Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
  • G06F3/1203—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
  • G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
  • G06Q20/14—Payment architectures specially adapted for billing systems
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
  • B41J29/00—Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for
  • B41J29/20—Arrangements of counting devices
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
  • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
  • G03G21/02—Counting the number of copies; Billing
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
  • G06F3/1218—Reducing or saving of used resources, e.g. avoiding waste of consumables or improving usage of hardware resources
  • G06F3/1219—Reducing or saving of used resources, e.g. avoiding waste of consumables or improving usage of hardware resources with regard to consumables, e.g. ink, toner, paper
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
  • G06F3/1229—Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
  • G06F3/1237—Print job management
  • G06F3/1239—Restricting the usage of resources, e.g. usage or user levels, credit limit, consumables, special fonts
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
  • G06F3/1237—Print job management
  • G06F3/1273—Print job history, e.g. logging, accounting, tracking
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1278—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure
  • G06F3/1285—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
  • G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
  • G06Q20/14—Payment architectures specially adapted for billing systems
  • G06Q20/145—Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
  • G06Q20/22—Payment schemes or models
  • G06Q20/28—Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/26—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus
  • G07F17/266—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus for the use of a photocopier or printing device
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
  • H04N1/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
  • H04N1/34—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device for coin-freed systems ; Pay systems
  • H04N1/346—Accounting or charging based on a number representative of the service used, e.g. number of operations or copies produced
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
  • G06F3/1237—Print job management
  • G06F3/126—Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
  • G06F3/1261—Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device by using alternate printing

Definitions

• an image forming apparatus may provide a function of limiting a number of print pages in accordance with a paid fee.
• a number of remaining pages of a quota of each of a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a host device may differ according to a service plan and an amount of printing of each of the image forming apparatuses.
• FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram describing a host device, in which an image forming apparatus to perform printing is suggested by using service plan information according to an example.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram for describing a host device according to an example.
• FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method of suggesting an image forming apparatus to perform printing by using service plan information according to an example.
• FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method of obtaining service plan information from a service plan management system which manages a service plan of an image forming apparatus according to an example.
• FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing information related to an image forming apparatus, provided by a driver of a host device, according to an example.
• FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing information related to a service plan of an image forming apparatus, provided by a driver of a host device, according to an example.
• FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method of changing a service plan of an image forming apparatus according to an example.
• FIG. 8 is a diagram for describing a driver of a host device, which suggests a service plan of an image forming apparatus, according to an example.
• FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method of suggesting a service plan of an image forming apparatus according to an example.
• a user may need to individually check a number of remaining pages of each of a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a host device. In that case, it may be difficult for the user to select a desired printer by considering a service plan and the remaining pages. Accordingly, it may occur that the user may pay unnecessary fees.
• an image forming apparatus may include a display, a processor, and a memory to store instructions executable by the processor
• the processor may execute the instructions to identify at least one image forming apparatus connected to the host device, obtain service plan information including a number of remaining pages of a quota that the at least one identified image forming apparatus is to print, control the display to match identification information of the at least one image forming apparatus and the service plan information and display the matched information, and control the display to display, based on the number of remaining pages of the quota, suggestion information to suggest a first image forming apparatus among the identified at least one image forming apparatus, as an image forming apparatus to perform printing.
• the host device may display information about a service plan of at least one image forming apparatus connected to the host device by using a universal driver.
• the host device may suggest an image forming apparatus to perform printing, based on a number of remaining pages of the quota of each of a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to the host device.
• a host device may refer to a device capable of transmitting content, which is an object of an image forming job, to an image forming apparatus, and may include a personal computer (PC), a smart phone, a tablet, a notebook computer, and the like.
• PC personal computer
• a user may execute an application installed in the host device to perform a document operation, execute a printing function provided by the application, and transmit a document to be printed, to an image forming apparatus.
• an image forming apparatus may refer to a device capable of performing an image forming job, such as a printer, a copier, a multifunctional printer, a scanner, a fax machine, and the like.
• An image forming job may refer to any of various jobs related to an image, for example, printing, copying, scanning, faxing, or functions linked thereto, and may refer to a concept encompassing a series of processes used to perform an image forming job.
• a universal driver may refer to a general-purpose driver that a host device may use for various types of image forming apparatuses, and may refer to machine readable instructions that allow the host device to interact with a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to the host device.
• the host device may recognize image forming apparatuses connected to the host device and control the identified image forming apparatuses.
• the host device may obtain information about image forming apparatuses connected to the host device (for example, service plan information, information about functions, status information, etc.) through a universal driver.
• the host device may use a universal driver to generate print data of a document requested by the user to be printed.
• Status information of an image forming apparatus may refer to information about the status of the image forming apparatus.
