JP2002261997A - Network accounting management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network accounting management system that can accu rately accumulate network accounting even when abnormality occurs in an accounting management server or a network system during the execution of jobs. SOLUTION: When abnormalities occur between the controllers of digital copying machines 201-204 and a network accounting server 205, the controllers respectively detect the abnormalities as network abnormalities and display network abnormality messages on operating sections when no job is executed. When jobs are executed, the controllers immediately stop (interrupt) the jobs, check the presence/absence of transfer paper which are not counted for accounting by means of the server 205 when image formation is completed. When the transfer paper does not exist, the controllers display the network abnormality messages on the operating sections. When the transfer paper exists, the controllers display the network abnormality messages and the information on the unprocessed charges which are not counted by means of the server 205 on the operating sections.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a network charging management system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an accounting apparatus for restricting the use of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and managing the accounting.
The billing apparatus is used by being connected to the outside of the image forming apparatus. By the way, when such a billing device becomes abnormal, only the image forming device connected to the billing device becomes unusable, so that there is no effect on other image forming devices.

[0003]

However, with the recent networking of image forming apparatuses, it is easier to collectively manage a plurality of image forming apparatuses by using a single network charging server apparatus, and to reduce the cost. It is also advantageous in terms of aspects. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and refers to how to handle a work-in-progress job when an error occurs in a charge management server device or a network system during execution of a job. It is intended to be done correctly.

[0004]

According to the present invention, there is provided a network comprising a plurality of image forming apparatuses connectable to a network, and a network charging server apparatus for performing charging management of the image forming apparatuses connectable to the network. In order to achieve the above object, the billing management system is characterized as follows. The network charging management system according to the first aspect of the present invention is a network charging management system, comprising: a network abnormality detecting unit that detects an abnormality in an image forming apparatus when the abnormality occurs with a network charging server; A job suspending means for immediately suspending the job when an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detecting means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network accounting management system, comprising: a network abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality in an image forming apparatus when the abnormality occurs with a network accounting server; To
Charging information storage means for storing charging information relating to the job being executed when the network abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality. Claim 3
In the network charging management system according to the second aspect of the present invention, in the network charging management system according to the second aspect, the image forming apparatus includes:
A charging information transmitting means for transmitting the charging information on the job stored in the charging information storage means to the network charging server device when the abnormality is cleared.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. First, as an example of an image forming apparatus constituting a network charging management system according to the present invention, a schematic configuration of a mechanical section of a digital copying machine used in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a mechanical section of a digital copying machine constituting a network charging management system according to the present invention.

In this digital copying machine, a document bundle placed with its image side up on a document table 2 provided in an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as "ADF") 1 is operated by an operation unit 30 shown in FIG. When the upper print key 34 is depressed, the originals are sequentially fed one by one from the bottom original onto the contact glass 6 by the feed rollers 3 and the feed belt 4, and set at a predetermined position. The set document is read out of image information by a scanner (reading unit) 50 as image reading means. After the reading is completed, the document is discharged by the feed belt 4 and the discharge roller 5.

Each time the reading of image information of one document is completed, the document set detection sensor 7 detects whether or not the next document exists on the document table 2, and if so, the document is replaced with the previous document. The document is fed onto the contact glass 6 in the same manner as the document, and the same operation as described above is performed thereafter. The feed roller 3, the feed belt 4, and the discharge roller 5 are driven by a transport motor (not shown).

The transfer paper stacked on the first paper feed tray 8, the second paper feed tray 9, and the third paper feed tray 10 is the first paper feed tray.
The paper is fed by the paper feeding device 11, the second paper feeding device 12, and the third paper feeding device 13, and is transported by the vertical transport unit 14 to a position where it comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 15. However, one of the paper feed trays 8 to 10 is actually selected, and the transfer paper is fed therefrom. The image information (image data) read by the scanner 50 is sent to a writing unit 57 in a printer 80 as an image forming unit as it is, or after being temporarily stored in an image memory 66 of FIG. The writing unit 57 writes the laser beam as a laser beam on a pre-charged surface of the photoconductor drum 15 (charged by a charger (not shown)). It is formed.

