JP2018046494A - Job execution system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a job execution system capable of improving convenience, reducing labor costs, and safely receiving charges. In a copy system, a computer calculates a fee based on the content of a job using the MFP, and the MFP notifies the fee calculated by the computer of a payment code issued by an online payment service. , The job is executed when the fee is paid via the online payment service using the notified payment code, and the information providing service provides information about the copy system (S233). [Selection diagram] FIG. 16

Description

  The present invention relates to a job execution system that executes a job using an image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, there has been known a system that includes a coin vendor capable of paying a fee by cash and a copying machine, and executes the payment of the fee by the coin vendor in real time when executing a copying job by the copying machine. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-351167 A

  However, in the system described in Patent Document 1, the copy job is stopped when the cash put into the coin vendor by the user decreases and the payment of the fee is delayed, and then the coin vendor receives cash. Since the copy job is resumed when the additional fee is charged and the fee can be paid, there is a problem that the convenience is poor.

  Further, in the system described in Patent Document 1, since the fee stored in cash in the coin vendor needs to be periodically acquired by a person on the copier administrator side, it costs labor. There is.

  In the system described in Patent Document 1, since the fee is stored in the coin vendor in cash, the cash stored in the coin vendor may be stolen and the administrator of the copier cannot receive the fee. There is a problem of having sex.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a job execution system capable of improving convenience, reducing labor costs, and receiving charges safely.

  The job execution system according to the present invention includes an image forming apparatus, a charge calculating unit that calculates a charge based on the content of a job that uses the image forming apparatus, and an online payment for the charge calculated by the charge calculating unit. A payment code notification means for notifying a payment code issued by a service; and executing the job when the fee is paid via the online payment service using the payment code notified by the payment code notification means. A job execution system comprising: information providing means for providing information relating to the job execution system.

  With this configuration, the job execution system according to the present invention executes the job after an accurate fee based on the content of the job has been paid, so the job execution is stopped halfway due to a delay in the payment of the fee. Therefore, the convenience can be improved. In addition, since the job execution system of the present invention uses an online payment service instead of a coin vendor for payment of fees, there is no need to acquire fees from coin vendors, reducing labor costs and receiving fees safely. And can be realized. In addition, the job execution system of the present invention provides information related to the job execution system, so that convenience can be improved.

  In the job execution system of the present invention, the information providing unit may provide unit price information used for calculating the fee by the fee calculating unit.

  With this configuration, the job execution system according to the present invention provides a unit price for the execution of the job, so that it is possible to improve the convenience of the job executor and the administrator of the image forming apparatus.

  In the job execution system of the present invention, the information providing unit may provide the payment history of the fee via the online payment service for each person who executes the job.

  With this configuration, the job execution system of the present invention provides the payment history of the job executor, so that the convenience of the job executor can be improved.

  In the job execution system of the present invention, the information providing unit may provide revenue information based on the fee paid via the online payment service for each administrator of the image forming apparatus.

  With this configuration, the job execution system according to the present invention provides profit information of the administrator of the image forming apparatus, so that the convenience of the administrator of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

  The job execution system of the present invention may include a refund requesting unit that requests the online payment service to refund at least a part of the fee, and the information providing unit may provide the refund history.

  With this configuration, the job execution system of the present invention provides a refund history related to a fee for executing a job, so that it is possible to improve the convenience of the job executor and the administrator of the image forming apparatus.

  The job execution system of the present invention can realize improvement in convenience, reduction in labor costs, and safe receipt of fees.

1 is a block diagram of a copy system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the user terminal shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows an example of the image management information shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of the computer shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of MFP management information illustrated in FIG. 5. It is a figure which shows an example of the payment code management information shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the information which the online payment service shown in FIG. 1 memorize | stores. It is a figure which shows an example of the payment code management information shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the information which the information provision service shown in FIG. 1 memorize | stores. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram of operations of the copy system shown in FIG. 1 until an MFP to which a copy instruction is input displays a two-dimensional code. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 3 when executing a ScanToBox. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the copy system shown in FIG. 1 from when the user terminal reads the two-dimensional code until the MFP finishes copying. It is a figure which shows an example of the payment screen displayed on the display part of the user terminal shown in FIG. It is a flowchart of operation | movement of the computer shown in FIG. 5 in the case of performing the refund process. It is a flowchart of operation | movement of the information provision service shown in FIG. 1 in the case of providing various information.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of a copy system as a job execution system according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a copy system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a copy system 10 includes a user terminal 20 used by a user, an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 30 as an image forming apparatus, a computer 40, and online payment for executing payment online. A service 50, a bank account management system 60 that manages bank accounts, and an information providing service 70 as information providing means for providing information related to the copy system 10 are provided.

  The MFP 30 can be installed in various facilities such as a commercial facility such as a convenience store and a public facility such as a university. The MFP 30 is a device that executes a copy, which is a function of printing an image read from a document on a recording medium, according to payment of a fee by a user. The MFP 30 executes various types of copying, such as an ID card that displays information on both sides of an ID card, an ID copy that consolidates images on both sides of a document such as a driver's license on one side of a single recording medium in the same size. Is possible.

  The computer 40 may be capable of executing not only the process related to the charge of the MFP 30 but also the process related to the charge of at least one MFP similar to the MFP 30.

  The online payment service 50, the bank account management system 60, and the information providing service 70 are each a cloud service, and are each realized by a server such as a cloud server.

