JP2012010185A - Image processor management system, image processor management device, and image processor management program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable detailed confirmation of the operating state of a device in an image formation device including a transition function to a power saving state.SOLUTION: An image processor management system comprises: an image formation device 1 including an energy-saving mode function of stopping power supply to a part of the device and a function of storing a history of device operation; and a client terminal 2 networked with the image formation device 1. The image formation device 1 extracts the history of operation relating to the power-saving mode from the history of the device operation and transmits the history to the client terminal 2. The client terminal 2 generates a screen showing the power-saving mode of the image formation device 1 in a predetermined period on the basis of the history of the operation relating to the power saving mode and displays the screen.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus management system, an image processing apparatus management apparatus, and an image processing apparatus management program, and more particularly to management of a power saving state of image processing apparatuses connected via a network.

  In recent years, there has been a tendency to digitize information, and image processing apparatuses such as printers and facsimiles used for outputting digitized information and scanners used for digitizing documents have become indispensable devices. Such an image processing apparatus is often configured as an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) that can be used as a printer, a facsimile, a scanner, and a copier by providing an imaging function, an image forming function, a communication function, and the like. .

  Such various image processing apparatuses are constantly supplied with power so that the user can use the apparatus at the time when the apparatus is desired to be used, and in order to reduce wasteful power consumption, Control is performed to shift to a power-saving state in which supply is stopped. In a network including an image processing device capable of transitioning to such a power saving state, a method has been proposed in which a workstation detects and displays the state of the image processing device to improve user convenience. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In addition, it has been proposed that communication via a network is possible even in a power saving state, thereby enabling confirmation of the state via the network regardless of the state of the image processing apparatus (for example, Patent Document 2).

  In the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is possible to check the current power saving state of the image processing apparatus. In the past, how long the image processing apparatus has been in the power saving state, etc. The past state of the device cannot be grasped in time series. Further, it has not been possible to compare the operation times of the plurality of image processing apparatuses.

  On the other hand, there are cases where companies are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions due to the recent increase in awareness of energy conservation. In this case, in order to determine the target data of greenhouse gas emissions, etc., it is necessary to correlate the greenhouse gas emissions with the operating status of the device, monitor the energy-saving status of the image processing device, and It is necessary to accurately grasp the energy saving time.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable detailed confirmation of the operating state of an apparatus in an image forming apparatus including a function for shifting to a power saving state.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an aspect of the present invention is an image processing apparatus management system that manages an operation state of an image processing apparatus, and transitions to a power saving state by stopping power supply to a part of the apparatus. An image processing apparatus including a function to store and a history of operation of the apparatus in association with date and time information, and an information processing apparatus connected to the image processing apparatus via a network. Power saving operation history information, which is an operation history relating to the power saving state, is extracted from the stored device operation history and transmitted to the information processing device, and the information processing device is based on the power saving operation history information. Generating and displaying a screen showing a transition to the power saving state of the image processing apparatus in a predetermined period.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus including a function of transitioning to a power saving state by stopping power supply to a part of the apparatus and a function of storing a history of apparatus operation in association with date / time information. An image processing apparatus management apparatus for managing an operation state, wherein a power saving operation for acquiring power saving operation history information, which is an operation history related to the power saving state, among apparatus operation histories stored in the image processing apparatus A history information acquisition unit, a screen generation unit that generates a screen indicating a transition to the power saving state of the image processing apparatus in a predetermined period based on the acquired power saving operation history information, and displays the generated screen And a display control unit to be displayed on the screen.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus including a function of shifting to a power saving state by stopping power supply to a part of the apparatus and a function of storing a history of apparatus operation in association with date / time information. An image processing apparatus management program for managing the operation state of the image processing apparatus, the step of obtaining power saving operation history information which is an operation history related to the power saving state among the apparatus operation history stored in the image processing apparatus; Generating a screen indicating a transition to the power saving state of the image processing apparatus in a predetermined period based on the acquired power saving operation history information, and outputting the generated screen for display on a display unit And causing the information processing apparatus to execute the step of performing.

  According to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus including a function for transitioning to a power saving state, it is possible to check in detail the operating state of the apparatus.

