JP2008198074A - Charging system and charging method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To promote use of an image forming apparatus and to compute an advertising rate corresponding to the use. <P>SOLUTION: This charging system comprises an MFP (multi-function peripheral), a charging server and a store terminal. The charging server having an HDD for storing advertisement information including advertisement identification information and advertisement contents, responds to a transmission request of the advertisement information (Yes in S51), transmits the advertisement information (S52), collects the number of prints for every charging ID (Yes in S53), stores it (S55), and when receiving advertisement identification information from the store terminal (S56), counts used points corresponding to the advertisement identification information (S60), counts discount points corresponding to the charging ID received from the store terminal together with the advertisement identification information (S58), computes the advertising rate for every advertising main object of advertisement information based on the value of used points, and computes a printing charge for every charging ID. The MFP receives the advertisement information from the charging server and prints the advertisement information and the charging ID. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a charging system and a charging method, and more particularly, to a charging system and a charging method for calculating a charge for printing by an image forming apparatus using a charging server.

  In recent years, a system for collecting a fee for printing by an image forming apparatus is known. In addition, a technique has been developed in which an advertiser bears a print fee when advertising information is printed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-203843 describes an image processing apparatus in which an advertiser counts up a counter for assisting a printing fee when an advertisement is printed at the stage of printing by an image forming apparatus. Has been. However, in the image processing apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-203843, since the advertiser assists the printing fee when the image forming apparatus prints the advertisement, it is not determined whether the advertisement is actually read. There is a problem that the effectiveness of the advertisement is low.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-117307 manages user information including personal information of a user at the center, and the center gives a specified coupon or each user when a coupon issuance is requested by the user. When the authentication information is sent to the user and the user receives a coupon issued from the image forming apparatus based on the authentication information, the image forming apparatus prints the authentication information on the coupon face and the coupon is used. A coupon issuing method is described in which the store reads the authentication information printed and notifies the center, and the center manages the information. However, the user has to print the coupon with the image forming apparatus, and there is a problem that the cost becomes a burden on the user.
JP 2001-203843 A JP 2002-117307 A

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and one of the objects of the present invention is to charge for promoting the use of the image forming apparatus and calculating the advertising fee according to the use. Is to provide a system.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a charging system is a charging system that includes an image forming apparatus, a charging server that charges each user according to a print record, and a communication terminal. The billing server stores storage means for storing advertisement information including advertisement identification information for identifying an advertising subject and advertisement contents, a sending means for sending advertisement information in response to a request for sending advertisement information, Print record storage means for collecting and storing the number of prints for each ID, receiving means for receiving advertisement identification information from the communication terminal, and counting the use points corresponding to the advertisement identification information in response to reception of the advertisement identification information Use count means, discount count means for counting discount points corresponding to the billing ID received from the communication terminal together with the advertisement identification information, and the value of the use points An advertising fee calculating means for calculating an advertising fee for each advertising subject of the advertising information, and a printing fee calculating means for calculating a printing fee for each charging ID based on the number of prints and a discount point value, The image forming apparatus includes an advertisement information receiving unit that receives advertisement information from a billing server, and an advertisement print unit that prints the received advertisement information and a billing ID.

  According to this aspect, when the advertisement information is printed by the image forming apparatus, the number of prints for calculating the print fee is collected. When the advertisement identification information included in the advertisement information is input by the communication terminal, the billing server Discount points and usage points are counted at. Therefore, the print fee is reduced and the advertisement fee is calculated according to the use of the advertisement information. As a result, it is possible to provide a billing system capable of promoting the use of the image forming apparatus and calculating the advertisement fee according to the use of the advertisement.

  Preferably, the communication terminal is installed in a store of the advertisement main body, stores storage means for storing advertisement identification information, reading means for reading a billing ID printed by the advertisement print means, read billing ID and advertisement identification information, Advertisement usage record transmitting means for transmitting to the accounting server.

  Preferably, the communication terminal is installed in a store of the advertisement main body, stores storage means for storing advertisement identification information, reading means for reading a billing ID printed by the advertisement print means, read billing ID and advertisement identification information, Advertisement usage record transmitting means for transmitting to the accounting server.

  Preferably, the advertisement print unit of the image forming apparatus prints together with a print mode for printing the advertisement information, the reading unit of the communication terminal reads the print mode together with the advertisement information, and the advertisement use result transmission unit includes the advertisement identification information. In addition, the print mode is transmitted to the billing server, and the discount count means of the billing server adds a point corresponding to the print mode received together with the advertisement identification information to the discount counter.

