JP2004054490A - Information management device, system and method, storage medium, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information management device and method capable of rapidly distributing high-quality printed matter at low cost. <P>SOLUTION: This system includes an information provider 302 providing certain information retained; equipment 304 outputting the information which the information provider 302 retains; an equipment manager 301 storing at least either the information which the information provider 302 retains or the result of information output by the equipment 304; and a network 307 for interconnecting the information provider 302, the equipment 304 and the equipment manager 301 in a manner that enables these to communicate with one another. The information is transmitted from the information provider 302 to the equipment manager 301 via the network 307 and transferred from the equipment manager 301 to the equipment 304. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides, for example, an information management apparatus, an information management system, an information management method, and a computer storing a program for executing the information management apparatus for printing information distributed from an information provider via a communication network by a high-performance printer. The present invention relates to a readable storage medium and the program.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, the performance of printing functions of printers and the like has been improved, and an environment in which high-quality printed matter can be easily obtained has been improved. Also, with the development and spread of communication network technology represented by the Internet and the like, services for electronically distributing image information via this communication network have been commonly performed.
[0003]
In addition, the above-described high-performance printer has begun to be installed in, for example, a convenience store or the like, and a user can easily obtain a high-quality printed matter such as a color print. In the above case, the high-performance printer is connected to a communication network such as the Internet, and is used as a receiving device of an information distribution service for distributing electronic image information of a printed matter.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when a user prints information distributed via a communication network with high quality using a high-performance printer in the conventional information distribution service as described above, there are the following problems. Was.
[0005]
There are various types of printing paper used for printer printing, but when printing with a high-performance printer, high-quality printing paper is sometimes used. For this reason, the printing paper of a high-performance printer tends to be expensive, but this increased cost is usually added to the printing fee and borne by the user who is the print processor.
[0006]
Therefore, in order to keep the cost increase as low as possible, the user may select printing paper of inferior quality and print on this paper without using high quality printing paper.
[0007]
In the information distribution service by the information provider, if the provision of the high quality print intended by the information provider is achieved only after the information is printed on a predetermined (suitable for high quality printing) printing paper, However, in printing using low-quality printing paper selected by a user, there is a possibility that a specific effect of a printed matter using high-quality printing paper cannot be expected.
[0008]
Specifically, for example, when an information provider wants to describe product information handled by a company or the like in a brochure and distribute it to the user side, the subtle texture and color of the product when expressed on the brochure, in other words, this Printing quality or paper quality for accurately expressing the texture and color is an extremely important factor in showing the characteristics of the product. Therefore, as described above, when the user cares about the high cost of the printing paper and uses low-quality printing paper, the value of the product originally intended by the information provider is not transmitted, The effect of the pamphlets to be distributed cannot be fully expected.
[0009]
For this reason, especially in the delivery of high-quality printed matter, even today, the information provider selects printing paper suitable for the high-quality printed matter and requests a printing company or the like to print on the printing paper. 2. Description of the Related Art In general, a method of creating a high-quality printed matter (such as a pamphlet) and distributing it to a user by mail or the like is generally performed.
[0010]
According to the distribution method described above, the print quality of the printed matter is maintained as intended by the information provider, and thus it is expected that the information possessed by the high-quality printed matter will be sufficiently provided to the user. In addition, there is a problem that the trouble and cost which are caused by requesting a printing company or the like and mailing the printed matter are additionally generated.
[0011]
In addition, when a high quality print is created by requesting a printing company or the like, a large number of print copies are usually ordered collectively in order to reduce the unit price of the created print. This print order is not made after the information provider has grasped the number of users of the distribution destination in advance and the necessary number of copies has been found, but at the time when the approximate expected number of users has been found. Therefore, in the case of an order in which the number of copies largely deviates from the initial expected number of copies and a large number of surplus copies are generated, the printing fee of the difference is considerably wasted.
[0012]
Further, after the information provider requests a printing company or the like to create a high-quality printed matter, the user waits for the delivery of the printed matter created by mail or the like. If there is a delay due to mail preparation or delivery on the information provider side until the printed matter arrives at, further time is required.
[0013]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and is an information management apparatus, an information management system, an information management method, and an information management method capable of realizing low-cost and quick delivery of high-quality printed matter. It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing the program, and the program.
