JP2020075478A - Printer, method for controlling printer, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To appropriately shut down an information processing device according to a shutdown request received through a network.SOLUTION: An information processing device communicable with an external device through a network includes: a human detection sensor; reception means for receiving a first shutdown request and a second shutdown request transmitted by the external device through the network; shutdown means for shutting down the information processing device according to the first shutdown request received by the reception means; and determination means for determining whether or not to shut down the information processing device according to the second shutdown request received by the reception means on the basis of a detection result of the human detection sensor.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing device that performs power control according to a request transmitted from a terminal connected via a network, a control method of the information processing device, a program, and a recording medium.

  BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, there is known a technique of remotely performing power control of an information processing device from a terminal connected to the information processing device that is the target of power control (see Patent Document 1).

JP, 2010-152709, A

  The image forming apparatus disclosed in the cited document 1 shifts to the power-off state when receiving the power-off request packet transmitted from the terminal. However, when the power supply of the image forming apparatus is turned off via a network from a terminal physically distant from the image forming apparatus, the terminal cannot know the situation around the image forming apparatus. For this reason, the image forming apparatus that has received the power-off request packet will be in the power-off state even though there is an object such as a person around the image forming apparatus. That is, in the cited document 1, the image forming apparatus that receives the power-off request packet is turned off even though there is a person near the image forming apparatus. From the user's point of view, the power is suddenly turned off even though the user intends to use the image forming apparatus. As described above, when the power source of the image forming apparatus is controlled remotely, a situation may occur in which the convenience of the user is impaired.

  Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to appropriately shut down an information processing device in accordance with a shutdown request received via a network.

  An information processing apparatus of the present invention is an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external device via a network, wherein the motion sensor and the first shutdown request and the second shutdown request transmitted by the external device are In accordance with a receiving unit that receives via a network, a shutdown unit that shuts down the information processing device according to the first shutdown request received by the receiving unit, and a second shutdown request received by the receiving unit. Determining means for determining whether or not to shut down the information processing device based on a detection result of the human sensor.

  According to the information processing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately shut down the information processing apparatus according to the shutdown request received via the network.

1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a printing system including an image forming apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a hardware block diagram of the image forming apparatus. It is a block diagram of a sensor unit. FIG. 3 is a power supply circuit diagram of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a power supply circuit diagram of the image forming apparatus in a standby state. FIG. 3 is a power supply circuit diagram of the image forming apparatus in a sleep state. FIG. 3 is a power supply circuit diagram of the image forming apparatus in a power-off state. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the exchange of processing executed between the PC and the image forming apparatus when the image forming apparatus is shut down remotely from the PC. It is the figure which showed the screen displayed on PC. 6 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the image forming apparatus that has received a shutdown request. 6 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the image forming apparatus that has received a shutdown instruction. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the image forming apparatus of the second embodiment that has received a shutdown request. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an algorithm for detecting a person who has approached the image forming apparatus.

  Embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a printing system including an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 100 and a PC (personal computer) 200 that is an external device. In this printing system 1, the image forming apparatus 100 and the PC 200 are communicably connected via a network 300. The network 300 may be a wired network or a wireless network. An infrared array sensor 351 is attached to the front surface of the image forming apparatus 100.

  The PC 200 is a general computer device that has a fixed storage device such as a CPU, RAM, and HDD, and is connected to a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. The PC 200 has a web browser and can browse / set files and data accumulated in the image forming apparatus 100, various setting information, and the like via the network 300 by an input operation of a keyboard, a mouse, or the like. is there. Further, the PC 200 can obtain a web screen for executing the remote shutdown function for shutting off the power supply of the image forming apparatus 100 provided by the image forming apparatus 100 via the web browser. The PC 200 is not limited to the PC and may be a mobile phone or a PDA as long as it has a web browser.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view of the image forming apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the infrared array sensor 351 is attached to the front surface of the image forming apparatus 100. The infrared array sensor 351 of the present embodiment is provided near the operation unit 12. This infrared array sensor 351 has a detection range R of about 6.0 m.

