Job execution device, data processing program, and information processing system

Abstract

To provide a job execution device, a data processing program, and an information processing system that allow a billing amount calculation system to appropriately calculate the amount of billing in the job execution device.SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus comprises: a job execution unit that executes a job; a tabulation data generation unit that generates tabulation data indicating a result of tabulation of the amount in a billing unit in the job executed by the job execution unit; and a tabulation data transmission unit that transmits the tabulation data generated by the tabulation data generation unit to a billing amount calculation system. When a unit price of the job is changed in S141, the tabulation data generation unit separately generates tabulation data of the job before the change of the unit price and tabulation data of the job after the change of the unit price (S143), and manages the unit price corresponding to the generated pieces of tabulation data (S145). The tabulation data transmission unit transmits the pieces of tabulation data to the billing amount calculation system in association with the unit price corresponding to the pieces of tabulation data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a job execution device that executes a job, a data processing program, and an information processing system.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an information processing system including a job execution device that executes a job and a charging amount calculation system that calculates a charging amount in the job execution device has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this information processing system, aggregation data indicating the aggregation result of the quantity of charging units (hereinafter referred to as "charging quantity") in the job executed by the job execution device is received by the charging amount calculation system.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the conventional information processing system, when the unit price of a job is changed and the charging quantity of the job before the unit price change and the charging quantity of the job after the unit price change are totaled and included in the same aggregation data, there is a problem that the charging amount calculation system cannot correctly calculate the charging amount in the job execution device based on this aggregation data.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a job execution device, a data processing program, and an information processing system that can appropriately calculate the charging amount in the job execution device by the charging amount calculation system.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The job execution device of the present invention is a job execution device that executes a job, and includes a job execution unit that executes the job, a total data generation unit that generates total data indicating the total result of the quantity of the billing unit in the job executed by the job execution unit, and a total data transmission unit that transmits the total data generated by the total data generation unit to a billing amount calculation system that calculates the billing amount in the job execution device. The total data generation unit separately generates the total data of the job before the change in the unit price and the total data of the job after the change in the unit price when the unit price of the job is changed, manages the unit price corresponding to the generated total data, and the total data transmission unit transmits the total data to the billing amount calculation system in association with the unit price corresponding to the total data.

[0007] With this configuration, when the unit price of the job is changed, the job execution device of the present invention separately generates the total data of the job before the change in the unit price and the total data of the job after the change in the unit price, manages the unit price corresponding to the generated total data, and transmits the total data to the billing amount calculation system in association with the unit price corresponding to the total data. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the quantity of the billing unit of the job before the change in the unit price and the quantity of the billing unit of the job after the change in the unit price from being totaled and included in the same total data. As a result, the billing amount in the job execution device can be appropriately calculated by the billing amount calculation system.

[0008] In the job execution device of the present invention, the total data generation unit may generate the total data indicating the total result of the quantity that has not yet been totaled in the job before the change in the unit price, triggered by the change in the unit price.

[0009] With this configuration, whenever the unit price of a job is changed, the job execution device of the present invention generates aggregation data indicating the aggregation result of the quantity of the billing unit of the job before the unit price change that has not yet been aggregated. As a result, each time the unit price of a job is changed, the aggregation data for the job before the unit price change can be generated, thereby reducing the possibility that the processing load of generating the aggregation data will be concentrated at one time.

[0010] The data processing program of the present invention is a data processing program executed by a computer, and includes an aggregation data generation unit that generates aggregation data indicating the aggregation result of the quantity of the billing unit in the job executed by the computer, and an aggregation data transmission unit that transmits the aggregation data generated by the aggregation data generation unit to a billing amount calculation system that calculates the billing amount in the computer. The computer is caused to implement these units. The aggregation data generation unit separately generates the aggregation data for the job before the unit price change and the aggregation data for the job after the unit price change when the unit price of the job is changed, manages the unit price corresponding to the generated aggregation data, and the aggregation data transmission unit transmits the aggregation data to the billing amount calculation system in association with the unit price corresponding to this aggregation data.

[0011] With this configuration, when the unit price of a job is changed, the computer that executes the data processing program of the present invention separately generates the aggregation data for the job before the unit price change and the aggregation data for the job after the unit price change, manages the unit price corresponding to the generated aggregation data, and transmits the aggregation data to the billing amount calculation system in association with the unit price corresponding to this aggregation data. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the quantity of the billing unit of the job before the unit price change and the quantity of the billing unit of the job after the unit price change from being totaled and included in the same aggregation data. As a result, the billing amount calculation system can appropriately calculate the billing amount in the job execution device.

[0012] The information processing system of the present invention is an information processing system including a job execution device that executes a job and a charging amount calculation system that calculates a charging amount in the job execution device. The job execution device includes a job execution unit that executes the job, an aggregation data generation unit that generates aggregation data indicating an aggregation result of the quantity of charging units in the job executed by the job execution unit, and an aggregation data transmission unit that transmits the aggregation data generated by the aggregation data generation unit to the charging amount calculation system. The aggregation data generation unit separately generates the aggregation data of the job before the change of the unit price and the aggregation data of the job after the change of the unit price when the unit price of the job is changed, manages the unit price corresponding to the generated aggregation data, and the aggregation data transmission unit transmits the aggregation data to the charging amount calculation system in association with the unit price corresponding to the aggregation data.