  The user terminal 20 and the online payment service 50 can communicate via a network such as the Internet.

  The MFP 30 and the computer 40 can communicate via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), the Internet, or directly by wire or wireless without going through the network.

  The computer 40 and the online payment service 50 can communicate via a network such as the Internet.

  The computer 40 and the information providing service 70 can communicate via a network such as the Internet.

  The online payment service 50 and the bank account management system 60 can communicate via a network such as the Internet.

  The online payment service 50 and the information providing service 70 can communicate via a network such as the Internet.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the user terminal 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the user terminal 20 is a display device such as an operation unit 21 that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information. A display unit 22; a shooting unit 23 that is a shooting device such as a camera; and a communication unit 24 that is a communication device that communicates with an external apparatus directly via a network or via a network without being connected via a network. A storage unit 25 that is a nonvolatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory that stores various types of information, and a control unit 26 that controls the entire user terminal 20 are provided. The user terminal 20 may be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet, for example.

  The storage unit 25 stores a payment program 25a for payment by the online payment service 50 (see FIG. 1). The settlement program 25a may be installed in the user terminal 20 at the manufacturing stage of the user terminal 20, or additionally installed in the user terminal 20 from an external storage medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. Alternatively, it may be additionally installed on the user terminal 20 from the network.

  The control unit 26 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing a program and various data, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU. Yes. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 25.

  The control unit 26 implements a settlement instruction unit 26a that instructs the online settlement service 50 to perform settlement by executing the settlement program 25a.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the MFP 30.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the MFP 30 includes an operation unit 31 that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations, a display unit 32 that is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information, and an image from a document. Fax communication is performed via a communication line such as a public telephone line such as a scanner 33 which is a reading device, a printer 34 which is a printing device which prints an image on a recording medium such as paper, and an external facsimile apparatus (not shown). Various types of information are stored, such as a fax communication unit 35 that is a fax device, a communication unit 36 that is a communication device that communicates with an external device directly via a wired or wireless connection via a network or not via a network. Non-volatile storage devices such as semiconductor memory and HDD (Hard Disk Drive) A storage unit 37 and a control unit 38 that controls the entire MFP 30 are provided.

  The scanner 33 includes an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) that can automatically read a plurality of originals and double-sided originals.

  The storage unit 37 stores a copy program 37 a for executing a copy job of “reading an image from a document by the scanner 33 and printing the image by the printer 34”. The copy program 37a may be installed in the MFP 30 at the manufacturing stage of the MFP 30, or may be additionally installed in the MFP 30 from an external storage medium such as a USB memory, or may be additionally installed in the MFP 30 from the network. Also good.

  The storage unit 37 can store a plurality of images 37b read from an original by the scanner 33.

  The storage unit 37 can store image management information 37c for managing the image 37b.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the image management information 37c.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the image management information 37c is information in which an image ID, which is identification information of the image 37b (see FIG. 3), and a job ID, which is job identification information, are associated with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the storage unit 37 can store a job log 37d that is a job history. The job log 37d includes, for example, job start time and end time, result information indicating whether or not the job has been completed normally, page number information indicating the number of printed pages, double-sided printing and single-sided printing. Double-sided / single-sided information indicating whether printing has been performed, color information indicating whether monochrome copying or color copying has been performed, number-of-prints information indicating the number of copies, and recording medium size information indicating the size of the printed recording medium This is shown for each job indicated by the job ID.

  The storage unit 37 can store a job status 37e that indicates the status of the copy job in association with the time of occurrence, such as “printing first sheet”, “printing second sheet”, “end of job”, and the like.

  The storage unit 37 can store a device status 37f indicating the status of the MFP in association with the time of occurrence, such as “occurrence of jam”, “failure”, and “toner empty”. The device status 37f is information indicating an error or warning of the MFP.

  The control unit 38 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data, and a RAM that is used as a work area of the CPU. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 37.

  The control unit 38 transmits information about the change to the computer 40 each time a change occurs regarding the job log 37d, the job status 37e, and the device status 37f. For example, every time a job is completed, the control unit 38 adds information on the job to the job log 37d and transmits the additional information in the job log 37d to the computer 40.

  The control unit 38 is calculated by an image storage unit 38a that stores an image read from the original by the scanner 33 as an image 37b in the storage unit 37 and a computer 40 (see FIG. 1) by executing the copy program 37a. The payment code notification means 38b for notifying the payment code issued by the online payment service 50 (see FIG. 1) for the charged fee and the payment code notified by the payment code notification means 38b using the payment code notification means 38b. When the fee is paid via, an image printing unit 38c that prints the image 37b stored in the storage unit 37 on the recording medium by the printer 34 is realized.

  The image storage unit 38a and the image printing unit 38c are configured to cooperate and execute a copy job of “printing an image read from a document by the scanner 33 on a recording medium by the printer 34”. It constitutes the job execution means of the present invention.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the computer 40.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the computer 40 stores various types of information and a communication unit 41 that is a communication device that communicates with an external device directly via a network or via a network without using a network. A storage unit 42 that is a nonvolatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory, and a control unit 43 that controls the entire computer 40.

  The storage unit 42 stores a payment program 42a for payment by the online payment service 50 (see FIG. 1). The payment program 42a may be installed in the computer 40 at the manufacturing stage of the computer 40, or may be added to the computer 40 from an external storage medium such as a USB memory, a CD (Compact Disk), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) or the like. It may be installed, or may be additionally installed on the computer 40 from the network.

