JP2014075925A - Image forming apparatus and control method of the same, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem in which: a user using equipment cannot determine whether power of the equipment is turned off because the amount of power supply is close to the limit or the power is turned off by chance.SOLUTION: There are provided an image forming apparatus connected with a network, and a control method of the image forming apparatus. The control method includes the steps of: turning off the power of the image forming apparatus, upon receiving a power control signal indicating power control via the network, in response to the power control signal; and presenting a user with information indicating that the image forming apparatus is powered off according to the power control signal.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that performs power supply control according to a change in power supply amount, a control method therefor, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a multi-function processing apparatus (MFP) that employs an electrophotographic method for a printer unit requires a large amount of power during image formation. The power consumption is particularly large in the fixing device, the image forming unit, and the circuit for processing the image data. On the other hand, the need for fine-tuned power control is increasing due to the recent increase in energy saving awareness and the strengthening of regulations. For example, Patent Document 1 describes that a user is notified when the rating of a breaker is approached or that the device is turned off. Furthermore, when the power demand increases and the power supply capacity becomes tight, the power consumption is dynamically changed and the power consumption of the equipment consuming the power is turned off. A technique to reduce the amount and suppress the power peak is considered.

JP 2010-161848 A

  However, in this situation, the problem is that the user who uses the device is that the device is turned off because the power supply is tight or happens to be a power source. It is indistinguishable whether it is only turned off. Furthermore, even though the power supply amount is tight, the power of the device is turned off, and the user powers on the device to increase the power consumption. There is a possibility that a situation will occur.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems.

  An object of the present invention is to enable a user to grasp whether the reason for turning off the power is due to the change in the power supply amount when the image forming apparatus corresponding to the change in the power supply amount is turned off. There is in doing so.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
An image forming apparatus connectable to a network,
Receiving means for receiving a power control signal instructing power control via the network;
Shutdown means for turning off the image forming apparatus in response to the power control signal received by the receiving means;
Presenting means for presenting to the user information indicating that the image forming apparatus is powered off by the power control signal.

  According to the present invention, when the image forming apparatus corresponding to the fluctuation in the power supply amount is in a state where the power is turned off, the user can grasp whether the reason for the power off corresponds to the fluctuation in the power supply amount. , It can be determined whether or not the user can turn on the device.

1 is a configuration diagram of an information processing system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the MFP according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit of the MFP according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining shutdown processing by the control unit of the MFP according to the first embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a request framework for a shutdown instruction (power control signal) transmitted from the power controller to the MFP via the network in the first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printed matter printed by the printer unit in S402 of FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a request framework for a shutdown instruction (power control signal) transmitted from the power controller to the MFP via the network in the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printed matter printed by the printer unit in the second embodiment corresponding to S402 in FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining shutdown processing by the control unit of the MFP according to the third embodiment. The figure which shows the example of a display in case the display part of an operation part is a display apparatus which can be displayed even if the power supply like electronic paper is turned off. 9 is a flowchart for explaining shutdown processing by a control unit of an MFP according to a fourth embodiment. 12 is a flowchart for explaining shutdown processing by the control unit of the MFP according to the fourth embodiment when a shutdown instruction is received from the power controller after performing shutdown processing in S1105 of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the present invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the present invention. . In the present embodiment, a multifunction processing apparatus (MFP) is described as an example of an image forming apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to such an MFP.

[Embodiment 1]
In the first embodiment, the power supply is turned off because the power demand is increased with respect to the power supply that can be supplied. The reason for the power off is that the reason for the power off corresponds to the fluctuation of the power supply. An example will be described in which the user is notified of the fact using a printed matter.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information processing system according to the first embodiment.

  In this system, devices such as MFPs 104 and 105, a printer 106, and a FAX 107 are connected to a network 101. This network is assumed to be Ethernet (registered trademark) here. Since the first embodiment does not depend on the type of network, it can be applied to other types of networks. A PC 102 is a PC (personal computer) used by a user, and can transmit and receive data to and from devices such as the MFPs 104 and 105, the printer 106, and the FAX 107 via the network 101. The power management server 108 is a power management server that exists on the power company side, and holds the amount of power that can be consumed by the power user. The power management server 108 is connected to the network 101 to which the MFP 104 is connected via the external network 109. The power controller 103 is a server that manages the amount of power consumed in this system. When the amount of power is tight based on the consumable amount of power acquired from the power management server 108, the power controller 103 To shut down.

