Management system, management program, and printing device program

Abstract

To provide a management system, a management program, and a printing device program that achieves both the convenience of users when re-contracting after termination of a forwarding service and the permission of using a contract cartridge exclusively in the printing device that is a contract target of the forwarding service.SOLUTION: A control unit of a management server stores, in a server storage unit, target identification information of a printing device in association with first cartridge identification information of a cartridge of the printing device in response to a termination request. The control unit of the printing device is configured to: when a contract cartridge is not in a pre-use state, send an inquiry to the management server (S8); when the identification information of a cartridge loaded to the printing device is stored in the server storage unit as first cartridge identification information associated with target identification information (S9: Yes), permit use of a cartridge (S11); and, when not stored (S9: No), not permit use of the cartridge (S12).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a management system, a management program, and a printing device program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a fixed-price shipping service is known for an image forming device, which allows printing up to a preset number of sheets for a predetermined period of time for a fixed usage fee, and automatically ships a cartridge depending on the printing status. The image forming device described in Patent Document 1 includes a toner cartridge and a controller so that a user can continue to use a contracted toner cartridge that can be used in the shipping service even after the user has cancelled the contract for the shipping service. When the controller receives a cancellation instruction to cancel the contract for the shipping service, and the identification information stored in the toner memory of the toner cartridge indicates that the toner cartridge is a contracted product, the controller executes a rewrite process to rewrite the identification information to information indicating that the toner cartridge is a normal product. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-160229 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned conventional image forming device, when a contracted product for which rewriting processing has been performed is used on a printing device to which a new contract has been made after the shipping service has ended, the printing device recognizes the contracted product as a normal product, and therefore does not execute the processing that would be executed if a contracted product were used.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a management system, management program, and printing device program which achieves both user convenience when re-contracting after a shipping service has ended and permission to use contract cartridges only in printing devices covered by the shipping service contract. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A management system according to a first aspect of the present invention is a management system configured to enable communication between a printing device in which a cartridge containing a coloring material is mounted and a management server that manages the cartridge used in the printing device, the management server including a server control unit and a server storage unit, the server control unit including a first reception process for receiving a start request for requesting the start of a contract for a shipping service for shipping a cartridge used in the printing device, a second reception process for receiving from the printing device cartridge information including type information indicating the type of the cartridge and usage information indicating the usage status of the coloring material of the cartridge for the cartridge mounted in the printing device that is a target of the shipping service, a shipping instruction process for instructing the shipping of a contract cartridge that is a cartridge that can be used within the contract period of the shipping service when it is determined based on the cartridge information that a preset shipping condition indicating that the cartridge mounted in the printing device needs to be replaced is established, a third reception process for receiving an end request for requesting the end of the contract for the shipping service for the printing device, and a reception process for receiving a termination request for receiving the termination request in response to the reception of the termination request. and a storage control process for storing in the server storage unit, in association with target identification information, which is identification information of a contract target of the shipping service, and first cartridge identification information, which is identification information of the cartridge mounted in the printing device, in correspondence with each other, the printing device having a device control unit, the device control unit executing a cartridge information sending process for sending to the management server the cartridge information of the cartridge mounted in the printing device that is the target of the shipping service, and a query sending process for sending to the management server an inquiry including the target identification information and second cartridge identification information, which is identification information of the contract cartridge mounted in the printing device, within the contract period, the server control unit executing a determination result sending process for sending to the printing device, in response to receiving the inquiry from the printing device within the contract period of the shipping service, a determination result as to whether the second cartridge identification information included in the inquiry is stored in the server storage unit as the first cartridge identification information associated with the target identification information, and the device control unit, if the determination result is a positive result,The management system executes a cartridge management process that permits the use of the cartridge installed in the printing device, and if the determination result is negative, does not permit the use of the cartridge installed in the printing device. The inquiry sending process, determination result sending process, and cartridge management process of the management system of the first aspect contribute to allowing, when re-contracting for the shipping service, a contract cartridge that was in use at the time of contract termination and has started to be used continuously after the contract is resumed. The inquiry sending process, determination result sending process, and cartridge management process of the management system contribute to restricting a contract cartridge that was in use at the time of contract termination and has started to be used in a printing device that is not related to the contracted subject of the shipping service that has been terminated. Therefore, the management system contributes to achieving both user convenience when re-contracting for the shipping service after it has been terminated, and permitting the use of a contract cartridge only in a printing device that is the contracted subject of the shipping service.

[0007] A management program according to a second aspect of the present invention is a management program executed by a server control unit of a management server of a management system configured to be able to communicate with a printing device in which a cartridge containing a coloring material is mounted, and a management server that manages the cartridge used in the printing device, the management program including a first reception process for receiving a start request for requesting the server control unit to start a contract for a shipping service for shipping cartridges to be used in the printing device, a second reception process for receiving from the printing device cartridge information about the cartridge mounted in the printing device that is a target of the shipping service, the cartridge information including type information indicating the type of the cartridge and usage information indicating the usage status of the coloring material of the cartridge, and a second reception process for receiving from the printing device cartridge information about the cartridge mounted in the printing device that is a target of the shipping service, when it is determined based on the cartridge information that a preset shipping condition indicating that the cartridge mounted in the printing device needs to be replaced is satisfied, the second reception process for receiving from the printing device cartridge information about the cartridge that has been used within a contract period for the shipping service, a third receiving process for receiving a termination request for requesting termination of the contract for the shipping service of the printing device, a storage control process for storing in a server storage unit of the management server in association with target identification information, which is identification information of a contract target of the shipping service, and first cartridge identification information, which is identification information of the cartridge installed in the printing device, in a corresponding manner in a server storage unit of the management server in response to receiving the termination request, and a determination result sending process for sending to the printing device a determination result as to whether or not the second cartridge identification information included in the inquiry is stored in the server storage unit as the first cartridge identification information associated with the target identification information, in response to receiving from the printing device an inquiry including the target identification information and second cartridge identification information, which is identification information of the cartridge installed in the printing device, during the contract period of the shipping service. The determination result sending process of the management program of the second aspect contributes to sending to the printing device a determination result used in determining whether or not to permit continued use of a contract cartridge that has been used at the time of contract termination and has started to be used after the contract is resumed, when re-contracting for the shipping service.The determination result transmission process of the management program contributes to transmitting to the printing device the determination result used to determine whether or not a contract cartridge that was in use at the time of contract expiration and has since begun to be used can be used in a printing device that is not related to the contracted item of the shipping service that has expired. Therefore, the management program contributes to achieving both convenience for the user when re-contracting after the shipping service has ended and permission to use the contract cartridge only in a printing device that is the contracted item of the shipping service.

