Server device, computer program, and management system

Abstract

To provide a technique which allows for flexibly registering or changing the upper limit number of sheets set in a subscription service.SOLUTION: A server device for managing image forming apparatuses comprises: storage means for storing information indicating a target image forming apparatus used by a user, information indicating the first upper limit number of sheets which can be used for color printing in a prescribed period by using the target image forming apparatus, information indicating the second upper limit number of sheets which can be used for monochrome printing, information indicating the number of color-printed sheets which have already been printed in the prescribed period by using the target image forming apparatus, and information indicating the number of monochrome-printed sheets which have already been printed in the prescribed period by using the target image forming apparatus; and processing means for performing change processing of changing at least one of the first upper limit number of sheets and the second upper limit number of sheets in response to a first request for changing at least one of the first upper limit number of sheets and the second upper limit number of sheets, which is received from a terminal used by the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a management technique for a subscription service related to an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a subscription service related to an image forming device. In the following description, the subscription service will also be referred to simply as "service." According to Patent Document 1, a maximum number of pages that is the upper limit of the number of pages that are permitted to be printed within a certain period is set in a contract for using the service. If the number of pages printed by a user using the service within the certain period is equal to or less than the set maximum number of pages, the user is charged a fixed amount. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-110775 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Patent Document 1 does not disclose a configuration for a user to change the contract details such as the upper limit number of pages. However, the number of pages printed by a user may vary depending on the business cycle, sudden demand, etc. Therefore, it is desired that users can flexibly register or change the contract details such as the upper limit number of pages. In particular, users who use an image forming device capable of color printing can only print the same number of pages whether in color or monochrome printing, and therefore are required to be able to register or change the number of pages more flexibly.

[0005] The present invention provides a technique for flexibly registering or changing an upper limit number set in a subscription service. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a server device that manages image forming devices is provided with a storage means for storing information indicating a target image forming device used by a user, information indicating a first maximum number of pages that can be printed in color using the target image forming device during a specified period of time, information indicating a second maximum number of pages that can be printed in monochrome using the target image forming device during the specified period of time, information indicating the number of color pages already printed using the target image forming device during the specified period of time, and information indicating the number of monochrome pages already printed using the target image forming device during the specified period of time, and a processing means for performing a change process to change at least one of the first maximum number of pages and the second maximum number of pages in response to a first request to change at least one of the first maximum number of pages and the second maximum number of pages received from a terminal used by the user. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, the upper limit number set in the subscription service can be flexibly registered or changed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to some embodiments. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a development unit of an image forming apparatus according to some embodiments. [Diagram 3] 11A-11C are illustrations of a cartridge replacement procedure, according to some embodiments. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a management system, according to some embodiments. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a management server, according to some embodiments. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a screen displayed on a user terminal according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram of a process for changing the contents of a contract according to an embodiment. [Figure 8]11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a user terminal during processing for changing the contents of a contract according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a user terminal during processing for changing the contents of a contract according to an embodiment. [Figure 10] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a user terminal during processing for changing the contents of a contract according to an embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a screen displayed on a user terminal according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although the embodiments describe a number of features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any manner. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0010] The following embodiments are applicable to subscription services related to image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, facsimile receivers, and multifunction machines. Each embodiment will be described below based on an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that uses toner as a color material. However, the image forming apparatus may be an image forming apparatus that forms images using other types of color materials, such as an inkjet printer that uses ink as a color material.

[0011] First Embodiment Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment. During image formation, a photoconductor 2 is driven to rotate in a counterclockwise direction in Fig. 1. A charging roller 3 charges the surface of the photoconductor 2. An exposure device 4 exposes the photoconductor 2 based on image information to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor. A rotary 90 having developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k is configured to be rotatable in a clockwise direction in Fig. 1.

[0012] Since the configurations of the developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k are similar, the configuration of the developing unit 50y will be described below as a representative. The tray 80y is connected to the rotary 90 and is configured to be movable in the radial direction of the rotary 90. The cartridge 70y is attached to the tray 80y. The cartridge 70y is a storage member that stores yellow toner. The cartridge 70y supplies toner to the toner storage section 53a (FIG. 2) of the developing unit 50y. The supply roller 52y supplies toner from the toner storage section 53a to the developing roller 51y. When the developing roller 51y faces the photoconductor 2 due to the rotation of the rotary 90, the developing roller 51y develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 2 with yellow toner, thereby forming a yellow toner image on the photoconductor 2. Hereinafter, the position of the rotary 90 in which the developing roller 51y of the developing unit 50y faces the photoconductor 2 will be referred to as the yellow developing position. Similarly to the developing unit 50y, the developing units 50m, 50c, and 50k are also defined to have a magenta developing position, a cyan developing position, and a black developing position. The magenta developing position, the cyan developing position, and the black developing position are the positions of the rotary 90 at which the developing units 50m, 50c, and 50k can develop the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 2, respectively.

