JP7022479B2 - Job execution system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a job execution system that executes a job using an image forming apparatus.

Conventionally, a system has been known that has a coin vendor that enables payment of fees in cash and a copier, and the coin vendor pays the fee in real time when the copy job is executed by the copier. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-351167

However, in the system described in Patent Document 1, the execution of the copy job is stopped when the amount of cash put into the coin vendor by the user is reduced and the payment of the fee is delayed, and then the cash is sent to the coin vendor. There is a problem that it is inconvenient because the execution of the copy job is restarted when the additional input is made and the fee can be paid.

Further, in the system described in Patent Document 1, the fee stored in cash in the coin vendor needs to be periodically acquired by a person on the administrator side of the copier, so that there is a problem that labor costs are incurred. There is.

Further, in the system described in Patent Document 1, since the charge is stored in cash in the coin vendor, the cash stored in the coin vendor may be stolen and the administrator of the copier may not receive the charge. There is a problem of having sex.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a job execution system capable of improving convenience, reducing labor costs, and safely receiving charges.

The job execution system of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus, a charge calculating means for calculating a charge based on the content of a job using the image forming apparatus, and online payment for the charge calculated by the charge calculating means. The job is executed when the fee is paid via the online payment service using the payment code notifying means for notifying the payment code issued by the service and the payment code notified by the payment code notifying means. It is a job execution system including a job execution means for the job execution system, and is characterized by including an information providing means for providing information about the job execution system.

With this configuration, the job execution system of the present invention executes this job after the exact fee based on the contents of the job has been paid, so that the job execution is stopped in the middle due to the delay in payment of the fee. It is possible to improve convenience without any problems. Further, since the job execution system of the present invention uses an online payment service instead of a coin vendor to pay the fee, there is no need to acquire the fee from the coin vendor, the labor cost is reduced, and the fee is safely received. And can be realized. In addition, the job execution system of the present invention provides information about the job execution system, so that convenience can be improved.

In the job execution system of the present invention, the information providing means may provide information on the unit price used for calculating the charge by the charge calculating means.

With this configuration, the job execution system of the present invention provides a unit price for executing a job, so that the convenience of the job executor and the administrator of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

In the job execution system of the present invention, the information providing means may provide the payment history of the fee via the online payment service for each executor of the job.

With this configuration, the job execution system of the present invention provides the payment history of the job executor, so that the convenience of the job executor can be improved.

In the job execution system of the present invention, the information providing means may provide profit information based on the fee paid via the online payment service for each manager of the image forming apparatus.

With this configuration, the job execution system of the present invention provides profit information of the manager of the image forming apparatus, so that the convenience of the administrator of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

The job execution system of the present invention includes a refund request means for requesting the online payment service to refund at least a part of the fee, and the information providing means may provide a history of the refund.

With this configuration, the job execution system of the present invention provides a history of refunds regarding the fee for executing the job, so that the convenience of the job executor and the administrator of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

The job execution system of the present invention can improve convenience, reduce labor costs, and safely receive fees.

It is a block diagram of the copy system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the user terminal shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the image management information shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of the computer shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the MFP management information shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the payment code management information shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the information which the online payment service shown in FIG. 1 stores. It is a figure which shows an example of the payment code management information shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the information which the information providing service shown in FIG. 1 stores. It is a sequence diagram of the operation of the copy system shown in FIG. 1 until the MFP to which the copy instruction is input displays the two-dimensional code. It is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 3 in the case of executing ScanToBox. It is a sequence diagram of the operation of the copy system shown in FIG. 1 from the time when the user terminal reads the two-dimensional code to the time when the MFP finishes copying. It is a figure which shows an example of the payment screen displayed on the display part of the user terminal shown in FIG. It is a flowchart of the operation of the computer shown in FIG. 5 when the refund process is executed. It is a flowchart of the operation of the information providing service shown in FIG. 1 in the case of providing various information.

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

First, the configuration of the copy system as the job execution system according to the present embodiment will be described.

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

As shown in FIG. 1, the copy 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 for executing payment online. It includes a service 50, a bank account management system 60 that manages a bank account, and an information providing service 70 as an information providing means for providing information about a copy system 10.

The MFP 30 can be installed in various facilities such as commercial facilities such as convenience stores and public facilities such as universities. The MFP 30 is a device that executes copying, which is a function of printing an image read from a manuscript on a recording medium, in response to payment of a fee by the user. The MFP 30 executes various types of copying, such as an ID card in which information is displayed on both sides, and an ID copy in which images on both sides of a manuscript such as a driver's license are aggregated on one side of one recording medium in the same size. It is possible.

The computer 40 may be capable of executing not only the processing related to the charge of the MFP 30 but also the processing related to the charge of at least one MFP similar to the MFP 30.

The online payment service 50, the bank account management system 60, and the information providing service 70 are cloud services, respectively, and are systems realized by a server such as a cloud server, respectively.

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

The MFP 30 and the computer 40 can communicate directly with each other via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet, or by wire or wirelessly 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 computer 40 and the information providing service 70 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 with each other via a network such as the Internet.

The online payment service 50 and the information providing service 70 can communicate with each other 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 into which various operations are input, and a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) which displays various information. A display unit 22, a shooting unit 23 that is a shooting device such as a camera, and a communication unit 24 that is a communication device that directly communicates with an external device via a network or directly by wire or wirelessly without a network. A storage unit 25, which is a non-volatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory for storing various types of information, and a control unit 26 for controlling the entire user terminal 20 are provided. The user terminal 20 may be, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet.

