Payment based electronic mail printing system utilizing search criteria

• US 7,441,003 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2000
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Toki, Yasuyuki, Genda, Kohei, Nagayama, Hironobu, Takeda, Masaru
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell; Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): FORD, GRANT M
• Application Number:
  US09/716,415
• Time in Patent Office: 2,891 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 709/241, 709/208, 709/219, 709/220, 709/203, 709/226, 709/245, 713/201, 707/3, 707/10, 379/100.08, 379/67.1, 358/1.13, 358/1.15, 358/1.18, 358/434, 358/402, 714/44, 705/30, 705/26, 455/556.2, 455/557
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases

Abstract

An information output system in which an output destination management server is provided with an output destination management table for managing a mail address, performance information, and the like for each printer. In response to a search request from a terminal apparatus, the output destination management table is used to search for one or a plurality of candidate printers. The terminal apparatus is notified of the mail address of one candidate printer or the plurality of candidate printers. The terminal apparatus uses the mail address of a designated printer as a destination, and issues an electronic mail including the information to be printed. A printing mail server receives the electronic mail. The information included in the electronic mail is transferred to the designated printer from a print server. Accounting processing is executed prior to the printing of the information.

Claims

1. An information output system comprising:

a managing section for managing a mail address for each output printing apparatus of an output printing apparatus group;

a search section for searching the output printing apparatus group managed by the managing section for one candidate output printing apparatus or a plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses in response to a search request having search conditions from a transportable terminal apparatus;

a notifying section for notifying said transportable terminal apparatus of the mail address of said candidate output printing apparatus or the plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses found in a search by the search section, wherein the transportable terminal apparatus issues an electronic mail to a destination mail address of a designated output printing apparatus, and wherein the destination mail address is based upon the mail address of said candidate output printing apparatus or the plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses provided by the notifying section;

an accounting processor for performing accounting processing prior to outputting of information included in said electronic mail, and allowing the designated output printing apparatus to produce printed output of the information included in said electronic mail from said transportable terminal apparatus after executing a charging processing; and

a distinguishing section for distinguishing the designated output printing apparatus from said output printing apparatus group based on the destination mail address of the electronic mail issued from said transportable terminal apparatus, wherein

said designated output printing apparatus produces printed output of outputting information included in the electronic mail issued from said transportable terminal apparatus, and wherein

said managing section further manages performance information for each of said output printing apparatuses and manages installation position information for each of said output printing apparatuses, and

said search section searches for said one candidate output printing apparatus or the plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses based on said performance information, and based on said installation position information.

2. The information output system according to claim 1 wherein the transportable terminal apparatus is capable of sending and receiving electronic mail.

3. An information output system comprising:

a printer group comprising a plurality of printers;

a first server comprising an address managing section for managing a mail address for each of said printers, a search section for searching said printer group managed by a managing section for one candidate printer or a plurality of candidate printers in response to a search request having search conditions from a client, and an address notifying section for notifying said client of the mail address of said one candidate printer or the plurality of candidate printers found in a search by the search section, wherein the client issues an electronic mail to a destination mail address of a designated printer, and wherein the destination mail address is based upon the mail address of said candidate printer or the plurality of candidate printers provided by the notifying section;

an accounting processing section for performing accounting processing prior to outputting of information included in said electronic mail, and allowing the designated output printing apparatus to produce printed output of the information included in said electronic mail from said transportable terminal apparatus after executing a charging processing; and

a second server comprising a receiving section for receiving the electronic mail issued from said client, a distinguishing section for distinguishing the designated printer from said printer group based on the destination mail address of the electronic mail, and a converting section for converting information included in said electronic mail in accordance with said designated printer,

said designated printer prints output of said converted information, and wherein the client provides the search request via a transportable terminal apparatus, and

wherein said first server further comprises;

an information managing section for managing performance information and installation position information for each of said printers; and

an information notifying section for notifying said client of at least one of the performance information and the installation position information with respect to said one candidate printer or the plurality of candidate printers.

4. The information output system according to claim 3 wherein the electronic mail is utilized to perform communication between said client and said first server.

5. The information output system according to claim 3, further comprising an authentication apparatus for performing user authentication prior to print processing of said converted information in said designated printer.

6. The information output system according to claim 3 wherein said second server further comprises:

a separating section for separating said electronic mail into a plurality of mail elements; and

an individual managing section for individually managing said respective separated mail elements, and

said information to be printed corresponds to one mail element.

7. The information output system according to claim 3 wherein said second server further comprises:

a storing section in which the information constituting said electronic mail is stored;

a monitor section for monitoring an empty capacity of said storing section; and

a restricting section for restricting reception of a print request in accordance with lack of capacity of said storing section.

8. The information output system according to claim 3 wherein said converting section converts the information included in said electronic mail to a PDL file in accordance with said designated printer.

9. The information output system according to claim 3 wherein said second server further comprises a virus processing section for executing a virus check with respect to said electronic mail.

10. The information output system according to claim 7 wherein said second server further comprises a restriction notifying section for notifying said client of reception restriction when the reception of said print request is restricted.

11. The information output system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a storing section for storing said PDL file; and

a deleting section for deleting the PDL file stored in said storing section when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

12. The information output system according to claim 9 wherein said virus processing section comprises:

a report preparing section for preparing a virus check report when it is judged by said virus check that a virus exists; and

a report print control section for performing a control to allow said virus check report to be printed instead of the printing of the information included in said electronic mail in said designated printer when it is judged that said virus exists.

13. The information output system according to claim 12, further comprising an accounting processor for performing accounting processing prior to the printing of said virus check report.

