JP4218638B2 - Content providing system, client device, server and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a content providing system for providing content that can be printed on a recording medium on a client device side from a server to the client device.

  In recent years, services such as providing content from a server to a client device via a network have been performed, and various techniques for collecting charges for the provided content in such services have been proposed. .

For example, the server providing the content receives a request from the client device (game machine) (accepts a file transmission request), returns the requested content (specific file), and completes reception of this content Is received from the client device (acknowledgment message is received), and charging is performed for the user of the client device (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-357212 A

  However, since the above-described technique is based on the assumption that the content provided to the client device can be used as it is in the client device like a program, for example, before the content is provided to the user. In a service in which this content needs to be printed on the client device side, there is a possibility that the content cannot be appropriately provided.

  For example, in such a service, if the user is charged when receiving a notification of completion of reception from the client device as in the above technique, the client device cannot normally print the content due to some trouble. In this case, the content cannot be provided appropriately even though the fee is charged. In addition, if normal printing cannot be performed in this way, even if the content is requested again, the content is provided after being charged, so the user must pay twice as much. In other words, the content cannot be provided at an appropriate fee.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of appropriately providing content.

  In order to solve the above problem, the content providing system according to claim 1 includes a server and a client device capable of data communication, respectively, and printing from the server to the client device on a recording medium on the client device side is possible. This is a content providing system for providing various contents.

In this system, the client device includes a content request unit that requests the server to provide content, and a content that prints the content provided by the server that has received a request from the content request unit onto a recording medium. a printing unit, based on the content to be printed by the content printing unit, and a content determining means for determining whether the content is properly printed, the content by the content determination means are not properly printed If it is determined that there is no content, the content requesting unit requests the provision of the content again.

Then, the server, when it is required to provide content from the previous SL client device, requests and content providing means for providing content that received the request to the client device, the provision of the content from the client device Thereafter, before the content is provided by the content providing means, charging processing means for charging the user of the client device is provided, and when the client device is requested to provide the content, if the client device a client device to provide the content by the content providing section above, without performing the charging process by the accounting processing unit, by the content providing device to said client device, the contents of that already provided Degrees provided, is configured as.

  In the content providing system configured as described above, after the client device prints the content and determines that the content is not printed properly, the client device requests the server to provide the content again. If the requesting client device is the client device that previously provided the content, the server provides the content again without performing billing processing.

  For this reason, when a situation in which the content cannot be printed normally due to some trouble occurs in the client device, the content is provided without being charged for subsequent requests even though the charge itself has already been made. Therefore, the content can be normally provided from the server at an appropriate fee.

  The “billing process” in this configuration is a process performed to charge the user of the client device. For example, the amount determined for the content provided to the user is used as the total usage charge by the user. This is a process of adding to the amount (stored in a predetermined recording area).

  The content determination means described above is a means for determining whether or not the content is printed appropriately, and the determination method is not particularly limited. For example, it may be determined that the content has not been printed properly that the printing could not be completed normally due to a mechanical trouble occurring in the content printing means during the printing of the content.

  Further, in this content providing system, a form in which the server generates and provides content based on data passed from the client device is conceivable. In this case, the configuration may be configured as claimed in claim 2.

  3. The service providing system according to claim 2, wherein in the client device, the content requesting unit requests the server to provide content, and generates generation data necessary for generating the content. When the server is requested to provide content by the client device, the server generates content based on the generation data transmitted together with the request. Means for providing the content generated by the content generation means to the client device by the content providing means.

  If comprised in this way, the server can produce | generate a content based on the data for a production | generation received from the client device side, and can provide the content produced | generated in this way to the client device side.

  Further, in this configuration, when the client device requests the server to provide content, the generation data may be exchanged each time. However, after the generation data is first transmitted from the client device to the server, the content may be generated based on the generation data.

Specifically, as described in claim 3, in the client device, when the content requesting unit requests the provision of the content again, the content requesting unit requests the provision of the content without transmitting the generation data. to, is configured to, in the server, content storage means for storing the content generated based on the generated data in the storage unit includes a, is pre-SL required to provide content from a client device when the, if the client device Ru Oh client device that provided the content generated by the content generation means earlier, by the content providing device, content that is the storage and again, to the client device Hisage What is necessary is just to comprise.

  According to this configuration, after the generation data is first exchanged between the server and the client device, the generation data is not transmitted to the client device without exchanging the generation data again. Can be provided.

  As a result, when a situation occurs in which the content cannot be printed normally on the client device side, generation data is not exchanged between the server and the client device. There is no useless pressure. In addition, since the time required for exchanging data for generation can be reduced, it can be expected to shorten the time until the content is finally provided from the server to the client device.

  Further, as described above, in the configuration in which the server provides the content generated based on the data passed from the client device, the charging processing by the charging processing means is performed after the generation of the generation data is started on the server side. If there is, it may be configured to be performed at any time. For example, it may be configured to be performed when reception of the generation data is started. However, in this configuration, even when a situation occurs in which the generation data reception does not end normally due to a communication error or the like, charging itself is made. Therefore, when such a situation can be assumed, it is desirable to perform the accounting process after the reception of the generation data is completed.

Specifically, as described in claim 4, in the server, when the billing processing unit is requested to provide content from the client device, the generation data transmitted together with the request is properly displayed. After the reception is completed, before the content is provided by the content providing means, a billing process for the user of the client device may be started.

  With this configuration, the accounting process is performed on the server side after reception of the generation data from the client device ends. For example, reception of the generation data ends normally due to a communication error or the like. It is possible to prevent the user from being charged despite not having done so.

  Further, as described above, in the configuration in which the server provides the content generated based on the data passed from the client device, the content provision by the content providing unit is after the reception of the generation data is started. It may be configured to start at any time, for example, it may be configured to sequentially perform according to the amount of data received after the generation data reception is started. However, in this configuration, if charging is performed after reception, transmission of data for generation is intentionally stopped on the client device side when a part of the content is normally printed on the client device side. This makes it possible to perform fraudulent acts such as avoiding billing.

Therefore, in order to prevent such an illegal act, it may be configured as described in claim 5.
The content providing system according to claim 5, wherein, in the server, when the content providing unit is requested to provide the content from the client device, after receiving the generation data transmitted together with the request, The content generated by the content generation means is started to be provided to the client device based on the generation data.

With this configuration, the provision of the content from the server to the client device is performed after the reception of the generation data is finished, so that the content is intentionally printed when a part of the content is normally printed on the client device side. Even if transmission of the data for generation is stopped, the accounting process has already been completed on the server side at this point. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from being charged by such an action.
The content providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 may be configured as in claim 6.
7. The content providing system according to claim 6, wherein when the server is requested to provide content from the client device, the server performs the charging process after successfully receiving the generation data transmitted together with the request. A billing notification means for notifying the billing amount charged when the billing process is performed by the means, and the client device that has notified the billing amount by the billing notification means is notified that the content is to be printed on the recording medium. The content providing means provides the content only when the content is provided.
In addition, the client device transmits the generation data by the content requesting unit, and then stores the provided content on the recording medium based on the charge amount notified from the server that has received the generation data. A print selection unit that allows the user to select whether or not to perform printing, and a print notification unit that notifies the server to that effect when the print selection unit selects printing of content on a recording medium; The content printing unit prints the content provided from the server notified by the print notification unit on a recording medium.

  By the way, in the configuration for performing the accounting process as described above, it may be configured such that the accounting process is performed immediately at the timing of performing the accounting process. You may want to reconsider whether or not to print.

Therefore, a content providing system that includes a server and a client device each capable of data communication, and provides the content that can be printed on a recording medium on the client device side from the server to the client device. A configuration for solving the problem may be as described in claim 7 .
8. The content providing system according to claim 7, wherein the client device requests the server to provide content, and a content recording medium provided by the server that has received the request from the content requesting unit. Content printing means for printing on the content and content determination means for determining whether or not the content is appropriately printed based on the content printed by the content printing means. When it is determined that the content is not properly recorded, the content request unit requests the provision of the content again.
In addition, after the server is requested to provide the content, the server is configured to perform a billing process for charging the user of the client device, and when the client device requests the provision of the content, Content providing means for providing the requested content to the client device, and when the client device is requested to provide the content, the client device previously provided the content by the content providing means In the case of a client device, the provided content is again provided to the client device by the content providing means without performing the charging process by the charging processing means.
In addition, the server includes charge notification means for notifying the client device of a charge amount charged when charging is performed by the charge processing means after providing content to the client device. The billing processing unit is configured to perform billing processing only when the client device that has notified the billing amount by the billing notification unit is notified that the content is to be printed on the recording medium. The client device first receives the content from the server that has received the request from the content requesting unit, and then stores the content to the recording medium based on the charge amount notified from the server. Print selection means for allowing the user to select whether or not to perform printing, and recording of content by the print selection means Print notification means for notifying the server when printing to the body is selected, and when printing to the content recording medium is selected by the print selection means Only the content printing unit may print the content onto the recording medium.

  With this configuration, the content is printed on the client device side when it is selected to perform printing after being notified of the charge amount when the content is printed, and thus the client device The notified charge amount is charged only when the content is printed on the side. Therefore, the user of the client device can reconsider whether or not to print the content based on the charge amount notified from the server side.

The provision of the content by the content providing means described above may be realized by any method, but the content is provided by transmitting the content to the client device as described in claim 8. It is conceivable to configure so that

With this configuration, the client device can receive content directly from the server.
In addition, as a configuration for realizing content provision by the content provision unit, as described in claim 9 , by storing content in a storage location accessible from the client device, the content from the client device to content is stored . It is also conceivable that the content can be provided by notifying the client device that the access is possible and allowing the client device to access the content. In this case, the client device is provided with access means for accessing the content in accordance with the notification when the notification indicating that the content can be accessed is received from the server. Recording content accessed by Printing on the body carried out by the content printing unit may be configured.

  If comprised in this way, the client device can receive provision of the content from a server by receiving the notification from a server and accessing the content made into the accessible state.

