JP2002245359A - Network system, printer device, charging device, charging method, computer-readable storage medium, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make the price for a print service collectable in a easily usable form. SOLUTION: A user 101 selects a printer device 102 which executes print, from a terminal 101a through a network 105 and transmits desired document data and issues a print indication to the printer device. The printer device 102 prints a bar code indicating charging information of this print when printing the document data. A store 103 charges the user 101 on the basis of this bar code.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a network system, a printer, a billing device, a method, a computer-readable storage medium, and a computer program capable of collecting money for a print service.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When printing a document from a device such as a personal computer or a portable terminal, if those devices are connected to a LAN (local area network), the same LA is used.
It is possible to perform printing using a printer device connected to N.

However, a LAN to which a printer device is connected
If the printer cannot be connected to the printer or the printer is not connected to the LAN, the document data to be printed is transferred to a print service provider via a storage medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk or the Internet and printed. The method of getting them was common. In this case, if the print service provider is geographically distant, the mail or transportation service is used to obtain the printed document, which causes a time and cost burden.

To solve this problem, a printer connected to a WAN (Wide Area Network) such as the Internet is installed in a store such as a convenience store near the user, and the user himself prints. A method has been proposed in which a print service can be easily received by designating document data to be tried.

[0005]

However, when a print service is provided by a printer connected to a WAN as described above in the related art, there is a problem in how to collect money for the print service.

For example, when a user adds a coin insertion device to a printer device as a device for collecting money, the cost of the printer device is increased and the trouble of the store side is increased. Become.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to collect a fee for a print service in an easily usable form.

[0008]

A network system according to the present invention has a user terminal for transmitting print data via a network, and a printer device for receiving the print data via a network and executing printing. A network system, wherein charging information calculating means for calculating charging information for printing the print data in the printer device; converting means for converting the charging information into character or graphic information; and the printing in the printer device. Print instruction means for instructing to execute the printing of the character or graphic information at the time of data printing.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer apparatus for printing print data, wherein the billing information calculating means calculates billing information for printing the print data, and converts the billing information into character or graphic information. It is characterized in that it comprises a converting means and a print instructing means for instructing to execute the printing of the character or graphic information when printing the print data.

The billing apparatus according to the present invention is a billing apparatus for performing a billing process for printing print data on a printer, and a billing information calculating means for calculating billing information for printing the print data on the printer. A conversion unit for converting the billing information into character or graphic information, and a print instruction unit for instructing to execute the printing of the character or graphic information when the print data is printed by the printer device. Has features.

A billing method according to the present invention is a billing method for performing a billing process for printing print data on a printer device, and includes a billing information calculation procedure for calculating billing information for printing the print data on the printer device. A conversion procedure for converting the billing information into character or graphic information, and a print instruction procedure for instructing the printer apparatus to print the character or graphic information when printing the print data. Having.

A computer-readable storage medium according to the present invention is a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for performing a charging process for printing print data on a printer device, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores a program for performing a charging process on the print data. A charging information calculation process for calculating charging information for data printing, a conversion process for converting the charging information into character or graphic information, and printing of the character or graphic information when the print data is printed by the printer device. It is characterized in that a program for causing a computer to execute a print instruction process for instructing execution is stored.

[0013] A computer program according to the present invention is a computer program for performing a charging process for printing print data on a printer device, and calculating charging information for printing the print data on the printer device. Processing, a conversion process of converting the accounting information into character or graphic information, and a print instruction process of instructing to execute the printing of the character or graphic information when the print data is printed by the printer device. A computer program characterized by being executed.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of a network system, a printer, a billing device, a method, a computer-readable storage medium, and a computer program of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. An embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a network system according to the first embodiment. Reference numeral 101 denotes a user who receives a print service, 103 denotes a store that has installed a printer device 102, and collects money from the user 101,
An installation company 104 installs the printer device in the store 103 and performs a printing service.

Reference numeral 101a denotes a terminal used by the user 101;
Reference numeral 102 denotes a printer installed in the store 103;
Is a terminal 101a used by the user 101 and the printer 1
02 and other networks such as the Internet.
Although only one user 101 (terminal 101a) and one store 103 (printer device 102) are shown, a plurality of users exist on the network 105.

