JP2002230434A - Charging system and totaling system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem in a server charging an address, that the address changing operation is intricate. SOLUTION: Clients 2 to 4, each have a job result information transfer means which gathers job result information on a job on a peripheral machine 5 and transfers it to the serve 1 via a network 6 and the server 1 has a means which receives and stores the job result information and totals information charging, according to the stored job result information to charge for the job and can automatically notify the job result information transfer means of the address that the server 1 is scheduled to the changed to.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a billing system for a network system in which a client, a peripheral device, and a server are connected via a network, and a tallying system for counting billing information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.
In a network system in which a client, a server, and peripheral devices such as a printer, a scanner, and a copier are connected via a network, a charging system for charging the use of the peripheral devices is described. In this billing system, a process of notifying a server of job result information (resource account information) of a peripheral device such as a printer, a scanner, and a copier from a client via a network is performed.

[0003]

In the billing system, the client notifies the server of the job result information (resource account) of the peripheral device via the network. Therefore, when the server changes the address due to moving or the like,
The server address stored on the client needs to be changed. However, in an environment with a large number of clients, there is a problem that the address change operation must be performed for the number of clients, which is complicated.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a billing system and a tallying system that can reduce address change work. Further, the present invention can reduce the address change work,
It is another object of the present invention to provide a totalizing system capable of reducing a problem that a job of a peripheral device does not occur and an address change operation is not notified. A further object of the present invention is to provide a tallying system that can reduce an address change operation and can reduce a problem that a server address is suddenly changed and the address change operation is not notified.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a billing system for a network system in which a client, a server, and a peripheral device are connected via a network. A job result information transfer unit that collects job result information for the job and transfers the job result information to the server via the network. The server receives and accumulates the job result information, and stores the accumulated job result information. A means for collecting accounting information and accounting for the job based on the accounting information is provided, and an address to be changed of the server can be automatically notified to the job result information transfer means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the billing system according to the first aspect, the job result information transfer means transfers the next job result information to the notified address of the server to be changed. It is.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the charging system according to the second aspect, the job result information transfer means changes the server when transfer of job result information to the address before the change of the server fails. The job result information is transferred to a later address.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for collecting accounting information in a network system in which a client, a server, and a peripheral device are connected by a network.
The client has a job result information transfer unit that collects job result information for the job of the peripheral device and transfers the job result information to the server via the network, and the server receives and accumulates the job result information, There is provided a means for counting the billing information based on the accumulated job result information, and the address of the server to be changed can be automatically notified to the job result information transfer means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the tabulation system according to the fourth aspect, the job result information transfer means transfers the next job result information to the notified scheduled address of the server. It is.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the tabulation system according to the fifth aspect, the job result information transfer means changes the server when the transfer of the job result information to the address before the change of the server fails. The job result information is transferred to a later address.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for collecting accounting information in a network system in which a client, a server, and a peripheral device are connected via a network.
The client has a job result information transfer unit that collects job result information for the job of the peripheral device and transfers the job result information to the server via the network, and the server receives and accumulates the job result information, There is provided a means for counting the billing information based on the accumulated job result information, so that the client can acquire an address to be changed of the server from the server when the client is started.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the aggregation system according to the seventh aspect, the client inquires the server of a scheduled change address of the server at predetermined intervals after the activation of the client.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the aggregation system according to the eighth aspect, the predetermined interval can be specified.

The invention according to claim 10 is a client,
In a system for collecting accounting information in a network system in which a server and a peripheral device are connected via a network, the client collects job result information for a job of the peripheral device and transfers the job result information to the server via the network. The server has information transfer means, the server has the means for receiving and storing the job result information, and has a means for counting the billing information based on the stored job result information. The client address is transferred, and the server manages the client address.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the aggregation system according to the tenth aspect, the server registers an address of the client notified from the client in a client information management unit.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the aggregation system according to the eleventh aspect, the server notifies the client of the changed address of the server to the client.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the tallying system according to the twelfth aspect, the client can receive an address change notification from the server.

