JP2010055240A - Image forming system, image forming control method, image forming control program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system properly performing an image output service in a place wherein entrance/exit is controlled, an image forming control method, an image forming control program, and a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: In the image forming system 1, a ticket issuing/fare adjusting apparatus 4 issues a section ticket while setting passenger specification information (an user ID and a password) for a passenger requiring use of an image forming apparatus 5 installed in a vehicle of a public transportation and records management information including the passenger specification information in an admission ticket to manage boarding of the passenger based on the management information in the admission ticket; a host device 2 determines whether a printing request is allowed or not allowed based on the passenger specification information received from a personal digital assistant PC of the passenger and the management information and makes an image forming apparatus 5 output an image of print data for the allowed printing request; a charging device 6 calculates a charging fare for the image output based on an image output result in the image forming apparatus 5; and the ticket issuing/fare adjusting device 4 manages settlement of the charging fare based on the management information in the section ticket. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system, an image forming control method, an image forming control program, and a recording medium. More specifically, the present invention relates to image forming at a management place where entrance and exit of public transportation vehicles and the like can be managed. The present invention relates to an image forming system, an image forming control method, an image forming control program, and a recording medium that are appropriately performed while realizing the above-mentioned.

  In recent years, in offices and the like, networking such as a local area network (LAN) has progressed, and information processing apparatuses such as personal computers and word processors and image processing apparatuses such as printers, copying apparatuses, and composite apparatuses are connected via the network. Thus, file sharing and image processing apparatus sharing are performed.

  In addition, documents created and edited by an information processing device such as a personal computer are stored and carried in the information processing device, and public places (Shinkansen, limited express trains) are managed appropriately according to the necessity of printing. There has been a demand for printing out on trains such as trains, airplanes, ferry boats and other public transportation vehicles, and meeting places in stations.

  Conventionally, user registration as a valid user is performed in advance, a printing device as a usage destination is specified, a usage ticket is issued, and printing on the printing device using the usage ticket is permitted. A printing system has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). In this prior art, it has been proposed that when a use ticket is issued, a print condition can be set, and the print condition is confirmed at the time of printing and printing is permitted.

  Conventionally, there has been proposed a print billing apparatus that charges a fee based on the amount of read print job data (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2005-92735 A JP 2000-339125 A

  However, the prior art described in Patent Document 1 requires improvement in order to appropriately provide and charge an appropriate image output service in a public place.

  In other words, when an image forming device is installed in a place where entrance / exit management such as a bullet train or other public transport vehicle, a waiting place, or an event venue is managed, maintenance, billing, etc. Manned service is not provided, and in many cases, the image forming apparatus is placed in an almost unmanned management state, so that it is required to optimize the provision and charge of the image output service. In this case, the charge for the image output service is settled based on the printing conditions, and in the prior art described in Patent Document 2, the charge is made based on the data amount of the print data. In the case of failed printing or defective printing, a fee is charged, and there is a need for improvement in performing an appropriate image output service and billing.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an image forming system, an image forming control method, an image forming control program, and a recording medium that provide an appropriate image output service by appropriate charging in a place where entrance and exit such as a public place can be managed. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention desires to use an image forming apparatus that is installed in a management place where entrance and exit can be managed and forms an image on a sheet based on print data sent via a network. Issuing an entry ticket to the management place on condition that the user identification information for identifying the user is input to the user, and recording management information including the user identification information on the entry ticket, Management of entry / exit of the management place based on the management information of the admission ticket, user identification information for identifying the user received from the user's portable information terminal via the network, and entry / exit to the management place Determining whether the print request is permitted or not based on management information for managing the print request, causing the image forming apparatus to output an image of the print data of the permitted print request in accordance with the print condition of the print request, and the image forming apparatus In Calculates the charging fee for the image output based on the image output results, it is characterized in that the settlement of billing charges the calculated manages by using the management information of the input field tickets.

  Further, the present invention may be characterized in that, in the charge fee calculation, a charge fee for the image output is calculated based on suitability of image output for each page in the image forming apparatus.

  Furthermore, the present invention may be characterized in that an arbitrary fee is accepted with a payment fee for image output as a prepaid fee, and in the settlement of the billing fee, the billing fee is settled from the prepaid fee.

  In addition, the present invention accepts an arbitrary fee with a payment fee for image output as a prepaid fee, and further records, in the admission ticket, specific identification information input by the user as the user identification information in the admission ticket. In the settlement of the billing fee, the billing fee is settled from the prepaid fee, and when surplus is generated in the prepaid fee, the surplus is stored in correspondence with the user specifying information, and the admission ticket When the surplus is stored for the user identification information to be issued for the admission ticket, the surplus can be used as a prepaid fee.

  Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that an arbitrary fee is accepted as a prepaid fee for a payment for image output, and the surplus money is refunded when surplus occurs in the prepaid fee in the settlement of the billing fee. Good.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an appropriate image output service by appropriate charging at a place where entrance and exit such as a public place can be managed.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The range of this invention is unduly limited by the following description. However, not all the configurations described in the present embodiment are essential constituent elements of the present invention.

  1 to 5 are diagrams showing an embodiment of an image forming system, an image forming control method, an image forming control program, and a recording medium of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an image forming system and an image forming control of the present invention. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an image forming system 1 to which an embodiment of a method, an image forming control program, and a recording medium are applied.

