JP2018200606A - Document printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a document printing system capable of realizing an improvement of convenience, a reduction of labor costs, and a safe reception of fees.SOLUTION: In a document printing system, a computer notifies a user terminal of a PIN code that is identification information on a document uploaded from the user terminal, and an MFP specifies the document in the computer on the basis of the received PIN code (S133: YES), notifies, in the form of a two-dimensional code, a user of a payment code issued by an online payment service for the printing fee of the specified document (S144), and prints the document by a printer when the printing fee is paid via the online payment service using the notified payment code.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

  The present invention relates to a document printing system for printing a document.

  Conventionally, there has been known a system that includes a coin vendor capable of paying a fee by cash and a copying machine, and executes the payment of the fee by the coin vendor in real time when executing a copying job by the copying machine. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-351167 A

  However, in the system described in Patent Document 1, the copy job is stopped when the cash put into the coin vendor by the user decreases and the payment of the fee is delayed, and then the coin vendor receives cash. Since the copy job is resumed when the additional fee is charged and the fee can be paid, there is a problem that the convenience is poor.

  Further, in the system described in Patent Document 1, since the fee stored in cash in the coin vendor needs to be collected periodically by a person on the copier administrator side, it costs labor. There is.

  In the system described in Patent Document 1, since the fee is stored in the coin vendor in cash, the cash stored in the coin vendor may be stolen and the administrator of the copier cannot receive the fee. There is a problem of having sex.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a document printing system capable of improving convenience, reducing labor costs, and receiving charges safely.

  The document printing system of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus including a printing device, and a document storage system for storing the document, and the document storage system is uploaded from the upload terminal for uploading the document. Document identification information as the identification information of the document is notified to the uploading terminal, and the image forming apparatus identifies the document in the document storage system based on the received document identification information, and the document identification A payment code notification means for notifying a payment code issued by an online payment service for the printing fee of the document specified by the means; and Use the payment code, which has been notified me, characterized in that it comprises a document printing means for printing the document by the printing device when the printing fee has been paid via the online payment service.

  With this configuration, the document printing system of the present invention prints this document after the document printing fee has been paid. Therefore, the document printing job “print document” is executed due to a delay in the payment of the fee. It is possible to improve convenience without being stopped halfway. In addition, since the document printing system of the present invention uses an online payment service instead of a coin vendor for payment of the printing fee, there is no need to acquire a fee from the coin vendor, reducing labor costs and ensuring a safe fee. Receiving can be realized.

  In the document printing system of the present invention, the document storage system includes a first document storage system and a second document storage system, and the document specifying means uses the received document identification information as the first document. The document is requested to the first document storage system by notifying the storage system, and the first document storage system stores the document corresponding to the document identification information notified from the image forming apparatus. The document corresponding to the document identification information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus, and the document corresponding to the document identification information notified from the image forming apparatus is not stored. The document is acquired from the second document storage system by notifying the second document storage system of identification information, and the document acquired from the second document storage system is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. Also good.

  With this configuration, the document printing system according to the present invention has the first document storage system and the second document storage system regardless of whether the document is stored in the first document storage system or the second document storage system. Since only the first document storage system in the document storage system needs to request a document by the image forming apparatus, the processing burden on the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

  In the document printing system of the present invention, the image forming apparatus may include a display device, and the payment code notification unit may notify the payment code by display on the display device.

  With this configuration, in the document printing system of the present invention, since the image forming apparatus notifies the payment code by displaying on the display device, the fee is paid via the online payment service using the payment code notified by the image forming apparatus. Even if the user terminal and the image forming apparatus cannot communicate with each other, the user terminal pays the fee via the online payment service using the payment code displayed on the display device of the image forming apparatus Can do.

  The document printing system of the present invention comprises a user terminal for paying the printing fee via the online payment service using the payment code notified by the payment code notification means, and the user terminal The payment code displayed on the display device may be obtained by photographing with the photographing device.

  With this configuration, the document printing system of the present invention improves the convenience because the user of the user terminal does not need to manually input the payment code displayed on the display device of the image forming apparatus to the user terminal. Can do.

