JP2004258961A - Method for charging for use of image forming apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the need for a user to pay a charge when materials for use in business at his/her company are printed outside the company and to clarify how the charge is shared by a sender and a receiver of print information. <P>SOLUTION: A method for charging for the use of an image forming apparatus includes causing a management center server device 200 to receive user identification information inputted from the image forming apparatus 300 and to charge the user's section for the use of the image forming apparatus 300 according to section information previously associated with the user identification information stored in a storage means. The management center server device 200 receives sender information associated with the print information from the image forming apparatus 300, and charges the sender for the use of the image forming apparatus 300 according to the section information previously associated with the sender information stored in the storage means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a charging system for an image forming apparatus connected to a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, with respect to charging of an image forming apparatus, a charging system for paying a usage fee by cash or a prepaid card when printing an image is known. In addition, in relation to the dispatching company and the dispatched company, internal work such as work record sheets, notification of changes in family status, bills for transportation expenses, etc., sent from the dispatching company's equipment to employees dispatched to the dispatched company. When the business documents are printed by the image forming apparatus of the dispatched company, the supply fee such as the paper fee and the toner fee is charged to the dispatched company. The applicant does not know the prior art documents describing this.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional billing system, when a user prints materials used in the business of the affiliated company outside the affiliated company, it is necessary for the user to change the usage fee. Also, in the relationship between the dispatching company and the dispatched company, even if an in-house business document transmitted from the dispatching company's equipment to an employee dispatched to the dispatched company can be printed by the dispatched company's image forming apparatus. The supply fee was not charged to the agency.
[0004]
[Object of the invention]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to eliminate the necessity of changing a usage fee when a user prints materials used in business of an affiliated company outside the affiliated company. It is another object of the present invention to clarify the charge burden between a sender of print information and a receiver.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is applied to a system in which an image forming apparatus installed in a facility that can be used by the public and a management center server device are connected to a communication network. The processing unit of the image forming apparatus transmits the user identification information and the authentication request received from the user to the management center server device. Then, the processing means of the management center server device receiving the authentication request refers to the user database, performs authentication based on the received user identification information, and transmits the authentication result to the image forming apparatus. On the other hand, based on the received authentication result, the processing unit of the image forming apparatus acquires the print information from the print information input unit and acquires the operation control information as the print condition from the operation control information input unit. Then, the processing unit of the image forming apparatus outputs the print information from the print information output unit based on the acquired print information and operation control information. Further, based on the acquired operation control information, the processing unit of the image forming apparatus or the processing unit of the management center server device calculates the amount of the usage fee that is the price for printing. Then, the processing means of the image forming apparatus transmits the user identification information to the management center server device. The processing unit of the management center server device refers to the user database, and obtains user affiliation information associated with the received user identification information in advance from the storage unit of the management center server device. Subsequently, the processing means of the management center server device charges the calculated usage fee to the affiliation of the user of the image forming apparatus based on the acquired user affiliation information.
[0006]
According to the present invention, the user does not have to change the usage fee when printing materials used in the business of the affiliated company outside the affiliated company.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having an authentication function, wherein the user identification information input means receives the user identification information from the user and stores the information in the storage means. Then, the communication means transmits the user identification information stored in the storage means to an external management center server device. Further, when the print information input unit receives the authentication result based on the user identification information from the management center server device, the print information input unit acquires the print information based on the authentication result. Then, the operation control information input unit acquires the operation control information serving as the printing condition. Further, a print information output unit outputs the print information input from the print information input unit based on the operation control information input from the operation control information input unit. Subsequently, the processing unit calculates the amount of the usage fee, which is the price for printing, based on the operation control information input from the operation control information input unit, or processes the usage fee by the management center server device. The operation control information is transmitted to the management center server device for the means to calculate.
[0008]
According to the present invention, the user does not have to change the usage fee when printing materials used in the business of the affiliated company outside the affiliated company.