The transfer paper fed from the selected paper feed tray is transported by a transport belt (transfer belt) 16 at the same speed as the rotation of the photosensitive drum 15, and is transferred onto one surface of the photosensitive drum 15. Is transferred, and the fixing unit 17 thermally fixes the toner image.
After that, the transfer paper is conveyed by the paper discharge unit 18 to the finisher 100 as a post-processing device in the one-sided copy mode. At this time, for example, when it is desired to invert the transfer paper having the toner image formed on one side for face-down discharge (the image surface is turned down to align the transfer paper in the page order), the transfer paper is discharged. The sheet is conveyed to the two-sided paper input / conveyance path 113 by the unit 18, is switched back by the reversing unit 112, and is conveyed to the finisher 100 via the reversal paper discharge / conveyance path 114.

In the finisher 100, a transfer sheet having a toner image (image information) formed on one side, that is, a transfer sheet that has been copied on one side, that is, a transfer sheet that has been copied on one side, is sent from a copying machine body to a stacker transport roller 102 by a branch deflection plate 101. Side or the stapler conveyance roller 105 side. That is, when the branch deflecting plate 101 is switched upward, the transfer paper from the copying machine main body can be discharged to the stacker tray 104 via the stacker transport roller 102 and the stacker discharge roller 103. The stacker tray 104 is a paper discharge tray that can move back and forth, and moves back and forth for each document or for each copy unit sorted by using the image memory 66 to easily sort the transfer paper (copy paper) to be discharged. Is what you do.

When the diverting plate 101 is switched downward, the transfer paper, which has been copied from one side of the copier, is transferred from the copier body to the staple tray 108 via the stapler transport roller 105 and the stapler discharge roller 107. Can be discharged. Staple tray 10
8, each time one transfer sheet is discharged, its end is aligned by a jogger (drop stopper) 109 for alignment, and is stapled by the stapler 106 upon completion of copying of one copy. The transfer paper group bound by the stapler 106 is stored in the staple completed discharge tray (fall tray) 110 by its own weight.

On the other hand, in the double-sided copy mode, the transfer paper having the toner image formed on one side (the transfer paper on which one side has been copied) is transported by the paper discharge unit 18 to the double-sided paper conveyance path 113.
After being reversed by the reverse unit 112 and then sent to the double-sided transport unit 111. The transfer paper sent to the two-sided conveyance unit 111 is re-fed from the two-sided conveyance unit 111 in order to transfer the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 15 again, and is again transferred by the vertical conveyance unit 14 to the photosensitive drum 15. After the toner image is transferred to the position where the toner image contacts the surface, the toner image is transferred to the other surface, the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit 17, and is conveyed to the finisher 100 by the paper discharging unit 18. Thereafter, the same operation as described above is performed. Will be

The photosensitive drum 15, the conveyor belt 1
6, the fixing unit 17, the paper discharging unit 18, and the developing unit 27 are driven by a main motor 25 shown in FIG. 5, and each of the paper feeding devices 11 to 13 is driven by the main motor 25 by a paper feeding clutch 22 to 24 shown in FIG. It is transmitted and driven. The vertical transport unit 14 is driven by the drive of the main motor 25 being transmitted by the intermediate clutch 21 in FIG. Each unit for image forming processing including the above-described writing unit 57 constitutes the printer 80 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a layout diagram showing an example of the configuration of the operation unit of the digital copying machine. The operation unit 30 includes a liquid crystal touch panel 31, a numeric keypad 32, a clear / stop key 33, a print key 34, a preheat key (mode clear key) 35, a reset key 36, an interrupt key 37, an initial setting key 38, a new reservation key 39, And a job list key 40. The liquid crystal touch panel 31 includes a touch panel on the surface of the liquid crystal display, and can display a function key, the number of copies, a message indicating a machine state, and the like.

In a digital copying machine having an operation unit 30,
When the interrupt key 37 is pressed, the mode shifts to the interrupt mode. The interrupt mode is a mode that is used when another copy operation is temporarily interrupted during execution or operation of a copy operation started by pressing the print key 34 (copy request). Therefore, when the interruption key 37 is pressed, the copy mode (copy condition) before the depression is pressed, or if the copying is in progress, the progress information is stored in the nonvolatile RAM, and then the mode is shifted to the interruption mode. Is initialized.

