JP2008153770A - Image forming apparatus, power source control method thereof, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To further improve convenience while achieving reduction in power consumption of an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 1 which has a plurality of hardware modules and actualizes a plurality of functions with the hardware modules is provided with a user-related data storage unit 101 which stores availability information showing which user can or can not use which of those functions, a recognition processing unit 104 which decides which user is to use the image forming apparatus 1, a hardware module specifying unit 105 which specifies hardware modules needed for none of functions that the user shown in the availability information and decided as a user to use the image forming apparatus 1 can use, and a second power supply control unit 107 which stops supplying electric power to the hardware modules specified by the hardware module specifying unit 105. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for controlling the power supply of an image forming apparatus such as an MFP.

  2. Description of the Related Art Currently, an image forming apparatus called a multi function peripheral or MFP (Multi Function Peripherals) having a plurality of functions such as copying, network printing, scanner, fax, and document server has become widespread.

  Such an image forming apparatus is generally provided with a power saving function for suppressing power consumption in the image forming apparatus. This power saving function is activated when the image forming apparatus is not operated for a certain period. Then, for example, the hard disk motor is stopped or the display portion of the operation panel is darkened, thereby switching to a mode for suppressing power consumption (power saving mode). The power saving mode is continued until a predetermined event such as an operation by the user occurs, and during that time, the power consumption is kept smaller than the normal consumption. When the power saving mode is canceled, the image forming apparatus returns to a state where it can be used normally.

  As a technique related to this power saving function, a method as in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. According to the method of Patent Document 1, a sleep state of an MFP (image forming apparatus) can be canceled from a terminal on the Web, and the activation status of the MFP can be confirmed on the Web.

  Patent Documents 2 and 3 disclose methods for controlling the power mode for each configuration of the image forming apparatus.

  According to the method of Patent Document 2, the image forming apparatus is prevented from returning from the energy saving state unless the copy button, document box button, fax button, printer button, and scanner button provided for each function are selected. Perform power recovery for only the necessary parts.

According to the method of Patent Document 3, the image forming apparatus is controlled so as to warm up only the configuration related to the function selected by the user or the function for which job input has been performed.
JP 2004-166257 A JP 2004-222234 A JP 2005-297264 A

  However, according to the conventional methods described in Patent Documents 2 and 3, the power mode of each component of the image forming apparatus is determined unless the user selects a function or the job is input. I can't.

  Therefore, it may take time to switch the power mode, and the user may not be able to immediately perform the desired work.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it improves the convenience for the user as compared with the related art while reducing the power consumption of the image forming apparatus.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a plurality of hardware modules and realizing a plurality of functions by the hardware modules, which user can use which of the functions or Usability information storage means for storing usability information indicating whether the image cannot be used, user discrimination means for discriminating which user is going to use the image forming apparatus, and the image formation indicated in the usability information Among the functions that can be used by the user who is determined to use the device, the hardware module that is not required for any of the functions is determined, and the hardware module determination unit that is determined by the hardware module determination unit Stops supplying power to the hardware module or supplies power And having a power saving control means for reducing than normal.

  Preferably, when the user tries to log in to the image forming apparatus, the supply of power to the hardware module that stops the supply of power or reduces the supply of power is lower than normal. Power recovery control means, and when the user inputs his or her identification information to log in to the image forming apparatus, the user determination means determines which user has the image based on the identification information. Determine if you are going to use the forming device.

  Or power recovery control means for recovering the power supply amount to the hardware module that normally stops power supply or reduces the power supply amount from normal, and the user determination means is When the user inputs his / her identification information in order to log in to the image forming apparatus, it is determined which user is going to use the image forming apparatus based on the identification information, and the power recovery control For the hardware module whose warm-up time exceeds a predetermined time, when the user starts an operation for logging in to the image forming apparatus, the power supply amount is restored as usual. For the hardware module in which the time required for warm-up is less than the predetermined time, the hardware module Lumpur judgment device by a result of the process, when no is determined to be unnecessary to recover the amount of electric power supplied normally.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the convenience for the user as compared with the related art while reducing the power consumption of the image forming apparatus.

