JP2006190219A - Output charge detail processing system and output charge detail processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an output charge details processing system allowing a customer to know at any time about a detailed output history and counter based charge for any period for an image forming device. <P>SOLUTION: The output charge details processing system comprises a computer 1, an image forming device 2 and an output charge details processing device 3 connected to communicate with each other through a network 4. The output charge details processing device 3 acquires an output history of the image forming device 2 through the network 4 at any time, aggregates the number of output sheets in each output form for any period for each image forming device 2 based on the output history, calculates a counter based charge from the number of output sheets in each output form, and outputs or keeps in storage the aggregated number of output sheets in each output form and the counter based charge. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  In the present invention, an image forming apparatus such as a computer, a printer, a copier, a FAX, a multifunction peripheral, and an output fee detail processing apparatus are connected via a network, and an output history of the image forming apparatus, a counter fee (printing, copying, The present invention relates to an output fee specification processing system and an output fee specification processing method for processing an output fee specification such as billing for the number of FAX output sheets).

In a system that processes the output history details and counter charges (charges for printing, copying, and fax output) of each conventional image forming apparatus for each customer, the monthly counter charges are compiled for each image forming apparatus, and the scheduled invoice is provided to the customer. The customer pays the counter fee by the specified payment method (bank transfer, bank account withdrawal, payment at convenience stores using payment handling slips, etc.).
In Patent Document 1, when various electronic services such as provision of catalogs and order processing are provided by a copying system, each service is appropriately judged, a billing object is determined according to the service contents, and payment is made. A copying system and a charging method with an appropriate fee collection that can maintain fairness in Japan have been proposed.
JP 2003-85454 A

In the above-described system for processing the output history details and counter fee of the conventional image forming apparatus for each customer, there is no method for confirming how much the customer should pay when the customer outputs the image on the image forming apparatus. There is a problem that the total usage amount and the output history details are known only from the contents described in the document.
In addition, there is a case where a counter that can check the output history is installed in the image forming apparatus, but the fee per sheet depends on the type of output (monochrome printing, color printing, copying, FAX output, etc.) and the total number of output sheets. If they are different, the counter fee must be calculated based on a complicated formula.
If a plurality of image forming apparatuses are used, the total amount must be calculated after checking the output history for each image forming apparatus and calculating the counter fee. In order to know the counter fee, more complicated work is required.
Therefore, the present invention solves the above-described problems, and provides an output fee specification processing system and an output fee specification processing method that allow a customer to know the output history details and counter fees for an arbitrary period in an image forming apparatus at an arbitrary timing. The purpose is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, there is provided an output fee specification processing system in which a computer, an image forming apparatus, and an output fee specification processing device are connected via a network, wherein the output fee specification processing device performs the image processing at an arbitrary timing. The output history of the forming apparatus is acquired via the network, and the number of output sheets for each output format in an arbitrary period is totaled for each image forming apparatus based on the acquired output history, and the output for each totaled output format It is an output fee detail processing system that calculates a counter fee from the number of sheets and outputs or stores the counter fee from the number of output sheets for each output format.
The invention described in claim 2 is an output fee specification method in an output fee specification processing system in which a computer, an image forming apparatus, and an output fee specification processing device are connected via a network, wherein an output history of the image forming device is recorded. A first step of acquiring via the network; a second step of counting the number of output sheets for each output format within an arbitrary period for each of the image forming apparatuses based on the acquired output history; and the second step It is an output fee detail processing method that executes a third step of calculating a counter fee from the total number of output sheets for each output format, and a fourth step of outputting or storing the counter fee for each output format and the counter fee. Features.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the output fee specification processing system according to the first aspect, the computer includes an input means for inputting a predetermined period of an output history desired to be acquired for each of the image forming apparatuses, and the output fee specification processing device Requesting means for requesting acquisition of an output history for each of the image forming apparatuses, acquisition means for acquiring an output history within a predetermined period for each of the image forming apparatuses requested by the requesting means, Storage means for storing the output history acquired in the acquisition means, and totaling means for totaling the number of output sheets for each output format within a predetermined period for each image forming apparatus based on the output history stored in the storage means Calculating means for calculating a counter fee from the number of output sheets for each output format totaled by the totaling means, and an output format totalized by the totaling means Wherein the of the number of output sheets, and output means for outputting the calculated and rates at a predetermined timing in the calculation unit, which is the output billing history processing system comprising a.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the output fee detailed processing system according to the third aspect, the output fee detailed processing device requests the output history to the plurality of image forming apparatuses via the network. At the same time, output histories from a plurality of corresponding image forming apparatuses are acquired via a network, and the total number of output sheets for each output format within the period of the plurality of image forming apparatuses is totaled based on the acquired output histories. In addition, the output fee detail processing system calculates a total counter fee from the total number of output sheets for each output format, and outputs the counter fee at a predetermined timing from the output number for each output format.

