JP2006072650A - Service device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a service device which can reduce individual standby power requirement. <P>SOLUTION: The service device, which is connected to at least one requester device, operates in either of a plurality of operation modes included with an normal operation mode and a power-saving operation mode, and executes specified processings responding to service requests from the requester device. The service device estimates possibility for receiving requests from the requester apparatus, selects an operation mode based on the estimated possibility, and controls so as to operate in the selected operation mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a service device that accepts a service request from a requesting device such as a printer and executes predetermined processing in response to the service request.

In recent years, a network environment for connecting computer-related devices has become widespread, and many computer-related devices are communicating with each other. Under such circumstances, a device (service device) that accepts and processes a print service request from a large number of computers, such as a printer, is placed in a standby state so that it can immediately respond to an incoming request. .
JP 2003-303075 A

  As described above, the conventional service device such as a printer has a problem that power consumption in the standby state increases. Therefore, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the power of each printer on the network is remotely controlled based on the operating state of the host device that is a service request source and the priority printer list set for each host device. An apparatus for operating is provided. According to this apparatus, the standby power of the printer connected to the network can be reduced.

  However, in some cases, it is preferable to individually reduce standby power on the side of a device that provides services, such as individual printers, instead of arranging devices that centrally manage all printers on the network. However, if the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is applied to such a demand, each printer can be operated remotely from the power source of other printers, and the standby power can be individually set on the service providing apparatus side. It is not possible to meet the demand to reduce the amount.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a service device capable of individually reducing standby power.

  The present invention for solving the problems of the above conventional example is connected to at least one requesting device and operates in one of a plurality of operation modes including a normal operation mode and a power saving operation mode, A service device that executes a predetermined process in response to a service request from the requesting device, and an estimation unit that estimates a possibility of receiving a request from the requesting device, and an operation based on the estimated possibility Means for selecting a mode and controlling to operate in the selected operation mode.

  Here, the estimation means may estimate the possibility of receiving a request from the requesting apparatus based on whether or not the connected requesting apparatus is operating. In addition, the estimation unit selects at least a part of the connected requesting device as a confirmation target, and receives a request from the requesting device based on whether or not the requesting device that is the confirmation target is operating. It is also possible to estimate the possibility. In this case, the estimation unit may select at least a part of the connected requesting devices as a confirmation target based on a history of service requests made in the past.

  Further, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a service from the requesting device is connected to at least one requesting device, and operates in any of a plurality of operation modes including a normal operation mode and a power saving operation mode. A service device control method for executing a predetermined process in response to a request, the step of estimating the possibility of receiving a request from the requesting device, and selecting an operation mode based on the estimated possibility, And a step of controlling to operate in the selected operation mode.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a program, which is connected to at least one requesting device and operates in any one of a plurality of operation modes including a normal operation mode and a power saving operation mode, A procedure for estimating the possibility of receiving a request from the requesting device to a service device that executes predetermined processing in response to a service request from the requesting device, and selecting an operation mode based on the estimated possibility And a procedure for controlling to operate in the selected operation mode.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the present embodiment, a case where the service apparatus is installed in an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a multifunction peripheral will be described. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the service device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, an operation unit 13, a display unit 14, a communication unit 15, an image forming unit 16, The power saving control unit 17 is included, and is connected to a personal computer (PC) 2 as a requesting device via a network.

  The control unit 11 can be realized using a CPU or the like, and operates based on a program stored in the storage unit 12. The control unit 11 executes predetermined processing in response to a service request from the PC 2 as a requesting device. Specifically, in this example, since the service apparatus 1 is an image forming apparatus, an image formation request (print request or the like) is received as a service request from the PC 2 side, and an image is printed on a medium such as a sheet based on the formation request. It will provide the services that form above.

  In addition, the control unit 11 according to the present embodiment estimates the possibility of receiving a request from the PC 2 as the requesting device, and selects an operation mode based on the estimated possibility. That is, the service device 1 according to the present embodiment can be selectively set to any one of a plurality of operation modes including a normal operation mode and a power saving operation mode by a power saving control unit 17 described later. . The control unit 11 outputs an instruction or the like for changing the operation mode to the power saving control unit 17 based on the estimated possibility. The contents of the processing of the control unit 11 will be described in detail later.

