System, image forming apparatus, server, and method for controlling system

Abstract

A system, an image forming apparatus, a server, and a control method of the system are provided. The system includes the image forming apparatus, the server, and an information processing device. The server associates and stores a user ID identifying a user using the image forming apparatus, an apparatus ID of the image forming apparatus, and a first throughput. The image forming apparatus stores a second throughput. The information processing apparatus transmits an addition command of a specific amount of throughput and a first amount of throughput associated with a user ID. The server adds the specific throughput to a first throughput associated with the user ID in response to the addition command, and updates a second throughput of the image forming apparatus of the apparatus ID associated with the user ID based on the added first throughput. The image forming apparatus updates the second available processing amount based on the processing amount of the image forming process being executed. The server updates a first throughput associated with the device ID of the image forming device that has executed the image forming process, based on a throughput of the executed image forming process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for managing a processable amount of image forming processing performed by an image forming apparatus. Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a printing system consisting of a mobile terminal, a printer, and a server. Specifically, the server stores the printer's device ID and the number of printable sheets permitted by the printer in a server management table, in association. The mobile terminal sends a print command to the printer to print. Furthermore, the mobile terminal sends permission setting information to the server, which specifies the number of printable sheets plus the recharge number in the server management table. The server and printer synchronize the printable sheet numbers in the server management table with those in the printer management table.

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-110476 Summary of the Invention

[0004] However, it is also desirable to synchronize the number of printable sheets between the server and the printer using a method other than the method described in Patent Document 1.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a technology that can realize a new method for managing the throughput.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned objective, the present invention provides a system comprising an image forming apparatus, a server, and an information processing device. The server includes a first storage unit for storing a user ID, a device ID, and a first processable capacity in association with each other. The user ID is used to identify a user utilizing the image forming apparatus, and the device ID is used to identify the image forming apparatus. The first processable capacity is the processable capacity of image forming processing executed by the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit and a second storage unit for storing a second processable capacity. The second processable capacity is the processable capacity of image forming processing executed by the image forming unit. The information processing device sends an addition command to the server, the addition command causing the server to add a specific processable capacity to the first processable capacity associated with the user ID. The server performs the following processing: an addition process for adding the specific processable capacity to the first processable capacity associated with the user ID in response to receiving the addition command from the information processing device; and a first update process for updating the second processable capacity of the image forming apparatus identified by the device ID associated with the user ID based on the added first processable capacity. The image forming apparatus executes the following processes: an image forming process for forming an image using the image forming unit; and a second updating process for updating the second processable capacity based on a processing volume of the executed image forming process. The server executes a third updating process for updating the first processable capacity associated with a device ID of the image forming apparatus that executed the image forming process based on the processing volume of the executed image forming process.

[0007] In the system of the present invention, a specific processable amount is added to the first processable amount associated with the user ID, and based on the added first processable amount, the second processable amount of the image forming device identified by the device ID associated with the user ID is updated, so that the number of printable sheets can be managed for each user.

[0008] Furthermore, when multiple device IDs are associated with a user ID, the server updates the second processable capacity of the multiple image forming devices identified by the multiple device IDs based on the first processable capacity during the first update process. This facilitates automatic updating of the second processable capacity of each of the multiple image forming devices, even without the user specifying that the second processable capacity be updated for each of the multiple image forming devices.

[0009] Furthermore, in the second update process, the image forming apparatus updates the second processable capacity based on the processing volume of the executed image forming process, and transmits the updated second processable capacity to the server. In the third update process, the server updates the first processable capacity based on the updated second processable capacity. In this way, the first processable capacity can be updated based on the updated second processable capacity simply by the image forming apparatus transmitting the updated processable capacity to the server, thereby reducing the processing load on the server by the image forming apparatus.

[0010] Furthermore, the image forming device transmits the throughput of the executed image forming process to the server. In a third update process, the server updates the first processable capacity based on the throughput of the image forming process received from the image forming device and transmits the updated first processable capacity to the image forming device. In a second update process, the image forming device updates the second processable capacity based on the updated first processable capacity. In this manner, simply by transmitting the throughput of the image forming process to the server, the server can update the first processable capacity based on the throughput of the image forming process and transmit the updated first processable capacity to the image forming device. The image forming device only needs to receive the first processable capacity from the server to update the second processable capacity, thereby simplifying the image forming device's update process for the second processable capacity.

[0011] Furthermore, when the image forming processing volume exceeds the first processable volume, the server charges the information processing device a fee corresponding to the excess volume.

[0012] Furthermore, when multiple device IDs are associated with a user ID, the server updates the second processable capacities of multiple image forming devices identified by the multiple device IDs based on a portion of the first processable capacity in the first update process. This increases the variety of update methods.

[0013] Furthermore, when a specific device ID is associated with multiple user IDs, the server updates the second processable capacity of the image forming device identified by the specific device ID based on the total of the first processable capacity associated with each of the multiple user IDs during the first update process. This further increases the variety of update methods.

[0014] Furthermore, in the second update process, the image forming device updates the second processable capacity based on the capacity obtained by dividing the image forming process capacity by the number of user IDs associated with the specific device ID. In the third update process, the server updates the first processable capacity associated with the device ID of the image forming device that executed the image forming process based on the capacity obtained by dividing the image forming process capacity by the number of user IDs associated with the specific device ID. This further increases the variety of update methods.

[0015] Furthermore, when the image forming processing volume exceeds the first processable volume, the server requests a fee from the information processing device corresponding to the processing volume, where the processing volume is calculated by dividing the excess processing volume by the number of user IDs associated with the specific device ID. This allows the user to use the image forming device without being aware of whether the first processable volume has been exceeded.

[0016] Furthermore, the image forming process includes a process of forming an image on a sheet using a colorant, and the processable amount includes the amount of the sheet or the amount of the colorant.

[0017] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention further provides an image forming device comprising: an image forming unit; a second storage unit for storing a second processable amount, the second processable amount being the processable amount of image forming processing executed by the image forming unit; and a controller. The image forming device is capable of operating in conjunction with a server, the server including a first storage unit for storing a user ID, a device ID, and a first processable amount in association with each other, the user ID being used to identify a user utilizing the image forming device, the device ID being used to identify the image forming device, and the first processable amount being the processable amount of image forming processing executed by the image forming device. The controller executes the following processing: an image forming process for forming an image using the image forming unit; and an update process for updating the second processable amount based on the processing amount of the executed image forming process.

[0018] To achieve the above-mentioned objective, the present invention further provides a server comprising: a first storage unit for storing a user ID, a device ID, and a first processable amount in association with each other, the user ID being used to identify a user utilizing an image forming device, the device ID being used to identify the image forming device, the first processable amount being the processable amount of image forming processing executed by the image forming device; and a controller. The controller executes the following processing: an addition process for adding a specific processable amount to the first processable amount associated with the user ID in response to receiving an addition command from an information processing device; and an update process for updating a second processable amount of the image forming device identified by the device ID associated with the user ID based on the added first processable amount, the second processable amount being the processable amount of image forming processing executed by the image forming unit of the image forming device.

[0019] In the server of the present invention, a specific processable amount is added to the first processable amount associated with the user ID, and based on the added first processable amount, the second processable amount of the image forming device identified by the device ID associated with the user ID is updated, so the number of printable sheets can be managed for each user.

