JP2005167620A - Information processing apparatus, accounting server, image forming apparatus, and print system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a print charge while keeping an excellent appearance of an image (document) and to provide an advertisement effect even to blind people and color anomaly people. <P>SOLUTION: A print system comprises an image forming apparatus 220 for reading an image, an accounting server 210 for carrying out charging processing to the image forming apparatus, and an information processing apparatus 212 connected to the charging server 210 via a network. When the image forming apparatus 220 executes printing of an image, the image forming apparatus 220 generates a job ticket to designate an advertisement method for the image ([S5102]) and adopts a voice advertisement method for the advertisement method ([S5303]). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that instructs reading of an image, an image forming apparatus that reads an image, a charging server that performs charging processing in the image forming apparatus, and a printing system including these.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printing system, when printing is performed using a print shop or the like, a proposal has been made to reduce the user's print fee by printing an advertisement on a portion that is not printed on recording paper.

  However, in the above-described conventional example, when an advertisement is printed, the appearance of an image (document) is deteriorated, and ink and toner for printing the advertisement on a recording sheet are wasted. In addition, there are problems such as ineffective advertisement for blind and color-impaired people.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention aims to reduce the printing fee while maintaining the appearance of an image (document), and to provide an advertisement effect to the blind and color-impaired. And

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that reads an image, and an information processing apparatus that is connected to a charging server that performs charging processing in the image forming apparatus via a network. An information processing apparatus or the like is provided that creates a job ticket for designating an advertisement method for an image when the image is printed.

  According to the present invention, since the job ticket for designating the advertising method for the image is created, the printing fee can be reduced while maintaining the appearance of the image (document) by using the advertising method as an audio advertisement. In addition, it is possible to save ink and toner for printing the advertisement on the recording paper, and to provide an advertisement effect to the blind and the color weak.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing system including an information processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a billing server.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 200 denotes an Internet communication network. A web server 201 is connected to the Internet 200 and provides a specific service to Internet users. Reference numeral 204 denotes a service provider that performs a connection process between a personal user terminal and the Internet 200. A firewall 203 connects the inside of the LAN 2011 shown in the lower part of FIG. 1 to an external communication network (Internet 200), and performs security management and the like. A charging server 210 performs charging management of the image forming apparatus 220. A file server 211 allows a plurality of users connected via the LAN 2011 to share data.

  An image forming apparatus 220 such as a digital copying machine mainly has an image input / output function. In this image forming apparatus 220, 140 is an operation unit for a user to perform various operations, 10 is an image scanner for reading an image in accordance with instructions from the operation unit 140 and the information processing apparatus 212, and 20 is an information processing unit. This is a printer that prints data from the apparatus 212 and the file server 211 on paper. A controller unit 30 controls input / output of image data to and from the scanner 10 and the printer 20 based on instructions from the operation unit 140 and the information processing apparatus 212. For example, control is performed such that image data captured by the scanner unit 10 is accumulated in a memory inside the controller unit, output to the information processing apparatus 212, or printed by the printer 20.

  An information processing device 212 is connected as a terminal device. Information provided from the web server 201 can be browsed via the Internet 200, and image data can be output to the image forming apparatus 220.

  In the above configuration, the LAN 2011 is connected to the Internet via the firewall 203. However, the firewall 203 may be connected to the Internet via the service provider 204.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the image forming apparatus.
The scanner unit 10 which is an image input device irradiates a lamp on a document placed at a predetermined position, reads the document image with a CCD line sensor and converts it into an electrical signal, thereby processing it as image data. Do. Also, when a document is set on the document feeder 142 and the user of the apparatus gives an instruction to start reading from the operation unit 140, the feeder 2072 feeds the document one by one and performs the above-described document image reading operation.

  The printer unit 20 serving as an image output device is a part that converts image data read by the scanner unit 10 into an image on paper. As a printing method in this embodiment, an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt will be described. However, an ink jet method in which an image is directly printed on paper by ejecting ink from a minute nozzle array is used. It does not matter. The activation of the printing operation is started by an instruction from a controller (described later) inside the apparatus. The printer unit 20 has a plurality of paper feed stages so that different paper sizes or different paper orientations can be selected, and there are paper cassettes 2101, 2102, 2103, and 2104 corresponding thereto. Further, the paper on which the image is formed is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 132.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus includes a scanner unit 10, a printer unit 20, and a controller unit 139.

