JP2015018323A - Service providing device, service providing system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device and system capable of providing services even if a user does not perform temporary payment when a network error occurs.SOLUTION: The device includes an input reception part 70 for receiving an input of authentication information for authenticating a user, a communication determination part 71 for determining whether to be communicable with an information processor to transmit the authentication information to the information processor, a job execution part 72 for permitting providing a service to the user to execute a job for providing the service if determined to be incommunicable, and an information transmission part 73 for transmitting a charging processing request including the inputted authentication information and the contents of the executed job to the information processor when the communication determination part 71 determines that communication is possible after finishing job execution.

Description

  The present invention relates to a service providing apparatus that provides a service to a user, a service providing system including the service providing apparatus, and a program for causing a computer to execute the processing.

  As a device that provides services such as copying, scanning, fax transmission, and data communication, an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) is installed in a public place and used by many users. The MFP provides various services to the user when the user pays a predetermined fee and is charged. Therefore, the user has to change the fee each time the MFP is used for business purposes.

  Since it is troublesome to replace such a fee, it is determined whether or not the server connected to the network can be borne by the company. , See Patent Document 1).

  In the above system, if a network error occurs, the MFP cannot connect to the server, and it is impossible to determine whether the fee can be paid by the company. This is inconvenient because the user cannot receive the service while the network error occurs and the fee needs to be changed.

  Therefore, it is desired to provide an apparatus, a system, or the like that can provide a service to a user even if a network error occurs without the user switching.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention performs user authentication based on authentication information for authenticating a user, communicates with an information processing apparatus that performs billing processing, and provides a service to the user Whether or not communication is possible between the input receiving unit that receives the input of authentication information and the information processing device to transmit the authentication information received by the input receiving unit to the information processing device. A communication determination unit that determines whether communication is impossible by the communication determination unit, a job execution unit that allows the user to provide a service and executes a job for providing the service, and a job execution Charge processing request including the input authentication information and the contents of the executed job in response to the communication determining unit determining that communication is possible And a data transmitting unit that transmits to the information processing apparatus, service providing apparatus is provided.

  According to the present invention, when a network error occurs, it is possible to provide a service to a user without the user having to switch over.

The figure which showed the structural example of the service provision system of this embodiment. The figure which illustrated the hardware constitutions of the image forming apparatus used for the service provision system shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of software installed in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2. The figure which illustrated the hardware constitutions of the accounting server used for the service provision system shown in FIG. The functional block diagram of the service provision system shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating processing performed between the image forming apparatus and the accounting server when a network error has not occurred. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating processing performed by the image forming apparatus during a network error and processing performed between the image forming apparatus and the accounting server after the network is restored from the error. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing up to service provision performed by the image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing after service provision performed by the image forming apparatus. The flowchart which illustrated the flow of the user authentication process which an accounting server performs. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating another example of processing performed by the image forming apparatus during a network error and processing performed between the image forming apparatus and the accounting server after the network is restored from the error. The flowchart which illustrated the flow of the accounting process which an accounting server performs. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing performed when the network is restored from a network error while the image forming apparatus is executing copying.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a service providing system according to the present embodiment. The service providing system includes a service providing apparatus that provides a service, and an information processing apparatus that communicates with the service providing apparatus and executes an accounting process. Here, only one service providing apparatus and one information processing apparatus are shown, but the service providing system may include two or more service providing apparatuses.

  The service providing apparatus may be any apparatus as long as it can provide a service. Examples of the service providing apparatus include a copy machine that provides a copy service, a fax apparatus that provides a fax service, a server apparatus that provides a communication service, and a printer that provides a print service. An example of the service providing apparatus is an MFP that can provide these services.

  The information processing apparatus may be any apparatus as long as it can communicate with the service providing apparatus and execute the charging process. As the information processing apparatus, a server apparatus, MFP, or the like can be used. Hereinafter, the service providing apparatus will be described as an image forming apparatus such as an MFP, and the information processing apparatus will be described as a charging server that executes charging processing.

  The service providing system shown in FIG. 1 includes an image forming apparatus 11 and a charging server 12 connected to a network 10. The network 10 may be either a wired network or a wireless network. The network 10 may include both a wired network and a wireless network. Examples of the network 10 include a LAN, a WAN, and the Internet.

  The image forming apparatus 11 and the accounting server 12 may be connected to the network 10 by a cable or the like, or may be connected wirelessly via a base station such as an access point. When performing wireless communication, wireless LAN, Bluetooth (registered trademark), infrared communication, or the like can be employed. Communication between these can be performed using an appropriate communication protocol such as TCP / IP.