  The storage unit 42 stores MFP management information 42b for managing the MFP.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the MFP management information 42b.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the MFP management information 42b is information in which an MFP ID such as a serial number that is identification information of the MFP is associated with an administrator ID that is identification information of the administrator of the MFP.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the storage unit 42 can store payment code management information 42c for managing a payment code issued by the online payment service 50 (see FIG. 1).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the payment code management information 42c.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the payment code management information 42c is information in which a payment code, an MFP ID, a job ID, and a charge are associated with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the storage unit 42 can store a job log 42d, a job status 42e, and a device status 42f for each MFP.

  The storage unit 42 stores refund approval necessity information 42g indicating whether approval by a person having a specific authority, that is, an administrator of the MFP, is required when a fee is refunded to the user. ing. The refund approval necessity information 42g can be changed according to an instruction via the communication unit 41, for example. When the computer 40 includes an operation unit, the refund approval necessity information 42g may be changed according to an instruction via the operation unit.

  The storage unit 42 stores destination information 42h that can include a plurality of destinations. The destination information 42h includes destinations of persons from various positions such as an MFP user destination, an MFP administrator destination, and an MFP service person destination. In the destination information 42h, the destination of the MFP user is associated with the user ID of the user, and the destination of the MFP administrator is associated with the administrator ID of the administrator. The destination of the person is associated with a service person ID which is identification information of the service person. As the destination included in the destination information 42h, various destinations such as an e-mail address and a destination of a message function of SNS (Social Networking Service) can be adopted.

  The control unit 43 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data, and a RAM that is used as a work area of the CPU. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 42.

  The control unit 43 executes the settlement program 42a, thereby calculating the fee based on the content of the copy job, that is, based on the result of reading the original by the scanner 33 (see FIG. 3). A payment communication means 43b that executes communication for payment by the online payment service 50 (see FIG. 1), a job log storage means 43c that stores a job log 42d, a job status 42e, and a device status 42f, and an online From the charge request means 43d for requesting the payment service 50 to refund at least a part of the charge, the executed amount calculation means 43e for calculating the amount of the executed part of the copy job based on the job log 42d, and the charge Return amount calculation that calculates the amount of refund by subtracting the amount of the executed part To realize the stage 43f.

  The job log storage unit 43c reflects the change in the job log 42d, the job status 42e, and the device status 42f each time information about the change in the job log, job status, or device status is transmitted from the MFP. To do. Further, the job log storage unit 43c transfers the information to the information providing service 70 every time the MFP receives information about any change in the job log, job status, and device status. For example, the job log storage unit 43c transfers the additional portion of the job log 37d transmitted from the MFP to the information providing service 70 every time the job is completed.

  Each time the job log storage unit 43c transfers the additional portion of the job log 37d to the information providing service 70, that is, every time the job ends in the MFP, the job log storage unit 43c provides information on the payment result for the job and device information. Send to service 70.

  Here, the payment result includes a payment code for the job, a total charge for the job, and a breakdown of the charge for the job.

  The device information includes the MFP ID, IP (Internet Protocol) address and model name of the MFP that executed the job, the consumable status of the MFP during the execution of the job, and the execution of the job. And the device status of the MFP for a while. Here, the device information is information acquired from the target MFP. For example, “the device status of the MFP during execution of the job” can be extracted from the device status 42 f.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the online payment service 50.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the online payment service 50 includes user bank account information 50 a that shows user bank account information for each user ID that is user identification information, and account information of the administrator of the MFP 30. Is stored for each administrator ID.

  The user bank account information 50a includes information related to the user's bank account, such as the name of the bank that manages the user's bank account and the account number of the bank account. The user, for example, the user bank of the online payment service 50 via the operation unit 21 (see FIG. 2) of the user terminal 20 (see FIG. 2) via the payment program 25a (see FIG. 2). It is possible to register the user's bank account information in the account information 50a.

  The administrator can register the account information of the administrator in the administrator account information 50b of the online payment service 50 via, for example, an arbitrary PC (Personal Computer) via the Internet. The administrator's account is an account managed by the online payment service 50, not a bank account.

  The online payment service 50 can store payment code management information 50c for managing payment codes.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the payment code management information 50c.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the payment code management information 50c is information in which a payment code, an administrator ID, a user ID, a fee, and a computer ID that is computer identification information are associated with each other.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the information providing service 70.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the information providing service 70 includes MFP management information 42b (see FIG. 5), payment code management information 42c (see FIG. 5), and job log 42d (see FIG. 5) of the computer 40 (see FIG. 5). 5), job status 42e (see FIG. 5), and device status 42f (see FIG. 5), respectively, MFP management information 70a, payment code management information 70b, job log 70c, job status 70d and device. The status 70e is stored.

  Each time the information providing service 70 receives information about changes in any of the job log, job status, and device status from the computer 40, the information providing service 70 uses the changes in the job log 70c, job status 70d, and device status 70e. To reflect.

  Further, the information providing service 70 stores the payment result and device information transmitted from the computer 40 every time the job is completed in the MFP for each job as the payment result 70f and device information 70g, respectively.

