Allowable print amount management device and management program

Abstract

To set conditions for unallowable or allowable printing in which an allowable printing amount becomes minus as desired by a user, thereby improving convenience.SOLUTION: A multifunction device 200 is configured to execute printing with an upper limit for the allowable number of prints. The allowable number of prints is increased according to a predetermined number of charges guaranteed by a purchase print right purchased by a user's financial burden, and is decreased according to the amount of printing executed. A CPU 310 of a mobile terminal 300 executes a process for increasing the allowable number of prints of the multifunction device 200, a process for permitting the addition of the unpurchased allowable number of prints to the shortage of the allowable number of prints when a predetermined minus charge processing application condition is satisfied, a process for prohibiting the addition of the unpurchased allowable number of prints to the shortage of the allowable number of prints when the application condition is not satisfied, and a process for setting a minus charge processing application condition.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an allowable print quantity management device and a management program for managing an allowable print quantity representing the upper limit of printing by a printing device.

Background Art

[0002] There is already known a system in which a management server adds a guaranteed print quantity corresponding to a purchased print right based on a manual operation of a user to the allowable print quantity of a printing device, and the printing device executes printing with the added allowable print quantity as an upper limit. In such a system, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, even when a print instruction for a print quantity exceeding the allowable print quantity is given and a shortage of the allowable print quantity occurs, a technique has been disclosed that allows printing exceptionally within a predetermined range according to the usage history of the user.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above technique, when the printing process within the aforementioned exceptional predetermined range is completed, the allowable print quantity, which is the upper limit value of printable quantity, becomes negative. In this case, the user can continue printing by purchasing additional new print rights, so-called charging, which adds the guaranteed print quantity guaranteed by the purchased print rights and increases the allowable print quantity.

[0005] By the way, if printing is executed and the allowable print quantity becomes negative, the financial burden on the user will increase. On the other hand, if it is not allowed at all for the allowable print quantity to become negative, printing will stop even when the user surely wants to print, which is inconvenient. That is, there are conditions under which it is better not to allow printing with a negative allowable print quantity and conditions under which it is better to allow printing with a negative allowable print quantity, and these conditions vary depending on the user. In the above technique, conditions under which it is better not to allow printing with a negative allowable print quantity and conditions under which it is better to allow it are not considered.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide an allowable print quantity management device and a management program that can set conditions for not allowing and allowing printing with a negative allowable print quantity according to the user's desires and can improve convenience.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0007] To achieve the above object, the present invention is an allowable print quantity management device that manages the allowable print quantity of a printing device, wherein the printing device is configured to be able to execute printing with the allowable print quantity as an upper limit, and the allowable print quantity of the printing device increases according to a predetermined guaranteed print quantity guaranteed by a purchased printing permission purchased according to the financial burden on the user, and decreases according to the print quantity for which the printing has been executed. The allowable print quantity management device includes a control unit, and the control unit executes an allowable print quantity increase process for increasing the allowable print quantity of the printing device, and in the allowable print quantity increase process, when a predetermined first condition is satisfied, allows adding an un-purchased allowable print quantity to make up for the shortage of the allowable print quantity, and when the first condition is not satisfied, prohibits adding an un-purchased allowable print quantity to make up for the shortage of the allowable print quantity. It is configured to execute a non-purchased print quantity increase allowance process and a first condition setting process for setting the first condition.

[0008] In the present invention, the allowable printing amount of the printing apparatus is configured to increase according to a predetermined guaranteed printing amount guaranteed by the purchased printing permission purchased at the user's financial burden and decrease according to the printing amount for which printing has been executed. Therefore, the control unit of the allowable printing amount management apparatus executes an allowable printing amount increase process for increasing the allowable printing amount of the printing apparatus.

[0009] In the present invention, when a printing instruction for a printing amount exceeding the allowable printing amount is given and a shortage of the allowable printing amount occurs, it is possible to increase the allowable printing amount by adding the non-purchased allowable printing amount. At the time when the printing process is completed, the allowable printing amount becomes negative.

[0010] When allowing a negative allowable printing amount by adding the non-purchased allowable printing amount as described above, instead of always allowing a negative allowable printing amount, a predetermined first condition for allowing is set in the first condition setting process. Then, in the non-purchased printing amount increase permission process, when the first condition is satisfied, it is permitted to add the non-purchased allowable printing amount, and when the first condition is not satisfied, it is prohibited to add the non-purchased allowable printing amount for the shortage of the allowable printing amount.

