Service provision system, information processing device, and program

Abstract

To enable a user P of a printer 1 to easily grasp a printable amount without additional charging in a print service.SOLUTION: A service provision system 1000 for providing a print service for performing charging corresponding to an area printed by a printer 1, includes a conversion unit 204 for converting an area printable by the printer 1 without additional charging in the print service into the number of sheets of a first printing medium, and a display control unit 205 for displaying the number of sheets of the first printing medium converted by the conversion unit 204 in a terminal device 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a technique for charging according to an area has been known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for charging according to the area of a sheet manufactured by a sheet manufacturing apparatus. Patent Document 1 discloses a charging fee form in which, when the area of the manufactured sheet is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, it is fixed at a predetermined amount, and when the area of the manufactured sheet exceeds the predetermined amount, the excess amount is added to this predetermined amount.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, when charging is performed according to the area as in Patent Document 1, even if the amount that can be used without additional charging is presented to the user in terms of area, the user may not be able to easily grasp the amount that can be used without additional charging.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] One aspect for solving the above problems is a service providing system that provides a printing service in which charging is performed according to the area printed by a printing apparatus, the service providing system including: a conversion unit that converts the area that can be printed by the printing apparatus without additional charging in the printing service into the number of sheets of a first printing medium; and a display control unit that causes a display unit to display the number of sheets of the first printing medium converted by the conversion unit.

[0006] Another aspect for solving the above problems is an information processing apparatus including: a conversion unit that converts the printable area of a printing apparatus into the number of sheets of a first printing medium without additional charges in a printing service where charging is performed according to the area printed by the printing apparatus; and a display control unit that causes a display unit to display the number of sheets of the first printing medium converted by the conversion unit.

[0007] Still another aspect for solving the above problems is a program that causes a processor of an information processing apparatus to function as: a conversion unit that converts the printable area of a printing apparatus into the number of sheets of a first printing medium without additional charges in a printing service where charging is performed according to the area printed by the printing apparatus; and a display control unit that causes a display unit to display the number of sheets of the first printing medium converted by the conversion unit.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] [1. Configuration of Service Providing System] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a service providing system 1000. The service providing system 1000 is a system that provides printing services available in the use of the printing device 1. The printing service is a service related to the printing of the printing device 1. In the present embodiment, the printing service is a service for delivering consumables in the printing device 1. The printing service is a service in which the user of the printing service pays a usage fee for the use of the printing service over a certain period, and is a so-called subscription service. In the present embodiment, a service in which the user of the printing service pays a usage fee for the use of the printing service in one month is exemplified. Also, in the present embodiment, ink is exemplified as the consumable delivered by the printing service.

[0010] The service providing system 1000 includes a providing server 2. The providing server 2 is a server device that manages the printing service. The providing server 2 is connected to a network NW including the Internet, a telephone network, and other communication networks, and communicates with devices connected to the network NW. The providing server 2 is managed, for example, by a company that operates the printing service. Note that in each figure, the providing server 2 is represented by one block, but this does not necessarily mean that the providing server 2 is configured by a single server device. For example, the providing server 2 may include a plurality of server devices with different processing contents. The providing server 2 is an example of an "information processing device".

[0011] The service providing system 1000 includes a delivery server 3. The delivery server 3 is a server device that instructs a delivery person to deliver a delivery to a delivery destination H. The delivery server 3 is owned, for example, by a company to which the delivery business has been entrusted by a company that operates the printing service, and gives a delivery instruction to a delivery person who is an employee of the company. The delivery server 3 is connected to the network NW and communicates with devices connected to the network NW. In the present embodiment, the delivery item instructed by the delivery server 3 is a container such as an ink cartridge containing ink. In each figure, the delivery server 3 is represented by one block, but this does not necessarily mean that the delivery server 3 is constituted by a single server device. For example, the delivery server 3 may be configured to include a plurality of server devices with different processing contents.

[0012] The service providing system 1000 includes a printing device 1. The printing device 1 is an inkjet printer and performs printing by receiving ink supply from the ink cartridge attached thereto. Note that the maximum number of ink colors that can be ejected from the inkjet head of the printing device 1 may be any number.

