JP2003196554A - Fee collecting system, fee collecting method, electronic equipment, storage medium, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fee collecting system, a fee collecting method, electronic equipment, a storage medium, and a program capable of controlling the use of the electronic equipment without allowing the cumulative amount of rental fee of the electronic equipment connected to a network to surpass a pre- allocated budget. <P>SOLUTION: This fee collecting system is provided with terminals 101 as terminals connected to each other through the network 104, an account management server 102 as a server computer, and a printer 103. When a processing request information 501 is transmitted, as the instruction for printing, from the terminal 101 to the printer 103, the printer 103 calculates an estimated fee based on the processing request information 501, and requests a direct debit for the account management server 102. When the direct debit is succeeded, a processing is performed based on the processing request information 501. When the direct debit is unsuccessful, an error notice is transmitted to the terminal 101. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a charging system, a charging method, an electronic device, a storage medium, and a program,
In particular, the present invention relates to a charging system, a charging method, an electronic device, a storage medium, and a program that impose a usage fee on a user when using an electronic device that is connected to a network and performs a predetermined process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional network system, there is a charging system that charges a user by charging a usage fee when using an electronic device such as a printer which is connected to a network and performs a printing process. In this billing system, billing information corresponding to the usage fee is transmitted from the electronic device to a server computer connected to the network for managing billing, the billing information is stored in a storage device of the server computer, and the usage fee is stored. Is accumulated. As such a charging system, for example, "Network system and charging method in network system" of JP-A-11-134057 and "Print system in network environment" of JP-A-11-154068 are known. .

[0003] In particular, a company's billing system is required to have a budget control so that the usage fee of electronic equipment is deducted from a budget allocated in advance and the budget is kept within the budget.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional charging system, since the accumulated amount of the usage fee of the electronic device cannot be managed within the budget allocated in advance, the user can use the electronic device without limitation. Then, there was a problem that the cumulative amount of the usage fee suddenly exceeded the budget.

Further, when the upper limit is set within the budget and the use of the electronic device is managed, the upper limit is set in the server computer that manages the charge, and the usage fee is accumulated before execution of a print job or the like in the electronic device. It is possible to manage the budget by determining whether or not the amount exceeds the upper limit, but in such a method, the upper limit is exceeded after the accumulated amount of the usage fee exceeds the upper limit. Therefore, there is a problem that it is not possible to know in advance whether or not the accumulated amount of usage fee exceeds the upper limit.

Further, when the accumulated amount of usage charges exceeds the upper limit, it is necessary to reset the upper limit set in the server computer, which is troublesome, and the upper limit and the charging system are linked. There was a problem that had to be.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the use of an electronic device connected to a network can be used without the accumulated charge of the electronic device exceeding a budget allocated in advance. An object of the present invention is to provide a billing system, a billing method, an electronic device, a storage medium, and a program that can manage information.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a billing system according to claim 1 comprises a terminal, an electronic device for performing a predetermined process, and a server computer provided with an electronic money account. In a billing system in which the terminals are connected to each other via a network, the terminal includes processing requesting means for transmitting processing request information to the electronic device and requesting processing, and the electronic device includes the received processing request information. Estimating means for estimating the fee for the processing based on the above, account debit requesting means for requesting to deduct the estimated fee from the account, and processing executing means for executing the processing depending on whether or not the estimated fee can be deducted. The processing execution means, when the withdrawal of the estimated fee from the account is not successful, the processing execution means causes the terminal to perform an error. And transmitting a notification.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a billing system according to the first aspect.
In the charging system described above, the processing execution means executes the processing when the estimated charge is successfully deducted from the account.

The billing system according to claim 3 is the billing system according to claim 1.
Alternatively, in the charging system according to the second aspect, the estimating means calculates a processing amount required for the processing based on the processing request information, and estimates the estimated fee based on the processing amount.

A billing system according to a fourth aspect is the billing system according to the first aspect.
In the charging system according to any one of items 1 to 3,
The server computer executes an account storage unit that stores the electronic money in the account, and an account withdrawal unit that withdraws the estimated fee requested by the terminal and withdraws the electronic money corresponding to the estimated fee from the account. And is provided.

The billing system according to claim 5 is the billing system according to claim 1.
In the charging system according to any one of 4 to 4,
The electronic device calculates an actual charge calculation means for calculating an actual actual charge taken when the processing is executed, and calculates a difference between the calculated actual charge and the estimated charge, and the actual charge is calculated from the estimated charge. When the amount is small, an account depositing means for depositing the difference into the account is provided.

A billing system according to a sixth aspect is the fifth aspect.
In the billing system described above, the account debiting means debits the difference from the account when the actual fee is higher than the estimated fee.

A billing system according to a seventh aspect is the billing system according to the first aspect.
In the charging system according to any one of 1 to 6,
The processing request information includes an account number of the account.