[0014]
For example, a user can obtain high-quality print information in a short period of time without worrying about the cost of printing paper and the like, and an information provider can provide a printed matter of which high quality is guaranteed on demand. An object of the present invention is to distribute a printed matter without unnecessary printing cost and unnecessary labor by distributing a necessary number of copies to a user.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an information providing means for providing any information held, an information output means for outputting the information provided by the information providing means, and an information providing means provided by the information providing means And an information storage means for storing at least one of the information output results by the information output means, and a communication means for communicably connecting the information providing means, the information output means, and the information storage means to each other, A transmission means for transmitting the information from the information providing means to the information storage means via the communication means, and then transferring the information from the information storage means to the information output means.
[0016]
Further, the present invention provides an information providing step of providing any information held, an information output step of outputting the information of the information providing step, an information of the information providing step, and information of the information output step. An information storage step of storing at least one of the output results; a communication step of communicably connecting the information providing step, the information output step, and the information storage step to each other; Is transmitted from the information providing step to the information storage step, and then transferred from the information storage step to the information output step.
[0017]
Further, the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute predetermined steps, wherein the predetermined steps include an information providing step of providing arbitrary information held by the computer, and outputting the information having the information providing step. An information output step, an information storage step of storing at least one of the information of the information provision step and an information output result of the information output step, the information provision step, the information output step, and the information storage step A communication step of communicatively connecting the information to each other, and transmitting the information from the information providing step to the information storage step via the communication step, and then transferring the information from the information storage step to the information output step. And a step.
[0018]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that the program according to claim 8 is recorded on a computer-readable storage medium.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The present invention is applied to, for example, an information management device (information output means) 10 as shown in FIG.
In the information management apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the information provider (information providing means) transmits print information, print condition information, billing destination information, and the like to be distributed to the user to the device manager (information storage means). The administrator is configured to register and manage such information. In particular, by allowing the information provider to be set in the billing destination information for printing, the billing destination can be determined according to the user or the information provider. However, the processing for setting the printing conditions and for accounting is different.
[0020]
Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the information management apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be specifically described.
<Configuration of Information Management Device 10>
FIG. 1 is an example of an external view of an information management device 10 to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the information management device 10 of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the information management apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes an operation unit 202, a main controller 213, a PDL interpretation unit 207, a scan engine controller 210, a charging management unit 212, a primary storage device 203 , A secondary storage device 204, a protocol analysis unit 206 connected to the network adapter 205, a print engine controller 208 connected to the print engine 209, and a system bus 201 connecting these components 202 to 212 to each other. ing.
[0021]
Note that the above configuration is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, and is also applicable to other embodiments that satisfy the configuration requirements described in the claims.
[0022]
The operation unit 202 includes, for example, one or more input / output keys and an information display unit normally provided in the information management apparatus 10, and a user inputs and outputs information via the operation unit 202.
The primary storage device 203 and the secondary storage device 204 are, for example, a semiconductor storage device or a magnetic recording device, and store data or the like to be processed by the information management device 10 temporarily or for a long time.
[0023]
The network adapter 205 is an adapter for transmitting and receiving data to and from another device (such as an information management device) connected to an external communication network (not shown).
The protocol analysis unit 206 converts data received by the network adapter 205 from another device into data in a format that can be processed in the information management device 10 according to a support protocol in the information management device 10. is there.
[0024]
The PDL interpretation unit 207 converts print target data (PDL data) into image data. The print engine controller 208 controls the print engine 209. The print engine 209 is for starting an actual print process. The image data converted by the PDL interpretation unit 207 is sent to the print engine 209 via the print engine controller 208, and printing is performed.
[0025]
The scan engine controller 210 and the scan engine 211 optically scan and read information written on a paper document to be printed, and convert the information into electronic information.
[0026]
Since the components 205 to 211 are not directly related to the present embodiment, detailed description is omitted.
[0027]
The billing management unit 212 is for properly managing the billing of the user based on the user usage status of the information management apparatus 10 and the amount of consumables required for the printing process. Charging control, which is a characteristic operation in the present invention, is performed by the charging management unit 212, and details thereof will be described later.
[0028]
The main controller 213 controls the operation of the components 202 to 212 as a whole.
