System, image forming device, control method thereof, and program

Abstract

To solve the problem in that, although a plurality of image forming devices may be used under the same contract in a fixed-rate service for the purpose of use in a company office or a similar purpose, the number of printed sheets is generally larger in company use than in personal use, and, therefore, an amount of remaining consumables dedicated to the fixed-rate service runs out during delivery of new consumables, which may result in downtime, causing users inconvenience.SOLUTION: When product information 413 of a mounted cartridge is dedicated to a fixed-rate system service, an image forming device 200 transmits a determination request, including a device identification information 322 of the image forming device and consumable identification information 411 of the cartridge, to a server 500 (S205). The server 500 performs determination processing in response to the determination request (S206), and the image forming device 200 receives a determination result (S207). When the determination result indicates that attachment is allowable (Yes in S208), an error is not determined, and when the determination result indicates that the attachment is not allowable (No in S208), an error is determined (S209).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system, an image forming apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Fixed-price services that allow the use of image forming apparatuses at a fixed rate are known. In image forming apparatuses for which a fixed-price service contract has been concluded, consumables exclusively for the fixed-price service that are delivered by the service provider are generally used. To ensure proper operation of the fixed-price service, the consumables exclusively for the fixed-price service may be limited to use with a specific image forming apparatus with which the user has made a contract. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for improving user convenience, in which when a user changes the image forming device to which he or she has a contract, consumables exclusively for a flat-rate service that have been used more than once in another image forming device (i.e., are old products) can be temporarily used in the other image forming device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-85744 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There are cases where multiple image forming apparatuses are used under the same contract for flat-rate services, such as for use in a company office. However, in general, the number of printed pages is greater in corporate use than in personal use. As a result, the remaining amount of consumables dedicated to the flat-rate service may run out during delivery of new consumables, causing downtime and causing inconvenience to users. In the conventional technology, when multiple image forming apparatuses are used under the same contract for flat-rate services, it has not been considered that consumables installed in any one of the image forming apparatuses may be installed and used in the other image forming apparatuses.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a mechanism that can improve convenience for a user who subscribes to a flat-rate service for multiple image forming apparatuses. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is a system in which an image forming apparatus having a consumable installed therein communicates with a server that manages information on a flat-rate service, the image forming apparatus including: an acquisition means for acquiring, from a consumable installed in the image forming apparatus, consumable identification information indicating identification information of the consumable and consumable product information indicating whether the consumable is an exclusive product for the flat-rate service; a first transmission means for transmitting, to the server, a first request including device identification information indicating identification information of the image forming apparatus and the consumable identification information when the consumable product information indicates that the consumable is an exclusive product for the flat-rate service; a first reception means for receiving from the server a result of a determination corresponding to the first request; and a system for allowing printing using the installed consumable when the result of the determination indicates that the consumable can be installed, and a system for allowing printing using the installed consumable when the result of the determination indicates that the consumable cannot be installed. and a control means for controlling the image forming apparatus to restrict printing by a consumable, wherein the server comprises: a management means for managing contract group information linked to the device identification information of the image forming apparatus that contracts for the flat-rate service; a registration means for linking and registering the consumable identification information with device identification information of the image forming apparatus in which a consumable corresponding to the consumable identification information is installed; a second receiving means for receiving the first request from the image forming apparatus; a determination means for determining that the consumable corresponding to the consumable identification information can be installed when the device identification information included in the first request and the device identification information linked to the consumable identification information included in the first request and registered in the registration means are included in the same contract group, and determining that the consumable corresponding to the consumable identification information cannot be installed when they are included in different contract groups; and a second transmission means for transmitting the determination result to the image forming apparatus. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve convenience for a user who subscribes to a flat-rate service for multiple image forming apparatuses. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 6 is a flowchart illustrating a cartridge mounting process in the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 5 is a flowchart illustrating a print job execution process of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart for explaining a process of determining whether or not the server can wear the device. [Diagram 5] 11 is a flowchart illustrating an information registration process by a server. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a cartridge mounting process in a second embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a print job execution process of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] 13 is a flowchart for explaining a setting change process related to the transmission of a mountability determination request in an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention includes any modifications and improvements to the embodiments described below that are made based on the ordinary knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0010] [First embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an image processing system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image processing system 100 includes an image forming apparatus 200 and a server 500 .

[0011] First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 200 will be described. The image forming apparatus 200 is a printing device having an image forming apparatus main body 300 that performs a printing operation using a recording agent, and a cartridge 400 that can be attached to the image forming apparatus main body 300 and is filled with ink used as the recording agent. The image forming apparatus main body 300 includes a CPU 310 , a program memory 320 , a data memory 330 , a communication control unit 340 , a print control unit 350 , a print unit 360 , and a connection unit 370 .

[0012] The CPU 310 is a system control unit and controls the entire image forming apparatus 200 . The program memory 320 stores the control program executed by the CPU 310, an embedded operating system (OS) program, and the like. The data memory 330 stores program control variables and the like, and is provided with various work buffer areas used during processing by the print control unit 350. The data memory 330 also holds identification information 331 of the image forming device main body 300, and flat-rate service contract information 332 received by the image forming device main body 300 via the communication control unit 340. The identification information 331 is information (device identification information) that identifies an individual unit assigned when the image forming device main body 300 is manufactured, such as a serial number. In this embodiment, the contract information 332 is either information indicating a flat-rate service uncontracted state, i.e., no contract for a flat-rate service, or information indicating a flat-rate service contracted state.

[0013] A communication control unit 340 controls data transmission and reception with the outside via a communication line 390 and various interfaces. The print control unit 350 acquires print data from the data memory 330 and controls the print process via the print unit 360 .

[0014] The printing unit 360 performs printing processing upon receiving a print command from the printing control unit 350. At this time, if the contract information 332 stored in the data memory 330 indicates a flat-rate service contract state and the cartridge 400 dedicated to the flat-rate service is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 300, the printing control unit 350 transmits print job information to the server 500. The print job information is a log summarizing the amount of printing, the printing result, the amount of ink consumed, or the amount of ink remaining in the cartridge 400, which is generated by the printing control unit 350 for each print job and transmitted to the server 500 via the communication control unit 340. The printing unit 360 also determines whether the cartridge 400 dedicated to the flat-rate service is being used, and notifies the print control unit 350 of the determination result.

[0015] The connection unit 370 connects the image forming apparatus main body 300 and the cartridge 400. The connection unit 370 also reads information about the cartridge 400 from a memory 410 included in the cartridge 400, and provides the information about the cartridge 400 in response to a request from the printing unit 360 to obtain information. The above components 310 , 320 , 330 , 340 , 350 , 360 , and 370 are connected to one another via a CPU bus 380 managed by the CPU 310 .

