JP2012004996A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device capable of changing a power supply state of its own device by more minutely corresponding to power supply states of terminal devices.SOLUTION: A sub-CPU 21 of an image processing device 10 inquires at terminal devices 30 connected to a network about their power supply states, and each terminal device sends back power supply state information indicating that its own device is in a normal state, a sleep state, or a shut-down state. Based on the number of terminals in each power supply state obtained by tallying up the response from each terminal device, the image processing device 10 estimates the availability of its own device from the terminal devices to control the power supply state of its own device.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as a printer or a multifunction machine, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus having a power saving function.

  In an image processing apparatus such as a printer or a multi-function peripheral connected to a terminal device such as a PC (personal computer) via a network, the power supply of the own device is selected according to the operating status of the connected terminal device from the viewpoint of power saving. Some change state.

  For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a printing system in which a management server checks the number of operating hosts connected to a network and changes the operation mode of a printer in accordance with the number of operating hosts.

  Patent Document 2 below has a function of automatically shifting the power state to an energy saving mode that consumes less power than usual when a standby state without a job or user operation continues for a predetermined time or longer. An apparatus is disclosed in which the operating rate (operating number / total number) of connected PCs is obtained and the time required to shift to the energy saving mode is changed according to the operating rate.

JP 2010-26768 A JP 2001-169028 A

  Conventionally, a management apparatus and a printing apparatus can recognize only on and off as a power state of a terminal connected to a network. For example, when the power state of the terminal is a sleep state set when the user temporarily leaves the terminal, the terminal does not respond to a power state acquisition request from the printing apparatus. Recognized that the power was off. For this reason, the printer may shift to the energy-saving mode or power-off state even though there is a possibility that the terminal in the sleep state will immediately return to the on state and send a job. There was a problem that the waiting time until returning to the state occurred and the convenience was lowered.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image processing apparatus that can change the power supply state of its own device more precisely according to the power supply state of the terminal device.

  The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.

[1] An image processing apparatus that executes a job received from a terminal device via a network,
Power status confirmation that acquires power status information indicating the power status from each terminal device to be monitored that can take at least the normal status, sleep that consumes less power than the normal status, and power-off power status connected to the network And
A power control unit that changes the power state of the image processing apparatus based on the power state information acquired by the power state confirmation unit;
An image processing apparatus comprising:

  In the above invention, at least the normal state, sleep, and power-off are distinguished to acquire the power state of each terminal device, and the power state of the own device (image processing device) is changed based on the result. For example, it controls whether the own apparatus is shifted to a power state such as a normal state, sleep, or power off. Since the power status of the terminal device is grasped by distinguishing at least the normal state, sleep, and power off, the power status of the own device can be more accurately matched to the power status of the terminal device than when only the on / off status can be grasped. Can be changed.

[2] The power control unit changes the power state of the image processing device based on the number of terminal devices for each power state obtained from the power state information acquired by the power state confirmation unit. [1] ] The image processing apparatus as described in.

  In the said invention, the power supply state of an own apparatus is changed based on the number of terminal devices according to a power supply state. “Based on the number of terminal devices by power supply state” means the distribution of the number of terminal devices by power supply state, or a value obtained by multiplying the number of terminals by power supply state by a weighting factor (point) by power supply state. It may be based. As long as it is based on the number of terminal devices for each power supply state, those including an arbitrary weighting are included.

[3] The power control unit gives each terminal device to be monitored a score corresponding to the power state, and gives the total value of the points for all the terminal devices to be monitored and the highest score to all the terminal devices. The image processing apparatus according to [1] or [2], wherein the change is performed based on a ratio with a total maximum value in the case.

  In the above-mentioned invention, a score corresponding to the power supply state is given to each terminal device, and the total value of the points is obtained, thereby calculating an index of the power supply state as the entire terminal device to be monitored. Then, the availability of the image processing device as seen from the entire monitoring target terminal device is determined based on the ratio between the value and the score (total maximum value) when all the terminal devices are in the normal state. Change the power status of the local device.