[0013] The service providing system 1000 includes a terminal device 4. The terminal device 4 is a computer used by the user P. In the present embodiment, a laptop computer is exemplified as the terminal device 4, but a desktop computer or a portable computer such as a smartphone may also be used. The terminal device 4 is connected to the network NW and communicates with the providing server 2. Further, the terminal device 4 communicates with the printing device 1. The communication between the terminal device 4 and the printing device 1 may be communication via a local network constructed at the delivery destination H of the delivery item, or direct communication for wireless communication without passing through an access point such as Wi-Fi Direct. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark. The terminal device 4 is an example of a "display unit".

[0014] In FIG. 1, the user P is shown. The user P is a person who has registered for using the printing service.

[0015] In the printing service provided by the service providing system 1000, an ink cartridge storing the ink consumed by the printing device 1 is delivered to the delivery destination H designated by the user P.

[0016] In the printing service, a plan for using the printing service is provided. This plan enables printing a fixed area at a fixed rate by the printing device 1 within a certain period, and for printing exceeding the fixed area, charging is made according to the printed area. Hereinafter, the printable area that can be printed within the fixed rate range is referred to as the "printable area".

[0017] [2. Configuration of the Terminal Device] Next, the configuration of the terminal device 4 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the terminal device 4.

[0018] The terminal device 4 includes a terminal control device 40, a terminal communication unit 41, a terminal input unit 42, and a terminal display unit 43.

[0019] The terminal communication unit 41 includes communication hardware conforming to a predetermined communication standard such as a communication circuit, and communicates with the providing server 2 and the printing device 1 under the control of the terminal control device 40.

[0020] The terminal input unit 42 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and other input means, detects the operation of the user P on the input means, and outputs it to the terminal control device 40. The terminal control device 40 executes processing corresponding to the operation of the user P on the input means based on the input from the terminal input unit 42.

[0021] The terminal display unit 43 includes a display, and displays various information on the display under the control of the terminal control device 40.

[0022] The terminal control device 40 includes a terminal processor 400 constituted by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro-processing unit), etc., and a terminal memory 410, and controls each part of the terminal device 4. The terminal memory 410 stores programs executed by the terminal processor 400 and data processed by the terminal processor 400. The terminal memory 410 stores a printing program 411, a display program 412, and various other data. The terminal memory 410 has a non-volatile storage area. The terminal memory 410 includes a volatile storage area that constitutes the work area of the terminal processor 400. The terminal memory 410 is composed of, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like.

[0023] The printing program 411 is a program that controls the printing device 1 and transmits information related to the printing device 1 to the providing server 2. The display program 412 is a program that displays information received from the providing server 2.

[0024] The terminal processor 400 functions as a printing program execution unit 401 by reading and executing the printing program 411. The printing program execution unit 401 communicates with the providing server 2 and the printing device 1 via the terminal communication unit 41. Also, the printing program execution unit 402 generates print data and transmits the generated print data to the printing device 1 via the terminal communication unit 41. The print data includes image data in a printing format, print commands conforming to the command system of the printing device 1, and the like.

[0025] The terminal processor 400 functions as a display program execution unit 402 by reading and executing the display program 411. The display program execution unit 402 communicates with the providing server 2 via the terminal communication unit 41. Also, the display program execution unit 402 receives an instruction from the user P via the terminal input unit 42. Also, the display program execution unit 402 displays information on the terminal display unit 43.

[0026] [3. Configuration of the Printing Device] Next, the configuration of the printing device 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printing apparatus 1. The printing apparatus 1 includes a print control device 10, a print communication unit 11, and a printing unit 12.

[0027] The print communication unit 11 includes communication hardware conforming to a predetermined communication standard such as a communication circuit, and communicates with the terminal device 4 under the control of the print control device 10.

[0028] The printing unit 12 includes components related to printing such as an inkjet head, a carriage that moves the inkjet head in the scanning direction, a motor that drives the carriage, a transport mechanism that transports the printing medium, a mechanism for mounting an ink cartridge, and a maintenance mechanism for the inkjet head. The printing unit 12 performs printing on the printing medium according to the control of the print control device 10.

