JP2012018632A - Control device, image formation system, computer program and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control device, an image formation system, a computer program and a control method which does not require the returning operation of a user and can shorten a waiting time until the execution of image formation.SOLUTION: A storage section 103 stores information on the use frequency of an image formation device for each user. When an acquisition section 102 acquires a print request of a user, an operation state determination section 105 selects the image formation device whose use frequency by the user is high among a plurality of image formation devices, and determines whether the selected image formation device is in a power-saving mode. When the image formation device is determined to be in a power-saving state, an operation state control section 106 outputs an instruction to shift the image formation device from the power-saving state to a normal state.

Description

  The present invention relates to a control device that controls operation states of a plurality of image forming apparatuses that can form an image by shifting from a power saving state, an image forming system including the control device, and a computer for realizing the control device. The present invention relates to a program and a control method using the control device.

  A conventional image forming system has a configuration in which an information processing device such as a personal computer or a portable terminal device used by a user and a plurality of image forming devices (printers, multifunction devices, etc.) are connected via a communication line such as a LAN. Make. When the user transmits a print job from the information processing apparatus, printing (image formation) is performed in an arbitrary image forming apparatus selected by the user.

  Also, a printing system is disclosed that includes a power management device that shares a plurality of printers with a plurality of computer devices and activates printers corresponding to the number of computer devices that are powered on (see Patent Document 1). ).

  Furthermore, when a user performs printing from a distance, there is also an image forming apparatus having a confidential printing function that can suspend printing processing until the time when the user directly performs a print execution operation on the image forming apparatus. For example, a user who has requested a confidential print job from the information processing apparatus is notified to the user that the image forming apparatus shifts to the power saving mode before the image forming apparatus shifts to the power saving mode, and the transition from the information processing apparatus to the power saving mode is extended. An image processing system that extends the transition to the power saving mode when a request is notified is disclosed (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2003-3030752 A JP 2008-300194 A

  In the conventional image forming apparatus, when waiting in the power saving mode, it is necessary to shift from the power saving mode to the normal mode in order to perform image forming processing. However, for example, in the system of Patent Document 2, when the image forming apparatus in the normal mode is shifted to the power saving mode, the image before entering the power saving mode is extended by extending the shift to the power saving mode. It is only possible to complete the forming process and avoid delays in receiving the printed matter. For this reason, when an image forming apparatus that is scheduled to perform image formation is already in the power saving mode, after the user requests a print job, the user directly operates the image forming apparatus to change from the power saving mode to the normal mode. There is a problem that it is necessary to migrate, and waiting time is generated for the time required for the migration.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a control device that does not require a user's migration work and can shorten the waiting time until image formation is executed, an image forming system including the control device, It is an object to provide a computer program for realizing a control device and a control method by the control device.

  A control device according to the present invention is a control device that controls the operation state of a plurality of image forming apparatuses that can form an image by shifting from a power saving state, and that obtains a print request from a user. And storage means for storing information on the frequency of use of the image forming apparatus for each user, and when the user's print request is acquired by the print request acquisition means, the image forming apparatus having a high use frequency of the user is in a power saving state. Determining means for determining whether the image forming apparatus is in a power saving state, and an output means for outputting an instruction to shift the image forming apparatus from the power saving state when the determining means determines that the image forming apparatus is in a power saving state. It is characterized by providing.

  The control device according to the present invention is characterized by comprising update means for updating information stored in the storage means.

  The control apparatus according to the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires a maintenance request for maintaining a power saving state of the image forming apparatus, and a prohibiting unit that prohibits output by the output unit when the maintenance request is acquired by the acquisition unit. It is characterized by providing.

  The control apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the print request acquisition means is configured to acquire a confidential print request.

  An image forming system according to the present invention includes the control device according to any one of the above-described inventions, and a plurality of image forming devices capable of forming an image by shifting from a power saving state.

