JP4633498B2 - Printing system and printing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing system and a printing method.

Conventionally, charging of an image forming apparatus includes charging according to the number of printed contents disclosed in Patent Document 1 and charging based on a browsing fee for contents accessed via the Internet disclosed in Patent Document 2. Patent Document 3 discloses a billing method in which advertisement information is added to print content, and the advertisement fee collected from the advertisement provider is discounted from the usage fee of the print user.
JP 2002-304274 A JP 2001-216106 A Japanese Patent No. 3507408

  However, these conventional techniques have a problem that the user cannot select charging conditions based on a plurality of combined printing conditions according to the purpose of use of the print content, and the convenience of the printing system is low.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, the fee is determined by the number of pages calculated from the content, and there is a problem that the user cannot select charging according to the purpose by combining advertisement addition or print settings. there were.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, there is a problem that the charge for the print content is determined by the viewing fee, and the user cannot select the charge by adding the advertisement information to the print content.

  Further, in Patent Document 3, there is a problem in that it is not possible to select charging that combines a plurality of printing conditions such as advertisement addition, print setting, or print medium setting according to the purpose of use of the print content.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing system and a printing method which can set the presence / absence of additional information in accordance with a user's selection and generate a charging condition according to the setting.

In the present invention, at least one server apparatus and an image forming apparatus are connected to a network, the image forming apparatus transmits a print request to the server apparatus, and the server apparatus transmits print data in response to the print request. transmitted to the image forming apparatus, the the image forming apparatus a printing system for printing according to the print data received, the image forming apparatus, a plurality of printing conditions including the presence of at least the additional information from the user An input unit that receives a combined input; a print request forming unit that forms a print request that includes an input that combines the plurality of printing conditions received by the input unit ; and a print request that is formed by the print request forming unit. a print request transmission means for transmitting to the device, the print data receiving means for receiving print data transmitted from the server apparatus, wherein And a printing means for printing the print data received by printing data receiving means, said image forming apparatus or the server apparatus, generates accounting condition for generating a charging condition in accordance with the printing conditions by the input unit receives in the image forming apparatus The charging condition generating means includes a determining means for determining the presence / absence of the additional information based on the print request, and the charging fee is discounted when the determining means determines that the additional information is to be added. A billing condition generated by the server device, the print request receiving unit receiving the print request from the image forming device, a print data generating unit generating print data based on the print request, Print data transmission means for transmitting print data generated by the print data generation means to the image forming apparatus, and generated by the accounting condition generation means Is obtained by a charging means for charging according to the billing condition to obtain the charging conditions.

In such a printing system, the billing condition generation means generates the billing condition as a billing amount of 0 yen when the calculated billing fee becomes a negative number as a result of discounting by adding the additional information. It is good to do.
Further, when the print data generation unit of the server apparatus includes additional information in the print condition included in the print request received by the print request reception unit, the additional information is acquired and the additional information is obtained. Further, it is preferable to provide additional information synthesis means for synthesizing the generated print data.
Further, in the printing system including the server device in which the print data generating unit includes the additional information synthesizing unit, the input unit of the image forming apparatus outputs the output position of the additional information on the sheet when receiving the input with the additional information. Is also means for accepting the input of the printing conditions, and the additional information combining means of the server device is generated according to the designation of the output position of the additional information included in the print request received by the print request receiving means. The print data may be combined with additional information.

In these printing systems, when the image forming apparatus includes the additional information included in the printing condition received by the input unit, the print data receiving unit responds to the transmission of the print request including the printing condition. When printing the received print data, it is preferable to provide a print tray selection means for selecting a tray storing a sheet on which additional information is printed in advance.
In these printing systems, the image forming apparatus includes a display unit. When the input unit of the image forming apparatus receives an input with additional information, the output unit of the additional information is the display unit. The designation of whether to use printing paper is also means for accepting the input of the printing conditions, and the image forming apparatus further sets the printing conditions corresponding to the printing data when the printing means prints the printing data. It is preferable to provide a display control means for controlling whether or not to display the additional information on the display means according to the determination as to whether or not the display means includes a designation for outputting the additional information.

