JP2013020521A - Print controller, image forming apparatus, and print system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide means for ensuring convenience of a user, while suppressing unnecessary power consumption.SOLUTION: A print controller 3 notifies each PC 1 of transition of a power mode of an MFP 2 to a power-saving mode, and receives a request from the PC 1 for stopping the transition as a response to the notification. When receiving a request from the PC 1 for stopping the transition, the print controller 3 notifies the MFP 2 of stop of transition to a power-saving mode, and then notifies the PC 1 that has transmitted a request for stopping the transition of a release request. If the print controller 3 does not receive an approval for the release associated with the stop of transition from the PC 1 as a response to the notification for release request, forcibly notifies the MFP 2 of permission for transition to a power-saving mode.

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a print system.

  Conventionally, from the viewpoint of power saving, an image forming apparatus that can switch a plurality of power modes as necessary is known. For example, as such a power mode, a predetermined function as the apparatus can be exhibited, that is, a power mode capable of forming an image (normal power mode), or power that consumes less power than the normal power mode. Mode (power saving mode).

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which an image forming apparatus having a function of switching to a power saving mode and a plurality of information processing apparatuses are connected and the image forming apparatuses are shared by the plurality of information processing apparatuses. The image forming apparatus is connected to a print control apparatus, and the print control apparatus is connected to each of the information processing apparatuses connected to the print control apparatus before a predetermined time before the image forming apparatus shifts to the power saving mode. Notification means for notifying the transition of the image forming apparatus to the power saving mode.

  For example, Patent Document 2 discloses an image processing system including an external device connected via a network and an image forming apparatus that performs image processing on data received from the external device and prints it out. Yes. The image processing system includes a notification unit that notifies an external device of a plurality of types of power saving modes provided in the image forming apparatus, and a designation of a desired power saving mode based on the plurality of types of power saving modes notified by the notification unit. Power saving mode designating means for prompting input; and power saving mode transition means for shifting the image forming apparatus to the power saving mode notified by the notifying means.

  Further, for example, Patent Document 3 discloses an image forming apparatus capable of supporting a plurality of power consumption modes. Specifically, when there is an inquiry from the external device via the network to the host device regarding the type of the power saving mode that is prepared, the image forming device responds with information on each mode, In addition, when there is a request for transition to each prepared mode, the mode transition is controlled accordingly.

JP 2009-59090 A JP 2002-292773 A JP 2009-22481 A

  By the way, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, only the transition to the power saving mode is notified prior to the transition time, and when the transition time is reached, the power mode shifts to the power saving mode. Resulting in. On the other hand, according to the methods disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3, the power saving mode desired by the user can be selected, but when the transition time to the power saving mode is reached, the power mode is changed to the power saving mode. Will migrate.

  As described above, the power saving mode has an advantage that power consumption can be suppressed. However, once the mode is shifted to the power saving mode, it can be operated unless the user manually turns on the switch. There is also a need for sacrificing the convenience of the user, for example, it takes a long time to return to a state where image formation is possible, such as warm-up and initialization operation.

  It is of course important to suppress power consumption, but there has been a demand for a technique that achieves both economy and convenience by considering user convenience as necessary.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique that is economical and has user convenience while suppressing unnecessary power consumption.

  In order to solve such a problem, the first invention provides an image forming apparatus and a print control apparatus capable of communicating with each of an information processing apparatus that outputs a job executed by the image forming apparatus. Such a print control apparatus notifies the information processing apparatus that the power mode of the image forming apparatus shifts to a power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal power mode, and from the information processing apparatus as a response to the notification. A transition stop accepting unit capable of accepting a request for canceling the transition to the power saving mode, and when the transition stop accepting unit accepts a request for canceling the transition to the power saving mode, the image forming apparatus is switched to the power saving mode. Transition cancellation notification means for notifying transition cancellation, a cancellation request notification means for notifying the information processing apparatus that has received the request for cancellation of transition to the power saving mode, and a cancellation request notification means for notification of the cancellation request for the transition cancellation If the consent to cancel the cancellation of the transition as a response to is not accepted from the information processing device, the image forming device is forced to enter the power saving mode Having a mode shift permission means for notifying.

  Here, in the first invention, the cancellation request notification means performs the first notification after a predetermined grace period has elapsed from the notification by the transition cancellation notification means, and after the notification, the cancellation request notification means 2 for every elapse of a predetermined grace period. Notifications after the first time can be performed periodically. In this case, the mode transition permission unit saves power with respect to the image forming apparatus when the consent to cancel the transition cancellation is not received from the information processing apparatus even if the number of notifications by the cancellation request notification unit reaches the determination number. It is preferable to forcibly notify permission to shift to the mode.

  Moreover, it is preferable that 1st invention further has a setting means which can set each of the determination frequency | count and the grace period with respect to each notification according to the selection by a user.

