JP2004302591A - Charging management system and device for use in the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To charge more appropriately in dependence on a use status of an option unit, and encourage a user to use the option unit mounted. <P>SOLUTION: Color laser printers 60a and 60b are configured as a printer that stores a print page count in a RAM or the like for every combination of option units (for example, a double-side printing unit and an additional cassette unit) used in printing. A charging management server 20 is configured as a device that calculates a charging amount according to information, such as the print page count for every combination of option units, acquired via a network 30 or a storage element 50 in a toner cartridge 40 attached to a cartridge connection part 28, and registers the calculated charging amount in a charging management database 26. More appropriate charging is made in dependence on a use status of the option units, and a user is encouraged to use the option units mounted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a billing management system, a billing management device, a program used therefor, and a billing management method. More specifically, a billing device that can mount at least one optional unit and a billing that manages billing for use of the billing device. The present invention relates to a billing management system including a management device, such a billing management device, a program used for the same, and such a billing management method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as this type of billing management system, there has been proposed a billing management system that manages billing for use of a laser printer or the like to which an optional unit such as a duplex printing unit can be mounted. In this system, a maintenance fee or the like is charged according to the usage amount of the laser printer, such as the number of prints or toner consumption (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-305920 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in an apparatus such as a laser printer for which billing is performed by such a billing management system, an attached optional unit such as a double-sided printing unit may not be sufficiently used. In this case, since the optional unit is not used, the load on the apparatus main body increases, and the apparatus main body may be deteriorated more than necessary. This is not desirable from the viewpoint of effective utilization of resources.
[0005]
It is an object of the billing management system, the billing management device, and the billing management method of the present invention to perform more appropriate billing according to the use status of the option unit. Another object of the accounting management system, the accounting management device, and the accounting management method of the present invention is to prompt the user to use the installed optional unit.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems and Their Functions and Effects]
The billing management system, the billing management device, the program used therefor, and the billing management method according to the present invention employ the following means in order to achieve at least a part of the above object.
[0007]
The billing management system of the present invention comprises:
A charging management system including a predetermined device to which at least one optional unit can be attached, and a charging management device that manages charging for use of the predetermined device,
The predetermined device includes an information storage unit configured to store information related to a usage amount of the predetermined device in association with information related to use of an option unit mounted on the predetermined device,
The charging management device includes: an information obtaining unit that obtains information stored in an information storage unit of the predetermined device; and a charging processing unit that performs a charging process for use of the predetermined device based on the obtained information. The point is to prepare.
[0008]
In the billing management system of the present invention, the information on the usage of the device is stored in association with the information on the use of the mounted optional unit by the predetermined device, and the information stored in the predetermined device is stored by the charging management device. And performs a billing process for use of a predetermined device. Therefore, the billing process can be performed according to the usage status of the optional unit mounted on the predetermined device. As a result, the user can be encouraged to use the optional unit. The “predetermined device” includes an image forming apparatus that forms characters, images, and the like on a recording medium such as paper. When the predetermined device is an image forming device, the “optional unit” includes a double-sided image forming unit, an additional paper cassette unit, and the like, and the “information on usage amount” includes the number of images formed, the number of dots, and the number of recordings. This includes the consumption of the agent.
[0009]
In the charging management system according to the aspect of the invention, in which the predetermined device is an image forming device, the information storage unit of the predetermined device is a storage element of a recording agent cartridge mounted on the predetermined device. You can also. With this configuration, information relating to the usage amount of the image forming apparatus can be stored in the storage element of the recording agent cartridge.
[0010]
In the billing management system according to the present invention, the information storage means of the predetermined device accumulates and stores the information on the used amount for each used option unit and / or each used unit combination. Can also be used. By doing so, the data size of the information stored in the information storage means of the predetermined device can be reduced.
[0011]
Further, in the billing management system according to the present invention, the billing processing means of the billing management device may be configured such that a billing amount for use of the predetermined device using the option unit is imposed on a use of the predetermined device not using the option unit. It may be a means for performing a charging process so as to be lower than the amount. Here, the reason that the billing amount when the optional unit is used can be reduced is that deterioration of the apparatus main body is suppressed when the optional unit is used (for example, when an optional additional paper cassette of a laser printer is used). By doing so, deterioration of the standard paper cassette incorporated in the laser printer main body is suppressed.) In this case, the billing amount when the optional unit is used can be lower than the billing amount when the optional unit is not used. As a result, the user can be further encouraged to use the optional unit.
