the CPU 17a gives an instruction to display the advertisement information to the LCD controller 16a unless the cancel signal of the advertisement display function is received (S10).
6). Thus, the LCD controller 16a extracts the advertisement information related to the display command from the hard disk 17c, converts the advertisement information into a displayable format, and displays the advertisement information on the LCD 15 as an advertisement image. The display of the advertising image,
The display may be performed using a display different from the LCD 15. However, if the display is performed using the LCD 15 that displays a UI screen for operation display, the hardware configuration can be prevented from becoming complicated, and the display of an advertisement image can be supported. Becomes easier.

However, if there is an instruction to start a copy operation using a document set or the like (S103), the copying machine 10 sets a copy mode in which image data is read from the document and printed out as a visible image on recording paper. Execute (S
200).

In executing the copy mode, first, as shown in FIG. 4, the user is recognized (S20).
1). This user recognition may be performed using a known technique such as a magnetic card, an IC card, fingerprint recognition, input of an ID number and a password, which can authenticate that the user is himself.

When the user recognition is completed and the user is authenticated as himself / herself, the copying machine 10
The PU 17a gives the LCD controller 16a an instruction to display the UI screen on the LCD 15 (S202). This is because even if the LCD 15 is displaying an advertisement image in the idle state, after the user is recognized, the advertisement image is switched to the UI screen to enable the user to operate. In response to this display command, the LCD controller 16a
The UI screen information stored in the OM 16d is read, and the UI screen is displayed on the LCD 15.

When the user presses the start button on the UI screen within a predetermined time (S203, S20)
4), the copying machine 10 starts a copying process. At this time, at the start of the copying process, the CPU 17a recognizes the number N of sheets to be subjected to the copying process (S205).
For example, if a document is set on the ADF, the number of sheets N
This is a value obtained by multiplying the number of originals read at T by the number of copies specified by the user from the UI screen. Also, for example, AD
If F is not used, the number of copies designated by the user from the UI screen corresponds to the number N of sheets.

Thereafter, the copying machine 10 performs a copying process for the number N of sheets recognized by the CPU 17a (S20).
6). That is, a visible image is printed out on N recording sheets. Since the copying process itself is well known,
Here, the description is omitted.

When the copying process is completed, the copying machine 10
Then, the CPU 17a charges for the copy processing for the number N of sheets. However, at this time, the CPU 17a changes the mode of the charge according to the display output of the advertisement information by the LCD 15. This is because the user who has requested the copying process performs the copying process before the copying process, that is, the copying machine 10.
Since the user has viewed the advertisement image displayed on the LCD 15 from when the user arrives at the installation location until the personal authentication is completed, the cost burden on the user is reduced in consideration of the fact. .

More specifically, the CPU 17a compares the number N of sheets subjected to the copying process with the number M of free advertisement images displayed on the LCD 15, and determines whether N is smaller than M (S207). . Note that the free number M of the advertisement images is set in advance, and is stored in, for example, the hard disk 17c of the system controller 17.

If the result of this determination is that the number of sheets N is greater than the number of free sheets M, the CPU 17a
The counter for the advertiser of the advertisement image displayed in 5 is counted up by the number M of free images, and the counter of the number of times of advertisement exposure is counted up by one (S208). Further, the CPU 17a counts up the use counter for the copying process by an amount obtained by subtracting the free number M from the sheet number N (S209).

That is, the CPU 17a calculates the free number M of the billing amount for the number N of sheets subjected to the copying process.
The minute is calculated as an advertisement fee, and the advertiser of the advertisement image displayed on the LCD 15 bears the cost,
The usage fee is calculated by subtracting the free number M from the charging amount for the sheet number N for which the copying process has been performed, and this is to be borne by the user.

If the number of sheets N is equal to or less than the free number of sheets M, the CPU 17a increments the advertiser counter of the advertisement image displayed on the LCD 15 by the number of sheets N (S210). The advertisement exposure counter is incremented by one. In this case, since the number of sheets N is equal to or less than the number of free sheets M, the charge to the user is free and the use counter is not counted up.

When such a series of processing is completed, the copying machine 10 is in a state of waiting for pressing of the start button, but if there is no operation for a predetermined time (S203), the copying mode is ended (S211). When the copy mode ends, the copying machine 10
Returns to the idle state.

