System for associating printer account data

• US 20050289054A1
• Filed: 08/15/2005
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/203,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20050289054A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0321 by optically sensing the absolute position with respect to a regularly patterned surface forming a passive digitiser, e.g. pen optically detecting position indicative tags printed on a paper sheet constructional details of pen-shaped pointing devices G06F3/03545, G06F3/03542, G06F3/037
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A system is provided for providing printed information to a user comprising an interface, identifier, printer and memory. The interface allows the user to request first information from a first database. The identifier allocates, records and associates, in response to the user'"'"'s request at the interface, an identifier for first printed media on which the first information is to be printed for distribution to the user. The printer, in response to the association at the identifier, obtains the first information from the first database and prints it on the first printed media, and, in response to a designation by the user of the associated identifier, obtains second information from a second database and prints it on second printed media for distribution to the user. The memory stores account data indicative of the number of times the first and/or second information is obtained.

Claims

1. A system for providing printed information to a user, the system comprising:

an interface arranged to allow the user to request first information from a first database;

an identifier module arranged to allocate, record and associate, in response to the user'"'"'s request at the interface, at least one identifier for first printed media on which said first information is to be printed for distribution to the user;

a printer module arranged to, in response to the association at the identifier module, obtain the first information from the first database and print it on the first printed media, and, in response to a designation by the user of the associated at least one identifier, obtain second information from a second database and print it on second printed media for distribution to the user; and

memory for storing account data indicative of the number of times the first and/or second information is obtained.

2. A system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a first server of a first party having the first database, the first server being accessed selectively by the printer module for obtaining the first information;

a second server of a second party having the second database, the second server being accessed selectively by the primer module for obtaining the second information; and

a processor arranged to determine, in response to the account data, the quantum of a payment that is made by the user to the first and/or second parties.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein the first and the second servers are constituted by respective hardware and software.

4. A system according to claim 2 wherein the first and second servers include common hardware and/or software.

5. A system according to claim 2 wherein the first and second databases are separate.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein the first and second parties are separate legal entities.

7. A system according to claim 2 wherein the first and second databases are comprised of different portions of a single database.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein the first and second parties are the same legal entity.

9. A system according to claim 8 wherein the second information is derived from a third party and the processor is arranged to, in response to the account data, determine a financial debit that is applied by the first party and/or the second party against the third party.

10. A system according to claim 2 wherein the first party and the second party are separate legal entities and the account data is indicative of the number of times the first and second information is obtained, and the processor is arranged to, in response to the account data, determine a financial debit to be applied by the first party against the second party.

11. A system according to claim 10 wherein the account data is a number and the debit is proportional to that number.

12. A system according to claim 2 wherein the printer module is provided to the user by a third party and the processor is arranged to, in response to the account data, determine a financial debit to be applied by the third party against the first party or the second party.

13. A system according to claim 12 wherein the processor determines:

a financial debit to be applied by the third party against the first party in proportion to the number of times the first information is obtained; and

a financial debit to be applied by the third party against the second party in proportion to the number of times the second information is obtained.

14. A system according to claim 2 including a plurality of printer modules and a corresponding plurality of users, the processor being responsive to separate memories for determining the number of times in total that the first and second databases are accessed by the pritner modules.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the memory is collectively comprised of a central memory.

16. A system according to claim 2 wherein the processor maintains an account balance for the printer module.

17. A system according to claim 16 wherein the account balance is credited as a function of the number of times the first and/or second information is obtained.

18. A system according to claim 16 wherein the account balance is debited at predetermined intervals and credited as a function of the number of times the first and/or second information is obtained in the preceding interval.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein, if the credit balance exceeds a predetermined threshold, the user is eligible to claim one or more benefits.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein a plurality of thresholds are defined and a corresponding plurality of benefit types are available for a user to claim once a respective threshold has been reached.