Recording systems and programs

Abstract

To provide a recording system and a program that can teach a user how to purchase a permitted recording amount and promote the purchase of the permitted recording amount in a system for purchasing the permitted recording amount of a recording device.SOLUTION: A printer 20 of a printing system 1 executes a printing operation by a printing unit 25 within a range of printable sheets in a printer storage unit 26B. A mobile terminal device 10 causes a touch panel 14 to display tutorial operation screens 71 to 79 for teaching a charge operation for purchasing the number of printable sheets (S101 to S108). The mobile terminal device 10 instructs a user on the charge operation while accepting operations on the tutorial operation screens 71 to 79.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present application relates to a recording system and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a print system that manages the number of printable sheets of a printer. The printer in Patent Document 1 has a card interface means for inserting a memory card, and executes printing based on the number of printable sheets stored on the memory card. A user who uses the printer can make the printer execute printing only up to the number of printable sheets on the memory card. The user can continue to use the print service by purchasing the number of printable sheets. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-137501 A (FIG. 10) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the printer system of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, when purchasing the number of printable sheets, the user must perform a specific operation on the client device to display a screen for purchasing the number of printable sheets, and input the number of sheets to be purchased on the screen, etc. For this reason, there is a risk that some users will refrain from purchasing the number of printable sheets because they do not know how to operate the system to purchase the number of printable sheets.

[0005] The present application has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a recording system and a program that, in a system for purchasing recording permission capacity for a recording device, can instruct a user how to purchase recording permission capacity and encourage the purchase of recording permission capacity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The recording system disclosed in this specification is a recording system comprising an information processing device and a recording device, wherein the information processing device comprises an input interface and a display unit, and the recording device comprises a recording unit that performs a recording operation on a recording medium, and performs a recording operation by the recording unit within the range of a recording permission amount that permits the recording operation by the recording unit, and the information processing device executes a tutorial processing that causes the display unit to display a tutorial operation screen for teaching a charge operation, which is an operation on the input interface for purchasing the recording permission amount.

[0007] Furthermore, the contents disclosed in this specification are not limited to being implemented as a recording system, but may also be usefully implemented as a program that can be read by a computer of an information processing device that can communicate with a recording device. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the recording system and program configured as above, it is possible to instruct the user on how to purchase a recording allowance, and to encourage the user to purchase a recording allowance. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a configuration diagram of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present application. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the printer management table shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a server management table shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram when a tutorial process is executed. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a menu screen displayed on a display unit of the portable terminal device. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a selection screen displayed on a display unit of the portable terminal device. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a tutorial operation screen displayed on a display unit of the portable terminal device. [Figure 8]FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram when a normal charging process is executed. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a charge operation screen displayed on the display unit of the portable terminal device when a normal charge process is performed. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram when a tutorial process according to the second embodiment is executed. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a printer management table according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a server management table according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] (First embodiment) A printing system 1 according to a first embodiment, which is an embodiment that embodies the recording system of this specification, will be described below. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the printing system 1. The printing system 1 includes, for example, a plurality of printers 20 and a mobile terminal device 10, and provides a printing service to a user. This printing service is a service in which a user who has paid a fee for the number of printable sheets, which is the number of sheets of paper that can be printed by the printer 20, is provided with a number of printable sheets according to the amount of the fee, and the user can use the number for printing. In the following description, the term "charging" may refer to setting the number of printable sheets or to increasing the number of printable sheets by charging an additional fee.

[0011] As described later, the printing system 1 of this embodiment can instruct the server 30 from the mobile terminal device 10 to charge to increase the number of printable sheets. Furthermore, the printing system 1 executes a tutorial process to teach the user how to operate the charge before actually performing the charge operation. The printing system 1 provides a predetermined number of printable sheets (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the free charge number) free of charge in response to the execution of the tutorial process for any printer 20. The free charge number is, for example, 2000 sheets. In the following description, the charging of this free charge number of 2000 sheets may be referred to as free charging. Furthermore, in the second and subsequent tutorial processes, the free charge number becomes zero sheets. That is, in the second and subsequent tutorial processes, free charging is not executed. Note that the printing system 1 may provide the number of printable sheets free of charge, for example, in response to the user paying an application fee for the service.

[0012] The printer 20 is, for example, an inkjet printer. The printer 20 sent from the vendor to the user is filled with an amount of ink necessary to print more than the free charge number (for example, 2000 sheets + α sheets). Therefore, with this printing service, the user does not need to take the trouble of filling the printer 20 with ink or replacing ink cartridges between the time of obtaining the printer 20 and printing the given free charge number. Therefore, this printing service is a service that is highly convenient for the user, as it does not require the work of refilling the printer 20 with ink.

[0013] Furthermore, if the user wishes to print more than the free charge number, he or she pays an additional fee and makes a charge. By purchasing additional printable numbers, the user can continue to use the printer 20. If the printer 20 runs low on ink as a result of the user repeatedly purchasing additional printable numbers, the user can apply for a replacement printer 20. The user can continue to use the printing service by using the newly shipped printer 20.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 1 includes a mobile terminal device 10, a printer 20, and a server 30. In order to avoid the drawing becoming complicated, only one mobile terminal device 10 and one printer 20 are illustrated in FIG. 1. The mobile terminal device 10 and the printer 20 are connected to each other via a router 2 so that they can communicate with each other. In addition, the mobile terminal device 10 and the printer 20 are connected to the server 30 via the router 2 and the Internet 3 so that they can communicate with each other. In addition, the above-mentioned network configuration is an example. For example, the server 30 may be placed in a LAN, and the mobile terminal device 10 and the printer 20 may be connected to the server 30 without going through the Internet 3. In addition, the number of the mobile terminal device 10 and the printer 20 connected to the server 30 may be one or more. In addition, one printer 20 may be shared by multiple mobile terminal devices 10, and one mobile terminal device 10 may use multiple printers 20 separately.

[0015] (Configuration of mobile terminal device 10) The mobile terminal device 10 causes a printer 20 to print an image on paper (an example of a recording medium of the present application). The mobile terminal device 10 is, for example, a smartphone. The mobile terminal device 10 includes a terminal control unit 11, a short-range communication unit 13, a touch panel 14, and an external communication unit 16. These components are capable of communicating with each other via a bus 19.

[0016] The terminal control unit 11 includes a terminal CPU 17 and a terminal storage unit 18. The terminal storage unit 18 is configured by combining, for example, a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, and the like. The terminal storage unit 18 stores a terminal program 18A, an application program (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as an application) 18B, and a printable number 18C. The terminal program 18A, the application 18B, and the printable number 18C are stored, for example, in a ROM such as a readable and writable flash memory or SSD in the terminal storage unit 18. The terminal program 18A is a program that comprehensively controls the mobile terminal device 10, and provides basic functions and services to the application 18B. The terminal program 18A is, for example, Android (registered trademark) OS or iOS (registered trademark). In addition, when the mobile terminal device 10 is, for example, a PC, the terminal program 18A is, for example, Windows (registered trademark) OS.

[0017] The application 18B is, for example, a program provided by the vendor of the printer 20, and is a program that uses the functions of the terminal program 18A to execute various processes such as setting processes and print instructions for the printer 20, and charge instructions for the server 30. The terminal control unit 11 executes the terminal program 18A and the application 18B in the terminal CPU 17, and generally controls the mobile terminal device 10. The printable number 18C is information on the printable number of sheets of the printer 20 (see FIG. 2) stored on the mobile terminal device 10 side. The mobile terminal device 10 displays the current printable number 18C on, for example, a screen that accepts print instructions to the printer 20.

[0018] In the following description, the terminal control unit 11 that executes the terminal program 18A and the application 18B on the terminal CPU 17 may be simply described by the device name. For example, the description "the mobile terminal device 10" may mean "the terminal control unit 11 that executes the terminal program 18A and the application 18B on the terminal CPU 17." In addition, in this specification, the processing of the terminal CPU 17 according to the instructions written in the program is mainly indicated. That is, the processing of "determination," "transmission," and the like in the following description represents the processing of the terminal CPU 17. The processing by the terminal CPU 17 includes hardware control. The same also applies to the printer control unit 26 (printer 20) that executes the printer program 26B1 on the printer CPU 26A and the server control unit 32 (server 30) that executes the server program 32B1 on the server CPU 32A, which will be described later. In addition, "data" in this specification is represented by a bit string that can be read by a computer. Data that has the same substantial meaning but different formats is treated as the same data. The same also applies to "information" in this specification.

[0019] Furthermore, the terminal storage unit 18 that stores the programs (terminal program 18A, application 18B) may be a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium is a non-transitory medium. In addition to the above examples, non-transitory media also include recording media such as CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs. Non-transitory media are also tangible media. On the other hand, an electrical signal that carries a program downloaded from a server on the Internet is a signal medium, which is a type of computer-readable medium, but is not included in non-transitory storage media. The same applies to the printer storage unit 26B that stores the printer program 26B1 and the server storage unit 32B that stores the server program 32B1, which will be described later.

[0020] The short-range communication unit 13 is a communication interface capable of short-range wireless communication, such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or NFC (abbreviation of Near Field Communication). The touch panel 14 includes, for example, a liquid crystal panel or a touch-sensitive film attached to the surface of the liquid crystal panel, and changes the display content of the liquid crystal panel based on the control of the terminal control unit 11. The touch panel 14 also receives an operation input from a user and outputs a signal corresponding to the operation input to the terminal control unit 11. The touch panel 14 is an example of the display unit and input interface of the present application. Note that the mobile terminal device 10 may include a power button and the like in addition to the touch panel 14. The user interface of the mobile terminal device 10 is not limited to the touch panel 14. For example, the mobile terminal device 10 may include a display device such as an LCD or an organic EL display, and an input device such as a push button switch or a slide switch, separately. Therefore, the information processing device of the present application may include a display unit and an input interface as separate devices.

[0021] The external communication unit 16 is a communication interface capable of wireless communication conforming to, for example, the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) communication standard. The mobile terminal device 10 is connected to a router 2 via the external communication unit 16. The router 2 is connected to a server 30 via the Internet 3. Note that the external communication unit 16 is not limited to a wireless communication interface, and may be a wired communication interface to which a wired cable such as a LAN cable can be connected.

[0022] (Printer 20 Configuration) The printer 20 is, for example, an inkjet type color printer. The printer 20 includes a short-distance communication unit 21, an external communication unit 22, a tank unit 23, an ink remaining amount detection unit 24, a printing unit 25, a user IF (abbreviation of interface) 27, and a printer control unit 26. The short-distance communication unit 21 is, for example, a communication interface capable of short-distance wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or NFC. The printer 20 can communicate with the short-distance communication unit 13 via the short-distance communication unit 21, and acquires setting information and print instructions from the mobile terminal device 10. In this application, the term "acquire" is used as a concept that does not necessarily require a request. In other words, the process in which the printer 20 receives an instruction without making a request is also included in the concept of "the printer 20 acquires an instruction."

