JP2011114675A - Image processing apparatus and control method of the same, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus capable of saving an electrical power without decreasing working efficiencies of users. <P>SOLUTION: A control part 20 (CPU 21) of a printer 10 detects a transition of the activated number of PCs 80 on the basis of the number of ARP packets from the activated PCs 80 received by a network I/F 27 for a prescribed period. A control part 20 determines a normal mode switching time and an energy saving mode switching time on the basis of the transition of the activated number of the detected PCs 80. The control part 20 switches over to the normal mode at the determined normal mode switching time, and switches over to the energy saving mode at the determined energy saving mode switching time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that is communicably connected to a plurality of terminal apparatuses, a control method thereof, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various devices such as multifunction peripherals, copiers, printers, and facsimile machines having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a printer function, and a facsimile function are arranged in offices. These devices are often connected to a plurality of personal computers (hereinafter referred to as PCs) using the devices via a LAN (local network).

  Many of such devices have a power saving mode in which the power supply state is set to a power saving state in order to reduce power consumption. In this power saving mode, normally, when a device is not in operation, the power supply is stopped to the part of the device that can be temporarily stopped, and the operation is stopped to return to a state in which the device can be operated again. This is a mode in which power is supplied to a portion that cannot be performed. That is, in the power saving mode, the power consumption amount is not zero, but the power supply state to the device is changed to a power saving state in which the power consumption amount is small. This power saving mode is canceled in response to an input of information from the operation unit, an event such as a data processing request (for example, a print request) from the PC, and the power supply state of the device is made operable. Normal mode is started.

  In a multi-function machine having such a power saving mode, there is a technology for controlling power supply independently for a plurality of processing means for realizing each function in order to further prevent wasteful power consumption. It has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). Specifically, a predetermined time or a time such as a day of the week, a date, or a time is individually set for each processing means by a user operation. Then, for each processing unit, when a predetermined time set from the end of the operation has elapsed, or when the time reaches the set time, the power supply is controlled.

JP-A-11-146103

  In the office, generally, the power of the PC is turned off by an employee when returning home, and turned on when the employee leaves the office the next morning. On the other hand, for a multi-function machine having a power saving mode, the power of the multi-function machine is not turned off by an employee when returning home. This is because the multifunction device starts the power saving mode when a predetermined condition is satisfied. Therefore, even in the morning of the next day, the power supply state of the multifunction peripheral is held in the power saving state by the power saving mode.

  Here, for example, it is assumed that the multifunction peripheral is in a power saving state at the time when the employee transmits a print request from the PC to the multifunction peripheral on the next morning. In this case, the multifunction peripheral cancels the power saving mode and starts the normal mode in response to the print data input from the PC. At this time, it takes time until the power supply state changes from the power saving state to the standby state, and the employee waits for the MFP to start printing. That is, the work efficiency of employees may be reduced due to the power saving of the multifunction device.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program that can save power without lowering the user's work efficiency.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an image processing device that is communicably connected to a plurality of terminal devices, and each of the specific signals distributed from the activated terminal device among the plurality of terminal devices. , Receiving means for detecting the transition of the number of activated terminal devices among the plurality of terminal devices for a predetermined period based on the specific signal received by the receiving means, and the detection Determining means for determining the normal mode switching time and the power saving mode switching time based on the transition of the number of activated terminal devices detected by the means, and the power saving mode for setting the power supply state to the power saving state; Control means for controlling the power supply by switching between the normal mode for setting the power supply state to an operable standby state, and the control means switches the determined normal mode Time to perform switching of the to the normal mode, to provide an image processing apparatus and performs switching to the power saving mode to the determined power saving mode switching time.