• the status information of the image forming apparatus may include information about an operating state of the image forming apparatus (for example, a standby state, a printing state, a scan state, etc.) or an error occurring in the image forming apparatus (for example, a paper jam, paper shortage, an error occurring in a cartridge, etc.).
• Information about a function of an image forming apparatus may refer to information indicating a function supported by the image forming apparatus.
• the information about a function of the image forming apparatus may include information about a printing function, information about a scanning function, information about a network drive, information about a fax function, and the like.
• the information about a printing function of the image forming apparatus may include a double-sided printing function, a color printing function, and the like.
• the information about a scanning function of the image forming apparatus may include a double-sided scanning function, a character recognition function, and the like.
• Service plan information may refer to information about a charged fee paid by a user with respect to a number of prints of an image forming apparatus.
• the service plan information may include subscription information of an image forming apparatus (for example, a number of printable pages per cost).
• the service plan information may include a number of remaining pages of a quota of an image forming apparatus.
• Print data may refer to a printing command that describes an image generated by a host device by using standard functions in response to a print request from a user.
• the print data may include page description language (PDL) data in which the host device has encoded a printing command in a description language.
• the print data may include a printer job language (PJL) related to print settings of an image forming apparatus.
• the print data may include pixel information of an image (for example, information indicating whether a pixel corresponds to an image, graphic, or text).
• the print data may be transmitted from the host device to the image forming apparatus.
• the image forming apparatus may generate image information by performing rendering by using the print data.
• the print data may be generated by a driver installed in the host device.
• a service plan management system may refer to a system to manage service plan information of an image forming apparatus.
• the service plan management system may store and manage information about service plan information and information about a number of remaining pages of a quota of each of image forming apparatuses.
• the service plan management system may include a hardware chip mounted in the image forming apparatus.
• the service plan management system may include machine readable instructions in at least one of a server, a host device, and an image forming apparatus.
• An image forming apparatus management program may refer to machine readable instructions associated with a driver to output information about an interaction between a host device and an image forming apparatus and provide an interface to receive an input from a user.
• the image forming apparatus management program may be machine readable instructions prepared to comply with the standard of the Universal Windows Platform.
• the user may change print settings of an image forming apparatus, check a status of the image forming apparatus, troubleshoot the image forming apparatus, and the like.
• the user may change a service plan of an image forming apparatus by using an image forming apparatus management program.
• the host device may obtain statistical information about an image forming apparatus by using an image forming apparatus management program.
• the host device may obtain statistical information about the amount of printing of an image forming apparatus connected to the host device, for every certain period.
• the host device may recommend a service plan suitable for each of image forming apparatuses connected to the host device by using an image forming apparatus management program.
• FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for describing a host device, in which an image forming apparatus to perform printing is suggested by using service plan information according to an example.
• a host device 10 may transmit or receive data to or from image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c and/or a server 30 via a network 1.
• the host device 10 may transmit print data to the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c and receive status information from the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c.
• the host device 10 may transmit or receive data related to the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c to or from the server 30.
• the host device 10 may receive, from the server 30, service plan information of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c.
• the host device 10 may transmit payment data to pay the cost of service plans of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c to the server 30.
• the host device 10 may receive, from the server 30, confirmation data to change the service plans of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c.
• the host device 10 may transmit statistical information of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c to the server 30.
• the host device 10 may receive, from the server 30, result data obtained by analyzing statistical information of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c.
• the host device 10 may identify image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c connected to the host device 10 through a universal driver. For example, the host device 10 may transmit a query to the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c through the universal driver to identify the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c connected to the host device 10.
• the host device 10 may obtain information about the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c connected to the host device 10 through the universal driver.
• the host device 10 may obtain service plan information, information about functions, status information, and the like of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c.
• the service plan information of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c may include information about a currently subscribed service plan with respect to the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c.
• the service plan information of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c may include a number of remaining pages of a quota that may be printed by the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c.
• the information about a function of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c may include information about a printing function, information about a scanning function, information about a network drive, information about a fax function, and the like.
• the status information of the image forming apparatus may include information about an operating state of the image forming apparatus (for example, a standby state, a printing state, a scan state, etc.) or an error occurring in the image forming apparatus (for example, a paper jam, paper shortage, an error occurring in a cartridge, etc.).
• the host device 10 may display a list 100 of image forming apparatuses connected to the host device 10 through a universal driver.
• the host device 10 may display, on an image forming apparatus selection screen, the list 100 in which identification information of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c and the service plan information of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c are matched to each other.
• the host device 10 may display the list 100 in which names 110, 120, and 130 of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c, operating states of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c, and subscription information and numbers of remaining pages of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c are matched.
• the host device 10 may suggest, by using a universal driver, an image forming apparatus to perform printing from among the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c connected to the host device 10.