When the network device according to claim 10 is requested to provide content that can be printed on a recording medium, the network device provides the requested content to the request source via a data communication line. Content providing means, and billing processing means for performing billing processing for the user of the client device before provision of the content by the content providing means after being requested to provide the content. If the request source is a client device that previously provided the content by the content providing means when requested to provide the content, the content is provided to the request source without performing the billing processing by the billing processing means. by means, it provides the content of the delivered again from the server that is configured to, Serial is a client device as the request source constituting a content providing system which can receive the content.
The client device includes a content requesting unit that requests the server to provide content, a content printing unit that prints on a recording medium the content provided by the server that has received a request from the content requesting unit, based on the content that is printed by the content printing means, and a determining content determining means for determining whether the content is properly printed, it is determined that there is not properly printed contents by the content determination means In this case, the content request means requests the provision of the content again.

If comprised in this way, this network device can comprise a part (client device) of the content provision system of Claim 1.
The network device may have the same configuration as the client device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, 8, and 9 (except for those cited in claim 7). To 6, 8, and 9 (except for those cited in claim 7) , a part (client device) of the content providing system can be configured.
The network device according to claim 11 includes a server and a client device that can perform data communication, respectively, and after the server is requested to provide content from the client device, a billing process for a user of the client device Charging processing means for performing content requesting, and content providing means for providing the requested content to the client device when requested to provide the content by the client device. If the client device is the client device that previously provided the content by the content providing means when requested to provide, the client device is not charged by the charging processing means, and the client device is connected to the client device. The content providing means is provided again by the content providing means, and after the server provides the content to the client device, the charging process is performed on the client device. Charging means for notifying the charged amount when the charging process is performed by the means, and the client device that has notified the charged amount by the charged notification means is notified that the content is to be printed on the recording medium. The client device in the content providing system is configured to perform charging processing by the charging processing means only when the charging is performed.
The client device includes a content requesting unit that requests the server to provide content, a content printing unit that prints on a recording medium the content provided by the server that has received a request from the content requesting unit, Content determination means for determining whether or not the content is appropriately printed based on the content printed by the content printing means, and the content determination means determines that the content is not properly recorded In this case, the content request means requests the provision of the content again. Further, after the content is first provided from the server that has received the request from the content requesting means, the provided content is printed on the recording medium based on the charge amount notified from the server. A print selection unit that allows the user to select whether or not to print the content on the recording medium by the print selection unit, and a print notification unit that notifies the server to that effect, Only when it is selected by the print selection means to print the content on the recording medium, the content printing means prints the content on the recording medium.

The network device of claim 1 2, a content request means for requesting the provision of content that can be printed on the recording medium, the printing on the recording medium content provided after request by the content request means a content printing means for performing, based on the content that has been printed by the content printing means, and determining the content determining means for determining whether the content is properly printed comprises, the content suitably printed by the content determination means If it is determined that the content has not been provided, the content requesting unit requests the provision of the content again by the content requesting unit, and the content providing system includes the client device configured to include the client device. When requested to provide content from the client device, the server provides content providing means for providing the requested content to the client device, and after the client device is requested to provide content, Billing processing means for charging the user of the client device before the content is provided by the content providing means , and when the client device is requested to provide the content, if the client device that provided the content by the content providing means, without performing a charging process by the accounting processing unit, by the content providing device to said client device, provides the contents of that already provided again It is configured as.

If comprised in this way, this network device can comprise a part (server) of the content provision system of Claim 1.
The network device may have the same configuration as that of the server according to any one of claims 2 to 6, 8, and 9 (excluding those cited in claim 7). A part (server) of the content providing system according to any one of 6, 8, and 9 (excluding those cited in claim 7 ) can be configured.
The server according to claim 13 includes a server and a client device capable of data communication, respectively, and the client device requests content provision to the server, and a request by the content requesting unit. Content determination means for printing the content provided by the received server on a recording medium, and determining whether the content is appropriately printed based on the content printed by the content printing means And when the content determination unit determines that the content is not properly recorded, the content request unit requests the provision of the content again, and the client device However, the content request means After receiving the first content provision from the server that received the request, the user is asked whether or not to print the received content on a recording medium based on the charge amount notified from the server. A print selection means for selecting, and a print notification means for notifying the server of the fact that printing to the recording medium of the content is selected by the print selection means. The server in the content providing system configured to print the content on the recording medium by the content printing means only when printing on the recording medium is selected.
The server, when requested to provide content from the client device, billing processing means for charging the user of the client device, and when requested to provide content from the client device, Content providing means for providing the received content to the client device, and when the client device is requested to provide the content, the client device previously provided the content by the content providing means If so, the content providing unit again provides the content to the client device without performing the charging process by the charging processing unit. A client notifying the client device of the charge amount charged when the charge processing means performs the charge processing by the charge processing means. Only when the device notifies that the content is to be printed on the recording medium, the billing processing by the billing processing means is performed.

Also, providing billing program according to claim 1 4, when it is required to provide content capable of printing on the recording medium, the content received the request through the data communication line with respect to the request source Content providing means, and billing processing means for performing billing processing for the user of the client device before provision of the content by the content providing means after being requested to provide the content. If the request source is a client device that previously provided the content by the content providing means when requested to provide the content, the content is provided to the request source without performing the billing processing by the billing processing means. By means of a server configured to provide the provided content again. Is a computer-readable program for controlling the client device as the request source that constitutes the content providing system that can receive the content. The program includes a content request procedure for requesting the server to provide content, a content print procedure for printing the content provided by the server that has received a request in the content request procedure on a recording medium, and the content A content determination procedure for determining whether or not the content is appropriately printed based on the content printed by the printing procedure. In the content request procedure, the content is appropriately printed by the content determination means. If it is determined that the content is not present, the program requests the provision of the content again.

The network device controlled by this program can constitute a part (client device) of the content providing system according to claim 1.
In addition, with respect to this program, the processing procedure for realizing the functions as all means of the client device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, 8, and 9 (excluding those cited in claim 7) is provided. The program may be a program for causing a network device to execute. In this case, the network device is the content providing system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, 8, and 9 (excluding those cited in claim 7) . Part (client device) can be configured.
The program according to claim 15 includes a server and a client device each capable of data communication. After the server is requested to provide content from the client device, the program for charging the user of the client device is performed. Charge processing means for performing content provision means for providing the requested content to the client device when the client device is requested to provide content, and providing the content from the client device If the client device is the client device that previously provided the content by the content providing means when requested, the content provision to the client device without performing the billing processing by the billing processing means The content is provided again according to the stage, and after the server provides the content to the client device, the billing processing means provides the client device with the content. When a billing notification means for notifying a billing amount to be charged when billing processing is performed is notified that the client device that has notified the billing amount is to print content on a recording medium And a computer-readable program for controlling the client device in a content providing system configured to perform charging processing by the charging processing means.
The program includes a content request procedure for requesting the server to provide content, a content print procedure for printing the content provided by the server that has received a request in the content request procedure on a recording medium, and the content A content determination procedure for determining whether or not the content is properly printed based on the content printed by the printing procedure, and the content determination procedure determines that the content is not properly recorded The content request procedure is requested to provide the content again, and further, after receiving the first content provision from the server that has received the request by the content request procedure, the content notification procedure is notified by the server. The recording medium of the provided content based on the charged amount Print selection procedure for allowing the user to select whether or not to perform printing, and a print notification procedure for notifying the server of the fact that printing of content onto a recording medium is selected by the print selection procedure And only when content printing on the recording medium is selected by the print selection procedure, the content is printed on the recording medium by the content printing procedure.

The program according to claim 1 6 performs a content request means for requesting the provision of content that can be printed on the recording medium, the printing on the recording medium content provided after request by the content request means a content printing unit, based on the print content by the content printing unit, and a content determining means for determining whether the content is properly printed, the content is properly printed by the content determination means If it is determined that the content is not included, the content requesting unit requests the provision of the content again, and controls the server as the content providing source constituting the content providing system including the client device configured to It is a computer readable program. The program includes a content provision procedure for providing the requested content to the client device when requested to provide the content from the client device, and after the provision of the content from the client device. A billing processing procedure for billing a user of the client device before the content is provided by the content providing means. In the billing processing procedure, provision of content is requested from the client device. and time, if a client device that the client device has provided the content by the content providing procedures previously accounting processing line Ukoto without by the content providing device to said client device, the contents of that already provided Provided again, which is a program, characterized in that.

The network device controlled by such a program can constitute a part (server) of the content providing system according to claim 1.
In addition, with respect to this program, the processing procedure for realizing the functions as all the means included in the server according to any one of claims 2 to 6, 8, and 9 (excluding those cited in claim 7) is provided on the network. The network device may be a program to be executed by a device, and in this case, the network device is a part of the content providing system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, 8, and 9 (excluding those cited in claim 7). (Server) can be configured.
The program according to claim 17 includes a server and a client device capable of data communication, respectively, and the client device requests the server to provide content, and a request by the content request unit. Content determination means for printing the content provided by the received server on a recording medium, and determining whether the content is appropriately printed based on the content printed by the content printing means And when the content determination unit determines that the content is not properly recorded, the content request unit requests the provision of the content again, and the client device Is the content requester After receiving the first content provision from the server that has received the request, the user is asked whether or not to print the provided content on a recording medium based on the charge amount notified from the server. A print selection means for selecting, and a print notification means for notifying the server of the fact that printing to the recording medium of the content is selected by the print selection means. The computer for controlling the server in the content providing system configured to print the content on the recording medium by the content printing means only when printing on the recording medium is selected It is a readable program.
The program includes a charging processing procedure for performing a charging process for a user of the client device after the client device is requested to provide the content, and the request when the client device is requested to provide the content. A content provision procedure for providing the received content to the client device, and when the client device is requested to provide the content, the client device previously provided the content by the content provision procedure If so, the provided content is again provided to the client device by the content providing procedure without performing the charging process by the charging process procedure, and the client device is further copied to the client device. A client which has notified the amount of charge according to the charge notification procedure, including a charge notification procedure for notifying the client device of the charge amount charged when the charge processing is performed according to the charge processing procedure after providing the content The charging process according to the charging process procedure is performed only when the device notifies that the content is to be printed on the recording medium.

