Charge settlement device and charge settlement system

A printing charge settlement device having a printing unit and an information reading unit,

• when a printing fee is charged to a user for a print by the printing unit and the user places a contactless storage medium, which stores electronic money information and user identification information for identification of the user, close to the information reading unit, the printing charge settlement device subtracting an amount corresponding to the printing fee from available electronic money represented by the electronic money information for payment of the printing fee,
• the printing charge settlement device comprising:
• a notification unit;
• and
• a system control module that controls the information reading unit and the notification unit,
• when the user places the contactless storage medium close to the information reading unit, the system control module controlling the information reading unit to obtain at least the user identification information from the contactless storage medium,
• the system control module identifying the user based on the obtained user identification information,
• in response to detection of the printing fee charged to the identified user for the print by the printing unit, the system control module controlling the notification unit to keep indication of the user identification information and a payment request, which asks the user to place the contactless storage medium close to the information reading unit for payment, until the user actually places the contactless storage medium close to the information reading unit.

A charge settlement method,

• when a certain fee is charged to a user and the user places a contactless storage medium, which stores electronic money information and user identification information for identification of the user, close to an information reading device, the charge settlement method subtracting an amount corresponding to the certain fee from available electronic money represented by the electronic money information for payment of the certain fee,
• the charge settlement method comprising the steps of:
• (a) when the user places the contactless storage medium close to the information reading device, obtaining at least the user identification information from the contactless storage medium via the information reading device;
• (b) identifying the user based on the obtained user identification information;
• (c) detecting the certain fee charged to the identified user;
• and
• (d) keeping indication of the user identification information and a payment request, which asks the user to place the contactless storage medium close to the information reading device for payment, until the user actually places the contactless storage medium close to the information reading device.

A printing charge settlement method,

• when a printing fee is charged to a user for a print by a printing device and the user places a contactless storage medium, which stores electronic money information and user identification information for identification of the user, close to an information reading device, the printing charge settlement method subtracting an amount corresponding to the printing fee from available electronic money represented by the electronic money information for payment of the printing fee,
• the printing charge settlement method comprising the steps of
• (a) when the user places the contactless storage medium close to the information reading device, obtaining at least the user identification information from the contactless storage medium via the information reading device;
• (b) identifying the user based on the obtained user identification information;
• (c) detecting the printing fee charged to the identified user for the print by the printing device;
• and
• (d) keeping indication of the user identification information and a payment request, which asks the user to place the contactless storage medium close to the information reading device for payment, until the user actually places the contactless storage medium close to the information reading device.

A computer program product,

• when a certain fee is charged to a user and the user places a contactless storage medium, which stores electronic money information and user identification information for identification of the user, close to an information reading device, the computer program product being used to subtract an amount corresponding to the certain fee from available electronic money represented by the electronic money information for payment of the certain fee,
• the computer program product comprising:
• a first program code of, when the user places the contactless storage medium close to the information reading device, obtaining at least the user identification information from the contactless storage medium via the information reading device;
• a second program code of identifying the user based on the obtained user identification information;
• a third program code of detecting the certain fee charged to the identified user;
• a fourth program code of keeping indication of the user identification information and a payment request, which asks the user to place the contactless storage medium close to the information reading device for payment, until the user actually places the contactless storage medium close to the information reading device;
• and
• a computer readable medium that stores the first to fourth program codes.

A computer program product,

• when a printing fee is charged to a user for a print by a printing device and the user places a contactless storage medium, which stores electronic money information and user identification information for identification of the user, close to an information reading device, the computer program product being used to subtract an amount corresponding to the printing fee from available electronic money represented by the electronic money information for payment of the printing fee,
• the computer program product comprising:
• a first program code of, when the user places the contactless storage medium close to the information reading device, obtaining at least the user identification information from the contactless storage medium via the information reading device;
• a second program code of identifying the user based on the obtained user identification information;
• a third program code of detecting the printing fee charged to the identified user for the print by the printing device;
• a fourth program code of keeping indication of the user identification information and a payment request, which asks the user to place the contactless storage medium close to the information reading device for payment, until the user actually places the contactless storage medium close to the information reading device;
• and
• a computer readable medium that stores the first to fourth program codes.