• the host device 10 may suggest an image forming apparatus to perform printing based on a result of comparing a number of pages to be printed, the number being included in print data, with the numbers of remaining pages of the quota that may be printed by the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c.
• the host device 10 may suggest an image forming apparatus to perform printing based on a printing function supported by the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c.
• the service plan information of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c that have performed printing may be updated.
• the host device 10 and/or the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c may transmit, to a service plan management system, information about the printing performed by the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c in response to the printing performed by the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c.
• the host device 10 and/or the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c may transmit a print log to the service plan management system.
• the service plan management system may update the service plan information of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c based on the information about printing performed by the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c. For example, the service plan management system may subtract a number of remaining pages of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c from a total number pages.
• the host device 10 may receive the updated number of remaining pages of the quota from the service plan management system.
• the host device 10 may display the list 100 of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c, in which the updated number of remaining pages of the quota and the names 110, 120, and 130 of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c are matched.
• the host device 10 may recommend a service plan to the user.
• the host device 10 and/or the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c may obtain statistical information about the amount of printing of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c for each period.
• the host device 10 may obtain statistical information by using a driver and/or an image forming apparatus management program.
• the host device 10 may identify a service plan suitable for the amount of printing of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c based on a result of analyzing the statistical information and recommend a service plan.
• the host device 10 and/or the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c may transmit statistical information to the server 30, and receive, from the server 30 based on a result obtained by the server 30 analyzing the statistical information, information about a recommended service plan.
• the host device 10 may display information about a recommended service plan based on the information received from the server 30.
• a user interface (III) related to the above examples may be displayed using the universal driver of the host device 10.
• the host device 10 may display the list 100 in which the names 110, 120, and 130 of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c, status information, service plan information, and the number of remaining pages of the quota of the image forming apparatuses 20a, 20b, and 20c are matched.
• the host device 10 may display a III to receive a user input to select one image forming apparatus from the list 100.
• the host device 10 may display a III to change a service plan of the image forming apparatus.
• the host device 10 may display a III to update a service plan.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a host device according to an example.
• the host device 10 may include a user interface 16, a communication module 15, a memory 17, and a processor 13.
• the host device 10 may be implemented by more components than those of the host device 10 illustrated in FIG. 2, or the host device 10 may be implemented by fewer components than those of the host device 10 illustrated in in FIG. 2.
• the user interface 16 may include an input device to receive a user input, or the like and an output device to display content.
• the user interface 16 may include a combination of an output device such as a monitor and an input device such as a keyboard, a touch pad, a mouse, or the like, or may include a touch screen.
• the communication module 15 may transmit or receive data to and from an external device or network, such as an image forming apparatus and a server.
• the communication module 15 may transmit print data to an image forming apparatus.
• the communication module 15 may receive status information of an image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus.
• the communication module 15 may perform wired communication based on standards such as Ethernet, Universal Serial Bus (USB), High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), and the like.
• the communication module 15 may perform wireless communication based on standards such as Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, Ultra Wide Band (UWB), Near Field Communication (NFC), and the like.
• the memory 17 may store various types of data such as programs including an operating system (OS), an application, and a file, or the like.
• the memory 17 may store at least one instruction and at least one program for processing and controlling by the processor 13.
• the memory 17 may store a driver related to an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus management program.
• the memory 17 may include at least one type of storage medium from among a memory that temporarily stores data, such as random access memory (RAM), static random access memory (SRAM), and the like, and a data storage that non-temporarily stores data such as a flash memory type, read-only memory (ROM), and the like.
• RAM random access memory
• SRAM static random access memory
• ROM read-only memory
• the processor 13 may include at least one processing unit, such as a central processing unit (CPU). Also, the processor 13 may include at least one specialized processing unit corresponding to each function.
• processing unit such as a central processing unit (CPU).
• CPU central processing unit
• processor 13 may include at least one specialized processing unit corresponding to each function.
• the processor 13 may control the user interface 16, the communication module 15, the memory 17, and the like overall to provide the examples described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 to 9.
• the processor 13 may generate a print job so that an image forming apparatus may perform an image forming job.
• the processor 13 may generate a print job and print data in response to a user's print command input through an application.
• FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method of suggesting an image forming apparatus to perform printing by using service plan information according to an example.
• Each operation of FIG. 3 may be implemented by instructions executable by a processor.
• the instructions may be stored in a non- transitory computer-readable storage medium readable by a computer including a processor.
• the host device may identify an image forming apparatus connected to the host device in operation S310.
• the host device may identify an image forming apparatus connected to the host device by using a universal driver.
• the host device may identify an image forming apparatus directly connected to the host device and an image forming apparatus connected to a network to which the host device is connected.
• the host device may identify an image forming apparatus connected to the host device by using a query.
