JP4881901B2 - Image forming system - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to image imaging system that have a power saving mode to reduce power consumption, in particular, a predetermined starting program without using the network line via the first memory means and the network line freely supplied launchers about images forming system Ru and a second storage means freely supplied.

  Some information processing systems such as an image forming system include a normal power mode that operates with normal power consumption and a power saving mode that waits with less power than normal power consumption (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

Such an information processing system includes a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) in the apparatus main body, and in a conventional information processing system, a startup program for starting a processing unit is generally acquired from the HDD. .
JP 2001-103195 A

However, it is preferable that storage means for supplying the startup program is provided separately from the HDD in case the startup program cannot be acquired from the HDD due to the failure or life of the HDD. As a storage means different from the HDD, a server connected via a network line can be cited.

  However, when the activation program is acquired via the network line, there is a possibility that the activation preparation time from the acquisition start to the execution of the activation program becomes longer than when the activation program is acquired from the HDD.

  On the other hand, if the startup preparation time becomes long, when receiving job data from the outside by fax communication or the like, the detection of the job data is detected and then the power saving mode is switched to the normal power mode. There is a possibility that a reception error in which job data cannot be received may occur because a response from the reception side to the transmission side is not completed within a predetermined time before the activation is completed.

  The technique according to Patent Document 1 is intended to prevent a situation in which an error message is not displayed by switching to a power saving mode during a paper cassette or toner cartridge replacement operation. It is not a technology about the configuration to acquire. Therefore, with the technology according to Patent Document 1, it is not possible to suppress the occurrence of an error due to the delay in completion of activation of the processing unit.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a picture image formation system that can suppress the occurrence of an error due to the completion of the activation of the processing unit (image forming section) is delayed.

The image forming system of the invention is an image forming system having a power saving mode to wait in the normal power mode, and less power than the normal power consumption operating at normal power, the first storage means, second storage Means , a control unit, and a switching unit. The first storage means can supply a predetermined activation program without going through a network line. The second storage means can supply the activation program via the network line. Control unit, the normal setting of the power mode, acquires the boot program from one of the storage means selected from the first storage means and second storage means, based on the boot program, which forms an image on a recording medium Activate the image forming unit . The switching unit is a switching unit that switches between the normal power mode and the power saving mode, and executes automatic switching processing for switching from the normal power mode to the power saving mode when there is no input of a predetermined signal for a predetermined time in the normal power mode. . The control unit first selects the first storage unit, and when the activation program cannot be acquired from the first storage unit, the second storage unit is selected next, and when the second storage unit is selected, the automatic switching process is executed. The switching unit is controlled so as to prohibit the switching.

In this configuration, when the second storage means is selected as the acquisition source of the activation program, control is performed so that automatic switching processing to the power saving mode is not performed, so that when the processing request in the image forming unit is accepted, the normal power is always obtained. Mode, and the image forming unit has been activated. Thus, than when run from accepting a processing request by the image forming unit starts program acquisition start to the standby time from the time of reception of the processing request until the start of the image forming section is completed is shortened.

Also not a selects the first storage means, if available the boot program from the first supply unit does not prohibit the execution of the automatic switching process, if there is no input for a predetermined time a predetermined signal saving from the normal power mode By switching to the power mode, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of an error due to the delay in the completion of the activation of the image forming unit and to save power. If the activation program cannot be acquired from the first storage unit , the second storage unit is selected and execution of the automatic switching process is prohibited, so that the activation of the image forming unit is completed after the processing request is received. The waiting time can be shortened, and the occurrence of errors due to the delay in the completion of activation of the image forming unit can be suppressed.

The first storage means includes a first storage unit fixed to the apparatus main body including the control unit, and a second storage unit detachably attached to a connection unit fixed to the apparatus main body. The first storage unit may be selected first, and when the activation program cannot be acquired from the first storage unit, the second storage unit may be selected next. Both the first storage unit and the second storage unit are connected to the control unit without going through a network line. The first storage unit is always connected to the control unit, and when the first storage unit is not out of order, it is most likely that the activation program can be acquired. The second storage unit is detachably attached to the connection unit. However, when the second storage unit is attached to the connection unit, the second storage unit is connected to the control unit without using the network line as described above. For this reason, first, when trying to acquire the startup program from the first storage unit and trying to acquire the startup program from the second storage unit when the startup program cannot be acquired from the first storage unit, The time from the first acquisition to the execution can be shortened.

