JP5292115B2 - Billing management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an accounting management system having high usability in such a manner that an owner of an IC card can increase opportunities of actively using an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The accounting management system includes the image forming apparatus and an accounting device for performing an accounting operation depending on a content of a job that is carried out by the image forming apparatus by the designation of a user. The accounting device has a function of changing an accounting rate corresponding to a use time zone of the image forming apparatus. When a user carries out a reservation operation of a job, the accounting device registers job reservation information in an IC card. When the use of the IC card in which the job reservation information is registered is detected, the accounting device requests the image forming apparatus to perform the reserved job in accordance with the job reservation information registered in the IC card. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

 The present invention relates to a billing management system including an image forming apparatus and a billing apparatus that performs billing according to the contents of a job executed by the image forming apparatus instructed by a user.

  Conventionally, in a facility used by an unspecified number of users such as a convenience store, an image forming apparatus such as a copy machine or a facsimile that can be freely used is installed, and the user uses the image forming apparatus to perform a predetermined job. A charging management system that collects (charges) a usage fee from a user according to the contents of the job when the job is executed is known. Here, the contents of the job are the number of copies, the number of fax transmissions, the type of paper used (monochrome printing paper, color printing paper, A3 size, A4 size, etc.), and the function used (color printing, monochrome printing, fax transmission, duplex) Various kinds of information such as printing, stapling, punching, etc.) are included, and charging is performed in a comprehensive manner.

  As one form of the accounting management system as described above, the following Patent Document 1 describes the usage amount (the number of copies, etc.) of an image forming apparatus only for a user who has been authenticated by inputting a password or reading an IC card. ), A sales data processing system that provides sales promotion services (for example, discounts on sales items in a facility) is disclosed. Further, Patent Document 2 below discloses a peripheral device management system that changes a charging rate only for a user who has been authenticated by reading an IC card according to the function of the used image forming apparatus.

JP 2002-333799 A JP 2005-238717 A

  In the above prior art, only a part of the authenticated users are subject to the discount or the charge rate change, which is inconvenient, and the user who owns the IC card exceeds the specific supplier and the image forming apparatus It is difficult to connect to opportunities to actively use.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a highly convenient billing management system that increases the chance that an IC card owner actively uses an image forming apparatus. To do.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, as a first solving means related to a charge management system, a charge is made according to the content of an image forming apparatus and a job executed when the image forming apparatus is instructed by a user. In the billing management system comprising a billing device, the billing device corresponds to an IC card interface for communicating with an IC card, a display unit for displaying predetermined information, and a usage time zone of the image forming device A charge information storage unit for preliminarily storing the charge information set in consideration of the charged rate, and when a job reservation operation is performed by the user , the job reservation information is registered in the IC card. If the use of the IC card is detected via the interface, it is determined whether or not job reservation information is registered in the IC card. The image forming apparatus is requested to notify the contents of the job instructed to the user, and the charge table and the job for each use time period calculated based on the notified contents of the job and the charge information A message for confirming whether to execute or make a reservation on the display unit. When job reservation information is registered in the IC card, the message is registered in the IC card with respect to the image forming apparatus. A charge control unit that requests to execute a reservation job according to the job reservation information , and the image forming apparatus includes a reservation job storage unit that stores reservation job information, and a user in response to a request from the charge control unit If the user performs a job reservation operation after grasping the contents of the job instructed and notifying the charging control unit, the reservation number and job image data are displayed. Job reservation information including the reservation number and a password associated with the reservation number. And an image formation control unit that notifies the billing control unit .

Further, as a second solving means related to the charging management system, in the first solving means, the image formation control unit grasps the contents of the job instructed by the user and notifies the charging control unit, When a job execution operation is performed by a user, the instructed job is executed, the contents of the executed job and time information at the time of job execution are notified to the charging control unit, and the charging control unit The usage fee of the image forming apparatus is calculated based on the content of the job notified from the formation control unit and the time information at the time of job execution, and the fee information stored in the fee information storage unit, and the IC card is It is characterized in that the charging process used is performed.

Further, as a third solving means related to the charging management system, in the first solving means, the charging device includes a password storage unit for storing the password, and the charging control unit is connected to the image forming control unit. The password included in the notified job reservation information is stored in the password storage unit, and the job reservation information is registered in the IC card via the IC card interface.

