Patents by Inventor Ayaka HOTTA

Ayaka HOTTA has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11962735
    Abstract: A printing system controls a printing member to perform printing based on a print job for which a charged fee is already settled. The printing system receives a first instruction to suspend the printing started by the printing member and suspends the printing started by the printing member in response to reception of the first instruction. The printing system receives a second instruction as to a post suspending process to be executed after the printing is suspended. The printing system performs one of a post fee-settlement process and a restart process, as the post suspending process. The post fee-settlement process is related to provision of a benefit corresponding to refunding at least part of the charged fee. The restart process is to restart the suspended printing to complete the print job after a reason that the first instruction is made is resolved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ayaka Hotta, Shunsuke Minamikawa, Tetsuya Okuno, Haruka Azechi, Yushi Deura
  • Patent number: 11934732
    Abstract: A printing device includes: a printing unit; and a controller. The printing unit is configured to print an image on a print medium. The controller is configured to perform: (a) receiving; (b) transmitting; (c) receiving; and (d) transmitting. The (a) receiving receives a print job from an external device. The (b) receiving receives a print job from an external device. The (b) transmitting transmits the print job to a data processing server. The (c) receiving receives, from the external device, destination information representing a destination of payment information of a fee required for executing the print job with the printing unit. The (d) transmitting transmits the destination information to the data processing server to cause the data processing server to provide the payment information to the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunsuke Minamikawa, Tetsuya Okuno, Haruka Azechi, Ayaka Hotta, Yushi Deura
  • Patent number: 11922086
    Abstract: A printing system includes a printing device and a data processing server. The printing device includes a first controller. The data processing server includes a second controller. The first controller acquires a print job from an external device and transmits the print job to the server. The second controller receives the print job and stores the print job in a server memory. The first controller receives designation of the print job subject to printing and transmits a print request for printing the print job subject to printing to the server. After a fee payment approval to approve a payment for execution of the designated print job is transmitted, the second controller transmits to the printing device the print job. The first controller receives the print job and performs printing the print job on a print medium by controlling a printing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunsuke Minamikawa, Tetsuya Okuno, Haruka Azechi, Ayaka Hotta, Yushi Deura
  • Patent number: 11882256
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a controller. The controller receives a first e-mail from an external device. The first e-mail has a print file attached thereto and is addressed to a device e-mail address assigned to a printing device. The controller determines a fee to be charged for image formation based on the attached print file. The controller generates a second e-mail including: a first amount that is the amount of the determined fee; and a first URL for a payment page for paying the first amount. The controller transmits the generated second e-mail to the external device in reply to the received first e-mail. After payment of the first amount is completed through access to the first URL included in the transmitted second e-mail, the controller transmits to the external device either print data based on the print file or storage destination information for the print data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yushi Deura, Shunsuke Minamikawa, Tetsuya Okuno, Haruka Azechi, Ayaka Hotta
  • Patent number: 11831838
    Abstract: A printing system includes: a printing device; and a data processing server. A first controller of the printing device is configured to perform: a reading process to read a reading target to generate image data; a determination process to determine whether to transmit the image data to the data processing server according to at least one of available capacity information and capacity-related information; and a data transmission process to transmit the image data to the data processing server. A second controller of the data processing server is configured to perform: a payment-related process related to a fee payment for printing based on the image data. The first controller is configured to further perform, after the fee payment is completed: an acquisition process to acquire print data corresponding to the image data; and a printing process to form an image corresponding to the print data on a printing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ayaka Hotta, Haruka Azechi, Shunsuke Minamikawa, Tetsuya Okuno, Yushi Deura
  • Publication number: 20230308587
    Abstract: A printing system includes a print engine, and one or more controllers configured to perform a data obtaining process of obtaining print data, a print controlling process of controlling the print engine to print an image corresponding to the print data on a printing medium based on a print setting value, and a fee determining process of determining a fee corresponding to a plurality of the print setting values to be applied when the print engine prints the image on the printing medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Haruka AZECHI, Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA, Tetsuya OKUNO, Ayaka HOTTA, Yushi DEURA
  • Publication number: 20230308588
    Abstract: A printing system comprises a print engine and one or more controllers. The one or more controllers perform a data obtaining process of obtaining print data, a print controlling process of controlling the print engine to print an image based on a print setting value, a fee determining process of determining a fee to be charged when printing the image, and a setting value changing process of changing the print setting value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Haruka AZECHI, Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA, Tetsuya OKUNO, Ayaka HOTTA, Yushi DEURA
  • Publication number: 20230289117