It is a figure which shows the operation | use form of the image processing apparatus management system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating hardware configurations of an image forming apparatus and a client terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the log information which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the client terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the image processing apparatus management system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the client terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of GUI of the energy saving log confirmation screen which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of GUI of the energy saving log confirmation screen which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the image processing apparatus management system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of GUI of the energy saving log confirmation screen which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of GUI of the energy saving log confirmation screen which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the client terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation mode of an image processing apparatus management system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, in an image processing apparatus management system according to the present embodiment, an image forming apparatus 1 and a client terminal 2 as image processing apparatuses are connected via a network.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction device that can be used as a printer, a facsimile, a scanner, and a copying machine by including an imaging function, an image forming function, a communication function, and the like. The client terminal 2 is an information processing terminal operated by a user, and is realized by an information processing apparatus such as a PC (Personal Computer).

  Next, the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 and the client terminal 2 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 and the client terminal 2 according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an engine for realizing a scanner, a printer, and the like in addition to the hardware configuration shown in FIG. In the following description, the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described as an example, but the same applies to the client terminal 2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a configuration similar to that of a general server or PC. That is, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 20, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 30, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 40, and an I / F 50. 80 is connected. Further, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 60 and an operation unit 70 are connected to the I / F 50.

  The CPU 10 is a calculation unit and controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 1. The RAM 20 is a volatile storage medium capable of reading and writing information at high speed, and is used as a work area when the CPU 10 processes information. The ROM 30 is a read-only nonvolatile storage medium and stores a program such as firmware. The HDD 40 is a non-volatile storage medium that can read and write information, and stores an OS (Operating System), various control programs, application programs, and the like.

  The I / F 50 connects and controls the bus 80 and various hardware and networks. The LCD 60 is a visual user interface for the user to check the state of the image forming apparatus 1. The operation unit 70 is a user interface for the user to input information to the image forming apparatus 1 such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel.

In such a hardware configuration, a program stored in a storage medium such as the ROM 30, the HDD 40, or an optical disk (not shown) is read into the RAM 20, and the CPU 10
However, the software control unit is configured by operating according to the program. A functional block for realizing the functions of the image forming apparatus 1 and the client terminal 2 according to the present embodiment is configured by a combination of the software control unit configured in this way and hardware.

  Next, the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a controller 100, an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 101, a scanner unit 102, a paper discharge tray 103, a display panel 104, and a paper feed table. 105, a print engine 106, a paper discharge tray 107, and a network I / F 108.

  The controller 100 includes a main control unit 110, an engine control unit 120, an image processing unit 130, an operation display control unit 140, an input / output control unit 150, and a log storage unit 160. As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured as a multifunction machine having a scanner unit 102 and a print engine 106. In FIG. 3, the electrical connection is indicated by a solid arrow, and the flow of a sheet or a document bundle is indicated by a broken arrow.

  The display panel 104 is an output interface that visually displays the state of the image forming apparatus 1, and as a touch panel, when the user directly operates the image forming apparatus 1 or inputs information to the image forming apparatus 1. It is also an input interface (operation unit). The display panel 104 is realized by the LCD 60 and the operation unit 70 shown in FIG.

  The network I / F 108 is an interface for the image forming apparatus 1 to communicate with other devices such as the client terminal 2 via the network, and an Ethernet (registered trademark) or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface is used. The network I / F 108 is realized by the I / F 50 shown in FIG. The network I / F 108 also includes a function as a FAX modem, and also functions as an interface for the image forming apparatus 1 to perform FAX transmission / reception via the network.

  The controller 100 is configured by a combination of software and hardware. Specifically, a program stored in a ROM 30, a nonvolatile memory, and a nonvolatile storage medium such as the HDD 40 or an optical disk is loaded into a volatile memory (hereinafter referred to as a memory) such as the RAM 20, and the CPU 10 operates according to the program. The controller 100 is configured by a software control unit configured as described above and hardware such as an integrated circuit. The controller 100 functions as a control unit that controls the entire image forming apparatus 1.

  The main control unit 110 plays a role of controlling each unit included in the controller 100, and gives a command to each unit of the controller 100. The main control unit 110 controls power supply to each unit of the image forming apparatus 1. In other words, the main control unit 110 detects a part of the controller 100 or the print engine when a condition for transition to the energy saving mode such as when the image forming apparatus 1 does not perform any operation for a predetermined period is satisfied. The power supply to a part of the image forming apparatus 1 such as 106 and the scanner unit 102 is stopped, and the apparatus is put into a power saving state. Furthermore, the main control unit 110 according to the present embodiment includes a function of controlling a plurality of types of power saving states having different ranges in which power supply is stopped, and conditions such as a period during which the image forming apparatus 1 has not performed any operation. Based on the above, a plurality of types of power saving states are switched.