When the print key 34 is depressed, the interrupt copy operation is started. After the copy operation is completed, the interrupt mode is released by depressing the interrupt key 37, and the copy mode stored in the non-volatile RAM or the copy in progress. The information is read, the state is returned to the state before the transition to the interruption mode (setting), and the copy operation can be restarted in the copy mode before the interruption by pressing the print key 34. When the initial setting key 38 is pressed, the initial state of the machine can be arbitrarily customized. That is, the initial state set when the size of the transfer paper stored in the machine is set or when the preheating key 35 is pressed (when used as a mode clear key for clearing the copy mode) is arbitrary. Can be set to

If a key operation has not been performed for a certain period of time, an application or the like to be preferentially selected may be selected, a transition time to a low power state according to the International Energy Star plan may be set, and an auto-off may be set. / The transition time to the sleep mode can be set. When the preheating key 35 is pressed for about 1 second or longer, the machine shifts from the standby state to the preheating state, lowers the surface temperature (fixing temperature) of the fixing roller in the fixing unit 17, and turns off the display of the operation unit 30. I do.

Here, the preheating state means a low power state referred to in the International Energy Star Program. To release the preheating state or the off state / sleep state and shift to the standby state, the preheating key 35 is pressed again. The new reservation key 39 is used when a reservation copy is desired. The job list key 40 is used when displaying a list of active copy jobs.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a copy condition setting screen displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31. When the operator (user) touches any one of the function keys in the copy condition setting screen displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31, the function displayed in the frame of the function key is selected, and the black and white of the function is selected. The display is reversed. If the details of the function need to be specified (for example, a variable magnification value in the case of variable magnification), a detailed function setting screen is displayed by touching the function key. Since the liquid crystal touch panel 31 uses a dot display, it is possible to graphically display an optimum display at that time.

In the copy condition setting screen shown in FIG. 4, a message area for displaying a message such as "You can copy" or "Please wait" is provided substantially at the top of the center, and the image density is automatically set outside the area. Automatic density key to automatically adjust, automatic paper selection key to automatically select transfer paper, tray key to select one of each paper tray,
Each function key such as a 1 × key for designating a 1 × magnification is displayed. Note that the function key indicating the selected function is displayed in black and white inverted (in FIG. 4, shaded).

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control system of the digital copying machine. Main controller 20
Controls the entire digital copying machine. The main controller 20 includes an operation unit 30 for controlling the display to the operator and the key input by the operator, an image processing unit (IP) for controlling the driving unit of the scanner 50, and controlling the reading and writing of image data to and from the image memory 66.
U) 49, a distributed control device such as an ADF 1 for performing a document feeding / discharging operation is connected. Each of the distributed control devices and the main controller 20 exchange information indicating the state of the machine and operation commands as needed. The main controller 20 includes various clutches 2 necessary for paper conveyance and the like.
1 to 24, a main motor 25, and a human body detection sensor 29 for detecting whether or not an operator (operator) is present at the front of the copying machine.

Next, an operation from reading image information of a document by the scanner 50 to forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information on the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the electrostatic latent image is a potential distribution generated by writing image information on the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 (the surface charged by the charger) with a laser beam.

The scanner 50 includes a contact glass 6 on which a document is placed and an optical scanning system. The optical scanning system includes an exposure lamp 51, a first mirror 52, a lens 53, and a CC.
It is composed of a D image sensor 54 and the like. The exposure lamp 51 and the first mirror 52 are fixed on a first carriage (not shown), and the second mirror 55 and the third mirror 56 are fixed on a second carriage (not shown). When reading the image information of the document, the first carriage and the second carriage are mechanically scanned at a relative speed of 2: 1 so that the optical path length does not change. The optical scanning system is driven by a drive unit including a scanner drive motor (not shown).

The scanner 50 optically reads image information of a document and converts it into an electric signal. That is, an image surface of a document is illuminated by an exposure lamp 51 of an optical scanning system, and a reflected image from the image surface is reflected by a CCD image sensor via a first mirror 52, a second mirror 55, a third mirror 56, and a lens 53. An image is formed on the light-receiving surface 54 and converted into image information as an electric signal by the CCD image sensor 54. At this time, the image magnification is changed by moving the lens 53 and the CCD image sensor 54 in the horizontal direction in FIG. That is, the positions of the lens 53 and the CCD image sensor 54 in the left-right direction are set in accordance with the designated copy magnification.