  In the scanner unit 10, reference numeral 101 denotes an original platen glass, and the originals fed from the automatic original feeder 142 are sequentially placed at predetermined positions. Reference numeral 102 denotes a document illumination lamp composed of, for example, a halogen lamp, which exposes a document placed on the document table glass 101. Scanning mirrors 103, 104, and 105 are accommodated in an optical scanning unit (not shown) and guide reflected light from the original to the CCD unit 106 while reciprocating.

  The CCD unit 106 includes an imaging lens 107 that forms an image of reflected light from an original on the CCD, an image sensor 108 formed of, for example, a CCD, and a CCD driver 109 that drives the image sensor 108. The image signal output from the image sensor 108 is converted into, for example, 8-bit digital data and then input to the controller unit 139.

  In the printer unit 20, reference numeral 110 denotes a photosensitive drum, which is discharged by a pre-exposure lamp 112 in preparation for image formation. A primary charger 113 uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 110. Reference numeral 117 denotes an exposure unit, which is composed of, for example, a semiconductor laser and exposes the photosensitive drum 110 based on image data processed by the controller unit 139 that controls image formation and the entire apparatus, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image. . Reference numeral 118 denotes a developing device that contains a black developer (toner). A pre-transfer charger 119 applies a high voltage before transferring the toner image developed on the photosensitive drum 110 onto a sheet.

  Reference numerals 120, 122, 124, 142, and 144 denote paper feeding units (120 is a manual paper feeding unit), and the transfer paper is fed into the apparatus by driving the paper feeding rollers 121, 123, 125, 143, and 145. Then, the transfer sheet is temporarily stopped at the position where the registration roller 126 is disposed, and after the timing of writing with the image formed on the photosensitive drum 110 is taken, the transfer sheet is fed again. A transfer charger 127 transfers the toner image developed on the photosensitive drum 110 onto a transfer sheet to be fed. Reference numeral 128 denotes a separation charger that separates the transfer sheet on which the transfer operation has been completed from the photosensitive drum 110. Further, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 110 without being transferred is collected by the cleaner 111.

  Reference numeral 129 denotes a conveyance belt which conveys the transfer sheet after the transfer process to the fixing device 130 and fixes the transfer sheet by, for example, heat. Reference numeral 131 denotes a flapper that controls the transfer path of the transfer sheet after the fixing process to either the sorter 132 or the intermediate tray 137. Reference numerals 133 to 136 denote feeding rollers that feed the transfer paper once the fixing process is completed to the intermediate tray 137 by being reversed (multiple) or non-reversed (both sides). Reference numeral 138 denotes a re-feed roller that transports the transfer paper placed on the intermediate tray 137 to the position where the registration roller 126 is disposed again.

  The controller unit 139 includes a controller unit 30 including a microcomputer, an image processing unit, and the like, which will be described later, and performs the above-described image forming operation in accordance with instructions from the man-machine interface device 140.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the operation unit 140 of the image forming apparatus.
The LCD display unit 1032 has a touch panel sheet pasted on the LCD, displays a system operation screen, and transmits the position information to the controller unit 30 when a displayed key is pressed. This will be described later with reference to FIG. The numeric keypad 1028 is used when inputting numbers such as the number of copies. A start key 1029 is used to start a document image reading operation. A stop key 1030 is used to stop an operation in operation. A reset key 1031 is used when initializing settings from the operation unit 140.

  When the guide key 1023 is pressed when the function of the key is not known, an explanation of the key is displayed. A copy mode key 1024 is used when copying. A fax key 1025 is used when making settings related to a fax. The file key 1026 is used when outputting file data. The printer key 1027 is used when performing settings relating to print output from an external device such as a computer.

  The voice guide key 1033 is used when performing voice guidance. When the voice guide is set, the key is pressed, and when the setting is turned off, the key is pressed again to cancel the setting. The speaker 1034 outputs a voice guide. The handset 1035 is used when inputting voice or listening to a voice guide using the handset 1035.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a basic screen displayed on the LCD display unit of operation panel 140.
Reference numeral 1001 denotes an extended function key. When this key is pressed, a mode such as double-sided copying, multiple copying, movement, binding margin setting, frame erasing setting, or the like is entered. Reference numeral 1002 denotes an image mode key. By pressing this key, a setting mode is entered for shading, shadowing, trimming, and masking a copied image. Reference numeral 1003 denotes a user mode key. By pressing this key, mode memory registration and standard mode screen setting can be performed for each user. Reference numeral 1004 denotes an applied zoom key. When this key is pressed, a mode for independently scaling the X and Y directions of the document and a zoom program mode for calculating a scaling ratio from the document size and copy size are entered. Reference numerals 1005, 1006, and 1007 denote an M1 key, an M2 key, and an M3 key, respectively. Each mode memory is called by pressing each key. Reference numeral 1008 denotes a call key, and when this key is pressed, the previously set copy mode is called. Reference numeral 1009 denotes an option key. By pressing this key, an optional function such as a film projector for copying directly from the film can be set.