[0008] A printing device program according to a third aspect of the present invention is a printing device program executed by a device control unit of a printing device in a management system configured to be capable of communicating with a printing device in which a cartridge containing a coloring material is mounted and a management server that manages the cartridge used in the printing device, the printing device program including: a cartridge information transmission process that transmits to the management server, within a contract period of a shipping service that ships cartridges used in the printing device, cartridge information for the cartridge mounted in the printing device, the cartridge information including type information indicating the type of the cartridge and usage information indicating the usage status of the coloring material of the cartridge; and a target information transmission process that transmits to the management server, within the contract period of a shipping service that ships cartridges used in the printing device, the target information being identification information of a contract target of the shipping service. The program includes instructions to execute a query transmission process for transmitting to the management server a query including the identification information and first cartridge identification information which is identification information of the cartridge mounted on the printing device, and a cartridge management process for permitting use of the cartridge mounted on the printing device when a determination result of whether the first cartridge identification information included in the query, transmitted from the management server in response to the query, is stored in a server storage unit of the management server as second cartridge identification information which is identification information of the cartridge associated with the target identification information, is positive, and for not permitting use of the cartridge mounted on the printing device when the determination result is negative. The query transmission process and cartridge management process of the printing device program contribute to permitting continued use of a contract cartridge that has been used at the time of contract termination and has started to be used after the contract is resumed, based on the determination result transmitted from the management server in response to the query. The query transmission process and cartridge management process of the printing device program contribute to restricting use of a cartridge in a printing device that is not related to a contract target of a shipping service whose contract has been terminated. Therefore, the printing device program contributes to achieving both convenience for the user of the management system when re-contracting after the shipping service has ended and permission to use the contract cartridge only in the printing device that is the subject of the shipping service contract. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a conceptual diagram of a management system 1 including a terminal device 2, a printing device 3, a management server 4, and a delivery server 5. FIG. [Diagram 2] 13 is a flowchart of a management server process executed by the management server 4. [Diagram 3] 13 is a timing chart of a process executed by the management system 1 at the start of a delivery service in a specific example. [Figure 4] 11 is a flowchart of a printing device process executed by the printing device 3. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the transition of the mode of the printing device 3, the object identification information, and the cartridge information of the cartridge installed in the printing device 3. As shown in FIG. [Figure 6] 13 is a timing chart of a process executed by the management system 1 when a delivery service ends in a specific example. [Figure 7] 3 is a flowchart of a termination process executed in the management server process of FIG. 2; [Figure 8] 13 is a timing chart of a specific example of processing executed by the management system 1 when the delivery service is resumed. [Figure 9] 3 is a flowchart of an inquiry process executed by the management server process of FIG. 2. [Figure 10] This is an explanatory diagram of notifications based on the judgment results of S82 in each of specific examples 1 to 4, in the first case where the target identification information is the identification information of a user who is the subject of a contract for the shipping service, and in the second case where the target identification information is the identification information of a printing device 3 who is the subject of a contract for the shipping service. [Figure 11] 13 is an explanatory diagram of a device that executes a cartridge determination process and execution timing in a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] A management system 1 and a management server 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Fig. 1, the management system 1 includes a terminal device 2, a printer 3, a management server 4, and a shipping server 5, which are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a WAN 6. WAN stands for Wide Area Network. The WAN 6 in this embodiment is the Internet. The management system 1 provides and manages a shipping service for the printer 3 in response to a start request sent from the terminal device 2.

[0011] The shipping service is a service that charges according to the amount of printing within a contract period. The shipping service includes a shipping service that automatically delivers cartridges that can be used in the printing device 3, and a billing service that charges according to the number of printed sheets, which is the number of sheets of print media printed by the printing device 3. The cartridges in this embodiment are of three types: commercially available cartridges, hybrid cartridges, and contract cartridges. The commercially available cartridges are cartridges that can be purchased at regular stores. The hybrid cartridges are cartridges that are included with the printing device 3 when the printing device 3 is sold. The contract cartridges are cartridges exclusive to the shipping service that cannot be purchased at regular stores. The billing service is a service that charges a fixed amount for the number of printed sheets (hereinafter, the specified number) specified for each service plan within a service unit period (for example, one month), and charges an additional fee for printing beyond the specified number. If the number of printed sheets within a service unit period is less than the specified number, the surplus is carried over to the next service unit period. In the shipping service of this embodiment, the start time of the billing service is set according to the type of cartridge installed in the printing device 3 at the start of the shipping service contract.

[0012] The terminal device 2 of this embodiment is a personal computer. The terminal device 2 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, a display unit 13, an input unit 14, and a storage unit 15. The control unit 11 includes a CPU 21 and a memory 22. The CPU 21 controls the terminal device 2 by executing a program stored in the memory 22. The memory 22 includes semiconductor memories such as ROM, RAM, and flash memory. The communication unit 12 is a communication module for performing data communication with the management server 4 via the WAN 6. The display unit 13 is a liquid crystal display and can display various information. The input unit 14 includes a keyboard and a mouse, and outputs a detection signal to the control unit 11 in response to an input operation performed via the keyboard and the mouse. The storage unit 15 includes a non-volatile storage device such as an HDD and an SSD, and stores various data. HDD stands for Hard Disk Drive. SSD stands for Solid State Drive.

[0013] The printing device 3 is an inkjet printer that uses four cartridges 71 to 74 to print, and includes a control unit 31, a communication unit 32, a display unit 33, an input unit 34, a printing unit 35, and a connector 36. The control unit 31 includes a CPU 41 and a memory 42. The CPU 41 controls the printing device 3 by executing a program stored in the memory 42. The memory 42 includes semiconductor memories such as ROM, RAM, and flash memory, and stores programs and various data. The communication unit 32 is a communication module that performs data communication with the management server 4 via the WAN 6. The display unit 33 is a liquid crystal display, and can display various information. The input unit 34 includes a touch panel installed on the screen of the display unit 33, and switches installed around the screen of the display unit 33. The input unit 34 outputs a detection signal to the control unit 11 in response to an input operation performed by a user via the touch panel and the switches. The printing unit 35 includes a print head, and can print an image on a printing medium using color materials contained in the cartridges 71 to 74.

[0014] The connector 36 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the type of the first cartridge 71, the second cartridge 72, the third cartridge 73, and the fourth cartridge 74 detachably mounted on the printing device 3 to the control unit 31. The coloring material in this embodiment is ink. The first cartridge 71 has a first memory 75 and contains a cyan coloring material. The second cartridge 72 has a second memory 76 and contains a magenta coloring material. The third cartridge 73 has a third memory 77 and contains a yellow coloring material. The fourth cartridge 74 has a fourth memory 78 and contains a black coloring material. Each of the memories 75 to 78 stores cartridge identification information, type information, remaining amount, and new product flag. The cartridge identification information is a unique serial number for identifying each cartridge. The cartridge identification information may include information indicating the color of the ink of the cartridge, the model number, the manufacturer, the production lot, etc. Although the cartridge identification information in this embodiment includes information specifying the expiration date, for the sake of simplicity of explanation, the cartridge identification information in this embodiment is a character string combining an alphabet and a four-digit number. For example, the cartridge identification information of the first cartridge 71 is "C0001". Type information indicates the type of cartridge. The remaining amount is information indicating the remaining amount of color material in the cartridge. As an example, the remaining amount is a value when the remaining amount of color material when unused is set to 100. The remaining amount may be an absolute amount of color material. The new product flag is information indicating whether the cartridge has not yet been used or has already been used, and if the cartridge has not yet been used, the value is "TRUE", and if the cartridge has already been used, the value is "FALSE". The initial value of the new product flag is "TRUE", and is set to "FALSE" by the process of S10 described below with reference to FIG. 4.

[0015] The management server 4 includes a control unit 51, a storage unit 52, and a communication unit 53. The control unit 51 includes a CPU 61 and a memory 62. The CPU 61 controls the management server 4 by executing a program stored in the memory 62. The memory 62 includes semiconductor memory such as a ROM, a RAM, and a flash memory, and stores programs including a management program 63 and data. The management program 63 is a computer program for causing the CPU 61 to realize a function of managing the delivery service. The storage unit 52 includes a non-volatile storage device such as an HDD and an SSD, and stores various data. The communication unit 53 is a communication module that performs data communication between the terminal device 2, the printer 3, and the delivery server 5 via the WAN 6.

[0016] The shipping server 5 includes a control unit, a communication unit, and a storage unit, and the control unit of the shipping server 5 executes a process of notifying a shipping worker to ship a cartridge according to the contents of the cartridge shipping instruction in response to receiving the cartridge shipping instruction from the management server 4. The shipping worker ships the cartridge in accordance with the cartridge shipping instruction.

[0017] 2 to 9, the process at the start of the delivery service, the process at the end of the delivery service, and the process at the restart of the delivery service, which are executed in the management system 1, will be described in order, focusing on the management server process executed in the management server 4 and the printing device process executed in the printing device 3. When the power is turned on, the control unit 51 of the management server 4 starts the management program 63 stored in the memory 62, and executes the management server process shown in Figs. 2, 3, 6, and 8. When the control unit 11 of the terminal device 2 detects an instruction to access a website input by a user via the input unit 14, it starts the program stored in the memory 22, and executes the terminal process shown in Figs. 3, 6, and 8. When the power is turned on, the control unit 31 of the printing device 3 starts the program stored in the memory 42, and executes the printing device process shown in Figs. 3, 4, 6, and 8. When the control unit of the delivery server 5 detects a delivery instruction from the management server 4, it starts the program stored in the memory, and executes the delivery server process shown in Figs. 3, 6, and 8.