  Preferably, the storage unit of the billing server stores a plurality of advertisement information, and the image forming apparatus further includes a selection unit that selects at least one of the plurality of advertisement information.

  Preferably, the image forming apparatus further includes a charging ID receiving unit that receives an input of a charging ID, and the advertisement printing unit prints the received charging ID.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall outline of a charging system in one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, billing system 1 includes multifunction devices (hereinafter referred to as “MFPs”) 100, 100A, 100B, 100C, billing server 200, store terminal 300, 300A, 300B.

  MFPs (Multi Function Peripherals) 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C are image forming apparatuses and have the same configuration and functions. Therefore, the MFP 100 will be described as an example unless otherwise specified.

  The billing server 200 is a general computer and functions as a web server. The billing server 200 stores a web page specified by a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier), and receives a web page transmission request specified by the URI from another computer connected to the network 2. And reply. Each of MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C and store terminals 300, 300A, and 300B has a browser program installed, accesses accounting server 200, which is a web server, and requests and receives transmission of a web page. In addition, charging server 200 calculates a fee for prints executed by MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C.

  The store terminals 300, 300A, and 300B are installed in the advertiser's store and are, for example, registers. The store terminal 300 includes a QR (Quick Response Code) code reader.

  The network 2 may be a local area network (LAN), and may be wired or wireless. The network 2 is not limited to a LAN, and may be a wide area network (WAN), a network using a general public line, or the like.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of billing server 200 in the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 2, billing server 200 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 201 connected to bus 220, ROM (Read Only Memory) 203 recording a program to be executed by CPU 201, and execution RAM (Random Access Memory) 205 for loading a program to be executed and data during program execution, a hard disk drive (HDD) 207 for storing data in a nonvolatile manner, and flash memory 208 A card interface (I / F) 209 to be mounted, a communication I / F 211 for connecting the CPU 200 to the network 2, and an operation unit 213 functioning as an interface with the user are included.

  The CPU 201 loads a billing program (control program) recorded in the flash memory 208 attached to the card I / F 209 into the RAM 205 and executes it. The program executed by the CPU 201 is not limited to the printer driver program recorded in the flash memory 208, and the program stored in the HDD 207 may be loaded into the RAM 205 and executed. In this case, another computer connected to the network 2 may rewrite the billing program stored in the HDD 207 of the billing server 200, or add a new billing program and write it. Furthermore, the charging server 200 may download a charging program from another computer connected to the network 2 and store the charging program in the HDD 207. The program here includes not only a program directly executable by the CPU 201 but also a source program, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

  The operation unit 213 includes an input unit 213A and a display unit 213B. The input unit 213 </ b> A is an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse for accepting an operation input by the user of the accounting server 200. The display unit 213B is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device, an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display panel, or a cathode ray tube (CRT). A pointing device such as a touch panel may be used for the input unit 213A.

  The communication I / F 211 is a communication interface for connecting the accounting server 200 to the network 2. Thus, billing server 200 can communicate with MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C. The accounting server 200 and each of the MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C are connected via the network 2, but may be directly connected using a serial interface or a parallel interface. Communication I / F 211 uses an interface corresponding to the connection form between billing server 200 and each of other MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of MFP 100 in the present embodiment. MFP 100A, MFP 100B, and MFP 100C have the same hardware configuration as MFP 100, and thus description thereof will not be repeated. Referring to FIG. 3, MFP 100 includes main circuit 101, facsimile unit 12, communication control unit 14, automatic document feeder (ADF) 10, image reading unit 20, image forming unit 30, and paper feed. Unit 40 and post-processing unit 50.

  The main circuit 101 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 111, a RAM 112 used as a work area for the CPU 111, an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable Programmable ROM) 113 for storing programs executed by the CPU 111, a display unit 114, and the like. , An operation unit 115, a hard disk drive (HDD) 116 as a mass storage device, and a data communication control unit 117.

  The CPU 111 is connected to the display unit 114, the operation unit 115, the HDD 116, and the data communication control unit 117, and controls the entire main circuit 101. CPU 111 is connected to facsimile unit 12, communication control unit 14, ADF 10, image reading unit 20, image forming unit 30, paper feed unit 40, and post-processing unit 50, and controls the entire MFP 100.

  The ADF 10 handles a plurality of documents mounted on the document table, and sequentially conveys them to the image reading unit 20 one by one. The image reading unit 20 optically reads image information such as photographs, characters, pictures, and the like from a document and acquires image data.