  A computer program according to the present invention is a computer program for causing a computer to execute a step of controlling operation states of a plurality of image forming apparatuses that can form an image by shifting from a power saving state. When a user's print request is acquired, a step of determining whether an image forming apparatus that is frequently used by the user is in a power saving state, and a step of determining that the image forming apparatus is in a power saving state, A step of outputting an instruction to shift the image forming apparatus from the power saving state.

  A control method according to the present invention is a control method by a control device that controls operation states of a plurality of image forming apparatuses that can form an image by shifting from a power saving state, and relates to a use frequency of the image forming apparatus. Information is stored for each user, and when a user's print request is acquired, and when the user's print request is acquired in the acquisition step, an image forming apparatus that is frequently used by the user is in a power saving state And a step of outputting an instruction to shift the image forming apparatus from the power saving state when it is determined in the determining step that the image forming apparatus is in a power saving state. It is characterized by.

  In the present invention, information regarding the frequency of use of a plurality of image forming apparatuses is stored for each user. When a user's print request (print job) is acquired, an image forming apparatus frequently used by the user is selected from a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and the selected image forming apparatus enters a power saving state (power saving mode). It is determined whether or not there is. When it is determined that the image forming apparatus is in the power saving state, the power saving state of the image forming apparatus is canceled (transition to the normal mode). As a result, when a user issues a print request, if an image forming apparatus that is likely to be used by the user is in a power saving state, the image forming apparatus is shifted from the power saving state to the normal state in advance. Therefore, no migration work by the user is required, and the waiting time until the image formation is executed can be shortened.

  In this invention, the update means which updates the information memorize | stored in the memory means is provided. As a result, when the usage environment of the user's image forming apparatus is changed (for example, when the user's location is changed and the image forming apparatus near the user is changed), or the image forming apparatus is replaced. In this case, since the information regarding the usage frequency of the user can be updated, the image forming apparatus that is mainly used by the user can be changed, and it is possible to deal with the case according to the actual usage situation.

  In the present invention, when the maintenance request for maintaining the power saving state of the image forming apparatus is acquired, the release of the power saving state is prohibited. That is, when the user requests to maintain the power saving state, the power saving state is maintained without shifting the image forming apparatus to the normal state. Thus, for example, when the user executes a print request, when the printed matter is not required immediately, for example, when printing is output after several hours or days, or when a plurality of print requests are executed, each printing is performed. When printing out the requests collectively, the power saving state can be maintained, so that the power saving can be achieved efficiently without causing unnecessary transition.

  In the present invention, the print request acquisition unit acquires a confidential print request capable of forming an image when the user directly operates the image forming apparatus. As a result, even when the image forming apparatus having the confidential processing function performs image formation, when the user goes to the image forming apparatus to perform print output, the image forming apparatus has already shifted from the power saving state to the normal state. Therefore, no migration work by the user is required, and the waiting time until execution of image formation can be shortened.

  According to the present invention, when a user issues a print request, if an image forming apparatus that is likely to be used by the user is in a power saving state, the image forming apparatus is shifted from the power saving state to the normal state in advance. Therefore, no migration work by the user is required, and the waiting time until the image formation is executed can be shortened.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming system according to an exemplary embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the server of this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the selection method of the image forming apparatus with high usage frequency by the server of this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of the selection method of the image forming apparatus with high usage frequency by the server of this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence of the server of this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the other example of the process sequence of the server of this Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the image forming system of the present embodiment. The image forming system includes information processing apparatuses 11, 12, 13, such as personal computers or portable terminal devices used by users, image forming apparatuses 201, 202, 203, 204 such as a printer or a multifunction peripheral, a server 100 as a control apparatus, and the like. Is provided. The information processing apparatuses 11 to 13, the image forming apparatuses 201 to 204, and the server 100 are each connected to a communication network such as a LAN. In FIG. 1, three information processing apparatuses 11 to 13 and four image forming apparatuses 201 to 204 are illustrated, but the number of information processing apparatuses and image forming apparatuses is not limited to the example of FIG.