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, a dispatch source device as an external device capable of transmitting print information and transmission source information, an image forming device of a dispatch destination, and a management center server device are connected to a communication network. Applied in the system. The processing unit of the external device transmits the print information and the transmission source information to the image forming device. Then, the processing unit of the image forming apparatus stores the received print information and transmission source information in the storage unit of the image forming apparatus. On the other hand, the processing means of the image forming apparatus transmits the user identification information and the authentication request received from the user to the management center server device. Then, the processing means of the management center server device receiving the authentication request refers to the user database, performs authentication based on the received user identification information, and outputs the authentication result and the user identification information in the user database. The transmission source information associated in advance is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. Next, based on the received authentication result, the processing unit of the image forming apparatus acquires operation control information serving as a printing condition from the operation control information input unit. Then, based on the acquired operation control information, the processing unit of the image forming apparatus acquires the print information from the storage unit of the image forming apparatus, and outputs the print information from the print information output unit. Further, based on the acquired operation control information, the processing unit of the image forming apparatus or the processing unit of the management center server device calculates the amount of the usage fee that is the price for printing. Then, the processing unit of the image forming apparatus transmits the source information associated with the output print information to the management center server device. Next, the processing means of the management center server device refers to the user database and obtains, from the storage means of the management center server device, user affiliation information previously associated with the received transmission source information. Then, the processing means of the management center server device charges the calculated usage fee to the transmission source of the print information based on the acquired user affiliation information.
[0010]
According to the present invention, it is possible to clarify the charge burden between the sender and the receiver of print information.
[0011]
The invention according to claim 4 is an image forming apparatus having an authentication function, wherein when print information and transmission source information are received from a dispatch source device as an external device, the storage unit stores the received print information and transmission source information. Is stored in association with. Then, the user identification information input means receives the user identification information from the user and stores the information in the storage means. Further, the communication means transmits the user identification information stored in the storage means to an external management center server device. When an authentication result based on the user identification information is received from the management center server device, the operation control information input unit acquires operation control information serving as a printing condition based on the authentication result. A print information output unit that outputs the print information stored in the storage unit based on the operation control information input from the operation control information input unit; Subsequently, the processing unit calculates the amount of the usage fee, which is the price for printing, based on the operation control information input from the operation control information input unit, or processes the usage fee by the management center server device. The operation control information is transmitted to the management center server device for the means to calculate. Further, when transmitting the amount or the operation control information to the management server device, the processing unit adds transmission source information associated with the output print information.
[0012]
According to the present invention, it is possible to clarify the charge burden between the sender and the receiver of print information.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
(First embodiment)
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the system of the present embodiment. The management center makes a contract with the customer company and charges the customer company a usage fee printed by an image forming apparatus installed in a convenience store or the like by an employee of the customer company. Here, the convenience store or the like can receive a margin or the like from the management center by installing the image forming apparatus or the like.
[0016]
A terminal device 100 and a multifunction peripheral are connected to a communication network 400 as devices of a customer company. The management center server device 200 is connected to the communication network 400 as a device of the management center. Here, the communication network corresponds to the Internet, an intranet, a LAN, a WAN, a VPN (Virtual Private Network), a FAX line, and the like.
[0017]
Further, an image forming apparatus 300 is connected to a communication network 400 as a device of a facility that can be used by the public such as a convenience store.
[0018]
A data center server device for storing print information and the like is connected to the communication network 400.
[0019]
The user can print the print information of the terminal device 100 or the multifunction peripheral with the image forming apparatus 300 by a predetermined method. Here, the management center server device 200 provides a user authentication function and a function of specifying a billing destination.
[0020]
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a PC (Personal Computer) that is a general terminal device 100. For the bus 101, a keyboard 106 and a mouse 107 as input means, a display 108 as display means, a CPU 102 as processing means, a RAM 103, a ROM 104, and a HDD 109 (Hard Disk Drive) as storage means, and an NIC 105 as communication means (Network Interface Card). I / F indicates an interface between the bus and various devices. The HDD 109 stores a print information transfer program and the like. The CPU 102 reads a print information transfer program or the like stored in the HDD 109 into the RAM 103 and executes the read program, thereby uploading print information to an external data center server device. A function of transmitting and receiving information to and from the center server device is realized.
