Service provision system, information processing device, and program product

Abstract

The invention provides a service providing system, an information processing device, and a program product. The service providing system enables a user (P) of a printing device (1) to easily grasp an amount that can be printed without additional charge in a printing service. A service provision system (1000) provides a print service for performing charging according to an area printed by a printing device (1), and is provided with: a conversion unit (204) that converts an area that can be printed by the printing device (1) to the number of sheets of a first print medium without additional charging in the print service; and a display control unit (205) that causes the terminal device (4) to display the number of first printing media converted by the conversion unit (204).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a service providing system, an information processing device and a program. Background Art

[0002] A technique for charging based on area has been known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for charging based on the area of ​​a sheet produced by a sheet production device. Patent Document 1 discloses a method of charging a predetermined amount of money when the area of ​​the produced sheet is less than a predetermined amount, and a method of adding the excess amount to the predetermined amount of money when the area of ​​the produced sheet exceeds the predetermined amount as a charging method.

[0003] However, when charging is performed based on area as in Patent Document 1, even if the user is presented with the amount that can be used without additional charge in terms of area, the user may not be able to easily understand the amount that can be used without additional charge.

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-151782 Summary of the invention

[0005] One way to solve the above-mentioned problem is a service providing system, which provides a printing service with a charge corresponding to the area printed by the printing device, and comprises: a conversion unit, which converts the area that the printing device can print in the printing service without additional charge into the number of sheets of the first printing medium; and a display control unit, which causes the display unit to display the number of sheets of the first printing medium after conversion by the conversion unit.

[0006] Another way to solve the above-mentioned problem is an information processing device, comprising: a conversion unit, which converts the area that can be printed by the printing device into the number of sheets of the first printing medium without additional charge in a printing service that charges a fee corresponding to the area printed by the printing device; and a display control unit, which causes the display unit to display the number of sheets of the first printing medium after conversion by the conversion unit.

[0007] Another way to solve the above-mentioned problem is a program product, which enables the processor of the information processing device to function as a conversion unit and a display control unit, wherein the conversion unit converts the area that the printing device can print into the number of sheets of the first printing medium without additional charge in a printing service that charges a fee corresponding to the area printed by the printing device, and the display control unit causes the display unit to display the number of sheets of the first printing medium after conversion by the conversion unit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 A diagram showing the structure of a service provision system.

[0009] Figure 2 A block diagram showing the structure of a terminal device.

[0010] Figure 3 It is a block diagram showing the structure of a printing device.

[0011] Figure 4 A block diagram of the architecture of a representation providing server is provided.

[0012] Figure 5 A flowchart showing the operation of the service providing system.

[0013] Figure 6 This is a flowchart showing the operation of the conversion unit in the conversion process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] 1. Structure of the service provision system

[0015] Figure 1 A diagram showing the structure of the service providing system 1000.

[0016] The service providing system 1000 is a system that provides a printing service that can be used when the printing device 1 is used. The printing service is a service related to printing by the printing device 1. In the present embodiment, the printing service is a service for delivering consumables of the printing device 1. The printing service is a service in which a user of the printing service pays a fee for using the printing service for a fixed period, that is, a so-called subscription model service. In the present embodiment, an example of a service in which a user of the printing service pays a fee for using the printing service for one month is shown. In addition, in the present embodiment, ink is shown as an example of a consumable delivered in the printing service.

[0017] The service providing system 1000 includes a providing server 2. The providing server 2 is a server device that manages printing services. The providing server 2 is connected to a network NW including the Internet, a telephone network, and other communication networks, and communicates with devices connected to the network NW. The providing server 2 is managed by a company that operates printing services, for example.

[0018] In addition, although the providing server 2 is represented by a single frame in each figure, this does not necessarily mean that the providing server 2 is composed of a single server device. For example, the providing server 2 may include a plurality of server devices that process different contents.

[0019] The providing server 2 is an example of an “information processing device”.

[0020] The service providing system 1000 includes a delivery server 3. The delivery server 3 is a server device that instructs a delivery person to deliver a delivery item to a delivery destination H. The delivery server 3 is, for example, owned by a company that has been entrusted with a delivery business by a company that operates a printing service, and instructs the company's staff, i.e., the delivery person, to deliver the item. The delivery server 3 is connected to a network NW and communicates with devices connected to the network NW. In this embodiment, the delivery item that the delivery server 3 instructs to deliver is a storage body such as an ink cartridge that stores ink.

[0021] In addition, although the delivery server 3 is represented by a single frame in each figure, this does not necessarily mean that the delivery server 3 is composed of a single server device. For example, the delivery server 3 may be composed of a plurality of server devices having different processing contents.