Furthermore, a reception detection unit that detects reception of job data from the outside, and a reception detection unit that outputs a reception notification signal indicating that reception of job data is detected to the switching unit when reception of job data is detected. Further, the switching unit may be configured to switch from the power saving mode to the normal power mode when a reception notification signal is input in the power saving mode. In the power saving mode, it is highly possible that the activation program can be acquired from the first storage unit . For this reason, when there is no input of a predetermined signal for a predetermined time, power saving can be achieved by switching from the normal power mode to the power saving mode, and the first storage means is detected when reception of job data is detected. by acquiring the boot program from, it can shorten the waiting time until the start of the image forming section from the detection of the reception of the job data is completed, suppress the occurrence of an error due to the completion of startup of the image forming section is delayed it can.

In addition, a notification unit that notifies the user of various information is further provided, and the control unit is configured to notify the notification unit that execution of the automatic switching process is prohibited when the execution of the automatic switching process is prohibited. May be. Since the user is notified that the execution of the automatic switching process is prohibited, the user can cope with the fact that the automatic switching process is not performed and the activation program cannot be obtained from the first storage means. it can. For example, when it is known in advance that it will not be used for a predetermined time, it is possible to save power by manually setting the power saving mode or turning off the power. In addition, by performing maintenance on the first storage unit , it is possible to shorten the waiting time from when the processing request is received until the activation of the image forming unit is completed.

According to the present invention, by leaving controlled not automatically switching process from the normal power mode to the power saving mode when selecting the second storing means as the acquisition source of the startup program, the image formed from at reception of the processing request The waiting time until the start of the part is completed can be shortened. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of an error due to a delay in completion of activation of the image forming unit .

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information processing system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The information processing system 10 includes a first switching power supply 21, a second switching power supply 22, a mode switch 23, a main breaker 24, a first device group 30, a second device group 40, and a server 52.

  Each of the first switching power supply 21, the second switching power supply 22, the mode changeover switch 23, the main breaker 24, the first device group 30, and the second device group 40 constitutes a part of the apparatus main body, It is fixed in place.

  The first switching power supply 21 is connected to a commercial power supply 25 via a mode changeover switch 23 and a main breaker 24. The main breaker 24 is switched on or off by the user. If the main breaker 24 is off, power is not supplied to either the first device group 30 or the second device group 40. Below, the case where the main breaker 24 is ON is demonstrated.

  The first switching power supply 21 supplies predetermined power to the first device group 30 when the mode switch 23 is on. When the mode switch 23 is turned off, power is not supplied to the first device group 30.

  The second switching power supply 22 is connected to the commercial power supply 25 via the main breaker 24. The second switching power supply 22 supplies predetermined power to the second device group 40 when the main breaker 24 is on.

  The information processing system 10 is provided in an image forming system, for example. The information processing system 10 has a normal power mode and a power saving mode as operation modes. In the normal power mode, power is supplied to both the first device group 30 and the second device group 40. In the power saving mode, power is supplied to the second device group 40, but power is not supplied to the first device group 30. Thus, in the power saving mode, less power is consumed than in the normal power mode. When the mode switch 23 is turned on from off, the power saving mode is switched to the normal power mode. When the mode switch 23 is turned off, the normal power mode is switched to the power saving mode.

  The first device group 30 includes a main controller 31, ROM 32, RAM 33, operation unit 34, notification unit 35, HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 36, USB controller 37, NIC (Network Interface Card) 38, and processing unit 39.

  The main controller 31 corresponds to the control unit of the present invention, and controls the first device group 30 in an integrated manner. When the mode switch 23 is turned on, the main controller 31 first acquires a program called a boot loader from the ROM 32. The main controller 31 acquires an activation program that activates the processing unit 39 based on the boot loader.

  The operation unit 34 receives an input operation by the user. The notification unit 35 notifies the user of various information. The notification unit 35 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display panel in this embodiment, but may be an audio output device or an optical signal output device. In addition, the operation part 34 and the notification part 35 can also be embodied by one member like a liquid crystal touch panel, for example.

