JP2003345896A - Charging system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charging system which facilitates authentication of a user who forms an image in an image forming device and settlement for the image formation charge. <P>SOLUTION: A charging server 40 is installed in a mobile telephone company which provides use service of a mobile telephone 10 and performs data management of use charges of mobile telephones 10 of respective users. Further, when a copying machine 20 specifies a user with a telephone number and gives notice of a charge for copies, the charging server 40 adds the reported charge to the use charge of the user corresponding to the telephone number. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a charging system for charging a user for a fee for image formation by an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine is used, a usage fee is paid by paying in advance a necessary amount of cash to a settlement device such as a coin mech provided in the image forming apparatus. A user who inserts or uses the image forming apparatus is registered in advance, an ID number and a password are issued, and the user ID is charged when the image forming apparatus is used, and the usage fee is charged to the user ID. Charging method is adopted.

[0003]

However, in a billing method in which a billing device is charged and a fee is settled by cash,
Since cash must be prepared every time the image forming apparatus is used, it is very inconvenient and the accounting management using cash is complicated. In a billing method in which a user ID and a password are issued and billed for them, the work of inputting the user ID and the password every time the image forming apparatus is used is complicated and the user is not registered in advance. Since the image forming apparatus cannot be used, there is a problem that, for example, the image forming apparatus on a business trip cannot be used.

On the other hand, a charging system using an IC card or the like having an arithmetic function has been developed and widely used, but this charging method is inconvenient because the IC card must be always carried. In the case where an IC card is issued for each workplace such as a department and charging management is performed, while one person in the workplace takes out the IC card, another user cannot use the image forming apparatus. Very inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a billing system that can easily authenticate a user who forms an image in an image forming apparatus and settle an image forming fee.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In a charging system, a mobile communication terminal carried by a user, an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit, and a charging server for managing a usage fee of the mobile communication terminal are connected via a network. Comprises first transmitting means for transmitting the user identification information to the image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus stores user identification information for permitting image formation by the image forming means, A first receiving unit that receives user identification information from the portable communication terminal; a user identification information received by the first receiving unit; and a user identification information stored in the user storage unit. An authentication unit for collating and authenticating image formation by the user; a second transmission unit for transmitting an authentication result by the authentication unit to the portable communication terminal; Calculating means for calculating an image formation fee for the image formation when the image formation by the user is authenticated by the authentication means, wherein the second transmission means associates the calculation with the identification information of the user; Sending a notification of the image forming fee calculated by the means to the charging server, wherein the charging server stores identification information of a user who carries the portable communication terminal; and identification information of the user from the image forming apparatus. A second receiving unit for receiving a notification of an image forming fee associated with the user, and a user corresponding to the identification information of the user received by the second receiving unit is read from the storage unit. Charging means for charging the image forming fee.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the billing system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the identification information of the user is a caller number of a portable communication terminal carried by the user. It is characterized by.

According to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, authentication of image formation by the user is performed using the caller ID of the portable communication terminal carried by the user, so that the burden on the user for user authentication is reduced. In addition, since the image forming fee is charged to the user who carries the mobile communication terminal, settlement of the image forming fee and charge management are facilitated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the charging system according to the first aspect, the plurality of image forming apparatuses and the image forming means of the plurality of image forming apparatuses are permitted to form an image on the network. An authentication server having a user storage unit for storing identification information of a user who is present, wherein the second transmission unit transmits the user identification information transmitted from the mobile communication terminal in the image forming apparatus. Transmitting to the authentication server, the authentication server receiving a user identification information from the image forming apparatus, a third reception unit; a user identification information received by the third reception unit; An authentication unit that authenticates the image formation by the user by comparing the identification information of the user stored in the unit with an authentication result of the user by the authentication unit; It is characterized in that it comprises a third transmission means for transmitting the image forming apparatus.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the authentication server performs user authentication in a plurality of image forming apparatuses on the network. Therefore, if the user is one of these image forming apparatuses connected to the network, Any of the image forming apparatuses can be used, and convenience is improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the billing system according to the first aspect, in the image forming apparatus, a settlement unit for adjusting the image forming fee calculated by the calculation unit; Alternatively, there is provided a selecting means for selecting either one of the fee settlement via the charging means of the charging server.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to select a method of adjusting the fee by the adjusting means or a method of adjusting the fee by charging the user carrying the portable communication terminal by the charging server. Can be provided with a billing method adapted to the situation.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the charging system according to the first aspect, the charging server transmits a charging result by the charging means to a portable communication terminal of a user charged by the charging means. Is further provided.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the billing result is transmitted to the portable communication terminal carried by the user who has been charged for the image forming fee, so that the billing result can be easily confirmed and the convenience is improved. Is improved.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the charging system according to the first aspect, in the image forming apparatus, the user storage unit further stores an image forming condition for each user who is permitted to form the image. The image forming unit reads out image forming conditions corresponding to the user authenticated by the authentication unit from the user storage unit, and forms an image based on the image forming conditions.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since image formation is performed under image formation conditions corresponding to the authenticated user, the image formation conditions permitted for the user can be automatically set. And convenience is improved.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the charging system according to the first aspect, in the image forming apparatus, the user storage means is provided for each user who permits the image formation via a charging means of the charging server. Further storing information indicating whether or not the settled fee settlement is permitted;
Transmitting means for storing the image forming fee when information indicating that the user authenticated by the authenticating means is permitted to settle the fee via the charging means of the charging server is stored in the user storage means; Is transmitted to the charging server.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when the charging server permits the user carrying the portable communication terminal to be charged and settle the charge, the notification of the image forming charge is sent to the charging server. Therefore, unnecessary notification of an image forming fee can be prevented.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. <First Embodiment> First, the configuration will be described. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a billing system 100 according to a first embodiment. In the first embodiment, a mobile phone 10 described later functions as a mobile communication terminal described in the claims of the present invention, a copying machine 20 functions as an image forming apparatus, and a charging server 40 functions as a charging server.