[4] The power control unit performs the change by further adding a predetermined attribute other than the power status of each terminal device to be monitored. Any one of [1] to [3] An image processing apparatus according to 1.

  In the said invention, attributes other than a power supply state are further considered. For example, the frequency of job submission, the elapsed time since the last submission, the user's post, etc. are taken into account as attributes. The attribute to be added is not limited to one, but may be a plurality of types.

[5] The image processing apparatus according to [4], in which [3] is cited, wherein the power supply control unit further calculates the score for each terminal device in consideration of the attribute.

  In the above invention, for example, the score for each terminal device is calculated by multiplying the value based on the power state of the terminal device by the weighting factor related to the attribute of the terminal device.

[6] The image processing device according to [4] or [5], wherein the attribute is an elapsed time since a job was last received from a terminal device.

  In the said invention, the weighting according to the elapsed time from the last use is performed. For example, the weight is increased as the elapsed time is shorter.

[7] The image processing device according to [4] or [5], wherein the attribute is a frequency of receiving a job from a terminal device.

  In the said invention, the weighting according to the frequency which a terminal device uses the said image processing apparatus is performed. For example, the target period may be arbitrary, such as the usage frequency of the most recent one week, the usage frequency of the most recent one month, or the usage frequency of all the past periods.

[8] The power control unit selects the terminal device to be monitored from terminal devices connected to the network based on a job reception history. [1] to [7 ] The image processing apparatus as described in any one of.

  In the above invention, for example, only the terminal device that uses the image processing device or is frequently used is monitored, and the power status of the terminal device that does not use the image processing device or rarely uses it is taken into account. However, it is possible to change the power supply state appropriately corresponding to the use environment.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, since the power supply state of the own apparatus is changed in more detail depending on the power supply state of the terminal apparatus, it is possible to achieve both power saving and reduction in return waiting at a high level.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the network system to which the image processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention was connected. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of a terminal device. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a power supply state monitoring list. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of sub CPU of the terminal device which received the power supply status acquisition request from the image processing apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an image processing apparatus that has received a job from a terminal apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the monitoring object exclusion process which the sub CPU of an image processing apparatus performs. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the basic data table which the image processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention refers. It is explanatory drawing which shows a power supply state discrimination concept. 3 is a flowchart showing a power state change process performed by a sub CPU of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the 2nd basic data table which the image processing apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention refers. It is explanatory drawing which shows the calculation formula of the total value N and the total maximum value M which concern on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the calculation result of the total value N and the total maximum value M which concern on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the power supply state change process which sub CPU of the image processing apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention performs.

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

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a network system 5 to which an image processing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is connected. The image processing apparatus 10 is connected to a plurality of terminal apparatuses 30 (hereinafter also referred to as PCs) via a network 2 such as a LAN (Local Area Network).

  The image processing apparatus 10 is a printer or a multifunction machine having a function of forming and outputting an image on recording paper. In this example, the image processing apparatus 10 is a copy job for optically reading a document and printing the duplicate image on recording paper, saving the read image data of the document as a file, or transmitting it to an external terminal via a network. This is a multi-function peripheral having a function of executing a job such as a scan job to be performed and a print job to form and print an image related to print data received from the terminal device 30 via the network 2 on a recording sheet.

  The image processing apparatus 10 includes, as a power state, a normal state in which all parts are energized and a job can be executed, a sleep state that consumes less power than the normal state, and a power-off state that consumes less power than the sleep state. ing. Details of these power supply states will be described later.

  The terminal apparatus 30 is an information processing apparatus having a function of submitting a job such as a scan job or a print job to the image processing apparatus 10 and requesting the execution thereof. The terminal device 30 includes a personal computer in which an OS program, a driver program for the image processing apparatus 10, an application program for creating and editing documents and images, and the like are installed. Various requests to the image processing apparatus 10 such as input of a scan job and a print job are made by a driver program for the image processing apparatus 10.

  The terminal device 30 also has a plurality of power supply states. Here, there are provided a normal state in which each unit can be energized to execute various processes, a sleep that consumes less power than the normal state, and a shutdown that consumes less power than sleep.

