Image-forming system, method, server apparatus, and client apparatus

A method comprising:

• causing a database to store history data of one or more jobs executed by an image-forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet;
• controlling, by a server apparatus, execution of a job at the image-forming apparatus or charging to a user of the image-forming apparatus based on an actual number of sheets consumed by the image-forming apparatus calculated based on the history data in the database;
• in a case where a first job executed by the image-forming apparatus has caused a trouble of image-formation, receiving, from the image-forming apparatus or a terminal apparatus utilized by a user of the image-forming apparatus, a modification request for not taking into account at least a sheet affected by the trouble in the actual number, the modification request being transmitted in response to an instruction by the user and including job-related information of the first job;
• and
• in a case where the modification request is received, modifying the history data related to the first job stored in the database.

A server apparatus comprising:

• a communication unit configured to communicate with at least one of an image-forming apparatus that executes a job to form an image on a sheet or a terminal apparatus utilized by a user of the image-forming apparatus;
• a management unit configured to manage a database that stores history data of one or more jobs executed by the image-forming apparatus;
• and
• a control unit configured to control execution of a job at the image-forming apparatus or control charging to a user of the image-forming apparatus based on an actual number of sheets consumed by the image-forming apparatus calculated based on the history data;
• wherein, in a case where a first job executed by the image-forming apparatus has caused a trouble of image-formation, the communication unit is configured to receive, from the image-forming apparatus or the terminal apparatus, a modification request for not taking into account at least a sheet affected by the trouble in the actual number, the modification request being transmitted in response to an instruction by the user;
• the modification request includes job-related information of the first job;
• and
• in a case where the modification request is received by the communication unit, the management unit is configured to modify the history data related to the first job stored in the database.

A client apparatus that is an image-forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet or a terminal apparatus utilized by a user of the image-forming apparatus, the client apparatus comprising:

• a communication unit configured to communicate with a server apparatus that manages, in a database, history data of one or more jobs executed by the image-forming apparatus;
• and
• a control unit configured to control communication with the server apparatus via the communication unit;
• wherein the server apparatus is configured to control execution of a job at the image-forming apparatus or control charging to a user of the image-forming apparatus based on an actual number of sheets consumed by the image-forming apparatus calculated based on the history data;
• and
• in a case where a first job executed by the image-forming apparatus has caused a trouble of image-formation, the control unit is configured to transmit, via the communication unit to the server apparatus and in response to an instruction by a user, a modification request for modifying the database so that at least a sheet affected by the trouble is not taken into account in the actual number, the modification request including job-related information of the first job.