JPH11134057A - Network system and charging method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an accounting system in a network environment by transmitting resource accounting information generated in job processing through network communication to a server computer, performing accounting calculation, based on the transmitted resource account information and storing the accounting information of respective jobs. SOLUTION: A client computer 201 generates 207 jobs as basic units for peripheral equipment 204-206, performs processing request 208 and also sets resource account processing for accounting as job processing in that case. The peripheral equipment 204-206 starts the requested job processing and returns 208 job ID to the client computer 201. Further, processing 209 for the account of resources is performed and the result is reported 210 to server computer 202. Based on the received resource accounting information, the server computer 202 performs accounting calculation 211 of that job and stores the accounting information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the use of printers, scanners, copiers, and the like connected to a network and peripherals of a multifunction device integrated with the network environment including a client computer and a server computer. And a system for charging.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, in the past, billing was operated in a single device such as a copying machine, and billing when connecting them to a network was not performed. Here, billing is processed and managed within the device itself, and billing is performed, for example, by counting the number of prints. Also, the use of fonts was not charged. In many cases, fonts are built into an output device or attached to an application. In such a case, the value of the font itself has been lost. Conversely, there are cases where the software is available on the market as font-only package software. However, in this case, if the software is not frequently used, it is expensive. As described above, in the case of fonts, the balance between the use of the font and the price for it has been inappropriate.

[0003]

In recent years, copiers such as printers and scanners have been connected to a network, and a billing system in a network environment has not been considered for billing. In addition, the use of fonts and the cost were not considered in connection with the spread of the network environment.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a billing system in a network environment. Another object of the present invention is to propose an appropriate charging system for font usage fees in a network environment.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a network system according to the present invention comprises a client computer, a peripheral device, and a network system in which a server computer for managing the client computer and the peripheral device is connected via a network. , The client computer has means for issuing various jobs to each of the peripheral devices via network communication, and setting a resource account for charge management as a job request, wherein the peripheral device Means for performing an appropriate job process including a resource account process for accounting for a job request from the client computer, and transmitting resource account information generated in the job process to the server computer via network communication. And the server computer has means for calculating a charge based on the resource account information transmitted from the peripheral device and storing the charge information of each job, and the client computer is provided with the server computer A job inquiring unit for inquiring billing information for job processing based on the job ID of the job issued by the client computer.

A billing method in a network system according to the present invention is a billing method in a network system in which a client computer, a peripheral device, and a server computer for managing the client computer and the peripheral device are connected via a network. Issue various jobs to each of the peripheral devices via network communication, and set up a resource account for charging management as a job request, and the peripheral device responds to a job request from the client computer. Performing appropriate job processing including resource account processing for billing, transmitting resource account information generated in the job processing to the server computer via network communication,
The server computer performs billing calculation based on the resource account information transmitted from the peripheral device, stores billing information of each job, and the client computer includes:
For the job issued by the client computer, the server computer is inquired of charging information for job processing based on the job ID.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the entire system according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 101 is a client computer, 102 is a server computer,
104 printer, 105 scanner and 106
Scanner / printer (copier) are peripheral devices, which communicate with each other via a 103 network.

FIG. 2 shows the overall processing flow of the billing system according to the present invention.

In FIG. 2, the client computer 201 generates a job as a basic unit in peripheral devices 204, 205, and 206 (207), and requests a process (2).
08), and at this time, resource account processing for accounting is also set as job processing. The peripheral devices 204, 205 and 206 start the requested job processing,
The job ID is returned to the client computer 201 (208). Further, in the job processing, the processing of the resource account is performed (209), and the result is notified to the server computer 202 (210). The server computer 202 performs accounting calculation (211) for the job based on the received account information of the resource, and stores the accounting information. Also, in response to the request (213) for acquiring accounting information (212) from the client 201, 2
02 server computer returns accounting information (213)
I do.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an H / W configuration of the client computer and the server computer having the system configuration of FIG. 1 according to the present invention.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a CPU, that is, a central processing unit, which controls the entire computer apparatus and performs arithmetic processing and the like. Reference numeral 302 denotes a ROM, that is, a read-only memory, which is a storage area for storing information of a system startup program. Reference numeral 303 denotes a RAM, that is, a random access memory, which is a data storage area with no usage restriction, and includes an operating system,
An area where programs such as a device driver and communication control are loaded and executed. Reference numeral 304 denotes a KBC, that is, a keyboard control unit, which receives input data from the keyboard and transmits it to the CPU. Reference numeral 305 denotes a CRT, that is, a display control unit, which controls display on a display device. 306 is an FD, ie, a floppy disk drive or H
D, ie, an external storage device such as a hard disk device, which stores and stores programs and data, and refers to or loads the programs and data as needed at the time of execution. A communication unit 307 performs network communication control, and can communicate with other computers and peripheral devices connected to the network as described with reference to FIGS. A system bus 308 is to be a data path between the above-described components.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an H / W configuration of the peripheral device having the system configuration of FIG. 1 according to the present invention.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 404 denotes a controller for controlling the entire peripheral device. As an internal configuration of the controller, reference numeral 401 denotes a CPU, that is, a central processing unit, which controls the controller and performs arithmetic processing. Reference numeral 402 denotes a ROM, that is, a read-only memory, which is a storage area for information on a system startup program and the like. 40
Reference numeral 3 denotes a RAM, that is, a random access memory, which is a data storage area having no use restriction, and is an area in which programs such as an operating system, communication control, and engine control are loaded and executed. An engine unit 405 performs a printing operation and an image reading operation under the control of a controller. A communication unit 406 performs network communication control, and can communicate with the client computer and the server computer as described with reference to FIGS.
Reference numeral 407 denotes a system bus, which should serve as a data path between the above-described components.