[0023] The external communication unit 22 includes, for example, a communication interface capable of wireless communication conforming to the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) communication standard, and a wired communication interface to which a LAN cable can be connected. The printer 20 is connected to the router 2 via the external communication unit 22. The external communication unit 22 may be configured to include only one of the wireless communication interface or the wired communication interface.

[0024] The tank section 23 stores ink. In this embodiment, there are four types of ink (magenta M, cyan C, yellow Y, and black BK), and a plurality of tank sections 23 are provided for each type of ink. That is, the printer 20 uses a plurality of tank sections 23 to store each of the four types of ink independently. The printer 20 may be a monochrome printer. In this embodiment, when the printer 20 is supplied from the vendor to the user, each of the plurality of tank sections 23 is filled with an amount of ink that can print a predetermined number of sheets of paper, for example, when the single-color coverage is 5%. The predetermined number is a number that is greater than the number of sheets charged for free, and can be set appropriately by the vendor providing the printing service.

[0025] Furthermore, the tank section 23 is provided so that the user cannot refill it with ink. Specifically, the tank section 23 is disposed in a position where the user cannot touch it. Furthermore, the tank section 23 is fixed to the printer 20 so that it cannot be detached. The ink remaining amount detection section 24 detects the remaining amount of ink stored in the tank section 23. The ink remaining amount detection section 24 is an optical sensor disposed in the tank section 23 and detects the level of the ink liquid, thereby detecting the remaining amount of ink. The ink remaining amount detection section 24 is disposed in each of the multiple tank sections 23 and detects the remaining amount of ink in each of the multiple tank sections 23. The printer 20 may be configured so that the tank section 23 is replaceable by the user.

[0026] The printing unit 25 executes printing using the ink stored in the tank unit 23. The printing unit 25 includes, for example, an inkjet head, and prints image data included in a print instruction obtained from the mobile terminal device 10 on paper using a known inkjet method. The user IF 27 is, for example, a touch panel, a push button switch, or the like, and receives operation input from the user and displays various information. Note that the printer 20 may not be configured to include a user IF 27 such as a touch panel.

[0027] The printer control unit 26 generally controls the printer 20. The printer control unit 26 includes a printer CPU 26A and a printer storage unit 26B. The printer CPU 26A controls the operation of the printer 20 by executing a printer program 26B1 in the printer storage unit 26B. The printer program 26B1 is a program that generally controls the printer 20 and causes the printer 20 to execute various processes. The printer storage unit 26B is configured by combining, for example, a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, a HDD, and the like. The printer program 26B1 is stored, for example, in a rewritable ROM (such as a flash memory) of the printer storage unit 26B.

[0028] The printer storage unit 26B also stores a printer management table PT. The printer management table PT is stored, for example, in a rewritable ROM of the printer storage unit 26B. The printer management table PT is data that stores information about the printer 20 in relation to the use of the print service. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer management table PT stores a device ID, a printable number of sheets, a remaining amount of ink, and a device setting in association with each other. The device ID is, for example, a serial number set by the vendor of the printer 20, and is unique information that can distinguish any printer 20 from other printers 20. The device ID is not limited to a serial number, and may be information unique to other devices, such as the MAC address of the short-range communication unit 21 or the external communication unit 22. The printable number indicates the number of sheets of paper that can be printed by the printer 20. A user who uses the printer 20 can print (as many sheets) within the range of the printable number stored in the printer management table PT.

[0029] The number of printable sheets is increased (charged) by the number of sheets according to the amount charged by the user. On the other hand, the number of printable sheets is decreased by the number of sheets used by the printer 20 when printing. For example, when the number of printable sheets becomes zero or less, the printer 20 is in a state where printing cannot be performed. For example, the printer 20 executes printing every time it receives a print instruction, subtracts the number of printable sheets from the number of printable sheets, and continues printing until the number of printable sheets becomes zero. When the number of printable sheets becomes zero, the printer 20 prohibits printing and notifies the mobile terminal device 10 of an error. Alternatively, when the number of printable sheets of the print instruction is equal to or greater than the number of printable sheets at the time of receiving the print instruction, the printer 20 may notify the mobile terminal device 10 of an error without executing printing and leaving the number of printable sheets unchanged.

[0030] The remaining ink amount indicates the amount of remaining ink detected by the remaining ink amount detection unit 24. After the printer 20 executes an operation that uses ink, such as refilling the inkjet head with ink, checking the nozzles, printing, etc., the printer 20 stores the remaining ink amount detected by the remaining ink amount detection unit 24 in the printer management table PT. The device settings are setting information such as the functions of the printer 20 (printing, etc.), settings for each function (paper size, color, magnification, etc.), and the language to be displayed on the user IF 27.

[0031] (Server 30 Configuration) 1, the server 30 includes an external communication unit 31 and a server control unit 32. The external communication unit 31 is connected to the mobile terminal device 10 and the printer 20 via the Internet 3 and a router 2. The server control unit 32 includes a server CPU 32A and a server storage unit 32B. The server CPU 32A comprehensively controls the operation of the server 30 by executing a server program 32B1 in the server storage unit 32B. The server program 32B1 is a program that comprehensively controls the server 30 and causes the server 30 to execute various processes.

[0032] The server storage unit 32B is configured by combining, for example, RAM, ROM, flash memory, HDD, etc. Also, the server storage unit 32B stores a server management table ST. The server management table ST is data that stores information required to use the print service. The server management table ST stores information about each printer 20 that uses the print service in association with the device ID of the printer 20, and is managed by the vendor.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, the server management table ST stores the device ID, the printable number, and the execution flag in association with each other. The device ID and the printable number are the same data as those in the printer management table PT described above, and data in the printer management table PT corresponding to the same device ID is stored. The server 30 of this embodiment manages the printable number of each printer 20 using the printing service by using the server management table ST that associates the device ID with the printable number. The server 30 executes a synchronization process to synchronize the printable number, which increases or decreases in response to print instructions and charge instructions from the mobile terminal device 10, with the printer 20, and manages the latest printable number in the server management table ST.

[0034] The execution flag is information indicating whether or not a tutorial process, which will be described later, has been executed for any printer 20 and a free recharge of the free recharge number has been executed. For example, the execution flag is set to a value indicating that a free recharge has been executed or a value indicating that a free recharge has not been executed. The execution flag is an example of free recharge execution information of the present application. Note that the free recharge execution information of the present application is not limited to a binary value, and may include, for example, other information such as the date and time when the free recharge was executed in addition to information indicating whether or not a free recharge has been executed. In FIG. 3, a "◯" indicates that a value indicating that a free recharge has been executed has been set, and a "×" indicates that a value indicating that a free recharge has not been executed has been set.

[0035] The information in the printer management table PT and the server management table ST shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 is an example. For example, when a different free charge number is set for each printer 20 (device ID), each device ID may be associated with the free charge number and registered in advance in the server management table ST. The server 30 may also manage whether printing can be performed for the printer 20 in the server management table ST. For example, the server 30 may store activation information associated with each device ID. The activation information here means, for example, that when data indicating ON is set, the printing by the printing unit 25 is permitted, and when data indicating OFF is set, the printing by the printing unit 25 is restricted. The server 30 may restrict the printing operation of the printer 20 by synchronizing the activation information in the printer management table PT of each printer 20 with the activation information in the server management table ST. The server 30 may also obtain the remaining ink levels of each printer 20 from the printer management table PT and store them in the server management table ST, and notify the mobile terminal device 10 to replace the printer 20 as the remaining ink levels decrease.

[0036] (Tutorial process, 1st time) Next, the tutorial process executed by the printing system 1 will be described. FIG. 4 shows the user's work in the tutorial process and the contents of the process of each device. The tutorial process is a process that teaches the user how to perform a charge operation (hereinafter, may be referred to as a charge operation) via the mobile terminal device 10. In addition, when the first tutorial process is executed for an arbitrary printer 20 in a state where the arbitrary printer 20 is selected in the application 18B, the server 30 executes a free charge, and when the second or subsequent tutorial processes are executed, the server 30 does not execute a free charge. Furthermore, the difference between the first tutorial process and a normal charge process (see FIG. 8 and FIG. 9) described later is that the normal charge process increases (charges) the number of printable sheets with at least a payment process for the fee, whereas the tutorial process increases the number of printable sheets without a payment process. In the following description, the first tutorial process will be described first.

[0037] For example, when a user purchases the printer 20 for the first time and the printer 20 arrives from the vendor, the user performs the operations shown in FIG. 4. Each of the devices, the mobile terminal device 10, the printer 20, and the server 30, executes a process in response to the user's operations. The arrow pointing to the lower right in FIG. 4 indicates an operation by the user. The processes, work contents, and order shown in FIG. 4 are merely examples. A case will be described in which the printer 20 with the device ID "dv1" (see FIG. 2) is set as the printer 20. That is, the following description will be given of a case in which the first (initial) tutorial process is executed for the printer 20 with the device ID "dv1".

[0038] First, in step (hereinafter, simply referred to as S) 10 shown at the top of the sequence diagram in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the process from S11 onward is started, and that the mobile terminal device 10, the server 30, and the printer 20 have been set to communicate with each other. Specifically, for example, the user connects the printer 20 received from the vendor to a home outlet and turns it on (S10A). The mobile terminal device 10 also accepts communication settings in response to the user's operation input (S10B). For example, the user operates the touch panel 14 of the mobile terminal device 10 to set communication settings such as the SSID and encryption key of the router 2 for the terminal program 18A (S10B). The mobile terminal device 10 is now in a state where it can communicate with the router 2 via the external communication unit 16. After setting up the communication settings, the user starts up the application 18B (10B). When the mobile terminal device 10, for example, the application 18B, starts up, it executes communication settings for the printer 20 using short-distance wireless communication.

[0039] When the application 18B is started for the first time, the mobile terminal device 10 activates the short-distance wireless function by the short-distance communication unit 13 via the terminal program 18A (S10B). On the other hand, the printer 20 activates the short-distance wireless function by the short-distance communication unit 21, for example, when the power is turned on in a state where the communication setting is not yet set, or in response to an operation input to the user IF 27 (S10A). The application 18B displays an instruction to bring the mobile terminal device 10 closer to the printer 20 on the touch panel 14. When the user brings the mobile terminal device 10 closer to the printer 20, the application 18B transmits communication setting information required for connecting to the router 2, such as the SSID and encryption key of the router 2, to the printer 20 by short-distance wireless communication via the short-distance communication units 13 and 21 (S10C). The printer 20 connects to the router 2 from the external communication unit 22 based on the communication setting information acquired from the application 18B. Before transmitting the communication setting information, the application 18B may execute confirmation with the user, such as display processing of the printer 20 detected by short-distance wireless communication and input processing of authentication information of the printer 20 previously set by the vendor. The above-mentioned method of setting communication with the printer 20 is one example. For example, the user may operate the user IF 27 of the printer 20 to input the IP address, the SSID of the router 2, etc., to execute the communication setting.

