JP2013020429A - Electronic equipment, use electric energy controller, and system including the use electric energy controller and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system capable of surely using each electronic equipment within the range of the total use electric energy while avoiding as much sacrifice of user's convenience as possible.SOLUTION: The system includes electronic equipment and a use electric energy controller. The electronic equipment includes a transmitter 124 for transmitting electric energy required to execute a job to the use electric energy controller when the job is inputted, and a job control part (126, 128) for waiting for an execution permission to be received and making an executing part start to execute the job when receiving the execution permission. The use electric energy controller includes an upper limit storage device for storing the upper limit of the total use electric energy, a first determining part for determining whether the total use electric energy used by the electronic equipment in the system exceeds the upper limit during executing the job when a job execution request is received, and a notification device for notifying permission or inhibition to execute the job in dependence upon a determination by a first determination device.

Description

  The present invention relates to a system including a plurality of electronic devices such as an image forming apparatus, which can suppress the equipment for operating the entire system at a low cost, and more particularly to a plurality of electronic devices connected to a network. The present invention relates to a system that can reduce a peak power amount used in the entire system, and an electronic device used in the system and a used power amount control device that controls the entire system.

  With the progress of networking of companies, most image forming apparatuses are connected to the network. It is known that an image forming apparatus consumes power particularly when processing using a fixing device having a heating device. If the fixing device is heated after a printing request is received, it takes time to complete the heating, and printing cannot be performed immediately. In order to solve such a problem, the image forming apparatus is controlled to heat the fixing device to the operating temperature when the power is turned on and to maintain the state thereafter. Therefore, the power consumption of the image forming apparatus is the highest immediately after the power is turned on.

  By the way, when there are a plurality of image forming apparatuses in the system, if the power of these image forming apparatuses is turned on at the same time, the power consumption temporarily becomes excessive, and the business in which these image forming apparatuses are installed There is a problem that power exceeding the allowable power amount is consumed and the power breaker falls. Further, in the image forming apparatus, the power consumption is very large even in the copying process and the printing process that are processes using the fixing device. Since there is a possibility that a plurality of image forming apparatuses start the copying process at the same time, there is always a risk that the power breaker will drop, not only when the image forming apparatus is turned on.

  Therefore, in a large-scale office where a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a large number of other electronic devices are installed, a large-capacity power breaker is prepared in advance so that no problem occurs even if power consumption is concentrated. It is common.

  On the other hand, in the case of a small office, if the number of image forming apparatuses is not so large, but the capacity of the power breaker is not so large, a countermeasure for shifting the power supply of the image forming apparatus can be considered. In order to eliminate the risk of problems related to electric power, for example, the technology described in Patent Document 1 is used for such power-on, and when the power-on of one image forming apparatus is completed and copying is possible. It has been proposed to take a measure of turning on or enabling the power of another image forming apparatus. The power-on timing of each image forming device is shifted so that the warm-up timings of the image forming devices do not overlap, so the power consumption at the start of system operation does not become excessive and the effect on the power supply voltage is minimized. To the limit.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-17875

  However, in recent offices, there are many personal computers (hereinafter referred to as “PCs”), server computers, computer monitors, and image forming apparatuses shared by only a small number of people. In addition, the amount of power used to maintain the environment, such as lighting, air conditioning, and security systems, is increasing. Many more electronic devices are expected to appear in the future. For this reason, there are concerns about an increase in power consumption in recent offices. Furthermore, there is a possibility that an official limit is imposed on the power consumption, and how to reduce the power consumption is a serious problem.

  Until now, the power consumption of a single device has been reduced more than ever due to improvements in the performance of individual electronic devices. However, considering the increasing number of electronic devices in the future as described above, there is a problem as to how to efficiently use electric power and how to efficiently operate each electronic device as a whole office.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to ensure that the range of total power consumption is ensured while avoiding sacrificing the user's convenience as much as possible when operating an electronic apparatus such as a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a network. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device in which each electronic device can be used, a power consumption control for controlling the electronic device, and a system including the power consumption control device and the electronic device. .

  The electronic apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention uses an execution unit that executes a predetermined job and a use necessary for executing the job in response to a job to be executed by the execution unit being input. Transmitting means for transmitting information for calculating the electric energy to a predetermined external device, and waits until receiving the job execution permission from the external device, and in response to receiving the execution permission, And a job control unit for starting execution.

  When a job is submitted, the transmission means transmits information necessary for calculating the amount of power used to execute the job to an external device. If the external device has the same function as the power consumption control device described later, if the power usage does not exceed the upper limit even if the job execution is permitted, an execution permission is sent from the external device. come. When the job control unit receives the execution permission, the job control unit causes the execution unit to start executing the job.

