JP4974293B2 - Image forming apparatus and accounting count method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a billing counting method.

  In charging for the use of the image forming apparatus, the occurrence of an event is counted according to an event type such as printing or copying, and charging is performed according to the counter value.

  There are various printing modes for printing, and there is a possibility that the amount of toner consumed per page changes depending on the printing mode. For example, there are printing modes in which toner consumption is suppressed, such as an eco mode and a draft mode (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In this way, even when the toner consumption is different, charging is often performed for each page regardless of the toner consumption. As a method for reducing such unfairness of charging, there is a charging method in which charging is performed according to the estimated usage amount of color toner (for example, see Patent Document 2).

JP 2006-184664 A JP 2006-251758 A

  When the toner consumption is estimated and charged as described above, it is difficult for the user to know in advance how much charging will occur, so it is preferable to charge for each page according to the event type.

  In order to reduce unfairness by charging on a page basis according to the event type, it is conceivable to subdivide the event type on a page basis and count the occurrence of events of all event types. However, the more subdivided, the greater the number of counter values to be held, and the larger the memory area for storing the counter values. For this reason, if an attempt is made to count event occurrences for all event types, the memory area increases and the cost of the apparatus increases.

  For this reason, it is conceivable to count event occurrences only for the required event types, but since the required event types differ depending on the users and distributors, it is possible to generate events only for the event types common to average users and distributors. It will be counted and it is difficult to reduce the unfairness of billing.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem, and it is possible to count occurrences of events only for necessary event types for each user or distributor, and to reduce unfairness in charging. It is an object to obtain a forming apparatus and a billing counting method.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured as follows.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a controller and a billing application. When the controller detects the occurrence of a predetermined event, the accounting counter that counts the occurrence of the event, the API for the extension application that operates the extension application realized by executing the additionally installed computer program, and the extension application Event management means for outputting an event notification via the business API. The billing application is an extended application, and counts the occurrence of a predetermined special event other than the billing target event counted by the billing counter in response to an event notification from the extended application API of the controller.

  As a result, by adding a billing application that performs billing counting for special event types required for each user or distributor, the event types required for each user or distributor (standard event types and their special events) It is possible to count occurrences of events only for the (type), and to reduce unfairness in billing. Further, since a counter is not provided for unnecessary event types, the memory area used for the counter does not need to be increased.

  In addition to the image forming apparatus described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows. In this case, the event management means outputs an event notification including print setting information. Then, the charging application determines whether or not a predetermined special event has occurred based on the print setting information in the event notification, and counts the occurrence of the special event when determining that the special event has occurred.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows in addition to any of the image forming apparatuses described above. In this case, the billing application counts occurrence of at least one of printing in the draft mode and N-up printing as a special event.

  As a result, it is possible to count the occurrence of events for special event types such as draft mode printing and N-up printing, and to reduce unfairness in accounting.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows in addition to any of the image forming apparatuses described above. In this case, the billing application transmits its own counter value as billing information to a predetermined external billing server.

  As a result, the counter value can be aggregated for the standard event type and the special event type that can be handled by the billing application by the external billing server, and the unfairness of billing can be reduced.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows in addition to any of the image forming apparatuses described above. In this case, the billing application reads the counter value by the billing counter of the controller and totals it together with the counter value by itself.

  As a result, the counter values can be summed up for standard event types and special event types that can be handled by the accounting application. For this reason, it is possible to comprehensively charge based on the total result, and to reduce the unfairness of the charge.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows in addition to any of the image forming apparatuses described above. In this case, the billing application transmits the counted counter value and the counter value by itself as billing information to a predetermined external billing server.

  As a result, even when the controller does not have a function of transmitting the counter value to the external charging server, the counter value for the standard event type can be transmitted by the charging application. As a result, in the external billing server, billing can be performed for standard event types and special event types that can be handled by the billing application based on the counter value, and billing unfairness can be reduced.

  The accounting counting method according to the present invention provides a predetermined accounting in a controller having an accounting application that counts the occurrence of an event and an API for an extended application that operates an extended application that is realized by executing an additionally installed computer program. When the occurrence of an event is detected, an event notification is output via the extended application API, and the charging counter is counted by the charging counter according to the event notification from the extended application API of the controller by the charging application that is the extended application. Counting the occurrence of a predetermined special event other than the chargeable event.