[0018]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. In the billing system according to the first embodiment, a billing server (for example, a personal computer) 1, a plurality of clients (for example, personal computers) 2 to 4 and a peripheral device (including a computer) 5 are connected to a network 6. Each of the clients 2 to 4 issues an image forming job of the peripheral device 5 to the peripheral device 5 via the network 6, whereby the peripheral device 5 forms an image on paper. Each of the clients 2 to 4 collects the job result information (various information such as the paper size and the number of sheets for each color related to the image forming job) for the image forming job of the peripheral device 5 and transfers it to the server 1 via the network 6.

The server 1 receives and accumulates the job result information from the clients 2 to 4, and based on the accumulated job result information, charges the paper size of the image forming job, the number of image forming pages for each color, and the like. The application information (information necessary for charging the image forming job) is totaled, and charging processing for the image forming job is performed.
To 4 to charge the image forming job. The peripheral device 5 has all functions of a printer, a scanner, a copying machine, and a facsimile.

FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the clients 2-4. The clients 2 to 4 include a system control unit A0, a LAN / WAN communication control unit A1, an image formation data (print data) creation unit A2, and a job result creation unit A, respectively.
3. It has a job result transfer unit A4 and a server information storage unit A5. The system control unit A0 performs basic control (such as memory management) of the entire client system.

The network 6 is, for example, a LAN (L
ocal Area Network) or WAN (W
ide Area Network) and is made of Ethernet (registered trademark) using a coaxial cable.
The LAN / WAN communication control unit A1 includes clients 2 to 4
Control of communication via the network 6 of the peripheral device 5
, And communication with the server 1.

Image formation data (print data) creation unit A
Reference numeral 2 denotes data for forming an image on paper by the peripheral device 5. The job result creating unit A3 creates job result information based on the data created by the image forming data (print data) creating unit A2. The job result transfer unit A4 acquires the address (address information) of the server 1 from the server information storage unit A5, and the server 1 transmits the job result information created by the job result creation unit A3 to the network 6 on the obtained address. To transfer through.

Next, a process in which one of the clients 2 to 4 issues an image forming job to the peripheral device 5 and transfers the job result information to the server 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming data (print data) creating unit A2 creates image forming data (print data) to be transmitted to the peripheral device 5 based on an image forming request of an application, for example, a print request.
The data is transferred to the peripheral device 5 via the AN communication control unit A1 and the network 6.

Further, when the image forming data (print data) creating unit A2 creates the image forming data (print data), it requests the job result creating unit A3 to create job result information. The job result creation unit A3 is based on the print request information (the image formation data created by the image formation data creation unit A2) in response to the job result information creation request from the image formation data (print data) creation unit A2. The job result information is created, and the job result transfer unit A4 is requested to transfer the job result information to the server 1.

The job result transfer unit A4 acquires the address of the server 1 from the server information storage unit A5 in response to the job result information transfer request from the job result creation unit A3, and sends the acquired address to the network 6 The job result information created by the job result creating unit A3 is transferred via the. When the server 1 changes the address in the future, upon receiving the job result information, the server 1 transmits the changed address to each of the clients 2 to 4 via the network 6 via the network 6. The job result transfer unit A4
If the server 1 responds to the transfer of the job result information and the address of the server 1 to be changed in the future returns from the server 1, the address of the server 1 in the server information storage unit A5 is changed to the returned address. Accordingly, the job result transfer unit A4 obtains the changed server address from the server information storage unit A5 and transfers the obtained server address to the server 1 via the network 6 at the next transfer of the job result information. Creation part A3
Will be transferred.

