Image Forming Apparatus Pre-Billing Job Accomplishment Check
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the pre-billing method for image forming apparatuses, the occurrence of refund processes due to consumable deficiencies during job execution is inefficient, requiring manual intervention and time for electronic payment refunds.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with a determination part to assess job accomplishability before billing, deciding whether to perform the billing process based on the determination, thereby preventing unnecessary billing and refunds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pre-billing method is used for electronic payment, then billing efficiency is improved, but refund process complexity increases when consumable deficiencies occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a determination process before billing to check whether the job can be completed successfully. This preliminary action identifies potential consumable deficiencies before the billing occurs, preventing the need for complex refund processes later. The controller determines job accomplishability by checking consumable levels and job requirements in advance.
2Power
If billing is performed before job completion, then cash flow is improved, but refund operations require manual intervention increasing time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines job accomplishability and controls the billing process without requiring manual intervention for refund operations. When a consumable deficiency is detected during the determination process, the system automatically cancels the billing rather than requiring staff to manually process refunds, thus reducing time consumption and enabling self-service operation.
3Speed
If pre-billing method is adopted, then payment processing speed is improved, but occurrence of partial job execution increases leading to refunds
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the determination process provides information about job accomplishability based on consumable levels. This feedback allows the billing control to be adjusted accordingly - billing is performed only when the job can be completed successfully, and cancelled when consumable deficiencies are predicted, thus maintaining both speed and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes: a determination part that performs an accomplishment determination process which is a process of determining whether or not a job is accomplishable prior to a billing process using a pre-billing method which is a billing method of billing for execution of the job before completion of the job; and a decision part that decides whether or not to perform the billing process based on the determination result of the accomplishment determination process, wherein the decision part decides that the billing process is to be performed for the execution of the job when it is determined that the job is accomplishable, and decides that the billing process is not to be performed for the execution of the job when it is determined that the job is not accomplishable.