[0016] The cartridge 400 has a memory 410. The memory 410 holds identification information 411, remaining amount information 412, product information 413, and usage status information 414. The identification information 411 is information (consumable identification information) that identifies an individual cartridge 400 when the cartridge 400 is manufactured, and is, for example, a serial number. The remaining amount information 412 is information on the remaining amount of ink contained in the cartridge 400, and may be expressed using a volume unit or may be expressed as a remaining amount level divided by a predetermined threshold value. The product information 413 is information (consumable product information) for determining whether the cartridge 400 is a cartridge dedicated to the flat-rate service (hereinafter, a "dedicated cartridge") or a cartridge that is not dedicated to the flat-rate service and can be purchased commercially (hereinafter, a "normal cartridge"). The usage status information 414 is information indicating whether the cartridge 400 is a new product that has never been used in any image forming device 200, or an old product that has been used more than once.

[0017] The cartridge 400 may be any cartridge that is filled with the recording agent used for printing and is replaceable by removing it from the connection portion 370. Therefore, the cartridge 400 is not limited to an ink cartridge, and may be, for example, a toner cartridge.

[0018] The server 500 will now be described. The server 500 includes a CPU 510 , a program memory 520 , a storage unit 530 , and a communication control unit 540 .

[0019] The CPU 510 is a system control unit and controls the entire server 500 . The program memory 520 stores the control program executed by the CPU 510, an embedded operating system (OS) program, and the like. The CPU 510 realizes various functions by reading and executing programs stored in the program memory 520. For example, the CPU 510 functions as a determination unit 511. The determination unit 511 determines whether the two image forming apparatus bodies 300 belong to the same contract group based on the identification information 331 of the two image forming apparatus bodies 300, and determines whether the cartridges 400 can be used.

[0020] The storage unit 530 holds information on users who have subscribed to the flat-rate service, identification information 331 of the image forming device main body 300 used in the flat-rate service and its contract group information, and print information transmitted from the image forming device 200. The storage unit 530 also holds information on the image forming device main body 300 into which the service-only cartridge 400 was last installed, as a combination (linked) of the identification information 411 of the cartridge 400 and the identification information 331 of the image forming device main body 300.

[0021] The communication control unit 540 controls data transmission and reception with the outside via the communication line 560 . The above components 510 to 540 are connected to each other via a CPU bus 550 managed by a CPU 510 .

[0022] In the embodiment of the present invention, an inkjet printer (printing device) is exemplified as the image forming apparatus 200, but the image forming apparatus 200 can also be applied to, for example, a laser beam (electrophotographic) full-color printer or a monochrome printer.

[0023] Next, a flat-rate service relating to an image forming apparatus will be described. There are known consumable flat-rate services that allow users to use consumables (e.g., ink and toner) used in printing at a fixed price, and device-included flat-rate services that allow users to use consumables and the image forming device main body 300 at a fixed price. This embodiment is applicable to both flat-rate services.

[0024] When you sign up for the flat-rate service including the main unit, you can print up to a specified number of pages at a fixed price using the cartridge 400 dedicated to the flat-rate service provided by the service provider in the image forming device main unit 300 provided by the service provider. The usage fee for the image forming device main unit 300 is included in the flat-rate fee. If you print more than the specified number of pages, you can change to a higher-level service plan, for example, or you can be charged on a pay-per-use basis, where the amount charged increases for each page.

[0025] When a user applies for a flat-rate service contract, the service provider delivers to the user cartridges 400 exclusively for the flat-rate service and image forming device main bodies 300. If a user contracts for multiple image forming device main bodies 300, the same number of cartridges 400 and image forming device main bodies 300 are delivered. At this time, the server 500 manages information on users who have contracted for the flat-rate service, identification information of the image forming device main bodies 300 used in the flat-rate service, and their contract group information, as described above, but the contract group information of image forming device main bodies 300 under the same contract is the same.

[0026] The image forming apparatus 200 receives flat-rate service contract information from the server 500 via the communication line 390. At this time, the contract information 332 stored in the data memory 330 of the image forming apparatus 200 becomes a flat-rate service contract state. The image forming apparatus 200 transmits the above-mentioned print job information to the server 500 in response to printing. The server 500 grasps the number of sheets printed by the user or the image forming apparatus 200 during a certain period based on the received print job information. The server 500 also calculates the wear rate of the cartridge 400 at the user's location, and delivers a new cartridge 400 exclusively for the flat-rate service when the remaining ink level falls below a predetermined level.

[0027] Due to this system configuration, in order to provide the flat-rate service, it is essential that the image forming device 200 is always connected to the network and an environment is maintained in which print job information is periodically transmitted to the server 500. Therefore, when the image forming device 200 is not connected to the network, the user may be restricted from using some of the functions of the image forming device 200. After canceling the flat-rate service, the user returns the image forming device main body 300 and the cartridge 400 dedicated to the flat-rate service provided by the service provider to the service provider.

[0028] Next, the process performed when the cartridge 400 is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 300 under the flat-rate service contract will be described with reference to FIG. Fig. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the mounting process of the cartridge 400 in the first embodiment. Note that the processing of the image forming apparatus 200 in Fig. 2 and the flowchart in Fig. 3 described later is performed by the CPU 310 of the image forming apparatus 200 reading and executing a program stored in the program memory 320, etc. Also, the processing of the server 500 in Fig. 2 and the flowcharts in Fig. 3 to Fig. 5 described later is performed by the CPU 510 of the server 500 reading and executing a program stored in the program memory 520, etc., to realize various functions.

[0029] In S201, the image forming apparatus 200 detects the mounting of the cartridge 400 through the connection unit 370, acquires each piece of information stored in the memory 401 of the cartridge 400, and advances the process to S202. In S202, the image forming apparatus 200 judges whether the cartridge 400 is a cartridge exclusively for the flat-rate service based on the product information 413 acquired in S201. If it is judged that the cartridge 400 is not a cartridge exclusively for the flat-rate service (No in S202), the image forming apparatus 200 advances the process to S209, performs error processing described below, and ends the process of this flowchart. This is because the flat-rate service in this embodiment is a flat-rate service including the main body, and the use of normal cartridges may be restricted in the image forming apparatus main body 300 delivered from the service provider. Note that, depending on the type of flat-rate service (e.g., a flat-rate service for consumables) and the contract contents, the image forming apparatus 200 can use normal cartridges, and in this case, the process of this flowchart ends without performing the error processing in S209.

[0030] On the other hand, if it is determined that the cartridge 400 is a cartridge exclusively for the fixed-fee service (Yes in S202), the image forming apparatus 200 advances the process to S203. In S203, the image forming apparatus 200 judges whether the cartridge 400 is an old product based on the usage state information 414 acquired in S201 above. If it is judged that the cartridge 400 is not an old product (No in S203), the image forming apparatus 200 ends the processing of this flowchart. This indicates that if the cartridge 400 is new, it can be used in the image forming apparatus 200 that has signed up for the flat-rate service at that time.

