Patent Publication Number: US-2015081530-A1

Title: Image forming apparatus capable of executing print processing based on input image data, information processing method, and storage medium

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an information processing method, and a storage medium. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Recently, the use of electronic money to perform settlement (payment) using a pre-paid non-contact card on public transportation system, in supermarkets and the like has been spreading. In such a payment method, after the price (amount) of a service or a product has been confirmed, that amount is deducted from the non-contact card by swiping the non-contact card (electronic money) over a card processor. Consequently, for a retail system in which the amount is confirmed after the product or service has been provided, to perform payment more reliably, the non-contact card has to be held in the card processor until payment is complete. However, by holding the card in this manner, the card processor becomes complex and expensive, and also the convenience of the non-contact card worsens. 
     To solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-164987 discusses a method in which the required amount is deducted from the non-contact card before providing a copy service, and if a difference with the actual confirmed amount occurs, the previous deduction is cancelled and a deduction is performed again from the non-contact card. 
     However, in the method discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-164987, a user may not notice the refund, so that if the user does not swipe the non-contact card again, refund processing cannot be performed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes an obtaining unit configured to obtain from a device on which electronic money is recorded, identification information for identifying the device and electronic money information, a deduction unit configured to deduct an amount required for executing a print process based on the electronic money information, a storage unit configured to store balance information that indicates a balance relating to the print process by associating the balance information with the identification information, and a refund unit configured to refund the balance indicated by the balance information associated with the identification information in response to the identification information obtained by the obtaining unit for a different print process. 
     Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a system configuration of a printing system. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates basic charging processing with a non-contact card. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating details of refund processing according to a first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 4A-4F  illustrate various display screens. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating details of refund processing according to a second exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates processing for deducting a deposit amount from a required amount. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a system configuration of a printing system. 
     An image forming apparatus  101  includes a controller unit  102 , a display unit  103 , an operation unit  104 , a printer unit  105 , and a scanner unit  106 . 
     The display unit  103 , which includes a light-emitting diode (LED) and a liquid crystal display, displays operation content made by an operator and an internal state of the apparatus. The operation unit  104  receives operations from the operator. The operation unit  104  may include a plurality of operation buttons, or may even be realized as a touch display with the display unit  103 . 
     The printer unit  105  prints image data transmitted from the controller unit  102  on printing paper based on a print instruction from the controller unit  102 . The printer unit  105  is connected to the controller unit  102  via a device control interface (I/F)  114 . 
     The scanner unit  106  receives scan instructions from the controller unit  102 , performs scan operations, and transmits the scanned image data to the controller unit  102 . The scanner unit  106  is connected to the controller unit  102  via the device control I/F  114 . 
     The controller unit  102  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  107 , a read-only memory (ROM)  108 , a random-access memory (RAM)  109 , a hard disk drive (HDD)  110 , an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)  111 , a display unit I/F  112 , an operation unit I/F  113 , a device control I/F  114 , and a network I/F  115 . 
     The CPU  107 , which is an execution medium of programs stored in the image forming apparatus  101 , controls operations of devices connected to the controller unit  102  via the respective I/Fs and a storage medium memory, for example. 
     The ROM  108 , which is a read-only memory, stores a boot program required to start the system. 
     The RAM  109 , which is a volatile memory, is a work memory that is required when executing a program. 
     The HDD  110 , which is a storage medium such as a magnetic disk, stores control programs and image data. 
     The EEPROM  111 , which is a non-volatile memory, stores setting values that are required when executing a program. Settings such as a unit cost setting that are required to calculate the charge are also stored in the EEPROM  111 . 
     The device control I/F  114  controls input and output to and from the devices (the printer unit  105 , scanner unit  106 , and non-contact card processor  118 ) connected to the controller unit. The device control I/F  114  may be realized not only as a bus structure to which a plurality of devices can be connected, but may also include a plurality of I/Fs that are divided up on a one-to-one basis with each device. 
     The display I/F  112  outputs control information to the display unit  103 . 
     The operation unit I/F  113  receives input information from the operation unit  104 . 
     The image forming apparatus  101 , which is connected to a local area network (LAN)/wide area network (WAN)  116  via the network I/F  115 , issues notifications to a management server  117  on the LAN/WAN  116  and acquires information about charge-related information and deposit amounts. 