[0021]
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the management center server device 200. The CPU 201 is connected to the bus 201, the RAM 203, the ROM 204, and the HDD 206 (Hard Disk Drive) as storage means, and the NIC 205 (Network Interface Card) as communication means. I / F indicates an interface between the bus and various devices. The HDD 206 stores a charge management program 207, a user database 208, and the like. The CPU 202 reads the billing management program 207 and the like stored in the HDD 206 into the RAM 203 and executes the billing management program 207, so that the user authentication function, the function for specifying the billing destination, the management center server via the NIC 205 and the communication network 400. A function of transmitting / receiving information to / from the device 200 and the terminal device 100 is realized.
[0022]
FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of the user database. The user database stores information about the user of the image forming apparatus 300, and associates “user ID” and “password” as user identification information with “affiliation” as user affiliation information. Stored.
[0023]
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 300. The image forming apparatus 300 includes a processing unit 301, a storage unit 302, a communication unit 303, a print information input unit 304, a print information output unit 305, a user identification information input unit 306, and an operation control information input unit 307. And The storage unit 302 stores an authentication program and the like. The processing unit 301 reads out and executes an authentication program or the like stored in the storage unit 302 to thereby execute a function of inputting user identification information, a function of inputting print information, a function of outputting print information, A function of inputting operation control information of the forming apparatus and a function of transmitting / receiving information to / from the management center server apparatus 200 and an external data center server apparatus via the communication unit 303 and the communication network 400 are realized.
[0024]
Next, the operation of the system of the present embodiment will be described.
[0025]
The user inputs a user ID and a password as user identification information from the user identification information input unit 306 of the image forming apparatus 300. The processing unit 301 of the image forming apparatus 300 stores the input user ID and password in the storage unit 302 and transmits the user ID and the password to the management center server device 200. Here, the user identification information may be input by a user ID card or the like.
[0026]
The CPU 202 of the management center server device 200 searches the user database for the same combination of the acquired user ID and password. Subsequently, if the search results in the same one, the CPU 202 of the management center server device 200 transmits an authentication result of successful authentication to the image forming apparatus 300. If there is not the same one as a result of the search, an authentication result of authentication failure is transmitted to image forming apparatus 300.
[0027]
The processing unit 301 of the image forming apparatus 300 determines whether the authentication has been successful based on the received authentication result.
[0028]
If the authentication is successful, the user can input print information such as a paper document from the print information input unit 304 of the image forming apparatus 300. Further, the user can input, as operation control information, information such as the number of input paper originals from the operation control information input unit 307.
[0029]
Here, the input of the print information may use a mobile device. The user can connect a mobile device to the image forming apparatus 300 via a mobile device connection interface prepared as an optional product of the image forming apparatus 300 and input print information. At this time, the user may install the driver provided by the download or the recording medium such as the flexible disk into the mobile device, and use the image forming apparatus 300. Further, the user may use only the basic functions of the image forming apparatus 300 without installing the driver.
[0030]
The input of the print information may use a recording medium storing the print information or the like. The user can input print information via an interface device prepared as an optional product of the image forming apparatus 300.
[0031]
Further, the input of print information may use an external data center server device. After uploading the print information from the terminal device 100 to the external data center server device, the user downloads the print information uploaded to the external data center server device to the image forming device 300 and inputs the print information. Can be.
[0032]
The processing unit 301 of the image forming apparatus 300 causes the print information output unit 305 to output the input print information based on the input print information and operation control information. Subsequently, the processing unit 301 of the image forming apparatus 300 calculates a usage fee based on the input print information and operation control information. Then, the processing unit 301 of the image forming apparatus 300 acquires the user identification information stored in the storage unit 302, and transmits the amount of the usage fee to the management center server device 200 together with the acquired user identification information.
