JP2008046754A - Boot device for equipment with power-saving function and computer-readable recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To propose a high-flexibility system controlling a return from a power-saving state of equipment with a power-saving function, preventing an application used by a general user from being modified and maintaining the power-saving state for a long time, and allowing a manager of the equipment to freely set an input pattern for the equipment to return from the power-saving state in an arbitrary place on a network without interfering with operation inherent in the equipment. <P>SOLUTION: A network device with the power-saving function has a means for inquiring the equipment on another network whether the equipment returns or not when receiving an input signal in the power-saving state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a network device having a power saving function.

  In order to save power consumption, there is a network device having a function of automatically shifting to a power saving state when it is not used for a certain period of time.

  When the network device is in a power saving state, the network device returns from the power saving state by being operated from another device via the network. As a method for recovering from the power saving state, a method is proposed in which an input signal from the network is received, and when there is an input whose input signal pattern matches a pre-registered input signal pattern, the method returns from the power saving state. Has been.

  As an input signal pattern for returning from the power saving state, a method of returning by a special input signal pattern called Magic Packet (registered trademark) which is not normally transmitted has been proposed. The input signal pattern referred to here is a packet pattern in Ethernet (registered trademark), and since the application range of this patent is not limited to Ethernet (registered trademark), it is generally referred to as an input signal pattern. This method does not return from the power saving state unless a special input signal pattern is received, so that the power saving state can be maintained for a long time.

  However, when a user uses a network device in a power saving state, a change for transmitting a special input signal pattern must be added in advance to all applications used by a general user. For this reason, a device in a power saving state cannot be used from an application that has not been changed.

  In order to avoid this problem, there is a method in which an existing application need not be changed by setting an input signal pattern to be returned from a power saving state to an input signal pattern transmitted by an application used by a general user. Conceivable. However, the above method has a demerit that it is immediately released from the power saving state.

  Further, a method of controlling the return from the power saving state by introducing a server that controls the network device between the client and the network device and mediating all communications to the server can be considered. However, in the above method, it is necessary to mediate the server regardless of whether or not the network device is in a power saving state. It has disadvantages such as the inability to use network devices.

  Furthermore, when a server that monitors electrical signals traveling between a client and a network device is introduced and an electrical signal that satisfies a certain condition set in the server is detected, the network device in the power saving state is saved. A method of controlling the return of the network device from the power saving state by transmitting a special input signal for returning from the power state can be considered. However, in the method as described above, the server that monitors the electrical signal must be installed in a location where the electrical signal that goes back and forth between the client and the network device must be monitored. Has the disadvantage of being difficult.

For example, Patent Literature 1 can be cited as a conventional example.
JP 2002-142385 A

  As described above, if a special input signal pattern is selected to maintain the power saving state, it cannot be used by some applications, and conversely, if an input signal pattern that can be used by all applications is selected. It is impossible to maintain the power saving state for a long time. In other words, selecting a special input signal pattern as an input signal pattern for returning from the power saving state is inconsistent with selecting an input signal pattern that can be used by all applications. It is impossible to solve the problem of maintaining the state for a long time and making it available to all applications at the same time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and there are two contradictory things that do not change the application used by the general user and maintain the power saving state for a long time. High flexibility that solves the problem and allows the administrator of the device to freely set the input pattern where the device returns from the power saving state in any network location without interfering with the original operation of the device An object of the present invention is to propose a mechanism for controlling a return from a power saving state of a device having a power saving function.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, when a network device in a power saving state receives a special input signal registered in advance, the network device recovers from the power saving state and receives other input signals. In this case, an inquiry is made as to whether or not to return to the server (another network device registered in advance). It is determined whether or not the network device is to be restored on the server side, and if so, a special input signal is transmitted from the server to the network device.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when a network device in a power saving state receives a special input signal set in advance, it recovers from the power saving state and receives other input signals. If the network device is transferred to the server (other network device registered in advance), the server determines whether or not to restore the network device. Send a signal.

