JP2003150363A - Program, management method and management device for network system including printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program for a network system including a plurality of printers and for promoting reduction of power consumption. SOLUTION: For each printer, whether or not status of the printer are at states before transition from a standby mode to a power save mode is determined (S5). When the status of the printer is determined as the state before transition from the standby made to the power save mode, the remaining time until the printers are transited to the power save mode is calculated or acquired (S6). A printer is selected as a transmitting destination of a print job among the printers so that the total power consumption in the network system is reduced based on the remaining time (S11).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a program for a network system including a plurality of printers, and more particularly to a program for controlling a printer to reduce power consumption. Further, the present invention relates to a management apparatus and a management method for performing control for selecting a printer so as to reduce power consumption for a network system including a plurality of printers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), where a client computer and a plurality of printers are connected to each other, it is desired to select a printer and transmit a print job so as to reduce power consumption. There is a client request. To meet such demands, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-339143.
In the technology described in Japanese Patent Publication, the power consumption required for image output is acquired based on the statuses of a plurality of printers (for example, states such as standby mode and power save mode) based on the print job size and the statuses of the plurality of printers. The printer is selected so that the number of print jobs is reduced, and the print job is sent to the selected printer.

For the purpose of saving power in a printer, when a predetermined time (several minutes to several tens of minutes) elapses in the standby mode after the completion of printing, only the controller that executes the network interface is supplied with power and the other controllers are powered off ( Or, the power saving mode such as reducing the power supply amount) is generally adopted. Further, in the LAN of general users, the printer is not always operating, and the operating time of the printer is only about one hour per day. Therefore, most of the time the printer is waiting in the power save mode.

[0004]

However, there is no limit to the demand for reducing power consumption in the network, and the above method cannot be said to be sufficient.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a program, a management method and a management device for a network system including a plurality of printers, which can promote reduction of power consumption.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventor has found that among a plurality of printers connected to a network, even when the current status is the same standby mode, the time when the last print is completed. It was noted that there are some printers that have a long remaining time before shifting to the power save mode and some printers that have a short remaining time before shifting to the power save mode due to the difference in the above.

That is, when a printer having a long remaining time before shifting to the power save mode is selected when a print job is transmitted, a printer having a short remaining time until shifting to the power save mode has a short remaining time. After the lapse of time (that is, immediately), the power save mode can be entered. As a result, it can be considered that the total power consumption in the network system can be reduced in terms of time average. On the other hand, when you try to send a print job, if you select a printer that has a short remaining time before entering the power save mode, a printer that has a long remaining time before entering the power save mode will only wait for the long remaining time to elapse. Does not shift to power save mode. As a result, the total power consumption in the network system is increased on the time average basis.

It should be noted that, in the above-mentioned prior art, when sending a print job, the control for selecting the printer based on the remaining time until shifting to the power save mode is not performed.

In view of the above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a computer and a plurality of printers adapted to shift from the standby mode to the power save mode when the standby mode is maintained for a predetermined time are connected via a network. Which is a program executed by the computer or printer for a network system, determines whether or not the status of each printer is the status before shifting from the standby mode to the power save mode. Perform the steps and the step of calculating or obtaining the remaining time until the printer shifts to the power save mode when it is determined that the status of the printer is the state before shifting to the power save mode from the standby mode. , For the above multiple printers A step of selecting a printer as a transmission destination of the print job from the plurality of printers based on the calculated or acquired remaining time so that the total power consumption in the network system is small. .

Here, the "computer" broadly refers to, for example, a personal computer in which a printer driver is installed or a server in which a utility program for selecting a printer and instructing a print job is installed.

A "printer" refers to a device that forms an image in accordance with a received print job. Therefore, this printer also includes, for example, a copying machine having a communication function.