Thereafter, a command to request the submission of various counter values is sent from the management device 20 to the copier 10 periodically, for example, once a week or once a month. . When the network interface 11 receives this command, the CPU 17a manages the value of the counter for the advertiser (including the counter of the number of times of advertisement exposure) and the value of the usage counter for the user in accordance with the command. Notify the device. The exchange at this time may be performed in a format such as e-mail.

When the counter value is notified, the management device 20 summarizes the charging status for the user at each copying machine 10 on the network 30 and counts the advertisement count for billing the advertiser for the advertisement fee. Create As a result, the management device 20 can claim the cost burden of the copying process in each copying machine 10 in a state where it is shared between the user (or the administrator) and the advertiser.

That is, in the present embodiment, when the copying process is performed using the copying machine 10, the cost burden of the copying process is shared between the user and the advertiser through the use of the information display function on the LCD 15. Therefore, the cost burden on the user is reduced as compared with the conventional case. In addition, since the advertiser also bears the cost in accordance with the display of the advertisement information to the user, the cost burden is appropriate.

It goes without saying that there may be a plurality of users and advertisers. In this case, the cost burden of the copying process is for each user and each advertiser. That is, the usage fee is charged for each user based on the result of the user authentication, and the advertisement fee is charged to the advertiser of the displayed and output advertisement information. When there are a plurality of advertisers, it becomes a problem which advertisement information is to be displayed and output. For this, it is conceivable to periodically rotate the advertisement information distributed from the management device 20.

The copier 10 can cope not only with the copying process but also with the printing output of image data received via the network 30 on recording paper. It is possible to perform the same operation as in the above-described copying process. For example, consider a case where a user performs confidential printing using the copying machine 10. The confidential printing is not the time when the print job is issued, but after the user who issued the print job goes to the place where the copying machine 10 is installed, and operates the copying machine 10 to perform the printing process related to the print job. Means to let FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an outline of the entire processing operation at the time of confidential printing, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing operation at the time of confidential printing mode.

The processing for performing confidential printing is substantially the same as the processing for copying (see FIG. 3). However, when confidential printing is performed, as shown in FIG. 5, the instruction to start confidential printing is different from that in the case of copying. That is, at the time of confidential printing, a confidential print job is issued from a personal computer (PC) or the like existing on the network 30 in place of a copy operation start instruction at the time of copy processing, so that the copier 10 accepts the confidential print job. This is used as a confidential print start instruction (S303).
The image data relating to the confidential print job is temporarily stored in the hard disk 17c, and waits for the user who issued the job to identify itself. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6, when the identity of the user is recognized (S401), the copying machine 10
Except that the copying process is a printing process (S403), the same processing operation as in the above-described copying process (see FIG. 4) is performed.

Therefore, also in the case of performing confidential printing, the copying machine 10 displays and outputs advertisement information to the user who has gone to the installation location, thereby reducing the cost burden of the printing process by the user (or managing the cost). ) And the advertiser.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described. However, here, only the differences from the above-described first embodiment will be described. In the embodiment described here, when a plurality of copies are made on a single document, or when a plurality of documents are continuously copied using the ADF, a certain number of copies can be obtained by one operation. This is an effective example when copying is performed. To clarify the difference from the first embodiment, it is assumed that the advertising image is not displayed on the LCD 15 when the copying machine 10 is in the idle state. However, there is no problem even when the first embodiment is used together.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing operation in the copy mode in the present embodiment. As in the illustrated example, also in the present embodiment, the CPU 17a of the copying machine 10 is used.
In executing the copy mode, after the user has been identified and the start button on the UI screen has been pressed,
(S501 to S504), the number N of sheets to be copied is recognized (S505). When recognizing the number N of sheets, the CPU 17a determines whether the number N of sheets exceeds a predetermined number K (S5).
06).

As a result of this determination, the number of sheets N becomes a certain number K
If not, the CPU 17a performs the copy process without displaying the advertisement image on the LCD 15 (S507), and the CPU 17a performs the copy process for the number of sheets N for which the copy process has been performed. Only the usage counter is counted up (S508).

On the other hand, if the number N of sheets exceeds a certain number K, it is considered that a certain amount of time is required for the copying process, so the CPU 17a sends a display command of advertisement information to the LCD controller 16a (S509). Accordingly, L
The CD controller 16a extracts the advertisement information according to the display command from the hard disk 17c, converts the advertisement information into a displayable format, and displays the advertisement information on the LCD 15 as an advertisement image.

