Methods and systems for authorizing imaging device concurrent account use

• US 7,873,553 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• 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): Hayes; John W
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEN, GEORGE YUNG CHIEH
• Application Number:
  US11/192,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20060080184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,999 Days
• Field of Search: 705/400, 705/1, 705/30, 700/90, 700/95, 700/106, 700/17, 358/1.9, 358/1.8
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• 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:

receiving, at a remote computing device (RCD), a user account identification (ID) from an imaging device for an imaging device account;

receiving job configuration data for an imaging job at said RCD from said imaging device;

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

determining a job charge accuracy based on whether said job charges are accurately predicted;

determining a concurrent user limit for said imaging device account based on said job charge accuracy and the accuracy of any pending jobs for said imaging device account;

determining whether said concurrent user limit will be exceeded by approving said imaging job;

if said concurrent user limit will not be exceeded by said imaging job;

verifying that said job charges meet accounting restrictions for said account;

applying said job charges to said account prior to authorization of said job; and

authorizing said imaging device to execute said job when said job charges meet said accounting restrictions; and

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;

applying said recalculated job charges to said account prior to authorizing said modified job; and

authorizing said modified job; and

if said concurrent user limit will be exceeded by said imaging job;

denying any further account access.

2. A method as described in claim 1 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;

applying said recalculated job charges to said account prior to authorization of said modified job; and

authorizing said modified job.

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

a receiver for receiving, at a remote computing device (RCD), a user account identification (ID) from an imaging device for an imaging device account;

said receiver also being capable of receiving job configuration data for an imaging job at said RCD from said imaging device;

an accuracy calculator for determining a job charge accuracy based on whether said job charges are accurately predicted;

a user limit calculator for determining a concurrent user limit for said imaging device account based on said job charge accuracy and the accuracy of any pending jobs for said imaging device account;

a user limit determiner for determining whether said concurrent user limit will be exceeded by approving said imaging job, wherein said user limit determiner denies access to said imaging device account when said concurrent user limit is exceeded by approving said imaging job and wherein said user limit determiner comprises a processor and a memory;

a job modifier for automatically modifying said job configuration to meet accounting restrictions when said job charges do not meet accounting restrictions;

a re-calculator for recalculating said job charges based on said modified job configuration; and

a modified account manager for applying said recalculated job charges to said account before execution of said job;

a calculator for calculating job charges at said RCD using said job configuration data;

an accounting manager for verifying that said job charges meet accounting restrictions for said account;

wherein said accounting manager applies said job charges to said account prior to authorization of said job by an account authority if said concurrent user limit will not be exceeded by said imaging job; and

wherein said account authority authorizes said imaging device to execute said job when said job charges meet said accounting restrictions and when said concurrent user limit will not be exceeded by said imaging job.

6. A system as described in claim 5 wherein said receiver 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 and wherein said calculator is also configured for recalculating job charges based on said modified job configuration and wherein said account manager is further configured for applying said recalculated job charges to said account prior to executing said job.

7. A system as described in claim 5 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.

8. A system as described in claim 5 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.

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

receiving, at a remote computing device (RCD), a user account identification (ID) from an imaging device for an imaging device account;

receiving job configuration data for an imaging job at said RCD from said imaging device;

calculating initial job charges at said RCD using said job configuration data;

determining a job charge accuracy based on whether said job charges are accurately predicted;

determining a concurrent user limit for said imaging device account based on said job charge accuracy and the accuracy of any pending jobs for said imaging device account;

determining whether said concurrent user limit will be exceeded by approving said imaging job;

automatically modifying said job configuration to meet accounting restrictions when said job charges do not meet accounting restrictions.

if said concurrent user limit will be exceeded by said imaging job;

denying further imaging device account access;

if said concurrent user limit will not be exceeded by said imaging job;

verifying that said initial job charges meet accounting restrictions for said account;

applying said initial job charges to said account prior to authorization of said job when said initial job charges meet said accounting restrictions;

authorizing said imaging device to execute said job when said initial job charges meet said accounting restrictions;

providing for modification of said job when said job charges do not meet said accounting restrictions;

recalculating said job charges based on said modification when said job charges do not meet said accounting restrictions;

applying said modified job charges to said account when said initial job charges do not meet said accounting restrictions; and

sending said modified job to said imaging device for execution on said imaging device.

10. A method as described in claim 9 wherein said providing for modification of said job comprises prompting a user to modify said job configuration when said job charges do not meet accounting restrictions.

11. A method as described in claim 9 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.

12. A method as described in claim 9 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.