[0022] The service providing system 1000 includes a printing device 1. The printing device 1 is an inkjet printer, and performs printing by receiving ink supply from an installed ink cartridge. The maximum number of colors of ink that can be ejected from the inkjet head of the printing device 1 can be arbitrary.

[0023] The service providing system 1000 includes a terminal device 4. The terminal device 4 is a computer used by a user P. Although a laptop computer is illustrated as the terminal device 4 in this embodiment, it may be a desktop computer or a portable computer such as a smartphone. The terminal device 4 is connected to the network NW and communicates with the providing server 2. In addition, the terminal device 4 communicates with the printing device 1. The communication between the terminal device 4 and the printing device 1 may be communication via a local network constructed at the delivery destination H of the delivery object, or may be direct communication such as Wi-Fi Direct that performs wireless communication without going through an access point. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark.

[0024] The terminal device 4 is an example of a “display unit”.

[0025] exist Figure 1 2 shows a user P. The user P is a person who registers to use the printing service.

[0026] In the printing service provided by the service providing system 1000 , an ink cartridge storing ink to be consumed by the printing apparatus 1 is delivered to a delivery destination H designated by a user P.

[0027] In the printing service, a plan for using the printing service is provided. This plan is a plan that allows the printing device 1 to print a fixed area at a fixed price within a fixed period, and charges a fee based on the printed area for printing exceeding the fixed area. Hereinafter, the printing area that can be printed within the fixed price range is referred to as the "printable area".

[0028] 2. Terminal device structure

[0029] Next, the configuration of the terminal device 4 will be described.

[0030] Figure 2 It is a block diagram showing the structure of the terminal device 4.

[0031] The terminal device 4 includes a terminal control device 40 , a terminal communication unit 41 , a terminal input unit 42 , and a terminal display unit 43 .

[0032] The terminal communication unit 41 includes communication hardware such as a communication circuit in accordance with a predetermined communication standard, and communicates with the providing server 2 and the printing device 1 under the control of the terminal control device 40 .

[0033] The terminal input unit 42 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and other input means, detects operations of the user P on the input means, and outputs the operations to the terminal control device 40. The terminal control device 40 executes processing corresponding to the operations of the user P on the input means based on the input from the terminal input unit 42.

[0034] The terminal display unit 43 includes a display, and displays various information on the display under the control of the terminal control device 40 .

[0035] The terminal control device 40 includes a terminal processor 400 composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro-processing unit), etc., and a terminal memory 410, and controls various parts of the terminal device 4.

[0036] The terminal memory 410 stores programs executed by the terminal processor 400 and data processed by the terminal processor 400. The terminal memory 410 stores a printing program 411, a display program 412, and other various data. The terminal memory 410 has a non-volatile storage area. The terminal memory 410 has a volatile storage area and constitutes a work area of ​​the terminal processor 400. The terminal memory 410 is composed of, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like.

[0037] The printing program 411 is a program for controlling the printing device 1 or transmitting information related to the printing device 1 to the providing server 2 .

[0038] The display program 412 is a program for displaying information received from the providing server 2 .

[0039] The terminal processor 400 reads and executes the print program 411 , thereby functioning as a print program execution unit 401 .

[0040] The print program execution unit 401 communicates with the providing server 2 and the printing device 1 via the terminal communication unit 41. The print program execution unit 401 generates print data and transmits the generated print data to the printing device 1 via the terminal communication unit 41. The print data includes image data of the printing method, print commands in accordance with the command system of the printing device 1, and the like.

[0041] The terminal processor 400 reads and executes the display program 412 , thereby functioning as a display program execution unit 402 .

[0042] The display program execution unit 402 communicates with the providing server 2 via the terminal communication unit 41 . The display program execution unit 402 also receives instructions from the user P via the terminal input unit 42 . The display program execution unit 402 also displays information via the terminal display unit 43 .

[0043] 3. Structure of printing device

[0044] Next, the configuration of the printing device 1 will be described.

[0045] Figure 3 It is a block diagram showing the structure of the printing device 1.

[0046] The printing device 1 includes a printing control device 10 , a printing communication unit 11 , and a printing unit 12 .

[0047] The print communication unit 11 includes communication hardware such as a communication circuit in accordance with a predetermined communication standard, and communicates with the terminal device 4 under the control of the print control device 10 .