[0020] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention further provides a control method for a control system comprising an image forming apparatus, a server, and an information processing device. The image forming apparatus comprises an image forming unit; and a second storage unit for storing a second processable amount, the second processable amount being the processable amount of image forming processing performed by the image forming unit. The server comprises a first storage unit for storing a user ID, a device ID, and a first processable amount in association with each other, the user ID being used to identify a user utilizing the image forming apparatus, the device ID being used to identify the image forming apparatus, and the first processable amount being the processable amount of image forming processing performed by the image forming apparatus. The control method includes: a sending step for sending an addition command from the information processing device to the server, the addition command being used to cause the server to add a specific processable amount to the first processable amount associated with the user ID; an adding step, in the server, in response to receiving the addition command from the information processing device, adding the specific processable amount to the first processable amount associated with the user ID; a first updating step, in the server, based on the added first processable amount, updating the second processable amount of the image forming device identified by the device ID associated with the user ID; an image forming step, in the image forming device, using the image forming unit to form an image; a second updating step, in the image forming device, updating the second processable amount based on the processing amount of the image forming processing performed; and a third updating step, in the server, updating the first processable amount associated with the device ID of the image forming device that performed the image forming processing based on the processing amount of the image forming processing performed.

[0021] In this way, in the control method of the control system of the present invention, a specific processable amount is added to the first processable amount associated with the user ID, and based on the added first processable amount, the second processable amount of the image forming device identified by the device ID associated with the user ID is updated, so the number of printable sheets can be managed according to each user. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A flowchart of a synchronization process performed by a server included in a printing system, particularly a server CPU.

[0024] Figure 3 It shows Figure 1A flowchart of a synchronization process performed by a printer included in a printing system, particularly a printer CPU.

[0025] Figure 4 This is used to explain how to use two printers when a single user uses two printers. Figure 2 and Figure 3 The synchronization process enables the printing of synchronized numbers of images.

[0026] Figure 5 This is used to explain how to use two printers when two users use two and three printers respectively. Figure 2 and Figure 3 The synchronization process enables the printing of synchronized numbers of images.

[0027] Figure 6 This is a diagram showing specific examples of various types of information stored in the printer management table and the server management table. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] (Structure of Printing System 1)

[0030] Figure 1 The structure of a printing system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The printing system 1 is used in a printing service provided to a user. The printing service is a service that enables a user to print by charging the user for the number of sheets of paper that can be printed using the printer 20, that is, the number of printable sheets (an example of the "processable amount" of the present invention). By paying an initial fee when the user applies for the printing service, the user is given a specified number of printable sheets (for example, 500 sheets). The "number of sheets" here is used as a term representing a unit for counting the number of single sides of a paper. Therefore, the number of printable sheets represents the number of single sides of a paper that can be printed. When a single side of a paper is printed, the number of printable sheets decreases by 1 sheet, and when both sides are printed, the number of printable sheets decreases by 2 sheets. In addition, in the following description, setting the number of printable sheets or increasing the number of printable sheets by charging an additional fee is sometimes referred to as "recharge". In addition, the number of printable sheets is sometimes referred to as the recharged number of sheets.

[0031] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the printer 20 is, for example, an inkjet printer. When the printer 20 is delivered from the manufacturer to the user, it is filled with the amount of ink required to print at least the specified printable number assigned to the user (e.g., 500 + α sheets). Therefore, with this printing service, after receiving the printer 20, the user does not need to refill the printer 20 with ink or replace the ink cartridge while printing the specified printable number assigned to them by the initial payment. Therefore, this printing service eliminates the need to refill the printer 20 with ink, providing a highly convenient service for the user.

[0032] Furthermore, if a user wishes to print more than the specified number of printable sheets granted by paying the initial fee, they must pay an additional fee. By purchasing the additional number of printable sheets, the user can continue to use the printer 20. As the user repeatedly purchases additional sheets, if the remaining ink level in the printer 20 provided by paying the initial fee decreases, the user can request a replacement printer 20, allowing the printer 20 to be replaced, thereby continuing the printing service. The number α sheets is appropriately set by the printing service provider.

[0033] The printing system 1 includes a mobile terminal device 10, a printer 20, and a server 30. The mobile terminal device 10 and the printer 20 are connected via a router 2 in a manner that allows them to communicate with each other by wire or wirelessly (for example, via a LAN). In addition, the mobile terminal device 10 and the server 30 are connected via the router 2 and the Internet 3 in a manner that allows them to communicate with each other. In addition, the printer 20 and the server 30 are connected via the router 2 and the Internet 3 in a manner that allows them to communicate with each other. The above-mentioned network structure is exemplary. For example, the server 30 can also be configured in a LAN. In addition, there can be multiple mobile terminal devices 10 and printers 20 connected to the server 30, multiple mobile terminal devices 10 can be connected to one printer 20, and a printer 20 that performs printing can be selected from multiple printers 20.

[0034] (Structure of Mobile Terminal Device 10)

[0035] The mobile terminal device 10 causes a printer 20 to print an image on paper (an example of a "sheet" in the present invention). The mobile terminal device 10 is, for example, a smartphone. The mobile terminal device 10 includes a terminal CPU 11, a terminal storage unit 12, a short-range communication unit 13, a display 14, an input interface (I / F) 15, an image acquisition unit 16, and an external communication unit 17. These components can communicate with each other via a bus 18.

[0036] The terminal storage unit 12 is composed of, for example, a combination of RAM, ROM, flash memory, HDD, and cache memory of the terminal CPU 11. The terminal storage unit 12 stores a terminal program 12A, an application program (hereinafter sometimes referred to as an application) 12B, print data 12C, and a user ID 12D. The terminal program 12A is a program that uniformly controls the mobile terminal device 10 and provides basic functions and services to the application 12B. The terminal program 12A is, for example, Android (registered trademark) OS or iOS (registered trademark). Furthermore, when the mobile terminal device 10 is, for example, a PC, the terminal program 12A is, for example, Windows (registered trademark) OS. The application 12B is, for example, a program provided by the manufacturer of the printer 20 that utilizes the functions of the terminal program 12A to execute various processes described later, such as setup processing or print commands for the printer 20, and recharge commands to the server 30. The terminal CPU 11 executes the terminal program 12A and the application 12B to control the mobile terminal device 10 and issue commands to the server 30. Print data 12C is data obtained by converting an image to be printed into a data format that can be interpreted by printer 20. User ID 12D corresponds to a user ID stored in a server management table described later and is information identifying the user of mobile terminal 10. Terminal storage unit 12 also stores the number of sheets that can be printed by printer 20.

[0037] In the following description, the mobile terminal device 10 in which the terminal CPU 11 executes the terminal program 12A or application 12B may be referred to simply as the device name. For example, "mobile terminal device 10" may mean "the mobile terminal device 10 in which the terminal CPU 11 executes the terminal program 12A or application 12B." The same applies to the printer 20 in which the printer CPU 26A executes the printer program 26B1 (described later), and the server 30 in which the server CPU 32A executes the server program 32B1.

[0038] The short-range communication unit 13 communicates wirelessly with the printer 20 at a short distance. The short-range communication unit 13 includes, for example, a communication circuit for wirelessly communicating with the short-range communication unit 21 of the printer 20 described later via Bluetooth (a registered trademark) or NFC (abbreviation for Near Field Communication). The display 14 displays various information and can be an LCD or an organic EL display, but is not particularly limited to these. As the input interface 15, a touch panel integrally formed with the display 14 can be used to receive user operations on icons displayed on the display 14. Alternatively, the input interface 15 can be a keyboard, a mouse, or the like.

[0039] The image acquisition unit 16 includes, for example, a camera (not shown) included in the mobile terminal 10 and acquires images captured by the camera. Alternatively, the image acquisition unit 16 may be connected to an external device such as a HDD to acquire images. Images acquired by the image acquisition unit 16 may be converted into print data 12C and stored in the terminal storage unit 12.