  The engine control unit 120 serves as a driving unit that controls or drives the print engine 106, the scanner unit 102, and the like. The image processing unit 130 generates drawing information based on image information to be printed out under the control of the main control unit 110. The drawing information is information for drawing an image to be formed in the image forming operation by the print engine 106 as an image forming unit. The image processing unit 130 processes image data input from the scanner unit 102 to generate image data. This image data is information stored in the storage area of the image forming apparatus 1 as a result of the scanner operation or transmitted to the client terminal 2 via the network I / F 108.

  The operation display control unit 140 displays information on the display panel 104 or notifies the main control unit 110 of information input via the display panel 104. The input / output control unit 150 inputs information input via the network I / F 108 to the main control unit 110. The main control unit 110 also controls the input / output control unit 150 to access other devices such as the client terminal 2 via the network I / F 108 and the network.

  The log storage unit 160 stores an operation log of the image forming apparatus 1. With reference to FIG. 4, information stored in the log storage unit 160 according to the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the log storage unit 160 according to the present embodiment includes information indicating the operation content of the image forming apparatus 1, a time stamp indicating the date and time when the operation occurred, and identification information identifying each operation. It is associated and remembered.

  Information as shown in FIG. 4 is stored in the log storage unit 160 by the main control unit 110. As described above, the main control unit 110 controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 1. When any operation occurs in the image forming apparatus 1, the main control unit 110 controls the execution of the operation and also displays log information indicating the operation. It is stored in the log storage unit 160 in the format as shown in FIG.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 operates as a printer, first, the input / output control unit 150 receives a print job via the network I / F 108. The input / output control unit 150 transfers the received print job to the main control unit 110. When receiving a print job, the main control unit 110 controls the image processing unit 130 to generate drawing information based on document information or image information included in the print job.

  When drawing information is generated by the image processing unit 130, the engine control unit 120 controls the print engine 106 to form an image on the paper conveyed from the paper feed table 105 based on the generated drawing information. Let it run. As a specific aspect of the print engine 106, an image forming mechanism using an ink jet method, an image forming mechanism using an electrophotographic method, or the like can be used. A document on which image formation has been performed by the print engine 106 is discharged to a discharge tray 107.

  In the case where the image forming apparatus 1 operates as a scanner, the operation display control unit 140 or according to the operation of the display panel 104 by the user or the scan execution instruction input from the external client terminal 2 or the like via the network I / F 108 The input / output control unit 150 transfers a scan execution signal to the main control unit 110. The main control unit 110 controls the engine control unit 120 based on the received scan execution signal.

  The engine control unit 120 drives the ADF 101 and conveys the document to be imaged set on the ADF 101 to the scanner unit 102. In addition, the engine control unit 120 drives the scanner unit 102 and images a document conveyed from the ADF 101. If no original is set on the ADF 101 and the original is set directly on the scanner unit 102, the scanner unit 102 images the set original according to the control of the engine control unit 120. That is, the scanner unit 102 operates as an imaging unit.

  In the imaging operation, an imaging element such as a CCD included in the scanner unit 102 optically scans the document, and imaging information generated based on the optical information is generated. The engine control unit 120 transfers the imaging information generated by the scanner unit 102 to the image processing unit 130. The image processing unit 130 generates image information based on the imaging information received from the engine control unit 120 according to the control of the main control unit 110. Image information generated by the image processing unit 130 is stored in a storage medium attached to the image forming apparatus 1 such as the HDD 40. That is, the scanner unit 102, the engine control unit 120, and the image processing unit 130 work together to function as an image input unit.

  The image information generated by the image processing unit 130 is stored in the HDD 40 or the like as it is according to a user instruction, or is transmitted to an external device such as the client terminal 2 via the input / output control unit 150 and the network I / F 108. .