When the LCD 15 displays the advertisement image, the copying machine 10 starts the copying process at the same time.
(S510) The CPU 17a charges for copy processing for the number N of sheets. However, at this time, the CPU 17a
Changes the mode of the charge according to the display output of the advertisement information by the LCD 15. In other words, the user of the copying machine 10 has been watching the advertisement image displayed on the LCD 15 during the copying process, that is, during the period from the start to the end of the copying process. This is to reduce the cost burden on the user.

More specifically, the CPU 17a counts up the advertiser counter and the usage counter in substantially the same manner as in the first embodiment (S511 to S511).
514) The cost burden of the copying process is shared between the user (or the manager thereof) and the advertiser.

When the copying process is completed, the copying machine 10
Then, the CPU 17a gives the LCD controller 16a an instruction to display the UI screen on the LCD 15 (S51).
5). This is because when the copying machine 10 is in the idle state,
This is because the UI screen is displayed from the LCD 15 instead of the advertisement image.

As described above, even if the advertisement image is displayed on the LCD 15 during the copying process, the same as in the case of the first embodiment, that is, the case where the advertisement image is displayed prior to the copying process, as in the first embodiment. If the cost burden related to the copying process is shared between the user and the advertiser, the cost burden on the user is reduced as compared with the related art, and the cost burden on the advertiser becomes appropriate.

It is needless to say that confidential printing may be performed in this embodiment as well. In that case, copy machine 1
It is assumed that the confidential print job 0 receives information about the number of prints, and the printer controller 14 decodes the information and notifies the CPU as the number of prints.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described. Here, however, only the differences from the above-described first or second embodiment will be described. In the embodiment described here, the copying machine 1 that has viewed the advertisement image displayed on the LCD 15
This is an effective example when the user No. 0 requests a printout of catalog material related to the advertisement. FIGS. 8 and 9 are explanatory diagrams showing specific examples of displaying an advertisement image, respectively. FIGS. 10 and 11 are flowcharts showing processing operations in a copy mode accompanied by print output of catalog materials.

In the present embodiment, when the copying machine 10 is in the idle state, the LCD 1 is operated in the same manner as in the first embodiment.
It is assumed that an advertisement image is displayed on 5. At this time, on the LCD 15, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, in addition to the advertisement image 15a and the start button 15b for starting the copying process, a catalog material print request button (hereinafter referred to as a "catalog print button") ) 15c is displayed. In other words, since the LCD 15 has a display screen provided with a touch panel, by pressing the catalog print button 15c, the user can request desired catalog materials.

However, the catalog print button 15c may be provided not on the display screen of the LCD 15, but on an operation panel located outside the LCD 15, as shown in FIG. In this case, it is preferable to add an arrow, a character, or the like as shown in the figure at the time of displaying the advertisement image 15a for which a catalog request can be made, to clearly indicate that the catalog print button 15c is valid.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, a description will be given of the processing operation in the copy mode accompanied by the printout of the catalog material. In the present embodiment, when the copying machine 10 is in the idle state, the advertisement image 15a is displayed on the LCD 15 as in the case of the first embodiment. By pressing the catalog print button 15c above, it is possible to request catalog materials related to the advertisement image 15a.

Therefore, in the copying machine 10, as shown in FIG. 10, when executing the copy mode (S6).
00), if the catalog print button 15c is pressed before the user recognition (S601), the CPU 17a determines whether or not the information on the requested catalog material (hereinafter referred to as "catalog information") exists in the hard disk 17c. If it is confirmed (S602), if not, the management device 20 or the advertisement information management server on the network 30 is requested to transmit catalog information (S603). Then, upon receiving the catalog information, the user is prompted to perform a recognition operation such as insertion of a magnetic card. The same applies to the case where catalog information already exists in the hard disk 17c and after a certain period of time has elapsed without pressing the catalog print button 15c (S604).

After that, the user recognition is completed (S605),
After the user is authenticated as himself,
In the copying machine 10, if the catalog print button 15c has already been pressed and catalog information has been requested (S606), C
The PU 17a issues a command to change the display on the LCD 15 to the UI screen to the LCD controller 16a (S611).