[0040] The external communication unit 17 includes, for example, a communication circuit that transmits and receives data to and from the router 2 via wireless communication based on the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) communication standard. The external communication unit 17 is connected to the printer 20 via the router 2. Furthermore, the external communication unit 17 is connected to the server 30 via the router 2 and the Internet 3. Alternatively, the external communication unit 17 may be connected to the router 2 via wired communication such as a LAN cable.

[0041] (Structure of Printer 20)

[0042] The printer 20 is, for example, an inkjet color printer. The printer 20 includes a short-range communication unit 21, an external communication unit 22, a tank 23, a remaining ink level detector 24, a printer 25, a scanner 28, a user interface 27, and a printer control unit 26. The external communication unit 22 includes a communication circuit for transmitting and receiving signals to and from an external device connected via a network (in this embodiment, the mobile terminal 10 and the server 30). The tank 23 is a container for storing ink. In this embodiment, there are four types of ink (magenta M, cyan C, yellow Y, and black BK), and multiple tanks 23 are provided, one for each type of ink. That is, the printer 20 uses multiple tanks 23 to independently store each of the four types of ink. In this embodiment, when the printer 20 is provided to the user by the manufacturer, each of the multiple tanks 23 is filled with an amount of ink sufficient to print a specified number of sheets, for example, at a single-color coverage of 5%. The specified number of sheets is a number greater than the number of printable sheets granted to the user who has applied for the printing service and can be appropriately set by the manufacturer providing the printing service.

[0043] In addition, the tank 23 is configured so that the user cannot fill it with ink. Specifically, the tank 23 is arranged at a position that the user cannot reach. In addition, the tank 23 is fixed to the printer 20 in a manner that cannot be installed or removed. The remaining ink amount detection unit 24 detects the remaining ink amount, which is the remaining amount of ink stored in the tank 23. The remaining ink amount detection unit 24 is an optical sensor that is arranged on the tank 23 and detects the remaining ink amount by detecting the height of the ink liquid level. The remaining ink amount detection unit 24 is respectively arranged on a plurality of tanks 23 to detect the remaining ink amount of each of the plurality of tanks 23. The printer 20 may also have a structure in which the user can install and remove the tank 23. In addition, the tank 23 may also have a structure having an injection port through which the user can fill it with ink.

[0044] The printing unit 25 includes a print head, a carriage on which the print head is mounted, and a conveying mechanism for conveying paper, and performs printing by ejecting ink stored in the tank 23 from the print head onto the paper. The printing unit 25 performs processing for printing an image, such as the print data 12C received from the mobile terminal device 10, on paper using a known inkjet method. The scanning unit 28 has a reading sensor and uses the reading sensor to read an image from the original. The user I / F 27 is, for example, a touch panel or button switch integrated with a display, and receives operation input from the user and displays various information. The printer control unit 26 controls the printer 20 in a unified manner. The printer control unit 26 has a printer CPU 26A and a printer storage unit 26B. The above-mentioned structure of the printer 20 is exemplary.

[0045] The printer CPU 26A controls the operation of the printer 20 by executing a printer program 26B1 in the printer storage unit 26B. The printer program 26B1 is a program that manages the printer 20 and causes the printer 20 to execute various processes. The printer storage unit 26B is composed of, for example, a combination of RAM, ROM, flash memory, HDD, and cache memory within the printer CPU 26A.

[0046] In addition, the printer storage unit 26B stores a printer management table PT. The printer management table PT is a table that stores information related to the printer 20, which is related to the use of the printing service. The information stored in the printer management table PT is used appropriately when executing various processes described later. In the printer management table PT, the device ID, the number of printable sheets, the remaining ink amount, the device settings, and the synchronization date and time are stored in association. Figure 6 In the printer management table PT shown in (a), "prnA" is stored as the device ID, "500" is stored as the number of printable sheets, "ink1" is stored as the remaining ink amount, "dc1" is stored as the device setting, and "cd1" is stored as the synchronization date and time.

[0047] The device ID is, for example, a serial number set by the manufacturer of the printer 20, and is inherent information that can distinguish the printer 20 from other printers. The device ID is not limited to a serial number, and may be, for example, a wired MAC address or a wireless MAC address of the short-range communication unit 21 or the external communication unit 22. The number of printable sheets represents the number of sheets of paper that can be printed by the printer 20. Users who use the printer 20 can only print the number of printable sheets stored in the printer management table PT. The number of printable sheets is added (recharged) by charging the user a number corresponding to the charged amount. On the other hand, the number of sheets of paper used for printing by the printer 20 is subtracted from the number of printable sheets. The number of printable sheets can also be stored in association with the user ID of the user who uses the printer 20.

[0048] The remaining ink level indicates the remaining ink level detected by the remaining ink level detection unit 24. After the printer 20 performs ink-using operations such as ink refilling, nozzle checking, and printing, it stores the remaining ink level detected by the remaining ink level detection unit 24 in the printer management table PT. The device settings include settings such as the printer 20's functions (printing, etc.), the settings for each function (paper size, color, magnification, etc.), and the language displayed on the user interface 27. The synchronization date and time indicates the date and time of the last (most recent) synchronization process performed with the server 30. The synchronization process mentioned here is, for example, a process to match the printable number of sheets between the server 30 and the printer 20.

[0049] (Structure of Server 30)

[0050] like Figure 1 As shown, the server 30 includes an external communication unit 31 and a server control unit 32. The external communication unit 31 includes a communication circuit for communicating with the mobile terminal device 10 or printer 20 connected via a network. The server control unit 32 provides overall control of the server 30. The server control unit 32 includes a server CPU 32A and a server storage unit 32B. The server CPU 32A controls the operation of the server 30 by executing a server program 32B1 in the server storage unit 32B. The server program 32B1 is a program that manages the server 30 and causes the server 30 to perform various processes.

[0051] The server storage unit 32B is composed of, for example, a combination of RAM, ROM, flash memory, HDD, and cache memory within the server CPU 32A. Furthermore, the server storage unit 32B stores a server management table ST. The server management table ST stores information required for using the print service. The server management table ST associates information about each printer 20 using the print service with the printer 20's device ID and is managed by the manufacturer. The information stored in the server management table ST is used appropriately when executing the various processes described below.

[0052] The server management table ST stores the device ID, the user ID of the user using the printer 20, and the number of printable sheets in association with each other. The device ID and the number of printable sheets are the same data as in the printer management table PT described above, and the data of the printer management table PT is stored in association with the same device ID. Furthermore, the server management table ST may also store the login ID and password used by the user of the mobile terminal 10 when logging into the server 30, in association with the device ID. The server management table ST will be described in detail later.

[0053] In this embodiment, the server 30 manages the printable number of sheets for each of the multiple printers 20 using the print service using a server management table ST that associates the device ID, the user ID of the user using the printer 20, and the printable number of sheets. The server 30 synchronizes the printable number of sheets of the printer 20 with the printer 20 by performing a synchronization process to synchronize the increase or decrease in the printable number of sheets in response to user recharge operations or print instructions. The server 30 manages the latest printable number of sheets in the server management table ST.

[0054] The following is based on Figures 2 to 5 The synchronization process executed by the printing system 1 configured as described above will be described.

[0055] This synchronization process is based on one or more users recharging multiple printers 20. Instead of each user specifying each printer 20 and instructing the server 30 to recharge individually, each user specifies their own recharge instruction. Accordingly, the server 30 first distributes the number of recharges based on the requested recharge to the specified user, and then distributes the recharged number allocated to the user to each printer 20. Furthermore, the server 30 synchronizes the number of prints printed by each printer 20. This allows users to recharge multiple printers 20 without having to recharge each printer 20 individually, providing significant convenience.

