JP5570444B2 - Prepaid document processing apparatus and management method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  This specification generally relates to control and management of a document processing apparatus such as a printer, a scanner, a copying machine, and a scanner / printer / copier multifunction machine according to a customer account.

  Document processing devices are often used in networked systems in business locations and schools, providing the user with the option to send print jobs to one of several devices. Organizations using multiple document processing devices want multiple options for tracking and monitoring printer usage and funding, rather than paying for devices or consumable accessories in advance. You may prefer to pay based on usage for equipment and related equipment and materials. Furthermore, document processing device manufacturers and resellers (resellers) want to be able to provide such account (account) options to end users.

US Pat. No. 6,940,613 US Pat. No. 6,076,076 US Pat. No. 5,563,999 US Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0094148 US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0125397 US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0153415

  Thus, there is a need for more advanced methods and systems for managing the use of document processing devices.

  In the document processing apparatus disclosed in this specification, the remaining print unit value is stored in the memory of the apparatus, and this value is a print unit that can be currently used to enable the apparatus to perform a document processing operation. The programmable computer of the device selectively executes a document processing job for each user and reduces the remaining print unit value until the value reaches 0 (zero). The apparatus then allows for the expenditure of print units according to the color content and / or print area (ie coverage = coverage by ink or ratio) determined for the job. This apparatus is, for example, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, or a multifunction machine that provides one or more of these document processing functions, and a customer account (account, account) managed by an external management system. The printing is not performed until the approval is obtained by inputting the printing unit from). When sufficient print units are supplied, the device consumes or spends the input print units to perform document processing operations such as printing, facsimile, scanning, copying and the like. Here, in some embodiments, the apparatus consumes a different amount of print units for different processing operations (for example, a color page consumes more print units than a monochrome page, and a print job with a large print area is a small print. Consume more printing units than area jobs).

  A document processing device is currently available to allow at least one document processing component to perform one or more document processing operations using at least one consumable and the device to perform document processing operations. And a memory for storing a remaining print unit value indicating the amount of the print unit. The apparatus is programmable to determine a job cost print unit value for performing a document processing operation associated with a document processing job and to determine whether the remaining print unit value is non-zero (not 0). Have a computer. If the remaining print unit value is non-zero, the programmable computer selectively causes the document processing component to perform a document processing operation and reduces the remaining print unit value by the determined job cost print unit value.

  The apparatus stops printing when the input print unit value is exhausted, and in some embodiments, the programmable computer selectively selects, for example, monochrome print, when the corresponding remaining print unit value reaches zero. The document processing component is caused to execute a document processing operation in a state in which the function level is lowered, such as only admission. Further, in some embodiments, the programmable computer may optionally increase the remaining print unit value upon receiving a message from the network computer agent.

A current page price ratio (CPPR) value is stored in the memory. This value represents the relative cost between printing a color page and printing a monochrome page. The programmable computer also determines the printing unit cost for a given job using the CPPR value based on the color content in the job. In one aspect, two or more CPPR values, each corresponding to different page printing area (coverage) cost ratios, are stored in memory. In addition, the programmable computer obtains the page print area level for the color page of a given job, and uses the corresponding CPPR obtained according to the obtained page print area level value to determine the job cost. Ask for. A total print units used (TPUU) value is stored in memory. This value indicates the total number of printing units input to the document processing apparatus. In the memory, one or more entry pairs are further stacked in a stack, and each pair includes a page price ratio (PPR) value and a threshold value (TPUU _TH ). The computer of these aspects of the device compares the current TPOU value with the threshold groups in the stack and sets the current page price ratio to the PPR value corresponding to the highest threshold value below the current TPOU value. As more print units are added to the document processing device, it adapts to changes in the page print (price) ratio over time.

  A method is provided for managing the use of one or more document processing devices in a prepaid manner. The one or more document processing apparatuses are configured such that a customer can start a processing operation based on an available print unit input to the apparatus. In this method, account information for a plurality of customer accounts is stored in a data storage unit. Account information includes available credit (balance, payment amount, credit line) values and current price for converting account credits into print units for the specific document processing device registered for that account Registered device information comprising setting (pricing) information and device subaccount information for device subaccounts individually associated with each document processing device. If a request is received from a customer, credit is added to the specified account at the current rate when the customer's payment is confirmed. In addition, the number of credits (value) currently available for the specified account at the time of the customer's request is determined according to the current pricing information at the time of the request for the specified account. Is converted into the document processing apparatus for which the print unit is designated. In this way, customer-purchased account credits become a universal currency across accounts, and account management applies credit allocation, unique pricing, and functionality among multiple devices associated with the account. It is possible to do.

  The account information includes function degradation information that indicates whether one or more registered devices may operate at a degraded function level when the corresponding remaining print unit value reaches zero. May be included. Also, this method selectively executes a document processing operation at a reduced function level based on the function deterioration information when a print unit value reaches 0 for a specific document processing apparatus. You may allow it.