In FIG. 1, a billing system 100 includes a cellular phone 10 carried by a user, a copying machine 20 serving as an image forming apparatus, and a billing server 40 of a cellular phone company providing a service for using the cellular phone 10 via a network N. And are connected so that data can be transmitted and received mutually. In the first embodiment, the description will be made assuming that two mobile phones 10, two copying machines 20, and one billing server 40 are connected to the network N. Is not particularly limited.

The mobile phone 10 is a mobile communication terminal having a communication function for communicating with each device connected via the network N and a function for sending and receiving e-mail, and has a display means for displaying the communication result. Be composed. Mobile phone 10
Is carried by the user using the copier 20. That is, the mobile phone 10 has a function as a first transmission unit of the mobile communication terminal.

The copier 20 is an image forming apparatus having a communication function for communicating with each device connected via the network N, and reads a document specified by a user to be copied and prints it on a print sheet. The copying machine 20 is provided with an e-mail address, and has a function of transmitting / receiving an e-mail to / from each device connected via the network N. In the first embodiment, a case where a copying machine is used as an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a facsimile apparatus, a printer, or the like. In the first embodiment, the copier 20
Stores information of a user who has been registered as a user in the own device in advance, and permits only the registered user to use the own device.

The accounting server 40 is installed in a mobile phone company that provides a service for using the mobile phone 10 and manages data on the usage fee of the mobile phone 10 of each user. Further, when the user is specified by the telephone number from the copier 20 and the charge amount is notified of the copy charge, the charge server 40 charges the charge amount notified to the user corresponding to the telephone number.

The network N is a network to which various communication lines such as a telephone line, a dedicated line, a mobile communication network, a communication satellite network, and a CATV line can be applied.
Various line forms such as an Area Network (WAN), a WAN (Wide Area Network), and the Internet can be applied.

Next, the copying machine 20 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment and a second embodiment to be described later, a CPU 21 to be described later is an authentication unit and a calculation unit of the image forming apparatus described in the claims of the present invention, and the input unit 22 is a selection unit. As the storage unit 2
Reference numeral 8 denotes a user storage unit, the communication control unit 29 serves as a first receiving unit, the second transmitting unit serves as an image reading unit 24, an image processing unit 25, and an output unit 26 serve as an image forming unit. As a function.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the copying machine 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the copying machine 20
PU 21, input unit 22, display unit 23, image reading unit 24,
Image processing unit 25, output unit 26, RAM 27, storage unit 2
8, a communication control unit 29, and a settlement device 30. Each unit is connected by a bus 31.

The CPU 21 reads out a program stored in the storage unit 28, expands it in the RAM 27, and centrally controls each unit according to the program. Also, CPU2
1 executes various processes in accordance with the program developed in the RAM 27, stores the processing results in the RAM 27, and causes the display unit 23 to display the processing results. Then, the result stored in the RAM 27 is stored in a predetermined storage destination of the storage unit 28.