[0011] According to the present invention, since the conditions for not allowing and allowing a negative allowable printing amount can be set according to the user's desire, convenience can be improved.

Effects of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, the conditions for not allowing and allowing printing with a negative allowable printing amount can be set according to the user's desire, and convenience can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

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Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] <Overview of the Printing Service Providing System> An example of the system configuration of a printing service providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The printing service providing system 1 provides a prepaid printing service in which a user who is a customer pays a fee in advance and uses the printing function of the multifunction machine 200. In FIG. 1, the printing service providing system 1 includes a management server 100, a multifunction machine 200, a mobile terminal 300, and a transaction server 400. These management server 100, multifunction machine 200, mobile terminal 300, and transaction server 400 are connected to a network NT including a telephone communication line and a mobile phone communication line and can communicate with each other. In the example of the present embodiment, the multifunction machine 200 is an example of a printing device, and the mobile terminal 300 is an example of an allowable print volume management device.

[0016] <Management Server> The management server 100 is, for example, a server installed and managed by the manufacturer of the multifunction device 200. As shown in FIG. 1, the management server 100 includes a processor 110, a storage device 115, and a communication interface 190. These processor 110, storage device 115, and communication interface 190 are connected to each other via a bus 105 so as to be able to transmit and receive data.

[0017] The storage device 115 includes a volatile storage device 120 and a non-volatile storage device 130. The volatile storage device 120 is, for example, a DRAM, and stores various programs and data to be processed. The non-volatile storage device 130 is, for example, a hard disk drive or a solid state drive, and has a program storage area 131 and a data storage area 132.

[0018] Various programs are stored in the program storage area 131. The various programs include programs related to the prepaid printing service. Various information about users who have contracted the prepaid printing service and the multifunction devices 200 in use is stored in the data storage area 132.

[0019] The processor 110 is a device that performs data processing, such as a CPU, and executes various programs including the program related to the prepaid printing service stored in the program storage area 131. The processor 110 performs various processes including data communication with the mobile terminal 300, the multifunction device 200, and the transaction server 400 connected to the network NT. The processor 110 executes the purchase of printing rights by the printing service providing system 1 of the present embodiment.

[0020] The communication interface 190 is a wired LAN interface or a wireless interface for communicating with other devices, and is connected to the network NT.

[0021] Note that the memory device 115 is not limited to the configuration of the device elements described above. For example, it may be configured by a RAM, a ROM, an EEPROM, an HDD, a removable recording medium such as a USB memory detachable from the management server 100, a buffer included in the processor 110, or a combination thereof. Note that the memory device 115 may be a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium is a non-transitory medium. Non-transitory media include, in addition to the above examples, recording media such as CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs. Also, non-transitory media are tangible media. The same applies to the memory device 215 of the multifunction device 200 described later.

[0022] <Multifunction device> The multifunction device 200 is, for example, owned by a user who receives the prepaid printing service. As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction device 200 includes a processor 210, a memory device 215, a display unit 240, an operation unit 250, a communication interface 270, and a printing unit 290. These processor 210, memory device 215, display unit 240, operation unit 250, communication interface 270, and printing unit 290 are connected to each other via a bus 205 so as to be able to transmit and receive data. The multifunction device 200 further includes an original document reading unit 260 that reads an original document in this embodiment, a FAX communication unit 280 capable of transmitting and receiving FAXes, and an E-mail processing unit 285 capable of transmitting and receiving E-mails.

[0023] The memory device 215 includes a volatile memory device 220 and a non-volatile memory device 230. The volatile memory device 220 is, for example, a DRAM, and includes an image data storage area 221 for storing image data to be printed. The non-volatile memory device 230 is, for example, a flash memory, and includes a program storage area 232 and a data storage area 233. In the program storage area 232, a program based on the flowchart of FIG. 8 described later, etc. is stored as firmware, for example. In the data storage area 233, various information such as various parameters such as the total number of prints, the total number of printable copies, and the allowable number of prints, which will be described later regarding the prepaid printing service, is stored. Note that the information on the parameters regarding the prepaid printing service will be described in detail in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 described later.

[0024] The processor 210 is a device that performs data processing, and is, for example, a CPU. The processor 210 executes various programs stored in the program storage area 232.