  The MFPs 104 and 105 are multifunction machines in which functions such as a copy, a printer, and a scanner are integrated. In these MFPs 104 and 105, it is possible to set whether or not to perform color printing and settings such as print speed, and the power consumption varies greatly depending on the settings. In particular, in an electrophotographic printer that thermally fixes toner, a large amount of electric power is required for the heater of the fixing device. In general, color printing consumes more power than monochrome printing, and the power consumption increases as the printing speed increases. A printer 106 and a FAX 107 are a single-function printing device and a facsimile device, respectively.

  Next, the structure and operation of the MFP 104 according to the first embodiment will be described. The first embodiment can be applied to the MFP 105, the printer 106, and the FAX 107, but here, the MFP 104 will be described as an example.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the MFP 104 according to the first embodiment.

  The control unit 202 controls the overall operation of the MFP 104 and performs data transmission / reception, data conversion, data storage, power control, and the like.

  When the MFP 104 performs a print operation, the PC 102 generates a print job and transmits the print job to the MFP 104 via the network 101. As a result, the control unit 202 receives the print job and temporarily stores it in the memory in the control unit 202. The control unit 202 converts the stored print job data into image data and outputs the image data to the printer unit 204. To do. Under the control of the control unit 202, the printer unit 204 prints an image on a sheet (paper) based on the image data, and discharges the printed sheet.

  A case where the MFP 104 performs a scanning operation will be described. In this case, after the user sets a document on the scanner unit 203, the scan operation is set by operating a button while referring to the screen of the operation unit 201. When the start button of the operation unit 201 is pressed, a scanning operation is started. Under the control of the control unit 202, the scanner unit 203 optically reads a document and converts it into image data. The control unit 202 temporarily stores the image data obtained in this way, and then converts the data format according to the setting contents designated in advance by the operation unit 201 and transfers the data to the transmission destination.

  When the MFP 104 performs a copy operation, the user sets a document on the scanner unit 203 and then operates the buttons while referring to the screen of the operation unit 201 to set the copy operation. When the start button on the operation unit 201 is pressed, the copy operation is started. The scanner unit 203 optically reads a document and converts it into image data under the control of the control unit 202. After the image data is stored in the memory in the control unit 202, the control unit 202 converts the data format and outputs it to the printer unit 204. The printer unit 204 prints an image on a sheet based on the image data, and discharges the printed sheet out of the MFP 104.

  The power supply unit 205 converts the commercial power supplied from the power plug 206 into a voltage used in each unit of the MFP 104. The power switch 210 is a switch for turning on / off the power of the MFP 104. To turn on the power, the power switch 210 is turned on by a user operation. The control unit 202 and the power switch 210 are connected by a control line 211, and the control unit 202 can turn off the power of the MFP 104 through the control line 211.

  After the shutdown process is completed, the CPU 302 (FIG. 3) of the control unit 202 can turn off the power switch 210 by changing the signal on the control line 211. At this time, the MFP 104 is completely turned off. Become. The power switch 210 is a solenoid type switch that can turn off the power supply when a current flows from the control line 211. Switches 207, 208, and 209 turn on / off the power supply to each unit based on a signal from the control unit 202. Here, the switch 207 turns on / off the power supply from the power supply unit 205 to the operation unit 201. The switch 208 turns on / off the power supply from the power supply unit 205 to the scanner unit 203. Further, the switch 209 turns on / off the power supply from the power supply unit 205 to the printer unit 204.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the control unit 202 of the MFP 104 according to the first embodiment.

  The CPU 302 that controls the control unit 202 executes a program stored in the program memory 305 that is a nonvolatile memory, and performs various processes using the general-purpose memory 307 as a temporary storage area. The CPU 302 includes a network I / F 301, a scanner I / F 303 that communicates with the scanner unit 203, an operation unit I / F 304 that communicates with the operation unit 201, a printer I / F 306 that communicates with the printer unit 204, and an internal bus 309. Connected through. Further, the CPU 302 is connected to the clock 308, the power control I / F 310, the nonvolatile memory 311, and the like via the internal bus 309. The clock 308 periodically corrects the time by the NTP (Network Time Protocol) method via the network 101 in order to keep the timekeeping accuracy. The power control I / F 310 is an output port that outputs a control signal for turning on / off these switches to the switches 207, 208, 209, and 210 under the control of the CPU 302.

