Online Payment Integration for Image Forming Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing copier systems that rely on coin boxes for payment face inefficiencies and increased labor costs, as they require manual handling and are not easily adaptable to regions where coin boxes are less common, and they do not facilitate seamless online payment processes.
Innovation Solution
A job executing system that integrates an image forming apparatus, a user terminal, a computer, and an online payment service, utilizing a two-dimensional code for payment processing, where the image forming apparatus calculates charges based on job attributes, generates a payment code, and the online payment service handles transactions between user and administrator accounts, eliminating the need for coin boxes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a coin box is used for payment, then cash payment can be made, but labor costs increase and manual handling is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical coin box system with an electronic online payment system. The image forming apparatus communicates with an online payment service via network to automatically calculate charges and process payments, eliminating the need for physical coin boxes and manual cash handling by administrators.
Solution Approach 2:
The online payment system enables users to autonomously complete payment transactions through their terminals by scanning displayed codes or entering payment codes. The system automatically calculates charges based on job attributes and processes payments without requiring administrator intervention, making the payment process self-service oriented.
2Ease of operation
If a coin box is used for payment, then payment can be processed, but adaptability to regions without coin boxes is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal online payment system that can operate across different regions and countries. By using network-based communication and electronic payment processing, the system eliminates dependency on region-specific physical payment infrastructure like coin boxes, making it adaptable to various global payment environments.
3Extent of automation
If online payment service is integrated, then payment automation is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an online payment service as an intermediary between the image forming apparatus and users. This mediator handles the complex payment processing, authentication, and transaction management, allowing the image forming apparatus to maintain relative simplicity while still achieving automated payment functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A job executing system includes an image forming apparatus, a user terminal, a computer, and a bank account management system. The online payment service transmits a payment completion notification of a charge and a payment code to the computer with the computer identifier made to correspond to the payment code in first payment code management information. When the computer receives the payment completion notification, the computer transmits the payment completion notification of the charge for the job with the job identifier made to correspond to the payment code in the second payment code management information to the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus having the image forming apparatus identifier made to correspond to the payment code in the second payment code management information. When the image forming apparatus receives the payment completion notification, the image forming apparatus executes the job with the job identifier.