JP2020042392A - Information processing apparatus and information processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

To appropriately determine a charge for a processing result of an image processing apparatus when enough processing attributes to settle the charge for the processing result cannot be acquired.SOLUTION: In a charge information DB 26, a plurality of pieces of charge information with which charges and priorities are associated are stored with respect to each of attribute combinations being combinations of a plurality of attribute values for a plurality of attribute items. A processing result acquisition unit 32 acquires information indicative of processing attributes relating to a processing result of processing a job by an image processing apparatus 12. The processing attributes include one or more attribute values for one or more attribute items. If the acquired processing attributes do not include attribute values for partial attribute items out of the plurality of attribute items defined in the charge information DB 26 and there are a plurality of pieces of charge information corresponding to the processing attributes, a charge determination unit 34 determines a charge for the processing result on the basis of priorities associated with the plurality of pieces of charge information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing device and an information processing program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a system in which, when a user performs a process using an image processing apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral, the user is charged.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a charge table is prepared for each type of image forming apparatus (general device or large format printer), and the type of the image forming apparatus is identified based on job history information acquired from the image forming apparatus. A system for charging a user of the image forming apparatus based on a fee table corresponding to the identified type is disclosed.

JP 2010-256620 A

  In general, the fee for processing performed by the image processing apparatus is determined based on processing attributes (for example, paper size, color mode, presence / absence of finisher processing, double-sided / single-sided) related to the processing. Therefore, in order to charge the user who has performed the processing in the image processing apparatus, it is necessary to acquire from the image processing apparatus a processing attribute relating to the processing, which is sufficient to determine the fee.

  However, there are cases where a sufficient processing attribute for determining the fee cannot be obtained from the image processing apparatus. For example, image processing apparatuses of different manufacturers generally have different formats of information indicating processing attributes, and in an environment where a plurality of image processing apparatuses of a plurality of manufacturers coexist, the plurality of image processing Information (data) indicating a processing attribute obtained from at least a part of the apparatus may not be analyzed, and as a result, a sufficient processing attribute may not be obtained from at least a part of the plurality of image processing apparatuses.

  An object of the present invention is to appropriately determine a fee for a processing result when a sufficient processing attribute for determining a fee for the processing result of the image processing apparatus cannot be obtained.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, a processing attribute acquisition unit that acquires a processing attribute including an attribute value for an attribute item regarding a processing result of an image processing apparatus, and an attribute combination that is a combination of a plurality of attribute values for a plurality of attribute items Referring to the charge information in which the charge and the priority are associated with each other, the processing attribute acquired by the processing attribute acquisition unit is an attribute for a part of the plurality of attribute items defined in the charge information. A plurality of attribute combinations corresponding to the processing attribute in the fee information, based on the priority associated with the plurality of attribute combinations. And a charge determining unit that determines a charge for the information processing apparatus.

  The invention according to claim 2 is a priority determination unit that determines the priority of the attribute combination, and is capable of acquiring an attribute value from the image processing device among a plurality of attribute items corresponding to the attribute combination. A priority determining unit configured to increase the priority of the attribute combination with respect to the image processing apparatus as the number of attribute items, the attribute value of which is unquestionable in the charge information, is smaller. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

  The invention according to claim 3, further comprising: a device information acquisition unit that acquires, for each image processing device, device information indicating an attribute item from which an attribute value can be acquired from the image processing device. 2. The information processing device according to item 2.

  In the invention according to claim 4, in the fee information, a fee information group is further associated with each of the attribute combinations, and the fee determination unit associates the fee information group to which the image processing apparatus belongs among the fee information. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute combination is referred to.

  The invention according to claim 5, further comprising: a charge information group determining unit that determines the charge information group of the image processing device based on an attribute item capable of acquiring an attribute value from the image processing device. An information processing apparatus according to claim 4.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a computer is a combination of a processing attribute acquisition unit that acquires a processing attribute including an attribute value for an attribute item regarding a processing result of an image processing apparatus, and a plurality of attribute values for a plurality of attribute items. Referring to the charge information in which the charge and the priority are associated with each attribute combination, the processing attribute acquired by the processing attribute acquisition unit is a part of the plurality of attribute items defined in the charge information. If the attribute information is configured from the attribute value for the item, and if there is a plurality of the attribute combination corresponding to the processing attribute in the fee information, based on the priority associated with the plurality of attribute combinations, An information processing program functioning as a charge determining unit that determines a charge for the processing result.