  The image processing apparatus 10 inquires of each terminal device 30 to be monitored connected to the network 2 about each power state (sends a power state acquisition request Q), and receives the response from each terminal device 30 as a response. The power supply state information R is totaled, and a function of switching the power supply state of the own device based on the number of terminals for each power supply state is provided. The above inquiry is repeated. For example, it is repeatedly performed at a set fixed period such as 5 minutes or 10 minutes.

  FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the image processing apparatus 10. The image processing apparatus 10 includes a main CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 that performs overall control of the operation of the image processing apparatus 10, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12 connected to the main CPU 11, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13. A scanner unit 14, a printer unit 15, a facsimile unit 16, a display unit 17, an operation unit 18, and an image processing unit 19. Further, the main CPU 11 is connected to a bridge unit 20 having a sub CPU 21 therein. A memory 22, a nonvolatile memory 23, a network I / F unit 24, and a hard disk device 25 are connected to the bridge unit 20. In addition, the image processing apparatus 10 includes a power supply unit 28 that supplies power to each unit of the image processing apparatus 10.

  The main CPU 11 is based on an OS program, on which middleware and application programs are executed. The sub CPU 21 is a CPU that has a smaller processing capacity and lower power consumption than the main CPU 11.

  The main CPU 11 can access the sub CPU 21 and each unit connected to the bridge unit 20 through the bridge unit 20 to exchange information. The sub CPU 21 can access the memory 22, the nonvolatile memory 23, the network I / F unit 24, and the hard disk device 25 through the bridge unit 20, and can exchange information with the main CPU 11. Thereby, for example, the memory 22 and the nonvolatile memory 23 are also used as a medium for exchanging information between the main CPU 11 and the sub CPU 21.

  The operation of the scanner unit 14, the printer unit 15, the facsimile unit 16, the display unit 17, the operation unit 18, the image processing unit 19, and the like is controlled by the main CPU 11. For example, the main CPU 11 controls the printer unit 15 to perform printing related to a print job received from the terminal device 30 via the network 2.

  The power supply unit 28 converts commercial power into an appropriate voltage and supplies power to each unit of the image processing apparatus 10. In addition, according to an instruction from the main CPU 11 or the sub CPU 21, a function is provided for controlling whether to supply power or stop supplying power for each power supply destination. Here, power is supplied to all parts in the normal state, and in the sleep state, the scanner unit 14, the printer unit 15, the facsimile unit 16 (excluding the receiving unit), the display unit 17, the image processing unit 19, and the hard disk device 25 are supplied. The power supply is stopped and power is supplied to the rest. However, in the sleep state, the main CPU 11 operates with low power consumption by reducing its capability.

  In the power off state, the main CPU 11 also stops operating. In the power-off state, power is supplied to the sub CPU 21, the memory 22, the nonvolatile memory 23, and the network I / F unit 24, and power supply to other parts (including the main CPU 11) is stopped. The sleep state is not limited to the state described above, and may be any power state that is closer to the normal state than the power-off state but consumes less power than the normal state. For example, the main CPU 11 continues to supply power to the RAM 13. Alternatively, the power supply to the ROM 12 may be stopped.

  Various programs are stored in the ROM 12, and each function of the image processing apparatus 10 such as job execution is realized by the main CPU 11 executing processing according to these programs. The RAM 13 is used as a work memory for temporarily storing various data when the main CPU 11 executes a program, an image memory for storing image data, and the like. Other necessary programs are loaded from the hard disk device 25 to the RAM 13 and executed.

  The scanner unit 14 performs a function of optically reading a document and acquiring image data. The scanner unit 14 sequentially moves, for example, a light source that irradiates light on a document, a line image sensor that receives the reflected light for one line in the width direction, and a reading position in line units in the length direction of the document. An optical path composed of a lens, a mirror, and the like for guiding the reflected light from the document to the line image sensor to form an image, a conversion unit for converting the analog image signal output from the line image sensor into digital image data, etc. It is prepared for.