  Moreover, it is preferable that 1st invention further has a monitoring means to monitor the connection state of information processing apparatus. In this case, if the monitoring unit determines that the connection state relating to the information processing apparatus that has received the request for canceling the transition to the power saving mode is determined by the monitoring unit, the mode shifting permission unit performs the power saving mode on the image forming apparatus. It is preferable to forcibly notify permission to shift to

  In addition, in the first invention, the mode transition permission unit saves power to the image forming apparatus when the consent to cancel the transition cancellation is received from the information processing apparatus as a response to the notification by the cancellation request notification unit. It is preferable to notify permission to enter the mode.

  In the first invention, it is preferable that the mode transition permission unit notifies the information processing apparatus that the transition to the power saving mode is performed prior to the notification to the image forming apparatus.

Moreover, it is preferable that the first invention further includes a storage unit that holds, as a management database, a history relating to a request to cancel the transition to the power saving mode received from the information processing apparatus by the transition cancel receiving unit. It is desirable that the transition cancellation accepting unit determines a refusal regarding a request to cancel the transition to the power saving mode from the information processing apparatus based on the management database of the storage unit.

  The second invention provides an image forming apparatus that forms an image in accordance with a job output from the information processing apparatus. The image forming apparatus notifies the information processing apparatus that the power mode shifts to the power saving mode, and a power mode transition unit that shifts the power mode to the power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal power mode. In response to the notification, when the transition stop accepting unit that can accept a request to stop the transition to the power saving mode from the information processing device, and when the transition stop accepting unit accepts the request to stop the transition to the power saving mode , To notify the mode transition means of the suspension cancellation notification means for notifying the suspension of the transition to the power saving mode, and to the information processing apparatus that has received the request for the suspension of the transition to the power saving mode, the cancellation request for the transition suspension. If the release request notification means and the release consent for the suspension of the transition as a response to the notification by the release request notification means are not accepted from the information processing device, Has a mode shift permission means for forcibly notify the migration permission to the power saving mode, the relative over de transition means.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image in accordance with a job output from the information processing apparatus and shifting the power mode to a power saving mode with less power consumption than the normal power mode, and an image Provided is a printing system having a printing control apparatus capable of communicating with each of a forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus. In this case, the print control apparatus can employ a configuration similar to that of the first invention described above.

  According to the present invention, when the transition time set in the image forming apparatus is reached, the inconvenience of unavoidably shifting to the power saving mode can be solved, and the transition to the power saving mode is continuously stopped. The situation can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to realize a technique that is economical and has user convenience while suppressing unnecessary power consumption.

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a print system according to a first embodiment. Block diagram showing the configuration of PC1 Block diagram showing the configuration of the MFP 2 Block diagram showing the configuration of the printing control apparatus 3 Explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of the management database Flow chart showing the procedure for mode transition processing Flow chart showing the procedure for mode transition processing Explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of the management database FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an MFP 4 according to the second embodiment.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the print system according to the first embodiment. The print system according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of PCs 1, MFPs 2, and a print control device 3, which are connected to each other via a network 5 such as a LAN or WAN. Note that the connection among the PC 1, the MFP 2, and the print control apparatus 3 is not limited to the network 5, and a direct connection (local connection) may be employed. In the present embodiment, the MFP 2 is configured as a single unit. However, a plurality of MFPs may be included, and the PC 1 may be a single unit. Further, when the number of PCs 1 and MFPs 2 is large, a plurality of print control apparatuses 3 may be provided from the viewpoint of reducing the load.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the PC 1. The PC 1 is an information processing apparatus that generates a job in accordance with a user instruction. The PC 1 is mainly composed of a control unit 10, a display unit 11, and an operation unit 12.

  The control unit 10 is a computer including a CPU 10a, a memory 10b such as a ROM or a RAM, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 10c as an auxiliary storage device, a communication I / F unit 10d, and the like, and these elements are mutually connected via a bus. It is connected to the. The CPU 10a controls each unit according to the control program. The memory 10b is a storage area for temporarily storing various data read from the HDD 10c and the communication I / F unit 10d. The stored data is processed by the CPU 10a, and the HDD 10c and the communication I / F unit are processed as necessary. 10d. The HDD 10c stores a control program, information related to the processing functions of the apparatus, and the like, which are read by the CPU 10a as necessary and executed on the memory 10b. The communication I / F unit 10d establishes a connection with a device connected via the network 5, and executes data transmission / reception.

  The display unit 11 is a display device including a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic EL (electroluminescence) display, and the like, and displays various screens when controlled by the control unit 10. The operation unit 12 is an input device including a keyboard and a mouse, and inputs information such as a job to be transmitted to the MFP 2 to the control unit 10 when operated by a user.

  In relation to the present embodiment, the control unit 10 has a function as a printer driver that executes application software for creating a document and instructs the MFP 2 to print the document. The control unit 10 converts document data created by application software into print data in a page description language (PDL), and prints a job including the print data and printing conditions (number of copies, paper size, etc.). Send to the MFP 2.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the MFP 2. The MFP 2 is an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet. In the present embodiment, the MFP 2 is a multifunction peripheral (MFP: Multi Functional Peripherals) such as a copy, print, scanner, or network. The MFP 2 mainly includes a control unit 20, a display unit 21, an operation unit 22, an ADF 23, an image reading unit 24, a paper feeding unit 25, and an image forming unit 26.