  The image forming apparatus 11 includes a copy function, a fax function, a print function, a scanner function, a communication function, a data storage function, and the like, and provides various services using these functions. For example, when the image forming apparatus 11 receives a copy service designation from the user, the image forming apparatus 11 provides a designated copy service by using a copy function, reading a document, printing it on paper, and executing a job for output. To do.

  When providing the service, the image forming apparatus 11 requests the user to input authentication information for authenticating the user. When the user inputs authentication information, the image forming apparatus 11 transmits the input authentication information to the accounting server 12 in order to perform user authentication. After receiving the authentication result indicating that the authentication is successful from the accounting server 12, the image forming apparatus 11 executes a job for providing the service designated by the user.

  The authentication information may be any information as long as it can identify the user, and examples thereof include a user name, a user ID, a password, biometric authentication information such as a user's fingerprint and vein. The authentication information can be input as numbers, characters, etc. using a keyboard or the like, or can be input by registering it in an IC chip or the like and reading it using a reader.

  The accounting server 12 stores one or more pieces of authentication information and information related to the accounting destination (accounting destination information) in association with each other, and searches for the corresponding accounting destination information based on the authentication information received from the image forming apparatus 11. User authentication. The charging server 12 indicates that the authentication has succeeded when the charging destination information corresponding to the authentication information exists in the stored charging destination information, and that the authentication has failed when the charging destination information does not exist. As an authentication result to the image forming apparatus 11. Here, user authentication is performed based on the presence or absence of billing destination information, but user authentication can also be performed based on whether or not there is matching authentication information in the authentication information stored in the billing server 12.

  Further, the accounting server 12 receives an accounting processing request including the authentication information and the contents of the executed job from the image forming apparatus 11. Then, the charging server 12 specifies a charging destination based on the authentication information included in the charging processing request, calculates a charge from the contents of the job, and executes a charging process for charging the specified charging destination to the specified charging destination To do. Examples of the billing destination include a company, organization, group, and financial institution that has a transaction with the user.

  In order to realize the above functions and processing, the image forming apparatus 11 has a hardware configuration as shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus 11 includes a controller 20, an operation panel 21, a scanner 22, a printer 23, a modem 24, a network I / F 25, and a media drive 26 as hardware.

  The controller 20 includes a CPU 27, a RAM 28, a ROM 29, an HDD 30, and an NVRAM 31. The CPU 27 controls the entire image forming apparatus 11, and the RAM 28 is used as a work space for the CPU 27. The ROM 29 stores a boot program, firmware, and the like. The HDD 30 stores various programs such as an OS and application software, data used by the programs, and the like. The NVRAM 31 stores various setting information and the like.

  The operation panel 21 is a touch panel, and functions as an input device that receives input from the user, and a display device that displays input information, the operation status of the image forming apparatus 11, and the like. The scanner 22 reads a document and outputs it as image data. The printer 23 prints print data on paper. The modem 24 is connected to a telephone line to realize fax transmission / reception. The network I / F 25 is connected to the network 10 such as the Internet and realizes communication via the network 10.

  The media drive 26 is a CD drive, a DVD drive, an SD card slot, or the like, reads a program or data recorded on a CD-ROM, DVD, or SD card, which is the recording medium 32, and writes it to the recording medium 32.

  With reference to FIG. 3, the software configuration implemented in the image forming apparatus 11 will be described. The software includes an OS 40 such as UNIX (registered trademark), and an application 41 and a platform 42 that are executed in parallel on the OS 40 in units of processes. A processing request from the application 41 to the platform 42 is made via the API 43.

  Examples of the application 41 include a browser application 44, a printer application 45, a copy application 46, a fax application 47, a net file application 48, a process inspection application 49, and the like. In addition, the application 41 can include a scanner application and the like.

  The browser application 44 is an application for displaying information on the WWW (World Wide Web). This application displays a GUI (Graphic User Interface) of a Web browser on the operation panel 21 and enables access to an arbitrary Web page. The printer application 45 is an application for executing a print job based on print data. The copy application 46 is an application for reading a document and executing a copy job for printing out based on image data obtained by reading.

  The fax application 47 is an application for executing transmission / reception of a fax. The net file application 48 is an application that transfers image data for reprinting. The process inspection application 49 is an application for performing a process inspection. Details of the processing executed by these applications are omitted.

  Examples of the platform 42 include BCS 50, ECS 51, MCS 52, FCS 53, OCS 54, NCS 55, SCS 56, and SRM 57. The BCS 50 is a browser control service and performs, for example, acquisition (downloading) of a Web page, display control of a Web page, and the like in response to a request input via the API 43.