[0031] On the other hand, if it is determined that the cartridge 400 is an old product (No in S203), the image forming apparatus 200 advances the process to S204. In S204, the image forming apparatus 200 determines whether the image forming apparatus 200 is capable of communicating with the server 500. Specifically, the communication control unit 340 makes the determination based on information indicating whether the image forming apparatus 200 is connected to the network (hereinafter, "online state").

[0032] If it is determined that the image forming apparatus 200 is not online (No in S204), the image forming apparatus 200 proceeds to S209, performs error processing described below, and ends the processing of this flowchart. This is because, as described above, the flat-rate service requires the image forming apparatus 200 to be constantly connected to the network.

[0033] On the other hand, if it is determined that the image forming apparatus 200 is online (Yes in S204), the image forming apparatus 200 advances the process to S205. In S205, the image forming apparatus 200 transmits a request for determining whether the cartridge 400 can be mounted to the server 500 through the communication control unit 340. In the request for determining whether the cartridge 400 can be mounted, the identification information 331 of the image forming apparatus main body 300 and the identification information 411 of the cartridge 400 mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 300 are transmitted to the server 500.

[0034] When the server 500 receives the request for determining whether the image forming apparatus 200 can be mounted from the image forming apparatus 200, the process proceeds to S206. In S206, the image forming apparatus 200 performs an attachment possibility determination process for determining whether the cartridge 400 indicated by the received identification information 411 can be attached to the image forming apparatus main body 300 indicated by the received identification information 331, and returns the determination result to the image forming apparatus 200. Details of the attachment possibility determination process will be described later with reference to FIG.

[0035] In S207, when the image forming apparatus 200 receives the determination result of the mounting feasibility determination process performed by the server 500 (i.e., the determination result corresponding to the mounting feasibility determination request) from the server 500 via the communication control unit 340, the image forming apparatus 200 proceeds to S208. The received determination result is either that mounting of the cartridge 400 in the image forming apparatus main body 300 is possible or impossible. Also, for example, if the image forming apparatus 200 goes offline and the image forming apparatus 200 does not receive the determination result within a certain period of time, the process may proceed to S209 instead of S208, and an error process described later is performed to end the process of this flowchart.

[0036] In S208, the image forming apparatus 200 judges whether the result of the judgment received in S207 above indicates that the cartridge 400 can be mounted. If the result of the judgment indicates that the cartridge 400 can be mounted (Yes in S208), the image forming apparatus 200 ends the process of this flowchart. This indicates that the cartridge 400 can be used in the image forming apparatus 200.

[0037] On the other hand, if the determination result indicates that the printer cannot be attached (No in S208), the image forming apparatus 200 advances the process to S209, performs error processing described below, and ends the process of this flowchart.

[0038] In S209, the image forming apparatus 200 performs error processing. In this error processing, the image forming apparatus 200 restricts (prohibits) printing using the installed cartridge 400. At this time, the image forming apparatus 200 may display an error message on a screen display unit (not shown). Furthermore, when the image forming apparatus 200 performs error processing related to the installation of the cartridge 400 (i.e., when the image forming apparatus 200 transitions from S202 or S208 to S209), the installation of the cartridge 400 may be enabled depending on the user's contract details and the selection on the error screen.

[0039] When multiple cartridges 400 are mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 300, the above process is performed for all of the mounted cartridges 400. However, the image forming apparatus 200 may perform the above process simultaneously after detecting that all of the multiple cartridges 400 have been mounted, or may perform the process each time a cartridge 400 is mounted. When the image forming apparatus 200 performs the process after detecting that all of the multiple cartridges 400 have been mounted, in S205, it transmits the identification information 411 of all the corresponding cartridges 400 together with the identification information 331 to the server 500.

[0040] Next, a process performed when the image forming apparatus 200 executes a print job using the cartridge 400 exclusively for the flat-rate service will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a print job execution process of the image forming apparatus 200 in the first embodiment.

[0041] In S301, when the image forming apparatus 200 receives a print job execution command from the user by any method, the process proceeds to S302. The print job execution command is received, for example, by pressing a print start button displayed on a screen display unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 200. In addition, in this embodiment, a print job is a job that involves a printing operation using the cartridge 400 and is related to the print count of the flat-rate service plan subscribed to by the user, and includes, for example, a copy job. Note that if the received print job is a job that is not related to the print count of the flat-rate service plan (for example, maintenance printing that performs a nozzle check), the image forming apparatus 200 may proceed to S310, execute a print job execution process described later, and end the process of this flowchart.

[0042] In S302, image forming apparatus 200 judges whether cartridge 400 is new by the same process as S203 in Fig. 2. If it is judged that cartridge 400 is not new (i.e., old) (No in S302), image forming apparatus 200 proceeds to S310, executes a print job execution process described below, and ends the process of this flowchart. In other words, when an old cartridge is mounted and the server 500 judges that the cartridge can be mounted in the mounting process shown in Fig. 2, if a print job is received, image forming apparatus 200 permits (does not restrict) printing using the mounted cartridge.

[0043] On the other hand, if it is determined that the cartridge 400 is new (Yes in S302), the image forming apparatus 200 advances the process to S303. Note that when multiple cartridges 400 are mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 300, the process advances to S303 if at least one new cartridge 400 is mounted.

[0044] In S303, the image forming apparatus 200 determines whether the image forming apparatus 200 can communicate with the server 500 by the same process as S204 in Fig. 2. If it is determined that the image forming apparatus 200 is offline (communication is not possible) (No in S303), the image forming apparatus 200 advances the process to S311, performs error processing, and ends the process of this flowchart.

[0045] On the other hand, if it is determined that the image forming apparatus 200 is online (communication possible) (Yes in S303), the image forming apparatus 200 advances the process to S304. In S304, the image forming apparatus 200 transmits an information registration request to the server 500 via the communication control unit 340. In this information registration request, the identification information 331 of the image forming apparatus main body 300 and the identification information 411 of the cartridges 400 mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 300 are transmitted to the server 500. Note that when a plurality of cartridges 400 are mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 300, the identification information 411 of all new cartridges 400 is transmitted to the server 500.

[0046] In S305, when the server 500 receives the information registration request transmitted from the image forming apparatus 200 via the communication control unit 540, the process proceeds to S306. At this time, the server 500 acquires the identification information 331 and the identification information 411 transmitted from the image forming apparatus 200.

[0047] In S306, the server 500 performs information registration processing using the identification information 331 and the identification information 411 acquired in S305 above. The content of the information registration processing is processing for newly registering or updating information about the image forming apparatus main body 300 in which the service-only cartridge 400 was last installed, which is held in the server 500. The information registration processing of the server 500 will be described later with reference to FIG. Next, in S307, the server 500 transmits, via the communication control unit 540, to the image forming apparatus 200, an information registration notification indicating that the server 500 has completed the information registration process.