  According to the first or sixth aspect of the present invention, when a sufficient processing attribute for determining the fee for the processing result of the image processing apparatus cannot be obtained, the fee for the processing result can be appropriately determined.

  According to the invention according to claim 2, the priority of the attribute combination can be set based on the attribute item from which the attribute value can be obtained from the image processing apparatus.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to acquire information indicating an attribute item from which an attribute value can be acquired from the image processing apparatus.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to determine a fee for a processing result in a plurality of image processing devices without having to set a set of fee information for each image processing device.

  According to the invention according to claim 5, it is possible to determine the fee information group corresponding to the image processing device based on the attribute item from which the attribute value can be obtained from the image processing device.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a charging management system according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a charging management server according to the embodiment. It is a figure showing the example of contents of a device information DB. It is a figure showing the example of contents of a charge information DB. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the charging management system concerning this embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a charging management system 10 according to the present embodiment. The billing management system 10 includes one or more image processing apparatuses 12, one or more user terminals 14, and a billing management server 16 as an information processing apparatus. The image processing device 12, the user terminal 14, and the accounting management server 16 are communicably connected to each other via a communication line 18 such as a LAN or the Internet. Although only one charge management server 16 is shown in FIG. 1, the functions realized by the charge management server 16 may be executed by being distributed to a plurality of servers.

  The image processing apparatus 12 according to the present embodiment is a multifunction peripheral that performs a print function, a copy function, a scan function, a fax function, and the like. The image processing device 12 receives a processing request (job) from the user terminal 14 or a direct operation from a user (user), and performs various processes according to the job. Note that the image processing device 12 may be a device other than the multifunction peripheral as long as it can process a job input from a user.

  The image processing apparatus 12 includes a storage unit including a ROM, a RAM, or a hard disk, a communication unit including a communication module, a display unit including a liquid crystal panel, and an operation unit including a touch panel or buttons. An image forming unit including a RIP processing unit that develops image data generated in a job into raster data or a printing unit that reproduces raster data on a print medium; and an image that includes an image reading device. It is configured to include a reading unit and the like.

  The user terminal 14 is a terminal used by the user, for example, a personal computer or a tablet terminal. The user terminal 14 may be a general computer, a storage unit including a ROM, a RAM, or a hard disk, a communication unit including a communication module, an input unit including a mouse or a keyboard, and a liquid crystal display. It includes a display unit composed of a panel and the like, and a control unit composed of a CPU and the like.

  When the image processing apparatus 12 processes a job, the charge management server 16 determines a fee (charge amount), and performs a process of charging a user who inputs the job. In the present embodiment, the accounting management server 16 is a server computer, but may be any device as long as it can perform the functions described below. In the present embodiment, a process will be described in which a user inputs a print job to the image processing apparatus 12 and charges the user when the image processing apparatus 12 performs print processing. The user may also be charged when other processing (for example, copy processing, scan processing, or fax processing) is performed by the processing device 12.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the charging management server 16.

  The communication unit 20 is configured to include, for example, a communication module. The communication unit 20 has a function of communicating with the image processing device 12 or the user terminal 14 via the communication line 18.

  The storage unit 22 includes, for example, a ROM, a RAM, or a hard disk. The storage unit 22 stores an information processing program for operating each unit of the charging management server 16. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the storage unit 22 defines a device information DB 24 and a fee information 26DB.

  The device information DB 24 is a database that stores device information related to the image processing device 12 included in the charging management system 10, that is, the image processing device 12 managed by the charging management server 16. The device information is information indicating whether or not the charge management server 16 can acquire, from the image processing device 12, a processing attribute related to a processing result of a process executed by the image processing device 12. Specifically, the processing attribute includes attribute values for a plurality of attribute items (for example, paper size, color mode, finisher, double-sided / single-sided, etc.), and the device information includes a plurality of attributes that can be variously defined. Among the items, this is information indicating attribute items for which the charge management server 16 can acquire attribute values from the image processing device 12. An example of the contents of the device information DB 24 is shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the device information DB 24, a device ID for uniquely identifying the image processing device 12 is associated with whether or not an attribute value can be acquired for each processing attribute. One record of the table shown in FIG. 3 indicates one device information. For example, in FIG. 3, the device information corresponding to the device ID “1” is obtained by the accounting management server 16 from the image processing device 12 corresponding to the device ID “1”, regarding the paper size, the color mode, the finisher, and both sides / one side. This indicates that the attribute value can be acquired (“〇”). The device information corresponding to the device ID “2” can be acquired by the charge management server 16 from the image processing device 12 indicated by the device ID “2”, and the attribute values relating to the color mode and the double-sided / single-sided (“〇”). However, it indicates that the attribute values relating to the paper size and the finisher cannot be acquired (“×”). As described above, the charge management server 16 may not be able to acquire the attribute values for some of the attribute items from the image processing apparatus 12.

