Point bank system

Abstract

A maintenance management side manages machine information and the installed number of machines such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile, a digital multi-functional apparatus, and a scanner, and exchanges the usage number for each machine for a point value, based on the machine information and the installed number of machines. A service is provided to the user based on the point value. In addition, the service to the user can be utilized through each machine provided at the user side.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A point bank system, comprising:
 an obtaining part that obtains a first usage amount of a device from the device,   a calculation part that calculates a first point associated with a user based on the first usage amount,   a storage part that stores a second point associated with a service to be provided,   a determination part that determines, for the user, possible services to be provided based on the first point and the second point,   a sending part that sends the possible services to be provided by the first point of the user identified by first identification information, and   a service providing part that provides one or more services when receiving a request to provide the one or more services of the possible services sent by the sending part.   
     
     
         3 . The point bank system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the obtaining part obtains a second usage amount associated with the device, and   the calculation part calculates a first point associated with a service based on the first usage amount and the second usage amount.   
     
     
         4 . The point bank system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the storage part stores contract information for the user, and   the calculation part calculates a first point associated with a user based on the contract information stored for the user in the storage part and the first usage amount.   
     
     
         5 . The point bank system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the service providing part sends software to the device identified by the second identification information when receiving the request to provide a service which provides software and the second identification information.   
     
     
         6 . The point bank system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the storage part stores the first point associated with a user which is calculated by the calculation part,   the determination part determines the possible services to provide for the user based on the first point for the user which is stored in the storage part and the second point for the services to be provided, and   the calculation part deducts a point corresponding to the one or more services from the second point stored in the storage part when the one or more services are provided by the service providing part.   
     
     
         7 . The point bank system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more services provided by the service providing part comprise at least one of a discount of a maintenance management charge, free maintenance management, and an article of consumption.   
     
     
         8 . A point bank system, comprising:
 a storage part that stores a first point associated with a service to be provided and that records a group comprising multiple users,   an obtaining part that obtains a first usage amount of a device from the device,   a calculation part that calculate a second point of the group based on the first usage amount,   a determination part that determines possible services to provide to the group based on the second point and the first point,   a sending part that sends the possible services to provide by the second point of the group to which the user belongs, the user identified by first identification information received from outside, and   a service providing part that provides one or more services when receiving a request of providing the one or more services of the possible services which the sending part sent.   
     
     
         9 . The point bank system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the obtaining part obtains a second usage amount associated with the device, and   the calculation part calculates the second point of the group based on the first usage amount and the second usage amount.   
     
     
         10 . The point bank system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the storage part stores contract information for each of the groups, and   the calculation part calculates the second point for each of the groups based on the contract information stored for each of the groups in the storage part and the first usage amount.   
     
     
         11 . The point bank system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the storage part stores the second point of the group calculated by the calculation part,   the determination part determines the possible services provided by the second point of the group to which the user belongs, the user identified by the first identification information, based on the second point of the group which is stored in the storage part and the first point for each of the services to be provided, and   the calculation part deducts a point corresponding to the one or more services from the first point stored in the storage part when the one or more services are provided by the service providing part.   
     
     
         12 . A point bank method, comprising:
 obtaining a first usage amount of a device from the device,   calculating a first point associated with a user based on the first usage amount,   storing a second point associated with a service to be provided,   determining, for the user, possible services to be provided based on the first point and the second point,   sending the possible services to be provided by the first point of the user identified by first identification information, and   providing one or more services when receiving a request to provide the one or more services of the possible services.   
     
     
         13 . The point bank method of  claim 12 , comprising:
 obtaining a second usage amount associated with the device, and   calculating a first point associated with a service based on the first usage amount and the second usage amount.   
     
     
         14 . The point bank method of  claim 12 , comprising
 storing contract information for the user, and   calculating a first point associated with a user based on the contract information stored for the user and the first usage amount.   
     
     
         15 . The point bank method of  claim 12 , comprising:
 sending software to the device identified by the second identification information when receiving the request to provide a service which provides software and the second identification information.   
     
     
         16 . The point bank method of  claim 12 , comprising:
 storing the first point associated with a user which is calculated by the calculation part,   determining the possible services to provide for the user based on the first point for the user and the second point for the services to be provided, and   deducting a point corresponding to the one or more services from the second point when the one or more services are provided.   
     
     
         17 . The point bank method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the one or more services comprise at least one of a discount of a maintenance management charge, free maintenance management, and an article of consumption.