  The present invention also provides an image processing apparatus control method and program.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to save power without reducing the work efficiency of the user.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a figure which shows the example of a setting screen of power saving mode transfer time. (B) is a diagram showing a setting screen example of the contents of the power saving mode (“not use”, “panel off”, “use”, “deep sleep”). (A) is a figure which shows the transition example (transition example of the starting number of PC80) of the number of ARP packets which the printer 10 received in the time slot | zone from 5:00 to 12:00. FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a transition example of the number of ARP packets received by the printer 10 in the time period from 14:00 to 21:00 (transition example of the number of activated PCs 80). (A) is a figure which shows the number of ARP packets which the printer 10 received every 10 minutes, and the increase / decrease number in the time slot | zone of 7:30 to 9:20 of Fig.3 (a). (B) is a diagram showing the number of ARP packets received by the printer 10 every 10 minutes in the time zone from 17:50 to 18:00 in FIG. These are flowcharts showing the procedure of processing for determining the normal mode switching time and the power saving mode switching time. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of switching control of the power saving mode and normal mode based on the normal mode switching time and the power saving mode switching time. It is a figure which shows the number of ARP packets which the printer 10 received for every 10 minutes in the time slot | zone from 11:30 to 13:30, and the increase / decrease number. 5 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for switching to a normal mode or switching to a power saving mode in response to establishment of an event input or switching condition to a power saving mode.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a printer 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described as an image processing apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 includes a control unit 20, a nonvolatile memory 26, a network I / F (interface) 27, an engine I / F 28, an operation unit 23, and a power supply unit 31.

  The control unit 20 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 24, a RAM 25, and a clock unit 30, and the CPU 21 performs overall control of the printer 10 and various individual processes according to a program stored in the ROM 24. The RAM 25 provides a work area for the CPU 21 and temporarily stores image data output to the printer engine 29.

  The clock unit 30 has a calendar function and measures time (year: month: day: hour: minute: second) in association with the day of the week. The clock unit 30 has a built-in timer for measuring the set time, and can operate the timer alone.

  Here, a plurality of times such as a normal mode switching time and a power saving switching time, which will be described later, are set in the clock unit 30 so as to be updatable. When the set time arrives, the clock unit 30 outputs a notification signal for notifying the time to the CPU 21. In addition, when the clock unit 30 finishes counting the time when the timer is set, the clock unit 30 outputs to the CPU 21 a timer end signal notifying that the timer has finished counting.

  The nonvolatile memory 26 is a memory for storing image data, and includes a hard disk, a flash ROM, and the like.

  The network I / F 27 is an interface for communicably connecting a plurality of terminal devices connected to the LAN 70 such as a plurality of PCs 80 and the printer 10 via a LAN (local area network) 70.

  The engine I / F 28 is an interface for performing communication with the printer engine 29. The printer engine 29 performs printing based on the video signal input via the engine I / F 28. The printer engine 29 is a color laser printer engine that forms a color image by electrophotography. Alternatively, other types of printer engines such as an inkjet method, a sublimation method, and a silver salt method can be used.

  The operation unit 23 includes a key group (not shown) including hard keys and soft keys operated by a user and a display panel 22. The operation unit 23 inputs information indicating an operation instruction, a setting instruction, and the like for the printer 10 according to a key operation by the user, and the input information is sent to the CPU 21. The display panel 22 displays the status of the printer 10 and the set contents.

  The power supply unit 31 supplies corresponding power to each block of the control unit 20, the nonvolatile memory 26, the network I / F (interface) 27, the engine I / F 28, the display panel 22, and the printer engine 29. . Here, the power supply unit 31 controls the power supply to each block of the control unit 20, the nonvolatile memory 26, the network I / F 27, the engine I / F 28, the display panel 22, and the printer engine 29 by the control unit 20. .

  The controller 20 controls power supply to each block by the power supply unit 31 by switching between the power saving mode and the normal mode. The power supply unit 31 constantly supplies corresponding power to the clock unit 30.

  The power saving mode is a mode that is executed when a condition for switching to the power saving mode is satisfied in a state of waiting for an input of an event, which will be described later, and is a power saving state in which the power supply state by the power supply unit 31 is low. This is a mode for setting (sleep state). When the power saving mode is executed, the power supply from the power supply unit 31 is stopped for the block that can be temporarily stopped, and the operation cannot be stopped to return to the operable state again. In contrast, power supply from the power supply unit 31 is performed.

  The normal mode is a mode in which the power supply state by the power supply unit 31 is set to a standby state (standby state) where the operation can be started immediately. When this normal mode is executed, the corresponding power is supplied from the power supply unit 31 to each block described above.