The CPU 21 reads out a billing process program stored in the storage unit 28 and executes a billing process described later. When the CPU 21 is notified of the user's telephone number from the charging server 40 and requested to use the copying machine 20 in the charging process of the first embodiment, the CPU 21 performs user authentication based on the notified telephone number and performs the user authentication. The authentication result is notified by e-mail to the mobile phone 10 of the telephone number notified from the charging server 40. When the user is authenticated and permitted to use, the selection screen of the fee settlement method is displayed on the display unit 23 to be selected, and when the charge to the mobile phone 10 is selected, the image forming conditions according to the user are set in each unit. After the setting, the charge server 30 is notified that the use of the copying machine 20 is started by charging the mobile phone 10 and adjusting the charge. Next, after performing a copy operation in accordance with the user's instruction, the copy fee is calculated and notified to the billing server 30 as a billing amount together with the telephone number of the mobile phone 10 of the user.

The input unit 22 includes various function keys such as a cursor key, a number input key, and an enter key, and outputs a pressed signal to the CPU 21. Note that the input unit 22 may be a pointing device such as a touch panel integrated with the display unit 23.

The display unit 23 is an LCD (Liquid Crystal D)
and the status display of various operation icons and image data on the screen according to the display signal input from the CPU 21.

The image reading section 24 is provided with a scanner below a contact glass on which a document is placed, and reads image data of the document. Scanner is light source, lens, C
A document image is read by forming a reflected light of the light scanned by the light source from the light source onto the document and photoelectrically converting the image, and reads the read image data into an image processing unit 25.
Output to Here, the image data to be read is not limited to image data such as figures and photographs, but also includes text data such as characters and symbols.

The image processing unit 25 performs image processing such as enlargement / reduction processing, rotation, and position change, image contrast, gradation, and the like on the image data input from the image reading unit 24 in accordance with instructions from the CPU 21. Various image processing such as conversion of hue and saturation is performed.

The output unit 26 includes a photosensitive drum, a toner, a paper feed unit, and a paper discharge unit. The output unit 26 conveys print paper of the size and orientation specified by the CPU 21 from the paper feed unit. The electrostatic latent image of the image data subjected to the image processing is exposed to the printing paper conveyed via the photosensitive drum. Then, the toner is transferred to the printing paper to which the electrostatic latent image of the image data has been exposed and fixed, and then discharged to a paper discharging unit.

The RAM (Random Access Memory) 27
A work area for temporarily storing various programs executed by the CPU 21 and data processed by the various programs is formed.

The storage unit 28 has a recording medium (not shown) in which programs and data are stored in advance.
This recording medium is constituted by a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. This recording medium is stored in the storage unit 28
The storage medium stores a system program, various control programs, data processed by the various control programs, and the like. The program is
The computer sequentially executes an operation according to a program code readable by a computer.

The storage unit 28 internally stores a user registration list 281 storing information on users who have been registered in advance and who are permitted to use the apparatus, in an updatable file format. The user registration list 281
As shown in FIG. 3, the user's name, the telephone number of the mobile phone 10 carried by the user, an e-mail address, image forming conditions indicating functions and operating conditions restricted for use by the user, 10 is stored in association with whether or not charging is possible. For example, a user whose user name is "Taro Yamada" has a telephone number "090-xxxxxx-
Δ △△△ ”and the e-mail address is“ abc @ A. c
o. jp ", which indicates that the output condition of the user is limited to" up to 50 sheets ", and that the user is allowed to charge the mobile phone 10 carried by the user.

The communication control section 29 is an interface connectable to a transmission medium connected to the network N.
The communication control unit 29 is configured by a modem or a terminal adapter or the like, and controls communication with the mobile phone 10 and the charging server 40 connected via the network N.

The settlement apparatus 30 is provided with a cash register such as a coin mech, and stores the amount of money deposited in the CPU 21.
And refund the amount specified by the CPU 21.

Next, the accounting server 40 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the charging server 40. In the first embodiment and a second embodiment described later, a CPU 41 described later is a charging unit of a charging server described in the claims of the present invention, and the communication control unit 44 is a second receiving unit. , Fourth
The storage unit 46 has a function as a storage unit as a transmission unit. In FIG. 4, a billing server 40 includes a CPU 4
1, input unit 42, display unit 43, communication control unit 44, RAM
45, a storage unit 46, and each unit is connected by a bus 47. Since the input unit 42, the display unit 43, the communication control unit 44, and the RAM 45 have the same functions as the input unit 22, the display unit 43, the communication control unit 29, and the RAM 27 of the copying machine 20, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. I do.

The CPU 41 reads out a program stored in the storage unit 46, expands it in the RAM 45, and centrally controls each unit according to the program. CPU4
1 executes various processes according to the program developed in the RAM 45, stores the processing results in the RAM 45, and causes the display unit 43 to display the processing results. Then, the result stored in the RAM 45 is stored in a predetermined storage destination of the storage unit 46.