  The method, in one aspect, includes a plurality of different current page price ratios that indicate the number of available printing units that will be consumed by the particular print processing device to print a color page. Using device subaccount information including CPPR, the document processing cost can be adapted according to the object being processed. In these aspects, each CPPR value here corresponds to a different print area level (coverage, eg, number of pixels) for a color page of the document to be processed. In this case, the method is such that one or more devices determine the page print area (coverage) for a given color page of a given job and that given color according to the CPPR for that amount of print area. Allowing to consume the corresponding number of print units available to print the page.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a commercial environment in which one or more aspects of the present specification are implemented, with an account management device, various resellers, and customer sites networked. An example customer network computing environment comprising a plurality of user computers with a printer device management agent, a plurality of printers, scanners, copiers and multi-function type document processing devices, managed according to various techniques herein. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating further details of FIG. It is a figure which shows typically an example of the account information stored in the account management system of FIG. It is a figure which shows typically the detail of the example of the document processing apparatus registered with respect to the account managed by the account management system of FIG. It is a figure which shows typically another example of the account information stored in the account management system of FIG. It is a figure which shows typically other embodiment of a document processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of a customer document processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the process for buying a credit and throwing into one or several document processing apparatuses. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which updates the account information in the account management system of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process for converting the printing unit input previously into account credit, and moving a printing unit from one document processing apparatus in one customer account to another document processing apparatus. An example of a process for a user to execute a printing process on a public device registered in a vendor (trader) account using a credit from the user's account using the account management system and technology of this specification. It is a flowchart which shows.

  FIG. 1 shows a networked commercial environment 2 with one or more networks 10 interconnecting the server 100 with one or more resellers 200 and customers 300. In this environment, access to the account management system 104 installed in the server 100 is realized via the portal 102. Server 100 may include a single computer processor, or multiple processing elements, and server 100 may be implemented as a single integrated processor-based (ie, including processor) structure that includes memory. Alternatively, it may be implemented as a distributed type including a plurality of structures, some of which include processors. The account management system 104 may be any suitable combination of processor-based hardware, logic circuitry, software executed by a processor, firmware, or combinations thereof, etc., and may be an integral platform (eg, server 100). ) Or distributed across multiple devices with a processor. In this embodiment, the reseller 200 and the customer 300 are each provided with a reseller network and a customer network, each of which comprises a reseller 200 computer and a customer 300 computer, respectively. Provides an agent software program that is approved, secured by access between authorized reseller / customer staff and account management system 104 via portal 102. , Function to allow encrypted communication. The customer agent 360 provides operation and management tasks between the customer document processing apparatus 320 registered in the customer account via the portal 102 and the account management system 104, and the customer uses the agent 360 to use the customer network 302. It is possible to communicate with one or more processing devices 320 connected to. The customer network 302 may be any electronic communication network in a form that allows the device 320 to communicate directly or indirectly with the customer computer 330 and / or the account management system 104, such as a dedicated network, the Internet Such as (but not limited to) a connection, which may include a telephone communication network (wired and / or wireless, or a combination thereof) with the account management system 104 of one or more devices 320. . Thus, for the network connection of the device 320, the main network connection becomes invalid ("network down" state), and communication means for recovery or alternative (for example, telephone line connection to the device 320) Is provided as an alternative means for communication between the device 320 and the account management system 104 for operational verification and other steps.

  FIG. 2 illustrates a distributed customer computing environment that includes two exemplary logical device groups 310a and 310b. Each group 310a and 310b includes one or more computer devices 330, some of which include an agent component 360. In the exemplary environment, the computer 330 may be configured, for example, by entering and verifying appropriate passwords via the customer network 302 and associated network elements, and / or by an access / usage control mechanism implemented in the group of devices 320 itself. Printing or other document processing operations using the device 320 group or a predetermined subset of the device 320 group are selectively permitted. Each group 310 also includes one or more document processing devices 320. The illustrated customer computer 330 and document processing device 320 are operatively connected via a customer network 302, which may be any suitable form of communication network or interoperable network. Any form may be used. Furthermore, one or more print servers 50 are connected to the network 302, some parts of the network 302 may be interconnected by cable connections, one or more parts may be wirelessly connected, One or more exemplary computers 330d and 330e are functionally and communicatively connected to the network 302 implemented in FIG. 2 using a wireless network transceiver interface component 340. One or more of the devices 320 are registered in one or more customer accounts, and a copying operation, a scanning operation, and others are performed via the network 302 or when the user operates the operation unit of the device main body. Can be executed. The document processing device 320 may include one or more managed consumable parts and consumables.

  The document processing apparatus 320 includes a relatively low-speed external paper feeding type color and black and white desktop printer 320a and 320b, a medium speed drawer (tray) paper feeding type color and black and white printer 320c to 320e, and a large capacity. Color and black-and-white printer / scanner / copier (ie, multi-function peripheral) devices 320f-320h, a desktop multi-function printer / scanner / copier 320i, and a printer / facsimile multi-function device 320j. The customer network 302 and the external network 10 may be any suitable one of configurations such as a star type, a ring type, a bus type, a tree type, a mesh type, or a combination thereof. A wired network, a wireless network, or a combination thereof may be used. The customer network 302 illustrated in FIG. 2 provides one or more wireless nodes 340 for connecting to portable notebook computers 330d and 330e via various WiFi and other wireless means.