  For the power saving mode, the user can select and set any one of “not use”, “panel off”, “use”, and “deep sleep” that defines the content of the mode. . The operation by the user for performing this setting will be described later.

  Here, “not used” is a setting for not executing the power saving mode. When “not used” is set, the normal mode is always executed, and the power supply state by the power supply unit 31 is held in the standby state.

  “Panel off” is a setting for turning off the display panel 22. When this “panel off” is set, the power saving effect is low. However, when switching to the normal mode, it is sufficient to supply power only to the display panel 22, so that the power supply state can be immediately set to the standby state. Therefore, the user of the PC 80 does not wait for a long time until printing is started.

  “Use” is a setting for cutting off the power supply to the printer engine 29. When this “use” is set, the power saving effect is high. However, it takes a long time to supply power to the printer engine 29 to make the printer engine 29 operable. That is, it takes a long time before the power supply state becomes the standby state. Therefore, the user of the PC 80 waits for a long time before printing is started.

  “Deep sleep” is a setting that cuts off power supply to a part of the control unit 20, the display panel 22, the nonvolatile memory 26, the engine I / F 28, and the printer engine 29. When this “deep sleep” is set, the highest power saving effect is exhibited, but the time until the power supply state becomes the standby state is further longer than in the case of the “use” setting.

  When an event is input during execution of the power saving mode (when the power supply state is the power saving state), the control unit 20 switches to the normal mode in order to set the power supply state to the standby state. . Then, the control unit 20 performs control so as to start an operation for processing the input event. Here, examples of the event include an input of information corresponding to a key operation by the user, a reception of a print request from the PC 80 by the network I / F 27, and the like.

  Further, when the condition for switching to the power saving mode is satisfied during execution of the normal mode (when the power supply state is in the standby state), the control unit 20 changes the power supply state from the standby state to the power saving state. Switch to power saving mode. The above condition for switching to the power saving mode is that during the execution of the normal mode, after the processing for the input event is completed, the transition time for the set power saving mode elapses before the next event. This is a condition that there is no input. The power saving mode transition time is a time selected and set by the user from a plurality of predetermined times. The user operation for setting the power saving mode transition time will be described later.

  Next, the user's operation to set the power saving mode transition time and the user's operation to set the power saving mode contents ("not use", "panel off", "use", "deep sleep") Will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen for the power saving mode transition time. FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen for the contents of the power saving mode (“not used”, “panel off”, “used”, “deep sleep”).

  When the user sets the power saving mode transition time, a setting screen as shown in FIG. 2A is displayed on the display panel 22 by the user performing a corresponding operation. On this setting screen, a plurality of times such as “1 minute”, “5 minutes”, “10 minutes”, “15 minutes” and the like that can be set as the sleep mode transition time are displayed. Then, the user selects one desired time from a plurality of times by operating the corresponding key, and sets the selected time as the sleep mode transition time.

  When setting the contents of the power saving mode (“not used”, “panel off”, “use”, “deep sleep”), the user performs a corresponding operation, as shown in FIG. A setting screen is displayed on the display panel 22. On this setting screen, “not use”, “panel off”, “use”, and “deep sleep” are displayed. Then, the user selects and sets one of “not used”, “panel off”, “use”, and “deep sleep” by operating the corresponding key.

  Here, the power saving mode transition time and the contents of the power saving mode are applied after switching to the normal mode based on the normal mode switching time, which will be described later, and the power saving mode based on the power saving mode switching time. Some are applied after switching to. The power saving mode transition time and the contents of the power saving mode that are applied after switching to the normal mode based on the normal mode switching time and after switching to the power saving mode based on the power saving mode switching time are respectively described above. Set individually by operation.

  The power saving mode transition time applied after switching to the normal mode based on the normal mode switching time may be set to a long time such as 3 hours so that the normal mode is maintained for a long time. preferable. Further, as the contents of the power saving mode, it is preferable that “not used” or “panel off” is set so that switching from the power saving mode to the normal mode is completed in a short time.

  The power saving mode transition time applied after switching to the power saving mode based on the power saving mode switching time is, for example, 1 minute, 3 minutes, etc. so that the switching condition to the power saving mode is easily established. It is preferable that a short time is set. Further, as the contents of the power saving mode, it is preferable to set “use” or “deep sleep”, which has a high power saving effect.