Further, as a fourth solving means related to the charging management system, in the third solving means, when the charging control unit determines that the job reservation information is registered in the IC card, it is registered in the IC card. It is determined whether or not a password that matches the password included in the job reservation information being stored exists in the password storage unit. If it is determined that the password exists, it is included in the job reservation information registered in the IC card. The image forming control unit is requested to execute a reserved job corresponding to the reserved number.

Further, as a fifth solving means related to the charging management system, in the fourth solving means, when the image forming control unit is requested to execute the reserved job from the charging control unit, the image forming control unit The image data of the job corresponding to the reservation number and the setting information necessary for executing the job are read, and the reserved job is executed based on the read image data of the job and the setting information necessary for executing the job. The charging control unit is notified of job content and job execution time information, and the charging control unit notifies the job content and job execution time information notified from the image formation control unit, and the fee information storage. The usage fee of the image forming apparatus is calculated based on the fee information stored in the copy unit, and the charging process using the IC card is performed.

 According to the present invention, as long as the user has an IC card, the user can select the time zone in which the image forming apparatus can be used at the lowest cost and use the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the opportunity for the user who owns the IC card to actively use the image forming apparatus increases, and a highly convenient billing management system can be realized.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a billing management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an example of the charge table used with the charge management system of this embodiment. It is a flowchart showing operation | movement of the charge management system of this embodiment. It is a charge table according to use time zone created by the charge management system of this embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a billing management system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 is a copy machine (image forming apparatus) installed in a facility used by an unspecified number of users such as a convenience store, and reference numeral 1 is executed when the copy machine 2 is instructed by the user. This is a charging device that charges according to the contents of the job. Reference numeral 3 denotes an IC card such as a credit card used by the user.

  The charging device 1 has a function of changing the charging rate according to the usage time zone of the copy machine 2, and registers job reservation information in the IC card 3 when a job reservation operation is performed by the user. When the use of the IC card 3 in which the job reservation information is registered is detected, the copier 2 is requested to execute the reserved job according to the job reservation information registered in the IC card 3. Such a charging apparatus 1 includes a fee information storage unit 11, a password storage unit 12, an IC card reader / writer 13, a display unit 14, and a charging control unit 15.

  The fee information storage unit 11 stores in advance a fee table that is set in consideration of a charging rate corresponding to the usage time zone of the copy machine 2. FIG. 2 shows an example of the charge table stored in the charge information storage unit 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the charge table is a copy unit price (copy fee per sheet) when A4 size and A3 size monochrome printing paper and color printing paper are used. They are set separately. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the charging rate in the time zone of 8:00 to 16:00 is the highest, and then the charging rate in the time zone of 16:00 to 24:00 is high, and 24:00 (0:00) The charging rate in the time period of ˜8: 00 is set to be the lowest.

  The password storage unit 12 stores a password included in the job reservation information notified from the copy machine 2 under the control of the charging control unit 15. The IC card reader / writer 13 is an IC card interface for communicating with the IC card 3. Under the control of the charging control unit 15, job reservation information registered in the IC card 3 is read and charging control is performed. The job reservation information sent from the charging control unit 15 is written (registered) in the IC card 3 while being output to the unit 15.

 As shown in FIG. 1, the IC card 3 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31, an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) 32, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 33. The CPU 31 writes job reservation information in the EEPROM 32 or reads job reservation information from the EEPROM 32.

  The display unit 14 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays a screen for notifying the user of predetermined information under the control of the charging control unit 15. The charging control unit 15 includes job reservation information obtained from the IC card 3 via the IC card reader / writer 13, a charge table stored in the charge information storage unit 11, job reservation information notified from the copier 2, Based on the job contents and time information at the time of job execution, the overall operation of the charging apparatus 1 (charging process according to the job contents) is controlled in an integrated manner.

 Specifically, when the charging control unit 15 detects use of the IC card 3 via the IC card reader / writer 13, it determines whether or not job reservation information is registered in the IC card 3 (EEPROM 32). If the determination is negative, the copier 2 is requested to notify the contents of the job instructed by the user, and the contents of the notified job and the charge information storage unit 11 are stored. And a function for causing the display unit 14 to display a charge table calculated based on the charge table and a message for confirming to the user whether to execute or reserve a job.

 If the accounting control unit 15 determines that the job reservation information is registered in the IC card 3, a password that matches the password included in the job reservation information registered in the IC card 3 is stored in the password storage unit 12. If it is determined that it exists, the copier 2 is requested to execute a reserved job corresponding to the reservation number included in the job reservation information registered in the IC card 3. It has a function.

