JP2011155622A - Image forming apparatus, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a scheme capable of reducing loads of a user in the specification operation of a charging destination to specify an exact charging destination in charging processing of a print job. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes: a log-in information acquisition unit for acquiring log-in information including at least either user information or customer information; a charging destination information acquisition unit for acquiring charging destination information from print job data; a charging destination information input unit for accepting the input of the charging destination information from the user; a charging destination information comparison unit for comparing the charging destination information acquired by the charging destination information acquisition unit with the charging destination information accepted by the charging destination information input unit; a determinor for determining whether or not the charging destination information acquired by the charging destination information acquisition unit matches conditions of the log-in information acquired by the log-in information acquisition unit; and a charging destination determinor for determining the charging destination according to a result of the comparison by the charging destination information comparison unit when pieces of the charging destination information match each other by the determinor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image reading apparatus, a system using them, an information processing method, and a program for realizing the functions of these apparatuses or systems, and in particular, digital copying having a function of connecting to a network. The present invention is suitable when applied to billing processing of a machine, a printer, a FAX, and a multifunction machine of these.

  When performing copying, printing, scanning, faxing, etc. on a multifunction device, there is a demand for specifying a print result recording destination and a billing destination for each print job. For example, when managing multiple development projects as cost management in system development, or when multiple departments are jointly in charge of development projects, record the printing results for each customer, project, and development department. In general, the printing costs are aggregated as the costs of the customers and projects. In order to manage the printing results for each customer, project, and department, the user and group information (hereinafter referred to as user information) based on the authentication process, the charge system and classification (hereinafter referred to as user information) It is indispensable to have a system that is designed and used in advance after the design and setting of the linking information (hereinafter referred to as linking information) that links them (described as billing information). There are systems designed to make it possible to set up and use more efficiently.

For example, the user associates user information and billing destination information by operating a touch panel or the like in the multifunction machine. However, since this input operation is an input operation for a user while viewing a small screen, there is a problem in operability. Furthermore, there is a disadvantage that mistakes are induced while performing an important operation of billing that requires accuracy.
A technique for solving such a problem is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

  According to Patent Document 1, when a document with barcode information embedded with billing destination information is scanned, the information embedded in the barcode is analyzed, and the billing destination information and usage record are registered in the billing table. Thus, the billing process is performed based on this information.

JP2006-350797

  However, there are cases where barcode information cannot be given to a document. For example, for documents to be submitted to customers, if the document format is specified by the customer, there is a problem that barcode information cannot be given for stricter cost control by the user or for improved operability. appear. For this reason, there is a problem that the user manually inputs the document to which the barcode information is not added as usual.

  Further, depending on the user who uses the multifunction device, it is not necessary to simply specify the customer information, and there are cases where the charging conditions must be selected and changed according to the multifunction device to be used and the purpose. Even in such a case, since the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 cannot cope with this, the user has to input manually as usual, and there is a problem that the degree of freedom and usability are reduced. It was.

  Furthermore, there is also a problem of accuracy because it is not evaluated whether the specification of customer information manually input is erroneous input.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and has a mechanism that can reduce the user's load in the billing destination designation operation and specify the billing destination accurately in the print job billing process. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention is an image forming apparatus that performs accounting processing according to an executed print job, and includes user information of a user who uses the image forming apparatus or a print job. Login information acquisition means for acquiring login information including at least one of customer information indicating a charging destination, charging destination information acquisition means for acquiring charging destination information from print job data, and input of charging destination information from a user A billing destination information input unit that accepts, a billing destination information acquired by the billing destination information acquisition unit, a billing destination information comparison unit that compares the billing destination information received by the billing destination information input unit, and the billing destination acquisition input The determination means for determining whether the charging destination information acquired by the means matches the condition of the login information acquired by the login information acquisition means, and the determination means match If, characterized in that it comprises a charging destination determining means for determining a charging destination according to the result of checking by said charging destination collating means.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing method for performing charging processing according to a print job executed by an image forming apparatus, which is user information of a user who uses the image forming apparatus or customer information indicating a charging destination of the print job. A login information acquisition step for acquiring login information including at least one, a charging destination information acquisition step for acquiring charging destination information from print job data, and a charging destination information input step for receiving input of charging destination information from a user; The billing destination information acquired in the billing destination information acquisition step and the billing destination information comparison step for comparing the billing destination information received in the billing destination information input step, and the billing destination information acquired in the billing destination information acquisition step include: A determination step for determining whether or not the conditions of the login information acquired in the login information acquisition step match, and the determination step If it meets at-up, characterized in that it comprises a charging destination determining step of determining a charging destination according to the result of comparing by said charging destination information comparing step.