  The power saving mode transition time and the power saving mode contents (one of “not used”, “panel off”, “used”, and “deep sleep”) set individually in this way are non-volatile. Stored in the memory 26.

  When printing desired image data or the like, the user of each PC 80 connected to the LAN 70 can select the printer 10 as a printer to be used for printing. Here, each PC 80 is activated or shut down by the respective user. Normally, each PC 80 is activated when the user leaves the office and shut down when the user returns home. However, the time when each PC 80 is activated and the time when each PC 80 is shut down are different for each PC 80.

  Here, in the time zone when the number of activated PCs 80 (hereinafter referred to as the activated number of PCs 80) is large, the usage frequency (operating rate) of the printer 10 by the PCs 80 tends to be high. Therefore, in this time zone, it is desirable that the power supply state in the printer 10 is not a power saving state but a standby state so that printing can be started immediately in response to a print request from the PC 80. .

  On the other hand, in the time zone when the number of activated PCs 80 is small, the usage frequency (operating rate) of the printer 10 by the PCs 80 tends to be low. Therefore, in this time zone, it is desirable that the power supply state in the printer 10 be in a power saving state in order to reduce power consumption.

  Therefore, the present embodiment detects the transition of the number of activated PCs 80 (hereinafter referred to as the number of activated PCs 80) during a predetermined period, and based on the detected transition, the normal mode switching time and the power saving mode Determine the switching time. Here, the normal mode switching time is a time for switching to the normal mode, and the power saving mode switching time is a time for switching to the power saving mode.

  The switching time determination process for determining the normal mode switching time and the power saving mode switching time will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a transition example of the number of ARP packets received by the printer 10 in the time period from 5:00 to 12:00 (transition example of the number of activated PCs 80). FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a transition example of the number of ARP packets received by the printer 10 in the time period from 14:00 to 21:00 (transition example of the number of activated PCs 80). FIG. 4A is a diagram showing the number of ARP packets received by the printer 10 per 10 minutes and the increase / decrease number in the time zone from 7:30 to 9:20 in FIG. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the number of ARP packets received by the printer 10 per 10 minutes and the increase / decrease number in the time zone from 17:50 to 18:00 in FIG. 3B. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the switching time determination process. The procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is executed by the CPU 21 in accordance with the program stored in the ROM 22.

  Each PC 80 distributes a specific protocol packet as a specific signal that can specify the PC 80 via the LAN 70 at the time of startup and when returning from the sleep state to the standby state. Further, the specific protocol packet is periodically distributed even while each PC 80 is activated. As the specific protocol packet, there is an ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) packet. Instead of the ARP packet, an SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) packet or a WSD (Web Services on Devices) Probe packet can be used. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that an ARP packet is distributed from the PC 80.

  The printer 10 receives the ARP packets distributed from each PC 80 and counts the number of the received ARP packets. Counting the number of ARP packets means counting the number of activated PCs 80 (hereinafter referred to as the number of activated PCs 80).

  For example, in the office, as shown in FIG. 3A, the number of PCs 80 that start up suddenly increases from the time when employees go to work (the time from 8:00 to 9:00), and the ARP packet received by the printer 10 The number tends to increase. The number of activated PCs 80 converges toward a certain number (the maximum number of PCs connected to the LAN 70), and accordingly, the number of ARP packets received by the printer 10 also converges toward a certain value.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4A, as the number of ARP packets received by the printer 10, the number of ARP packets received by the printer 10 per 10 minutes is detected over a predetermined period. Thereby, the transition of the number of activated PCs 80 for a predetermined period is detected. Then, an increase number represented by the difference between the number of ARP packets received per 10 minutes and the number of ARP packets received per 10 minutes before that is calculated, and the time zone in which the increase number is maximized is calculated. Desired. In this example, the time zone in which the increase in the number of received ARP packets, that is, the increase in the number of activated PCs 80 is maximized in the time zone before and after the time zone where the employee goes to work, is from 8:20 to 8:00. It is a time zone up to 30 minutes. Therefore, in this case, the time immediately before the time zone from 8:20 to 8:30, for example, 8:20, is obtained as the normal mode switching time.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), in the time zone when the employee returns to the office (time zone from 17:30 to 18:30), the number of PCs 80 started to decrease rapidly, and the printer 10 There is a tendency for the number of ARP packets to be received to decrease. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the time zone before and after the time zone in which the employee returns to work, the time zone in which the decrease in the number of ARP packets received by the printer 10 per 10 minutes is maximized. The time zone from 17:50 to 18:00. That is, in the time zone from 17:50 to 18:00, the decrease in the number of activated PCs is maximized. This decrease number is represented by the difference between the number of ARP packets received per 10 minutes and the number of ARP packets received per 10 minutes before. Therefore, in this case, 18:00, which is the time immediately after the 10-minute time zone from 17:50 to 18:00, is obtained as the power saving mode switching time.

