JPH10224593A - Composite machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a composite machine provided with the plural application functions of a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile, etc., altogether capable of summing up and charging the using charges for the respective application functions. SOLUTION: A copy control unit 1, a facsimile control unit 2 and a printer control unit 3 are respectively provided with a charge calculation function for calculating the using charges of the respective application functions and deliver respective charge calculated results to a system control unit 7. The system control unit 7 stores the received respective charge calculated results in a prescribed storage part inside a charge storage device 8. Charging data preserved in the charge storage device 8 are displayed by inputting the ID code of a user from an operation display unit 6 and operating a charge display key. Thus, the user or a manager recognizes the using charges for the respective application functions for the respective users and it is useful for the collection of the using charges and charge management for the respective users.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-application multifunction peripheral having a plurality of application functions, such as a copier function, a printer function, and a facsimile function. The present invention relates to a multifunction peripheral capable of performing the above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional copying machine has a function of counting and displaying a copy fee (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-97495). A copy-up signal is transmitted for each copy operation, and the signal is copied. It has a function of receiving and arranging and displaying the copy fee from a place away from the machine (see
126462) and the like. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-126462, there is also known a copying machine having a function of counting and printing out the number of used sheets and the amount of money for each type of paper. There is also known a system for centrally managing a plurality of copying machines at one place (see Japanese Patent Application Nos. 7-325512, 325515, and 7-199744).

[0003]

However, in a multifunction machine having a plurality of application functions such as a copier, a printer, and a facsimile machine, a technique has been proposed in which usage charges are totaled for each application function and billed. Absent. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a multifunction peripheral capable of collecting usage charges for each application function and performing charging.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 provides a plurality of application functions such as a function as a copier, a function as a printer, and a function as a facsimile machine. In a multifunction peripheral that can selectively use those functions, a calculating unit for calculating a usage fee for each application function, and a storage unit for storing the usage fee calculated by the calculating unit are provided. A totalizing means for totalizing the usage fee stored in the storage means for each application function, and a notifying means for notifying a user of a totaling result by the totaling means.
According to the multifunction peripheral of the present invention, since the usage fee can be totaled for each application function and the result can be notified to the user, the usage amount (for example, the number of copies, the paper size, the usage time, etc.) for each application function can be used. Can be charged. The invention according to claim 2 is based on the premise of claim 1, wherein the counting means has a function of counting line usage charges for each line type when the facsimile function is used. Features. According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, when the facsimile function is used, charge management can be performed for each line type. According to a third aspect of the present invention, on the premise of the first or second aspect, the totaling means has a function of totaling line usage charges for each transmission destination when the facsimile function is used. It is characterized by. According to the multifunction peripheral of the third aspect, in addition to the first or second aspect, when the facsimile function is used, fee management can be performed for each transmission destination.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, based on any one of the first to third aspects, an input unit for inputting a user ID code is further provided, and the totaling unit is configured to input each ID. It is characterized in that usage charges for each application function are tabulated for each code. According to the multifunction peripheral of the fourth aspect, in addition to the first to third aspects, charge management can be performed for each user.

[0005]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an embodiment of a multifunction peripheral according to the present invention. The multifunction peripheral 100 has a function as a copier, a function as a facsimile machine, and a function as a printer. The multifunction peripheral body 101 includes a copy control unit 1, a facsimile control unit 2, a printer control Unit 3, scanner unit 4, plotter unit 5,
An operation display unit 6, a system control unit 7, and the like are provided. Further, the MFP main body 101 is provided with an external charge storage device 8. Copy control unit 1
Is a unit that controls the copy function, reads an image of a document set on a document table by the scanner unit 4, and outputs the image to recording paper by the plotter unit 5. The facsimile control unit 2 is a unit that controls a facsimile function, and is a platen (not shown).
The scanner unit 4 reads an image of a document set in the scanner, and compresses (encodes) the image data.
N (public line) or a designated destination via an ISDN line, and decompresses (decodes) image data received via a PSTN or ISDN line on an image memory (not shown). Is output on recording paper by the plotter unit 5.