     Further, the image forming apparatus  101  communicates with the non-contact card processor  118  via the device control I/F  114 , and performs reading or writing of the non-contact card. 
     The non-contact card is an example of a recording medium on which electronic money is recorded. 
     The functions of the image forming apparatus  101  and the information processing relating to flowcharts described below are realized by the CPU  107  loading a program stored in the HDD  110  in the RAM  109 , and executing the program. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates basic charging processing with a non-contact card using a copy job as an example. 
     First, a user inputs a copy job by placing a document on an original document platen (i.e., reading portion) of the scanner unit  106 , and performing settings relating to the copy job using the operation unit  104 . 
     In step S 201 , the CPU  107  receives the copy job input. 
     In step S 202 , the CPU  107  issues a scanning start instruction to the scanner unit  106  to start a scanning operation. 
     In step S 203 , the CPU  107  calculates a required amount, and displays a calculated amount on the display unit  103 . When the user swipes the non-contact card over the non-contact card processor  118 , the CPU  107  issues a deduction instruction to the non-contact card processor  118 . 
     After deduction, in step S 204 , the CPU  107  performs printing of the image data. 
     Finally, in step S 205 , the CPU  107  calculates a confirmed amount of the actual printing, and if there is a refund, performs refund processing. Details of the refund processing will be described below with reference to  FIG. 3  or  FIG. 5 . 
     Next,  FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating the details of the refund processing according to the first exemplary embodiment. In the first exemplary embodiment, even if the refund processing to the non-contact card is not performed, the refund processing is performed the next time the non-contact card is swiped. 
     In step S 301 , the CPU  107  receives a job input instruction from the operation unit  104  via the operation unit I/F  113 . If the instruction is for a copy job, the CPU  107  issues a scanning start instruction to the scanner unit  106  via the device control I/F  114 . 
     In step S 302 , the CPU  107  performs a calculation of the required amount. The required amount is an amount predicted to be required if the job is completed normally. The CPU  107  calculates the required amount based on, for example, information about a predicted color mode, and a paper size to be printed, and information about a unit cost set in the EEPROM  111 . 
     In step S 303 , the CPU  107  displays a card request screen and the required amount calculated in step S 302  on the display unit  103  via the display unit I/F  112 . An example of this display screen is illustrated in  FIG. 4A . The card request screen  401  in  FIG. 4A  includes a message display section  402  and a cancel button  403 . The CPU  107  continues the display until either the non-contact card is swiped over the non-contact card processor  118  or the cancel button  403  is pressed. If the cancel button  403  is pressed, the CPU  107  determines in step S 304  that a cancel instruction has been issued (YES in step S 304 ), and cancels charging processing. Then, in step S 305 , the CPU  107  determines whether the non-contact card has been swiped over the non-contact card processor  118 . If the non-contact card has not been swiped (NO in step S 305 ), the processing returns to step S 304 . If the non-contact card has been swiped (YES in step S 305 ), the processing proceeds to step S 306 . 
     In step S 306 , the CPU  107  acquires card identification (ID) and a balance of the swiped non-contact card from the non-contact card processor  118  via the device control I/F  114 . 
     The card ID is an example of identification information identifying the non-contact card. 
     In step S 307 , the CPU  107  notifies the management server  117  of the card ID. 
     In step S 308 , the CPU  107  acquires from the management server  117  a deposit amount corresponding to the card ID. The deposit amount is a cumulative amount that has not been refunded to the non-contact card. 
     In other words, in the present exemplary embodiment, a card ID identifying a non-contact card on which electronic money relating to a balance is recorded and this balance (a cumulative amount that has not been refunded to the non-contact card) are associated and recorded in a non-volatile memory of the management server  117 . In the present exemplary embodiment, although these pieces of associated information will be described below as being recorded in the non-volatile memory of the management server  117 , they may also be recorded in the HDD  110  of the image forming apparatus  101 . The non-volatile memory of the management server  117  and the HDD  110  of the image forming apparatus  101  are examples of an information storage device. 
     In step S 309 , the CPU  107  confirms whether there is a deposit amount. If there is a deposit amount (YES in step S 309 ), the CPU  107  performs the refund processing of steps S 310  and S 311 . If there is not a deposit amount (NO in step S 309 ), the processing proceeds to step S 312  without performing the refund processing. 