[0029] The print control device 10 includes a print processor 100 constituted by a CPU, an MPU, etc., and a print memory 110, and controls each part of the printing apparatus 1. The print memory 110 stores programs executed by the print processor 100 and data processed by the print processor 100. The print memory 110 stores a control program 111, a print apparatus ID (Identification) 112, upload data 113, and other various data. The print memory 110 has a non-volatile storage area. The print memory 110 includes a volatile storage area and constitutes a work area of the print processor 100. The print memory 110 is constituted by, for example, a ROM, a RAM, etc.

[0030] The print apparatus ID 112 is identification information that uniquely identifies the printing apparatus 1.

[0031] The upload data 113 is data uploaded to the providing server 2. The upload data 113 includes printing area information. The printing area information is information indicating the area printed by the printing device 1. More specifically, the area indicated by the printing area information is the area printed by the printing device 1 between the previous time the upload data 113 was sent to the providing server 2 and the next time the upload data 113 is sent to the providing server 2. The upload data 113 includes a pair of size type information indicating the type of the size of the printable medium for each size of the printable medium of the printing device 1 and the number of printed sheets information. For example, when the sizes of the printable medium of the printing device 1 are A2, A3, and A4, the upload data 113 includes a pair of size type information and the number of printed sheets information regarding A2, a pair of size type information and the number of printed sheets information regarding A3, and a pair of size type information and the number of printed sheets information regarding A4. The number of printed sheets information is information indicating the number of printed sheets. More specifically, the number of printed sheets indicated by the number of printed sheets information is the number of sheets printed by the printing device 1 between the previous time the upload data 113 was sent to the providing server 2 and the next time the upload data 113 is sent to the providing server 2.

[0032] By reading and executing the control program 111, the printing processor 100 functions as a printing communication control unit 101, a printing control unit 102, and a printing update unit 103.

[0033] The printing communication control unit 101 communicates with the terminal device 4 via the printing communication unit 11. The printing communication control unit 101 of the present embodiment receives printing data from the terminal device 4. Also, the printing communication control unit 101 of the present embodiment transmits the upload data 113 with the printing device ID 112 added thereto to the terminal device 4. Note that the printing program execution unit 401 of the terminal device 4 transfers the upload data 113 received from the printing device 1 to the providing server 2. The printing device ID 112 is added to the upload data 113 transferred to the providing server 2.

[0034] The printing control unit 102 performs printing by the printing unit 12 based on the printing data received by the printing communication control unit 101.

[0035] The printing update unit 103 updates the content indicated by each piece of information included in the upload data 113. The printing update unit 103 updates the area indicated by the printing area information. The printing update unit 103 refers to the printing data processed by the printing control unit 102 and calculates the area printed by the printing control unit 102. For example, when the area where ink is ejected for each printing medium is recorded in the printing data, the printing update unit 103 calculates the sum of the areas where ink is ejected recorded in the printing data as the area printed by the printing control unit 102. When the printing update unit 103 calculates the area printed by the printing control unit 102, it updates the area indicated by the printing area information to the area obtained by adding the calculated area.

[0036] Also, the printing update unit 103 updates the number of printed sheets indicated by the printed sheet number information. The printing update unit 103 refers to the printing data processed by the printing control unit 102 and acquires the number of sheets printed by the printing control unit 102 for each size of the printing medium. For example, when the content of printing 3 sheets of A4 is recorded in the printing data processed by the printing control unit 102, the printing update unit 103 acquires that the number of sheets printed by the printing control unit 102 for the A4 printing medium is 3 sheets. When the printing update unit 103 acquires the number of sheets printed by the printing control unit 102 for each size of the printing medium, it updates the number of printed sheets indicated by the printed sheet number information for the corresponding size to the number obtained by adding the acquired number.

[0037] Also, when the printing communication control unit 101 transmits the upload data 113, the printing update unit 103 updates the content indicated by each piece of information of the upload data 113 stored in the printing memory 110 to zero. That is, the printing update unit 103 updates the area indicated by the printing area information to zero and updates the number of printed sheets indicated by the printed sheet number information to zero.

[0038] [4. Configuration of the Providing Server] Next, the configuration of the providing server 2 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the providing server 2. The providing server 2 includes a server control device 20 and a server communication unit 21.

[0039] The server communication unit 21 is equipped with communication hardware according to a predetermined communication standard, and communicates with devices connected to the network NW under the control of the server control device 20.