[0048] In S308, when the image forming apparatus 200 receives an information registration notification (i.e., a notification corresponding to an information registration request) from the server 500 through the communication control unit 340, the image forming apparatus 200 proceeds to the process of S309. Although not shown, if the image forming apparatus 200 cannot receive the information registration notification within a certain time because the image forming apparatus 200 goes offline, or if the image forming apparatus 200 receives a notification indicating that registration has failed, the image forming apparatus 200 executes error processing of S311 instead of S309 and ends the process of this flowchart. In this error processing, the image forming apparatus 200 restricts (prohibits) printing using the mounted cartridge 400. In other words, if the image forming apparatus 200 does not receive an information registration notification despite having sent an information registration request, the image forming apparatus 200 restricts (prohibits) printing using the mounted cartridge 400.

[0049] In S309, the image forming apparatus 200 performs a process of rewriting the usage status information 414 of the cartridge 400 from information indicating a new cartridge to information indicating an old cartridge. Note that, if multiple new cartridges 400 are attached to the image forming apparatus main body 300, the image forming apparatus 200 performs the process for all the corresponding cartridges 400. In S310, the image forming apparatus 200 executes the print job for which an execution command was received in S301. In addition, in S311, the image forming apparatus 200 performs error processing similar to S209 in FIG.

[0050] Next, the wearability determination process performed by the server 500 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the process of determining whether or not the server 500 can wear the device.

[0051] In S401, when the server 500 receives a request for mounting capability determination transmitted from the image forming apparatus 200 through the communication control unit 540, the process proceeds to S402. At this time, the server 500 receives the identification information 331 of the image forming apparatus main body 300 and the identification information 411 of the cartridge 400 mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 300.

[0052] In S402, the server 500 determines whether the image forming device main body 300 into which the cartridge 400 indicated by the identification information 411 received in S401 was last installed belongs to the same contract group as the image forming device main body 300 indicated by the identification information 331 received above. As described above, the storage unit 530 of the server 500 stores information on users who have subscribed to the flat-rate service, the identification information 331 of the image forming device main body 300 used in the flat-rate service and its contract group information, and print information transmitted from the image forming device 200. The storage unit 530 also stores information on the image forming device main body 300 into which the service-only cartridge 400 was last installed, as a combination of the identification information 411 of the cartridge 400 and the identification information 331 of the image forming device main body 300.

[0053] Here, if it is determined that the two image forming apparatus bodies 300 are not in the same contract group (No in S402), the server 500 advances the process to S404. In S404, the server 500 transmits a determination result indicating that the cartridge 400 cannot be mounted to the image forming apparatus 200 via the communication control unit 540, and ends the process of this flowchart.

[0054] On the other hand, if it is determined that the two image forming apparatus main bodies 300 belong to the same contract group (Yes in S402), the server 500 advances the process to S403. In S403, the server 500 transmits a determination result indicating that the cartridge 400 can be mounted to the image forming apparatus 200 via the communication control unit 540, and the process proceeds to S405. 3, the server 500 performs information registration processing using the identification information 331 of the image forming apparatus main body 300 and the identification information 411 of the cartridge 400 acquired in the above S401. The information registration processing of the server 500 will be described later with reference to FIG.

[0055] When multiple cartridges 400 are mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 300 and the server 500 receives multiple pieces of identification information 411, a determination is made for each piece of identification information 411. In this case, even if some cartridges 400 are determined to be mountable and others are determined to be unmountable, the determination results for each piece of identification information 411 may be sent to the image forming apparatus 200 at once.

[0056] Next, the information registration process performed by the server 500 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the information registration process by the server 500. In S501, the server 500 judges whether the identification information 411 of the cartridge 400 acquired from the image forming apparatus 200 has already been registered in the storage unit 530. In other words, for the cartridge 400 indicated by the identification information 411, the server 500 judges whether the combination of the identification information 411 and the identification information 331 of the image forming apparatus main body 300 into which the cartridge 400 was last attached has already been registered in the storage unit 530.

[0057] Here, if it is determined that the identification information 411 has already been registered in the storage unit 530 (Yes in S501), the server 500 advances the process to S502. In S502, the server 500 updates the identification information 331 of the image forming apparatus main body 300 in which the cartridge 400 indicated by the identification information 411, which is information stored in the memory unit 530, was last installed, to the identification information 331 obtained from the image forming apparatus 200.

[0058] On the other hand, if it is determined that the identification information 411 has not been registered in the storage unit 530 (that is, is unregistered) (No in S501), the server 500 advances the process to S503. In S503, the server 500 uses the identification information 331 and identification information 411 acquired from the image forming apparatus 200 to newly register in the memory unit 530 a combination of the identification information 411 and the identification information 331 of the image forming apparatus main body 300 in which the cartridge 400 was last installed.

[0059] When a plurality of cartridges 400 are mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 300 and the server 500 acquires a plurality of pieces of identification information 411, the above process is carried out for each piece of identification information 411.

[0060] The combination of the identification information 411 of the cartridge 400 and the identification information 331 of the image forming apparatus main body 300 into which the cartridge 400 was last installed, which is stored in the memory unit 530, is registered at different times depending on whether the cartridge 400 is an old product or a new product. If the cartridge 400 is an old product, after the cartridge 400 is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 300, the server 500 executes a mountability determination process in S206, and the information is updated in the information registration process in S405 of FIG.

[0061] On the other hand, when the cartridge 400 is new, as shown in the flowchart of Fig. 2, the information is not registered in the server 500 at the time of mounting in the image forming apparatus main body 300. If the information is registered in the server 500 at the time of mounting a new cartridge 400, when the cartridge 400 is mistakenly mounted in an image forming apparatus main body 300 of a different contract group, there is a possibility that the cartridge 400 will not be mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 300 in which it was originally intended to be mounted, even though the cartridge 400 is unused. Therefore, in this embodiment, when a print job using a new cartridge 400 is executed, the information is registered in the server 500 in the information registration process of S306 in Fig. 3. This is because, in this embodiment, the timing when the usage status information 414 of the cartridge 400 is rewritten from new to old is when the image forming apparatus 200 executes the above-mentioned print job.

[0062] When a flat-rate service cartridge is installed in an image forming device, the image forming device makes a request to the server to determine whether the cartridge can be installed. If the image forming device in which the cartridge was last installed is part of the same contract group, the cartridge can be installed and used even if it is an old product. This allows the cartridge to be used instead if, for example, the ink remaining in the flat-rate service cartridge runs out during delivery of a new cartridge, by replacing it with a cartridge installed in another image forming device used under the same contract. This improves the convenience of users who subscribe to the flat-rate service.

