JP7040034B2 - Information processing equipment and image forming equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device and an image forming device.

In the technical field aimed at reducing the power consumption of devices connected to the network, it has two CPUs, a main and a sub, and when the device is in an energy-saving state, the main CPU, which consumes a relatively large amount of power, is stopped. , A technique for reducing power consumption by processing network packets with a sub CPU having relatively low power consumption is already known. Further, in order to reduce power consumption, a technique for maintaining an energy-saving state by increasing the number of packets that can be handled by the sub CPU, that is, keeping the main CPU stopped (for example, Patent Document) is already known. 1).

However, there are many types of methods for registering information on SNMP (Simple network management protocol) packets (Object ID (OID) and response data of MIB (Management Information Base)) in the memory accessed by the sub CPU so far. When registering the packet information to be performed, it is difficult to register the information of all the packets because the memory, cost and power consumption increase. In the technique shown in the reference, in response to the problem of the conventional technique that the main CPU is started when a packet that cannot be handled by the sub CPU is received, the packet information that cannot be responded even if the main CPU is started is previously transmitted from the sub CPU. By registering in an accessible memory, if a packet that cannot be responded to is included in the packet received during the energy saving state in which only the sub CPU is running, the response cannot be made without starting the main CPU. It is characterized by replying to the sender to that effect. However, the packets that can be handled by the sub CPU depend on the packet information registered in the memory, and in a network environment where packets that are not registered in the memory are received frequently, the energy saving state is maintained. There was a problem that the power consumption was high because it could not be done.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the power consumption of a device connected to a network in any network environment.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, the information processing apparatus receives the packet via the network, and the communication unit that transmits the response to the packet via the network, and the number of times the packet is received based on the ID that identifies the packet. A measurement unit that measures and calculates the packet reception frequency in a predetermined period and groups the packets based on the reception frequency, a storage unit that stores the response to the packet for each group, and the reception frequency is high. A control unit that sequentially determines whether or not the response to all the packets in the group is stored, and shifts from the normal state to the energy-saving state that enables the response for the group in which the response to all the packets is stored. Has.

In any network environment, the power consumption of devices connected to the network can be reduced.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the information processing system in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware configuration example (1) of the information processing apparatus 100 in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware configuration example (2) of the information processing apparatus 100 in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware configuration example (3) of the information processing apparatus 100 in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the functional structure example of the controller unit 130 in embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the example of the procedure which responds to a packet in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the procedure which responds to a packet in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating OID and grouping of a packet in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the state transition of the information processing apparatus 100 in embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the example of the procedure which stores the packet information in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the procedure which responds to a packet in the energy saving state in embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, in the information processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention, for example, devices such as a plurality of image forming devices 1, 4, 5, and a plurality of PCs (Personal Computers) 2, 3 are connected to a network. It is a system that has been. In the network to which the information processing system is connected, network management such as monitoring the device status is performed using SNMP packets. The "information processing device 100" described below may be any device as long as it is a device that responds to the SNMP packet, and may be any device such as the image forming devices 1, 4, 5, or PCs 2, 3. The SNMP packet is an example, and any protocol may be used as long as it is a packet that requests a response via a network.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration example (1) of the information processing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 100 includes an engine unit 110, an operation display unit 120, and a controller unit 130.

When the information processing device 100 is an image forming device, the engine unit 110 includes a control IC, a scanner unit, a plotter unit, and the like, and has a function of forming an image. When the information processing device 100 is another device, the engine unit 110 may have other functions, or the engine unit 110 may not be included in the information processing device 100.

The operation display unit 120 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a touch panel, operation keys, and the like, and has a function of realizing a user interface.

The controller unit 130 includes a main CPU 131, a sub CPU 132, a memory (RAM) 133, a memory (ROM) 134, a memory 135, and a PHY 136.