  The ECS 51 is an engine control service and controls the printer 23. The MCS 52 is a memory control service and controls the memory such as the RAM 28 and the HDD 30. The FCS 53 is a fax control service and controls the fax machine. The OCS 54 is an operation panel control service that performs input control and display control related to the operation panel 21.

  The NCS 55 is a network control service and mediates network communication. The SCS 56 is a system control service and performs control related to system management. The SRM 57 is a system resource manager that manages hardware resources of the image forming apparatus 11 and arbitrates hardware resource acquisition requests from each control service. The acquisition request includes a use request for using hardware resources, an occupancy request for occupying use of hardware resources, and the like.

  Although not shown in FIG. 3, the software may include a virtual application service (VAS) that mediates between the application 41 and the platform 42. The VAS has a wrapping function for hiding the platform 42 from the application 41, and can play a role of absorbing version differences associated with version upgrades of the platform 42.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the accounting server 12 will be described with reference to FIG. The accounting server 12 includes a CPU 60, a ROM 61, a RAM 62, an HDD 63, a media drive 64, and a network I / F 65, and each is connected to a bus 66.

  The CPU 60 controls the entire billing server 12 and executes user authentication processing and billing processing by executing programs. The ROM 61 stores a boot program, firmware, and the like for starting the billing server 12. The RAM 62 provides a work area for the CPU 60 to read and execute the program. The HDD 63 stores the program, the OS, data used by these programs, and the like.

  The above-described program for executing processing performed by the accounting server 12 is provided by, for example, the recording medium 67. Examples of the recording medium 67 include a CD-ROM, a DVD, and an SD card. The media drive 64 performs read control from the recording medium 67 and write control to the recording medium 67 in response to an instruction from the CPU 60. When the recording medium 67 is inserted, the media drive 64 receives an instruction from the CPU 60, performs read control of the program, the CPU 60 writes the read program into the HDD 63, and executes the installation of the program.

  A network I / F 65 connects the accounting server 12 to the network 10 and realizes communication with the image forming apparatus 11 via the network 10. The program can be provided by the recording medium 67, but can also be downloaded from another server connected to the network 10 via the network I / F 65.

  With reference to FIG. 5, the function with which the service provision system shown in FIG. 1 is provided is demonstrated. The service providing system includes an image forming apparatus 11 as a service providing apparatus and a charging server 12 as an information processing apparatus, and can communicate with each other via a network 10.

  The function of the image forming apparatus 11 will be described. The image forming apparatus 11 includes an input reception unit 70, a communication determination unit 71, a job execution unit 72, an information transmission unit 73, an information reception unit 74, and a result determination unit 75 as functional units. Each of these functional units is realized by the CPU 27 executing the program.

  The input receiving unit 70 displays an authentication screen on the operation panel 21 to input authentication information for authenticating the user, and receives the input authentication information. The authentication information is a user ID, a password, or the like.

  The communication determination unit 71 determines whether or not communication with the charging server 12 is possible in order to transmit the authentication information received by the input receiving unit 70 to the charging server 12. Specifically, since the image forming apparatus 11 and the accounting server 12 are connected via the network 10, it is possible to determine whether or not an arbitrary packet is transmitted and a response to the packet is received within a predetermined time. it can. If no response is received within a predetermined time, it can be determined that a network error has occurred.

  When it is determined that communication is possible, the information transmission unit 73 transmits the authentication information to the accounting server 12. The information receiving unit 74 receives the result of user authentication from the accounting server 12 as an authentication result. The result judging unit 75 judges whether or not the authentication is successful from the authentication result received by the information receiving unit 74. When the authentication is successful, the result determination unit 75 notifies the job execution unit 72 of the fact, and the job execution unit 72 notifies the user by displaying on the operation panel 21 that service provision is permitted.

  When the user knows that the service provision is permitted, the user designates a service desired to be provided from among a plurality of services, and inputs setting information required for the service provision. Thereafter, the user gives an instruction to start providing the specified service (service provision start instruction) to the image forming apparatus 11.

  The service designation designates the type of service such as copying or fax transmission. The setting information is setting information related to the specified service. As the setting information, when the designated service is a copy service, information on whether to perform black and white copy or color copy, enlargement or reduction ratio, type and size of paper to be printed, number of copies, and the like can be given. The start of service provision can be instructed by pressing a start button or the like.