14. An information output system comprising:

a managing section for managing a mail address for each output printing apparatus of an output printing apparatus group;

a search section for searching the output printing apparatus group managed by the managing section for one candidate output printing apparatus or a plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses in response to a search request having search conditions from a transportable terminal apparatus;

a notifying section for notifying said transportable terminal apparatus of the mail address of said one candidate output printing apparatus or the plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses found in a search by the search section, wherein the transportable terminal apparatus issues an electronic mail to a destination mail address of a designated output printing apparatus, and wherein the destination mail address is based upon the mail address of said candidate output printing apparatus or the plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses provided by the notifying section;

a distinguishing section for distinguishing the designated output printing apparatus from said output printing apparatus group based on the destination mail address of the electronic mail issued from said transportable terminal apparatus; and

an accounting processing section for performing accounting processing prior to outputting of information included in said electronic mail, and allowing the designated output printing apparatus to produce printed output of the information included in said electronic mail from said transportable terminal apparatus after executing a charging processing, and wherein

said managing section further manages performance information for each of said output printing apparatuses and manages installation position information for each of said output printing apparatuses,

said search section searches for said one candidate output printing apparatus or the plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses based on said performance information, and based on said installation position information, and

said designated output printing apparatus produces printed output of outputting information included in the electronic mail issued from said transportable terminal apparatus.

15. The information output system according to claim 14 wherein said accounting processing section comprises:

a selecting section for allowing a user to select an accounting system; and

an accounting executing section for performing accounting in accordance with said selected accounting system.

16. An information output method in which electronic mail is utilized, comprising steps of:

managing a mail address for each output printing apparatus and an output printing apparatus group;

searching the output printing apparatus group for one candidate output printing apparatus or a plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses for the mail address in response to a search request having search conditions from a transportable terminal apparatus;

finding the mail address of said one candidate output printing apparatus or the plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses;

notifying said transportable terminal apparatus of the mail address of said one candidate output printing apparatus or the plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses, wherein the transportable terminal apparatus issues an electronic mail to a destination mail address of a designated output printing apparatus, and wherein the destination mail address is based upon the mail address of said candidate output printing apparatus or the plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses provided by the notifying section;

distinguishing the designated output printing apparatus from said output printing apparatus group based on the destination mail address of the electronic mail issued from said transportable terminal apparatus; and

outputting printed information included in the electronic mail issued from said transportable terminal apparatus by said designated output printing apparatus, and wherein the method further comprises;

managing performance information for each of said output printing apparatuses and managing installation position information for each of said output printing apparatuses,

searching for said one candidate output printing apparatus or the plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses based on said performance information and based on said installation position information, and

performing accounting processing prior to outputting of information included in said electronic mail, and allowing the designated output printing apparatus to produce printed output of the information included in said electronic mail from said transportable terminal apparatus after executing a charging processing.

17. A storage medium in which a program to be executed on a computer is stored, said program comprising:

a module for managing a mail address for each output printing apparatus and an output apparatus group;

a module for searching the output printing apparatus group for one candidate output printing apparatus or a plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses for the mail address in response to a search request having search conditions from a transportable terminal apparatus;

a module for finding the mail address of said one candidate output printing apparatus or the plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses;

a module for notifying said transportable terminal apparatus of the mail address of said one candidate output printing apparatus or the plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses, wherein the transportable terminal apparatus issues an electronic mail to a destination mail address of a designated output printing apparatus, and wherein the destination mail address is based upon the mail address of said candidate output printing apparatus or the plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses provided by the notifying section;

a module for performing accounting processing prior to outputting of information included in said electronic mail, and allowing the designated output printing apparatus to produce printed output of the information included in said electronic mail from said transportable terminal apparatus after executing a charging processing; and

a module for distinguishing a designated output printing apparatus from said output printing apparatus group based on the destination mail address of the electronic mail issued from said transportable terminal apparatus, wherein

said designated output printing apparatus produces printed output of outputting information included in the electronic mail issued from the transportable terminal apparatus, and wherein

said module for managing further manages performance information for each of said output printing apparatuses and further manages installation position information for each of said output printing apparatuses, and

said module for searching searches for said one candidate output printing apparatus or the plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses based on said performance information and based on said installation position information.

18. An information output system comprising:

an output printing apparatus group comprising a plurality of output printing apparatuses;

a transportable terminal apparatus provided with an electronic mail transmission/reception function;

a first mail server for presenting an electronic mail transmission/reception service to said transportable terminal apparatus;

a first management server comprising a managing section for managing a mail address for each of said output printing apparatuses, a search section for searching the output apparatus group managed by the managing section for one candidate output printing apparatus or a plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses in response to a search request having search conditions from said transportable terminal apparatus, and a notifying section for notifying said transportable terminal apparatus of the mail address of said one candidate printing output apparatus or the plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses found in a search by the search section, wherein the transportable terminal apparatus issues an electronic mail to a destination mail address of a designated output printing apparatus, and wherein the destination mail address is based upon the mail address of said candidate output printing apparatus or the plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses provided by the notifying section;

an accounting processor for performing accounting processing prior to outputting of information included in said electronic mail, and allowing the designated output printing apparatus to produce printed output of the information included in said electronic mail from said transportable terminal apparatus after executing a charging processing;

a second mail server for receiving the electronic mail issued from said transportable terminal apparatus; and

a second management server comprising a distinguishing section for distinguishing a designated output printing apparatus from said output printing apparatus group based on the destination mail address of said received electronic mail, and a presenting section for presenting information included in said electronic mail to said designated output printing apparatus, wherein

said designated output printing apparatus produces printed output of outputting information included in the electronic mail issued from the transportable terminal apparatus, and wherein

said managing section further manages performance information for each of said output printing apparatuses and manages installation position information for each of said output printing apparatuses, and

said search section searches for said one candidate output printing apparatus or the plurality of candidate output printing apparatuses based on said performance information, and based on said installation position information.