  Reference numeral 1010 denotes a sorter key. By pressing this key, mode settings such as sort output and group output can be performed. Reference numeral 1011 denotes an original mixed key. By pressing this key, an A4 size and A3 size or B5 size and B4 size original is set together in the original feeder.

  Reference numeral 1012 denotes an equal magnification key. By pressing this key, the copying magnification can be set to 100%. Reference numeral 1013 denotes a paper selection key. By pressing this key, a copy paper can be selected. Reference numerals 1014 and 1015 denote a reduction key and an enlargement key, respectively. By pressing these keys, standard reduction and enlargement can be performed. Reference numeral 1016 denotes a zoom key. By pressing this key, an atypical reduction or enlargement can be performed in increments of 1%.

  Reference numeral 1017 denotes a density display. When the density key is pressed, the display changes to the left and right. Reference numerals 1018 and 1020 denote density keys, which are darkly copied every time the density key 1018 is pressed, and lightly copied every time the density key 1020 is pressed. Reference numeral 1019 denotes an AE key. By pressing this key, a document having a dark background like a newspaper can be copied in automatic density adjustment. Reference numeral 1021 denotes an HI / Fi key. By pressing this key, an original having a high halftone density such as a photographic original can be copied. Reference numeral 1022 denotes a character emphasis key. By pressing this key, a character original to be highlighted can be copied.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating configurations of the scanner 10 and the printer 20 of the image forming apparatus.
First, in the scanner 10, reference numeral 751 denotes a CPU that controls the entire scanner 10, and sequentially reads a program from a read-only memory 753 (ROM) storing a control program and executes the program. The CPU address bus and data bus are connected to each load via a circuit including a bus driver and an address decoder 752. Further, it is connected to the CPU of the controller unit 30 and performs communication.

  Reference numeral 754 denotes a random access memory (RAM) as a main storage device used as input data storage, a working storage area, or the like. Reference numeral 755 denotes an I / O interface, which is connected to each load of devices such as a motor 756 for driving a paper feed system, a transport system, and an optical system, a lamp 757, and a paper detection sensor 758 for detecting a transported paper. Is done. The image data read by the CCD unit 106 is transferred to the controller 30.

  Next, in the printer 20, reference numeral 701 denotes a CPU that controls the printer 20, and sequentially reads and executes a program from a read-only memory 703 (ROM) that stores a control procedure (control program). The address bus and data bus of the CPU 701 are connected to each load via a circuit including a bus driver circuit and an address decoder circuit 702. Reference numeral 704 denotes a random access memory (RAM) as a main storage device used as storage of input data, a working storage area, or the like. Reference numeral 705 denotes an I / O interface, which includes a motor 707 for driving a paper feed system, a transport system, and an optical system, a clutch 708, a solenoid 709, a paper detection sensor 710 for detecting a transported paper, and the like. Connected to each load on the device. In the developing device 118 shown in FIG. 3, a toner residual detection sensor 711 for detecting the toner amount in the developing device is arranged, and an output signal thereof is input to the I / O port 705. Reference numeral 715 denotes a high voltage unit, which outputs a high voltage to the primary charger 113, the developing device 118, the pre-transfer charger 119, the transfer charger 127, and the separation charger 128 shown in FIG.

  The image signal output from the CCD unit 106 shown in FIG. 3 is subjected to image processing to be described later by the controller unit 30, and a control signal for the laser unit 117 is output according to the image data. Laser light output from the laser unit 117 irradiates and exposes the photosensitive drum 110, and a light emission state is detected by a beam detection sensor 713 that is a light receiving sensor in a non-image region, and an output signal thereof is output to an I / O port 705. Entered.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of the controller unit 30 of the image forming apparatus.
The controller unit 30 is connected to the scanner 10 that is an image input device and the printer 20 that is an image output device. On the other hand, the controller unit 30 is connected to a LAN 2011 or a public line (WAN) 2051 to input and output image information and device information. It is a controller to do.