  Further, the information providing service 70 stores spot information 70h indicating various types of information related to spots that provide MFPs that can be used by the user. The spot information 70h includes general information regarding spots. General information about the spot includes the location and business hours of the spot, MFP color machine, monochrome machine, A3 size compatible machine, A4 size compatible machine, duplex printing compatible machine, single-sided printing compatible machine, staple compatible machine belonging to the spot , The type of punch punching machine and the number of the machines, and information on the unit price used for calculating the charge for the job using the MFP belonging to the spot. The spot information 70h includes the MFP ID of the MFP belonging to the spot. The spot information 70h can be edited by an operator of the information providing service 70, for example.

  In addition to the information shown above, the information providing service 70 can also provide various information necessary for generating information to be provided to users such as MFP users, managers, and service persons on the computer 40 and the Internet. It can be registered from outside the information providing service 70 itself, such as from various services. For example, the information providing service 70 can register the reputation of each spot from a specific site on the Internet.

  Next, the operation of the copy system 10 will be described.

  First, the operation of the copy system 10 until the MFP 30 to which the copy instruction is input displays the two-dimensional code will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram of operations of the copy system 10 until the MFP 30 to which a copy instruction is input displays a two-dimensional code.

  The user can input a copy instruction via the operation unit 31. When a copy instruction is input via the operation unit 31, the image storage unit 38 a of the MFP 30 stores “the image read from the document by the scanner 33 in a specific area in the storage unit 37 as shown in FIG. 11. Operation "(hereinafter referred to as" ScanToBox ") is executed (S101). Here, the image storage unit 38a stores the image ID of the image stored in S101 in association with the job ID of the current job in the image management information 37c.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 30 when executing the ScanToBox.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the image storage means 38a reads an image from a document by the scanner 33 (S131).

  Next, the image storage unit 38a rasterizes the image read in S101 for printing by the printer 34, and generates bitmap data (S132).

  Finally, the image storage unit 38a stores the bitmap data generated in S102 as an image 37b in a specific area in the storage unit 37 (S133).

  As shown in FIG. 11, the payment code notification unit 38b of the MFP 30 acquires the attribute of the job of the current copy after the process of S101 (S102).

  Here, the copy job attributes include, for example, page number information indicating the number of pages to be printed, double-sided / single-sided information indicating whether to perform double-sided printing or single-sided printing, and monochrome copying or color copying. Color information indicating whether to perform printing, number of copies information indicating the number of copies to be printed, and recording medium size information indicating the size of the recording medium to be printed.

  The number of pages is the number of pages to be printed. For example, when one double-sided printing is executed, two pages are printed.

  When the number of pages is the same, the charge may be set to be the same regardless of whether duplex printing or simplex printing is performed. For example, the charge may be set to be the same when double-sided printing is executed on one recording medium and when single-sided printing is executed on two recording media.

  On the other hand, even when the number of pages is the same, the charge may be differentiated depending on whether double-sided printing or single-sided printing is performed. For example, the charge when double-sided printing is performed on one recording medium may be set lower than the charge when single-sided printing is performed on two recording media.

  When determining the charge, the double-sided / single-sided information is used when “the charge is different depending on whether double-sided printing or single-sided printing is performed even when the number of pages is the same”.

  The payment code notification means 38b determines the page number information based on the actual reading result of the original by the scanner 33.

  The payment code notification means 38b determines the double-sided / single-sided information according to the setting in the copy instruction input via the operation unit 31. However, the payment code notification means 38b may be set to change the double-sided / single-sided information based on the actual reading result of the original by the scanner 33. For example, the payment code notification means 38b is set to print the front and back sides of the document on the front and back sides of the recording medium, that is, duplex printing, respectively, in the copy instruction input via the operation unit 31. Even when the original is actually read by the scanner 33, if nothing is printed on one side of the original, it may be set to change to single-sided printing.

  The payment code notification means 38b determines the color information according to the setting in the copy instruction input via the operation unit 31. However, the payment code notification means 38b may determine or change the color information based on the actual reading result of the original by the scanner 33. For example, if the payment code notification means 38b is set to automatically determine whether to execute monochrome copy or color copy in the copy instruction input via the operation unit 31, the document is actually As a result of reading by the scanner 33, color information is determined according to the color of the read original. Further, even if the payment code notification unit 38b is set to perform color copying in the copy instruction input via the operation unit 31, the original is monochrome as a result of actually reading the original with the scanner 33. In this case, it may be set to be handled as a monochrome copy.

  The payment code notifying unit 38b determines the number of copies information according to the setting in the copy instruction input via the operation unit 31.

  The payment code notification means 38b determines the recording medium size information according to the setting in the copy instruction input via the operation unit 31. However, the payment code notification means 38b may determine the recording medium size information based on the actual reading result of the original by the scanner 33. For example, the payment code notifying unit 38b reads the original as a result of actually reading the document by the scanner 33 when "automatic" is set as the size of the recording medium in the copy instruction input via the operation unit 31. Appropriate recording medium size information may be automatically determined according to the size of the document.

  After the process of S102, the payment code notifying unit 38b transmits a request for calculating a fee based on the attribute acquired in S102 to the computer 40 (S103). Here, the payment code notification unit 38b transmits the MFP ID of the MFP 30 and the job ID of the current job to the computer 40 together with the request in S103.

  Upon receiving the request transmitted from the MFP 30 in S103, the fee calculation unit 43a of the computer 40 is based on the attribute transmitted from the MFP 30 together with this request, that is, the attribute acquired in S102 and a specific calculation criterion. The fee for the current copy job is calculated (S104).