  The device 320 is configured to perform normal customer / user-initiated processing operations based on available print units entered into the device 320 according to customer accounts managed via the account management system 104. Optionally, even if there are no more print units submitted, it may be allowed by account details so that some low-level functions can be performed, as will be explained later. All aspects, or at least some aspects, of actual or expected costs of a document processing operation on a device are subject to initial device cost, consumable 322 cost, service (rather than prepaid by the customer) Customer attributes may be based on usage such as costs for repair, troubleshooting, etc., costs for accessing customer support, and other related costs.

  The use of the device 320 is managed by the system 104 through these prepaid accounts using various account information 110 stored in a data storage device operatively connected to the server 100 and the data storage device. May be internal or external to the server 100, or may be a combination of an internal storage device and an external storage device. The account information 110 is, for example, a first account for managing the prepaid device 320 of the first device group 310a in FIG. 2, a second account for the device 320 of the second group 310b, etc. Account information is stored for a plurality of accounts, and account information is stored on a plurality of different customers, eg, those customers, or so-called “public” devices 320 as described further below with reference to FIG. ) Etc. are also stored.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the account information 110 for each account includes general account information 111a (for example, account owner name, address, billing information, authorized user group, etc.), used credit value, etc. 111b (e.g., indicating the number of credits that have been invested in the device 320 group from the start of the account until the present, or for a certain period of time (e.g., the previous period of the year)) and an available credit value 111c The value indicates the amount of account credit units that are currently available for the account, the corresponding customer has been paid in advance, and can be put into one or more devices 320 upon request issued by the customer) Is included. The available credit information 111c may include two or more values indicating available credits for different departments or organizational entities within a customer company. The account information 110 of this embodiment further includes credit transfer information information 111d and reduced function permission information 111e (described later with reference to FIG. 3).

  The account information 110 for an account further includes current pricing information 112. This information 112 includes at least one conversion factor for converting account credits usable for the account into print units for a specific document processing device 320 registered in the account. The current pricing information 112 for each account in this embodiment includes device type pricing information 112a, which includes at least one price factor 112a1 for each type of document processing device, and a plurality of At least one printing unit price modifier 112a2 for each of the different document processing device types. The price coefficient 112a1 is for converting account credits into printing units. Printing unit price modifier 112a2 expands (increases) the printing unit price when the customer account includes one or more additional cost factors in the printing unit price for consumables, services and support. belongs to. Pricing information 112 may further include customer specific pricing information 112b, which indicates the applicability of discount information 112b1 and one or more print unit price modifiers 112a2 for the customer account. Modifier flag 112b2.

  The account information includes a designated document processing device 320 acquired by a customer from a plurality of different resellers 200 and / or obtained from a plurality of different locations and regions. A plurality of different discount information 112b1 for the group may be included. This provides resellers with flexibility on a global basis or on a regional basis in providing discount incentives for selected customers. The terms of the program can be associated with a specific account number in advance, for example, before the reseller sells the account to the end customer 300, for example, where the account details are account pricing ( Conversion rate for converting credits into print units), print area and color content (color content used for printing, such as distinction between monochrome and full color), etc. Evaluation value of a print unit equivalent to a typical print image , Services, equipment, media, and various incentives. Pre-set account details may be associated with one device 320 during account initialization prior to delivery to the customer 300. In addition, promotional incentives such as continuation of time frames and / or the number of printed images are associated with the customer account and can be accounted for by the customer account, for example by tracking debit and lending balances and various image content details for use. It may be managed in combination with the tracked product usage information.

  Account credit is a global currency and is associated with one or more official government currency values that allow customers to use some form of legal payment or direct monetary payment, You can purchase credits for your account. Here, the account management system 104 operates to acquire currency exchange rate information and perform conversion from a legal currency payment amount to an account credit amount as necessary. The number of printing units is evaluated for the type of device and possibly for other factors as well. In this evaluation, when a user requests to input account credits to a specific document processing apparatus, evaluation is performed in units of one account credit for each transaction. This evaluation is based on the document processing operation, such as one printing unit per monochrome page, five printing units per print color page, and the like. The processed “page” used here is one side of the printed media sheet. Thus, in one example, the device 320 consumes one printing unit to print a monochrome image on one side of the output sheet and prints a color image on one side of the printable medium. 5 print units are consumed, and 2 print units are consumed to print a monochrome image such as text on both sides of a printable medium. The crediting into the device 320 may be made with an integer value or a fractional value of credits and print units. For example, a customer may instruct a device 320 to “inject” a certain amount of account credit (an integer number of credits or a fractional number of credits), for example, and the account management system converts the customer for the device 320 The number of print units may be presented, and the device 320 may be configured to accept fractional print unit quantities, or the account management system may round to provide only integer print unit quantities, The fractional fractional value may remain in the customer's account as a fractional credit.

