MFP Print Job Counting for Accurate Charge Calculation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in accurately counting printed sheets, leading to incorrect charging when print jobs are transferred between devices due to failures, resulting in higher charges for users or missed discounts on volume printing.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus and print system that includes a job accepting portion, a printing portion, a requesting portion to transmit alternative print jobs, and an adding portion to account for alternative sheets printed by another printer, ensuring accurate sheet counting and charging based on the intended printer's unit rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If another image forming apparatus prints the print data when the designated apparatus cannot print, then the print job is completed, but the user may be charged a higher amount than expected due to different unit charges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that manages print jobs and coordinates between multiple image forming apparatuses. The server receives print data, determines which apparatus should print based on availability and charge rates, and transmits the job accordingly. This mediator ensures that charge information is accurately tracked and that users are charged appropriately even when alternative apparatuses print the data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where image forming apparatuses report their printing status and charge rate information to the server. The server uses this feedback to make informed decisions about job assignment and to calculate accurate charges. The feedback loop ensures that the system maintains awareness of which apparatus printed which job and at what rate, preventing charging errors.
2Reliability
If the designated image forming apparatus cannot print due to failure, then alternative printing is needed, but the number of sheets printed on the designated apparatus does not increase, preventing volume discount eligibility
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as an intermediary that tracks print job assignments and sheet counts across multiple apparatuses. Even when an alternative apparatus prints a job originally designated for another apparatus, the server maintains accurate records of which jobs were printed where and applies volume discount calculations based on the total sheets printed by the designated apparatus over time. This ensures that volume discount eligibility is not lost due to temporary printing failures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different image forming apparatuses have different unit charges, then users have choices, but accurate charge calculation becomes complex when jobs are transferred between apparatuses
Solution Approach 1:
The server centralizes the charge calculation functionality, acting as an intermediary that receives charge rate information from multiple image forming apparatuses and implements a unified calculation algorithm. When a print job is assigned to an apparatus, the server records the apparatus identity and its unit charge rate. This centralized approach simplifies the overall system complexity by consolidating the calculation logic in one location rather than requiring each apparatus to independently track and calculate charges across the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The server implements a universal charge calculation system that can handle multiple apparatuses with different charge rates through a single unified platform. The system is designed to be multi-functional, supporting various printing scenarios including direct printing to the designated apparatus, alternative printing when the designated apparatus is unavailable, and volume discount calculations. This universal approach reduces the need for separate calculation systems for each apparatus and simplifies user interaction.
Data Source
AI summary
In order to properly count the number of sheets printed which serves as the basis on which a charge is calculated, an MFP that acts as a designated printer includes a job accepting portion to accept a print job, a job executing portion to carry out printing based on the print job, a requesting portion to, when the job executing portion is not available for executing the print job, transmit an alternative instruction including the print job to an alternative printer, and an adding portion to add the number of alternative sheets printed by the alternative printer based on the print job included in the alternative instruction to the number of sheets printed by the job executing portion.