Printing system that can identify printing cost beforehand
AssigneeMinolta Co., Ltd.
InventorsSyuji Maruta, Yoshikazu Ikenoue, Eiko Hirano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A printing system includes an input unit for entering a printing job, a calculator for calculating copying cost according to the input printing job, a display for displaying the calculated copying cost, and a controller for allowing modification of a displayed printing job, and permitting a printing operation after confirming that there is no modification in the displayed printing job. The cost of a desired printing job can be displayed prior to a print out operation, so that modification of the printing mode is allowed. Since a print out operation is permitted after confirming the display of the copying cost, the expense required for printing can be identified in advance.
Claims28
A printing system comprising:
- input means for entering a print job,
- calculation means for calculating printing cost according to said input print job,
- display means for displaying the calculated printing cost prior to execution of the print job, and
- control means for allowing modification of the print job after the calculated printing cost is displayed, and permitting a printing operation after confirming that there is no modification in the print job.
A printing system comprising:
- a user side data processor transmitting a data file that a user wishes to print out;
- a center side data processor connected to said user side data processor by a communication line, and having a memory device for storing the data file transmitted from said user side data processor;
- and
- a printer connected to said center side data processor for printing out the data file transmitted from said center side data processor, wherein
- said printer includes first printing cost information transmission means for calculating printing cost information, which is information of cost corresponding to execution of printing out said data file, and transmitting the calculated printing cost information to said center side data processor prior to execution of printing out said data file, and
- said center side data processor includes second printing cost information transmission means for transmitting the calculated printing cost information received from said printer to said user side data processor, also prior to execution of printing out said data file.
A printing system employing a communication line, comprising:
- a user side data processor for transmitting a data file that a user wishes to print out;
- a center side data processor connected to said user side data processor by the communication line, and having a memory device for storing the data file transmitted from said user side data processor;
- and
- a printer connected to said center side data processor for printing out the data file transmitted from said center side data processor, wherein
- said center side data processor includes printing cost calculating means for calculating printing cost information, which is information of the cost corresponding to execution of printing out said data file, prior to execution of printing out said data file, and
- printing cost information transmission means for transmitting the calculated printing cost information to said user side data processor, also prior to execution of printing out said data file.
A printing method comprising the steps of:
- entering a print job,
- calculating printing cost according to said input print job,
- displaying the calculated printing cost prior to execution of the print job, and
- allowing modification of the print job after the calculated printing cost is displayed, and permitting a printing operation after confirming that there is no modification in the print job.
A printing method for a client processor, a central processor and a printer connected together via a communication line and used in a client-server type network system, comprising the steps of:
- transmitting data to be printed from the client processor to the central processor via the communication line;
- storing the data to be printed in the central processor and calculating a cost required for printing the data to be printed;
- transmitting the calculated cost to the client processor prior to printing the data to be printed.
A printing method for a client processor, a central processor and a printer connected together via a communication line and used in a client-server type network system, comprising the steps of:
- transmitting data to be printed from the client processor to the central processor via the communication line;
- storing the data to be printed in the central processor and transmitting the data from the central processor to the printer via the communication line;
- storing the data transmitted from the client processor in the printer;
- calculating the cost required for printing the data to be printed stored in said printer;
- and
- transmitting the calculated cost to the central processor and from the central processor to the client processor prior to printing the data to be printed.
A computer program product for a client-server type printing system network including a client processor, a central processor and a printer connected together via a communication line including, said computer program product having a computer readable medium with computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling said printing system to:
- transmit data to be printed from the client processor to the central processor via the communication line;
- store the data to be printed in the central processor and transmit the data from the central processor to the printer via the communication line;
- store the data transmitted from the client processor in the printer;
- calculate a cost required for printing the data to be printed, stored in said printer;
- and
- transmit the calculated cost to the client processor prior to printing the data to be printed.
A computer program product for a client-server type printing system network including a user processor, a central processor and a printer connected together via a communication line including, said computer program product having a computer readable medium with computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling said printing system to:
- transmit data to be printed from the client processor to the central processor via the communication line;
- store the data to be printed in the central processor and calculate a cost required for printing the data to be printed;
- and
- transmit the calculated cost to the client processor prior to printing the data to be printed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.