According to the first embodiment, the client 2
Reference numerals 4 to 4 denote a job result creation unit A3 and a job result transfer unit as job result information transfer units that collect job result information for an image forming job of the peripheral device 5 as an image forming unit and transfer the collected result to the server 1 via the network 6. A4 and a server information storage unit A5. The server 1 has means for receiving and accumulating the job result information, counting charging information based on the accumulated job result information, and charging the job. Then, since the address of the server 1 to be changed is automatically notified to the job result information transfer means, the address change operation when the server address is changed can be reduced.
Also, the job result information transfer means transfers the job result information from the next job result information to the notified server change address, so that the next job is notified after the server change address is notified. From the result information, the job result information can be transferred to the address.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the job result transfer unit A4 sends a job result information transfer request from the job result creation unit A3 to the server 1 from the server information storage unit A5. , And transfers the job result information created by the job result creation unit A3 to the server 1 via the network 6 to the acquired address. The job result transfer unit A4 determines the success or failure of the transfer of the job result information, and if the transfer of the job result information is normally performed and becomes OK, the server 1
When the address to be changed in the future is notified from the server 1 via the network 6, the address is registered as the second candidate address of the server 1 in the server information storage unit A5.

Further, the job result transfer unit A 4
If the transfer of the job result information fails due to a transfer error when transferring the job result information via the network 6, the second candidate address of the server 1 is acquired from the server information storage unit A5, and the server 1 The job result creation unit A3 via the network 6 for the obtained address of the umbilical
Transfer the created job result information again. When the re-transfer of the job result information ends normally, the job result transfer unit A4 re-registers the second candidate server address as the first candidate server address in the server information storage unit A5, and The server address is deleted, and the server address becomes only the first candidate server address.

According to the second embodiment, the job result creation unit A3, the job result transfer unit A4, and the server information storage unit A5 as the job result information transfer means store the job result information When the transfer of the server fails, the transfer of the job result information is performed to the address of the server 1 after the change. Therefore, when the transfer of the job result information to the address before the change of the server fails, the address of the server after the change is changed. Can be transferred to the job result information.

In the first and second embodiments, the clients 2 to 4 can obtain the changed address of the server 1 only by the notification of the job result information. 1 cannot be obtained. Therefore, the third embodiment of the present invention is designed to reduce the problem.

In the third embodiment, the internal configuration of the clients 2 to 4 in the second embodiment is as shown in FIG. The clients 2 to 4 include a system control unit A0, a LAN / WAN communication control unit A1, an image forming data (print data) creation unit A2, a job result creation unit A3, a job result transfer unit A4, and a server information storage unit A, respectively.
5. It has a server information control unit A6.

The LAN / WAN communication control unit A 1 controls communication of the clients 2 to 4 via the network 6, receives job result information from the peripheral device 5, and controls the server 1.
Communication (e.g., inquiry about the address of the server 1 to be changed). The job result transfer unit A4 acquires the address of the server 1 from the server information control unit A6, and sends the acquired result to the server 1 with the job result creation unit A
The job result information created in step 3 is transferred via the network 6.

The server information control unit A6 makes a request to the server 1 to obtain the address of the server 1 to be changed and the monitoring interval thereof using the LAN / WAN communication control unit A1. When transferring the log information, the server information control unit A6 acquires the address of the server 1 from the server information storage unit A5, and stores the address of the server 1 in the job result transfer unit A4.
Pass to.

Next, a process in which the clients 2 to 4 inquire of the server 1 about the address of the server 1 to be changed will be described with reference to FIG. The server information control unit A6 inquires of the server 1 via the LAN / WAN communication control unit A1 about an address to be changed of the server 1 when the PC (personal computer) constituting the client is started up. / WAN communication control unit A1
The address (address information) of the server 1 to be changed is acquired via the server.

Next, the server information control unit A 6
When the address of the server 1 to be changed is obtained, the address of the second candidate of the server 1 registered in the server information storage unit A5 is changed to the obtained address of the server 1 to be changed. Therefore, at the time of the next log transfer, the transfer is performed using the changed address of the changed server 1 as the second candidate address of the server 1.