The HDD 36 and the USB memory 51 correspond to the first storage means of the present invention, and are internally connected to the main controller 31 without going through a network line. The HDD 36 corresponds to a first storage unit of the present invention, and stores an activation program so as to be freely supplied to the main controller 31. The USB controller 37 corresponds to the connection unit of the present invention. A USB device such as the USB memory 51 is detachably attached to the USB controller 37. The USB controller 37 communicates with the attached USB device. The USB memory 51 corresponds to the second storage unit of the present invention, stores a startup program, and can be supplied to the main controller 31 when it is attached to the USB controller 37.

The NIC 38 is connected to the server 52 via a network line. The server 52 corresponds to the second storage means of the present invention, and is connected to the main controller 31 via the NIC 38 and the network line. The server 52 stores an activation program so as to be freely supplied to the main controller 31.

  In this embodiment, the processing unit 39 is an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium. The processing unit 39 forms an image based on image data on a recording medium such as paper by performing an electrophotographic image forming process including a charging process, an exposure process, a developing process, a transfer process, and a fixing process. The processing unit 39 may be an inkjet image forming unit that forms an image by applying ink droplets to a recording medium based on image data.

  The second device group 40 includes a PIC (Peripheral Interface Controller) 41, a fax interface 42, a power switch 43, and a timer 44. The PIC 41 corresponds to the switching unit of the invention. The fax interface 42 corresponds to the reception detection unit of the present invention.

  The fax interface 42 is connected to the telephone network 53 and detects reception of job data related to fax communication. The job data includes image data. When the fax interface 42 detects reception of job data, the fax interface 42 outputs a reception notification signal to the PIC 41 indicating that reception of job data has been detected. The timer 44 outputs time information to the PIC 44. The power switch 43 is turned on or off by the user. By switching the power switch 43 on and off, the normal power mode and the power saving mode are switched at a timing desired by the user.

  The PIC 41 detects switching of the power switch 43 by the user. The PIC 41 switches the mode switch 23 on and off as necessary.

  The PIC 41 switches the operation mode from the normal power mode to the power saving mode by switching the mode switch 23 from on to off when the power switch 43 is turned off. The PIC 41 switches the operation mode from the power saving mode to the normal power mode by switching the mode switch 23 from off to on when the power switch 43 is turned on.

  The PIC 41 switches the operation mode from the normal power mode to the power saving mode by switching the mode changeover switch 23 from on to off when there is no predetermined prohibition factor for a predetermined time in the normal power mode. The process of switching from the normal power mode to the power saving mode when there is no predetermined prohibition factor in the normal power mode for a predetermined time is referred to as an automatic switching process in the present invention. The predetermined prohibition factors include, for example, an input operation from the operation unit 34 and an input of a reception notification signal from the fax interface 42.

  When the reception notification signal is input from the fax interface 42 in the power saving mode, the PIC 41 switches the operation mode from the power saving mode to the normal power mode by switching the mode switch 23 from off to on.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the main controller 31.

  When the mode changeover switch 23 is switched from OFF to ON, the main controller 31 acquires the boot loader from the ROM 32 and performs the following processing based on the boot loader, so that any of the HDD 36, the USB memory 51, or the server 52 is performed. The activation program is acquired from the above, and the processing unit 39 is activated based on the activation program.

  When the main controller 31 first selects the HDD 36 as the supply destination of the activation program and cannot acquire the activation program from the HDD 36, then the main controller 31 selects the USB memory 51 and then cannot acquire the activation program from the USB memory 51. The server 52 is selected.

  When the main controller 31 accesses the HDD 36 (S1) and determines that the activation program can be acquired from the HDD 36 (S2), the main controller 31 acquires the activation program from the HDD 36 (S3) and executes the activation program (S4).

  When the main controller 31 determines that the activation program cannot be acquired from the HDD 36 (S2), the main controller 31 accesses the USB memory 51 (S5), and determines that the activation program can be acquired from the USB memory 51 (S6). The start program is acquired from (S7), and the start program is executed (S4).

  When determining that the activation program cannot be acquired from the USB memory 51 (S6), the main controller 31 outputs a prohibit command for prohibiting the automatic switching process to the PIC 41 (S8), and accesses the server 52 (S9).

  When determining that the activation program can be acquired from the server 52 (S10), the main controller 31 acquires the activation program from the server 52 (S11), and executes the activation program (S4).

  When determining that the activation program cannot be acquired from the server 52 (S10), the main controller 31 outputs an acquisition error command indicating that the activation program cannot be acquired to the PIC 41 (S12), and displays an error on the notification unit 35 (S13). . Instead of displaying an error, an error may be notified by voice or an optical signal.