  Next, the payment communication means 43b of the computer 40 requests the online payment service 50 for a payment code at the fee calculated in S104 (S105). Here, the settlement communication unit 43b includes the administrator ID associated in the MFP management information 42b with the MFP ID transmitted from the MFP 30 together with the request in S103 and the computer ID of the computer 40 in the request in S105.

  Therefore, the online payment service 50 issues a payment code in response to the request of S105 and returns it to the computer 40 (S106). The online payment service 50 stores the issued payment code in the payment code management information 50c in association with the administrator ID, fee, and computer ID included in the request in S105.

  The payment communication means 43b of the computer 40 generates a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark) indicating the payment code returned from the online payment service 50 in S106 (S107). The payment communication means 43b pays the payment code returned from the online payment service 50 in S106 in association with the MFP ID and job ID transmitted from the MFP 30 in S103 and the charge calculated in S104. Store in the code management information 42c.

  Next, the settlement communication unit 43b transmits the two-dimensional code generated in S107 to the MFP 30 (S108).

  Therefore, the payment code notifying unit 38b of the MFP 30 displays the two-dimensional code transmitted from the computer 40 in S108 on the display unit 32 (S109).

  Next, the operation of the copy system 10 from when the user terminal 20 reads the two-dimensional code until the MFP 30 finishes copying will be described.

  FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the copy system 10 from when the user terminal 20 reads the two-dimensional code until the MFP 30 finishes copying.

  A user can operate the user terminal 20 so that the photographing unit 23 of the user terminal 20 reads the two-dimensional barcode displayed on the display unit 32 of the MFP 30 in S109. When the user terminal 20 is operated so that the photographing unit 23 reads the two-dimensional barcode displayed on the display unit 32, the settlement instruction unit 26a of the user terminal 20 displays the display unit as shown in FIG. The two-dimensional barcode displayed in 32 is read by the photographing unit 23 (S161).

  Next, the settlement instruction unit 26a interprets the two-dimensional barcode read in S161, and transmits the payment code indicated by the two-dimensional barcode and the user ID to the online settlement service 50 (S162).

  Therefore, the online payment service 50 determines the charge associated with the payment code in the payment code management information 50c and the user ID based on the payment code and user ID transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S162. The bank account information associated in the user bank account information 50a is returned to the user terminal 20 (S163).

  When the charge and bank account information are transmitted from the online payment service 50, the payment instruction means 26a of the user terminal 20 displays a payment screen 80 (see FIG. 14) for payment of the charge on the display unit 22. (S164).

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of the payment screen 80.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the payment screen 80 includes text 81 indicating bank account information transmitted from the online payment service 50, text 82 indicating charges transmitted from the online payment service 50, and bank account information. It includes a text box 83 for entering a password, that is, a password for allowing the bank account management system 60 to debit the bank account.

  In FIG. 14, the name of the bank is shown as the bank account information displayed on the payment screen 80. However, information other than the bank name may be displayed on the payment screen 80 as the bank account information in addition to the bank name or instead of the bank name. In S163, only the information displayed on the payment screen 80 among the bank account information may be returned.

  As shown in FIG. 13, when the bank account password is entered in the text box 83, the settlement instruction unit 26a transmits the entered password to the online settlement service 50 (S165).

  Therefore, the online payment service 50 is transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S162 out of the bank accounts managed by the bank account management system 60 only when the password transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S165 is correct. The charge associated with the payment code transmitted from the user terminal 20 at S162 in the payment code management information 50c is withdrawn from the bank account associated with the received user ID in the user bank account information 50a ( S166).

  Next, the online payment service 50 converts the fee withdrawn in S166 into the administrator ID associated in the payment code management information 50c with the payment code transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S162 in the administrator account information 50b. Transfer money to the associated account (S167). Here, the online payment service 50 associates the user ID transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S162 with the payment code transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S162 in the payment code management information 50c.

  Next, the online payment service 50 associates the payment completion notification indicating that the payment of the fee has been completed with the payment code transmitted from the user terminal 20 in S162 in the payment code management information 50c. It is transmitted to the computer 40 having the computer ID that has been assigned (S168).

  When the payment completion notification is transmitted from the online payment service 50 in S168, the payment communication means 43b of the computer 40 adds the payment code management information 42c to the payment code transmitted together with the payment completion notification from the online payment service 50 in S168. A payment completion notification indicating that the payment of the fee for the job with the job ID associated in step S3 is completed is transmitted to the MFP 30 with the MFP ID associated with this payment code in the payment code management information 42c (S169).

  When the payment completion notification is transmitted from the computer 40 in S169, the image printing unit 38c of the MFP 30 receives the image 37b having the image ID associated with the job ID indicated in the payment completion notification in the image management information 37c. With regard to the above, “an operation of printing an image stored in a specific area in the storage unit 37 by the printer 34” (hereinafter referred to as “BoxToPrint”) is executed (S170).

  Next, the operation of the computer 40 when executing refund processing will be described.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the operation of the computer 40 when the refund process is executed.

  The control unit 43 of the computer 40 executes the operation shown in FIG. 15 each time a change occurs in the job status 42e.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the refund request means 43d of the computer 40 determines whether or not a newly completed job has occurred based on the job status 42e (S201). Here, the refund requesting unit 43d determines that a newly completed job has occurred when job completion information is newly added to the job status 42e.

  If the refund request means 43d determines in S201 that a newly completed job has not occurred, the operation shown in FIG. 15 is terminated.