  Now, when the MFP 104 is in the sleep mode, the switches 207, 208, and 209 are in an off state under the control of the CPU 302, and power supply to the operation unit 201, the scanner unit 203, and the printer unit 204 is cut off.

  The transition from the sleep mode to the normal state is activated by receiving a print job via the network 101, pressing the power button of the operation unit 201, generating an alarm in the clock 308, or the like. These detections are performed by the CPU 302, and the switches 207, 208, and 209 are operated in accordance with the detections to turn on the power to the necessary parts. When the execution of the print job is completed and the print operation is finished, the mode again shifts to the sleep mode. The above is an overview of the structure and operation of the MFP 104.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a shutdown process by the control unit 202 of the MFP 104 according to the first embodiment. A program for executing this flowchart is stored in the program memory 305, and this processing can be realized by the CPU 302 executing this program.

  This process is started when the user operates the operation unit 201 to issue a shutdown instruction or receives a shutdown instruction from the power controller 103 via the network 101. First, in step S <b> 401, the CPU 302 determines whether it is a shutdown instruction from the power controller 103. If it is determined that the shutdown instruction is from the power controller 103, the process proceeds to S402, and if not, the process proceeds to S404. In step S402, the CPU 302 transmits a print instruction to the printer unit 204 based on instruction information from the power controller 103 (request framework: described later), and the printer unit 204 performs printing based on the information. In step S <b> 403, the CPU 302 receives a print completion notification from the printer unit 204. In step S404, the CPU 302 turns off the switches 207, 208, 209, and 210 by a control signal to the switches 207, 208, 209, and 210 via the power control I / F 310, and ends the shutdown process. As a result, the power of the MFP 104 is turned off. Note that the power-off state in which the MFP 104 shifts after the shutdown process is a state in which a volatile memory such as a RAM is energized. This state includes a suspend state in which high-speed recovery is possible using status information such as the OS stored in the RAM at the time of shutdown. Further, it includes a hibernation state that can be quickly restored using status information such as an OS stored in a nonvolatile memory such as an HDD at the time of shutdown.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S401 that the instruction is not a shutdown instruction from the power controller 103, the process proceeds to S404. In S <b> 404, the CPU 302 turns off all the solenoid type switches 207, 208, 209, and 210 to turn off the power supply to the control unit 202, the operation unit 201, the scanner unit 203, and the printer unit 204.

  With this process, when the shutdown is executed by the shutdown instruction from the power controller 103, the printer unit 204 prints a message indicating that the power is turned off by the shutdown instruction from the power controller 103. Accordingly, the user can determine whether the shutdown is performed by the user's operation or the shutdown instruction from the power controller 103.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a request framework for a shutdown instruction (power control signal) transmitted from the power controller 103 to the MFP 104 via the network 101 in the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 5, 501 represents a transmission source, where “1” represents the power controller 103. Reference numeral 502 denotes a transmission destination of the request framework, and “2” indicates the MFP 104. Reference numeral 503 denotes the type of the destination model to which the request framework is transmitted. Here, “MFP” is set. Reference numeral 504 denotes control contents controlled by the model that has received the request framework. In the example of FIG. 5, “shutdown” indicating shutdown is described. Reference numeral 505 denotes additional information accompanying the request framework, which describes supplementary information of control contents. In this case, the scheduled time when the shutdown instruction is canceled is 16:00. The request framework shown in FIG. 5 is merely an example, and is not limited to this.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printed matter printed by the printer unit 204 in S402 of FIG.

  In FIG. 6, the print information is divided into three parts. Reference numeral 601 denotes a status display portion for indicating that the power supply is currently off. Reference numeral 602 denotes a detailed display portion for displaying the reason why the power is off and the precautions. Reference numeral 603 denotes a display example as supplementary information. Here, based on the supplementary information 505 in FIG. 5, the scheduled restoration time of the power supply amount is displayed.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the MFP is turned off, the MFP determines whether the power supply is turned off due to tight power supply or whether the power is turned off by a user operation. Can be identified by printed matter. Thus, according to the instruction of the printed matter, the user can take measures such as not turning on the MFP, or turning on the power after a scheduled time when the power supply amount is restored.