  Further, the present invention is a program that can be executed by an image forming apparatus that performs charging processing according to a print job to be executed, and includes user information of a user who uses the image forming apparatus or customer information indicating a print job charging destination Login information acquisition means for acquiring login information including at least one of the above, charging destination information acquisition means for acquiring charging destination information from print job data, and charging destination information input means for receiving input of charging destination information from a user Charging destination information acquired by the charging destination information acquisition means and charging destination information comparison means for comparing the charging destination information received by the charging destination information input means, and the charging destination acquired by the charging destination information acquisition means If the information matches the condition of the login information acquired by the login information acquisition means and the determination means matches, the charging According to the result of comparison by the information comparing unit, characterized in that function as charging destination determining means for determining a charging destination.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the user's load in the billing destination designation operation in the print job billing process and to designate the billing destination accurately.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the accounting destination designation | designated system in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the client PC terminal 102 in embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a multifunction machine 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the functional block of the accounting destination designation | designated system in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the various operation screens for receiving the display and instruction | indication to a user in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the data table which the billing destination designation | designated system in embodiment of this invention manages. It is a figure which shows the basic processing flow of the accounting destination designation | designated system in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the basic processing flow of the accounting destination designation | designated system in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the document with which the accounting destination information used with the accounting destination designation | designated system in embodiment of this invention was embedded.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a billing destination designation system in the embodiment of the present invention.

In the billing destination designation system, a client PC terminal 102, an administrator PC terminal 104, a data server 106, and a multifunction peripheral 110 are connected via a network 100, respectively.

  The client PC terminal 102 is a terminal device used by a user who issues a print instruction.

  The administrator PC terminal 104 is a terminal device used by the administrator of the billing destination designation system, and performs operations for creating and updating the table of the data server 106.

  The data server 106 is a server device that stores a data table used in the billing destination designation system, and can exchange data with the client PC terminal 102, the administrator PC terminal 104, and the multifunction peripheral 110 via the network 100. is there.

  The multifunction device 110 is a device that executes printing, scanning, copying, FAX, and the like in response to an instruction from the user or an instruction from the client PC terminal 102.

  Note that the configuration of various terminals connected to the network 100 in FIG. 1 is an example, and it goes without saying that there are various configuration examples depending on applications and purposes.

  Next, the internal hardware configuration of the client PC terminal 102 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of various terminals according to the embodiment of the present invention. Since the administrator PC terminal 104 and the data server 106 are substantially the same, the description thereof is omitted.

  The CPU 201 comprehensively controls each device and controller connected to the system bus 204. In the ROM 202 or the external memory 211, a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System), an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS), which is a control program of the CPU 201, or a function executed by each server or each PC, which will be described later. Various programs are stored. The RAM 203 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 201.

  The CPU 201 implements various operations by loading a program necessary for execution of processing into the RAM 203 and executing the program.

  An input controller (input C) 205 controls input from a pointing device such as a keyboard 209 or a mouse (not shown).

