Patent Abstract:
There is disclosed a printer or copying machine which operates according to several different functional and operational modes, a host computer which sends a print or copy order to the printer or copying machine, which order may include the number of copies to be made, the time of printing or copying, and an operational mode, such as size of copy, two-sided copying, collating, stapling, etc., and an accounting means which calculates charges based on the order before it is carried out by the printer or copying machine and which transmits those charge to the host computer.

Full Description:
This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/889,180, filed Jul. 7, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,675, which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a printing system, and more particularly, to a system in which accounting (cost assessment) is based on the specific functions used in the course of outputting a given body of text data or image data. 
   2. Related Background Art 
   In order to account for the usage of a copying machine a copy shop operator counts the number of pages to be copied and the number of copies of each page; and he makes his accounting based on these numbers. However, this accounting does not take into consideration any special functions that are carried out in connection with the copying. Recently, several special functions have been provided in automatic copying machines, such as automatic sorting, automatic stapling, double sided printing, etc. These special functions add value to the copied product; and therefore there is a need to account for their operation when calculating the usage of the copying machine. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of this invention to provide a printing system in which use of the above-mentioned specific functions can be accounted for appropriately. 
   According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system which comprises means for performing a printing operation according to a requested mode; and means for performing an accounting operation according to the printing operation. 
   According to more specific aspects of the invention, the accounting operation is carried out based on one or more of the time or date of printing, the number of pages to be printed or copied, the size of the copy or document to be printed, the kind of paper to be printed on, and the name of the user. 
   According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a printing system which comprises means for printing documents, means for carrying out an accounting operation in regard to the operation of the printing means, means for printing based on a predetermined program, and means for storing the program in a manner such that it can be executed only upon receipt of a predetermined password. 
   According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a novel printing system having a host computer and a printer which are connected with each other, and wherein the printer prints according to a plurality of operational modes. In this aspect the printing system comprises means for carrying out accounting operations based on the operational modes, means for executing a printing operation based on a command from the host computer, and means for displaying an amount of charge for the printing operation to the host. 
   According to additional specific features of the invention, there are provided means for prohibiting printing if the charge exceeds a predetermined amount or prohibiting printing until after the amount of charge has been transmitted to the host computer. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a printing system according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an image processor in the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart for explaining the operation of a first modification of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart for explaining the operation of a second modification of the system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart for explaining the operation of a third modification of the system of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The first embodiment of this invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
   The system of  FIG. 1  comprises a digital copying machine  100 , an image processor  101  and a plurality of host computers  102 . The digital copying machine  100  is connected to the image processor  101  via an exclusive interface (I/F). The host computers,  102 ′ are connected with the image processor apparatus  101  via a wide area interface or network such as Ethernet. 
   Image and text data (PDL) as well as commands from the host computers,  102 ′ are transmitted to the digital copying machine  100  via the image processor  101 . 
   In this embodiment, the digital copying machine  100  has several different copying functions such as a full color copying function, a mono-color copying function, a tri-color copying function, a twin-color copying function, etc., as well as several kinds of extension functions such as a printing function, a sorting function, a stapling function, a preview function, a color copy mode specifying function, and so on. 
   The full-color copying function is carried out by using the colors Y (Yellow), M (Magenta), C (Cyan) and K (Black). The mono-color copying function is carried out by using only K (Black). The tri-color copying function is carried out by using Y (Yellow), M (Magenta) and C (Cyan). The twin-color copying function is carried out by using the colors R (Red) and K (Black). The preview function is used for adjusting colors and for publishing by displaying the expected image on the screen of the host computer  102 . The color copy mode specifying function is used to specify the printing mode, that is, if it is to be the full-color copy mode, the tri-color copy mode, the twin-color copy mode or the mono-color copy mode. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the image processor  101  includes an interface  101 A for transferring data to and from the host computers  102  via the wide area network. The image processor  101  also includes an exclusive interface  101 B for transferring the data to and from the digital copying machine  100 . There are also provided in the image processor  101 , a PDL processor  101 C for processing the PDL (image and text) data, an image processor  101 D for carrying out several kinds of image processing such as gamma processing for the image data, a timer  101 E, a circuit  101 F for managing and logging each job, including a spooler, a discriminator  101 G for checking the authenticity of each job order, an account processor  101 H for processing the cost of the job based on an accounting program, and a controller  101 I for controlling the accounting operations, the image processing operations, the communications and the changing of the accounting programs. The controller  101 I controls the digital copying machine  100  so that it carries out a function specified by one of the host computers  102 . The controller then logs the job and prepares an account based on the log. It then gives an account notice to each host computer according to a predetermined timing. 