  Further, when the image forming apparatus 1 operates as a copying machine, the image processing unit 130 generates drawing information based on imaging information received by the engine control unit 120 from the scanner unit 102 or image information generated by the image processing unit 130. To do. Based on the drawing information, the engine control unit 120 drives the print engine 106 as in the case of the printer operation. When the information format of the drawing information and the imaging information is the same, the imaging information can be used as the drawing information as it is.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 operates as a facsimile, first, image information is generated by the image processing unit 130 as in the case of the scanner operation. Then, the main control unit 110 controls the input / output control unit 150 to execute FAX transmission. At the time of FAX transmission, the input / output control unit 150 transmits an image to a designated transmission destination by driving the function of the FAX modem in the network I / F 108 under the control of the main control unit 110.

  Next, the functional configuration of the client terminal 2 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the client terminal 2 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the client terminal 2 according to the present embodiment includes a controller 200 and a network I / F 201 in addition to the LCD 60 and the operation unit 70 described in FIG. 2. The controller 200 includes an application 210, an input / output control unit 220, and a display control unit 230.

  Similar to the image forming apparatus 1, the network I / F 201 is an interface for the client terminal 2 to communicate with other devices such as the image forming apparatus 1 via the network, and is an Ethernet (registered trademark) or USB (Universal Serial). Bus) interface is used.

  Similar to the image forming apparatus 1, the controller 200 is configured by a combination of software and hardware. The application 210 is realized when a software program installed in the client terminal 2 is loaded into the RAM 20 and the CPU 10 operates according to the program. The client terminal 2 manages the energy saving mode of the image forming apparatus 1. Has a function to do. The application 210 generates and outputs a screen for displaying the power saving state of the image forming apparatus 1 in accordance with a user instruction input via the operation unit 70.

  The input / output control unit 220 inputs information input via the network I / F 201 to the application 210. The application 210 also controls the input / output control unit 220 to access other devices such as the image forming apparatus 1 via the network I / F 201 and the network. The display control unit 230 displays a GUI (Graphical User Interface) of the application 210 on the LCD 60 based on the state of the screen output by the application 210.

  Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus management system according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the image processing apparatus management system according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, first, the client terminal 2 inquires of the image forming apparatus 1 whether there is an operation log related to the energy saving mode of the image forming apparatus 1 (hereinafter referred to as “energy saving log”) (S601). . In step S <b> 601, the application 210 generates a confirmation request for an energy saving log using a user operation or a predetermined period of time as a trigger. The input / output control unit 220 transmits the confirmation request for the energy saving log generated by the application 210 to the image forming apparatus 1 via the network I / F 201.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 receives the energy saving log confirmation request from the client terminal 2, the image forming apparatus 1 confirms whether the operation log related to the energy saving mode is stored in the log storage unit 160, and transmits the result to the client terminal 2 to respond ( S602). In step S <b> 602, the main control unit 110 acquires an energy saving log confirmation request via the input / output control unit 150, and searches log information stored in the log storage unit 160. When searching for log information, the main control unit 110 uses “operation content” in the information shown in FIG. 4 as a search key, and an operation log of operation content related to the operation in the energy saving mode such as “start energy saving mode A” and “return”. To extract.

  When the client terminal 2 receiving the response of the image forming apparatus 1 confirms that there is an energy saving log as a result of the response, the client terminal 2 requests the image forming apparatus 1 to transmit the energy saving log (S603). In S <b> 603, the application 210 confirms that there is an energy saving log based on the response result, and generates an energy saving log transmission request. The input / output control unit 220 transmits the energy saving log transmission request generated by the application 210 to the image forming apparatus 1 via the network I / F 201.

  The image forming apparatus 1 that has received the transmission request for the energy saving log extracts the energy saving log from the log storage unit 160 and transmits it to the client terminal 2 (S604). In step S <b> 604, the main control unit 110 obtains an energy saving log transmission request via the input / output control unit 150, extracts the energy saving log from the log information stored in the log storage unit 160, and inputs / outputs the control unit. 150 is transmitted.

  The client terminal 2 that has received the energy saving log from the image forming apparatus 1 generates and displays a log confirmation screen for allowing the user to confirm the log (S605), and ends the process. In step S <b> 605, the application 210 acquires energy saving log information via the input / output control unit 220, and generates a screen on which the state of the image forming apparatus 1 is shown in time series based on the energy saving log information. When the application 210 generates a screen, the display control unit 230 causes the LCD 60 to display the screen.