  The attribute value for the paper size indicates the size of a print medium (for example, paper) on which an image related to the print job is printed, and is, for example, “A4”. The attribute value for the color mode indicates the color mode of the print processing, and is, for example, “color” or “black and white”. The attribute value for the finisher indicates the presence or absence or type of the finisher process, and is, for example, “none” or “punch”. The attribute value for both sides / one side indicates the print side setting of the print processing, and is, for example, “two sides” or “one side”. Note that the processing attributes shown in FIG. 3 are merely examples, and the device information may indicate whether or not attribute values relating to other processing attributes can be acquired.

  The processing attribute related to the processing result of the processing executed by the image processing apparatus 12 can be obtained based on job history information generated by the image processing apparatus 12 after the processing is completed. Here, the attribute item for which the charge management server 16 cannot acquire the attribute value from the image processing device 12 includes an attribute item whose attribute value is not included in the job history information generated by the image processing device 12, Although the attribute value is included in the job history information generated by the device 12, the accounting management server 16 recognizes the attribute value (or the attribute item itself), for example, the attribute value is described in a format that the accounting management server 16 cannot recognize. Including attribute items that cannot be used.

  In the present embodiment, the device information is acquired by the device information acquisition unit 30 described later and stored in the device information DB 24. The device information 24 is created in advance by the administrator of the charging management system 10 and the like. May be stored.

  The fee information DB 26 is a database that stores fee information. The fee information is information in which a fee is associated with each attribute combination that is a combination of a plurality of attribute values for a plurality of attribute items. An example of the contents of the fee information DB 26 is shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the charge information DB 26, a charge ID for uniquely identifying charge information, an attribute combination, and a charge are associated with each other. One record in the table shown in FIG. 4 indicates one piece of fee information. For example, in FIG. 4, in the fee information indicated by the fee ID “1”, an attribute value “A4” for the attribute item “paper size”, an attribute value “color” for the attribute item “color mode”, and an attribute value “color” for the attribute item “finisher” A charge “50 (yen)” is associated with an attribute combination including the attribute value “none” and the attribute value “single-sided” for the attribute item “double-sided / single-sided”. Note that the attribute items shown in FIG. 4 are merely examples, and the attribute combinations included in the fee information DB 26 may include attribute values relating to other attribute items.

  In the fee information indicated by the fee ID “3”, the attribute value for the attribute item “paper size” is “NA”. This means that the attribute value is irrelevant, and that the attribute value for the paper size in the processing attribute of the processing result in the image processing apparatus 12 may be any value.

  In the fee information DB 26, a plurality of fee information for the same attribute combination is not stored.

  In the present embodiment, the priority is associated with each attribute combination in the fee information DB 26. Preferably, in the charge information DB 26, a charge information group is associated with each attribute combination. Details of the priority and the fee information group will be described later.

  The charge information is created in advance by an administrator of the charge management system 10 and stored in the charge information DB 26. However, a part of the charge information (specifically, the priority and the charge information group) may be set by the charge information setting unit 36 described later.

  The control unit 28 includes, for example, a CPU. The control unit 28 controls each unit of the charging management server 16 according to the information processing program stored in the storage unit 22. 2, the control unit 28 also functions as a device information acquisition unit 30, a processing result acquisition unit 32, a charge determination unit 34, and a charge information setting unit 36.

  The device information acquisition unit 30 acquires device information, that is, information indicating an attribute item for which an attribute value can be acquired from the image processing device 12 from each image processing device. Specifically, the device information acquisition unit 30 acquires a standard MIB (Management Information Base) or a detailed MIB from each image processing device 12, and acquires device information based on the information. Alternatively, the device information acquisition unit 30 acquires information (for example, job history information) indicating the processing result of the actual processing of the job by the image processing apparatus 12, and acquires the device information based on the information indicating the processing result. You may.

