A charging process management system includes image input/output devices which
are connected to a network, each image input/output device having software components
that are charged for service fees. A broker is connected to the image input/output
devices through the network, the broker providing integrated management and services
to the image input/output devices. A service center is connected to the broker
through the network, the service center collecting charging information through
the broker, the charging information being generated according to respective use
conditions of the software components of the image input/output devices. In the
management system, when adding a new image input/output device to the management
system, either the service center or the new image input/output device transmits
a request to the broker, so that software components of the new image input/output
device are registered to the broker as charged objects.