[Embodiment 2]
In the second embodiment, description will be made on the point of adding availability information indicating whether another MFP existing in the same area can be used to the information printed by the printer unit 204. Note that the system configuration, MFP configuration, and the like in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a request framework for a shutdown instruction (power control signal) transmitted from the power controller 103 to the MFP 104 via the network 101 in the second embodiment.

  Compared with the request framework shown in FIG. 5, 701, 702, 703, and 704 are the same as 501, 502, 503, and 504 in FIG. 5. Reference numeral 705 includes information on which other available MFPs and which cannot be used among the MFPs in the same area managed by the power controller 103 as supplementary information of the control contents. By printing this as the remark information of the printed matter, the user can know which MFP can be used in the area.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printed matter printed by the printer unit 204 in the second embodiment corresponding to S402 in FIG.

  Here, as in FIG. 6, the print information is divided into three parts. Reference numerals 801 and 802 are the same as 601 and 602 in FIG. Reference numeral 803 denotes a supplementary information display unit that displays information on other MFPs in the same area managed by the power controller 103 based on the information 705 in FIG. 7 received from the power controller 103 as supplementary information. is there.

  In 803 of FIG. 8, corresponding to 705 of FIG. 7, it is printed that the MFP (XXX) on the same floor can be used and the MFP (YYY) on the same floor cannot be used.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, the configuration has been described in which information is presented to the user as a printed matter. However, the information notification method is not limited to the printed matter. For example, a display device that can be displayed even when the power is turned off, such as electronic paper, is provided in the MFP, and before the MFP executes the shutdown process, the content as shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 8 is displayed on the display device. A configuration that shuts down after that is also conceivable.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a display example when the display unit of the operation unit 201 is a display device that can display even when the power is turned off, such as electronic paper.

  Reference numeral 1003 denotes a hard key portion including a numeric keypad and a start key. A display unit 1002 is a display unit of electronic paper. By displaying information as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 in this portion and turning off the power of the MFP 104, the information can be notified to the user even when the power is turned off.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, it is possible to grasp other alternative MFPs in the same area that can be used for printing, which is convenient when you want to print quickly. is there.

  Further, by using a display device such as electronic paper that can be displayed even when the power is turned off in order to present information to the user, it is possible to save paper and save resources. There is.

[Embodiment 3]
In the third embodiment, when the printed matter described in FIG. 6 of the first embodiment is discharged, the bin that is the discharge destination of the printed matter is designated as the uppermost bin in order to make it easier for the user to notice. Processing to be performed will be described. Note that the system configuration, MFP configuration, and the like in the third embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a shutdown process performed by the control unit 202 of the MFP 104 according to the third embodiment. A program for executing this flowchart is stored in the program memory 305, and this processing can be realized by the CPU 302 executing this program. In FIG. 9, the processing of S901, S903 to S904 is the same as S401, S403, and S404 of FIG.

  This process is started when the user operates the operation unit 201 to issue a shutdown instruction or receives a shutdown instruction from the power controller 103 via the network 101. First, in step S <b> 901, the CPU 302 determines whether it is a shutdown instruction from the power controller 103. If it is determined that the shutdown instruction is from the power controller 103, the process advances to step S <b> 902, and the CPU 302 transmits a print instruction to the printer unit 204 based on the instruction information from the power controller 103. At that time, in order to make the printed matter more easily noticeable by the user, the bin that discharges the printed matter is designated as the bin at the top of the plurality of bins. Accordingly, the printer unit 204 prints the information and discharges the printed matter to a designated bin. In step S <b> 903, the CPU 302 receives a print completion notification from the printer unit 204. In step S904, the CPU 302 turns off the switches 207, 208, 209, and 210 and ends the shutdown process. If the shutdown instruction is not issued from the power controller 103 in S901, the process advances to S904, and the CPU 302 turns off all the switches 207, 208, 209, and 210 and ends the shutdown process.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, the user is turned off the MFP by discharging the printed material for presenting information to the user to a place where the user can easily recognize the printed matter. There is an effect that the reason can be grasped more reliably.

[Embodiment 4]
In the fourth embodiment, processing when the MFP 104 is already turned off when the shutdown instruction information is received from the power controller 103 will be described. Note that the system configuration, MFP configuration, and the like in the fourth embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating shutdown processing by the control unit 202 of the MFP 104 according to the fourth embodiment. A program for executing this flowchart is stored in the program memory 305, and this processing can be realized by the CPU 302 executing this program.