The "standby mode" is one of the statuses set in the printer, and when the print image data generation is completed, the print image can be immediately printed on the paper. is there. In this standby mode, power is supplied to a printer controller, a controller such as an engine controller, a driving load such as a fixing heater, and a sensing device such as a temperature sensor.

The "power save mode" refers to the sleep mode or preheat mode described below.

The "preheat mode" is a status that is set in place of the standby mode when the printer maintains the standby mode for a predetermined time. For the purpose of power saving, the controller such as the printer controller and the engine controller is powered by a power source. However, the power supply to the driving load such as the fixing heater is cut off or the power supply amount is reduced.

The "sleep mode" is a status which is set in place of the standby mode when the printer is kept in the standby mode for a predetermined period of time, and for the purpose of saving power, shuts off power for elements other than the network interface. It is in the state of having done. In this sleep mode,
Power to the printer controller other than the network interface, the controller such as the engine controller, the driving load such as the fixing heater, and the sensing device such as the temperature sensor is shut off.

The "remaining time" refers to a period from when a print job transmission request is made to when the printer shifts to the power save mode. However, it is within the scope of the present invention to use an amount corresponding to that period. For example, under the condition to shift to the power save mode when maintaining the standby mode for the time tmax, ₌ remaining time corresponds to the elapsed time t from the time of transition to the standby mode t _X is t _X (tmax-t) Is expressed as Thus, it is within the scope of the present invention to use the elapsed time t from the time of shifting to the standby mode instead of the remaining time.

According to the program of claim 1, the following processing is executed for each printer connected to the network. First, it is determined whether or not the status of the printer is the status before shifting from the standby mode to the power save mode. Next, when it is determined that the status of the printer is in the state before shifting from the standby mode to the power save mode, the remaining time until the printer shifts to the power save mode is calculated or acquired. Then, based on the remaining time calculated or obtained for the plurality of printers, a printer is selected from the plurality of printers as a destination of the print job so that the total power consumption in the network system is reduced. For example, the printer having the longest remaining time is selected as the destination of the print job from the plurality of printers. As a result, the printer that has a short remaining time until shifting to the power save mode can shift to the power saving mode after the short remaining time has elapsed (that is, promptly). Therefore, the number of printers in the power save mode can be increased in terms of time average. Therefore, the total power consumption in the network system can be reduced, and the power consumption reduction can be promoted as compared with the conventional case.

For some users, a slight difference in power consumption may not be a problem, but rather, a print completion time may be faster.

Therefore, the program according to claim 2 is
The program according to claim 1, wherein when a printer having a remaining time longer than a predetermined time is detected in the process of calculating or obtaining the remaining time for each printer, the printer is selected as a destination of the print job. Characterize.

According to the program of claim 2, in the process of calculating or obtaining the remaining time for each printer, the remaining time of the remaining printers is calculated when a printer having a remaining time longer than a predetermined time is detected. Alternatively, the printer is immediately selected without acquisition. Therefore, the process of calculating or obtaining the status and remaining time of the remaining printers is not required, and the load of calculation processing in the network system is reduced and the print completion time is shortened. Since the remaining time of the printer selected as the destination of the print job is longer than the predetermined time, the power consumption is reduced as compared with the conventional case.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a computer is connected to a plurality of printers, which are arranged to shift from the standby mode to the power save mode when the standby mode is maintained for a predetermined time, via a network. A management device for a network system, wherein for each of the printers described above, a means for determining whether or not the status of the printer is the status before shifting from the standby mode to the power save mode, and the status of the printer is When the printer is in a state before shifting from the standby mode to the power save mode, the printer is provided with means for calculating or obtaining the remaining time until the printer shifts to the power save mode. From the above multiple printers based on time As the destination of the print job, characterized in that the total power consumption in the network system comprises means for selecting a printer to be smaller.

