Control apparatus, computer program for control apparatus, and method executed by control apparatus

Abstract

To disclose a technique for improving user convenience.SOLUTION: A control apparatus calculates a plurality of printing costs corresponding to a plurality of printing plans by using printing history information of a printer during a predetermined period in which a predetermined service related to the printer is used by a user but the user is not charged for the predetermined service, and displays, on a display unit, a selection screen that includes related information relating to the plurality of printing costs. The control apparatus, if a first printing plan is selected from among the plurality of printing plans on the selection screen, executes first billing processing for billing the user for a first printing cost corresponding to the first printing plan among the plurality of calculated printing costs.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This specification discloses a technology related to a control device capable of executing processing related to a printer.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for calculating a plurality of fees corresponding to a plurality of fee plans by using log information of image processing executed by an image processing device, and presenting the cheapest fee plan to a user.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] This specification discloses a technology for improving user convenience.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The control device disclosed by this specification uses print history information of the printer during a predetermined period in which a predetermined service related to the printer is used by the user but the usage fee of the predetermined service is not billed to the user, and calculates a plurality of printing costs corresponding to a plurality of printing plans. A calculation unit, a selection screen including related information related to the calculated plurality of printing costs, a display control unit that causes the display unit to display the selection screen for selecting one printing plan out of the plurality of printing plans, and when a first printing plan out of the plurality of printing plans is selected on the selection screen, a first billing process execution unit that executes a first billing process for billing the user the first printing cost corresponding to the first printing plan among the calculated plurality of printing costs may be provided.

[0006] According to the above configuration, during the above-mentioned predetermined period, that is, the so-called trial period, the user can use a predetermined service related to the printer without being billed for the usage fee. Therefore, the convenience of the user can be improved.

[0007] The computer program for realizing the above control device, and the computer-readable recording medium storing the computer program are also novel and useful. Also, the method executed by the above control device is also novel and useful. Further, a communication system including the above control device and other devices (for example, a printer, a terminal device, etc.) is also novel and useful.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] (First Embodiment) (Configuration of Communication System 2: Figure 1) As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 2 includes a printer 10, a terminal device 50, and a service providing server 100. The printer 10 and the terminal device 50 are connected to a Local Area Network (LAN) 4 and can communicate with each other via the LAN 4. The terminal device 50 may be a portable terminal device such as a mobile phone (e.g., a smartphone), a PDA, a notebook PC, a tablet PC, etc., or a stationary terminal device such as a desktop PC. The LAN 4 is connected to the Internet 6. The service providing server 100 is connected to the Internet 6. Hereinafter, the service providing server 100 will be referred to as the "Service Providing (SP) server".

[0010] (Configuration of Printer 10) The printer 10 is a peripheral device capable of executing a printing function (i.e., a peripheral device such as the terminal device 50). In addition to the printing function, the printer 10 may be a multifunctional device capable of executing a scanning function, a FAX function, etc. The printer 10 has a serial number "SN1". The serial number is an identification number assigned at the time of manufacturing the printer.

[0011] The printer 10 includes an operation unit 12, a display unit 14, a print execution unit 16, a communication interface 18, and a control unit 30. The operation unit 12 is a user interface for the user to input various information into the printer 10. The operation unit 12 includes, for example, a touch panel for displaying software keys (operation objects), hardware keys, or both of them. The display unit 14 is a display or panel for displaying various information. The panel is, for example, a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel, and may or may not be a touch panel. The print execution unit 16 includes an inkjet system, an electrophotographic system, or a thermal system printing engine. The communication interface 18 is connected to the LAN 4. The communication interface 18 may be an interface for executing wireless communication or an interface for executing wired communication.

[0012] The control unit 30 includes a CPU 32 and a memory 34. The memory 34 includes a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory. The volatile memory includes a RAM and a cache memory. The non-volatile memory may be a ROM, a flash memory, a Solid State Drive (SSD), a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), or a combination thereof. The non-volatile memory stores a program 36. The program 36 stored in the non-volatile memory is loaded into the volatile memory, and various processes are realized by executing the program 36 by the CPU 32.