  In FIG. 1, an image forming system 1 includes a host device 2, a boarding management device 3, a ticketing / accounting device 4, an image forming device 5, a charging device 6, and the like connected to a network NW 1 such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The network NW1 can be applied to a management network that can manage entrance / exit in an existing public transportation management system of public transportation such as trains (bullet trains, limited express trains, etc.), airplanes, and ferry ships.

  The host device (user identification information receiving means, print request management means) 2 is a computer or the like. The host device 2 is connected to the network NW1, and the host device 2 is connected to the Internet and other devices. A portable information terminal PC such as a portable computer carried by a passenger who performs printing with the image forming apparatus 5 is connected via a wired or wireless network NW2. The portable information terminal PC transmits a print data of a document that is carried and edited and created by a passenger who rides on a public transportation vehicle to the host device 2 via the network NW2, Request printing of print data. At this time, the passenger inputs the user ID and the password as passenger identification information (user identification information) to the portable information terminal PC at the time of the print request, and the portable information terminal PC uses the print data and the print request as a print job. While transmitting to the host apparatus 2, the user ID and password which are the input passenger specific information are transmitted to the host apparatus 2. The host device 2 temporarily stores a print job sent from the portable information terminal PC via the network NW2, and uses a user ID and password, which are passenger identification information sent from the portable information terminal PC, as described later. The user ID, which is passenger identification information registered in advance in the boarding management device 3, is checked to see if it matches the password, user authentication is performed, and if the user authentication is successful, a print job (printing) from the portable information terminal PC Data and a print request) are transmitted to the image forming apparatus 5 via the network NW1, and a print request is made to the image forming apparatus 5.

  The boarding management device (entrance / exit management means) 3 performs operation management of vehicles for public transportation, management of passengers using the vehicles, and the like. A ticket gate device is connected to the boarding management device 3 via the network 1, reads a section ticket of a passenger who gets on or off the vehicle and passes it to the boarding management device 3. The boarding management device 3 performs passenger boarding management (entrance / exit management) based on the reading result of the section ticket from the ticket gate.

  The ticketing / settlement device (ticketing means, settlement management means) 4 is a ticketing process for a section ticket that specifies a vehicle and a section for a passenger who uses a vehicle of public transportation, and a settlement process for canceling the ticket. Whether to receive a ticket issuing process for identifying passenger identification information (user identification information) consisting of a user ID and password (user identification information) in the image formation control process in the section ticket and an image output service using the image forming apparatus 5 on the vehicle It is possible to select whether or not, select a payment condition (prepayment and postpay) for receiving the image output service, and pay an appropriate prepaid fee for prepayment. The ticket issuing / settlement device 4 sends the payment condition selection result and the information on the paid prepayment fee together with the passenger identification information to the boarding management device 3, and the boarding management device 3 uses the payment condition information and the prepayment fee as the passenger identification information. The data is stored correspondingly, and billing for the image output service is performed in response to a request from the ticket issuing / settlement device 4.

  The image forming apparatus 5 is installed in a public transportation vehicle and outputs, for example, print data sent via the network 1 in accordance with the print conditions of the print request for the print data. For example, the image forming apparatus 5 outputs an image by an electrophotographic method, but outputs an image of print data related to a print request from a portable information terminal of a passenger permitted to form an image by the host apparatus 2. For example, in the case of an electrophotographic system, the image forming apparatus 5 includes an endless belt-like intermediate transfer belt 11 that is stretched around a support roller (not shown), as shown in FIG. A plurality of photoconductors 12Y, 12M, 12C, 12Bk of each color arranged side by side, and an optical writing unit (not shown), charging units 13Y, 13M, arranged around the photoconductors 12Y, 12M, 12C, 12Bk, 13C, 13Bk, developing units 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14Bk, primary transfer units 15Y, 15M, 15C, 15Bk, cleaning units 16Y, 16M, 16C, 16Bk, and the like. The image forming unit 5 has one of the support rollers as a counter roller, and a secondary transfer roller 17 is disposed with the intermediate transfer belt 11 sandwiched between the counter roller and the support roller. One becomes a driving roller, and the driving roller is rotationally driven by a driving motor (not shown), so that the intermediate transfer belt 11 is conveyed and rotated counterclockwise in FIG. Although not shown, the image forming unit 5 is provided with a primary transfer roller at a position facing each of the photoreceptors 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12Bk with the intermediate transfer belt 11 interposed therebetween.

  The image forming unit 5 charges each photoconductor 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12Bk uniformly with each charging unit, and then modulates the laser light modulated based on the drawing data of each color from the light writing unit. By irradiating 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12Bk, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image of each color is formed on each photoconductor 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12Bk, and toner of each color is supplied from the developing unit. The toner images of the respective colors are formed on the photoconductors 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12Bk. The image forming unit 5 is placed on the intermediate transfer belt 11 conveyed by a primary transfer roller disposed at a position facing each of the photoreceptors 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12Bk with the intermediate transfer belt 11 interposed therebetween. The toner images on the photoreceptors 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12Bk are sequentially superimposed and transferred to form a color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 11. The image forming apparatus 1 feeds a color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 11 to the secondary transfer roller 17 in accordance with the timing at which the color toner image is conveyed to the position of the secondary transfer roller 17. The sheet is transported from the section, and the image forming section 5 drives the secondary transfer roller 17 in accordance with the timing to transfer the color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 11 onto the transported sheet P.