  This mechanism solves the two contradictory problems of preventing changes to applications used by general users and maintaining the power-saving state for a long time. From the power-saving state of a highly flexible device with a power-saving function, the device administrator can freely set the input pattern for the device to return from the power-saving state at any network location. Can be realized.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment, a printing apparatus corresponding to a network apparatus is assumed as the network apparatus, but the same applies to all devices connected to the network and is not limited to the printing apparatus. In the embodiment, an Ethernet is assumed as a network. However, the same applies to all networks having a mechanism for communicating between devices regardless of wired or wireless, and the present invention is not limited to Ethernet (registered trademark). . In the embodiment, a server having a PC configuration is assumed as a network device that controls the return of the network device from the power saving state. However, the same applies to all devices connected to the network and is limited to the server having the PC configuration. is not.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a network in the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, a client PC (PC 101, PC 102, PC 103), a printing apparatus (DEV 104), and a server (SRV 105) that controls return from a power saving state of the printing apparatus (DEV 104) are mutually connected via a network (NET 106). Can be communicated to.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the printing apparatus (DEV 104) of FIG.
Normally, the printing apparatus (DEV 104) receives an electrical signal indicating a print request or an information acquisition request from a client PC (PC 101, PC 102, PC 103) on the network via the network and responds thereto.

  Normally, when the printing apparatus (DEV 104) is in a power saving state, even if a signal of a commonly used input signal pattern is transmitted from the client PC to the printing apparatus (DEV 104), the printing apparatus (DEV 104) does not respond to this. The printing apparatus (DEV 104) returns from the power saving state only when a special input signal pattern preset in the printing apparatus main body is received.

  When the printing apparatus (DEV 104) has no direct operation from the user or electrical input satisfying a certain condition for the printing apparatus (DEV 104), the printing apparatus (DEV 104) shifts to a power saving state. A certain condition here is a condition such as a transition to a power saving state when there is no input signal for how many hours, and is a preset value set in the device, which can also be set by the user. It is. When shifting to the power saving state, only the minimum necessary power is supplied to the controller CNTL1 and the apparatus main body ENG1 in FIG.

  In the printing apparatus (DEV 104), an input signal pattern for returning from the power saving state, such as a magic packet, is set in advance. The input signal pattern for returning from the power saving state can be set by the administrator or user of the printing apparatus. It may be set when the printing apparatus is shipped from the factory.

  In the printing apparatus (DEV 104), an address (including information such as a TCP port number) of the server (SRV 105) is set in advance by an administrator or a user of the printing apparatus.

  Hereinafter, the operation in the LANC 1 when the printing apparatus (DEV 104) in the power saving state receives an input signal via the network will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S401, the LANC 1 that has received the input signal from the outside via the network reads the input signal pattern that returns from the preset power saving state from the internal recording medium (ROM, RAM) in step S402.

  In step S403, the input signal received from the outside is analyzed. In step S404, the input signal pattern read in step S402 is compared with the input signal received from the outside. When a matching signal pattern is detected, in step S405, the LANC 1 sends an electrical signal to the controller CNTL1 to return from the power saving state. Furthermore, the controller CNTL1 that has returned from the power saving state sends an activation signal to the device main body ENG1, and the device returns from the power saving state. However, whether only the controller is activated depends on the settings and device specifications. In addition, the activation signal to the device main body ENG1 may be directly transmitted from the LANC1.

  If no matching signal pattern is detected in step S404, the address of the server (SRV 105) registered in advance is read out from the internal recording medium in step S406, and the printing apparatus (DEV 104) receives it in step S407. The input signal is transferred to the server (SRV 105). Information indicating that the server (SRV 105) is an input signal transferred from the printing apparatus (DEV 104) is added to the input signal to be transferred. The input signal to be transferred may be all or a part of the input signal received by the printing apparatus (DEV 104).

  Next, functions of the server (SRV 105) will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the server (SRV 105). The server (SRV 105) has a special input signal pattern such as a magic packet for returning from the power saving state set in the printing apparatus (DEV 104) itself, and an input for returning the printing apparatus (DEV 104). Signal patterns and conditions (user information that can restore the printing apparatus, PC information, time zone that can be restored, etc.) can be set. For example, when the printing device (DEV 104) is set to return from a power saving state by a general communication packet such as an ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) packet or a print job packet, or from a specific user or a specific terminal It is also possible to set so as to return from the power saving state only when a communication packet from is received.

