Limitations and known issues

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

  • On some devices the copy operation may not stop immediately once the minimal balance has been reached if the user copies an original to multiple copies. The balance is checked only after all the copies are printed out (not after each paper is printed out). (I.e. If a user copies an original to 250 copies it could happen all the copies are printed out even if the user has balance only for 10 copies).
  • When the job is suspended due to insufficient funds, the following behavior 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 wait 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 he quota calculation for the next job is done before the accounting information from the previous job is sent.
    • The suspended jobs can be released on the "Limits" native screen. It is possible to select the suspended job there and re-check the limits. After confirmation, the job is released.
    • A user should not 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 a break of about five seconds between printing the next one to reduce the probability of suspended 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 a print job is calculated from the parser data and the maximum quota is used.

Copy and scan

  • Quotas are calculated according to the reserved amount.
  • The reserved amount depends on the user's current credit balance and the price for an A4 color page:
    • If the user's current credit is higher than the price for 100 A4 color pages, half of the user's current credit is reserved.
    • If the user's current credit is lower than the 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.
    • If the user's credit is lower than the price for 50 A4 color pages, the user's entire credit is reserved.
  • Separate quotas are defined for color/black and white copies.

Devices with OSA lower than 4.0

Print, copy and scan

  • Quotas are calculated according to the reserved amount.
  • The reserved amount depends on the user's current credit balance and the price for an A4 color page:
    • If the user's current credit is higher than the price for 100 A4 color pages, half of the user's current credit is reserved.
    • If the user's current credit is lower than the 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.
    • If the user's credit is lower than the price for 50 A4 color pages, the user's entire credit is reserved.
  • Separate quotas are defined for color/black and white prints, color/black and white copies.

Printing

Secure Print

  • If the user does not have enough balance to print the selected job or 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 is displayed. From this screen, it is possible to delete the suspended job.

Direct Print

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

Copying

  • If the user does not have enough balance to begin copying, a warning message displays informing the user that the limit of pages has been reached and the copy job is denied.
  • If the user reaches the minimal balance while copying, the behavior differs depending on the OSA version.
    • OSA version < 4.0
      • If the user reaches the 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 is displayed. From this screen, it is possible to delete the suspended job.
    • OSA version ≥ 4.0
      • If the user reaches the minimal balance while copying, the copy job is deleted and only pages that were already copied are accounted.

Scanning

  • If the user does not have enough credit to begin scanning,the scan operation is stopped.
  • Sharp devices currently do not allow an ongoing scan operation to be stopped when the minimal balance has been reached.