  The image forming apparatus 1 conveys the paper P on which the color toner image has been transferred to the fixing unit 20. The fixing unit 20 includes a fixing roller that is rotated while being heated to a predetermined fixing temperature by a built-in heater or the like, and a pressure roller that is disposed to face the fixing roller and rotates while contacting with the predetermined pressure, and has been conveyed. The sheet P on which the color toner image has been transferred is conveyed while being heated and pressed by a fixing roller and a pressure roller to fix the color toner image on the sheet P, and the sheet P on which the fixing has been completed is not shown. Drain up.

  One or more paper sensors 21 are disposed on the paper P conveyance path, and the image forming apparatus 5 detects jamming of the paper P on the paper conveyance path based on the detection result of the paper sensor 21. Detection is performed to control the image forming operation such as stopping of the image forming operation when the paper is jammed. The image forming apparatus 5 includes, for example, an image density sensor, measures the density of the formed image, and determines whether image formation is appropriate based on the image density.

  When the section ticket purchased by the ticket issuing / settlement apparatus 4 is inserted or held over the reading unit or the like, the billing device (billing fee calculation means) 6 displays the passenger identification information recorded in the section ticket. The read passenger identification information is transmitted to the host device 2 to request verification of the passenger identification information.

  When the host device 2 receives the passenger identification information from the billing device 6 and receives a request for collation, the host device 2 collates the sent passenger identification information with the passenger identification information registered in the boarding management device 3, The verification result is notified to the charging device 6, and a print job of the passenger identification information temporarily stored from the portable information terminal PC is transmitted to the image forming device 5.

  When the charging device 6 succeeds in the verification of the passenger identification information in the host device 2, the charging device 6 permits the image forming device 5 to perform an image output process of print data from the portable information terminal PC of the passenger of the section ticket, When the verification of the passenger identification information in the host device 2 fails, the image forming apparatus prohibits the image forming process of the print data from the portable information terminal PC of the passenger of the section ticket. The charging apparatus 6 causes the image forming apparatus 5 to perform the image output process of the print data corresponding to the passenger specifying information of the section ticket that has permitted the image output process, and the image output process in the image forming apparatus 5 is normal. The billing fee is calculated according to the processing result of the image output processing. In this billing fee calculation process, the image forming apparatus 5 determines the presence or absence of a paper jam by the paper sensor 21 or the like, performs appropriate image formation, and interrupts the image processing due to a paper jam or the like. The presence or absence of abnormality is detected, and the presence or absence of abnormality and the image output processing result (image processing content such as the number of images formed, image formation size, color / monochrome, etc.) based on the printing conditions are notified to the billing device 6. In the detection of the image output processing result in the image forming apparatus 5, as described above, the suitability of image formation is determined not only by the paper jam by the paper sensor 21 but also by the suitability of the image density by the image density sensor.

  The billing device 6 calculates a billing fee based on the notification of the image output processing result from the image forming device 5, and performs billing settlement. If a problem occurs in the image output process in the image forming apparatus 5 in the billing process, the billing apparatus 6 does not charge the image output process in which the problem has occurred. The billing is performed by subtracting the billing fee for the trouble (page).

  The billing process 6 is configured to calculate the billing fee from the prepaid fee registered in the boarding management device 3 when the billing settlement for the image formation is performed in advance at the time of purchase of the segment ticket and recorded in the segment ticket. Settlement is performed, and a required fee record such as surplus is requested to the boarding management device 3. The charging device 6 transmits the charging fee to the host device 2 via the network NW1, transmits the charging fee from the host device 2 to the portable information terminal PC, and confirms the charging fee at the portable information terminal PC. Make it possible.

  Further, when the billing device 6 is selected to settle the image formation billing fee at the time of getting off at the time of purchasing the section ticket, the billing device 6 sends the billing fee to the boarding management device 3 via the network NW1. The boarding management device 3 overwrites the boarding fee of the passenger identification information of the section ticket and overwrites the charging fee and stores it as an unpaid fee. The boarding management device 3 transmits the boarding fee (billing fee + boarding fee) overwriting this billing fee to the ticket issuing / settlement device 4 together with the passenger specifying information, and when the passenger of the section ticket of the passenger specifying information gets off, The billing fee added to the boarding fee is settled. At this time, the ticketing / settlement device 4 of the ticket gate prohibits the exit by closing the door of the buzzer or the ticket gate if the billing fee added to the boarding fee is not paid and the fee is insufficient. / When the billing fee added to the boarding fee is settled by the settlement device 4, the exit is permitted.

  Note that the ticketing / settlement device 4 also includes the fee registered in the boarding management device 3 at the time of departure of the passenger of the section ticket and the fee even when the image formation fee is paid in advance when the section ticket is issued. Check the boarding fee of the section ticket and if it matches, leave is permitted, and if there is a shortage, wait until the shortage is paid by the ticketing / settlement device 4 and leave . Furthermore, the ticket issuing / settlement device 4 reimburses the surcharge if the boarding fee of the boarding ticket has a surplus fee with respect to the boarding fee of the boarding management device 3 when the passenger of the section ticket leaves. In this case, when the user ID of the passenger is individually registered, the ticket issuing / settlement device 4 can select whether or not to use the surplus fee for the ticket issuing fee at the next and subsequent boarding. When a refund is selected, a refund is performed. When a subsequent use is selected, the surplus fee is stored in correspondence with the passenger identification information of the user ID of the boarding management device 3, and the subsequent use is stored. Make it possible.

