JP2012048338A - Charging device, image formation device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a safe charging without increasing a burden of a user even when the quantity of copies reaches a plurality while effectively preventing an incorrect usage of copy functions.SOLUTION: A preparation processing part 18 keeps adding document image data acquired by an image reading part 22 to copy objects to make a print information storage part 20 store the data, and, once it is determined that the copy objects are fixed, notifies a charging processing part 16 of it. The charging processing part 16 controls a card handling part 14 or a cash handling part 15 to perform charging processing about the total copy fee, and, after the charging processing (after the copy fee is charged), notifies the print processing part 21 of it. The print processing part 21 reads out the data (the data of document images of copy objects or the like) stored in the print information storage part 20 and supplies it to an image formation part 23 to make the image formation part 23 print the document images on recording material. After it, the print processing part 21 erases the data already printed from the print information storage part 20.

Description

  The present invention relates to a charging apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a program.

Conventionally, a document image is read to acquire document image data, and based on this data, the document image is printed on a recording material such as paper (image formation), whereby the document is copied (copied) to another recording material. An image forming apparatus having a copying function is known.
When such an image forming apparatus is installed in a store such as a convenience store and a copy function is provided to a visitor, a device for collecting a copy fee is required.

  For example, in an image forming apparatus that supports billing with a card that stores currency information (for example, electronic money) that can be used for payment of a fee, such as before the card is presented at a predetermined presentation position, etc. If the billing source is not specified, the copy function is disabled and the copy function is enabled according to the specified billing source by presenting the card. A copy fee is collected from the billing source for each copy, and when the user finishes using the copy function or cannot be collected from the billing source (the balance of electronic money is the copy fee) In such a case, it is considered that the copy function is transitioned to an unusable state and the copy fee is collected while eliminating unauthorized use of the copy function.

  Further, for example, in Patent Document 1, after a card is deceived by a card read / write device, a service designation is received from a user, a service executable fee that is a criterion for determining whether or not to start the service is calculated, and service execution is performed. If the card is charged more than the possible fee, it will be charged to the card after the specified service is allowed to start and after the execution of the service is completed or every time the service with the planned throughput is executed. The structure which collects a charge from the amount of money is disclosed.

JP 2007-047853 A

  The present invention proposes a technique that can safely charge without causing an increase in the burden on the user even when the copy result is a plurality of copies while effectively preventing unauthorized use of the copy function. For the purpose.

  The present invention described in claim 1 is a determination unit that determines that one or more document images are determined as print targets for a document image acquired by reading an image of a document by the acquisition unit; and the determination unit Charging means for charging a total fee for the printing prior to printing one or more original images to be printed after it is determined that the printing target is determined by Is a charging device characterized by the above.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the billing apparatus according to the first aspect, the billing unit can use the currency information that can be used to pay a fee after the determination unit determines that the printing target has been determined. Is charged for currency information stored in the storage medium in response to the presentation of the storage medium.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the billing apparatus according to the first aspect, the billing unit uses the currency information that can be used to pay a fee after the determination unit determines that the object of printing has been determined. In response to the input of the identification information corresponding to the currency information stored in the external electronic payment system, the currency information corresponding to the identification information stored in the electronic payment system. Charging is performed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the billing apparatus according to the first aspect, the billing unit is responsive to the insertion of cash after the determination unit determines that the printing target has been determined. And charging the cash.

  The present invention described in claim 5 is an acquisition unit that reads an image of a document to acquire a document image, and a determination unit that determines that one or more document images acquired by the acquisition unit are determined as print targets. And a charging unit that charges a total fee for printing one or more original images to be printed after the determination unit determines that the printing target has been determined, and charging by the charging unit An image forming apparatus comprising: a printing unit configured to print one or more original images to be printed on a recording material after the printing is performed.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a determination function for determining that one or more original images have been determined as print targets for an original image obtained by reading an image of an original by an acquisition unit in a computer. A charging function for charging a total fee related to the printing prior to printing one or more document images to be printed after it is determined that the printing target is determined by the determination function; It is a program for realizing.