  The account information 110 also includes registered device information 114. The registered device information 114 includes device subaccount information 115 for a plurality of device subaccounts, and each of the device subaccount information 115 corresponds to a specific document processing device 320 registered in the account by the customer. Individually associated with each other. The device sub-account information 115 includes a device serial number 115a for identifying the device 320 registered in the account, a device mode indicator (display) 115b (for example, a value indicating toner exhaustion, and the corresponding device 320 managed by the system 104. And the remaining print unit value 115c (this value was previously input by the customer to the specific document processing device 320, and the specific document processing device 320 currently executes the document processing operation). At least one indicating the number of available print units that are consumed by a particular document processing device 320 to print one color page. Current page price ratio (CPPR) value 115d, total applied print units (TAPU) 115 e, and a used print unit total value (TPUU) indicating the total number of print units used by the corresponding document processing device 320. Furthermore, the device subaccount information 115 indicates registered consumable information 115g. Registered consumable information 115g includes consumable information 116 for one or more individual consumable components 322 that are functionally associated with the particular document processing device 320, respectively. The consumable item information 116 here includes, for example, the serial number of the consumable item and other identification information 117 and the remaining print unit value 118.

  A customer can request an estimate of the number of remaining pages for a particular document processing device 320 registered in his account via the agent 360 and portal 102, and in one embodiment the account management system 104 remains. A print unit count value may be returned. In some implementations, the customer can use the agent to obtain its count value directly from the document processing device itself via the agent 360 and customer network 302 (e.g., the document processing device 320 is shown in FIG. 4). As shown in FIG. 4, the current remaining print unit value 323e is reported from the internal data in the memory 323). The account management system 104 provides the estimated number of pages that can be printed in monochrome and color to the customer by analyzing the history of print data (color printing vs. monochrome printing) for the document processing device 320, for example. By using this in combination with CPPR 115d, the number of monochrome pages and the number of color pages can be estimated for the customer. The account information 110 can thus provide a plurality of accounts for a plurality of customers 300, each account being associated with a plurality of document processing devices 320 of an unlimited number of device types. Here, the document processing apparatus may include one or more consumables 322 identified for management by the account management system.

  Referring also to FIGS. 4 and 7, an example of a document processing device 320 is shown in FIG. The document processing apparatus 320 includes a controller 321 including a processor and a memory 323. Here, the device 320 includes appropriate software executed by the processor, firmware, logic (logic), and the like, thereby controlling document processing functions such as printing, FAX transmission / reception, scanning, or a combination thereof. In addition, the print unit consumption function of the device registered in the account managed by the account management system 104 can be realized. The communication interface 326 communicates data, information, print jobs and the like with other network devices, a computer including the user computer 330 and its agent 360, and the account management system 104 via the portal 102. The device 320 and the customer network are interfaced (connected). The device 320 includes one or more print engines 325, a scanner 328, a media supply 324, a consumable 322, and other similar devices (eg, scanner, sheet supply, etc., not shown), etc. One or more document processing components or document processing systems are included. The memory 323 stores program codes and processor executable instructions for realizing the functions of the apparatus, and also stores local data for assisting the processing. Such local data includes current device mode information 323a (eg, corresponding to mode information 115b in account information 110 of FIG. 3), one or more current page price ratio values (CPPR) 323b (CPPR values 115d). ), TAPU value 323c (corresponding to TAPU value 115e), TPUU value 323d (corresponding to TPOU value 115f), and consumable information 323f (consumed in FIG. 3) obtained from the processing element of consumable 322. Corresponding to the product information 116). Here, the customer agent 360 operates when information can be obtained from the device 320 (while the device 320 is connected to the network 302) and updates the account information of the account management system 104 accordingly.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the operation of device 320 in process 400. In this process, the device 320 is initialized or registered for one or more customer accounts at 402 by the customer 300 or the reseller 200, and one or more printing units are sent to the customer via the customer agent 36. To the device 320. The example of FIG. 7 shows an example of a printing operation, but a similar operation is performed for any other aspect or type of document processing operation requested by the customer / user with the device 320. At 404, device 320 receives a print job from customer network 302 (alternatively, the print job may be part of a copy operation initiated by device 320 itself, and even if device 320 is now Even when not connected to the network 302, the print job may be provided from a computer 330 connected to the device 320). At 405, the device 320 is not required, but the stack 119 of page price ratio (PPR) values 119a (see FIG. 6 below) according to the current value of the used print unit total value (TPUU) and the threshold TPOU _{TH in} the stack 119. ) To select an appropriate current page price ratio (CPPR). At 406, the device 320, in one embodiment, uses the CPPR value 323b (FIG. 4) according to the print area (coverage) and color content for each page to determine the cost for executing the job in print units. In step 408, it is determined whether or not the remaining printing unit (remaining amount of printing unit) (value 323e in FIG. 4) is smaller than the threshold value. In other implementations, the device 320 may determine the cost of the job based on the color content for the entire job (ie, each page is “color” if at least one page of the job uses color). Asking for page cost).

