Credit handling on Sharp MFPs

Limitations and known issues

  • The print/copy operation may not stop immediately once the minimal balance is reached. Depending on the device, there can be a small delay that allows the users to overrun their balance by about 4 pages.

  • When the job is suspended due to insufficient funds, the following behaviour differs depending on the supported OSA version.

    • OSA version < 4.0 It is not possible to print, copy or scan on the device, unless the suspended job is manually deleted.

    • OSA version >= 4.0 Suspended scan and copy jobs are automatically deleted; Print jobs are stopped and waiting for user input (retry / delete).

  • On OSA version < 4.0 if more jobs are printed in one batch, it might happen that the following jobs are suspended even though the user has enough credit.

    • The reason for this is that the quota calculation for the next job is done before the accounting information from the previous is sent.

    • The suspended jobs can be released by on the "Limits" native screen, here it is possible to select the suspended job and re-check the limits. After confirmation the job is released.

    • User shouldn’t print multiple jobs in one print batch (print all, print multiple selected jobs) to avoid possible suspended jobs. Jobs should be printed one after another with break taking about 5 seconds between printing next one to reduce probability of suspending jobs.

Quota calculation

  • After user authenticates on the terminal, the terminal checks whether the user has an account in the Payment System. If not, no restrictions are set for the user.

  • If the user has account in the Payment System, users quota are calculated based on users credit.

Devices with OSA 4.0 and higher

Print

The reservation amount for print job is calculated from parser data and maximum quota are used.

Copy & Scan

  • Quotas are calculated according the reserved amount.

  • The reserved amount depends on the user's current credit balance and the price for A4 color page:

    • In case the user's current credit is higher than price for 100 A4 color pages, half of the user's current credit is reserved.

    • In case the user's current credit is lower than price for 100 A4 color pages but higher or equal to the price for 50 A4 color pages, the price for 50 A4 color pages is reserved.

    • In case the user's credit is lower than price for 50 A4 color pages, entire user's credit is reserved.

  • Separate quotas are defined for color/black and white copies.

Devices with OSA lower than 4.0

Print, Copy & Scan

  • Quotas are calculated according the reserved amount.

  • The reserved amount depends on the user's current credit balance and the price for A4 color page:

    • In case the user's current credit is higher than price for 100 A4 color pages, half of the user's current credit is reserved.

    • In case the user's current credit is lower than price for 100 A4 color pages but higher or equal to the price for 50 A4 color pages, the price for 50 A4 color pages is reserved.

    • In case the user's credit is lower than price for 50 A4 color pages, entire user's credit is reserved.

  • Separate quotas are defined for color/black and white prints, color/black and white copies.

Printing

Secure print

  • In case the user does not have enough balance to print the selected job or in case the user reaches the minimum balance when printing, a warning message appears on the terminal informing the user that the job has been suspended.

  • The "Limits" button appears on the screen, this button navigates the user to the native screen, where the suspended job will be displayed. From this screen it is possible to delete the suspended job.

Direct print

  • In case the user does not have enough balance to print the direct print job, the SafeQ application appears with a warning message informing the user that the job has been suspended.

Copying

  • In case the user does not have enough balance to begin copying a warning message is displayed informing the user that the limit of pages has been reached and the copy job is denied.

  • In case the user reaches minimal balance while copying, the behaviour differs depending on the OSA version

    • OSA version < 4.0

      • In case the user reaches minimal balance while copying, the copy job is suspended.

      • The "Limits" button appears on the screen, this button navigates the user to the native screen, where the suspended job will be displayed. From this screen it is possible to deleted the suspended job.

    • OSA version >= 4.0

      • In case the user reaches minimal balance while copying, the copy job is deleted and only pages which were already copied are accounted.

Scanning

  • In case the user does not have enough credit to begin with the scanning, the scan operation is stopped.

  • Sharp devices currently do not allow the ongoing scan operation to be stopped in case the minimal balance is reached.