  The document printing system of the present invention includes a printing fee calculation unit that calculates the printing fee, the image forming apparatus includes a printing setting reception unit that receives a printing setting of the document, and the printing fee calculation unit includes the printing fee calculation unit. The printing fee is calculated based on the print setting received by the setting reception unit, and the document printing unit prints the document on the printing device based on the print setting received by the print setting reception unit. May be.

  With this configuration, the document printing system of the present invention can print a document with print settings designated by the user from the image forming apparatus.

  The document printing system of the present invention can improve convenience, reduce labor costs, and safely receive charges.

1 is a block diagram of a document printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the user terminal shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram of the computer shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of MFP management information illustrated in FIG. 4. It is a figure which shows an example of the payment code management information shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the information which the online payment service shown in FIG. 1 memorize | stores. It is a figure which shows an example of the payment code management information shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the information which the document storage service shown in FIG. 1 memorize | stores. 5 is a flowchart of the operation of the computer shown in FIG. 4 when a new document is uploaded. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 3 when displaying a two-dimensional code. 5 is a flowchart of the operation of the computer shown in FIG. 4 when a document is requested from the MFP. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the document storage service shown in FIG. 1 when a document is requested from a computer. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the computer shown in FIG. 4 when a two-dimensional code is requested from the MFP. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the document printing system shown in FIG. 1 from when a user terminal reads a two-dimensional code until the MFP finishes executing a document printing job. It is a figure which shows an example of the payment screen displayed on the display part of a user terminal in the operation | movement shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of the document printing system according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a document printing system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a document printing system 10 includes a user terminal 20 used by a user, an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 30 as an image forming apparatus, and a computer 40 as a document storage system for storing documents. , An online payment service 50 that is a cloud service for executing payment online, a bank account management system 60 that manages bank accounts, and a document storage service 70 as a document storage system that stores documents. . The computer 40 and the document storage service 70 constitute a first document storage system and a second document storage system, respectively.

  Examples of the document include a PDF (Portable Document Format) document, a Microsoft (registered trademark) Word document, a Microsoft Excel (registered trademark) document, a Microsoft PowerPoint (registered trademark) document, and a TIFF (Tagged Image PEG document). Various types of documents can be employed, such as (Joint Photographic Experts Group) documents. A document may contain its own print settings.

  The MFP 30 can be installed in various facilities such as a commercial facility such as a convenience store and a public facility such as a university. The MFP 30 is a device that executes printing of a document stored in at least one of the computer 40 and the document storage service 70 in accordance with payment of a fee by a user.

  The computer 40 may be capable of executing not only the process related to the charge of the MFP 30 but also the process related to the charge of at least one MFP similar to the MFP 30.

  Each of the online payment service 50, the bank account management system 60, and the document storage service 70 is a cloud service and is a system realized by a server such as a cloud server.

  The user terminal 20 and the online payment service 50 can communicate via a network such as the Internet.

  The MFP 30 and the computer 40 can communicate via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), the Internet, or directly by wire or wireless without going through the network.

  The computer 40 and the document storage service 70 can communicate via a network such as the Internet.

  The online payment service 50 and the bank account management system 60 can communicate via a network such as the Internet.

  The online payment service 50 and the document storage service 70 can communicate via a network such as the Internet.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the user terminal 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the user terminal 20 is a display device such as an operation unit 21 that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information. A display unit 22; a shooting unit 23 that is a shooting device such as a camera; and a communication unit 24 that is a communication device that communicates with an external apparatus directly via a network or via a network without being connected via a network. A storage unit 25 that is a nonvolatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory that stores various types of information, and a control unit 26 that controls the entire user terminal 20 are provided. The user terminal 20 may be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet, for example. The user terminal 20 constitutes an uploading terminal for uploading a document to at least one of the computer 40 (see FIG. 1) and the document storage service 70 (see FIG. 1).

  The storage unit 25 stores a payment program 25a for payment by the online payment service 50 (see FIG. 1). The settlement program 25a may be installed in the user terminal 20 at the manufacturing stage of the user terminal 20, or additionally installed in the user terminal 20 from an external storage medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. Alternatively, it may be additionally installed on the user terminal 20 from the network.