  A video controller (VC) 206 controls display on a display device such as a CRT display (CRT) 210. The display device is not limited to the CRT, but may be a display using another method such as liquid crystal. These are used by the administrator as needed. A memory controller (MC) 207 is a hard disk (HD), floppy disk (registered trademark FD) or PCMCIA card slot for storing boot programs, browser software, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, various data, and the like. Controls access to an external memory 211 such as a compact flash memory connected via an adapter.

  A communication I / F controller (communication I / FC) 208 is connected to and communicates with an external device via a network, and executes communication control processing in the network. For example, Internet communication using TCP / IP is possible.

  Note that the CPU 201 enables display on the CRT 210 by executing outline font rasterization processing on a display information area in the RAM 203, for example. Further, the CPU 201 enables a user instruction with a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 210.

  An xx program 212 for realizing the present invention is recorded in the external memory 211 and is executed by the CPU 201 by being loaded into the RAM 203 as necessary. Furthermore, the definition file 213 and various information tables 214 used by the program 212 according to the present invention are stored in the external memory 211, and detailed description thereof will be described later.

  Next, the internal hardware configuration of the multifunction peripheral 110 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the multifunction peripheral 110.

The multifunction device 110 includes a CPU 301, a RAM 302, a ROM 303, an HDD 304, a network I / F 305, a MODEM 306, an operation unit I / F 307, a RIP (raster image processor) 310, a printer I / F 311, a scanner I / F 313, an image in a controller unit 316. A processing unit 317, an external I / F 318, and an IMAGEBUS I / F 320 are provided. These components are connected in the controller unit 316 via CPU buses 309 and 315. The multifunction machine 110 further includes a printer unit 312, a scanner unit 314, an operation unit 308, and a card reader 319. These operate with each I / F.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an external device (client PC or server PC or other image forming apparatus) in a network such as 100 is a communication network such as a LAN connected to the Network I / F or a public network connected to the MODEM 306. Send and receive data via

The control of each component in the CPU 301 and the controller unit 316 and in particular the overall control of the image processing unit 317 and the external input unit are executed according to the program. The printer unit 312, the scanner unit 314, the operation unit 308, Execute control.
The RAM 302 stores data received from an external device and stores image data rasterized by the RIP 310.
The ROM 303 stores programs, data, and the like.
The HDD 304 is a storage device that stores various data such as image data, user information, billing destination information, and association information.

The network I / F 305 is an interface for connecting the LAN and the controller unit 316. The network I / F 305 sends information sent from an external device via the LAN to the IMAGE BUS I / F 320 via the CPU bus 309, and the IMAGE BUS I / F 320 receives the information.
The MODEM 306 is an interface for connecting the telephone line and the controller unit 316.
The operation unit I / F 307 is an interface for connecting the operation unit 308 and the controller unit 316.

The RIP 310 is a PDL (Page
Print data described in a page description language such as Description Language) is converted into bitmap data. PDL is a programming language for controlling the image forming apparatus.

The image processing unit 317 performs various types of image processing on the bitmap data generated by the scanner unit 314 and the RIP 310.
The operation unit 308 is a device that provides a UI (user interface), presents an operation screen to the user, and accepts various instructions from the user.
The external I / F 318 is an interface for connecting an external reading device that accepts various types of information from the user, using the card reader 319 as an example.

  Next, the functional configuration of the billing destination designation system will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a basic functional configuration of the billing destination designation system in the embodiment of the present invention.

  The multifunction device 110 includes a copy unit 410, a scan unit 420, a FAX unit 430, a printer unit 440, a display / input unit 450, a storage unit 460, a login unit 470, a data transmission / reception unit 490, and a data processing unit 495.

  The display / input unit 450 displays a screen for the user to operate the multi-function peripheral 110, accepts execution instructions for copying, scanning, faxing, and the like, and transmits execution instructions to each processing unit. Further, it has a read data display unit 452 and a manual input unit 451, displays information for designating a billing destination, and accepts an operation instruction.