  The job is not executed until the job execution permission is received from the external device. Since the execution permission is not transmitted when the total power consumption in the system exceeds the upper limit, the execution of the job is not started. The total power consumption of the system can be leveled, and the scale of the power supply facility for the system need not be increased more than necessary. If the upper limit is not exceeded, job execution is permitted. As a result, it is possible to provide an electronic device that can reliably use each electronic device within the range of the total power consumption while avoiding sacrificing the user's usability as much as possible.

  Preferably, the execution unit includes a job execution unit capable of executing a plurality of types of jobs.

  More preferably, the electronic device further includes power consumption storage means for storing a table of power consumption necessary for executing the job for each of a plurality of types of jobs executed by the job execution unit. The transmission means includes means for reading out the power consumption necessary for execution of the job from the table of the power consumption storage means and transmitting it to the external device in response to the input of the job to be executed by the execution unit. .

  More preferably, the table stored by the power consumption storage unit further stores job execution priorities for each of a plurality of types of jobs. In response to the input of a job to be executed by the execution unit, the means for transmitting reads out the power consumption and execution priority necessary for executing the job from the table of the power consumption storage means. Means for transmitting to an external device.

  For each of a plurality of types of jobs executed by the job execution unit, the electronic device stores power consumption storage means for storing a table of power consumption necessary for executing the job, and a model number for storing the model number of the electronic device. Storage means. In response to the input of a job to be executed by the execution unit, the transmission unit receives job specification information for specifying the job from the table of the power consumption storage unit, and the model number of the electronic device from the model number storage unit. Means for reading and transmitting to an external device;

  The electronic device may further include completion notification means for transmitting a completion notification to the external device when execution of the input job is completed.

  The power consumption control device according to the second aspect of the present invention is connected to upper limit storage means for storing the upper limit of the total power consumption consumed by the electronic devices in the system, and to be communicable with other electronic devices, Total use used by other electronic devices in the system when the job is executed in response to receiving an execution request for requesting execution start of the job on the electronic device from another electronic device Depending on the determination by the first determination means that determines whether or not the electric energy exceeds the upper limit and the determination by the first determination means, permission or prohibition of job execution is permitted for the electronic device that has transmitted the execution request. Notification means for notifying.

  The upper limit storage means stores the upper limit of the total power consumption in advance. When a job execution request is received from another electronic device, the first determination means determines whether or not the total power consumption of the system exceeds the upper limit when the job is started, and determines that the upper limit is not exceeded. When it is determined that the job execution is permitted to the corresponding electronic device, the execution of the job is prohibited when it is determined that the upper limit is exceeded. When the upper limit is not exceeded, job execution is permitted.

  If the total power consumption exceeds the upper limit when the job is executed, the execution of the job is not started. The total power consumption of the system can be leveled, and the scale of the power supply facility for the system need not be increased more than necessary. If the upper limit is not exceeded, job execution is permitted. As a result, it is possible to provide a power consumption control device that can reliably use each electronic device within the range of the total power consumption while avoiding sacrificing user convenience as much as possible.

  Preferably, when the first determination unit executes the job corresponding to the execution request, the power consumption control device adds the job execution request to the queue in response to determining that the upper limit is exceeded. In response to receiving a job completion notification indicating that the execution of the job in the electronic device has been completed, the queue management unit is connected to the queue management unit so as to be communicable with the other electronic device. If there is an execution request for a job registered as waiting for execution in the means, the execution request is read, and whether the total power consumption used by the electronic devices in the system exceeds the upper limit when the job is executed When the job is executed by the second determination unit and the second determination unit, the total power consumption used by the electronic devices in the system is determined not to exceed the upper limit. In response to the preparative, to the electronic device that has transmitted an execution request, which is read from the queue management means, and means for transmitting the execution request of the job.

  A system according to a third aspect of the present invention includes any one of the electronic devices described above and any one of the above-described power consumption control devices connected to be communicable with the electronic device.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when a job is executed, if the total power consumption exceeds the upper limit, the execution of the job is not permitted. The total power consumption of the system can be leveled, and the scale of the power supply facility for the system may be set to an appropriate scale. If the upper limit is not exceeded, job execution is permitted. As a result, an electronic device, a power consumption control device, and a system including these devices that can reliably use each electronic device within the range of the total power consumption while avoiding sacrificing user convenience as much as possible Can provide.