[0018] As a specific example, as shown in FIG. 5, a process will be described in which a contract for a shipping service is started for the printing device 3, and then the shipping service is terminated and resumed. FIG. 5 shows the transition of the mode of the printing device 3, the target identification information, and the cartridge information of the cartridge mounted on the printing device 3. The printing device 3 in this embodiment has a normal mode, which is a mode in which the shipping service contract is not made, and a contract mode, which is a mode within the contract period of the shipping service. When the printing device 3 is in the contract mode, the printing device 3 can use the contract cartridge and can also use commercially available cartridges. On the other hand, when the printing device 3 is in the normal mode, the printing device 3 cannot use the contract cartridge, but can use commercially available cartridges. The target identification information is identification information of the target of the shipping service contract. The target identification information in this embodiment is identification information of the printing device 3 that is the target of the shipping service contract. The target identification information in this embodiment is, for example, a unique serial number for identifying each printing device 3. The target identification information in this embodiment includes printing device information indicating the model of the printing device 3, information such as a manufacturing number, etc. For ease of explanation, the target identification information in this embodiment is a character string combining an alphabet and a four-digit number. The target identification information of the printing device 3 in the specific example is "P0001". The cartridge information includes type information indicating the type of cartridge and usage information indicating the usage status of the color material of the cartridge. The cartridge information is stored in memories 75 to 78 attached to the printing device 3, and is acquired by the printing device 3 via the connector 36. The printing device 3 can rewrite the cartridge information stored in memories 75 to 78 via the connector 36. The cartridge information of this embodiment includes a remaining amount and a new product flag as usage information. The cartridge information of this embodiment further includes cartridge identification information.

[0019] 2, in the management server process, the control unit 51 determines whether access from the terminal device 2 is detected (S21). If access from the terminal device 2 is not detected (S21: NO), the control unit 51 determines whether an inquiry is received from a printing device 3 that is the target of the shipping service (S51). If an inquiry is not received (S51: NO), the control unit 51 returns the process to S21. If an inquiry is received (S51: YES), the control unit 51 executes an inquiry process (S52) similar to S58 described below, and returns the process to S21. The inquiry received in S51 is an inquiry sent in response to a change in the cartridge in the printing device 3 that is the target of the shipping service.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 11 of the terminal device 2 of the specific example accesses a website for providing a delivery service (hereinafter, a service website) that is set up in the management server 4 in response to an input operation by the user on the terminal device 2 via the input unit 14 (S101). When access from the terminal device 2 is detected (S21: YES), the control unit 51 performs an account creation / login process (S22). Specifically, the control unit 11 creates an account for using the delivery service in response to an input operation by the user on the terminal device 2, and logs in to the service website (S102). The control unit 51 of the management server 4 registers account information including the user's name, email address, and password in response to information received from the terminal device 2, creates an account, and logs in the terminal device 2 (S22).

[0021] The control unit 51 of the management server 4 waits until it receives either a registration request or a termination request from the terminal device 2 (S23: NO, S53: NO). The registration request requests that the printing device 3 targeted for the delivery service be registered in the management server 4. The termination request requests that the delivery service be terminated. The control unit 11 of the terminal device 2 transmits a registration request including the target identification information of the printing device 3 to the management server 4 (S103). When the control unit 51 of the management server 4 receives a registration request (S23: YES), it communicates with the printing device 3 via the WAN 6 based on the target identification information of the printing device 3, and detects the printing device 3 corresponding to the target identification information of the printing device 3 (S24). When the management server 4 detects the printing device 3, it registers the printing device 3 in the user's account as the printing device 3 targeted for the delivery service, and transmits a registration success notification indicating that the registration was successful to the terminal device 2 (S25).

[0022] In response to receiving the successful registration notification, the terminal device 2 displays on the display unit 13 a screen for requesting the user to specify or input information required for applying for the shipping service of the printing device 3. The user operates the input unit 14 to specify or input information required for applying for the shipping service of the printing device 3, and inputs an instruction to transmit a start request from the terminal device 2 to the management server 4. In response to the detection signal detected by the input unit 14, the control unit 11 of the terminal device 2 transmits a start request to the management server 4 to apply for the shipping service for the printing device 3 registered in the management server 4 in S25 (S104). The start request includes plan information indicating the type of plan for the applied shipping service, delivery destination information indicating the delivery destination of the cartridge, and payment information for debiting the usage fee for the shipping service. The payment information is, for example, a credit card number.

[0023] The control unit 51 of the management server 4 executes a first reception process to receive a start request to start a contract for a shipping service to ship cartridges used in the printing device 3 (S26). The control unit 51 waits until the start request is received (S26: NO), and when the start request is received (S26: YES), the control unit 51 transmits to the printing device 3 a periodic information notification setting for periodically transmitting periodic information from the printing device 3 to the management server 4 (S27). When the printing device 3 receives the periodic information notification setting, the printing device 3 performs a setting for periodically transmitting periodic information to the management server 4 according to the periodic information notification setting. The frequency of transmitting the periodic information may be set appropriately, for example, every hour. The periodic information in this embodiment includes firmware identification information, page count information, replacement count information, and cartridge information. The firmware identification information indicates the type and version of the firmware of the printing device 3. The page count information indicates the number of pages printed by the printing device 3. The replacement count information indicates the number of times each of the cartridges 71 to 74 has been replaced. In accordance with the periodic information notification settings, the printing device 3 performs processing to update the page count information, the replacement count information, and the cartridge information as needed depending on the use of the printing device 3.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 31 of the printing device 3 judges whether a periodic information notification setting has been received from the management server 4 (S1). If the periodic information notification setting has not been received (S1: NO), the control unit 31 judges whether replacement of any of the cartridges 71 to 74 has been detected (S2). The control unit 31 may store cartridge identification information of each of the cartridges 71 to 74 mounted in the printing device 3 in the memory 42, and may judge that a cartridge has been replaced when the cartridge identification information stored in the memory 42 differs from the cartridge identification information acquired from each of the memories 75 to 78. If replacement of the cartridges 71 to 74 is not detected (S2: NO), the control unit 31 returns the process to S1. If the periodic information notification setting has been received (S1: YES) or if replacement of any of the cartridges 71 to 74 has been detected (S2: YES), the control unit 31 of the printing device 3 acquires cartridge information of each of the cartridges 71 to 74 mounted in the printing device 3 via the connector 36 (S3). In a specific example, when a periodic information notification setting is received (S1: YES), the control unit 31 of the printing device 3 acquires cartridge information K1 for state J1 in Fig. 5. Cartridge information K1 indicates cartridge information acquired from each of memories 75 to 78. Cartridge information K1 indicates that cartridges 71 to 74 are all contracted cartridges and have not yet started to be used.

[0025] The control unit 31 acquires cartridge information of interest (S4). When a periodic information notification setting is received in S1, the control unit 31 acquires one of the cartridge information acquired in S3 in order as cartridge information of interest, and executes processing for each piece of cartridge information corresponding to the cartridge. When replacement of any of the cartridges 71 to 74 is detected in S2, the control unit 31 acquires, from the cartridge information acquired in S3, the cartridge information of the cartridge whose replacement was detected as the cartridge information of interest.