The CPU 41 reads a billing process program stored in the storage unit 46 and executes a billing process described later. The CPU 41 transfers the e-mail to the copier 20 when the telephone number is notified by e-mail from the mobile phone 10 and the use permission request of the copier 20 is notified in the charging process of the first embodiment. . Next, the copier 20 notifies the cellular phone 10 that the use of the copier 20 is to be started by a method of adjusting the fee, and then notifies the user of the charge amount in association with the telephone number of the user. The charging list 461 is read and the user corresponding to the notified telephone number is charged with the notified charging amount as a copy fee. Then, the charged amount is notified by e-mail to the mobile phone 10 of the notified telephone number.

The storage unit 46 has a recording medium (not shown) in which programs, data, and the like are stored in advance.
This recording medium is constituted by a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. This recording medium is stored in the storage unit 46.
The storage medium stores a system program, various control programs, data processed by the various control programs, and the like. The program is
The computer sequentially executes an operation according to a program code readable by a computer.

The storage unit 46 stores a user charging list 46.
1 is stored internally in an updatable file format. The user charging list 461 includes, as shown in FIG. 5, the name of the user, the telephone number of the mobile phone 10 carried by the user, the charge to be charged to the user, the content of the charge, and the date when the charge was generated. They are stored in association with each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the telephone number of the user “Taro Yamada” is “0”.
90-xxxxxx- @ "and the e-mail address is" abc @ A. co. jp ", for example, the fact that a call charge of 2,800 yen is generated on May 31, 200 × 200 is stored.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. Referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The accounting process executed by the copying machine 20 and the accounting server 40 will be described. As a premise of the description, it is assumed that the user who carries the mobile phone 10 has already registered the user in the copying machine 20.

In FIG. 6, when the user carrying the mobile phone 10 is instructed to make a request for permission to use the copying machine 20, the mobile phone 10 transmits the telephone number to the billing server 10 by e-mail to copy. A notification of a request for permission to use the device 20 is made (step S1). Upon receiving an e-mail notifying the telephone number of the user from the mobile phone 10, the charging server 40 requested to use the copying machine 20 transfers the received e-mail to the copying machine 20, and responds to the telephone number. The user is notified that the use of the copier 20 has been requested (step S2).

Upon receiving the notification of the telephone number from billing server 10 and requesting permission to use its own device, copying machine 20 refers to user registration list 281 in storage unit 28 and copies the telephone number that matches the received telephone number. And authenticates whether the user requesting the use permission is a user registered in the copying machine 20 (step S3). If a telephone number that matches the received telephone number is not registered in the user registration list 281, the mobile phone 10 of the received telephone number
Is notified by e-mail to the user's e-mail address notified from the charging server 10 that the use of the copying machine 20 is not permitted (step S).
4).

On the other hand, a telephone number corresponding to the received telephone number is registered in the user registration list 281, and when the user is authenticated, the user name, the image forming condition, and the like stored in association with the telephone number are stored. The mobile phone 10 reads out whether or not to charge the mobile phone 10 and sends it to the mobile phone 10 by e-mail to notify the permission of use of the copier 20 (step S).
5). For example, if the received telephone number is "090-xxxxxx"
-△△△△ ”, since the matching telephone number is registered in the user registration list 281 shown in FIG.
The user stored in association with the telephone number
"Taro Yamada" and the image forming condition is "output number 50
Is notified to the mobile phone 10 that the charge is limited to "up to".
The copier 20 displays a selection screen for a method of adjusting the copy fee on the display unit 23, in which the cash is charged into the adjustment device 30 and the fee is settled. , A desired fee settlement method is selected (step S6).

The mobile phone 10 notified of the result of the user authentication by the electronic mail from the copying machine 20 determines whether or not the use of the copying machine 20 is permitted (step S7). If the charging process is terminated and the use is permitted, the user name registered on the copying machine 20 transmitted at the time of notification of the use permission, image forming conditions such as functions usable by the user, Is displayed on the display means. Here, in the present embodiment, charging to the mobile phone 10 is permitted, and the user who has checked the displayed registration content has selected a method of charging a copy fee to the mobile phone 10 and adjusting the fee. The description is made as follows.

The copying machine 20 sets a copy fee on the mobile phone 10.
The user can input a fee into the input unit 22 by using
Is selected, the copying machine 20 displays that the copying operation can be started when the image forming condition read out in step S5 is set in each section of the copying machine 20 and the copying operation is ready. The information is displayed on the unit 23 to notify the user (step S8), and the charge server 40 is notified that the use of the copying machine 20 is started by charging the mobile phone 10 and adjusting the charge (step S9).