[0029]
FIG. 3 shows a usage example of the information management apparatus 10 according to the present invention.
In the usage form shown in FIG. 3, a device manager (information storage unit) 301, information providers (information providing units) 302 and 303, and devices (information output units) 304 to 306, which are information management apparatuses, are connected to a network (communication). (Means) 307.
[0030]
The device manager 301 is a person who performs installation and maintenance of the information management device 10, management of billing, and the like.
The information providers 302 and 303 are persons who distribute printed matter to users who use the information management apparatus 10.
The devices (information management devices) 304 to 306 are printing devices according to the present invention.
[0031]
Note that FIG. 3 shows an example in which two information providers and three devices (information management devices) are connected to the network 307, but the number of information providers and devices is, of course, It is not limited to these numbers.
[0032]
<Operations of Information Provider 302 and Device Manager 301>
FIG. 4 shows the information provider 302, the device manager 301, and the devices (information management devices) 304 to 306 (hereinafter abbreviated as “information management device 304”) shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a chart showing, in chronological order, data transmitted / received to each other until information of a printed material provided by an information management apparatus is registered in an information management apparatus via an apparatus manager;
[0033]
In the following, data transmission from the information provider 302 or data reception to the information provider 302 is actually data transmission from a device used by the information provider 302 or data reception to a device used by the information provider 302. Shall mean.
Similarly, data transmission from the device manager 301 or data reception to the device manager 301 is actually data transmission from a device used by the device manager 301 or data reception to a device used by the device manager 301. Shall mean.
[0034]
Step S600:
The information provider 302 requests the device manager 301 to register the print information (electronic information) that the information provider 302 wants to distribute to the user in the management information on the device manager 301 side. I do.
[0035]
Step S601 to step S606:
When the device manager 301 receives a request for information registration from the information provider 302, the device manager 301 sends the information provider 302, for example, data to be printed, printing conditions, and a billing destination (a billing destination). ) Request transmission of information.
[0036]
Here, the print target data refers to data described in a printed matter distributed to a user. The printing condition is quality-related information on a printed material distributed by the information provider 302 to the user. In addition, billing is caused by printing by the information management apparatus 304, and billing destination information is information that sets who pays this billing. For example, if the billing destination information is set to the information provider 302, it indicates that the information provider 302 bears the above billing on behalf of the user.
[0037]
In response to a transmission request from the device manager 301, the information provider 302 transmits print target data, printing conditions, and billing destination information to the device manager 301 for each transmission request.
[0038]
Step S607 to step S609:
The device manager 301 approves the information registration request from the information provider 302 and prints the print target data under the transmitted print conditions by the information management apparatus 10 in the use form as shown in FIG. 3, for example. If it can be determined that charging is normally performed based on the transmitted billing destination information, the device manager 301 transmits the print target data, printing conditions, and billing destination information to the information management device 304. In this case, the information management device 304 registers this transmission data.
[0039]
Step S610:
When successfully registering the transmission data from the device manager 301, the information management device 304 transmits a data registration completion notification to the device manager 301.
Step S611:
The device manager 301 transfers the data registration completion notification from the information management device 304 to the information provider 302, thereby completing a series of data registration operations in the information management device 10 described above.
[0040]
The operations of the information provider 302, the device manager 301, and the information management device 304 shown in the transmission / reception data flow in FIG. 4 are those described by extracting characteristic operations in the present embodiment. It does not explain the overall operation of the data registration operation. Therefore, it goes without saying that the present invention is also applied to a transmission / reception data flow including data transmission / reception steps other than steps S600 to S611.
[0041]
In FIG. 4, the print target data is transmitted from the device manager 301 to the information management device 304. However, the entity of the data does not necessarily need to be transmitted to the information management device 304. The actual data may be held on the user 301 side, and index information (reference information) for calling the actual data may be registered on the information management apparatus 304 side. Alternatively, the information provider 302 holds reference information for the actual data, and when printing is performed, the information management apparatus 304 accesses the actual data stored in the information provider 302 and performs printing by referring to the reference information. May be performed.
[0042]
FIG. 5 shows an example of print condition information transmitted from the information provider 302 to the device manager 301. Information on the quality of the printed material intended by the information provider 302 is described in the printing condition information.