  The control unit 26 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing a program and various data, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU. Yes. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 25.

  The control unit 26 implements a settlement instruction unit 26a that instructs the online settlement service 50 to perform settlement by executing the settlement program 25a.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the MFP 30.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the MFP 30 includes an operation unit 31 that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations, a display unit 32 that is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information, and an image from a document. Fax communication is performed via a communication line such as a public telephone line such as a scanner 33 which is a reading device, a printer 34 which is a printing device which prints an image on a recording medium such as paper, and an external facsimile apparatus (not shown). Various types of information are stored, such as a fax communication unit 35 that is a fax device, a communication unit 36 that is a communication device that communicates with an external device directly via a wired or wireless connection via a network or not via a network. Non-volatile storage devices such as semiconductor memory and HDD (Hard Disk Drive) A storage unit 37 and a control unit 38 that controls the entire MFP 30 are provided.

  The storage unit 37 stores a document printing program 37a for executing a document printing job. The document printing program 37a may be installed in the MFP 30 at the manufacturing stage of the MFP 30, or may be additionally installed in the MFP 30 from an external storage medium such as a USB memory, or may be additionally installed in the MFP 30 from the network. May be.

  The control unit 38 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data, and a RAM that is used as a work area of the CPU. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 37.

  By executing the document printing program 37a, the control unit 38 receives a PIN (Personal Identification Number) code, which is document identification information as document identification information, and also receives a document in the document storage system based on the received PIN code. A document specifying unit 38a for specifying, a print setting receiving unit 38b for receiving the print setting of the document specified by the document specifying unit 38a, and a print fee calculating unit 38c for calculating the printing fee of the document specified by the document specifying unit 38a. The payment fee issued by the online settlement service 50 (see FIG. 1) for the printing fee calculated by the printing fee calculation means 38c. A payment code notifying unit 38d for notifying a printing mode and a document printing for printing a document by the printer 34 when a printing fee is paid via the online payment service 50 using the payment code notified by the payment code notifying unit 38d. Means 38e are realized.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the computer 40.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4, the computer 40 stores various types of information and a communication unit 41 that is a communication device that communicates with an external device directly via a network or via a network without using a network. A storage unit 42 that is a nonvolatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory, and a control unit 43 that controls the entire computer 40.

  The storage unit 42 stores a document printing program 42a for executing a document printing job. The document printing program 42a may be installed in the computer 40 at the manufacturing stage of the computer 40, or may be added to the computer 40 from an external storage medium such as a USB memory, a CD (Compact Disk), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). It may be installed, or may be additionally installed on the computer 40 from the network.

  The storage unit 42 stores MFP management information 42b for managing the MFP.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the MFP management information 42b.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the MFP management information 42 b is information in which an MFP ID that is identification information of the MFP and an administrator ID that is identification information of the administrator of the MFP are associated with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the storage unit 42 can store payment code management information 42c for managing a payment code issued by the online payment service 50 (see FIG. 1).

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the payment code management information 42c.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the payment code management information 42c is information in which a payment code, an MFP ID, and a print data ID, which is print data identification information, are associated with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the storage unit 42 can store at least one document 42d in association with the PIN code of the document.

  The control unit 43 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data, and a RAM that is used as a work area of the CPU. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 42.

  The control unit 43 executes the document printing program 42a to realize a document transmission unit 43a that transmits a document to the MFP and a settlement communication unit 43b that performs communication for settlement by the online settlement service 50.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the online payment service 50.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the online payment service 50 includes user bank account information 50 a that shows user bank account information for each user ID that is user identification information, and account information of the administrator of the MFP 30. Is stored for each administrator ID.

  The user bank account information 50a includes information related to the user's bank account, such as the name of the bank that manages the user's bank account and the account number of the bank account. The user, for example, the user bank of the online payment service 50 via the operation unit 21 (see FIG. 2) of the user terminal 20 (see FIG. 2) via the payment program 25a (see FIG. 2). It is possible to register the user's bank account information in the account information 50a.