  The output fee detail processing system according to the present invention has a counter for each output format (monochrome printing, color printing, copying, FAX output) in a plurality of image forming apparatuses on an output fee detail processing apparatus accessible by a customer. By calculating the fee and creating and storing output history details such as the number of output sheets and counter fees, the customer can acquire output history details in a plurality of image forming apparatuses for an arbitrary period at an arbitrary timing.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an output fee detail processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the output fee detailed processing system according to the present embodiment, a computer 1 having an unshown display and an input device (input means), an image forming device 2 and an output fee detailed processing device 3 are connected to a network (Internet or public network) 4. It is constructed by being connected via communication.
Next, the operation of the output fee detailed processing system according to the present embodiment will be described. The computer 1 accesses the output fee detail processing device 3. Then, on the output fee detail processing apparatus 1, the target image forming apparatus 2 is selected, and the output history detail to be acquired and the period of the counter fee are designated.
Next, the output fee detail processing apparatus 3 accesses the selected image forming apparatus 2 and acquires an output history. The output fee detail processing apparatus 3 calculates a counter fee based on the output history. When there are a plurality of selected image forming apparatuses 2, the total amount of the counter fee for each image forming apparatus 2 is calculated.
Then, the output fee detail processing apparatus 3 creates an output history detail that clearly indicates the number of output sheets and the counter fee for each output format. Finally, the output fee detail processing apparatus 3 outputs the created output history details to the computer 1 and simultaneously stores and holds the output history details. The computer 1 displays the output history details on the display.

In such an output fee detail processing system of this embodiment, the output fee detail processing device 3 acquires the output history of the image forming device 2 at an arbitrary timing via the network 4, and based on the acquired output history. Then, the number of output sheets for each output format in an arbitrary period is totaled for each image forming apparatus 2, the counter fee is calculated from the total number of output sheets for each output format, and the counter fee is output or stored from the number of output sheets for each output format If held, the customer can acquire the output history details in the plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 for an arbitrary period at an arbitrary timing.
Specifically, the computer 1 includes an input device that inputs a predetermined period of output history to be acquired for each image forming apparatus 2, and the output fee detailed processing device 3 requests acquisition of the output history for each image forming apparatus 2. Requesting means, an obtaining means for obtaining an output history within a predetermined period for each image forming apparatus 2 requested by the requesting means, a storage means for storing the output history obtained by the obtaining means, Totaling means for totaling the number of output sheets for each output format within a predetermined period for each image forming apparatus 2 based on the output history stored in the storage means, and a counter from the number of output sheets for each output format totaled by the totaling means The calculation means for calculating the charge, the number of output sheets for each output format counted by the counting means, and the charge calculated by the calculation means are output at a predetermined timing. If so and output means that the customer can obtain the output history item in the plurality of image forming apparatus 2 in any period at any time.
The output fee detail processing system according to the present embodiment requests output histories from the plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 via the network 4, and outputs the output histories from the corresponding image forming apparatuses 2 to the network. 4, the total number of output sheets for each output format within the period of the plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 is totaled based on the acquired output history, and the counter fee is calculated from the total number of output sheets for each output format If the total amount of the image is calculated and the counter fee is output from the number of output sheets for each output format at a predetermined timing, the counter fees for a plurality of image forming apparatuses can be easily obtained.

The lineblock diagram of the output bill detailed processing system concerning an embodiment of the invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 computer, 2 image forming device, 3 output fee detail processing device, 4 network

Claims (4)

  An output fee specification processing system in which a computer, an image forming device, and an output fee specification processing device are connected via a network, wherein the output fee specification processing device records an output history of the image forming device at an arbitrary timing, Acquired via the network, and based on the acquired output history, total the number of output for each output format for each image forming apparatus, calculate the counter fee from the output number for each output format, An output fee detail processing system that outputs or stores a counter fee from the number of output sheets for each output format.   An output fee specification method in an output fee specification processing system in which a computer, an image forming device, and an output fee specification processing device are connected via a network, wherein an output history of the image forming device is acquired via the network A first step, a second step of counting the number of outputs for each output format within an arbitrary period for each image forming apparatus based on the acquired output history, and a number of outputs for each output format counted in the second step A method for processing an output fee detail processing, comprising: executing a third step of calculating a counter fee from the first step, and a fourth step of outputting or storing and storing the number of output sheets for each output format and the counter fee.   2. The output fee specification processing system according to claim 1, wherein the computer includes input means for inputting a predetermined period of output history desired to be acquired for each image forming apparatus, and the output fee specification processing apparatus is provided for each image forming apparatus. Requesting means for requesting acquisition of the output history, acquiring means for acquiring the output history within the predetermined period for each of the image forming apparatuses requested by the requesting means, and the output acquired by the acquiring means Storage means for storing history, totaling means for totaling the number of output sheets for each output format within a predetermined period for each image forming apparatus based on the output history stored in the storage means, and totaling in the totaling means Calculating means for calculating the counter fee from the output number for each output format, the output number for each output format totaled in the totaling means, Output Rate item processing system characterized by comprising output means for outputting output the charge calculated in means at a predetermined timing, the. 4. The output fee detail processing system according to claim 3, wherein the output fee detail processing device requests the output history from the plurality of image forming apparatuses via the network, and includes a plurality of corresponding image formations. The output history from the apparatus is acquired via the network, and the total number of output sheets for each output format within the period of the plurality of image forming apparatuses is totaled based on the acquired output history, and the total for each tabulated output format An output fee detail processing system that calculates a total counter fee from the total number of output sheets, and outputs the counter fee at a predetermined timing from the number of output sheets for each output format.

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