  When image data is input, the image forming unit 30 forms an image on a sheet based on the image data. The image forming unit 30 forms an image using toners of four colors, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. For this reason, it is possible to print in full color. It is also possible to print in monochrome using one type of toner. The paper feed unit 40 stores paper and supplies the stored paper to the image forming unit 30 one by one. The post-processing unit 50 discharges the paper on which the image is formed. The post-processing unit 50 has a plurality of paper discharge trays, and can sort and discharge the recording sheets. Further, the post-processing unit 50 includes a punch hole processing unit and a stapling unit, and can perform punch hole processing or stapling on the discharged recording sheet.

  The display unit 114 is a display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic ELD (Electro Luminescence Display), and displays an instruction menu for the user, information about acquired image data, and the like. The operation unit 115 includes a plurality of keys, and accepts input of various instructions, data such as characters and numbers by user operations corresponding to the keys. The operation unit 115 includes a touch panel provided on the display unit 114. The display unit 114 and the operation unit 115 constitute an operation panel.

  The data communication control unit 117 includes a LAN terminal 118 that is an interface for communicating with a communication protocol such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) or UDP (User Datagram Protocol), and a serial communication interface terminal 119 for serial communication. . The data communication control unit 117 transmits / receives data to / from an external device connected to the LAN terminal 118 or the serial communication interface terminal 119 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 111.

  Further, the CPU 111 controls the data communication control unit 117 to read a control program to be executed by the CPU 111 from the memory card 119A, and loads the read control program into the RAM 112 and executes it. The recording medium for storing the control program to be executed by the CPU 111 is not limited to the memory card 119A, but a flexible disk, cassette tape, optical disk (CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory) / MO (Magnetic Optical Disc). / MD (Mini Disc) / DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)), IC card, optical card, mask ROM, EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (Electronically Programmable ROM), and other media such as a semiconductor memory, and CPU 111. Download a program from a computer connected to the Internet and store it in HDD 116 Alternatively, a computer connected to the Internet may write the program to the HDD 116, and the program stored in the HDD 116 may be loaded into the RAM 112 and executed by the CPU 111. The program here is the CPU 111. This includes not only programs that can be directly executed by, but also source programs, compressed programs, encrypted programs, and the like.

  The communication control unit 14 is a modem for connecting the CPU 111 to a PSTN (Public Switched Telephony Networks) 7. The MFP 100 is assigned a telephone number in the PSTN 7 in advance. When a call is made from the facsimile apparatus connected to the PSTN 7 to the telephone number assigned to the MFP 100, the communication control unit 14 detects the call. When the communication control unit 14 detects a call, the communication control unit 14 establishes a call and causes the facsimile unit 12 to communicate.

  The facsimile unit 12 is connected to the PSTN 7 and transmits facsimile data to the PSTN 7 or receives facsimile data from the PSTN 7. The facsimile unit 12 converts the received facsimile data into print data that can be printed by the image forming unit 30 and outputs the print data to the image forming unit 30. As a result, the image forming unit 30 prints the facsimile data received by the facsimile unit 12 on a sheet. The facsimile unit 12 converts the data stored in the HDD 116 into facsimile data, and outputs the facsimile data to a facsimile machine connected to the PSTN 7 or another MFP. Thereby, the data stored in HDD 116 can be output to the facsimile machine or other MFPs 100A, 100B, 100C. As described above, the MFP 100 has a facsimile transmission / reception function.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of the functions of the CPU provided in the billing server together with data stored in the HDD 207. Referring to FIG. 4, CPU 201 included in billing server 200 has a registration unit 251 for registering advertisement information, an advertisement page transmission unit 253 for transmitting registered advertisement information, and an advertisement fee. Advertising fee calculation unit 255, a usage record management unit 257 for managing the usage record of advertisement information, a charging unit 259 for counting the number of prints for each charging ID, and a print fee for calculating the print fee And a calculation unit 261.

  FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions of the CPU provided in the MFP. Referring to FIG. 5, CPU 111 provided in MFP 100 includes a download unit 51 for downloading an advertisement page, a selection receiving unit 53 for receiving an instruction to select an advertisement image included in the downloaded advertisement page, and print data. A print data receiving unit 55 for receiving, a charging ID receiving unit 57 for receiving a charging ID, a QR code generating unit 59 for generating a QR code, and a print condition setting for setting print conditions for printing print data Unit 63, a combining unit 61 for combining the QR code and the advertisement image with the print data, a print control unit 65 for causing the image forming unit 30 to print the combined image in accordance with the printing conditions, and a print record for transmitting the print record A transmission unit 67.

  FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of functions of a store terminal installed in an advertiser's store. The store terminal 300 includes a registration receiving unit 301 that receives registration of advertisement information, a QR code reading unit 305 for reading a QR code, and a use result transmitting unit 307 for transmitting a use result.