  The image forming system 1 includes a ROM, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM, a flash memory, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), and a DVD. An image formation control program for executing the image formation control method of the present invention recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a (Digital Video Disk), an SD (Secure Digital) card, or an MO (Magneto-Optical Disc) is read. In the host device 2, the boarding management device 3, the ticketing / accounting device 4, the billing device 6, etc., the image formation on the public transportation vehicle is appropriately performed while protecting the personal information. It is constructed as an image forming system that executes an image forming control method for charging. This image formation control program is a computer-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark), an object-oriented programming language, or the like, and is stored in the recording medium. And can be distributed.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The image forming system 1 according to the present embodiment is mounted on a vehicle when a passenger of a public transportation vehicle inputs a passenger identification information (user ID and password) and purchases a section ticket using the ticket issuing / clearing device 4. Permits a print request from the portable information terminal PC of the passenger via the network NW2 such as the Internet to the host apparatus 2 connected to the image forming apparatus 5 via the network NW1 on the condition that user authentication based on the passenger identification information is appropriate. An image formation control process for charging only for an image output that has been successfully output is executed. Hereinafter, the image formation control process before boarding the vehicle and the image formation control process after boarding will be sequentially described.

<Image formation control process before getting on the vehicle>
When the ticket issuing / clearing device 4 performs a purchase operation for a boarding ticket (section ticket) in the ticket issuing / clearing device 4 (step S101), the ticket issuing / checking device 4 determines whether to use the image output service. (Step S102), if it is selected not to use the image output service, a ticket for the boarding section (section boarding ticket) is issued, and the process is terminated.

  If the use of the image output service is selected in step S102, the ticket issuing / settlement device 4 registers the user ID and password as passenger identification information. First, as the user ID, the seat of the section ticket An inquiry is made as to whether information can be used (step S103). That is, in the image forming system 1, a user ID and a password are registered as passenger identification information of a passenger who receives an image output service. As the user ID, seat information of a reserved seat and a user unique ID (which is individually registered by the passenger) Any of specific information) can be used. When seat information is used as a user ID, it is necessary to register a user ID for each boarding, but when a user unique ID is used as a user ID, a passenger unique user ID (user unique ID) can be registered. The same user unique ID and the same password can be used when receiving the image output service at the next boarding, and the trouble of resetting the user ID and password when receiving the image output service repeatedly can be saved.

  When the seat information is used as the user ID in step S103, the ticket issuing / settlement device 4 requests input of a password, and when the password is input, sets the password in association with the user ID (step S104). The user ID and password as seat information are presented on a display or the like to request confirmation (step S105), and an inquiry is made as to whether to perform user registration (step S106).

  When the user registration is instructed in step S106, the ticket issuing / settlement device 4 confirms the user ID and password (step S107), and the passenger identification information including the user ID and password is sent to the host device 2. Then, a passenger registration process (user registration process) is performed in which the passenger identification information is transmitted from the host apparatus 2 to the boarding management apparatus 3 and is registered and managed by the boarding management apparatus 3 (step S108). The registration / management of the passenger identification information is not limited to being performed by the boarding management device 3, but may be registered and managed in the host device 2 or the ticket issuing / settlement device 4, for example. In the description, it is assumed that the boarding management device 3 performs.

  If it is selected in step S103 that seat information is not used as the user ID, the ticket issuing / settlement device 4 requests the input of the user ID by displaying the user ID input screen on the display, etc. When a user ID (user unique ID) is input (step S109), a password input request is made by displaying a password input screen on the display and the password is input (step S110). The user specific ID and the passenger identification information of the password are transmitted to the host device 2.

  When the passenger identification information (user ID and password) is sent, the host device 2 transmits the passenger identification information to the boarding management device 3 and compares it with the passenger identification information stored in the boarding management device 3. The boarding management device 3 performs user verification by, for example, verifying the registered passenger identification information with the transmitted passenger identification information (step S111). The verification of the passenger identification information (user verification) is not limited to the case where the boarding management device 3 performs, but may be performed by the host device 2 when the host device 2 stores the passenger identification information. In the following description, it is assumed that the boarding management device 3 performs verification of passenger identification information.

  When the passenger identification information requested to be verified has already been registered, the boarding management device 3 performs verification verification of the passenger identification information to the host device 2, and the verification result via the host device 2 or directly, The ticket issuing / settlement device 4 sends passenger registration processing for granting the authority to use the image output service for the passenger (passenger identification information), and the passenger identification information requested for verification is not registered. In this case, the passenger identification information is registered, and the collation result is sent to the ticket issuing / adjusting device 4 via the host device 2 or directly, and the ticket issuing / adjusting device 4 responds to the passenger (passenger identifying information). Passenger registration processing for performing passenger registration processing for granting the authority to use the image output service is performed (step S108). Thus, a passenger whose passenger identification information is registered in the passenger management device 3 using an individual user ID and password can be used repeatedly.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the ticket issuing / settlement device 4 makes an inquiry as to whether or not to pre-pay the charge for the image output service by displaying on the display or the like (step S112). Waiting for an appropriate amount to be deposited (step S113), the payment information indicating the advance payment and the deposited information received are transferred to the boarding management device 3 and registered in the boarding management device 3 (step S114). ). That is, as a payment method for the image output service, a method of paying in advance and receiving the image output service and then paying the difference between the charged fee required for the actual image output and the amount already paid, There are two methods, that is, a method of paying a billing fee required for image output, and the passenger can select one of them. Further, the depositing method is not limited to cash, and any depositing method may be used as long as it can surely confirm payment of a credit card or the like.