  The storage unit 460 stores and manages various data necessary for the billing destination designation system.

  The login unit 470 determines whether or not the multifunction device can be used by searching for user information received by the user through an IC card or keyboard input.

  The data transmission / reception unit 490 communicates with the multifunction peripheral 110, the client PC terminal 102, the administrator PC terminal 104, and the data server 106.

  The data processing unit 495 performs image processing and data search processing necessary for billing destination designation processing required in the billing destination designation system.

  The copy unit 410 includes a copy data reading unit 411 and a copy data output unit 412, and upon receiving a copy instruction from the display / input unit 450, the copy data reading unit 411 creates image data from a document, and the image data is The copy data output unit 412 prints out.

  The scan unit 420 includes a scan data reading unit 421, a scan data output unit 422, and a scan data storage unit 423. Upon receiving a scan instruction from the display / input unit 450, the scan data reading unit 421 creates image data from a document. Then, the scan data output unit 422 stores the image data in the scan data storage unit 423.

  The FAX unit 430 includes a unit 411 that receives FAX data, a FAX data reading unit 432, and a FAX data transmission unit 433. When a FAX instruction from the display / input unit 450 is received, the FAX data receiving unit 431 generates image data from the data received by the FAX data receiving unit 431 or the document from the document, and the image data is transmitted to the FAX. The data transmission unit 433 performs FAX transmission.

  The printer unit 440 includes a printer job data receiving unit 441, a printer job data reading unit 442, and a printer job output unit 443. The printer job data reading unit 442 uses the data received by the printer job data receiving unit 441 via the network unit 491. Image data is created, and the printer job output unit 443 prints out the image data.

  The client PC terminal 102 and the administrator PC terminal 104 include a data receiving unit 481, a data storage unit 482, and a printer data transmission unit 483.

The data reception unit 481 receives scan data and data table data transmitted from the multifunction peripheral 110 and the data server 106.
The printer data transmission unit 483 transmits data to be transmitted by FAX and data to be printed out.

  In the case of the data server 106, the data storage unit 482 stores a data table managed by the billing destination designation system. In the case of the client PC terminal 102, data created by an application used by the user is stored.

  As described above, the client PC terminal 102, the administrator PC terminal 104, the data server 106, and the multifunction peripheral 110 are connected to each other via the network 100. All of these are the same as the client PC terminal 102 and the administrator PC terminal 104 described with reference to FIG. 2, the input controller 205 of the client PC terminal 102, and the multifunction device 110 with the composite machine 110 described with reference to FIG. Various processes relating to printing / copying and charging are executed via various operation screens provided by the operation unit 308 and the card reader 319 of the machine. One example will be described below.

  First, a basic processing flow for designating a billing destination in the billing destination designation system will be described with reference to FIGS.

  7 and 8 are diagrams showing a basic processing flow for designating a billing destination in the billing destination designation system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

  First, in step S701, the login unit 470 uses the data server 106 to manage the user ID acquired by the card reader 319 detecting the user's IC card, and the user ID and password data received by the operation unit 308. Authentication is determined based on information (not shown). If the authentication is successful, the process proceeds to the next step S702.

  In step S702, the data processing unit 495 acquires login information such as user information and customer information from the data server 106 via the data transmission / reception unit 490 according to the user ID authenticated in step S701.

  That is, first, the user information table 603 managed by the data server 106 is referred to.

  The user information table 603 in FIG. 6 includes a user ID for identifying a user, a customer in charge indicating a customer in charge of the user, a cost center NO that can be used, and an authority that indicates a function that cannot be used. Further, there may be information such as a user name and an e-mail address.

  Here, the corresponding record is searched according to the user ID authenticated in step S701.

  As a result of the search, the customer information table 602 managed by the data server 106 is further referred to in accordance with the extracted information on the customer in charge.