  4 to 6, registration unit 251 of billing server 200 receives the registration request and stores the advertisement data in HDD 207. Specifically, when the communication I / F 211 receives a registration page transmission request from another computer connected to the network 2, the registration page is transmitted to the computer. The registration page is displayed on the computer that has transmitted the registration page transmission request. Then, registration unit 251 of billing server 200 receives device identification information and registration data for identifying the computer from the computer that transmitted the registration page. The registration unit 251 stores, in the HDD 207, data in which an advertiser ID given to each advertiser is associated with device identification information of a computer used by a user of the advertiser ID, and the advertiser is determined based on the received device identification information. Specify the ID. When the registration unit 251 receives the registration data, the registration unit 251 generates advertisement data and stores it in the HDD 207. More specifically, the advertiser ID specified from the device identification information received together with the registration data is set in the advertiser ID item, and the advertisement image included in the registration data is set in the advertisement content item of the advertisement data. . Here, the advertisement information registration request is received from the computer provided in the advertiser's store, but the administrator of the accounting server 200 obtains the advertisement image, additional condition, and display position information from the advertiser. However, you may make it input.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a registration page. Referring to FIG. 7, registration page 501 designates an area 503 for designating an advertisement image, an area 505 for displaying the designated advertisement image in a reduced size, and an additional condition for using the advertisement image. An area 507 for specifying the display position of the advertisement image. If the user inputs the file name, additional condition, and display position of the advertisement image according to the registration screen, registration data including the advertisement image, additional condition, and display position is transmitted to the billing server 200.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a format of advertisement data. Referring to FIG. 8, the advertisement data includes an advertisement record including an advertiser ID item, an advertisement content item, a usage point item, an additional condition item, and a display position item. The advertiser ID is information for identifying the advertiser, and is unique information assigned to the advertiser. The item of advertisement content includes an image for advertisement. The use point item is incremented by 1 each time an advertisement content image is used, and is used to calculate an advertisement fee to be described later. In the additional condition items, set values that determine the conditions for outputting the advertisement data are set, “any” that does not define the conditions, “print” that allows printing, “display” that allows display, and e-mail transmission. Any setting value of “E-mail” is set. In the display position item, when the advertisement content is printed or displayed, a setting value is set that determines the position on the screen where the advertisement content is displayed or the position on the paper on which the image of the advertisement content is formed. .

  4 to 6, the registration unit 251 displays an advertiser ID corresponding to the device identification information of the computer that transmitted the registration screen, an advertisement image included in the registration data, an additional condition, and a display for each item of the advertisement record. An advertisement record with each position set is generated and added to the advertisement table 271 stored in the HDD 207 and stored.

  The download unit 51 of the MFP 100 transmits an advertisement page transmission request to the billing server 200 and receives the advertisement page from the billing server 200. Specifically, the MFP 100 stores in advance a URI for specifying an advertisement page stored in the HDD 207 by the charging server 200, and receives the advertisement page specified by the URI from the charging server 200.

  On the other hand, when there is an advertisement page transmission request from MFP 100, billing server advertisement page transmission unit 253 generates an advertisement page including an advertisement image included in the advertisement record stored in HDD 207, an additional condition, and a display position. And send. Thereby, the download unit 51 of the MFP 100 receives the advertisement page. The download unit 51 displays the received advertisement page on the display unit 114. Accordingly, the advertisement image included in the advertisement page, the additional condition, and the display position are displayed.

  The selection receiving unit 53 selects at least one of the advertisement images displayed on the display unit 114, and outputs the selected advertisement image, an additional condition related thereto, and a display position to the combining unit 61.

  The print data receiving unit 55 receives print data. As the print data, print data obtained by converting image data output by the image reading unit 20 reading a document is received. When the user operates the operation unit 115 and designates image data stored in the HDD 116, print data obtained by converting the designated image data is received. In addition, print data obtained by converting facsimile data received by the facsimile unit 12 is received. Further, print data obtained by converting data stored in the memory card 119A is received.

  The billing ID receiving unit 57 receives a billing ID input by the user to the operation unit 115. The billing ID is identification information given to each user. The charging ID is used by the charging server 200 to calculate the print fee for each user. Therefore, a plurality of charging IDs may be given to one user. The billing ID may be stored in a magnetic card or an IC card. In this case, the MFP 100 is mounted with a magnetic card reader or an IC card reader. The charging ID reception unit 57 receives the charging ID from the operation unit 115 and outputs the charging ID to the QR code generation unit 59.