[0012]
In the billing management system according to the present invention, the billing processing means of the billing management device includes a billing unit set for each of the option units and / or a combination of the option units. May be a means for calculating the billing amount by multiplying the information on the usage amount corresponding to. In this case, the billing amount can be calculated using the billing unit price set for each option unit or combination of option units.
[0013]
The billing management device of the present invention comprises:
A charging management device that manages charging for use of a predetermined device to which at least one optional unit can be attached,
Information acquisition means for acquiring information on the usage of the predetermined device associated with information on the use of the option unit mounted on the predetermined device;
Billing processing means for performing a billing process for use of the predetermined device based on the acquired information;
The gist is to provide
[0014]
In the charging management apparatus of the present invention, the information relating to the usage of the predetermined device associated with the information relating to the use of the attached optional unit is obtained, and the charging process for the usage of the predetermined device is performed. Therefore, the billing process can be performed according to the usage status of the optional unit mounted on the predetermined device. As a result, the user can be encouraged to use the optional unit. The “predetermined device” includes an image forming apparatus that forms characters, images, and the like on a recording medium such as paper. When the predetermined device is an image forming device, the “optional unit” includes a double-sided image forming unit, an additional paper cassette unit, and the like, and the “information on usage amount” includes the number of images formed, the number of dots, and the number of recordings. This includes the consumption of the agent.
[0015]
In the billing management device of the present invention, the information acquiring means may be means for acquiring information stored in the storage element from the storage element of the collected recording agent cartridge. In this case, information on the usage amount of the predetermined device can be acquired from the storage element of the recording agent cartridge and used for billing.
[0016]
In the billing management device according to the present invention, the information acquisition means may be means for acquiring information from the predetermined device via a communication line. In this case, information on the usage of a predetermined device can be acquired via the communication line and used for billing.
[0017]
Further, in the billing management device of the present invention, the billing processing means may be configured such that a billing amount for use of the predetermined device using the option unit is lower than a billing amount for use of the predetermined device not using the option unit. It may be a means for performing a billing process. In this case, the billing amount when the optional unit is used can be lower than the billing amount when the optional unit is not used. As a result, the user can be further encouraged to use the optional unit.
[0018]
In the billing management device according to the present invention, the billing processing means may use a billing unit set for each of the option units and / or for each of the combination of the option units in accordance with the option unit and / or the combination of the option units. It may be a means for calculating a billing amount by multiplying information on the amount. In this case, the billing amount can be calculated using the billing unit price set for each option unit or combination of option units.
[0019]
The program for the charging management apparatus of the present invention is a program for controlling the computer to use the charging management apparatus of the present invention in any one of the above-described modes, that is, basically, a predetermined apparatus capable of mounting at least one optional unit. An accounting management device that manages accounting, comprising: an information acquisition unit configured to acquire information related to a usage amount of the predetermined device associated with information related to use of an option unit mounted on the predetermined device; and the acquired information. And a charging processing unit that performs charging processing for the use of the predetermined device based on the above.
[0020]
In the program for the charging management apparatus of the present invention, the computer is caused to function as the charging management apparatus of the present invention in any one of the above-described embodiments. It is possible to provide an effect that a billing process can be performed according to the usage status of the option unit, an effect that the user can be prompted to use the option unit, and the like.
[0021]
The billing management method of the present invention comprises:
A charging management method for managing charging for use of a predetermined device to which at least one optional unit can be attached,
(A) acquiring information on the usage of the predetermined device associated with information on the use of the option unit mounted on the predetermined device;
(B) The gist of the invention is to perform a billing process for the use of the predetermined device based on the acquired information.
[0022]
According to the accounting management method of the present invention, information on the usage of a predetermined device associated with the information on the use of the installed optional unit is obtained, and the accounting process for the usage of the predetermined device is performed. Therefore, the billing process can be performed according to the usage status of the optional unit mounted on the predetermined device. As a result, the user can be encouraged to use the optional unit. The “predetermined device” includes an image forming apparatus that forms characters, images, and the like on a recording medium such as paper. When the predetermined device is an image forming device, the “optional unit” includes a double-sided image forming unit, an additional paper cassette unit, and the like, and the “information on usage amount” includes the number of images formed, the number of dots, and the number of recordings. This includes the consumption of the agent.