  The customer information table 602 shown in FIG. 6 includes a customer NO for identifying a customer and a customer name, as well as judgment targets when a billing destination is designated at the customer. In addition, data serving as a criterion for determination according to the determination target is also registered. For example, in the case of OCR, it is a customer name or a FAX number. Further, the logo or the like is logo reference image data to be used for pattern matching.

  Then, according to the customer in charge extracted in the previous search, the data of the corresponding record is acquired.

  Further, according to the extracted information on the customer in charge, the job type managed by the data server 106 and the charging table 604 are referred to.

  The job type and charging table 604 shown in FIG. 6 includes a customer number for identifying a customer, a job type executed by the multifunction peripheral, and money amount information indicating the unit price.

  Then, according to the customer in charge extracted in the previous search, the data of the corresponding record is acquired.

  Further, the cost center NO table 601 managed by the data server 106 is referred to in accordance with the information of the cost center NOs extracted previously that can be used.

  The cost center NO table 601 includes a cost center NO for identifying the user's department and cost center name information.

  Here, the data of the corresponding record is acquired according to the information of the available cost center NO extracted in the previous search.

  The data processing unit 495 stores the login information acquired by the above processing in the storage unit 460.

  In this description, it is assumed that the login information is stored in the storage unit 460. However, the data server 106 is referred to and acquired every time it is necessary to refer to the table data in the billing destination designation process performed by the multifunction peripheral 110. It is good also as what to do.

  In step S703, the MFP represents a print job execution instruction that requires charging such as print, scan, copy, and fax, and print job data of the target, and further represents data analysis. For example, when the display / input unit 450 receives a copy execution instruction from the user, the copy data reading unit 411 creates image data from a document, and the copy data output unit 412 stores the image data in the storage unit 460.

If the job is a printer job or a FAX job, the following processing is performed on each job data transmitted from the client PC terminal 102 and received by the MFP 110 in step S703.
At this time, if the function cannot be used from the authority information of the login information acquired in step S702, the process ends.

  In step S704, the data processing unit 495 obtains the image data stored in step S703, acquires in step S702, and determines whether or not there is billing destination information for the corresponding determination target from the login information stored in the storage unit 460. Is analyzed. In other words, if the determination target extracted in the customer information table 602 is a two-dimensional barcode, logo, OCR, or tint block Add-in, it is analyzed whether information that is a precondition for performing each processing is included. Although an example is shown in FIG. 9, whether the document to be copied includes a two-dimensional barcode or logo mark connected to the billing destination information, image information indicating a background pattern / watermark, or text information indicating a company name / FAX number. Will be analyzed.

  If there is no billing destination information including user information or customer information as a result of the above analysis, the process proceeds to step S708, and if there is billing destination information, the process proceeds to step S705. In the present embodiment, the necessary billing destination information is described as two items of customer NO and cost center NO. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and there may be one item or three or more items.

In step S705, the data processing unit 495 analyzes the determination target based on the result of analysis in step S704 on the image data stored in step S703, and identifies the customer NO to be charged and the user's department. It is determined whether or not the cost center NO that identifies the information can be read.
For example, in the case of a two-dimensional barcode, it is determined whether the customer NO and the cost center NO extracted by analyzing the two-dimensional barcode can be specified.

  Also, from the result of the OCR process on the image data stored in step S703, it is determined whether the customer NO and the cost center NO can be identified from the company name and FAX number.

  If it is a ground pattern or watermark, it is determined whether the customer NO and the cost center NO have been identified since the ground pattern and watermark are analyzed and extracted.

  Further, if it is a logo mark, it is acquired in step S702, and it is determined whether or not the cost center NO can be specified by pattern matching processing with reference image data from the stored login information.

  In addition, although each analysis demonstrated as what processes separately, it is good also as determining by combining a some result.

  As a result of the above determination, if necessary billing destination information could not be read, the process proceeds to step S707 to receive a determination from the user as to whether or not to process again, and when processing again, return to step S703 and repeat. If the process is to be ended in step S707, the process proceeds to step S802 in FIG. 8 to cancel the execution instruction of the multifunction machine 110 and end the process.