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 in the user terminal 20 at the manufacturing stage of the user terminal 20, or is additionally installed in 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) for storing programs and various data, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU. There is. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 25.

The control unit 26 realizes the payment instruction means 26a for instructing the online payment service 50 to make a 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 which is an input device such as a button for inputting various operations, a display unit 32 which is a display device such as an LCD for displaying various information, and an image from a document. Fax communication is performed via a scanner 33, which is a reading device, a printer 34, which is a printing device that prints an image on a recording medium such as paper, and a communication line such as a public telephone line with an external facsimile device (not shown). Stores various information with the fax communication unit 35, which is a fax device, and the communication unit 36, which is a communication device that directly communicates with an external device via a network or directly by wire or wirelessly without a network. It includes a storage unit 37 which is a non-volatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and a control unit 38 which controls the entire MFP 30.

The scanner 33 includes an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) that can automatically read a plurality of originals or double-sided originals.

The storage unit 37 stores a copy program 37a for executing a copy job of "reading an image from a document by a scanner 33 and printing this image by a printer 34". The copy program 37a may be installed in the MFP 30 at the manufacturing stage of 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 the network. Is also good.

The storage unit 37 can store a plurality of images 37b read from the document by the scanner 33.

The storage unit 37 can store the image management information 37c for managing the image 37b.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of image management information 37c.

As shown in FIG. 4, the image management information 37c is information in which the image ID, which is the identification information of the image 37b (see FIG. 3), and the job ID, which is the job identification information, are associated with each other.

As shown in FIG. 3, the storage unit 37 can store the job log 37d, which is the history of the job. The job log 37d has, for example, the start time and end time of the job, the result information indicating whether or not the job has been completed normally, the page number information indicating the number of printed pages, and either double-sided printing or single-sided printing. Double-sided single-sided information indicating whether execution is performed, color information indicating whether monochrome copy or color copy is executed, copy number information indicating the number of printed copies, and recording medium size information indicating the size of the printed recording medium are provided. It is shown for each job indicated by the job ID.

The storage unit 37 can store the job status 37e, which indicates the status of the copy job in association with the occurrence time, such as "printing the first sheet", "printing the second sheet", and "end of the job".

The storage unit 37 can store the device status 37f, which indicates the status of the MFP such as "jam occurrence", "failure", and "toner empty" in association with the occurrence time. The device status 37f is information indicating an error or warning of the MFP.

The control unit 38 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM for 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 37.

Whenever a change occurs in the job log 37d, the job status 37e, and the device status 37f, the control unit 38 transmits information on the change to the computer 40. For example, the control unit 38 adds the information of the job to the job log 37d every time the job is completed, and sends the additional information of the job log 37d to the computer 40.

The control unit 38 is calculated by the image storage means 38a that stores the image read from the document by the scanner 33 as the image 37b in the storage unit 37 by executing the copy program 37a, and the computer 40 (see FIG. 1). The online payment service 50 uses the payment code notification means 38b for notifying the payment code issued by the online payment service 50 (see FIG. 1) and the payment code notified by the payment code notification means 38b for the charges. It realizes an image printing means 38c that prints an image 37b stored in a storage unit 37 on a recording medium by a printer 34 when a fee is paid via the printer.

The image storage means 38a and the image printing means 38c cooperate with each other to execute a copy job of "printing an image read from a document by a scanner 33 on a recording medium by a printer 34". It constitutes the job execution means of the present invention.

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

As shown in FIG. 5, the computer 40 stores various information with a communication unit 41 which is a communication device that directly communicates with an external device via a network or directly by wire or wirelessly without a network. It includes a storage unit 42, which is a non-volatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory, and a control unit 43 that controls the entire computer 40.

The storage unit 42 stores a payment program 42a for payment by the online payment service 50 (see FIG. 1). The payment program 42a may be installed in the computer 40 at the manufacturing stage of the computer 40, or may be additionally installed in the computer 40 from an external storage medium such as a USB memory, a CD (Compact Disk), or a DVD (Digital Versaille Disk). It may be installed, or it may be additionally installed on the computer 40 from the network.

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

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing 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 such as the serial number, 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 the payment code management information 42c for managing the payment code issued by the online payment service 50 (see FIG. 1).

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

As shown in FIG. 7, the payment code management information 42c is information in which a payment code, an MFP ID, a job ID, and a charge are associated with each other.

As shown in FIG. 5, the storage unit 42 can store the job log 42d, the job status 42e, and the device status 42f for each MFP.

The storage unit 42 stores 42 g of refund approval necessity information indicating whether or not the approval of a person having a specific authority, that is, the administrator of the MFP is required when refunding the fee to the user. ing. The refund approval necessity information 42g can be changed, for example, according to an instruction via the communication unit 41. Further, when the computer 40 includes an operation unit, the refund approval necessity information 42g may be changed according to an instruction via the operation unit.

The storage unit 42 stores the destination information 42h that can include a plurality of destinations. The destination information 42h includes the destinations of persons in various positions such as the destination of the user of the MFP, the destination of the administrator of the MFP, and the destination of the service person of the MFP. In the destination information 42h, the destination of the user of the MFP is associated with the user ID of this user, and the destination of the administrator of the MFP is associated with the administrator ID of this administrator. The destination of the person is associated with the service person ID which is the identification information of the service person. As the destination included in the destination information 42h, various destinations such as an e-mail address and a destination of a message function of an SNS (Social Networking Service) can be adopted.