The charging system according to claim 8 is the charging system according to claim 1.
In the charging system according to any one of 1 to 7,
The processing request information is characterized by including digital signature data and / or digital certificate data according to a public key cryptosystem.

A billing system according to a ninth aspect is the eighth aspect.
In the charging system described above, the electronic device includes a digital signature inspecting unit that inspects the digital signature data based on the processing request information from the terminal, and when the authentication by the digital signature data is not successful,
The error notification is transmitted to the terminal.

The billing system according to claim 10 is the billing system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the electronic device inspects the digital certificate data based on the processing request information from the terminal. An inspection means is provided, and when the authentication by the digital certificate data is not successful, the error notification is transmitted to the terminal.

In order to achieve the above object, a billing method according to an eleventh aspect is such that a terminal, an electronic device for performing a predetermined process, and a server computer provided with an electronic money account are mutually connected via a network. In a charging method of a connected charging system, a processing request step of transmitting processing request information to the electronic device to request processing, and an estimation step of estimating a charge for the processing based on the received processing request information, It comprises an account withdrawing step for requesting to deduct the estimated fee from the account, and a processing executing step for executing the processing according to whether or not the estimated fee can be withdrawn, the processing executing step comprising the estimated fee from the account. If the withdrawal is not successful, an error notification is transmitted to the terminal.

A billing method according to a twelfth aspect is the eleventh aspect.
In the charging method described above, the process execution step is characterized in that the process is executed when the estimated charge is successfully deducted from the account.

The charging method according to claim 13 is the same as claim 11.
Alternatively, in the charging method described in 12, the estimating step calculates a processing amount required for the processing based on the processing request information, and estimates the estimated fee based on the processing amount.

The billing method according to claim 14 is the method according to claim 11.
The accounting method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein an account storing step of storing the electronic money in the account, and a request for deducting the estimated fee requested from the terminal are executed to obtain the estimated fee from the account. And an account withdrawing step of withdrawing the electronic money of the portion.

A billing method according to a fifteenth aspect is the eleventh aspect.
15. The charging method according to any one of 14 to 14, wherein an actual charge calculation step of calculating an actual actual charge taken when the processing is executed, and a difference between the calculated actual charge and the estimated charge are calculated. And an account depositing step of depositing the difference into the account when the actual fee is less than the estimated fee.

A billing method according to a sixteenth aspect is the billing method according to the fifteenth aspect.
In the charging method described above, the account withdrawal step includes:
When the actual fee is higher than the estimated fee, the difference is deducted from the account.

The billing method according to claim 17 is the method according to claim 11.
17. The charging method according to any one of items 1 to 16, wherein the processing request information includes an account number of the account.

The billing method according to claim 18 is the method according to claim 11.
The accounting method according to any one of items 1 to 17, wherein the processing request information includes digital signature data and / or digital certificate data according to a public key cryptosystem.

A billing method according to claim 19 is as follows.
The charging method described above further comprises a digital signature inspection step of inspecting the digital signature data based on the processing request information from the terminal, and when the authentication by the digital signature data is not successful, the error notification is sent to the terminal. Is transmitted.

The billing method according to claim 20 is the method according to claim 18.
Alternatively, in the charging method according to 19, there is provided a digital certificate inspection step of inspecting the digital certificate data based on the processing request information from the terminal, and when the authentication by the digital certificate data is not successful, The error notification is transmitted to the terminal.

In order to achieve the above object, a program according to a twenty-first aspect is such that a terminal, an electronic device for performing a predetermined process, and a server computer provided with an electronic money account are connected to each other via a network. In a program for causing a computer to execute the charging method of a charged charging system, the program transmits a processing request information to the electronic device and requests processing, and based on the received processing request information. An estimating step of estimating a fee for the processing, an account withdrawing step of requesting to deduct the estimated fee from the account, and a processing executing step of executing the processing according to whether or not the estimated fee can be withdrawn, The processing execution step is to deduct the estimated fee from the account. When unsuccessful, and transmits an error notification to the terminal.

In order to achieve the above object, a storage medium according to a twenty-second aspect is such that a terminal, an electronic device for performing a predetermined process, and a server computer having an account for electronic money are connected to each other via a network. In a computer-readable storage medium that stores a program for executing the charging method of the charging system described above, the program transmits a processing request information to the electronic device and requests processing, and the program receives the processing request module. An estimation module that estimates the fee for the processing based on the processing request information, an account debit module that requests the deduction of the estimated fee from the account, and a process execution that executes the processing depending on whether or not the estimated fee can be deducted. Module and the processing execution module is the account When debiting et the estimated fee is not successful, and transmits an error notification to the terminal.

