Method for generating pay-per-page pricing data for managed printer services

A method for generating pay-per-page pricing data for managed computer printer services for a user of at least one printer unit over a time period comprising,

• (a) selecting between first and second pricing models,
• (b) selecting between first and second printing classes,
• (c) establishing a supply cost contribution for the selected class,
• (d) establishing a support cost contribution for the selected class, and
• (e) adding the support cost contribution to the established supply cost contribution to determine the variable cost element of the selected pricing model.

A program storage device readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program, applet or instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for generating pay-per-page pricing data for managed print services for a user of at least one printer unit over a period of time, the method steps comprising,

• (a) electing between first and second pricing models,
• (b) electing between first and second printing classes,
• (c) fixing a toner cost contribution for the selected class,
• (d) fixing a preventative maintenance cost contribution for the selected class, and
• (e) adding the support cost contribution to the toner cost contribution and the maintenance cost contribution to ascertain the variable cost element of the elected price model.

Electrical apparatus for generating an output representing pay-per-page pricing data over a given time period for at least one printer, having a toner carrying cartridge, within a managed print services group of computer printers, comprising,

• a first divider to determine, as a quotient output signal, the number of toner cartridges required for a given time period and having,
• a dividend input terminal for receiving data representing the value of the total number of pages to be processed by the at least one printer over the given time period, and
• a divisor input terminal for receiving data representing the value of the at least one printer's page capacity for a single toner cartridge,
• a multiplier for determining, as a product output signal, the total cost of toner cartridges for the at least on printer over the given time period and having,
• a first factor input terminal connected to the quotient output signal of the first divider, and
• a second factor input terminal for receiving data representing the cost of a single toner cartridge for the at least one printer,
• a second divider for determining, as a quotient signal, the toner cost per page for the at least on printer and having,
• a dividend input terminal for receiving data representing the value of the total number of pages to be processed by the at least one printer over the given time period, and
• a divisor input terminal connected to the product output of the multiplier,
• a summing device for determining, as a sum signal, price-per-page data for the at least one printer and having,
• a first addend input terminal connected to the quotient output signal of the second divider, and
• a second addend input terminal for receiving a signal representative of the printer's preventative maintenance cost per processed page in the at least one printer.