On the other hand, if there is no request for catalog information at this time, the CPU 17a displays the advertisement information for a predetermined period (for example, several seconds) even after completing the user recognition.
It instructs the CD controller 16a. If the catalog print button 15c is pressed (S607), the CPU 1
If the catalog information is not present in the hard disk 17c (S608), a request for catalog information is sent to the management device 20 or the like (S609). If the catalog information is present in the hard disk 17c, a command to display a UI screen is sent to the LCD controller 16a. It is issued (S611). The same applies to a case where a certain time has elapsed without pressing the catalog print button 15c (S610).

After the UI screen is displayed on the LCD 15, the operation end button for terminating the copy mode is not pressed (S612), and if the start button is pressed within a predetermined time (S613, S614), In the copying machine 10,
Start the copying process. Copy processing performed here (S615 to S615)
S620) is the same as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 4).

When such a series of processing is completed, the copying machine 10 is in a wait state for pressing the start button. However, if the operation end button is pressed (S612), or if there is no operation for a predetermined time (S613), the hard disk 17c Prints out the catalog information stored in. In other words, except for the case where the catalog information is not transmitted from the management device 20 or the like even after a certain period of time and the transmission ends with a transmission error (S621 to S6
23) At the same time, the catalog information in the hard disk 17c is printed out on the recording paper (S624), and the counter for the advertiser is counted up by the number of printed out sheets (S625). When the printout of the catalog information ends, the copy mode ends (S626), and the copier 10 returns to the idle state.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the LCD 1
When the user requests catalog material related to the advertisement information while displaying and outputting the advertisement information, the requested catalog material is printed out. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the catalog material desired by the user can be easily obtained, which is very convenient for the user. In addition, the user is not required to bear the cost because the advertiser is charged for the print output of the catalog material. In addition, the advertiser can expect further advertising effects.

[Fourth Embodiment] Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described. Here, however, only the differences from the above-described first to third embodiments will be described. The embodiment described here is an effective example when applied to a copying machine or the like installed in a store such as a convenience store. FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration in which the copying machine according to the present embodiment is used.

In the system shown in the figure, an accounting processor 40 is individually connected to each copying machine 10. Billing device 4
Numeral 0 has a slot for inserting money, and is configured to give an operation instruction to the copying machine 10 when a coin is inserted into the slot. It is assumed that the management device 20 connected to each copying machine 10 via the network 30 is installed at the head office or the like of the convenience shop chain.

Next, an example of a processing operation in the system configured as described above will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an outline of the entire processing operation in the copying machine. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the processing operation in the accounting apparatus. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the processing operation in the copying mode of the copying machine.

As shown in FIG. 13, in the copying machine 10, when the power is turned on (ON) upon opening of the store (S70).
0) After completion of warm-up of the mechanism, the CPU 17a
Is a UI screen LCD to the LCD controller 16a.
15 is displayed (S701). Upon receiving the command, the LCD controller 16a reads the UI screen information stored in the ROM 16d,
Display the I screen. After that, the copying machine 10
FF (S702) or copy operation start instruction (S70)
3) As long as there is no idle state. As an instruction to start the copy operation, an operation instruction from the accounting processing device 40 is given.

Thereafter, in the copying machine 10, since the advertisement information is periodically delivered from the management device 20, the network interface 11 receives the advertisement information. When the network interface 11 receives the advertisement information (S704), the CPU 17a decodes the header part, recognizes that the advertisement information is to be displayed on the LCD 15, and transmits the advertisement information to the hard disk 17 (S704).
The data is held and stored in c (S705). And the CPU 17
In step a706, a command is given to the LCD controller 16a to display advertisement information unless a cancel signal for the advertisement display function is received (S706), and an advertisement image is displayed on the LCD 15.

By the way, the copying operation in the copying machine 10 starts when a user inserts money into the accounting processor 40 adjacent to the copying machine 10. That is, as shown in FIG. 14, when the billing device 40 is powered on (S801) and money is inserted (S802), the billing device 40 is in an idle state. An operation start command is issued to the machine 10 (S803).

In response to this operation start command, the copying machine 10
Shifts to the copy mode (S703, FIG. 13)
See S707). In the copying machine 10 that has shifted to the copy mode, as shown in FIG. 15, the CPU 17a gives a command to change the display on the LCD 15 to the UI screen to the LCD controller 16a (S901). In response, LC
The D controller 16a reads the UI screen information stored in the ROM 16d and displays the UI screen on the LCD 15.

