JP2002197372A - Charge collecting system and charge collecting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the convenience of both a user of a copying machine and a manager of a shop by eliminating the complicatedness of paying in cash for each copy, and performing attachment of an advertisement to a print and reduction of charges according to the contents of the advertisement. SOLUTION: The user previously transmits advertisement attach or non-attach information to a shop server 3 through a Web server 9 (P1, P2). The user mounts a shop card in a color copying machine 2 to read the card (P3), and perform a user authentication. After that, the authentication result is displayed on the color copying machine 2 (P5) and copy instruction is given (P6). Subsequently, the color copying machine 2 transmits copy instruction information to the shop server 3 (P7), the advertisement information in the advertisement DB4 is transmitted from the shop server 3 to the color copying machine 2 (P8-P10). The color copying machine 2 outputs a combination of advertisement information and print data, and the user makes a copy (P11). After that, electronic settlement for payment from the user's account to the shop's account is performed (P11).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fee collection system and a fee collection method, and more particularly, to a fee collection system and a fee collection method for collecting a usage fee of a copying machine installed in a store such as a supermarket or a convenience store. .

[0002]

Today, copying machines are installed in stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores, and copy services using the copying machines are provided.

[0003] In the copy service, a coin box is attached to the copying machine, and a user of the copying machine puts a charge corresponding to the number of copies into the coin box. It is common to pay.

[0004] Therefore, in the above-mentioned conventional copy service, a coin box for collecting a usage fee needs to be attached to a copying machine, and a store manager, a manager, and an employee (hereinafter referred to as “manager”). ) Must collect the usage fee inserted into the coin box, and such collection of the usage fee is burdensome for the administrator and the like. In addition, the user of the copying machine also has to put a usage fee into the coin box every time a copy is made at the store, which inconveniences the user of such a copying machine.

On the other hand, for users who frequently use the copying machine, if the usage fee is directly deducted from the user's bank account or the like, the user does not need to pay a fee every time a copy is made. In addition, a store manager or the like does not need to collect the fee charged in the coin box, and the convenience of both the user of the copying machine and the store manager is improved.
In particular, by attaching a product advertisement of the store to the printed material copied by the user, the amount deducted from the user's account can be reduced from the regular amount or made free of charge according to the user's propensity to consume It is considered that this also contributes to the promotion of merchandise for the managers, etc., and is therefore convenient for both the user of the copying machine and the manager of the store.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and eliminates the inconvenience of paying a fee for each copy in cash, and provides a service for attaching an advertisement to a printed matter and reducing a fee according to the content of the advertisement. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fee collection system and a fee collection method that can improve the convenience of both the user of the copying machine and the manager of the store.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a fee collection system according to the present invention provides a copy machine in a store, provides a copy service to a user of the copy machine, and uses the copy service. A fee collection system for collecting fees, a registration unit for registering identification information unique to the user in the shop card, and a reading unit in which the copying machine reads the identification information registered in the shop card. A settlement means for electronic settlement of a usage fee spent by the user on the copy service based on the identification information; and a first server device in which the identification information is registered and the copy machine. A second server device is provided for transmitting and receiving data to and from a terminal device operated by a user of the machine, and permits the advertisement provided by the store to be attached to printed matter. Advertising attachment permission / inhibition information transmitting means for transmitting the advertisement attachment permission / inhibition information of whether or not the terminal is attached from the terminal device to the first server device via the second server device; First collating means for collating the obtained identification information with the identification information transmitted from the copying machine; and returning means for returning a collation result of the first collating means to the copying machine. Copy machine,
First identification information transmitting means for transmitting the identification information read by the reading means to the first server device;
Output means for outputting a printed matter with an advertisement when the matching result is matched by the return means and the attachment of the advertisement is permitted by the advertisement attachment availability information, and the settlement means further comprises: When output, the usage fee is free or the usage fee is reduced by a predetermined amount from the regular fee according to the content of the advertisement.

