JP2012186741A - Image transmitting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image transmitting apparatus which can transmit image data to a terminal device at a timing required by a user of the terminal device while ensuring the power-saving effects of the terminal device side when transmitting image data to a terminal device that has shifted to a sleep mode.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention monitors a booting state of a main CPU of a terminal device by performing communication between a sub-CPU of the terminal device and a sub-CPU of the image forming apparatus in the case where a power supply state of the main CPU of the terminal device is not in a normal state allowing reception of image data when a main CPU of the image forming apparatus transmits the image data. The sub-CPU of the image forming apparatus transmits the image data from the main CPU of the image forming apparatus to the main CPU of the terminal device after the main CPU of the terminal device is booted and the terminal device is in the normal power supply state.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image transmission apparatus that transmits image data to a terminal apparatus, and more particularly to an image transmission apparatus connected to a terminal apparatus having a power saving function.

  In recent years, there is an increasing demand for power saving for office equipment installed in offices and homes. For this reason, in terminal devices such as PCs (personal computers), printers, multifunction devices, etc., when a standby state in which there is no job to be executed or no operation from the user continues for a certain period of time or longer, a power saving mode in which power consumption is lower than usual is entered. A function for automatically changing the power mode is provided.

  On the other hand, advances in technology related to multi-function peripherals have led to the ability to connect an image processing apparatus such as a multi-function peripheral to a PC via a network, read an image with the image processing apparatus, and send the read image data to the PC (push scan). ) Etc. are prevalent.

  By the way, in order to perform push scan reliably and efficiently, the information processing device periodically sends a use registration request to the peripheral device (MFP: Multifunction Peripheral), and the peripheral device is registered for use at this time. A system related to an image forming apparatus is disclosed in which only an information processing apparatus is permitted as a transmission destination of image data by push scanning (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-219956 A

  Currently, there is an increasing trend toward power saving from the viewpoint of environmental protection. For example, when the waiting time until the power state is shifted to the sleep mode is set short for PCs and office equipment, the time is shortened. is assumed. Then, when image data is read by an image processing apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral and the read image data is transmitted to a terminal device (this is a conventional push scan), while the user is reading a document with the image processing apparatus. In addition, the terminal device shifts to the sleep mode in a short time, and the read image data cannot be transmitted from the image processing device to the terminal device.

  That is, while the user moves from the terminal device to the image processing device and executes the document reading operation in order to execute the push scan, the terminal device immediately shifts to the sleep mode, and the image processing is performed. There arises a problem that image data read by the apparatus cannot be transmitted to the terminal apparatus. This problem is not limited only to the execution of push scan, and the same problem occurs when image data is transmitted from the image processing apparatus to the terminal apparatus.

  In the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, only an information processing apparatus that periodically transmits a usage registration is permitted as a push scan transmission destination, so that the information processing apparatus in the sleep mode transmits a usage registration request. The push scan that designates this information processing apparatus as the transmission destination cannot be performed.

  Even if there is a technology for starting an information processing device in the sleep mode from an external device such as a peripheral device, if the information processing device in the sleep mode is forcibly started and image data is transmitted, The information processing apparatus enters the sleep mode again after receiving the image data. Since the information processing apparatus enters the sleep mode when there is no input operation from the user, even if the information processing terminal is temporarily activated, the information processing apparatus enters the sleep mode again unless the information processing apparatus accepts the input operation from the user. Will enter.

  In this case, even if the peripheral device can temporarily start the information processing device and send the image data to the information processing device, the peripheral device starts the information processing device only to send and receive the image data. The power saving effect will be halved.

  The present invention is intended to solve the above-described problem, and when transmitting image data to a terminal device that has shifted to a sleep mode, the terminal device is secured while ensuring a power saving effect on the terminal device side. An object of the present invention is to provide an image transmission apparatus capable of transmitting image data to the terminal device at a timing required by the user.

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

[1] A storage unit for storing image data;
A communication unit that communicates with a terminal device via a network;
A control unit that transmits the image data stored in the storage unit to the terminal device connected to the network via the communication unit;
With
When the control unit transmits the image data to the terminal device, if the power state of the terminal device is not in a normal state where the image data can be received, the power state of the terminal device becomes a normal state. The image transmission apparatus, wherein the image data is transmitted to the terminal apparatus after the power supply state of the terminal apparatus becomes a normal state.