When the user confirms that the copying machine 20 is ready for copying, the user performs various copying operations by setting various conditions using the input unit 22 of the copying machine 20 within the permitted image forming conditions. When the user performs a copy operation and receives a copy instruction, the copying machine 20 executes a copy operation under the set image forming conditions (step S10).
Next, when the copy operation is completed (step S11),
The copying machine 20 calculates a copy fee, that is, an image forming fee, according to the function used and the number of output sheets (step S1).
2) The calculated copy fee is reported to the billing server 40 in association with the user's telephone number as a billing amount to the user (step S13).

When the billing server 40 is notified of the billing amount as the copy fee in association with the telephone number of the user,
In the user billing list 461, the billing amount notified to the user corresponding to the notified telephone number is charged (step S14), and the charging amount charged as the copy fee to the mobile phone 10 of the notified telephone number is sent as an e-mail. (Step S15). When the mobile phone 10 receives the e-mail from the charging server 10 and is notified of the charging amount charged as the copy fee, the mobile phone 10 displays the charging amount on the display means to notify the user, and ends the charging process.

As described above, the copying machine 20 stores the telephone number of the mobile phone 10 and the image forming conditions, which are the identification information of the users who are permitted to use the copying machine 20 in advance, and registers the registered mobile phone 1.
Since the authentication of the user is performed by using the telephone number 0, the burden on the user of issuing the ID number and carrying the ID card or memorizing the ID number by the user is eliminated, and the mobile communication such as the mobile phone which is always carried. Authentication can be performed using a terminal. In addition, mobile phone 1
When the user selects the method of charging the usage fee of 0, the copier 20
Calculates the copy fee using the copier 20 and notifies the billing server 40 of the billing amount as a billing amount. The billing server 40 charges the notified billing amount to the user's billing fee. This makes it easy to move on to copying.

<Second Embodiment> First, the configuration will be described. FIG. 7 shows charging system 200 according to the present embodiment.
It is a conceptual diagram which shows the whole structure of. In the second embodiment, a mobile phone 10 described later is a mobile communication terminal described in the claims of the present invention, a copier 20 is an image forming apparatus, a charging server 40 is a charging server, and an authentication server 50 Functions as an authentication server.

In FIG. 7, a billing system 200 uses a portable telephone 10 carried by a user, a copying machine 20 used by the user, a billing server 40 of a portable telephone company that provides a service for using the portable telephone, and use of the copying machine 20. An authentication server 50 for authentication is connected and configured to be able to mutually transmit and receive data via a network N. In the present embodiment, two mobile phones 10 and two copying machines 2
The description will be made assuming that 0, 1 billing server 40, and 1 authentication server 50 are connected to the network N, but the number and installation locations are not particularly limited.

Next, each device will be described in detail.
The mobile phone 10 is the mobile phone 1 according to the first embodiment.
Since it has the same function as that of No. 0, a detailed description of its configuration is omitted.

The copying machine 20 is an image forming apparatus having a communication function for communicating with each device connected via the network N, and reads a document specified by a user to be copied and prints it on a printing sheet. The copying machine 20 is provided with an e-mail address, and has a function of transmitting / receiving an e-mail to / from each device connected via the network N. In this embodiment, a case where a copying machine is used as an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a facsimile apparatus, a printer, or the like may be used.

The authentication server 50 is installed in a company that provides a copy service, accepts registration of a user who uses the copy service, and manages information of the registered user. Upon receiving a user authentication request from the copier 20, the authentication server 50 determines whether the user is a user registered in the copy service and performs user authentication.

Next, the functional configuration of the copying machine 20 according to the second embodiment will be described. Since the components are the same as those of the copying machine 20 according to the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are used. In addition, the drawings are omitted, and detailed description of each component having the same function is omitted.

In the second embodiment, the CPU 21
Reads out the accounting processing program stored in the storage unit 28 and executes the accounting processing described later. CPU 21
In the charging process according to the second embodiment, upon receiving the user's telephone number from the mobile phone 10 by e-mail and being notified of a request to permit use of the copier 20, the authentication server 50 And request authentication of the user. Next, the user is notified of the authentication result from the authentication server 50, and when the use of the copying machine 20 is permitted, a selection screen of a charge settlement method is displayed on the display unit 23 to be selected, and the mobile phone 10 is charged. When the method of paying the fee is selected, the image forming conditions according to the user are set in each section, and then the use of the copying machine 20 is started by charging the mobile phone 10 to the billing server 30 and paying the fee. Notify that. Next, after performing a copy operation in accordance with a user's instruction, the copy fee is calculated and the billing server 30 is notified as a billing amount together with the user's telephone number.

Next, the billing server 4 of the second embodiment
The functional configuration of the accounting server 40 will be described. However, since each component is the same as the accounting server 40 in the first embodiment,
The same reference numerals are assigned and the illustration is omitted, and the detailed description of each component having the same function is omitted.