[0023]
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 a system configuration of a charging management system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a billing management system 10 includes a billing management server 20 that functions as a billing management device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a color laser printer that functions as an image forming device that forms characters and images on paper or the like. 60a and 60b, the information relating to the use of the color laser printers 60a and 60b is acquired by the accounting management server 20, and the accounting for the use of the color laser printers 60a and 60b is managed.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical connection of the charging management server 20 according to the embodiment using functional blocks. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the charge management server 20 includes a general-purpose computer 22 having a CPU 23, a ROM 24, a RAM 25, and an input / output interface (not shown). And a cartridge connection unit 28 to which a toner cartridge 40 is attached via an input / output interface (not shown) of the computer 22, and which is read from a color laser printer 60a connected via a network 30. The color laser printers 60a, 60b are collected from the color laser printer 60b and read from the storage element 50 of the toner cartridge 40 attached to the cartridge connection unit 28. To manage the charging for the use of.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 2, the storage element 50 of the toner cartridge 40 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 clock signal CLK. An address counter 56 for counting up when exchanging data with the accounting management server 20 and the color laser printer 60 of the embodiment via the read / write control unit 54. As such a storage element 50, for example, an EEPROM can be used.
[0026]
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the color laser printer 60. The color laser printer 60 is configured as a full-color electrophotographic image forming apparatus employing a single photoreceptor system and an intermediate transfer system. As shown, as shown, cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow The image separated into four colors of (Y) and black (K) is exposed for each color using toner of each color supplied from the toner cartridges 40C, 40M, 40Y, and 40K of each color mounted on the developing device 61. A toner image is formed on the photoreceptor 63 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed by the device 62, and the formed toner image is transferred by the primary transfer unit 71 onto a transfer belt 64 as an intermediate transfer member. The secondary transfer unit 67 transfers the four-color toner images superimposed and transferred onto the paper supplied from the paper cassette 65 and conveyed by the conveyance unit 66. And fused fixed to the sheet to form a color image by the fixing unit 68 the toner image transferred onto the paper. Further, as shown in the drawing, the color laser printer 60 takes in a sheet on which the toner image is fused and fixed by the fixing unit 68 as a detachable optional unit, and performs secondary transfer so that the opposite surface becomes a transfer surface. A double-sided printing unit 72 for re-supplying sheets to the unit 67 and additional cassette units 73a and 73b capable of storing sheets of various sizes that can be transported by the transport unit 66 are attached.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 3, the developing device 61 is configured to be rotatable such that the mounted toner cartridges 40C, 40M, 40Y, and 40K face the photoconductor 63, respectively. Each of the toner cartridges 40C, 40M, 40Y, and 40K includes a storage element 50C, 50M, 50Y, and 50K, respectively, and is connected to the storage element 50 when the storage element 50 is located on the lower right side in the drawing. Information related to the use of the color laser printer 60 is written by the controller 70 via 69. The electrical connection between the controller 70 and the storage element 50 is the same as the connection between the charging management server 20 and the storage element 50 illustrated in FIG.
[0028]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing functional blocks of the controller 70 of the color laser printer 60. As illustrated, the controller 70 is configured as a microprocessor mainly including a CPU 80, a RAM 81, and a ROM 82. Further, the controller 70 is configured such that detection values from various sensors (for example, a temperature sensor or the like) and other input signals (for example, a print instruction signal from an operator) are input via a signal line. Based on these input signals, the exposure unit drive control unit 90, the development unit drive control unit 91, the primary transfer unit drive control unit 92, the secondary transfer unit drive control unit 93, the fixing unit drive control unit 94, the transport unit drive control Exposure unit 62, developing unit 61, primary transfer unit 71, secondary transfer unit 67, fixing unit 68, transport unit 66, double-sided printing unit drive control unit 96, movable connection unit drive control unit 97, etc. The operation of each unit of the color laser printer 60 such as the printing unit 72 and the movable connection unit 69 is controlled. The exposing unit 62, the primary transfer unit 71, the secondary transfer unit 67, the fixing unit 68, the transport unit 66, the double-sided printing unit 72, and the like are the same as those of a normal color laser printer or a color copying machine. Detailed description is omitted.