[0048] The printing unit 12 includes printing-related structures such as an inkjet head, a carriage that moves the inkjet head in a scanning direction, a motor that drives the carriage, a conveying mechanism that conveys a printing medium, a mechanism for installing an ink cartridge, and a maintenance mechanism for the inkjet head. The printing unit 12 prints on a printing medium in accordance with the control of the printing control device 10.

[0049] The print control device 10 includes a print processor 100 formed of a CPU, an MPU, etc., and a print memory 110 , and controls each unit of the printing device 1 .

[0050] The print memory 110 stores programs executed by the print processor 100 and data processed by the print processor 100. The print memory 110 stores a control program 111, a printer ID (Identification) 112, uploaded data 113, and other various data. The print memory 110 has a nonvolatile storage area. The print memory 110 has a volatile storage area and constitutes a work area of ​​the print processor 100. The print memory 110 is composed of, for example, a ROM, a RAM, and the like.

[0051] The printing device ID 112 is identification information for uniquely identifying the printing device 1 .

[0052] The uploaded data 113 is data uploaded to the providing server 2 .

[0053] The uploaded data 113 includes printing area information. The printing area information is information indicating the area printed by the printing device 1. More specifically, the area indicated by the printing area information indicates the area printed by the printing device 1 during the period from the last time the uploaded data 113 was sent to the providing server 2 to the next time the uploaded data 113 is sent to the providing server 2.

[0054] The upload data 113 includes a pair of size type information indicating the type of the size of the print medium and the number of print sheets information according to the size of the print medium that can be printed by the printing device 1. For example, when the size of the print medium that can be printed by the printing device 1 is A2, A3, and A4, the upload data 113 includes a pair of size type information and the number of print sheets information related to A2, a pair of size type information and the number of print sheets information related to A3, and a pair of size type information and the number of print sheets information related to A4. The number of print sheets information is information indicating the number of print sheets. More specifically, the number of print sheets indicated by the number of print sheets information indicates the number of print sheets that the printing device 1 has implemented during the period from the last time the upload data 113 is sent to the providing server 2 to the next time the upload data 113 is sent to the providing server 2.

[0055] The print processor 100 reads and executes the control program 111 to function as a print communication control unit 101 , a print control unit 102 , and a print update unit 103 .

[0056] The print communication control unit 101 communicates with the terminal device 4 via the print communication unit 11. The print communication control unit 101 of this embodiment receives print data from the terminal device 4. In addition, the print communication control unit 101 of this embodiment sends the upload data 113 to which the printer ID 112 is attached to the terminal device 4. In addition, the print program execution unit 401 of the terminal device 4 forwards the upload data 113 received from the printer 1 to the providing server 2. The printer ID 112 is attached to the upload data 113 forwarded to the providing server 2.

[0057] The print control unit 102 performs printing using the print unit 12 based on the print data received by the print communication control unit 101 .

[0058] The print update unit 103 updates the contents indicated by each information included in the uploaded data 113 .

[0059] The print update unit 103 updates the area indicated by the print area information. The print update unit 103 refers to the print data processed by the print control unit 102 and calculates the area printed by the print control unit 102. For example, when the print data records the area of ​​the ejected ink for each print medium, the print update unit 103 calculates the sum of the areas of the ejected ink recorded in the print data as the area printed by the print control unit 102. When calculating the area printed by the print control unit 102, the print update unit 103 updates the area indicated by the print area information to the area after adding the calculated area.

[0060] In addition, the print update unit 103 updates the number of printed sheets indicated by the print number information. The print update unit 103 refers to the print data processed by the print control unit 102, and obtains the number of sheets printed by the print control unit 102 for each size of the print medium. For example, when the print data processed by the print control unit 102 records the content of printing three A4 sheets, the print update unit 103 obtains that the number of sheets printed by the print control unit 102 for the A4 print medium is three sheets. When the print update unit 103 obtains the number of sheets printed by the print control unit 102 for each size of the print medium, it updates the number of printed sheets indicated by the print number information of the corresponding size to the number of sheets after adding the obtained number of sheets.

[0061] When the print communication control unit 101 sends the upload data 113, the print update unit 103 updates the contents indicated by each information of the upload data 113 stored in the print memory 110 to zero. That is, the print update unit 103 updates the area indicated by the print area information to zero and updates the number of prints indicated by the number of prints information to zero.

[0062] 4. Provide server structure

[0063] Next, the configuration of the providing server 2 will be described.

[0064] Figure 4 The following is a block diagram showing the structure of the providing server 2.

[0065] The providing server 2 includes a server control device 20 and a server communication unit 21 .

