Image processing system, method of controlling the image processing system and control program for the image processing system

• US 20050206949A1
• Filed: 03/14/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Doi, Koji, Hiromatsu, Kenji, Oyumi, Masashi, Iseki, Yukimasa, Isobe, Yoshinori
• Granted Patent: US 7,843,580 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5087 for receiving image data
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/02 Counting the number of copies; Billing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems

Abstract

An image processing system for enabling a manufacturer'"'"'s image forming apparatuses to be used as far as possible by a user. Design is made to enable a manufacturer or a vendor to appeal the predominance, particularly economy, of their own image forming apparatuses by the utilization of a user interface for controlling a recording process.

Claims

1. An image processing system for record-processing recording-data by use of at least two of a plurality of image forming apparatuses, said image processing system comprising:

a plurality of network-connected image forming apparatuses;

a user interface portion for performing recording-control; and

an offering portion for offering a user that by use of said user interface portion, an accounting condition of an image forming apparatus used for the recording-process can be changed in accordance with a particular condition.

2. An image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the recording-process is a distributed-recording-process which outputs the recording-data by use of at least two of said plurality of image forming apparatuses, and said particular condition is to select particular image forming apparatuses of said plurality of image forming apparatuses as output apparatuses for the distributed-recording-process.

3. An image processing system according to claim 2, wherein a mode of a change of an accounting condition is determined by a mode of a combination of a plurality of image forming apparatuses selected as the output apparatuses for the distributed-recording-process.

4. An image processing system according to claim 2, wherein the selected particular image forming apparatuses are a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus,

wherein said second image forming apparatus is adapted to perform a predetermined output processing in an output result output from another image forming apparatus, and has a detecting portion for detecting that the output result is an output result output from said first image forming apparatus, and

when said detecting portion detects that said another image forming apparatus is said first image forming apparatus a, change of said accounting condition is performed.

5. An image processing system according to claim 4, wherein said detecting portion detects, from the output result, predetermined identifying information output in a particular form in said first image forming apparatus to detect that the output result is one processed by said first image forming apparatus.

6. A method of controlling an image processing system including a plurality of network-connected image forming apparatuses and for record-processing recording-data by use of at least two of said plurality of image forming apparatuses, said method comprising:

a user interface controlling step of performing recording-control; and

a controlling step of offering a user that through said user interface controlling step, an accounting condition of an image forming apparatus used in the recording-process can be changed in accordance with a particular condition.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the recording-process is a distributed-recording-process which outputs the recording-data by use of at least two of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and said particular condition is to select particular image forming apparatuses of the plurality of image forming apparatuses as output apparatuses for the distributed-recording-process.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein a mode of a change of an accounting condition is determined in accordance with a mode of a combination of a plurality of image forming apparatuses selected as the output apparatuses for the distributed-recording-process.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the selected particular image forming apparatuses are a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus,

wherein said second image forming apparatus is adapted to perform a predetermined output processing on an output result from another image forming apparatus, and has a detecting step of detecting that the output result is an output result output by the first image forming apparatus, and

when said detecting step detects that the another image forming apparatus the first image forming apparatus a change, of said accounting condition is performed.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said detecting step detects, from the output result, predetermined identifying information output in a particular form in the first image forming apparatus to detect that the output result is one processed by the first image forming apparatus.

11. A control program stored on a recording medium for an image processing system including a plurality of network-connected image forming apparatuses and for record-processing recording-data by use of at least two of said plurality of image forming apparatuses, said control program comprising:

a user interface controlling step of performing a recording-control; and

a controlling step of offering a user that through said user interface controlling step, an accounting condition of an image forming apparatus used in the recording-process can be changed in accordance with a particular condition.

12. A control program according to claim 11, wherein the recording-process is a distributed-recording-process which outputs the recording-data by use of at least two of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, and said particular condition is to select particular image forming apparatuses of the plurality of image forming apparatuses as output apparatuses for the distributed-recording-process.

13. A control program according to claim 12, wherein a mode of a change of an accounting condition is determined in accordance with a mode of a combination of a plurality of image forming apparatuses selected as the output apparatuses for the distributed-recording-process.

14. A control program according to claim 12, wherein the selected particular image forming apparatuses are a first image forming apparatus and a second image forming apparatus of

wherein the second image forming apparatus is adapted to perform a predetermined output processing on an output result output from another image forming apparatus, and has a detecting step of detecting that the output result is an output result output from the first image forming apparatus, and

when said detecting step detects that said another image forming apparatus is the first image forming apparatus, a change of said accounting condition is performed.

15. A control program according to claim 14, wherein said detecting step detects, from the output result, predetermined identifying information output in a particular form in the first image forming apparatus to detect that the output result is one processed by the first image forming apparatus.