JP2004145444A - Charging management device, program therefor and charging management method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To more appropriately charge for the maintenance of an image-forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The unit cost of each form size is multiplied by the number of printed sheets printed with the image-forming apparatus, the total sum is used to calculate the charging amount for the printing (S120), and maintenance basic charge is multiplied by a discount rate set on the basis of the number of errors of service call error or the number of other errors for which the maintenance is required, so that the charging amount for the maintenance is calculated (S130). The discount rate is set within the range value 0 to value 1 so that the rate will be small as the number of errors is small. Therefore, since the charging amount for the maintenance becomes lower, the number of errors is smaller, the charging amount set for the maintenance can be more appropriate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a charging management apparatus and a charging management method, and more particularly, to maintenance in an image forming apparatus that forms an image including characters on a medium such as paper using a recording material from a recording material cartridge having a storage element. The present invention relates to a charging management device for managing charging and a charging management method performed by the device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as this type of charge management device, there has been proposed a charge management device that calculates a charge for toner supplied by a toner cartridge in accordance with the number of prints (for example, see Patent Document 1). In this apparatus, the number of prints is obtained by causing a printer connected via a communication line to read and transmit the number of prints stored in a storage element of a toner cartridge mounted on the printer, and obtain the obtained print number. The charge is calculated based on the number of sheets and the contents of the contract with the user.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2001-305920 (FIG. 1)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, as one of the contents of the contract with the user, a maintenance service is carried out by a maintenance worker on a business trip when an error (failure) occurs in the printer or a regular replacement of parts constituting the printer is required. There is a maintenance contract that allows the use of a maintenance service such as a component replacement service for performing replacement of a regular replacement component, and the user can use the maintenance service based on the contents of the concluded maintenance contract.
[0005]
Therefore, it is necessary to calculate the charge for the use of such a maintenance service. However, if the maintenance fee is individually charged based on the contents of the maintenance service used each time the maintenance service is used, the charging process becomes complicated. When the repair or replacement of parts is concentrated at a certain time, the user must pay a large amount of money at one time, which may place an excessive burden on the user. On the other hand, if the maintenance fee is charged as a uniform amount irrespective of the type of the maintenance service and the number of times the maintenance service is used, the maintenance fee to be set must be high and the user who uses the maintenance service a small number of times is required. This will result in unfair billing.
[0006]
An object of the accounting management apparatus and the accounting management method according to the present invention is to solve such a problem and to perform fair and appropriate accounting calculation for a maintenance service of an image forming apparatus.
[0007]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a program for a charge management device that causes a computer to function as the charge management device described above.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems and Their Functions and Effects]
The billing management device, the program for the billing management device, and the billing management method of the present invention employ the following means in order to achieve at least a part of the above object.
[0009]
The billing management device of the present invention comprises:
A charging management device that manages charging imposed on maintenance in an image forming apparatus that forms an image including characters on a medium such as paper using a recording material from a recording material cartridge having a storage element,
Information acquisition means for acquiring maintenance information related to maintenance of the image forming apparatus stored in a storage element of the recording material cartridge;
The present invention further comprises a charge calculating means for calculating a charge based on the acquired maintenance information.
[0010]
In the charging management apparatus of the present invention, the maintenance information relating to the maintenance of the image forming apparatus stored in the storage element of the recording material cartridge is acquired, and the acquired information is calculated based on the maintenance information. The information can be reflected in the billing, and a billing calculation appropriate for maintenance can be performed.
[0011]
In the charging management apparatus according to the present invention, the maintenance information includes call information on a call of a maintenance person who performs maintenance of the image forming apparatus and / or error information on an error of the image forming apparatus. , Means for calculating a charge based on the call information and / or the error information. In this way, a fair and appropriate accounting calculation for maintenance can be performed based on call information to the maintenance staff, error information of the image forming apparatus related to the call to the maintenance staff, and the like. Here, “error of the image forming apparatus” means an error that requires a maintenance staff call, and an error that does not require a maintenance staff call but may be called by a maintenance staff. Includes what is meant to be included.
