Patent ID: 8892476
Filing Date: 2014-11-18
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A server for image forming apparatuses comprising: a server input unit to receive charging criteria of image forming apparatuses and a charging criterion of a virtual image forming apparatus; a server communication unit to receive information regarding output amounts from the image forming apparatuses; and a server control unit to generate the virtual image forming apparatus and to calculate charges of the image forming apparatuses according to the charging criterion of the virtual image forming apparatus, when the output amounts of the image forming apparatuses are less than basic output amounts of the charging criteria of the image forming apparatuses, wherein the virtual image forming apparatus includes the use of at least two of the image forming apparatuses, wherein the server control unit generates the virtual image forming apparatus according to a restriction condition for the number of the virtual image forming apparatus or a restriction condition for the output amounts, and wherein, when the number of image forming apparatuses allotted to the virtual image forming apparatus does not satisfy the restriction condition for the number, the server control unit generates a plurality of virtual image forming apparatuses and divides the number of the allotted image forming apparatuses according to the plurality of virtual image forming apparatuses.