Methods and systems for imaging device concurrent account use with remote authorization

• US 7,738,808 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (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
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender; F. Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAAWAT, MUSSA A
• Application Number:
  US11/193,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20060080185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,782 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 399/79
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• 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 use of an imaging device account by multiple concurrent users, said method comprising:

a) receiving a user account identification (ID) at an imaging device (IDev) for an imaging device account;

b) determining whether a concurrent user limit limiting the quantity of concurrent users on a billing account will be exceeded by the addition of another user and denying any further account access or authorization when said limit will be exceeded, wherein said concurrent user limit is based on an ability to estimate job charges, wherein said determining is performed by a processor and a memory;

c) receiving job configuration data at said IDev;

d) calculating job charges using said job configuration data;

e) processing said job charges with an accounting application remote to said IDev to verify that accounting restrictions for said account will allow said job to be executed based on said job charges;

f) receiving authorization from said remote accounting application to execute said job only when the following conditions are met;

i) said job charges meet accounting restrictions;

ii) said job charges have already been applied to said account by said remote accounting application; and

g) 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 to said account.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said automatically modifying comprises prompting a user to modify said job configuration when said job charges do not meet accounting restrictions and receiving a modified job configuration that meets accounting restrictions.

3. 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.

4. 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.

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

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

b) determining whether a concurrent user limit limiting the quantity of concurrent users on a billing account will be exceeded by the addition of another user and denying any further account access or authorization when said limit will be exceeded, wherein said concurrent user limit is based on an ability to estimate job charges;

c) receiving job configuration data at said imaging device;

d) sending at least one of said account identification and said job configuration data to a remote computing device (RCD);

e) calculating job charges at said RCD using said job configuration data;

f) accessing a remote accounting application to verify that accounting restrictions for said account will allow said job to be executed based on said job charges;

g) applying said job charges to said account prior to execution of said job when said job charges meet said accounting restrictions, thereby ensuring that another account user does not deplete account resources allocated to said job charges while said job is executing;

h) 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 to said account; and

i) authorizing said imaging device to execute said job after said job charges or said recalculated job charges have been applied to said account when said job charges or said recalculated job charges meet said accounting restrictions.

6. A method as described in claim 5 wherein said sending is at least partially accomplished over a network with an XML/SOAP message.

7. A method as described in claim 5 wherein said accessing is at least partially accomplished over a network with an XML/SOAP message.

8. A method as described in claim 5 wherein said automatically modifying comprises:

prompting a user to modify said job configuration when said job charges do not meet accounting restrictions and

receiving a modified job configuration that meets accounting restrictions.

9. A method as described in claim 5 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.

10. A method as described in claim 5 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.

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

a) a user interface (UI) receiver on an imaging device (IDev) for receiving a user account identification (ID) for an imaging device account that accounts for monetary job charges and accommodates multiple concurrent users, wherein said UI receiver comprises a physical input device;

b) a concurrent user limiter for determining whether a concurrent user limit limiting the quantity of concurrent users on a billing account will be exceeded by the addition of another user and denying any further account access or authorization when said limit will be exceeded, wherein said concurrent user limit is based on an ability to estimate job charges;

c) a data receiver for receiving job configuration data at said IDev;

d) a calculator for calculating job charges using said job configuration data;

e) a remote accounting processor for determining whether accounting restrictions for said account will allow said job to be executed based on said job charges;

f) an automatic job configuration modifier for automatically modifying said job configuration data to meet accounting restrictions when said job charges do not meet accounting restrictions and for recalculating said job charges based on said modified job configuration;

g) an account manager for applying job charges to said imaging device account when said job charges meet accounting restrictions, wherein said job charges are applied to said imaging device account before said job is executed and before another user of said image device account is allowed to execute a transaction; and

h) an authorizer for sending an authorization message to said IDev only when the following conditions are met;

i) said job charges meet accounting restrictions; and

ii) said job charges have previously been applied to said account.

12. A system as described in claim 11 wherein said automatic job configuration modifier is configured for prompting a user to modify said job configuration when said job charges do not meet accounting restrictions and for receiving a modified job configuration that meets accounting restrictions.

13. A system as described in claim 11 further comprising a job analyzer for determining whether said job was completed successfully and wherein said account manager is further configured for adjusting said job charges applied to said account to account for any unsuccessful job completion.

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