The device subaccount information 115 for the device subaccount here may include a plurality of different current page price ratios 115d in one embodiment. Each of these current page price ratios 115d is the number of available print units consumed by a particular document processing device 320 to print a color page and the used usage consumed to print a monochrome page. It shows the ratio between the number of possible printing units and corresponds to different print area levels for the color pages of the document to be processed. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the device 320 may hold a plurality of corresponding CPPR values 323b. In this way, the account management system 104 obtains the page print area level of a certain color page of a print job with a specific document processing apparatus 320, and according to the corresponding current page price ratio 115d selected based on the print area, Allow consumption of the corresponding number of print units for printing a color page. The selection of CPPR for each different print area may be done on a page-by-page basis in some embodiments. The apparatus 320 may be configured to determine an average print area level for all or some pages of a job and select a corresponding CPPR 115d for the entire job. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the account management system 104 may prepare a plurality of pairs of page price ratio (PPR) values 119 a and corresponding threshold values (TPU _{TH TH} ) 119 b for each device 320. Often, each pair corresponds to a different page print area value. CPPR may be applied based on a printing process over a period such as days or weeks, or based on achieving a cumulative total of a certain number of pages or jobs.

  Returning to FIG. 7, if the requested number of print units is available (obtainable), the print job is processed by the device 320 at 410 and the process 400 awaits the next document processing task / job at 404. . If the remaining amount of printing units falls below the threshold, the device 320 reports the number of remaining printing units (value 323e in FIG. 4) to the user and, if currently connected to the customer network 302, the customer network 302. The number of remaining printing units 323e is reported to the agent 360 via At 414, if possible, the print job is processed by the device 320 (using the remaining print units) and the value 323e is reduced according to the cost of the processed job. At 416, it is determined whether a print unit remains in the device 320 (eg, whether the value 323e has reached 0). If the print unit is exhausted, the device 320 notifies the agent 360 of its own empty state, and the agent 360 notifies the account management system 104 of it. The account management system 104 is not indispensable, but the device 320 operates at a predetermined function level reduced state according to the reduced function information 111e (FIG. 3) at 418 (for example, only monochrome printing, only small job printing, (Send fax and scan only, etc.). Further, authorized personnel within the customer may submit additional print units to the device 320 via the agent component 360 and account management system 104 at 420. After this, the device returns to normal operation. In this way, the operation of the device 320 is controlled by selectively entering print units, and the device 320 does not print if there is no print unit (optional for reduced function operation with account-specified restrictions). Unless you have account terms for.

  FIG. 8 illustrates that the account management component 106 of the account management system 104 (FIG. 1) adds credits to the account at 510 and from the authorized agent and portal 102 from the customer of the specified account. An example of a process 500 is shown in which a print unit is entered into the device 320 at 520 in response to a corresponding request. In the illustrated process 500, for a customer and / or agent 360, there is no remaining print unit for the particular device 320 at 502, or the level of the print unit has fallen below a threshold as described above with respect to FIG. Will be notified. In 504, the customer accesses the apparatus 320 via the customer network 302 using the agent 360, and acquires the remaining print unit count value (for example, the value 323 e in FIG. 4) from the apparatus 320. At 508, the customer agent 360 accesses the account management system 104 via the network 10 and the portal 102, updates the corresponding customer account with the remaining print unit count value (for example, the value 115c in FIG. 3 described above), and corresponds. The account information 110 is acquired and the customer is notified of the current account status, for example, currently available credits (balance) that can be inserted into an empty device, current pricing (pricing) information, and the like.

  At 510, the account management system 104 selectively adds credit at the current rate for the specified account in response to the customer's credit purchase or “buy” request via the agent 360 and the portal 102; If the customer's payment is confirmed, the number corresponding to the amount of new credit paid is added to the available credit value 111c for the specified account. In this example, agent 360 requests the addition via portal 102 at 512 and arranges for payment, such as via an electronic third party payment mechanism (not shown). If the account management system 104 can confirm the customer's payment at 514, the account management system 104 adds a usable credit for the corresponding customer account, thereby changing the value 111c in the account information 110. Increase.

At 520, the account management component 106 inputs a print unit to the designated document processing device 320 associated with the designated account. This insertion is based on the designated document processing apparatus and the current pricing information 112 for the designated account at the time of the request, and the number of credits currently available for the designated account is the number of print units. This is done by converting to The customer requests, at 522, the input of a print unit into the device using available account credits. At 524, the account management system 104 converts the account credits into print units using the current pricing information 112, and updates the input print unit total (TAPU) value 115 e in the corresponding device subaccount information 115. . In one embodiment, the account management system 104 adjusts the new TPOU _TH at 525 to the previous TAPU value (ie, the total number of print units already submitted (TAPU) prior to the new print unit submission). Thus, the stack 119 (see FIG. 5 below) is updated with a new pair of page price ratio (PPR) 119a and threshold value TPUU _TH 119b. At 526, the account management system 104 sends a message (via agent 360) to add the number of input print units to the device 320. Next, the apparatus 320 updates the internal remaining printing unit count value 323e and the input printing unit total (TAPU) value at 528. In this regard, the cost of the print unit is evaluated at the time the print unit is inserted into the device 320, not when the credit is first bought by the account holder. Ability to track (track) sales transactions (transactions) at the appropriate time when a candidate for a document processing service (which can include consumables, services, support and other cost factors) is actually purchased .