  The control unit 20 is a computer including a CPU 20a, a memory 20b such as a ROM and a RAM, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 20c as an auxiliary storage device, a communication I / F unit 20d, and the like, and these elements are mutually connected via a bus. It is connected to the. Each element constituting the control unit 20 has the same function as each element constituting the control unit 10 described above.

  The display unit 21 is a display device including a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic EL (electroluminescence) display, and the like, and displays various screens when controlled by the control unit 10. The operation unit 22 is an input device including buttons, switches, and the like. When operated by a user, the operation unit 22 inputs various settings related to the MFP 2 and information such as jobs executed by the MFP 2 to the control unit 20. The display unit 21 and the operation unit 22 may be independent from each other. For example, a pressure-sensitive operation unit 22 in which transparent electrodes are arranged in a grid pattern is provided on the display unit 21 such as a touch panel. An integrated configuration may be used.

  The ADF 23 is an automatic document feeder that automatically conveys one or more documents to the image reading unit 24.

  The image reading unit 24 includes, for example, a light source, an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices) that converts light reflected from the document into an electric signal, an A / D converter that performs A / D conversion of the electric signal, and the like. Is done. When the image reading unit 24 optically reads an image of a document conveyed by the ADF 23 and obtains an image signal, the image reading unit 24 performs A / D conversion processing on the image signal and outputs the image signal to the control unit 20 as input image data.

  The paper feed unit 25 includes a paper tray that stores various sizes of paper, and conveying means such as rollers and guide members. The sheet feeding unit 25 conveys the sheet designated by the user to the image forming unit 26.

  The image forming unit 26 has a function of forming an image on a sheet. The image forming unit 26 in the present embodiment forms an image using an electrophotographic system, and is disposed, for example, in an exposure unit composed of a laser light source or an optical system, a photosensitive drum, and its periphery. It consists of a charging / developing unit, a transfer unit such as a roller, and a fixing unit. The image forming unit 26 (1) charges the photosensitive drum, (2) forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum by the exposure unit, and (3) attaches toner to the formed electrostatic latent image. The image (toner image) is formed on the paper through a series of processes of (4) transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum to the paper and (5) fixing the transferred toner image on the paper.

  In the relationship with the present embodiment, the control unit 20 has functions as an image formation control unit and a power mode switching unit when this is viewed functionally.

<Image formation control means>
The control unit 20 serving as an image formation control unit controls image formation on a sheet by controlling the display unit 21, the operation unit 22, the ADF 23, the image reading unit 24, the paper feeding unit 25, and the image forming unit 26. To do. Specifically, the control unit 20 forms an image on a sheet based on a job received from the PC 1 or forms an image on a sheet based on a job including image data read by the image reading unit 24. To go.

<Power mode transition means>
The control unit 20 as a power mode transition unit has a normal power mode and a power saving mode as power modes for setting the power state supplied to the MFP 2.

  The normal power mode is a power mode in which power necessary for the MFP 2 to operate is supplied to the MFP 2 and is initially set in response to the MFP 2 being powered on. Specifically, power is supplied to the control unit 20 by turning on the internal main switch through the operation of an external operation switch (not shown) that can be operated by the user. When the control unit 20 is activated by such power supply, the control unit 20 turns on a predetermined internal relay to supply power to other elements constituting the MFP 2, thereby setting the normal power mode. The

  On the other hand, the power saving mode is a power mode in which predetermined power is supplied to the MFP 2 so that power consumption by the MFP 2 is less than that in the normal power mode. The power saving mode according to the present embodiment is a power mode that most respects suppression of power consumption, and corresponds to a power-off state of the MFP 2. The power saving mode can be shifted from the normal power mode when the control unit 20 turns off the internal main switch, and in this power saving mode, power is supplied to all of the MFP 2 including the control unit 20 and other elements. Is cut off. When the mode is shifted to the power saving mode, the normal power mode is not restored except when the MFP 2 is turned on, that is, when the internal main switch is turned on by the user operating the external switch.

  The control unit 20 normally selects the normal power mode as the power mode, but shifts to the power saving mode when a predetermined shift condition is satisfied. Specifically, when the control unit 20 determines that a new job is not started after a predetermined time elapses after the job ends, the control unit 20 shifts the power mode from the normal power mode to the power saving mode.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the print control apparatus 3. The print control apparatus 3 is interposed between each PC 1 and the MFP 2 and manages the printing operation of the MFP 2. The print control apparatus 3 is mainly configured by a control unit 30, a display unit 31, and an operation unit 32.

  The control unit 30 is a computer including a CPU 30a, a memory 30b such as a ROM and a RAM, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 30c as an auxiliary storage device, a communication I / F unit 30d, and the like, and these elements are mutually connected via a bus. It is connected to the. Each element constituting the control unit 30 has the same function as each element constituting the control unit 10 described above.

  The display unit 31 is a display device including a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic EL (electroluminescence) display, and the like, and displays various screens when controlled by the control unit 30. The operation unit 32 is an input device including a keyboard and a mouse, and inputs various settings and instructions to the control unit 30 when operated by a user.