  In the above invention, when the power state of the terminal device is not in a normal state in which image data can be received, the control unit monitors that the power state of the terminal device becomes a normal state, and the power state of the terminal device is The image data is transmitted to the terminal device after the image data can be received. Here, the case where the power supply state is not in the normal state assumes a state where the power supply state is an off mode or a power saving mode. In addition, the control unit may transmit the image data immediately after the power state of the terminal device is in the normal state, and if the part related to the transmission of the image data in the own device is not activated, the control unit may You may make it transmit image data, after starting the part of an apparatus. The image data to be transmitted is not limited as long as it is image data stored in the storage unit. That is, it may be data read by a scanner or data received by facsimile (FAX).

[2] The control unit includes a main CPU and a sub CPU that consumes less power than the main CPU.
When transmitting the image data to the terminal device, if the power state of the terminal device is not a normal state, the main CPU is turned off or shifted to a power saving mode, and the sub CPU is in the power state of the terminal device. The image transmitting apparatus according to [1], wherein monitoring is performed.

  In the above invention, when the power supply state of the terminal device is not a normal state, the control unit cannot transmit image data to the terminal device. Therefore, the control unit turns off the main CPU or shifts to the power saving mode to save power. At the same time, the sub CPU with low power consumption monitors the power state of the terminal device. Therefore, the sub CPU can continuously monitor the power state of the terminal device while suppressing power consumption.

[3] When the power supply state of the terminal device to which the image data is transmitted is not a normal state, a transition command for shifting the power state of the terminal device to the normal state is transmitted to the terminal device, and the terminal device The image transmission device according to [1] or [2], wherein the image transmission device has a forced transmission mode in which the image data is transmitted to the terminal device after the power state of the device has shifted to a normal state.

  In the above-mentioned invention, the control unit forcibly transmits the transition command for transitioning from the power supply state where the image data cannot be received to the normal state where the image data can be received to the terminal device to forcibly set the power state of the terminal device. After shifting to the normal state, the image data is transmitted to the terminal device. Therefore, since the image data is transmitted after the power state of the terminal device is forcibly shifted to the normal state, the image data can be transmitted earlier.

[4] An image reading unit that optically reads a document is provided,
The image transmission apparatus according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the image data stored in the storage unit is image data obtained by reading a document with the image reading unit. .

  In the above-described invention, the image reading unit that optically reads the document is provided, and the image data obtained by the image reading unit is stored in the storage unit. Therefore, the apparatus itself has a function of reading a document.

[5] The terminal device includes a main CPU and a sub CPU that consumes less power than the main CPU, and is configured such that the sub CPU performs a response process for an inquiry about a power state from an external device.
The control unit includes a main CPU and a sub CPU that consumes less power than the main CPU. The sub CPU of the control unit inquires of the sub CPU of the terminal device about the power state of the terminal device. The image transmitting apparatus according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein:

  In the above invention, the terminal device includes a main CPU and a sub CPU with low power consumption, and the sub CPU performs a response process in response to an inquiry from an external device. The own device also includes a main CPU and a sub CPU with low power consumption, and the sub CPU of the own device makes an inquiry about the power state to the sub CPU of the terminal device. Therefore, since both devices communicate with each other by the sub CPU, a synergistic effect of power saving can be achieved.

  According to the image transmission device of the present invention, when transmitting image data to a terminal device that has shifted to the sleep mode, the user of the terminal device needs to ensure the power saving effect on the terminal device side. Image data can be transmitted to the terminal device at the timing.

1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a network system to which an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows an example of schematic structure of a terminal device. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the driver information of the resident program memorize | stored in the non-volatile memory. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structural example of the packet of the communication command transmitted as an information acquisition request of a non-volatile storage area. It is explanatory drawing which shows the data structural example of the response packet with respect to the command of "GetStorageData". It is a flowchart which concerns on the operation | movement which the main CPU of a terminal device returns as an information acquisition response of a non-volatile storage area. It is a flowchart which concerns on operation | movement by the side of the terminal device which received the power supply status acquisition request. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation related to push scan performed by the image forming apparatus.

  Hereinafter, 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 forming apparatus (image transmission apparatus) 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected. The image forming apparatus 10 is connected to a plurality of terminal devices 30 (hereinafter also referred to as PCs) via a network 2 such as a LAN (Local Area Network).

