Patent ID: 7788179

Claim:
A printing charge collecting method which is applicable to a printing system including a portable terminal; a printing apparatus which is capable of communicating data with said portable terminal and is connected to a network; and a contents server which is capable of communicating data with said printing apparatus via said network, wherein: in a case where a user intends to print out contents data of said contents server which the user browses using said portable terminal, the user sends print request information for requesting print-out of the contents data to said printing apparatus; and said printing apparatus connects to said contents server via said network in accordance with the print request information, and acquires and prints out corresponding contents data for print-out, said printing charge collecting method comprising: producing a plurality of contents data representing a same contents, each displayable to one of a plurality of portable terminals having various limitations in displaying data; storing the plurality of contents data in a contents server; downloading the contents data to the one of a plurality of portable terminals for browsing or printing purposes by authenticating authentication information which is given to the user who in advance has closed a contract with a company managing said portable terminal; collecting a predetermined basic charge from the user based on the contract together with a communication charge; and paying an amount derived by subtracting a predetermined commission from the basic charge to a provider of a printing function of said printing system, the provider of the printing function of said printing system being a third party from the user and the company managing said portable terminal.