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

By executing the payment program 42a, the control unit 43 calculates the charge based on the content of the copy job, that is, based on the reading result of the document by the scanner 33 (see FIG. 3). A payment communication means 43b that executes communication for payment by the online payment service 50 (see FIG. 1), a job log storage means 43c that stores a job log 42d, a job status 42e, and a device status 42f, and online. From the fee, the refund request means 43d that requests the payment service 50 to refund at least a part of the fee, the executed amount calculation means 43e that calculates the amount of the executed part of the copy job based on the job log 42d, and the fee. The refund amount calculation means 43f for calculating the refund amount by subtracting the amount of the executed portion is realized.

The job log storage means 43c reflects the change in the job log 42d, the job status 42e, and the device status 42f each time the information of the change in the job log, the job status, or the device status is transmitted from the MFP. do. Further, the job log storage means 43c transfers the information to the information providing service 70 every time the information of the change of the job log, the job status, or the device status is transmitted from the MFP. For example, the job log storage means 43c transfers the additional portion of the job log 37d transmitted from the MFP to the information providing service 70 every time the job is completed.

The job log storage means 43c provides information on the payment result and device information for the job each time the additional portion of the job log 37d is transferred to the information providing service 70, that is, every time the job is completed in the MFP. Send to service 70.

Here, the payment result includes the payment code for the job, the total charge for the job, and the breakdown of the charge for the job.

In addition, the device information includes the MFP ID, IP (Internet Protocol) address and model name of the MFP that executed the job, the state of consumables of the MFP while the job was being executed, and the execution of the job. Includes the device status of that MFP in the meantime. Here, the device information is information acquired from the target MFP. For example, "the device status of the MFP while the job is being executed" can be extracted from the device status 42f.

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

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

The user bank account information 50a includes information about 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. The user can use, for example, the user bank of the online payment service 50 via the payment program 25a (see FIG. 2) via the operation unit 21 (see FIG. 2) of the user terminal 20 (see FIG. 2). It is possible to register the information of the user's bank account in the account information 50a.

For example, the administrator can register the information of the administrator's account in the administrator's account information 50b of the online payment service 50 via the Internet via an arbitrary PC (Personal Computer). The administrator's account is an account managed by the online payment service 50, 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 showing an example of 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 user ID, a charge, and a computer ID, which is computer identification information, are associated with each other.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in the information providing service 70.

As shown in FIG. 10, the information providing service 70 includes the MFP management information 42b (see FIG. 5), the payment code management information 42c (see FIG. 5), and the job log 42d (see FIG. 5) of the computer 40 (see FIG. 5). 5), Job status 42e (see FIG. 5) and device status 42f (see FIG. 5), respectively, the same as MFP management information 70a, payment code management information 70b, job log 70c, job status 70d and device. Memorize the status 70e.

The information providing service 70 receives information on changes in the job log, job status, and device status from the computer 40 each time the changes are transmitted to the job log 70c, job status 70d, and device status 70e. Reflect in.

Further, the information providing service 70 stores the payment result and the device information transmitted from the computer 40 each time the job is completed in the MFP as the payment result 70f and the device information 70g for each job.

Further, the information providing service 70 stores spot information 70h indicating various information regarding spots that provide an MFP that can be used by the user. The spot information 70h includes general information about the spot. General information about the spot includes the location and business hours of the spot, the color machine of the MFP belonging to the spot, the monochrome machine, the A3 size compatible machine, the A4 size compatible machine, the double-sided printing compatible machine, the single-sided printing compatible machine, and the staple compatible machine. , Types of punching machines and their number, and unit price information used to calculate the price for jobs using the MFP belonging to the spot. The spot information 70h also includes the MFP ID of the MFP belonging to the spot. The spot information 70h can be edited, for example, by the operator of the information providing service 70.

In addition to the information shown above, the information providing service 70 provides various information necessary for generating information to be provided to persons such as MFP users, managers, and service persons on the computer 40 and the Internet. It can be registered from outside the information providing service 70 itself, such as from various services. For example, the information providing service 70 can register the reputation of each spot from a specific site on the Internet.

Next, the operation of the copy system 10 will be described.

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

FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the copy system 10 until the MFP 30 to which the copy instruction is input displays the two-dimensional code.

The user can input the copy instruction via the operation unit 31. When the copy instruction is input via the operation unit 31, the image storage means 38a of the MFP 30 stores the image read from the document by the scanner 33 in a specific area in the storage unit 37, as shown in FIG. "Operation" (hereinafter referred to as "ScanToBox") is executed (S101). Here, the image storage means 38a stores the image ID of the image stored in S101 in the image management information 37c in association with the job ID of the current job.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 30 when executing ScanToBox.

As shown in FIG. 12, the image storage means 38a reads an image from the original by the scanner 33 (S131).

Next, the image storage means 38a rasterizes the image read in S101 for printing by the printer 34 to generate bitmap data (S132).

Finally, the image storage means 38a stores the bitmap data generated in S102 in a specific area in the storage unit 37 as an image 37b (S133).

As shown in FIG. 11, the payment code notification means 38b of the MFP 30 acquires the attribute of the job of this copy after the processing of S101 (S102).

Here, the attributes of the copy job are, for example, page number information indicating the number of pages to be printed, double-sided single-sided information indicating whether double-sided printing or single-sided printing is executed, and either monochrome copy or color copy. It includes color information indicating whether to print, copy number information indicating the number of copies to be printed, and recording medium size information indicating the size of the recording medium to be printed.