[0013] As described above, the developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k have the same configuration, and therefore, hereinafter, the developing units 50y, 50m, 50c, and 50k are collectively referred to as the developing unit 50. The components of the developing unit 50 are also collectively referred to as the tray 80, the cartridge 70, the supply roller 52, and the developing roller 51. The size of the cartridge 70 does not need to be the same for each color. For example, yellow, cyan, and magenta toners are used only in color printing, but black toner is used in both monochrome printing and color printing. Therefore, generally, the amount of black toner consumed is greater than the amount of yellow, cyan, and magenta toner consumed. Therefore, the cartridge 70 that contains black toner can be configured to contain a larger amount of toner by making it larger in size than the cartridges 70 that contain toners of other colors.

[0014] The primary transfer roller 11 transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductor 2 to the intermediate transfer belt 10. The cleaning unit 6 removes the toner remaining on the photoconductor 2 without being transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 10 from the photoconductor 2. The intermediate transfer belt 10 is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1 during image formation. When forming a color image, for example, the rotary 90 is set in a yellow developing position to form a yellow toner image on the photoconductor 2, and this is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 10. Then, the rotary 90 is set in a magenta developing position to form a magenta toner image on the photoconductor 2. The yellow toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 10 is transported again to a position facing the photoconductor 2 as the intermediate transfer belt 10 rotates. The magenta toner image on the photoconductor 2 is transferred and superimposed on the yellow toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 10. Thereafter, in the same manner, the cyan toner image and the black toner image formed on the photoconductor 2 are transferred in order onto the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 10, superimposed thereon, thereby forming color toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 10.

[0015] The secondary transfer roller 12 transfers the color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10 onto a sheet conveyed from a cassette 15. The cleaning device 13 removes from the intermediate transfer belt 10 any toner that has not been transferred to the sheet and remains on the intermediate transfer belt 10. Note that the secondary transfer roller 12 and the cleaning device 13 are separated from the intermediate transfer belt 10 until the color toner images to be transferred to the sheet are formed on the intermediate transfer belt 10. When forming a monochrome image, a black toner image is formed on the photoconductor 2 in the black developing position, and this is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 10 and then to the sheet.

[0016] The fixing device 40 applies heat and pressure to the sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred, thereby fixing the toner image to the sheet. After the toner image has been fixed, the sheet is discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1. A door 14 for replacing the cartridge 70 is provided on the surface of the main body 1A of the image forming apparatus 1 facing the rotary 90.

[0017] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the developing unit 50. For the sake of simplicity, the supply roller 52 and the developing roller 51 are omitted in FIG. 2. The developing unit 50 has a frame 53. The internal space of the frame 53 constitutes a toner storage section 53a. The supply roller 52 and the developing roller 51 are provided in the toner storage section 53a. The frame 53 is provided with an opening 53b for replenishing the toner from the cartridge 70 to the toner storage section 53a. The inside of the frame 71 of the cartridge 70 constitutes a toner storage section 71a for storing toner. The frame 71 is provided with an opening 71b for replenishing the toner to the toner storage section 53a. The developing unit 50 is configured such that the opening 71b and the opening 53b face each other when the cartridge 70 is attached to the developing unit 50. When the toner storage section 53a is located below the cartridge 70, toner is supplied from the cartridge 70 to the toner storage section 53a.

[0018] Incidentally, a sealing member for covering the opening 71b may be provided on the cartridge 70. Similarly, a sealing member for covering the opening 53b may be provided on the frame 53. By providing sealing members on the openings 71b and 53b, toner leakage is suppressed when the cartridge 70 is not attached to the developing unit 50.

[0019] 3(A) to 3(C) are explanatory diagrams of a process for replacing the cartridge 70. FIG. 3(A) shows the image forming apparatus 1 during an image forming operation or in a standby state, with the door 14 in a closed state. The control unit of the image forming apparatus 1 is configured to be able to detect the amount of remaining toner contained in the cartridge 70 or the toner containing unit 53a by a remaining amount detection mechanism (not shown). The control unit is also configured to be able to notify the user that the remaining amount of toner for each cartridge 70 has reached a predetermined value, which is a guideline for replacement, or that the cartridge 70 needs to be replaced, based on the result of the detection of the remaining amount of toner. When replacing the cartridge 70 based on the notification, the user instructs the control unit to perform a cartridge replacement operation via an input interface such as an operation panel.

[0020] In response to an instruction for a cartridge replacement operation, the control unit rotates the rotary 90 to bring the cartridge 70 to be replaced into opposition to the door 14. Next, the control unit moves the tray 80 supporting the cartridge 70 to be replaced in the radial direction, i.e., toward the door 14. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3(B), the door 14 is pushed by the tray 80 to open, and the tray 80 and the cartridge 70 supported by the tray 80 protrude to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3(C), the user can replace the cartridge 70.

[0021] The control unit may be configured not to accept a command to replace the cartridge until the remaining amount of toner falls below a predetermined value. Alternatively, the cartridge 70 may be provided with a locking mechanism, and the control unit may be configured to control the locking mechanism so that the cartridge 70 cannot be replaced until the remaining amount of toner falls below a predetermined value. The predetermined value may be 0. This configuration can reduce the amount of toner that is discarded without being consumed.