  The administrator can register the account information of the administrator in the administrator account information 50b of the online payment service 50 via, for example, an arbitrary PC (Personal Computer) via the Internet. The administrator's account is an account managed by the online payment service 50, not a bank account.

  The online payment service 50 can store payment code management information 50c for managing payment codes.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the payment code management information 50c.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the payment code management information 50c is information in which a payment code, an administrator ID, a fee, and a computer ID that is computer identification information are associated with each other.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the document storage service 70.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the document storage service 70 can store at least one document 70a in association with a PIN code that is document identification information of the document.

  Next, the operation of the document printing system 10 will be described.

  First, the operation of the computer 40 when a new document is uploaded will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the operation of the computer 40 when a new document is uploaded.

  A user can access the computer 40 from the user terminal 20 by, for example, Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark) and instruct the computer 40 to store a new document 42d.

  When the computer 40 is instructed to store a new document 42d, the computer 40 generates a PIN code of the document 42d as shown in FIG. 10 (S101), and stores the document 42d in association with the generated PIN code. (S102).

  Next, the computer 40 notifies the user terminal 20 of the PIN code generated in S101 (S103) and ends the operation shown in FIG.

  Therefore, the user terminal 20 can display the PIN code notified from the computer 40 on the display unit 22.

  Next, the operation of the document storage service 70 when a new document is uploaded will be described.

  The operation of the document storage service 70 when a new document is uploaded is that the new document is uploaded except that communication between the user terminal 20 and the document storage service 70 is performed via the Internet. The operation is the same as the operation of the computer 40.

  Therefore, the user terminal 20 can display the PIN code of the new document 70 a notified from the document storage service 70 on the display unit 22.

  Next, the operation of the document printing system 10 until the MFP 30 displays the two-dimensional code will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 30 when displaying a two-dimensional code.

  The user can log in to the MFP 30 by inputting the PIN code notified from the computer 40 or the document storage service 70 and displayed on the display unit 22 of the user terminal 20 via the operation unit 31 of the MFP 30. .

  When a PIN code is input via the operation unit 31, the document specifying unit 38a of the MFP 30 receives the input PIN code (S131), and notifies the computer 40 of the received PIN code, whereby the document is stored in the computer 40. A request is made (S132).

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the operation of the computer 40 when a document is requested from the MFP 30.

  When a document is requested from the MFP 30 through the process of S132, the control unit 43 of the computer 40 performs the operation shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the document transmission unit 43a of the computer 40 determines whether or not the document 42d corresponding to the PIN code notified from the MFP 30, that is, the target document 42d is stored (S161).

  If the document transmission unit 43a determines in S161 that the target document 42d is stored, the document transmission unit 43a transmits the target document 42d to the MFP 30 (S162), and the operation shown in FIG.

  If the document transmission unit 43a determines in S161 that the target document 42d is not stored, the document transmission unit 43a requests the document storage service 70 for the document by notifying the document storage service 70 of the PIN code notified from the MFP 30 (S163). ).

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the operation of the document storage service 70 when a document is requested from the computer 40.

  When a document is requested from the computer 40 through the process of S163, the document storage service 70 executes the operation shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the document storage service 70 determines whether or not the document 70a corresponding to the PIN code notified from the computer 40, that is, the target document 70a is stored (S201).

  If the document storage service 70 determines in S201 that the target document 70a is stored, the document storage service 70 transmits the target document 70a to the computer 40 (S202), and ends the operation shown in FIG.

  If the document storage service 70 determines in S201 that the target document 70a is not stored, the document storage service 70 notifies the computer 40 that the target document 70a is not stored (S203), and ends the operation shown in FIG. .

  As shown in FIG. 12, the document transmission unit 43a of the computer 40 determines whether or not a document has been transmitted from the document storage service 70 after the process of S163 (S164). When the document storage service 70 transmits the document 70a to the computer 40 in S202, the document transmission unit 43a determines in S164 that the document has been transmitted from the document storage service 70.