  The printer unit 15 functions to form an image corresponding to the image data on a recording sheet. Here, it has a recording paper transport device, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a laser unit, a developing device, a transfer separation device, a cleaning device, and a fixing device, and forms an image by an electrophotographic process. It is configured as a so-called laser printer. Other methods may be used for image formation.

  The facsimile unit 16 controls operations related to facsimile transmission and reception.

  The operation panel of the image processing apparatus 10 includes a display unit 17 and an operation unit 18. The display unit 17 is configured by a liquid crystal display (LCD) and the like, and has a function of displaying various operation screens, setting screens, and the like. The operation unit 18 has a function of accepting various operations such as job input and setting from the user. The operation unit 18 includes a touch panel that is provided on the screen of the display unit 17 and detects a pressed coordinate position, and includes a numeric keypad, a character input key, a start key, and the like.

  The image processing unit 19 performs rasterization processing for converting print data into image data, image data compression and expansion processing, in addition to processing such as image enlargement / reduction and rotation.

  The memory 22 is used as a work memory for the sub CPU 21. The nonvolatile memory 23 is a memory (flash memory) whose stored contents are not destroyed even when the power is turned off, and stores a power state monitoring list 50 described later, a program executed by the sub CPU 21, and the like. The network I / F unit 24 functions to transmit and receive various types of data to and from the terminal device 30 and other external devices via the network 2. The hard disk device 25 is a large-capacity nonvolatile storage device, and is used for storing print data and image data, for example, in addition to programs.

  The sub CPU 21 operates independently of the OS program independently of the main CPU 11, and the sub CPU 21 is operating even in a power state where the operation of the main CPU 11 or power supply is stopped. As long as the sub CPU 21 is operating, the image processing apparatus 10 can access the memory 22 and the nonvolatile memory 23 and perform communication via the network I / F unit 24. That is, the network I / F unit 24 is routed by the sub CPU 21 and can communicate with an external device such as the terminal device 30 via the network 2 without depending on software on the OS.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of a schematic configuration of the terminal device 30. The terminal device 30 includes a main CPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, an input / output I / F unit 34, a bridge unit 40, a sub CPU 41, a memory 42, a nonvolatile memory 43, a network I / F unit 44, A hard disk device 45 and a power supply unit 48 are provided. Further, an input device 35 such as a keyboard and a mouse and a display device 36 such as a liquid crystal display are connected via the input / output I / F unit 34.

  The ROM 32 stores a startup program and fixed data. The RAM 33 stores a program loaded from the hard disk device 45. The RAM 33 is used as a work memory for temporarily storing various data when the main CPU 31 executes a program.

  The nonvolatile memory 43 is a memory (flash memory) whose stored contents are not destroyed even when the power is turned off. The network I / F unit 44 functions to transmit and receive various data to and from the image processing apparatus 10 and other external devices via the network 2. The hard disk device 45 is a large-capacity nonvolatile storage device, and stores an OS program, a driver program for the image processing apparatus 10, middleware, various application programs, files, data, and the like.

  Also in the terminal device 30, the sub CPU 41 is a CPU that has a smaller processing capacity and less power consumption than the main CPU 31. The main CPU 31 is based on an OS program, on which middleware and application programs are executed. The sub CPU 41 operates without an OS program, and executes processing with less load than the main CPU 31.

  The main CPU 31 can access the sub CPU 41 and each unit connected to the bridge unit 40 through the bridge unit 40 to exchange information. The sub CPU 41 can access the memory 42, the nonvolatile memory 43, the network I / F unit 44, and the hard disk device 45 through the bridge unit 40, and can exchange information with the main CPU 31. Thereby, for example, the memory 42 and the nonvolatile memory 43 are also used as a medium for exchanging information between the main CPU 31 and the sub CPU 41.

  The power supply unit 48 converts commercial power into an appropriate voltage and supplies power to each unit of the terminal device 30. In addition, according to an instruction from the main CPU 31 or the sub CPU 41, a function of controlling whether to supply power or stop supplying power is provided for each power supply destination. Here, power is supplied to all parts in the normal state, and power supply to the main CPU 31, the input / output I / F unit 34, the ROM 32, and the hard disk device 45 is stopped in the sleep state. In this state, the power supply to the RAM 33 is continued, the OS is in an OS management state, and when the main CPU 31 is activated after the power state is restored to the normal state, the normal operation is immediately restored based on the information stored in the RAM 33. can do.