[0022] <Management system> 4 is a configuration diagram of a management system 300 according to this embodiment. The management system 300 includes an image forming apparatus 1, a management server 301, and a user terminal 401. The management server 301 is operated, for example, by a business providing a subscription service (a service provider), or by a business under the management of the service provider. The image forming apparatus 1 is a device used by a user who has concluded a contract for using a service (hereinafter, a service contract) with the service provider, and the user terminal 401 is an information terminal used by the user.

[0023] The image forming apparatus 1 is installed in a user environment E1 where a user exists. The image forming apparatus 1 and a user terminal 401 are connected to a local network N1. The local network N1 may be, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network). In the user environment E1, the user uses the image forming apparatus 1. As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 forms an image on a sheet using toner, which is a color material.

[0024] The management server 301 is installed in a remote environment (remote environment E2) with respect to the environment (user environment E1) in which the image forming device 1 is installed. The remote environment E2 is connected to the local network N1 via an external network N2. The external network N2 may be, for example, the Internet or a VPN (Virtual Private Network). Each of the local network N1 and the external network N2 may include any type of network device, such as a router, a switch, a gateway, a wireless access point, and a base station. Also, each of the local network N1 and the external network N2 may include any number of network devices. In this way, the image forming device 1, the management server 301, and the user terminal 401 are configured to be able to communicate with each other.

[0025] In this embodiment, the management server 301 is a server device that manages the image forming apparatus 1. For example, the management server 301 manages the number of prints (number of pages), which is the number of sheets on which images have been formed in the image forming apparatus 1, user account information, etc. The management server 301 can be implemented as an application server, a database server, or a cloud server, for example, using a general-purpose computer.

[0026] The user terminal 401 is a terminal device that provides a user with a user interface for supporting the management function of the management server 301. The user terminal 401 may be a general-purpose terminal device such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, a PC (Personal Computer), or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). The image forming device 1 may also provide a user interface to the user.

[0027] The functions of the management server 301 may be provided by a single device, or may be provided by multiple physically separate devices working together. Also, a part of the database described as being held by the management server 301 may be held by an external device (e.g., another database server) separate from the management server 301.

[0028] <Management Server Configuration> FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the management server 301 according to this embodiment. The communication I / F 311 is a communication interface for communication via the external network N2. The communication I / F 311 may be a wired communication interface or a wireless communication interface. The memory 312 may include any type of storage medium, such as a semiconductor memory such as a Read Only Memory (ROM) or a Random Access Memory (RAM), an optical disk, or a magnetic disk. The memory 312 may include a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The memory 312 stores one or more computer programs executed by the processing circuit 314 and various data such as data used by the processing circuit 314.

[0029] Management DB 313 includes an account table 320, an apparatus registration table 330, and a print data table 340. In the subscription service of this embodiment, if the number of pages printed on image forming apparatus 1 during a specified period is equal to or less than the upper limit set in the service contract, a fixed amount is charged to the user regardless of the number of pages printed. In the following description, the specified period is taken as one month as an example. The following information included in each table in management DB 313 is associated with the service contract.

[0030] The account table 320 is a table that holds information about a user's account. The account table 320 may include, for example, one or more of the following items: "User ID" ·"password" "User name" ·"email address" ·"address" "Color contract quantity" "Quantity of items contracted" "Payment method" "Serial number (Serial No.)"

[0031] The "user ID" is identification information for uniquely identifying each user's account. The "password" is used in user authentication when a user logs in to the system. The "user name" represents the user name of each account. The user name is displayed on the screen after logging in, for example. The "email address" is destination information used as the destination when various notifications are sent from the system to each user by email message. The "address" is used, for example, as the delivery address of the cartridge 70. The "color contract number" indicates the upper limit of the number of color prints that can be made at a fixed price within a specified period (one month in this example). The "mono contract number" indicates the upper limit of the number of monochrome prints that can be made at a fixed price within a specified period (one month in this example). In the following description, the color contract number and the mono contract number are collectively referred to as the "contract number". The "payment method" indicates the payment method for the price of the service. The "serial number" indicates identification information that can be used as a search key for identifying the user ID.

[0032] The device registration table 330 is a table that holds information about the image forming device 1 (service target image forming device) that each user uses in the service. The device registration table 330 may include, for example, one or more of the following items. ·“Device ID” ·“Owner” "Registration date" ·"status"

[0033] The "device ID" is identification information for identifying the image forming device 1. For example, the "device ID" may be information for identifying the type of the image forming device 1. Alternatively, the "device ID" may be information that can identify the image forming device 1 as an individual device in addition to the type of the image forming device 1. The "owner" indicates the account of the user who uses the image forming device 1 specified by the "device ID" by the "user ID" registered in the account table 320. The pair of the "owner" and the "device ID" indicates the association between the user's account and the image forming device 1 used by the user. The "registration date" indicates the date on which the "device ID" of the image forming device 1 was registered in the device registration table 330. The "status" indicates the status regarding the verification of whether the image forming device 1 is actually installed in the user environment E1 of the "owner". At the time of the initial registration of the "device ID", the "status" indicates "not verified", and when the verification is completed, the "status" is changed to "verified". The verification may be performed by the management server 301 communicating with the image forming device 1 installed in the user environment E1. The image forming device 1 used in the service may be provided to the user as a leased or rental item by the service provider, or may be a user-owned device purchased by the user.