  This makes it possible to count the occurrence of events only for the event types required for each user or dealer by adding a billing application that performs billing counting for special event types required for each user or dealer. , Charging unfairness can be reduced. Further, since a counter is not provided for unnecessary event types, the memory area used for the counter does not need to be increased.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an image forming apparatus and a billing counting method capable of counting the occurrence of events only for necessary event types for each user or dealer and reducing the unfairness of billing. it can.

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

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. An image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an apparatus having a copy function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, a printing function, a scanner function, and the like.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, a controller 11 is a device that controls a processing mechanism (not shown) that performs image forming processing such as copying, document reading, facsimile transmission, printing, and the like. The controller 11 is realized by executing a control program by a computer (not shown) built in the image forming apparatus 1. This computer has a non-volatile memory for storing charging information and the like.

  In the controller 11, the print engine 21 is a processing unit that controls the printing mechanism and causes the charging counter 23 to count at the timing when the paper discharge is completed for each page in the printing mechanism. The scan engine 22 is a processing unit that controls the document reading mechanism and causes the billing counter 23 to count at the timing when reading is completed for each page in the document reading mechanism.

  In the controller 11, the billing counter 23 holds a standard event type counter value executed in advance in the controller 11, and when an event occurs, specifies one or a plurality of event types corresponding to the event. The processing unit updates the counter value of one or more event types. The accounting counter 23 according to the first embodiment has (1) print total, (2) print color, (3) copy total, (4) copy mono color, and (5) copy full color as standard event type counter values. , (6) Scan (copy) total, (7) Scan (other) total, (8) Fax reception total, (9) Fax transmission total, (10) Double-sided, and (11) Single-sided counter values are held. To do.

  Note that “print total” is a counter of the number of printed pages. “Print color” is a counter of the number of print pages for color printing. “Copy total” is a counter of the number of copy pages. “Copy mono color” is a counter of the number of copy pages of a single color copy. “Copy full color” is a counter of the number of copy pages of the color copy. The “scan (copy) total” is a counter of the number of pages read for copying. The “scan (other) total” is a counter of the number of pages read for other than copying. “Fax reception total” is a counter of the number of pages received by facsimile. “Fax transmission total” is a counter of the number of pages transmitted by facsimile. “Double-sided” is a counter for the number of pages for double-sided printing. “Single-sided” is a counter for the number of pages for single-sided printing.

  The event management unit 24 is a processing unit that executes processing corresponding to an event when a predetermined event occurs in the job processing. In the first embodiment, the event management unit 24 provides a job start notification when an event of job start occurs, a page discharge notification when an event of page discharge completion occurs, and a job when an event of job completion occurs. The completion notification is supplied to the billing application 31 via the extended application API 26 (hereinafter simply referred to as API 26) and the application extended platform 41. The job management unit 25 notifies the event management unit 24 of the start and completion of the job. Also, the completion of page discharge is notified to the event management unit 24 by the print engine 21.

  The job management unit 25 is a processing unit that generates various jobs such as a print job based on an input operation by a user and executes an image forming process for each job. The job management unit 25 notifies the event management unit 24 of the start and completion of the job.

  The API 26 is an application program interface (API) executed in advance by the controller 11. The API 26 is an interface for enabling an extended application such as the billing application 31 from the controller 11. The API 26 is realized by executing an API program by a built-in computer (not shown). Specifically, the API program is called and executed, and processing described in the API program is performed as the operation of the API 26.

  As described above, the controller 11 includes the accounting counter 23 that manages the counter value of the standard event type, and the API 26 that can use the extended application.

  The billing application 31 is an extended application that can be used from the controller 11 and is a processing unit that counts occurrences of predetermined events in response to event notifications from the API 26 of the controller 11. The billing application 31 counts occurrences of predetermined events other than the billing target events counted by the billing counter 23. Specifically, the billing application 31 is realized by calling the billing application program from the API program of the API 26 and executing the billing application program by a built-in computer (not shown).

  The application extension platform 41 provides a common function used by the extension application and provides an environment in which the extension application can cooperate with the controller 11. Specifically, the application extension platform 41 is implemented as a library including functions that can be called from the extension application program. For example, a JAVA (registered trademark) platform is included in the application extension platform 41, and the above-described billing application application program is installed as a JAVA (registered trademark) application program.