[0025] The display unit 240 is, for example, a liquid crystal display and can display various information. The operation unit 250 is a device that receives operations by the user. The user can input various instructions to the multifunction machine 200 by operating the operation unit 250. The communication interface 270 is a wired or wireless network interface for communicating with other devices, and is connected to the network NT and the mobile terminal 300.

[0026] The printing unit 290 takes out and conveys the paper in the paper feed tray by a conveying mechanism (not shown), and prints an image on the conveyed paper in a predetermined manner. The printing method is not particularly limited, and for example, printing is performed by an inkjet method or a laser method. The printing unit 290 forms an image on the paper using ink in an ink cartridge or toner in a toner cartridge (not particularly shown) according to a printing job transmitted from the mobile terminal 300 or a printing job generated by itself based on an operation on the operation unit 250. Further, in the multifunction machine 200 of the present embodiment, it is possible to handle various printing jobs such as FAX printing by FAX communication received from the outside via a telephone communication line by the FAX communication unit 280 and automatic printing of an Email received via the network NT by the E-mail processing unit 285.

[0027] <Mobile terminal> FIG. 2 shows an example of the system configuration of the mobile terminal 300. The mobile terminal 300 is a mobile terminal such as a smartphone owned by a user, and is connected to the network NT and the multifunction machine 200 via wireless communication. As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 300 includes a CPU 310, a memory 320, a communication control unit 330 for connecting to the network NT and the multifunction machine 200 via wireless communication, a touch panel 340, and a large-capacity storage device 350.

[0028] The large-capacity storage device 350 is, for example, a flash memory, and includes a program storage area 351 and a data storage area 352. The CPU 310 executes various programs stored in the program storage area 351. The CPU 310 executes various processes including data communication with the management server 100 connected to the network NT. The CPU 310 also executes various processes including data communication with the multifunction machine 200 connected via wireless communication such as Wi-fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark). In the data storage area 352, a user ID or the like for identifying a user corresponding to the mobile terminal 300, which is issued based on the above program or the above printing service, is stored.

[0029] The mobile terminal 300 also includes a touch panel 340 that integrally combines a liquid crystal display and a touch pad to display various information and accept various operations by the user. The user can input various instructions to the mobile terminal 300 by operating the touch panel 340. Note that the CPU 310 and the program stored in the program storage area 351 are an example of a control unit, and the touch panel 340 is an example of an operation unit.

[0030] Note that as the mobile terminal 300, other information terminals such as a tablet computer or a desktop PC may be used instead of a mobile phone.

[0031] <Transaction Server> As shown in FIG. 1, the transaction server 400 is a server for performing online settlement via the network NT. The transaction server 400 has a processor, a storage device, and a communication interface for connecting to the network NT (not shown).

[0032] <Prepaid Printing Service during Normal Use> FIG. 3 shows a specific example of the prepaid printing service provided by the printing service providing system 1 of the present embodiment during normal use.

[0033] The printing service provided by the printing service providing system 1 in the present embodiment is a prepaid printing service. The prepaid printing service is a service in which the number of charge sheets guaranteed by the printing right purchased by the user in advance by a purchase request based on charging is added to the allowable printing number of each multifunction machine 200, and printing processing in the multifunction machine 200 is executed with the allowable printing number as an upper limit.

[0034] The addition of the charged number of sheets to the allowable number of printable sheets is executed, for example, by the processor 110 of the management server 100, by updating the allowable number of printable sheets stored corresponding to each individual multifunction device 200 in the data storage area 132. Further, the addition information is also transmitted to the multifunction device 200 via the network NT, and is synchronously updated also in the allowable number of printable sheets separately stored in the data storage area 233 thereof.

[0035] And each time printing is executed on the multifunction device 200 side, the processor 210 decreases the value of the allowable number of printable sheets in the data storage area 233 by the number of printed sheets, and transmits it to the management server 100 via the network NT at regular timing, for example, and the allowable number of printable sheets in the data storage area 132 is synchronously updated.

[0036] In the above prepaid printing service, when the multifunction device 200 completes the printing process based on the allowable number of printable sheets, and the allowable number of printable sheets, which is the upper limit value of printable sheets, becomes zero or decreases, the user makes a charge by a new purchase procedure. As a result, the purchased charged number of sheets is added and the allowable number of printable sheets increases, and printing can be continued.