When the management apparatus according to the third aspect operates, the same operation and effect as when the program according to the first aspect is executed can be obtained. That is, this management apparatus first determines whether or not the status of the printer is the status before shifting from the standby mode to the power save mode. next,
When the status of the printer is in the state before shifting to the power save mode from the standby mode, the remaining time until the printer shifts to the power save mode is calculated or acquired. Then, based on the remaining time calculated or acquired for the plurality of printers, the printer is selected from the plurality of printers as the destination of the print job so that the total power consumption in the network system is reduced. For example, the printer having the longest remaining time is selected as the destination of the print job from the plurality of printers. As a result,
A printer having a short remaining time until shifting to the power save mode can be shifted to the power saving mode after the short remaining time has elapsed (that is, promptly). Therefore, the number of printers in the power save mode can be increased in terms of time average. Therefore, the total power consumption in the network system can be reduced, and the power consumption reduction can be promoted as compared with the conventional case.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a computer and a plurality of printers adapted to shift from the standby mode to the power save mode when the standby mode is maintained for a predetermined time are connected via a network. A management method executed by the computer or printer for a network system, wherein it is determined whether or not the status of each printer is that before the transition from the standby mode to the power save mode. And the step of calculating or acquiring the remaining time until the printer shifts to the power save mode when the printer status is the state before shifting to the power save mode from the standby mode, Calculated for multiple printers or Based on the obtained been remaining time, as the destination of the print job from the plurality of printers,
It is characterized in that the step of selecting a printer is executed so that the total power consumption in the network system becomes small.

The management method according to claim 4 has the same operation and effect as when the program according to claim 1 is executed. That is, according to the management method of the fourth aspect, first, it is determined whether or not the status of the printer is a state before shifting from the standby mode to the power save mode.
Next, when the status of the printer is the status before shifting from the standby mode to the power save mode,
The remaining time until the printer shifts to the power save mode is calculated or acquired. Then, based on the remaining time calculated or obtained for the plurality of printers, a printer is selected from the plurality of printers as a destination of the print job so that the total power consumption in the network system is reduced. For example, the printer having the longest remaining time is selected as the destination of the print job from the plurality of printers. As a result, the printer that has a short remaining time until shifting to the power save mode can shift to the power saving mode after the short remaining time has elapsed (that is, promptly). Therefore, the number of printers in the power save mode can be increased in terms of time average. Therefore, the total power consumption in the network system can be reduced, and the power consumption reduction can be promoted as compared with the conventional case.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a LAN (Local Area Network) 90 of a user company to which the present invention is applied.

.. (hereinafter referred to as "1" to the LAN 90 via printer controllers 2-1, 2-2, ... (hereinafter referred to as "2-x"), respectively.
-X ". ) Is connected, and client devices 3-1, 3-2, ... (Hereinafter referred to as “3-y”.)
And printer 1-x and printer controller 2-x
Is connected to a printer server 91 that manages.

The LAN 90 is connected to the Internet 80 via a firewall 81 and a router 82. The firewall 81 has a packet filtering function, a proxy function, and the like, and is a packet in which a source IP address (host name), a destination IP address (host name), a source port number, a destination port number, and data satisfy predetermined conditions. Only allow passage. Therefore, only predetermined packets can be transmitted from the Internet 80 to the printer controller 2-x in the LAN 90. In this example, communication by SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) can pass through the firewall. Router 82
Performs routing control.

Further, the LAN 90 is connected to a mail server 83 which performs a service of collecting and distributing electronic mail. The printer controller 2-x downloads the e-mail with the image information attached from the mail server 83. The image information (image data) extracted from the e-mail is passed to the printer 1-x for print processing.

FIG. 2 shows the printer (image forming apparatus) 1-
The block configuration of x is shown.

This printer 1-x is generally an MFP.
It is called (Multiple Function Peripheral), and has a function of scanning a document image and printing the copied image on a sheet (hereinafter referred to as copy job), and the client device 3
-The function to print the image received from y or the image received via e-mail via the mail server (hereinafter referred to as print job), and the original image is scanned to send the image information via e-mail , Image information transmission job) function.