  The input reception unit 70 receives this designation, setting information, and instruction, instructs the job execution unit 72, and executes a job for providing the service specified by the user based on the setting information. . When copying is designated, the job execution unit 72 executes reading of the original, executes processing of outputting the read original as image data, and executes processing of printing out based on the output image data.

  In the case of authentication failure, the job execution unit 72 notifies the user by displaying on the operation panel 21 that authentication such as an authentication error has failed. In this case, the job execution unit 72 only performs the display and does not execute the job. For this reason, the service is not provided to the user.

  Even when communication is impossible, the communication determination unit 71 notifies the job execution unit 72 to that effect. When the job execution unit 72 receives a notification that communication is impossible, the job execution unit 72 notifies the user by displaying on the operation panel 21 that service provision is permitted. Accordingly, in the same manner as described above, the user designates a service or the like, instructs the provision of the service, and the job execution unit 72 executes a job for providing the service designated by the user.

  The information transmitting unit 73 receives the determination that the communication determining unit 71 can communicate with the charging server 12 after the execution of the job is finished, and includes the authentication information and the contents of the executed job. A processing request is transmitted to the accounting server 12. When the billing server 12 finishes the billing process, the information receiving unit 74 can receive a notification from the billing server 12 that the billing process is finished.

  Next, the function of the accounting server 12 will be described. The accounting server 12 includes an information receiving unit 80, an authentication unit 81, an information storage unit 82, an accounting processing unit 83, and an information transmission unit 84 as functional units. In the information receiving unit 80, each of these functional units is realized by the CPU 60 executing the program.

  The information receiving unit 80 receives authentication information, a billing process request, and the like from the image forming apparatus 11. The authentication unit 81 performs user authentication by searching for billing destination information corresponding to the authentication information received from the image forming apparatus 11. The authentication unit 81 generates a notification that the authentication has succeeded when the billing destination information corresponding to the authentication information exists, and generates a notification that the authentication has failed when there is no information.

  The information storage unit 82 stores one or more pieces of authentication information used by the authentication unit 81 and charging destination information in association with each other. As billing destination information, at least one of company name, company code, financial institution name, financial institution code, management server IP address, server name, MAC address, etc. owned by the company or financial institution can be used.

  The billing processing unit 83 receives the billing processing request received by the information receiving unit 80 and acquires billing destination information corresponding to the authentication information included in the billing processing request from the information storage unit 82. The accounting processing unit 83 calculates a fee to be charged to the accounting destination from the contents of the job included in the accounting processing request. This charge can be calculated from the charge table by referring to a charge table in which individual charge elements such as color copies and the number of copies are associated with the charge of the charge element. This fee table can also be stored in the information storage unit 82. The billing processing unit 83 executes billing processing by charging the billed fee using the acquired billing destination information. The billing process ends when the billing party pays the billed fee (settlement).

  The information transmission unit 84 transmits to the image forming apparatus 11 a notification generated by the authentication unit 81, a notification that the charging processing by the charging processing unit 83 has been completed, and the like.

  By providing such a function unit, even if a network error occurs, first, the service is provided, and after the network is restored, the billing process is performed on the billing destination.

  With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, processing performed between the image forming apparatus 11 and the accounting server 12 will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating processing performed between the image forming apparatus 11 and the accounting server 12 when no network error has occurred. FIG. 6 also shows the user 100 in addition to the image forming apparatus 11 and the billing server 12. Hereinafter, the service will be described as a copy service.

  The image forming apparatus 11 displays an authentication screen on the operation panel 21. At this time, copying is prohibited for the user. The user 100 views the authentication screen and inputs authentication information to the image forming apparatus 11. This input is performed by placing an IC card mounted with an IC chip on which authentication information is recorded on a card reading device provided in the image forming apparatus 11 and reading the authentication information recorded on the IC card by the card reading device. Can do.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, communication is possible because no network error has occurred between the image forming apparatus 11 and the accounting server 12. For this reason, when receiving the input of authentication information, the image forming apparatus 11 transmits the input authentication information to the accounting server 12 via the network 10. The accounting server 12 performs user authentication based on the authentication information received from the image forming apparatus 11. The user authentication is performed by searching for the corresponding charging destination information from the stored charging destination information based on the received authentication information, and by the presence or absence of the corresponding charging destination information. The accounting server 12 transmits the result of user authentication to the image forming apparatus 11 as an authentication result.

  The image forming apparatus 11 determines from the authentication result received from the accounting server 12 whether or not the authentication is successful. When the image forming apparatus 11 determines that the authentication is successful, the image forming apparatus 11 permits the copy that has been prohibited until then. The permission of copying can be notified to the user 100 by displaying it on the operation panel 21 or the like. For example, copying permission can be displayed by displaying that the user has logged in. Note that an input screen for inputting setting information relating to copying and a copy start button may be displayed on the operation panel 21 only when copying is permitted.