[0056] The following two situations are used to describe the synchronization process:

[0057] Case 1: A user A uses two printers A and B; and

[0058] Case 2: Of two users B and C, user B uses two printers A and B, and user C uses three printers A to C (all having the same structure as the printer 20).

[0059] First, according to Figures 2 to 4 Case 1 is described. Figure 2 The procedure of the server-side synchronization process performed by the server 30, particularly by the server CPU 32A, is shown. Figure 3 The following is a diagram showing the procedure of the printer-side synchronization process executed by the printer 20, specifically, by the printer CPU 26A. In the printer-side synchronization process, the same process is executed in parallel in both printers A and B. Figure 4 It shows that when user A instructs the server 30 to recharge, Figure 2 and Figure 3 The synchronization process is a specific example of how the number of printable sheets is synchronized between the server 30 and printers A and B. Figure 4 (a) and Figure 4In (b), the number of printable sheets allocated to user A is allocated to printers A and B in different ways. The server-side synchronization process starts when the power of the server 30 is turned on. The printer-side synchronization process of printer A starts when the power of printer A is turned on, and the printer-side synchronization process of printer B starts when the power of printer B is turned on. Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the description of each process, the step is marked as "S".

[0060] In case 1, if Figure 6 As shown in (b) in FIG. 3 , the number of printable sheets stored in the server management table ST of the server 30 is associated with the user ID of the user A. The number of printable sheets allocated to the user A is allocated to the printers A and B, respectively. Figure 6 As shown in (b) in FIG. 1 , the user ID of user A is associated with the device IDs of printers A and B in the server management table ST.

[0061] when Figure 2 When the server-side synchronization process starts, first, the server CPU 32A determines whether a recharge command has been received (S10). For example, when a user purchases additional printable sheets from the mobile terminal device 10, a recharge command is sent from the mobile terminal device 10 to the server 30. The recharge command includes the user ID 12D stored in the terminal storage unit 12 and the information of the additional printable sheets purchased by the user. In case 1, first, as Figure 4 As shown in (a) of FIG1 , the printable sheet counts in the server 30 and printers A and B are all "0" (empty). When user A purchases 300 additional printable sheets from this empty state, the server CPU 32A receives a recharge command from the mobile terminal 10 (S10: YES) and updates the printable sheet count in the server 30 (S12). Specifically, the server CPU 32A identifies the user ID in the server management table ST associated with the user ID 12D included in the recharge command. In case 1, it is assumed that the user identified by user ID 12D is user A. The server CPU 32A then updates the printable sheet count associated with user A's user ID in the server management table ST from "0" to "300." Figure 6 The server management table ST shown in (b) in FIG. 1 shows the stored contents at this time. Hereinafter, the number of printable sheets associated with the user ID of user A may be referred to as "the number of printable sheets of user A."

[0062] Next, the server CPU 32A sends a notification regarding the updated printable number of sheets to each printer (S14). Here, because the user ID of user A is associated with the device IDs of printers A and B, the server CPU 32A sends a notification regarding the updated printable number of sheets to printers A and B. This notification also includes the updated printable number of sheets ("300").

[0063] exist Figure 3 In the example, when the CPU 26A of printer A receives an update notification of the number of printable sheets from the server 30 (S100: Yes), the CPU 26A of printer A updates the number of printable sheets stored in the printer management table PT of printer A (S102). Similarly to printer A, when printer B receives an update notification of the number of printable sheets from the server 30 (S100: Yes), the CPU 26A of printer B updates the number of printable sheets stored in the printer management table PT of printer B (S102). As described above, due to Figure 3 The printer-side synchronization processing is executed in parallel in both printer A and printer B. Therefore, the printer CPU 26A is a different CPU in printer A and printer B. However, for the sake of convenience, the same name is used instead of a different name. When S102 is executed, Figure 4 As shown in (a) of FIG102 , the printable sheet counts in printer A's printer management table PT and printer B's printer management table PT are updated from "0" to "300," respectively. This synchronizes the printable sheet counts for user A in the server management table ST with the printable sheet counts in the respective printer management tables PT of printers A and B. After S102 , the synchronization time of each printer management table PT of printers A and B is updated to the current time. Furthermore, after S102 , when printers A and B notify the server 30 that the printable sheet count update received from the server 30 has been completed, the server 30 updates the synchronization time of the server management table ST to the current time.

[0064] In the above Figure 4 In the example (a) above, the printable number of user A in the server management table ST is allocated directly to the respective printable numbers of printers A and B. However, the allocation method is not limited to this. For example, the allocation method may allocate a portion of user A's printable number to each printer A and B. Figure 4 (b) in the expression Figure 4 (a) An example of different allocation methods. Figure 4 The distribution method (b) in FIG. 1 shows an even distribution method between printers A and B. Specifically, the printable number "300" of user A in the server management table ST is evenly distributed to "150" each, and the printable number is distributed to printers A and B. Figure 6The server management table ST shown in (c) shows the current storage contents. Various other allocation methods are also possible. For example, the number of printable sheets for user A could be allocated based on the past printing performance of printers A and B, or a method could be used to allocate a certain number of sheets (e.g., 50 sheets) to printers A and B, and then allocate a certain number of sheets again after printers A and B have finished printing that number of sheets.

[0065] When the printable number of sheets is evenly distributed, the result may not be an integer. However, in such cases, it can be adjusted to an integer. For example, if the number of sheets charged is 9 and they are evenly distributed between printers A and B, 4 sheets will be allocated to printer A and 5 sheets to printer B. In this case, the server 30 will store the fact that printer A has 0.5 fewer sheets and printer B has 0.5 more sheets. If the next equal distribution does not result in an integer, the number of sheets allocated to printer A will be increased by one sheet compared to printer B.

[0066] Next, the printer CPU 26A determines whether a print instruction has been issued (S104). Examples of print instructions include instructions sent from the mobile terminal device 10 to the printer 20 when the user uses the mobile terminal device 10 to cause the printer 20 to print the print data 12C stored in the terminal storage unit 12, and instructions issued when the scanner unit 28 and printer unit 25 copy a document. If, in S104, a print instruction has been issued (S104: Yes), the printer CPU 26A determines whether the number of printable sheets is "0" (S106). If the number of printable sheets is ≠ 0 (S106: No), printing is executed (S108).

[0067] Then, the printer CPU 26A subtracts the number of printed sheets from the number of printable sheets in the printer management table PT (S110), and sends a notification of the updated number of printable sheets to the server 30 (S112). The notification of the updated number of printable sheets also includes the updated number of printable sheets after the subtraction. Figure 4 In the example (a), since printer A printed 10 sheets, the printable number of sheets for printer A is 300 - 10 = 290. Then, printer A sends a notification (including 290) indicating the printable number update to server 30. The update notification may include the number of sheets printed by the printer instead of the updated printable number. Alternatively, the update notification may include both the updated printable number and the number of sheets printed by the printer.

[0068] exist Figure 2In the process, the server CPU 32A determines whether an update notification of the number of printable sheets has been received from the printer 20 (S16). If an update notification of the number of printable sheets has been received (S16: YES), the server CPU 32A updates the number of printable sheets in the server 30 (S18). Now, the server CPU 32A has received an update notification of the number of printable sheets (including 290) from the printer A, and therefore updates the number of printable sheets for user A in the server management table ST from "300" to "290."