  The QR code generation unit 59 converts the input charging ID into a QR code, and outputs an image of the QR code to the synthesis unit. Further, the QR code generating unit 59 receives print conditions from the print condition setting unit 63. The QR code generation unit 59 converts the print condition into a QR code and outputs an image of the QR code to the synthesis unit 61. Here, an example will be described in which an image obtained by converting a color mode indicating a color print and a monochrome print out of print conditions into a QR code is output to the combining unit 61. In the present embodiment, a QR code will be described as an example, but another two-dimensional code, a barcode, or the like may be used. Further, it may be character information.

  The combining unit 61 receives print data from the print data receiving unit 55, receives an advertisement image and a display position from the selection receiving unit 53, and receives a QR code image from the QR code generating unit 59. The synthesizing unit 61 synthesizes the advertisement image, the QR code image of the charging ID, and the QR code image of the print condition with the print data, and outputs the combined print data to the print control unit 65. The combining unit 61 combines the advertisement image with the print data so that the advertisement image has a display position corresponding to the advertisement image. The combining unit 61 outputs the combined print data to the print control unit 65.

  The print control unit 65 causes the image forming unit 30 to print the input print data according to the print conditions. Thereby, in addition to the advertisement image and the image of the print data, an image of the QR code is formed on the paper. The print record transmission unit 67 transmits print record information including the charge ID and the number of printed sheets for each print mode to the charge server 200.

  When a user visits a store with a paper on which an advertisement image is formed, a QR code is read by a QR code reading unit 305 provided in the store terminal 300. As a result, the billing ID and the color mode are input to the store terminal 300. The QR code reading unit 305 outputs the charging ID and color mode read as the QR code to the discount point determination unit 305. Discount point determination unit 305 determines discount points according to the input color mode. Discount points are preferably higher in the color mode than in the monochrome mode, that is, the discount points are higher. The discount point determination unit 305 outputs the determined discount points to the usage result transmission unit 307. The usage record transmission unit 307 transmits the advertiser ID, the charging ID, and the discount rate to the charging server 200.

  When the usage record management unit 257 of the billing server 200 receives the advertiser ID, the billing ID, and the discount point transmitted from the store terminal 300, the usage record management unit 257 generates an advertisement record including the advertiser ID stored in the advertisement table 271. In addition to updating, the charging record including the charging ID stored in the charging table 273 is updated. Specifically, the usage counter of the advertisement record is updated to a value obtained by adding 1 corresponding to the number of times of usage. Further, the discount point of the billing record is updated to a value obtained by adding the received discount point.

  When charging unit 259 receives print record information from MFP 100, charging unit 259 updates the number of prints in the charge record including the charge ID included in the print result information to a value obtained by adding the number of prints included in the print result. Since there are a number of prints corresponding to color and a number of prints corresponding to monochrome, the number of prints is updated for each.

  The advertisement fee calculation unit 255 calculates the advertisement fee for each advertisement record in the advertisement table 271 based on the usage counter. Also, the print fee calculation unit 261 calculates a print fee based on the number of prints and the discount points for each charging record in the charging table 273. The print fee is a value obtained by subtracting the amount corresponding to the discount point from the sum of the unit price of the normal color print and the unit price of the monochrome print multiplied by the number of color prints and the number of monochrome prints. The amount corresponding to the discount point may be compensated with an advertisement fee. Also, the manufacturer of the MFP may bear the burden.

  If MFP 100 cannot communicate with billing server 200, consumables may be discounted.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a format of a billing record. Referring to FIG. 9, the billing record includes a billing ID item, a print number item, and a discount point item. The item of the number of prints is classified into color and monochrome, updated by the charging unit 259, and used when the print fee calculation unit 261 calculates the fee. In the discount point item, a value is set that determines an amount discounted from a fee determined by the number of printed sheets. The value set in the discount point item is updated by the usage record management unit 257 and is used when the print fee calculation unit 261 calculates the fee.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of advertisement registration processing. The advertisement registration process is a process executed by the CPU included in the store terminal 300 when the CPU included in the store terminal 300 executes the charging program. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the advertisement reception process. The advertisement acceptance process is a process executed by the CPU 201 when the CPU 201 of the accounting server 200 executes the accounting program.

  Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, CPU of store terminal 300 determines whether or not a registration request has been accepted (step S01). The registration request is a request to transmit the registration page stored in the billing server 200. In practice, it is determined whether or not the URI of the registration page has been input to the browser program executed on the store terminal 300. The process waits until a registration request is accepted (NO in step S01). If a registration request is accepted (YES in step S01), the process proceeds to step S02. In other words, the advertisement registration process is a process executed by receiving a registration request. It may be determined whether or not a registration request key provided in advance in the store terminal 300 has been pressed.

