Methods and systems for imaging device concurrent account use

• US 20060077431A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lovat, David J., Zhang, Hanzhong
• Application Number:
  US11/192,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20060077431A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1222 Increasing security of the print job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1238 Secure printing, e.g. user identification, user rights for device usage, unallowed content, blanking portions or fields of a page, releasing held jobs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00464 using browsers, i.e. interfaces based on mark-up languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00503 Customising to a particular machine or model, machine function or application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems, methods and devices for allowing a plurality of concurrent users to use a single imaging device account.

Claims

1. A method for enabling the use of an imaging device account by multiple concurrent users, said method comprising:

a) identifying a user account at an imaging device;

b) receiving job configuration data at said imaging device;

c) calculating job charges using said job configuration data; and

d) applying said job charges to said account prior to execution of said job.

2. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising determining whether said job charges fall within accounting restrictions.

3. A method as described in claim 2 further comprising denying authorization of said job and omitting said applying said job charges when said job charges do not meet accounting restrictions.

4. A method as described in claim 2 further comprising automatically modifying said job configuration to meet accounting restrictions when said job charges do not meet accounting restrictions, recalculating said job charges based on said modified job configuration and wherein said applying said job charges comprises applying said recalculated job charges.

5. A method as described in claim 2 further comprising prompting a user to modify said job configuration when said job charges do not meet accounting restrictions, receiving a modified job configuration that meets accounting restrictions, recalculating job charges based on said modified job configuration and wherein said applying comprises applying said recalculated job charges.

6. A method as described in claim 2 further comprising authorizing said job when said job charges meet accounting restrictions.

7. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising determining whether said job was completed successfully and adjusting said job charges applied to said account to account for any unsuccessful job completion.

8. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising determining whether said job charges are accurate based on data obtained after commencement of job execution and adjusting said job charges applied to said account to account for any inaccuracy in the initial calculation of said job charges.

9. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising determining whether a concurrent user limit will be exceeded by the addition of another user and denying account access when said limit will be exceeded.

10. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising determining whether a concurrent user limit will be exceeded by the addition of another user and authorizing account access when said limit will not be exceeded.

11. A system for use of an imaging device account by multiple concurrent users, said system comprising:

a) an imaging device user interface (UI) for receiving an account identification (ID);

b) said UI also configured for receiving job configuration data at said imaging device;

c) a processor for calculating job charges using said job configuration data; and

d) an accounting application for applying said job charges to said account prior to execution of said job.

12. A system as described in claim 11 wherein said accounting application further determines whether said job charges fall within accounting restrictions.

13. A system as described in claim 12 wherein said accounting application further denies authorization of said job and omits said applying said job charges when said job charges do not meet accounting restrictions.

14. A system as described in claim 12 further comprising an authorization application for automatically modifying said job configuration to meet accounting restrictions when said job charges do not meet accounting restrictions, recalculating said job charges based on said modified job configuration and applying said recalculated job charges.

15. A system as described in claim 12 further comprising a UI application for prompting a user to modify said job configuration when said job charges do not meet accounting restrictions, receiving a modified job configuration that meets accounting restrictions, and wherein said processor recalculates said job charges based on said modified job configuration and wherein said applying comprises applying said recalculated job charges.

16. A system as described in claim 12 wherein said accounting application authorizes said job when said job charges meet accounting restrictions.

17. A system as described in claim 11 further comprising a completion application for determining whether said job was completed successfully and for adjusting said job charges applied to said account to account for any unsuccessful job completion.

18. A system as described in claim 11 further comprising an accuracy application for determining whether said job charges are accurate based on data obtained after commencement of job execution and for adjusting said job charges applied to said account to account for any inaccuracy in the initial calculation of said job charges.

19. A system as described in claim 11 further comprising an concurrent use application for determining whether a concurrent user limit will be exceeded by the addition of another user and for denying account access when said limit will be exceeded.

20. A system as described in claim 11 further comprising a concurrent use application for determining whether a concurrent user limit will be exceeded by the addition of another user and for authorizing account access when said limit will not be exceeded.