[0069] Then, the server CPU 32A sends the update notification of the number of printable sheets to each printer (S20) in the same manner as in S14. Specifically, the server CPU 32A sends the update notification of the number of printable sheets (including 290) to the printers A and B. As a result, the printers A and B execute Figure 3 The processing from S100 to S102 is as follows Figure 4 As shown in (a) of FIGURE 1, the printable number of sheets for user A in the server management table ST is synchronized with the printable number of sheets in the printer management tables PT for printers A and B. After the printable number of sheets is synchronized, the synchronization time of the server management table ST and the synchronization time of the printer management tables PT for printers A and B are updated to the current time.

[0070] Then, Figure 4 In this case, the server management table ST stores three types of printable sheets: the printable sheets for user A, the printable sheets associated with the device ID of printer A, and the printable sheets associated with the device ID of printer B (see Figure 6 (c) in the figure). Hereinafter, the number of printable sheets associated with the device ID of printer A may be referred to as "printable sheets of printer A," and the number of printable sheets associated with the device ID of printer B may be referred to as "printable sheets of printer B."

[0071] exist Figure 4In the example (b) of FIG. 1 , when the server CPU 32A sends an update notification regarding the printable number of sheets to printers A and B in S14 , it sends an update notification containing the value "150" to printers A and B. Consequently, printers A and B update the printable number of sheets in their respective printer management tables PT to "150" (S102). Then, when printer A prints 10 sheets, printer A sends an update notification containing the value "140" to the server 30 (S112). In response, the server CPU 32A of the server 30 updates the printable number of sheets for printer A from "150" to "140" and updates the printable number of sheets for user A from "300" to the value "printer A's printable number (=140) + printer B's printable number (=150) = 290" (S18). The server CPU 32A then evenly divides "290" into "145" each and sends notifications of the updated printable number (including "145") to printers A and B (S20). Printers A and B each receive the notification of the updated printable number from the server 30 (S100: YES), and the printer CPUs 26A of each printer A and B update the printable number in the printer management table PT to "145" (S102).

[0072] Then, based on Figure 4Example (a) in Figure 1 illustrates the case of printing exceeding the printable number of sheets. Assume that server 30 sends an update notification (including "290") to printers A and B, and both the printable number for user A in the server management table ST and the printable number for each printer management table PT of printers A and B are "290." In this case, both printers A and B can print 290 sheets. For example, suppose printer A prints 290 sheets and printer B prints 200 sheets. In this case, printer A sends an update notification containing "0" (sheets) to server 30 (S112), and printer B sends an update notification containing "90" (sheets) to server 30 (S112). In response to this, the server CPU 32A updates the number of printable sheets for user A in the server management table ST from "290" to "-200" (= the current number of printable sheets for user A, i.e., 290 - the number of printable sheets for printer A, i.e., 290 - the number of printable sheets for printer B, i.e., 200) (S18), and sends a notification of the updated number of printable sheets to printers A and B (S20). For example, the server CPU 32A can calculate the number of printable sheets for printer A (=290) based on the number of printable sheets before the update notification for printer A (=290) - the number of sheets included in the update notification (=0). The same applies to the number of printable sheets for printer B (=200). In S112, an update notification including the number of printable sheets (290) can be sent from printer A to the server 30, and an update notification including the number of printable sheets (200) can be sent from printer B to the server 30. At this time, the server CPU 32A can calculate the printable number of sheets for the user A based on the print number included in the update notification sent from the printers A and B.

[0073] In S18, the server CPU 32A updates the printable number of sheets for user A to a negative number. Therefore, in S20, the server CPU 32A sends an update notification containing 0 (sheets) to printers A and B. Consequently, printers A and B each receive the update notification containing 0 (sheets) from the server 30 (S100: YES), and the printer CPU 26A of each printer A and B updates the printable number of sheets in the printer management table PT to "0" (S102).

[0074] Next, since the number of printable sheets for user A is negative (S22: YES), the server CPU 32A sends a settlement instruction for the shortfall to the mobile terminal device 10 (S24). The server CPU 32A then waits until a recharge instruction for the shortfall is received from the mobile terminal device 10 (S26: NO). Upon receiving a recharge instruction for the shortfall or a larger amount (S26: YES), the server CPU 32A updates the printable sheet count in the server 30 (S28) similarly to S12 and S18 above, and sends a notification of the printable sheet count update to each printer (S30) similarly to S14 and S20 above, before returning the process to S10 above.

[0075] exist Figure 2 During the server-side synchronization process, if the server CPU 32A does not receive a recharge command in step S10 (S10: No), it skips steps S12 and S14 and proceeds to step S16. If the server CPU 32A does not receive a notification of an update to the printable number of sheets from printer A or printer B (S16: No), it returns to step S10 and continues the process from S10 onward.

[0076] If the printable number is not negative (S22: No), the server CPU 32A returns the process to S10 and continues the process after S10. The server-side synchronization process may end when the power to the server 30 is turned off.

[0077] On the other hand, during the printer-side synchronization process, if the printer CPU 26A has not received a notification of an update to the printable number of sheets from the server 30 (S100: No), it skips S102 and proceeds to S104. If no printing instruction has been given (S104: No), the printer CPU 26A returns to S100 and continues the process from S100 onward.

[0078] If the printable number of sheets is 0 (S106: YES), the printer CPU 26A returns to S100 and continues the process from S100 onward. The printer-side synchronization process for printer A may terminate when printer A is powered off, and the printer-side synchronization process for printer B may terminate when printer B is powered off.

[0079] Then, based on Figure 2 、 Figure 3 and Figure 5 Case 2 is described. Figure 5 It shows that when users B and C instruct the server 30 to recharge, Figure 2 and Figure 3The synchronization process is a specific example of how the printable sheets are synchronized between the server 30 and the printers A to C. In case 2, as described above, since the printable sheets are allocated to users B and C respectively, the printable sheets stored in the server management table ST of the server 30 are as follows: Figure 6 As shown in (d) in , it is associated with the user IDs of users B and C. Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 1 , since user B uses printers A and B and user C uses printers A to C, the number of printable sheets allocated to user B is allocated to printers A and B, and the number of printable sheets allocated to user C is allocated to printers A to C. Furthermore, the number of printable sheets allocated to user B is synchronized with the number of printable sheets allocated to printers A and B, and the number of printable sheets allocated to user C is synchronized with the number of printable sheets allocated to printers A to C. Therefore, in the server management table ST, as shown in FIG. Figure 6 As shown in (d) in FIG. 1 , the user ID of user B is associated with each device ID of printers A and B, and the user ID of user C is associated with each device ID of printers A to C.

[0080] In case 2, also use Figure 2 Server-side synchronization processing and Figure 3 The printer side is processed synchronously, however, Figure 3 The printer-side synchronization process is executed in parallel in printers A and B as well as printer C. The printer-side synchronization process of printer C also starts when printer C is powered on.

[0081] Case 2 is the same as case 1, if Figure 5 As shown, the printable sheet counts in the server 30 and printers A to C are all "0," indicating an exhaustion. When user B purchases 100 additional printable sheets and user C purchases 300 additional printable sheets, the server CPU 32A receives a recharge command from the mobile terminal 10 (S10: YES) and updates the printable sheet count in the server 30 (S12). Specifically, the printable sheet count associated with user B's user ID in the server management table ST is updated from "0" to "100," and the printable sheet count associated with user C's user ID in the server management table ST is updated from "0" to "300." Figure 6 The server management table ST shown in (d) in FIG. 1 shows the stored contents at this time. Hereinafter, the number of printable sheets associated with the user ID of user B may be referred to as "the number of printable sheets for user B," and the number of printable sheets associated with the user ID of user C may be referred to as "the number of printable sheets for user C."