[0013] With this configuration, when the unit price of a job is changed, the information processing system of the present invention separately generates the aggregation data of the job before the change of the unit price and the aggregation data of the job after the change of the unit price, manages the unit price corresponding to the generated aggregation data, and transmits the aggregation data to the charging amount calculation system in association with the unit price corresponding to the aggregation data. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the quantity of charging units of the job before the change of the unit price and the quantity of charging units of the job after the change of the unit price from being totaled and included in the same aggregation data. As a result, the charging amount in the job execution device can be appropriately calculated by the charging amount calculation system.

Advantages of the Invention

[0014] The job execution device, data processing program, and information processing system of the present invention can appropriately calculate the charging amount in the job execution device by the charging amount calculation system.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] First, the configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information processing system 10 according to the present embodiment.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system 10 includes an image processing apparatus 20 as a job execution apparatus that executes jobs, and a charging amount calculation system 30 that calculates the charging amount in the image processing apparatus. The information processing system 10 can also include an image processing apparatus as a job execution apparatus other than the image processing apparatus 20.

[0020] For example, the image processing apparatuses in the information processing system 10 are arranged in retail stores such as convenience stores and public institutions such as schools. As the image processing apparatuses in the information processing system 10, for example, image forming apparatuses such as MFPs (Multifunction Peripherals), dedicated copiers, and dedicated printers, and dedicated scanners can be adopted.

[0021] Note that the image processing apparatuses in the information processing system 10 usually perform charging each time they are used. For example, this charging is settled via a charging system (not shown) attached to the image processing apparatus, or when the image processing apparatus is arranged in a retail store, it is settled at the cash register of the retail store. For example, as the charging system, a coin vendor that can accept cash payments and a kiosk terminal that can accept non-cash payments such as credit card payments can be adopted.

[0022] The charging amount calculation system 30 may be configured by one computer or may be configured by a plurality of computers.

[0023] The image processing apparatus in the information processing system 10 and the charging amount calculation system 30 can communicate with each other via a network 11 such as the Internet.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image processing apparatus 20 in the case of an MFP.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing apparatus 20 includes an operation unit 21 which is an operation device such as a button for inputting various operations, a display unit 22 which is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for displaying various information, a printer 23 which is a printing device for printing an image on a recording medium such as paper, a scanner 24 which is a reading device for reading an image from a document, a facsimile communication unit 25 which is a facsimile device for performing facsimile communication via a communication line such as an external facsimile apparatus (not shown) and a public telephone line, a communication unit 26 which is a communication device for communicating with an external device directly by wire or wirelessly via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet, or without passing through a network, a storage unit 27 which is a non-volatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) for storing various information, and a control unit 28 for controlling the entire image processing apparatus 20.

[0026] The storage unit 27 stores a job execution program 27a for executing various jobs and a data processing program 27b for processing aggregation data indicating the aggregation result of the quantity of charging units (hereinafter referred to as "charging quantity") in a job. The job execution program 27a and the data processing program 27b may be installed in the image processing apparatus 20 at the manufacturing stage of the image processing apparatus 20, may be additionally installed in the image processing apparatus 20 from an external storage medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, or may be additionally installed in the image processing apparatus 20 from the network. The job execution program 27a and the data processing program 27b may be combined into one program.

[0027] The storage unit 27 can store, as a charging table indicating the charging system used for charging, a printing charge table 27c indicating the charging system for printing an image on a recording medium, and a scanning charge table 27d indicating the charging system for reading an image from an original, that is, scanning.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the printing charge table 27c.

[0029] The printing charge table 27c shown in FIG. 3 includes the unit price of a normal monochrome copy of A4 size (hereinafter referred to as "A4 monochrome copy"), the unit price of a normal monochrome copy of A3 size (hereinafter referred to as "A3 monochrome copy"), the unit price of a normal color copy of A4 size (hereinafter referred to as "A4 color copy"), the unit price of a normal color copy of A3 size (hereinafter referred to as "A3 color copy"), the unit price of a monochrome copy (hereinafter referred to as "ID card monochrome copy") among ID card copies in which both sides of an ID card such as a driver's license and an insurance card are aggregated on one side of a recording medium and copied, the unit price of a color copy (hereinafter referred to as "ID card color copy") among ID card copies, the unit price of monochrome printing (hereinafter referred to as "A4 monochrome printing") among normal prints of A4 size based on data acquired from an external storage medium such as a USB memory or data acquired via a network, the unit price of monochrome printing (hereinafter referred to as "A3 monochrome printing") among normal prints of A3 size based on data acquired from an external source, the unit price of color printing (hereinafter referred to as "A4 color printing") among normal prints of A4 size based on data acquired from an external source, the unit price of color printing (hereinafter referred to as "A3 color printing") among normal prints of A3 size based on data acquired from an external source, the unit price of monochrome printing (hereinafter referred to as "card monochrome printing") among card prints for printing on a card-type recording medium, and the unit price of color printing (hereinafter referred to as "card color printing") among card prints.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the scanning charge table 27d.