[0026] The control unit 31 judges whether the target cartridge, which is the cartridge corresponding to the target cartridge information, is within its expiration date based on the target cartridge information (S5). Since the cartridge identification information of this embodiment indicates the expiration date, the control unit 31 judges whether the target cartridge is within its expiration date based on whether the expiration date indicated by the cartridge identification information has passed. The control unit 31 of this embodiment sets the expiration date of the cartridge after the start of use, for which the new product flag is FALSE, to arrive earlier than the expiration date of the cartridge before the start of use. Specifically, the expiration date indicated by the cartridge identification information indicates the expiration date before the start of use. If the new product flag is FALSE, the control unit 31 shortens the expiration date before the start of use by a predetermined period, for example, two months. If the cartridge information indicates the start of use, the control unit 31 may set the expiration date after the start of use to the one that will arrive first, either after the predetermined period has elapsed from the start of use or the expiration date before the start of use. If the target cartridge is not within its expiration date (S5: NO), the control unit 31 does not permit the target cartridge to be used in the printing device 3 and makes it unusable (S12). The control unit 31 notifies the printing device 3 of an error that the cartridge whose expiration date has passed cannot be used (S13). The control unit 31 notifies the error by, for example, displaying an error message on the display unit 33.

[0027] If the cartridge 71 is the cartridge of interest, the control unit 31 of the printing device 3 determines in the process of S5 that the cartridge of interest is within its expiration date (S5: YES), and determines whether the cartridge of interest is a contract cartridge based on the type information of the cartridge of interest (S6). If the cartridge of interest is not a contract cartridge but a normal cartridge or a hybrid cartridge (S6: NO), the control unit 31 permits the use of the cartridge of interest (S11) and performs the process of S14. Since the cartridge 71 of the specific example is a contract cartridge (S6: YES), the control unit 31 of the printing device 3 determines whether the cartridge of interest has not yet been used based on the usage flag of the cartridge of interest (S7). Since the usage flag of the cartridge 71 installed in the printing device 3 is TRUE, the control unit 31 determines that the cartridge of interest has not yet been used (S7: YES), changes the usage flag of the cartridge of interest from TRUE to FALSE, and updates the memory of the cartridge of interest (S10). The control unit 31 permits the use of the cartridge of interest (S11) and performs the process of S14.

[0028] If the usage flag is FALSE, the control unit 31 determines that the target cartridge has already been used (S7: NO), and the control unit 31 sends an inquiry to the management server 4 (S8). The inquiry sent in response to the reception of the periodic information notification setting in S1 is received in S55 of the management server process. The inquiry sent in response to the replacement of the cartridge in the printing device 3 that is the target of the shipping service in S2 is received in S51 of the management server process. The control unit 31 determines whether the notification sent from the management server 4 in response to the inquiry sent in S8 is an approval notification (S9). If the control unit 31 receives an approval notification (S9: YES), it approves the use of the target cartridge (S11). If the control unit 31 receives an error notification instead of an approval notification (S9: NO), it does not approve the use of the target cartridge (S12), reports an error (S13), and executes the process of S14.

[0029] The control unit 31 judges whether all of the cartridge information to be acquired as the target cartridge information has been acquired in S4 (S14). In a specific example, the control unit 31 judges that all of the cartridge information to be acquired as the target cartridge information has been acquired when each of the cartridges 71 to 74 has been acquired as the target cartridge. When replacement of any of the cartridges 71 to 74 is detected in S2, the control unit 31 judges that all of the cartridge information to be acquired as the target cartridge information has been acquired when, among the cartridge information acquired in S3, the cartridge information of the cartridge whose replacement was detected is acquired in S4. When there is still cartridge information to be acquired as the target cartridge information (S14: NO), the control unit 31 returns the process to S4, acquires the next target cartridge information, and continues the process.

[0030] In a specific example, as shown in the cartridge information K2 in the state J2 of FIG. 5, the new product flags of the memories 75 to 78 are changed from TRUE to FALSE by the process of S10 that is repeatedly executed (S10), and the use of each of the cartridges 71 to 74 is permitted in S11 (S11). When all of the cartridge information to be acquired as the target cartridge information is acquired in S4 (S14: YES), the control unit 31 transmits a periodic information notification including the cartridge information acquired in S3 to the management server 4 (S15). The control unit 31 executes the process of S15 as a cartridge information transmission process that transmits the cartridge information to the management server 4 within the contract period of the shipping service. It is preferable that the management server 4 determines that the cartridge determined to be unusable in S12 among the multiple cartridges installed in the printing device 3 needs to be shipped. For this reason, the control unit 31 may not include the cartridge information of the cartridge determined to be unusable in S12 in the periodic information notification, and may include the determination result of S12 in the cartridge information. Based on the error notification in S13, the user may transmit a request to the management server 4 via the terminal device 2 to ship the cartridge that was disabled in S12. The control unit 31 returns the process to S1. When the power is turned off, the control unit 31 ends the printing device process.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 51 of the management server 4 executes a second reception process to receive, from the printing device 3, cartridge information including type information indicating the type of cartridge and usage information indicating the usage status of the color material of the cartridge, within the contract period of the delivery service (S29). The management server 4 of this embodiment receives periodic information including cartridge information from the printing device 3. The control unit 51 waits until it receives a periodic information notification or an inquiry (S29: NO, S57: NO). When the management server 4 receives the periodic information notification (S29: YES), it sets a variable N to 1 for sequentially reading the cartridges included in the cartridge information, and initializes a flag F(N) (S30). The flag F(N) indicates whether the Nth cartridge is a commercially available cartridge, and when F(N) is set to 1, it indicates that the Nth cartridge is a commercially available cartridge, and when F(N) is set to 0, it indicates that the Nth cartridge is a service-compatible cartridge. The service-compatible cartridges are hybrid cartridges and contract cartridges. The initial value of F(N) is 0.

[0032] When it is determined in S33 and S34 based on the cartridge information that a preset shipping condition indicating that the cartridge mounted on the printing device 3 needs to be replaced is satisfied, the control unit 51 executes a shipping instruction process to instruct the shipping of a contract cartridge that is a cartridge that can be used within the contract period of the shipping service. Specifically, the control unit 51 determines whether the Nth cartridge is a service compatible cartridge or not based on the type information included in the periodic information notification received in S29 (S31). When it is determined that the Nth cartridge is not a service compatible cartridge (S31: NO), the control unit 51 sets F(N) to 1 and transmits a shipping instruction for the Nth cartridge to the shipping server 5 (S34). As shown in FIG. 3, in response to receiving the shipping instruction, the shipping server 5 executes a process to notify the shipping operator to ship the cartridge according to the contents of the cartridge shipping instruction. The shipping operator ships the cartridge according to the cartridge shipping instruction. The shipping server 5 transmits a cartridge shipping acceptance completion notification to the management server 4 (S61). 2, the control unit 51 determines whether the variable N is the last number, that is, the number of cartridges to be installed in the printing device 3 (S35). If the variable N is less than 4 (S35: NO), the control unit 51 increments the variable N by 1 (S36) and returns the process to S31.

[0033] In a specific example, when the variable N is 1 to 4, the Nth cartridge is determined to be a service compatible cartridge (S31: YES), and the control unit 51 determines whether or not a preset Nth shortage condition is met based on the remaining amount of coloring material included in the periodic information notification received in S29 (S32). The Nth shortage condition in this embodiment is that the remaining amount of coloring material in the Nth cartridge is equal to or less than the preset Nth shortage amount. If the Nth shortage condition is met (S32: YES), the control unit 51 transmits a shipping instruction for the Nth cartridge to the shipping server 5 (S33). As shown in FIG. 3, in response to receiving the shipping instruction, the shipping server 5 executes a process of notifying the shipping operator to ship the cartridge according to the contents of the cartridge shipping instruction. The shipping operator ships the cartridge according to the cartridge shipping instruction. The shipping server 5 transmits a cartridge shipping acceptance completion notification to the management server 4 (S61). As shown in FIG. 2, if the Nth shortage condition is not met (S32: NO), or if the variable N is less than 4 after S33 (S35: NO), the control unit 51 increments the variable N by 1 (S36) and returns the process to S31.