• the host device may transmit a query to the image forming apparatus by using a discovery protocol based on USB, Web Services for Devices (WSD), Transmission Control Protocol/lnternet Protocol (TCP/IP) (Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)), or the like.
• WSD Web Services for Devices
• TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/lnternet Protocol
• SNMP Simple Network Management Protocol
• the host device may receive identification information of the image forming apparatus through SNMP, Management Information Base (MIB)ZObject Identifier (OID) Query, WebService application programming interface (API), or the like.
• the host device may obtain information about a function of the image forming apparatus and status information of the image forming apparatus.
• the host device may obtain service plan information including the number of remaining pages of the quota that the image forming apparatus may print.
• the host device may obtain service plan information of the image forming apparatus identified in operation S310.
• the host device may obtain, by using a universal driver, service plan information including subscription information and the number of remaining pages of the quota from a service plan management system that manages service plan information of the image forming apparatus.
• the service plan management system may be a hardware chip mounted in the image forming apparatus.
• the image forming apparatus may record the subscription information and the number of remaining pages of the quota in a hardware chip based on data received from a server on which fee payments are processed.
• the image forming apparatus may record the number of remaining pages of the quota to the hardware chip based on a print log.
• the service plan management system may include machine readable instructions in at least one of a server, a host device, and an image forming apparatus.
• the service plan management system may update the subscription information and the number of remaining pages of the quota based on data received from the server on which fee payments are processed.
• the service plan management system may update the number of remaining pages of the quota based on the print log.
• the host device may match identification information and service plan information of the image forming apparatus and display the matched information.
• the host device may display, by using a universal driver, a list of image forming apparatuses connected to the host device. For example, the host device may display, on a print setting screen, a list in which respective names, operating states, subscription information, and numbers of remaining pages of image forming apparatuses are matched.
• the host device may suggest a first image forming apparatus among the image forming apparatuses as an image forming apparatus to perform printing.
• the host device may suggest an image forming apparatus to perform printing based on a printing function supported by the image forming apparatus.
• the host device may suggest an image forming apparatus supporting a double-sided printing function as an image forming apparatus to perform printing.
• the host device may suggest an image forming apparatus supporting a color printing function in response to printing a color document/an image as an image forming apparatus to perform printing.
• the host device may suggest an image forming apparatus to perform printing based on a result of comparing the number of pages to be printed (i.e. , the number being included in print data) with the number of remaining pages of the quota that the image forming apparatus may print. For example, the host device may suggest an image forming apparatus, the number of remaining pages of the quota of which is greater than the number of pages to be printed, as an image forming apparatus to perform printing.
• the host device may display notification information indicating that the number of remaining pages of the quota of the selected image forming apparatus is insufficient compared to the number of pages to be printed, which is included in print data, and suggest an image forming apparatus, the number of remaining pages of the quota of which is greater than the number of pages to be printed, as an image forming apparatus to perform printing.
• the host device may display the suggested image forming apparatus in a different color from that of other image forming apparatuses in the list.
• the host device may display the suggested image forming apparatus by using an indicator.
• the host device may suggest changing a service plan based on a result of comparing the number of pages to be printed, included in the print data, with the number of remaining pages of the quota that the image forming apparatus may print.
• the host device may recommend a service plan that is suitable to an amount of printing of a user based on statistical information about the amount of printing of the image forming apparatus.
• the host device may proceed with payment in accordance with the changed service plan of the image forming apparatus in response to a user input to change the service plan of the image forming apparatus. According to a result of the payment, the host device may receive, from the server, confirmation data indicating that the service plan of the image forming apparatus is changed. The host device may match the changed service plan information with identification information of the image forming apparatus based on the confirmation data received from the server and display the matched information.
• FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method of obtaining service plan information from a service plan management system which manages a service plan of an image forming apparatus according to an example.
• Each operation of FIG. 4 may be implemented by instructions executable by a processor.
• the instructions may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium readable by a computer including a processor.
• the host device may transmit or receive, by using a universal driver, data to or from a service plan management system which includes a system to manage service plan information of an image forming apparatus.
• the service plan management system may include a hardware chip mounted in the image forming apparatus.
• the service plan management system may include machine readable instructions in at least one of a server, a host device, and an image forming apparatus.
• the host device may identify, by using a driver, an image forming apparatus connected to the host device. Operation S410 is similar to operation S310 of FIG. 3, and thus repeated details will be omitted.
• the host device may request service plan information of the identified image forming apparatus from a service plan management system by using a driver.
• the host device may transmit, to the service plan management system by using a universal driver, data to request service plan information of the image forming apparatus identified in operation S410.
• the host device may request, from the service plan management system of the image forming apparatus, subscription information and service plan information including the number of remaining pages of the quota.