[0037] In the printing service providing system 1 of the present embodiment, as the purchase form of the above printing right, first, the purchase of the printing right based on the user's purchase request can be executed. The purchase of the printing right based on the user's purchase request is executed when a charge command, which is a purchase application for the above printing right, is transmitted from the mobile terminal 300 to the management server 100 in response to the user's charge operation and is received by the management server 100. The purchase of the above printing right is executed at an arbitrary timing desired by the user. At that time, the user selects any one of a plurality of charge plans with different purchase numbers of sheets and purchase amounts, such as 50 sheets = 500 yen, 100 sheets = 900 yen, 250 sheets = 2000 yen, etc., and purchases the corresponding printing right. And the specific electronic payment process at the time of this purchase is performed by the transaction server 400 in cooperation with the management server 100.

[0038] Here, an example of specific parameter processing executed inside the multifunction machine 200 for the prepaid printing service described above will be described with reference to FIG. 4. First, as shown in FIG. 4(a), in the multifunction machine 200, parameters of the total number of printed sheets and the total number of printable sheets are stored in the data storage area 233. The total number of printed sheets is a parameter representing the total cumulative number of sheets actually printed from the time when the user of the multifunction machine 200 starts a contract and uses the prepaid printing service until that point, and it is an important parameter for management as the absolute usage amount of the multifunction machine 200 by the user. The total number of printable sheets is a parameter representing the total cumulative number of charged sheets actually purchased by the user of the multifunction machine 200 since starting the contract and use of the prepaid printing service. And the difference between these total number of printed sheets and total number of printable sheets corresponds to the above-mentioned allowable number of printed sheets, and the user can continue printing as long as the value of this allowable number of printed sheets does not become zero.

[0039] On the other hand, when the user is charged according to a charge plan for purchasing charge amount A, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the charge amount A is added to the original total number of printable sheets to update it as the new total number of printable sheets, and the new allowable number of printed sheets is calculated based on the difference between the total number of printed sheets at that time.

[0040] Note that the above-mentioned allowable number of printed sheets is an example of the allowable printing amount, the charge amount is an example of the guaranteed printing amount, and the process of adding the charge amount to the total number of printable sheets is an example of the process for increasing the allowable printing amount. Also, the allowable number of printed sheets may be the number added by the charge amount and subtracted by the number of sheets actually printed instead of the difference between the total number of printable sheets and the total number of printed sheets.

[0041] <Negative Charge and Its Application Condition Setting> In the prepaid printing service during normal use described above, it is assumed that printing with the total number of printed sheets exceeding the total printable number of sheets cannot be executed, that is, printing with a negative allowable number of printed sheets cannot be executed. However, for situations where charging the allowable number of printed sheets is impossible due to inevitable reasons such as the offline state of network NT or server downtime, it may be necessary to exceptionally permit negative charge processing to ensure the print continuation state.

[0042] Specifically, this negative charge processing is a process of temporarily allowing printing with the total number of printed sheets exceeding the total printable number of sheets. In the example of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, it is a process of temporarily increasing the allowable number of printed sheets by allowing the allowable number of printed sheets to reach a negative value. That is, without updating the total printable number of sheets originally stored in the multifunction machine 200, it is a process of claiming later the excess of the increasing total number of printed sheets over the total printable number of sheets. At this time, the allowable number of printed sheets is incrementally updated by the temporary charge number of sheets a, which is a negative value corresponding to the excess of the total number of printed sheets.

[0043] However, if the execution of such negative charge processing is unconditionally allowed without an upper limit, it will lead to an increase in the financial burden that greatly exceeds the budget for the user. On the other hand, if negative charge processing is not allowed at all, printing will stop even in cases where printing is desired, which is inconvenient.

[0044] For example, with respect to FAX printing, the necessity of negative charging varies greatly depending on the user. That is, in normal FAX printing, the number of pages to be printed cannot be grasped in advance at the start of printing, and the number of pages actually printed is determined only after all printing is completed. Therefore, if no negative charging is allowed at all, as shown in FIG. 6, there is a high possibility that the allowable number of printed pages held at that time is insufficient for FAX printing, resulting in missed reception and inability to print all pages. On the other hand, for users who routinely receive a large number of documents with important content via FAX communication, it is considered desirable to allow at least temporary negative charging processing to ensure that all pages are printed for FAX printing without fail.

