Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program storage medium and progam

An information processing apparatus for generating contract information including charge amount information per print output of an image forming apparatus, the information processing apparatus comprising:

• reception means for receiving use status information of a first image forming apparatus owned by the user, through a predetermined communication medium;
• calculation means for calculation a number of points corresponding to said received use status information;
• and
• calculation means for calculating a charge amount per print output, including a discount amount, of a second image forming apparatus constituting the object of a new contract, according to said number of points.

An information processing apparatus capable of bidirectional communication with a printing apparatus of the user through a predetermined communication medium, the information processing apparatus comprising:

• reception means for receiving information indicating the use status of a first printing apparatus through said predetermined communication medium;
• and
• generation means for generating contract information of a second printing apparatus according to said received use status information of said first printing apparatus;
• wherein said contract information includes information of a charge amount per print output of said printing apparatus, and said charge amount per print output includes a maintenance charge for said printing apparatus.

An information processing apparatus connected to a second network capable of communication through a predetermined communication channel with a first network to which plural information equipment are connected, the information processing apparatus comprising:

• reception means for receiving first information on the use status of said information equipment through said predetermined communication channel;
• first output means for outputting information for instructing service providing to said information equipment based on said first information;
• and
• second output means for outputting bill information for said service providing to the user of said first network.

An information processing method by an information processing apparatus connected through the internet to a first device having a display unit, the method comprising:

• a transmission step of transmitting contract setting image information for concluding a contract for a second device at the purchase of said second device by the user;
• a reception step of receiving a first ID for specifying a first device having use history information transmitted through said internet and a second ID for specifying said second device;
• a search step of searching first contract information corresponding to the first ID information received by said reception means;
• and
• a generation step of generating second contract information for said second device based on the first contract information searched by said search step.

An information processing method by an information processing apparatus for generating contract information including charge amount information per print output of an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

• a reception step of receiving use status information of a first image forming apparatus owned by the user, through a predetermined communication medium;
• a calculation step of calculation a number of points corresponding to said received use status information;
• and
• a calculation step of calculating a charge amount per print output, including a discount amount, of a second image forming apparatus constituting the object of a new contract, according to said number of points.

An information processing method by an information processing apparatus capable of bidirectional communication with a printing apparatus of the user through a predetermined communication medium, the method comprising:

• a reception step of receiving information indicating the use status of a first printing apparatus through said predetermined communication medium;
• and
• a generation step of generating contract information of a second printing apparatus according to said received use status information of said first printing apparatus;
• wherein said contract information includes information of a charge amount per print output of said printing apparatus, and said charge amount per print output includes a maintenance charge for said printing apparatus.

An information processing method by an information processing apparatus connected to a second network capable of communication through a predetermined communication channel with a first network to which plural information equipment are connected, the method comprising:

• a reception step of receiving first information on the use status of said information equipment through said predetermined communication channel;
• a first output step of outputting information for instructing service providing to said information equipment based on said first information;
• and
• a second output step of outputting bill information for said service providing to the user of said first network.

A computer readable memory medium storing program codes to be executed by an information processing apparatus connected through the internet to a first device having a display unit, the program codes comprising:

• a transmission step of transmitting contract setting image information for concluding a contract for a second device at the purchase of said second device by the user;
• a reception step of receiving a first ID for specifying a first device having use history information transmitted through said internet and a second ID for specifying said second device;
• a search step of searching first contract information corresponding to the first ID information received by said reception means;
• and
• a generation step of generating second contract information for said second device based on the first contract information searched by said search step.

A computer readable memory medium storing program codes to be executed by an information processing apparatus for generating contract information including charge amount information per print output of an image forming apparatus, the program codes comprising:

• a reception step of receiving use status information of a first image forming apparatus owned by the user, through a predetermined communication medium;
• a calculation step of calculation a number of points corresponding to said received use status information;
• and
• a calculation step of calculating a charge amount per print output, including a discount amount, of a second image forming apparatus constituting the object of a new contract, according to said number of points.

A computer readable memory medium storing program codes to be executed by an information processing apparatus capable of bidirectional communication with a printing apparatus of the user through a predetermined communication medium, the program codes comprising:

• a reception step of receiving information indicting the use status of a first printing apparatus through said predetermined communication medium;
• and
• a generation step of generating contract information of a second printing apparatus according to said received use status information of said first printing apparatus;
• wherein said contract information includes information of a charge amount per print output of said printing apparatus, and said charge amount per print output includes a maintenance charge for said printing apparatus.

A computer readable memory medium storing program codes to be executed by an information processing apparatus connected to a second network capable of communication through a predetermined communication channel with a first network to which plural information equipment are connected, the program codes comprising:

• a reception step of receiving first information on the use status of said information equipment through said predetermined communication channel;
• a first output step of outputting information for instructing service providing to said information equipment based on said first information;
• and
• a second output step of outputting bill information for said service providing to the user of said first network.

A program to be executed by an information processing apparatus connected through the internet to a first device having a display unit, the program comprising:

• a transmission step of transmitting contract setting image information for concluding a contract for a second device at the purchase of said second device by the user;
• a reception step of receiving a first ID for specifying a first device having use history information transmitted through said internet and a second ID for specifying said second device;
• a search step of searching first contract information corresponding to the first ID information received by said reception means;
• and
• a generation step of generating second contract information for said second device based on the first contract information searched by said search step.

A program to be executed by an information processing apparatus for generating contract information including charge amount information per print output of an image forming apparatus, the program comprising:

• a reception step of receiving use status information of a first image forming apparatus owned by the user, through a predetermined communication medium;
• a calculation step of calculation a number of points corresponding to said received use status information;
• and
• a calculation step of calculating a charge amount per print output, including a discount amount, of a second image forming apparatus constituting the object of a new contract, according to said number of points.

A program to be executed by an information processing apparatus capable of bidirectional communication with a printing apparatus of the user through a predetermined communication medium, the program comprising:

• a reception step of receiving information indicating the use status of a first printing apparatus through said predetermined communication medium;
• and
• a generation step of generating contract information of a second printing apparatus according to said received use status information of said first printing apparatus;
• wherein said contract information includes information of a charge amount per print output of said printing apparatus, and said charge amount per print output includes a maintenance charge for said printing apparatus.

A program to be executed by an information processing apparatus connected to a second network capable of communication through a predetermined communication channel with a first network to which plural information equipment are connected, the program comprising:

• a reception step of receiving first information on the use status of said information equipment through said predetermined communication channel;
• a first output step of outputting information for instructing service providing to said information equipment based on said first information;
• and
• a second output step of outputting bill information for said service providing to the user of said first network.