The main CPU 131 controls to realize the function of the engine unit 110. The sub CPU 132 is a simpler processor than the main CPU 131, and monitors the network response and the recovery factor from the energy saving state when the information processing apparatus 100 shifts to the energy saving state in which the power consumption is low.

The memory (RAM) 133 is a storage device having a high processing speed, and is used for network processing that needs to be performed at a high speed. The memory (ROM) 134 is a non-volatile storage device having a large capacity, and is used for storing information on packets received from the network. The memory 135 may be a RAM or a ROM.

Here, the memory (ROM) 134 may be configured on a cloud connected via a network. By configuring the memory on the cloud, the information processing apparatus 100 can increase the capacity of the packet information that can be stored.

The PHY 136 is hardware that executes communication with the network. The PHY 136 may be, for example, an interface of a wired LAN (Local Area Network) or an interface of a wireless LAN.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration example (2) of the information processing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the information processing apparatus 100 may have a configuration that does not include the sub CPU 132 in the hardware configuration shown in FIG. The main CPU 131 shown in FIG. 3 is a CPU capable of independently controlling power consumption in multiple stages.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration example (3) of the information processing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the information processing apparatus 100 may include the sub CPU 137 in addition to the sub CPU 132 in the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 2. The sub CPU 132 and the CPU 137 shown in FIG. 4 are CPUs having different power consumption and processing capacity. The sub CPU 137 may be a CPU that consumes less power than the sub CPU 132.

Further, the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 3 may be combined with the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. For example, the information processing apparatus 100 may have a hardware configuration in which a main CPU 131 capable of controlling power consumption in multiple stages and a sub CPU 132 and a sub CPU 137 are combined.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a functional configuration example of the controller unit 130 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the controller unit 130 includes a system control unit 11, a processing memory control unit 12, a storage memory control unit 13, and a network control unit 14.

The system control unit 11 has a function of controlling the entire controller unit 130, the processing memory control unit 12, the storage memory control unit 13, and the network control unit 14. Each of these functional units may be realized by a program executed by the CPU 131, the sub CPU 132, or the sub CPU 137.

The processing memory control unit 12 has a function of controlling writing and reading to the memory (RAM) 133. The storage memory control unit 13 has a function of controlling writing and reading to the memory (ROM) 134.

The network control unit 14 has a function of receiving a packet from the network and transmitting a response to the packet to the network.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a procedure for responding to a packet according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In step S11, the network control unit 14 receives the packet from the network. Subsequently, the network control unit 14 notifies the storage memory control unit 13 of the storage of the packet information (OID) (S12). Subsequently, the storage memory control unit 13 increments the count associated with the OID by +1 (S13). The details of the count will be described later.

In step S14, the network control unit 14 notifies the system control unit 11 of the execution of the response to the packet. Subsequently, the system control unit 11 notifies the storage memory control unit 13 of the storage of the response content (S15). Subsequently, the storage memory control unit 13 notifies the processing memory control unit 12 of the storage of the packet information (OID and response data) (S16).

In step S17, the processing memory control unit 12 transmits a response to the packet received in the network via the network control unit 14 (S18).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for responding to a packet according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the sequence shown in FIG. 6 in detail.

In step S21, the information processing apparatus 100 receives the packet. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the OID of the received packet is known. If it is known, the process proceeds to step S23, and if it is not known, the process proceeds to step S24.

In step S23, the information processing apparatus 100 increments the count associated with the OID by +1. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the response content to the received packet does not require data rewriting (S25). If data rewriting is not required (YES in S25), the process proceeds to step S27, and if data rewriting is required (NO in S25), the process proceeds to step S26.

In step S24, the information processing apparatus 100 stores the OID in the memory. In step S26, the response data for the received packet is rewritten. In step S27, it responds to the packet.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the OID and grouping of packets according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the information processing apparatus 100 counts the number of receptions of received packet information (OID) in a normal state, groups them in descending order of reception frequency, and stores them in a memory (ROM) 134. .. The number of receptions per unit time is calculated from the total number of receptions of the packet having the received OID and the operating time of the information processing apparatus 100, and grouping is performed according to each reception frequency.