  Each program described above consists of an ordered sequence of instructions suitable for processing by a computer. For example, a recording medium such as an FD, a CD-ROM, a memory card, or a communication line network such as the Internet is used. And provided to each device (client device or server) or a user who uses each device. In addition, as a form for providing these programs to the user, a form in which the programs are preinstalled in a hard disk or a memory of each device may be provided.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(1) Overall Configuration As shown in FIG. 1, the service providing system includes a multi-function device 10, a directory server 20, a function server 30, and the like, and these include a network (in this embodiment, a WAN: Wide Area Network) 1. Are connected so that data communication is possible. Specifically, the multifunction peripheral 10, the directory server 20, and the function server 30 are connected to the network 1 via routers (R: well-known broadband routers) 2 to 4, respectively.

The multifunction machine 10 includes a control unit 11, an operation unit 12, a reading unit 13, a recording unit 14, a communication unit 15, a storage unit 16, a sound input unit 17, a sound output unit 18, and the like.
Among these, the control unit 11 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and this CPU performs overall control of the entire multifunction machine 10 according to a program stored in the ROM.

  2, the operation unit 12 includes a copy key 41, a scanner key 42, a FAX key 43, a service key 44, a setting key 45, up / down / left / right direction keys 46 to 49, an OK key 50, and a cancel key 51. , A display 52 and the like as a user interface.

  The reading unit 13 is an input device for realizing a function as a scanner, reads an image recorded on a sheet-like recording medium such as paper, and generates image data representing the image.

The recording unit 14 is an output device for realizing a function as a printer, and prints an image indicated by image data on a sheet-like recording medium such as paper.
In addition, the communication unit 15 connects the MFP 10 to the network 1 and performs processing for transmitting and receiving data via the network 1.

The storage unit 16 includes a nonvolatile RAM (not shown), and is configured to be able to store data in the nonvolatile RAM.
The sound input unit 17 inputs sound from a microphone provided in a handset (receiver) (not shown) provided in the multifunction machine 10 and generates sound data (PCM data) representing the sound.

The sound output unit 18 outputs the sound represented by the sound data (PCM data) from a not-shown handset or a not-shown speaker provided in the multifunction machine 10 main body.
The directory server 20 includes a control unit 21, a communication unit 22, and a storage unit 23.

  Among these, the control part 21 is provided with CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., and this CPU performs overall control of the directory server 20 according to the program memorize | stored in ROM or RAM.

The communication unit 22 connects the directory server 20 to the network 1 and performs processing for transmitting and receiving data via the network 1.
The storage unit 23 includes a hard disk (not shown), and stores data in the hard disk. The storage unit 23 is provided with a service definition information storage unit 24 for storing service definition information 25 described later. The service definition information 25 is XML data described in XML (eXtensible Markup Language), and a service list (each service) that can be provided by the function server 30 is displayed by displaying a service selection screen to be described later according to the description. Type and request destination address (URL: Uniform Resource Locator).

The function server 30 includes a control unit 31, a communication unit 32, a storage unit 33, and the like.
Among these, the control part 31 is provided with CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., and this CPU performs overall control of the function server 30 according to the program memorize | stored in ROM or RAM. The control unit 31 has a sufficiently high-performance configuration as compared with the control unit 11 of the multifunction device 10 and can perform processing that is difficult to execute by the control unit 11 of the multifunction device 10. .

The communication unit 32 connects the function server 30 to the network 1 and performs processing for transmitting and receiving data via the network 1.
And the memory | storage part 33 is provided with the hard disk which is not shown in figure, and memorize | stores data in this hard disk. The storage unit 33 includes a service software storage unit 120 for storing service software 122 for executing processing for providing different services, and a billing information storage for storing information necessary for billing described later. A unit 130, a session management information storage unit 140 that stores information such as a session ID described later, and a service output storage unit 150 that stores information such as print data described later.
(2) Processing by MFP 10 Various processes executed by the control unit 11 of the MFP 10 will be described below.
(2-1) Multifunction Device Processing First, multifunction device processing that is repeatedly executed after the multifunction device 10 is activated will be described with reference to FIG.

When the MFP process is started, first, initialization processing is performed (s102).
After completion of this initialization process, when an external command, for example, an input operation to the operation unit 12 or an input of a command signal via the network 1 occurs (s104), the input changes the operation mode to the service mode. It is checked whether or not the content is to be transferred (s106). Here, for example, if the input by s104 is an operation of pressing the service key 44 of the operation unit 12, it is determined that the content is for shifting to the service mode. The “service mode” is an operation mode for executing a process for requesting the function server 30 to provide a service, as shown in the following process.

  If it is determined in s106 that the input is not the content for shifting to the service mode (s106: NO), after processing for other operation modes (processing in other modes) is performed according to the input content (s108) ), Return to s104.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in s106 that the content is for shifting to the service mode (s106: YES), the user is allowed to select a method for specifying the service to be requested to the function server 30 (s110). Here, the user is prompted to select by displaying on the display 52 a selection screen for selecting whether the service is specified from the list or whether the request destination address is specified by direct input. After this selection screen is displayed, the user can use the operation unit 12 to select which service is designated.

  If it is selected in this s110 that designation is made from the list (s110: YES), the directory server 20 is requested to inquire about the service list (s112). Here, as an address for requesting the directory server 20 to transmit the service definition information 25, an HTTP request based on HTTP 1.1 (HTTP: HyperText Transfer Protocol) is sent to an address stored in the storage unit 16 in advance. Thereafter, the service list inquiry is requested by simply transmitting “HTTP request”. As will be described later, the directory server 20 that has received access based on this address returns the top service definition information 25 using an HTTP response based on HTTP 1.1 (hereinafter simply referred to as “HTTP response”). Come. The top service definition information 25 is service definition information 25 for displaying a category selection screen that prompts the user to select a service category such as “data storage service”, “print service”, and “copy application service”.

  Thus, after requesting the service list and receiving the service definition information 25 returned from the directory server 20 (s114), a selection screen is displayed on the display 52 based on the service definition information 25 (s116). ), The process proceeds to the next process (s120). When this s116 is performed after receiving the top service definition information 25, according to the description of the XML, as shown in FIG. 4A, the characters “directory service” are displayed on the display 52 as the display title. A category selection screen is displayed in which characters “data storage service”, “print service”, and “copy application service”, which are items arranged in the upper part of the area and represent selectable categories, are arranged in the lower part of the display area. Further, in this service definition information 25, an address of another service definition information 25 corresponding to the category is assigned as a link destination, and when any item is selected based on the service selection screen, the item is displayed. The service definition information 25 at the address corresponding to the directory server 20 can be requested. If all items cannot be displayed at one time due to restrictions on the display area, the arrangement of each item moves up and down by scrolling the screen.

  Further, when the process of s116 is performed after receiving the service definition information 25 other than the top, as a specific example, when the service definition information 25 related to the “copy application service” is received, according to the description of the XML, As shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, the characters “Copy Application Service” are arranged at the top of the display area as display titles, and “watermark copy”, “translation copy”, A service selection screen is displayed in which services of “speech reading” and “voice text conversion” are arranged at the bottom of the display area. Also, for this service definition information 25, the address of another service definition information 25 corresponding to the service is assigned as a link destination, and when any item is selected based on the service selection screen, that item The function server 30 is requested to provide a service with an address corresponding to Note that these service selection screens are also configured so that the arrangement of each item moves up and down by scrolling the screen when all items cannot be displayed at once due to display area restrictions.

  If it is selected in s110 that the request destination address is designated by direct input (s110: NO), an address input screen for inputting the request destination address is displayed on the display 52 ( s118), the process proceeds to the next process (s120).

  After the selection screen or the address input screen is displayed in this way, the user performs an operation for selecting any item (an operation for inputting an address) or an operation for terminating the service mode (a stop operation). Can be performed.

  Next, an input operation to the operation unit 12 by the user is accepted (s120), and it is checked whether the input operation thus performed is an operation for selecting a link (s122). Here, a link is selected when an operation for selecting an item on the selection screen displayed in s116 or an operation for inputting an address on the address input screen displayed in s118 is performed as an input operation. It is determined that the operation.

  If it is determined in s122 that the operation is not to select a link (s122: NO), if the input operation is a stop operation (s124: YES), the process as the service mode is ended by returning to s104. If the input operation is not a stop operation (s124: NO), a rejection sound (such as a buzzer sound) is sounded (s126), and the process returns to s120.

  When it is determined in s122 that the input operation is an operation for selecting a link (s122: YES), the selected link is a link to a service, that is, for requesting the function server 30 to provide a service. It is checked whether it is an ID (s128).

  If it is determined in s128 that the link is not a link to a service, that is, if it is an ID of another service definition information 25 (s128: NO), the directory server 20 is requested to query the service list, and After the service definition information 25 to be received is received (s130), the process returns to s116 to display a service selection screen on the display 52.

If it is determined in s128 that the link is to the service (s128: YES), the session process (FIG. 5) described later is performed (s132), and then the process returns to s104 to set the service mode. Exit.
(2-2) Session Processing Next, a detailed processing procedure of the session processing that is s132 in FIG. 3 will be described based on FIG.

  In this session process, first, a service is activated based on the link destination selected in s120 in FIG. 3 (or the address when an address is directly input) (s202). Here, by transmitting a service activation command to the link destination by an HTTP request, the service selected by the user in s120 in FIG. 3 is activated on the function server 30 side. The function server 30 that has received this service activation command returns a session ID as an HTTP response.

  Next, the session ID returned from the function server 30 in response to the service activation command in s204 is received (s204). It should be noted that all HTTP requests and HTTP responses to be transmitted in the subsequent processing are exchanged in a state in which the session ID is included unless otherwise specified, and the function server 30 that receives this HTTP request receives this session. Based on the ID, the communication device is managed (known session management).

  Next, a “multifunction machine command inquiry” for inquiring whether there is a command to the multifunction machine 10 itself is transmitted to the function server 30 by an HTTP request (s206). The function server 30 that has received this “multifunction device command inquiry” indicates the content of a command for the multifunction device 10 (a command indicating “no command” if no command is generated). Is returned as an HTTP response.

  Next, when a command (multifunction device command) returned by the inquiry in s206 is received (s208), it is determined whether or not the command is a job start command (s210). As will be described later, the “job start command” is a command generated on the function server 30 side after the service start command is transmitted in s202, and the job start command corresponding to the timing and service content is commanded. It has become contents to do. The job start command includes the job ID of the job to be started, the job type, and the job communication destination address.