[0013] (Configuration of the SP server 100) The SP server 100 is installed on the Internet 6 by the vendor of the printer 10. In a modified example, the SP server 100 may be installed on the Internet 6 by an operator different from the above vendor. In another modified example, the above vendor may use an environment provided by an external cloud computing service without preparing the hardware of the SP server 100 by itself. In this case, the above vendor prepares a program (i.e., software) for realizing the SP server 100 and introduces it into the above environment. The SP server 100 may be a single server or a set of multiple servers.

[0014] The SP server 100 provides a subscription service for the printer (hereinafter referred to as the "subsc service"). In the subsc service, when the number of printed sheets within a unit period (e.g., one month) is less than or equal to the upper limit number of printed sheets (e.g., 100 sheets), only the basic fee is billed. When the number of printed sheets within the unit period exceeds the upper limit number of printed sheets, the sum of the basic fee and the excess fee corresponding to the number of printed sheets exceeding the upper limit number of printed sheets is billed. The subsc service includes an automatic shipping service that automatically ships a new cartridge when the remaining amount of the coloring material (e.g., ink, toner, etc.) in the coloring material cartridge mounted on the printer reaches a predetermined remaining amount or less. The fee for the cartridge is included in the basic fee of the subsc service. Hereinafter, the coloring material cartridge is referred to as "CTG".

[0015] The SP server 100 includes a communication interface 118 and a control unit 130. The communication interface 118 is connected to the Internet 6. The control unit 130 includes a CPU 132 and a memory 134. The CPU 132 executes various processes according to a program 136 stored in the memory 134. The memory 134 includes a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory. Details of the memory 134 are the same as those of the memory 34 of the printer 10. The program 136 stored in the non-volatile memory is loaded into the volatile memory, and various processes are realized by the CPU 132 executing the program 136. The memory 134 further stores a user table 140, a plan table 142, and a history table 144.

[0016] (Contents of each table 140, 142, 144: Figure 2) Referring to Figure 2, the contents of each table 140, 142, and 144 will be described. In the user table 140, account information, serial number, contract plan information, address information, and payment information are stored in association with each other. The account information is information for the user to log in to the SP server 100 and includes a user ID and a password. The serial number is the serial number of the printer used by the user. The contract plan information is information indicating the plan of the subscription service contracted by the user and is one of an unsubscribed plan, a light plan, a middle plan, and a heavy plan. Although not shown in Figure 2, there is also a trial plan for which the usage fee is billed to the user afterwards. The address information is information indicating the address of the CTG shipping destination. The payment information is information for the user to pay the usage fee of the subscription service and is, for example, a credit card number, expiration date, etc.

[0017] When a user accesses the SP server 100 using a terminal device (e.g., 50) and inputs account information (e.g., "AC1"), address information (e.g., "AD1"), and payment information (e.g., "PI1"), each of these pieces of information is stored in the user table 140. At this time, if the user performs a predetermined operation on the printer 10, communication is executed between the printer 10 and the SP server 100, and the serial number "SN1" of the printer 10 is transmitted from the printer 10 to the SP server 100. Thereby, the SP server 100 stores the serial number "SN1" in association with the account information "AC1". Also, the user can select a subscription service plan while logged in to the SP server 100. Thereby, the SP server 100 stores contract plan information in association with the account information "AC1". When the user is not subscribed to the subscription service, the SP server 100 stores an unsubscribed plan as the contract plan information in association with the account information "AC1".

[0018] In the plan table 142, the plan type, basic fee, upper limit number of printed sheets, and excess fee are stored in association with each other. The plan type is any one of an unsubscribed plan, a light plan, a middle plan, and a heavy plan. Here, the unsubscribed plan means that the user is not subscribed to the subscription service, that is, no contract for the subscription service has been made. The light plan is a plan for users with a relatively low printer usage volume (i.e., light users). The heavy plan is a plan for users with a relatively high printer usage volume (i.e., heavy users). The middle plan is a plan for users whose printer usage volume is neither low nor high, that is, users between light users and heavy users (i.e., middle users).