  Next, the operation of the above apparatus will be described.

  In the standard state, the image forming apparatus 1 does not have an extended application such as the billing application 31. For this reason, a charging application program is installed in the image forming apparatus 1. Thereby, the billing application 31 is realized. Further, the accounting application 31 registers the event type to be notified to the accounting application 31 in the event management unit 24 of the controller 11 via the API 26. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 has the configuration shown in FIG.

  First, charging start when a job occurs will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the start of charging when a job is generated in the first embodiment.

  When the job management unit 25 generates a job, the job management unit 25 supplies a job start notification including the job ID to the event management unit 24 (step S1). The event management unit 24 supplies a job start notification to the billing application 31 via the API 26 and the application extension platform 41 (steps S2 and S3). When the billing application 31 receives the job start notification, it starts a count process for the job ID (step S4). When the counting process is started, the accounting application 31 counts the occurrence of the event when the type of event registered in the event management unit 24 occurs.

  Next, a description will be given of a charging process when the page-by-page printing or document reading process is completed. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining accounting processing in the first embodiment.

  The print engine 21 supplies a count request to the charging counter 23 every time the page discharge is completed (step S21). Upon receiving the request, the charging counter 23 corresponds to the print setting information of the page that has been printed. One or more event types are specified, and the counter value of the specified one or more event types is counted up (step S22). The print engine 21 supplies page information including a job ID and print setting information to the event management unit 24 every time the page discharge is completed (step S23). The print setting information includes paper size information, layout information such as N-up printing, and print mode information such as a draft mode.

  Similarly, every time scanning of one page of a document is completed, the scan engine 22 supplies a count request to the charge counter 23 (step S21). When the charge counter 23 receives the request, the operation of the image forming apparatus 2 is performed. The mode (scan only, facsimile transmission, etc.) is specified, one or more event types corresponding to the operation mode are specified, and the counter value of the specified one or more event types is counted up (step S22). The scan engine 22 supplies page information including a job ID and reading setting information to the event management unit 24 every time one page of original document reading is completed.

  Upon receiving the page information, the event management unit 24 determines that an event to be notified to the billing application 31 has occurred, and supplies the page information to the billing application 31 via the API 26 and the application extension platform 41 (step S24). , S25).

  When the billing application 31 receives the page information, the billing application 31 performs billing processing for the job ID included in the page information (step S26). In the billing process, the billing application 31 first determines whether or not a special event to be counted by the billing application 31 has occurred based on the print setting information or the like in the page information, and the special event to be counted has occurred. If it is determined that the special event has occurred, the counter value of the special event is incremented.

  For example, when draft mode printing and N-up printing are set as special events in the billing application 31, and the printing by the draft mode printing is completed, the billing application 31 generates the draft mode printing based on the print setting information. And the counter value of the draft mode printing is counted up. In this case, the billing counter 23 in the controller 11 does not hold a counter value for draft mode printing.

  In this way, the occurrence of a predetermined event among the events that are not counted by the billing count 23 in the controller 11 is counted by the billing application 31.

  Next, the accounting end when the job is completed will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining charging termination when a job is completed in the first embodiment.

  When the job is completed, the job management unit 25 supplies a job completion notification including the job ID to the event management unit 24 (step S41). The event management unit 24 supplies a job completion notification to the billing application 31 via the API 26 (steps S42 and S43). Upon receiving the job completion notification, the billing application 31 ends the counting process for the job ID (step S44). When the counting process ends, the charging application 31 generates and stores charging information by counting the count values of the special events counted for the job ID from the count start to the count end.

  The billing application 31 acquires the counter value of the billing counter 23 in the controller 11 using the application extension platform 41 and the API 26, and collects the counter value by the billing counter 23 and the counter value by the billing application 31. You may make it total. In this way, billing can be performed comprehensively based on the tabulated results, and billing unfairness can be reduced.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a network interface and a server capable of data communication via a computer network, and the server is tabulated by the billing application 31 in response to a request from a client terminal device connected to the computer network. The billing information may be transmitted to the client terminal device. Further, the server may transmit the charging information obtained by collecting the counter value by the charging counter 23 and the counter value by the charging application 31 together as described above to the client terminal device.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment includes the controller 11 that is provided as a standard and the charging application 31 that is additionally provided. When the controller 11 detects an occurrence of a predetermined event, an accounting counter 23 that counts the occurrence of an event, an API 26 that operates an extended application that is implemented by executing a computer program that is additionally installed, and the occurrence of a predetermined event, the controller 11 And an event management unit 24 as event management means for outputting an event notification. Further, the billing application 31 counts occurrences of predetermined special events other than the billing target events counted by the billing counter in response to the event notification from the API 26 of the controller 11.