[0063] Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, when the cartridge 400 dedicated to the flat-rate service is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 300, the image forming apparatus 200 always sends a request for determination as to whether the cartridge can be mounted to the server 500. It is considered that some users who subscribe to the flat-rate service may wish to avoid communication between the image forming apparatus 200 and the server 500 as much as possible. In the second embodiment, an example will be described in which the image forming apparatus 200 can set whether to transmit the request for determination as to whether the cartridge can be mounted to the server 500 from the image forming apparatus 200 or a host terminal of a user who can communicate with the image forming apparatus 200. It is assumed that the setting value (transmission setting) for whether to transmit the request for determination as to whether the cartridge can be mounted is held in an area not shown in the figure in the data memory 330 of the image forming apparatus 200, and the setting value is either information indicating execution or information indicating non-execution. The initial value of the setting value may be information indicating execution or information indicating non-execution. In this embodiment, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and configurations that are not mentioned are assumed to be similar to those of the first embodiment.

[0064] The process performed when the cartridge 400 is installed in the image forming apparatus main body 300 under the flat-rate service contract will be described with reference to FIG. Fig. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the mounting process of cartridge 400 in the second embodiment. Note that the processing of image forming apparatus 200 in Fig. 6 and the flowcharts in Figs. 7 and 8 described below is performed by CPU 310 of image forming apparatus 200 reading and executing programs stored in program memory 320, etc. Also, the processing of server 500 is performed by CPU 510 of server 500 reading and executing programs stored in program memory 520, etc., to realize various functions.

[0065] First, steps S601 to S603 have the same process contents as steps S201 to S203 in the flowchart of FIG. 2, so a description thereof will be omitted. Next, in S604, image forming apparatus 200 refers to data memory 330 and determines whether the setting value regarding the transmission of the attachment possibility determination request is information indicating the transmission. If it is determined that the information is not the information indicating the transmission (i.e., the information indicating the non-transmission) (No in S604), image forming apparatus 200 advances the process to S610, performs error processing, and ends the process of this flowchart.

[0066] On the other hand, if it is determined that the information indicates implementation (Yes in S604), the image forming apparatus 200 advances the process to S605. The subsequent steps S605 to S610 have the same process contents as steps S204 to S209 in the flowchart of FIG. 2, so the description thereof will be omitted.

[0067] Next, a process performed when the image forming apparatus 200 executes a print job using the cartridge 400 exclusively for the flat-rate service will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a print job execution process of the image forming apparatus 200 in the second embodiment.

[0068] First, steps S701 and S702 have the same process contents as steps S301 and S302 in the flowchart of FIG. 3, so a description thereof will be omitted. Next, in S703, the image forming apparatus 200 determines whether the setting value regarding the transmission of the mounting capability determination request is information indicating the transmission, similarly to S604 in Fig. 6. If it is determined that the information indicates the transmission (Yes in S703), the image forming apparatus 200 advances the process to S704. The subsequent steps S704 to S712 have the same process contents as steps S303 to S311 in the flowchart of FIG. 3, so the description thereof will be omitted.

[0069] On the other hand, if it is determined that the information does not indicate implementation (i.e., the information indicates non-implementation) (No in S703), the image forming apparatus 200 proceeds to S710. In other words, if the setting for implementing transmission of the attachment availability determination request is not implemented, when the image forming apparatus 200 attaches a new cartridge 400 and receives a print job execution command, it rewrites the usage status information 414 of the cartridge 400 from new to old, executes the print job, and ends the process of this flowchart.

[0070] Incidentally, the content of the process that the image forming apparatus 200 should perform differs between when the setting value for the setting regarding the transmission of the attachment possibility determination request is changed from not to be performed to when the setting value is changed from be performed to not to be performed. When the setting value is not to be performed, the combination of the identification information 331 of the image forming apparatus main body 300 and the identification information 411 of the cartridge 400 attached to the image forming apparatus main body 300 is not registered in the server 500. When the setting value is changed from not to be performed while this information is not registered in the server 500, an information registration process in the server 500 should be performed at the time when the setting is changed so that the information can be referenced in the attachment possibility determination request of another image forming apparatus 200.

[0071] Hereinafter, a process of changing the setting for transmitting a request for mountability determination in the image forming apparatus 200 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a setting change process related to the transmission of a mountability determination request in the image forming apparatus 200 according to the third embodiment.

[0072] First, in S801, when the image forming apparatus 200 receives a setting change command for a mounting possibility determination request, the process proceeds to S802. The setting change command is received, for example, from a setting menu displayed on a screen display unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 200, or from software or an application of a user's host terminal (for example, a personal computer (PC) or a smartphone) that can communicate with the image forming apparatus 200.

[0073] Next, in S802, the image forming apparatus 200 judges whether the setting change command of the received mounting possibility judgment request is a command to change the setting value from non-execution to execution. If it is judged that the setting value is a command to change from non-execution to execution (Yes in S802), the image forming apparatus 200 advances the process to S803. Note that steps S803 to S809 are not described because the process contents are similar to those of steps S302 to S308 in the flowchart of Fig. 3. Also, step S811 is not described because the process contents are similar to those of step S209 in the flowchart of Fig. 2.

[0074] On the other hand, if it is determined that the command is to change the setting value from implementation to non-implementation (No in S802), the image forming apparatus 200 advances the process to S810. In S810, the image forming apparatus 200 changes the setting value related to the transmission of the request for mountability determination in accordance with the change command received in S801.

[0075] As described above, according to the second embodiment, it is possible to configure whether or not the image forming apparatus will send a request to the server to determine whether the image forming apparatus can be mounted, thereby enabling the user to use the service according to his or her needs, thereby improving the convenience for users who subscribe to flat-rate services.

[0076] The cartridge 400 may hold in the memory 410 registration information indicating whether the identification information 331 of the image forming apparatus main body 300 in which the cartridge 400 is currently mounted has been registered in the server 500 as the image forming apparatus main body 300 in which the cartridge 400 was last mounted. In the flowchart of Fig. 8 described in the second embodiment, when the setting value regarding the transmission of the mounting capability determination request is changed from not to perform to perform, the image forming apparatus 200 transmits an information registration request to the server 500 even if the latest information has been registered in the server 500. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 200 can reduce the number of communications between the image forming apparatus 200 and the server 500 by performing a determination process using the above-mentioned registration information before transmitting an information registration request. In this case, the image forming apparatus 200 rewrites the above-mentioned registration information to information indicating that the cartridge 400 is not registered when the cartridge 400 is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 300. Furthermore, when the image forming apparatus 200 receives from the server 500 an information registration notification or a mounting readiness determination result indicating that the cartridge can be mounted, the image forming apparatus 200 rewrites the above-mentioned registration information to information indicating that the cartridge has been registered.