1 is a simplified block diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a multifunction peripheral (MFP) that is an example of an image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a power consumption table provided in each image forming apparatus in a table format. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control structure of a program executed when a job is input in the image forming apparatus in order to suppress the power consumption of the entire system within a total power frame. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a control structure of a program that processes an instruction when the image forming apparatus receives an instruction from a server. It is a hardware block diagram of a server. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a control structure of a program for controlling an image forming apparatus in the system in order to keep the power consumption of the entire system within a total power frame. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the system concerning one embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the system concerning one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which compares and shows the power consumption of the conventional system, and the power consumption by the system of this invention.

  In the following description and drawings, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

[Constitution]
Referring to FIG. 1, a network system 40 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a server computer 52 connected to the Internet 50 and performing processing for controlling power consumption of the entire system, and a server computer 52. Includes a local area network (LAN) 54 connected to each other, and a plurality of MFPs 60, 62, 64, and 66 connected to the LAN 54. In the present embodiment, all of the plurality of MFPs 60, 62, 64, and 66 have the same configuration, but of course they may be different from each other. In the following description, the configuration of the MFP 60 will be described on behalf of these MFPs.

  Referring to FIG. 2, first MFP 60 is connected to communication control unit 80 connected to LAN 54, control unit 82 substantially consisting of a computer connected to communication control unit 80, and control unit 82. An operation unit 84 including a display unit and operation keys, which receives an instruction from the user and gives an operation instruction signal to the control unit 82 or displays an image according to an instruction from the control unit 82; When the user issues a document reading instruction via 84, the document reading unit 86 that reads the document and generates image data according to the control of the control unit 82 that has received the instruction, and the document reading unit 86 A job data generation unit 88 that generates job data (including image data) based on the received image data and information input using the operation unit 84, and a job data generation unit 88. Printing that reads out job data from the storage unit 90 according to instructions from the storage unit 90 that stores the created job data and the like and the control unit 82, and prints the image on a predetermined recording medium (typically a paper medium) Part 92.

  The MFP 60 is further connected to a control unit 82 and a public communication network (not shown), and executes processing necessary for fax communication from the external device to the MFP 60 and fax communication from the control unit 82 to the external device. For each job type that can be executed by the MFP 60 and connected to the fax transmission / reception unit 94 and the control unit 82, a table of the amount of power consumed by the MFP 60 (this table is referred to as a “job usage power table”) is stored. A job power consumption table storage unit 96 is included.

  Referring to FIG. 3, job usage power table 100 stored in job usage power table storage unit 96 has a job type that can be executed by MFP 60, power consumption of MFP 60 when executing the job, and priority for each job. It is the table which memorize | stored in combination with the information regarding whether a flag should be attached. FIG. 3 shows the electrical state of the MFP 60 in each job for reference.

  For example, copy and print processing (including print processing when receiving a fax) consumes extremely high power (1500 W in this example) because all units including the fixing unit operate as described above. On the other hand, in image transmission and document filing, the former scans and digitizes a document and sends it to another device via the communication control unit 80, or sends it to another device via the fax transmission / reception unit 94. Similarly, the latter is a process of storing original data scanned and digitized in an HDD (hard disk drive) in the same manner, and therefore it is not necessary to supply power to the fixing unit. It is only necessary to energize only the ADF (Auto Document Feeder) and the controller necessary for reading the document. Therefore, the power consumption is relatively small (500 W in this example). Further, the communication control unit 80 reads out the data stored in the HDD and transmits the data to another apparatus via the communication control unit 80 (HDD data retransmission processing), and the communication control unit 80 or the fax transmission / reception unit 94. For the process (HoldJob reception process), which is a process for storing in the storage unit 90 a print job received from another apparatus that does not need to be printed immediately, only the controller needs to be energized. Therefore, the power consumption of these jobs is 100 W, which is the smallest in this example compared to others.

  Furthermore, among the above-mentioned various jobs, the print processing at the time of fax reception that is not confidential must be printed as soon as possible. Therefore, in this embodiment, a priority flag is set for this job. I will add it. Of course, a priority flag may be attached according to a user instruction or a job sender instruction.

  When the MFP 60 receives any job via the operation unit 84, the communication control unit 80, or the fax transmission / reception unit 94, the MFP 60 refers to the job power consumption table 100 shown in FIG. The request is sent to the server computer 52 to request job execution permission. In this embodiment, the job is not executed unless permission to execute the job is obtained.