  If the refund request means 43d determines in S201 that a newly completed job (hereinafter referred to as "target job") has occurred, it determines whether the target job has ended normally based on the job log 42d. (S202).

  If the refund requesting unit 43d determines in S202 that the target job has ended normally, the operation shown in FIG. 15 ends.

  If the refund requesting unit 43d determines in S202 that the target job has not ended normally, the “number of printed pages” indicated by the page number information included in the job log 42d for the target job is set to the target job. It is determined whether or not the “number of pages to be printed” indicated by the page number information included in the attribute used in the charge calculation in S104 has been reached (S203).

  If the refund request means 43d determines in S203 that the “number of printed pages” has reached the “number of printed pages”, the operation shown in FIG. 15 is terminated.

  If the executed amount calculation unit 43e determines in S203 that the “number of printed pages” has not reached the “number of pages to be printed”, the amount of the executed portion of the target job is set to the job log 42d and S104. The calculation is performed based on the same calculation standard used in the process (S204).

  Next, the return amount calculation means 43f calculates the “execution” calculated in S204 from the fee calculated in S104 for the target job, that is, the fee associated with the job ID of the target job in the payment code management information 42c. The amount of refund is calculated by subtracting the “completed amount” (S205).

  Next, the refund request unit 43d determines whether or not the administrator's approval is required for the refund based on the refund approval necessity information 42g (S206).

  If the refund requesting unit 43d determines in S206 that the administrator's approval is required for the refund, the MFP management information 42b associates the MFP ID associated with the job ID of the target job in the payment code management information 42c. A notification is sent to the destination associated with the administrator ID in the destination information 42h to request approval for refunding the target job (S207). This notification preferably includes various information necessary for approving the refund, such as the amount to be refunded and the job ID of the target job. The administrator accesses the information providing service 70 using a computer such as the user terminal 20 or a PC (not shown), and confirms the job log 70c, the job status 70d, and the device status 70e. It is possible to determine whether a refund is necessary. Then, the administrator uses a computer such as the user terminal 20 or a PC (not shown) to access the computer 40 via the information providing service 70 or directly without using the information providing service 70. The computer 40 can be notified of whether or not to approve the refund.

  The refund request unit 43d determines whether or not the refund is approved by the administrator after the process of S207 (S208).

  If the refund request means 43d determines in S208 that the administrator has not approved the refund, the operation shown in FIG. 15 is terminated.

  If the refund request means 43d determines in S206 that the administrator's approval is not required for the refund or determines in S208 that the administrator has approved the refund in S208, the refund of the amount calculated in S205 is the online settlement service. 50 (S209). Here, the refund request means 43d transmits the amount calculated in S205 and the payment code associated with the job ID of the target job in the payment code management information 42c to the online payment service 50 in S209.

  Therefore, the online payment service 50 starts from the account associated in the administrator account information 50b with the administrator ID associated in the payment code management information 50c with the payment code transmitted from the computer 40 in S209. The amount sent from the computer 40 is withdrawn. Next, the online payment service 50 associates the amount withdrawn in the payment code management information 50c with the payment code transmitted from the computer 40 in S209 in the bank account managed by the bank account management system 60. The bank account associated with the user ID in the user bank account information 50a. Then, the online payment service 50 transmits a refund completion notification indicating that the charge has been refunded to the computer 40.

  The refund request means 43d determines whether or not a refund completion notification has been transmitted from the online payment service 50 until it is determined that a refund completion notification has been transmitted from the online payment service 50 after the processing of S209 (S210). .

  If the refund request means 43d determines in S210 that a refund completion notice has been transmitted from the online payment service 50, the refund management means 43d associates the MFP ID associated with the job ID of the target job in the payment code management information 42c in the MFP management information 42b. A notification that the refund for the target job has been completed is transmitted to the destination associated with the administrator ID in the destination information 42h (S211), and the operation shown in FIG. 15 is terminated. This notification preferably includes various information related to the refund, such as the amount of refund, the date and time of refund, and the job ID of the target job.

  Next, the operation of the information providing service 70 when various types of information are provided will be described.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the operation of the information providing service 70 when various types of information are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the information providing service 70 acquires the destination of the information providing destination from the destination information 42h (S231).

  Next, the information providing service 70 generates information according to the providing destination from the information managed by the information providing service 70 (S232).

  Next, the information providing service 70 transmits the information generated in S232 to the destination acquired in S231 (S233), and ends the operation illustrated in FIG.

  Specifically, the information providing service 70 is, for example, a job executor, that is, an MFP user's own MFP usage history, a user's own fee payment history via the online payment service 50, and usage A history of refund for the fee paid by the user himself / herself and general information and reputation regarding a spot close to the user's own location can be transmitted for each user. Note that the information providing service 70 needs to register the position of the user himself / herself when transmitting information about a spot close to the user's own location to the user. The user's own position is acquired by a position acquisition function such as a GPS (Global Positioning System) function of an electronic device carried by the user such as the user terminal 20 and is registered in the information providing service 70. Is possible.

  The information providing service 70 also includes, for example, the usage status of the MFP managed by the administrator of the MFP, the revenue information based on the fee paid to the administrator via the online payment service 50, and the administrator himself / herself. Histories of refunds for fees for jobs using MFPs managed by the administrator, the status of consumables for MFPs managed by the administrator, the device status of the MFP managed by the administrator, and the administrator General information and reputation regarding spots to which the MFP managed by the MFP belongs can be transmitted for each administrator.