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic device according to a twenty-third aspect is an electronic device which is connected to a terminal and a server computer provided with an account for electronic money via a network and performs a predetermined process. , An estimating means for estimating a charge for the processing based on the received processing request information, an account debit requesting means for requesting that the estimated charge be deducted from the account, and the processing depending on whether or not the estimated charge can be deducted. Characterized in that the processing execution means transmits an error notification to the terminal when the withdrawal of the estimated fee from the account is unsuccessful.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus according to the twenty-third aspect.
In the described electronic device, the processing request information includes an account number of the account.

An electronic device according to claim 25 is the electronic device according to claim 23.
Alternatively, in the electronic device described in Item 24, the processing request information includes digital signature data and / or digital certificate data according to a public key cryptosystem.

An electronic device according to claim 26 is the electronic device according to claim 25.
In the electronic device described above, a digital signature inspecting unit that inspects the digital signature data based on the processing request information from the terminal is provided, and when the authentication by the digital signature data is not successful, the error is transmitted to the terminal. It is characterized by transmitting a notification.

According to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device according to the twenty-fifth aspect.
Alternatively, in the electronic device according to the item 26, a digital certificate inspecting unit that inspects the digital certificate data based on the processing request information from the terminal is provided, and when the authentication by the digital certificate data is not successful, The error notification is transmitted to the terminal.

[0035]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a charging system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the present billing system comprises a terminal 101 which is a client computer, an account management server 102 which is a server computer, a printer 103 which performs print processing, and a network 104 which connects these to each other.

This charging system is supposed to be operated in a company, and manages the budget using electronic money. Specifically, the accounting department makes a budget and allocates the budget to each department in the company. Based on this budget allocation, the accounting department issues electronic money to each department. The issued electronic money is set (payment) in an electronic money account (account storage area) provided in the account management server 102.
To be done. For example, when a budget of 3 million yen is allocated to the section A in the company, 3 million yen of electronic money is stored in the account memory area of the section A, that is, the account storage area of the section A provided in the account management server 102. Deposited.

The terminal 101 has processing requesting means for sending processing request information 501 shown in FIG. 5 described later to the printer 103 and requesting a printing process. The account management server 102 executes an account storage unit that stores (sets) electronic money in an account and a request for withdrawing an estimated fee, which will be described later, requested from the terminal 101, and withdraws electronic money for the estimated fee from the account. And means. The printer 103 executes a print execution unit (process execution unit) that executes a print process according to whether or not the estimated charge can be withdrawn, an estimate unit that estimates a charge for the print process based on the received process request information 501, and an estimated charge. Account withdrawal requesting means for requesting withdrawal from the account.

The processing request means, account storage means, account withdrawal means, processing execution means, estimation means, and account withdrawal request means are the terminal 101 and the account management server 102.
It is a program code having a predetermined function, which is stored in a memory included in the above, and is read and executed by the CPU.

The account management server 102 has electronic money issuing means (not shown). The electronic money issuing means sets the electronic money set by the accounting department based on the budget planned by the accounting department in the account storage area in the account management server 102. This billing system is an accounting system in which, for example, when a section A member purchases an article or uses a paid device, electronic money is withdrawn from the section A account and the purchase price is cleared.

In the present billing system, the electronic money is simply represented by a numerical amount, but in order to prevent the falsification of the amount of money, for example, even electronic money in which the digital signature of the issuing department is added to the amount of money is used. Good. Also, electronic money may be stored in a tamper-resistant IC card. An example of electronic money using such an IC card is mondex money.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the terminal 101 and the account management server 102 in FIG.

In FIG. 2, the terminal 101 is a terminal 101.
CPU20 that performs all processing such as input / output of, and execution of instructions
1, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202 for storing a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) and the like, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 20 used as a work area
3, a hard disk 204 for storing an OS (Operating Systems) and data, and an external network 104
A communication interface 205 for connecting to the computer, a keyboard / mouse 206 as an operation unit, and a display device 208.
A display controller 207 for controlling the CPU, a display device 208 including a monitor, and a bus 209 that connects the CPU 201, the ROM 202, and the like to each other.

The account management server 102 has the above-mentioned configuration similarly to the terminal 101.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the printer 103 in FIG.

In FIG. 3, the printer 103 performs all processing such as input / output of the printer 103 and execution of instructions C
A PU 302, a ROM 302 that stores a program code of each of a processing execution unit, an estimation unit, and an account withdrawal request unit, and a real-time OS, a RAM 303 used as a work area, and a reception buffer 304 that temporarily stores processing request information described below. , A communication interface 305 for connecting to the external network 104
An engine interface 306 for controlling the engine 307, an engine 307 for printing, and a CPU 30
1 and a ROM 302 and the like, and a bus 308 that connects them to each other.

Next, the charging process in the charging system of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the charging process in the charging system of FIG.

As a precondition for this billing process, an account that can be used by a process requester (user) is provided in the account management server 102, and electronic money is set in the account storage area of the account as a budget already planned. It has been done. In this billing process, it is assumed that the process requester requests the printer 103 to print an arbitrary document from the terminal 101.