In the printing method of the present invention, at least one server device and an image forming device are connected to a network, the image forming device transmits a print request to the server device, and the server device responds to the print request. A printing method in a printing system that transmits print data to the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus performs printing according to the received print data, the image forming apparatus including at least presence / absence of additional information from a user An input procedure for receiving an input combining a plurality of print conditions, a print request forming procedure for forming a print request including an input combining the plurality of print conditions received in the input procedure, and a print request forming procedure A print request transmission procedure for transmitting a print request to the server device and print data transmitted from the server device are received. A print data reception procedure and a print procedure for printing the print data received in the print data reception procedure are executed, and the image forming apparatus or the server apparatus according to the print conditions received in the input procedure in the image forming apparatus A charging condition generation procedure for generating a charging condition is executed. The charging condition generation procedure includes a determination procedure for determining the presence / absence of the additional information based on the print request, and it is determined that the additional information is added by the determination procedure. In this case, the server device generates a charging condition with a discounted charging fee, and the server device receives the print request, and the print data generation procedure generates print data based on the print request. A print data transmission procedure for transmitting the print data generated in the print data generation procedure to the image forming apparatus, and the charging condition generation Acquires the generated charging conditions in order according to the billing condition is to perform a charging procedure for charging.

In such a printing method, the charging condition generation procedure generates a charging condition with a charging amount of 0 yen when the calculated charging fee becomes a negative number as a result of discounting by adding the additional information. It is good to do so.
In addition, when the server apparatus includes additional information in the print data generation procedure, when the print condition included in the print request received in the print request reception procedure includes additional information, the additional information is acquired. The additional information combining procedure for combining the generated print data with the generated print data may be executed.

According to the printing system and printing method of the present invention as described above, it is possible to set the presence / absence of additional information according to the user's selection and generate the accounting conditions according to it.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
(First embodiment)

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing system has a configuration in which a printing apparatus (image forming apparatus) PR and a server apparatus SV are connected via a network NT.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the printing system in this case. In this case, the printing apparatus PR has an operation display device (not shown) including a touch panel device (not shown) that can be touch-operated as a user interface.

  First, the printing apparatus PR receives an input of printing conditions, and generates a printing condition in which a plurality of printing conditions are combined from the input (step S101).

  Subsequently, a print request including the print condition is formed (step S102), and the print request is transmitted to the server device SV (step S103). Here, the print request may be in any format as long as it includes the plurality of print conditions.

  The server apparatus SV receives a print request (step S104), generates a charging condition from the request (step S105), and generates print data (S106). Thereafter, the print data is returned to the printing apparatus PR (step S107).

  The printing apparatus PR receives the print data (step S108), sets print properties (step S109), and executes printing (step S110).

  FIG. 3 shows an example of a process showing a print condition generation operation from a plurality of print condition inputs in step S101 of FIG.

  First, the display as shown in FIG. 4 is performed on the operation display device to allow the user to select whether or not to change the default printing conditions (step S201). Here, when the user selects to change the default printing condition (the result of step S201 is YES), the display as shown in FIG. 5 is performed on the operation display device, and the paper size is selected by the user. (Step S202).

  When the paper size is selected (YES in step S202), the operation display device displays as shown in FIG. 6 and waits for the selection of color printing or monochrome printing (step S203). .

  When color or monochrome printing is selected (the result of step S203 is YES), the display shown in FIG. 7 is performed on the operation display device, and the printing surface is selected (step S204). For example, “double-sided printing left open”, “double-sided printing right open”, “double-sided print top open”, or “single-sided print” can be selected as the printing surface.

When the printing surface is selected (the result of step S204 is YES), the operation display device displays as shown in FIG. 9 to allow the user to select whether or not aggregation is performed (step S205). For the aggregation, for example, “Page is arranged from the left” or “Page is arranged from the right” can be selected.

When the presence or absence of aggregation is selected (the result of step S205 is YES), the operation display unit performs display as shown in FIG. 8, to select whether the advertising addition to the printing paper to the user (Step S206).

