JP2018106469A - Point managing system, information processing device, point managing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a point managing system capable of providing various point assignment services.SOLUTION: A point managing system 100 further assigns a first bonus point and a second bonus point in addition to the ordinary points when predetermined conditions are satisfied.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a point management system, an information processing apparatus, a point management method, and a program, and more particularly, to a point management system, an information processing apparatus, a point management method, and a program for assigning points according to print contents.

  2. Description of the Related Art A point management system that gives points for receiving predetermined services such as free gifts and product discounts according to the printing contents of a printing apparatus is known. In the point management system, points given by a server as an information processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “granting points”) are accumulated and managed for each user who uses the printing apparatus (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the point management system, grant points are determined according to preset criteria. For example, different points are assigned according to the type of paper (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-208870 A JP 2002-279052 A

  However, in the conventional point management system, since the points to be awarded are determined on the same basis for all users, it is not possible to provide various point grant services.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a point management system, an information processing apparatus, a point management method, and a program capable of providing various point granting services.

  In order to achieve the above object, a point management system of the present invention is a point management system in which points are assigned according to execution of printing by a registered printing apparatus, and the points are managed by an information processing apparatus, the printing apparatus Point giving means for giving a first point based on the print content of the first point, the point giving means, in addition to the first point, when the predetermined condition set in advance is satisfied, the first point A second point different from the point is further given.

  According to the present invention, various point granting services can be provided.

It is a network diagram which shows roughly the structure of the point management system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematically the structure of the point management server in FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of log information communication processing executed by the printing apparatus and Web server of FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the point management process performed by the point management server of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the point management process performed by the point management server of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of each data used by the point management process of FIG. 4A and 4B.

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

  FIG. 1 is a network diagram schematically showing a configuration of a point management system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a point management system 100 includes printing apparatuses 101a to 101c, a Web server 102, and a point management server 103 as an information processing apparatus.

  When the printing apparatuses 101a to 101c registered in advance execute printing, the point management system 100 gives points according to the printing contents of the printing apparatuses 101a to 101c. Each printing apparatus 101a to 101c is registered in association with a user who uses each printing apparatus 101a to 101c. The user can receive a predetermined service such as gifting or product discounting according to the cumulative number of points granted. The printing apparatuses 101a to 101c execute respective jobs such as copying and scanning based on operation of an operation unit (not shown) or execution data received from an external apparatus (not shown). The Web server 102 acquires print log information, which is log information of printing executed by each printing apparatus 101a to 101c, from each printing apparatus 101a to 101c, and holds the acquired print log information. When the Web server 102 receives a print log information transmission request from the point management server 103, the Web server 102 transmits print log information to the point management server 103. The point management server 103 assigns points according to the printing contents of the printing apparatuses 101a to 101c, accumulates the points for each user, and manages them by a user table 501 shown in FIG.

  Next, the configuration of the Web server 102 and the point management server 103 will be described. In this embodiment, the Web server 102 and the point management server 103 have the same configuration, and the configuration will be described below using the point management server 103 as an example.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the point management server 103 in FIG.

  2, the point management server 103 includes a CPU 201, a ROM 202, an external memory 203, a RAM 204, an input controller 205, a keyboard 206, a video controller 207, a display unit 208, a memory controller 209, and a communication I / F controller 210. The CPU 201, ROM 202, RAM 204, input controller 205, video controller 207, memory controller 209, and communication I / F controller 210 are connected to each other via a system bus 211. The input controller 205 is connected to the keyboard 206, the video controller 207 is connected to the display unit 208, and the memory controller 209 is connected to the external memory 203.

  The CPU 201 comprehensively controls each device and controller connected to the system bus 211. Further, the CPU 201 loads a program necessary for executing the process from the ROM 202 or the external memory 203 to the RAM 204, and executes the loaded program to realize each operation. The ROM 202 is a read-only memory. The external memory 203 is a hard disk (HD), a solid state drive (SSD), a flexible disk (FD), a compact flash (registered trademark) memory connected to the PCMCIA card slot via an adapter, or the like. The ROM 202 and the external memory 203 store a basic input / output system (BIOS) that is a control program of the CPU 201, an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS), and various programs necessary for realizing the functions of the point management server 103. To do. The RAM 204 functions as a main memory and work area for the CPU 201.