[0034] The print data table 340 is a table that holds data related to printing. The print data table 340 may include, for example, one or more of the following items: "Number of used pages (mono)" "Number of pages used (color)" "Number of available pages (mono)" "Number of available pages (color)"

[0035] "Number of used pages (monochrome)" and "number of used pages (color)" respectively indicate the number of monochrome printed pages and the number of color printed pages in the current specified period, that is, in this example, the current month. "Number of available pages (monochrome)" and "number of available pages (color)" respectively indicate the number of monochrome printed pages and the number of color printed pages that can be printed within the fixed fee from the current time to the end of the current month.

[0036] Although not shown, the management server 301 also has a table for acquiring and managing the remaining amount of toner in the image forming device 1 from the image forming device 1. The table can be used for sending cartridges to users.

[0037] The processing circuit 314 may be, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processing circuit 314 provides the functions of the management server 301 by executing a computer program stored in the memory 312. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the processing circuit 314 may function as a management unit 350, a processing unit 360, and an authentication unit 370.

[0038] The management unit 350 manages the processing in the processing unit 360 and the authentication unit 370, and also performs processing related to communication with the user terminal 401 and the image forming apparatus 1. The authentication unit 370 performs login authentication for a user to log in to the management system 300. For example, the management unit 350 causes the user terminal 401 to display a login screen for accepting input of a user ID and password, and receives the user ID and password from the user terminal 401 via the communication I / F 311. The authentication unit 370 performs user authentication using the received user ID and password and the user ID and password stored in the account table 320.

[0039] The processing unit 360 manages the registration and update of data in the management DB 313. For example, the management unit 350 can cause the user terminal 401 to display a screen for receiving changes to the "number of color contract sheets" and "number of mono contract sheets" registered in the account table 320. In that case, the management unit 350 receives information indicating the changed "number of color contract sheets" and "number of mono contract sheets" input from the user terminal 401 via the communication I / F 311. The processing unit 360 can update the "number of color contract sheets", "number of mono contract sheets", etc. in the account table 320 based on the received information.

[0040] Furthermore, the management unit 350 repeatedly acquires information regarding the number of printed sheets from the image forming apparatus 1 and the remaining toner amount. The processing unit 360 updates the print data table 340 and the table for managing the remaining toner amount based on the information regarding the number of printed sheets and the remaining toner amount.

[0041] The input screen displayed on the user terminal 401 by the management unit 350 can be provided in any form, such as a web page, an input form, or an application screen, for example. For example, various inputs on the user terminal 401 can be accepted during the period when user authentication using the user ID and password stored in the account table 320 is successful and the user is logged in to the management system 300 (management server 301).

[0042] <Example of GUI> FIG. 6 shows a screen 500 as an example of a GUI (Graphical User Interface) provided by the management server 301 and displayed on the display unit of the user terminal 401. The screen 500 is displayed on the display unit of the user terminal 401 when a user (contract user) logs in to the management system 300 using the user terminal 401. Information held in the management DB 313 of the management server 301 is displayed on the screen 500. The information displayed on the screen 500 includes the contract details of the service.

[0043] Screen 500 includes areas 510 and 520. Area 510 displays information of items included in device registration table 330 and print data table 340. Area 520 displays information of items included in account table 320. Screen 500 is configured to allow a user to check information managed by management server 301 via said screen. Screen 500 is also configured to allow a user to change contract details (contract plan) via said screen.

[0044] Screen 520 shows that the current contract plan has a contracted number of monochrome prints of 100 sheets per month and a contracted number of color prints of 20 sheets per month. Screen 510 also shows that 20 monochrome prints and 1 color print have already been made, and that the remaining number of monochrome prints is 80 sheets and the remaining number of color prints is 19 sheets. Screen 500 also shows the remaining amount of toner in cartridges 70 for each color.

[0045] <Contract content change processing> FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram of a contract content change process by a user. At the start of the process in FIG. 7, the user logs in to the system, and the user terminal 401 is operated thereafter to display a contract change screen 700 shown in FIG. 8(A) on the user terminal 401. According to FIG. 8(A), the contract change screen 700 shows that the current color contract number is 20 sheets, and the current monochrome contract number is 100 sheets. The color contract number and monochrome contract number displayed on the contract change screen 700 are registered in the account table 320. Furthermore, the contract change screen 700 shows information on the image forming device 1 used by the user in the service as a contract product (contract device). The contract product indicates the type (model) of the image forming device 1 registered in the "device ID" of the device registration table 330. According to FIG. 8(A), the user is using an image forming device 1 of a type named "SmartPrinterV-12345". Furthermore, the information stored in the "user name" and "serial number" in the account table 320 is displayed as the user name and serial number on the contract change screen 700. According to Fig. 8(A), the user name is "Yokoi Taro" and the serial number is "ZYX987WQ".