[0077] Also, the image forming apparatus 200 stores the identification information of the image forming apparatus that was last installed in the memory 410. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 200 includes the identification information of the image forming apparatus that belongs to the same contract group in the contract information of the flat-rate service stored in the contract information 332. Then, when the identification information of the image forming apparatus that was last installed and acquired from the memory 410 of the installed cartridge 400 is different from its own identification information, the image forming apparatus 200 checks whether the identification information of the image forming apparatus that was last installed is included in the identification information of the image forming apparatus that belongs to the same contract group stored in the contract information 332. Then, when the identification information of the image forming apparatus that was last installed is included in the identification information of the image forming apparatus that belongs to the same contract group, the cartridge is allowed to be installed. On the other hand, when the identification information of the image forming apparatus that was last installed is not included in the identification information of the image forming apparatus that belongs to the same contract group, the cartridge may be prevented from being installed.

[0078] In the above embodiments, when a cartridge dedicated to the flat-rate service is installed, the image forming device makes a request to the server to determine whether the cartridge can be installed, so that if the image forming device in which the cartridge was last installed is a machine of the same contract group, the cartridge can be installed even if it is an old product. As a result, when the ink remaining in the cartridge dedicated to the flat-rate service runs out, a cartridge installed in another image forming device used under the same contract can be used instead. This makes it possible to improve convenience for users who subscribe to multiple image forming devices for the flat-rate service. In other words, it is possible to improve the usability of the flat-rate service.

[0079] It goes without saying that the configurations and contents of the various data described above are not limited to those described above, and the data may have various configurations and contents depending on the application and purpose. Although one embodiment has been described above, the present invention can be embodied, for example, as a system, an apparatus, a method, a program, a storage medium, etc. Specifically, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of multiple devices, or may be applied to an apparatus composed of a single device. Furthermore, any combination of the above-described embodiments is also included in the present invention.

[0080] (Other embodiments) The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions. Furthermore, the present invention may be applied to a system made up of a plurality of devices, or to an apparatus made up of a single device. The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and are not excluded from the scope of the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes all configurations that combine the above-mentioned embodiments and their modifications.

[0081] The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configuration, method, and program. (Configuration 1) A system in which an image forming apparatus having a consumable installed therein communicates with a server that manages information on flat-rate services, The image forming apparatus includes: an acquiring unit that acquires, from a consumable installed in the image forming apparatus, consumable identification information indicating identification information of the consumable and consumable product information indicating whether the consumable is a product exclusive to the flat-rate service; a first transmission means for transmitting a first request including device identification information indicating identification information of the image forming device and the consumable identification information to the server when the consumable product information indicates that the consumable product is an exclusive product for the flat-rate service; a first receiving means for receiving a result of the determination corresponding to the first request from the server; a control means for controlling the printing apparatus so as to permit printing using the installed consumables when the result of the determination indicates that the consumables can be installed, and restricting printing using the installed consumables when the result of the determination indicates that the consumables cannot be installed, The server, a management unit for managing contract group information associated with the device identification information of the image forming device that has contracted for the flat-rate service; a registration unit that associates the consumable item identification information with device identification information of the image forming device in which the consumable item corresponding to the consumable item identification information is installed and registers the associated information; a second receiving means for receiving the first request from the image forming apparatus; a determination means for determining that the consumable corresponding to the consumable identification information is installable when the device identification information included in the first request and the device identification information associated with the consumable identification information included in the first request and registered in the registration means are included in the same contract group, and determining that the consumable corresponding to the consumable identification information is not installable when the device identification information and the device identification information are included in different contract groups; and a second transmission means for transmitting the determination result to the image forming apparatus. A system characterized by: (Configuration 2) 2. The system according to configuration 1, wherein the first transmission means transmits the first request when a consumable is installed in the image forming apparatus. (Configuration 3) the acquiring means acquires from the consumables installed in the image forming apparatus, usage status information indicating whether the consumables are new or old items that have been used at least once in the image forming apparatus; 3. The system according to configuration 1 or 2, wherein the first transmission means transmits the first request when the usage status information indicates an old product. (Configuration 4) The image forming apparatus includes: a third transmission means for transmitting a second request including device identification information of the image forming device and the consumable item identification information to the server when the usage status information indicates a new product; a third receiving means for receiving from the server a notification indicating that registration of the information on the consumable product corresponding to the second request has been completed; a first setting unit that sets information indicating that the consumable item is an old item as the usage status information for the consumable item installed in the image forming apparatus when the notification is received, the control means permits printing using the installed consumable when the notification is received, and restricts printing using the installed consumable when the notification is not received despite the second request being transmitted, The server, a fourth receiving means for receiving the second request from the image forming apparatus; a registration processing means for performing registration in the registration means using the device identification information and the consumable item identification information included in the second request; and a fourth transmission means for transmitting a notification indicating that the registration has been completed to the image forming device when the registration has been completed. The system according to configuration 3 is characterized by the above. (Configuration 5) 5. The system according to configuration 4, wherein the third sending means sends the second request when a print job is to be executed. (Configuration 6) The system described in configuration 4 or 5, characterized in that the registration processing means registers the device to the registration means using the device identification information and the consumable identification information included in the first request, even if the determination means determines that the device can be attached. (Configuration 7) The image forming apparatus includes: a change means for changing a transmission setting as to whether or not to transmit the first request, The first transmission means does not transmit the first request when the transmission setting is a setting not to transmit, The system according to configuration 6, wherein the third sending means sends the second request even when the sending setting is changed by the changing means from the setting to not send to a setting to send. (Configuration 8) the image forming device includes a second setting means for setting, when a consumable is attached to the image forming device, information indicating that the consumable is not registered with the server as registration information for the consumable, and for setting, when the notification is received by the third receiving means or when information indicating that the consumable can be attached as a result of the determination is received by the first receiving means, information indicating that the consumable is registered with the server as the registration information for the consumable; The acquiring unit further acquires the registration information from a consumable item installed in the image forming apparatus, 8. The system according to configuration 7, wherein the third sending means does not send the second request when the registration information indicates that the registration has been completed. (Configuration 9) An image forming apparatus having a consumable attached thereto, an acquiring unit for acquiring, from a consumable installed in the image forming apparatus, consumable identification information indicating identification information of the consumable and consumable product information indicating whether the consumable is a product exclusive to a flat-rate service; a first transmission means for transmitting a first request including device identification information indicating identification information of the image forming device and the consumable identification information to a server that manages information on the flat-rate service when the consumable product information indicates that the consumable product is an exclusive product for the flat-rate service; a first receiving means for receiving a result of a determination process in which, when device identification information included in the first request and the device identification information registered in the server in association with the consumable identification information included in the first request are included in the same contract group in contract group information associated with the device identification information of the image forming device contracted for the flat-rate service managed by the server, the consumable identified by the consumable identification information is determined to be installable, and when the device identification information is included in a different contract group, the consumable identification information is determined to be installable; a control means for controlling so as to permit printing using the installed consumable when a result of the determination process indicates that the consumable can be installed, and restrict printing using the installed consumable when a result of the determination process indicates that the consumable cannot be installed; An image forming apparatus comprising: (Configuration 10) 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first transmission means transmits the first request when a consumable is installed in the image forming apparatus. (Configuration 11) the acquiring means acquires from the consumables installed in the image forming apparatus, usage status information indicating whether the consumables are new or old items that have been used at least once in the image forming apparatus; 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first transmission unit transmits the first request when the usage status information indicates an old product. (Configuration 12) a third transmission means for transmitting a second request including device identification information of the image forming device and the consumable item identification information to the server when the usage status information indicates a new product; a third receiving means for receiving from the server a notification indicating that the registration has been completed, the notification being returned when a registration process for linking the device identification information and the consumable identification information included in the second request and registering them in the server has been completed; a first setting unit that sets information indicating that the consumable item is an old item as the usage status information for the consumable item installed in the image forming apparatus when the notification is received, The image forming apparatus according to configuration 11, characterized in that the control means permits printing using the installed consumable when the notification is received, and restricts printing using the installed consumable when the second request is sent but the notification is not received. (Configuration 13) 13. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 12, wherein the third transmission means transmits the second request when a print job is to be executed. (Configuration 14) The image forming apparatus of configuration 12 or 13, characterized in that when the first receiving means receives a result of a determination process indicating that the consumable can be installed from the server, the registration process is performed by the server using the device identification information and the consumable identification information included in the first request. (Configuration 15) a change means for changing a transmission setting as to whether or not to transmit the first request, The first transmission means does not transmit the first request when the transmission setting is a setting not to transmit, The image forming apparatus according to configuration 14, wherein the third sending means sends the second request even when the sending setting is changed by the changing means from the setting to not send to a setting to send. (Configuration 16) a second setting means for setting, when a consumable is attached to the image forming apparatus, information indicating that the consumable is not registered with the server as registration information for the consumable, and for setting, when the notification is received by the third receiving means or when information indicating that the consumable can be attached as a result of the determination is received by the first receiving means, information indicating that the consumable is registered with the server as the registration information for the consumable, The acquiring unit further acquires the registration information from a consumable item installed in the image forming apparatus, 16. The image forming apparatus according to configuration 15, wherein the third transmission means does not transmit the second request when the registration information indicates that the registration has been completed. (Method 1) A method for controlling a system in which an image forming apparatus having a consumable installed therein communicates with a server that manages information on flat-rate services, the method comprising: Executed by the image forming apparatus, an acquiring step of acquiring, from a consumable installed in the image forming apparatus, consumable identification information indicating identification information of the consumable and consumable product information indicating whether the consumable is a product exclusive to the flat-rate service; a first transmission step of transmitting a first request including device identification information indicating identification information of the image forming device and the consumable identification information to the server when the consumable product information indicates that the consumable product is an exclusive product for the flat-rate service; a first receiving step of receiving a result of a determination corresponding to the first request from the server; a control step of controlling so as to permit printing using the installed consumable when the result of the determination indicates that the consumable can be installed, and restrict printing using the installed consumable when the result of the determination indicates that the consumable cannot be installed; Executed by the server, a second receiving step of receiving the first request from the image forming apparatus; a determining step of determining that the consumable corresponding to the consumable identification information can be installed when the device identification information included in the first request and the device identification information registered in the server in association with the consumable identification information included in the first request are included in the same contract group in contract group information that is included in the server and is associated with the device identification information of the image forming device that subscribes to the flat-rate service managed by the server, and determining that the consumable corresponding to the consumable identification information cannot be installed when the device identification information and the device identification information are included in different contract groups; a second transmission step of transmitting a result of the determination to the image forming device; A method for controlling a system comprising: (Method 2) A method for controlling an image forming apparatus in which a consumable item is installed, comprising the steps of: an acquiring step of acquiring, from a consumable attached to the image forming apparatus, consumable identification information indicating identification information of the consumable and consumable product information indicating whether the consumable is a product exclusive to a flat-rate service; a sending step of sending a first request including device identification information indicating identification information of the image forming device and the consumable identification information to a server that manages information on the flat-rate service when the consumable product information indicates that the consumable product is an exclusive product for the flat-rate service; a receiving step of receiving a result of a determination process in which, when device identification information included in the first request and the device identification information registered in the server in association with the consumable identification information included in the first request are included in the same contract group in contract group information associated with the device identification information of the image forming device contracted for the flat-rate service managed by the server, the result of the determination process is that the consumable identified by the consumable identification information can be installed, and when the device identification information is included in a different contract group, the result of the determination process is that the consumable identified by the consumable identification information cannot be installed; a control step of controlling so as to permit printing using the installed consumable when a result of the determination process indicates that the consumable can be installed, and restrict printing using the installed consumable when a result of the determination process indicates that the consumable cannot be installed; 13. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus comprising: (program) A program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to method 2.

