Print processing apparatus and method

A print processing apparatus comprising:

• a data-to-be-printed storage unit that stores data to be printed;
• a data-to-be-printed reading unit that reads the data to be printed from the data-to-be-printed storage unit based on a print instruction;
• a restriction setting unit that sets restriction settings to restrict billing amount for a print service for printing the data to be printed read by the data-to-be-printed reading unit;
• a data-to-be-printed processing unit that processes the data to be printed, the process modifying the data to be printed into a plurality of print data according to a plurality of algorithms, such that the each of the plurality of print data, when charged for, do not exceed the restricted billing amount;
• a sample image forming unit that forms a plurality of sample images including print images of respective pages based on the plurality of print data processed by the data-to-be-printed processing unit;
• a sample image display control unit that displays and controls on a display the plurality of sample images formed by the sample image forming unit;
• a sample image selecting unit that selects one of the plurality of sample images displayed and controlled on the display by the sample image display control unit;
• a print service fee settlement processing unit that performs settlement processing of a print service fee charged for the print data corresponding to the sample image selected by the sample image selecting unit;
• and
• a print control unit that transmits the print data corresponding to the sample image selected by the sample image selecting unit to a print processing unit and performs print control after completing the settlement processing by the print service fee settlement processing unit.

A print processing method comprising:

• reading data to be printed from a data-to-be-printed storage unit that stores data to be printed based on a print instruction;
• setting restriction settings to restrict a print service fee to be charged for printing the data to be printed thus read;
• processing the data to be printed by modifying the data to be printed thus read into print data according to an algorithm, such that the print data, when charged for, does not exceed the restricted print service fee;
• performing settlement processing of a print service fee charged for the print data;
• and
• transmitting the print data to a print processing unit and performing print control after completing the settlement processing.

A print processing method comprising:

• reading data to be printed from a data-to-be-printed storage unit that stores data to be printed based on a print instruction;
• setting restriction settings to restrict a print service fee to be charged for printing the data to be printed thus read;
• processing the data to be printed by modifying the data to be printed thus read into a plurality of print data according to a plurality of algorithms, such that the each of the plurality of print data, when charged for, do not exceed the restricted print service fee;
• forming a plurality of sample images including print image of respective pages based on the plurality of print data;
• displaying and controlling on a display the plurality of sample images;
• selecting one of the plurality of sample images displayed and controlled on the display;
• performing settlement processing of a print service fee charged for print data corresponding to the selected sample image;
• and
• transmitting the print data corresponding to the selected sample image to a print processing unit and performing print control after completing the settlement.