  For example, the user selects a desired one (for example, the image forming apparatus 201 installed closest) from among the plurality of image forming apparatuses 201 to 204 connected to the communication network using the information processing apparatus 11 for the user. The user can select and send a print request to print out an image or a document. As a print request, not only a normal print request but also a confidential print request can be sent. In confidential printing, for example, when a user performs printing at a location away from the installation location of the image forming apparatus, the user performs a print execution operation directly on the image forming apparatus so that the printed material is not accessed by others. The printing process can be suspended.

  The image forming apparatuses 201 to 204 include an image processing unit, a print engine unit (not shown), and the like. The page description language data transmitted from the information processing apparatuses 11 to 13 is converted into engine output data by the image processing unit, and an image is formed on a paper medium or the like by the print engine unit. The image forming apparatuses 201 to 204 include an operation panel having a copier function, a printer function, a filing function, a facsimile transmission function or a Scan to E-mail function, a liquid crystal display, operation buttons, and the like.

  The image forming apparatuses 201 to 204 stop normal power supply (normal mode) in which printing can be immediately performed by the user operating the operation panel, and power supply to each unit of the image forming apparatus when the user has not been used for a predetermined time. Thus, there are two operation modes: a power saving state (power saving mode) for suppressing power consumption. An image forming apparatus in a power saving state can be shifted (returned) to a normal state by a user operation. As will be described later, the server 100 can control the operation mode (operation state) of the image forming apparatuses 201 to 204.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the server 100 according to the present embodiment. The server 100 stores a control unit 101 that controls processing of each unit in the server 100, an acquisition unit 102 as a print request acquisition unit that acquires a user's print request, and information regarding the frequency of use of the image forming apparatus for each user. The storage unit 103 selects an image forming apparatus that is frequently used by the user, and determines whether or not the selected image forming apparatus is in a power saving state. An operation state control unit 106 serving as an output unit that outputs an instruction to shift the image forming apparatus to a normal state, an update unit 104 serving as an update unit that updates information on the use frequency stored in the storage unit 103, and the like.

  The acquisition unit 102 acquires a maintenance request for maintaining the power saving state of the image forming apparatus from the information processing apparatuses 11 to 13. The acquisition unit 102 acquires a confidential print request.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a method for selecting an image forming apparatus with high use frequency by the server 100 according to the present embodiment. In this case, the storage unit 103 stores the number of times the image forming apparatuses 201 to 204 have been used in the most recent month for each user. The example of FIG. 3 shows information related to the usage frequency of a certain user. For example, the image forming apparatus 201 has been used ten times during the most recent month. The image forming apparatus 202 has been used 25 times in the most recent month. The same applies hereinafter.

The operation state determination unit 105 selects the image forming apparatus 202 that is used most frequently in the most recent month as an image forming apparatus that is frequently used. In the example of FIG. 3, the period is one month, but is not limited to this, and can be set as appropriate, such as one week, two weeks, two months, or the like.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a method for selecting an image forming apparatus with high use frequency by the server 100 of the present embodiment. In this case, the storage unit 103 stores the most recent use date and time of each of the image forming apparatuses 201 to 204 for each user. The example of FIG. 4 shows information regarding the usage frequency of a certain user. For example, the image forming apparatus 201 is used today. The image forming apparatus 202 is used yesterday. The same applies hereinafter.

The operation state determination unit 105 selects the most recently used image forming apparatus 201 as an image forming apparatus having a high use frequency. In the example of FIG. 4, today, yesterday, one week ago, etc., it is also possible to store the year, month, date and time at the time of use.

  When the acquisition unit 102 acquires a user's print request (print job), the operation state determination unit 105 selects an image forming apparatus frequently used by the user from a plurality of image forming apparatuses, and selects the selected image formation. It is determined whether or not the device is in a power saving state (power saving mode).

