[go: up one dir, main page]

WO2004017190A1 - Optimization and cost control system for printouts - Google Patents

Optimization and cost control system for printouts Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2004017190A1
WO2004017190A1 PCT/PL2003/000079 PL0300079W WO2004017190A1 WO 2004017190 A1 WO2004017190 A1 WO 2004017190A1 PL 0300079 W PL0300079 W PL 0300079W WO 2004017190 A1 WO2004017190 A1 WO 2004017190A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
printouts
module
control system
optimization
printers
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/PL2003/000079
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Krzysztof Pokorny
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to AU2003261039A priority Critical patent/AU2003261039A1/en
Publication of WO2004017190A1 publication Critical patent/WO2004017190A1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
    • G06F3/1218—Reducing or saving of used resources, e.g. avoiding waste of consumables or improving usage of hardware resources
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
    • G06F3/1229—Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
    • G06F3/1237—Print job management
    • G06F3/1238—Secure printing, e.g. user identification, user rights for device usage, unallowed content, blanking portions or fields of a page, releasing held jobs
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1278—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure
    • G06F3/1285—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
    • G06F3/1288—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server in client-server-printer device configuration

Definitions

  • the subject of the invention is the optimization and cost control system for printouts and/or copies from PC s conncted to printing and/or copying equipment, by example, in the form of printers, telefaxes and other digital multifunctional equipment operating locally or in the network of any user.
  • the purpose of the invention is to el ninate these inconveniences by developing such a cost optimization and printout control system which would enable us to estimate costs with full control of the entire printing/ copying process in the company and not only by estabhshing the value of expendable materials and paper used, as previously.
  • the PC equipment together with printers/copiers connected to it is connected with a server module of the installation program and manager module as well as agent module of that installation program which, in turn, is connected to the solution module.
  • the server module is responsible for processing the data transferred from other modules
  • the agent module is centrally distributed from one place to particular printing copying stations
  • the manager module - also known as reporting module - includes the company structure, locations of printers, telefaxes, etc., description of equipment as well as complex statement of printouts/copies in the company.
  • the above structure makes possible to determine precisely the volume and costs of printouts/copies falling on particular units and is a basis for designing by the solution model of a new structural and organizational solution, cevering a full control of the printing and/or copying process in the company.
  • the invention enables the user to account precisely for the printing, copying costs and to invoice all units as well as each unit separately, ensuring the control of the paper size, number of colour and B/W printouts and, in addition, makes possible blocking printouts/copies in each station, estabhshing monthly limits, etc.
  • it allows for proper distribution of these or new units in the company and current control over each printing, copying and invoicing station as well as makes possible to determine the period of time after which reftinding of outlays shall take place. In practice, by-passing the control system of that process is impossible.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Facsimiles In General (AREA)
  • Control Or Security For Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

The invention makes possible estimating and control of the printing/copying process costs through printers, telefaxes and other digital multifunctional units operating locally or in the network of any user of this equipment. Printers and/or copiers are connected to the server module of the installation program and to the manager module and agent module of that installation program which, in turn, are connected to the solution module.

Description

Optimization and cost control system for printouts
The subject of the invention is the optimization and cost control system for printouts and/or copies from PC s conncted to printing and/or copying equipment, by example, in the form of printers, telefaxes and other digital multifunctional equipment operating locally or in the network of any user.
Until now any data concerning the costs of printouts and copies have been established on the basis of accounting vouchers of a given company and only on the grounds of these documents in the form of purchasing invoices for paper, toners and service invoices the costs printouts/copies falling on particular units have been calculated.
An increasing number of message sources in the company networks, Intranet networks and in Internet gives more occasions to print them on paper. Quite frequently these printouts are expensive because of the form, colour or print on special papers. According to applicant's findings, in an average company the total costs of printouts/copies are between 1 and 3 % of their turnover, while in the banks this amount is even two or three times higher.
Since such a situation certainly does not ensure proper supervision over the use of such equipment in accordance with the best interests of company owner, the employees frequently commit abuses, estimated at at least 20 % of total number of printouts/copies in the company.
The purpose of the invention is to el ninate these inconveniences by developing such a cost optimization and printout control system which would enable us to estimate costs with full control of the entire printing/ copying process in the company and not only by estabhshing the value of expendable materials and paper used, as previously.
According to the system presented in the invention in question, the PC equipment together with printers/copiers connected to it is connected with a server module of the installation program and manager module as well as agent module of that installation program which, in turn, is connected to the solution module. The server module is responsible for processing the data transferred from other modules, the agent module is centrally distributed from one place to particular printing copying stations and the manager module - also known as reporting module - includes the company structure, locations of printers, telefaxes, etc., description of equipment as well as complex statement of printouts/copies in the company. The above structure makes possible to determine precisely the volume and costs of printouts/copies falling on particular units and is a basis for designing by the solution model of a new structural and organizational solution, cevering a full control of the printing and/or copying process in the company.
The invention enables the user to account precisely for the printing, copying costs and to invoice all units as well as each unit separately, ensuring the control of the paper size, number of colour and B/W printouts and, in addition, makes possible blocking printouts/copies in each station, estabhshing monthly limits, etc. In addition, it allows for proper distribution of these or new units in the company and current control over each printing, copying and invoicing station as well as makes possible to determine the period of time after which reftinding of outlays shall take place. In practice, by-passing the control system of that process is impossible.