  1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of the image processing system GSS, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. It is a figure which shows the example of.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing system GSS according to the present invention includes an image forming apparatus 1, a terminal device 2, a server 3, a fax (FAX) terminal 4, a communication line NT1, a communication line NT2, and the like.

  The image forming apparatus 1, the terminal device 2, and the server 3 can be connected to each other via the communication line NT1. Image forming apparatus 1 and fax terminal 4 can be connected to each other via communication line NT2. A LAN, the Internet, an intranet, a public line, a dedicated line, or the like is used as the communication line NT1, and communication using TCP / IP and related protocols is performed through the communication line NT1. Further, a public line is used as the communication line NT2, and communication using a protocol such as G3 or G4 is performed via the communication line NT2.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is an image processing apparatus that integrates various application functions such as a copy function, a PC print function, a fax transmission function, a fax reception function, a net scan (NetScan) function, and a box (Box) function. Sometimes called a multi-function peripheral or MFP (Multi Function Peripherals).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a CPU 10a, a RAM 10b, a ROM 10c, a hard disk 10d, a control circuit 10e, an operation unit 10f, a communication interface 10g, a printer unit 10k, a scanner unit 10m, a fax unit 10n, and a power supply. It is comprised by hardware modules, such as the part 10p.

  The scanner unit 10m is an apparatus that optically reads an image such as a photograph, a character, a picture, or a chart drawn on a document sheet to generate image data.

  The fax unit 10n is a device for transmitting the image data obtained by the scanner unit 10m to the fax terminal 4 via the communication line NT2.

  The communication interface 10g is a NIC (Network Interface Card) for communicating with the terminal device 2 or the server 3 via the communication line NT1.

  The printer unit 10k designates image data obtained by the scanner unit 10m, image data from the terminal device 2 received by the communication interface 10g, or image data from the fax terminal 4 received by the fax unit 10n by the user. The apparatus converts the data into data for printing according to the above, and prints on the paper by a known method such as an electrophotographic method.

  The hard disk 10d includes a user-related data storage unit 101, a hardware module-related data storage unit 102, an input receiving unit 103, an authentication processing unit 104, a hardware module specifying unit 105, a first power supply control unit 106, and A program and data for realizing the second power control unit 107 and the like are installed. These programs and data are read into the RAM 10b as necessary, and the programs are executed by the CPU 10a. Some or all of these programs or data may be stored in the ROM 10c. Alternatively, some or all of these functions may be realized by the control circuit 10e.

  The control circuit 10e is a circuit for controlling devices such as the hard disk 10d, the operation unit 10f, the communication interface 10g, the printer unit 10k, the scanner unit 10m, and the fax unit 10n.

  The operation unit 10f is configured by a touch panel, a numeric keypad, and the like. The touch panel displays a screen for giving a message or an instruction to the user, a screen for inputting a processing type and processing conditions desired by the user, and the like. Further, the position touched by the user's finger is detected and the information is transmitted to the CPU 10a.

  The power supply unit 10p is a device for supplying power to each hardware module. In particular, power is independently supplied to the hard disk 10d, the communication interface 10g, the printer unit 10k, the scanner unit 10m, and the fax unit 10n. That is, the power supply can be switched on or off for each of these hardware modules. Further, for each hardware module, the amount of power supply (power supply amount) can be reduced more than usual by reducing the processing speed or stopping the motor.

  Hereinafter, a state in which the power of one or more hardware modules is turned off or the power supply amount is reduced more than usual while the main power of the image forming apparatus 1 is on is referred to as “power saving mode”.

  A part of these hardware modules cooperate to realize the application function described above.

  The “copy function” is an application function for reading an image of a document by the scanner unit 10m and printing the image on a sheet by the printer unit 10k.

  The “PC print function” is an application function that receives image data from the terminal device 2 through the communication interface 10g, develops an image related to the image data by the printer unit 10k, and prints the image on paper. This application function is sometimes referred to as “network printing”.

  The “fax transmission function” is an application function that reads an image of a document by the scanner unit 10m, generates image data, and transmits the image data to the fax terminal 4 by the fax unit 10n.