 Further, the charge control unit 15 uses the copy machine 2 usage fee based on the job content and time information at the time of job execution notified from the copy machine 2 and the charge table stored in the charge information storage unit 11. As well as a billing process using the IC card 3.

 On the other hand, the copier 2 includes an operation display unit 21, a document reading unit 22, an image data storage unit 23, a print processing unit 24, a reserved job storage unit 25, and an image formation control unit 26.

   The operation display unit 21 includes various operation keys such as a numeric keypad, various function keys, a copy start key, and a copy stop key, and a touch panel. The operation display unit 21 notifies the user of various types of information under the control of the image formation control unit 26. While displaying a screen, the operation input information of various icons displayed on various operation keys and the touch panel is output to the image formation control unit 26 as an operation signal.

 The document reading unit 22 includes an automatic document feeder (ADF), a document table, a scanner, and the like. Under the control of the image forming control unit 26, the document set on the automatic document feeder or the document table. Is read by a scanner to generate image data of the original. The image data storage unit 26 is composed of, for example, an external storage device such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory, and stores the image data of the document generated by the document reading unit 22 under the control of the image formation control unit 26.

  The print processing unit 24 executes print processing based on document image data and setting information (hereinafter referred to as job setting information) necessary for job execution under the control of the image forming control unit 26. Here, the job setting information includes the type of paper currently instructed by the user (paper size, color printing paper, monochrome printing paper) and the function used (color printing, monochrome printing, duplex printing, stapling, hole, Setting information such as “open”. Such a print processing unit 24 forms a toner image based on image data by an electrophotographic method, transfers the toner image to a print sheet conveyed from a paper cassette, and fixes the toner image to the print sheet after transfer of the toner image. To form an image of the original on the printing paper.

  The reserved job storage unit 25 stores reserved job data that includes a reservation number, job image data, and job setting information as a set under the control of the image formation control unit 26. The image formation control unit 26 performs the entire operation of the copier 1 (the job instructed by the user) in response to an operation signal input from the operation display unit 21 or a request from the charging apparatus 1 (specifically, the charging control unit 15). Execution control).

  Specifically, the image formation control unit 26 grasps the contents of the job instructed by the user and notifies the charging control unit 15 in response to a request from the charging control unit 15 in the charging apparatus 1, and then the user performs When a job reservation operation is performed, reservation job data including a reservation number, job image data, and job setting information is created and stored in the reserved job storage unit 25, and the reservation number and the reservation number are also stored. Has a function of creating job reservation information including a password associated with, and notifying the charging control unit 15.

  Further, the image formation control unit 26 executes the job instructed by the user when the user performs a job execution operation after grasping the content of the job instructed by the user and notifying the accounting control unit 15 of the job. The charging control unit 15 is notified of the contents of the executed job and time information at the time of job execution.

  Further, when the charge control unit 15 requests execution of the reserved job, the image formation control unit 26 reads the image data and job setting information of the job corresponding to the reservation number from the reserved job storage unit 25, and reads the read It has a function of executing a reserved job based on job image data and job setting information, and notifying the accounting control unit 15 of the contents of the executed job and time information at the time of job execution.

Next, the operation of the charge management system according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, as shown in FIG. 3, when the charging control unit 15 of the charging apparatus 1 detects the use of the IC card 3 via the IC card reader / writer 13 (step S1), the job reservation information is stored in the IC card 3. It is determined whether it is registered (step S2).

  If “No” in step S 2, that is, if job reservation information is not stored (registered) in the EEPROM 32 of the IC card 3, the charging control unit 15 instructs the image forming control unit 26 of the copier 2 to the user. Is requested to notify the contents of the instructed job (step S3).

  The image formation control unit 26 of the image forming apparatus 2 grasps the contents of the job instructed by the user in response to a request from the charging control unit 15. Specifically, the image formation control unit 26 controls the document reading unit 22 to read the document set on the document table or the automatic paper feeder, thereby generating document image data and image data. It memorize | stores in the memory | storage part 23 (step S4). Then, the image formation control unit 26 grasps the number of copies obtained by the original reading operation and job setting information (such as the type of paper used and the function used at present) as the contents of the job. The contents of the completed job are notified to the charging control unit 15 (step S5).

  The charge control unit 15 creates a charge table for each usage time zone based on the job contents notified from the image formation control unit 26 as described above and the charge table stored in the charge information storage unit 11. (Step S6). In FIG. 4, for example, the job time notified from the image formation control unit 26 includes information on “Number of copies: 10 sheets” and “Use A4 size color printing paper”. Show another tariff.