   The account notice may be sent to the appropriate each host computer  102  along with each copying job, or periodically, such as monthly, or when the total charge exceeds a predetermined amount, or as requested by the user. 
   The accounting operation is carried out based on the following parameters: an acceptance time (this may be, for example, a week, a day or a holiday, daytime or nighttime, etc.), the number of pages to be copied, the kind of paper to be used in the copying operation, such as ordinary paper or OHP (Overhead Transparency Paper), etc., paper size, size of the file, name of the user (discountable or not), copy mode (full-color copy or mono-color copy, etc. in a case where the copying machine  100  is a color copying machine), necessity for logging after copying, user functions (these may be expansion functions or ordinary functions) and time. In this embodiment, these parameters may be set by the host computer  102 . 
   In this embodiment, the image processor  101  normally executes the accounting operation when the copying operation is completed. The accounting operation for each parameter is executed according to a software program in the image processor  101 . The specific program or the specific parameters may be changed upon inputting a password or by carrying out a special operation for that purpose. 
   The host computer prints the text data and image data which is picked-up by a digital camera (not shown) or by a scanner  102 A. The data, which may include several kinds, may be delivered via a network, or reproduced by means of a player such as a CD-ROM player, etc., by using the digital copying machine  100  and the image processor  101 . 
   The basic operation of the system will now be described with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
   The host computer  102  transfers the user&#39;s password and operation code to the image processor  101 . The image processor  101  confirms the password and an operation code, and decides if the user is authorized to operate the copying machine  100 . The image processor  101  gives notice of the decision to the host computer  102 ; and the image processor  101  then confirms this information to the user. For example, the image processor  101  confirms whether the user is permitted to access the program, to change the program, etc. 
   After confirmation, the user specifies the image or document to be copied, sets the parameters and the copy mode, and then issues instructions to begin copying. The host computer  102  changes the image data or the text data to PDL data which includes the copy mode code, expansion function code, etc. The host computer  102  sends the PDL data and the user&#39;s ID (identification) code or machine&#39;s identification code to the image processor  101 . 
   The image processor  101  stores the PDL data in a memory and records the PDL data in each user&#39;s assigned memory region according to each user&#39;s turn. 
   The discriminator  101 G of the image processor  101  ascertains whether there is any prohibition regarding copying or printing of the PDL data. If the PDL data relates to a bill (i.e., money) or securities or involves copyrighted material, the copying of such data is prohibited. Accordingly, the discriminator  101 G confirms that the PDL data is not such prohibited data. Then the image processor  101  carries out predetermined image processing. 
   In this embodiment, the discriminator  101 G determines whether the data is copyable or not. This determination is made according to a control code which is sent with the PDL data from the host computer  102 , and which represents several kinds of regulations regarding restrictions on copying, image processing etc. The discriminator  101 G first reads the control code and then makes its decision based on the code. The various regulations corresponding to the control code are stored in a controlled access memory. 
   The discriminator  101 G may include a function for checking specified images or like, copyright marking and the design of billing forms. 
   The image processor  101  instructs the digital copying machine  100  to carry out copying and expansion functions, and to begin operation of a clock in order to ascertain copying time. 
   At each job&#39;s turn, the digital copying machine  100  carries out the job (i.e., copying in a specified copy mode and carrying out expansion functions). Then the digital copying machine  100  reports to the image processor  101  that the copying job will be completed in the normal manner. 
   The image processor  101  clocks the copy time, and confirms whether the copying operation has been completed in the normal manner. Then, if this has been done, the image processor  101  carries out an accounting operation. The image processor  101  carries out this accounting operation based on the copy mode, the number of copies, the copy time, etc. The image processor  101  records the results of the accounting operation in a log and communicates the results to the appropriate host computer  102 . 
   Next, another operation will be described with reference to  FIG. 4 . In the above-described embodiment, the accounting operation is performed only by the image processor  101 . However, in this next embodiment, the user can confirm the amount of the charge and can change the functions specified by the use, if needed. 
   As in the above described first embodiment, the user in this embodiment specifies the image or document to be copied, sets the parameters and the copy mode, and then instructs the system to begin the copying operation. The image processor  101  stores the PDL data into the user&#39;s assigned memory according to the user&#39;s turn. 
   The discriminator  101 G of the image processor  101  ascertains whether there is any restriction as to the copying or printing of the PDL data. The image processor  101  also carries out to an accounting operation and calculates an estimated charge. Then the image processor  101  transmits the estimated charge to respective host computer  102 . 
   The host computer  102  displays the estimated amount of charge to the user so that the user may change the specified functions. 