  According to the first, fifth, and sixth aspects of the present invention, the unauthorized use of the copy function is effectively prevented, and even if the copy result is a plurality of copies, it is safe without increasing the burden on the user. Can be charged.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is no need to present a storage medium storing currency information that can be used to pay a fee from the start to the end of use of the copy function. In this case, when the user leaves the place, the risk of the storage medium being taken away by another person or the storage medium being misplaced after using the copy function can be reduced.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is no need to access an external electronic payment system storing currency information that can be used for payment of charges from the start to the end of use of the copy function. Risk of identity information being stolen by another person when the user leaves the site during use, or forgetting to terminate access to the electronic payment system after using the copy function and stealing currency information by another person Sex can be reduced.

  According to the present invention as set forth in claim 4, it is not necessary to put in a certain amount of cash in advance, for example, when a user leaves the place in the middle of using the copy function, This reduces the risk that a refund operation will be performed and the balance will be taken away, or that the refund operation will be forgotten after the copy function is used.

It is a figure which illustrates the functional block of the image processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which illustrates the flow of the copy process by the image processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which illustrates the screen display in the image processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which illustrates the screen display in the image processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which illustrates the screen display in the image processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which illustrates the screen display in the image processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which illustrates the main hardware constitutions of the computer which operate | moves as an image processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the following, a document image is read to acquire document image data, and based on this data, the document image is printed on a recording material such as paper (image formation), whereby the document is copied (replicated) to another recording material. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other functions in addition to the copy function (for example, reading photographic image data from an external recording medium and printing it on a recording material) The present invention can also be applied to an apparatus such as a multi-function machine that is provided with a photo print function.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the copying machine 1 according to this example includes a UI (user interface) unit 11, a card handling unit 14, a cash handling unit 15, a charging processing unit 16, a communication processing unit 17, Functional units such as a copy control unit 18, an image reading unit 22, and an image forming unit 23 are provided.

  The UI unit 11 is an interface for exchanging information with a user, and includes a display unit 12 configured by a display device such as a liquid crystal panel for displaying and outputting various types of information presented to the user, An operation button 13 for receiving various operation inputs (instructions) from a user, an operation unit 13 configured by an input device such as a touch panel, and the like are included.

The card handling unit 14 is a functional unit configured by a mechanism for handling a storage medium storing currency information that can be used for payment of charges, and communicates with a storage medium presented at a predetermined presentation position to exchange currency information. Read and write. The communication with the storage medium may be non-contact communication that communicates without contacting the storage medium, or may be contact communication that communicates while in contact with the storage medium. Further, the card handling unit 14 can be configured in various modes, for example, a mode in which a loading slot into which a storage medium is loaded, a mode in which a presentation unit on which a storage medium is loaded (or tricked), and the like are provided. Is mentioned. In this example, a case where a prepaid card storing electronic money (an example of currency information) corresponding to an amount paid in advance as a storage medium will be described. Other storage media such as a mobile phone terminal storing money may be added to the handling target.
The cash handling unit 15 is a functional unit configured by a mechanism for handling cash, and includes a cash input unit into which cash is input, a change discharge unit from which change is discharged, and the like.

  The communication processing unit 17 performs communication processing with the external system 2 outside the apparatus by wire or wireless. In this example, communication processing is performed with a history management system, which is an example of the external system 2, and the usage history of electronic money is managed for each card (or for each user) on the history management system side. ing. As will be described later, communication processing may be performed with an external electronic payment system, and charging may be performed by a method according to the electronic payment system.

The image reading unit 22 reads an image of a document, acquires document image data, and supplies the data to the copy control unit 18.
The image forming unit 23 prints the original image on a recording material such as paper (image formation) based on the original image data (and print condition data) supplied from the copy control unit 18.
The copy control unit 18 is a functional unit that controls the operation of the copy function, and includes a preparation processing unit 19, a print information storage unit 20, a print processing unit 21, and the like.

  The preparation processing unit 19 performs copy preparation processing. As a copy preparation process, a new document image (a document image acquired by the image reading unit 22) is set as a copy target in accordance with an operation input (instruction) received from the user by the UI unit 11 (operation unit 13). There are a process for adding, a process for deleting unnecessary original images from the copy target, a process for setting copy conditions for the original image to be copied, and the like. Examples of copy conditions include various conditions such as the number of copies, black and white or color, the size and type of recording material (plain paper, photographic paper, etc.), double-sided copy or single-sided copy. The copy conditions may be set individually for each document image, may be set in units of a plurality of document images, or may be set collectively for all document images. In this example, the initial value of the copy condition is set in advance, and the initial value is applied when there is no instruction from the user.