In the above-described H / W configuration of the system, an embodiment of the present invention is shown in the form of a flowchart for the charging system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart relating to job generation and acquisition of billing information by the client computer.

In FIG. 5, job generation starts (S
101), an instruction to start job generation (S102) is set. Next, in addition to setting job generation information such as a job identifier and a user name, a resource account for charging is set. Here, FIG. 8 shows an example of the types of account of the resource for charging. In FIG. 8, for example, the number of impressions indicates the number of pages printed in printing, the medium is the number of papers used for printing, and the ink is the amount of ink used (the amount of toner depends on the type of printer). The font is the type of font, the octet count is the amount of processed data, and this type of account resource is added to the content of the job when it is charged. Next, when document data such as a printer output is involved, the data is set (S104), and the above contents are transmitted to peripheral devices as job generation data (S105). Thereafter, the client waits for a response of the job ID from the peripheral device so that the client can identify the job (S106), and acquires the job ID (S107).
The process ends (S108).

In FIG. 5, when the acquisition of accounting information is started (S201), the job ID of the already issued job
Is input, and the accounting information is requested from the server computer (S202). Next, the server waits for a response of the billing information from the server (S203), obtains the billing information (S204), and ends (S205).

In the present invention, by setting a resource account by a client computer,
Can be charged appropriately.

For example, in the case of a job of an application program of Company A, if the type of the font of Company B is set, it is possible to charge for the use of the font of Company B. In the case of the job of the application program of the company B, if the type of the font of the company B is not set, there is no need to charge for the use of the font of the company B, so that no charge can be made.

Further, it can be set according to the type of the job to be printed. Set the number of sheets for a text job such as a word processor, and set the number of inks in addition to the number of sheets for an image job that is likely to use a large amount of ink compared to text, so that you are charged appropriately. be able to.

In addition, it is possible to make settings for optimal charging for each of a printer job and a scanner job.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart relating to the job processing of the peripheral device. In FIG. 6, when the job processing starts (S301), job generation data is received from the client (S302), a job is recognized from the data (S303), and an identifier (ID) unique to the job is received.
Is assigned and the job ID is returned to the client (S304).
I do. Thereafter, the job processing is changed to the resource account processing (S
305) (for example, if the medium is specified by the job, the number of sheets used for printing is counted), and after executing the job, the resource account (for example, if the medium is specified by the job, the number of sheets ) Is notified to the server computer (S306), and the process ends (S3).
07).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart relating to the accounting process of the server computer. In FIG. 7, when the accounting process starts (S401), the process waits for a request from a client computer or a peripheral device (S402). Here, if the request is to execute the accounting process from the peripheral device, account information of the resource is acquired from the peripheral device (for example, if the medium is designated by the job, the number of sheets), and the accounting calculation is performed based on the account information. Is performed, the result is stored as billing information (S403), and the process is terminated (S4).
04). Here, FIG. 9 shows an example of the billing information. Here, the charge for the job ID of 30386 is 40 yen. In the case of a request for inquiring the billing information from the client, the billing information of the job is extracted from the job ID specified by the client (S405), the billing information is returned to the client (S406), and the process ends (S4).
07).

[0026]

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a charging system for each job in a network environment. A font charging system in a network environment can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration diagram.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of a billing system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an H / W configuration diagram of a client and a server.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an H / W configuration diagram of a peripheral device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing processing of a client.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing processing of a peripheral device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating processing of a server.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a table of account resources for charging.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table of charging information.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A client computer, a peripheral device,
In a network system in which a client computer and a server computer for managing peripheral devices are connected via a network, the client computer issues various jobs to each of the peripheral devices via network communication, and also issues a job request as a job request. Means for setting a resource account for charge management, wherein the peripheral device performs appropriate job processing including resource account processing for charge in response to a job request from the client computer; Means for transmitting resource account information generated in job processing to the server computer via network communication, wherein the server computer calculates a charge based on the resource account information transmitted from the peripheral device, and Job billing information Having means to store the said client computer to a network system, characterized in that it comprises means for inquiring the billing information of the job processing based on the job ID for the job issued by the client computer to the server computer. 2. The peripheral device includes a printer, a scanner,
2. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the network system is a copier and a multifunction device integrating them. 3. The resource account type is the number of printed pages, the number of sheets used for printing, the amount of ink used, the type of font used, or the amount of processed data. 2. The network system according to 1. 4. The network system according to claim 1, wherein said setting means sets a font type according to an application. 5. The network system according to claim 1, wherein said setting unit sets according to a type of application. 6. A client computer, a peripheral device,
In a charging method in a network system in which a client computer and a server computer for managing peripheral devices are connected via a network, the client computer issues various jobs to the peripheral devices via network communication, A resource account for charging management is set as a job request, and the peripheral device performs an appropriate job process including a resource account process for charging for the job request from the client computer. The generated resource account information is transmitted to the server computer via network communication, and the server computer calculates a charge based on the resource account information transmitted from the peripheral device, stores the charge information of each job, and Client computer is charging method in a network system, characterized in that inquires the charging information of the job processing based on the job ID for the job issued by the client computer to the server computer. 7. The peripheral device includes a printer, a scanner,
7. A charging method in a network system according to claim 6, wherein the charging method is a copier and a multifunction device integrating them. 8. The resource account type is the number of printed pages, the number of sheets used for printing, the amount of ink used, the type of font used, or the amount of processed data. 7. A charging method in the network system according to 6. 9. The setting is such that a font type is set according to an application.
A charging method in the network system described above. 10. The charging method according to claim 6, wherein the setting is performed according to a type of an application.