[0008] A fee collection method according to the present invention is a charge collection method in which a copy machine is installed in a store, a copy service is provided to a user of the copy machine, and a usage charge of the copy service is collected. The identification information unique to the user is registered in the store card, the copying machine reads the identification information registered in the store card, and the user spends on the copy service based on the identification information. A second server device for exchanging data between a first server device in which the identification information is registered and a terminal device operated by a user of the copying machine; Is provided from the terminal device to the first server device via the second server device, from the terminal device, whether or not to permit the attachment of the advertisement provided by the store to the printed matter. The first server device compares the registered identification information with the identification information transmitted from the copying machine and returns a result of the comparison to the copying machine. While transmitting the identification information to the first server device, when the matching result matches and the attachment of the advertisement is permitted by the advertisement attachment availability information, a printed matter with an advertisement is output, and the electronic payment is performed by the advertisement. When the attached printed matter is output, the usage fee is free or the usage fee is reduced by a predetermined amount from the regular fee according to the content of the advertisement.

[0009] Other features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention.

[0010]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a fee collection system according to the present invention.

The store 1 includes a color copying machine 2, a store server 3 that manages the color copying machine 2, and an advertisement database (advertisement DB) 4 that stores advertisement image data (flyer advertisement) of the store 1. is set up. The color copier 2 is connected to a store server 3 via an intranet 5, and the store server 3 is connected to an advertisement DB 4 via a dedicated connection cable 6.

[0013] The copy user has a terminal device 7, and the terminal device 7 is connected to the Web via the Internet 8.
The web server 9 is connected to the store server 3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the details of the color copying machine 2. The color copying machine 2 includes an operation unit 10 for a user to perform a predetermined input operation and a scanner for reading image data. Unit 11 and an image memory unit 12 for temporarily storing read image data read by the scanner unit 11 and advertisement image data transferred from the first server device 3
A print engine 13 for executing a predetermined print process by combining read image data and advertisement image data, a printer unit 14 for outputting image data processed by the print engine 13, and a network between the intranet 5 A NIC (Network Interface Card) 15 for controlling, a card reader 16 for loading a store card owned by the store 1 and reading a card number (identification information) of a user written on the store card, and a bus 17. And a control unit 18 connected to each of the above-described components via the control unit and controlling the entire apparatus.

In the fee collection system, by registering its own card number in a store card in advance, when the user enjoys the copy service with the color copier 2 installed in the store 1, the user can use the service. So-called electronic payment, in which a user account is automatically deducted from a user account to a store account, is not required without cash payment for each copy of the fee. Further, in the fee collection system, the advertisement information of the product provided by the store 1 can be attached to the print data of the user and printed out. The copy fee is automatically free or reduced. Further, if the user of the color copying machine 2 is permitted to attach the advertisement information, the user can request a questionnaire. If the request of the questionnaire is permitted, the user can use the questionnaire based on the questionnaire information. Advertisements are provided according to their propensity.

Hereinafter, the fee collection system of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a processing procedure of the fee collection system according to the present invention. The processing procedure includes a setting phase A, a copy phase B, and a settlement phase C.

That is, in the setting phase A, first, the user of the color copying machine 2 connects his / her own terminal device 7 to the Web server 9 via the Internet 8 and the Web server 9 performs user authentication. The user transmits the advertisement attachment availability information to the Web server 9 (P1). That is, W
The user's card number is stored and managed in the web server 9 in advance. When the terminal device 7 and the web server 9 are connected to the network, the web server 9 firstly stores the card number transmitted from the terminal device 7. The card number stored in the Web server 9 is collated, and user authentication is performed.
After that, the user sends the advertisement attachment availability information to the Web server 9 as to whether the attachment of the advertisement provided by the store 1 is permitted or not.

Next, the Web receiving the advertisement attachment availability information
The b server 9 transfers the advertisement attachment availability information together with the user information such as the card number to the store server 3 (P2), thereby ending the setting phase A and proceeding to the copy phase B.

Next, in copy phase B, the user:
The store card is attached to the color copier 2 and the contents are read by the card reader 16 (P3), and then the card number is transmitted from the color copier 2 to the store server 3 to perform user authentication (P4). Thereafter, the authentication result is returned to the color copying machine 2 and displayed on the operation unit 10 of the color copying machine 2 (P5).
Is instructed to copy (P6). Next, the color copier 2 transmits the copy instruction information to the store server 3 (P7), and the store server 3 sends predetermined product advertisement information to the advertisement DB 4 as necessary based on the advertisement attachment availability information of the user. Request (P8). When the advertisement attachment is rejected by the advertisement attachment availability information of the user, the request of the advertisement DB 4 for the product advertisement information is not performed.