  Normally, the return condition is set by an administrator or a user using a management application installed on the server (SRV 105). The set information is recorded in a recording medium such as a hard disk (C307) or an external memory (C303) of the server (SRV 105).

  The server (SRV 105) is activated by a resident program for receiving the input signal transferred from the printing apparatus / printing apparatus (DEV 104) and analyzing the input signal.

  The operation of the resident program in the server (SRV 105) that has received the input signal transferred from the printing apparatus (DEV 104) will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S501, when the server (SRV 105) receives the input signal transferred from the printing apparatus (DEV 104), in step S502, the server (SRV 105) analyzes the received input signal.

  If it is determined in step S503 that the received input signal is an input signal for the printing apparatus (DEV 104) transferred from the printing apparatus (DEV 104), the process proceeds to step S504. If the input signal is not transferred from the printing apparatus (DEV 104), the process ends without doing anything.

  In step S504, the input signal pattern and conditions set in advance by the administrator or user are read from the internal recording medium into the RAM (C307).

  In step S505, the input signal pattern / condition read in step S504 is compared with the analysis result of the received input signal to determine whether the condition for returning the printing apparatus (DEV 104) from the power saving state is met. It is assumed that the input signal transferred from the printing apparatus (DEV 104) includes information on the user who transmitted the input signal to the printing apparatus (DEV 104), information on the PC, and the like.

  If the condition for returning is satisfied, in step S506, the server (SRV 105) sends a special input signal pattern, such as a magic packet, set in the printing apparatus (DEV 104) itself to return from the power saving state to the printing apparatus (DEV 104). ) To return the printing apparatus (DEV 104).

  If the condition for returning is not met, the process is terminated without doing anything.

(Other examples)
The printing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment transfers the received input signal to the server, but analyzes the input signal on the printing apparatus side, and only the information necessary for determining whether the server side returns the printing apparatus to the server. May be sent to.

  The printing apparatus and the server according to the first exemplary embodiment are connected via Ethernet (registered trademark), but may be directly connected via an internal bus or the like.

1 is a network configuration diagram in Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a network device in Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a server in Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a network device according to the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server in the first embodiment.

Claims (9)

A network device having a power saving function,
A network apparatus comprising: means for inquiring whether or not to return to a device on another network when an input signal is received in a power saving state. The network device according to claim 1,
When an input signal is received in the power saving state, when inquiring whether to return to other network devices,
A network device, characterized in that any one of information on a user who uses the network device, information on a terminal, and information for determining a type of a communication packet is transmitted to the other network device. A network device having a power saving function,
A special input signal pattern for returning from the power saving state is preset,
A network device comprising: means for transferring an input signal pattern received to a device on another network when an input signal pattern other than the special input signal pattern is received in a power saving state. The network device according to claim 3, comprising means for setting an input signal pattern for returning from a power saving state,
Means for receiving the transferred input signal pattern from the network device according to claim 3,
Means for analyzing the input signal pattern to determine whether to restore the network device according to claim 3 from a power saving state;
A network having a power saving function, characterized by comprising means for transmitting a special input signal pattern for returning from the power saving state to the network device according to claim 3 when it is determined to return. apparatus.   The network device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, comprising a printing function. In a network device with a power saving function,
A computer-readable recording medium storing a program that realizes a function of inquiring whether or not to return to a device on another network when an input signal is received in a power saving state. The program according to claim 6;
When an input signal is received in the power saving state, when inquiring whether to return to other network devices,
A computer-readable recording medium storing a program that realizes a function of transmitting any of information on a user who uses a network device, information on a terminal, and information for determining a type of a communication packet to the other network device.   A computer that stores a program that realizes a function of transferring a received input signal pattern to a device on another network when an input signal pattern other than a special input signal pattern set in advance in a power saving state is received. A readable recording medium. A function of setting an input signal pattern for the network device according to claim 3 to return from the power saving state;
A function of receiving a transferred input signal pattern from the network device according to claim 3;
A function of analyzing the input signal pattern to determine whether or not to restore the network device according to claim 2 from a power saving state;
A computer-readable recording medium storing a program that realizes a function of transmitting a special input signal pattern for returning from a power saving state to the network device according to claim 3 when it is determined to return.

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