[0066] The server communication unit 21 includes communication hardware in compliance with a predetermined communication standard, and communicates with devices connected to the network NW under the control of the server control device 20 .

[0067] The server control device 20 includes a server processor 200 such as a CPU or an MPU and a server memory 210 , and controls each part of the providing server 2 by executing a program stored in the server memory 210 through the server processor 200 .

[0068] The server processor 200 is an example of a “processor”.

[0069] The server memory 210 stores programs executed by the server processor 200 and data processed by the server processor 200. The server memory 210 stores a control program 211 executed by the server processor 200, a first management DB (DataBase) 212, a second management DB 213, and other various data. The server memory 210 has a non-volatile storage area. The server memory 210 has a volatile storage area and constitutes a work area of ​​the server processor 200. The server memory 210 is composed of, for example, a ROM, a RAM, and the like.

[0070] The control program 211 is an example of a “program”.

[0071] The first management DB 212 is a database that manages one record R1 for each user P.

[0072] A record R includes a user ID (Identification), a printing device ID, and information about the remaining printable area. The user ID is identification information that uniquely identifies the user P. The information about the remaining printable area is information indicating the remaining printable area. The remaining printable area refers to the remaining area that can be printed within a fixed amount. In addition, the record R1 shows the size type information and the total number of prints information according to the size of the print medium that can be printed by the printing device 1 for a printing device ID 112. The total number of prints shown in the total number of prints information is the total number of prints in one month.

[0073] The second management DB 213 is a database that manages one record R2 for each user P.

[0074] A record R2 includes a user ID, a password, delivery destination information, payment method information, and plan information. The password is authentication information for authenticating the user of the printing service. The delivery destination information is information indicating the delivery destination H, such as an address. The payment method information is information indicating the payment method for the use fee of the printing service. For example, when the payment method information indicates a method of payment using a credit card, it includes a combination of information indicating that the payment method is a credit card and a credit card number. The plan information is information indicating the plan of the printing service contracted by the user P, and records at least the use fee and the printable area.

[0075] The server processor 200 reads and executes the control program 211 to function as a server communication control unit 201 , a payment processing unit 202 , a server update unit 203 , a conversion unit 204 , and a display control unit 205 .

[0076] The server communication control unit 201 communicates with the terminal device 4 via the server communication unit 21 .

[0077] The settlement processing unit 202 performs settlement processing on a record R2 of the second management DB 213 as a processing object. The settlement processing unit 202 performs settlement processing according to the usage fee indicated in the plan information using the payment method indicated in the payment method information. When the settlement processing is completed normally, the settlement processing unit 202 sends the user ID and plan information included in the processing object record R2 to the server update unit 203.

[0078] The server update unit 203 updates the content of the database stored in the server memory 210. The server update unit 203 of the present embodiment updates the content of the record R1 managed by the first management DB212.

[0079] When receiving the user ID and the plan information from the settlement processing unit 202, the server update unit 203 identifies the record R1 having the received user ID from the first management DB 212. Next, the server update unit 203 updates the printable remaining area indicated by the printable remaining area information of the identified record R1 to the printable area indicated by the received plan information.

[0080] Furthermore, when the server communication control unit 201 receives the upload data 113 , the server update unit 203 updates the printable remaining area information and the total number of prints information based on the received upload data 113 .

[0081] Specifically, the server update unit 203 identifies the record R1 having the printing device ID added to the uploaded data 113 from the first management DB 212. Next, the server update unit 203 updates the remaining printable area indicated by the remaining printable area information of the identified record R1 to a value obtained by subtracting the area indicated by the printing area information of the uploaded data 113. Furthermore, for each size type information of the uploaded data 113, the server update unit 203 updates the total number of prints indicated by the total number of prints information of the identified record R1 to a number of prints indicated by adding the number of prints indicated by the print number information of the uploaded data 113.

[0082] The conversion unit 204 converts the remaining printable area into the number of print media. The conversion performed by the conversion unit 204 will be described below.

[0083] The display control unit 205 causes the terminal device 4 to display the number of remaining printable sheets. The number of remaining printable sheets refers to the number of remaining print media that can be printed within a fixed amount of money. The display control unit 205 generates screen data that displays the number of remaining printable sheets and causes the server communication control unit 201 to send the screen data to the terminal device 4, thereby causing the terminal device 4 to display the number of remaining printable sheets.

[0084] 5. Operation of each part of the service provision system

[0085] Next, the operation of each part of the service providing system 1000 will be described.

[0086] Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the service providing system 1000. Figure 5 , flowchart FA represents the operation of the terminal device 4, and flowchart FB represents the operation of the providing server 2.