The number of pages is the number of pages to be printed. For example, when double-sided printing is executed on one sheet, two pages are printed.

When the number of pages is the same, the charge may be set to be the same regardless of whether double-sided printing or single-sided printing is executed. For example, the charges may be set to be the same depending on whether double-sided printing is executed on one recording medium and single-sided printing is executed on two recording media.

On the other hand, even when the number of pages is the same, the charge may be different depending on whether double-sided printing or single-sided printing is executed. For example, the charge for performing double-sided printing on one recording medium may be set lower than the charge for performing single-sided printing on two recording media.

In determining the charge, the double-sided single-sided information is used "when the charge is different depending on whether double-sided printing or single-sided printing is executed even if the number of pages is the same".

The payment code notification means 38b determines the page number information based on the actual reading result of the manuscript by the scanner 33.

The payment code notification means 38b determines the double-sided single-sided information according to the setting in the copy instruction input via the operation unit 31. However, the payment code notification means 38b may be set to change the double-sided single-sided information based on the actual reading result of the original by the scanner 33. For example, the payment code notification means 38b is set to print the front side and the back side of the original document on the front side and the back side of the recording medium, that is, double-sided printing, respectively, in the copy instruction input via the operation unit 31. Even if this is the case, it may be set to change to single-sided printing when nothing is printed on one side of the original as a result of actually scanning the original with the scanner 33.

The payment code notification means 38b determines the color information according to the setting in the copy instruction input via the operation unit 31. However, the payment code notification means 38b may determine or change the color information based on the actual reading result of the document by the scanner 33. For example, when the payment code notification means 38b is set to automatically determine whether to execute monochrome copy or color copy in the copy instruction input via the operation unit 31, the manuscript is actually used. As a result of scanning with the scanner 33, the color information is determined according to the color of the scanned document. Further, even if the payment code notification means 38b is set to perform color copying in the copy instruction input via the operation unit 31, the original is monochrome as a result of actually scanning the original by the scanner 33. In some cases, it may be set to be treated as a monochrome copy.

The payment code notification means 38b determines the number of copies information according to the setting in the copy instruction input via the operation unit 31.

The payment code notification means 38b determines the recording medium size information according to the setting in the copy instruction input via the operation unit 31. However, the payment code notification means 38b may determine the recording medium size information based on the actual reading result of the document by the scanner 33. For example, the payment code notification means 38b has read the original as a result of actually scanning the original by the scanner 33 when "automatic" is set as the size of the recording medium in the copy instruction input via the operation unit 31. Appropriate recording medium size information may be automatically determined according to the size of the original.

After the processing of S102, the payment code notification means 38b transmits a request for calculation of the charge based on the attribute acquired in S102 to the computer 40 (S103). Here, the payment code notification means 38b transmits the MFP ID of the MFP 30 and the job ID of the current job to the computer 40 together with the request in S103.

When the charge calculation means 43a of the computer 40 receives the request transmitted from the MFP 30 in S103, it is based on the attribute transmitted from the MFP 30 together with this request, that is, the attribute acquired in S102 and a specific calculation standard. Then, the charge for the job of this copy is calculated (S104).

Next, the payment communication means 43b of the computer 40 requests the online payment service 50 for a payment code at the charge calculated in S104 (S105). Here, the payment communication means 43b includes the administrator ID associated with the MFP ID transmitted from the MFP 30 together with the request in S103 in the MFP management information 42b and the computer ID of the computer 40 in the request of S105.

Therefore, the online payment service 50 issues a payment code in response to the request of 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, the charge, and the computer ID included in the request in S105.

The payment communication means 43b of the computer 40 generates a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark) indicating the payment code returned from the online payment service 50 in S106 (S107). The payment communication means 43b pays the payment code returned from the online payment service 50 in S106 in association with the MFP ID and job ID transmitted from the MFP 30 in S103 and the charge calculated in S104. Stored in the code management information 42c.

Next, the payment communication means 43b transmits the two-dimensional code generated in S107 to the MFP 30 (S108).

Therefore, the payment code notification means 38b of the MFP 30 displays the two-dimensional code transmitted from the computer 40 in S108 on the display unit 32 (S109).

Next, the operation of the copy system 10 from the time when the user terminal 20 reads the two-dimensional code to the time when the MFP 30 finishes copying will be described.

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the copy system 10 from the time when the user terminal 20 reads the two-dimensional code to the time when the MFP 30 finishes copying.

The user can operate the user terminal 20 so that the two-dimensional bar code displayed on the display unit 32 of the MFP 30 in S109 is read by the photographing unit 23 of the user terminal 20. When the user terminal 20 is operated so that the two-dimensional bar code displayed on the display unit 32 is read by the photographing unit 23, the payment instruction means 26a of the user terminal 20 is displayed as shown in FIG. The two-dimensional bar code displayed on the 32 is read by the photographing unit 23 (S161).

Next, the payment instruction means 26a interprets the two-dimensional bar code read in S161 and transmits the payment code indicated by the two-dimensional bar code and the user ID to the online payment service 50 (S162).

Therefore, the online payment service 50 sets the charge associated with the payment code in the payment code management information 50c and the user ID based on the payment code and the user ID transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S162. The information of the bank account associated with the user bank account information 50a is returned to the user terminal 20 (S163).

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 80 (see FIG. 14) for payment of the charge 22. Is displayed in (S164).

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the payment screen 80.