  The input controller 205 acquires input information input by operating an input device such as a keyboard 206 or a mouse (not shown) from the input device. A video controller 207 performs display control in a display unit 208 such as a liquid crystal display and a CRT. The memory controller 209 controls access to the external memory 203. The communication I / F controller 210 performs communication control with the Web server 102 and the like, and performs communication using TCP / IP, for example.

  Next, a process in which each of the printing apparatuses 101a to 101c executes printing and transmits print log information of the printing to the Web server 102 will be described. Hereinafter, as an example, a process in which the printing apparatus 101a executes printing and transmits print log information of the printing to the Web server 102 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of log information communication processing executed by the printing apparatus 101a and Web server 102 of FIG. FIG. 3A shows the procedure of transmission processing executed by the printing apparatus 101a, and FIG. 3B shows the procedure of reception processing executed by the Web server 102.

  3A, first, the printing apparatus 101a receives execution data instructing execution of printing from a user terminal (not shown) (step S301). The execution data includes, for example, a paper type and the number of printed sheets when printing is performed, and a printer ID. The printer ID is an arbitrary character string for specifying the printing apparatus 101a that is the transmission destination of the execution data. The printing apparatus 101a starts printing based on the received execution data (step S302), and determines whether printing has been completed normally (step S303).

  As a result of the determination in step S303, if the printing is not normally terminated, the printing apparatus 101a notifies the user terminal that has transmitted the execution data that the printing has failed (step S304), and the process is terminated. On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S303, when the printing is normally completed, the printing apparatus 101a generates print log information for the executed printing based on the execution data. The print log information includes the type of paper used for printing, the number of printed sheets, and the printer ID. Further, the printing apparatus 101a indicates information on consumables used for printing by the printing apparatus 101a, for example, whether the ink cartridge used for printing by the printing apparatus 101a is a genuine product (regulation) or a non-genuine product. CRG information is added to the print log information. The genuine ink cartridge here is a specified ink cartridge whose operation has been confirmed by the printing apparatus manufacturer, and the non-genuine ink cartridge is an ink cartridge whose operation has not been confirmed by the printing apparatus manufacturer. As a method for determining whether or not it is genuine, it is possible to determine whether or not the information read from the IC chip contained in the ink cartridge used for printing is information indicating genuine when printing is performed. Can do. Next, the printing apparatus 101a transmits the print log information to which the CRG information is added to the Web server 102 (Step S305). In step S305, for example, when the communication apparatus temporarily falls into a communication disabled state and communication with the Web server 102 cannot be performed, the printing apparatus 101a holds the print log information, and transmits the print log information to the Web server 102 after the communication state is restored. To do. Thereafter, the printing apparatus 101a ends this process. In this embodiment, the printing apparatuses 101b and 101c also perform the same processing as in FIG. 3A, and each printing apparatus 101b and 101c transmits print log information of the executed printing to the Web server 102.

  On the other hand, the Web server 102 stands by until print log information is received in FIG. 3B, and when print log information is received from any of the printing apparatuses 101a to 101c (YES in step S306), the print log information is displayed. The received date and time information is added (step S307), the print log information to which the date and time information is added is held, and the process returns to step S306. In this way, the Web server 102 holds the print log information of the registered printing apparatuses 101a to 101c.

  4A and 4B are flowcharts showing the procedure of the point management process executed by the point management server 103 of FIG.

  In the processes of FIGS. 4A and 4B, as an example, it is assumed that the user A is associated with the printing apparatuses 101a and 101b in advance and the user B is associated with the printing apparatus 101c in advance.

  4A and 4B, first, the point management server 103 notifies the Web server 102 of a print log information transmission request at a predetermined interval, for example, every hour (step S401). In step S401, the point management server 103 notifies the Web server 102 of a transmission request for print log information not acquired from the Web server 102 every hour. As a result, the number of print log information to be subjected to the point grant process is divided, and the load in the point grant process is reduced. Next, when the point management server 103 receives the print log information from the Web server 102 (YES in step S402), the point management server 103 determines whether or not the reception in step S402 is the reception of the first print log information of the current month (step S403).