Further, this printer 1-x is a multi-CP
It is a device controlled by a U (Central Processing Unit), and includes four control modules 11 to 14 shown in FIG. 2 corresponding to individual CPUs. In this example, the module refers to a functional block that executes a control function including a CPU or a control circuit including the CPU.

The control module 11 is the control module 1
2 to 14 to send the control command / control information to the printer 1-x
CPU 111 that controls the overall control of the device, a rewritable flash ROM (nonvolatile memory) 112 that stores the firmware, and an S-RAM 11 that serves as a work area.
3, a battery-backed NV-RAM (nonvolatile memory) 114 for storing various setting values, a serial I / F (interface) 115 for transmitting and receiving various control data to and from the control module 12, and control Serial I / F 116 for transmitting / receiving various data to / from the module 13, and serial I / F 11 for transmitting / receiving various control data to / from the printer controller 2-x.
7 and an operation panel 119. Further, the control module 11 receives the image data of the print job from the printer controller 2-x, the image data of the read image from the control module 13, and the image data of the read image received from the control module 13 to the printer. A video I / F 118 for transmitting to the controller 2-x is provided.

The control module 12 executes print control such as drive control of various drive loads of the printer 1-x C.
A PU 121, a rewritable flash ROM (nonvolatile memory) 122 storing its firmware,
Battery-backed NV-RA for storing various setting values and S-RAM 123 as a work area
M124, a serial I / F 125 for transmitting and receiving various control data to and from the control module 11, a serial I / F 126 for transmitting and receiving various control data to and from the control module 14, and a motor heater in the printer 1-x. A switch, for example, a print load control I / O which is a drive control circuit for various drive loads such as a fixing roller having a built-in heater, and a gate array GA 127 are provided.

The control module 13 is a CP for executing scanning control and image processing control of the original image of the printer 1-x.
U131, a rewritable flash ROM (nonvolatile memory) 132 storing the firmware thereof, an S-RAM 133 serving as a work area, and an image input unit 138 for driving and controlling a CCD or the like and inputting photoelectrically converted image data. And image data processed by executing various image processing such as binarization processing such as shading correction, reflectance, density conversion, MTF correction, density correction, and error diffusion on the image data from the image input unit. Image processing ASIC (Appl output to control module 14 or control module 11)
ication Specific Integrated Circuit) 137, a battery-backed NV-RAM 134 for storing various setting values, a serial I / F 135 for transmitting / receiving various control data to / from the control module 11,
IR load control I / O, which is a drive control circuit for various drive loads such as a scanning motor and a scanning lamp of an image reading device (IR),
And a gate array GA 136.

The control module 14 is a CPU 1 that executes image quality correction control / image output control for the printer 1-x.
41, a rewritable flash ROM 142 storing the firmware, and an SR serving as a work area
AM143 and image quality correction control GA146 that executes image quality control such as smoothing, halftone reproduction processing, image quality correction, etc.
And an image output unit 147 that outputs an image by driving and controlling a laser diode (LD) or the like according to the output image data from the image quality correction control gate array GA146, and a battery-backed NV- that stores various set values. RA
An M144 and a serial I / F 145 for transmitting / receiving various control data to / from the control module 12 are provided.

FIG. 3 shows a block configuration of the printer controller 2-x.

This printer controller 2-x is a CP
U201 and EP-ROM (nonvolatile memory) 202
, A NIC (network interface card) 208, a fixed storage device (non-volatile memory) 205 such as a hard disk, an image expansion unit 210, an S-RAM 203 serving as a work area, various set values and management Battery-backed NV-R for storing information
AM 204.