[0031] The scan charge table 27d shown in FIG. 4 includes the unit price of scanning an A4-sized original to generate a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) file (hereinafter referred to as "A4 JPEG scan"), the unit price of scanning an A3-sized original to generate a JPEG file (hereinafter referred to as "A3 JPEG scan"), the unit price of scanning an A4-sized original to generate a PDF (Portable Document Format) file (hereinafter referred to as "A4 PDF scan"), the unit price of scanning an A3-sized original to generate a PDF file (hereinafter referred to as "A3 PDF scan"), and the unit price of scanning an ID card-sized original to generate an image file (hereinafter referred to as "ID card scan").

[0032] As shown in FIG. 2, the storage unit 27 can store a job history 27e indicating the execution result in job units. The storage unit 27 can store job histories other than the job history 27e.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the job history 27e.

[0034] The job history 27e shown in FIG. 5 includes the execution date and time of the job, the type of the job, and the charging quantity in the job. Here, the charging quantity is the number of printed pages in the executed job when the type of the job is copy or print, and is the number of pages of the image in the image file generated in the executed job when the type of the job is scan. The job history 27e may include the number of printed sheets in the executed job when the type of the job is copy or print. For example, double-sided printing on one recording medium has a total of 2 printed pages, 1 page on the front and 1 page on the back, but the number of printed sheets is 1. The job history 27e may include the destination FAX number when the type of the job is a FAX transmission job.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, the storage unit 27 can store aggregation data 27f indicating an aggregation result based on job history. The storage unit 27 can store aggregation data other than the aggregation data 27f.

[0036] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the aggregation data 27f.

[0037] The aggregation data 27f shown in FIG. 6 includes the execution date and time of aggregation, the type of job, and the billing quantity.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, the storage unit 27 can store correspondence relationship information 27g indicating the correspondence relationship between the aggregation data and the billing table.

[0039] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the correspondence relationship information 27g.

[0040] The correspondence relationship information 27g shown in FIG. 7 shows, for each aggregation data, the aggregation data ID as the identification information of the aggregation data and the billing table ID as the identification information of the billing table. In FIG. 7, "PrintPriceVERNo0.11" and "PrintPriceVERNo0.12" indicate that the billing table IDs of the printing price table 27c are "0.11" and "0.12" respectively, and "ScanPriceVERNo0.11" indicates that the billing table ID of the scan price table 27d is "0.11".

[0041] As shown in FIG. 2, the storage unit 27 can store a counter 27h indicating the cumulative execution result for each type of job.

[0042] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the counter 27h.

[0043] The counter 27h shown in FIG. 8 includes the cumulative quantity of A4 monochrome copies, the cumulative quantity of A3 monochrome copies, the cumulative quantity of A4 color copies, the cumulative quantity of A3 color copies, the cumulative quantity of ID card monochrome copies, the cumulative quantity of ID card color copies, the cumulative quantity of A4 monochrome prints, the cumulative quantity of A3 monochrome prints, the cumulative quantity of A4 color prints, the cumulative quantity of A3 color prints, the cumulative quantity of card monochrome prints, the cumulative quantity of card color prints, the cumulative quantity of A4 JPEG scans, the cumulative quantity of A3 JPEG scans, the cumulative quantity of A4 PDF scans, the cumulative quantity of A3 PDF scans, and the cumulative quantity of ID card scans. Here, the cumulative quantity is the cumulative number of printed pages by the executed jobs when the job type is copy or print, and is the cumulative number of pages of images in the image files generated in the executed jobs when the job type is scan.

[0044] The control unit 28 shown in FIG. 2 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and various data, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) as a memory used as the working area of the CPU of the control unit 28. Therefore, the image processing apparatus 20 constitutes a computer. The CPU of the control unit 28 executes the programs stored in the storage unit 27 or the ROM of the control unit 28.

[0045] The control unit 28 realizes a job execution unit 28a that executes a job and a charging execution unit 28b that performs charging by executing a job execution program 27a.

[0046] The control unit 28 realizes an aggregated data generation unit 28c that generates aggregated data and an aggregated data transmission unit 28d that transmits the aggregated data to a charging amount calculation system 30 (see FIG. 1) by executing a data processing program 27b.

[0047] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a charging amount calculation system 30 when it is configured by one computer.

[0048] The charging amount calculation system 30 shown in FIG. 9 includes an operation unit 31 which is an operation device such as a keyboard or a mouse into which various operations are input, a display unit 32 which is a display device such as an LCD for displaying various information, a communication unit 33 which is a communication device that communicates directly with an external device by wire or wirelessly via a network such as a LAN or the Internet or without going through a network, a storage unit 34 which is a non-volatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD for storing various information, and a control unit 35 for controlling the entire charging amount calculation system 30.