In the second embodiment, the CPU 41
Reads out the accounting processing program stored in the storage unit 46 and executes the accounting processing described later. CPU 41
Receives a notification that the user has started using the copier 20 in the charging process in the second embodiment by charging the mobile phone 10 from the copier 20 and paying the fee.
Next, when the charge amount is notified as the copy charge together with the telephone number of the user, the charge amount notified to the user corresponding to the notified telephone number in the user charge list 461 is charged as the copy charge. Then, the charged amount is notified to the mobile phone 10 of the telephone number by e-mail.

The authentication server 50 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Note that in the second embodiment,
The CPU 51, which will be described later, has a function as an authentication unit of the authentication server described in the claims of the present invention, the communication control unit 54 has a function as a third reception unit, the third transmission unit has a function as a user storage unit.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the authentication server 50. In FIG. 8, the authentication server 5
Reference numeral 0 includes a CPU 51, an input unit 52, a display unit 53, a communication control unit 54, a RAM 55, and a storage unit 56, and each unit is connected by a bus 57. The input unit 52, the display unit 53, the communication control unit 54, and the RAM 55 have the same functions as the input unit 22, the display unit 23, the communication control unit 29, and the RAM 27 of the copying machine 20 in the first embodiment. , And a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The CPU 51 reads out the program stored in the storage unit 56, expands it in the RAM 55, and centrally controls each unit according to the program. CPU5
1 executes various processes in accordance with the program developed in the RAM 55, stores the processing results in the RAM 55, and causes the display unit 53 to display the processing results. Then, the result stored in the RAM 55 is stored in a predetermined storage destination of the storage unit 56.

The CPU 51 reads out a billing process program stored in the storage unit 56 and executes a billing process described later. When the CPU 51 is notified of the telephone number of the user requesting the use permission from the copying machine 20 in the charging process of the second embodiment, the user registration list 56
1 is read, the user is authenticated by the telephone number, and the authentication result is notified to the copying machine 20.

The storage unit 56 has a recording medium (not shown) in which programs, data, and the like are stored in advance.
This recording medium is constituted by a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. This recording medium is stored in the storage unit 56
The storage medium stores a system program, various control programs, data processed by the various control programs, and the like. The program is
The computer sequentially executes an operation according to a program code readable by a computer.

The storage unit 56 stores therein a user registration list 561 storing information on users who are permitted to use the copying machine 20 connected to the network N in an updatable file format. The user registration list 561 is restricted in use for the user who is permitted to use the copying machine 20 connected to the network N, the telephone number of the mobile phone 10 carried by the user, the e-mail address, and the user. Image processing conditions indicating functions and operation conditions are stored in association with whether or not the mobile phone 10 can be charged.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. Referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The accounting process executed by the copier 20, the accounting server 40, and the authentication server 50 will be described. As a premise of explanation,
The user who carries the mobile phone 10 can use the authentication server 50 in advance.
It is assumed that user registration has been performed.

In FIG. 9, when the user carrying the mobile phone 10 is instructed to make a request for permission to use the copier 20, the mobile phone 10
Is transmitted by e-mail and a request for permission to use the copying machine 20 is made (step S101). Mobile phone 1
0, the user's telephone number is received by e-mail, and the copy machine 20 notified of the permission to use the copy machine 20 transfers the received e-mail to the authentication server 50. It is notified that use permission has been requested (step S102).

The authentication server 50 that has received the user's telephone number from the copier 20 by e-mail refers to the user registration list 561 in the storage unit 56, searches for the telephone number corresponding to the received telephone number, and grants use permission. Authentication is performed as to whether the requesting user is registered as a user who can use the copy service (step S103). If a telephone number corresponding to the received telephone number is not registered in the user registration list 561, the user carrying the mobile phone 10 having the received telephone number is not permitted to use the copier 20 connected to the network N. Is notified to the copying machine 20 (step S104). When notified of the result of the user authentication from the authentication server 50, the copying machine 20 notifies the mobile phone 10 by e-mail that the use of the copying machine 20 is not permitted (step S105).

On the other hand, if a telephone number that matches the telephone number received by the authentication server 50 is registered in the user registration list 561, the user name, image forming condition, and mobile phone 10 stored in the user registration list 561 are registered. Is read and transmitted to the copying machine 20, and the use permission of the copying machine 20 is notified (step S106). The copying machine 20 notified of the use permission transmits the user name, the image forming condition, and the possibility of charging the mobile phone 10 to the mobile phone 10 by e-mail to notify the use permission transmitted at the time of the notification (step). S107). Next, the copier 20 displays a selection screen of a copy charge settlement method on the display unit 23, in which cash is charged into the settlement device 30 to settle the charge, and a method in which the mobile phone 10 is charged and the charge is settled. , A desired fee settlement method is selected (step S108).