  If it is selected in step S112 that the image output service charging fee is to be settled at the time of getting off instead of the advance payment, the ticket issuing / settlement device 4 processes the payment condition indicating that the post-payment is made (step S115). The payment conditions are transferred to the boarding management device 3 and registered in the boarding management device 3 (step S114).

  Next, the ticket issuing / settlement device 4 performs ticket issuing preparation processing based on the passenger identification information (user information) and the settlement method information (step S116), and the section corresponding to the passenger identification information (user information) and the settlement method information A ticket issuing process is performed (step S117). The ticket issuing / settlement device 4 includes, as necessary information, a date and time of boarding, a boarding section, seat information, presence / absence of use of an image output service, payment conditions for a charge for an image output service, and if necessary, Prepaid amount for billing fee, and if necessary, user password or user unique ID when registered, record the user unique ID and print necessary items on the front and back of the section ticket (Print). In this case, in the registration of the user unique ID and password, if an IC card or the like in which personal information is registered is used, payment conditions are registered and managed by the card or the like, so there is no need to newly register a user, Save time and effort.

  By the image formation control process before boarding, the passenger obtains a section ticket that can receive the image output service, and uses the image forming apparatus 5 mounted on the vehicle while riding the vehicle to output an image. It will be in a state that can be performed.

  After that, when a passenger carrying a section ticket passes through a ticket gate device (not shown) and rides on a vehicle, a personal information terminal PC carried by the passenger is used by using the user ID and password registered when the section ticket is issued. By sending print data to the host device 2, an image can be output using the image forming device 5 as shown in FIG.

  In other words, the passenger who has registered for the image output service connects the portable information terminal PC to the host device 2 via the network NW2 and inputs the user ID and password registered when the section ticket is purchased to identify the passenger. Information is transmitted to the host device 2 (step S201).

  The host device 2 performs user authentication processing for verifying the passenger identification information (user ID and password) sent from the portable information terminal PC with the passenger identification information registered in the boarding management device 3 (step S202). If successful, allow user login. When the passenger is permitted to log in, the passenger transmits print job data such as print data and print conditions to be output from the portable information terminal PC to the host device 2 (step S203), and transmits the print job data. Then, he goes to the billing device 6 and inserts the section ticket into the ticket insertion slot of the billing device 6. The host device 2 transmits the print job data sent from the portable information terminal PC to the charging device 6, and the charging device 6 stores the print data.

  When the section ticket is inserted into the ticket insertion slot, the billing device 6 reads the passenger identification information (user ID and password) recorded in the section ticket and transmits it to the host device 2 to transmit the passenger identification information. Request verification of. When the host device 2 receives the passenger identification information and the verification request from the billing device 6, the host device 2 performs verification with the passenger identification information registered in the boarding management device 3, and if the verification is successful, A print permission instruction for the print job data from the passenger is sent to the charging device 6. When the charging apparatus 6 receives the print permission instruction, the charging apparatus 6 transmits the stored print job data to the image forming apparatus 5. The image forming apparatus 5 creates a print image based on the transmitted print job data, and outputs an image according to the print conditions specified by the print job data (step S204). As described above, the image forming system 1 performs image output in the image forming apparatus 5 with the section ticket inserted into the charging apparatus 6 even when a plurality of passengers simultaneously issue image output commands. This can be performed in a state where the passenger is near the image forming apparatus 5, can maintain the confidentiality of the image output, and can prevent the paper on which the image is output from being taken away by a third party. it can.

  The charging device 6 stores the value (paper type, monochrome, color, unit price, discount, etc.) in the printing conditions. When the image forming apparatus 5 outputs an image, the charging for the image output under the printing condition is performed. The fee is calculated and stored together with the print job data (step S205), and it is checked whether or not the image output by the image forming apparatus 5 has been normally performed (step S206). That is, as described above, the image forming apparatus 5 determines the suitability of the image output based on the detection of a paper jam by the paper sensor 21 and the suitability of the image density by the image density sensor. A process of trying to form an image on the print data of an inappropriate image forming page is performed, the generation of an inappropriate image output is transmitted to the charging device 6, and when the appropriate image output is successful, the charging device 6 informs that effect. Notify Based on the notification of the image output result from the image forming apparatus 5, the charging apparatus 6 determines whether or not the image output has been normally performed in step S206.

  If the image output is normally performed in step S206, the charging device 6 transmits the charging fee calculated in step S205 to the host device 2 (step S207). In step S206, the image inappropriate for image output is transmitted. If the output has occurred, the fee is recalculated to subtract the fee for the inappropriate image output (step S208), and the recalculated fee is transmitted to the host device 2 (step S207). .

  The charging device 6 transmits the calculated charging fee to the boarding management device 3 when the payment condition for the charging fee of the image output service is post-payment (payment when getting off), and the boarding management device 3 The charging fee is overwritten and stored on the boarding fee of the passenger identification information of the charging fee. Thereafter, when the passenger presents the section ticket to the automatic ticket gate when the passenger gets off, the automatic ticket gate reads the deposit information of the section ticket and transmits it to the host device 2, and the host device 2 stores it in the boarding management device 3. The billing fee collation process is performed to collate the billed fee charged with the deposit information of the section ticket (step S209), and it is checked whether there is a difference between the fee already paid and the unpaid portion (step S210). ). In this billing fee collating process, if the payment condition is postpay, the billing fee required for image output becomes a difference (insufficient), and the difference exists, resulting in a mismatch.