  If it is determined in s210 that the command is a job activation command (s210: YES), after securing resources necessary for job activation (s212), the job commanded by the job activation command is activated (s213). . Here, the job is started by passing the job ID and the communication destination address added to the job start command to the job specified by the job start command. The job activated in this way is executed in parallel with other processing. Regarding this, the “copy application service” which is an important service for understanding the present invention among a plurality of types of services. "Translation copy" of "" as an example, and will be described in detail in "Copy application job" (FIGS. 6 and 7) described later.

Thus, after starting the job, after waiting for a predetermined interval (s214), the process returns to s206.
If it is determined in s210 described above that the command is not a job start command (s210: NO), it is checked whether or not the command received in s208 is a job end command (s216). The “job end command” is a command issued on the function server 30 side when the job is ended after the job is started in s213 described above. In addition, the job ID of the completed job is added to this job end command.

  If it is determined in s216 that it is a job end command (s216: YES), for the job with the job ID added to the job end command, after releasing the resources secured in s212 when starting this job The process proceeds to (s218) and s214.

  If it is determined in s216 that the command is not a job end command (s216: NO), it is checked whether or not it indicates “no command” (s220), and “no command” is indicated. If it does not indicate “no command” (s220: NO), it determines whether it is a session end command (s222). This “session end command” is a process that is generated on the function server 30 side when service provision to the multifunction device 10 is ended.

If it is determined in s222 that the command is a session end command (s222: YES), this session processing is terminated, while if the command received in s208 is not any of the commands described above, for example, error notification information If it is (s222: NO), the process for notifying an error (command error process) is performed (s224), and then the session process is terminated. In s224, the error is notified by causing the display 52 to display a message indicating an error.
(2-3) Copy Application Job Next, a processing procedure of a copy application job, which is a type of job activated in s213 in FIG. 5, will be described with reference to FIGS.

  When the copy application job is started, first, an ID input screen for allowing the user to input a user ID is displayed on the display 52, and in response to this, an operation for inputting the user ID is performed by the operation unit 12. (S402) Based on this user ID, the copy application service is activated on the function server 30 side (s404). Here, the function application server 30 sends the copy application service to the address of the copy application service indicated by the service definition information 25 by sending an HTTP request together with the input user ID to start the service. Start on the side. The function server 30 that has received this service activation command returns a first parameter request together with the session ID as an HTTP response. This “first parameter request” is a command generated on the side of the function server 30 that has received the service activation command, as will be described later, and the first parameter (in this embodiment, the translation method) is sent to the multifunction device 10. XML data serving as a command for requesting.

  Next, the first parameter request and the session ID returned from the function server 30 in response to the service activation command transmitted in s404 are received (s406). Note that the HTTP request and HTTP response transmitted in the subsequent processes are all transmitted with the session ID included in the same manner as described above.

  Next, by displaying a parameter input screen for designating the first parameter based on the first parameter request received in s406 on the display 52, the user is prompted to designate the first parameter (s408). In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8 (a), according to the XML description of the first parameter request, as shown in FIG. 8A, translated copy characters are arranged at the top of the display area, indicating the translation method “English → Japan”. Displays the parameter input screen in which "Word" and "Japanese → English" are arranged at the bottom of the display area. After this parameter input screen is displayed, the user can perform an operation of designating one of the translation methods as the first parameter.

  After the parameter input screen is displayed, if an operation for designating the first parameter (translation method) is performed (s410), the first parameter is transmitted to the function server 30 by the HTTP request (s412). The function server 30 that has received the first parameter returns a second parameter request as an HTTP response. This “second parameter request” is a command generated on the side of the function server 30 that has received the first parameter, as will be described later, and image data obtained by scanning a document on which a text to be translated is written. XML data serving as a command for requesting to.

  Next, after receiving the second parameter request returned from the function server 30 in accordance with the first parameter transmitted in s412 (s414), the parameter for causing the second parameter to be input based on the second parameter request By displaying the input screen on the display 52, the user is prompted to perform an operation for generating the second parameter (s416). In this embodiment, according to the description of the XML of the second parameter request, as shown in FIG. 8B, the translated copy characters are arranged at the top of the display area as the display title, and the text to be translated is described. Display on the display 52 of a parameter input screen in which a message indicating that a sheet-like recording medium (original) should be set in a feeder (an apparatus for reading the sheet-like recording medium by the reading unit 13) is arranged at the bottom of the display area I do. After the parameter input screen is displayed, the user sets the document on the feeder and then performs an operation such as pressing the scanner key 42 of the operation unit 12, whereby image data obtained by reading the document with the reading unit 13 is displayed. It can be generated as a second parameter.

  After the display of this parameter input screen, if an operation for generating the second parameter (image data) is performed (s418), the second parameter generated in this way is transmitted to the function server 30 by the HTTP request (s420). The function server 30 that has received the second parameter returns a third parameter request as an HTTP response. This “third parameter request” is a command generated on the side of the function server 30 that has received the second parameter, as will be described later, and is a command for requesting the multifunction device 10 to specify subsequent processing contents. XML data. More specifically, the function server 30 confirms whether or not the reception of the second parameter started to be transmitted in s420 has been normally completed, and the processing contents corresponding to the confirmation result. A third parameter request for requesting designation is returned as an HTTP response.

Next, the third parameter request returned from the function server 30 according to the second parameter transmitted in s420 is received (s422).
Next, a parameter input screen for designating the third parameter based on the third parameter request received in s422 is displayed on the display 52, thereby prompting the user to designate the third parameter (s424). . Here, if the third parameter request corresponds to the confirmation result that the reception of the second parameter has not been completed normally, the XML parameter shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, a message indicating that reception has not been completed normally (scan result failure) is arranged at the top of the display area, and an item indicating whether or not to input the second parameter again (rescan) (FIG. The parameter input screen displayed at the bottom of the display area is displayed as an item that can be selected as “Rescan” and “End”). If the third parameter request corresponds to the confirmation result indicating that the reception of the second parameter is normally completed, as shown in FIG. 8D, according to the XML description of the third parameter request. The fee required when receiving the service based on the second parameter is arranged at the upper part of the display area, and the item (“Continue” in FIG. 8D) whether or not to continue (continue) the subsequent processing. (Charging) "and" End ") are displayed as parameter selectable items on the lower part of the display area.

After this parameter input screen is displayed, the user can perform an operation of designating any item as the third parameter.
After this parameter input screen is displayed, it is checked whether or not a timeout has occurred (s426). Here, after the parameter input screen is displayed, if a predetermined time (30 seconds in the present embodiment) elapses without an operation for designating an item being performed by the user, it is determined that a timeout has occurred.

  If it is determined in s426 that the time-out has occurred (s426: YES), the service end process is performed (s428), and then the copy application job is ended. In s428, a service end command for instructing the end of the copy application service is transmitted to the function server 30 by the HTTP request, and the service end confirmation returned by the HTTP response from the function server 30 that has received the service end command is confirmed. The process of receiving is performed.

  On the other hand, before the time-out in s428 (s426: NO), if an operation for designating the third parameter is performed (s430), a parameter (indicating that the third parameter designated in this way re-inputs the second parameter ( If “rescan” in FIG. 8C is designated) (s432: YES), the third parameter is transmitted to the function server 30 by the HTTP request (s434), and the process returns to s414. Since the second parameter request is returned again as an HTTP response from the function server 30 that has received the third parameter transmitted in s434, the second parameter request is received again in s414. Become.

  Further, if the third parameter specified in s430 is a parameter indicating that the subsequent processing is to be performed (when “continue (billing)” in FIG. 8D is specified) (s432: NO, s436: YES). The third parameter is transmitted to the function server 30 by the HTTP request (s438). From the function server 30 that has received the third parameter, based on the image data indicated by the second parameter transmitted in s420, data (image data or data) obtained by translating the text included in the image indicated by the image data. Text data) is generated, and this data is transmitted as print data to be printed.

  Next, when print data returned from the function server 30 according to the third parameter transmitted in s438 is received (s440), the recording unit 14 records the image indicated by the print data on the sheet-like recording paper. Start (s444).

  After this, if an error does not occur during printing of the image indicated by the print data (s446: NO), a normal notification that the printing has been normally completed is transmitted to the function server 30 by the HTTP request (s448). The process proceeds to s428 to perform a service end process, and the copy application job is ended. Note that after the normality notification is transmitted in s448, a service end confirmation is returned from the function server 30 as an HTTP response. In this case, the service end process only performs a process of receiving this service end confirmation.

  On the other hand, if an error occurs during printing of the image indicated by the print data (s446: YES), a failure notification indicating that printing has not been completed normally (failed) is sent to the function server 30 by an HTTP request ( s450), the session ID used in the copy application job is stored together with the current time (s452). Here, by registering the session ID in a state associated with the current time in the data table stored in the storage unit 16, the information is stored.

  If the session ID and the current time are stored, the service output information request process is started (s454), and then the process proceeds to s428 to perform the service end process and the copy application job is ended. The service output information request process activated in s454 is executed in parallel with other processes, which will be described in detail in “service output information request process” (FIG. 9) described later. Note that after the failure notification is transmitted in s450, a service end confirmation is returned from the function server 30 as an HTTP response. In this case, the service end process only performs a process of receiving this service end confirmation.

In addition, the third parameter specified in s430 described above does not redo the input of the second parameter (when “END” in FIG. 8C is specified), or the subsequent processing is not performed ( If “end” in FIG. 8D is designated) (s436: NO), the process proceeds to s428 to perform service end processing, and this copy application job is ended.
(2-4) Service Output Information Request Process Next, the process procedure of the service output information request process started in s454 in FIG. 7 will be described based on FIG.

  When the service output information request process is started, first, the user ID input in s402 in FIG. 6 and the session ID stored in s452 in FIG. 7 are transmitted to the function server 30 by an HTTP request (s502). . If the print data corresponding to the session ID transmitted here is stored from the function server 30 that has received these IDs, the print data is transmitted by the HTTP response, whereas the corresponding print data is If it is not stored, a service end confirmation is transmitted by an HTTP response.