• the host device may transmit data including a unique identification value of the image forming apparatus, to the service plan management system.
• the host device may request, at the same time, service plan information of all image forming apparatuses that are connected to the host device.
• the host device may request, at the same time, service plan information of all the image forming apparatuses from a service plan management system included in a server.
• the host device may individually request service plan information of each of the image forming apparatuses connected to the host device. For example, the host device may transmit a query about service plan information to the service plan management system included in each image forming apparatus.
• the host device may request service plan information of an image forming apparatus by transmitting a query to the image forming apparatus through a discovery protocol based on USB, WSD, TCP/IP (SNMP), or the like.
• the host device may receive service plan information from a service plan management system by using a driver.
• the service plan management system may search for service plan information of the identified image forming apparatus in response to the request received in operation S430. For example, the service plan management system may obtain service plan information of the image forming apparatus from a database based on a unique identification value of the image forming apparatus.
• the host device may receive the service plan information requested in operation S430, from the service plan management system. For example, the host device may receive, from the service plan management system, subscription information of the image forming apparatus and service plan information including the number of remaining pages of the quota of the image forming apparatus. The host device may receive service plan information including a unique identification value of the image forming apparatus.
• the host device may match an image forming apparatus to service plan information by using a driver.
• the host device may display a list of image forming apparatuses, in which identification information of the image forming apparatuses and service plan information of the image forming apparatuses are matched to each other.
• the host device may match names and service plan information of the image forming apparatuses based on unique identification values of the image forming apparatuses.
• the host device may display a list in which names, subscription information, and the number of remaining pages of the quota of the image forming apparatuses are matched to each other.
• FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing information related to an image forming apparatus, provided by a driver of a host device, according to an example.
• the host device 10 may obtain information about functions of image forming apparatuses 510, 520, and 530 from the image forming apparatuses 510, 520, and 530.
• the host device 10 may transmit an Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) query requesting information about functions of the image forming apparatuses 510, 520, and 530 to the image forming apparatuses 510, 520, and 530.
• IPP Internet Printing Protocol
• the image forming apparatuses 510, 520, and 530 may transmit information about functions supported by the image forming apparatuses 510, 520, and 530 to the host device 10 in response to the received query.
• the host device 10 may display a list 500 of the image forming apparatuses 510, 520, and 530 connected to the host device 10 by using a universal driver.
• the host device 10 may display the list 500 in which names, operating states, subscription information, and the number of remaining pages of the quota of the image forming apparatuses 510, 520, and 530 are matched.
• the host device 10 may display the list 500 of the image forming apparatuses 510, 520, and 530 including information about functions 511 , 521 , and 531 of the image forming apparatuses 510, 520, and 530.
• the host device 10 may display the list 500 including information about a printing function, information about a scanning function, information about a network drive, information about a fax function, etc. of the image forming apparatuses 510, 520, and 530.
• a III related to the above examples may be displayed using a universal driver of the host device 10.
• the host device 10 may display a III related to the functions 511 , 521 , and 531 of the image forming apparatuses 510, 520, and 530.
• the host device 10 may display a III via which the functions 511 , 521 , and 531 of the image forming apparatuses 510, 520, and 530 may be checked in more detail.
• the host device 10 may suggest an image forming apparatus to perform printing based on a printing function supported by the image forming apparatuses 510, 520, and 530 identified by using a universal driver. For example, the host device 10 may suggest the image forming apparatus 530 supporting a color printing function in response to printing a color document/image as an image forming apparatus to perform printing. Based on the number of remaining pages of the quota of the image forming apparatus 530 supporting a color printing function being less than the number of pages to be printed included in print data, the host device 10 may recommend changing a service plan. The host device 10 may update the number of remaining pages of the quota of the image forming apparatus 530 in response to the changed service plan of the image forming apparatus 530. In this case, the host device 10 may update the number of remaining pages of the quota in response to a user input to the III.
• the host device 10 may suggest, by using a universal driver, an image forming apparatus to perform printing, based on a result of comparing the number of remaining pages of the quota that may be printed by each of the image forming apparatuses 510, 520, and 530. For example, based on the functions supported by the image forming apparatuses connected to the host device 10 being the same, the host device 10 may suggest, as an image forming apparatus to perform printing, an image forming apparatus which has a relatively large number of remaining pages that may be printed, from among the image forming apparatuses 510, 520, and 530. As an example, the image forming apparatus 510 which has a largest number of remaining pages among the image forming apparatuses among the image forming apparatuses 510, 520, and 530 may be suggested as an image forming apparatus to perform printing.
• FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing information related to a service plan of an image forming apparatus, provided by a driver of a host device, according to an example.
• the image forming apparatus may be connected to a plurality of host devices through a network. Each of the plurality of host devices may share a single service plan with respect to the image forming apparatus or may individually subscribe to a service plan.