  If an advertisement is added to the printing paper (YES in step S206), the operation display device displays as shown in FIG. 10 to allow the user to select an output format (step S207). As the output format of the advertisement, for example, “advertisement output on the back side of desired printing”, “output advertisement at the top of printing”, or “advertisement output alternately with desired printing” can be selected.

  When the output format of the advertisement is selected (the result of step S207 is YES), the printing condition is generated under the conditions so far (step S208), and the operation is terminated. In that case, for example, the display shown in FIG. 11 can be performed on the operation display device to allow the user to perform final confirmation.

  If it is specified that no advertisement is added and the result of step S206 is NO, the process proceeds to step S208, print conditions are generated under the conditions input so far, and the operation ends.

  If the default printing condition is not changed and the result of step S201 is NO, the process proceeds to step S208, where the default printing condition is generated, and the operation ends.

FIG. 13 shows an example of the billing condition generating operation in step S 105 shown in FIG.

  First, billing conditions are initialized (step S301). Subsequently, whether or not to change the default printing conditions is selected (step S302). If the printing condition has been changed (the result of step S302 is YES), whether or not there is an additional charge for the paper size is selected (step S303). Here, the additional fee is selected based on, for example, the contents of the fee reference table shown in FIG. The contents of this fee reference table are formed in advance and stored in the server device SV.

  If an additional charge is generated for the paper size (YES in step S303), the additional charge is added (step S304).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not color printing is selected (step S305). If it is selected (the result of step S305 is YES), an additional fee is added (step S306), and it is determined whether or not both sides are selected (step S307).

If double-sided printing has been selected (YES in step S307), an additional fee is added (step S308), and whether or not aggregation is selected is determined (step S309). If the aggregate is selected (the result of step S 309 YES), adds an additional cost (step S310), and determines whether the advertisement (step S311). If addition of advertisement is selected (the result of step S311 is YES), the charge is discounted (step S312), and the charging condition is generated from the additional charge so far (step S313). The final billing fee may be 0 yen, for example, when it becomes a negative number.

If the default printing condition has not been changed (the result of determination 302 is NO ), the process proceeds to step S313, a charging condition is generated from the default printing condition, and the operation ends.

  As described above, in this case, the accounting condition can be generated from a plurality of combined printing conditions according to the purpose of use of the user and printed.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the printing system according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the charging condition is generated in the printing apparatus PR.

  First, the printing apparatus PR receives an input of a plurality of printing conditions, and generates a printing condition in which the plurality of printing conditions are combined from the input (step S401). Next, a charging condition is generated from the printing condition (step S402), a printing request is formed from the printing condition and the charging condition (step S403), and the printing request is transmitted to the server device SV (step S404). The print request may be in any format as long as it includes the printing conditions and the accounting conditions.

  The server apparatus SV receives the print request (step S405), reads the accounting conditions from the request (step S406), and generates print data (step S407). Thereafter, the print data is returned to the printing apparatus PR (step S408).

  The printing apparatus PR receives print data (step S409), sets print properties (step S410), and executes printing (step S411).

The operation for generating the print condition from the input of the print condition in step S401 is the same as the operation for generating the print condition in step S101 in FIG. 2 , and the operation for generating the accounting condition from the print condition in step S402 is shown in FIG. This is the same as the charging condition generation operation in step S105 of FIG.

  In this way, in this case, it is possible to generate and print a charging condition from a plurality of combined printing conditions according to the user's purpose of use.

  Now, when printing of an advertisement is instructed, the time required for printing can be reduced by selecting a sheet on which the contents of the advertisement are printed in advance.

  In that case, for example, in the print property setting process in step S109 in FIG. 2 or the print property setting process in step S410 in FIG. 15, the tray setting process as shown in FIG. 16 is performed.

  In this tray setting process, first, it is determined whether or not an advertisement is output on the printing paper from the printing conditions (step S501). If an advertisement is to be output (the result of step S501 is YES), a tray that stores paper on which the advertisement is printed in advance is selected at the time of output (step S502).

  If not (NO in step S501), a tray storing blank paper is selected (step S503).

  Here, FIG. 17A shows an example of a printed matter when the print tray is set and printed. In this case, the advertisement is printed on the back surface, and the printed matter designated on the front surface is recorded.