[0040] When the printer 20 becomes capable of communicating with the router 2 via the external communication unit 22, it accesses the server 30 via the Internet 3 and requests registration processing (S10D). The access destination of the server 30 may be set in advance in the printer storage unit 26B by a vendor or the like, or may be notified to the printer 20 from the application 18B. The printer 20 notifies the server 30 of, for example, the terminal ID and application 18B ID acquired from the mobile terminal device 10, the device ID of the printer 20, and the like (S10D). This allows the server 30 to identify the printer 20 and mobile terminal device 10 with which it is communicating.

[0041] The server 30 registers the device ID (e.g., "dv1") notified in S10D in the server management table ST (S10E). For example, the server 30 sets the printable number "pr1" (see FIG. 3) associated with the device ID "dv1" to zero. The server 30 also sets the execution flag information associated with the device ID "dv1" to "x", indicating unexecuted.

[0042] The registration process to the server 30 and the notification process of the terminal ID and the device ID of the printer 20 may be executed by the mobile terminal device 10. Alternatively, the mobile terminal device 10 and the printer 20 may access the server 30 separately to execute the registration process and the notification of the ID.

[0043] In addition, it is preferable that the communication between the mobile terminal device 10, the printer 20, and the server 30 is communication with security ensured. The term "ensuring security" as used herein means, for example, authenticating the communication partner, encrypting communication data, detecting tampering of communication data, and the like. The method of ensuring the security of communication is not particularly limited. Specifically, the vendor side may use an authentication token or encryption key set in the application 18B or the printer program 26B1 to authenticate the communication partner and encrypt communication data, and the like, to ensure security. Alternatively, security may be ensured using a known secure communication protocol such as SSL. Note that the communication between the mobile terminal device 10, the printer 20, and the server 30 may be communication without encryption, and the like. In addition, the timing for executing the above-mentioned communication settings and the process for ensuring the security of communication is not limited to the timing when a new printer 20 is shipped from the vendor. For example, it may be the timing when the user of the printer 20 changes and the new user is instructed on how to charge. Specifically, it may be the timing when the network settings of the printer 20 or the printer name is changed.

[0044] After the communication setting etc. of S10 described above is completed, the mobile terminal device 10 accepts an instruction to start the tutorial process via the application 18B as shown in S11 of Fig. 4. For example, after the mobile terminal device 10 has ensured secure communication between the printer 20 and the server 30 as described above, the mobile terminal device 10 displays the menu screen 51 shown in Fig. 5 on the touch panel 14 via the application 18B. The mobile terminal device 10 displays, for example, a print icon 52 for instructing the printer 20 to execute a print function, a setting icon 55 for setting the printer 20, a charge icon 56 for performing a charge process or a tutorial process, and a status icon 57 for checking the status of the printer 20 on the menu screen 51.

[0045] Furthermore, the mobile terminal device 10 displays information on the printer 20 with the device ID "dv1" that has ensured the above-mentioned secure communication, i.e., the current communication partner, on the printer display section 61 provided at the bottom of the menu screen 51. The mobile terminal device 10 displays, for example, the word "online" on the printer display section 61 to indicate that communication with the printer 20 is now possible. When the selection button 63 on the printer display section 61 is touched, the mobile terminal device 10 may display a list of printer names (such as model numbers) of the printers 20 detected on the same network and accept the selection of the printer 20 to perform printing or the like. That is, the mobile terminal device 10 is capable of accepting a change of the printer 20 selected on the mobile terminal device 10 side in the tutorial process or charge process using the selection button 63.

[0046] The mobile terminal device 10 displays a message 65 on the recharge icon 56 to the effect that free recharge is possible based on a predetermined condition. This can prompt the user to perform a recharge operation for free recharge. The predetermined condition here is, for example, a condition under which communication with a new printer 20 becomes possible by executing S10 described above. In this case, the message 65 can be displayed every time a new printer 20 is connected to the mobile terminal device 10. Alternatively, the predetermined condition may be, for example, a condition under which a notification instruction is obtained from the server 30. This can cause the server 30 to display the message 65 on the mobile terminal device 10 according to the condition under which free recharge is performed.

[0047] When the mobile terminal device 10 receives an operation to select the charge icon 56 with the message 65 displayed on the touch panel 14, the mobile terminal device 10 displays a tutorial operation screen on the touch panel 14 to instruct the charge operation. FIG. 7 shows an example of the tutorial operation screen. For example, when the charge icon 56 is selected with the message 65 displayed on the mobile terminal device 10, the mobile terminal device 10 displays a tutorial operation screen 71 and then displays a tutorial operation screen 72 on the touch panel 14. The application 18B of this embodiment instructs the user while showing the screen transitions of the normal charge process (see FIG. 8 and FIG. 9) for settling the fee, which will be described later. In addition, the application 18B displays the parts that require operation and the other parts in the tutorial operation screen 72, etc., so that the user does not get confused about the operation.

[0048] Also, as described later, the mobile terminal device 10 erases the message 65 when the first tutorial process is completed for any printer 20 and free recharge is completed. When the recharge icon 56 is selected without displaying the message 65, the mobile terminal device 10 displays a recharge execution icon 66 and a tutorial execution icon 67 shown in FIG. 6. Although details will be described later, the user can start the recharge process or the tutorial process by selecting the recharge execution icon 66 or the tutorial execution icon 67. Therefore, when a new printer 20 is connected to the mobile terminal device 10 and the recharge icon 56 is operated with the printer 20 selected, the mobile terminal device 10 displays the message 65 and switches the display to the tutorial operation screen 71 shown in FIG. 7, and starts the tutorial. Note that the mobile terminal device 10 may transmit the device ID of the printer 20 to the server 30 and display the message 65 after confirming whether free recharge has been performed for the printer 20 with the device ID. Also, a user who has once received a tutorial described later may want to perform free recharge without receiving the tutorial when using a new (replaced) printer 20. For this reason, for example, when the charge icon 56 is selected while the message 65 is displayed, the mobile terminal device 10 may display a message such as "Perform free charge without receiving the tutorial?". When the mobile terminal device 10 receives an instruction to perform free charge without receiving the tutorial, the mobile terminal device 10 may perform free charge without performing the tutorial described below. This allows the user to perform free charge without performing the tutorial in the second and subsequent printers 20. In addition, when the printer 20 is replaced due to a malfunction or lack of ink, or when the replaced printer 20 is selected and a tutorial process is performed, the free charge may not be performed even in the first tutorial process. In other words, the replaced printer 20 may not be eligible for free charge.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 7, the mobile terminal device 10 temporarily displays a tutorial operation screen 71, and then automatically switches the screen to a tutorial operation screen 72. The tutorial operation screen 71 is a screen used in a normal charge process described later. The mobile terminal device 10 displays a message 81 displaying the characters "printable number", number information 82, and a charge button 83 on the tutorial operation screen 71. The mobile terminal device 10 displays the printable number 18C of the terminal storage unit 18, that is, the current printable number of the printer 20, in the number information 82. The mobile terminal device 10 may obtain information on the printable number of the printer 20 in S10. At this stage, the printer 20 has not been charged. Therefore, the printable number is, for example, zero. The charge button 83 is a button for accepting an instruction to start charging. Although the mobile terminal device 10 displays these buttons and the like on the tutorial operation screen 71, it does not accept an operation of the touch panel 14 on the tutorial operation screen 71 and switches to the tutorial operation screen 72 (S101).

[0050] The mobile terminal device 10 displays a tutorial operation screen 72 similar to the tutorial operation screen 71. The mobile terminal device 10 also displays a message 85 on the tutorial operation screen 72, encouraging the user to operate the charge button 83 as an area that requires operation. The mobile terminal device 10 also indicates to the user that areas other than the charge button 83 are not subject to operation by, for example, filling the areas other than the charge button 83 in gray so that the user does not operate any areas other than the charge button 83. This makes it possible to instruct the user that the charge button 83 should be operated first as a procedure for performing the charge operation.

[0051] When the charge button 83 is operated on the tutorial operation screen 72, the mobile terminal device 10 determines that an instruction to start the tutorial process has been received (S11) in S11 of Fig. 4, and transmits the start instruction to the server 30 (S13). Subsequent communications between the devices, such as the transmission of the start instruction in S13, are transmitted and received using the above-mentioned secure communications.

[0052] When the server 30 receives the start instruction of S13, it judges whether or not the free charge has been executed for the printer 20 to be charged based on the execution flag in the server management table ST (S15). For example, the mobile terminal device 10 transmits the device ID of the printer 20 selected in the printer display section 61 of FIG. 5, that is, the printer 20 selected when the tutorial process was started, to the server 30 in S13 (S13). The server 30 searches the server management table ST based on the device ID acquired from the mobile terminal device 10, and judges whether or not the execution flag associated with the device ID indicates that the process has been executed (S15). The server 30 does not need to acquire the device ID from the mobile terminal device 10 in S13. For example, the server 30 may use the device ID of the printer 20 that has been accessed by the server 30 as the device ID of the printer 20 selected when the tutorial process was started in the registration process of S10D.

[0053] In the example shown in FIG. 3, the execution flag of the device ID "dv1" indicates that it is not yet executed "x". Therefore, the server 30 sets a predetermined number (for example, 2000) as the free recharge number. The server 30 also issues a one-time token in S15. This one-time token is information for identifying the mobile terminal device 10 that is the sender, and is, for example, a combination of numbers and alphabets, and is identification information that is valid for a certain period of time. The server 30 associates the issued one-time token with the value of the free recharge number (2000 in this case) and temporarily stores it in the server storage unit 32B. The server 30 transmits the one-time token and the information of the free recharge number associated in S15 to the mobile terminal device 10 (S17).