The writing unit 57 comprises a laser output unit 58, an imaging lens 59, a mirror 60, etc.
Inside the laser output unit 58, there is provided a laser diode as a laser light source and a polygon mirror (rotating polygon mirror) which rotates at a high speed at a constant speed by a motor. A laser beam emitted from a laser output unit 58 is deflected by a polygon mirror that rotates at a constant speed, and is deflected by an imaging lens 59.
, Is turned back by the mirror 60, and is condensed on the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 15 to form an image.

That is, the laser beam deflected by the polygon mirror is exposed and scanned in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the direction in which the photosensitive drum 15 rotates, and the image information output from the image processing unit 49 in FIG. Write in line units. By repeating the main scanning at a predetermined cycle corresponding to the rotation speed of the photoconductor drum 15 and the scanning density (recording density), an electrostatic latent image is formed on the charged surface of the photoconductor drum 15. The laser beam immediately before scanning on the photosensitive drum 15 is detected by a synchronization detection sensor (not shown). Then, a laser writing control unit (not shown) uses the main scanning synchronization signal output from the synchronization detection sensor to generate a control signal for turning on / off the laser diode and inputting / outputting image information for each scanning. .

FIG. 6 shows an image processing unit (IPU) 49.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of FIG. The reflected light image (image) from the document surface is converted into image information (image data) as an electric signal by the CCD image sensor 54, and further converted from an analog value to a digital value by the A / D converter 61. The image information converted to digital values is
After the shading correction is performed by the shading correction unit 62, image processing such as MTF correction and γ correction is performed by the image processing unit 63. The image information subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 63 is enlarged or reduced according to the copy magnification specified by the magnification processing unit 72, and is input to the selector 64.

The selector 64 switches the destination of the image information. That is, the writing γ correction unit 71 or the memory controller 65 is set as the destination of the image information. Selector 64
The image information sent to the writing γ correction unit 71 from the printer 8 is corrected for the writing γ in accordance with the image forming conditions.
0 is sent to the write unit 57. The memory controller 65 and the selector 64 are configured so that image information can be input and output in both directions. The CPU 68 is a central processing unit that writes and reads image information to and from the image memory 66 via the memory controller 65 and controls the scanner 50 and the writing unit 57.

The ROM 69 is a read-only memory, and stores various fixed data including a control program for operating the CPU 68. The RAM 70 is a readable and writable memory, and temporarily stores various data. The image processing unit 49 has a circuit for inputting a plurality of image data so that it can process image data sent from an external device such as a personal computer or a facsimile machine in addition to the image data input from the scanner 50. (Image input means). Further, a circuit (image output means) for outputting the input image data or the image data stored or stored in the image memory 66 to the printer 80 or an external device is provided.

The image information sent to the memory controller 65 is sent to an image memory 66 after being compressed by an image compression unit provided therein. Here, the reason for compressing the image information will be briefly described. Although image information of 256 gradations corresponding to the maximum image size can be directly written in the image memory 66, the image memory 66 is used very frequently for image information of one document. Therefore, by compressing the image information, the image memory 66 having a limited storage capacity can be effectively used.

Further, by performing compression, the image information of many originals can be stored (stored) in the image memory 66 at one time. Therefore, the image information (image image data) of the stored originals is provided as a sort function. Can be output in page order. At this time, the image information read from the image memory 66 is sequentially expanded by the image expansion unit in the memory controller 65. Such a function is generally called an “electronic sort function”. Further, by utilizing this electronic sorting function, it is also possible to sequentially read image information of a plurality of originals into an area obtained by dividing an area for one transfer sheet in the image memory 66.

For example, the image information of the four originals is sequentially written into the area of the image memory 66 obtained by dividing the area of one transfer paper into four equal parts, so that the image information of the four originals is written into one transfer paper. By combining and combining images into a size of one minute, and forming and outputting the combined and combined image information on transfer paper, it is possible to obtain a copy result in which four originals are combined. Such a function is generally called an “aggregation copy function”. The image information written in the image memory 66 is accessible from the CPU 68.