[0040] The server control device 20 includes a server processor 200 such as a CPU or an MPU, and a server memory 210. The server processor 200 executes programs stored in the server memory 210 to control each part of the provided server 2. The server processor 200 is an example of a "processor".

[0041] The server memory 210 stores programs executed by the server processor 200 and data processed by the server processor 200. The server memory 210 stores a control program 211, a first management DB 212, a second management DB 213, and other various data executed by the server processor 200. The server memory 210 has a non-volatile storage area. The server memory 210 includes a volatile storage area and constitutes a work area for the server processor 200. The server memory 210 is composed of, for example, ROM, RAM, etc. The control program 211 is an example of a "program".

[0042] The first management DB 212 is a database that manages one record R1 for each user P. One record R includes a user ID (Identification), a printing device ID, and printable remaining area information. The user ID is identification information that uniquely identifies the user P. The printable remaining area information is information indicating the printable remaining area. The printable remaining area is the remaining area that can be printed within a fixed amount. Also, for one printing device ID 112, the record R1 indicates size type information and total printing sheet number information for each size of the printable printing medium by the printing device 1. The total number of printed sheets indicated by the total printing sheet number information is the total number of printed sheets in one month.

[0043] The second management DB213 is a database that manages one record R2 for each user P. One record R2 includes a user ID, a password, delivery destination information, payment method information, and plan information. The password is authentication information for authenticating that the user is a user of the printing service. The delivery destination information is information indicating the delivery destination H, for example, an address. The payment method information is information indicating the payment method for the usage fee of the printing service. For example, when the payment method information indicates a payment method by credit card, it includes a combination of information indicating that the payment method is a credit card and the credit card number. The plan information is information indicating the plan of the printing service contracted by the user P, and at least the usage fee and the printable area are recorded.

[0044] By reading and executing the control program 211, the server processor 200 functions as a server communication control unit 201, a settlement processing unit 202, a server update unit 203, a conversion unit 204, and a display control unit 205.

[0045] The server communication control unit 201 communicates with the terminal device 4 via the server communication unit 21.

[0046] The settlement processing unit 202 performs settlement processing on one record R2 of the second management DB213 as the processing target. The settlement processing unit 202 performs settlement processing based on the usage fee indicated by the plan information according to the payment method indicated by the payment method information. When the settlement processing is completed normally, the settlement processing unit 202 transmits the user ID and plan information included in the record R2 to be processed to the server update unit 203.

[0047] The server update unit 203 updates the content of the database stored in the server memory 210. The server update unit 203 of the present embodiment updates the content of the record R1 managed by the first management DB212. When the server update unit 203 receives the user ID and plan information from the settlement processing unit 202, it identifies the record R1 having the received user ID from the first management DB 212. Next, the server update unit 203 updates the printable remaining area indicated by the printable remaining area information of the identified record R1 to the printable area indicated by the received plan information.

[0048] Also, when the server communication control unit 201 receives the upload data 113, the server update unit 203 updates the printable remaining area information and the total number of printed sheets information based on the received upload data 113. Specifically, the server update unit 203 identifies the record R1 having the printing device ID added to the upload data 113 from the first management DB 212. Next, the server update unit 203 updates the printable remaining area indicated by the printable remaining area information of the identified record R1 to a value obtained by subtracting the area indicated by the print area information of the upload data 113. Also, for each size type information of the upload data 113, the server update unit 203 updates the total number of printed sheets indicated by the total number of printed sheets information of the identified record R1 to the number of sheets obtained by adding the number of printed sheets indicated by the print number information of the upload data 113.

[0049] The conversion unit 204 converts the printable remaining area into the number of sheets of the printing medium. The conversion by the conversion unit 204 will be described later.

[0050] The display control unit 205 causes the terminal device 4 to display the remaining number of printable sheets. The remaining number of printable sheets is the remaining number of printing media that can be printed within the fixed amount range. The display control unit 205 generates screen data for displaying the remaining number of printable sheets, and causes the server communication control unit 201 to transmit the image data to the terminal device 4, thereby causing the terminal device 4 to display the remaining number of printable sheets.