Further, since information relating to the amount of money to be inserted, that is, information relating to the number of copies that can be made, is sent from the accounting processor 40 together with the operation start command (S902).
In the case of 0, the value of the number of copies that can be copied
It is temporarily stored in a register in the U17a, the hard disk 17c, or the like. Thereafter, the copying machine 10 starts a copying process (S904 to S917). The operation relating to the copying process is substantially the same as in the first embodiment.

However, if the number N of sheets to be subjected to the copying process is larger than the number of copies that can be temporarily held,
(S909) Since the copying machine 10 cannot perform the copying process for the larger amount, the CPU 17a requests the charging processor to add additional money (S915), and returns to the state before the start of the copying process.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14, the accounting processor 40 gives an operation start command to the copying machine 10 and further transmits information on the number of copies that can be made (S80).
5) Wait for a money insertion request from the copying machine 10 and, if there is a money insertion request (S806), prompt the user to insert the requested additional money. And when additional money is inserted
(S810), the information about the number of copies that can be made is retransmitted to the copying machine 10 (S805). If no additional money is inserted (S810, S811), an instruction to the effect that the copying operation is impossible is given to the copying machine 10 (S812), and the process returns to the idle state. In this case, the copying machine 10 that has received the copy impossible instruction also returns to the idle state.

After transmitting the information on the number of copies that can be made, if there is no additional money insertion request from the copying machine 10 (S80)
6) Since the copying machine 10 is performing the copying process, the accounting processing device 40 performs the accounting process according to the accounting command from the copying machine 10 (S807). The billing instruction at this time is
This corresponds to the amount calculated by the CPU 17a of the copying machine 10 as the usage fee.

Thereafter, when a charge end command is received from the copying machine 10 (S808), the charge processing unit 40 performs a refund process for the balance (the difference between the input amount and the usage fee) (S813, S81).
4) Return to the idle state. If no charge end command is received from the copying machine 10 (S808), the charge processing device 40
Indicates the balance or additional money input (S809, S810)
To update the number of copies that can be made (S805), and waits for the next copy operation.

As described above, the CPU 17 of the copying machine 10
The processing is performed on the billing amount calculated as the usage fee by a, and the billing amount calculated by the CPU 17a as the advertisement fee may be processed as described in the first embodiment. In other words, the management device 20 sends a submission request command for the values of various counters to the copier 10 periodically, for example, once a month. When this command is received via the network interface 11, the CPU 17a of the copying machine 10 notifies the management device 20 of the value of the advertiser counter. Upon receiving this notification, the management device 2
“0” creates an advertisement count status for billing an advertiser for advertising expenses.

As described above, even when the copying machine 10 is installed in a store such as a convenience store and the copying process is performed on condition that the money is inserted into the charging processing device 40, the cost for the copying process is borne. Is shared between the user and the advertiser, the cost burden on the user is reduced as compared with the related art, and the cost burden on the advertiser becomes appropriate.

Note that the billing processing device 40 may use a magnetic card such as a so-called prepaid card instead of inserting money. Instead of managing the number of copies that can be made by both the copier 10 and the billing device 40, one of the copiers 10 and the accounting processor 40 may perform the management and notify the other of the management information. Further, the copying machine 10 and the billing processing device 40 may be provided integrally, not separately.

In the first to fourth embodiments described above, the case where the image forming apparatus is a copying machine has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as long as the image is visualized and printed out on a recording sheet, the present invention can be applied to a printer device, for example.

The processing procedure described in the first to fourth embodiments, that is, the image forming method according to the present invention can also be realized by an image forming program executed by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine. That is, an image forming program for executing the above-described processing procedure is stored in a CD-ROM, for example.
It is also conceivable that the image forming program is stored in a storage medium such as the above, and the image forming program is read from the storage medium and executed by the image forming apparatus.