[0012]
In the charging management apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, wherein the charging calculation unit calculates the charging based on the call information and the error information, the charging calculating unit may determine a predetermined basic charge as the number of calls by the maintenance staff and / or the number of errors of the image forming apparatus is smaller. It is also possible to use a means for calculating the charge with a tendency to increase the discount. In this case, a more fair and appropriate accounting calculation can be performed for the maintenance of the image forming apparatus. In the billing management device according to the aspect of the present invention, the billing calculation unit may be configured such that when the number of calls by the maintenance staff and / or the number of errors of the image forming apparatus is equal to or more than a predetermined number, the charge to be charged for maintenance is the predetermined basic number. It may be a means for calculating a charge so as to become a fee. In this way, even if the number of calls or the number of errors increases, the charge charged for the maintenance is a predetermined basic fee, so that no excessive burden is imposed on the user.
[0013]
In the charging management apparatus according to the aspect of the present invention, in which charging is calculated based on call information and error information, the charging calculating unit may determine a predetermined number as the number of calls by the maintenance staff and / or the number of errors of the image forming apparatus increase. It is also possible to use a means for calculating a charge in such a manner that the surcharge is larger than the basic charge. In this case, a more fair and appropriate accounting calculation can be performed for the maintenance of the image forming apparatus. In the charging management apparatus according to the aspect of the present invention, when the number of calls by the maintenance staff and / or the number of errors of the image forming apparatus is less than a predetermined number, the charging to be performed on the maintenance is the predetermined basic number. It may be a means for calculating a charge so as to become a fee.
[0014]
Further, in the charging management device of the present invention, the maintenance information includes member replacement information regarding replacement of a periodic replacement member that requires periodic replacement among a plurality of members constituting the image forming apparatus, and the charging calculation unit includes: It may be a means for calculating a charge based on the member exchange information. In this way, a fair and appropriate charge calculation for maintenance can be performed based on the replacement information of the periodic replacement member.
[0015]
Further, in the charging management device of the present invention, the charge management device further includes a connection unit connectable to a storage element of the recording agent cartridge, and the information acquisition unit transmits the maintenance information from the storage element of the recording agent cartridge connected by the connection unit. It may be a means for acquiring. In this case, the charge can be calculated based on the information of the recording material cartridge simply by connecting to the storage element of the recording material cartridge.
[0016]
Further, in the charging management device of the present invention, the information acquisition unit may be configured to store the maintenance information stored in a storage element of a recording agent cartridge mounted on the image forming apparatus from an image forming apparatus connected via a communication line. May be obtained. In this case, the billing process can be performed without collecting the recording material cartridge.
[0017]
The program for the billing management device of the present invention comprises:
The computer is a charging management apparatus according to any one of the above aspects of the present invention, that is, an image that basically forms an image including characters on a medium such as paper using a recording material from a recording material cartridge having a storage element. A charging management device for managing charging charged for maintenance in the forming apparatus, comprising: an information obtaining unit configured to obtain maintenance information related to maintenance of the image forming apparatus stored in a storage element of the recording material cartridge; The gist of the invention is to function as a billing management device including a billing calculation unit for calculating a billing based on the performed maintenance information.
[0018]
In the program for the charge management device according to the present invention, the computer is caused to function as the charge management device according to any one of the above aspects of the present invention. The same effect as the effect that the maintenance information can be reflected in the billing can be obtained.
[0019]
The billing management method of the present invention comprises:
A charging management method for managing charging charged for maintenance in an image forming apparatus that forms an image including characters on a medium such as paper using a recording material from a recording material cartridge having a storage element,
Obtaining maintenance information related to maintenance of the image forming apparatus stored in a storage element of the recording agent cartridge,
The gist is to perform billing calculation based on the acquired maintenance information.