  The CPU 201 of the billing server 200 is in a standby state until receiving a registration request from any of the store terminals 300, 300A, 300B (NO in step S11). If the registration request is received, the process proceeds to step S12. Proceed. Here, an example in which a registration request is received from the store terminal 300 will be described. In step S12, a registration page is returned to the store terminal 300. Specifically, the registration screen specified by the URI included in the received registration request is read from the HDD 207 and returned.

  Store terminal 300 receives the registration page transmitted from billing server 200 in step S02. As a result, the registration page 501 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display of the store terminal 300. In the next step S03, it is determined whether designation of an advertisement image, additional information, and a display position has been accepted. Specifically, it is determined whether the file name of the advertisement image is input to the area 503 of the registration page 501 illustrated in FIG. 7, the additional condition is input to the area 507, and the display position is input to the area 509. If the designation of the advertisement image is accepted, the process proceeds to step S04, and if not, the process is terminated. Since designation of additional information and a display position is arbitrary, if an advertisement image is designated, the process proceeds to step S04.

  In step S04, it is determined whether a registration instruction has been accepted. It may be determined whether or not a registration key provided in advance in the store terminal 300 has been pressed. If a registration instruction is accepted, the process proceeds to step S05; otherwise, the process ends.

  In step S05, the advertiser ID is read. The advertiser ID may be stored in advance in the memory of the store terminal 300 and read out. The operator of the store terminal 300 may input the advertiser ID to the store terminal 300. Then, the advertiser ID, the advertisement image specified in step S03, the additional condition, and the display position are transmitted to billing server 200 (step S06). The destination IP address is included in the registration page received in step S02.

  The billing server 200 receives the advertiser ID, advertisement image, additional condition, and display position from the store terminal 300 (step S13), generates an advertisement record, and stores it in the HDD 207 (step S14).

  As described above, when the advertisement registration process is executed in any of the store terminals 300, 300 </ b> A, and 300 </ b> B and the advertisement reception process is executed in the billing server 200, the advertisement record is stored in the HDD 207 of the billing server 200.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of advertisement output processing. The advertisement output process is a process executed by CPU 111 when CPU 111 of MFP 100 executes a charging program. FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the result update process. The performance update process is a process executed by the CPU 201 when the CPU 201 of the charging server 200 executes the charging program.

  Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, CPU 111 of MFP 100 determines whether or not a browsing instruction has been accepted (step S21). It is determined whether or not a predetermined browsing key is pressed on the operation unit 115. The process waits until a browse instruction is accepted (NO in step S21). If a browse instruction is accepted (YES in step S21), the process proceeds to step S22. In other words, the advertisement output process is a process executed on condition that a browsing instruction is accepted. The browsing instruction is an advertisement page transmission request stored in the accounting server 200. For example, an accounting program executed in the MFP 100 activates a browser program and transmits the URI of the advertisement page.

  On the other hand, CPU 201 of billing server 200 determines whether an advertisement page browsing request has been received from any of MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C (NO in step S51). If an advertisement page browsing request is received, the process proceeds to step S52; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S53. Here, an example of receiving an advertisement page browsing request from MFP 100 will be described. In step S52, the advertisement page is returned to MFP 100. Specifically, the advertisement page specified by the URI included in the received advertisement page browsing request is read from the HDD 207 and returned.

  In step S22, MFP 100 receives the advertisement page transmitted from billing server 200. Then, the advertisement page is displayed on the display unit 114 (step S23). The advertisement page is a screen for displaying an advertisement image, and includes an advertiser ID, additional information, and a display position in addition to the advertisement image. The advertisement page can include a plurality of advertisement images, and includes an advertiser ID, additional information, and a display position corresponding to each of the plurality of advertisement images.

  In the next step S24, it is determined whether or not at least one advertisement image is selected from a plurality of advertisement images included in the advertisement page. If an advertisement image is selected, the process proceeds to step S25, and if no advertisement image is selected, the process ends. In step S25, it is determined whether a print instruction has been accepted. If a print instruction is accepted, the process proceeds to step S26; otherwise, the process ends. This is because if the advertisement image is not printed, there is no printing fee and the advertisement is not used.

  In step S26, it is determined whether or not a billing ID has been accepted. If the charging ID is accepted, the process proceeds to step S27, and if not, the process ends. This is because the print fee is calculated based on the charging ID. A billing ID input to operation unit 115 by the operator of MFP 100 is received. When the charging ID is stored in the IC card or the magnetic card, the charging ID read by the corresponding reader is accepted.