  The image forming 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 forming apparatus 10 optically reads a document and prints a duplicate image on a recording sheet. The image forming apparatus 10 stores image data of the read document as a file or transmits it to an external terminal via a network. This is a multifunction device having a function of executing a job such as a scan job, a print job for forming an image related to print data received from the terminal device 30 via the network 2 on a recording sheet, and printing it out. Here, among the scan jobs, a case where a job input operation is received from the operation unit of the image forming apparatus 10 and image data is transmitted to the terminal device 30 is referred to as a push scan job.

  In the present embodiment, the above-described push scan is performed by reading an original with the image reading unit 12 of the image forming apparatus 10 and converting the read image data into a file such as word processing software or read-only software. The file or the like is transmitted to the terminal device 30.

  In this embodiment, push scan is described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to push scan, and is applicable as long as image data is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 to the terminal device 30. be able to. For example, image data or the like may be stored in the RAM or the like of the image forming apparatus 10 and the image data may be transmitted to the terminal device 30. A document file created by a user or a read-only document file that has been downloaded can be converted into an image. It may be in the form of being transmitted as data.

  The image forming apparatus 10 includes, as power modes, a normal mode in which all parts are energized and a job can be executed, a sleep mode that consumes less power than the normal mode, and an off mode that consumes less power than the sleep mode. Yes. Details of these power supply modes will be described later.

  Further, in the normal mode, the image forming apparatus 10 automatically executes a state in which a job is not executed and no operation from the user (standby state) continues for a predetermined time (first set time, for example, 30 minutes). It has a function to shift to the sleep mode. Further, when the standby state continues for a predetermined time (second set time, for example, 15 minutes) after shifting to the sleep mode, the mode is shifted to the off mode. The first and second set times can be arbitrarily changed.

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

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

  The image forming apparatus 10 inquires of the terminal device 30 connected to the network 2 whether a resident program for the image forming apparatus 10 is activated, and an image read by push scan according to the response result. A function of transmitting data to the terminal device 30 is provided. For example, when a communication command is transmitted to the terminal device 30 in which the resident program for the own device is activated and an appropriate response is received from the terminal device 30 via the resident program, the image data read by the push scan is It transmits to the terminal device 30.

  FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus 10. The image forming apparatus 10 includes a main CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 as a control unit that performs overall control of the operation of the image forming apparatus 10, an image reading unit 12 connected to the main CPU 11 via a bus, and the like. A forming unit 13, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 14, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 15, a display unit 16, an operation unit 17, and an image processing unit 18 are provided. The image forming apparatus 10 further includes a sub CPU 21, a nonvolatile memory 22, a network I / F unit 23, a hard disk device 24, a memory 25, and a power supply unit 26.

  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 is based on an OS program, on which middleware and application programs are executed. The sub CPU 21 operates without an OS program, and executes processing with less load than the main CPU 11. The main CPU 11 and the sub CPU 21 constitute a control unit 27.

  The main CPU 11 and the sub CPU 21 are connected so as to be able to exchange signals and information with each other. The operations of the image reading unit 12, the image forming unit 13, the display unit 16, the operation unit 17, and the image processing unit 18 are controlled by the main CPU 11. For example, in response to a print request received from the terminal device 30 via the network 2, the main CPU 11 controls the image forming unit 13 to perform an image forming operation related to the print request. The nonvolatile memory 22, the network I / F unit 23, the hard disk device 24, and the memory 25 are accessible from both the main CPU 11 and the sub CPU 21. The memory 25 and the nonvolatile memory 22 are also used as a medium for exchanging information between the main CPU 11 and the sub CPU 21.

  The power supply unit 26 converts commercial power into an appropriate voltage and supplies power to each unit of the image forming apparatus 10. In addition, according to an instruction from 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 mode, and power supply to the image reading unit 12, the image forming unit 13, the display unit 16, the image processing unit 18, and the hard disk device 24 is stopped in the sleep mode, and the off mode is set. Then, the power supply to the main CPU 11, ROM 14, and RAM 15 is also stopped. The sub CPU 21, the nonvolatile memory 22, the network I / F unit 23, and the memory 25 are always energized (even in the off mode) unless a main power switch (not shown) is turned off or supply of commercial power is stopped. . In the sleep mode, the main CPU 11 is in a state where only network transmission / reception is possible. The operation is stopped in the off mode.

  Various programs are stored in the ROM 14, and each function of the image forming apparatus 10 such as job execution is realized by the main CPU 11 executing processes according to these programs. The RAM 15 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.