The terminal 101 is provided with printer driver software (hereinafter referred to as "printer driver") having a rendering function (processing request means), and printing of a document by the document preparation software (hereinafter referred to as "document preparation software"). Is requested to the printer 103 using the printer driver. For example, the terminal 10
When the first OS is Microsoft Windows (registered trademark), the document creation software outputs a GDI command from the document data, and the printer driver draws the GDI command according to print parameters such as paper size. Outputs bitmap image data. Note that when the document data is rendered in this way, the number of pages when the document is printed is fixed.

In FIG. 4, in the terminal 101, in the print menu of the document creation software, print parameters including the number of copies, the number of pages, double-sided / single-sided information, color information (color or monochrome), paper orientation, paper size, and the like, and Data such as the account number of the account for which the usage fee is deducted using the printer 103 is input by the processing requester, and a print instruction is given to the printer 103 (step S401). next,
As described above, the printer driver renders the document data to create a print image of the document, and
The processing request information 501 shown in FIG. 5 is created based on the data input in step S401, and the processing request information 501 is transmitted to the printer 103 (step S402).

Next, the printer 103 uses the network 10
When the processing request information 501 is received via step 4 (step S403), a fee (estimated fee) for the printing process is calculated based on the received processing request information 501 (step S404). In this processing, first, the processing request information 5
Based on 01, the processing amount required for the printing process is calculated. The processing amount is calculated by multiplying the number of copies in the processing request information 501 by the number of pages. A program (estimation means) for calculating the processing amount is stored in the ROM 302 of the printer 103, and is read and executed by the CPU 301.
The program for calculating the processing amount is the printer 103
The printer driver of the terminal 101 instead of the ROM 302 of
01 may be executed. In this case, processing amount information is added to the processing request information 501.

Further, in step S404, the estimated charge is estimated based on the processing amount and the charge table 601 shown in FIG. The charge table 601 is composed of unit prices per page for various printing processes. A program (estimation means) for estimating the estimated fee is stored in the ROM 302 of the printer 103, and is read and executed by the CPU 301. For example, in the case of printing 5 copies of 8 pages for color single-sided printing of an A4 document, the processing amount is the number of copies x number of pages = 5 x
8 = 40, and the estimated charge is the processing amount × unit price = 40 × 12 = 480 yen from the charge table 601 of FIG.

The program for estimating the estimated fee and the fee table 601 are stored in the ROM 302 of the printer 103, but instead of this, the account management server 102.
It may be stored in the ROM 202 and read by the CPU 201 to be executed. In this case, the printer 103 is provided with only a program for calculating the processing amount, and the account management server 102 receives the processing amount calculated by the printer 103 via the network 104 and R
The program for estimating the estimated fee stored in the OM 202 and the fee table 601 are read by the CPU 201 to calculate the estimated fee.

Next, in step S405, the printer 1
In 03, the account withdrawal request program (account withdrawal request means) stored in the ROM 302 creates the account withdrawal request information 701 shown in FIG. 7, and transmits it to the account management server 102 to request the account withdrawal. The account withdrawal request information 701 includes at least the account number, the estimated fee, and the processing amount included in the processing request information 501.

In step S406, the account management server 1
02 is the debit request information 70 from the printer 103
When receiving 1, the ROM 2 in the account management server 102
The account with the account number included in the account withdrawal request information 701 is referred to by the account withdrawal program stored in 02, and the balance of the account is the account withdrawal request information 7
If the balance of the account is larger than the estimated charge, the estimated charge is deducted from the account. That is, it is determined whether or not the estimated charge has been successfully deducted from the balance of the account, and when it has succeeded (YES in step S406), the amount of money resulting from subtracting the estimated charge from the balance is set as a new balance of the account. The account management server 102 is the printer 10
When the printer 103 receives the withdrawal success notification and receives the withdrawal success notification, the printer 103 sends a print data transmission request to the terminal 101 and receives print data (process data) from the terminal 101 (step S407). Then, printing is executed based on the print data (step S4
08) When the printing is completed, this process is completed.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S406, when the balance of the account is smaller than the estimated charge, that is, when the estimated charge is not successfully deducted from the balance of the account (NO in step S406), the deduction cannot be made. , The account management server 102 sends a debit unsuccessful notification (error notification) to the printer 103, and when the printer 103 receives the debit unsuccessful notification, the terminal 1
An error notification is sent to 01 (step S409), and this processing ends.

According to the first embodiment, the processing request information 501 is sent from the terminal 101 to the printer 1 as a print instruction.
03 (steps S401 to S403),
The printer 103 calculates the estimated charge based on the processing request information 501 (step S404) and requests the account management server 102 to debit the account (step S404).
405), if the account deduction is successful (YES in step S406), the process based on the processing request information 501 is executed, while if the account deduction is not successful (NO in step S406), an error notification is sent to the terminal 10.
1 to the printer 1 on the network 104.
The usage fee for 04 can be easily managed without exceeding the budget.