  If the document transmission unit 43a determines in S164 that the document has been transmitted from the document storage service 70, the document transmission unit 43a transmits the document to the MFP 30 (S165), and ends the operation shown in FIG.

  If the document transmission means 43a determines in S164 that the document has not been transmitted from the document storage service 70, it determines whether or not the document storage service 70 has notified that the target document is not stored (S166). ). When the document storage service 70 notifies the computer 40 that the target document is not stored in S203, the document transmission unit 43a is notified from the document storage service 70 that the target document is not stored. In step S166, it is determined that it has come.

  If the document transmission unit 43a determines in S166 that the document storage service 70 has not notified that the target document is not stored, the document transmission unit 43a executes the process of S164.

  When the document transmission unit 43a determines in S166 that the document storage service 70 has notified that the target document is not stored, the document transmission unit 43a notifies the MFP 30 that the target document is not stored (S167). The operation shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the document specifying unit 38a of the MFP 30 determines whether or not a document has been transmitted from the computer 40 after the process of S132 (S133). The document specifying unit 38a determines in S133 that the document is transmitted from the computer 40 when the computer 40 transmits the document 42d to the MFP 30 in S162 and when the computer 40 transmits the document to the MFP 30 in S165. To do.

  If the document specifying unit 38a determines in S133 that the document has not been transmitted from the computer 40, the document specifying unit 38a determines whether or not the computer 40 has notified that the target document is not stored (S134). When the computer 40 notifies the MFP 30 that the target document is not stored in S167, the document specifying unit 38a determines in S134 that the computer 40 notifies that the target document is not stored. To do.

  If the document specifying unit 38a determines in S134 that the computer 40 has not notified that the target document is not stored, the document specifying unit 38a executes the process of S133.

  If the document specifying unit 38a determines in S134 that the computer 40 has notified that the target document is not stored, the document specifying unit 38a displays on the display unit 32 that the target document has not been found (S135). The operation shown in FIG.

  When it is determined in S133 that the document has been transmitted from the computer 40, the document printing unit 38e determines whether or not print settings have been designated for the document via the operation unit 31 (S136). Here, the user can designate print settings that the MFP 40 desires to apply to the document received from the computer 40 via the operation unit 31. Examples of print settings that can be specified include setting of the number of copies to be printed, setting of the size of the recording medium to be printed, setting of monochrome printing or color printing, setting of duplex printing or single-sided printing Etc. exist.

  If it is determined in S136 that the print setting has been specified for the document via the operation unit 31, the print setting reception unit 38b receives the print setting specified via the operation unit 31 (S137).

  The document printing unit 38e determines in S136 that the print setting has not been specified for the document via the operation unit 31, or the document determined in S133 that it is transmitted from the computer 40 when the process of S137 is executed. It is determined whether or not printing has been instructed via the operation unit 31 (S138).

  If the document printing unit 38e determines in S138 that printing of the document is not instructed via the operation unit 31, the document printing unit 38e executes the process of S136.

  When the document printing unit 38e determines in S138 that printing of the document has been instructed via the operation unit 31, the document printing unit 38e generates print data of the document (S139), and the generated print data is identification information of the print data. The data is stored in the storage unit 37 in association with the print data ID (S140). Here, when the print setting is accepted in S137, the document printing unit 38e generates print data of the target document with this print setting.

  The print data includes page number information indicating the number of pages to be printed, number information indicating the number of recording media to be printed, recording medium size information indicating the size of the recording medium to be printed, monochrome printing, and color printing. Such information includes various information necessary for calculating the printing fee, such as color information indicating whether or not both-side printing and single-side printing are performed.

  For example, the document printing unit 38e receives page number information based on the number of pages of the document and various print settings such as setting of the number of copies, setting of whether to perform double-sided printing or single-sided printing accepted in S137. And number information is determined.

  The document printing unit 38e gives priority to the print setting accepted in S137 when the print settings included in the document 70a itself and the print settings accepted in S137 are included. For example, the document printing unit 38e performs monochrome printing when the print settings included in the document itself include color print settings and the print settings received in S137 include monochrome print settings. Information indicating that this is present is included in the print data as color information.