  When information returned from the function server 30 that received the ID transmitted in s502 is received (s504), if the information is not print data (s506: NO), a service end process is performed (s508). ), This service output information request processing is terminated. This s514 is the same process as s428 in FIG. 7, and in this case, only the process of receiving the service end confirmation is performed.

  On the other hand, if the received information is print data (s506: YES), recording of the image indicated by the print data on the sheet-like recording paper by the recording unit 14 is started (s510). This process is the same as s444 in FIG.

  Thus, if an error does not occur during the printing of the image indicated by the print data (s512: NO), a normal notification is transmitted to the function server 30 by an HTTP request (s514), and then the process proceeds to s508 to complete the service termination process. This service output information request process is terminated. This s514 is the same processing as s448 in FIG. 7, and since the service end confirmation is transmitted by the HTTP response from the function server 30 that has received this normal notification, the service end processing in this case is the service end processing. Only process to receive the end confirmation.

  On the other hand, if an error occurs during the printing of the image indicated by the print data (s510: YES), a failure notification is transmitted to the function server 30 by the HTTP request (s516), and then the service termination process is performed as in s508 (s518). ). This s516 is the same processing as s450 in FIG. 7, and since the service end confirmation is transmitted by the HTTP response from the function server 30 that has received this failure notification, this service end processing is performed by this service end confirmation. Only process to receive.

When the service termination process is completed, the process waits for a predetermined time (in this embodiment, 30 seconds) (s520), and then returns to the process of s502.
(2-5) Service Output Information Deletion Process Next, the process procedure of the service output information deletion process for deleting the session ID and current time stored in s452 in FIG. 7 will be described based on FIG. This service output information deletion process is started when a predetermined operation is performed by the operation unit 12.

  When the service output information deletion process is started, a session ID selection screen is first displayed on the display 52 (s602). Here, based on the above-described data table in which the session ID and the current time are stored in s452 in FIG. 7, as shown in FIG. A session ID selection screen is displayed in which each registered current time is displayed at the bottom of the display area as a selectable item. After this session ID selection screen is displayed, the user can perform an operation of selecting any item by the operation unit 12.

  When an operation for selecting an item is performed after the session ID selection screen is displayed (s604), an ID input screen for allowing the user to input a user ID is displayed on the display 52, and the operation unit 12 correspondingly displays the ID input screen. Waiting for an operation to input a user ID (s606), the user ID and the item (session ID) selected in s604 are transmitted to the function server 30 by an HTTP request (s608). The function server 30 that has received these IDs notifies whether or not the print data corresponding to the item (session ID) selected in s604 is stored, and the print data is stored in this way. A print deletion notification for notifying that the print data has been deleted is transmitted as an HTTP response.

  After sending the ID in s608 and receiving a print deletion notification from the function server 30 (s610), if the content indicated by the print deletion notification indicates that print data corresponding to the session ID is stored. (S612: YES), a message indicating that the print data corresponding to the item selected in s606 has been deleted on the function server 30 side is displayed on the display 52 (s614), and then the item (session ID and current time) ) Is deleted from the database (s616), and the service output information deletion process is terminated.

On the other hand, if the content indicated by the print deletion notification indicates that the print data corresponding to the session ID is not stored (s612: NO), the print data corresponding to the item selected in s606 is on the function server 30 side. After displaying a message (error information) that is not stored in (s618), the process proceeds to s616 to delete the corresponding session ID and current time, and then this service output information deletion process is terminated.
(3) Process by Function Server 30 Hereinafter, various processes executed by the control unit 31 of the function server 30 will be described.
(3-1) Function Server Process First, the process procedure of the function server process performed every time an HTTP request is received will be described with reference to FIG.

  When this function server process is activated, it is first checked whether or not the received HTTP request is a service activation command (s702). This “service activation command” is transmitted by the multi-function device 10 in s202 in FIG.

  If it is determined in s702 that it is a service activation command (s702: YES), a session ID is generated, transmission data indicating the session ID is generated, and a resource for executing the service is secured. After starting the session process (FIG. 13) described later (s708), the transmission data generated here is returned as an HTTP response to the multifunction machine 10 (s710), and this function server process is terminated. The transmission data (session ID) returned in this case is received by the multi-function device 10 in s204 in FIG.

  If it is determined in s702 that the command is not a service activation command (s702: NO), it is checked whether the HTTP request is a service termination command (s712). This “service end command” is transmitted from the multifunction device 10 side in response to an instruction to stop execution of the service by an operation such as pressing s428 in FIG. 7 or the cancel key 51 of the multifunction device 10. is there.

  If it is determined in s712 that the command is a service termination command (s712: YES), the session ID and the resources secured in s708 are released, and a session termination command indicating service termination is generated (s714). , S710, this session end command is returned as an HTTP response to the multi-function device 10, and this function server process is terminated. In this case, the session end command returned is received by the multi-function device 10 at s208 in FIG. 5 and determined as “YES” at s222 in FIG.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in s712 that the service end command is not received (s712: NO), whether or not information related to the service is included, specifically, the MFP 10 performs session processing or another job. It is checked whether or not it is an HTTP request transmitted at (s716).

  If it is determined in s716 that information related to the service is included (s716: YES), the process (session process, job) that has transmitted the HTTP request is specified (s718).

  If the process cannot be specified by this s718 (s720: YES), information (error notification information) for notifying an error is generated (s722), and the process proceeds to the next process (s736).

On the other hand, if the process can be specified by s718 (s720: NO), the information transmitted by the HTTP request is passed to the specified process (s724).
Thus, after s724 is completed or when it is determined in s716 that information related to the service is not included (s716: NO), the storage area of the information corresponding to the session ID or job ID is specified (s726). .

  If the storage area cannot be specified in s726 (s728: YES), the process proceeds to s722, error notification information is generated, and the process proceeds to the next process (s736). On the other hand, if the storage area can be specified (s728: NO), it is checked whether there is information to be returned to the multi-function peripheral 10 in this storage area (s730).

  If it is determined in s730 that there is no information to be returned (s730: NO), after generating “no command” information (s732), the process proceeds to the next process (s736). If it is determined that there is information to be transmitted (s730: YES), the MFP control command is generated based on the return information (s734), and then the process proceeds to the next process (s736).

  Next, s722. The information generated in s732 and s734 is returned to the multi-function device 10 as an HTTP response (s736). Of the HTTP response returned here, the error notification information generated in s722 is received by the multi-function device 10 in s208 in FIG. 5 and determined “NO” in s222 in FIG. Will be implemented. Further, the “no command” information generated at s732 is received by the multi-function device 10 at s208 in the same figure and determined as “YES” at s220 in the same figure. Then, the multifunction device control command generated in s734 has different contents in a job to be described later, and is received in the corresponding job on the multifunction device 10 side.

Then, after “transmitted” is set in the memory address corresponding to the session ID or job ID (s738), this function server process is terminated.
(3-2) Session Processing Next, a processing procedure of session processing executed in parallel with the function server processing will be described based on FIG.

When this session processing is started, first, initialization processing is performed (s802).
Next, the job corresponding to the service instructed to start by the service start command is started (s804). This service activation command is transmitted from the multifunction device 10 in s202 in FIG. 5, and is determined to be a service activation command in s702 in FIG.

  Next, the start command for the corresponding job is output as a multifunction device command (s806). Here, a process for writing the start command of the corresponding job together with the job ID and the communication destination address in a storage area for storing the return information is performed. Based on this, a multifunction device control command is generated at s734 in FIG. 12, and is transmitted as an activation command to the multifunction device 10 side at s736 in FIG. This start command is received by the multifunction machine 10 at s208 in FIG. 5, and based on this, the corresponding job is started at s213 in FIG.

  Next, after waiting for the job started in s804 to be completed (s808: NO), when the job is completed (s808: YES), an end command for the corresponding job is output as a multifunction device command (s810). Here, a process of writing the corresponding job end command together with the job ID in a storage area for storing the return information is performed. Based on this, a multifunction device control command is generated at s734 in FIG. 12, and is transmitted as an end command to the multifunction device 10 side at s736 in FIG. This end command is received by s208 in FIG. 5 and is determined to be “YES” in s216 in FIG. 5, whereby the corresponding job is stopped (terminated).

Then, after performing a termination process such as releasing resources reserved in the corresponding job (s812), the session process is terminated (s814). In step s814, a process for writing a session end instruction in a storage area for storing reply information is performed. Based on this, a multifunction device control command is generated at s734 in FIG. 12, and is transmitted to the multifunction device 10 side at s736 in FIG. The multi-function device 10 receives this session end command at s208 in FIG. 5, and ends the session processing based on this (s222 in FIG. 5).
(3-3) Copy Application Job Next, among the jobs activated in s804 in FIG. 13, the processing procedure of the copy application job, which is an important job for understanding the present invention, is based on FIG. 14 and FIG. I will explain.

  When this copy application job is started, first, a user ID and a service activation command are received from the multifunction device 10 (s902), and session management with the multifunction device 10 that has transmitted the user ID and service activation command is performed. Is generated and stored in the session management information storage unit 140 (s904). In the present embodiment, the session management information storage unit 140 stores session management information, which is a database for registering a session ID in association with information such as a user ID, as shown in FIG. In s904, the session ID is stored by registering the session ID generated here and the user ID received in s902 in association with the database.

  Next, the first parameter request is returned to the multi-function device 10 by an HTTP response (s906). The first parameter request transmitted here is received by the multi-function device 10 in s406 in FIG. 6, and requests the first parameter (in this embodiment, the translation method) to the multi-function device 10. XML data serving as a command for The multifunction device 10 that has received the first parameter request transmits the first parameter as an HTTP request in step s412 in FIG.

  Next, when the first parameter is received from the multifunction device 10 that has received the first parameter request transmitted in s906 (s908), the second parameter request is returned to the multifunction device 10 by an HTTP response (s910). The second parameter request transmitted here is an HTTP request received by the multifunction device 10 in s414 in FIG. 6, and the second parameter (image data obtained by scanning a document) is sent to the multifunction device 10. This is XML data that serves as a command for requesting. The multifunction device 10 that has received the second parameter request transmits the second parameter by the HTTP request in s420 in FIG.