  If there is a difference between the paid fee (paid fee) and the unpaid fee in step S210, the host device 2 determines that the exit is not permitted and the buzzer at the ticket gate where the section ticket is presented is displayed on the automatic ticket gate device. When the passenger is inserted into the ticketing / settlement device 4 and the appropriate fee is settled by the passenger, the ticketing / settlement device 4 Then, a settlement process is performed for the difference that is overwritten with the deposit information on the section ticket (step S211). When the section ticket for which the difference has been settled is presented to the automatic ticket gate by the passenger and the charge is verified again, the automatic ticket gate transmits the deposit information recorded in the section ticket to the host device 2. The host device 2 verifies the difference between the paid fee (paid fee) and the unpaid fee. However, the difference between the paid fee (paid fee) and the unpaid fee disappears and the matching result is obtained. In order to match, the host device 2 can leave, and the automatic ticket gate opens the door of the ticket gate where the section ticket is presented to the automatic ticket gate to perform the exit permission process so that the passenger can leave the ticket gate. (Step S212).

  Then, the charging device 6 transmits the calculated charging fee for the image output service to the boarding management device 3 if the payment condition for the charging fee for the image output service is prepaid, and the boarding management device 3 The fee is settled by subtracting the billing fee from the fee already registered, and the fee after settlement is stored.

  Thereafter, when the passenger presents the section ticket to the automatic ticket gate when the passenger gets off, the automatic ticket gate reads the deposit information of the section ticket and transmits it to the host device 2, and the host device 2 stores it in the boarding management device 3. The billing fee collation process is performed to collate the charged fee with the boarding fee of the section ticket (step S209), and the fee of the section ticket already paid and the fee stored in the boarding management device It is checked whether there is a difference between the two (step S210). In this billing fee verification process, if the payment condition is postpay, the billing fee required for image output is settled from the paid fee, and it is checked whether the settled paid fee matches the fee of the section ticket. .

  If there is a difference between the paid fee (paid fee) and the unpaid fee in step S210, the host device 2 determines that the exit is not permitted and the buzzer at the ticket gate where the section ticket is presented is displayed on the automatic ticket gate device. When the passenger is inserted into the ticketing / settlement device 4 and the appropriate fee is settled by the passenger, the ticketing / settlement device 4 Then, a settlement process is performed for the difference that is overwritten with the deposit information on the section ticket (step S211). In the payment of this charge, the charge fee actually charged for the image output service may be lower than the charged charge (prepaid charge). In this case, when the user ID is the seat number, the charge charge is prepaid. However, since the surcharge cannot be carried over at the next and subsequent boarding, the ticket issuing / settlement device 4 performs refund settlement for refunding a fee obtained by subtracting the billing fee from the deposited fee.

  When the section ticket that has been settled for the difference is presented to the automatic ticket gate by the passenger and collated again, the automatic ticket gate sends the deposit information recorded on the section ticket to the host device 2. The host device 2 verifies the difference between the paid fee (payment amount) and the unpaid amount, but the difference between the already paid fee (payment amount) and the unpaid amount disappears and the matching result matches. Then, the host device 2 makes it possible to leave, and opens the door of the ticket gate where the section ticket is presented to the automatic ticket gate device to perform the exit permission process so that the passenger can leave the automatic ticket gate device ( Step S212).

  If the payment condition for the image output service charge is prepaid, the user ID is a user-specific ID, and if the charge for the image output service is lower than the paid fee and there is a surcharge, the host The device 2 may store the surplus fare in the boarding management device 3 according to the passenger's selection and make it available for the next and subsequent boarding.

  In the above description, a fee obtained by adding the fee charged in the image output service to the fee recorded in the section ticket presented to the automatic ticket gate device when getting off and the passenger fee stored in the ride management device 3 The billing / settlement device 4 performs settlement of the necessary fee. However, the billing fee for the image output service is not limited to the above method. When the boarding ticket is inserted, the charging fee required for the image output service in the image forming apparatus 5 may be settled by the charging apparatus 6.

  Further, in the above description, the image forming system 1 includes the host device 2 in order to increase the speed of data processing and reduce the size of the charging device 6, and the host device 2 performs a central operation of the processing. However, the charging apparatus 6 or the image forming apparatus 5 may perform data processing such as user authentication.

  Further, in the above description, the case where the image forming apparatus 5 is mounted on a public transportation vehicle has been described. However, the place where the image forming apparatus 5 is installed is not limited to the public transportation vehicle. In general, the present invention can be applied to cases where entrance / exit is set to a manageable management place.

  As described above, the image forming system 1 according to the present embodiment is installed in a management place where entry / exit can be managed, and the image forming apparatus 5 forms an image on a sheet based on print data sent via the network NW1. Issuing an admission ticket to the management place on condition that the user specifying information specifying the user to the user who wishes to use is recorded, and management information including the user specifying information is recorded on the admission ticket, User entry / exit of the management location is managed based on the management information of the admission ticket, user identification information for identifying the user received from the user's portable information terminal PC, and entry to the management location Based on the management information for managing exit, permission / non-permission of the print request is determined, and print data of the permitted print request is output to the image forming apparatus 5 according to the print condition of the print request, and the image Forming device 5 To calculate the billing fee for the image output on the basis of the image output results, it is managed using the management information of the input field ticket settlement of the accounting fee that the calculated.