[0051] [5. Operations of Each Part of the Service Provision System] Next, the operations of each part of the service provision system 1000 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the service providing system 1000. In FIG. 5, flowchart FA shows the operation of the terminal device 4, and flowchart FB shows the operation of the providing server 2.

[0052] As shown in flowchart FA, the display program execution unit 402 determines whether to display the remaining printable sheets (step SA1). When receiving an instruction to start displaying the remaining printable sheets, the display program execution unit 402 makes an affirmative determination in step SA1.

[0053] When the display program execution unit 402 determines to display the remaining printable sheets (step SA1), it transmits request information to the providing server 2 (step SA2). The request information is information for requesting screen data for displaying the remaining printable sheets and includes a user ID and a password. The user ID and password included in the request information are the user ID and password received by the display program execution unit 402 from user P when user P inputs an instruction to start displaying the remaining printable sheets.

[0054] As shown in flowchart FB, the server communication control unit 201 receives the request information from the terminal device 4 (step SB1) and performs user authentication based on the user ID and password included in the request information (step SB2). In the user authentication in step SB2, the server communication control unit 201 determines whether the second management DB 213 manages a record R2 having a combination of the user ID and password included in the request information, and determines that the authentication is successful when it is determined that the second management DB 213 manages the record R2.

[0055] When it is determined that the authentication is successful in step SB2, the conversion unit 204 performs a conversion process (step SB3).

[0056] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the conversion unit 204 in the conversion process. The conversion unit 204 specifies a record R1 having the user ID included in the request information received in step SA1 from the first management DB 212 (step SB31).

[0057] Next, the conversion unit 204 calculates the total number of printed sheets recorded in the identified record R1 (step SB32). For example, in the identified record R1, assume that the total number of printed sheets information corresponding to the size type information indicating A2 shows 100 sheets, the total number of printed sheets information corresponding to the size type information indicating A3 shows 0 sheets, and the total number of printed sheets information corresponding to the size type information indicating A4 shows 10 sheets. In this example, the conversion unit 204 calculates that the total number of sheets is 110 sheets.

[0058] Next, the conversion unit 204 determines whether the total number of sheets calculated in step SB32 is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of sheets (step SB33). The predetermined number of sheets is, for example, 100 sheets. Note that this 100 sheets is merely an example, and the predetermined number of sheets for comparison in step SB23 may be less than 100 sheets or more than 100 sheets.

[0059] When the conversion unit 204 determines that the total number of sheets calculated in step SB22 is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of sheets (step SB33: YES), the remaining printable area of the identified record R1 is converted into the number of the first printing media (step SB34).

[0060] Step SB34 will be described in detail. In the present embodiment, the first printing media is a printing media corresponding to the printing apparatus 1 and used by the user P in the past. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the first printing media is the printing media most printed by the printing apparatus 1. Further specifically, in the present embodiment, the first printing media is the printing media of the size most printed by the printing apparatus 1. For example, in the record R1 identified in step SB31, assume that the total number of printed sheets information corresponding to the size type information indicating A2 shows 10 sheets, the total number of printed sheets information corresponding to the size type information indicating A3 shows 100 sheets, and the total number of printed sheets information corresponding to the size type information indicating A4 shows 25 sheets. In this example, the first printing media is the A3 printing media. Note that in this example, A3 corresponds to an example of the "predetermined size".

[0061] In step SB34, the conversion unit 204 determines the size of the first printing medium based on the total number of printed sheets information of the identified record R1. Next, the conversion unit 204 acquires the area of the identified first printing medium. For example, when data indicating the area of the printing medium for each size is stored in the server memory 210, the conversion unit 204 acquires the area of the identified first printing medium by reading it from the server memory 210. Note that the area of the first printing medium acquired by the conversion unit 204 is the area of one side. Then, the conversion unit 204 divides the remaining printable area of the identified record R1 by the area of the acquired first printing medium to convert the remaining printable area of the identified record R1 into the number of the first printing media.

[0062] Returning to the description of step SB33, when the conversion unit 204 determines that the total number of sheets calculated in step SB32 is less than the predetermined number of sheets (step SB33: NO), the conversion unit 204 converts the remaining printable area of the identified record R1 into the number of the second printing media (step SB35).