  By the way, one advertisement can be output per printing. For example, as shown in FIG. 18, the advertisement page is output as the first page, and the print content printed in response to the print request is printed and output on the second and subsequent pages.

  At this time, the advertisement page may be either single-sided printing or double-sided printing. The output order may be either the advertisement or the print content requested by the print request.

  In this way, in this case, the advertising fee is reduced and the printing fee is increased. On the other hand, the print content requested by the print request and the advertisement can be printed separately on different sheets.

  By the way, every other print content and advertisement requested by the print request can be printed. In this case, a printed matter as shown in FIG. 19 is output.

  The advertisement may be either single-sided printing or double-sided printing, and the content of the advertisement may be different for each sheet.

  In this case, while the total number of printed sheets increases, the print content and the advertisement can be printed separately on different sheets.

  When printing an advertisement, the server SV can be provided with a database unit for advertisement information, and the advertisement information registered in the database unit can be combined with print data.

  In this case, an advertisement composition process as shown in FIG. 20 is performed between steps S106 and S107 in FIG. 2 or between steps S407 and S408 in FIG.

  In the advertisement composition process, after print data is generated (step S601; corresponding to “print data generation process” in step S106 in FIG. 2 or step S407 in FIG. 15), an advertisement is output on the print paper from the print conditions. It is determined whether or not (step S602). If an advertisement is output (the result of step S602 is YES), the advertisement information is combined with the print data (step S603). If not (the result of step S602 is NO), the process is terminated.

  FIG. 21 shows another example of the print condition generation operation in step S101 of FIG. 2 or step S401 of FIG. In this case, the form of advertisement printing includes cases as shown in FIGS.

  First, the display as shown in FIG. 4 is performed on the operation display device to allow the user to select whether or not to change the default printing conditions (step S701). Here, when the user selects to change the default printing condition (the result of step S701 is YES), the display as shown in FIG. 5 is performed on the operation display device, and the paper size is selected by the user. (Step S702).

  When the paper size is selected (YES in step S702), the operation display device displays as shown in FIG. 6 and waits for the selection of color printing or monochrome printing (step S703). .

  When color or monochrome printing is selected (the result of step S703 is YES), the display shown in FIG. 7 is performed on the operation display device, and a print surface is selected (step S704). As the printing surface, for example, “double-sided printing left open”, “double-sided printing right open”, “double-sided printing top open”, or “single-sided printing” can be selected.

When the printing surface is selected (the result of step S704 is YES), the operation display device displays as shown in FIG. 9 to allow the user to select the presence or absence of aggregation (step S705). For the aggregation, for example, “Page is arranged from the left” or “Page is arranged from the right” can be selected.

When the presence or absence of aggregation is selected (the result of step S705 is YES), the operation display unit performs display as shown in FIG. 8, to select whether the advertising addition to the printing paper to the user (Step S706).

  If an advertisement is added to the printing paper (the result of step S706 is YES), the display as shown in FIG. 22 is performed on the operation display device to allow the user to select an output format (step S707). For example, “Advertise output on the back of the desired print”, “Output advertisement at the top of the print”, “Advertise output alternately with the desired print”, or “Advertise output in the margin” can be selected. it can.

  When the output format of the advertisement is selected (the result of step S707 is YES), if “output advertisement in the margin” is selected (the result of step S708 is YES), the operation display device displays the result as shown in FIG. The display is performed to allow the user to specify the output position of the advertisement (step S709). The output position of the advertisement may be output in any margin position on the top, bottom, left or right. The advertisement may be output as a watermark of the print content requested by the print request.

  If the result of step S709 is YES, a printing condition is generated from the previous conditions (step S710), and the operation is terminated. FIG. 17B shows an example of printing with advertisement information added to the print data. In addition, for example, the display shown in FIG.

  Further, when “output in margin” is not selected, the result of step S708 is NO, and when it is specified that no advertisement is added, and when the result of step S706 is NO, step Proceeding to step S710, a printing condition is generated under the conditions input so far, and the operation ends.

  If the default printing condition has not been changed and the result of step S701 is NO, the process proceeds to step S710, where the default printing condition is generated, and the operation ends.