  Accordingly, it is possible to provide an appropriate image output service by appropriate charging at a place where entrance and exit can be managed.

  In the image forming system 1 according to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 5 notifies the charging apparatus 6 of the appropriateness of image output for each page to the charging apparatus 6 via the network NW1, and the charging apparatus 6 outputs the image output for each page. A charge for image output is calculated based on suitability.

  Therefore, it is possible to calculate and charge a charging fee according to the suitability of image output, and to provide an appropriate image output service with even more appropriate charging.

  Further, in the image forming system 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the charging device 6 calculates a charging fee that charges only for a page on which an appropriate image output has been performed.

  Therefore, no charge is made for pages that could not be properly formed such as paper jams or density defects, and the charge for the unattended image output service can be made even more appropriate. .

  Further, in the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment, the ticketing / settlement device 4 accepts an arbitrary fee with the payment fee for image output as a prepaid fee, and the ticketing / settlement device 4 uses the billing fee calculated by the billing device 6. It is settled from the prepaid fee.

  Therefore, pre-payment and post-payment of the charge for the image output service can be appropriately processed according to the usage form of the user, and usability can be improved.

  Furthermore, in the image forming system 1 of this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 5 is mounted on a public transportation vehicle as a management place, and the ticket issuing / settlement device 4 is used as an entrance ticket for a reserved seat of the vehicle ( Sectional ticket) is issued, and as user identification information (user ID), either seat information of the reserved seat or unique identification information (user identification ID) input by the user is selected according to the user's selection Adopted and recorded on the section ticket.

  Therefore, an image output service by the image forming apparatus 5 mounted on a vehicle of public transportation can be provided at an appropriate charging fee while appropriately securing confidentiality of documents according to the use form of the user. . In addition, if the specific identification information is used as the user identification information, even if the section ticket that is the admission ticket is lost and passed to the third party, the third party can print the user's print data. Printing can be prevented, and the confidentiality of the document can be more appropriately ensured.

  Further, in the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment, the ticketing / settlement device 4 accepts an arbitrary fee with the payment for image output as a prepaid fee, and the ticketing / settlement device 4 is used by the user's selection. If the specific information (user specific ID) input by the user is adopted as the user specifying information and recorded in the admission ticket (section ticket), the ticket issuing / settlement device 4 charges the image output service. When the surplus is generated in the prepaid fee, the surplus is stored in correspondence with the user specifying information, and when the admission ticket (section ticket) is issued after the next time, Make surplus available as a prepaid fee.

  Therefore, the ticketing process for the admission ticket (section ticket) can be simplified, the upper limit of the charging fee can be set in advance, and the charging fee for the image output service can be quickly settled. Can be improved.

  Further, in the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment, the ticket issuing / settlement device 4 accepts an arbitrary fee with the payment fee for the image output as a prepaid fee, settles the charging fee for the image output service from the prepaid fee, When surplus money is generated in the prepayment fee, the surplus money is refunded.

  Therefore, depending on whether or not the user can use the image output service from the next time onward, it is possible to prevent the payment fee from being overpaid and to appropriately settle the advance payment fee. Thus, the usability of the user can be further improved.

  Moreover, the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment prints user identification information (passenger identification information) such as a user ID on a section ticket that is an admission ticket.

  Therefore, even when the user (passenger) forgets the user identification information such as the user ID, the user ID printed on the section ticket can be used to receive the image output service, thereby improving the usability. be able to.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to that described in the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

  The present invention is applied to an image forming system, an image forming control method, an image forming control program, and a recording medium that collect an accounting fee and provide an image output service at a management place where entrance and exit of a public transportation vehicle can be managed. can do.

1 is a system configuration diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of an image forming apparatus. The flowchart which shows the image formation control process before boarding. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing image formation control processing continued from FIG. 3. FIG. The flowchart which shows the image formation control process after boarding.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system 2 Host apparatus 3 Boarding management apparatus 4 Ticketing / settlement apparatus 5 Image forming apparatus 6 Billing apparatus NW1, NW2 Network PC Personal digital assistant 11 Intermediate transfer belt 12Y, 12M, 12C, 12Bk Photoconductor 13Y, 13M, 13C, 13Bk Charging unit 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14Bk Developing unit 15Y, 15M, 15C, 15Bk Primary transfer unit 16Y, 16M, 16C, 16Bk Cleaning unit 17 Secondary transfer roller 20 Fixing unit 21 Paper sensor

Claims (14)