  The charging control unit 15 causes the display unit 14 to display a charge table for each usage time period created as described above and a message for confirming to the user whether to execute or reserve a job (step S7). That is, since the charge table for each usage time zone as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display unit 14 of the charging apparatus 1, the user can use the copy machine 2 at the lowest cost by viewing the charge table. You can know the available time zone.

  On the other hand, the image formation control unit 26 grasps the contents of the job instructed by the user and notifies the charging control unit 15 and then determines whether or not a job execution operation has been performed by the user (step S8). Specifically, the image formation control unit 26 determines that a job execution operation has been performed when it is detected that the copy start key of the operation display unit 21 has been pressed.

  If “Yes” in step S8, that is, if a job execution operation is performed by the user, the image forming control unit 26 determines that the job execution operation has been performed by the user. The job is executed (step S9). That is, the image formation control unit 26 reads the image data of the document from the image data storage unit 23, and controls the print processing unit 24 based on the read image data and job setting information, thereby performing the document copy operation. Do.

  When the job execution (copy operation) is completed, the image formation control unit 26 notifies the charge control unit 15 of the contents of the executed job (number of copies, job setting information) and time information at the time of job execution (step) S10). On the other hand, the charging control unit 15 uses the copying machine 2 based on the job contents and time information at the time of job execution notified from the image formation control unit 26 and the fee table stored in the fee information storage unit 11. A fee is calculated (step S11). For example, when the content of the job includes information such as “number of copies: 10” and “use A4 size color printing paper” and the time information at the time of job execution indicates “7:30” The usage fee is “150 yen”.

  When calculating the usage fee as described above, the charging control unit 15 performs a charging process using the IC card 3, and ends the flow of FIG. 3 after the charging process ends (step S12). Note that the charging process using the IC card 3 as a credit card is a known technique, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  On the other hand, if “No” in step S8, that is, if the job execution operation is not performed by the user, the image forming control unit 26 determines whether or not the job reservation operation is performed by the user (step S13). . Specifically, the image formation control unit 26 determines that a job reservation operation has been performed when it is detected that the copy stop key of the operation display unit 21 has been pressed.

  If “No” in step S13, that is, if the job is not reserved by the user, the image formation control unit 26 deletes the image data of the document stored in the image data storage unit 23 and deletes the image data. The flow of 3 is finished.

  On the other hand, if “Yes” in step S13, that is, if a job reservation operation is performed by the user, the image forming control unit 26 sets a reservation job that includes a reservation number, job image data, and job setting information as a set. Data is created and stored in the reserved job storage unit 25 (step S14). Then, the image formation control unit 26 creates job reservation information including a reservation number and a password associated with the reservation number, and notifies the charge control unit 15 of the job reservation information (step S15).

 The charging control unit 15 stores the password included in the job reservation information notified from the image formation control unit 26 in the password storage unit 12 and also stores the job reservation information in the IC card 3 via the IC card reader / writer 13. After registration, the flow of FIG. 3 is terminated (step S16). As a result, the job reservation information is stored in the EEPROM 32 of the IC card 3.

  If “Yes” in step S 2, that is, if job reservation information is registered in the IC card 3, the charging control unit 15 is included in the job reservation information registered in the IC card 3 (EEPROM 32). It is determined whether or not a password that matches the password to be stored exists in the password storage unit 12 (step S17). If “No” in step S17, the charging control unit 15 ends the flow of FIG.

 On the other hand, if “Yes” in step S 17, the charging control unit 15 executes the reservation job corresponding to the reservation number included in the job reservation information registered in the IC card 3. (Step S18). When the charge control unit 15 requests execution of the reservation job, the image formation control unit 26 reads the image data and job setting information of the job corresponding to the reservation number from the reservation job storage unit 25, and the read job The reserved job is executed based on the image data and the job setting information (step S19), and the contents of the executed job and the time information at the time of job execution are notified to the charging control unit 15 (step S20).

  As a step subsequent to step S20, the charging control unit 15 performs the processes of steps S11 and S12 described above. In other words, the charging control unit 15 uses the copying machine 2 based on the job contents notified from the image formation control unit 26 and the time information at the time of job execution, and the fee table stored in the fee information storage unit 11. A fee is calculated and a billing process using the IC card 3 is performed. Note that the reservation job data stored in the reservation job storage unit 25 may be deleted after a certain period of time.