  Next, after the reception of the second parameter from the MFP 10 that has received the second parameter request transmitted in s910 is started (s912), the reception of the second parameter is not normally completed (s914: NO), a third parameter request for instructing the multifunction device 10 to specify whether or not to regenerate the second parameter is transmitted to the multifunction device 10 by an HTTP response (s916). Here, as the third parameter request, a message (scan failure) indicating that the generation of the second parameter on the MFP 10 side is not normally performed or the second parameter is not normally received is notified. Then, XML data for instructing selection of whether or not to regenerate (re-scan) the generation of the second parameter is transmitted to the multi function device 10 by the HTTP response. The multifunction device 10 receives this third parameter request in step s422 in FIG. 6. Whether the second parameter is generated again (re-scanned) from the multifunction device 10 that has received the third parameter request. A third parameter indicating whether or not is returned by the HTTP request.

  When the third parameter is received from the MFP 10 that has received the third parameter request transmitted in s916 (s918), the third parameter indicates the content of re-generating the second parameter (FIG. When “rescan” in 8 (c) is designated) (s920: YES), the process proceeds to s910, and the second parameter request is returned to the multi function device 10.

  On the other hand, if the third parameter does not indicate the content of regenerating the second parameter (“end” in FIG. 8C is designated) (s920: NO), the end of the copy application service is confirmed. After the service end confirmation for notifying that it has been transmitted is transmitted to the multi-function peripheral 10 by an HTTP response (s922), the copy application job is ended. This service end confirmation is received by the multi-function device 10 in s428 in FIG.

  If the reception of the second parameter started in s910 ends normally (s914: YES), the image data indicated by the second parameter is OCR converted (s924) as shown in FIG. Here, the image data indicated by the second parameter is subjected to OCR (Optical Character Recognition), thereby reading the image indicated by the image data and extracting the text portion constituting the image. Convert to

Next, the text data subjected to the OCR conversion in s924 is converted into text data translated by the translation method indicated by the first parameter received in s908 (s926).
Next, the text data translated in s926 is converted into print data for printing as an image (s928), and the print data is stored (s930). Here, the print data converted in s928 is stored in the service output storage unit 150 in the storage unit 33 to save the print data.

  Next, the unprovided session information is updated (s931). In the present embodiment, the session management information storage unit 140 stores the user ID, the session ID, and the path name of the print data (indicating the storage destination) for each user who cannot normally provide the print data in the subsequent processing. Information) is stored in association with unprovided session information, which is a data table for registration, and in s931, the user ID and session ID registered in the session management information in s904, and in s930 Unregistered session information is updated by registering the path name of the saved print data in association with the data table.

  Next, a collection fee to be collected when the text data is translated in s926 is calculated (s932). Here, a value obtained by adding a unit charge necessary for translation to the number of characters (or the number of words) or the number of pages constituting the text data extracted in s924 is calculated as a collection fee.

  Next, a third parameter request in which the collection fee calculated in s932 is incorporated as a message is generated, and this parameter request is transmitted to the multi function device 10 by an HTTP response (s934). Here, as the third parameter request, a message indicating the collection fee calculated in s932 is notified, and XML data for instructing whether to perform (continue) the subsequent processing is sent by the HTTP response to the multifunction device. 10 to send. The third parameter request is received by the multi-function device 10 in s422 in FIG. 6. From the multi-function device 10 that has received this third parameter request, it indicates whether or not to perform (continue) the subsequent processing. The third parameter is returned by the HTTP request.

  When the third parameter is received from the MFP 10 that has received the third parameter request transmitted in s934 (s936), the third parameter indicates the content that the subsequent processing is not performed (FIG. 8). If “end” in (d) is designated) (s938: NO), the process proceeds to s922 to transmit a service end confirmation, and then the user application job is ended.

  On the other hand, when the third parameter indicates the content of performing the subsequent processing (“continue (billing)” in FIG. 8D is designated) (s938: YES), billing information update described later Processing is performed (s940). This billing information update process is a process for billing a user who is provided with this translation copy service, and the detailed description thereof will be described in detail in “Billing Information Update Process” (FIG. 17) described later. To do.

  Next, the print data stored in s930 is transmitted to the multi-function device 10 by an HTTP response (s942). This print data is received by the multi-function device 10 in s440 in FIG. 7. When the print of the image indicated by this print data is normally completed, the normal function notification is received from the multi-function device 10 that has received this print data. Is transmitted by the HTTP request, and if it does not end normally, a failure notification is returned by the HTTP request.

If a notification is received from the MFP 10 that has received the print data transmitted in s942 (s944), if the notification is a failure notification (s946: YES), the process proceeds to s922 and a service end confirmation is transmitted. This user application job is terminated. On the other hand, if the received notification is a normal notification (s946; NO), information registered in the unprovided session information (user ID, session ID, print data path name) in s931, and the print saved in s930 The data is deleted (s948), the process proceeds to s922 and a service end confirmation is transmitted, and then the user application job is ended.
(3-4) Billing Information Update Process Next, the processing procedure of the billing information update process executed in s940 in FIG. 15 will be described based on FIG.

  In this billing information update process, first, a charge is specified (s1002). Here, based on the first parameter received in s908 in FIG. 14, the fee corresponding to the first parameter is specified.

  Next, the process waits until the access restriction is not imposed on the information for the user with the user ID received in s902 in FIG. 14 (unlocked) (s1004). In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18, the charging information storage unit 130 includes information (payment method and payment associated with payment) required for charging each user ID with respect to the user with the user ID. (Information, unpaid billing amount) and information indicating whether or not an access restriction for restricting the update of these information is imposed ("lock" in FIG. 18; "TRUE" imposes an access restriction) The accounting information, which is a database registered in a state in which the (locked) state and the state where “FALSE” does not impose access restrictions), is stored. Therefore, in this s1004, it waits until it becomes the state by which the access restriction is not imposed on the information corresponding to the applicable user ID.

  When the access restriction is not imposed in s1004, the access restriction is imposed on the information for the user of the user ID received in s902 in FIG. (S1006). Here, the access restriction is imposed by updating the information corresponding to the corresponding user ID (“lock” in FIG. 18) to the content (TRUE) that imposes the access restriction.

  Next, out of the unsettled billing amount registered in the billing information, the unsettled billing amount corresponding to the user ID received in s902 in FIG. 14 is read (s1008), and the unsettled billing amount thus read is set in s1002. The specified fee is added (s1010).

  Next, among the unsettled billing amounts registered in the billing information, the unsettled billing amount corresponding to the user ID received in s902 in FIG. 14 is updated to the sum added in s1010 (s1012).

  Then, after the access restriction on the user ID of the user ID registered in the billing information is canceled (s1014), the billing information update process is terminated. In s1014, the access restriction is imposed by updating the information (lock) corresponding to the corresponding user ID to the content (FALSE) indicating that the access restriction is not imposed.

The unsettled billing amount registered in the billing information in this way is deducted from the account of each user's financial institution at regular intervals and transferred to the account of the provider who provides the ticket issuing service. Then, after such withdrawal or transfer is normally performed, the unsettled billing amount registered in the billing information is updated to “0”.
(3-5) Service Output Information Transmission Process Next, the process procedure of the service output information transmission process started every time the user ID and the session ID transmitted from the multifunction machine 10 are received in s502 in FIG. 19 will be described.

  In this service output information transmission process, after receiving the above-described user ID and session ID (s1102), it is checked whether print data corresponding to the user ID and session ID is stored (s1104). Here, when the path name corresponding to the user ID and session ID received in s1102 is registered in the unprovided session information, it is determined that the corresponding print data is stored.

  If it is determined in s1104 that the corresponding print data is not saved (s1104: NO), the service end confirmation is transmitted (s1106), and then the service output information transmission process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in s1104 that the corresponding print data is stored (s1104: YES), the corresponding print data is transmitted to the multi function device 10 by the HTTP response (s1108). This print data is received by the multi-function device 10 in s504 in FIG. 9. When the print of the image indicated by this print data is normally completed, the multi-function device 10 that has received this print data notifies the normality. Is transmitted by the HTTP request, and if it does not end normally, a failure notification is returned by the HTTP request.

If a notification is received from the MFP 10 that has received the print data transmitted in s1108 (s1110), if the notification is a failure notification (s1112: YES), the process proceeds to s1106 and a service end confirmation is transmitted. This user application job is terminated. On the other hand, if the received notification is a normal notification (s1112; NO), information (user ID, session ID, print data path name) determined to be registered in s1104, and print data in this information The print data stored in the storage destination indicated by the path name is deleted (s1114), the process proceeds to s1106, a service end confirmation is transmitted, and the user application job is ended.
(4) Effect In the service providing system configured as described above, the MFP 10 starts printing based on the print data received from the function server 30 (s444 in FIG. 7), and an error occurs to appropriately print. When it is determined that the request is not made (s446 in the figure), the service output information request process is started (s454 in the figure), and a request for print data is made again to the function server 30 (s502 in FIG. 9). Upon receiving this request, the function server 30 stores the print data corresponding to the user ID and the session ID transmitted in response to this request (s1104 in FIG. 19), that is, the multifunction machine 10 that is the request source. The corresponding print data is transmitted to the multifunction device 10 only when is the multifunction device 10 that has transmitted the print data first (s1108 in the figure).

  For this reason, in the multi-function device 10, when a situation in which the print data is not normally printed due to some trouble (s 446 in FIG. 7 and 512 in FIG. 9), the charging itself for providing the print data is the function server 30. Although it is already done on the side (940 in FIG. 15), the print data is transmitted to the multi-function peripheral 10 without being charged for subsequent requests (s1108 in FIG. 19). The content obtained by normally printing the print data from the function server 30 at an appropriate fee can be provided to the user of the multifunction machine 10.

  Of the services provided from the function server 30 to the MFP 10 side, the “translation copy service” is included in the image indicated by the image data based on the image data received from the MFP 10 side. Data generated by translating the generated text can be generated, and print data for printing the generated data can be provided to the multi-function peripheral 10 side.

  Further, the function server 30 stores the print data generated when the request is first received from the multifunction device 10 (s930 in FIG. 15), and receives the print data from the multifunction device 10 again. (S1108 in FIG. 19). Therefore, after the second parameter (image data obtained by reading a document) is first exchanged between the function server 30 and the multifunction device 10, the multifunction device can be used without exchanging the second parameter again. The print data generated based on the second parameter can be transmitted to 10.