Next, the store server 3 receives the product advertisement information from the advertisement DB 4 (P9). When the user permits the attachment of the advertisement with the advertisement attachment availability information, the permission / inhibition information of the questionnaire request is issued from the terminal device 7 as described above. If not requested, general product advertisement information is received. If a questionnaire is requested, advertisement information suitable for the user's consumption tendency is received based on the result of the questionnaire.

Next, the advertisement information of the product is transferred from the store server 3 to the color copying machine 2 (P10).
Prints out a combination of the product advertisement information and the copy content, and the user receives the copy (P11).

Next, in the settlement phase C, the store server 3 compares the product advertisement information with the copy information to determine the printing price, and performs electronic payment for payment from the user account to the store account (P11). . In this case, if it is determined that the store 1 is “free” in the merchandise advertisement information, the payment from the user account to the store account is not performed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a processing procedure executed by the Web server 9.

First, after user authentication is performed in step S1, advertisement attachment propriety information is received in step S2, and in step S3, advertisement attachment propriety information is transmitted to the store server 3. Next, in step S4, it is determined whether the attachment of the advertisement is “OK”. If the answer is negative (No), the program is immediately terminated. In this case, a normal copy without a product advertisement is made to the copy service in the store 1, and a normal regular fee is deducted from the user account to the store account.

On the other hand, the answer to step S4 is affirmative (Yes).
In step S5, the process proceeds to step S5, where a questionnaire request is displayed, and in step S6, it is determined whether the user has approved the questionnaire request. If the answer is negative (No), the program is immediately terminated. In this case, a general product advertisement is attached to the copy service in the store 1. Then, the copy fee is free or reduced from the regular fee by a predetermined amount according to the judgment of the store 1 according to the contents of the advertisement. If the copy fee is not free, the copy fee is deducted from the user account to the store account.

If the answer to step S6 is affirmative (Yes)
In step S7, the process proceeds to step S7 to receive the questionnaire information, and in the subsequent step S8, the questionnaire information is
Send to In this case, an advertisement suitable for the user's consumption tendency is attached to the copy service in the store 1 based on the questionnaire information. That is, as a result of the questionnaire, when the user has a hobby in sports, an advertisement mainly including sports equipment is attached to the print data of the user. In this case as well, the copy fee is free or reduced by a predetermined amount from the regular fee according to the judgment of the store 1 according to the advertisement content,
If it is not free, + means that the copy fee will be deducted from the user account to the store account.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a Web page of a large supermarket "Super II".
By operating 0, the age, occupation, and hobby can be easily input.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the store server.

In step S11, the user's card number is received from the color copier 2, and in step S12, the card number is checked. Then, in step S13, it is determined whether or not the card number is a registered card number, and the answer is negative (N
In the case of o), the fact is notified to the color copying machine 2 (step S14), and the process is terminated.

On the other hand, if the answer in step S13 is affirmative (Ye
In the case of s), the process proceeds to step S15, where the advertisement attachment availability information of the user is checked, and in step S16, it is determined whether the advertisement can be attached. If the answer is negative (No), the process proceeds to step S17, and charging is performed. That is, the fee is deducted from the user account to the store account at the normal copy fee, and the process ends.

If the answer in step S16 is affirmative (Ye)
In the case of s), the presence or absence of the questionnaire information of the user is checked in step S18, and it is determined whether or not the questionnaire information is present in step S19. If the answer to step S19 is negative (No), that is, if there is no questionnaire information, general merchandise advertisement information irrespective of the user's propensity to consume is retrieved from the advertisement DB 4 in step S20, and the color copier 2 is searched.
Send to

On the other hand, if the answer in step S19 is affirmative (Ye
In the case of s), the advertisement DB 4 searches the questionnaire information for appropriate product advertisement information suitable for the user's propensity to consume, and transmits the advertisement information to the color copying machine 2.

Then, step S20 and step S2
In step 1, the number of printed copies is compared with the content of the product advertisement, etc., and the degree of free charge or reduction from the regular charge is automatically determined according to the judgment of store 1, and if not free, charging processing is performed. And deduct the fee from the user account to the reseller account.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the color copying machine.