FIG. 2 shows a partial configuration of the printer device 102. Reference numeral 102a denotes a communication unit for performing communication via the network 105. An ID issuing unit 102b issues an ID. 102c is an ID for authenticating the ID
The authentication unit. Reference numeral 102d denotes a charging information calculation unit that performs charging calculation based on document data to be printed. A conversion unit 102e converts the billing information into barcode information. 10
A print job generation unit 2f generates a print job for printing a barcode and characters based on the barcode information.

Next, the overall procedure in the network system will be described with reference to FIG. The user 101
The terminal 101a selects the printer 102 to execute printing via the network 105, transmits desired document data, and issues a print instruction to the printer 102 (S201, S202).

Upon receiving the print instruction, the printer 102 issues an ID for identifying the user 101 (S203).

When the user 101 has obtained the ID,
The ID is set for the printer device 102 installed in the store 103 and authentication is performed (S204). ID
The method of setting not only includes direct input using the operation panel of the printer device 102 but also communication using infrared rays or wireless communication using a portable terminal.

After authenticating the ID, the printer 102 immediately prints the document data corresponding to the ID, and the user 101 obtains a print result (S205).

The user 101 who has obtained the print result carries the print result to the cash register of the store 103 (S206). The store 103 charges the user 101 based on the billing information printed on the print result as described later (S207), and receives it (S208).

The store 103 calculates the amount of fees collected from the user 101 by subtracting the commission from the installer 101.
4 (S209).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure performed by the user 101. User 101 is terminal 101
First, document data desired to be printed is selected using a (S301). Then, the user selects the printer device 102 to execute printing (S302), and instructs to execute printing (S303).

Next, the ID issued by the printer 102
Is acquired (S304). The ID is assigned to the printer 10
2 (S305), and receives a print result printed by the printer device 102 (S306). Then, the print result is carried to a cash register in the store 103 (S307), and the price presented by the store 103 is paid (S308), and the process ends.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the processing procedure of the printer apparatus 102. Upon receiving a print instruction from the user 101 (S401), document data to be printed is stored in a storage medium inside the printer device 102 (S401).
402). Next, an ID for identifying the user 101
Is issued (S403) and stored in a storage medium in the printer device 102 in association with the document data (S40).
4).

If the user 101 sets an ID, the ID is compared with the issued ID stored in the storage medium, and if there is a match, the related document data is read from the storage medium (S405). , S406).

Further, a billing calculation is performed based on the billing conditions stored in the storage medium in advance based on the read document data (S407). Then, the accounting information obtained from the accounting calculation result is converted into barcode information (S408).

Further, a print job for printing barcodes and characters based on the barcode information is newly generated as an accounting print job (S409). Then, a print job for the document is executed (S410), and a billing print job for printing barcodes and characters is executed (S41).
1).

FIG. 6 is an image diagram showing a print result of the accounting print job. Reference numeral 601 denotes a barcode of billing information, and 602 denotes billing information printed as character information. Here, the print document name, the number of print pages, the type (color, etc.), the paper size, the print date, the print time, the ID, and the print service fee are printed as character information.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure performed in the store 103. At the store 103, if the user 101 carries the print result to the cash register like other products,
The barcode 601 printed on the print result is read by a barcode reader (not shown) (S501), and the user 101 is charged for the price based on the information obtained from the barcode reader (S502). Then, when the payment is received from the user 101 (S503), the amount obtained by subtracting the commission therefrom is paid to the installer 104 (S504), and the process ends.

The payment method of the payment from the user 101 includes cash, credit card, check,
Any kind of electronic money or the like can be used. In addition, store 103
Payment to the installer 104 may be made for each service or for a certain period of time. Regarding the settlement method at this time, any type may be used.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the billing information is calculated in the printer 102 and converted into barcode information to generate a billing print job. The processing may be performed by a charging apparatus installed on the network 105 instead.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the charging apparatus. When the user 101 instructs to print a document, a program for generating a billing print job runs in the billing device. In this program, S407 described in the first embodiment corresponds to S701, S408 corresponds to S702,
Step S409 corresponds to step S703. That is, the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the accounting print job is generated by the accounting device instead of the printer device 102.
When the accounting print job is generated, the accounting print job is transmitted to the printer device 102 (S704), and the process ends.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the processing procedure of the printer device 102 according to the second embodiment, and is similar to steps S407, S408, and S4 described in the first embodiment.
The difference is that there is no step corresponding to 09.