In the first embodiment described above, when the program for estimating the estimated fee and the fee table 601 are stored in the ROM 202 of the account management server 102, FIG.
The debit request information 701 does not include the estimated fee but includes the processing amount and the account number. In this case, when the account management server 102 receives the account withdrawal request information 701 from the printer 103, the account withdrawal program stored in the ROM 202 calculates an estimated fee and checks whether or not the account withdrawal is possible. Become.

Further, in the billing process of FIG. 4, the debit success notification or error notification is sent from the account management server 102 to the terminal 101 via the printer 103, but it may be sent directly to the terminal 101. In this case, the information indicating the terminal 101 is added to the processing request information 501 and the account withdrawal request information 701, respectively.

In the first embodiment, the terminal 1
The printer driver as the processing requesting means in 01 has a rendering function, but this printer driver creates page description language data (PDL data) from the GDI command received from the document creation software, and uses the PDL data as print data. It may be transmitted to the printer 103, and the printer 103 may render the PDL data to create a print image. In this case, the processing request information 501 in FIG. 5 includes the print data amount instead of the page number. The estimated fee is
Instead of the charge table 601 of FIG. 6, it is calculated based on the charge table 801 including the unit price per 10 KB of print data amount and the print data amount at the time of various print processing shown in FIG. As a result, it is possible to charge for the amount of print data, and it is possible to suppress wasteful occupation of data on the network 104.

Further, in the first embodiment, the terminal 101 may be a mobile information terminal such as a mobile phone or a mobile PC. In this case, for example, the portable information terminal sends the processing request information 501 to the printer 103 by e-mail, and at the same time sends the HTML format document file to be printed.
It is sent to the printer 103 as an attached file of a mail. The printer 103 having an e-mail receiving unit receives the processing request information 501 and the document file. The printer 103 may include means for rendering an HTML file so that the received HTML file can be printed.

(Second Embodiment) The configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 to 3), and the description thereof is omitted. Only the points different from the first embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a charging process in the charging system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In the second embodiment, the printer 103
It is assumed that the ROM 302 stores both the charge table 601 of FIG. 6 and the charge table 801 of FIG. Also,
The ROM 302 stores the account deposit information in the account management server 10.
It is assumed that an account depositing program (account depositing means) which sends a request to deposit money into the account is stored.

In FIG. 9, the processes of steps S901 to S907 are the same as the processes of steps S401 to S407 of FIG. 4 except that the estimated charge for the printing process is calculated based on the print data amount and the charge table 801. Is the same.

In step S908, the number of pages actually printed during printing is counted. When printing is completed, the actual fee is calculated based on the counted number of pages and the fee table 601 (step S909). Next, the estimated charge calculated in step S904 and the actual charge are compared and determined (step S910). As a result of this determination, when the estimated charge is larger than the actual charge (estimated charge> actual charge), the process proceeds to step S911, the difference between the estimated charge and the actual charge is calculated, and the ROM 30 of the printer 103 is calculated.
The account deposit program stored in 2 transmits the account deposit information including the difference and the account number to the account management server 102 to make a deposit request to the account. Then, the account management server 102 deposits the difference in the corresponding account and performs liquidation (step S911), and ends this processing.

As a result of the determination in step S910, if the estimated fee is smaller than the actual fee (estimated fee <
Actual charge), the process proceeds to step S912, the difference between the estimated charge and the actual charge is calculated, and the account withdrawal request program transmits account withdrawal information including the difference and the account number to the account management server 102 to request withdrawal from the account. I do. Then, the account management server 102 deducts the difference from the corresponding account and performs liquidation (step S91).
2) Then, this process ends.

If the estimated charge is equal to the actual charge as a result of the determination in step S910 (estimated charge = actual charge), this process is terminated.

According to the second embodiment described above, the actual fee actually charged at the time of printing is compared with the estimated fee,
When there is a difference, the balance of the account is settled, so that the usage fee of the printer 103 can be accurately deducted from the account.

(Third Embodiment) The third embodiment has the same structure as that of the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 to 3), and the description thereof will be omitted. Only the points different from the first embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a charging process in the charging system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

In the third embodiment, the terminal 101 is
An unillustrated digital signature program (digital signature means) for digitally signing a public key cryptosystem is provided, and a private key and a digital certificate related to the private key issued by a certificate authority are stored.

In FIG. 10, the process of step S1001 is the same as the process of step S401 of FIG. 4, and the processes of steps S1006 to S1010 are the same as those of FIG.
Is the same as steps S404 to S408.

In step S1002, the number of copies, the number of pages, double-sided / single-sided information, color information, paper direction from the terminal 101,
And processing request parameter data consisting of account number,
The processing request information 11 is obtained by adding the digital signature data digitally signed with the private key and the digital certificate data.
01 to the printer 103 (step S10)
02).

