Printing service method, system, and printer

• US 20020057451A1
• Filed: 03/06/2001
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Ishijima, Hiroyasu
• Granted Patent: US 6,882,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

The Disclosure relates to a printing service method for discounting services by printing with advertisements and realizes various discount services. The present invention comprises: a printing step for sending printing management information along with the user ID to the server 4 through the network 3 when the user prints with advertisements with the user'"'"'s printing device 2, and storing that information as an advertisement usage record for each user ID; a step for referencing the user'"'"'s advertisement usage record, for least one service, selected by the user from among a plurality of services relating to the printing device that used the advertisement printing record, determining whether to authorize the discount for the selected service, and updating the advertisement usage record of the abovementioned user to perform the authorized discount service. A variety of discount services can be realized because the print operation with advertisements is managed by the server and the user can use the usage records.

Claims

1. A printing service method comprising:

a printing step for transferring printing management information and a user ID to a server through a network when a user prints with advertisements with the user'"'"'s printing device, and for storing that information as an advertisement usage record for each user ID;

a step for referencing said user'"'"'s advertisement usage record for at least one service, selected by said user from among a plurality of services relating to said printing device that used said advertisement usage record, and determining whether discounting of the selected service is authorized; and

a step of updating said user'"'"'s advertisement usage record to execute said authorized discount service.

2. The printing service method according to claim 1, wherein said printing step comprises:

a step of sending said printing management information to said server from said printing device;

a step of calculating said user'"'"'s advertisement usage record from said printing management information, compiling the advertisement usage record, and transferring the advertisement information to said printing device; and

a step of combining print data with an advertisement image on the basis of the advertisement information from said server, and printing said image to be printed by said printing device.

3. The printing service method according to claim 2, wherein said sending step comprises:

a step for receiving said printing management information and printing information from the user terminal using said printing device; and

a step for spooling said printing information and sending said printing management information to said server.

4. The printing service method according to claim 2, wherein said transferring step comprises a step for transferring the advertisement image to said printing device.

5. The printing service method according to claim 2,

wherein said transferring step comprises a step for transferring the advertisement image name to said printing device;

and

wherein said printing out step comprises a step for selecting the advertisement image with said advertisement image name from among a plurality of advertisement images compiled in said printing device.

6. The printing service method according to claim 1, wherein said updating step comprises a step for authenticating the password input by said user.

7. The printing service method according to claim 2, wherein said step for transferring advertisement information comprises a step for calculating the frequency of use of said advertisement image from the printing management information of said user, and calculating said advertisement usage record.

8. The printing service method according to claim 2, wherein said step for transferring advertisement information comprises a step for selecting at least one item of advertisement information from among a plurality of items of advertisement information stored in said server.

9. The printing service method according to claim 7, wherein said step f or calculating the advertisement usage record comprises a step for minimally calculating the number of pages of printing with advertisements.

10. The printing service method according to claim 1, wherein said printing step comprises a step for updating the number of references to said advertisement.

11. The printing service method according to claim 10, further comprising a step for calculating the advertisement costs billed to the advertiser from the number of references to said advertisement.

13. The printing service system according to claim 12, wherein further comprising said printing device for sending said printing management information to said server, combining print data with an advertisement image on the basis of the advertisement information from said server, and printing said image to be printed.

14. The printing service system according to claim 13, wherein said printing device receives said printing management information and printing information from the user terminal using said printing device, spools said printing information and sends said printing management information to said server.

15. The printing service system according to claim 12, wherein said server transfers the advertisement image to said printing device.

16. The printing service system according to claim 12,

wherein said server transfers the advertisement image name to said printing device;

and

wherein said printing device selects the advertisement image with said advertisement image name from among a plurality of advertisement images compiled in said printing device.

17. The printing service system according to claim 12, wherein said server authenticates the password input by said user.

12. A printing service system comprising:

an advertisement usage database; and

a server for receiving printing management information and a user ID through a network when the user prints with advertisements with a printing device, and storing that information as an advertisement usage record for each user ID in said advertisement usage database;

wherein said server references the user'"'"'s advertisement usage record in said advertisement database, for at least one service, selected by said user from among a plurality of services relating to said printing device that used said advertisement usage record, determines whether discounting of the selected service is authorized, and updates said user'"'"'s advertisement usage record to execute said authorized discount service.

18. A printer comprising:

a control unit for sending printing management information from a user terminal along with a user ID through a network to a server for managing advertisement information, and generating image data including said advertisement image combined with the printing information to be printed, on the basis of advertisement information received from said server; and

an engine connected to said control unit and for printing out said image data.