JP2005173690A - Power supply control and management method for image forming devices connected to network - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that automatic adjustment of the number of operating image forming devices sometimes could not provide the number desired by a user. <P>SOLUTION: In this power supply control and management system for image forming system, the use frequency of image forming devices within a period from a certain time to another certain time in one day is counted, and the number of powered-ON image forming devices for the period is determined by a powered-ON image forming device number determination means based on the count value stored by a count value storage means. This system comprises a reflection selecting means capable of selecting whether this number is reflected to the schedule of a certain date or not. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a power control management method for an image forming apparatus connected to a network capable of managing a time schedule for power ON / OFF of a plurality of image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers connected to the network.

  In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-227296, an estimated usage value for each hour of each day is obtained based on the statistics of the amount printed by the printer, and determined based on the statistics, and the necessary printer value is determined according to the expected usage value and the usage status at that time. It has been proposed that the printers on the network can be efficiently used with less power by turning on the power of the number of the printers.

  In the conventional example as described above, the number of image forming apparatuses that are powered on is determined by the host computer that manages the image forming apparatus, and may not be the number desired by the user.

  Further, in the conventional example as described above, since the power is turned on for the required number of printers, the power of the image forming apparatus unintended by the user may be turned on for a certain type of job.

  The present invention has been made based on the background as described above, and automatically learns from the use status of a copying machine and a printer, and selects whether to reflect the learning result on the next date and time or not. It is an object of the present invention to provide a power control management system for image forming apparatuses connected to a network, characterized in that the number of copiers and printers in which is turned on is adjusted.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a count unit that counts the number of times an image forming apparatus is used in an image forming apparatus management apparatus connected to a network, a count value storage unit that stores a value counted by the counting unit, and the counting unit. The number of power-on image forming apparatuses that store the number of power-on image forming apparatuses connected to the network with respect to the value counted in step (b), and the number of power-on image forming apparatuses on the network with respect to the value counted by the counting means The number of power-on image forming apparatuses is determined, and the time schedule can be automatically learned from the actual usage status for each date and time to manage the number of power-on image forming apparatuses. In the system, the time divided from a certain time of day to a certain time by the counting means The number of times the image forming apparatus has been used is counted, and based on the value stored by the count value storing means, the power ON image forming apparatus for the divided time is determined by the power ON image forming apparatus number determining means. By a power supply control management system for an image forming apparatus connected to a network, comprising a selection unit that determines the number of apparatuses and can select whether to reflect the number in a schedule of a certain date and time. Achieved.

  As described above, according to the power control management system for the copying machine and printer connected to the network according to the present invention, the learning result is automatically learned from the usage status of the copying machine and printer connected to the network. Since it is now possible to select whether or not to reflect in the schedule of the next date and time, even if the number of copiers and printers that are turned on and set automatically by the host computer is not the number desired by the user Immediately, the number of users desired can be obtained. In addition, since the power of the copying machine and the printer is not turned on more than necessary, the power consumption of the copying machine and the printer can be reduced.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  In FIG. 1, 3, 4 and 5 are printers connected to the network 2, 6, 7 and 16 are copiers having the function of a printer connected to the network 2, and 17, 18, and 19 are printers. A copying machine having a sorting function having the function of a printer connected to the network 2, 8, 9, and 10 are a plurality of computers connected to the network 2, and 1 is connected to the network 2 The host computer manages the number of power ON / OFF of the copying machine and printer. The host computer 1 has a function of turning on / off the power of the copying machines 6, 7, 16, 17, 18, 19 and the printers 3, 4, 5 via the network 2.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal functions of the host computer 1 shown in FIG. The copying machine and printer job number counter 12 counts the number of jobs of each copying machine and printer, and the count value is stored in the copying machine and printer job number count storage unit 13. Based on the value, the copier and printer power ON / OFF setting unit 15 sets the number of copiers and printers to turn on the power stored in the power ON copier and printer number setting value storage unit 14. To do.