The printer control unit 3 processes print data sent from an external terminal such as a personal computer, and causes the plotter unit 5 to output the print data to recording paper. The scanner unit 4 converts the light reflected from the document surface into an electric signal by an image pickup device (not shown) such as a CCD while moving an exposure lamp (not shown) along the document set on the document table. Enter the data. The input image data is developed on an image memory and sent to the facsimile control unit 2 or the plotter unit 5. The plotter unit 5
The image data developed on the image memory is printed out by an electrophotographic process. The operation display unit 6 includes various operation keys, a display device, and the like. The user performs various instructions to the multifunction peripheral 100, and the multifunction peripheral 100 notifies the user of mode information, a usage fee, and the like. It is. The system control unit 7 includes a CPU 7a that controls the entire components of the multifunction peripheral 100, a ROM 7b that stores programs executed by the CPU 7a and various system data, a RAM 7c used as a working area when the CPU 7a executes various processes, and a CPU 7a.
a) and an interface (I / F) 7d for mediating the exchange of signals between each part of the multifunction peripheral 100.

The copy control unit 1, facsimile control unit 2, and printer control unit 3 have a charge calculation function for calculating the usage charge of each application function. That is, the copy control unit 1 detects the number of copies and calculates a copy usage fee based on a preset fee system. The facsimile control unit 2 detects the number of transmissions, the number of receptions, the communication distance, and the like, and calculates a facsimile usage fee (a printing fee, a communication fee, and the like) based on a preset fee system. The printer control unit 3 detects the number of prints and calculates a printer usage fee based on a preset fee system. Then, each charge calculation result is passed to the system control unit 7. The system control unit 7 stores the received charge calculation results in a predetermined storage unit (charge data unit) in the charge storage device 8.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the facsimile control unit 2. As shown in the figure, the facsimile control unit 2 uses an image compression / expansion unit 2a for compressing / expanding image data, an image data storage unit 2b for storing image data at the time of memory transmission, etc., and a PSTN line. A communication charge calculation unit 2c for calculating a communication charge from a fax number of the other party and the own station number at the time of facsimile communication and calculating a communication charge from the result and communication time, etc., PST
A network control unit (NCU) 2d serving as an interface between the N line and the facsimile control unit 2;
A transmission / reception control unit (UART) 2e for exchanging data with the system control unit 7, a CPU for controlling each unit of the facsimile control unit 2, a control unit 2f including a RAM and a ROM, and a printing fee depending on the number of prints and transfer paper size. Print charge calculation unit 2g for calculating ISDN, and ISDN
An ISDN unit 2h serving as an interface between the line and the facsimile control unit 2.

Next, the operation of the multifunction peripheral of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operation contents of a zero. As shown in the figure, the multifunction peripheral 100 determines whether a fax transmission is instructed by the user (S1) or prints (copy or print print data from an external device or print facsimile reception data).
(S2) is always monitored. And
When there is a print instruction (Yes in S2), a predetermined amount, for example, 10 yen is charged every time one sheet is printed (S2).
4) The charge data is transmitted to the charge storage device 8 as a copy charge when using the copy function, as a printer charge when using the printer function, and as a facsimile (print) charge when using the facsimile function (S5). Thereafter, the processing of steps S1 to S5 is repeated, and when the printing of the last page is completed, it is determined that the print instruction has been released (No in S2), and the processing of this flow is terminated. On the other hand, if there is a fax transmission instruction (S
6) The communication charge is calculated from information such as the communication time with the other party, the distance to the other party, and the type of communication line (S8), and the result is transmitted to the charge storage device 8 (S9). Thereafter, the process returns to step S1, and if there is no transmission instruction or print instruction (No in S1, No in S2), the processing of this flow is ended.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the fee storage device 8 externally attached to the multifunction peripheral (main body). As shown in the figure, the charge storage device 8 checks the attributes of the data sent from the multi-function device body (S11, S12, S1).
3) If the data is from the copy control unit 1 (S
(Yes in 11), the data is stored in the copy billing data section (S16), and the processing of this flow ends. If the data is from the printer control unit 3 (S
(Yes in 12), the data is stored in the printer billing data section (S17), and the processing of this flow ends. In the case of data from the facsimile control unit 2 (Yes in S13), it is determined whether the data is communication charge data or print charge data (S14, S15), and if the data is communication charge data (S14). Yes), the data is stored in the facsimile communication billing data section (S18),
If the data is print fee data (Yes in S15), the data is stored in the facsimile print billing data section (S1).
9), the processing of this flow ends. (The above is the claim 1
The MFP 100 calculates a communication charge for each communication line used for facsimile transmission in step S8, and transmits the result to the charge storage device 8 (S9). Then, the fee storage device 8 determines the type of the communication fee in step S14, and stores the communication fee in the case of using the PSTN line and the communication fee in the case of using the ISDN line in different predetermined billing data sections, respectively ( S18). At the start of use, the multifunction peripheral 100 displays an ID code input screen as shown in FIG. 5 on the display unit of the operation display unit 6, and provides the user with the ID code. Prompt for input. When the ID code is input, the ID code is stored. When the copy usage fee, the printer usage fee, the facsimile usage fee, and the like are totaled, the calculation is performed for each ID code and stored in the fee storage device 8. (The above corresponds to claim 4.) As for the billing data stored in the fee storage device 8 as described above, a user ID code is input from the operation display unit 6 and a predetermined key (fee display key) is operated. By doing so, it is displayed in a form as shown in FIG. 6, for example. As a result, the user or the administrator can know the usage fee for each application function for each user, which can be used for collecting the usage fee for each user and managing the fee.