[0046] In response to the user's selection of the color contract quantity change object 701, the user terminal 401 transmits a color contract quantity change request to the management server 301 in S10. In response to receiving the color contract quantity change request, the management unit 350 of the management server 301 transmits a color contract quantity change screen to the user terminal 401 in S11 and causes the user terminal 401 to display it. FIG. 8(B) shows an example of the color contract quantity change screen 710. When the user operates the object 711, which is a pull-down menu, options of the number of sheets that can be contracted are displayed, and the user selects the desired contract quantity from the displayed options. In FIG. 8(B), the user selects 50 sheets as the changed color contract quantity. In response to the user's operation of the object 712, the user terminal 401 notifies the management server 301 of information indicating the changed color contract quantity in S12. When the changed contract quantity of color sheets is the same as the contract quantity of color sheets before the change, user terminal 401 may be configured to notify the user that the contract quantity has not been changed in response to the operation of object 712. In this case, user terminal 401 may display the screen of Fig. 8(B) without notifying management server 301 of information indicating the changed contract quantity of color sheets. Also, when the user operates object 713, user terminal 401 displays the screen of Fig. 8(A) without notifying management server 301 of information indicating the changed contract quantity of color sheets.

[0047] In S13, the processing unit 360 of the management server 301 changes the "color contract number" in the account table 320 to the number indicated by the information received in S12. In response to this, the processing unit 360 updates the "number of available pages (color)" in the print data table 340. When the processing unit 360 completes updating the account table 320 and the print data table 340, the management unit 350 of the management server 301 notifies the user terminal 401 of the completion of the change in S14. The notification includes information to be displayed on the screen of FIG. 8(A) based on the changed contract contents. When the user terminal 401 receives the change completion notification from the management server 301, it may display the contract change screen 700 shown in FIG. 8(A) based on the information received in the change completion notification. The color contract number on the contract change screen 700 displays the changed contract number, that is, 50 in the above example.

[0048] In response to the user selecting the mono contract quantity change object 702 on the screen of FIG. 8(A), the user terminal 401 transmits a mono contract quantity change request to the management server 301 in S15. In response to receiving the mono contract quantity change request, the management unit 350 of the management server 301 transmits a mono contract quantity change screen to the user terminal 401 in S16 to display it on the user terminal 401. FIG. 9(A) shows an example of a mono contract quantity change screen 720. When the user operates the object 721, which is a pull-down menu, options of the number of sheets that can be contracted are displayed, and the user selects the desired contract quantity from the displayed options. In FIG. 9(A), the user selects 200 sheets as the monochrome contract quantity after the change. Then, in response to the user operating the object 722, the user terminal 401 notifies the management server 301 of information indicating the mono contract quantity after the change in S17. When the changed mono contract quantity is the same as the mono contract quantity before the change, the user terminal 401 may be configured to notify the user that the contract quantity has not been changed in response to the operation of the object 722. In this case, the user terminal 401 may display the screen of Fig. 9(A) without notifying the management server 301 of information indicating the changed mono contract quantity. Also, when the user operates the object 723, the user terminal 401 displays the screen of Fig. 8(A) without notifying the management server 301 of information indicating the changed mono contract quantity.

[0049] In S18, the processing unit 360 of the management server 301 changes the "mono contract number" in the account table 320. In response to this, the processing unit 360 updates the "number of available pages (mono)" in the print data table 340. When the processing unit 360 completes updating the account table 320 and the print data table 340, the management unit 350 of the management server 301 notifies the user terminal 401 of the completion of the change in S19. The notification includes information to be displayed on the screen of FIG. 8(A) based on the changed contract contents. When the user terminal 401 receives the change completion notification from the management server 301, it may display the contract change screen 700 based on the information received in the change completion notification. The contract number of mono on the contract change screen 700 displays the changed contract number, that is, 200 in the above example.

[0050] In response to the user's selection of the contracted product change object 703 on the screen of FIG. 8(A), the user terminal 401 transmits a contracted product change request to the management server 301 in S20. In response to receiving the contracted product change request, the management unit 350 of the management server 301 transmits a contracted product change screen to the user terminal 401 in S21 to display it on the user terminal 401. FIG. 9(B) shows an example of the contracted product change screen 730. When the user operates the object 731, which is a pull-down menu, options of the type of the image forming device 1 available for the service are displayed. The user selects the type (model) of the image forming device 1 after the change to be used for the service from the displayed options. Note that the options of the available image forming device 1 may be configured to display information indicating the print speed (the number of pages that can be printed per unit time) as reference information, as shown in FIG. 9(B). The user can refer to the print speed when selecting a model to be used for the service.

[0051] Furthermore, the management unit 350 of the management server 301 can be configured to display recommended models as options based on the color contract number and monochrome contract number at that time. For example, the management unit 350 of the management server 301 stores combinations of the color contract number and monochrome contract number, and the recommended model. Note that the configuration may be such that the higher the contract number, the faster the model with a faster print speed is recommended. In FIG. 9(B), the user selects a model named SmartPrinter W-6789 as the image forming apparatus 1 after the change.