  When the user 100 is permitted to copy, the user 100 inputs setting information to be set when performing copying, presses a copy start button, and instructs the image forming apparatus 11 to execute copying. The image forming apparatus 11 receives this instruction and executes a copy job for providing a copy service. The image forming apparatus 11 stores the authentication information input by the user 100 and the content of the copy job in association with each other before, during or after the execution of the copy job. The copy job ends when all originals have been read and all printed on paper.

  When the image forming apparatus 11 finishes copying, the user 100 cancels authentication to end the provision of this service. The authentication can be canceled by pressing an authentication cancellation button, and the display on the operation panel 21 returns to the authentication screen for inputting authentication information.

  After the authentication is canceled, the image forming apparatus 11 generates a charging process request including the stored authentication information and the content of the copy job, and transmits it to the charging server 12. The billing server 12 executes billing processing based on these pieces of information included in the billing processing request. Note that the image forming apparatus 11 may transmit a billing process request to the billing server 12 after the copy is completed and before the authentication is canceled.

  FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating processing performed by the image forming apparatus 11 during a network error and processing performed between the image forming apparatus 11 and the accounting server 12 after the network is restored from the error. The image forming apparatus 11 displays an authentication screen on the operation panel 21. The user 100 views the authentication screen and inputs authentication information to the image forming apparatus 11. This input is performed by placing an IC card mounted with an IC chip on which authentication information is recorded on a card reading device provided in the image forming apparatus 11 and reading the authentication information recorded on the IC card by the card reading device. Can do.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, since a network error has occurred between the image forming apparatus 11 and the accounting server 12, communication is impossible. For this reason, the image forming apparatus 11 cannot transmit authentication information to the accounting server 12 via the network 10. If the image forming apparatus 11 determines that a network error has occurred, the image forming apparatus 11 considers that the authentication has been successful, and permits the copy that has been prohibited until then.

  When the user 100 is permitted to copy, the user 100 inputs setting information to be set when performing copying, presses a copy start button, and instructs the image forming apparatus 11 to execute copying. The image forming apparatus 11 receives this instruction, executes a copy job for providing a copy, and stores the authentication information input by the user 100 and the content of the copy job in association with each other. The copy job ends when all the originals are read and all are printed on paper and output.

  When the image forming apparatus 11 finishes copying, the user 100 cancels authentication to end the provision of this service. The authentication can be canceled by pressing an authentication cancellation button such as a logoff button. By pressing the button, the display on the operation panel 21 returns to the authentication screen for inputting authentication information.

  After the authentication is canceled, the image forming apparatus 11 generates a charging process request including the stored authentication information and the content of the copy job, and transmits it to the charging server 12. The billing server 12 executes billing processing based on these pieces of information included in this billing processing request.

  The process shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing up to service provision performed by the image forming apparatus 11. This process is started from Step 800 when the user inputs authentication information. In step 805, the authentication information input by the input receiving unit 70 included in the image forming apparatus 11 is received. The input receiving unit 70 notifies the communication determining unit 71 that authentication information has been input.

  In step 810, the communication determination unit 71 receives the notification and determines whether a network error has occurred at that time. If the communication determining unit 71 determines that no error has occurred, the information transmitting unit 73 transmits the authentication information passed from the input receiving unit 70 to the charging server 12 in step 815. In step 820, the information receiving unit 74 receives the authentication result from the billing server 12. In step 825, the result determination unit 75 determines whether the authentication is successful based on the authentication result.

  If the authentication result is successful, the process proceeds to step 830 where the job execution unit 72 permits the copy and displays on the operation panel 21 that the copy is possible to notify the user. Incidentally, if it is determined in step 810 that a network error has occurred, the process advances to step 830 to display that copying is possible and notify the user.

  If the authentication result is unsuccessful, the process advances to step 835 to display an authentication error to inform the user that the authentication has failed. After these displays are made, the process ends at step 840.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing after the service is provided by the image forming apparatus 11, which is performed subsequent to the processing illustrated in FIG. This process starts from Step 900, and in Step 905, the communication determination unit 71 determines whether the network is recovered from the network error. If it is recovered, the process proceeds to step 910, where the information transmitting unit 73 transmits a charging process request including the authentication information and the content of the copy job to the charging server 12, and the process ends in step 915.

  If no network error has occurred, the communication determining unit 71 determines that the network has been restored, and proceeds to step 910 where the information transmitting unit 73 transmits a charging process request to the charging server 12.

