(54) IMAGE PRINTING APPARATUS AND PAYMENT METHOD
(75) Inventor: Hiroshi Fukuda, Asaka (JP)
(73) Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
(21) Appl.No.: 10/995,094
(22) Filed: Nov. 24, 2004
(65) Prior Publication Data
US 2005/0117931 Al Jun. 2, 2005
(30) Foreign Application Priority Data
Nov. 28,2003 (JP) 2003-399389
(51) Int. CI.
G03G 21/02 (2006.01)
G03G15/00 (2006.01)
(52) U.S. CI 399/79; 399/80; 399/81
(58) Field of Classification Search 399/79,
399/80, 81
See application file for complete search history.
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
6,574,443 Bl * 6/2003 Butikofer et al 399/79
6,890,690 B2* 5/2005 Wexleretal 430/11
2003/0004834 Al * 1/2003 Yamazaki 705/26
2004/0081300 Al * 4/2004 Takaeetal 379/114.01
2004/0133525 Al* 7/2004 Singh etal 705/77
2004/0249733 Al * 12/2004 Clough et al 705/34
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
JP 11-224285 A 8/1999
JP 2000-268095 A 9/2000
JP 2001-77953 A 3/2001
JP 2001-243383 A 9/2001
JP 2002-32279 A 1/2002
* cited by examiner
Primary Examiner—Timothy J Dole
Assistant Examiner—Amy He
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Sughrue Mion, PLLC
(57) ABSTRACT
The image printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a communications device which communicates data with a service server for providing a chargeable service over a network, a print device which prints an image on a predetermined print medium, a request input device through which a user input a request, a request execution device which uses a chargeable service by communicating data with the service server through the communications device in accordance with a request input through the request input device, obtains an image to be printed, and prints the image on a predetermined print medium by the print device, and a payment device which performs a paying process on separate payees between a printing rate for the image and a use rate for the chargeable service in a charge on the user.
26 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