[0063] For example, the second printing medium is a printing medium with a predetermined size such as an A4 printing medium. Also, for example, the second printing medium is the largest-sized printing medium among the printing media that the printing apparatus 1 can print. Note that the type of the size of the second printing medium may vary depending on the region or country where the printing apparatus 1 is used.

[0064] In step SB34, the conversion unit 204 acquires the area of the second printing medium. For example, when data indicating the area of the second printing medium is stored in the server memory 210, the conversion unit 204 acquires the area of the identified second printing medium by reading it from the server memory 210. Note that the area of the second printing medium acquired by the conversion unit 204 is the area of one side. Then, the conversion unit 204 divides the remaining printable area of the identified record R1 by the area of the acquired second printing medium to convert the remaining printable area of the identified record R1 into the number of the second printing media.

[0065] Returning to the description of FIG. 5, when the conversion unit 204 executes the conversion process, the display control unit 205 generates screen data (step SB4). The screen indicated by the screen data generated in step SB4 is a screen that displays the number of sheets converted in the conversion process of step SB3 as the remaining printable number of sheets. Also, the screen indicated by the screen data generated in step SB4 is a screen that displays the size of the printing medium used for conversion in the conversion process of step SB3. For example, the screen indicated by the screen data generated in step SB4 displays a string such as "The remaining printable amount is 6.2 sheets on A3 paper." As described above, in the conversion process, the conversion is performed based on the area of one side of the printing medium. Therefore, for example, the screen indicated by the screen data generated in step SB4 may be configured to display the remaining printable number of sheets when printing on one side, such as a string like "When printing on one side, the remaining printable amount is 6.2 sheets on A3 paper."

[0066] The server communication control unit 201 transmits the screen data generated in step SB4 to the terminal device 4 as a response to the request information received in step SB1 (step SB5).

[0067] As shown in flowchart FA, the display program execution unit 402 receives screen data from the providing server 2 (step SA3).

[0068] Next, the display program execution unit 402 displays the screen indicated by the screen data received in step SA3 (step SA4).

[0069] As described above, in the service providing system 1000, the printable remaining area is displayed according to the number of sheets of the first printing medium or the second printing medium. For example, if the printing device 1 can print A2, A3, and A4 printing media, and the size of the most printed printing medium by the printing device 1 is A3, in the service providing system 1000, the printable remaining area is displayed according to the number of sheets of the A3 printing media. That is, in the service providing system 1000, when the most printed printing medium is a size other than the largest size among the printing media that the printing device 1 can print, the printable remaining area is displayed according to the number of sheets of the printing media of a size other than the largest size. Therefore, the user P of the printing device 1 can grasp the printable remaining area according to the number of sheets of the desired size printing media that is frequently used.

[0070] [6. Other Embodiments] The above-described embodiments show one aspect, and can be arbitrarily modified and applied.

[0071] In the above-described embodiment, the printing service is a service for delivering the container for the ink used in the printing device 1. In other embodiments, the printing service may be a service for delivering consumables of the printing device 1 other than the ink. Examples of the consumables of the printing device 1 other than the ink include paper and the waste ink box. Further, if the printing device 1 is an electrophotographic printer, the toner container may be delivered in the printing service.

[0072] In the above-described embodiment, the printing service is a service for delivering the consumables of the printing device 1, but the printing service is not limited to the service for delivering the consumables of the printing device 1. For example, the printing service may be a service for remotely monitoring the printing volume of the printing device 1 and sending a person for maintaining the printing device 1 as needed.

[0073] In the above-described embodiment, the first printing medium is the printing medium that the printing apparatus 1 has printed most recently. However, the first printing medium may be a printing medium of a size specified by the user P. In this case, the server memory 210 stores the size of the printing medium specified by the user P for each user P or for each printing apparatus 1. Also, in this case, the conversion unit 204 may be configured to determine, in the conversion process, whether the user P has specified the size of the printing medium instead of step SB33, perform step SB34 in the case of an affirmative determination, and perform step SB35 in the case of a negative determination.

[0074] In the above-described embodiment, the configuration is to display the remaining number of sheets that can be printed within the fixed amount range. In other embodiments, the configuration may be to display, in terms of the number of sheets, the printable area that the printing apparatus 1 can print until the next charging is performed. For example, when the charging for the amount exceeding the fixed amount range is performed at X yen per α square meters, the configuration may be to display, in terms of the number of sheets, the printable area that the printing apparatus 1 can print until the next X yen charging is performed.