  The preparation processing unit 19 also determines whether or not the copy target (and copy conditions) has been confirmed after the copy preparation processing has been completed, and if it is determined that the copy target has been determined, the preparation processing unit 19 charges that fact. It has a function of notifying the processing unit 16 and causing the charging processing unit 16 to execute charging processing. In this example, it is determined that the copy target has been confirmed by accepting the operation input for confirming the copy target from the user. For example, from the time when the operation input was last received from the user The determination may be made based on other requirements, such as determining that the copy target has been determined when a predetermined time has passed.

The print information storage unit 20 stores the result of the preparation process by the preparation processing unit 19. In other words, data of the original image to be copied, data of copy conditions, and the like are stored.
The print processing unit 21 receives data from the charging processing unit 16 that the charging process has been completed (collected the copy fee), and then stores the data stored in the print information storage unit 20 (such as the data of the original image to be copied and the Copy condition data) is read out and supplied to the image forming unit 23 to print the original image on a recording material (image formation) according to the copy condition, and the printed data is erased from the print information storage unit 20. In this example, after receiving a notification that the accounting process has been completed from the accounting processing unit 16, the printing process is performed upon receipt of an operation input indicating that printing is to be executed from the user. However, the print processing may be performed in response to other requirements such as performing the print processing upon receiving a notification from the billing processing unit 16 that the billing processing has been completed.

  In response to receiving a notification that the copy target (and copy conditions) has been confirmed from the preparation processing unit 19, the charging processing unit 16 performs a charging process for the total fee for copying, and after the charging process ends (the copy fee) ) Is notified to the print processing unit 21, and the print processing unit 21 is caused to execute the print processing. In other words, in this example, after it is determined that the document image to be copied has been confirmed, the billing process is executed prior to the execution of the printing process based on the document image. In addition, the copy fee is not charged for each copy, but the total fee for copying is charged in a lump.

The contents of the charging process by the charging processing unit 16 of this example will be further described.
In this example, after determining the copy target (and copy conditions), first, the total copy fee is calculated by multiplying the copy fee per sheet by the number of original images to be copied and the number of copies, and this is displayed on the display unit. 12 is displayed and output to the user. In addition, for example, prepare a fee table that determines the copy fee per copy for each combination of copy conditions such as black and white or color, recording material size and type, double-sided copy or single-sided copy The total copy fee may be calculated in consideration of copy conditions other than the number of copies.

  After the total charge for copying is displayed on the display unit 12, an operation input for selecting the payment method is received by the operation unit 13. The billing processing unit 16 of this example corresponds to a payment method using a prepaid card that stores electronic money corresponding to an amount paid in advance and a payment method using cash. Can be selected.

  When the card payment method is selected, the card handling unit 14 is controlled to charge the electronic money in the card at the predetermined presentation position. Specifically, electronic money data stored in the presented card is displayed in response to the display unit 12 displaying and prompting to present the card at the presentation position, and the card being presented at the presentation position. Is read out, the amount corresponding to the total fee for copying is subtracted from the electronic money, and the resulting data is written to the card. Thereby, the total fee for copying is collected from the electronic money in the card, and the balance of the electronic money in the card is updated. Further, in this example, data in which charging contents are recorded is transmitted to the history management system by the communication processing unit 17 and is managed by the history management system as a usage history of electronic money. As a result, it is possible to obtain a history in which the total fee for copying is charged collectively, so that the history is simpler than the method in which the copying fee is charged for each copy.

  On the other hand, when the cash payment method is selected, the cash handling unit 15 is controlled to charge the inserted cash. Specifically, the display unit 12 displays a display prompting the user to insert cash into the cash input unit, detects the amount of cash inserted according to the cash input into the cash input unit, and copies The change corresponding to the total fee is subtracted from the change discharge unit.

It should be noted that an explicit selection of a payment method by a user may be omitted by assuming that the corresponding payment method is selected by presenting a card or inserting cash.
In this example, the payment method is selected after the total copy fee is calculated. However, the copy fee may be calculated after the payment method is selected. Further, an extra charge or a discount charge for each payment method may be set in advance, and the copy fee may be adjusted (adding the extra charge or subtracting the discount charge) according to the selected payment method.