  After the process of S140, the print fee calculation unit 38c calculates the print fee of the current document based on the print data generated in S139 and a specific calculation standard (S141).

  Next, the payment code notification means 38d notifies the computer 40 of the MFP ID of the MFP 30, the print data ID of the print data stored in the storage unit 37 in S140, and the print fee calculated in S141. Request a two-dimensional code (S142).

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the operation of the computer 40 when a two-dimensional code is requested from the MFP 30.

  When the two-dimensional code is requested by the MFP 30 through the process of S142, the control unit 43 of the computer 40 executes the operation shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the payment communication means 43 b of the computer 40 requests the payment code at the printing fee notified from the MFP 30 together with the request for the two-dimensional code to the online payment service 50 via the document storage service 70. (S231). Here, the communication means for settlement 43b uses the administrator ID associated in the MFP management information 42b with the MFP ID transmitted from the MFP 30 together with the request for the two-dimensional code and the computer ID of the computer 40 in the request of S231. include.

  Therefore, the online payment service 50 issues a payment code in response to the request in S231 and sends it back to the computer 40. The online payment service 50 stores the issued payment code in the payment code management information 50c in association with the administrator ID, fee, and computer ID included in the request in S231.

  The payment communication means 43b of the computer 40 determines whether or not a payment code has been returned from the online payment service 50 until it is determined that a payment code has been returned from the online payment service 50 after the processing of S231 ( S232).

  When the payment communication means 43b determines in S232 that the payment code has been returned from the online payment service 50, the payment code returned from the online payment service 50, the MFPID notified from the MFP 30 together with the request for the two-dimensional code, and The data is stored in the payment code management information 42c in association with the print data ID (S233).

  Next, the settlement communication unit 43b generates a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark) indicating the payment code stored in S233 (S234), and transmits the two-dimensional code generated in S234 to the MFP 30 (S235). ), The operation shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 11, whether or not the two-dimensional code has been transmitted from the computer 40 until the payment code notifying unit 38d of the MFP 30 determines that the two-dimensional code has been transmitted from the computer 40 after the process of S142. Is determined (S143). When the computer 40 transmits the two-dimensional code to the MFP 30 in S235, the payment code notification unit 38d determines in S143 that the two-dimensional code has been transmitted from the computer 40.

  When the payment code notifying means 38d determines in S143 that the two-dimensional code has been transmitted from the computer 40, the payment code notifying means 38d displays the two-dimensional code transmitted from the computer 40 on the display unit 32 (S144), and the operation shown in FIG. Exit.

  Next, the operation of the document printing system 10 from when the user terminal 20 reads the two-dimensional code until the MFP 30 finishes executing the document printing job will be described.

  FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the document printing system 10 from when the user terminal 20 reads the two-dimensional code until the MFP 30 finishes executing the document printing job.

  The user can operate the user terminal 20 so that the photographing unit 23 of the user terminal 20 reads the two-dimensional code displayed on the display unit 32 of the MFP 30 in S144. When the user terminal 20 is operated so that the payment instruction means 26a of the user terminal 20 causes the photographing unit 23 to read the two-dimensional code displayed on the display unit 32, as shown in FIG. Is read by the photographing unit 23 (S261).

  Next, the payment instruction unit 26a interprets the two-dimensional code read in S261 and transmits the payment code indicated by the two-dimensional code and the user ID to the online payment service 50 (S262).

  Therefore, the online payment service 50 determines the fee associated with the payment code in the payment code management information 50c based on the payment code and user ID transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S262, and the user bank account. The bank account information associated with the user ID in the information 50a is returned to the user terminal 20 (S263).

  When the charge and the bank account information are transmitted from the online payment service 50, the payment instruction means 26a of the user terminal 20 displays a payment screen 80 (see FIG. 16) for payment of the charge. Is displayed (S264).

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of the payment screen 80.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the payment screen 80 includes a text 81 indicating the bank account information transmitted from the online payment service 50, a text 82 indicating the charge transmitted from the online payment service 50, and the bank account information. It includes a text box 83 for entering a password, that is, a password for allowing the bank account management system 60 to debit the bank account.