[0054] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, when the charge button 83 on the tutorial operation screen 72 is operated, the mobile terminal device 10 temporarily displays the tutorial operation screen 73, and then automatically switches the display on the touch panel 14 to the tutorial operation screen 74 (S102, S103). The tutorial operation screen 73 is a screen that is displayed in a normal charge operation, similar to the tutorial operation screen 71. The mobile terminal device 10 displays a message 86 displaying the word "Purchase" and selection icons 88, 89 on the tutorial operation screen 73. The mobile terminal device 10 displays the number of printable sheets to be purchased and the purchase price for that number of printable sheets in a row on the selection icons 88, 89. As shown in FIG. 9, in a normal charge operation, the mobile terminal device 10 accepts the selection of the selection icon 88, 89 corresponding to the number of printable sheets to be purchased from among the multiple selection icons 88, 89 (see the charge operation screen 102). However, in the tutorial process, the mobile terminal device 10 does not accept an operation on the touch panel 14 for the tutorial operation screen 73, and switches the display to the tutorial operation screen 74.

[0055] The mobile terminal device 10 displays a screen similar to the tutorial operation screen 73 as the tutorial operation screen 74. In addition, the mobile terminal device 10 displays a message 91 on the tutorial operation screen 74 to prompt the user to operate the selection icon 88 as a location requiring operation. The mobile terminal device 10 displays, for example, the number of printable sheets of 2000 and the charge of zero yen (free) on the selection icon 88. In addition, the mobile terminal device 10 displays, for example, the number of printable sheets of 200 and the charge of 1000 yen on the selection icon 89. The mobile terminal device 10 fills in the portions other than the selection icon 88 with, for example, gray color so that the selection icons 89 other than the free recharge selection icon 88 are not operated, and does not accept operations on the selection icons 89. This makes it possible to display the tutorial operation screen 74 simulating the screen of the actual recharge operation, and to suppress erroneous operations on the selection icons 89 other than the free recharge selection icon 88. In addition, the process for preventing a user receiving the tutorial from performing an actual charge operation is not limited to the switching process of switching between enabling and disabling the operation on the selection icon 89 as described above, but may also be, for example, a process of hiding the selection icon 89 on the tutorial operation screen 73.

[0056] For example, the mobile terminal device 10 displays the tutorial operation screen 74, and when the information of S17 is received, the mobile terminal device 10 validates the operation on the selection icon 88 (S19). This allows the user to select the charge number, that is, to instruct the execution of free charge (S19). If the mobile terminal device 10 cannot obtain the information of S17 while switching the display to the tutorial operation screen 74, the mobile terminal device 10 may display a message such as "Please wait a moment" on the tutorial operation screen 74. When the mobile terminal device 10 receives an operation on the selection icon 88 on the tutorial operation screen 74, the mobile terminal device 10 transmits an execution instruction to execute the addition of the free charge number and the one-time token obtained in S17 to the server 30 (S21). When the server 30 obtains the execution instruction of S21, it obtains the free charge number associated with the one-time token obtained in S21 (S23). As described above, when the server 30 issues a one-time token, the server 30 associates the free charge number with the one-time token and stores it in the server storage unit 32B (S15). The server 30 acquires the associated free recharge number from the server storage unit 32B based on the one-time token acquired in S21. Since this is the first tutorial process, the acquired free recharge number is 2000. The information for identifying the source mobile terminal device 10 is not limited to a one-time token such as numbers or letters. For example, the server 30 may compare the hash value of the data value transmitted in S17 with the data value acquired in S21 to determine whether the destination of S17 matches the source of S21.

[0057] When the server 30 acquires the free recharge number in S23, it transmits an instruction to the printer 20 to add the acquired free recharge number to the number of printable sheets (S25). The printer 20 to which this instruction is sent is the printer 20 whose device ID was acquired in S13, i.e., the printer 20 that is the target of the tutorial process (the device ID is "dv1"). When the printer 20 acquires the addition instruction of S25, it adds the free recharge number (e.g., 2000 sheets) to the number of printable sheets (e.g., zero sheets) in the printer management table PT (S27). When the printer 20 adds the free recharge number to the number of printable sheets, it transmits the number of printable sheets after the addition, i.e., the current number of printable sheets in the printer management table PT, to the server 30 (S29).

[0058] When the server 30 acquires the printable number in S29, it overwrites the information in the server management table ST associated with the printer 20 that sent the message, that is, the printer 20 (device ID "dv1") that is the target of the tutorial process (S31). The server 30 updates the execution flag for the device ID "dv1" to a value indicating that the execution has been performed (S31). This allows the execution flag information to be updated in response to the instruction of the charging operation method and the addition of the free charge number. The server 30 also updates the printable number for the device ID "dv1" with the printable number acquired in S29 (S31). This allows the printable number in the printer management table PT to be synchronized with the printable number in the server management table ST. If the printer 20 has already been charged with the printable number as a purchase bonus or the like, the printable number in the server management table ST can be updated with information in which the printable number has been added to the printable number. Incidentally, the server 30 executes the registration process in the server management table ST before executing the free charge in the above-mentioned S10D and S10E, that is, S25, etc., but the registration process may be executed in S31.

[0059] When the server 30 updates the server management table ST in S31, it transmits a completion notification indicating that the free charge has been completed to the mobile terminal device 10 (S33). For example, in the completion notification of S33, the server 30 transmits the printable number after updating in S31 to the mobile terminal device 10. The mobile terminal device 10 updates the printable number 18C of its own device with the printable number acquired from the server 30 in the completion notification of S33 (S35). This makes it possible to match the printable numbers of the mobile terminal device 10, the printer 20, and the server 30. Note that the mobile terminal device 10 may add the free charge number acquired in S17 to the printable number 18C without acquiring the printable number in S33, and later execute a process of synchronizing with the printable number of the server 30.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 7, when the selection icon 88 is selected on the tutorial operation screen 74, the mobile terminal device 10 displays the tutorial operation screen 75 (S104). For example, when switching the display from the tutorial operation screen 74 to the tutorial operation screen 75, the mobile terminal device 10 may display text such as "Please wait a moment" or "Free recharge is being performed" on the touch panel 14, taking into consideration the processing time of S21 to S33 described above. Then, the mobile terminal device 10 displays a message 81, number information 82, and a recharge button 83 on the tutorial operation screen 75, similar to the tutorial operation screen 71. The mobile terminal device 10 also displays the printable number of sheets (for example, the free recharge number of 2000 sheets) acquired from the server 30 in the number information 82. This allows the recharge operation to be instructed and the free recharge to be performed.

[0061] (Tutorial process, second time onwards) Next, a case where the second or subsequent tutorial process is executed with an arbitrary printer 20 selected will be described. In the following description, the same content as the first tutorial process described above will be omitted as appropriate. For example, when another user uses the printer 20 after the first tutorial process is finished, the user may want to know the charge operation. For example, the mobile terminal device 10 erases the message 65 when the first tutorial process is finished for the arbitrary printer 20 and free charge is completed. In addition, the mobile terminal device 10 other than the mobile terminal device 10 that executed the first tutorial process checks whether or not free charge has been executed for the selected printer 20 via the application 18B, for example, and erases the message 65. There is no particular limitation on the method of checking whether or not free charge has been executed, but the application 18B may check with the server 30 or the printer 20 whether or not free charge has been executed. For example, when the charge icon 56 in FIG. 5 is selected with the message 65 erased, the mobile terminal device 10 displays a selection screen 68 on the touch panel 14, which displays a charge execution icon 66 for executing charge and a tutorial execution icon 67 for executing a tutorial, as shown in FIG. 6. When the tutorial execution icon 67 is touched, the mobile terminal device 10 displays a message such as "Do you want to start the charge operation tutorial?" to confirm the user's intention. When the mobile terminal device 10 receives an operation input to start the tutorial, it starts a process of displaying the tutorial operation screens 71 and 72 shown in FIG.

[0062] For example, in the tutorial process from the second time onwards, the communication setting in S10 has been completed, and the process starts from S11 in FIG. 4. When the server 30 acquires the start instruction in S13, it judges whether or not the free recharge has been performed for the printer 20 to be recharged (S15). In the tutorial process from the second time onwards, for example, the execution flag associated with the device ID "dv1" in the server management table ST is a value indicating "o" indicating that the recharge has been performed. Therefore, the server 30 judges that the free recharge has been performed, issues a one-time token, and associates information indicating that the number of free recharges is zero with the issued one-time token. In addition, the server 30 responds with information indicating that the number of free recharges is zero (S17). As a result, the free recharge of the predetermined number of free recharges is performed for any printer 20 only in the first tutorial process, and the free recharge is not performed from the second time onwards. Note that the server 30 may also perform the free recharge of the predetermined number of free recharges in the tutorial process from the second time onwards.

[0063] In S15, the server 30 associates the information indicating that the free recharge number is zero with the one-time token, and transmits the information to the mobile terminal device 10 (S17). As shown in FIG. 7, the mobile terminal device 10 displays the tutorial operation screens 76 and 77 based on the touch operation of the recharge button 83 on the tutorial operation screen 72 (S105). The mobile terminal device 10 automatically switches the tutorial operation screens 76 and 77 in the same way as the first tutorial operation screens 73 and 74 (S105, S106). The mobile terminal device 10 displays, for example, zero as the printable number of the selected icon 88, that is, the number of printable sheets to be added, on the tutorial operation screens 76 and 77 (S19, S106). This allows the user to recognize that the free recharge number is zero.

[0064] When the mobile terminal device 10 accepts an operation on the selection icon 88 on the tutorial operation screen 74, it transmits an instruction to add the free recharge number and the one-time token acquired in S17 to the server 30 (S21). The server 30 acquires the free recharge number (zero in this case) associated with the one-time token acquired in S21 (S23).

[0065] For example, when the server 30 acquires information indicating that the free recharge number is zero in S23, it does not instruct the printer 20 to add the number, as indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 4, or executes the process of updating the server management table ST (S25 to S31). In other words, it does not execute the free recharge. This is because even if the process of S25 to S31 is executed and the free recharge number of zero sheets is added, it does not actually mean that a free recharge has been executed, and the number of printable sheets in the printer management table PT does not change. Note that the server 30 may execute S25 to S31 based on the free recharge number of zero sheets. Then, the server 30 may execute the process of acquiring the latest number of printable sheets from the printer 20 and updating (synchronizing) the number of printable sheets in the server management table ST.

[0066] After executing S23, the server 30 transmits a completion notification to the mobile terminal device 10 (S33). When the mobile terminal device 10 receives the completion notification of S33, it updates the display on the touch panel 14 without executing the process of updating the printable number 18C of its own device in S35. As shown in FIG. 7, when the selection icon 88 is selected on the tutorial operation screen 77, the mobile terminal device 10 displays the tutorial operation screen 78 (S107). The mobile terminal device 10 displays a message 93 on the tutorial operation screen 78 indicating that "the target printer 20 has already been charged for the first time for free" or "the number of free charges will not be added". In addition, the mobile terminal device 10 displays a confirmation button 95 with the word "OK" on the tutorial operation screen 78. The user operates the confirmation button 95 after checking the contents of the message 93.