For example, a packet received at least once per minute is group 1. Group 2 is a packet that is received at least once in 10 minutes, group 3 is a packet that is received at least once an hour, and group 4 is a packet that is received less than once an hour.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the state transition of the information processing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Based on the grouped storage states of the received packets shown in FIG. 8, the information processing apparatus 100 performs a state transition to the energy saving state by the system control unit 11. The state of the information processing apparatus 100 includes a normal state, a state 1, a state 2, a state 3, or a power-off state. In the energy saving state including the normal state, state 1, state 2 or state 3, the sub CPU 132 or the sub CPU 137 having different power consumption described with reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 is running, or the CPU 131 consumes power. The state is realized by the state controlled in multiple stages. For example, in FIG. 4, the normal state is the state in which the CPU 131, the sub CPU 132, and the sub CPU 137 are operating, the state 1 is the state in which the sub CPU 132 and the sub CPU 137 are operating, and the state 2 is the sub CPU 137. Is an operating state, and the state 3 may be a state in which the sub CPU 137 is operating in a lower power consumption mode than the state 2.

The normal state is the state in which the power consumption is the highest. In addition, the normal state is the state in which the processing capacity is the highest. The power off state is the state in which the power consumption is the lowest.

The state 1, the state 2, and the state 3 are all energy-saving states, and the power consumption is lower than the normal state. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the power consumption decreases in the order of state 1> state 2> state 3.

The information processing apparatus 100 transitions from the power-off state to the normal state by "pressing the power switch". Further, the information processing apparatus 100 transitions from the normal state to the power-off state by "pressing the power switch".

The information processing apparatus 100 transitions from the normal state to the state 1, the state 2, or the state 3 when the timer for measuring a predetermined period expires. When the timer expires, if all the information of the group 1 is not stored in the memory, the information processing apparatus 100 does not transition from the normal state to the energy saving state. On the other hand, when the timer expires, if all the information up to group 1 is stored in the memory, the information processing apparatus 100 transitions from the normal state to the state 1. Further, when the timer expires, if all the information up to the group 2 is stored in the memory, the information processing apparatus 100 transitions from the normal state to the state 2. Further, when the timer expires, if all the information up to the group 3 is stored in the memory, the information processing apparatus 100 transitions from the normal state to the state 3. Here, when all the information up to the group n is stored in the memory, when the information processing apparatus 100 receives the packets up to the group n, the information processing apparatus 100 can respond in the energy saving state without shifting to the normal state. be.

The information processing apparatus 100 transitions from the energy saving state to the normal state by the "return request".

Information regarding the energy saving state transition of the own unit may be shared with another information processing device 100 connected to the same network. The information regarding the energy saving state transition is, for example, the grouping of packets shown in FIG. 8 and the response data corresponding to the packets.

In the case of the same network, the received packets for device management are often the same. Therefore, for example, even in the information processing device 100 in which the power is turned off for a long time and the reference packet information is scarce. It is possible to execute energy saving control according to the information network environment regarding the energy saving state transition from the information processing apparatus 100 having a long operating time.

FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a procedure for storing packet information according to the embodiment of the present invention. Steps S31 to S35 are the same as the sequence shown in FIG. When the information processing apparatus 100 receives a packet, the packet information (OID) is stored in the memory (ROM) 134 by the storage memory control unit 13, and if it is a known OID, the count is incremented by 1. Further, the response data obtained by executing the packet response is stored in the memory (ROM) 134 by the storage memory control unit 13.