  Referring to FIG. 4, execution of a program executed by control unit 82 of MFP 60 for processing a job is started when the input of the job is detected. First, the type of the input job is confirmed (step 120). The amount of power required to execute the job and whether or not a priority flag is attached to the job are read from the job usage power table 100 in the job usage power table storage unit 96 (step 122). The control unit 82 further specifies the read power amount, and if a priority flag is attached to the job, attaches the priority flag, and performs communication control for a request for permission to execute the job to the server computer 52. Unit 80 and LAN 54 for transmission. Wait until permission is received from the server computer 52 (step 126). When permission is received from the server computer 52 (YES in step 126), the job is executed (step 128). 52 is notified and the execution of the program is terminated.

  The MFP 60 receives various instructions from the server computer 52 not only at the start of job execution but also at other times. As will be described later, when another MFP executes a more urgent process while executing a job in step 128, the server computer 52 instructs the MFP 60 to temporarily suspend the job being executed. Instructions are sent. Then, the MFP 60 interrupts execution of the job. When receiving an instruction from the server computer 52 to re-execute the interrupted job, the MFP 60 resumes the interrupted job. Such processing is processed by a program whose control structure is shown in FIG. 5 that is activated in the control unit 82 in response to the control unit 82 receiving an instruction from the server computer 52. In this embodiment, there is a mechanism for determining whether the communication given from the server is an instruction received in step 126 in FIG. 4 or a process to be processed by the program having the control structure shown in FIG. In accordance with the determination result, an appropriate program is started, or the instruction is transmitted as a message to the appropriate program.

  Referring to FIG. 5, a program executed when control unit 82 of MFP 60 receives an instruction from server computer 52 determines whether or not the instruction is an instruction indicating that the job should be interrupted; When the determination in step 150 is affirmative, in response to an instruction from the server computer 52, a step 152 for temporarily suspending the job being executed by the MFP 60, and a response that the suspending process is completed and the job is temporarily suspended. And step 154 of notifying the server computer 52 that the job has been interrupted and terminating the process. The program further includes a step 156 for resuming the suspended job when the determination in step 150 is affirmative, and a step 158 for notifying the server computer 52 that the job has been resumed and terminating the process.

  Referring to FIG. 6, the server computer 52 is connected to the LAN 54, and is connected to the communication control unit 180. The server computer 52 executes a program that realizes various processes to be described later, thereby consuming the entire system. The control unit 182 having a function of leveling the amount of electric power, which is substantially a computer, and data can be written and read by the control unit 182. The program executed by the control unit 182 and the control unit 182 execute the program. A storage unit 188 for storing information such as a work area at the time of execution, and a job execution request received by the server computer 52 and not yet granted execution permission is stored as a reception queue by a first-in first-out method. The reception queue storage unit 184, the job being executed, its state, and the identifier of the MFP executing the job are stored. Running that includes a job storage unit 186. The job execution request received by the communication control unit 180 includes the name of the job, the amount of power required for job execution, and the identifier of the MFP that has transmitted the request. Such information is maintained as a set in the reception queue storage unit 184 and the ongoing job storage unit 186.

  Referring to FIG. 7, the control unit 182 of the server computer 52 executes the job execution in the plurality of MFPs 60, 62, 64 and 66 so that the total power consumption is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. The program has the following control structure. When there is a registration process program that registers a job execution request in the reception queue and a job registered in the reception queue, this program determines whether to execute the job and executes each necessary process. It consists of two programs: an execution process program. The registration process program is activated when a job execution request or job completion notification is received from any of the plurality of MFPs 60, 62, 64 and 66. A plurality of these processes can be started simultaneously, and all of them register jobs for the same reception queue. Therefore, even if a plurality of start requests arrive at the server computer 52 at the same time, they can be registered in the reception queue without contradiction. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, there is only one execution process in the server computer 52 system. Take out the first job in one reception queue, decide whether or not to allow it based on the total power consumption, and if so, send a permission notice to the MFP and register it in the running job storage unit 186 . If not permitted, the job is registered again in the reception queue.

  In the reception process program, first, in step 200, it is determined whether or not the received job is a new job execution request. If it is a new job execution request, the execution request is registered in the reception queue in step 202 and the process is terminated. To do. If it is not a new job execution request, it is determined in step 204 whether or not the received job is a job end notification. If the determination is affirmative, the job is deleted from the executing job storage unit 186 in step 206 and the process is terminated. If the determination is negative, a process corresponding to the received information is executed in a step not shown, and then the process ends.

  On the other hand, the execution process program is activated when a job is registered in the reception queue, and thereafter, the first job in the reception queue is taken out in order and the following processing is performed.

  First, in step 210, it is determined whether or not there is a job execution request that has not yet been processed in the reception queue, and if not, control is returned to step 210. If there is a job execution request, control proceeds to step 212.