  In shutdown, power supply to the ROM 32 is also stopped. Even in the shutdown, power is supplied to the sub CPU 41, the memory 42, the nonvolatile memory 43, and the network I / F unit 44 unless a main power switch (not shown) is turned off or supply of commercial power is stopped. In order to return from the shutdown state to the normal operation state, the main CPU 31 starts from the startup of the OS, that is, the initialization.

  Similarly to the image processing apparatus 10, the terminal device 30 has the sub CPU 41 operating even in the shutdown state. If the sub CPU 41 is in operation, access to the memory 42 and the nonvolatile memory 43 and communication by the network I / F unit 44 can be performed. That is, the network I / F unit 44 is routed by the sub CPU 41 and can communicate with an external apparatus such as the image processing apparatus 10 via the network 2 without depending on software on the OS.

  Next, an operation related to the transition of the power state of the image processing apparatus 10 will be described.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a power supply state monitoring list 50 created by the sub CPU 21 of the image processing apparatus 10 and stored and managed in the nonvolatile memory 23 (or the hard disk device 25). The power supply state monitoring list 50 includes items of terminal name, IP address, job, last use history, monitoring target, and power supply state, and the contents of each item are registered in association with each terminal device (IP address). Is done.

  The terminal name is a name assigned to each terminal device 30 by a network administrator or the like. The IP address is an IP address in the network 2 of the terminal. In the job item, the type of the job last received from the corresponding terminal device 30 is registered. The date and time of the job received last from the corresponding terminal device 30 is registered in the last use history item.

  In the monitoring target item, information indicating whether or not the corresponding terminal device 30 is a monitoring target of the power state is registered. In the example of the figure, ◯ indicates that it is a monitoring target, and x indicates that it is not a monitoring target. When the job is received, the terminal device 30 of the transmission source is set as a monitoring target. On the other hand, the terminal device 30 that has not transmitted a job to the image processing apparatus 10 for a certain period or longer is excluded from the monitoring target.

  The power supply state of the terminal device 30 is registered in the power supply state item. Specifically, the power status indicated by the power status information recently received from the terminal device 30 is registered.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of operations performed by the sub CPU 41 of the terminal device 30 that has received the power state acquisition request from the sub CPU 21 of the image processing apparatus 10. When receiving the power status acquisition request (step S101; Yes), the sub CPU 41 of the terminal device 30 acquires the current power status of the device itself (step S102). For example, when the main CPU 31 changes the power supply state, the main CPU 31 stores information indicating the changed power supply state in the nonvolatile memory 43, and the sub CPU 41 determines the current own device (terminal device) from the information stored in the nonvolatile memory 43. 30) is acquired. Then, the sub CPU 41 creates a response packet including information indicating the acquired power state, and transmits this to the transmission source of the power state acquisition request received earlier (step S103).

  FIG. 6 shows the operation of the image processing apparatus 10 that has received a job from the terminal apparatus 30. When the sub CPU 21 of the image processing apparatus 10 receives any job such as a scan job or a print job from the terminal device 30 (step S201), it updates the power state monitoring list 50 (step S202). Specifically, the job, the last use history, and the IP address are newly registered or updated with respect to the terminal device 30 that is the transmission source of the received job.

  Subsequently, whether or not the terminal device 30 that is the transmission source of the received job is a monitoring target is checked from the registered contents of the power supply state monitoring list 50, and if it is not a monitoring target (X in FIG. 4) (step S203; Yes). The registered content is changed to the monitoring target (◯ in FIG. 4) (step S204), and the process is terminated. If it is already a monitoring target (step S203; No), the processing ends without changing the registered content relating to the monitoring target item.