  As a result of the determination in step S403, when the reception in step S402 is not the reception of the first print log information of the current month, the point management server 103 performs the processing after step S405 described later. On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S403, when the reception in step S402 is the reception of the first print log information of the current month, the point management server 103 stores a part of the user table 501 in FIG. 5A stored in the ROM 202 or the like. Initialization is performed (step S404). The user table 501 manages the grant points of users (hereinafter referred to as “registered users”) associated with the registered printing apparatuses 101a to 101c, and includes a user CD 502, a current month point 503, and a possession point 504. The user CD 502 is an arbitrary character string for identifying a registered user, the current month point 503 indicates the total of points given during the current month for each registered user, and the possessed point 504 indicates the time after registration of each registered user is completed. Indicates the total number of points granted. In step S404, the point management server 103 specifically sets the value of the current month point 503 of all registered users in the user table 501 to “0”. Next, the point management server 103 reads all the received print log information (step S405), and performs the processes of steps S406 to S423 described later for each read print log information. Hereinafter, as an example, processing for one print log information among a plurality of received print log information will be described. The point management server 103 determines whether the consumable used by the printing apparatus 101a for printing is the specified consumable for the printing apparatus 101a. Specifically, the point management server 103 determines whether or not the CRG information of the received one print log information is “genuine” (step S406).

  As a result of the determination in step S406, when the CRG information of the received one print log information is not “genuine”, the point management server 103 performs the processing after step S410 described later. On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S406, when the CRG information of the received one print log information is “genuine”, the point management server 103 is based on the point master 505 of FIG. 5B stored in advance in the ROM 202 or the like. Thus, the normal point is given to the printing apparatus of the received one print log information (step S407), and the first bonus point is given (step S408). The point master 505 is a reference point for normal points and first bonus points, and manages points to be provided for each paper type, such as “plain paper”, “photo”, and “postcard”. In the present embodiment, the first bonus point is given in addition to the normal point every time one sheet of the specified paper type is printed, which satisfies the predetermined condition defined in the point master 505. Is done. Next, the point management server 103 calculates provisional acquisition points obtained by summing up the granted points in steps S407 and S408 (step S409). In step S409, for example, when the received print log information is to print “5 photos” of “photos”, “10” obtained by multiplying the normal point coefficient “2” of “photos” by the number of copies “5” is set. “10” obtained by multiplying the first bonus point coefficient “2” of “photo” by the number “5” is set as the first bonus point, and the normal point “10” and the first bonus point “10” are set as normal points. “20” obtained by adding is a provisional acquisition point.

  Next, the point management server 103 acquires the printer ID based on the received one print log information, and specifies the user CD associated with the acquired printer ID based on the registration list information 506 in FIG. (Step S410). In the registration list information 506, a user CD associated with each printer ID is set. Next, the point management server 103 adds the user CD specified in step S410 to the received one print log information (step S411), and whether or not the provisional acquisition point of the granted points in the one print log information has been calculated. Is determined (step S412).

  As a result of the determination in step S412, when the provisional acquisition point has not been calculated, the point management server 103 gives an acquisition point “0” to the registered user of one print log information (step S413), and step S422 described later. Perform the following processing. On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S412, when the provisional acquisition points have been calculated, the point management server 103 indicates that the value of the current month point 503 of the user CD specified in step S410 in the user table 501 is as shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not it matches the upper limit point 508 defined in the point upper limit master 507 (step S414). The point upper limit master 507 is a point grant criterion for the second bonus point, and an upper limit point 508 and a second bonus point which are conditions for granting the second bonus point are defined. The point management server 103 gives a second bonus point to a registered user whose value (total value) of the current month point 503 has reached the upper limit point 508. That is, in the present embodiment, the point management server 103 gives the second bonus point to the registered user of one print log information, not to the printing apparatus of one print log information. As a result, a user who uses a plurality of printing apparatuses, for example, a user A who uses the printing apparatuses 101a and 101b, based on the points obtained by adding the respective grant points of the printing apparatuses 101a and 101b associated with the user A. When the current month point of A is calculated and the corresponding month point reaches a preset upper limit point 508, the point management server 103 further gives the user A a second bonus point in addition to the normal point. .