  The “fax receiving function” is an application function for receiving image data from the fax terminal 4 by the fax unit 10n, developing an image related to the image data by the printer unit 10k, and printing it on paper.

  The “net scan function” is an application function for transferring and storing image data read by the scanner unit 10m to the terminal device 2 or the server 3 through the communication interface 10g. Sometimes called “SCAN-TO-PC”.

  In the “box function”, a storage area called a “box” or “personal box” for each user, which corresponds to a folder or directory in a personal computer, is given to the hard disk 10d, and the user operates the scanner unit 10m. This is an application function that allows document data such as image files obtained in this way to be stored in its own storage area. Sometimes called “document server function”.

  Among these application functions, the copy function, PC print function, fax transmission function, net scan function, and box function are considered in consideration of ensuring security, saving resources such as consumables, and saving communication costs. For each user, what can be used and what cannot be used are determined. Which user can use which function and which function cannot be used are registered in advance in an available function registration table TDK described later (see FIG. 5). Hereinafter, an application function that is different in whether it can be used (accessed) for each user is referred to as an “access right function”.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 has a means for user authentication, and permits its use only to a user who has been authenticated. The user name and password for authentication are registered in advance in the image forming apparatus 1 for each user. Each user must log in to the image forming apparatus 1 by first inputting his / her user name and password when using the image forming apparatus 1.

  The terminal device 2 performs various processes relating to images in cooperation with the image forming apparatus 1. For example, an image created by the terminal device 2 is printed by the image forming apparatus 1 by the PC print function. Alternatively, the image data transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1 is received by the net scan function and stored. As the terminal device 2, a personal computer, a workstation, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or the like is used.

  The server 3 is a general server machine that provides various server functions in a computer system. Similar to the terminal device 2, functions such as PC printing and net scanning can be used in cooperation with the image forming apparatus 1. As the server 3, a personal computer or a workstation is used.

  The fax terminal 4 receives the image data transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication line NT2, and prints the image on paper. Further, the image of the original is scanned, and the image data of the image is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication line NT2.

  4 is a diagram showing an example of the user data table TDU, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the usable function registration table TDK, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the unnecessary module table TDH. Next, the processing contents of each unit of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 3 will be described in detail.

  The user related data storage unit 101 stores a user data table TDU and an available function registration table TDK.

  In the user data table TDU, as shown in FIG. 4, user data DU indicating a user name and a password is stored for each user. The user data DU is used for user authentication when the user logs in to the image forming apparatus 1.

  The usable function registration table TDK stores data indicating which access right functions are permitted and prohibited for each user. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, one usable function data DK is stored for each user in the usable function registration table TDK.

  The user name of the user related to the usable function registration table TDK is stored in the “user name” field of the usable function registration table TDK. The "Copy", "PC Print", "Send Fax", "Net Scan", and "Box" fields have a copy function, PC print function, fax send function, net scan function, and A value indicating whether the use of the box function is permitted or prohibited is stored. A value of “◯” is stored in the field of the function with access right that is permitted to be used, and a value of “x” is stored in the field of the function with the access right that is prohibited from being used.

  By the way, as described above, a combination of a function with an access right that can be used and a function with an access right that cannot be used are different for each user. Further, as described above, the function with access right is realized by some hardware modules. Which hardware module is used depends on the function with access right.

  Therefore, when a user who cannot use a part or all of the access right function uses the image forming apparatus 1, for the purpose that some hardware modules realize the access right function, It may not be used at all. Which hardware module is unnecessary depends on the combination of the function with access right that can be used and the function with access right that cannot be used.

  Therefore, the hardware module related data storage unit 102 has an unnecessary module table TDH indicating which hardware module is unnecessary according to the combination of the function with an access right that can be used and the function with an access right that cannot be used. Pre-stored.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the unnecessary module table TDH includes one unnecessary module data DH for each combination in the case where each of the five functions with access right is usable or unusable. Is stored.

  Unnecessary module data DH "Copy", "PC Print", "Fax Send", "Net Scan", and "Box" fields have a copy function, a PC print function, a fax transmission function, and a net scan function, respectively. , And a value indicating whether the box function is enabled or disabled. A value of “◯” is stored in the field of the function with access right that can be used, and a value of “x” is stored in the field of the function with the access right that cannot be used.