[0080]

As described above, in the image forming apparatus, the image forming method, and the storage medium in which the image forming program is recorded according to the present invention, the mode of charging the print output is determined according to the display output of the advertisement information to the user. When the advertisement information is displayed and output, for example, the user is borne as a usage fee by deducting a certain amount from the charge amount for the print output, and the deducted amount is used as the advertisement fee by the advertiser. Can be burdened. Therefore, for the user, the advertiser bears part or all of the cost of the print output by looking at the advertisement information displayed and output, so that the user may feel the cost burden as in the past. Absent. Also,
The advertiser also has the advantage that the advertising effect and the advertising cost can be balanced because the user only has to bear the cost according to the amount of the advertisement information viewed. That is, in the present invention, when printing out image data using the image forming apparatus, the cost burden related to the printout can be optimized by utilizing the information display function on the operation display. As a result, it is possible to contribute to promoting the use of print output using the image forming apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration in which an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is used.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of an entire processing operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation in a copy mode according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of the entire processing operation during confidential printing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation in a confidential print mode according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation in a copy mode according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of display of an advertisement image.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing another specific example of display of an advertisement image.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating a processing operation in a copy mode according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating a processing operation in the copy mode according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing another example of a system configuration in which the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is used.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of the entire processing operation according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation in a charging apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation in a copying mode in a copying machine according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Copy machine, 11: Network interface,
12 IIT controller, 13 IOT controller, 14 Printer controller, 15 LCD, 16
... UI controller, 16a ... LCD controller, 1
6b: Touch panel controller, 16c: Frame memory, 16d: ROM, 16e: I / F, 16f: Internal bus, 17: System controller, 17a: CPU,
17b ROM, 17c hard disk, 17d I
/ F, 17e: internal bus, 20: management device, 30: management device, 40: billing device

Claims (17)

[Claims] An image forming unit that converts the image data into a visible image and prints it out on a recording sheet; an advertisement display unit that displays and outputs predetermined advertisement information; An image forming apparatus comprising: a charging unit that changes a mode of the charging according to a display output of the advertisement information by the advertisement display unit. 2. The first charging unit calculates a usage fee by subtracting a fixed amount from a charging amount for print output by the image forming unit when the advertisement displaying unit displays and outputs advertising information. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit. 3. The charging device according to claim 2, wherein the advertisement display device displays and outputs the advertisement information, wherein the second charging device calculates, as an advertisement fee, a fixed amount of the charge amount for the print output by the image forming device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said advertisement display means performs display output of advertisement information prior to start of print output in said image forming means. apparatus. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the image forming unit prints out on a predetermined number of recording sheets or more, the advertisement display unit displays and outputs the advertisement information during the printout. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 2, or 3. 6. An image according to claim 1, wherein said image forming means realizes a copy function of printing out image data read from a document. Forming equipment. 7. The confidential printing function according to claim 1, wherein said image forming means realizes a confidential printing function for printing out image data received via a network by a specific person's operation. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 8. A data requesting means for causing the image forming means to print out catalog data relating to the advertisement information displayed and output by the advertisement display means is provided. Item 10. The image forming apparatus according to item 1. 9. An image forming method used when forming an image on recording paper by an image forming apparatus that prints out image data, wherein predetermined advertisement information is provided to a user of the image forming apparatus. An image display, wherein when the user performs a print output in the image forming apparatus, the user is charged for the print output, and the mode of the charge is changed according to the display output of the advertisement information. Forming method. 10. The image forming method according to claim 9, wherein an amount obtained by subtracting a fixed amount from a charge amount for the print output in accordance with the display output of the advertisement information is used as the user's fee. 11. The image forming method according to claim 9, wherein a fixed amount of a charge amount for the print output is set as an advertisement fee according to the display output of the advertisement information. 12. The image forming method according to claim 9, wherein the display output of the advertisement information is performed prior to the start of print output in the image forming apparatus. 13. The method according to claim 9, wherein when the image forming apparatus prints out on a predetermined number of recording sheets or more, the advertisement information is displayed and output during the printout. 12. The image forming method according to item 11. 14. The image forming method according to claim 9, wherein the image forming apparatus is a copying machine that prints out image data read from a document. 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the image forming apparatus is a printer that implements a confidential printing function of printing out image data received via a network by a specific person. 2. The image forming method according to claim 1. 16. When a catalog material relating to the advertisement information is requested by a user of the image forming apparatus while displaying and outputting the advertisement information, the catalog material according to the request is printed out to the image forming apparatus. The image forming method according to any one of claims 9 to 15, wherein the method is performed. 17. A storage medium storing a computer-readable image forming program, wherein predetermined display information is displayed and output to a user of an image forming apparatus which prints out image data, and wherein the user A storage medium in which an image forming program is recorded, wherein when the printout is performed by the image forming apparatus, the printout is charged, and the mode of the charge is changed according to the display output of the advertisement information.