Claims

1. A system in which an image forming apparatus having a consumable installed therein communicates with a server that manages information on flat-rate services, The image forming apparatus includes: an acquiring unit that acquires, from a consumable installed in the image forming apparatus, consumable identification information indicating identification information of the consumable and consumable product information indicating whether the consumable is a product exclusive to the flat-rate service; a first transmission means for transmitting, to the server, a first request including device identification information indicating identification information of the image forming device and the consumable identification information when the consumable product information indicates that the consumable product is an exclusive product for the flat-rate service; a first receiving means for receiving a result of the determination corresponding to the first request from the server; a control means for controlling the printing apparatus so as to permit printing using the installed consumables when the result of the determination indicates that the consumables can be installed, and restricting printing using the installed consumables when the result of the determination indicates that the consumables cannot be installed, The server, a management unit for managing contract group information associated with the device identification information of the image forming device that has contracted for the flat-rate service; a registration unit that associates the consumable item identification information with device identification information of the image forming device in which the consumable item corresponding to the consumable item identification information is installed and registers the associated information; a second receiving means for receiving the first request from the image forming apparatus; a determination means for determining that a consumable corresponding to the consumable identification information is installable when the device identification information included in the first request and the device identification information associated with the consumable identification information included in the first request and registered in the registration means are included in the same contract group, and determining that the consumable corresponding to the consumable identification information is not installable when the device identification information and the device identification information are included in different contract groups; and a second transmission means for transmitting the determination result to the image forming apparatus. A system characterized by:

2. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission means transmits the first request when a consumable is installed in the image forming device.

3. the acquiring means acquires from the consumables installed in the image forming apparatus, usage status information indicating whether the consumables are new or old items that have been used at least once in the image forming apparatus; 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission means transmits the first request when the usage status information indicates an old product.

4. The image forming apparatus includes: a third transmission means for transmitting a second request including device identification information of the image forming device and the consumable item identification information to the server when the usage status information indicates a new product; a third receiving means for receiving from the server a notification indicating that registration of the information on the consumable product corresponding to the second request has been completed; a first setting unit that sets, when the notification is received, information indicating that the consumable item is an old item as the usage status information for the consumable item installed in the image forming apparatus, the control means permits printing using the installed consumable when the notification is received, and restricts printing using the installed consumable when the notification is not received despite the second request being transmitted, The server, a fourth receiving means for receiving the second request from the image forming apparatus; a registration processing means for performing registration in the registration means using the device identification information and the consumable item identification information included in the second request; and a fourth transmission means for transmitting, when the registration is completed, a notification indicating that the registration is completed to the image forming device. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that

5. 5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said third sending means sends said second request when a print job is executed.