  The transition of the number of activated PCs 80 is detected every day during a predetermined number of days. For example, the transition of the number of activated PCs 80 is detected every day (every day of the week) for five days from Monday to Friday. Based on the transition of the number of activated PCs 80 detected per day, The power saving mode switching time is required. The normal mode switching times for each day are averaged to finally determine the normal mode switching time to be used. Also, the power saving mode switching times for each day are averaged to determine the power saving mode switching time to be finally used. The determined normal mode switching time and power saving mode switching time are set in the clock unit 30.

  In addition, the normal mode switching time and the power saving mode switching time to be finally used shall be the earliest or latest time of the normal mode switching time and the power saving mode switching time obtained every day, respectively. You can also.

  The processing for determining the normal mode switching time and the power saving mode switching time (hereinafter referred to as switching time determination processing) is executed by the CPU 21 in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 21 first determines whether or not the start time has arrived based on the notification signal from the clock unit 30 (step S101). As the start time, for example, 0:00 on October 1, 20XX (Monday) is set by the user via the operation unit 23.

  When it is determined in step S101 that the start time has arrived, the CPU 21 initializes a count value N indicating the number of received ARP packets to 0 (step S102). Then, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the network I / F 27 has received an ARP packet (step S103). If it is determined that the ARP packet has been received, the CPU 21 increments the count value N (step S104).

  Next, the CPU 21 refers to the clock unit 30 and determines whether or not a predetermined time tp (here, 10 minutes) has elapsed from the initialization of the count value N (step S105). If it is determined that the predetermined time tp has not elapsed, the CPU 21 returns to step S103.

  If it is determined in step S103 that an ARP packet has not been received, the CPU 21 skips step S104 and proceeds to step S105.

  When it is determined in step S105 that the predetermined time tp has elapsed, the CPU 21 stores the count value N in the RAM 25 in association with the time period of the predetermined time tp (step S106). For example, the count value N is held in association with the time zone from 0:00 to 0:10 on October 1, 20XX (Monday). Then, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the end time has arrived based on the notification signal from the clock unit 30 (step S107). Here, for example, it is assumed that the end time is set by the user via the operation unit 23, for example, 20:00 on October 5, 20XX (Friday).

  When it is determined in step S107 that the end time has not come, the CPU 21 returns to step S102.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S107 that the end time has arrived, the CPU 21 sets the normal mode switching time and the power saving mode switching time based on the count value of each time period held in the RAM 25. Determine (step S108). In this determination, as described above, first, the normal mode switching time and the power saving mode switching time for each day based on the count value of each time zone (5 days from Monday to Friday) obtained every day. Is required. Then, based on the normal mode switching time and the power saving mode switching time every day, the normal mode switching time and the power saving mode that are finally used (commonly used for five days from Monday to Friday). The switching time is determined.

  Next, the CPU 21 sets the determined normal mode switching time and power saving mode switching time in the clock unit 30 (step S109). At this time, the initial value or the previously determined normal mode switching time and power saving mode switching time already set in the clock unit 30 are updated to the normal mode switching time and power saving mode switching time determined this time. . Then, the CPU 21 ends this process.

  The normal mode switching time and the power saving mode switching time determined for five days from Monday to Friday in this way are applied from the following week (5 days from Monday to Friday in each week). The application period during which the normal mode switching time and the power saving mode switching time determined by the switching time determination process are applied is a period preset by the user via the operation unit 23, and is set to, for example, 4 weeks. .