  3, 5, and 6 show a copy and print job every 30 minutes requested by the copier and sorter-equipped copier and printer of FIG. 1 stored in the count number storage unit 13 of FIG. 2. Is a graph showing the number of outputs of. FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 show the numbers of copiers, sorter-equipped copiers, and printers that are turned on every 30 minutes per day as compared to FIGS.

  The host computer 1 in FIG. 1 performs copy, sort copy and print jobs for each copier (6, 7, 16, 17, 18, 19) and each printer (3, 4, 5) every 30 minutes of each day. 2 can be counted by the copying machine and printer job number counter 12 shown in FIG. 2, and the data is stored in the copying machine and printer job number count storage unit 13 shown in FIG. The host computer 1 also counts the number of copying machines and printer jobs every 30 minutes shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 stored in the copying machine and printer job times count storage unit 13 of the host computer 1. 7, 8, and 9, the number of copiers and printers to be turned on is stored in the power-on copier and printer number set value storage unit 14 of FIG. 2. The number of copiers and printer power ON for the number of copiers and printer jobs for each date and time stored in the copier and printer job count count storage unit 13 is determined by the copier and printer number set value storage unit 14 in FIG. Thus, the copying machine and printer power ON / OFF setting unit 15 determines so that the power of the copying machine and printer is turned on by the determined number.

  10, 11, and 12 are the contents stored in the power-on copier and the number-of-printers-setting-value storage unit 14 in FIG. It is a table necessary for determining the number of copiers with copiers, copiers without sorters, and printers. FIG. 13 is a table showing what job the alphabet used in FIGS.

  From here, an example will be described to determine the number of power-on units for each number of jobs. For example, it is assumed that the number of counts from 14:30 to 15:00 is 6 for the sort copy job, 22 for the copy job, and 36 for the print job. Since the number of sort copy jobs is 6, according to FIG. 10, it is only necessary to turn on the power of only one copying machine with a sorter within the usage frequency range 2. Here, the sorter-equipped copying machine has the ability to process the remaining jobs. As shown in FIG. 10, the number of jobs that the sorter-equipped copier can perform other than the sort copy is 11 from the equation (10−A) +7 (A: the number of sort copy jobs) when A = 6. 11 can be done. As a result, the jobs that can be performed by the copying machine with a sorter are the sort copy job 6 and the copy job 11. Accordingly, since the remaining copy job is 11, the usage frequency range 3 is obtained from FIG. 11. Therefore, it is only necessary to turn on the power of only two copy machines without a sorter. Here, the sorterless copier has the ability to process the remaining print jobs. Referring to FIG. 11, the number of jobs that the non-sorter copier can do other than copying is 30− (D−B) +14 (D: number of copy jobs, B: number of copy jobs processed by the copier with sorter). Since 33 is obtained from the equation, only 33 print jobs can be performed. As a result, the jobs that can be performed by the sorterless copying machine are the copy job 11 and the print job 33. Accordingly, since the remaining number of print jobs is 3, the usage frequency range 2 is obtained from FIG. 12, so that only one printer needs to be turned on.

  Finally, from FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, the number of power-ons from the next time 14:30 to 15:00 is one copier with sorter, two copiers without sorter, and one printer.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the copier and printer connected to the network. In step S10, it is confirmed whether or not a predetermined time of 30 minutes has elapsed. If the predetermined time of 30 minutes has not elapsed, the job count is continued in step S11, and the process returns to step S10. In step 10, when the predetermined time of 30 minutes elapses, in step S12, the host computer is notified of the job count value for 30 minutes. Thereafter, in step 13, the count value is cleared.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the host computer.

  First, in step S1, 30 minutes after counting the number of copying machine and printer jobs for 30 minutes, or after the host computer automatically learns and stores the number of copying machine and printer power supplies ON. Check if 30 minutes have passed to change the number of copiers and printers to be turned on. If 30 minutes have not passed in step S1, it is selected in step S2 whether to reflect the data of the optimum number of copiers and printer power ON for each date and time obtained by automatic learning before. If not reflected, the power is turned on only for the number set by the user in step S6. In the case of reflecting, it is confirmed in step S3 whether the number of copying machines and printers whose power is ON is the number determined by the host computer. When it is confirmed that the number of copiers and printers whose power is ON is the number determined by the host computer, the number of jobs of the copier and printer is counted for 30 minutes in step S4, and the process returns to step S1. . If the number of copying machines and printers that are turned on is not the number determined by the host computer, in step S5, the number of copying machines and printers that are turned on is set to the number determined by the host computer. Return to step S1.

