JP2002230430A - Information processor, information processing system, charging method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing system which enables a user to efficiently process contents without troubles for both the contents-providing side and the user, and accurately charges for the processing. SOLUTION: The information processor 131 charges for the print processing of contents to be charged which are obtained from the contents providing side 140, when the user makes a 1st external indication (normal print indication and will not charge for the print processing, when the user makes a 2nd external indication (test print).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, a billing method, and an information processing system for use in, for example, an apparatus or system for billing the use of a printing function or the like. The present invention relates to a storage medium in which processing steps are readable by a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, for example, a user prints content via the Internet using a terminal device such as a personal computer (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "PC" or "PC"). At this time, if the content is to be charged, a fee is charged for the print processing of the content.

[0003]

However, in the conventional charging method as described above, when printing the content to be charged, the printing process for the content is always charged. There were serious problems.

[0004] First, the layout and color of the content to be printed can be confirmed by the preview function of a PC or the like. On the other hand, in recent printers (printing equipment), many functions and dedicated paper have been developed, and depending on the print quality with the printer driver software and the type of paper used, the atmosphere of the actual print result and the like may vary. May be different from expected. Therefore, it is preferable for the user to perform a print test of the content and confirm that a desired arrangement, color, and the like are obtained, and then perform actual printing.

[0005] However, as described above, in the conventional billing method, billing is always performed when the printing process of the content is executed. For this reason, even if the user wants to check the print result of the content using a large number of print qualities and print papers, the user is charged each time the content is printed, and the user is charged until the content reaches the desired print result. Had to pay a considerable fee.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, for example, it is conceivable that the content provider is provided with a test printing function which can be performed free of charge. However, with such a configuration, it is conceivable that a large amount of contents that should be charged are printed for free and illegally.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and allows a user to efficiently process content without causing a problem on both the content providing side and the user. An information processing device capable of accurately performing billing for the process,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer-readable storage medium storing an information processing system, a billing method, and processing steps for executing the same.

[0008]

For such a purpose,
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus having a function of charging an arbitrary information processing execution, wherein the first external instruction is charged and the second information processing is charged. It is characterized by comprising a charging unit that does not charge for the execution of the information processing.

[0009] An information processing system in which a plurality of devices are communicably connected to each other, wherein at least one of the plurality of devices has the function of the information processing apparatus.

The present invention also provides a charging method for charging for execution of an arbitrary information processing, wherein in the case of a first external instruction, a first charging step for charging for the execution of the information processing, and a second external step. In the case of the instruction, a second charging step of not charging for the execution of the information processing is included.

[0011] Also, there is provided a billing method for billing for printing of content, wherein the billing method includes a first billing step for billing for printing of the content, and a second billing step for not billing for printing of the content. It is characterized by including.

Further, a program for causing a computer to realize the function of the information processing apparatus or the function of the information processing system is recorded on a computer-readable storage medium.

A program for causing a computer to execute the processing steps of the charging method is recorded on a computer-readable storage medium.

[0014]

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

[First Embodiment] The present invention is applied to, for example, a network system 100 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the network system 100 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which a user 130, a content database 140, and a billing system 150 are communicably connected to each other via the Internet 160. .

The user side 130 includes a PC 131 as a terminal device used by the user, a local printer 132 connected to the PC 131, and a network printer 133.
And The PC 131 and the network printer 133 are communicably connected to each other via a network 134 connected to the Internet 160.

In FIG. 1, for the sake of simplicity, one user 130, one content database 140, and one billing system 150 are connected to the Internet 1 respectively.
Although it is configured to be connected to the Internet 160, the number of connections to the Internet 160 is not limited. The means for connecting the user 130, the content database 140, and the billing system 150 is not limited to the Internet 160, and any communication network can be applied. Also, the PC 131 of the user side 130
May be configured to connect directly to the Internet 160.

The network system 100 as described above
First, the PC 131 of the user side 130 includes software of a browser capable of displaying images, documents, etc.
Corresponding software, driver software that enables printing by the local printer 132 or the network printer 133, and the like are installed.

The content database 140 has various file server functions, holds contents such as images and documents, and is made available to users on the Internet 160.

