Printing cost charging method

• US 20050270564A1
• Filed: 05/10/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HP Printing Korea Co., Ltd. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yun, Tae-jung
• Granted Patent: US 8,542,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/02 Counting the number of copies; Billing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

A printing cost charging method of a printing system wherein the printing system includes a mobile terminal, an image forming apparatus capable of communicating data with the mobile terminal, and a server capable of communicating data with the mobile terminal via a wireless communication network. The printing cost charging method comprises the steps of transmitting printing data from the mobile terminal to the image forming apparatus, transmitting printing information relating to the printing data from the image forming apparatus to the mobile terminal, transmitting the printing information from the mobile terminal to the server, and controlling the server to charge a printing cost to the mobile terminal based on the printing information. Costly equipment and potential errors are reduced as the server of the printing system which charges the printing cost interfaces with the mobile terminal without the Internet.

Claims

1. A printing cost charging method for a printing system which has an image forming apparatus capable of communicating data with a mobile terminal, and a server capable of communicating data with the mobile terminal via a wireless communication network, the printing cost charging method comprising the steps of:

transmitting printing data from the mobile terminal to the image forming apparatus;

transmitting printing information relating to the printing data from the image forming apparatus to the mobile terminal;

transmitting the printing information from the mobile terminal to the server; and

controlling the server to charge a printing cost to the mobile terminal based on the printing information.

2. The printing cost charging method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the printing information from the mobile terminal to the server comprises the sub-step of authenticating the mobile terminal by the server.

3. The printing cost charging method according to claim 2, wherein the step of authenticating the mobile terminal by the server comprises the sub-steps of:

transmitting a phone number of the mobile terminal to the server via the wireless communication network; and

controlling the server to communicate a request to confirm user information relating to the phone number to a provider that provides the wireless communication network to the mobile terminal.

4. The printing cost charging method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal and the image forming apparatus communicate data using one of a wired interface and a wireless interface.

5. A printing cost charging method for a printing system which has a mobile terminal, an image forming apparatus capable of communicating data with the mobile terminal, and a server capable of communicating data with the mobile terminal via a wireless communication network, the printing cost charging method comprising the steps of:

authenticating the mobile terminal by the server;

requesting printing data from the authenticated mobile terminal to the server;

charging a fee for the requested printing data and transmitting the printing data to the mobile terminal; and

transmitting the printing data from the mobile terminal to the image forming apparatus.

6. The printing cost charging method according to claim 5, wherein the step of authenticating the mobile terminal by the server comprises the sub-steps of:

transmitting a phone number of the mobile terminal to the server via the wireless communication network; and

controlling the server to communicate a request to confirm user information relating to the phone number to a provider that provides the wireless communication network to the mobile terminal.

7. The printing cost charging method according to claim 6, wherein the step of authenticating the mobile terminal by the server further comprises the sub-steps of:

connecting the mobile terminal to the server; and

acquiring a password with respect to an image forming apparatus through the server.

8. The printing cost charging method according to claim 5, wherein the mobile terminal and the image forming apparatus communicate data using one of a wired interface and a wireless interface.

9. The printing cost charging method according to claim 5, wherein the server connects to a server of a network provider having the user information of the mobile terminal via a network.

10. The printing cost charging method according to claim 5, wherein the step of transmitting the printing data to the mobile terminal comprises the sub-steps of:

receiving information at the server relating to the requested printing data from the mobile terminal;

acquiring the requested information at the server from the network provider; and

converting the information acquired from the network provider to printing data and transmitting the printing data to the mobile terminal.

11. A printing system having a printing cost charging function, comprising:

an image forming apparatus operable to communicate data with a mobile terminal via wire or wireless protocol, generate printing information relating to a file transmitted from the mobile terminal, and transmit the generated printing information to the mobile terminal; and

a server operable to charge a cost to the mobile terminal based on the printing information transmitted from the image forming apparatus and information relating to the potable terminal.

12. The printing system according to claim 11, wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises at least one interface for data communication via USB, Bluetooth, or IrDA protocol.

13. The printing system according to claim 11, wherein the printing information comprises information relating to at least one of a number of printed sheets, a paper size, ink and toner consumed by the image forming apparatus, and a printing rate with respect to printing data transmitted from the mobile terminal to the image forming apparatus.

14. The printing system according to claim 11, wherein the server connects to a server of a network provider having user information of the mobile terminal via a network.