First, in step S21, the card number of the user read by the card reader 16 is transmitted to the store server 3, and in step S22, the authentication result of the card number is received from the store server 3. Then, in a step S23, it is determined whether or not the authentication result is “OK”, and the result is negative (N
In the case of o), the process returns to step S21, and the above-described processing is repeated.

On the other hand, if the answer in step S23 is affirmative (Ye
In the case of s), the process proceeds to step S24, after transmitting the copy instruction information, checks whether or not the product advertisement information has been received from the store server 3, and determines whether or not it has been received in step S25. In the case of ()), the process proceeds to step S27, where the read image read by the scanner unit 11 is printed out as it is, and the process ends.

On the other hand, if the answer in step S25 is affirmative (Ye
In the case of s), the process proceeds to step S26, where the advertisement image is combined with the copy image, printed out in step S27, and the process ends.

FIG. 8 shows a copy document printed by the color copying machine.

That is, the copy document has a copy print area 19 in which print data of the user is output, and advertisement print areas 20a and 20b in which advertisements are printed. Has been output.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user simply inserts the store card into the card reader 16 of the color copier 2 and the fee is electronically settled and automatically transferred from the user account to the store account. Since it is deducted, it is convenient for the user, and the store can save the trouble of collecting the fee from the coin box by the manager or the like.

Further, the advertisement information provided by the store is attached to the print data of the user and printed out, and when the advertisement information is attached, the copy price is free or reduced by a predetermined amount from the regular amount. The economy is improved for the user, and the store can promote sales, and the convenience of both the user and the store can be dramatically improved. Furthermore, when the user has responded to the questionnaire request, an advertisement suitable for the user's consumption tendency can be provided, so that more effective sales promotion can be achieved.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, by providing a copy print area on the front side of a recording sheet and providing an advertisement print area on the back side of the copy print area, It is also preferable to print the user's print data at the same size without reducing it.

The color copier 2 installed in the store 1
Is connected to the store server 3 via the intranet 5 of the store 1 as described above. In this case, there may be a plurality of stores in the store 1 or at various locations of affiliated stores.

[0045]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a user registers his / her own identification information on a store card and electronic payment is made only by reading his / her own identification information by a reading means. This is convenient for the user, and the store can also save the trouble of collecting charges from the coin box by the manager or the like.

In addition, the advertisement information provided by the store is attached to the print data of the user and printed out, and when the advertisement information is attached, the copy price is free or reduced from the regular amount, so that the user can be provided with the information. Can improve the economy, and can also promote sales for the store side, and can dramatically improve the convenience for both the user and the store. Further, when the user has responded to the questionnaire request, an advertisement suitable for the user's propensity to consume is mainly provided, so that more effective sales promotion can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a fee collection system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing internal details of a color copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a processing procedure of the fee collection system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a Web server.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen displayed on a Web page.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the store server.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the color copying machine.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an output state of a printed matter with an advertisement.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 color copier (copier) 3 store server (first server device) 4 advertisement DB (advertisement information storage means) 7 terminal device 9 Web server (second server device) 16 card reader (reading means)

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G03G 21/00 396 G06F 13/00 540P G06F 13/00 540 547V 547 G07F 17/26 G07F 17/26 G03G 21/00 392