[0034] If the variable N is 4 (S35: YES), or after S34, the control unit 51 determines whether a start condition for starting a billing service of the shipping service is met (S40). The start condition may be set appropriately. In this embodiment, the condition is that at least one of the N-th cartridges is a service target cartridge, that is, at least one of F(N) is 0. In a specific example, if it is determined that the start condition is met (S40: YES), the control unit 51 starts a billing service that bills the account of the user of the printing device 3 (S41). If it is determined that the start condition is not met (S40: NO), or after S41, the control unit 51 transmits a service activation setting to the printing device 3 (S42). The control unit 31 of the printing device 3 that has received the service activation setting changes the mode of the printing device 3 from the normal mode shown in state J1 of FIG. 5 to the contract mode shown in state J2 of FIG. 5.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 3, after changing the mode to the contract mode, the control unit 31 of the printing device 3 transmits an activation completion notification to the management server 4 (S16). As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the control unit 51 of the management server 4 waits until it receives the activation completion notification (S43: NO), and upon receiving the activation completion notification (S43: YES), it transmits a registration completion notification to the terminal device 2 (S44). The terminal device 2 displays the registration completion notification on the display unit 13. The user can recognize by referring to the display unit 13 that the contract application for the shipping service has been completed.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 6, after the contract for the shipping service has been started, when the remaining amount of color material in each of the cartridges 71 to 74 has decreased from the state J1 before the start of use as shown in cartridge information K3 of state J3 in Fig. 5, in order to terminate the contract for the shipping service, the control unit 11 of the terminal device 2 accesses the service website in response to a user operation and logs in (S101, S102). If access from the terminal device 2 is detected (S21: YES), the control unit 51 of the management server 4 performs a login process (S22). In response to a user operation, the control unit 11 of the terminal device 2 transmits an end request to the management server 4 requesting the end of the contract for the shipping service for the printing device 3 (S106). The end request includes plan information.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 51 of the management server 4 executes a third reception process to receive a termination request to request termination of the contract for the shipping service of the printing device 3 (S53). When a change request is received (S53: YES), the control unit 51 executes a termination process (S54). As shown in FIG. 7, in the termination process, the control unit 51 detects the connection of the printing device 3 (S71), and in response to the reception of the termination request, executes a storage control process to associate and store in the storage unit 52 the target identification information, which is the identification information of the contract target, and the first cartridge identification information, which is the identification information of the cartridge mounted in the printing device 3 of the contract target, for the contract target for which the shipping service contract is to be terminated (S72). The control unit 51 acquires the target identification information "P0001" of the printing device 3 and the first cartridge identification information "C0001, C0002, C0003, C0004" as in the storage unit 52 in state J4 of FIG. 5, and stores them in the storage unit 52 in association with each other. The control unit 51 may connect to the printing device 3 in response to a termination request and acquire at least one of the target identification information and the first cartridge identification information from the printing device 3, or may acquire the information from a periodic information notification within the most recent or specified period.

[0038] The control unit 51 transmits the invalidation setting to invalidate the service (S73). The control unit 31 of the printing device 3 that has received the service invalidation setting changes the mode of the printing device 3 from the contract mode of state J3 in FIG. 5 to the normal mode of state J5 in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 31 of the printing device 3 transmits an invalidation completion notification to the management server 4 after changing the mode to the normal mode (S17). As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, the control unit 51 of the management server 4 waits until it receives the invalidation completion notification (S74: NO), and when it receives the invalidation completion notification (S74: YES), the control unit 51 executes the billing termination process to terminate the measurement of the print volume and stop the billing service in response to the reception of the termination request (S75). The processing from S71 to S75 removes the printing device 3 from the target of the shipping service. The contract cartridge cannot be used in the printing device 3 whose mode has been changed to the normal mode. The control unit 51 transmits an end completion notification to the terminal device 2 (S76). The control unit 51 then terminates the termination process, and returns the process to the management server process in FIG. 2. After the process of S54, the control unit 51 returns the process to S1.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 8, when the contract for the shipping service is resumed in state J5 in FIG. 5 after the contract for the shipping service has been terminated, the same process as that when the contract for the shipping service is started is basically executed. Specifically, the control unit 11 of the terminal device 2 accesses the service website in response to a user's operation and logs in (S101, S102). When an access from the terminal device 2 is detected (S21: YES), the control unit 51 of the management server 4 executes a login process (S22). The control unit 11 of the terminal device 2 transmits a registration request including the target identification information of the printing device 3 to the management server 4 (S103). When the control unit 51 of the management server 4 receives the registration request (S23: YES), it communicates with the printing device 3 via the WAN 6 based on the target identification information of the printing device 3, and detects the printing device 3 corresponding to the target identification information of the printing device 3 (S24). When the management server 4 detects the printing device 3, it registers the printing device 3 in the user's account as a printing device 3 subject to the shipping service, and sends a registration success notification to the terminal device 2 indicating that the registration was successful (S25).

[0040] In response to receiving the registration success notification, the terminal device 2 transmits to the management server 4 a start request to apply for the delivery service for the printing device 3 registered in the management server 4 in S25 (S104). When the control unit 51 of the management server 4 receives the start request (S26: YES), it transmits periodic information notification settings to the printing device 3 (S27).

[0041] As shown in Fig. 4, when a periodic information notification setting is received in the printing device 3 in status J5 in response to a start request (S1: YES), the control unit 31 of the printing device 3 acquires cartridge information K5 for each of the cartridges 71 to 74 installed in the printing device 3 (S3). As shown in Fig. 5, the cartridge information K5 indicates the cartridge information acquired from each of the memories 75 to 78. The cartridge information K5 indicates that the cartridges 71 to 74 are all contract cartridges and have already started to be used.

[0042] 4, when cartridge information of each of cartridges 71 to 74 is acquired as target cartridge information in the printing device 3 (S4), it is determined that the target cartridge is within its expiration date (S5: YES), and that the target cartridge is a contracted cartridge (S6: YES). The control unit 31 determines that the usage information of each of cartridges 71 to 74 is not before use (S7: NO) based on the usage flag of the target cartridge information, and if it is determined that the usage information is not before use, executes a query sending process to send a query including the target identification information and second cartridge identification information, which is identification information of the cartridge installed in the printing device 3, to the management server 4 (S8).

[0043] As shown in FIG. 2, when the control unit 51 of the management server 4 receives an inquiry from the printing device 3 (S55: YES), it executes an inquiry process (S56). As shown in FIG. 9, in the inquiry process, in response to receiving an inquiry from the printing device 3 within the contract period of the delivery service, the control unit 51 executes a determination result transmission process to transmit to the printing device 3 a determination result as to whether the second cartridge identification information included in the inquiry is stored in the storage unit 52 as the first cartridge identification information associated with the target identification information (S85, S86). Specifically, the control unit 51 acquires the inquiry received from the printing device 3 (S81). The control unit 51 determines whether the second cartridge identification information included in the inquiry is stored in the storage unit 52 as the first cartridge identification information associated with the target identification information of the printing device 3 (S82). If the second cartridge identification information included in the inquiry is not stored in the storage unit 52 as the first cartridge identification information associated with the target identification information (S82: NO), the control unit 51 transmits an error notification to the printing device 3 that sent the inquiry (S86).

[0044] In a specific example, it is determined that the second cartridge identification information included in the inquiry is stored in the storage unit 52 as the first cartridge identification information associated with the target identification information of the printing device 3 (S82: YES), and the control unit 51 executes a benefit addition process for adding a benefit to the shipping service of the printing device 3 (S84). The benefit may be set appropriately, and for example, a discount on the shipping service fee, an extension of the contract period for the shipping service, delivery of consumables such as printing media, and an increase in the specified number of sheets for the billing service are added to the shipping service of the printing device 3, and are stored in the storage unit 52 in association with the target identification information of the printing device 3. The control unit 51 transmits a permission notice to the printing device 3 that has sent the inquiry (S86). Following S85 or S86, the control unit 51 ends the inquiry process as described above, and returns the process to the management server process of FIG. 2. After S56, the control unit 51 returns the process to S29.