• the image forming apparatus may perform printing of pieces of print data received from the plurality of host devices in the order in which pieces of the print data are received.
• the image forming apparatus may compare the number of remaining pages of the quota with the number of pages to be printed included in print data. For example, the image forming apparatus may receive service plan information including the number of remaining pages of the quota from a service plan management system before printing, and compare the received number of remaining pages of the quota with the number of pages to be printed. The image forming apparatus may perform printing or stop printing based on a result of comparing the number of remaining pages of the quota with the number of pages to be printed, which is included in the print data.
• the number of remaining pages of the quota of the image forming apparatus displayed on the host device 10 may not be updated in real time. For example, as the image forming apparatus performs printing in response to print data received from a first host device, the number of remaining pages of the quota displayed on a second host device may not match the actual number of remaining pages of the quota of the image forming apparatus. Accordingly, even based on the number of remaining pages of the quota displayed on the second host device being greater than the number of pages to be printed by the second host device, the image forming apparatus may identify that the number of remaining pages of the quota is less than the number of pages to be printed.
• the image forming apparatus may stop printing and transmit notification information 600 to the host device 10.
• the host device 10 may display the notification information 600 received from the image forming apparatus by using a universal driver.
• the host device 10 may display the notification information 600 together with a preview of a print result.
• the host device 10 may display the notification information 600 including service plan information 610 of the image forming apparatus.
• the host device 10 may display the notification information 600 including subscription information and the number of remaining pages of the quota of the image forming apparatus.
• the host device 10 may display the notification information 600 including suggestion information to change an image forming apparatus to perform printing.
• the host device 10 may display a list of image forming apparatuses connected to the host device 10.
• the host device 10 may suggest an image forming apparatus, the number of remaining pages of the quota of which is greater than the number of pages to be printed, as an image forming apparatus to be printed.
• the host device 10 may display the notification information 600 including suggestion information to change a service plan of the image forming apparatus.
• the host device 10 may display the notification information 600 including a III 620 to change the service plan of the image forming apparatus.
• the host device 10 may recommend a service plan suitable for an amount of printing of a user, based on statistical information about the amount of printing of the image forming apparatus.
• FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method of changing a service plan of an image forming apparatus according to an example.
• Each operation of FIG. 7 may be implemented by instructions executable by a processor.
• the instructions may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium readable by a computer including a processor.
• the host device may receive a user input to change a first service plan of the image forming apparatus to a second service plan in operation S710.
• the host device may display a III to change a service plan of the image forming apparatus.
• the host device may display a III to change the service plan of the image forming apparatus as in 620 of FIG. 6.
• the host device may receive a user input regarding the III to change a service plan.
• the host device may display information about a subscribable service plan in response to the user input on the III to change a service plan.
• the host device may display information about the service plan received from the service plan management system.
• the host device may display a list of service plans including information regarding duration, cost, number of print pages, and the like.
• the host device may display a list including a first service plan for printing 15 pages per month for $0.99, a second service plan for printing 50 pages per month for $2.99, a third service plan for printing 100 pages per month for $4.99, a fourth service plan for printing 300 pages per month for $11 .99, and a fifth service plan for printing 700 pages per month for $24.99.
• the host device may recommend a service plan that is suitable for an amount of printing of a user based on statistical information about the amount of printing of the image forming apparatus.
• the host device may display a recommended service plan among the displayed subscribable service plans.
• the host device may display the recommended service plan in a different color than other service plans in the list.
• the host device may display the recommended service plan by using an indicator.
• the host device may receive a user input to select one of the displayed service plans. For example, the host device may receive a user input to select one service plan from a list of subscribable plans. As an example, in order to change from the first service plan for printing 15 pages per month for $0.99 to the second service plan for printing 50 pages per month for $2.99, the host device may receive a user input to select the second service plan from the list.
• the host device may generate and transmit payment data to pay the cost of the second service plan.
• the host device may generate payment data to pay the cost of the second service plan in response to the user input to select the second service plan in operation S710.
• the host device may generate payment data including information about a service plan, a subscription fee, a payment method, and the like. For example, the host device may generate payment data including information about the second service plan for printing 50 pages per month, a fee of $2.99, and user's credit card information.
• the host device may transmit the payment data to the server.
• the host device may receive confirmation data to change the first service plan to the second service plan.
• a server may proceed with payment of the second service plan based on the payment data received in operation S730.
• the server may generate payment result data indicating that payment is completed with respect to the second service plan or payment result data indicating that payment cannot be completed. For example, the server may generate payment result data indicating that a fee of $2.99 has been normally paid for the second service plan.