[0049] The storage unit 34 stores a charging control program 34a for controlling charging in the image processing apparatus. The charging control program 34a may be installed in the charging amount calculation system 30 at the manufacturing stage of the charging amount calculation system 30, may be additionally installed in the charging amount calculation system 30 from an external storage medium such as a USB memory, or may be additionally installed in the charging amount calculation system 30 from the network.

[0050] The storage unit 34 can store a printing fee table 34b as a charging table. The storage unit 34 can store a printing fee table other than the printing fee table 34b. The configuration of the printing fee table stored in the storage unit 34 is the same as the configuration of the printing fee table 27c (see FIG. 3).

[0051] The storage unit 34 can store a scanning fee table 34c as a charging table. The storage unit 34 can store a scanning fee table other than the scanning fee table 34c. The configuration of the scanning fee table stored in the storage unit 34 is the same as the configuration of the scanning fee table 27d (see FIG. 4).

[0052] The storage unit 34 can store the aggregated data 34d. The storage unit 34 can also store aggregated data other than the aggregated data 34d. The configuration of the aggregated data stored in the storage unit 34 is the same as the configuration of the aggregated data 27f (see FIG. 6).

[0053] The storage unit 34 can store correspondence information 34e indicating the correspondence between the aggregated data and the charging table. The configuration of the correspondence information 34e is the same as the configuration of the correspondence information 27g (see FIG. 7).

[0054] The control unit 35 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data, and a RAM that serves as a working area for the CPU of the control unit 35. The CPU of the control unit 35 executes a program stored in the storage unit 34 or the ROM of the control unit 35.

[0055] By executing the charging control program 34a, the control unit 35 realizes a charging table update unit 35a that causes the image processing apparatus to update the charging table, an aggregated data collection unit 35b that collects aggregated data from the image processing apparatus, and a charging amount calculation unit 35c that calculates the charging amount in the image processing apparatus.

[0056] Next, the operation of the information processing system 10 will be described.

[0057] First, the operation of the image processing apparatus 20 when a job is executed will be described.

[0058] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the operation of the image processing apparatus 20 when a job is executed.

[0059] Each time the aggregated data generation unit 28c of the image processing apparatus 20 executes an operation shown in FIG. 10 each time a copy, print, or scan job is executed by the job execution unit 28a in response to a user's instruction.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 10, the aggregation data generation unit 28c generates a job history indicating the execution result of the executed job (hereinafter referred to as the "target job" in the description of the operation shown in FIG. 10) (S101), and stores the job history generated in S101 in the storage unit 27 (S102).

[0061] Next, the job execution unit 28a updates the counter 27h according to the execution result of the target job (S103).

[0062] Next, the charging execution unit 28b determines the type of the target job (S104).

[0063] If it is determined in S104 that the type of the target job is a copy or print job, the charging execution unit 28b specifies the unit price of the target job using the print charge table 27c (S105).

[0064] Next, the charging execution unit 28b calculates the charging amount of the target job by multiplying the unit price specified in S105 by the number of printed pages in the target job (S106).

[0065] If it is determined in S104 that the type of the target job is a scan job, the charging execution unit 28b specifies the unit price of the target job using the scan charge table 27d (S107).

[0066] Next, the charging execution unit 28b calculates the charging amount of the target job by multiplying the unit price specified in S107 by the number of pages of the image in the image file generated in the target job (S108).

[0067] When the process of S106 or S108 is completed, the charging execution unit 28b requests the user for the charging amount calculated in S106 or S108 (S109), and ends the operation shown in FIG. 10.

[0068] Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus 20 when generating aggregation data periodically will be described.

[0069] Figure 11 is a flowchart of the operation of the image processing apparatus 20 when periodically generating aggregated data.

[0070] The aggregated data generation unit 28c of the image processing apparatus 20 periodically executes the operation shown in FIG. 11, for example, at 11:59 PM every day.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 11, the aggregated data generation unit 28c identifies the "aggregation execution date and time" included in the latest aggregated data stored in the storage unit 27 (S121).

[0072] Next, the aggregated data generation unit 28c generates aggregated data indicating the aggregation result based on all job histories in the job history stored in the storage unit 27 whose "job execution date and time" is after the "aggregation execution date and time" identified in S121, that is, all job histories that have not yet been aggregated (S122), and stores the aggregated data generated in S122 in the storage unit 27 (S123).

[0073] Next, the aggregated data generation unit 28c associates the aggregated data ID of the aggregated data stored in S123 with the respective charging table IDs of the print charge table 27c and the scan charge table 27d stored in the storage unit 27, and stores the association relationship information 27g (S124), and ends the operation shown in FIG. 11.

[0074] Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus 20 when updating the charging table will be described.

[0075] Figure 12 is a flowchart of the operation of the image processing apparatus 20 when updating the charging table.

