Image forming apparatus management system which manages number of image formations performed by an image forming apparatus on a user basis

• US 5,911,095 A
• Filed: 11/03/1997
• Issued: 06/08/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Kato, Tomokazu, Asai, Hiroyuki, Atsumi, Tomoyuki, Nakamura, Hidenobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Grimley, Arthur T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, HOAN H
• Application Number:
  US08/962,663
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 399/80, 399/79, 399/75, 399/10, 399/8, 364/131, 364/138, 364/139
• US Class Current: 399/80
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5091 for user-identification or authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/02 Counting the number of copies; Billing

Abstract

A host computer is connected to a copying machine through communication lines. The copying machine includes an management apparatus which is provided with a card reader. Using the card reader, a section code stored in a user ID card is read and is compared with section codes previously registered in the management apparatus. When the section code of the user ID card matches one of the section codes registered in advance, copying operation is allowed and the section code and the number of copying operations are stored as management data in a registration table stored in an SRAM. When the amount of available storage space becomes less than the predetermined amount, the management apparatus transmits the registered management data to the host computer through the communication lines, clears the storage area and waits for next registrations. The host computer has an accumulating table which is capable of storing the numbers of copying operations for all the sections subjected to management. The host computer receives the management data and updates the number of copying operations of the corresponding section.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus management system composed of an image forming apparatus and a central accumulating apparatus which is connected to the image forming apparatus by a communication line,

the image forming apparatus comprising:

an identification code reception unit for receiving at least one identification code that identifies a user;

a counting unit for counting a number of image formations for each identification code;

a first storage unit for storing each identification code received by the identification code reception unit associated with the number of image formations counted by the counting unit;

a transmission unit for transmitting at least part of the identification codes and associated numbers of image formations stored in the first storage unit to the central accumulating apparatus via the communication line when a number of identification codes in the first storage unit reaches a predetermined number; and

a storage clearing unit for clearing the first storage unit of the identification codes and associated numbers of image formations that have been transmitted by the transmission unit,

and the central accumulating apparatus comprising;

a reception unit for receiving the identification codes and associated numbers of image formations transmitted from the image forming apparatus; and

an accumulating unit for accumulating and storing data of the number of image formations for each user, in accordance with the identification codes and associated numbers of image formations received by the reception unit.

2. The image forming apparatus management system of claim 1, wherein the accumulating unit comprises:

a second storage unit for storing numbers of image formations associated with identification codes; and

a storage updating unit for adding a received number of image formations associated to a received identification code to a number of image formations associated to a matching identification code in the second storage unit and for updating a content of the second storage unit.

3. The image forming apparatus management system of claim 2, wherein a number of identification codes that can be stored in the first storage unit is less than a number of identification codes that can be stored in the second storage unit.

4. The image forming apparatus management system of claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a copying machine.

5. The image forming apparatus management system of claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a printer.

6. The image forming apparatus management system of claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a facsimile machine.

7. The image forming apparatus management system of claim 1, wherein the identification code reception unit includes a card reader for reading information from a card on which the identification code is recorded.

8. The image forming apparatus management system of claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises an image forming prohibit unit for prohibiting an image forming operation when the identification code reception unit has not received an identification code.

9. The image forming apparatus management system of claim 8, wherein the image forming apparatus is further comprises an image forming allowance unit for allowing an image forming operation when the identification code received by the identification code reception unit matches an identification code that has been registered beforehand.

10. The image forming apparatus management system of claim 1, wherein when the identification code received by the identification code reception unit is already present in the first storage unit, the first storage unit updates the number of image formations associated to the identification code.

11. The image forming apparatus management system of claim 1, wherein each user is a section in an organization.

12. An image forming apparatus whose number of image formations is managed by a central accumulating apparatus which is connected to the image forming apparatus via a communication line,

the image forming apparatus comprising:

an identification code reception unit for receiving at least one identification code that identifies a user;

a counting unit for counting a number of image formations for each identification code;

a storage unit for storing each identification code received by the identification code reception unit associated with a number of image formations counted by the counting unit;

a transmission unit for transmitting at least part of the identification codes and associated numbers of image formations stored in the storage unit to the central accumulating apparatus Via the communication line when a number of identification codes in the storage unit reaches a predetermined number; and

a storage clearing unit for clearing the storage unit of the identification codes and associated numbers of image formations that have been transmitted by the transmission unit.