  As a result of the determination in step S414, when the value of the current month point 503 matches the upper limit point 508, the point management server 103 performs processing in step S413 and subsequent steps. On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S414, when the value of the current month point 503 does not match the upper limit point 508, the point management server 103 matches the sum of the current month point 503 and the provisional earned point with the upper limit point 508 (“sum”). = "Upper limit point 508"), smaller than upper limit point 508 ("sum" <"upper limit point 508"), or higher than upper limit point 508 ("sum"> "upper limit point 508") (Step S415).

  If “sum” = “upper limit point 508” as a result of the determination in step S415, the point management server 103 gives the provisional acquired point as an acquired point as it is to the registered user of one print log information (step S416). . Next, the point management server 103 adds the earned points to the user table 501 (step S417), and further adds the second bonus points based on the point upper limit master 507 of FIG. 5D (step S418). Specifically, in step S417, the point management server 103 adds the acquired points given in step S416 to the current month points 503 and possessed points 504 of the user CD specified in step S410 in the user table 501, and step S418. Then, the second bonus point is added to the possessed point 504. Next, the point management server 103 performs processing after step S422 described later.

  If “sum”> “upper limit point 508” as a result of the determination in step S415, the point management server 103 determines the value of the current month point 503 of the user CD specified in step S410 in the user table 501 from the upper limit point 508. A value obtained by subtraction is given as an acquisition point for a registered user of one print log information (step S419). That is, in the present embodiment, the value of the current month point 503 does not exceed the upper limit point 508. Next, the point management server 103 performs processing after step S417 described later.

  If “sum” <“upper limit point 508” as a result of the determination in step S415, the point management server 103 gives the provisional acquisition point as an acquisition point as it is to the registered user of one print log information (step S420). The acquired points are added to the current month points 503 and possessed points 504 in the user table 501 (step S421). Next, the point management server 103 gives the current month points to the received print log information based on the user table 501 (step S422). The log information 509 in FIG. 5E is generated by the above-described processes. Next, the point management server 103 determines whether or not the processing has been completed for all the read print log information (step S423).

  As a result of the determination in step S423, when the processing is not completed for any of the read print log information, the point management server 103 returns to the processing in step S406. On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S421, when the processing for all read print log information is completed, the point management server 103 ends this processing.

  According to the present embodiment described above, the first bonus point and the second bonus point are further awarded in addition to the normal points when a predetermined condition set in advance is satisfied. Thereby, points other than the normal points can be given according to the usage situation, and various point granting services can be provided.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the user A who uses the printing apparatuses 101a and 101b is associated with each printing apparatus 101a and 101b, and each grant point of all the printing apparatuses 101a and 101b associated with the user A is obtained. Based on the sum of the points, the current month point of the user A is calculated, and when the corresponding month point reaches the preset upper limit point 508, the second bonus point is given to the user A in addition to the normal point. Further granted. Accordingly, the second bonus point can be appropriately given to the user A who satisfies the predetermined condition for giving the second bonus point using the plurality of printing apparatuses 101a and 101b.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment described above, when the CRG information of the print log information is “genuine”, provisional earned points are calculated. That is, points are given only to registered users who have printed using genuine ink cartridges. This makes it possible to give points to registered users who satisfy the predetermined conditions using genuine ink cartridges when performing printing.

  In the present embodiment described above, the point master 505 that is the point grant reference for the first bonus point is different from the point upper limit master 507 that is the point grant reference for the second bonus point. Thereby, various bonus points can be awarded.

  As described above, the present invention has been described using the above-described embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the grant criteria for the first bonus point may be changed for each paper type for each month.

  In the present embodiment described above, in addition to the paper type, for example, a first bonus point may be given to a printing apparatus for print log information received first in the current month.

  In the present embodiment described above, the determination of giving the second bonus point is made every month. However, the second bonus point is given every predetermined period other than the month, such as every day, every three months, every year, etc. You may judge whether to give bonus points.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, as an example of the information related to the consumables used for printing by the printing apparatus 101a, the ink cartridge used for printing by the printing apparatus 101a is either a genuine product (normative) or a non-genuine product. However, the information regarding the consumables used by the printing apparatus 101a for printing is not limited to the CRG information. For example, when the printing apparatus 101a uses a toner cartridge, information indicating whether the toner cartridge used for printing is a genuine product (normative) or a non-genuine product may be used, and the printing used for printing may be used. Information indicating whether the paper is a genuine product (regulation) or a non-genuine product may be used.