[0067] When the confirmation button 95 is operated, the mobile terminal device 10 displays the tutorial operation screen 79 (S108). In the tutorial operation screen 79, the mobile terminal device 10 displays a message 81, number information 82, and a charge button 83, in the same manner as the tutorial operation screen 71. The mobile terminal device 10 also displays the printable number 18C (for example, zero) in the number information 82. This allows the instruction of the charge operation to be performed even after the second time. The above-mentioned content of the tutorial process is an example. For example, in the above-mentioned tutorial process after the second time, an instruction to add to the printer 20 is not required. Therefore, after obtaining information indicating that the number of free charges is zero in S17, the mobile terminal device 10 may transition only to the tutorial operation screen without communicating with the server 30.

[0068] (Normal charging process) Next, the normal charge process will be described. In the following description, the same contents as those in the tutorial process described above will be given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. Fig. 8 shows the user's work in the normal charge process and the contents of the processing of each device. Fig. 9 shows the transition of the screen on the touch panel 14 of the mobile terminal device 10 in the normal charge process.

[0069] First, in S41 of Fig. 8, the mobile terminal device 10 executes acceptance of a charge instruction. For example, the mobile terminal device 10 executes the application 18B, and when the charge icon 56 is operated in a state in which an arbitrary printer 20 is selected on the menu screen 51 shown in Fig. 5 and the message 65 is not displayed, the mobile terminal device 10 displays the selection screen 68 shown in Fig. 6. When the charge execution icon 66 is touched on the selection screen 68, the mobile terminal device 10 displays the charge operation screen 101 of Fig. 9 on the touch panel 14.

[0070] The charge operation screen 101 has the same screen configuration as the tutorial operation screen 71 in FIG. 7. When the charge button 83 on the charge operation screen 101 is operated, the mobile terminal device 10 displays the charge operation screen 102 on the touch panel 14 (S111). The charge operation screen 102 has the same configuration as the tutorial operation screen 73 in FIG. 7. In a normal charge process, the mobile terminal device 10 does not transmit an instruction to start the tutorial process (S13 in FIG. 4) to the server 30. In addition, the mobile terminal device 10 does not acquire the free charge number from the server 30, and does not display the free charge number in the selection icon 88 on the charge operation screen 102. The mobile terminal device 10 displays the number of printable sheets to be purchased (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the charge number) and the purchase amount for that charge number in a row on the selection icons 88 and 89 of the charge operation screen 102. In a normal recharge process, the mobile terminal device 10 displays, for example, different recharge quantities and their fees for each of the multiple selection icons 88, 89. The user selects the selection icon 88, 89 corresponding to the recharge quantity he or she wishes to purchase from the multiple selection icons 88, 89.

[0071] When either of the selection icons 88 and 89 is selected, the mobile terminal device 10 displays the charge operation screen 103 (S112). The mobile terminal device 10 displays a first input field 105, a second input field 106, and a decision button 107 on the charge operation screen 103. The mobile terminal device 10 accepts the input of the user's email address in the first input field 105. This email address is, for example, an email address for notifying the user that the fee has been collected according to the execution of the charge. The mobile terminal device 10 also accepts the payment method for the charge fee in the second input field 106. The payment method for the fee is not particularly limited, but may be a credit card, a convenience store payment, a bank account, electronic money, or the like. In this application, the collection of the fee refers to, for example, a credit card company billing the credit card accepted in the second input field 106 and receiving the payment, a convenience store accepting the deposit of the fee using the payment method of the convenience store payment, or a bank withdrawing the fee from a bank account.

[0072] When the decision button 107 is selected, the mobile terminal device 10 judges whether the contents accepted in the first input field 105 and the second input field 106 are correct, and if so, transmits a charge instruction to the server 30 (S43 in FIG. 8). Therefore, the mobile terminal device 10 does not accept information such as an email address and a payment method required in a normal charge process in the tutorial process described above. This omits the operation of accepting information that is not necessary in the tutorial process, and makes it possible to instruct the user on the charge operation in a concise and easy-to-understand manner. Note that the mobile terminal device 10 may also display a screen for accepting an email address and a payment method in the tutorial process, similar to the charge operation screen 103, and instruct the user on how to input an email address, etc.

[0073] In S43, the mobile terminal device 10 transmits to the server 30 the device ID of the printer 20 selected in S41, the charge number accepted on the charge operation screen 102, and the information on the email address and payment method accepted on the charge operation screen 103. When the server 30 acquires the charge instruction in S43, it executes confirmation of the payment method, etc. (S45). For example, the server 30 executes user authentication using the email address accepted in S43, and processing to confirm the payment method with the server of the credit card company or bank. Note that the server 30 may execute confirmation processing with the credit card company, etc. after completing synchronization processing of the printable number of sheets (S47 to 51) described later. In addition, once the email address and payment method are registered, the server 30 may reuse the registered email address and payment method in subsequent normal charge processing. In this case, the mobile terminal device 10 may display the registered information in the first input field 105 and the second input field 106 on the charge operation screen 103 and accept changes.

[0074] When the server 30 executes S45, it sends an instruction to add the charge amount acquired from the mobile terminal device 10 to the printer 20 of the device ID acquired from the mobile terminal device 10 (S47). When the printer 20 acquires the instruction to add S47, it adds the charge amount to the printable number in the printer management table PT (S49). When the printer 20 adds the charge amount to the printable number, it sends the printable number after the addition, i.e., the current printable number in the printer management table PT, to the server 30 (S51).

[0075] When the server 30 acquires the printable number in S51, it updates the information in the server management table ST associated with the printer 20 that is the source of the printable number, i.e., the printer 20 that is the target of the charge process (S53). The server 30 overwrites the printable number of the target printer 20 with the printable number acquired in S51 (S53). This allows the printable number in the printer management table PT to be synchronized with the printable number in the server management table ST. The server 30 also determines that the payment of the fee is completed when the charge of the printable number is completed, and collects the fee according to the charge number using the payment method acquired in S43 (S53). The payment in this application refers to, for example, a procedure for a sales contract for the printable number via the mobile terminal device 10. As described above, the server 30 makes a sales contract for the charge number through the operation of the mobile terminal device 10. The server 30 collects the fee upon completion of this sales contract (payment process). For example, in response to the settlement of the fee, the server 30 executes a notification requesting the credit card company, bank, etc. designated by the payment method to collect the fee. When the credit card company, etc. completes collection of the fee from the notified payment method (credit card number, etc.), it notifies the server 30 that collection of the fee has been completed. When the server 30 receives the notification that collection of the fee has been completed, it sends a notification that payment has been completed to the email address acquired in S43.

[0076] In addition, the settlement in the present application may not include the process until the charge is completed. For example, the server 30 may determine that the settlement is completed when the server 30 receives the charge instruction of S43 from the mobile terminal device 10. In this case, the server 30 may notify the credit card company or the like of the collection of the fee before executing the synchronization process of the printable number (S47 to S51). Furthermore, the server 30 may execute the process from the settlement of the fee to the collection process (such as withdrawal) without the credit card company or bank collecting the fee. Furthermore, the server 30 may not immediately collect the fee (such as notifying the credit card company) after the settlement process is completed. In this case, the server 30 may notify the email address accepted in the first input field 105 that the settlement of the fee has been completed. Therefore, the email address accepted in the first input field 105 may be used as a contact for the completion of the settlement, not as a contact for the collection of the fee.

[0077] When the server 30 executes S53, it transmits a completion notification indicating that charging has been completed to the mobile terminal device 10 (S55). In the completion notification of S55, the server 30 transmits the printable sheet count updated in S53 to the mobile terminal device 10. When the mobile terminal device 10 receives the completion notification of S55, it overwrites the printable sheet count 18C with the printable sheet count received from the server 30 (S57). This allows the printable sheet counts of the mobile terminal device 10, the printer 20, and the server 30 to be synchronized.

[0078] 9, when the confirm button 107 is selected on the charge operation screen 103, the mobile terminal device 10 displays the charge operation screen 104 (S113). In the charge operation screen 104, the mobile terminal device 10 displays a message 81, number information 82, and a charge button 83, similar to the charge operation screen 101. The mobile terminal device 10 also displays the number of printable sheets 18C after charging in the number information 82. This allows charging to be performed in accordance with the payment of the fee.

[0079] Incidentally, in the first embodiment described above, the printing system 1 is an example of a recording system. The mobile terminal device 10 is an example of an information processing device. The touch panel 14 is an example of an input interface and a display unit. The application 18B is an example of a program. The printer 20 is an example of a recording device. The printing unit 25 is an example of a recording unit. The printer storage unit 26B is an example of a recording device recording unit. The charge operation screen 103 is an example of a payment method input screen. The one-time token is an example of identification information. S101 to S108 are an example of a tutorial process. S111 to S113 are an example of a charge process. S53 is an example of a settlement process. S25 and S27 are examples of an addition process. S13 is an example of a start instruction transmission process. S15 is an example of an execution judgment process. S17 is an example of a response process. S19 is an example of a purchase acceptance process. S21 is an example of an execution instruction transmission process. S31 is an example of a setting process.

[0080] (Effects) According to the first embodiment described above, the following effects are obtained. (1) The printer 20 of the first embodiment includes a printing unit 25 that executes a printing operation on paper, and executes a printing operation by the printing unit 25 within the range of the printable number (an example of the recording permission amount of the present application). The mobile terminal device 10 displays tutorial operation screens 71-79 on the touch panel 14 for teaching a charging operation, which is an operation on the touch panel 14 for purchasing the printable number (S101-S108 in FIG. 7). According to this, by teaching the tutorial operation while displaying the tutorial operation screens 71-79, it is possible to teach the user the charging operation more specifically. The user can understand the procedure of the charging operation, which button to operate, and the like by operating the tutorial operation screens 71-79, and can learn the operation method until purchasing the printable number. As a result, it is possible to reduce the user's anxiety about the charging operation and promote the purchase of the printable number.

[0081] (2) The mobile terminal device 10 executes a process (S111 to S113) of displaying charge operation screens 101 to 104, which accept the purchase of the number of printable sheets, on the touch panel 14. According to this, after receiving a tutorial on the charge operation on one mobile terminal device 10, it is possible to perform the actual charge operation on the charge operation screens 101 to 104 to execute charging.

[0082] (3) The mobile terminal device 10 starts the charge process of S111 to S113 or the tutorial process of S101 to S108 in response to an operational input to the touch panel 14. This makes it possible to start the actual charge process or the tutorial process that teaches the charge operation in response to the content of the operational input to the touch panel 14. If the user does not need a tutorial and wishes to immediately perform charge, the user can start the charge process. Also, if the user is performing charge for the first time and wishes to receive a tutorial, the user can receive the tutorial by performing an operation to start the tutorial process.