[0019] In the sub-service of this embodiment, a usage fee is billed to the user for each unit period of one month. The basic fee is the fee required for one month. The upper limit of the number of printed sheets is the upper limit of the number of printed media that can be printed in one month within the basic fee. The excess fee is the fee per printed sheet required when the upper limit of the number of printed sheets is exceeded. In the light plan, middle plan, and heavy plan, they are determined in advance as follows. The basic fee of the light plan, "100 yen", is the lowest, and the basic fee of the heavy plan, "280 yen", is the highest. The upper limit of the number of printed sheets of the light plan, "100 sheets", is the smallest, and the upper limit of the number of printed sheets of the heavy plan, "300 sheets", is the largest. The excess fee of the light plan, "1.1 yen", is the highest, and the excess fee of the heavy plan, "1 yen", is the lowest. The unsubscribed plan means that the user is not subscribed to the sub-service, so the basic fee and the upper limit of the number of printed sheets are both zero. The excess fee of the unsubscribed plan, "2 yen", is the fee per printed sheet required when the user purchases CTG by himself. The printer vendor stores each fee in the plan table 142 in advance. In particular, the vendor calculates the fee per printed sheet, "2 yen", based on the CTG fee and stores the fee as the excess fee of the unsubscribed plan.

[0020] In the history table 144, the month and the number of printed sheets are stored in association with each printer serial number. The printer periodically (for example, every day, every hour, etc.) sends the printer serial number and the cumulative number of printed sheets to the SP server 100. Thereby, the SP server 100 can calculate and store the number of printed sheets in one month.

[0021] (Processing executed by each device: Figure 3) Subsequently, with reference to FIG. 3, the processing executed by each of the devices 10, 50, and 100 will be described. In the following description, for ease of understanding, the operations realized by the CPUs of each device (for example, CPUs 32 and 132) are described mainly with each device (for example, printer 10, terminal device 50, SP server 100) instead of mainly with the CPU.

[0022] The user of the printer 10 performs an operation on the terminal device 50 to subscribe to the trial plan. As a result, at T2, plan subscription communication is executed between the terminal device 50 and the SP server 100. The plan subscription communication includes the communication of each piece of information input to the terminal device 50, that is, the account information "AC1", the address information "AD1", and the payment information "PI1". Although not shown in the figure, at this time, in response to the user performing a predetermined operation on the printer 10, communication is executed between the printer 10 and the SP server 100, and the serial number "SN1" of the printer 10 is transmitted from the printer 10 to the SP server 100.

[0023] The user further performs an operation on the terminal device 50 to subscribe to the trial plan. In this case, the plan subscription communication includes the communication of information indicating that the trial plan has been selected. Here, the trial plan is a plan in which no usage fee is billed to the user during the trial period (4 months in this embodiment), but the CTG automatic delivery service is provided. The usage fee for the trial period is billed to the user retrospectively after the trial period ends.

[0024] At T4, the SP server 100 executes the trial plan subscription process. Specifically, the SP server 100 associates the account information "AC1", the contract plan information "trial plan", the serial number "SN1", the address information "AD1", and the payment information "PI1", and stores them in the user table 140 (see FIG. 2).

[0025] When the printer 10 determines that a predetermined timing has arrived at T10, at T12, it transmits notification information to the SP server 100. The predetermined timing is, for example, a predetermined time within a day. The notification information includes the serial number "SN1" of the printer 10, the cumulative number of printed sheets, and the remaining amount of the color material in the current color material CTG (hereinafter referred to as "CTG remaining amount").

[0026] When the SP server 100 receives notification information from the printer 10 at T12, it updates the history table 144 using the information in the notification information at T14. Specifically, the SP server 100 stores the notification information received last time from the printer 10. The SP server 100 calculates the difference between the cumulative print count in the currently received notification information and the cumulative print count in the previously received notification information, and adds this difference to the monthly print count associated with the serial number "SN1".

[0027] Also, when the user of the printer 10 has subscribed to the sub-service (including the trial plan), the SP server 100 determines whether the CTG remaining amount in the notification information is less than or equal to a predetermined remaining amount. If the SP server 100 determines that the CTG remaining amount is less than or equal to the predetermined remaining amount, at T14, it sends a new CTG. Specifically, the SP server 100 identifies the address information "AD1" associated with the serial number "SN1" in the notification information from the user table 140, and outputs an instruction to send a new CTG with the address information "AD1" as the destination. The output of this instruction includes, for example, sending an instruction to the terminal of the worker who performs the CTG sending. In a modified example, the output of this instruction includes, for example, sending an instruction to a sending server configured separately from the SP server 100.