[0052] In response to the user operating object 732 in Fig. 9(B), user terminal 401 displays contracted product change screen 740 shown in Fig. 10. Note that, if the type of image forming device 1 after the change is the same as the type of image forming device 1 before the change, user terminal 401 may be configured to notify the user that the contracted product has not been changed in response to the operation of object 732. In this case, user terminal 401 may display the screen in Fig. 9(B) without transitioning to the screen in Fig. 10. Note that, when the user operates object 733, user terminal 401 displays the screen in Fig. 8(A).

[0053] As shown in FIG. 10, in the contract product change screen 740, the user can select whether or not the image forming device 1 after the change is required to be delivered. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, when the user arranges the image forming device 1 after the change by himself, the user selects "Use my own product" in the object 741. On the other hand, when the user wants to receive the image forming device 1 after the change from the service provider, the user selects "Want new product delivery" or "Want used product delivery" in the object 741. Note that "Want new product delivery" is an option for requesting the service provider to provide a new image forming device 1, and "Want used product delivery" is an option for requesting the service provider to provide a used image forming device 1. Note that the used image forming device 1 may include a remanufactured model image forming device 1 that uses recycled parts in consideration of the environment. For example, by using a used product, it is possible to configure the rental or lease fee to be lower than when using a new product. In addition, in cases where the rental or lease fee is not charged separately but is reflected in a fixed amount per specified period according to the contracted number of copies, the amount charged per specified period can be made lower by using second-hand products than by using new products, even for the same contracted number of copies.

[0054] In response to the user's operation of the object 742 on the screen of FIG. 10, the user terminal 401 notifies the management server 301 in S22 of information indicating the changed image forming device 1 and the selection result of the object 741 by the user. In S23, the processing unit 360 of the management server 301 adds information about the changed image forming device 1 to the device registration table 330. Note that the "status" of the device registration table 330 stores "unverified." Furthermore, if the user desires delivery of the changed image forming device 1, the management unit 350 of the image forming device 1 starts processing required for delivery. Thereafter, when the management unit 350 determines that communication between the management server 301 and the changed image forming device 1 is possible by the user's operation of the user terminal 401, the processing unit 360 changes the "status" of the changed image forming device 1 to "verified." Then, the processing unit 360 deletes information about the image forming device 1 before the change from the device registration table 330. In this way, the change in the service target image forming device is not immediately reflected in the process of S23, but is reflected after the management server 301 has completed verification of the changed image forming device 1. Therefore, until the management server 301 has completed verification of the changed image forming device 1, the image forming device 1 before the change can be used.

[0055] In this embodiment, the screen for selecting the changed image forming device 1 (FIG. 9B) and the screen for selecting the arrangement method for the changed image forming device 1 (FIG. 10) are separate screens. However, the contract product change screen can be configured so that the user can input the changed image forming device 1 and its arrangement method on the same screen.

[0056] In the sequence of FIG. 7 and the screen examples of FIG. 8 to FIG. 10, the user is made to input the changed color contract number, the changed monochrome contract number, and the image forming device 1 on different screens, and these are sent to the management server 301 separately. However, for example, a configuration may be adopted in which the user is made to input both the changed color contract number and the changed monochrome contract number on one screen, and these changed color contract number and the changed monochrome contract number are sent to the management server 301 at the same time. In this case, the user terminal 401 transmits a request to change the contract number, and the management server 301, in response, performs processing to display on the user terminal 401 a screen configured to allow input of both the changed color contract number and the changed monochrome contract number. Furthermore, a configuration may be adopted in which the user is made to input the changed color contract number, the changed monochrome contract number, and the model on one screen, and these changed contents are sent together to the management server 301. In this case, the user terminal 401 transmits a change request, and in response, the management server 301 performs processing to display on the user terminal 401 a screen configured to allow the user to input all of the changed color contract quantity, monochrome contract quantity, and model.

[0057] In the example of FIG. 7, the user is allowed to change the contract number to any number at any time. However, the change of the contract number can be limited. For example, the changed contract number can be limited to be applied from the next month or a month thereafter, not the current month. For example, the changed contract number can be applied from the next month. Alternatively, the user can specify the month when the application of the changed contract number starts via the user terminal 401. In this case, in S12 or S17, the user terminal 401 transmits to the management server 301 information indicating the application start timing indicating the month when the change is applied, in addition to the changed contract number. The processing unit 360 records the changed contract number, and changes the "color contract number" or "mono contract number" in the account table 320 at the start timing of the month when the changed contract number is applied. If the changed contract number is not applied immediately, the processing unit 360 does not update the account table 320 and the print data table 340 in S13 or S18. Furthermore, for example, a change to a contract quantity greater than the current contract quantity can be applied immediately, but a change to a contract quantity less than the current contract quantity can be applied from the following month onwards. Furthermore, when the changed contract quantity is applied from the current month, a limit can be set so that the number of changes is limited to a predetermined number.