  A CPU 2001 is a controller that controls the entire system. A RAM 2002 is a system work memory for operating the CPU 2002, and is also an image memory for temporarily storing image data. A ROM 2003 is a boot ROM, and stores a system boot program. An HDD 2004 is a hard disk drive that stores system software, image data, advertisement sound data, advertisement image data, and the like.

  An operation unit I / F 2006 is an interface unit with the operation unit (UI) 140 and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 140 to the operation unit 140. Also, it serves to transmit information input by the user of this system from the operation unit 140 to the CPU 2001. The NIC 2010 is connected to the LAN 2011 and inputs / outputs information. A Modem 2050 is connected to the public line 2051 and inputs / outputs information. The voice input / output unit 500 performs control for outputting voice to the speaker, outputting voice to the handset, and inputting voice. A scanner / printer communication I / F 2009 is an I / F for communicating with the CPUs of the scanner 10 and the printer 20. The above devices are arranged on the system bus 2007.

  An image bus I / F 2005 is a bus bridge that connects a system bus 2007 and an image bus 2008 that transfers image data at high speed and converts a data structure. The image bus 2008 is configured by a PCI bus or IEEE1394. On the image bus 2008, the following devices are arranged. A raster image processor (RIP) 2060 expands the PDL code into a bitmap image. A device I / F unit 2020 connects the scanner 10 and the printer 20 which are image input / output devices to the controller 30 and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. A scanner image processing unit 2080 corrects, processes, and edits input image data. The printer image processing unit performs printer correction, resolution conversion, and the like on the print output image data. The image rotation unit 2030 rotates image data. The image compression unit 2040 performs compression / decompression processing of JPEG for multi-value image data and JBIG, MMR, and MH for binary image data.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining processing for transmitting image data from the information processing apparatus 212 to the printer 20 via the printer driver.
The printer driver is a GUI for instructing a print operation. By instructing this, the user can instruct a desired setting parameter and send a desired image image to a transmission destination such as a printer.

  Here, reference numeral 601 denotes a printer driver window, and as a setting item therein, reference numeral 602 denotes a transmission destination selection column for selecting a target output destination. Reference numeral 603 denotes a page setting column for selecting an output page from the job, and determines which page of the image image created by the application software operating on the information processing apparatus 212 is to be output. Reference numeral 604 denotes a number setting column for specifying the number of copies. Reference numeral 607 denotes a property key for performing detailed settings related to the transmission destination device selected in the transmission destination selection column 602. Click here to enter setting information unique to the device on a separate screen and display a special image. Processing can be performed. When the desired setting is completed, printing is started by an OK key 605. When canceling, the cancel key 606 cancels printing.

Next, FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining the job ticket 611.
When the print driver property key 607 as shown in FIG. 8 is clicked, a job ticket setting screen as shown in FIG. 9 appears.

  The job ticket is a setting screen on which the user can freely select functions inherent to the image forming apparatus 220 or another image forming apparatus (not shown), and different setting items 612 depending on the target output destination 602. Is displayed. At that time, the user can select an arbitrary setting item 613. Here, the case where the advertisement setting is selected will be described in detail.

  In FIG. 9, reference numeral 615 denotes an item for inputting a document name, and an arbitrary document name is input. Reference numeral 616 denotes an item for inputting a user ID. The user ID registered in the billing server 210 is input. Reference numeral 617 denotes an item for inputting a password, and the password registered in the accounting server 210 is input. Reference numeral 618 denotes an advertisement print designation item, which designates whether or not to print an advertisement in the margin portion of the document. Enter a check mark to print advertisements. Reference numeral 619 denotes an audio advertisement designation item, which designates whether to listen to an advertisement when printing a document. Here, when listening to a voice advertisement, a check mark is input. When advertisement printing or voice advertisement is designated, part or all of the printing fee is covered by the advertising fee. All these operations can be performed by voice input as well as keyboard operation.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the accounting server 210. Hereinafter, the operation and function of the accounting server 210 will be described with reference to FIG.
The billing server 210 has a user registration function, an advertisement provider registration function, an advertisement data registration function, a print job processing function, and a billing processing function, and each can perform parallel processing.

