JP2003345469A - Power supply management device and its management method in device management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically control power supply according to the state of usage by monitoring the power supply state of a device, recording its history and thereby calculating an everyday usage state, in a device management system. <P>SOLUTION: A power management device comprises a means for creating a history of the power supply state of a device, a means for creating a schedule from the history, a means for evaluating the schedule and a means for operating a power supply, in power supply controllable devices and a system for managing the devices. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power management apparatus in a device management system for managing a power supply of a device in a device management system for managing copier and printer devices existing on a network. It concerns the management method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a device management system characterized by managing devices such as copiers, printers, and computers existing on a network, the status of the device is displayed on a user interface of the device management system. The purpose is to display and operate the device. Alternatively, another object is to acquire information from the device management system from another computer on the same network as the device management system and to display or operate a device state. There is also a system for transmitting status information and failure information of a device managed by the device management system to a remote service center to manage the device at a remote location.

As a device for managing a power supply, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-27043 discloses a method of operating the power supply of a device by remote operation. Also,
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-195802 discloses a method of controlling a power supply of a printing apparatus according to a power supply state of a managed computer.

[0004]

However, when a device has a mechanism for controlling its own power supply in response to an external command, the device management system monitors the specification state of the device and determines whether the device is in an unnecessary state. While detecting, control for saving unnecessary power consumption cannot be performed.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a computer in which an application for managing a plurality of devices operates, and device information between the application and devices on the network via a communication line regardless of whether the application is wired or wireless. When the device management system manages the device and the device has a mechanism for controlling its own power supply according to an external command, the device management system records the power state of the device, and records the recording result. And a power management device for a device management system that operates the power of the device according to the schedule and a method of managing the power management device.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is a computer on which an application for managing a plurality of devices operates, and the computer runs via a communication line regardless of whether it is wired or wireless. Means for exchanging device information between the application and a device on the network, and detecting a power state of the device in a device management system for managing the device, and means for recording a power state of the device. , A means for creating a power supply schedule from the record, and means for operating the power supply of the device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, a device for detecting an operation state of the device is provided.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, the apparatus further comprises means for storing a power operation result of the device, and means for initializing the power control result.

As a result, after detecting and recording the power status of the devices managed by the management system, the power status of each device is scheduled, and the power control of each device is performed according to the schedule. The power of the device can be turned off according to the usage state, and unnecessary power consumption can be saved. In addition, the power can be turned on in accordance with the past use state, and if the past use state is followed, the state becomes available at that time. This can avoid the problem of having to wait until the power is turned on and a usable state is obtained when the power is turned on.

Further, by providing the means of claim 2, it is possible to detect the operation state of the device when the power supply is cut off according to a schedule, and to delay the time when the power supply is turned off when the device is in use.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the power supply is controlled by the user after the power supply is automatically controlled, it is possible to suppress the power control from being performed again.

[0011] To summarize this further, the following configuration can be summarized.

(1) There is a computer on which an application for managing a plurality of devices operates, and device information is exchanged between the application and devices on the network via a communication line regardless of whether the application is wired or wireless. In a device management system for managing a device, means for detecting the power state of the device, means for recording the power state of the device, means for creating a power state schedule from the record, and power supply for the device A power management apparatus in a device management system, comprising: means for operating the device to control the power of the device from a past power state for the device managed by the application.

(2) The power management apparatus in the device management system according to the above (1), further comprising means for detecting an operation state of the device, thereby delaying a time at which the power is turned off.

(3) Further, by providing means for storing the power operation result of the device and means for initializing the power control result, it is possible to automatically perform the power control and then perform the power control again. (1) characterized in that it is suppressed.
A power management device in the device management system according to Claim 1.

(5) There is a computer on which an application for managing a plurality of devices operates, and device information is exchanged between the application and devices on the network via a communication line regardless of whether the application is wired or wireless. In a device management system for managing a device, means for detecting the power state of the device, means for recording the power state of the device, means for creating a power state schedule from the record, and power supply for the device A method for managing a device managed by an application, the method comprising: controlling power of a device managed by the application from a past power state.

(5) The management method in the device management system according to (5), further comprising a means for detecting an operation state of the device, thereby delaying a power-off time.