[0083] (4) In the charge process, the mobile terminal device 10 receives an instruction to purchase the number of printable sheets on the charge operation screens 101-104 based on an operation input to the touch panel 14, and executes a process to increase the number of printable sheets of the printer 20 based on the received instruction to purchase the number of printable sheets. In this way, the mobile terminal device 10 can execute a charge process for the printer 20 and increase the number of printable sheets by receiving a charge operation on the charge operation screens 101-104. The user can select the number of printable sheets to charge by, for example, selecting the desired selection icon 88, 89 on the charge operation screen 102.

[0084] (5) In the tutorial process, the mobile terminal device 10 switches the tutorial operation screen 73 to the tutorial operation screen 74 so as to suppress the charge operation of the selection icon 89 for purchasing the number of printable sheets on the tutorial operation screen 73. This makes it possible to suppress the occurrence of an erroneous operation of purchasing the number of printable sheets by mistake in the tutorial process. The user can perform the simulated charge operation with more confidence.

[0085] (6) In the tutorial process, the mobile terminal device 10 displays the charge operation screen 102 in the charge process on the touch panel 14 as the tutorial operation screen 73, and switches between the tutorial operation screens 73, 74 to suppress the charge operation on the charge operation screen 102. By displaying the actual charge operation screen 102 as the tutorial operation screen 73, it is possible to instruct the user in an environment that is closer to the actual charge operation.

[0086] (7) When the charging process shown in Fig. 9 is executed, the printing system 1 settles the fee according to the number of printable sheets purchased (S53). When the tutorial process shown in Fig. 7 is executed, the printing system 1 does not execute the settlement process of S53. This allows the user to execute the tutorial process and learn the charging operation without worrying about the payment of the fee. Also, because no fee is charged, the user can receive the tutorial without selecting or registering a payment method, such as registering a credit card to pay for the number of printable sheets to be purchased.

[0087] (8) The printing system 1 includes a plurality of printers 20. The mobile terminal device 10 executes the tutorial process with any printer 20 selected (with the printer selected on the printer display unit 61). When the printing system 1 executes the tutorial process for the first time (first time) for the printer 20 selected in the tutorial process, it adds a predetermined free charge number to the printable number of the selected printer 20 without paying the fee (S25, S27). When the printing system 1 executes the tutorial process for the second or subsequent times for the selected printer 20, it does not execute the free charge of S25 even if the tutorial process is executed on the mobile terminal device 10. This allows the free charge number to be given to the user as a service in accordance with the execution of the first tutorial process. This makes it possible to make the user more willing to receive the tutorial. Also, by not executing the free charge from the second time onwards, it is possible to suppress the execution of the tutorial aimed at the printable number.

[0088] (9) The server 30 includes a server storage unit 32B. The server storage unit 32B stores the device ID of the printer 20 and an execution flag (an example of free charge execution information of the present application) indicating whether or not free charge has been performed on the printer 20 indicated by the device ID in association with each other. The mobile terminal device 10 transmits a start instruction to the server 30 in response to the start of the tutorial process (S13). The server 30 judges the execution flag for the printer 20 selected in the tutorial process based on the acquisition of the start instruction (S15). If the result of the judgment process of S15 shows that free charge has not been performed, the server 30 adds the free charge number to the selected printer 20 (S25, S27). In addition, if free charge has been performed, the server 30 does not perform free charge. This allows the server 30 to judge whether or not free charge has been performed for each printer 20 based on the execution flag. The server 30 can perform free charge on the printer 20 selected in the tutorial process in conjunction with the execution of the first tutorial process.

[0089] (10) When the server 30 determines that the free recharge number has not been added as a result of the determination process in S15, it responds to the mobile terminal device 10 with a one-time token that identifies the mobile terminal device 10 that is the transmission source and a predetermined free recharge number (S17). When the server 30 has already performed a free recharge, it responds to the mobile terminal device 10 with a one-time token and information indicating that the free recharge number is zero (S17 in the second or subsequent tutorial process). When the mobile terminal device 10 acquires a predetermined (non-zero) free recharge number in S17, it displays the free recharge number on the tutorial operation screen 74 as the recharge number to be added in the tutorial process, and when it acquires information indicating that the free recharge number is zero, it displays on the tutorial operation screen 77 that the number of recharges to be added is zero and accepts an operation to purchase a recharge number (S19). When the mobile terminal device 10 receives an operation to purchase the recharge number in S19, it transmits the one-time token acquired in S17 and an execution instruction to instruct the server 30 to increase the free recharge number (S21). When the server 30 acquires the execution instruction from the mobile terminal device 10, if it determines that the free recharge number responded in S17 is not zero based on the one-time token acquired in S21, it executes the free recharge (S23, S25).

[0090] According to this, when free recharge has already been performed, the user can be made aware that the number of free recharges is zero or that free recharge has already been performed via the tutorial operation screen 77. If the user can recognize that another user has performed free recharge, the user can decide not to perform unnecessary tutorial processing.

[0091] (11) Based on the execution of free recharge in S25 and S29, the server 30 sets information indicating that the free recharge quantity has been added to the execution flag associated with the printer 20 to which the free recharge quantity was added in S25 in the server storage unit 32B (S31). By updating the execution flag in accordance with the execution of the free recharge, the server 30 can determine whether or not the free recharge has been executed for the printer 20 associated with the execution flag.

[0092] (12) Application 18B displays on touch panel 14 a charge operation screen 103 (an example of a payment method input screen of the present application) for inputting the purchase of the number of printable sheets and the payment method for paying the fee corresponding to the purchase of the number of printable sheets (S112). Furthermore, application 18B instructs the charge operation in the tutorial process of FIG. 7 without displaying charge operation screen 103. This does not require the user to input a payment method or contact information such as an email address. In other words, the user can take the tutorial without registering a payment method or the like, making it easier for the user to take the tutorial.

[0093] (13) The application 18B starts the tutorial process of FIG. 7 with any printer 20 selected on the printer display unit 61. When the first tutorial process is executed with the printer 20 selected in the tutorial process, a predetermined free recharge number is added to the printable number of the printer without paying the fee, whereas when the second or subsequent tutorial process is executed with the printer 20 selected, the free recharge number is not added even if the tutorial process is executed. The application 18B does not display the free recharge number in the recharge process, but displays the free recharge number on the tutorial operation screens 73 and 74 of the tutorial process. This makes it possible to prevent the occurrence of erroneous operations by the user by not displaying the free recharge number in the recharge process, but displaying the free recharge number in the tutorial process. Also, free recharge can be executed only when the first tutorial process is executed.

[0094] (14) When the tutorial process for the selected printer 20 is the second or subsequent time, the application 18B displays a message 93 on the tutorial operation screen 78 indicating that the free charge number will not be increased even if an operation to purchase the number of printable sheets is performed on the touch panel 14. This makes it possible for the user to more reliably recognize that the free charge has been performed and that the free charge number will not be increased.

[0095] Second embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present application will be described. In the first embodiment described above, the server 30 managed the execution flags of the printers 20 in the printing system 1. In contrast, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the printer 20 manages the execution flag of the printer itself. In the following description, the same processes as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0096] (Tutorial process, 1st time) FIG. 10 shows the user's work and the contents of the processing of each device in the tutorial processing of the second embodiment. First, a case where an arbitrary printer 20 is selected in the application 18B and the first tutorial processing is executed for the arbitrary printer 20 will be described. Also, a case where the printer 20 with the device ID "dv1" (see FIG. 11 and FIG. 12) is set as the printer 20 will be described. For example, the user operates the portable terminal device 10 and the printer 20 to execute the communication setting of S10. Note that, in the second embodiment, as described later, it is possible to teach the charge operation only by the communication between the portable terminal device 10 and the printer 20, that is, even in a state where the server 30 cannot be connected. Therefore, the communication setting processing of S10 is not essential as a prerequisite for executing the processing after S11. In the following description, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, it is assumed that the printer 20 is not connected to the server 30 in the tutorial processing of S11 to S35. Furthermore, the mobile terminal device 10 may perform communication with the printer 20 from S11 onward via the external communication unit 16 and the router 2, or may perform the communication via the short-range communication unit 13 by short-range wireless communication.

[0097] When the application 18B is launched in a state in which the mobile terminal device 10 is able to communicate with the printer 20, the mobile terminal device 10 receives an instruction to start the tutorial process (S11). As in FIG. 5 of the first embodiment, the mobile terminal device 10 displays a message 65 on the recharge icon 56 indicating that free recharge is possible, and displays tutorial operation screens 71 and 72 shown in FIG. 7 in response to an operation on the recharge icon 56. When the recharge button 83 is operated on the tutorial operation screen 72, the mobile terminal device 10 transmits a start instruction to the printer 20 (S61).

[0098] When the printer 20 acquires the start instruction of S61, it judges whether or not the free charge has been performed based on the execution flag (S63). FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show the printer management table PT and the server management table ST of the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, the printer management table PT of the second embodiment has execution flag information set. Also, as shown in FIG. 12, the server management table ST of the second embodiment does not store execution flag information. When the printer 20 is shipped from the vendor, the execution flag of the printer management table PT of the printer 20 is set to a value "x" indicating that the free charge has not been performed, and when the first free charge is performed, the execution flag is set to a value "o" indicating that the free charge has been performed. Note that the server 30 may manage the execution flag of the printer management table PT of each printer 20 in the server management table ST in association with the device ID as in the first embodiment. Also, the first embodiment and the second embodiment may be combined. That is, the printing system 1 may include both a printer 20 that judges the free charge based on the execution flag of the server 30 and a printer 20 that judges the free charge based on the execution flag of the printer 20.

[0099] In S63, the printer 20 determines whether the execution flag in the printer management table PT indicates that execution has been completed. If the execution flag is set to a value indicating "x" indicating that execution has not been completed, the printer 20 sets a predetermined number (for example, 2000) as the free recharge number. The printer 20 issues a one-time token and temporarily stores the issued one-time token and the value of the free recharge number in the printer storage unit 26B. The printer 20 transmits information on the one-time token and the free recharge number associated in S63 to the mobile terminal device 10 (S65).

[0100] 7 is operated, the mobile terminal device 10 temporarily displays the tutorial operation screen 73 and then displays the tutorial operation screen 74. For example, the mobile terminal device 10 displays the tutorial operation screen 74, and upon receiving the information of S65, enables the operation on the selection icon 88 (S19). When the mobile terminal device 10 receives the operation on the selection icon 88 on the tutorial operation screen 74, the mobile terminal device 10 transmits an instruction to add the free charge number and the one-time token acquired in S65 to the printer 20 (S67).