[0033]
The CPU 202 of the management center server device 200 acquires user affiliation information associated with the received user identification information from the user database. Then, the CPU 202 of the management center server apparatus 200 charges the received amount to the company to which the user belongs based on the acquired user belonging information.
[0034]
Here, the billing method is such that the amount of the usage fee is stored in the storage unit 302 for each user affiliation information, and based on the stored user affiliation information and usage fee information, the usage fee is reduced every month. Includes billing methods and general online payment methods.
[0035]
As described above, the management center server apparatus 200 charges the user based on the user affiliation information of the user who has been authenticated. It is not necessary to carry out the replacement. Further, the user does not have to return to the company to which the user belongs and make a liquidation.
[0036]
Next, another embodiment will be described.
[0037]
(Second embodiment)
[0038]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration in a case where the system of this embodiment is used in a dispatching company and a dispatched company. The dispatching company provides a service for dispatching human resources to the dispatched company. The management center makes a contract with the dispatching company and the dispatched company, and when the staff of the dispatching company prints the print information transmitted from the dispatching company from the image forming apparatus installed in the dispatched company, Charge. Also, the management center charges the dispatched company when an employee of the dispatched company prints information other than the print information transmitted from the dispatched company from the image forming apparatus installed in the dispatched company.
[0039]
Here, the system configuration of the system is the same as that of the first embodiment, but the operation process of each program and the user database are different, so that the description will be given below.
[0040]
FIG. 7 is a structural diagram of a user database used in the present embodiment. The user database stores information about the user of the image forming apparatus 300, and includes “user ID” and “password” as user identification information, “affiliation” as user affiliation information, and The “source” as source information for identifying the affiliation of the source is stored in association with the source.
[0041]
Next, the operation of the system of the present embodiment will be described.
[0042]
The user of the dispatching company can transmit print information to the image forming apparatus 300 of the dispatched company from a terminal device, a multifunction peripheral, or the like as an external device. At this time, transmission source information is also transmitted. The transmission source information includes an IP address, a FAX number, a mail address, company identification information, a user ID, and the like. The designation of the transmission destination may be made possible by the user based on transmission destination list information prepared in the external device of the transmission source or the management center server device.
[0043]
The processing unit 301 of the image forming apparatus 300 stores the received print information and the transmission source information in the storage unit in association with each other.
[0044]
The user of the dispatched company prints the print information as follows.
[0045]
The user inputs a user ID and a password from the user identification information input unit 306 of the image forming apparatus 300. The processing unit 301 of the image forming apparatus 300 stores the input user ID and password in the storage unit 302 and transmits the user ID and the password to the management center server device 200.
[0046]
The CPU 202 of the management center server device 200 searches the user database for the same combination of the acquired user ID and password. Subsequently, if the search results in the same one, the CPU 202 of the management center server device 200 transmits an authentication result of successful authentication to the image forming apparatus 300. If there is not the same one as a result of the search, an authentication result of authentication failure is transmitted to image forming apparatus 300. Here, the CPU 202 of the management center server device 200 transmits the transmission source information associated with the user identification information to the image forming apparatus 300 when the authentication result is successful.
[0047]
The processing unit 301 of the image forming apparatus 300 stores the received transmission source information in the storage unit 302 in association with the user identification information.
[0048]
The processing unit 301 of the image forming apparatus 300 determines whether the authentication has been successful based on the received authentication result.
[0049]
When the authentication is successful, the user can input an output request by specifying the print information stored in the storage unit 302 from the operation control information input unit 307. Here, the processing unit 301 of the image forming apparatus 300 acquires, from the storage unit 302, transmission source information associated with the user identification information. Then, the processing unit 301 of the image forming apparatus 300 may extract only the print information in which the source information associated with the print information is the same as the acquired source information, and may cause the user to specify the print information.