  The image reading unit 12 performs a function of optically reading a document and acquiring image data. The image reading unit 12 sequentially, for example, a light source that irradiates light on a document, a line image sensor that receives the reflected light and reads the document for one line in the width direction, and sequentially reads the reading position in line units in the length direction of the document. An optical path composed of a moving means for moving, a lens, a mirror, and the like for forming an image by guiding reflected light from a document to a line image sensor, a conversion unit for converting an analog image signal output from the line image sensor into digital image data, etc. It is configured with.

  The image forming unit 13 functions to form an image corresponding to 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 operation panel of the image forming apparatus 10 includes a display unit 16 and an operation unit 17. The display unit 16 is composed of 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 17 has a function of accepting various operations such as job input and setting from the user. The operation unit 17 includes a touch panel that is provided on the screen of the display unit 16 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 18 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 25 is used as a work memory for the sub CPU 21. The nonvolatile memory 22 is a memory (flash memory) whose stored contents are not destroyed even when the power is turned off. The non-volatile memory 22 stores the result of inquiring about the power supply state of each terminal device 30 or the installation status of the driver program (including the resident program), and also stores a program executed by the sub CPU 21. The network I / F unit 23 performs a function of transmitting / receiving various data to / from the terminal device 30 and other external devices via the network 2. The hard disk device 24 is a large-capacity nonvolatile storage device, and is used, for example, for storing print data and image data.

  In the image forming apparatus 10, even in the off mode in which the power supply to the main CPU 11 and the like is completely turned off, the sub CPU 21 is operating. If the sub CPU 21 is operating, the memory 25 and the non-volatile memory 22 are used. And communication by the network I / F unit 23 can be performed. In other words, the network I / F unit 23 is routed by the sub CPU 21 and can communicate with an external device such as the terminal device 30 through the network 2 by using a specific protocol 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 sub CPU 32, a ROM 33, a RAM 34, an input / output I / F unit 35, a nonvolatile memory 36, a network I / F unit 37, a hard disk device (HDD) 38, and a memory. 39 and a power supply unit 41. Further, a display device 42 such as a liquid crystal display and an input device 43 such as a keyboard and a mouse are connected via the input / output I / F unit 35.

  The ROM 33 stores a startup program and fixed data. The RAM 34 stores a program loaded from the hard disk device 38. The RAM 34 is used as a work memory for temporarily storing various data when the main CPU 31 executes a program.

  The nonvolatile memory 36 is a memory (flash memory) whose stored contents are not destroyed even when the power is turned off, and stores driver information indicating the installation status of the driver program. The network I / F unit 37 functions to transmit and receive various data to and from the image forming apparatus 10 and other external devices via the network 2. The hard disk device 38 is a large-capacity nonvolatile storage device, and stores an OS program, a driver program for the image forming apparatus 10, middleware, various application programs, files, data, and the like. When the resident program for the image forming apparatus 10 is installed, it is stored in the hard disk device 38.

  Also in the terminal device 30, the sub CPU 32 is a CPU that has a smaller processing capacity and lower 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 32 operates without an OS program, and executes processing with a smaller load than the main CPU 31.

  The main CPU 31 and the sub CPU 32 are connected so as to be able to exchange signals and information with each other. The nonvolatile memory 36, the network I / F unit 37, the hard disk device 38, and the memory 39 are accessible from both the main CPU 31 and the sub CPU 32. The memory 39 and the nonvolatile memory 36 are also used as a medium for exchanging information between the main CPU 31 and the sub CPU 32.

  The power supply unit 41 converts commercial power into an appropriate voltage and supplies power to each unit of the terminal device 30. Further, according to an instruction from the sub CPU 32, a function of controlling whether to supply power or to stop supplying power is provided for each power supply destination. Here, power is supplied to all parts in the normal mode, power supply to the input / output I / F unit 35 and the hard disk device 38 is stopped in the sleep mode, and power is supplied to the main CPU 31, ROM 33, and RAM 34 in the off mode. Supply is also stopped. The sub CPU 32, the nonvolatile memory 36, the network I / F unit 37, and the memory 39 are always energized (even in the off mode) unless a main power switch (not shown) is turned off or supply of commercial power is stopped. In the sleep mode, the main CPU 31 shifts to a sleep state in which, for example, the processing capacity is reduced to about 10% of the normal mode to suppress power consumption.