For this reason, the contents of the image memory 66 can be processed, and for example, processing such as image information thinning processing and clipping processing can be performed. Processing of the image information can be performed by writing the image information into a register in the memory controller 65. The processed image information can be stored in the image memory 66 again. The image memory 66 is divided into a plurality of areas according to the size of the image information to be processed, and has a configuration capable of simultaneously executing input and output of a plurality of image information. That is, the memory controller 65 and the image memory 66 are provided with two sets of address and data lines for reading and writing so that input and output of each piece of image information can be executed in parallel for each of the plurality of divided areas. It is connected. As a result, an operation of outputting (reading) image information from another area while inputting (writing) image information to a certain area becomes possible.

In the image processing unit 49, the CPU 68 reads the contents of the image memory 66,
7 through the operation unit 30 as display information (display data).
Can also be forwarded to That is, since the screen display resolution of the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30 is low, the original image information in the image memory 66 can be thinned out and transferred to the operation unit 30 as display information. A hard disk may be used as the image memory 66 to store a large amount of image information. By using a hard disk, it is possible to permanently retain image information without the need for an external power supply. In general, the hard disk is used to read and hold image information of a plurality of standard documents (format documents) by the scanner 50.

Here, the image information and the control signal for one page in the selector 64 will be described with reference to FIG. / FGATE ("/" indicates low active)
Denotes a frame gate signal, which represents an effective period of one page of image information (image data) in the sub-scanning direction. /
LSYNC is a main scanning synchronization signal for each line, and image information becomes valid at a predetermined clock after this signal rises. / LGATE is a line gate signal, which indicates an effective period of image information in the main scanning direction.

These signals correspond to the pixel clock signal VCL
Synchronous with K, data of 8 bits per pixel (256 gradations) is sent for one period. In this digital copying machine, the writing density on the transfer paper is 400 dpi, and the maximum number of pixels is 4,800 pixels in the main scan and 6,800 pixels in the sub-scan. It is assumed that the image information becomes whiter as the gradation is closer to “255”.

Next, a network charging management system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a network charging management system according to the present invention. This network accounting management system includes a plurality of digital copying machines (other image forming apparatuses such as a printer and a digital multifunction peripheral) 201 to 204 connectable to a network 200 such as a LAN (local area network); Digital copiers 201 to 20 connectable to the digital copier 200
4 and a network accounting server device 205 for performing accounting management.

In this example, the digital copying machine 201
To 204 have been described with reference to FIGS.
In FIG. 1, the four copying machines 201 to 204 are networked, but the number of connected copying machines need not be limited. For example, network communication means
Means such as using Ethernet (registered trademark) as physical means and using TCP / IP communication of an OSI (Open System Interface) reference model for data communication are conceivable.
By using the configuration as shown in FIG. 1, it is also possible to notify the internal status of each device existing on the network 200, manage the charging of the devices, transfer control commands such as remote output commands, and transfer setting commands.

The network accounting server device 205
A department code to be managed is registered in advance. When the customer intends to use any of the digital copying machines 201 to 204, the digital copying machine (applicable digital copying machine) is connected to the liquid crystal touch panel 3 of the operation unit 30 (see FIG. 3).
In FIG. 1, since a screen for inputting a department code (a department code input screen) as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed, the use is not yet permitted. Here, when a department code is input by operating the numeric keypad 32 or the like, the main controller 20 of the digital copier notifies the network accounting server device 205 of the department code via the network 200.

The network accounting server device 205 compares the department code notified from the corresponding digital copying machine with each of the previously registered department codes, and determines whether or not the corresponding digital copying machine can be used. And
If the department code notified from the corresponding digital copier matches any of the pre-registered department codes, it is determined that the corresponding digital copier is usable, and the digital copier is notified of use permission via the network 200. I do.

When the main controller 20 of the digital copier receives the notice of use permission from the network charging server device 205, it closes the department code input screen on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30 and makes it usable. Thereafter, every time copying is performed, management information such as the number of copies and the mode is notified to the network charging server device 205 via the network 200. The network accounting server device 205 performs accounting management of the digital copying machine based on notification of management information such as the number of copies and the mode from the corresponding digital copying machine.

On the other hand, the network charging server device 205
If the department code notified from the corresponding digital copier does not match any of the pre-registered department codes (for example, if an unregistered department code is notified), It determines that the digital copier is not usable, and notifies the digital copier of use prohibition via the network 200. The main controller 20 of the digital copier corresponds to the network charging server device 20.
When the notification of the use prohibition is received from 5, the use prohibition state is maintained as it is. Therefore, it is possible to prohibit outsiders from making copies without permission.