  Now, it is also possible to provide a separate display device for advertisement output in the printing apparatus PR so that the advertisement is displayed here. In that case, for example, the display as shown in FIG. 12 can be performed on the operation display device, and the output destination of the advertisement can be selected from the display device and the printing paper.

  In this case, a display output process as shown in FIG. 24 is performed in the printing process in step S110 in FIG. 2 or the printing process in step S411 in FIG.

  In this process, when performing the printing process, it is determined whether or not an advertisement is output on the display from the printing conditions (step S801). If an advertisement is output (the result of step S801 is YES), the advertisement information is output to the display (step S802). If not (the result of step S801 is NO), the process ends.

  FIG. 25 shows another example of a plurality of print condition generation processes in step S101 in FIG. 2 or a print condition generation process in step S401 in FIG.

  First, the display as shown in FIG. 4 is performed on the operation display device, and the user is allowed to select whether or not to change the default printing conditions (step S901). Here, when the user selects to change the default printing condition (the result of step S901 is YES), the display as shown in FIG. 5 is performed on the operation display device, and the paper size is selected by the user. (Step S902).

  When the paper size is selected (the result of step S902 is YES), the display as shown in FIG. 6 is performed on the operation display device, and the color printing or monochrome printing is waited for (step S903). .

  When color or monochrome printing is selected (the result of step S903 is YES), the display shown in FIG. 7 is performed on the operation display device, and a print surface is selected (step S904). As the printing surface, for example, “double-sided printing left open”, “double-sided printing right open”, “double-sided printing top open”, or “single-sided printing” can be selected.

When the printing surface is selected (the result of step S904 is YES), the operation display device displays as shown in FIG. 9 to allow the user to select whether or not aggregation is performed (step S905). For the aggregation, for example, “Page is arranged from the left” or “Page is arranged from the right” can be selected.

When the presence / absence of aggregation is selected (the result of step S905 is YES), after the display as shown in FIG. 8 is performed on the operation display device and the user is allowed to select whether or not to add advertisements to the printing paper. (Step S906) The display as shown in FIG. 12 is performed on the operation display device, and the user selects the output destination of the advertisement (step S907). Here, as the output destination of the advertisement, “output to printing paper”, “output to display”, “output to both printing paper and display”, or the like can be selected. The print content requested by the print request may be displayed on the output display unit, and the advertisement information may be output from any of the display units.

  If printing paper is selected as the output destination of the advertisement (YES in step S908), the operation display device displays as shown in FIG. 10 to allow the user to select an output format (step S909). ). As the output format of the advertisement, for example, “advertisement output on the back side of desired printing”, “output advertisement at the top of printing”, or “advertisement output alternately with desired printing” can be selected.

  When the output format of the advertisement is selected (the result of step S909 is YES), the printing condition is generated from the conditions so far (step S910), and the operation is terminated. FIG. 17B shows an example of printing with advertisement information added to the print data. In addition, for example, the display shown in FIG. 11 can be performed on the operation display device to allow the user to make a final confirmation.

  Further, when the display device is selected as the output destination of the advertisement and the result of step S908 is NO, and when it is specified that no advertisement is added and the result of step S908 is NO, step Proceeding to S910, a printing condition is generated under the conditions input so far, and the operation is terminated.

  If the default printing condition is not changed and the result of step S901 is NO, the process proceeds to step S910, where the default printing condition is generated, and the operation is terminated.

  FIG. 26 shows still another example of the plurality of print condition generation processes in step S101 of FIG. 2 or the print condition generation process of step S401 in FIG.

  First, the display as shown in FIG. 4 is performed on the operation display device, and the user is allowed to select whether or not to change the default printing conditions (step S1001). Here, when the user selects to change the default printing condition (the result of step S1001 is YES), the display as shown in FIG. 5 is performed on the operation display device, and the paper size is selected by the user. (Step S1002).

  When the paper size is selected (YES in step S1002), the operation display device displays as shown in FIG. 6 and waits for the selection of color printing or monochrome printing (step S1003). .