  If a job execution request remains in the reception queue, in step 212, the top job of the reception queue is taken out, and the total amount of power used by that job and the power consumption of the job registered in the job storage unit 186 that is being executed Based on the above, if the execution is permitted, the total power consumption of the entire system is calculated. In step 214, it is determined whether or not the calculation result in step 212 exceeds a predetermined power frame. If the determination is negative, execution of the job is permitted in step 216, the job is deleted from the reception queue, and information relating to the job is registered in the executing job storage unit 186. Thereafter, control returns to step 210.

  If the decision result in the step 214 is negative, the control advances to a step 218 to determine whether or not a priority flag is attached to the read job. If the priority flag is not attached (NO in step 218), this job is registered again at the end of the reception queue (step 220), and the control is returned to step 210.

  On the other hand, if the determination in step 218 is affirmative, execution of this job needs to be permitted immediately. Therefore, in step 222, one of the jobs stored in the executing job storage unit 186 that has a low priority (i.e., one without a priority flag) is extracted by some algorithm, and the job Is instructed to the MFP that is executing the job. When the notification that the cancellation is completed is received from the MFP, the job is added to the end of the reception queue again (step 224). Further, in step 226, it is determined whether or not there is enough power consumption enough to start execution of the job with the priority flag as a result of the above-described cancellation processing. If it is determined that the power limit is still exceeded when the job execution is started, the control returns to step 222 again, and thereafter, a margin of power usage sufficient to permit execution of the job with the priority flag is obtained. Until it is done, the processing of steps 222 to 226 is repeated. If it is determined that the amount of power used does not exceed the power frame even if the execution of the job with the priority flag is started (NO in step 226), the control proceeds to step 216. In step 216, execution permission of the job is transmitted to the corresponding MFP, and information regarding the job is stored in the executing job storage unit 186. Thereafter, control returns to step 210.

  How to select a job to be interrupted in step 222 may be appropriately determined according to the purpose of the system. For example, it may be possible to select jobs in order from the job that was started most recently, or to select jobs in order from the job that takes a long time to be expected to be completed. In the former case, the job started first will be completed relatively early, so that there is an increased possibility that the time until the power consumption becomes sufficient is relatively short. . The same applies to the latter case, because jobs that end in a relatively short time are continued and completed early, so there is a high possibility that the time until the power consumption becomes sufficient is relatively short. It is considered to be. Of course, the job selection method is not limited to such a method. For example, you may select at random.

[Operation]
The system having the above-described configuration operates as follows.

<Normal case>
First, a case where a job with a priority flag is not generated will be described. Referring to FIG. 8, it is assumed that no jobs are executed in the plurality of MFPs 60, 62, and 64. Here, since it is assumed that the MFP 66 (not shown) does not execute any job, the MFP 66 is not shown in FIG.

  In the server computer 52, it is assumed that 2000 W is set as the upper limit frame of power consumption. It is assumed that the upper limit frame value is stored in the storage unit 188 in advance. First, the MFP 60 transmits a print job execution request 230 requiring 1500 W of power to the server computer 52. In the server computer 52, execution of the program of the flowchart of FIG. 7 is started. The server computer 52 registers this execution request in the acceptance queue through the route of steps 200 and 202 in this flowchart. In response to the execution request being registered in the reception queue, an execution process is started. In the execution process, a job execution permission 232 is transmitted to the MFP 60 through steps 210, 212, 214, and 216 in FIG. In response to the execution permission 232, the MFP 60 starts executing the print job 234 that uses 1500 W of power. In the execution process, control returns from step 216 to step 210, and then waits until some execution request is registered in the reception queue. The operation of the server computer 52 when the registration process is notified will be described later.

  It is assumed that while the MFP 60 is executing the print job 234, the second MFP 62 transmits a print job execution request 236 that also uses 1500 W to the server computer 52. The server computer 52 registers this execution request in the acceptance queue in steps 200 and 202 in the flowchart of FIG. The execution process executes the processing of the paths of steps 210, 212, and 214. Since 1500 W of power has already been used, if the execution request 236 is permitted, the power used is 3000 W, which exceeds the upper limit frame 2000 W. Therefore, the server computer 52 transfers control from step 214 to step 218 in FIG. Here, assuming that the priority flag is not attached to the job, the control further proceeds to step 220, a non-permission notice 238 is transmitted in response to the execution request 236, and the print job corresponding to the execution request 236 is returned to the reception queue. be registered.