The mobile phone 10 notified of the result of the user authentication by the electronic mail from the copying machine 20 determines whether or not the use of the copying machine 20 is permitted (step S109).
If the use is not permitted, the charging process is terminated, and if the use is permitted, the user name, image processing conditions, and mobile phone registered on the authentication server 50 that are notified when the use permission e-mail is received. The registered contents of whether or not to charge the account 10 are displayed on the display means. Here, in the second embodiment, charging to the mobile phone 10 is permitted, and the user who confirms the displayed registration contents charges a copy fee to the mobile phone 10 to settle the fee. Description will be made assuming that is selected.

When the user inputs an instruction for selecting a method of charging the mobile phone 10 for the copy fee and paying the fee from the input unit 22 by the user, the authentication server 50 permits the use of the copy machine 20. The image forming conditions of the user transmitted at the time of the notification are set in the respective units of the copying machine 20 to prepare for a state where the copying operation is possible, and it is displayed on the display unit 23 that the copying operation can be started. The user is notified (step S110). Next, the copying machine 20 notifies the billing server 40 of the telephone number, and the user of the telephone number starts using the copying machine 20 by charging the copy fee to the mobile phone 10 and adjusting the fee. Is notified (step S111).

When the user confirms that the copying machine 20 is ready for copying, the user performs various copying operations by setting various conditions using the input unit 22 of the copying machine 22 within the permitted image forming conditions. When the user performs a copy operation and receives a copy instruction, the copying machine 20 executes a copy operation under the set image forming conditions (step S11).
2). Next, when the copy operation is completed (Step S1)
13), the copying machine 20 calculates a copy fee, that is, an image formation fee, according to the function used and the number of output sheets (step S114), and uses the calculated copy fee as a billing amount to the user, corresponding to the telephone number of the user. Attach billing server 40
(Step S115).

When the billing server 40 is notified of the billing amount as the copy fee in association with the user's telephone number, the billing server 40 charges the billing amount reported to the user corresponding to the reported telephone number in the user billing list 461. (Step S116), and the mobile phone 10 of the notified phone number
It notifies by e-mail that the charging amount has been charged to the charging fee as a copy fee (step S117). When the mobile phone 10 receives the e-mail and is notified of the charge amount of the copy fee from the charge server 40, the mobile phone 10 displays the charge amount on the display means to notify the user, and ends the charging process.

As described above, the authentication server 50 having the user registration list 561 is installed on the network N, and the authentication server 50 is connected to the copier 2 connected to the network N.
Since the user authentication of use permission of 0 is performed, the user only needs to register the user once in the authentication server 50, and if the copying machine 20 is connected to the network N,
Even if it is 0, it can be used, and convenience is improved.
Also, since the user is authenticated by the registered telephone number of the mobile phone 10, the burden of the user issuing the ID number and carrying the ID card or the user storing the ID number is eliminated, and the user always carries the ID card. Authentication can be performed using a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone.

When the user selects the method of charging the mobile phone 10 to perform the payment as the payment method, the copying machine 20 calculates the copy fee using the copying machine 20 and notifies the charging server 40 of the amount as a charging amount. The server 40 charges the user with the notified charging amount, so that payment of the charge and charging management become easy, and the copying operation can be immediately started.

The charging system 100 according to the first embodiment and the charging system 200 according to the second embodiment are examples of a preferable charging system according to the present invention, and are not limited thereto. is not. For example, in the above description, the telephone number of the mobile phone 10 carried by the user is used as the user identification information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the electronic mail address of the mobile phone 10 may be used. It is also possible to issue identification information such as an ID number when performing the operation, and store the ID number in the mobile phone 10.

Further, the charging system 1 of the first embodiment
In the above description, the request for permission to use the copying machine 20 is transmitted from the mobile phone 10 to the copying machine 20 via the charging server 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
The request notification may be transmitted directly from 0 to the copying machine 20.

