Patent ID: 8275679

Claim:
A billing management system, comprising: a first apparatus and a second apparatus that are configured to preform processes when requested; and a billing management apparatus configured to manage billing information corresponding to the processes performed by the first apparatus and the second apparatus, wherein the first apparatus includes a generating unit configured to generate identification information for a process flow that is performed through collaboration between the first apparatus and the second apparatus, in response to a request to start the process flow, an identification information transmitting unit configured to transmit the generated identification information to the billing management apparatus, a process execution unit configured to perform a first process assigned to the first apparatus according to the process flow, a billing information transmitting unit configured to transmit billing information for the first process performed by the process execution unit together with the identification information to the billing management apparatus, and a data transfer unit configured to transfer output data of the first process performed by the process execution unit together with the identification information to the second apparatus, the second apparatus performing a second process according to the process flow and transmitting billing information for the second process together with the identification information to the billing management apparatus; and the billing management apparatus includes an identification information receiving unit configured to receive the identification information transmitted from the first apparatus, a billing information receiving unit configured to receive the billing information for the first process and the billing information for the second process together with the identification information from the first apparatus and the second apparatus, respectively, and a billing information recording unit configured to record the billing information for the first process and the billing information for the second process in a billing information storing unit in association with the identification information.