  FIG. 7 shows the monitoring target exclusion process performed by the sub CPU 21 of the image processing apparatus 10. The sub CPU 21 of the image processing apparatus 10 refers to the power supply state monitoring list 50 and changes the terminal device 30 that has passed for a certain period from the date and time registered in the last use history item to be excluded from monitoring. For example, the fixed period can be set to an arbitrary period such as one month.

  Specifically, the sub CPU 21 reads registration contents regarding one terminal device 30 (referred to as a “target terminal”) in order from the top of the power supply state monitoring list 50 (step S221). The date and time indicated by the last usage history of the terminal of interest is compared with the current date and time. If a certain period or more has not elapsed (step S222; No), the process proceeds to step S224, and if a certain period or more has elapsed ( (Step S222; Yes), the registered content of the power supply state monitoring list 50 is updated so that the terminal device 30 is not monitored (Step S223), and the process proceeds to Step S224.

  In step S224, it is checked whether or not the above-described exclusion test (steps S222 and S223) has been completed for all terminal devices 30 registered in the power supply state monitoring list 50. If not completed (step S224; No) Returning to step S221, an exclusion test is performed on the next terminal device 30.

  When all the terminal devices 30 are finished (step S224; Yes), this process is finished. Note that the processing of FIG. 7 is repeatedly executed periodically. For example, it is executed every day at a predetermined time. The repetition cycle can be changed. In addition, you may make it perform the said exclusion test | inspection only with respect to the terminal device 30 currently monitored.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the basic data table 60 stored in the nonvolatile memory 23 or the like of the image processing apparatus 10. In the basic data table 60, a value A (score) corresponding to each power supply state is registered for each type of power supply state that the terminal device 30 can take. In this example, the value A is 4 points in the normal state, 1 point in the sleep state, and 0 point in the shutdown state. The score is higher as the power supply is closer to the normal state.

  FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram 70 of the power supply state determination. Each terminal device 30 to be monitored is given a score (value A) corresponding to its power state, the total value of the given points is N, and the highest score (the number of points corresponding to the normal state) is given to all the terminal devices 30 to be monitored. Here, the total value when 4 points) is given is M (total maximum value). The power supply state determination conceptual diagram 70 of FIG. 9 shows the relationship between the total value N and the total maximum value M and the power supply state where the image processing apparatus 10 should be. According to this power state determination conceptual diagram 70, when N ≧ M × 0.5 (region A), the normal state, and when M × 0.5> N ≧ M × 0.1 (region B), the sleep state. , M × 0.1> N (area C), it is determined that the power is off. Note that the boundary values of the areas A, B, and C and the number of areas can be changed.

  FIG. 10 shows a power state change process in which the sub CPU 21 of the image processing apparatus 10 determines the power state that the apparatus should be based on the total value N and the total maximum value M, and shifts the apparatus to the power state. The flow is shown. The sub CPU 21 performs the following processing every predetermined time T (step S241; Yes). The sub CPU 21 transmits a power state acquisition request to the terminal device 30 registered as a monitoring target in the power state monitoring list 50 (step S242). Then, the power status of each terminal device 30 registered in the power status monitoring list 50 is updated based on the power status information received from each destination terminal device 30 as a response to the power status acquisition request (step) S243).

  The total value N and the total maximum value M are obtained from the updated power supply state monitoring list 50 (step S244). If the total value N is in the region A (50% or more of the total maximum value M) (step S245; Yes), the power state of the image processing apparatus 10 is shifted to the normal state (step S246). Then, the time T is reset (step S250), and the process is terminated. This process is repeated immediately after the process is completed.

  If the total value N is in the region B (50% or less of the total maximum value M and 10% or more) (step S247; Yes), the power state of the image processing apparatus 10 is shifted to the sleep state (step S248). The process proceeds to step S250. If the total value N is in the region C (less than 10% of the total maximum value M) (step S247 ;; No), the power state of the image processing apparatus 10 is shifted to the power-off state (step S249), and step S250. Transition to.