  Similarly to the image forming apparatus 10, in the terminal device 30, even in the off mode in which the power supply to the main CPU 31 and the like is completely turned off, the sub CPU 32 is in operation and the sub CPU 32 is in operation. For example, access to the memory 39 and the nonvolatile memory 36 and communication by the network I / F unit 37 can be performed. In other words, the network I / F unit 37 is routed by the sub CPU 32 and can communicate with an external device such as the image forming apparatus 10 via the network 2 by a specific protocol without depending on software on the OS.

  In the present embodiment, the power state of the terminal device 30 is monitored by the sub CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 and the sub CPU 32 of the terminal device 30 responds. Therefore, the sub CPU 32 of the terminal device 30 can respond to a power supply state monitoring request from the image forming apparatus 10 described later even when the main CPU 31 of the terminal device 30 is in the off mode or the sleep mode. The terminal device 30 can receive image data transmitted from the main CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 only in a normal state where the main CPU 31 of the terminal device 30 is operating.

  In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10 has two modes, the forced start mode and the monitor mode, as modes for executing the push scan. Therefore, when executing the push scan, the user operates the operation unit 17 of the image forming apparatus 10 to select the forced activation mode or the monitoring mode. In the monitoring mode, when the image data is transmitted, if the main CPU 31 of the destination terminal device 30 is in the off mode or the sleep mode, the sub CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 determines that the power state of the terminal device 30 is the image. The image data is transmitted to the terminal device 30 after the normal state in which data can be received. On the other hand, in the forced activation mode, when the image data is transmitted, if the destination terminal device 30 is in the off mode or the sleep mode, a transition instruction for causing the terminal device 30 to transition to the normal state. The image data is transmitted after forcibly shifting the power state of the terminal device 30 to the normal state.

  In any mode, when the image data is transmitted, if the power state of the destination terminal device 30 is a normal state in which reception is possible, the image data is transmitted to the terminal device 30 at that time.

  Next, an operation related to the terminal device 30 when installing a driver program (including a resident program) for using the image forming apparatus 10 will be described.

  When the image forming apparatus 10 is used for the first time, the terminal device 30 loads a driver program (a program for using the image forming apparatus 10 such as a printer driver, a scanner driver, a facsimile driver) corresponding to the image forming apparatus 10 into the OS. Must be installed programmatically. When the driver program is installed in the terminal device 30, the driver program information (driver information such as driver name, manufacturer name, version, language, port, installation date and time) is displayed in the installation program or driver program initialization process. Write to the nonvolatile memory 36 (nonvolatile storage area) of the terminal device 30. One of the driver programs includes a resident program. FIG. 4 shows an example of the driver information 51 of the resident program stored in the nonvolatile memory 36 (nonvolatile storage area).

  The driver information of the resident program is deleted from the nonvolatile memory 36 when the corresponding driver program is uninstalled. In addition, when the terminal device 30 receives image data from the image forming apparatus 10 after installing the driver program, the last time when the image data was received (time stamp, date and time of Last Job in the driver information 51 in FIG. 4) is displayed. The data is written to the nonvolatile memory 36 and updated. The update may be performed by the main CPU 31 or the sub CPU 32. Here, the resident program that has received the job updates the time stamp. The last reception of image data is referred to as “Last Job” for convenience.

  The resident program installed in the terminal device 30 performs a process of returning a response packet when receiving a communication command from the main CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 while the main CPU 31 of the terminal device 30 is activated. The operation will be described in detail.

  First, an example in which the image forming apparatus 10 transmits a communication command to the resident program of the terminal device 30 will be described.

  FIG. 5 shows a data configuration example of a packet of a communication command transmitted as the information acquisition request 61 of the nonvolatile storage area. In the packet transmitted as the information acquisition request 61 of the nonvolatile storage area shown in FIG. 5, the IP address of the image forming apparatus 10 as the transmission source IP address (Internet Protocol Address) and the terminal device 30 which is the transmission destination as the transmission destination IP address. In the data portion, a command indicating “Non-volatile storage area information acquisition request” is written.

  Specifically, “192.168.0.1” is described in the IP address of the image forming apparatus 10 that is the transmission source, and “192.168.8.0” is included in the IP address of the terminal apparatus 30 that is the transmission destination. .2 ”and“ GetStorageData ”is described in the data portion as a command indicating“ information acquisition request of nonvolatile storage area ”. “GetStorageData” means processing for acquiring data described in the nonvolatile memory 36 of the terminal device 30.