  The processing result obtaining unit 32 as a processing attribute obtaining unit obtains information indicating a processing attribute related to a processing result of processing the job by the image processing apparatus 12. As described above, the processing attribute includes one or more attribute values for one or more attribute items. In the present embodiment, each time the job processing is completed, the image processing apparatus 12 transmits to the charging management server 16 job history information that is information indicating the processing result of the job. As a result, the processing result acquisition unit 32 acquires a processing attribute related to the processing result of the image processing device 12.

  The fee determining unit 34 determines a fee for the processing result of the image processing apparatus 12 based on the processing attribute acquired by the processing result acquiring unit 32 and the fee information stored in the fee information DB 26. When the fee determining unit 34 determines the fee, the control unit 28 performs a process of charging the user who performed the process with the determined fee. It should be noted that a specific method of billing can employ a known method.

  The charge determination unit 34 specifies an attribute combination that matches the processing attribute (attribute value for the attribute item) acquired by the processing result acquisition unit 32 in the charge information DB 26, and sets the charge associated with the specified attribute combination to the charge amount. To be determined.

  As described above, the charge management server 16 may not be able to acquire the attribute values for some attribute items from the image processing device 12. That is, the processing attribute acquired by the processing result acquisition unit 32 may be configured from attribute values for some of the attribute items defined in the fee information DB 26. In other words, there is a case where the processing attribute does not include the attribute value for some of the attribute items defined in the charge information DB 26 (or includes the attribute value but the charging management server 16 cannot recognize it). is there.

  For example, when the content of the charge information DB 26 is the content shown in FIG. (The charge management server 16 is recognizable), but the attribute value for the attribute item "finisher" is not included, or the attribute value is included but the charge management server 16 cannot recognize it. .

  In such a case, the charge information DB 26 may include a plurality of attribute combinations (charge information) corresponding to the processing attributes acquired by the processing result acquisition unit 32. For example, the processing attribute includes an attribute value “A4” for the attribute item “paper size”, an attribute value “color” for the attribute item “color mode”, and an attribute value “single-sided” for the attribute item “double-sided / single-sided”. In this case, in the charge information DB 26 shown in FIG. 4, three pieces of charge information indicated by charge IDs “1”, “2”, and “3” correspond to the processing attributes.

  When there are a plurality of pieces of fee information corresponding to the processing attribute of the processing result in the fee information DB 26, the fee determining unit 34 determines a fee for the processing result based on the priority associated with the plurality of pieces of fee information. . Specifically, the charge indicated by the charge information with the highest priority among the plurality of charge information corresponding to the processing attribute of the processing result is determined as the charge for the processing result.

  In the above example, among the three pieces of charge information indicated by the charge IDs “1”, “2”, and “3”, the highest priority is indicated by the charge ID “2” having the priority “1”. Since the charge information is the charge information, the charge determination unit 34 sets the charge for the processing result to 30 yen, which is the charge indicated by the charge information of the charge ID “2”.

  Preferably, the fee determining unit 34 may further determine the fee based on the fee information group. As a premise, a charge information group to which each image processing device 12 belongs is determined in advance, and the storage unit 22 associates the device ID of each image processing device 12 with information indicating the charge information group to which each image processing device 12 belongs. And memorize it. Then, based on the device ID (which may be included in the job history information) of the image processing apparatus 12 that has received the processing attribute of the processing result, the fee determining unit 34 determines the rate to which the image processing apparatus 12 belongs. The information group is specified, and among the charge information stored in the charge information DB 26, the charge for the processing result is determined with reference to the charge information associated with the specified charge information group. For example, when the specified charge information group is “1”, the charge determination unit 34 determines the charge information indicated by the charge IDs “1”, “2”, and “3” in the charge information shown in FIG. , But does not refer to the fee information indicated by the fee ID “4”.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when a sufficient processing attribute for determining the fee for the processing result cannot be obtained from the image processing apparatus 12, in other words, the fee information DB 26 corresponds to the processing attribute of the processing result. Even if there is a plurality of pieces of charge information to be performed, the charge for the processing result is determined based on the priority associated with each piece of charge information. Therefore, if the priority and the fee of each fee information are appropriately set, even if it is not possible to acquire a sufficient processing attribute for determining the fee for the processing result, the fee for the processing result is appropriately set. Can be determined.

  The charge information setting unit 36 performs a process of setting the charge information stored in the charge information DB 26. Specifically, the charge information setting unit 36 sets a priority or a charge information group in the charge information.