[0050]
The processing unit 301 of the image forming apparatus 300 outputs the designated print information by the print information output unit 305 based on the output request. Subsequently, the processing unit 301 of the image forming apparatus 300 calculates a usage fee based on the print information and the operation control information. Here, based on the operation control information, the processing unit 301 of the image forming apparatus 300 performs who, when, and what kind of processing (copy / print, one-sided / two-sided, color / monochrome, enlargement / reduction / aggregation, etc.). Whether the operation has been performed can be stored in the storage unit 302. The processing unit 301 of the image forming apparatus 300 transmits the stored information to the management center server device at an appropriate timing. Then, the CPU 202 of the management center server device 200 manages the usage status based on the received information.
[0051]
Next, the processing unit 301 of the image forming apparatus 300 acquires the transmission source information associated with the designated print information from the storage unit 302.
[0052]
[When sender information is associated with print information]
[0053]
The processing unit 301 of the image forming apparatus 300 transmits the acquired transmission source information and the amount of the usage fee to the management center server apparatus 200. Then, the CPU 202 of the management center server device 200 acquires the user affiliation information associated with the received transmission source information from the user database, and based on the acquired user affiliation information, determines the transmission source of the print information. Charge the amount received.
[0054]
[When sender information is not associated with print information]
[0055]
The CPU 202 of the management center server device 200 charges a usage fee to the dispatched company as normal use within the dispatched company.
[0056]
As described above, since the system specifies the billing destination, it is possible to clarify the charge burden between the sender and the receiver of the print information. In addition, it is possible to charge the dispatch company for the supply fee when printing the internal business documents sent from the dispatch company's equipment to the employees dispatched to the dispatch company using the dispatch company's image forming apparatus. it can.
[0057]
In the above embodiment, the calculation of the usage fee is performed by the image forming apparatus. However, the image forming apparatus transmits information on the print information and the operation control information from which the fee was calculated to the management center server device, The server device may calculate.
[0058]
Further, the management center server device 200 is configured by one computer, but may be a distributed system including a plurality of computers.
[0059]
Further, the terminal device 100 is a device having a communication network 400 connection function, and it does not matter whether the terminal device 100 is connected to the communication network 400 by wire or wirelessly. The terminal device 100 includes a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance), a mobile phone having an Internet browsing function, and the like.
[0060]
The charge management program 207 may be stored in a computer-readable medium, and is not limited to being stored in the HDD. Similarly, the user database 208 may be stored on a computer readable and writable medium.
[0061]
【The invention's effect】
In a system to which the present invention is applied, a management center server apparatus receives user identification information input from an image forming apparatus, and based on affiliation information previously associated with the user identification information stored in a storage unit. In addition, since the usage fee of the image forming apparatus is charged to the affiliated company, the user does not need to change the usage fee when printing materials used in the business of the affiliated company outside the affiliated company.
Further, the management center server device receives the source information associated with the print information from the image forming device, and based on the affiliation information previously associated with the source information stored in the storage unit, the image forming device. Since the usage fee is charged to the sender, it is possible to clarify the charge burden between the sender and the receiver of the print information.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a terminal device 100.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a management center server device 200.
FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of a user database in the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus 300.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a structural diagram of a user database according to the second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 terminal device 101 terminal device bus 102 terminal device CPU (processing means)
103 RAM (storage means) of terminal device
104 Terminal device ROM (storage means)
105 Terminal device NIC (communication means)
106 Keyboard of terminal device (input means)
107 Terminal device mouse (input means)
108 Terminal device display (display means)
109 HDD (storage means) of terminal device
110 print information transfer program 200 management center server 201 bus 202 of management center server CPU (processing means) of management center server
203 RAM (storage means) of management center server device
204 ROM (storage means) of management center server device
205 NIC (communication means) of management center server
300 image forming apparatus 301 image forming apparatus processing means 302 image forming apparatus storing means 303 image forming apparatus communication means 304 image forming apparatus print information input means 305 image forming apparatus print information output means 306 user of image forming apparatus Identification information input means 307 Operation control information input means 400 Communication network

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus installed in a facility that can be used by the public and a management center server apparatus are connected to a communication network,
A step in which the processing unit of the image forming apparatus transmits the user identification information and the authentication request received from the user to the management center server device;
A processing unit of the management center server device that has received the authentication request refers to the user database, performs authentication based on the received user identification information, and transmits an authentication result to the image forming apparatus;
Based on the received authentication result, the processing unit of the image forming apparatus acquires print information from the print information input unit, and acquires operation control information serving as a print condition from the operation control information input unit.