[0020]
According to the charging management method of the present invention, the maintenance information relating to the maintenance of the image forming apparatus stored in the storage element of the recording material cartridge is acquired, and the acquired accounting information is calculated based on the maintenance information. The information can be reflected in the billing, and a billing calculation appropriate for maintenance can be performed.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described using examples. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the configuration of a system including an accounting management device 20 that performs accounting processing for printing by a color laser printer 60 functioning as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical connection of the charging management apparatus 20 of an example by a functional block. As shown in FIG. 1, this system is configured by connecting a charging management device 20 of the embodiment and a color laser printer 60 via a network 30. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the charging management apparatus 20 of the embodiment includes a general-purpose computer main body 22 having a CPU 23, a ROM 24, a RAM 25, and an input / output interface (not shown), a monitor 26 connected to the computer main body 22, A cartridge connection unit 28 connected via an input / output interface (not shown) of the computer main body 22 to which a toner cartridge 40 can be attached; and a storage device 50 of the toner cartridge 40 attached to the cartridge connection unit 28 for printing by the color laser printer 60. And the information about the error are read and the accounting process is performed. Further, the computer main body 22 is installed with a charge management database 27 which stores information read from the storage element 50 in a database and stores data necessary for charging processing.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 2, the storage element 50 includes a memory cell 52 for storing data, a read / write control unit 54 for controlling reading and writing of data in the memory cell 52, and a read / write control unit based on a clock signal CLK. An address counter 56 for counting up when exchanging data with the accounting management device 20 of the embodiment and a controller of the color laser printer main body described later via the unit 54 is provided. As such a storage element 50, for example, an EEPROM can be used. FIG. 3 is an external view illustrating an example of the external appearance of the toner cartridge 40. In the toner cartridge 40 of the embodiment, as shown, a storage element 50 is mounted inside a storage section 42 provided at an end thereof.
[0023]
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the configuration of the color laser printer 60 to which the toner cartridge 40 is attached. The color laser printer 60 to which the toner cartridge 40 is attached is configured as a full-color electrophotographic image forming apparatus employing a single photoreceptor system and an intermediate transfer system. As shown in FIG. ), Magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) images of four colors, which are supplied from the toner cartridges 40C, 40M, 40Y, and 40K of the respective colors mounted on the developing device 61. Using a toner, a toner image is formed on the photoreceptor 63 on which an electrostatic latent image is formed for each color by the exposure unit 62 for each color, and the formed toner image is transferred onto a transfer belt 64 as an intermediate transfer member. The four-color toner images superimposed and transferred on the transfer belt 64 are supplied from the paper cassette 65 to the paper conveyed by the conveyance unit 66 to be transferred to the secondary transfer unit 6. In transferring, by a fixing unit 68 the toner image transferred onto the sheet by fusing fixed to the sheet to form a color image on the sheet. The developing device 61 is configured to be rotatable so that toner images of each color can be formed on the photoconductor 63 in this manner. In addition, the color laser printer 60 is configured such that when the storage elements 50C, 50M, 50Y, 50K of the toner cartridges 40C, 40M, 40Y, 40K mounted on the developing device 61 are located on the lower right side in FIG. A movable connection section 69 for connection is provided, and information relating to the use of the corresponding cartridge is written from a controller (not shown) of the color laser printer 60 to the connected storage element. The electrical connection between the controller of the color laser printer 60 and the storage element is the same as the connection between the charging management device 20 and the storage element 50 illustrated in FIG. 2, and the illustration and detailed description thereof are omitted.
[0024]
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the storage element 50 of the toner cartridge 40. In the embodiment, as shown, information (printer information) about the color laser printer 60 to which the toner cartridge 40 is attached, information about printing by the color laser printer 60 (print information), (Maintenance information) related to the maintenance of the server. As the printer information, the ID (printer ID) of the color laser printer 60 and the model name of the color laser printer 60 are stored, and as the print information, the number of prints for each print paper size is stored. Further, as the maintenance information, the number of service call errors (including the number of times for each type of service call error) as an error that requires the call of a maintenance person who performs maintenance of the color laser printer 60, and the call of the maintenance person The number of other errors (including the number of errors for each type of error) that are unnecessary are stored. Here, the service call error includes, for example, a temperature abnormality which is an error generated when the temperature inside the color laser printer 60 becomes abnormally high or low, or a transfer unit (the transfer belt 64 or the secondary transfer). Transfer unit life and fixing unit life, which are errors that are issued when the periodically replaced parts such as the unit 67) and the fixing unit 68 that need to be periodically replaced have expired, the controller 22 of the color laser printer 60, that is, the CPU 23. , ROM 24, and RAM 25, there are CPU, ROM, and RAM errors that are errors that are generated when an abnormality occurs. Other errors other than the service call error include, for example, a fixing unit stain that is an error that is issued when the fixing unit 68 is dirty, and a toner cartridge that is an error that is issued when the toner cartridge needs to be replaced. There is a paper jam, which is an error that is issued when the paper is jammed. The printing information is written to the storage element 50 by the color laser printer 60 when printing, and the maintenance information is written to the storage element 50 by the color laser printer 60 every time an error occurs, or is called for maintenance. It is written by the operation of the maintenance staff.