  When the main controller 31 executes the start program (S4), the main controller 31 performs the following processing based on the start program. The main controller 31 outputs to the PIC 41 an acquisition completion command indicating that acquisition of the activation program has been completed (S14).

  When the job data is input from the telephone communication network 53 via the fax interface 42 (S15), the main controller 31 executes the job based on the job data (S16), and based on the image data included in the job data. An image is formed on a sheet by the processing unit 39.

  3 and 4 are flowcharts showing a part of the processing procedure of the PIC 41.

  When the main breaker 24 is off, the mode switch 23 is off. When the main breaker 24 is turned on, the PIC 41 switches the mode switch 23 from off to on (S21). When the mode switch 23 is switched from OFF to ON, power is supplied to the first device group 30 and the processing of the main controller 31 is started as shown in FIG.

  The PIC 41 receives a prohibit command from the main controller 31 (S22), and further receives an acquisition completion command (S23). When the power switch 43 is switched from on to off without performing automatic switching processing (S24). When the mode switch 23 is switched from ON to OFF, the normal power mode is switched to the power saving mode (S25). When the power switch 43 is switched from OFF to ON (S24), the mode switch 23 is switched from OFF to ON. By switching, the power saving mode is switched to the normal power mode (S26).

  The prohibit command is input when the main controller 31 selects the server 52 as the acquisition source of the startup program. When the main controller 31 selects the server 52 as the acquisition source of the startup program, the automatic switching process is not performed. Therefore, when the reception of job data is detected, the normal power mode is always set, and the processing unit 39 starts up. Completed. As described above, the standby time from the detection of the reception of job data to the completion of the activation of the processing unit 39 is shortened as compared with the case where the acquisition of the activation program is started and executed after the reception of the job data is detected. Therefore, the occurrence of an error due to a delay in the completion of activation of the processing unit 39 is suppressed.

  The PIC 41 waits until any of the prohibit command, the acquisition completion command, or the acquisition error command is input in a state where neither the prohibition command nor the acquisition completion command is input (S22) and no acquisition error command is input (S28). ). When the acquisition error command is input (S28), the PIC 41 ends the process.

  When the prohibit command is not input (S22) and the acquisition completion command is input (S27), the PIC 41 resets the timer 44 (S31) and determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. (S32).

  When the predetermined time has not elapsed since the reset of the timer 44 in S31 (S32), the PIC 41 determines the state of the operating flag, and when the operating flag is turned on (S33), the timer 44 is reset (S33). S31). The in-operation flag is turned on when there is a prohibition factor such as an input operation from the operation unit 34 or an input of a reception notification signal from the fax interface 42, and is turned off when the prohibition factor disappears.

  If the operating flag is off (S33) and the power switch 43 is not turned off (S34), the PIC 41 returns to S32 and waits until a predetermined time elapses.

  When the operating flag is off (S33) and the power switch 43 is turned off (S34) before the predetermined time elapses after the timer 44 is reset in S31, the PIC 41 turns the mode switch 23 from on to off. Is switched to the power saving mode from the normal power mode (S35).

  When the operating flag is off (S33) and the power switch 43 is not turned off, that is, without a prohibition factor, the PIC 41 switches the mode when a predetermined time elapses from the reset of the timer 44 in S31 (S32). The switch 23 is switched from on to off (S35), and automatic switching processing is performed.

  As described above, the main controller 31 first selects the HDD 36 as the supply destination of the activation program, and selects the USB memory 51 when the activation program cannot be acquired from the HDD 36. When the startup program can be acquired from the HDD 36 or the USB memory HDD 36, the execution of the automatic switching process is not prohibited, and when there is no predetermined prohibition factor for a predetermined time, the processing unit 39 is switched from the normal power mode to the power saving mode. The occurrence of an error due to the delay in the completion of the start-up is suppressed, and power saving is achieved.

  Further, the HDD 36 is always connected to the main controller 31, and when the HDD 36 is not broken or the like, there is a high possibility that the activation program can be acquired. The USB memory 51 is detachably attached to the USB controller 37. When the USB memory 51 is attached to the USB controller 37, it is connected to the main controller 31 without going through the network line as described above. For this reason, firstly, an attempt is made to acquire the activation program from the HDD 36 by first trying to acquire the activation program from the HDD 36, and when the activation program cannot be obtained from the HDD 36, the acquisition of the activation program is attempted from the USB memory 51. The time until execution is shortened.