Next, the printer 103 sends the processing request information 11
When 01 is received (step S1003), the digital certificate data in the processing request information 1101 is checked to determine whether it is correct (step S1004). This inspection method is usually a We that uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) for communication with a Web browser.
b. It is the same as the inspection of the digital certificate data performed when accessing the server, and the public key of the certificate authority that issued the digital certificate data is used to check the signature data by the certificate authority included in the digital certificate data. It is to verify. The public key of the certificate authority used here is stored in advance in the ROM 302 of the printer 103.

As a result of the determination in step S1004, if the digital certification data is incorrect (step S1004
NG), the process proceeds to step S1011 to send an error notification to the terminal 101 and end this processing, while if the digital certification data is correct (step S1004 returns 0
K), the process proceeds to step S1005.

In step S1005, the processing request information 1
The digital signature data in 101 is checked to determine whether it is correct or not. This is the same method as the conventional inspection of digital signature data, and the digital signature data is inspected using the public key of the client included in the digital certificate data of the processing request information 1101.

The program code of the signature verification means necessary for inspecting the digital certificate data and the digital signature is stored in the ROM 302.

As a result of the determination in step S1005, if the digital signature data is incorrect (step S1005
NG), the process proceeds to step S1012, an error notification is sent to the terminal 101, and this process ends, while if the digital signature data is correct (step S1005 returns 0
K), the process proceeds to step S1006, and step S1006
Perform the following processing.

According to the third embodiment, the digital signature data and the digital certificate data by the public key cryptosystem are added to the processing request information 1101 and the digital signature data in the request processing information 1101 received from the terminal 101 is added. Also, since the digital certificate data is inspected and authenticated, only the authorized process requester can use the printer 103, and the budget use can be strictly controlled.

In the third embodiment, step S1
Although the authentication processing of 004 and S1005 is executed by the printer 103, it may be executed by the terminal 101 side. In this case, the result of the authentication process is the network 1
The processing requester can be performed without going through 04, and authentication can be performed more quickly.

In the above-described first to third embodiments, the printer 103 that performs print processing is used as the electronic device on the network 104, but electronic devices that perform other processing, such as scanners, facsimiles, and copying machines, may be used. It may be. In this case, the processing request information 501 of FIG. 5, the processing request information 1101 of FIG. 11, the charge table 601 of FIG. 6, and the charge table 801 of FIG. 8 are prepared corresponding to various electronic devices.

The printer 103 may be a Web server. For example, the terminal 101 connected to the Internet may perform some processing on the Web server (for example, a process of translating a Japanese text into an English text or a document image as a character). The present invention is also applied to the case of requesting a process such as recognition and conversion into text.

The present invention is a software program (FIG. 4, FIG. 4) for realizing the functions of the above-described first to third embodiments.
It can be said that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by supplying a program (corresponding to the flowcharts of FIGS. 9 and 10) to a computer or a CPU, and the computer or CPU reads and executes the supplied program. There is no end.

In this case, the program is directly stored in the storage medium storing the program, or the Internet,
It is supplied by being downloaded from another computer, a database or the like (not shown) connected to a commercial network or a local area network.

Further, the program is the above-mentioned first to first
It suffices that the functions of the third embodiment can be realized by a computer, and the form thereof may be a form such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to the OS.

The present invention can also be realized by supplying a computer with a storage medium recording a software program for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments, and causing the computer or CPU to read and execute the program stored in the storage medium. It goes without saying that the object of the invention is achieved.

In the above embodiment, the program is R
The storage medium stored in the OM 202 or the ROM 302 is not limited to this, and examples of the storage medium for supplying the program include RAM, NV-RAM, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk,
Magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, MO, CD-ROM,
CD-RW, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R),
A magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, another ROM, or any other device capable of storing the above program may be used.

[0091]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the processing fee is estimated based on the processing request information received by the electronic device from the terminal, and the server computer is requested to deduct the estimated fee. When the withdrawal is unsuccessful, an error notification is sent to the terminal, so the usage of the electronic device connected to the network can be managed without exceeding the pre-allocated budget. can do.

Also, the difference between the actual actual charge taken at the time of printing execution and the estimated charge is calculated, and when the actual charge is less than the estimated charge, the difference is deposited in the account, and the actual charge is greater than the estimated charge. Since the difference is deducted from the account at this time, the usage fee of the electronic device can be deducted accurately from the account.

Further, the processing request information includes digital signature data and / or digital certificate data by the public key cryptosystem, and the digital signature data or the digital certificate data is inspected and authenticated based on the processing request information. ,
Only authorized clients can use the electronic device and the budget usage can be strictly controlled.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a charging system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a terminal 101 and an account management server 1 shown in FIG.
It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of 02.

3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a printer 103 in FIG.