  The user registration function is a function for registering a user ID and its password in order to authenticate the user, and this allows the user to access the billing server 210 from a user terminal using a WWW browser or the like before printing a document. This is executed by performing user registration (S301, S302). Note that the user terminal is not particularly limited, such as the information processing device 212 connected to the LAN 2011 or the information processing device 212 connected to the service provider 204.

  The advertisement provider registration function is a function for registering a user ID and its password in order to authenticate the advertisement provider. This is because the advertisement provider uses a WWW browser or the like from the advertisement provider's terminal before registering the advertisement data. This is executed by accessing the billing server 210 and registering the advertisement provider (S303, S304). The advertisement provider terminal is not particularly limited, such as the information processing device 212 connected to the LAN 2011 or the information processing device 212 connected to the end of the service provider 204.

  The advertisement data registration function is a function of storing print advertisement data to be printed or voice advertisement data to be output in a storage device (not shown) in the image forming apparatus 220. The advertisement provider uses a WWW browser or the like from the terminal. The billing server 210 is accessed, and advertisement data registration is performed (S305). At this time, the billing server 210 performs advertisement registrant authentication for registering advertisement data, and if the authentication is OK, stores the advertisement data in the storage device (S306, S307). On the other hand, if the authentication is NG, it is not stored in the storage device and notification that advertisement data registration is not possible is sent (S308).

  The print job processing function is a function for adding advertisement data in accordance with job ticket information. First, when a job ticket and a print job are input, the user ID and password on the job ticket are checked to perform user authentication (S309, S310). ). If the authentication fails, the user is notified that printing is not possible (S311). On the other hand, if the authentication is successful, it is checked whether there is an advertisement print designation or a voice advertisement designation on the job ticket. If there is an advertisement print designation, the print advertisement data registered from the storage device is acquired. If there is a voice advertisement designation, the voice advertisement data is acquired and output to the image forming apparatus 220 together with the job ticket and the print job (S312).

  The billing function is a function that performs billing processing, receives a print log that includes information such as the number of copies printed, user ID, and presence of advertisements, performs charge calculation from the information in the print log, and In this case, a printing fee is charged, and an advertising fee is charged to the advertisement provider.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing main operations of the image forming apparatus 220. The operation and function of the image forming apparatus 220 will be described below with reference to FIG.
The image forming apparatus 220 has a print job registration function, a print job selection function, an advertisement sound output function, an advertisement transmission confirmation function, a print advertisement addition function, a print function, and a print log issue function. Functions and other functions can be processed in parallel.

  The print job registration function is a function for storing and managing a print job (job ticket, print job, advertisement data) in a storage device such as the HDD 2004 based on the document name 615 and the user ID 616 on the job ticket (S401, S402). .

  The print job selection function is a function for selecting a desired print job from print jobs stored in the HDD 2004 or the like, and the user selects a print job from a user ID and a document name designated from the operation unit 140 or the handset 1035. (S403, S404).

  The advertisement sound output function is a function for outputting advertisement information as a sound. When a sound advertisement instruction is given in the job ticket, the sound is output as sound using the sound advertisement data included in the print job (S405, S406).

  The advertisement transmission confirmation function is a function for confirming that the voice advertisement has been transmitted to the user, and outputs an arbitrary keyword by voice before and after the voice output of the advertisement and requests the user to input the keyword. Is authenticated (S407, S408).

  The print advertisement addition function is a function for adding advertisement information to a margin portion of a document, and adds an advertisement using print advertisement data included in a print job when an advertisement print instruction is given in a job ticket (S409, S410). ).

  The printing function is a function of printing a document or a document with an advertisement added by the printer 20 (S411).

  The print log issuance function is a function for issuing a print log. This print log includes print information such as a user ID, presence / absence of a voice advertisement, presence / absence of a print advertisement, number of printed sheets, paper size, color printing, and the like. (S412).

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing sequence of a printing system in which the information processing apparatus 212, the accounting server 210, and the image forming apparatus 220 are connected to each other via a network. This example is a processing sequence in the case where the user gives a voice advertisement instruction when printing a document, and will be described later.

  First, the user performs user registration with the billing server 210 from the user terminal (information processing apparatus 212) (S5101, S5201).

  The advertisement provider performs advertisement provider registration with the billing server 210 from the advertisement provider terminal (information processing apparatus 212) (S5401 and S5202). Then, the advertisement provider registers advertisement data with the accounting server 210 (S5402, S5203, S5204).

