Patent ID: 8301524

Claim:
An accounting apparatus comprising: a computer that includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, the computer configured to include: an accounting unit configured to impose a charge for use of a device that is an object of accounting on the basis of a number of operations and/or an operation time of the device; an occupancy time counting unit configured to count an occupancy time that the device has been exclusively used by a user; and a charge discounting unit configured to discount the charge for use of the device on the basis of the counted occupancy time, wherein the occupancy time counting unit is configured to start counting of the occupancy time in response to payment and to terminate counting of the occupancy time in response to execution of a balance returning operation, the charge discounting unit is configured to compare a standard occupancy time that has been set for the number of operations and/or the operation time of the device with the occupancy time counted using the occupancy time counting unit and to discount the charge for use of the device when the occupancy time is shorter than the standard occupancy time and, the charge discounting unit is configured to increase or decrease a discount amount in proportion to a difference between the standard occupancy time and the counted occupancy time.