Method of printer accounting management

• US 20030065713A1
• Filed: 10/03/2001
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Quach, Tony, Nguyen, Truc D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,430,605 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method is disclosed in which a print dialog is invoked to select printing options for a document. A department code is entered on the print dialog, and a print command is submitted while concurrently sending the department code for validation. A validation step is performed to determine whether the department code is valid. A print job is generated if the entered department code is valid. If the department code is invalid, the user is prompted to enter a valid department code.

Claims

1. A method of printer accounting comprising:

invoking a print dialog to select printing options for a document;

entering a department code on the print dialog;

submitting a print command and concurrently sending the department code for validation;

performing a validation to determine whether the department code is valid;

generating a print job if the entered department code is valid; and

prompting the user to enter a valid department code if the entered department code is invalid.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of performing a validation comprises comparing the department code to a set of codes maintained on a look-up table, wherein validation comprises obtaining a match between the department and one of the set of codes.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the look-up table is maintained on a printer controller.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of validation is performed concurrently within both the printer controller and a print driver that generates the printer dialog.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the department code accesses a pre-paid account having a predetermined number of usage units.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the usage units are selected from the group comprising available print copies and access time.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of displaying the total number of usage units remaining on the pre-paid account.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of displaying the total number of usage units accumulated from the pre-paid account.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the department code is a limited-use code issued by a system administrator.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the limited-use code is selected from the group comprising a single-print use code and a limited-time use code.

11. A printer accounting utility to be used upon invoking a print dialog to select printing options for a document and entering a department code on the print dialog, the utility comprising:

means for submitting a print command and concurrently sending the department code for validation;

means for performing a validation to determine whether the department code is valid;

means for generating a print job if the entered department code is valid; and

means for prompting the user to enter a valid department code if the entered department code is invalid.

12. The utility of claim 11 wherein the means for performing a validation comprises means for comparing the department code to a set of codes maintained on a look-up table, wherein the means for validation comprises means for obtaining a match between the department and one of the set of codes.

13. The utility of claim 12 wherein the look-up table is maintained on a printer controller.

14. The utility of claim 13 wherein the means for validation is includes means for concurrently validating at both the printer controller and a print driver that generates the printer dialog.

15. The utility of claim 11 wherein the department code is associated with a pre-paid account having a predetermined number of usage units.

16. The utility of claim 15 wherein the usage units are selected from the group comprising available print copies and access time.

17. The utility of claim 15 further comprising means for displaying the total number of usage units remaining on the pre-paid account.

18. The utility of claim 15 further comprising means for displaying the total number of usage units accumulated from the pre-paid account.

19. The utility claim 11 wherein the department code is a limited-use code issued by a system administrator.

20. The utility of claim 19 wherein the limited-use code is selected from the group comprising a single-print use code and a limited-time use code.

21. A network comprising:

at least one network printer having a printer controller;

at least one client device for submitting a print job to a network printer, wherein the client device includes means for invoking a print dialog to select printing options for a document, and means for entering a department code on the print dialog;

a printer accounting utility comprising;

means for sending the department code for validation concurrently with submitting a print command;

means for performing a validation to determine whether the department code is valid;

means for generating a print job if the entered department code is valid; and

means for prompting the user to enter a valid department code if the entered department code is invalid.

22. The network of claim 21 wherein the means for performing a validation comprises means for comparing the department code to a set of codes maintained on a look-up table, wherein the means for validation comprises means for obtaining a match between the department and one of the set of codes.

23. The network of claim 22 wherein the look-up table is maintained on a printer controller.

24. The network of claim 23 wherein the means for validation is includes means for concurrently validating at both the printer controller and a print driver that generates the printer dialog.

25. The network of claim 21 wherein the department code is associated with a pre-paid account having a predetermined number of usage units.

26. The network of claim 25 wherein the usage units are selected from the group comprising available print copies and access time.

27. The network of claim 25 further comprising means for displaying the total number of usage units remaining on the pre-paid account.

28. The network of claim 25 further comprising means for displaying the total number of usage units accumulated from the pre-paid account.

29. The network claim 21 wherein the department code is a limited-use code issued by a system administrator.

30. The network of claim 29 wherein the limited-use code is selected from the group comprising a single-print use code and a limited-time use code.