  In FIG. 16, the name of the bank is shown as the bank account information displayed on the payment screen 80. However, information other than the bank name may be displayed on the payment screen 80 as the bank account information in addition to the bank name or instead of the bank name. In S263, only the information displayed on the payment screen 80 among the bank account information may be returned.

  As shown in FIG. 15, when the bank account password is entered in the text box 83, the settlement instruction unit 26a transmits the entered password to the online settlement service 50 (S265).

  Therefore, the online payment service 50 is transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S262 out of the bank accounts managed by the bank account management system 60 only when the password transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S265 is correct. The charge associated with the payment code transmitted from the user terminal 20 at S262 in the payment code management information 50c is withdrawn from the bank account associated with the user ID in the user bank account information 50a ( S266).

  Next, the online payment service 50 converts the fee withdrawn in S266 into the administrator ID associated with the payment code transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S262 in the payment code management information 50c in the administrator account information 50b. Transfer money to the associated account (S267).

  Next, the online payment service 50 associates the payment completion notification indicating that the payment of the fee has been completed with the payment code transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S262 in the payment code management information 50c. It is transmitted to the computer 40 with the computer ID that has been assigned (S268).

  When the payment completion notification is transmitted from the online payment service 50 in S268, the payment communication means 43b of the computer 40 adds the payment code management information 42c to the payment code transmitted together with the payment completion notification from the online payment service 50 in S268. The print data ID associated with the payment code is transmitted to the MFP 30 having the MFP ID associated with the payment code in the payment code management information 42c (S269).

  When the print data ID is transmitted from the computer 40 in S269, the document printing unit 38e of the MFP 30 corresponds to the print data ID transmitted from the computer 40 in S269 among the print data stored in the storage unit 42. After printing is performed by the printer 34 based on the attached print data (S270), the print data is deleted from the storage unit 42 (S271).

  As described above, the document printing system 10 prints this document (S270) after the document printing fee has been paid (S265 to S267), so a document printing job “print document” is performed. Is not interrupted due to a delay in the payment of charges, and convenience can be improved.

  Since the document printing system 10 uses the online payment service 50 instead of the coin vendor for payment of the fee, the fee is directly transferred from the bank account of the user of the MFP 30 to the account of the administrator of the MFP 30. No acquisition work is required, and labor costs can be reduced and the fee can be received safely.

  Since the document printing system 10 uses the online payment service 50 instead of the coin vendor for payment of the fee, it can be easily introduced even in a country where the coin vendor is not used much.

  In the document printing system 10, since the MFP 30 notifies the payment code by displaying on the display unit 32 (S144), the user terminal for paying the fee via the online payment service 50 using the payment code notified by the MFP 30 Even when the MFP 20 and the MFP 30 cannot communicate with each other, the user terminal 20 can pay the fee via the online payment service 50 using the payment code displayed on the display unit 32 of the MFP 30.

  In the document printing system 10, since the payment code is compactly displayed on the display unit 32 of the MFP 30 as a two-dimensional code, it is easy to shoot with the shooting unit 23 of the user terminal 20, and convenience can be improved. In the document printing system 10, the payment code may be displayed on the display unit 32 in such a manner that it is difficult for the image capturing unit 23 of the user terminal 20 to capture a character string or a one-dimensional code.

  Since the document printing system 10 acquires the payment code displayed on the display unit 32 by photographing with the photographing unit 23, the user of the user terminal 20 uses the payment code displayed on the display unit 32 of the MFP 30 as a user. There is no need to manually enter the terminal 20. Therefore, the document printing system 10 can improve convenience. In the document printing system 10, when the payment code is displayed on the display unit 32 by a method understandable by the user of the user terminal 20, such as a character string, instead of the two-dimensional code, it is displayed on the display unit 32 of the MFP 30. The payment code may be manually input to the user terminal 20 by the user of the user terminal 20.