[0045] In the printing device process of Fig. 4, the control unit 31 of the printing device 3 of the specific example determines that the notification received in response to the inquiry sent in S8 is a permission notification (S9: YES), and permits use of the noted cartridge (S11). If the control unit 31 determines that each of the cartridges 71 to 74 installed in the printing device 3 is acquired as a noted cartridge (S14: YES), the control unit 31 of the printing device 3 transmits a periodic information notification including the cartridge information K5 acquired in S3 to the management server 4 (S15). The control unit 31 returns the process to S1. If the power is turned off, the control unit 31 ends the printing device process.

[0046] In response to the start request, when the printing device 3 in the state J5 receives a periodic information notification after sending the periodic information notification setting (S29: YES), the control unit 51 determines that the cartridge is a service-compatible cartridge when the variable N is 1 to 4 based on the cartridge information included in the periodic information (S31: YES). Based on the remaining amount of color material included in the periodic information notification received in S29, the control unit 51 determines that the second cartridge 72 meets the second shortage condition set in advance (S32: YES), and sends a shipping instruction for the second cartridge 72 to the shipping server 5 (S33). For the cartridges 71, 73, and 74, it is determined that the Nth shortage condition is not met (S32: NO). If the variable N is 4 (S35: YES), the control unit 51 determines that the start condition for starting the billing service is met (S40: YES), and starts the billing service for billing the account of the user of the printing device 3 (S41). The control unit 51 sends a service activation setting to the printing device 3 (S42). The control unit 31 of the printing device 3 that has received the service activation setting changes the mode of the printing device 3 from the normal mode to the contract mode, as shown in state J6 in Fig. 5. In state J6, cartridge information is omitted from the illustration.

[0047] In the above embodiment, the target identification information may be the identification information of a user who is a contract target of the delivery service. In this case, in S72 of the above termination process, the control unit 51 executes a storage control process in response to receiving the termination request, in which the identification information of the user, which is the target identification information, and the first cartridge identification information, which is the identification information of the cartridge mounted on the printing device 3 of the contract target are stored in the storage unit 52 in association with each other for the contract target for terminating the contract of the delivery service (S72). In S8 of the printing device process, the control unit 31 executes a query transmission process in which an inquiry including the identification information of the user, which is the target identification information, and the second cartridge identification information, which is the identification information of the cartridge mounted on the printing device 3, is transmitted to the management server 4 (S8). In S82 of the query process, if the user who is a contract target of the delivery service is the same, it is determined that the second cartridge identification information included in the inquiry is stored in the storage unit 52 as the first cartridge identification information associated with the target identification information, even if the printing device 3 of the contract target for the delivery service is different before the contract is terminated and after the contract is resumed (S82: YES). For this reason, the control unit 51 transmits a permission notice to the printing device 3. Based on the permission notice, the printing device 3 permits the use of the contract cartridge, which has been started to be used before the contract expires, after the contract is resumed.

[0048] The target identification information may be either the user identification information or the device identification information, or both. With reference to FIG. 10, the judgment result of S82 of the inquiry process executed after the user A terminates the contract for the shipping service of the printing device X will be described for each of the first to third cases. In the first case, the target identification information is the user identification information, that is, the identification information of the user who is the contract target of the shipping service. In the second case, the target identification information is the device identification information, that is, the identification information of the printing device 3 who is the contract target of the shipping service. In the third case, the target identification information is the identification information of the user who is the contract target of the shipping service and the identification information of the printing device 3. The user B is a user different from the user A. The printing device X is a printing device different from the printing device Y. In the third case, when the second cartridge identification information included in the inquiry is stored in the storage unit 52 as the first cartridge identification information associated with at least one of the user identification information and the device identification information (S82: YES), the control unit 51 transmits a permission notification (S85).

[0049] As shown in specific example 1 of FIG. 10, when an inquiry is received about a contract cartridge for user A's printer X, the control unit 51 transmits a permission notification in S85 in each of the first to third cases. As shown in specific example 2, when an inquiry is received about a contract cartridge for user A's printer Y, the control unit 51 transmits a permission notification in S85 in the first and third cases, but transmits an error notification in S86 in the second case. As shown in specific example 3, when an inquiry is received about a contract cartridge for user B's printer X, the control unit 51 transmits a permission notification in S85 in the second and third cases, but transmits an error notification in S86 in the first case. As shown in specific example 4, when an inquiry is received about a contract cartridge for user B's printer Y, the control unit 51 transmits an error notification in S86 in each of the first to third cases.

[0050] In the above embodiment, the management system 1, the printing device 3, the management server 4, the control unit 31, the control unit 51, and the storage unit 52 are examples of the management system, the printing device, the management server, the device control unit, the server control unit, and the server storage unit of the present invention, respectively. The process of S26 is an example of the first reception process of the present invention. The process of S29 is an example of the second reception process of the present invention. The processes of S33 and S34 are an example of the shipping instruction process of the present invention. The process of S53 is an example of the third reception process of the present invention. The process of S72 is an example of the storage control process of the present invention. The process of S15 is an example of the cartridge information transmission process of the present invention. The process of S7 is an example of the cartridge judgment process of the present invention. The process of S8 is an example of the inquiry transmission process of the present invention. The processes of S85 and S86 are an example of the judgment result transmission process of the present invention. The processes of S11 and S12 are an example of the cartridge management process of the present invention. The process of S41 is an example of the charging start process of the present invention. The process of S75 is an example of the charging end process of the present invention. The process of S84 is an example of the bonus addition process of the present invention.

[0051] The management system 1 of the above embodiment is configured to enable communication between the printing device 3 in which the cartridge containing the coloring material is mounted and the management server 4 that manages the cartridge used in the printing device 3. The management server 4 includes a control unit 51 and a storage unit 52. The control unit 51 executes a first reception process to receive a start request to request the start of a contract for a shipping service to ship the cartridge used in the printing device 3 (S26). The control unit 51 executes a second reception process to receive from the printing device 3 cartridge information including type information indicating the type of cartridge and usage information indicating the usage status of the coloring material of the cartridge for the cartridge mounted in the printing device 3 that is the target of the shipping service (S29). When it is determined based on the cartridge information that a preset shipping condition indicating that the cartridge mounted in the printing device 3 needs to be replaced is established, the control unit 51 executes a shipping instruction process to instruct the shipping of a contract cartridge that is a cartridge that can be used within the contract period of the shipping service (S33, S34). The control unit 51 executes a third reception process to receive an end request to request the end of the contract for the shipping service for the printing device 3 (S53). In response to receiving the termination request, the control unit 51 executes a storage control process for storing in the storage unit 52 the target identification information, which is the identification information of the printing device 3 for which the contract for the shipping service is to be terminated, and the first cartridge identification information, which is the identification information of the cartridge mounted in the printing device 3, in association with each other (S72). The printing device 3 includes a control unit 31. The control unit 31 of the printing device 3 executes a cartridge information transmission process for transmitting cartridge information of the cartridge mounted in the printing device 3 that is the target of the shipping service to the management server 4 (S15). The control unit 31 executes an inquiry transmission process for transmitting an inquiry including the target identification information and the second cartridge identification information, which is the identification information of the contract cartridge mounted in the printing device 3, to the management server 4 during the contract period (S8). In response to receiving an inquiry from the printing device 3 during the contract period for the shipping service, the control unit 51 of the management server 4 executes a determination result transmission process for transmitting to the printing device 3 a determination result as to whether the second cartridge identification information included in the inquiry is stored in the storage unit 52 as the first cartridge identification information associated with the target identification information (S85, S86).The control unit 31 of the printing device 3 executes a cartridge management process that permits the use of the cartridge installed in the printing device 3 when the judgment result is a positive result, and does not permit the use of the cartridge installed in the printing device 3 when the judgment result is a negative result (S11, S12). The inquiry transmission process, judgment result transmission process, and cartridge management process of the management system 1 contribute to allowing the contract cartridge that was used at the time of contract termination and has started to be used continuously after the contract is resumed when the shipping service is re-contracted. The inquiry transmission process, judgment result transmission process, and cartridge management process of the management system 1 contribute to restricting the contract cartridge that was used at the time of contract termination and has started to be used in a printing device 3 that is not related to the contract target of the shipping service that has been terminated. Therefore, the management system 1 contributes to achieving both convenience for the user when re-contracting after the shipping service is terminated and permitting the use of the contract cartridge only in the printing device 3 that is the contract target of the shipping service.