  When it is determined that the image forming apparatus is in the power saving state, the operation state control unit 106 outputs an instruction to shift the image forming apparatus from the power saving state to the normal state. As a result, when a user issues a print request, if an image forming apparatus that is likely to be used by the user is in a power saving state, the image forming apparatus is shifted from the power saving state to the normal state in advance. Therefore, no migration work by the user is required, and the waiting time until the image formation is executed can be shortened.

  The update unit 104 updates information regarding the usage frequency of the image forming apparatuses 201 to 204 stored in the storage unit 103. As a result, when the usage environment of the user's image forming apparatus is changed (for example, when the user's location is changed and the image forming apparatus near the user is changed), or the image forming apparatus is replaced. In this case, since the information regarding the usage frequency of the user can be updated, the image forming apparatus that is mainly used by the user can be changed, and it is possible to deal with the case according to the actual usage situation.

  When the acquisition unit 102 acquires a maintenance request for maintaining the power saving state of the image forming apparatus, the operation state control unit 106 prohibits the transition from the power saving state to the normal state. That is, when the user requests to maintain the power saving state, the power saving state is maintained without shifting the image forming apparatus to the normal state. Thus, for example, when the user executes a print request, when the printed matter is not required immediately, for example, when printing is output after several hours or days, or when a plurality of print requests are executed, each printing is performed. When printing out the requests collectively, the power saving state can be maintained, so that the power saving can be achieved efficiently without causing unnecessary transition.

  The acquisition unit 102 can acquire a confidential print request. As a result, even when the image forming apparatus having the confidential processing function performs image formation, when the user goes to the image forming apparatus to perform print output, the image forming apparatus has already shifted from the power saving state to the normal state. Therefore, no migration work by the user is required, and the waiting time until execution of image formation can be shortened.

  Next, a method for controlling the operation state of the image forming apparatus by the server 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the server 100 according to the present embodiment. The control unit 101 determines whether a print request (may be a confidential print request) has been acquired (S11). If the print request has not been acquired (NO in S11), the process of step S11 is continued.

  When the print request is acquired (YES in S11), the control unit 101 refers to the use history (information regarding the use frequency) of the image forming apparatus for the user who made the print request (S12), and forms an image with a high use frequency. While selecting an apparatus, it is determined whether or not the selected image forming apparatus is in a power saving mode (power saving state) (S13).

  When it is in the power saving mode (YES in S13), the control unit 101 cancels the power saving mode, returns (shifts) to the normal mode (normal state) (S14), and ends the process. If not in the power saving mode (NO in S13), the normal mode is maintained, and the process is terminated without performing the process of step S14.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the processing procedure of the server 100 according to the present embodiment. The example of FIG. 6 illustrates a case where the user can select cancellation or maintenance of the power saving mode. The control unit 101 determines whether a print request (may be a confidential print request) has been acquired (S21). If the print request has not been acquired (NO in S21), the process of step S21 is continued.

  When the print request is acquired (YES in S21), the control unit 101 determines whether or not there is a request for maintaining the power saving mode (S22).

  When there is no request for maintaining the power saving mode (NO in S22), the control unit 101 refers to the use history (information regarding the use frequency) of the image forming apparatus for the user who has made the print request (S23), and A high image forming apparatus is selected, and it is determined whether the selected image forming apparatus is in a power saving mode (power saving state) (S24).

  When it is in the power saving mode (YES in S24), the control unit 101 cancels the power saving mode, returns (shifts) to the normal mode (normal state) (S25), and ends the process. If the power saving mode is not set (NO in S24), or if there is a request for maintaining the power saving mode (YES in S22), the control unit 101 ends the process.

  In the above-described embodiment, the server 100 has a configuration in which the storage unit is built in, but is not limited thereto, and a configuration in which an external storage device is provided may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the server 100 controls the operation state of the image forming apparatus. However, the server 100 can temporarily store print data based on a print request and print out the print data according to a user instruction. It is also possible to perform the expansion processing and send it to the image forming apparatus.