  On the other hand, if the customer NO and the cost center NO, which are necessary billing destination information, can be identified in step S705, the process proceeds to step S706, and the result is displayed on the display / input unit 450.

  The reading result display screen 501 in FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which the billing destination information and department information specified in step S704 are displayed. Here, the unit price such as a charge corresponding to the type of execution instruction is obtained from the login information acquired in step S702 based on the billing destination information and the execution instruction information input in step S703 and stored in the storage unit 460. Information is also displayed.

  In step S711, necessary billing destination information has already been read, but a user determination as to whether or not to manually correct the data is awaited. In other words, when the display / input unit 450 receives that the OK button 511 is pressed from the user on the reading result display screen 501, the process proceeds to step S802.

  On the other hand, in step S711, if the display / input unit 450 accepts that the change button 512 has been pressed to correct the billing destination information or unit price information specified in step S704, the process proceeds to step S712.

  In step S 712, a manual input screen is displayed on display / input unit 450.

  A manual input screen 502 in FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a manual input screen is displayed. While comparing with the billing destination information and unit price information displayed on the reading result display screen 501, an input to the input field 521 is awaited.

  In step S713, when the user presses the cancel button 523 because no manual input is performed, the process proceeds to step S802.

  On the other hand, if the user performs manual input processing, that is, the display / input unit 450 accepts that data has been input to the input field 521 and the change button 522 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S714.

  Next, a case will be described where the process proceeds to step S708 when only the portion is reached in step S705. The part only refers to the case where the information required for determining the billing destination is insufficient in the billing destination information read in step S704. For example, the customer NO could be specified, but the cost center NO could not be specified. Such as the case.

  In step S <b> 708, the data processing unit 495 refers to the determination target of the data server 106 and the manual input table 605 via the data transmission / reception unit 490, and determines whether manual input of the billing destination information is necessary.

  The determination target and manual input table 605 is a table in which the necessity of manual input is defined for the analysis determination target that has led to the result obtained in step S705. In consideration of the analysis accuracy in step S705, the analysis accuracy is high, such as a two-dimensional barcode, and the determination target in which necessary billing information is registered in advance is unnecessary or optional. For example, it is necessary to define a judgment object that is erroneously recognized in some cases.

  If manual input is not required in step S708, the process advances to step S813 to cancel the execution instruction of the multifunction peripheral 110, and the process ends.

  If manual input is arbitrary in step S708, the process proceeds to step S706, and the processing described above is performed.

  If manual input is required in step S708, the process proceeds to step S709.

  In step S709, the display / input unit 450 displays the manual input screen.

  The manual input essential screen 503 in FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of displaying the manual input essential screen. The extracted billing destination conditions and billing conditions are displayed, and the input to the input field 531 is waited for an unidentified condition, here, the cost center NO. If it is input, the process proceeds to step S714.

  In step S714, the data processing unit 495 stores the input data received by the display / input unit 450 in the storage unit 460 as provisional registration as charging destination information.

  The billing destination information provisionally registered here is, for example, customer NO, cost center NO, billing unit price, and the like.

  In step S715, the data processing unit 495 compares the reading result in step S704 with the billing destination information provisionally registered in step S714.

  Next, the continuation of the basic processing flow for designating a billing destination in the billing destination designation system described with reference to FIG. 7 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a continuation diagram of FIG. 7 showing a basic processing flow for designating a billing destination in the billing destination designation system of one embodiment of the present invention.

  In step S801, if the result of the comparison in step S715 is not possible, the process proceeds to step S807. “Improper” means, for example, the case where the input data received in step S714 is out of regulation due to an erroneous input or the like, that is, character data is entered where it is numerical data, or the number of digits is different.