[0058] In addition, the management unit 350 can be configured to send an e-mail message indicating receipt of the change request to the "e-mail address" in the account table 320 when the change request is received from the user terminal 401 in S10, S15, S20, etc. In this case, if a positive response is received as a response to the sent e-mail, that is, a response indicating that the user has sent a change request from the user terminal 401, the management unit 350 sends a change screen in S11, S16, and S21. On the other hand, if no e-mail response is received or a negative response is received, that is, a response indicating that the user has not sent a change request from the user terminal 401, the management unit 350 does not send the change screen. Note that the management unit 350 can also be configured not to send the change screen when a negative response is received as a response to the e-mail, and to send the change screen when no e-mail response is received or a positive response is received. This configuration can enhance security regarding changes to the contract contents.

[0059] As a message indicating receipt of the change request, an SMS (Short Message Service) or RCS (Rich Communication Service) message can be used instead of an email. In this case, the "mobile phone number" of the mobile communication terminal used by the user is registered in the account table 320 instead of the "email address." The "mobile phone number" is destination information indicating the destination of a message to the user.

[0060] The sequence of Fig. 7 and the screen examples of Fig. 8 to Fig. 10 can also be applied to new registration processing (initial registration) at the start of a contract. In this case, "change" in the sequence of Fig. 7 and the screen examples of Fig. 8 to Fig. 10 becomes, for example, "registration." Furthermore, in the screen corresponding to Fig. 8(A) that is displayed initially, the color contract quantity, monochrome contract quantity, and contract product are all displayed as not registered.

[0061] As described above, according to this embodiment, the user can flexibly change the contract details regarding the color contract quantity, the monochrome contract quantity, and the contract product, thereby improving usability.

[0062] Second Embodiment Next, the second embodiment will be described, focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the color contract quantity and the monochrome contract quantity were set separately. In this embodiment, color and monochrome are not distinguished, and are managed as one contract quantity. For example, the account table 320 may store "contract quantity" instead of the "color contract quantity" and "monochrome contract quantity" of the first embodiment.

[0063] Fig. 11 shows an example of a screen 1000 provided by the management server 301 and displayed on the display unit of the user terminal 401, and corresponds to Fig. 6 in the first embodiment. The screen 1000 includes areas 1010 and 1020. Area 1010 displays information on items included in the device registration table 330 and the print data table 340. Area 1020 displays information on items included in the account table 320.

[0064] The area 1020 indicates that the contracted number of sheets in the current contract plan is 100 sheets per month, and that color printing is counted as 4 sheets of monochrome printing. The screen 1000 also indicates that 16 monochrome printings and 1 color printing have already been performed, so that the total number of printed sheets is 20 sheets, and the remaining number of printed sheets is 80 sheets. That is, according to this embodiment, the print data table 340 of the management server 301 may be configured to store a weighted number of monochrome printed sheets as the number of color printed sheets already printed using the target image forming device in a certain predetermined period. In this case, the total number of printed sheets that does not distinguish between color and monochrome is calculated by adding the weighted number of color printed sheets and the number of monochrome printed sheets. Note that the print data table 340 of the management server 301 may be configured to store the number of color printed sheets and the number of monochrome printed sheets already printed using the target image forming device in a certain predetermined period. In this case, the total number of printed sheets, without distinguishing between color and monochrome, is calculated by adding up the number of printed color sheets weighted and the number of printed monochrome sheets.

[0065] As described above, according to this embodiment, the contract number is set without distinguishing between monochrome printing and color printing. Therefore, for example, even if the color printing in a certain period is more than usual, if the monochrome printing in the certain period is small, the number of printed sheets can be kept within the contract number, improving usability. In the above example, one color print is weighted by a coefficient of 4, and one color print is counted as four monochrome prints. However, the value of the weighting coefficient, that is, the number of monochrome prints to be counted for one color print, can be set arbitrarily. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a configuration in which a plurality of contract plans with different numbers of monochrome prints corresponding to one color print are provided and the user can select one.

[0066] [Other embodiments] The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions.