  This process is started when the user operates the operation unit 201 to give a shutdown instruction or receives a shutdown instruction from the power controller 103 via the network 101. First, in step S <b> 1101, the CPU 302 determines whether it is a shutdown instruction from the power controller 103. If it is determined that the shutdown instruction is from the power controller 103, the process proceeds to S1102, and if it is determined that the shutdown instruction is not from the power controller 103, the process proceeds to S1105. In step S <b> 1102, the CPU 302 outputs a print instruction to the printer unit 204 based on instruction information from the power controller 103. As a result, the printer unit 204 prints the information. In step S <b> 1103, the CPU 302 receives a print completion notification from the printer unit 204. In step S1104, the CPU 302 turns off the switches 207, 208, 209, and 210 and ends the shutdown process.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the shutdown instruction is not received from the power controller 103, the CPU 302 turns off the switches 207, 208, and 209 in step S1105. Further, the switch 210 is turned on so that power is supplied to the CPU 302, and the shutdown process is terminated.

  As described above, in the case of a shutdown instruction from the power controller 103, the MFP 104 is completely shut down, but in the case of a shutdown instruction performed by the user operating the operation unit 201, the shutdown is performed with the control unit 202 energized. To do.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the shutdown process performed by the control unit 202 of the MFP 104 according to the fourth embodiment when a shutdown instruction is received from the power controller 103 after the shutdown process is performed in step S1105 of FIG. A program for executing this flowchart is stored in the program memory 305, and this processing can be realized by the CPU 302 executing this program.

  First, in step S <b> 1201, the CPU 302 determines whether a shutdown instruction has been received from the power controller 103 via the network 101. If not received, the process returns to S1201, but if received, the process proceeds to S1202. In step S1202, the CPU 302 turns on the switch 209 to energize the printer unit 204. In step S <b> 1203, the CPU 302 transmits a print instruction to the printer unit 204 based on instruction information from the power controller 103. As a result, the printer unit 204 prints the information. In step S1204, the CPU 302 receives a print completion notification from the printer unit 204. In step S1205, the CPU 302 turns off all the switches 207, 208, 209, and 210 and ends the shutdown process.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, in the case of a shutdown not based on the shutdown instruction from the power controller 103, the shutdown is performed while the control unit 202 is energized. Therefore, even if a shutdown instruction is received from the power controller 103 in this state, the printer unit 204 can be energized temporarily to output the printed matter described above. This allows the user to know whether or not the MFP can be turned on when the MFP is in a power-off state.

  In addition, in the said embodiment, although each of Embodiment 1-4 was demonstrated independently, you may combine the structure of each embodiment suitably. For example, instead of printing in the fourth embodiment, display on a display device such as electronic paper in the second embodiment may be employed.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (10)

An image forming apparatus connectable to a network,
Receiving means for receiving a power control signal instructing power control via the network;
Shutdown means for turning off the image forming apparatus in response to the power control signal received by the receiving means;
Presenting means for presenting to the user information indicating that the image forming apparatus is powered off by the power control signal;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the presenting unit presents the information to a user as a printed matter.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the presenting unit presents the information to a user by a display device that can display even when the power is off.   The presenting means presents the information in accordance with the power control signal received by the receiving means, and presents the information including additional information accompanying the power control signal. 2. The image forming apparatus according to item 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a specifying unit that specifies a discharge destination for discharging the printed matter.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the additional information is information presenting an image forming apparatus that can be used instead.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the additional information is information presenting a time when power is scheduled to be restored. A power-off means for turning off the power of the apparatus in a state where the control unit of the image forming apparatus is energized according to a user's instruction;
When the power control signal is received by the receiving unit in a state where the power is turned off by the power off unit, the control unit presents information indicating that the power is turned off by the power control signal to the user. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is turned off after the control of the image forming apparatus. A control method for controlling an image forming apparatus connectable to a network,
A receiving step for receiving a power control signal instructing power control via the network;
A shutdown process in which a shutdown unit turns off the power of the image forming apparatus according to the power control signal received in the reception process;
A presenting step of presenting information indicating that the image forming apparatus is powered off by the power control signal to the user;
A control method for an image forming apparatus, comprising:   A program for causing a computer to execute the control method of claim 9.

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