Hereinafter, processing (embodiment) according to the present invention in the network charging management system will be specifically described. [First Embodiment: FIG. 9] First, the processing according to the first aspect of the present invention in this network charging management system (first
Embodiment) will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the main controller 20 of each of the digital copying machines 201 to 204
A function as a network abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality when an abnormality occurs between the job and a job interrupting means for immediately interrupting the job when an abnormality is detected by the function during execution of the job As a function.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the network abnormality detection processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which is performed by the main controller 20 of the digital copying machines 201 to 204. The main controller 20 of each of the digital copying machines 201 to 204 periodically starts the processing of FIG.
First, in step S1, it is checked whether or not a network error has been detected. If no network error has been detected, the process in FIG. 9 ends. If an error has occurred with the network charging server device 205, the error is detected. Is detected (detected) as a network abnormality, and step S2
Proceed to.

In step S2, it is checked whether or not a job (for example, a copy operation) is being executed. If the job is not being executed, in step S6, an unusable message due to an abnormality with the network accounting server device 205 (step S6). By displaying a network error message) on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30, it is clearly indicated that the digital copier cannot be used, and the processing in FIG. 9 is terminated. If the job is being executed, a process (job stop process) for immediately stopping (interrupting) the job is executed in step S3.

Here, even if the job stop processing is executed, strictly speaking, due to a difference between the network abnormality detection timing and the job stop timing, the transfer paper that has been imaged and has not been counted by the network charging server device 205 is discharged. In step S4, it is checked whether or not there is a transfer sheet that has been imaged and has not been counted by the network charging server apparatus 205. If there is no transfer sheet, a network error is detected in step S6 in the same manner as described above. The message is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30 and the processing of FIG.
If there is such transfer paper, in step S5, in addition to the network error message, the accounting unprocessed information (unprocessed accounting information) for which accounting has not been counted by the network accounting server device 205 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30. By displaying, the billing information is also made visible, and the processing in FIG. 9 ends.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the main controller 20 of each of the digital copying machines 201 to 204 generates an abnormality (network abnormality) with the network accounting server device 205 during execution of a job. In such a case, the abnormality is detected and the job is immediately interrupted. Therefore, when a network abnormality occurs during the execution of the job, it is possible to prevent the charge management from being disabled. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the network cable from being deliberately cut off by causing the network cable to be cut off, or to prevent the tallying of accounting from being inconsistent due to an unexpected abnormality. it can.

[Second Embodiment: FIG. 10] Next, processing (second embodiment) according to the second aspect of the present invention in this network charging management system will be described with reference to FIG. Here, when the main controller 20 of each of the digital copying machines 201 to 204 has an abnormality with the network charging server device 205, the main controller 20 has a function as a network abnormality detecting unit for detecting the abnormality. A function as a billing information storage unit for storing billing information relating to the job being executed when an abnormality is detected by the function.

FIG. 10 shows digital copiers 201-204.
6 is a flowchart showing an example of a network abnormality detection process according to the second embodiment of the present invention by the main controller 20. The main controller 20 of each of the digital copying machines 201 to 204 periodically starts the processing of FIG. 10 and checks whether or not a network error has been detected in step S11. If no network error has been detected, the main controller 20 of FIG. When the process ends, if an abnormality has occurred with the network accounting server device 205, the abnormality is detected as a network abnormality, and the process proceeds to step S1.
Proceed to 2.

In step S12, it is checked whether or not the job is being executed. If the job is not being executed, in step S16, an unusable message (network error message) due to an abnormality with the network accounting server 205 is sent. The display on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the operation unit 30 clearly indicates that the digital copying machine cannot be used, and the processing in FIG. 10 ends. If the job is being executed, the charging information that could not be counted by the network charging server device 205 in step S13 is stored in the internal memory (charging information storage means).

Thereafter, the accounting information that could not be counted by the network accounting server device 205 is accumulated (added) in the internal memory at each accounting count timing until the job is completed. If it is determined in step S14 that the job has been completed, the process proceeds to step S15. In addition to the network error message, the accounting unprocessed information that has not been counted by the network accounting server 205 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel of the operation unit 30. By displaying the billing information on the display 31, the billing information can be temporarily made visible, and the processing in FIG. 10 ends.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the main controller 20 of each of the digital copying machines 201 to 204 generates an abnormality (network abnormality) with the network accounting server device 205 during execution of a job. In this case, the abnormality is detected and the accounting information for the job being executed is stored in the internal memory, so even if a network abnormality occurs during job execution and the function of the network accounting management system goes down, Job can be continued. Therefore, the operability for the customer (user) is not deteriorated, and the billing information can be managed.