  The server 100 (control device) of the present embodiment can be realized by the program code by loading the program code indicating each processing procedure illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 into the RAM and causing the CPU to execute the program code.

  That is, the above-described processing procedure (for example, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6) is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium in which program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) to be executed by a computer is recorded. You can also. As a result, it is possible to provide a portable recording medium on which a program for performing the above-described operation state control method is recorded.

  In the present embodiment, the recording medium may be a memory (not shown) for processing performed by a microcomputer, for example, a program medium such as a ROM, or an external storage device (not shown). It may be a program medium provided with a program reading device and readable by inserting a recording medium therein.

  In any case, the stored program code may be configured to be accessed and executed by the microprocessor, or the program code is read, and the read program code is a program (not shown) of the microcomputer. The program code may be downloaded to the storage area and executed. In this case, it is assumed that the computer program for download is stored in the main device in advance.

  Here, the program medium is a recording medium configured to be separable from the main body, such as a tape system such as a magnetic tape or a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a flexible disk or a hard disk, and a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD. Semiconductors such as optical discs, IC cards (including memory cards) / optical cards, etc., or mask ROM, EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), flash ROM, etc. It may be a medium that carries a fixed program code including a memory.

  In the present embodiment, since the system configuration is such that a communication network including the Internet can be connected, the medium may be a medium that dynamically carries a program so as to download a program code from the communication network. When the program code is downloaded from the communication network in this way, the computer program for downloading may be stored in the main device in advance or may be installed from another recording medium. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

11, 12, 13 Information processing apparatus 100 Server (control apparatus)
101 control unit 102 acquisition unit (print request acquisition unit, acquisition unit)
103 memory | storage part (memory | storage means)
104 Update section (update means)
105 Operation state determination unit (determination means)
106 Operation state control unit (output means, prohibition means)
201, 202, 203, 204 Image forming apparatus

Claims (7)

A control device that controls the operation state of a plurality of image forming apparatuses that can form an image by shifting from a power saving state,
Print request acquisition means for acquiring a user's print request;
Storage means for storing information on the frequency of use of the image forming apparatus for each user;
A determination unit that determines whether or not an image forming apparatus frequently used by the user is in a power saving state when the print request acquisition unit acquires the user's print request;
A control apparatus comprising: output means for outputting an instruction to shift the image forming apparatus from the power saving state when the determining means determines that the image forming apparatus is in a power saving state.   The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an update unit that updates information stored in the storage unit. Obtaining means for obtaining a maintenance request for maintaining a power saving state of the image forming apparatus;
The control device according to claim 1, further comprising: a prohibiting unit that prohibits output by the output unit when the acquisition unit acquires the maintenance request. The print request acquisition unit includes:
The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control apparatus is configured to acquire a confidential print request.   An image forming system comprising: the control device according to claim 1; and a plurality of image forming devices capable of forming an image by shifting from a power saving state. . A computer program for causing a computer to execute a step of controlling an operation state of a plurality of image forming apparatuses capable of forming an image by shifting from a power saving state,
On the computer,
Determining whether or not an image forming apparatus that is frequently used by the user is in a power saving state when the user's print request is acquired;
And a step of outputting an instruction to shift the image forming apparatus from the power saving state when it is determined that the image forming apparatus is in a power saving state. A control method by a control device that controls operation states of a plurality of image forming apparatuses that can perform image formation by shifting from a power saving state,
Information on the frequency of use of the image forming apparatus is stored for each user,
Obtaining a user print request;
Determining whether or not an image forming apparatus frequently used by the user is in a power saving state when the user's print request is acquired in the acquiring step;
And a step of outputting an instruction to shift the image forming apparatus from the power saving state when it is determined in the determining step that the image forming apparatus is in a power saving state.

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