[0087] As shown in flowchart FA, the display program execution unit 402 determines whether to display the remaining printable number of sheets (step SA1). When receiving an instruction to start displaying the remaining printable number of sheets, the display program execution unit 402 makes an affirmative determination in step SA1.

[0088] When the display program execution unit 402 determines that the number of remaining printable sheets is to be displayed (step SA1: Yes), it transmits request information to the providing server 2 (step SA2). The request information is information requesting screen data for displaying the number of remaining printable sheets, and includes a user ID and a password. The user ID and password included in the request information are the user ID and password received from the display program execution unit 402 when the user P inputs an instruction to start displaying the number of remaining printable sheets.

[0089] As shown in the flowchart FB, the server communication control unit 201 receives the request information from the terminal device 4 (step SB1), and performs user authentication based on the user ID and password included in the request information (step SB2). In the user authentication of step SB2, the server communication control unit 201 determines whether the second management DB 213 manages the record R2 of the group having the user ID and password included in the request information, and if it is determined that it is managed, it is determined that the authentication is successful.

[0090] When it is determined in step SB2 that the authentication is successful, the conversion unit 204 performs conversion processing (step SB3).

[0091] Figure 6 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the conversion unit 204 during the conversion process.

[0092] The conversion unit 204 identifies the record R1 having the user ID included in the request information received in step SB1 from the first management DB 212 (step SB31 ).

[0093] Next, the conversion unit 204 calculates the total number of printed sheets recorded in the specified record R1 (step SB32 ).

[0094] For example, in the determined record R1, the total number of printed sheets corresponding to the size type information indicating A2 is 100 sheets, the total number of printed sheets corresponding to the size type information indicating A3 is 0 sheets, and the total number of printed sheets corresponding to the size type information indicating A4 is 10 sheets. In this example, the conversion unit 204 calculates the total number of sheets to be 110 sheets.

[0095] Next, the conversion unit 204 determines whether the total number of sheets calculated in step SB32 is greater than a predetermined number of sheets (step SB33). The predetermined number of sheets is, for example, 100 sheets. In addition, the 100 sheets are only an example, and the predetermined number of sheets for comparison in step SB33 can be less than 100 sheets or more than 100 sheets.

[0096] When determining that the total number of sheets calculated in step SB32 is equal to or larger than the predetermined number of sheets (step SB33 : Yes), the conversion unit 204 converts the printable remaining area of ​​the identified record R1 into the number of sheets of the first print medium (step SB34 ).

[0097] Step SB34 will be described in detail.

[0098] In the present embodiment, the first print medium is a print medium that corresponds to the printing device 1 and has been used in the past by the user P. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the first print medium is a print medium that has been printed most by the printing device 1. In addition, specifically, in the present embodiment, the first print medium is a print medium of a size that has been printed most by the printing device 1.

[0099] For example, in the record R1 determined in step SB31, the total number of printed sheets corresponding to the size type information indicating A2 is 10 sheets, the total number of printed sheets corresponding to the size type information indicating A3 is 100 sheets, and the total number of printed sheets corresponding to the size type information indicating A4 is 25 sheets. In this example, the first printing medium is an A3 printing medium. In addition, in this example, A3 is an example of a "predetermined size".

[0100] In step SB34, the conversion unit 204 determines the size of the first print medium based on the information on the total number of prints of each determined record R1. Next, the conversion unit 204 obtains the area of ​​the determined first print medium. For example, when data indicating the area of ​​the print medium for each size is stored in the server memory 210, the conversion unit 204 obtains the area of ​​the determined first print medium by reading from the server memory 210. In addition, the area of ​​the first print medium obtained by the conversion unit 204 is the area of ​​a single side. Then, the conversion unit 204 converts the remaining printable area of ​​the determined record R1 into the number of sheets of the first print medium by dividing the remaining printable area of ​​the determined record R1 by the obtained area of ​​the first print medium.

[0101] Returning to the description of step SB33 , when the conversion unit 204 determines that the total number of sheets calculated in step SB32 is less than the predetermined number of sheets (step SB33 : No), it converts the printable remaining area of ​​the determined record R1 into the number of sheets of the second print medium (step SB35 ).

[0102] For example, the second print medium is a print medium of a predetermined size such as an A4 print medium. Also, for example, the second print medium is a print medium of the largest size among the print media that can be printed by the printing device 1. In addition, the size of the second print medium may also vary depending on the region, country, etc. where the printing device 1 is used.