Based on the acquired print information and operation control information, a processing unit of the image forming apparatus outputs print information from a print information output unit,
Based on the acquired operation control information, the processing unit of the image forming apparatus or the processing unit of the management center server device calculates the amount of the usage fee that is the price for printing,
Processing means of the image forming apparatus transmitting the user identification information to a management center server device;
A step in which the processing unit of the management center server device refers to the user database, and obtains, from the storage unit of the management center server device, user affiliation information previously associated with the received user identification information;
Processing means of the management center server device, based on the obtained user affiliation information, charging the calculated usage fee to the affiliation of the user of the image forming apparatus. A billing method for using the image forming apparatus as a feature. User identification information input means for receiving user identification information from a user and storing the received information in storage means;
Communication means for transmitting the user identification information stored in the storage means to an external management center server device;
Upon receiving an authentication result based on the user identification information from the management center server device, based on the authentication result, print information input means for acquiring print information;
Operation control information input means for acquiring operation control information serving as a printing condition;
A print information output unit that outputs print information input from the print information input unit based on the operation control information input from the operation control information input unit;
Based on the operation control information input from the operation control information input means, to calculate the amount of the usage fee that is the price for printing, or to allow the processing unit of the management center server device to calculate the usage fee A processing unit for transmitting operation control information to the management center server device. A dispatch source device as an external device capable of transmitting print information and transmission source information, an image forming device of a dispatch destination, and a management center server device are connected to a communication network,
Processing means of the external device, transmitting the print information and transmission source information to the image forming apparatus,
A step in which the processing unit of the image forming apparatus stores the received print information and transmission source information in the storage unit of the image forming apparatus;
A step in which the processing unit of the image forming apparatus transmits the user identification information and the authentication request received from the user to the management center server device;
The processing means of the management center server receiving the authentication request refers to the user database, performs authentication based on the received user identification information, and associates the authentication result with the user identification information in the user database in advance. Transmitting the transmitted transmission source information to the image forming apparatus;
Based on the received authentication result, the processing unit of the image forming apparatus obtains, from the operation control information input unit, operation control information serving as a printing condition;
Based on the acquired operation control information, a processing unit of the image forming apparatus acquires print information from a storage unit of the image forming apparatus, and outputs the print information from a print information output unit.
Based on the acquired operation control information, the processing unit of the image forming apparatus or the processing unit of the management center server device calculates the amount of the usage fee that is the price for printing,
Processing means of the image forming apparatus transmitting source information associated with the output print information to a management center server device;
A step in which the processing means of the management center server device refers to the user database and obtains, from the storage means of the management center server device, user affiliation information previously associated with the received transmission source information;
The processing means of the management center server device charging the calculated usage fee to the sender of the print information based on the acquired user affiliation information. A billing method for using the device. When receiving the print information and the transmission source information from the dispatch source device as an external device, a storage unit that stores the received print information and transmission source information in association with each other,
User identification information input means for receiving user identification information from a user and storing the information in the storage means;
Communication means for transmitting the user identification information stored in the storage means to an external management center server device;
When receiving an authentication result based on the user identification information from the management center server device, based on the authentication result, operation control information input means for acquiring operation control information serving as a printing condition;
A print information output unit that outputs print information stored in the storage unit based on the operation control information input from the operation control information input unit;
On the basis of the operation control information input from the operation control information input means, to calculate the amount of the usage fee that is the price for printing, or to allow the processing unit of the management center server device to calculate the usage fee Processing means for transmitting operation control information to the management center server device,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the processing unit adds transmission source information associated with the output print information when transmitting the amount or the operation control information to the management server device.

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