[0028] The printer 10 repeatedly executes the process at T12 (e.g., periodically every hour, etc.). As a result, the SP server 100 repeatedly executes the process at T14.

[0029] The SP server 100 calculates the usage fee according to the subscribed plan and the number of prints of the printer 10 in one month using the basic fee, the upper limit number of prints, and the excess fee stored in the plan table 142 at a predetermined timing within one month. Then, the SP server 100 bills the user for the calculated usage fee using the payment information "PI1" (e.g., credit card information). However, in the case of Figure 3, since the user has subscribed to the trial plan, the usage fee during the trial period is not billed to the user. That is, the user can receive the CTG automatic delivery service without being billed for the usage fee during the trial period.

[0030] After the trial period has elapsed, the terminal device 50 accepts a login operation from the user to the SP server 100 at T20. The login operation includes the input of the account information "AC1". The terminal device 50 transmits a login request including the account information "AC1" to the SP server 100 at T22.

[0031] When the SP server 100 receives a login request from the terminal device 50 at T22, it authenticates the account information "AC1" included in the login request. Since the authentication is successful in this case, the SP server 100 transmits home screen information representing the home screen to the terminal device 50 at T30.

[0032] When the terminal device 50 receives the home screen information from the SP server 100 at T30, it displays the home screen at T32. The home screen includes a plurality of icons indicating various services that the SP server 100 can provide. The plurality of icons includes an icon indicating a simulation for selecting a subscription plan. When the terminal device 50 accepts the selection of the icon from the user at T34, it transmits selection information indicating a plan simulation to the SP server 100 at T36.

[0033] When the SP server 100 receives selection information from the terminal device 50 at T36, at T38, first, it identifies the serial number "SN1" associated with the logged-in account information "AC1" from the user table 140, and then identifies the history information associated with the serial number "SN1" from the history table 144. Then, at T40, the SP server 100 calculates the printing costs corresponding to a plurality of plans using the monthly printing volume during the trial period and the plan table 142. The details of the process at T40 will be described below.

[0034] Figure 4 shows the plan table 142 and the history table 144. In this example, the trial period is 4 months from January to April 2022, and the history table 144 shows the printing volumes for the 4 months. At T40, the SP server 100 first calculates the printing cost corresponding to each plan using the printing volume of 110 sheets in January and each piece of information in the plan table 142. For example, the printing cost of the unsubscribed plan is 220 yen (= 110 sheets × overage charge of 2 yen). The printing cost of the light plan is 111 yen (= basic charge of 100 yen + (110 sheets - upper limit printing volume of 100 sheets) × overage charge of 1.1 yen). The printing cost of the middle plan is 190 yen (= basic charge of 190 yen + 0 sheets (since 110 sheets ≤ upper limit printing volume of 200 sheets) × overage charge of 1.05 yen). The printing cost of the heavy plan is 280 yen (= basic charge of 280 yen + 0 sheets (since 110 sheets ≤ upper limit printing volume of 300 sheets) × overage charge of 1 yen). Similarly, the SP server 100 calculates the printing costs of each plan for each month from February to April, calculates the total cost for the 4 months of each plan, and calculates the monthly average cost of each plan. In this case, the monthly average cost of the light plan is the lowest.

[0035] After calculating the above costs, at T50, the SP server 100 transmits result screen information representing the result screen SC1 including the total cost and monthly average cost of each plan to the terminal device 50.

[0036] When the terminal device 50 receives the result screen information from the SP server 100 at T50, it displays the result screen SC1 at T52. As shown in FIG. 5, the result screen SC1 includes a message indicating that the recommended plan based on the number of printed sheets during the trial period is the light plan, and the monthly average cost and total cost of each plan. Thereby, the user can easily know that the recommended plan with the lowest cost is the light plan.