6. The system described in claim 4, characterized in that the registration processing means registers the device to the registration means using the device identification information and the consumable identification information included in the first request, even if the determination means determines that the device can be installed.

7. The image forming apparatus includes: a change unit for changing a transmission setting as to whether or not to transmit the first request, The first transmission means does not transmit the first request when the transmission setting is a setting not to transmit, The system according to claim 6, wherein the third sending means sends the second request even when the sending setting is changed by the changing means from the non-sending setting to the sending setting.

8. the image forming device includes a second setting means for setting, when a consumable is attached to the image forming device, information indicating that the consumable is not registered with the server as registration information for the consumable, and for setting, when the notification is received by the third receiving means or when information indicating that the consumable can be attached as a result of the determination is received by the first receiving means, information indicating that the consumable has been registered with the server as the registration information for the consumable; The acquiring unit further acquires the registration information from a consumable item installed in the image forming apparatus, 8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said third transmission means does not transmit said second request when said registration information indicates said registration has been completed.

9. An image forming apparatus having a consumable attached thereto, an acquiring unit for acquiring, from a consumable installed in the image forming apparatus, consumable identification information indicating identification information of the consumable and consumable product information indicating whether the consumable is a product exclusive to a flat-rate service; a first transmission means for transmitting a first request including device identification information indicating identification information of the image forming device and the consumable identification information to a server that manages information on the flat-rate service when the consumable product information indicates that the consumable product is an exclusive product for the flat-rate service; a first receiving means for receiving a result of a determination process in which, when device identification information included in the first request and the device identification information registered in the server in association with the consumable identification information included in the first request are included in the same contract group in contract group information associated with the device identification information of the image forming device contracted for the flat-rate service managed by the server, the consumable identified by the consumable identification information is determined to be installable, and when the device identification information is included in a different contract group, the consumable identification information is determined to be installable; a control means for controlling so as to permit printing using the installed consumable when a result of the determination process indicates that the consumable can be installed, and restrict printing using the installed consumable when a result of the determination process indicates that the consumable cannot be installed; An image forming apparatus comprising:

10. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first transmission unit transmits the first request when a consumable is installed in the image forming apparatus.

11. the acquiring means acquires from the consumables installed in the image forming apparatus, usage status information indicating whether the consumables are new or old items that have been used at least once in the image forming apparatus; 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first sending unit sends the first request when the usage status information indicates an old product.

12. a third transmission means for transmitting a second request including device identification information of the image forming device and the consumable item identification information to the server when the usage status information indicates a new product; a third receiving means for receiving from the server a notification indicating that the registration has been completed, the notification being returned when a registration process for linking the device identification information and the consumable identification information included in the second request and registering them in the server has been completed; a first setting unit that sets, when the notification is received, information indicating that the consumable item is an old item as the usage status information for the consumable item installed in the image forming apparatus, The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control means permits printing using the installed consumables when the notification is received, and restricts printing using the installed consumables when the second request is sent but the notification is not received.

13. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the third transmission unit transmits the second request when a print job is executed.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that when the first receiving means receives a result of a determination process indicating that the consumable can be attached from the server, the server performs the registration process using the device identification information and the consumable identification information included in the first request.

15. a change unit for changing a transmission setting as to whether or not to transmit the first request, The first transmission means does not transmit the first request when the transmission setting is a setting not to transmit, 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the third sending unit sends the second request even when the sending setting is changed by the changing unit from the setting of not sending to the setting of sending.

16. a second setting means for setting, when a consumable is attached to the image forming apparatus, information indicating that the consumable is not registered with the server as registration information for the consumable, and for setting, when the notification is received by the third receiving means or when information indicating that the consumable can be attached as a result of the determination is received by the first receiving means, information indicating that the consumable is registered with the server as the registration information for the consumable, The acquiring unit further acquires the registration information from a consumable item installed in the image forming apparatus, 16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the third transmission unit does not transmit the second request when the registration information indicates that the image forming apparatus is already registered.

17. A method for controlling a system in which an image forming apparatus having a consumable installed therein communicates with a server that manages information on flat-rate services, the method comprising: Executed by the image forming apparatus, an acquiring step of acquiring, from a consumable installed in the image forming apparatus, consumable identification information indicating identification information of the consumable and consumable product information indicating whether the consumable is a product exclusive to the flat-rate service; a first transmission step of transmitting a first request including device identification information indicating identification information of the image forming device and the consumable identification information to the server when the consumable product information indicates that the consumable product is an exclusive product for the flat-rate service; a first receiving step of receiving a result of a determination corresponding to the first request from the server; a control step of controlling so as to permit printing using the installed consumable when the result of the determination indicates that the consumable can be installed, and restrict printing using the installed consumable when the result of the determination indicates that the consumable cannot be installed; Executed by the server, a second receiving step of receiving the first request from the image forming apparatus; a determining step of determining that the consumable corresponding to the consumable identification information can be installed when the device identification information included in the first request and the device identification information registered in the server in association with the consumable identification information included in the first request are included in the same contract group in contract group information that is included in the server and is associated with the device identification information of the image forming device that subscribes to the flat-rate service managed by the server, and determining that the consumable corresponding to the consumable identification information can be installed when the device identification information and the device identification information are included in different contract groups; a second transmission step of transmitting a result of the determination to the image forming device; A method for controlling a system comprising:

18. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus in which a consumable item is installed, comprising the steps of: an acquiring step of acquiring, from a consumable installed in the image forming apparatus, consumable identification information indicating identification information of the consumable and consumable product information indicating whether the consumable is a product exclusively for a flat-rate service; a sending step of sending a first request including device identification information indicating identification information of the image forming device and the consumable identification information to a server that manages information on the flat-rate service when the consumable product information indicates that the consumable product is an exclusive product for the flat-rate service; a receiving step of receiving a result of a determination process in which, when device identification information included in the first request and the device identification information registered in the server linked to the consumable identification information included in the first request are included in the same contract group in contract group information linked to the device identification information of the image forming device contracted for the flat-rate service managed by the server, the result of the determination process is that the consumable identified by the consumable identification information can be installed, and when the device identification information is included in a different contract group, the result of the determination process is that the consumable identified by the consumable identification information cannot be installed; a control step of controlling so as to permit printing using the installed consumable when a result of the determination process indicates that the consumable can be installed, and restrict printing using the installed consumable when a result of the determination process indicates that the consumable cannot be installed; 11. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus comprising:

19. A program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to claim 18.

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