  In relation to the present embodiment, when the control unit 30 grasps this functionally, the control unit 30 includes a print control unit, a transition cancellation reception unit, a transition cancellation notification unit, a release request notification unit, a mode transition permission unit, , And has a function as a monitoring unit and a storage unit.

<Print control means>
The control unit 30 as a print control unit relays a job transmitted from each PC 1 to the MFP 2, manages this, and transmits it to the MFP 2. With the operation of the control unit 30, it is possible to suppress a situation in which jobs from a plurality of PCs 1 are concentrated on the MFP 2 and exceed the processing capability of the MFP 2.

<Migration cancellation acceptance means>
The control unit 30 serving as a transition stop accepting unit notifies each PC 1 that the power mode of the MFP 2 shifts to the power saving mode before the transition time to the power saving mode. Moreover, the control part 30 can receive the request | requirement of the transfer stop to power saving mode from PC1 as a response to the said notification. The control unit 30 can also update a management database, which will be described later, according to the reception result.

<Transition stop notification means>
The control unit 30 serving as a transition stop notification unit notifies the MFP 2 of the transition stop to the power saving mode when receiving a request for canceling the transition to the power saving mode from the PC 1.

<Release request notification means>
The control unit 30 serving as a cancellation request notification unit notifies the PC 1 that has received the request for canceling the transition to the power saving mode of a cancellation request (cancellation request) for the transition cancellation. In this case, the control unit 30 performs the first notification after a predetermined grace period has elapsed from the notification of the cancellation of the transition, and after this notification, the second and subsequent notifications are periodically transmitted every time a predetermined grace period elapses. Do.

<Mode transition permission means>
When the control unit 30 serving as the mode transition permission unit does not accept from the PC 1 consent to cancel the transition stop as a response to the notification of the cancel request to the PC 1, the MFP 2 permits the MFP 2 to enter the power saving mode. Is forcibly notified.

<Setting means>
The control unit 30 as setting means can set each of a later-described determination count Cth and a grace period Tth for each release request notification. Such setting can be executed based on an input signal from the operation unit 32, that is, according to selection by a user who operates the operation unit 32.

<Monitoring means>
The control unit 30 serving as a monitoring unit monitors the connection state of each PC 1 with respect to the network 5. Further, the control unit 30 can also update a management database, which will be described later, according to the result of the monitoring state.

<Storage means>
The control unit 30 as a storage unit stores a management database in, for example, the HDD 30c. This management database holds a history of the connection status of the PC 1 connected to the network 5 and the request for canceling the transition to the power saving mode received from the PC 1.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of the management database. The management database is a set of records created for each PC 1, and one record is composed of “PCID”, “connection state”, “presence / absence of migration suspension request”, and “number of migration suspension requests”. . “PCID” is a device-specific identifier for identifying the PC 1 connected to the network 5, and corresponds to, for example, a MAC address. “Connection state” indicates a state as to whether or not the PC 1 is connected to the network 5. For example, the “connection state” is set to “present” when the PC 1 is connected to the network 5, and is set to “none” when the PC 1 is not connected to the network 5. “Presence / absence of transfer stop request” indicates whether or not the PC 1 has notified the PC 1 of the request to stop the transfer as a response to the notification when the print control apparatus 3 notifies each PC 1 of the mode change as described later. Show. For example, the “presence / absence of migration stop request” is initially set to “none”, and is set to “present” when the PC 1 notifies the request to stop migration. “Number of times of request to stop migration” is the number of times the PC 1 has notified the request to stop migration, and “−” indicating zero is set as an initial value.

  This management database is appropriately updated by the control unit 30 of the print control apparatus 3. Specifically, when the control unit 30 determines that a certain PC 1 is connected to the network 5, the control unit 30 searches the management database based on the identifier of the PC 1, and a record having a PC ID that matches the identifier of the PC 1 is found. Check if it exists. When the corresponding record does not exist, the control unit 30 manages a new record in which each corresponding part of “PCID”, “connection state”, “presence / absence of migration cancellation request”, and “number of times of migration cancellation request” is described in the management database Add to In this case, the control unit 30 describes the identifier of the PC 1 as “PCID” and “present” as “connection state” in the new record.

  In addition, when the PC 1 requests to stop the migration, the control unit 30 searches the management database based on the identifier of the PC 1 and specifies a record having a PC ID that matches the identifier of the PC 1. Then, the control unit 30 updates the “presence / absence of migration cancellation request” from “none” to “present”, and updates the “number of migration cancellation requests” to a value obtained by adding “1” to the current value. .

  As a method for updating the management database, in addition to the method in which the control unit 30 adds a new record online, the administrator (user) of the print control apparatus 3 can create the created record in the management database as necessary. May be added.

  Hereinafter, a series of operations of the MFP 2 transition processing to the power saving mode (hereinafter simply referred to as “mode transition processing”) according to the printing system of the present embodiment will be described. Here, FIGS. 6 and 7 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the mode transition process.