Here, the printing condition information is, for example, information including sheet selection 401, cover type 402, print mode 403, resolution 404, finishing process 405, cutting process 406, and the like as shown in FIG. .
[0043]
When the user prints the data provided by the information provider 302 using the information management apparatus 304, a printed matter based on the printing condition information as shown in FIG. 5 is output. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the contents of the print condition information cannot be arbitrarily specified by the user. It goes without saying that the contents of the printing condition information may include information other than the information shown in FIG.
[0044]
FIG. 6 shows an example of a charge information table for each print target data registered in the information management device 304 in accordance with an instruction from the information provider 302 and managed by the charge management unit 212.
As shown in FIG. 6, the charge information table manages print data (for example, A, B, C, and D) 450 to be printed, an information provider name 451, a charge target person 452, and each print data 450. The configuration includes a unit price 453 of the cost incurred when printing by the apparatus 304, a total 454 of the number of copies of the print data 450, and a total billing amount (unit price × number of copies) 455.
[0045]
The charging management unit 212 updates and manages each of the table items 451 to 455 of the print data 450 every time the print data (registered data) 450 is printed by the user.
[0046]
In the case of the billing information table shown in FIG. 6, among the print data 450, for example, the print data of A, B, and C correspond to the information provider 451 and the billing person 452, respectively. This is the print condition information when the information provider 302 sets the chargeable person 452 to the information provider 302 itself when registering the print data 450.
[0047]
On the other hand, in the print data D of the print data 450, the information provider 451 and the chargeable person 452 do not match, and the chargeable person 452 is set to the user. For this reason, when the user prints the print data D of the print data 450, the user is required to be charged for printing.
When the user requests charging, the user pays the corresponding charging amount each time, and therefore, the table items of the unit price 453, the number of copies 454, and the total charging amount 455 shown in FIG. ing.
[0048]
The contents of the billing information table may include table item information other than the table items shown in FIG.
[0049]
FIG. 7 shows that when the information provider 302 itself bears the actual billing request, the billing management unit 212 aggregates the total billing amount for each information provider based on the billing information table shown in FIG. It is a table represented.
The device manager 301 periodically totals the billing information stored in the billing management unit 212 of the information management device 304 in a table format as shown in FIG. Do. In FIG. 6, for example, when the person to be charged 452 is a user like the print data D, it is naturally excluded from the target of the accounting in FIG.
[0050]
Note that the content of the billing information in the billing management unit 212 may include information other than the information shown in FIG. 7 described above.
[0051]
<Registration operation of information management device 304>
FIG. 8 shows an operation flow when the main controller 213 of the information management device 304 registers the print target data in response to a command from the device manager 301.
The main controller 213 normally waits in a processing request waiting state until an operation request is issued from a user or the like (step S801).
[0052]
When a processing request is output from the user, the main controller 213 determines whether the requested processing content is a request for registering the print target data in the primary storage device 203 or the secondary storage device 203 (step S802). ).
[0053]
If the result of the determination is that the user's requested processing content is not a print data registration request, the main controller 213 executes the corresponding processing and returns to step S801 again (step S803). The operation other than the operation of registering the print target data by the main controller 213 is not directly related to the present embodiment, and thus the detailed description is omitted.
[0054]
On the other hand, as a result of the determination, when the user's requested processing content is a registration request of the print target data, the main controller 213 receives the print target data from the device manager 301 (step S804), and then prints the print condition information. And charging management information (steps S805 and S806).
[0055]
When the main controller 213 receives the data to be printed, the printing condition information, and the billing management information, the information necessary for registration is completed. For this reason, the main controller 213 checks whether or not the information management apparatus 304 can perform printing as requested based on the print target data, print conditions, and billing management information requested by the user (step S807). ). Specifically, for example, the main controller 213 sets conditions that exceed the physical printing capability of the information management apparatus 304 (such as when full-color printing is specified for a monochrome printer), or the information management apparatus 304 A check is made as to whether a sheet not loaded in advance is designated as a printing sheet.
[0056]
As a result of checking the received data, if the main controller 213 determines that the information management device 304 cannot perform printing as requested by the user, the main controller 213 notifies the device manager 301 of error information. Is transmitted (step S809), the registration process is interrupted, and the process returns to the process request waiting state (step S801).