[0082] Next, the server CPU 32A sends a notification regarding the updated printable number of sheets to each printer (S14). In the server management table ST, user B's user ID is associated with the device IDs of printers A and B, and user C's user ID is associated with the device IDs of printers A through C. Therefore, the server CPU 32A sends a notification regarding the updated printable number of sheets to printers A through C. The update notification to printer A includes the updated printable number of sheets ("400"), the update notification to printer B includes the updated printable number of sheets ("400"), and the update notification to printer C includes the updated printable number of sheets ("300"). 400 sheets is the sum of user B's recharged number (=100) and user C's recharged number (=300). This is because printers A and B are used by users B and C, while printer C is used only by user C.

[0083] exist Figure 3 In the example, when printers A to C receive an update notification of the number of printable sheets from the server 30 (S100: Yes), each printer CPU 26A of printers A to C updates the number of printable sheets in the printer management table PT (S102). Figure 5 As shown, the printable numbers of sheets in the printer management table PT of each of the printers A to C are updated to "400", "400", and "300", respectively.

[0084] Next, the printer CPU 26A determines whether printing has been instructed (S104). If printing has been instructed (S104: Yes), the printer CPU 26A determines whether the number of printable sheets is "0" (S106). If the number of printable sheets is not 0 (S106: No), printing is executed (S108).

[0085] Then, the printer CPU 26A subtracts the number of printed sheets from the number of printable sheets (S110), and sends a notification of the updated number of printable sheets to the server 30 (S112). The notification of the updated number of printable sheets also includes the updated number of printable sheets after the subtraction. Figure 5 In the example shown in FIG, since printer A has printed 10 sheets, the printable number of sheets of printer A is 400-10=390. Then, printer A transmits an update notification of the printable number of sheets (including 390) to the server 30.

[0086] exist Figure 2In the following, the server CPU 32A determines whether it has received a notification of an update to the printable number of sheets from the printer 20 (S16). If it has received a notification of an update to the printable number of sheets (S16: YES), the server CPU 32A updates the printable number of sheets in the server 30 (S18). Since the server CPU 32A has received a notification of an update to the printable number of sheets (including 390) from printer A, it can determine how many sheets printer A has printed. For example, the server CPU 32A can calculate that printer A has printed 10 sheets by subtracting the number of sheets included in the update notification (i.e., 390) from the number of sheets that printer A has printed before the update notification (i.e., 400). As mentioned above, since printer A is used by both users B and C, the 10 sheets printed by printer A are equal to the printable number of sheets for both users B and C, for example, 5 sheets are subtracted from the printable number. As a result, the printable number for user B is 100-5 = 95 sheets, and the printable number for user C is 300-5 = 295 sheets. Therefore, the server CPU 32A updates the printable number of sheets for user B in the server management table ST to "95" and updates the printable number of sheets for user C in the server management table ST to "295." Thus, in Case 2, if there is a device ID associated with multiple user IDs in the server management table ST, the server CPU 32A updates the printable number of sheets by subtracting the value obtained by dividing the number of sheets printed by the printer 20 indicated by the device ID by the number of user IDs from the printable number of sheets associated with each of the multiple user IDs.

[0087] Then, the server CPU 32A sends notifications of the updated number of printable sheets to printers A to C, respectively, in the same manner as in S14 described above (S20). The update notification to printer A includes the updated number of printable sheets ("390"), the update notification to printer B includes the updated number of printable sheets ("390"), and the update notification to printer C includes the updated number of printable sheets ("295"). 390 sheets is obtained by adding the updated number of printable sheets of user B (=95) and the updated number of printable sheets of user C (=295). This is because printers A and B are used by users B and C, while printer C is used only by user C. Therefore, as Figure 5 As shown, the printable numbers of users B and C in the server management table ST and the printable numbers of printers A and B in the printer management table PT are synchronized.

[0088] Next, when printer C prints 10 sheets, printer CPU 26A in printer C subtracts 10 from the printable number (S110) and then sends a notification of the updated printable number to server 30 (S112). Before processing enters S110, printer C's printable number is 295 sheets. Therefore, printer CPU 26A calculates 295 - 10 = 285 through the subtraction operation in S110. Then, printer C sends the updated notification of the printable number (including 285) to server 30.

[0089] The server CPU 32A now receives a notification of an update to the printable number (including 285) from printer C (S16: YES). As described above, the server CPU 32A knows that printer C has printed 10 sheets. Since printer C is used only by user C, the 10 sheets printed by printer C are subtracted from the printable number for user C. Therefore, the server CPU 32A updates the printable number for user C in the server management table ST to "285."

[0090] Then, the server CPU 32A sends notifications of the updated number of printable sheets to printers A to C, respectively, in the same manner as in S14 described above (S20). The update notification to printer A includes the updated number of printable sheets ("380"), the update notification to printer B includes the updated number of printable sheets ("380"), and the update notification to printer C includes the updated number of printable sheets ("285"). 380 sheets is obtained by adding the updated number of printable sheets of user B (=95) and the updated number of printable sheets of user C (=285). This is because printers A and B are used by users B and C, while printer C is used only by user C. Therefore, as Figure 5 As shown, the printable numbers of users B and C in the server management table ST and the printable numbers of printers A and B in the printer management table PT are synchronized.

[0091] Then, based on Figure 5The following example illustrates the situation where printing exceeds the printable number of sheets. Server 30 sends an update notification regarding the printable number of sheets to printers A through C. The printable numbers for users B and C in the server management table ST are "95" and "285," respectively, while the printable numbers for printers A through C in the printer management tables PT are "380," "380," and "285," respectively. In this case, since printers A through C can print 380, 380, and 285 sheets, respectively, it is assumed that printers A through C have each printed the full printable number of sheets. In this case, printer A sends an update notification containing 0 (sheets) to server 30 (S112), printer B sends an update notification containing 0 (sheets) to server 30 (S112), and printer C sends an update notification containing 0 (sheets) to server 30 (S112). In response to this, the server CPU 32A updates the printable number of sheets for user B in the server management table ST from "95" to "-285" (= the current printable number of sheets for user B, i.e., 95 - the printable number of sheets for printer A, i.e., 380 / 2 - the printable number of sheets for printer B, i.e., 380 / 2) (S18), and updates the printable number of sheets for user C in the server management table ST from "285" to "-380" (= the current printable number of sheets for user C, i.e., 285 - the printable number of sheets for printer A, i.e., 380 / 2 - the printable number of sheets for printer B, i.e., 380 / 2 - the printable number of sheets for printer C, i.e., 285) (S18). In this way, the server CPU 32A updates the printable number of sheets for each user by dividing the printable number of sheets for each printer by the number of user IDs associated with the device ID of the printer and subtracting the result from the printable number of sheets associated with each user ID.

[0092] The printer CPU 26A then sends an update notification of the printable number of sheets to each of printers A through C (S20). Since the server CPU 32A updated the printable number of sheets for users B and C to negative numbers in S18, the server CPU 32A sends an update notification containing "0" (sheets) to each of printers A through C in S20. As a result, printers A through C each receive the update notification of "0" (sheets) from the server 30 (S100: Yes), and each printer CPU 26A of printers A through C updates the printable number of sheets in its own printer management table PT to "0" (S102).

[0093] Next, since the printable number of users B and C is negative (S22: YES), the server CPU 32A sends a settlement instruction for the shortfall to each of the mobile terminal devices 10 of users B and C (S24). The server CPU 32A then waits until receiving a recharge instruction for the shortfall from each of the mobile terminal devices 10 of users B and C (S26: NO). Upon receiving a recharge instruction for the shortfall or more (S26: YES), the server CPU 32A updates the printable number in the server 30 (S28) similarly to S12 and S18 above, and sends a notification of the printable number update to each printer (S30) similarly to S14 and S20 above, and then returns the process to S10 above.