The CPU 201 receives a print job from a client device 3-y, which will be described later, job management / firmware management, image processing control of a print image, data conversion of image information received by electronic mail, and electronic mail. The data conversion of the image information to be transmitted by, the transmission / reception control of the e-mail with the image information attached, and the control of the firmware rewriting are executed. EP-ROM 202 is a CPU
201 stores a control program for executing those processes. The NIC 208 is the client device 3-y.
It works to send and receive various data relating to the reception of a print job from the printer, the transmission of image information to another printer, and the like to and from the LAN 90. Fixed storage device 205 such as a hard disk
Stores a print job and an image information transmission job received from the client device 3-y. Image development unit 210
Although not shown in detail, an interpreter for converting print data described in PDL (Page Description Language) for a received print job into an intermediate code, font information and font data for analyzing the intermediate code Is stored, a RAM for storing bitmap data, and a drawing processing unit for expanding the bitmap data expanded from the intermediate code in the RAM.

In the NV-RAM 204, in addition to the IP address of the printer (hereinafter referred to as "own device" as appropriate) 1-x controlled by this printer controller 2-x, this printer controller 2-x own device 1 -X, the IP address of the mail server required to download the e-mail message from the mail server 83, the name of the e-mail account of the own device 1-x and the other printer to which the image information is transmitted, and The password etc. are stored. The CPU 201 stores the status of the device 1-x in the NV-RAM 204. The statuses stored are, for example, a busy mode during execution of a print job, a standby mode in which the print image can be printed on the paper immediately after the print image data generation is completed, and a power save mode in which the main power is cut off to save power. The mode (sleep mode in this example) or the dead mode that does not respond at all due to a failure or the like is included. Further, when the status of the own device 1-x is the standby mode, the remaining time t _X until the transition from the standby mode to the power save mode is calculated by the CPU 201 and stored in this NV-RAM 204. This remaining time t _X is updated every moment as time passes.

This printer controller 2-x receives the serial I / F 206 and the video I / F 207 as shown in FIG.
The serial I / F 117 in the printer 1-x shown therein,
Each of them is connected to the video I / F 118. Further, the printer controller 2-x is provided with an operation panel 209 for making various operation settings.

In the above configuration, the control modules 11-14 of the printer 1-x execute communication via the serial I / F. Normally, control commands and control parameters are transmitted and received between the CPUs of each module via the serial I / F.

--- NI of the printer controller 2-x
C208-image development unit 210-video I / F 207-video I / F 118 of control module 11-image quality correction control GA 146 of control module 14-image output unit 147
During (input of print image data from the client device 3-y), the image input unit 138 of the control module 13-image processing ASIC 137-image quality correction control GA 146-image output unit 147 (input of original image data from the image reading device). Between) are connected by a relatively high-speed data bus for transferring image data.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a power supply circuit 40 which executes power supply control for the printer controller 2-x and the control modules 11-14 of the printer 1-x. The power supply circuit 40 includes a large-capacity main power supply 41 for supplying power to the printer 1-x and a printer controller 2-x.
A small-capacity sub power supply 42 for supplying power to the main power supply 41 and a power switch 43 for turning on / off the main power supply 41 and the sub power supply 42 are provided.

When a print job execution request is received from the LAN 90 via the NIC 208 or an activation request is input via the panel 209, the CPU 201 causes the PMP
It works as a (Power Management Processor) and outputs a power-on command signal to the main power supply 41. The main power supply 41 is turned on by this power-on command signal, and power is supplied to the control modules 11 to 14 and various drive loads in the printer 1-x. If the print job is not received for a predetermined time after the print job is executed, or the activation request is not input from the panel 209, the CPU 201
Outputs a power cutoff command signal to the main power supply 41. The main power supply 41 is shut off by the power shutoff command signal, and the control modules 11 to 14 in the printer 1-x are shut down.
And the power to various drive loads is cut off. On the other hand, as long as the power switch 43 is turned on, the printer controller 2-x is always supplied with power from the sub power supply 42.

FIG. 6 shows a block configuration of the client device 3-y.