  In the document printing system 10, the MFP 30 generates print data based on the print settings received by the MFP 30. Therefore, the document stored in the computer 40 or the document storage service 70 is printed with the print settings designated by the user from the MFP 30. can do.

  Even when the user terminal 20 storing a document that the user desires to be printed by the MFP 30 and the MFP 30 cannot communicate with each other, the document printing system 10 can be connected to the computer 40 and the computer 40. By uploading a document to one of the document storage services 70, the document can be printed by the MFP 30, and convenience can be improved.

  In the document printing system 10, regardless of whether the document is stored in the computer 40 or the document storage service 70, it is sufficient that the MFP 30 requests only the computer 40 out of the computer 40 and the document storage service 70. Therefore, the processing load on the MFP 30 can be suppressed. The document printing system 10 may have a configuration in which a document is requested from the MFP 30 to each of the computer 40 and the document storage service 70.

  In the present embodiment, the document printing system 10 uses an account managed by the online payment service 50 as the account of the administrator of the MFP 30. However, the document printing system 10 may be configured to use a bank account instead of an account managed by the online payment service 50 as an account of the administrator of the MFP 30.

  In the present embodiment, document printing system 10 uses a bank account as the account of the user of MFP 30. However, the document printing system 10 may be configured to use an account managed by the online payment service 50 instead of a bank account as an account of the user of the MFP 30.

  The document printing system 10 may be configured such that at least a part of the above-described functions of the MFP 30 is realized by the computer 40 executing the document printing program 42a. For example, the document printing system 10 may be configured such that the computer 40 executes at least one of generation of document print data and calculation of a document printing fee.

  The computer 40 requests the payment code from the online payment service 50 via the document storage service 70 in the present embodiment, but may directly request the payment code from the online payment service 50 without going through the document storage service 70. .

  The upload terminal of the present invention serves as the online payment user terminal 20 in the present embodiment, but may be a terminal other than the user terminal 20.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an MFP in the present embodiment, but may be an image forming apparatus other than the MFP, such as a dedicated printer.

10 Document printing system 20 User terminal (upload terminal)
23 Shooting unit (shooting device)
30 MFP (image forming apparatus)
32 Display unit (display device)
34 Printer (printing device)
38a Document specifying means 38b Print setting receiving means 38c Printing fee calculating means 38d Payment code notifying means 38e Document printing means 40 Computer (document storage system, first document storage system)
42d Document 50 Online payment service 70 Document storage service (document storage system, second document storage system)
70a Document

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus including a printing device;
A document storage system for storing documents,
The document storage system notifies the upload terminal of document identification information as identification information of the document uploaded from an upload terminal for uploading the document,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Document specifying means for specifying the document in the document storage system based on the received document identification information;
A payment code notification means for notifying a payment code issued by an online payment service for the printing fee of the document specified by the document specifying means;
Document printing means for printing the document on the printing device when the printing fee is paid via the online payment service using the payment code notified by the payment code notifying means. Document printing system. The document storage system includes:
A first document storage system;
A second document storage system;
The document specifying means requests the document from the first document storage system by notifying the received document identification information to the first document storage system,
The first document storage system includes:
When the document corresponding to the document identification information notified from the image forming apparatus is stored, the document corresponding to the document identification information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus,
When the document corresponding to the document identification information notified from the image forming apparatus is not stored, the document identification information is notified from the second document storage system to the second document storage system. The document printing system according to claim 1, wherein the document is acquired, and the document acquired from the second document storage system is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a display device,
The document printing system according to claim 1, wherein the payment code notification unit notifies the payment code by display on the display device. A user terminal for paying the printing fee via the online payment service using the payment code notified by the payment code notification means;
The document printing system according to claim 3, wherein the user terminal includes a photographing device, and obtains the payment code displayed on the display device by photographing with the photographing device. A printing fee calculating means for calculating the printing fee;
The image forming apparatus includes a print setting receiving unit that receives print settings of the document.
The print fee calculating means calculates the print fee based on the print settings received by the print setting accepting means;
5. The document according to claim 1, wherein the document printing unit prints the document with the printing device based on the print setting received by the print setting reception unit. 6. Printing system.

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