[0052] The judgment result sending process of the management program 63 contributes to sending to the printing device 3 the judgment result used to determine whether or not a contract cartridge that was in use at the time of contract termination and has since started to be used can be restricted from being used in a printing device 3 that is unrelated to the printing device 3 whose contract has been terminated. Therefore, the management program 63 contributes to achieving both convenience for the user of the management system 1 when re-contracting after the shipping service has terminated and permitting the use of the contract cartridge only in the printing device 3 that is the subject of the shipping service contract. The inquiry sending process and cartridge management process of the printing device program 23 contribute to restricting use in a printing device 3 that is unrelated to the subject of the contract. Therefore, the printing device program 23 contributes to achieving both convenience for the user of the management system 1 when re-contracting after the shipping service has terminated and permitting the use of the contract cartridge only in the printing device 3 that is the subject of the shipping service contract.

[0053] The target identification information may be identification information of a user who is under contract for the delivery service. In this case, the printing device program 23 contributes to achieving both convenience for the user of the management system 1 when re-contracting after the delivery service ends and permission to use the contract cartridge in the printing device 3 of the user who is under contract for the delivery service.

[0054] The target identification information is identification information of the printing device that is the target of the shipping service contract. The printing device program 23 contributes to achieving both convenience for the user of the management system 1 when re-contracting after the shipping service has ended and permission to use the contract cartridge in the printing device 3 that has contracted for the shipping service.

[0055] The control unit 31 executes an inquiry sending process (S8) when the delivery service is started in response to the start request (S1: YES) and when the contracted cartridge is replaced within the contract period (S2: YES). The management system 1 contributes to automatically executing the cartridge determination process when the delivery service is started and when the cartridge is replaced.

[0056] If the type information of the cartridge installed in the printing device 3 during the contract period is a contracted cartridge (S6: YES), the control unit 31 executes a cartridge determination process to determine whether the usage information of the cartridge installed in the printing device 3 is before use has started (S7). If it is determined that the usage information is not before use has started (S7: NO), the control unit 31 executes an inquiry sending process (S8). The cartridge determination process of the management system 1 contributes to performing an inquiry process only when it becomes necessary to determine whether or not to permit use of a contracted cartridge.

[0057] The shipping service is a service that charges according to the amount of printing within a contract period. After receiving a start request, the control unit 51 executes a charging start process to start measuring the amount of printing when the type information of the cartridge installed in the printing device 3 is a contract cartridge and the usage information is before use has started, and when the judgment result is a positive result (S41). In response to receiving an end request, the control unit 51 executes a charging end process to end the measurement of the amount of printing (S75). In a service that charges according to the amount of printing within a contract period, when a contract is renewed for the shipping service, the management system 1 contributes to smoothly executing the process of resuming measurement of the amount of printing by making the contract cartridge that was used before the contract expires usable after the contract is renewed.

[0058] If the type information of the cartridge installed in the printing device 3 indicates that it is a commercially available cartridge different from the contract cartridge (S6: NO), the control unit 31 does not execute the inquiry sending process, and in the cartridge management process, permits the use of the cartridge installed in the printing device 3 (S11). The management system 1 contributes to avoiding the process that would be executed if a contract cartridge is installed being executed if a commercially available cartridge is installed.

[0059] If the determination result of the process of S82 is positive (S82: YES), the control unit 51 executes a benefit addition process to add a benefit to the shipping service of the printing device 3 (S84). When a user of the management system 1 re-contracts for the shipping service, the management system 1 encourages the user to use contract cartridges that still have color material remaining, thereby contributing to preventing unused disposal of the contract cartridges.

[0060] If the cartridge management process determines that the expiration date of the cartridge installed in the printing device 3 has passed (S5: NO), the control unit 31 does not permit use of the cartridge installed in the printing device 3 (S12). The management system 1 contributes to avoiding problems caused by the use of a cartridge that has passed its expiration date.

[0061] In the process of S5, the expiration date of the cartridge after use is reached earlier than the expiration date of the cartridge before use is started. The management system 1 contributes to more appropriately avoiding problems caused by using a cartridge whose expiration date has passed, based on the expiration date that takes into consideration whether the cartridge installed in the printing device 3 has not yet been used.

[0062] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be embodied in various modifications. The present invention can be realized in various forms, such as a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as a semiconductor memory having a management program 63 recorded thereon, a management method, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as a semiconductor memory having a printing device program 23 recorded thereon.

[0063] The configuration of the management system 1 may be changed as appropriate. For example, the management server 4 may be configured with multiple physical servers. The management server 4 may be configured with at least one of multiple virtual servers constructed by dividing one physical server using virtualization software. The number of printing devices 3 included in the management system 1 may be changed as appropriate.

[0064] The printing device 3 of the management system 1 may be a multifunction device, a copier, or a facsimile machine with a scanner function that reads images from an original. The printing device 3 may be a printing device such as a laser printer or an LED printer. An LED printer refers to a printer in which the means for exposing a photosensitive body is an LED head. In this case, the color material is toner. The color materials, number, type, and number of types of cartridges installed in the printing device 3 may be changed as appropriate.

[0065] The management program 63, which includes instructions for executing the management server process, may be stored in the memory 62 before the control unit 51 of the management server 4 executes the management program 63. Therefore, the method of acquiring the management program 63, the acquisition path, and the device that stores the program may each be changed as appropriate. The management program 63 executed by the management server 4 may be received from another device via a cable or wireless communication and stored in the memory 62. The other device may include, for example, a PC and a server connected via a network. The same applies to the program for executing the printing device process, the program for executing the terminal process, and the program for executing the shipping server process.

[0066] Each step of the management server processing is not limited to being executed by the control unit 51, and may be executed in part or in whole by other electronic devices (e.g., ASIC). The same applies to the terminal processing, printing device processing, and shipping server processing. Each step of the management server processing, terminal processing, printing device processing, and shipping server processing may be distributed and processed by multiple electronic devices (e.g., multiple CPUs). The order of each step of the management server processing, terminal processing, printing device processing, and shipping server processing may be changed, steps may be omitted, or steps may be added, as necessary. The following modifications may be made as appropriate to the processing executed in the management system 1, including the management server processing, terminal processing, printing device processing, and shipping server processing.

[0067] A part or the whole of the terminal process may be executed by the control unit 31 of the printing device 3. For example, the printing device 3 may send the start request to the management server 4. At least a part of the information included in the periodic information notification sent to the management server 4 in the process of S15 may be sent to the management server 4 via the terminal device 2 connected to the printing device 3. The Nth shortage condition in the process of S34 may be changed as appropriate, and the control unit 51 may calculate the time until the remaining amount of the coloring material becomes 0 based on the decreasing tendency of the remaining amount of the coloring material in the Nth cartridge, and determine that the Nth shortage condition is established when the calculated time is shorter than a threshold value. The start condition in the process of S40 may be changed as appropriate. For example, the control unit 51 may determine that the start condition is satisfied when the value of the flag F(N) of a predetermined number or a predetermined ratio is 0. For example, the control unit 51 may determine whether the start condition is satisfied based on the model of the printing device 3. The shipping service may not include a billing service, in which case the processes of S40, S41, and S75 may be omitted.

[0068] The control unit 51 may receive a termination request when the delivery service is temporarily stopped for a predetermined period of time. In this case, after the delivery service is temporarily stopped, the process performed when the start request was received may be automatically executed after a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0069] The control unit 31 of the printing device 3 may not execute the processes of S3 to S15 when detecting replacement of a cartridge. In this case, the control unit 51 of the management server 4 may omit the processes of S51 and S52. In this case, it is possible to prompt the user to install the contracted cartridge after starting use in the printing device 3 when resuming the contract for the shipping service.