[0037] The result screen SC1 further includes three subscription buttons corresponding to the light plan, the middle plan, and the heavy plan, and a service cancellation button. On the right side of each subscription button, there is a message indicating that if the user subscribes to the corresponding plan, the usage fee for the corresponding plan during the trial period will be billed. For example, since the total cost of the light plan is 433 yen, the subscription button corresponding to the light plan is attached with a message indicating that 433 yen will be billed if the user subscribes to the light plan. Thereby, the user can know that if they subscribe to the light plan, the usage fee during the trial period will be billed and how much that usage fee is. Also, on the right side of the service cancellation button, there is a message indicating that the lowest usage fee during the trial period will be billed. In this case, since the usage fee of the light plan, which is 433 yen, is the lowest, the message includes 433 yen. Thereby, the user can know that if they do not subscribe to the subscription service, the usage fee during the trial period will be billed and how much that usage fee is. In particular, if a configuration is adopted where the lowest usage fee is billed, it is easier for the user to subscribe to the trial plan.

[0038] At T54 in FIG. 3, the terminal device 50 accepts a selection of any one of the four buttons within the result screen SC1 from the user. In this case, the terminal device 50 transmits selection information indicating the selected plan to the SP server 100 at T56. Note that when the service cancellation button is selected at T52, the selection information indicates an unsubscribed plan.

[0039] When the SP server 100 receives selection information from the terminal device 50 at T56, it executes the process corresponding to the selected plan at T58. For example, when the selected plan is the light plan, the SP server 100 changes the contract plan information associated with the account information "AC1" from the trial plan to the light plan. Then, the SP server 100 uses the payment information "PI1" to bill the user 433 yen, which is the usage fee for the trial period. The same applies when the selected plan is the middle plan or the heavy plan. The middle plan or the heavy plan is stored as the contract plan information, and 760 yen or 1120 yen is billed as the usage fee for the trial period. Also, for example, when the selected plan is the unsubscribed plan, the SP server 100 changes the contract plan information associated with the account information "AC1" from the trial plan to the unsubscribed plan. As a result, the automatic delivery service of CTG is stopped. This means that the user withdraws from the service. Then, the SP server 100 uses the payment information "PI1" to bill the user 433 yen, which is the usage fee for the trial period.

[0040] (Effect of this embodiment) According to this embodiment, the user can use the subscription service (specifically, the automatic delivery service of CTG) without being billed for the usage fee during the trial period. Therefore, the convenience of the user can be improved.

[0041] (Corresponding relationship) The SP server 100 and the printer 10 are examples of a "control device" and a "printer", respectively. The terminal device 50 is an example of a "display unit". The result screen SC1 is an example of a "selection screen". One month is an example of a "unit period". The CTG automatic delivery service is an example of a "predetermined service". The light plan, the middle plan, and the unsubscribed plan are examples of a "first printing plan", a "second printing plan", and a "third printing plan", respectively. The cost for the four months of the trial period is an example of a "printing cost". The recommended plan message and the cost for four months included in the result screen SC1 are examples of "related information". The overcharge for the unsubscribed plan is an example of a "charge per unit print volume".

[0042] T40 in FIG. 3 is an example of a process executed by a "calculation unit". T50 is an example of a process executed by a "display control unit". T58 is an example of a process executed by a "first billing process execution unit", a "second billing process execution unit", and a "third billing process execution unit".

[0043] (Second Embodiment: FIG. 5) Next, the second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, as shown in the result screen SC1 of FIG. 5, on the right side of the service cancellation button, there is a message indicating that the usage fee for the trial period will not be billed. As a result, the user can know that the usage fee for the trial period will not be billed even if they do not subscribe to the subscription service. By adopting such a configuration where the usage fee for the trial period is not billed, it is easier for the user to subscribe to the trial plan.

[0044] When the selection information of T56 in FIG. 3 indicates the unsubscribed plan, the SP server 100 changes the contract plan information associated with the account information "AC1" from the trial plan to the unsubscribed plan in T58, but does not bill the usage fee for the trial period. Other processes are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0045] (Third Embodiment: FIG. 5) Next, a third embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, as shown in the result screen SC1 of FIG. 5, on the right side of the service cancellation button, there is a message indicating that a fee of 750 yen, which is the usage fee for the unsubscribed plan during the trial period, will be charged. As a result, the user can know that if they do not subscribe to the subscription service, the usage fee for the trial period will be charged, and they can know how much the usage fee is.