At the same time, the server information control unit A6 inquires of the server 1 via the LAN / WAN communication control unit A1 about an interval for periodically monitoring the address of the server 1 to be changed. Then, the server information control unit A6 acquires information on the interval for periodically monitoring the address of the server 1 to be changed from the server 1 via the LAN / WAN communication control unit A1, and stores this interval information in the server information. Set in section A5.

The server information control unit A6 executes the LAN / WA at intervals based on the interval information set in the server information storage unit A5.
Inquiry of the server 1 via the N communication control unit A1 about the address of the server 1 to be changed, and the server 1 sends the LAN / W
An address to be changed of the server 1 is acquired via the AN communication control unit A1. The server information control unit A6 includes the server 1
When the address of the server 1 to be changed is acquired, the address of the second candidate of the server 1 registered in the server information storage unit A5 is changed to the acquired address of the server 1 to be changed in the same manner as when the PC is started. .

According to the third embodiment, the client 2
Since the clients 2 to 4 can acquire the address of the server 1 to be changed from the server 1 when the PCs constituting the servers 1 to 4 are started, the address changing operation can be reduced as in the second embodiment, and Since the changed address can be notified to the clients 2 to 4 irrespective of the presence or absence of the image forming job of the peripheral device 5, the image forming job of the peripheral device 5 does not occur and the address change operation is notified to the clients 2 to 4. The problem of not being done can be reduced.

Further, according to the third embodiment, after the clients 2 to 4 are activated, the clients 2 to 4 inquire the server 1 for the address to be changed of the server 1 at a predetermined interval. In addition, it is possible to further reduce the problem that the job of the peripheral device does not occur and the address change operation is not notified. In addition, the third
According to the embodiment, since the predetermined interval can be specified, the address change work can be reduced, and the problem that the address change work is not notified because the peripheral device job does not occur is further reduced. Can be.

In the third embodiment, the processing in which the clients 2 to 4 obtain the changed address of the server 1 is only the processing in which the clients 2 to 4 obtain the changed address of the server 1 from the server 1. If the address of the server 1 is suddenly changed, there is a problem that the changed address of the server 1 cannot be obtained from the clients 2 to 4. Therefore, the fourth embodiment of the present invention is designed to reduce the problem.

In the fourth embodiment, the clients 2 to 4 are different from the third embodiment in that the clients 2 to 4 respectively include a system control unit A0 and a LAN / WAN communication control unit A as shown in FIG.
1. It has an image forming data (print data) creation unit A2, a job result creation unit A3, a job result transfer unit A4, a server information storage unit A5, and a server information control unit A6. LAN /
The WAN communication control unit A1 controls communication of the clients 2 to 4 via the network 6, and receives job result information from the peripheral device 5 and cooperative communication with the server 1 (reception of a changed address of the server 1 and server communication). (1) inquiry about the address to be changed.

The job result transfer unit A4 acquires the address of the server 1 from the server information control unit A6, and transmits the job result information created by the job result creation unit A3 to the server 1 via the network 6 for the acquired address. Transfer. The server information control unit A6 sends a LAN / W
An address change notification of the server 1 is received via the AN communication control unit A1, and the changed address of the server 1 is set in the server information storage unit A5.

Further, the server information control section A 6
In response to the request, the LAN / WAN communication control unit A1
Done using When transferring the log information, the server information control unit A6 acquires the address of the server 1 from the server information storage unit A5, and passes the address of the server 1 to the job result transfer unit A4.

FIG. 7 shows the internal configuration of the server 1 in the fourth embodiment. The server 1 includes a system control unit B0, a LAN
/ WAN communication control section B1, client (client PC) communication section B2, job result storage section B3, client (client PC) information management section B4, and job result totaling section B5. The system control unit B0 performs basic control (such as memory management) of the entire system of the server 1.