[0029]
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 in the drawing, the storage element 50 stores the ID of the toner cartridge 40 (cartridge ID), the ID of the color laser printer 60 in which the toner cartridge 40 is mounted (printer ID), and the type of the color laser printer 60. Information such as a name and the number of pages printed by the color laser printer 60 for each month is stored. Here, as shown in the figure, the number of printed pages per month is, as a breakdown, the number of printed pages classified for each combination of optional units such as the double-sided printing unit 72 and additional cassette units 73a and 73b used for printing. Is stored. Of these pieces of information, the cartridge ID is written into the storage element 50 at a factory or the like when the toner cartridge 40 is manufactured, and the printer ID, the model name, the number of printed pages per month, and the like are stored in the color laser printer 60. When the toner cartridge 40 is attached to or removed from the storage device 50, information stored at a predetermined address in the RAM 81 or the ROM 82 of the controller 70 is copied to the storage element 50. The number of print pages for each month is information that is written to a predetermined address of the RAM 81 of the controller 70 during the printing process executed by the color laser printer 60. The printing process will be described later.
[0030]
Next, the operation of the charging management system 10 according to the embodiment will be described. First, processing related to printing by the color laser printer 60 will be described, and then processing related to billing calculation by the billing management server 20 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a printing process performed by the controller 70 of the color laser printer 60. As shown, the print process is executed when a print job transmitted from a client computer or the like is received (step S100).
[0031]
When the print job is received, the print job is executed according to the print conditions set for the received print job (step S110). Here, the print conditions set for the print job include paper settings (paper size, print direction, etc.), layout settings (enlargement / reduction, double-sided printing, layout printing, etc.), print quality settings (ink type, print mode, etc.) And various other conditions.
[0032]
When the print job is executed in this manner, the number of pages printed with the execution of the print job is added to the number of monthly printed pages stored at a predetermined address in the RAM 81 of the controller 70 (step S120), and the printing process is terminated. . As described above, the number of print pages for each month is stored separately for each combination of option units used. That is, for example, when printing is performed using the double-sided printing unit 72 (when double-sided printing is specified as the layout setting), the number of print pages using the double-sided printing unit 72 is added, and the additional cassette unit 73 is added. (When paper stored in the additional cassette unit 73 is specified as the paper setting), the number of pages to be printed using the additional cassette unit 73 is added.
[0033]
Next, the operation of the accounting management server 20 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a billing calculation process performed by the billing management server 20 according to the embodiment at a predetermined timing. Here, when the color laser printer 60 to be charged is a user connected to the charging management server 20 via the network 30 (that is, in the case of the color laser printer 60a shown in FIG. The predetermined timing corresponds to a regular timing (for example, the first day of every month), and when the color laser printer 60 is not connected via the network 30 (that is, the color laser shown in FIG. 1). The predetermined timing corresponds to the case where the toner cartridge 40 is collected and attached to the cartridge connection unit 28 as the predetermined timing. As described above, in the embodiment, regardless of whether the color laser printer 60 is connected to the network 30, the accounting management server 20 performs the accounting calculation processing in a unified manner.
[0034]
In the billing calculation process, first, as shown in FIG. 7, information such as the number of monthly printed pages for the color laser printer 60 to be billed is obtained (step S200). In the case of an online user, for a color laser printer 60 whose printer ID is registered in the charging management database 26, the number of monthly printed pages stored at a predetermined address of a RAM 81 included in the controller 70 of the color laser printer 60, etc. Is obtained via the network 30. In the case of an offline user, the information stored in the storage element 50 of the collected toner cartridge 40 is obtained via the cartridge connection unit 28.
[0035]
Then, the charge amount is calculated based on the acquired number of print pages for each month (step S210). In the embodiment, the charging unit price for each combination of option units used for printing is set and registered in advance in the charging management database 26 or the like, and the charging unit price is multiplied by the number of print pages for each combination of option units. In this way, the charge amount for each combination of option units is calculated, and the calculated charge amounts are added up to make the final charge amount. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a charging unit price table. In the embodiment, as shown in the figure, the charging unit price is set so that the more the optional unit is used in printing, the lower the price becomes. Note that various other rules can be applied to the calculation rule of the charge amount as long as the charge amount is calculated according to the used optional unit.
[0036]
When the billing amount is calculated in this manner, information such as the calculated billing amount is registered in the billing management database 26 as a billing amount for the corresponding billing period (step S220), and the billing calculation process ends. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of information managed by the charging management database 26. As shown in the figure, the charging management database 26 includes a printer ID of the color laser printer 60 to be subjected to the charging calculation processing, a charging target period (for example, for March 2003), and a color laser printer in the charging period. The information such as the number of pages printed by the printer 60 and the billing amount calculated by the billing calculation process is managed. Among these pieces of information, the printer ID is information that is registered when, for example, a contract has been made with the user regarding the use of the color laser printer 60. The charging period, the number of printed pages, the charging amount, and the like are described in step S220. Is information registered in the process of (1).