  The charge information setting unit 36 sets a priority for each charge information for each image processing device 12 based on the device information stored in the device information DB 24. Specifically, the charge information setting unit 36 is an attribute item that can acquire an attribute value from the image processing apparatus 12 among a plurality of attribute items included in the charge information, and the attribute value is unquestionable in the charge information (NA ), The priority of the charge information is set higher for the image processing apparatus 12 as the number of attribute items is smaller. Thus, the charge information setting unit 36 also functions as a priority determination unit.

  The content of the device information DB 24 is the content shown in FIG. 3, and the image processing device 12 indicated by the device ID “1” and the image processing device 12 indicated by the device ID “2” both belong to the charge information group “1”. Will be described as an example.

  First, with regard to the image processing apparatus 12 indicated by the device ID “1”, attribute items for which attribute values can be acquired from the image processing apparatus 12 (hereinafter, referred to as “acquirable attribute items”) include “paper size”, “Color mode”, “finisher”, and “double-sided / single-sided”.

  In the charge information DB 26 (see FIG. 4), charge information indicated by charge IDs “1”, “2”, and “3” corresponding to the charge information group “1” of the image processing apparatus 12 is referred to. First, looking at the fee information indicated by the fee ID “1”, none of the attribute values for the obtainable attribute items is “NA”. That is, among the obtainable attribute items, the number of attribute items whose attribute values are irrelevant is zero. Looking at the fee information indicated by the fee ID “2”, the attribute value for the obtainable attribute item “double-sided / single-sided” is “NA”, and among the obtainable attribute items, the attribute item whose attribute value is unquestionable The number is one. Looking at the fee information indicated by the fee ID “3”, the attribute value for “paper size”, which is an obtainable attribute item, is “NA”, and among the obtainable attribute items, the number of attribute items whose attribute value is irrelevant Is 1.

  Therefore, the charge information setting unit 36 sets the priority of the charge information indicated by the charge ID “1”, the charge information and the charge indicated by the charge ID “2” for the image processing device 12 indicated by the device ID “1”. The priority is set higher than the priority of the fee information indicated by the ID “3”. Note that, among the obtainable attribute items, for a plurality of pieces of fee information having the same number of attribute items whose attribute values are irrelevant, the priority of any of the fee information may be set higher.

  Next, looking at the image processing apparatus 12 indicated by the device ID “2”, referring to FIG. 3, the obtainable attribute items of the image processing apparatus 12 are two “color mode” and “double-sided / single-sided”. It is.

  In the charge information DB 26 (see FIG. 4), charge information indicated by charge IDs “1”, “2”, and “3” corresponding to the charge information group “1” of the image processing apparatus 12 is referred to. First, looking at the fee information indicated by the fee ID “1”, none of the attribute values for the obtainable attribute items is “NA”. That is, among the obtainable attribute items, the number of attribute items whose attribute values are irrelevant is zero. Looking at the fee information indicated by the fee ID “2”, the attribute value for the obtainable attribute item “double-sided / single-sided” is “NA”, and among the obtainable attribute items, the attribute item whose attribute value is unquestionable The number is one. Regarding the fee information indicated by the fee ID “3”, none of the attribute values for the obtainable attribute items is “NA”. That is, among the obtainable attribute items, the number of attribute items whose attribute values are irrelevant is zero.

  Therefore, the charge information setting unit 36 determines the priority of the charge information indicated by the charge ID “1” and the priority of the charge information indicated by the charge ID “3” for the image processing apparatus 12 indicated by the device ID “2”. The priority is set higher than the priority of the fee information indicated by the ID “2”.

  As described above, different priorities may be set for the respective image processing devices 12.

  Further, the charge information setting unit 36 sets a charge information group of each image processing apparatus 12 based on the device information stored in the device information DB 24. Specifically, the charge information setting unit 36 sets the charge group of the image processing device 12 based on the obtainable attribute item of the image processing device 12. As described above, the charge information setting unit 36 also functions as a charge information group determination unit.

  For example, the charge information setting unit 36 sets the plurality of image processing devices 12 whose obtainable attribute items are “paper size”, “color mode”, “finisher”, and “two-sided / one-sided” to the same charge. It is set to an information group (for example, a charge information group “1”). In addition, the charge information setting unit 36 sets the plurality of image processing apparatuses 12 whose two obtainable attribute items are “color mode” and “double-sided / single-sided” in the same charge information group (for example, charge information group “2”). ).