  If the communication determining unit 71 determines in step 905 that the network error has not yet been recovered, the process proceeds directly to step 915 and the process ends. This is because the billing processing request cannot be transmitted to the billing server 12 because the network has not yet been restored. This process can be repeatedly executed at an arbitrary timing, for example, at regular time intervals until the network is restored.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of user authentication processing performed by the billing server 12. This process is performed when no network error has occurred. Starting from step 1000, in step 1005, the information receiving unit 80 receives authentication information from the image forming apparatus 11. In step 1010, the authentication unit 81 searches the charging destination information corresponding to the received authentication information from the charging destination information stored in the information storage unit 82.

  In step 1015, the authentication unit 81 determines whether there is billing destination information, that is, a billing destination, from the search result. If there is a billing destination, the process proceeds to step 1020. If there is no billing destination, the process proceeds to step 1025. In step 1020, when there is a billing destination, the information transmission unit 84 transmits an authentication result to the image forming apparatus 11 as a result of authentication, and the process ends in step 1030. In step 1025, when there is no billing destination, the information transmission unit 84 transmits a message indicating that the authentication has failed to the image forming apparatus 11 as an authentication result, and the process ends in step 1030. Note that the flow of billing processing performed by the billing server 12 will be described collectively in an embodiment described later.

  In the embodiments described so far, when a network error occurs, first, the user is trusted to execute the copy, receives the instruction, executes the copy, and stores the authentication information and the job content in association with each other. To do. Then, after the network is restored, a charging process request is transmitted to the charging server 12, and the charging server 12 executes the charging process.

  In this case, after the user leaves the billing company, if a network error occurs intentionally, for example, by removing the network line, copying is permitted each time, so unauthorized copying can be done without paying a fee. End up. In order to prevent this, the following configuration can be adopted so that the first copy is permitted but the second and subsequent copies are not permitted.

  First, the process flow will be briefly described. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating another example of processing performed by the image forming apparatus during a network error and processing performed between the image forming apparatus and the accounting server after the network is restored from the error. The processing up to the processing in which the image forming apparatus 11 transmits a charging processing request to the charging server 12 is the same as that in the sequence diagram shown in FIG. In this embodiment, since there is no billing destination, the billing process fails in the billing server 12.

  The billing server 12 does not provide a service to a user who has input the authentication information, and the authentication information is referred to as a list (hereinafter referred to as a black list) that is referred to in order to disable the service. ) Request to register. The image forming apparatus 11 holds the black list, and registers the authentication information requested to be registered from the accounting server 12 in the black list. Even if the same authentication information is next input, the image forming apparatus 11 refers to the black list to determine whether to permit copying. Therefore, the user who does not have a charging destination prohibits the second and subsequent copying.

  In order to realize this processing, the charging processing unit 83 issues a registration request for causing the image forming apparatus 11 to register with the black list using the authentication information included in the charging processing request when the charging processing fails. Generate. Then, the information transmission unit 84 transmits the registration request to the image forming apparatus 11.

  The image forming apparatus 11 further includes a list storage unit that stores a black list and a registration processing unit that registers authentication information in the black list as additional functional units. The information receiving unit 74 of the image forming apparatus 11 receives the registration request, passes it to the registration processing unit, and the registration processing unit registers it in the list storage unit. Before executing the job, the job execution unit 72 refers to the black list stored in the list storage unit, and confirms whether the authentication information input by the user who executes the job is registered in the black list. To do. Then, the job execution unit 72 executes the job when not registered in the black list, and does not execute the job when registered.

  Processing executed by the service providing system to which such a function to be registered in the black list is added will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the charging process performed by the charging server 12. This processing is started from step 1200, and in step 1205, the information receiving unit 80 receives a charging processing request including authentication information and copy job content from the image forming apparatus 11. In step 1210, the billing processing unit 83 searches the billing destination information stored in the information storage unit 82 for the corresponding billing destination information, that is, the billing destination, based on the authentication information included in the billing processing request. In step 1215, the charging processing unit 83 determines whether there is a charging destination from the search result.

  If it is determined in step 1215 that there is a billing destination, the process proceeds to step 1220. If it is determined that there is no billing destination, the process proceeds to step 1225. In step 1220, since there is a billing destination, the billing processing unit 83 executes the billing process by charging the calculated fee to the billing destination, and the processing ends in step 1230. On the other hand, since there is no billing destination in step 1225, the billing processing unit 83 generates a blacklist registration request, and the information transmitting unit 84 transmits the registration request to the image forming apparatus 11, and step 1230. This process ends.