[0046] When the selection information of T56 in FIG. 3 indicates an unsubscribed plan, the SP server 100 changes the contract plan information associated with the account information "AC1" from the trial plan to the unsubscribed plan at T58, and uses the payment information "PI1" to charge the user 750 yen, which is the usage fee for the trial period. Other processes are the same as those in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the process of charging 750 yen, which is the usage fee for the unsubscribed plan, at T58 is an example of the process executed by the "fourth claim processing execution unit".

[0047] The specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above. The modified examples of the above embodiments are listed below.

[0048] (Modification Example 1) The SP server 100 may be composed of a single server or may be composed of a plurality of servers. For example, the SP server 100 may be composed of a first server and a second server, and the first server may execute the process of T14 in FIG. 3, and the second server may execute the processes after T22.

[0049] (Modification Example 2) The "unit period" is not limited to one month, and may be other periods such as one week, half a month, half a year, one year, etc. Also, the trial period is not limited to four months, and may be a period less than four months or a period of five months or more. Generally speaking, the "predetermined period" is not limited to four months, and may be a period longer than the unit period.

[0050] (Modification Example 3) The "printing history information" is not limited to the number of prints in one month, and may be, for example, the amount of toner used in one month (e.g., the amount converted to a percentage), the number of toner CTGs used in one month, etc. In this case, the amount of toner used, the number of CTGs, etc. are examples of the "printing volume".

[0051] (Modification Example 4) There may not be three types of plans, namely, the light plan, the middle plan, and the heavy plan. There may be two types of plans, or only one type of plan. When only one type of plan exists, the unsubscribed plan and the above-mentioned one type of plan are examples of the "plurality of printing plans". Also, when only one type of plan exists, in that plan, the basic fee and the upper limit number of prints may not be set, and a fee per print may be set. Generally speaking, the "plurality of printing plans" may not include a first printing plan in which a first basic fee, a first upper limit value, and a first overage fee are predetermined.

[0052] (Modification Example 5) The overage fee may not be a fee that varies according to the number of prints, and may be, for example, a fixed fee.

[0053] (Modification Example 6) The SP server 100 may not calculate the printing cost by regarding the state of not subscribing to the service as one printing plan. That is, the unsubscribed plan may not be considered. Generally speaking, the "plurality of printing plans" may not include a third printing plan.

[0054] (Modification Example 7) The result screen SC1 may not include the printing cost corresponding to each plan, and may include other information (e.g., a message) that enables the user to understand the recommended plan. Generally speaking, the "related information" may not include a plurality of printing costs.

[0055] (Modification Example 8) The result screen SC1 may not include a message indicating which plan is recommended. Generally speaking, the "related information" may not include a message that recommends the user to use the printing plan corresponding to the lowest printing cost.

[0056] (Modification Example 9) The printer 10 may be configured to be able to store a plant table 142 and a history table 144 corresponding to the printer 10. In this case, the printer 10 updates the stored history table 144 at T10 in FIG. 4. That is, T12 and T14 are not executed. Further, the following may be executed instead of T20 to T52. When the printer 10 receives a predetermined operation after the trial period has ended, the printer 10 calculates a plurality of printing costs using the stored plant table 142 and the stored history table 144. This process is the same as T40 except that the printer 10 is the main body. Then, the printer 10 generates a result screen SC1 and causes the result screen SC1 to be displayed on the display unit 14. In this modification example, the control unit 30 of the printer 10 is an example of a "control device". Generally speaking, the "control device" may not be a server configured separately from the printer.

[0057] (Modification Example 8) In the above embodiment, each process in FIG. 3 is realized by software, but at least one of these processes may be realized by hardware such as a logic circuit.

[0058] In addition, the technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical utility alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Further, the technology illustrated in this specification or the drawings achieves a plurality of purposes simultaneously, and has technical utility by achieving one of those purposes itself.