The LAN / WAN communication control unit B1 controls communication of the server 1 via the network 6, receives job result information, and notifies the clients 2 to 4 of the changed address of the server 1. Client PC communication unit B
Reference numeral 2 controls communication with the clients 2 to 4, such as reception of job result information from the clients 2 to 4 and notification of the changed address of the server 1 to the clients 2 to 4. The job result storage unit B3 stores the received job result information, and the client PC information management unit B4 manages information such as the addresses of the clients 2 to 4. The job result totaling unit B5 totalizes the job result information based on the information stored in the job result storing unit B3.

Next, the server 1 acquires the client 2 to 2 acquired from the client 2 to 4 by communication of the job result information transfer.
The process of registering the address No. 4 will be described with reference to FIG. The server 1 receives the job result information from the clients 2 to 4 at the client PC communication unit B2 via the network 6 and the LAN / WAN communication control unit B1.

The job result information received by the client PC communication section B2 is stored in the job result storage section B3. The client PC communication unit B2 acquires the addresses (address information) of the clients 2 to 4 from the clients 2 to 4 via the network 6 and the LAN / WAN communication control unit B1 in the communication at that time. 4 are registered as a list in the client PC information management unit B4.

Next, a process of detecting the changed address in the server 1 and notifying the detected address to the clients 2 to 4 managed by the server 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In the server 1, the client PC communication unit B2 checks whether the address of the server 1 has been changed. L
When the client PC communication unit B2 detects that the address of the server 1 has been changed, the AN / WAN communication control unit B1 obtains a list of addresses of the clients 2 to 4 from the client PC information management unit B4, and executes the LAN / WAN.
The changed address of the server 1 is notified to the clients 2 to 4 via the network 6 to the clients 2 to 4 using the communication control unit B1.

Next, the process of receiving the notification of the changed address from the server 1 in the clients 2 to 4 will be described with reference to FIG. In the clients 2 to 4, the address change notification from the server 1 is transmitted to the network 6 and the LAN / WA.
The server information control unit A6 receives the changed address of the server 1 in the server information storage unit A5 via the N communication control unit A1.

According to the fourth embodiment, the client 2
4 transfers the addresses of the clients 2 to 4 to the server 1, and the server 1 manages the addresses of the clients. Therefore, the address change operation can be reduced, and even if the address of the server is suddenly changed, the client transfers the address to the server. Since the destination address can be changed, it is possible to reduce a problem that the address of the server is suddenly changed and the address change operation is not notified.

Further, according to the fourth embodiment, the server 1 registers the addresses of the clients 2 to 4 notified from the clients 2 to 4 in the client information management unit B4. The problem of not being notified of the change work can be reliably reduced.

According to the fourth embodiment, since the server 1 notifies the clients 2 to 4 of the changed address of the server 1, the server address is suddenly changed and the address change operation is notified. Can be further reduced. Further, according to the fourth embodiment, since the notification of the address change from the server 1 can be received by the clients 2 to 4, the problem that the address of the server is suddenly changed and the address change operation is not notified is more likely to occur. It can be further reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the peripheral device 5 as an image forming means does not have all the functions of a printer, a scanner, a copying machine, and a facsimile. A plurality of image forming means such as a copying machine and a facsimile may be provided.