[0037]
According to the accounting management system 10 of the embodiment described above, the color laser printer 60 stores the number of print pages for each month, which is divided for each combination of option units used for printing. It is possible to calculate the billing amount by acquiring the number of print pages for each month classified for each combination of the optional units. Therefore, the billing amount can be calculated according to the option unit used for printing. Also, since the unit price used when using the optional unit is set to be lower than the unit price used when not using the optional unit, the unit price used when using the optional unit is lower than the amount used when not using the optional unit. It can be. As a result, the user can be encouraged to use the optional unit. Further, information such as the number of print pages per month is acquired from the RAM 81 of the controller 70 of the color laser printer 60 via the network 30, and the collected storage elements 50 of the toner cartridge 40 are read from the cartridge connection unit of the accounting management server 20. Since the information is obtained through the server 28, the charges for the online user and the offline user can be centrally managed.
[0038]
Here, in the color laser printer 60 of the embodiment, the RAM 81 and the storage element 50 correspond to information storage means. In the charging management server 20 of the embodiment, the computer 22 executing the processing in step S200 corresponds to an information acquiring unit, and the computer 22 executing the processing in steps S210 and S220 corresponds to a charging processing unit.
[0039]
In the charging management system 10 of the embodiment, the number of print pages for each month stored at a predetermined address of the RAM 81 of the color laser printer 60 is classified and accumulated for each combination of option units used, but the data size is small. Although the effect is somewhat inferior, the number of print pages and the information on the used optional units may be stored for each executed print job. In this case, when the information stored in the RAM 81 is copied to the storage element 50 by the controller 70 of the color laser printer 60 or when the accounting management server 20 executes the accounting calculation process, the number of print pages for each print job is used. It is sufficient to perform a process of summing up the combinations of the optional units.
[0040]
In the charging management system 10 of the embodiment, the number of printed pages is used as the information on the usage amount of the color laser printer 60. However, it is needless to say that other information may be used. Information such as the amount of toner consumed during printing may be used as information on the amount of use of the color laser printer 60.
[0041]
In the charging management system 10 of the embodiment, in the case of an online user, information such as the number of print pages for each month stored at a predetermined address of a RAM 81 included in the controller 70 of the color laser printer 60 is acquired via the network 30. However, since it is sufficient that the information is stored in the storage medium of the color laser printer 60, for example, the information stored in the storage element 50 of the toner cartridge 40 may be obtained via the network 30. Also, in the charging management system 10 of the embodiment, the charging management server 20 performs the centralized charging calculation process irrespective of whether or not the color laser printer 60 is connected to the network 30, but only for online users. The charge calculation process described above may be performed, or the charge calculation process only for the offline user may be performed.
[0042]
In the charging management system 10 of the embodiment, the duplex printing unit 72 and the additional cassette unit 73 are illustrated as optional units that can be attached to and detached from the color laser printer 60; Of course, it may be a unit.
[0043]
The billing management system 10 of the embodiment manages billing for use of the color laser printer 60 configured as a full-color electrophotographic image forming apparatus employing a single photoreceptor system and an intermediate transfer system. As long as it can store information such as the number of pages to be printed in association with information on the optional unit used for printing, it can be used as a full-color electrophotographic image forming apparatus of a multi-photoreceptor system or a direct transfer system. It is also possible to manage charging for the use of a configured color laser printer or copier, or a laser printer, copier, or inkjet printer configured as a monochrome electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Further, the present invention can be applied to charging management for use of other various devices as long as the device is used by mounting an optional unit on the main body.
[0044]
In the embodiment, the charging management server 20 included in the charging management system 10 has been described. However, a similar charging management method may be used. Further, the computer may be in the form of a program that causes one or more computers to function as the charge management server 20. At this time, each step of the charge calculation process illustrated in FIG. 7 may be programmed using a suitable programming language and installed in a computer.
[0045]
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 showing an outline of the configuration of a charging management system 10;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a charging management server 20;
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a color laser printer 60;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a controller 70.