  Referring also to FIGS. 5 and 6, the account management system 104 and device 320 may adjust the page price ratio in an adaptive manner to accommodate changes in the relative cost of a color page to a monochrome page for a device 320. It can be adjusted. For example, a ratio of 3 is initially applied to a document processing device 320 (eg, depending on device type, customer account parameters negotiated with reseller 200, customer region, etc.), and then the ratio is 2 May change. This change in the page price ratio is after the number of printing units corresponding to a certain threshold has been used by the device (eg TPOU value 323d in device memory 323, value 115f in corresponding device subaccount information 115). It may be a customer specific arrangement, such as a discount for color printing in a certain year or other period. In other examples, the ratio may vary in a manner that saves the customer, reflecting changes in consumable costs such as a reduction in color toner costs. In order to accommodate such changes while minimizing the possible large amplitude of cost experienced by the customer, the account management system 104 inputs the ratio at the time the unit of print is entered into the device 320. Corresponding to the printed unit groups, the device 320 uses that ratio that correlates to the particular printing unit group when these printing unit groups are expended in performing document processing operations. Thus, for a device where many print units remain unused, if a change in the page price ratio occurs, the new ratio will not apply to previously entered print units.

In order to implement this method, the account management system 104 and the device 320 maintain information stacks 119 corresponding to each other. Here, the device sub-account information 115 for a certain device 320 in the account management system 104 includes a stack 119 as shown in FIG. 5, and the device memory 323 stores a corresponding stack 119 as shown in FIG. ing. As described above and as shown at 525 in FIG. 8, each time a new print unit is entered into a device 320, the account management system 104 constructs a message (portal 102 and corresponding customer agent). (Via 360) to device 320. This message includes a new stack entry with a page price ratio (PPR) 119a set to the current value of CPPR 115d when the print unit is entered. The account management system 104 further adjusts the threshold value TPUU _TH 199b in the stack to the previous entered print unit total (TAPU) value 115e in the device subaccount information 115. Next, the system 104 increases the TAPU value 115e to reflect the input of a new print unit for the device 320, and prepares a stack entry pair PPR 119a and TPOU _TH 119b for the device 320 to create an application. Send one or more messages to authorize the device to increase the remaining print unit value 323e for the operation. The device 320 then updates its stack 119 with the new entry pair PPR 119a and TPUU _TH 119b, and increases its remaining print unit value 323e in the memory 323.

In this embodiment, while printing or other document processing is being performed, device 320 (as described above and shown at 405 in FIG. 7) stacks 119 the current value of used print unit total (TPUU) 323d. And the current page price ratio of the device itself (CPPR to value 323b is set in accordance with the PPR 119a corresponding to the highest threshold TPOU _TH 119b below the current TPOU value 323d in the memory 323. In this way, device 320 consumes print units using the page price ratio applicable when the spent print units are entered into device 320, and the TPUU reaches the corresponding threshold TPOU _TH 119b. Or the next subsequent PPR is used only when it is exceeded.

  Still referring to FIG. 9, the account management component 106 updates the account information 110 with the process 600. In 602, the update process is started when a predetermined regular update timing arrives or in response to a start instruction from the customer via the agent 360. At 604, the agent 360 acquires information on the current remaining print unit count value from each device 320 registered in the account, and the agent 360 transmits the value and other data via the portal 102 at 606. To update the system 104. In this way, the account management system 104 receives the updated remaining print unit value 115 c for one or more document processing devices 320 from the customer via the authorized agent 360 and portal 102, and designates the document processing device 320. The registered device information 114 of the account information 110 is updated for the account that has been registered.

  FIG. 10 shows a process 700 for converting a previously entered print unit into account credits and moving the print unit from one document processing device 320 to another document processing device in the customer account. At 702, the customer uses agent 360 to access first device 320 and at 704 obtains the remaining print unit count value from this device. At 706, the customer uses agent 360 to move (transfer) the print unit from the first device 320 to the second device registered in the account. In 708, the agent 360 accesses the account management system 104 via the portal 102, and starts moving the print unit.

  At 712, the account management system 104 converts the number of print units previously entered into the designated first device 320 to the number of account credits available to the designated account. This conversion is performed according to the designated print processing system 320 and the current pricing information 112 for that designated account at the time of the requested move. Accompanying this conversion, the account management system 104 updates the corresponding available account and allows the agent 360 to decrease the remaining print unit value 323e of the first device. At 714, the account management system 104 converts the number of account credits as a result of the above conversion into the number of print units for the designated second device (320) according to the customer's request, thereby converting the second account credit. The printing unit is input to the device. The conversion here is performed according to the current pricing information (112) for the specified account at the time of the request. Accordingly, each corresponding value and account data 110 are updated, and the agent 360 is permitted to input a printing unit to the second apparatus. At 716, agent 360 updates first device 320 and second device 320, and each device 320 updates its internal count value at 718.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a process 800 for executing a printing process in a public device 320 registered in a vendor (trader) account using credits from a user account via the account management system 104. . The account management component 106 enables a user to open a user account or add credits through the agent 360 and portal 102 that the user has authorized, at 802. At 804, the vendor is authorized to register a particular document processing device 320 as a public device 320 via the agent 360 approved by the vendor. At 806, the user connects to the vendor's public device 320 via the vendor network. At 808, the user sends a print job to the selected vendor printing device 320, and the agent component 360 of the laptop computer (notebook PC) connects to the account management system 104 via the portal 102, and the vendor Request to use the public device 320 of the public.