  When color or monochrome printing is selected (the result of step S1003 is YES), the display shown in FIG. 7 is performed on the operation display device, and the printing surface is selected (step S1004). As the printing surface, for example, “double-sided printing left open”, “double-sided printing right open”, “double-sided printing top open”, or “single-sided printing” can be selected.

  When the printing surface is selected (the result of step S1004 is YES), the operation display device displays as shown in FIG. 8 to allow the user to select whether or not to aggregate (step S1005). For the aggregation, for example, “Page is arranged from the left” or “Page is arranged from the right” can be selected.

  When the presence / absence of aggregation is selected (the result of step S1005 is YES), after the display as shown in FIG. 9 is performed on the operation display device and the user is allowed to select whether or not the advertisement is added to the printing paper. (Step S1006) The display as shown in FIG. 12 is performed on the operation display device to allow the user to select an output destination of the advertisement (step S1007). Here, as the output destination of the advertisement, “output to printing paper”, “output to display”, “output to both printing paper and display”, or the like can be selected. The output display unit may display the print content requested by the print request, and the advertisement information may be output from any of the display units.

  If printing paper is selected as the output destination of the advertisement (the result of step S1008 is YES), a display as shown in FIG. 22 is performed on the operation display device to allow the user to select an output format (step S1009). ). For example, “Advertise output on the back of the desired print”, “Output advertisement at the top of the print”, “Advertise output alternately with the desired print”, or “Advertise output in the margin” can be selected. it can.

  When the output format of the advertisement is selected (the result of step S1009 is YES), if “output the advertisement in the margin” is selected (the result of step S1010 is YES), the operation display device will display as shown in FIG. Display is performed and the output position of the advertisement is designated to the user (step S1011). The output position of the advertisement may be output in any margin position on the top, bottom, left or right. The advertisement may be output as a watermark of the print content requested by the print request.

  If the result of step S1011 is YES, a printing condition is generated from the previous conditions (step S1012), and the operation is terminated. FIG. 17B shows an example of printing with advertisement information added to the print data. In addition, for example, the display shown in FIG.

  Also, when “output in margin” is not selected, the result of step S1010 is NO, and when the display device is selected as the output destination of the advertisement, the result of step S1008 is NO. If it is specified that no advertisement is added and the result of step S1006 is NO, the process proceeds to step S1012, print conditions are generated under the conditions input so far, and the operation ends.

  If the default printing condition has not been changed and the result of step S1001 is NO, the process proceeds to step S1012 to generate a default printing condition, and the operation ends.

In this case, the billing condition generation process is discounted according to the charge reference table of FIG. 14 if a display is selected as the advertisement output destination.
As described above, in the ninth embodiment, since the advertisement is output on the display unit as compared with the third embodiment or the sixth embodiment, the printing fee can be made lower than usual.

  In the above-described embodiment, the operation display device provided in the printing device PR is used and the printing conditions are input by the user's touch panel operation. However, other input methods can be employed.

  For example, the printing apparatus PR includes an RFID communication unit, and can be set to automatically input printing conditions in accordance with information stored in an RFID chip mounted on an IC card provided by a user, for example.

  Also, the printer PR is provided with Bluetooth communication means, for example, operating a terminal device (such as a mobile communication terminal device (for example, a so-called mobile phone or PDA) or a Bluetooth keyboard) provided with the Bluetooth communication means. Thus, the user can input printing conditions.

  Further, the printing apparatus PR is provided with IEEE802.11 communication (wireless LAN) means, and a terminal device (such as a mobile communication terminal device (for example, a so-called mobile phone or PDA)) provided with the wireless LAN communication means is operated. Thus, the user can input printing conditions.

  In addition, the printing apparatus PR includes an infrared communication unit, and a user operates the terminal device (such as a mobile communication terminal device (for example, a so-called mobile phone or PDA)) including the infrared communication unit, so that the user can set the printing conditions. You can also enter it.

  In addition, the printing apparatus PR may be provided with an HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) server function and use the HTTP communication function via the network NT, for example, so that the user inputs a printing condition using a Web browser or the like. it can.

  In addition, the printing apparatus PR can be provided with a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) communication means, and the user can input printing conditions using electronic mail via the network NT.