  The storage unit 12 is configured using a storage element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory). The storage unit 12 is a computer-readable recording medium that stores a program executed by the control unit 11. The storage unit 12 also operates as a work memory that holds data required when the control unit 11 is executed.

  The operation unit 13 is a button, a touch panel overlaid on the display unit 14, etc., and accepts a user operation and outputs it to the control unit 11. The display unit 14 is a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays information according to an instruction input from the control unit 11.

  The communication unit 15 receives data via the network and outputs the data to the control unit 11. Further, the communication unit 15 transmits data to the instructed destination via the network according to the instruction input from the control unit 11.

  The image forming unit 16 forms an image on a medium such as paper based on an instruction input from the control unit 11. The power saving control unit 17 controls power supply to each unit according to a preset condition. For example, when the control unit 11 accepts a service request, the control unit 11 shifts to a mode (normal mode) in which power is supplied to each unit including the image forming unit 16. When a timer (not shown) detects that a predetermined time has elapsed since the completion of image formation, the mode shifts to a mode (power saving mode) in which power supply to the image forming unit 16 is stopped. Furthermore, the power saving control unit 17 may selectively shift to one of a plurality of power saving modes. For example, not only the power supply to the image forming unit 16 but also the power supply to the display unit 14 is stopped, the operation clock of the CPU as the control unit 11 is lowered, and so-called “deep” that further reduces power consumption. It may be possible to shift to the power saving mode. When the power saving mode is set in stages as described above, the power saving control unit 17 determines which operation mode of the stepped power saving modes to shift to based on a predetermined condition. To do.

  Further, the power saving control unit 17 according to the present embodiment changes the operation mode in accordance with the operation mode change instruction input from the control unit 11.

  The contents of the operation by the control unit 11 will be described here. Basically, the control unit 11 according to the present embodiment estimates the possibility of receiving a request from the PC 2 as a requesting apparatus, and selects an operation mode based on the estimated possibility. Here, the possibility of receiving the request may be the presence or absence of the possibility of receiving the request, or may be, for example, a probability evaluation of the possibility.

  Specifically, the control unit 11 confirms whether the PC 2 as the requesting device is operating at a predetermined timing (for example, regularly every 30 minutes), and is connected via the network. If all of the PCs 2 are not in operation, it is instructed to shift to one of the power saving modes because there is no possibility of receiving a request. Here, whether or not the PC 2 is operating may be determined by transmitting a Ping (pin) packet from the control unit 11 to each PC 2 via the network and receiving a response thereto. .

  Further, it is possible to confirm whether or not the PCs 2 that actually make service requests are operating without checking all the PCs 2 connected via the network. That is, even among the PCs 2 connected to the network, for example, those that operate as a file server are unlikely to be requested for printing, and are often in a constantly operating state. Therefore, such PC2 is excluded from the objects of confirmation in advance.

  Specifically, a list of network addresses of PCs 2 to be checked is stored in the storage unit 12 in advance, and the control unit 11 may set PCs 2 of network addresses included in the list to be checked. . In addition, excluding address specifying information for specifying the network address of the PC 2 to be excluded from the confirmation target is stored in the storage unit 12 in advance and specified by the excluding address specifying information among the PCs 2 connected via the network. The PC 2 to which the network address different from the address to be assigned is assigned may be the target of confirmation. Here, the excluded address specifying information may be a list of a plurality of network addresses, or may represent a range of network addresses.

  Further, the control unit 11 may select the PC 2 to be confirmed based on the history of service requests made in the past. In this case, the control unit 11 first acquires a list of network addresses of the PC 2 connected to the network. This list may be stored in the storage unit 12 in advance, for example. Then, the date and time when the request was last received for each network address and the determination result as to whether or not the PC 2 is a service request are associated with each other and held as a confirmation target table (FIG. 2). These date and time information and judgment result information may be initialized as blank (NULL) at the beginning (while the request is not accepted). The control unit 11 records the date and time when the confirmation target table is stored in the storage unit 12.

  Each time the control unit 11 accepts a service request, the control unit 11 obtains the network address of the PC 2 that made the service request, and information on the date and time when the request was last received in the confirmation target table. Is rewritten to the date and time when the request for the service is accepted. In addition, the information of the determination result on the confirmation target table associated with the network address of the service request source is changed to “confirmation target”.