[0054]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the work of changing the address when the address of the server is changed can be reduced. According to the second aspect of the invention, after the address of the server to be changed is notified, the next job result information can be transferred to the server from the next job result information. According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the transfer of the job result information to the address before the server change fails, the job result information can be transferred to the address after the server change.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce an address change operation when a server address is changed. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, after the address of the server to be changed is notified, the next job result information can be transferred to the server from that address.
According to the invention according to claim 6, when the transfer of the job result information to the address before the server change fails, the job result information can be transferred to the address after the server change.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce an address change operation and to reduce a problem that a client of the address change operation is not notified because a peripheral device job does not occur. According to the invention according to claim 8, it is possible to reduce the address change work, and further reduce the problem that the client does not receive the address change work because no job of the peripheral device occurs.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the address change operation can be reduced, and the problem that the address change operation is not notified to the client because the job of the peripheral device does not occur can be further reduced. . Claim 10
According to the invention, the address change operation can be reduced, and the problem that the address of the server is suddenly changed and the address change operation is not notified can be reduced.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the address change operation can be reduced, and the problem that the address of the server is suddenly changed and the address change operation is not notified can be surely reduced. According to the twelfth aspect, an address change operation can be reduced, and the problem that the address of the server is suddenly changed and the address change operation is not notified can be further reduced. According to the thirteenth aspect, it is possible to reduce an address change operation, and further reduce a problem that a server address is suddenly changed and the address change operation is not notified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a connection diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a client in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which a client transfers job result information to a server in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which a client transfers job result information to a server in another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a client according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process in which a client inquires a server of an address to be changed in the server in the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a server according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process in which a server registers a client address acquired from a client in communication of job result information transfer in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process in which the server detects a changed address and notifies the client managed by the server of the changed address in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process in which a client receives a notification of a changed address from a server in the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 server 2-4 client 5 peripheral device 6 network A0 system control unit A1 LAN / WAN communication control unit A2 image forming data (print data) preparation unit A3 job result preparation unit A4 job result transfer unit A5 server information storage unit A6 server Information control unit B0 System control unit B1 LAN / WAN communication control unit B2 Client PC communication unit B3 Job result storage unit B4 Client PC information management unit B5 Job result totalization unit

Claims (13)

[Claims] In a charging system for a network system in which a client, a server, and a peripheral device are connected via a network, the client collects job result information for a job of the peripheral device and transfers the job result information to the server via the network. A job result information transfer unit, wherein the server receives and accumulates the job result information, and accumulates billing information based on the accumulated job result information to charge the job. A billing system, wherein an address of the server to be changed can be automatically notified to the job result information transfer means. 2. The billing system according to claim 1, wherein said job result information transfer means transfers from the next job result information to the notified scheduled address of said server. . 3. The charging system according to claim 2, wherein said job result information transfer means transfers said job result information to said address before said change of said server when said transfer of said job result information to said address before said change of said server fails. A billing system for transferring job result information. 4. A system for collecting accounting information in a network system in which a client, a server, and a peripheral device are connected by a network, wherein the client collects job result information for a job of the peripheral device and transmits the collected information via the network. A job result information transfer unit that transfers the job result information to the server, the server receives and accumulates the job result information, and includes a unit that totals billing information based on the accumulated job result information; A collection system, wherein an address of the server to be changed can be automatically notified to the job result information transfer unit. 5. The totalizing system according to claim 4, wherein said job result information transfer means transfers the notified job scheduled address of said server from the next job result information. . 6. The totalizing system according to claim 5, wherein said job result information transfer means transmits said job result information to said address before said server change when said transfer of said job result information to said address before said server failed. A tallying system for transferring job result information. 7. A system for collecting accounting information in a network system in which a client, a server, and a peripheral device are connected via a network, wherein the client collects job result information for a job of the peripheral device, and collects the job result information via the network. A job result information transfer unit that transfers the job result information to the server, the server receives and accumulates the job result information, and includes a unit that aggregates billing information based on the accumulated job result information; A collection system wherein the client can acquire an address of the server to be changed from the server when the client is started. 8. A collecting system according to claim 7, wherein said client inquires of said server about an address to be changed of said server at predetermined intervals after said client is started. 9. The collection system according to claim 8, wherein said predetermined interval can be specified. 10. A system for collecting accounting information in a network system in which a client, a server, and a peripheral device are connected via a network, wherein the client comprises:
A job result information transfer unit that collects job result information for the job of the peripheral device and transfers the job result information to the server via the network; the server receives and accumulates the job result information; A collection system, comprising: means for totalizing billing information based on result information, wherein the client transfers an address of the client to the server, and the server manages the address of the client. 11. The collecting system according to claim 10, wherein said server registers an address of said client notified from said client in a client information management unit. 12. The collecting system according to claim 11, wherein said server notifies said client of a changed address of said server. 13. The collection system according to claim 12, wherein a notice of an address change from said server can be received by said client.