  FIG. 3 is a hardware block diagram of the image forming apparatus.

  The details of the controller 11 that controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a controller 11, an operation unit 12, a printer unit 13, a scanner unit 14, and a sensor unit 15 that control the operation of the image forming apparatus 100. The controller 11 is electrically connected to the operation unit 12, the scanner unit 13, the printer unit 14, and the sensor unit 15. The controller 11 includes a CPU 301, a RAM 302, a ROM 303, a power supply control unit 304, an input / output I / F 305, and a LAN controller 306. The CPU 301, RAM 302, ROM 303, power supply control unit 304, input / output I / F 305, and LAN controller 306 are connected to the system bus 307. The controller 11 also includes an HDD 308, an image processing unit 309, a scanner I / F 310, and a printer I / F 311. The HDD 308, the image processing unit 309, the scanner I / F 310, and the printer I / F 311 are connected to the image bus 312.

  The CPU 301 comprehensively controls access to various connected devices based on a control program stored in the ROM 303, and also comprehensively controls various processes executed by the controller 11. The RAM 302 is a system work memory for the CPU 301 to operate. The RAM 302 is also a memory for temporarily storing image data. The ROM 303 stores a boot program of the device and the like. The power supply control unit 304 controls each switch in order to control power supply to each unit of the image forming apparatus 100. Details of the power supply control unit 304 will be described later. The input / output I / F 305 is an interface unit for connecting the system bus 307 to the operation unit 12 and the sensor unit 15. The input / output I / F 305 receives image data to be displayed on the operation unit 12 from the system bus 307 and outputs the image data to the operation unit 12, and outputs information input from the operation unit 12 to the system bus 307. The input / output I / F 305 also outputs the detection result of the infrared array sensor 351 output by the sensor unit 15 to the power supply controller 304. The LAN controller 306 controls input / output of information between the image forming apparatus 100 and the PC 200 connected to the network 300. In this embodiment, the LAN controller 306 receives from the PC 200 an instruction to shut down the image forming apparatus 100 (hereinafter referred to as a shutdown instruction).

  The HDD 308 is a hard disk drive and stores system software and image data. The image processing unit 309 is for performing image processing, reads image data stored in the RAM 302, and performs image processing such as enlargement or reduction of JPEG and JBIG and color adjustment. The scanner I / F 310 is an interface unit for communicating with the scanner control unit 331 of the scanner unit 13. The printer I / F 311 is an interface unit for communicating with the printer control unit 341 of the printer unit 14. The image bus 312 is a transmission path for exchanging image data, and is composed of a bus such as a PCI bus or IEEE1394.

  The scanner unit 13 optically reads an image from a document and generates image data. It has a scanner control unit 331 and a scanner unit 332. The scanner unit 332 is a physically driven device that includes a paper transport motor for transporting a document set in the paper feed unit to the reading position of the scanner unit 13. The scanner control unit 331 controls the operation of the scanner unit 332. The scanner control unit 331 receives the setting information set by the user when performing the scanner process by communication with the CPU 301, and controls the operation of the scanner unit 332 based on the setting information.

  The printer unit 14 forms an image on a recording medium (paper) according to the electrophotographic method. The printer unit 14 has a printer control unit 341 and a printer unit 342. The printer unit 342 is a physically driven device that includes a motor that rotates the photosensitive drum, a motor that rotates the fixing device, a paper transport motor, and the like. The printer control unit 341 controls the operation of the printer unit 342. The printer control unit 341 receives the setting information set by the user when performing the print processing through communication with the CPU 301, and controls the operation of the printer unit 342 based on the setting information.

  The sensor unit 15 will be described later.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing details of the sensor unit.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor unit 15 includes an infrared array sensor 351 and a microcomputer 352 that analyzes information output from the infrared array sensor 351.