[0103] In step SB35, the conversion unit 204 obtains the area of ​​the second print medium. For example, when data indicating the area of ​​the second print medium is stored in the server memory 210, the conversion unit 204 obtains the determined area of ​​the second print medium by reading from the server memory 210. In addition, the area of ​​the second print medium obtained by the conversion unit 204 is the area of ​​a single side. Then, the conversion unit 204 converts the determined remaining printable area of ​​the record R1 into the number of sheets of the second print medium by dividing the determined remaining printable area of ​​the record R1 by the obtained area of ​​the second print medium.

[0104] Back to Figure 5 As described above, when the conversion unit 204 performs the conversion process, the display control unit 205 generates screen data (step SB4).

[0105] The screen shown in the screen data generated in step SB4 is a screen that displays the number of sheets converted in the conversion process of step SB3 as the remaining number of sheets that can be printed. In addition, the screen shown in the screen data generated in step SB4 is a screen that displays the size of the printing medium used for conversion in the conversion process of step SB3. For example, the screen shown in the screen data generated in step SB4 displays the string "The remaining amount that can be printed is the amount of 6.2 sheets of A3 paper." In addition, as described above, in the conversion process, the conversion is performed based on the area of ​​a single side of the printing medium. Therefore, for example, the screen shown in the screen data generated in step SB4 can also be a structure that displays the remaining number of sheets that can be printed when printing is performed in single-sided printing, such as the string "When printing on one side, the remaining amount that can be printed is the amount of 6.2 sheets of A3 paper."

[0106] The server communication control unit 201 transmits the screen data generated in step SB4 to the terminal device 4 as a response to the request information received in step SB1 (step SB5 ).

[0107] As shown in the flowchart FA, the display program execution unit 402 receives the screen data from the providing server 2 (step SA3).

[0108] Next, the display program execution unit 402 displays the screen indicated by the screen data received in step SA3 (step SA4 ).

[0109] As described above, in the service providing system 1000, the remaining printable area is displayed by the number of sheets of the first print medium or the second print medium. For example, when the printing device 1 can print A2, A3, and A4 print media and the size of the print medium most printed by the printing device 1 is A3, in the service providing system 1000, the remaining printable area is displayed by the number of sheets of A3 print media. That is, in the service providing system 1000, when the print medium most printed is a size other than the maximum size of the print media that the printing device 1 can print, the remaining printable area is displayed by the number of sheets of print media of sizes other than the maximum size. Therefore, the user P of the printing device 1 can grasp the remaining printable area by the number of sheets of the print media of the desired size that is frequently used.

[0110] 6. Other Implementation Methods

[0111] The above-mentioned embodiment is just one mode, and it can be arbitrarily modified and applied.

[0112] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the printing service is a service for delivering a container for ink used in the printing device 1. In other embodiments, the printing service may be a service for delivering consumables of the printing device 1 other than ink. In addition, examples of consumables of the printing device 1 other than ink include paper and a waste liquid tank for ink. Furthermore, if the printing device 1 is an electrophotographic printer, a container for toner may also be delivered in the printing service.

[0113] Although the printing service in the above embodiment is a service for delivering consumables of the printing device 1, the printing service is not limited to a service for delivering consumables of the printing device 1. For example, the printing service may be a service for remotely monitoring the printing volume of the printing device 1 and dispatching personnel to maintain the printing device 1 as needed.

[0114] Although in the above-mentioned embodiment, the first print medium is the print medium that the printing device 1 has printed the most, the first print medium may be a print medium of a size specified by the user P. In this case, the server memory 210 stores the size of the print medium specified by the user P for each user P or for each printing device 1. In addition, in this case, the conversion unit 204 may be configured as follows, that is, in the conversion process, instead of step SB33, it is determined whether the user P has specified the size of the print medium, and step SB34 is performed in the case of an affirmative determination, and step SB35 is performed in the case of a negative determination.

[0115] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the remaining number of sheets that can be printed within the fixed amount range is displayed. In other embodiments, the area that the printing device 1 can print before the next charge is made can be displayed by the number of sheets. For example, the following structure can be used, that is, when the charge for the portion exceeding the fixed amount range is X yen per α square meters, the area that the printing device 1 can print before the next charge of X yen is displayed by the number of sheets.

[0116] Although the printing device 1 equipped with an ink cartridge is exemplified as the "printing device" in the above embodiment, the "printing device" may also be a CISS (Continuous Ink Supply System) type printing device capable of refilling the ink tank that supplies ink to the inkjet head with ink afterwards. In this case, the printing service delivers the ink bottle filled with ink to the delivery destination H.