[0025]
Next, an operation of the charging management apparatus 20 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of charging processing by the charging management device 20 according to the embodiment when the toner cartridge 40 is attached to the cartridge connection unit 28. When the billing process is executed, the billing management device 20 first inputs printer information, maintenance information, print information, and the like stored in the storage element 50 of the toner cartridge 40 (step S100). Register it in the charging database 27 (step S110). The information input process is performed by reading data transmitted by outputting a read signal from the computer main body 22 to the read / write control unit 54 of the storage element 50 of the toner cartridge 40 attached to the cartridge connection unit 28. Done.
[0026]
Next, a charge Cp for printing is calculated based on the input print information, that is, by multiplying the unit price set for each print size by the number of prints to obtain a total sum (step S120), and the number of service call errors A maintenance coefficient is multiplied by a discount coefficient D set based on Ns and the number Ne of other errors to calculate a charge Cm for maintenance (maintenance) (step S130). Here, the discount coefficient D used for calculating the charge Cm for maintenance is obtained by multiplying the number Ns of service call errors by the coefficient K set between the value 0 and the value 1 of the number of other errors Ne in the embodiment. Based on the obtained value K · Ne, the total number of errors N is calculated using the following equation (1), and is derived from the calculated total number of errors N using a discount coefficient setting map. FIG. 7 shows an example of the discount coefficient setting map. Although the discount coefficient setting map is used in the embodiment, the discount coefficient D may be obtained by calculation. Here, in the calculation of the discount coefficient D, the number Ne of errors other than the service call error is multiplied by the coefficient K of the value 0 to the value 1 because the service call error is almost certainly called by the maintenance staff. On the other hand, other errors are not necessarily called by maintenance personnel, and are based on the consideration of the difference in cost between the service call error and other errors.
[0027]
N = Ns + K · Ne (1)
[0028]
As shown in the figure, the discount rate setting map of FIG. 7 shows that when the total error number N is less than the value Nref, the discount coefficient D is smaller as the total error number N is smaller, that is, the discount is large for the basic maintenance fee. It is supposed to be. Therefore, for the user, the fee to be paid can be reduced as the number of errors of the color laser printer 60 is reduced. When the total error number N is equal to or greater than the value Nref, the maintenance fee paid by the user has the discount coefficient D equal to the value 1, that is, the basic maintenance fee, regardless of the total error number N.
[0029]
When the charging Cp for printing and the charging Cm for maintenance are calculated in this way, the calculation results are totaled and registered in the charging database 27 based on the sum of them (step S140), and the totaling result is output (step S150). The charging process ends.
[0030]
According to the accounting management device 20 of the embodiment described above, the value 0 to the value 1 is determined based on the number of errors (the number of service call errors and the number of other errors), which is one of the maintenance information of the color laser printer 60. Since the charge calculation for the maintenance of the color laser printer 60 is performed by multiplying the discount coefficient D set in the range by the basic maintenance fee, the information on the maintenance of the color laser printer 60 can be reflected in the charge. In addition, the smaller the total number of errors N calculated based on the number of errors of the color laser printer 60 with respect to the value Nref, the greater the discount on the basic maintenance fee. To set an appropriate fee. Further, by setting a basic maintenance fee for a user having a large number of errors, it is possible to avoid imposing an excessive burden on the user. As a result, it is possible to fairly and appropriately perform the accounting calculation for the maintenance for the user.