  Furthermore, the control unit 11 has not yet received a service request when a predetermined time (for example, 8 hours) has elapsed from the date and time when the confirmation target table is stored (the date and time when the service request was last received is blank). ) Set the information of the determination result associated with the network address to “not subject to confirmation”. Hereinafter, the control unit 11 sets the PC 2 corresponding to the network address whose determination result information is “confirmation target” as the confirmation target.

  In addition, in this way, when selecting a confirmation target based on a history of past service requests, the administrator or the like may be able to change the result of the determination as to whether or not to be a confirmation target later. . That is, the control unit 11 receives an instruction to display the determination result and displays the determination result for each network address on the display unit 14. Further, when receiving an instruction to change the result of the determination for a part of the result, the result of the determination is changed based on the instruction.

  Further, the control unit 11 receives an input of a setting table in which the network address is associated with the setting content indicating whether or not to be a confirmation target from an administrator or the like and holds it in the storage unit 12. The contents of the confirmation target table may be changed based on the contents. That is, the control unit 11 reads one entry (a set of a network address and a setting content indicating whether or not to check) from the setting table. Then, on the confirmation target table, the determination result associated with the same network address as the read network address is set as the determination result read from the setting table. For example, in the confirmation target table, it is assumed that “non-confirmation target” is set as information of the determination result in association with the network address “A”. At this time, when the administrator inputs a table associating the network address “A” and “confirmation target” (for example, via the network) as a setting table, the table is displayed on the confirmation target table based on the information in the setting table. The information of the determination result associated with the network address “A” is changed to “confirmation target”.

  In the above description, it is determined whether or not the PC 2 to be checked is operating at every predetermined timing. This processing is performed after a service request is received from any of the PCs 2 for example. You may make it perform after predetermined time passes. For example, when 30 minutes have passed without receiving a print request, a process for confirming the operating state of the PC 2 may be started at every predetermined timing.

  Further, referring to a calendar (not shown), it may be determined whether or not processing is performed according to the day of the week or the time zone. For example, it may be controlled not to perform the transition process to the power saving mode based on the operating state of the PC 2 from 8 am to 8 pm on weekdays (Monday to Friday).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus as the service apparatus 1 operates as follows. That is, it is assumed that three PCs 2 (PCs 2a, 2b, 2c) are connected to the image forming apparatus via a network. Of these, the PC 2c is a file server, from which no image formation request is made.

  In this case, the administrator stores, for example, a list describing the network addresses of the PCs 2a and 2b in the storage unit 12 of the image forming apparatus (as a list representing a confirmation target). The control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus serving as the service apparatus 1 reads a list representing a confirmation target, and transmits a pin packet to a network address included in the list. Here, a pin packet is transmitted to the two PCs 2a and 2b.

  While at least one of the PCs 2a and 2b is powered on, at least one of the PCs 2a and 2b responds to the pin packet and returns a packet. Therefore, the control unit 11 determines that at least one of the PCs 2a and 2b Do not change the operation mode as operating (continue operation in normal mode).

  On the other hand, if both the PCs 2a and 2b are powered off, neither of these PCs 2a and 2b will respond to the pin packet. Therefore, the control unit 11 determines that both the PCs 2a and 2b are not operating, and instructs the operation mode to be changed to the power saving mode. Then, the power saving control unit 17 stops the power supply to the image forming unit 16.

  Further, the control unit 11 checks whether or not each PC 2 to be confirmed is operating even in the power saving mode, and returns to the normal mode when the PC 2 is operating. You may control.

  Further, when a plurality of PCs 2 connected on the network are managed by being divided into network groups, even if the operation mode change contents are controlled according to the network group to which the operating PC 2 belongs. Good.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a first network group G1 including a service device 1 and PCs 2a, 2b, and 2c, a second network group G2 including other PCs 2d and 2e, and the first and first It is assumed that a large group MG including two network groups is set.

  In this case, the service apparatus 1 also includes a first power saving mode in which the display unit 14 is turned off (hereinafter referred to as a light power saving mode), and a second mode in which the display unit 14 and the image forming unit 16 are turned off. It is assumed that there are at least two power saving modes, i.e., a power saving mode (hereinafter simply referred to as a power saving mode).