As shown in FIG. 14, the payment screen 80 includes a text 81 indicating bank account information transmitted from the online payment service 50, a text 82 indicating a fee transmitted from the online payment service 50, and a bank account. It includes a password, i.e. a text box 83 for entering a password for allowing the bank account management system 60 to withdraw from the bank account.

In FIG. 14, the name of the bank is shown as the bank account information displayed on the payment screen 80. However, on the payment screen 80, information other than the name of the bank may be displayed as the information of the bank account in addition to the name of the bank or in place of the name of the bank. In S163, of the bank account information, only the information displayed on the payment screen 80 needs to be returned.

As shown in FIG. 13, when the password of the bank account is entered in the text box 83, the payment instruction means 26a transmits the entered password to the online payment service 50 (S165).

Therefore, the online payment service 50 is transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S162 among the bank accounts managed by the bank account management system 60 only when the password transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S165 is correct. The charge associated with the payment code sent from the user terminal 20 in S162 in the payment code management information 50c is deducted from the bank account associated with the user ID in the user bank account information 50a ( S166).

Next, the online payment service 50 transfers the charge withdrawn in S166 to the administrator ID associated with the payment code transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S162 in the payment code management information 50c in the administrator account information 50b. Transfer to the associated account (S167). Here, the online payment service 50 associates the user ID transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S162 with the payment code transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S162 in the payment code management information 50c.

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 S162 to this payment code in the payment code management information 50c. The computer ID is transmitted to the computer 40 (S168).

When the payment completion notification is transmitted from the online payment service 50 in S168, the payment communication means 43b of the computer 40 sends the payment code management information 42c to the payment code transmitted together with the payment completion notification from the online payment service 50 in S168. A payment completion notification indicating that the payment of the job charge of the job ID associated with the above is completed is transmitted to the MFP 30 of the MFP ID associated with the payment code management information 42c to this payment code (S169).

When the payment completion notification is transmitted from the computer 40 in S169, the image printing means 38c of the MFP 30 has an image 37b of an image ID associated with the job ID shown in the payment completion notification in the image management information 37c. (S170), the "operation of printing an image stored in a specific area in the storage unit 37 by the printer 34" (hereinafter referred to as "BoxToPrint") is executed.

Next, the operation of the computer 40 when executing the refund process will be described.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the operation of the computer 40 when the refund process is executed.

The control unit 43 of the computer 40 executes the operation shown in FIG. 15 every time the job status 42e changes.

As shown in FIG. 15, the refund requesting means 43d of the computer 40 determines whether or not a newly completed job has occurred based on the job status 42e (S201). Here, the refund request means 43d determines that a newly completed job has occurred when the information on the end of the job is newly added to the job status 42e.

When the refund requesting means 43d determines in S201 that the newly completed job has not occurred, the operation shown in FIG. 15 is terminated.

When the refund request means 43d determines in S201 that a newly completed job (hereinafter referred to as "target job") has occurred, it determines whether or not the target job has been normally completed based on the job log 42d. (S202).

When the refund request means 43d determines in S202 that the target job has been normally completed, the refund request means 43d ends the operation shown in FIG.

When the refund request means 43d determines in S202 that the target job has not been completed normally, the "number of printed pages" indicated by the page number information included in the job log 42d for the target job is the target job. It is determined whether or not the "number of pages to be printed" indicated by the page number information included in the attribute used in the charge calculation in S104 has been reached (S203).

When the refund request means 43d determines in S203 that the "number of printed pages" has reached the "number of pages to be printed", the operation shown in FIG. 15 ends.

When the executed amount calculation means 43e determines in S203 that the "number of printed pages" has not reached the "number of pages to be printed", the amount of the executed portion of the target job is calculated in the job log 42d and S104. Calculation is performed based on the same calculation standard as the calculation standard used in the process of (S204).

Next, the refund amount calculation means 43f "executes" calculated in S204 from the charge calculated in S104 for the target job, that is, the charge associated with the job ID of the target job in the payment code management information 42c. The amount of refund is calculated by subtracting "the amount of the completed portion" (S205).

Next, the refund request means 43d determines whether or not the refund requires the approval of the administrator based on the refund approval necessity information 42g (S206).

When the refund request means 43d determines in S206 that the approval of the administrator is required for the refund, the refund request means 43d associates the job ID of the target job with the MFP ID associated with the payment code management information 42c in the MFP management information 42b. A notification is transmitted to the destination associated with the administrator ID in the destination information 42h to request approval for refunding the target job (S207). It is preferable that this notification includes various information necessary for approving the refund, such as the amount to be refunded and the job ID of the target job. The administrator accesses the information providing service 70 using a computer such as a user terminal 20 or a PC (not shown) to check the job log 70c, the job status 70d, and the device status 70e for the target job. It is possible to determine the necessity of refund. Then, the administrator accesses the computer 40 via the information providing service 70 or directly without the information providing service 70 by using a computer such as the user terminal 20 or a PC (not shown). , It is possible to notify the computer 40 whether or not to approve the refund.

After the processing of S207, the refund requesting means 43d determines whether or not the refund has been approved by the administrator (S208).

When the refund request means 43d determines in S208 that the refund has not been approved by the administrator, the operation shown in FIG. 15 ends.

When the refund request means 43d determines in S206 that the refund does not require the approval of the administrator, or determines in S208 that the refund is approved by the administrator, the refund of the amount calculated in S205 is an online payment service. Ask 50 (S209). Here, the refund request means 43d transmits the amount calculated in S205 and the payment code associated with the job ID of the target job in the payment code management information 42c to the online payment service 50 in S209.