  The “unnecessary module” field indicates which hardware module is unnecessary in a state where the functions with access rights indicated by the above five fields are usable or unusable. In this field, “HDD”, “NIC”, “FAX”, “scanner”, and “printer” are the hard disk 10d, communication interface 10g, fax unit 10n, scanner unit 10m, and printer unit 10k, respectively. Refers to each hardware module.

  For example, in the twelfth unnecessary module data DH12 from the top, when the copy function and the fax transmission function can be used and the PC print function, the net scan function, and the box function cannot be used, the hard disk 10d (HDD) and the communication This indicates that the interface 10g (NIC) is unnecessary.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the input receiving unit 103 receives an input when the user makes an input using the operation unit 10 f or the like. Then, the contents of the input are notified to a predetermined unit according to what processing the input relates to.

  For example, when a user who desires to log in to the image forming apparatus 1 to use the image forming apparatus 1 inputs a user name and a password when a login screen is displayed on the touch panel of the operation unit 10f. , Accept the input. The contents of the input, that is, the user name and password are notified to the authentication processing unit 104.

  Alternatively, when no user is logged in to the image forming apparatus 1 and the user is in the power saving mode, if the user makes some input, the first power supply control unit 106 is notified that the input has been made.

  The authentication processing unit 104 uses the user name and password notified from the input receiving unit 103 to perform user authentication processing as follows.

  First, user data DU is acquired from the user data table TDU (see FIG. 4) using the user name as a key. The password indicated in the user data DU is collated with the input password.

  If they match, the login of the user is permitted, and the user name of the logged-in user is notified to the hardware module specifying unit 105. Further, a message indicating that the authentication has been successful is displayed on the display TD. If they do not match, a message indicating that authentication could not be performed is displayed on the display TD. By this user authentication, it is determined (determined) which user is operating the image forming apparatus 1.

  Note that the user can log in to the image forming apparatus 1 remotely and use the image forming apparatus 1 by operating the terminal device 2. In order to log in to the image forming apparatus 1, the user inputs his / her user name and password to the terminal device 2. Then, the terminal device 2 requests the user authentication of the user by transmitting the user name and password to the image forming apparatus 1. The authentication processing unit 104 performs user authentication of the user of the terminal device 2 based on the received user name and password, similarly to the case where input is performed on the operation unit 10f. Alternatively, the terminal device 2 may be configured to perform user authentication.

  When the hardware module identifying unit 105 receives the user name of the logged-in user from the authentication processing unit 104, the hardware module identifying unit 105 identifies (determines) a hardware module that is not required for any of the functions with access rights that can be used by the user. Is performed as follows.

  First, the usable function data DK of the logged-in user is acquired from the usable function registration table TDK (see FIG. 5) using the user name notified from the authentication processing unit 104 as a key. From the usable function data DK, the combination of the function with access right that can be used by the user and the function with access right that cannot be used is specified.

  Unnecessary module data DH corresponding to the identified combination is acquired from the unnecessary module table TDH (see FIG. 6). The hardware module indicated in the “unnecessary module” of the unnecessary module data DH is a hardware module that is not necessary (that is, unnecessary) for any function with access right that can be used by the user. Identify.

  For example, when a user with the user name “userC” logs in, the usable function data DK3 is acquired from the usable function registration table TDK. In the usable function data DK3, the user can use the “copy function” and the “PC print function”, but cannot use the “fax transmission function”, “net scan function”, and “box function”. It is shown that.

  Therefore, the hardware module specifying unit 105 acquires unnecessary module data DH8 from the unnecessary module table TDH. The unnecessary module data DH8 indicates that the HDD and FAX, that is, the hard disk 10d and the fax unit 10n are unnecessary.

  Therefore, the hardware module specifying unit 105 specifies that the hard disk 10d and the fax unit 10n are unnecessary hardware modules.