  The start time and end time of the next switching time determination process are determined by the CPU 21 based on the application period. For example, assuming that the application period is 4 weeks, 0:00 on Monday of the 4th week is determined as the start time of the process for determining the next normal mode switching time and power saving mode switching time. Then, 24:00 on Friday of the fourth week is determined as the end time. Then, the normal mode switching time and the power saving mode switching time set in the clock unit 30 are updated to the next normal mode switching time and the power saving mode switching time. In this case, the normal mode switching time and the power saving mode switching time are updated once every four weeks.

  When the normal mode switching time and the power saving mode switching time are determined, the control unit 20 switches to the normal mode when the determined time is the normal mode switching time, and when the power saving mode switching time is reached, the control unit 20 Switch to power mode. As a result, the printer 10 is in a standby state in a time zone in which the number of PCs activated is large, that is, in a time zone in which there are many print requests from the PC 80, so that printing starts immediately in response to the print request from the PC 80. Can do. Further, in the time zone when the number of PCs 80 started up is small, that is, the time zone when the print request from the PC 80 is low, the printer 10 is in the power saving state, so the power consumption can be reduced.

  Switching control between the power saving mode and the normal mode based on the normal mode switching time and the power saving mode switching time will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for switching control between the power saving mode and the normal mode based on the normal mode switching time and the power saving mode switching time. The procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is executed by the CPU 21 in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 24.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the normal mode switching time (Monday to Friday: hour: minute) has arrived based on the notification signal from the clock unit 30 (step S201).

  When it is determined in step S201 that the normal mode switching time has arrived, the CPU 21 determines whether the power saving mode is being executed (whether the current power supply state is in the power saving state) ( Step S202).

  If it is determined in step S202 that the power saving mode is being executed, the CPU 21 switches to the normal mode (step S203). Then, the CPU 21 sets the power saving mode transition time and the contents of the power saving mode (step S204). Here, the power saving mode transition time and the contents of the power saving mode applied after switching to the normal mode based on the normal mode switching time are read from the nonvolatile memory 26. The read power saving mode transition time is set in the timer of the clock unit 30, and the contents of the power saving mode are held in the RAM 25.

  Next, the CPU 21 determines whether calibration needs to be executed based on changes in the environmental temperature and environmental humidity in the printer 10 (step S205). This calibration is a process including a process for accurately and stably reproducing a color at the time of printing and a process for correcting a printing deviation of each color of C, Y, M, and K.

  If it is determined in step S206 that calibration needs to be performed, the CPU 21 executes calibration (step S206) and returns to step S201. If it is determined in step S205 that calibration is not necessary, the CPU 21 skips step S206 and returns to step S201.

  If it is determined in step S202 that the power saving mode is not being executed, the normal mode is executed, and the current power supply state is in a standby state. In this case, the CPU 21 skips step S203 and proceeds to step S204.

  When it is determined in step S201 that the normal mode switching time has not arrived, the CPU 21 arrives at the power saving mode switching time (Monday to Friday: hour: minute) based on the notification signal from the clock unit 30. It is determined whether or not (step S207).

  When it is determined in step S207 that the power saving mode switching time has arrived, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the normal mode is being executed (step S208). If it is determined that the normal mode is being executed, the CPU 21 switches to the power saving mode (step S209). Then, the CPU 21 sets the power saving mode transition time and the contents of the power saving mode (step S210). Here, as described above, the power saving mode transition time and the power saving mode contents applied after switching to the power saving mode based on the power saving mode switching time are read from the nonvolatile memory 26. The read power saving mode transition time is set in the timer of the clock unit 30, and the contents of the power saving mode are written in the RAM 25. Next, the CPU 21 returns to step S201.

  If it is determined in step S207 that the current state is not the normal mode state, that is, the power saving mode state, the CPU 21 skips step S209 and proceeds to step S210.

  If it is determined in step S207 that the power saving mode switching time has not arrived, the CPU 21 returns to step S201.

  As described above, the printer 10 can be put into a standby state in which it can operate in response to a print request from the PC 80 before the time when the number of PCs 80 to be activated increases. In addition, when it is time for the number of PCs 80 to be activated to decrease, the printer 10 can be put into a power-saving state with low power consumption. As a result, it is possible to save power without reducing the work efficiency of the user.