Therefore, the online payment service 50 uses the account associated with the administrator ID associated with the payment code management information 50c with the payment code transmitted from the computer 40 in S209 in the administrator account information 50b in S209. The amount sent from the computer 40 will be deducted. Next, the online payment service 50 associates the withdrawn amount with the payment code transmitted from the computer 40 in S209 among the bank accounts managed by the bank account management system 60 in the payment code management information 50c. Transfer to the bank account associated with the user ID in the user bank account information 50a. Then, the online payment service 50 sends a refund completion notification to the computer 40 indicating that the refund of the fee has been completed.

The refund request means 43d determines whether or not the refund completion notification has been sent from the online payment service 50 until it is determined that the refund completion notification has been sent from the online payment service 50 after the processing of S209 (S210). ..

When the refund request means 43d determines in S210 that the refund completion notification has been sent from the online payment service 50, the refund request means 43d associates the job ID of the target job with the MFP ID associated with the payment code management information 42c in the MFP management information 42b. A notification to the effect that the refund for the target job has been completed is transmitted to the destination associated with the destination information 42h to the administrator ID (S211), and the operation shown in FIG. 15 is terminated. This notification preferably contains various information about the refund, such as the amount of the refund, the date and time of the refund, and the job ID of the target job.

Next, the operation of the information providing service 70 when various information is provided will be described.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the operation of the information providing service 70 when various information is provided.

As shown in FIG. 16, the information providing service 70 acquires the destination of the information providing destination from the destination information 42h (S231).

Next, the information providing service 70 generates information according to the providing destination from the information managed by the information providing service 70 (S232).

Next, the information providing service 70 transmits the information generated in S232 to the destination acquired in S231 (S233), and ends the operation shown in FIG.

Specifically, the information providing service 70 uses, for example, the job executor, that is, the usage history of the MFP user's own MFP, the payment history of the fee via the user's own online payment service 50, and the use. It is possible to send the history of refunds for the fees paid by the user himself and general information and reputation about the spot near the user's own position for each user. When the information providing service 70 transmits information about a spot close to the user's own position to the user, the user's own position needs to be registered. The user's own position is acquired by a position acquisition function such as a GPS (Global Positioning System) function of an electronic device carried by the user, such as a user terminal 20, and is registered in the information providing service 70. Is possible.

Further, the information providing service 70 includes, for example, revenue information based on the usage status of the MFP managed by the administrator of the MFP himself, the fee paid to the administrator himself via the online payment service 50, and the administrator himself. The history of refunds for the fees of jobs using the MFP managed by the administrator, the status of consumables of the MFP managed by the administrator himself, the device status of the MFP managed by the administrator himself, and the administrator. It is possible to send general information and reputation about the spot to which the MFP that it manages belongs to each administrator.

Further, the information providing service 70 is, for example, the state of consumables of the MFP to be maintained by the service person himself, the device status of the MFP to be maintained by the service person himself, and the spot to which the MFP to be maintained by the service person himself belongs. General information about can be sent to the service person.

The information providing service 70 may provide information in response to a request from the information providing destination, or may provide information at a timing unrelated to the request from the information providing destination.

As described above, the copy system 10 stores the image generated by scanning the original by the scanner 33 in the storage unit 37 (S101), and an accurate fee is paid based on the result of this scanning. (S165 to S167) Later, since this image is printed on the recording medium by the printer 34 (S170), the copy job of "reading the image from the original by the scanner 33 and printing this image by the printer 34" is executed. However, the convenience can be improved without being stopped in the middle due to the delay in payment of the fee.

Since the copy system 10 uses the online payment service 50 instead of the coin vendor to pay the charges, the charges are transferred directly from the bank account of the user of the MFP 30 to the account of the administrator of the MFP 30. No acquisition work is required, labor costs can be reduced, and fees can be received safely.

Since the copy system 10 uses the online payment service 50 instead of the coin vendor to pay the fee, it can be easily introduced even in a country where the coin vendor is not often used.

Since the copy system 10 provides various information about the copy system 10 (S233), the convenience can be improved. For example, MFP users can check various information in real time, such as the user's own usage history, the user's own payment history, the user's own refund history, and information on the spot closest to the user's own position. It makes it easier to use the MFP. In addition, the administrator of the MFP has the usage status of the MFP managed by the administrator himself, the profit information based on the fee paid to the administrator himself via the online payment service 50, and the MFP managed by the administrator himself. History of refunds for job charges using, the status of consumables of the MFP managed by the administrator, the device status of the MFP managed by the administrator, and the MFP managed by the administrator belongs to Various types of information such as information about spots to be used can be confirmed in real time, which makes it easier to manage the MFP and, for example, reduces the number of personnel for management. In addition, the service person of the MFP is the status of the consumables of the MFP to be maintained by the service person himself, the device status of the MFP to be maintained by the service person himself, the information about the spot to which the MFP to be maintained by the service person himself belongs, and so on. Various information can be confirmed in real time, for example, which part of which MFP is out of order, what color toner of which MFP is likely to run out, etc. at an early stage. By recognizing to, the MFP can be repaired or replenished with consumables quickly.