  In addition, the information providing service 70 includes, for example, the state of consumables of the MFP to be maintained by the service person, the device status of the MFP to be maintained by the service person, and the spot to which the MFP to be maintained by the service person belongs. General information about the service can be sent to the service person.

  The information providing service 70 may provide information in response to a request from the information providing destination, or may provide information at a timing unrelated to the request from the information providing destination.

  As described above, the copy system 10 stores the image generated by reading the document by the scanner 33 in the storage unit 37 (S101), and an accurate fee based on the result of the reading is paid. (S165 to S167) After that, this image is printed on the recording medium by the printer 34 (S170). Therefore, a copy job “read the image from the document by the scanner 33 and print this image by the printer 34” is executed. However, it is possible to realize an improvement in convenience without being stopped on the way due to a delay in payment of charges.

  Since the copy system 10 uses the online payment service 50 instead of the coin vendor for payment of the fee, the fee is transferred directly from the bank account of the user of the MFP 30 to the account of the administrator of the MFP 30. Acquisition work is unnecessary, and it is possible to reduce labor costs and receive charges safely.

  Since the copy system 10 uses the online payment service 50 instead of the coin vendor for payment of the fee, it can be easily introduced even in a country where the coin vendor is not frequently used.

  Since the copy system 10 provides various information related to the copy system 10 (S233), the convenience can be improved. For example, the MFP user can check various information in real time, such as the user's own usage history, the user's own payment history, the user's own refund history, and information on the spot closest to the user's own location. This makes it easier to use the MFP. In addition, the administrator of the MFP manages the usage status of the MFP managed by the administrator, revenue information based on the fee paid to the administrator via the online payment service 50, and the MFP managed by the administrator himself / herself. History of refunds for fees for jobs that use, status of consumables of MFP managed by the administrator, device status of MFP managed by the administrator, MFP to which the administrator manages Various types of information such as information about the spot to be performed can be confirmed in real time, making it easier to manage the MFP. For example, the number of management personnel can be reduced. In addition, the service person of the MFP includes the status of the consumables of the MFP to be maintained by the service person, the device status of the MFP to be maintained by the service person, information on the spot to which the MFP to be maintained by the service person belongs, etc. Various types of information can be checked in real time. For example, which part of which MFP is out of order, what color toner of which MFP is about to run out, etc. By recognizing this, it is possible to promptly repair the MFP and replenish consumables.

  In particular, since the copy system 10 provides a unit price for executing a job, it is possible to improve the convenience of the MFP user and administrator. Further, since the copy system 10 provides the payment history of the MFP user, the convenience of the user can be improved. Further, since the copy system 10 provides revenue information for the MFP administrator, the convenience of the administrator can be improved. Further, since the copy system 10 provides a refund history regarding the fee for executing the job, it is possible to improve the convenience of the MFP user and administrator.

  Since the copy system 10 requests the online payment service 50 to refund the job that has not been completed normally (S209), the convenience can be improved.

  Since the copy system 10 automatically calculates the refund amount (S205), the convenience can be improved. Note that the copy system 10 may have a configuration in which a refund amount is designated by an administrator. In addition, the copy system 10 repays the entire amount paid by the user for a job that has not been completed normally. An amount other than “amount obtained by subtracting the amount of the portion” may be refunded.

  The copy system 10 determines a job that has not been normally completed based on the job log 42d (NO in S202), and the refund approval necessity information 42g indicates that an administrator's approval is required for the refund. (YES in S206), a refund for a job that has not been completed normally is requested to the online payment service 50 (S209) when the administrator's approval is obtained (YES in S208). Can reduce the possibility of occurrence.

  The copy system 10 determines a job that has not been normally completed based on the job log 42d (NO in S202), and the refund approval necessity information 42g indicates that an administrator's approval is required for the refund. If this is the case (YES in S206), a specific destination, that is, an administrator's destination is notified (S207), so that it is easy to obtain approval from the administrator.

  Since the copy system 10 allows the administrator to check the job status and device status, it is determined whether or not the refund should be made before refunding, and whether or not the refund was appropriate after refunding. It is possible to make the user judge based on the status and the device status. For example, if the device status is “Jam occurrence”, “Failure”, or “Toner empty” during the time period when the job status is “Printing” for the target job, If it is before refunding for this job, it can be determined that it should be refunded, and if it is after refunding, it can be determined that the refund was appropriate. The refund request means 43d of the computer 40 adds a condition that the device status is a specific content in a time zone when the job status is a specific content to a condition for making the job a candidate for a refund. You may do it.

  Since the copy system 10 rasterizes the image read from the document by the scanner 33 and stores it in the storage unit 37, after the fee is paid, the image can be printed on the recording medium by the printer 34 without rasterizing. it can. Therefore, the copy system 10 can finish the copy job early.

  The copy system 10 stores an image read from the document by the scanner 33 in the storage unit 37 without rasterizing, and the image stored in the storage unit 37 is based on the result of reading the document by the scanner 33. Alternatively, after the accurate fee has been paid, the printer 34 may print the data on a recording medium by rasterization.

  In the copy system 10, since the MFP 30 notifies the payment code by display on the display unit 32 (S109), even if the user terminal 20 and the MFP 30 cannot communicate with each other, they are displayed on the display unit 32 of the MFP 30. The user terminal 20 can pay the fee via the online payment service 50 using the payment code.

