Cost Management Flexibility in Multi-Currency Output Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cost administration methods in image forming apparatuses and output systems are inflexible, particularly for companies operating across multiple countries with different currencies, as they rely solely on point systems that fail to provide a clear and adaptable cost calculation.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that includes a selection receiving unit for output instructions, an acquisition unit for cost rate information associated with a currency unit, a calculation unit to calculate costs based on the cost rate, a cost display unit to show costs in the currency unit, and an output process unit to output the data, enabling flexible cost administration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a point system is used for cost administration, then the system is simple to implement, but the cost administration becomes inflexible and unclear for users across multiple countries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of cost representation from abstract points to concrete currency values. The calculation unit computes costs using cost rates that convert output quantities into currency amounts, and the cost display unit presents these currency values to users. This parameter change enables flexible cost administration across multiple countries while maintaining system manageability through automated calculation.
2Ease of operation
If costs are displayed in abstract points, then the calculation method is simple, but the cost display is not user-friendly and does not clearly convince users of the cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the cost display parameter from abstract points to concrete currency values. The cost display unit outputs currency amounts that are familiar and meaningful to users, enabling them to clearly understand and evaluate costs. This maintains simplicity through automated calculation while dramatically improving user-friendliness and cost clarity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a common cost calculation method is used for multiple countries, then the system is easy to manage, but it does not provide appropriate cost administration for different currencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces currency-specific cost rates as a parameter that adapts the cost calculation to different countries and currencies. The acquisition unit obtains appropriate cost rates based on the user's location or selection, and the calculation unit uses these localized rates to compute costs in the relevant currency. This enables multi-currency support while keeping the underlying calculation mechanism consistent and manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus for controlling an output of an output data includes a selection receiving unit configured to receive an output instruction, in which the output data is selected, from a user; an acquisition unit configured to acquire calculation information, which associates a cost rate being a cost per an output unit of the output data with a currency unit used to display the cost calculated based on the cost rate, and which is associated with the user; a calculation unit configured to calculate the cost corresponding to an output of the output data, which corresponds to the output instruction received from the user, by using the cost rate included in the acquired calculation information; a cost display unit configured to display the calculated cost on a screen in the currency unit included in the acquired calculation information; and an output process unit configured to output the output data.