    Abstract: In a server system, the computer stores in the printer a usable print quantity in association with a printer in response to an increase request from an external device. The increase request is a request to store an increased quantity as the usable print quantity. The usable print quantity indicates one of the number of sheets and an amount of colorant which are usable for printing in the printer. The computer determines, after a communication interface is disconnected from the printer, whether a reconnection is established between the communication interface and the printer. The computer determines, when the reconnection is determined to be established, whether the usable print quantity has been reflected in data in the printer. The computer sends to the printer, when the usable print quantity is determined not to have been reflected in any data in the printer, a reflecting instruction to reflect the usable print quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki KITAHASHI, Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA, Taichiro KIMOTO, Yushi DEURA, Ayaka HOTTA
  • Publication number: 20230202217
    Abstract: An image forming device performs image formation on a medium selected by a computer. When a cutting device is unusable, a long sheet-type medium accommodated in a first medium container is unusable. However, a conveyance passage used for conveying a short sheet-type medium is usable in at least one of a first state where the cutting device is unusable or a second state where the sheet-type medium is unable to pass through the cutting device. A necessary condition to make both the long sheet-type medium and the short sheet-type medium selectable includes the detector detecting neither the first status nor the second status. A necessary condition to make the long sheet-type medium unselectable and make the short sheet-type medium selectable includes the detector detecting one of the first status and the second status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Masashi OHHASHI, Satoru ARAKANE, Koichi TSUGIMURA, Haruka AZECHI, Yasuhiro NAKANO, Ayaka HOTTA
  • Patent number: 11619899
    Abstract: A printer includes: an installation case to which a cartridge having a first memory is installed, a printing unit which performs printing by using a print material supplied from the cartridge, a sensor which outputs a detection value according to an amount of the print material stored in the cartridge, a cartridge interface communicable with the first memory, a second memory, and a controller. The first memory stores cartridge information including: cartridge identification information and residual amount information according to the amount of the print material stored in the cartridge. The controller acquires the cartridge identification information and the residual amount information from the first memory, stores history information in the second memory, and updates the residual amount information of the history information based on information according to the amount of the print material discharged by the printing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobumasa Tanaka, Tetsunori Mori, Ayaka Hotta
  • Publication number: 20230031029
    Abstract: A printing system controls a printing member to perform printing based on a print job for which a charged fee is already settled. The printing system receives a first instruction to suspend the printing started by the printing member and suspends the printing started by the printing member in response to reception of the first instruction. The printing system receives a second instruction as to a post suspending process to be executed after the printing is suspended. The printing system performs one of a post fee-settlement process and a restart process, as the post suspending process. The post fee-settlement process is related to provision of a benefit corresponding to refunding at least part of the charged fee. The restart process is to restart the suspended printing to complete the print job after a reason that the first instruction is made is resolved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ayaka HOTTA, Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA, Tetsuya OKUNO, Haruka AZECHI, Yushi DEURA
  • Publication number: 20230029123
    Abstract: A printing device includes: a printing unit; and a controller. The printing unit is configured to print an image on a print medium. The controller is configured to perform: (a) receiving; (b) transmitting; (c) receiving; and (d) transmitting. The (a) receiving receives a print job from an external device. The (b) receiving receives a print job from an external device. The (b) transmitting transmits the print job to a data processing server. The (c) receiving receives, from the external device, destination information representing a destination of payment information of a fee required for executing the print job with the printing unit. The (d) transmitting transmits the destination information to the data processing server to cause the data processing server to provide the payment information to the external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA, Tetsuya OKUNO, Haruka AZECHI, Ayaka HOTTA, Yushi DEURA
  • Publication number: 20230025765
    Abstract: A printing device includes a controller configured to perform: (a) storing identification information and transmission address information in association with each other; (b) acquiring, in response to receiving a print job together with the identification information from an external device, the transmission address information stored in association with the identification information in the (a) storing on the basis of the received identification information; and (c) transmitting the transmission address information acquired in the (b) acquiring to a data processing server so that payment process information is transmitted to a transmission address corresponding to the transmission address information, the payment process information being information to pay a fee charged for performing printing based on the received print job.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA, Tetsuya OKUNO, Haruka AZECHI, Ayaka HOTTA, Yushi DEURA
  • Publication number: 20230020402
    Abstract: A printing system includes a printing mechanism. The printing mechanism is configured to perform printing. The printing system stores a plurality of print jobs in a storage, and receives selections of two or more print jobs to be executed as two or more target jobs from among the plurality of print jobs stored in the storage. The printing system determines a total fee to be charged for executing the two or more target jobs, and performs a settlement related process related to settlement of the determined total fee. The printing system executes the two or more target jobs to print images by using the printing mechanism in response to completion of settlement of the total fee.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA, Haruka AZECHI, Yushi DEURA, Tetsuya OKUNO, Ayaka HOTTA