[0117] In other embodiments, the display program execution unit 402 may also function as the conversion unit 204 and the display control unit 205. In the case of this structure, the conversion unit 204 receives the record R1 of the processing object from the providing server 2, and performs addition processing based on the received record R1. In addition, in the case of this structure, the display control unit 205 generates screen data based on the conversion processing of the conversion unit 204, and causes the terminal display unit 43 to display a screen representing the generated screen data.

[0118] In this other embodiment, the terminal device 4 corresponds to the "information processing device", the terminal processor 400 corresponds to the "processor", the display program 412 corresponds to the "program", and the terminal display unit 43 corresponds to the "display unit".

[0119] The above-mentioned printing device 1 may be a multifunction peripheral having a scanning function and a facsimile function in addition to the printing function.

[0120] The printing device 1 may be a serial inkjet printer, a line inkjet printer, or a horizontal inkjet printer.

[0121] In other implementations, the functions of the server processor 200 and the terminal processor 400 may also be implemented by multiple processors or semiconductor chips.

[0122] Figure 2 , Figure 3 as well as Figure 4The various parts of the terminal device 4, the printing device 1, and the providing server 2 shown are examples and are not particularly limited. Of course, it is not necessary to install hardware corresponding to each part, and a structure in which the functions of each part are realized by executing a program by a processor can also be set. Part of the function realized by software can also be realized by hardware, and part of the function realized by hardware can also be realized by software. In addition, the specific detailed structures of the other parts of the terminal device 4, the printing device 1, and the providing server 2 can be changed arbitrarily.

[0123] In order to facilitate understanding of the operation of the terminal device 4 and the providing server 2, Figure 5 as well as Figure 6 The step units of the actions shown are units divided according to the main processing content, and are not limited by the division method or name of the processing unit. It can also be divided into more step units according to the processing content. It can also be divided in a way that one step unit contains more processing. In addition, the order of the steps can also be changed appropriately.

[0124] 7. Summary of the Disclosure

[0125] The following is a summary of the present disclosure.

[0126] (Supplementary Note 1) A service providing system that provides a printing service that charges a fee corresponding to the area printed by a printing device, and comprises: a conversion unit that converts the area that can be printed by the printing device in the printing service without additional charge into the number of sheets of a first printing medium; and a display control unit that causes a display unit to display the number of sheets of the first printing medium after conversion by the conversion unit.

[0127] According to this configuration, the area that the printing device can print without charging any additional fees in the printing service is displayed in terms of the number of sheets. That is, the area that the printing device can print is displayed in units that make it easy for the user of the printing device to understand the printable amount. Therefore, the user of the printing device can easily understand the amount that can be printed without charging any additional fees in the printing service.

[0128] (Supplementary Note 2) The service providing system according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the first printing medium is a brush medium that corresponds to the printing device and has been used in the past by a user of the printing device.

[0129] According to this configuration, the conversion can be performed using a printing medium for which the user of the printing device is likely to know how much area per unit of the printing medium is. Therefore, the user of the printing device can more easily understand the amount that can be printed without additional charge in the printing service.

[0130] (Supplementary Note 3) The service providing system according to Supplementary Note 2, wherein the first print medium is the print medium on which the printing device has printed the most.

[0131] According to this configuration, the conversion can be performed using a printing medium for which the user of the printing device is likely to know how much area per unit of the printing medium is. Therefore, the user of the printing device can more easily understand the amount that can be printed without additional charge in the printing service.

[0132] (Note 4) A service providing system as described in Note 3, wherein the conversion unit converts the area that can be printed by the printing device into the number of sheets of the first printing medium without additional charges in the printing service when the number of sheets of the printing medium printed by the printing device is greater than a predetermined number of sheets.

[0133] According to this configuration, the conversion can be performed using the print media that the user of the printing device is likely to use on a regular basis. Therefore, the user of the printing device can more easily understand the amount that can be printed without additional charges in the printing service.

[0134] (Note 5) A service providing system as described in Note 4, wherein the conversion unit converts the area that can be printed by the printing device in the printing service without additional charge into the number of sheets of the second printing medium when the number of sheets of the printing medium printed by the printing device is less than the predetermined number of sheets, and the display control unit causes the display unit to display the number of sheets of the second printing medium converted by the conversion unit.

[0135] According to this configuration, even if the number of print media printed by the printing device is less than the predetermined number of sheets, the area that the printing device can print without additional charge in the printing service can be displayed by the number of sheets. Therefore, even if the number of print media printed by the printing device is less than the predetermined number of sheets, the user of the printing device can easily understand the amount that can be printed without additional charge in the printing service.