(Other Embodiments) In order to operate various devices to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments, an apparatus connected to the various devices or a computer in a system is used in the above-described embodiment. Supply the software program code to realize the functions of
The present invention also includes those implemented by operating the various devices according to programs stored in a computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus.

In this case, the program code of the software implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer,
For example, a recording medium storing such a program code constitutes the present invention. As a recording medium for storing such a program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM,
A magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the supplied program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (operating system) or other operating system in which the program code runs on the computer. It goes without saying that such program codes are also included in the embodiments of the present invention when the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized in cooperation with the application software or the like.

Further, after the supplied program code is stored in a memory provided in a function expansion board of the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or the function expansion unit is specified based on the instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that the present invention also includes a case where the CPU or the like provided for performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

It should be noted that the shapes and structures of the respective parts shown in the above-described embodiments are merely examples of the embodiment for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is thereby reduced. It should not be interpreted restrictively. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, when printing is performed by the printer device, the billing information is printed as a bar code, for example, together with the print result. Therefore, the person who collects the price can collect the price from the user by reading the barcode with the barcode reader. Therefore, while being able to collect the payment for the printing service in an easy-to-use form,
This eliminates the need for installing a large-scale device such as a device for inserting coins into the printer device, so that cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a network system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a printer 102 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a partial configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an overall procedure in the network system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure performed by a user 101 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a printer 102 according to the first embodiment.
5 is a flowchart for explaining the processing procedure of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an image diagram showing a print result of a billing print job.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure performed in a store 103 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a charging apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates a printer 102 according to a second embodiment.
5 is a flowchart for explaining the processing procedure of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 user 101a terminal 102 printer device 103 installer 104 store 105 network such as the Internet 102a communication unit 102b ID issuing unit 102c ID authentication unit 102d billing information calculation unit 102e conversion unit 102f print job generation unit

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A network system comprising: a user terminal that transmits print data via a network; and a printer device that receives the print data via a network and executes printing. Charging information calculating means for calculating charging information for printing the print data; converting means for converting the charging information into character or graphic information; printing of the character or graphic information when the print data is printed by the printer device And a print instructing unit for instructing execution of the network system. 2. The character or graphic information is bar code information, and an administrator of the printer device reads a printed bar code by bar code reading means, and performs the use based on information obtained from the bar code reading means. 2. The network system according to claim 1, wherein a fee is collected from a user. 3. A printer device for printing print data, wherein: a billing information calculating means for calculating billing information for printing the print data; a converting means for converting the billing information into character or graphic information; A print instruction unit that instructs to execute the printing of the character or graphic information when printing the print data. 4. The printer according to claim 3, wherein the print data is received via a network. 5. An accounting apparatus for performing accounting processing for printing of print data by a printer apparatus, comprising: accounting information calculating means for calculating accounting information for printing of the print data by the printer apparatus; A billing device comprising: a conversion unit for converting into character or graphic information; and a print instruction unit for instructing execution of printing of the character or graphic information when the print data is printed by the printer device. . 6. A print job of the character or graphic information,
6. The charging apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a print job generating unit that generates the print data separately from the print job of the print data. 7. The charging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the print instruction unit causes the print job of the character or graphic information to be performed immediately before or immediately after the print job of the print data. 8. The charging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the character or graphic information is bar code information. 9. The character or graphic information includes a date, a time, a paper size, a print type, a number of pages,
The charging device according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein at least one of the IDs is included. 10. A billing method for performing a billing process for printing print data on a printer device, comprising: a billing information calculating step of calculating billing information for printing the print data on the printer device; A billing method, comprising: performing a conversion procedure of converting the print data into character or graphic information; and performing a print instruction procedure of instructing execution of printing of the character or graphic information when the print data is printed by the printer device. 11. A computer-readable storage medium that stores a program for performing a charging process for printing print data on a printer device, and calculates charging information for printing the print data on the printer device. Accounting information calculation processing, conversion processing for converting the accounting information into character or graphic information, and print instruction processing for instructing execution of printing of the character or graphic information when the print data is printed by the printer device. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the program. 12. A computer program for performing a charging process for printing print data on a printer device, comprising: a charging information calculation process for calculating charging information for printing the print data on the printer device; The computer is configured to execute a conversion process of converting information into character or graphic information, and a print instruction process of instructing to execute the printing of the character or graphic information when the print data is printed by the printer device. And a computer program.