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A charge collection system that installs a copy machine in a store, provides a copy service to a user of the copy machine, and collects a charge for use of the copy service, wherein identification information unique to the user is provided. Registration means for registering in the shop card; reading means in which the copier reads the identification information registered in the shop card; and electronic payment of a usage fee spent on the copy service by the user based on the identification information. A charge collection system comprising: And a second server device for transmitting and receiving data between a first server device in which the identification information is registered and a terminal device operated by a user of the copying machine. Advertising attachment availability information transmitting means for transmitting advertisement attachment availability information from the terminal device to the first server device via the second server device, the advertisement attachment availability information indicating whether to permit attachment of the advertisement provided by the terminal device to the printed matter. A first server apparatus for collating the registered identification information with the identification information transmitted from the copying machine;
And a return means for returning a result of the comparison by the first collating means to the copying machine, and the copying machine transmits the identification information read by the reading means to the first server device. A first identification information transmitting means for transmitting to the output means, and output means for outputting a printed matter with an advertisement when the matching result matches by the return means and the attachment of the advertisement is permitted by the advertisement attachment availability information, 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: when the printout with the advertisement is output, the settlement unit reduces the usage fee according to the content of the advertisement or reduces the usage fee by a predetermined amount from a regular fee. The fee collection system described. 3. The terminal device includes a second identification information transmitting unit that transmits identification information together with the advertisement attachment availability information to a second server device, and the second server device includes the first server. Identification information storage means for storing identification information registered in the server device, and second collation means for collating the identification information stored in the identification information storage means with the identification information transmitted from the terminal device 3. The fee collection system according to claim 2, comprising: 4. An advertisement information storage unit that stores advertisement information is connected to the first server device, and the return unit is configured to execute the first collation when the advertisement attachment is permitted by the advertisement attachment availability information. 4. The fee collection system according to claim 2, wherein the advertisement information is transmitted to the copying machine together with the result of the means collation. 5. The advertisement attachment propriety information includes questionnaire acceptance propriety information, and the output means outputs the printed matter with the advertisement attached with an advertisement corresponding to the questionnaire information. The fee collection system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a payment amount is determined in accordance with the advertisement content of the printed matter with advertisement output based on the questionnaire information. 6. The advertisement according to claim 2, wherein the printed matter with the advertisement has an advertisement printed in a blank portion other than an output area of the print data possessed by the user. Toll collection system. 7. The fee collection system according to claim 6, wherein the print data of the user is reduced and output. 8. The printed matter with the advertisement, wherein an advertisement is printed on the back surface opposite to the data output surface for outputting the print data of the user. Price collection system described in Crab. 9. The fee collection system according to claim 1, wherein said settlement means deducts a usage fee from said user's account to said store's account. 10. A charge collection method for installing a copy machine in a store, providing a copy service to a user of the copy machine, and collecting a charge for using the copy service, wherein identification information unique to the user is provided. Registering in the store card, the copier further reads the identification information registered in the store card, electronic payment of the usage fee spent on the copy service from the user based on the identification information, How to collect fees. 11. A store provided by the store, comprising: a first server device in which the identification information is registered and a second server device for exchanging data with a terminal device operated by a user of the copying machine. Transmitting the advertisement attachment availability information as to whether or not to allow the advertisement to be attached to the printed matter from the terminal device to the first server device via the second server device, wherein the first server device comprises: The registered identification information is compared with the identification information transmitted from the copying machine, and the result of the comparison is returned to the copying machine. The copying machine transmits the identification information to the first server device. On the other hand, when the matching result matches and the attachment of the advertisement is permitted by the advertisement attachment availability information, the printed matter with the advertisement is output. The electronic payment is performed when the printed matter with the advertisement is output. Before depending on the content 11. The fee collection method according to claim 10, wherein the usage fee is free or the usage fee is reduced from a regular fee by a predetermined amount. 12. The terminal device transmits identification information together with the advertisement attachment availability information, and the second server device includes:
12. The charge according to claim 11, wherein the identification information registered in the first server device is stored, and the stored identification information is compared with the identification information transmitted from the terminal device. Collection method. 13. The advertisement information is stored in an advertisement information storage unit, and when the advertisement attachment is permitted by the advertisement attachment availability information, the advertisement information is transmitted to the copying machine together with the collation result. Claim 11 or Claim 12
The fee collection method described. 14. An advertised information output based on the questionnaire information, wherein questionnaire acceptance / non-admission information is included in the advertisement attachment / non-admission information, an advertisement corresponding to the questionnaire information is attached, and the printed matter with the advertisement is output. 14. The fee collection method according to claim 11, wherein the settlement amount is determined according to the advertisement content of the attached printed matter. 15. The fee collection according to claim 11, wherein the printed matter with the advertisement prints an advertisement in a blank portion other than an output area of the print data possessed by the user. Method. 16. The fee collection method according to claim 15, wherein the copying machine reduces and outputs the print data of the user. 17. The printed matter with the advertisement, wherein an advertisement is printed on a back surface opposite to a data output surface for outputting the print data of the user. The fee collection method described. 18. The fee collection method according to claim 10, wherein said electronic payment includes debiting a usage fee from said user account to said store account.