In particular, since the copy system 10 provides a unit price for executing a job, it is possible to improve the convenience of the user or administrator of the MFP. Further, since the copy system 10 provides the payment history of the user of the MFP, the convenience of the user can be improved. Further, since the copy system 10 provides the profit information of the administrator of the MFP, the convenience of the administrator can be improved. Further, since the copy system 10 provides a history of refunds regarding the fee for executing the job, it is possible to improve the convenience of the user or the administrator of the MFP.

Since the copy system 10 requests the online payment service 50 to refund the job that has not been completed normally (S209), the convenience can be improved.

Since the copy system 10 automatically calculates the refund amount (S205), the convenience can be improved. The copy system 10 may be configured such that the refund amount is specified by the administrator. In addition, the copy system 10 has already executed from the fee paid by the user for the job that has not been completed normally, such as refunding the full amount of the fee paid by the user for the job that has not been completed normally. An amount other than "the amount obtained by subtracting the amount of the portion of" may be refunded.

The copy system 10 determines a job that has not been completed normally based on the job log 42d (NO in S202), and indicates in the refund approval necessity information 42g that the administrator's approval is required for the refund. If (YES in S206), the online payment service 50 is requested to refund the job that has not been completed normally (YES in S208) when the administrator's approval is obtained (S209), so the refund is incorrect. Can be suppressed.

The copy system 10 determines a job that has not been completed normally based on the job log 42d (NO in S202), and indicates in the refund approval necessity information 42g that the administrator's approval is required for the refund. If so (YES in S206), the notification is sent to a specific destination, that is, the destination of the administrator (S207), so that it is possible to easily obtain the approval of the administrator.

Since the copy system 10 can have the administrator check the job status and device status, the job determines whether or not the refund should be made before the refund, and whether or not the refund was appropriate after the refund. It is possible to let the user make a decision based on the status and device status. For example, if the administrator has a device status of "Jam Occurred", "Failure", or "Toner Empty" during the time when the job status was "Printing" for the target job. It can be determined that the job should be refunded before the refund, and it can be determined that the refund was appropriate after the refund. The refund request means 43d of the computer 40 adds a condition that the device status has a specific content during the time period when the job status has a specific content to the condition for making the job a candidate for refund. You may.

Since the copy system 10 rasterizes the image read from the original by the scanner 33 and stores it in the storage unit 37, the image can be printed on the recording medium by the printer 34 without rasterizing after the fee is paid. can. Therefore, the copy system 10 can finish the copy job early.

The copy system 10 stores the image read from the document by the scanner 33 in the storage unit 37 without rasterizing, and the image stored in the storage unit 37 is based on the reading result of the document by the scanner 33. After the exact fee has been paid, the image may be rasterized and printed on a recording medium by the printer 34.

In the copy system 10, the MFP 30 notifies the payment code by displaying it on the display unit 32 (S109), so that even if the user terminal 20 and the MFP 30 cannot communicate with each other, the payment code is displayed on the display unit 32 of the MFP 30. The payment code can be used to pay the fee via the online payment service 50 by the user terminal 20.

Since the payment code is compactly displayed on the display unit 32 of the MFP 30 as a two-dimensional code in the copy system 10, it is easy for the image pickup unit 23 of the user terminal 20 to take a picture, and the convenience can be improved. In the copy 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 that is more difficult to photograph by the photographing unit 23 of the user terminal 20 than the two-dimensional bar code.

Since the copy system 10 acquires the payment code displayed on the display unit 32 by photographing it by the photographing unit 23, the user of the user terminal 20 can obtain the payment code displayed on the display unit 32 of the MFP 30. There is no need to manually enter in 20. Therefore, the copy system 10 can improve convenience. When the copy system 10 displays the payment code on the display unit 32 by a method that the user of the user terminal 20 can understand, such as a character string instead of a two-dimensional bar code, the copy system 10 is displayed on the display unit 32 of the MFP 30. The payment code may be manually input to the user terminal 20 by the user of the user terminal 20.

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

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

In the present embodiment, the copy system 10 accepts the approval of the refund by the administrator by the computer 40. However, the copy system 10 may accept the approval of the refund by the administrator by another method. For example, when the information providing service 70 is configured to provide a list of jobs to be refunded for each administrator, the copy system 10 causes the administrator to select a job to be actually refunded from this list, thereby performing this job. It may be configured to have the administrator approve the refund. If the copy system 10 has a configuration in which the information providing service 70 allows the administrator to select a job to be actually refunded, the information providing service 70 does not use the computer 40 to request a refund to the online payment service 50. It may be executed directly to.

The copy system 10 may be configured such that the MFP 30 realizes at least a part of the above-mentioned functions of the computer 40 by executing the copy program 37a. For example, the copy system 10 may be configured such that the MFP 30 realizes functions corresponding to the charge calculation means 43a, the job log storage means 43c, the refund request means 43d, the executed amount calculation means 43e, and the refund amount calculation means 43f of the computer 40. .. The copy system 10 does not have to include the computer 40 when the MFP 30 realizes all the above-mentioned functions of the computer 40.

In the MFP 30, the storage unit 37 such as an HDD usually has an overwhelmingly larger storage capacity than the RAM of the control unit 38. Therefore, the copy system 10 can handle copying in which the number of original sheets is large by storing the image read from the original document by the scanner 33 in the storage unit 37 (S101). However, the copy system 10 stores the image read from the document by the scanner 33 in the RAM of the control unit 38, and the image stored in the RAM of the control unit 38 is based on the reading result of the document by the scanner 33. After the exact fee has been paid, the printer 34 may print on the recording medium.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an MFP in the present embodiment, but an image forming apparatus other than the MFP such as a copy-only machine may be used.