When the charge processing unit 16 finishes charging for the total fee for copying, it notifies the print processing unit 21 to that effect.
Here, when the amount of electronic money in the presented card or the amount of cash inserted is less than the total fee for copying (when the fee is insufficient), the billing processing unit 16 performs processing according to the user's instruction. I do. For example, when an instruction to stop copying is received, the card or cash is returned without charging, and the data stored in the print information storage unit 20 (the data of the original image to be copied and the copy conditions) Data). For example, when receiving an instruction to cancel the payment and redo the setting of the copy target (and copy conditions), the card or cash is returned (or put on hold) without charging and is sent to the preparation processing unit 19. Send back the processing. For example, when an instruction to pay the remaining amount is received by another payment method, the remaining amount is charged by the payment method. For example, when receiving an instruction to copy within the possible range, the entire amount of electronic money or inserted cash in the presented card is collected and notified to the print processing unit 21 to that extent (For example, N sheets from the top in accordance with a predetermined order, N sheets selected by the user, etc.) are printed.

Next, the copy processing flow illustrated in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to the screen displays illustrated in FIGS.
In the UI unit 11 of the copying machine 1 of this example, an operation button 31 for instructing “reading a document” is initially displayed as illustrated in FIG. In the state shown in FIG. 3, when the user places a document to be read at a predetermined position and presses the operation button 31, the image is read by the image reading unit 22 and the document image data is read. Is stored in the print information storage unit 19 as a copy target by the preparation processing unit 19 (step S1).

  Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the UI unit 11 displays an operation button 32 for instructing “end reading” in addition to the operation button 31 described above. In the state of FIG. 4, when the operation button 31 is pressed by the user, the process of step S <b> 1 is executed again, and when the operation button 32 is pressed, the preparation processing unit 19. Thus, it is determined that the reading has been completed (the copy target has been determined) (step S2). Further, if necessary, after setting the copy condition based on the operation input by the user, the preparation processing unit 19 notifies the billing processing unit 16 that the copy target (and copy condition) has been determined. .

  After that, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the UI unit 11 displays an operation button 33 for selecting “pay with card” and an operation button 34 for selecting “pay with cash” as a copy fee payment method. Is done. Although not shown in FIG. 5, the UI unit 11 also displays the total fee for copying calculated based on the confirmed copy target (and copy conditions). In the state of FIG. 5, when the user presses the operation button 33, the card payment method is selected, and when the user presses the operation button 34, the cash is used. A payment method is selected (step S3).

  When the payment method by card is selected, the card handling unit 14 operates under the control of the billing processing unit 16 to charge the electronic money stored in the card presented by the user. On the other hand, when the cash payment method is selected, the cash handling unit 15 operates under the control of the charging processing unit 16, and the cash charged by the user is charged. The charging processing unit 16 notifies the print processing unit 21 that charging has been completed (step S4).

  Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the UI unit 11 displays an operation button 35 for instructing “copy start”. When the operation button 35 is pressed in the state shown in FIG. 6, the print processing unit 21 reads out the data in the print information storage unit 20 (the original image data to be copied and the copy condition data). Are supplied to the image forming unit 23, and each original image to be copied is printed on the recording material (image formation) according to the copy conditions (step S5).

  As described above, in the copying machine 1 of this example, after it is determined that one or more original images have been determined as copy targets (and copy conditions), the total fee for copying is charged according to the selected payment method. Thereafter, a process of printing (image forming) each original image to be copied on a recording material in accordance with the copy conditions is performed.

Here, in the above description, the payment method using a storage medium such as a card that stores electronic money according to the amount paid in advance and the payment method using cash have been described as an example. Also good.
For example, you may employ | adopt the payment system by the external electronic payment system which memorize | stored the currency information which can be used for payment of a charge. In this case, for example, when the identification information (and password) corresponding to the currency information is input, the input identification information (and password) is transmitted to the external electronic settlement system, and the total number of copies is further increased. A configuration may be adopted in which billing is performed for currency information corresponding to input identification information by transmitting fee data.