[0057]
On the other hand, when the main controller 213 determines that the information management device 304 can perform printing as requested by the user, the main controller 213 registers the print target data in the information management device 304 (step S810).
Next, the main controller 213 registers the printing condition information in the information management device 304 (step S811).
[0058]
Next, the main controller 213 adds the print target data to the print data item 450 of the billing information table shown in FIG. 6 managed by the billing management unit 212 (step S812). Then, the main controller 213 sends a success notification of the request processing to the device manager 301 (step S813), and returns to the processing request waiting state (step S801).
[0059]
<Registration operation of device administrator 301>
Here, FIG. 9 shows an operation flow in which the device manager 301 receives a print data registration request from the information provider 302 and transmits it to the information management device 304.
That is, the operation of the device manager 301 shown in FIG. 9 is performed as a premise of the registration operation of the information management device 304 shown in FIG.
[0060]
The device manager 301 normally waits in a processing request waiting state until a processing request is issued from the information provider 302 or the like (step S901).
When a processing request is output from the information provider 302, the device manager 301 determines whether the requested processing content is a request for registration of print target data by the information provider 302. (Step S902).
[0061]
As a result of the determination, if the requested processing content from the information provider 302 is not a request for registration of print target data, the device manager 301 executes the corresponding processing and returns to step S901 again (step S903). The operation other than the request for registration of the print target data by the device manager 301 is not directly related to the present embodiment, and thus the detailed description is omitted.
[0062]
On the other hand, as a result of the determination, if the requested processing content from the information provider 302 is a request for registration of print target data, the device manager 301 requests the information provider 302 to transmit the print target data ( (Step S904) Then, the print target data is received (Step S905). Subsequently, as for the print condition information and the billing destination information, similarly to the print target data, the device manager 301 receives the request for the print condition information (step S 906) and the print condition information (step S 907). (Step S908) and the billing destination information are received (step S909).
[0063]
When the device manager 301 receives the data to be printed, the printing condition information, and the billing management information from the information provider 302, the information necessary for registration is completed. For this reason, the device manager 301 transmits the print target data, print conditions, and billing management information transmitted from the information provider 302 to the information management device 304.
Specifically, for example, the device manager 301 first transmits print target data (step S910), then transmits print condition information (step S911), and then transmits billing destination information (step S912). )I do.
[0064]
Here, the information management device 304 executes a recording operation flow as shown in FIG. 8 described above, and in this, the information management device 304 determines whether or not the information sent from the device manager 301 can be printed. Since the determination is performed (step S808 shown in FIG. 8), the device manager 301 waits until the result is transmitted (step S913).
[0065]
When the device manager 301 determines that the notification result from the information management device 304 is a success notification of the registration process (Y branch of step S914), the device manager 301 sends a registration completion notification to the information provider 302. The process is performed (step S916), and the process returns to the process request waiting state (step S901).
[0066]
On the other hand, when the device manager 301 determines that the notification result from the information management device 304 is a failure notification of the registration process (N branch of step S914), the device manager 301 notifies the information provider 302 of the error information. Is returned (step S915), and the process returns to the process request waiting state again (step S901).
[0067]
The operation of the information provider 302 at the time of registering the print target data is an operation corresponding to the operation of the device manager 301 shown in FIG. In this embodiment, since there is no characteristic operation requiring special explanation, the explanation is omitted.
[0068]
<Print Operation in Information Management Device 304>
FIG. 10 shows an operation flow of the main controller 213 when the user prints the print target data using the information management device 304.
The information management device 304 is in a standby state in a state of waiting for an operation request from the user or a processing request from the device manager 301, as in the start of the operation flow in FIG. 8 or 9 (step S1001).
[0069]
When a processing request is issued, the main controller 213 determines whether the processing content is a printing process (step S1002).
If the result of the determination by the main controller 213 is that it is not a printing process, the main controller 213 executes the corresponding process and returns to waiting for a processing request in step S1101 (step S1003). It should be noted that processes other than the printing process are not directly related to the present embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0070]
When the process requested to the main controller 213 is the printing process, the main controller 213 selects the printing data 450 in the charging information table managed by the charging management unit 212 illustrated in FIG. Let it.