  Furthermore, it is assumed that the third MFP 64 transmits a scan job execution request 240 using 500 W to the server computer 52 during execution of the print job 234. The server computer 52 registers this execution request in the reception queue in steps 200 and 202 of FIG. The execution process reads this request from the reception queue at step 210 and performs processing along the paths of steps 212 and 214. Even if the requested power of 500 W is added in addition to the power of 1500 W for the job currently being executed, the upper limit frame of 2000 W is not exceeded. Therefore, the determination in step 214 is NO, and the server computer 52 transmits a permission notice 242 to the third MFP 64 in step 216 and registers this job in the job storage unit 186 that is being executed. The third MFP 64 starts to execute the scan job 244 in response to the permission notification 242. Control of the server computer 52 returns to step 210.

  Thereafter, it is assumed that the execution of the print job 234 in the MFP 60 is completed. The MFP 60 transmits an end notification 246 to the server computer 52. The server computer 52 deletes this job from the executing job storage unit 186 through the paths of steps 200, 204, and 206 in FIG.

  On the other hand, the execution request 236 remains in the reception queue. Therefore, when the execution process reads the reception queue next time, the determination in step 210 is YES, and the server computer 52 performs the processing of step 212 and subsequent steps on the job of the execution request 236.

  In the process of step 212, the power consumption of the job being executed is only 500W. Therefore, even if the job (1500 W) of the execution request 236 is executed, the small amount of power falls within the upper limit. The determination in step 214 is NO, and in step 216, a permission notice 248 for the job of the execution request 236 is transmitted to the second MFP 62. Further, this job is registered in the executing job storage unit 186, and the control returns to step 210 to wait for the job to be registered in the reception queue. In response to the permission notice 248, the second MFP 62 starts executing the print job 250.

  Thereafter, when the scan job 244 is completed in the third MFP 64, an end notification 252 is transmitted to the server computer 52. In the server computer 52, the scan job 244 is deleted from the executing job storage unit 186 in the processing of steps 200, 204, and 206 in FIG. Similarly, when the print job 250 is completed in the second MFP 62, an end notification 254 is transmitted from the second MFP 62 to the server computer 52. In the server computer 52, the print job 250 is deleted from the executing job storage unit 186 in the same manner in steps 200, 204, and 206.

  When no priority flag is attached to the job, the system operates as described above, and as a result, the power usage is leveled.

<When a job with a priority flag is received>
The operation of the system when the server computer 52 receives a job with a priority flag will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 9, the execution of the print job 234 is started and ended in the MFP 60, the execution of the scan job 244 is started and ended in the third MFP 64, and the execution of the print job 250 is started in the second MFP 62. This is the same as described above when there is no priority job. The same applies to the point that the scan job 244 of the third MFP 64 ends after execution of the print job 250 is started.

  Here, it is assumed that before the execution of the print job 250 is completed, the fourth MFP 66 receives a fax and it is necessary to perform printing for that purpose. Fax reception includes a case where printing is performed immediately after reception, and a case where an image of a received fax is saved and printing is performed in response to a user instruction, such as confidential fax. Here, it is assumed that the fax needs to be printed immediately. Therefore, in order to execute this fax printing job, the fourth MFP 66 attaches a priority flag and transmits a job execution request 280 to the server computer 52. As shown in FIG. 3, the fax print job uses 1500 W, and the execution request 280 has information of 1500 W used as power consumption.

  Referring to FIG. 7, this execution request 280 is registered in the reception queue through steps 200 and 202 by the reception process. When this job is registered in the reception queue, the execution process reads it from the reception queue in step 210, and calculates the total power consumption of the system when the execution of this job is permitted in step 212. In this example, 1500 W is consumed by the second MFP 62. Therefore, if the job execution of the execution request 280 is permitted, the total power consumption is 3000 W, which exceeds the upper limit frame 2000 W. Therefore, the determination in step 214 is affirmative, and control proceeds to step 218.

  The determination at step 218 is affirmative, and control further proceeds to step 222. In step 222, one of the jobs being executed is selected. In this example, since there is only one print job 250 being executed, the print job 250 is selected, and an interruption instruction 282 is transmitted from the server computer 52 to the second MFP 62. In response to the interruption instruction 282, the third MFP 64 interrupts the execution of the print job 250, and the interruption period 284 is started. In the server computer 52, subsequently, in step 24, the job 250 is added to the reception queue in the form of a suspended job. As a result, the power consumption of the job being executed becomes zero. Therefore, the determination at step 226 is negative and control proceeds to step 216. In step 216, a permission notice 286 for the execution request 280 is transmitted to the fourth MFP 66. The fourth MFP 66 starts the reception facsimile print job 288 in response to the permission notification 286. When the print job 288 ends, the fourth MFP 66 transmits an end notification 290 to the server computer 52.