  In addition, calibration is executed as necessary before the time period when the number of activated PCs 80 increases. Thereby, it is not necessary to execute calibration at the start of printing, and the user's waiting time until printing is started in response to a print request from the PC 80 can be further shortened. Here, when the printer engine 29 is a monochrome printer engine, it is not necessary to determine whether the calibration is executed.

  In addition, after switching to the normal mode based on the normal mode switching time, a long power saving mode transition time is set so that the switching condition from the normal mode to the power saving mode is difficult to be satisfied. Therefore, switching from the normal mode to the power saving mode or vice versa is not frequently repeated. Also. Since “not used” or “panel off” is set as the content of the power saving mode, even if the mode is switched to the power saving mode, the return to the normal mode is completed in a short time. As a result, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the work efficiency of the user of the PC 80 due to switching from the normal mode to the power saving mode or vice versa.

  In addition, after switching to the power saving mode based on the power saving mode switching time, a short power saving mode transition time is set so that the switching condition from the normal mode to the power saving mode is easily established. Therefore, even if switching to the normal mode is performed, switching to the power saving mode is performed after a short time has elapsed. Further, since “use” or “deep sleep”, which has a high power saving effect, is set as the content of the power saving mode, a high power saving effect can be obtained in the time zone after the power saving mode switching time.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the normal mode switching time and the power saving mode switching time are based on the premise that the number of PCs 80 started to increase and decrease rapidly in accordance with the employee's time to go to work or time to return to work. To decide.

  However, there is an increase or decrease in the number of PCs 80 that are activated before and after the lunch break. Therefore, it is possible to switch to the power saving mode and switch back to the normal mode again during the lunch break.

  This example will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the number of ARP packets received by the printer 10 per 10 minutes and the increase / decrease number in the time zone from 11:30 to 13:30.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7, in the time zone before and after the lunch break start time (11:30 to 12:20), each PC 80 is in a sleep state, and the number of ARP packets received by the printer 10 gradually increases. Decrease. That is, the number of activated PCs 80 is reduced. On the other hand, in the time zone before and after the end time of the lunch break (12: 40-13: 20), each PC 80 returns from the sleep state, and the number of ARP packets received by the printer 10 increases again. That is, the number of activated PCs 80 increases.

  Therefore, the power saving mode switching time and the normal mode switching time in the time zone are determined based on the increase / decrease number of the ARP packets received by the printer 10 in the time zone before and after the lunch break (the increase / decrease number of the startup number of the PC 80). You may make it do.

  In the case of the example shown in FIG. 7, 12:20 is determined as the power saving mode switching time in the lunch break time zone. Also, 12:50 is determined as the normal mode switching time in the lunch break time zone. Thereby, further power saving can be achieved.

  When an event is input or when a condition for switching to the power saving mode is satisfied, the control unit 20 performs switching to the normal mode or switching to the power saving mode. This control will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for switching to the normal mode or switching to the power saving mode in response to the input of an event or establishment of the switching condition to the power saving mode. The procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is executed by the CPU 21 in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 24.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the CPU 21 determines whether or not an event has been input (step S301). Here, when the event is input, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the power saving mode is being executed (step S302). If the power saving mode is being executed, the CPU 21 switches to the normal mode (step S303).

  Next, the CPU 21 controls the operation of the corresponding block so as to process the event (step S304). For example, if the event is reception of a print request from the PC 80, the CPU 21 controls the printer engine 29 so as to print the received image data together with the received print request. Then, the CPU 21 waits for the end of processing for the event (step S305). When the processing for the event is completed, the CPU 21 starts the timer of the clock unit 30 (step S306). The timer is already set with the time for transition to the power saving mode after switching to the normal mode based on the switching time of the normal mode or after switching to the power saving mode based on the switching time of the power saving mode. Then, the CPU 201 returns to step S301.