[0101] When the printer 20 acquires the execution instruction of S67, it executes authentication based on the one-time token acquired in S67 and the one-time token stored in the printer storage unit 26B in S63 (S69). For example, if the values ​​of the two one-time tokens match, the printer 20 determines that the authentication is successful (S69). Also, if the two one-time tokens do not match, the printer 20 may notify the portable terminal device 10 of an error. This makes it possible to determine whether the portable terminal device 10 that transmitted the free recharge number in S65 is the same as the portable terminal device 10 that acquired the execution instruction in S67. Note that in the authentication process of S69, the printer 20 may compare hash values ​​of the two one-time tokens, without judging whether the one-time tokens match.

[0102] If the printer 20 succeeds in authenticating the one-time token in S69, it adds the free recharge number stored in the printer storage unit 26B in S63 to the printable number in the printer management table PT of its own device (S71). Since this is the first tutorial process, the printer 20 adds a free recharge number of 2000 sheets. The printer 20 also updates the execution flag in the printer management table PT to data indicating that execution has been completed (S73).

[0103] When the printer 20 updates the printable number and the execution flag in the printer management table PT, it transmits a completion notice to the mobile terminal device 10 (S75). In the completion notice of S75, the printer 20 transmits the printable number after updating in S73 to the mobile terminal device 10. When the mobile terminal device 10 acquires the completion notice of S75, it updates the printable number 18C with the printable number acquired from the printer 20 (S35). As in the first embodiment, when the selection icon 88 is selected on the tutorial operation screen 74 shown in FIG. 7, the mobile terminal device 10 displays the tutorial operation screen 75, and displays the printable number after the free charge (for example, 2000 sheets) acquired from the printer 20 in the number information 82 on the tutorial operation screen 75. This makes it possible to teach the charge operation and charge the free charge number even when the execution flag is managed by the printer 20.

[0104] As shown in FIG. 10, if the printer 20 is connected to the server 30 via the Internet 3 and is able to communicate after the tutorial process is completed, the printer 20 may synchronize the number of printable sheets with the server 30. The printer 20 transmits the number of printable sheets in the printer management table PT, i.e., the number of printable sheets after the free charge, to the server 30 (S77). When the server 30 acquires the number of printable sheets in S77, it updates the number of printable sheets associated with the printer 20 that sent the data, i.e., the printer 20 for which the free charge has been completed, in the server management table ST with the acquired number of printable sheets (S79). This allows the number of printable sheets of the mobile terminal device 10, the printer 20, and the server 30 to be synchronized. As described above, the tutorial process of the second embodiment does not require the process of the server 30. For this reason, the recording system of the present application may be configured without a server.

[0105] (Tutorial process, second time onwards) Next, a case where the tutorial process is executed for the second or later time will be described. In the following description, the description of the same contents as the first tutorial process described above will be omitted as appropriate. In the tutorial process for the second or later time, as in the first embodiment, when the printer 20 determines that the free recharge has been executed based on the execution flag in the printer management table PT (S63), it transmits information indicating that the free recharge number is zero to the mobile terminal device 10 (S65). The mobile terminal device 10 displays zero as the printable number of the selection icon 88 on the tutorial operation screens 76 and 77 shown in FIG. 7 (S19).

[0106] In addition, when the printer 20 acquires an execution instruction in S67, it does not execute the addition process (S71) shown by the dashed line in FIG. 10 or the update process (S73) of the printer management table PT, i.e., it does not execute free recharge. When the mobile terminal device 10 acquires the completion notification of S75, as in the first embodiment, it does not execute the update process of S35, but updates the display of the touch panel 14 as in the first embodiment (tutorial operation screens 77, 79). This allows the teaching of the recharge operation to be executed even after the second time. The above-mentioned content of the tutorial process is an example. For example, in the above-mentioned tutorial process after the second time, the addition process of the printer 20 is not required. For this reason, after acquiring information indicating that the number of free recharges is zero in S65, the mobile terminal device 10 may transition only to the tutorial operation screen without executing communication with the printer 20.

[0107] Incidentally, in the second embodiment described above, the one-time token is an example of identification information. S61 is an example of a start instruction sending process. S63 is an example of an execution judgment process. S71 is an example of an addition process. S65 is an example of a response process. S19 is an example of a purchase acceptance process. S67 is an example of an execution instruction sending process. S73 is an example of a setting process.

[0108] (Effects) According to the second embodiment described above, the same effects as those of the first embodiment are achieved. In addition, the second embodiment achieves the following effects. (1) The printer storage unit 26B stores an execution flag (an example of the free recharge execution information of the present application) indicating whether or not the free recharge number has been added to the printable number of the printer itself (FIG. 11). The mobile terminal device 10 transmits a start instruction to the printer 20 selected in the tutorial process in response to the start of the tutorial process (S61). The printer 20 judges the execution flag based on the acquisition of the start instruction (S63). If the mobile terminal device 10 judges that the free recharge has not been executed as a result of the judgment process of S63, it adds the free recharge number to the printable number in the printer management table PT of the mobile terminal device itself (S71). Also, if the printer 20 judges that the free recharge number has been added as a result of the judgment process of S63, it does not execute the free recharge of S71. According to this, the printer 20 can give the free recharge number to the user as a service in accordance with the execution of the first tutorial process. It is possible to make the user more willing to receive the tutorial. Also, by not executing the free recharge from the second time onwards, it is possible to suppress the execution of the tutorial aimed at the printable number.

[0109] (2) When the printer 20 determines that no free recharge has been performed as a result of the determination process in S63, it responds to the mobile terminal device 10 with the one-time token and the free recharge number (S65). When the printer 20 has already performed free recharge, it responds with the one-time token and information indicating that the free recharge number is zero (S65). When the mobile terminal device 10 acquires a predetermined (non-zero) free recharge number, it displays the free recharge number on the tutorial operation screen 74 as the number of printable sheets to be added, and when it acquires information indicating that the free recharge number is zero, it displays on the tutorial operation screen 77 that the free recharge number is zero and accepts an operation to purchase a recharge number (S19). When the mobile terminal device 10 accepts the operation to purchase, it transmits the one-time token acquired in S65 and an execution instruction to add the free recharge number to the printer 20 (S67). When the printer 20 acquires the execution instruction, if the one-time token acquired in S67 matches the one-time token responded in S65, and if it is determined based on the execution flag that free recharge has not been executed, the printer 20 executes free recharge.

[0110] According to this, the printer 20 can perform authentication using a one-time token and perform free recharge based on the execution flag. Also, when free recharge has already been performed, the user can be made aware via the tutorial operation screen 77 that the number of free recharges is zero or that free recharge has already been performed.

[0111] (3) The printer 20 sets information indicating that free recharge has been performed in the execution flag based on the execution of the process of S71 (S73). This allows the printer 20 to determine whether or not free recharge has been performed for the printer itself by updating the execution flag in accordance with the execution of free recharge.

[0112] (Modification) In the above embodiments, specific examples of the present application have been described in detail, 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 exemplified above. For example, in each of the above embodiments, the printable number is stored in the printer management table PT or the like, and the printable number is subtracted each time printing is performed to determine whether printing can be performed. In contrast, the printable number may be managed using an amount that increases with printing, such as the number of printed pages printed by the printer 20. In this case, the printable number can be managed, for example, by subtracting the number of printed pages from the charged number, which is the total number of charged pages. Also, the printing system 1 is a system that associates the device ID with the printable number of sheets and records them in the server management table ST, and manages the printable number of sheets for each printer 20, but is not limited to this. For example, the printing system 1 may be a system that manages the printable number of sheets by associating it with a user ID. The user ID here may be the ID of a user registered in the application 18B, the ID of a user who uses the mobile terminal device 10, or the like. Furthermore, the printing system 1 is configured to include the server 30, but may not be configured to include the server. For example, a charging tutorial may be executed in a system in which the mobile terminal device 10 and the printer 20 communicate with each other. Therefore, the recording system of the present application may not be configured to include a server. Furthermore, the recording system may not be configured to notify the server 30 or the printer 20 in response to the tutorial, or to execute free charging. In other words, the recording system may be configured to execute only the tutorial on the mobile terminal device 10. The printing system 1 may also be configured to include only one mobile terminal device 10 and one printer 20. The printing system 1 may also be configured to include one mobile terminal device 10 and multiple printers 20, or multiple mobile terminal devices 10 and one printer 20. Furthermore, the mobile terminal device 10 may be provided with an application 18B for executing the tutorial process and an application 18B for executing the charge process separately. Therefore, the mobile terminal device 10 may be configured to be capable of executing only one of the tutorial process or the charge process.

[0113] Furthermore, in the tutorial process, the mobile terminal device 10 displays the tutorial operation screen 73 which is the same as the charge operation screen 102, but it does not have to be displayed. The charge operation screens 101 to 104 and the tutorial operation screens 71 to 79 may have different screen configurations. Furthermore, the mobile terminal device 10 switches between the tutorial operation screens 71 to 79 in response to the user's operation input, but all screen switching may be performed automatically. Furthermore, the printing system 1 provides a free recharge number only for the first tutorial process, but the free recharge number may be provided from the second time onwards, for example, up to a predetermined number of times. 9, by selecting a desired selection icon 88, 89 from the tutorial operation screen 73 displayed on the touch panel 14, the charge number corresponding to the selected selection icon 88, 89 is charged to the printable number. However, it is also possible to configure the configuration so that the user can input the desired charge number, the charge number input by the user is charged to the printable number, and the vendor charges the user an amount according to the input charge number. In this case, for example, the mobile terminal device 10 may set the free charge number in the input field for the charge number in the tutorial process, and control the charge number so that it cannot be changed. Although the mobile terminal device 10, which is a smartphone, is used as the information processing terminal of the present application, the present invention is not limited to this. Terminals such as desktop PCs, notebook PCs, and tablet PCs can also be used as the information processing device. In addition, in the above embodiments, the first tutorial process and the second and subsequent tutorial processes when one mobile terminal device 10 is operated are described, but the same can be performed for multiple mobile terminal devices 10. For example, when the first tutorial process is performed for any printer 20, free recharge is performed regardless of which of the multiple mobile terminal devices 10 is operated. Also, when the second or subsequent tutorial process is performed for any printer 20, free recharge does not have to be performed regardless of which of the multiple mobile terminal devices 10 is operated.