• the server may generate confirmation data to change the service plan of the image forming apparatus based on the payment result data indicating that the payment is completed. For example, the server may generate confirmation data confirming that the first service plan for printing 15 pages per month for $0.99 is changed to the second service plan for printing 50 pages per month for $2.99.
• the server may update the service plan information of the image forming apparatus managed by the service plan management system included in the server based on the payment result data indicating that the payment is completed. For example, the server may change the service plan of the image forming apparatus to the second service plan and update the number of remaining pages of the quota to 50 pages.
• the host device may receive, from the server, confirmation data indicating that the service plan of the image forming apparatus is changed.
• the host device may receive confirmation data including service plan information updated by the service plan management system included in the server.
• the host device may transmit the confirmation data to the image forming apparatus.
• the host device may match information of the second service plan with the first image forming apparatus and display the matched information.
• the host device may identify the updated number of remaining pages of the quota of the image forming apparatus based on the confirmation data received in operation S750. For example, the host device may identify the updated number of remaining pages of the quota of the image forming apparatus from the service plan information included in the confirmation data.
• the host device may update the number of remaining pages of the quota of the image forming apparatus in response to the changed service plan of the image forming apparatus.
• the host device may update the number of remaining pages of the quota in response to a user input to a III to update the number of remaining pages of the quota of the image forming apparatus.
• the host device may display the updated number of remaining pages of the quota of the image forming apparatus. For example, the host device may update the number of remaining pages of the quota of the image forming apparatus to 50 pages based on the confirmation data to change from the first service plan to the second service plan and display the updated number of remaining pages of the quota of the image forming apparatus.
• the host device may display a list of image forming apparatuses including the updated number of remaining pages of the quota by using a universal driver. For example, the host device may display, on a print setting screen, a list in which names and operating states of the image forming apparatuses and the updated subscription information and the updated number of remaining pages of the quota of the image forming apparatuses are matched to each other.
• FIG. 8 is a diagram for describing a driver of a host device, which suggests a service plan of an image forming apparatus, according to an example.
• the host device 10 may recommend a service plan of the image forming apparatus by using a universal driver.
• the host device 10 may display a list 800 including recommended service plans 810 and 820 together with a name of the image forming apparatus and current subscription information of the image forming apparatus.
• the host device 10 may display a recommended service plan for every set period. For example, the host device 10 may display the recommended service plans 810 and 820 for every set period such as a day, a week, or a month. [00106] The host device 10 may display the recommended service plans 810 and 820 by using a set method. For example, the host device 10 may display the recommended service plans 810 and 820 together with a list of image forming apparatuses that may perform printing. Alternatively, the host device 10 may display the recommended service plans 810 and 820 based on the image forming apparatus performing printing. Alternatively, the host device 10 may display the recommended service plans 810 and 820 through a notification message at a time defined by the user.
• the host device 10 may suggest changing a service plan based on a result of comparing the number of pages to be printed included in print data with the number of remaining pages of the quota that may be printed by the image forming apparatus. Based on an image forming apparatus, the number of remaining pages of the quota of which is less than the number of pages to be printed being selected as an image forming apparatus to perform printing, the host device 10 may display notification information indicating that the number of remaining pages of the quota is insufficient compared to the number of pages to be printed and the recommended service plans 810 and 820.
• the host device 10 may recommend a service plan that is suitable for an amount of printing of a user based on statistical information about the amount of printing of the image forming apparatus.
• the host device 10 may obtain statistical information about the amount of printing of each of the image forming apparatuses by using a universal driver.
• the host device 10 may recommend a service plan that is suitable for an amount of printing of a user based on statistical information about the amount of printing of the image forming apparatus.
• the host device 10 may recommend an economically efficient service plan based on a printing pattern obtained from the statistical information.
• the host device 10 may recommend an economically efficient service plan based on the number of pages to be printed, the number being predicted based on the statistical information.
• the host device 10 may receive a user input to select the recommended service plans 810 and 820.
• the host device 10 may change the service plan of the image forming apparatus by receiving a user input for a III indicating the recommended service plans 810 and 820.
• the host device 10 may proceed with payment for a selected service plan.
• the host device 10 may receive, from a server, confirmation data indicating that the service plan of the image forming apparatus is changed.
• the host device 10 may match the changed service plan information with the name of the image forming apparatus based on the confirmation data received from the server and display the matched information.
• FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method of suggesting a service plan of an image forming apparatus according to an example.
• Each operation of FIG. 9 may be implemented by instructions executable by a processor.
• the instructions may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium readable by a computer including a processor.
• the host device may obtain statistical information about an amount of printing of the image forming apparatus for every certain period in operation S910.
• the host device may obtain statistical information about an amount of printing of each of image forming apparatuses connected to the host device.