[0070] The control unit 31 of the printing device 3 may omit S6. The control unit 31 of the printing device 3 may execute the process of S8 when the type information of the cartridge mounted in the printing device 3 is a commercially available cartridge different from the contract cartridge. When multiple cartridges are mounted in the printing device 3, the process of S8 may be executed collectively based on the judgment results of S7 for each of the multiple cartridges. Similarly, the process of S13 may be executed collectively based on the judgment results of S5 and S9 for each of the multiple cartridges. The control unit 31 of the printing device 3 may omit the process of S5, or may execute the process of S5 using the same expiration date regardless of whether the cartridge mounted in the printing device 3 has not yet been used. The control unit 51 of the management server 4 may omit the process of S84.

[0071] The device that executes the cartridge determination process and the execution timing of the cartridge determination process may each be changed as appropriate. As shown in Fig. 11(A), the cartridge determination process may be executed by the printing device 3 before the inquiry transmission process. As shown in Fig. 11(B), the cartridge determination process may be executed by the management server 4 after the inquiry transmission process and before the judgment result transmission process. As shown in Fig. 11(C), the cartridge determination process may be executed by the printing device 3 before the judgment result transmission process and before the cartridge management process.

[0072] The above-mentioned modified examples may be combined as appropriate within a range that does not cause any contradictions. In addition to the combinations exemplified in the claims, the applicant intends to obtain patent rights for aspects that are combined with each other within a range that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention and does not cause any contradictions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1: management system, 3, 7: printing device, 4: management server, 11, 31, 51: control unit, 12, 32, 53: communication unit, 15, 52: storage unit, 23: printing device program, 63: management program, 71: first cartridge, 72: second cartridge, 73: third cartridge, 74: fourth cartridge

Claims

1. A management system configured to enable communication between a printing device in which a cartridge containing a color material is mounted and a management server that manages the cartridge used in the printing device, The management server includes a server control unit and a server storage unit. The server control unit a first receiving process for receiving a start request for starting a contract for a shipping service for shipping cartridges to be used in the printing device; a second receiving process for receiving, from the printing device, cartridge information about the cartridge installed in the printing device that is a target of the shipping service, the cartridge information including type information indicating a type of the cartridge and usage information indicating a usage status of the color material of the cartridge; a shipping instruction process for instructing the shipping of a contract cartridge that is a cartridge that can be used within a contract period of the shipping service when it is determined based on the cartridge information that a preset shipping condition indicating that the cartridge installed in the printing device needs to be replaced is established; a third receiving process for receiving a termination request for requesting termination of the contract for the shipping service of the printing device; a storage control process for storing in the server storage unit, in response to receiving the termination request, target identification information, which is identification information of a contract target of the shipping service, and first cartridge identification information, which is identification information of the cartridge installed in the printing device, in association with each other; Run The printing device includes a device control unit, The device control unit a cartridge information transmission process for transmitting, to the management server, the cartridge information of the cartridge installed in the printing device that is a target of the delivery service; an inquiry sending process for sending an inquiry including the target identification information and second cartridge identification information, which is identification information of the contract cartridge mounted in the printing device, to the management server during the contract period; Run The server control unit executes a determination result transmission process for transmitting to the printing device a determination result as to whether the second cartridge identification information included in the inquiry is stored in the server storage unit as the first cartridge identification information associated with the target identification information, in response to receiving the inquiry from the printing device within the contract period of the delivery service; The device control unit A management system characterized by executing a cartridge management process that allows use of the cartridge installed in the printing device when the judgment result is a positive result, and does not allow use of the cartridge installed in the printing device when the judgment result is a negative result.

2. 2. The management system according to claim 1, wherein the target identification information is identification information of a user who is a contract target of the delivery service.

3. 2. The management system according to claim 1, wherein the target identification information is identification information of the printing device that is a contract target of the delivery service.

4. The device control unit 2. The management system according to claim 1, wherein the inquiry transmission process is executed each time the shipping service is started in response to the start request and when the contract cartridge is replaced within the contract period.

5. The device control unit if the type information of the cartridge mounted in the printing device is the contract cartridge during the contract period, a cartridge determination process is further executed to determine whether the usage information of the cartridge mounted in the printing device is before use; 2. The management system according to claim 1, wherein the inquiry transmission process is executed when it is determined that the usage information indicates that the usage has not commenced before the usage has commenced.

6. the shipping service is a service that charges according to the amount of printing within the contract period, The server control unit a billing start process for starting measurement of the print volume when, after receiving the start request, the type information of the cartridge mounted in the printing device is the contract cartridge and the usage information is before use, and when the determination result is a positive result; a billing end process for ending the measurement of the printing amount in response to the reception of the end request; The management system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

7. The device control unit 2. The management system according to claim 1, wherein, when the type information of the cartridge installed in the printing device indicates a commercially available cartridge different from the contract cartridge, the inquiry sending process is not executed, and the cartridge management process permits use of the cartridge installed in the printing device.

8. The server control unit 2. The management system according to claim 1, further comprising a bonus adding process for adding a bonus to the shipping service of the printing device when the determination result is a positive result.

9. The device control unit 2. The management system according to claim 1, wherein, in the cartridge management process, if the expiration date of the cartridge mounted in the printing device has passed, use of the cartridge mounted in the printing device is not permitted.

10. 10. The management system according to claim 9, wherein the expiration date of the cartridge after use is started is reached earlier than the expiration date of the cartridge before use is started.

11. A management program executed by a server control unit of a management server of a management system configured to be capable of communicating with a printing device in which a cartridge containing a color material is mounted and a management server that manages the cartridge used in the printing device, the management program comprising: The server control unit, a first receiving process for receiving a start request for starting a contract for a shipping service for shipping cartridges to be used in the printing device; a second receiving process for receiving, from the printing device, cartridge information about the cartridge installed in the printing device that is a target of the shipping service, the cartridge information including type information indicating a type of the cartridge and usage information indicating a usage status of the color material of the cartridge; a shipping instruction process for instructing the shipping of a contract cartridge that is a cartridge that can be used within a contract period of the shipping service when it is determined based on the cartridge information that a preset shipping condition indicating that the cartridge installed in the printing device needs to be replaced is established; a third receiving process for receiving a termination request for requesting termination of the contract for the shipping service of the printing device; a storage control process for storing, in response to receiving the termination request, target identification information, which is identification information of a contract target of the shipping service, and first cartridge identification information, which is identification information of the cartridge installed in the printing device, in association with each other in a server storage unit of the management server; a determination result transmission process for transmitting to the printing device, in response to receiving, within the contract period of the delivery service, an inquiry including the target identification information and second cartridge identification information which is identification information of the cartridge mounted on the printing device, a determination result as to whether the second cartridge identification information included in the inquiry is stored in the server storage unit as the first cartridge identification information associated with the target identification information; A management program comprising instructions for executing the steps of:

12. A printing device program executed by a device control unit of a printing device in a management system configured to be capable of communicating with a printing device in which a cartridge containing a color material is mounted and a management server that manages the cartridge used in the printing device, the printing device program comprising: The device control unit, a cartridge information transmission process for transmitting, to the management server, cartridge information about the cartridge mounted on the printing device during a contract period of a shipping service for shipping cartridges used in the printing device, the cartridge information including type information indicating the type of the cartridge and usage information indicating a usage status of the color material of the cartridge; an inquiry sending process for sending an inquiry to the management server during the contract period, the inquiry including target identification information that is identification information of a contract target of the shipping service and first cartridge identification information that is identification information of the cartridge installed in the printing device; a cartridge management process for permitting use of the cartridge mounted on the printing device when a determination result as to whether the first cartridge identification information included in the inquiry, which is transmitted from the management server in response to the inquiry, is stored in a server storage unit of the management server as second cartridge identification information, which is identification information of the cartridge associated with the target identification information, is positive, and for not permitting use of the cartridge mounted on the printing device when the determination result is negative; 4. A printing device program comprising instructions for executing:

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