  First, in step 1 (S1), the control unit 20 of the MFP 2 notifies the print control apparatus 3 of the time during which the MFP 2 shifts from the normal power mode to the power saving mode (hereinafter referred to as “transition time”). It is determined whether the condition is satisfied. The notification condition of the transition time can be that the predetermined time before the transition time has been reached. For example, assuming that the transition time is 30 minutes after the job end of the MFP 2 and the predetermined time is 10 minutes, the control unit 20 is 10 minutes before the transition time, that is, 20 minutes from the job end. It is determined that the notification condition is satisfied by reaching the elapsed time. Taking a specific example under the above conditions, if the job end of the MFP 2 is 12:00, the transition time is 12:30, and if it reaches 12:20, it is determined that the notification condition is satisfied.

  If an affirmative determination is made in step 1, that is, if the transition time notification condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step 2 (S2). On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in Step 1, that is, if the transition time notification condition is not satisfied, the processing in Step 1 is performed again.

  In step 2, the control unit 20 notifies the printing control apparatus 3 of the transition time.

  In step 3 (S3), when the control unit 30 of the print control apparatus 3 acquires the transition time notified from the MFP 2, it stores it in the memory 30b. In Step 4 (S4), the control unit 30 determines whether or not the transition time is reached after a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes). If an affirmative determination is made in step 5, that is, if a predetermined time before the transition time is reached, the process proceeds to step 5 (S5). On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 4, that is, if the predetermined time before the transition time has not been reached, the process of step 4 is performed again.

  In step 5, the control unit 30 notifies each PC 1 connected to the network 5 of the mode shift after a predetermined time. This notification notifies each PC 1 that the power mode of the MFP 2 shifts from the normal power mode to the power saving mode after a predetermined time (mode shift), and informs each PC 1 whether or not the transition to the power saving mode is necessary. Acts as a notification to confirm. Specifically, the control unit 30 transmits a command for executing the mode transition presentation and the confirmation of whether or not to cancel the transition to each PC 1. In this case, the control unit 30 refers to the management database and notifies the PC 1 whose “connection state” corresponds to “present” of the mode transition after a predetermined time.

  In step 6 (S6), when the control unit 10 of the PC 1 receives a predetermined command from the print control apparatus 3, information on mode transition (for example, a predetermined message) and information for confirming whether or not to cancel the transition (for example, “ “YES” or “NO” can be selected on the display unit 11. Accordingly, the control unit 10 prompts the user of the PC 1 to select whether or not to cancel the transition.

  In step 7 (S7), the control unit 10 determines whether or not there has been a request to cancel the transition based on the input signal from the operation unit 12. If an affirmative determination is made in step 7, that is, if there is a request to cancel the transition, the process proceeds to step 8 (S8). On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 7, if there is no request for canceling the transition, this processing is terminated.

  In step 8, the control unit 10 notifies the print control apparatus 3 of a request to cancel the migration. In the following description, it is assumed that one PC 1 among the plurality of PCs 1 connected to the network 5 has notified the request to stop the migration.

  In step 9 (S9), when the control unit 30 of the print control device 3 receives a request for canceling the migration from the PC 1, the control unit 30 stores the request. Specifically, the control unit 30 refers to information attached to the notification from the PC 1 and acquires the identifier of the PC 1 that has transmitted the information. Then, the control unit 30 searches the management database based on the identifier of the PC 1 and specifies a record having a PC ID that matches the identifier of the PC 1. Then, the control unit 30 updates the “presence / absence of migration cancellation request” of the specified record to “present” and updates the “number of migration cancellation requests” to a value obtained by adding “1” to the current value.

  In step 10 (S10), the control unit 30 notifies the MFP 2 that the transition to the power saving mode is stopped. Further, the control unit 30 notifies each PC 1 other than the PC 1 that has received the request for canceling the transition that the transition has been cancelled. In this case, the control unit 30 refers to the management database, and for each PC 1 whose “connection state” corresponds to “present” and whose “presence / absence of migration cancellation request” corresponds to “none”, the migration cancellation Notify that has been made.

  In step 11 (S11), the control unit 20 of the MFP 2 stops the transition to the power saving mode. That is, the control unit 20 continues the power mode in the normal power mode even when the transition time is reached.

  In step 12 (S12), the control unit 10 of each PC 1 that has received the notification that the transition has been stopped displays information on the display unit 11 that the transition to the power saving mode by the MFP 2 has been stopped.

  On the other hand, in step 13 (S13), the control unit 30 of the print control apparatus 3 reads the counter C. This counter C counts the number of times a release request (to be described later) has been transmitted to the PC 1 that has received the request for canceling the transition, and is initially set to zero.

  In step 14 (S14), the control unit 30 sets a grace period Tth. The grace period Tth is a time set according to the value of the counter C, and is set to be shorter as the value of the counter C is larger, for example. If the counter C is “0”, the grace period Tth is set to “15 minutes”. If the counter C is “1”, the grace period Tth is set to “8 minutes”, and the counter C is “2”. If so, the grace period Tth is set to “3 minutes”.