[0045] As described above, depending on the circumstances of the user, the necessity of negative charging processing varies greatly for each type of condition such as task content. Therefore, it is desired that the user can arbitrarily set whether negative charging processing is applicable for each condition such as printing tasks.

[0046] In contrast, in this embodiment, a setting screen 340A related to negative charging as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the application program executed on the mobile terminal 300 (or alternatively on a WEB program), and the user can arbitrarily set the conditions for allowing or not allowing negative charging by operating this setting screen 340A.

[0047] In the minus charge setting screen 340A of the example shown in FIG. 7, the individual information 341 of the target device (the multifunction device 200 in this example) is displayed, and a master setting item (the setting item 342 of "allow minus charge" in the example shown in FIG. 7) for setting whether or not the minus charge process in the prepaid printing service itself is allowed is displayed in the form of a checkbox so that it can be set operably. Further, in a form subordinate to this master setting item, setting items corresponding to the respective task-specific conditions of FAX printing ("FAX reception" 343 in the figure), E-mail immediate printing ("E-mail Print reception" 344 in FIG. 7), and normal printing jobs ("during normal printing job" 345 in FIG. 7) are similarly displayed in the form of checkboxes so that they can be set operably.

[0048] In the example shown in FIG. 7, by simply performing a setting operation (an operation of checking the checkbox) to allow the minus charge process in the master setting item 342, all other task-specific condition setting items 343, 344, 345 are automatically allowed to be set, and then an individual setting cancellation operation is enabled (not shown). However, the master setting item 342 and the setting items 343, 344, 345 for each task-specific condition may be set operably independently.

[0049] Then, when the user presses the setting confirmation button on the setting screen (the button 346 of "reflect settings" in FIG. 7), the confirmed setting information is once transmitted to the multifunction device 200 via the management server 100 (refer to the transmission path of "charge setting" in FIG. 3). In the multifunction device 200, the minus charge process is set to be allowed in the master setting item 342, and the minus charge process is allowed as needed only during the execution of a printing task of a task-specific condition for which the minus charge is allowed to be set. In other words, this allows an increase in the number of allowed printed sheets that have not been purchased.

[0050] Note that in the above, the CPU 310 of the mobile terminal 300 displays the minus charge setting screen 340A on the touch panel 340, and the minus charge setting process for performing the settings of each setting item 342 to 345 according to the input from the user is an example of the first condition setting process and the condition input reception process. The above master setting item 342, and the setting items 343, 344, and 345 corresponding to the respective task-specific conditions of FAX printing, E-mail immediate printing, and normal printing jobs are examples of the first condition. "FAX reception" and "E-mail Print reception" are examples of the printing data-related factors included in the first condition. "During a normal printing job" is an example of the printing execution-related factor included in the first condition. A program (application program) for executing the above minus charge setting process by the CPU 310 of the mobile terminal 300 or a program (Web program) of the management server 100 for executing the above minus charge setting process on the touch panel 340 of the mobile terminal 300 is an example of the management program.

[0051] <Control Procedure> To realize the above processing in this embodiment, an example of the control procedure executed by the processor 210 of the multifunction printer 200 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8. After the multifunction printer 200 receives the minus charge setting information from the mobile terminal 300, when the multifunction printer 200 executes any printing task, the flow of FIG. 8 starts.

[0052] First, in step S5, the total number of printed sheets and the total number of printable sheets counted at that time are acquired from the data storage area 233. Next, it moves to step S10, where printing for one next sheet is performed for the printing task being executed at that time, and in step S15, the value of the total number of printed sheets is incremented by only one corresponding to the one sheet printed.

[0053] Next, in step S20, it is determined whether the value of the total number of printed sheets at that time is greater than or equal to the value of the total printable number of sheets. In other words, it is determined whether the value of the allowable number of printed sheets calculated by subtracting the value of the total number of printed sheets from the value of the total printable number of sheets at that time is 0 or less. If the value of the total number of printed sheets is less than the value of the total printable number of sheets, in other words, if the value of the allowable number of printed sheets is greater than 0, the determination is not satisfied (S20: NO), and the process proceeds to step S25. In step S25, it is determined whether the printing of the printing task has been completed. If it has not been completed, the determination is not satisfied (S25: NO), and the process returns to step S10.