  As a result, when a situation in which the print data cannot be normally printed on the multifunction device 10 side occurs, the second parameter is not exchanged between the function server 30 and the multifunction device 10 thereafter. Parameters do not unnecessarily compress network traffic. In addition, since the time required for the exchange of the second parameter can be reduced, the time until the content obtained by finally printing the print data from the function server 30 to the user of the multifunction machine 10 can be shortened.

  Further, the charging process is performed on the function server 30 side after the reception of the second parameter from the multi-function peripheral 10 side is completed (s940 in FIG. 15). It is possible to prevent the user from being charged even though the reception has not been completed normally.

  Further, the print data is transmitted from the function server 30 to the multifunction device 10 after the reception of the second parameter from the multifunction device 10 is completed (s942 in FIG. 15), thereby preventing fraud. be able to. For example, if transmission of print data from the function server 30 to the multifunction device 10 is performed before transmission of the second parameter from the multifunction device 10 is completed, the print data is transmitted on the multifunction device 10 side. When the transmission of the second parameter is stopped when a part of the second parameter is normally printed, the function server 30 side is not charged because the reception of the second parameter is not completed. For this reason, by intentionally generating such a situation, it is possible to perform an illegal act such as avoiding billing. However, as in the above-described embodiment, if the transmission of print data from the function server 30 to the multifunction device 10 is performed after the reception of the second parameter from the multifunction device 10 is completed, the multifunction device 10 side Even if the transmission of the second parameter is intentionally stopped at the time when a part of the print data is normally printed in FIG. 15, at this point, the billing process has already been performed on the function server 30 side (FIG. 15). S940). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from being charged by such an action.

  Further, the print data generated on the function server 30 side (s924 to s928 in FIG. 15) is transmitted to the multifunction device 10 in response to a request from the multifunction device 10 ((s942 in FIG. 19 and s1108 in FIG. 19). On the multifunction device 10 side, this print data can be acquired without performing any special processing only by making a request to the function server 30 (s438 in FIG. 7 and s502 in FIG. 9).

In addition, the image based on the print data is printed on the multifunction device 10 side, after being notified of the charge amount when the print data is printed (s424 in FIG. 6), the subsequent processing is performed (FIG. 8). This is a case where “Continue (billing)” in (d) is designated) (s444 in FIG. 7). In this way, only when the image based on the print data is printed on the multifunction device 10 side, the previously charged amount is charged (938 → s940 in FIG. 15). Therefore, the user of the multi-function device 10 can review whether or not to print the image indicated by the print data, based on the charge amount notified from the function server 30 side.
(5) Modifications Embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can take various forms as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the multifunction machine 10 is applied as the client device in the present invention is illustrated. However, a function for generating image data obtained by reading a document, and a function for transmitting the image data to the function server 30 As long as the device has a function of printing the print data transmitted from the function server 30, it can be applied to a device other than the multifunction device, for example, a printer device or a facsimile device.

  In the above embodiment, the function server 30 stores the print data generated in response to the request from the multifunction device 10 (s930 in FIG. 15), and requests the print data from the multifunction device 10 again. An example is shown that is configured to transmit when receiving (s1108 in FIG. 19). However, instead of the function server 30 itself storing the previously generated print data in this way, every time a request is made from the multifunction machine 10 to the function server 30, image data obtained by reading a document ( The second parameter) may be passed to the function server 30, and based on this, new print data may be generated on the function server 30 side.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the print data is provided by the method of directly transmitting the print data from the function server 30 side to the multifunction machine 10 is illustrated. However, the method for providing the print data is not limited to this method. For example, the print data generated on the function server 30 side is stored in a storage location accessible from the multifunction device 10 (corresponding to a service providing unit), and the multifunction device 10 indicates that the state is accessible in this way. It is also possible to configure so that print data is provided by notifying. In this case, when receiving a notification from the function server 30 that the print data can be accessed, the multifunction device 10 performs processing (corresponding to an access unit) for accessing the print data according to the notification. The print data accessed in this way may be printed.

  With this configuration, the MFP 10 can receive the print data from the function server 30 by receiving the notification from the function server 30 and accessing the print data in an accessible state. it can.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, before the print data is transmitted to the multifunction machine 10 side, the charge amount based on the print data is notified (s424 in FIG. 6), and the subsequent processing is performed ( An example is shown in which print data is transmitted when “continue (charge)” in FIG. 8D is designated (s444 in FIG. 7). However, after the print data is transmitted from the function server 30 side, the charge amount is notified, and when it is specified that the MFP 10 performs the subsequent processing, the function server 30 is notified of that fact. At the same time, the image may be printed based on the print data, and the function server 30 may perform a charging process upon receiving the notification.
(6) Other matters In the embodiment described above, the multifunction device 10 is a client device in the present invention, the function server 30 is a server in the present invention, and a service providing system is a content providing system in the present invention.

  Further, s438 in FIG. 7 and s502 in FIG. 9 are content requesting means in the present invention, s446 in FIG. 7 and s512 in FIG. 9 are content determining means in the present invention, s444 in FIG. s510 is content printing means in the present invention, s424 in FIG. 6 is s426, s430 in FIG. 7 is print selection means in the present invention, and s438 in FIG. 7 is print notification means in the present invention.

Further, s940 in FIG. 15 is a billing processing means in the present invention, s942 in the figure is content providing means in the present invention, s924 to s928 in FIG. 15 are content generating means in the present invention, and s934 in FIG. is Ri billing notification means der in the present invention, FIG s930 is a content storage unit in the present invention.

Block diagram showing the configuration of the service provision system Diagram showing the configuration of the operation unit Flow chart showing MFP processing by MFP Figure showing the selection screen Flowchart showing session processing by multifunction device Flow chart showing a copy application job by a multifunction machine (1/2) Flow chart showing a copy application job by a multifunction machine (2/2) Diagram showing parameter input screen Flowchart showing service output information request processing Flow chart showing service output information deletion processing Figure showing the session ID selection screen Flow chart showing function server processing by function server Flow chart showing session processing by function server Flow chart showing copy application job by function server (1/2) Flow chart showing copy application job by function server (2/2) Diagram showing the data structure of session management information Flowchart showing billing information update processing by function server Diagram showing data structure of accounting information Flowchart showing service output information transmission processing

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... MFP, 11 ... Control part, 12 ... Operation part, 13 ... Reading part, 14 ... Recording part, 15 ... Communication part, 16 ... Memory | storage part, 17 ... Sound input part, 18 ... Sound output part, 20 ... Directory Server, 21 ... Control unit, 22 ... Communication unit, 23 ... Storage unit, 24 ... Service definition information storage unit, 25 ... Service definition information, 30 ... Function server, 31 ... Control unit, 32 ... Communication unit, 33 ... Storage unit , 41 ... Copy key, 42 ... Scanner key, 43 ... FAX key, 44 ... Service key, 45 ... Setting key, 46 ... Direction key, 50 ... OK key, 51 ... Cancel key, 52 ... Display, 120 ... Service software storage 122, service software, 130 ... billing information storage unit, 140 ... session management information storage unit, 150 ... service output storage unit.

Claims (17)