The billing system 150 executes a process for making a payment from the user 130 to the content providing side every time printing is completed, in cooperation with the billing software installed on the PC 131 of the user 130. For example,
It executes processing such as settlement with a credit card, electronic money, or direct debit. It should be noted that the billing system 150 may be managed independently by the content provider that manages the content database 140, or may be managed by a dedicated broker.

FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of the PC 131 on the user side 130. The PC 131 includes a CPU 201, a ROM 202, an R
An AM 203, an operation unit 204 such as a keyboard, a display unit 205 such as a CRT, a storage unit 206 such as a hard disk, and a communication unit 207 are connected so as to be able to communicate with each other via a bus 208.

The CPU 201 is a central processing unit that controls the operation of the PC 131 as a whole, performs arithmetic processing, and the like. ROM2
Reference numeral 02 denotes a read-only memory, which stores a processing program for controlling the operation of the CPU 201, that is, a processing program (such as a system startup program, an operating system, an application, a device driver, and a communication control program) read and executed by the CPU 201. Remember. The RAM 203 is a random access memory with no usage restriction.
2 includes an area where a processing program is loaded and executed.

The operation unit 204 receives input data from a keyboard or the like and transmits the data to the CPU 201. Display unit 20
Reference numeral 5 controls display on a CRT or the like. Storage unit 206
Is a hard disk (HD) or floppy (registered trademark)
An external storage device such as a disk (FD). In the present embodiment, as an example, a processing program for realizing an operation in the present embodiment, which will be described later, is stored in advance in the storage unit 206, and the CPU 201 refers to or executes the processing in the RAM 203 when necessary. To be loaded.

The communication unit 207 communicates with a connected device (here, a network printer 133) on the network 134, and connects directly to the PC 131 (here,
Communication with the local printer 132) and communication via the Internet 160 by a modem or the like are enabled.

FIG. 3 shows the operation of the network system 100 in the present embodiment.

Step S301: PC on the user side 130
In 131, the CPU 201 connects to the Internet 160 via the network 134 or the modem by the communication unit 207 according to the operation of the operation unit 204 by the user. Thus, the PC 131
Content database 14 on Internet 160
0 can be accessed.

Step S302: The CPU 201 activates browser software capable of displaying an image, a document, or the like corresponding to the content based on an operation from the user in the content held in the content database 140, and And a browsing screen for documents and the like is displayed on the display unit 205. FIG. 4 shows an example of the display screen of the display unit 205 at this time.

Step S303: As an initialization process of the dedicated browser software, the CPU 201 provides a charging flag indicating whether or not to perform charging, and sets "0" as its initial value.

Step S304: The CPU 201 selects a content such as an image or a document desired by the user from the browsing screen shown in FIG. 4 and issues a print instruction (an instruction by pressing a “print” button). Is determined. As a result of this determination, if a print instruction has not been issued, the instruction waits. If the print instruction has been issued, the process proceeds to the next step S305.

Step S305: When a print instruction is given from the user, the CPU 201 displays a print dialog screen as shown in FIG.

Step S306: The CPU 201 determines whether or not the user has issued a print cancel instruction on the print dialog screen shown in FIG. If the result of this determination is that a cancel instruction has been given, the print dialog screen of FIG. 5 is closed and the process returns to step S304 again.
If the cancel instruction has not been issued, the process proceeds to the next step S307.

Step S307: If the result of determination in step S306 is that no cancel instruction has been issued by the user, the CPU 201 issues a normal print instruction (by pressing the “print” button) from the print dialog screen shown in FIG. Instruction) is performed. If the result of this determination is that an instruction for normal printing has been issued, the flow proceeds to the next step S308; otherwise, the flow proceeds to step S309 described below.

Step S308: If the result of determination in step S307 is that normal printing has been instructed, the CPU 20
1 sets “1” in the accounting flag indicating that the printing process for charging is to be executed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S311 described below.

Step S309: If the result of determination in step S307 is that there is no instruction for normal printing,
U201 determines whether or not the user has issued a test print instruction (an instruction by pressing a “test print” button) from the print dialog screen of FIG. If the result of this determination is that test printing has been instructed, the flow proceeds to the next step S310; otherwise, the flow returns to step S310.
Return to 306.