  Next, the operation of the application 210 of the client terminal 2 in the image processing apparatus management system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the application 210 inquires of the image forming apparatus 1 whether or not there is an energy saving log (S701). When the application 210 obtains a response, the application 210 checks whether there is an energy saving log by referring to the response result ( S702). If there is an energy saving log as a result of the confirmation in S702 (S702 / YES), the application 210 acquires the energy saving log from the image forming apparatus 1 via the input / output control unit 220 (S703). When the acquisition of the energy saving log is completed (S704 / YES), the application 210 generates a log confirmation screen, controls the display control unit 230 to display the log confirmation screen on the LCD 60 (S705), and ends the process.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the GUI of the energy saving log confirmation screen of the application 210 displayed on the LCD 60 of the client terminal 2 as a result of such processing. As shown in FIG. 8, on the energy saving log confirmation screen according to the present embodiment, the operating state of the image forming apparatus 1 is displayed in a time-series band. The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has “energy saving mode A”, “energy saving mode B”, and “operation mode”, and the image forming apparatus 1 is in each mode on the energy saving log confirmation screen. The part of the band corresponding to the selected period is displayed in different colors.

  That is, the application 210 generates the energy saving log confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 8 by arranging the acquired energy saving logs in the order of time stamps, determining the operation mode of each period according to the operation content, and performing color coding. By such display, the user can grasp the operation state of the image forming apparatus 1 in time series.

  In addition, as shown as “time series display” and “total display” in FIG. 8, on the energy saving log confirmation screen, the mode of displaying the operation mode in time series and the mode of displaying in total are switched. Can do. This switching is performed by the user clicking the display portion with a pointing device such as a mouse. FIG. 9 shows a display mode of “total display”.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the “total display” display mode on the energy saving log confirmation screen according to the present embodiment, the ratio of the period of each operation mode is displayed by color coding of the bands. That is, the application 210 generates an energy saving log confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 9 by summing up the periods of the respective operation modes based on the energy saving log and by color-coding them. With such display, the user can grasp the ratio of the operating state of the image forming apparatus 1 in a predetermined period.

  Next, an example will be described in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1 are connected to the network and the energy saving states of the plurality of image forming apparatuses 1 are collectively checked. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the image processing apparatus management system in such a case. As shown in FIG. 10, even when there are a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1, the client terminal 2 executes the same processing as in FIG. 6 for the plurality of image forming apparatuses 1.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of the GUI of the energy saving log confirmation screen displayed on the LCD 60 of the client terminal 2 as a result of the operation shown in FIG. In FIG. 11, a case where the client terminal 2 collects energy saving logs for five image forming apparatuses 1 is taken as an example. As shown in FIG. 11, when displaying energy saving logs for a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1, a band is displayed for each image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 11 shows an example of “total display”. That is, the application 210 generates a band image indicating the state of the apparatus based on the energy saving log acquired for each image forming apparatus 1 as in the case of FIGS.

  Further, when displaying energy saving logs for a plurality of image forming apparatuses 1, it is possible to sort and display the image forming apparatuses 1. In the example of FIG. 11, “Model No.” is selected in the “Sort” column, and the sorted state based on the “Model No.” of each image forming apparatus 1 is shown. FIG. 12 shows a display when another sort criterion is selected in the “sort” column.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an energy saving log confirmation screen when “energy saving mode time descending order” is selected in the “sort” column. As shown in FIG. 12, the total time of the time when each image forming apparatus 1 was in either the energy saving mode A or the energy saving mode B is sorted and displayed in descending order. By such display, the user can grasp the difference in the operation state of the plurality of image forming apparatuses 1.

  Next, the operation of the application 210 when the display is switched as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the application 210 when the display is switched as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 13, when the energy saving log confirmation screen is displayed (S1301), according to the instruction to end the screen by clicking on the portion displayed as “Close” in FIGS. (S1302 / YES) The application 210 ends the energy saving log confirmation screen.

  When a display switching instruction, that is, an instruction to switch between “time series display” and “total display” is input (S1303 / YES) instead of a screen end instruction (S1302 / NO), the instruction is “total display”. If it is a switching instruction to “” (S1304 / YES), the application 210 generates a screen by summing up the periods of each operation mode for each image forming apparatus 1 based on the acquired energy saving log (S1305). ).