  The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read the program. It can also be realized by processing to be executed. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

  The present invention can be implemented as a system, apparatus, method, program, storage medium, or the like, and can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices. You may apply to the apparatus which consists of one apparatus. Note that the present invention includes a software program that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments directly or remotely from a system or apparatus. The present invention also includes a case where the information processing apparatus of the system or apparatus is achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

  Therefore, the program code itself installed in the information processing apparatus in order to realize the functional processing of the present invention with the information processing apparatus also realizes the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, and the like.

  Examples of the recording medium for supplying the program include a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW. In addition, there are magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R), and the like.

  As another program supply method, a browser on a client computer is used to connect to an Internet home page. The computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function can be downloaded from the homepage by downloading it to a recording medium such as a hard disk.

  It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, the present invention also includes a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention with an information processing apparatus.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. Let The downloaded key information can be used to execute the encrypted program and install it in the information processing apparatus.

  Further, the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by the information processing apparatus executing the read program. In addition, based on the instructions of the program, the OS or the like operating on the information processing apparatus performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can be realized by the processing.

  Further, the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the information processing apparatus or a function expansion unit connected to the information processing apparatus. Thereafter, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  The above-described embodiments are merely examples of implementation in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereto. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea or the main features thereof.

100 point management system 101a to 101c printing apparatus 103 point management server 201 CPU
505 Point master 507 Point upper limit master

Claims (10)

A point management system that assigns points according to execution of printing by a registered printing apparatus, and manages the points by an information processing apparatus,
A point providing means for providing a first point based on the printing content of the printing apparatus;
The point providing unit further provides a second point different from the first point in addition to the first point when a predetermined condition set in advance is satisfied. . A calculation unit that calculates a total value of points given by printing performed by the printing apparatus;
A user using at least two of the printing devices is associated with each of the printing devices;
The calculating means calculates a total value of points given in all printing apparatuses associated with the user;
When the total value for the user reaches a preset upper limit point, the point granting means further gives the user the second point in addition to the first point. The point management system according to claim 1, wherein: The printing apparatus further comprises acquisition means for acquiring log information including information on consumables used in the printing,
The point management system according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit calculates the total value when a consumable used by the printing apparatus for the printing is a specified consumable for the printing apparatus. The point giving means gives the second point to at least one of the printing apparatus and the user,
The point grant standard used when giving the second point to the printing apparatus is different from the point grant standard used when giving the second point to the user, The point management system according to claim 2 or 3. An information processing apparatus that manages points given in accordance with execution of printing by a registered printing apparatus,
A point providing means for providing a first point based on the printing content of the printing apparatus;
The point giving means further gives a second point different from the first point in addition to the first point when a predetermined condition set in advance is satisfied. . A calculation unit that calculates a total value of points given by printing performed by the printing apparatus;
A user using at least two of the printing devices is associated with each of the printing devices;
The calculating means calculates a total value of points given in all printing apparatuses associated with the user;
When the total value for the user reaches a preset upper limit point, the point granting means further gives the user the second point in addition to the first point. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: The printing apparatus further comprises acquisition means for acquiring log information including information on consumables used in the printing,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the calculation unit calculates the total value when a consumable used by the printing apparatus for the printing is a specified consumable for the printing apparatus. The point giving means gives the second point to at least one of the printing apparatus and the user,
The point grant standard used when giving the second point to the printing apparatus is different from the point grant standard used when giving the second point to the user, The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 or 7. A point management method in which points are given according to execution of printing by a registered printing apparatus, and the points are managed by an information processing apparatus,
A point giving step of giving a first point based on the printing content of the printing apparatus;
In the point management step, a second point different from the first point is further provided in addition to the first point when a predetermined condition set in advance is satisfied. . A program for giving a point according to execution of printing by a registered printing apparatus, and causing a computer to execute a point management method for managing the point by an information processing apparatus,
The point management method is:
A point giving step of giving a first point based on the printing content of the printing apparatus;
The point giving step further gives a second point different from the first point in addition to the first point when a predetermined condition set in advance is satisfied.

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