The client device 3-y has a CPU 30.
1, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, a fixed storage device (nonvolatile memory) 304 such as a hard disk, a display control unit 3
05, the input control unit 306 and the NIC 307 are mounted on the main body. Furthermore, the display 32
Is connected to the keyboard 33 and the mouse 34 via the input control unit 306 via the display control unit 305. The client device 3-y is connected to the LAN 90 via the NIC 307.

The ROM 302 stores a document editing application program, an image editing application program, and a printer driver to be executed by the CPU 301. The printer driver creates print job data including job control information, page control information, and print image data described in page description language (PDL). The job control information includes a job identifier, a job name, a job sender name, a job destination (I of the image forming apparatus).
P address), job relay destination (print server IP
Address), the number of copies of a job, a job processing mode (which sets a job mode such as priority job, non-priority job, job composition, and job division), and the like, and control information for each printer for the printer 1-x. Becomes The page control information is control information for printing print data such as a document identifier, a document name, double-sided printing, a paper size, a paper feed port to be selected, and a paper discharge mode on paper. The print image data described in the page description language (PDL) is obtained by converting the application data stored by the application program into data that can be interpreted by the printer controller 2-x. While the printer driver is being activated, a predetermined operation screen is displayed on the display 32, and the input of various keys and mouse of the operator of the client device 3-y is accepted, and the job control information and the page control information are created in response to the input. . When a print request is input on the operation screen, the application data is converted into print image data in page description language (PDL), and the print job is requested to the printer 1-x designated by the job control information. Issue and send print job data. The printer 1-x executes print control according to the received job control information and page control information, and prints the print data.

FIG. 5 shows a block configuration of the printer server 91.

The printer server 91 is a computer having the same hardware as the client device 3-y, and includes a CPU 901, a ROM 902, a RAM 903, and a hardware.
Fixed storage device (non-volatile memory) 90 such as a hard disk
4, display control unit 905, input control unit 906 and NIC
907 is mounted on the main body. Furthermore, in this body,
The display 92 is connected to the display control unit 905, and the keyboard 93 and the mouse 94 are connected to the input control unit 906. This printer server 91 is N
It is connected to the LAN 90 via the IC 907.

The ROM 902 stores the following control program to be executed by the CPU 901. Although this control program will be described in detail later, when the operator tries to send a print job from the client device 3-y, the printer which has the fastest print completion time among the plurality of printers 1-x connected to the LAN 90 is sent. The process selected as the destination is executed.

The RAM 903 temporarily stores the status of each printer 1-x received from each printer controller 2-x via the LAN 90. At the same time, the RAM 903 temporarily stores the remaining time t _X until the printer 1-x in the standby mode shifts from the standby mode to the power save mode (sleep mode in this example).

Now, the operator operates the client device 3-
When you try to send a print job from y, if you select a printer with a short remaining time before shifting to the power save mode, a printer with a long remaining time until shifting to the power save mode will only have a long remaining time. Since the transition to the power save mode is not performed, the total power consumption in the network system increases on a time average basis. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the operator attempts to send a print job from the client device 3-y, the printer server 91 selects the printer 1-x that is the destination as follows. In this example, it is assumed that all the printers 1-x connected to the LAN 90 are the same machine and have the same power consumption in the busy mode and the standby mode.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the operator operates the client device 3-y to make a print job transmission request (YES in S 1), first, all the printers 1-x connected to the LAN 90 enter the power save mode. It is determined whether there is any (S2). Here, when all the printers 1-x connected to the LAN 90 are in the power save mode (YES in S2), the printer as the transmission destination is selected from the printers 1-x in the power save mode (S3).

If there is a printer in the standby mode among the plurality of printers 1-x connected to the LAN 90 (NO in S2), the parameter X for specifying the printer is set to 1 (S4). Then, it is determined whether or not the printer specified by the parameter X (the printer 1-1 is the first) is in the power save mode (S5).