[0059] In the claims of this patent application at the time of filing, even if each claim depends only on some of the claims, each claim is not limited to being able to depend only on those some of the claims. Within a technically non - conflicting range, each claim may also depend on other claims that it did not depend on at the time of filing. That is, the technologies of each claim can be combined in various ways as follows. (Item 1) A control device, Using the print history information of the printer during a predetermined period in which a predetermined service related to the printer is being used by the user but the usage fee for the predetermined service is not billed to the user, a calculation unit that calculates a plurality of printing costs corresponding to a plurality of printing plans; A selection screen including related information related to the calculated plurality of printing costs, and a display control unit that causes the display unit to display the selection screen for selecting one of the plurality of printing plans; When a first printing plan among the plurality of printing plans is selected on the selection screen, a first billing process execution unit that executes a first billing process for billing the user a first printing cost corresponding to the first printing plan among the calculated plurality of printing costs; A control device comprising: (Item 2) In the first printing plan, a first basic fee required for a unit period, a first upper limit value related to the printing amount within the unit period, and a first excess fee required when exceeding the first upper limit value are predetermined. The control device according to item 1. (Item 3) The plurality of printing plans further includes a second printing plan, In the second printing plan, a second basic fee required for a unit period, a second upper limit value related to the printing amount within the unit period, and a second excess fee required when exceeding the second upper limit value are predetermined, The second basic fee is different from the first basic fee, The second upper limit value is different from the first upper limit value, The second excess fee is different from the first excess fee, The control device further includes: When the second printing plan is selected on the selection screen, a second billing process execution unit that executes a second billing process for billing the user a second printing cost corresponding to the second printing plan among the calculated plurality of printing costs. The control device according to item 2. (Item 4) The plurality of printing plans further includes a third printing plan, In the third printing plan, the basic fee required for a unit period, the upper limit value related to the printing volume within the unit period, and the excess fee required when the upper limit value is exceeded are not determined, and the fee per unit printing volume is determined in advance. The control device further includes When the third printing plan is selected on the selection screen, a third billing process execution unit that executes a third billing process for billing the user the lowest printing cost among the calculated plurality of printing costs is provided. The control device according to item 2 or 3. (Item 5) The plurality of printing plans further includes a third printing plan, In the third printing plan, the basic fee required for a unit period, the upper limit value related to the printing volume within the unit period, and the excess fee required when the upper limit value is exceeded are not determined, and the fee per unit printing volume is determined in advance. When the third printing plan is selected on the selection screen, the printing cost for the predetermined period is not billed to the user. The control device according to item 2 or 3. (Item 6) The plurality of printing plans further includes a third printing plan, In the third printing plan, the basic fee required for a unit period, the upper limit value related to the printing volume within the unit period, and the excess fee required when the upper limit value is exceeded are not determined, and the fee per unit printing volume is determined in advance. The control device further includes When the third printing plan is selected on the selection screen, a fourth billing process execution unit that executes a fourth billing process for billing the user the third printing cost corresponding to the third printing plan among the calculated plurality of printing costs is provided. The control device according to item 2 or 3. (Item 7) The control device according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein each of the plurality of print history information is the number of printed media sheets printed by the printer within a unit period. (Item 8) The control device according to any one of items 1 to 7, wherein the related information includes the plurality of printing costs. (Item 9) The control device according to any one of items 1 to 8, wherein the related information includes a message for recommending to the user the use of a print plan corresponding to the lowest printing cost among the plurality of print plans. (Item 10) The control device according to any one of items 1 to 9, wherein the control device is a server configured separately from the printer.

Explanation of Signs

[0060] 2: Communication system, 4: LAN, 6: Internet, 10: Printer, 12: Operation unit, 14: Display unit, 16: Print execution unit, 18: Communication interface, 30: Control unit, 32: CPU, 34: Memory, 36: Program, 50: Terminal device, 100: Service providing server, 118: Communication interface, 130: Control unit, 132: CPU, 134: Memory, 136: Program, 140: User table, 142: Plan table, 144: History table

Claims

1. A control device, using the printing history information of the printer during a predetermined period in which a predetermined service related to the printer is being used by the user but the usage fee for the predetermined service is not billed to the user, to calculate a plurality of printing costs corresponding to a plurality of printing plans; a calculation unit; A selection screen including related information related to the calculated plurality of printing costs, and a display control unit that causes the display unit to display the selection screen for selecting one printing plan from the plurality of printing plans; When a first printing plan among the plurality of printing plans is selected on the selection screen, a first billing process execution unit that executes a first billing process for billing the user the first printing cost corresponding to the first printing plan among the calculated plurality of printing costs; A control device comprising:

2. In the first printing plan, a first basic fee required per unit period, a first upper limit value related to the printing volume within the unit period, and a first excess fee required when exceeding the first upper limit value are predetermined. The control device according to claim 1.