In this way, in the above printing system , by inputting the printing conditions in which a plurality of printing conditions are combined in the printing apparatus (image forming apparatus) and making a print request including the printing conditions, setting the charging conditions, Alternatively, print properties can be set to provide a convenient print service.

  Also, in the image forming apparatus, a printing condition in which a plurality of printing conditions are combined is input, a charging condition is generated from the input, and a print request including them is performed, thereby setting a charging condition or setting a printing property. Can provide a convenient printing service.

  Further, by selecting addition of an advertisement in the image forming apparatus and selecting a print tray storing the advertisement in accordance with the selection, it is possible to provide a low-cost printing service.

  Further, by selecting the addition of an advertisement in the image forming apparatus and adding the advertisement to the print content according to the selection, it is possible to provide a low-cost printing service.

  Also, in the image forming apparatus, a print condition in which a plurality of print conditions are combined is input, a charging condition is set, a print request including them is set, a print content or an output destination of the advertisement is set, and the display and It is possible to provide a printing service with high advertising effect consisting of printing.

Also, if a plurality of combined printing conditions are input by the touch panel in the image forming apparatus, the input load is reduced and a highly convenient printing service can be provided.

Further , if a plurality of combined printing conditions are input by communication using a non-contact IC in the image forming apparatus, an input load is reduced and a highly convenient printing service can be provided.

Further , if a plurality of combined printing conditions are input by wireless communication in the image forming apparatus, an input load is reduced and a highly convenient printing service can be provided.

Also, if a plurality of combined printing conditions are input by infrared communication in the image forming apparatus, the input load is reduced and a highly convenient printing service can be provided.

Also, if the image forming apparatus to enter a plurality of combined printing conditions by the HTTP communication, the input load is reduced it is possible to provide a highly convenient printing service.

Further , if a plurality of combined printing conditions are input by SMTP communication in the image forming apparatus, the input load is reduced and a highly convenient printing service can be provided.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation procedure of the printing system. The flowchart which showed an example of the process which shows the production | generation operation | movement of a printing condition from the input of several printing conditions in step S101 of FIG. Schematic diagram showing an example of a default print screen. Schematic showing an example of a paper size setting screen. Schematic which showed an example of the color / monochrome setting screen. Schematic which showed an example of the printing surface setting screen. Schematic which showed an example of the setting screen of advertisement presence / absence. Schematic which showed an example of the aggregation setting screen. Schematic which showed an example of the setting screen of the output format of an advertisement. Schematic which showed an example of the printing confirmation screen. Schematic which showed an example of the setting screen of the output destination of an advertisement. The flowchart which showed an example of the accounting condition production | generation process. Schematic which showed an example of the charge reference table. 7 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the operation procedure of the printing system. The flowchart which showed an example of the tray setting process. Schematic which showed an example of the printing aspect of advertisement. Schematic which showed the other example of the printing aspect of advertisement. Schematic which showed the further another example of the printing aspect of advertisement. The flowchart which showed an example of the advertisement information synthetic | combination process. 9 is a flowchart showing another example of processing that indicates an operation for generating a printing condition from input of a plurality of printing conditions. Schematic which showed the other example of the setting screen of the output format of an advertisement. Schematic which showed an example of the selection screen of the output position of an advertisement. The flowchart which showed an example of the display output process. 10 is a flowchart illustrating another example of processing that indicates a print condition generation operation from a plurality of print condition inputs. 10 is a flowchart showing still another example of a process showing a print condition generation operation from a plurality of print condition inputs.

Explanation of symbols

PR printing device SV server device

Claims (9)

At least one server apparatus and an image forming apparatus are connected to a network, the image forming apparatus transmits a print request to the server apparatus, and the server apparatus transmits print data to the image forming apparatus in response to the print request. And the image forming apparatus performs printing according to the received print data,
The image forming apparatus includes:
An input means for receiving an input combining a plurality of printing conditions including at least the presence or absence of additional information from a user;
A print request forming unit that forms a print request including an input that combines the plurality of print conditions received by the input unit;
Print request transmission means for transmitting a print request formed by the print request forming means to the server device;
Print data receiving means for receiving print data transmitted from the server device;
Printing means for printing the print data received by the print data receiving means,
The image forming apparatus or the server apparatus includes a charging condition generating unit that generates a charging condition according to the printing condition received by the input unit in the image forming apparatus,
The charging condition generating means includes a determining means for determining the presence / absence of the additional information based on the print request. When the determining means determines that the additional information is to be added, the charging condition generating means reduces the charging fee. Means to generate,
The server device is
Print request receiving means for receiving the print request from the image forming apparatus;
Print data generation means for generating print data based on the print request;
Print data transmission means for transmitting the print data generated by the print data generation means to the image forming apparatus;
A printing system comprising: charging means for acquiring charging conditions generated by the charging condition generating means and charging according to the charging conditions. The printing system according to claim 1,
The billing condition generation means generates the billing condition as a billing amount of 0 yen when the calculated billing fee becomes a negative number as a result of the discount by adding the additional information. system. The printing system according to claim 1 or 2,
When the print data generation unit of the server apparatus includes additional information in the print condition included in the print request received by the print request reception unit, the additional information is acquired and the additional information is generated. A printing system comprising additional information synthesis means for synthesizing the print data. The printing system according to claim 3,
The input unit of the image forming apparatus is a unit that accepts designation of an output position of additional information on a sheet as input of the printing condition when receiving an input with additional information.
The additional information synthesizing means of the server device is means for synthesizing additional information with the generated print data in accordance with designation of an output position of the additional information included in the print request received by the print request receiving means. And printing system. The printing system according to claim 1 or 2,
When the image forming apparatus prints print data received by the print data receiving unit in response to transmission of a print request including the print condition when the print condition received by the input unit includes presence of additional information And a printing tray selecting means for selecting a tray storing a sheet on which additional information is printed in advance. A printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The image forming apparatus includes a display unit,
When the input unit of the image forming apparatus receives an input with additional information, the input unit receives the designation of whether the output destination of the additional information is the display unit or the printing paper as the input of the printing condition. Yes,
The image forming apparatus further includes, when the printing unit prints the print data, according to determination whether the print condition corresponding to the print data includes a designation for outputting additional information to the display unit. A printing system comprising display control means for controlling whether or not additional information is displayed on the display means. At least one server apparatus and an image forming apparatus are connected to a network, the image forming apparatus transmits a print request to the server apparatus, and the server apparatus transmits print data to the image forming apparatus in response to the print request. The image forming apparatus is a printing method in a printing system that performs printing according to the received print data,
The image forming apparatus includes:
An input procedure for receiving an input combining a plurality of printing conditions including at least presence / absence of additional information from a user;
A print request forming procedure for forming a print request including an input combining the plurality of print conditions received in the input procedure;
A print request transmission procedure for transmitting the print request formed in the print request formation procedure to the server device;
A print data reception procedure for receiving print data transmitted from the server device;
A print procedure for printing the print data received in the print data reception procedure;
The image forming apparatus or the server apparatus executes a charging condition generation procedure for generating a charging condition in accordance with the printing condition received in the input procedure in the image forming apparatus,
The charging condition generation procedure includes a determination procedure for determining presence / absence of the additional information based on the print request. When it is determined that the additional information is added according to the determination procedure, a charging condition with a discounted charging fee is generated. Procedure
The server device is
A print request receiving procedure for receiving the print request;
A print data generation procedure for generating print data based on the print request;
A print data transmission procedure for transmitting the print data generated in the print data generation procedure to the image forming apparatus;
And a charging procedure for acquiring a charging condition generated in the charging condition generation procedure and charging according to the charging condition. The printing method according to claim 7 , comprising:
The printing condition generation procedure includes generating a charging condition with a charging amount of 0 yen when the calculated charging fee becomes a negative number as a result of discounting by adding the additional information. . The printing method according to claim 7 or 8 , comprising:
In the print data generation procedure, the server device acquires additional information when the print condition included in the print request received in the print request reception procedure includes additional information, and the additional information is A printing method, comprising: executing an additional information synthesis procedure for synthesizing the generated print data.

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