Claims

Patent claim
Optimization and cost control system for printouts and/or copies from PC s connected to printing and/or copying equipment, characterized by the fact that printers and/or copiers are connected to the server module of the installation program and to the manager module and agent module of that installation program which, in turn, are connected to the solution module.
PCT/PL2003/000079 2002-08-14 2003-08-14 Optimization and cost control system for printouts Ceased WO2004017190A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2003261039A AU2003261039A1 (en) 2002-08-14 2003-08-14 Optimization and cost control system for printouts

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PLP-355521 2002-08-14
PL02355521A PL355521A1 (en) 2002-08-14 2002-08-14 System for cost optimization and analysis regarding printouts or copies pc connected to printing or copying machines

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2004017190A1 true WO2004017190A1 (en) 2004-02-26

Family

ID=31885192

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/PL2003/000079 Ceased WO2004017190A1 (en) 2002-08-14 2003-08-14 Optimization and cost control system for printouts

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2003261039A1 (en)
PL (1) PL355521A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2004017190A1 (en)

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5699493A (en) * 1995-06-23 1997-12-16 Lexmark International, Inc. Method and apparatus for providing job accounting information to a host computer from a printer

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5699493A (en) * 1995-06-23 1997-12-16 Lexmark International, Inc. Method and apparatus for providing job accounting information to a host computer from a printer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
PL355521A1 (en) 2004-02-23
AU2003261039A1 (en) 2004-03-03

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6854839B2 (en) Pay-per-use printing
US7948644B2 (en) Print job cost estimate method and system
US20040223778A1 (en) Expense recovery system for copier
US8108256B2 (en) System for advertising on networked printers
CN101201728A (en) Printing apparatus, printing method
CN102043596B (en) Method and device for managing multi-server units connected to network
JP2000309147A (en) Printer billing system and printer
US20010037270A1 (en) System and method of providing invoice information
US20100274600A1 (en) Method and system for managing field convertible customer replaceable components
JP2002067451A (en) Network billing system
WO2004017190A1 (en) Optimization and cost control system for printouts
US7327479B2 (en) Information management device for printing apparatus and information management method
US20050071739A1 (en) Automated accounting system for MFP devices
US8738481B2 (en) Remote management system
JP4218876B2 (en) Billing method for use of image forming apparatus
US20140025569A1 (en) Product lease with payment reduction or suspension per month based on use
KR102465385B1 (en) Multi-function device management system
JP7707780B2 (en) Information processing device, information processing system, and information processing method
US20070059015A1 (en) Monitoring device for image forming device, control method and control program of monitoring device, and computer-readable storage medium
JP2001195224A (en) Output system and output control method
JP3784151B2 (en) Billing information creation device
JPH11154068A (en) Print system in network environment
US7450873B2 (en) Marking system involving non-business usage
JP2003281264A (en) Billing method and image forming apparatus
JP2007094913A (en) Print service method for free handout

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY BZ CA CH CN CO CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EC EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NI NO NZ OM PG PH PT RO RU SC SD SE SG SK SL SY TJ TM TN TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VC VN YU ZA ZM ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZM ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Country of ref document: JP