   The host computer  102  then gives notice of completion of the confirmation and the charge to the image processor  101 . The image processor  101  carries out the image processing and sends the PDL data and a start copy instruction to the digital copying machine  100 . The following operations of this embodiment are the same as for the previous embodiment. Thus, the image processor  101  carries out the accounting operation based on the job report, the represented number of pages, the copying mode, etc. According to this embodiment, a user can make copies while remaining within budget; and any possible problems regarding charges will be avoided beforehand. 
   Also, an upper limit of the amount to be charged may be preset, and the image processor  101  may give the notice of any excess when the charge amount exceeds this upper limit. This also helps to avoid problems in advance. 
   Another operation will be described with reference to  FIG. 5 . In the above described embodiment, the accounting operation is carried out the image processor  101 . In this embodiment however, the accounting operation is carried out by the host computer  102 . 
   The host computer  102  specifies the functions and the document or documents to be copied, and requests the image processor  101  to send program software for an accounting operation. 
   The image processor  101  sends the program software to the host computer  102  after checking the user&#39;s code sent from the host computer  102 . The host computer  102  then uses the program software to estimate the amount to be charged for the copying which is to be carried out according to the specified functions, and displays the amount so that it can be confirmed by the operator; and so that the operator can change the specified functions if desired. 
   After completion the final confirmation, the host computer  102  sends the PDL data to the image processor  101  and instructs it to start the copying operation as in the previous embodiment. 
   The operation of this embodiment in the same as that of the previously described embodiment. The image processor  101  transfers a job completion report, which has been sent from the digital copying machine  100 , to the host computer  102 . The image processor  101  then requests the host computer to delete the program software for the accounting operation. The host computer  102  carries out the accounting operation based on the job completion report, and deletes the program software. 
   Next, another operation, in which a preview operation is carried out, will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
   The operation of this embodiment is basically the same as in the previously described embodiments. However, in this embodiment, before a copying operation is executed, the image data which is processed by the digital copying machine  100  is transferred to the host computer  102  via the image processor  101 . The host computer  102  displays an image based on the image data which was sent from the digital copying machine  100  so that the user can confirm the image, adjust the color of the image, etc. 
   The user specifies the document, the image to be copied and the expansion functions by using the host computer  102 . Then the user issues an instruction to start copying by operation of the host computer  102 . 
   The details of this operation will now be described. 
   The host computer  102  transforms the image data to be copied into the PDL data. This data includes the copy mode code, an expansion function code and a command for preview. The host computer  102  transfers this PDL data to the image processor  101  via a network. In addition, the host computer  102  transfers the user&#39;s password and operation code to the image processor  101 . 
   The image processor  101  stores the PDL data in a memory, and records the PDL data in each user&#39;s assigned region of the memory according to the user&#39;s turn. 
   The discriminator  101 G of the image processor  101  discriminates whether copying or printing according to the PDL data is prohibited. Then the image processor  101  carries out the prescribed image processing. 
   The image processor  101  instructs the digital copying machine  100  to carry out copying and the expansion functions, and to begin clocking of the copying time. 
   The digital copying machine  100  does image processing which is different from the image processing carried out in the image processor  101 ; and it returns the processed image data to the image processor. The image processor  101  transforms the processed image data into the PDL data, and transfers the PDL data to the host computer  102 . 
   The host computer  102  displays the processed image data so as to confirm the data and to permit the user to adjust the color and details of picture based on the processed image data. Then the host computer  102  transforms the image data into PDL data, and transfers the PDL data to the image processor  101 . 
   The digital copying machine  100  carries out the requested jobs (i.e., copying in specified copy mode and carrying the requested expansion functions). Upon completion of the copying operation, the digital copying machine  100  transmits a report to the image processor  101  that the copying operation is completed is finished and that the copying mode is normal. 
   The image processor  101  stops clocking of the copy time, and confirms if the copying operation is completed and was performed normally. Then, if the copying operation was normal, the image processor  101  carries out the accounting operation. This accounting operation is based on the copy mode, the number of copies, the copy time, etc. The image processor  101  records the amount in a log and informs the host computer  102  of the amount. 
   According to the above embodiments, an accounting corresponding to particular parameters is obtained automatically. As a result, an operator can carry out an accounting operation in a simple manner and with little difficulty. 
   It is easy to change or modify the charge for copying and printing by changing the program software and associated parameters. 
   As mentioned above, it is possible with this embodiment to automatically request a charge according to several kinds of service which may be specified by a user. Further, this embodiment can automatically request a charge according to copy mode and functions requested by a user.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6