  The infrared array sensor 351 is a sensor in which thermopile elements 1a to 8h that receive infrared rays are arranged in a grid pattern. Each of the thermopile elements 1a to 8h of the infrared array sensor 351 receives infrared rays emitted from a person or the like and outputs information indicating the temperature to the microcomputer 352. The information indicating this temperature is, for example, a voltage value. The microcomputer 352 measures the temperature of an object such as a person by comparing the reference voltage value with the voltage value output from the thermopile elements 1a to 8h. The information indicating the temperature output to the microcomputer 352 may be an analog value or a digital value. The infrared array sensor 351 of this embodiment is provided to detect a person approaching the image forming apparatus 100. Therefore, the infrared array sensor 351 is attached obliquely upward so as to face the face not covered with clothes so that the temperature of a person can be accurately measured. The mounting direction of the infrared array sensor 351 is not limited to the obliquely upward direction, and may be obliquely downward so as to face the foot of a person.

  Further, the microcomputer 352 determines whether or not a person has approached the image forming apparatus 100 based on the information indicating the temperatures output from the thermopile elements 1a to 8h. Then, when the microcomputer 352 determines that a person has approached the image forming apparatus 100, the microcomputer 352 outputs information indicating that the person has approached the image forming apparatus 100 to the power supply control unit 304. The microcomputer 352 forms an image by a person when the number of the thermopile elements 1a to 8h that outputs information indicating a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature (for example, 30 ° C.) becomes a predetermined number or more (for example, 20 elements or more) It is determined that the apparatus 100 is approached. The method for determining that a person has approached image forming apparatus 100 is not limited to the above method. For example, it is determined that a person has approached the image forming apparatus 100 when the number of the thermopile elements 1a to 8h that outputs information indicating a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature (for example, 30 ° C.) increases for a predetermined number of times or more. You may. In addition, when any of the thermopile elements 1a to 8h (for example, the thermopile elements 1e to 8h in rows e, f, g, and h) outputs information indicating a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. Alternatively, it may be determined that a person has approached the image forming apparatus 100.

  When the microcomputer 352 determines that a person has approached the image forming apparatus 100, the power control unit 304 controls the image forming apparatus 100 in the sleep state to shift to the standby state. Further, when it is determined that there is no person around the image forming apparatus 100, the image forming apparatus 100 in the standby state may be shifted to the sleep state.

  In addition, although an example of using an infrared array sensor in which thermopile elements are arranged in a grid pattern has been described as a sensor that detects a person approaching the image forming apparatus 100, the type of sensor is not limited to the infrared sensor. For example, the type of sensor may be an optical sensor that detects light, a strain sensor that is deformed by physical force, a magnetic sensor that detects magnetism, a pyroelectric sensor that utilizes the pyroelectric effect, or the like. Further, the array of the elements used in the infrared array sensor does not have to be in a lattice shape, and the elements may be arranged in a line or may be one element.

<About power supply circuit diagram of image forming apparatus 100>
FIG. 5 is a power supply circuit diagram of the image forming apparatus. Electric power generated by the power supply unit 40 is supplied to each unit of the image forming apparatus 100 described above. The power supply unit 40 has a first power supply unit 410, a second power supply unit 411, and a third power supply unit 412.

  The first power supply unit 410 converts AC power supplied via the plug P into DC power (for example, 5.1 V (first output power)). Then, the DC power is supplied to the devices of the first power supply system (CPU 301, RAM 302, ROM 303, power supply control unit 304, input / output I / F 305, LAN controller 306, HDD 308, sensor unit 15, and button 122 of operation unit 12). Supplied.

  The second power supply unit 411 converts the AC power supplied via the plug P into DC power (for example, 12V (second output power)). This DC power is supplied to the devices of the second power supply system (the display unit 121 of the operation unit 12, the image processing unit 309, the printer control unit 341 of the printer unit 14, and the scanner control unit 331 of the scanner unit 13).