(6) Further, by providing means for storing the power operation result of the device and means for initializing the power control result, it is possible to automatically perform the power control and then perform the power control again. (5) characterized in that:
The management method in the device management system described in the above.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0019]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the features of the first aspect of the present invention.

Reference numeral 101 denotes a network for connecting devices and computers for managing the devices; 102, a computer or application for managing devices connected to the network 101; 103, a communication unit for connecting the application 102 to the network 101; . A device management unit 104 operates on the application 102. Reference numeral 105 denotes a power status recording unit in the management unit 104. Reference numeral 106 denotes a power control unit in the management unit 104. Reference numeral 107 denotes a management device list used for searching for a device to be managed when the management unit 104 manages the device. Reference numeral 108 denotes device information for recording information obtained from the devices registered in the management device list 107 by the management unit 104.
This exists for each managed device. Reference numeral 109 denotes a device power record for the power state recording unit 105 in the management unit 104 to record the power state of the device registered in the management device list 107. This is also device information 10
As in the case of No. 8, it exists for each target device. 110
Is a device power control time list that records the time at which the power control unit 106 controls the power of the device. Like the device information 108, this information exists for each target device. A power control time creation unit 111 generates a time list of the power control time list 110 from the device power record 109. Reference numeral 112 denotes power control information in which a power control method is recorded for each device type. Reference numeral 113 denotes a timer that operates in the communication unit 103. Reference numeral 114 denotes a device connected to the network 101 and managed by the application 102.

FIG. 2 shows information of the management device list 107. This is information in which a device type for a device name and a MAC address for specifying a device on the network 101 are associated.

FIG. 3 shows information of the device information 108. This information is not used in this embodiment. This information is
One device is created for each device listed in the management device list 107.

FIG. 4 shows information of the device power supply record 109. This information record is also created one by one for the devices listed in the management device list 107, similarly to the device information 108. This information is created by the application 102 monitoring the power state of the devices listed in the management device list 107 and adding the time when the power is turned on and the time when the power is turned off.

FIG. 5 shows information of the power control time list 110. This information record is also created one by one for the devices listed in the management device list 107, similarly to the device information 108. This information is created by the power control time creation unit 111 calculating from the device power record 109.

FIG. 6 shows an operation flowchart of the management unit 104, and FIG. 7 shows an operation flowchart of the power control time creation unit 111. The operation of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

The management unit 104 is periodically operated by a timer 113. There are various methods such as a method of starting from the timer 113 and a method of operating the management unit 104 from another module inside the application 102. When the operation of the management unit 104 is started (601), the management device list 107 is read (602), and the management device list 1 is read.
07 to obtain managed devices one by one (60
3). In order to confirm whether the device is operating (604), the device communicates with the device 114 or the like via the communication unit 103. If there is a response from the device 114 or the like, information is obtained from the device (605) and recorded in the device information 108 as device information (606). Subsequently, information corresponding to the device is acquired from the power control time list 110 (607). This information is the information shown in FIG. 5 and records the power-on time and the power-off time for each day of the week. The current time is obtained from the timer 113 (60
8). The information of the device power record 110 is compared with the information of the timer 113 to evaluate whether the power cutoff time has been reached or passed on the same day (609). If the time has not been reached or passed, the device power state is ON
Is determined (610). When the power-off time has been reached or passed, the power-off method of the device is acquired from the power control information 112 (611), and the power of the device is turned off according to the method (612). afterwards,
It is determined that the power state of the device is OFF (61
3). Subsequently, a power supply state record for the device is obtained from the device power supply record 109 (621). The last record of the record is taken out (622), and the record judgment and the previous judgment are compared (623). If the judgments are different, the previous judgment and time are added to the record (624). 107
If there is a device that has not been processed yet (625), the process returns to 603. When all devices have been processed, the operation of the management unit 104 ends (626).