  When the reception notification signal is input in the power saving mode (S36), the PIC 41 switches the mode changeover switch 23 from off to on to switch from the power saving mode to the normal power mode (S37), and resets the timer 44. (S31).

  In the power saving mode, the PIC 41 waits for the reception notification signal to be input (36) when the reception notification signal is not input (S36) and the power switch 43 is not turned on (S38), and the power switch 43 is turned on. If it has been done (S38), the mode changeover switch 23 is switched from off to on to switch from the power saving mode to the normal power mode (S37).

  In the power saving mode, there is a high possibility that the activation program can be acquired from the HDD 36 or the USB memory 51. For this reason, when there is no predetermined prohibition factor for a predetermined time, power saving can be achieved by switching from the normal power mode to the power saving mode. In addition, when the reception of job data is detected, the processing unit 39 is activated from the time when the reception of job data is detected by switching from the power saving mode to the normal power mode and acquiring the activation program from the HDD 36 or the USB memory 51. Is shortened, and the occurrence of an error due to a delay in the completion of activation of the processing unit 39 is suppressed.

  When the main controller 31 outputs a command for prohibiting automatic switching processing in S8, the main controller 31 displays on the notification unit 35 that the automatic switching processing is prohibited.

  Since the user is notified that the execution of the automatic switching process is prohibited, the user corresponds to the fact that the automatic switching process is not performed and the activation program cannot be acquired from the HDD 36 and the USB memory 51. Can do. For example, when it is known in advance that it will not be used for a predetermined time, it is possible to save power by switching to the power saving mode with the power switch 43 or turning off the main breaker 24. In addition, by maintaining the HDD 36 and the USB memory 51, it is possible to shorten the waiting time from when the reception of job data is detected until the activation of the processing unit 39 is completed.

  Finally, the description of the above-described embodiment is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above embodiments but by the claims. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims.

1 is a block diagram of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of a main controller. It is a flowchart which shows a part of process procedure of PIC. It is a flowchart which shows a part of process procedure of PIC.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Information processing system 23 Mode change switch 24 Main breaker 25 Commercial power supply 30 1st apparatus group 31 Main controller (control part)
35 Notification unit 36 HDD (first supply unit, first storage unit)
37USB controller (connection part)
39 Processing Unit 40 Second Device Group 41 PIC (Switching Unit)
42 Fax interface (reception detector)
43 Power switch 44 Timer 51 USB memory (first supply unit, second storage unit)
52 Server 53 Telephone network

Claims (4)

An image forming system having a normal power mode that operates with normal power consumption and a power saving mode that stands by with less power than the normal power consumption,
First storage means capable of supplying a predetermined activation program without going through a network line;
Second storage means capable of supplying a startup program via a network line;
Wherein the normal setting of the power mode, the obtains the boot program from one of the storage means selected from the first storage means and second storage means, based on the boot program, an image forming that forms an image on a recording medium A control unit that activates the unit;
A switching unit that switches between the normal power mode and the power saving mode, and performs an automatic switching process for switching from the normal power mode to the power saving mode when there is no input of a predetermined signal for a predetermined time in the normal power mode And a switching unit that
The control unit first selects the first storage unit, and when the activation program cannot be acquired from the first storage unit, then selects the second storage unit and then selects the second storage unit. An image forming system for controlling the switching unit to prohibit execution of the automatic switching process. The first storage means includes a first storage unit fixed to an apparatus main body including the control unit, and a second storage unit detachably attached to a connection unit fixed to the apparatus main body,
2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit first selects the first storage unit, and when the activation program cannot be acquired from the first storage unit, the second storage unit is selected next. A reception detection unit for detecting reception of job data from the outside, the reception detection unit outputting a reception notification signal to the switching unit that the reception of job data is detected when the reception of job data is detected; Prepared,
The switching unit is an image forming system according to claim 1 or 2 in the case where the received notification signal is input in the power saving mode is switched from the power saving mode to the normal power mode. A notification unit for notifying the user of various types of information;
Wherein the control unit, the automatic switching process image forming system according to any of claims 1 3 to notify the notification unit to the effect that prohibits execution of the automatic switching process when prohibiting the execution of.

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