  On the other hand, the user terminal (information processing apparatus 212) creates a job ticket for voice advertisement instruction and issues a document print instruction (S5102). Subsequently, a print job is created by the printer driver on the user terminal, and is output to the charging server 210 together with the job ticket (S5103).

  Subsequently, the accounting server 210 that has received the job ticket and the print job performs user authentication of the print job (S5205). Then, according to the voice advertisement instruction of the job ticket, the print job in which the voice advertisement data is added to the print job is output to the image forming apparatus 220 (S5206).

  Subsequently, the image forming apparatus 220 that has received the print job (job ticket, print job, audio advertisement data) from the accounting server 210 stores the print job in a storage device such as an HDD (S5301). Subsequently, the image forming apparatus 220 selects a print job desired by the user input from the operation unit (S5302). Subsequently, the image forming apparatus 220 outputs the advertisement data included in the print job by voice according to the voice advertisement instruction of the job ticket (S5303). Subsequently, the image forming apparatus 220 outputs an arbitrary keyword by voice (S5304). Subsequently, the image forming apparatus 220 verifies whether the keyword outputted by the voice is input by the user via the operation unit. If the keyword is input by the user, the image forming apparatus 220 This is authenticated (S5305).

  Subsequently, the image forming apparatus 220 prints the authenticated document (S5306). Subsequently, the image forming apparatus 220 outputs the print log to the accounting server 210 (S5307).

  Next, the accounting server 210 that has received the print log performs accounting calculation (S5207). Subsequently, the billing server 210 bills the user for a print fee and bills the advertisement provider for an advertisement fee based on the billing calculation result (S5208).

  The user who has received the print fee request from the billing server 210 pays the print fee based on the print fee request (S5104). Further, the advertisement provider who has received the advertisement fee request from the billing server 210 pays the advertisement fee based on the advertisement fee request (S5403).

  According to the present embodiment, by performing audio advertisement, the printing fee can be reduced while maintaining the appearance of the image (document), and ink or toner for printing the advertisement on the recording paper can be reduced. In addition, the advertisement effect can be provided to the blind and the color weak.

  Examples of embodiments of the present invention are listed below.

[Appendix 1]
An image forming apparatus that reads an image, and an information processing apparatus connected via a network to a billing server that performs billing processing in the image forming apparatus,
An information processing apparatus that creates a job ticket for designating an advertising method for an image when the image forming apparatus executes printing of the image.

[Appendix 2]
The information processing apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein the job ticket includes an advertisement print instruction or an advertisement sound output instruction.

[Appendix 3]
The information processing apparatus according to appendix 1 or 2, wherein the job ticket includes user identification information.

[Appendix 4]
The information processing apparatus according to appendix 3, wherein the user identification information is a user ID and a password.

[Appendix 5]
The information processing apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 4, wherein the job ticket includes document identification information.

[Appendix 6]
The information processing apparatus according to appendix 5, wherein the document identification information is a document name or a user ID.

[Appendix 7]
An image forming apparatus that reads an image, and a billing server connected via a network to an information processing apparatus that instructs the image forming apparatus to read the image,
User registration means for registering a user who uses the image forming apparatus;
An advertisement provider registration means for registering an advertisement provider who performs an advertisement in the image forming apparatus;
Advertisement data registration means for registering advertisement data from the advertisement registrant;
User authentication means for authenticating whether a user who uses the image forming apparatus is a user registered by the user registration means;
Advertisement data adding means for adding advertisement data to a print job for the image forming apparatus according to the information of the job ticket created by the information processing apparatus;
A billing server, comprising: billing calculation means for calculating a printing fee for the user and an advertising fee for the advertisement registrant based on a print log received from the image forming apparatus.

[Appendix 8]
An image forming apparatus that is connected to an information processing apparatus that instructs to read an image and a charging server that performs charging processing via a network, and that reads an image according to an instruction of the information processing apparatus,
Print job registration means for storing and managing print jobs output by the information processing apparatus or the accounting server;
Print job selection means for selecting a desired print job from the stored print jobs;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an advertisement execution unit that performs an advertisement when an advertisement instruction for the image is included in a job ticket included in the print job.

[Appendix 9]
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an advertisement voice output unit that outputs the advertisement in a voice when the job ticket advertisement instruction is a voice advertisement instruction.