[0136] (Note 6) A service providing system as described in any one of Notes 3 to 5, wherein, in a case where the print medium most printed by the printing device is a print medium of a predetermined size, the first print medium is a print medium of the predetermined size, and the predetermined size is a size other than the maximum size of the print medium that the printing device can print.

[0137] According to this configuration, even when the print medium that has been printed the most is a size other than the maximum size of the print medium that the printing device can print, the conversion can be performed using the print medium of that size. Therefore, even when the user of the printing device uses a size other than the maximum size of the print medium that the printing device can print in the printing device, the area that the printing device can print without additional charges can be displayed using the number of sheets corresponding to the size used by the user of the printing device.

[0138] (Supplementary Note 7) An information processing device comprises: a conversion unit, which converts the area that can be printed by the printing device into the number of sheets of a first printing medium without additional charge in a printing service that charges a fee corresponding to the area printed by the printing device; and a display control unit, which causes a display unit to display the number of sheets of the first printing medium converted by the conversion unit.

[0139] According to this structure, the same effect as the service providing system described in Supplementary Note 1 is achieved.

[0140] (Supplementary Note 8) A program product that enables a processor of an information processing device to function as a conversion unit and a display control unit, wherein the conversion unit converts the area that can be printed by the printing device into the number of sheets of a first printing medium without additional charge in a printing service that charges a fee corresponding to the area printed by the printing device, and the display control unit causes a display unit to display the number of sheets of the first printing medium after conversion by the conversion unit.

[0141] According to this structure, the same effect as the service providing system described in Supplementary Note 1 is achieved.

[0142] Explanation of symbols

[0143] 1…printing device; 2…providing server (information processing device); 3…delivery server; 4…terminal device (display unit, information processing device); 10…printing control device; 11…printing communication unit; 12…printing unit; 20…server control device; 21…server communication unit; 40…terminal control device; 41…terminal communication unit; 42…terminal input unit; 43…terminal display unit (display unit); 100…printing processor; 101…printing communication control unit; 102…printing control unit; 103…printing update unit; 110…printing memory; 111…control program; 112…printing device ID; 113…upload data; 200…server processor (processor); 201…server communication control unit; 202…settlement processing unit; 203…server update unit; 204…conversion unit; 205…display control unit; 210…server memory; 211…control program (program); 212…first management DB; 213…second management DB; 400…terminal processor (program); 401…printing program execution unit; 402…display program execution unit; 410…terminal memory; 411…printing program; 412…display program (program); 1000…service providing system; H…delivery destination; NW…network; P…user.

Claims

1. A service providing system for providing a printing service for which a fee is charged according to an area printed by a printing device, the service providing system comprising: a conversion unit for converting the area that the printing device can print without additional charge in the printing service into the number of sheets of the first printing medium; A display control unit causes a display unit to display the number of sheets of the first printing medium converted by the conversion unit.

2. The service providing system according to claim 1, wherein: The first printing medium is a printing medium that corresponds to the printing device and has been used in the past by a user of the printing device.

3. The service providing system according to claim 2, wherein: The first printing medium is the printing medium that has been printed most by the printing device.

4. The service providing system according to claim 3, wherein: The conversion unit converts an area that the printing device can print without additional charge in the printing service into the number of sheets of the first printing medium when the number of sheets of the printing medium printed by the printing device is equal to or larger than a predetermined number of sheets.

5. The service providing system according to claim 4, wherein: The conversion unit converts the area that the printing device can print without additional charge in the printing service into the number of sheets of the second printing medium when the number of sheets of the printing medium printed by the printing device is less than the predetermined number of sheets. The display control unit causes the display unit to display the number of sheets of the second printing medium converted by the conversion unit.

6. The service providing system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein: In the case where the printing medium most frequently printed by the printing device is a printing medium of a predetermined size, the first printing medium is a printing medium of the predetermined size. The predetermined size is a size other than the maximum size of the print medium that can be printed by the printing device.

7. An information processing device comprising: a conversion unit for converting the area that can be printed by the printing device into the number of sheets of the first printing medium without additional charge in a printing service in which a charge is made according to the area printed by the printing device; A display control unit causes a display unit to display the number of sheets of the first printing medium converted by the conversion unit.

8. A program product that causes a processor of an information processing device to function as a conversion unit and a display control unit, The conversion unit converts the area that can be printed by the printing device into the number of sheets of the first printing medium without additional charge in a printing service that charges according to the area printed by the printing device. The display control unit causes a display unit to display the number of sheets of the first printing medium converted by the conversion unit.

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