MFP Charging System Divides Costs for Mismatched Processing Capabilities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image processing charging systems fail to accurately charge users when there is a mismatch in processing capacity between the transmitting and destination devices, leading to either the transmitting user or the destination user being unfairly charged for unintended monochrome printing instead of color printing.
Innovation Solution
A charging system that includes a transmitting source accepting portion, a destination accepting portion, a specifying portion, an apparatus determining portion, and a charging portion to acquire and apply charges based on the processing capacity of the destination apparatus, allowing for divided charging between the transmitting user and the destination user when the intended processing is not executable by the destination apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the transmitting user transmits color image data to a destination apparatus that only supports monochrome printing, then the destination user can output the image data, but the intended color printing cannot be achieved and charging becomes unfair
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification by having the destination apparatus check its own processing capacity before accepting the image processing request. The destination apparatus returns capacity information to the transmitting apparatus, which then determines whether to proceed with charging based on the verified compatibility between the requested processing and available capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The destination apparatus provides feedback about its processing capacity to the transmitting apparatus. This feedback mechanism allows the transmitting apparatus to make informed charging decisions by knowing exactly what processing capabilities are available at the destination, ensuring accurate and fair charging.
2Ease of operation
If the system charges only the destination user for image processing, then the charging process is simple, but the transmitting user may be unfairly charged when the destination apparatus cannot execute the intended processing
Solution Approach 1:
The charging process is segmented into distinct phases: verification phase where destination capacity is checked, decision phase where charging eligibility is determined, and execution phase where appropriate charging occurs. This segmentation maintains simplicity while ensuring fairness by separating the verification step from the charging step.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmitting apparatus acts as an intermediary that receives capacity information from the destination apparatus, processes this information to determine charging eligibility, and then executes the appropriate charging action. This intermediary role ensures both simplicity and fairness in the charging process.
3Measurement precision
If the system verifies processing capacity compatibility before charging, then charging accuracy improves, but the system complexity increases due to additional verification steps
Solution Approach 1:
The destination apparatus performs self-verification by checking its own processing capacity and returning this information to the transmitting apparatus. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex centralized verification systems, maintaining measurement precision while reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacity verification is performed as a preliminary action before the main charging process. By obtaining capacity information in advance, the system avoids complex real-time verification during charging, thus improving measurement precision without significantly increasing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In order to charge a proper amount of money to the transmitting source and the destination, an MFP accepts transmitting source specifying information for identifying a transmitting user, destination specifying information for specifying a data destination, specifying of the data, and a processing procedure defining processing executed with respect to the specified data. The MFP acquires apparatus identification information for identifying a destination apparatus corresponding to the destination and capacity information defining processing executable by the destination apparatus. The MFP then compares the processing procedure with acquired restriction information. When the processing defined by the capacity information does not include part of the processing defined by the processing procedure, the MFP charges a processing charge for the data in a divided manner to the transmitting user and the destination user.