[0067] The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configuration. (Configuration 1) A server device for managing an image forming device, a storage means for storing information indicating a target image forming device used by a user, information indicating a first upper limit number of pages that can be printed in color using the target image forming device during a specified period of time, information indicating a second upper limit number of pages that can be printed in monochrome using the target image forming device during the specified period of time, information indicating the number of color pages already printed using the target image forming device during the specified period of time, and information indicating the number of monochrome pages already printed using the target image forming device during the specified period of time; a processing means for performing a change process for changing at least one of the first upper limit number and the second upper limit number in response to a first request for changing at least one of the first upper limit number and the second upper limit number received from a terminal used by the user; A server device comprising: (Configuration 2) The server device described in configuration 1, wherein the processing means performs processing to display on the terminal a screen for inputting information indicating at least one of the first upper limit number and the second upper limit number after the change in the upper limit number in response to receiving the first request from the terminal. (Configuration 3) 3. The server device according to configuration 2, wherein the screen for inputting information indicating the changed upper limit number displays options for the changed upper limit number. (Configuration 4) the storage means stores destination information for messages to the user; The server device according to configuration 2, wherein the processing means, in response to receiving the first request from the terminal, transmits a message indicating that the first request has been received to a destination indicated by the destination information, and, upon receiving an affirmative response to the transmitted message, performs processing to display on the terminal the screen for inputting the changed upper limit number. (Configuration 5) 5. The server device according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, wherein the processing means performs a process of changing the target image forming device in response to a second request for changing the target image forming device received from the terminal. (Configuration 6) The server device according to configuration 5, wherein the processing means performs processing for displaying on the terminal a screen for inputting information indicating the changed target image forming device in response to receiving the second request from the terminal. (Configuration 7) 7. The server device according to configuration 6, wherein the screen for inputting information indicating the changed target image forming device displays options for the changed target image forming device. (Configuration 8) The server device according to configuration 6 or 7, wherein the screen for inputting information indicating the changed target image forming device indicates an option as to whether or not the changed target image forming device is to be delivered to the user. (Configuration 9) The server device of configuration 8, wherein the screen for inputting information indicating the changed target image forming device displays an option to deliver either a new item or a used item if the changed target image forming device needs to be delivered to the user. (Configuration 10) A server device for managing an image forming device, a storage means for storing information indicating a target image forming device used by a user, information indicating an upper limit number of pages that can be printed using the target image forming device within a specified period of time, information indicating the number of color pages already printed using the target image forming device within the specified period of time, and information indicating the number of monochrome pages already printed using the target image forming device within the specified period of time; a processing means for performing a process of changing the upper limit number in response to a first request for changing the upper limit number received from the terminal used by the user; Equipped with The storage means stores a weighted number of color pages already printed using the target image forming device during the specified period relative to the number of monochrome pages already printed using the target image forming device during the specified period. (Configuration 11) A computer program that, when executed by one or more processors of an apparatus having one or more processors, causes the apparatus to operate as a server apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 10. (Configuration 12) A server device according to any one of configurations 1 to 10; the image forming apparatus configured to be able to communicate with the server device; A management system including

[0068] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 313: Management DB, 314: Processing circuit

Claims

1. A server device for managing an image forming device, a storage means for storing information indicating a target image forming device used by a user, information indicating a first upper limit number of pages that can be printed in color using the target image forming device during a specified period of time, information indicating a second upper limit number of pages that can be printed in monochrome using the target image forming device during the specified period of time, information indicating the number of color pages already printed using the target image forming device during the specified period of time, and information indicating the number of monochrome pages already printed using the target image forming device during the specified period of time; a processing means for performing a change process for changing at least one of the first upper limit number and the second upper limit number in response to a first request for changing at least one of the first upper limit number and the second upper limit number received from a terminal used by the user; A server device comprising:

2. The server device according to claim 1, wherein the processing means performs processing for displaying on the terminal a screen for inputting information indicating a changed upper limit number of at least one of the first upper limit number and the second upper limit number in response to receiving the first request from the terminal.

3. The server device according to claim 2 , wherein the screen for inputting information indicating the changed upper limit number displays options for the changed upper limit number.

4. the storage means stores destination information for messages to the user; 3. The server device according to claim 2, wherein the processing means, in response to receiving the first request from the terminal, transmits a message indicating that the first request has been received to the destination indicated by the destination information, and, upon receiving an affirmative response to the transmitted message, performs processing to display on the terminal the screen for inputting the changed upper limit number of sheets.

5. 2. The server device according to claim 1, wherein the processing means performs the process of changing the target image forming device in response to a second request for changing the target image forming device received from the terminal.

6. The server device according to claim 5 , wherein the processing means performs processing for displaying on the terminal a screen for inputting information indicating the changed target image forming device in response to receiving the second request from the terminal.

7. The server device according to claim 6 , wherein the screen for inputting information indicating the changed target image forming device displays options for the changed target image forming device.

8. The server device according to claim 6 , wherein the screen for inputting information indicating the changed target image forming device indicates an option of whether or not delivery of the changed target image forming device to the user is required.

9. The server device according to claim 8, wherein the screen for inputting information indicating the changed target image forming device displays an option of whether to deliver a new or used product if the changed target image forming device needs to be delivered to the user.

10. A server device for managing an image forming device, a storage means for storing information indicating a target image forming device used by a user, information indicating an upper limit number of pages that can be printed using the target image forming device within a specified period of time, information indicating the number of color pages already printed using the target image forming device within the specified period of time, and information indicating the number of monochrome pages already printed using the target image forming device within the specified period of time; a processing means for performing a process of changing the upper limit number in response to a first request for changing the upper limit number received from the terminal used by the user; Equipped with The storage means stores a weighted number of color pages already printed using the target image forming device during the specified period relative to the number of monochrome pages already printed using the target image forming device during the specified period.

11. A computer program product which, when executed on one or more processors of a device having one or more processors, causes the device to operate as a server device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A server device according to any one of claims 1 to 10; the image forming apparatus configured to be able to communicate with the server device; A management system including

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