3. The plurality of printing plans further include a second printing plan, In the second printing plan, a second basic fee required per unit period, a second upper limit value related to the printing volume within the unit period, and a second excess fee required when exceeding the second upper limit value are predetermined, The second basic fee is different from the first basic fee, The second upper limit value is different from the first upper limit value, The second excess fee is different from the first excess fee, The control device further includes: When the second printing plan is selected on the selection screen, a second billing process execution unit that executes a second billing process for billing the user the second printing cost corresponding to the second printing plan among the calculated plurality of printing costs. The control device according to claim 2.

4. The plurality of printing plans further include a third printing plan, In the third printing plan, a basic fee required per unit period, an upper limit value related to the printing volume within the unit period, and an excess fee required when exceeding the upper limit value are not determined, and a fee per unit printing volume is predetermined, The control device further includes: A third billing process execution unit that executes a third billing process for billing the user the lowest printing cost among the calculated plurality of printing costs when the third printing plan is selected on the selection screen. The control device according to claim 2.

5. The plurality of printing plans further includes a third printing plan, In the third printing plan, the basic fee required for a unit period, the upper limit value related to the printing amount within the unit period, and the excess fee required when the upper limit value is exceeded are not determined, and the fee per unit printing amount is determined in advance. The control device according to claim 2, wherein when the third printing plan is selected on the selection screen, the printing cost for the predetermined period is not billed to the user.

6. The plurality of printing plans further includes a third printing plan, In the third printing plan, the basic fee required for a unit period, the upper limit value related to the printing amount within the unit period, and the excess fee required when the upper limit value is exceeded are not determined, and the fee per unit printing amount is determined in advance. The control device further includes A fourth billing process execution unit that executes a fourth billing process for billing the user the third printing cost corresponding to the third printing plan among the calculated plurality of printing costs when the third printing plan is selected on the selection screen. The control device according to claim 2.

7. Each of the plurality of print history information is the number of printed media sheets printed by the printer within a unit period. The control device according to claim 1.

8. The related information includes the plurality of printing costs. The control device according to claim 1.

9. The related information includes a message recommending to the user the use of the printing plan corresponding to the lowest printing cost among the plurality of printing plans. The control device according to claim 1.

10. The control device is a server configured separately from the printer. The control device according to claim 1.

11. A computer program for a control device, The control device is configured as the following respective parts, that is, A calculation unit that calculates a plurality of printing costs corresponding to a plurality of printing plans by using the printing history information of the printer during a predetermined period in which a predetermined service related to the printer is used by a user but the usage fee of the predetermined service is not billed to the user; A display control unit that causes a display unit to display a selection screen including related information related to the calculated plurality of printing costs, the selection screen for selecting one printing plan among the plurality of printing plans; A first billing process execution unit that executes a first billing process for billing a user for a first printing cost corresponding to the first printing plan among the calculated plurality of printing costs when the first printing plan among the plurality of printing plans is selected on the selection screen; A computer program that functions as such.

12. A method executed by a control device, A calculation step of calculating a plurality of printing costs corresponding to a plurality of printing plans by using the printing history information of the printer during a predetermined period in which a predetermined service related to the printer is used by a user but the usage fee of the predetermined service is not billed to the user; A display control step of causing a display unit to display a selection screen including related information related to the calculated plurality of printing costs, the selection screen for selecting one printing plan among the plurality of printing plans; A first billing process execution step of executing a first billing process for billing a user for a first printing cost corresponding to the first printing plan among the calculated plurality of printing costs when the first printing plan among the plurality of printing plans is selected on the selection screen; A method comprising:

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