[0071]
After the user selects the print data 450, the main controller 213 acquires the print condition information as shown in FIG. 5 corresponding to the print data 450 selected by the user (step S1005). Next, the main controller 213 refers to the charging information table shown in FIG. 6 and checks the item of the charging target person 452 in the print data 450 (step S1006).
[0072]
If the person to be charged 452 checked by the main controller 213 is a user, the main controller 213 causes the user to set printing conditions (step S1008). In step S1005 described above, the user can change (including addition or deletion) and set the items of the printing condition information acquired by the main controller 213 here.
[0073]
When the setting of the printing condition by the user is completed, the main controller 213 executes a printing process (step S1009).
[0074]
On the other hand, if the chargeable person 452 is the information provider 302 in the determination in step S1007, the main controller 213 differs from the case where the chargeable person 452 is a user as described above in the printing condition information item. Resetting (change, addition and deletion) is not permitted for the user. This makes it possible to guarantee the quality of the printed material intended by the information provider 302.
[0075]
After executing the printing, the main controller 213 performs a billing process next.
As for the billing process, the process for each billing person 452 is executed. That is, the main controller 213 determines the person to be charged 452 (step S1010), and when the person to be charged 452 is a user, operates to charge the user when printing is performed (step S1011).
[0076]
Here, in order for the information management device 304 to collect the charge actually requested from the user, for example, a money input mechanism provided in the information management device 304 is charged with a corresponding amount of money, and the money is immediately processed. Alternatively, it can be realized by indirect charging processing by settlement of a card (magnetic card or credit card, etc.).
In the present embodiment, any charge collection method may be used because the charge collection method is not directly related.
[0077]
The main controller 213 returns to waiting for a processing request shown in step S1001 after terminating the billing for the user by the billing collection method as described above.
[0078]
On the other hand, in step S1010, if the main controller 213 determines that the person to be charged 452 is the information provider 302, the main controller 213 determines that the unit price 453 corresponding to the print data 450 in the charging information table shown in FIG. The total billing amount (unit price 453 × number of copies 454) is obtained from the actually printed copies 454, and this is updated to the total billing amount 455 in the billing information table (step S1012).
[0079]
In this case, the main controller 213 does not request the user to perform the billing process, and after updating the billing information table, returns to waiting for the process request in step S1001 again.
[0080]
FIG. 11 shows a flow chart of the operation of counting the billing amount performed by the billing management unit 212 when the billing person 452 of the print data 450 is the information provider 302. It should be noted that as a result of the totaling operation by the charging management unit 212, the charging total information as shown in FIG. 7 is created.
[0081]
First, the accounting management unit 212 is in a processing request waiting state until a processing request is issued (step S1101).
Next, when any processing request occurs, the charging management unit 212 determines whether the processing content is a tallying process (step S1102).
[0082]
As a result of the above-described determination by the charging management unit 212, if the processing request is not the accounting totaling processing, other processing is executed (step S1103), and the process returns to the processing request waiting state of step S1101. Note that, here, processes other than the tallying process are not directly related in the present embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.
[0083]
On the other hand, as a result of the above-described determination by the charging management unit 212, if the processing request is a totaling process of the charging, the charging management unit 212 first initializes the total sum of the total to obtain the total charging amount of each information provider 302. (Step S1104). Next, the billing management unit 212 reads the leading input (entry) information of the billing information table shown in FIG. 6 (step S1105), and the billing person 452 of the print data corresponding to the leading entry information is sent to the information provider. It is determined whether it is 302 (step S1106).
[0084]
As a result of the above determination by the charging management unit 212, if the charging target person 452 of the top entry information is the information provider, the charging management unit 212 compares the current subtotal value for each information provider 302 initialized in step S1104. Then, the total charge amount 455 is obtained by adding the amount obtained by multiplying the unit price 453 of the head entry information by the number of copies 454 (step S1107).
[0085]
Next, the charging management unit 212 checks whether the next entry information exists in the charging information table, and if so, repeats the above-described operations of steps S1106 to S1108 for the next entry information.
[0086]
If the charge management unit 212 determines that the next entry information does not exist in step S1108, the charge management unit 212 creates a charge totalization table as shown in FIG. 7 (step S1110), and sets the charge amount. Complete the counting operation. Finally, the accounting management unit 212 returns to the processing request waiting state in step S1101.