  When it is determined in step S301 that there is no event input, the CPU 21 determines whether or not a condition for switching to the power saving mode is satisfied (step S307). Here, it is determined that the condition for switching to the power saving mode is satisfied when the timer unit 30 outputs a timer end signal for notifying that the time set for the timer has ended. If it is determined that the condition for switching to the power saving mode is not satisfied, the CPU 21 returns to step 301 described above.

  If it is determined in step S307 that the condition for switching to the power saving mode is satisfied, the CPU 21 switches to the power saving mode (step S308). Next, the CPU 21 stops the timer of the clock unit 30 (step S309). Then, the CPU 21 returns to step S301.

  In the present embodiment, the printer 10 has been described as the image processing apparatus, but is not limited to the printer 10. For example, a copier, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions such as a printer function, a copy function, and a facsimile function may be used.

  The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

10 Printer 20 Control unit 21 CPU
22 Display panel 23 Operation unit 24 ROM
29 Printer Engine 30 Clock Unit 31 Power Supply Unit 70 LAN
80 PC

Claims (9)

An image processing apparatus that is communicably connected to a plurality of terminal devices,
Receiving means for receiving a specific signal distributed from each activated terminal device among the plurality of terminal devices;
Detecting means for detecting a transition of the number of activated terminal devices among the plurality of terminal devices during a predetermined period based on the specific signal received by the receiving means;
Determining means for determining a normal mode switching time and a power saving mode switching time based on a transition of the number of activated terminal devices detected by the detecting means;
A control means for controlling power supply by switching between a power saving mode for setting the power supply state to a power saving state and a normal mode for setting the power supply state to an operable standby state;
The control means performs switching to the normal mode at the determined normal mode switching time, and switches to the power saving mode at the determined power saving mode switching time. .   The said detection means detects the transition of the number of the specific signals which the said reception means received in the said predetermined period as a transition of the number of the said activated terminal devices. Image processing device.   The control means sets the switching condition to the power saving mode and the content of the power saving mode after switching to the normal mode at the determined normal mode switching time, and determines the determined power saving mode. 3. The image according to claim 1, wherein the switching condition to the power saving mode and the content of the power saving mode are set after switching to the power saving mode at a power mode switching time. 4. Processing equipment.   The control means performs switching to the normal mode when an event is input during execution of the power saving mode, and when the set switching condition is satisfied during execution of the normal mode, 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein switching to the power mode is performed. An image processing apparatus that is connected to a plurality of terminal devices so as to be communicable and switches between a power saving mode for setting a power supply state to a power saving state and a normal mode for setting the power supply state to an operable standby state. A control method,
A receiving step of receiving a specific signal distributed from each activated terminal device among the plurality of terminal devices;
A detection step of detecting a transition of the number of activated terminal devices among the plurality of terminal devices during a predetermined period based on the received specific signal;
A determination step of determining a normal mode switching time and a power saving mode switching time based on the detected transition of the number of activated terminal devices;
And a control step of switching to the normal mode at the determined normal mode switching time and switching to the power saving mode at the determined power saving mode switching time. Control method.   6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, in the detection step, a change in the number of the received specific signals in the predetermined period is detected as a change in the number of the activated terminal devices. Control method. In the control step, when switching to the normal mode at the determined normal mode switching time, setting the switching condition to the power saving mode and the content of the power saving mode,
The switching condition to the power saving mode and the contents of the power saving mode are set when switching to the power saving mode is performed at the determined power saving mode switching time. A control method for the image processing apparatus according to claim 1.   In the control step, when a predetermined event is input during execution of the power saving mode, switching to the normal mode is performed, and when the set switching condition is satisfied during execution of the normal mode, The method according to claim 7, wherein switching to the power saving mode is performed. To control an image processing apparatus that is connected to a plurality of terminal devices so as to be communicable and switches between a power saving mode in which the power supply state is a power saving state and a normal mode in which the power supply state is in an operable standby state. The program of
Based on a specific signal received from each of the activated terminal devices among the plurality of terminal devices, a transition of the number of activated terminal devices among the plurality of terminal devices during a predetermined period is detected. Steps,
Determining a normal mode switching time and a power saving mode switching time based on the detected transition of the number of activated terminal devices;
A program for causing a computer to execute switching to the normal mode at the determined normal mode switching time and switching to the power saving mode at the determined power saving mode switching time. .

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