  Referring to FIG. 7, in step 15 (S15), the control unit 30 refers to the timer Tm. By referring to the timer Tm, the control unit 30 can recognize the elapsed time from the most recent notification out of the notification in step 10 or the notification in step 17 (S17) described later.

  In step 16 (S16), the control unit 30 determines whether or not the timer Tm has reached the grace period Tth. If an affirmative determination is made in step 16, that is, if the timer Tm has reached the grace period Tth, the process proceeds to step 17 (S17). On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 16, that is, if the timer Tm has not reached the grace period Tth, the processing returns to step 15.

  In step 17, the control unit 30 notifies the PC 1 that has received the request to cancel the transition (cancellation request) to cancel the transition.

  In step 18 (S18), when the control unit 10 of the PC 1 receives the release request, the control unit 10 displays the release request on the display unit 11. Specifically, the control unit 10 includes information on a cancellation request (for example, a predetermined message), information for confirming whether or not to agree with the cancellation request (for example, an icon that can select “YES” or “NO”), Is displayed on the display unit 11. As a result, the control unit 10 prompts the user of the PC 1 to select whether or not to agree to cancel the transition cancellation.

  In step 19 (S19), the control unit 10 determines whether or not there is an agreement to cancel the transition stop based on the input signal from the operation unit 12. If an affirmative determination is made in step 19 and there is a release agreement, the process proceeds to step 20 (S20). On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step 19, that is, if there is no release consent, the process proceeds to step 21 (S21).

  In step 20, the control unit 10 of the PC 1 notifies the print control apparatus 3 of the consent to cancel the transition cancellation.

  In step 21 (S21), if the control unit 30 of the print control apparatus 3 does not accept the cancellation consent from the PC 1 even after a predetermined time as a response to the notification of the cancellation request, the value of the counter C However, it is determined whether or not the determination number Cth that defines the upper limit number of times to notify the release request has been reached. If a negative determination is made in step 21, that is, if the value of the counter C has not reached the determination count Cth, the process proceeds to step 22 (S22). On the other hand, when an affirmative determination is made in step 21, that is, when the value of the counter C reaches the determination count Cth, the process proceeds to step 23 (S23).

  In step 22, the control unit 30 increments the counter C by “1”, and then returns to the process of step 13.

  When the value of the counter C reaches the determination count Cth, or when a cancellation consent notification is received from the PC 1, in step 23, the control unit 30 determines permission to shift to the power saving mode. Note that when the value of the counter C reaches the determination count Cth, the control unit 30 forcibly determines permission to shift to the power saving mode despite not receiving notification of cancellation consent from the PC 1. It becomes. Further, the control unit 30 refers to information attached to the notification from the PC 1 and acquires the identifier of the PC 1 that has transmitted the information. Then, the control unit 30 searches the management database based on the identifier of the PC 1 and specifies a record having a PC ID that matches the identifier of the PC 1. Then, the control unit 30 updates the “presence / absence of a migration stop request” of the identified record to “none”.

  In step 24 (S24), the control unit 30 notifies the PC 1 connected to the network 5 of the mode transition notification, that is, canceling the transition cancellation and executing the mode transition.

  In step 25 (S25), the control unit 10 of the PC 1 displays information indicating that the mode is to be changed on the display unit 11. Thereby, it is possible to alert the user of the PC 1 that the MFP 2 shifts to the power saving mode.

  In step 26 (S26), the control unit 30 of the print control apparatus 30 notifies the MFP 2 of permission to shift to the power saving mode. The process of step 26 may be performed immediately after the process of step 24 is performed, or may be performed after a certain waiting time has elapsed.

  In step 27 (S27), the control unit 20 of the MFP 2 shifts the power mode from the normal power mode to the power saving mode.

  Through such a series of processes, the MFP 2 shifts to the power saving mode. If a job is input from any PC 1 during the period when the transition to the power saving mode is stopped (from step 11 to step 23), the control unit 30 of the print control apparatus 3 cancels the process. PC 1 is notified, and the process returns to step 1 after the job is completed. In this case, it is assumed that the control unit 30 resets “whether or not there is a migration cancellation request” in the management database to “none” and “number of migration cancellation requests” to “−”.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the print control apparatus 3 notifies each PC 1 that the power mode of the MFP 2 shifts to the power saving mode, and accepts a request to cancel the transition from the PC 1 as a response to the notification. It is possible. When the print control apparatus 3 receives a request for canceling the transition from the PC 1, the print control apparatus 3 notifies the MFP 2 of the cancel of the transition to the power saving mode, and then notifies the cancellation request to the PC 1 that has received the request for canceling the transition. To do. Further, when the print control apparatus 3 does not accept from the PC 1 the cancellation consent for the transition cancellation as a response to the notification of the cancellation request, the print control apparatus 3 forcibly notifies the MFP 2 of permission to shift to the power saving mode. Yes.