  An image forming apparatus that is installed in a management place where entrance / exit can be managed and is connected to a predetermined network and forms an image on a sheet based on print data sent via the network, and use of the image forming apparatus Ticket issuing means for issuing an admission ticket to the management place on condition that the user specifying information specifying the user is input to a desired user and recording management information including the user specifying information in the admission ticket; An entry / exit management means for managing entry / exit of the management location of the user connected to the network based on the management information of the admission ticket, and making a print request from the user's portable information terminal via the network User specifying information receiving means for receiving user specifying information for specifying the user, user specifying information connected to the network and received by the user specifying information receiving means, and the entrance / exit control Print request management means for determining whether the print request is permitted / not permitted based on management information managed by the means and causing the image forming apparatus to output an image of the print data of the permitted print request in accordance with the print condition of the print request. Charging fee calculation means for calculating a charging fee for the image output based on an image output result of the image forming apparatus connected to the network, and a charging fee calculated by the charging fee calculation means connected to the network. An image forming system comprising: a payment management means for managing payment using the management information of the admission ticket.   The image forming apparatus notifies the charging fee calculation unit of the appropriateness of the image output for each page via the network, and the charging fee calculating unit determines whether the image output is appropriate based on the appropriateness of the image output for each page. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein a charge fee is calculated.   3. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the charging fee calculation unit calculates a charging fee for charging only a page on which an appropriate image output has been performed.   The image forming system further includes a prepaid fee accepting unit that accepts an arbitrary fee using a payment fee for image output as a prepaid fee, and the settlement management unit settles the billing fee from the prepaid fee. The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The image forming apparatus is mounted on a public transportation vehicle as the management place, and the ticket issuing means issues a ticket for a reserved seat of the vehicle as the admission ticket, and the user specifying information includes Either one of the seat information of the reserved seat and the specific information input by the user is adopted according to the user's selection and recorded in the ticket. The image forming system described in 1.   The image forming system further includes a prepaid fee accepting unit that accepts an arbitrary fee as a prepaid fee for the image output, and the ticket issuing unit has a unique input by the user as the user specifying information. The specific information is recorded in the admission ticket, and the settlement management means settles the billing fee from the prepaid fee and, when surplus money is generated in the prepaid fee, causes the surplus money to correspond to the user identifying information. And when the ticket issuing means issues the admission ticket, the surplus money for the user identification information to be issued for the admission ticket is stored in the settlement management means. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming system is usable as an image forming system.   The image forming system further includes a prepaid fee accepting unit that accepts an arbitrary fee using a payment fee for image output as a prepaid fee, and the settlement management unit settles the billing fee from the prepaid fee, and 7. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein when surplus money is generated in the prepayment fee, the surplus money is refunded.   A user who desires to use an image forming apparatus that is installed in a management place where entrance / exit can be managed and is connected to a predetermined network and forms an image on a sheet based on print data sent via the network. A ticketing process step for issuing an admission ticket to the management place on the condition that the user specifying information for specifying the user is input and recording management information including the user specifying information in the admission ticket; Entrance / exit management processing step for managing entrance / exit of the management place based on the management information of the admission ticket, and a user for identifying the user who requests printing from the user's portable information terminal via the network A user identification information reception processing step for receiving identification information, a user identification information received in the user identification information reception processing step via the network, and the entrance / exit management processing step. Print request management processing step for determining whether the print request is permitted or not based on the management information managed in step S1 and causing the image forming apparatus to output an image of the print data of the permitted print request in accordance with the print condition of the print request. A charging fee calculation processing step for calculating a charging fee for the image output based on an image output result of the image forming apparatus received via the network, and a charging fee calculated in the charging fee calculation processing step. An image formation control method, comprising: a settlement management processing step for managing settlement using the management information of the admission ticket.   9. The image forming control method according to claim 8, wherein the charging fee calculation processing step calculates a charging fee for the image output based on suitability of image output for each page in the image forming apparatus.   The image formation control method further includes a prepayment fee reception processing step for accepting an arbitrary fee with a payment fee for image output as a prepayment fee, and the settlement management processing step calculates the billing fee from the prepayment fee. 10. The image formation control method according to claim 8, wherein the image formation control method is performed.   The image formation control method further includes a prepayment fee acceptance processing step for accepting an arbitrary fee with a payment fee for image output as a prepayment fee, and the ticketing processing step includes a user's identification information as the user identification information. The specific information to be input is recorded in the admission ticket, and the settlement management processing step settles the billing fee from the prepaid fee, and when a surplus is generated in the prepaid fee, the surplus is converted to the user. Stored in correspondence with the specific information, and when the ticketing processing step issues the admission ticket, the surplus for the user specifying information to be issued for the admission ticket is stored in the checkout management step. 11. The image forming control method according to claim 8, wherein the surplus money can be used as a prepayment fee.   The image formation control method further includes a prepayment fee reception processing step for accepting an arbitrary fee with a payment fee for image output as a prepayment fee, and the settlement management processing step calculates the billing fee from the prepayment fee. The image forming control method according to claim 8, wherein, when surplus is generated in the prepaid fee, the surplus is refunded.   Use that desires to use an image forming apparatus that is installed in a management place where entry / exit can be managed on a computer and is connected to a predetermined network and forms an image on a sheet based on print data sent via the network A ticketing process for issuing an admission ticket to the management place on the condition that the user specifying information for identifying the user is entered and recording management information including the user specifying information on the admission ticket; Entry / exit management processing for managing entry / exit of the management location based on the management information of the admission ticket, and use for specifying the user making a print request from the portable information terminal of the user via the network Based on the user identification information receiving process for receiving the user identification information, the user identification information received in the user identification information reception process via the network, and the management information managed in the entrance / exit management process. A print request management process for determining whether the print request is permitted or not, and outputting the print data of the permitted print request to the image forming apparatus under the print condition of the print request, and the received print request via the network A charge fee calculation process for calculating a charge fee for the image output based on an image output result in the image forming apparatus, and a settlement of the charge fee calculated in the charge fee calculation process using the management information of the admission ticket An image formation control program for executing a settlement management process to be managed.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the image forming control program according to claim 13 is recorded.

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