The multifunction peripheral 100 has a function of counting the line usage charges when the facsimile function is used for each transmission destination and storing the total in the charge storage device 8. The destination is identified by an identification signal (RTI signal, CSI signal, TID signal, etc.) sent from the transmitting side during facsimile communication.
It is performed based on. Then, when the user or the administrator operates the operation display unit 6, the usage fee for each destination is displayed, for example, in a form as shown in FIG. Thus, fee management can be performed for each facsimile transmission destination. In the above embodiment, the copy control unit 1
Although the facsimile control unit 2 and the printer control unit 3 have a function of calculating the usage fee for each application function, the facsimile control unit 2 may have this function. In this case, the system control unit 7 detects the number of copies in the copy mode based on signals from the copy control unit 1, the facsimile control unit 2, the printer control unit 3, the scanner unit 4, the plotter unit 5, etc. In the mode, the number of transmissions, the number of receptions, and the like are detected. In the printer mode, the number of copies is detected, and the usage fee is calculated based on a fee system preset for each application function. Then, the charge calculation result for each application function is stored in a predetermined charge data section in the charge storage device 8. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the external charge storage device 8 is provided in the MFP main body 101, but the charge storage device 8 is provided in the MFP main body 1
01.

[0012]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following excellent effects can be exhibited. According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a multifunction peripheral having a plurality of application functions, such as a copier, a printer, and a facsimile, which can selectively use those functions, usage fees are totaled for each application function. Since the result can be notified to the user, a fee corresponding to the usage amount can be charged for each application function. According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, when the facsimile function is used, charge management can be performed for each line type. According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first or second aspect, when the facsimile function is used, fee management can be performed for each transmission destination. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to any one of the first to third aspects, it is possible to perform fee management for each user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an embodiment of a multifunction peripheral according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a facsimile control unit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation content of the MFP shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the fee storage device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display form example of an ID code input screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display form example of an application-specific billing information screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display form example of a destination-specific billing information screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Copy control unit, 2 ... Facsimile control unit, 2c ... Communication charge calculation part, 2d ... Network control part, 2g ... Printing charge calculation part, 2h ... ISD
N unit, 3 ... Printer control unit, 4 ...
Scanner unit, 5 ... plotter unit, 6 ...
・ Operation display unit, 7 ・ ・ ・ System control unit,
8: Charge storage device, 100: MFP, 101
..Multifunction devices

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A multifunction device having a plurality of application functions and capable of selectively using those functions, a calculating means for calculating a usage fee for each application function, and a usage charge calculated by the calculating means. Storage means for storing the charges, totaling means for totalizing the usage charges stored in the storage means for each application function, notifying means for notifying the user of the totaling result by the totaling means, A multifunction peripheral comprising: 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said application function includes a facsimile function, and said totaling means totals a line usage fee for each line type when said facsimile function is used. Multifunction machine. 3. The facsimile function as the application function, wherein the totaling means totals line usage charges for each destination when the facsimile function is used. Multifunction machine. 4. An input means for inputting an ID code of a user, wherein the totaling means includes
The multifunction peripheral according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein usage fees for each application function are totaled for each D code.