  According to such a configuration, the print control device 3 has a function of accepting a request for canceling transition from the PC 1, so that it is possible to select whether or not to cancel transition from the PC 1. For this reason, when the transition time set in the MFP 2 is reached, the inconvenience of unavoidably shifting to the power saving mode can be eliminated, so that convenience for the user can be ensured. On the other hand, in the case where the consent to cancel the cancellation of the transition is not received from the PC 1, the transition to the power saving mode is continuously stopped by providing a function for forcibly notifying the MFP 2 of the permission to shift to the power saving mode. Such a situation can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to realize a technique that is economical and has user convenience while suppressing unnecessary power consumption.

  In the present embodiment, the print control apparatus 3 notifies the cancellation request a plurality of times, and when it still does not accept the cancellation consent from the PC 1 for canceling the transition, the MFP 2 shifts to the power saving mode. The permission is forcibly notified. For this reason, it is possible to give a plurality of opportunities to the response to the notification of the release request, so that the convenience of the user can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the print control apparatus 3 forcibly notifies the MFP 2 of permission to shift to the power saving mode when it is determined that the connection state related to the PC 1 that has received the request for canceling the transition is blocked. doing. According to such a configuration, it is possible to suppress a situation in which the PC 1 that has requested to stop the transition is left without transitioning to the power saving mode when the PC 1 is disconnected from the network 5 without canceling the transition stop. it can. Thereby, unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed.

  In this embodiment, the print control apparatus 3 notifies the MFP 2 of permission to shift to the power saving mode when accepting the cancellation consent for the shift cancellation from the PC 1 as a response to the cancellation request notification. To do. As a result, when a request for canceling the transition is made once but is no longer required, unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed by reflecting the consent of cancellation.

  In the present embodiment, the print control apparatus 3 may be able to set each of the determination count Cth and the grace period Tth for each notification according to the selection by the user (system administrator). As a result, it is possible to freely select system specifications such as a system configuration that emphasizes convenience or a system configuration that emphasizes economic efficiency.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, when a request for canceling transition is received from a certain PC 1, a request for canceling transition is not received from any PC 1 thereafter, but the flow of mode transition processing is limited to this. It is not a thing. For example, a request for canceling the transition may be received a plurality of times.

  Specifically, the print control apparatus 3 may be able to accept a request for canceling the transition in the same manner as the processing in step 5 when notifying the mode transition in step 24. In this case, the print control apparatus 3 proceeds to the process of step 9 when it receives a request for canceling the transition, and executes the process of step 26 when it does not accept the request for canceling the transition. .

  It should be noted that if a request for canceling the migration is received from the PC 1 without limitation, the request for power saving cannot be satisfied. Therefore, when a request for canceling the transition for the second time or later is received, it is preferable to determine whether or not the following reception prohibition condition is satisfied in the process of step 9. If the acceptance prohibition condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to step 26 without proceeding to the process of step 10. On the other hand, if the acceptance prohibition condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step 10. It is desirable.

(1) A limit (upper limit value) is set on the total number of times that a request to cancel migration can be accepted.
For example, when the control unit 30 of the print control apparatus 3 receives a request for canceling migration, as shown in FIG. 8, it reads the value of “number of times of request for canceling migration” for each individual record, and sums this value. To do. And the control part 30 judges that the reception prohibition conditions were comprised, when the said total value is more than an upper limit.

(2) The number of times that a request to cancel the migration can be received is limited to a prescribed number (for example, once) per PC1.
For example, if the control unit 30 receives a request for canceling the migration, the control unit 30 reads “number of times of request for canceling the migration” from the record corresponding to the PC 1 that received the request. Judged that the prohibited conditions were met.

  As described above, the print control device 3 can determine rejection based on the management database regarding the request for canceling the transition to the power saving mode from the PC 1. With such a configuration, it is possible to freely set the mode of accepting the request for canceling the transition, and therefore it is possible to effectively set the convenience required by the user.

  In the above-described embodiment, the MFP 2 determines the transition time from the end timing of the job, but the time determined by a predetermined schedule (for example, 6 pm) may be used as the transition time.

(Second Embodiment)

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the MFP 4 according to the second embodiment. The MFP 4 is an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet. In this embodiment, the MFP 4 is a multifunctional multifunction peripheral (MFP) such as a copy, print, scanner, or network. The MFP 4 according to the present embodiment has the same function as that of the MFP 1 shown in the first embodiment, and also has the same function as that of the print control apparatus 3 shown in the first embodiment.

  The MFP 4 mainly includes a control unit 40, a display unit 41, an operation unit 42, an ADF 43, an image reading unit 44, a paper feeding unit 45, and an image forming unit 46.

  The control unit 40 includes a CPU 40a, a memory 40b such as a ROM and a RAM, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 40c as an auxiliary storage device, a communication I / F unit 40d, and the like. These elements are connected to each other via a bus. ing. Each element constituting the control unit 40 has the same function as each element constituting the control unit 10 described above.

  Such a control unit 40 is shown in the first embodiment together with a function (MFP control function (function as image formation control unit and power mode switching unit)) realized by the control unit 20 of the MFP 2 shown in the first embodiment. Functions realized by the control unit 30 of the print control apparatus 3 (print control functions (functions as print control means, transition stop accepting means, transition stop notifying means, release request notifying means, mode transition permitting means, monitoring means, and storage means) )I do.