[0094] As an example of the "processable amount" of the present invention, the number of printable sheets has been used as an example. However, the "processable amount" is not limited to this and may also be the amount of ink or the length of a sheet. When the amount of ink is used as the "processable amount," the remaining ink amount detected by the remaining ink amount detection unit 24 is compared with the calculated value of the ink amount consumed by the next print job to be printed to determine whether the remaining ink amount is insufficient.

[0095] As described above, the printing system 1 of this embodiment is a printing system 1 including a printer 20, a server 30, and a mobile terminal device 10. The server 30 includes a server storage unit 32B for storing, in association with each other, a user ID for identifying a user using the printer 20, a device ID for identifying the printer 20, and a first printable number of sheets for a print process executed by the printer 20. The printer 20 includes a printing unit 25 and a printer storage unit 26B. The printer storage unit 26B stores a second printable number of sheets for a print process executed by the printing unit 25. The mobile terminal device 10 sends a recharge command to the server 30. The recharge command causes the server 30 to add the recharge number to the first printable number associated with the user ID. The server 30 then stores the recharge number. When a recharge command is received from the mobile terminal device 10 (S10: Yes), an addition process (S12) is performed to add the recharge number to the first printable number associated with the user ID, and a first update process (S14) is performed to update the second printable number of the printer 20 identified by the device ID associated with the user ID based on the added first printable number of sheets. The printer 20 performs a print process (S108) of forming an image using the printing unit 25, and a second update process (S110) of updating the second printable number of sheets according to the processing volume of the executed print process. The server 30 performs a third update process (S18) of updating the first printable number of sheets associated with the device ID of the printer 20 that executed the print process based on the processing volume of the executed print process.

[0096] In this way, in the printing system 1 of this embodiment, the recharge number is added to the first printable number associated with the user ID, and the second printable number of the printer 20 identified by the device ID associated with the user ID is updated based on the added first printable number, so the printable number can be managed for each user.

[0097] Furthermore, when multiple device IDs are associated with a user ID, the server 30 updates the second printable number of sheets for each of the multiple printers 20 identified by the multiple device IDs based on the first printable number of sheets in the first update process (S14). This is convenient because the server 30 can automatically update the second printable number of sheets for each of the multiple printers 20, even if the user does not specify that the second printable number of sheets be updated for each of the multiple printers 20.

[0098] Furthermore, in the second update process, the printer 20 updates the second printable number based on the processing volume of the executed print process (S110), and transmits the updated second printable number to the server (S112). In the third update process, the server 30 updates the first printable number based on the updated second printable number (S18). In this way, simply by having the printer 20 transmit the updated second printable number to the server 30, the server 30 can update the first printable number based on the updated second printable number, thereby reducing the processing volume of the printer 20 on the server.

[0099] Furthermore, the printer 20 transmits the amount of print processing it has executed to the server 30 (S112). In a third update process, the server 30 updates the first printable number of sheets based on the print processing amount received from the printer 20 (S18), and transmits the updated first printable number of sheets to the printer 20 (S20). In a second update process, the printer 20 updates the second printable number of sheets based on the updated first printable number of sheets (S102). In this manner, simply by transmitting the print processing amount to the server 30, the server 30 updates the first printable number of sheets based on the print processing amount, and transmits the updated first printable number of sheets to the printer 20. Since the printer 20 only needs to receive the first printable number from the server 30 to update the second printable number of sheets, the printer 20 can simplify the process of updating the second printable number of sheets.

[0100] Furthermore, if the print processing volume exceeds the first printable number, the server 30 charges the mobile terminal 10 for the excess volume (S24). This allows the user to use the printer 20 without being aware of whether the first printable number has been exceeded.

[0101] Furthermore, when multiple device IDs are associated with a user ID, the server 30 updates the second printable number of sheets for each of the multiple printers 20 identified by the multiple device IDs based on a portion of the first printable number of sheets in the first update process ( S14 ). This allows for more diverse update methods.

[0102] Furthermore, when a specific device ID is associated with multiple user IDs, the server 30 updates the second printable number of sheets for the printer 20 identified by the specific device ID based on the total of the first printable numbers associated with the multiple user IDs in the first update process ( S14 ). This further increases the variety of update methods.

[0103] Furthermore, in the second update process, the printer 20 updates the second printable number of sheets based on the processing volume obtained by dividing the print processing volume by the number of multiple user IDs associated with the specific device ID. In the third update process, the server 30 updates the first printable number of sheets associated with the device ID of the printer 20 that executed the print processing based on the processing volume obtained by dividing the print processing volume by the number of multiple user IDs associated with the specific device ID (S14). This further increases the variety of update methods.

[0104] Furthermore, if the print processing volume exceeds the first printable number of sheets, the server 30 requests a fee corresponding to the processing volume from the mobile terminal 10, the processing volume being obtained by dividing the excess processing volume by the number of user IDs associated with the specific device ID (S24). This allows the user to use the printer 20 without being aware of whether the first printable number of sheets has been exceeded.

[0105] Furthermore, the printing process includes a process of forming an image on a sheet using a colorant, and the number of printable sheets includes the amount of sheets or the amount of colorant.

[0106] As described above, the printer 20 of this embodiment has a printing unit 25, a printer storage unit 26B that stores the number of printable sheets of the image forming process performed by the printing unit 25, that is, the second printable number of sheets, and a printer CPU 26A, and works in cooperation with the server 30. The server 30 has a server storage unit 32B for storing the user ID that identifies the user who uses the printer 20, the device ID that identifies the printer 20, and the number of printable sheets of the image forming process performed by the printer 20, that is, the first printable number of sheets, in association with each other. The printer CPU 26A performs image forming processing (S108) for forming an image using the printing unit 25 and update processing (S110) for updating the second printable number of sheets based on the processing amount of the image forming processing performed.

[0107] As described above, the server 30 of this embodiment has a server storage unit 32B and a server CPU 32A. The server storage unit 32B is used to store the user ID for identifying the user who uses the printer 20, the device ID for identifying the printer 20, and the number of printable sheets for the image forming process performed by the printer 20, that is, the first printable number of sheets, in association with each other. The server CPU 32A performs an addition process (S12) of adding the recharge number to the first printable number associated with the user ID when a recharge command is received from the mobile terminal device 10 (S10: Yes), and an update process (S14) of updating the second printable number based on the added first printable number, where the second printable number is the number of printable sheets for the image forming process performed by the printing unit 25 of the printer 20 identified by the device ID associated with the user ID.

[0108] In this way, in the server 30 of this embodiment, the recharge number is added to the first printable number associated with the user ID, and based on the added first printable number, the second printable number of the printer 20 identified by the device ID associated with the user ID is updated, thereby enabling the printable number to be managed for each user.

[0109] As described above, the printing system 1 of the present embodiment is a printing system 1 including a printer 20, a server 30, and a mobile terminal device 10. The printer 20 includes a printing unit 25 and a printer storage unit 26B. The printer storage unit 26B stores the second printable number of printable sheets resulting from the image forming process executed by the printing unit 25. The server 30 includes a server storage unit 32B for storing a user ID identifying a user using the printer 20, a device ID identifying the printer 20, and the first printable number of printable sheets resulting from the image forming process executed by the printer 20 in association with each other. The method for controlling the printing system 1 includes: a step of sending a recharge command from the mobile terminal device 10 to the server 30, the recharge command causing the server 30 to add the recharge number to the first printable number associated with the user ID; and a step of: When a recharge command is received from the mobile terminal device 10 in the server 30 (S10: Yes), an adding step (S12) is performed to add the recharge number to the first printable number associated with the user ID; a first updating step (S14) is performed in the server 30 to update the second printable number of the printer 20 identified by the device ID associated with the user ID based on the added first printable number; an image forming step (S108) is performed in the printer 20 to form an image using the printing unit 25; a second updating step (S110) is performed in the printer 20 to update the second printable number according to the processing volume of the image forming processing performed; and a third updating step (S18) is performed in the server 30 to update the first printable number associated with the device ID of the printer 20 that performed the image forming processing based on the processing volume of the image forming processing performed.