If the printer is in the power save mode, the process proceeds to step S9, and it is determined whether the status has been detected for all the printers (S9). At first, since the detection is not completed for all printers, X is incremented (incremented by 1) (S1
0), and returns to step S5.

If the printer is in the standby mode in step S5, the remaining time t _X until the printer shifts to the power save mode is acquired.

Next, it is determined whether or not the remaining time t _X until the printer shifts to the power save mode is longer than the predetermined time k (S7). This time k is preset to a value equal to or less than tmax under the condition that the power save mode is entered when the standby mode is maintained for the time tmax. In this example, tmax = 30 minutes, k = 20
Shall be minutes. If t _X ≧ k, the printer is selected as the destination of the print job (S8). In this case, the process of acquiring the status of the remaining printers and the remaining time t _X becomes unnecessary, so
The load of calculation processing is reduced and the print completion time is shortened.

If t _X <k in step S 7, then X
Is incremented to detect the next printer (S9 to S10).

In this way, the status and the remaining time t _X until the transition to the power save mode are detected for a plurality of printers connected to the network, and among these printers, there are printers for which t _X ≧ k. If not, the printer having the longest remaining time t _X until shifting to the power save mode is selected as the destination of the print job from those printers (S1).
1). Then, the control for transmitting the print job to the selected printer is executed to cause the printer to perform the print processing.

For example, as shown in FIG.
When the job transmission request is issued, the printer 1-1
Printers 1-2 and 1-3 in work save mode
Is in standby mode and shifts to power save mode
Remaining time t_Two, T_ThreeIn 10 minutes and 8 minutes respectively
Suppose there is. In this case, the printer 1-1 is
Since it is in the print mode, the destination of the print job is
Excluded. Also, t _Two<K, t_Three<K, so this
Select a power save mode from these printers 1-2 and 1-3.
Remaining time t before transfer_XIs the longest printer,
That is, the printer 1-2 is selected.

As a result, a printer having a short remaining time before shifting to the power save mode can shift to the power save mode after the short remaining time has elapsed (that is, promptly). Therefore, the number of printers in the power save mode can be increased in terms of time average.
Therefore, the total power consumption in the network system can be reduced, and the power consumption reduction can be promoted as compared with the conventional case.

In the above example, all the printers 1-x connected to the LAN 90 are the same machine, the busy mode,
Although the power consumption in the standby mode is the same, the application of the program of the present invention is not limited to such a case.

For example, in the example shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the power consumptions in the busy modes 2 and 1-3 and the power save mode are the same, but the power consumptions in the standby mode are 100 W and 200 W, respectively. In this case, when the printer 1-2 is selected as the transmission destination of the print job, the printer 1-is selected before shifting to the power save mode.
3 consumes 200 W × 8 minutes of power, whereas when the printer 1-3 is selected as the destination of the print job, the printer 1-2 consumes 100 W × 10 minutes before shifting to the power save mode. It consumes only electricity. In this case, from the multiple printers, reduce the total power consumption in the network system,
That is, it is desirable to select the printer 1-3 so that the product of the power consumption and the remaining time in the standby mode becomes small.

It is desirable to notify the printer selected as the transmission destination of the print job to the client device 3-y that has transmitted the print job. In such a case, the client operating the client device 3-y can know the printer on which the print job is executed, which enhances the convenience for the user.

In this embodiment, the printer controller 2-x calculates the status of the printer 1-x and the remaining time t _X until the printer shifts to the power save mode, and the operator prints the print job from the client device 3-y. However, the printer server 91 acquires the information when sending the information. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The client computer, the server in which the utility program is installed, and the printer share the above steps in any manner. For example, the printer server 91 acquires the status of the printer 1-x, and the remaining time t _X until each printer 1-x shifts to the power save mode is calculated by the CPU 901 every moment and stored in the RAM 903 in real time. May be.