[0076] When the charging table update unit 35a of the charging amount calculation system 30 is instructed to update the charging table of the image processing apparatus 20 via the operation unit 31 or the communication unit 33, for example, it transmits an instruction to update the charging table (hereinafter referred to as "charging table update instruction") to the image processing apparatus 20. Here, the charging table update unit 35a includes a new charging table to be updated among the charging tables stored in the storage unit 34 in the charging table update instruction. When the charging execution unit 28b of the image processing apparatus 20 receives the charging table update instruction transmitted from the charging amount calculation system 30, it executes the operation shown in FIG. 12.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 12, the charging execution unit 28b updates the charging table stored in the storage unit 27 with the charging table included in the charging table update instruction received from the charging amount calculation system 30 (S141). That is, when the charging table update instruction includes a printing fee table, the charging execution unit 28b updates the printing fee table 27c stored in the storage unit 27 with the printing fee table included in the charging table update instruction. Also, when the charging table update instruction includes a scanning fee table, the charging execution unit 28b updates the scanning fee table 27d stored in the storage unit 27 with the scanning fee table included in the charging table update instruction.

[0078] After the process of S141, the aggregation data generation unit 28c specifies the "aggregation execution date and time" included in the latest aggregation data stored in the storage unit 27 (S142).

[0079] Next, the aggregation data generation unit 28c generates aggregation data indicating an aggregation result based on all job histories stored in the storage unit 27 in which the "job execution date and time" is after the "aggregation execution date and time" specified in S142 and before the update of the charging table in S141, that is, all unaggregated job histories that do not include the execution results of jobs for which charging has been executed using the updated charging table in S141 (S143), and stores the aggregation data generated in S143 in the storage unit 27 (S144).

[0080] Next, the aggregation data generation unit 28c associates the aggregation data ID of the aggregation data saved in S144 with each charging table ID of the printing charge table 27c and the scanning charge table 27d stored in the storage unit 27, and saves the association in the association relationship information 27g (S145), and ends the operation shown in FIG. 12.

[0081] Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus 20 when transmitting a log to the charging amount calculation system 30 will be described.

[0082] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the operation of the image processing apparatus 20 when transmitting a log to the charging amount calculation system 30.

[0083] The aggregation data collection unit 35b of the charging amount calculation system 30 periodically notifies the image processing apparatus 20 of a log request (hereinafter referred to as "log request"), for example, every two days or every three days. Here, the aggregation data collection unit 35b can include an instruction on whether to print a log in the image processing apparatus 20 in the log request according to an instruction via, for example, the operation unit 31 or the communication unit 33. When the aggregation data transmission unit 28d of the image processing apparatus 20 is notified of a log request from the charging amount calculation system 30, it executes the operation shown in FIG. 13.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 13, the aggregation data transmission unit 28d identifies all the aggregation data that has not yet been transmitted as a log to the charging amount calculation system 30 among the aggregation data stored in the storage unit 27, that is, all the aggregation data stored after the previous log request from the charging amount calculation system 30 (S161).

[0085] Next, the aggregation data transmission unit 28d determines whether the plurality of aggregation data in which the charging tables associated in the association relationship information 27g are different from each other are included in the aggregation data identified in S161 (S162).

[0086] If the aggregation data transmission unit 28d determines in S162 that the aggregation data specified in S161 does not include a plurality of aggregation data associated with different charging tables in the correspondence information 27g, it generates a log based on all the aggregation data specified in S161 and the counter 27h (S163).

[0087] If the aggregation data transmission unit 28d determines in S162 that the aggregation data specified in S161 includes a plurality of aggregation data associated with different charging tables in the correspondence information 27g, it generates a log for each group of aggregation data having the same charging table associated in the correspondence information 27g among the aggregation data specified in S161, based on the aggregation data and the counter 27h (S164). That is, the aggregation data transmission unit 28d generates a plurality of logs in S164.

[0088] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between aggregation data and logs when the image processing apparatus 20 generates a plurality of logs.

[0089] FIG. 14 shows aggregation data 51 with an aggregation execution date and time of "23:59 on April 1, 2021", aggregation data 52a with an aggregation execution date and time of "14:25 on April 2, 2021", aggregation data 52b with an aggregation execution date and time of "23:59 on April 2, 2021", aggregation data 53 with an aggregation execution date and time of "23:59 on April 3, 2021", logs 54 and 55.

[0090] For aggregation data 51 and aggregation data 52a, "0.11" is associated as the charging table ID of the printing fee table 27c, and "0.11" is associated as the charging table ID of the scan fee table 27d. For aggregation data 52b and aggregation data 53, "0.12" is associated as the charging table ID of the printing fee table 27c, and "0.11" is associated as the charging table ID of the scan fee table 27d.

[0091] In the example shown in FIG. 14, the aggregation data transmission unit 28d generates a log 54 based on the aggregation data 51 and the aggregation data 52a in which the combination of the charging table ID of the printing fee table 27c and the charging table ID of the scanning fee table 27d is the same, and also generates a log 55 based on the aggregation data 52b and the aggregation data 53 in which the combination of the charging table ID of the printing fee table 27c and the charging table ID of the scanning fee table 27d is the same.