A content providing system for providing content that can be printed on a recording medium on the client device side from the server to the client device, each of which includes a server and a client device capable of data communication,
The client device is
Content requesting means for requesting the server to provide content;
Content printing means for printing the content provided by the server that has received a request from the content requesting means on a recording medium;
Content determination means for determining whether or not the content is appropriately printed based on the content printed by the content printing means,
When it is determined that the content is not properly printed by the content determination unit, the content request unit requests the provision of the content again.
The server
Content provision means for providing the requested content to the client device when the client device is requested to provide the content;
Charging processing means for performing charging processing for the user of the client device after the content provision is requested from the client device and before the content is provided by the content providing means ,
When the client device is requested to provide content, if the client device is a client device that has previously provided content by the content providing means, the client device is not charged with the charging processing means. On the other hand, the content providing system is configured such that the provided content is provided again by the content providing means. In the client device:
The content requesting unit is configured to request the server to provide content, and to transmit generation data necessary for generating the content to the server,
The server
A content generation unit configured to generate content based on generation data transmitted together with the request when content provision is requested from the client device;
The content providing system according to claim 1, wherein the content generated by the content generating unit is provided to the client device by the content providing unit. In the client device:
The content request means is configured to request the provision of content without transmitting the generation data when requesting the provision of the content again.
In the server,
Content storage means for storing content generated based on the generation data in a storage unit;
When it is required to provide content from the previous SL client device, content the client device when Ru Oh client device that provided the content generated by the content generation unit earlier, the by the content providing means, are the stored and again, the content providing system according to claim 2, characterized in that the by the client device to provide, and is configured to. In the server,
When the billing processing unit has successfully received the data for generation transmitted together with the request when the client device has requested the provision of the content, the billing processing unit does not provide the content by the content providing unit. the contents providing system according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that it is configured to start an accounting process for the user of the client device. In the server,
The content providing unit is generated by the content generating unit based on the generation data after receiving the generation data transmitted together with the request when the client device is requested to provide the content. The content providing system according to claim 4, wherein the content providing system is configured to start providing the content to the client device. The server
When the client device is requested to provide content, the billing amount charged when billing processing is performed by the billing processing means after the generation data transmitted together with the request is normally received. It has a billing notification means to notify,
The content providing unit provides the content only when the client device that has notified the charging amount by the charging notification unit is notified that the content is to be printed on the recording medium.
The client device is
Whether or not to print the provided content on a recording medium based on the charge amount notified from the server that has received the generation data after transmitting the generation data by the content request means. Print selection means for the user to select;
Print notification means for notifying the server to that effect when printing to the recording medium of the content is selected by the print selection means,
The content provided from the server notified by the print notification unit is printed on a recording medium by the content printing unit.
The content providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: A content providing system for providing content that can be printed on a recording medium on the client device side from the server to the client device, each of which includes a server and a client device capable of data communication,
The client device is
Content requesting means for requesting the server to provide content;
Content printing means for printing the content provided by the server that has received a request from the content requesting means on a recording medium;
Content determination means for determining whether or not the content is appropriately printed based on the content printed by the content printing means,
When the content determination unit determines that the content is not properly recorded, the content request unit requests the provision of the content again.
The server
Billing processing means for billing a user of the client device after the client device is requested to provide content;
Content providing means for providing the requested content to the client device when requested to provide the content from the client device;
When the client device is requested to provide content, if the client device is a client device that has previously provided content by the content providing means, the client device is not charged with the charging processing means. On the other hand, the content providing means is configured to provide the already provided content again,
further,
The server
Charge provision means for notifying the client device of the charge amount charged when the charge processing means performs charge processing after providing content to the client device;
The billing processing unit is configured to perform billing processing only when the client device that has notified the billing amount by the billing notification unit is notified that the content is to be printed on the recording medium.
The client device is
Whether or not to print the provided content on a recording medium based on the charge amount notified from the server after the content is first provided from the server that has received a request from the content requesting unit Print selection means for allowing the user to select
Print notification means for notifying the server to that effect when printing to the recording medium of the content is selected by the print selection means,
Only when that printing is performed on the recording medium of the content is selected by the printing selection unit performs printing on the recording medium of the content by the content printing means, characterized by being configured to content providing system. In the server,
The content providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the content providing unit is configured to provide content by transmitting content to the client device. . In the server,
The content providing means stores the content in a storage location accessible from the client device, thereby making the content accessible from the client device and indicating that the access is possible. It is configured to provide content by notifying the device and allowing access to the content,
The client device is
An access means for accessing the content in accordance with the notification when receiving a notification that the content is accessible from the server;
The content providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the content printing unit is configured to print the content accessed by the access unit onto the recording medium. When a request is made to provide content that can be printed on a recording medium, content providing means for providing the requested content to the request source via a data communication line, and requesting the provision of the content And then, before the content is provided by the content providing means, charging processing means for charging the user of the client device , and when the request source is requested , the request source If the client device previously provided the content by the content providing unit , the content providing unit again provides the provided content to the request source without performing the charging process by the charging processing unit. The content can be provided from the server configured as described above. A client device as the request source constituting the service system,
Content requesting means for requesting the server to provide content;
Content printing means for printing the content provided by the server that has received a request from the content requesting means on a recording medium;
Based on the contents printed by the content printing means, and a determining content determining means for determining whether the content is properly printed,
A client device, wherein when the content determination unit determines that the content is not properly printed , the content request unit requests the provision of the content again. A server and a client device, each capable of data communication, and after the server is requested to provide content from the client device, a billing processing means for billing a user of the client device, and content from the client device Content providing means for providing the requested content to the client device when the client device is requested to provide the content, and when the client device is requested to provide the content, If the client device has provided the content by the content providing means, the content providing means can provide the provided content to the client device without performing the charging processing by the charging processing means. In addition, the server is charged when the server performs charging processing by the charging processing means after providing the content to the client device. Only when the client device that has notified the billing amount is notified that the content is to be printed on the recording medium, the billing processing unit bills the billing amount by the billing processing unit. The client device in a content providing system configured to perform processing,
Content requesting means for requesting the server to provide content;
Content printing means for printing the content provided by the server that has received a request from the content requesting means on a recording medium;
Content determination means for determining whether or not the content is appropriately printed based on the content printed by the content printing means,
When the content determination unit determines that the content is not properly recorded, the content request unit requests the provision of the content again.
further,
Whether or not to print the provided content on a recording medium based on the charge amount notified from the server after the content is first provided from the server that has received a request from the content requesting unit Print selection means for allowing the user to select
Print notification means for notifying the server to that effect when printing to the recording medium of the content is selected by the print selection means,
The content printing unit is configured to print the content onto the recording medium only when the print selection unit selects to print the content onto the recording medium.
A client device characterized by that. A content request means for requesting the provision of content that can be printed on the recording medium, a content printing means for performing printing on the recording medium content provided after request by the content request means, is printed by the content printing means Content determination means for determining whether the content is appropriately printed based on the content, and when the content determination means determines that the content is not properly printed , the content request means A server as the content provider constituting the content providing system including the client device configured to request the provision of the content again by:
Content provision means for providing the requested content to the client device when the client device is requested to provide the content;
Charging processing means for performing charging processing for the user of the client device after the content provision is requested from the client device and before the content is provided by the content providing means ,
When the client device is requested to provide content, if the client device is a client device that has previously provided content by the content providing means, the client device is not charged with the charging processing means. On the other hand, the server is configured such that the provided content is provided again by the content providing means. Each of the server and the client device capable of data communication, the client device requesting the server to provide content, the content requesting unit, and the recording of the content provided by the server that has received the request from the content requesting unit A content printing unit that performs printing on a medium; and a content determination unit that determines whether or not the content is appropriately printed based on the content printed by the content printing unit. When it is determined that the content is not properly recorded, the content requesting unit requests the provision of the content again, and the client device receives the request from the content requesting unit. First from the server Print selection means for allowing the user to select whether or not to print the received content on a recording medium based on the charge amount notified from the server after receiving the content; and the print selection A printing notification means for notifying the server of the fact that printing of the content on the recording medium is selected by the means, and printing the content on the recording medium by the printing selection means. The server in the content providing system configured to perform printing on the recording medium of the content by the content printing unit only when selected,
Billing processing means for billing a user of the client device after the client device is requested to provide content;
Content providing means for providing the requested content to the client device when requested to provide the content from the client device;
When the client device is requested to provide content, if the client device is a client device that has previously provided content by the content providing means, the client device is not charged with the charging processing means. On the other hand, the content providing means is configured to provide the already provided content again,
further,
Charge provision means for notifying the client device of the charge amount charged when the charge processing means performs charge processing after providing content to the client device;
Only when the client device that has notified the charge amount by the charge notification means is notified that the content is to be printed on the recording medium, the charge processing means performs the charge processing.
A server characterized by that. When a request is made to provide content that can be printed on a recording medium, content providing means for providing the requested content to the request source via a data communication line, and requesting the provision of the content And then, before the content is provided by the content providing means, charging processing means for charging the user of the client device , and when the request source is requested , the request source If the client device previously provided the content by the content providing unit , the content providing unit again provides the provided content to the request source without performing the charging process by the charging processing unit. The content can be provided from the server configured as described above. A computer-readable program for controlling a client device as the request source constituting the service system,
A content request procedure for requesting the server to provide content;
A content printing procedure for printing on a recording medium the content provided by the server that has received the request in the content requesting procedure;
Based on the content that is printed by the content printing procedure, anda determining content determining step whether the content is properly printed,
The content in the request procedure, when said content is determined not to be properly printed by the content determination means, wherein the to Help program to request provision of content again. A server and a client device, each capable of data communication, and after the server is requested to provide content from the client device, a billing processing means for billing a user of the client device, and content from the client device Content providing means for providing the requested content to the client device when the client device is requested to provide the content, and when the client device is requested to provide the content, If the client device has provided the content by the content providing means, the content providing means can provide the provided content to the client device without performing the charging processing by the charging processing means. In addition, the server is charged when the server performs charging processing by the charging processing means after providing the content to the client device. Only when the client device that has notified the billing amount is notified that the content is to be printed on the recording medium, the billing processing unit bills the billing amount by the billing processing unit. A computer-readable program for controlling the client device in a content providing system configured to perform processing,
A content request procedure for requesting the server to provide content;
A content printing procedure for printing on a recording medium the content provided by the server that has received the request in the content requesting procedure;
A content determination procedure for determining whether or not the content is appropriately printed based on the content printed by the content printing procedure,
When it is determined that the content is not properly recorded by the content determination procedure, the content request procedure is configured to request the provision of the content again.
further,
Whether or not to print the provided content on a recording medium based on the charge amount notified from the server after the content is first provided from the server that has received the request in the content request procedure A print selection procedure that allows the user to select
A print notification procedure for notifying the server to that effect when printing to the recording medium of the content is selected by the print selection procedure,
Only when it is selected that the content is to be printed on the recording medium by the print selection procedure, the content is printed on the recording medium by the content printing procedure.
A program characterized by that. A content request means for requesting the provision of content that can be printed on the recording medium, a content printing means for performing printing on the recording medium content provided after request by the content request means, is printed by the content printing means Content determination means for determining whether the content is appropriately printed based on the content, and when the content determination means determines that the content is not properly printed , the content request means A computer-readable program for controlling the server as the content provider that constitutes the content providing system including the client device configured to request the provision of the content again by:
A content providing procedure for providing the requested content to the client device when the client device is requested to provide the content;
A billing processing procedure for billing the user of the client device before the content is provided by the content providing means after the client device requested to provide the content ,
Wherein in the charging procedure, when it is required to provide content from the client device, if the client device to which the client device has provided the content by the content providing procedures previously accounting processing line Ukoto without the by the content providing unit to the client device, wherein the to Help program to provide a content of the delivered again. Each of the server and the client device capable of data communication, the client device requesting the server to provide content, the content requesting unit, and the recording of the content provided by the server that has received the request from the content requesting unit A content printing unit that performs printing on a medium; and a content determination unit that determines whether or not the content is appropriately printed based on the content printed by the content printing unit. When it is determined that the content is not properly recorded, the content requesting unit requests the provision of the content again, and the client device receives the request from the content requesting unit. First from the server Print selection means for allowing the user to select whether or not to print the received content on a recording medium based on the charge amount notified from the server after receiving the content; and the print selection A printing notification means for notifying the server of the fact that printing of the content on the recording medium is selected by the means, and printing the content on the recording medium by the printing selection means. A computer-readable program for controlling the server in a content providing system configured to print content on a recording medium by the content printing means only when selected,
A billing process procedure for billing a user of the client device after the client device is requested to provide content;
A content providing procedure for providing the requested content to the client device when the client device is requested to provide the content;
When the client device is requested to provide content, if the client device is a client device that has previously provided content according to the content providing procedure, the client device is not subjected to charging processing according to the charging processing procedure. For the content providing procedure, the provided content is provided again,
further,
A billing notification procedure for notifying the client device of a billing amount charged when billing processing is performed by the billing processing procedure after providing content to the client device;
Only when the client device that has notified the charge amount by the charge notification procedure is notified that the content is to be printed on the recording medium, the charge process according to the charge processing procedure is performed.
A program characterized by that.

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