An information processing apparatus includes a communication interface and a controller. The printing device is configured to print on a printing medium. The controller is configured to perform a service provision process for providing a service utilizing a printing device. The controller is configured to perform the service provision process using individual information of the printing device and contract identification information associated with both the individual information and service information related to provision of the service. The service provision process includes: (a) registering a user in association with contract identification information associated with individual information of a first printing device; and (b) when the first printing device is replaced with a second printing device and the provision of the service is continued utilizing the second printing device, associating individual information of the second printing device with the contract identification information associated with the user registered in the (a) registering.

A printing system includes an acquirer, a comparator, a calculator, and an allocator. The acquirer acquires the number of media printed by a first printing device installed at a first location. The comparator compares the number of printed media acquired by the acquirer with the number of media specified based on a billing amount. The calculator calculates a first number of printable media of the first printing device based on the comparison by the comparator. The allocator allocates at least a part of the first number of printable media calculated by the calculator as a second number of printable media to a second printing device installed at a second location. The second printing device can perform printing as a billing target based on the second number of printable media.

An image forming apparatus includes a main body memory, and a controller. A second upper limit information stored in the main body memory indicates an upper limit of a printable page number that the image forming apparatus is allowed to print in a state where the image forming apparatus is in an off-line state. A printed page number information stored in the main body memory indicates a printed page number printed in the off-line state. The controller is configured to: increment the printed page number information by one in a case where the one sheet of paper is printed on one side printing; and increment the printed page number information by two in a case where the one sheet is printed on double-sided printing. The controller is configured to determine whether the printed page number information is greater than or equal to the second upper limit page number.

An information processing apparatus includes: a processor configured to: in response to acquiring a first identification output from a different information processing apparatus, perform control of execution of a first process; in response to completion of the first process, perform control to cause the different information processing apparatus to output a second identification for executing a second process; and in response to acquiring the second identification output from the different information processing apparatus, perform control of execution of the second process.

Methods and systems for printing on a print device from both authorized users and guest users are disclosed. The methods include configuring the print device to execute document processing jobs from both authorized users and guest users based on a rule set. The method also includes receiving a request to initiate a document processing session on the print device, initiating the kiosk mode session for executing paid document processing jobs by outputting a kiosk mode user interface that is configured to allow the guest user to submit requests for paid document processing jobs, receiving a request for executing a document processing job via the kiosk mode user interface, causing the print device to execute the document processing job, and causing a payment processing service associated with the guest user to render payment for executing the document processing job.

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 printing and copying system is provided that includes a server configured to manage user account information related to a user, and an apparatus connected to the server, the apparatus configured to send a printing request or a copying request to the server. The user account information includes a plurality of wallets associated with the user, and the plurality of wallets each represent funds available to the user. The server is configured to determine whether to authorise the printing request or copying request based on the funds available in the plurality of wallets.

A server may receive, from a terminal device, user identification information and a service request for requesting that provision of the service be started and receive, from a printer, cartridge information indicating a type of a cartridge currently attached in the printer. The server may, in a case where the user identification information and the service request are received from the terminal device and the cartridge information indicates a first type of cartridge supplied with the printer at time of sale of the printer, grant a first benefit to a user identified by the user identification information. In a case where the user identification information and the service request are received from the terminal device and the cartridge information indicates a second type of cartridge that was not supplied with the printer at the time of sale of the printer, the first benefit may not be granted.

An image forming apparatus is used in a post-payment system based on a customer's electronic money, and includes an image forming section, a communication section, and a controller. The image forming section performs a printing operation of forming an image on a sheet. The communication section performs communication so as to acquire settlement information including information that identifies the customer. The controller controls the image forming section and the communication section. As to the printing operation performed after acquisition of the settlement information, the controller settles a printing fee with a discount in a unit price per sheet in a situation where a printed sheet count is a predetermined number or more.

A billing system used together with an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet and discharging the sheet includes: a counting unit for counting, when a print job is interrupted, a billing unit number for a sheet which already has an image formed thereon when the interruption occurs and which has not discharged from the image forming apparatus; a determination unit for determining whether the print job is continued or cancelled after the print job is interrupted; and a billing unit for counting a billing counter corresponding to an amount for which the image forming apparatus is used, and billing a user who uses the image forming apparatus according to the billing counter, wherein the billing unit switches whether the billing counter is counted by using a count result of the counting unit in accordance with a determination result of the determination unit.