Billing System Sheet Jam Fraud Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing billing systems for image forming systems face challenges in preventing fraudulent usage and double billing when a sheet jam occurs, as they either allow non-discharged printed sheets to be retrieved or result in inconvenient cancellation of print jobs.
Innovation Solution
A billing system with a counting unit, determination unit, and billing unit that counts the number of printed sheets only when the print job is cancelled, ensuring accurate billing and preventing fraudulent usage by switching billing counters based on user operations and purge functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If discharged-based billing method is used to prevent double billing, then billing accuracy is improved, but fraudulent usage becomes possible where users can retrieve non-discharged printed sheets during sheet jam
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary billing action when image formation is completed, before the sheet is discharged. The billing unit bills the user when the image forming operation is completed, regardless of whether the sheet is subsequently discharged or retrieved during a jam condition. This preliminary billing prevents fraudulent usage while maintaining billing accuracy.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If image formation-based billing is used to prevent fraudulent usage, then billing security is improved, but double billing occurs when print job is continued after sheet jam recovery
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the discharge detection sensor to determine whether to bill for interrupted sheets. When a sheet is detected as discharged by the discharge detection sensor, the billing unit does not bill for that sheet even if image formation was completed during interruption. This feedback mechanism prevents double billing while maintaining security against fraudulent usage.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If print job is cancelled after sheet jam to prevent fraudulent usage, then billing security is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to inconvenient cancellation
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines whether to bill for interrupted sheets based on the discharge detection sensor feedback and user operation state. When the user continues the print job after jam recovery, the system automatically determines not to bill for previously interrupted sheets. This self-service approach maintains billing security without requiring explicit user cancellation actions, preserving user convenience.
Data Source
AI summary
A billing system used together with an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet and discharging the sheet includes: a counting unit for counting, when a print job is interrupted, a billing unit number for a sheet which already has an image formed thereon when the interruption occurs and which has not discharged from the image forming apparatus; a determination unit for determining whether the print job is continued or cancelled after the print job is interrupted; and a billing unit for counting a billing counter corresponding to an amount for which the image forming apparatus is used, and billing a user who uses the image forming apparatus according to the billing counter, wherein the billing unit switches whether the billing counter is counted by using a count result of the counting unit in accordance with a determination result of the determination unit.