Electrophotography – Machine operation – Accounting
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-22
2001-01-23
Beatty, Robert (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Machine operation
Accounting
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178298
ABSTRACT:
This application is based on an application No. 95-257016 filed in Japan, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming management apparatus that manages the number of image formations by image forming apparatus, for instance, a copying machine, for each group of user.
(2) Related Art
An image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine (hereinafter referred to as a “copying machine”) used in a company or another such organization is often shared by a plurality of groups (for instance, sections). In this case, it is desirable to prohibit unauthorized persons from using the copying machine and to manage the number of copying operations by each of the sections that use the copying machine for cost management.
When using a conventional copying machine, the user inputs the identification number that is given to the section that the user belongs to (hereinafter, such a section will be called a “user section”, and such an identification number is called a “user section ID (identification data)”).
The control unit in the copying machine compares the user section ID that the user inputs with the identification numbers that are registered in the control unit in advance (hereinafter, such identification numbers will be called “registered section IDs”). Only when finding a registered section ID that corresponds to the input user section ID, the control unit allows the user to use the copying machine. After allowing the user to use the copying machine, the control unit adds the number of copying operations made by the user to the total for the user section corresponding to the user section ID. The control unit thus stores a total corresponding to each user section.
The person in charge of the copying machine regularly calculates a copying cost for each user section according to the totals and invoices the user sections.
When the user is allowed to use such a conventional copying machine, the copying machine stores the number of copying operations related to the user section corresponding to the input user section ID. As a result, it is undesirable to take copies for other sections using such a copying machine. This is because the cost of the copies for the other sections is included in the bill issued to the user section since the user has to input his/her own user section ID in order to be allowed to use the copying machine, even when taking copies for other sections (hereinafter, such a section will be called a “receiver section”). The number of copying operations is stored related to the user section corresponding to the input user section ID, so that it is naturally undesirable for the receiver of copies (the receiver section) and the section bearing the cost of the copies (the user section) to differ.
In order to avoid such a problem, when taking copies for receiver sections, the user may obtain the identification numbers of the receiver sections (hereinafter, the identification number of a receiver section is called a “receiver section ID”) in advance and input the obtained identification numbers. In other words, the user may be allowed to use the copying machine for the receiver sections. This solution, however, is far from ideal. It is troublesome for the user to memorize and input each of the receiver section IDs. The greater the number of the receiver sections, the more troublesome such operations become.
It is also highly possible for the user to input the wrong receiver section ID by mistake. In other words, it is highly possible for the copying machine to count the number of copying operations for a receiver section for which the user never takes copies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide an image forming management device that does not require the user to memorize and input receiver section IDs and does not count copying operations by mistake for a group for which the user never takes copies.
The above-mentioned object may be achieved by an image forming management apparatus that manages image formations by an image forming apparatus, including: a memory for storing (1) a plurality of identifiers each of which corresponds to a different group in a plurality of groups, and (2) a plurality of information that are related to one of the plurality of identifiers, each piece of information representing one group that differs from a group corresponding to a related identifier; an identifier reception unit for receiving input of an identifier; a display unit for displaying a plurality of information stored in the memory; a selection unit for selecting at least one piece of information from the plurality of pieces of information that the display unit displays; and a processor for having the display unit display a plurality of information that are stored in the memory and are related to the identifier received by the identifier reception unit, for receiving at least one piece of information selected with the selection unit among the plurality of pieces of information displayed by the display unit, for counting the number of image formations made by the image forming apparatus, and for storing the counted number in the memory relating to each group corresponding to each piece of information selected with the selection unit.
The object may be also achieved by an image forming apparatus, including: an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording sheet; a memory for storing (1) a plurality of identifiers each of which corresponds to a different group in a plurality of groups, and (2) a plurality of pieces of attached information that are related to one of the plurality of identifiers, each piece of attached information representing one group that differs from a group corresponding to a related identifier; an identifier reception unit for receiving input of an identifier; a display unit for displaying a plurality of pieces of attached information stored in the memory; a selection unit for selecting at least one piece of attached information from the plurality of pieces of attached information that the display unit displays; and a processor for having the display unit display a plurality of pieces of attached information that are stored in the memory and are related to the identifier received by the identifier reception unit, for receiving at least one piece of attached information selected with the selection unit among the plurality of pieces of attached information displayed by the display unit, for activating the image forming unit, for counting the number of image formations made by the image forming unit, and for storing the counted number in the memory relating to each group corresponding to each piece of attached information selected with the selection unit.
The object may be also achieved by an image forming management method that manages image formations by image forming apparatus, including: a first step for storing an identifier for each of a plurality of groups in a memory; a second step for storing a plurality of pieces of attached information related to an identifier for each identifier, each piece of attached information representing one group that differs from a group corresponding to a related identifier; a third step for receiving input of an identifier; a fourth step for displaying a plurality of pieces of attached information that are stored in the memory and are related to the received identifier on a display unit; a fifth step for receiving at least one piece of attached information from the plurality of pieces of attached information displayed on the display unit; a sixth step for having the image forming apparatus perform image formations; and a seventh step for counting a number of image formations by the image forming apparatus and for storing the counted number in the memory relating to each group corresponding to each piece of attached information received at the fifth step.
In the image forming management device, it is possible to register in advance the information representing the prospective r
Beatty Robert
Minolta Co. , Ltd.
Morrison & Foerster / LLP
LandOfFree
Image forming management apparatus that manages the number... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Image forming management apparatus that manages the number..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Image forming management apparatus that manages the number... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2468239