  When the main CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 transmits a communication command, the network I / F unit 37 of the terminal device 30 receives a packet of the communication command. The main CPU 31 of the terminal device 30 analyzes the packet received by the network I / F unit 37. If it is determined that the packet is based on a specific protocol, the command written in the data portion is executed. In the example of FIG. 5, when the information acquisition request 61 of the non-volatile storage area unicast by the image forming apparatus 10 is received, the command “GetStorageData” is written in the data portion, and thus the main CPU 31 of the terminal device 30. Executes processing corresponding to this command.

  That is, when the main CPU 31 of the terminal device 30 executes the “GetStorageData” command and acquires information on the nonvolatile storage area from the nonvolatile memory 36, it returns a response packet as an ACK (Acknowledgement).

  FIG. 6 shows a data configuration example of a packet of an information acquisition response (driver information response) 64 in response to a command “GetStorageData”. In the information acquisition response 64 shown in FIG. 6, the IP address of the terminal device 30 is read as the transmission source IP address, and the IP address of the image forming apparatus 10 is read as the transmission destination IP address from the nonvolatile memory 36 (nonvolatile storage area). Information (driver information) is written.

  Specifically, “192.168.0.2” is described in the IP address of the terminal device 30 that is the transmission source, and “192.168.8.0” is described in the IP address of the image forming apparatus 10 that is the transmission destination. .1 ”, and driver information read from the nonvolatile memory 36 (nonvolatile storage area) is described in the data portion.

  Next, an operation related to a response to the information acquisition request 61 in the nonvolatile storage area will be described.

  FIG. 7 explains the flow of the operation that the main CPU 31 of the terminal device 30 sends back as the information acquisition response 64 in the nonvolatile storage area.

  When the main CPU 31 of the terminal device 30 receives the information acquisition request 61 for the nonvolatile storage area (step S101; Yes), it reads the information (driver information) stored in the nonvolatile memory 36 (nonvolatile storage area) (step S102). Then, an information acquisition response 64 is created as a response packet, and is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 10 (step S103).

  When the main CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 receives the information acquisition response 64 and the driver information of the information acquisition response 64 matches the information of the image forming apparatus 10, the main CPU 31 of the terminal apparatus 30 It is determined that the image data transmitted by the main CPU 11 can be received.

  Specifically, information on the driver program installed in the terminal device 30 that is the transmission source is extracted from the received information acquisition response 64, and the driver name, manufacturer name, and the like are stored in advance for those of the own device. It collates with what was extracted from the information acquisition response 64, and determines whether it is a driver program for its own device.

  Next, an operation related to a response to the power supply status acquisition request P1 will be described.

  FIG. 8 shows the operation on the terminal device 30 side that has received the power state acquisition request P1. As shown in FIG. 1, the sub CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 inquires of the terminal device 30 connected to the network 2 about the power state of the terminal device 30.

  When the sub CPU 32 of the terminal device 30 receives the power state acquisition request P1 (step S121; Yes), the sub CPU 32 acquires the current power state information (step S122), and stores the information indicating the power state in the data part. A packet is created and returned to the image forming apparatus 10 (step S123, FIG. 1: P2).

  When receiving the power status acquisition response packet P2 from the terminal device 30, the sub CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 can grasp the power status of the main CPU 31 of the terminal device 30 that is the transmission source, and the terminal device 30 stores the image data. It can be determined whether or not it can be received. In the present embodiment, image data can be received from the image forming apparatus 10 only in a normal state in which the main CPU 31 of the terminal device 30 is operating.

  Next, an operation related to push scanning of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described.

  FIG. 9 shows operations related to push scan performed by the image forming apparatus 10. First, the user moves from the terminal device 30 to the image forming apparatus 10 and performs a setting operation for reading a document by the image reading unit 12 of the image forming apparatus 10.

  Specifically, the user sets a document to be read by the image forming apparatus 10 in the image reading unit 12. Then, the user operates the operation unit 17 of the image forming apparatus 10 to set whether to read the read image data in the monitoring mode or the forced activation mode. Also, the transmission destination of the image data is set. For example, the PC 1 (FIG. 1) which is an arbitrary terminal device 30 is specified as the transmission destination, and the read image data is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 to the PC 1. . After making these settings, the user presses a start button for starting push scan provided on the operation unit 17 of the image forming apparatus 10, thereby starting the push scan operation.

  The main CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 reads a document by the image reading unit 12, and stores the read image data in the RAM 15 (step S201). The main CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 transmits an information acquisition request 61 (FIG. 5) for a non-volatile storage area to a predetermined terminal in order to transmit the read image data to a terminal device 30 (for example, PC1) designated as a transmission destination. The communication command is transmitted to the resident program of the device 30 (step S202).