13. The image forming apparatus management system of claim 12, wherein the image forming apparatus is a copying machine.

14. The image forming apparatus management system of claim 12, wherein the image forming apparatus is a printer.

15. The image forming apparatus management system of claim 12, wherein the image forming apparatus is a facsimile machine.

16. The image forming apparatus management system of claim 12, wherein the identification code reception unit includes a card reader for reading information of a card on which an identification code is recorded, and receives the identification code.

17. The image forming apparatus management system of claim 12, wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises an image forming prohibit unit for prohibiting an image forming operation when the identification code reception unit has not received an identification code.

18. The image forming apparatus management system of claim 17, wherein the image forming apparatus is further comprises an image forming allowance unit for allowing an image forming operation when the identification code received by the identification code reception unit matches an identification code that has been registered beforehand.

19. The image forming apparatus management system of claim 12, wherein when the identification code received by the identification code reception unit is already present in the storage unit, the storage unit updates the number of image formations associated to the identification code.

20. The image forming apparatus management system of claim 12, wherein each user is a section in an organization.

21. A management method for a number of image formations in an image forming apparatus management system composed of a central accumulating apparatus and an image forming apparatus, wherein the management method includes a first set of steps performed by the image forming apparatus and a second set of steps performed by the central accumulating apparatus,

wherein the first set of steps includes:

(1) receiving at least one identification code for identifying a user and of counting the number of image formations performed in relation to the received identification code;

(2) storing the received identification code associated with the number of image formations performed in relation to each identification code into a first storage unit;

(3) transmitting at least part of the identification codes and associated numbers of image formations stored in the first storage unit through lines when a number of identification codes stored in the first storage unit reaches a predetermined number; and

(4) clearing the transmitted identification codes and associated numbers of image formations from the first storage unit, and

wherein the second set of steps includes;

(1) receiving the identification codes and associated number of image formations which are transmitted from the image forming apparatus; and

(2) accumulating and storing data of the number of image formations for each user in accordance with the identification codes and associated number of image formations received by the reception unit.

22. A management method for a number of image formations performed by an image forming apparatus which is connected to a central accumulating apparatus through lines, wherein the management method includes:

(1) receiving at least one identification code for identifying a user and of counting the number of image formations performed in relation to the received identification code;

(2) storing the received identification code associated with the number of image formations performed in relation to each identification code into a storage unit;

(3) transmitting at least part of the identification codes and associated numbers of image formations stored in the storage unit through lines when a number of identification codes stored in the storage unit reaches a predetermined number; and

(4) clearing the transmitted identification codes and associated numbers of image formations from the storage unit.

23. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a reception unit for receiving at least one identification code that identifies a user;

a counter for counting a number of image formations;

a memory for storing the number of image formations corresponding to the identification code;

a transmission unit for externally transmitting data stored in the memory when an empty area of the memory decreases below a predetermined amount of area; and

a clearing unit for clearing the data that have been transmitted by the transmission unit.

24. The image forming apparatus of claim 23, wherein the memory stores the identification code and the number of image formations associated with the identification code.

25. The image forming apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a storage unit for updating the number of image formations associated with the identification code when the identification code received by the reception unit is already present in the memory, and for storing an identification code and a number of image formations associated with the identification code when the identification code received by the reception unit is not present in the memory.

26. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a reception unit for receiving at least one identification code that identifies a user;

a counter for counting a number of image formations;

a memory for storing the identification code and the number of image formations associated with the identification code;

a transmission unit for externally transmitting the identification codes and associated numbers of image formations stored in the memory when a number of identification codes stored in the memory reaches a predetermined number; and

a clearing unit for clearing the identification codes and the associated numbers of image formations that have been transmitted by the transmission unit.

27. The image forming apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a storage unit for updating the number of image formations associated with the identification code when the identification code received by the reception unit is already present in the memory, and for storing an identification code and a number of image formations associated to the identification code when the identification code received by the reception unit is not present in the memory.