  In step S27, various settings for printing are accepted. Then, a QR code for charging ID and a QR code for print mode are generated (step S28). The print mode is different between color and monochrome. The QR code is a two-dimensional code.

  Next, the advertisement image selected in step S24 and the QR code generated in step S28 are combined with the print data input according to the print settings accepted in step S27 (step S29). When the print data is input, for example, when the image reading unit 20 receives a print setting of a copy function for reading and printing a document, the print setting of a facsimile output for printing the facsimile data received by the facsimile unit 12 is set. When accepted, the print setting for printing the image data stored in the HDD 116 or the like is accepted. If no print data is input, print data including the advertisement image selected in step S24 and the QR code generated in step S28 is generated. Then, print data is printed (step S30). In step S31, the print result is transmitted to billing server 200, and the process ends. The print event includes a charge ID, a print mode, and the number of prints. The print mode is different from color print and monochrome print, and the number of prints is the number printed for each print mode.

  On the other hand, charging server 200 determines whether or not a print record has been received from any of MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C (step S53). If a print record is received, the process proceeds to step S54 and is received. If not, the process proceeds to step S56. Here, an example of receiving a print record from MFP 100 will be described.

  In step S54, a billing record including a billing ID included in the received print record is specified from among the billing records stored in HDD 207. Then, the number of prints of the specified billing record is updated (step S55), and the process proceeds to step S56. Specifically, when the print mode is color, the number of color prints set in the billing record is updated to a value obtained by adding the number of prints included in the print record, and when the print mode is monochrome. The monochrome print number set in the billing record is updated to a value obtained by adding the print number included in the print record.

  Here, an example will be described in which the user brings a sheet on which an advertisement image is printed by MFP 100 and visits a store where store terminal 300 is installed. The store clerk receives the paper from the user and performs an operation for causing the store terminal 300 to read the QR code formed on the sheet.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the advertisement use reception process. The advertisement use acceptance process is a process executed in any one of the store terminals 300, 300A, 300B. Here, a case where the store terminal 300 executes is described as an example.

  Referring to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, when the store clerk reads the QR code of the charging ID formed on the sheet by the QR code reading unit 303, the store terminal 300 reads the charging ID (step S41). Further, when the store clerk causes the QR code reading unit 303 to read the QR code of the print mode formed on the paper, the store terminal 300 reads the print mode (step S42). And a discount point is determined (step S43). The discount points are made different depending on the print mode. When the print mode is color, the discount point is determined to have a higher discount rate than the monochrome mode. Then, the usage record is transmitted to the billing server 200 (step S44). The usage record includes the advertiser ID stored in the store terminal 300, the billing ID read in step S41, and the discount point determined in step S43.

  On the other hand, the CPU 201 of the billing server 200 determines whether or not the usage record has been received from any of the store terminals 300, 300A, and 300B (step S56). If the usage record is received, the process proceeds to step S57. If not received, the process returns to step S51. Here, an example in which a usage record is received from the store terminal 300 will be described.

  In step S57, a billing record including a billing ID included in the received usage record is specified from among the billing records stored in HDD 207. Then, the discount point of the specified billing record is updated (step S58), and the process proceeds to step S59. Specifically, the discount points set in the billing record are updated to a value obtained by adding the discount points included in the usage record.

  In step S <b> 59, an advertisement record including the advertiser ID included in the received usage record is specified from among the advertisement records stored in HDD 207. Then, the usage point of the specified advertisement record is updated (step S60), and the process returns to step S51. Specifically, the usage counter of the advertisement record is updated to a value obtained by adding 1.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of fee calculation processing. The charge calculation process is a process executed by the CPU 201 when the CPU 201 of the charging server 200 executes the charging program. Referring to FIG. 17, CPU 201 determines whether or not the current date and time is the charging timing (step S71). The charging timing is stored in advance in the HDD 207, and is preferably set to a predetermined date and time such as the end of the month, for example. The process waits until the current date and time reaches the charging timing, and the process proceeds to step S72 when the charge is calculated. That is, the charge calculation process is a process that is executed on the condition that the current date and time is the timing for calculating the charge.

  In step S72, an advertisement record is read. Then, the advertising fee is calculated from the usage points (step S73). It is desirable that the higher the usage point value, the higher the advertising fee. Since the advertising fee is calculated according to the value of the usage point, in other words, the number of times the advertising image has been used, it is possible to collect a fair advertising fee from the advertiser.