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 printing process.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a billing calculation process.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a charging unit price table.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of management information of a charging management database 26.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 charging management system, 20 charging management server, 22 computer, 23 CPU, 24 ROM, 25 RAM, 26 charging management database, 28 cartridge connection unit, 30 network, 35 client computer, 40, 40C, 40M, 40Y, 40K toner cartridge, 50, 50C, 50M, 50Y, 50K storage elements, 52 memory cells, 54 read / write control units, 56 address counters, 60, 60a, 60b color laser printers, 61 developing units, 62 exposing units, 63 photoconductors, 64 transfer Belt, 65 paper cassette, 66 transport unit, 67 secondary transfer unit, 68 fixing unit, 69 movable connection unit, 70 controller, 71 primary transfer unit, 72 double-sided printing unit, 73, 73a, 73b Additional cassette unit , 80 CPU, 81 RAM, 82 ROM, 83 spooler, 90 exposure unit drive control unit, 91 developing unit drive control unit, 92 primary transfer unit drive control unit, 93 secondary transfer unit drive control unit, 94 fixing unit drive control unit , 95 transport unit drive control unit, 96 duplex drive unit drive control unit, 97 movable connection unit drive control unit.

Claims (17)

A charging management system including a predetermined device to which at least one optional unit can be attached, and a charging management device that manages charging for use of the predetermined device,
The predetermined device includes an information storage unit configured to store information related to a usage amount of the predetermined device in association with information related to use of an option unit mounted on the predetermined device,
The charging management device includes: an information obtaining unit that obtains information stored in an information storage unit of the predetermined device; and a charging processing unit that performs a charging process for use of the predetermined device based on the obtained information. Equipped billing management system. The charging management system according to claim 1, wherein
The predetermined device is an image forming apparatus that forms characters and images on a recording medium such as paper,
The charging management system is a charging management system that manages charging for use of the image forming apparatus. 3. The accounting management system according to claim 2, wherein the optional unit is one of a double-sided image forming unit and an additional paper cassette unit. 4. The accounting management system according to claim 2, wherein the information on the usage amount is any one of the number of formed images, the number of dots, and the amount of printing material consumed. 5. 5. The accounting management system according to claim 2, wherein the information storage means of the predetermined device is a storage element of a recording agent cartridge mounted on the predetermined device. 6. The information storage means of the predetermined device is means for accumulating and storing information on the used amount for each used option unit and / or each used unit combination. Billing management system. The billing processing means of the billing management device performs a billing process such that a billing amount for use of the predetermined device using the option unit is lower than a billing amount for use of the predetermined device not using the option unit. 7. The charging management system according to claim 1, wherein the charging management system is a means for performing the charging. The billing processing means of the billing management device multiplies a billing unit price set for each of the option units and / or for each of the combination of the option units by information on a usage amount corresponding to the option unit and / or the combination of the option units. The charging management system according to claim 1, wherein the charging management system is configured to calculate a charging amount. A charging management device that manages charging for use of a predetermined device to which at least one optional unit can be attached,
Information acquisition means for acquiring information on the usage of the predetermined device associated with information on the use of the option unit mounted on the predetermined device;
Billing processing means for performing a billing process for use of the predetermined device based on the acquired information;
Charging management device comprising: The charging management device according to claim 9,
The predetermined device is an image forming apparatus that forms characters and images on a recording medium such as paper,
The charging management device may be any one of a double-sided image forming unit and an additional paper cassette unit. The charging management device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein
The predetermined device is an image forming apparatus that forms characters and images on a recording medium such as paper,
The billing management device, wherein the information on the used amount is any one of the number of formed images, the number of dots, and the consumed amount of the recording material. The charging management device according to claim 9, wherein the information acquisition unit is configured to acquire information stored in a storage element of the collected recording agent cartridge from the storage element. The charging management device according to claim 9, wherein the information acquisition unit is a unit that acquires information from the predetermined device via a communication line. The charging processing means is means for performing charging processing such that a charging amount for use of the predetermined device using the option unit is lower than a charging amount for use of the predetermined device not using the option unit. 14. The charging management device according to claim 9. The billing processing means multiplies a billing unit price set for each of the option units and / or a combination of the option units by information on a usage amount corresponding to the option unit and / or the combination of the option units to calculate a billing amount. 15. The charging management device according to claim 9, wherein the charging management device is a means for calculating. A program for causing a computer to function as the accounting management device according to any one of claims 9 to 15. A charging management method for managing charging for use of a predetermined device to which at least one optional unit can be attached,
(A) acquiring information on the usage of the predetermined device associated with information on the use of the option unit mounted on the predetermined device;
(B) a charging management method for performing charging processing for use of the predetermined device based on the acquired information.

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