  The administrator associates information for specifying the network group with information on the power saving mode in advance. For example, here, as shown in FIG. 4, the information specifying the first network group G1, the entry E1 associated with the information specifying the light power saving mode, the information specifying the large group MG, and the power saving mode are set. The entry E2 associated with the information to be identified is set and stored in the storage unit 12. Information indicating to which group each PC 2 belongs is stored in the storage unit 12. For example, since the PC 2a belongs to the first network group G1 and also belongs to the large group MG, the PC 2a stores information specifying the first network group G1 and the large group MG in association with each other. Is done.

  The control unit 11 checks the operating state of each PC 2 to be confirmed by the same method as already described. Here, it is assumed that four PCs PC2a, 2b, 2d, and 2e are set as confirmation targets. The control unit 11 checks the operating state of the PC 2 to be confirmed.

  While at least one PC 2 to be confirmed belonging to the first network group G1 is operating (at this time, at least one PC 2 belonging to the large group MG is also operating). The control unit 11 does not change the operation mode.

  Eventually, when the operation of the PC 2 to be confirmed belonging to the first network group G1 stops, the control unit 11 first instructs to shift to the light power saving mode. Then, in a state where one of the PCs 2 to be confirmed belonging to the large group MG (one of the PCs 2 to be confirmed belonging to the second network group G2 in the case of the system in FIG. 3) is operating, The operation in the light power saving mode is continued.

  On the other hand, when all the PCs 2 to be confirmed belonging to the large group MG (all PCs 2 to be confirmed belonging to the second network group G2 in the case of the system in FIG. 3) stop operating, An instruction to shift to the power saving mode is issued, and power supply to the image forming unit 16 of the service apparatus 1 is shut off.

  Further, in the description so far, it is determined whether or not there is a request depending on whether or not the PC 2 is operating, but instead of this, for example, the frequency of the past request acceptance. Accordingly, a weight is set for each PC 2 (for example, the higher the frequency, the higher the weight), and the total weight of the operating PC 2 (this corresponds to the evaluation value of the possibility of the present invention) is predetermined. The operation mode may be switched depending on whether or not the threshold value is exceeded. Further, the operation mode may be associated with each range of the total weight value, and the operation mode may be switched according to the range of the calculated total weight value.

  Although the image forming apparatus has been described as an example of the service apparatus 1 here, the service apparatus 1 is not limited to this, and may be a printer server connected to the image forming apparatus. Thus, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to individually reduce standby power.

It is a block diagram showing the example of a structure of the service apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and its connection state. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of a confirmation object table. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of a structure of a network. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of a setting of an operation mode.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Service apparatus, 2 Personal computer, 11 Control part, 12 Storage part, 13 Operation part, 14 Display part, 15 Communication part, 16 Image formation part, 17 Power saving control part

Claims (6)

Connected to at least one requesting device, operates in one of a plurality of operation modes including a normal operation mode and a power saving operation mode, and performs predetermined processing in response to a service request from the requesting device. A service device to execute,
Estimating means for estimating the possibility of receiving a request from the requesting device;
Means for selecting an operation mode based on the estimated possibility and controlling to operate in the selected operation mode;
A service device comprising: The service device according to claim 1,
The estimation device estimates the possibility of receiving a request from the requesting device based on whether or not the connected requesting device is operating. The service device according to claim 1,
The estimation unit may select at least a part of the connected requesting devices as a confirmation target and receive a request from the requesting device based on whether or not the requesting device that is the confirmation target is operating. A service device characterized by estimating sex. The service device according to claim 3,
The estimation device selects at least a part of the connected requesting devices as a confirmation target based on a history of service requests made in the past. Connected to at least one requesting device, operates in one of a plurality of operation modes including a normal operation mode and a power saving operation mode, and performs predetermined processing in response to a service request from the requesting device. A method for controlling a service device to be executed, comprising:
Estimating the likelihood of receiving a request from the requesting device;
Selecting an operation mode based on the estimated possibility and controlling to operate in the selected operation mode;
A service apparatus control method comprising: Connected to at least one requesting device, operates in one of a plurality of operation modes including a normal operation mode and a power saving operation mode, and performs predetermined processing in response to a service request from the requesting device. In the service device to be executed,
A procedure for estimating the likelihood of receiving a request from the requesting device;
A procedure for selecting an operation mode based on the estimated possibility and controlling to operate in the selected operation mode;
A program characterized by having executed.

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