  Here, the main CPU 31 of the terminal device 30 promotes a process that reduces power consumption and saves energy from the viewpoint of environmental considerations, and the standby time until the power state is shifted to the sleep mode is set short. . Therefore, the main CPU 31 of the terminal device 30 reads the document while the user leaves his / her seat and sets the push scan using the operation unit 17 of the image forming apparatus 10 or the image reading unit 12 of the image forming apparatus 10 reads the document. Meanwhile, the main CPU 31 of the terminal device 30 shifts to the sleep mode.

  When the main CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 receives the information acquisition response 64 (FIG. 6) of the nonvolatile storage area from the resident program of the terminal device 30, it determines whether or not the driver program for the own apparatus is installed (step). S203) When the driver program for the own apparatus is installed (step S203; Yes), the main CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 uses the image data stored in the RAM 15 as the terminal device 30 designated as the transmission destination. (Step S204).

  On the other hand, when the information acquisition response 64 of the nonvolatile storage area cannot be received, the main CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 determines that the power supply state of the terminal device 30 cannot receive image data (step). S203; No), the sub CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 transmits a power supply state acquisition request P1 to the terminal device 30 (step S205).

  When the sub CPU 32 of the terminal device 30 receives the power state acquisition request P1, the sub CPU 32 creates the power state acquisition response packet P2, and if it can normally create the power state acquisition response packet P2, the sub CPU 32 of the image forming apparatus 10 A power status acquisition response packet P2 is transmitted. Here, when the sub CPU 32 of the terminal device 30 cannot transmit the power supply state acquisition response packet P2, the sub CPU 21 of the image forming device 10 determines that the terminal device 30 cannot communicate with the terminal device 30 (step S31). S206; No), the terminal device 30 is notified that an error has occurred (step S207). For example, the display unit 16 of the image forming apparatus 10 cannot communicate with the terminal device 30 of “192.168.0.2”. Or, a connection error occurred in the terminal device 30 of “192.168.0.2”. Notification of errors such as.

  On the other hand, when the power state acquisition response packet P2 can be received, the sub CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 determines that it can communicate with the sub CPU 32 of the terminal device 30 (step S206; Yes), and the terminal It is determined whether or not the main CPU 31 of the device 30 is being activated (step S208).

  When the main CPU 31 of the terminal device 30 is activated (step S208; Yes), the sub CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 determines that the main CPU 31 of the terminal device 30 can receive the image data. If the ten main CPUs 11 have shifted to the power saving mode such as the sleep mode, the main CPU 11 is activated (step S209), the process returns to step S202, and image data is transferred from the main CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 to the main CPU 31 of the terminal apparatus 30. Send. In this case, since both the main CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 and the main CPU 31 of the terminal apparatus 30 are activated, the image data can be transmitted normally.

  On the other hand, if the main CPU 31 of the terminal device 30 is not activated (step S208; No), it is determined whether or not the terminal device 30 is in a forced activation mode in which the terminal device 30 is forcibly activated and transmitted (step S210). If it is not the activation mode (step S210; No), the sub CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 returns to step S205, and continuously transmits a power supply state acquisition request P1 to the sub CPU 32 of the terminal apparatus 30.

  In this case, the sub CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 waits until the main CPU 31 of the terminal device 30 is activated.

  On the other hand, in the forced activation mode in which the main CPU 31 of the terminal device 30 is forcibly activated (step S210; Yes), the sub CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 forcibly sets the power state of the terminal device 30 to normal. A transition command for shifting to the state is transmitted to the terminal device 30 (for example, PC1) as the transmission destination, and the power state of the terminal device 30 is shifted to the normal state (step S211). The sub CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 returns to step S202, and transmits the image data from the main CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 to the main CPU 31 of the terminal apparatus 30 after the power state of the terminal apparatus 30 shifts to the normal state (step S30). S204).

  In this case, both the main CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 and the main CPU 31 of the terminal apparatus 30 are activated and in a communicable state, so that image data can be reliably transmitted.