  Thus, by adding a billing application 31 that performs a billing count for a special event type required for each user or distributor, an event type required for each user or dealer (standard event type and its special event type). Event occurrences can be counted only for (event type), and unfairness in billing can be reduced. Further, since a counter is not provided for unnecessary event types, the memory area used for the counter does not need to be increased.

  Note that there is a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-80245 as an image forming apparatus capable of extending the authentication method, but it is difficult to acquire a counter value separately for a special event type using this technique. is there.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the image forming apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, the billing application 31 transmits the tabulated billing information to a predetermined external billing server. In this case, the billing application 31 generates and transmits billing information in a data format that matches a predetermined external billing server.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining charging termination when a job is completed in the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, at the end of billing, the billing application 31 counts the counter values for completed jobs, generates billing information in a data format suitable for a predetermined external billing server (step S45), and It transmits to the external billing server (step S46). When the external billing server receives the billing information, it identifies the billing destination, accumulates billing information, or performs billing calculation based on the billing information. The charging destination may be specified based on the identification information of the image forming apparatus 1 that has transmitted the charging information, or the charging information may be included in the charging information in the image forming apparatus 1 in advance.

  Note that the image forming apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment has a network interface capable of data communication via a computer network. Then, the billing application 31 transmits billing information to the external billing server using the network interface. Since other configurations and operations of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, billing application 31 transmits its own counter value as billing information to a predetermined external billing server. As a result, the external charging server can count counter values for standard event types and special event types that can be handled by the charging application 31, thereby reducing unfairness in charging.

  Further, according to the second embodiment, billing application 31 transmits the counted counter value by billing counter 23 and the counter value by itself as billing information to a predetermined external billing server. Thereby, even when the controller 11 does not have a function of transmitting the counter value to the external billing server, the billing application 31 can transmit a counter value for a standard event type. As a result, in the external billing server, billing can be performed for standard event types and special event types that can be handled by the billing application 31, based on the counter value, and unfair billing can be reduced.

  Each embodiment described above is a preferred example of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is.

  For example, in the first and second embodiments, draft mode printing and N-up printing are special events, but the special event is not limited to a printing event, and may be a document reading event.

  The present invention is applicable to, for example, charging for use of an image forming apparatus.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the start of charging when a job occurs in the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing accounting processing in the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the end of charging when a job is completed in the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing termination of charging when a job is completed in the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

11 Controller 23 Billing counter 24 Event management section (event management means)
26 API for extended applications
31 Billing application

Claims (7)

A billing counter that counts the occurrence of an event, an extension application API that operates an extension application realized by executing a computer program that has been additionally installed, and when an occurrence of a predetermined event is detected, the extension application API A controller having event management means for outputting an event notification via
A billing application that counts occurrence of a predetermined special event other than a billing target event counted by the billing counter in response to the event notification from the API for the extended application of the controller;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The event management means outputs the event notification including print setting information;
The billing application determines whether or not a predetermined special event has occurred based on the print setting information in the event notification, and counts the occurrence of the special event when determining that the special event has occurred. ,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the accounting application counts occurrence of at least one of printing in a draft mode and N-up printing as the special event.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the billing application transmits a counter value by itself as billing information to a predetermined external billing server.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the billing application reads a counter value by the billing counter of the controller and totals the counter value by itself.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the billing application transmits the counted counter value by the billing counter and the counter value by itself as billing information to a predetermined external billing server. When an occurrence of a predetermined event is detected in a controller having a billing counter that counts the occurrence of an event and an extension application API that operates an extension application realized by executing a computer program that is additionally installed, the extension Outputting an event notification via the application API;
Counting the occurrence of a predetermined special event other than the chargeable event counted by the charge counter in response to the event notification from the extended application API of the controller by the charge application being the extended application; ,
A billing counting method comprising:

Images