  When the first power supply control unit 106 receives a notification from the input receiving unit 103 that no one has logged in to the image forming apparatus 1 and is in the power saving mode, the first power supply control unit 106 immediately The power supply unit 10p is controlled so that normal power is supplied to the module. That is, the power saving mode is canceled. Alternatively, when the user name and password are received from the terminal device 2 in the power saving mode, the power saving mode is immediately canceled. However, a hardware module that satisfies a predetermined requirement may not be supplied immediately as usual, but may be supplied as necessary after waiting for the result of the hardware module specifying unit 105. This will be described later.

  The second power control unit 107 supplies power so that the hardware module identified as unnecessary by the hardware module identifying unit 105 is turned off or the power supply amount is reduced more than usual when the user logs in. The unit 10p is controlled. That is, the mode is switched to the power saving mode corresponding to the logged-in user.

  The control of the power supply unit 10p after switching to the power saving mode according to the user is the same as in the conventional case.

  That is, for example, if there is a hardware module that did not turn off the power supply and did not reduce the amount of power supply when the user logged in, but did not use anything after a predetermined time, who is the user? Regardless of whether or not, the power supply unit 10p is controlled so that the power supply of the hardware module is turned off or the power supply amount is reduced.

  Or, after turning off the power of the hardware module or reducing the amount of power supply, the normal power is again supplied to the hardware module as needed regardless of who the user is. The power supply unit 10p is controlled. For example, when the amount of power supplied to the fax unit 10n is reduced at the time of user login, but an incoming call is received from the fax terminal 4, the fax unit 10n is usually used to implement the fax reception function. Control is performed so that power is supplied. Alternatively, when the amount of power supplied to the hard disk 10d is reduced, but the terminal device 2 subsequently requests access to the box, control is performed so that power is normally supplied to the hard disk 10d.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of power control processing in the image forming apparatus 1.

  Next, the processing flow of the image forming apparatus 1 in the time zone before and after the user logs in will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When no user is logged in, the image forming apparatus 1 touches the operation unit 10f for logging in, or the user name and password input by the user for logging in are transmitted from the terminal device 2. When it comes (# 101), if it is currently in the power saving mode (Yes in # 102), power is supplied to all hardware modules as usual (# 103). That is, the power saving mode is canceled. If all the hardware modules have already been supplied with power as usual (No in # 102), no particular processing is performed regarding power supply control.

  User authentication is performed based on the user name and password input by the user (# 104).

  If the authentication fails (No in # 105), the user is notified that the authentication has failed and prompts for re-input.

  If the authentication is successful (Yes in # 105), the user login to the image forming apparatus 1 is permitted (# 106).

  After authentication, a function with access right that can be used by the logged-in user and a function with access right that cannot be used are specified (# 107). A hardware module that is not required for any of the specified functions with access rights that can be used is specified (# 108). Then, the power supply of the identified hardware module is turned off or the power supply amount is reduced (# 109).

  Subsequent control methods relating to the supply of power to each hardware module are the same as before.

  When the user finishes using the image forming apparatus 1, the user logs out from the image forming apparatus 1. If the user does not make any input for a predetermined time, the user may be automatically logged out from the image forming apparatus 1.

  In step # 103, the normal power supply restart is not immediately performed for all the hardware modules (that is, the power saving mode is not completely canceled). The power supply may be resumed only for the hardware module that requires time, and the power supply of other hardware modules may be kept off or the power supply amount may be reduced.

  Then, after an unnecessary hardware module is identified in step # 108, the normal supply of power to the hardware module that is not (that is, necessary) may be resumed.

  When power is resumed normally for all hardware modules, processing can be started immediately for all hardware modules in a shorter time than when power is resumed only for some hardware modules. The state can be surely performed. Therefore, in the former case, the necessary functions can be promptly provided to the user and the convenience of the user can be improved more reliably than in the latter case. However, in the latter case, power consumption can be suppressed as compared with the former case.

  Therefore, the mode in the former case can be referred to as “convenience priority mode”, and the mode in the latter case can be referred to as “power saving priority mode”. Which mode is used can be switched by the operation panel. Or you may enable it to switch remotely by web tools, such as a web browser installed in the terminal device 2. FIG.