If it is determined in step 604 that the device is not operating, information corresponding to the device is obtained from the power control time list 110 (614). Subsequently, the current time is obtained from the timer 113 (615). The information in the power control time list 110 and the information in the timer 113 are compared to evaluate whether the power-on time has been reached or passed on the same day (616). If the time has not reached or passed, it is determined that the power state of the device is OFF (617). If the power-on time has been reached or passed, the power-on method of the device is acquired from the power control information 112 (618), and the device is powered on according to the method (619). Thereafter, it is determined that the power state of the device is ON (620). continue,
The processing from 621 is performed.

Next, the processing of the power control time creation unit 111 for creating a power control list from the power state record will be described. FIGS. 8A and 8B show examples of data conversion according to the processing. The operations of the power control time creation unit 111 and the management unit 104 operate asynchronously so that the timings of operations on the power control time list 110 do not overlap. Power control time creation unit 1
Similarly to the management unit 104, there are various methods, such as starting from the timer 113 and starting from another module inside the application 102. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the management unit 104 and the power control time creation unit 111 do not operate at the same time. The power control time creation unit 111 starts operating (701).
Then, the management device list 107 is read (70
2) Acquire managed devices one by one from the managed device list 107 (703). Device power record 10
9 to obtain the power status record of the device (70
4). This record is referred to as 8-1-1. From this record, the second and subsequent ON states of the same day are deleted (705). Similarly, the state other than the last OFF state is deleted in the OFF state on the same day (706). This result is set to 8-1-2. Next, the date is changed to the day of the week (707). This result is set to 8-2-1.

Subsequently, an average of the times in the same state on the same day is calculated (708). This result is set to 8-2-2. Current,
If there is a power control time list for the device (70
9), obtain a power control time list (referred to as 8-2-3)
(710) Then, an average of the result and the acquired power control time list is calculated (711). The ON state time in the result is changed to the nearest earlier time at 0 minute, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and 45 minutes every hour (712). Similarly, the OFF state time in this result is changed to the nearest later time at 0 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and 45 minutes every hour (713). The result is shown in 8-2-4. This result is recorded in the power control time list 110 as a new power control time list (714). afterwards,
The power supply status record of the device in the device power supply record 109 is initialized (no information is present) (715). Next, if there is an unprocessed device among the devices registered in the management device list 107 (716), 603
Return to When all devices have been processed, the management unit 104
Is terminated (717).

According to the method of the above embodiment, periodically,
Detect and record the power state of the devices managed by the management system, periodically at a longer interval independent of this periodic processing, create a power control time list for each device from the record, The power control of each device can be performed according to the list.

In this embodiment, the device information 108, the device power record 109, and the power control time list 110 are managed separately, but the device information 108, the device power record 109, and the power control time list 110 are integrated and , One by one, does not depart from the features of the present embodiment. In the management device list 107, information for specifying a device and a MAC address for communication are used. However, if an individual device can be specified on a network, an IP address or an individual network used on the Internet can be used. There is no problem even if the value is specialized for

Further, in this embodiment, a method shown in 705 to 713 in FIG. 7 is used as a method for creating a power control time list.
The same effect as the present invention can be obtained by other methods. Further, in the present embodiment, the power control time list is a list in week units. There is no problem if the information is available.

In this embodiment, the power supply is monitored according to the power supply control time list while the power supply state is monitored, the power supply state is recorded, and the schedule is sequentially changed. Thereafter, there is also a method according to the list, and it can be said that this embodiment is a simplified method. In this embodiment, while performing the power operation along the power control time list,
Monitor the power status and create a new power control time list from the information on the power status recorded and the information on the power control time list in use, but there is also a method that does not use the information on the power control time list in use. is there. In this case, the power control time has a larger variation in the time described in the power control time list every time the power control time list is updated than the method described in the present embodiment.

Although the present embodiment does not specifically show a method of evaluating whether the target time has been reached or has passed,
There are a method of defining the reference time and a method of defining the reference time in the periodic processing. For example, when the periodic processing occurs at intervals of 5 minutes, the time before the target time, and when more than 5 minutes have passed since the target time, the time when the target time has been reached or passed. Not considered. According to this evaluation method, the evaluation is made only once, and the same processing is not repeated on the same day. Alternatively, there is a method in which evaluation is performed using 0:00 as a reference time. In the case of this method, when the target time has been reached or passed, the power control process is repeated for each periodic process.