4 is a flowchart showing a charging process in the charging system of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a process request information 501 according to the first embodiment.
FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a charge table 601 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of account withdrawal request information 701 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a charge table 801 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a charging process in the charging system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a charging process in a charging system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is processing request information 11 according to the third embodiment.
It is a schematic diagram of 01.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 terminal 102 Account management server (server computer) 103 printer 201,301 CPU 202, 302 ROM 203, 303 RAM 204 HDD (hard disk device) 205 Communication interface 206 keyboard and mouse 207 Display controller 208 display 209,308 bus 304 receive buffer 305 Communication interface 306 engine interface 307 engine

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] January 31, 2002 (2002.1.3
1)

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Claim 4

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Claim 11

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Claim 14

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Claim 21

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Claim 22

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Procedure correction 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0011

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

A billing system according to a fourth aspect is the billing system according to the first aspect.
In the charging system according to any one of items 1 to 3,
The server computer executes an account storage unit that stores the electronic money in the account, and a request for deducting the estimated fee requested by the electronic device , and debits the electronic money for the estimated fee from the account. And means.

[Procedure Amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0018

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

In order to achieve the above object, the billing method according to claim 11 is a billing system in which a terminal, an electronic device, and a server computer having an account for electronic money are connected to each other via a network. In the charging method described above, a processing request step of transmitting processing request information to the electronic device to request processing, an estimation step of estimating a fee for the processing based on the received processing request information, and the estimated fee It comprises an account withdrawal request step for requesting withdrawal from an account, and a processing execution step for executing the processing according to the result of withdrawal of the estimated fee, wherein the processing execution step is successful in withdrawing the estimated fee from the account. If not, an error notification is sent to the terminal.

[Procedure Amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0021

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

The billing method according to claim 14 is the method according to claim 11.
The accounting method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein an account storing step of storing the electronic money in the account, and a request for deducting the estimated fee requested by the electronic device are executed, and the estimate is made from the account. And an account withdrawing step of withdrawing electronic money for the charge.

[Procedure Amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0028

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

In order to achieve the above object, a program according to a twenty first aspect of the invention is a charging system in which a terminal, an electronic device, and a server computer having an electronic money account are connected to each other via a network. In the program for causing the computer to execute the charging method,
The program includes a processing request step of sending processing request information to the electronic device to request processing, an estimation step of estimating a fee for the processing based on the received processing request information, and the estimated fee Account debit request step for requesting debit from the account, and a process executing step for executing the process according to the result of deducting the estimated fee, wherein the process executing step includes the estimated fee from the account. If the withdrawal is not successful, an error notification is transmitted to the terminal.

[Procedure Amendment 10]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0029

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

To achieve the above object, a storage medium according to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention is a charging system, wherein a terminal, an electronic device, and a server computer having an account for electronic money are connected to each other via a network. In a computer-readable storage medium that stores a program for executing the method, the program is based on a processing request module that transmits processing request information to the electronic device and requests processing, and the received processing request information. An estimate deduction module for estimating the fee for the processing, an account debit request module for requesting the deduction of the estimated fee from the account, and a processing execution module for executing the processing according to the deduction result of the estimated fee. , The processing execution module uses the quote from the account. When debiting charges is not successful Ri is characterized in that an error notification is transmitted to the terminal.

Claims (27)