  In addition, the third power supply unit 412 converts the AC power supplied via the plug P into DC power (for example, 24V), and converts the AC power into devices of the third power system (the printer unit 342 and the scanner unit 332). Supply power.

  A power switch 416 that is turned on or off by a user operation is provided between the first power supply unit 410 and the device of the first power system. The signal A indicating the state (ON state or OFF state) of the power switch 416 is input to the power control unit 304. When the signal A input to the power control unit 304 indicates the off state, the CPU 301 of the image forming apparatus 100 executes the shutdown process. The shutdown process includes a process of closing a file, a process of saving the contents of the RAM 302 to the HDD 308, a process of disconnecting a network, and the like, and then stopping the supply of power from the AC power supply to the image forming apparatus 100. ..

  Further, the power supply unit 40 has a switch 417 composed of an FET (field effect transistor) arranged in parallel with the power supply switch 416. The switch 417 is changed from the on state to the off state or from the off state to the on state by the control signal B output from the power supply control unit 304. When executing the above-mentioned shutdown processing, the switch 417 is turned off by the control of the power supply control unit 304.

  The power switch 416 is provided with a solenoid 416a. According to the control signal C output from the power supply control unit 304, a voltage is applied to the solenoid 416a and the power supply switch 416 is turned off. When the automatic shutdown function or the remote shutdown function provided in the image forming apparatus 100 is executed, the solenoid 416a is driven and the power switch 416 is turned off according to the state of the control signal B output from the power control unit 304. become. The auto-shutdown function is a function that causes the image forming apparatus 100 to perform a shutdown process when a predetermined time elapses in a sleep state in which there is no user operation or job execution. The remote shutdown function is a function that causes the image forming apparatus 100 to perform a shutdown process in response to a shutdown instruction transmitted from the PC 200.

  A relay switch 418 is provided between the plug P and the second power supply unit 411. Further, a relay switch 419 is provided between the plug P and the third power supply unit 412. The relay switches 418 and 419 are switched from the on state to the off state or from the off state to the on state according to the control signal D output from the power supply control unit 304. When the image forming apparatus 100 shifts to the sleep state, the relay switch 418 and the relay switch 419 are turned off.

  A switch 420 is provided between the power switch 416 and the CPU 301, the ROM 303, and the HDD 304. The switch 420 changes from the on state to the off state or from the off state to the on state according to the control signal E output from the power supply control unit 304.

  A switch 421a is provided between the second power supply unit 411 and the printer control unit 341. A switch 421b is provided between the third power supply unit 412 and the printer unit 342. The switch 421a and the switch 421b are turned from the on state to the off state or from the off state to the on state according to the control signal F output from the power supply control unit 304.

  A switch 422a is provided between the second power supply unit 411 and the scanner control unit 331. A switch 422b is provided between the third power supply unit 412 and the scanner unit 332. The switch 422a and the switch 422b are turned from the on state to the off state or from the off state to the on state according to the control signal G output from the power supply control unit 304.

<Power status of the image forming apparatus>
The image forming apparatus 100 is in a standby state, a sleep state, and a power off state. The image forming apparatus 100 may be in a state other than the above states (for example, an operating (printing, scanning, etc.) state, a hibernation state, etc.).

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the image forming apparatus in the standby state. The standby state is a state in which transition is made when printing or scanning is completed. In the standby state, power is being supplied to the first to third power system devices via the plug P. In the standby state, the switches 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421a, 421b, 422a and 422b are turned on.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the image forming apparatus in the sleep state. The sleep state is a state in which electric power is supplied to the RAM 302, in which the program being executed is loaded, and power is required to return to the standby state. In this state, the operation of the various buttons 122 of the operation unit 12 can be accepted and the job can be received from the PC 200. When the user operates the button 122 or receives a job from the PC 200, the processing can be restarted using the program loaded in the RAM 302. For this reason, compared to a transition from the power-off state to the standby state, it is possible to quickly return from the sleep state to the standby state. When any of the buttons 122 of the operation unit 12 is pressed by the user in the sleep state, the state of the signal H changes (for example, becomes the Hi level). Further, when the microcomputer 352 of the sensor unit 15 detects a person approaching the image forming apparatus 100 in the sleep state, the state of the signal I output from the microcomputer 352 changes (for example, becomes Hi level). When the LAN controller 306 receives a job or the like in the sleep state, the state of the signal I output from the LAN controller changes (for example, becomes Hi level). The power supply control unit 304 controls the image forming apparatus 100 to shift to the standby state when the state of the input signal H, signal I, or signal J changes. Specifically, the power supply control unit 304 controls the signal D, the signal F, and the signal G. As a result, the switches 418, 419, 421a, 421b, 422a and 422b are turned on. As shown in FIG. 7, in the sleep state, the switches 416, 417, and 420 are on, but the switches 418, 419, 421a, 421b, 422a, and 422b are off.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the image forming apparatus in the power-off state. The power-off state is a state in which power is not supplied to the image forming apparatus 100 via the plug P. Specifically, when the power switch 416 is in the off state, the image forming apparatus 100 is in the power off state. As shown in FIG. 8, in the power supply state, the switches 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421a, 421b, 422a and 422b are turned off.

<Remote shutdown processing>
The image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment has a remote shutdown function. The remote shutdown function is a function for the image forming apparatus 100 to execute a shutdown process based on a shutdown instruction transmitted from the PC 200 via the network 300.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the exchange of processing executed between the PC and the image forming apparatus when the image forming apparatus is shut down remotely from the PC. 10A to 10D are screens displayed on the display unit of the PC.

  First, the user activates a web browser in order to display a remote UI screen A for confirming the state of the image forming apparatus 100, the remaining amount of consumables of the image forming apparatus 100, and the like from the PC 200. Then, the PC 200 requests the image forming apparatus 100 to acquire the remote UI screen A (FIG. 10A). The image forming apparatus 100 that has received the request provides the remote UI screen A to the PC 200.

  Then, the user selects the shutdown button 701 displayed on the remote UI screen A in order to shut down the image forming apparatus 100 from the PC 200. When the shutdown button 700 is selected, the PC 200 requests the image forming apparatus 100 to acquire the screen B for transmitting the shutdown request to the image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 that has received the request provides the PC 200 with the screen B (FIG. 10B) for requesting the shutdown of the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. 10B, the screen B displays a remote shutdown request button 801 for requesting the image forming apparatus 100 to perform a shutdown process.

  When the user selects the remote shutdown request button 801 (S500), the PC 200 transmits a shutdown request to the image forming apparatus 100 (S501). When receiving the shutdown request from the PC 200, the image forming apparatus 100 confirms whether or not a person is present in the detection area R of the infrared array sensor 351 (S502). The image forming apparatus 100 transmits the response screen C or the response screen D depending on whether or not a person is present in the detection area of the infrared array sensor 351 (S503).

  When no person is present in the detection area R, the PC 200 displays the response screen C shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10C, the response screen C displays a shutdown instruction button 901 for instructing the image forming apparatus 100 to perform a shutdown process and a cancel button 902 for canceling the shutdown process request. To be done. The shutdown instruction button 901 will be hereinafter referred to as an SD button 901.

  When a person is present in the detection area R, the PC 200 displays the response screen D shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10D, the response screen D includes a forced shutdown instruction button 1001 (hereinafter, forced SD button 1001), a shutdown standby instruction button 1002 (hereinafter, standby instruction button 1002), and a cancel. Button 1003 is displayed. The forced SD button 1001 is provided for forcibly causing the image forming apparatus 100 to shut down. Further, the standby instruction button 1002 is provided to execute a shutdown process when no one is present in the detection area R. A cancel button 1003 is provided to cancel the request for shutdown processing.

  The PC 200 displays the response screen C or the response screen D acquired from the image forming apparatus 100 on the web browser. When the button 901, 1001 or 1002 for executing the remote shutdown is selected by the user (S504), the remote shutdown instruction is transmitted from the PC 200 to the image forming apparatus 100 (S505). When the image forming apparatus 100 receives a remote shutdown instruction from the PC 200, the image forming apparatus 100 executes the remote shutdown process according to the instruction (S506). Specifically, when the SD button 901 is selected on the response screen C, the image forming apparatus 100 executes the shutdown process according to the pressing of the button 901. Further, when the forced SD button 1001 is pressed on the response screen D, the image forming apparatus 100 executes the shutdown process even if a person is present in the detection area R. When the standby instruction button 1002 is pressed on the response screen D, the image forming apparatus 100 executes the shutdown process at the timing when the person is no longer present in the detection area R.

<Processing executed by the image processing apparatus when a shutdown request is received from the PC>
FIG. 11 is a flowchart executed by the image forming apparatus that has received the shutdown request. The CPU 301 expands the control program stored in the ROM 303 into the RAM 302 to execute the flowchart shown in FIG. 11.

  First, the CPU 301 determines whether or not a shutdown request has been received from the PC 200 (S601). The shutdown request is transmitted from the PC 200 to the image forming apparatus 100 when the user selects the remote shutdown request button 801 displayed on the screen B (see FIG. 10B).

  Then, when the CPU 301 determines that the shutdown request has been received (S601: Yes), it confirms whether or not there is a person in the detection area R of the infrared array sensor 351 (S602). Specifically, the CPU 301 acquires from the microcomputer 352 of the sensor unit 12 information indicating whether or not there is a person in the detection area R of the infrared array sensor 351. When the CPU 301 determines that no person is present in the detection area R of the infrared array sensor 351 (S603: No), the CPU 301 causes the LAN controller 306 to transmit the response screen C (S604). On the other hand, when the CPU 301 determines that a person is present in the detection area R of the infrared array sensor 351 (S603: Yes), the CPU 301 causes the LAN controller 306 to transmit the response screen D (S605).

<Processing executed by the image processing apparatus when a shutdown instruction is received from the PC>
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the image forming apparatus 100 when the shutdown instruction is received from the PC. FIG. 13A is an example of a status display that is displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus and indicates a wait for a shutdown request. FIG. 13B shows a shutdown execution screen displayed on the display unit of the image forming apparatus.

  First, the CPU 301 determines whether or not a shutdown instruction has been received from the PC 200 (S701). The shutdown instruction is transmitted from the PC 200 to the image forming apparatus 100 when the SD button 901, the forced SD button 1001 and the standby instruction button 1002 are selected.

  When the CPU 301 determines that the shutdown instruction has been received (S701: YES), it checks the type of the shutdown instruction (S702). When the shutdown instruction is the shutdown instruction transmitted by the selection of the SD button 901 or the forced SD button 1001 (S702: Yes), the CPU 301 cancels the job stored in the image forming apparatus 100 (S703). ). The jobs canceled in step S703 are print jobs, copy jobs, and the like, and include jobs in execution and jobs waiting to be executed.

  On the other hand, when the shutdown instruction is transmitted by selecting the standby instruction button 1002 (S702: No), the CPU 301 determines whether or not there is a person in the detection area R of the infrared array sensor 351 ( S704). When the CPU 301 determines that no person is present in the detection area R of the infrared array sensor 351 (S704: No), it is confirmed whether there is an unprocessed job in the image forming apparatus 100 (S705). .. When the CPU 301 determines that there is an unprocessed job (S705: YES), it is confirmed whether or not a person exists in the detection area R of the infrared array sensor 351 until all the unprocessed jobs are processed (S704). ). As described above, in the present embodiment, when a person is present in the detection area R of the infrared array sensor 351, the image forming apparatus 100 is restricted from performing the shutdown process. The image forming apparatus 100 does not immediately execute the shutdown process even when receiving the shutdown instruction transmitted from the PC 200. When no one is present in the detection area R, the image forming apparatus 100 performs a shutdown process.

  On the other hand, when the CPU 301 determines that a person is present in the detection area R of the infrared array sensor 351 (S704: Yes), it indicates that the shutdown process is waiting for execution, as shown in FIG. The screen D is displayed on the display unit 121 (S706). Then, the CPU 301 determines whether or not a person is present in the detection area R of the infrared array sensor 351 (S707). When no person is present in the detection area R of the infrared array sensor 351 (S707: No), the CPU 301h confirms whether or not an unprocessed job exists in the image forming apparatus 100 (S708).

  When the job stored in S703 is canceled, the CPU 301 controls to display the screen E indicating that the shutdown process is being executed on the display unit 121 as illustrated in FIG. 13B (S709). ). When it is determined in S705 or S708 that there are no unprocessed jobs, the CPU 301 controls to display the screen E on the display unit 121 as illustrated in FIG. 13B (S709). After the screen E is displayed, the CPU 301 executes the shutdown process. Specifically, the CPU 301 executes a file closing process, a process of saving the contents of the RAM 302 to the HDD 308, a network disconnecting process, and the like according to a control program stored in the HDD 308 (S710). Further, the CPU 301 controls the power supply control unit 304 so that the power supplied from the AC power supply via the plug P is stopped. The power supply control unit 304 turns off the switches 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421a, 421b, 422a and 422b. As a result, the image forming apparatus 100 shifts to the power-off state (S711). The power switch 416 is turned off when the power control unit 304 applies a voltage to the solenoid 416a.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when a person exists in the vicinity of the image forming apparatus 100, the shutdown processing is forcibly executed or the shutdown processing is performed after the person no longer exists. Whether to execute or not can be selected on the screen of the PC 200.

<Second Embodiment>
In the first embodiment, it has been described that the image forming apparatus 100 transmits two types of shutdown instructions from the PC 200. The two types of shutdown instructions are an instruction to shut down the image forming apparatus 100 regardless of the presence of a person and an instruction to shut down the image forming apparatus 100 under the condition that the person is no longer present.

  In the second embodiment, one kind of shutdown instruction is transmitted from the PC 200. In the second embodiment, one type of shutdown instruction transmitted from the PC 200 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 100 when the OK button 901 on the response screen C (see FIG. 10C) described above is pressed. .. In the second embodiment, the screen for prompting the user to select forced shutdown or shutdown standby is not displayed. As illustrated in FIG. 14, when the image forming apparatus 100 receives the shutdown instruction (S801: Yes), the image forming apparatus 100 confirms whether or not a person exists (S802, S803), and if the person exists, The shutdown is delayed until there are no more people (S803: Yes). On the other hand, when the image forming apparatus 100 receives the shutdown instruction (S803: No), the image forming apparatus 100 confirms whether or not a person exists, and immediately executes the shutdown if the person does not exist (S804).

  In the second embodiment, after receiving the shutdown instruction from the PC 200, it is determined whether or not there is a person approaching the image forming apparatus 100.

<Other Embodiments>
In the above-described embodiment, it is determined that a person is present in the detection region R when the plurality of elements of the infrared array sensor 351 detect a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, but the present invention is not limited to this determination. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, even when it is determined that a person is approaching the image forming apparatus 10 when a specific element of the infrared array sensor 351 attached in an obliquely upward direction detects heat. good. Specifically, when the elements 1e to 8h on the e-th row to the h-th row above the virtual line 6013 detect heat of the user, the microcomputer 602 determines that a person has approached the image forming apparatus 10. .. On the other hand, if the elements 1e to 8h on the e-th row to the h-th row above the line 6013 do not detect the heat of the user, it is determined that the person is not approaching the image forming apparatus 10. Even if the elements 1a to 8d in the a-th row to the d-th row below the line 6013 detect the heat of the person, the person is determined to be a passerby. In the other embodiment, when the elements 1e to 8h on the e-th row to the h-th row above the virtual line 6013 detect the heat of the user, the image forming apparatus 100 is restricted from being shut down. According to the above configuration, although a person exists in the detection area R of the image forming apparatus 10, if the person is a passerby, the shutdown can be performed.

  It should be noted that the remote shutdown function for performing the shutdown process according to the instruction transmitted from the remote PC 200 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to remote shutdown. Specifically, the present invention may be applied when executing the auto shutdown function or the weekly shutdown function. The auto-shutdown function is a function that executes a shutdown process when a predetermined time has passed without being used by the user. Further, the weekly shutdown function is a function in which the shutdown process is executed at a designated time.

  In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the shutdown process is executed when the CPU 301 determines that the person does not exist in the detection region R of the infrared array sensor 351 (S704: No, S707: No) has been described. Even if no person is present in the detection area R of the infrared array sensor 351, the shutdown processing may be controlled not to be executed for a predetermined time. Even if no person is present in the detection area R of the infrared array sensor 351, the shutdown process is limited for a predetermined time. As a result, even if a person temporarily disappears from the detection area R of the infrared array sensor 351, if the person returns to the detection area R within the predetermined time, the shutdown process is not executed.

  In the shutdown process, the example of performing the file closing process has been described, but the power supply from the AC power supply to the image forming apparatus 100 may be stopped without performing the file closing process.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus including the printer unit has been described, but the present invention can be applied to an information processing apparatus such as a PC.

  The functions shown in the flowchart in this embodiment can also be realized by executing software (program) acquired via a network or various storage media by a processing device (CPU, processor) such as a computer personal computer.

100 image forming apparatus 301 CPU
306 LAN controller 351 Infrared array sensor 352 Microcomputer

  An information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external apparatus via a network, and includes a detection unit for detecting a person and an item for transmitting a first shutdown request to a display unit of the external apparatus. And data to be displayed on the display unit of the external device, and data to be displayed on the display unit of the external device, and data transmitted via the screen displayed on the display unit of the external device. Receiving means for receiving the first shutdown request and the second shutdown request, shutdown means for shutting down the information processing device according to the first shutdown request received by the receiving means, and second receiving means for receiving the second shutdown request. And a determining unit that determines whether or not to shut down the information processing device according to the shutdown request, based on the detection result of the detecting unit.

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that performs power control according to a request transmitted from a terminal connected via a network , a printing apparatus control method, and a program .

A printing apparatus of the present invention is a printing apparatus capable of executing a print job and capable of communicating with an external apparatus via a network, and displaying a first item for transmitting a first shutdown request on the external apparatus. The data to be displayed on the display unit and the transmission means for transmitting to the external device the data to display the second item for transmitting the second shutdown request on the display unit of the external device, and the selection of the first item. Receiving means for receiving the first shutdown request transmitted from the external device and the second shutdown request transmitted from the external device in response to selection of the second item, and the first receiving means received by the receiving means. A shutdown unit that shuts down the printing device according to the first shutdown request, and shuts down the printing device based on the state of the printing device according to the second shutdown request received by the receiving unit .

Claims (1)

An information processing device capable of communicating with an external device,
A detection means for detecting a person existing around the information processing device;
When the detection unit detects a person around the information processing device, a screen for allowing the external device to select whether to forcibly shut down the information processing device or to wait for the shutdown of the information processing device is displayed. Transmission means for transmitting,
When an instruction to forcibly shut down the information processing device is issued on the screen displayed on the external device, the information processing device is shut down, and the information processing device is shut down on the screen displayed on the external device. And a control unit that limits shutdown until the detection unit no longer detects a person around the information processing device when an instruction to wait is given.

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