  On the other hand, if the instruction is to switch to “time series display” instead of “total display” (S1304 / NO), the application 210 generates each image forming apparatus 1 as in the case of generating a screen as shown in FIG. The energy-saving log confirmation screen is generated by arranging the energy-saving logs for each time stamp in the order of time stamps, determining the operation mode for each period according to the operation content, and performing color coding (S1306). When the processing of either S1305 or S1306 is completed, the application 210 controls the display control unit 230 based on the generated screen to update the display on the LCD 60 (S1307).

  Also, instead of a display switching instruction (S1303 / NO), a sort switching instruction is input (S1308 / YES), and the instruction specifies either “energy saving mode time ascending order” or “energy saving mode time descending order”. If so (S1309), the application 210 calculates the total period of each operation mode for each image forming apparatus 1 based on the acquired energy saving log, and each image forming apparatus 1 according to the total time. A screen is generated by rearranging the bands (S1310). On the other hand, if it is an instruction to designate “model number” (S1309 / NO), the application 210 generates a screen by rearranging the energy saving log bands for each image forming apparatus 1 already displayed according to the model number. (S1311).

  When the process of either S1310 or S1311 is completed, the application 210 updates the display of the LCD 60 by controlling the display control unit 230 based on the generated screen (S1312). By such processing, the operation of the application 210 after the screens as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 are displayed is executed.

  As described above, according to the image processing apparatus management system according to the present embodiment, it is possible to make a detailed check of the operating state of the apparatus in the image forming apparatus including the function of transition to the power saving state. .

  In the above embodiment, the case where the client terminal 2 inquires of the image forming apparatus 1 about the presence or absence of the energy saving log and responds to the image forming apparatus 1 has been described as an example in S601 of FIG. In this case, the image forming apparatus 1 checks whether or not there is an energy saving log that has not been transmitted to the client terminal 2, not whether or not the energy saving log is stored in the log storage unit 160. It is preferable to notify the client terminal 2. Thereby, the amount of information transmitted and received can be reduced and the network load can be reduced. In such an aspect, the log storage unit 160 stores an identifier indicating whether or not the operation log is transmitted to the client terminal 2 in addition to the information shown in FIG. This can be realized by referring to the identifier.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, when the main control part 110 transmitted the energy saving log to the client terminal 2, the case where the operation log was narrowed down based on the “operation content” shown in FIG. 4 was described as an example. In addition, when the operation log is stored in the log storage unit 160, an identifier for extracting the energy saving log may be added. In this case, when extracting the energy saving log, the main control unit 110 can easily extract the energy saving log based on the identifier without searching for “operation content”.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the client terminal 2 requests the image forming apparatus 1 for the energy saving log when the client terminal 2 is instructed to display the energy saving log confirmation screen has been described as an example. In addition, for example, when an operation serving as an energy saving log occurs on the image forming apparatus 1 side, the image forming apparatus 1 may transmit the operation log as an energy saving log to the client terminal 2 each time. In this case, since the processing of S601 to S604 shown in FIG. 6 can be omitted, it is possible to display the screen more quickly in response to the display request for the energy saving log confirmation screen by the user.

  In addition, when the display of the energy saving log confirmation screen is instructed on the client terminal 2 side, the client terminal 2 does not request the energy saving log from the image forming apparatus 1, but the client terminal 2 passes a predetermined period. The energy saving log may be collected from the image forming apparatus 1 each time. Conversely, the image forming apparatus 1 may transmit an unsent energy saving log to the client terminal 2 every time a predetermined period elapses.

1 image forming apparatus,
2 client terminals,
10 CPU,
20 RAM,
30 ROM,
40 HDD,
50 I / F,
60 LCD,
70 operation unit,
80 bus,
100 controller,
101 ADF,
102 scanner unit,
103 Output tray,
104 display panel,
105 paper feed table,
106 print engine,
107 Output tray,
108 Network I / F,
110 Main control unit,
120 engine control unit,
130 image processing unit,
140 operation display controller,
150 I / O control unit,
160 log storage unit,
200 controllers,
201 Network I / F,
210 applications,
220 I / O control unit,
230 Display control unit

JP 2000-66862 A JP 2001-345980 A

Claims (13)