[Appendix 10]
The image forming apparatus according to appendix 8 or 9, further comprising an advertisement transmission confirmation unit that confirms that the voice advertisement is transmitted to the user when the job ticket advertisement instruction is a voice advertisement instruction.

[Appendix 11]
The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the advertisement transmission confirmation unit authenticates a keyword by the voice output.

[Appendix 12]
The image forming apparatus according to any one of appendices 8 to 11, further comprising an advertisement printing unit configured to print the advertisement content when the job ticket advertisement instruction is an advertisement print instruction.

[Appendix 13]
The image forming apparatus according to appendix 12, wherein when the advertisement content is printed, the advertisement is printed in a margin portion of the document.

[Appendix 14]
An image forming apparatus that reads an image, a billing server that performs a billing process in the image forming apparatus, and an information processing apparatus that instructs the image forming apparatus to read the image are connected to each other via a network. A printing system,
A printing system characterized by subtracting the advertisement fee from the print fee when an advertisement output by voice or an advertisement output by printing is performed at the time of printing the image.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing system including an information processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a billing server. 1 is an external view of an image forming apparatus. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a figure of the basic screen displayed on the LCD display part of the operation panel of an image forming apparatus. 2 is a block diagram illustrating configurations of a scanner and a printer of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a controller unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining processing for transmitting image data from an information processing apparatus to a printer via a printer driver. It is the schematic for demonstrating a job ticket. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of an accounting server. 3 is a flowchart illustrating main operations of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing sequence of a printing system in which an information processing apparatus, a billing server, and an image forming apparatus are connected to each other via a network.

Explanation of symbols

200 Internet communication network 201 Web server 203 Firewall 204 Service provider 210 Billing server 211 File server 212 Information processing apparatus 220 Image forming apparatus 10 Scanner 20 Printer 30 Controller 140 Operation unit 2011 LAN

Claims (14)

An image forming apparatus that reads an image, and an information processing apparatus connected via a network to a billing server that performs billing processing in the image forming apparatus,
An information processing apparatus that creates a job ticket for designating an advertising method for an image when the image forming apparatus executes printing of the image.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job ticket includes an advertisement print instruction or an advertisement sound output instruction.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job ticket includes user identification information.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the user identification information is a user ID and a password.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job ticket includes document identification information.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the document identification information is a document name or a user ID. An image forming apparatus that reads an image, and a billing server connected via a network to an information processing apparatus that instructs the image forming apparatus to read the image,
User registration means for registering a user who uses the image forming apparatus;
An advertisement provider registration means for registering an advertisement provider who performs an advertisement in the image forming apparatus;
Advertisement data registration means for registering advertisement data from the advertisement registrant;
User authentication means for authenticating whether a user who uses the image forming apparatus is a user registered by the user registration means;
Advertisement data adding means for adding advertisement data to a print job for the image forming apparatus according to the information of the job ticket created by the information processing apparatus;
A billing server, comprising: billing calculation means for calculating a printing fee for the user and an advertising fee for the advertisement registrant based on a print log received from the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus that is connected to an information processing apparatus that instructs to read an image and a charging server that performs charging processing via a network, and that reads an image according to an instruction of the information processing apparatus,
Print job registration means for storing and managing print jobs output by the information processing apparatus or the accounting server;
Print job selection means for selecting a desired print job from the stored print jobs;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an advertisement execution unit that performs an advertisement when an advertisement instruction for the image is included in a job ticket included in the print job.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: an advertisement audio output unit that outputs the advertisement in an audio manner when the job ticket advertisement instruction is an audio advertisement instruction.   10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an advertisement transmission confirmation unit configured to confirm that the voice advertisement is transmitted to a user when the job ticket advertisement instruction is a voice advertisement instruction. 10. .   The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the advertisement transmission confirmation unit authenticates a keyword by the voice output.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an advertisement printing unit that prints the content of the advertisement when the job ticket advertisement instruction is an advertisement print instruction.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein when the advertisement content is printed, the advertisement is printed on a margin portion of the document. An image forming apparatus that reads an image, a billing server that performs a billing process in the image forming apparatus, and an information processing apparatus that instructs the image forming apparatus to read the image are connected to each other via a network. A printing system,
A printing system characterized by subtracting the advertisement fee from the print fee when an advertisement output by voice or an advertisement output by printing is performed at the time of printing the image.

Images