  The information receiving unit 74 of the image forming apparatus 11 receives the registration request from the charging server 12, passes the registration request to the registration processing unit, and the registration processing unit requests the registration request to the black list stored in the list storage unit. Register the authentication information included in.

  If the job execution unit 72 refers to the black list before executing the job and matches the authentication information registered in the black list, the copy for which the instruction has been accepted is not permitted. For this reason, the first time is unavoidable, but the second and subsequent times can prevent unauthorized copying using the same authentication information.

  The black list may be held by only one specific image forming apparatus connected to the network. However, in order to prevent unauthorized copying, all the image forming apparatuses connected to the network may hold the black list. desirable. When all the image forming apparatuses hold the black list in this way, the billing server 12 transmits a black list registration request to all the image forming apparatuses connected to the network, and registers them in each black list. be able to.

  The billing server 12 may be configured to transmit the registration request to at least one designated image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus further transmits the registration request to another image forming apparatus. If one or more devices that can provide services other than the image forming apparatus are connected to the network, the one or more devices also maintain a black list, and send a registration request to the devices to obtain authentication information. You can register.

  Among a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a network, there may be an image forming apparatus whose power is off. In this case, the registration request cannot be transmitted to the image forming apparatus. Therefore, it is desirable that the billing server 12 transmits to an image forming apparatus to which a registration request cannot be transmitted, and transmits it at regular time intervals until the transmission is successful. As a result, unauthorized copying using the same authentication information can be prevented in all image forming apparatuses connected to the network.

  Further, when the accounting server 12 transmits a blacklist registration request to the image forming apparatus 11, a network error may occur again. In this case, a user who has authentication information to be registered in the black list can perform unauthorized copying for the second and subsequent times on the image forming apparatus 11. From the viewpoint of preventing unauthorized copying, it is desirable to stop the copy immediately if the copy continues even after the network is restored.

  Therefore, as with the image forming apparatus 11, the accounting server 12 includes a communication determination unit, determines whether communication is possible, and if the information transmission unit 84 determines that communication is possible, the information transmission unit 84 issues an unsent registration request. A configuration for prompt transmission can be employed. In the image forming apparatus 11, the registration processing unit promptly notifies the job execution unit 72 of registration of authentication information, and if the job execution unit 72 is an instruction from a user having the same authentication information, A configuration in which execution of copying is stopped can be employed. As a result, the copy execution can be stopped when it is determined that the authentication information of the user who is executing the copy is registered in the black list.

  Although the case where the network is restored after copying has been described so far, the network may be restored during the execution of copying. The processing flow in this case will be described with reference to FIG. This process starts from step 1300 during the execution of copying. In step 1305, the communication determination unit 71 determines whether the network has been restored.

  If the communication determining unit 71 determines that the communication has been restored, the process proceeds to step 1310, where the information transmitting unit 73 transmits the authentication information to the billing server 12 in order to execute the user authentication process. In step 1315, the information receiving unit 74 receives the authentication result from the billing server 12. In step 1320, the result determination unit 75 determines whether or not the authentication is successful.

  If it is determined in step 1305 that the data has not been restored, and if authentication is successful in step 1320, the process proceeds to step 1340 and the process is terminated. For this reason, the execution of copying is continued.

  On the other hand, if the authentication fails in step 1320, the service is improperly received, and the process proceeds to step 1325 to stop copying. In step 1330, copying is disabled. In step 1335, an authentication error is displayed on the operation panel 21. In step 1340, the process is terminated.

  In this way, the network is restored, and when it is detected, authentication information is sent to the billing server 12 and copying is stopped immediately upon failure of authentication, thereby stopping unauthorized copying with as few copies as possible. be able to.

  The present invention has been described with the embodiment described above as a service providing apparatus, a service providing system, and a program for causing a computer to execute the processing. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and other embodiments, additions, modifications, deletions, and the like can be modified within a range that can be conceived by those skilled in the art. . In addition, any aspect is included in the scope of the present invention as long as the operations and effects of the present invention are exhibited.