Various systems can be used as the electronic settlement system as described above.
As an example, in the case of an electronic payment system that stores electronic money (an example of currency information) corresponding to the amount paid in advance in association with the identification information, it accepts input of electronic money identification information, and the identification The electronic money specified by the information is charged.
As another example, in the case of an electronic payment system that stores fee payment account data (an example of currency information) in association with user identification information, it accepts input of user identification information, and if necessary In this configuration, the input of the password is accepted, and the payment account accessed using the user identification information (and password) is charged.

  Further, for example, a payment method using an electronic settlement system in which a product purchase history or service usage history is stored in association with user identification information and charges are subsequently charged may be employed. In this case, for example, when the identification information (and password) of the user is input, the input identification information (and password) is transmitted to an external electronic settlement system, and the total fee for copying is further transmitted. By sending the data, the total copy fee data is stored in association with the user identification information as the copy function usage history, and it is assumed that the copy fee is charged. That's fine.

Note that the input of the electronic money identification information and the user identification information transmitted to each electronic payment system described above may be a manual input by the user or a read input from the presented card. Good.
Moreover, each electronic payment system mentioned above is only an illustration, and you may make it use the electronic payment system of another form.

FIG. 7 illustrates a main hardware configuration of a computer that operates as the copying machine 1 of this example.
In this example, a main memory such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51 that performs various arithmetic processing, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 52 that is a work area of the CPU 51, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 53 that records basic control programs. Auxiliary storage device (for example, magnetic disk such as HDD (Hard Disk Drive), rewritable non-volatile memory such as flash memory) 54, various An input / output I / F 55 that is an interface with an input device such as an operation button or a touch panel used for an input operation by a display device for displaying and outputting information, and a touch panel or other devices, or wired or wirelessly with another device or system IN to communicate Communication I / F 56 is over the face, is composed of a computer having hardware resources like.
Then, the program according to the embodiment of the present invention is read from the auxiliary storage device 54 and the like, loaded into the RAM 52, and executed by the CPU 51, thereby causing each function of the charging apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention to be a copying machine. It is realized on one computer.

In this example, each functional unit of the copying machine 1 is provided in one computer, but each functional unit may be provided in a distributed manner in a plurality of computers.
In addition, the program according to the embodiment of the present invention may be a computer according to the present example, for example, in a format read from an external storage medium such as a CD-ROM storing the program or a format received via a communication line. Set to
Moreover, it is not restricted to the aspect which implement | achieves each function part by software configuration like this example, You may make it implement | achieve each function part with a dedicated hardware module.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Copy machine, 11: UI (user interface) part, 12: Display part, 13: Operation part, 14: Card handling part, 15: Cash handling part, 16: Charge processing part, 17: Communication processing part, 18 : Copy control unit, 19: Preparation processing unit, 20: Print information storage unit, 21: Print processing unit, 22: Image reading unit, 23: Image forming unit

Claims (6)

A determination unit that determines that one or more document images have been determined as print targets for a document image acquired by reading an image of the document by the acquisition unit;
A charging unit that charges a total fee for the printing prior to printing one or more document images that are the target of printing after the determination unit determines that the target of printing is determined;
A charging device comprising: The billing unit is stored in the storage medium in response to the presentation of a storage medium storing currency information that can be used for payment of charges after the determination unit determines that the object of printing has been determined. Charge for currency information
The charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The billing unit is an identifier corresponding to the currency information stored in an external electronic payment system that stores currency information that can be used to pay a fee after the determination unit determines that the object of printing has been determined. In response to input of information, billing is performed for currency information corresponding to the identification information stored in the electronic payment system.
The charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The billing unit charges the cash in response to the insertion of cash after the determination unit determines that the target of printing has been determined.
The charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: Obtaining means for obtaining an original image by reading an image of the original;
Determination means for determining that one or more document images acquired by the acquisition means have been determined as print targets;
A billing unit that charges a total fee for printing one or more document images to be printed after it is determined by the determination unit that the print target is fixed;
Printing means for printing one or more original images to be printed on a recording material after being charged by the charging means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: On the computer,
A determination function for determining that one or more document images are determined as print targets for a document image acquired by reading an image of the document by the acquisition unit;
A charging function for charging a total fee related to the printing prior to printing one or more document images to be printed after it is determined that the printing target is determined by the determination function;
A program to realize

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