[0092] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a log 60 generated by the image processing apparatus 20.

[0093] The log 60 shown in FIG. 15 includes a header 61 of the log 60 itself, counter information 62 based on the counter 27h, charging table ID information 63 indicating the charging table ID associated with the aggregation data included in the log 60, device information 64 of the image processing apparatus 20, and a group 65 of aggregation data.

[0094] In FIG. 15, in the header 61, the value of the item "START" indicating the start date and time of creation of the log 60 is "April 6, 2021 0:36", the value of the item "ID" indicating the identification information of the store where the image processing apparatus 20 is installed is "03003971203", the value of the item "SN" indicating the serial number which is the identification information of the image processing apparatus 20 is "ZA26700011", the value of the item "COMPANYLOGO" indicating the name of the store where the image processing apparatus 20 is installed is "KDC001", the value of the item "DATE" indicating the start date and time of creation of the previous log is "April 4, 2021 0:36", and the value of the item "SIZE" indicating the number of aggregation data included in the log 60 is shown to be "48".

[0095] In FIG. 15, in the counter information 62, the value of the item "COPY_PAGES,A4,A3" indicating the cumulative quantity of A4 monochrome copies and A3 monochrome copies respectively is "3228,470", that is, it is shown that the cumulative quantity of A4 monochrome copies and the cumulative quantity of A3 monochrome copies are "3228" and "470" respectively. Also, in FIG. 15, in the counter information 62, the value of the item "CCOPY_PAGES,A4,A3" indicating the cumulative quantity of A4 color copies and A3 color copies respectively is "233,22", that is, it is shown that the cumulative quantity of A4 color copies and the cumulative quantity of A3 color copies are "233" and "22" respectively. Also, in FIG. 15, in the counter information 62, the value of the item "ID_COPY_PAGES" indicating the cumulative quantity of ID card monochrome copies is "710", and the value of the item "CID_COPY_PAGES" indicating the cumulative quantity of ID card color copies is "14". Also, in FIG. 15, in the counter information 62, the value of the item "PRINT_PAGES" indicating the cumulative quantity of A4 monochrome prints and A3 monochrome prints respectively is "4275,41", that is, it is shown that the cumulative quantity of A4 monochrome prints and the cumulative quantity of A3 monochrome prints are "4275" and "41" respectively. Also, in FIG. 15, in the counter information 62, the value of the item "CPRINT_PAGES" indicating the cumulative quantity of A4 color prints and A3 color prints respectively is "646,92", that is, it is shown that the cumulative quantity of A4 color prints and the cumulative quantity of A3 color prints are "646" and "92" respectively. Also, in FIG. 15, in the counter information 62, the value of the item "CardPRINT_PAGES" indicating the cumulative quantity of card monochrome prints is "20", and the value of the item "CardCPRINT_PAGES" indicating the cumulative quantity of card color prints is "10".Also, in FIG. 15, in the counter information 62, the value of the item "SCAN_JPEG_PAGES" indicating the cumulative quantity of each of the A4 JPEG scan and the A3 JPEG scan is "58,0", that is, it is shown that the cumulative quantity of the A4 JPEG scan and the cumulative quantity of the A3 JPEG scan are "58" and "0" respectively. Also, in FIG. 15, in the counter information 62, the value of the item "SCAN_PDF_PAGES" indicating the cumulative quantity of each of the A4 PDF scan and the A3 PDF scan is "1,0", that is, it is shown that the cumulative quantity of the A4 PDF scan and the cumulative quantity of the A3 PDF scan are "1" and "0" respectively. Also, in FIG. 15, in the counter information 62, the value of the item "ID_SCAN_PAGES" indicating the cumulative quantity of the ID card scan is shown to be "10".

[0096] In the billing table ID information 63 shown in FIG. 15, the value of the item "PrintPriceVERNo" indicating the billing table ID of the print price table 27c associated with the aggregated data included in the log 60 is "0.11", and the value of the item "ScanPriceVERNo" indicating the billing table ID of the scan price table 27d associated with the aggregated data included in the log 60 is shown to be "0.11". Here, the print price table 27c and the scan price table 27d include the unit price of the job. Therefore, by including the billing table ID information 63 and the group 65 of the aggregated data in the log 60, the aggregated data is associated with the unit price corresponding to this aggregated data.

[0097] In the device information 64 shown in FIG. 15, the value of the item "MF_FWVERNo" indicating the version of the firmware of the image processing apparatus 20 is "2VG_S000.001.322", the value of the item "Toner_Box" indicating the remaining capacity of the waste toner box of the image processing apparatus 20 is "1", the value of the item "TONERY" indicating the remaining amount of yellow toner of the image processing apparatus 20 is "80", the value of the item "TONERM" indicating the remaining amount of magenta toner of the image processing apparatus 20 is "50", the value of the item "TONERC" indicating the remaining amount of cyan toner of the image processing apparatus 20 is "30", the value of the item "TONERK" indicating the remaining amount of black toner of the image processing apparatus 20 is "10", the value of the item "CASSETTE1" indicating the remaining amount of the recording medium in the first paper feed cassette of the image processing apparatus 20 is "80", the value of the item "CASSETTE2" indicating the remaining amount of the recording medium in the second paper feed cassette of the image processing apparatus 20 is "50", the value of the item "CASSETTE3" indicating the remaining amount of the recording medium in the third paper feed cassette of the image processing apparatus 20 is "30", and the value of the item "CASSETTE4" indicating the remaining amount of the recording medium in the fourth paper feed cassette of the image processing apparatus 20 is "10".