[0087]
In step S1106, when the charging management unit 212 determines that the charging target person 452 of the print data corresponding to the entry information in the charging information table is not the information provider but the user, the charging is borne by the user. Therefore, it is not subject to the tallying process here. Therefore, the accounting management unit 212 skips the process of adding to the current subtotal value for each information provider 302 (step S1107), and proceeds to step S1108.
[0088]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, an information providing unit (information provider) stores information (for example, print information, print condition information, and billing destination information) to be distributed to a user in an information storage unit (device manager). And the information storage means is configured to register and manage the information. For this reason, high-quality prints can be quickly and inexpensively distributed to both the information providing unit and the user.
[0089]
Specifically, for example, the information providing unit (information provider) can be set in the information on the burden (charge destination) of the charge for printing by the information output unit (printer device), so that the user can be charged. Alternatively, the content of processing for setting print conditions and accounting is changed depending on the information provider.
[0090]
Thus, for example, the user can obtain high-quality print information in a short period of time without worrying about the cost of printing paper and the like, and the information providing means (information provider) can guarantee high quality. By distributing the required number of copies of the printed material on demand to the user, it is possible to distribute the printed material without unnecessary printing cost and unnecessary labor.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overview diagram of an information management device 304 to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the information management device 304 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a usage form of an information management device 304.
FIG. 4 is a chart showing, in a time series, data transmitted / received to each other until information of a printed matter provided by an information provider 302 is registered in information management apparatuses 304 to 306 via a device manager 301; It is.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of print condition information transmitted from an information provider 302 to a device manager 301.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a billing information table for each print target data registered in the information management apparatus 304.
FIG. 7 is a table showing the total charge amount for each information provider, which is calculated by the charge management unit 212;
FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart when the main controller 213 of the information management apparatus 304 registers print target data.
9 is an operation flowchart in which a device manager 301 receives a print data registration request from an information provider 302 and transmits the request to an information management device 304. FIG.
FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart of the main controller 213 when a user prints print target data using the information management apparatus 304.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an operation for counting the amount of billing performed by a billing management unit 212;
[Explanation of symbols]
301 Device Manager
302, 303 Information provider
304-306 device (information management device)
307 network

Claims (9)

An information providing means for providing any information held,
Information output means for outputting the information of the information providing means,
Information storage means for storing at least one of the information provided by the information providing means and an information output result by the information output means,
A communication unit that connects the information providing unit, the information output unit, and the information storage unit so that they can communicate with each other;
An information management apparatus, comprising: a transfer unit that transmits the information from the information providing unit to the information storage unit via the communication unit, and then transfers the information from the information storage unit to the information output unit. The information storage means stores information including a payee of a charge generated by the output of the information by the information output means,
2. The information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the payee includes at least one of a user of the information output unit and the information providing unit. In the case where the burden of charging generated by the output of the information by the information output unit is the information providing unit side,
2. The information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information storage unit does not permit a user of the information output unit to add, delete, or change the information. 3. The information management apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a charge management unit that calculates a total of the charges for each of the information providing units when the burden recipient is the information providing unit. The information output unit outputs the information that is not stored in the information storage unit and that stores only the reference destination in the information storage unit.
2. The information management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the burden of charging generated by the output of the information is not a user of the information output unit but an information providing unit of the information. An information management system in which a plurality of devices are communicably connected to each other,
An information management system, wherein at least one of the devices has the function of the information management device according to claim 1. An information providing step for providing any information held,
An information output step of outputting the information having the information providing step;
An information storage step of storing at least one of the information having the information providing step and an information output result by the information output step,
A communication step of communicably connecting the information providing step, the information output step, and the information storage step to each other;
Transferring the information from the information providing step to the information storage step via the communication step, and then transferring the information from the information storage step to the information output step. . A program for causing a computer to execute predetermined steps,
The predetermined step is an information providing step of providing any information held,
An information output step of outputting the information having the information providing step;
An information storage step of storing at least one of the information having the information providing step and an information output result by the information output step,
A communication step of communicably connecting the information providing step, the information output step, and the information storage step to each other;
A program for causing a computer to execute a transfer step of transmitting the information from the information providing step to the information storage step via the communication step, and then transferring the information from the information storage step to the information output step. A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 8.

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