METHOD FOR LIMITING USE OF IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To change a usable amount of an image forming apparatus without causing a user inconvenience.

SOLUTION: A server 2 is provided with: a whole counter storage part 212 for storing a usable amount which is the use amount of an image forming apparatus, which is permitted to a group to which a plurality of users belong; a counter value updating part 208 for changing the usable amount; a usable amount allocation part 205 for allocating a part of the usable amount of a group to which a user belongs to the image forming apparatus which is used by the user as an allocated usable amount; and a remaining use-permitted amount receiving part 207 for receiving the return of an unconsumed usable amount which is a difference between the allocated usable amount allocated to the image forming apparatus and a used amount of the image forming apparatus used by the user from the image forming apparatus. The counter value updating part 208 does not change the usable amount when the unconsumed usable amount in the allocated usable amount is not returned yet from one of the image forming apparatuses that the allocated usable amount concerning the usable amount is allocated.

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