Billing Destination Update via Card Reader
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses that charge for printing, users face inefficiency when switching billing destinations, as they must repeatedly navigate through operation panel screens for each printing job, making the process time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus and method that allow users to change billing destinations without using the operation panel by inputting new billing information via a card reader or similar device, which updates the billing destination in storage, enabling seamless switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a selection screen is displayed on the operation panel for users to select a billing destination, then the billing destination can be selected and set, but the process becomes time-consuming due to repeated screen switching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical interaction of screen display and user input through the operation panel with a card-based system. The card reader automatically reads billing destination information from an inserted card, eliminating the need for manual screen navigation and input, thus resolving the contradiction between selection accuracy and time efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a card as an intermediary carrier of billing destination information. The card stores the billing destination data and serves as a mediator between the user's selection intent and the system's billing destination setting, eliminating the need for direct interaction with the operation panel and resolving the time-consuming screen switching issue
2Reliability
If the operation panel is used for selecting billing destination, then the selection process is controlled and recorded, but the process becomes complex and error-prone due to multiple操作步骤
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical interaction sequence of screen navigation, button pressing, and confirmation through the operation panel with a simple card insertion action. The card reader automatically captures and processes the billing destination information, eliminating operational complexity and reducing error opportunities while maintaining reliability through automated reading and validation
Solution Approach 2:
The card-based system enables self-service for billing destination selection. The card itself carries the necessary information, and the card reader automatically reads and processes it without requiring user guidance through multiple steps. This self-contained approach simplifies operation while maintaining accuracy through automated information capture
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus comprises: a controller storing therein a billing destination to which a fee for printing processing is charged, the controller operable to receive, from a user via an operation panel, an instruction for executing the printing processing while the user is logged in and to charge, to the billing destination, the fee for the execution of the printing processing; a card reader operable to receive a new billing destination while the user is logged in, without intervention of the operation panel, wherein when receiving the new billing destination, the controller updates the billing destination to the new billing destination by storing the new billing destination.