  In step S807, the display / input unit 450 displays the manual input information unreadable screen 504 in FIG. 5 on the operation unit 308, and requests re-operation.

  If there is a re-request in step S808, the process returns to step S712 and is repeated.

  On the other hand, if there is no re-request, the process advances to step S813 to cancel the execution instruction of the multifunction machine 110, and the process ends.

  Next, when the reading result in step S801 matches the billing destination information provisionally registered in step S714, the process proceeds to step S802.

  In step S802, the data of the reading result is stored in the storage unit 460 as temporarily registered as billing destination information.

  In step S803, the data processing unit 495 compares the billing destination information provisionally registered in step S802 with the conditions of the login information acquired in step S702 and stored in the storage unit 460.

  As a result of the determination, in the case where the billing destination information provisionally registered in step S714 does not match, for example, when the cost center NO that can be used by a user as a condition of the login information is other than the condition, step S808 is not satisfied. The process described above is performed. If they match, the process proceeds to step S809.

  On the other hand, if the reading result in step S801 does not match the billing destination information provisionally registered in step S714, the process proceeds to step S804.

  In step S804, the display / input unit 450 displays the mismatch information screen 505 between the login information and the billing destination information provisionally registered in step S714 on the operation unit 308, and waits for the user to select billing destination information. At this time, the items that do not match are displayed so that they can be compared, so that the user can easily determine.

  In step S805, since the user selects the result read in step 705, that is, when the display / input unit 450 accepts pressing of the login information button 551, the process proceeds to step S802 to perform the processing described above.

  On the other hand, in step S805, since the user selects the billing destination information temporarily registered in step S714, that is, when the display / input unit 450 accepts pressing of the input data button 552, the process proceeds to step S806.

  In step S806, the data processing unit 495 determines the data registered in step S714 as a billing destination, stores it in the storage unit 460, and proceeds to step S809.

  In step S809, the data processing unit 495 is processed by the multifunction peripheral according to the execution instruction received in step S703.

  In step S810, the billing destination information stored in step S806 in the data processing unit 495 is transmitted as additional data to the data server 106 via the data transmission / reception unit 490. The data server 106 stores the received information in each table such as the cost center NO table 601, the customer information table 602, and the user information table 603 of the data storage unit 482.

  In step S811, the data processing unit 495 refers to the job type and charging table 604 based on the result of step S809 and performs processing for registering charging destination information and usage result information.

  In step S812, the data processing unit 495 performs billing according to the billing process in step S811, and ends the flow.

  As described above, it is possible to provide a system, apparatus, method, and program capable of reducing the user's load in the billing destination designation operation and specifying the billing destination accurately in the print job billing process.

  The object of the present invention can also be achieved by executing the following processing. That is, a storage medium that records a software program that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus stores a program stored in the storage medium. This is a reading process. In this case, the program itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

  Moreover, the following can be used as a storage medium for supplying the program. For example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM or the like. Alternatively, the program may be downloaded via a network.

  Further, the present invention includes a case where the functions of the above embodiments are realized by executing a program read by a computer. In addition, an OS (operating system) running on the computer may perform part or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program, and the functions of the above-described embodiments may be realized by the processing. included.

  Furthermore, a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by the following processing is also included in the present invention. That is, the program read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, based on the instructions of the program, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing.

  Further, the present invention includes a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing a program read by a computer. In addition, there is a case where an OS running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on an instruction of the program, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. In this case, the program is supplied by downloading directly from a storage medium storing the program or from another computer or database (not shown) connected to the Internet, a commercial network, a local area network, or the like.

  The form of the program may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to an OS (operating system), and the like.