[0035]

[Embodiment 2] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a feature of the second aspect of the present invention. A device operation monitoring unit 901 is added to the configuration of the first embodiment. FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of a part added as the operation of the present embodiment from the operation of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The operation of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to this flowchart.

The operation of the management unit 104 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and compares the information corresponding to the device obtained from the power control time list 110 with the current time obtained from the timer 113, and Then, it is evaluated whether the power-off time has been reached or passed (609). If the time has not been reached or passed, the device power state is O
It is determined to be N (610). If the power-off time has been reached or passed, the 901 acquires an operation state from the device (1001) and evaluates whether the device is in a standby state (a state waiting for a processing instruction such as a sleep state or a preheating state). (1002). When the device is in the standby state, the operation proceeds to step 611 shown in the first embodiment. If the device is not in the standby state, the operation proceeds to the operation of step 610 shown in the first embodiment.

As a result, before the power is turned off according to the power control time list, the operation state of the device is detected, and when the device is not in the standby state, that is, when the device is in use or is stopped due to a problem during processing. Can delay the power down time.

Similarly to the first embodiment, this embodiment does not specifically show in the flowchart a method of evaluating whether the target time has been reached or has passed.

When the method based on the interval of the periodic processing described briefly in the first embodiment is used, when the power control is performed, the same power control is not performed on the same day unless the device is in a standby state. Become. Therefore, it is necessary to take a means for performing reprocessing in the next periodic processing, but this can be easily realized by storing the processing result. Alternatively, there is a method in which a time longer than the interval of the periodic processing is used as the evaluation time.

Alternatively, if the method uses the reference time, there is no problem because the power supply control process is repeated for each periodic process.

[0041]

[Embodiment 3] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a feature of the third aspect of the present invention. A power control record initialization unit 1101 and power control record information 1102 are added to the configuration of the first embodiment. FIG. 12 shows the information in 1102. FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of a portion added as the operation of the present embodiment from the operation of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The operation of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to this flowchart.

The operation of the management unit 104 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and compares the information corresponding to the device obtained from the power control time list 110 with the current time obtained from the timer 113, and Then, it is evaluated whether the power-off time has been reached or passed (609). If the time has not been reached or passed, the device power state is O
It is determined to be N (610). If the power-off time has been reached or passed, the power-supply control record is searched from the power-supply control record information 1102 to acquire the power-off record of the device (1301). When there is a power OFF record (13
02), it is determined that the power state of the device is ON (610). When there is no power-off record, the power-off method of the device is obtained from the power control information 112 (611).
Then, the power of the device is cut off according to the method (612). Thereafter, the power control OFF record of the device is added to the power control record information 1102 (1303), and it is determined that the power state of the device is OFF (61).
3). After 610 and 613, the same procedure as in the first embodiment is performed.

Similarly, in the process of 616, if the time has not reached or passed, it is determined that the power state of the device is OFF (617). If the power-on time has been reached or passed, the power supply control record is searched from the power supply control record information 1102 to acquire the power-on record of the device (1304). If there is a power ON record (1305),
It is determined that the power state of the device is OFF (61
7). If there is no power-on record, the power-on method of the device is obtained from the power control information 112 (618), and the device is powered on according to the method (61).
9). Thereafter, the power control ON record of the device is added to the power control record information 1102 (1306), and it is determined that the power state of the device is ON (620). 617,
After 620, the same procedure as in the first embodiment is performed.

Power control record initialization section 1101 and management section 1
The operation in step 04 operates asynchronously at such a timing that the operations on the power control record information 1102 do not overlap. Similarly to the management unit 104, the power control recording initialization unit 1101
There are various methods such as a method of starting from the module 13 and a method of starting from another module in the application 102. The power control record initialization unit 1101 operates once a day, and deletes information recorded in the power control record information 1102.

According to the method of the present embodiment described above, the problem of repeating the power supply operation using the reference time as described in the first embodiment can be solved. That is, the power state of the device managed by the management system is periodically detected and recorded, and the power operation of each device is performed according to the power control time recorded in the power control time list 110. When the power operation is performed by the device user after the operation, the power control operation at the next monitoring time can not be performed. This automatically turns off the power.
N, it is determined that the user is unnecessary, and the power supply is turned off.
Even if F, the power is not turned on again at the next monitoring time.