     In other words, in step S 309 , the CPU  107  determines whether the same card ID as that acquired from the non-contact card which has been swiped over the non-contact card processor  118  is associated with balance amount information and stored in the management server  117 . 
     In step S 310 , to perform the refund processing, the CPU  107  issues a deposit amount deduction notification including the card ID and the deposit amount to the management server  117 . The management server  117  receives this deduction notification, and updates the deposit amount corresponding to the card ID. 
     In step S 311 , the CPU  107  issues an add instruction for the deposit amount to the non-contact card processor  118  via the device control I/F  114 . Consequently, the balance of the electronic money stored on the non-contact card increases. 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, the processing order of steps S 310  and S 311  may be reversed. 
     Next, in step S 312 , the CPU  107  checks whether the balance is insufficient. The CPU  107  determines whether the balance is insufficient by comparing the balance of the non-contact card and the required amount calculated in step S 302 . 
     If it is determined that the balance is insufficient (YES in step S 312 ), in step S 313 , the CPU  107  displays an insufficient balance screen on the display unit  103  via the display unit I/F  112 . An example of this display screen is illustrated in  FIG. 4B . The insufficient balance screen  404  in  FIG. 4B  includes a message display section  405  and an OK button  406 . When the OK button  406  is pressed, the processing proceeds to step S 303 , and the CPU  107  again displays the card request screen. If it is determined in step S 312  that the balance is not insufficient (NO in step S 312 ), the processing proceeds to step S 314 . 
     In step S 314 , the CPU  107  issues a required amount deduction instruction to the non-contact card processor  118  via the device control I/F  114 . Consequently, the balance of the electronic money stored on the non-contact card decreases. 
     After the deduction processing, in step S 315 , the CPU  107  issues a print instruction to the printer unit  105  via the device control I/F  114 . 
     After the print processing, in step S 316 , the CPU  107  performs calculation of the confirmed amount. The confirmed amount is an amount that has been actually required after the job execution. If the print processing has finished normally, the required amount calculated in step S 302  and the confirmed amount generally match. However, if the print processing has not finished normally due to a jam or the like, a difference arises. 
     In step S 317 , the CPU  107  confirms whether a difference in the amounts has occurred, and whether the refund processing is required. If there is no refund (NO in step S 317 ), the CPU  107  ends the charging processing. If there is a refund (YES in step S 317 ), the CPU  107  performs the processing in step S 318  and the subsequent steps. 
     In step S 318 , the CPU  107  displays a refund notification screen on the display unit  103  via the display unit I/F  112 . An example of this display screen is illustrated in  FIG. 4C . The refund notification screen  407  in  FIG. 4C  includes a message display section  408  and a cancel button  409 . The CPU  107  continues the display until either the non-contact card is swiped over the non-contact card processor  118  or the cancel button  409  is pressed. 
     If the cancel button  409  is pressed, in step S 319 , the CPU  107  determines that a cancel instruction has been issued (YES in step S 319 ), and cancels the refund processing to the non-contact card. Then, the processing proceeds to step S 323 . 
     In step S 323 , the CPU  107  issues a refund amount notification including the card ID and the refund amount to the management server  117 . The management server  117  receives this refund amount notification, adds the refund amount from this transaction to the deposit amount corresponding to the card ID recorded in the memory, and updates the deposit amount. 
     In step S 324 , the CPU  107  displays a screen indicating that the refund to the management server has been completed on the display unit  103  via the display unit I/F  112 . An example of the display screen at this stage is illustrated in  FIG. 4D . The screen  413  in  FIG. 4D  indicating that the refund to the management server has been completed includes a message display section  414  and an OK button  409 . When the OK button  415  is pressed, the CPU  107  ends the charging processing. 
     In step S 320 , the CPU  107  determines whether the non-contact card has been swiped over the non-contact card processor  118 . If the non-contact card has not been swiped (NO in step S 320 ), the processing returns to step S 319 . If the non-contact card has been swiped (YES in step S 320 ), the processing proceeds to step S 321 . In other words, in step S 320 , the CPU  107  determines whether the non-contact card has been swiped over the non-contact card processor  118 , and whether communication is possible with the non-contact card. 
     In step S 321 , the CPU  107  issues an add instruction for the refund amount to the non-contact card processor  118  via the device control I/F  114 . Consequently, the balance stored on the non-contact card increases. 