[0075] In the above-described embodiment, the "printing apparatus" is exemplified by the printing apparatus 1 equipped with an ink cartridge. However, the "printing apparatus" is a printing apparatus of the CISS (Continuous Ink Supply System) type that enables subsequent ink filling to an ink tank that supplies ink to an ink jet head. In this case, the printing service delivers an ink-filled ink bottle to the delivery destination H.

[0076] In other embodiments, the display program execution unit 402 may function as the conversion unit 204 and the display control unit 205. In the case of this configuration, the conversion unit 204 receives the record R1 to be processed from the providing server 2 and performs an addition process based on the received record R1. Also, in the case of this configuration, the display control unit 205 generates screen data based on the conversion process of the conversion unit 204 and causes the terminal display unit 43 to display a screen showing the generated screen data. In other embodiments, the terminal device 4 corresponds to the "information processing device", the terminal processor 400 corresponds to the "processor", the display program 412 corresponds to the "program", and the terminal display unit 43 corresponds to the "display unit".

[0077] In addition to the printing function, the above-described printing device 1 may be a multifunction device having a scanning function or a facsimile function.

[0078] The above-described printing device 1 may be a serial inkjet printer, a line inkjet printer, or a lateral inkjet printer.

[0079] In other embodiments, the functions of the server processor 200 and the terminal processor 400 may be realized by a plurality of processors or semiconductor chips.

[0080] Each part of the terminal device 4, the printing device 1, and the providing server 2 shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 is an example and is not particularly limited. It is not necessarily required that hardware corresponding to each part be individually installed, and of course, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which one processor executes a program to realize the functions of each part. Part of the functions realized by software may be implemented as hardware, or part of the functions realized by hardware may be realized by software. In addition, the specific detailed configurations of other parts of the terminal device 4, the printing device 1, and the providing server 2 can be arbitrarily changed.

[0081] The step units of the operations shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are divided according to the main processing contents in order to facilitate the understanding of the operations of the terminal device 4 and the providing server 2, and are not limited by the way of dividing the processing units or the names. Depending on the processing contents, it may be further divided into more step units. One step unit may be further divided to include more processes. Also, the order of the steps may be appropriately interchanged.

[0082] [7. Summary of the Present Disclosure] The summary of the present disclosure is appended below. (Appendix 1) A service providing system that provides a printing service in which charging is performed according to the area printed by a printing device, the system comprising: a conversion unit that converts the area printable by the printing device without additional charging in the printing service into the number of sheets of a first printing medium; and a display control unit that causes a display unit to display the number of sheets of the first printing medium converted by the conversion unit.

[0083] According to this configuration, the area printable by the printing device without additional charging in the printing service is displayed by the number of sheets. That is, for the user of the printing device, the area printable by the printing device is displayed in a unit in which the printable amount is easy to grasp. Therefore, the user of the printing device can easily grasp the printable amount without additional charging in the printing service.

[0084] (Appendix 2) The service providing system according to Appendix 1, wherein the first printing medium is a printing medium corresponding to the printing device and used by the user of the printing device in the past.

[0085] According to this configuration, conversion can be performed using a printing medium for which there is a high possibility that the user of the printing device knows the area per unit of the printing medium. Therefore, the user of the printing device can more easily grasp the printable amount without additional charging in the printing service.

[0086] (Appendix 3) The service providing system according to Appendix 2, wherein the first printing medium is the printing medium most frequently printed by the printing device.

[0087] According to this configuration, conversion can be performed using a printing medium for which there is an even higher possibility that the user of the printing device knows the area per unit of the printing medium. Therefore, the user of the printing device can more easily grasp the printable amount without additional charging in the printing service.

[0088] (Supplementary Note 4) The conversion unit converts, without additional charge in the printing service, the area printable by the printing device into the number of sheets of the first printing medium when the number of sheets of the printing medium printed by the printing device is equal to or more than a predetermined number, in the service providing system described in Supplementary Note 3.