  According to the present embodiment, a hardware module necessary for a user who uses the image forming apparatus 1 is discriminated from an unnecessary hardware module, power is supplied to the necessary hardware module as usual, and an unnecessary hardware module is provided. The power supply is stopped or reduced. As a result, power saving of the image forming apparatus 1 can be achieved, and necessary functions can be promptly provided to the user to improve user convenience.

  In the present exemplary embodiment, the case where the image forming apparatus 1 has the function with access right illustrated in FIG. 5 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is also applied to the case where other application functions are included. Can do.

  In the present embodiment, the operation touching the operation panel 10f is regarded as an operation for logging in and the power saving mode is canceled, but another operation may be regarded as an operation for logging in. For example, an operation for calling a login screen may be regarded as an operation for login. Alternatively, an operation for inputting the first character of the user name may be regarded as an operation for login.

  In addition, the configuration of each part of the image processing system GSS and the image forming apparatus 1, the function with access right, the configuration and content of each table, the content indicated by each data, the content or order of processing, and the like are appropriately determined in accordance with the spirit of the present invention. Can be changed.

It is a figure which shows the example of the whole structure of an image processing system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a user data table. It is a figure which shows the example of an available function registration table. It is a figure which shows the example of an unnecessary module table. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of processing for power control in the image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image forming apparatus 10a CPU (hardware module)
10b RAM (hardware module)
10c ROM (hardware module)
10d hard disk (hardware module)
10e Control circuit (hardware module)
10f Operation unit (hardware module)
10g communication interface (hardware module)
10k printer unit (hardware module)
10m scanner unit (hardware module)
10n Fax part (hardware module)
10p power supply unit (hardware module)
101 User-related data storage unit (usability information storage unit)
104 Authentication processing unit (user discrimination means)
105 Hardware module identification unit (hardware module identification means)
106 1st power supply control part (electric power recovery control means)
107 Second power supply control unit (power saving control means)
DK usable function data (usability information)

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus having a plurality of hardware modules and realizing a plurality of functions by the hardware modules,
Availability information storage means for storing availability information indicating which users can use or cannot use which of the functions;
User discriminating means for discriminating which user is going to use the image forming apparatus;
A hardware module determination unit that determines the hardware module that is not necessary for any of the functions that can be used by the user who is determined to use the image forming apparatus indicated by the availability information;
Power saving control means for stopping the supply of power to the hardware module determined by the hardware module determination means or reducing the amount of power supply than usual;
An image forming apparatus comprising: When the user tries to log in to the image forming apparatus, the power supply is stopped, or the power supply amount to the hardware module whose power supply amount is reduced than usual is restored as usual. Recovery control means,
The user determining unit determines which user is going to use the image forming apparatus based on the identification information when the user inputs his / her identification information to log in to the image forming apparatus. ,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. Power recovery control means for recovering the supply amount of power to the hardware module that normally stops the supply of power or reduces the supply amount of power as usual,
The user determination unit determines which user is going to use the image forming apparatus based on the identification information when the user inputs his / her identification information to log in to the image forming apparatus. ,
The power recovery control means normally supplies the amount of power supplied to the hardware module for which the warm-up time exceeds a predetermined time when the user starts an operation for logging in to the image forming apparatus. When the hardware module whose time required for warm-up is less than the predetermined time is determined as unnecessary as a result of the processing by the hardware module determination means, Restore supply as usual,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. A method for controlling a power supply of an image forming apparatus having a plurality of hardware modules and realizing a plurality of functions by the hardware modules,
Prepare availability information that indicates which users can or cannot use which of the functions,
The hardware module that is not required for any of the functions that can be used by the user who is determined to use the image forming apparatus indicated in the availability information is determined.
Stop the supply of power to the determined hardware module or reduce the amount of power supply than usual,
A power supply control method for an image forming apparatus. A computer program used for controlling a power supply of an image forming apparatus having a plurality of hardware modules and realizing a plurality of functions by the hardware modules,
A process of obtaining the availability information from availability information storage means for storing availability information indicating which user can use or cannot use which of the functions;
A process of determining the hardware module that is not required for any of the functions that can be used by the user who is determined to use the image forming apparatus, as indicated by the acquired availability information;
A process of stopping the supply of power to the determined hardware module or reducing the amount of power supply than usual;
A computer program for running.

Images