  According to such a configuration, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to provide a technique that combines user convenience while suppressing unnecessary power consumption. Further, since the MFP 4 has the function of the print control apparatus 3 shown in the first embodiment, the print control apparatus 3 is not necessarily required as the configuration of the print system, so that the system configuration can be simplified.

  The image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention. .

1 PC
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Control part 11 Display part 12 Operation part 2 MFP
20 control unit 21 display unit 22 operation unit 23 ADF
24 Image Reading Unit 25 Paper Feeding Unit 26 Image Forming Unit 3 Print Control Device 30 Control Unit 31 Display Unit 32 Operation Unit 4 MFP
5 network

Claims (9)

In a print control apparatus capable of communicating with each of an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus that outputs a job executed by the image forming apparatus,
Notifying the information processing apparatus that the power mode of the image forming apparatus shifts to a power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal power mode, and responding to the notification from the information processing apparatus to the power saving mode. A transition cancellation acceptance means capable of accepting a request to cancel the transition to
A transition stop notification means for notifying the image forming apparatus of a transition stop to the power saving mode when the transition stop receiving means receives a request to stop the transition to the power saving mode;
Release request notifying means for notifying the information processing apparatus that has received the request for canceling the transition to the power saving mode to the cancel request for the transition canceling;
If the information processing apparatus does not accept the cancellation consent for the cancellation of the transition as a response to the notification by the cancellation request notification means, the image forming apparatus is forced to permit the transition to the power saving mode. Mode transition permission means to notify,
A printing control apparatus comprising: The release request notification means performs a first notification after a predetermined grace period has elapsed from the notification by the transition cancellation notification means, and after the notification, the second and subsequent notifications are cycled every time a predetermined grace period elapses. To do
The mode transition permitting unit, when the number of notifications by the cancellation request notifying unit reaches the number of determinations and not accepting cancellation consent for the transition cancellation from the information processing apparatus, to the image forming apparatus The print control apparatus according to claim 1, forcibly notifying permission to shift to the power saving mode.   The print control apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a setting unit configured to set each of the determination times and the grace period for each notification according to a selection by a user. Further comprising monitoring means for monitoring a connection state of the information processing apparatus;
When the monitoring unit determines that the connection state of the information processing apparatus that has received the request to cancel the transition to the power saving mode is interrupted by the monitoring unit, the mode transition permission unit The print control apparatus according to claim 1, forcibly notifying permission to shift to the power mode.   The mode transition permission unit, when receiving a consent to cancel the transition cancellation from the information processing apparatus as a response to the notification by the cancellation request notification unit, switches the image forming apparatus to the power saving mode. 5. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer permission is notified.   6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mode transition permission unit notifies the information processing apparatus that the transition to the power saving mode is performed before the notification to the image forming apparatus. The printing control apparatus described in 1. The storage cancellation receiving unit further includes a storage unit that holds, as a management database, a history regarding a request to cancel the transition to the power saving mode received from the information processing apparatus,
7. The transition cancellation accepting unit, based on a management database of the storage unit, determines a refusal related to a request to cancel the transition to the power saving mode from the information processing apparatus. A printing control apparatus as described above. In an image forming apparatus that forms an image according to a job output from an information processing apparatus,
Power mode transition means for transitioning the power mode to a power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal power mode;
Transition that notifies the information processing apparatus that the power mode shifts to the power saving mode, and accepts a request to stop transition from the information processing apparatus to the power saving mode as a response to the notification Cancellation acceptance means,
A transition stop notification means for notifying the mode transition means of the transition stop to the power saving mode when the transition stop acceptance means receives a request to stop the transition to the power saving mode;
Release request notifying means for notifying the information processing apparatus that has received the request for canceling the transition to the power saving mode to the cancel request for the transition canceling;
If the information processing apparatus does not accept the cancellation consent for the cancellation of the transition as a response to the notification by the cancellation request notification unit, the power mode transition unit is forcibly permitted to shift to the power saving mode. Mode transition permission means to notify to,
An image forming apparatus comprising: An image forming apparatus capable of performing image formation according to a job output from the information processing apparatus and shifting the power mode to a power saving mode in which the power consumption is lower than that in the normal power mode;
A print control apparatus capable of communicating with each of the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus,
The print control device includes:
Notifying the information processing apparatus that the power mode of the image forming apparatus shifts to a power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal power mode, and responding to the notification from the information processing apparatus to the power saving mode. A transition cancellation acceptance means capable of accepting a request to cancel the transition to
A transition stop notification means for notifying the image forming apparatus of a transition stop to the power saving mode when the transition stop receiving means receives a request to stop the transition to the power saving mode;
Release request notifying means for notifying the information processing apparatus that has received the request for canceling the transition to the power saving mode to the cancel request for the transition canceling;
If the information processing apparatus does not accept the cancellation consent for the cancellation of the transition as a response to the notification by the cancellation request notification means, the image forming apparatus is forced to permit the transition to the power saving mode. Mode transition permission means to notify,
A printing system comprising:

Images