[0114] The printer 20 may be configured so that the user can refill ink (so that each ink tank in the tank unit 23 can be replaced). Another example of a means for refilling consumables such as ink is a configuration in which ink can be poured into the tank unit 23 from a bottle containing ink. In addition, although an inkjet printer 20 is adopted as the recording device of the present application, a laser printer or a thermal printer may be used. In addition, the recording device is not limited to a printer for personal users, but may be a commercial or industrial printing machine. The recording device may be a multifunction device having a scanning function, a copying function, a fax function, etc. in addition to a printing function. In addition, the recording device may be a scanner, a copying machine, or a fax machine. In addition, the permitted recording amount is not limited to the number of printable sheets, but may be the permitted number of times scanning or faxing can be performed. In addition, the recording device may be a laser marker that performs marking on metal members, etc. with a laser. Therefore, the recording medium of the present application is not limited to paper, but may be a metal member, etc. In addition, the permitted recording amount is not limited to the number of printable sheets, but may be the permitted number of times laser processing can be performed. Furthermore, the permitted recording amount in this application is not limited to the number of printable sheets. For example, the permitted recording amount may be the amount of ink or toner consumed. The permitted recording amount may be the amount of ink permitted to be ejected (dots (pixels)) or the amount of ink permitted to be used (e.g., ml). Alternatively, the permitted recording amount may be defined by the number of rotations of a member that rotates in conjunction with the printing operation, such as a photosensitive drum.

[0115] Furthermore, printer 20 is configured to store printer management table PT in printer storage unit 26B, but this is not limited to the above. For example, printer 20 may be equipped with a reading IF capable of reading IC cards, memory cards, etc. Printer 20 may then read and use information in printer management table PT, such as the device ID and printable number of sheets, from an IC card or the like attached to the reading IF. In other words, printer 20 may be configured to manage printer management table PT using an IC card or the like. Alternatively, printer 20 may store and manage information in printer management table PT, such as the number of printable pages, in memory provided in an ink tank of tank section 23, or in the case of a laser printer, in a memory of a toner cartridge or a memory of a photosensitive drum, other than printer memory section 26B in which printer program 26B1 is stored. [Explanation of symbols]

[0116] 1 printing system (recording system), 10 portable terminal device (information processing device), 14 touch panel (input interface, display unit), 18B application (program), 20 printer (recording device), 25 printing unit (recording unit), 26B printer memory unit (recording device recording unit), 30 server, 32B server memory unit, 71-79 tutorial operation screen, 93 message, 101-104 charge operation screen, 103 charge operation screen (payment method input screen).

Claims

1. An information processing device; A recording device; A recording system comprising: The information processing device includes: An input interface; A display unit; Equipped with The recording device includes: a recording unit which performs a recording operation on a recording medium, the recording operation being performed by the recording unit within a range of a recording permission amount which permits the recording operation by the recording unit; The information processing device includes: a charging process for displaying a charging operation screen for accepting purchase of the recording allowance amount on the display unit and accepting an instruction to purchase the recording allowance amount on the charging operation screen; a tutorial process for displaying on the display unit a tutorial operation screen for teaching a charging operation, which is an operation on the input interface for purchasing the recording permission amount in the charging process, based on a predetermined condition being satisfied; Run The tutorial operation screen includes: A recording system in which the charge operation screen is a screen to which a message showing an explanation regarding the charge operation is added.

2. The recording system comprises: The recording system according to claim 1 , further comprising a server that manages the permitted recording amount.

3. The information processing device includes:

3. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the charging process or the tutorial process is started in response to an operation input to the input interface.

4. The information processing device includes:

4. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein, in the charging process, an instruction to purchase the permitted recording amount is received on the charging operation screen based on an operation input to the input interface, and a process is executed to increase the permitted recording amount of the recording device based on the recording amount for which the instruction to purchase has been received.

5. The information processing device includes:

5. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein in the tutorial process, the tutorial operation screen is switched so as to suppress the charge operation for purchasing the recording allowance amount on the tutorial operation screen.

6. The information processing device includes: The recording system according to claim 5 , wherein in the tutorial processing, the charge operation screen in the charge processing is displayed on the display unit as the tutorial operation screen, and the tutorial operation screen is switched to suppress the charge operation on the charge operation screen.

7. The recording system comprises: When the charge process is executed, execute a payment process for paying a fee according to the purchased recording permission amount; When the tutorial process is executed, The recording system according to claim 1 , wherein the payment process is not executed.

8. The recording system comprises: A recording apparatus comprising: The information processing device includes: With any one of the recording devices selected, the tutorial process is executed; The recording system comprises: when the tutorial process is executed for the first time for the recording device selected in the tutorial process, an additional process is executed for adding a predetermined free recording allowance to the recording allowance of the selected recording device without paying a fee; A recording system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein when the tutorial process is executed for a second or subsequent time on the selected recording device, the additional process is not executed even if the tutorial process is executed on the information processing device.

9. The recording system comprises: Further comprising a server; The server, A server storage unit is provided, The server storage unit the recording device and free charge execution information indicating whether the free recording allowance amount has been added to the recording device are stored in association with each other; The information processing device includes: execute a start instruction transmission process to transmit a start instruction to the server in response to the start of the tutorial process; The server, executes an execution determination process for determining the free charge execution information for the recording device selected in the tutorial process based on the acquisition of the start instruction; if it is determined that the free recording allowance has not been added as a result of the execution determination process, the addition process is performed on the recording device selected in the tutorial process; 9. The recording system according to claim 8, wherein when it is determined that the free recording allowance has been added as a result of the execution determination process, the adding process is not executed.

10. The server, if it is determined as a result of the execution determination process that the free recording allowance amount has not been added, a response process is executed to the information processing device, which responds with identification information for identifying the information processing device that is a transmission source and the free recording allowance amount, and if it is determined as a result of the execution determination process that the free recording allowance amount has been added, a response process is executed to respond with the identification information and information indicating that the free recording allowance amount is zero, to the information processing device; The information processing device includes: a purchase acceptance process for, when the free recording allowance amount is acquired in the response process, displaying the free recording allowance amount on the tutorial operation screen as the recording allowance amount to be added in the tutorial process, and, when the information indicating that the free recording allowance amount is zero is acquired in the response process, displaying on the tutorial operation screen in the tutorial process that the recording allowance amount to be added is zero and accepting an operation to purchase the recording allowance amount; an execution instruction sending process for sending, to the server, the identification information acquired in the response process and an execution instruction for adding the free recording allowance when a purchase operation is accepted in the purchase acceptance process; Run The server, 10. The recording system according to claim 9, wherein when the execution instruction is acquired from the information processing device, if it is determined that the free recording permission amount responded in the response process is not zero based on the identification information acquired in the execution instruction sending process, the additional process is executed.

11. The server, 11. The recording system according to claim 9, further comprising: a setting process for setting, in the server storage unit, information indicating that the free recording allowance has been added to the free charge execution information associated with the recording device to which the free recording allowance has been added in the additional process, based on the execution of the additional process.

12. The recording device includes: a recording device recording unit for recording the recording permission amount, The recording unit of the recording device storing free charge execution information indicating whether the free recording allowance amount has been added to the recording allowance amount of the own device; The information processing device includes: executes a start instruction transmission process to transmit a start instruction to the recording device selected in the tutorial process in response to the start of the tutorial process; The recording device includes: Executing an execution determination process for determining the free charge execution information based on the acquisition of the start instruction; When it is determined that the free recording allowance amount has not been added as a result of the execution determination process, the addition process is performed to add the free recording allowance amount to the recording allowance amount stored in the recording unit; 9. The recording system according to claim 8, wherein when it is determined that the free recording allowance has been added as a result of the execution determination process, the adding process is not executed.

13. The recording device includes: if it is determined as a result of the execution determination process that the free recording allowance amount has not been added, a response process is executed to the information processing device, which responds with identification information for identifying the information processing device that is a transmission source and the free recording allowance amount, and if it is determined as a result of the execution determination process that the free recording allowance amount has been added, a response process is executed to respond with the identification information and information indicating that the free recording allowance amount is zero, to the information processing device; The information processing device includes: a purchase acceptance process for, when the free recording allowance amount is acquired in the response process, displaying the free recording allowance amount on the tutorial operation screen as the recording allowance amount to be added in the tutorial process, and, when the information indicating that the free recording allowance amount is zero is acquired in the response process, displaying on the tutorial operation screen in the tutorial process that the recording allowance amount to be added is zero and accepting an operation to purchase the recording allowance amount; an execution instruction sending process for sending, when a purchase operation is accepted in the purchase acceptance process, the identification information acquired in the response process and an execution instruction for executing an increase in the free recording allowance amount to the recording device; Run The recording device includes:

13. The recording system according to claim 12, wherein when the execution instruction is obtained from the information processing device, if the identification information obtained in the execution instruction sending process matches the identification information responded in the response process, and if it is determined that the addition of the free recording permission amount has not been performed based on the free charge execution information, the addition process is performed.

14. The recording device includes:

14. The recording system according to claim 12, further comprising a setting process for setting information indicating that the free recording allowance has been added to the free charge execution information based on the execution of the adding process.

15. A program readable by a computer of an information processing device capable of communicating with a recording device, The information processing device includes: An input interface; A display unit; Equipped with The recording device includes: a recording unit which performs a recording operation on a recording medium, the recording operation being performed by the recording unit within a range of a recording permission amount which permits the recording operation by the recording unit; The computer includes: a charging process for displaying a charging operation screen for accepting purchase of the recording allowance amount on the display unit and accepting an instruction to purchase the recording allowance amount on the charging operation screen; a tutorial process for displaying on the display unit a tutorial operation screen for teaching a charging operation, which is an operation on the input interface for purchasing the recording permission amount in the charging process, based on a predetermined condition being satisfied; Run the command, The tutorial operation screen includes: A program which is a screen in which a message showing an explanation regarding the charge operation is added to the charge operation screen.

16. The computer includes: executing a charging process for displaying on the display unit a payment method input screen for inputting a payment method for purchasing the recording allowance amount and paying a fee corresponding to the purchase of the recording allowance amount; 16. The program according to claim 15, wherein in the tutorial process, the charging operation is taught without displaying the payment method input screen.

17. The computer includes: Executing the tutorial process while any one of the recording devices is selected; The recording device includes: When the tutorial process of the information processing device is executed for the first time with the device itself selected in the tutorial process, a predetermined free recording allowance amount is added to the recording allowance amount of the device itself without payment of a fee, whereas when the tutorial process is executed for the second or subsequent time with the device itself selected, the free recording allowance amount is not added even if the tutorial process is executed, The computer includes:

17. The program according to claim 16, wherein the free recording allowance amount is not displayed in the charging process, and the free recording allowance amount is displayed on the tutorial operation screen in the tutorial process.

18. The computer includes:

18. The program according to claim 17, wherein, when the tutorial process is performed for the recording device selected in the tutorial process for the second or subsequent time, a message is displayed on the tutorial operation screen indicating that the free recording allowance will not be added even if an operation to purchase the recording allowance is performed on the input interface.

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