  On the other hand, if it is confirmed in step S1 that 30 minutes have elapsed, the number of jobs output by the copier and printer until 30 minutes have elapsed in step S7 is stored, and in step S8, the number of copiers and printers turned on at a certain date and time are stored. And return to step S1.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the network in a present Example. It is a figure which shows a part of internal structure of the host computer in a present Example. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a graph of the number of sort copy jobs every 30 minutes stored in a power-on copier and printer number setting value storage unit inside the host computer in the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the host computer in a present Example. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a graph of the number of copy jobs every 30 minutes per day stored in a power-on copier and a printer number setting value storage unit inside the host computer in the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a graph of the number of print jobs every 30 minutes per day stored in a power-on copier and a printer number set value storage unit in the host computer according to the present exemplary embodiment. The figure which shows what graphed the number of power ON of the copier with a sorter which is memorize | stored in the power ON copier and printer number setting value memory | storage part inside the host computer in a present Example every 30 minutes. It is. The figure which shows what graphed the number of power ON of a copier without a sorter which is memorize | stored in the power ON copier and printer number setting value memory | storage part inside a host computer in a present Example every 30 minutes. It is. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a graph of the number of printers that are turned on every 30 minutes, stored in a power-on copying machine and the number-of-printers setting value storage unit inside the host computer in the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a table showing the operating unit setting value of a copier with a sorter stored in the power-on copying machine and the printer unit setting value storage unit in the host computer according to the present embodiment with respect to the usage frequency every 30 minutes per day. is there. FIG. 5 is a table showing the setting values of the number of operating copiers without sorters with respect to the frequency of use every 30 minutes stored in the power-on copying machine and the printer number setting value storage unit in the host computer in the embodiment. is there. 4 is a table showing the number of operating printer settings for the frequency of use every 30 minutes stored in a power-on copier and printer number setting value storage unit inside the host computer in the embodiment. Explanation of each symbol. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the copier and the printer in this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1, 11 Host computer
2 network
3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Copy machines and printers connected to the network
8, 9, 10 computers
12 Copying machine and printer usage counter
13 Copy machine and printer use count value storage
14 Copier and printer number setting value storage section with power on
15 Copying machine and printer power ON / OFF setting section

Claims (2)

In the image forming device management device connected to the network,
A count unit that counts the number of times the image forming apparatus is used, a count value storage unit that stores a value counted by the count unit, and a power-on image forming apparatus connected to a network with respect to the value counted by the count unit. A power ON image forming apparatus number storage means for storing the number, and a power ON image forming apparatus number determination means for determining the number of power ON image forming apparatuses on the network for the value counted by the counting means,
In a system that can automatically learn the time schedule from the actual usage status for each date and time and manage the number of image forming devices that are powered on,
The count means counts the number of times the image forming apparatus has been used within a time period divided from a certain time of day to a certain time, and based on the value stored by the count value storage means, the power supply ON image forming apparatus number determination means includes a reflection selection means that determines the number of power-on image forming apparatuses with respect to the divided time, and reflects whether or not the number is reflected in a schedule of a certain date and time. A power supply control management system for an image forming apparatus connected to a network. An image forming apparatus management apparatus having a power-on image forming apparatus priority setting unit for selecting which image forming apparatus to be turned on from among the image forming apparatuses connected to the network is different in several types of functions. In the power control management system of the image forming apparatus connected to the network to which the forming apparatus is connected,
The image forming apparatuses having different types of functions include job counting means for counting jobs of the respective image forming apparatuses, and the image forming apparatus management apparatus based on the values counted by the job counting means. 2. The network-connected image according to claim 1, wherein the power-on image forming apparatus priority order setting unit sets priorities for the image forming apparatuses having different functions of turning on the power. Power control management system for forming equipment.

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