JP6628044B2 - Document printing system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a document printing system that executes document printing, an image forming apparatus, and a document printing program.

  Conventionally, there is known a system that includes a coin vender that enables payment of a fee by cash and a copying machine, and that executes payment of the fee by the coin vendor in real time when a copy job is executed by the copying machine. (For example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-351167 A

  However, in the system described in Patent Literature 1, execution of a copy job is stopped when payment of a fee is delayed due to a decrease in cash inserted into a coin vendor by a user, and thereafter, the cash is transmitted to the coin vendor. Since the execution of the copy job is resumed when the fee is paid after the additional job is input, there is a problem that the convenience is poor.

  Further, in the system described in Patent Document 1, a fee stored in cash in a coin vender needs to be periodically collected by a person on the copying machine manager side, which causes a problem of labor cost. There is.

  Further, in the system described in Patent Document 1, since the fee is stored in the coin vendor in cash, the cash stored in the coin vendor may be stolen and the administrator of the copying machine may not receive the fee. There is a problem that there is.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a document printing system, an image forming apparatus, and a document printing program which can improve convenience, reduce labor costs, and safely receive charges.

  An image forming apparatus having a printing device, a print data generating unit for generating print data of a document, and a fee for calculating a fee based on the print data generated by the print data generating unit. Calculating means, and a payment code notifying means for notifying a payment code issued by an online payment service for the charge calculated by the charge calculating means, wherein the image forming apparatus is notified by the payment code notifying means. When the fee is paid via the online payment service using the payment code, a document printing unit that executes printing on the printing device based on the print data is provided.

  With this configuration, the document printing system of the present invention generates print data of the document, and executes printing based on the print data after an accurate fee based on the print data is paid. The execution of the document printing job "execute document printing" is not stopped halfway due to delay in payment of the fee, and the convenience can be improved. Further, since the document printing system of the present invention uses an online payment service instead of a coin vendor for payment of a fee, there is no need to acquire a fee from the coin vendor, which reduces labor costs and secures receipt of the fee. And can be realized.

  In the document printing system of the present invention, the image forming apparatus may include a display device, and the payment code notifying unit may notify the payment code by displaying the payment code on the display device.

  With this configuration, in the document printing system of the present invention, since the image forming apparatus notifies the payment code by displaying it on the display device, the fee is paid via the online payment service using the payment code notified by the image forming apparatus. Even if the user terminal and the image forming apparatus cannot communicate with each other, the user terminal uses the payment code displayed on the display device of the image forming apparatus to pay the fee via the online payment service. Can be.

  The document printing system of the present invention includes a user terminal for paying the fee via the online payment service using the payment code notified by the payment code notification unit, wherein the user terminal includes a photographing device And the payment code displayed on the display device may be acquired by photographing with the photographing device.

  With this configuration, the document printing system of the present invention improves convenience because the user of the user terminal does not need to manually input the payment code displayed on the display device of the image forming apparatus into the user terminal. Can be.

  In the document printing system according to the present invention, the payment code notifying unit may display the payment code as a two-dimensional code on the display device.

  With this configuration, in the document printing system of the present invention, the payment code is displayed as a two-dimensional code in a compact manner on the display device of the image forming apparatus. Can be.

  In the document printing system according to the aspect of the invention, the image forming apparatus includes a print setting receiving unit that receives a print setting of the document, and the print data generating unit is configured to execute the print setting based on the print setting received by the print setting receiving unit. The print data may be generated.

  With this configuration, the document printing system of the present invention can print a document with print settings specified by the user from the image forming apparatus.

  In the document printing system according to the aspect of the invention, the image forming apparatus includes a connection unit to which an external storage medium can be connected, and the print data generation unit generates the print data of the document stored in the storage medium You may.