  • Publication number: 20230014463
    Abstract: A printing system includes: a printer including a controller; and a contract processing server. The controller is configured to perform: determining, in response to receiving from an external device a print job including print data representing an image, whether authority information indicating an authority to print the image has been issued; and transmitting, in response to determining that the authority information has been issued, to the contract processing server an inquiry for determining whether the authority information is valid. The contract processing server is configured to perform: transmitting, in response to receiving the inquiry, a response to the controller. The controller is configured to further perform: determining, in response to receiving the response, whether the authority information is valid on the basis of the received response; and printing, in response to determining that the authority information is valid, the image on a print medium by controlling the printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya OKUNO, Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA, Haruka AZECHI, Ayaka HOTTA, Yushi DEURA
  • Publication number: 20230014099
    Abstract: A printing system includes a printing device and a data processing server. The printing device includes a first controller. The data processing server includes a second controller. The first controller acquires a print job from an external device and transmits the print job to the server. The second controller receives the print job and stores the print job in a server memory. The first controller receives designation of the print job subject to printing and transmits a print request for printing the print job subject to printing to the server. After a fee payment approval to approve a payment for execution of the designated print job is transmitted, the second controller transmits to the printing device the print job. The first controller receives the print job and performs printing the print job on a print medium by controlling a printing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA, Tetsuya OKUNO, Haruka AZECHI, Ayaka HOTTA, Yushi DEURA
  • Publication number: 20230016418
    Abstract: A printing system includes: a printing device; and a data processing server. A first controller of the printing device is configured to perform: a reading process to read a reading target to generate image data; and a data transmission process to transmit the image data to the data processing server. A second controller of the data processing server is configured to perform: a data receiving process to receive the image data; a fee calculation process to calculate a fee to be charged for forming an image based on the image data; and a payment-related process related to a payment of the fee. The first controller is configured to further perform: an acquisition process to acquire print data corresponding to the image data after the payment of the fee is completed; and a printing process to form the image corresponding to the print data on a printing medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ayaka HOTTA, Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA, Haruka AZECHI, Tetsuya OKUNO, Yushi DEURA
  • Publication number: 20230014162
    Abstract: A printing system includes: a printing device; and a data processing server. A first controller of the printing device is configured to perform: a reading process to read a reading target to generate image data; a determination process to determine whether to transmit the image data to the data processing server according to at least one of available capacity information and capacity-related information; and a data transmission process to transmit the image data to the data processing server. A second controller of the data processing server is configured to perform: a payment-related process related to a fee payment for printing based on the image data. The first controller is configured to further perform, after the fee payment is completed: an acquisition process to acquire print data corresponding to the image data; and a printing process to form an image corresponding to the print data on a printing medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ayaka HOTTA, Haruka AZECHI, Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA, Tetsuya OKUNO, Yushi DEURA
  • Publication number: 20230012082
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a controller. The controller receives a first e-mail from an external device. The first e-mail has a print file attached thereto and is addressed to a device e-mail address assigned to a printing device. The controller determines a fee to be charged for image formation based on the attached print file. The controller generates a second e-mail including: a first amount that is the amount of the determined fee; and a first URL for a payment page for paying the first amount. The controller transmits the generated second e-mail to the external device in reply to the received first e-mail. After payment of the first amount is completed through access to the first URL included in the transmitted second e-mail, the controller transmits to the external device either print data based on the print file or storage destination information for the print data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yushi DEURA, Shunsuke MINAMIKAWA, Tetsuya OKUNO, Haruka AZECHI, Ayaka HOTTA
  • Publication number: 20210302888
    Abstract: A printer includes: an installation case to which a cartridge having a first memory is installed, a printing unit which performs printing by using a print material supplied from the cartridge, a sensor which outputs a detection value according to an amount of the print material stored in the cartridge, a cartridge interface communicable with the first memory, a second memory, and a controller. The first memory stores cartridge information including: cartridge identification information and residual amount information according to the amount of the print material stored in the cartridge. The controller acquires the cartridge identification information and the residual amount information from the first memory, stores history information in the second memory, and updates the residual amount information of the history information based on information according to the amount of the print material discharged by the printing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobumasa TANAKA, Tetsunori MORI, Ayaka HOTTA