• the host device may set an analysis period of the amount of printing of the image forming apparatus. For example, the host device may set an analysis period in units of days, weeks, months, etc. by using a universal driver. Also, the host device may set an analysis period based on a user input defining an analysis period.
• the host device may obtain statistical information about the amount of printing of the image forming apparatus obtained in the set analysis period. For example, the host device may obtain statistical information indicating that the image forming apparatus printed 200 pages in a first period, 500 pages in a second period, and 300 pages in a third period.
• the host device may obtain statistical information about an amount of printing by collecting print logs within a set period by using a universal driver. Alternatively, the host device may transmit the collected print logs to a service plan management system and receive statistical information about the amount of printing from the service plan management system.
• the host device may identify a first service plan that matches the amount of printing of the image forming apparatus.
• the host device may display a III to recommend a service plan of the image forming apparatus. For example, the host device may set a recommendation period in units of days, weeks, months, etc. by using a universal driver. Also, the host device may set a recommendation period based on a user input defining the recommendation period. The host device may analyze statistical information of the image forming apparatus based on the set recommendation period.
• the host device may predict a number of pages to be printed from the image forming apparatus for each set period based on the statistical information obtained in operation S910.
• the host device may identify a printing pattern of the image forming apparatus (for example, a change in an amount of printing) for each period based on the statistical information.
• the host device may select to recommend a service plan change based on the identified printing pattern.
• the host device may identify, based on a printing pattern, whether the image forming apparatus is going to print more or less than the number of remaining pages of the quota for each period such as a day, a week, a month, etc. Based on the image forming apparatus being predicted to print more or less than the number of remaining pages of the quota, the host device may select to change a service plan of the image forming apparatus.
• the host device may select to change a service plan based on there being a large difference between the amounts of printing for each period. For example, based on there being a large difference in the amounts of printing for each month, the host device may select to change from a service plan for paying for each month to a service plan for paying for each year.
• the host device may identify an economically efficient service plan based on the predicted number of printing pages.
• the host device may identify an economically efficient service plan by comparing costs for printing one page. For example, the host device may identify a service plan that incurs less cost than a cost incurred with respect to the image forming apparatus based on statistical information. As an example, based on an image forming apparatus, which is subscribing to a first service plan for printing 300 pages per month for $11.99, additionally paying, twice, for a second service plan for printing 200 pages per month for $10, to print 700 pages, the host device may identify a third service plan for printing 700 pages per month for $24.99, as an efficient service plan.
• the host device may select the first service plan as a recommended service plan of the image forming apparatus.
• the host device may select the economically efficient service plan identified in operation S930 as the recommended service plan.
• the host device may select a recommended service plan for each image forming apparatus.
• the host device may display the first service plan as the recommended service plan of the image forming apparatus.
• the host device may display the recommended service plan selected in operation S950.
• the host device may display a recommended service plan with a name and current service plan information of the image forming apparatus by using a universal driver.
• the host device may set a period for which a recommended service plan is displayed. For example, the host device may set a recommendation period in units of days, weeks, months, etc. by using a universal driver. Also, the host device may set a recommendation period based on a user input defining an analysis period. The host device may analyze statistical information of the image forming apparatus and display a recommended service plan based on the set recommendation period.
• the host device may set a method of displaying a recommended service plan.
• the host device may display, by using a universal driver, a recommended service plan in response to a user input to select a method of displaying the recommended service plan.
• the host device may display the recommended service plan together with a list of image forming apparatuses that may perform printing.
• the host device may display the recommended service plan based on the image forming apparatus performing printing.
• the host device may display the recommended service plan at a time defined by the user.
• the host device may prevent payment of unnecessary fees by a user by recommending an image forming apparatus to perform printing and a service plan of the image forming apparatus.
• the example operating methods of the image forming apparatus may be implemented in the form of a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions or data executable by a computer or a processor.
• the above-described operating methods can be written as a program that can be executed on a computer, and can be implemented in a general-purpose digital computer that operates such a program by using a non-transitory computer- readable storage medium.
• the non-transitory computer-readable storage media may include read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), flash memory, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, CD+Rs, CD-RWs, CD+RWs, DVD-ROMs., DVD-Rs, DVD+Rs, DVD-RWs, DVD+RWs, DVD-RAMs, BD-ROMs, BD-Rs, BD-R LTHs, BD-REs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, magneto-optical data storage devices, optical data storage devices, hard disks, solid-state disks (SSDs), and any type of device that may store machine readable instructions, associated data, data files, and data structures, and provide machine readable instructions, associated data, data files, and data structures to a processor or a computer to execute the instructions.
• ROM read-only memory
• RAM random-access memory
• flash memory CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, CD+Rs, CD-RWs, CD+RWs, DVD-

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• 2021
  • 2021-10-29 KR KR1020210147232A patent/KR20230062211A/ko unknown
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