Systems and methods for detecting customer cost/contract avoidance in operation of image forming devices

摘要

A system and method are provided for methods for automatically detecting certain incidents in which customers attempt to circumvent costs associated with their managed service contracts for operations of image forming devices. Current monitoring capacities associated with fielded image forming devices are expanded to provide device manufacturers or suppliers with an opportunity to detect attempts at customer cost avoidance through printing on larger paper sizes. User actions that contravene certain requirements of the managed service agreement are detected. At a point of detection, the user is provided with certain alternatives for remediation or contract compliance. These alternatives include, but are not limited to, offering the user the opportunity to cancel the print job, print the print job on “right” sized paper, or otherwise to accept a calculation of the actual printing costs involved in, for example, printing two pages on a single larger sheet, when detected.

主权项

1. A method for identifying print command discrepancies, comprising:
receiving, by a processor, from an image data source a print command for image forming operations to be performed in an image forming device; comparing, with the processor, a commanded image arrangement in the print command with a paper size commanded by the print command to determine an existence of a discrepancy; determining if the discrepancy includes a multi-page image per sheet output request; providing an executable remediation option to modify the print command when the existence of the discrepancy with the multi-page image per sheet output request is determined; executing a received executable remediation selection; revising the print command to a modified print command based on the received executable remediation selection; and directing, with the processor, the image forming operations in the image forming device according to the modified print command.