  Referring to FIG. 7, this notification is processed by the reception process through the paths of steps 200204 and 206, and print job 288 is deleted from executing job storage unit 186.

  On the other hand, in the execution job, a job that can be executed by continuously reading the top of the reception queue is executed, and a process of re-registering a job that cannot be executed in the reception queue is repeatedly executed. In this example, the print job 250 is registered in the reception queue, and it is always determined whether or not the print job 250 is ready to be executed. When the print job 288 is completed, there is no job being executed. The total power consumption is also zero. Therefore, the determination at step 214 in FIG. 7 is now negative, and the process at step 216 is executed for the print job 250. In other words, job execution permission (restart permission) 292 is transmitted to the second MFP 62. In response to the execution permission 292, the second MFP 62 resumes the print job 250. That is, execution of the portion 294 of the print job 250 that has not been executed yet is started. When the execution of the print job 250 ends, the second MFP 62 transmits an end notification 296 to the server computer 52. Upon receipt of the end notification 296, the reception process of the server computer 52 deletes the print job 250 corresponding to this notification from the executing job storage unit 186 through the paths of steps 200, 204, and 206 in FIG. As a result, the total power consumption of the system returns to zero.

  Thereafter, as described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the server computer 52 and the plurality of MFPs 60, 62, 64, and 66 of this system operate, and the total power consumption of the network system 40 is leveled.

  FIG. 10A shows a transition of a job being executed when job execution control is not performed as in the present embodiment, and a change in the total power consumption of the system associated therewith. FIG. FIG. 4 shows the transition of the job being executed when the job execution control is performed as in the present embodiment, and the change in the total power consumption of the system associated therewith. In the example shown in FIG. 10, it is assumed that a job power consumption table as shown in FIG. 11 is used so that the change in the total power consumption becomes clear.

  The upper part of FIG. 10A shows the start timing and the duration time when execution is immediately started when a job is generated in the system. The total power consumption of the system at that time is shown below. In this example, a maximum power of 4100 W is required.

  Assume that a job start request is generated at the same timing as in FIG. 10A, but the actual start timing of a job when the upper limit frame is set to 3000 W, for example, by the same control as in the above-described embodiment is shown in FIG. Shown in the upper part of B). The lower part of FIG. 10B shows a change in the total power consumption of the system at this time.

  In the example shown in FIG. 10B, a printer (1500 W) job is first executed and a scanner (300 W) job is executed second. As shown in the upper part of FIG. 10A, even if a request to execute a copy job that consumes 2000 W occurs when no job is completed, the total power consumption exceeds the upper limit frame. Therefore, the execution of the copy job is temporarily suspended. When a filing job (300 W) is subsequently generated, even if the filing job is executed, the total power consumption is 1500 W + 300 W + 300 W = 2100 W, which is within the upper limit. Therefore, the execution of the filing job is permitted and started. When the printer job 1500W ends, the total power consumption returns to 600W, and this time the total power consumption falls within 2000W + 300W + 300W = 2600W even when the copy job is started. Therefore, the execution of the copy job is permitted and started. In this example, a job execution request for the printer 1500W is subsequently generated, but if this is permitted, the upper limit frame of 3000W is exceeded, so this execution request is not permitted and is returned to the acceptance queue. Thereafter, the scanner job 300W is finished, but since the copy 2000W and the filing 300W are still being executed, the execution of the printer 1500W is not permitted. Thereafter, copying and filing are completed at the same time, and then execution of the printer 1500W is started.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the upper limit frame is set, the server determines whether or not the total power consumption exceeds the upper limit frame when the execution of the job is permitted with the occurrence of the job. Only when it is determined that the upper limit is not exceeded, execution of the job is permitted. Therefore, the total power consumption of the entire system can be kept within the upper limit frame. A job that is not permitted to start execution waits until it can be executed in the reception queue, and is executed when it is determined that the total power consumption does not exceed the upper limit even if it is executed. Therefore, although the time required to complete all jobs becomes longer, the total power consumption generated at a time can be kept within a certain upper limit frame.

  In the above-described embodiment, each MFP has a job power consumption table 100 (see FIG. 3) for knowing the power necessary for executing its own job. Each time a job request occurs, each MFP reads the amount of power required for executing the job from the table and transmits it to the server. In such an embodiment, since the server can determine permission of the job execution request using only the information sent from the MFP, there is an effect that the processing in the server can be simplified. Also, when a new MFP is introduced, there is an advantage that the same processing can be executed as it is without changing the configuration of the server because the MFP has the job usage power table 100 of the MFP.