[0031]
Here, in the charging management device 20 of the embodiment, the cartridge connection unit 28 and the CPU 23 correspond to information acquisition means, and the CPU 23, the ROM 24, the RAM 25, and the like for performing charging processing correspond to charging calculation means. Note that the information acquisition unit and the charge calculation unit may be incorporated into an image forming apparatus as the color laser printer 60 and configured as an integrated unit.
[0032]
In the charging management apparatus 20 of the embodiment, when the total number of errors N (the number of errors) is equal to or more than the value Nref, the discount coefficient is set to the value 1, that is, the charge for maintenance is set to the basic maintenance fee, and when the total error number N is less than the value Nref. The charge for maintenance is set to a discount coefficient such that the smaller the total error number N is, the smaller the value within the range of values 1 to 0 and a rate obtained by multiplying the set discount coefficient by the basic maintenance charge. When the total error number N is less than the threshold value, the surcharge coefficient is set to the value 1, that is, the maintenance charge is set to the maintenance basic fee. When the total error number N is equal to or more than the threshold value, the maintenance charge is set to the total error number. An additional coefficient is set so that the larger the value of N is, the larger the value becomes than the value 1. Also, a charge obtained by multiplying the set additional coefficient by the basic maintenance charge is set. It may be as. Of course, the maintenance charge is calculated so that the maintenance fee tends to be lower as the total error number N is smaller, and the maintenance charge is calculated so that the maintenance fee tends to be higher as the total error number N is larger. If so, the billing calculation may be performed by any other method. For example, instead of the discount or the extra by the calculation of the discount coefficient or the extra coefficient described above, a predetermined discount amount or the extra amount is calculated based on the total number of errors N, and the maintenance basic fee and the calculated discount amount or the extra amount are calculated. May be added to calculate the charge.
[0033]
In the charging management apparatus 20 according to the embodiment, the charging is calculated based on the number of service call errors that require the call of the maintenance staff and the number of other errors that are not necessarily required but may be called by the maintenance staff. However, the charge may be calculated based only on the number of service call errors. Further, instead of calculating the charge based on the number of errors, the charge may be calculated based on the number of times the maintenance staff has actually performed the maintenance. In this case, writing the number of times of maintenance to the storage element 50 may be performed by a maintenance person who has performed the maintenance every time the maintenance is performed.
[0034]
In the charging management apparatus 20 of the embodiment, the charging is calculated for the maintenance based on the number of errors of the color laser printer 60. However, depending on the contents of the maintenance contract, a specific error, for example, the transfer unit and the fixing unit described above. In some cases, a separate charge may be made for an error relating to the replacement of the regular replacement part. Therefore, a charge calculation is performed based on the number of errors of the color laser printer 60 excluding the specific error, and a charge is made for the specific error. May be calculated separately. In this case, taking an example of an error relating to the replacement of a regular replacement part, a separate charge calculation is performed by multiplying a unit price set for each part of the periodic replacement part by the number of replacement times and taking the sum thereof to calculate a charge. It may be performed by setting as a billing amount.
[0035]
In the charging management device 20 of the embodiment, the charging process is executed by attaching the toner cartridge 40 collected from the color laser printer 60 to the cartridge connection unit 28, but the color laser is directly transmitted via the network 30 illustrated in FIG. Necessary information may be read from the printer 60 to execute the accounting process. In this case, printer information and print information are directly input from the color laser printer 60, and maintenance information read from the storage element 50 via the movable connection unit 69 by the color laser printer 60 via the network 30 is used for maintenance information. Input from the color laser printer 60. In this case, the billing process can be performed without collecting the toner cartridge 40. In this case, the output of the charge calculation result is collected from the charge management device 20 every predetermined period (for example, every one month, every three months, every six months, etc.) and output to the color laser printer 60 via the network 30. It may be something.
[0036]
In the charging management apparatus 20 according to the embodiment, the charging calculation is mainly performed for the maintenance. However, the charging for the maintenance is charged for printing (the number of printed sheets, the consumption of the recording material, and the like). It is also possible to adopt a form in which the billing calculation is performed by combining the items.