[0098] In the group 65 shown in FIG. 15, one piece of aggregated data is shown for each line.

[0099] As shown in FIG. 13, after the process of S163 or S164, the aggregated data transmission unit 28d transmits the log generated in S163 or S164 to the charging amount calculation system 30 as a response to the log request (S165).

[0100] Next, the aggregated data transmission unit 28d determines whether an instruction to print a log in the image processing apparatus 20 is included in the log request (S166).

[0101] If the aggregation data transmission unit 28d determines in S166 that an instruction to print a log is included in the log request in the image processing apparatus 20, it prints the log generated in S163 or S164 using the printer 23 (S167). Therefore, the administrator of the image processing apparatus 20 can confirm the content of the log transmitted from the image processing apparatus 20 to the charging amount calculation system 30 by means of the printed matter by the printer 23.

[0102] If the aggregation data transmission unit 28d determines in S166 that an instruction to print a log is not included in the log request in the image processing apparatus 20, or if the process of S167 ends, it ends the operation shown in FIG. 13.

[0103] Next, the operation of the charging amount calculation system 30 when receiving a log will be described.

[0104] FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the operation of the charging amount calculation system 30 when receiving a log.

[0105] When the aggregation data collection unit 35b of the charging amount calculation system 30 receives a log transmitted from the image processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as "target log" in the description of the operation shown in FIG. 16), it executes the operation shown in FIG. 16.

[0106] As shown in FIG. 16, the aggregation data collection unit 35b stores the aggregation data included in the target log in the storage unit 34 in association with the serial number of the image processing apparatus included in the target log (S181).

[0107] Next, the aggregation data collection unit 35b stores the combination of the aggregation data ID of the aggregation data included in the target log and the charging table ID included in the target log in the correspondence relationship information 34e (S182), and ends the operation shown in FIG. 16.

[0108] Note that in FIG. 16, specific operations using the aggregated data and the billing table ID included in the target log are described. However, the billing amount calculation system 30 can execute various operations based on various information included in the target log.

[0109] Next, the operation of the billing amount calculation system 30 when calculating the billing amount in the image processing apparatus will be described.

[0110] FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the operation of the billing amount calculation system 30 when calculating the billing amount in the image processing apparatus.

[0111] The billing amount calculation unit 35c of the billing amount calculation system 30 executes the operation shown in FIG. 17 in a specific case, such as when receiving an instruction via the operation unit 31 or the communication unit 33.

[0112] As shown in FIG. 17, the billing amount calculation unit 35c identifies one piece of aggregated data specified by the user for one image processing apparatus specified by the user among the aggregated data stored in the storage unit 34 (S201). Here, the billing amount calculation unit 35c may specify the image processing apparatus and the aggregated data by an instruction via the operation unit 31 or the communication unit 33, for example.

[0113] After the process of S201, the billing amount calculation unit 35c identifies the billing table associated with the aggregated data identified in S201 in the correspondence relationship information 34e among the billing tables stored in the storage unit 34 (S202).

[0114] Next, the billing amount calculation unit 35c identifies the unit price of the job shown in the aggregated data using the billing table identified in S202 (S203).

[0115] Next, the billing amount calculation unit 35c calculates the billing amount for the job shown in the aggregated data by multiplying the unit price identified in S203 by the billing quantity included in the aggregated data identified in S201 (S204), and ends the operation shown in FIG. 17.

[0116] In the operation shown in FIG. 17, the billing amount calculation unit 35c calculates the billing amount based on one aggregated data of one image processing apparatus. However, the billing amount calculation unit 35c can similarly calculate the billing amount based on a plurality of aggregated data by calculating the billing amount based on the aggregated data and the billing table corresponding to this aggregated data. For example, a plurality of aggregated data can be specified by specifying the period of the execution date and time of the aggregation. The plurality of aggregated data may be the aggregated data of one image processing apparatus or the aggregated data of a plurality of image processing apparatuses.

[0117] As described above, when the unit price of the job is changed in the image processing apparatus 20 (S141), the image processing apparatus 20 separately generates the aggregated data of the job before the change of the unit price and the aggregated data of the job after the change of the unit price (S122 and S143), manages the unit price corresponding to the generated aggregated data (S124 and S145), and transmits the aggregated data to the billing amount calculation system 30 in association with the unit price corresponding to this aggregated data (S165). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the billing quantity of the job before the change of the unit price and the billing quantity of the job after the change of the unit price from being totaled and included in the same aggregated data. As a result, the billing amount calculation system 30 can appropriately calculate the billing amount in the image processing apparatus 20.