  The account management system 104 receives the request at 810 and inputs a print unit that can be used at 812 to the public device 320, and the account management system 104 counts the number of credits currently available for the user's account. Is converted into the number of print units according to the public device 320 and the current price setting information 112. The vendor apparatus 320 prints the user's job at 814, and the account management system 104 deducts the user's account credit according to the number of print units used at 816.

  102 portal, 104 account management system, 302 customer network, 320 document processing device, 321 controller, 322 consumables, 323 memory, 324 medium supply unit, 325 print engine, 326 communication interface, 330a customer computer, 360 agent.

Claims (8)

A method for managing prepaid use of at least one document processing device configured to be able to perform an operation instructed by a customer based on an available print unit that is input, comprising:
Storing account information in a data storage unit for a plurality of accounts, wherein each account is associated with a corresponding customer, and the account information for each account is stored by the corresponding customer before An available credit value indicating the amount of account credit currently available to the account that has paid for the account, and a print unit for a particular document processing device registered for the account with account credit available for the account Current pricing information including at least one conversion factor for conversion to, and
In response to a request through a portal from a customer of a specific account, a computer processor is used to add credit for the specific account at the current rate, and if the customer's payment is confirmed, the specific Adding a number corresponding to new credits paid against said available credit value for the account of:
In response to a request from the customer for the specific account through the portal, the computer processor is used to determine a specific document processing device associated with the specific account and the request for the specific account. Injecting print units into the specific document processing device by converting the number of credits currently available for the specific account into the number of print units according to current pricing information at the time;
In response to a request from a customer of a specific account via a portal, a print unit previously input to the first specific document processing apparatus associated with the specific account is designated as the specific document processing apparatus. Converting to the number of account credits available for the particular account according to current pricing information at the time of the request for the particular account;
Storing registered device information including device subaccount information for at least one device subaccount associated with a particular document processing device registered for the account by the customer ;
The device subaccount information for the at least one device subaccount includes registered consumable information including consumable information for one or more consumables functionally associated with the particular document processing device. Product information,
The current pricing information for each account includes device type pricing information and customer specific pricing information,
The device type pricing information is
At least one price factor for converting account credits into print units for each type of document processing device;
At least one printing unit price modifier for each of a plurality of different document processing device types, where the customer account includes one or more additional cost factors in the printing unit price for consumables, services and support At least one printing unit price modifier for increasing the printing unit price;
Including
The customer specific pricing information includes a modifier flag indicating applicability of one or more printing unit price modifiers for the customer account;
In the process of converting the number of credits currently available for the specific account to the number of print units in order to input the print units to a specific document processing device,
Converting one or more available credits into a number of print units based at least in part on at least one price factor for a particular document processing device type;
A determination is made based on the modifier flag whether the customer account includes one or more additional cost factors in printing unit prices for consumables, services and support, and the determination determines whether the customer account is the one or more If it is determined that an additional cost factor is included, the printing unit price of the conversion result is selectively increased based on one or more applicable printing unit price modifiers. A method for managing prepaid use of at least one document processing device configured to be able to perform an operation instructed by a customer based on an available print unit that is input, comprising:
Storing account information in a data storage unit for a plurality of accounts, wherein each account is associated with a corresponding customer, and the account information for each account is stored by the corresponding customer before An available credit value indicating the amount of account credit currently available to the account that has paid for the account, and a print unit for a particular document processing device registered for the account with account credit available for the account Current pricing information including at least one conversion factor for conversion to, and
In response to a request through a portal from a customer of a specific account, a computer processor is used to add credit for the specific account at the current rate, and if the customer's payment is confirmed, the specific Adding a number corresponding to new credits paid against said available credit value for the account of:
In response to a request from the customer for the specific account through the portal, the computer processor is used to determine a specific document processing device associated with the specific account and the request for the specific account. Injecting print units into the specific document processing device by converting the number of credits currently available for the specific account into the number of print units according to current pricing information at the time;
In response to a request from a customer of a specific account via a portal, a print unit previously input to the first specific document processing apparatus associated with the specific account is designated as the specific document processing apparatus. Converting to the number of account credits available for the particular account according to current pricing information at the time of the request for the particular account;
The account information for each account is at a reduced function level when one or more document processing devices registered for the account by the customer when the corresponding remaining print unit value reaches zero. Including degradation information indicating whether or not to allow operation, the method optionally for a particular document processing device when the corresponding print unit value reaches zero Allowing to perform document processing operations at a reduced functional level based on information ;
Including methods. A method for managing prepaid use of at least one document processing device configured to be able to perform an operation instructed by a customer based on an available print unit that is input, comprising:
Storing account information in a data storage unit for a plurality of accounts, wherein each account is associated with a corresponding customer, and the account information for each account is stored by the corresponding customer before An available credit value indicating the amount of account credit currently available to the account that has paid for the account, and a print unit for a particular document processing device registered for the account with account credit available for the account Current pricing information including at least one conversion factor for conversion to, and
In response to a request through a portal from a customer of a specific account, a computer processor is used to add credit for the specific account at the current rate, and if the customer's payment is confirmed, the specific Adding a number corresponding to new credits paid against said available credit value for the account of:
In response to a request from the customer for the specific account through the portal, the computer processor is used to determine a specific document processing device associated with the specific account and the request for the specific account. Injecting print units into the specific document processing device by converting the number of credits currently available for the specific account into the number of print units according to current pricing information at the time;
In response to a request from a customer of a specific account via a portal, a print unit previously input to the first specific document processing apparatus associated with the specific account is designated as the specific document processing apparatus. Converting to the number of account credits available for the particular account according to current pricing information at the time of the request for the particular account;
Allowing a user to open a user account and add credit to the user account via an agent and portal authorized by the user;
Allowing a vendor to register a specific document processing device as a public device in the vendor's account via an agent and portal authorized by the vendor;
Receiving a request from the user to perform document processing using the public device via an agent and portal authorized by the user;
The number of credits currently available for the user account is determined according to the public device and the current pricing information for the vendor's account at the time of the request for a print unit corresponding to the public device. Translating into a public device via user-approved agent and vendor-approved agent and corresponding portal by converting to a number;
Including methods. In response to the customer's request, at least a portion of the number of account credits obtained by the conversion for a second specific document processing device according to current pricing information at the time of the request for the specific account The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising the step of inputting to the second specific document processing apparatus by converting to a printing unit of the second printing unit. In response to a request through a portal from a customer of a specific account, a print unit previously submitted to a first specific document processing device associated with the specific account is determined at the time of the request. Converting to the number of print units for the second specific document processing device according to current pricing information for the first specific document processing device and the second specific document processing device of the specific account The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising: Customer-specific pricing information includes discount information indicating the price discount applicable to the customer account,
In the step of inputting the print unit to the specific document processing apparatus by converting the number of credits currently available for the specific account into the number of print units, the print unit price of the conversion result is , Selectively lower by applying one or more discounts to the conversion result according to the discount information;
The method according to claim 1 . The device subaccount information for each device subaccount includes a plurality of different current page price ratios, and each current page price ratio is consumed by the specific document processing device to print one color page. Indicating the number of available printing units that have been entered, each of the current page price ratios respectively corresponding to a plurality of different page printing area levels for the color pages of the document to be processed, the method further comprising: For a particular document processing device, determine the page print area level of a color page for a print job and consume a corresponding number of available print units to print the color page according to the corresponding current page price ratio 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising the step of authorizing to do so. An account management system for managing prepaid use of at least one document processing device configured to be able to execute an operation instructed by a customer based on an available print unit that is input,
A server connected to the network to communicate and exchange data with one or more customer networks;
A data storage unit connected to the server and storing account information for a plurality of accounts, wherein each account is associated with a corresponding customer, and the account information for each account is: An available credit value indicating the amount of account credits currently available for the account for which the corresponding customer has previously paid, and a specific document registered for the account with account credits available for the account A data storage unit comprising: current price setting information including at least one conversion coefficient for conversion into a printing unit for the processing device;
In response to a request from a customer of a specific account through a portal connected to the server and the data storage unit, the credit is added to the specific account at a current rate, If confirmed, an account management component that adds a number corresponding to new credits paid for the available credit value for the particular account;
Have
In response to a request from the customer of the specific account via the portal, the account management component is responsible for a specific document processing device associated with the specific account and the time of the request for the specific account. In accordance with the current pricing information at, and by converting the number of credits currently available for the specific account into the number of print units, operating to input a print unit to the specific document processing device;
In response to a request through a portal from a customer of a specific account, the account management component is configured to display a print unit previously input to a first specific document processing apparatus associated with the specific account. Operative to convert the number of account credits available for the particular account according to a particular document processing device and current pricing information at the time of the request for the particular account;
The account information for each account includes registered device information including device subaccount information for at least one device subaccount associated with a particular document processing device registered for the account by the customer. The device subaccount information for the device subaccount includes registered consumable information including consumable information for one or more consumables functionally associated with the particular document processing device. And
The current pricing information for each account includes device type pricing information and customer specific pricing information,
The device type pricing information is
At least one price factor for converting account credits into print units for each type of document processing device;
At least one printing unit price modifier for each of a plurality of different document processing device types, where the customer account includes one or more additional cost factors in the printing unit price for consumables, services and support At least one printing unit price modifier for increasing the printing unit price;
Including
The customer specific pricing information includes a modifier flag indicating applicability of one or more printing unit price modifiers for the customer account;
The account management component is operative to convert the number of credits currently available for the particular account into a number of print units to inject print units for the particular document processing device,
Converting one or more available credits into a number of print units based at least in part on at least one price factor for a particular document processing device type; and
A determination is made based on the modifier flag whether the customer account includes one or more additional cost factors in printing unit prices for consumables, services and support, and the determination determines whether the customer account is the one or more If it is determined that an additional cost factor is included, the print unit price of the conversion result is selectively increased based on one or more applicable print unit price modifiers;
Features and to luer count management system to be carried out by.

Images