An image processing apparatus management system for managing an operation state of an image processing apparatus,
An image processing apparatus including a function of transitioning to a power saving state by stopping power supply to a part of the apparatus and a function of storing a history of apparatus operation in association with date and time information;
An information processing device connected to the image processing device via a network,
The image processing apparatus extracts power saving operation history information that is an operation history related to the power saving state from the stored apparatus operation history, and transmits the extracted information to the information processing apparatus.
The information processing apparatus generates and displays a screen indicating a transition of the image processing apparatus to a power saving state in a predetermined period based on the power saving operation history information.   The information processing apparatus is configured to store the image processing apparatus in a predetermined period based on a date and time when the image processing apparatus transitioned to the power saving state and a date and time when the image processing apparatus transitioned from the power saving state to the operating state included in the power saving operation history information. The image processing apparatus management system according to claim 1, wherein a screen showing a state in time series is generated and displayed.   The information processing apparatus is configured to save power in a predetermined period based on a date and time when the image processing apparatus transitions to the power saving state and a date and time when the image processing apparatus transitions from a power saving state to an operating state in the power saving operation history information. Calculating the total time during which the image processing apparatus was in operation and the total time during which the image processing apparatus was in operation, and generating a screen showing the ratio of the period between the power saving state and the operation state of the image processing apparatus over a predetermined period. The image processing apparatus management system according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus management system is displayed. The information processing apparatus requests the image forming apparatus for the power saving operation history information according to a user operation,
4. The image processing according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus extracts the power saving operation history information in response to a request for emptying the information processing apparatus and transmits the extracted information to the information processing apparatus. 5. Device management system. The information processing apparatus requests the power-saving operation history information from the image forming apparatus every predetermined period,
5. The image processing according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus extracts the power saving operation history information in response to a request for emptying the information processing apparatus and transmits the information to the information processing apparatus. Device management system.   6. The image processing apparatus management according to claim 1, wherein each time the image forming apparatus executes an operation related to the power saving state, the operation history information is transmitted to the information processing apparatus. system.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus stores the contents of the apparatus operation in association with information on the date and time when the operation is performed, and extracts power saving operation history information based on the contents of the apparatus operation. 7. The image processing apparatus management system according to any one of 6 to 6.   When the image forming apparatus stores the history of the apparatus operation, the image forming apparatus stores the identification information for identifying the operation related to the power saving state, and extracts the power saving operation history information based on the identification information. The image processing apparatus management system according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus management system includes: Including a plurality of the image processing devices;
The information processing apparatus generates and displays a screen indicating a transition to a power saving state of each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses in a predetermined period based on the power saving operation history information acquired from each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses. The image processing apparatus management system according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus management system includes:   The information processing apparatus is configured to save power in a predetermined period based on a date and time when the image processing apparatus transitions to the power saving state and a date and time when the image processing apparatus transitions from a power saving state to an operating state in the power saving operation history information. The total time during which the image processing apparatus is in operation and the total time during which the image processing apparatus is in operation are calculated for each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses, and the power saving state and operation state of the plurality of image processing apparatuses during a predetermined period 10. The display apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a screen in which a plurality of the image forming apparatuses are rearranged in the order of the total value of the power saving state is generated and displayed. Image processing device management system. The image forming apparatus includes a function of transitioning to a plurality of types of power saving states with different portions where power supply is stopped,
2. The information processing apparatus generates and displays a screen indicating a transition to each of a plurality of types of power saving states of the image processing apparatus in a predetermined period based on the power saving operation history information. The image processing apparatus management system according to any one of Items 10 to 10. Image processing apparatus management apparatus for managing an operation state of an image processing apparatus including a function of shifting to a power saving state by stopping power supply to a part of the apparatus and a function of storing a history of apparatus operation in association with date / time information Because
A power-saving operation history information acquisition unit that acquires power-saving operation history information that is a history of operations related to the power-saving state among the history of device operations stored in the image processing device;
A screen generation unit that generates a screen indicating a transition to the power saving state of the image processing apparatus in a predetermined period based on the acquired power saving operation history information;
An image processing apparatus management apparatus, comprising: a display control unit that displays the generated screen on a display unit. Image processing apparatus management program for managing an operation state of an image processing apparatus, including a function of transitioning to a power saving state by stopping power supply to a part of the apparatus and a function of storing a history of apparatus operation in association with date / time information Because
Obtaining power-saving operation history information that is a history of operations related to the power-saving state among device operation history stored in the image processing device;
Generating a screen indicating a transition to the power saving state of the image processing apparatus in a predetermined period based on the acquired power saving operation history information;
An image processing apparatus management program for causing an information processing apparatus to execute an output step for displaying the generated screen on a display unit.

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