 As described above, according to the billing management system of the present embodiment, the billing rate has a function of changing the billing rate according to the usage time zone of the copy machine 2, and when a job reservation operation is performed by the user, When the job reservation information is registered in the IC card 3 and the use of the IC card 3 in which the job reservation information is registered is detected, the job reservation information is reserved in accordance with the job reservation information registered in the IC card 3. Since the job can be executed, the user can use the copy machine 2 by selecting a time zone in which the copy machine 2 can be used at the lowest cost as long as the user has the IC card 3. Become. Therefore, the opportunity for the user who owns the IC card 3 to actively use the copy machine 2 is increased, and a highly convenient billing management system can be realized.

 In the above-described embodiment, the copying machine 2 has been described as an example of the image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a multifunction machine (MFP) in which functions of a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and the like are integrated into one unit. : Multi Function Peripherals) and the like. That is, the job to be charged may be not only a copy job but also a print job or a FAX job.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Billing apparatus, 2 ... Copy machine (image forming apparatus), 3 ... IC card, 11 ... Charge information storage part, 12 ... Password storage part, 13 ... IC card reader / writer (IC card interface), 14 ... Display unit 15 ... Billing control unit 21 ... Operation display unit 22 ... Document reading unit 23 ... Image data storage unit 24 ... Print processing unit 25 ... Reserved job storage unit 26 ... Image formation control unit 31 ... CPU, 32 ... EEPROM, 33 ... RAM

Claims (5)

In a charging management system comprising: an image forming apparatus; and a charging apparatus that performs charging according to the content of a job executed by the user instructed by the image forming apparatus.
The charging device,
An IC card interface for communicating with the IC card;
A display unit for displaying predetermined information;
A charge information storage unit that stores in advance charge information set in consideration of a charge rate according to a use time zone of the image forming apparatus;
When the user performs a job reservation operation, the job reservation information is registered in the IC card. On the other hand, when the use of the IC card is detected through the IC card interface , the job reservation information is registered in the IC card. It is determined whether information is registered, and if not, the image forming apparatus is requested to notify the contents of the job instructed to the user, and the notified contents of the job and the fee information Based on the above, a charge table for each usage time zone and a message for confirming whether to execute or reserve a job are displayed on the display unit, and job reservation information is registered in the IC card. a charging control unit that requests to perform the reserved job according to the job reservation information that is sometimes registered in the IC card with respect to the image forming apparatus Provided,
The image forming apparatus includes:
A reserved job storage unit for storing reserved job information;
In response to a request from the charging control unit, if the user performs a job reservation operation after grasping the content of the job instructed by the user and notifying the charging control unit, the reservation number, the image of the job Reservation job data including a set of data and setting information necessary for job execution is created and stored in the reservation job storage unit, and job reservation information including the reservation number and a password associated with the reservation number And an image formation control unit that notifies the billing control unit
An accounting management system characterized by that . After the image forming control unit grasps the content of the job instructed by the user and notifies the charging control unit, if the user performs a job execution operation, the image forming control unit executes the instructed job, The job control and job execution time information are notified to the accounting control unit,
  The charging control unit determines the usage fee for the image forming apparatus based on the job content and time information at the time of job execution notified from the image formation control unit, and the fee information stored in the fee information storage unit. The billing management system according to claim 1, wherein the billing management system calculates and bills using the IC card. The charging device includes a password storage unit that stores the password,
  The charging control unit stores the password included in the job reservation information notified from the image formation control unit in the password storage unit and registers the job reservation information in the IC card via the IC card interface. The charge management system according to claim 1, wherein: If the charging control unit determines that job reservation information is registered in the IC card, a password that matches the password included in the job reservation information registered in the IC card exists in the password storage unit. And if it is determined that it exists, the image forming control unit is requested to execute a reservation job corresponding to the reservation number included in the job reservation information registered in the IC card. The charge management system according to claim 3. When the image forming control unit is requested to execute the reserved job from the charging control unit, the image forming control unit reads the image data of the job corresponding to the reservation number and the setting information necessary for executing the job from the reserved job storage unit, A reserved job is executed based on the read image data of the job and setting information necessary for execution of the job, the contents of the executed job and time information at the time of job execution are notified to the accounting control unit,
  The charging control unit determines the usage fee for the image forming apparatus based on the job content and time information at the time of job execution notified from the image formation control unit, and the fee information stored in the fee information storage unit. 5. The charge management system according to claim 4, wherein a charge process using the IC card is performed while calculating.

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