[0054] On the other hand, if in the determination of step S20, the value of the total number of printed sheets is greater than or equal to the value of the total printable number of sheets, in other words, if the value of the allowable number of printed sheets is 0 or less, the determination is satisfied (S20: YES), and the process proceeds to step S30. In step S30, referring to the received negative charge setting information, it is determined whether the master setting item 342 is set to allow negative charge. If it is set to allow negative charge, the determination is satisfied (S30: YES), and the process proceeds to the next step S35. In step S35, it is determined whether the printing task being executed at that time is a printing task set to allow negative charge. If the printing task in progress corresponds to a printing task set to allow negative charge for any of FAX printing, E-mail immediate printing, and normal printing jobs, the determination is satisfied (S35: YES), and the process proceeds to step S25. The process of allowing negative charge by S30 and S35 is an example of the process of allowing an increase in non-purchased printing volume.

[0055] On the other hand, in the determination of step S30, if the master setting item 342 is set so as not to allow negative charging, the determination is not satisfied (S30: NO), and the process proceeds to step S40. Also, in the determination of step S35, if it is not set to allow negative charging for the printing task being executed, that is, if the printing task being executed does not correspond to any of the printing tasks for which negative charging is allowed, such as FAX printing, E-mail immediate printing, and normal printing jobs, the determination is not satisfied (S35: NO), and the process proceeds to step S40. In step S40, the printing task that has been executed so far is interrupted, and an error notification is given to the user to notify that the printing has been interrupted because the value of the allowable number of printed sheets has become 0, and the process proceeds to step S45.

[0056] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S25 that the printing of the printing task has been completed, the determination is satisfied (S25: YES), and the process proceeds to step S45.

[0057] In step S45, the value of the allowable number of printed sheets is calculated by subtracting the value of the total number of printed sheets from the value of the total printable number of sheets at that time, and in the next step S50, the value of the allowable number of printed sheets is transmitted to the management server 100, and this flow ends. After this, the management server 100 performs synchronous update of the allowable number of printed sheets stored by itself, and if the received value of the allowable number of printed sheets is a negative value (<0, negative), it issues a charge claim corresponding to the negative charge amount to the user (not shown in the figure).

[0058] <Effects of the Embodiment> As described above, in the mobile terminal 300 included in the printing service providing system 1 of the present embodiment, the allowable number of printed sheets of the multifunction machine 200 increases according to the predetermined number of charged sheets guaranteed by the purchase printing right purchased by the user's financial burden, and decreases according to the amount of printing executed. Therefore, the CPU 310 of the mobile terminal 300 executes a negative charge setting process for setting to increase the allowable number of printed sheets of the multifunction machine 200.

[0059] In this embodiment, when a print instruction for a print quantity exceeding the allowable number of printed sheets is given and there is a shortage of the allowable number of printed sheets, it is possible to increase the allowable number of printed sheets by adding the allowable number of printed sheets that have not been purchased. When the print process is completed, the allowable number of printed sheets becomes negative.

[0060] When allowing a negative allowable number of printed sheets by adding the allowable number of printed sheets that have not been purchased as described above, instead of always allowing a negative allowable number of printed sheets, predetermined conditions for allowing are set in the negative charge setting process of the mobile terminal 300. In the negative charge setting process, when the conditions are met, it is allowed to add the allowable number of printed sheets that have not been purchased, and when the conditions are not met, it is prohibited to add the allowable number of printed sheets that have not been purchased for the shortage of the allowable number of printed sheets.

[0061] According to this embodiment, since the conditions for not allowing and allowing a negative allowable number of printed sheets can be set according to the user's desire, convenience can be improved.

[0062] Also, in this embodiment, in particular, it has a touch panel 340 that receives an input operation from the user, and the CPU 310 further receives, via the touch panel 340, a master setting item 342 for allowing a negative charge process and inputs for setting the respective task-specific conditions for FAX printing, E-mail immediate printing, and normal print jobs. Thereby, the conditions for not allowing and allowing a negative allowable number of printed sheets can be set according to the user's desire in response to an operation input on the touch panel 340.

[0063] Note that the setting information set by the mobile terminal 300 may be directly transmitted to the multifunction device 200 via wireless communication such as Wi-fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark) without going through the network NT or the management server 100.