  In the copy system 10, since the payment code is compactly displayed on the display unit 32 of the MFP 30 as a two-dimensional code, it is easy to photograph by the photographing unit 23 of the user terminal 20, and convenience can be improved. In the copy system 10, the payment code may be displayed on the display unit 32 in such a way that it is difficult for the image capturing unit 23 of the user terminal 20 to capture an image such as a character string or a one-dimensional code.

  Since the copy system 10 acquires the payment code displayed on the display unit 32 by photographing with the photographing unit 23, the user of the user terminal 20 uses the payment code displayed on the display unit 32 of the MFP 30 as the user terminal. There is no need to manually enter 20. Therefore, the copy system 10 can improve convenience. In the copy system 10, when displaying the payment code on the display unit 32 by a method understandable by the user of the user terminal 20 such as a character string instead of the two-dimensional barcode, the copy system 10 displays the payment code on the display unit 32 of the MFP 30. The payment code may be manually input to the user terminal 20 by the user of the user terminal 20.

  In the present embodiment, the copy system 10 uses an account managed by the online payment service 50 as the account of the administrator of the MFP 30. However, the copy system 10 may be configured to use a bank account instead of the account managed by the online payment service 50 as the account of the administrator of the MFP 30.

  In the present embodiment, the copy system 10 uses a bank account as the user account of the MFP 30. However, the copy system 10 may be configured to use an account managed by the online payment service 50 instead of a bank account as an account of the user of the MFP 30.

  In the present embodiment, the copy system 10 receives a refund approval from the administrator by the computer 40. However, the copy system 10 may accept the refund approval by the administrator by other methods. For example, when the information providing service 70 is configured to provide a list of jobs to be refunded for each administrator, the copy system 10 causes the administrator to select a job to be actually refunded from this list. It may be configured to allow the administrator to approve the refund. In the copy system 10, when the information providing service 70 allows the administrator to select a job to be actually refunded, a request for refund to the online payment service 50 is not made from the information providing service 70 via the computer 40. May be executed directly.

  The copy system 10 may have a configuration in which the MFP 30 realizes at least a part of the above-described functions of the computer 40 by executing the copy program 37a. For example, the copy system 10 may be configured such that the MFP 30 realizes functions corresponding to the fee calculation unit 43a, the job log storage unit 43c, the refund request unit 43d, the executed amount calculation unit 43e, and the return amount calculation unit 43f of the computer 40. . The copy system 10 may not include the computer 40 when the MFP 30 realizes all the functions of the computer 40 described above.

  In the MFP 30, the storage unit 37 such as an HDD usually has an overwhelmingly larger storage capacity than the RAM of the control unit 38. Accordingly, the copy system 10 can cope with copying with a large number of documents by storing the image read from the document by the scanner 33 in the storage unit 37 (S101). However, the copy system 10 stores the image read from the document by the scanner 33 in the RAM of the control unit 38, and the image stored in the RAM of the control unit 38 is based on the result of reading the document by the scanner 33. After the accurate fee is paid, the printer 34 may print on the recording medium.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an MFP in the present embodiment, but may be an image forming apparatus other than the MFP, such as a copy-only machine.

  In the present embodiment, the job execution system of the present invention is a copy system that executes a copy job of “reading an image from a document by the scanner 33 and printing the image by the printer 34”. However, the job execution system according to the present invention executes a specific process using an image read from the original by the scanner 33, such as a scan transmission job of "transmit an image read from the original by the scanner 33". It can also be applied to a system that executes jobs other than copy jobs among “Yes” jobs. In addition, the job execution system of the present invention uses an image read from an original by the scanner 33, such as a job of “printing a document stored in an external storage medium such as a USB memory or a cloud service by the printer 34”. It can also be applied to a system that executes jobs other than jobs that execute specific processing. Further, the job execution system of the present invention can generate print data to be used by the printer 34 from the document when the document printing job “print the document by the printer 34” is executed, or the “scanner”. When the scan transmission job “send the image read from the document by 33” is executed, the computer 40 transmits the image read from the document by the scanner 33, and the job is not executed only by the MFP 30. May be. That is, the job execution system of the present invention is applicable to a system that executes various jobs using the MFP 30.

10 Copy system (job execution system)
30 MFP (image forming apparatus)
38a Image storage means (job execution means)
38b Payment code notification means 38c Image printing means (job execution means)
43a charge calculation means 43d refund request means 50 online payment service 70 information provision service (information provision means)

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus;
Charge calculation means for calculating a charge based on the contents of a job using the image forming apparatus;
A payment code notifying means for notifying a payment code issued by an online payment service for the charge calculated by the charge calculating means;
A job execution system comprising: job execution means for executing the job when the fee is paid via the online payment service using the payment code notified by the payment code notification means,
A job execution system comprising information providing means for providing information relating to the job execution system.   The job execution system according to claim 1, wherein the information providing unit provides unit price information used for the calculation of the fee by the fee calculating unit.   The job execution system according to claim 1, wherein the information providing unit provides a payment history of the fee via the online payment service for each person who executes the job.   The job execution system according to claim 1, wherein the information providing unit provides revenue information based on the fee paid via the online payment service for each administrator of the image forming apparatus. A refund request means for requesting the online payment service to refund at least a part of the fee;
The job execution system according to claim 1, wherein the information providing unit provides a history of the refund.

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