  In step S208, when the main CPU 31 of the terminal device 30 is not activated, the main CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 does not generate a process for transmitting image data, and therefore the first set time set in advance is not generated. After elapse, the mode shifts to the power saving mode. Moreover, it is not limited to a power saving mode, You may transfer to an off mode when 2nd setting time passes.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, when the main CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 transmits image data, the power state of the main CPU 31 of the terminal apparatus 30 is normally capable of receiving image data. If not, the sub CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 communicates with the sub CPU 32 of the terminal device 30 to monitor the activation state of the main CPU 31 of the terminal device 30. Thus, the sub CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 starts from the main CPU 31 of the terminal apparatus 30 and enters a normal power supply state capable of receiving image data. Image data is transmitted to the main CPU 31.

  That is, when the user goes to the place where the image forming apparatus 10 is installed to execute the push scan and the image forming apparatus 10 performs the push scan setting or the image forming apparatus 10 performs the reading operation, the terminal device 30. Since the main CPU 31 shifts to a power saving mode such as a sleep mode, the main CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 does not transmit image data. However, when the user returns to his / her seat from the image forming apparatus 10 and operates the keyboard, mouse, or the like to activate the main CPU 31 of the terminal apparatus 30, the image data is transferred from the main CPU 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 to the main CPU 31 of the terminal apparatus 30. Is sent.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, the main CPU 31 of the terminal device 30 can ensure a long time in the power saving mode, suppress unnecessary activation of the terminal device 30, and save power. Can be planned. Further, since the image data is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 when the user returns to his / her seat, the user can acquire the image data at a timing when the image data is required.

  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.

  For example, when the image data to be transmitted is already stored in the RAM 15 or the hard disk device (HDD) 24, the process of reading the image data from the document is not executed, and the transmission job including the transmission file and the destination instruction is transmitted. The setting may be received from the operation unit 17 included in the main body of the image forming apparatus 10.

  The present embodiment is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 10 may receive a transmission instruction from an external device. For example, in the explanatory diagram of FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 can receive a transmission instruction for transmitting image data to the PC 2 from the PC 1 and transmit the image data to the PC 2 as a transmission destination. In this case, when the PC 2 is in the sleep mode or the off mode, the image forming apparatus 10 can transmit image data after waiting until the power state of the PC 2 shifts to the normal state.

2 ... Network 5 ... Network system 10 ... Image forming apparatus (MFP)
11 ... Main CPU
12 ... Image reading unit 13 ... Image forming unit 14 ... ROM
15 ... RAM
16 ... Display unit 17 ... Operation unit 18 ... Image processing unit 21 ... Sub CPU
22 ... Non-volatile memory 23 ... Network I / F unit 24 ... Hard disk device (HDD)
25 ... Memory 26 ... Power supply unit 27 ... Control unit 30 ... Terminal device (PC)
31 ... Main CPU
32 ... Sub CPU
33 ... ROM
34 ... RAM
35 ... Input / output I / F unit 36 ... Nonvolatile memory 37 ... Network I / F unit 38 ... Hard disk device (HDD)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 39 ... Memory 41 ... Power supply part 42 ... Display apparatus 43 ... Input device 51 ... Driver information 61 ... Information acquisition request 64 ... Information acquisition response

Claims (5)

A storage unit for storing image data;
A communication unit that communicates with a terminal device via a network;
A control unit that transmits the image data stored in the storage unit to the terminal device connected to the network via the communication unit;
With
When the control unit transmits the image data to the terminal device, if the power state of the terminal device is not in a normal state where the image data can be received, the power state of the terminal device becomes a normal state. The image transmission apparatus, wherein the image data is transmitted to the terminal apparatus after the power supply state of the terminal apparatus becomes a normal state. The control unit includes a main CPU and a sub CPU that consumes less power than the main CPU.
When transmitting the image data to the terminal device, if the power state of the terminal device is not a normal state, the main CPU is turned off or shifted to a power saving mode, and the sub CPU is in the power state of the terminal device. The image transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein monitoring is performed. When the power state of the terminal device that is the transmission destination of the image data is not a normal state, a transition command for shifting the power state of the terminal device to the normal state is transmitted to the terminal device, and the power state of the terminal device The image transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the image transmission device has a forced transmission mode in which the image data is transmitted to the terminal device after transition to a normal state. An image reading unit for optically reading a document;
The image transmission apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image data stored in the storage unit is image data obtained by reading a document with the image reading unit. The terminal device includes a main CPU and a sub CPU that consumes less power than the main CPU, and is configured such that the sub CPU performs a response process to an inquiry about a power state from an external device.
The control unit includes a main CPU and a sub CPU that consumes less power than the main CPU. The sub CPU of the control unit inquires of the sub CPU of the terminal device about the power state of the terminal device. The image transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

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