[Third Embodiment: FIG. 11] Next, processing (third embodiment) according to the third aspect of the present invention in this network charging management system will be described with reference to FIG. Here, when the main controller 20 of each of the digital copying machines 201 to 204 has an abnormality with the network charging server device 205, the main controller 20 has a function as a network abnormality detecting unit for detecting the abnormality. A function as a billing information storage unit for storing billing information relating to the job being executed when an abnormality is detected by the function; and a billing information storage unit when the abnormality is released after the abnormality is detected. And a function as a billing information transmitting means for transmitting billing information relating to the job stored by the function as described above to the network billing server device.

FIG. 11 shows digital copiers 201-204.
6 is a flowchart showing an example of a network abnormality clearing process according to the invention of claim 3 by the main controller 20 of FIG. The main controller 20 of each of the digital copying machines 201 to 204 periodically starts the processing of FIG. 10 and performs each processing described above. If a network error is detected, the process of FIG. 11 is started periodically thereafter, and it is first checked in step S21 whether the network error has been cleared. If the network error has not been cleared, the process of FIG. The process ends.

If the network abnormality has been cleared, it is checked in step S22 whether billing information is stored in the internal memory (charging information storage means). If billing information is not stored, the processing in FIG. finish. If the charging information is stored in the internal memory, the charging information is read out at step S23 and transmitted to the network charging server device 205 via the network 200. Then, if the transmission is successful, the billing information stored in the internal memory becomes unnecessary, so that step S2
In step 4, the accounting information is cleared, and the processing in FIG. 11 ends.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the main controller 20 of each of the digital copying machines 201 to 204 performs the same processing as that of the second embodiment. Is canceled, the accounting information on the job stored in the internal memory is transmitted to the network accounting server device 205.
In addition to the same effects as in the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. That is, when the function as the network charging system returns to the normal state, the network charging server device 205 can perform the charging totaling normally.

[0058]

As described above, according to the network accounting management system of the present invention, even if an abnormality occurs in the accounting management server device or the network system during the execution of the job of the image forming apparatus, the accounting management in the accounting management is performed. Can be performed correctly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a network charging management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a mechanical unit of a digital copying machine that constitutes a network charging management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a layout diagram illustrating a configuration example of an operation unit of the digital copying machine illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a normal job condition setting screen displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control system of the digital copying machine illustrated in FIG. 2;

6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing unit (IPU) 49 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing an example of image data and control signals for one page in the selector 64 of FIG. 6;

8 is a diagram showing an example of a department code input screen displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a network abnormality detection process according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which is performed by the main controller of each of the digital copying machines 201 to 204 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a network abnormality detection process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a network abnormality clearing process according to the invention of claim 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 20: Main controller 30: Operation unit 31: LCD touch panel 32: Numeric keypad 200: Network 201-204: Digital copier 205: Network billing server

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A network charging management system comprising: a plurality of image forming apparatuses connectable to a network; and a network charging server apparatus for performing charging management of the image forming apparatuses connectable to the network. When an abnormality occurs between the network device and the network charging server device in the forming apparatus, a network abnormality detection unit that detects the abnormality, and when the network abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality during execution of the job, A network charging management system, comprising: a job suspending unit for immediately suspending the job. 2. A network charging management system comprising: a plurality of image forming apparatuses connectable to a network; and a network charging server apparatus for performing charging management of the image forming apparatuses connectable to the network. When an abnormality occurs between the network device and the network charging server device in the forming apparatus, a network abnormality detection unit that detects the abnormality, and when the network abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality during execution of the job, A charging information storage unit for storing charging information relating to the job being executed; 3. The network charging management system according to claim 2, wherein, after the network abnormality detecting unit detects the abnormality in the image forming apparatus, if the abnormality is released, the network information is stored in the charging information storage unit. A network charging management system, comprising: charging information transmitting means for transmitting charging information relating to the job to the network charging server device.