Here, in step S36, the processing memory control unit 12 stores the packet information (OID and response data) in the memory (RAM) 133 only when the transition from the normal state to the energy saving state is caused by a trigger such as the expiration of the timer. By reducing the frequency of memory access, the life of the memory can be extended.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for responding to a packet in an energy-saving state according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In step S41, the information processing apparatus 100 receives the packet in an energy-saving state. Subsequently, the information processing apparatus 100 determines whether or not the OID and the response data are stored in the memory (S42). If it is stored in the memory (YES in S42), the process proceeds to step S44. If it is not stored in the memory (NO in S42), the process proceeds to step S43.

In step S43, the information processing apparatus 100 determines whether or not the response is possible in the energy-saving state. The determination in step S43 is, for example, a determination that the response is not possible when the received packet requests the rewriting of the response data. If it is responsive, the process proceeds to step S44, and if it is not responsive, the process proceeds to step S45.

In step S44, it responds to the received packet. On the other hand, in step S45, the source of the received packet is notified that the response is "unresponsive".

When responding to a packet that cannot be responded to in the energy-saving state, it is necessary to transition to the normal state. According to the above flow, it is possible to suppress the transition to the normal state and reduce the power consumption by notifying "unresponsive" to the packet that cannot respond in the energy saving state.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the information processing apparatus 100 groups packets based on the packet reception frequency. By storing the data for responding to the grouped packets in the memory and providing the energy saving state corresponding to the group in multiple stages, it transitions to the normal state only when the packet with low reception frequency is received, so it is consumed. Power can be reduced. That is, in any network environment, the power consumption of the devices connected to the network can be reduced.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the OID is an example of an ID that identifies a packet. The energy-saving state is an example of a state in which each group can respond. The network control unit 14 is an example of a communication unit. The storage memory control unit 13 is an example of a measurement unit or a first storage unit. The system control unit 11 is an example of a control unit. The processing memory control unit 12 is an example of a second storage unit.

The present invention can be applied to an image processing device or an image processing system such as a projector, a medical device, or a video conference system. Further, the present invention can be applied to a communication terminal or an information processing device such as a mobile phone, a portable information terminal, an in-vehicle device, etc., which can be a device or system for processing captured images. Further, the information processing apparatus of the present invention may be configured to include all the functions in one apparatus, or may be configured by a plurality of apparatus.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to such a specific embodiment, and various modifications are made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.・ Can be changed.

1,4,5 Image forming device 2,3 PC
110 Engine unit 120 Operation display unit 130 Controller unit 131 Main CPU
132 sub CPU
133 Memory (RAM)
134 Memory (ROM)
135 Memory 136 PHY
137 sub CPU
138 Memory 11 System control unit 12 Processing memory control unit 13 Storage memory control unit 14 Network control unit

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-060028

Claims (7)

A communication unit that receives a packet over a network and sends a response to the packet over the network.
A measurement unit that measures the number of times a packet is received based on the ID that identifies the packet, calculates the reception frequency of the packet in a predetermined period, and groups the packets based on the reception frequency .
A storage unit that stores the response to the packet for each group,
In the order of the reception frequency, it is determined whether or not the response to all the packets in the group is stored, and the energy saving state that enables the response to the group in which the response to all the packets is stored is in the normal state. An information processing device having a control unit for transitioning from. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power consumption in the energy-saving state is lower than the power consumption in the normal state. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the timer for measuring a predetermined period expires, the state transitions from the normal state to the energy saving state. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when a packet that cannot be responded to is received after the transition to the energy saving state, the packet that cannot be responded is notified. The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein information about the group and information about the response are transmitted to another information processing device connected via a network. The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the cloud connected via a network has the storage unit . A communication unit that receives a packet over a network and sends a response to the packet over the network.
A measurement unit that measures the number of times a packet is received based on the ID that identifies the packet, calculates the reception frequency of the packet in a predetermined period, and groups the packets based on the reception frequency .
A storage unit that stores the response to the packet for each group,
In the order of the reception frequency, it is determined whether or not the response to all the packets in the group is stored, and the energy saving state that enables the response to the group in which the response to all the packets is stored is in the normal state. An image forming apparatus having a control unit for transitioning from.

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