  However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, the server may have a table corresponding to the job power consumption table 100 for each model of MFP. In this case, when a job execution request is generated in each MFP, the model name of the MFP and the contents of the execution job are notified to the server. The server can find an appropriate table by referring to the model name of the MFP, and can know the power necessary for executing the notified job by referring to the table. By doing so, there is no need to change the server even when a new MFP is introduced, and the table can be managed centrally, so that the management of the MFP of the entire system is facilitated.

  In the above embodiment, only two levels of “priority” and “no priority” are described for the priority flag. However, some levels may be provided in the priority flag, and when an execution request for a job with a priority flag is received, only a job having a priority level lower than that job may be searched for as an interruption target.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the priority flag is set in advance in the job power consumption table 100. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. Instead of attaching a priority flag for each job type, the user specifies whether or not to add a priority flag when submitting a job, or for a job submitted by a specific user or a user belonging to a specific group A priority flag may be added. Of course, in this case as well, some levels may be provided in the priority flag by the user or group, and jobs with a high level priority flag may be preferentially executed. A finer priority level may be assigned depending on the combination of the job type and the user. In addition, for a job that has been interrupted, a mechanism may be provided in which the priority increases as the interrupted time increases.

  The embodiment disclosed herein is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The scope of the present invention is indicated by each claim of the claims after taking into account the description of the detailed description of the invention, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the wording described therein are included. Including.

40 Network system 52 Server computer 60, 62, 64, 66 MFP
80, 180 Communication control unit 82, 182 Control unit 84 Operation unit 86 Document reading unit 88 Job data generation unit 90,188 Storage unit 92 Printing unit 94 Fax transmission / reception unit 96 Job power consumption table storage unit 100 Job power consumption table 184 Reception queue Storage unit 186 Running job storage unit

Claims (8)

An execution unit for executing a predetermined job;
In response to the input of a job to be executed by the execution unit, transmission means for transmitting information for calculating power consumption required for execution of the job to a predetermined external device;
An electronic apparatus comprising: a job control unit that waits until receiving an execution permission of the job from the external device and causing the execution unit to start executing the job in response to receiving the execution permission. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the execution unit includes a job execution unit capable of executing a plurality of types of jobs. For each of the plurality of types of jobs executed by the job execution unit, it further includes power consumption storage means for storing a table of power consumption necessary for executing the job,
In response to the input of a job to be executed by the execution unit, the transmission unit reads out the power consumption necessary for execution of the job from the table of the power consumption storage unit, and sends it to the external device. The electronic device according to claim 2, comprising means for transmitting. The table stored by the power consumption storage unit further stores job execution priority for each of the plurality of types of jobs,
In response to the input of a job to be executed by the execution unit, the means for transmitting indicates the power consumption and execution priority necessary for executing the job in the power consumption storage means. 4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for reading from a table and transmitting to the external device. Power consumption storage means for storing a table of power consumption necessary for executing a job for each of the plurality of types of jobs executed by the job execution unit;
A model number storing means for storing a model number of the electronic device;
In response to the input of a job to be executed by the execution unit, the transmission unit obtains the job specification information for specifying the job from the table of the power consumption storage unit, and the model number of the electronic device. The electronic device according to claim 2, further comprising means for reading from the model number storage means and transmitting to the external device. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a completion notification unit that transmits a completion notification to the external device when execution of the submitted job is completed. Upper limit storage means for storing the upper limit of the total power consumption consumed by the electronic devices in the system;
When the job is executed in response to receiving an execution request for requesting execution start of a job in the electronic device from another electronic device that is communicably connected to the electronic device, the system First determination means for determining whether or not the total power consumption used by the other electronic device is exceeding the upper limit;
A power consumption control apparatus, comprising: a notification unit that notifies the electronic device that has transmitted the execution request of permission or prohibition of job execution, depending on the determination by the first determination unit. A queue management unit that adds the execution request of the job to a queue in response to the determination that the upper limit is exceeded when the job corresponding to the execution request is executed by the first determination unit;
Responsively connected to the other electronic device and executed by the queue management means in response to receiving a job completion notification from the other electronic device indicating that the job execution on the electronic device has been completed. If there is an execution request for a job registered as waiting, whether or not the total power consumption used by the electronic device in the system exceeds the upper limit when the execution request is read and the job is executed Second determination means for determining
In response to determining that the total power consumption used by the electronic device in the system does not exceed the upper limit when the second determination unit executes the job, the queue management The electronic apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for transmitting an execution request for the job to an electronic apparatus that has transmitted the execution request read from the means.

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