[0064] Also, the negative charge setting process may be performed not only on the mobile terminal 300 but also by the processor 210 of the multifunction device 200 itself via the display unit 240 and the operation unit 250. In this case, the multifunction device 200 itself is an example of an allowable print quantity management device, and the program for executing the setting process is an example of a management program. Further, the management server 100 may be a WEB server to perform the negative charge setting process by transmitting and receiving. It is executed via the browser of the mobile terminal 300. In this case, the management server 100 is an example of an allowable print quantity management device, and the program of the management server 100 for executing the setting process is an example of a management program.

[0065] In the above embodiment, as specific conditions for allowing the negative charge process, the FAX printing, the E-mail immediate printing, and the per-task conditions during the normal print job are shown, but other additional conditions when these conditions are met may also be settable (not particularly shown). For example, for a print task set to allow the negative charge process, conditions representing the execution range of adding the allowable print quantity that has not been purchased, such as a deadline condition corresponding to the time range or a print quantity condition corresponding to the print quantity range, may also be settable.

[0066] For example, regarding the above deadline condition, it may be set how long (in units of seconds, minutes, hours) the print task with negative charge can continue specifically after the shortage of the first allowable print quantity occurs, or how many days the print task with negative charge can be repeated specifically. Also, for example, regarding the print quantity condition, it may be set how many print quantities the printing with negative charge can continue specifically after the shortage of the first allowable print quantity occurs.

[0067] Note that the above deadline condition and print quantity condition are examples of the second condition, and the process in which the CPU 310 of the mobile terminal 300 sets these deadline conditions and print quantity conditions is an example of the second condition setting process.

[0068] As described above, the CPU 310 of the mobile terminal 300 may set a condition representing the execution range of adding the allowable number of un-purchased prints. In this case, when a predetermined print task condition such as a condition for which the minus charge process is applicable is satisfied and the allowable number of un-purchased prints is added, the addition may not be executed without limitation, but rather, a certain degree of limitation is imposed. The condition representing the execution range of adding the allowable number of prints, which serves as the limitation, is set by the CPU 310 of the mobile terminal 300. According to this, since the execution range of adding the allowable number of prints can be set according to the user's desire, the convenience can be further improved.

[0069] In particular, as a condition representing the execution range of adding the allowable number of un-purchased prints, a time-limited condition that is a time range after the shortage of the allowable number of prints occurs can be set. Thereby, when the print task condition is satisfied and the addition of the allowable number of un-purchased prints is performed, the addition can be executed only within a certain time range.

[0070] In particular, as a condition representing the execution range of adding the allowable number of un-purchased prints, a print quantity condition that is a quantity range of the allowable number of un-purchased prints can be set. Thereby, when the print task condition is satisfied and the addition of the allowable number of un-purchased prints is performed, the addition can be executed only within a certain quantity range of the allowable number of prints.

[0071] Note that in the above embodiment, "FAX reception" and "E-mail Print reception" are shown as examples of print data-related factors included in the application conditions of the minus charge process, and "during a normal print job" is shown as an example of a print execution-related factor included in the application conditions of the minus charge process. In this way, the conditions for not allowing and allowing the minus of the allowable number of prints can be set in detail according to the user's desire by print data-related factors, print execution-related factors, user permission factors, and the like.

[0072] As described above, examples of print data-related factors include cases where print data is received via FAX or e-mail, cases where the print data is for photo printing or text document printing, cases where the print data has a relatively high coverage, and the like. Examples of print execution-related factors include cases where the timing at which the allowable number of printed sheets becomes negative is during the course of one print job, cases where the print execution is performed in high-resolution mode or monochrome or color mode, and the like. Examples of user permission factors include cases where the user has permitted the payment of an additional fee to allow a negative allowable number of printed sheets. These detailed condition settings can also be made as desired by the user in response to operation inputs on the touch panel 340 (not particularly shown).

[0073] In addition, as examples of factors included in the application conditions for the negative charge process, user attribute factors, user payment-related factors, user reliability factors, service provision-related factors, and maintenance-related factors, etc., may be set in detail according to the user's desires.

[0074] Examples of user attribute factors include whether the user is a heavy user with a high service usage frequency or a light user with a low service usage frequency, the usage history of the multifunction machine 200, the number of purchases of print rights, and the like. Examples of user payment-related factors include the presence or absence of a setting for automatic purchase of print rights, the presence or absence of an outstanding payment history after purchase, and the like. Note that at least a part of the user attribute factors and user payment-related factors can also be replaced with user reliability factors representing the user's reliability.