100 Network 102 Client PC Terminal 104 Administrator PC Terminal 106 Data Server 110 Multifunction Device

Claims (9)

An image forming apparatus that performs charging processing according to a print job to be executed,
Login information acquisition means for acquiring login information including at least one of user information of a user who uses the image forming apparatus or customer information indicating a charging destination of a print job;
Charging destination information acquisition means for acquiring charging destination information from the print job data;
Billing destination information input means for accepting input of billing destination information from the user;
Charging destination information comparing means for comparing the charging destination information acquired by the charging destination information acquisition means and the charging destination information received by the charging destination information input means;
A determination unit that determines whether the charging destination information acquired by the charging destination information acquisition unit matches a condition of the login information acquired by the login information acquisition unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a billing destination determination unit that determines a billing destination according to a result of comparison by the billing destination information comparison unit when the determination unit matches. An input necessity determination unit that determines whether or not the charging destination information is input by the charging destination information input unit based on the determination target acquired by the charging destination information acquisition unit;
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an input screen display unit that displays an input screen for accepting an input of billing destination information when the input necessity judgment unit determines that billing destination information is necessary. . Display means for displaying the charging destination information acquired by the charging destination information acquisition means and the charging destination information received by the charging destination information input means in a comparable manner;
A selection accepting unit for accepting selection of the billing destination information obtained by the billing destination information obtaining unit displayed by the display unit and the billing destination information accepted by the billing destination information input unit; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a billing destination determination unit that determines a billing destination according to a selection result received by the selection receiving unit.   When the charging destination information acquired by the charging destination information acquisition means has a shortage of items for determining the charging destination, an input screen display means for displaying an input screen for accepting input by the charging destination information input means is provided. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. An information processing method for performing charging processing according to a print job executed by an image forming apparatus,
A login information acquisition step of acquiring login information including at least one of user information of a user who uses the image forming apparatus or customer information indicating a billing destination of the print job;
A charging destination information acquisition step for acquiring charging destination information from the print job data;
A billing destination information input step for accepting input of billing destination information from the user;
A charging destination information comparison step for comparing the charging destination information acquired in the charging destination information acquisition step and the charging destination information received in the charging destination information input step;
A determination step of determining whether the charging destination information acquired in the charging destination information acquisition step matches a condition of the login information acquired in the login information acquisition step;
An information processing method comprising: a billing destination determination step for determining a billing destination according to a result of comparison in the billing destination information comparison step when they match in the determination step. An input necessity determination step for determining whether or not the charging destination information needs to be input in the charging destination information input step from a determination target for acquiring the charging destination information in the charging destination information acquisition step;
6. The information processing method according to claim 5, further comprising: an input screen display step for displaying an input screen for accepting input of billing destination information when the billing destination information is required to be input in the input necessity judgment step. . A display step for displaying the billing destination information acquired in the billing destination information acquisition step and the billing destination information received in the billing destination information input step in a comparable manner;
A selection accepting step for accepting selection of the billing destination information obtained in the billing destination information obtaining step displayed in the display step and the billing destination information accepted in the billing destination information input step; The information processing method according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising a billing destination determination step for determining a billing destination according to a selection result received in the receiving step.   An input screen display step for displaying an input screen for accepting an input in the charging destination information input step when the charging destination information acquired in the charging destination information acquisition step has a shortage of items for determining a charging destination; The information processing method according to any one of claims 5 to 7. A program that can be executed by an image forming apparatus that performs accounting processing according to a print job to be executed,
Login information acquisition means for acquiring login information including at least one of user information of a user who uses the image forming apparatus or customer information indicating a charging destination of a print job;
Charging destination information acquisition means for acquiring charging destination information from the print job data;
Billing destination information input means for accepting input of billing destination information from the user;
Charging destination information comparing means for comparing the charging destination information acquired by the charging destination information acquisition means and the charging destination information received by the charging destination information input means;
A determination unit that determines whether the charging destination information acquired by the charging destination information acquisition unit matches a condition of the login information acquired by the login information acquisition unit;
A program that functions as a billing destination determination unit that determines a billing destination according to a result of comparison by the billing destination information comparison unit when the determination unit matches.

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