  As described above, the terminal device 30 to be monitored is assigned a score corresponding to the power state, and the power state of the image processing apparatus 10 is determined and shifted based on the ratio of the total value N to the total maximum value M. Considering the power supply state of all the terminal devices 30 to be monitored, the image processing apparatus 10 can be shifted to a power supply state corresponding to the power supply state. In other words, the availability of the image processing apparatus viewed from the entire terminal device to be monitored is determined from the total value N and the total maximum value M, and the power state of the own apparatus is changed. In particular, as the power supply state of the terminal device 30, the normal state, the sleep state, and the shutdown state are acquired separately, and the power state of the image processing apparatus 10 is determined according to them. It is possible to change the power supply state of the device in detail, and to achieve both power saving and a reduction in the return waiting time at a high level.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described.

  The configurations of the image processing device 10 and the terminal device 30 are the same as those in the first embodiment. The difference is the determination criterion of the power supply state, and the second basic data table 80 shown in FIG. 11 is used instead of the basic data table 60 used in the first embodiment. In the second basic data table 80, in addition to the registration contents of the basic data table 60, a value B is registered in association with each threshold value of elapsed time from the last usage history.

  In the second embodiment, in addition to the power state of each terminal device 30, the score for each terminal device 30 is calculated by taking into account the elapsed time from the last use history received from the terminal device 30 as a determination condition. To do. That is, by weighting the value A corresponding to the power state of the terminal device 30 with the value B (weighting coefficient) corresponding to the elapsed time from the last use history, the terminal device 30 may use the image processing device 10. Is predicted more accurately. In the present embodiment, the value B is set to 3 if it is likely to be used again (receives a job) if it is within one day from the date and time indicated by the last usage history, and is set to 2 if it is within 7 days. If it is within months, 1 is assigned.

  The score of each terminal device 30 is a value (A × B) obtained by multiplying the value A corresponding to the power state of the terminal device 30 by the value B corresponding to the elapsed time from the last use history of the terminal device 30. To do. The total value N is the total score of all the terminal devices 30 to be monitored. The total maximum value M is the number of terminal devices 30 to be monitored × the maximum value A (4 in this example) × the maximum value B (3 in this example). FIG. 12 shows a calculation formula, and FIG. 13 shows an example of the calculation result.

  In FIG. 14, the sub CPU 21 of the image processing apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment determines the power state that the apparatus should be based on the total value N and the total maximum value M, and automatically enters the power state. The flow of the power supply state change process which transfers an apparatus is shown. The same parts as those in FIG. 10 are denoted by the same step numbers, and the description thereof is omitted. The difference is that step S244B is performed in FIG. 14 instead of step S244 in FIG. In step S244B, the total value N and the total maximum value M are obtained from the power supply state and the final use history of each terminal device 30 to be monitored in the updated power supply state monitoring list 50 by the calculation formula shown in FIG. .

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the score (the score indicating availability) of the terminal device 30 to be monitored is changed from the last use history to the value A corresponding to the power state of the terminal device 30 to be monitored. Since the calculation is performed by performing weighting (multiplication of value B) according to the elapsed time, the availability from the terminal device 30 to be monitored can be estimated more accurately. And since the power supply state of the image processing apparatus 10 is determined and shifted based on the ratio of the total value N of the total points N of the terminal devices 30 to the total maximum value M, the availability from all the terminal devices 30 to be monitored In consideration of the above, the image processing apparatus 10 can be shifted to a power supply state suitable for it. In particular, since the score is calculated by distinguishing the normal state, the sleep state, and the shutdown state as the power state of the terminal device 30, the power state of the own device can be changed in more detail depending on the power state of the terminal device 30, thereby saving power And a reduction in the return waiting time can be achieved at a high level.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  In the embodiment, the case where the image processing apparatus 10 is a multifunction peripheral has been described as an example. However, any apparatus that receives and executes a job from a terminal apparatus may be used. It may be an image processing apparatus of this kind.

  In the second embodiment, the power supply state value A is weighted according to the elapsed time from the last use history, and the score for each terminal device 30 is calculated. The weight added to may be another element (attribute). For example, the frequency (use frequency) of receiving a job from the corresponding terminal device 30 may be used, or an attribute related to the user of the terminal device 30, for example, a weighting factor according to whether it is a general employee, a general manager, or a president.