[0037]
Although the embodiment has been described as an embodiment of the accounting management device 20 that performs accounting based on the number of errors of the color laser printer 60, an embodiment of an accounting processing method that performs accounting based on the number of errors of the color laser printer 60 may be used. Alternatively, it may be in the form of a program that causes a computer to function as the charging management device 20 of the embodiment. In the case of a program form, each step of the billing process illustrated in FIG. 6 may be programmed using an appropriate programming language and installed in a computer.
[0038]
As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described using the examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples, and may be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. Obviously you can get it.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of a charging management apparatus 20 according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a charging management apparatus 20 according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an external view showing an example of the external appearance of a toner cartridge 40.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a color laser printer 60;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of information stored in a storage element 50.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a billing process.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a discount coefficient setting map.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 20 charge management device, 22 computer main body, 23 CPU, 24 ROM, 25 RAM, 26 monitor, 27 printer, 28 cartridge connection unit, 30 network, 40, 40C, 40M, 40Y, 40K toner cartridge, 42 storage unit, 43 supply Roller, 44 developing roller, 45 regulating blade, 46 support, 47 elastic member, 50, 50C, 50M, 50Y, 50K storage element, 52 memory cell, 54 read / write control unit, 56 address counter, 60, 60 color laser Printer, 61 developing unit, 62 exposing unit, 63 photoreceptor, 64 transfer belt, 65 paper cassette, 66 transport unit, 67 secondary transfer unit, 68 fixing unit, 69 movable connection unit.

Claims (11)

A charging management device that manages charging imposed on maintenance in an image forming apparatus that forms an image including characters on a medium such as paper using a recording material from a recording material cartridge having a storage element,
Information acquisition means for acquiring maintenance information related to maintenance of the image forming apparatus stored in a storage element of the recording material cartridge;
A billing management device comprising: billing calculation means for calculating a billing based on the acquired maintenance information. The charging management device according to claim 1, wherein
The maintenance information includes call information related to a call of a maintenance person who performs maintenance of the image forming apparatus and / or error information related to an error of the image forming apparatus.
A charging management device, wherein the charging calculation means is means for calculating a charge based on the call information and / or the error information. The charging management device according to claim 2, wherein
The charging management device is a charging management device that calculates the charging such that the smaller the number of calls of the maintenance staff and / or the number of errors of the image forming apparatus, the larger the discount for a predetermined basic fee. The charging management device according to claim 3, wherein
The billing calculation means is a means for calculating a bill to be charged for maintenance when the number of calls by the maintenance staff and / or the number of errors of the image forming apparatus is equal to or more than a predetermined number of times, becomes the predetermined basic fee. Management device. The charging management device according to claim 2, wherein
The charge management device is a charge management device that calculates a charge such that the larger the number of calls by the maintenance staff and / or the number of errors of the image forming apparatus, the larger the surcharge for a predetermined basic charge. The charging management device according to claim 5, wherein
The billing calculating means is a means for calculating a bill so that a bill charged for maintenance is equal to the predetermined basic fee when the number of calls by the maintenance staff and / or the number of errors of the image forming apparatus is less than a predetermined number. Management device. The charging management device according to claim 1, wherein:
The maintenance information includes member replacement information related to replacement of a periodic replacement member that requires periodic replacement among a plurality of members constituting the image forming apparatus,
The charge management device is a charge management unit that calculates a charge based on the member replacement information. The charging management device according to claim 1, wherein:
A connection unit connectable to a storage element of the recording agent cartridge,
The charging management device, wherein the information acquisition unit is a unit that acquires the maintenance information from a storage element of the recording material cartridge connected by the connection unit. The charging management device according to claim 1, wherein:
The billing management device is a unit that acquires the maintenance information stored in a storage element of a recording agent cartridge mounted on the image forming apparatus from an image forming apparatus connected via a communication line. 10. A program for causing a computer to function as an accounting management device according to any one of claims 1 to 9. A charging management method for managing charging charged for maintenance in an image forming apparatus that forms an image including characters on a medium such as paper using a recording material from a recording material cartridge having a storage element,
Obtaining maintenance information related to maintenance of the image forming apparatus stored in a storage element of the recording agent cartridge,
A billing management method for calculating billing based on the acquired maintenance information.

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