Step S310: If the result of determination in step S309 is that test printing has been instructed, the CPU 2
For example, as shown in FIG. 6 (a) or (b), the image processing function possessed in the browser software causes a character 400 to be added to the content 400 such as an image or a document selected by the user. Image processing including processing (stamp processing) for adding a character (“x” mark in FIG. 6A and “sample” in FIG. 6B) is performed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to the next step S311.

Step S311: The CPU 201 prints the content selected by the user or the content on which the image processing has been performed by the network printer 133 or the local printer 132 by using the printer driver software.

Step S312: The CPU 201 determines whether or not "1" is set in the charging flag. If the result of this determination is that the charging flag is set to "1", the flow proceeds to the next step S313; otherwise, the present processing ends.

Step S313: As a result of the determination in step S312, when "1" is set in the charging flag,
That is, when normal printing is performed instead of test printing, and the printing is to be charged, the CPU 201 executes a charging process for the printing via the charging system 150. After that, the process ends.

As described above, in the present embodiment, a function of test printing without charging is provided in addition to the normal printing for charging, so that the user can perform various printing free of charge by performing test printing. After confirming settings and printing results on various types of print media (paper), it is possible to print the content in a desired state (normal printing). Billing is performed only for the normal printing process at this time.

When the test print is performed, as shown in the print dialog screen of FIG. 5, the "test print" button for the test print is operated similarly to the operation of the "print" button for the normal print. Button, the test printing can be performed by the same simple operation as in the normal printing.

In the test printing, for example, when the content selected by the user is other than text such as an image or an illustration, as shown in FIGS. Image processing, such as adding characters such as “x” or “sample” to the content that makes it unusable, is performed, so that the user can reliably confirm the print result. Is not satisfied, test printing can be realized.

When the content selected by the user is text, for example, image processing such as adding a strikethrough may be performed.

[Second Embodiment] In this embodiment, image processing as shown in FIG. 6A or 6B is performed.
Execute on the printer driver side. Therefore, the network system 100 according to the present embodiment operates according to, for example, the flowchart of FIG.

In the flowchart of FIG.
Steps that execute the same processes as those in the flowchart of FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Here, only the configuration different from the first embodiment is described.
This will be specifically described.

In the PC 131 on the user side 130, as described above, steps S301 to S30
After the process of step 8, as a result of the determination in step S 309, if the user issues a test print instruction, the CPU 201
Browser software that realizes the print dialog screen shown in FIG. 5 uses a collection of data (structure) of an operation system or the like that shares information with both application software and a printer driver. The processing pattern information is set for the image processing information that is a member of (step S310 ′). The processing pattern information here is information indicating whether to perform the image processing as shown in FIG. 6A or the image processing as shown in FIG.

Then, the CPU 201 prints the content selected by the user or the content on which the image processing has been performed by the network printer 133 or the local printer 132 using the printer driver software (step S311). At this time, the printer driver executes processing of the content according to the processing pattern information set in step S310 ', and prints out the content.

In the first and second embodiments, the user 130 determines whether or not to perform charging based on the charging flag, and based on the result, determines whether the charging system 150 is used.
The charging is performed via the charging system 150. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the processing may be directly executed in the charging system 150.

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing program codes of software for realizing the functions of the host and the terminal of the first and second embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide the system or the apparatus with the storage medium. It is needless to say that the present invention is also achieved when the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the apparatus reads out and executes the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the first and second embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. ROM, floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
DR, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, or the like can be used. The functions of the first and second embodiments are realized by executing the program code read by the computer, and the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the present invention includes a case in which the functions of the first and second embodiments are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing. Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in an extended function board inserted into the computer or an extended function unit connected to the computer,
Based on the instructions of the program code, a CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the first and second embodiments are realized by the processing. Needless to say, cases are included.

As described above, for example, when processing (printing processing or the like) the content obtained from the side that provides the content to be charged, the first external instruction (normal printing instruction or the like) is used.
Has been done, a second external instruction (test print instruction, etc.)
Depending on whether the processing has been performed, the user is allowed to charge or not to charge for the execution of the processing, so that the user can check the processing result free of charge (for various print settings and various print media). Print result, etc.), and thereafter, processing can be actually executed in a desired state.