[0075] Examples of service provision-related factors include whether the delivery service of the consumables of the multifunction machine 200 is delayed from the schedule or not. Examples of maintenance-related factors include the presence or absence of maintenance operations such as printing a test page, where it is agreed that the allowable print amount decreases during printing. These detailed condition settings may also be made as desired by the user in response to operation inputs on the touch panel 340 (not particularly shown).

[0076] In addition, for users who own multiple devices such as the multifunction device 200 and printers, and receive prepaid printing services under the same contract for these devices, the application conditions for negative charge processing may be set according to the conditions of the contract. Specifically, as in the negative charge setting screen 340B shown in FIG. 9, if the settlement has not been completed for even one of the devices covered by the contract, the conditions for negative charge processing cannot be set for other devices (in the illustrated example, the entire range 347 of the checkbox setting items 342 to 345 is grayed out and cannot be operated). This can prompt users to conduct strict billing management for the entire contract.

[0077] Also, in the above, the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 does not limit the present invention to the procedures shown in the flowchart, and procedures may be added, deleted, or the order may be changed within the scope not departing from the gist and technical idea of the invention.

[0078] In addition to what has been described above, the methods according to the above embodiments and each modification example may be appropriately combined and used.

[0079] In addition, without listing them one by one, the present invention can be implemented with various changes within the scope not departing from its gist.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0080] 1 Printing service providing system 100 Management server 200 Multifunction device (an example of a printing device) 300 Mobile terminal (an example of an allowable print quantity management device) 310 CPU (an example of a control unit) 340 Touch panel (an example of an operation unit) 400 Transaction server NT Network

Claims

1. An allowable print quantity management device that manages the allowable print quantity of a printing device, wherein the printing device is configured to be able to execute printing with the allowable print quantity as an upper limit, and the allowable print quantity of the printing device increases according to a predetermined guaranteed print quantity guaranteed by a purchased print permission purchased due to a user's financial burden, and decreases according to the print quantity for which the printing has been executed, the allowable print quantity management device includes a control unit, and the control unit performs an allowable print quantity increase process for increasing the allowable print quantity of the printing device, and in the allowable print quantity increase process, when a predetermined first condition is satisfied, adding an un-purchased allowable print quantity to compensate for the shortage of the allowable print quantity is allowed, and when the first condition is not satisfied, adding an un-purchased allowable print quantity to compensate for the shortage of the allowable print quantity is prohibited, a non-purchased print quantity increase allowance process, and a first condition setting process for setting the first condition, An allowable print quantity management device configured to execute the above.

2. The control unit further performs a second condition setting process for setting a second condition representing an execution range for adding the un-purchased allowable print quantity, The allowable print quantity management device according to claim 1, configured as above.

3. The execution range of the second condition is a time range after the shortage of the allowable print quantity occurs. The allowable print quantity management device according to claim 2.

4. The execution range of the second condition is a quantity range of the un-purchased allowable print quantity. The allowable print quantity management device according to claim 2.

5. having an operation unit, the control unit further performs a condition input reception process for receiving an input for setting the first condition via the operation unit, The allowable print quantity management device according to claim 1, configured as above.

6. The first condition is The allowable print quantity management device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, including at least one of a print data related factor, a print execution related factor, and a user permission factor.

7. The first condition is The allowable print quantity management device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, including at least one of a user attribute factor, a user payment related factor, a user reliability factor, a service provision related factor, and a maintenance related factor.

8. A management program executed by an allowable print quantity management device that manages the allowable print quantity of a printing device, wherein the printing device is configured to be able to execute printing with the allowable print quantity as an upper limit, and the allowable print quantity of the printing device increases according to a predetermined guaranteed print quantity guaranteed by a purchased print permission purchased due to a user's financial burden, and decreases according to the print quantity for which the printing has been executed. The management program causes an arithmetic unit of the allowable print quantity management device to perform an allowable print quantity increase process for increasing the allowable print quantity of the printing device, perform an allowable print quantity acquisition process for acquiring the allowable print quantity decreased due to print execution by the printing device, in the allowable print quantity increase process, when a predetermined first condition is satisfied, allow adding an allowable print quantity that has not been purchased for the shortage of the allowable print quantity, and when the first condition is not satisfied, prohibit adding an allowable print quantity that has not been purchased for the shortage of the allowable print quantity, a non-purchased print quantity increase allowance process, perform a first condition setting process for setting the first condition, A management program configured to execute the above.

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