[0089] According to this configuration, it can be converted by the highly probable printing medium that the user of the printing device usually uses. Therefore, the user of the printing device can more easily grasp the printable amount without additional charge in the printing service.

[0090] (Supplementary Note 5) The conversion unit converts, without additional charge in the printing service, the area printable by the printing device into the number of sheets of the second printing medium when the number of sheets of the printing medium printed by the printing device is less than the predetermined number, and the display control unit displays the number of sheets of the second printing medium converted by the conversion unit, in the service providing system described in Supplementary Note 4.

[0091] According to this configuration, even when the number of sheets of the printing medium printed by the printing device is less than the predetermined number, the area printable by the printing device without additional charge in the printing service can be displayed by the number of sheets. Therefore, even when the number of sheets of the printing medium printed by the printing device is less than the predetermined number, the user of the printing device can easily grasp the printable amount without additional charge in the printing service.

[0092] (Supplementary Note 6) When the most printed printing medium by the printing device is a printing medium of a predetermined size, the first printing medium is the printing medium of the predetermined size, and the predetermined size is a size other than the maximum size among the printable printing media of the printing device, in the service providing system according to any one of Supplementary Notes 3 to 5.

[0093] According to this configuration, even when the most printed print medium is a size other than the maximum size among the print media that can be printed by the printing device, it can be converted by the print media of this size. Therefore, even when a user of the printing device uses a size other than the maximum size among the print media that can be printed by the printing device, the area that can be printed by the printing device can be displayed by the number of sheets corresponding to the size used by the user of the printing device without additional charges.

[0094] (Appendix 7) An information processing apparatus comprising: a conversion unit that converts, without additional charges, the area that can be printed by the printing device into the number of sheets of a first print medium in a printing service in which charges are made according to the area printed by the printing device; and a display control unit that causes the display unit to display the number of sheets of the first print medium converted by the conversion unit.

[0095] According to this configuration, the same effect as the service providing system described in Appendix 1 is achieved.

[0096] (Appendix 8) A program that causes a processor of an information processing apparatus to function as a conversion unit that converts, without additional charges, the area that can be printed by the printing device into the number of sheets of a first print medium in a printing service in which charges are made according to the area printed by the printing device, and a display control unit that causes the display unit to display the number of sheets of the first print medium converted by the conversion unit.

[0097] According to this configuration, the same effect as the service providing system described in Appendix 1 is achieved.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0098] 1. Printing device, 2. Providing server (information processing device), 3. Delivery server, 4. Terminal device (display unit, information processing device), 10. Printing control device, 11. Printing communication unit, 12. Printing unit, 20. Server control device, 21. Server communication unit, 40. Terminal control device, 41. Terminal communication unit, 42. Terminal input unit, 43. Terminal display unit (display unit), 100. Printing processor, 101. Printing communication control unit, 102. Printing control unit, 103. Printing update unit, 110. Printing memory, 111. Control program, 112. Printing device ID, 113. Upload data, 200. Server processor (processor), 201. Server communication control unit, 202. Settlement processing unit, 203. Server update unit, 204. Conversion unit, 205. Display control unit, 210. Server memory, 211. Control program (program), 212. First management DB, 213. Second management DB, 400. Terminal processor (program), 401. Printing program execution unit, 402. Printing program execution unit, 410. Terminal memory, 411. Printing program, 412. Display program (program), 1000. Service providing system, H. Delivery destination, NW. Network, P. User.

Claims

1. A service providing system that provides a printing service in which a charge is made according to the area printed by a printing device, a conversion unit that converts the area that can be printed by the printing device without additional charge in the printing service into the number of sheets of a first printing medium, a display control unit that causes the display unit to display the number of sheets of the first printing medium converted by the conversion unit, and a service providing system.

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

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

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

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

6. When the printing medium that the printing device has printed the most is a printing medium of a predetermined size, the first printing medium is the printing medium of the predetermined size, The predetermined size is a size other than the maximum size among the printing media that the printing device can print, The service providing system according to any one of claims 3 to 5.

7. A conversion unit that converts the area that can be printed by a printing device without additional charge in a printing service in which a charge is made according to the area printed by the printing device into the number of sheets of a first printing medium, a display control unit that causes the display unit to display the number of sheets of the first printing medium converted by the conversion unit, and an information processing device.

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

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