In this embodiment, the power control record is deleted at regular intervals, and the power control is recorded when the power control is performed. However, the power control record is not deleted at regular intervals, and the power control record information 1102 is deleted. As a recording method, a device that has been subjected to power control and a power control type (ON or OFF) is recorded in order of time, and 1301 and 1304 obtain a final time at which the same control was performed on the device, thereby evaluating the device. There is also. In this case, the power control record can be used as a log.

[0047]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
According to the present invention, there is a computer on which an application that manages a plurality of devices operates, and exchanges device information between the application and devices on the network via a communication line regardless of whether wired or wireless. In the device management system to be managed, after detecting and recording the power state of the device managed by the management system, schedule the power state of each device, and perform power control of each device according to the schedule. The power of the device can be turned off in accordance with the past use state, and unnecessary power consumption can be saved. In addition, the power can be turned on in accordance with the past use state, and if the past use state is followed, the state becomes available at that time. This can avoid the problem of having to wait until the power is turned on and a usable state is obtained when the power is turned on. Among them, there are a method of evaluating the time of power control and a method of performing the operation only once after the power control time is reached or elapsed, and a method of performing the operation many times.

According to the second aspect, when the power is turned off according to a schedule, the operation state of the device is detected, and when the device is in use, the power-off time can be delayed. In this case, if the method of performing the operation only once after the power control time is reached or elapsed according to the first aspect, the power control is not performed, but on the other hand, there is a problem that the power can be controlled many times.

As a method for solving this problem, claim 3
There are means of. According to claim 3, when the power is controlled by the user after the power is automatically controlled,
Performing power supply control again can be suppressed. If an attempt is made to perform a power operation according to the power control time and the device is in use, the power control is not performed and the apparatus waits until the next monitoring time. Power control is performed at the next monitoring time, and if power control is performed by the user by the next monitoring time, it is possible to realize that power control is not performed at the next monitoring time, and while power control is performed automatically, After the power operation by the user, the power control can be suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a management device list according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing device information of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a power supply state record of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a power control time list according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of the management unit 104 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of the power control time creation unit 111 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a power control time generation procedure according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 8-2 is a view showing a continuation of FIG. 8-1.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart of a power control time creation unit 111 according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating power control record information according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an operation flowchart of the management unit 104 according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Network 102 Management application 103 Communication unit 104 Device Management Unit 105 Power status recording unit 106 power control unit 107 Management device list 108 Device information 109 Device power record 110 Device power control time list 111 Power control time creation unit 112 Power control information 113 timer 901 Device operation monitoring unit 1101 Power control record initialization unit 1102 Power control record information

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04Q 9/00 G06F 1/00 332B

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A computer on which an application for managing a plurality of devices operates, wherein device information is exchanged between the application and devices on the network via a communication line regardless of whether the application is wired or wireless. A device management system for managing the power supply state of the device, a unit for recording the power supply state of the device, a unit for creating a power supply schedule from the record, and a power supply for the device. A power management apparatus in a device management system, comprising a means for operating, for controlling power of a device managed by the application from a past power state. 2. The power management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for detecting an operation state of the device, so as to delay a power-off time. 3. A device for storing a power operation result of a device, and a unit for initializing the power control result, thereby suppressing power control after automatic power control. The power management apparatus in the device management system according to claim 1, wherein: 4. A computer on which an application for managing a plurality of devices operates, wherein device information is exchanged between the application and devices on the network via a communication line regardless of whether the device is wired or wireless. A device management system for managing the power supply state of the device, a unit for recording the power supply state of the device, a unit for creating a power supply schedule from the record, and a power supply for the device. A management method in a device management system, comprising a means for operating, for controlling a power supply of a device managed by the application from a past power supply state. 5. The management method in the device management system according to claim 5, further comprising a means for detecting an operation state of the device, so as to delay a power-off time. 6. A device for storing a power operation result of a device and a unit for initializing the power control result, thereby suppressing power control again after automatically performing power control. 6. The management method in the device management system according to claim 5, wherein: