JP2014151485A - Image forming apparatus, image forming system, image-forming control method, and image-forming control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently enhance a power-saving effect in an image forming apparatus that is connected to a network.SOLUTION: In an image forming system 1, when image forming apparatuses Gk1-Gkn receive, via a network I/F 36, print jobs which are sent from host apparatuses Hs1-Hsm via a network NW and to which standby permissible time is imparted, during a power-saving mode, a job management part 51 accumulates the print jobs in a hard-disk. The job management part 51 continues the power-saving mode until the standby permissible time of the print job elapses, and sequentially accumulates the print jobs that are received in the meantime in the hard-disk. When the number of the accumulated print jobs becomes the number of lower limit standby jobs or more and when there are print jobs that standby permissible time elapses, a mode is switched to a normal power mode and a print execution part 54 is made to execute all print jobs accumulated in the hard-disk.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, an image forming control method, and an image forming control program, and more specifically, an image that efficiently forms an image while improving power saving in an image forming apparatus connected to a network. The present invention relates to a forming apparatus, an image forming system, an image forming control method, and an image forming control program.

  An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer apparatus, or a composite apparatus has a portion that consumes a large amount of power because of the characteristic of forming and outputting an image. Since the image forming apparatus is usually in a standby state without being used after the power is turned on, a waiting time in which the standby state is set in advance is conventionally used to reduce power consumption. When a power saving setting key is operated on the operation display unit, a power saving function for shifting to a power saving mode for reducing power consumption is provided.

  On the other hand, in recent years, image forming apparatuses are connected to a network and are shared by host apparatuses such as a plurality of computers.

  Further, the image forming apparatus returns from the power saving mode to the normal power mode in which printing can be performed when a predetermined key operation of the operation display unit or a print request from the network is generated.

  In recent years, there has been a demand for efficient power consumption reduction in image forming apparatuses connected to such networks.

  In such an image forming apparatus connected to a network, conventionally, a means for connecting to an external apparatus to exchange data and inputting image data, an energy saving means for suppressing power consumption of the apparatus, and the external apparatus In a printing system provided with a storage means for storing a print history from the printer, a technique for controlling the return from the energy saving mode and the timing to enter the energy saving mode according to the print history and statistics from the external device has been proposed. (See Patent Document 1).

  That is, this prior art stores the print history from the external device, controls the return from the power saving mode and the timing to enter the power saving mode according to the print history and statistics from the external device, and reduces the power consumption. We are trying to reduce it.

  However, in the prior art described in the above publication, only the return from the power saving mode and the timing to enter the power saving mode are controlled according to the print history and statistics from the external device. In order to improve the quality, it was necessary to improve. In other words, in the conventional technology, when there is a print request from an external device on the network in the power saving mode, the image forming device returns to the normal power mode. In the image forming device, based on the print history from the external device. Even if you control the return from power saving mode and the timing to enter power saving mode, multiple external devices are connected to the network, so appropriate and efficient power saving control cannot be performed. In order to improve the quality, it was necessary to improve.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to efficiently improve the power saving effect in an image forming apparatus connected to a network.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 is capable of forming a job by a job storage unit that stores a print job, an image forming unit that forms an image based on the print job, and image formation by the image forming unit. A power mode switching unit that switches between a normal power mode and a power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal power mode, and is connected to a network and communicates with a host device on the network even in the power saving mode. A communication unit that receives from the host device a print job with an allowable waiting time until it is formed; and when the communication unit receives the print job in the power saving mode, the print job is stored in the job storage unit And determining the allowable waiting time for the stored print job, and there is a print job for which the allowable waiting time has elapsed. And a job management unit that causes the power mode switching unit to switch to the normal power mode and causes the image forming unit to perform image formation based on all print jobs stored in the job storage unit. It is said.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently improve the power saving effect in an image forming apparatus connected to a network.

1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of hardware of the image forming apparatus. The figure which shows an example of the printing destination selection screen in a host apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating print job reception management processing. 10 is a flowchart illustrating standby print job management processing.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The range of this invention is unduly limited by the following description. However, not all the configurations described in the present embodiment are essential constituent elements of the present invention.

  1 to 5 are diagrams showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, an image forming control method, and an image forming control program of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming system 1 to which an embodiment of a system, an image forming control method, and an image forming control program are applied.

  In FIG. 1, in an image forming system 1, a plurality of image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn and a plurality of host apparatuses Hs1 to Hsm are connected to a network NW. As the network NW, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) such as Ethernet (registered trademark) is used.

  The host devices Hs1 to Hsm have, for example, a computer having a normal hardware configuration and a normal software configuration. An OS (Operating System) such as Windows (registered trademark) and document creation software are used on a hard disk or the like. Application software (hereinafter simply referred to as an application) such as graphic creation software, spreadsheet software, database software, and printer driver is stored.

  In particular, the host devices Hs1 to Hsm include a display 11, a job input unit 12, a network communication unit 13, and the like, and input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse (not shown). In the host devices Hs1 to Hsm, a user creates and edits a document using an application, and issues a print instruction to the document from the application.

  When the job input unit 12 is instructed to print document data created / edited by an application such as document creation software or graphic creation software by a user using an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, the OS 11 Document data and print setting information are passed to the printer driver through the printer driver, and the printer driver creates print data that can be interpreted by the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn that print the document data from the document data received from the application. A print job incorporating the information is generated and passed to the network communication unit 13. In the print setting, the job input unit 12 specifies the allowable waiting time for waiting for execution of the print job in the power saving mode, the designation of the printing destination designated as the printing destination from the plurality of image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn, and the like. be able to.

  The network communication unit 13 transmits the print job transferred from the job input unit 12 to the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn via the network NW.

  As the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn, a printer apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, a copying apparatus, a composite apparatus, and the like are used. The image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn have a hardware configuration as shown in FIG. A storage device 24 and the like are provided.

  The controller 21 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 31, a read only memory (ROM) 32, a random access memory (RAM) 33, a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) 34, a hard disk (HDD) 35, a network I / F. (Interface) 36, engine I / F 37, panel I / F 38, external I / F 39, and the like, and each part is connected by a bus 40. Although not shown, the controller 21 includes a timekeeping unit that measures the current time. As will be described later, the controller 21 performs execution management of the print job using the current time and timer function of the timekeeping unit.

  Each of the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn has a mode switching function for switching between a normal power mode in which a normal operation such as an image forming operation can be performed and a power saving mode in which the power consumption is lower than the normal power mode. A power supply control unit that controls supply / stop of supply of power from a power supply that rectifies and transforms commercial power and supplies power to each unit of the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn is provided. The CPU 31 controls the switching of the power mode between the normal power mode and the power saving mode by controlling the operation of the power supply control unit.

  Host devices Hs1 to HSm are connected to the network I / F (communication means) 36 via the network NW, and the network I / F 36 receives control signals and data (from the host devices Hs1 to HSm). And an interface for sending out status signals and the like transmitted from the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn to the host apparatuses Hs1 to HSm. In particular, the network I / F 36 receives a print job to which a waiting time is given from the host apparatuses Hs1 to Hsm, and transmits a completion notification of the print job to the host apparatuses Hs1 to Hsm.

  The program ROM 32 is a program for processing and managing data in the controller 21 and controlling peripheral modules, specifically, a basic processing program as the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn and a print job during power saving according to the present invention. In addition to various programs such as an image formation control program for executing an image formation control method for executing the execution control, various data necessary for executing these programs are stored.

  A CPU (power mode switching unit, job management unit) 31 uses the RAM 33 as a work memory based on a program stored in the program ROM 32, and controls each unit of the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn to perform print processing. And an image formation control method to be described later is executed.

  The RAM 33 is used as a work memory of the CPU 31, and also manages print data from the host devices Hs1 to HSm in units of pages and temporarily stores the data and the data stored in the buffer as drawing data suitable for actual printing. It is used as a bitmap memory or the like that is converted and expanded. The RAM 33 has a capacity for accumulating a plurality of pages of the print data or drawing data converted from the print data or intermediate data.

  An NVRAM (job pivot back means, time storage means) 34 is a memory that retains stored contents even when the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn are turned off, and the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn are turned off. Data that also needs to be retained at the time of printing, especially various data necessary for image formation control processing to be described later, for example, a lower limit waiting allowable time set on the operation panel 23, a lower limit waiting job number, a system setting value, and the number of printed sheets Various setting information such as an engine characteristic parameter (such as dark red) indicating the engine value of the printer engine 22 is stored under the control of the CPU 31.

  The hard disk (job storage means) 35 stores the read print data and data such as print jobs sent from the host devices Hs1 to HSm under the control of the CPU 31 and is read out. In particular, the hard disk 35 stores a print job to which a waiting time is given and other print jobs sent from the host devices Hs1 to HSm.

  A printer engine 22 is connected to the engine I / F 37, and the engine I / F 37 exchanges control signals and drawing data from the controller 21 to the printer engine 22 and status signals from the printer engine 22 to the controller 21. .

  The printer engine (image forming means) 22 uses, for example, a printer engine such as an electrophotographic printer or an ink jet printer, and converts from print data sent from the host devices Hs1 to HSm and received by the network I / F 36. Then, based on the drawing data and the control signal passed from the engine I / F 37, the image is printed out (image forming output) on the paper (image forming medium) sent from the paper feeding unit, and the printed paper is , And eject it onto the output tray. In other words, in the case of an electrophotographic engine, the printer engine 22 is not shown, but the components necessary for performing printing processing on paper based on drawing data in the electrophotographic system, such as a photoconductor, a charging unit, optical writing When the printer engine 22 is a color printer engine, the image forming units are provided for color, for example, CMYK. The printer engine 22 operates the optical writing unit according to the drawing data and the control signal to form an electrostatic latent image on the uniformly charged photosensitive member by the charging unit, and the developing unit applies toner to the photosensitive member. And is developed to form a toner image. The printer engine 22 feeds a sheet from the sheet feeding unit between the photosensitive member and the transfer unit, causes the transfer unit to transfer the toner image on the photosensitive member to the sheet, and fixes the sheet on which the toner image is transferred to the fixing unit. Then, the toner image on the paper is fixed by heating and pressurizing at the fixing unit to perform the printing process.

  The operation panel 23 is connected to the panel I / F 38, and the panel I / F 38 exchanges signals between the CPU 31 and the operation panel 23.

  The operation panel (input means) 23 includes various operation keys such as a numeric keypad, a start key, a mode selection key for selecting a mode, and a display unit such as a liquid crystal display with a touch panel. The operation panel 23 has various commands such as a print operation by the key operation of the operation keys and the touch operation of the display unit, in particular, a lower limit waiting allowable time, a lower limit waiting job number, and a power saving time target which are necessary for an image formation control process described later. Value, power saving time ratio target value, power consumption target value, etc. are input. The operation panel 23 displays, on the display unit, the contents of commands input from the operation keys, various information notified to the user from the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn, images to be processed, and the like.

  A portable external storage device 24 is detachably attached to the external I / F 39. Examples of the external storage device 24 include a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, a memory card (for example, an SD memory card), A floppy disk (registered trademark) or the like is inserted. The external I / F 39 drives the external storage device 24 under the control of the CPU 31 to read data stored in the external storage device 24 and write data to the external storage device 24. The external I / F 39 automatically detects insertion and removal of the external storage device 24 from the external I / F 39 and outputs the detection result to the CPU 31.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a ROM, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM, a flash memory, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), and a DVD. An image formation control program for executing the image formation control method of the present invention recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a (Digital Video Disk), an SD (Secure Digital) card, or an MO (Magneto-Optical Disc) is read. Are installed in the program ROM 32, the hard disk 35, and the like, and are constructed as image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn that execute an image forming control method for efficiently executing a waiting allowable time designation print job to be described later to reduce power consumption. Yes. This image formation control program is a computer-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark), an object-oriented programming language, or the like, and is stored in the recording medium. And can be distributed.

  In the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn, the functional blocks as shown in FIG. 1 are constructed by introducing and executing the image forming control program. That is, in the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn, the job management unit 51, the network communication unit 52, the operation panel unit 53, the print execution unit 54, and the like are constructed by introducing the image formation control program.

  The job management unit 51 is constructed by the CPU 31, the program ROM 32, the RAM 33, the NVRAM 34, the hard disk 35, and the like, and functions as the job storage unit, the power mode switching unit, and the job management unit.

  That is, the job management unit 51 controls the power control unit to switch the power mode of the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn between the normal power mode and the power saving mode. Note that, in the power saving mode of the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn, power is supplied to at least the power management of the network communication unit 52 and the job management unit 51, and the print execution unit 54 receives the power. Supply of power is stopped or reduced.

  Although not shown, the job management unit 51 includes a job storage unit (job storage unit) constructed by the hard disk 35 or the like, and stores the print jobs received by the network communication unit 52 from the host devices Hs1 to Hsm. .

  Furthermore, the job management unit 51 stores the print job received in the power saving mode in the hard disk 35, the waiting time allowed for the print job, the number of received print jobs, and the lower limit stored in advance in the NVRAM 34. Based on the number of waiting jobs and the lower limit waiting allowable time, the time for executing the print job is managed.

  The network communication unit 52 is constructed by the network I / F 36 and executes network communication processing for communicating with the host apparatuses Hs1 to Hsm via the network NW to receive print jobs and exchange other information.

  The operation panel unit (input means) 53 is constructed by the operation panel 23, and as described above, is necessary for image formation control processing that controls execution of the print job based on the allowable waiting time and the number of received print jobs. Various data is input, and necessary information is displayed and output.

  The print job execution unit (image forming unit) 54 is constructed by the printer engine 22 and forms an image on a sheet under the control of the job management unit 51 based on the drawing data of the print job received from the job management unit 51. An image forming process is executed.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The image forming system 1 of this embodiment efficiently improves the power saving effect in the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn connected to the network NW.

  That is, in the image forming system 1, when a user designates a document and performs necessary print settings on the host devices Hs1 to HSm, the printer driver creates a print job and transmits the print job to the image forming devices Gk1 to Gkn to request printing. I do. At this time, when the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn of the printing destination and the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn of the printing destination are in the power saving mode, the allowable waiting time of the print job in the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn Specify. The allowable waiting time is a limit time that allows the user to wait until the print job is executed after the print job is transmitted to the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn that are printing destinations. Therefore, the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn promptly return to the normal mode after receiving the print job during the power saving mode and the standby allowable time specified by the print job elapses, and execute the print job. Need to run.

  On the other hand, as described above, in the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn, when a predetermined waiting time elapses in a standby state where the job management unit 51 does not receive a print job, supply from the normal power mode to the print execution unit 54 and the like. Transition to a power saving mode in which power consumption is reduced by stopping or reducing power.

  Even in this power saving mode, the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn receive a print job from the host apparatuses Hs1 to Hsm via the network NW such as the network communication unit 52 and the reception of the job management unit 51. Then, power is supplied to a portion that manages the print job until it returns to the normal power mode and is executed.

  In addition, the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn have an initial lower limit that is the lower limit standby allowable time of the standby allowable time, that is, the initial minimum time of the standby allowable time that can be specified by the user of the host devices Hs1 to Hsm. The allowable waiting time is stored in advance in the NVRAM 34 or the like. In the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn, the administrator sets the lower limit waiting time in consideration of power saving, user usability, and the like. The management panel on the network NW or the operation panel unit 53 of the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn. Can be set as appropriate using. The image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn store the set lower limit standby allowable time in the NVRAM 34 or the like.

  The image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn not only set the lower limit standby permissible time directly to set the lower limit standby permissible time, but also include, for example, a power saving time target value, a power saving time ratio target value, The lower limit standby allowable time may be set according to the power usage target value of the entire image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn. In this case, the job management unit 51 satisfies the input power saving time target value, the power saving time ratio target value, and the power usage target value at predetermined time intervals according to the usage status of the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn. Calculate and set the lower limit waiting allowable time. From the relationship between the lower limit waiting allowable time and the number of print jobs accumulated during the lower limit waiting allowable time, the expected number of power reduction effects can be assumed by assuming the number of print jobs to be printed at once.

  When the job management unit 51 of each of the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn sets the lower limit standby allowable time, the network communication unit 52 sends the lower limit standby allowable time to the host devices Hs1 to Hsm via the network NW at an appropriate timing. provide.

  Furthermore, when the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn receive a print job in the power saving mode, the number of jobs set in advance or the time of the earliest waiting allowable time among the waiting allowable times of the waiting print jobs is reached. Wait for all print jobs to arrive. The image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn are set with a lower limit waiting job number that is the minimum waiting job number that is the number of waiting waiting print jobs, and an initial lower limit waiting time that is an initial value of the lower limit waiting job number. The number of jobs is preset in the NVRAM 34 or the like. The image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn are appropriately set by the administrator using the management apparatus on the network NW or the operation panel unit 53 of the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn in consideration of power saving and user usability. can do. The image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn store the set lower limit waiting job number in the NVRAM 34 or the like.

  When the job management unit 51 of each of the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn sets the lower limit standby job number, the network communication unit 52 provides the lower limit standby job number to the host devices Hs1 to Hsm via the network NW at an appropriate timing. .

  Further, as described above, the job management unit 51 of each of the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn switches the power mode between the power saving mode and the normal mode. When the power mode is switched, the current power mode is changed to the network. The communication unit 52 notifies the host devices Hs1 to Hsm via the network NW.

  The host devices Hs1 to Hsm display a print destination selection screen as shown in FIG. 3 on the display 11 when the user performs print settings. In the print destination selection screen of FIG. 3, the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn that can be selected on the network NW have their device names and information on whether or not they are in a power saving mode (circles in FIG. 3 are power saving modes). And the number of waiting jobs.

  Therefore, the user can select the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn as the printing destination by referring to the printing destination selection screen, whether or not it is in the power saving mode, the number of waiting print jobs, and the like.

  Further, the user can set the allowable waiting time in the host devices Hs1 to Hsm. In this case, as described above, the time is shorter than the lower limit allowable waiting time notified from the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn. Cannot be set. Although not shown, the host devices Hs1 to Hsm may display a lower limit standby allowable time on the standby allowable time setting screen so that the user can refer to it when setting the standby allowable time.

  Note that the print destination selection screen shown in FIG. 3 is provided with a radio button of “display all devices”. When this button is operated, devices other than the currently displayed device are displayed on the network. An image forming apparatus such as a connected printer is displayed.

  Then, the host devices Hs1 to Hsm use the input device such as a keyboard or a mouse to print instructions on document data created or edited by an application such as document creation software or graphic creation software. When the print setting including the selection of the print destination image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn and the setting of the allowable waiting time is performed, the job input unit 12 passes the document data and the print setting information to the printer driver through the OS. Generate print data that can be interpreted by the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn that print the document data from the document data received from the application, and generate a print job that incorporates the print setting information, in particular, the waiting time, It passes to the network communication unit 13. The network communication unit 13 transmits the print job transferred from the job input unit 12 to the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn via the network NW.

  As described above, the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn perform the print job reception management process as shown in FIG. 4 in a state where the lower limit waiting allowable time and the lower limit waiting job number are stored in the NVRAM 34. That is, when the network communication unit 52 receives a print job from the host devices Hs1 to Hsm via the network NW (step S101), the job management unit 51 stores the print job in a storage unit such as the hard disk 35 and saves it. It is checked whether the power mode is selected (step S102).

  If the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn are in the power saving mode in step S102 (YES in step S102), the job management unit 51 stores the received print job in the hard disk 35 or the like, and stores the print job. Register in the spool in the order received. The job management unit 51 continues the power saving mode, puts the print job in a standby state, and ends the print job reception management process (step S103). However, although not shown in the drawing, the job management unit 51 determines that if the allowable waiting time added to the print job received by the network communication unit 52 is shorter than the lower limit allowable waiting time stored in the NVRAM 34, Reject the reception. Normally, when communication between the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn and the host apparatuses Hs1 to Hsm is performed in snow, it is impossible to set a standby allowable time shorter than the lower limit standby allowable time in the host apparatuses Hs1 to Hsm. ing. However, even if a print job in which a waiting allowable time shorter than the lower limit waiting allowable time is set due to some kind of information or the like, the job management unit 51 refuses to accept the print job.

  In step S102, when the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn are in the normal power mode (NO in step S102), the job management unit 51 sequentially sends the received print jobs to the print execution unit 54 for printing. Processing is performed (step S104).

  The job management unit 51 of each of the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn performs the standby print job management process shown in FIG. 5 in the power saving mode. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the job management unit 51 checks whether there are waiting jobs that are equal to or more than the lower limit waiting job number at predetermined time intervals (step S201). As described above, the lower limit waiting job number is appropriately set by the administrator and stored in the NVRAM 34 or the like.

  In step S201, when there are no waiting jobs equal to or greater than the lower limit waiting job number (NO in step S201), the job management unit 51 determines that printing cannot be executed, and directly waits for a print job. The management process ends.

  In step S201, when there are waiting jobs that are equal to or greater than the lower limit waiting job number (YES in step S201), the job management unit 51 is set as the print job among the waiting print jobs. It is checked whether there is a print job that has reached the allowable waiting time (step S202). That is, for example, when receiving a print job, the job management unit 51 starts a timer for each print job, and measures the allowable waiting time given to the print job in the host devices Hs1 to Hsm. The job management unit 51 determines whether there is a job that has reached the allowable waiting time based on whether the timer for each print job has counted the allowable waiting time of the print job.

  If there is no print job that has reached the standby allowable time in step S202 (NO in step S202), the job management unit 51 determines that printing cannot be executed, and performs standby print job management as it is. The process ends.

  In step S202, when there is a print job that has reached the allowable waiting time (YES in step S202), the job management unit 51 sequentially displays all the standby print jobs, for example, in the order of reception or standby. The print execution unit 54 is caused to print in the order from the shortest time until the allowable time. That is, the job management unit 51 causes the print execution unit 54 to print the waiting print jobs in a batch, and ends the standby print job management process (step S203).

  Note that when the printing of the print job is completed, the job management unit 51 may transmit a message to that effect to the host devices Hs1 to Hsm that have transmitted the print job.

  In this way, the users of the host devices Hs1 to Hsm can check when the transmitted print job is printed.

  As described above, in the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment, the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn have the hard disk (job storage unit) 35 that stores the print job and the printer engine (image forming unit) that forms an image based on the print job. ) 22, a CPU (power mode switching means) 31 for switching between a normal power mode in which an image can be formed by the printer engine 22 and a power saving mode with less power consumption than the normal power mode, and the network NW connected to the power saving mode. Even in the power mode, a network interface (I / F) that communicates with the host devices Hs1 to Hsm on the network NW and receives from the host devices Hs1 to Hsm a print job with a waiting time allowed for image formation. Communication means) 36 and the network I / F 36 performs print jobs in the power saving mode. If the print job is stored in the hard disk 35, the allowable waiting time of the stored print job is determined, and there is a print job for which the allowable standby time has passed, A CPU (job management means) 31 that causes the printer engine 22 to perform image formation based on all print jobs stored in the hard disk 35 by switching the CPU 31 to the normal power mode.

  Therefore, the power saving mode is continued for the waiting time specified by the user in the print job, waiting for another print job to wait, and the print job that has been waiting during the power saving mode is All can be printed together. As a result, the power saving effect in the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn connected to the network NW can be efficiently improved.

  The image forming system 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a job storage processing step in which the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn store a print job in the hard disk 35, an image formation processing step in which an image is formed based on the print job, and the image A power mode switching processing step for switching between a normal power mode in which image formation is possible in the formation processing step and a power saving mode with less power consumption than the normal power mode; and the host device Hs1 on the network NW even in the power saving mode. A communication processing step of communicating from the host devices Hs1 to Hsm with a waiting time allowed for image formation by communicating with the Hsm, and a print job in the communication processing step in the power saving mode Is received, the print job is sent to the job storage processing step. 35, the allowable waiting time of the stored print job is determined, and if there is a print job for which the allowable waiting time has elapsed, the normal power mode is switched in the power mode switching processing step. The image forming control method includes a job management processing step for executing image forming based on all print jobs stored in the hard disk 35 in the image forming processing step.

  Therefore, the power saving mode is continued for the waiting time specified by the user in the print job, waiting for another print job to wait, and the print job that has been waiting during the power saving mode is All can be printed together. As a result, the power saving effect in the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn connected to the network NW can be efficiently improved.

  Further, in the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment, the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn store the print job in the hard disk 35 in the control processor such as the CPU 31, and the image formation for forming an image based on the print job. Power mode switching processing for switching between processing, normal power mode capable of image formation in the image forming processing, and power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal power mode, and also on the network NW in the power saving mode A communication process for communicating with the host devices Hs1 to Hsm and receiving from the host devices Hs1 to Hsm a print job to which an allowable waiting time until image formation is performed, and printing by the communication process in the power saving mode When a job is received, the print job is stored in the hard disk 35 by the job storage process and stored. When the allowable waiting time of the print job is determined and there is a print job for which the allowable standby time has elapsed, the power mode switching process switches to the normal power mode and the hard disk 35 stores the print job. An image forming control program for executing job management processing for executing image formation based on all print jobs in the image forming processing is installed.

  Therefore, the power saving mode is continued for the waiting time specified by the user in the print job, waiting for another print job to wait, and the print job that has been waiting during the power saving mode is All can be printed together. As a result, the power saving effect in the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn connected to the network NW can be efficiently improved.

  Further, the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment is configured such that the minimum number of print jobs that the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn should receive in the power saving mode and wait in an unexecuted state is the lower limit waiting job number ( NVRAM (job number storage means) 34 for storing as the number of waiting jobs), and the CPU 31 as the job management means determines the allowable waiting time when the number of print jobs stored in the hard disk 35 is equal to or greater than the lower limit waiting job number. If there is a print job for which the allowable waiting time has elapsed, the printer engine 22 is caused to perform image formation based on all the print jobs stored in the hard disk 35 by switching to the normal power mode.

  Therefore, the return from the power saving mode to the normal power mode can be controlled based on not only the waiting allowable time but also the lower limit waiting job number, and the power saving effect can be improved more efficiently.

  Further, the image forming system 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes an NVRAM (time storage unit) 34 that stores the shortest lower limit standby allowable time permitted as the standby allowable time by the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn, and serves as a job management unit. CPU 31 rejects acceptance of a print job to which the waiting allowable time shorter than the lower limit waiting allowable time is given.

  Therefore, by setting the minimum lower limit standby allowable time that can improve the power saving effect and storing it in the NVRAM 34, the power saving effect can be improved reliably.

  In the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment, the CPU 31 as the job management unit of the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn causes the network I / F 36 to transmit the lower limit waiting allowable time to the host apparatuses Hs1 to Hsm.

  Further, in the image forming system 1 of this embodiment, the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn include an operation panel (input unit) 23 for inputting information, and the CPU 31 as the job management unit receives the lower limit standby from the operation panel 23. When the allowable time is input, the lower limit standby allowable time is stored in the NVRAM 34.

  Therefore, power saving control can be performed based on the lower limit standby allowable time input according to the usage status of the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn, the required power saving target, and the like, and the power saving effect is improved while improving the usability. Can be improved.

  Further, in the image forming system 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn include an operation panel (input unit) 23 for inputting information, and the CPU 31 as the job management unit starts from the operation panel 23 to the image forming apparatus. When at least one target value among the power saving time target value, the power saving time ratio target value, and the power usage target value in Gk1 to Gkn is input, the lower limit standby allowable time is calculated based on the target value. And stored in the NVRAM 34.

  Therefore, by inputting the target time intended by the administrator, it is possible to set the lower limit standby permissible time according to the target value and perform power saving control, further improving the usability and further reducing the power saving effect. Can be improved.

  In the image forming system 1 according to the present embodiment, the CPU 31 as the job management unit of the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn is connected to the network I / F (communication unit) 36 in the power mode, the number of print jobs in standby, and the print job. Is sent to the host devices Hs1 to Hsm.

  Accordingly, the host apparatuses Hs1 to Hsm can set the allowable waiting time based on the information on the power mode and the number of waiting print jobs, and can select the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn to be printed. Further, it is possible to know that the requested print job is completed by a completion notification, and it is possible to efficiently reduce power consumption in the image forming apparatuses Gk1 to Gkn while improving usability.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to that described in the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system NW network Gk1-Gkn Image forming apparatus Hs1-Hsm Host apparatus 11 Display 12 Job input part 13 Network communication part 21 Controller 22 Printer engine 23 Operation panel 24 External storage device 31 CPU
32 Program ROM
33 RAM
34 NVRAM
35 Hard Disk (HDD)
36 Network I / F
37 Engine I / F
38 Panel I / F
39 External I / F
40 bus 51 job management unit 52 network communication unit 53 operation panel unit 54 print execution unit

JP 2006-334931 A

Claims (10)

Job storage means for storing print jobs;
Image forming means for forming an image based on a print job;
A power mode switching means for switching between a normal power mode capable of image formation by the image forming means and a power saving mode with less power consumption than the normal power mode;
A communication unit that is connected to a network and communicates with a host device on the network even in the power saving mode, and receives a print job with a waiting time allowed for image formation from the host device;
When the communication unit receives a print job in the power saving mode, the print job is stored in the job storage unit, the allowable waiting time of the stored print job is determined, and the allowable standby time has elapsed. A job management unit that causes the power mode switching unit to switch to the normal power mode when there is a print job, and causes the image forming unit to perform image formation based on all the print jobs stored in the job storage unit; ,
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus includes:
Job number storage means for storing the minimum number of print jobs that should be received in the power saving mode and kept in an unexecuted state as the lower limit waiting job number,
The job management means includes:
When the number of print jobs stored by the job storage unit exceeds the lower limit standby job number, the standby allowable time is determined, and if there is a print job for which the standby allowable time has elapsed, the power mode switching unit The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is switched to the normal power mode and causes the image forming unit to perform image formation based on all print jobs stored in the job storage unit. The image forming apparatus includes:
A time storage means for storing the shortest lower limit standby allowable time permitted as the standby allowable time,
The job management means includes:
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein reception of the print job to which the waiting allowable time shorter than the lower limit waiting allowable time is given is rejected. The job management means includes:
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the communication unit transmits the lower limit waiting allowable time to the host device. The image forming apparatus includes:
An input means for inputting information;
The job management means includes:
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the lower limit standby allowable time is input from the input unit, the lower limit standby allowable time is stored in the time storage unit. The image forming apparatus includes:
An input means for inputting information;
The job management means includes:
When at least one target value among the power saving time target value, the power saving time ratio target value, and the power usage target value in the image forming apparatus is input from the input unit, the lower limit standby is performed based on the target value. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an allowable time is calculated and stored in the time storage unit. The job management means includes:
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit transmits a notification indicating that the power mode, the number of waiting print jobs, and image formation of the print job are completed to the host device. The image forming apparatus described. In an image forming system in which an image forming apparatus is connected to a network and a host device that transmits a print job to the image forming apparatus and requests printing is connected.
8. An image forming system, wherein the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 is connected as the image forming apparatus. A job storage processing step for storing the print job in a job storage means;
An image forming process step for forming an image based on the print job;
A power mode switching processing step for switching between a normal power mode capable of image formation in the image forming processing step and a power saving mode with less power consumption than the normal power mode;
A communication processing step of performing communication with a host device on the network even in the power saving mode and receiving a print job from the host device with a waiting time allowed for image formation;
When a print job is received in the communication processing step in the power saving mode, the print job is stored in the job storage unit in the job storage processing step, and the waiting time allowed for the stored print job is determined. When there is a print job for which the allowable waiting time has elapsed, the power mode switching processing step switches to the normal power mode, and image formation based on all the print jobs stored in the job storage unit is performed. A job management processing step to be executed in the image forming processing step;
An image formation control method comprising: To the control processor,
Job storage processing for storing print jobs in a job storage means;
An image forming process for forming an image based on a print job;
A power mode switching process for switching between a normal power mode capable of image formation in the image forming process and a power saving mode with less power consumption than the normal power mode;
Communication processing for performing communication with a host device on the network even in the power saving mode, and receiving from the host device a print job with a waiting time allowed for image formation;
When a print job is received in the communication process in the power saving mode, the job storage process stores the print job in the job storage unit, and determines the waiting allowable time of the stored print job. If there is a print job for which the allowable waiting time has elapsed, the power mode switching process switches to the normal power mode, and image formation based on all print jobs stored in the job storage unit is performed in the image forming process. Job management processing to be executed in
An image formation control program for executing

Images