  Therefore, the present invention can also provide a method including processing steps executed by a service providing apparatus, a method including processing steps executed by a service providing system, a recording medium on which a program is recorded, and the like. The program can be installed on a server or the like connected to the network and provided by downloading.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Network, 11 ... Image forming apparatus, 12 ... Billing server, 20 ... Controller, 21 ... Operation panel, 22 ... Scanner, 23 ... Printer, 24 ... Modem, 25 ... Network I / F, 26 ... Media drive, 27 ... CPU, 28 ... RAM, 29 ... ROM, 30 ... HDD, 31 ... NVRAM, 32 ... recording medium, 40 ... OS, 41 ... application, 42 ... platform, 43 ... API, 44 ... browser application, 45 ... printer application, 46 Copy application, 47 ... Fax application, 48 ... Net file application, 49 ... Process inspection application, 50 ... BCS, 51 ... ECS, 52 ... MCS, 53 ... FCS, 54 ... OCS, 55 ... NCS, 56 ... SCS, 57 ... SRM, 60 ... CPU, 61 ... ROM, 62 ... RAM, 63 ... HDD, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 ... Media drive, 65 ... Network I / F, 66 ... Bus, 67 ... Recording medium, 70 ... Input reception part, 71 ... Communication judgment part, 72 ... Job execution part, 73 ... Information transmission part, 74 ... Information reception part 75 ... Result determination unit, 80 ... Information reception unit, 81 ... Authentication unit, 82 ... Information storage unit, 83 ... Billing processing unit, 84 ... Information transmission unit, 100 ... User

Japanese Patent No. 4218876

Claims (10)

A service providing apparatus that performs user authentication based on authentication information for authenticating a user, communicates with an information processing apparatus that executes billing processing, and provides a service to the user,
An input receiving unit for receiving input of the authentication information;
A communication determination unit that determines whether communication with the information processing apparatus is possible in order to transmit the authentication information received by the input reception unit to the information processing apparatus;
A job execution unit for allowing the user to provide a service when the communication determination unit determines that communication is impossible, and executing a job for providing the service;
After the job execution unit finishes executing the job, the information processing unit receives an accounting processing request including the input authentication information and the content of the executed job in response to the communication determination unit determining that communication is possible. And a service providing apparatus including an information transmission unit that transmits the information to the processing apparatus. A list storage unit that stores a list that is referred to for disabling service provision, and a registration processing unit that registers the authentication information in the list in response to a registration request including authentication information from the information processing apparatus. In addition,
The service providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job execution unit refers to the list and determines whether or not to permit service provision.   The job execution unit is inputted by a user who is executing the job with the registered authentication information in response to the registration processing unit registering the authentication information in the list during execution of the job. The service providing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein authentication information is collated, and execution of the job is stopped when they match. An information receiving unit that receives a result of user authentication from the information processing apparatus as an authentication result; and a result determination unit that determines whether the authentication is successful based on the authentication result;
While the job execution unit is executing a job, the communication determination unit determines that communication with the information processing apparatus is possible, and the information transmission unit receives authentication information input by a user who is executing the job, When the information reception unit receives an authentication result from the information processing device and the result determination unit determines that the authentication has failed, the job execution unit stops execution of the job. The service providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein provision of a service to the user is prohibited.   5. The job execution unit according to claim 1, wherein the job execution unit executes a job for providing a service specified by the user in response to a service specification and service start instruction from the user. The service providing apparatus according to the description.   The one or more service providing apparatuses according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and an information processing apparatus that performs user authentication based on authentication information for authenticating a user and executes billing processing via a network Connected service delivery system. The information processing apparatus includes a billing processing unit that executes billing processing, and an information storage unit that stores authentication information and billing destination information related to a billing destination in association with each other,
The charging processing unit retrieves corresponding charging destination information from the charging destination information stored in the information storage unit based on the authentication information included in the charging processing request received from the service providing apparatus, and the corresponding charging When the destination information does not exist, the authentication information included in the billing process request is used to register the authentication information in a list stored in the service providing apparatus that is referred to for disabling service provision. The service providing system according to claim 6, wherein the registration request is generated, and the generated registration request is transmitted to the service providing apparatus.   8. The service providing system according to claim 7, wherein the information processing apparatus transmits the registration request to all of one or more service providing apparatuses connected to the network.   The service providing system according to claim 8, wherein the information processing apparatus transmits the registration request at regular time intervals until the registration request cannot be transmitted to a service providing apparatus that cannot transmit the registration request. A program for performing user authentication based on authentication information for authenticating a user, communicating with an information processing apparatus that performs billing processing, and causing a computer to execute processing for providing services to the user There,
Receiving an input of the authentication information;
Determining whether communication with the information processing apparatus is possible in order to transmit the received authentication information;
When it is determined that communication is impossible in the determining step, allowing the user to provide a service and executing a job for providing the service; and
After the execution of the job is completed, in response to the determination that communication with the information processing apparatus is possible, an accounting processing request including the input authentication information and the content of the executed job is received as the information processing. A program for executing the step of transmitting to a device.