The job execution system of the present invention is a copy system that executes a copy job of "reading an image from a document by a scanner 33 and printing this image by a printer 34" in the present embodiment. However, the job execution system of the present invention executes a specific process using the image read from the original by the scanner 33, such as a scan transmission job of "transmitting the image read from the original by the scanner 33". It can also be applied to systems that execute jobs other than copy jobs. Further, the job execution system of the present invention uses an image read from a manuscript by a scanner 33, such as a job of "printing a document stored in an external storage medium such as a USB memory or a cloud service by a printer 34". It can also be applied to systems that execute jobs other than jobs that "execute specific processing." Further, in the job execution system of the present invention, when the job of "printing a document by the printer 34" is executed, the computer 40 generates print data used by the printer 34 from the document, or "scanner". When executing the scan transmission job of "sending the image read from the original by 33", the job is not executed only by the MFP 30 such as the computer 40 transmitting the image read from the original by the scanner 33. May be. That is, the job execution system of the present invention can be applied to a system that executes various jobs using the MFP 30.

10 Copy system (job execution system)
30 MFP (Image Forming Device)
38a Image storage means (job execution means)
38b Payment code notification means 38c Image printing means (job execution means)
43a Charge calculation means 43d Refund request means 50 Online payment service 70 Information provision service (information provision means)

Claims (7)

Image forming device and
A job execution system equipped with a computer
The image forming apparatus or the computer comprises a charge calculating means for calculating a charge based on the content of a job using the image forming apparatus.
The image forming apparatus is
A payment code notification means for notifying a user of the image forming apparatus of a payment code issued by an online payment service for the charge calculated by the charge calculation means.
A job execution means for executing the job when the fee is paid via the online payment service by transmitting the payment code notified by the payment code notification means to the online payment service by a user terminal. Equipped with
The job execution system provides information providing means for providing information about the job execution system to at least one destination of the user, the manager of the image forming apparatus, and a service person of the image forming apparatus. Prepare,
When the payment code for the charge calculated by the charge calculation means is requested, the online payment service issues the payment code associated with the charge.
When the payment code is transmitted from the user terminal, the online payment service receives an operation for payment of the fee associated with the transmitted payment code from the user terminal. By making payment of this fee,
When the execution of the job is instructed , the image forming apparatus transmits the image forming apparatus ID as the identification information of the image forming apparatus and the job ID as the identification information of the job to the computer.
When the image forming apparatus ID and the job ID are transmitted from the image forming apparatus, the computer transmits a request for the payment code at the charge calculated by the charge calculating means to the online payment service. death,
When the payment code is returned from the online payment service, the computer stores the payment code in association with the image forming apparatus ID and the job ID transmitted from the image forming apparatus. ,
The payment code notification means notifies the payment code when the payment code is returned to the computer from the online payment service.
In the computer, the payment code notified by the payment code notification means is transmitted to the online payment service by the user terminal, and the online payment service receives the operation from the user terminal , whereby the online payment service is provided. When the fee is paid via the job of the job ID stored in association with the payment code sent from the online payment service together with a notification indicating that the payment of the fee is completed. A payment completion notification indicating that the payment of the fee has been completed is transmitted to the image forming apparatus of the image forming apparatus ID stored in association with the payment code.
The job execution means is characterized in that when the payment completion notification is transmitted from the computer to the image forming apparatus, the job execution means executes the job with the job ID indicated in the payment completion notification. system. The job execution system according to claim 1, wherein the information providing means provides information on a unit price used for calculating the charge by the charge calculating means. The job execution system according to claim 1, wherein the information providing means provides a payment history of the fee via the online payment service for each executor of the job. The job execution system according to claim 1, wherein the information providing means provides profit information based on the fee paid via the online payment service for each administrator of the image forming apparatus. Provided with a refund request means for requesting the online payment service to refund at least a part of the fee.
The refund request means is provided in the image forming apparatus or the computer.
1. The information providing means is characterized in that the refund history is provided to at least one of the user, the administrator, and the service person to at least one of the user and the administrator. The job execution system described in. Image forming device and
It is a job execution system provided with a charge calculation means for calculating a charge based on the contents of a job using the image forming apparatus.
The image forming apparatus is
A payment code notification means for notifying a user of the image forming apparatus of a payment code issued by an online payment service for the charge calculated by the charge calculation means.
A job execution means for executing the job when the fee is paid via the online payment service by transmitting the payment code notified by the payment code notification means to the online payment service by a user terminal. Equipped with
The charge calculation means is provided by the image forming apparatus or separately from the image forming apparatus.
The job execution system includes information providing means for providing information about a spot that provides the image forming apparatus that can be used by the user as information about the job execution system to the destination of the user.
When the payment code for the charge calculated by the charge calculation means is requested, the online payment service issues the payment code associated with the charge.
When the payment code is transmitted from the user terminal, the online payment service receives an operation for payment of the fee associated with the transmitted payment code from the user terminal. By making payment of this fee,
The information providing means relates to the spot in the vicinity of the user's position where the user's position is registered and registered, which is acquired by the electronic device having the position acquisition function carried by the user. A job execution system characterized in that information is provided to the destination of the user. Information about the spot
The location of the spot and
The business hours of the spot and
The type of the image forming apparatus belonging to the spot and
The number of the image forming devices belonging to the spot and
Information on the unit price used to calculate the charge for the job using the image forming apparatus belonging to the spot, and
The job execution system according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the reputation of the spot is included.

Images