  In step S74, a bill for the advertiser with the advertiser ID is issued. In the next step S75, it is determined whether or not there is an unprocessed advertisement record to be processed next. If an unprocessed advertisement record is stored in HDD 207, the process returns to step S72. If not stored, the process proceeds to step S76.

  In step S76, the accounting record is read. Then, a print fee is calculated from the number of prints and discount points (step S77). It is desirable to reduce the print fee as the discount point increases. Since the print fee is calculated according to the discount point value, in other words, the number of times the advertisement image is used, the number of times the advertisement image is printed can be expected to increase, and the use of the MFPs 100, 100A, 100B, and 100C can be expected. Can be promoted.

  In step S78, a bill for the user with the billing ID is issued. In the next step S79, it is determined whether there is an unprocessed accounting record to be processed next. If an unprocessed accounting record is stored in HDD 207, the process returns to step S76. If not stored, the process ends.

  In the above-described embodiment, the accounting system 1 has been described. Needless to say, the invention can be understood as an accounting method or an accounting program for causing a computer to execute the processes shown in FIGS. .

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a figure showing the whole billing system outline in one of the embodiments of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the accounting server in this Embodiment. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an MFP according to the present embodiment. FIG. It is a functional block diagram which shows the outline | summary of the function of CPU with which an accounting server is provided with the data memorize | stored in HDD. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions of a CPU provided in an MFP. FIG. It is a functional block diagram which shows the outline | summary of the function of the store terminal installed in an advertiser's store. It is a figure which shows an example of a registration page. It is a figure which shows an example of the format of advertisement data. It is a figure which shows an example of the format of an accounting record. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of an advertisement registration process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of an advertisement reception process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of an advertisement output process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a performance update process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of an advertisement utilization reception process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a charge calculation process.

Explanation of symbols

  1 charging system, 2 networks, 51 download unit, 53 selection receiving unit, 55 print data receiving unit, 57 charging ID receiving unit, 59 code generation unit, 61 composition unit, 63 print condition setting unit, 65 print control unit, 67 print Actual transmission unit, 111 CPU, 112 RAM, 113 ROM, 114 display unit, 115 operation unit, 116 HDD 107, 117 data communication control unit, 119A memory card, 200 billing server, 208 flash memory, 213 operation unit, 213A input unit, 213B Display section, 251 registration section, 253 advertisement page transmission section, 255 advertisement charge calculation section, 257 usage record management section, 259 charging section, 261 print charge calculation section, 271 advertisement table, 273 charging table, 300, 300A, 300B Store terminal, 301 registration reception unit, 303 code reading unit, 305 code reading unit, 305 discount point determination unit, 307 utilization result transmission unit.

Claims (5)

A charging system comprising an image forming apparatus, a charging server that charges for each user according to print results, and a communication terminal,
The billing server includes storage means for storing advertisement information including advertisement identification information for identifying an advertising subject and advertisement content;
A transmission means for transmitting the advertisement information in response to the transmission request for the advertisement information;
Print result storage means for collecting and storing the number of prints for each charge ID;
Receiving means for receiving the advertisement identification information from the communication terminal;
A usage counting means for counting usage points corresponding to the advertisement identification information in response to reception of the advertisement identification information;
Discount counting means for counting discount points corresponding to a billing ID received from the communication terminal together with the advertisement identification information;
An advertising fee calculating means for calculating an advertising fee for each advertising subject of the advertising information based on the value of the usage point;
Printing fee calculation means for calculating a printing fee for each charging ID based on the number of prints and the value of the discount point;
The image forming apparatus includes advertisement information receiving means for receiving the advertisement information from the accounting server;
An accounting system comprising: advertisement printing means for printing the received advertisement information and accounting ID. The communication terminal is installed in a store mainly advertising,
Storage means for storing the advertisement identification information;
Reading means for reading the billing ID printed by the advertisement printing means;
The billing system according to claim 1, further comprising: an advertisement usage record transmitting unit that transmits the read billing ID and the advertisement identification information to the billing server. The advertisement print unit of the image forming apparatus prints together with a print mode for printing the advertisement information,
The reading means of the communication terminal reads the print mode together with the advertisement information,
The advertisement usage record transmitting means transmits the print mode to the billing server in addition to the advertisement identification information,
The billing system according to claim 1, wherein the discount count unit of the billing server adds a point corresponding to the print mode received together with the advertisement identification information to the discount counter. The storage means of the billing server stores a plurality of advertisement information,
The charging system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a selection unit that selects at least one of the plurality of advertisement information. The image forming apparatus further includes a billing ID accepting unit that accepts a billing ID.
The billing system according to claim 1, wherein the advertisement print unit prints the accepted billing ID.

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