In this embodiment, the printer controller 2-x and the printer 1-x are described as separate devices, but it goes without saying that the printer 1-x has the function of the printer controller 2-x integrated therein. May be In this case, as in the above-described example, the printer controller 2-x and the control modules 11 to 14 execute processing while cooperating with each other.

[0068]

As is apparent from the above, according to the program of claim 1, it is possible to promote reduction of power consumption of a network system including a plurality of printers.

According to the program of claim 2, the load of arithmetic processing in the network system is reduced and the print completion time is shortened.

Further, the management device according to claim 3 and claim 4
According to this management method, it is possible to promote reduction of power consumption of a network system including a plurality of printers.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a LAN including a printer to which the present invention is applied.
It is a figure which shows schematic structure of.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a printer 1-x connected to the LAN.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a printer controller 2-x connected to the LAN.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a power supply circuit that executes power supply control for the printer controller 2-x and the control modules 11 to 14 of the printer 1-x.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a printer server 91 connected to the LAN.

FIG. 6 is a client device 3-connected to the LAN.
It is a figure which shows the block structure of y.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a control flow executed by a CPU of the printer server 91.

FIG. 8 is a diagram exemplifying the status of the printer 1-x connected to the LAN and the remaining time until shifting to the power save mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-1, 1-2, 1-x printer 2-1, 2-2, 2-x printer controller 3-1, 3-2, 3-x client device 91 Printer server 90 LAN

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Toshihisa Motosugi             2-3-3 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture             Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuyuki Kawabata             2-3-3 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture             Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP04 AP07 AS02                       HH11 HQ14 HQ17 HQ20 HR08                       HT03 HT07 HT09                 5B011 EB08 KK02 KK03 MA05                 5B021 AA01 EE05 MM02

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A computer for a network system in which a computer and a plurality of printers adapted to shift from a standby mode to a power save mode when the standby mode is maintained for a predetermined time are connected via a network. Or a program executed by a printer, for each of the above printers, a step of determining whether or not the status of the printer is the status before shifting from the standby mode to the power save mode, and the status of the printer is the standby status. When it is determined that the printer is in the state before shifting from the mode to the power save mode, the step of calculating or obtaining the remaining time until the printer shifts to the power save mode is executed, and the calculation or the obtaining for the plurality of printers is performed. Remaining time Based on, as the destination of the print job from the plurality of printers, a program, characterized by performing the step of selecting a printer to the total power consumption is reduced in the network system. 2. The program according to claim 1, wherein when a printer having a remaining time longer than a predetermined time is detected in the process of calculating or obtaining the remaining time of each printer, the printer is set as a destination of the print job. A program characterized by selecting as. 3. A management device for a network system in which a computer and a plurality of printers adapted to shift from the standby mode to the power save mode when the standby mode is maintained for a predetermined time are connected via a network. For each of the above printers, means for determining whether or not the status of the printer is the status before shifting from the standby mode to the power save mode, and the status of the printer shifting from the standby mode to the power save mode. And a means for calculating or obtaining the remaining time until the printer shifts to the power save mode when in the previous state, and based on the remaining time calculated or obtained for the plurality of printers, the plurality of printers As the destination of the print job. , Management apparatus characterized by total power consumption in the network system comprises means for selecting a printer to be smaller. 4. A computer for a network system in which a computer and a plurality of printers adapted to shift from the standby mode to the power save mode when the standby mode is maintained for a predetermined time are connected via a network. Alternatively, in the management method executed by the printer, for each of the printers, the step of determining whether or not the status of the printer is the status before shifting from the standby mode to the power save mode, and the status of the printer is When the printer is in the state before shifting from the standby mode to the power save mode, the step of calculating or obtaining the remaining time until the printer shifts to the power save mode is executed, and the printer is calculated or obtained for the plurality of printers. Based on remaining time Above as a plurality of destinations of the print job from the printer management method characterized by performing the step of selecting a printer to total power consumption in the network system is reduced.