[Claims] 1. A terminal and an electronic device that performs a predetermined process,
In a charging system in which a server computer provided with an account for electronic money is connected to each other via a network, the terminal includes processing request means for transmitting processing request information to the electronic device and requesting the processing. The electronic device estimates the fee for the processing based on the received processing request information, an account withdrawal requesting means for requesting the withdrawal of the estimated fee from the account, and whether or not the estimated fee can be withdrawn. And a processing execution means for executing the processing according to the above, wherein the processing execution means transmits an error notification to the terminal when the withdrawal of the estimated fee from the account is unsuccessful. Billing system. 2. The billing system according to claim 1, wherein the processing execution means executes the processing when the estimated charge is successfully deducted from the account. 3. The charging system according to claim 1, wherein the estimating means calculates a processing amount required for the processing based on the processing request information and estimates the estimated charge based on the processing amount. . 4. The server computer executes an account storage unit for storing the electronic money in the account, and a request for deducting the estimated fee requested from the terminal, and the electronic money corresponding to the estimated fee from the account. 4. The charging system according to claim 1, further comprising: an account debiting unit for debiting the account. 5. The electronic device calculates an actual charge calculated when the process is executed, and a difference between the calculated actual charge and the estimated charge, and calculates the actual charge. 5. The charging system according to claim 1, further comprising: an account depositing unit that deposits the difference into the account when the charge is less than the estimated charge. 6. The charging system according to claim 5, wherein the account debiting means debits the difference from the account when the actual fee is higher than the estimated fee. 7. The processing request information includes an account number of the account, according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
Billing system described in paragraph. 8. The process request information includes digital signature data and / or digital certificate data according to a public key cryptosystem, according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
Billing system described in paragraph. 9. The electronic device comprises a digital signature inspection means for inspecting the digital signature data based on the processing request information from the terminal, and when the authentication by the digital signature data is not successful, The charging system according to claim 8, wherein the error notification is transmitted to a terminal. 10. The electronic device comprises a digital certificate inspection means for inspecting the digital certificate data based on the processing request information from the terminal, and when the authentication by the digital certificate data is not successful. 10. The charging system according to claim 8, wherein the error notification is transmitted to the terminal. 11. A billing method of a billing system in which a terminal, an electronic device for performing a predetermined process, and a server computer having an account for electronic money are connected to each other via a network. A processing request step of transmitting request information to request the processing, and an estimation step of estimating a charge for the processing based on the received processing request information,
It comprises an account withdrawing step for requesting to deduct the estimated fee from the account, and a process executing step for executing the process depending on whether or not the estimated fee can be withdrawn, and the process executing step comprises the estimated fee from the account. If the withdrawal is not successful, an error notification is sent to the terminal. 12. The charging method according to claim 11, wherein the processing execution step executes the processing when the estimated charge is successfully deducted from the account. 13. The charging method according to claim 11, wherein in the estimating step, the processing amount required for the processing is calculated based on the processing request information, and the estimated fee is estimated based on the processing amount. . 14. An account storing step of storing the electronic money in the account, and an account withdrawing step of executing an account withdrawal request for the estimated fee requested from the terminal and withdrawing electronic money for the estimated fee from the account. The charging method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising: 15. An actual charge calculation step of calculating an actual actual charge taken when the processing is executed, and a difference between the calculated actual charge and the estimated charge is calculated, and the actual charge is calculated from the estimated charge. 15. The charging method according to claim 11, further comprising an account depositing step of depositing the difference into the account when the difference is small. 16. The charging method according to claim 15, wherein in the account debiting step, the difference is deducted from the account when the actual fee is higher than the estimated fee. 17. The charging method according to claim 11, wherein the processing request information includes an account number of the account. 18. The charging method according to claim 11, wherein the processing request information includes digital signature data and / or digital certificate data according to a public key cryptosystem. 19. A digital signature inspecting step of inspecting digital signature data based on the processing request information from the terminal, wherein when the authentication by the digital signature data is not successful, the error notification is sent to the terminal. The charging method according to claim 18, wherein the charging is performed. 20. A digital certificate inspecting step of inspecting digital certificate data based on the processing request information from the terminal, wherein when the authentication by the digital certificate data is unsuccessful, 20. The charging method according to claim 18, further comprising transmitting an error notification. 21. A computer for executing a charging method of a charging system in which a terminal, an electronic device for performing a predetermined process, and a server computer having an account for electronic money are connected to each other via a network. In the program, the program includes a processing request step of transmitting processing request information to the electronic device to request the processing, an estimation step of estimating a charge for the processing based on the received processing request information, and the estimation. An account withdrawing step for requesting a fee to be withdrawn from the account, and a processing executing step for executing the processing depending on whether or not the estimated fee can be withdrawn, the processing executing step withdrawing the estimated fee from the account. Is not successful, send an error notification to the terminal. Program which is characterized in that. 22. A computer that stores a program for executing a charging method of a charging system in which a terminal, an electronic device that performs a predetermined process, and a server computer that has an account for electronic money are connected to each other via a network. In the storage medium readable by the program, the program transmits a process request information to the electronic device and requests a process, and a quote module that estimates a fee for the process based on the received process request information. And an account withdrawal module for requesting to deduct the estimated fee from the account, and a process execution module for executing the process according to whether or not the estimated fee can be withdrawn, the process execution module comprising: The deduction of the estimated fee was not successful The storage medium and transmits an error notification to the terminal. 23. An electronic device connected to a terminal and a server computer provided with an electronic money account via a network and performing a predetermined process, the fee for the process based on the received process request information. Estimating means, an account debit requesting means for requesting to deduct the estimated fee from the account, and a process executing means for executing the process depending on whether or not the estimated fee can be deducted, the process executing means, An electronic device, which transmits an error notification to the terminal when the estimated charge is not successfully deducted from the account. 24. The electronic device according to claim 23, wherein the processing request information includes an account number of the account. 25. The electronic device according to claim 23, wherein the processing request information includes digital signature data and / or digital certificate data according to a public key cryptosystem. 26. A digital signature inspecting unit for inspecting the digital signature data based on the processing request information from the terminal is provided, and when the authentication by the digital signature data is not successful, the error notification is sent to the terminal. 26. The electronic device according to claim 25, wherein the electronic device transmits. 27. A digital certificate inspecting unit for inspecting the digital certificate data based on the processing request information from the terminal is provided, and if the authentication by the digital certificate data is not successful, The electronic device according to claim 25 or 26, characterized in that the error notification is transmitted.