As operation means for issuing the first external instruction and the second external instruction, for example, an instruction section such as "test print" is provided on the same screen for instructing normal print execution. By using the means described above, the processing based on the second external instruction for performing test printing or the like can be easily performed in the same manner as a normal instruction (first external instruction).

When no charging is performed, predetermined image processing is performed on the content to be processed. For example, when the content is data other than text such as an image or an illustration, the content is On the other hand, stamp processing that makes it unusable,
Also, when the content is text, by applying a strike-through, it is possible to output a processing result that allows the user to confirm whether or not the desired result is obtained, but to achieve a processing result that cannot be realized as a product. it can. This allows
Unauthorized processing can be reliably prevented.

Further, for example, the above image processing is performed by
Even if it is configured to be executed on the printer driver side, it is possible to realize a print result that cannot be realized as a product, while outputting a print result that allows the user to confirm whether the result is desired. As a result, unauthorized processing can be reliably prevented.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention, the user can efficiently process the content without causing any trouble on both the content providing side and the user, and can charge for the process. Can be performed accurately.

More specifically, for example, when printing a content that requires charging via the Internet or the like, the user issues a test print instruction (second external instruction) to provide various types of printing paper free of charge. Then, the user can confirm the results of the print quality and the print quality, and then, by giving a normal print instruction (first external instruction), can actually execute a satisfactory print. Charges are made only for printing according to this normal printing instruction. In the case of a test print instruction, predetermined image processing (such as image processing in which the user can check the print result but cannot handle it as an official product) is performed on the content to be processed. For this reason, it is possible to prevent free and illegal printed matter from overflowing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network system to which the present invention is applied in a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a terminal device on a user side of the network system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the network system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content browsing screen displayed on the terminal device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of a print dialog screen displayed on the terminal device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of image processing when test printing is performed in the network system.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of the network system according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 network system 130 user side 131 terminal device 132 local printer 133 network printer 134 network 140 content database 150 billing system 160 internet 201 CPU 202 ROM 203 RAM 204 operation unit 205 display unit 206 storage unit 207 communication unit 208 bus

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus having a function of charging for execution of an arbitrary information processing, wherein charging is performed for the execution of the information processing in the case of a first external instruction, and is performed in the case of a second external instruction. An information processing apparatus comprising a charging unit that does not charge for execution of the information processing. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first external instruction includes an instruction for executing the normal information processing, and the second external instruction includes an instruction for executing the information processing as a test. The information processing device according to claim 1. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation unit for performing the first external instruction and the second external instruction. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an information adding unit that adds another predetermined information to the information to be processed when the information processing is executed by the second external instruction. Information processing device. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the information adding means adds the predetermined information so that the information to be processed becomes unusable. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing includes a printing process of a content obtained from a content providing side via a network. 7. An information processing system in which a plurality of devices are communicably connected to each other, wherein at least one device among the plurality of devices is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1. An information processing system having a function of: 8. A charging method for charging an arbitrary information processing execution, wherein a first charging step of charging the information processing execution in the case of a first external instruction, and a second external step. A second charging step of not charging the information processing execution in the case of the instruction. 9. A charging method for charging for printing of a content, comprising: a first charging step for charging for printing of the content; and a second charging step for not charging for printing of the content. A billing method comprising: 10. The first charging step and the second charging step.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of charging includes a step of charging or not charging the printing of the content based on an operation of a test print execution instruction unit provided in parallel with the print execution instruction unit. Billing method. 11. The charging method according to claim 9, further comprising an image processing step of performing predetermined image processing on the content when no charging is performed in the second charging step. 12. The image processing step includes: when the content is image data, performing a stamp process on the image data so that the image data cannot be used; and when the content is text data, The charging method according to claim 11, further comprising at least one of a step of applying a strike-through line. 13. An information supply step of supplying, to a printer driver, information necessary for performing predetermined image processing on the content when no charging is performed in the second charging step. 10. The accounting method according to claim 9, further comprising: performing a predetermined image process on the content based on the supply information and performing a print process. 14. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to realize the function of the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or the function of the information processing system according to claim 7. . 15. A computer-readable storage medium in which a program for causing a computer to execute the processing steps of the billing method according to claim 8 is recorded.