[0118] When the billing amount calculation system 30 can appropriately calculate the billing amount in the image processing apparatus 20, for example, the operator of the billing amount calculation system 30 can be made to confirm whether the total amount actually paid by the user of the image processing apparatus 20 is different from the billing amount calculated by the billing amount calculation system 30.

[0119] When the charge amount calculation system 30 can appropriately calculate the charge amount for the image processing device 20, for example, when the person who allows the user of the image processing device 20 to use the image processing device 20 (hereinafter referred to as the "device operator") is different from the person who provides the image processing device 20 to the device operator (hereinafter referred to as the "device provider"), and when the contract stipulates that an amount corresponding to the charge amount for the image processing device 20 is paid from the device operator to the device provider, the charge amount calculation system 30 can appropriately calculate the amount to be paid from the device operator to the device provider.

[0120] The image processing device 20 generates aggregated data showing the aggregation results of the not-yet-aggregated billing quantities for the job before the unit price was changed (S143) when the unit price of the job is changed, so that aggregated data for the job before the unit price was changed can be generated every time the unit price of the job is changed, thereby reducing the possibility that the processing burden of generating aggregated data will be concentrated all at once.

[0121] The image processing device 20 does not send the charge quantity of a job to the charge calculation system 30 each time a job is executed, but instead includes summary data indicating the results of tallying the charge quantities of multiple jobs in a log and sends the log to the charge calculation system 30 (S165), thereby reducing the amount of communication with the charge calculation system 30.

[0122] In this embodiment, the aggregated data transmission unit 28d of the image processing device 20 transmits a log to the charge amount calculation system 30 every time a log request is notified from the charge amount calculation system 30. However, even if a log request is not notified from the charge amount calculation system 30, the aggregated data transmission unit 28d may transmit a log to the charge amount calculation system 30 periodically, for example, every two or three days. [Explanation of symbols]

[0123] 10. Information Processing Systems 20 Image processing device (job execution device) 27b Data processing program 27f Aggregated Data 28a Job Execution Unit 28c Aggregate Data Generation Unit 28d Aggregate Data Transmission Unit 30 Billing Amount Calculation System 34d Aggregate Data 51, 52a, 52b, 53 Aggregate Data 54, 55 Log 60 Log 65 Group of Aggregate Data

Claims

1. A job execution device for executing a job, comprising: a job execution unit that executes the job; an aggregation data generation unit that generates aggregation data indicating an aggregation result of the quantity of billing units in the job executed by the job execution unit; an aggregation data transmission unit that transmits the aggregation data generated by the aggregation data generation unit to a billing amount calculation system that calculates a billing amount in the job execution device; and when the unit price of the job is changed, the aggregation data generation unit separately generates the aggregation data of the job before the change of the unit price and the aggregation data of the job after the change of the unit price, manages the unit price corresponding to the generated aggregation data, the aggregation data transmission unit transmits the aggregation data to the billing amount calculation system in association with the unit price corresponding to the aggregation data, wherein the aggregation data generation unit generates aggregation data indicating an aggregation result of the quantity that has not yet been aggregated in the job before the change of the unit price, triggered by the change of the unit price. A job execution device characterized by this.

2. A data processing program executed by a computer, comprising: an aggregation data generation unit that generates aggregation data indicating an aggregation result of the quantity of billing units in the job executed by the computer; an aggregation data transmission unit that transmits the aggregation data generated by the aggregation data generation unit to a billing amount calculation system that calculates a billing amount in the computer; to be realized on the computer, when the unit price of the job is changed, the aggregation data generation unit separately generates the aggregation data of the job before the change of the unit price and the aggregation data of the job after the change of the unit price, manages the unit price corresponding to the generated aggregation data, the aggregation data transmission unit transmits the aggregation data to the billing amount calculation system in association with the unit price corresponding to the aggregation data, wherein the aggregation data generation unit generates aggregation data indicating an aggregation result of the quantity that has not yet been aggregated in the job before the change of the unit price, triggered by the change of the unit price. A data processing program characterized by this.

3. An information processing system comprising: a job execution device that executes a job; and a billing amount calculation system that calculates a billing amount in the job execution device, wherein the job execution device A job execution unit that executes the job; An aggregation data generation unit that generates aggregation data indicating the aggregation result of the quantity of the billing unit in the job executed by the job execution unit; An aggregation data transmission unit that transmits the aggregation data generated by the aggregation data generation unit to the billing amount calculation system; Comprising; When the unit price of the job is changed, the aggregation data generation unit separately generates the aggregation data of the job before the change of the unit price and the aggregation data of the job after the change of the unit price, and manages the unit price corresponding to the generated aggregation data; The aggregation data transmission unit transmits the aggregation data to the billing amount calculation system in association with the unit price corresponding to the aggregation data; The information processing system is characterized in that the aggregation data generation unit generates the aggregation data indicating the aggregation result of the quantity that has not yet been aggregated of the job before the change of the unit price, triggered by the change of the unit price.

Images