     In step S 322 , the CPU  107  displays a screen indicating that the refund to the non-contact card has been completed on the display unit  103  via the display unit I/F  112 . An example of the display screen at this stage is illustrated in  FIG. 4E . The screen  410  in  FIG. 4E  indicating that the refund to the non-contact card has been completed includes a message display section  411  and an OK button  412 . When the OK button  412  is pressed, the CPU  107  ends the charging processing. 
     Based on the above series of processes, even if the refund processing to the non-contact card is not performed, a refund is made the next time the non-contact card is swiped. 
     While a case is described in the first exemplary embodiment in which refund authority is given to the non-contact card processor, in a second exemplary embodiment, a case will be described in which refund authority is not given thereto. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating details of the refund processing according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
     Since steps S 501  to S 508  are the same as steps S 301  to S 308  of the first exemplary embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted here. 
     In step S 509 , the CPU  107  confirms whether there is a deposit amount. If there is a deposit amount (YES in step S 509 ), the CPU  107  performs processing for using the deposit amount as illustrated in steps S 510  to S 512 . If there is not a deposit amount (NO in step S 509 ), the processing proceeds to step S 513 . 
     In step S 510 , the CPU  107  displays a deposit amount usage screen on the display unit  103  via the display unit I/F  112 . An example of the display screen at this stage is illustrated in  FIG. 4F . The deposit amount usage screen  416  in  FIG. 4F  includes a message display section  417  and an OK button  418 . When the OK button  418  is pressed, the CPU  107  closes the deposit amount usage screen  416 . 
     In step S 511 , the CPU  107  deducts the deposit amount from the required amount. The deduction method will be described in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
     In step S 512 , the CPU  107  issues a deduction notification including the card ID and the deposit amount to the management server  117 . The management server  117  receives this deduction notification, and updates the deposit amount corresponding to the card ID. 
     Since steps S 513  to S 517  are the same as steps S 312  to S 316  of the first exemplary embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted here. 
     In step S 518 , the CPU  107  confirms whether a difference in the amounts has occurred, and whether the refund processing is required. If there is no refund (NO in step S 518 ), the CPU  107  ends the charging processing. If there is a refund (YES in step S 518 ), the CPU  107  performs the processing from step S 519  onwards. 
     In step S 519 , the CPU  107  issues a refund amount notification including the card ID and the refund amount to the management server  117 . The management server  117  receives this refund amount notification, adds the refund amount at this transaction to the deposit amount corresponding to the card ID, and updates the deposit amount. 
     In step S 520 , the CPU  107  displays a screen indicating that the refund to the management server has been completed on the display unit  103  via the display unit I/F  112 . An example of the display screen at this stage is the same as that in the first exemplary embodiment. When the OK button  415  is pressed, the CPU  107  ends the charging processing. 
     Next, the processing for deducting the deposit amount from the required amount of step S 511  will be described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 6 . An available amount illustrated in  FIG. 6  is obtained by adding the deposit amount stored in the management server  117  and the balance of the non-contact card. The user can use services within this available amount. If the deposit amount is equal to or more than the required amount, all of the required amount is paid from the deposit amount, and the remaining deposit amount can be used in the next transaction. On the other hand, if the deposit amount is less than the required amount, the required amount is paid from all of the deposit amount and the balance of the non-contact card. 
     Based on the above series of processes, even if refund authority is not given to a non-contact card processor, the user can use a refund amount the next time the card is used. 
     According to the above-described respective exemplary embodiments, even when the refund processing to the non-contact card is not performed because the user does not notice that there has been a refund, the refund processing is performed the next time the non-contact card is swiped. Therefore, the user does not lose any money. Further, even if the user leaves without performing the refund processing, processing can proceed by a different user cancelling the refund processing. Namely, even when the user does not notice that there is a refund and does not swipe his/her card again, the refund processing can be performed. 
     Further, even if the card processor does not have the authority of refilling or cancelling, the refund processing can be performed and the refund can be used the next time the card is used. 
     The exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and can be modified in various ways within the scope of the following claims. 
     Although in the above exemplary embodiments, a non-contact card is employed as an example, a portable terminal such as a mobile phone or a smartphone having an integrated chip (IC) on which electronic money is recorded may also be used. 
     Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate computers or separate processors to read out and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. 
     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-190776 filed Sep. 13, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.