A printing device includes: a communication interface communicable with a server capable of offering a specific printing service under a contract with the printing device; and a controller configured to control transition of an operation mode of the printing device from a non-contract mode without any contract with the server to a contract mode where the printing device is recognized as a contract-covered device eligible for executing specific printing under the contract. In response to receiving a command from the server to execute the transition to the contract mode, the controller is configured to perform: a determination process to determine whether the transition to the contract mode is to be executed; and a mode control process to maintain the non-contract mode without executing the transition to the contract mode against the transition command when the transition to the contract mode is determined not to be executed in the determination process.

A method for billing device usage through a data storage system and aggregation includes: receiving, in a device controller, user credentials for one of a plurality of users; detecting, by the device controller, usage parameters of a hardware device; submitting, by the device controller, a new usage transaction for usage of the hardware device to a data storage system including the user credentials and a usage fee based on the usage parameters; receiving, by an aggregator node, a plurality of usage transactions from the data storage system including the new usage transaction where each usage transaction includes user data and a fee amount; generating, by the aggregator node, an aggregated bill for each of the users including based on the fee amount included in each usage transaction associated with the respective user; and transmitting, by the aggregator node, each aggregated bill to a computing device associated with the respective user.

An image forming device includes a hardware processor that: receives a charging job that is an object of charging; searches for a charging information storage that is around the device when the charging job is received; obtains charging information from the searched charging information storage; carries out a charging process for the charging job based on the charging information; and processes the charging job after the charging process is carried out.

Examples for determining printing device functionality based on consumption and payment are described herein. In some examples, signals indicative of an amount of utilized print consumable by a printing device and signals indicative of payment for the amount of utilized print consumable are received at a computing device. Signals to cause the printing device to alter a functionality based on the signals indicative of an amount of utilized print consumable and the signals indicative of payment for the amount of utilized print consumable are transmitted by the computing device.

An electronic device and an operating method of an electronic device are provided. The operating method includes obtaining first policy information including device information of a first image forming apparatus and information of a payment process with respect to the first image forming apparatus, preparing one or more applications used for driving the first image forming apparatus or used for the payment process, based on the first policy information, receiving a request for a first job of the first image forming apparatus and generating, based on the first policy information, first charging information corresponding to the first job, calling a first application from among the one or more applications used to pay a first payment amount based on the first charging information, and, when the first payment amount is paid via the first application, controlling the first image forming apparatus to perform the first job.

A device for printing information at multiple predetermined positions of a flat object including a registration wall, a print module including print nozzles and a print plate and displaceable along an horizontal axis perpendicular to the registration wall, fixed upper drive members for moving the flat object in a direction of transport along the registration wall, the print plate and the fixed upper drive members together forming an upper reference in a vertical direction, and lower pressing members for pressing the flat object against the upper reference, the device further comprises at least one mobile upper drive member and, for avoiding contact with the flat object immediately after printing, the at least one mobile upper drive member is vertically mobile and configured to be moved from a lower to an upper position above the upper reference when the displaceable print module is positioned along the horizontal axis ahead of the at least one mobile upper drive member in the direction of transport.

An image processing apparatus includes a processor configured to set plural charging destinations for one user, specify, in a case where specific information is included in a target object which is subjected to processing related to a function of the image processing apparatus, the charging destination associated with the specific information, and perform control to notify the specified charging destination of charging information indicating charging.

An image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit, a storage unit, a login state determination unit, and a control unit. The receiving unit receives a facsimile-received document via a network. The storage unit stores the facsimile-received document received by the receiving unit in a reception box. The login state determination unit determines whether a user to be charged is logged in, a user who does not need to be charged is logged in, or no user is logged in. The control unit controls the storage unit to store the facsimile-received document in the reception box instead of outputting the facsimile-received document when the receiving unit receives the facsimile-received document and if the login state determination unit determines that no user is logged in or a user to be charged is logged in.

Disclosed herein are embodiments for operating a retail photo kiosk and establishing a dedicated access for a remote mobile device to the photo kiosk. Certain embodiments of the photo kiosk incorporate anchored connector cables to connect remote mobile devices to the photo kiosk. According to one embodiment, the photo kiosk detects when a remote mobile device is connected to the kiosk via an anchored connector cable. Upon receiving user information, the photo kiosk generates and sends an access message comprising to the connected mobile device. Following the access message, the user may establish dedicated access to the photo kiosk through the mobile device, which allows the user to utilize and leverage photo processing features of the kiosk.

A system includes a processing apparatus and a management server. The processing apparatus includes a first transmission unit configured to transmit information about a state of a consumable item for consumption by the processing apparatus. The management server includes a first generation unit configured to generate a first screen for purchasing the consumable item based on the information transmitted from the processing apparatus about the state of the consumable item, a second transmission unit configured to transmit a request for purchasing the consumable item based on a user instruction designated on the first screen displayed on the processing apparatus, and a second generation unit configured to generate a second screen containing a payment code based on information about the payment code acquired based on the request for purchasing.