In addition, each device constituting the charging systems 100 and 200 in the first and second embodiments,
Alternatively, the detailed configuration and the detailed operation of the components can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0081]

According to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, authentication of image formation by the user is performed using the caller ID of the portable communication terminal carried by the user, so that the burden on the user for user authentication is reduced. In addition to this, since the image forming fee is charged to the user who carries the portable communication terminal, settlement of the image forming fee and charge management become easy.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the authentication server performs user authentication in a plurality of image forming apparatuses on the network, so that the user can use any of these image forming apparatuses connected to the network. It can be used in an image forming apparatus, and convenience is improved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to select a method of adjusting the charge by the adjusting means and a method of adjusting the charge by charging the user carrying the portable communication terminal by the charging server. A billing method tailored to the situation can be provided.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the billing result is transmitted to the portable communication terminal carried by the user who has been charged for the image forming fee, the billing result can be easily confirmed, and the convenience is further improved. improves.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the image is formed under the image forming conditions corresponding to the authenticated user, the image forming conditions permitted for the user can be automatically set. , Convenience is improved.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when the accounting server permits the user carrying the portable communication terminal to be charged and settle the fee, the notification of the image forming fee is sent to the accounting server. Therefore, unnecessary notification of an image forming fee can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an overall configuration of a charging system 100 according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the copying machine 20 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of data storage of a user registration list 281 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a charging server 40 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of data storage of a user billing list 461 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a billing process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing an overall configuration of a charging system 200 according to a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the authentication server 50 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a billing process according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Mobile phone 20 Copier 21 CPU 28 Memory 281 User Registration List 30 Settlement device 40 billing server 41 CPU 46 Memory 461 User Billing List 50 Authentication server 51 CPU 56 storage unit

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G06F 15/00 310 G06F 15/00 310A H04M 15/00 H04M 15/00 Z H04N 1/00 107 H04N 1/00 107Z H04Q 7/38 ZEC H04Q 7/04 ZECH F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP04 HK15 HQ17 HX10 5B085 AC04 AE04 BA06 BG02 BG03 BG07 5C062 AA05 AA12 AA14 AA29 AB38 AC21 AC41 AC42 AC43 AF00 BB0A02 BB03 DD02 EE16 FF04 GG01 GG11 HH22 HH23

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A charging system in which a mobile communication terminal carried by a user, an image forming apparatus having an image forming means, and a charging server for managing a usage fee of the mobile communication terminal are connected via a network. The portable communication terminal further includes a first transmission unit that transmits the user identification information to the image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus stores identification information of a user who is permitted to form an image by the image forming unit. User storage means for receiving, and a first for receiving identification information of a user from the portable communication terminal
Receiving means, and authentication means for authenticating image formation by the user by comparing the user identification information received by the first receiving means with the user identification information stored in the user storage means. A second transmission unit that transmits an authentication result by the authentication unit to the mobile communication terminal; and a calculation unit that calculates an image formation fee for the image formation when the image formation by the user is authenticated by the authentication unit. The second transmitting unit transmits a notification of the image forming fee calculated by the calculating unit to the charging server in association with the identification information of the user, and the charging server includes the mobile communication terminal. Storage means for storing identification information of a user who carries the image forming apparatus; and a second receiver for receiving a notification of an image forming fee associated with the identification information of the user from the image forming apparatus. Communication means; and charging means for reading a user matching the user identification information received by the second receiving means from the storage means, and charging the user for the image forming fee. And billing system. 2. An authentication system comprising: a plurality of image forming apparatuses on a network; and user storage means for storing identification information of a user who is permitted to form an image by the image forming means of the plurality of image forming apparatuses. And a server, further comprising: the image forming apparatus, wherein the second transmitting unit transmits the user identification information transmitted from the mobile communication terminal to the authentication server, and wherein the authentication server 3rd receiving user identification information from the device
Receiving means, and authentication means for verifying image formation by the user by comparing the user identification information received by the third receiving means with the user identification information stored in the user storage means. 3. The accounting system according to claim 1, further comprising: a third transmission unit configured to transmit a result of user authentication by the authentication unit to the image forming apparatus. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: a settlement unit configured to settle the image forming fee calculated by the calculation unit; and a charge settlement by the settlement unit or a charge settlement via the charging unit of the charging server. The charging system according to claim 1, further comprising: selecting means for selecting one of the two. 4. The charging system according to claim 1, wherein the identification information of the user is a caller number of a portable communication terminal carried by the user. 5. The charging server according to claim 1, further comprising: fourth transmission means for transmitting a charging result by said charging means to a portable communication terminal of a user charged by said charging means. Billing system. 6. The image forming apparatus, wherein the user storage unit further stores an image forming condition for each user who is permitted to form the image, and wherein the image forming unit is configured to store a user authenticated by the authenticating unit. 2. The charging system according to claim 1, wherein a corresponding image forming condition is read out from said user storage means, and an image is formed based on said image forming condition. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user storage unit further stores, for each user who is permitted to form the image, information indicating whether or not fee settlement via the billing unit of the billing server is permitted. The second transmission unit stores information indicating that the user authenticated by the authentication unit is permitted to settle the charge via the charging unit of the charging server in the user storage unit. 2. The charging system according to claim 1, wherein in the case, the notification of the image forming fee is transmitted to the charging server.