  With this configuration, in the document printing system of the present invention, the execution of the document printing job of “executing the printing of the document stored in the storage medium connected to the image forming apparatus” is interrupted due to a delay in payment of the fee. Without stopping, the convenience can be improved.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a print device, print data generating means for generating print data of a document, and an online settlement service for a fee based on the print data generated by the print data generating means. Payment code notification means for notifying the payment code, and when the fee is paid via the online payment service using the payment code notified by the payment code notification means, based on the print data, Document printing means for executing printing by the printing device.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention generates print data of a document, and executes printing based on the print data after an accurate fee based on the print data is paid. The execution of the document printing job "execute document printing" is not stopped halfway due to delay in payment of the fee, and the convenience can be improved. Further, since the image forming apparatus of the present invention uses an online payment service instead of a coin vender for payment of a fee, there is no need to obtain a fee from a coin vender, which reduces labor costs and secures receipt of a fee. And can be realized.

  A document printing program according to the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having a printing device with print data generating means for generating print data of a document, and online for a fee based on the print data generated by the print data generating means. A payment code notifying unit for notifying a payment code issued by a payment service; and the printing when the fee is paid via the online payment service using the payment code notified by the payment code notifying unit. Document printing means for executing printing by the printing device based on data.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus that executes the document print program of the present invention generates print data of a document, and after an accurate fee based on the print data has been paid, the image forming apparatus executes the print data based on the print data. Since the printing is executed, the execution of the document printing job of “executing the document printing” is not stopped halfway due to a delay in payment of the fee, and the convenience can be improved. Further, since the image forming apparatus that executes the document printing program of the present invention uses an online payment service instead of a coin vendor for payment of a fee, there is no need to obtain a fee from the coin vendor, which reduces labor costs. , And secure receipt of fees.

  The document printing system, the image forming apparatus, and the document printing program according to the present invention can improve convenience, reduce labor costs, and safely receive charges.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a document printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the user terminal shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of storage contents of a USB memory illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the computer shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of MFP management information illustrated in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of payment code management information illustrated in FIG. 5. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored by the online payment service illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of payment code management information illustrated in FIG. 8. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of an operation of the document printing system shown in FIG. 1 until the MFP, to which an instruction to execute a document printing job is input, displays a two-dimensional code. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of an operation of the document printing system shown in FIG. 1 from when the user terminal reads the two-dimensional code to when the MFP ends execution of a document printing job. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a payment screen displayed on a display unit of the user terminal shown in FIG.

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

  First, the configuration of the document printing system according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a document printing system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a document printing system 10 includes a user terminal 20 used by a user, an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 30 as an image forming apparatus, a computer 40, and an online payment executing online. The system includes a settlement service 50 and a bank account management system 60 that manages bank accounts.

  The MFP 30 can be installed in various facilities such as a commercial facility such as a convenience store and a public facility such as a university. The MFP 30 is a device that executes printing of a document stored in the USB memory 11 as an external storage medium in accordance with payment of a fee by a user.

  The computer 40 may be able to execute not only the process related to the fee of the MFP 30 but also the process related to the fee of at least one MFP similar to the MFP 30.

  The online settlement service 50 and the bank account management system 60 are cloud services, respectively, and are each realized by a server such as a cloud server.

  The user terminal 20 and the online payment service 50 can communicate via a network such as the Internet.

  The MFP 30 and the computer 40 can communicate with each other via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet, or directly via a wired or wireless connection without a network.

  The computer 40 and the online payment service 50 can communicate with each other via a network such as the Internet.

  The online payment service 50 and the bank account management system 60 can communicate via a network such as the Internet.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the user terminal 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the user terminal 20 is an operation unit 21 which is an input device such as a button for inputting various operations, and a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for displaying various information. A display unit 22, a photographing unit 23 that is a photographing device such as a camera, and a communication unit 24 that is a communication device that communicates with an external device via a network or directly by wire or wirelessly without using a network. , A storage unit 25 which is a nonvolatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory for storing various information, and a control unit 26 for controlling the entire user terminal 20. The user terminal 20 may be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone and a tablet, for example.

  The storage unit 25 stores a payment program 25a for payment by the online payment service 50 (see FIG. 1). The payment program 25a may be installed on the user terminal 20 at the stage of manufacturing the user terminal 20, or may be additionally installed on the user terminal 20 from an external storage medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. Alternatively, it may be additionally installed on the user terminal 20 from the network.

  The control unit 26 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing programs and various data, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU. I have. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 25.

  The control unit 26 realizes a payment instruction unit 26a that instructs the online payment service 50 to perform payment by executing the payment program 25a.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the MFP 30.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the MFP 30 includes an operation unit 31 that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations, a display unit 32 that is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information, A scanner 33 which is a reading device for reading an image, a printer 34 which is a printing device for printing an image on a recording medium such as paper, and a facsimile communication with an external facsimile apparatus (not shown) via a communication line such as a public telephone line. A fax communication unit 35 that is a fax device; a communication unit 36 that is a communication device that communicates with an external device via a network or directly by wire or wirelessly without using a network; A USB port 37 as a connection unit to which the USB memory 11 can be connected, and various kinds of information are stored. Semiconductor memory, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) storage unit 38 is a nonvolatile storage device such as, and a control unit 39 which controls the entire MFP 30.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the storage contents of the USB memory 11.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the USB memory 11 can store at least one document 11a. As the document 11a, for example, a PDF (Portable Document Format) document, a Microsoft (registered trademark) Word document, a Microsoft Excel (registered trademark) document, a Microsoft PowerPoint (registered trademark) document, a TIFF (TaggedImage), a TIFF (TaggedImage PEG) Various types of documents, such as a Joint Photographic Experts Group document, can be employed. The document 11a may include print settings of the document 11a itself.

  The storage unit 38 illustrated in FIG. 3 stores a document print program 38a for executing a document print job. The document print program 38a may be installed in the MFP 30 at the stage of manufacturing the MFP 30, may be additionally installed in the MFP 30 from an external storage medium such as a USB memory, or may be additionally installed in the MFP 30 from a network. May be.

  The control unit 39 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM storing programs and various data, and a RAM used as a work area of the CPU. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 38.

  The control unit 39 executes a document print program 38a to send a document 11a stored in the USB memory 11 to the computer 40, and an online payment service for the fee calculated by the computer 40. 50 when payment is notified via the online payment service 50 using the payment code notifying means 39b for notifying the payment code issued by the payment code 50 (see FIG. 1) and the payment code notified by the payment code notifying means 39b. In addition, a document printing unit 39c that executes printing by the printer 34 based on print data and a print setting receiving unit 39d that receives print settings of the document 11a are realized.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the computer 40.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the computer 40 includes a communication unit 41, which is a communication device that communicates with an external device via a network or directly via a wired or wireless connection without using a network, and stores various types of information. A storage unit 42, which is a non-volatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory, and a control unit 43 for controlling the entire computer 40.

  The storage unit 42 stores a document printing program 42a for executing a document printing job. The document print program 42a may be installed in the computer 40 at the stage of manufacturing the computer 40, or may be added to the computer 40 from an external storage medium such as a USB memory, a CD (Compact Disk), and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). It may be installed, or may be additionally installed on the computer 40 from a network.

  The storage unit 42 stores MFP management information 42b for managing the MFP.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the MFP management information 42b.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the MFP management information 42b is information in which the MFP ID, which is the identification information of the MFP, and the administrator ID, which is the identification information of the administrator of the MFP, are associated with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the storage unit 42 can store payment code management information 42c for managing a payment code issued by the online payment service 50 (see FIG. 1).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the payment code management information 42c.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the payment code management information 42c is information in which a payment code, an MFPID, and a print data ID that is identification information of print data are associated with each other.

  The control unit 43 illustrated in FIG. 5 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM storing programs and various data, and a RAM used as a work area of the CPU. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 42.

  The control unit 43 executes the document print program 42a to generate print data of the document, and a charge calculation unit that calculates a charge based on the print data generated by the print data generation unit 43a. 43b and a settlement communication unit 43c for executing communication for settlement by the online settlement service 50 (see FIG. 1).

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the online payment service 50.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the online payment service 50 includes user bank account information 50a indicating information of a user's bank account for each user ID, which is identification information of the user, and information of an account of an administrator of the MFP 30. Is stored for each administrator ID.

  The user bank account information 50a includes information on the user's bank account, such as the name of the bank that manages the user's bank account and the account number of the bank account. For example, the user can register the user's bank account information in the user's bank account information 50a of the online payment service 50 via the payment program 25a via the operation unit 21 of the user terminal 20. is there.

  The administrator can register the account information of the administrator in the administrator account information 50b of the online payment service 50 via the Internet via an arbitrary PC (Personal Computer), for example. Note that the administrator's account is an account managed by the online payment service 50, and is not a bank account.

  The online payment service 50 can store payment code management information 50c for managing payment codes.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the payment code management information 50c.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the payment code management information 50c is information in which a payment code, an administrator ID, a fee, and a computer ID that is computer identification information are associated with each other.

  Next, the operation of the document printing system 10 will be described.

  First, an operation of the document printing system 10 until the MFP 30 to which the instruction to execute the document printing job is input displays the two-dimensional code will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the document printing system 10 until the MFP 30 to which the instruction to execute the document printing job is input displays the two-dimensional code.

  The user can connect the USB memory 11 as an external storage medium to the USB port 37 and input an instruction to display the document 11 a in the USB memory 11 via the operation unit 31. When an instruction to display the document 11a in the USB memory 11 is input via the operation unit 31, the document transmission unit 39a of the MFP 30 displays a list of the documents 11a in the USB memory 11 as shown in FIG. 32 (S101). Here, the document transmission unit 39a can also display a preview image of the document 11a according to an instruction from the operation unit 31.

  The user can select the document 11a desired to be printed from the document 11a displayed on the display unit 32 in S101 via the operation unit 31. Here, the user can specify the print setting desired to be applied to the document 11a via the operation unit 31 together with the selection of the document 11a desired to be printed. Examples of print settings that can be specified include, for example, setting of the number of copies to be printed, setting of the size of a recording medium to be printed, setting of monochrome printing or color printing, and setting of double-sided printing or single-sided printing. And so on.

  When the document 11a that the user desires to print is selected via the operation unit 31, the document transmitting unit 39a transmits the selected document 11a to the computer 40 using, for example, the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol. (S102). Here, when the user selects the document 11a to be printed, the print setting receiving unit 39d of the MFP 30 specifies the print setting desired to be applied to the document 11a via the operation unit 31. At this time, the print setting is accepted. Then, when the print setting is received by the print setting receiving unit 39d, the document transmitting unit 39a transmits the print setting to the computer 40 together with the document 11a in S102.

  Upon receiving the document 11a transmitted from the MFP 30 in S102, the print data generation unit 43a of the computer 40 generates print data of the document 11a (S103). Here, when receiving the print settings together with the document 11a, the print data generating unit 43a generates print data of the document 11a with the print settings. The print data generation unit 43a temporarily stores the generated print data in the storage unit 42.

  The print data includes page number information indicating the number of pages to be printed, number information indicating the number of recording media to be printed, recording medium size information indicating the size of the recording medium to be printed, monochrome printing, and color printing. Various information necessary for calculating a fee is included, such as color information indicating whether the printing is double-sided printing or single-sided printing.

  The print data generation unit 43a performs various operations such as setting the number of pages of the document 11a, the number of copies included in the print setting transmitted together with the document 11a in S102, and setting whether the printing is double-sided printing or single-sided printing. The page number information and the number information are determined based on the print setting.

  If the print data generation unit 43a includes a setting conflicting with the print setting included in the document 11a itself and the print setting transmitted with the document 11a in S102, the print data generation unit 43a transmits the print setting with the document 11a in S102. Print settings that have priority. For example, the print data generation unit 43a determines that the print settings included in the document 11a include the settings for color printing, and the print settings transmitted with the document 11a in S102 include the settings for monochrome printing. If so, information indicating monochrome printing is included in the print data as color information.

  After the processing of S103, the charge calculation unit 43b of the computer 40 calculates the charge of the current document printing job based on the information included in the print data generated in S103 and a specific calculation criterion (S104). ).

  Next, the settlement communication unit 43c of the computer 40 requests the payment code for the fee calculated in S104 from the online settlement service 50 (S105). Here, the settlement communication unit 43c includes the administrator ID associated with the MFP ID transmitted from the MFP 30 together with the document 11a in S102 in the MFP management information 42b and the computer ID of the computer 40 in the request in S105. .

  Therefore, the online payment service 50 issues a payment code in response to the request in S105 and returns it to the computer 40 (S106). The online payment service 50 stores the issued payment code in the payment code management information 50c in association with the administrator ID, fee, and computer ID included in the request in S105.

  The settlement communication unit 43c of the computer 40 generates a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark) indicating the payment code returned from the online settlement service 50 in S106 (S107). The settlement communication unit 43c converts the payment code returned from the online settlement service 50 in S106 into the MFPID transmitted from the MFP 30 together with the document 11a in S102 and the print data ID of the print data generated in S103. It is stored in the payment code management information 42c in association with it.

  Next, the settlement communication unit 43c transmits the two-dimensional code generated in S107 to the MFP 30 (S108).

  Therefore, the payment code notifying unit 39b of the MFP 30 displays the two-dimensional code transmitted from the computer 40 in S108 on the display unit 32 (S109).

  Next, an operation of the document printing system 10 from the time when the user terminal 20 reads the two-dimensional code to the time when the MFP 30 ends execution of the document printing job will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the document printing system 10 from when the user terminal 20 reads the two-dimensional code to when the MFP 30 finishes executing the document printing job.

  The user can operate the user terminal 20 so that the imaging unit 23 of the user terminal 20 reads the two-dimensional barcode displayed on the display unit 32 of the MFP 30 in S109. When the user terminal 20 is operated so that the imaging unit 23 reads the two-dimensional bar code displayed on the display unit 32, the payment instruction unit 26a of the user terminal 20 displays the display unit as shown in FIG. The two-dimensional barcode displayed on the display 32 is read by the photographing unit 23 (S131).

  Next, the payment instruction means 26a interprets the two-dimensional barcode read in S131, and transmits the payment code indicated by the two-dimensional barcode and the user ID to the online payment service 50 (S132).

  Therefore, based on the payment code and the user ID transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S132, the online payment service 50 determines the charge associated with the payment code in the payment code management information 50c and the user ID. The information of the bank account associated with the user bank account information 50a is returned to the user terminal 20 (S133).

  When the charge and the bank account information are transmitted from the online payment service 50, the payment instruction means 26a of the user terminal 20 displays a payment screen 70 (see FIG. 12) for payment of the charge on the display unit 22. (S134).

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the payment screen 70.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the payment screen 70 includes a text 71 indicating the information of the bank account transmitted from the online payment service 50, a text 72 indicating the fee transmitted from the online payment service 50, and a text 72 of the bank account. A password, that is, a text box 73 into which a password for permitting the bank account management system 60 to debit the bank account is entered.

  In FIG. 12, the name of the bank is shown as the information of the bank account displayed on the payment screen 70. However, on the payment screen 70, information other than the bank name may be displayed as the bank account information in addition to or instead of the bank name. In S133, only the information displayed on the payment screen 70 among the information on the bank account need be returned.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the password of the bank account is input to the text box 73, the payment instruction means 26a transmits the input password to the online payment service 50 (S135).

  Therefore, the online payment service 50 transmits the bank account managed by the bank account management system 60 from the user terminal 20 in S132 only when the password transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S135 is correct. From the bank account associated with the received user ID in the user bank account information 50a, the fee associated with the payment code transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S132 in the payment code management information 50c is withdrawn ( S136).

  Next, the online payment service 50 compares the fee deducted in S136 with the administrator ID associated in the payment code management information 50c with the payment code transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S132 in the administrator account information 50b. Transfer to the associated account (S137).

  Next, the online payment service 50 associates the payment completion notification indicating that the payment of the fee has been completed with the payment code transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S132 in the payment code management information 50c. It is transmitted to the computer 40 of the computer ID assigned (S138).

  When the payment completion notification is transmitted from the online payment service 50 in S138, the payment communication unit 43c of the computer 40 transmits the payment completion notification from the online payment service 50 in S138 among the print data stored in the storage unit 42. The print data of the print data ID associated with the transmitted payment code in the payment code management information 42c is transmitted to the MFP 30 of the MFP ID associated with the payment code in the payment code management information 42c (S139). ).

  When print data is transmitted from the computer 40 in S139, the document printing unit 39c of the MFP 30 executes printing on the printer 34 based on the print data (S140).

  As described above, the document printing system 10 generates print data of the document 11a stored in the USB memory 11 connected to the MFP 30 (S103), and corrects a fee based on the print data. After the payment (S135 to S137), the printing based on the print data is executed (S140), so the document "Execute printing of document 11a stored in USB memory 11 connected to MFP 30" is issued. Execution of the print job is not stopped halfway due to delay in payment of the fee, and the convenience can be improved.

  Since the document printing system 10 uses the online payment service 50 instead of the coin vendor to pay the fee, the fee is directly transferred from the bank account of the user of the MFP 30 to the account of the administrator of the MFP 30. This eliminates the need for the acquisition work, thereby reducing labor costs and safely receiving charges.

  Since the document printing system 10 uses the online payment service 50 instead of the coin vendor for payment of the fee, the document printing system 10 can be easily introduced even in a country where the coin vendor is not widely used.

  In the document printing system 10, since the MFP 30 notifies the payment code by displaying it on the display unit 32 (S109), even when the user terminal 20 and the MFP 30 cannot communicate with each other, the MFP 30 displays the payment code on the display unit 32 of the MFP 30. The user terminal 20 can pay the fee via the online payment service 50 using the paid code.

  In the document printing system 10, the payment code is compactly displayed on the display unit 32 of the MFP 30 as a two-dimensional code, so that the image can be easily captured by the imaging unit 23 of the user terminal 20, and the convenience can be improved. In the document printing system 10, the payment code may be displayed on the display unit 32 by a method such as a character string or a one-dimensional code, which is hard to be imaged by the imaging unit 23 of the user terminal 20 than a two-dimensional barcode.

  The document printing system 10 obtains the payment code displayed on the display unit 32 by capturing the payment code displayed on the display unit 32 by the image capturing unit 23. There is no need to manually input to the terminal 20. Therefore, the document printing system 10 can improve convenience. The document printing system 10 displays the payment code on the display unit 32 in a manner that the user of the user terminal 20 can understand, such as a character string, instead of a two-dimensional barcode. The user may input the payment code to the user terminal 20 manually.

  In the document printing system 10, the print data generation unit 43 a of the computer 40 generates print data based on the print settings received by the print setting reception unit 39 d of the MFP 30, and the print data is stored in the USB memory 11 connected to the MFP 30. Document 11a can be printed with print settings specified by the user from MFP 30.

  In the present embodiment, the document printing system 10 uses an account managed by the online payment service 50 as an account of the administrator of the MFP 30. However, the document printing system 10 may be configured to use a bank account instead of the account managed by the online payment service 50 as the account of the administrator of the MFP 30.

  In the present embodiment, the document printing system 10 uses a bank account as a user account of the MFP 30. However, the document printing system 10 may be configured to use an account managed by the online payment service 50 instead of a bank account as a user account of the MFP 30.

  The document printing system 10 may have a configuration in which the MFP 30 implements at least a part of the functions of the computer 40 by executing the document printing program 38a. For example, the document printing system 10 may have a configuration in which the MFP 30 implements functions corresponding to the print data generation unit 43a and the charge calculation unit 43b of the computer 40. The document printing system 10 does not need to include the computer 40 when the MFP 30 is configured to realize all the functions of the computer 40 described above.

  The “external storage medium” of the present invention is a USB memory in the present embodiment, but may be a storage medium other than the USB memory, such as an SD card.

  The present invention is applied to “document 11a stored in USB memory 11 connected to MFP 30” in the present embodiment. However, the present invention can be applied to printing of a document other than “the document 11a stored in the USB memory 11 connected to the MFP 30”. For example, the present invention can be applied to printing of a document stored in a cloud service.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an MFP in the present embodiment, but may be an image forming apparatus other than the MFP, such as a dedicated printer.

10 Document printing system 11 USB memory (external storage medium)
11a Document 20 User Terminal 23 Imaging Unit (Imaging Device)
30 MFP (image forming apparatus)
32 Display (display device)
34 Printer (Printing Device)
37 USB port (connection part)
38a Document printing program 39b Payment code notifying means 39c Document printing means 39d Print setting receiving means 43a Print data generating means 43b Charge calculating means 50 Online payment service

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus including a printing device;
Computer and
Print data generating means for generating print data of the document;
Charge calculating means for calculating a charge based on the print data generated by the print data generating means,
Payment code notification means for notifying a payment code issued by an online payment service for the charge calculated by the charge calculation means,
The image forming apparatus executes printing on the printing device based on the print data when the fee is paid via the online payment service using the payment code notified by the payment code notification unit. Document printing means ,
The image forming apparatus transmits the document and an image forming apparatus ID as identification information of the image forming apparatus to the computer,
The print data generating unit generates the print data of the document transmitted from the image forming apparatus to the computer,
The computer sends a request for the payment code at the fee calculated by the fee calculation means to the online payment service,
When the payment code is returned from the online payment service, the computer generates the payment code, the image forming apparatus ID transmitted from the image forming apparatus, and the print data generated by the print data generating unit. A print data ID as identification information of the print data is stored in association with the print data ID,
The payment code notifying unit, when the payment code is returned from the online payment service to the computer, notifies the payment code,
When the charge is paid via the online payment service using the payment code notified by the payment code notifying means, the computer sets the online payment together with a notification indicating that the payment has been completed. The print data of the print data ID stored in association with the payment code transmitted from the service is transmitted to the image forming apparatus of the image forming apparatus ID stored in association with the payment code. And
A document printing system, wherein the document printing means, when the print data is transmitted from the computer to the image forming apparatus, executes printing on the printing device based on the print data . The image forming apparatus includes a display device,
2. The document printing system according to claim 1, wherein the payment code notifying unit notifies the payment code by displaying the payment code on the display device. A user terminal for paying the fee via the online payment service using the payment code notified by the payment code notification means,
The document printing system according to claim 2, wherein the user terminal includes a photographing device, and acquires the payment code displayed on the display device by photographing with the photographing device.   The document printing system according to claim 3, wherein the payment code notifying unit displays the payment code as a two-dimensional code on the display device. The image forming apparatus includes a print setting receiving unit that receives print settings of the document,
The document printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print data generation unit generates the print data based on the print setting received by the print setting reception unit. . The image forming apparatus includes a connection unit to which an external storage medium can be connected,
The document printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print data generating unit generates the print data of the document stored in the storage medium.

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