Apparatus which can be connected to network, and charging management system

• US 7,184,976 B1
• Filed: 09/08/2000
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kumagai, Takekazu
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, JAGDISH
• Application Number:
  US09/658,672
• Time in Patent Office: 2,363 Days
• Field of Search: 705/52, 705/26, 705/32, 705/34, 707/102
• US Class Current: 705/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• 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 1/324 intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32432 in a particular memory file for retrieval by the user, e.g. in a facsimile mailbox
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/34 for coin-freed systems ; Pay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4413 involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4433 to an apparatus, part of an apparatus or an apparatus function
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3288 Storage of two or more complete document pages or image frames

Abstract

An apparatus having a memory box function manages the use states of data stored in memory boxes in units of memory boxes, and also manages charging unit information about the use of data. This makes it possible to calculate charges for the use of data in units of memory boxes.

Claims

1. A document accumulation apparatus, comprising:

creation means for creating a memory box corresponding to a predetermined storage area in a memory in accordance with external operation;

acquisition means for acquiring a document;

accumulation means for accumulating the document in the memory box;

print means for executing print processing of the document accumulated in the memory box;

transfer means for transferring the document accumulated in the memory box to an external apparatus via a communication line; and

wherein status of use indicating that the document has been processed by said accumulation means, print means or transfer means is accumulated in the memory box together with the document by said accumulation means,

transmission means for transmitting the status of use accumulated in the memory box to a billing management apparatus via the communication line.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said acquisition means acquires the document by facsimile reception, and

further comprising setting means for setting whether to permit the facsimile reception for the memory box.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting a password for permitting the print processing by said print means for the memory box.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said acquisition means acquires the document by facsimile reception, and

wherein the status of use is communication partner name, communication partner number, used line and communication speed in acquisition by said acquisition means.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the status of use is print resolution, used cassette, color/monochrome or finishing in print processing by said print means.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said acquisition means acquires the document by scanning, and

wherein the status of use is color/monochrome, image size or resolution.

7. A method for controlling a document accumulation apparatus, comprising:

a creation step of creating a memory box corresponding to a predetermined storage area in a memory in accordance with external operation;

an acquisition step of acquiring a document;

an accumulation step of accumulating the document in the memory box;

a print step of executing print processing of the document accumulated in the memory box;

a transfer step of transferring the document accumulated in the memory box to an external apparatus via a communication line; and

wherein status of use indicating that the document has been processed in the accumulation step, print step or transfer step is accumulated in the memory box together with the document in the accumulation step,

a transmission step of transmitting the status of use accumulated in the memory box to a billing management apparatus via the communication line.

8. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method according to claim 7.