Print Unit Account Management for Usage-Based Pricing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Organizations using multiple document processing devices face challenges in financing and tracking printer utilization, as existing methods lack efficient options for paying based on usage rather than upfront equipment and consumable costs, and manufacturers seek ways to provide account management solutions to end-users.
Innovation Solution
A document processing device account management system that allows customers to purchase and manage 'print units' based on current pricing, where customers buy account credits that are converted into device-specific print units, enabling usage-based payment for printing, scanning, and copying operations, with features for transferring units between devices and offering discounts based on usage patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If organizations pay upfront for equipment and consumables, then device availability is ensured, but cost management flexibility and usage-based pricing options are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the printing service into two independent components: account credits (currency) and print units (device-specific quotas). This segmentation allows flexible pricing where credits can be purchased at different rates and applied to multiple devices, resolving the contradiction between pricing flexibility and system complexity by modularizing the accounting structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an account management system as an intermediary between customers and printing devices. This intermediary handles the complex conversion of credits to print units across multiple devices, absorbing the complexity while presenting simple usage-based pricing options to customers, thus improving adaptability without exposing system complexity to end-users.
2Ease of operation
If usage-based payment options are implemented, then cost management flexibility is improved, but tracking and managing printer utilization becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal credit-based system that works across multiple document processing devices. Instead of tracking each device individually with separate billing systems, the universal credit currency simplifies usage-based payment while the centralized management system handles the complexity of utilization tracking across all devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service operation where customers can view their credit balances and print unit allocations through simple interfaces, while the background management system automatically tracks utilization and handles conversions. This separates the simplicity of customer operation from the complexity of utilization tracking.
3Productivity
If multiple document processing devices are deployed, then productivity and functionality are improved, but financing and tracking printer utilization becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the accounting and management functions into a centralized system that handles multiple devices uniformly. By combining credit storage, conversion, and allocation into a single management framework, the system enables deployment of multiple devices without proportionally increasing account management complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses parameter changes in the form of variable conversion rates between credits and print units for different devices. This allows flexible pricing and accounting adjustments for each device without requiring separate management systems, maintaining simplicity while supporting multiple devices for improved productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are presented for managing document processing device usage in which a customer accesses a management system to buy and pay for account credits, and to apply print units to specific managed device by conversion of account credits based on current pricing information for the specified account and the particular device at the time of the request.