  Further, although the power state is determined based on the ratio of the total value N to the total maximum value M, the power state may be determined based on the absolute value of the total value N.

  Further, the determination is not limited to the values A and B. For example, the number of terminals may be obtained for each power state, and the power state may be determined based on the number distribution for each power state. For example, depending on whether the number or ratio of the normal state is greater than or equal to a certain level, whether the number or ratio of sleep is equal to or greater than a certain number even if the number or ratio of the normal state is equal to or less than a certain level, May be determined.

  Further, registration criteria for monitoring targets and exclusion criteria for monitoring targets are not limited to those exemplified in the embodiment, and may be arbitrary. Furthermore, it is good also as all the terminal devices 30 connected to the network, or all the terminal devices 30 with a use history once, without limiting a monitoring object.

In the embodiment, the power supply state of the terminal device 30 is obtained by distinguishing the three states of the normal state, sleep, and shutdown, but may be more finely distinguished. For example, the power status
S0: Normal operation,
S1: A sleep state in which the main CPU saves power,
S2: Suspended state supported by OS
S3: Suspend-To-RAM, which almost stops power supply to other than the memory
S4: Suspend-To-Disk, in which the memory contents are saved in the hard disk drive and then power to the memory is also stopped.
S5: Shutdown state
In the case of managing separately, the power state may be acquired by distinguishing these S0 to S5, and a value A corresponding to each power state may be assigned.

  Further, in the embodiment, the configuration in which the image processing apparatus 10 includes the sub CPU 21 is illustrated. However, the main CPU 11 can supply power to the main CPU 11 even in the power saving state, and the main CPU 11 can execute the processing performed by the sub CPU 21 in the embodiment. If so, a configuration without the sub CPU 21 may be adopted.

2 ... Network 5 ... Network system 10 ... Image processing device 11 ... Main CPU
12 ... ROM
13 ... RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Scanner part 15 ... Printer part 16 ... Facsimile part 17 ... Display part 18 ... Operation part 19 ... Image processing part 20 ... Bridge part 21 ... Sub CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 22 ... Memory 23 ... Non-volatile memory 24 ... Network I / F part 25 ... Hard disk apparatus 28 ... Power supply part 30 ... Terminal device 31 ... Main CPU
32 ... ROM
33 ... RAM
34 ... Input / output I / F unit 35 ... Input device 36 ... Display device 40 ... Bridge unit 41 ... Sub CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 42 ... Memory 43 ... Non-volatile memory 44 ... Network I / F part 45 ... Hard disk apparatus 48 ... Power supply part 50 ... Power supply state monitoring list 60 ... Basic data table 70 ... Power supply state discrimination conceptual diagram 80 ... 2nd basic data table Q ... Power supply Status acquisition request R: Power status information

Claims (8)

An image processing apparatus that executes a job received from a terminal device via a network,
Power status confirmation that acquires power status information indicating the power status from each terminal device to be monitored that can take at least the normal status, sleep that consumes less power than the normal status, and power-off power status connected to the network And
A power control unit that changes the power state of the image processing apparatus based on the power state information acquired by the power state confirmation unit;
An image processing apparatus comprising: The said power supply control part changes the power supply state of the said image processing apparatus based on the terminal device number according to the power supply state obtained from the power supply state information acquired in the said power supply state confirmation part. Image processing apparatus. The power supply control unit gives each terminal device to be monitored a score according to its power state, a total value of the points regarding all the terminal devices to be monitored, and a total when giving the highest score to all the terminal devices The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the change is performed based on a ratio with a maximum value. The image processing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the power control unit performs the change in consideration of a predetermined attribute other than a power state of each terminal device to be monitored. apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the power control unit further calculates the score for each terminal device in consideration of the attribute. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the attribute is an elapsed time since a job was last received from a terminal device. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the attribute is a frequency of receiving a job from a terminal device. The power supply control unit selects the terminal device to be monitored from terminal devices connected to the network based on a job reception history. The image processing apparatus described in one.

Images