[0110] In this way, in the control method of the printing system 1 of this embodiment, the recharge number is added to the first printable number associated with the user ID, and based on the added first printable number, the second printable number of the printer 20 identified by the device ID associated with the user ID is updated, so the printable number can be managed for each user.

[0111] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0112] (1) In the above embodiment, Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the description of the synchronization process, the case where one user uses two printers 20 and the case where two users use two and three printers 20 respectively are given as examples. However, the number of users and the number of printers 20 are not limited to the examples.

[0113] (2) In the above embodiment, an inkjet printer 20 is used. However, a laser printer or a thermal printer may also be used. Furthermore, a multifunction printer having a fax function or a copier may also be used. When multiple machines are used, different types of machines may be mixed.

[0114] (3) The processing executed by the server 30 is not limited to the case where it is executed by a single server, but may be executed by a plurality of servers in collaboration.

[0115] (4) In the above embodiment, a printing process is cited as an example of an image forming process, but the present invention is not limited thereto. A copying process, a scanning process, or a fax transceiver process may also be used as an image forming process. When a scanning process is used as the image forming process, the processable amount may be, for example, the number of sheets per side of a scanned document. Furthermore, when a fax transceiver process is used as the image forming process, the processable amount may be, for example, the number of sheets per side of a fax-sent document, the number of sheets per side of a paper on which a received fax is printed, the length of the paper, or the amount of ink.

Claims

1. A system comprising an image forming apparatus, a server, and an information processing device, The server includes a first storage unit configured to store a user ID, a device ID, and a first processable amount in association with each other, wherein the user ID is used to identify a user who uses the image forming device, the device ID is used to identify the image forming device, and the first processable amount is a processable amount of image forming processing performed by the image forming device. The image forming apparatus comprises: image forming unit; as well as a second storage unit configured to store a second processable amount, the second processable amount being a processable amount of image forming processing performed by the image forming unit; The information processing device sends an addition command to the server, the addition command being used to cause the server to add a specific processable amount to the first processable amount associated with the user ID, The server performs the following processing: an addition process of adding the specific processable amount to the first processable amount associated with the user ID in response to receiving the addition command from the information processing device; as well as a first updating process of updating the second processable capacity of the image forming device identified by the device ID associated with the user ID based on the added first processable capacity; The image forming apparatus performs the following processing: an image forming process of forming an image using the image forming portion; and a second updating process of updating the second processable amount based on the amount of processing of the executed image forming process, The server executes a third update process of updating the first processable amount associated with the device ID of the image forming device that has executed the image forming process, based on the processing amount of the executed image forming process.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein: When a plurality of device IDs are associated with the user ID, the server updates, based on the first processable capacity, second processable capacities of a plurality of image forming devices respectively identified by the plurality of device IDs in the first update process.

3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that the image forming apparatus updating the second processable amount based on the processing amount of the executed image forming process in the second update process, and transmitting the updated second processable amount to a server, The server updates the first processable amount based on the updated second processable amount in the third update process.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein: the image forming apparatus transmitting a processing amount of the executed image forming processing to the server, the server updates the first processable amount based on the processing amount of the image forming process received from the image forming apparatus in the third update process, and transmits the updated first processable amount to the image forming apparatus, The image forming apparatus updates the second processable volume based on the updated first processable volume in the second update process.

5. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that When the processing volume of the image forming process exceeds the first processable volume, the server requests a fee corresponding to the excess processing volume from the information processing apparatus.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein: When a plurality of device IDs are associated with the user ID, the server updates, in the first update process, second processable capacities of a plurality of image forming devices respectively identified by the plurality of device IDs based on a portion of the first processable capacity.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein: When a specific device ID is associated with multiple user IDs, the server updates the second processable capacity of the image forming device identified by the specific device ID based on the total amount of the first processable capacity associated with the multiple user IDs in the first update process.

8. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that The image forming device updates the second processable amount in the second update process based on a process amount obtained by dividing a process amount of the image forming process by the number of the plurality of user IDs associated with the specific device ID. In the third update process, the server updates the first processable amount associated with the device ID of the image forming device that executed the image forming process based on the processing amount obtained by dividing the processing amount of the image forming process by the number of the multiple user IDs associated with the specific device ID.

9. The system according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that When the processing volume of the image forming processing exceeds the first processable volume, the server requests a fee from the information processing apparatus, the fee corresponding to the processing volume obtained by dividing the excess processing volume by the number of the multiple user IDs associated with the specific device ID.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The image forming process includes a process of forming an image on a sheet using a colorant, The processable amount includes the amount of the sheet material or the amount of the colorant.

11. An image forming apparatus comprising: image forming unit; a second storage unit configured to store a second processable amount, the second processable amount being a processable amount of image forming processing performed by the image forming unit; as well as controller, The image forming device is capable of cooperating with a server, the server including a first storage unit configured to store a user ID, a device ID, and a first processable amount in association with each other, the user ID being used to identify a user utilizing the image forming device, the device ID being used to identify the image forming device, and the first processable amount being a processable amount of image forming processing executed by the image forming device. The controller performs the following processing: an image forming process of forming an image using the image forming portion; and The updating process updates the second processable amount based on the amount of processing of the executed image forming process.

12. A server comprising: a first storage unit configured to store, in association with a user ID for identifying a user utilizing an image forming device, a device ID for identifying the image forming device, and a first processable amount, the user ID being used to identify a user utilizing the image forming device, the device ID being used to identify the image forming device, and the first processable amount being a processable amount of image forming processing executed by the image forming device; as well as controller, The controller performs the following processing: an addition process of adding a specific processable amount to the first processable amount associated with the user ID in response to receiving an addition command from the information processing device; as well as Update processing, based on the added first processable amount, updates the second processable amount of the image forming device identified by the device ID associated with the user ID, the second processable amount being the processable amount of the image forming processing performed by the image forming part of the image forming device.

13. A control method for a control system comprising an image forming apparatus, a server, and an information processing device, The image forming apparatus comprises: image forming unit; as well as a second storage unit configured to store a second processable amount, the second processable amount being a processable amount of image forming processing performed by the image forming unit; The server includes a first storage unit configured to store a user ID, a device ID, and a first processable amount in association with each other, wherein the user ID is used to identify a user who uses the image forming device, the device ID is used to identify the image forming device, and the first processable amount is a processable amount of image forming processing performed by the image forming device. The control method includes: a sending step for sending an addition command from the information processing device to the server, the addition command being used to cause the server to add a specific processable amount to the first processable amount associated with the user ID; an adding step of, in the server, adding the specific processable amount to the first processable amount associated with the user ID in response to receiving the addition command from the information processing device; a first updating step of updating, in the server, the second processable capacity of the image forming device identified by the device ID associated with the user ID based on the added first processable capacity; an image forming step of forming an image in the image forming apparatus using the image forming portion; a second updating step of updating the second processable amount based on the amount of processing of the image forming process executed in the image forming apparatus; and A third updating step is to update, in the server, the first processable amount associated with the device ID of the image forming device that has executed the image forming process, based on the processing amount of the executed image forming process.

Images