Automatic Printing Authority Purchase at Allowable-Amount Thresholds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of prepaid printing services face increased time and effort when frequently purchasing additional printing authorities to maintain printing capabilities, as existing systems require manual intervention for each printing authority replenishment.

Innovation Solution

A system that includes a terminal device, printing apparatus, and an information management device to automatically purchase printing authorities when a predetermined threshold is met, thereby increasing the allowable printing amount based on a guaranteed amount.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual purchasing processing is used for printing authority, then users can control and manage their printing authority purchases, but time and effort increase due to frequent manual interventions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of purchasing printing authorityVSAvoidtime required for purchasing printing authority

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic purchasing processing where the printing apparatus autonomously purchases printing authority when the allowable printing amount becomes zero or less, eliminating the need for manual user intervention and thereby reducing both time and effort required for purchasing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary configuration of automatic purchasing by storing purchase conditions and payment information in advance, so that when the printing authority is depleted, the replenishment can occur automatically without requiring real-time user action

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Extent of automation

If automatic purchasing processing is implemented, then time and effort for users are reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of purchasing processingVSAvoidcomplexity of purchasing system

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The information management device serves multiple functions including managing printing authority, processing automatic purchases, and handling payment transactions, thereby implementing automation without requiring separate dedicated systems for each function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The information management device acts as an intermediary between the printing apparatus and the payment system, handling the complex automated purchasing logic and payment processing while presenting a simple interface to the user

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12417057B2Printing authority management system, printing apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.09.16 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A printing authority management system includes a terminal device, a printing apparatus, and an information management device configured to communicate with the printing apparatus and the terminal device via a network, and manage the printing apparatus and increase an allowable printing amount of the printing apparatus in accordance with a predetermined guaranteed printing amount guaranteed by a printing authority acquired from an expense of a user. The printing authority management system includes a storage that stores a threshold and one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to: execute automatic purchase of the printing authority in response to satisfaction of a threshold condition based on the threshold; grant the automatically purchased printing authority to the user or the printing apparatus; and add the guaranteed printing amount corresponding to the granted printing authority to the allowable printing amount of the printing apparatus.