  By doing so, in the charge information DB 26, for example, the attribute combination, the charge, or the priority of the charge information of the charge information section group "1" is set to "paper size", "color mode", "finisher", It can be set on the assumption that the attribute values for the four attribute items “double-sided / single-sided” can be obtained from the image processing apparatus 12. Further, the attribute combination, fee, or priority of the fee information of the fee information group “2” can be obtained from the image processing apparatus 12 with only the attribute values for the 42 attribute items “color mode” and “double-sided / single-sided”. Can be set on the assumption. That is, the fee and the priority can be set by focusing only on the attribute values for the “color mode” and “two-sided / one-sided”. As a result, more appropriate fee information can be set according to the obtainable attribute item of each image processing device 12, and more appropriate fees can be set for the processing results.

  Hereinafter, the flow of processing of the charging management system 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S10, the user inputs a job to the image processing device 12. The user may transmit a job from the user terminal 14 to the image processing device 12 via the communication line 18, or may directly input the job to the image processing device 12.

  In step S12, the image processing device 12 executes the job input in step S10, and completes the processing for the job.

  In step S14, the image processing apparatus 12 transmits to the charging management server 16 job history information that is information indicating the processing result of the job whose processing has been completed in step S12. As a result, the processing result acquisition unit 32 acquires a processing attribute related to the processing result of the image processing device 12.

  In step S16, the fee determining unit 34 determines whether there is a plurality of fee information corresponding to the processing attribute acquired in step S14 in the fee information DB 26.

  If there is only one piece of fee information corresponding to the acquired processing attribute in the fee information DB 26, the process proceeds to step S18. In step S18, the fee determining unit 34 determines the fee indicated by the fee information in step S12. Is determined as a charge for the processed job.

  When the processing attribute acquired in step S14 does not include an attribute value for some of the attribute items defined in the charge information DB 26 (or includes the attribute value but cannot recognize the charge management server 16) If there is a plurality of pieces of fee information corresponding to the processing attributes acquired in the fee information DB 26, the process proceeds to step S20.

  In step S20, the charge determination unit 34 determines the job indicated by the highest priority charge information from the plurality of charge information items corresponding to the processing attributes acquired in step S14 by the image processing apparatus 12 in step S12. Is determined as the billing amount for.

  The embodiment according to the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  Reference Signs List 10 charging management system, 12 image processing device, 14 user terminal, 16 charging management server, 18 communication line, 20 communication unit, 22 storage unit, 24 device information DB, 26 fee information DB, 28 control unit, 30 device information acquisition unit , 32 processing result acquisition unit, 34 fee determination unit, 36 fee information setting unit.

Claims (6)

A processing attribute acquisition unit that acquires a processing attribute including an attribute value for an attribute item, regarding a processing result of the image processing apparatus;
The fee and priority are referenced for each attribute combination that is a combination of a plurality of attribute values for a plurality of attribute items, and the processing attribute acquired by the processing attribute acquisition unit is defined in the fee information. If the attribute information is composed of attribute values for some of the attribute items among the plurality of attribute items, and there are a plurality of the attribute combinations corresponding to the processing attributes in the fee information, A charge determination unit that determines a charge for the processing result based on the priority associated with the attribute combination;
An information processing apparatus comprising: A priority determining unit that determines the priority of the attribute combination, among a plurality of attribute items corresponding to the attribute combination, an attribute item for which an attribute value can be obtained from the image processing apparatus; A priority determining unit that sets the priority of the attribute combination higher for the image processing apparatus as the number of attribute items whose attribute values are unquestionable in the information is smaller;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A device information obtaining unit that obtains, for each of the image processing devices, device information indicating an attribute item that can obtain an attribute value from the image processing device;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: In the charge information, a charge information group is further associated with each of the attribute combinations,
The fee determination unit refers to the attribute combination associated with the fee information group to which the image processing apparatus belongs, among the fee information.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: A charge information group determining unit that determines the charge information group of the image processing device based on an attribute item that can obtain an attribute value from the image processing device;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: Computer
A processing attribute acquisition unit that acquires a processing attribute including an attribute value for an attribute item, regarding a processing result of the image processing apparatus;
The fee and priority are referenced for each attribute combination that is a combination of a plurality of attribute values for a plurality of attribute items, and the processing attribute acquired by the processing attribute acquisition unit is defined in the fee information. If the attribute information is composed of attribute values for some of the attribute items among the plurality of attribute items, and there are a plurality of the attribute combinations corresponding to the processing attributes in the fee information, A charge determination unit that determines a charge for the processing result based on the priority associated with the attribute combination;
An information processing program characterized by functioning as a computer.

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